Major Averages Close Lower as Investors Digest Fed Policy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 19 2026
0mins
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 rise
19 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 191.260
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
Current: 191.260
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.
Ulta Beauty Accelerates Fragrance Business Growth
- Fragrance Category Growth: In Q1 of fiscal 2026, Ulta Beauty achieved high-teen comp growth in its fragrance category, increasing its revenue share from 11% to 12%, indicating robust performance and sustained growth potential in the fragrance market.
- New Product Sales Boost: The introduction of new products from core luxury brands like YSL, Carolina Herrera, and Valentino, along with NOYZ's innovative milk scent format, significantly enhanced customer interest and drove sales growth, showcasing the company's success in product innovation.
- Marketing Strategy: NOYZ's 360-degree go-to-market activation strategy propelled it into Ulta's top 20 fragrance brands, while the collaboration fragrance “Be Her” with Ella Langley increased brand social engagement, further enhancing consumer awareness and interest.
- Financial Performance Analysis: Despite a 3.8% decline in Ulta's stock price over the past year, its forward P/E ratio of 15.23 is slightly above the industry average of 14.39, reflecting market confidence in its future growth, with earnings expected to rise by 11.8% and 11.3% over the next two fiscal years.
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- Price Range Analysis: The EMXC ETF has a 52-week low of $60.02 and a high of $105.71, with the latest trade at $105.53, indicating stability near its peak, which may attract more investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF units highlights significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), directly affecting the ETF's underlying holdings and consequently its component market performance.
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Five Below Appoints New Executives
- Executive Appointments: Five Below has announced the appointment of Rodney Lastinger as Chief Retail Officer, responsible for the operational performance of nearly 2,000 stores, set to start on June 22, 2026, aiming to drive company expansion and enhance customer experience.
- Legal Leadership: Christos Yatrakis has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer, overseeing the company's legal functions and joining on June 15, 2026, bringing 20 years of experience in global public consumer companies to strengthen compliance and governance.
- Operational Transformation Experience: Lastinger, as COO at GNC, managed over 2,200 stores and improved comparable sales trends and EBITDA through operational transformation and supply chain optimization, suggesting a potential for similar success at Five Below.
- Strategic Vision for Collaboration: Both executives emphasize a customer-centric approach, with Lastinger looking to drive operational excellence for enhanced customer experiences, while Yatrakis aims to provide strategic legal counsel to support the company's ongoing growth.
See More
Five Below Elects New Independent Director Robert Lynch
- New Board Member: Five Below has appointed Robert Lynch, CEO of Shake Shack, as a new independent director, expanding the board to nine members, aiming to leverage his extensive experience in leading multi-unit consumer companies to drive growth.
- Strategic Value Addition: Lynch's executive background in renowned dining brands like Papa John's and Arby's is expected to provide critical insights for Five Below's long-term strategy, enhancing the brand's connection with customers.
- Market Expansion Potential: With over 1,900 stores across 46 states, Five Below offers competitively priced high-quality products, and Lynch's addition is anticipated to further amplify the brand's influence among younger consumers.
- Brand Vision Enhancement: Lynch expressed admiration for Five Below's unique value proposition and emphasized his commitment to collaborating with the board and management team on key strategic initiatives to strengthen brand appeal and customer loyalty.
See More
DaVita, Five Below, and Pitney Bowes Earnings Estimates Rise
- DaVita Earnings Boost: DaVita Inc. (DVA) has seen its Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increase by 6.4% over the last 60 days, indicating strong performance in the kidney dialysis market and suggesting potential stock price appreciation.
- Five Below Growth Potential: Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) also holds a Zacks Rank #1, with an 8.1% increase in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, reflecting enhanced competitiveness in the specialty retail sector, which may attract more investor interest.
- Pitney Bowes Earnings Surge: Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) has experienced an 11% rise in its current year earnings estimates according to Zacks over the last 60 days, showcasing robust growth in the shipping and mailing services sector, likely boosting market confidence and stock performance.
- Industry Comparison Advantage: DaVita's PEG ratio stands at 0.65, Five Below at 1.09, and Pitney Bowes at 0.75, all indicating valuation advantages compared to industry averages, which may draw increased investor attention to these companies.
See More
Five Below Reports Strong Quarter Amid Economic Concerns
- Significant Sales Growth: Five Below's same-store sales surged 23%, driven by a 19% increase in traffic, indicating the company's success in attracting customers and laying a solid foundation for future performance.
- Improved Profitability: Gross margins widened by nearly four percentage points, and earnings per share (EPS) more than doubled year-over-year, demonstrating effective execution in cost control and sales growth, although market reactions were less favorable.
