5 Top-Performing Core Bond Funds

Plus: Stocks with the biggest fair value upgrades, is Dell a buy after its AI-fueled mega rally, how to protect against sticky inflation. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_smartinvestor&utm_content=52689&elqTrackId=038d6c082e2648bb9f294c9594111204&elq=ff8344131d4b48739157651437f90ae4&elqaid=52689&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=26581) [Smart Investor] Smart Investor [Tom Lauricella, chief markets editor]( Connect with Tom on [LinkedIn]( [Tom Lauricella] In this week's newsletter: - [5 Top-Performing Core Bond Funds]( - [10 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Increases After Q4 Earnings]( - [5 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Cuts After Q4 Earnings]( - [Sticky Inflation Is Back. Here’s How to Protect Your Portfolio.]( - [Why You Should Watch the Dot Plots at the Fed’s March Meeting]( - [What To Know About Reddit's IPO]( - [Dell Stock Has Tripled on AI Hopes. Is It a Buy or a Sell?]( All things considered, the stock market is proving remarkably resilient amid news that one might have thought would take the wind out of its sails. This past week, a second consecutive monthly inflation report showed stronger-than-expected price pressures. While most economists think the downtrend in inflation will resume, for now, markets continue [scaling back expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts](. The outlook for Fed policy will be front and center this coming Wednesday afternoon when the central bank announces its latest decision. With the Fed widely expected to keep rates steady, the focus is squarely on any hints about what’s to come next. I assess [what investors should watch for]( as Jerome Powell faces the press. With progress on disinflation stalling, the question is whether to adjust your portfolio. And if so, how? [Sarah Hansen investigates](. With the stock market at record highs, the market for initial public offerings is once again open for business. This coming week, we’re expecting new shares from social media platform Reddit. While tech stocks are hot, it’s a tough field for advertising. [We look at Reddit’s prospects](. Speaking of hot tech stocks, a big name in personal computers has seen its share price triple in the past year. Before you check whether a time machine has taken you back to the 1990s, the catalyst behind Dell rallying more than 200% is none other than artificial intelligence. So is the stock worth its price? [We take a look](. With the end of earnings season, we screened for the stocks that saw their fair value estimates raised by the widest margins. Unsurprisingly, one was Nvidia, but we have [nine other stocks to check out](. We also screened for where Morningstar analysts [slashed valuations the most]( and came up with five names. Lastly, we screened for the best-performing core bond funds. These are the foundational bond funds in most portfolios. [Funds from Fidelity and JPMorgan made the cut](. As always, check out our [Markets page]( for our latest coverage and live stock market updates, along with our [weekly calendar]( of key upcoming data and events. Did a friend forward this email? [Sign up here](. [5 Top-Performing Core Bond Funds]( [5 Top-Performing Core Bond Funds]( Offerings from Baird, Fidelity, and JPMorgan are among the best intermediate core bond funds. Kumudini Devalla [See Top Funds]( Share: [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] Markets and the Economy [Why You Should Watch the Dot Plots at the Fed’s March Meeting]( [Why You Should Watch the Dot Plots at the Fed’s March Meeting]( Will the Fed signal an interest rate cut in June, but with fewer to follow? Tom Lauricella [Sticky Inflation Is Back. Here’s How to Protect Your Portfolio.]( [Sticky Inflation Is Back. Here’s How to Protect Your Portfolio.]( While inflation isn’t expected to start rising again, progress is stalling out. Sarah Hansen [5 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Cuts After Q4 Earnings]( [5 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Cuts After Q4 Earnings]( Clean energy stocks like SunPower and Plug Power are among the ones with big reductions to their valuations. Bella Albrecht [5 Ultracheap Stocks to Buy With the Best Returns on Investment]( [5 Ultracheap Stocks to Buy With the Best Returns on Investment]( These undervalued companies have generated great returns in more ways than one. Susan Dziubinski [Will Investors Upvote Reddit’s IPO Despite Tough Ad Market? ]( [Will Investors Upvote Reddit’s IPO Despite Tough Ad Market?]