This quantum computing pioneer's latest financial results have little bearing on what's to come.Rigetti Computing's (RGTI +4.13%) shares were up more than 200% year to date just weeks ago. However, since early October, the stock has plunged over 50%. The company's disappointing third-quarter results accelerated the sell-off.Although Rigetti beat analysts' earnings estimates, the quantum computing company fell short of Wall Street's revenue expectations. That revenue miss doesn't matter, but Rigetti's $600 m ...

The company's shares declined in the wake of a recent earnings report.Altria Group (MO +1.39%) is a major consumer goods company that focuses on tobacco products. Its portfolio includes the popular Marlboro brand, one of the world's best-selling cigarette brands, and other products such as smokeless tobacco, wines, and alternative nicotine ventures.The stock's been down recently due to a disappointing third quarter. However, to decide whether or not Altria stock is a buy, we need to consider the company's h ...

This Vanguard ETF has been a reliable market outperformer since its launch.For quite some time, tech companies have been the most sought-after investments on the stock market because of their performance and return potential. It's largely why 8 of the world's 10 most valuable public companies are tech companies.And of those eight companies, seven are part of the "Magnificent Seven" group: NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. Each of these companies has its own growth outloo ...

The dip in PTC's price has created a great opportunity to buy into a long-term growth story.Cathie Wood's Ark Invest holds PTC (PTC 0.65%) as one of its top positions in The 3D Printing ETF (PRNT 0.58%), and for good reason. The industrial software company's solutions and growth catalysts embody the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly enhance the efficacy of software. The results of integrating AI into PTC's software are tangible, and the good news is that PTC's valuation is extremely ...

Core Viewpoint - David Tepper's Appaloosa fund significantly increased its exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) stocks during Q3 2025, particularly through substantial investments in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Baidu, and Qualcomm [2][16]. Group 1: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - Appaloosa's largest new position in Q3 was a stake in AMD, with the fund purchasing 950,000 shares valued at $153.7 million [3]. - AMD aims to close the gap with its main competitor, Nvidia, and Tepper's investment in AMD was notably larger than the 8.6% increase in Appaloosa's position in Nvidia [4]. - Since the end of Q3, AMD's share price has surged nearly 70%, attributed to the company's recent business advancements, including a strategic partnership with OpenAI and a goal for a revenue compound annual growth rate exceeding 35% [6][7]. Group 2: Baidu - Tepper increased Appaloosa's stake in Baidu by 67.2% in Q3, indicating a bullish outlook on the Chinese tech stock [8]. - Baidu, often referred to as the "Google of China," operates a leading search engine and provides cloud services and autonomous ride-hailing [9]. - Baidu's stock has risen over 30% since the end of Q3, and it remains attractively valued with a forward price-to-earnings ratio below 16 [11]. Group 3: Qualcomm - Appaloosa significantly increased its position in Qualcomm by 255.7% during Q3 [12]. - Qualcomm generates over 60% of its revenue from phone chips, with Apple as its largest customer, but is also experiencing growth in automotive and IoT sectors [12]. - Qualcomm's stock has seen only a low single-digit percentage increase since the end of Q3, but the company's entry into data center and robotics markets, along with new AI accelerators, could yield long-term benefits [14][15].

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia's upcoming earnings report is highly anticipated as it will reflect the company's performance in the AI chip market, which significantly influences market sentiment [1][2]. Recent Performance and Outlook - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Nvidia's revenue increased by 56% year-over-year to $46.7 billion, driven by strong demand for data center chips, which also saw a 56% year-over-year rise to $41.1 billion [4]. - Non-GAAP earnings per share rose by 54% year-over-year to $1.05, indicating robust volumes and high gross margins [4]. - For Q3 fiscal 2026, Nvidia expects revenue of approximately $54 billion, representing about 54% year-over-year growth compared to $35.1 billion in the same period last year [6]. Market Dynamics - The AI race is central to Nvidia's strategy, with the Blackwell platform being a key focus for growth [5]. - Despite impressive growth, the pace is moderating compared to previous quarters, which saw year-over-year growth rates of 94% and 78% [6]. Valuation and Risks - Nvidia's current market capitalization is around $4.6 trillion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 53, indicating high expectations for continued strong growth [11]. - Risks include potential slowdowns in revenue growth due to capital spending cycles, competition from cloud giants designing their own AI chips, and geopolitical factors affecting demand [9][10]. - The stock reflects significant confidence in sustained customer spending, but there is a risk of a valuation reset if growth slows unexpectedly [11][12]. Investment Considerations - For long-term investors willing to accept volatility, a small position in Nvidia may be justified as part of a diversified portfolio [13]. - More cautious investors might consider waiting for a more favorable entry point [13].

