Core Viewpoint - AI software stocks are expected to emerge as significant market players in 2026, following the dominance of semiconductor and AI infrastructure stocks in recent years [1] Group 1: SoundHound AI - SoundHound AI is transitioning from an AI voice company to a voice-led agentic AI company, leveraging its voice technology for a competitive advantage [2] - The company experienced rapid growth, with revenue more than doubling in the first nine months of 2025, and has established a strong presence in the automobile and restaurant industries [4] - SoundHound AI's acquisition of Amelia has enhanced its capabilities in creating an agentic AI platform and expanded its customer relationships in healthcare, financial services, and retail [4] - The company is improving its gross margins, with expectations of generating positive EBITDA soon, and is well-positioned for future growth [6] Group 2: Salesforce - Salesforce is viewed as a potential AI loser but is actually well-positioned due to its role as a system of record for customer service, marketing, and sales [8] - The acquisition of Informatica strengthens Salesforce's data management capabilities, enhancing its position as a reliable data source [8] - Salesforce's Agentforce solution is integrated throughout its product suite, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) for Agentforce surging 330% to $540 million last quarter [9] - The stock is considered undervalued, trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio below 5.5, a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio around 20, and a price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio below 0.65 [10] Group 3: Snowflake - Snowflake operates a cloud-based data warehousing and analytics platform that separates storage from compute, allowing customers to access data across different cloud providers [11] - The platform's architecture creates a "sticky" environment for customers, making it difficult to move data once integrated [11] - Snowflake is also adopting AI agents through its Snowflake Intelligence solution, which had over 1,200 customers and a $100 million AI revenue run rate at the end of the last quarter [12] - The company reported a 29% revenue increase last quarter, with a net revenue retention rate of 125% over the past 12 months, indicating strong growth potential [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - The "Magnificent Seven" stocks, particularly Alphabet, have shown significant performance this year, with Alphabet's shares up 63%, outperforming its peers and the S&P 500 [2][4]. Performance Analysis - Only three of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 this year, with Alphabet leading the group [2]. - Alphabet's strong performance is attributed to excellent financial results, particularly in cloud computing and AI, which have solidified its position in the market [4]. Legal and Competitive Landscape - Alphabet achieved a significant legal victory by avoiding a worst-case scenario in an antitrust lawsuit, which has removed a major threat to its business operations [5]. - The company continues to lead in search despite competition from AI chatbots, maintaining its dominance in the advertising space [4][5]. Financial Metrics - Alphabet's current market capitalization stands at $3.8 trillion, with a gross margin of 59.18% and a dividend yield of 0.26% [7]. - The company's cloud backlog reached $155 billion, reflecting a 46% increase from the previous quarter, indicating strong growth potential [11]. Future Growth Drivers - AI is expected to be a key growth driver for Alphabet over the next five years, enhancing profitability through improved search algorithms and ad campaign automation [10]. - The Google Cloud division is anticipated to contribute significantly to revenue growth, despite being a lower-margin business compared to advertising [11]. Valuation Perspective - Alphabet appears to be reasonably valued compared to its peers, which supports optimism about its medium-term prospects [7]. - The company's advertising and cloud computing strengths suggest that its shares may still be undervalued, with potential for outperformance in the coming years [13].

Industry Overview - Cannabis stocks, including Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis, have seen a decline over the past five years despite initial popularity [1] - Recent regulatory changes, specifically President Trump's executive order rescheduling cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, may provide new opportunities for the industry [3][4] Regulatory Changes - Cannabis is now classified as a Schedule 3 drug, indicating accepted medical benefits and lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule 1 and 2 substances [4] - This change could facilitate easier access to banking services and allow cannabis companies to deduct normal business expenses, potentially leading to increased revenue and profits [6] Company-Specific Insights - Canopy Growth has a market cap of $407 million, with a current price of $1.19 and a gross margin of 18.74% [5][6] - Aurora Cannabis has a market cap of $255 million, with a current price of $4.49 and a gross margin of -86.45% [8][9] - Despite the potential market size in the U.S., both companies face significant challenges, including federal illegality and competition [7][10] Market Challenges - Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the U.S., complicating interstate commerce for growers [7] - Aurora Cannabis lacks a retail or distribution presence in the U.S., which may hinder its ability to capitalize on market opportunities [7][9] - Canopy Growth, while having a subsidiary in the U.S., still faces similar federal and competitive challenges [10]

There are 118 elements on the periodic table -- and four reasons Bitcoin is a better store of value than any of them.In 2012, crypto pioneer Charlie Shrem, reporteldy one of the first people in the world to read Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper explaining Bitcoin's power, told Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss why they should care about an intangible asset, backed up by no centralized authority, that had been created by a person or group of people whose identity no one knew.Their conversation -- as relayed in jour ...

