Will the future be brighter than the present?Long-term investing is the key to epic returns in the stock market. But this strategy can also expose your portfolio to staggering losses if you bet on the wrong company at the wrong time. Early investors in Lucid Group (LCID +0.36%) know this lesson well. Shares in the electric vehicle (EV) start-up have shed an eye-popping 90% of their value since their special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) was listed in 2020. The embattled automaker continues to struggle ...

Core Insights - The global backlog of unfilled aircraft orders exceeds 17,000 jets, with Boeing facing production delays that extend delivery timelines, resulting in an average fleet age of 15 years [1] - GE Aerospace and TransDigm Group are two major beneficiaries of this situation, each profiting in distinct ways [1] GE Aerospace - GE Aerospace has an installed base of approximately 80,000 commercial and military engines, generating service revenue of $24 billion in 2025, a 26% increase year-over-year, which constitutes 53% of total revenue [2] - Management projects $8.2 billion in free cash flow (FCF) for 2026, with FCF conversion exceeding 100%, and maintains a clean balance sheet compared to TransDigm's higher leverage [4] - GE trades at about 43 times estimated 2026 earnings, reflecting a market expectation of flawless execution and a pure-play razor-and-blade model [5] - GE generated $7.3 billion in free cash flow in fiscal 2025, with a gross margin of 36.64% and a dividend yield of 0.43% [10][11] TransDigm Group - TransDigm specializes in manufacturing thousands of small, mission-critical components for aircraft, holding a sole-source and proprietary position for many parts, which grants significant pricing power [6] - The company reported an operating margin of 47.2% in fiscal 2025, significantly higher than GE's 21.4%, and returned $5 billion to shareholders through special dividends [7] - TransDigm's leverage is more than four times that of GE, and its pricing model has faced regulatory scrutiny [7] - TransDigm produced $1.8 billion in free cash flow, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 32 times [11] Investment Considerations - GE is positioned as a safer investment option, appealing to those willing to pay a premium for stability, while TransDigm attracts investors seeking higher profitability despite its debt levels [12]

This stock is a high-risk, high-upside AI infrastructure play focused on making power delivery in chips more efficient.Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS 0.12%) is the kind of artificial intelligence (AI) stock that can start an argument in a room full of investors. The upside looks huge. The downside seems painful. Five years from now, the outcome will probably land somewhere between those extremes.I find an investment here enticing because Navitas is trying to solve one very specific problem in the AI era: how t ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing debate about whether investors should continue to invest in the S&P 500 or shift focus to mega-cap growth stocks, highlighting the concentration of technology within these indices and the implications for investment strategies [1][2]. Group 1: S&P 500 Overview - The S&P 500 has evolved into a large-cap growth index, with technology stocks now comprising approximately 33% of the index, followed by financials at 13%, communication services at 11%, and consumer discretionary at 10% [4][6]. - The S&P 500 is still viewed as representative of the U.S. economy, despite its heavy weighting in technology and growth sectors [6]. Group 2: Mega-Cap Growth ETFs - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF has a significant 68% allocation to technology, with consumer discretionary being the only other sector exceeding a 10% allocation at 16% [7]. - Investing in mega-cap growth is closely aligned with investing in a pure tech ETF due to the high concentration in technology [7][8]. Group 3: Investment Recommendations - For long-term investment goals, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is recommended due to its diversification compared to the tech-heavy mega-cap growth category [9]. - For short-term investment goals, the S&P 500 is still preferred, as the tech sector has experienced high valuations and growth rates are beginning to decline, indicating a market shift away from technology [10].

