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What Is One of the Best AI Stocks to Buy and Hold in 2026 and Beyond?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 10:00
Alphabet's cash flows allow it to continue funding AI build-outs as it desires.Identifying which artificial intelligence (AI) stock has the most potential in 2026 and beyond is no simple task. If your time frame after 2026 is only a few years, then an AI infrastructure company like Nvidia may be the best option. If your time frame runs for a decade after 2026, you may be better off with a software company like Palantir.However, if you're looking for a combination of these two options, Alphabet (GOOG +1.55%) ...
Should You Buy Nio Stock While It's Below $5 a Share?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 09:30
The Chinese EV maker keeps growing sales, but is it worth the risk?The share price of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio (NIO +1.12%) has fallen to $4.95, more than 35% off its 2025 high and less than $2 away from its all-time lows.Given how quickly the automaker has been growing its sales, it might seem like a no-brainer buy at the current stock price. But there are three big risks ahead for Nio. Investors should consider them carefully before buying the stock, even at this discounted price. Risk No. ...
Prediction: Berkshire Hathaway Will Stop Selling Apple Stock in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 08:31
Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's recent reduction in its Apple stake appears to be a strategic move to manage an oversized position rather than a sign of declining confidence in Apple's business [1][2]. Group 1: Berkshire's Position in Apple - As of September 30, Berkshire Hathaway owned 238.2 million shares of Apple, down from 280.0 million shares three months prior [5]. - The current value of Berkshire's Apple position exceeds $65 billion, making it the largest holding, significantly ahead of its second-largest holding, American Express, valued at approximately $57 billion [6]. - Apple's stock represents about 20% of Berkshire's total equity portfolio and approximately 6% of Berkshire's total market capitalization, which is around $1.07 trillion [6][7]. Group 2: Future Outlook and Management Strategy - The recent selling of Apple shares is likely a response to concentration risk after years of compounding, rather than a bearish outlook on the tech company [8]. - There is speculation that Berkshire may continue to sell Apple shares to maintain a 20% position in its equity holdings for risk management purposes, but further selling beyond this level is considered unlikely [9]. - Berkshire's substantial cash reserves, totaling $354.3 billion, provide flexibility for capital deployment, which may influence the decision to retain remaining Apple shares under new management [10][11]. Group 3: Apple's Business Performance - Apple's recent earnings report indicated an 8% year-over-year revenue increase to $102.5 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with expectations of accelerated growth during the holiday quarter [13]. - Management anticipates revenue growth of 10% to 12% year-over-year for the upcoming quarter, supported by strong demand for the iPhone [13][14].
Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Sells Broadcom Stock and Buys an Overlooked Stock Up 6,910% Since Its IPO
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 08:30
Group 1: Stanley Druckenmiller's Investment Moves - Stanley Druckenmiller sold his entire stake in Broadcom and bought shares of MercadoLibre in the third quarter [1][2] - Broadcom has a strong presence in networking chips and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), holding over 80% market share in Ethernet switching and routing chips [4][5] - MercadoLibre operates the largest commerce and fintech ecosystem in Latin America, accounting for 28% of online retail sales in the region in 2024, with projections to reach 30% by 2026 [10] Group 2: Broadcom's Financial Performance - Broadcom reported a 28% increase in revenue to $18 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by strong demand for AI semiconductors [6] - Non-GAAP net income increased 37% to $1.95 per diluted share [6] - Wall Street expects Broadcom's adjusted earnings to grow 42% annually over the next two years, with a median target price of $461 per share, implying a 35% upside from its current price of $342 [9] Group 3: MercadoLibre's Financial Performance - MercadoLibre's revenue increased 39% to $7.4 billion in the third quarter, with commerce and fintech segments growing by 33% and 49% respectively [13] - The company has seen a 29% increase in unique buyers in Brazil and a 42% increase in items sold, indicating strong growth [15] - Wall Street expects MercadoLibre's earnings to increase at 32% annually over the next three years, with a median target price of $2,842 per share, implying a 42% upside from its current price of $1,998 [16]
If You Own Occidental Petroleum Stock, Take A Look At This Instead
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 07:45
Core Viewpoint - ConocoPhillips is positioned as a more attractive investment compared to Occidental Petroleum due to its clear growth strategy and strong financial position. Group 1: Occidental Petroleum - Occidental Petroleum is a leading international energy company with operations in the U.S., Middle East, and North Africa, but it has accumulated significant debt from acquisitions [3]. - The company plans to reduce its principal debt balance below $15 billion by selling OxyChem to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion, which will allow it to focus on shareholder value creation [4]. - Despite the sale, Occidental lacks a firm action plan for growth, relying on free cash flow and asset sales to manage its debt [6]. Group 2: ConocoPhillips - ConocoPhillips has a robust growth strategy, having invested heavily in acquisitions funded primarily through equity, resulting in a strong balance sheet [6]. - The company is investing $3.4 billion in three liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and $8.5 billion to $9 billion in the Willow oil project in Alaska, which is expected to generate an additional $6 billion in annual free cash flow by 2029 [8]. - This increasing cash flow will support dividend growth within the top 25% of S&P 500 companies and enable share repurchases, positioning ConocoPhillips for strong total returns [9].
