Major Averages Close Lower as Investors Digest Fed Policy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 19 2026
0mins
Should l Buy FIVE?
The major averages closed lower as investors digested the Federal Reserve's policy decision yesterday and watched news coming out of the Middle East. The Fed left interest rates unchanged, as expected, but signaled a more patient approach toward easing, reflecting concern that recent volatility in energy prices could keep inflation elevated in the near term.Meanwhile, volatility eased across asset classes as oil's early surge petered out, with stocks and bonds bouncing after Israel said it's helping the U.S. open the Strait of Hormuz. WTI oil fell below $93 per barrel in post-settlement trading.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Micronreported, provided upbeat Q3 guidance, and raised its quarterly dividend 30%AlibabareportedFive Belowreportedand provided its outlook for Q1 and FY26Dardenreported, though consolidated SSS rose 4.2%Uberwillin Rivian2. WALL STREET CALLS:Micronto Hold from Buy at Summit InsightsFive Belowto Outperform from Market Perform at William BlairCarnivalto Overweight at Morgan StanleyKinsale Capitalto Underperform at JefferiesOppenheimerFreshworksamid challenging operating environment3. AROUND THE WEB:Metasaid over social media that it will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR for existing gamesFDA inspectors found Boston Scientificpacemakers had battery issues, NY Times reportsFederal safety regulators are intensifying scrutiny of Tesla'sFull Self-Driving system over concerns about its performance in poor roadway conditions, WSJ saysAppleis stopping "vibe coding" apps from pushing updates, citing rules on running code, The Information reportsEcolabnearing deal to buy CoolIT from KKRfor $4.5B-$5B, WSJ reports4. MOVERS:DLocalgains after announcing aand announcing Q4 resultsTwo Harborsincreases after receiving an unsolicitedScholar Rockhigher after Cantor said that GenentechRed Catlower after, with EPS higher year-over-yearCanadian Solarfalls in New York afterand providing guidance for FY265. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Intuitive Machines, with revenue missing consensusAebi Schmidtand provided guidance for FY26Aveanna, with CEO Jeff Shaner commenting, "The strength and momentum of all three operating divisions can be seen in our fourth quarter results as we complete the third year of our Strategic Transformation"Signet Jewelersand provided guidance for Q1 and FY27Accenture, with EPS and revenue beating consensusINDEXES:The Dow fell 203.72, or 0.44%, to 46,021.43, the Nasdaq lost 61.73, or 0.28%, to 22,090.69, and the S&P 500 declined 18.21, or 0.27%, to 6,606.49.
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Analyst Views on FIVE
Wall Street analysts forecast FIVE stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 214.940
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
Current: 214.940
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
About FIVE
Five Below, Inc. is a specialty value retailer offering merchandise targeted at the tween and teen demographics. Its assortment of products, including select brands and licensed merchandise. It is engaged in offering a group of products, including leisure, fashion and home, and snacks and seasonal. Leisure includes items such as sporting goods, games, toys, tech, books, electronic accessories, arts and crafts, and party. Fashion and home include items, such as personal accessories, attitude t-shirts, beauty offerings, home goods and storage options. Snack and seasonal include items, such as seasonal goods, greeting cards, candy and other snacks, and beverages. It also offers its merchandise on the Internet, through its fivebelow.com e-commerce Website, offering home delivery and the option to buy online and pick up in store. It also sells its merchandise through on-demand third-party delivery services to enable its customers to shop online and receive convenient delivery.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Consumer Stocks Plummet Amid War Fears, Cramer Analyzes
- Market Sentiment Decline: Consumer stocks are facing significant sell-offs due to escalating fears surrounding the Iran war, with the SPDR S&P Retail ETF dropping approximately 3.6% on Monday, indicating investor concerns about household spending amidst high oil prices.
- TJX Underperformance: Despite TJX's historical resilience in tough economic times, its stock fell nearly 3%, reflecting pessimism about its future performance, even though it typically excels in managing excess inventory.
- Five Below's Disastrous Performance: The stock of Five Below, which focuses entirely on discretionary products, plummeted around 6.7%, highlighting the impact of tightening consumer spending despite the absence of negative earnings reports.
- Ross Stores' Anomalous Results: Ross Stores, despite reporting strong earnings, saw its stock decline by approximately 5%, making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500, indicating a lack of market confidence in its future prospects.
See More
Retail Stocks Punished Amid Economic Weakness
- Consumer Confidence Decline: Rising gasoline prices above $4 per gallon are suppressing consumer spending, leading to sell-offs in traditionally strong retail stocks like TJX and Dollar General, reflecting a pessimistic market sentiment regarding economic prospects.
- Retail ETF Underperformance: The SPDR S&P Retail ETF fell approximately 3.6% on Monday, indicating that even discount retailers and off-price chains have failed to attract investors during tough economic times, exacerbating concerns over consumer goods.
