Daily Point
_ Dow Jones 52,146.42 (-0.93%)
_ S&P 500 7,457.69 (-1.55%)
_ Nasdaq 25,520.24 (-2.9%)
_ Bitcoin 64,138.72 (+0.55%)
Topline Signals
- TSMC: The semiconductor manufacturer raised its 2026 capital budget to between $60 billion and $64 billion and committed an additional $100 billion to its Arizona expansion, bringing its total U.S. pipeline to $265 billion.
- AI Infrastructure: The six largest technology spenders have issued $244 billion in bonds year-to-date, with Alphabet raising its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to between $180 billion and $190 billion.
- US Macro: June CPI inflation registered at 3.5% year-over-year, with the 10-year Treasury yield closing at 4.55% and the 30-year yield back above the 5.0% psychological barrier.
Good day.
The sharp contraction in the Nasdaq and the broader semiconductor index is a classic example of market noise that the disciplined investor must learn to welcome. While short-term traders panic over a tech-led sell-off, we look at the structural reality: the underlying engine of the 2026 mega-trends remains entirely intact. The massive capital expenditure cycle powering artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure is not a speculative bubble; it is a multi-year industrial migration. Tech giants are projected to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on physical infrastructure, and as TSMC's recent upward revision of its capital budget to $60 billion to $64 billion demonstrates, the demand for leading-edge silicon continues to outpace supply.
As we head into a pivotal week of corporate earnings, with heavyweights like Alphabet, Tesla, and ServiceNow scheduled to report, the market is demanding proof of monetization. This is a healthy transition from multiple expansion to earnings delivery. We see this tension reflected in the bond market, where the 10-year Treasury yield remains elevated near 4.55% due to persistent energy inflation stemming from the geopolitical escalation in the Middle East. While some central bank officials hint at further rate hikes to combat these pressures, the long-term trajectory points to structural scarcity in both power and computing capacity.
For those focused on absolute financial freedom, these periods of volatility are the premier accumulation windows. Note how Bitcoin quietly decoupled during the equity rout, holding firm above $64,000. It continues to act as a global liquidity sponge, preparing for the next phase of institutional and sovereign adoption. Meanwhile, the real-world bottleneck of the AI expansion is shifting to the power grid, positioning select utility and nuclear energy producers as the ultimate toll-takers of this era. True wealth is built by ignoring the daily fluctuations of the indices and aggressively allocating capital to the irreplaceable infrastructure of the next decade. Keep your eyes on the terminal horizon, and let the impatient fund your future.
Weekly Schedule
20 Jul (Monday)
21 Jul (Tuesday)
Danaher Earnings Call
Charles Schwab Earnings Call
22 Jul (Wednesday)
Alphabet Earnings Call
IBM Earnings Call
ServiceNow Earnings Call
Philip Morris International Earnings Call
AT&T Earnings Call
Tesla Earnings Call
Texas Instruments Earnings Call
23 Jul (Thursday)
Blackstone Earnings Call
Comcast Earnings Call
Freeport-McMoRan Earnings Call
Honeywell Earnings Call
Intel Earnings Call
Lockheed Martin Earnings Call
RTX Corporation Earnings Call
Union Pacific Earnings Call
24 Jul (Friday)
American Express Earnings Call
NextEra Energy Earnings Call
Schlumberger Earnings Call
Verizon Earnings Call
ExxonMobil Earnings Call
25 Jul (Saturday)
26 Jul (Sunday)
General
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Friday, July 17, 2026: Rates are mixed today
According to the Zillow lender marketplace, mortgage rates are mixed today. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose by 3 basis points to 6.52% today, Friday, July 17, 2026. The average 15-year fixed rate fell by 1 basis point to 5.95%. The average 5/1 ARM rose by 1 basis point to 6.75%. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year mortgage rate was 6.55% through Wednesday, up from 6.49% a week earlier. A year ago, the average 30-year mortgage rate was 6.75%.
Gold prices today, Friday, July 17, 2026: Gold nosedives to Nov. '25 levels as Iran airstrikes intensify
Gold (GC=F) August futures opened at $3,980.10 per troy ounce on Friday, July 17, 2026, down 0.3% from Thursday's closing price. A sixth straight day of airstrikes against Iranian targets has pushed gold prices down to levels last seen eight months ago in November 2025. Oil prices have risen considerably this week following consecutive days of fighting, prompting many to believe the Fed will raise rates at least once this year to combat rising energy prices caused by the war with Iran.
A $2 Million 401(k) Can Quietly Trigger a 40% Tax Rate on RMDs. Here’s How to Stop It
The 2026 IRMAA thresholds start at $109,000 in modified adjusted gross income for a single filer and $218,000 for joint. Annuity payouts scale with the long end of the Treasury curve, and the long end is currently generous. The 10-year yield sits at 4.62%, near its 12-month high, and the 30-year at 5.08% gives insurers room to price 15-year deferred income aggressively. The national 12-month CD average sits at just 1.65%, and current I-bond composite rates are 4.26%.
Her Social Security Can’t Fund a Roth IRA. At 80, Her Hobby Income Can.
The Consumer Price Index rose 4.2% annually in May 2026, the highest rate in three years, driven largely by energy costs, which is why a 2.8% COLA does not feel like a raise.
Rising Oil Prices Shift Investor Focus Beyond AI
Higher oil prices often benefit energy producers while creating headwinds for sectors with significant fuel costs, including airlines, transportation, travel and some industrial companies. For central banks, persistent energy inflation may delay interest rate cuts or encourage a more cautious policy stance, creating additional pressure for equity markets.
The Widow’s Penalty: Same Savings, Same House, a Higher Tax Bracket After One Spouse Dies
A single filer hits the 22% bracket at $50,401 and the 24% bracket at $105,701. The standard deduction is cut roughly in half. The bracket thresholds compress. Income that used to be taxed at 12% can jump to 22% or 24% without a single dollar of new earnings. A married couple filing jointly stays in the 12% bracket up to $100,800 of taxable income and does not hit the 24% bracket until $211,400. The single-filer 24% band ends where the joint 24% band is only halfway through. Same taxable dollars, higher marginal rate. Taxable income after the single standard deduction lands well inside the 22% bracket. The marginal rate has effectively doubled on the top slice of income that the widow still needs to live on. Social Security paid out $1,630.3 billion in transfer receipts in 2026 Q1, and for many retiree households, that stream is their largest source of income. Median usual weekly earnings for full-time workers were $1,235 in 2026 Q1, or roughly $64,000 annualized.
Stock Market Today, July 17: Stocks Slide as Semiconductor Rout Deepens
The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 1.40%) fell 1.40% to 25,520, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.01%) lost 1.02% to 7,457, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.77%) slipped 0.77% to 52,146, extending a tech-led sell-off as a worsening semiconductor rout outweighed strong insurance sector earnings. Gold prices rose 0.57% to $4,010.55 as of U.S. market close, and the 10-Year Treasury yield climbed 0.02% to 4.55%.
If Volatility Stays Low, Here’s What Happens to DIVO’s Monthly Income
The 10-year Treasury yield is sitting at 4.62%, ranking in the 99.2 percentile of its 12-month range and just under the May peak of 4.67%. The Fed funds target has been parked at 3.75% for seven months. When risk-free yields sit this high, dividend-heavy portfolios face a valuation ceiling: investors demand more to hold equity risk over a T-bill paying nearly as much. A sustained retreat below the 12-month average of 4.3% would loosen the valuation vise on DIVO’s holdings; a break above 4.67% would tighten it further. Vanguard’s 2026 outlook argues the Fed has limited scope to cut rates below our estimated neutral rate of 3.5%, meaning the easing tailwind income investors typically enjoy may not arrive. The VIX is near 17, up from around 15 three sessions earlier but still below the 12-month average of 18. Lower VIX means thinner call premiums, which means the overlay generates less cash to top up DIVO’s monthly distribution. What to Watch Two signals matter most for DIVO over the next 12 months: a 10-year Treasury yield stuck above 4.5%, which caps upside on defensive names like KO and PG, and a VIX drifting below 15, which starves the covered-call sleeve of premium.
Inflation Isn't Just a Trumpflation Problem Any Longer -- There's a New Culprit, and It Has Potentially Dire Implications for Wall Street
BREAKING: May CPI inflation rises to 4.2%, the highest level since April 2023. -- The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) June 10, 2026 Core CPI inflation also rises to 2.9%, the highest since September 2025. Inflation in the US is officially back above 4% and more than double the Fed's target. Odds of Fed rate hikes are rising. "Some participants remarked that productivity... https://t.co/ne8TnjRV8s
Create Your Own “Bad Luck Fund” For Life’s Inevitable Setbacks
The CPI-U was 333.979 in May 2026, up from 322.201 in July 2025. Income divided by yield equals the capital you need. Conservative, roughly 3.5% to 4%. Ultra-short Treasuries through iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHV), inflation-protected Treasuries via Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF, and investment-grade corporate bonds through Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:VCIT) sit here. Moderate, roughly 5% to 6%. Monthly-paying net-lease REITs like Realty Income (NYSE:O | O Price Prediction), currently yielding 5.12% with 670-plus consecutive monthly dividends, pair well with regulated utilities like NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), where the yield is only 2.63% but the quarterly payout has climbed from $0.5665 to $0.6232 in a year. Aggressive, roughly 6% to 9%. Business development companies like Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) pay a 5.85% regular dividend plus quarterly supplementals of $0.30, and shares are down roughly 10% year to date. The principal barely moves: SHV is up about 4% over the past year, which is essentially the yield showing up as price. To produce $10,000 you need roughly $250,000. The principal barely moves: SHV is up about 4% over the past year, which is essentially the yield showing up as price. To produce $10,000 you need around $200,000.
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Saturday, July 18, 2026: Rates lower to start the weekend
According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.48% right now. Are interest rates expected to go down? According to the latest available forecasts, the MBA expects the 30-year mortgage rate to be between 6.4% and 6.5% through 2026. Fannie Mae predicts a 30-year rate of 6.4% through the end of the year. Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes, they are, compared to yesterday. According to average mortgage rates from the Zillow lender marketplace, the current 30-year fixed rate fell by 4 basis points to 6.48%, the 15-year fixed rate fell by 5 basis points to 5.90%, and the 5/1 ARM fell by 29 basis points to 6.46%.
Global equity funds draw inflows for the eighth week on earnings optimism
July 17 (Reuters) - Global equity funds attracted inflows for an eighth consecutive week through July 15, as investor risk appetite was lifted by a strong start to the earnings season and cooler U.S. inflation data that eased expectations of Federal Reserve rate hikes. Investors made net purchases of $12.46 billion in global equity funds during the week, following a hefty $48.35 billion in net buying the previous week, LSEG Lipper data showed. Global bond funds drew a net $16.16 billion in weekly investments, as investors extended their recent buying streak to a 15th straight week. Investors pumped $3.38 billion into government bond funds, their largest weekly net purchase since April 8. Money market funds, meanwhile, recorded net outflows of $102.53 billion, as investors logged their largest weekly net sales since April 15. Among commodities, investors bought a net $376 million of gold and other precious-metals funds, snapping an eight-week selling streak. In emerging markets, equity funds saw a revival in demand, drawing net inflows of $2.74 billion after 11 straight weeks of outflows.
What Moved Markets This Week
The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose +3.5% year-over-year in June, less than the +3.8% expectation. Core CPI was flat on a monthly basis, compared with the +0.2% consensus and +0.2% in May. Meanwhile, the June U.S. Producer Price Index was -0.3% month-over-month vs. -0.1% consensus. The U.S. one-year inflation swap rate fell below the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target for the first time since September 2024.
Nasdaq Futures Plunge as Chip Selloff Deepens; Netflix Sinks on Disappointing Forecast
September Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQU26) are down -1.61% this morning as the global selloff in chip stocks deepened. The U.S. Philly Fed manufacturing index rose to a 4-1/2-year high of 41.4 in July, stronger than expectations of 12.7. In addition, the number of Americans filing for initial jobless claims in the past week unexpectedly fell by -8K to a 10-week low of 208K, compared with the 216K expected. "Despite challenges, consumers are still spending, and the labor market shows no signs of cracking. This type of data won't move the Fed's needle either way, but it underscores the ongoing resilience of the U.S. economy," said Ellen Zentner at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said on Thursday that the central bank should consider raising interest rates if inflation does not cool soon, but added that monetary policy is well positioned for now. Also, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said she believes policymakers should raise interest rates, noting that inflation does not appear to be on a sustainable path back to the Fed's 2% target. "I currently believe modestly higher interest rates would better balance the outlook and risks," Logan said. In addition, Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid said inflation remains his biggest concern given the risk of a further acceleration in the coming months. "My primary concern is inflation, which is too hot and has been above target for too long. As such, my focus remains on inflation in setting the correct course for policy," Schmid said. U.S. rate futures have priced in an 88.9% probability of no rate change and an 11.1% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike at July's monetary policy meeting. Eurozone's June CPI fell -0.1% m/m and rose +2.8% y/y, in line with expectations. Eurozone's June Core CPI rose +0.2% m/m and +2.4% y/y, in line with expectations. Eurozone's May Current Account came in at 25.1 billion euros, stronger than expectations of 18.1 billion euros. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is at 4.53%, down -0.59%.
This Indicator Has Called Every Recession Over the Last 60 Years -- What It's Saying Now
The 10-year/three-month Treasury yield spread saw one of its deepest and longest inversions ever, starting around the 2022 inflation scare/Fed rate-hiking cycle. The Fed has stopped raising rates (for now), and the spread has since returned to positive territory, but so far there's been no recession. Or it could mean that a recession is still coming. There's no way of knowing for sure. Since the 1960's, the 10-year/three-month Treasury yield spread has turned negative, on average, about six to 12 months prior to the onset of a recession. In most cases, it's flipped from negative to positive right before a recession as well. This dynamic has preceded the last six U.S. recessions. The one outlier right now is the 2020s.
UnitedHealth Just Told Us The Economy Isn't Breaking․ Here's The Proof
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Q2-2026 results crushed consensus ($112.03 billion rev and $6.38 adj EPS vs. $4.90 cons); PPI fell 0.3% m/m; Retail Sales ex-autos, gas, building materials up 0.5%.
Baby Boomers Are Upsizing Homes in 2026. Here’s the Silent Social Security Tax Trap That Follows.
A large IRA withdrawal triggers Medicare's IRMAA surcharge two years later, costing a retired couple between $2,400 and $3,900 in extra annual Part B premiums. The same withdrawal can make up to 85% of Social Security benefits taxable, compounding the financial hit in the year of the distribution itself. Splitting the withdrawal across two tax years, with half taken in December and half in January, can keep income below IRMAA thresholds and reduce Social Security taxation. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, and the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, only kicks in for joint filers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above $218,000. About 8% of Part B beneficiaries pay it. A one-time upsizing withdrawal can easily push a normally modest retirement income into that group for a single year, which then follows the couple for a full 12 months of higher premiums two years later. The tiers matter. For a joint MAGI between $274,000 and $342,000, the Part B premium jumps to $405.80 per person per month. Between $342,000 and $410,000 it is $527.50. For two spouses, that is roughly an extra $4,900 to $7,800 a year combined ($2,400 to $3,900 each) in premiums, plus a Part D surcharge on top. It lasts one year, then rolls off. Appealing it away is not simple, either: the income has to stem from a listed life-changing event, and voluntarily selling assets is not one of them. The second bite comes the same year as the withdrawal. Social Security uses provisional-income thresholds that have been frozen for decades at $25,000 for singles and $32,000 for joint filers. Once a couple clears those, up to 85% of their Social Security benefit becomes taxable. A retiree drawing $40,000 in Social Security who takes a large IRA distribution will very likely have $34,000 of that benefit added to taxable income, taxed at whatever bracket the withdrawal pushed them into. That is the tax torpedo. The 2.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 is helpful, but a single IRMAA year can mysteriously claw back most of a year of COLA raises for a household. Layer in the ongoing cost of a bigger house, higher property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance, and required minimum distributions (RMDs) still coming, and the upsize keeps generating taxable income long after the move.
At 63, He Wants to Take a Big Career Leap. The FedEx CEO’s ‘Just Say Yes’ Story Shows Why the Smarter Bet May Be Social Security.
Filing for Social Security at 62 instead of FRA permanently slashes monthly benefits by roughly 30%, cutting every future check for life. Delaying Social Security past FRA delivers an 8% government-backed, inflation-adjusted raise each year you wait, beating CDs at 2% and 10-year Treasuries at 5%. A bold career move only pays off at 63 if it extends earnings and preserves the ability to delay filing; failure forces early claiming against a median 401(k) of just $247,000. The national average 12-month CD pays 1.65%. The 10-year Treasury sits at 4.55%. Neither comes close to the roughly 8% annual bump you get from waiting, and neither carries the same inflation protection. Average 401(k) balances for people aged 60 to 64 sit around $246,500, which sounds like a cushion until you spread it across a retirement that may run 25 years or more.
A Painful Payroll Tax Increase Could Be Coming to Save Social Security: What Working Americans Need to Know
Social Security's trust fund will run dry by 2032, triggering automatic 22% benefit cuts unless Congress passes reforms beforehand. Congress is weighing several fixes, including raising the 12.4% payroll tax rate, which would reduce workers' take-home pay and raise employer labor costs. Unless Congress acts beforehand, retirees could face an automatic benefit cut of roughly 22%. One frequently discussed option is raising or eliminating the wage cap for Social Security tax purposes. Today, earnings above $184,500 aren't subject to Social Security payroll tax.
63% of Americans Could Cover a $400 Emergency. Far Fewer Could Cover One Month of Retirement.
The median 401(k) balance of $44,115 generates just $147 a month under the 4% rule, against typical retiree spending of $5,000 per month. The personal saving rate dropped to 3.9% from 6.2% two years prior, even as income rose, shrinking the retirement buffer most households need. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in retirement studies put typical retiree household spending near $5,000 per month, with housing, healthcare, and food accounting for most of it. Retirement expenses cluster in categories that do not shrink much with age. Personal consumption data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows housing at $3,950.3 billion in annualized spending in May 2026 and healthcare at $3,716 billion, the two largest service categories in the national accounts. Against that, Vanguard's How America Saves 2026 preview reports a median 401(k) balance of $44,115 across the plans it administers, alongside an average of roughly $167,970.
A 63-Year-Old’s $600,000 401(k) Roth Conversion Plan Saves Tens of Thousands in Taxes Before RMDs Hit
The Fed funds target upper bound sits at 3.75%, and the 10-year Treasury yields nearly 5%, near a 12-month high. Inflation is nudging brackets higher each year, and core PCE at 130.08 sits in the 90th percentile of the past year.
What It Takes to Retire on Lake Como at 60 on $1 Million Without Touching Your Principal
A $1 million portfolio at 4.5% yield produces $45,000 annually, falling short of what modest Lake Como retirement actually costs. Italy taxes worldwide financial income at 26% and levies a 0.2% annual wealth tax on foreign assets, cutting meaningfully into US retiree yield. The Core PCE index sits in the 90th percentile of its trailing range, and CPI has climbed from 322.2 to 332.6 over the past year. A blended portfolio of a Treasury ladder, investment-grade corporate bonds, and a dividend equity sleeve can realistically throw off 4.25% to 4.75% pretax without eating capital. Call it 4.5% on $1 million, or $45,000 a year in gross yield. Against a $57,000 budget, that leaves a $12,000 gap. The realistic portfolio target is closer to $1.35 to $1.5 million yielding around 4.5%, which produces $60,000 to $67,000 of gross income.
If Interest Rates Climb, This Financial ETF Could Be a Big Winner
The Fed raised its 2026 year-end inflation forecast to 3.6%, with nine officials projecting at least one rate hike before year-end. While recent CPI and PPI numbers have indicated inflation may be cooling somewhat, price pressures remain above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. BofA forecasts three 25-basis-point rate hikes in 2026, making KRE's diversified regional bank exposure a timely way to position for higher rates.
Mortgage Rates Refuse to Fall Despite a Cool Inflation Report— and One Analyst Says 'The Bond Market Is Saying Something Different Than the Fed'
The average contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage with conforming loan balances climbed to 6.65%, the highest level since August 2025, while applications to purchase a home fell 7% from the previous week, underscoring the pressure higher borrowing costs continue to place on prospective buyers. Despite higher mortgage rates, refinance applications increased, led by FHA and VA refinance applications rising 9 and 10 percent, respectively, said Joel Kan, vice president and deputy chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Weaker housing demand. Higher mortgage interest rates are having a predictable impact on purchase loan demand. For the week ending July 10, mortgage purchase applications slid 7.3%, the 4th decline in the last 5 weeks. Over the last year, purchase applications are off 1.7%.
Kevin O’Leary Says Investing $100 a Week Will Make You a Millionaire by Retirement
The annual CPI rate climbed to 4.2% in May 2026, its highest reading since April 2023, before easing to 3.5% in June 2026 as energy prices pulled back. Even at that lower June reading, a million dollars accumulated over 30 years will buy meaningfully less than it buys today. Reaching the numerical milestone is not the same as reaching financial security. The personal saving rate in the United States stood at just 3.0% of disposable income as of May 2026, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, compared to a long-run historical average of 8.4% since 1959.
Donald Trump Once Said He Would Eliminate America’s $19 Trillion in Debt. The Total Is Now Approaching $50 Trillion.
Total public debt now stands at $39.065 trillion as of January 1, 2026, according to the Federal Reserve's GFDEBTN series. The pace of accumulation is the story. FRED's series showed $37.638 trillion in July 2025, $38.514 trillion in October 2025, and $39.065 trillion at the start of 2026. Since 2020, the debt has climbed by roughly $16 trillion. At the recent pace, the total will cross $50 trillion before 2030. The 10-year Treasury yield sits at 4.57%, the 30-year at 5.09%, and even the 3-month bill yields 3.84%.
Tired of 4% Money Markets? This ‘Scary-Sounding’ Bond Fund Pays Nearly Double
JBBB has paid $3.067 in trailing 12-month distributions on a roughly $47 share price, with the most recent monthly payment of $0.23081 on July 7, 2026. That works out to a yield around 7%, comfortably above the 3.75% Fed funds floor that anchors money-market payouts. The national average 12-month CD rate sits at roughly 1.7%. This shows how much extra income floating-rate CLO exposure delivers for investors willing to accept credit risk. Total return tells the same story. JBBB is up about 5% over the past year and roughly 3% year to date, with most of the gains coming as monthly cash rather than price appreciation. The 10-year Treasury yield has swung between about 4% and roughly 4.7% over the past year, dragging duration-heavy bond funds around with it. JAAA charges a 0.20% expense ratio and returned about 5% over the past year, holding the safest CLO tranches. JBBB returned a bit more and pays a materially higher coupon, but only because it stepped down the credit ladder. If you cannot articulate why you are choosing B-BBB tranches over AAA tranches, you probably want JAAA. The 10-year Treasury yield has swung between about 4% and roughly 4.7% over the past year
Teucrium Launches TPMT, a New Physical Gold ETF With a 0.24% Fee
The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:GLD), a common industry benchmark, is up 18.39% over the past year but down 7.91% year to date and off 8.22% over the past month. Gold itself has had a mixed stretch. The macro backdrop is complicated: the federal funds rate sits at 3.75%, down from 4.5% a year ago, while 10-year Treasury yields hover around 4.55% and CPI inflation registered 332.6 in June, down 0.4% from May. Physical gold ETFs are taxed as collectibles in the U.S., potentially imposing higher long-term capital gains rates than standard stock ETFs.
Dollar Little Changed as Crude Prices Soar and T-note Yields Fall
US Jun housing starts rose +19.0% m/m to 1.427 million, stronger than expectations of 1.310 million. The University of Michigan US Jul consumer sentiment index rose by +4.9 to a 5-month high of 54.4, stronger than expectations of 51.0. The University of Michigan US Jul 1-year inflation expectations eased to 4.2% from 4.6% in Jun, weaker than expectations of 4.4%. Hawkish comments today from Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack were supportive of the dollar, as she said persistently high inflation is her bigger concern right now, while consumer spending holds up and unemployment remains low. The swaps markets are discounting the odds at 14% for a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on July 28-29. Recent fund liquidation of precious metals is bearish for prices, as long holdings in gold ETFs fell to a 9.5-month low last Monday, after reaching a 3.5-year high on February 27. Strong central bank demand for gold is supportive of gold prices, following news that bullion held in China's PBOC reserves rose by +480,000 ounces to 75.44 million troy ounces in June, the twentieth consecutive month the PBOC boosted its gold reserves.
Hormuz Escalation Pressures Gold as $4,000 Support Comes Into Focus
Gold spent most of the week trading in a narrow range between $4,000 and $4,100/oz, with buyers fighting on Friday to preserve a close above the major $4,000 support level. Escalating US-Iran tensions around the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude oil back toward $90 per barrel, lifting inflation expectations and weighing on gold through the prospect of higher interest rates. A softer-than-expected June CPI reading offered only brief relief, while Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's first semiannual testimony reinforced a more hawkish outlook for monetary policy. Gold spot prices on Friday are putting up a fight to close above $4,000/oz, a major psychological and technical line of support.
DGRO’s December Rebalance Could Reshape Healthcare Exposure: Here’s What to Watch
The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO) trades near $77, up roughly 11% year to date year-to-date. The single biggest swing factor for DGRO over the next 12 months is the 10-year Treasury yield, which sits at 4.62%, just below its 12-month high of 4.67%. On a percentile basis, current yields rank in the 99th percentile of the past year. That is the definition of a headwind for dividend-growth equities. Coca-Cola, a top-10 holding, yields roughly 2.5%. McDonald's yields under 3%.
Trump Accounts Projections Are 'Ridiculous, Dishonest and Deeply Misleading,' Says Top Economist Justin Wolfers
The math behind the White House's Trump Account projections checks out. The assumptions don't. The headline numbers rely on decades of contributions, optimistic stock returns, and future dollars that won't buy nearly as much. More in this week's Diving In:…
Marco Rubio Says President Lula 'Put His Ego Ahead of Making a Deal' as Trump Slaps Brazil With 25% Tariffs
$424.5 billion goods-and-services trade surplus with Brazil over the past 15 years. 76% of U.S. imports entered Brazil duty-free in 2025, with an average effective tariff of 3.1%.
Stocks Finish Sharply Lower as Tech Stocks Slump
The University of Michigan US Jul consumer sentiment index rose by +4.9 to a 5-month high of 54.4, stronger than expectations of 51.0. The University of Michigan US Jul 1-year inflation expectations eased to 4.2% from 4.6% in Jun, weaker than expectations of 4.4%. The Jul 5-10-year inflation expectations were unchanged at 3.3% from Jun, right on expectations. US Jun import price index ex-petroleum rose +0.5% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.4% m/m. Jun housing starts rose +19.0% m/m to 1.427 million, stronger than expectations of 1.310 million. However, Jun building permits, a proxy for future construction, fell -3.0% to 1.367 million, below expectations of 1.403 million. US Jun manufacturing production was unchanged m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.1% m/m. The markets are discounting a 14% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on July 28-29. Swaps are discounting an 8% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on July 23.
Bernie Sanders Says Trump 'Lied' About 10% Credit Card Rate Cap, Points to Big Banks Making Billions Charging 25-30% Interest Rates
$49 billion in profit last quarter while charging 25% to 30% credit card interest rates, even as working Americans struggled to pay their bills. Last quarter, while working people struggle to pay their bills, big banks made a $49 billion profit charging 25-30% credit card interest rates. Americans owed about $1.25 trillion in credit card debt as of the first quarter of 2026, down slightly from the record $1.28 trillion at the end of 2025 but still roughly 63% higher than five years earlier. Federal Reserve data showed the average interest rate on credit card accounts assessed interest stood at 22.15% in May, more than double the 10% cap Trump proposed.
I’m 65 with $2.2 million in real estate and $915,000 in retirement accounts. Can I finally retire?
The 10-year Treasury is at 4.6%. Every dollar Amy uses to erase a 3% loan is a dollar she cannot park in a Treasury paying more. Amy's benefit is $41,000 per year at 67 or $51,000 at 70. Waiting until 70 stacks the income cleanly: "Once you're at $5,100 a month plus your $2,200 a month, you're in good shape. That's like $7,300." The 2026 Social Security COLA of 2.8% then does the annual heavy lifting on inflation. National-average CDs at 1.7% flip the math the other way, so Amy needs to own the higher-yield instrument for the logic to work. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible, and higher-income surcharges start above $218,000 for joint filers. Case-Shiller National Home Price Index at 332.7 in April 2026, a 12-month high
Conagra Brands Slashes Its 10% Dividend Yield in Half Just 1 Month After Getting Kicked Out of the S&P 500. Here's Why the Stock Isn't Tanking.
Conagra reported a 2.9% decrease in net sales for fiscal 2026 and a 0.4% decline in organic net sales. Conagra took a $2 billion goodwill and brand impairment charge in its latest quarter, which it attributed to a sustained decline in its share price and market capitalization. Conagra exited fiscal 2026 with $7.1 billion in net debt, a 11.9% reduction from the prior year, but still a significant amount of debt for a company of its size. If you had invested $1,000 in Conagra stock 10 years ago, you'd have $554 today -- even when factoring in dividends. Conagra has made a concerted effort to fine-tune its healthier brands by reducing its product count, removing artificial colors, and offering more nutritious versions of some products.
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Sunday, July 19, 2026: Rates moved higher last week as Iranian conflict escalated
According to the latest average mortgage rates from the Zillow lender marketplace, the current 30-year fixed rate fell by 4 basis points from the prior day to 6.48%, the 15-year fixed rate fell by 5 basis points to 5.90%, and the 5/1 ARM fell by 29 basis points to 6.46%.
The Portfolio That Lets You Ignore Inflation
The typical American household spent $78,535 in 2024. Headline PCE inflation was running at 4.1% year over year in May 2026, which means the same lifestyle can become thousands of dollars more expensive in a single year. Medicare Part B alone climbs to $202.90 a month in 2026, up $17.90 from 2025.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, Welcome to Your No-Win Scenario, Courtesy of President Donald Trump
With more than half of 2026 in the books, it's shaping up to be another stellar year for the stock market. Since early June, the ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and growth-stock-fueled Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) have all powered to record highs. Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue » Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who officially succeeded Jerome Powell on May 22 as head of the central bank, is being challenged out of the starting gate. In May, trailing 12-month (TTM) U.S. inflation reached a three-year high of 4.2%, prompting questions of whether Warsh and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) -- the 12-person body responsible for setting the nation's monetary policy -- will raise interest rates. Though no one ever said that overseeing monetary policy for the world's largest economy would be easy, Warsh has ascended into a veritable no-win scenario, courtesy of President Donald Trump. President Trump pushes for rate cuts, even as his policies fan the flames of inflation As recently as five months ago, inflation wasn't a top concern on Wall Street. Although Trump's tariffs were modestly pushing up prices in the goods sector (something former Fed Chair Powell alluded to in several FOMC meetings), TTM inflation in February was just 2.4% and moving toward the FOMC's long-term inflation target of 2%. By May, everything had changed. Trump's decision to attack Iran on Feb. 28 resulted in the latter shutting down the Strait of Hormuz to most maritime traffic. This essentially halted the flow of a fifth of the world's petroleum liquids, sending energy prices soaring. Over three months, TTM inflation had jumped to 4.2% -- more than double the Fed's long-term target. Despite the president's policies having a clear inflationary impact, Trump has been publicly calling for the FOMC to slash interest rates for more than a year. Although Powell and the FOMC lowered the federal funds target rate six times from September 2024 to December 2025 to its current range of 3.50% to 3.75%, Trump has opined that interest rates should be cut to 1% or lower. There are probably several reasons for the president to aggressively push for rate cuts: Lower borrowing costs can spur hiring and reduce the unemployment rate. Lower interest rates should fuel the stock market's No. 1 catalyst, the artificial intelligence (AI) data center build-out. Cheaper lending rates would make it easier for the federal government to service its $39.4 trillion in national debt. Even though the Federal Reserve is an independent financial institution operating within the U.S. government, President Trump's ongoing public criticisms have steered his handpicked successor, Kevin Warsh, into a no-win scenario. Heads, Warsh loses -- tails, Warsh loses The next two FOMC meetings, in late July and mid-September, will be especially challenging for the new Fed chair and his peers. Even with crude oil prices notably retracing from their Iran war highs, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) -- one of the central bank's favorite inflationary measures, which exclude volatile food and energy costs -- are still climbing. If Warsh, a historic monetary hawk, and his colleagues choose to reverse some (or all) of last year's rate cuts, they'll likely endure a double whammy from President Trump and Wall Street. Mere hours after Kevin Warsh was sworn in as Fed chair, Trump was touting the prospect of lower interest rates during a speech at a New York community college. If the FOMC raises rates in July or September, it'll almost certainly draw the ire of Trump and potentially ramp up his criticism of policymakers. Additionally, rate hikes may put an end to Wall Street's historic AI-driven rally. The AI infrastructure build-out is being partially financed through corporate debt offerings. If Warsh and his peers make borrowing capital more expensive, the pace of the AI data center build-out could slow, forcing Wall Street professionals and everyday investors to rethink AI stock growth rates and premium valuations. But if Fed Chair Warsh and the FOMC stand pat on interest rates in July and September, Warsh still loses. Although economic data is constantly evolving, the persistent climb in Core PCE, coupled with Middle East uncertainty, AI-driven inflation, and Trump's tariffs, all provide ample evidence that a rate hike is necessary to stabilize prices. If Warsh and his peers choose not to act with this bounty of inflationary evidence in front of them, Wall Street and investors may interpret this inaction as something of a capitulation to President Trump's interest rate demands. Even the perception that Donald Trump is influencing the Fed's monetary policy decisions can destroy the credibility the central bank holds dear. As Berkshire Hathaway's now-retired billionaire boss once said, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." Even if Kevin Warsh and the FOMC have reasonable justification to hold rates steady in July and September, Trump's ongoing public calls for rate cuts will make it appear as if he has sway with the new Fed chair. Regardless of whether the coin comes up heads or tails in July and September, Kevin Warsh will end up upsetting Donald Trump and/or Wall Street.
Can the Australian model rescue the US retirement system? Trump seems to think so.
Today, the typical US worker has less than $1,000 saved for retirement, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. For many Americans, saving for retirement starts with having an employer-provided plan, especially one that automatically enrolls workers with payroll deductions. The problem: Nearly half of US private-sector workers — roughly 56 million people — don't have access to such an account. The US retirement system received a C+ rating from the most recent Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index. It ranked 29 out of 48 global pension systems assessed, mainly because Social Security is not adequately financed and many workers have no workplace retirement program. Australia's system gets a B+.
Would You Rather Earn $55,000 Today or $110,000 in 20 Years?
Turning $55,000 of annual income into about $110,000 over 20 years requires roughly 3.5% annual growth. With headline PCE inflation running at 4.1% year over year in May 2026 and the FDIC national average 12-month CD at 1.65% in June 2026, that growth rate is not some abstract spreadsheet trick. It is the difference between a paycheck that gets slowly eaten by inflation and one that has a chance to keep moving. The $55,000 Target at Three Yield Tiers The core equation is unchanged: income target divided by yield equals capital required. Conservative tier, 3% to 4%. At 3.5%, $55,000 divided by 0.035 requires roughly $1,571,000. This is the dividend growth zone: aristocrat-focused ETFs, broad dividend growth funds, and individual names like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG). Highest capital requirement, lowest income disruption risk, and a paycheck that typically outruns inflation. Moderate tier, 5% to 7%. At 6%, $55,000 divided by 0.06 requires about $917,000. This is REIT and preferred share territory. Net-lease landlord Realty Income (NYSE:O) sits here alongside high-dividend equity strategies and preferred share funds. Distribution growth slows and inflation protection weakens as the starting yield climbs. Aggressive tier, 8% to 12%. At 10%, $55,000 divided by 0.10 requires $550,000. Business development companies like Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC), mortgage REITs, and leveraged option-income funds live here. The current check is largest. Principal erosion and distribution cuts are the recurring risks. Johnson & Johnson raised its quarterly dividend to $1.34 in 2026, marking its 64th consecutive year of increases. Procter & Gamble raised its quarterly dividend to $1.0885 in 2026, marking its 70th consecutive year of increases and 136th consecutive year of dividend payments. Apply that math to a $55,000 income stream. At 3.5% annual dividend growth, the paycheck reaches roughly $77,500 after 10 years and about $109,500 after 20 years, with no fresh capital added. At 5% growth, the same income stream reaches about $89,600 after 10 years and roughly $146,000 after 20 years. At 6% growth, year 20 clears $176,000 if the payout growth continues. Compare that to a 10% yield portfolio holding $55,000 flat. If both portfolios start with the same $55,000 income, the growth portfolio pulls ahead after the first dividend increase and keeps widening the gap as long as the raises continue. If the 10% portfolio also suffers distribution cuts or principal erosion, the gap can widen faster. The blind spot is that a flat paycheck can become less useful every year, even if the nominal dollar amount never changes. The growth rate of the income matters more than the starting yield once the horizon exceeds 10 years.
A couple with $6.1 million can't agree on when to retire — Ramit Sethi says 'it's not the numbers' holding them back
While there's no universal number for retirement, Americans believe they'll need to save $1.46 million on average to retire comfortably, according to the 2026 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study (2). High-net-worth Americans — those with more than $1 million in investible assets — believe they'll need at least $2.67 million. But nearly half (48%) of survey respondents believe it's likely they'll outlive their savings, thanks to persistent inflation, longer life expectancies and uncertainty about the future of Social Security. These fears are legitimate: For example, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund is expected to run out of funds by 2033, after which beneficiaries will receive just 77% of their benefits (4). The '80% rule' suggests you will need to replace about 80% of your pre-retirement gross income to maintain your lifestyle in retirement, assuming that your expenses decrease. Similarly, the '25x rule' recommends saving about 25 times your expected annual spending. But you also need a plan for withdrawing that money in retirement. The '4% rule' suggests withdrawing 4% each year, adjusted for inflation, while the 'guardrails rule' takes a more dynamic approach based on the annual ups and downs of your portfolio. According to Sethi, this provides them with $90,000 of discretionary spending annually — and they'd still have $3.5 million at the age of 95.
The Average Inherited IRA Comes With a 10-Year Fuse. Year One Is When Heirs Make the Big Mistake.
The Average Inherited IRA Comes With a 10-Year Fuse. Year One Is When Heirs Make the Big Mistake. Most non-spouse heirs must fully drain an inherited IRA within 10 years, and withdrawing the full balance in Year 1 pushes the entire amount into ordinary income. A February 2022 IRS clarification requires heirs who inherited from owners already taking RMDs to also pull annual distributions throughout the 10-year window. Spreading a $257,000 inherited IRA evenly across 10 years keeps each distribution in a lower tax bracket and lets the remaining balance grow tax-deferred. The SECURE Act rewrote the inheritance rules for retirement accounts in 2019, and the change is now hitting a wave of heirs who did not build their plans around it. Most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit an IRA now have 10 years to fully drain the account. Miss the window and the IRS penalty is steep. Empty it too fast, and the tax bill can consume a meaningful share of the balance. The decision made in Year 1 sets the trajectory for everything that follows. The average inherited IRA carries a meaningful balance. Fidelity's Q4 2025 retirement data show that the average IRA balance across all age groups is $146,400. A meaningful share of the accounts being passed down carry six-figure balances, which means the tax stakes on the distribution decision are real. The personal savings rate has fallen to 3.9% in the first quarter of 2026. Households are saving less relative to rising incomes, leaving thinner reserves for emergencies. The average annual expenditure per consumer unit reached $78,535 in 2024. The average credit card APR is roughly 21% as of mid-2026, and the credit card delinquency rate is 2.92%, which the Federal Reserve categorizes as the normalizing range. University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reached 44.8 in May 2026, a 12-month low and well below the 60 threshold the index treats as recessionary.
If the Fed Cuts Rates, This ETF Could Explode Higher
EDV's 24-year duration amplifies every rate move, delivering roughly 24% price gains per 100 basis point yield drop, with equivalent losses applying if yields rise instead. Goldman Sachs projects the Fed funds rate ending 2026 at 3 to 3.25%, though sticky inflation may prevent long yields from falling in lockstep with short rates. The Fed funds upper bound is 3.75%, down from 4.5% a year ago, and has been parked there since the December 10, 2025 cut.
He Lost His White-Collar Job at 54. A $100K Shipbuilding Trade Could Rebuild More Than His Income, It Could Boost His Social Security.
Social Security calculates your benefit from a wage-indexed average of your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) plugs in zeros for the missing years. If you had lean periods, say a stretch of self-employment that flopped or gap years raising kids, those low numbers drag the benefit down. Every new year of strong earnings knocks out the lowest year in the calculation. If our 54-year-old has a couple of $15,000 years from an early career slump or an outright zero from a gap between jobs, each year at the shipyard replaces one of those in the top 35. Do that for six or seven years and you are rebuilding the benefit in a meaningful way. To make it make sense: a worker whose benefit at full retirement age (FRA) would have been about $2,400 a month based on a patchy record could easily see that climb by $200 to $400 a month after several years of six-figure covered earnings. Over a 20-year retirement, that is real money, and it is inflation-adjusted through the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA), which came in at 2.8% for 2026. The cleanest path is usually to keep working and delay claiming, which also grows the benefit by roughly 8% per year between full retirement age and 70. Unemployment sits at 4.2% as of June 2026, job openings are at 7.59 million as of May, and median full-time weekly earnings ran $1,235 in Q1 2026.
Why the $2,000 Social Security Check Hits Harder for Bottom-Half Earners in 2026
According to Federal Reserve Distributional Financial Accounts data, the top 0.1% of U.S. households hold many times the wealth of the entire bottom 50% combined. When Social Security is a supplement, taking it at age 62 versus 70 is a lifestyle question. When it is the whole floor, it is the single most important financial decision a person will ever make. Claiming at 62 permanently lowers a recipient's benefit by about 30% compared with waiting until full retirement age (FRA) of 67. For our bookkeeper, it is the difference between covering rent alone and needing SNAP and heating assistance every winter. Because the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2.8%, that gap compounds every year for the rest of her life. A higher starting benefit means a bigger COLA raise, forever. The Saver's Credit at the IRS can add up to $1,000 back to a still-working low-income saver who puts even $50 a month into an IRA. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) tops up benefits for those with very low income and assets. Medicare Savings Programs, run through each state Medicaid office, can pay the Medicare Part B premium (about $202.90 a month in 2026 for most enrollees), which alone represents a meaningful raise for someone living on $2,000. As of Q1 2026, the national savings rate has fallen to 3.9%, down from over 6% just two years ago. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index hovers at recessionary levels. Households are not building the buffer that would ease reliance on the check. Delay if you possibly can. Waiting from 62 to FRA adds up to a permanent 30% increase, and each additional year worked past full retirement age up to 70 adds roughly 8% more. That raise is inflation-adjusted and lasts as long as you or a surviving spouse live. The guaranteed, inflation-adjusted, lifelong nature of Social Security is exactly what makes it the right backbone for a household with no other cushion.
Spend the IRA First, Claim Social Security Last: The Order That Adds Six Figures for $500,000 Retirees
The Social Security benefit formula is fixed by two variables: a wage-indexed average of the 35 highest-earning years, and the age at which the retiree claims. Claiming at 62 permanently reduces the benefit by up to 30% relative to the full retirement age amount. Waiting past full retirement age adds about 8% per year until age 70, which produces a roughly 24% increase for someone whose full retirement age is 67. Those adjustments are locked in for life, and every year the cost of living adjustment compounds on the larger number. The 2026 COLA came in at 2.8%. For a worker whose full retirement age benefit is $2,000 per month, claiming at 62 yields about $1,400 per month. Waiting until 70 raises the same underlying benefit to roughly $2,480. That is a monthly gap of about $1,080, before any COLA is applied. The personal savings rate fell to 3.9% of disposable income in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Social Security transfer receipts ran $1,630.3 billion in that quarter, the largest component of household transfer income.
What It Takes to Retire in Hawaii at 62 on $1.5 Million Without Touching Your Principal
$78,535 in 2024, and Hawaii pushes almost every category above that baseline. A blended portfolio of a Treasury ladder, investment-grade corporate bonds, and dividend ETFs can realistically throw off around 4% cash yield today without eating capital. On $1.5 million, that is roughly $60,000 gross a year. Subtract federal tax on the taxable share (interest and non-qualified dividends taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividends at 15%), and Hawaii state tax on top, and the net drops to about $50,000 to $53,000. Claiming at 62 permanently cuts your benefit by roughly 30%; delaying to 70 grows the check by about 8% for each year you defer. A worker with a solid earnings history who waits until 70 can add $40,000+ a year of inflation-adjusted income that never touches the $1.5 million. The 2026 COLA of 2.8% compounds on that base for the rest of your life. Hawaii does not tax Social Security. Hawaii also fully exempts distributions from employer-funded pension plans, including the employer contribution portion of a 401(k). What Hawaii does tax, at rates that rank 46th nationally on individual income tax competitiveness, are distributions from IRAs, Roth conversions of pre-tax money, and self-directed 401(k) elective deferrals. Top bracket runs to 11%. Two retirees with identical $1.5 million balances can face very different Hawaii tax bills depending on how those dollars were originally contributed. Hawaii's adjusted state and local tax burden of $10,006 per capita ranks second highest in the country, and retirees pulling from IRAs feel it. The Roth conversion window before Social Security starts, and before Medicare's IRMAA thresholds care about your income, is the tool that fixes this. CPI drift, currently at 332.6 and climbing.
BofA sees lost year taking shape for gold
Gold's 2026 story was mostly supposed to be how high the safe-haven trade could potentially run. For context, the shiny yellow metal soared roughly 63% in 2025, according to LBMA benchmark data, the strongest annual gain in more than four decades. Yahoo Finance's quotes show August gold futures trading around $3,975.40 per ounce, down 10.6% over the past month and 7.5% since the start of the year. Bank of America analysts believe that the breathtaking rally into January 2026 was so stretched that the subsequent correction will take longer and may entail further downside before a durable bottom forms. For perspective, the tremendous rally from October 2023 to January 2026 lasted 121 weeks, while the correction lasted just 24 weeks. The imbalance makes it premature for the analysts to say that the selloff finished simply because bullion has stabilized near $4,000. Consequently, BofA believes gold might spend the bulk of the second half of 2026 consolidating, bouncing, and potentially falling again before potentially picking up the pace in 2027 or 2028. BofA analysts further argue that after falling almost 30% from its January peak, it reached its major Fibonacci retracement near $4,149 and attracted buyers around $4,000. Considering gold's rally lasted 121 weeks, and the correction was just 24 weeks old, a pullback lasting roughly 38.2% of the previous move higher would extend to nearly 46 weeks. That said, BofA's technical roadmap paints a relatively volatile path ahead instead of a clean rebound: A rally may come first: Gold could rebound toward $4,325 to $4,500, but a move above $4,300 might not end the correction, forming a potential lower high instead before selling resumes. Key downside levels remain: BofA sees potential support around the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $3,703, with another long-term technical measure pointing to roughly $3,605. Momentum still looks fragile: Gold triggered a death cross on June 26, which basically means that its 50-day moving average dropped behind its 200-day average, signalling weaker momentum. Historically, gold was lower 70% of the time, 40 trading days after comparable signals. One bullish counter-signal remains: Gold's RSI, measuring the speed and strength of price moves, reached an extremely overbought 90. However, a TD Sequential "red 13", used to flag possible trend exhaustion, suggests selling pressure may be fading while gold holds above $3,827. BofA is advising investors to avoid chasing gold near $4,000 while the correction is still developing. The bank suggests taking a small position below $4,000, adding more around $3,700 to $3,600, while building a fuller allocation in the $3,450 to $3,250 range. Newmont (NEM) is singled out as perhaps the strongest relative option among major miners, with the stock holding up a lot better than the broader GDX ETF. Over the past month, the stock has shed 17% of its value and over 9.5% year-to-date, according to data from Seeking Alpha.
Is Automatic Data Processing (ADP) A Better Stock Than PAYX and WDAY
Automatic Data Processing reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $5.94 billion, up 7% year over year, while adjusted diluted EPS increased 10% to $3.37 and adjusted EBIT margin reached 30.2%, leading management to raise its fiscal 2026 outlook to 6% to 7% revenue growth and 10% to 11% adjusted EPS growth. The operating case remains credible because payroll processing is a compliance-critical service with high switching costs, recurring revenue and limited capital intensity, while ADP's scale across more than one million clients gives it a proprietary data advantage that could make artificial intelligence useful in service automation, implementation, sales conversion and retention rather than merely a branding exercise. Client-funds interest added $403.9 million during the quarter, compared with $355.2 million a year earlier, as average balances increased 8.5% to $48.3 billion and the portfolio yield edged up to 3.3%, while Employer Services margin expanded 130 basis points to 41.1%. The valuation, however, leaves little room for an ordinary outcome. ADP closed at $254.29 on July 17 and trades at roughly 23.7 times trailing earnings; applying management's 10% to 11% growth guidance to fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $10.01 implies fiscal 2026 earnings of approximately $11.01 to $11.11, meaning the market is already paying about 23 times the guided result and has effectively absorbed the original $250 thesis. A renewed advance toward $276 would require approximately $12 of fiscal 2027 EPS at an unchanged 23 times multiple, equivalent to another 8% to 9% year of earnings growth, whereas a deceleration that prompts investors to apply a 20 to 21 times multiple would place the shares closer to $221 to $233. The bear case is therefore not that ADP's franchise is impaired, but that the current price embeds continued execution while several underlying indicators are already less robust than the headline numbers suggest. U.S. pays per control increased only 1%, PEO worksite employees grew 2%, Employer Services organic constant-currency revenue rose 5%, and PEO margin contracted 120 basis points as selling, state unemployment insurance and other operating costs increased. Research and development expense rose to $253.9 million, service and implementation costs increased by $50.4 million, and selling and marketing expense increased by $63.5 million, demonstrating that AI investment and platform modernization are consuming real resources before management has quantified their effect on retention or unit economics. The client-funds benefit also has more interest-rate exposure than the "recurring revenue" label implies: a decline in short-term rates, weaker payroll balances or reinvestment of maturing securities at lower yields could reduce float income and remove part of the margin support that drove the quarter's upside, while the use of short-duration commercial paper alongside longer-duration investment portfolios creates a modest but relevant funding-spread risk during a sharp employment contraction. The next decisive test comes when ADP reports fiscal fourth-quarter results on July 29, 2026, with the most important variable being fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance; a forecast below 8% growth would break the near-term thesis because it would leave the shares carrying a premium multiple without the double-digit earnings trajectory needed to sustain it. Smart-money positioning points to confidence in ADP's resilience, but not an aggressive accumulation signal. Insider Monkey's latest hedge-fund data showed 67 funds holding ADP, down slightly from 68 in the preceding quarter, compared with 41 funds holding Paychex and 70 holding Workday, indicating that ADP attracts broader sponsorship than its closest payroll-processing peer but does not command the growth-oriented interest attached to enterprise software. The more revealing distinction is on the short side: as of June 30, 3.73% of ADP's float was sold short, versus 5.73% for Paychex and 14.75% for Workday, while ADP traded at approximately 23.7 times trailing earnings compared with 25.0 times for Paychex and 45.2 times for Workday. That combination suggests hedge funds view ADP as the cleaner defensive compounder of the group, with less valuation risk than Workday and stronger sponsorship than Paychex, but the decline in ADP's holder count and the stock's move beyond $250 imply that institutional investors are preserving exposure rather than chasing the shares.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Vowed to End 5 Years of High Inflation in First Congressional Testimony
After leading the way for eight years, former Federal Reserve (Fed) chair Jerome Powell passed the torch to Kevin Warsh. July 14's congressional testimony was Warsh's first as the leader of the Fed, and a chance for Americans to see Warsh's plans for the economy. One of the more memorable statements Warsh made was that inflation was a "choice," arguing that it's the Fed's job to proactively bring it under control and that if it doesn't, the blame should fall on the Fed. That's a slightly different tone from what we're used to seeing from the Fed. Of course, Warsh's call to end inflation sounds good, but it won't be a walk in the park. If it were that easy, we'd rarely see high inflation numbers. How inflation has evolved over the past five years After reaching the lowest levels in over a decade, inflation has gone on a roller-coaster ride and now sits above its average over the past decade. At its peak in 2022, inflation had reached its highest levels in four decades. It cooled off quite a bit from 2022 to early 2026, but the fallout from the current war in Iran has driven prices back up. A June inflation rate of 3.5% is still higher than preferred (the Fed's target is 2%), but it was 0.4% lower than in May and has put a pause on the calls to increase interest rates. Typically, increasing interest rates is a way to cool down inflation because they make things like borrowing costs and credit card interest more expensive. But with energy prices driving inflation, it's not quite that straightforward. The elephant in the room, however, is the ongoing war in Iran. June energy prices were down 5.7% from May but up 15.7% year over year. Gasoline and fuel oil prices were up 26.7% and 42.9% year over year, respectively. If the war continues, there's a good chance energy prices will rise again, pushing inflation back up. Only time will tell how that plays out, but it's something the Fed inevitably has its sights on. Warsh gives a nod to the tech industry During the meeting, Warsh said, "The most striking feature of the economy right now is business investment," highlighting data center build-outs and the hardware and software needed to fill and keep them running.
Trump Slams New York Data Center Moratorium as 'Terrible Decision' While Bill Ackman Points to AI Race With China and Says, 'Democracy at Risk'
Data center lease commitments by U.S. tech companies surpassed $850 billion in the first quarter of 2026, setting a new record amid the accelerating AI infrastructure race. Local opposition to AI data centers also intensified across the U.S. in the first quarter of 2026, delaying or blocking at least 75 projects worth about $130 billion. A new study from Georgia Tech released last week found that while data centers generate economic benefits, those gains are unevenly distributed. As per the study, metropolitan counties reap most of the rewards while many rural communities see only modest improvements despite hosting multibillion-dollar facilities.
