Core Insights - Visa, ExxonMobil, Oracle, and Netflix are identified as potential investments with the ability to join the $1 trillion market cap club by 2030, appealing to patient investors [2][19] Visa - Visa has a straightforward path to reaching a $1 trillion market cap, supported by high margins, reasonable valuation, and steady earnings growth [4] - In 2025, Visa's non-GAAP earnings per share grew by 14%, indicating strong growth potential that could lead to a market cap exceeding $1 trillion by 2030 [5] - Current market cap stands at $663 billion, with a gross margin of 77.31% and a dividend yield of 0.70% [6][7] ExxonMobil - ExxonMobil needs to double its market cap in five years to surpass $1 trillion, but it has strong fundamentals to achieve this [7] - The company generates significant free cash flow and high earnings, even with oil prices at four-year lows, and has reduced production costs [8] - ExxonMobil's corporate plan forecasts double-digit earnings growth through 2030, with a potential 15% annual growth rate that could double earnings [9][10] Oracle - Oracle nearly reached a $1 trillion market cap but faced a decline due to concerns over AI spending and debt [11] - The company is investing heavily in data center infrastructure to grow its cloud computing market share, with $523 billion in remaining performance obligations indicating high demand [12] - Despite being free cash flow negative, Oracle's aggressive AI investments present a high-risk, high-reward opportunity for investors [13] Netflix - Netflix's market cap has decreased from over $560 billion to under $400 billion due to valuation concerns and uncertainties regarding its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery [14] - The company is expected to grow earnings through global subscriber growth and pricing power, with potential benefits from the acquisition [15][16] - Netflix has demonstrated strong pricing power and effective content spending strategies, positioning it as a likely outperformer over the next five years [17]

There's no realistic path to Virgin Galactic turning profitable in 2026 -- or 2027, either.Ever since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2021, space tourism stock Virgin Galactic (SPCE +2.49%) has been assuring investors it can profit from the brand new business of flying wealthy tourists to the edge of space, to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness before landing back on Earth.So far, Virgin hasn't been able to make those profits happen -- indeed, in 2024, the company suspended space operations entirely ...

Core Viewpoint - Palantir Technologies has gained significant attention with a stock increase of nearly 140% in 2025, following a 340% rise in the previous year, but there are three AI stocks that may present better investment opportunities in 2026 [1][2]. Group 1: Alphabet - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, offers a comprehensive range of AI solutions, positioning it as a strong competitor in 2026 [4]. - Google Cloud is the fastest-growing among major cloud service providers and is favored by AI start-ups, with nearly all AI "unicorns" utilizing its services [4]. - Alphabet's Gemini 3.0 Pro is recognized as the top large language model, and the company is making strides in the AI chip market with its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) [6]. Group 2: Micron Technology - Micron Technology is a key player in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, being one of only three global suppliers and the only U.S.-based manufacturer [7]. - The functionality of Palantir's AI software relies on powerful chips, which in turn depend on high-bandwidth, low-latency memory, suggesting Micron's critical role in the AI ecosystem [8]. - Micron's forward price-to-earnings multiple is significantly lower at 9.2 compared to Palantir's 181.8, indicating a more attractive valuation despite Palantir's faster earnings growth [11]. Group 3: Nvidia - Nvidia is recognized as a leader in AI, with its GPUs being the most powerful for AI processing, making it a strong competitor against Palantir [12]. - Both Nvidia and Palantir reported similar revenue growth rates, with Palantir at 63% and Nvidia at 62% year-over-year in Q3 2025 [12][14]. - Nvidia's quarter-over-quarter revenue growth was 22%, surpassing Palantir's 18%, and its guidance suggests a projected revenue increase of 14% in Q4, compared to Palantir's 12.5% [14][15].

