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Betting Against Wall Street: The Inverse ETF Surge No One Is Talking About
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 19:23
Group 1 - The ProShares UltraShort Financials ETF is a leveraged inverse ETF that bets against the S&P Financial Select Sector index, which includes financial services stocks in the S&P 500 [5][6] - The ETF aims to deliver -2x the daily performance of the underlying index, which means if the index gains, the ETF is expected to lose twice that amount [6] - The current price of the ProShares UltraShort Financials ETF is $27.71, with a 52-week range of $23.86 to $44.19 [9] Group 2 - The financial services sector is viewed as a value destination and a source of dividend growth, despite some investors' lingering fears from the Global Financial Crisis [2][4] - The ETF can serve as a tactical tool for short-term traders, providing a hedge against long positions in financial stocks, particularly in response to sector-specific news [10][11] - The ETF is not suitable for long-term investments, as leveraged ETFs are designed for short-term trading and may not meet their stated objectives over extended periods [9][10]
Praxis Stock Surges 320% as One Biotech Investor's Buy Pushes Stake to Nearly $600 Million
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 19:16
Company Overview - Praxis Precision Medicines is a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by neuronal imbalance [6] - The company has a pipeline targeting major depressive disorder, essential tremor, and rare epilepsies, emphasizing precision medicine and targeted treatments [6] - As of February 17, 2026, the company's stock price was $328.04, reflecting a significant increase of 320% over the prior year [8] Financial Performance - The company reported a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $7.46 million and a net income loss of $273.04 million [4] - Praxis ended 2025 with $926 million in cash and investments, supplemented by an additional $621 million in financing in January 2026, extending its financial runway into 2028 [10][11] - Research and development spending for 2025 reached $267 million, indicating a late-stage push across multiple programs [11] Recent Developments - On February 17, 2026, Perceptive Advisors LLC disclosed a purchase of 431,432 shares of Praxis Precision Medicines, valued at approximately $80.34 million, increasing its stake significantly [2] - The quarter-end value of Perceptive Advisors' position in Praxis increased by $505.38 million due to the share purchase and subsequent stock price movement [2] - Praxis has submitted two New Drug Applications (NDAs) to the FDA for ulixacaltamide in essential tremor and relutrigine for SCN2A and SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) [10] Market Position and Strategy - The company operates a biopharmaceutical business model focused on research, clinical development, and commercialization of proprietary drug candidates [9] - Praxis targets healthcare providers and specialists in neurology and psychiatry, aiming to address unmet medical needs in these fields [9] - The recent increase in portfolio weightings for Praxis reflects a transition from a pipeline story to a pending commercial launch, indicating potential for rapid changes in investor sentiment [7]
Celcuity Stock Soars 700% in a Year as One Investor's $17 Million Buy Helps Create Top Two Position
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 19:05
Core Insights - Celcuity is focused on developing targeted cancer therapies and diagnostic platforms, particularly in precision medicine for oncology [1][6] - Perceptive Advisors increased its stake in Celcuity by 203,881 shares, valued at approximately $16.76 million, reflecting confidence in the company's growth potential [2][7] - Celcuity's share price surged 700% over the past year, indicating strong market performance and investor interest [7][11] Company Overview - As of February 17, 2026, Celcuity's stock price was $107.32, with a market capitalization of $4.97 billion and a net income of -$162.72 million [4] - The company operates a clinical-stage biotechnology model, focusing on proprietary drug candidates and diagnostic technologies, with future revenue expected from licensing and partnerships [8] Product Development - Celcuity's lead drug candidate, Gedatolisib, has received FDA acceptance for a New Drug Application with a PDUFA goal date of July 17, 2026, based on Phase 3 trial data [9][10] - Gedatolisib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations, indicating its potential significance in treating advanced breast cancer [9] Investment Implications - Perceptive Advisors' stake in Celcuity represents 5.62% of its reported assets under management (AUM), suggesting a strong conviction in the company's future [7][11] - The upcoming regulatory decision on Gedatolisib is critical for long-term investors, as it will determine the drug's market entry and potential revenue generation [11]
My 5 Favorite Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 18:46