The Federal Reserve's July Inflation Forecast Is In, and It Contains a Surprising Red Flag
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.77%), S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.01%), and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 1.40%) have all catapulted to several record highs in 2026. Inflation has become a hot-button issue that's dividing the Federal Reserve's policymakers. The FOMC is the 12-person body, including Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, responsible for setting the country's monetary policy. By May, TTM inflation had spiked to a three-year high of 4.2%, driven by President Trump's decision to attack Iran. BREAKING: June CPI inflation falls to 3.5%, below expectations of 3.8% -- The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 14, 2026 Core CPI inflation falls to 2.6%, below expectations of 2.8%. Month-over-month CPI inflation fell -0.4%, the biggest monthly drop since May 2020. US stock market futures are surging on the news. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's proprietary Inflation Nowcasting tool, headline TTM inflation should decline further in July to 3.32%. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation (Core PCE) moved up to 3.4% in May, the highest level since October 2023. This was the 63rd consecutive reading above the Fed's 2% target level. "We've missed for 5 years. And we're gonna fix that."-Kevin Warsh last week
US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Drop As Yields Ease And Housing Cools
The US 10 year Treasury yield has slipped to about 4.5% after softer inflation readings. At the same time, pending home sales dropped 5.4% in June and 30 year mortgage rates sit at 6.55%, keeping pressure on housing related stocks and raising questions for banks, builders and real estate funds that depend heavily on interest rate trends.
Shares unsettled as oil climbs, earnings loom for AI
The jump in fuel costs has revived worries about inflation even after U.S. consumer price data surprised on the downside last week, leading futures markets to price in at least one Federal Reserve rate hike by year-end. That sent U.S. yields higher, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield at 4.55%, while yields on 30-year Treasuries are back above the psychological 5.0% barrier. Money markets see more tightening from the European Central Bank, which they see as likely to raise rates again in September and are pricing an 80% chance of a further move by year-end. That sent the policy-sensitive German 2-year yield as high as 2.817% on Monday, its highest in two years.
Bitcoin
Risk-off wave drags bitcoin below $63,000 as AI selloff spreads from stocks to crypto
The long-short ratio in crypto futures markets, as measured by taker buy-sell volume, has slipped to 0.94, the lowest since June 2. That said, overall volume has cooled by 4% in 24 hours to $163 billion, while open interest (OI) remains largely steady at around $111 billion. BTC's total OI has pulled back to 747K BTC from yesterday’s high of 755K BTC. A similar trend is evident in ETH, XRP, and SOL futures, where OI has held steady or declined slightly. HYPE stood out with an OI increase of nearly 2% alongside a sharp 8% drop in the spot price. This combination typically confirms price weakness, signaling that new short positions are being opened. The broader market picture appears equally bearish, as most coins, including BTC and ETH, display a negative 24-hour CVD. In ether’s case, a trader or a group of traders recently purchased large-scale straddles, betting on significant price swings by July 24. Regarding volumes, three of the top five most-traded ETH contracts are currently puts. A put option offers protection against price declines in the underlying asset. Yet, at the same time, the $2,100 call remains the single most-traded bet of the past 24 hours. For bitcoin, the $62,500 put has emerged as the clear favorite among traders. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
AI frenzy losing steam leaves bitcoin less volatile than South Korean stocks
Kospi’s options-based 30-day implied volatility (IV) index has surged to an annualized 81%, more than double BVIV, the bitcoin equivalent, at around 38%, data from Bloomberg and Volmex show. Many Korean retail traders chasing high returns through margin trading and leveraged ETFs have faced forced liquidations, now totaling more than $2 trillion in less than three months. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Here’s what happened in crypto today
ESMA adds 14 new CASPs to MiCA register as licensing slows European authorities added 14 crypto companies to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework register in the second post-deadline update, signaling a slower licensing pace after an initial surge. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its interim MiCA register on Thursday, bringing the total number of licensed crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to 294. Morgan Stanley’s E*TRADE has rolled out spot cryptocurrency trading for eligible retail clients, enabling them to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin, Ether and Solana through a partnership with crypto infrastructure provider Zero Hash.
Morning Minute: Citadel Securities Invests $400M in Crypto.com
Citadel Securities made a $400 million strategic investment in Crypto.com, valuing the Singapore-based platform at $20 billion. It’s the exchange’s first institutional funding round since it was founded a decade ago, and Crypto.com says the capital will fund its expansion into tokenized securities, derivatives, prediction markets, and other real-world assets. The Bitcoin ETFs saw $79M in net inflows on Thursday; the ETH ETFs saw $28M in outflows
Bitcoin Price Falls Under $63,000 on U.S.-Iran Strikes and Trump’s China Charge, but Onchain Data Points to Buyers
Spot bitcoin ETFs drew $510 million across three sessions this month, an end to a $2.73 billion outflow streak, with BlackRock’s IBIT in the lead. Net outflows hit -18.3 BTC in the strike hour, then reverted to a post-shock average of +0.67 BTC per hour, meaning buyers returned within the same session. MVRV sits at 1.205 with realized price at roughly $53,000 and the long-term holder cost basis around $49,900, which defines the structural floor.
Hedge Fund Citadel Securities Invests $400 Million In Crypto.com
Leading hedge fund Citadel Securities has invested $400 million U.S. in Crypto.com as part of a funding round that valued the digital asset exchange at $20 billion U.S. Crypto.com has concluded its first institutional funding round since it was founded a decade ago, the company said in a news release. Singapore-based Crypto.com said the capital will be used to help it accelerate its expansion into tokenized securities, derivatives and other asset classes.
Robinhood Drops 4%, Webull Tumbles 6% as NASDAQ 100 Selloff and Crypto Dip Hit Retail-Brokerage Stocks
Robinhood's Q1 2026 crypto trading revenue fell 47% year over year to $134 million, and the company is still sensitive to token price swings. Webull relaunched U.S. crypto trading through its Webull Pay acquisition, so it carries similar exposure at a smaller scale. The cryptocurrency angle matters here. Robinhood's Q1 2026 crypto trading revenue fell 47% year over year to $134 million, and the company is still sensitive to token price swings.
Ocean Mining VP Jason Hughes: BIP-110 on Track to Fail as Miner Signaling Stays Below 1%
Ocean Mining’s VP of Development and Engineering Jason Hughes argues BIP-110 lacks measurable consensus, with node signaling at 7-15% and hashrate support under 1% ahead of the critical block 961632 window.
Polymarket traders cut Clarity Act passage odds to record low as Senate delay drags on
Polymarket bettors have cut the odds of the CLARITY Act passing this year to a record low as Senate negotiations over ethics provisions remain unresolved. - Polymarket now gives the Clarity Act a 32% chance of passing by year-end, its lowest level since the market launched in January. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Crypto Biz: When dollars disappear, stablecoins step in
According to Blocksbridge Consulting, executives at TeraWulf, Cipher Digital, Riot Platforms and Core Scientific have disclosed stock sales in recent months, many of them made under prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. The agreement covers a 175-megawatt data center at the company’s Sandersville, Georgia, campus and was signed with an undisclosed investment-grade global technology company. Bitmine Immersion Technologies generated $45.7 million in revenue from Ethereum staking and validation last quarter, demonstrating the strength of its business even as ETH prices remained under pressure. Chairman Tom Lee said Bitmine now stakes more Ether than any other entity and projects annualized staking rewards of $284 million once its holdings of the token are fully staked through MAVAN and its partners.
Bitcoin Cleared $65,000 This Week. Ignore the Noise, This Is the 1 Factor That Investors Need to Watch.
It's been 30 months since the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This kicked off what was the most successful ETF launch in Wall Street history, and legitimized the asset. On July 14, these products saw $181 million in net inflows. This was welcome news. The move might have been spurred by slowing inflation, which could support lower interest rates sooner rather than later. The asset base of the iShares Bitcoin Trust, currently at $47 billion. This is down from a peak of around $100 billion.
Robinhood Targets 27.6M Customers as Chain Moves Beyond Memecoin Rush
Roughly $734 million has been bridged onto Robinhood Chain, while about $211 million is active across lending pools and yield products. Derivatives activity shows a similar gap. Robinhood Chain processed $5.9 million in perpetual futures volume on July 13, compared with $8.9 billion on Hyperliquid during the same period. Users in more than 120 countries can now access gold, silver, foreign exchange and crypto perpetuals through Lighter inside Robinhood Wallet.
The Fed Chair Just Said He Prefers Policy That Avoids Booms and Busts. Here's What That Could Mean for the Crypto Market.
Bitcoin has spent five years as a macro liquidity sponge, and it will almost certainly reprise that role. The prices of Ethereum and Solana are also highly sensitive to liquidity and thus interest rates. Of course, investors should remember that none of this is settled. Warsh has held the seat for just seven weeks. His track record so far is one rate decision (no change), and Fed policy is done via a committee vote in which he is one voice.
Bitcoin Tests $63K as Long-Term Holders Keep Selling at a Loss
Bitcoin was changing hands at around $63,020 on Friday, down 1.7% on the day and 50% below the record $126,080 it set in October, per CoinGecko data. More than 65% of the coins flowing into exchanges are long-term holders realizing losses, according to Glassnode—a reading it said matches earlier bear-market phases, when that cohort "dominated the sell side before eventually exhausting."
Panic Hits Japan and South Korea Markets: Can Crypto Become the Big Winner?
Outstanding leveraged bets hit a record 29.2 trillion won, roughly $19.7 billion, in early July. Japan's parliament passed amendments to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act on July 15. The reform classifies crypto as financial products rather than payment tools, aligning them with stocks and bonds. The package introduces insider trading bans, issuer disclosures, and penalties of up to 10 years in prison. It also establishes a flat 20% tax expected from January 2028, replacing rates that climbed toward 55%. Domestic spot crypto ETFs become legally possible under the new framework. Approval remains uncertain, though exchanges reportedly eye first listings around 2027.
Tokenization has become a strategic priority for 84% of financial firms
84% of financial institutions now consider tokenization a strategic priority, with most expecting it to reshape financial markets within five years. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Massive bitcoin call spreads target $72,000 by month end, right when the Fed meets
Traders have bought $2.5 billion in notional bitcoin call spreads on Deribit, targeting $72,000 by July 31. According to Deribit, a total of 20,000 contracts of the $70,000 call expiring July 31 were purchased alongside a sale of 20,000 contracts of the $72,000 call of the same expiry. That amounts to $2.5 billion in notional value, the dollar value of 40,000 contracts, each representing 1 bitcoin. Options flow of this size and repetition often reflects institutional positioning rather than retail activity, given the capital required and the precision of the strike selection. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Here is why a massive $1.6 billion in crypto liquidity is sitting idle and wasting away
About $542 million weekly sat outside active trading ranges, meaning this capital earned zero fees and provided no market depth. Dune tracked Uniswap v3 and v4, PancakeSwap v3 and Aerodrome Slipstream across 7 chains using weekly snapshots from Jan. 6 to June 30. The out-of-range share stayed mostly between 25% and 35%, rising to nearly 41% in early February. Dune estimated that these out-of-range providers, that are sitting idle, could be missing roughly $150 million in fees each year, based on a blended in-range fee APR of about 35%. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Trump targets Brazil's payments system while dollar stablecoins are quietly overtaking country's payments
More than 170 million individuals have used the system, which processed nearly 7 billion transactions worth roughly R$3 trillion ($590 billion) in June, according to central bank data. Pix handled 42.9 billion transactions in the second half of 2025, compared with 23.8 billion across credit, debit and prepaid cards, underscoring its massive scale of dominance in the country’s payments system. Dollar-linked stablecoins already account for roughly 90% of crypto transaction volume in Brazil, most of it used for payments and settlement, according to tax authority data. Brazil processes between $6 billion and $8 billion in crypto each month, much of it using dollar-denominated stablecoins instead of the country's own currency.
Why Is XRP Not Going Up?
Institutional buyers are holding out for the CLARITY Act to cement XRP's legal status, while spot ETF inflows have stalled near $1.49 billion. Ripple relocks 60% to 80% of that billion a few days after, and the portion it keeps goes to things like funding partnerships and liquidity deals, not onto exchanges to be sold. Only about 200 to 400 million actually reaches the market, which is a small amount next to XRP's daily trading, and the schedule is set to last for nine more years, so buyers already expect it. The bigger issue is the total supply, as XRP is pre-mined, so all 100 billion tokens were created at the start instead of being mined over time, and about 62 billion are in circulation today. The rest are released on that fixed schedule over the coming years, so the number of XRP on the market keeps rising. Nothing pulls those tokens back out, because XRP barely burns.. A tiny fee is destroyed on every transaction, but that comes to only about 14 million tokens in more than a decade, next to nothing against 100 billion. So the amount of XRP people can buy and sell keeps growing. Institutional buyers already active is the spot XRP ETFs. Because these funds hold actual XRP, every dollar that goes in has to buy the token on the open market, which is real, direct demand. That demand was strong when the ETFs launched, but it has since dried up, with total inflows stuck near $1.49 billion for weeks. The bill would write XRP's status as a commodity into federal law—the permanent, unchallengeable clarity that big institutions have been waiting for. If it passes, the funds that have stayed on the sidelines would finally have a reason to buy, and that buying is what the XRP price has been missing.
Crypto executives say digital native generations may never need a bank account
$6.6 billion in volume across 132.4 million retail-sized transactions (those worth less than $250) during the latest 30-day period. Standard Chartered expects stablecoin circulation to increase about sevenfold to roughly $2 trillion by 2028, while agent-led purchases could rise from 1% of e-commerce in 2025 to 12% in 2029.
Ethereum Price Prediction: Thin Volumes Increase Risk of a Drop Below $1.8K
Net Inflows to Ethereum ETFs Turn Positive In July Meanwhile, Ethereum-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) brought in positive net inflows amounting to $106 million. This indicates that investors' interest in the top altcoin has been recovering, probably as a result of the latest price action. Overall, monthly net inflows in July have been positive after two consecutive months of net outflows.
Billionaire Investor Jeremy Grantham Calls Bitcoin a Useless, Speculative Asset. Here's Why He's Wrong.
Chainalysis, the leading blockchain analytics company, reported in its 2026 Crypto Crime Report that stablecoins now account for 84% of illicit on-chain volume, as criminals migrate away from Bitcoin's permanent and publicly searchable ledger toward other assets.
Why Circle Stock Is the Most Divisive Name in Fintech Right Now
$77 billion in circulation, and a landmark U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approval in July 2026, Circle has emerged as the defining regulated stablecoin infrastructure company at the intersection of traditional finance and decentralized payments. Circle reported first-quarter 2026 diluted EPS of $0.21, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.15 by 40%. Total revenue and reserve income of $694 million grew 20% year-over-year (YOY) but missed the consensus estimate of $715 million by about 3%. USDC onchain transaction volume surged 263% YOY to $21.5 trillion, while USDC in circulation grew 28% to $77 billion at quarter-end, underscoring the explosive adoption of Circle's stablecoin infrastructure across global payments and decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems. Management reaffirmed its full-year 2026 outlook, targeting other revenue of $150 million to $170 million, a RLDC margin of 38% to 40%, and adjusted operating expenses of $570 million to $585 million.
The White House Is Renewing Its Push for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Here's What That Could Mean for Bitcoin.
The U.S. government is estimated to hold 323,693 Bitcoins, worth $21.2 billion. That's about 1.5% of the total possible supply of Bitcoin, so the U.S. is a major holder. Those holdings are spread across many federal agencies, which makes them difficult to manage and to determine how many there are. Sen. Cynthia Lummis' Bitcoin Act would direct the Treasury Department to buy 1 million Bitcoins over five years and hold those coins for at least 20 years, but it has been stalled in committee since last spring, and it might not be important enough to get a spot on the Congressional calendar before the end of the year.
Weekly Wrap: Crypto Struggles as Technology Stocks Fall
Strategy Leaves Bitcoin Holdings Unchanged: Cryptocurrency treasury firm Strategy (NASDAQ: $MSTR) left its holdings of Bitcoin unchanged over the past week. The company led by Chairman Michael Saylor made no Bitcoin purchases or sales in the last seven days, leaving its holdings at 843,775 BTC. Instead, Strategy increased its U.S. dollar reserves by $466.7 million U.S. to $3 billion U.S. through at-the-market stock sales. Crypto money laundering reached a record $158 billion U.S. globally in 2025, according to Chainalysis. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: $MS) has added cryptocurrency trading to its popular ETRADE platform. The online brokerage is now allowing users to trade Bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies. While ETRADE is known for its zero-commission stock trades, it is charging clients a 0.50% fee on each trade involving Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana (CRYPTO: $SOL). Customers can now buy, sell, and hold the three cryptocurrencies through the brokerage platform. The American Treasury says it has frozen $131 million U.S. worth of digital assets in multiple cryptocurrency wallets tied to Iran's Central Bank and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Bitcoin miners fell in June of this year. Publicly traded Bitcoin miners CleanSpark (NASDAQ: $CLSK), BitFuFu (NASDAQ: $FUFU) and Canaan (NASDAQ: $CAN) reported lower bitcoin production last month. Betting on the World Cup propelled trading volumes on prediction markets to $50 billion U.S. in June. This year's FIFA World Cup has officially become the biggest sports betting event in history. Kalshi posted $31 billion U.S. in trading volumes for June, a 70% increase from May of this year, with betting on sports accounting for 85% of the trading on its platform. Crypto treasury firm Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: $BMNR) says that Ethereum staking generated 98% of its revenue in its latest quarter. The company, led by Chairman Tom Lee, said Ethereum staking became its dominant source of revenue during the quarter ended May 31, generating $45.7 million U.S.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Says $60,000 Is the Bottom for Bitcoin. Where Does BTC Go From Here?
In mid-June, Coinbase Global CEO Brian Armstrong predicted that Bitcoin (BTC +1.31%) may have hit a bottom at $60,000. While Bitcoin has only made a modest move upward since then, there's reason to think that Bitcoin might actually turn things around this year. In fact, at a current price of $64,000, Bitcoin still has an outside chance of hitting $100,000 within the next 12 months. Over the long term, though, Bitcoin has always followed an upward trajectory. Importantly, after every major market crash, Bitcoin has always recovered to hit a new all-time high. Just consider the previous Bitcoin bear market cycle. After hitting a (then) all-time high of $69,000 in 2021, Bitcoin lost 64% of its value in 2022. But it quickly recovered, hitting the $100,000 price level by the end of 2024. Could the same type of recovery happen this time around? While historical performance is certainly no guarantee of future performance, Bitcoin does have a stellar track record of bouncing back from adversity. Moreover, money finally seems to be returning to the spot Bitcoin ETFs. Steady buying by institutional investors will help to push up the price of Bitcoin. However, Bitcoin looks very different from a long-term perspective. From August 2017 to June 2026, Bitcoin grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33%. That was despite major market crashes in 2018, 2022, and 2025-2026. Admittedly, expecting Bitcoin to grow at a 33% clip, year after year, is an aggressive forecast. But if that happens, Bitcoin could easily regain the $100,000 price level within the next 12 months.
Numerai Buys Back Another $1.2M in NMR as Hedge Fund Assets Reach $700M
Numerai now manages about $700 million, up from roughly $560 million at the end of 2025, and trades more than $1 billion each month across 30 global markets. The hedge fund has grown alongside that participation. Numerai now manages about $700 million, up from roughly $560 million at the end of 2025, and trades more than $1 billion each month across 30 global markets. NMR has a fixed maximum supply of 11 million tokens, with about 3.1 million held in Numerai's treasury before the latest purchase.
Bitcoin’s quantum problem gets a recovery tool, but not for Satoshi’s 1.1 million coins
More than 34% of all bitcoin sits in that category, according to BIP-361. After Q-Day, a signature would prove nothing because the attacker can produce one as easily as the owner. The chain cannot tell them apart. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
4 Cryptocurrencies Poised to Deliver Huge Gains, According to Standard Chartered
Those staggering future gains are being powered by sharply rising rates of institutional adoption of Bitcoin. Simply put, Wall Street institutions are creating new investment products for Bitcoin, large institutional investors are adding Bitcoin to their portfolio mix, and companies are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets as a treasury asset. Ethereum has been at the forefront of the top trends in the DeFi sector, including the rise of stablecoins and the emergence of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which are tradeable crypto ownership representations of things like stocks and bonds.
Ripple Payments Joins MiCA With 14 Firms, Does It Mean Anything For XRP?
Ripple Payments Europe was added to the list after receiving full authorization from Luxembourg's financial regulator, the CSSF. The company holds more than 75 regulatory licenses worldwide, including approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority secured in January. Markets stayed largely unmoved by the news. XRP trades near $1.07, with a market capitalization above $67 billion, down roughly 3.46% over the past 24 hours, according to BeInCrypto data.
Kraken says simpler options can unlock crypto's next derivatives market
Kraken has launched USD-settled BTC and ETH options on Kraken Pro, initially through request-for-quote (RFQ), with Europe to follow later. Crypto options remain underdeveloped because existing products have been built primarily for institutions, leaving retail traders behind. The exchange on Thursday introduced European-style, USD-settled options on bitcoin and ether through Kraken Pro, initially via request-for-quote (RFQ). The contracts are available to eligible international clients outside of Europe, North America, and Australia, with a European rollout planned for a later date. "Crypto options activity is still a fraction of what it is in traditional markets, but the gap is closing as professional and institutional capital continues to move into digital assets," Theodorou told CoinDesk in an interview. Derivatives account for the vast majority of crypto trading volumes, but options remain a relatively small corner of the market, dominated by a handful of established venues including Deribit, CME Group and Binance. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
The CLARITY Act Could Be in Trouble. This is the Only Crypto I'm Buying Right Now.
The approvals of Bitcoin's first spot price exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in early 2024 also made it easier for retail and institutional investors to increase their exposure to the top cryptocurrency. Several countries, including the U.S. and El Salvador, have also been building up their own Bitcoin reserves. More than 20 million of the 21 million maximum supply of Bitcoins have already been mined, and the last Bitcoin will be mined by 2140.
What Drives XRP’s Value If It Can Be Reused Every Few Seconds?
Spot XRP ETFs hold 772 million coins and exchange supply is at a seven-year low, meaning supply removal is the real price driver rather than usage. The second driver is supply leaving the open market. Spot XRP ETFs hold roughly 772 million coins. Because those funds buy XRP and hold it for their investors, that supply is locked away in custody rather than trading. On top of that, the amount of XRP available on exchanges has dropped to a seven-year low as holders move coins into private wallets, and about 36 billion XRP stay locked in Ripple's escrow, released on a fixed monthly schedule. All of this means fewer coins are available to buy, so when demand does come in, it competes for a smaller pool of XRP and drives the price up faster. Evernorth already holds 473 million XRP, making it the largest corporate XRP treasury anywhere.
MicroStrategy CEO: Wall Street’s Biggest Banks are Locked in a Tight Bitcoin Race
MicroStrategy CEO Phong Le says Wall Street's largest banks are locked in a tight race for second place on the company's Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Citi each score within three points of one another. Fidelity, however, still holds a commanding lead. Fidelity's Lead Sets the Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index Bar The Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index grades 25 major banks on Bitcoin (BTC) trading, custody, and product depth. Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, published the initial 32% score, drawing on public data through July 10. Fidelity topped the list at 71%, built on Fidelity Digital Assets, the custody arm it launched back in 2018. BNY follows at 46%, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trails narrowly at 45%. Historically, few banks matched Fidelity's early crypto custody bet. Major-bank Bitcoin adoption is accelerating, but still early: 32% overall as measured by the index. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Citi are each developing several crypto initiatives slated for release within the current year. That could include new exchange-traded products, custody expansions, or tokenization tools already in development.
Will the US get CLARITY this week? Bitcoin’s new $80K target: Hodler’s Digest, July 19
$114 trillion in assets, last week launched a trial of tokenized securities in partnership with more than 40 financial firms. The global market capitalization of tokenized stocks rose to a record $2.3 billion on Wednesday, as more investors sought exposure to blockchain-based equity products. Ondo Finance remained the largest tokenized stock issuer with $955 million in onchain equities, according to Token Terminal data. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which is the custodian of $114 trillion in assets, last week launched a trial of tokenized securities in partnership with more than 40 financial firms.
Bitcoin Is its Most Affordable in Two Years. Which ETF Is Better to Invest With Now: iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF or VanEck Bitcoin ETF?
Bitcoin Is its Most Affordable in Two Years. Which ETF Is Better to Invest With Now: iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF or VanEck Bitcoin ETF? iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) offers massive scale and liquidity, while VanEck Bitcoin ETF (NYSEMKT:HODL) provides slightly lower ongoing costs for investors seeking direct spot Bitcoin exposure. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like these two funds provide investors with a streamlined way to gain exposure to the price of Bitcoin within a standard brokerage account. By holding the cryptocurrency in trust, these funds eliminate the complexities of managing digital keys and exchange wallets. The VanEck fund is the more affordable choice for long-term holders with an expense ratio of 0.20%. The iShares trust charges 0.25%, a slightly higher fee that may be offset for active traders by its massive scale and tighter trading spreads. If you are a believer in Bitcoin, then the fact that the cryptocurrency has slid to its lowest price in almost two years, at just around $64,000 in U.S. dollar terms, recently, probably signals an opportunity for you. As my colleague, Dominic Basulto, points out, Bitcoin is trading around a nearly 50% decline from its all-time high of $126,000 in October 2025.
3 Reasons Circle Internet Group Could Soar in Value by 2030
$300 billion stablecoin industry would become a $3 trillion industry by the year 2030. That's fantastic news for Circle Internet Group (CRCL 0.30%), the issuer of the USDC (USDC +0.00%) stablecoin. Some have even conjectured that this could result in tens of billions of dollars moving out of traditional bank deposits and into stablecoins such as USDC.
Bitcoin flat near $64,000 as oil hits a one-month high and Kimi AI selloff lingers
Bitcoin hovered around $64,200 on Monday, little changed on the day, as crypto markets weighed surging oil prices against lingering fallout from Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 model release. The largest cryptocurrency traded at about $64,200, roughly flat on the day and up 3% on the week, with about $18 billion changing hands. Ether sat at $1,860, up 5% over seven sessions and the strongest of the majors again. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Inflation in June Was Lower Than Anticipated. Could That Support a New Crypto Bull Market?
According to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data published in mid-July, inflation in June fell 0.4% for the month and was 3.5% annualized, the largest monthly decline since April 2020. Bitcoin's bear market is about eight months old. The 2018 and 2022 downturns ran close to a year, which is typical. Per most interpretations of the coin's four-year cycle, there could be a bottom around October or November this year. So a leg up for Bitcoin in the fall or early winter would put the next bull market on schedule. Bitcoin will lead the market because it soaks up the most liquidity, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, and institutional interest.
Amazon Japan supplier AZ-Com Maruwa to adopt yen stablecoin JPYC for payments
AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings, a Tokyo-listed logistics firm that distributes products for Amazon Japan, plans to pay about 2,300 partners, including subcontractors and truck drivers, using the regulated yen stablecoin JPYC. Tokyo-listed AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings (9090), which reported 230.5 billion yen ($1.4 billion) in revenue for the fiscal year ended March, plans to use JPYC for fees and other payments to its network of around 2,300 partners, including subcontractors and truck drivers. As of last week, its onchain circulation had surpassed 2 billion yen. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
Bitcoin ETF inflows extend to second week, but recovery lacks momentum
Four consecutive sessions of inflows should be interpreted as a sign that selling pressure is easing, rather than clear evidence that institutional investors have returned on a broad scale.
Semiconductor
U.S.-China AI feud sees ASML walk tightrope between sales and geopolitics
Sales in China hit 2.9 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in the first six months of 2026, roughly 16% of total revenue. Dassen's comments that Chinese sales will make up around 20% of net sales across the whole of 2026, point to revenue from the country increasing in the second half of 2026 compared to the first.
Semiconductor stocks keep falling as investors go risk-off, Chinese startup releases powerful new AI model
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) this week guided to higher-than-anticipated capital expenditures, in part due to higher tool costs. "What we definitely need to see continue, though, is hyperscalers' capex," Principal Asset Management chief global strategist Seema Shah told Yahoo Finance earlier this week.
Jim Cramer Says Broadcom Will Tell You When the Market Is About to Turn
Broadcom has become a rudder for the AI chip trade, which is why its guidance can steer the entire sector. Fiscal Q2 revenue came in at $22.19 billion, up 47.9% year over year, while non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.44 beat the consensus, extending Broadcom’s streak to eight consecutive quarters of EPS beats. AI semiconductor revenue reached $10.80 billion, soaring 143% year over year. Free cash flow was $10.26 billion, or 46% of revenue, per the company’s Q2 8-K filing. Tan offered a glimpse into the future, telling investors, “The momentum continues and in Q3 we expect semiconductor revenue from AI to grow over 200 percent year-over-year to $16.0 billion.” Total Q3 revenue is guided to roughly $29.4 billion, implying 84% year-over-year growth. Tan has also set a public target of exceeding $100 billion in AI sales by 2027. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the other half of the AI silicon duopoly. Its most recent quarter delivered $81.61 billion in revenue, up 85.2% year over year, with Data Center Networking revenue surging 199%, according to the company’s Q1 FY2027 8-K.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM): A Beneficiary of AI Boom
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, producing advanced semiconductors for major global technology companies. Another beneficiary of the AI spending boom has been Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Revenues grew by more than 40% (in USD), on top of 40% growth last year. Its leading-edge fabs and packaging capacity are fully booked, driving margins to all-time highs. Much of this capacity was put in place a few years ago, before generative AI was a household and business-wide term. More recent demand signals from customers - including Nvidia, Broadcom, and even Micron - indicate AI-related growth of over 50% per annum through 2029.
Micron Technology: Record DRAM Pricing Meets A Stock In Retreat
MU data by YCharts Reports that Chinese memory maker CXMT is preparing an $8.55 billion IPO are being cited as the proximate cause of today's decline, along with reports that AI cloud provider CoreWeave is exploring financial hedges against a potential drop in memory costs. Overall, the decline is also consistent with broader profit-taking across a semiconductor sector that gained roughly 82% in the first half of 2026, as measured by the SOXX (NASDAQ: SOXX). Micron's own actions indicate management views the pricing as durable rather than transitory. On June 25, the company locked in what has been described as historically high memory prices in supply agreements running out five years, not the posture of a company hedging against a near-term reversal. On the fiscal Q3 2026 earnings call, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated that supply constraints are expected to "persist beyond calendar 2026," with market tightness "locked in to persist beyond calendar 2027," and that Micron expects to meet only "half to two-thirds" of demand from its key customers. Micron's DRAM revenue reportedly reached a record $31.3 billion in the most recent quarter, up 343% year over year. The pace of DRAM price increases appears to be decelerating even as the absolute price continues to rise, with some reporting tying May's all-time-high print to a slowing quarter-over-quarter rate of increase as PC OEM deals closed. A stock falling for a reason that contradicts its own disclosed cost structure indicates indiscriminate selling across a sector label, not a reassessment of that specific company's earnings power.
Meta, Tesla, Nvidia: This ETF Went All-In on the Magnificent Seven. Is It Paying Off?
NVDA's 85% revenue growth and META's 33% gains powered CGGR's portfolio, yet the fund returned only 12% over the trailing year. The holdings are doing their job. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) reported Q1 FY27 revenue of $82 billion, up 85% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $75 billion. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) delivered Q1 2026 revenue of $56 billion, up 33% year over year, though the $10.44 EPS beat consensus of $6.66 largely because of an $8 billion tax benefit. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) is up roughly 29% over the trailing year, with AI semiconductor revenue tracking toward CEO Hock Tan's stated $100B target by 2027. Even Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), the volatile one, is about 19% higher over the past 12 months, helped by an expansion in auto gross margin to 21.1% and FSD subscriptions crossing 1.28 million. CGGR returned roughly 11% over the trailing twelve months. The S&P 500 returned about 21% over the same window, and the Nasdaq-100 returned 25%. Vanguard's passive growth ETF delivered about 17%, Schwab's competing product returned about 18%, and the iShares Russell 1000 Growth vehicle came in at around 13%, essentially tied with CGGR. The dispersion is not enormous in absolute terms, but for an actively managed fund selling itself on stock-picking edge, trailing three of four passive peers is a meaningful result.
Micron Is Quietly Becoming a More Reliable Long-Term Growth Play
Micron will continue benefiting from the rapidly growing memory chip demand Memory is essential for compute and storage in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, computers, smartphones, vehicles, and other applications. AI, in particular, has supercharged the demand for this commodity. However, there isn't enough supply available to meet the booming demand. According to Micron peer SK Hynix, the memory supply crunch will worsen in 2027. Moreover, the South Korean giant projects that memory demand will continue to exceed supply even after 2030. Clearly, AI has brought about a structural change in the memory industry that will ensure manufacturers like Micron deliver reliable, consistent long-term growth. Analysts are forecasting a 785% jump in earnings per share this fiscal year to $73.37. Its earnings are projected to more than double in the next fiscal year, followed by a slower increase in fiscal 2028. Even if Micron clocks just 10% in earnings growth in fiscal years 2029 and 2030, its bottom line could jump to $198.26 per share in four years.
Wall Street plunges in AI ‘bloodbath’
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell by as much as 5.7% Friday, in a reversal of the surge that saw the index more than double in just three months. Shares in chip giants including Marvell Technology Inc., ARM Holdings Plc, and Intel Corp. have all plunged more than 30% over the past month. Strong results from TSMC, the world's top advanced AI chipmaker, and ASML, the leading supplier of high-end chip-making equipment, have done little to ease concerns over the durability of the chip-stock rally. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index, a barometer of the sector, hit a nearly two-month low on Thursday and was set for its worst week since March last year. The gauge has shed more than 19pc from its late June record. Taiwan's Taiex index had shed 6.5pc after $2tn chip giant TSMC fell by 7.3pc a day after announcing record second-quarter profit but higher than expected spending plans.
Nebius Jumps 8% as $775M Debt Deal Eases the Dilution Fears That Sank NBIS Stock
According to the company’s announcement, Nebius landed a $775 million loan backed by GPU hardware already deployed in its data centers plus cash flows from an existing customer contract. The structure converts revenue-generating infrastructure into fresh growth capital, and Nebius says it can be replicated. Nebius had guided to $22.5 billion in 2026 capital expenditures, and how to fund that number was the central investor question. By tapping asset-backed debt instead of equity, Nebius answers the bear thesis from Thursday head-on. The company also cited more than $40 billion in additional contracted revenue from investment-grade customers, including Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), and confirmed it remains on track with its Microsoft capacity deployment.
Dell Technologies vs. NVIDIA: Which Artificial Intelligence Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In its 2026 fiscal year (FY) ended Jan. 30, revenue reached $113.5 billion, representing a growth of 18.8% over the previous year. In FY 2026, revenue reached $215.9 billion, a significant 65.5% increase compared to the prior fiscal year. Net income for the same period was $5.9 billion. Net income for the period was $120.1 billion, resulting in a net margin of 55.6%. Free cash flow, defined as cash from operations minus capital expenditures, reached $8.6 billion for the year. Free cash flow for the year reached $96.7 billion, providing ample capital for further innovation. Dell reported record revenue of $43.8 billion for its fiscal first quarter, ended May 1, which represents an outstanding 88% year-over-year increase.
How Nvidia and Micron Are Single-Handedly Reshaping S&P 500 Tech Earnings
Micron has already reported Q2 results, with earnings up +1350.1% on +345.7% higher revenues. The Tech sector is unlike the other 15 Zacks sectors, as it alone brings in 41% of all S&P 500 earnings and accounts for 45.6% of the index's total market capitalization.
Jensen Huang Said Nvidia Will Be the First Customer for HBM4. Here's the AI Memory Stock That Has Reportedly Locked Up 70% of Those Orders.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is taking the memory supercycle incredibly seriously. Over the last couple of years, Huang has quietly dropped some breadcrumbs that can be traced to Nvidia's favorable memory suppliers. Conventional DRAM struggles to keep pace with these bandwidth demands, leading to underutilized compute resources and longer training times. HBM solves this by stacking DRAM dies and stitching them together through vertical interconnects. This delivers bandwidth that is meaningfully higher than that of traditional memory solutions while consuming less power. HBM4 represents the next step forward in the memory evolution. Nvidia requires HBM4 to power its next-generation platforms because these chips enable larger model sizes, faster token generation, and more efficient scaling of GPU clusters. In particular, Nvidia's Vera Rubin architecture is expected to rely heavily on HBM4 to deliver the performance leap customers anticipate. According to reports dating back to 2024, Huang had asked SK Hynix to expedite its HBM4 manufacturing by six months. While SK Hynix plans to double its wafer capacity by 2030, Huang warns this may not be enough supply given the explosion of AI workloads. Huang explains: AI factories are the engines of the next industrial revolution, and advanced memory is essential to their performance. SK Hynix has been an extraordinary partner to Nvidia, playing a central role in delivering advanced memory technologies for Nvidia AI computing platforms. Together, we will codevelop the next generation of memory for AI factories and support the accelerating global expansion of AI infrastructure -- from frontier model training to agentic and physical AI. Against this backdrop, industry analysts estimate that SK Hynix could lock in between 50% and 70% of Nvidia's anticipated HBM4 orders. This outsize allocation would provide SK Hynix with durable revenue tailwinds as the company stands to capture a disproportionate share of HBM revenue while its competitors ramp up their own capacities.
Morning Bid: Chips and ships
Korea's KOSPI – which is dominated by chipmaking giants Samsung and SK Hynix – tumbled 6% on Thursday, down roughly a quarter from its June peak. Both its exports and imports topped analyst forecasts in June, largely thanks to strong shipments and purchases of semiconductor chips, other technology equipment and automobiles.
TSMC hikes 2026 guidance as AI demand outpaces capacity
TSMC raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to a range of $60 billion to $64 billion, up from $52 billion to $56 billion, an increase of roughly 15%, according to Reuters. TSMC also announced an additional $100 billion investment in Arizona, bringing its total US commitment to $265 billion, according to the Seeking Alpha report.
TSMC: Stock to Avoid or Incredible Buying Opportunity? (NYSE: TSM)
That includes another $100 billion commitment to build new facilities in Arizona on top of its existing plans to spend $165 billion in the U.S. Management said it now expects capital expenditures for the year between $60 billion and $64 billion, up from its previous outlook of $52 billion to $56 billion. Its gross margin was 67.7% last quarter, and its operating margin reached 60.3%, year-over-year improvements of 9.1 percentage points and 10.7 percentage points, respectively.
Better Buy: SK Hynix vs. Micron
Fortunately, the market is unlikely to see a glut of memory chips for some time. Amid the current shortage, SK Hynix's revenue rose 199% year over year in Q1. That followed a 47% increase in 2025. Also, its Q1 net income was $26.5 billion, a 397% year-over-year gain. Despite that massive growth, it trades at a P/E ratio of 24. Admittedly, the historical volatility in the industry may make investors hesitant, especially those with little appetite for risk. Still, with no slowdown in sight for the AI infrastructure build-out that is powering memory demand, SK Hynix is in an enviable position. In its fiscal 2026 third quarter (which ended May 28), revenue rose by 346% year over year, well above its 202% growth across the first nine months of the fiscal year. Also, its net income for fiscal Q3 increased by almost 15-fold.
Taiwan Semiconductor Generates Strong FCF - But TSM Stock is Down and Value Investors Love It
TSM generated $46.9 billion in operating cash flow. That represents a 61.6% margin on its first revenue of $76.1 billion, as seen on page 4 of its financial presentation. Moreover, analysts project revenue will rise 40% this year to $168.4 billion. Therefore, at this margin, it could generate $103.7 billion in operating cash flow (i.e., $168.4 billion x 0.616). That could fund $100 billion in capex over one year. In the first half of this year, TSM had $26.8 billion in capex, or about 57% of its H1 operating cash flow of $46.9 billion. That resulted in $20.1 billion in free cash flow (FCF), or 26.4% of H1 revenue. In other words, TSM could easily afford to spend $100 billion over the next two years, i.e., by generating $103.7 billion in operating cash flow annually and $44.5 billion in FCF (i.e., 26.4% x $168.4 billion in 2026 revenue). Next year's revenue could rise to $213.29 billion, based on Seeking Alpha's survey of analysts. That's up +26.7% over 2026 revenue forecasts. It also means that over the next 12 months (NTM), revenue would average $190.85 billion. Therefore, using a 61.6% operating cash flow margin and deducting 57% in capex, shows that NTM free cash flow (FCF) could rise to $50.6 billion (up from $44.5 billion projected this year). That is 26% higher than TSM's market cap today of $2.125 trillion. In other words, the price target (PT) is 26% higher: $409.76 x 1.26 = $516.30 PT
Plug Power Wins a 50-Megawatt Order in Australia. Here's What It Means for the Hydrogen Stock.
Plug Power has now deployed around 320 MW of its GenEco electrolyzer systems across six continents. Last year, the company delivered 185 MW of GenEco systems, a 203% growth over the previous year. In April, for example, Plug Power was selected to deliver a 275-MW GenEco PEM electrolyzer system in Canada.
AMD vs. Arm vs. Intel: The Best Stock to Play the Rise of Agentic AI
AMD is a leader in the data center CPU space, having consistently taken share away from Intel over the past few years. The company has strong technology and has developed high-core CPUs designed specifically for agentic AI. Cores act like individual workstations, and packing more cores into a CPU is like giving the chip a large workforce to help power autonomous AI agents. Its new Venice architecture, set to debut soon, utilizes up to 256 cores, making it ideal for agentic AI. In addition to its agentic AI opportunity with its CPUs, AMD is also benefiting from the surging inference market with its GPUs. Its acquisition of memory optimization company MEXT, whose chiplet design allows it to be packaged with more memory, positions AMD well in the inference market, and it already has two massive deals in place with OpenAI and Meta Platforms. Intel has been one of the hottest stocks in the market over the past year, up around 323%. This largely stems from its data center CPU opportunity. While the company has arguably ceded its technological leadership in the space, data center CPU demand is so high that it has been a big boost to the company. And with supply generally tight, it has been able to increase CPU prices, which should help boost both its revenue and gross margin. At the time of its announcement, Arm saw the data center CPU market rising to $100 billion over the next five years and believed it could take a 15% market share. That would take its 2031 revenue to $25 billion, with $15 billion coming from CPUs.
Intel and Google deepen AI ties for chip design
Intel had already fallen from a 52-week high of $142.35 in late June to roughly $103 by mid-July, a decline tied to reports that its 18A manufacturing process may not reach profitable yields until 2027, according to The Motley Fool. The same week, AMD reported first-quarter data center revenue of $5.8 billion, edging past Intel's $5.1 billion in that segment for the first time, the outlet reported. Intel reports second-quarter earnings on July 23. That report, not this week's Google Cloud news, will show whether Intel's foundry turnaround can keep pace with the AI story it keeps telling investors.
Jensen Huang Told CES 2026 That Memory Is Now the Biggest Bottleneck in AI. Micron and Sandisk Have Outperformed Nvidia's Stock Ever Since.
We would like this AI to stay with us our entire lives and remember every single conversation we've ever had with it, right? Every single lick of research that I've asked for. Of course, the number of people sharing the supercomputer will continue to grow. And so, this context memory, which started out fitting inside an HBM, is no longer large enough. In Micron's fiscal 2026 third quarter, it reported total revenue of $41.4 billion, which was a significant increase for the company; its full-year revenue in 2025 was just $37.3 billion. Its data center and edge divisions (providing memory storage for things like drones and car sensors) have been key revenue drivers. The AI infrastructure build-out isn't expected to slow down anytime soon, and as long as it continues, demand for memory and storage chips will remain robust. Micron signed 16 strategic customer agreements in its fiscal third quarter, with cash deposits and financial commitments totaling $22 billion to date. Meanwhile, in its third quarter, Sandisk signed three contracts with total contractual revenue of at least $42 billion.
TSMC Is Pouring $100 Billion More Into Its Arizona Plant to Keep Up With Strong US Customer Demand
TSMC's total investment in Arizona will now sum up to a whopping $265 billion. The news comes as TSMC posted record second-quarter results, with net income surging 77.4% year over year to NT$706.56 billion ($22 billion), beating analyst estimates and marking its fifth consecutive record quarterly profit.
Massive TSMC deal is huge stride for US in high-tech race
According to the company's SEC filing, second-quarter revenue reached $40.20 billion, up 33.7% from the previous year. TSMC raised its 2026 capital budget to between $60 billion and $64 billion, up from the previous $52 billion to $56 billion range. That's roughly a 15% increase at the midpoint, arriving in the same report as a fresh $100 billion US commitment.
AI Investors Are Becoming Pickier. 2 Stocks Still Stand Out.
In fact, full-year revenue is now expected to grow 40% YoY to nearly $11.5 billion. Data center revenue is projected to increase 50% YOY in fiscal 2027, before accelerating again to roughly 55% growth in fiscal 2028. Therefore, its interconnect business is now expected to grow more than 70% YoY in fiscal 2027. Analysts now project EPS growth of 42.13% in fiscal 2027 and another 67% in fiscal 2028. Marvell's average price target of $262 implies the stock can climb by another 23.4% from current levels. Plus, the high target price of $400 implies a potential upside of 108% from current levels. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, total revenue climbed 48% YoY to $22.2 billion, driven by a 79% increase in semiconductor revenue. Notably, close to three-quarters of that growth came from AI products, with AI semiconductor revenue up 143% YoY to $10.8 billion. The company has signed multiple long-term contractual agreements with Google, Meta Platforms, and Anthropic. Additionally, it has signed an agreement for a 1.3 GW deployment in 2027 as part of a 10 GW agreement through 2029 with OpenAI. The company has additional $6 billion purchase orders from its other two AI customers. Broadcom enters the second half of the fiscal year with more than $30 billion in AI semiconductor bookings against $10.8 billion in shipments. For the third quarter alone, the company's AI semiconductor revenue is to climb by 200% YoY to $16 billion, while total revenue could increase by 84% to $29.4 billion. The company expects third-quarter software revenue to grow 31% YoY to reach $8.9 billion. It paid $3.1 billion in cash dividends in the quarter. Based on the average target price of $516.59, the stock has potential upside of 31% from current levels. Plus, the high price target of $640 suggests shares could climb by 62% over the next 12 months.
This $26.5 Billion Listing Ranks Behind Only SpaceX in U.S. Market History
SK Hynix needs money to build new fabrication facilities SK Hynix is the second-largest memory manufacturer in the world after Samsung. Its market share of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) was 29% in Q1. SK Hynix also controlled 18% of the global NAND flash market in the first quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. What's more, it is the largest player in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market with a 58% share. These market share numbers explain why SK Hynix needs to aggressively expand its fabrication capacity to fill the memory supply gap. The company predicts that the overwhelming demand for memory chips won't stop anytime soon. SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung recently told Reuters that the supply crunch will worsen in 2027. He also added that memory demand will continue to exceed SK Hynix's production capacity into the next decade. Not surprisingly, SK Hynix is going all out to build additional capacity to meet end-market demand. The company aims to double its wafer production capacity over the next five years. As a result, it intends to invest more than $700 billion over the long run to boost its manufacturing capabilities in South Korea.
ASML Posts Blockbuster Q2 Numbers and Raises Guidance. ASML Stock Still Has Room to Run.
ASML reported revenue of €9.3 billion in Q2, up 21% year-over-year (YOY). Net system sales, the core revenue segment of the company that includes the sale of EUV machines, rose more than 17% to €6.6 billion, while service and field options sales came to €2.8 billion. For the full year, ASML again raised its guidance, with revenue expected to be between €43 billion and €45 billion. Full-year gross margin estimates were also raised to a range of 54% to 56%. Each of these systems carries a price tag of around $380 million, well above the roughly $200 million of a standard EUV machine, so every unit sold lifts revenue meaningfully. That makes Intel the first company to high-volume manufacture logic with High NA, and it puts the technology's readiness beyond doubt.
A $100 Billion Reason to Buy Taiwan Semi Stock Now
TSMC reported Q2 FY2026 earnings that comfortably cleared Wall Street's expectations. Net profit jumped 77.4% year-over-year (YOY) to NT$706.6 billion ($21.9 billion), surpassing Street's estimate of NT$632.6 billion ($19.6 billion). The company later lifted that figure to $165 billion in 2025 after the Trump administration renegotiated several semiconductor agreements. Now, another $100 billion has entered the picture, making TSMC's American expansion one of the industry's largest investment programs. TSM stock rallied 61.7% over the past 52 weeks and has already gained 30.7% year-to-date (YTD). But the momentum cooled in recent weeks, with the shares decreasing 8.5% over the last month. The strong run has naturally lifted the stock's valuation. Its shares are currently trading at 27.17 times forward adjusted price-to-earnings Non-GAAP and 11.67 times sales. They have also raised their full-year FY2026 capital expenditure budget to between $60 billion and $64 billion, citing sustained structural demand from customers, including the rapidly emerging agentic AI market. Analysts expect the company's earnings growth to remain equally impressive. Wall Street forecasts Q3 FY2026 EPS of $4.08, representing 39.7% YOY growth.
New LUMA ETF Charges 0.64% to Give You Diversified Photonics Exposure
Lumentum (LITE) gained 609% and Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) surged 421% over the past year, yet both now trade above 40x forward earnings. The pitch is straightforward: photonics is a real and rapidly growing niche within AI infrastructure. Lumentum has delivered a one-year gain of 608.85%, Coherent is up 183.13%, Tower Semiconductor 421.3%, MACOM 99.98% and Marvell 166.34% over the past year. A 0.64% net fee sits at the higher end for a thematic tech ETF. Broad semiconductor funds from iShares and VanEck typically charge well under half that.
Semiconductor stocks trim losses as investors buy the dip
Artificial intelligence costs have been rising. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) this week guided to higher-than-anticipated capital expenditures, in part due to higher tool prices. "What we definitely need to see continue, though, is hyperscalers' capex," Principal Asset Management chief global strategist Seema Shah told Yahoo Finance earlier this week. "Their earnings need to be strong," she added. "They are really the foundation for the entire AI ecosystem."
The 1 AI Chip Stock I'd Buy Hand Over Fist in This Sell-Off -- and It Isn't Nvidia.
Revenue rose 33.7% year over year to $40.2 billion. Taiwan Semi doesn't have that problem. After all, those custom chips still have to be manufactured somewhere, and the leading-edge capacity to build them is overwhelmingly TSMC's. The company manufactured 12,682 products for 534 customers in 2025. Management expects the momentum to continue, too, guiding for third-quarter revenue of $44.6 billion to $45.8 billion, or roughly 37% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. On the earnings call, management also raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth outlook to slightly more than 40%, up from its earlier call for growth of more than 30%. Management raised its 2026 capital spending plan to $60 billion to $64 billion, at least $4 billion above its prior forecast.
Jim Cramer Says Semiconductor Stocks Are “Going Down.” Buy These 2 Dividend Stocks Instead
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) fundamentals remain intact. Q1 FY2027 delivered $81.61B in revenue, up 85.2% YoY, with Data Center revenue of $75.25B.
Earnings From Taiwan Semiconductor and ASML Show Soaring Demand, So Why Are AI Stocks Falling? (And Here's What Investors Should Do Next.)
TSMC spoke of strong demand from its customers -- chip designers -- as well as their customers, cloud service providers. The company even announced an additional $100 billion investment in Arizona to build out operations there. ASML, the maker of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines for the production of advanced semiconductors, lifted its annual guidance for the second time this year amid "extremely strong" order momentum. Tech giants have said they aim to spend almost $700 billion this year on AI infrastructure.
Missed Out on Sandisk's 580% Rally? Here Are 3 Chip Stocks You Can Buy Now.
Micron and Sandisk produce memory chips for computing applications: Micron makes NAND and DRAM memory, while Sandisk specializes in NAND. NAND memory is used for long-term data storage (like in solid-state drives) while DRAM provides high-speed memory of the type that is commonly used alongside a computing unit for rapid information access. Both types of memory are vital in data centers, and with data center growth soaring, both Sandisk and Micron stand to benefit. However, there isn't enough production capacity in the entire memory chip industry to satisfy current demand, and the resulting shortages have caused their prices to skyrocket. This won't be remedied anytime soon, as it takes years to build new chip foundries. Micron's management has forecast that the memory market will remain tight beyond 2027. That bodes well for both of these stocks over at least the next year and a half, and based on their cheap price-to-earnings valuations, they look like solid investments now. Nvidia has been a top option to invest in throughout the AI arms race, but the stock's performance has been less inspiring so far in 2026. However, that doesn't mean that the company isn't doing great. In fact, business is booming. Revenue was up 85% last quarter, and next quarter, Wall Street expects nearly 100% revenue growth.
ASML: Is the Stock a Buy as Demand for EUV Lithography Machines Soars?
ASML's EUV machines are key to the manufacture of both advanced logic chips (such as graphics processing units) and high bandwidth memory (HBM). With demand for both of those types of chips outpacing supply, chipmakers are building more chip fabs, and as a result, demand for ASML's equipment is jumping. In response, it too plans to increase its manufacturing capacity. The company said that orders for its EUV machines were already close to accounting for its full manufacturing capacity through next year, even after plans to increase its output by 30%. Management is also looking into increasing its capacity by an additional 30% in 2028. In the second quarter, its revenue climbed 21% year over year to 9.3 billion euros ($10.7 billion), which came in well above the company's guidance range of 8.4 billion to 9 billion euros ($9.6 billion to $10.3 billion). Equipment sales rose by 18% to 6.6 billion euros ($7.6 billion), while service revenue climbed 33% to 2.8 billion euros ($3.2 billion). Looking ahead, the company forecast third-quarter revenue would be between 11 billion euros ($12.6 billion) and 12 billion euros ($13.8 billion), and guided for 2026 revenue in the range of 43 billion euros ($49.3 billion) and 45 billion euros ($51.6 billion), up from a prior guidance range of 36 billion euros ($41.3 billion) to 40 billion euros ($45.9 billion).
Can NVIDIA (NVDA) Still Trade Below Fair Value As AI Demand Grows?
NVIDIA currently trades on about 30.8x earnings, which is well below both the broader semiconductor industry average of 58.7x and a peer group average of 77.1x. On this framework the recent pullback leaves NVIDIA trading at a discount rather than assuming a premium AI story is already priced in. NVIDIA screens as undervalued on both the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate and the earnings multiple, which is unusual after such a strong multi year return. "Nvidia could reach $400b in annual revenue in 5 years, with approximately 90% of revenue coming from data center customers…"
'Earnings need to be strong': Wall Street assesses next catalyst for AI trade
Hyperscalers are set to spend a collective $650 billion on AI infrastructure this year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) stock moved lower last week after it raised its capital spending plans to expand capacity, partly due to rising equipment costs.