- TJX Stock Decline: Despite typically excelling in downturns, TJX's stock dropped nearly 3%, with Cramer noting that his portfolio holds the stock and is considering buying more after its recent decline, demonstrating confidence in its long-term potential.
- Market Sentiment Impact: Cramer cautioned investors against trading based solely on headlines, arguing that the current market's emotional reaction to war and oil prices may lead to poor investment decisions, particularly in selecting retail stocks.
See More
Five Below's New Toy Drives Growth Potential
- New Toy Drives Growth: Analyst Spencer Hanus highlights that Five Below's new 'squish' toy dumpling is a crucial growth driver, with a projected 26% upside in stock price, reflecting strong market demand for the product.
- Sales Forecast Upgrade: Hanus anticipates that Five Below's same-store sales could reach as high as 20% in Q1, significantly exceeding the market consensus of 16%, indicating that consumer enthusiasm for the new toys is accelerating sales growth.
- Increased Customer Visits: The scarcity of 'squish' toys has notably boosted customer revisit rates at Five Below, as consumers not only frequent stores but also seek out emerging trends, further enhancing the company's competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Market Attention: Five Below consistently ranks high in Wolfe Research's monthly in-store checks, driven by a fresh product assortment, clean store environments, and energetic customer interactions, showcasing the company's robust performance in the retail sector.
See More
Three Retail Giants Gain Market Share
- Costco's Profit Growth: Costco's net margin has reached 3%, with membership fees contributing over half of its profits despite only accounting for 2% of revenue, showcasing its resilience and potential for sustained growth amid economic uncertainty.
- Dutch Bros.' Rapid Expansion: Dutch Bros. reported a 29% revenue increase in its latest quarter, alongside a 7.7% rise in comparable-store sales, demonstrating its strong appeal among young consumers and significant market potential yet to be tapped.
- Five Below's Strong Performance: Five Below's net sales surged 24% in the latest quarter, matching Dutch Bros.' growth momentum, indicating that under new CEO Winnie Park, the company is regaining market attention and is poised for continued growth in the coming years.
- Intensifying Market Competition: While these three companies operate in distinct niches, they are all gaining market share in their respective fields, reflecting a rising consumer demand for diverse retail experiences, which may lead to increased competition in the future.
See More
Three Stocks to Consider Today for Strong Growth
- H World Group Growth Potential: H World Group Limited (HTHT), a hotel franchise based in China, holds a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate rising by 7.5% over the past 60 days, indicating strong profit growth potential and reinforcing its competitive position in the industry.
- Mistras Group Earnings Outlook: Mistras Group, Inc. (MG) also carries a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate increasing by 6.1% in the last 60 days, suggesting sustained demand in the industrial testing and inspection services sector, enhancing its future profitability.
- Five Below Strong Performance: Five Below, Inc. (FIVE), a specialty value retailer in the U.S., has a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate rising by 15.7% over the past 60 days, reflecting robust growth momentum in the retail market that may attract more investor interest.
- PEG Ratio Advantage: H World Group's PEG ratio stands at 1.07, Mistras at 1.06, and Five Below at 1.80, all indicating a relative advantage in growth potential and valuation compared to industry averages, which could draw more investor attention.
See More
Three Momentum Stocks to Buy as Market Rally Gains Traction
- Market Rally Momentum: The U.S. equity markets experienced a strong rally this week, driven by optimism surrounding a potential truce deal between the U.S. and Iran, bringing benchmark indices close to all-time highs and erasing losses from the Iran conflict, indicating increased investor confidence in future market conditions.
- Momentum Investment Strategy: Investors are shifting towards momentum stocks like Five Below, Permian Resources, and Alcoa when value or growth investing fails to yield desired profits, leveraging the adage 'the trend is your friend' to capitalize on prevailing market trends for sustained gains.
- Five Below Performance: Targeting the teenage market, Five Below's stock surged 250.8% over the past year, despite a 2.9% decline in the past week, with a Momentum Score of A indicating robust market performance and potential for future growth.
- Permian Resources and Alcoa: Permian Resources' stock rose 81.6% over the past year but fell 6.5% in the last week, while Alcoa's stock surged 191.1% but dropped 1.5% recently, with Momentum Scores of B and A respectively, highlighting their market potential.
See More
Consumer Stocks Plummet Amid War Fears, Cramer Analyzes
- Market Sentiment Decline: Consumer stocks are facing significant sell-offs due to escalating fears surrounding the Iran war, with the SPDR S&P Retail ETF dropping approximately 3.6% on Monday, indicating investor concerns about household spending amidst high oil prices.
- TJX Underperformance: Despite TJX's historical resilience in tough economic times, its stock fell nearly 3%, reflecting pessimism about its future performance, even though it typically excels in managing excess inventory.
- Five Below's Disastrous Performance: The stock of Five Below, which focuses entirely on discretionary products, plummeted around 6.7%, highlighting the impact of tightening consumer spending despite the absence of negative earnings reports.
