Matt Hardy – Equity Markets

Stacked gold-colored coins representing cash returned to shareholders

Shareholder Yield Explained: Dividends Plus Buybacks, and How to Judge Both

Dividend yield misses the buyback half of the story. Learn how shareholder yield works, why net beats gross, and how to calculate it in minutes.

Matt Hardy October 29, 2026

Gas pump beside a brick wall, illustrating gasoline's effect on headline inflation

Inflation & Interest

Headline vs. Core Inflation: Why 3.7% and 2.6% Are Both Right

September CPI showed 3.7% headline but 2.6% core inflation. Learn what each measures, why gasoline swings the gap, and how to read both numbers.

Matt Hardy October 29, 2026

Close-up of a monitor showing stock charts during a live trading session

Weekly Market

Fed Day Meets Big Tech Earnings: A Calm Playbook for the Market’s Most Crowded Week

A Fed decision, megacap earnings, GDP and PCE all land within days. See the calendar and a calm, practical playbook for handling a crowded market week.

Matt Hardy October 27, 2026

Financial newspaper showing a stock market chart, representing GDP and inflation reports

Economic Data

GDP and PCE on the Same Day: How to Read Thursday’s Two Big Reports Without Overreacting

GDP and PCE land the same morning. Learn what each report measures, which components matter, and a simple checklist to read them without overreacting.

Matt Hardy October 27, 2026

Office desk with smartphone and financial charts used to review company buyback funding

Stock Buybacks

Who Pays for the Buyback? Cash vs. Debt-Funded Repurchases

Record buybacks say nothing about where the cash came from. Learn how to tell free-cash-flow repurchases from debt-funded ones with a simple five-minute checklist.

Matt Hardy October 23, 2026

Elderly couple managing finances and bills together at home

Inflation & Interest

Social Security’s 3.6% COLA vs. 3.7% Inflation: Will Your 2027 Raise Cover Rising Costs?

Social Security's 2027 COLA is 3.6% while September CPI-W ran 3.9%. See how the raise is calculated, why it can lag prices, and how to plan your budget.

Matt Hardy October 22, 2026

Close-up of a monitor displaying stock charts during a live trading session

Weekly Market

How to Read an Earnings Report: Why a Beat Doesn’t Always Lift the Stock

A beat does not always lift a stock. Learn the five numbers to read first, why guidance matters, and a reusable checklist for earnings season.

Matt Hardy October 21, 2026

Monitor displaying stock charts during a live trading session

Stock Buybacks

Buyback Headline vs. Reality: 5 Checks Before You Cheer a Repurchase

A buyback announcement is not the same as shareholder value. Use these five checks on spending, share count, price paid and funding before you cheer.

Matt Hardy October 19, 2026

Pink piggy bank on a wooden table representing savings and inflation protection

Inflation & Interest

Inflation at 3.7%: How I Bonds and TIPS Can Protect Your Savings

With CPI up 3.7% from a year ago, idle cash is losing buying power. Learn how I bonds and TIPS work, how they differ, and which fits your savings.

Matt Hardy October 19, 2026

Person writing notes on paper during a weekly investment review

Weekly Market

Build a Weekly Market Review Routine: A Simple Framework for Investors

A repeatable weekly review keeps you focused on what matters. Follow this simple framework to review your portfolio, the market backdrop and the week ahead.

Matt Hardy October 19, 2026