Dear Intel Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23
Intel's Q1 Results Showed Resilience Reflecting the growing role of CPUs in the AI era, Intel reported solid results in its first quarter. The company's revenue increased by 7% year-over-year (YOY) to $13.60 billion. Its non-GAAP operating margin grew by 6.9 percentage points over the same period to 12.3%. Its non-GAAP EPS grew 123% from the prior-year period to $0.29. Street analysts are robustly optimistic about Intel's bottom-line trajectory. For the current fiscal year, EPS is projected to surge 641.7% annually to $0.65, followed by a 53.9% increase to $1.00 in the next fiscal year. The company is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 23, after the market closes. Ahead of that, analysts expect its EPS to grow by 138.5% to $0.10. Intel has increased capacity at its INTC 3 fab to accommodate 25%-30% growth in server units this year and exceed 50% growth next year. At the same time, yields on its 18A node have risen sharply, climbing from about 65% in the previous quarter to above 85% now. Intel has long been a stalwart on Wall Street, with analysts awarding it a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Of the 46 analysts rating the stock, 11 have given it a "Strong Buy" rating, one a "Moderate Buy," 32 a "Hold," and two a "Strong Sell." The consensus price target of $107.56 represents a 13.2% upside from current levels.
TSMC vs. ASML: Which Is the Better AI Semiconductor Ecosystem Stock to Buy?
TSMC has a virtual monopoly on the manufacturing of advanced logic chips, such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and high-performance central processing units (CPUs), while ASML has a full-blown monopoly on the machines that make these chips possible. Manufacturing advanced logic chips is a difficult task, and TSMC is the only company that has proven it can do it at high yields (producing chips with few defects) at scale. Rivals Samsung and Intel have both experienced struggles with yields, and it is why Huang warned Elon Musk that pulling off his TerraFab project is going to be very difficult. Future demand is so high that TSMC has been ramping up its own capital expenditure (capex) to increase capacity, which will drive strong future growth. The company's position has also afforded it strong pricing power, which has nicely lifted its gross margins and helped drive profitability. Trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19 times 2027 analyst estimates, the stock is undervalued given its growth prospects and position in the semiconductor ecosystem. The company will increase its own capacity by 30% this year and 30% in 2027. It is also looking to potentially bump it up by another 30% in 2028 as well. While ASML plays an important role in the semiconductor ecosystem, it has not enjoyed the same revenue or gross margin boost as others in the space. In the second quarter, its revenue grew a solid 21% while its gross margins ticked up 30 basis points to 54%. However, compare that to TSMC whose Q2 revenue jumped by 34% while its gross margins ballooned by 910 basis points to 67.6%. Trading at a forward P/E of 30.5 times 2027 analyst estimates, AMSL's valuation is reflective of its growth and strong positioning in the market.
AMD Just Passed Nvidia at the Top of a $45 Billion Semiconductor ETF. Micron Is Closing In.
Micron reported revenue of $41.5 billion for its fiscal third quarter of 2026 (the period ended May 28, 2026), up from $23.9 billion the prior quarter and $9.3 billion in the year-ago period. AMD's run has a similar shape. First-quarter revenue rose 38% year over year to $10.3 billion, with data center revenue up 57% to $5.8 billion as its Instinct graphics processing units (GPUs) ramp. Management guided for about $11.2 billion of revenue in the second quarter, which would be an acceleration. Nvidia? Its business hasn't slowed at all. Revenue for its fiscal first quarter of 2027 (the period ended April 26, 2026) rose 85% year over year to a record $81.6 billion, with data center revenue up 92% to $75.2 billion.
TSMC: The AI Supercycle Just Got Stronger
TSM's Q2 revenue grew 33.7% year-on-year to $40.2B, with gross margin at 67.7% and operating margin at 60.3%, both exceeding guidance. TSMC raised its 2026 revenue growth outlook to slightly above 40% and increased CapEx to $60–$64B, signaling confidence in sustained AI-driven demand.
Micron Has Strong Q3 Earnings and Rising Guidance. Is It a Buy?
Micron is down 13.96% over the past week and 16.4% over the past month, yet still sits on a 199.12% year-to-date gain and trades 19% below its 52-week high of $1,254.81. Fiscal Q3 2026, reported June 24, 2026, delivered revenue of $41.46 billion (up 345.7% year over year), non-GAAP EPS of $25.11, and gross margin of 84.9%. Q4 guidance points to $50 billion in revenue and roughly 86% gross margins. Micron has already shipped over $1 billion in HBM4 revenue, with 16 Strategic Customer Agreements covering roughly $100 billion in remaining performance obligations.
Why the SOXS Semiconductor Bear ETF Is Surging as Chip Stocks Sell Off
AMD and NVIDIA each dropped roughly 4% after a Korean brokerage downgraded SK Hynix on fixed-price HBM contract concerns, sparking broad chip profit-taking. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) fell 3.52% to $203.53, giving back part of its 8.28% gain from the prior week. NVIDIA sits at the center of the HBM-supply narrative because its Data Center engine, which is central to the HBM stack availability and pricing narrative, depends on HBM stack availability and pricing. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) dropped 3.98% to $384.05. AVGO's forward guidance positions it as a direct proxy for the AI capex durability question the market is now pricing. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) led the trio lower, sliding 4.21% to $534.39. AMD is the year's runaway winner among the three, up 149.53% year to date, which made it the most obvious profit-taking candidate on a risk-off day. The fund's most recent NPORT filing shows net assets of $1,851,362,959.19 as of April 30, 2026, with the collateral base dominated by cash and short-term Treasuries: $1,718,165,250.46 in Goldman Financial holdings and $890,322,287.37 in Dreyfus Government Cash. Those swaps are what deliver the daily 3x inverse exposure. When the semiconductor index falls a given percentage on the day, the swap book gains roughly triple that percentage, and the ETF's NAV moves accordingly. SOXS is up 11.87% over the past week but down 0.25% over one month, down 92.42% year to date, and down 96.62% over the trailing year. Five-year performance is -99.96%.
Here Are My Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy Right Now
Nvidia has been the big name in AI investing since the infrastructure-building boom kicked off in 2023: Its products sit at the center of nearly every data center constructed. Its GPUs have dominated the AI computing market for their flexibility and reliability, and countless companies choose them to run their workloads. The chipmaker's dominance looks sustainable. It reported an 85% revenue increase last quarter, and Wall Street analysts project nearly 100% growth next quarter. All of that growth is without chip sales to China, and Nvidia could be able to reenter that market in a meaningful way soon. As a cherry on top, management has already told investors that it expects $1 trillion in data center capital expenditures (capex) from the big four AI hyperscalers next year, up from $650 billion this year. That's an indication that the data center construction trend is alive and well, which will benefit the other two companies on this list as well. Alphabet has also confirmed this on its end: It told investors to expect "significantly" higher capex in 2027. Micron management told investors that it foresees the "tightness" in the memory chip market lasting beyond 2027.
A Hidden Threat for Micron? Apple Is Eyeing a Fix for AI Memory Demands
Demand for memory chips has risen sharply as tech giants continue their massive build-out of AI data centers. Apple wants to keep the high margins it commands on its products. To maintain them amid rising memory chip costs, it raised its computer prices by $200 or more. And it could increase iPhone prices for the same reason later this year. The result has been soaring profits for Micron, with non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share skyrocketing more than 1,200% to $25.11 per share in the third quarter of 2026. If PrismML and Apple (or another company) eventually implement technology across tech devices that increased efficiency and reduces memory demand, it could threaten Micron's profit margins, which are currently at an enviable 74%. The memory processor market is estimated to increase to more than $1 trillion next year, up from $230 billion in 2025.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Just Showed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Build-Out Is Alive and Well With This Jaw-Dropping Announcement
During its second-quarter earnings call, it announced it would make an additional $100 billion investment in expanding its chipmaking facilities in Arizona. Taiwan Semiconductor accounts for nearly three-quarters of all semiconductor industry revenue in the world, according to research by The Motley Fool. Revenue grew by 34% in U.S. dollars during Q2.
Jensen Huang's $4 Trillion Artificial Intelligence (AI) Projection Could Propel Nvidia's Market Cap to $20 Trillion
The data center build-out could last for many years Nvidia makes GPUs and the various products that support their use in data centers. Its GPUs have become the gold standard by which all high-performance parallel processors are measured. Furthermore, Nvidia captured the vast majority of the market in the early days of the AI arms race, which makes it incredibly difficult for data center operators to switch away from its products now. This advantage will only grow as more data centers are built. The big four AI hyperscalers have estimated that they will spend a total of around $650 billion on data center capital expenditures in 2026. That figure doesn't include the spending of neoclouds, international players in markets such as China, nor other rising stars like large language model developers Anthropic and OpenAI. With that in mind, we can estimate that 2026's actual total data center spend will be something more like $800 billion. Huang's prediction of $4 trillion in global data center capital expenditures by 2030 would therefore be a fivefold rise. If Nvidia keeps capturing its current share of that market's sales and profits, its top and bottom lines would rise proportionally. The company only needs to quadruple to reach a $20 trillion market cap from today's level, so Nvidia could actually lose market share and still hit that target, assuming Huang's projection for data center capex pans out.
TSMC is accelerating Arizona factory buildout to capitalize on AI 'megatrend,' CFO says
TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is scaling up its mega investment in Arizona by committing an additional $100 billion to aggressively expand its U.S. chipmaking footprint amid a surging multi-year structural demand for AI. The fresh commitment raises TSMC's total investment pipeline in Arizona to $265 billion, underscoring a massive AI-driven capacity buildout that also fueled an upward revision to the company's full-year capital expenditure to between $60 billion and $64 billion.
Memory Chips Just Fell Into a Bear Market. Micron Is Down 30% From Its High Even as AI Demand Booms.
Revenue more than quadrupled year over year to $41.5 billion, up from $9.3 billion, driven by surging memory demand from AI (artificial intelligence) data centers. The company's two data-center-focused segments produced $25.3 billion of that revenue, up from about $4.9 billion a year earlier. Guidance calls for about $50 billion of revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter, up roughly 21% sequentially, with a gross margin near 86% and adjusted earnings per share of about $31.
TSMC expects 'strong, multi-year' demand for AI chips as it ramps up Arizona investment
TSMC's aggressive capital spending and soaring profit margins have made it a barometer of demand in the global semiconductor industry. The pledge to expand in Arizona is a win for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed for more chipmaking at home. Trump has repeatedly accused Taiwan of stealing American semiconductor business. He has said that by the time he leaves office, the U.S. will have 50% of the world's semiconductor manufacturing capacity. TSMC's first Arizona fabrication plant — or fab — is operational and achieving yields "as good as" the flagship fab in Taiwan, Huang said. The second fab will shortly begin moving in equipment, while construction of a third fab is under way and preparatory work has started on a fourth fab and the site's first advanced packaging facility, Huang said. In total, current and planned projects will bring TSMC's Arizona footprint to 12 fabrication and advanced packaging facilities plus an R&D centre.
Micron (MU) Reaches $1 Trillion Value As Auto AI Deals Deepen
Micron Technology (NasdaqGS:MU) reached a US$1t market capitalization for the first time in its history. The company recently completed multiple long-term Strategic Customer Agreements with key Tier 1 automotive suppliers, including Qualcomm, DENSO, and Hyundai Mobis.
Micron's 30% Decline Is Dragging Down the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX). Here's a Low-Cost Vanguard ETF to Buy Instead.
Micron's stock price is up 629% in the past year. To the company's credit, its earnings are also up 483% -- with analysts projecting more room to run. The rapid increase in memory chip stocks has pole-vaulted Micron to one of the largest holdings in the iShares Semiconductor ETF, with a 7.6% weighting. Semiconductor equipment makers Applied Materials, KLA Corp., Lam Research, and ASML collectively make up 17.3% of the ETF, with all four stocks more than doubling in the past year. It's worth noting that the Vanguard Tech ETF still has significantly larger exposure to the memory chip boom than the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500. Micron, for example, now makes up 5% of the Vanguard Tech ETF, compared with 4.3% of the Nasdaq-100 and 1.4% of the S&P 500.
Micron: It Does Not Need To Beat SK hynix At Nvidia
Micron Technology is rated Buy, with upside driven by expanding HBM demand beyond Nvidia, particularly from hyperscaler custom AI accelerators. MU targets maintaining a ~22% HBM market share, matching its DRAM share, as custom ASICs become a larger HBM demand source. Micron's HBM4 is in volume production, with qualification samples sent to multiple customers, but a named non-Nvidia win remains a key inflection point.
Google is going toe-to-toe with Nvidia as AI chip war cranks up
TSMC is the bottleneck through which all chip ambitions must pass, and Google secures its capacity via Broadcom as intermediary. Allocations for 2027 production are being determined now, and the capacity Google wins will indicate how seriously TSMC takes the TPU business against competing demands from Nvidia and others.
AMD vs. Broadcom: The Better AI-Chip Stock to Buy After the Sell-Off
AMD's first-quarter results showed a company hitting its stride. Revenue rose 38% year over year to $10.3 billion, led by the data center segment, where revenue climbed 57% to $5.8 billion on strong demand for its EPYC server processors and the continuing ramp of its Instinct AI accelerators. Non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share rose 43% to $1.37, and free cash flow hit a quarterly record of $2.6 billion. Even the client business, which sells chips for personal computers, grew 26%. Profitability is moving the right way, too, with the company's adjusted gross margin expanding to 55% from 54% a year earlier. The problem is the price. At about $500 per share as of this writing, AMD trades at roughly 67 times this year's expected earnings and about 37 times next year's. The stock also pays no dividend. That's a price that assumes AMD will continue to gain share in AI chips for years to come. It might. But that outcome is largely priced in already. Broadcom's fiscal second quarter (the period ended May 3, 2026) was arguably even stronger. Revenue climbed 48% year over year to $22.2 billion. The star was AI semiconductor revenue (the custom AI accelerators and networking chips it builds for cloud giants), which soared 143% to $10.8 billion. Adjusted net income came in at $12.1 billion, and free cash flow was $10.3 billion, a staggering 46% of revenue. Additionally, Broadcom pays a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, yielding about 0.7% at the stock's current price. AMD offers no comparable income stream. "The momentum continues and in Q3 we expect semiconductor revenue from AI to grow over 200 percent year-over-year to $16.0 billion," said CEO Hock Tan in the company's fiscal second-quarter earnings release. Total revenue guidance calls for about $29.4 billion, up 84% year over year.
Should You Buy Micron Technology Stock While It's Below $1,000? The Answer Might Surprise You.
Micron delivered a record $41.4 billion in revenue during its fiscal 2026 third quarter (ended May 28), a whopping 346% increase from the year-ago period. AI-related memory fueled that strong result across all four of the company's business segments, led by cloud memory, which contributed the most revenue thanks to booming HBM sales. Micron's earnings also rocketed higher by 1,368% year over year to $24.67 per share during the quarter. Management's forecast for the current fourth quarter (which ends in late August) points to more record results, with $50 billion in revenue and $30.73 per share in earnings potentially in the cards. The market for data center HBM was worth $35 billion last year, but Micron expects it to nearly triple to $100 billion by 2028, so this is a significant financial opportunity.
AI / Robotics / EV
Why the first GPU financiers are turning to inference chips in a $400 million deal
The financing is the latest signal that markets are responding to concerns over the price of AI tools and tokens by turning to infrastructure that runs open-source models more cheaply than the newest LLMs from frontier labs. General Compute says the new chips will provide 16 times faster inference than GPU-based clouds.
Bitcoin faces fresh headwinds as China’s Kimi beats Claude, GPT in coding benchmark
Kimi K3, a 2.8 trillion-parameter mixture-of-experts model with a one-million-token context window, is set for full public release July 27, challenging assumptions that frontier AI capabilities will remain scarce, expensive and U.S.-controlled. Moonshot says architectural changes give it roughly 2.5 times the scaling efficiency of its predecessor, according to its technical blog. On Arena's Frontend Code leaderboard, K3 scored 1,679 against 1,631 for Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and 1,618 for OpenAI's GPT-5.6, taking first place and ranking top in six of seven categories. CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.
GE Aerospace: Strong Guidance Boost Extends The Runway
$170B services backlog and oversubscribed MRO network signal resilient aftermarket demand. Management raised 2026 guidance across revenue, profit, EPS, and free cash flow, now expecting high-teens revenue growth and $8.9–$9.2B in free cash flow. I maintain a buy rating, with a new base case price target of $376.29 and an upbeat scenario at $402.88, reflecting 9–17% upside potential.
3 EV Stocks Worth the Risk to Buy in July
Q1 2026 delivered EPS of 41 cents versus the 36-cent estimate on revenue of $22.39 billion, up 15.8% year over year, with automotive gross margin expanding to 21.1% from 16.2%. FSD subscriptions reached 1.28 million, up 51% year over year, Robotaxi launched in Dallas and Houston in April, and Services revenue climbed 42% to $3.75 billion. Management guided 2026 deliveries to 62,000 to 67,000 units, with the R2 Performance (656 hp, 330-mile range) shipping to external customers this quarter. The stock sits between its 52-week range of $11.57 to $22.69, still up 36.20% year over year. Deliveries hit 10,365 units, up 20% year over year, and Software & Services revenue surged 49% to $473M at a roughly 37% gross margin, powered by the Volkswagen joint venture. The support of the Department of Energy for the $4.5 billion loan to build our Georgia facility enables Rivian to grow American jobs. Amazon’s delivery-van contract provides a revenue floor. Q1 2026 delivered adjusted EPS of $3.70 versus $2.62 consensus, a 41.31% beat, the fourth straight quarter topping estimates. EBIT-adjusted rose 21.9% to $4.25 billion, with margins expanding 1.8 points to 9.7%. Management raised full-year EPS-adjusted guidance to $11.50 to $13.50 and got a ~$500 million benefit from the Supreme Court’s IEEPA tariff ruling. GM repurchased $800 million of stock in Q1 on top of a $6.0 billion authorization approved in January, and hiked the dividend 20% to $0.18 per quarter. Analysts carry a $95.85 target price with 7 Strong Buy and 13 Buy ratings.
China Wants To Cripple Anthropic
Anthropic's value after its large round of funding was $965 billion. Its annualized revenue is about $47 billion, based on recent estimates. Chinese models are winning over companies worldwide, with their share of US firms' AI usage nearing a record 60% on the popular marketplace OpenRouter.
What Makes Indie Semiconductor (INDI) a Compelling Bet?
Indie Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:INDI) posted a one-month return of -13.06%, while its shares lost 21.05% over the past 52 weeks. Indie Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:INDI) is an industrial semiconductor company (market capitalization of ~$1 billion) that is largely focused on the automotive market. We estimate the intrinsic value for INDI to be $15.
Amazon's Zoox issues software recall after robotaxi drove into heavy smoke
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. The company is racing to catch up to Alphabet's Waymo, which is the dominant robotaxi service in the U.S., with a fleet of about 4,000 automated vehicles in the country. Last month, Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis after some of its vehicles drove into closed construction zones on freeways, increasing "the risk of a crash."
Logistics Companies are Spending Big on Automation, But Slower and Smarter Than Before
The global warehouse automation market is now valued at nearly $30 billion and is expected to roughly double by 2030. Surveys of supply chain executives find that more than half are increasing their technology budgets this year, and nearly half said they plan to buy new automation equipment within the next three years. Big companies are putting serious capital behind these plans. For example, Walmart has committed $1 billion toward automation aimed at expanding micro-fulfillment centers inside existing stores, while the shipping and logistics firm DSV has set aside $50 million to add mobile robots across its European facilities. Industry surveys suggest that a large majority of logistics companies plan to adopt this kind of subscription-based automation in the near future, since it lowers financial risk and lets companies scale equipment up or down based on demand, such as during the holiday shopping season.
Tesla rides robotaxi momentum into earnings season
Tesla's Texas fleet has scaled quickly, adding more than 100 vehicles over the past month to reach 175, the fastest growth among the robotaxi operators Bank of America tracks. Bank of America also flagged upcoming updates on Optimus. Tesla is targeting initial production at Fremont for late July or August, around the same time as a possible Gen 3 reveal, with Giga Texas production expected around summer 2027. The bank expects a slow ramp but sees long-term opportunity, forecasting global humanoid shipments of 1.2 million units by 2030 and 10 million by 2035. Tesla remains the leading battery energy storage systems company in the U.S., an area now drawing entrants including Ford, General Motors and BorgWarner.
Compute Exchange launches secondary GPU marketplace as H100 and A100 demand holds
Requests have ranged from hundreds to tens of thousands of GPUs, indicating that buyers are considering secondary equipment for deployments beyond small experimental clusters, the firm said in a statement. Used GPUs on the platform are generally sold as-is with supplier documentation, while refurbished units have been inspected, tested and recertified. Compute Exchange said used equipment can sell for as much as 40% to 60% below its original manufacturer suggested retail price, while refurbished hardware usually includes a limited warranty and commands higher prices. Spot prices for computer hardware typically derive from perceived usefulness of the product, in this case the value of the compute hours for large language models, rendering, or other GPU work.
Kimi K3 Just Triggered DeepSeek Flashbacks for the Stock Market
On the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index—an independent composite benchmark that aggregates model performance across reasoning, knowledge, mathematics, and coding—K3 scored 57, ranking above Claude Opus 4.8 and GPT-5.5, practically on par with Claude Fable 5 and OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol, beating them in specific benchmarks at a fraction of the price.
Robotics ETFs Will Dominate the 2030s. This 1 ETF Is Trading at a Discount
The KraneShares Global Humanoid Robotics and Physical AI Index ETF (NASDAQ:KOID) is the first U.S.-listed ETF that is dedicated to humanoid robotics. Other robotics ETFs target the broader AI hardware segment of the market without touching on the actual businesses building robots. Morgan Stanley projects a $5 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050, with adoption accelerating at the end of the 2030s; it also forecasts global humanoid industry revenue growing at a 54% CAGR over the next decade and 1 billion humanoids by 2050. We are a very long way from 2050, but this is a very conservative estimate, given that many Chinese companies are already selling human-like robot companions. Goldman Sachs pegs the humanoid TAM at $38 billion by 2035 with 1.4 million annual unit shipments. Citigroup projects $7 trillion by 2050, with industrial payback periods as short as 36 weeks.
Chinese startup Moonshot AI unveils Kimi model it says rivals OpenAI, Anthropic
2.8 trillion parameters, referring to the size of its neural network. "Its China's largest AI model so far, with 2.8 trillion parameters, referring to the size of its neural network."
Agility Robotics plants its flag in Tesla’s backyard
Agility hasn’t disclosed how many Digits that it has built or deployed, but outside observers estimate that dozens have worked in pilot or revenue-generating deployments. The company has said, for example, that Digits have moved 100,000 totes at a GXO logistics facility. Johnson is currently leading Agility through a reverse-merger that is expected to make it the first pure-play humanoid robot company on the public markets later this year.
The White House is dictating access to frontier AI models, shifting power from tech giants
Until now, that decision was in the hands of American AI giants. Both Anthropic and OpenAI have decided which companies and agencies have access to their most powerful models, and have often included major enterprise customers. Anthropic unveiled its most capable Mythos cybersecurity model to a handful of partners with Project Glasswing. OpenAI was asked by the administration to gate its recent GPT-5.6 release, and has a similar consortium called Daybreak for its cybersecurity model. The White House is walking a fine line on regulation at a time when sophisticated AI tools pose massive cybersecurity risks and cheaper, open-weight models from China are quickly closing the gap with American frontier labs. Chinese startup Moonshot AI unveiled its Kimi K3 model on Friday, which largely caught up to the performance of Fable and GPT-5.6, and even outperformed the U.S. frontier models in at least one independent benchmark.
Microsoft Wants Sales Team to Push Its Own AI Models Instead of Rivals OpenAI, Google and Anthropic: Report (UPDATED)
Microsoft has a market capitalization of $2.94 trillion, with a 52-week high of $555.45 and a 52-week low of $349.20. Meta also signaled plans to undercut rivals, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg suggesting its new Model API could be priced roughly 25% below OpenAI and Anthropic, JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth said on Monday.
Jensen Huang Scores Big in Japan -- Here's How to Follow the Nvidia CEO's Lead as the Country Transforms Into a $124 Billion AI Hub
It was announced this past week that Japan will purchase 27,500 Nvidia chips for a computing hub that is expected to launch in 2028. Japan's AI sector is taking shape It's relatively small now, but Fortune Business Insights forecasts that the size of Japan's AI market will grow from $15.6 billion in 2025 to $123.9 billion by 2032.
‘Lehman Brothers of AI’: Why One Critic Thinks OpenAI Will Crash the Entire AI Industry
OpenAI posted $13 billion in revenue against $34 billion in costs in 2025, with a $40 billion SoftBank loan coming due March 2027. Oracle's exposure is documented: Q4 FY2026 Remaining Performance Obligations reached $638 billion, up 363% YoY, with reported free cash flow of negative $23.69 billion against capital expenditures of $55.66 billion. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) sits adjacent as the chip supplier, with $119 billion in total supply-related commitments and a disclosed partnership to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of NVIDIA systems for OpenAI. SoftBank has a $40 billion loan coming due in March 2027, per Motley Fool reporting.
Q2 Earnings Report Could Shift These Tesla ETFs Into High Gear
"We will pay close attention to Tesla's free cash flow metrics as the company begins a heavy capital expenditure investment cycle to build the infrastructure required for its real-world artificial intelligence products," noted Morningstar's Seth Goldstein. "We will also be watching for an update on Tesla's robotaxi rollout plans. We will look to hear management's expansion plans, as well as an update on the robotaxi-dedicated Cybercab, which entered production," said Goldstein. "In the long term, we assume Tesla will deliver around 2.8 million vehicles per year by 2030, driven by the adoption of full self-driving software and the more affordable versions of the Model Y and Model 3."
This week's AI winners and losers
Annual revenue has increased from $75.99 billion in 2022 to $122.56 billion in 2025. According to CFO Wendell Huang, TMSC's Q2 results were supported by strong demand, which he expects to continue into the current quarter as tech companies seek as many AI chips as they can get. Moonshot AI on Friday revealed that its new Kimi K3 AI model has frontier-level capabilities. While it falls short in overall performance compared to state-of-the-art models like Anthropic's (ANTH.PVT) Fable 5 and OpenAI's (OPAI.PVT) GPT-5.6 Sol, K3 surpasses them on certain benchmark tests. China's AI companies also generally undercut Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google on usage pricing, making them more appealing to businesses that are looking to take advantage of AI but don't want to shell out for access to Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's GPT, or Google's Gemini.
European VC funding narrows around a handful of AI bets
According to PitchBook's Q2 2026 European Venture Report, deal value reached €44 billion (about $50 billion) in H1, putting the continent's startups on track to raise 27% more than last year. Of that, €26.5 billion is in the AI sector, where funding has already surpassed last year's annual total. While AI accounted for 37.9% of deal value in 2025, it now represents 60.3%.
Half of workers say they rely on AI more than they should — here are 3 habits that can help you stay ahead of AI
87% of IT leaders say AI-generated work regularly needs revisions before it's ready to use.
Price Prediction: Tesla Poised for 12% Rally as Profit Margins Improve
Tesla has spent the first half of 2026 pulling back from December highs. Our proprietary model answers the key question: where does the risk-reward stand from here? Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) trades at $391.06 as of July 16, 2026. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Tesla is $439.50, implying 12.39% upside over the next 12 months. The recommendation is buy, with high (90%) model confidence. Fundamentals tell a constructive story: Q1 2026 revenue rose 15.78% year over year to $22.39 billion, non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 topped expectations, and automotive gross margin expanded to 21.1% from 16.2%. Free cash flow jumped 117% to $1.44 billion, and FSD paid subscribers hit 1.28 million, up 51%. CFO Vaibhav Taneja’s guidance to “over $25 billion of CapEx” in 2026 for six factories, AI infrastructure, and Terafab. Elon Musk described unsupervised FSD reaching customer cars “probably in the fourth quarter” and Optimus as “the biggest product ever”. Robotaxi is live in Austin, Dallas, and Houston with zero reported incidents. Polymarket traders assign an 81.5% probability to Tesla beating its next earnings report. Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) is the closest pure-play EV comparable. Rivian’s $24.67 billion market cap, Q1 2026 revenue of $1.38 billion, and adjusted loss of $0.54 per share show how far Tesla leads on scale and profitability. Ford (NYSE: F) offers a valuation counterpoint. Ford’s Q1 2026 EPS of $0.66 on $43.25 billion in revenue dwarfs Tesla in absolute earnings, yet Ford’s market cap is $55.5 billion.
Meta, Anthropic drop bombshell news on AI market
The Meta Anthropic $10 billion AI compute deal says The basic structure, as the Times described it, would have Anthropic paying Meta in monthly installments over two years with an option for either party to exit early. CNBC independently confirmed the talks, according to CNBC. Meta stock fell as much as 6% on July 17 before paring losses after the report came out, ending the day down about 2%. The potential deal would be smaller than Anthropic's existing arrangement with SpaceX, which signed a $45 billion, three-year compute deal in May giving Anthropic access to the Colossus 1 data center in Memphis. A Meta arrangement would layer on top of that, giving Anthropic yet another major source of GPU capacity. The infrastructure is already being built. Meta is expected to spend as much as $145 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, more than double the $72 billion it spent last year, mostly on AI hardware and data centers. "We hear from companies regularly that are asking if we have compute that they could buy from us at some premium to what we've bought it at," Zuckerberg said in October 2025.
Tesla stock: How much does an improved auto business matter?
480,126 vehicles during the second quarter, beating sell-side expectations by 18% and recording its strongest growth rate since the third quarter of 2023. Morgan Stanley raised its 2026 and 2027 forecasts to 1.67 million and 1.86 million vehicles, respectively. Automotive operations still generate about 70% of Tesla's revenue, making stability in the core business important as spending on AI infrastructure accelerates. Morgan Stanley expects second-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.69 per share, compared with the $0.49 consensus estimate. Barclays projects adjusted earnings of $0.55 per share, above the $0.47 consensus. A stronger car business gives Tesla another growth source, could validate consumer interest in FSD, and provides cash to fund Robotaxi, Optimus, and semiconductor projects. Morgan Stanley estimates 2026 capital spending of $26.8 billion and free-cash-flow burn of $11.4 billion, increasing pressure for evidence that Tesla's physical AI investments will generate returns. Barclays estimated Tesla operates about 30 to 50 vehicles in Austin, with smaller fleets in Dallas, Houston, and Miami.
Lucid Rallies 10% for a Third Straight Up Day, Leaving Tesla, Rivian Behind
Lucid shares tagged an intraday flash low of $2.37 on July 14 before closing that session at $4.50. Shares of Lucid (NASDAQ:LCID) are up 10% in midday trading Friday to $7.09, extending what is now a third consecutive up day for the embattled electric vehicle maker. Lucid stock is still down 32.5% year to date (YTD) and down 77% over the past year. The relief rally has clawed back the immediate panic losses, but nothing more. Wall Street coverage on Lucid stock is more muted, with 1 Buy, 8 Hold, and 3 Sell ratings and a consensus analyst price target of $8.30.
Workers over 55 in AI-exposed jobs face new reality
Older workers in high-AI-exposure occupations have become significantly more likely to leave their jobs since ChatGPT launched in late 2022. The finding comes from a June 2026 issue brief by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, authored by economist Geoffrey Sanzenbacher. Sanzenbacher combined federal labor data from the Current Population Survey with AI exposure scores developed by Tufts University's Digital Planet Initiative to track workforce transitions. Before generative AI tools entered the mainstream, older workers in exposed occupations were less likely to leave their jobs than peers in lower-exposure roles. That advantage eroded after late 2022, with a meaningful share of the increase in exits driven by transitions into unemployment rather than retirement, the study showed. "It's a statistically significant effect," Sanzenbacher told CNBC. "For some occupations, it can be quite large." The study measured AI exposure based on how effectively the technology can perform an occupation's specific tasks, combining three separate assessments of AI capabilities. Computer programmers saw job exit rates increase by more than 25% in the study period after ChatGPT's release in late 2022, compared with the pre-2022 baseline drawn from 2014-2022 data. Accountants and auditors experienced a comparable surge, with exits climbing above 22%, according to the Boston College brief. AARP data shows older workers view AI with a mix of fear and optimism Among 1,015 U.S. adults aged 50 and older in the labor force who were surveyed in March 2026, about 24% described AI as a threat to their line of work, AARP research found. Another 19% called it an opportunity, and 37% said it represented both a threat and an opportunity simultaneously. A joint report from AARP and LinkedIn found that nearly half of older workers occupy roles insulated from generative AI disruption, compared with 42.2% of younger workers. Monster's 2026 WorkWatch Report, based on a survey of 1,504 U.S. workers conducted in December 2025, found that 42% do not use AI at all, suggesting broad disengagement from the technology. Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, recommended that older professionals build familiarity with AI tools their employer uses while doubling down on soft skills. The Boston College brief cautions that as policymakers consider changes to Social Security requiring longer careers, they should be aware that AI may be pushing some older workers in the opposite direction.
China's AI models are shrinking US lead
According to Moonshot, while Kimi K3's overall performance still falls behind Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol, it still offers frontier-level capabilities on a variety of tests. OpenAI charges $10 per million input tokens and $45 per million output tokens for GPT-5.6 Sol. Anthropic, meanwhile, charges $10 per million input tokens for Fable 5 and $50 per million output tokens. Moonshot AI says it charges $3 per million input tokens, or prompts you send to a model, and $15 per million output tokens, which are the model's response.
Databricks' 40% valuation bump looks 'almost quaint' next to Anthropic
In the first quarter of this year, the top five venture deals accounted for 77.6% of all new unicorn investments. Databricks said it plans to use the new capital to double down on some of its products, including its multi-AI governance tool for managing AI costs, its workplace AI agent, and its serverless Postgres database built for AI agents.
Investors Pour $25B Into Semiconductor ETFs as DRAM Plunges 40%
The DRAM figures highlight just how forceful the buying has been. The fund lost close to 40% of its value, yet the amount of money invested in the fund sits at $23.4 billion today, only a touch below the late-June peak of $25.9 billion. Inflows have almost entirely offset the market losses. All four have taken in enormous amounts of money anyway. DRAM pulled in $8.8 billion, SOXX $8.5 billion, SOXL $5.1 billion and SMH $2.3 billion, a combined $24.7 billion in under a month. At its high, SOXX was up 118% year to date, SMH was up 86%, and DRAM, which only launched in April, was up 191%. The 3x leveraged SOXL was up an incredible 616%.
China’s Kimi K3 Hits US Stock Markets. Is the American AI Boom Over?
Kimi K3 packs 2.8 trillion parameters, making it the largest open model ever released. Moonshot charges $3 per million input tokens, while Fable 5 costs $10. "...token efficiency is not just about efficiency. It's actually also about improving the upper bound of intelligence,"
Tech expert predicts an OpenAI collapse
Global AI infrastructure spending is expected to reach $758 billion by 2029, according to the International Data Corporation. That's more than double the $300 billion spent in 2025. OpenAI has already declared that it intends to spend more than $852 billion by the end of 2030. About $750 billion of that total is tied to the remaining performance obligations of its partners and investors, Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle. It intends to spend $50 billion or more on compute power just this year, which, according to Zitron's math, is more than 50% of all global AI compute spend.
With SpaceX Falling Below Its IPO Opening Price, Is Tesla a Better Buy for the Second Half of 2026?
480,000 vehicles. This breakout quarter could be a sign of a turnaround for Tesla regarding both Musk's reputation and EV demand. Tesla still faces plenty of headwinds. Many legacy automakers have scaled back or abandoned their EV initiatives as demand stalled in recent years. With the elimination of the federal tax incentive, the EV industry took a hard hit, but that could change as states add their own tax breaks for electric car buyers. Tesla's forward P/E is still quite rich at 172 and is based more on autonomous driving technology than current car sales.
AI race splits in two as China wages open-weight insurgency
For many routine tasks, he said, cheaper models are fast enough, capable enough and can cost up to 50 times less. Chinese labs like Moonshot AI are cornering the market for cheap, customizable intelligence, threatening to turn America's prestige models into expensive niche products.
The Mercedes CLA 250+ is a more luxurious Model 3 — at a surprisingly good price: Review
268 horsepower and 247 lb-ft, all of it available from a standstill. Range is a real strength with the 85-kWh battery rated at up to 374 miles (EPA); my test vehicle on its 19-inch wheels came in at 317 miles, still comfortably ahead of most rivals. The EPA figure tops every Model 3 in Tesla's lineup, which spans 309 to 363 miles depending on trim.
Tesla Heads Into Its July 22 Earnings Down 22%, and One Firm Sees a 67% Plunge From Here. Who's Right?
480,126 vehicles in Q2, up 25% year over year and its highest quarterly total since the third quarter of 2025. Tesla's first-quarter operating margin was just 4.2%, down from 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025. At about $391, then, the stock trades at about 360 times earnings. Even at Wells Fargo's $130 target, Tesla would still trade at about 120 times earnings. Tesla ended Q1 with $44.7 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, up from $44.1 billion at the end of 2025. Active Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscriptions reached 1.28 million in the first quarter, up 51% year over year.
Should You Invest $5,000 Into Rivian Stock Below $20?
At the end of the first quarter, Rivian's accumulated deficit exceeded $27 billion, reflecting the cumulative net losses the company has recorded since its inception in 2009. The strong performance prompted management to raise its full-year delivery guidance from 64,500 at the midpoint to 67,500.
U.S. companies pouring swelling cash balances into growth plans - Morgan Stanley
Their FCF yield, which measures a firm's financial performance by how much actual cash it generates compared to its market value, decreased to also hit a 20-year low at 2.6%.
Wall Street Brunch: Tesla Reports With Earnings In Full Swing
Analysts expect Tesla to report revenue of $26.4B, EPS of $0.54 and automotive gross margin excluding credits slightly above 18%.
If You'd Put $10,000 in Palantir at Its IPO, Here's What You'd Have Now -- Even After a 37% Drop
A $10,000 investment at that first trade bought 1,000 shares. Those shares are worth about $132,000 today, with the stock trading near $132 as of this writing. That's about 13 times the original stake in just under six years. The data analytics and AI (artificial intelligence) software specialist has grown into a company generating $1.6 billion in quarterly revenue -- and it is still accelerating. Palantir's first-quarter revenue rose 85% year over year to $1.63 billion, its fastest growth rate ever as a public company. "Momentum surged as we grew 85% last quarter--our highest-ever year-over-year growth rate--by more than doubling our U.S. business," said CEO Alex Karp in the company's first-quarter earnings release. Management also raised its full-year outlook. It now expects 2026 revenue of about $7.65 billion, or 71% growth, and it lifted its U.S. commercial revenue guidance to at least $3.2 billion, representing growth of at least 120%. The company closed $2.41 billion of total contract value in Q1, up 61% year over year, and it ended the first quarter of 2026 with $8 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term Treasuries. Management also said it continues to expect GAAP profitability in every quarter of the year. Shares trade at roughly 148 times earnings. Take the stock's price as a multiple of the consensus analyst forecast for this year's earnings per share, and the multiple is still about 89. Even against next year's forecast, shares trade at about 63 times earnings.
China’s Rare Earth Curbs Could Trigger $6.5 Trillion Supply Shock for Industries From EVs to Weapons Systems, IEA Warns
China's rare earth export controls could expose $6.5 trillion of production outside the country to supply shocks, the International Energy Agency warned on Thursday, highlighting how small volumes of strategic minerals can threaten large parts of the global economy. Our latest analysis shows that vast amounts of economic value depend on relatively small volumes of critical minerals, whose supply chains remain highly concentrated and are therefore vulnerable," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said. The IEA said automotive production faces the largest direct exposure, at more than $3 trillion outside China, followed by electronics and transport.
TSLA Stock Rises Overnight On Germany Ramp Ahead Of Q2: Analyst Sees 10% Delivery Jump This Year, Improving Margins
Shares of Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) rose 0.3% overnight late Sunday as its German factory geared up for a production surge, while Morningstar pointed to a 10% delivery rebound and better margins in 2026. Tesla expects “a significantly higher production volume” at its Grunheide plant this year as Model Y demand improves. The factory, which supplies more than 30 markets, is targeting output of up to 7,500 vehicles a week, or 375,000 annually. Morningstar raised its fair value estimate for Tesla to $450 from $425, implying an 18% upside from Friday’s current levels. The firm rates the stock ‘3-star’, with a ‘Narrow’ moat and ‘Very High’ uncertainty. Morningstar expects Tesla deliveries to rise about 10% in 2026 to nearly 1.8 million vehicles, up from 1.64 million last year. According to Koyfin, analysts expect revenue of $26.36 billion, up 18% from $22.39 a quarter ago. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is projected to rise 31% to $0.54, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is expected to increase 8% to $3.97 billion. Morningstar said Tesla posted “strong delivery growth” during the quarter, shifting attention to margins, free cash flow and capital spending.
Honeywell Aerospace runway safety technology selected by Aeromexico for intended deployment on more than 100 aircraft
Honeywell Aerospace runway safety technology selected by Aeromexico for intended deployment on more than 100 aircraft. SURF-A joins Honeywell Aerospace's longstanding portfolio of FAA-certified runway safety products including the Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS) and SmartRunway and SmartLanding software. Those technologies are installed on more than 6,000 commercial aircraft globally, or roughly one quarter of the world's fleet.
TSLY Investors Are Missing Tesla’s Rally: How Option Income Strategy Costs You 30% in Upside
TSLY distributions collapsed from $13 per share to a $3 annualized run rate, and prior payouts included return of capital disguised as yield. The fund also carries $84.8 million in liabilities against $922 million in assets, with net derivative positions running at -7.67% of net assets. A meaningful slice of these distributions in prior years arrived as return of capital, meaning the fund handed you back your own money and called it yield.
Power / Grid
Greg Abel Sees AI-Powered Growth Ahead for This Berkshire Hathaway Subsidiary. Can This Catalyst Help the Conglomerate Outperform in the AI Era?
He then added, "And yes, we're pursuing them." Abel went on to point out that, unlike so many other players in the utility business, Berkshire Hathaway Energy is already sending 8% of its potential electricity production in Iowa, for instance, to the AI data center industry that's set up shop there. He goes on to suggest that this figure could grow by 50% (or more) over the next five years. That's roughly 10% of its total profits, excluding the ever-changing gains from its stock portfolio.
3 Utility Stocks Built for the Coming AI Power Crunch
Constellation Energy: Melting up on AI growth Spun off from utilities giant Exelon in 2022, Constellation Energy Group provides electricity and natural gas to a variety of customers, including regulated utility companies. What makes Constellation especially interesting is its high exposure to nuclear power. That is, the company owns and operates 15 nuclear power plants, primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. In the past, nuclear power has been a controversial industry, but in recent years, public and private stakeholders have recognized nuclear power's value as a scalable, low-carbon energy source, with nuclear power plants a viable "green" alternative to coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. When it comes to the AI data center trend, Constellation benefits in two ways. First, greater demand from hyperscalers translates into greater demand from Constellation's regulated utility customers. Second, as these same hyperscalers begin entering into direct power deals with independent power generation companies, Constellation has secured long-term deals with companies like Meta Platforms. Thanks to its AI-related catalyst, analysts anticipate Constellation's earnings to grow by nearly 25% this year, and by nearly 16% in 2027. This double-digit earnings growth could help sustain Constellation's low-20s forward earnings multiple, with shares continuing to rise in line with earnings growth. Alongside appreciation potential, don't discount Constellation's strengths as a dividend stock. With a forward yield of around 0.7%, Constellation certainly isn't one of the high-yield dividend stocks, but its quarterly payouts have increased by over threefold since the company went public in 2022. Entergy is well positioned to benefit from the boom Entergy, the electric utility for much of the Gulf region, has relatively large exposure to the AI data center boom. That's because it is the utility set to supply power to Meta's $50 billion data center currently under construction in northeast Louisiana. The utility also stands to benefit from other large-scale data center projects in the region, including Amazon's numerous data center projects in Mississippi. While Meta and Amazon are both agreeing to fund the energy infrastructure required for these projects, Entergy needs to raise billions in capital to expand its power generation capacity. A portion of this capital is coming from dilutive share sales. Earlier this year, Entergy disclosed plans to raise up to $4.4 billion in equity through 2029, of which it raised $2.2 billion during a secondary offering completed in May. However, compared to Entergy's $53 billion market cap, this represents relatively modest share dilution. Moreover, while this catalyst may be capital-intensive, the payoff for Entergy could be massive. Long-term forecasts call for earnings to rise by nearly 40% between now and 2029. Entergy also has a 2.2% forward dividend yield and has raised payouts at a steady annualized 5.5% clip for the past five years. NextEra is doubling down on the trend After surging and sinking amid the "clean energy" trend in the early 2020s, NextEra Energy has since bounced back, driven by the AI data center trend. Besides being the parent company of Florida Power & Light, NextEra also owns renewable power generation assets located across the United States. That's not all. With its recently announced plan to merge with Dominion Energy, NextEra is materially increasing its exposure to the trend. Dominion Energy is the local utility company for northern Virginia, commonly dubbed "data center alley" for its high concentration of data centers. As Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith noted at the time of the announcement, NextEra's expertise, coupled with Dominion's assets, could lead to growth synergies. The company's management has already anticipated that the deal could produce annual adjusted earnings growth of at least 9% through 2032. With the shares trading at a forward earnings multiple in the low 20s, a rerating could prove difficult, but long-term steady earnings growth could pave the way for solid gains in the years ahead. This upcoming deal could be a boon for dividend growth as well. NextEra has over three decades of consecutive annual dividend growth under its belt. With the stock currently sporting a 2.8% forward dividend, long-term success with the Dominion merger could be what gets the stock to Dividend King status.
Sonnedix acquires 260MW battery storage portfolio in Italy
Renewable energy company Sonnedix has acquired a 260MW battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio in Tuscania, Italy. This acquisition brings Sonnedix's total BESS portfolio to approximately 2.8GW. Sonnedix reports an overall portfolio of 11GW, with more than 1GW under construction, 4.8GW actively generating power and a 5GW pipeline of projects in development. The project can supply 643.8MW-hours of energy for five hours each day. In March 2026, Sonnedix acquired six solar photovoltaic plants supported by long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), bringing the company's total installed capacity in Italy to more than 1GW.
TXNM, Blackstone extend $11.5 billion sale deadline after regulatory setback
TXNM Energy Inc. and the private equity firm looking to buy it said Friday that they extended the terms of their merger agreement, a sign of confidence in the proposed $11.5 billion deal just two weeks after it faced a major regulatory setback. The PRC order, which included $300,000 in fines against the companies, had opponents of the merger wondering if the deal was dead. TXNM is the parent company of PNM, the largest utility in the state, serving over half a million New Mexicans. The company also owns the utility Texas-New Mexico Power Co., which serves customers in Texas markets. The proposed sale has already won sign-offs from several other regulatory agencies, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The deal still needs approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and New Mexico’s PRC to clear regulatory scrutiny.
Japan's LNG Giant Weighs U.S. IPO to Accelerate Global Expansion
JERA is one of the world's largest LNG purchasers and produces roughly one-third of Japan's electricity. Establishing a dedicated Singapore-based LNG platform also reinforces the city-state's role as a global LNG trading and commercial hub.
Naturgy to invest $344m in Australian renewables project
Naturgy Energy Group has announced plans to invest more than €300m ($344m) in a major renewable energy facility in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland, Australia. The project will combine 330MW of solar power generation with a 180MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Naturgy has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply electricity produced at the plant. The company's existing portfolio in Australia totals 1.3GW of operational capacity and comprises six wind farms and two solar plants, as well as storage facilities.
NextEra Energy Plans to Spend $59 Billion in Annual Capex Through 2032. Will This Massive Capital Outlay Pay Dividends for Shareholders?
NextEra Energy (NEE 0.62%) is already a very large company, with a market cap of $185 billion. Between 2005 and 2025, electricity demand increased by 10%. Between 2025 and 2045, however, demand is expected to increase by 60%. That spending is expected to support annualized earnings growth of around 9% or more. Without the transaction, NextEra was projecting earnings growth of 8%. A one percentage point increase in growth may not seem material, but it represents an over 12% increase in the growth rate. Dominion will increase the company's scale on both sides of the equation, with capital spending across the entire business expected to hit a massive $59 billion per year.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Warned of an AI Power Crunch—New York Just Halted Large Data Centers: CEG, VST, NEE in Focus
According to a Reuters report, New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday issued an executive order imposing a one-year moratorium on environmental permits for new data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more. The ban perfectly mirrors the exact scenario BlackRock's Fink warned about, around the same time. Noting that the United States is failing to invest fast enough in its power grids, Fink cautioned, "I actually get frightened when I see states saying we're going to do a moratorium. That's not the answer. The answer is how do we deliver more power quickly?" The Grid Crunch and Utility Stocks The moratorium underscores an energy bottleneck that threatens the AI expansion. With tech hyperscalers racing to build infrastructure, Fink noted that data centers currently cost "$50, $60 billion for a one gigawatt" facility. Fink starkly contrasted the U.S. delays with foreign infrastructure buildouts, warning, "China is building 100GW of nuclear. They're building close to 100GW of solar. They are getting set up for this AI revolution and the need for power. We're not doing this enough."
GRID’s 0.56% Fee Pays for AI Power Exposure That Broad ETFs Miss
GRID's 60% industrial weighting, led by Eaton and ABB at roughly 8% each, has driven a 34% one-year return that broad utility ETFs cannot match. Quanta Services, just a 4% position, returned 73% over the past year and did more to lift the fund than any of its anchor holdings. The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (NASDAQ:GRID) sits at an unusual intersection: it is an infrastructure fund that also captures the industrial equipment vendors selling into the AI power buildout. The largest holdings did not all drive the one-year figure. Eaton returned about 15% over the past year, well below the fund itself. The lift came from the second-tier and third-tier holdings. Quanta Services returned about 73% over the same period and 56% year-to-date, the kind of contribution that lifts a diversified fund higher than any single anchor position would suggest. Institutional flows have been consistent with the thesis. MarketBeat coverage last summer described the setup as "the urgent need to modernize the world's electrical grid due to the electrification of everything, the AI power crunch, and the global shift to renewable energy, creating a multi-decade investment super-cycle". Registered filings through the past year show a steady drip of new positions, including a $14.6 million buy by Adams Wealth Management and a $10.7 million initial position from BFI Infinity. At 0.56%, GRID is priced above a plain vanilla utility fund but below most thematic energy-transition products. A broad utility ETF costs a fraction of that but delivers no exposure to the electrical equipment and contractor names that have driven much of the recent return.
Nat-Gas Prices Supported by a Surge in European Gas Prices
US (lower-48) dry gas production on Friday was 112.6 bcf/day (+3.6% y/y), according to BNEF. Lower-48 state gas demand on Friday was 80.5 bcf/day (+1.2% y/y), according to BNEF. Estimated LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals on Friday were 18.1 bcf/day (+0.5% w/w), according to BNEF. As a positive factor for gas prices, the Edison Electric Institute last Wednesday reported that US (lower-48) electricity output in the week ended July 4 rose +7.73% y/y to 100,996 GWh (gigawatt hours). Also, US electricity output in the 52 weeks ending July 4 rose +2.33% y/y to 4,345,875 GWh.
Bloom Energy vs. Constellation Energy: Which Industrials Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
Bloom Energy manufactures and installs the Bloom Energy Server, a solid oxide fuel cell platform that generates electricity on-site without combustion. The company primarily serves large-load customers in the data center and AI infrastructure sectors, including a landmark 1 GW supply agreement with American Electric Power. Constellation Energy is the largest nuclear energy company in the United States and a major supplier of carbon-free electricity. Following the acquisition of Calpine, it now operates with approximately 55 GW of generation capacity and serves three-fourths of the Fortune 100. In FY 2025, revenue reached approximately $25.5 billion, marking revenue growth of roughly 8.3%. The company generated a net income of nearly $2.3 billion. This resulted in a net margin of about 9.1%, which measures how much profit a company keeps from every dollar of sales after all expenses are paid. Constellation carries a debt-to-equity ratio of nearly 0.6x. This lower figure suggests the company has a conservative amount of debt relative to its equity. Its current ratio is approximately 1.5x, indicating it has enough short-term assets to meet its immediate obligations. Free cash flow for FY 2025 reached nearly $1.3 billion, providing significant capital to reinvest in its massive energy infrastructure. Bloom Energy relies heavily on securing third-party financing, including its $25 billion framework with Brookfield, to fulfill customer orders.
Duke Energy (DUK) Stock Could Be 29% Overvalued After Rate Case Pushback
Heavy investment in grid upgrades and expanded low carbon generation for data center and industrial demand can support long term earnings, but ongoing regulatory pushback on rate hikes may limit how much of that spending is recovered from customers. The stock trades at about 19.3x earnings, below the Electric Utilities industry average of roughly 22.3x and the peer group around 22.7x.
Constellation Energy: The Inventory Is Smaller Than The Gap
Constellation Energy is uniquely positioned with the largest deliverable carbon-free inventory, controlling over half of the US merchant nuclear pool. CEG’s investment case hinges on structural scarcity: its uncontracted nuclear inventory is smaller than the massive data-center-driven supply gap, supporting durable pricing power. Guidance excludes upside from ~147 TWh of uncontracted nuclear, offering a free, unmodeled option potentially worth +$1.5 to $4 EPS over five years.
Constellation Invests in Blue Energy as Nuclear Demand From AI Data Centers Surges. Here's What CEG Investors Need to Know.
Constellation Energy is the undisputed clean energy leader in the U.S., operating the nation's largest nuclear fleet. The macro tailwinds are stronger than ever, with the U.S. government planning to quadruple domestic nuclear capacity by 2050. Blue Energy directly tackles the industry's two biggest bottlenecks: speed and financing. Their solution? Shipyards. Shipyards already have mass assembly-line manufacturing processes in place. They also have the indoor, weather-controlled spaces, high-capacity cranes, and automated robotic set-ups designed for steel ships and offshore oil rigs. Blue Energy plugs its design right into this existing infrastructure to weld and prefabricate nuclear plants at speed, and then transports them to the installation site on barges. It can get a plant up and running in just three years. To top that, while traditional nuclear relies on government loan guarantees, Blue Energy can monetize the asset quickly. It can start a plant on natural gas within three years and generate revenue while it finishes installation and approvals.
Utility ETFs Soar 8% YTD on AI Power Demand. Here’s Which One to Buy
Behind both is power demand. Research cited in PineBridge’s 2026 Equity Outlook points to roughly 25% annual growth in data center equipment for the next four to five years, constrained mainly by transmission and electrical infrastructure. That bottleneck is the utility bull case. Constellation and Vistra are the reasons this fund has behaved differently in 2026. Both operate merchant nuclear and gas generation facilities and have signed multi-year supply arrangements with hyperscalers. That gives XLU direct exposure to data center power pricing rather than only regulated rate base growth. The trailing PE stands at 23x, elevated for a sector historically valued closer to 17x. Some of the growth premium in merchant power names is now showing up across the whole basket. XLU has paid 111 consecutive quarterly dividends. Its trailing twelve-month payout of $1.48 per share works out to a yield near 2.6%.