Core Viewpoint - The article highlights five dividend stocks that are currently attractive for income-focused investors, particularly in light of overvalued growth stocks. Group 1: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is recommended over Coca-Cola due to its higher forward-looking dividend yield of 3.5% compared to Coke's 2.6% [4] - The company's stock has underperformed due to challenges in its food and snack business, but initiatives like healthier product options are positively impacting its financials [4] Group 2: Pfizer - Pfizer's revenue peaked at over $100 billion in 2022 due to COVID-19 but has since declined as the company focused on pandemic response [5] - The company plans to launch eight new blockbuster drugs by 2030, which could increase annual revenue from around $60 billion to $80 billion [7] - Pfizer's current dividend yield is 6.3%, making it an attractive option for income investors [8] Group 3: Realty Income - Realty Income is a REIT that has consistently paid monthly dividends since 1969 and has raised its per-share payment for over 31 years [10] - The REIT focuses on brick-and-mortar retail, with a high occupancy rate of 98.7%, indicating resilience despite challenges in the retail sector [11] Group 4: Verizon - Verizon offers a forward-looking dividend yield of 5.8% and has increased its quarterly payment for 19 consecutive years [12] - The company's strong customer dependency on mobile services supports its stable income generation [14] Group 5: IBM - IBM has a dividend yield of 2.6% and has raised its payment annually for the past 30 years [15] - A significant portion of IBM's revenue comes from high-margin software and consulting services, with annualized recurring revenue from software subscriptions at $23.6 billion [18]
Nurix Stock Is Down 6% This Past Year, but One Biotech Fund Still Boosted Its Bet By $63 Million
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 18:12
Core Insights - Redmile Group acquired 4,415,514 shares of Nurix Therapeutics, valued at approximately $63.43 million, as disclosed in a SEC filing on February 17, 2026 [2][4] - The value of Redmile's position in Nurix increased by $119.55 million, reflecting both new purchases and stock price changes [2] - Nurix Therapeutics is focused on developing targeted therapies for cancer and immune disorders, leveraging partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies [6][8] Company Overview - As of February 17, 2026, Nurix Therapeutics had a market capitalization of $1.37 billion and a stock price of $15.64, which is down 6.52% over the past year [4][7] - The company reported a total revenue of $83.98 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) but incurred a net loss of $264.46 million [4][9] - Nurix's cash and marketable securities stood at $592.9 million at the end of fiscal 2025, supported by a $250 million equity offering [9] Investment Implications - Despite recent stock performance trailing the broader market, Nurix's lead program, a BTK degrader, has shown promising Phase 1 data with an 83% objective response rate [7][9] - Redmile's investment in Nurix now constitutes 11.31% of its total assets under management (AUM), indicating a significant conviction in the company's potential [7][10] - The company is positioned to compete in the biopharmaceutical landscape with its innovative therapies targeting unmet needs in oncology and immunology [6][8]
Biotech-Focused Fund Adds $12 Million to Immunome Bet as Stock Surges 120%
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 18:03
Core Insights - Redmile Group increased its stake in Immunome by purchasing 695,000 shares, valued at approximately $12.20 million, during the fourth quarter of 2025 [2][7] - Immunome's stock price rose to $22.69 as of February 17, 2026, reflecting a 120% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 13% gain [8][10] - The company has raised around $400 million through a share offering to fund its oncology pipeline and reported positive Phase 3 results for its drug varegacestat [7][11] Company Overview - Immunome is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing antibody therapies for cancer and infectious diseases, leveraging proprietary discovery platforms [6][9] - As of February 17, 2026, Immunome's market capitalization is $2.09 billion, with a revenue of $9.68 million and a net income of -$222.74 million [4] Investment Implications - The recent buy activity by Redmile Group indicates confidence in Immunome's pipeline, suggesting it is not merely a momentum trade but a long-term investment opportunity [10] - The company's position now represents 9.05% of Redmile Group's assets under management, highlighting its significance in the portfolio [8]
Investor Slashes $70 Million From Zymeworks as Stock Jumps 60% in a Year
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 17:53