Core Insights - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) is recommended for long-term investment due to its focus on growth stocks, which are expected to lead in innovation and economic progress [2][9] - The ETF has shown resilience in a changing economic landscape, particularly benefiting from strong earnings and a robust U.S. economy [1][8] Fund Overview - VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, which includes about 85% of the U.S. equity market capitalization, selecting stocks based on growth characteristics like earnings and sales growth [4] - The fund has a low expense ratio of 0.04%, making it cost-effective for investors [5][10] Portfolio Composition - The ETF has significant exposure to technology, accounting for 63% of the portfolio, with the "Magnificent Seven" stocks representing nearly 54% [5][8] - VUG includes approximately 160 stocks, allowing for a mix of large-cap leaders and smaller, fast-growing companies [9][10] Market Context - Mega-cap companies are currently outperforming due to the AI revolution, which is expected to continue driving revenue and earnings growth [8] - The strategy of including mid-cap stocks in VUG provides opportunities to capture emerging growth companies that may not be on the radar of other growth ETFs [10]

Core Insights - Rocket Lab has secured a significant contract worth $816 million from the U.S. Space Force to build 18 missile tracking satellites, marking its largest contract to date, surpassing a previous $515 million contract awarded in December 2023 [3][11] - The new contract is part of the Space Force's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), specifically the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3), which focuses on advanced missile tracking capabilities [4][5] - Rocket Lab's participation in this contract alongside major competitors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman indicates its growing stature in the space industry [6][7] Contract Details - The TRKT3 contract involves building satellites equipped with advanced missile warning and tracking sensors, enhancing the U.S. military's ability to detect and respond to missile threats [5] - Unlike previous contracts, all satellites in this tranche will include Rocket Lab's proprietary StarLite space protection sensors, which were previously only included in some satellites [8][9] - Rocket Lab anticipates additional revenue of approximately $1 billion from supplying components and solutions to other contractors involved in the TRKT3 project [10] Financial Implications - The total potential revenue from the TRKT3 contract could reach around $1.8 billion, significantly exceeding Rocket Lab's total revenue over the past 12 months [11] - This contract could provide a substantial revenue boost, estimated at roughly 82% of trailing-12-month revenue for each of the next four years leading up to the satellites' deployment in 2029 [11] - Despite the revenue growth potential, Rocket Lab's profit margins from its space systems division are lower compared to its launch services division, which may affect overall profitability from this contract [12] Market Reaction - Following the announcement of the TRKT3 contract, Rocket Lab's stock has increased by 17%, reflecting positive investor sentiment [13] - The company's current valuation is high, priced near 70 times trailing sales, and it remains unprofitable, with expectations of not achieving profitability for another couple of years [13]

Core Insights - The iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (ITOT) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) provide low-cost, diversified U.S. equity exposure but differ in fund size, number of holdings, and sector weightings [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - Both ITOT and VTI have an expense ratio of 0.03% and similar dividend yields, with ITOT at 1.09% and VTI at 1.11% [3] - As of January 3, 2025, ITOT has a one-year return of 14.69%, while VTI has a return of 14.76% [3] - ITOT has assets under management (AUM) of $80 billion, whereas VTI has a significantly larger AUM of $567 billion [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - The maximum drawdown over five years for ITOT is -25.35%, while VTI is slightly higher at -25.36% [4] - A $1,000 investment would grow to $1,730 in ITOT and $1,728 in VTI over five years, indicating very similar performance [4] Holdings & Sector Exposure - VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index and holds 3,527 stocks, with technology making up 35% of its assets, followed by financial services at 13% and consumer cyclical at 11% [5] - ITOT holds 2,498 stocks, with a sector allocation of 34% in technology, 13% in financial services, and 10% in consumer cyclical [6] - Both ETFs avoid leverage, currency hedging, or ESG screens, maintaining straightforward investment strategies [6] Investor Considerations - VTI offers greater diversification due to its larger number of holdings, making it more suitable for investors seeking maximum market exposure [8] - The larger AUM of VTI provides greater liquidity, allowing for larger transactions without significantly impacting the ETF's price [9] - Overall, both funds are nearly indistinguishable in terms of fees and performance, with AUM and number of holdings being the primary differentiators [11]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett has stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, marking a significant transition for the company, although he will remain as chairman of the board [1][4] - Greg Abel, a long-time Berkshire veteran, has been appointed as the new CEO, raising questions about the future performance of Class B shares [2][10] Company Position - Berkshire Hathaway is in a strong position, with a diverse portfolio of large businesses, including significant insurance operations that generated $22.6 billion in earnings in 2024 [5] - The company has a market capitalization of $1.1 trillion and a fortress-like balance sheet with over $377 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of Q3 2025 [7] Stock Valuation - Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway are currently trading around $497, which is approximately 185% of its tangible book value (TBV), slightly below the 10-year average of 196% [9] - The stock is considered more accessible to retail investors, especially with the introduction of fractional shares, although the need for Class B shares has diminished somewhat [2] Leadership Transition - The departure of Buffett and other senior leaders, such as Todd Combs, may initially make the stock less desirable for investors [4] - Despite the leadership changes, there is confidence in Greg Abel and the senior management team to maintain the company's strong performance, as they have learned extensively from Buffett [10] Long-term Outlook - Berkshire Hathaway is expected to continue generating strong long-term returns, although it is unlikely to be a high-growth stock due to its mature status [11] - The company's stock has historically served as a safe haven during market turbulence, making it a valuable addition to diversified portfolios [11]

