CNBC's Final Trade: Navigating Markets with TROW, LULU, XHB, and LMT Insights

As the trading day drew to a close on September 4, 2025, CNBC's "Final Trade" panel convened to deliver their critical last-minute calls on a quartet of significant market players: T. Rowe Price Group (TROW), Lululemon Athletica (LULU), the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), and Lockheed Martin (LMT).

The discussion provided a compelling snapshot of expert sentiment, offering investors distinct perspectives as they navigated a dynamic market landscape.

Kicking off the conversation, analysts turned their attention to T. Rowe Price (TROW), the venerable asset manager. While active management has faced headwinds from passive investing trends, the panel highlighted TROW's enduring appeal as an income play.

"Despite the shifts in investment preferences, T. Rowe Price continues to demonstrate resilience, especially for those seeking dividend stability in their portfolios," one expert noted. The discussion revolved around the firm's ability to adapt to changing market conditions, its diversified asset base, and the potential for a rebound in specific active strategies.

The consensus suggested that TROW, while perhaps not a high-growth rocket, remains a reliable foundational holding for long-term investors, particularly given its consistent shareholder returns and solid balance sheet.

Next up was Lululemon Athletica (LULU), a name synonymous with premium athleisure and robust growth.

The panel acknowledged LULU's strong brand equity and impressive market penetration, particularly in North America. However, questions arose regarding its valuation amidst a tightening consumer spending environment. "Lululemon has built an empire on quality and community, but can it sustain its premium pricing power and growth trajectory if discretionary spending slows globally?" an analyst challenged.

International expansion, especially in Asia, was cited as a critical growth driver, but competition from both high-end and fast-fashion brands was highlighted as a persistent threat. The "final trade" on LULU leaned towards a cautious optimism, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and successful geographic expansion to justify its current market premium.

The housing sector, represented by the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), sparked a lively debate.

With interest rates having fluctuated significantly over the past year, the resilience of the U.S. housing market has been a constant focal point. "XHB has shown remarkable strength, defying many predictions of a sharp downturn," one panelist observed. The conversation delved into the underlying demand for new homes, driven by demographics and a persistent supply shortage.

However, affordability concerns, mortgage rate volatility, and rising material and labor costs were presented as significant headwinds. The "final trade" on XHB suggested that while the sector might not be poised for explosive growth, a combination of ongoing demand and homebuilders' adaptive strategies could provide a floor, making it an intriguing, albeit somewhat volatile, cyclical play.

Finally, the experts weighed in on aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin (LMT).

In an era marked by heightened geopolitical tensions and robust global defense spending, LMT has traditionally been viewed as a bastion of stability. "Lockheed Martin represents a compelling defensive play, with a massive backlog and critical programs that ensure long-term revenue visibility," an expert affirmed.

The F-35 program, missile defense systems, and space technologies were highlighted as key drivers. While government budget cycles and political shifts can introduce some uncertainty, the essential nature of LMT's products and services provides a significant moat. The consensus trade for LMT was largely positive, positioning it as a steady hand in an uncertain world, offering consistent performance and a solid dividend yield for risk-averse investors.

As the closing bell approached, the "Final Trade" segment underscored the diverse opportunities and challenges across various market segments.

From TROW's steady income stream to LULU's growth ambitions, XHB's cyclical dynamics, and LMT's defensive strength, the panel's insights offered investors valuable perspectives to consider as they finalized their own trading decisions for the day and looked ahead to the evolving market landscape.