Top Pros' Top Picks 9/9/25

Market Minute ⏱️ 9/9/25: Metals Mega-Merger, Jobs Revisions in Focus

Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

Markets are fairly quiet so far this morning, with equities flat and crude oil and gold up a smidge. Both the dollar and interest rates are inching higher.

Many metals -- and mining stocks -- have been soaring all year. Now, we have a mega-merger in the sector to talk about. Anglo American Plc (NGLOY) of the UK and Teck Resources Ltd. (TECK) of Canada will link up in a $55 billion transaction. The combined “Anglo Teck” firm will be headquartered in Vancouver and have its primary listing in London.

NGLOY, TECK (YTD % Change)

Anglo and Teck’s mines produce iron ore, copper, zinc, and other metals in Chile, Peru, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Finland, and the US. Several other combinations have been discussed or announced in the global mining sector over the past two years. One reason: Companies want more exposure to copper – a key component metal for the energy transition.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revises previously reported jobs data once a year in what’s called the “Benchmark payrolls revision” process. It does so after delayed, comprehensive data becomes available (compared with the less-thorough, but more timely, data it uses to produce each monthly jobs report).

This year, economists think we could see a whopper of a downward shift for the 12 months through March 2025. That would follow a sizable 818,000-job cut in 2024. If the figures to be released at 10:00 am Eastern show the labor market was even weaker than previously expected, it will further underscore why the Federal Reserve is going to start cutting rates again. That process should start at the September meeting set for next week.

Finally, Apple Inc. (AAPL) will kick off its “big reveal” event later today at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Analysts and investors will get the chance to evaluate AAPL’s new iPhone 17 lineup, and consumers will learn how much more they’ll have to pay to get their hands on one of the new smartphones. New Apple Watches and AirPods should also be revealed. AAPL shares have underperformed this year, losing 4.6% so far in 2025.

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• ZTS: An Attractive Dividend Growth Play in the Animal Health Business
  👉️ TICKER: ZTS
  Zoetis Inc. (ZTS) is a global leader in animal health with strong organic growth, robust product innovation, and strategic M&A driving long-term revenue and earnings expansion. The company boasts exceptional dividend safety, a 13-year double-digit dividend growth streak, and a conservative payout ratio, making it ideal for dividend growth investors, explains Prakash Kolli, editor of Dividend Power.

• META & GOOGL: Beneficiaries of Strong Digital Ad Growth
  👉️ TICKERS: GOOGL, META
  We have a positive fundamental outlook for the interactive media and services sub-industry over the next 12 months, reflecting the improving digital advertising landscape and increasing opportunities to monetize AI investments. Companies like Meta Platforms Inc. (META) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) are beneficiaries, writes Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.

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