Prediction: These Will Be the 2 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy for the Next 5 Years
Nuclear power is the largest source of carbon-free electricity in the United States, providing 47% of the nation's zero-emissions power and more than wind and solar combined in 2023. In March, Cameco signed a massive $2.6 billion agreement with India's Department of Atomic Energy to supply 22 million pounds of uranium ore concentrate through 2035. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conditionally committed $17.5 billion in loan facilities to support U.S. nuclear reactors. This funding will help finance equipment for the construction of at least 10 Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, giving Cameco upside from both construction and fuel supply for these new facilities. Centrus has a waiver that allows it to import this LEU through 2027, but it is taking steps to become a domestic producer of this key fuel. To do so, the company is expanding its Piketon, Ohio, facility to produce both LEU and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), the next-generation fuel used in advanced reactors developed by companies such as Oklo and Nano Nuclear Energy. On July 1, Centrus finalized a $900 million task order with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support nuclear fuel production and expand its Ohio facility.
Top Reason NuScale Power Is Worth Buying Right Now
They are factory-built, use the most modern safety protocols, and are small enough to be moved easily and placed relatively close to where they are needed. An easy win would be using an SMR to power an artificial intelligence data center. But that's not the only opportunity, since NuScale's SMRs can be linked together to create a utility-scale facility. A Romanian power company has approved the construction of a nuclear power facility that will use six NuScale Power SMRs.
Software
The Real Risk Inside Oracle Stock
The numbers behind Oracle’s build-out are substantial. Management has guided to an expected net cash outlay for capital expenditures of around $70 billion for fiscal year 2027 alone. To fund this, the company expects to raise around $40 billion in new debt and equity. This is more than a simple expansion. It’s a fundamental shift from a cash-gushing software model to a capital-intensive infrastructure business. Management has been clear that its “fiscal year 2027 gross margin will step down” as it ramps up these large-scale data center projects. While the company has signed large contracts, including a reported one with OpenAI, the upfront costs are high, and the revenue will follow over time. Ultimately, Oracle’s future hinges on its ability to convert its record $638 billion in remaining performance obligations into profitable revenue without stumbling. The risk is that the execution of this plan proves messier, costlier, and longer than the market is willing to underwrite.
IBM: Should Investors Buy the 25% Crash in the Stock or Stay Away?
IBM said its revenue edged up 1% year over year to $17.2 billion, well below the $17.86 billion consensus, as compiled by FactSet. IBM's mainframe business struggles IBM blamed the miss on its z17 mainframe business. The company had expected a low-single-digit decrease in the business as it lapped its launch from last year, but the decline was much worse than expected. It said that customers shifted their spending away from mainframes and toward supply-constrained areas like servers, memory, and storage before expected price hikes. IBM said it had expected some customer reprioritization of capital expenditure (capex) spending, but not of the magnitude it experienced. IBM also added that its customers appeared "distracted" by the constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape throughout the quarter. The company said that, ultimately, the shortfall was largely driven by numerous large deals failing to close on time. However, it did not say that these deals would be completed in the current quarter (Q3), nor did it reiterate its full-year guidance.
The Real Engine Behind ServiceNow Stock Is Its Contract Backlog
In its most recent quarter, management reported a nearly $28 billion RPO business that is growing at 24% year-over-year. This is not a forecast; it is money that is already contractually committed by customers for future services. To put that in perspective, this backlog is roughly double the company’s entire revenue over the last twelve months, which was $14.0 billion. This backlog addresses the very risk skeptics point to. The fear is that new AI tools will disrupt ServiceNow’s business or that customers will divert budgets. But a $28 billion backlog provides a buffer and visibility. It creates a predictable, recurring revenue stream that gives the company stability and time to fully integrate its own AI offerings and prove their value. For investors looking past the current gloom, the key is to watch whether this backlog growth continues. As long as RPO keeps expanding year-over-year, it is an indicator that the company’s long-term health is stronger than its stock price implies.
Union Pacific (UNP) Stock Looks Fairly Valued On Cash Flow While Earnings Stay Cheap
A 52.7% five year return indicates shareholders have already captured a meaningful portion of Union Pacific's value creation over that period. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model values Union Pacific by projecting future free cash flows and discounting them back to today. On this view, Union Pacific generated about $5.8b in free cash flow over the last twelve months, with the model assuming that cash flows continue growing from this base rather than shrinking. That intrinsic estimate sits slightly below the current share price, implying the stock screens around 4.8% overvalued on this cash flow outlook. P/E is a useful lens for Union Pacific because earnings are a core focus for many rail investors. On this measure, Union Pacific trades on a P/E of about 24.6x, which sits below both the transportation industry average of roughly 40.8x and the peer group average of around 31.5x. The fair P/E ratio from the model, which aims to reflect Union Pacific's size, margins, industry profile and risk, is about 27.7x. Compared with that yardstick, the current 24.6x multiple suggests the stock is pricing in a discount rather than a premium to what those fundamentals might typically support. On this earnings multiple, Union Pacific stock appears undervalued relative to both its tailored fair P/E and broader rail peers.
Wedgewood Partners’ Views on Microsoft’s (MSFT) Capital Expenditure
Microsoft ended the most recent quarter with average gross assets of more than $585 billion (trailing two years), up 22%, yet generated $170 billion in gross cash flow over the prior four quarters, up 27% from a year ago. Again, these are astonishing figures: Microsoft added an average of $100 billion in assets and $27 billion in incremental cash flows. The Company is achieving nearly 30% returns while compounding the assets that generate those returns at more than 20% - extraordinary! On top of that, Microsoft reportedly has an investment in OpenAI worth over $100 billion, so we think these huge investment gains, if realized, also effectively serve as a hedge against commodity inflation, particularly incremental DRAM related capex over the coming years.
Accelerated Growth in Google Search and Cloud Strengthens Alphabet’s (GOOG) Rally
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) posted a one-month return of -3.71%, while its shares gained 90.28% over the past 52 weeks. "Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was a top contributor to performance during the quarter. Google Search and Cloud continue to accelerate, with Search posting 19% revenue growth and Cloud posting 63% revenue growth, helping drive 30% growth in operating income."
This name "continues to screen as the clear leader" in networking: Morgan Stanley
Networking equipment maker Cisco Systems "continues to screen as the clear leader" in the bank's second-quarter VAR survey, with average growth expectations for the company rising to 3.0% from 0.6% in the prior survey, analyst Meta Marshall said. According to the survey, 43% of VARs identified Cisco as best positioned to capture incremental AI and data center modernization spending over the next 12 months, ahead of Nvidia and white-box or specialist networking vendors at 30%. Cisco's networking pipeline also strengthened, with 67% of VARs expecting sales to increase, up from 48% in the prior survey, pushing the net pipeline score to +60% from +39%. Marshall said 70% of VARs expect Cisco's security sales to increase, up from 45% a year earlier, lifting the net pipeline score to +63% from +39%.
Netflix Sinks 11% on Soft Q3 Guidance as Analysts Warn It’s “Losing Narrative Control”
Netflix’s free cash flow fell to $1.5 billion from $2.3 billion, weighed down by higher cash taxes tied in part to a $2.8 billion breakup fee Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ:PSKY) paid Netflix related to the Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) bid Netflix walked away from. Analysts Warn Netflix Is “Losing Narrative Control” The analyst desk moved fast. Barclays cut its NFLX stock price target to $80 from $85 (Equal Weight), saying Netflix is “losing narrative control” as investors question the durability of its growth. Netflix beat on Q2 EPS, absolute revenue growth remains healthy, and management sees the ad business doubling to $3 billion in 2026. The bear case for Netflix is decelerating growth, soft guidance, reduced disclosure optics, and lower free cash flow.
The $5.25 billion ETF paying dividends that grew three years straight right now
DIVO runs roughly 20 to 25 dividend-paying large caps, then sells short-dated covered calls on a portion when the sub-advisor sees favorable premium. Dividends from Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) fund the base payout. Call premiums layer on top, boosting yield and smoothing income. Monthly distributions in 2026 have hovered around $0.18 per share, up from roughly $0.156 in 2024. December 2025 delivered a $0.95 special distribution, common when the call-writing program books outsized realized premium. That special should not be extrapolated. The base monthly has grown steadily for three straight years. Caterpillar raised its quarterly payout to $1.63 per share for the August 19 payment. Q1 2026 operating cash flow of $1.87 billion covered dividends nearly three times over, and Power Generation revenue jumped 41% year over year on AI data center demand. Tariff pressure on Resource Industries is the swing factor, but the payout is well insulated. Microsoft's dividend yields under 1%, so it contributes less to DIVO's cash flow than to call-writing income. Q3 FY26 EPS of $4.27 against a $0.91 quarterly dividend means a payout ratio well below 25%. The MSFT put/call ratio of 0.38 shows calls trade heavy, giving the overlay strategy ample premium to harvest. JPMorgan reported Q2 2026 EPS of $7.70 against a $1.50 quarterly dividend, with 23% ROTCE and a fresh $50 billion buyback authorization. Coverage is solid. Goldman Sachs lifted its quarterly dividend 11% to $5.00, and Q2 EPS of $20.98 essentially covers the entire new annual payout. That is a raise a company only makes when the pipeline supports it (David Solomon flagged an accelerating investment banking backlog). Amgen keeps raising the dividend, but the balance sheet leaves less cushion than peers. For readers weighing where high-yield dividend risk lives, our warning-signs briefing on dividend traps lays out the patterns to watch. DIVO shares are around $46 and change, up 15% over the past year and 64% over five years. Layer in monthly distributions and total return is well ahead of the price line. The fund is not suffering NAV erosion. Compared to peer covered-call income funds that pay more but have generally lagged on price appreciation, DIVO's dividend-growth-plus-selective-calls approach is delivering the better blended outcome. The roughly $2.16 annualized regular payout is the base to model; the $3-plus figure that includes 2025's special is not repeatable.
Here are Updates on Amazon’s (AMZN) Rational FCF Reinvestment
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has a market capitalization of $2.69 trillion. Although Microsoft, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Meta have different business models and were not necessarily top drivers of performance during the quarter, we view their investment opportunity set, from both a compounding and returns perspective and a component-cost hedge perspective, as similar to Alphabet's. As we have noted before, Amazon is another member of this elite group generating high returns, and we think it is being quite rational by rapidly compounding its asset base at these returns. During the quarter, Amazon grew revenue by 17% and operating income by 30%. While the bears continue to complain about Amazon's $200 billion in capex growth and dwindling free cash flow, we estimate this incremental capex will increase the 2025 total asset base by around 28%. With 30% cash flow growth on what we assume is at least 28% asset growth, we conclude Amazon is achieving at least as good, if not better, returns on capital than it has previously - yet the stock is trading near historically depressed multiples. This is another telltale sign to us that the Company's aggressive free cash flow reinvestment is very rational and that the depressed valuation presents an excellent long-term investment opportunity for us. Moreover, we estimate the Company's investment in Anthropic is worth at least $100 billion and, if realized, will serve as another effective hedge against commodity memory price inflation, especially in DRAM, over the next few years. That should be long enough to offset inflation until more DRAM capacity comes online to moderate prices.
United Rentals (URI) Rose on Robust Nonresidential Construction End Markets
United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) has a market capitalization of $67.15 billion. Equipment rental sales growth accelerated to 9%, while adjusted margins stabilized, driving 10% growth in earnings per share. This acceleration was driven by strong nonresidential construction end markets, particularly data centers and power projects, and by continued growth in megaprojects.
Former Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett Just Said 3 Words That Could Add Some Serious Fuel to the AI Trade
In the first quarter, Berkshire added over $10 billion to its Alphabet position. Then the company bought another $10 billion through a private placement. Across both Class A and Class C shares, Alphabet is now the fourth-largest position in Berkshire's massive equity portfolio. Buffett has also hinted on numerous occasions about the market being overvalued. But during his recent CNBC interview, when asked about Berkshire's Alphabet position, he revealed, "I initiated it." He added that he regrets not buying the stock earlier. That's exactly what Alphabet has done, which isn't surprising given the company's success. By my calculations, Alphabet earned returns on equity (net income/shareholder equity) of roughly 31% and 32% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. I also estimate that it earned returns on invested capital (ROIC) of roughly 39% and 32% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, assuming invested capital is equity plus net debt.
22% Growth in iPhone Powers Apple’s (AAPL) Rally
Apple was also a top contributor to performance during the quarter. Revenues grew 17%, driven by 22% growth in iPhone and 16% growth in services. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a market capitalization of $4.89 trillion. "Top performance contributors for the second quarter include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Alphabet, United Rentals, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Visa."
Should You Be Bullish on Visa (V)?
Visa contributed to quarterly performance, reporting accelerating revenue growth of 17%, driven by 11% growth in payment volumes and 21% growth in cross-border volume. Value added services also grew 25% and now represent almost one-third of the Company's total revenue. Agentic commerce remains nascent but could represent a new addressable market for Visa as the Company tracks and helps autonomous AI agents perform microtransactions.
Meta Platforms’ (META) Capital Allocation Strategy
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) posted a one-month return of 10.12%, while its shares lost 9.75% over the past 52 weeks. Last but not least in the capex spending bonanza is Meta Platforms. While they have certainly received its share of criticism for recently increasing its 2026 capex plans by around $10 billion, citing DRAM inflation, we'd like to point out that the warrants Meta holds on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), related to a strategic sourcing arrangement with AMD struck in late February (~5 months ago), are now worth close to $90 billion, by our estimate (a swift nine times more than the incremental DRAM inflation for 2026).
Buffett’s Biggest Bet Just Dethroned Nvidia As the Largest Company In the World
Apple's $4.88T market cap edged NVIDIA's $4.85T, reclaiming the world's most valuable company title it last held in April 2025. Buffett's Apple stake, representing 22% of Berkshire's portfolio at roughly $58 billion, quietly vindicated his conviction as the stock surged 59% over one year. Per live market data on July 17, 2026, Apple's market capitalization sits at roughly $4.88 trillion, edging NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) at about $4.85 trillion. According to Berkshire Hathaway's most recent 13F filing, as of March 31, 2026 and filed May 15, 2026, Apple remains Berkshire's largest single holding by a wide margin: about 22% of the entire equity portfolio, some 227.9 million shares, valued at roughly $57.8 billion at the time of that filing. Apple stock has climbed steadily. It is up 5.39% over the past week, 11.37% over the past month, and 22.81% year to date, capping a one-year gain of 59.21%.
The Megacap Growth ETF That’s Been Beating the S&P 500 for a Decade Straight
IWY has compounded at 18% annually over ten years, turning $1,000 into $5,163 and nearly doubling the S&P 500's return at a 0.20% fee. IWY packages the largest-cap growth names in the US market, and over the trailing decade it has returned 451% versus the S&P 500's 306%.
Apple Just Toppled Nvidia as World’s Most Valuable Stock. Here’s Why the Gap Will Widen
Apple spent just $12.7 billion on capex in fiscal 2025 while generating $98.8 billion in free cash flow, avoiding the AI infrastructure spending trap. Nvidia trades roughly 15% below its all-time high as investors question remaining upside after a historic two-year AI infrastructure run. Apple's capital expenditures totaled $12.7 billion in fiscal 2025 -- a fraction of the investment levels from major AI infrastructure players. The company generated $98.8 billion in free cash flow that year, allowing it to continue buybacks, maintain its ecosystem, and invest selectively rather than chase every AI trend.
Now We Know Why Netflix Is Trying but Failing to Go on a Shopping Spree
Revenue rose 13.4% to $13.56 billion, its weakest year-over-year growth in more than a year and just shy of $13.57 billion that it was modeling three months earlier. Netflix's fresh forecast calls for $12.86 billion in revenue for the third quarter, an 11.7% step up from the prior year. If this is where Netflix lands, it will be its weakest top-line growth in three years.
Madison Small Cap Fund Sold OneSpaWorld Holdings (OSW) as It Reached Intrinsic Value
OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:OSW) has a market capitalization of $2.7 billion. We have closed out our investment in consumer discretionary company OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:OSW), as we believe the stock has reached our intrinsic value estimate and the risk/reward is no longer favorable. This has been a solid investment since our initial position in 2020. OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited's (NASDAQ:OSW) total revenues in Q1 2026 increased 13% to $247.6 million.
Oracle is Falling Fast. Here’s Why This Wall Street Firm Believes The Stock Will Triple in 12 Months
Remaining performance obligations exploded to $638 billion, up 363% year over year. Cloud infrastructure revenue grew 93% in the June quarter, cloud is now 52% of total revenue, and management reconfirmed a $90 billion FY2027 revenue target with $8.05 in non-GAAP EPS. CFO Hilary Maxson told analysts the "unprecedented level of RPO provides exceptional visibility into our future revenue growth", with steady-state ROIC in the high 20s at the project level. Oracle carries by far the largest analyst-implied upside across the group, signaling either that consensus is behind the curve on risks or that sector rotation has punished Oracle for something the fundamentals do not yet show.
Over 60 Analysts Say Buy Microsoft. Here’s Our Price Target
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Microsoft is $503.02 over the next 12 months, implying 26.12% upside from the current price of $398.84. In Q3 FY2026, Microsoft delivered EPS of $4.27 against a $4.07 estimate on revenue of $82.89 billion, up 18.3% year over year. Azure grew 40%, the AI business hit a $37 billion annualized run rate, up 123%, and commercial remaining performance obligations swelled to $627 billion.
Bank of America Says Alphabet’s Q2 Will Deliver. Here’s The Price Target
Q1 2026 was a blowout: revenue of $109.9 billion (+21.79%), EPS of $5.11 against a $2.6327 consensus, and Google Cloud revenue up 63% to $20.028 billion, with cloud backlog nearly doubling sequentially to $462 billion. The bull case rests on cloud, AI monetization, and Waymo optionality. Google Cloud operating margin already expanded from 17.8% to 32.9% year over year, and revenue from products built on GenAI models grew nearly 800%. Gemini now processes 16 billion tokens per minute, Gemini Enterprise paid monthly active users grew 40% quarter-on-quarter, and Waymo just crossed 500,000 fully autonomous rides per week. CapEx more than doubled to $35.674 billion in Q1, pushing free cash flow down 46.63%, and 2026 CapEx guidance was raised to $180 billion to $190 billion.
Alphabet Drops 4%, But Analyst Believes There Is Massive Upside
GOOGL fell 4.44% in the most recent session, closing at $354.46 after opening near $373. Alphabet shares currently trade at $354.46 while Wall Street's consensus analyst price target sits at $431.72, a gap of roughly 21.8% between current price and fair value. Google Cloud grew 63% to $20.03 billion and its backlog nearly doubled quarter over quarter. Of 64 covering analysts, 14 rate GOOGL Strong Buy, 43 Buy, 7 Hold, with zero Sell or Strong Sell ratings. Microsoft trades at $401.10 against a consensus target of $558.66, implying roughly 39% upside. Shares are up 13.39% YTD, comfortably ahead of the S&P 500's 10.09% YTD gain, despite the recent one-day drop. Over one year, GOOGL is up 94.28% against 20.27% for the S&P 500. The bull case rests on Cloud converting its $460 billion backlog into revenue at a pace justifying 2026's capex, and on management buying talent faster than it loses it. Consensus points to about 22% upside, fundamentals are accelerating, and the brain drain narrative has yet to show up in the numbers.
White collar workers are getting paid $200 an hour to train AI on their jobs — but it’s not 'easy money'
A July 10 Times report (1) put numbers on the trade, showing how Mercor, a San Francisco-based startup that sells training data to AI labs, pays its network of 30,000 contractors upward of $4 million every day (1). Mercor was reportedly in early talks in July that would peg its worth near $20 billion (2), according to Bloomberg. Handshake only moved into AI data work in 2025 (1). It told the Times its annualized revenue rate hit $1 billion in April (1), nearly double the $550 million pace it started the year at.
Nebius’ $775 Million Debt Deal Changes Everything About Its AI Growth Story
Nebius Group secured $775 million in its first asset-backed debt deal to expand AI infrastructure, avoiding shareholder dilution and lifting shares 3%. Hyperscalers including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) are committing hundreds of billions of dollars annually to data centers, GPUs, and networking equipment, prompting concerns that debt and capital spending are getting ahead of future demand. Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS) demonstrated that point today after unveiling a new funding agreement that appears to strengthen -- not weaken -- its long-term investment case. The market agreed, as shares are gaining about 3% in midday trading today following the announcement it secured $775 million in its first secured debt financing, with proceeds earmarked for expanding its global AI infrastructure footprint. Nebius's latest financing differs from the massive borrowing programs undertaken by the largest cloud providers because of both its structure and purpose. Unlike the convertible notes Nebius previously issued, this financing is secured by tangible assets, likely including data centers and related infrastructure. Asset-backed debt generally carries lower borrowing costs while avoiding the shareholder dilution that often accompanies convertible securities. Just as important, lenders don't extend secured financing without rigorous due diligence. The collateral must have measurable value, and the underlying business needs enough visibility to support repayment. In that sense, this financing serves as another vote of confidence in Nebius's expanding infrastructure platform. Nebius isn't borrowing simply to keep the lights on. The financing is designed to accelerate a business already benefiting from powerful industry tailwinds. The company has landed major contracts with hyperscalers, including Meta, while maintaining a close relationship with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), whose GPUs remain the backbone of AI training and inference workloads. Those partnerships provide more revenue visibility than many early-stage infrastructure companies enjoy. That visibility matters because Nebius is pursuing an ambitious global expansion strategy centered on building GPU clusters and data centers capable of serving enterprise and hyperscale customers. Every new facility creates additional revenue-generating capacity. Ironically, this is where Nebius differs from many concerns surrounding hyperscaler debt. Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet will each spend between $100 billion and $200 billion this year on AI infrastructure from already enormous revenue bases. Nebius, by comparison, is much smaller, making percentage growth far higher while requiring far less absolute capital to expand. The financing also diversifies Nebius's capital structure. Moving beyond equity raises and convertible debt lowers its weighted average cost of capital while demonstrating that traditional lenders increasingly view its infrastructure as financeable assets rather than speculative projects. Nebius still carries debt from earlier convertible offerings, while constructing AI data centers remains expensive and operationally challenging. Delays, cost overruns, or weaker-than-expected AI demand could reduce utilization rates and pressure returns on those investments. Competition from hyperscalers that eventually monetize excess computing capacity also remains a long-term consideration. Those risks deserve monitoring, but today's financing actually reduces one of the biggest uncertainties: whether Nebius could continue funding its aggressive expansion without leaning heavily on shareholder dilution. In short, Nebius's $775 million secured financing is more than another capital raise. It represents validation from sophisticated lenders that the company's infrastructure has meaningful collateral value and that its expansion plans are supported by visible demand. Combined with its relationships with Meta and Nvidia, the financing strengthens a growth narrative that was already gaining traction. For investors looking beyond today's 3% share-price gain, this announcement suggests Nebius is evolving from a promising AI upstart into a company capable of financing growth on increasingly favorable terms. In an industry where access to capital often determines who wins, that's an encouraging milestone.
Mag 7: Buy Amazon’s AI Maximalist Investment or Apple’s Minimalist Approach Right Now?
Apple booked $111.2 billion in Q2 FY26 revenue with an eighth consecutive EPS beat. Amazon rang up $181.52 billion in Q1 FY26 and reaffirmed a $200 billion 2026 capex plan. AWS revenue reached $37.6 billion, up 28%, the fastest growth in 15 quarters. Custom silicon crossed a $20 billion annual run rate, and Trainium commitments now exceed $225 billion. Advertising ran at $70 billion TTM. Apple raised its dividend 4% to $0.27 and authorized a fresh $100 billion buyback. Long-term debt sits at $119.1 billion, up from $65.6 billion. That is the price of Andy Jassy’s “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” framing. For Amazon, I want to see whether the $364 billion AWS backlog converts on schedule and whether Q2 lands inside the $194 to $199 billion guide without further FCF damage. A 41 P/E is not cheap, but the record Services line and $100 billion buyback give me something to hold when memory prices bite.
Is Oracle (ORCL) Using Japan’s Secure Government Cloud Push to Redefine Its AI Infrastructure Role?
Oracle Investment Narrative Recap To own Oracle today, you need to believe its massive AI and cloud infrastructure buildout can translate a record backlog into durable earnings, without tipping the balance sheet too far. The Japan air gapped government cloud talks speak directly to that bet, reinforcing Oracle's positioning in highly secure AI workloads, while the clear near term risk remains whether its heavy data center expansion and BBB minus credit rating can support this ambition without further strain. Among the latest headlines, the new AI native Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications feels most relevant. It shows Oracle is not just selling raw compute for AI, but embedding AI agents directly into core business software, which could deepen customer stickiness and help convert its large RPO into actual usage. That matters if Oracle does win Japan's secure cloud work, because application pull through can be just as important as infrastructure capacity. Oracle's narrative projects $171.1 billion revenue and $36.6 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 38.7% yearly revenue growth and about a $20.4 billion earnings increase from $16.2 billion today.
Anthropic in early talks with Meta to acquire compute power
Shares of the social media giant climbed off their lows of the day Friday following a report from the New York Times that a potential deal was being discussed worth about $10 billion. Meta could spend as much as $145 billion on capital expenditures, including for AI infrastructure, in 2026.
Jim Cramer Says There Will Always Be Another DeepSeek — Here Are the 5 Best Cybersecurity Stocks to Own Right Now
Revenue landed at $850.48 million, up 25.4% year over year. The Q3 FY26 numbers, reported May 26, 2026, show a business firing on all cylinders even as the stock lags. ARR hit $3.52 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of $1.08 extended the beat streak to nine straight quarters. Revenue hit $3.00 billion, up 31.1% year over year, Next-Generation Security ARR reached $8.10 billion, up 60% year over year, and RPO climbed to $18.4 billion, up 36% year over year. The Q1 FY27 earnings report from June 3, 2026 was the eighth straight EPS beat. Revenue hit $1.39 billion, up 25.57% year over year, net new ARR jumped 32% year over year to $255.80 million, and full-year net new ARR growth guidance was raised 520 basis points to 27.7%. Product revenue exploded 41% year over year to $645.10 million, billings grew 31% year over year to $2.09 billion, and free cash flow hit a record $1.01 billion, up 26.32% year over year. Revenue hit $639.75 million, up 33.5% year over year, current RPO grew 34% year over year, and free cash flow of $84.07 million was up 59.03% year over year.
Amazon: CEO Andy Jassy's Historic $25 Billion Move Is a Massive Signal for Tech Investors (NASDAQ: AMZN)
Amazon sold $25 billion worth of bonds to finance its data center build-out, telling investors it's going all in on the artificial intelligence (AI) build-out. Jassy has some insight into what's coming In Jassy's annual letter to investors, he made the case for Amazon spending $200 billion on data center capital expenditures this year.
Dow Holds Steady While Nasdaq Stumbles: What Moved Markets This Week
Tuesday brought IBM's (IBM 2.27%) worst day since 1987 after the company admitted customers were redirecting software budgets toward hardware purchases. The Dow's savior was Travelers (TRV +8.27%), which jumped 7.9% after posting earnings of $10.26 per share. That's nearly double what analysts expected.
3 AI Spend Metrics That Keep Me Buying Meta Leading Up to July 29 Earnings Report
In Q1 2026, ad impressions across the Family of Apps grew 19% year over year while average price per ad climbed 12%. That is a Lattice and adaptive ranking story, and Susan Li spelled it out on the call: enhancements to Lattice modeling drove a “more than 6% increase in conversion rate for landing page view ads,” and the adaptive ranking model added another 1.6% conversion lift on major Facebook and Instagram surfaces. Meta Superintelligence Labs shipped Muse Spark, and Li disclosed that the value optimization suite is now running at an annual revenue run rate of over $20 billion, more than doubling year over year. Business AI conversations went from 1 million to more than 10 million per week inside a single year. More than 8 million advertisers are using GenAI ad creative tools. Full-year 2026 capex was raised to $125 to $145 billion, and Q1 capex alone was $18.997 billion, up 46.8% year over year. Yet full-year expense guidance stayed pinned at $162 to $169 billion, unchanged.
The Race to Beat Nvidia: Does Google or Amazon Have the Better In-House Silicon
Google's silicon story is vertical. Sundar Pichai told investors that “we own frontier models and own the silicon”, and the payoff showed up in Cloud, which grew 63% to $20 billion with backlog nearly doubling to $462 billion. Amazon is selling picks and shovels. Andy Jassy said the chips business topped a $20 billion annual revenue run rate, growing triple digits year over year, with total Trainium commitments over $225 billion. AWS grew 28%, its fastest pace in 15 quarters, aided by multi-gigawatt training deals from Anthropic and OpenAI.
Big Tech Is Spending Hundreds Of Billions On AI Infrastructure — IO Fund's Beth Kindig Says It's Time To Show The Payoff
Big Tech has spent considerable capex for AI infrastructure, and the Street will want to see this spend turning into revenue and profits.
I Can’t Stop Buying Meta’s Upward Surge for These 3 Reasons
When a company earns $26.77 billion in net income in a single quarter while reaching 3.56 billion daily users, I stop looking for cleverer trades and start acting like an owner. Q1 2026 operating cash flow was $32.23 billion. Meta is building its future in-house. The Hyperion data center in Louisiana is now projected to exceed $50 billion for a 5 GW facility, with over $1.6 billion in local contracts already awarded. The core ad engine is still cranking. Ad impressions rose 19% year over year and average price per ad climbed 12%. Business AI conversations grew from 1 million to 10 million weekly since the start of the year, and partnership ads reached a $10 billion annual run rate. Meta’s new Model API is priced 75% cheaper than OpenAI and Anthropic, described as Meta’s first real step toward monetizing AI outside advertising. Snap and Pinterest are the usual defaults for social ad exposure, but I stick with Meta because Meta’s 41.44% operating margin, 82.00% gross margin, and 30.24% return on equity are the numbers of a category owner, and its P/E of 24 with PEG of 0.949 is not a premium to that quality. Reality Labs lost $4.03 billion in Q1 2026 and $19.2 billion for full-year 2025.
Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act
Databricks on Thursday announced a new round of funding that values the company at $188 billion. Only five months ago, in February, Databricks closed a $5 billion Series L raise at a $134 billion valuation. Five months before that, in September 2025, it raised $1B at $100 billion valuation. And roughly nine months before that, in December 2024, it raised what was a record-breaking round at the time of $10 billion at a $62 billion valuation. Last week Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi shared the results of some internal benchmarking done to manage his own AI costs for his 3,000 software engineers.
CrowdStrike vs. NVIDIA: Which Growth Tech Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026, the Cybersecurity Giant or AI Leader?
In its 2026 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $4.8 billion, representing growth of 21.7% compared to the prior year. In FY 2026, revenue reached close to $215.9 billion, a significant jump of 65.5% over the previous year. This net margin shows the percentage of revenue remaining after all expenses and taxes are paid, highlighting the company's strong revenue retention. As of the January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is 0.1x. This ratio compares total debt to shareholder equity, indicating the company maintains a very low debt load while funding its expansion. The current ratio is 3.9x, and free cash flow, representing cash from operations minus capital expenditures, reached $96.7 billion for the year. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented 68% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement. This growth supported a net income of $120.1 billion, representing a net margin of 55.6%.
UiPath Vs. ServiceNow: Which Agentic AI Stock Is the Better Buy?
UiPath (PATH +1.00%) and ServiceNow (NOW 0.59%) both have tools that let companies create and manage AI agents, and both have solid foundations of growing annual recurring revenues. ServiceNow has higher annual recurring revenue growth rates Annual recurring revenue is a critical metric for both companies. It indicates baseline growth and suggests how growth may change in the future. NYSE: NOW Key Data Points ServiceNow is the larger company and is also growing faster. The company has $12.64 billion in current remaining performance obligations compared to UiPath's $1.9 billion in annual recurring revenue at the end of its fiscal 2027 first quarter. UiPath has a better shot at boosting margins and improving its valuation Although ServiceNow has a higher revenue growth rate, UiPath is well positioned to boost its margins. When discussing UiPath's fiscal 2027 first-quarter results, CFO Ashim Gupta noted that it was the first time the company had achieved GAAP profitability in a Q1. ServiceNow has still been growing its top line, but its net income growth has been a bit disappointing in recent quarters. Lower net income growth limits how much more attractive ServiceNow's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio can become, while UiPath is better positioned to improve its valuation.
Why Meta (META) Shares Are Trading Lower Today
Meta's shares are somewhat volatile and have had 12 moves greater than 5% over the last year. Meta is building a $9.1 billion (CAD 13 billion) data center in Canada and targeting 14GW of total compute by 2027. By renting excess capacity as an "AI Cloud," it turns idle or surplus infrastructure into a revenue stream. Scale also helps on unit economics: Meta's build costs sit below the roughly $45 billion-per-GW industry average, so the same dollars buy more usable capacity than many peers can claim. Growth closes the loop. Muse Spark 1.1, Meta's advanced coding model, is priced at about one-quarter of comparable OpenAI and Anthropic offerings, a deliberate bid to pull developers into Meta's ecosystem and widen the funnel for tools, ads, and cloud demand later.The risk is execution. Custom silicon, multi-gigawatt buildouts, and a cut-price model only pay off if utilization, margins, and developer adoption follow the spend. Until those show up in results, markets can still punish CapEx as overbuild rather than investment.
Abbott Just Showed Its Growth Engine Has More Than One Cylinder
On the surface, the news was straightforward: Abbott posted adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share, clearing expectations of $1.28. More importantly, the company nudged its full-year profit forecast higher, now expecting between $5.45 and $5.60 per share. That confidence comes from seeing its overall sales growth accelerate to 4.8%, a faster clip than in the prior two quarters.
Occidental Petroleum Cut Its Capital Spending by 8% for 2026. Should the Oil Giant Rethink Its Plans with Crude Prices Now Up 30%?
When it reported first-quarter results in May, Occidental told investors it expects capital spending to decline by $550 million this year compared with 2025, targeting total spending of $5.5 billion to $5.9 billion. It'd be prudent for the company not to burn that goodwill, as the stock remains undervalued relative to peers, perhaps signaling that the broader investment community is overlooking the improving balance sheet health and strong asset quality.
China smartphone makers turn to agentic AI as device sales slow
IDC expects AI smartphones to account for more than half of China's market in 2026.
Google Cloud Revenue Grew 63% Last Quarter. Here's Why That Number Matters More Than Alphabet's Ad Business Right Now.
Alphabet's capital expenditures (capex) will go from $91 billion in 2025 to a projected $185 billion (at the midpoint) in 2026. This money is mostly directed toward expanding the technical infrastructure to support Google Cloud. Alphabet faces sky-high risks and sky-high upside When it was revealed that Meta was building a cloud segment to monetize its excess computing capacity, the social media stock immediately popped 9%. That's a clear sign of just how important it is to the investment community that these big AI spenders earn a satisfactory return on invested capital sooner rather than later. Alphabet's $185 billion in forecasted 2026 capex equates to 81% of the company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization that analysts predict for the year.
These 2 Industrial Stocks Will Benefit From the Trillion-Dollar AI Spending Boom
According to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley analysts, AI-related capital spending by U.S. hyperscalers could reach roughly $800 billion in 2026. Morgan Stanley expects it to rise to $1.12 trillion in 2027. Goldman Sachs expects U.S. data-center power demand to more than double from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts in 2027. Management now expects 2026 revenue of $13.5 billion to $14 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $6.30 to $6.40. The company exited the first quarter with an order backlog of about $2.8 billion.
Big banks' record Wall Street profits are increasingly tied to AI
The country's five largest Wall Street banks — JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Morgan Stanley (MS) — collectively reported $114 billion of capital markets revenue in the first six months of 2026, up 31.5% from a year earlier. Morgan Stanley estimates the broader AI build-out will amount to $10 trillion in spending over multiple years.
Apple Avoided the AI CapEx Spending Trap — Now the Bill May Be Coming Due
Apple spent just $12.7B on capex in 2025 while Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft collectively burned through $416B on AI infrastructure. Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft collectively spent $360 billion on capital expenditures in 2025, with Wall Street expecting another wave of spending through 2027 as each races to build larger AI infrastructure.
Salesforce vs. CrowdStrike: Which Technology Growth Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In its 2026 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $41.5 billion, representing growth of 10% over the prior year. In FY 2026, revenue reached $4.8 billion, which is a growth rate of 22% year-over-year. Salesforce’s revenue for its fiscal first quarter, ended April 30, rose 13% year over year to $11.1 billion, an acceleration of 2025’s 10% growth.
Amazon’s $25 Billion Bond Sale Created 3 More Reasons for Me to Keep Buying
Amazon's (AMZN) $25B bond drew $62B in demand, and at 35x interest coverage, the company keeps $102B cash free for AI and acquisitions. Amazon's Q1 EPS beat consensus by 61% for its fifth straight win, outpacing Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOGL) on operating leverage. TTM free cash flow collapsed 95% to $1.2B as capex surged, but AWS's $364B contractual backlog makes the spending already economically justified. The roughly $200 billion 2026 capex plan funds physical data center capacity backed by AWS's $364 billion commercial backlog. Peak demand on the offering hit $62 billion, 2.48 times oversubscribed, across eight tranches maturing from 2029 to 2066.
New Cholesterol Pill, Earnings Growth Boost Merck Shares
Its first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report showed revenue of $16.29 billion (a 4.9% year-over-year gain), sales of cancer treatment Keytruda hitting $8.0 billion (an 8% rise), and increased annual revenue and per-share earnings guidance to $67 billion and $5.15, respectively. MRK produced 122 rare Outlier 20 inflow signals since 1990, gaining 3,453% in that time.
Increased Investor Confidence Boosted Vicor Corporation (VICR) in Q2
33.22% gross and 32.83% net of fees, respectively, in the second quarter of 2026, compared to the 25.71% return of the Russell 2000 Growth Index. Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ:VICR) closed at $230.41 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $10.50 billion. The top contributors to the Portfolio's relative performance in the quarter were Bloom Energy, DigitalOcean Holdings, and Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ:VICR). As AI-related computing demand continues to increase, the need for more efficient power delivery has become increasingly important, positioning Vicor to potentially benefit from this long-duration secular growth theme. According to our database, 42 hedge fund portfolios held Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ:VICR) at the end of the first quarter, up from 29 in the previous quarter.
GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS) Fell Following a Significant Cut in 2026 Guidance
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Polen 5Perspectives Small Growth Strategy highlighted GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS). GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) is a genomics company that offers advanced exome and genome sequencing for pediatric and rare disease diagnostics. On July 16, 2026, GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) closed at $61.69 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $1.83 billion. GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) posted a one-month return of 4.54%, while its shares lost 20.78% over the past 52 weeks. Polen 5Perspectives Small Growth Strategy stated the following regarding GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) in its Q2 2026 investor update: "The most significant detractors from the Portfolio's relative performance in the quarter were Fastly, Credo Technology Group (not owned), and GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS). GeneDx is a provider of genomic testing and diagnostics that leverages advanced sequencing technology to support the diagnosis of rare diseases and improve patient outcomes. While the company continues to make progress operationally, shares were volatile during the quarter driven by a material cut to 2026 guidance that caused investors to reassess growth expectations amidst broadly weakening healthcare sentiment. We exited the position during the period as our process led us to redeploy capital into opportunities where we saw a more compelling combination of thematic tailwinds, fundamentals, and technical characteristics." GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 37 hedge fund portfolios held GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGS) at the end of the first quarter, up from 39 in the previous quarter. In Q1 2026, GeneDx Holdings Corp.'s (NASDAQ:WGS) total revenue came in $12 billion lower than anticipated, despite stronger than expected volume growth.
Why CoreWeave Stock Keeps Falling
Revenue rose 112% year over year to $2.1 billion. Interest expense more than doubled to $536 million, up from $264 million in the year-ago quarter, and the company's net loss widened to $740 million from $315 million. Demand, notably, is not the problem. CoreWeave's revenue backlog reached $99.4 billion as of March 31, in what management called the strongest bookings quarter in the company's history.
The 3 Energy Stocks I'd Buy With My Next $1,000
Its revenue surged more than 130% in the first quarter to over $750 million, along with a significant improvement in profit (operating income increased $91.3 million to $72.2 million).
Here’s the net worth you need to start getting ahead in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond in the U.S.
The median net worth for households led by people in their 30s is about $100,000. Those in their 40s have a median net worth of $179,000, and, in their 50s, $285,000, according to a recent Investopedia analysis of 2022 federal data. By their 30s, a household's essential wealth increases to the equivalent of 30% of the area's median home price, plus emergency savings — roughly $120,000 in net worth, according to Aspen estimates of national data. Just 26% of these households have amassed this level of wealth. For households in their 40s, essential wealth means having net worth equal to three times the household's annual income on top of emergency savings. For many at this age, net worth includes home equity minus mortgage and other debts. Based on the median income for this group, essential wealth at this age is roughly $265,000 in net worth, a benchmark reached by just 28% of these households. Households ages 50 to 64 should have essential wealth worth six times their income, plus emergency savings. Based on median income, that would be a net worth of $530,000 for those in their 50s, a level reached by 24% of households in this age range. This trajectory should leave a household with enough wealth to achieve retirement stability at age 65, meaning "this amount of wealth could suffice for the rest of their lives, while making space for some of the uncertainty that comes with that phase of life." For a couple with no mortgage, this would be roughly $775,000 in net worth. Yet, even among retirement-age households, only 29% meet this standard of essential wealth. By comparison, Fidelity suggests having 10 times your income saved for retirement alone by age 67. Americans, according to a recent survey, estimate they need $1.2 million to retire.
Oil and Gas Employment Hits a 2026 Low Even as Production Sets Records
115,500 in January, a bump to 116,200 in February, then a slide every month after, down to 114,500 by June. The ripple effects run deep, too…every upstream job is estimated to support roughly 232,000 supply chain jobs and 421,000 more through spending, more than 850,000 positions riding on an industry that keeps figuring out how to need fewer people directly. Chevron's cuts, the largest in company history, are chasing $2 billion to $3 billion in savings from folding Hess into the existing operation. BP is chasing a similar $2 billion target. ExxonMobil's cuts followed its own Pioneer deal. Halliburton has been cutting across at least three divisions this year, with some units down 20 to 40 percent. SLB has been through its own rounds of cuts and reshuffling. The actual geothermal workforce today? Just 8,870. That gap is basically all headroom. Solar, wind, EVs, efficiency and grid work together employ 3.56 million people now, more than three times the roughly 1.9 million across oil, gas and coal, and growing about three times faster than the rest of the economy.
The Misunderstood Truth About AI Demand Has Me Buying Meta Over and Over
When Mark Zuckerberg raised the 2026 capex guide to $125 to $145 billion, the crowd read panic. I read validation. Meta is racing to satisfy demand that its own CFO admits keeps outrunning the plan. That is the core of my thesis. On the Q1 call, Susan Li said it plainly: “we have continued to underestimate our compute needs even as we have been ramping capacity significantly.” When the operator of a $1.7 trillion advertising machine tells you compute is scarce inside her own building, the AI demand debate is settled for me. The Meta Compute pivot into commercial bare-metal rental, backed by the $13 billion, 1-gigawatt data center expansion in Alberta, is a company selling shovels because the miners keep showing up. Q1 2026 revenue came in at $56.311 billion, up 33.08% year over year, with ad impressions up 19% and average price per ad up 12%. That was the fifth consecutive quarter beating EPS expectations. Family daily active people reached 3.56 billion. The apps are growing users and pricing at the same time, which is rare at this scale. Morningstar’s 2026 outlook pegs Alphabet’s 2026 estimated capex at $92.9 billion versus Meta’s $96.97 billion. Meta is committing more capital to infrastructure than Alphabet while carrying a lower forward multiple and posting faster revenue growth.
The AI Capex Question Every QQQ Holder Should Be Asking Right Now
Nvidia guided Q2 revenue to $91 billion while Meta raised its 2026 capex guide to $145 billion, validating AI infrastructure spending for now.
Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) Now Makes Up 11% of the Dow. Could a Stock Split Come Before Year-End?
Caterpillar's surging stock price has propelled it to the second-highest-weighted company in the Dow behind Goldman Sachs. Combined, both stocks make up 23.5% of the Dow. In contrast, the two largest stocks in the S&P 500 make up 14.4% of the index. Amazon and Alphabet issued stock splits in 2022, which brought their stock prices closer to the median of the Dow and paved the way for their entry into the index.
The AI rotation stole the spotlight from a strong start to earnings season
IBM shocked Wall Street on Tuesday by pre-announcing disappointing second-quarter results , sending the stock down 25% for its worst day on record. CEO Arvind Krishna chalked up the softness to customers increasingly redirecting technology budgets toward cybersecurity, hardware, and AI tokens. That left less money for traditional software and consulting projects and pushed several large deals into future quarters. IBM's commentary reinforced our view that the opposite is happening: AI is driving incremental demand for cybersecurity as companies work to secure increasingly complex AI infrastructure and applications. Palo Alto and CrowdStrike were our two best performers in the Club portfolio this week. On the flip side, Club name Salesforce dipped 2% on Tuesday, and fellow software-as-a-service (SaaS) name ServiceNow slid nearly 6% as the news showed more traditional software spending is increasingly being pushed aside. While Salesforce did manage to gain nearly 4.6% for the week, the stock is still down 35.5% year to date. The great AI rotation Investors spent the week moving money from the AI builders to the buyers. The selling started Monday following SK Hynix's blockbuster U.S. debut on Friday, July 10. For the week, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) dropped nearly 9%, extending its recent pullback with a third weekly decline in the past four. Much of that capital flowed back into the hyperscalers. Alphabet rallied 3% Wednesday after Warren Buffett revealed to CNBC's Becky Quick that he personally approved Berkshire Hathaway's investment in the Club stock. The disclosure eased concerns that Buffett might be worried about Alphabet's heavy AI spending and related debt financing. The stock later surrendered those gains after Bloomberg reported Google is months behind in delivering its latest Gemini AI model. Alphabet shares lost almost 3% last week. Apple was one of the Club's biggest winners this week, climbing to record highs after receiving approval to bring Apple Intelligence to China . CNBC confirmed the company will use Alibaba's AI models to power the features on Chinese devices.
The Chip Index Just Fell Into a Bear Market. Apple Is Sitting Near an All-Time High Anyway.
Apple spent just $12.7 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025 while generating $98.8 billion in free cash flow. Apple's revenue for its fiscal second quarter (the period ended March 28) rose 17% year over year to $111.2 billion, with earnings per share up 22% and iPhone revenue setting a March-quarter record.
Buy, Sell, or Hold: Ken Griffin’s 3 Mega-Cap Picks at Current Valuations
Microsoft looks constructive at $399.11. Shares are down 17.83% year to date and 21.16% over one year, badly trailing the benchmark even as fundamentals compound. Azure grew 40% last quarter, the AI business passed a $37 billion annual run rate up 123% year over year, and commercial RPO hit $627 billion. Valuation improved with the drawdown. Forward P/E is 20 and trailing P/E 23. The consensus target of $559.86 implies significant upside, and 54 of 57 tracked analysts rate the stock Buy or Strong Buy, with zero Sells.
Bank of America sends strong verdict on Microsoft stock
Azure revenue growth of 39% to 40% year over year in constant currency during the quarter, and Bank of America says hitting or beating that range is critical. The bank was direct about the stakes: Azure at or above the guided range is what the stock needs to work. A miss, it said, could intensify investor concerns about the return on Microsoft's AI infrastructure spending. Management expects about 25% of that to convert into revenue over the next 12 months. For investors, strong conversion would be another sign that enterprise AI spending is moving from commitment to actual financial results. Bank of America estimates Q4 capital expenditures at roughly $42 billion, which will compress free cash flow sharply compared to a year earlier. The bank expects both figures to keep climbing as Azure capacity expands and enterprise deployments broaden. Microsoft has roughly 400 million M365 licenses deployed across enterprise customers, all of them potential Copilot upgrade candidates, Motley Fool noted. About 95% of analysts covering Microsoft have a Buy rating, with a median price target of $550, well above Bank of America's $500 target.
Multiple Compression Is a Real Threat to Microsoft Stock, But Its Core Story Isn’t Broken
In fiscal Q3 2026, revenue grew 18% to $82.9 billion, operating income rose 20% to $38.4 billion, and net income climbed 23% to $31.8 billion, with EPS at $4.27. Cloud remains the main driver, with Microsoft Cloud revenue up 29% to $54.5 billion, and future demand looks solid with remaining performance obligations up 99% to $627 billion. Azure grew 40%, pushing Intelligent Cloud revenue up 30% to $34.7 billion. Microsoft returned $10.2 billion to shareholders during the quarter. Of 50 analysts covering Microsoft, a consensus rates it a "Strong Buy", with an average price target of $546.29.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Tells Founders to Solve 'Hard Problems,' Not Chase 'Base Hits'
When starting a company, most people shy away from truly hard problems and go for base hits thinking it will be easier. The opposite is true. Fewer people attempt the hard problems so there is less competition, and great people are more likely to join you on an impactful mission, Armstrong said. Then work backwards from there toward what steps will be required, and see how you can get your first dollar of revenue on an early step which enables the broader vision, Armstrong said. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos advised founders to gain experience at a well-run company before starting their own ventures, arguing that learning core skills such as hiring and interviewing improves the odds of building a successful startup. Billionaire investor Mark Cuban encouraged entrepreneurs to prioritize bootstrapping and customer acquisition over raising outside capital, warning that taking investor money too early could lead to unfavorable terms and significant ownership dilution. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches. Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth. Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day.
Corn Turning Higher at Midday
Following USDA's Export Sales report from Thursday old crop corn sales are now 86.279 MMT That is 102% of USDA's export projection and ahead of the each of the last 3 years. Actual shipments are 87% of that USDA export projection at 73.058 MMT, head of last year's 86%.
Apple Knows Cash is King Which is Why I Keep Loading Up
Apple returned $106B to shareholders in FY25, authorized a new $100B buyback, and grew Q2 FY26 Services revenue to a record $31B. Amazon and Alphabet burn hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure while Apple runs capex at $12.7B and routes nearly all cash to owners. The pull is simple. Apple monetizes a sticky global footprint and routes almost every dollar of the resulting cash back to owners. In fiscal 2025, the company generated $111.5B in operating cash flow and returned $106.1B to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. That is a promise being kept in real dollars, every ninety days. The board authorized a fresh $100 billion buyback program alongside a 4% dividend increase to $0.27 per quarter. FY25 buybacks alone hit $90.7B, on top of a $15.4B dividend payout, and Q1 FY26 operating cash flow ran $53.9B. Q2 FY26 revenue reached $111.18 billion, up 16.6% year over year, with diluted EPS of $2.01, an eighth consecutive quarter beating expectations. Add in the $24.7B repurchased in Q1 FY26 alone and the buyback pace is accelerating. The Services engine is why the cash keeps compounding. While bears constantly fret over incremental iPhone upgrade metrics, Apple has quietly shifted its core profit engine and turned an installed base of over 2.5 billion active devices into a high-margin subscription business through the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple TV+. Services hit an all-time record of $30.98 billion in Q2 FY26. Recurring revenue at that scale is why Apple posts a 46.9% gross margin, a 32.0% operating margin, and a 171.4% return on equity. iPhone still delivered a March-quarter record $56.99 billion, Greater China reached $20.50 billion, and double-digit growth appeared across every geographic segment. FY25 capex ran $12.7B against $111.5B of operating cash flow, which lets management push the bulk of the cash back to owners rather than sink it into build-outs whose payoffs are still unproven.
Prediction: Lemonade Stock Will Reach $100 in 2027. Here's Why.
The 2026 first quarter was the 10th consecutive quarter of accelerating in-force premium (IFP), which measures the amount of policy premium "in force" at a given time and is the standard top-line metric for insurance companies. It increased 32% year over year in the first quarter. Revenue is growing even faster, up 71% in the quarter. The company added almost 600,000 new customers over the trailing 12 months, a 23% increase, to 3.1 million in the first quarter, and premium per customer was up 7% to $424, implying that its cross-sell strategy is working. If sales continue to grow at current rates, Lemonade stock can gain 70% without becoming more expensive. If it becomes profitable while maintaining high growth rates, it should easily surpass $100 next year.
The $10 Billion Reason META Stock Is in Focus Today
Meta plans to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, more than double the $72 billion spent last year, with the vast majority directed toward AI.
Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman’s Top 5 Bets: Buy, Hold, or Steer Clear?
QSR's Burger King US comps flipped to +5.8% with net income up 180%, while UBER's $14.8B Delivery Hero bid supports a 68% base-case upside target. Microsoft's commercial backlog surged 99% to $627 billion and AI revenue hit a $37B run rate, making the 20% stock drop a setup. The cloud-and-AI dataset is what commands attention. Fiscal Q3 2026 Azure and other cloud services grew 40% (39% constant currency). The AI business surpassed a $37 billion annual run rate, up 123% year over year. And the number that changes the model: Commercial remaining performance obligation reached $627 billion, up 99% YoY. Q1 2026 Gross Bookings hit $53.72 billion, up 25% YoY.
Ahead of Alphabet Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for GOOGL Stock
Google Cloud sales is the most closely watched line item, with Bank of America raising its growth estimate to 70% for the quarter, projecting roughly $22.5 billion in cloud revenue supported by a contracted backlog that nearly doubled sequentially to $462 billion in Q1. Management has indicated that just over 50% of this backlog converts to revenue within 24 months, providing exceptional forward visibility. Prediction markets assign a 96.6% probability that Alphabet delivers another earnings beat, which would mark the fifth consecutive quarter of exceeding consensus estimates. The most aggressive target on the Street sits at $515, while the lowest is at $365.
Meta Platforms: AI Return on Invested Capital Is Uncertain (NASDAQ:META)
Its capex plans will soak up nearly all of that. Spending on that scale should be paired with the ability to give investors a more insightful response about expected ROI than the one Zuckerberg gave on the most recent earnings call.
Big enough for its own fund-of-funds: Inside one wealth manager's own vehicle
We raised $100 million in the first year, and we're launching the next vintage now. About 325 families have collectively entrusted us with roughly $3 billion in total capital. That's the relationship we're protecting—families who could have taken their wealth elsewhere if we hadn't built this.
