CNBC’s "Fast Money" Podcast Summary
Episode: Big Tech Earnings On Deck… And Charter’s Post-Results Slide (July 25, 2025)

Introduction
Hosted by Melissa Lee and a panel of top traders, CNBC's "Fast Money" delivers actionable news tailored for investors. In the July 25, 2025 episode titled "Big Tech Earnings On Deck… And Charter’s Post-Results Slide," the team delves into a week packed with significant earnings reports, market volatility indicators, and notable industry shifts.

1. Market Overview and Earnings Season Anticipation

Opening Remarks:
Tim Seymour kicks off the episode from the NASDAQ marketsite in Times Square, highlighting the week’s monumental $11 trillion plus earnings, with tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta slated to report next week.

Market Performance:
Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at all-time highs, while the Dow Jones slipped slightly by a quarter percent. The anticipation centers around whether the forthcoming earnings will sustain the market’s upward trajectory or trigger a correction.

Key Insight:
Courtney Garcia expresses caution, stating, "I just feel like this has been such a big run. The VIX broke 15 today. I actually put on some market hedges. I'm always long but I just feel like this has been, you know, too far, too fast" (02:13).

2. Big Tech Earnings Expectations

Discussion Points:
The panel debates the high expectations set for the Mag 7 (Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and others), noting their collective surge over 40% since April. Carter Braxton Wirth emphasizes the necessity for these companies to justify their capital expenditures and demonstrate monetization strategies in their guidance (03:18).

Performance Analysis:
Mandy Xu notes, "I like Google, I'm long Google. I wasn't disappointed by the price action. 80% of the S and P have beaten earnings earnings season with a bar that I think was also reasonably low" (03:42).

3. Intel’s Struggles and Strategic Shifts

Post-Earnings Slide:
Intel shares plummeted by 8.5% following a week where the company beat revenue expectations but provided weak guidance. The new CEO announced significant cuts to chip factory construction and plans to spin off its networking communications business.

Expert Insight:
Mandy Xu comments, "I don't like hearing a strategy that's not there. I don't want an earnings call where all I hear about are cost cutting and we're going to really watch that next dollar spent" (20:07).

Panel Consensus:
Carter Braxton Wirth expresses skepticism about Intel's direction, stating, "I think that's really the problem there is they're not two feet in and until they are, I don't think you're going to see an upside here" (21:12).

4. Volatility Indicators: VIX and Beyond

VIX Analysis:
The Volatility Index (VIX) fell below 15 for the first time since February, signaling reduced market fear. Walter Pisek interprets this as a sign of strong macro fundamentals, stating, "The fact that equities keep making new all time highs and volatility is falling across all asset classes is a sign that economic data continues to come in better than expected" (13:17).

Cautionary Notes:
Karen Feiderman advises against using VIX as a timing tool, emphasizing its limitations and the importance of broader market indicators (18:32).

5. Regional Bank Consolidation: Synovus and Pinnacle Financial Merger

Merger Details:
Synovus and Pinnacle Financial announced an $8.6 billion merger, creating one of the largest regional banks in the Southeast with over $115 billion in combined assets. The deal has seen both stocks sink, reflecting market disappointment.

Strategic Opinions:
Courtney Garcia finds the merger attractive despite initial setbacks, highlighting the change of control in Synovus and potential for the combined entity to seize growth opportunities (25:18).

Market Implications:
Carter Braxton Wirth views this as a positive sign for regional bank consolidation, stating, "This is just the first inkling of that which is a good sign for the broader market in the M and A space" (28:08).

6. Utilities Sector: A Hidden Gem for Investors

Technical Analysis:
Karen Feiderman presents charts indicating that the utilities sector is making new 52-week highs, underscoring the importance of dividends. She notes, "The total return of the S&P 500 utility sector and the total return of The S&P 500 dividends reinvested is a dead even heat for 25 years" (43:46).

Investment Strategy:
Mandy Xu advocates for utilities as a low-volatility, high-dividend sector, mentioning renewable energy leaders like Nextera as promising investments (45:49).

7. Cable Industry Challenges: Charter Communications’ Subscriber Losses

Subscriber Decline:
Charter Communications experienced an 18% drop in stock value, its worst day on record, attributed to a significant loss in both Internet and video subscribers.

Industry Dynamics:
Walter Pisek explains the issue as overbuilding fiber and competition from mobile broadband services, stating, "What Charter calls cell phone Internet is eating away at their subscriber base" (35:05).

Future Outlook:
The panel expresses skepticism about the cable industry's ability to reverse these trends, with Carter Braxton Wirth advising investors to possibly stay away from currently struggling cable stocks (40:45).

8. AI-Adjacent Stocks: Benefiting from the AI Boom

Investment Opportunities:
The episode highlights companies like United Rentals, Eaton, and Quanta Services, which are positioned to benefit from increased capital expenditures in AI infrastructure.

Expert Insights:
Courtney Garcia points out, "Even if they're not specifically related to I, I know United Rentals in their specialty division, they do a lot of things that are related to building AI data centers" (31:29).

Growth Potential:
Mandy Xu emphasizes the ongoing opportunities in the energy sector tied to AI infrastructure, mentioning upcoming reports from Constellations on construction backlogs (32:26).

9. Regulatory and Safety Concerns: RFK Jr. and Gene Therapy Investigations

Recent Developments:
The FDA is investigating the death of an eight-year-old boy in Brazil after receiving Sarepta's gene therapy, though Brazilian authorities attribute the death to influenza exacerbating liver toxicity.

Market Impact:
Angelica Peebles notes the FDA's scrutiny may influence investor confidence, especially with ongoing debates around gene therapy safety (41:44).

Conclusion

The July 25th episode of "Fast Money" encapsulates a critical juncture in the market, with big tech earnings poised to influence the trajectory of recently set all-time highs. While sectors like utilities and AI-adjacent stocks present promising investment avenues, challenges persist in areas such as the cable industry and semiconductor manufacturing. The panel underscores the importance of strategic hedging and cautious optimism as investors navigate this multifaceted financial landscape.

Note: All timestamps referenced correspond to the podcast transcript provided.