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Stock Market Today, Dec. 31: Plug Power Rises After Clear Street Upgrades Rating Despite Lower Price Target
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 22:07
Today, Dec. 31, 2025, a cautious analyst upgrade spotlights Plug Power's high‑risk hydrogen turnaround and funding puzzle.NASDAQ : PLUGPlug PowerToday's Change( 1.55 %) $ 0.03Current Price$ 1.97Key Data PointsMarket Cap$2.7BDay's Range$ 1.94 - $ 2.0552wk Range$ 0.69 - $ 4.58Volume81MAvg Vol127MGross Margin-7128.74 %Plug Power (PLUG +1.55%), which develops hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer systems, closed Wednesday’s session at $1.97, up 1.55%. Plug Power IPO'd in 1999 but has fallen 99% since going public ...
Cogent Communications VP Sells 4,800 Shares After Tumultuous Year
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 20:08
Company Overview - Cogent Communications is a global provider of internet connectivity and network services, focusing on scalable, high-capacity infrastructure and a recurring revenue model [6][11] - The company reported a total revenue of $968.34 million and a net income of -$194.71 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4] - The stock has experienced a significant decline, with a 1-year price change of -72.21% as of December 31, 2025 [4] Recent Transaction - Henry W. Kilmer, Vice President of Network Strategy, sold 4,800 shares for a total of $94,992 on December 8, 2025, at a price of $19.79 per share [1][2] - Post-transaction, Kilmer holds 33,800 shares valued at approximately $716,222 [2] - This sale accounted for 12.44% of Kilmer's direct holdings, which is more than double his recent median percentage per sale [6] Stock Performance Context - The transaction occurred after a significant price depreciation, with Cogent shares down 65.98% year over year as of the sale date [6] - The market close price on the sale date was $21.19, indicating intraday volatility as it was higher than the reported sale price [6] - The stock has plummeted approximately 70% from its 52-week high of $84.06, driven by operational struggles following the company's acquisition of Sprint assets [10][11] Strategic Challenges - Cogent is currently facing challenges due to unprofitable customer agreements inherited from the Sprint acquisition, leading to reported losses in its most recent quarter [11] - The company has paused its stock buyback program and reduced its dividend to $0.02 per share [11] - Despite potential demand for AI-related high-capacity data center connections, the turnaround has been slower than anticipated [11]
Is Rivian Stock a Buy in 2026?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 19:53
Has the turnaround started for this embattled electric automaker?Patience is a virtue in financial markets. Sometimes it can pay to wait until an overvalued stock gets cheap enough to earn a place in your portfolio. And with shares down by over 80% from their peak, Rivian Automotive (RIVN +0.48%) might deserve a closer look. Let's dig deeper to find out if the embattled electric vehicle (EV) maker can bounce back as it expands its business model and potentially benefits from a thinning of the competition as ...
Last Call: Should You Load Up on Intel Stock Before 2025 Ends?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 19:45
Core Viewpoint - Intel's stock experienced a significant increase of nearly 90% in 2025, driven by new leadership and substantial investments from the U.S. government, Nvidia, and SoftBank, alongside cost-cutting measures. However, for continued growth in 2026, Intel must navigate several challenges and secure key customers for its foundry business [1]. Group 1: Foundry Business and Customer Acquisition - Intel needs to secure a major customer for its foundry business, with rumors suggesting that Apple may consider using the Intel 18A process, which would be a significant achievement if realized [3]. - The company must demonstrate progress in attracting customers for its upcoming Intel 14A process, set to launch in 2027 [3]. Group 2: Product Development and Market Competition - The Intel 18A process will be critical for the launch of the Panther Lake and Nova Lake CPU families in 2026, as Intel aims to regain market share lost to AMD due to previous manufacturing disadvantages [4]. - New manufacturing processes are expected to help Intel close the gap with TSMC, AMD's manufacturing partner, which has been a key factor in Intel's competitive landscape [4]. Group 3: Market Conditions and Challenges - The current memory chip market is facing challenges, with prices rising due to high demand amid the AI boom, which could negatively impact Intel's PC CPU business growth in 2026 [6]. - Despite the temporary headwinds in the memory chip market, Intel's foundry business represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity as demand for custom-designed chips increases [7].
