With Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google Gemini seemingly poised to relegate ChatGPT to a distant second place in the consumer AI chatbot market and GOOGL stock changing hands at an attractive valuation, the shares are a buy for medium- and long-term investors. GOOG stock should also be lifted meaningfully over the longer term by the success of its cloud, chip, and subscription businesses. And the company's stellar fourth-quarter results indicate that it is performing at a very high level overall. But invest ...

Alphabet全球发债融资创纪录，拟发行百年期债券支持AI投资。 2月9日周一，Alphabet通过美元债券发行筹资200亿美元，高于最初计划的150亿美元，并同时首次在瑞 士和英国市场发债。此次美元债券发行吸引了超过1000亿美元的认购订单。 Alphabet此次英镑债券发行包含期限从3年到100年不等的债券品种，交易最快可能周二定价。英镑债市 场一直是寻求进行较长期融资的发行人的首选，因英国养老基金和保险商的需求强劲。 华尔街见闻此前提及，Alphabet上周宣布今年资本支出计划最高达1850亿美元，超过其过去三年支出总 和。摩根士丹利预计，云计算巨头今年将借入4000亿美元，推动投资级债券发行总额达到创纪录的2.25 万亿美元。 部分信用策略师警告，这种大规模发行可能推高企业债券利差。摩根士丹利美国信贷策略主管Vishwas Patkar表示，这类似于1997-98年或2005年的情形，"信用表现不佳，但不是'周期末期'"。 百年期债券重现市场 100年期债券市场由政府和大学等机构占据主导，对于企业而言，并购、商业模式过时和技术淘汰等不 确定性，意味着发行这一期限的债券极为罕见。 大多数科技巨头发行期 ...

Market Outlook - The market is expected to experience volatility for the next several months due to ongoing policy changes and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's actions [2][3][4] - Despite the volatility, the consumer remains resilient, and the labor market shows strength, indicating that a recession may not be imminent [6][7] - Earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to remain strong, suggesting a stock pickers market where individual company performance will be crucial [7][8] Consumer Behavior - The high-end consumer market, particularly brands like LVMH, continues to thrive, driven by international buyers and sustained spending [10][11][13] - The middle segment of the economy has been negatively impacted, but high-end goods are still in demand, indicating a K-shaped economic recovery [10][11] - Interest rates may influence consumer spending patterns, with potential for increased buying activity if rates decrease [12] Company Insights - Alphabet is viewed as a strong investment opportunity, particularly due to its vertical integration in AI, which sets it apart from competitors [15][16] - Cybersecurity companies like CrowdStrike and Fortinet are expected to benefit from the growing need for advanced security solutions as AI technology expands [17][18] - The overall market for cybersecurity is anticipated to grow, driven by the necessity for enhanced security measures [18][19]

Core Insights - Sterling Capital Management launched the Sterling Capital Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP) to combine AI-driven stock selection with human portfolio construction, aiming for tax-efficient income and reduced downside risk [1] Fund Overview - SCEP began trading on December 12 and currently manages $214.1 million in assets with a management fee of 0.65% [1] - The ETF structure was chosen for its tax efficiency, intraday trading capability, and lower costs compared to traditional mutual funds [1] Investment Strategy - The fund aims to deliver tax-efficient monthly income, better risk-adjusted returns through AI-driven stock selection, and reduced downside risk via protective options trading [1] - Guardian Capital, the fund's sub-adviser, has utilized AI in equity strategies since 2018 and manages over $4 billion in assets [1] AI Stock Selection - AI models forecast key investment variables such as earnings growth and dividend growth, creating a shortlist of companies with durable earnings potential [1] - The fund focuses on quality (sustainability of cash flow) and growth (consistent high-quality earnings and revenue growth) [1] - Current top holdings include Alphabet Inc. (6.37%), Apple Inc. (6.09%), NVIDIA Corp. (5.77%), Microsoft Corp. (5.07%), and Amazon.com, Inc. (4.58%) [1] Options Strategy - SCEP employs a dynamic options overlay strategy, writing covered call options on up to 100% of its portfolio and buying protective put options to cushion against market declines [1] - Protective puts are structured to guard against a 10% to 30% market decline, aiming to protect income-focused investors from large drawdowns [1] - The fund maintains around 21% exposure to midcap stocks, which may provide better valuations compared to large-cap alternatives [1] Tax Efficiency - The fund's structure aims to deliver more tax-efficient income by offsetting gains with losses on individual securities and options [1] - Return of capital distributions may allow investors to defer taxes until they sell their position, potentially years into the future [1]

