Core Viewpoint - Dividend-paying companies are essential for long-term investors as they provide income and stability, especially in volatile market conditions [1] Group 1: Walmart (NYSE: WMT) - Walmart has shown strong performance among large-cap U.S. retailers, with stock up over 35% in the past year and trading at $101, reflecting a 12% year-to-date increase [2] - The company has exceeded Wall Street's earnings expectations for 11 consecutive quarters and is well-positioned in a high-inflation environment due to its scale and cost leadership [4] - In fiscal Q1 2026, Walmart's sales increased by 4% year-over-year, with management forecasting 3% to 4% growth for the full year; e-commerce sales surged by 22% [5] - Walmart has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years, currently paying a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share, yielding 0.93% annually [5][6] Group 2: Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) - Johnson & Johnson reached a 52-week high of $177.98, with stock up over 11% in the past year and nearly 24% year-to-date [8] - The company benefits from a diversified portfolio in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, supported by over 275 subsidiaries globally, with 26 product platforms each generating over $1 billion in annual sales [10] - Johnson & Johnson pays a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share, yielding 2.92%, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [11]

Shares of Israel-based pharmaceutical company PainReform (NASDAQ: PRFX) jumped nearly 130% on Tuesday after its renewable energy arm, DeepSolar, was accepted into the Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) Connect Program. "By combining NVIDIA's AI capabilities with DeepSolar's domain expertise, we believe that DeepSolar Predict has the potential to redefine how photovoltaic energy is forecasted and optimized," said Ehud Geller, Chairman and Interim CEO of PainReform. PainReform said the current version of its platform has ...

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) may be best known for its GPUs powering the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, but its investment arm is also quietly shaping the future of computing, biotech, and autonomous driving. According to the latest filings, Nvidia's stock portfolio stands at $4.33 billion, with a strikingly concentrated bet on one company: CoreWeave Inc., which makes up 91.36% of the total holdings. CoreWeave, a cloud infrastructure provider specializing in GPU-based compute power, has emerged as a critical p ...

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth continues to provide steady dividend payments despite facing challenges in the market, with a recent quarterly cash dividend of $2.21 per share announced [1][2]. Dividend Information - The quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share will be payable on September 23 to shareholders of record as of September 15, translating to $221 for an individual holding 100 shares [2]. - On an annualized basis, the dividend amounts to $8.84 per share, offering a yield of just over 3% at current prices [2]. - UnitedHealth has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years, with a payout ratio of 48.63%, indicating that nearly half of earnings are directed toward dividends [3]. Stock Performance - UnitedHealth shares are attempting to recover from recent losses, closing at $308.49, which is down 38% year-to-date despite a 1.4% increase on the day [4]. - The stock received a boost after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $1.6 billion stake in August, which helped restore some investor confidence [6]. Analyst Insights - Bank of America Securities raised its price target on UnitedHealth to $325 from $290 while maintaining a 'Neutral' rating, citing potential for earnings recovery by 2027 but warning of limited near-term visibility due to regulatory and cost pressures [7]. - Investor sentiment has been affected by leadership changes, uncertainty around financial guidance amid rising costs, and ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice [9].

Core Viewpoint - Palantir's stock has faced criticism from Citron Research, which argues that the stock remains overvalued despite a significant drop in price, with a current trading value of $173.10, down 2.3% for the day, but up 130% year to date [1][3]. Group 1: Valuation Concerns - Citron Research claims that Palantir's valuation exceeds its fundamentals, suggesting that if priced similarly to OpenAI, the stock would be around $40, which they do not consider a bargain [4]. - The bearish sentiment is reinforced by comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who described the AI market as a bubble, raising concerns about sustainable valuations in the sector [3]. Group 2: Insider Selling - Citron highlighted significant insider selling, noting that CEO Alex Karp has sold nearly $2 billion worth of stock over the past two years, labeling him as one of the most aggressive insiders in the tech sector [5]. Group 3: Mixed Analyst Opinions - Despite the bearish outlook from Citron, some analysts have raised their price targets for Palantir, with Wedbush's Dan Ives increasing his target from $160 to $200, citing strong second-quarter results and growing adoption of its AI suite [6]. - Palantir reported a 78% increase in earnings per share, surpassing $1 billion in revenue for the first time, with operating income of $464.4 million and free cash flow of $568.8 million, exceeding Wall Street estimates [7]. - Other analysts, including D.A. Davidson and Mizuho, have also revised their targets upward, indicating a generally positive sentiment among some market participants [8].

CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD) is trading at $424.90 as of midday Monday, changing little from the previous close. The stock has gained 24% year-to-date but pared back some of its August gains as peer Fortinet's (NASDAQ: FTNT) earnings raised concerns about potential firewall refresh cycle slowdowns. CRWD stock Moody's Ratings kept its Baa3 senior unsecured rating but upgraded its outlook to Positive from Stable, citing accelerating subscription revenue and profitability improvements. Investors now are ...

Core Viewpoint - Google (Alphabet Inc) is maintaining its quarterly dividend at $0.21 per share, with a forward dividend yield of 0.41%, while its stock is approaching its all-time high of $208.7, supported by strong fundamentals and advancements in AI and cryptocurrency investments [1][4][5]. Group 1: Dividend Information - Alphabet Inc's upcoming quarterly dividend payment of $0.21 per share will be paid on September 15, 2025, with no change from the previous quarter [1][2]. - The annual payout stands at $0.84 per share, translating to a total payment of $21 for investors holding 100 shares [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance - At the time of writing, Google shares were trading at $204.49, reflecting a daily increase of 0.29% [2]. - The stock is nearing its yearly and all-time high of $208.7, having recently broken through the $204.4 resistance zone [4]. Group 3: Company Fundamentals - Alphabet Inc has a market capitalization of nearly $2.5 trillion and a P/E ratio of 22.16, which is lower than that of peers like Apple, whose P/E ratio is 35.1 [4]. - The company's growth is driven by its web browser and YouTube ad businesses, along with advancements in artificial intelligence and a $3.2 billion investment in Bitcoin miner TeraWulf [5]. Group 4: Regulatory Environment - The stock may experience short-term fluctuations based on the outcome of the Department of Justice ruling regarding the company's search engine monopoly case [5].

Group 1 - Bank of America Securities has updated its outlook on UnitedHealth Group, maintaining a 'Neutral' rating while raising its price target to $325 from $290, reflecting a potential upside of nearly 7% from the current price of $304 [1] - The upward revision follows Berkshire Hathaway's recent $1.6 billion investment in UnitedHealth, which reaffirms market confidence in the healthcare giant [3] - Analysts see a potential earnings recovery in 2027, which could unlock additional upside for UnitedHealth [3] Group 2 - Despite the higher target, Bank of America remains cautious due to limited near-term earnings visibility and unresolved key uncertainties, which could lead to another 12 months of underperformance [4] - The company has faced leadership changes, suspended financial guidance, and federal probes into its Medicare Advantage billing practices, contributing to significant stock sell-offs [5] - UnitedHealth remains the largest Medicare Advantage provider with over 8 million members, while its Optum unit continues to expand in care and technology services [6]

Although Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) remains one of the most reliable long-term stocks, history suggests that September should be approached with caution. Over the past 45 years, September has consistently been the weakest month for Apple stock. AAPL has posted a win rate of just 34% during this period, with an average return of -4.18%, making it by far the worst month to hold the equity, according to data from charting platform TrendSpider. This seasonal dip contrasts with months like July, October, and December, ...

Core Viewpoint - Intel's foundries division reported a loss of $18.8 billion in 2024, raising concerns about the sustainability of domestic semiconductor manufacturing despite government subsidies [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Intel's foundries division incurred a significant loss of $18.8 billion last year, even with government support [1][2]. - Following Jim Cramer's criticism, Intel's stock price increased by over 20%, reaching $24.56 [2]. Group 2: Government Involvement - The Trump administration is reportedly in discussions regarding a potential government-backed investment in Intel, which could support the company's factory hub in Ohio, the largest chipmaking complex globally [5][6]. - White House spokesman Kush Desai has characterized the discussions about the investment as speculative until officially announced [6]. Group 3: Industry Context - The Trump administration has previously secured a deal requiring Nvidia and AMD to pay a 15% share on certain U.S. chip sales to China, indicating a broader strategy in the semiconductor industry [7].