There are several investing sectors benefiting from the AI buildout.Nvidia (NVDA +3.80%) has been a leader in the artificial intelligence (AI) buildout since its start in 2023. There have also been other top performers, such as Palantir (PLTR +4.21%), which provides artificial intelligence-powered software.Additionally, there are the AI hyperscalers that are powering much of the AI computing capacity built out. And even more in the weeds are utility companies delivering the energy needed to power AI, as wel ...

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is highlighted as an ideal investment for income-focused investors, offering a combination of high yield and potential capital gains through a diversified portfolio of stocks [2][4]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has been established for 14 years and is managed by Charles Schwab, boasting over $71 billion in net assets, making it one of the largest high-yield ETFs [4]. - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, ensuring that investors are not overpaying for its benefits [5]. - It pays quarterly dividends with a 30-day SEC yield of 3.8%, which is close to the 10-year Treasury rate of 4.2%, providing a competitive passive income option [6]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The ETF targets large-cap, high-yield stocks, with approximately 90% of its investments in companies with market capitalizations exceeding $15 billion, appealing to investors seeking diversification [8]. - Over half of the ETF's investments are concentrated in three sectors: energy, consumer staples, and healthcare, which are known for prioritizing dividend growth [9]. Group 3: Sector and Holdings - Key energy holdings include major companies like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and EOG Resources, which help manage risk across the oil and gas value chain [10]. - The top healthcare holdings, such as Merck and Amgen, offer high yields and favorable valuations, while leading consumer staples like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have consistently raised dividends for over 50 years, earning the title of Dividend Kings [11]. Group 4: Performance and Value - Since its inception in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has more than tripled in value, demonstrating its potential for capital gains alongside dividend income [13]. - The ETF is positioned as a foundational holding for value-focused portfolios or as a means to balance portfolios that have become overly concentrated in growth stocks [12].

Core Viewpoint - Accel Entertainment is a lesser-known gaming stock that presents a unique investment opportunity due to its business model and potential for growth in the distributed gaming sector [2][4]. Company Overview - Accel Entertainment operates as a distributed gaming or route operator, placing video gaming terminals (VGTs) in non-casino locations such as bars and convenience stores, distinguishing it from traditional casino operators [4]. - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $936.9 million, making it a small-cap stock with limited coverage from analysts [2][9]. Market Position and Customer Base - Accel's customer base primarily consists of older individuals (age 55+), who are less affected by economic fluctuations and demonstrate loyalty to the gaming terminals [8]. - The company currently controls around 28,000 VGTs across 10 states, with Illinois contributing about 75% of its revenue [8]. Growth Potential - The opening of new markets is seen as a catalyst for Accel's growth, with analysts suggesting that state budget deficits may lead to increased VGT expansion as a less controversial alternative to internet casinos [8]. - Accel's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% since 2022, indicating effective execution of its acquisition strategy [13]. Financial Health - Accel boasts one of the strongest balance sheets in the gaming industry, with the potential to generate up to $1.36 per share in free cash flow (FCF) next year [10]. - The company is actively pursuing a prudent mergers and acquisitions strategy to mitigate risks associated with its competitive market, including recent acquisitions in northern Nevada and Louisiana [12].

