Core Insights - The Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) and Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) are both designed for diversified access to U.S. small-cap stocks through a passive, index-tracking approach, with subtle differences in cost, performance, and risk influencing investor choice [1] Cost & Size Comparison - VB has an expense ratio of 0.03%, while SCHA has a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.04% [2] - As of February 9, 2026, VB's one-year return is 12.49%, compared to SCHA's 16.27% [2] - VB offers a dividend yield of 1.27%, slightly higher than SCHA's 1.19% [2] - Assets under management (AUM) for VB is $169 billion, significantly larger than SCHA's $20 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, VB has a max drawdown of -28.16%, while SCHA has a deeper max drawdown of -30.79% [3] - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years is $1,292 for VB and $1,221 for SCHA [3] Holdings & Sector Focus - SCHA aims to mirror the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index, holding 1,730 stocks with a focus on technology, financial services, and industrials [4] - VB tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Index, holding 1,324 stocks, with a focus on industrials, technology, and financial services [5] - Notable holdings for SCHA include Sandisk, Lumentum, and Rocket Companies, while VB's notable holdings are Rocket Lab, Sandisk, and Ciena [4][5] Investor Implications - Both ETFs provide diversified exposure to the small-cap segment, with over 1,000 holdings each, but differ in sector allocation and risk profile [6] - SCHA's focus on technology may contribute to its higher volatility, reflected in a higher beta and deeper max drawdown compared to VB [6] - Despite SCHA's turbulence, it has outperformed VB over the past 12 months, while VB has a slight edge in five-year total returns [7] - VB's larger AUM provides greater liquidity, making it easier for investors to buy and sell larger amounts without affecting the ETF's price [8] - Investors seeking greater tech exposure may prefer SCHA, while those looking for more liquidity may benefit from VB's larger asset base [9]

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale's stock has seen a significant increase of 16% at the start of 2026, approaching its all-time high of $1,078, with investor sentiment rising ahead of its upcoming earnings report on March 5 [1][2]. Financial Performance - In the last reported earnings on December 11, 2025, Costco's revenue increased by approximately 8.3%, with a comparable growth rate of 6.4%, indicating solid business performance [4]. - For December, a crucial holiday month, Costco's comparable sales growth rate was 7% across all regions, suggesting a strong quarter is likely in March [7]. Stock Valuation - Costco's stock is currently trading at a high price-to-earnings multiple of 54, significantly above the S&P 500 average of 25, indicating it is overvalued [10]. - Despite beating expectations in its last quarterly report, the stock did not see a corresponding increase and instead fell in the subsequent weeks [9]. Market Data - As of the latest data, Costco's current stock price is $998.31, with a market capitalization of $444 billion [8]. - The stock has a gross margin of 12.88% and a dividend yield of 0.64% [9].

Core Viewpoint - Edgewise Therapeutics is experiencing a positive market response following a bullish recommendation from analyst Yasmeen Rahimi of Piper Sandler, who has set a price target of $51 per share for the company's stock [2][3]. Company Overview - Edgewise Therapeutics' stock rose by 4% in a single day, outperforming the S&P 500 index, which only increased by 0.5% [2]. - The current stock price is $30.27, with a market capitalization of $3.1 billion [7]. Clinical Development - The company is advancing its leading cardiovascular drug candidate, EDG-7500, which targets hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial [5][6]. - A readout from the clinical trial is expected in the second quarter of the calendar year, and the drug's novel functionality is anticipated to provide a competitive edge in the market [6]. Pipeline Potential - In addition to EDG-7500, Edgewise is developing Sevasemten, a treatment for muscular dystrophy, which is also well advanced in the development cycle [9]. - The analyst believes that several other pipeline programs have solid potential, indicating a robust future for the company's product offerings [9].

Shares of the tech giant fell after it posted its latest earnings numbers in January.It's been a tough start to 2026 for Microsoft (MSFT +3.24%), which is down more than 10% thus far and in danger of falling below $3 trillion in market cap. It would be a symbolic exclamation mark of the decline this normally stable stock has been on of late. It's currently down around 25% from its 52-week high of $555.45.What's gotten investors so down on the stock of late? And is this a great opportunity to invest in one o ...

While it has a better balance sheet, problems persist.Coming out of bankruptcy, Wolfspeed (WOLF 5.40%) was expected to offer investors a way to play the silicon carbide market without the shackles of its overly burdensome debt. However, the company's fiscal second-quarter earnings report showed that many of the problems that plagued the company and led to its bankruptcy still exist.NYSE : WOLFWolfspeedToday's Change( -5.40 %) $ -0.85Current Price$ 14.89Key Data PointsMarket Cap$408MDay's Range$ 14.85 - $ 16 ...

