Howard Capital Management Reviews - Wealth Watch & Global Weekly Summary
Tailored Investment Solutions from Howard Capital Management and J. Martin Wealth
Located in Roswell, Georgia, Howard Capital Management (HCM) is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor Firm. They aim to deliver professional money management solutions to individuals seeking growth while maintaining a prudent investment approach. The firm offers the use of the HCM-BuyLine®, developed by Vance Howard, CEO and Portfolio Manager at Howard Capital Management Inc., which has been their cornerstone since 1996. This stop-loss safeguard is crafted to provide timely guidance during market volatility. The HCM-BuyLine® effectively reduces downside risk by moving from equities to cash and cash equivalents while actively identifying opportunities to boost equity exposure during a market upswing.
J. Martin Wealth, based in Arizona, provides fiduciary financial advice tailored to help you meet your financial goals. Led by Jeff Martin, our team focuses on personalized investment strategies that align with your risk tolerance, time horizon, and unique objectives. Whether planning for retirement, managing your investments, or seeking comprehensive financial guidance, we are here to provide solutions that put your best interests first. Serving clients in Gilbert, Chandler, Maricopa, and throughout Arizona, we are committed to delivering transparent, client-centered service.

Howard Capital - Global Weekly Summary
Equity Markets shrug off Tariff Pressure
August 8, 2025
- Posted By : Editorial Team
Global markets recovered from last week’s tariff slump to post gains this week, despite tariff pressures. President Donald Trump. Trump has suggested a 100% tariff on semiconductors in addition to the reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, which went into effect this week. Apple has announced its plans to invest $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. In global geopolitics, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was unable to secure a trade deal during his visit to the U.S. The U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with President Putin was reported to be productive. Putin is expected to meet Trump in the coming days. The U.A.E. and India have increased their cooperation and trade ties with Russia, despite the threat of tariffs and sanctions. Canada and Mexico also worked to deepen their trade ties and cooperation over the coming months.
Global Updates
- The MSCI All Country World Index rose this week. Global equity markets were higher, driven by corporate earnings, despite the continued trade uncertainty. Russia’s willingness to negotiate with Russia also raised investor sentiment. The broad-based Japan equity index Topix also crossed the 3,000 benchmark for the first time this week, driven by corporate earnings.
- Bank of England eased its policy rate to 4% with a quarter percentage cut after a narrow vote.
- German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall’s stock price fell after the company reported a less-than-expected $2.8 billion in second-quarter sales
- Softbank’s share price rose after the company posted a higher-than-expected profit of 421.8 billion Yen for the April-June quarter.
- The stock price of Lloyds rose after the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling on the motor vehicle loan case came in less adverse than expected.
- Novo Nordisk’s stock price rose on the news of poor results in Eli Lilly’s clinical trials.
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reported a 26% jump in July’s AI-driven sales revenue.
- Samsung has announced its plans to manufacture iPhone’s image sensors for Apple in Texas.
- The oil futures fell slightly driven by OPEC+’s announcement of increased output in September. The market continues to be unable to meet summer demand. Increasing pressure on consumers of Russian oil to restrict purchases has also tightened markets.
- The 39.5% tariff on Swiss exports, which is one of the largest refiners of gold, has raised gold futures this week.
U.S. Equity
- The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones indices posted gains in the equities market this week, driven by the corporate returns announced this week. The gains were partially offset by the global tariffs on multiple countries, which came into effect this week. Semiconductor manufacturers like Nvidia, Broadcom, TSMC, and AMD also benefited from President Trump’s tariff exemption announcement for companies manufacturing in the U.S.
- The firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer by President Trump this week was widely criticized. The move followed the release of July payroll data, indicating a lower-than-expected 73,000 jobs added and a higher unemployment rate of 4.2% in July. The BLS also revised down the earlier reported job gains in May to 19,000 from 144,000 and in June to 14,000 from 147,000. Given the poor job reports, the markets have raised the expectation of a rate cut in September.
- Apple CEO Tim Cook announced plans to invest $2.5 billion in the expansion of Corning’s Kentucky plant and a $100 billion spend on domestic U.S. companies by 2029. The company also committed to incentivizing its foreign suppliers to purchase U.S.-made inputs.
- Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly reported higher-than-expected second quarter adjusted EPS of $6.31 on a 38% growth in revenue to $15.56 billion. The performance was driven by the demand for its metabolism control drugs.
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) posted a 32% growth in its second quarter revenue of $7.67 billion driven by the 73% growth in their gaming revenue. AMD’s adjusted EPS of $0.48 was in line with expectations.
- Palantir Technologies posted an adjusted EPS of $0.16 on a higher-than-expected revenue growth of 48% to $1 billion in the second quarter, driven by the growing demand for AI software.
- The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, has been reportedly planning to float its shares for a $500 billion valuation through a secondary stock sale of employee-held equity.
Fixed Income
- The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index rose slightly this week.
- The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield edged up to 4.2440% and the yield on the 2-year note rose to 3.734% over the week.
- The U.S. Dollar Index declined to 98.25 this week.
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Wealth Watch: From the desk of Vance Howard
Resting, Not Retreating – Is the Next Leg Up in Sight?
Posted By: Vance Howard - August 5, 2025

The analysts and economists who are out crying wolf that the sky is going to fall are just about always wrong. Will we have pullbacks and volatility? Of course, markets like to correct and then move higher. But there is $7.4 trillion in money market accounts waiting for any drop in rates, and we should see some of that money moving into equities. The HCM-BuyLine® is positive, and pullbacks should be seen as buying opportunities.
Just as we wrote about last week, the markets like to take what I call “a little Spanish Pause” every now and then. Periods of consolidation are normal and healthy for stocks to move higher.
US equities finished higher in a fairly quiet Monday trading session, with the S&P largely erasing Friday’s selloff (but remaining less than 1% below record highs). Big tech was mostly higher, with NVDA and META among the notable gainers, but market breadth was solidly positive, and the equal-weight S&P only slightly lagged the cap-weighted index.
The Fed is late. They should have dropped rates at the last meeting, and two board members dissented, which is very uncommon. A September rate cut is highly probable in our opinion.