Core Insights - Ford Motor Company experienced a significant share price increase of 33% in 2025, outperforming competitors like Tesla [1] - The current trading price of Ford shares is below $15, which may attract long-term investors looking for value [2] Financial Performance - Ford's average quarterly operating margin over the past five years has been just 2.5%, indicating challenges in profitability [6] - The company has a market capitalization of $53 billion and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9.3, which is significantly lower than the S&P 500's ratio of 22.3 [8][10] - Ford's total return over the past 10 years is 61%, which is substantially below the S&P 500's return of 297% [9] Business Challenges - Ford's business model is cyclical, with large purchases made infrequently by consumers, making it vulnerable during economic downturns [5] - The company has announced $19.5 billion in special charges related to restructuring, particularly affecting its electric vehicle operations [7] - Ford's historical inability to forecast industry changes accurately has contributed to its underperformance [7][9] Investment Considerations - The stock offers a dividend yield of 4.54%, with a quarterly payout of $0.15, which may appeal to income-focused investors [11] - However, the sustainability of the dividend is questionable, especially during economic downturns when vehicle demand may decline [11][12] - Despite the attractive valuation, the overall perception of Ford as a subpar business may limit its appeal to investors [10]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is recognized as a transformative technology, comparable to the impact of smartphones on society and the economy [1][2] - Companies are rapidly integrating AI into their operations to enhance efficiency and innovate products and services [2] Investment Opportunities - There are various avenues for investing in AI, including enterprise AI, applied AI, and full-stack AI products [3] Enterprise AI: Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has launched its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) integrated with its Foundry and Gotham software, enabling real-time data insights for clients [5] - The company has secured diverse contracts, including partnerships with TWG Global for sports performance and the U.S. Navy for supply chain management [6] - Palantir's stock has increased over 960% since January 1, 2024, indicating strong market performance [7] Applied AI: SoundHound AI - SoundHound AI focuses on voice recognition and conversational AI, with applications in various industries, including fast food and retail [9][10] - The company reported a revenue of $42.05 million in Q3, a 68% increase year-over-year, and has $269 million in cash with no debt [12] - SoundHound's stock has risen 141% in 2025, reflecting its growth potential [12] Big-Swing AI: Tesla - Tesla is heavily investing in AI for its self-driving technology and has launched its Robotaxi app across the U.S. and Canada [13] - The company is also developing Optimus, a humanoid robot, as part of a broader AI strategy [14] - Tesla's stock has increased by 14% in 2025, with potential for significant future gains [15]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is considered an ideal buy-and-hold investment due to its broad diversification and low expense ratio of 0.03% [1][4] - VTI invests in approximately 3,500 U.S. companies across all market capitalizations, making it a cornerstone investment for various portfolios [4][5] - The ETF's exposure to small-cap stocks, which have underperformed recently, presents potential for improved returns and reduced overall portfolio risk [6][8] Investment Strategy - The current U.S. stock market is nearing all-time highs, prompting a cautious approach towards growth and tech stocks, suggesting a shift in focus may be necessary [1][7] - VTI offers exposure to sectors like financials, healthcare, and industrials, which are not as heavily represented in tech-focused ETFs, thus providing a more balanced investment strategy [8] - The inclusion of small-cap stocks in VTI's portfolio allows for potential value opportunities that could yield long-term benefits [9]