CrowdStrike vs. Dell Technologies: Which Technology Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In FY 2026, revenue reached $4.8 billion, representing growth of roughly 22% compared to the previous year. In FY 2026, revenue reached nearly $113.5 billion, representing revenue growth of roughly 19% year over year. For fiscal 2026, revenue is expected to grow about 24% to $5.59 billion, coming with a swing to net income of $175 million. Despite its already massive size, Dell's sales are seen rising a screaming 51% to $171.3 billion in fiscal 2027 with more than $11 billion in both net income and free cash flow.
CrowdStrike vs. Snowflake: Which Technology Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In FY 2026, revenue reached nearly $4.8 billion, representing a growth rate of approximately 21.7% compared to the prior year. In FY 2026, revenue reached close to $4.7 billion, an increase of roughly 29.2% over the previous year. The company reported a net loss of roughly $162.5 million for the year. The company reported a net loss of approximately $1.3 billion for the period. This resulted in a net margin of approximately -3.4%, up from the -0.5% reported in the previous fiscal year. This performance resulted in a net margin of nearly -28.4%, an improvement from the -35.5% net margin seen in FY 2025. The debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 0.2x. The debt-to-equity ratio reached approximately 1.4x. The current ratio stands at approximately 1.8x, which measures a company's ability to cover its short-term debts with its short-term assets. The current ratio of roughly 1.3x suggests the company maintains enough liquid assets to meet its immediate financial obligations. Free cash flow, which is cash from operations minus capital expenditures, reached nearly $1.3 billion. Free cash flow for the year reached approximately $1.1 billion. Note that stock-based compensation accounted for roughly 68.0% of operating cash flow, thereby inflating reported cash generation, since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement. Note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 130.9% of operating cash flow, meaning reported cash generation is heavily inflated by this non-cash add-back.
Jim Cramer Says the Market Is “Dead Wrong” About These 5 Oversold Stocks
GE Aerospace: A Guidance Raise Met With Selling GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) fell roughly 4% despite a clean beat and a broad guidance raise. In Q2, adjusted EPS of $2.02 beat the $1.86 consensus, revenue climbed to $13.35 billion, up 21.1% year over year, and free cash flow jumped 43% to $3.03 billion. Management lifted full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $7.65-$7.85 and pointed to a backlog of over $210 billion. Cramer's take: "GE Aerospace remains the best institutional choice right now. You never sell the stock of GE, by the way, before Farnborough. The market's dead wrong here." GE is still up 30.55% over the past year and 12.54% year-to-date. Wells Fargo: Cramer Calls It "A Steal" At 12x Earnings Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) is the name Cramer told his Investing Club members was "a steal" at 12 times earnings. Q1 2026 delivered $1.60 in diluted EPS on $21.446 billion in revenue, with $4.0 billion in buybacks and a raised medium-term ROTCE target of 17-18%. "Wells Fargo's quarter wasn't just good. I thought it was terrific," Cramer said. "The analysts were fixated on the sinkhole net interest income. And also they care about net interest margin. Sometimes it's just so myopic." Under CEO Charlie Scharf, Cramer sees Wells transforming into a merchant bank, with Markets revenue up 19% and Wealth & Investment Management client assets up 11% to $2.2 trillion.
Jim Cramer Says Oracle Is “Going Down” and Avoid Every Liquor Stock. Here’s What He’d Buy Instead
Oracle's Q4 FY2026 filing shows Cloud Infrastructure revenue jumped 93% year over year to $5.79 billion and remaining performance obligations exploded to $638 billion, up 363%.
Stock Market Today, July 17: Netflix Plunges, but Are Investors Missing the Point?
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), the global streaming entertainment and ad-supported video platform, closed at $68.95, down 7.26%. Guidance came in below Wall Street forecasts, and investors are watching near-term revenue and earnings growth. That is one focus for investors. Another is that the company will reduce its customer engagement data reporting to just once per year. That had investors bailing from the stock today. The company's growth rate is certainly slowing, but that's a natural progression for a mature business like Netflix. The company is still a cash machine, too, though. Free cash flow was $1.5 billion, a decline from last year's $2.3 billion due to higher cash tax payments.
Alphabet Is Up 94% and Meta Is Down 5%. Barchart Data Helps Pick the Best AI Dividend Stock to Buy Now.
GOOGL stock is up 94% in the last 52 weeks and 13% away from its 52-week high of $408.61. Alphabet remains the larger and more profitable company, with sales rising ~22% YOY to $109.9 billion. However, Meta delivered the stronger growth rate over the same period, increasing 33% to $56.3 billion. Alphabet leads in net income growth, up 81.2% to 62.6 billion, versus Meta's 61%. Cash generation also favors Alphabet, which produced $45.8 billion, compared with Meta's $32.2 billion, reflecting the strength of its more diversified digital ecosystem. Meta pays $2.10 per share per year, which translates to an annual yield of approximately 0.32%.
2 Reasons to Buy Netflix Stock on the Dip
Netflix's second-quarter results were not terrible, not by a long shot. The company's revenue increased by 13.4% year over year to $12.6 billion, while its earnings per share climbed 11% to $0.80. However, Netflix's third-quarter guidance of $12.9 billion, which would represent a 11.7% year-over-year increase, fell short of Wall Street's projections. The average forward P/E for information technology stocks is 21.6.
Alphabet's Stock Is a Must Buy Before July 22
Alphabet's cloud computing business takes center stage The biggest thing I'll be watching is Alphabet's cloud computing growth. Cloud computing is becoming a huge part of Alphabet's business, with Google Cloud emerging as one of the top platforms to build and run artificial intelligence (AI) models on. Last quarter, revenue soared 63% to $20 billion. That blew expectations out of the water, and I'm confident Alphabet will do it again this quarter.
Top analyst resets Apple stock price target ahead of earnings
The Apple product roadmap HSBC is betting on The upgrade isn't just an AI call. A lot of it is about what Apple is planning to release. Cote-Colisson described the upcoming product lineup as one of Apple's most innovative in years, Investing.com reported. The pipeline he's pointing to includes the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max coming this fall, an iPhone Air expected in April 2027, and a book-style foldable iPhone that HSBC flagged as the most significant new device in the lineup. Beyond phones, the bank also sees smart glasses and a special 20th-anniversary iPhone edition landing in 2027. HSBC raised its 2027-28 group revenue forecasts by 7% to 9%. The bigger move was on iPhone sales, where estimates went up 11% to 13%. The bank is modeling iPhone sales growth of about 21% in 2026 and 11.6% in 2027. HSBC's $366 target implies roughly 10% upside from Apple's Thursday close of about $333. The stock had pulled back slightly in premarket even after the upgrade was published. That kind of muted initial reaction on a big target raise isn't unusual. It often takes earnings confirmation before an upgrade narrative picks up momentum in the market. The bank also outlined what it calls a blue-sky scenario, which adds another $31 per share beyond the base target if both the product cycle and AI execution land better than expected.
Etsy vs. Wayfair: Which Consumer Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $2.9 billion, up approximately 2.7% from the previous year. The company reported net income of roughly $163.0 million for the period. The net margin, which measures how much profit a company keeps from its total sales, was about 5.7%. During FY 2025, the company generated revenue of approximately $12.5 billion, marking an increase of roughly 5.1% year over year. Despite this growth, the business reported a net loss of nearly $313.0 million. The net margin, representing the percentage of revenue remaining after all expenses, was approximately -2.5%. Etsy appears cheaper on an earnings basis with a lower forward P/E, which measures price against future earnings estimates, while Wayfair carries a lower P/S ratio. Metric Etsy Wayfair Sector Benchmark Forward P/E 23.3x 32.2x 93.3x
Warren Buffett’s Alphabet bet eases bigger Berkshire fear
Berkshire started the role when Buffett was CEO and extended it after Abel took over. It appears to straddle the eras of leadership rather than belong to one or the other. Alphabet's sales jumped 22% to $109.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Google Search and others' revenue rose 19 percent, and revenue from Google Cloud climbed 63 percent to $20 billion. In the cloud business, operating income tripled to $6.6 billion, while the operating margin for that segment increased to 32.9%, according to Zacks. Alphabet said it expected to recognize just over half of the backlog as revenue within 24 months. Abel has tried to reassure shareholders that Berkshire's framework will stay in place. In his 2025 shareholder letter, he said the company would continue to invest primarily in businesses it understands, focusing capital in high-conviction possibilities and calculating returns over extraordinarily long periods. He also noted the CEO is ultimately responsible for Berkshire's share portfolio. Berkshire revealed a holding in Alphabet for the first time for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025. The corporation owned about 17.85 million Class A Alphabet shares, worth about $4.3 billion, its Securities and Exchange Commission Form 13F said. The job became more important with Abel as CEO. Berkshire Hathaway's latest Form 13F for the first quarter of 2026 recorded almost 57.8 million Alphabet shares in its investment accounts. Their worth was at $16.6 billion on March 31. Abel has claimed the company's big cash pile is not a sign that it is stepping back from investment. He has also admitted that the scale of Berkshire makes it harder to compound rapidly. Alphabet provides one answer to the scale challenge. With its huge market cap, Berkshire can invest billions of dollars in a firm without needing to own the entire company, and its liquidity allows it to increase or decrease its holdings without negotiating an acquisition. Abel still needs to establish an independent capital-allocation record. Buffett's Alphabet endorsement will naturally appeal to Alphabet shareholders. He claimed he wished he had seen the potential earlier and argued the company had better odds than most investments sold on Wall Street. The bigger effect is for Berkshire stockholders, though. Berkshire does not ask Abel to take on Buffett's persona or public face. He needs to use the discipline that let Buffett turn down most possibilities, move quickly on a few, and hold winning enterprises for years. The Alphabet investment implies the method may outlive its originator. That may be the most crucial message in the whole conversation for shareholders anxious that Buffett's departure will take away Berkshire's most important competitive advantage. Berkshire started 2026 with over $370 billion of cash and U.S. Treasury assets. The company's operating companies generated $46 billion in cash flow in 2025. The demand for AI processing capacity intensified, and the corporation raised its 2026 capital expenditure outlook to between $180 billion and $190 billion.
President Donald Trump Just Proclaimed "Everybody's Profiting" From the Stock Market, but He'll Likely Regret This Remark in Short Order
During his first, non-consecutive term (Jan. 20, 2017 – Jan. 20, 2021), the time-honored Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.77%), benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.01%), and innovation-propelled Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 1.40%) gained 57%, 70%, and 142%, respectively. The only time the stock market has been pricier was in December 1999 (44.19), mere months before the dot-com bubble burst. Including the present, the Shiller P/E Ratio has topped 30 on six occasions. The previous five were followed by declines in the Dow, S&P 500, and/or Nasdaq Composite ranging from 20% to the 89% plunge observed during the Great Depression. Empowering software and systems to make rapid, autonomous decisions is a technology that PwC analysts foresee adding more than $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
Warren Buffett Made a Move That Should Have Every Investor Watching This Stock
Alphabet now ranks as Berkshire's fifth-largest holding, making up 6.9% of the conglomerate's equity portfolio. This stake is currently worth roughly $24.3 billion. Alphabet's total revenue jumped 22% year over year to $109.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Its earnings nearly doubled to $62.6 billion. Google Cloud's backlog topped $460 billion in Q1, nearly doubling from the previous quarter.
Salesforce vs. Dell Technologies: Which High-Growth Tech Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In its 2026 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $41.5 billion, representing a growth of nearly 10% over the previous year. For FY 2026, the company reported revenue of $113.5 billion, which is growth of nearly 19% compared to the prior year. It would seem Dell is obviously the better stock to buy. After all, the company reported record revenue of $43.8 billion for its fiscal first quarter, ended May 1, which represents an impressive 88% year-over-year increase. Because of Wall Street’s sell-off, Salesforce is the better stock to buy. Its low forward earnings multiple suggests it is at a compelling share price, and once investors begin to realize AI is not a danger to its business, Salesforce shares will be poised to rise.
Netflix's growth slowdown exposes a classic shareholder trap: Chart of the Day
Netflix's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio once topped 70 times expected profits and still stood near 45 times a year ago. It has since fallen to 18.5 times. That drop has pushed the streamer below both the technology and communication services sectors. Netflix's expected earnings have continued to rise. Investors are simply attaching a lower price to them as revenue growth cools from roughly 16% to 13%.
Warren Buffett Set a New Goal: Give Away All of His $140 Billion Berkshire Stake by 2034
$140 billion in eight years This marks an acceleration of donations, as Buffett has set a goal to give away all of his $140 billion in wealth to charities by Dec. 31, 2034. It will be given away over the next eight years, in pieces, to avoid rattling the Berkshire Hathaway stock price too much.
Why IBM Stock Crashed 25% Even as AI Spending Exploded
Preliminary second-quarter revenue rose just 1% to $17.2 billion, about $660 million below the LSEG consensus, while adjusted earnings of $2.93 per share missed the $3.02 estimate. Software growth slowed to 5%, Consulting was flat, and Infrastructure fell 7%. IBM did capture some of that spending: Distributed Infrastructure revenue jumped 37%.
Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs, filed 2,879 H-1B visas — but the real reason behind its $1.2T market value drop is far bigger
About 30% of roughly 8,750 eligible U.S. employees took it. On that same April call with analysts, Hood said Microsoft expects to spend about $190 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, with roughly $25 billion of that just covering higher prices on AI parts. The business footing that bill is not actually struggling. In the three months ended March 31, Microsoft made $82.9 billion in revenue, up 18% compared to last year, and $31.8 billion in profit, up 23%.
Why Intuitive Surgical’s Strong Quarter Still Spooked Investors
Second quarter 2026 revenue of $2.89 billion increased 19%, compared with $2.44 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Worldwide da Vinci procedures grew approximately 15% year over year (YOY). The company placed 468 da Vinci surgical systems, compared with 395 in the second quarter of 2025. The company grew its da Vinci surgical system installed base to 11,710 systems as of June 30, 2026, an increase of 12% YOY.
Palo Alto Networks Stock Has Doubled in 3 Months. Here’s Why the Rally May Be Far From Over.
Palo Alto's platformization strategy—combining multiple cybersecurity solutions into a single integrated platform—is becoming a major competitive advantage. Enterprises are increasingly replacing standalone security tools with unified platforms that simplify operations while lowering costs. The strategy is driving higher customer retention, larger contracts, and broader product adoption. During the quarter, Palo Alto added 110 new platformized customers, bringing the total to about 2,280. These customers typically deploy multiple security products, resulting in net revenue retention of 120% and single-digit churn. Management expects platformized customers to exceed 4,000 by fiscal 2030, supporting its long-term goal of reaching $20 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) from Next-Generation Security (NGS). Total RPO increased 36% YOY to $18.4 billion. Even excluding acquisitions, RPO grew 22%, while current RPO accelerated to 17% growth from 15% in the previous quarter. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Palo Alto projects revenue of approximately $3.35 billion, representing about 32% YOY growth. NGS ARR is expected to reach between $8.9 billion and $8.95 billion, up 59% to 60%.
Energy Transfer Looks Poised to Outperform the S&P 500 in the Back Half of 2026
Energy Transfer currently expects to generate between $18.2 billion and $18.6 billion of adjusted EBITDA this year. That's 13.9% to 16.4% higher than last year. It's also higher than the pipeline company's initial forecast of $17.5 billion to $17.9 billion of adjusted EBITDA.
Meta Platforms: Is This the Most Undervalued Stock in Big Tech? (NASDAQ: META)
Meta Platforms (META 2.79%) isn't a stock that the market is in love with right now, although it has been viewed more positively in recent weeks as rumors swirl about Meta starting up a cloud computing division. The S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.01%) trades for 21.7 times forward earnings, making this stock cheaper than the broader market. It's also cheap compared to some of its peers. The AI hyperscalers it's commonly compared against are Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Of these three, Alphabet is probably the best comparison, as its core business is also advertising. However, with Amazon trading at 29 times forward earnings and Alphabet at 25, Meta's stock seems cheap. Microsoft is nearly tied with Meta, trading at 20.7 times forward earnings, so it doesn't qualify as cheaper from that perspective. Despite this, Meta is growing far faster than each of its peers. It's not often you can scoop up the fastest-growing stock in a group at basically the current price, but that's exactly what Meta is offering investors. Right now, Meta is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on AI computing capacity, and doesn't really have anything groundbreaking to show for it.
Prediction Markets Swell to 27% of Sports Bets During World Cup
H2 Gambling Capital estimates that prediction-market activity was around 27% of all legal US sports-betting volume during the World Cup, up from 9% at the beginning of the year, based on public data from the tournament's first month. The stocks of the two biggest online gambling companies in the US — DraftKings Inc. and FanDuel's parent company Flutter Entertainment PLC — surged right before the World Cup, in anticipation of the spike in business. But the stocks slumped as the tournament went on and they are both down more than 25% on the year. A spokesperson for FanDuel said the company could not comment on the broad trends because it is about to release financial results, but noted that the "World Cup has seen record interest from our customers throughout the competition, with the top 10 soccer games by handle in our history all coming during this year's tournament."
Nonprofit Current AI is racing to build the World Wide Web of AI, free for all
The French government seeded Current AI with $100 million, joined by the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, DeepMind, and Salesforce — bringing total committed funding to $400 million.
Goldman Sachs Warns on AI’s Debt Tsunami — Is the AI Boom?
The six largest AI spenders issued $244 billion in bonds this year, 14 times 2024 levels, as the AI arms race rapidly reshapes balance sheets. Goldman Sachs reports hyperscaler leverage ratios doubled to 1.8x in six months, with $5.8 trillion in projected AI capex through 2030. Credit default swap spreads widened far beyond the broader market, signaling investors doubt AI spending can generate returns fast enough. The six largest AI infrastructure spenders -- Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) -- have issued a combined $244 billion in bonds this year, more than double last year's total and 14 times 2024 levels. Goldman Sachs reports that hyperscaler leverage ratios have doubled from 0.9x to 1.8x in roughly six months. Goldman Sachs estimates $5.8 trillion in combined AI capital expenditures for major hyperscalers through 2030, already consuming most operating cash flow and necessitating heavy borrowing.
Warren Buffett Said He Personally Started Berkshire's $31 Billion Alphabet Position
Berkshire now holds roughly $31 billion in Alphabet stock: about $21 billion in public shares, plus a $10 billion private placement that was part of Alphabet's $80 billion equity raise in June. The timing is notable. Bond markets are getting nervous about artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure spending. Tech titans spent roughly $1 trillion on data centers last year, and a Motley Fool research report shows construction plans totaling $4 trillion from now to 2030. According to Apollo Global Management, coverage ratios for hyperscaler bonds dropped from nearly 5x in February to under 2x in July.
Google Already Proved This AI Fear False So I Keep Loading Up
GOOGL Search revenue grew 19% to $60B in Q1 2026, proving AI chatbots enhanced rather than cannibalized Google's core business. Google Cloud grew 63% with a $460B backlog and GenAI revenue up 800%, validating the company's massive infrastructure spending. Alphabet combines Search dominance, hyperscale cloud growth, and YouTube's $9.9B quarterly ad revenue at just 25 times forward earnings. Third, the machine is throwing off cash and returning it. FY2025 revenue crossed $402.84B for the first time, EPS came in at $10.81, and management raised the dividend 5% to $0.22 per share. Consolidated operating margin sits at 36.1% with return on equity at 38.9%. Why Not Microsoft or Meta The reflex alternatives are Microsoft for AI cloud and Meta for digital advertising. My money keeps landing on Alphabet because I can point to the exact number that decides it. Alphabet trades at a forward P/E of 25 while its cloud arm grew 63%, its ad-supported search grew 19%, and consolidated revenue grew 21.8%.
Bill Gates' Foundation Was Snubbed by Warren Buffett for the First Time in 20 Years. Buffett Is Now on Track to Offload His Entire $140 Billion Berkshire Stake by 2034.
Buffett's ownership of Berkshire Hathaway totals around $140 billion. This is where the shift away from giving shares to the Bill Gates Foundation comes into play. Unfortunately, Bill Gates has been caught up in the Epstein scandal, and Buffett has been distancing himself from the former Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) CEO.
SanDisk vs Seagate: Two Divergent Paths Through the AI Storage Boom, One Winner
SanDisk (SNDK) surged 251% in revenue to $5.95B as Seagate (STX) nearly quadrupled free cash flow to $953M, both crediting AI data creation. Seagate offers durable 47% gross margins with nearline capacity committed through mid-2026, while SanDisk trades at a demanding 60x P/E with NAND pricing risk. SanDisk posted $5.95 billion in revenue, a 251% jump, with Datacenter alone surging 645% year over year to $1.467 billion.
Can Nebius Group Really 10X by 2030? The Math Says Yes
Nebius holds $46 billion in signed contracts with Microsoft and Meta, anchoring its path to $33 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Applying standard cloud multiples to Wolfe Research's $21 billion EBITDA forecast implies Nebius could reach an enterprise value of between $315 billion and $420 billion by 2030. Nebius's non-hyperscaler cloud pipeline tripled in one quarter while its $643 million Eigen AI acquisition targets higher-margin inference workloads. Respected independent research firm Wolfe Research believes Nebius could generate $34 billion in revenue and $21 billion in EBITDA by 2030.
I Can’t Stop Buying Alphabet Because The AI Talent Narrative is Wrong
GOOGL's Cloud backlog nearly doubled to $460B and Q1 EPS of $5.11 crushed the $2.63 estimate, undercutting the AI brain drain narrative. Alphabet's 63% cloud growth and 350 million paid subscribers give it structural advantages over Microsoft's mature cloud and Meta's ad-only model. Warren Buffett initiated Berkshire's Alphabet stake and expressed regret for not buying sooner, but $175B in 2026 CapEx with FCF already down 47% is the primary risk. Google Cloud grew 63% year over year to $20.03 billion, and the backlog nearly doubled quarter over quarter to over $460 billion.
Apple Just Hit an All-Time High. HSBC Thinks It Can Climb Even Higher
Apple has climbed 11.37% over the past month and 59.21% over the past year. The March quarter delivered $111.2 billion in revenue, up 16.6% year over year, with EPS of $2.01 beating the $1.94 consensus for an eighth consecutive quarterly beat. iPhone hit $56.99 billion on iPhone 17 demand, and Services set another record at $30.98 billion. On July 16, 2026, Apple received Chinese government approval to roll out Apple Intelligence features with Alibaba and Baidu partners, pushing the stock 4.2% higher in one session. Greater China revenue recovered to $20.50 billion in the March quarter, removing the largest remaining overhang on that region. The bull case rests on Services compounding, iPhone 18 tailwinds, and Apple Intelligence monetization. Citi carries a $365 target on margin expansion tied to selective price hikes and market-share gains. Our bull-case scenario points to $380.43 over 12 months. Prediction markets on Polymarket assign a 66.2% probability that Apple hits $344 in July, and an iPhone 18 release before year-end sits at 96.6%.
Oracle Just Hit a Fresh 52-Week Low and Had Its Credit Cut Toward Junk. Has the AI-Capex Panic Overshot?
Shares of Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) touched a fresh 52-week low of $121.50 on Friday. The database and cloud infrastructure company now trades about 63% below its high of $345.72, and its market capitalization has shrunk to about $365 billion. On July 9, S&P Global Ratings cut Oracle's credit rating from BBB to BBB-, leaving the company one notch above junk status. The numbers behind the downgrade are uncomfortable. Oracle spent $55.7 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026 (the year ended May 31, 2026) as it raced to build data centers for AI customers. S&P expects the gap to widen. The agency projects Oracle's fiscal 2027 capital expenditures will reach $90 billion to $95 billion, and it sees the company's free operating cash flow deficit widening to about $42 billion. Oracle already carried nearly $130 billion in borrowings at the end of fiscal 2026. And after issuing $5 billion of mandatory convertible preferred stock in February, the company plans another $20 billion equity issuance later this calendar year. There's a concentration problem, too. S&P noted that roughly half of Oracle's $638 billion in remaining performance obligations (the contracted revenue Oracle has signed but not yet delivered) comes from a single customer: OpenAI. The backlog, concentration risk aside, is extraordinary. Remaining performance obligations ended the year at $638 billion, up 363% year over year and up $85 billion from the prior quarter alone. A year earlier, the figure was about $138 billion. Notably, about $75 billion of the recent large AI contracts involve customers prepaying for graphics processing units (GPUs) or supplying the chips themselves -- an arrangement that shifts some of the build-out's cost off Oracle's books. Management expects revenue to climb about 34% this fiscal year, to $90 billion.
Bank of America doubles down on Google stock ahead of earnings
Alphabet holds roughly 14% of Anthropic, a stake worth approximately $135 billion at Anthropic's latest valuation of $965 billion, the Motley Fool reported. By Q2, that valuation had risen to $965 billion, following a $65 billion fundraising round. Bank of America estimates Alphabet's 14% stake generated roughly $80 billion in unrealized gains, which flows through the company's operating income for the quarter. The bank did flag some softness in CPG and travel verticals. Google's overall search market share and traffic held steady through June, despite the growing use of AI chat alternatives, as TheStreet reported. Total Q2 revenue is estimated at $102.1 billion, slightly above the Street's $101.0 billion. For the full year 2026, Bank of America raised its net revenue estimate by 1% to $427 billion and its EPS estimate by 36% to $19.70, projecting 16% full-year Search growth and 72% Cloud growth. Bank of America expects Q3 guidance of $108.8 billion in revenue and $3.03 in EPS, roughly in line with the Street at $107.9 billion and $3.02.
68% of Greg Abel's Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Is Invested in Just 5 Stocks. Here's My Favorite of the Bunch.
Under 30 holdings and spotlighted a short list of core positions, every one a company with a wide competitive moat and durable earnings. 65% of its new consumer accounts globally and account for a rising share of total spending. The beauty of this setup is how it compounds. Premium customers spend more, making Amex's network more valuable to merchants, which in turn funds richer rewards, which attract more premium customers. American Express has been a Berkshire holding for more than three decades. It is a business built to keep raising prices while keeping customers happy, a rare combination. Greg Abel's concentrated Berkshire portfolio is a master class in owning quality over quantity, and American Express embodies what makes these businesses special: a wide moat, pricing power, and a loyal customer base that is getting younger, not older.
Amazon’s Trillion-Dollar Capex Gamble vs Shopify’s Lean Profitability Strategy
Amazon reported $181.519 billion in revenue, up 16.61%, with EPS of $2.78 against a $1.653 estimate. AWS drove the headline, hitting $37.587 billion in cloud revenue, up 28%, the fastest pace in 15 quarters. Andy Jassy told investors the chips business (Trainium, Graviton, Nitro) crossed a "$20 billion revenue run rate (growing triple digits year-over-year)". Advertising cleared $70 billion trailing twelve months, a real second engine. Shopify reported $3.17 billion in revenue, but growth ran hotter at 34.32%, accelerating from 27% in Q1 2025. Merchant Solutions grew 39% to $2.42 billion. GMV crossed $100.74 billion for the quarter for the first time, up 35%. Operating income nearly doubled to $382 million, though a $941 million mark-to-market equity hit pushed GAAP net income to negative $581 million. Underlying profit was $360 million. Q1 capex was $44.203 billion, up 76.68%.
Alphabet's Gemini 3.5 Pro Is Late and the Stock Is Slipping. Is the AI Leader Falling Behind?
A flagship model stuck in testing The timeline is what makes this delay notable. Google launched Gemini 3 in late 2025, and the 3.5 generation was supposed to continue a rapid release cadence, with the Flash version announced in May and the Pro version promised a month later. Instead, according to Bloomberg's reporting, Google updated the data used to train Gemini in an attempt to improve its coding skills, and the results were disappointing. Google hasn't announced a new launch date. "We're currently testing 3.5 Pro, an upgraded Flash model, and other models with partners," the company said in a statement, adding that it is "shipping quickly across a wide range of models while keeping them highly cost-effective for customers." After all, coding is arguably the main battleground for AI labs right now, and it's a big part of what enterprise customers pay for. A flagship model that can't yet clear the company's own bar there is an uncomfortable place for Google to sit while rivals keep shipping. And the stakes are bigger than one product date. Alphabet expects capital expenditures of as much as $190 billion this year, much of it going toward the infrastructure behind its AI push. Spending on that scale assumes Gemini stays competitive at the frontier. A model that slips by a month is noise. A pattern of slipping models would worry me. A powerful business So far, there's no sign of that pattern in the results. Alphabet's revenue climbed 22% year over year to $109.9 billion in the first quarter, making it 11 quarters in a row of double-digit growth. Google Cloud revenue jumped 63% year over year to $20.0 billion, accelerating from 48% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 34% in the third quarter. The cloud segment's operating income roughly tripled year over year to $6.6 billion. And Google Search & other revenue rose 19%, with management saying search queries hit an all-time high. Demand for Gemini itself looks healthy, too. CEO Sundar Pichai said the company's cloud backlog nearly doubled from the prior quarter to over $460 billion, and that its models were processing over 16 billion tokens per minute through direct customer use, up 60% in three months. "Our AI investments and full stack approach are lighting up every part of the business," Pichai said in the company's first-quarter earnings release. In other words, customers don't appear to have been waiting on Gemini 3.5 Pro before signing contracts this spring. Of course, the delay still deserves attention. Alphabet trades at about 25 times forward earnings -- a price that assumes growth rates remain robust. If Gemini were to fall a full generation behind OpenAI and Anthropic, the AI demand filling that cloud backlog could become harder to defend, and the AI features now driving search usage could start to lag rivals. Ultimately, however, I don't think one late model gets Alphabet anywhere close to that point. But it's the right risk to watch. Fortunately, investors won't wait long for fresh evidence. Alphabet is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Wednesday, July 22. I'll be watching two things: Google Cloud's growth rate and any launch timing management offers on Gemini 3.5 Pro.
Oppenheimer Downgraded IBM Following Its Sharp Post-Earnings Drop. What the Warning Means for IBM Stock.
IBM's Numbers After the Drop IBM is a New York‑based tech and consulting company worth $205.9 billion and is known for its work in hybrid cloud, enterprise software, and IT infrastructure. IBM pays an annual forward dividend of $6.76 per share, which works out to a yield of 3.20%. Its valuation now sits at a clear discount to its sector, with a trailing price‑to‑earnings ratio of 18.44 times versus a sector median of 25.91 times and a price‑to‑cash‑flow ratio of 14.71 times versus 18.79 times. However, the more immediate story is the preliminary second-quarter 2026 results released on July 14 — ahead of the full report and conference call scheduled for July 22. Revenue came in at $17.2 billion, up just 1% year-over-year (YOY) and well short of analyst expectations near $17.9 billion. Operating (non-GAAP) earnings per share are expected at $2.93 (up 5%), missing the consensus of roughly $3.01. Segment performance showed Software revenue up 5%, Consulting flat (up 1% at constant currency), and Infrastructure down 7%. IBM's balance sheet is still growing. Total assets as of March 2026 stand at $156.229 billion, up 2.86%, which gives the company room to invest. Total liabilities are $123.174 billion, up 3.39%. That rise in liabilities shows debt and obligations creeping higher. Even with all that, the broader analyst group has not abandoned the name. Of 22 analysts currently rating IBM stock, a consensus lands on a "Moderate Buy" rating for IBM. The average price target is about $293.95, which suggests 38.2% upside.
Gene Munster Says New Siri AI Makes It Feel 'Like Having a New Phone,' Ming-Chi Kuo Says Stock Rally Was Expected as Apple Stock Touches Record High
$AAPL closed up 4% vs the Nasdaq up 0.5%. The new Siri AI in iOS 27 public beta released yesterday gives investors concrete evidence that Apple finally has the AI chops it's long been missing. This is the same setup that fueled Google's sharp rerating in April 2025. According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Apple ranks in the 98th percentile for Quality, reflecting its strong performance across the short, medium and long term.
Netflix May Be Cheap Enough to Tempt Buyers After Earnings Drop
Revenue was up 13% on a year-over-year basis, and the company's operating margin came in at 33%. Both numbers were in line with the company's prior forecasts. Netflix will now report engagement numbers (i.e., the What We Watched report) only in the first quarter starting in 2027. Management cited a goal of separating the publication of the report from earnings to keep the focus on its primary financial metrics of revenue and operating profit. Second-quarter free cash flow (FCF) came in at $1.5 billion, down from $2.3 billion in Q2 2025, with the decline reflecting higher cash tax payments.
Meta Reportedly In Talks With Anthropic Over a $10 Billion AI Deal
Mark Zuckerberg has said Meta will spend as much as $145 billion this year, most of it on AI. That figure more than doubles the $72 billion spent the previous year.
Microsoft (MSFT) Criticizes Anthropic Fable AI While Azure Ties Deepen
Microsoft (NasdaqGS:MSFT) enters this episode with its stock at $393.82 and mixed recent performance, including gains of 2.3% over the past week and 3.8% over the past month. Longer horizons look more uneven, with the stock down 16.7% year to date and down 22.2% over the past year, while still showing gains of 17.3% over three years and 41.7% over five years. For investors, Nadella's critique of Fable AI, alongside Anthropic's commitment to Azure, raises questions about how Microsoft balances tight AI partnerships with open competitive pressure. The way the company frames this relationship to regulators, customers, and developers could shape perceptions of Microsoft's role in the AI sector and its approach to collaboration and competition. For Microsoft, Satya Nadella's public criticism of Anthropic's Fable AI highlights a delicate balancing act. On one side, Microsoft has committed US$5b to Anthropic, while Anthropic plans to commit US$30b of spending to Azure, giving Microsoft a sizeable cloud customer in a competitive AI market that includes Amazon, Alphabet and potentially Meta. The scale of Anthropic's planned US$30b Azure commitment supports the narrative that Microsoft's AI focused cloud backlog is underpinned by large, recurring workloads from prominent AI companies.
How Curb Flow Is Driving Growth for Ride Demand and Technology Partners Across the US, UK and Canada
New data from GoRide partnership shows drivers on Curb Flow spend 26% more time on trips and complete 16% more hired miles.
Will Alphabet Soar After July 22? Here's What History Says.
Alphabet's total revenue soared 22% to more than $109 billion, and Google Services and Google Cloud revenue each climbed in the double-digits. In fact, AI demand is driving tremendous growth at Google Cloud -- backlog there almost doubled from a quarter ago to more than $460 billion in the latest period.
Netflix Is on Track for Its Worst Year Since 2022. Is the Investment Thesis Still Intact After Its Latest Earnings Report?
Netflix reported that viewing hours grew by 2% in the first half of 2026, a slight acceleration from the 1.5% increase in 2025. Advertising growth is another revealing indicator of Netflix's reach and member engagement. It's on track to deliver $3 billion in ad revenue this year, doubling its 2025 total. Netflix is one of the most profitable businesses in the entertainment industry. Its operating margin reached 33.4% in Q2, and the company expects a 31.5% margin for 2026, with year-over-year operating income growth of more than 20%. What hasn't changed is that Netflix is a highly profitable streaming leader that is expected to generate $12.5 billion in free cash flow this year. Moreover, analysts are still modeling for the company's earnings to grow at an annualized rate of over 20% in the next several years.
Aerospace
Wall Street Breakfast Podcast: Starship Stall Weighs On SpaceX
Revenue of $12.56B (+13.4% Y/Y) misses by $20M. Operating income for the quarter was $4.19B vs. $4.13B consensus and $3.78B a year ago. Free cash flow was $1.53B vs. $2.93B consensus.
Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO Reset the Entire Space Sector. Here Are 2 Space Stocks I Would Buy the Dip On Without Hesitation.
Rocket Lab (RKLB 11.62%) fell sharply during the pullback, and I think that's a gift. Unlike most of the sector, this is a genuine operating business with two growth engines, launching rockets while also building satellites and components for other customers. The company reported revenue that grew more than 60% year over year in its most recent quarter, backed by a multibillion-dollar backlog.
SpaceX’s only problem is finding more space to work with
SpaceX has reached the public markets as something rarer: a company whose long-term mission is extraordinary, but whose near-term infrastructure is already becoming essential. That number is set to increase dramatically, with SpaceX applying to put up to 1 million new satellites into space. Starlink satellites executed around 300,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in 2025, a 50% increase from 2024. If we move from 10,000 satellites to one million in LEO, the number of maneuvers needed to avoid collisions could become extraordinary. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, has predicted that AI could account for 99% of total electricity generation, while some estimates suggest annual spending on grids will need to double to $970 billion by 2050. SpaceX is also likely to hold that advantage for a long time, given no other company can yet match the scale, complexity and cost profile of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. The Kessler effect, long discussed as a theoretical risk, describes a scenario where one collision creates thousands of pieces of debris, which then cause further collisions and still more debris.
Prediction: $10,000 Invested in SpaceX Today Could Be Worth This Much by September
Its connectivity segment, which primarily consists of its Starlink satellite broadband unit, has been the bright spot. Of the company's $4.7 billion in Q1 revenue, connectivity accounted for $3.3 billion, and it's SpaceX's only profitable segment right now.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) Lands $10.5 Billion SOCOM Deal And Opens London Venture Office
Lockheed Martin secured a $10.5 billion, 12-year global logistics and sustainment contract from U.S. Special Operations Command. The award is described as SOCOM's largest service contract vehicle for worldwide support operations. For investors tracking NYSE:LMT, these developments arrive with the stock at a recent close of $513.52 and a gain of 12.4% over the past year. Lockheed Martin is already a major defense contractor, and this long-term logistics contract highlights its role in support services for U.S. Special Operations Command. The new London venture office, focused on UK and European defense startups, indicates that Lockheed Martin is working to build deeper relationships with early-stage technology companies across the region. For shareholders, it is an area to monitor as the company allocates at least $100 million to external defense technology investment alongside its core government contract work.
SpaceX Stock Drops on Friday. Should Investors Cheer?
At its new share price of $125, SpaceX stock costs 192 times forecast 2027 earnings, but earnings are expected to grow so fast that by 2028 the P/E ratio drops to 33, and by 2029 -- just 22.5. Analysts see SpaceX earnings growing on average 152% annually over the next five years, more than doubling every year.
Down 45%, Is SpaceX Getting Close to Where It’s a Buy?
At today’s price, market capitalization sits at roughly $941.8 billion. The stock is closer to a reasonable entry than it was at $225, but between Morningstar’s $62 fair value and a market pricing in additional unlock waves, the eventual bottom may sit well below where Morningstar is willing to draw the line. Starlink remains the swing factor. Defiance ETFs CIO Sylvia Jablonski argues investors are missing the bigger picture, calling Starlink “poised to exceed expectations” as a multi-platform infrastructure play spanning launch, communications, defense, and AI.
NASA terminates Draper lunar lander mission
NASA and Draper have mutually agreed to terminate a task order awarded to Draper in July 2022 as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or CLPS. The task order, designated CP-12, was valued at $73 million. Of the original value of $73 million for the task order, NASA said $43 million had been paid to Draper to date for successfully completing milestones. The agency remains committed to the science objectives of the CP-12 science payloads and will work to deliver these already-developed instruments to the moon at the earliest opportunity through future CLPS landings as part of the increased tempo of lunar activity by our Moon Base and Artemis programs.
Boeing Forecasts $4.9 Trillion Commercial Aviation Support and Services Market and Demand for more than 2.4 Million New Aviation Personnel Over 20 Years
Boeing projects $4.9 trillion aviation services market and demand for more than 2.4 million commercial aviation professionals through 2045. According to Boeing's 2026 Commercial Market Outlook, sustained growth in commercial aviation is expected to continue, with demand and traffic set to double over the next 20 years. Fueled by fleet growth and evolving market demands, Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) projects an industry need for approximately: 674,000 pilots 728,000 maintenance technicians 1,023,000 cabin crew members This totals more than 2.4 million new personnel globally through 2045. Regional Breakdown of Services and Personnel Demand through 2045 Region New Pilots New Technicians New Cabin Crew Total New Personnel Total Services and Support Demand Global 674,000 728,000 1,023,000 2,425,000 $4,9T
Elon Musk Reacts to Jamie Dimon's ‘Einstein’ Praise With Two-Word Reply as Viral Post Hails His SpaceX and Tesla Legacy
Morgan Stanley projected SpaceX revenue could reach $3.4 trillion by 2040. Such estimates remain speculative and depend on Starlink and space-based AI developing as expected. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company.
Skyroot Aerospace reaches orbit on first Vikram-1 launch
Vikram-1 is designed to place up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit. An upgraded version called Vikram-1U, with strap-on boosters, will increase that payload performance to 550 kilograms. Skyroot raised $60 million in May to scale up production of the Vikram-1 rocket and develop a larger vehicle, Vikram-2.
SpaceX Stock vs. Micron Stock: Buy One and Sell the Other, According to Certain Wall Street Analysts
SpaceX dominates the global space industry. The company accounted for more than 80% of spacecraft launches last year, and it has fired more satellites into orbit than the rest of the world combined. SpaceX's competitive advantage lies in reusable rockets. Its Falcon 9 rocket cut launch costs by 85% compared to the historical average, and its next-generation Starship will reduce costs by 99%. "Central to our cost advantage is the reusability of key hardware -- most notably boosters -- which we recover, refurbish, and refly many times instead of discarding after single use," SpaceX explained in its Form S-1. "This dramatically lowers per-launch costs by minimizing hardware replacement expenses and spreading fixed production costs across repeated uses." SpaceX has leaned on its ability to launch rockets quickly and efficiently to build Starlink, the largest space-based internet service. Starlink has more than 10,000 satellites in orbit, and it serves 12 million subscribers. Recently, the company set its sights on mobile connectivity, where it may challenge AT&T and Verizon. Tim Horan at Oppenheimer writes, "SpaceX will disrupt the $1.6 trillion communications industry." SpaceX's first-quarter financial results were unimpressive. Revenue increased 15% to $4.6 billion. Sales in the connectivity segment (i.e., Starlink) grew quickly, but that was offset by weaker sales growth in the artificial intelligence segment and a sales decline in the space segment. The company also reported a net loss of $4.2 billion, much worse than its $528 million loss in the previous year. However, SpaceX's revenue growth should accelerate in the coming quarters, particularly in the AI segment. The company recently signed cloud services agreements with Anthropic and Alphabet's Google, which will rent AI infrastructure for monthly fees of $1.25 billion and $920 million, respectively. Micron develops memory and storage solutions across four end markets: automotive, data center, cloud, and mobile. The company manufactures DRAM products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which serves as working memory for artificial intelligence tasks. Micron also builds NAND flash products, which serve as long-term storage for training data and models. In terms of market share, Micron trails the industry leaders Samsung and SK Hynix in DRAM and NAND. But the company is still growing quickly because demand for memory far exceeds supply. In fact, the supply shortage is so severe that DRAM and NAND prices have increased about 90% and 110%, respectively, in the past year. Micron's third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended in May) financial results trounced Wall Street's estimates. Revenue increased 345% to $41.4 billion due to particularly strong growth in the data center segment, which serves non-hyperscalers. Meanwhile, non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) net income surged 1,215% to $25.11 per diluted share. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra delivered great news during the conference call. Micron has now signed 16 long-term supply agreements (i.e., three to five years) that offer some downside protection in a historically cyclical industry. Those deals generally include minimum pricing terms and binding commitments to purchase specific volumes. Micron currently trades at 10.7 times sales, a big premium to the five-year average of 4.7 times sales. But that valuation is quite reasonable, perhaps even cheap, for a company whose sales are forecast to grow at 115% annually through fiscal 2027 (ends in August). Micron stock is currently 30% below its high, and investors should consider buying the dip.
SpaceX Stock Is Down 45% From Its Peak. Should Investors Buy the Dip or Run for the Hills?
SpaceX generated $18.7 billion in total revenue during 2025, which was up 33% from 2024. The internet connectivity business brought in $11.4 billion, while the space segment generated $4.1 billion, and AI infrastructure delivered $3.2 billion. SpaceX has agreed to lease up to $1.25 billion worth of data center capacity per month to Anthropic, plus another $920 million worth of capacity per month to Alphabet, and $150 million per month to Reflection AI. These deals could amount to tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue over the next few years. That growth potential explains why some investors are willing to pay a hefty premium for SpaceX stock, which currently trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 88. That is 14 times the 6.3 P/S ratio of the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index, suggesting SpaceX is heavily overvalued compared to its big-tech peers. Even if we value SpaceX based on its potential 2027 revenue, its forward P/S ratio is still 23.4, which is nearly 4 times higher than where the Nasdaq-100 trades today.
Prediction: SpaceX Stock Could Be Worth $5 Trillion or More If This 1 Thing Happens
SpaceX's crown jewel right now is its Starlink satellite internet services unit. You could make a pretty good argument that SpaceX could reach a market cap of $5 trillion if Starlink fulfills its potential and disrupts the businesses of telecom giants such as AT&T (T 0.77%) and Verizon (VZ 0.66%). However, I'm not convinced that's going to happen. Interestingly, though, Starlink accounts for only around $1.6 trillion of SpaceX's estimated $28.5 trillion total addressable market. Most of that staggering amount, roughly $26.5 trillion, is related to artificial intelligence (AI). SpaceXAI, formerly xAI, has already notched some big wins providing computing capacity for AI applications. For example, Anthropic is paying $1.25 billion per month for using SpaceXAI's data center near Memphis, Tennessee. Alphabet's (GOOG 2.17%) (GOOGL 2.05%) Google Cloud is paying $920 million per month for compute capacity. But I think that the biggest opportunity for SpaceX is processing AI workloads in space. And that's exactly what the company hopes to do with its Starmind initiative. SpaceX wants to build a constellation of up to 1 million satellites to run AI applications and beam the results back to Earth. The advantages of space-based AI processing are impressive. Free power from always available sunlight. Significantly lower cooling requirements than in terrestrial data centers, since heat radiates into space. No protests against data centers near residential areas. Granted, the largest AI cloud provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS) (AMZN 0.91%), currently has an annualized revenue run rate of around $150 billion. SpaceX would have to make a lot more than that to deserve a market cap of $5 trillion. However, Starmind's lower costs could create demand that doesn't exist today. And no company is better positioned to make space-based AI processing a reality than SpaceX. The technological hurdles are still daunting, though. I suspect they'll be resolved, but it could take years. Investors betting on SpaceX hitting the $5 trillion market might have to wait a while.
3 Drone Defense Stocks to Buy in July
AVAV fell 41% and KTOS dropped 38% year to date while the FY2027 defense budget earmarks $74 billion for UAV and USV procurement. The FY2027 Department of War budget request earmarks $53.6 billion for drone dominance and counter-drone technologies, plus $20.6 billion for counter-unmanned systems, a 424% increase over the FY 2026 enacted level of $3.9 billion. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signaled budget allocations of up to $74 billion for UAV and USV procurement, and recent Middle East strikes have reset loitering-munitions demand for years to come. Kratos plans to produce roughly 40 Valkyries annually by the end of 2027, and Northrop Grumman has selected Valkyrie for the MUX TACAIR CCA program.
SpaceX Stock Sinks Below IPO Price: The Hype Is Over?
The stock was priced at $135 a share in June, raising $75 billion in the largest IPO on record. Bearish bets against SpaceX climbed sharply as the stock fell. Short interest reportedly reached about 185 million shares, or 29% of the tradable float. That figure stood at roughly 40 million shares just three weeks earlier. It represents close to $25 billion in bearish wagers.
Space Force triples launch contract ceiling amid rising demand
The U.S. Space Force has more than tripled the ceiling of a major national security launch contract to $17 billion as the military prepares for a sharp increase in satellite missions. The Space Force raised the maximum value of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract vehicle from $5.6 billion to $17 billion, according to a July 17 notice. In April, Space Systems Command said it had identified 25 additional Phase 3 Lane 2 missions beyond the 54 launches originally planned over five years.
3 Warren Buffett Quotes You Must Read Before Buying SpaceX Stock
$85 billion once the underwriters exercised their option to buy additional shares. Since 1980, the average IPO has slightly underperformed the market average over the three years following its debut if you could buy the shares at the offer price.
SpaceX Is in Talks on a Multibillion Dollar Defense Contract. Here Is What It Means for Investors
Until Feb. 2, 2026, SpaceX was best known for launching rockets and managing its satellite-based internet service, Starlink. But in early February, SpaceX acquired xAI, forming a massive entity that's now valued at about $1.6 trillion. The idea is that eventually, the AI business will become SpaceX's major growth engine, even if it's burning cash right now. Indeed, in SpaceX's pre-IPO roadside show, the company claimed AI will unlock a $26.5 trillion market opportunity, whereas the market opportunity for the other two businesses is about $2 trillion. This is where the potential deal with the Pentagon comes in. If the Pentagon becomes a multi-billion-dollar customer, SpaceX's AI segment could start carrying some of the financial load investors expect it to shoulder. At the very least, it could help offset this segment's heavy losses, bringing the space company closer to profitability.
United (UAL) Joins Push For $20 Billion Air Traffic Control Upgrade
$20b package to modernize U.S. air traffic control systems. The proposed funding targets upgrades to critical infrastructure that manages flight routing, congestion, and safety across the national airspace. United Airlines Holdings, traded as NasdaqGS:UAL, is stepping into a visible advocacy role at a time when its stock is trading at $115.41. For you as an investor, this push for a $20b modernization package is less about short term headlines and more about how future reliability, congestion, and cost structure could be affected. Air traffic control upgrades, if funded and executed, may influence United's operational efficiency, on time performance, and customer experience. These are key elements that can affect long term perceptions of the stock. For United Airlines Holdings, joining Boeing, Airbus, and other carriers in pushing for a US$20b air traffic control upgrade looks closely linked to its recent guidance and operational focus. United is working with an all-in fuel price of about US$3.69 per gallon for Q3 2026 and has tightened full year 2026 earnings guidance to a US$9 to US$11 per share range in light of higher oil. In that context, United has an interest in any infrastructure reform that could support more efficient routing, reduced delays, and fewer disruption-related costs. The coalition effort also sits alongside United's recent Q2 2026 results, where revenue reached US$17,672m and diluted EPS came in at US$2.46, helped by what the company described as best-on-time performance since 2021 despite higher fuel costs. For you as an investor, the key question is whether regulatory support for air traffic control modernization eventually complements United's own investments in premium cabins and fleet. If successful, this push could support the company's drive for better reliability and cost control over time, although the timing, scale, and conditions of any federal funding remain uncertain.
High yields, Covid-like volumes drive 23% gain in United’s cargo revenue
United Airlines' cargo revenue increased 22.6% to $527 million in the second quarter as the carrier benefited from a sharp rise in air cargo rates related to disruptions from the Iran war and the strongest volumes since the Covid-fueled boom in 2020. Global cargo demand grew 4% in the first half of the year and surged 7% in June, while capacity barely changed. But shipping space on aircraft fell more than 12% in the Middle East since the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran, as passenger and cargo airlines suspended or reduced operations due to ongoing war risks, putting upward pressure on prices. United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) transported nearly 347 million pounds of cargo during the quarter ended June 30, the most for the period since the pandemic disrupted supply chains in March 2020, according to financial results issued on Wednesday.
SpaceX Stock Just Quietly Fell to $124 a Share -- and It's Still Not a Buy
$18.7 billion of revenue in 2025, and it lost $4.9 billion for the year. Starlink, the company's satellite internet service, is the engine. The segment produced $11.4 billion of revenue in 2025, or 61% of the company total. And its subscriber base keeps climbing, compounding from 2.3 million at the end of 2023 to 8.9 million at the end of 2025 to 10.3 million by the end of March. Monthly revenue per user has stepped down from $99 in 2023 to $66 in the first quarter of 2026.
A $1 Billion Reason to Sell AST SpaceMobile Stock Here
AST SpaceMobile has nearly 60 mobile network operator partners covering over three billion subscribers globally, including AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), Vodafone (VOD), and Rakuten (RKUNF), as well as FCC authorization, to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space across a network of up to 248 satellites. ASTS shares have a market capitalization of $25.74 billion. ASTS has delivered a 4.52% change over the trailing twelve months. Compared to the Russell 1000 Index, which has posted 10% steady broad-market gains in 2026, ASTS has dramatically underperformed since its May peak, pulling back 59% from its all-time highs. AST SpaceMobile recorded Q1 2026 revenue of $14.7 million, falling significantly short of the analyst consensus estimate of approximately $38.4 million, while reporting a non-GAAP EPS loss of $0.66, far worse than the estimated -$0.23. The net loss attributable to common shareholders ballooned to $191 million from $45.7 million a year earlier, driven largely by an $88.65 million induced conversion expense on convertible notes and a $55.35 million stock-based compensation charge. Operating expenses rose sharply to $164.1 million from $63.7 million a year earlier, reflecting the capital intensity of scaling BlueBird satellite production and launch cadence. The company held approximately $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of March 31, 2026, providing a robust liquidity buffer to fund its aggressive constellation build-out. Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150–$200 million. The firm emphasized that approximately half of the full-year revenue guidance is underpinned by existing contracted backlog, with the second half of 2026 expected to deliver the significant revenue ramp as satellite coverage expands and commercial service activations accelerate across partner networks globally. AST SpaceMobile announced a $1 billion convertible senior notes offering due 2034 in a private placement, sending shares tumbling 13% to approximately $57.80 in after-hours trading on dilution concerns. The senior unsecured notes will pay interest semiannually and can be converted into cash, Class A shares, or a combination, with final terms to be determined at pricing. AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy a portion of the proceeds toward capped call transactions designed to mitigate potential shareholder dilution, while the remainder will fund growth initiatives, including expanding launch access and pursuing potential partnerships or acquisitions.
Rocket Lab's Latest Deal Puts It on a Collision Course With SpaceX
Starlink has 10 million subscribers, $11.4 billion in annual revenue, and is growing quickly. Iridium generated $872 million in revenue last year, more than Rocket Lab but well below what SpaceX is achieving in satellite internet services. With much heavier payloads, Neutron will be able to deliver more satellites -- both internally and for third-party customers -- to orbit much faster.
SpaceX vs. BWX Technologies: Which Industrials Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
By March 2026, the company served 10.3 million Starlink subscribers across 164 countries and territories. In its 2025 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $18.7 billion, representing revenue growth of 33% compared to the previous year. The company reported a net loss of $4.9 billion for the period. As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the current ratio stands at 1.4x, which measures a company's ability to cover short-term debts with current assets. In FY 2025, revenue reached $3.2 billion, which was an increase of 18% over the prior year. The company reported net income of $329.9 million, resulting in a net margin of 10.3%. Its current ratio stands at 2.3x, suggesting it has ample liquid assets to cover obligations due within one year. The company generated free cash flow of $295.3 million during FY 2025. In its first quarter earnings report, the company noted a whopping 121% year-over-year increase in sales to the commercial sector to $283.6 million. This reduces BWXT's reliance on the government while providing a growing revenue stream for the company.
