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The Next Phase of the AI Boom Could Be Even Bigger for Nvidia
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 11:15
Core Viewpoint - Nvidia is positioned for significant growth in the upcoming years, particularly in 2026, driven by strong demand for its products and strategic adjustments in production capacity [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Nvidia generated a total revenue of $57 billion, with $51.2 billion coming from data center GPUs, indicating the dominance of this segment in its overall performance [3]. - The gaming division contributed $4.3 billion in revenue during Q3, highlighting its importance, although production capacity is being reduced to prioritize more profitable data center GPUs [6]. Group 2: Production Capacity and Demand - Nvidia is currently "sold out" of cloud GPUs, reflecting unprecedented demand and prompting the company to expand production capacity [3][4]. - The company is pushing suppliers to increase chip production and is making capacity adjustments across other product lines to meet demand [4][7]. Group 3: Market Opportunities - Nvidia is set to regain access to the Chinese market for its H20 chips, which could generate approximately $8 billion in revenue, albeit with a 25% fee that may affect pricing strategies [10][11]. - The upcoming launch of Nvidia's next-generation architecture, Rubin, is expected to enhance performance and drive further growth, particularly with the transition to 800-volt power systems [12]. Group 4: Industry Outlook - Global data center capital expenditures are projected to rise to $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030, a significant increase from around $600 billion in 2025, which could lead to substantial growth for Nvidia [13]. - The strategic moves being made by Nvidia, including returning to China and increasing production capacity, are expected to maximize sales and potentially lead to a record year in 2026 [14].
My 2 Favorite Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 11:05
Realty Income and Energy Transfer are reliable income plays in this wobbly market.Many dividend stocks slumped in 2022 and 2023 as rising interest rates drove investors toward higher-yielding CDs, bonds, and T-bills. However, the Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark rates six times in 2024 and 2025 as inflation cooled off.As those rates declined, high-yield stocks became more appealing again. Let's take a closer look at two of my personal favorites -- Realty Income (O +1.67%) and Energy Transfer (ET +0.61% ...
Nearly 65% of Warren Buffett's Portfolio Is Invested in These 5 Stocks as 2026 Begins
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 09:44
Buffett's favorite stocks remain Berkshire's biggest holdings even after he passed the torch to his successor.Is it accurate to still refer to the stocks owned by Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 1.42%) (BRK.B 1.24%) as Warren Buffett's portfolio? I think so, even though the legendary investor no longer serves as the conglomerate's CEO.For one thing, every stock currently held by Berkshire was bought under Buffett's leadership, even if he didn't personally make the call to buy the stock. Also, Buffett remains chai ...
Is This One of the Best ETFs to Buy Right Now?
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 09:32
If you're bullish on the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and the growth of energy-eating data centers, this ETF may be for you.Many of us are seeking promising exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for our portfolios. An ETF is a mutual-fund-like security that trades like a stock, making it easy to get in and out of. You can buy into most ETFs via any good brokerage.Here's one to consider -- an ETF that many people might view as one of the best right now: the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE +2.18%).NYSEMKT : VDEVang ...
