Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) stock is flush with over $100 billion in cash and wisely investing chunks of it in artificial intelligence. This is already benefiting the advertising and cloud computing arms of its business, as second quarter results have shown. The company still faces the risk that AI could disrupt its core search advertising cash cow. However, Alphabet is taking the smart approach by embracing AI rather than fighting it. So far, this move is paying off.Google Search remains the domin ...

To beat the market, you should probably look into tech stocks. While not every tech stock will beat the market, it’s a common trend. For instance, the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) has regularly outperformed the S&P 500 while having over half its total assets in the Information Technology sector. QQQ tracks the Nasdaq 100.Almost half of this fund’s assets are allocated to 10 companies, including all Magnificent Seven stocks. Many investors have done well by spreading their capital across tech stocks, but s ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. economy is experiencing challenges in 2024, with inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, making dividend investing a viable strategy for mitigating inflation's negative impact [1][2] Dividend Stocks Overview - Dividend stocks are essential for generating returns in the stock market, especially those priced under $10, which show promising potential for value appreciation [1][2] Company Summaries Telefonica (TEF) - Telefonica is a major global mobile network provider that has undertaken significant debt reduction measures, including restructuring and acquisitions [3] - In 2024, TEF stock has appreciated 14% to $4.51 per share, with a year-over-year gain of 6.09% and a current dividend yield of 7.19% [3][4] - Analysts predict a further stock price increase of 1.55% to $4.60 per share, making it a strong candidate for dividend investors [4] Nokia (NOK) - Nokia, a key player in telecom and IT, reported a 19% decline in net sales to €4.5 billion in Q2 2024, but improved its gross margin to 43.3% [5][6] - The company is experiencing growth in its network infrastructure business, particularly in North America, with an expected operating margin of 11.5% to 14.5% for FY 2024 [5] - Nokia's dividend yield is currently at 3.66%, and the stock has risen nearly 13% in 2024, indicating potential for future growth [6] Aegon (AEG) - Aegon is an insurance company focused on savings, pensions, and insurance solutions, currently transforming its U.S. subsidiary into a leading life insurance provider [7] - The company has announced a €1.54 billion share buyback program, followed by an additional €200 million buyback, reflecting strong capital return initiatives [7][8] - Aegon's dividend yield stands at 5.43%, with stock appreciation of 11.87% in 2024 and 18.92% over the past year, currently priced at $6.35 per share [8]

Growth stocks have enjoyed a 2-year comeback after posting disappointing results in 2022. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite continue to charge toward all-time highs as big tech and artificial intelligence (AI) propel the indices. However, stocks outside of those sectors continue to perform well. Investors can find plenty of thriving growth stocks if they look at finance, athletic apparel and other industries that don’t receive as much attention from investors. Less attention isn’t a big thing. In fact, it ca ...

While growth-focused public companies tend to attract the most attention on Wall Street, safe stocks also present a viable pathway to long-term success. Yes, these ideas might be boring – no, they are boring. We’re talking about entities that like insurance companies, consumer goods, critical services: yes, they’re important but they’re not what you would call sexy.Still, if you keep targeting growth names, chances are quite high that you’ll eventually encounter some serious regrets. It’s just like a footba ...

Stock prices follow earnings. This nugget of investing wisdom essentially says the most important thing long-term investors should focus on is the profits a company makes. Over time, a company growing its earnings will move the stock higher.Of course, it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. We’ve all seen stocks beat earnings estimates, and raise their outlooks for the year and the stock still falls. But that’s a short-term phenomenon. Successful, profitable companies will ultimately win the day.It stands to reason, ...

Core Viewpoint - Qualcomm reported strong fiscal Q3 results but provided weak guidance for the upcoming December quarter, leading to a significant drop in its stock price despite analysts maintaining a positive outlook due to AI developments [1][3]. Financial Performance - Qualcomm's adjusted EPS for Q3 was $2.33, surpassing the expected $2.25 per share [1]. - The company's revenue reached $9.39 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $9.22 billion [1]. - Net income for the quarter was $2.13 billion, or $1.88 per share, compared to $1.8 billion, or $1.60 per share, in the same quarter last year [2]. Strategic Developments - CEO Cristiano Amon emphasized the successful execution of Qualcomm's growth and diversification strategy, particularly highlighting the launch of Snapdragon X Series solutions for personal computers [2]. - These new semiconductors are expected to provide superior performance, power efficiency, and personalized AI experiences [2]. Market Outlook - Despite the fiscal Q3 beat, Qualcomm's stock fell over 9% due to management's guidance of mid-single-digit growth for the December quarter, which disappointed investors expecting double-digit growth [3]. - Analysts from Piper Sandler noted that Qualcomm's Q3 results and Q4 guidance exceeded expectations, driven by strength in Android and upcoming growth with modem-only customers [3]. Analyst Sentiment - Piper Sandler raised its price target for Qualcomm from $185 to $205 per share, maintaining an "overweight" rating, while the consensus view is a moderate buy with an average price target of $207.60 per share [4]. - Analysts believe that over half of all PCs will be AI-capable by 2027, positioning Qualcomm favorably in the long term [4].

Amid the choppiness on Wall Street, tech darlings are in the spotlight this earnings season. Similarly, the leading software company Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE), known for its products like Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat, has also been volatile.ADBE stock reached multi-year highs of $638 in early February but its year-to-date (YTD) performance has raised eyebrows. ADBE stock ended July at $551.65, with over a 7.5% YTD decline. The stock has underperformed the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSEARCA: ...

Easily one of the biggest trends right now in the field of medicine is the weight loss drug surge. Without attempting to sound cynical, the reality is that the sector enjoys a massive total addressable market. According to Axios, almost 115 million U.S. adults and children are obese. Prior efforts to address this situation have failed, leading to where we are now: a viable ecosystem for weight loss stocks.Now, I’m no doctor and I’m not even going to pretend that I’m in any position to provide medical advice ...

Biotechnology firm Arbutus (NASDAQ:ABUS) — which specializes in virology — announced a major overhaul of its business. It will dramatically cut headcount in an effort to streamline operations and focus on its most promising therapeutic candidates. The Arbutus layoffs will result in a 40% reduction in the company’s workforce. Though steep, ABUS stock gained about 1% in the early afternoon session.According to a MarketWatch report, the notable aspect of the shakeup is that Arbutus “plans to cease all Hepatiti ...