SCI Overview

Defensive Stocks in Volatile Markets: Defensive stocks, particularly in the consumer staples sector, can help preserve capital during market downturns by limiting losses and providing reliable dividend income.

Consumer Staples as Safe Investments: Companies in the consumer staples sector are considered safe investments due to their consistent demand for essential goods, which leads to predictable revenue and lower volatility compared to other sectors.

Waste Management's Strong Dividend Performance: Waste Management Inc. has established a strong market position with a high dividend payout rate and a history of increasing payouts, making it an attractive option for investors seeking reliable income.

Service Corporation International's Growth Potential: Service Corporation International, a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services, benefits from a unique business model that allows for upfront payments, supporting a healthy dividend yield and capital growth.

Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.

Penumbra Inc. Performance: Penumbra Inc. (PEN) saw a 14.0% increase in pre-market trading.

Talen Energy Corp. Performance: Talen Energy Corp. (TLN) experienced a 10.2% rise in pre-market trading.

Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains indicate positive sentiment among investors for these companies.

Upcoming Ex-Dividend Dates: On 12/15/25, Steven Madden Ltd. (SHOO), Red Rock Resorts Inc (RRR), and Service Corp. International (SCI) will trade ex-dividend, with respective dividends of $0.21, $0.26, and $0.34 scheduled for payment on 12/26/25 and 12/31/25.

Expected Stock Price Adjustments: Following the ex-dividend date, SHOO is expected to open 0.48% lower, RRR by 0.45%, and SCI by 0.44%, based on their recent stock prices.

Dividend Yield Estimates: The estimated annualized yields for the companies are 1.92% for Steven Madden Ltd., 1.81% for Red Rock Resorts Inc, and 1.76% for Service Corp. International, reflecting their historical dividend stability.

Current Trading Performance: As of Thursday trading, shares of Steven Madden Ltd. are up 0.4%, Red Rock Resorts Inc. up 1.8%, and Service Corp. International up 0.1%.

Market Rally Driven by Fed Expectations: Wall Street experienced a significant rally as traders increased bets on a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month, following dovish comments from key officials, with a 77% chance now assigned to a 25-basis-point cut at the December meeting.

Tech Stocks Lead Gains: The Nasdaq 100 surged 2.4%, with semiconductor stocks like Broadcom and Micron leading the charge, while Alphabet's market cap surpassed Microsoft's, making it the third-largest publicly traded company.

Bitcoin and Commodities Performance: Bitcoin rose 0.5% to $87,000, indicating a pause in the recent selloff, while gold and silver also saw gains, with gold up 0.8% to $4,100 and silver up 1% to $50.50.

Major Indices and ETF Movements: The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 also posted gains, with the tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust rallying 2.3%, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector lagged behind, down 0.9%.