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Should You Buy the iShares Silver Trust ETF After Its Steep Sell-Off?
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 08:45
The market dynamics for silver -- and this silver ETF -- could still be favorable.What goes up can come down. We saw that axiom play out in a big way last week. Shares of the iShares Silver Trust (SLV 3.98%) exchange-traded fund (ETF) had skyrocketed 277% higher over the previous 12 months as of Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.Then the bottom fell out. This high-flying ETF plunged nearly 30% on Friday, the last trading day of January. However, the opposite of the aforementioned adage is also true: What comes down c ...
Software Bear Market: 2 AI Stocks to Buy Before They Soar 102% and 170%, According to Wall Street Analysts
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 08:10
Core Viewpoint - Wall Street analysts are optimistic about the future performance of Datadog and Atlassian, predicting significant upside potential for both companies despite current market pessimism regarding the software sector [1][2]. Datadog - Datadog is projected to have a 102% implied upside, with a target price of $260 per share from its current price of $129 [6]. - The company specializes in observability software, offering a platform with over two dozen products that assist businesses in monitoring IT infrastructure and applications [3]. - Datadog's AI engine, Watchdog, automates anomaly detection and incident alerts, enhancing operational efficiency for IT teams [3][4]. - Forrester Research has recognized Datadog as a leader in AI for IT operations, while Gartner has acknowledged its leadership in digital experience monitoring [4]. - Datadog's third-quarter results showed a 28% revenue increase to $886 million and a 53% rise in remaining performance obligations (RPO) to $2.8 billion [5]. - The company has been identified as a top share gainer in its core market due to its ability to consolidate performance monitoring tools [5]. - Wall Street estimates indicate that Datadog's adjusted earnings will grow at 19% annually through 2028, although its current valuation of 66 times earnings appears high [7]. Atlassian - Atlassian is expected to have a 170% implied upside, with a target price of $320 per share from its current price of $118 [6]. - The company is known for its work management software, particularly Jira, which is widely used in software development and operations [9]. - Atlassian has been recognized as a leader in work management software for both DevOps and marketing teams by Gartner, a unique position among competitors [10]. - The introduction of the generative AI assistant Rovo enhances its work management tools, aiding both technical and non-technical teams [11]. - Atlassian's financial results for the September quarter showed a 21% revenue increase to $1.4 billion and a 42% rise in RPO to $3.3 billion [12]. - The company has seen a 35% increase in non-GAAP earnings to $1.04 per diluted share, with a significant rise in monthly active users engaging with AI capabilities [12]. - Wall Street forecasts adjusted earnings growth of 22% annually through June 2027, making its current valuation of 30 times earnings appear reasonable [13].
Apple CEO Tim Cook Just Gave Great News to Micron Investors
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 07:55
No one mentioned Micron in Apple's latest earnings call. They didn't have to.When Apple (AAPL +4.12%) provides quarterly updates, it only makes sense that everyone focuses on how the latest news impacts Apple itself. Sometimes, though, the information provided by Apple's management team has ramifications for other companies.That was the case with the iPhone maker's fiscal year 2026 first-quarter earnings call last week. Apple CEO Tim Cook just gave great news for Micron Technology (MU +5.42%) investors. App ...
The Hidden AI Winner That Wall Street May Be Ignoring
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 07:45
This stock may have plenty of room to run.Over the past few years, certain companies have emerged as clear artificial intelligence (AI) winners of today and tomorrow. These have been players like Nvidia, which designs the key element needed to power AI -- the AI chip -- as well as companies that offer cloud services, or the infrastructure needed to run AI workloads. These are giants such as Amazon as well as smaller AI-focused companies like CoreWeave.In any case, these AI players have garnered a great deal ...
Here's How Many Shares of Brookfield Renewable You'd Need for $1,000 in Yearly Dividends
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 07:30
Core Viewpoint - Brookfield Renewable has consistently increased its quarterly dividend by at least 5% since 2011, making it a reliable income-generating stock [1] Group 1: Dividend Information - The quarterly distribution payment has been raised to $0.392 per share, which annualizes to $1.568 [2] - To generate $1,000 in annual income, an investor would need to own 638 shares of either Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) or Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) at the new rate [2] Group 2: Share Price and Yield - BEPC's share price is approximately $42, yielding 3.8%, while BEP's share price is around $30, yielding 5.3% [3] - The difference in share prices is attributed to BEP issuing a Schedule K-1, complicating tax filings for investors [3] Group 3: Investment Comparison - To generate $1,000 in annual dividend income, an investment of over $26,550 is required for BEPC compared to around $18,730 for BEP [3] - Brookfield Renewable Partnership (BEP) offers a lower-cost option for income-focused investors who are willing to navigate potential tax complications [5] Group 4: Key Financial Metrics - Brookfield Renewable has a market capitalization of $7.4 billion, with a gross margin of 26.41% and a dividend yield of 3.64% [5]
3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Power Your Income Stream in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 06:05
Core Viewpoint - The energy sector, particularly midstream businesses, offers high-yield investment opportunities for income-focused investors in 2026, despite the overall volatility of oil and natural gas commodities [1]. Industry Overview - The energy industry is divided into upstream, midstream, and downstream segments, with upstream and downstream being inherently volatile due to commodity price fluctuations. In contrast, midstream businesses, which own energy infrastructure assets, are more stable as they primarily charge fees for asset usage [2][3]. Midstream Business Characteristics - Midstream companies connect upstream producers to downstream processors and charge fees based on the volume of energy transported rather than commodity prices, leading to more consistent revenue streams [3]. High-Yield Midstream Options - Three notable midstream companies with attractive dividend yields are Enbridge, Enterprise Products Partners, and Energy Transfer, each offering different risk and yield profiles [4]. Enbridge (ENB) - Current Price: $48.28, Market Cap: $105 billion, Dividend Yield: 5.58%, has diversified operations including oil and natural gas pipelines and clean energy, and has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years [5][6]. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - Current Price: $33.10, Market Cap: $72 billion, Dividend Yield: 6.57%, operates solely in oil and natural gas midstream assets, and has a history of conservative management with 27 years of annual dividend increases [7][8]. Energy Transfer (ET) - Current Price: $18.16, Market Cap: $62 billion, Dividend Yield: 7.25%, has the highest yield among the three but previously cut its distribution in 2020 to strengthen its balance sheet, with plans for gradual distribution growth of 3% to 5% annually [9][10].