10 Magnificent Stocks That Can Make You Richer in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 09:06
Core Insights - The stock market has shown strong performance in 2025, with major indices reaching record highs, indicating Wall Street's potential for wealth creation [1][2] Group 1: Visa - Visa has a strong track record, with shares climbing in 13 of the last 15 years, and only two declines of 0.3% and 3.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively [4] - The company's performance is closely tied to economic growth, benefiting from increased consumer and business spending [5] - Visa's focus on payment facilitation rather than lending allows it to avoid capital set-asides for loan losses, enabling quicker recovery during economic downturns [6] Group 2: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk is positioned for recovery in 2026, with midterm elections expected to boost ad spending [7] - The company's Unified ID 2.0 technology is gaining traction, which could enhance its pricing power and sustain double-digit sales growth [8] - Shares are currently valued at 18 times forward earnings, presenting a bargain compared to previous expectations of 20% to 40% annual sales growth [9] Group 3: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms remains fundamentally attractive despite high market valuations, with its apps attracting an average of 3.54 billion daily users [11][12] - The introduction of generative AI solutions is expected to enhance ad pricing power and improve click-through rates [13] Group 4: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group faced challenges in 2025 but has historically risen in 22 of the last 26 years [16] - The company is exiting unprofitable markets and plans to increase healthcare premiums, which should enhance its pricing power [17] - The Optum subsidiary is expected to rebound, potentially making UnitedHealth a top performer in 2026 [18] Group 5: Sirius XM Holdings - Sirius XM operates as a legal monopoly in satellite radio, generating over 75% of its revenue from subscriptions, which provides predictable cash flow [20][21] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of less than 7, representing a 46% discount to its five-year average [22][23] Group 6: BioMarin Pharmaceutical - BioMarin focuses on ultrarare-disease therapies, with its drug Voxzogo expected to exceed $1 billion in sales this year [25][26] - The company is streamlining operations and is projected to achieve mid-to-high single-digit sales growth in 2026 [27] Group 7: NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy has generated positive returns for investors in 21 of the last 24 years, benefiting from stable electricity demand [29] - The company leads in renewable energy capacity, which has reduced generation costs and supported high-single-digit EPS growth [30][31] Group 8: Okta - Okta provides essential cybersecurity services, with demand expected to grow as cyber threats persist [33][34] - The company's subscription backlog increased to nearly $4.3 billion, reflecting strong growth potential [35] Group 9: York Water - York Water is positioned for significant revenue growth if its proposed rate increase is approved, potentially increasing annual revenue by 32% [37][38] - The company has a long history of dividend payments, enhancing its appeal as a stable investment [39] Group 10: O'Reilly Automotive - O'Reilly Automotive has advanced in 21 of the last 23 years, benefiting from the increasing age of vehicles on the road [41] - The company's share-repurchase program has positively impacted its EPS, making it attractive to value investors [43]
Prediction: 2 Magnificent Companies That Can Kick Off 2026 With a Historic Stock-Split Announcement
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 08:06
Two industry-leading businesses are ideally positioned to announce and complete their respective first-ever splits.Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been the hottest trend on Wall Street over the last three years, it's not the only catalyst responsible for sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.66%), S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.19%), and Nasdaq Composite to record-closing highs in 2025. Investor euphoria surrounding stock splits in brand-name companies has played a key role in lifting the tide for ...
What to Watch With Pool Corp. Stock in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 07:28
Core Viewpoint - The company is experiencing macroeconomic challenges and sluggish sales growth, leading to a significant decline in stock performance, with a 30% drop in 2025 due to slow revenue growth [1]. Financial Performance - The stock's current price is $229.71, with a market capitalization of $8.6 billion. The stock has a dividend yield of approximately 2.2% [2][6]. - Net sales have decreased slightly year over year for the first nine months of the year, indicating a challenging sales environment [1]. Economic Environment - Consumers are facing financial difficulties, contributing to an affordability crisis in the U.S. Despite some stocks performing well, Pool Corp. has not benefited from this trend [5]. - High living costs persist even as inflation rates have moderated, negatively impacting consumer spending on non-essential items like pools [5][8]. Market Dynamics - The company primarily targets upper-middle-class and wealthy households, but many lower and middle-class families are currently unable to afford pool purchases or maintenance [7]. - Pools are considered luxuries, and sales are adversely affected during economic downturns, as evidenced by consumer complaints about rising costs of basic goods [8]. Growth Opportunities - Pool Corp. has significant potential for international growth, with plans to expand in Europe and Australia. Currently, 95% of sales come from North America, indicating a reliance on domestic markets [9]. - Although international sales could provide long-term growth opportunities, immediate improvements in domestic sales are necessary to address current challenges [10].