SpaceX's IPO Lockup Starts Expiring in August. Here's Why the Next Wave of Sellers Could Be the Real Test.
SpaceX's June 12 IPO put less than 5% of the company's roughly 13.2 billion shares into public hands. The earnings-linked release could come first. Under the lockup terms in SpaceX's IPO prospectus, up to 911.5 million shares become sellable on the second full trading day after the company's first earnings report as a public company (a report the company hasn't formally scheduled yet). That single tranche alone is bigger than the entire IPO, and it is worth more than $115 billion at the current share price. Another 455.8 million shares would be released alongside them if the stock closes at least 30% above its IPO price, or $175.50, on five of the 10 trading days running into the report. At about $131 as of this writing, that trigger is nowhere in sight. And the calendar keeps going. Smaller slices, each about 7% of the shares subject to the standard lockup, unlock roughly every two to three weeks from late August through late October. Another 28% becomes sellable after the company's third-quarter report, and the standard lockup winds down entirely in early December. The company's Starlink-driven connectivity segment is a standout. It generated $11.4 billion of revenue and $4.4 billion of operating income in 2025, with segment operating income more than doubling year over year, and it added $3.3 billion of revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
Jamie Dimon Backs Philadelphia Navy Yard With $24 Million as US Defense Spending Surges, Says 'The Arsenal of Democracy Has Been Reignited'
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced nearly $10 billion in new defense investments in Pennsylvania at Sen. Dave McCormick's (R-Pa.) Defense and Innovation Summit, saying the projects will create more than 4,000 jobs. The investments include a $2.5 billion agreement between Rhoades Industries and General Dynamics to support Navy submarine construction and $1.5 billion in new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel ship orders. Trump added that defense spending in Pennsylvania has risen 20-25% since he returned to office and is expected to reach $19-$20 billion with the latest investments. In December, Trump announced that Hanwha Ocean would build a new class of U.S. Navy warships at its Philadelphia shipyard as part of a U.S.-South Korea trade deal and a $5 billion investment. Dubbed the "Trump-class battleships," the vessels are expected to feature advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, electronic rail guns, and high-powered lasers. Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests. Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide.
Morgan Stanley Set a $300 Price Target on Elon Musk's SpaceX Stock
Morgan Stanley expects SpaceX to grow at a breathtaking pace for the foreseeable future. The research assumes that SpaceX's revenue will grow from $18.7 billion in 2025 to $319 billion by 2030 and to $3.3 trillion by 2040.
Ondas Stock Climbs After Seven Weeks In The Red: Retail Hopes For 'Drone Rally' As US-Iran War Rages On
$110 million in second-quarter orders, supported by demand for autonomous systems, counter-drone solutions and defense partnerships.
BETA Technologies Unveils MV250, Delivering Greater Range, Higher Speed, and Lower Costs for Military Logistics
The MV250 has a reposition range of 1,300 nautical miles and carries a 2,000-pound payload within a tactical range of 250 nautical miles while delivering greater speed and higher operational availability. BETA expects to participate in upcoming large-scale military exercises with the MV250.
Bio
Inhibrx Biosciences: The Rare Disease Launch Is Only The Opening Act
Ozekibart’s BLA for chondrosarcoma is under FDA review with an April 14, 2027 PDUFA date, supported by strong PFS and disease control data.
The weight-loss drugs boom is creating both winners and wipeouts: One Big Investment Idea
Phase II is the biggest hurdle. This is generally where researchers first learn whether a treatment works in patients. Of the 52 programs that reach this stage, only about 15 advance to Phase III. The entire trip from Phase I through approval takes roughly a decade on average. Trials can take years without producing revenue. A company short of cash may have to sell more shares before the next major result. That dilution leaves existing investors with a smaller piece of any eventual payoff. Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) has gained more than 500% over five years as its obesity drug cleared a major mid-stage trial and advanced into final-stage testing. Skye Bioscience (SKYE) has lost roughly 99% over the same period. Its competing drug missed the main goal when tested by itself, sending the stock down more than 60% in one day.
Q32 Bio: Bempikibart's Progress Keeps Me Bullish
Q32 Bio Inc. (QTTB) is a small-cap biotech company developing treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its main drug, bempikibart (ADX-914), is being tested in the Phase 2a SIGNAL-AA trial for alopecia areata (AA). The company recently reported positive 36-week
Vimian Group AB (publ) (VIMGF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
We report 17% revenue growth and reached EUR 121.6 million in revenue in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITA grew 17% to EUR 29.7 million with strong earnings growth across all 4 segments. Margin improved to 24.5%, driven
Blue Owl-Backed Latigo Files for IPO, Adding to Biotech Pipeline
The Blue Owl Capital Inc.-backed clinical-stage developer of non-opioid pain medicines has one drug candidate in late-stage trials that has shown a roughly 50% greater analgesic effect than Vicodin, a comparable opioid, according to its filing Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Latigo plans to run a Phase 3 trial for moderate-to-severe acute pain this year and expects to release the results in the second half of next year.
Wegovy Pill Just Changed the GLP-1 Market. Here's Why Eli Lilly Stock Could Still Win
Oral Wegovy is a smashing success Novo Nordisk launched oral Wegovy in the U.S. in January. The drug was an instant hit and has maintained strong momentum since. In June, it crossed three million prescriptions, marking one of the strongest launches on record by volume for a pharmaceutical product in the U.S. Oral Wegovy isn't just cannibalizing the older formulation's sales either. As Novo Nordisk points out, more than 80% of new prescriptions are for patients who had never taken GLP-1 medicines before. In other words, it is expanding the market. Further, although Eli Lilly earned approval for Foundayo, a competing oral GLP-1 drug for weight loss, in April, oral Wegovy has remained the top player in this niche by far. According to some estimates, oral Wegovy accounts for about 89% of oral weight-loss medication prescriptions in the U.S. Why is oral Wegovy performing so much better than Foundayo? Here are three potential reasons. First, "Wegovy" has become a well-known brand closely associated with weight loss. Many patients who were waiting for an oral anti-obesity pill for convenience reasons will naturally gravitate toward what they already know works. The name "Foundayo" doesn't have the same recognition. Second, semaglutide, the active ingredient in oral Wegovy, has been on the market for years. Physicians are more likely to prescribe a compound with which they are familiar than a brand-new one, all else being equal. Third, and perhaps most importantly, oral Wegovy performed better on efficacy measures in phase 3 studies. Although these were not head-to-head clinical trials, they still matter. It is undergoing clinical trials across other potential indications, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, osteoarthritis pain, peripheral artery disease, and more. A meaningful percentage of patients who are either overweight or obese have at least one of these comorbidities. That's why securing approvals across these indications could substantially boost Foundayo's prescription volume. Novo Nordisk is also looking to expand its lineup and recently posted robust phase 3 study results for denecimig, an investigational hemophilia medicine.
Merck: 'Strong Buy' Lipfendra FDA First And Continued Oncology Expansions
Q1 2026 revenues grew 5% to $16.3B, led by Oncology and Animal Health, but risks remain around KEYTRUDA patent loss, new product launches, and regulatory outcomes.
The Most Overlooked Reason Eli Lilly Stock Keeps Surging -- and It Has Nothing to Do With Weight Loss
Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound produce stronger weight-loss results than Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Eli Lilly has a GLP-1 weight-loss drug problem. The company's highly successful Mounjaro and Zepbound accounted for nearly two-thirds of its revenues in the first quarter of 2026. And with year-over-year revenue growth of 125% and 80%, respectively, these two drugs are clearly the driving force behind the company's earnings. Ebglyss is a key drug in the space, with first-quarter 2026 sales rising 141% year over year. The company has a number of immunology drug trials underway, as well, that it hopes will lead to new products. And it has been using acquisitions to bolster its plans here, with the early 2026 agreement to purchase Ventyx Biosciences a recent highlight. Eli Lilly is also using its GLP-1 cash bonanza to invest in oncology and neuroscience. And, more importantly, it is starting to see early signs of success. In the first quarter, key drugs from these niches and immunology saw revenue growth of 160%.
Philip Morris International (PM) Is Up 6.3% After FDA Grants ZYN Modified Risk Status - Has The Bull Case Changed?
Philip Morris International Investment Narrative Recap To own Philip Morris International, you need to believe its pivot to smoke free products can offset pressure on traditional cigarettes and support earnings and dividends over time. The FDA's modified risk authorization for ZYN strengthens PMI's smoke free credentials and may reinforce the near term growth story there, but the biggest risk remains any slowdown in smoke free momentum or tougher regulation that limits the ability of these products to compensate for declining combustibles. Philip Morris International's narrative projects $49.6 billion revenue and $15.3 billion earnings by 2029. By contrast, the most pessimistic analysts were assuming about US$47.1 billion of revenue and US$14.4 billion of earnings by 2028
Pfizer Paid Out $14.6 Billion in Dividends Over the Last 18 Months. Can It Keep This Up Through the Patent Cliff?
Pfizer's trailing 12-month dividend payout ratio was over 130% at the end of the first quarter of 2026. That's a level that would worry most dividend investors. It is reported on the cash flow statement. If you compare dividends to cash flow using the cash dividend payout ratio, the figure is slightly more reassuring: 103%. Pfizer ended the first quarter with $1.7 billion in cash on its balance sheet and $11.3 billion in short-term investments. Put those two together, and Pfizer can support its dividend just from that for a few quarters. Management has made it very clear that the dividend is a priority, stating in the first quarter slide deck that "maintain dividend" is a key long-term goal. Pfizer's yield is so high because investors are worried about the safety of the dividend. Given the healthcare company's backdrop, that concern makes complete sense. A realistic worst-case scenario would probably be a 50% dividend reduction. That would still leave the stock with an above-average yield, and such a cut appears to be already priced in.
Should You Buy Viking Therapeutics Stock on the Dip? Wall Street Is Screaming "Yes."
VK2735 appears to have a steeper velocity of weight loss than rival drugs from the phase 2 trials (oral and subcutaneous) will be repeated in phase 3 trials. The subcutaneous phase 3 trial is in progress, while the oral phase 3 trial will begin in the fourth quarter of this year. That said, there is a phase 1 maintenance dosing trial (participants will take subcutaneous VK2735 for 19 weeks before switching to a range of subcutaneous and oral maintenance doses) in progress, with results from the subcutaneous period due in the current quarter and the oral maintenance results due in the first half of 2027.
Watch Out, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk: Viking Therapeutics Just Started Testing a Weight Loss Drug That Goes Beyond GLP-1
Eli Lilly reported phase 2 results for eloralintide, an amylin receptor agonist, in November 2025; across dosing arms, patients experienced mean weight reductions of 9.5% to 20.1% after 48 weeks, against a loss of 0.4% with placebo. Novo Nordisk has gone even further. Its candidate cagrilintide produced 11.8% weight loss against 2.3% for placebo over a 68-week period; its phase 3 program began in late 2025.
Eli Lilly (LLY) Stock Looks Undervalued On Fair Value Yet Full On Earnings
Market penetration for all GLP-1 drugs is only at 4% of target audience of 100 to 120 million people in the USA alone…
Merck (MRK) Wins FDA Approval For First Oral PCSK9 Cholesterol Drug
Existing PCSK9 drugs from Amgen and Sanofi are injectable, which has limited use for some patients despite strong LDL lowering. By offering once daily oral tablets that cut LDL cholesterol by around 56% to 59% versus placebo in Phase 3 trials, Merck is positioning itself to reach patients who either cannot access or do not prefer injections, including those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
This Boring Pipeline Dividend MLP Returned 2X the QQQ’s Gains
MPLX returned 225% over five years, yields 7%, and management committed to 12.5% annual distribution growth through 2027. Leverage climbed to 3.7x debt-to-EBITDA after the $2.38 billion Northwind deal, leaving just 0.3x of headroom before hitting the 4.0x ceiling. MPLX gets paid when molecules move, and molecules keep moving even in ugly commodity tapes. The structural steadiness funds a $1.08 quarterly distribution, an annualized $4.31 per unit, working out to a yield of roughly 7.4% on a unit trading near $57.
My 2 Favorite Dividend Kings to Buy Right Now
AbbVie, a pharmaceutical leader, boasts a deep portfolio of medicines across several therapeutic areas. The company is best-known for its work in immunology, with its two growth pillars, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, performing even better than management had anticipated. They should maintain sales growth for a while, and by the time they run into patent cliffs, the drugmaker will almost certainly have found new growth drivers. AbbVie is developing promising products, including an investigational weight-loss medicine, ABBV-295, that performed well in early stage studies. The anti-obesity market is growing rapidly, and AbbVie's candidate could prove a highly differentiated asset, as it can be administered monthly (the current leaders are taken weekly). Lastly, given its past as a division of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), AbbVie has increased its payouts for an impressive 54 straight years.
Cathie Wood Is Loading Up on This GLP-1 Stock That Has Soared 1,600% Over the Past 10 Years
Tirzepatide exceeded $30 billion in annual sales last year across all its indications, a feat almost unheard of for a medicine first approved just four years ago. Eli Lilly launched Foundayo, an oral GLP-1, earlier this year, and it is also seeing huge success, especially with patients who had never taken GLP-1 medicines before.
Wegovy Pill in Europe - Novo Nordisk Expands Franchise With First European Approval for Oral Weight Loss Drug
According to the company, participants receiving oral semaglutide achieved approximately 17% weight loss compared with 3% for those receiving placebo when combined with lifestyle interventions. Around one-third of participants treated with the drug achieved a weight loss of 20% or more. The European Commission approved Novo Nordisk A/S' Wegovy pill, a once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg treatment for adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity. It follows a positive opinion issued by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in May 2026.
Xencor: Strong Buy, XmAb819 Presentation, And End Of 2026 XmAb942 Interim Data
XmAb819 demonstrated a 25% response rate and 70% disease control in heavily pre-treated ccRCC patients; pivotal study initiation is targeted for 2027. XNCR maintains a robust cash position ($541.8M as of March 2026), funding operations into mid-2028, but may raise additional capital via shelf registration.
Cathie Wood Just Bet Big on This Biotech Stock
In clinical trials, Tryngolza reduced triglyceride levels by up to 72% and, crucially, reduced life-threatening acute pancreatitis events by 85% to 91%. It is the only approved therapy for sHTG that has been shown to dramatically reduce this specific pancreatic risk, giving it a competitive advantage. Ionis is pivoting to focus on and commercialize its own assets. It is controlling the commercial launch of Tryngolza, which means Ionis captures the high-margin revenue directly. Despite proactively slashing the annual list price from $595,000 (its ultra-orphan drug price) to a highly accessible $40,000 per year to ensure rapid insurer coverage, Wall Street firms such as William Blair expect the massive sHTG volume to push Tryngolza's peak sales to $3 billion. This supports Ionis's guidance to reach the cash flow break-even point by 2028. The company increased its annual Tryngolza peak net sales guidance from $2 million to $3 million, reflecting the potential of the sHTG market. In March, the FDA accepted its New Drug Application (with Priority Review) for zilganersen to treat Alexander disease, a rare neurological disorder.
Fangzhou Launches Novo Nordisk’s Once-Weekly Basal Insulin/GLP-1 Therapy in China
China is the first market globally to commercialize Kyinsu®, making Fangzhou one of the product's key launch partners. Leveraging its AI-enabled chronic disease management ecosystem and nationwide pharmaceutical supply chain, the Company aims to accelerate patient access to the new therapy while supporting long-term treatment management. China remains the world's largest diabetes market, with approximately 148 million adults living with diabetes, accounting for roughly one-quarter of the global adult diabetes population4.
Could Pfizer Ultimately Be the Biggest Winner in the $100 Billion Weight-Loss Market?
Pfizer's weight management candidates Pfizer had to discontinue the development of some of its internally developed anti-obesity products due to safety concerns. But it beefed up its pipeline thanks to an acquisition. In November, the pharmaceutical leader bought Metsera, a biotech with several promising weight-loss candidates, for $7 billion in cash (excluding potential additional milestone payments). Pfizer inherited Metsera's lead weight-loss asset, MET-097i, a GLP-1 medicine that appears highly promising. In a pair of phase 2b studies, the investigational medicine demonstrated strong weight-loss efficacy -- patients on MET-097i had a mean placebo-subtracted weight loss of up to 14.1% after 28 weeks -- along with excellent tolerability. Also, MET-097i has the potential for monthly dosing, which might give it a significant advantage over the current leading weight-loss options, which are administered weekly. MET-097i is now undergoing phase 3 clinical trials. Pfizer does have other candidates it inherited from Metsera. And the drugmaker hasn't given up on all of its internally developed programs either. One of them is an investigational weight-loss pill called PF-07976016 that is currently in phase 2 studies. Oral weight-loss medicines have brought brand-new patients to the anti-obesity market, so this is another promising candidate. Overall, Pfizer's portfolio features several differentiated products. The company has one of the more promising pipelines in this area. It won't be easy to take the crown Pfizer will have to go up against many pharmaceutical giants in this field, including the current leaders, Eli Lilly (LLY +0.76%) and Novo Nordisk (NVO 2.31%). Both have highly effective drugs in their current lineups as well as deep pipelines. Take Eli Lilly, whose next-gen anti-obesity medicine, retatrutide, posted impressive phase 3 clinical trial results that rival weight loss numbers we typically see in bariatric surgeries. Retatrutide has an advantage: It is a triple agonist, which means it combats obesity by simultaneously activating three distinct hormone receptors. As of now, there is no such drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retatrutide could be the first. Novo Nordisk isn't too far behind. The company also has several triple agonists in its pipeline, including one that recently posted highly encouraging mid-stage results. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk also have an advantage, having been the biggest players in the adjacent diabetes market over the past few decades. Beyond the two leaders, other drugmakers are also making progress. For instance, Amgen's (AMGN 1.40%) MariTide is undergoing phase 3 studies as a potential treatment for obesity and several other conditions. MariTide is also a long-acting therapy that could be administered monthly (or less frequently). What does this mean for Pfizer? It's too soon to know which company will be the biggest winner in the weight loss market, but if I were a betting man, my money wouldn't be on Pfizer -- it would be on Eli Lilly. However, Pfizer does not need to dominate this area to turn its business around. There is room for multiple winners in this field, and the company is well-positioned to be one of them, given its deep pipeline. Pfizer also has promising candidates in other therapeutic areas that should make meaningful progress over the next few years, especially in oncology. Meanwhile, several of the company's products are still posting decent sales growth. Finally, Pfizer is a terrific dividend stock. It offers a forward yield of 6.9% and has continued to increase its payouts despite the headwinds it has encountered in recent years. That makes it a top pick for investors seeking reliable, blue chip dividend stocks.
Novartis faces drug pipeline test with valuation premium in focus
Analysts estimate the three drugs together represent more than $10 billion in peak annual sales potential, which would balance out expected U.S. and European patent losses for top-sellers Cosentyx, used for psoriasis and arthritis, and breast-cancer therapy Kisqali around the turn of the decade. Sales of heart drug Entresto, already facing competition from generics, are expected to drop by $4 billion this year. "If two of those fail, that 16-times multiple looks very, very vulnerable," he said.
Consumer / Retail
2 Profitable Stocks on Our Buy List and 1 We Ignore
One Stock to Sell: Sirius XM (SIRI) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 17.9% Known for its commercial-free music channels, Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) is a broadcasting company that provides satellite radio and online radio services across North America. Why Do We Think SIRI Will Underperform? - Lackluster 1% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates the company is losing ground to competitors - Forecasted free cash flow margin suggests the company will fail to improve its cash conversion over the next year - Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results Sirius XM is trading at $31.34 per share, or 9.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SIRI doesn't pass our bar. Two Stocks to Buy: Philip Morris (PM) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 36.7% Founded in 1847, Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) manufactures and sells a wide range of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine pouches. Why Will PM Beat the Market? - Unique products and pricing power result in a best-in-class gross margin of 66.5% - Disciplined cost controls and effective management resulted in a strong two-year operating margin of 36.5% - PM is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders Philip Morris's stock price of $189.08 implies a valuation ratio of 21.2x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Powell (POWL) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 19.8% Originally a metal-working shop supporting local petrochemical facilities, Powell (NYSE:POWL) has grown from a small Houston manufacturer to a global provider of electrical systems. What Makes POWL Stand Out? - Annual revenue growth of 15.4% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle - Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 36.7% annually, topping its revenue gains - Free cash flow margin expanded by 22.8 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
XLP's Future Earnings Outlook Is Tilting Up
Among its largest holdings, companies making up 32% of the fund’s total weight have recently raised their forward guidance for earnings, revenue, or cash flow. The single biggest contributor was Walmart (WMT), which accounts for more than 10% of the fund and raised its EPS guidance by 8%. Other large holdings like Coca-Cola (KO), at 7.0% of the fund, also nudged their forecasts higher, showing the positive sentiment is not isolated to a single name. The most significant downward revision came from Philip Morris International (PM). At 6.1% of the fund, it lowered its EPS guidance by 4%. You own a basket of companies that are, in aggregate, telling the market to expect better results ahead. Recent winners make the point: Texas Instruments (TXN) is up 24% since it raised guidance; West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) is up 17% since it raised its EPS outlook; Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is up 41% since it raised guidance.
What Could Fuel a Real Turnaround for Alcoa Stock?
Management expects the deal to increase Alcoa's annual alumina production capacity by a significant 53% and its primary aluminum capacity by 37%. The company has also identified approximately $900 million in net present value from synergies, with cost savings kicking in during the first year. This is a deliberate move to bolt on significant production and earnings power, fundamentally changing the company's footprint. Management expects the deal to be "accretive to our earnings per share and cash flow metrics immediately after close."
Netflix kicks off earnings season with a warning shot
$12.56 billion against Wall Street's $12.59 billion forecast, even as membership gains, price hikes and ad sales all moved in the right direction. What spooked investors was the outlook: third-quarter revenue guidance of 11% constant-currency growth came in below the Street's 12% call, and full-year guidance was narrowed rather than raised. Netflix now expects 2026 revenue of $51 billion to $51.4 billion, growth of 13% to 14%, with a 31.5% operating margin and roughly $12.5 billion in free cash flow. For the third quarter, it guided to revenue of $12.86 billion, a 33.2% operating margin and earnings per share of $0.82. The firm pointed to Netflix's advertising revenue, still on track to roughly double to about $3 billion in 2026, and a record $4.7 billion buyback in the quarter, the largest in company history. Jefferies said it is watching for strategic moves, such as a free tier or live TV partnerships, that could give Netflix a new growth lever. “Usually Netflix is seen as the start of tech earnings season,” Brooks said. “This market reaction is not a good omen.”
Apple upgraded, Brinker initiated: Wall Street's top analyst calls
HSBC upgraded Apple (AAPL) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $366, up from $260, as it believes the company is now at an "operational turning point." The "AI boost comes at the right moment, when we think Apple has one of its most innovative product pipelines in place," the firm tells investors. JPMorgan upgraded 3M (MMM) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $180, up from $178, ahead of the Q2 report. The firm says growth is "taking hold" at 3M. Oppenheimer upgraded Ecolab (ECL) to Outperform from Perform with a $320 price target. The company's core business is performing well, driving volume and pricing growth in excess of expenses, the firm tells investors in a research note. Raymond James double upgraded EchoStar (ECHO) to Strong Buy from Market Perform with a $115 price target. The firm estimates the shares are trading at a 40% discount to its sum-of-the-parts valuation. JPMorgan downgraded KKR Real Estate Finance (KREF) to Underweight from Neutral with a $6 price target ahead of quarterly results. The market is pivoting from anticipating interest rate cuts to "bracing for higher-for-longer, and potentially higher-from here," the firm says.
JPMorgan upgrades 3M, Emerson Electric to Overweight ahead of earnings
For 3M, the brokerage raised its December 2026 price target to $180 from $178, saying the company is entering a phase where revenue growth should increasingly support earnings expansion. JPMorgan expects second-quarter organic growth to exceed 3%, driven by strength in data centers, semiconductors and industrial markets, offsetting continued weakness in consumer electronics and automotive. It also expects pricing power, productivity gains, portfolio optimization and lower PFAS-related costs to support margins through 2027. JPMorgan forecasts second-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.26, slightly above Wall Street estimates, with organic growth of 3.2% and operating margins of 24.6%. The bank believes strong order trends, a growing backlog and improving demand across all three business segments position 3M for accelerating growth in the second half of 2026. For Emerson Electric, JPMorgan raised its rating to Overweight while maintaining a $157 price target, arguing that concerns over the pace of second-half growth overlook the company's sizable backlog and improving process industry cycle. The brokerage expects long-cycle projects, including power, LNG, semiconductor and aerospace investments, to support revenue growth, while Middle East rehabilitation work could provide additional upside not included in company guidance. The bank said Emerson's backlog increased 9% year over year, providing visibility into a sharp acceleration in organic growth during the second half of fiscal 2026. It also expects improving capital spending, resilient pricing and easing tariff pressures to drive margin expansion into 2027, despite continued softness in Europe and China's chemicals market.
Cass: TL linehaul rates advance in June, volume inflection delayed
Cass' expenditures index, which measures total freight spend including fuel, surged 11.2% y/y in June. Cass' TL linehaul index, which tracks rates excluding fuel and accessorial surcharges, increased 5.5% y/y. The dataset, which includes for-hire spot rates but is heavily weighted to contract rates, has been up y/y in 18 consecutive months.
Is Capital One Financial Corp (COF) Positioned to Benefit from AI?
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) has a market capitalization of $130.55 billion. "Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is one of the largest banks and card issuers in the U.S. Our investment thesis centers on Capital One's acquisition of Discover."
Live In Manhattan Without Roommates. Here’s the Portfolio That Makes It Happen.
$4.54 million at a 3.5% yield, $2.65 million at 6%, or $1.59 million at 10%. Conservative dividend growers like ED and O outperform high-yield vehicles long-term because compounding dividend growth beats a flat 10% yield with principal erosion risk. New York's stacked state and city taxes can consume a full percentage point of yield, making tax structure as critical as headline yield when choosing investments. SmartAsset's latest tally pegs the salary a single adult needs to live comfortably in New York City at $158,954 a year before taxes. In Manhattan, where housing alone can run far above the citywide median, that figure is less a universal budget than a useful starting point. The sharper question is not just what you would need to earn to live here. It is how much invested capital could cover that cost without forcing regular principal withdrawals. New York City's True Cost of Living measure places Manhattan housing costs at $42,381 a year, compared with a citywide range that starts much lower in the other boroughs. For context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts average annual expenditures for all U.S. consumer units at $78,535 in 2024. With CPI-U at 335.123 in May 2026 and the 10-year Treasury recently near 4.4%, income has to grow just to stand still. At a 3.5% blended yield, replacing $158,954 requires roughly $4.54 million. That is the price of durability. Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED) is the archetype: a 3.1% yield, a 0.272 beta, and a current quarterly payout of $0.8875 that marks its 52nd consecutive year of increases. At 6%, the target drops to about $2.65 million. This is net-lease REIT and midstream MLP territory. Realty Income (NYSE:O) yields 5.2%, pays monthly, and has raised its dividend for 114 consecutive quarters. NNN REIT (NYSE:NNN) yields 5.1% off a 36-year streak. Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) yields 5.9%, but distributes via K-1, which complicates New York state and city filings. At 10%, the required capital falls to $1.59 million. This is where business development companies, mortgage REITs, and covered-call ETFs cluster. Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) is one of the disciplined operators in the category: a regular $0.26 monthly dividend plus supplementals of $0.30. The higher current yield does not survive contact with a shrinking asset. Realty Income raised its monthly payout from $0.2555 in 2023 to $0.271 in 2026. That is the kind of incremental compounding variable BDC supplementals cannot always replicate. Make the Income Target Match the Actual City Bill Run your Manhattan number, not the SmartAsset estimate. If you are rent-stabilized, share housing, or live farther uptown, the target may be materially lower. If you rent a market-rate apartment downtown, it may be higher. The right income target is the one built from your actual rent, taxes, insurance, healthcare, transportation, and discretionary spending. Compare total return, not just headline yield. Pull adjusted returns over the same period for a dividend-growth utility, a REIT, and a double-digit yielder. Then compare income growth, dividend cuts, and principal changes. The higher headline yield is not doing more work if it is offset by stagnant income or capital erosion. Model the tax layer. New York State and New York City income taxes stack on top of federal rates, and BDC ordinary-income distributions, REIT dividends, qualified dividends, and partnership K-1 income can all be taxed differently. In a high New York bracket, the tax drag can materially reduce spendable yield, so the after-tax income target matters more than the headline payout. The real takeaway is that Manhattan's cost of living does not sit still, so the portfolio cannot sit still either.
DSW Marks 35 Years With An Evolving Business Strategy
According to the Designer Brands-owned retailer founded in 1991, it will host a two-week "Birthday Sale-bration" as a thank you to its customers starting July 24 in all of its stores and online. The event will feature early promotional access to exclusive fall styles and new weekly promotions through Aug. 2. At the time, the DSW parent company reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal 2026 with net sales expected to be in the range of down 1 percent to up 1 percent, with diluted earnings per share at between 28 cents to 38 cents. Analysts were expecting earnings per share for the year at between 35 cents to 45 cents, according to Yahoo Finance, which led the stock to drop nearly 22 percent at the end of trading on June 9. But despite the market's reaction, the company posted net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 that increased 1.4 percent to $696.35 million, up from $686.91 million the same time last year. Net income in Q1 was $1.2 million, or 2 cents per share.
Oppenheimer sends warning on IBM after shares crash
Preliminary second-quarter revenue landed at $17.2 billion, roughly $660 million under the $17.85 billion analysts expected, according to Seeking Alpha. Operating earnings per share (EPS) came in at $2.93, missing the $3.01 estimate by eight cents. A 3.7% revenue miss does not usually erase a quarter of a company's value. This one did. The close marked IBM's steepest single-day drop on record, undercutting even the 23.7% collapse it logged on Black Monday in October 1987. Krishna pointed to two problems. Several large deals slipped past the end of the quarter rather than closing, and in late June, clients abruptly redirected budgets toward artificial intelligence (AI) hardware, buying servers, storage, and memory instead of the software and mainframe products that carry IBM's fatter margins. Software revenue grew just 5% in the quarter, well below the 12% Oppenheimer had modeled, according to Investing.com.
Do You Think Shake Shak (SHAK) Offers Attractive Value Amid Sell-off?
Our worst performing sector by far was consumer discretionary, driven mostly by extreme weakness in Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE:SHAK). Although SHAK delivered solid same store sales, outperforming many other restaurants, the market's expectations were even higher. Furthermore, management decided to accelerate new restaurant openings in the first quarter, which led to an increase in operating expenses that negatively impacted near term earnings and cash flow.
Here’s Why Simply Good Foods (SMPL) is Struggling
On July 16, 2026, The Simply Good Foods Company (NASDAQ:SMPL) closed at $12.07 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $1.07 billion. The Simply Good Foods Company (NASDAQ:SMPL) posted a one-month return of -4.43%, while its shares lost 63.12% over the past 52 weeks. According to our database, 33 hedge fund portfolios held The Simply Good Foods Company (NASDAQ:SMPL) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 35 in the previous quarter.
Leveraged loan issuers lean in to amend-and-extend deals to push back maturities
$106 billion of A&E volume this year is running well ahead of last year's pace (roughly $84 billion over the first half of 2025). The average yield to maturity for refinancing institutional term loans via syndication is 6.7% in 2026, down from 7.4% in 2025 and 8.6% in 2024, but still higher than all the years spanning 2011-2022. Institutional volume in Q2 was $39 billion, the strongest quarterly showing in the recent series. In 2026, 30% of amendments were rated BB-minus or higher at the issuer level, up from 11% in 2025 and 26% in 2024. On the institutional side, sponsored borrowers have driven the majority of 2026 activity, accounting for $43 billion of the $55 billion in year-to-date institutional volume, while non-sponsored deals total $12 billion.
IMAX seen poised for stronger second half despite expected modest Q2
Wedbush expects IMAX to report second-quarter revenue of $94 million, slightly below the Wall Street consensus of $97 million, while forecasting adjusted EBITDA of $39 million, in line with consensus. The analysts expect the quarter to reflect the strength of IMAX's diversified geographic footprint and content slate despite weaker-than-expected performance in China and a modest loss of domestic market share during a quarter dominated by family-oriented films. Global box office on IMAX screens reached an estimated $284 million during the quarter, up 1% year over year but below Wedbush's initial forecast of $309 million. Domestic box office declined 6% to $134 million, while China fell 26% to $31 million. International markets excluding China rose 23% to $119 million. Wedbush characterized the softer quarter as temporary, writing, "We view Q2 as a one-off, after significant market share gains in Q1 coupled with our expectations for outperformance in Q3 2026 to Q1 2027 at least." The analysts maintained confidence that IMAX remains on track to achieve its 2026 targets, including approximately $1.4 billion in global box office, system installations of 160 to 175 and an adjusted EBITDA margin exceeding 45%. Looking beyond this year, Wedbush expects the 2026-2028 release slate to support further market share gains as more filmed-for-IMAX titles are released across Hollywood, local-language productions and alternative content. The firm also sees opportunities for continued theater network expansion and expects EBITDA margins to exceed 50% by 2028. Wedbush added that as IMAX nears the completion of its IMAX China share repurchase program, the company could resume buybacks of its US-listed shares while continuing to invest in expanding its global business.
Can a Conservative Portfolio Really Generate $4,000 a Month in Retirement Income?
A portfolio producing another $4,000 a month can materially change a retirement budget. The math is unforgiving. $48,000 per year divided by a 3.5% yield equals roughly $1,371,000. At 5%, the requirement drops to $960,000. At 7%, $685,000. At 10%, just $480,000. Blending them with other dividend growers reaches roughly 3.5%, requiring about $1.37 million to hit the target. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) yields 3.3% and reaffirmed 5% to 7% long-term EPS growth guidance through 2030, backed by a rate-regulated monopoly across the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Realty Income (NYSE:O) sits near the middle at a 5.1% yield. The monthly dividend just ticked up to about $0.27, marking the 114th consecutive quarterly increase. Portfolio occupancy sits at 99%, and management raised 2026 AFFO guidance to $4.41 to $4.44. At a 10% blended yield, the capital requirement falls to $480,000. But risks emerge in the fine print. ARCC booked $412 million in net unrealized losses in Q1 2026 and non-accruals crept to 2%. MAIN’s Q1 DNII of $1.00 failed to cover total dividends of $1.08. The 10-year benchmark matters. With the 10-year Treasury recently around 4.5% and the federal funds target range at 3.50% to 3.75%, the risk-free comparison is meaningful. Every yield above that level is compensation for equity risk, credit risk, leverage, duration risk, or some combination of them. A portfolio of 60% dividend growers, 30% REITs and utilities, and 10% BDCs produces a 5% blended yield with meaningful growth, cutting the capital requirement to roughly $960,000 while preserving upside.
Mexico heavy-duty truck production, exports to US rebound in June
Manufacturers in Mexico assembled 15,262 heavy-duty trucks and buses during June, a 7.6% increase from the same month in 2025, according to from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (Anpact). Exports of Mexican-made trucks climbed 3.2% year over year to 12,730 units. The June performance also marked the first time since August 2024 that Mexico's heavy-duty vehicle industry recorded year-over-year growth simultaneously in wholesale sales, production, exports and retail sales, according to Anpact. Between January and June, Mexican factories produced 70,876 heavy-duty vehicles, down 13% from the first six months of 2025. Exports totaled 58,260 units, a 14.5% decline from the same period last year, while wholesale sales edged up 3.1% to 14,979 units. Retail sales remained under pressure, falling 21.8% to 16,072 units. Wholesale sales surged 45.5% year over year to 3,278 units, fueled primarily by freight transportation equipment.
SPYI Investors: Watch These 2 Macro Factors Before the Next Distribution
SPYI trails SPY's 20% one-year gain by just 2 points while delivering a 12% annualized distribution funded by selling SPX index call options. The NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (NYSEARCA:SPYI) has quietly delivered a total return that undersells the story: SPYI is up 8% year to date and 19% over the past year, trailing the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY)'s 20% one-year gain by a narrower margin than most covered-call funds. The underlying dividends help, but option income is the real fuel. Lower VIX means cheaper calls, which means less premium for SPYI to collect. A sustained move below 15 would be a warning: SPYI's distribution is calibrated to a mid-teens volatility environment, and every point the VIX loses translates into thinner call premiums on the next monthly roll.
WaFd Q3 Earnings Call Highlights
Loan growth returned for a second straight quarter, with active portfolios up 10% sequentially and C&I lending leading the way. Loan growth outpaced repayments, even as deposit competition remained intense and total deposits fell by $192 million. The net provision for credit losses was $11 million, driven by growth in the active loan portfolio, particularly C&I and construction loans, as well as concerns about possible losses on adversely classified loans. WaFd's lending pipeline remains strong at $2.9 billion, down 9% from the prior quarter, while its new deposit pipeline increased sharply.
2 Reasons to Like MCD and 1 to Stay Skeptical
McDonald's operated 45,699 locations in the latest quarter. McDonald's has shown terrific cash profitability, driven by its lucrative business model that enables it to reinvest, return capital to investors, and stay ahead of the competition. The company's free cash flow margin was among the best in the restaurant sector, averaging 25.9% over the last two years. McDonald's demand within its existing dining locations has been relatively stable over the last two years but was below most restaurant chains. On average, the company's same-store sales have grown by 1.7% per year.
Netflix Beats on Profit but Sells Off on Outlook
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) fell 9.24% premarket after reporting second-quarter revenue of $12.56 billion, up 13%, just shy of $12.59 billion analysts expected, while diluted EPS reached $0.80 past the $0.79 expected. Operating margin came in at 33.4% and free cash flow came in at $1.525 billion. Netflix projected third-quarter revenue growth of 12%, a step down from the first half, and narrowed full-year revenue to $51.0 billion to $51.4 billion while holding its 31.5% operating margin target.
BlackRock (BLK) Stock Fair Value Edges Higher After Q2 Driven Analyst Target Increases
BlackRock's iShares ETF platform reported record first half 2026 inflows of US$310b, taking iShares assets under management past US$6t, according to recent coverage of the unit's ETF growth.
Sainsbury’s retreat highlights strong competition in the UK banking industry
Sainsbury's originally received its full banking licence in 1997, becoming the first major British supermarket chain to operate its own bank. It initially launched as a joint venture with Bank of Scotland, before completing the buyout of the operations from Lloyds Banking Group (which had acquired Bank of Scotland) for £248m ($334.9m) in 2014. Yet over time, stricter regulation, rising capital requirements, and increasing competitive pressure led Sainsbury's to conclude that it could no longer compete effectively with the UK's largest banks. The company therefore announced its gradual withdrawal from banking in January 2024, selling its credit card, loan, and savings portfolios to NatWest.
VZ Earns Its Premium Over Peers. Now What?
The numbers reveal a clear disconnect between Verizon and its peers. The company trades at 10.6 times earnings, a significant premium to rival AT&T, which trades at 7.1 times earnings. Investors who bought Verizon a year ago are sitting on that +13.6% gain, while AT&T shareholders saw a -14.8% return over the same period. Operationally, Verizon’s lead is visible but narrower; its 21% operating margin edges out AT&T’s 19.9%, while their revenue growth rates are nearly identical at 2.8% and 2.7%, respectively. Management stated its “cost of acquisition and retention in March was down approximately 35%” from the end of the prior quarter. This progress gave the company confidence to raise its full-year guidance for adjusted EPS growth to a range of 5% to 6%. Ultimately, the turnaround’s success hinges on whether the company can hit its full-year total mobility and broadband service revenue growth target of 2.0% to 3.0%.
Momentum Group AB (publ) (MMGRF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript
The group reported higher revenue, improved margins and increased earnings driven by positive development in both business areas. Acquisitions contributed to both revenue and earnings and our decentralized structure combined with a strong financial position provides a solid foundation for continued long-term and profitable growth.
Burberry Group plc (BURBY) Q1 2027 Sales/Trading Call Transcript
Comparable retail sales grew 5% versus last year, led by continued strength in Americas and Greater China. We sustained brand momentum through culturally relevant storytelling and activations, driving sales and engagement across key markets. We are cementing our authority in outerwear and scarves with outerwear growing double-digits in the quarter, supported by demand for heritage rainwear, lightweight jackets and seasonal products.
Walmart (WMT) Gets Shirofune Integration For Easier Walmart Connect Ad Management
Retail media has become an important focus for large retailers as they look to use shopper data and digital ad inventory as a separate revenue stream from core merchandising. Easier cross channel management may encourage agencies to include Walmart Connect more frequently in omnichannel plans, potentially supporting Walmart's efforts to grow higher margin advertising revenue. As more tools plug into Walmart Connect, advertisers may see Walmart as a more comparable option to other large retail media networks, which could support Walmart's positioning with consumer brands already selling through its stores and marketplace.
Jim Cramer Says Semiconductor Stocks Are “Going Down.” Buy These 2 Dividend Stocks Instead
Q1 FY2027 delivered $81.61B in revenue, up 85.2% YoY, with Data Center revenue of $75.25B. Shares fell 35.21% over the past month and 20.55% in the past week, closing at $171.77 on July 16. Fiscal Q3 delivered mixed signals. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.64, beating the $1.55 estimate, though management sharply lowered FY2026 guidance to $5.45-$5.65 in adjusted EPS, citing ERP transition, inventory normalization, and GOJO integration dilution as drivers of organic sales declines. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is up 23.1% year to date, delivered Q1 EPS of $0.86 on 12.1% revenue growth, and pays $0.53 quarterly. Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR) has come down from $788 to $630, retracing 12.26% in a month even after posting a record $48.5B backlog.
Why Coca-Cola Stock Flopped on Friday
According to its figures, its annual revenue tops $3 billion.
Why Sweetgreen Stock Surged Today
The fast-casual chain's same-store sales fell 12.8% in the first quarter, driven by an 11.2% decline in customer traffic.
Publix Closes More Stores in 2026 as Walmart Competition, Rising Costs and Online Grocery Shopping Bite: Here are the Locations Affected
Publix reported first-quarter sales of $16.1 billion, up 2% from a year earlier, although comparable-store sales were flat. The closures come despite higher revenue. Publix reported first-quarter sales of $16.1 billion, up 2% from a year earlier, although comparable-store sales were flat. Publix operated 1,434 stores and employed more than 260,000 people as of May. Walmart controls about 21% of U.S. grocery sales, compared with 8.5% for Kroger Co., whose e-commerce sales recently rose 17%. Amazon.com Inc. has also closed its Amazon Fresh and Go stores while planning to open more than 100 Whole Foods stores and expand same-day delivery. Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide.
Can TJX Companies (TJX) Justify Its Valuation After Rising On Earnings Optimism?
Recent moves in TJX Companies share price have been mixed, with a 7 day share price return of 2.06% offset by a 30 day decline of 5.89%. However, the 1 year total shareholder return of 27.98% and 5 year total shareholder return of 143.65% point to stronger longer term momentum. Management emphasized robust merchandise availability due to excess inventory in the market, which allows TJX's experienced global buying teams to secure quality branded goods at favorable prices. This should underpin higher gross margins and mitigate cost pressures, supporting stronger future earnings. While the most popular TJX Companies narrative points to a fair value of $177.63, the current P/E of 29.5x looks expensive versus the US Specialty Retail industry at 20.9x, a peer average of 26.3x, and a fair ratio of 21.5x, which suggests less room for error if sentiment cools.
Down 22% In A Year: Is PayPal A Value Trap Or A Turnaround Play?
With its stock trading at a deep discount, PayPal is betting a new CEO and a major overhaul can fix what’s broken, forcing investors to weigh a potential bargain against a difficult transformation. The company is now in the hands of a new CEO who is candidly acknowledging its “strategic and operational issues” and has kicked off a significant overhaul. Part of that recent stock move follows a Reuters report that Stripe and Advent International had made a $53 billion acquisition proposal at $60.50 per share. However, none of the companies involved has publicly confirmed the reports. On paper, PayPal looks inexpensive. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.0, a steep discount to the S&P 500’s multiple of 24.2. You see a similar story across other metrics, with its price-to-sales ratio of 1.5 sitting at less than half the market’s 3.3. A discount like this forces a question. One view is that the market has overly punished the stock for past stumbles, creating an opportunity to buy a quality franchise before the new strategy takes hold. The other, more cautious reading is that the market sees the challenges ahead and is pricing them in. With management guiding for non-GAAP earnings per share to decline by approximately 9% in the upcoming quarter, the discount may simply reflect the tough road immediately ahead. For that price, you get a highly profitable and cash-generative payments engine. PayPal’s operating margin of 18.9% and net margin of 15.0% both edge out the S&P 500 averages of 18.4% and 13.0%, respectively. The business is being reorganized into three distinct units: Checkout, Consumer Financial Services, including Venmo, and Payment Services, to simplify a structure the CEO admitted had become complex and slowed down decision-making. The new plan includes a major cost-cutting initiative, with the company expecting to find “at least $1.5 billion of gross run-rate savings over the next 2 to 3 years.” A key part of the strategy is to rebalance focus toward the consumer side of the network, which management believes has suffered from “years of underinvestment.” With debt at a modest 18.6% of its market value and a healthy cash position, PayPal appears well-equipped to fund this transformation from its own operations. During the 2022 inflation shock, the stock fell a striking 64%, far worse than the S&P 500’s 24% drop, and it has yet to reclaim its prior high. While it weathered the 2020 pandemic crash slightly better than the market, its performance in the most recent downturn suggests a high degree of risk if market sentiment sours. This isn’t a stock that simply drifts down with the tide; it has shown it can sink much faster.
Global Oil Supply Is Being Squeezed From Two Directions at Once. Here Are the Best Energy Stocks to Buy.
ExxonMobil’s (XOM +0.97%) high-quality, cash-generative business offers both income generation and inflation protection. Essentially, the integrated oil company is an extremely disciplined allocator of capital, regardless of the projects it undertakes, meaning it has a deep inventory of structurally lower-cost, high-return projects. Importantly, its shareholder-friendly policy means the company has increased dividends for 43 years, at an average annual rate of 5.8%. Combined, shareholder distributions for 2026 at $37.2 billion are the second highest among S&P 500 companies. That alone is sufficient to hold this stock amid uncertainty. One of ExxonMobil’s biggest advantages is the sheer diversity of its energy franchise. By holding both "upstream" and "downstream" energy operations under a single umbrella, ExxonMobil protects its balance sheet by ensuring that when one part of the value chain encounters difficulties, the other frequently captures significant profits. The company’s massive Yellowtail oilfield off the coast of Guyana has breakeven costs as low as $25 per barrel, which is far below the global average and roughly half the onshore breakeven costs of the average U.S. shale play. Onshore, ExxonMobil’s $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Resources in 2023 ensured the company doubled its footprint in the Permian Basin, which accounts for nearly 40% of U.S. shale oil production, thanks to its “stacked geology” formation where overlapping oil-rich layers stack up vertically for thousands of feet. The result is an inventory acreage with the lowest breakeven costs among shale plays. Chevron, (CVX +1.92%) too, built its reputation through its decades-long commitment to rewarding shareholders. The stock’s dividend yield of 3.75% is higher than ExxonMobil’s. Like its larger counterpart, Chevron also focuses on low-cost projects around the world, and its pending acquisition of Hess underscores its focus on obtaining low-cost assets, notably the same ultra-low-cost Yellowtail offshore oilfield off Guyana. With similar return profiles over the years, Chevron has a more aggressive dividend payout policy than ExxonMobil, resulting in lower free cash flow.
Some of Berkshire's Newest Bets Aren't American. Greg Abel Bought 3 Japanese Trading Houses Last Quarter.
At the end of 2025, Berkshire owned 10.8% of Mitsubishi, a stake that cost $4.2 billion and was worth $9.2 billion, according to Berkshire's annual report. Berkshire owned 9.8% of Marubeni at year-end. The latest buying lifted that above 10%. Sumitomo rounds out the trio. Berkshire's position cost $1.9 billion and stood at $4.0 billion at the close of 2025, and it paid $102 million in dividends last year. Add it all up, and Berkshire's five trading house stakes cost $15.4 billion and were worth $35.4 billion at the end of 2025. The five companies paid Berkshire a combined $862 million in dividends last year. That works out to a yield of about 5.6% on Berkshire's original cost. The trend is worth noting, too. A year earlier, the same five positions had cost $13.8 billion and were worth $23.5 billion. So in 2025, Berkshire put about $1.6 billion of new money in, and the market value of its stakes grew by nearly $12 billion. Berkshire has borrowed in Japan an amount roughly equivalent to the yen it has invested, at an average interest cost of just 1.2%. Put another way, the dividends cover the borrowing costs several times over before counting a penny of share-price appreciation. And the strategy is still very much in use. Berkshire issued another 272.3 billion yen of senior notes in April. Berkshire originally agreed to keep its ownership of each company below 10%, but Buffett wrote in his February 2025 shareholder letter that as Berkshire approached the limit, the five companies agreed to relax the ceiling moderately. "I expect that Greg and his eventual successors will be holding this Japanese position for many decades," Buffett wrote in the same letter.
Auto Trader Group (LSE:AUTO) Stock Gets Fair Value Trim As Analysts Split On Valuation
Fair Value has been revised from £5.84 to £5.66. Revenue Growth has been updated from 4.52% to 4.74%. Net Profit Margin has moved from 46.57% to 46.24%. Future P/E has been reset from 16.12x to 14.70x. The Discount Rate has been adjusted from 9.34% to 9.27%.
Here’s the Funding It Takes to Keep Learning Forever
A single executive certificate at a top business school can run well into five figures. A week at a professional conference with airfare and hotel can easily clear several thousand dollars. But lifelong learning does not have to mean elite programs and corporate travel. It can also mean finishing a college degree, taking community college classes for personal interest, hiring a language tutor, buying trade books, or keeping an annual industry pass. Stacked and repeated for decades, learning can become a major discretionary line item in a curious person’s budget. Set the target at $30,000 a year. That could cover one serious certification, two conferences, a coaching relationship, and a healthy book and course habit. For someone else, it could help pay tuition toward a degree, cover a steady rotation of community college classes, or fund a mix of low-cost courses and occasional higher-end programs. The question is how much capital, working through dividends alone, would support that learning budget year after year. What Thirty Thousand a Year Actually Costs to Fund The equation is simple: annual income divided by yield equals capital required. Education is mostly a services purchase, so it deserves a higher inflation assumption than a basket of goods. The 10-year Treasury was around 4.5% in early July 2026, which means every equity income choice has to be judged against a meaningful fixed-income alternative. The 3.5% Path: A Tuition Escalator Built From Dividend Growth At a 3.5% blended yield, $30,000 in learning income requires roughly $857,000 in capital. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) just raised its quarterly payout to $1.34, extending a streak that now spans 64 straight years. P&G (NYSE:PG) has grown its quarterly dividend from $0.6629 in early 2016 to $1.0568 in early 2026. Current yields sit below the target: JNJ yields 2.0% and PG yields 2.8%. A 3.5% blend comes from mixing these with slightly higher-yielding staples and mid-cap dividend growers. What you buy here is the escalator that keeps pace as course prices climb, not today’s check. The 6% Path: Cutting the Capital Requirement Nearly in Half Move to a 6% blend and capital drops to $500,000. Realty Income (NYSE:O) pays a monthly dividend of about $0.271, roughly $3.25 annualized, yielding 5.1%. Verizon (NYSE:VZ) yields 6.6%. NextEra Energy yields only 2.6%, but grew its quarterly dividend from $0.515 in early 2024 to $0.6232 in 2026, giving the blend a growth spine. Verizon adds pennies to its quarterly payout each year, and Realty Income’s monthly increase has slowed to about 1% year over year. The check is bigger today; whether it stays ahead of course prices in 2036 is the open question. The 10% Path: A Loud Yield With Quiet Fine Print At a 10% blended yield, $30,000 of learning income costs $300,000. Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) is a cleaner example. It pays a $0.26 regular monthly dividend plus a $0.30 quarterly supplemental, yielding 5.9%. Pair it with leveraged covered-call funds and the 10% blend becomes achievable. Main Street’s supplemental has historically ranged from $0.075 to $0.35 depending on portfolio marks, and the stock is down about 10% year to date. The distribution clears. The principal producing it does not always stay whole. Why the Lower Yield Often Wins Over Twenty Years Johnson & Johnson delivered 186% over ten years. NextEra returned 251%. Main Street returned 243%, but its regular monthly dividend went from $0.205 in 2020 to $0.26 today, while JNJ’s quarterly payout roughly doubled over the same period. A 3.5% yield growing 8% a year doubles the income in nine years. A 10% flat yield funds this year’s tuition and roughly the same tuition a decade later, even as conference prices climb 4% annually. When the expense itself compounds, the higher current yield is often the worse long-term deal. That is the logic behind portfolios engineered to fund expenses without ever spending the underlying capital. Three Moves Before You Size the Portfolio - Audit three years of actual learning spend. Most curious professionals overestimate the number and can fund a real habit with far less capital than $30,000. - Model both endpoints side by side. Compare a $500,000 portfolio yielding 4% with 8% dividend growth against a $300,000 portfolio yielding 10% flat, over 20 years, with taxes applied. - Locate your income correctly. Realty Income and Main Street distributions are largely ordinary income. Holding them inside an IRA or Roth can meaningfully change what lands in your learning budget. The Paycheck That Keeps Curiosity Funded A learning budget is easy to dismiss because it sounds optional. But for the person who wants to finish a degree, stay current professionally, study a language, take community college classes, or keep saying “yes” to serious courses, it becomes a recurring lifestyle cost. The right portfolio is not simply the one with the biggest first-year yield. It is the one most likely to keep funding curiosity after tuition, travel, subscriptions, books, and coaching have all become more expensive. The money is there to serve the habit, but the habit lasts only if the income keeps up.
