Core Viewpoint - The article addresses the need for consistent income in retirement beyond Social Security, highlighting the demand for more frequent payouts than the quarterly dividends typically offered by many stocks and ETFs [1] Group 1 - There is a growing interest among retirees for investment options that provide regular income streams [1] - The traditional reliance on quarterly dividends may not meet the needs of all investors seeking more immediate cash flow [1]

Core Insights - Most investors focusing on emerging markets tend to favor large-cap companies, which leads to overlooking smaller firms that can provide better long-term returns and dividends [1] Group 1 - Large-cap companies are often the primary focus for investors seeking exposure in emerging markets [1] - Smaller companies in these markets frequently outperform larger counterparts in terms of long-term returns [1] - Smaller firms also tend to offer dividend payments, adding to their attractiveness for investors [1]

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. has launched an interactive suite of 2026 New Year content across its YouCam app series, which includes YouCam Makeup, YouCam Perfect, YouCam AI Pro, YouCam Enhance, and YouCam Video [1] - The YouCam apps have achieved over 1.1 billion total downloads, indicating significant user engagement and market penetration [1] Company Overview - Perfect Corp. is recognized as a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) solutions specifically tailored for the beauty and fashion tech sectors [1] - The company's innovative offerings are transforming how users celebrate holidays by providing new visualization methods [1]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks is a preferred method for wealth building, providing both income and growth potential. Dividend stocks are essential for passive income investors, but selecting the right ones can be challenging due to the vast options available [1][2]. Company Summaries Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is a leading global beverage company with a diverse product portfolio, including soft drinks, teas, coffee, and juices. The company has successfully increased product prices while achieving higher revenue and sales [3][4]. - Coca-Cola is an asset-light business model focusing on syrup concentrate production, which allows for higher profit margins and lower operating costs, resulting in significant cash flow and shareholder rewards [4]. - The company has a strong dividend history, being a dividend aristocrat with 63 consecutive years of dividend increases, a yield of 2.90%, and an annual dividend of $2.04. The payout ratio stands at 67.85% [5]. - In Q3, Coca-Cola reported revenue of $12.5 billion, a 5% year-over-year increase, with organic revenue growth of 6%. Operating income surged by 59%, and EPS rose by 30% to $0.86. The company is expected to perform well in 2026 due to its global presence and steady dividend growth [6]. 3M Company - 3M (NYSE:MMM) is a global conglomerate with a diverse range of products in healthcare, industrial, safety, and consumer sectors. The company has recently seen a positive turnaround, with management raising full-year guidance [7][8]. - In Q3, 3M reported revenue of $6.50 billion, up 3.5%, and generated $1.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow. The safety and industrial segment grew by 5.4%, and EPS was reported at $1.55. The company is on a recovery path [8][9]. - The management anticipates full-year EPS between $7.95 and $8.05, with organic revenue expected to improve by over 2%. In Q3, 3M allocated $900 million for buybacks and dividends [9][10]. - The stock is currently priced at $161.76, reflecting a 24.72% increase in 2025, with a dividend yield of 1.81% and an annual dividend of $2.92. The payout ratio is 36.54% [10][11]. Morgan Stanley - Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., known for its investment banking and wealth management services. It has a dividend yield of 2.31% and a history of 28 years of dividend payments [12][13]. - The company has seen a 38% stock price increase in 2025, currently trading at $172.96. It has a healthy investment banking pipeline and is positioned to benefit from increased M&A and IPO activities [12][13]. - In Q3, Morgan Stanley reported an 18% revenue increase to $18.22 billion, with profits soaring by 45% to $4.61 billion. The investment banking segment experienced a 44% growth, while equities trading revenue rose by 35% [14][15].

