Core Viewpoint - The article introduces DAC Research as a new contributing analyst for Seeking Alpha, encouraging readers to share their investment ideas for publication and potential earnings [1]. Group 1 - The author emphasizes a strategy focused on investing in deeply out-of-favor companies with minimal analyst coverage, aiming for a 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years without leverage [2]. - The preference for low-debt companies is highlighted, indicating a cautious approach to financial risk [2]. - The author references a fictional character known for successful investments, contrasting it with their own investment journey, which reflects a realistic perspective on investment challenges [2]. Group 2 - The article includes a disclosure stating that the author holds a beneficial long position in the shares of BNED, indicating a personal investment interest [3]. - It clarifies that the article expresses the author's own opinions and is not compensated beyond Seeking Alpha, ensuring transparency in the analysis [3]. - Seeking Alpha's disclosure notes that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not represent the platform as a whole [4].

Core Insights - The event is Seeking Alpha's fourth annual top stocks event, featuring insights from Steven Cress, VP of Quantitative Strategy, on stock picks for 2026 and a recap of 2025's market performance [2][10]. Market Overview - The financial markets in 2025 experienced significant volatility, with technology stocks rising by 25% and communication services by 22%, while consumer staples finished in the red [11]. - A major correction occurred from February to April 2025, with top stocks initially down over 20% before rebounding to close the year up nearly 45% [12][20]. - Gold reached historic highs during this period, driven by global economic uncertainties and central bank purchases [13]. - The AI sector saw substantial investment, with the "Mag 7" stocks trading at a forward P/E of 31x, compared to 22x for the rest of the S&P 500 [14][15]. Economic Factors - The year was marked by trade tensions and tariff disputes, leading to significant market sell-offs, particularly in the semiconductor sector [21][22]. - Despite these challenges, corporate earnings remained strong, providing fundamental support to the market [20]. - The Federal Reserve's rate cuts in late 2025 were influenced by weakening labor data and economic conditions, which helped stabilize the market [28][29]. Quantitative Strategy - The Quant system employs a GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) strategy, focusing on five core factors: value, growth, profitability, EPS revisions, and momentum [33][34]. - The system processes data daily, allowing for timely stock recommendations based on comprehensive financial metrics [36][37]. - Over the past five years, the Quant system's Strong Buy recommendations have outperformed both Wall Street analysts and the S&P 500, with a return of 221% compared to 25% and 65%, respectively [39]. Top Stock Performance - In 2025, seven out of ten top stocks generated positive returns, with standout performers including Celestica (up 198%) and Credo (up 88%) [41]. - The overall performance of the top stocks was a 45% increase from January to the end of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 17.6% increase [42]. - Historical performance indicates that holding top stocks during market pullbacks can yield substantial returns, with an average increase of 117% over two years following a 15% market pullback [27]. 2026 Top Stock Picks - Micron Technology (MU) is highlighted as a top pick, with a market cap of $355 billion and a strong growth outlook, having increased by 254% over the past year [48][50]. - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is another key stock, with a market cap of $363 billion and a projected EPS growth rate of 45% over the next three to five years [57][60]. - Ciena Corporation (CIEN) ranks highly in the IT sector, with a one-year return of 166% and strong growth metrics [61][65].

Group 1 - Barrick Mining Corporation will release its full year and fourth quarter 2025 results on February 5, 2026, at 6:00 AM ET [1] - A live webcast and presentation will be hosted by the management team at 11:00 AM ET on the same day, followed by a Q&A session with analysts [1] - Presentation materials will be available on Barrick's website prior to the event, with a replay accessible soon after [2] Group 2 - Investors can register for the webcast at the provided link [2] - Contact information for investor relations and media inquiries is available, including Cleve Rueckert for investor relations and Carole Cable for media [3]