2 Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 07:30
Group 1: Novartis - Novartis is a strong long-term investment candidate due to its innovative pipeline and diversified product offerings, with 10 products generating over $1 billion in sales each as of September 30 [4][5] - The company has shown resilience against patent cliffs, with a revenue increase of 8% year-over-year to $13.9 billion and earnings per share of $2.25, which is 9% higher than the previous year [6][7] - Novartis has a solid dividend history, increasing payouts for 28 consecutive years, currently offering a forward yield of 3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [10] Group 2: Shopify - Shopify has experienced a 50% stock increase this year, driven by strong financial results and a vision to build a sustainable 100-year company [11] - The platform is a leader in the e-commerce market, providing customizable templates and a range of services that facilitate efficient business operations for merchants [12] - Shopify's market share grew from 10% at the end of 2023 to 12% by the end of 2024, benefiting from high switching costs for merchants [14] - The company has improved its profitability, achieving net income in three out of the last four quarters, positioning itself well for continued dominance in the e-commerce sector [15]
1 Reason I'm Never Selling Netflix Stock
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 06:43
Netflix stock has soared over 24,000% since 2006. Here's why I'm still not selling.I have held Netflix (NFLX +0.41%) stock in one account or another since 2006.That summer, I wrote a 5,000-word overview of the video rental industry for another media outlet. It took me weeks to research that piece, including visits to the leading video rental stores around town and a phone interview with Netflix press chief Steve Swasey.And by the end of that process, I was convinced that the movie industry was destined for ...
Is SentinelOne Stock a Buy After a Director Scooped Up 40,000 Shares in the Company?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 06:17
Core Insights - SentinelOne, a cybersecurity firm specializing in AI-powered protection, experienced a significant insider buy from Board member Mark S. Peek, who purchased 40,000 shares valued at approximately $595,600, following a year of negative returns [1][8]. Transaction Summary - The transaction involved 40,000 shares traded at a weighted average purchase price of $14.89, totaling around $595,600 [2]. - Post-transaction, Mr. Peek's direct holdings remained at 43,501 shares, while indirect holdings through the Omega Living Trust increased to 120,000 shares [5]. Company Overview - As of December 16, 2025, SentinelOne's stock price was $14.89, with a market capitalization of $5.01 billion and a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $955.65 million [4]. - The company reported a net income loss of $411.29 million over the TTM period [4]. Company Snapshot - SentinelOne focuses on autonomous threat detection and response solutions, leveraging AI to provide scalable cybersecurity protection for large enterprises [6][7]. - The company has shown consistent revenue growth, achieving $258.9 million in its fiscal third quarter, representing a 23% year-over-year increase [9]. Market Context - The insider purchase occurred as SentinelOne shares approached a 52-week low of $14.43, indicating a potential bullish outlook from Mr. Peek [8]. - Despite the revenue growth, SentinelOne reported a net loss of $60.3 million in fiscal Q3 and provided disappointing fiscal Q4 guidance, expecting sales of $271 million, a 20% increase from the previous year [10]. Competitive Landscape - SentinelOne operates in a competitive cybersecurity market but is capturing customers, as evidenced by its sales growth [11]. - The company's current stock price and low price-to-sales ratio suggest it may be an opportune time for investors to consider buying shares [11].
This Energy Stock Pays an 8% Dividend (And It's Safe)
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 05:45
Plains All American Pipeline has taken steps to further safeguard its payout this year.Dividend yields aren't as high as they used to be. Historically, the S&P 500's dividend yield has averaged about 4%. Today, it's closer to 1%. Many of today's higher-yielding stocks have higher risk profiles. However, that isn't always the case. Plains All American Pipeline (PAA 0.57%) offers a safe dividend currently yielding more than 8%. A safe high-yield dividend stockPlains All American Pipeline is a master limited p ...
Think It's Too Late to Buy Ralph Lauren Stock? Here's the 1 Reason Why There's Still Time.
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-22 04:47
Core Insights - Ralph Lauren has successfully executed its growth strategy, achieving a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5% for the fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, and is set to continue this trend with its new plan targeting mid- to high-single-digit CAGR through 2028 [3][7] Group 1: Strategic Initiatives - The company reduced its physical store footprint by 25% between 2018 and 2019, closing over 1,000 locations to refocus on its upscale positioning [2] - In September 2022, Ralph Lauren launched its three-year strategic growth plan, "Next Great Chapter: Accelerate," which has been successful in driving revenue growth [3] - The upcoming plan, "Next Great Chapter: Drive," aims to further enhance growth and shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases [7] Group 2: Financial Performance - Ralph Lauren's stock surged 242% from 2023 to 2025, including a 60% gain in 2025, reflecting the effectiveness of its renewed focus on luxury branding [5] - The company has a market capitalization of $22 billion, with a gross margin of 66.23% and a dividend yield of 0.96% [7] - A quarterly dividend of $0.9125 per share was declared on December 12, 2025, with the next payment scheduled for January 9, 2026 [7] Group 3: Market Position - Ralph Lauren's stock is considered one of the most expensive in the U.S. apparel market, yet its aggressive growth plan and commitment to returning capital to shareholders position it as a strong investment opportunity [8]