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. is experiencing one of its most successful years for the YouCam App Suite, driven by the rapid global adoption of AI-first visualization experiences [1] Group 1: Company Performance - The YouCam ecosystem, which includes YouCam Perfect, YouCam Makeup, YouCam Video, YouCam AI Pro, and YouCam Enhance, has seen users embrace a significant wave of creativity powered by multimodal Generative AI, AR visualization, and agentic AI workflows [1] Group 2: Industry Trends - The holiday season marks a peak in user engagement and creativity within the AI-driven visualization sector, indicating a strong market trend towards AI integration in consumer applications [1]

Core Insights - Investing in low-cost, diversified ETFs can help individuals achieve financial independence and retirement goals [1][2] - A disciplined approach to investing, including managing market volatility and making informed choices, is essential for long-term success [1] ETF Recommendations - **Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)**: Offers exposure to the entire U.S. stock market with over 3,500 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.03%, making it a cost-effective choice for investors [5][6] - **Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)**: Focuses on companies with a history of increasing dividends for at least 10 consecutive years, providing a balance of income and growth potential with a current dividend yield of 1.6% [7][8] - **Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)**: Mirrors the Nasdaq-100 index, primarily investing in large non-financial companies, with a significant portion in technology stocks, making it a suitable option for those seeking tech exposure [9][11]

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. is set to unveil a new era of AI agents and developer-first API innovation at CES 2026, highlighting advancements in AI and AR solutions for the beauty, fashion, and retail sectors [1] Company Developments - The company will demonstrate how its AI Beauty Agent tools are evolving beyond static try-on and analysis experiences, indicating a shift towards more dynamic and personalized shopping experiences [1] Industry Impact - The introduction of intelligent AI agents and modular, scalable APIs is expected to redefine personalization, product discovery, and visual experiences for modern shoppers, showcasing a significant transformation in the retail landscape [1]

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. released a trend report titled "AI Goes Mainstream: The New Era of Holiday Shopping," highlighting the growing reliance of consumers on AI for smarter shopping and more intentional spending during the holiday season [1] Group 1: Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly using AI technologies to discover products with confidence, indicating a shift in shopping habits [1] - The report emphasizes that AI is becoming a crucial tool for consumers to enhance their shopping experience [1] Group 2: Company Insights - Perfect Corp. is recognized as a leading provider of AI and AR beauty and fashion technology, showcasing its innovative solutions in the market [1] - The insights are derived from Perfect Corp.'s YouCam Suite of Apps and the Spate Popula, reflecting the company's commitment to leveraging technology for consumer engagement [1]

Core Insights - The company, Wanmei (PERF), experienced a stock price increase of 2.31% on December 17, reaching $1.77 per share, with a total market capitalization of $180 million [1] - As of September 30, 2025, Wanmei reported total revenue of $51.02 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 15.11%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of $4.58 million, which is a 16.66% increase compared to the previous year [1] - Wanmei, established on February 13, 2015, is a Cayman Islands limited liability company that was spun off from Taiwan's CyberLink Corp, focusing on enhancing consumer shopping experiences through AR, AI, and digital technologies [1] Company Overview - Wanmei's domestic entity, Wanmei Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., is a leading provider of SaaS AI and AR solutions for the beauty and fashion industry, aiming to create seamless and omnichannel experiences [1] - The company is committed to transforming consumer shopping experiences by leveraging cutting-edge technology to offer interactive, sustainable metaverse solutions that can be easily integrated into brand websites, apps, and various social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube [1] App Performance - The global download count for Wanmei's immersive app series has surpassed 1 billion, providing consumers with a convenient platform to virtually experience various products and feel their appearance and style [2]

Core Insights - Bonk, Inc. executed a strategic consolidation by securing a 51% majority revenue interest in the BONK.fun platform just weeks before a significant revenue surge [1] - The platform reported a 700% increase in its revenue run rate, reaching $1.36 million in just 14 days, indicating a strong growth trajectory [1] - The annualized run rate now exceeds the implied asset valuation, positioning the company favorably for shareholders [1] Financial Performance - The BONK.fun platform achieved a revenue run rate of $1.36 million within a 14-day period [1] - The reported 700% surge in revenue run rate highlights a substantial increase in economic activity on the platform [1] - The strategic timing of the corporate restructuring has allowed the company to capture the majority of the economic upside for its shareholders [1]