Core Viewpoint - Barrick Mining Corporation's shares have surged 195.1% over the past year, primarily due to record gold prices driven by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties [1][7]. Performance Comparison - Barrick has outperformed the Zacks Mining – Gold industry's increase of 139.6% and the S&P 500's rise of 16.9% in the same period [2]. - Among peers, Newmont Corporation, Kinross Gold Corporation, and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited have seen increases of 174.5%, 200.7%, and 120.5%, respectively [2]. Stock Technicals - Barrick's stock broke above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 30, 2025, and is currently trading above its 200-day SMA, indicating a long-term uptrend [5]. - The 50-day SMA has been above the 200-day SMA since April 9, 2025, suggesting a bullish trend [5]. Key Projects - Barrick is advancing major gold and copper projects, including Goldrush, Fourmile, Lumwana, and Reko Diq, which are expected to significantly boost production [10]. - The Goldrush mine aims for 400,000 ounces of production per annum by 2028, while the Reko Diq project is designed to produce 460,000 tons of copper and 520,000 ounces of gold annually in its second phase [11]. - The Lumwana Super Pit Expansion Project is expected to deliver 240,000 tons of copper production annually [12]. Financial Position - Barrick has a strong liquidity position with around $5 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of Q3 2025, and generated operating cash flows of approximately $2.4 billion, up 105% year over year [13]. - The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2024 through dividends and repurchases, with a new share repurchase program authorized for up to $1 billion [14]. Dividend and Valuation - Barrick offers a dividend yield of 1.6% with a payout ratio of 32%, indicating sustainability [15]. - The stock is trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 12.84X, which is a discount to the industry average of 13.47X [23]. Earnings Outlook - Earnings estimates for Barrick have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 indicating year-over-year increases of 79.4% and 51.4%, respectively [22]. Production Challenges - Barrick faces challenges with higher production costs, with cash costs per ounce of gold and all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) increasing by approximately 3% and 2% year over year, respectively [19]. - The company expects attributable gold production to decline to 3.15-3.5 million ounces for 2025, down from 3.91 million ounces in 2024 [21].

Core Insights - Barnes & Noble College (BNC) has entered a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley to manage retail and e-commerce operations for the university's stores starting January 20, 2026 [1][2] Company Overview - Barnes & Noble College is a leading solutions provider for higher education, operating over 1,160 physical and virtual stores across the United States [5] - The company focuses on enhancing affordability, access, and achievement in education, serving millions of students [6] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to modernize campus retail, improve customer experience, and enhance access to course materials for the UC Berkeley community [2][3] - Key benefits include a transformed retail experience with a modern layout, improved flow, and a customer-friendly environment that reflects the university's culture [8] - The partnership will also feature an elevated merchandising assortment and enhanced technology offerings, including computers and support services [8] Strategic Goals - The collaboration is designed to create a central hub for engagement among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors, fostering a sense of community [4] - The initiative aligns with UC Berkeley's commitment to providing an exemplary campus experience while supporting student success and affordability [5]

Group 1: Insurance Sector - The insurance sector continues to rise, with China Ping An (02318) up 5.17%, New China Life (01336) up 4.14%, China Life (02628) up 4.83%, and China Pacific Insurance (02601) up 3.29%. The National Financial Regulatory Administration reported that the insurance industry achieved a total premium income of 57,629 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.6% for the first 11 months of 2025 [1][2]. Group 2: Hydrogen Energy - Guofu Hydrogen Energy (02582) saw a rise of over 7.2% after announcing the delivery of a total of 424 sets of vehicle-mounted high-pressure hydrogen supply systems to clients, which will be used in fuel cell buses in Guangzhou [1]. Group 3: Coal Sector - Coal stocks collectively rose, with China Coal Energy (01898) up 4.33%, Yanzhou Coal Mining (01171) up 3.18%, and China Shenhua Energy (01088) up 2.31%. Since late November, port thermal coal prices have been on a downward trend, dropping from a high of 834 yuan/ton to a low of 670 yuan/ton, before rebounding on December 31, increasing by 8 yuan/ton to 678 yuan/ton [1]. Group 4: Solar Energy and AI - Junda Co., Ltd. (02865) increased by over 6.1% following a report from Guotai Junan that Elon Musk proposed a plan to deploy 100GW of solar AI satellites annually, driving demand for space photovoltaic technology [1]. Group 5: Lithium Mining - Lithium stocks were active, with Ganfeng Lithium (01772) up 4.22% and Tianqi Lithium (09696) up 2.85%. After breaking through the 130,000 yuan/ton mark, lithium carbonate futures surged over 8%, reaching a high of 137,760 yuan/ton [2]. Group 6: Real Estate Sector - Domestic real estate stocks continued to rise, with Beike-W (02423) up 3.44%, Longfor Group (00960) up 5.24%, China Jinmao (00817) up 5.34%, and China Resources Land (01109) up 3.64%. An article published in "Qiushi" magazine emphasized the need to improve and stabilize expectations in the real estate market [2]. Group 7: Baby Products - Different Group (06090) rebounded by over 34.99%. According to a report from China Merchants Securities, the company is positioned as a mid-to-high-end baby products brand with strong product development and channel expansion capabilities, targeting middle-class and high-net-worth consumers [3]. Group 8: Mining Sector - Zijin Mining (02899) rose nearly 6%, reaching a historical high. The company recently announced an annual profit forecast of 51 to 52 billion yuan, an increase of approximately 18.9 to 19.9 billion yuan compared to the previous year's profit of 32.051 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of about 59% to 62% [3]. Group 9: U.S. Stock Market - The Dow Jones Industrial Average broke through 49,000 points, rising 1.3%, with major U.S. bank stocks reaching historical highs. Goldman Sachs (GS.US) rose 3.73%, JPMorgan Chase (JPM.US) rose 2.63%, and Morgan Stanley (MS.US) rose 2.55%. The U.S. ISM reported that the manufacturing PMI fell to 47.9 in December, below the expected 48.4 [4]. Group 10: Precious Metals - U.S. precious metal stocks collectively strengthened, with Hecla Mining (HL.US) up 4.56% and Barrick Gold (B.US) up 3.77%. Spot gold surged 2.5%, reclaiming the $4,400 mark, while spot silver rose 5%, surpassing $76 [4]. Group 11: AI and Technology - Datavault AI (DVLT.US) surged 42.57%, with a cumulative increase of 180% over three trading days after signing a procurement agreement with AP Global Holdings LLC for infrastructure and cybersecurity services [5]. Group 12: Bitcoin and Related Stocks - Bitcoin briefly reached the $93,000 mark, with related stocks rising, including Strategy (MSTR.US) up 4.81% and Coinbase (COIN.US) up 7.77% [6]. Group 13: Oil Sector - Oil stocks saw significant pre-market gains, with Chevron (CVX.US) up 5.1% and ConocoPhillips (COP.US) up 2.59%. Reports indicated that the U.S. had captured Venezuelan President Maduro through military action, leading to a strong performance in oil and gas services [7].