Core Viewpoint - The oil and gas services industry is experiencing consolidation, highlighted by the acquisition of Valaris by Transocean, which significantly increased Valaris' stock price by over 34% [1][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Valaris shareholders will receive 15.235 shares of Transocean stock for each Valaris share, valuing Valaris at approximately $5.8 billion, representing a premium of over 35% compared to its closing price prior to the announcement [3]. - The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approval [9]. Group 2: Fleet and Operational Strength - The combined entity will have the world's highest-quality offshore drilling fleet, consisting of 73 rigs, including 33 ultra-deepwater drillships and 31 modern jackups [6]. - Valaris CEO Anton Dibowitz emphasized the strategic advantage of combining high-specification deepwater assets with jackup expertise, enabling operations across various offshore environments [7]. Group 3: Financial Implications - The merger is projected to create a combined backlog of about $10 billion and generate estimated cost savings of $200 million, enhancing Transocean's cash flow and supporting debt reduction efforts [8].

Company Overview - D-Wave Quantum specializes in quantum computing hardware and cloud services, targeting enterprise clients across various industries [6] - The company generates revenue through hardware sales, cloud subscriptions, and enterprise quantum consulting and deployment services [8] - As of February 5, 2026, D-Wave Quantum's market capitalization is $6.31 billion, with a revenue of $24.14 million and a net income of -$398.81 million [4] Recent Transactions - Flynn Zito Capital Management disclosed a sale of 100,000 shares of D-Wave Quantum, valued at approximately $2.91 million, during the fourth quarter of 2025 [2] - The fund's position value in D-Wave Quantum decreased by $2.41 million over the quarter, reflecting both trading and price movements [2] - After the sale, D-Wave Quantum represented 0.37% of Flynn Zito's 13F AUM [7] Stock Performance - D-Wave Quantum's stock price was $17.21 on February 5, 2026, reflecting a 174.9% increase over the past year [7] - The stock has shown a one-year alpha of 162.76 percentage points compared to the S&P 500 [7] - Flynn Zito's initial purchase of 140,000 shares in Q1 2025 has resulted in a return of between 250% and 615% on the shares sold [7][9] Market Position - D-Wave Quantum is recognized as a leader in applied quantum computing solutions, focusing on enterprise adoption [6] - The company has established relationships with various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, financial services, and life sciences, to apply its technology [8] - Despite its growth, D-Wave continues to incur significant losses, with a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio above 200, indicating challenges in valuation [11]

Group 1 - Cipher Mining's stock rose by 13.75% following a bullish analyst note from Morgan Stanley, indicating strong market interest despite general cryptocurrency performance [2][3] - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on three Bitcoin miners, recommending "overweight" ratings for Cipher Mining and TeraWulf, while giving an "underweight" rating to Mara [3] - Analysts are optimistic about Bitcoin miners transitioning into the data center segment, which is expected to provide reliable cash flows compared to the volatility of cryptocurrencies [5] Group 2 - The demand for AI-capable infrastructure is anticipated to exceed supply, presenting a significant opportunity for companies like Cipher Mining and TeraWulf, despite their smaller data center operations [6] - Cipher Mining's current market capitalization is $5.8 billion, with a trading range of $15.01 to $17.00 for the day [7][8] - The potential for data center operations is viewed as more promising than cryptocurrency mining, although these companies are still in the early stages of establishing themselves in this segment [8]

Core Insights - Nike is undergoing a significant turnaround strategy under CEO Elliott Hill, focusing on rebuilding retail partnerships, emphasizing sports, and driving innovation [1] - Converse, acquired by Nike in 2003, has been struggling with declining sales, with a 30% drop in revenue to $300 million in the most recent quarter, marking a continued trend of negative growth [2][4] - Layoffs are anticipated at Converse due to prolonged revenue declines, with the CEO indicating difficult decisions ahead, including potential departures of senior executives [4][5] Financial Performance - Converse's revenue decline is part of a broader issue, with sales at a 15-year low, prompting discussions of layoffs as a cost-cutting measure [4] - Converse currently accounts for only 2.5% of Nike's total revenue, suggesting it is a minor component of Nike's overall business [8] - Nike's stock experienced a 2.4% decline, although it is uncertain if this is directly related to the issues at Converse [8] Strategic Considerations - There is speculation about the potential sale of Converse, as Nike has previously divested other brands, raising questions about Converse's future within Nike's portfolio [8][9] - Management has not confirmed any plans to sell Converse but has indicated a need for significant changes to return the brand to growth [9] - Nike anticipates ongoing challenges for Converse throughout the fiscal year, suggesting that investors should remain patient regarding the brand's turnaround efforts [10]

Nvidia should continue to benefit from a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) spending.It's no surprise that corporate spending directed toward artificial intelligence (AI) is ramping up. Companies across nearly all sectors are trying to position themselves as leaders in AI, or at least not get left behind, and that's causing many to spend piles of cash to stay competitive.One company that's already seen a huge surge in demand for AI hardware as a result of this spending is Nvidia (NVDA +2.58%), and more c ...