Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum is transitioning from a speculative hardware company to a recurring revenue model, indicated by a significant Fortune 100 contract that suggests enterprise adoption [1] - There are concerns regarding insider selling and extreme valuation, which may create tension for investors [1] - If execution improves and Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) scales, the long-term upside potential for the company could be substantial [1] Company Developments - The recent Fortune 100 contract represents a critical step in D-Wave's strategy to enhance its market position and credibility [1] - The shift towards a recurring revenue model is a strategic move to stabilize income and attract more investors [1] Market Concerns - Insider selling raises questions about the confidence of current stakeholders in the company's future [1] - The company's current valuation is considered extreme, which may deter potential investors despite the positive developments [1]

The stock is likely to make a big move.Nvidia (NVDA +0.94%) remains the most talked-about stock on the market, even though its performance has been underwhelming recently. It's roughly flat year to date, but it's likely to make a big move after it reports fiscal 2026 fourth quarter (ended Jan. 25) earnings on Wednesday, Feb. 25, although it's unclear in which direction.Here's what investors can expect, and what I'll be watching for in the results.Beating Wall Street's expectationsNvidia has a history of bea ...

Core Insights - Irenic Capital Management LP has significantly reduced its stake in Papa John's International, selling 748,592 shares and retaining 325,108 shares valued at $12.51 million, which now represents only 0.8% of its total assets under management [1][5][6] Company Overview - Papa John's International operates a global pizza network with over 5,600 restaurants across 50 countries, generating revenue from company-owned restaurants, franchise royalties, and commissary sales [4][7] - The company reported a total revenue of $2.1 billion and a net income of $37.7 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM), with a dividend yield of 5.8% [3] Recent Performance - Irenic Capital Management's reduction of its holdings by approximately 70% indicates a lack of confidence in the stock, which has underperformed the market, losing 30.7% over the past year compared to a 16.4% return for the S&P 500 [5][6] - The company's North American same-store sales have faced challenges, including a decline of 2.7% in the third quarter [8]

Core Insights - Medtronic is a consistent dividend payer with a 48-year history of increasing its dividend, making it a unique player in the healthcare stock sector [1][7] - The company operates in a recession-resistant market, providing essential medical devices and treatments that are often non-negotiable for patients [2] - Medtronic has only experienced two declines in annual revenue since 2000, with a 5.4% drop in fiscal year 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and a 1.4% decrease in 2023 attributed to currency fluctuations and supply chain issues [4] - The company has four strong business units: cardiovascular, medical-surgical, neuroscience, and diabetes, although the diabetes unit is set to be spun off [5] - Medtronic has maintained annual net income for over 60 years, showcasing its financial stability despite some fluctuations in profitability [6] - The current dividend yield is nearly 3%, which is more than double the average yield of S&P 500 stocks, highlighting the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders [7] - Despite its strong fundamentals, Medtronic's stock has underperformed the S&P 500 index for several years due to frequent restructuring and competition from other healthcare companies [8] - The company has received FDA clearance for its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system, indicating potential growth opportunities in the future [10] - Expectations are high for Medtronic to outperform the S&P 500 in the coming years, suggesting a potential investment opportunity [11]

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil's stock has risen significantly due to increasing oil and natural gas prices, but the company's long-term growth is driven by its two-pronged growth strategy [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Conditions - ExxonMobil's stock price increased by 17% in January, correlating with a 17% rise in Brent Crude prices [2]. - The company's current market capitalization stands at $614 billion, with a current stock price of $147.28 [6][7]. Group 2: Earnings and Production Growth - Despite a year-over-year decline in earnings primarily due to weaker oil and gas prices, ExxonMobil increased its production by approximately 9% in 2025 [5]. - In 2025, advantaged production accounted for 59% of Exxon's total production, an increase of seven percentage points from 2024 [7]. Group 3: Long-term Strategy and Dividend Outlook - ExxonMobil is focusing on profitable oil opportunities and investing in its business to enhance future growth [8]. - The company has a strong history of annual dividend increases, with a current dividend yield of 2.7%, indicating potential for future dividend growth [9].

