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These 2 Social Security Changes in 2026 Could Deal Working Americans a Major Blow
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 08:18
Make sure to keep these changes on your radar.It's natural to think of Social Security as a program that matters to retirees only. After all, they're the ones who get to collect benefits.But you should be paying attention to Social Security happenings even if you're nowhere close to retirement age. That's because changes to the program could impact you -- for better or worse. Unfortunately, Social Security is in line for two specific changes in 2026 that could have a negative effect on working Americans. He ...
Is Universal Technical Institute Stock a Buy After Needham Raised Its Stake Over $7 Million?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 06:46
Company Overview - Universal Technical Institute (UTI) is a leading provider of technical education, focusing on training for automotive, diesel, and related skilled trades, leveraging a national campus network and partnerships with manufacturers to deliver industry-aligned curricula [6] - As of November 13, 2025, UTI's stock price was $29.38, with a market capitalization of $1.60 billion, revenue of $835.62 million, and net income of $63.02 million [4][10] Financial Performance - UTI ended its 2025 fiscal year with revenue of $835.6 million, reflecting a strong 14% year-over-year increase, while net income rose to $63 million, representing a 50% year-over-year growth [10] - Despite strong fiscal performance, UTI's stock price declined due to anticipated net income drop of about 33% year-over-year for the 2026 fiscal year as the company invests in expanding its business [11] Investment Activity - Needham Investment Management LLC increased its position in UTI by 239,000 shares during the third quarter, raising its total stake to 550,000 shares valued at $17.90 million, a net increase of $7.36 million from the previous quarter [2][3] - The increased stake represents 1.2% of Needham's 13F reportable assets under management (AUM) [3] Market Performance - UTI shares have increased by 44.5% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 33.3 percentage points [3] - The stock price experienced a decline to a 52-week low of $21.29 in November, despite the company's strong revenue growth [7]
Could Royal Caribbean Be a Multimillionaire-Maker Stock?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 06:21
Core Viewpoint - Royal Caribbean Cruises is experiencing significant growth driven by a new generation of younger travelers who appreciate cruise experiences, leading to increased bookings and onboard spending [1][2][8]. Financial Performance - The stock has increased over 300% in the past five years and is up more than 22% year to date as of December 30 [1][4]. - The current market capitalization of Royal Caribbean is $77 billion, with a current stock price of $281.70 [2]. - The company has a gross margin of 39.53% and a dividend yield of 1.24%, having reinstated its quarterly dividend of $1 in mid-2024 after a suspension during the pandemic [2][4]. Market Position - Royal Caribbean is perceived as a high-end cruise option, offering larger ships and unique attractions, which differentiates it from competitors like Carnival [6][10]. - The company holds approximately 26% market share among major cruise lines, while Carnival leads with over 32% [11]. Consumer Trends - Younger generations, particularly Generation Z and millennials, are prioritizing travel experiences over traditional financial milestones, which bodes well for the cruise industry as long as this trend continues [8]. - Bookings for 2026 are significantly higher than the previous year, indicating strong future demand [2]. Competitive Landscape - Royal Caribbean's stock trades at higher price-to-earnings ratios compared to competitors like Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, and it carries a substantial debt of $20.6 billion [10]. - Despite the debt, Royal Caribbean is actively reducing its liabilities and is positioned to capture more market share [10][11].
HAUZ vs REET: Global Real Estate or a U.S.-Anchored REIT Portfolio
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 03:30
The Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF and the iShares Global REIT ETF both invest worldwide, but their construction determines whether property exposure stays tied to U.S. REIT cycles or expands across global markets.Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF (HAUZ) stands out for yield and recent return, while iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) brings greater scale, liquidity, and U.S. REIT concentration to the real estate ETF space.This comparison looks at HAUZ and REET, two global real estate exchange-tra ...
Intel Investors Just Got Great News for 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 01:30
Core Viewpoint - Intel is poised to regain its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry, with significant stock gains and strategic partnerships enhancing its market position [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Intel's stock surged by 80% in 2025, particularly in the latter half of the year, driven by favorable developments including government investments and a partnership with Nvidia [2]. - The stock is currently trading at $37.29, with a market capitalization of $175 billion [6][7]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Intel has lagged behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) due to delays in advanced process node development, resulting in lost market share in key areas like server and client CPUs [5]. - TSMC's upcoming 2nm process node is expected to be 15% more powerful and 35% more energy efficient than its 3nm node, which has already gained traction among major customers [8]. Group 3: Manufacturing Capacity and Technology - Intel's Fab 52 facility in Arizona is equipped with advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and has a current production capacity of 10,000 wafer starts per month, with potential to quadruple that output [9][10]. - Intel's 18A process is reported to outperform TSMC's and Samsung's equivalent nodes, positioning the company favorably as it ramps up production [10]. Group 4: Financial Outlook - Intel is expected to report an adjusted profit of $0.34 per share in 2025, a significant improvement from a loss of $0.13 per share in 2024, indicating strong earnings growth potential [14]. - Analysts project a 12-month median price target of $40 for Intel's stock, suggesting a potential upside of 10% in the next year, although the stock is currently considered expensive [12][13]. Group 5: Future Catalysts - New catalysts, including the partnership with Nvidia and the ramp-up of the 18A process, could drive further stock gains in 2026, potentially exceeding current price targets [16].