Core Insights - The article highlights six stocks that offer high-yielding dividends expected to grow in the coming years, amidst a low dividend yield environment in the S&P 500 at around 1.1% [1] Group 1: Clearway Energy - Clearway Energy is a major clean power producer with a diverse portfolio of renewable energy and natural gas assets, providing a 5.5% dividend yield supported by long-term fixed-rate power purchase agreements [3][4] - The company plans to distribute approximately 70% of its stable cash flow as dividends, aiming for a free cash flow growth of 5% to 8% annually, which will support future dividend increases [4] Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners owns a diversified portfolio of energy midstream assets, generating stable cash flow with a current distribution yield of 6.8%, comfortably covered by 1.5 times [6][7] - The company has a strong balance sheet and has increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years, with significant capital project completions planned for the second half of the year and further expansions in 2026 [7] Group 3: Healthpeak Properties - Healthpeak Properties is a REIT focused on healthcare-related properties, offering a 7.3% monthly dividend supported by stable cash flow [8][9] - The REIT has a conservative payout ratio and is looking to generate $1 billion from potential sales to reinvest in outpatient medical development and lab properties, which should enhance future dividend growth [9] Group 4: Realty Income - Realty Income is another REIT with a diversified commercial real estate portfolio, currently yielding 5.6% and backed by stable cash flow [11][12] - The company has a strong balance sheet and plans to invest $6 billion this year, which will help in increasing its dividend, having done so 133 times since its public listing in 1994 [12] Group 5: Main Street Capital - Main Street Capital is a business development company providing capital to smaller private firms, currently offering a 5.1% monthly dividend, with a goal to steadily increase this rate [13][14] - The company has raised its monthly dividend by 4% over the past year and has a total yield of 7.6% when including supplemental quarterly dividends [14] Group 6: Verizon - Verizon generates stable cash flow from its mobile and broadband services, currently yielding 6.8% and has raised its dividend for 19 consecutive years [16][17] - The company is in the process of acquiring Frontier Communications for $20 billion, which is expected to enhance its fiber network and customer service offerings, potentially increasing profit margins [17] Conclusion - These six companies are positioned to provide stable cash flow and high-yielding dividends, making them attractive options for investors seeking income in 2026 and beyond [18]

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is positioned to grow rapidly in 2026.Pinpointing the best-performing artificial intelligence (AI) stock for 2026 is no easy feat. It's impossible to know which companies will launch innovative features, or if 2026 will be a year of buildout. Investors only have a bit of information about what to expect in 2026, and using that tidbit to their advantage is the best that they can do.What piece of information can clue investors into 2026's future? Spending projections from th ...

Core Viewpoint - Tom Lee, a prominent market strategist, maintains a bullish outlook on the market, particularly on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and has made accurate predictions in recent years [1][2]. Cryptocurrency Insights - Lee is particularly optimistic about Ethereum, believing it could surge by as much as 2,000% and has taken a leadership role at Bitmine Immersion Technologies, which employs an Ethereum treasury strategy [2]. - Ethereum has transitioned to a proof of stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, making it more energy-efficient compared to Bitcoin's proof of work (PoW) [3]. - The smart contract functionality of Ethereum allows for the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, which enhances its utility and attractiveness as an investment [5]. Market Dynamics - Ethereum has been range-bound for five years but is now showing signs of breaking out, with potential price targets of $12,000 if it returns to its historical average ratio against Bitcoin, and $62,000 if it reaches a ratio of 0.25 [6][8]. - The majority of stablecoins and DeFi applications are built on Ethereum, positioning it as a foundational layer for global financial settlement [8]. Competitive Landscape - While Ethereum faces competition from other cryptocurrencies that also utilize PoS and offer high transaction volumes, its first-mover advantage remains significant [9]. - The network's established presence and critical mass in the DeFi space contribute to its long-term investment potential [11].

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Industrials ETF is a strong option for investors, but the Global X Defense Tech ETF presents an alternative for those seeking potential outperformance in the industrial sector [1][3]. Group 1: Vanguard Industrials ETF - The Vanguard Industrials ETF has increased nearly 20% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500, and holds a diverse portfolio of 391 stocks, providing broad exposure to the industrial sector [2]. - The ETF features a low expense ratio of 0.09% per year, equating to $9 on a $10,000 investment, making it cost-effective for investors [2]. Group 2: Global X Defense Tech ETF - The Global X Defense Tech ETF, launched in September 2023, has quickly surpassed traditional industrial ETFs, with a current market size of $4.97 billion [5]. - This ETF differentiates itself by allocating 14.6% of its weight to technology stocks and includes Palantir Technologies as its largest holding, which is not common in older industrial ETFs [7]. - The fund focuses on evolving themes in national defense, emphasizing technology such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and drones, aligning with modern defense spending trends [8]. Group 3: Regional Diversification - The Global X ETF offers significant regional diversification, with nearly 37% of its holdings from outside the U.S., including an 8% allocation to German equities, which are expected to double defense spending over the next five years [11]. - The ETF also has a 5.5% weight in French stocks, as France plans to double its defense spending by 2027 compared to a decade ago, highlighting the growing global focus on defense investments [12].