Burberry Group Q1 Earnings Call Highlights
Burberry posted its fourth straight quarter of positive comparable sales, with Q1 comparable retail sales up 5% and revenue rising to GBP 455 million. Growth was led by the Americas and Greater China, while outerwear, scarves and women's bags were standout categories. Management said the Burberry Forward strategy is gaining traction, noting improvements across all four divisions — womenswear, menswear, accessories and childrenswear — plus stronger marketing and store initiatives. E-commerce also grew in the mid-teens, and the company raised its first-half wholesale outlook to high single-digit growth. Burberry kept its full-year outlook intact despite macro uncertainty, saying it remains comfortable with consensus operating profit expectations and expects further revenue growth and margin expansion. The company also reiterated cost-saving and capex plans for fiscal 2027, while warning that geopolitical and consumer-demand risks remain. Burberry Group (LON:BRBY) reported a 5% increase in comparable retail sales for its fiscal first quarter, with Chief Financial Officer Kate Ferry saying the luxury fashion company continued to make progress under its Burberry Forward strategy. Retail revenue rose 5% at reported exchange rates to GBP 455 million. Ferry said retail sales grew 4% at constant exchange rates, with a 1% headwind from space and a 1% tailwind from currency. The quarter was led by strength in the Americas and Greater China, while Burberry also cited broad-based category improvement. Ferry said outerwear grew by double digits, supported by demand for heritage rainwear, lightweight jackets and seasonal products. She added that the company was encouraged by the performance of silk scarves and said Burberry saw growth across womenswear, menswear, accessories and childrenswear for the first time in three years. Americas and Greater China Lead Regional Growth The Americas delivered the strongest regional performance, with comparable retail sales up 12%. Ferry said growth was supported by local spending and broad-based customer acquisition, adding that Mother's Day was "particularly successful" in the region and helped drive engagement and growth in bags. Greater China comparable retail sales rose 9%, supported by local spending and strong growth in Gen Z customers. Ferry said the operating environment in China remains mixed, but that Burberry's actions are "driving outperformance." Asia Pacific grew 3%, with South Korea up 11% on what Ferry described as a more challenging comparative base. Japan declined 2%, which the company attributed to continued weakness in inbound tourism from Chinese visitors. EMEIA declined 3%, reflecting the impact of the Middle East conflict and lower tourist spending. Ferry said tourism in Europe was affected by the conflict, though the company saw "good trends from American visitors" and encouraging full-price sales. Excluding the Middle East, the region declined 1%. Product Strategy Drives Category Gains Chief Executive Officer Josh Schulman said the quarter marked Burberry's fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales and showed evidence that the company's strategy is working. "This was our first print where we had women's, men's, accessories, and children's wear, all four of our divisions, positive comping together," Schulman said. Schulman said Burberry has focused on leading with outerwear and scarves while addressing seasonality through lighter-weight products. He cited strong sales of the Tropical Gabardine range, shorter trench styles such as the Mayfair jacket and lightweight nylon jackets. In scarves, Schulman said Burberry has been extending its authority beyond cashmere into silk scarves, which he described as a highlight of the quarter. He also pointed to stronger summer categories, including swimwear, where he said the Hunza G collaboration helped double the swimwear business for women and men. Burberry also reported strong performance in knitwear, polos and women's bags. Schulman said women's handbags are becoming a more meaningful part of the business, supported by growth across families including Cotswolds, House Check and Horseshoe. He said handbags saw double-digit growth in the Americas around Mother's Day and are attracting new customers to the brand. Ferry said the company's "good, better, best" pricing strategy is supporting quality of sales through higher full-price growth and lower markdowns year over year. She said Gen Z customers increased by double digits for the group. Marketing and Store Initiatives Support Brand Momentum Burberry said marketing investments helped sustain brand momentum during the quarter. Ferry said the Portraits of an Icon campaign brought new customers to the brand, with a 19% increase in new rainwear customers. She also cited A Good Sport as supporting growth in House Check bags and polos. The company also highlighted local brand activity, including a short documentary series with Chinese National Geography featuring brand ambassador Chen Kun exploring China's landscapes in Burberry outerwear. Burberry also staged hotel takeovers in Antibes, Bangkok and Athens to support its High Summer campaign and swimwear collection. Schulman said the company plans further initiatives during the year, including a special trench display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and a large-scale exhibition in Shanghai to conclude Burberry's 170th anniversary year. On distribution, Ferry said Burberry continues to adjust its store network and is investing in a new location on Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, expected to open in fiscal 2028. The company launched 97 polo galleries by Father's Day and plans trench destinations and cashmere shops in the second half of the year. Schulman said category destinations such as scarf bars and polo galleries are improving store productivity. Ferry added that comparable sales growth alongside slightly lower space indicated a positive trajectory in store productivity. Wholesale Outlook Raised, E-Commerce Grows Burberry raised its first-half fiscal 2027 wholesale outlook, now expecting revenue to grow by a high single-digit percentage, compared with prior guidance for mid-single-digit growth. Schulman said wholesale partners are responding positively to Burberry's strategy and product newness. "Our wholesale partners can buy any luxury brand, and they have been voting for Burberry with their open to buy," Schulman said. He said the wholesale order book improved across regions, including the Americas, where Burberry expects to be in fewer doors but with stronger quality of sales. He also cited partnerships with China Duty Free Group, Central Group and LuxExperience. E-commerce grew by a mid-teens percentage in the quarter. Schulman said the channel represents high single digits of sales and has now grown for eight consecutive quarters. He said e-commerce is particularly strong in the Americas and is bringing in younger customers, supported by improved personalization, styling and digital category storytelling. Guidance Maintained as Management Flags Macro Uncertainty Ferry said Burberry expects to make further progress in fiscal 2027, including revenue growth and margin expansion in line with expectations. She said the company remains mindful of geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty and the potential impact on consumer confidence. For fiscal 2027, Burberry expects retail space to be broadly stable, annualized cost savings to reach GBP 100 million and capital expenditure of approximately GBP 120 million. Ferry said GBP 80 million of the cost savings were delivered in fiscal 2026. Restructuring charges are expected to be around GBP 5 million. Based on June 26 spot rates, currency is expected to provide an approximately GBP 20 million revenue tailwind and have a broadly
House passes Common Cents Act to help with phasing out the penny. How cash purchases would work if the bill becomes law
According to the U.S. Mint (2), it costs nearly four cents to manufacture a single penny, making it one of the government's most expensive coins to produce relative to its value. The National Restaurant Association estimates that inconsistent rounding practices could cost restaurants up to $168 million a year (3), but says a federal standard would give businesses certainty as pennies become harder to find.
McDonald's Earnings Preview: What to Expect
Ahead of the event, analysts expect MCD to report a profit of $3.33 per share on a diluted basis, up 4.4% from $3.19 per share in the year-ago quarter. For the current year, analysts expect MCD to report EPS of $12.88, up 5.6% from $12.20 in fiscal 2025. Its EPS is expected to rise 9.1% year over year to $14.05 in fiscal 2027. MCD's average analyst price target is $328.19, indicating a potential upside of 20% from the current price levels.
3 Stocks Under $50 Worth Buying in July
In Q1 2026, SoFi delivered revenue of $1.10 billion, up 6.1% year over year and beating consensus by 4.87%, with EPS of $0.12 in line with estimates. GAAP net income of $166.7 million more than doubled year over year, and loan originations set a record at $12.18 billion, up 68%. Members grew 35%, with 43% of new products coming from existing members, a cross-buy signal that most digital challengers still cannot match. Deposits sit at $40.24 billion and now fund over 90% of liabilities, driving cost of funds down 48 basis points. Q1 2026 revenue reached $4.97 billion, up 57.9% year over year, with net income of $871.4 million and an adjusted ROE of 31%. The customer base hit 135 million, monthly ARPAC climbed to $15.90, and the efficiency ratio improved to 17.6% from 21.4%. Q1 2026 revenue crossed $1.01 billion, up 17.8% and beating consensus by 4.07%. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.27 beat the $0.2165 estimate by 24.71%.
Rambus Gains Momentum on Rising AI Memory Bandwidth Needs
Q1 FY26 revenue hit $180.19 million, up 8.12% year over year, with product revenue climbing 15%. FY25 closed at $707.63 million in revenue, up 27.13%, and $360 million in operating cash flow. CEO Luc Seraphin flagged that "the growth of AI inference and agentic workloads in the data center continues to drive demand for higher memory bandwidth."
Discount chain closing 75 stores, admits 1,000s are 'substandard'
Dollar Tree makes a startling admission Domino's acknowledging its lousy pizza worked because even bad pizza is pretty good, and even though sales had slumped before those ads ran, the company was still selling a lot of pizza. Dollar Tree's admission hits a little harder because its stores are its product, and it's saying that an awful lot of them have significant room for improvement. Scot Ciccarelli from Truist Securities addressed the issue during Dollar Tree's first-quarter earnings call. "So you talked about making progress on the initiatives you provided at Investor Day. I think one of the ones that really stood out was your gold store goals and how the majority of your stores basically are substandard by your own metrics. So can you help us understand the progress that you've already made on improving the store standards?" he asked. CEO Michael Creedon answered him without pulling any punches. "And just to correct, I think 42% is what we showed. So it wasn't the majority were below our standards. But if the average retailer is chasing 15% to 20% of their stores, we were chasing 42% below our standard," he said. The chain, he added, has brought that number down. "So that's what I showed at Investor Day; that's significantly high. That's less than 1/3 today. So we haven't broken that out. But I'll tell you right now, that's less than 1/3, still not where we want it to be, but significant improvement," he added. Dollar Tree, Creedon noted, has 9,400 stores "and change, turning these big QE2s are hard to do. I'm very pleased with the progress we've made over the past year." The process, he shared, has gotten easier. "And as more and more stores are above our standard and approaching that grand opening look daily, the ones left to manage get easier to manage just because of volume. Every room in your house is a mess, it takes longer to clean it. As you start cleaning room to room, it gets easier to clean up the kitchen," he said. Dollar Tree made a smart call A case study of the Domino's campaign for the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) showed the blueprint the pizza chain used. "Admission is interesting. It's humanizing. When a company admits it's wrong, they begin to seem human, fallible, and vulnerable. Admission changes the perception of intent," ARF shared. It's essentially a way to change the narrative. "What might have seemed like a deliberate act of greed or dishonesty instead looks like a mistake or bad judgment. But most of all, admission lays the foundation for a new relationship. It's like a reset button. Without admission of wrong, there can be no real reconciliation," the association added. Domino's actually rolled out a new product along with its ads, while Dollar Tree has taken a different approach in sharing that its fixes are a work in progess. RTM Nexus CEO Dominick Miserandino thinks Dollar Tree has played this well. "The genius of it is very simple. Transparency doesn't just buy you time, transparency buys you trust. When you own up to a mess, it completely changes the narrative with both your customers and your investors because you're finally validating what they see with their own eyes," he told TheStreet. Dollar Tree's task, he noted, is harder than what Domino's had to accomplish. "When Domino's admitted their food tasted bad, they only had to fix a recipe and retrain some kitchen staff. Dollar Tree has to fix a sprawling physical empire of over 9,400 stores. By being brutally honest about how bad things were, they earned the trust they needed to execute," he added. While Dollar Tree plans to fix most of its fleet, some stores will be closed instead of remodeled. "As previously shared, we are targeting approximately 400 gross new store openings and 75 closings. We expect gross margin to be roughly flat, driven by improved markdown performance, partially offset by higher freight costs," Stewart Glendinning said during the fourth-quarter earnings call.
The Portfolio That Gives You a $2,000 Raise Every Year
A $1.06M portfolio at 2.7% yield growing dividends 7% annually delivers roughly $28,600 in income and a $2,000 automatic raise each year. Dividend growth stocks like PG and KO need ~$1.1M for a $2,000 raise but deliver accelerating payouts that outpace high-yield instruments long-term. LOW's dividend grew fourfold since 2016 alongside a 223% price gain, and a 2.7%-yielding grower surpasses the 4.5% Treasury coupon within seven years. Your annual raise from a dividend portfolio equals your current dividend income multiplied by the dividend growth rate. A portfolio producing $30,000 in annual dividends that grows payouts 7% next year delivers a $2,100 raise. A blended basket of high-quality dividend growers yielding around 2.7% and growing payouts around 7% a year would need roughly $1.06 million to generate a $2,000 annual raise. That portfolio would throw off about $28,600 in year-one income, and a 7% raise on that base is just over $2,000. The dollar raise gets larger every year without adding new money. At a 5% yield growing 4% annually, you need about $1.0 million to hit a $2,000 raise. Future raises grow more slowly. That is the kind of raise dividend-growth investors are looking for: not a one-time yield spike, but a business that keeps increasing the cash it sends to shareholders. The exact return over any decade depends on the start date, end date, valuation, and whether dividends were reinvested. Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) raised its quarterly dividend to $0.53 in 2026, marking its 64th consecutive annual dividend increase. McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) declared a $1.86 quarterly dividend in May 2026, compared with $0.89 per share in early 2016. With the 10-year Treasury near 4.5%, a 2.7% dividend that grows 7% crosses the Treasury coupon in dollar terms within about seven years and keeps climbing.
Another popular soda giant closes warehouse operation, cuts 184 jobs
PepsiCo Beverages U.S. is shifting warehouse operations to a new facility in the Tulsa area to best support our customers and consumers; production will continue to operate at the current facility, PepsiCo Beverages US said in a statement to TheStreet. We are committed to treating impacted employees with the utmost care, including assistance applying to work with the new logistics provider, pay and benefits continuation based on years of service, transition assistance, and career support, the statement added. The Tulsa restructuring follows other recent changes across PepsiCo's U.S. warehouse and distribution network. Frito-Lay closed its Rancho Cucamonga, California, warehouse in June, eliminating 248 logistics and distribution jobs. Manufacturing at the location had already ended in 2025, but warehouse and distribution operations continued until this year. PepsiCo said the remaining work would be transferred to a newer local distribution center. An off-site Frito-Lay warehouse in Orlando also closed in May, affecting 46 workers. That followed the November 2025 shutdown of a nearby manufacturing plant and warehouse that eliminated 454 jobs. The company has also been expanding automation and digital tools as part of a wider productivity push. PepsiCo reported second-quarter net revenue of $24.18 billion, up 6.4% from a year earlier. Organic revenue increased 2.4%. However, the company's North American beverage results were more mixed, and it missed earnings expectations. PepsiCo Beverages North America revenue rose 7%, but acquisitions accounted for six percentage points of that growth. Organic revenue increased 1%, while beverage volume declined 4%. Wall Street had already warned that PepsiCo's North American recovery could take longer than expected. In a June 25 note, Bank of America lowered its 2026 earnings estimate for PepsiCo to $8.61 from $8.65 and cut its price target to $164 from $173, citing softer-than-expected performance at PepsiCo Foods North America. The bank also said core Pepsi retail sales were down 6.8% year to date, while Mountain Dew sales had declined 2.3%, highlighting pressure across some of the company's biggest U.S. brands. PepsiCo executives said the North American business performed more weakly than expected during the quarter, as higher gas prices pressured convenience-store traffic and impulse purchases. The company said it achieved record productivity during the first half of the year and plans to pursue additional savings during the second half. PepsiCo maintained its 2026 forecast for organic revenue growth of 2% to 4% and core constant-currency earnings growth of 4% to 6%.
Verizon makes cost-cutting move as customers continue to leave
Verizon later laid off more than 13,000 employees in November to simplify its operations and reduce complexity and friction in its business to better serve customers. The wireless market has intensified in recent years as Verizon's top rivals, T-Mobile and AT&T, have doubled down on offering more value and generous promotions to attract price-conscious customers. All three carriers also face increased competition from mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which are becoming more popular for offering consumers mobile service at lower prices compared to traditional wireless providers. Amid tougher wireless competition, the average cost of an unlimited wireless service plan decreased by over 10% in 2025, according to recent data from Ctia.
How Investors May Respond To Costco Wholesale (COST) Double-Digit June Sales Growth And New Dividend Declaration
In early July 2026, Costco Wholesale reported that June net sales reached US$29.24 billion, a 10.6% year-over-year increase, while its Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of US$1.47 per share payable on August 7, 2026. Costco Wholesale's narrative projects $363.2 billion revenue and $11.6 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 7.4% yearly revenue growth and a $2.8 billion earnings increase from $8.8 billion today.
Netflix's AI Strategy Has a 25-Year-Old Precedent
The company spends roughly $20 billion annually on content, produces in more than 50 countries, and can mandate tool adoption across its productions. Netflix hasn't disclosed aggregate cost savings from AI. The "twice as fast, half the cost" claim applies to 17 minutes of one documentary. Content amortization is still expected to grow 10% this year. Free cash flow guidance is unchanged at $12.5 billion.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH) In Focus As World Cup Boosted Lodging Outlook Meets Valuation Debate
Record development pipeline growth, with contract signings up 40% and new, high FeePAR-accretive hotels comprising a larger share of additions, enhances base royalty rate accretion and fee-related revenue, directly supporting higher net margins and long-term earnings potential.
Gen Z Gets Fourfold Pay Growth When Switching Jobs, While Gen X Sees Less Benefit
Gen Z workers who joined a new company had about four times the wage growth of those who stayed put, according to a Bank of America Institute analysis comparing median pay in the first quarter of 2026 with a year earlier. The gap between switchers' and stayers' pay is the smallest in seven years, and Gen Z switchers' raises have fallen about 20 percentage points since 2022, the Institute said.
Everyone’s Chasing Portugal. Smart American Retirees Are Quietly Moving Here Instead
A couple retiring to coastal Greece spends roughly $61,000 a year, about $17,500 less than the average U.S. household. That is roughly $61,000 a year, or about €53,000 at today's rate of 0.87 euros per dollar. It is meaningfully below the $78,535 the average U.S. household spent in 2024, and it buys a life most of those households cannot buy at home. The Portfolio Target Assume a couple, both 62, waiting until 67 to claim Social Security. Combined benefit at full retirement age lands around $60,000 a year in today's dollars, indexed by the 2.8% COLA in effect for 2026.
The $26.75 Million Bet Against Your Gains: Inside RYLD’s Hidden Cost Structure
RYLD returned just 12% year-to-date while IWM, holding the same small-cap stocks, climbed 20%, and that gap never appears on any factsheet. JEPI and DIVO preserve partial upside while generating income, unlike RYLD, which surrenders every rally gain above its call strike to option buyers. RYLD's monthly payout has nearly halved since 2021, dropping from $0.31 to $0.15 per share as lower volatility erodes option premiums over time. The Russell 2000 tracker iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) climbed 20.24% year to date through July 10, 2026. RYLD, holding almost the exact same small-cap basket, returned 11.52% over that stretch. RYLD holds one thing: 101.98% of net assets in the Global X Russell 2000 ETF. Then it sells at-the-money index calls against that position. The most recent short call on the books is the RUK26C 2785.0 Russell 2000 index call, worth roughly negative $26.75 million on a $1.32 billion fund. Over the past year, IWM returned 31.67% while RYLD returned 20.55%. Over five years, IWM (price only) is up 30.75%; RYLD is up 14.97%. Ten years for IWM: 147.24%. The trailing 12-month total sits at $1.8499. Full-year distributions went from $1.9448 in 2024 to $1.8358 in 2025.
After This Stock Popped on Earnings, Options Traders Are Betting $6.8 Million on a Short Call Diagonal Spread
Up nearly 200% since the cancellation of the deal with TD, momentum is on First Horizon's side. The last time it hit $30 was in 2007. If it does get to $30 in 2026, I'd be highly surprised if it finished 2027 above $40. Analysts are lukewarm about it. Of the 21 that cover it, 9 rate it a Buy (3.76 out of 5), with a $27.67 target price, above its current share price. TD announced its First Horizon acquisition in February 2022. By midyear, its forward P/E ratio averaged 14.3x. That multiple today is 11.8x. So you could argue that the multiple is relatively low compared to peak M&A. You could also argue, however, that on several occasions over the past decade, the forward P/E multiple has been as low as 5.3x in March 2020.
Restaurant Operators Turn to Training and Tech to Meet Cost Challenge
Restaurant and food service sales are projected to reach $1.55 trillion in 2026, a 4.8 percent increase from 2025. 86.6 percent of the operators polled reported a rise in food costs. Of those respondents, 51 percent reported an increase between 1 percent and 5 percent, 37 percent said the increase was between 6 percent and 15 percent, while 11 percent said increases were more than 15 percent. A majority, 78 percent, expect costs to continue to increase this year. In response, more than half of operators raised their menu prices to offset the cost increases, though that's down from 66 percent when operators were polled in an earlier survey. On the labor front, meanwhile, 77 percent of owners reported cost increases in the first half of 2026, with 65 percent noting an increase between 1 percent and 5 percent. For the rest of the year, 61 percent expect labor costs to rise even more.
Goldman Sachs raises price target on Robinhood ahead of earnings
Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) has had a busy few weeks. A new blockchain launch, a wave of Wall Street attention, and now, days before its next earnings report, a fresh vote of confidence from one of the biggest names on the Street. Analysts tracked by FactSet currently hold an average Overweight rating on the stock, with a mean price target of $120.83. Total value locked on the network has climbed to roughly $213 million as of July 17, up more than 13% in a single day, according to DeFiLlama. More than 65,000 users now hold roughly $13 million in tokenized stocks and $300 million in stablecoins on the network. Analysts currently expect earnings per share of $0.40 on $1.23 billion in revenue. HOOD remains roughly 25% below its all-time high of $153.86, hit in October 2025 at the peak of the last crypto market cycle.
WD-40: A Well-Oiled Machine With Limited Upside
Maintenance product dominance: 97% of total net sales in Q3 2026 came from its maintenance portfolio, proving that the company successfully concentrated its resources on its highest-value business segment. Robust margin expansion: The company reported a gross margin of 56.6% in Q3 2026, reflecting the operational benefits of its shift toward premium maintenance products and away from lower-margin homecare assets. Disciplined strategic pivot: Management divested non-core EIMEA homecare assets to sharpen focus on high-margin growth, a move that directly contributed to a 24% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2026. Protected product moat: The company relies on trade secret protections for its flagship formulation, creating a durable competitive barrier that standard patent law cannot replicate. Strong earnings momentum: Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS grew 51% year over year in Q3 2026, confirming that management's focus on the maintenance niche is driving significant bottom-line leverage. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 37.7, a multiple that assumes significant future growth, leaving the stock vulnerable if quarterly results deviate from high expectations. The company faces persistent pressure from volatile raw material and commodity prices, which can compress gross margins even if sales volumes remain steady. Because the company has pruned its portfolio, it must consistently deliver organic volume growth in its core maintenance line to justify its current market valuation. You value companies that prioritize shareholder returns through consistent dividend payments and disciplined share repurchases. The company's financial efficiency is genuinely impressive: a 33% return on invested capital, 55% gross margins, and a conservative balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. These are the hallmarks of a well-run business. WD-40 has trailed the S&P 500 over the past five years, and the setup for the next five looks... familiar. Analysts expect earnings to dip this year before resuming long-term growth in the low single digits. Two structural headwinds deserve attention. First, WD-40 operates in a commoditized category where store-brand alternatives and specialized competitors crowd the same shelf space. Brand loyalty matters, but side-by-side performance tests reveal that many lubricants deliver similar results at lower prices. Second, the electric vehicle transition poses a long-term demand question. Fewer drivetrains, transmissions, and mechanical linkages mean fewer squeaky parts to silence in WD-40's a key target market.
PE firms are rushing to offload post-IPO shares
Roughly 182 million shares changed hands, including those sold in the IPO, for about $7 billion in gross value, according to a PitchBook analysis of public filings. The sales allowed Neos to unwind its position at a striking pace. The energy transition and infrastructure specialist reduced its voting power from about 81% just after the IPO to below 50% in the span of five months. Underwriters for medical products supplier Medline also lifted the lock-up early, paving the way for Blackstone, The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman and sovereign wealth fund the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to sell 75 million shares in March, within less than three months of the IPO. The secondary offering was "multiple times oversubscribed," Bloomberg reported, and raised $3.5 billion. Medline's stock shot up to nearly $50 apiece about two months after its December public listing, roughly 70% above its IPO price, before paring some of those gains.
ISRG Stock Sinks as Analysts Cut Price Targets on Intuitive Surgical
In its earnings release, management said da Vinci procedure growth is now expected to track closer to 14.5% this year, the exact midpoint of its previously guided range. ISRG's cautious outlook sparked a cascade of valuation downgrades across major banking firms. Citi adjusted its near-term expectations by lowering the price target to $500, while maintaining a "Buy" rating, concurrently removing its 90-day upside catalyst watch due to rising healthcare policy headwinds. JPMorgan enacted a similar reduction, cutting its price target to $450. Its analysts noted that despite robust quarterly profitability and steady system placements, the "flatter" procedure trajectory will act as a ceiling on the stock. Mizuho lowered its price objective as well, to $400, sticking to a "Hold" rating as demand for auxiliary components begins to stall. Bernstein proved to be the most optimistic, yet still slashed its price target from $750 to $685 while keeping an "Outperform" rating, warning that debate surrounding U.S. procedure growth may depress multiples in the current quarter. ISRG stock is being sold off mostly because of the expected deceleration in U.S. procedure growth. This minor downward adjustment overshadowed an otherwise healthy quarter where worldwide procedures grew 16% on a year-over-year basis.
ManpowerGroup (MAN) Rockets to Fresh High on Better-Than-Expected Q2
ManpowerGroup saw its share price climb to a four-year high on Thursday, after the global staffing company delivered better-than-expected second-quarter results, bolstering investor optimism that hiring activity is gaining momentum and is beginning to translate to meaningful profit recovery. In intra-day trading, the stock surged to a record high of $53 before paring gains to end the session just up by 32.37 percent at $51.65 apiece. Revenues increased by 7.5 percent to $4.86 billion from $4.52 billion year-on-year. Excluding the said items, EPS stood at $0.99, representing a 27 percent jump in constant currency in the second quarter of the year. Looking ahead, ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE:MAN) said that it was optimistic about growing its EPS for the third quarter of the year to a range of 152 percent to 179 percent, to $0.96 to $1.06, from only $0.38 year-on-year, even after accounting for an unfavorable impact of 2 cents and a 44 percent effective tax rate. The 36 funds collectively owned $352.7 million worth of shares in ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE:MAN), versus only $262 million in the prior quarter.
Grocery chain launches its biggest fuel discount ever
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home increased 2.7% during the 12 months ending June 2026, while gasoline prices rose 26.7% over the same period. Fuel prices remain the primary factor influencing where consumers choose to fill up. According to a 2025 NACS Consumer Fuels Survey, 72% of drivers said gas prices are the most important reason they choose a fueling station, compared with 16% who prioritize location and 12% who cite brand. The same survey also found that 69% of drivers are willing to drive an extra five minutes to save just 5 cents per gallon.
PriceSmart's 2026 Outlook: Scaling Regional Warehouse Footprint to Capture Growth
Disciplined expansion: Management has successfully scaled the footprint to 57 clubs as of May 31, 2026, with an active pipeline of new locations in Chile, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean, driving reliable growth in its store count. Pricing power: The company had successfully implemented a $5 membership fee increase in fiscal 2024 without triggering significant churn, confirming that the membership value proposition remains sticky. Recurring revenue: Membership renewal rates have shot up to 90.5% as of the third quarter of 2026, providing a predictable, high-margin revenue base that serves as a critical buffer against the inherent volatility of the retail sector. Operational modernization: Investments in the RELEX supply chain platform and the Elera point-of-sale system are actively removing operational friction, allowing for better inventory management and deeper digital member engagement. In the third quarter, net merchandise sales grew 12.5%, with comparable sales growing 10.7% year over year. Importantly, membership grew at a solid clip of 8.6% to 2.1 million, while renewal rates hit an all-time high of 90.5%. Membership income grew 17.6%, thanks to management rolling out an auto-renewal strategy. Over the next five years, I wouldn't be surprised if sales continue to grow in the low- to mid-double-digit range.
Mud Jeans Ends Leasing Program, Launches Second Round of Crowdfunding
Following a successful round of community funding in 2024, which generated one million euros from 800 investors, Mud Jeans aims to begin a new chapter that's focused on a leaner business model and healthy, profitable growth. The funds raised during this round will go toward strengthening working capital and inventory management, expanding premium product positioning, commercial growth in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the DACH region and strengthening the financial foundation and optimizing the capital structure.
Baxter: The Chart Points Higher, Valuation And Growth Are Less Appealing
Baxter International has rebounded 21% YTD, outperforming after a prolonged decline, but I maintain a hold rating. BAX’s Q1 results beat expectations, with strong non-US sales and a 35% YoY EPS decline due to higher costs and tough comps. Valuation remains tepid; shares approach fair value near $22 based on $2 normalized EPS and 11x P/E, with limited near-term growth.
Why Intuitive Surgical Stock Plunged Today
Intuitive reported adjusted earnings of $2.80 per share on revenue that increased 19% year-over-year to $2.89 billion in the second quarter, handily topping Wall Street estimates. That indicates that the company sees growth slowing, as the number of da Vinci procedures grew 15% last quarter after rising 17% in the first quarter. The average price target of analysts who cover the company, according to Visible Alpha, is $509, which represents nearly 50% upside from Friday's closing level.
ECB Warns Stablecoins May Drain Bank Deposits—Here's What That Means
The global stablecoin market sits at roughly $300 billion, per DefiLlama data, and is almost entirely dollar-denominated. Deposits aren't just a number in a ledger. They're the raw material banks use to extend credit to businesses and homebuyers. Fewer deposits means less lending—and for small cooperative banks with thin margins and local customer bases, that's an existential problem, not a spreadsheet one.
Pepsi, convenience stores faces a snack and gas problem
When gas prices go up, consumers generally shift their spending away from other areas because, in many cases, driving isn't optional. "Faced with higher gasoline bills, some households may be inclined to trim their spending on other things. In the April Consumer Checkpoint, we discussed how some areas of discretionary spending, such as durable goods (e.g., furniture) and food services (e.g., restaurants), were candidates for a trim. Alongside this, previous sharp rises in gas prices even appear to have led to a decline in the share of spending on groceries, perhaps as households trade down," according to a Bank of America report. Consumers have traditionally made cuts when gas prices cross certain levels. That's a level U.S national average gas prices have been over since March, according to AAA, and PepsiCo has shared some sales news that should be taken as a warning for 7-Eleven and other convenience store chains. PepsiCo sees weakness in convenience stores PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta shared troubling sales news during his company's second-quarter earnings call that shows where Americans have been cutting back. "In the U.S., we're seeing the consumer changing behaviors, basically an acceleration of some of the behaviors we saw in the past. Probably some channels, more the impulse channels, have been impacted, where there is more of a correlation with the price of gas. [In] certain convenience stores and some other independent [stores], we're seeing a slowdown of the conversion of traffic into purchases," he shared. Whether that continues depends on gas prices, which, he noted, PepsiCo doesn't control. The company, however, has been working with its partners to address the weakness. "We continue to invest in affordability. In those particular channels, we're working with our customer partners in solutions to convert more of the traffic in the store, bundles, linking to meals, solutions to address that particular channel," he added. The problem with bundles, of course, is that while they save money, they also cost more money than individual items. Food and drink sales are key for convenience stores When a 7-Eleven sells you gas, it makes a small profit. If it gets you to buy a Slurpee, a roller dog, or a candy bar, the margins are much higher. "Foodservice once again led in-store sales, accounting for 28.5% of the total. The category has grown significantly over the past two decades, up from 11.9% in 2005. Its impact on profitability is even greater, contributing 38.9% of in-store gross profit dollars in 2025," added the NACS. Foodservice includes prepared food, commissary items, and hot, cold, and frozen dispensed beverages. Prepared food — pizza, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads —remains the largest segment, representing 73.9% of foodservice sales, up from 66.4% in 2021. RTM Nexus CEO Dominick Miserandino thinks it's not about actual budgets, but more of how people feel when filling up their car. "Just to the current state, gas prices feel high. And when a consumer is pumping his gas and seeing how high it gets, they don't feel as if they have that expendable income for a quick snack at that point," he told TheStreet. Consumers remain wary of gas prices because while they have come down from recent highs, they have been climbing again. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline went up 10 cents since last week to $3.94, AAA reported on July 16. "Instability along the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to the increase at the pump and pushing crude oil prices toward $80 per barrel. Most states are still averaging less than $4 per gallon," according to AAA. Prices, however, have not fallen to a level where consumers stop being wary. "Earlier this year, the national average remained in the $4 range all of April and May and most of June. Last time the national average was $4 or above was on June 17 when it was $4.02," added the travel organization. A quick look at gas prices: July 16 national average: $3.943 One week ago: $3.846 One month ago: $4.044 One year ago: $3.160 PepsiCo wants to help its retail partners offset higher gas prices with better deals on snacks. "The way we're trying to increase the incidence of purchase in that channel is through bundles and some other incentives for purchase that we're actually partnering with our customers across the country. That we see the benefit when we have good offers and bundles, beverages and foods, or foods or snacks and foods, we see that being a great accelerator of the performance of the different customers," Laguarta added. "Foodservice once again led in-store sales, accounting for 28.5% of the total. The category has grown significantly over the past two decades, up from 11.9% in 2005. Its impact on profitability is even greater, contributing 38.9% of in-store gross profit dollars in 2025," added the NACS. "Foodservice includes prepared food, commissary items, and hot, cold, and frozen dispensed beverages. Prepared food — pizza, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads —remains the largest segment, representing 73.9% of foodservice sales, up from 66.4% in 2021."
JPMorgan slashes Coinbase price target
JPMorgan has slashed its price target on Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN) to $196 from $283. Compass Point reiterated a "Sell" rating with a far lower $140 target. The analysts also flagged the risk that perpetual futures could cannibalize Coinbase's spot trading revenue in the second half of 2026, as competition intensifies and take rates decline.
Stock Market Today, July 17: UiPath Gains on Retail AI Partnership
UiPath erased some of its losses today, but the stock is still down over 26% year-to-date. While the firm's Q1 revenues increased by 17% year-on-year to $418 million, analysts wanted to see stronger subscription figures to demonstrate sustainable prospective growth.
That $6,000 Disney Trip Actually Costs $9,000. Here’s the Math Nobody Shows You.
Financing a $6,000 Disney trip on a credit card at today's 21% APR can balloon to $9,000 through compounding interest alone. Nearly 50% of parents go into debt for Disney vacations, and a falling savings rate of 3.9% makes credit reliance even more likely. At roughly 21% APR, a $6,000 balance paid off slowly over three or four years accrues interest on top of interest, ballooning toward $9,000. Every month the balance sits, close to 2% of what remains gets tacked on. Miss a payment, add late fees. Put next year's trip on the same card before the first is paid off, and compounding works against you. The trend makes this harder. The personal savings rate has fallen from 6.2% in the first quarter of 2024 to 3.9% in the first quarter of 2026.
Analyst says there is a divide in how Americans shop for Apparel & Footwear
Consumers in the highest income quintile spend 3.4 times more on apparel than those in the lowest quintile, while the top 40% of earners generate roughly 60% of total spending in the category. Affluent shoppers purchase clothing more frequently and across a broader range of companies. Consumers earning over $100,000 bought from an average of 22 of the 54 brands and retailers surveyed during 2025, compared with 15 among those earning less than $50,000. Price sensitivity also varies considerably. Nearly 90% of respondents earning above $100,000 said they would pay full price for an item they wanted, versus about 70% of consumers earning below $50,000. Inflation has reinforced the divide. Affluent households were more likely to spend additional money as prices increased, while lower-income consumers cut purchase volumes and allocated more of their budgets to food, housing, and other necessities. Technology could widen the gap further. Nearly three in four higher-income consumers use artificial intelligence services, compared with about half of lower-income shoppers. Wealthier customers also show stronger adoption of online shopping, social commerce, clothing rentals, and subscription services.
You’re Paying Twice for DIVO’s Comfort: 0.56% Fees Plus Hidden Opportunity Costs
DIVO trailed SPY by roughly 5 percentage points over one year, while SCHD delivers similar dividend exposure for just $6 annually per $10,000 invested. Over 20 years, at an 8% pre-fee return, a $10,000 investment paying $6 a year in fees ends near $46,000. The same investment paying $56 a year ends closer to $42,000. That is roughly $4,000 in fee drag alone, before a single tax bill. Net assets stood at $5.24 billion as of May 20, 2026, up from the $1 billion milestone the fund crossed in late June 2026 headlines. One analysis pegged the drag at 20% to 30% of gains in peak months. You can see it in the returns. Year-to-date through July 10, 2026, DIVO returned 6.94% while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) returned 10.71%. Over one year, DIVO gained 15.61% versus SPY's 20.63%. Over five years, DIVO returned 65.56% against 73.34% for SPY. Over ten years, DIVO's 210.22% trails SPY's 251.22%.
The ‘Efficiency Paradox’ Holding Back High-Growth Companies (and How to Break It)
Newsweek reports that 72% of U.S. employees deal with moderate to high burnout at work, with heavy workloads cited as the top reason behind their stress. Gallup reports that 52% of U.S. employees are watching for or actively seeking a new job, an indicator of high levels of dissatisfaction across the board. A report from Zentist, an AI-powered revenue cycle management platform for dental practices, reveals that 58% of dental RCMs have adopted or are planning to adopt AI, with top focuses being on high-volume administrative tasks such as verifying insurance eligibility (67%), handling patient communication (57%), and posting payments (43%).
The Real Cost of Retiring in The Villages, Florida, on Social Security Alone
The average Social Security benefit leaves a single Villages retiree roughly $14,000 short of the $37,800 annual budget needed to live there. Florida property insurance, rising far faster than Social Security COLA, can quietly double costs over a decade and break a Social Security-only plan. Retirees falling short need a supplemental portfolio of $150,000 to $300,000 to absorb insurance spikes, roof replacements, and major home expenses over 25 years. The 2026 COLA came in at 2.8%, pushing the average retired-worker benefit to roughly $1,980 a month, or about $23,760 a year. Claim at 62 and that drops closer to $1,500. Wait until 70 and a higher earner can pull $3,200 or more. For a two-earner couple both at full retirement age with average work histories, combined benefits land near $47,500 a year. A single retiree on the average benefit is short by roughly $14,000 a year in The Villages. A couple with two average benefits essentially breaks even, with almost no cushion for a new roof or a bad medical year. The amenity fee is currently around $200 a month and, because it is contractually tied to inflation, it compounds. With CPI-W running at 327.1 in June 2026 and Social Security's COLA tied to the same index, that piece keeps pace. What does not keep pace is Florida property insurance, which has been rising far faster than COLA for several years. A resident who budgeted $2,400 for insurance in 2020 is often writing checks for $4,500 or more today. To retire in The Villages on Social Security alone over a 25-year horizon, you need one of three profiles: a couple with combined benefits of at least $4,000 a month, both claiming at or after full retirement age; a single filer with a benefit above $2,800 a month, meaning a high-earning career and a claim delayed to 70; or a resident willing to rent a smaller unit rather than own. Assume roughly $38,000 a year for a solo owner and $48,000 for a couple, inflating property insurance at 8% and everything else at the CPI pace. If your combined Social Security clears those numbers with a small buffer, the scenario works. If it doesn't, the fix is a portfolio supplement of $150,000 to $300,000 in a conservative bucket, sized to absorb the insurance line and the roof-and-HVAC decade.
A $500,000 401(k) Balance Can Lose $140,000 to Hidden Fees. Here’s What to Do Now
A 1% annual fee gap on a $1 million 401(k) hands roughly $280,000 to fund companies instead of the retiree, per Department of Labor guidance. Fee drag hits hardest near retirement because it's charged on the full balance, and a 1% fee costs an $850,000 portfolio over $308,000 in its final 15 years. The Investment Company Institute's 2025 study put the asset-weighted average equity fund expense ratio inside 401(k)s at 0.26%, and the average target-date fund at 0.29%.
Chewy vs. Walmart: Which Consumer Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2026, revenue reached nearly $12.6 billion, representing growth of approximately 6.2% year over year. In the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, revenue reached roughly $713.2 billion, a 4.7% increase compared with the prior fiscal year. Net income for the period was close to $21.9 billion. This performance resulted in a net margin of approximately 3.1%, highlighting its ability to generate significant profit at a massive scale. In the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, the company generated roughly $14.9 billion in free cash flow, providing significant capital for dividends and growth. The debt-to-equity ratio is about 0.7x, meaning total debt is lower than shareholder equity. The current ratio, which measures the ability to meet short-term obligations, is approximately 0.8x. Note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 43.1% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement. In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2026, the company generated nearly $562.4 million in free cash flow.
This Stock Market Warning Signal Has Only Fired 5 Times Since 1871. Here Are 2 Stocks That Survived Every Time.
An initial investment of $10,000 in either Coca-Cola or P&G stock in 1990 would be worth more than $400,000 today, assuming dividends are reinvested.
Here's Why Coca-Cola's Magnificent Rise Could Come to an End on July 28
Comparable operating margin expanded from 33.8% to 34.5%, and comparable earnings per share (EPS) rose 18% to $0.86. Management is guiding for full-year organic revenue growth of 4% to 5% and adjusted comparable EPS growth of 8% to 9%.
Costco Delivers Another Strong Sales Report. Buy COST Stock Now for More Upside Ahead.
Costco Wholesale just reported June net sales of $29.24 billion, an impressive 10.6% year-over-year (YOY) increase for the five-week retail period ended July 5. Even better, the company said comparable sales for June jumped 8.8%. All of this included a 10% gain in the United States, a 3.7% jump in Canada, and a 4.7% increase in its international markets. In addition, e-commerce comparable sales were up nearly 21% for June. Its dividend payout ratio is 27.18%. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Costco appears well positioned to continue outperforming much of the retail sector. Several potential catalysts remain in place. That includes continued membership growth and high renewal rates, strength in e-commerce, stable demand for grocery and essential products, the expansion of international warehouse locations, and continued success of Kirkland Signature products. With a price target of $1,194, Ma said that while inflation continues to squeeze budgets, Costco finds a way to squeeze that into an advantage.
Indeed chief economist: Aging Baby Boomers are America’s real labor problem, not AI
Indeed Hiring Lab research projects the US labor force could shrink by nearly 6 million workers by 2032. Employers in healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, and the public sector keep telling us the same thing: they cannot find enough qualified workers, even in a slower labor market. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects the US could face a shortage of over 140,000 full-time physicians by 2038. According to an Indeed survey, while two-thirds of US workers view skill development as a personal priority, fewer than half believe their employer feels the same way.
American Eagle Outfitters vs. Abercrombie & Fitch: How Smart Investors Read Retail Revenue Trends
American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) operates as a fashion and lifestyle retail enterprise offering clothing, accessories, and personal care items primarily under its American Eagle and Aerie labels. While it recently initiated a phased shutdown of its third-party logistics business, it reported an approximately 2% net income margin for the quarter ended May 2, 2026. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) operates as an omnichannel retailer selling apparel and accessories for men, women, and kids across several brands, including Hollister. It opened a new flagship store in New York in June 2026, and it recorded an approximately 6% net income margin for the quarter ended May 2, 2026.
United Airlines Warns Fuel Spike Could Add $6 Billion to 2026 Costs
United reported second-quarter revenue of $17.67 billion, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $17.62 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.99 per share, ahead of expectations of $1.87 per share. The airline said its average fuel price was $4.19 per gallon during the quarter. Since early July, fuel costs have increased by another $575 million, which the company said will reduce third-quarter adjusted earnings by about $1.12 per share. United guided for third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.50 to $3.50 per share. The company expects full-year 2026 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $9 to $11 per share, versus prior guidance of $7 to $11 per share. Current analyst estimates call for $10.36 per share. United also said it expects adjusted capital expenditures to be $7.5 billion this year. It added that earnings could exceed the upper end of its guidance range if fuel prices return to early July levels. The airline also expects to recover 80% to 90% of higher fuel costs in the third quarter and fully recover those costs by the fourth quarter, despite projecting nearly $6 billion in additional fuel expense this year versus its initial outlook.
BlackRock Just Achieved Record AUM. How to Play BLK Stock After Q2.
Net inflows accelerated across ETFs, private markets, active fixed income, and systematic equity strategies, while the top and bottom lines comfortably topped Wall Street's expectations. Over the last 12 months, BlackRock attracted a remarkable $868 billion in net inflows, translating into 10% organic base fee growth. That momentum remained strong during the second quarter, with long-term net inflows reaching $199 billion, ahead of analysts' expectations and up sharply from $136 billion in the previous quarter. The company's core fee-generating businesses continued to expand. Investment advisory, administration, and securities lending revenue climbed to $5.73 billion, reflecting both YOY and sequential growth. Analysts tracking Blackrock expect its earnings path to look resilient. EPS for fiscal 2026 is expected to be $54.09 per share, up 12.5% annually, and then climb by 15.1% YOY to $62.27 per share in fiscal 2027. The mean price target of $1,257.89 suggests the stock could surge by 15.7% from the current price levels. Chairman and CEO Laurence Fink struck an optimistic tone while discussing the results, saying market fundamentals remain strong, supported by expanding profit margins, healthy earnings momentum, and rapid technological innovation.
Shopping for Portfolio Security? The iShares Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) Outperforms Invesco Food & Beverage (PBJ) in Cost, Yield, and Performance
iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF is the more affordable option with a 0.38% expense ratio compared to 0.61% for PBJ. iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF has paid $1.90 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$73.11 share price works out to a 2.50% yield. Invesco Food & Beverage ETF tracks the Dynamic Food & Beverage Intellidex Index, holding 31 equities. It allocates 70% to consumer defensive stocks, 8% to industrials, and 8% to consumer cyclical companies.
The Market Sold Alcoa After Earnings—But It May Be Missing the Real Story
Alcoa posted second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $1.53, down slightly from $1.60 in the first quarter, but an increase of over 140% from the prior year. Adjusted EPS, which strips out one-time items, came in stronger at $2.12, but missed estimates for $2.25 per share. Revenue climbed to $3.97 billion from $3.19 billion, driven largely by a sharp jump in realized aluminum prices. That number was also up around 31% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items reached $901 million, up $306 million from the prior quarter. Higher metal prices contributed $331 million of that gain. Volume added another $64 million. These are the kinds of numbers that typically send a stock higher, not lower. The financial terms are substantial. Alcoa will pay $3.1 billion in cash plus roughly 17 million newly issued shares, valued at nearly $1 billion. The deal also includes $600 million in assumed net debt and a contingent value right worth up to $750 million over four years. Management frames this as a natural fit. It consolidates like assets in close proximity and leverages Alcoa's existing Australian operations. The company expects roughly $900 million in net present value synergies, including $50 million in run-rate cost savings within a year of closing. Post-close leverage is expected to hold near 2.0x, and both S&P and Moody's have already affirmed Alcoa's credit ratings on a pro forma basis. That's a meaningful vote of confidence heading into a large transaction. The deal is targeted to close in the first half of 2027. Alumina demand is expected to rise even faster, up 32% over the same span. Supply growth is coming disproportionately from higher-cost regions like Indonesia and India. The South32 assets, by contrast, expand capacity at below-average capital intensity. That's a meaningful advantage in a market where new capacity is getting more expensive to build. It also strengthens Alcoa's position as what management calls a "pure-play upstream aluminum company."
Price Prediction: Netflix Has 140% Upside Despite the Post-Earnings Dip
Q2 revenue of $12.559 billion missed the $12.581 billion consensus by 0.17%, while EPS of $0.80 beat the $0.7883 estimate by 1.48%. Free cash flow collapsed to $1.53 billion from $2.27 billion, a 32.73% drop that spooked investors more than the small top-line slip. Management flagged that content amortization was front-loaded in H1 and will moderate in H2. Full-year 2026 guidance was narrowed to $51 billion to $51.4 billion with a 31.5% operating margin and roughly $12.5 billion in FCF, with ad revenue projected to roughly double to $3 billion. Regional growth is broad-based: LatAm 21%, APAC 16%, EMEA 14%, and North America 10%. The advertiser base is up 70% YoY to 4,000+ clients, and the ad-supported tier accounts for over 60% of new sign-ups in ad markets. Netflix is deploying generative AI across roughly 300 titles and its full advertising lifecycle. Q2 buybacks were $4.7 billion, the largest quarter ever, with $27.1 billion remaining authorized. Revenue growth has decelerated from 17.61% in Q4 25 to 13.37% in Q2 26, with Q3 guidance of just 12%.
Former retail giant closes more stores
After quietly shrinking its retail footprint over the past year, one of the nation's largest office supply chains is set to close more stores in August, extending its ongoing effort to adapt to changing consumer demand. As online shopping grows in popularity and digital tools replace many paper-based workflows, retailers focused on workplace products have been forced to rethink their physical footprints. Rising operating costs and an uncertain economic environment have only accelerated that shift. Circana projects the U.S. office supplies market will generate $11.1 billion in sales in 2026, representing a modest 0.1% decline, while unit sales are expected to fall 2.8%. According to WifiTalents, online purchasing now accounts for 28% of industry revenue, while mobile apps generate 72% of business-to-business orders, highlighting how shopping behavior continues to move away from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. IBISWorld also expects continued pressure on the sector as retailers contend with declining demand, digitalization, and intense competition. The firm projects industry revenue will total $20.9 billion in 2025, down 1.8% from the previous year, extending a five-year compound annual growth rate of -4.0%.
J.P. Morgan Says These 2 Beaten-Down IPO Stocks Could Rebound
ERock went public through an IPO on June 10. The company sold 27,906,977 shares at $21.50 each, raising about $600 million in gross proceeds. Since then, the stock has fallen about 42% as investors have taken a cautious view despite the company's exposure to the fast-growing AI data center market. Much of that caution reflects concerns over persistent net losses, uncertainty about how quickly its roughly $1.3 billion contracted backlog will convert into revenue, and customer concentration risks. In addition, about 80% of the company's sales come from Texas, while roughly half of its 2025 revenue was generated by just three customers, raising questions about the durability and diversification of its growth. Despite those concerns, there is reason for optimism about EROC's long-term prospects, and JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse believes the company is well positioned for the years ahead. "We believe EROC's modular, natural-gas fired power solutions are ideally positioned to benefit from structural demand for bridge power solutions that can supply power before a grid connection is available, a market we believe particularly attractive for data centers. Given EROC's ability to also provide grid services in addition to serving as back-up or dispatchable power once a grid connection is made, we also expect EROC to gain share from competing diesel generators that are more limited to back-up only. We believe contracted backlog supporting visibility into above-average growth off a low base should buoy the company's valuation as earnings ramp," the 5-star analyst opined. Reflecting that confidence, Strouse rates EROC shares Overweight (i.e., Buy) and assigns a $24 price target, implying a 122% upside over the next 12 months. Next up is fintech company Wise, a leading provider of cross-border money transfers and multi-currency accounts for both consumers and businesses. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in London, the company now serves around 19 million customers worldwide. During fiscal 2026, Wise processed more than $243 billion in cross-border payment volume, up 31% year over year, while nearly half of its net revenue came from products beyond cross-border transfers, highlighting the company's expanding ecosystem. Wise boasts several advantages for investors. These include long-term plans for expanding the business while continuing to grow profits, as well as a $43 trillion annual cross-border payments market and a strong track record of execution. The company has steadily grown its customer base while maintaining industry-leading pricing, with an average fee of just 0.52% per transaction. That combination of strong operating performance and a weakened share price has caught the attention of JPMorgan analyst Craig McDowell, who remains optimistic about the company's long-term outlook. "We rate Wise as an Overweight, on the view that Wise can continue to grow cross-border volumes and revenues by taking share as it exploits its competitive (cost) advantage which we view as sustainable, but requiring continued investment in technology, marketing and price. Wise should see multiple expansion as the market appreciates its evolution towards a financial services infrastructure provider – with corresponding longer duration and more efficient growth and higher multiple," McDowell wrote. That Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating comes with a target price of $17.50, indicating room for a one-year share price gain of 37%.
The next Wall Street shift is already underway
The collateral sitting idle in traditional settlement cycles represents hundreds of billions of dollars tied up in a process that modern infrastructure could make instantaneous. Extended hours trading already accounts for more than 11% of all U.S. equity activity, more than double its share six years ago, according to NYSE research, a sign of how much investor demand is already pressing against the boundaries of conventional market hours. "The biggest shift won't simply be longer trading hours; it will be continuous, more efficient settlement," said Lynq CEO Jerald David in an interview with TheStreet. Achieving that requires more than software updates. It requires rebuilding the infrastructure that governs how assets and cash flow between institutions. Harry Hwang, CEO of Flowra, told TheStreet the transformation will depend on "a robust technological foundation, real-time risk management, and global interoperability" between markets. Without that foundation, extending trading hours or adding new asset types creates new bottlenecks rather than solving existing ones. The number of private companies valued at more than $1 billion has grown from 280 in 2017 to more than 1,500 by 2025, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, while the number of publicly listed U.S. companies has fallen to roughly half its 1990s peak. More value creation is now happening in private markets before companies go public, yet private asset transactions still run largely on manual processes, fragmented records, and informal price discovery.
Uber (UBER) Expands Uber Eats Retail Reach With Foot Locker And 1,000 Stores
Uber Technologies, trading at $72.46, is leaning further into retail delivery as it looks beyond its core ride hailing and restaurant segments. The stock is down 12.6% year to date and down 20.0% over the past year, while it is up 53.4% over three years and 52.7% over five years. For investors following NYSE:UBER, the scale of more than 1,000 added locations gives a concrete reference point for how the retail offering is expanding across the U.S. The tie up with Foot Locker brings more than 1,000 athletic retail locations onto Uber Eats, which broadens Uber Technologies' non restaurant commerce presence. Profit margins currently stand at 15.9% compared with 27.1% last year, so the impact of retail delivery on profitability is an important watchpoint.
What a New Uber Eats Deal Means for GameStop Stock
GameStop released its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on June 2, reporting a sharp improvement in profitability alongside a return to revenue growth. Net sales increased 14% year-over-year (YOY) to $835.3 million from $732.4 million in the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by strong demand. Collectibles revenue surged to $348.9 million from $211.5 million a year earlier, more than offsetting declines in hardware and accessories, which fell to $333.7 million from $345.3 million, and software sales, which decreased to $152.7 million from $175.6 million. Adjusted operating income climbed significantly to $140.5 million, compared with $27.5 million in the year-ago period, while net income jumped to $389.6 million from $44.8 million. Plus, Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled approximately $9.7 billion at quarter-end, providing the company with financial flexibility. Also, management announced a new $2 billion share repurchase authorization, effective through June 2, 2029, replacing the company's previous buyback program.
Warren Buffett Looks for Value in Today’s Market But Comes Up Empty: ‘Everybody Is Preferring Gambling’
Berkshire Hathaway underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&P 500, in 2025. The underperformance could continue in 2026 with Berkshire Hathaway sitting on a cash and short-term investment holding balance nearing $400 billion. That $397 billion continues to sit on the sidelines as stocks hit record highs across many sectors. The company's continued bet on holding cash and looking for value has the stock underperforming (-1.4%) against the S&P 500 (+10.0%) once again in 2026.
