U.S. private equity firm TPG is close to acquiring UnitedHealth's Optum UK business, in a deal worth between 1.2 billion pounds ($1.62 billion) and 1.4 billion pounds, Sky News reported on Tuesday. ...

Core Insights - Spending on executive protection is increasing, indicating a growing concern for safety among high-profile individuals and companies [1] Group 1: Spending Trends - The rise in spending on executive protection includes not only traditional services like bodyguards and trained drivers but also a broader range of security measures [1] - Companies are investing in advanced technologies and services to enhance the safety of their executives, reflecting a shift in the approach to personal security [1] Group 2: Industry Implications - The increase in demand for executive protection services is likely to drive growth in the security industry, creating new opportunities for service providers [1] - As threats evolve, the industry may see a diversification of services offered, moving beyond physical protection to include cybersecurity and risk management solutions [1]

Key Takeaways UNH shares fell 34.5% over a year amid cost pressures, utilization issues and multiple earnings misses.UNH faces a projected 69.3% Q4 EPS drop even as revenue is expected to rise 12.7% year over year.UnitedHealth's MCR has surged to nearly 90%, squeezing margins ahead of key 2026 guidance.Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) have had a brutal year. The stock has fallen 34.5% over the past year, lagging the industry’s 28.4% decline and standing in sharp contrast to the S&P 500 Index’ ...

Core Insights - SGA's Global Growth Strategy portfolio returned -2.3% (Gross) and -2.5% (Net) in Q3 2025, underperforming against MSCI ACWI's 7.6% and MSCI ACWI Growth's 9.0% returns, primarily due to a lack of alignment with AI-driven market enthusiasm [1] - The investment objective focuses on high-quality growth businesses with expected mid-teens earnings growth and stable revenue and cash flow [1] Company-Specific Insights - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is highlighted as a key stock, with a one-month return of 3.95% but a significant 34.51% loss over the past 52 weeks, closing at $336.40 per share with a market cap of $304.724 billion as of January 2, 2026 [2] - SGA maintained its position in UnitedHealth through a crisis, recognizing management's potential to correct mispricing issues, and added shares during price weakness while trimming gains as the stock rebounded [3] - UnitedHealth generated revenues exceeding $113 billion in Q3 2025, reflecting a 12% year-over-year growth driven by domestic membership expansion, although the company is viewed as less favorable compared to certain AI stocks with greater upside potential [4]

Core Insights - The stock market has shown strong performance in 2025, with major indices reaching record highs, indicating Wall Street's potential for wealth creation [1][2] Group 1: Visa - Visa has a strong track record, with shares climbing in 13 of the last 15 years, and only two declines of 0.3% and 3.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively [4] - The company's performance is closely tied to economic growth, benefiting from increased consumer and business spending [5] - Visa's focus on payment facilitation rather than lending allows it to avoid capital set-asides for loan losses, enabling quicker recovery during economic downturns [6] Group 2: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk is positioned for recovery in 2026, with midterm elections expected to boost ad spending [7] - The company's Unified ID 2.0 technology is gaining traction, which could enhance its pricing power and sustain double-digit sales growth [8] - Shares are currently valued at 18 times forward earnings, presenting a bargain compared to previous expectations of 20% to 40% annual sales growth [9] Group 3: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms remains fundamentally attractive despite high market valuations, with its apps attracting an average of 3.54 billion daily users [11][12] - The introduction of generative AI solutions is expected to enhance ad pricing power and improve click-through rates [13] Group 4: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group faced challenges in 2025 but has historically risen in 22 of the last 26 years [16] - The company is exiting unprofitable markets and plans to increase healthcare premiums, which should enhance its pricing power [17] - The Optum subsidiary is expected to rebound, potentially making UnitedHealth a top performer in 2026 [18] Group 5: Sirius XM Holdings - Sirius XM operates as a legal monopoly in satellite radio, generating over 75% of its revenue from subscriptions, which provides predictable cash flow [20][21] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of less than 7, representing a 46% discount to its five-year average [22][23] Group 6: BioMarin Pharmaceutical - BioMarin focuses on ultrarare-disease therapies, with its drug Voxzogo expected to exceed $1 billion in sales this year [25][26] - The company is streamlining operations and is projected to achieve mid-to-high single-digit sales growth in 2026 [27] Group 7: NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy has generated positive returns for investors in 21 of the last 24 years, benefiting from stable electricity demand [29] - The company leads in renewable energy capacity, which has reduced generation costs and supported high-single-digit EPS growth [30][31] Group 8: Okta - Okta provides essential cybersecurity services, with demand expected to grow as cyber threats persist [33][34] - The company's subscription backlog increased to nearly $4.3 billion, reflecting strong growth potential [35] Group 9: York Water - York Water is positioned for significant revenue growth if its proposed rate increase is approved, potentially increasing annual revenue by 32% [37][38] - The company has a long history of dividend payments, enhancing its appeal as a stable investment [39] Group 10: O'Reilly Automotive - O'Reilly Automotive has advanced in 21 of the last 23 years, benefiting from the increasing age of vehicles on the road [41] - The company's share-repurchase program has positively impacted its EPS, making it attractive to value investors [43]