Core Insights - Bolt Data and Energy, co-founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is negotiating a deal to start construction on a large data center project in West Texas [1][2] - Google is considering a commitment of 250 megawatts for this project, although the exact size of the potential transaction is still under discussion [2][3] - The deal underscores the competitive landscape among Big Tech companies to secure necessary resources for AI development, despite the associated costs and risks [4] Company Developments - Bolt completed its first funding round in December, raising $150 million, including $50 million from Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL), which owns significant land in West Texas [8] - TPL's land will provide Bolt with access to essential resources like power and water, which are increasingly strained due to the surge in data center developments [9] - Bolt's initial plan includes a 250 megawatt facility, with potential expansion to a 5 gigawatt campus in increments of 250-500 megawatts [9] Industry Trends - The AI race has prompted several large-scale data center projects in Texas, including an 11-gigawatt campus planned by Fermi, co-founded by former Texas governor Rick Perry [10] - Major banks have faced challenges in selling off $38 billion in loans for data center construction due to concerns over Oracle's credit amid its AI spending [12] - Oracle plans to raise up to $50 billion in debt and equity by 2026 to support its AI initiatives while maintaining a solid investment-grade balance sheet [13] - Alphabet, Google's parent company, announced plans to spend between $175 and $185 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, primarily for AI infrastructure [13] - A significant wave of spending on AI has been reported by major tech companies, with Amazon planning to spend $200 billion this year alone [14]

Google Goes Long With 100-Year Bond Sale. We've Seen This Before. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Google Goes Long With 100-Year Bond Sale. We've Seen This Before.By [Martin Baccardax]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article[GO ...

Core Viewpoint - Sterling Capital Management launched the Sterling Capital Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP), which combines artificial intelligence for idea generation and human intelligence for portfolio construction to provide a U.S. equity allocation while employing options strategies for income generation and market protection [1][3]. Fund Overview - The fund began trading on December 12 and currently manages $214.1 million in assets with a management fee of 0.65% [2]. - The ETF structure was chosen for its tax efficiency, intraday trading capability, and lower costs compared to traditional mutual funds [2]. Investment Strategy - SCEP aims to deliver tax-efficient monthly income, better risk-adjusted returns through AI-driven stock selection, and reduced downside risk via protective options trading [3]. - The fund's sub-adviser, Guardian Capital, has utilized AI in equity strategies since 2018 and manages over $4 billion in assets using similar investment processes [3]. AI Utilization - Guardian's AI models forecast key investment variables, including earnings growth and dividend growth, using machine learning and deep learning techniques [4]. - The AI narrows the investment universe to a shortlist of companies with a higher probability of durable earnings and dividend growth [5][6]. Portfolio Composition - The fund's top holdings include Alphabet Inc. (6.37%), Apple Inc. (6.09%), NVIDIA Corp. (5.77%), Microsoft Corp. (5.07%), and Amazon.com, Inc. (4.58%), identified for their strong balance sheets and growth potential [7]. - The fund maintains around 21% exposure to midcap stocks, which may provide better valuations compared to large-cap alternatives [11]. Options Strategy - SCEP employs a dynamic options overlay strategy, writing covered call options on up to 100% of its portfolio to boost income while buying protective put options to cushion against market declines [8][9]. - Protective puts are structured to guard against a 10% to 30% market decline, aiming to protect income-focused investors from large drawdowns [9][10]. Tax Efficiency - The fund's structure seeks to deliver more tax-efficient income by finding losses on individual securities and options to offset gains, potentially allowing for return of capital distributions [13]. - Return of capital distributions are generally not taxable in the year received, deferring taxes until the shares are sold, which may result in a higher capital gain [14][15].

The market is no longer a one-trick show led by the Magnificent Seven, the group of mega-cap tech giants that have defined U.S. stock performance since the early 2020s. For years, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Meta (NASDAQ: META) and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) set the pace for Wall Street. But now, that dominance is starting to crack as investors look beyond Big Tech for the next source of growth, as highlighted by Bank ...

Google Cloud appears to be emerging as the earnings driver for Alphabet Inc. ( GOOGL , GOOG ) since it surpassed the $70 billion run rate with operating margins at 30%. Operating income growthHi, I'm Yiannis. Spotting winners before they break out is what I do best.Experience: Previously worked at Deloitte and KPMG in external/internal auditing and consulting. Education: Chartered Certified Accountant, Fellow Member of ACCA Global, with BSc and MSc degrees from U.K. business schools. Investment Style: Spott ...

Group 1: Quantum Computing Market Overview - Quantum computing has seen a decline in popularity recently, with many stocks experiencing a sell-off after a peak in interest in October [1] - Current low interest in quantum computing presents a potential buying opportunity for investors, but a selective approach is necessary due to expected failures in the sector [1] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Investing in legacy tech companies involved in quantum computing can provide good returns while mitigating risk [2] - A suggested strategy is to allocate $1,000 to multiple stocks, particularly in established companies [2] Group 3: Key Players in Quantum Computing - Alphabet is a significant player in quantum computing, with strong resources and successful real-world applications of its Willow chip [3] - Alphabet's involvement in generative AI through its Gemini model adds further value, making it a balanced investment option [4] Group 4: Industry Dynamics - Nvidia is heavily involved in the AI sector, with its GPUs being the leading computing option, but quantum computing could disrupt this infrastructure in the future [5] - Experts suggest that the most effective use of quantum computing will be in a hybrid environment, integrating traditional computing with quantum technology [6]