The risk-versus-reward profile is vastly different for UPS and Enterprise, but in this instance, dividend lovers are the big winners.If you are a dividend lover, you'll probably find the 6.5% yield from United Parcel Service (UPS 1.05%) attractive. You'll also likely appreciate the 6.8% yield on offer from Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.55%). However, investors must always balance risk and reward. From an income investor's perspective, the risk-reward balance between these two investments should produ ...

Fluor's business is gaining strength, and it is monetizing a major investment; however, the market may already be factoring all of this into the stock price.Shares of Fluor (FLR 0.91%) have been on a roller-coaster ride in 2025. At one point, the stock had declined by 37%. This was followed by a rally, resulting in a year-to-date gain of 15%, which put the stock at a 52-week high. And then the stock fell again, with the recent price amounting to a year-to-date loss of around 17%.Is this the kind of stock th ...

As diners mock "slop bowls," it looks like Chipotle's restaurant experience is losing its premium appeal. But 2026 could bring relief to shareholders.Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG 1.84%) is an iconic national restaurant brand that helped invent the concept of "fast casual." But the purveyor of burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and other freshly prepared Mexican dishes is in a slump.Chipotle's stock price is down 37% in 2025, and down about 45% from its all-time high as the year winds down. The company recently ...

Core Insights - Zuckerman Investment Group has increased its stake in Henry Schein by purchasing an additional 72,040 shares, raising its total position to 281,339 shares valued at $18.67 million as of September 30 [2][3] - The purchase reflects a strategic move by the fund, which focuses on capital-efficient, cash-generating businesses, and aligns with Henry Schein's improving earnings profile and aggressive stock buybacks [10][12] Company Overview - Henry Schein, Inc. is a leading global distributor of healthcare products and services, primarily in the dental and medical markets, leveraging a vast distribution network and technology-enabled services [6][9] - The company reported a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $12.94 billion and a net income of $391 million [4] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Henry Schein's revenue increased by 5% to $3.3 billion, with adjusted EBITDA rising to $295 million and non-GAAP EPS increasing by 13% year over year to $1.38 [10] - Management has raised its full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance to a range of $4.88 to $4.96 and lifted its sales growth outlook to 3% to 4% [10] Market Position - As of the latest trading, Henry Schein's shares were priced at $76.33, reflecting an 8% increase over the past year, although this performance lags behind the S&P 500, which has risen by approximately 15.5% in the same period [3] - The company's stock buyback program included $229 million in repurchases during the quarter, with an additional $980 million authorized for future buybacks [12] Growth Initiatives - Henry Schein's global technology sales grew nearly 10%, and specialty products increased close to 6%, with management expecting over $200 million in operating income improvement from value creation initiatives in the coming years [11]

Oracle is transforming from a tech stalwart to a major player in infrastructure and services for high-performance computing.Shares of Oracle (ORCL 1.49%), the database and cloud computing specialist, have kept pace with the S&P 500 in 2025 -- up 17% year to date at the time of this writing, compared to a 17.5% gain in the index. But the tech giant's stock is down about 40% from its all-time high (made in August of this year).In hindsight, Oracle's stock probably ran up too far, too fast in a short period, d ...

Core Viewpoint - Interactive Brokers has significantly outperformed Nvidia in 2025, with a stock increase of approximately 50% compared to Nvidia's 42% gain, driven by strong account growth and business momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Business Performance - The company has experienced remarkable growth across key metrics, with customer accounts increasing by 32% year-over-year to 4.13 million and customer equity rising by 40% to $757.5 billion [5]. - Total daily average revenue trades increased by 34% to 3.62 million, contributing to a 23% year-over-year rise in commission revenue, totaling $537 million [6]. - Net interest income, the largest revenue category, rose by 21% to $967 million, supported by stronger securities lending activity and higher average customer balances [6]. Group 2: Competitive Advantages - Interactive Brokers is gaining market share through its emphasis on automation and a culture that prioritizes technology and financial discipline, allowing it to compete aggressively on pricing and achieve high profit margins [7]. - The company's pre-tax profit margin reached 79%, up from 67% in the same quarter last year, reflecting its operational efficiency [7]. Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - The stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 32, which is considered premium, but the strong momentum in customer metrics suggests that the growth potential justifies this valuation [11]. - Compared to Nvidia's valuation of 46 times earnings, Interactive Brokers is viewed as having a better chance of performing well from its current level [11]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The company is expected to continue outperforming Nvidia not just in the current year but potentially over the next five years, supported by sustainable growth factors [13].

Core Viewpoint - Growth ETFs, particularly the Vanguard Growth ETF, are highlighted as effective investment vehicles for generating significant wealth over time, especially for long-term investors aiming for retirement or financial stability [1][2]. Group 1: Vanguard Growth ETF Overview - The Vanguard Growth ETF consists of 160 large-cap stocks, which are generally more stable and less volatile compared to smaller companies, thus helping to mitigate risk [3]. - The ETF's top three holdings—Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft—account for nearly one-third of the portfolio, providing a balance of risk and reward through diversification with over 100 other stocks [4]. Group 2: Performance and Returns - Since its inception in 2004, the Vanguard Growth ETF has achieved an average annual return of approximately 12%, surpassing the historical market average of 10% [7]. - A hypothetical investment of $200 per month could lead to significant portfolio growth over time, with projections showing values of $1,036,000 after 35 years at a 12% average annual return [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - Growth ETFs tend to be less consistent than broad-market funds like S&P 500 ETFs, often experiencing greater volatility during economic downturns but potentially outperforming during prosperous times [6]. - A long-term investment perspective is essential for growth ETFs, as they are more likely to yield better returns compared to broad-market counterparts over a decade or two [6].

All three are buys, but for different reasons.Fears of a recession did not materialize this year. However, it's always worth it for investors to buy shares of companies that can perform well during economic downturns. Solid dividend stocks that routinely increase their payouts are especially attractive in that regard, since they tend to have businesses equipped to withstand challenging times.Let's discuss three stocks to buy to prepare your portfolio for any recession that may lay ahead: Microsoft (MSFT 0.5 ...

Cathie Wood is known for making bets on technology stocks that have the potential to significantly disrupt industries.In mid-December, Cathie Wood of ARK Invest snapped up shares of the popular retail brokerage Robinhood (HOOD 1.78%) to the tune of $13.4 million. That's not an insignificant buy, considering ARK's Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF owns over $59 million of Robinhood stock. Robinhood is now the fund's fourth-largest holding, accounting for roughly 5.2% of its investments.Robinhood has had a ...

These companies enjoyed massive success in 2025, positioning them for potential stock splits next year.Investors tend to see more companies issue stock splits when the market is doing well, and share prices are high. A stock split is the corporate version of taking a pie and cutting it into smaller, equal-sized slices. The pie remains the same size, but there are more slices, and each represents a smaller portion of the pie.A stock split lowers a stock's share price, but it doesn't change any of its valuati ...