2 Stocks Powering OpenAI's and Anthropic's Revenue Surge in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 06:00
Anthropic's sales are set to skyrocket in 2026 and beyond, and these two hardware companies are helping to make it possible.Anthropic is still a private company, but some reports and speculation suggest that it could have its initial public offering (IPO) this year. Despite the company still being private, reports have surfaced surrounding the company's sales outlook for this year. According to reports, the artificial intelligence (AI) company and Claude parent now expects its sales to reach roughly $18 bil ...
Is IonQ the Top Quantum Computing Stock to Buy Right Now?
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 05:22
Core Insights - IonQ currently holds the most accurate quantum computing solution based on a key metric, specifically a two-qubit gate accuracy rate of 99.99% [3][7][8] - The excitement around quantum computing has fluctuated, with significant peaks in December 2024 and October 2025, but has recently declined, presenting a potential buying opportunity for investors [2] - IonQ's shares have decreased by over 50% from their peak, making it an attractive option in the quantum computing sector despite the presence of larger competitors [3][4] Company Overview - IonQ is a smaller pure-play company in the quantum computing field, competing against larger tech firms with substantial R&D resources [3] - The current market capitalization of IonQ is $14 billion, with a current share price of $38.56 [4] - The company's gross margin is reported at -747.41%, indicating significant financial challenges [5] Industry Context - Most companies in the quantum computing sector anticipate that 2030 will be the year when the technology becomes commercially viable, with current challenges centered around error prevention and correction [5] - Quantum computers are currently trillions of times more likely to produce errors compared to classical computers, complicating their practical application [6] - IonQ's trapped ion quantum computers are leading in addressing error rates, with a notable accuracy advantage over competitors [7][8] Investment Perspective - IonQ is considered a strong candidate for investment in the quantum computing space, although there is a risk of being outperformed by larger tech companies like Alphabet or Microsoft [9] - The investment in IonQ represents a small portion (1%) of the total portfolio, minimizing potential impact on overall returns while allowing for significant upside if the company succeeds [9]
Prediction: ASML Could Be One of the Best Semiconductor Stocks of 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 05:00
ASML is the closest thing to a monopoly you're likely to find today, and it is absolutely vital to the semiconductor industry.I just covered ASML (ASML +1.29%) recently, but the company released its Q4 2025 earnings a few days after I wrote that piece, and, well, they were pretty great, to say the very least. They've solidified my prediction that this company might be the best semiconductor play for 2026.ASML is a unique company for many reasons, but most notably is its monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) ...
My Top 3 Predictions for Nvidia in 2026
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-03 04:30
Core Viewpoint - Nvidia is expected to continue dominating the AI infrastructure market in 2026, driven by strong demand for its Blackwell systems and increased spending on AI data centers [1][2]. Group 1: Revenue Predictions - Nvidia is projected to surpass the consensus revenue estimates of $323.3 billion for fiscal 2027, supported by multiple growth catalysts [3]. - The company has revenue visibility exceeding $500 billion for its Blackwell and next-generation Rubin systems from early 2025 through 2026 [5]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - Hyperscalers are shifting towards rack-scale solutions that integrate GPUs, CPUs, networking, and software, enhancing Nvidia's pricing power [5]. - The transition from infrequent training workloads to repetitive inference workloads is expected to drive demand for Nvidia's newer platforms, such as the Vera Rubin systems, anticipated to launch in the second half of 2026 [6]. Group 3: Profitability and Margins - Nvidia is expected to maintain gross margins around 75% in fiscal 2027, supported by a revenue mix focused on high-margin data center GPUs and networking products [8]. - The company is also experiencing growth in its high-margin software and services business, which contributes to its profitability [8]. Group 4: Market Share and Competitive Position - Nvidia held a 92% share of the global GPU market at the end of Q3 fiscal 2025, despite a slight decline due to competition [10]. - The company's competitive advantage extends beyond hardware to its CUDA software ecosystem and developer tools, which facilitate faster deployments and increase switching costs for customers [11].