Core Viewpoint - Palantir Technologies Inc. has experienced a decline in stock price due to a broader sell-off in the software sector, despite strong earnings and significant revenue growth in recent quarters [1][2]. Financial Performance - Palantir reported adjusted earnings of 25 cents per share for the fourth quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of 23 cents [4]. - Revenue for the quarter increased by 70% year over year to $1.41 billion, exceeding Wall Street's expectations of $1.33 billion [4]. - U.S. revenue constituted 76% of total revenue, with the government segment generating $570 million (up 66% year over year) and the commercial business generating $507 million (up 137% year over year) [5]. Market Dynamics - The stock has seen a significant increase in the past years, with a rise of 135% in 2025 and 340% in 2024, driven by high demand for AI software and retail investor interest [1]. - However, as of February 13, the stock is down approximately 26% year to date and 36% from its all-time high of $207 reached on November 3, 2025 [2][8]. Client Base and Contracts - Palantir's revenue is bolstered by contracts with the U.S. Army, including a deal worth up to $10 billion awarded in July 2025 [6]. - The company also serves commercial clients such as Airbus, Morgan Stanley, and Merck KGaA, indicating a diverse client base [6]. CEO's Perspective - CEO Alex Karp emphasized the importance of software architecture in leveraging AI, stating that large language models alone are insufficient without proper grounding in real-world applications [7][9].

Market Conditions - Recent market behavior has led to a false sense of security among newer investors, contrasting with the realities of a true market crash experienced in 2008 [1] - The last significant prolonged market pain occurred during the 2007-2009 financial crisis and the 2000 dot-com collapse, where stocks not only dipped but continued to fall, with some indexes taking nearly a decade to recover [2] Investor Sentiment - Investors who experienced the 2008 crash reported significant emotional distress, with one noting a 50% drop in their portfolio within five months, highlighting the courage required to stay invested during such times [3] - Some investors were unable to cope with the downturn, leading to decisions such as moving to cash and realizing substantial losses, while others avoided checking their brokerage statements due to the emotional toll [3] Broader Economic Impact - The stress of a market downturn extends beyond portfolio losses, affecting employment and housing stability, as illustrated by comments from individuals who witnessed friends lose jobs and homes during the Great Recession [5] - The correlation between falling markets, rising unemployment, and tightening credit distinguishes a quick market dip from a true financial crisis, as seen in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis [5]

Core Insights - The software industry experienced a market value loss of approximately $300 billion due to AI-driven panic on February 3, highlighting the volatility in the sector [1] - Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall emphasizes that AI serves as a tailwind for cybersecurity, indicating significant growth potential in the market [1] Cybersecurity Market Dynamics - The increased use of AI has expanded the attack surface, making systems more vulnerable to various cyber threats, including prompt injection attacks and data poisoning [2] - With 14% of organizations reporting AI-related breaches and 16% indicating that AI was used in their breaches, there is an urgent need for increased security investments [3] - The cybersecurity market could grow to over $45 billion from approximately $16 billion today, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30-40% [3] Company Analysis - Morgan Stanley is particularly positive about CrowdStrike (CRWD), maintaining an equal-weight rating with a price target of $537, despite the stock being down 8.35% year to date [4][5] - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) is also viewed favorably, with an overweight rating and a price target of $245, despite a year-to-date decline of 9.36% [5][6] - Both companies are expected to report earnings soon, with CrowdStrike on March 3 and Palo Alto Networks on February 17 [5][6] Strategic Recommendations - Companies should focus on protecting against AI-based attacks, utilizing AI for security, and ensuring safe AI usage [7] - While CRWD and PANW are prominent choices, there are other stocks with positive outlooks that merit attention [8]

Quick Read Vertiv (VRT) surged 20% this week driven by 252% year-over-year orders growth from accelerating AI data center spending. Vertiv reported $15B backlog up 109% year-over-year and a 2.9x book-to-bill ratio. Vertiv guided 2026 revenue to $13.25B-$13.75B representing 27-29% organic growth and 43% EPS growth at midpoint. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:V ...