Group 1: Bitfarms - Bitfarms is transitioning from Bitcoin mining to high-performance computing (HPC) and AI infrastructure, aiming for completion by 2027 [2] - The stock has a forward P/E ratio of 84.04 for 2026, which is nearly four times its trailing ratio, indicating high investor optimism [4] - Bitfarms has experienced a 62% stock decline since early October 2025 and has missed EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters, with a Q3 2025 EPS of negative 0.08 [4] Group 2: Robinhood - Robinhood is expanding into prediction markets, which are rapidly growing, and has seen its share prices surge by as much as 300% in 2025 [6] - The company reported a Q3 2025 EPS of 0.61, beating expectations by nearly 20%, and has shown consistent EPS growth for three consecutive quarters [6] - Robinhood's prediction market has become its fastest-growing product, allowing users to bet on real-world events [6][8] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Bitfarms' growth narrative is seen as overly optimistic and lacking a solid foundation, while Robinhood's earnings pattern and market expansion suggest a more stable growth story [8]

Group 1: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms is the second-largest advertising stock, reporting higher financial growth rates than Google, making it attractive for new investors [4] - The company achieved a 26% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3, and recently launched AI glasses that may diversify its revenue sources in the future [5] - Meta reported 3.54 billion daily active users in Q3, an 8% year-over-year increase, indicating strong demand for its family of apps [6] Group 2: Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers has seen a significant increase in demand, with shares up over 40% year to date and more than quadrupling in the past five years [7] - The company reported a 20% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3, driven by commission revenue and net interest income, alongside a 32% increase in customer account growth [8] - There was a 39% year-over-year increase in customer margin loans, suggesting strong investor sentiment and potential for continued outperformance [9] Group 3: Walmart - Walmart is positioned to exceed a $1 trillion market cap by 2026, with a 5.8% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 FY26 [10] - The advertising segment is addressing Walmart's profit margin challenges, reporting a 53% year-over-year revenue growth in its global advertising business [11] - While ads currently represent a small portion of Walmart's total business, they have the potential to grow and improve margins, alongside a 27% year-over-year increase in e-commerce sales [12]