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group is experiencing a challenging period, with its stock down approximately 34% year-to-date, but it remains a prominent player in the health insurance sector [1][2]. Group 1: Current Business Situation - UnitedHealth is undergoing a transition, with a current price-to-earnings ratio of 17, making it relatively cheap after its recent decline [2]. - The company suspended its profit forecast in May 2025 due to rising costs from increased doctor visits and surgeries, leading to higher-than-expected insurance claims [5]. - The upcoming financial report on January 27 is crucial for clarifying the company's profitability and long-term growth prospects [6][4]. Group 2: Key Financial Metrics to Watch - Investors should focus on the 2026 financial guidance, particularly projections for earnings per share (EPS), medical care ratio (MCR), and operating margin [7]. - The adjusted EPS for 2025 is projected to be at least $16.25, and any 2026 projection slightly above this figure should be approached with caution [8]. - The MCR ideally should be in the mid-80% range, while a good operating margin benchmark is around 4%, although achieving this may require price increases that could attract scrutiny [10]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - It is advised not to purchase UnitedHealth shares before the January 27 report, but if the results are favorable, the current valuation may present a significant opportunity for long-term investors [11].

Group 1 - The primary goal of the "High Income DIY Portfolios" service is to provide high income with low risk and capital preservation for DIY investors [1] - The service offers seven portfolios, including three buy-and-hold, three rotational portfolios, and a conservative NPP strategy portfolio [1] - The portfolios are specifically designed for income investors, including retirees or near-retirees, focusing on creating stable, long-term passive income with sustainable yields [1] Group 2 - The "Financially Free Investor" emphasizes a unique 3-basket investment approach aimed at achieving 30% lower drawdowns and 6% current income [2] - The investing group "High Income DIY Portfolios" includes a total of 10 model portfolios with varying income targets and risk levels, along with buy and sell alerts and live chat support [2] - The focus is on investing in dividend-growing stocks with a long-term horizon to achieve market-beating growth [2]

Core Insights - The "High Income DIY Portfolios" service aims to provide high income with low risk and capital preservation for DIY investors, particularly targeting income investors such as retirees [1] - The service offers a total of 10 model portfolios, including various strategies for income generation and risk management, with a focus on sustainable yields [2] Group 1: Portfolio Strategies - The service includes seven portfolios: three buy-and-hold, three rotational portfolios, and a conservative NPP strategy portfolio designed for low drawdowns and high growth [1] - The investment approach emphasizes dividend-growing stocks and aims for a 30% reduction in drawdowns while targeting a 6% current income [2] Group 2: Additional Features - The service provides buy and sell alerts, live chat, and strategies for portfolio management and asset allocation to help investors achieve stable, long-term passive income [2]

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit record all-time highs in 2025 with many of the components ending the year higher. Along with serving as a well-known barometer of overall market health, the index offers some of the top yielding blue-chip stocks.Here's a look at the top-yielding Dow Jones stocks heading into 2026.Top Yielding Dow Jones Industrial Average StocksWhen looking for dividend stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has plenty of names to offer. Of the 30 components of the index, 28 currently p ...

Core Insights - The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new all-time records in 2025, with President Donald Trump celebrating this achievement [1] Group 1: 2025 Performance Overview - In 2025, 23 out of 30 Dow Jones Industrial component stocks experienced gains, while 7 declined, marking an improvement compared to previous years where 18 stocks were up in 2024 and 19 in 2023 [2] - The overall performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average was an increase of approximately 13% for the full year [3] Group 2: Top Gainers and Losers - The top five gainers in 2025 included: 1. Caterpillar: +59.5% 2. Goldman Sachs: +55.8% 3. Johnson & Johnson: +43.5% 4. NVIDIA: +40.2% 5. IBM: +39.1% [6] - The top five losers in 2025 included: 1. UnitedHealth Group: -35.0% 2. Salesforce: -20.4% 3. Nike: -19.1% 4. Procter & Gamble: -13.8% 5. Honeywell: -12.7% [6] Group 3: New Additions to the Index - Nvidia replaced Intel in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in November 2024, with Intel outperforming Nvidia in 2025, gaining over 90% [4] - Sherwin-Williams replaced Dow Inc. in November 2024, with Sherwin-Williams down 1.3% over the past year, while Dow stock fell more than 30% [5] - Amazon replaced Walgreens Boots Alliance, with Amazon shares up 4.8% in 2025 [6]