If you're looking for a top dividend stock to own, you want to be sure to consider whether it increases its payout and keep track of how quickly it normally does so. The rate of increases can be key to ensuring that inflation isn't eating up your dividend income over time. It also demonstrates to investors just how committed the company is to increasing the dividend.Three stocks that pay dividends and have been among the most generous when it comes to raising their payouts include UnitedHealth Group (UNH -0 ...

Growth investing is a widespread strategy deployed, with investors targeting companies expected to grow their earnings and revenues at an above-average level. It’s a development that commonly follows through to share outperformance.These companies typically reinvest back into the business for expansion, commonly at the forefront of innovation. And for those seeking a group of strong growth stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) , Broadcom (AVGO) , and Palantir (PLTR) could all be considerations.Let’s take a closer look at e ...

Industry Overview - The semiconductor industry experienced a slowdown early last year but has shown strong recovery in recent quarters, driven by advancements in AI technology, data processing, and a resurgence in electronics manufacturing [1] - Global semiconductor sales reached $57.8 billion in November, marking a 20.7% year-over-year increase and a 1.6% sequential growth from October's $56.9 billion [3] - The AI boom, particularly generative AI, has significantly fueled demand for semiconductors across various industries, with NVIDIA leading the charge in the generative AI sector [3] AI-Driven Growth - AI enthusiasm continues to boost semiconductor demand, with tech companies aggressively investing in AI development and integration into products [4] - Microsoft announced plans to invest $80 billion in AI-powered data centers for fiscal 2025, reflecting the growing importance of AI workloads [5] - AI-specific chips and memory components like NAND flash and DRAM are experiencing increased demand due to their critical role in high-performance computing and AI-intensive tasks [7] Key Semiconductor Companies NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) - NVIDIA is a leading player in the semiconductor industry, particularly in GPUs, which are crucial for data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency mining [8] - The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year exceeds 100%, with a Zacks Rank 2 [9][10] Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) - Broadcom is a major supplier of semiconductor devices, with a strong focus on AI chips and Ethernet AI solutions, which have seen a 400% year-over-year increase [11] - The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 29.4%, with a Zacks Rank 2 [12] MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (MTSI) - MACOM specializes in analog RF, microwave, and millimeter wave semiconductor devices, serving markets like data centers, industrial & defense, and telecom [15] - The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.6%, with a Zacks Rank 2 [16] Semtech Corporation (SMTC) - Semtech designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for commercial applications, with a product line including Signal Integrity and Wireless Products [17] - The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year exceeds 100%, with a Zacks Rank 2 [18]

The five stocks most bought by U.S. Congress members in 2024 share several things in common, including leadership positions in technology and bipartisan appeal. The takeaway is that these stocks are critical to national security and the U.S. leadership in world trade, and their business is validated by congressional support. While not technically insiders, Congress members are uniquely positioned to know which companies are in the best positions to benefit from international trends and government policies.  ...

Few stocks had an end to 2024 like Broadcom (AVGO -3.29%). Its December gains look even more impressive considering how large the company was before its latest massive run-up. In November, Broadcom had already crossed the $800 billion mark. Now, it's a member of the exclusive $1 trillion club. After the stock's recent surge, many might wonder if it can keep the momentum going in 2025. After all, its was management's comments about the outlook for 2025 that helped spur the rally.Broadcom's business has a wid ...

Broadcom (AVGO) shares have appreciated 32.4% in the past month, outperforming both the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Electronics Semiconductors industry. Over the same timeframe, the sector and industry have returned 0.3% and 18.9%, respectively.AVGO is benefiting from strong demand for its networking products and custom AI accelerators (XPUs). In fiscal 2024, AI revenues jumped 220% over fiscal 2023 to $12.2 billion and represented 41% of semiconductor revenues. The acquisition of VMwar ...

Wall Street witnessed an astonishing bull run in the past 24 months. The major drivers of this rally were the globally booming artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, especially generative AI. Companies that have extensively applied AI in their final products have become multi-baggers. Some stock prices have skyrocketed 300-400% during this period.AI frenzy is likely to continue in 2025. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that generative AI spending will increase from $67 billion in 2023 to $1.3 trillion b ...

Government Policy and AI Regulation - The Biden administration issued an executive order requiring companies with large AI models to share information with the federal government [1] - President-elect Trump is expected to roll back Biden's executive order, which he criticized for hindering AI innovation and imposing radical left-wing ideas [3] - Trump is likely to promote AI data center infrastructure and encourage AI use for national security, while expanding export restrictions on AI technology to counter China [3] AI-Related Stocks and Chipmakers - Stocks like Marvell Technology (MRVL), Broadcom (AVGO), and QUALCOMM (QCOM) are expected to benefit from the incoming administration's policies [2] - Chipmakers have outperformed other AI-related stocks due to custom designs that extend AI into new devices and industries, alongside robust data storage solutions and design tools [2] Company Performance and Earnings Growth - Marvell Technology (MRVL) has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.6% for the current year, with a 15.4% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 60 days [4] - Broadcom (AVGO) has an expected earnings growth rate of 45% for the current year, with a 4.5% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 60 days [5] - QUALCOMM (QCOM) has an expected earnings growth rate of 7.5% for the current year, with a 4% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 60 days [6]