One of these suggestions recently yielded 3.9% and averaged annual gains of 14% over the past five years.In these economically uncertain times, with tariffs causing havoc in multiple industries and countries, and a threat of a market pullback looming, it can make sense to turn to dividend-paying stocks. After all, healthy and growing dividend payers have a good chance of keeping those payouts coming no matter what the overall stock market is doing.Here, then, are several to consider for your long-term portf ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale's stock has experienced a significant decline, down 15% from its 52-week high, raising questions about its valuation and potential investment opportunities [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Costco's shares have lost 11% of their value over the past six months and are currently trading around $895.08, down from a 52-week high of $1,078 [2][6]. - The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is over 50, indicating that it may be overvalued despite the company's strong performance [7][9]. Group 2: Business Resilience - Despite a slowdown in growth, Costco has maintained positive growth rates, which is notable given the challenging economic conditions affecting many consumers [2][5]. - The company's business model, which relies on membership fees and creates a sense of urgency for purchases, contributes to its resilience and appeal to consumers [4][5]. Group 3: Valuation Concerns - Costco's stock has historically traded at high P/E ratios, averaging around 45 over the past five years, with peaks above 60, suggesting that the current valuation remains elevated [8][10]. - The high valuation poses risks for investors, as buying at such prices could limit returns and lead to potential losses if the company's performance does not meet high expectations [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - Kraft Heinz is undergoing a business breakup, raising concerns about the sustainability of its dividend and overall business performance [1][6][10] Dividend Analysis - Kraft Heinz offers a dividend yield of approximately 6.4%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2%, providing recurring income for investors [1] - The stock has declined over 20% in the past year, and total returns, including dividends, are negative at -16% [2] - The company's earnings per share for the most recent quarter were $0.52, exceeding the quarterly dividend of $0.40, resulting in a payout ratio of around 77%, which is considered manageable [4] - Free cash flow for Kraft Heinz over the trailing 12 months was $3.6 billion, well above the $1.9 billion paid in dividends, indicating that the dividend appears safe for now [5] Business Breakup and Future Outlook - Kraft Heinz is splitting into two entities, focusing on sauces and spreads, and core food brands, with completion expected by mid-2026 [6][7] - The company reported revenue of $25.8 billion last year, a decline of 3% from the previous year, highlighting struggles in generating growth [7] - Despite the breakup, the company intends to maintain its current dividend level, but future growth initiatives may pressure dividend payments if results do not improve [8] - Over the past five years, Kraft Heinz's stock has declined by about 23%, with total returns remaining negative at -3% even with dividends [10]

Core Investment Insights - The stock market has experienced significant growth, largely driven by artificial intelligence, but signs of overvaluation are emerging in the technology sector [1][2] - Several stocks are identified as having egregious valuations that could lead to substantial losses for investors [2] IonQ - IonQ has seen its stock price increase over 700% in the past three years due to excitement around quantum computing [3] - The current market cap is $17 billion, with a price of $49.12 and a staggering price-to-sales ratio of 149 based on projected revenue of $110 million in 2025 [4][5] - The company faces high competition and an unpredictable market, suggesting more downside risk than upside potential [6] Palantir Technologies - Palantir has emerged as a leader in AI software, with its stock price increasing by 2,000% over the past three years following the launch of its AIP platform [7][9] - The current market cap is $399 billion, with a price-to-sales ratio of 114 and a price-to-earnings ratio of 407, indicating that the stock may be overvalued [8][10] - The stock's valuation reflects expectations of future success, posing significant downside risk if growth slows [10] CoreWeave - CoreWeave's stock has nearly doubled since its public debut, driven by demand for AI infrastructure [11] - The current market cap is $37 billion, with a trailing 12-month revenue of $4.3 billion but a free cash flow loss of $8 billion [12][13] - The company has over $18 billion in long-term debt and is unlikely to achieve profitability soon, raising concerns about its high market valuation [14] Lucid Group - Lucid Group has struggled to maintain its stock value, which has dropped 88% over the past three years despite positive reviews for its Lucid Air model [15][16] - The stock currently trades at over 21 times trailing 12-month sales, making it one of the most expensive automotive stocks [17] - The expiration of the federal EV tax credit and economic pressures on consumers further complicate the company's growth prospects [17]