On Friday, we learned that U.S. employers created just 73,000 jobs in July. After May and June’s numbers were revised lower, we learned the three-month moving average was a paltry 35,000. That means the labor market, comprising 159.5 million jobs, is growing by just 0.02% per month.
“Friday’s jobs report, with its below-consensus July reading and very large May and June revisions, reflects a US economy closer to a tipping point than markets or the Fed previously thought,” Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research, wrote on Monday. “Monthly job growth that hovers around zero for a few months in a row is a classic early recession indicator.” Job creation is arguably the most important indicator of economic growth. And it’s not the only metric that’s cooling.

One of the bigger drags to growth has been personal consumption expenditures, which account for 69% of GDP. Real personal consumption peaked in April, and growth has mostly been flat this year. Come on, Fed Chair Powell, read the data; it is time to drop rates.
The HCM-BuyLine® Explained
Curious how the HCM-BuyLine® works—and whether it fits your investment strategy?
The HCM-BuyLine® is a proprietary, rules-based investment tool designed to help manage portfolio risk by using market momentum indicators. Instead of relying on emotional decision-making, the BuyLine® uses quantitative data to signal when to reduce equity exposure and when to re-enter the market. This can help protect capital during major downturns and participate in uptrends when conditions improve.
For investors seeking an alternative to traditional buy-and-hold strategies, the HCM-BuyLine® offers a more dynamic, tactical investment approach. Its methodology may be especially valuable during periods of volatility or economic uncertainty.
Have you seen this kind of strategy from your current financial advisor? Are you looking for an investment philosophy that adapts to changing market conditions?
At J. Martin Wealth, we believe in aligning your financial plan with tools that are built to adapt. The HCM-BuyLine® is one example of how data-driven investing can support long-term goals while managing downside risk.
The HCM-BuyLine® is a proprietary indicator and does not guarantee investment results or prevent losses. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.
Ready to Learn More?
Schedule a complimentary consultation to explore how the HCM-BuyLine® and other tactical strategies may fit into your overall investment plan.

Who is Vance Howard?
Vance Howard embarked on his professional career in the financial industry in 1992, establishing Chartered Financial Services, Inc. He subsequently founded Howard Capital Management, Inc. in 1999, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor. Mr. Howard brings expertise in the analysis, creation, and execution of diverse trading strategies.
Prior to his focus on financial services, Mr. Howard founded Delta Waste Services in 1988, a waste management company he later sold in 1992. Additionally, he co-published investment-focused newsletters, "The Savvy Investor" and the "SI Intermediate-term Trader", which garnered an international readership across over 25 countries between 1992-1999.
Demonstrating a commitment to community, Vance has served on the Huntsville, Texas city council for four terms, including two terms as mayor pro tem. His civic involvement extends to roles such as Huntsville's City Finance Chairman, Chairman of the Huntsville/Walker County 911 Emergency Service, and board positions on the Houston/Galveston Economic Development Council and the District 910 Legal Grievance Committee. He is a former President and active member of the Huntsville Rotary Club.
Outside of the professional sphere, Vance collaborates with family members in the operation of the Bar C Ranch in Madisonville, Texas, where they specialize in raising registered longhorn cattle. His leisure interests include travel with his wife and children, cycling, kayaking, scuba diving, and hiking.
“We aim to take emotion completely out of the equation. Trading with emotions, in our opinion, ruins long-term returns.”
— VANCE HOWARD, CEO + PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Howard Capital Management, Inc, issues this communication. It is for informational purposes and is not an official confirmation of terms. It is not guaranteed as to the accuracy, nor is it a complete statement of the financial products or markets referred to. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. Howard Capital Management, Inc. may maintain long or short positions in the financial instruments referred to and transact as principal or agent. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, this is not a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy or sell, and any prices or quotations contained herein are indicative only. To the extent permitted by law, Howard Capital Management, Inc. does not accept any liability arising from using this communication. Howard Capital Management is an SEC-registered investment advisor that only does business where it is properly registered or is otherwise exempt from registration. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor indicates that the advisor has attained a particular skill or ability. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
This newsletter is a publication of Howard Capital Management, Inc. It should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed, nor should the newsletter be construed as personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion reflect the author's judgment as of the publication date and are subject to change. It should not be viewed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your legal or tax situation. There can be no guarantee that the HCM-BuyLine® indicator will perform as anticipated. Stoploss protection will not necessarily limit your losses to the desired amounts due to the limitations of the HCM-BuyLine®, market conditions, and delays in executing orders. It is not an actual stop-loss order that automatically sells securities in the portfolio at a certain price.