Meta Platforms and Alphabet are stellar buys right now.Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks are still must-owns right now. The industry is rapidly changing, and new technologies and initiatives are being announced daily. However, some of the best AI stocks aren't the ones you've never heard of; they've been doing it for quite some time.Among my top artificial intelligence picks that are also familiar names are Meta Platforms (META -1.73%) and Alphabet (GOOG 0.89%) (GOOGL 0.97%). Both companies have been invo ...

Core Viewpoint - SkyWater Technologies, a small U.S.-based chip manufacturing start-up, experienced significant stock volatility following its Q1 2024 earnings update, with shares initially dropping over 30% but later rebounding slightly, still down nearly 30% pre-earnings and nearly 20% year-to-date in 2024 [1][2]. Group 1: Business Model and Revenue - SkyWater operates a unique business model where 77% of its Q1 2024 revenue came from its Advanced Technology Service (ATS), a joint development initiative with customers to address specific semiconductor manufacturing needs [2][3]. - ATS revenue increased by 28% year-over-year in Q1, contributing to a total revenue of $79.6 million, which represents a 20% increase [4]. - The ATS program is not designed to be profitable; it serves as a feeder for the Wafer Services segment, which involves manufacturing and selling researched wafer technology to customers [5]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Challenges - Wafer Services revenue was reported at $10 million in Q1, slightly exceeding expectations but down 44% year-over-year [5]. - An additional $8 million ATS charge related to a customer project impacted margins but is expected to aid in achieving profitability for the remainder of 2024 [7]. - The semiconductor manufacturing industry is currently experiencing a cyclical slump, and 2024 is viewed as a transition year for SkyWater as it ramps up ATS development before shifting to more Wafer Services in 2025 and beyond [6]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Investment Outlook - The volatility in SkyWater's stock price reflects typical small-cap stock behavior, and caution is advised for potential investors [8]. - The company is still in a start-up phase, and it will take time to transition ATS customers to Wafer Services, which is necessary for a more substantial impact on profitability [9]. - While there is long-term potential for growth, current market conditions suggest that there are more stable investment opportunities in the semiconductor sector for new investments [10].

This dominant company has turned many shareholders into millionaires, but the future is probably going to be different.Some businesses have been so successful over such long periods of time that they have made their earliest investors extremely wealthy. Apple (AAPL 0.06%), whose shares are up 38,000% in the past two decades, is certainly one company that falls on this list.But investors who missed the boat on this dominant consumer tech titan might be wondering what the future holds. That seems to be the ri ...

These growth stocks are raking in profits and free cash flow.While some investors harbor hope of finding one or two stocks that blow up overnight and inject serious growth into their portfolio, and that can certainly happen, long-term investing often requires more patience and strategy. Investing in companies that you plan on holding for a minimum of five years, and preferably longer, is key to an investing strategy that holds up to the test of time.Buying companies you understand, and that align with your ...

Berkshire's collective cost basis in Apple, Chevron, Coca-Cola, American Express, and Occidental Petroleum is around $63 billion. The Oracle of Omaha has spent $77 billion alone buying shares of his favorite stock.When Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.37%) (BRK.B 0.09%) CEO Warren Buffett speaks, professional and everyday investors pay close attention. That's because the "Oracle of Omaha," as he's come to be known, has handily outpaced the benchmark S&P 500 in the return column over nearly six decades.Whereas th ...

Core Viewpoint - Targeting dividend stocks can be a strategic investment move as interest rates may decrease later this year, making dividend stocks attractive again [1] Group 1: Dividend Stocks Overview - Dividend stocks mentioned include Realty Income, TC Energy, and Western Union, all yielding more than 5% [2] - An investment of $30,000 across these three stocks could generate approximately $2,000 in annual dividends [2] Group 2: Realty Income - Realty Income is a REIT that offers stability and dividends, but its stock has declined by 4% year-to-date due to a high-interest rate environment [3][4] - The company maintains a high occupancy rate of 98.6% and has increased its monthly dividend for the 124th time since 1994 [4] - Realty Income pays out $0.77 in dividends quarterly, with a funds from operations (FFO) per share of $0.94, allowing for a potential annual dividend of $560 from a $10,000 investment [5] Group 3: TC Energy - TC Energy is a Canadian pipeline company with significant revenue from its U.S. natural gas pipelines, totaling CA$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) in segmented earnings for Q1 [6] - The company plans to spin off its smaller liquids pipelines business into South Bow Corporation, ensuring that investors will maintain their dividend status post-spin-off [7] - TC Energy offers a high dividend yield of around 7.3%, with a potential annual dividend income of $730 from a $10,000 investment [8] Group 4: Western Union - Western Union trades at a low valuation of less than eight times its trailing earnings, indicating a solid business despite rising competition in the payments industry [9] - The company reported revenue of over $1 billion for the period ending March 31, with a modest growth rate of 1%, while earnings fell by 6% to $142.7 million [10] - The stock has a dividend yield of 7.1%, allowing for an annual dividend income of about $710 from a $10,000 investment [11]

The healthcare spinoff looks cheap, but there are some big hurdles it has to clear.It's always interesting when a new company comes to market and doubly interesting when it's a spinoff. In reality, two new companies came out of the spinoff of Solventum (SOLV -1.41%) and 3M (MMM 3.58%) -- a newly created healthcare company and an industrial conglomerate without a healthcare business.Introducing SolventumSolventum is a healthcare company operating in four segments and serving end markets that management belie ...

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. ...

AI is the cherry on top of this big tech sundae.When it comes to investing, hedge funds generally have a bad reputation -- and for good reason. A report released by The American Enterprise Institute a few years ago helps illustrate why. An analysis of hedge fund returns between 2011 and 2020 found that the S&P 500 beat the average hedge fund's return every single year, and usually by a wide margin. In fact, during that 10-year stretch, hedge funds returned roughly 5%, on average, compared to 14.4% gains for ...

The home improvement company's sales continue to decline, but a recovery could be coming.Analysts at financial companies including HSBC, UBS, and TD Cowen have been lowering their price targets for Home Depot (HD -1.70%) following the company's recent quarterly report, and Evercore ISI is no exception. Its analyst lowered the price target on the stock to $390 from $420. Still, the exciting part is that he maintained an outperform rating on the stock, and the new target represents a 13% premium to the price ...