Core Viewpoint - The precious metals sector in the US stock market experienced a significant rally, driven by a sharp increase in spot gold and silver prices [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Hecla Mining (HL.US) surged over 7% [1] - Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM.US) rose more than 5% [1] - Newmont Corporation (NEM.US) and Barrick Gold (B.US) both increased by over 3% [1] Group 2: Commodity Price Movements - Spot gold prices increased by 2.5%, surpassing $4,400 [1] - Spot silver prices rose by 5%, exceeding $76 [1]

Core Viewpoint - The gold sector in the US stock market experienced a collective rise in pre-market trading, driven by increased demand for safe-haven assets following the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro, which led to a surge in gold prices, reaching $4,434 per ounce [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - New Gold saw a pre-market increase of 5.37% [2] - Coeur Mining rose by 3.42% [2] - Pan American Silver increased by 2.98% [2] - Barrick Mining experienced a rise of 2.56% [2] - Harmony Gold gained 2.20% [2] - Newmont Mining increased by 2.15% [2] - B2Gold rose by 2.00% [2] - Kinross Gold saw an increase of 1.98% [2] - AngloGold Ashanti rose by 1.86% [2] - Gold Fields increased by 1.56% [2]

Core Viewpoint - Precious metal stocks are experiencing a pre-market rise, driven by increasing gold and silver prices, with expectations for strong performance in 2026 due to factors like potential U.S. interest rate cuts and a weakening dollar [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Coeur Mining (CDE.US) rose nearly 4%, Pan American Silver (PAAS.US) increased over 2%, and Barrick Gold (B.US), Newmont Mining (NEM.US), and Harmony Gold (HMY.US) all gained over 1% [1] - Spot gold prices increased by over 1%, reaching a peak of $4,400, while spot silver surged by 3%, reclaiming the $73 mark [1] Group 2: Influencing Factors - The rise in precious metals is attributed to expectations of further U.S. interest rate cuts and a weaker dollar, which may support prices in 2026 [1] - In 2025, precious metals experienced a significant upward trend, with gold prices hitting a series of historical highs due to central bank gold purchases, Federal Reserve easing policies, and a weaker dollar [1] - Geopolitical tensions and trade frictions led by the U.S. have also contributed to increased demand for safe-haven assets [1]

Core Viewpoint - Precious metal stocks showed pre-market gains, with notable increases in companies such as Coeur Mining (CDE.US) and Pan American Silver (PAAS.US), driven by rising gold and silver prices [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Gold prices increased by over 1%, reaching a peak of $4,400 during the day, while silver surged by 3%, surpassing $73 [1] - Major mining companies including Barrick Mining (B.US), Newmont Mining (NEM.US), and Harmony Gold (HMY.US) also experienced gains of over 1% [1] Group 2: Market Influences - The rise in precious metals is attributed to expectations of further interest rate cuts in the U.S. and a weakening dollar, which may lead to strong performance in 2026 [1] - Concerns about broad index rebalancing may exert pressure on prices in the near term [1] Group 3: Historical Context - The year 2025 saw a significant rally in precious metals, with gold prices reaching a series of historical highs due to central bank purchases, Federal Reserve easing policies, and a weaker dollar [1] - Geopolitical tensions and trade frictions led by the U.S. have also contributed to increased demand for safe-haven assets [1]