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF (SLVP) and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) provide distinct investment opportunities in the metals and mining sector, with SLVP focusing on silver and diversified metals while GDX targets gold miners [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - SLVP has a lower expense ratio of 0.39% compared to GDX's 0.51% - SLVP offers a higher dividend yield of 1.5% versus GDX's 0.6% - As of February 20, 2026, SLVP has $1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM), while GDX has $33.5 billion [3][4]. Performance and Risk Metrics - Over the past five years, SLVP experienced a maximum drawdown of -56.18%, while GDX had a drawdown of -49.79% - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $2,718 in SLVP and $3,246 in GDX over the same period [5]. Portfolio Composition - GDX consists of 55 holdings focused solely on gold mining, with major positions in Agnico Eagle Mines (9.73%), Newmont Corp (9.11%), and Barrick Mining Corp (6.65%) [6]. - SLVP holds 30 companies, with a concentration in silver mining, featuring top holdings such as Hecla Mining (15.38%), Indust Penoles (11.9%), and Fresnillo Plc (10.94%) [7]. Market Context - Precious metals have gained significant momentum, with gold and silver prices reaching all-time highs in January 2026, influencing investor decisions between SLVP and GDX based on desired metal exposure [8]. Investment Strategy - GDX is noted for its liquidity and diversification within the gold mining sector, making it a suitable choice for investors seeking exposure without the complexities of individual stock analysis [9][10]. - SLVP is recognized as a leading silver ETF, providing access to top-tier global silver mining companies, which may appeal to investors looking for higher dividend yields and lower costs [12][13].

Group 1 - Microsoft has experienced a significant stock decline of over 25% from its October highs in 2026, with most of this drop occurring in the same year [1] - The current market cap of Microsoft is $2.9 trillion, and its stock is trading at $397.24, which is considered a buying opportunity [7][8] - Microsoft has shown strong performance in its core software business and artificial intelligence, with Azure experiencing rapid growth and a substantial backlog of workloads [8] Group 2 - In Q2 of fiscal year 2026, Microsoft reported a 17% year-over-year revenue growth, indicating strong operational performance despite the stock decline [9] - The company's forward earnings valuation is at 24 times, the lowest in nearly three years, making it an attractive investment compared to the S&P 500's 21.9 times [9] - Investing in Microsoft now could potentially yield mid-teens returns, accelerating wealth accumulation for investors [11]

These companies pay high-yielding dividends that should continue growing.High-quality, high-yielding dividend stocks can provide you with a growing passive income stream. Many companies delivered decades of consistent dividend growth, trends that seem unlikely to end. Here are four top stocks with dividends yielding more than 4% (over three times higher than the S&P 500's 1.2% yield) that you can buy now for bankable passive income. Clearway Energy Clearway Energy (CWEN +1.07%)(CWEN.A +0.57%) is a leader i ...

One of the nation’s largest wholesale mortgage lenders reported a significant insider sale amid a year of declining share prices.Mat Ishbia, President and CEO of UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC 3.75%), reported the indirect sale of 1,898,622 shares of Common Stock across three open-market transactions from Feb. 10 through Feb. 12, 2026, for nearly $9 million as disclosed in the SEC Form 4 filing. Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (indirect)1,898,622Transaction value$8,999,468 millionPost-transaction ...

Group 1 - The S&P 500 is considered one of the best long-term wealth creation tools despite short-term valuation or economic growth concerns [1][3] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is the largest ETF globally, providing simple and cost-effective exposure to major U.S. companies [1] - The index's allocation to technology stocks has grown significantly, now accounting for 33% of the S&P 500, with a focus on the "Magnificent Seven" stocks [2][5] Group 2 - The current sector allocations in the S&P 500 include Technology (33%), Communication Services (11%), Consumer Discretionary (10%), Healthcare (9%), and Industrials (9%) [5] - The S&P 500's performance will be heavily influenced by the tech sector and the Magnificent Seven stocks in the foreseeable future [6] - Long-term investors should maintain exposure to various sectors of the U.S. economy, and owning the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is an effective way to achieve this [9] Group 3 - The economic environment currently favors large-cap companies, which show better earnings growth and quality compared to small-cap companies [10] - A significant portion of companies in the Russell 2000 index are unprofitable, while the S&P 500 has a much lower percentage of unprofitable companies [10] - Long-term wealth creation will be driven by earnings, making the S&P 500 a solid long-term investment despite short-term valuation concerns [11]