Group 1 - Xiaomi Corp. outsold Tesla Inc. in China's electric vehicle market in January, with the YU7 SUV delivering 37,869 units compared to 16,845 for the Model Y [1] - The Model Y, which was the top seller in December, dropped to 20th place in January and fell from first to seventh among new energy vehicles [2] - Xiaomi's YU7 was launched in 2025 and is priced 10,000 yuan ($1,450) lower than the Model Y, which analysts expected would help it capture market share from Tesla [3] Group 2 - Despite the YU7's success in January, Tesla has maintained stronger overall sales, ranking fifth in China for 2025, while Xiaomi ranked tenth [4] - The YU7's success comes amid a slowdown in China's electric car market, and Xiaomi plans to expand internationally, targeting Europe next year [4] - Tesla faced a challenging year in China, experiencing its first annual sales decline in December 2025, while Xiaomi's electric vehicle division gained momentum with the YU7 [6]

Core Insights - Industrial metals trading in China has seen a significant surge in activity, primarily driven by retail traders, leading to concerns about speculative trading overshadowing fundamental demand [1][2][5] Group 1: Trading Activity - Futures volumes for aluminum, copper, nickel, and tin on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have sharply increased, reaching levels well above recent averages [2] - Nickel contracts have particularly led the surge, with trading volumes increasing several-fold in a single month, while tin markets have also seen extraordinary activity [4] Group 2: Speculation and Retail Participation - The current trading patterns indicate that derivatives speculation, rather than industrial demand, is dominating market flows, with retail participation acting as a key catalyst [5] - The trend of short-term momentum strategies and leverage among individual investors has become increasingly popular, amplifying price swings [5][6] Group 3: Regulatory Response - The rapid increase in trading activity has prompted exchanges to intervene, raising margin requirements and tightening trading rules multiple times in recent weeks [7] - Specifically, the Shanghai and Guangzhou Futures Exchanges have raised margins and tightened rules 38 times over the last two months to contain speculation [7] Group 4: Market Volatility - The interventions by exchanges may indicate growing concerns about excessive leverage and the potential for sharp corrections in highly leveraged derivatives markets [8] - The broader metals market is experiencing mixed signals, with silver showing one of the strongest rallies in its history before entering a volatile consolidation phase [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the advantages of investing in growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs), specifically highlighting the Vanguard Growth ETF as a strong option for investors seeking growth stocks [2][4]. Performance Comparison - The Vanguard Growth ETF has shown solid performance over various time periods, with returns of 12.81% over the past 5 years, 18.55% over the past 10 years, and 15.40% over the past 15 years [3]. - In comparison, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has returns of 13.82% over the past 5 years, 16.09% over the past 10 years, and 13.77% over the past 15 years [3]. ETF Holdings - The Vanguard Growth ETF's top 10 holdings include major companies such as Nvidia (12.73%), Apple (11.88%), and Microsoft (10.63%), indicating a concentration in large, established firms [4]. - The ETF holds approximately 64% of its assets in its top 10 holdings, with about 35% in its top three holdings [8]. Expense Ratio - The Vanguard Growth ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.04%, meaning an investor would pay only $0.40 annually for each $1,000 invested [6]. Yield Information - The ETF has a recent yield of 0.42%, which is lower than the S&P 500's yield of 1.1%, making it less attractive for investors seeking dividend income [8].

Core Insights - The hype surrounding side hustles often does not translate into long-term success, with many individuals reporting disappointing results after trying various trendy options [2][4] - Successful side income methods tend to be "boring and repeatable," focusing on steady, reliable income rather than viral trends [2][4] Group 1: Side Hustle Trends - Many individuals have found that solving real problems for businesses is more effective than chasing online trends, with examples including automating tasks for local businesses [3][4] - Service-based side hustles such as copywriting, bookkeeping, and SEO maintenance are frequently mentioned as viable long-term income streams [4][5] Group 2: Digital Products - Digital products like ebooks, templates, and online courses can generate income over time, but they must target genuine demand to be successful [6]

The rapid spread of AI disruption concerns from software companies to wealth management firms, commercial real estate operations, and logistics providers represents a significant shift in market psychology about artificial intelligence's economic impact. Wealth management selloffs reflect fears that AI advisors and robo-platforms could disintermediate traditional financial advisory relationships, while commercial real estate weakness suggests concerns about AI-driven property management automation and reduc ...

If you distilled investing legend Warren Buffett’s philosophy down to a few words, it’d likely be as simple as “buy and hold.” The chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) (BRK.A) thinks that day trading is a fool's game, and chasing trends is a great way to end up holding the bag. Nothing exemplifies this better than what he told investors in his 1996 letter to shareholders, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for ten years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes.” Buffett believed that buying ...