Company Overview - Zymeworks is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative cancer therapies, particularly through bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates [6] - The company has a robust pipeline and strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms, providing a competitive edge in targeted oncology therapeutics [6] - As of February 17, 2026, Zymeworks has a market capitalization of $1.74 billion and reported revenue of $134.48 million with a net income of -$63.43 million [4] Recent Developments - Redmile Group significantly reduced its stake in Zymeworks by 3,214,096 shares, valued at approximately $70.10 million, as disclosed in a February 17, 2026, SEC filing [2] - The quarter-end value of Redmile's position in Zymeworks decreased by $50.35 million due to share sales and stock price movements [2] - Following the sale, Zymeworks now accounts for 0.95% of Redmile's reportable 13F assets under management (AUM) [7] Performance Metrics - Zymeworks shares were priced at $23.07 as of February 17, 2026, reflecting a 60% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 13% gain during the same period [7] - The company is eligible for up to $440 million in regulatory milestone payments tied to approvals in major markets [9] - Zymeworks ended 2025 with approximately $270.6 million in cash and marketable securities, alongside a $125 million share repurchase authorization [9] Strategic Insights - The reduction in Redmile's position is interpreted as capital recycling rather than a loss of confidence, as Zymeworks is in a transition phase balancing royalty aggregation, internal R&D, and capital returns [10] - The company continues to focus on addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment through licensing agreements, research collaborations, and milestone payments from strategic partners [8]
Biotech Investor Adds $3 Million to Krystal Biotech as Revenue Hits $389 Million in 2025
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 17:45
Krystal Biotech develops redosable gene therapies targeting rare skin diseases, with a late-stage clinical pipeline and expanding portfolio.Redmile Group reported a purchase of 16,317 shares of Krystal Biotech (KRYS 0.33%) in its February 17, 2026, SEC filing, with the estimated transaction value at $3.43 million based on quarterly average pricing.What happenedAccording to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Redmile Group increased its position in Krystal Biotech by 16 ...
Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Still Isn't Buying Nvidia. But He Recently Picked Up Shares of This AI Stock That's Among the Cheapest of the Magnificent Seven.
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 17:15
Core Viewpoint - Stanley Druckenmiller, managing $4.4 billion at the Duquesne Family Office, has shifted his investment focus from Nvidia to Alphabet, capitalizing on perceived value in the AI sector as Nvidia's valuation has decreased significantly since 2024 [1][2][6]. Company Insights - Nvidia's valuation has dropped from over 48x forward earnings estimates in 2024 to about 24x currently, indicating a significant decrease in perceived valuation [2]. - Despite Nvidia's strong growth in the AI sector, Druckenmiller has not reinvested in Nvidia but instead increased his holdings in Alphabet by 276%, now owning 385,000 shares, which constitutes over 2.6% of his portfolio [8][9]. - Alphabet is also a key player in the AI market, with its Google Cloud business reporting a 48% revenue increase to over $17 billion, driven by demand for AI infrastructure [9]. Market Context - The current market cap of Alphabet is approximately $3.8 trillion, with a gross margin of 59.68% and a dividend yield of 0.26% [10]. - The valuation of Alphabet remains competitive, with other Magnificent Seven stocks, including Nvidia, becoming cheaper, suggesting a potential shift in investment strategies among investors [11].
Alphabet Has a Plan for Worldwide AI Dominance
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 17:08
Core Insights - Alphabet has made significant strides in artificial intelligence (AI) over the past year, positioning itself as a leader in AI development, which has positively impacted its stock performance and market capitalization [1][2] Group 1: Alphabet's Current Performance - Alphabet's core search revenue increased by 17% year over year, and YouTube's revenue surpassed $60 billion, driven by both ad sales and subscriptions [4] - The company has over 325 million paid subscriptions across various services, contributing to its recurring revenue [4] Group 2: AI Developments - Over 750 million monthly active users are utilizing the Gemini app, with more than 8 million paid seats sold for its enterprise version within four months of launch [5] - Alphabet's AI infrastructure has been enhanced, including the use of Nvidia GPUs and proprietary tensor processing units, leading to a reduction in serving-unit costs for Gemini by over 75% during 2025 [6] Group 3: AI Strategy - Alphabet's AI strategy focuses on three key areas: improving AI infrastructure, advancing AI models and tooling, and ensuring accessibility of AI tools across its product range [6][7][8] - The launch of Gemini 3 Pro has seen a threefold increase in token usage compared to its predecessor, and the Antigravity development platform has attracted over 1.5 million weekly active users [7] Group 4: Future Growth Potential - Alphabet's ability to leverage its AI advancements for growth in its cloud computing services is under scrutiny, with new customer acquisition reportedly increasing [9] - The company faces challenges in attracting customers from rival services due to high switching costs, but successful acquisition could lead to long-term client retention [9]