Core Viewpoint - BigBear.ai is a small-cap AI company with a market cap of less than $3 billion, attracting investor interest due to limited investment opportunities in this sector [1][2]. Company Overview - BigBear.ai focuses on providing custom AI solutions primarily to government and government-adjacent clients, with its largest contract being with the U.S. Army for the Global Force Information Management-Objective Environment (GFIM-OE) system [4]. - The company has also made strides in airport security with its facial recognition software, although its applications are limited [6]. Recent Developments - BigBear.ai recently acquired Ask Sage, a generative AI platform aimed at national security, which adds a recurring revenue stream of approximately $25 million to its business [11]. - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to transition from a consulting software company to a platform software company, potentially improving its gross margins [10][11]. Financial Performance - BigBear.ai's revenue has decreased by 20% year-over-year in Q3 2025, raising concerns about its growth potential during a time of high demand for AI solutions [13][14]. - The company generated nearly $145 million in revenue over the past 12 months, but the negative growth trend is a significant red flag for investors [11][14]. Valuation Concerns - The stock trades at 14 times sales, which may appear attractive for an AI software company; however, typical valuations for software stocks range from 10 to 20 times sales, requiring an 80% gross margin [16]. - Given its low gross margin and negative revenue growth, BigBear.ai's valuation may be more aligned with companies like Spotify, which trades at about 6 times sales [16][17].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses three well-known consumer stocks that are struggling and suggests that investors may want to consider divesting from them as they reevaluate their portfolios for 2026. Group 1: Nike - Nike has faced challenges due to changing consumer tastes and macroeconomic conditions, leading to increased competition from brands like Adidas and Under Armour [4][5] - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Nike's revenue increased by only 1%, following a 10% decline in fiscal 2025, while net income fell 32% to $792 million due to rising expenses [6] - Despite a current price of $60.83 and a market cap of $90 billion, Nike's P/E ratio of 34 indicates it remains relatively expensive, suggesting potential reconsideration for investors [8] Group 2: Starbucks - Starbucks has struggled post-CEO Howard Schultz, facing complaints about high prices, slow service, and poor in-store experiences, which have affected its business and reputation [9][10] - In Q4 of fiscal 2025, revenue grew by 6% year-over-year, but net income plummeted 85% to $133 million due to faster expense growth and one-time restructuring charges [11][12] - With a current price of $85.07 and a market cap of $97 billion, Starbucks has a forward P/E ratio of 37, indicating it trades at a premium despite ongoing struggles [14] Group 3: Kraft Heinz - Kraft Heinz has been criticized for the failure of its merger, with Warren Buffett acknowledging its shortcomings, and the planned split of the company is unlikely to resolve core issues [15][17] - In Q3 of 2025, net sales dropped 3% annually, continuing a trend since 2023, although the company reported earnings of $615 million due to the absence of impairment losses [18] - With a current price of $24.13 and a market cap of $29 billion, Kraft Heinz's P/E ratio of 12 may attract some investors, but ongoing challenges suggest it may be best to avoid this stock [16][19]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) and the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) are both designed for investors seeking exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks, but they track different indexes and exhibit subtle differences in sector allocations and portfolio breadth [1][7] Cost and Size Comparison - VUG has a lower expense ratio of 0.04% compared to VONG's 0.07% - As of December 28, 2025, VUG's one-year return is 18.02%, while VONG's is 17.17% - VUG has a dividend yield of 0.42%, slightly lower than VONG's 0.45% - VUG has a larger assets under management (AUM) of $353 billion compared to VONG's $45 billion [3] Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the last five years, VUG has a maximum drawdown of -35.61%, while VONG's is -32.71% - A $1,000 investment in VUG would grow to $1,970 over five years, compared to $2,010 for VONG [4] Portfolio Composition - VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index and holds 391 stocks, with 55% in technology, 13% in consumer cyclical, and 12% in communication services - VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index and holds 160 stocks, with 53% in technology and 14% each in communication services and consumer cyclical [5][6] Diversification and Investment Strategy - VUG's smaller portfolio of 160 holdings may lead to higher volatility and greater potential for outperformance if those stocks succeed - VONG's greater diversification with 391 stocks may limit risk during market volatility, but it also increases the chance of lower performers diluting earnings [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that while IMAX has had a strong performance, Walt Disney is considered a superior investment due to its robust business model and diverse revenue streams [1]. IMAX Performance - IMAX reported a record third-quarter revenue of nearly $107 million, a 17% increase year-over-year, with net income rising by 39% to over $26 million, surpassing analyst expectations [4]. - The company achieved its fifth-best opening with the release of "Avatar: Fire and Ash," which was also its widest release at 1,703 screens [2]. Walt Disney Performance - Disney's fiscal 2025 results showed a revenue growth of 3% to over $94 billion, with all reporting segments (entertainment, sports, and experiences) experiencing increases [8]. - The company's GAAP net profit surged nearly 58% to $12 billion, driven by improved operating income across all segments [8]. - Disney's streaming services, particularly Disney+, reached profitability in 2024, contributing to overall revenue growth [7]. Future Outlook - Disney is expected to see double-digit percentage growth in operating income for its entertainment segment in fiscal 2026, while sports and experiences are projected to grow in the single digits [9]. - IMAX, while expanding its business, remains vulnerable to changes in movie-going trends and lacks the scale of Disney [13]. Valuation Metrics - Disney has a price-to-book ratio of 1.84 and a price-to-sales ratio below 2.2, which are favorable compared to IMAX's ratios of 5.8 and 5.5, respectively [14]. - On forward P/E, Disney's ratio stands at 17, while IMAX's is at 22, indicating that Disney is a better buy based on key valuation metrics [14]. Conclusion - Despite IMAX's strong management and promising future, Disney is positioned as the more attractive investment due to its established brand, diverse revenue sources, and favorable valuation metrics [15].