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is making significant moves in the market, including a stock split and a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could impact its future growth and stock performance [3][6][10]. Group 1: Stock Split - Netflix executed a 10-for-1 stock split, which has historically been associated with a positive medium-term outlook for the stock [3]. - The stock price is now approximately $100, down from over $1,000, creating a perception of affordability among investors [4][5]. Group 2: Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery - Netflix announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery assets for $72 billion in equity value and an enterprise value of $82.7 billion [6]. - The acquisition faces regulatory scrutiny and potential competition from Paramount Skydance, which has made a hostile bid with an enterprise value of $108.4 billion [7][8]. - If successful, Netflix plans to finance the acquisition with a $59 billion loan, which would increase its debt [9]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Despite a rare earnings miss in the third quarter due to a tax expense in Brazil, Netflix continues to perform well financially [10]. - The company maintains a strong competitive position in the streaming industry with a growing user base and a rich content library [11]. - The acquisition of Warner Bros. could enhance Netflix's content offerings and user engagement, further solidifying its market dominance [12][13].

Group 1: CoreWeave - CoreWeave is a leader in the cloud services industry, specifically designed for artificial intelligence workloads, and is recognized as the most capable provider of cloud AI services, surpassing major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft [4][5] - The company reported a 134% increase in revenue to $1.3 billion, with a narrower GAAP loss of $0.22 per diluted share compared to $1.82 in the previous year, and cash from operations increased over 100% to $1.7 billion [5] - Despite a 36% decline in stock price due to lowered full-year guidance, concerns are considered overblown as the guidance reflects postponed revenue from construction delays, and cloud AI spending is projected to grow at 40% annually through 2030 [6] - CoreWeave's stock trades at 6.5 times sales, which is seen as reasonable given a projected revenue growth rate of 95% annually through 2027, supported by strong customer relationships with AI giants [7] Group 2: Circle Internet Group - Circle is a fintech company that issues stablecoins, with its primary product being USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market value, known for its regulatory compliance [10] - The company reported a 66% increase in revenue to $740 million, driven by a 108% increase in circulating volume of USDC, and adjusted EBITDA rose 78% to $166 million [12] - Circle is expanding its services with the Circle Payments Network, which includes 29 financial institutions and aims to facilitate faster and cheaper transactions [13] - Stablecoin revenue is projected to grow at 54% annually through 2030, with USDC being favored among financial institutions for its regulatory compliance, making Circle an attractive long-term investment [14]

Core Insights - Uber's stock has seen a 33% increase year to date, despite a recent 20% decline from its peak, indicating a reasonable valuation with a forward price-to-earnings ratio under 19, presenting a potential investment opportunity [1] User Base - Uber reported 189 million monthly active users (MAUs) at the end of Q3, reflecting a 17% year-over-year increase, suggesting potential for further customer growth by 2026 [4] Profitability and Business Model - Uber has transformed from a significant net loss of $8.5 billion in 2019 to generating $9.8 billion in profits through the first nine months of 2025, showcasing a scalable business model [6][7] - The company is expected to see a 44% increase in operating income between 2025 and 2026, outpacing projected sales growth, as sales and marketing expenses decrease as a percentage of revenue [8] Autonomous Vehicles - The rise of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology presents both risks and opportunities for Uber, as it has established partnerships with enterprises in the AV space and has a large user base [9] - If competitors like Waymo or Tesla achieve breakthroughs in AV technology by 2026, they could challenge Uber's market position, while continued partnerships could enhance Uber's network [10]