Prediction: These Mid-Cap AI Stocks Could Outperform the "Magnificent Seven" by 2030
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 06:00
Core Insights - The article emphasizes the potential for mid-cap AI stocks to generate significant wealth as the AI industry continues to grow, highlighting the success of Nvidia as a benchmark for potential gains [2]. Group 1: Cipher Mining - Cipher Mining has transitioned to AI infrastructure, experiencing substantial growth, with its stock value tripling in 2025 [4]. - The company secured a 15-year, $5.5 billion deal with Amazon Web Services, providing 300 megawatts of capacity [6]. - Cipher Mining's energy pipeline has expanded to 3.4 gigawatts, allowing for the potential of 10 additional similar deals, generating approximately $367 million annually [7]. - The company aims to generate billions in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2026, indicating a strong demand for AI data centers across the U.S. [8]. Group 2: Ondas Holdings - Ondas Holdings, a mid-cap stock focused on AI-powered drones, saw its stock nearly quadruple in 2025, with a market cap of $3 billion [9]. - The company reported $10.1 million in revenue for Q3, marking a 60% quarter-over-quarter increase, and set a preliminary target of $110 million for 2026 [11]. - Ondas Holdings is actively acquiring companies to enhance its market position and has received $10 million in new autonomous systems orders, indicating strong commercial demand [12]. Group 3: Argan - Argan specializes in constructing AI data centers and currently has a record backlog of $3 billion, under contract for about 6 gigawatts of power-generating assets [14]. - Despite a slight dip in revenue year-over-year for fiscal Q3 2026, the backlog is expected to support accelerated revenue growth [16]. - The company has seen its stock more than double in 2025 and increase by approximately 600% over the past five years, reflecting strong market demand for AI infrastructure [17].
3 Best Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in January
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 05:00
Core Viewpoint - The stock market is heavily influenced by artificial intelligence (AI), with several key stocks expected to perform well in 2026, particularly Nvidia, Broadcom, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing [1]. Group 1: Nvidia - Nvidia is recognized as the leader in AI infrastructure, with its GPUs being essential for AI data center development [2]. - The company has established a robust ecosystem around its chips, having integrated its CUDA software platform into educational institutions, which has led to widespread adoption among developers [4]. - Nvidia's recent acquisition of SchedMD enhances its software capabilities, particularly with the open-source platform Slurm, and its NVLink interconnect system provides a competitive networking advantage [6]. Group 2: Broadcom - Broadcom is becoming a preferred choice for companies seeking cost-effective alternatives to Nvidia's GPUs, focusing on ASIC technology for custom AI chip design [7]. - The company has collaborated with Alphabet to develop tensor processing units (TPUs), attracting other major clients like Meta Platforms and OpenAI, which is expected to drive significant growth [9]. - Analysts project Broadcom's AI revenue to exceed $50 billion in fiscal 2026 and reach $100 billion in fiscal 2027, a substantial increase from $20.2 billion in fiscal 2025 [10]. Group 3: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is positioned to benefit from the rising demand for both GPUs and AI ASICs, holding a near monopoly in advanced logic chip manufacturing [12]. - TSMC is the only foundry capable of producing smaller node chips at high yields, which is critical for the development of powerful and energy-efficient chips [14]. - The company has demonstrated strong pricing power, increasing prices by over 15% since 2019 and planning further hikes starting in 2026 [16].
Investors Believe Overvaluation Is One of the Biggest Risks to the AI Story. Here Are 2 AI Stocks With the Frothiest Valuations.
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-05 04:00
Core Insights - Palantir and CrowdStrike are identified as two of the most expensive AI stocks, with investor concerns primarily focused on valuation despite a general interest in AI stocks for 2026 [1] Palantir Technologies - Palantir's stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 67 times 2025 analyst estimates and 49 times 2026 consensus, significantly exceeding the median enterprise value-to-sales multiple of around 20 times for software stocks in 2021 and 2022 [2] - The company has experienced accelerating revenue growth, reaching 63% last quarter, driven by increased adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among U.S. commercial customers [4] - Palantir's customer count increased by 45% in Q3 2025, and its net dollar retention rate is at 134%, indicating strong growth from existing customers [5] - The U.S. government, as Palantir's largest customer, is also expanding its contracts as it modernizes its defense and intelligence capabilities [6] - Despite its growth potential, the stock is considered overvalued, with historical examples of major tech companies experiencing significant stock price declines before eventual recoveries [7] CrowdStrike - CrowdStrike's stock trades at a forward P/S multiple of nearly 25 times the fiscal 2026 consensus and 20 times fiscal 2027 forecasts, raising concerns about its valuation [10] - The company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth had been decelerating but accelerated to 23% last quarter, while total revenue rose 22% [11] - The introduction of the Falcon Flex licensing model has significantly boosted ARR for customers adopting it, with some seeing their ARR triple in Q3 [12] - For CrowdStrike to justify its current valuation, revenue growth needs to accelerate to the 30% range and maintain that level [13]