( The buzzy social-media platform is targeting a $6.4 billion valuation in its stock debut. Sarah Hansen [10 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Increases After Q4 Earnings]( [10 Stocks With the Largest Fair Value Estimate Increases After Q4 Earnings]( Nvidia and Carlyle Group saw the largest valuation bumps among US-listed stocks covered by Morningstar analysts. Bella Albrecht [What’s Happening In the Markets This Week]( [What’s Happening In the Markets This Week]( FOMC meeting, new residential construction, and Nike earnings are ahead. Bella Albrecht [February CPI Report: What Higher-Than-Expected Inflation Means for Fed Rate Cuts]( [February CPI Report: What Higher-Than-Expected Inflation Means for Fed Rate Cuts]( This month’s report looks more concerning for inflation optimists than January’s report. Tom Lauricella [A Way to Protect Your Portfolio Against Bond Price Drops]( [A Way to Protect Your Portfolio Against Bond Price Drops]( Two bank-loan funds to consider when interest rates rise. Max Curtin [What Is the Federal Reserve and How Does It Work?]( [What Is the Federal Reserve and How Does It Work?]( Understand the Fed’s goals and what they mean for your investments. Eric Compton [Should You Keep Foreign Stocks Out of Your IRA?]( [Should You Keep Foreign Stocks Out of Your IRA?]( Tax considerations suggest yes, but other factors may argue against it. Christine Benz [Dell Stock Has Tripled on AI Hopes. Is It a Buy or a Sell?]( [Dell Stock Has Tripled on AI Hopes. Is It a Buy or a Sell?]( Dell’s stock price is up 213% as the PC maker sees growing AI-related demand for servers. Tom Lauricella [After Earnings, Is Adobe Stock a Buy, Sell, or Fairly Valued?]( [After Earnings, Is Adobe Stock a Buy, Sell, or Fairly Valued?]( With the Figma merger falling flat, here’s what we think of Adobe’s stock. Dan Romanoff [Is the Stock Market Expensive Right Now?]( [Is the Stock Market Expensive Right Now?]( Everything investors need to know about frothy stock valuations, and why they may not be so bad. Sarah Hansen Chart of the Week [Why We Expect Inflation to Fall in 2024]( [Why We Expect Inflation to Fall in 2024]( Wondering when inflation will go down? We’re optimistic about what’s ahead. Preston Caldwell [Read More]( Share: [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( Popular This Week [5 Undervalued Stocks to Buy Before They Rise Further]( Plus, how to position your stock portfolio in today’s fairly valued market. David Sekera, Susan Dziubinski [Is the Stock Market Expensive Right Now?]( Everything investors need to know about frothy stock valuations, and why they may not be so bad. Sarah Hansen [3 Cheap Stocks to Buy That the Best Value Managers Own]( These undervalued stocks appear in the portfolios of highly rated large-cap value funds. Susan Dziubinski [The Magnificent Seven: Fortune or Folly?]( An impartial look at these stocks’ long-term prospects. John Rekenthaler [Best Energy Stocks to Buy]( These 5 undervalued energy stocks look attractive today. Sbidag Demerjian Future-Proof Your Strategy With Morningstar Investor Build a portfolio that's durable, no matter what the market throws your way. Subscribe to Morningstar Investor and get unlimited access to our powerful ratings and performance data, unbiased analysis on thousands of stocks, funds, and ETFs, and portfolio management tools that give you a deep understanding of your investments so you know when to make changes to keep your strategy strong. [Start your free trial today](. Stay connected: [twitter]( [facebook]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( [YouTube]( [Apple News]( [View online]( | [See all newsletters]( | [Share your feedback]( [Unsubscribe]( from this newsletter. Or update your [email preferences](. © 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 W. 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