GPUs Are So 2025 -- This Is 2026's Hottest Trend for the $15.7 Trillion Artificial Intelligence Revolution
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 01:00
Core Insights - The article discusses the rapid growth of the AI semiconductor market, highlighting the potential of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) as a key component for AI infrastructure [1][10] Group 1: AI Market Growth - Artificial intelligence is projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by the end of the decade, with productivity gains accounting for $6.6 trillion and consumer-related applications for $9.1 trillion [2] - Nvidia has dominated the AI chip market, holding over 90% market share in GPUs, which are essential for training large language models [3][5] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The emergence of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) is expected to challenge Nvidia's GPU dominance by 2026, as companies like Alphabet and Meta are ordering custom AI processors from Broadcom and Marvell Technology [6][7] - Broadcom anticipates its AI revenue to double to $8.2 billion in the current quarter, supported by significant contracts from major tech firms [7] Group 3: Memory Demand - The demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is surging, with Micron Technology estimating HBM market revenue to grow from $35 billion in 2025 to $100 billion in 2028 [11] - Micron's revenue increased by 57% year over year in Q1 fiscal 2026, reaching $13.6 billion, driven by high demand for HBM [13] Group 4: Future Outlook - Analysts forecast a 288% increase in Micron's earnings this year to $32.14 per share, indicating strong growth potential in the HBM segment [14] - Micron's current trading valuation is below 10 times forward earnings, suggesting it may be an attractive investment opportunity as the demand for HBM continues to rise [15]
Billionaire Chase Coleman Has More Than 10% of His Holdings in 1 AI Stock Well Positioned for 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-31 00:30
Core Viewpoint - Microsoft is a significant investment for billionaire Chase Coleman and Tiger Global Management, indicating confidence in its long-term potential in the AI-driven market [1][3][4]. Company Overview - Microsoft holds a market capitalization of $3.6 trillion and has a current stock price of $487.79, with a 52-week range of $344.79 to $555.45 [9]. - The company has a gross margin of 68.76% and a dividend yield of 0.70% [9]. Investment Thesis - The investment thesis for Microsoft is centered around its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, where it acts as a facilitator for AI creators rather than developing its own generative AI model [10]. - Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, has seen a revenue growth of 40% in Q1 FY 2026, making it the fastest-growing cloud computing business among major providers [11]. Product Performance - Microsoft's Copilot product, which integrates generative AI into Office software, has contributed to a 17% increase in Microsoft 365 commercial and a 26% increase in consumer segments during Q1 [12]. - There are concerns regarding the usefulness of these AI products, which could lead to potential downgrades in licenses by some businesses [12]. Valuation and Growth Projections - Microsoft’s stock trades at 30 times forward earnings, indicating a premium valuation that is considered reasonable as long as the company maintains mid-teens revenue growth [14][15]. - Wall Street analysts project a revenue growth of 16% for FY 2026 and 15% for FY 2027, suggesting that Microsoft could outperform the market if these projections hold true [16].
Why One Fund Ditched $6.3 Million of This Clean Energy ETF Amid a Steep Rally
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-30 23:02
Core Insights - Clean energy has seen a significant rebound, but Perbak Capital Partners has exited its position in the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, indicating a reassessment of risk-reward dynamics [1][2] Investment Activity - Perbak Capital Partners sold all 482,918 shares of the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) in Q3, with a transaction value of $6.33 million [2] - The ICLN stake previously accounted for 1.4% of Perbak's 13F assets [3] Performance Metrics - As of the latest report, ICLN shares were priced at $16.45, reflecting a 43% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose about 17% in the same timeframe [3] - The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has a total asset under management (AUM) of $1.95 billion and a one-year total return of 50% [4] ETF Overview - ICLN provides targeted access to global companies involved in clean energy production and technology, emphasizing index replication for broad sector exposure [5] - The ETF's investment strategy focuses on tracking approximately 100 global clean energy companies, with at least 80% of assets allocated to index constituents [8] Market Context - The exit from ICLN by Perbak Capital Partners suggests a strategic shift towards broader, cyclical exposures rather than concentrated thematic investments, indicating a disciplined approach to portfolio management [10] - Despite the strong performance of ICLN, it remains a concentrated investment vehicle, sensitive to interest rates and policy changes, making it a tactical but potentially volatile long-term investment [11]
Stock Market Today, Dec. 30: Rocket Lab Regains Momentum
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-30 22:49
Today, Dec. 30, 2025, Rocket Lab started to recover after a week of losses as investors buy into this space upstart’s role in national security.NASDAQ : RKLBRocket LabToday's Change( 0.51 %) $ 0.36Current Price$ 70.48Key Data PointsMarket Cap$37BDay's Range$ 70.45 - $ 74.6752wk Range$ 14.71 - $ 79.83Volume741KAvg Vol23MGross Margin28.93 %Rocket Lab (RKLB +0.51%), a provider of small satellite launch services and space systems, closed at $70.45, up 0.47% for the session. Trading volume reached 30.0 million s ...
This Restaurant Tech Stock Is Down 50% and Just Lost a $17 Million Backer
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-30 22:48
A sharp exit, collapsing shares, and fast growing recurring revenue now collide in a moment that forces investors to decide whether pain signals danger or opportunity.On November 14, Florida-based Tremblant Capital Group disclosed in its latest SEC filing that it fully exited its position in PAR Technology Corporation (PAR 1.83%), reducing exposure by $16.77 million.What HappenedTremblant Capital Group filed its quarterly Form 13F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, reporting a ...