Network Modernization and IoT - Wireless equipment makers benefit from the growing demand for robust network infrastructure driven by the adoption of connected devices and advanced use cases like retail, warehouse automation, and Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything technology [1] - The proliferation of IoT devices across industries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region has propelled net sales growth in the Enterprise Technology segment [12] Datacenter and Cloud Computing - The shift toward cloud computing is increasing the need for datacenters, driving demand for GPUs and benefiting companies like NVIDIA [2] - Datacenter operators like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet are expanding their operations globally, further driving demand for GPUs [2] AI Integration and Digital Transformation - Enterprises across industries are emphasizing digital transformation, with AI becoming a critical component for enhancing efficiency, optimizing supply chains, and improving customer service [5] - NVIDIA's GPUs are rapidly benefiting from the proliferation of AI, expanding its base in untapped markets like automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing [2] - Tech giants have made significant investments in incorporating AI capabilities across their product portfolios to bolster competitive edge [5] Key Companies and Their Growth - NVIDIA Corporation is a leader in visual computing technologies and AI-based solutions, supporting high-performance computing, gaming, and virtual reality platforms [6] - Ubiquiti Inc offers a comprehensive portfolio of networking products and solutions, with significant investments in inventory to meet increasing demand [9][17] - Broadcom Inc provides semiconductor solutions used in various end products, experiencing four times growth in AI connectivity revenues [10][15] - Celestica Inc is a leading electronics manufacturing services company, capitalizing on the growing proliferation of AI-based applications and generative AI tools [13][20] Macroeconomic and Market Trends - Inflationary pressure declined throughout 2024, with a relatively low unemployment rate and interest rate cuts propelling growth in the tech sector [3] - The tech sector was a significant contributor to the stock market's bull run in 2024, driven by AI advancements, cloud computing adoption, and 5G deployment [11] - Flexibility in business models has allowed tech enterprises to navigate geopolitical volatility, with companies like NVIDIA, Ubiquiti, Celestica, and Broadcom delivering solid returns [19] Earnings and Stock Performance - NVIDIA's stock gained 1767% over the past year, with earnings estimates improving to $294 per share for 2025 and long-term earnings growth expectations of 20% [4] - Ubiquiti's stock gained 1442% over the past year, with earnings estimates improving to $73 per share for 2025 and an earnings surprise of 209% in the last reported quarter [23] - Broadcom's stock gained 1166% over the past year, with earnings estimates improving to $628 per share for 2025 and long-term earnings growth expectations of 1778% [24] - Celestica's stock gained 2248% over the past year, with earnings estimates remaining unchanged at $444 per share for 2025 and an earnings surprise of 1321% on average [25]

Broadcom - Broadcom specializes in chips for connectivity applications such as networking, server storage, and broadband, and has built enterprise infrastructure software into about 40% of its business [15] - The company generated $51.5 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024, with $19.4 billion (37%) in free cash flow [21] - Broadcom's AI-related revenue totaled $12.2 billion this year, with management expecting substantial growth as AI chip deals progress [20] - Analysts estimate Broadcom will grow earnings by an average of nearly 22% annually over the long term [7] - The company has paid and raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years, with an average hike of 14.7% over the past five years, and the current payout ratio is only 48% of fiscal year 2024 earnings [7] Microsoft - Microsoft is on a 22-year dividend growth streak and has an AAA credit rating, higher than the U.S. government [2][14] - The company has integrated AI throughout its software products to enhance user experience and owns Azure, the world's second-largest cloud computing platform, which is fueled by AI applications [8][14] - Microsoft reached a $3.2 trillion market cap and $254 billion in annual revenue, with analysts estimating earnings growth of 13% annually over the long term [18] - The dividend payout ratio is only 26% of 2024 earnings estimates, providing financial flexibility and security [2][17] Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms initiated its dividend this year and has strong potential for dividend growth, with a payout ratio of only 9% of 2024 earnings estimates [9][10] - The company is heavily investing in AI, including creating an open-source AI model (Llama) and building data centers to support its computing requirements [5] - Meta is the world's best advertising business, generating profits by showing digital ads to 3.29 billion daily users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads [19] - Analysts estimate earnings will rise by an average of 17% annually over the long term, supporting high dividend growth with a low payout ratio [6] AI Industry - AI is a transformative technology with long-term investment potential, and some leading AI companies pay dividends, offering both capital gains and passive income [4][13] - Companies like Broadcom, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms are leveraging AI to enhance their core businesses and create growth opportunities, making them strong candidates for long-term wealth compounding [11][12]