Core Viewpoint - Conagra Brands offers a substantial 7% dividend yield, attracting dividend investors, but faces significant risks that may affect its attractiveness as an investment [3][5][6] Investment Considerations Buy Conagra Brands? - The primary reason to consider buying Conagra is its high dividend yield of 7%, appealing to dividend-focused investors [3] - As a consumer staples company, Conagra is viewed as a safe investment during market volatility, providing essential products at reasonable prices [3] Sell Conagra Brands? - The dividend payout ratio is concerning, especially since the company reported a loss, with the ratio previously exceeding 100%, indicating potential risks to the dividend's safety [5][6] - In the fiscal second quarter of 2026, Conagra reported a loss of $1.39 per share, primarily due to non-cash goodwill and brand impairment charges, which, if excluded, would have resulted in earnings of $0.45 per share, covering the $0.35 quarterly dividend [6] Hold Conagra Brands? - Investors who have benefited from the stock's price increase in 2026 may consider taking profits and reallocating to higher-quality competitors like Coca-Cola, despite the potential loss of yield [9] - Conagra's organic sales declined by 3% in the fiscal second quarter of 2026, contrasting with Coca-Cola's 5% increase, highlighting challenges in maintaining sales amid changing consumer preferences [10]

Energy Transfer's Q4 earnings miss is irrelevant compared to the bigger story for this midstream energy leader.When a company badly misses Wall Street's earnings estimates, its stock usually takes a beating. But that didn't happen with Energy Transfer LP (ET +0.21%) after the midstream energy leader announced its 2025 fourth-quarter results on Tuesday morning.Energy Transfer reported Q4 earnings per share of $0.25, well below the consensus estimate of $0.36 among analysts surveyed by S&P Global (SPGI 0.57%) ...

Old Dominion's volumes are still sliding, but that hasn't stopped the stock from rallying.Less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL +0.70%) has had a strong start to 2026. As of this writing, shares have surged about 24% higher this year.That is a big move for a company that just reported lower revenue and lower earnings. Its fourth-quarter revenue fell 5.7% year over year to $1.3 billion, and earnings per share declined 11.4% to $1.09.If you are looking at the chart and wondering whether ...

Philippe Laffont, a hedge fund manager with an excellent track record, sold Nvidia and bought Netflix in the fourth quarter.Billionaire Philippe Laffont runs Coatue Management, a hedge fund that beat the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.28%) by 112 percentage points over the last three years. Beating the S&P 500 by any margin over an extended time period is impressive, but outperforming to that degree is astonishing.Laffont made interesting trades in the fourth quarter. He sold 667,400 shares of Nvidia (NVDA 0.11%), a bran ...

Nearly $11 billion of the Gates Foundation's portfolio is parked in a single stock.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust -- the investment vehicle that funds the foundation's charitable work around the globe -- holds a portfolio valued at roughly $36.6 billion today. Nearly 30% of the entire trust -- just shy of $11 billion -- is invested in a single stock, one that also happens to be a favorite of one of history's most celebrated investors, Warren Buffett. That's not a coincidence. Gates and Buffett ha ...

Core Viewpoint - Stanley Druckenmiller, a prominent billionaire investor, has made significant changes to his investment portfolio, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, indicating a strategic shift in focus towards a "magnificent" company while reducing stakes in several AI stocks [2][4]. Investment Activity - Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office reduced holdings in four major AI stocks: Meta Platforms, Sandisk, Seagate Technology, and Arm Holdings, while nearly quadrupling his stake in Alphabet (GOOGL) [2][10]. - The portfolio saw 16 holdings reduced and 31 positions exited entirely during the fourth quarter, with a total of 62 positions held at the end of 2025 [4]. - The average holding period for positions in Duquesne's $4.5 billion portfolio is approximately 7.5 months, suggesting a proactive approach to profit-taking [4]. Performance of Exited Stocks - Sandisk and Seagate experienced substantial gains over the past year, with increases of 1,540% and 318% respectively, which likely influenced Druckenmiller's decision to sell [4]. - Meta Platforms generates nearly 98% of its revenue from advertising, while Arm Holdings benefits from diverse revenue streams beyond AI chips, potentially mitigating risks associated with an AI bubble [8]. Focus on Alphabet - Druckenmiller's purchase of 282,800 shares of Alphabet increased his stake by 277%, highlighting a strong belief in the company's future prospects [10]. - Alphabet's dominance in the advertising space, with a 90% share of global search traffic, provides a solid foundation should the AI market face challenges [11]. - The incorporation of generative AI and large language models into Google Cloud has driven significant sales growth, positioning Alphabet as a key player in the cloud infrastructure market [12]. Market Outlook - Alphabet's forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23 positions it as a desirable investment, particularly within the context of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks anticipated for 2026 [13].