Amazon had a solid second quarter and the really important trend for the business hasn't changed one bit.If you are old enough you will remember a time when Amazon.com (AMZN 1.44%) was a fledgling online book store. But that was a long time ago at this point, with the company's online presence now so ubiquitous that, for many consumers, it is the first place they look when shopping for anything.The interesting thing here, however, is that Amazon has now grown to the point where its retail operations aren't ...

Realty Income is roughly 25% below its all-time high. This could be a good buying opportunity for long-term income investors.The highest Realty Income's (O -0.32%) stock has ever been was just shy of $80 per share, a peak hit in early 2020. And then the coronavirus pandemic upended the economy and the stock market, which fell into a bear market.Unlike the price of the S&P 500 index (^GSPC 0.21%), which has rallied to new highs, Realty Income's share price hasn't recovered. It is still down roughly 25% from ...

Each of these stocks offers something different for a balanced and secure portfolio.Dividend stocks are the cornerstone of a great investment portfolio. The right mix of dividend stocks can provide security for your funds as well as a growing passive income stream, which is why they are even more important for retirees.There are various features that mark a great candidate, and it's unusual to find them all together. A high yield is often the main feature investors look for, but it's not the only thing that ...

Energy Transfer is offering a huge 7.5% yield that is well covered, but there are other issues to consider before you buy it.If you're looking for a high-yield investment to add to your portfolio, you will definitely find Energy Transfer's (ET -1.38%) lofty 7.5% distribution yield to your liking. But can it set you up for a lifetime of income? That's a harder question to answer, given the history behind this midstream master limited partnership (MLP). Here's what you need to consider before you buy it.What ...

OpenAI is expected to be its newest AI chip customer.Broadcom (AVGO 3.05%) shares surged following its fiscal Q3 earnings report after the company revealed that it has a new $10 billion custom artificial intelligence (AI) chip customer. While Broadcom did not immediately identify the new customer, Wall Street analysts predict it is likely OpenAI.With the stock trading up more than 45% on the year, let's take a closer look at Broadcom's most recent results and future AI opportunities to see whether it's too ...

Analysts think this AI stock can soar more than 50% over the next 12 months.Nvidia (NVDA 0.77%) easily ranks as the biggest artificial intelligence (AI) stock with its market cap of over $4 trillion. Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.87%) is the best-performing AI stock this year with an impressive return of over 100%. But are Nvidia and Palantir analysts' favorite large-cap AI stocks? Nope. Neither the biggest nor the best-performing AI stocks are even close to the top of the pack. Meet the large-cap AI stock ...

These stocks could be winners over the long run, regardless of what the Fed does over the near term.Will they or won't they? The "they" in this question is the members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve. The question itself relates to whether or not an interest rate cut will be announced after the FOMC's meeting next week.I won't speculate about what the decision will be. However, I will make a prediction: Four stocks owned by Warren Buffett will be big winners if the Fed ind ...

A new year is around the corner, and artificial intelligence is likely to remain a driving force of stock market returns.With a little over three months remaining in 2025, now might be a good time to think about making some portfolio adjustments ahead of the new year. Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently a key driver of stock market returns, and we could still be in the early innings of this tech revolution, so investors who lack exposure might want to make some moves.Purchasing just one or two exchang ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is positioned to benefit significantly from the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) boom, leveraging its existing strengths in e-commerce and cloud computing to drive future growth [1][2][3]. Group 1: E-commerce and Cloud Services - Amazon is a dominant player in the e-commerce sector, with over 200 million Prime members, which has been a key growth driver [6]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest cloud services provider globally, reporting a 17% revenue increase recently, achieving a $123 billion annual revenue run rate [7]. - The company has experienced double-digit sales growth and improved return on invested capital (ROIC) over the years, indicating effective investment strategies [7][8]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Strategy - Amazon faced challenges in 2022, including higher interest rates and a net loss, but used this period to restructure its cost structure, returning to profitability [10]. - The company is reorganizing its fulfillment network to reduce costs, which is expected to positively impact future earnings [11]. Group 3: AI Integration and Market Potential - Amazon is utilizing AI to enhance operational efficiency, such as optimizing delivery routes, which is expected to improve customer satisfaction and earnings [12]. - AWS is expanding its offerings of AI products and services, capitalizing on the growing demand for AI applications among businesses [13]. Group 4: Valuation and Investment Outlook - Amazon's stock is currently trading at 35 times forward earnings estimates, a decrease from over 42 times the previous year, suggesting a reasonable valuation with potential for growth [14]. - The prediction is that Amazon could transform a $50,000 investment made 15 years ago into over $1 million today, indicating strong long-term investment potential [15][16].

Alphabet now has the monkey off its back when it comes to the United States courts.The tide seems to have turned for Alphabet (GOOG -0.35%) (GOOGL -0.31%). The parent company of Google saw its stock dip above $140 in April of this year over concerns about tariffs, antitrust cases both in the U.S. and in Europe, and rising competition for a share of the online search market from artificial intelligence (AI) startups. But since then, the stock has been on an absolute tear, hitting an all-time high of $238.13 ...