SPY vs. IWM: Is Large-Cap Stability or Small-Cap Growth the Better Choice for Investors Right Now?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 19:43
Core Insights - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) serve distinct purposes in a diversified investment strategy, with SPY focusing on large-cap U.S. companies and IWM on small-cap domestic stocks [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - SPY has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to IWM's 0.19%, making it more attractive for fee-conscious investors [3] - As of December 31, 2025, SPY has a one-year return of 16.57% while IWM's is 12.04% [3] - SPY also offers a slightly higher dividend yield of 1.06% compared to IWM's 0.97% [3] - SPY has significantly higher assets under management (AUM) at $701 billion versus IWM's $72 billion [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SPY has shown stronger cumulative growth, with a growth of $1,843 from an initial investment of $1,000, compared to IWM's $1,259 [4] - SPY has a max drawdown of -24.50%, while IWM's max drawdown is -31.91%, indicating that SPY has experienced shallower losses during downturns [4] - IWM has a higher beta of 1.30 compared to SPY's beta of 1.00, reflecting greater volatility associated with small-cap stocks [3][4] Holdings Composition - SPY tracks the S&P 500 Index, holding 503 large-cap U.S. stocks, with a significant sector tilt towards technology (35%), financial services (13%), and communication services (11%) [5] - The top three holdings in SPY—Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft—account for over 20% of its assets [5] - IWM, on the other hand, holds 1,961 small-cap stocks, with no single stock dominating its portfolio; its largest sectors are healthcare, financial services, and technology [6] - The top holdings in IWM—Credo Technology Group, Bloom Energy, and Fabrinet—represent less than 3% of total assets [6] Investment Implications - Large-cap stocks, represented by SPY, tend to be more stable during market volatility, while small-cap stocks, represented by IWM, can offer greater potential for explosive growth but come with higher volatility [8][9] - The recent performance of large companies, such as Nvidia, has led to SPY outperforming IWM in both 12-month and five-year total returns [10] - Investing in both large-cap and small-cap segments can help diversify a portfolio, although small-cap stocks may be more susceptible to price fluctuations [11]
Invest Outside the U.S. With These Top International ETFs
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 19:20
Core Insights - The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) and the SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) provide low-cost exposure to developed markets outside the U.S., making them suitable for international diversification [2][10] - VEA is significantly larger than SPDW, with $260 billion in assets under management (AUM) compared to SPDW's $33.5 billion, and offers a slightly higher yield [4][11] Cost and Size Comparison - Both ETFs have an identical expense ratio of 0.03% [4] - VEA has a 1-year total return of 35.9%, while SPDW has a return of 35.2% as of December 30, 2025 [4] - VEA's dividend yield is not available, while SPDW offers a yield of 2.3% [4] Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, VEA has a maximum drawdown of -29.71%, while SPDW's is -30.23% [6] - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years would result in $1,308 for VEA and $1,302 for SPDW [6] - Cumulative growth for VEA is 55.2%, compared to SPDW's 53.4% [12] Portfolio Composition - VEA includes 3,864 stocks, while SPDW has 2,390 holdings, indicating broader diversification in VEA [7][8] - VEA's largest sector weights are in financial services, industrials, and technology, with top holdings including ASML Holding, Samsung Electronics, and AstraZeneca [7] - SPDW also has similar top holdings but is more tilted towards Swiss multinationals like Roche and Novartis [8] Investment Implications - Both ETFs serve as effective tools for portfolio diversification and hedging against U.S. economic downturns [10] - The primary distinction lies in their portfolio sizes and compositions, with VEA focusing more on large-cap stocks [11]
The Best Tech Stocks to Buy in January for 2026 Gains
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 19:15
Core Viewpoint - The article highlights three technology stocks that are currently available at attractive prices, offering potential for both dividend growth and capital gains as the market continues to recover from previous corrections [1]. Group 1: Microsoft - Microsoft (MSFT) has shown stability and growth potential, with its Cloud segment revenue increasing by 26% year over year in Q1 of its fiscal year [4][6]. - The Intelligent Cloud segment, driven by AI demand, reported a 28% year-over-year revenue increase, with Azure's revenue growing by 40%, indicating a strong growth trajectory [5]. - The stock is currently priced at $485.46, with a market cap of $3.6 trillion and a P/E ratio of 26, reflecting a fair valuation for a company expected to grow earnings at an annualized rate of 16% to 17% [6]. Group 2: Motorola Solutions - Motorola Solutions (MSI) specializes in communications equipment and software for various sectors, having acquired Silvus Technologies for $4.4 billion to enhance its offerings [7][8]. - The company is projected to grow earnings by 9% annually over the next three to five years, with the stock trading at a P/E ratio of 25, which is below its 10-year average of 32 [10]. - The current stock price is $383.38, with a market cap of $64 billion, making it a solid investment opportunity [9]. Group 3: Automatic Data Processing - Automatic Data Processing (ADP) provides essential technology tools for payroll and HR functions, benefiting from a growing global workforce [11][12]. - The company has a strong track record of dividend increases, having raised its dividend for 50 consecutive years, with an average increase of 11.5% annually over the past decade [12]. - ADP's stock is currently priced at $258.51, with a market cap of $105 billion, trading at 23 times its full-year earnings estimates, presenting a favorable buying opportunity [13][14].
Tower Semiconductor Draws New $109 Million Institutional Stake Amid a 127% Stock Run
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 18:35
Amid a monster year for the stock, this new position suggests some investors still see runway left in Tower’s analog and data center exposure.Florida-based Hood River Capital Management reported a new position in Tower Semiconductor (TSEM 2.01%) valued at approximately $109.22 million, according to a November 14 SEC filing.What HappenedHood River Capital Management established a new position in Tower Semiconductor (TSEM 2.01%), acquiring 1.51 million shares valued at $109.22 million as of September 30, acco ...
Forget Archer Aviation: This Explosive Space Stock Is a Smarter Shot at Life-Changing Gains
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 18:35
There are many ways to make money from new aerospace tech. Some ways are better than others.Valued at $5.8 billion and with more than $1.5 billion in cash, Archer Aviation (ACHR 0.60%) is the world's second largest builder in the nascent industry of air taxis -- smaller than Joby Aviation (JOBY 0.42%), but miles ahead of Vertical Aerospace or Lilium. That's quite impressive, considering Archer was only founded in 2018, compared to Joby, which established itself in 2009.But it's not enough to make Archer Avi ...
My Top Dividend Stock for 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 18:25
A solid dividend, growing free cash flow, and ample share buybacks make AT&T stock a buy.2025 was the year of artificial intelligence , with AI-related stocks booming. However, there's a real risk that the AI industry is careening toward a reckoning as excessive debt-fueled spending on infrastructure raises questions about a potential bubble. AI stocks could still be big winners in 2026, but there are no guarantees.For investors seeking a safer bet, a high-quality dividend stock that's not tied to the AI bo ...