Insights

When it comes to investing, innovation and disruption are nothing new. Every so often, something shakes up traditional markets in unexpected ways. Enter meme stocks: a phenomenon that has captivated both seasoned investors and newcomers alike. But what exactly are meme stocks, and why have they gained such popularity?

At Howland Capital, we believe in making a difference in our community. Recently, our team had the privilege of volunteering at St. Francis House. From meal preparation to serving food, sorting clothing donations, and contributing to special events, our employees worked in small groups to help bring St. Francis House’s mission to life. These volunteer shifts offered our team the chance to contribute directly to the work of this vital organization, connecting with both staff and guests along the way

Our Investment Committee remains diligently focused on researching the companies held in client portfolios and searching for attractive new investment ideas. Over the last twelve months, the Investment Committee has met with over 30 companies across 9 different sectors (see list below) to discuss key topics such as industry trends, competitive positioning, financial stability, and much more.

We believe the Fed will cut rates this year.  They are likely to start slowly with a quarter percentage point cut, bringing the policy rate closer to 4%, and will likely guide the market to expect at least one additional cut later this year. 

One of Wall Street’s oldest axioms, “markets hate uncertainty,” seemingly did not apply in the second quarter, as the equity market brushed aside tariff questions, an increased likelihood of inflation, the prospects of perilously high national debt, and U.S. involvement in various wars.

The first quarter saw the U.S. economy decline at an annualized pace of 0.5%; however, this was primarily due to a sharp increase in imports – a negative contributor to GDP – as companies stockpiled inventory ahead of tariffs.  Despite this being the first contraction in three years, key indicators remained intact. 

After a busy few weeks of haggling, headlines, and holdouts, Congress delivered a sweeping piece of legislation for President Trump’s signature prior to a self-imposed July 4th deadline. Nearing a thousand pages, the law has major implications for taxes, healthcare, government social programs, defense, and immigration. Parsing through the messy politics and into the policy details is key to understanding how you may be affected, and if so, how we can best plan for the changes together.

This spring, Howland Capital was proud to support Art in Bloom, the Museum of Fine Arts’ annual celebration of art and nature. This cherished event brings together the talents of New England garden clubs, professional designers, and museum floral volunteers, who craft intricate arrangements inspired by masterpieces from the MFA's vast collection.