Homebuyers lose ground as housing affordability slams shut
That qualifying figure climbed from $93,552 in January to $109,152 by June, a $15,600 jump driven by rising home prices and stubborn mortgage rates. Signed contracts to buy existing homes dropped 5.4% in June, the steepest monthly decline of the year, NAR showed. NAR's Housing Affordability Index has declined for five consecutive months, retreating from a nearly four-year high of 116.5 at the start of 2026. In June, the median single-family home cost $446,400, and qualifying for a mortgage on that price required $109,152 in annual household income. Year-over-year, the picture looks slightly more favorable because wage growth of 3.5%, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed, outpaced the 1.8% year-over-year rise in home prices reported by NAR. The average 30-year fixed rate also fell from 6.82% a year ago to 6.49% in June, easing monthly costs somewhat for buyers who could still qualify. Readings have remained below the 40-point threshold for 15 consecutive months, the longest such stretch since 2012, the NAHB reported. In July, 37% of builders reduced home prices, up from 35% in June and 32% in May, a clear three-month acceleration, NAHB's latest survey showed. The average price cut held steady at 6%, and nearly two-thirds of builders reported offering sales incentives to keep transactions moving forward. Builders offering rate buydowns or closing-cost credits can push a buyer's monthly payment below what a comparable resale listing would cost at market rate. Resale sellers rarely have the financial margin to match a builder's closing-cost or rate buydown package in the current environment. The country is short an estimated 4.03 million homes, Realtor.com reported in its 2026 housing supply gap analysis. Even under an optimistic scenario in which construction increases 50% above 2025 levels, closing the deficit would take about seven years, the Realtor.com report estimated.
Which Real Estate ETF Is the Better Buy: Vanguard's VNQ or State Street's RWO?
The Vanguard fund charges a 0.13% expense ratio, which is less than one-third of the 0.50% fee for the SPDR fund. Vanguard Real Estate ETF has paid $3.47 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$100.07 share price works out to a 3.60% yield. State Street SPDR Dow Jones Global Real Estate ETF has paid $1.60 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$51.38 share price works out to a 3.10% yield.
She Claimed Social Security at 62 and Kept Working. The Earnings Limit Took Back $1 of Every $2.
The Social Security earnings test deducts $1 for every $2 earned above $24,480, a limit most full-time workers earning roughly $64,000 annually easily blow past. Claiming at 62 permanently cuts benefits up to 30%, and earning $50,000 on top eliminates over eight months of annual benefit checks through withholding. The number matters because it sits well below what most full-time workers earn. Median usual weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers hit $1,235 in the first quarter of 2026, which, annualized, amounts to roughly $64,000. Average hourly earnings across the private sector reached $37.64 in June 2026. A 62-year-old working even 30 hours a week at that rate blows past the $24,480 limit before autumn. Every dollar earned beyond that threshold pulls 50 cents from the monthly benefit. The average retired worker who filed at 62 receives about $1,424 per month, well below the average check of roughly $2,083 for all retired workers. Consider a worker who claims $1,500 a month at 62 and earns $50,000 from a part-time or bridge job. That job puts $25,520 over the $24,480 threshold, and Social Security withholds half, or $12,760 for the year. That is more than eight months of benefits gone. The earnings test loosens the closer a worker gets to full retirement age. In the calendar year FRA is reached, the deduction changes to $1 for every $3 earned above $65,160, and only earnings before the birthday month count. Withheld benefits are not permanently forfeited. At full retirement age, the Social Security Administration recalculates the monthly benefit upward to credit back the months in which benefits were withheld. The personal savings rate fell to 3.9% in the first quarter of 2026, down from 6.2% two years earlier. Average annual consumer expenditures reached $78,535 in 2024, and the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security was 2.8%.
If You'd Invested $1,000 in Costco Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today
$17,790. In its third quarter of fiscal 2026, revenue jumped 12%, while net income rose 15%.
Verizon makes drastic move as battle for customers intensifies
Verizon later laid off more than 13,000 employees in November to simplify its operations and reduce complexity and friction in its business to better serve customers. The wireless market has intensified in recent years as Verizon's top rivals, T-Mobile and AT&T, have doubled down on offering more value and generous promotions to attract price-conscious customers. All three carriers also face increased competition from mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which are becoming more popular for offering consumers mobile service at lower prices compared to traditional wireless providers. Amid tougher wireless competition, the average cost of an unlimited wireless service plan decreased by over 10% in 2025, according to recent data from Ctia.
DIA’s 10-Year Shortfall: How a 186.7% Return Masks a $128K Hidden Cost
DIA gained just 187% over the past decade while the S&P 500 returned 315%, a performance gap that never appears on any fund fact sheet. VOO (0.03%) and SPY (0.09%) both hold all 30 Dow stocks inside a 500-stock basket while outperforming DIA across every measured timeframe. DIA's price-weighted design lets smaller companies outweigh trillion-dollar tech giants, structurally cutting exposure to the mega-caps that powered the last decade's gains. Over the past ten years, DIA has gained 186.7%. The same money in a plain S&P 500 tracker gained 314.79%. That gap is the hidden cost, and it did not show up on any fact sheet. DIA is not a low-cost index fund by 2026 standards. Its two natural mirrors, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY), charge 0.03% and 0.0945% respectively. Over the past five years, DIA returned 50.77% while VOO returned 86%. Year to date through July 10, 2026, DIA is up 9.41% against VOO's 11.32%, and over the trailing year DIA delivered 17.76% to VOO's 22.04%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is price-weighted, meaning a $500 stock moves the index more than a $50 stock regardless of company size. You end up with a 30-stock portfolio where a mid-sized industrial can outweigh a trillion-dollar tech giant.
NFLX Stock Slips Overnight: Why This Analyst Sees 60% Upside Amid Post-Earnings Gloom
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) has received an upgrade from Phillip Securities, which views the streaming giant’s recent stock pullback as a potential opportunity, citing subscriber momentum, pricing strength, advertising growth, and long-term earnings prospects as key drivers of further upside. The brokerage kept its $110 price target unchanged, implying nearly a 60% upside to the stock’s last closing price. Analyst Helena Wang said the valuation reset after the stock’s downturn creates a more attractive risk-reward setup. The firm believes Netflix continues to benefit from steady subscriber momentum, stronger pricing capability, growing advertising revenue opportunities and one of the strongest profit profiles in the entertainment sector. Netflix has shown no signs of weakening user engagement, according to the analyst’s assessment. Phillip Securities sees the company’s earnings expansion gaining momentum as its advertising business continues to develop and contribute more to overall revenue.
UNH Stock Tracks Hot Monthly Streak: Wall Street Cheers ‘Impressive’ Q2 And Sees Over 20% More Room To Run
UnitedHealth posted adjusted EPS of $6.38, beating the $4.92 consensus and rising from $4.08 a year ago. Revenue of $112.03 billion also topped estimates, while the medical care ratio improved to 86.7% from 89.4%. Additionally, the company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20 from more than $18.25, lifted UnitedHealthcare’s operating profit forecast to at least $12 billion, and increased Optum Health’s outlook to at least $2.2 billion. Medicare Advantage drove the beat, with costs coming in below expectations. “Medicare delivered a strong second quarter,” UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel said.
Etsy Executive Chair Silverman Sells 22,881 Shares for $1.9 Million -- Should Investors Take Note?
At the time of the transaction on July 15, 2026, shares had delivered a 54% total return over the preceding 12-month period. Etsy, Inc. operates as a leading specialty retail platform with a market capitalization of $8.0 billion and TTM revenue of $2.9 billion, demonstrating significant scale in the online marketplace sector. The company's business model is built on a multi-sided marketplace platform that aggregates independent sellers and buyers, capturing value through transaction-based fees and ancillary services while maintaining a capital-light operational structure. Etsy has achieved strong profitability with TTM net income of $284.8 million, reflecting operational leverage and disciplined cost management.
Nestlé to shut confectionery plant in Hungary
According to the Switzerland-based food giant, demand has fallen in recent years, which has led to output at the site dropping "significantly". The plant contributes less than 3% of Nestlé's revenue in Hungary and under 1% of its domestic manufacturing volume, it said.
Burberry sales climb 5% in Q1 as US and China drive growth
UK luxury retailer Burberry has posted a 5% rise in comparable retail sales for its first quarter, with the Americas and Greater China providing the strongest momentum. Retail revenue for the 13 weeks to 27 June 2026 came in at £455m ($612.8m) on a reported basis. On a constant currency basis, the figure was up 4%, with exchange rates adding a 1% boost. Store space reduced revenue by 1% over the quarter. The Americas stood out with comparable sales up 12%, which the company put down to local demand and a wide base of new customers. Greater China followed with growth of 9%, aided by local spending and an expanding customer base among Gen Z shoppers, notably those born approximately between 1997 and 2012. Online sales advanced at a mid-teens pace during the quarter. Burberry also confirmed it has lifted its wholesale guidance for the first half of FY27, citing what it called a positive response from trading partners.
Tata’s Westside plans up to 100 store openings a year – report
Tata Group's fashion and lifestyle retail chain Westside is planning to open up to 100 outlets a year, marking a substantial step-up from its previous rate of expansion. The company is aiming to lift e-commerce's share of Westside's total revenue to 10%, up from around 6% in the quarter ended 31 March. In an April investor presentation, Trent noted: "Consumers are spending with caution, resulting in moderation of discretionary spending on the back of continuing macro uncertainties and potential increase in cost of living". A newly deployed AI software suite has increased weekly design output from the company's 50 in-house designers to between 400 and 500 designs, compared with a former average of 50. Parti said the company is working to reduce production lead times for trend-led items to 30 days.
Others
Fifth Third Profit Boosted by Comerica Acquisition
The Fifth Third Bank parent posted a profit of $763 million, or 83 cents a share, in the second quarter.
STAAR Surgical reports Q2 sales to exceed $90M
STAAR Surgical (STAA) shares fell nearly 12% even as the company reported preliminary second-quarter net sales of more than $90M that topped analysts' estimate of $89.39M and more than doubled from $44.3M a year earlier.
REGENXBIO stock dips on $100M equity offering
REGENXBIO (RGNX) priced an underwritten public offering of about 10M common shares at $9.00 each and 1.11M pre-funded warrants at $8.9999 apiece, with expected gross proceeds of approximately $100M before fees and expenses.
Netflix Q2: The Report Wasn't As Bad As The Sell-Off Suggests
Netflix delivered Q2 results in line with its own guidance, but shares fell 8% as guidance came in below analysts' estimates. Future growth will increasingly rely on ad revenue expansion and price increases as core subscriber growth moderates.
Oil Rises More Than 2% As U.S.-Iran Tensions Remain High
Oil prices extended gains in early U.S. trade, with Brent crude up 2.1% and WTI futures rising 2.4%.
U.S. Import Prices Unexpectedly Rise in June
Overall import prices rose 0.3% in June, less than the downwardly revised increase of 1.7% in May, the data showed.
Intuitive Surgical falls as concerns over U.S. procedure growth overshadow Q2 beat
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) was a notable decliner in the premarket on Friday despite reporting better-than-expected Q2 2026 financials, as analysts raised concerns about U.S. growth in its da Vinci robotic surgical systems. The Sunnyvale, California-based MedTech reported $2.89B of revenue for the
Orion Oyj (ORINF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Our net sales growth accelerated and also profitability improved during Q2.
UCB SA: From Rebuild To Re-Rating (Initiating Buy)
Bimzelx is the principal growth engine for UCBJY, with €2.23bn in 2025 sales and multi-indication approvals driving robust operating leverage. UCBJY stock valuation at ~17–18x 2027E earnings appears conservative given strong cash generation, durable growth, and manageable leverage.
JPMorgan sexual harassment lawsuit dismissed, refiling expected
Rana sued JPMorgan and Hajdini on April 27, and replaced his lawyers last month.
Travelers shares rise after Q2 earnings crush estimates on lower catastrophe losses
Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE:TRV) shares rose more than 8% on Friday after the insurer reported second-quarter earnings that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations, helped by lower catastrophe losses, higher investment income and strong underwriting performance. The company posted adjusted core earnings of $10.04 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, comfortably ahead of the consensus estimate of about $5.39. Revenue came in at $12.15 billion, broadly in line with analyst expectations. Net income increased to $2.21 billion, or $10.26 per diluted share, from $1.51 billion, or $6.53 per diluted share, a year earlier. Core income rose to $2.16 billion from $1.50 billion in the prior-year quarter. Travelers reported a consolidated combined ratio of 83.6%, improving from 90.3% a year earlier and substantially better than analysts had anticipated. The result reflected lower catastrophe losses, which fell to $518 million pre-tax from $927 million a year ago, as well as higher favorable prior-year reserve development and stronger underlying underwriting results. Net investment income increased 14% year over year to $883 million after tax. During the quarter, Travelers returned $1.58 billion of capital to shareholders, including $1.31 billion through share repurchases.
Truecaller AB (publ) (TRUBF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
In Q2, the average monthly active user was 471 million, which is a growth of 10% year-on-year. Our average DAU was 409 million, which is 11% growth year-on-year, and we continue to have a very healthy engagement with a DAU/MAU ratio of 87%. Net sales decreased with 21% year-on-year in SEK. Our EBITDA decreased by 49%, and we reported a margin of 22.4%, including incentive costs. In terms of user growth, we added 8 million users this quarter, which is 44 million users year-on-year.
If I Could Only Buy 1 Dividend ETF With $1,000 Right Now, Here's Where I'd Invest
The U.S. equity market has experienced multiple asset rotations and bouts of volatility over the past year. In 2025, tech and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks were dominating. Moving into 2026, small-cap, value, and dividend stocks rotated into market leadership. In the second quarter, it was back to tech stocks. Today, tech is showing signs of fatigue, and defensive sectors are outperforming. The Schwab ETF ultimately produces a fairly narrow portfolio of around 100 stocks that have passed numerous quality and dividend screens. Its selection process considers the cash flow-to-debt ratio, return on equity (ROE), dividend yield, and dividend growth rate to build its portfolio. The overall objective is to create a "best of the best" dividend stock ETF that focuses on quality companies with sustainable dividends. The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF's 3.3% yield isn't necessarily the highest you can find in the dividend ETF space, but it might be the most sustainable.
Transparency Declaration Notification
On July 16, 2026, Ontex received a transparency declaration confirming that, on July 8, 2026, the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., detained 598,911 Ontex voting rights and 1,916,399 equivalent financial instruments or 2,515,310 combined, representing respectively 0.73%, 2.33% and 3.05% of Ontex's issued shares. The combined holding thereby crossed upward the threshold of 3%. On July 15, 2026, Ontex received a transparency declaration confirming that, on July 9, 2026, the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., detained 23,338 Ontex voting rights and 1,807,006 equivalent financial instruments or 1,830,344 combined, representing respectively 0.03%, 2.19% and 2.22% of Ontex's issued shares. The combined holding thereby crossed downward the threshold of 3%. Ontex is a leading international developer and producer of baby care, feminine care and adult care products, both for retailers and healthcare, primarily in Europe and North America. The group employs around 5,000 people, with plants and offices in 12 countries, and its innovative products are distributed in around 100 countries.
VYM’s $94.6 Billion Portfolio Beats Treasury Yields with Dividend Kings Leading the Way
VYM's $94.6 billion portfolio delivered a 21.6% total return over the past year while maintaining a well-covered dividend stream backed by blue-chip free cash flow. AbbVie's Skyrizi and Rinvoq now generate $6.6 billion per quarter, providing roughly 2x dividend coverage despite Humira's 38% revenue decline. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) raised its quarterly payout from $1.30 to $1.34 in Q2 2026, extending its Dividend King streak.
Kopi Kenangan IPO: Serena Williams, Jay-Z-backed coffee chain eyes listing
Kopi Kenangan, the Indonesian coffee chain whose backers include tennis star Serena Williams and hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z, has approached banks about a possible IPO that could put its valuation at as much as $1 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Established in 2017, the company uses only Indonesian-grown beans and has expanded its footprint across six countries, among them Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Australia. It currently has upward of 1,300 locations and is targeting around 550 additional openings through 2026. Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Edward Tirtanata disclosed in a January LinkedIn post that the company's 2025 net revenue climbed 45% year over year to $184 million, with net profit coming in at $17 million.
Adobe vs. Autodesk: What Revenue Trends Reveal About These Software Stocks
Adobe experienced a massive drop in its share price this year after Wall Street became fearful artificial intelligence will eat into its business, and its CEO and CFO announced they were leaving. As its revenue trend reveals, sales continue to grow. Certainly, there’s uncertainty with the change in leadership, but Adobe’s revenue demonstrates its leadership position and ability to continue gaining customer spend as it incorporates AI into its software. With its shares well below the 52-week high of $376.16 reached in 2025, now is a good time to consider buying its shares. This trend stopped for Autodesk in its fiscal first quarter, ended April 30, as revenue dipped to $1.9 billion. That’s because the company underwent a reorganization of its sales team, which impacted its latest quarter’s results. Even so, Autodesk expects its current fiscal year to deliver strong performance, and raised its revenue guidance to around $8.5 billion, an impressive increase from the prior year’s $7.2 billion.
FTX to distribute roughly $900 million to creditors in fifth wave of payouts
So far the company's bankruptcy estate has distributed nearly $10 billion to creditors and other claimants since repayments began in 2025.
STAAR drops despite early Q2 beat amid concerns over outlook
STAAR Surgical (STAA) lost ~10% on Friday, potentially on track to record its worst one-day drop since February 2025 as analysts raised concerns over MedTech’s outlook despite its better-than-expected preliminary sales figures for Q2 2026.
Is Deere (DE) Cheap After Its Right To Repair Settlement?
Deere stock has delivered a solid 79.8% return over the past five years. The recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission on farmers' right to repair can support clearer visibility on future margins and cash flows. At the same time, the required access to tools and software may also introduce some pressure on service revenue and profitability. Deere's latest twelve month free cash flow sits at about $3.7b, and the model assumes cash flows continue growing rather than shrinking, using a two stage forecast that tapers to more modest growth over time. On those assumptions, the DCF points to an intrinsic value of about $736 per share, compared with a current market price that implies roughly an 18.9% discount. Deere currently trades at about 33.7x earnings, compared with a Machinery industry average of roughly 27.2x and a peer group average around 26.5x. That means the stock changes hands at a lower earnings multiple than the fair ratio suggests, even after taking into account the current industry context and company specific risks. The P/E therefore aligns with the DCF work in indicating a valuation that leaves some room between today's price and what these frameworks show. For Deere, both the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate and the earnings multiple work point toward an undervalued stock, but the broader valuation checks are still on the weak side.
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Is Sinking After Earnings — Should You Buy the Dip?
In the second quarter, Netflix reported $12.56 billion in revenue, reflecting 13% year-over-year growth and marking a record quarterly high. Neither the revenue nor the EPS was too far away from Wall Street's consensus estimates. Analysts were expecting $12.58 billion on the top-line and $0.79 per share for GAAP EPS. For the current quarter, it expects $12.86 billion in revenue, reflecting 12% year-over-year growth. Net income is forecast at $3.45 billion or $0.82 per share, anticipating an improvement of 36%. The analyst consensus for the third quarter sits at $13 billion in revenue and $0.84 per share GAAP EPS. For the full year, management narrowed its revenue guidance to a range of $51 billion to $51.4 billion, while earlier it was expecting top-line to land between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion. The company reported that viewers watched more than 97 billion hours of content in the first half of 2026, a company record.
Why Travelers Companies Stock Crushed the Market Today
For the quarter, Travelers' revenue inched up by 1% year-over-year to almost $12.2 billion, on the back of net written premiums that slumped by roughly the same percentage to $11.5 billion. The latter figure topped the consensus analyst estimate of $11.3 billion. Net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) surged 46% higher to just over $2.2 billion, or $10.26 per share. That absolutely crushed the average pundit estimate of $5.34.
Why StubHub Stock Plummeted by 13% This Week
StubHub Holdings (STUB 4.10%) took a drubbing over the past few days, due to a new law in a major metropolitan market that could ding the ticket company's business. Investors didn't like the sound of that, and many reacted by selling their shares. This resulted in a 13% dive over the week for StubHub's stock, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The measure, whose name stands for "restricting egregious scalping against live entertainment," imposes a 10% cap on secondary-ticket sale markups. That's quite the curb on StubHub's local business, as it relies on hefty markups for profitability. In Bazinet's estimation, if those caps average 15% for StubHub, its revenue could take a hit of around 30%. It wouldn't take much to affect the company's profitability, either; according to his calculations, if around 20% of its ticket sales are subject to legally mandated caps, its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) could slide by about $95 million.
The Bull Case For JPMorgan Chase (JPM) Could Change Following Record-Breaking Q2 2026 Profit And Guidance
Earlier this week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reported second-quarter 2026 results showing record net income of US$21,155 million, higher net interest income, and earnings per share from continuing operations rising to US$7.70 diluted, alongside upgraded full-year 2026 net interest income guidance to about US$105.50 billion. The bank's performance marked the biggest-ever quarterly profit reported by a U.S. bank, reflecting broad-based strength across trading, investment banking, consumer banking, and markets-related net interest income. JPMorgan Chase Investment Narrative Recap To own JPMorgan Chase today, you need to believe its scale and diversified engine across consumer, corporate, and markets businesses can support durable earnings, even as regulation, fintech competition, and interest rate swings challenge returns. The record Q2 2026 profit and higher full year net interest income guidance reinforce that story in the near term, but they also underline the key short term swing factor: how sustainable markets and trading strength really is, versus the risk of a sharp slowdown. JPMorgan Chase's narrative projects $217.0 billion revenue and $65.4 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 7.7% yearly revenue growth and about a $7.9 billion earnings increase from $57.5 billion today.
DKSH Holding AG (DKSHF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
The correct first half 2026 earnings per share figure is CHF 1.56 per share and
Disney (DIS) Moves Marvel To Burbank And Backs Five New Cruise Ships
Disney is planning a major expansion of its cruise line, with five new ships as part of a stated $60b Experiences division investment. Marvel's shift to Burbank brings publishing closer to Disney's core creative and corporate hubs, which could affect how characters and stories flow across film, streaming, games, and parks. At the same time, the decision to commit $60b to the Experiences division, including five new cruise ships, keeps Disney firmly invested in large scale, physical guest experiences that differ from pure media peers. Consolidating more than 100 Marvel publishing staff in Burbank puts writers, editors, film teams, and corporate leadership in closer proximity, which may tighten coordination across comics, films, streaming, games, and parks. That can be important because Marvel characters often feed into box office, series, merchandise, and attractions. At the same time, committing US$60b to Experiences, including five additional cruise ships, reinforces Disney's reliance on physical destinations to differentiate itself from media peers such as Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Comcast. The relocation of Marvel publishing to Burbank supports the narrative theme that refreshed intellectual property can feed cruises, parks, and consumer products, which is central to Walt Disney's focus on Experiences. The heavy emphasis on cruises and park expansion could challenge the part of the narrative that highlights digital integration as a key driver, because it concentrates more capital in asset intensive projects than in software and streaming.
TJX (TJX) Stock Looks Above Fair Value As Earnings Outrun Fair Value
TJX Companies stock has delivered a strong 143.7% return over the past five years, yet the current valuation checks suggest the shares are not obviously cheap after that run. The fair P/E ratio suggested by the model is around 21.5x. This is intended to reflect TJX Companies' earnings profile, scale and risk level more precisely than a simple industry average. Compared with the current 29.5x, the shares are pricing in a materially richer multiple than this tailored benchmark. P/E is often the cleanest way to compare TJX Companies with other retailers, because it ties the share price directly to current earnings. TJX Companies currently trades on a P/E of about 29.5x, which sits above both the Specialty Retail industry average of roughly 20.6x and the peer group average of about 26.3x. On this P/E metric, TJX Companies stock screens as overvalued relative to both its industry and the model's fair ratio.
American Express (AXP) Joins X402 And Raises Platinum Card Fee To $895
American Express (NYSE:AXP) has joined Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe in backing the x402 Foundation, an AI driven, open source payment protocol initiative. The Board has declared a quarterly dividend of $9,072.22 per Series D preferred share, equivalent to $9.07222 per related Depositary Share, payable on September 15, 2026 to holders on September 1, 2026. That decision sits alongside American Express joining the x402 AI driven payment protocol project and lifting the Platinum card fee to $895 from $695, both of which point to continued investment in premium customers and payments infrastructure.
Deere Stock Has Done OK. Stick With It.
IBM Stock Looks Bruised, Not Broken Over The Long Term
International Business Machines Corporation’s (IBM) preliminary Q2 results were disappointing, and the market was clearly harsh in its response.
3 Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 5 Years
1. Hormel Foods: A Dividend King in the middle of a comeback Hormel Foods (HRL 1.25%) is one of the most reliable dividend payers in the entire market. It has paid an uninterrupted quarterly dividend since going public in 1928 and raised that payout for decades, earning it Dividend King status. (A Dividend King is any company that has raised its annual dividend for 50 or more consecutive years.) The yield today sits comfortably above the market average, which is unusual for a company this steady. 2. McCormick: The quiet toll taker on flavor McCormick (MKC 2.27%) may be the most boring great business in your grocery store, and I mean that as a compliment. It sells the spices, seasonings, and condiments that go into food everywhere, from the McCormick bottles in your cabinet to Frank's RedHot, French's, and Cholula, plus the flavorings it supplies behind the scenes to restaurants and packaged-food makers. That gives it a toll-taker quality: No matter which food trend wins, the flavor usually runs through McCormick. 3. J.M. Smucker: Coffee, pet treats, and a breakout sandwich J.M. Smucker (SJM 1.72%) rounds out the group with a portfolio that spans at-home coffee like Folgers and Dunkin, pet snacks like Milk-Bone and Meow Mix, and its spreads business anchored by Jif and Smucker's. The standout, though, is Uncrustables, the frozen, crustless sandwich that has grown into one of the company's most important brands and still has room to run as it expands into more stores and channels. The takeaway for investors None of these three will double overnight, and that is the point. For a five-year hold, Hormel Foods, McCormick, and J.M. Smucker offer the combination that actually compounds wealth quietly: durable demand, long dividend track records, and real plans to keep improving.
Netflix shares fall after weaker-than-expected third-quarter guidance disappoints investors (NFLX)
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares dropped around 9% in pre-market trading on Friday after the streaming company issued third-quarter revenue and earnings guidance that came in below Wall Street forecasts, prompting renewed concerns about its near-term growth outlook. Third-quarter guidance falls short of expectations Netflix expects third-quarter earnings of $0.82 per share, below the analyst consensus of $0.84. The company also projected revenue of $12.86 billion, missing market expectations of $13.0 billion. The company also announced that it will publish its viewing-hours report once a year instead of twice annually beginning in January 2027. The move is intended to direct greater investor attention toward financial performance, particularly revenue growth and operating profit. Netflix stopped reporting quarterly subscriber figures in 2025. Netflix shares have declined more than 40% over the past 12 months as investors reassessed the company's long-term growth prospects. Revenue increased 13% year over year to $12.56 billion but came in slightly below the consensus forecast of $12.58 billion.
Intuitive Surgical shares slide despite earnings beat as 2026 outlook underwhelms
The robotic surgery specialist reported adjusted earnings of $2.80 per share for the quarter, exceeding analyst estimates of $2.51 by $0.29. Revenue increased 19% year over year to $2.89 billion from $2.44 billion in the second quarter of 2025, also ahead of the consensus forecast of $2.82 billion. Combined worldwide procedures across the company's da Vinci and Ion platforms increased approximately 16% during the second quarter. Da Vinci procedures rose roughly 15%, while Ion procedures climbed approximately 36%. The company installed 468 da Vinci surgical systems during the quarter, up from 395 in the same period last year. The total included 246 installations of the latest da Vinci 5 platform. Revenue from instruments and accessories advanced 18% to $1.73 billion, while systems revenue increased to $685 million from $575 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025. As of June 30, 2026, Intuitive Surgical had an installed base of 11,710 da Vinci surgical systems worldwide, representing a 12% increase from 10,488 systems a year earlier.
Cohen & Steers exceeds second-quarter forecasts as inflows and assets under management climb (CNS)
Revenue increased to $152.7 million, above expectations of $146.05 million and up 12% from $136.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. Strong inflows drive AUM above $100 billion The investment manager generated net inflows of $1.3 billion during the quarter, representing its strongest quarterly inflow since the fourth quarter of 2021 and extending its streak of organic growth to four consecutive quarters. Assets under management reached $100.1 billion at the end of the quarter, rising 7.5% from $93.1 billion in the previous quarter. Adjusted earnings were $0.85 per share, outperforming the analyst consensus forecast of $0.83.
Regions Financial tops second-quarter forecasts as profit and lending improve (RF)
Adjusted earnings came in at $0.68 per share, ahead of analysts' consensus estimate of $0.63. Adjusted revenue rose to $1.95 billion, surpassing the expected $1.94 billion and increasing 2% compared with the same period last year. Net interest income climbed 2% quarter over quarter to $1.28 billion, benefiting from continued loan growth, the rollover of fixed-rate assets and ongoing management of deposit costs. The bank's net interest margin stood at 3.66%. Average loans increased 2% to $98.7 billion, driven by broad-based commercial and industrial lending across sectors including manufacturing, power and utilities, government and retail trade. Wealth management revenue reached a record $150 million, marking the fifth record-setting quarter in the past six quarters. Adjusted non-interest income increased 7% year over year. Reported non-interest income rose 1%, reflecting a $40 million loss associated with a securities repositioning initiative. Asset quality strengthened during the quarter, with annualised net charge-offs declining to 42 basis points from 54 basis points in the previous quarter. The allowance for credit losses ratio decreased to 1.63%, while coverage of non-performing loans improved to 241%. Regions also maintained solid capital levels, reporting an estimated Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 10.7%.
The S&P 500 is breaking the earnings playbook: Chart of the Day
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is in an earnings boom. The usual earnings bust never came. Wall Street's forecast for S&P 500 profits over the next year has climbed to about $373 per share, up roughly 32% from a year ago. That is a rare number. Since 1990, forward earnings growth has been stronger only in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and the pandemic. Back then, however, Wall Street was rebounding from deep cuts to its forecasts. Not this time. Earnings per share, or EPS, measures profit on a per-share basis. Forward 12-month EPS uses analysts' estimates for the coming year rather than reported results from the past year. Forward S&P 500 earnings fell about 38% around the financial crisis and 22% during the pandemic. The dip preceding the current boom was only about 6%. The market still got a reset. It just came through stock prices instead of collapsing profits. During the S&P 500's 25% bear-market slide from January through October 2022, forward EPS actually rose about 5%. Forecasts peaked later and ultimately fell just 6%. That sent the index's forward price-to-earnings ratio, which compares current prices with expected profits, from about 21.5 times earnings to 15.3 times. The current boom is not confined to one tiny pocket of the market. All 11 S&P 500 sectors have positive forward earnings growth, and eight are growing at double-digit rates. Still, the gains are far from even. Technology leads with roughly 82% growth, powered in part by the chip industry's enormous profit surge. The Magnificent Seven are growing around 44%, compared with roughly 21% for the equal-weight S&P 500. Because the equal-weight index gives every company the same influence, that 21% figure shows the boom reaches well beyond the megacaps — even if the biggest companies are still pulling the headline number higher. That gives investors a different kind of earnings test. The last two booms could lean on a rebound from crushed forecasts. This one cannot. With earnings season underway and Big Tech results right around the corner, companies now have to deliver the profits Wall Street has already penciled in.
Roku CFO Dan Jedda Sells 7,000 Shares for $993,300
Roku operates a comprehensive streaming television platform that enables users to discover and access diverse content including films, television series, live broadcasts, news, and sports programming, generating revenue through platform advertising, subscription services, and player hardware sales. The company operates a dual-segment business model comprising its Platform segment, which monetizes user engagement through advertising and content partnerships, and its Player segment, which generates revenue from the sale of Roku-branded streaming devices. Roku serves a broad consumer market of television viewers seeking streaming entertainment solutions, as well as content providers, advertisers, and media companies seeking to reach cord-cutting audiences through its platform infrastructure. The company currently maintains a market capitalization of $21.3 billion and generated $5.0 billion in revenue and $201.5 million in net income over the trailing twelve months ending July 15, 2026.
Intuitive Surgical falls as Obamacare concerns rekindle medtech demand debate
Intuitive expects 2026 worldwide da Vinci-assisted procedure growth to come near the midpoint of its forecast of 13.5% to 15.5%. Second-quarter da-Vinci procedure growth in the U.S. was 12%, moderated from Intuitive's expectations at the start of the year, predominantly in surgeries that can be deferred, it said. The expiration of enhanced ACA premium subsidies, according to Intuitive, had a "modest adverse impact" on second-quarter U.S. da-Vinci procedure growth.
Hims & Hers announces departure of chief accounting officer who helped through its IPO
Hims & Hers Health’s (HIMS) Chief Accounting Officer, Irene Becklund, who helped guide the telehealth platform through its 2021 IPO, is leaving, according to a statement from the company. Becklund will depart effective October 9, 2026, after over seven years with the
5 Top Dividend Stocks Yielding 5% or More to Buy Right Now for Passive Income
EPR Properties (EPR 0.08%) pays a monthly dividend that currently yields around 5.8%. The real estate investment trust (REIT) backs its high-yielding dividend with a diversified portfolio of experiential real estate, including theaters, eat-and-play venues, and attractions. Enbridge's (ENB +0.44%) payout is right at 5%. The Canadian utility and pipeline company generates very predictable cash flow (98% regulated or take-or-pay contracted). Enbridge's earnings are so predictable that it has achieved its annual financial guidance for 20 straight years. Clearway Energy (CWEN 1.07%) currently has a 5.2% dividend yield. The clean power producer (wind, solar, and natural gas) generates stable cash flow by selling its electricity under long-term, fixed-rate power purchase agreements with utilities and large corporations. Realty Income's (O 0.11%) monthly dividend yields 5%. The REIT backs that income stream with a diversified portfolio of net-leased real estate. It owns retail, industrial, gaming, and other properties across North America and Europe, leased to many of the world's leading companies. Verizon (VZ 0.71%) has a 6.5% dividend yield. The telecom giant generates recurring revenue by providing broadband and mobile services to customers. That gives it the funds to expand its network while returning significant cash to shareholders.
Best Dividend Stock to Buy Now and Hold Forever
Chevron (CVX +1.92%), one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, has raised its dividend annually for 39 consecutive years. It pays a forward yield of 3.9%, and its projected 2026 EPS of $14.11 should easily cover its forward annual dividend rate of $7.12. Chevron only needs Brent crude oil (currently at $83 per barrel) to stay above its corporate breakeven price of $50 per barrel through 2030 to support its capex and dividends. It already has a presence in 180 countries, yet it aims to increase annual oil and gas production by 2%-3% through 2030.
Federal Realty Trust Just Declared Its 58th Straight Annual Dividend Increase. Here's How Much $10,000 Invested Pays Annually.
Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT +0.53%) is the only real estate investment trust (REIT) that's a Dividend King, which means it has raised its dividend annually for at least 50 years. The REIT just raised its dividend for the 58th time consecutively. A $10,000 investment gets investors 81 shares at the current price, and Federal Realty's dividend pays $1.13 per share quarterly, or $4.52 per share annually.
Corn Holding Steady on Friday AM Trade
USDA's weekly Export Sales report from Thursday showed just 314,962 MT in sales for the week of 7/9. That was a MY low but still more than triple the same week last year. Sales for 2026/27 were at 311,222 MT. That was a 6-week low and took the accumulated new crop commitments to 6.859 MMT, 14.5% above the same time last year. The IGC cut its projection for 2026/27 world corn production by 4 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 1.306 billion tonnes. FranceAgriMer data from this morning showed corn ratings in France at 41% good/excellent. Down 6 percentage points from last week and below the 72% ratings last year.
Wheat Bulls Starting Friday Morning with Gains
The weekly USDA Export Sales report from Thursday showed just 235,102 MT of wheat was sold in the week ending July 9. That was the lowest for the new marketing year to date, and less than half of the same week last year. Japan was the buyer of 66,600 MT, with 45,100 MT sold to Mexico. The France AgriMer estimates French wheat crop at 65% good/excellent, steady from the previous week. Harvest was taken to 92% complete as of July 13. The International Grains Council (IGC) left its world wheat production estimate UNCH at 821 MMT on Thursday.
Soybeans Posting Modest Friday AM Strength
Export Sales data from Thursday showed 188,274 MT of old crop soybean sales in the week of July 9. That was a 3 week high but down 30.74% from the same week in 2025. China was the buyer of 133,900 MT with 51,100 MT sold to Egypt. New crop business came in at 1.77 MMT for that week. That was a MY high and takes the total for the new crop business to 4.598 MMT. China was the buyer of 1.056 MMT, with 624,600 MT sold to unknown destinations. Soybean meal export sales hit 228,235 MT in the reporting week, with 177,043 MT for the current marketing year, within estimates of 150,000 MT to 650,000 MT. Bean oil bookings were net negative 122 MT, vs. estimates ranging from net cancellations of 10,000 MT to net sales of 16,000 MT.
Analog Devices (ADI) at $375: Are Investors Paying an AI Premium for Industrial Tech?
Fiscal second quarter revenue reached $3.62 billion and adjusted diluted EPS rose to $3.09, with industrial and communications revenue increasing 56% and 79%, respectively, while management guided the August quarter to $3.9 billion of revenue, a 49% adjusted operating margin and $3.30 of adjusted EPS. The operating leverage is significant because higher factory utilization and a richer mix of industrial and communications products allow incremental revenue to reach earnings at an attractive rate, while trailing twelve month free cash flow of $4.57 billion gives ADI ample capacity to fund product development and shareholder returns. Management guided the August quarter to $3.9 billion of revenue, a 49% adjusted operating margin and $3.30 of adjusted EPS. Cash generation also deserves more scrutiny than the trailing free cash flow figure suggests: second quarter free cash flow was $734 million, or 20% of revenue, while changes in operating assets and liabilities consumed $799 million during the first half as accounts receivable rose by approximately $616 million and inventories increased by $192 million from the fiscal year end. Short interest remains relatively modest at 2.48% of ADI's float, versus 1.87% for Texas Instruments and 4.68% for Monolithic Power Systems, suggesting that investors are cautious rather than decisively bearish on the stock.
Copart Director Daniel Englander Sells 80,000 Shares for $2.2 Million. Should Investors Sell Too, With the Stock Down 40%?
Copart operates as a global provider of online vehicle auctions with a market capitalization of $25.5 billion as of the July 14, 2026, market close. The firm generated $4.6 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue and $1.6 billion in net income over the same period. Copart is a leading global provider of online vehicle auctions and remarketing services, with a market capitalization of $25.5 billion and TTM revenue of $4.6 billion.
Morgan Stanley’s Lodging Upgrade Might Change The Case For Investing In Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH)
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Investment Narrative Recap To own Wyndham, you need to believe its large, asset light franchise base and loyalty platform can keep fee revenue resilient even when U.S. RevPAR wobbles. Morgan Stanley's brighter view on near term U.S. room revenue may support that thesis, but it does not eliminate the key risk around softer RevPAR and questions about returns on recent investments, which remain central to the story. Against this backdrop, Wyndham's April decision to lift full year 2026 revenue guidance to US$1.47 billion to US$1.50 billion while keeping RevPAR growth roughly flat stands out. That outlook now sits alongside Morgan Stanley's sector optimism, raising the question of whether any near term boost from events driven demand will translate into more convincing evidence that Wyndham's pipeline, tech spend and capital allocation are truly supporting sustainable fee growth. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' narrative projects $1.7 billion revenue and $446.2 million earnings by 2029. This requires 5.7% yearly revenue growth and a $253.2 million earnings increase from $193.0 million today.
Cotton Slipping Lower on Friday
Export Sales data shows old crop cotton commitments at 11.951 million RB as of July 9, which is 102% of the USDA export projection, and lagging behind the last few year. Shipments accumulated to 10.398 million RB are 88% of the USDA number, behind the 93% from last year at this time. New crop sales have reached 2.51 million RB. ICE certified cotton stocks were unchanged on July 16 via decertification, with the certified stocks level at 98,838 bales.
Oil Jumps After US and Iran Trade Strikes, Hormuz Traffic Slows
Oil surged on growing fears the US and Iran could return to full war, threatening flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Global benchmark Brent rose more than 3.5% to trade around $87 and is on track for its biggest weekly advance since April.
How Many Americans Are Working Past 65? Analyzing Workforce Trends in Retirement
About one in five Americans age 65 or older is still working, showing retirement often includes some continued employment. Many older workers shift to part-time roles, with a much higher share working reduced hours than those ages 55 to 64. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a significant share of older Americans remain in the workforce. In 2024, nearly 20% of people age 65 and older were either working or actively looking for work. That includes both full- and part-time roles. About 12% of Americans 65 or older work full-time, while roughly 7.5% work part-time. Among those who are working, the mix shifts noticeably toward shorter hours. More than a third of workers age 65 and older (38.3%) work part-time, compared with only about one in seven workers ages 55–64 (14.2%). The data also show that men are more likely than women to continue working later in life. In 2024, 23.4% of men age 65 and older were in the workforce, compared with 16.2% of women. Labor force participation among people 65 and older fell steadily through the second half of the 20th Century, reaching a low point in the 1980s and 1990s, when only about 11% to 12% were still working. Since then, the trend has reversed. Participation began climbing again in the late 1990s and continued rising for years. While the pandemic briefly interrupted that upward trajectory, the share has since resumed its climb, reflecting longer lifespans, shifting work patterns, and financial pressures that keep some Americans in the workforce.
Elevance Health CEO Boudreaux Buys $1 Million in Shares. What Does This Mean For its 2026 Outlook?
Elevance Health maintains a market capitalization of $80 billion as of the July 16 market close. The company reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $201.1 billion and net income of $5.0 billion, indicating a solid fundamental backdrop for this capital commitment. Elevance Health is one of the nation's largest health benefits organizations, commanding a significant market position with $201.1 billion in trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue and serving over 118 million individuals. The company's integrated platform approach—combining medical plans, pharmacy management, behavioral health services, and digital health tools—provides a competitive advantage in delivering coordinated care and managing healthcare costs.
Chubb Trades at Just 12 Times Earnings, Well Below the Broader Market. Is One of the World's Biggest Insurers a Bargain?
Chubb's stock has rallied 172% over the past ten years. With reinvested dividends, it delivered a total return of 226%. But at $352, it trades at just 12 times trailing earnings, compared to the S&P 500's historically high multiple of 32. It also pays a forward yield of 1.2%. From 2016 to 2025, Chubb's revenue and EPS grew at CAGRs of 7% and 13%, respectively. That growth was initially driven by ACE's takeover of Chubb, which instantly made it a powerhouse in the property and casualty insurance market. Chubb dominated the high-net-worth insurance market in the U.S., expanded in Asia, replaced its legacy systems with newer technology platforms, and reduced its exposure to weaker businesses rather than taking on bad risk. Its fixed-income portfolio also benefited from higher interest rates. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect Chubb's revenue and EPS to grow at CAGRs of 5% and 7%, respectively. Chubb also recently raised its dividend for the 33 consecutive year and authorized a new $7.5 billion buyback (equivalent to 5.5% of its current market cap).
Citigroup (C) Commits $25 Million To Housing Access And Affordability
Citigroup, through the Citi Impact Fund, has committed $25 million to support companies using technology to improve housing access, supply, and affordability. The commitment is part of a broader five year plan that includes financing $60 billion for affordable housing projects. For investors watching Citigroup (NYSE:C), this update sits alongside a stock that has seen sizeable moves over longer periods. The share price is $129.36, with the stock up 9.0% year to date and 41.6% over the past year.
How to Earn $500 a Month From Alcoa Stock Ahead of Q2 Earnings
Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings of $2.19 per share, up from 39 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Alcoa's quarterly revenue is $4.16 billion. It reported $3.02 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company.
Colombia's Ecopetrol says cyberattack stole data tied to 3,300 accounts
Colombian state-controlled energy company Ecopetrol said on Friday a cyberattack resulted in the theft of data tied to about 3,300 user accounts and that it could not "guarantee" the breach would not have a "material adverse" financial impact. Ecopetrol is one of Latin America's largest energy producers and Colombia's largest company, accounting for more than 60% of the country's hydrocarbon production.
Love Stock Market Gains But Hate Risk? Here's 1 ETF Worth Looking At.
Historically, stocks have outperformed many other asset classes over long periods, making them an important part of most people's retirement and investment portfolios. The Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF uses an active investment strategy to select U.S. stocks that are expected to experience less price volatility than the market on a whole. To be clear, the goal of the Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF isn't to eliminate risk. That's just not feasible when you're talking about the stock market. Rather, the fund aims to lessen the severity of market swings when they happen. The Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF has an expense ratio of 0.13%.
2 Passive Income Stocks I Plan to Hold for the Next Decade
High-powered dividend growth ahead Brookfield Renewable checks all the boxes for what I seek in a core passive income stock investment: - A high current yield: At over 4.5%, it's well above the S&P 500's roughly 1% yield. - A strong dividend growth track record: Brookfield Renewable has increased its payout by at least 5% annually since 2011. - A fortress financial profile: Brookfield has stable cash flows (90% contracted for an average of 12 years), a comfortable dividend payout ratio (around 75% of its funds from operations (FFO) over the last 12 months), and a strong investment-grade balance sheet (BBB+). - Visible growth profile: It expects to grow its FFO per share by more than 10% annually through at least 2031, which should support dividend growth of 5% to 9% annually. The company's high-powered growth engine should enable it to generate strong total returns. With a 4.5%+ yield and a more than 10% annual earnings growth rate, Brookfield could deliver total annual returns in the mid-teens. So, it can grow my passive income and my wealth in the coming decade. Realty Income is an ideal passive income investment because it pays a monthly dividend. The real estate investment trust (REIT) also has everything I look for in a core passive income investment: - Yield: Nearly 5%. - Dividend growth: Every year since its IPO in 1994. It has raised its payment 135 times, including for the past 115 consecutive quarters, growing it at a 4.1% compound annual rate. - Financial profile: 100% of its cash flow secured by long-term, triple-net leases, a 75% adjusted FFO payout ratio, and an A3/A- credit rating. - Growth potential: A $14 trillion total addressable market opportunity to invest in net-lease real estate across the U.S. and Europe. Realty Income has taken several steps over the past year to enhance its ability to continue growing its portfolio and dividend in the coming decade. The REIT is tapping into the massive private market by forming several private capital investment vehicles and strategic partnerships. Over the past year, it launched its U.S. Core Plus Fund and joint ventures with Apollo, GIC, and Cloud Capital. This strategy will enhance returns, provide low-cost equity capital to fund new investments, and create new growth opportunities. For example, one aspect of its strategic partnership with GIC is a construction financing and take-out purchase agreement for a $200 million build-to-suit industrial portfolio in Mexico, its first investment in that country. Meanwhile, its programmatic joint venture with Cloud Capital will enable the REIT to invest in high-quality data centers in the U.S. and Europe. Brookfield has a large pipeline of renewable energy development projects, which should keep it busy for the next decade. For example, it's building over 10.5 gigawatts (GW) of power generation capacity for Microsoft alone between 2026 and 2030. For perspective, Brookfield's current operating capacity is around 47 GW. Anchor income stocks Brookfield Renewable and Realty Income are two of my foundational income holdings. They pay high-yielding dividends backed by strong financial profiles, providing me with income I can bank on. Meanwhile, they have strong growth track records, which should continue in the coming decade. That's why I plan to hold both for the next 10 years and will likely continue adding to my positions to further grow my passive income.
ExxonMobil Stock Offers a Different Kind of Fuel
ExxonMobil (XOM) has been a bright spot in a dreary market, climbing 6.2% over the last five trading days even as the S&P 500 edged down 0.1%. Low Correlation Has Delivered High Returns Looking back over five years, ExxonMobil's stock has largely moved independently of the broader market. Its correlation to the S&P 500 is just 0.28, a low figure indicating that most of its performance has been its own story. For an investor who already owns the market through an index fund, that's an attractive profile, adding a return stream with its own distinct character. This number has real-world consequences, which are apparent in how the stock behaves. Over the past year, on days the S&P 500 fell, XOM absorbed only about 79% of the market's loss. On days the market rose, it captured a mere 26% of the gain. It acts as a shock absorber, tending to dampen your portfolio's swings rather than amplify them. This behavior comes alongside strong performance: its 23% annualized return over the last five years has significantly outpaced the S&P 500's 13.0%. Can Guyana and the Permian Outrun Qatar? This differentiated return is backed by a business running on powerful growth engines. Management recently highlighted achieving "record levels of production in Guyana" and remains on track to grow its Permian output to 1.8 million oil equivalent barrels in 2026. These are the advantaged assets driving the company forward. However, there is a significant headwind. The company is dealing with damaged LNG trains in Qatar, which account for about 3% of its global production and face a repair timeline of 3 to 5 years.
A financial planner explains why splitting your partner's $2,100 mortgage will leave you with nothing. And it's okay
In 2024, approximately 20.4 million (1) Americans were living with their unmarried partner. Between 2020 and 2022, roughly 80% (2) of recent marriages were preceded by cohabitation.
Interactive Brokers Grew Its Customer Accounts 34% in a Year. Here's the Bull Case Before Q2 Earnings.
In June, Interactive Brokers had 5.185 million client accounts, up 34% from the same month of 2025. Its clients had equity of $930.3 billion in June, 40% higher than the year-ago period. For example, Interactive Brokers handled 5.269 million trades in June, an increase of 53% over the prior year. On top of that, the discount broker ended June with margin loan balances of $108.5 billion, a huge 67% increase from June 2015. Interactive Brokers' first-quarter 2026 revenues came in at $1.67 billion, up roughly 17% from $1.43 billion in the prior year. Adjusted earnings increased by roughly 28%, hitting $0.60 per share. The company's commission revenue increased 19%, and its interest income, largely from margin loans, increased 17%.
Grab CFO Peter Oey Sells 50,000 Shares
Grab operates a comprehensive super-application platform that generates revenue across multiple service verticals, including ride-hailing transportation, food delivery, package delivery, and financial technology solutions, all accessible through a single integrated mobile interface. The company operates a platform-based business model that connects consumers and merchants with service providers, generating revenue through commissions on transactions, service fees, and financial services offerings across its diversified service ecosystem. Grab serves a broad consumer base across eight Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—targeting urban and emerging middle-class populations seeking convenient access to transportation, delivery, and financial services.
Exponent CEO Catherine Corrigan Sells 1,737 Shares
Exponent operates a scientific and engineering consulting firm with approximately 1,013 employees. Exponent provides comprehensive scientific and engineering consulting services across two principal segments: engineering and other scientific (encompassing biomechanics, biomedical sciences, structural analysis, civil engineering, construction advisory, data analytics, and electrical and computer science), and environmental and health. The company operates a professional services business model that seeks to leverage technical expertise and scientific capabilities to deliver consulting services to corporate clients, law firms, and government agencies, generating revenue through billable hours and project-based engagements. Exponent serves a diversified client base including Fortune 500 corporations, legal firms, government entities, and industrial manufacturers, with a particular focus on litigation support, product liability assessment, and engineering due diligence.
Astera Labs vs. Navitas Semiconductor: What the Revenue Trajectories of These Artificial Intelligence Companies Reveal to Investors.
Astera Labs (NASDAQ:ALAB) develops, produces, and markets connectivity solutions utilizing a software-defined architecture to empower customers to deploy and operate high-performance cloud and artificial intelligence systems at scale. While expanding its Taiwan operations and related facilities to facilitate system integration with local manufacturers, it was added to the Nasdaq-100 Index and reported a 26% net income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Foolish Take Both Astera Labs and Navitas Semiconductor seek to capitalize on the artificial intelligence sector's growth. Their revenue trends reveal which is successfully capturing this industry expansion. Clearly, Astera Labs is the winner here, as illustrated by the whopping 93% year-over-year sales growth seen in the first quarter.
3 Numbers That Will Matter Most in IBM’s Upcoming Q2 Earnings
1. Software Revenue Growth: Can IBM's AI Strategy Get It Back on Track? IBM's business is defined by its software. So when growth slows in this segment, it gets everyone's attention. In the preliminary Q2 results, the company announced software revenue increased 5% year-over-year (YoY). If revenue increased, then why did the stock fall? The problem was the noticeable slowdown from the previous quarter. Notably, in Q1, software revenue increased by 11%, while it rose by 10% and 14% in the third and fourth quarters of 2025. 2. Infrastructure Revenue: Was This a Temporary Setback or a Bigger Problem? Infrastructure became the biggest disappointment in IBM's preliminary results. Management stated that infrastructure revenue is expected to decline 7% YoY. This segment revenue climbed 15% in Q1, 21% in Q4, and 17% in Q3 of 2025, respectively. 3. Free Cash Flow: The Number That Could Matter Most to Long-Term Investors For many long-term investors, especially dividend investors, the one number that will matter most is free cash flow. For years, IBM has had a reputation for generating strong free cash flow to be able to pay dividends to shareholders. The company even has a reputation for increasing dividends over the past 31 consecutive years and being a Dividend Aristocrat. It also offers an appealing dividend yield of 3.1%, higher than the tech sector average. Based on the preliminary results, IBM generated $4.8 billion in free cash flow.
Popular brewery in historic building files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Manufacturing a high-quality beer doesn't always guarantee success in the craft brewery business. Award-winning craft beer maker Coldwater Mountain Brewpub LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debts and reorganize its business after over four years of operating.
Icelandic billionaire quits Britain for Italy
The number of wealthy entrepreneurs leaving Britain "is an exodus, it's not been hype".
Is Airbnb a Stock to Sell After an Insider Let Go of 237,000 Shares?
As of the transaction period, Airbnb reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $12.6 billion and net income of $2.5 billion. Airbnb operates as a leading global digital marketplace for short-term lodging and experiences, with a market capitalization of $86.6 billion and TTM revenue of $12.6 billion. During the first quarter, the online reservation business reported gross booking value that soared 19% year over year, or 13% excluding the benefits of a weaker dollar.
European chemical earnings to test demand recovery after conflict-led pricing boost
Some chemical companies, such as Brenntag, BASF and Evonik, have recently raised their full-year profit guidance, suggesting parts of the industry are benefiting from stronger pricing and resilient demand despite broader concerns about excess capacity and weak volumes. Results from Lanxess, Clariant and Wacker Chemie will be closely scrutinised for signs that recent pricing support is translating into stronger earnings. "The risks for the second quarter have increased because of the special economic boom caused by the war in the Middle East," it said, referring to customer stockpiling and precautionary purchases following supply concerns. "Then an increased supply structure will meet a still extremely weak demand," it added, warning that the sector could face renewed price pressure and weaker order volumes.