Walt Disney Co (DIS -1.46%) and FuboTV (FUBO -2.02%) just shook up the streaming sector.The two companies surprised investors by announcing the combination of Fubo and Hulu + Live TV into a company that will be known as Fubo, though both services will continue to exist as separate branded entities. Fubo shares skyrocketed on the news, more than tripling on Monday, while Disney initially posted modest gains but closed down 0.1%.Disney will own a 70% stake in the resulting company, and Fubo will retain a 30% ...

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, January 9:G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII) : This fashion and apparel company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.7% over the last 60 days.G-III Apparel Group has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 7.78 compared with 20.40 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Scoreof A.CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) : This insurance a ...

On the heels of an incredible rally, stocks are off to a strong start in 2025. After surging 23.3% across 2024's trading, the S&P 500 index rose roughly 1.2% early in this year's trading before flattening as of Tuesday's market close. Market darlings like Nvidia hit new valuation highs this week, and investors are looking to potentially explosive categories including quantum computing and robotics as "next big thing" contenders that could power future rallies.While buying shares in top technology players wi ...

Company Overview - Palantir Technologies achieved its biggest profit ever in 2024, joined the S&P 500, and saw its stock price soar 340% due to its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and growth in sales to both government and commercial customers [1] - The company has been in business for over 20 years, helping customers aggregate and utilize data, with governments being its biggest customers historically [3] - Recently, commercial customers have shown increasing interest in Palantir, with revenue and customer numbers suggesting this segment could become a major growth driver [3] Growth Drivers - Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), launched a little over a year ago, has driven significant demand, particularly in the commercial sector [5] - The number of U.S. commercial customers grew from 14 four years ago to about 300 today, with U.S. commercial revenue climbing 54% in the most recent quarter [5] - Palantir's boot camps for AIP have been highly successful, often resulting in major contracts, such as seven-figure deals with three customers within two months of attending the boot camps [6] Financial Performance - Palantir reported its highest-ever quarterly profit of $144 million in the most recent period [7] - The company's forward PEG ratio is currently 0.3, down from more than 0.6 a few weeks ago, suggesting potential for further gains [9] Valuation and Future Prospects - Palantir shares trade at 150 times forward earnings estimates, which appears expensive, but the company's growth prospects are strong [8] - The company's forward PEG ratio of 0.3 indicates that the stock may not be overvalued and could still be worth buying [9] - Long-term investors may find Palantir a winning move, as the company has the potential to deliver earnings growth and stock performance over time [10][11] Industry Impact - Palantir's data aggregation and AI capabilities have produced significant results for both government and commercial businesses, improving efficiency and enabling the development of game-changing products or services [4] - The company works with major names such as the Cleveland Clinic and United Airlines, helping them manage patient placement and design predictive maintenance systems [4]

The market is still near all-time highs, but that doesn't mean you can't find some stocks that investors have been placed on the sale rack. High-yielding Vici Properties (VICI -1.44%) is down nearly 15% from its 52-week high, as are Dividend Kings Coca-Cola (KO 1.43%) and Hormel Foods (HRL 1.00%).That said, each story here is a little different. Here's why this trio of dividend stocks is worth a closer look today.1. Vici Properties has a very long growth runwayReal estate investment trust (REIT) Vici Proper ...

Apple (AAPL 0.20%) and Microsoft (MSFT 0.52%) are two of the biggest rivals in tech. And today, they're both spending heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) as their rivalry evolves into yet another chapter.They are among the most highly valued stocks in the world with market caps in excess of $3 trillion. Apple is ahead today, but which stock ends up more valuable in the next five or 10 years could ultimately depend on which business has the better AI strategy.In 2024, Apple's stock rose by 30% as it outp ...

The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.06%) advanced 29% in 2024, and history says that momentum could spill into 2025. Since its inception in 1971, the Nasdaq has gained over 20% in 20 years. Following those incidents, the technology-focused index returned an average of 16% in the next year.In other words, history says the Nasdaq could advance 16% in 2025, but most Wall Street analysts see even more upside in Nvidia (NVDA -0.02%) and Lam Research (LRCX -0.62%), two companies that reset their soaring share prices b ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Life Insurance industry includes companies offering life insurance, retirement benefits, and wealth management solutions, with products such as annuities, term life insurance, and health insurance [3] - The industry is expected to grow, with gross written premiums projected to reach $1.34 trillion in 2025, driven by increasing demand for protection products and retirement benefits [4] - The global life insurance market is forecasted to reach $2.5 trillion by 2026, with a CAGR of 3.54% from 2025 to 2029 [9] Key Trends - **Interest Rate Cuts**: The Fed cut interest rates three times in 2024, totaling 150 basis points, with two more cuts expected in 2025, impacting life insurers' investment returns [5][6] - **Product Redesign**: Insurers are shifting from long-duration term life insurance to bundled investment products offering guaranteed retirement income, life, and healthcare benefits [7] - **Technology Adoption**: Increased automation, digital platforms, and online sales are driving premium growth and operational efficiency, with investments in AI, blockchain, and cognitive intelligence [11][12] Industry Performance - The life insurance industry has collectively gained 26.9%, outperforming the Finance sector's 22% increase and matching the S&P 500's 26.9% growth [15] - The industry's trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio is 1.91X, lower than the S&P 500's 8.67X and the Finance sector's 3.97X [16] Companies to Watch - **Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)**: Zacks Rank 1, with a 5.5% YoY earnings increase expected in 2025 and a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 17.74% [18][19] - **Primerica (PRI)**: Zacks Rank 2, with a 7.2% YoY earnings increase expected in 2025 and a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 4.89% [20][21] - **Sun Life Financial (SLF)**: Zacks Rank 3, with a 10.6% YoY earnings increase expected in 2025 and a long-term earnings growth rate of 7% [22][23] - **Lincoln National (LNC)**: Zacks Rank 3, with a 9% YoY earnings increase expected in 2025 and a long-term earnings growth rate of 17% [24][25] - **Voya Financial (VOYA)**: Zacks Rank 3, with a 26.3% YoY earnings increase expected in 2025 and a long-term earnings growth rate of 15.9% [26][27] Growth Drivers - Rising demand for retirement benefits due to the aging baby boomer population [4] - Strong sales in emerging markets like China, India, and Latin America, expected to boost premiums by 5.7% in 2025 [10] - Increased automation and digitalization driving premium growth and operational efficiency [11][12]

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – January 9, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research United Airlines (UAL) , American Airlines (AAL) and Alaska Air Group (ALK) .Industry: AirlinesLink: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2393503/3-solid-stocks-to-buy-from-the-prospering-airline-industryThe outlook for the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry is bright with the air travel demand scenario appearing rosy. Declining fuel costs also bode well for airlines. This is because expenses on fuel represent a key input cost ...

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – January 9, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD) , Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG) .Industry: Auto Retail and WholesaleLink: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2393449/3-auto-retail-stocks-to-consider-despite-challenging-industry-outlookWhile the Zacks Auto Retail and Wholesale industry has stayed afloat amid a stable demand for new and used vehicles, declining profit per unit and the uncertainty around the high ...