- Ross Stores' Anomalous Results: Ross Stores, despite reporting strong earnings, saw its stock decline by approximately 5%, making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500, indicating a lack of market confidence in its future prospects.
See More
Retail Stocks Punished Amid Economic Weakness
- Consumer Confidence Decline: Rising gasoline prices above $4 per gallon are suppressing consumer spending, leading to sell-offs in traditionally strong retail stocks like TJX and Dollar General, reflecting a pessimistic market sentiment regarding economic prospects.
- Retail ETF Underperformance: The SPDR S&P Retail ETF fell approximately 3.6% on Monday, indicating that even discount retailers and off-price chains have failed to attract investors during tough economic times, exacerbating concerns over consumer goods.
- TJX Stock Decline: Despite typically excelling in downturns, TJX's stock dropped nearly 3%, with Cramer noting that his portfolio holds the stock and is considering buying more after its recent decline, demonstrating confidence in its long-term potential.
- Market Sentiment Impact: Cramer cautioned investors against trading based solely on headlines, arguing that the current market's emotional reaction to war and oil prices may lead to poor investment decisions, particularly in selecting retail stocks.
See More
Five Below's New Toy Drives Growth Potential
- New Toy Drives Growth: Analyst Spencer Hanus highlights that Five Below's new 'squish' toy dumpling is a crucial growth driver, with a projected 26% upside in stock price, reflecting strong market demand for the product.
- Sales Forecast Upgrade: Hanus anticipates that Five Below's same-store sales could reach as high as 20% in Q1, significantly exceeding the market consensus of 16%, indicating that consumer enthusiasm for the new toys is accelerating sales growth.
- Increased Customer Visits: The scarcity of 'squish' toys has notably boosted customer revisit rates at Five Below, as consumers not only frequent stores but also seek out emerging trends, further enhancing the company's competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Market Attention: Five Below consistently ranks high in Wolfe Research's monthly in-store checks, driven by a fresh product assortment, clean store environments, and energetic customer interactions, showcasing the company's robust performance in the retail sector.
See More
Three Retail Giants Gain Market Share
- Costco's Profit Growth: Costco's net margin has reached 3%, with membership fees contributing over half of its profits despite only accounting for 2% of revenue, showcasing its resilience and potential for sustained growth amid economic uncertainty.
- Dutch Bros.' Rapid Expansion: Dutch Bros. reported a 29% revenue increase in its latest quarter, alongside a 7.7% rise in comparable-store sales, demonstrating its strong appeal among young consumers and significant market potential yet to be tapped.
- Five Below's Strong Performance: Five Below's net sales surged 24% in the latest quarter, matching Dutch Bros.' growth momentum, indicating that under new CEO Winnie Park, the company is regaining market attention and is poised for continued growth in the coming years.
- Intensifying Market Competition: While these three companies operate in distinct niches, they are all gaining market share in their respective fields, reflecting a rising consumer demand for diverse retail experiences, which may lead to increased competition in the future.
See More
Three Stocks to Consider Today for Strong Growth
- H World Group Growth Potential: H World Group Limited (HTHT), a hotel franchise based in China, holds a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate rising by 7.5% over the past 60 days, indicating strong profit growth potential and reinforcing its competitive position in the industry.
- Mistras Group Earnings Outlook: Mistras Group, Inc. (MG) also carries a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate increasing by 6.1% in the last 60 days, suggesting sustained demand in the industrial testing and inspection services sector, enhancing its future profitability.
- Five Below Strong Performance: Five Below, Inc. (FIVE), a specialty value retailer in the U.S., has a Zacks Rank of #1, with its current year earnings consensus estimate rising by 15.7% over the past 60 days, reflecting robust growth momentum in the retail market that may attract more investor interest.
- PEG Ratio Advantage: H World Group's PEG ratio stands at 1.07, Mistras at 1.06, and Five Below at 1.80, all indicating a relative advantage in growth potential and valuation compared to industry averages, which could draw more investor attention.
See More
Three Momentum Stocks to Buy as Market Rally Gains Traction
- Market Rally Momentum: The U.S. equity markets experienced a strong rally this week, driven by optimism surrounding a potential truce deal between the U.S. and Iran, bringing benchmark indices close to all-time highs and erasing losses from the Iran conflict, indicating increased investor confidence in future market conditions.
- Momentum Investment Strategy: Investors are shifting towards momentum stocks like Five Below, Permian Resources, and Alcoa when value or growth investing fails to yield desired profits, leveraging the adage 'the trend is your friend' to capitalize on prevailing market trends for sustained gains.
- Five Below Performance: Targeting the teenage market, Five Below's stock surged 250.8% over the past year, despite a 2.9% decline in the past week, with a Momentum Score of A indicating robust market performance and potential for future growth.
- Permian Resources and Alcoa: Permian Resources' stock rose 81.6% over the past year but fell 6.5% in the last week, while Alcoa's stock surged 191.1% but dropped 1.5% recently, with Momentum Scores of B and A respectively, highlighting their market potential.
See More