- Cautious Market Outlook: Management warned of
See More
Ulta Beauty Accelerates Fragrance Business Growth
- Fragrance Category Growth: In Q1 of fiscal 2026, Ulta Beauty achieved high-teen comp growth in its fragrance category, increasing its revenue share from 11% to 12%, indicating robust performance and sustained growth potential in the fragrance market.
- New Product Sales Boost: The introduction of new products from core luxury brands like YSL, Carolina Herrera, and Valentino, along with NOYZ's innovative milk scent format, significantly enhanced customer interest and drove sales growth, showcasing the company's success in product innovation.
- Marketing Strategy: NOYZ's 360-degree go-to-market activation strategy propelled it into Ulta's top 20 fragrance brands, while the collaboration fragrance “Be Her” with Ella Langley increased brand social engagement, further enhancing consumer awareness and interest.
- Financial Performance Analysis: Despite a 3.8% decline in Ulta's stock price over the past year, its forward P/E ratio of 15.23 is slightly above the industry average of 14.39, reflecting market confidence in its future growth, with earnings expected to rise by 11.8% and 11.3% over the next two fiscal years.
See More
Analysis of EMXC ETF One-Year Price Performance
- Price Range Analysis: The EMXC ETF has a 52-week low of $60.02 and a high of $105.71, with the latest trade at $105.53, indicating stability near its peak, which may attract more investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF units highlights significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), directly affecting the ETF's underlying holdings and consequently its component market performance.
See More
Five Below Appoints New Executives
- Executive Appointments: Five Below has announced the appointment of Rodney Lastinger as Chief Retail Officer, responsible for the operational performance of nearly 2,000 stores, set to start on June 22, 2026, aiming to drive company expansion and enhance customer experience.
- Legal Leadership: Christos Yatrakis has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer, overseeing the company's legal functions and joining on June 15, 2026, bringing 20 years of experience in global public consumer companies to strengthen compliance and governance.
- Operational Transformation Experience: Lastinger, as COO at GNC, managed over 2,200 stores and improved comparable sales trends and EBITDA through operational transformation and supply chain optimization, suggesting a potential for similar success at Five Below.
- Strategic Vision for Collaboration: Both executives emphasize a customer-centric approach, with Lastinger looking to drive operational excellence for enhanced customer experiences, while Yatrakis aims to provide strategic legal counsel to support the company's ongoing growth.
See More
Five Below Elects New Independent Director Robert Lynch
- New Board Member: Five Below has appointed Robert Lynch, CEO of Shake Shack, as a new independent director, expanding the board to nine members, aiming to leverage his extensive experience in leading multi-unit consumer companies to drive growth.
- Strategic Value Addition: Lynch's executive background in renowned dining brands like Papa John's and Arby's is expected to provide critical insights for Five Below's long-term strategy, enhancing the brand's connection with customers.
- Market Expansion Potential: With over 1,900 stores across 46 states, Five Below offers competitively priced high-quality products, and Lynch's addition is anticipated to further amplify the brand's influence among younger consumers.
- Brand Vision Enhancement: Lynch expressed admiration for Five Below's unique value proposition and emphasized his commitment to collaborating with the board and management team on key strategic initiatives to strengthen brand appeal and customer loyalty.
See More
DaVita, Five Below, and Pitney Bowes Earnings Estimates Rise
- DaVita Earnings Boost: DaVita Inc. (DVA) has seen its Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increase by 6.4% over the last 60 days, indicating strong performance in the kidney dialysis market and suggesting potential stock price appreciation.
- Five Below Growth Potential: Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) also holds a Zacks Rank #1, with an 8.1% increase in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, reflecting enhanced competitiveness in the specialty retail sector, which may attract more investor interest.
- Pitney Bowes Earnings Surge: Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) has experienced an 11% rise in its current year earnings estimates according to Zacks over the last 60 days, showcasing robust growth in the shipping and mailing services sector, likely boosting market confidence and stock performance.
- Industry Comparison Advantage: DaVita's PEG ratio stands at 0.65, Five Below at 1.09, and Pitney Bowes at 0.75, all indicating valuation advantages compared to industry averages, which may draw increased investor attention to these companies.
See More
Five Below Reports Strong Quarter Amid Economic Concerns
- Significant Sales Growth: Five Below's same-store sales surged 23%, driven by a 19% increase in traffic, indicating the company's success in attracting customers and laying a solid foundation for future performance.
- Improved Profitability: Gross margins widened by nearly four percentage points, and earnings per share (EPS) more than doubled year-over-year, demonstrating effective execution in cost control and sales growth, although market reactions were less favorable.
- Cautious Market Outlook: Management warned of
See More
