Earlier on January 24, Tom Lee, Managing Partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors, joined CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ to suggest energy and basic materials as top sector picks this year. Lee characterized the then-market environment as volatile but hesitated to label individual company challenges as representative of the broader market. He suggested that it is natural for stocks that have performed exceptionally well to face some punishment during earnings season. Furthermore, while Lee maintained his affinity for th ...

Software stocks have had a wild ride this week but perhaps none more so than Zscaler. ...

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft will pay its first quarterly dividend of 2026 on March 13, maintaining a dividend of $0.91 per share, consistent with the previous quarter [1][2]. Dividend Details - The next estimated dividend payment is $0.91 per share, with a pay date of March 12, 2026, and it is categorized as a regular quarterly dividend [2]. - Shareholders owning 100 shares before February 19 can expect a total dividend payment of $91 next month, leading to an estimated yearly payout of $364 for 2026 if the trend continues [3]. Dividend Profile - Microsoft is recognized as a reliable dividend payer in the technology sector, currently offering a dividend yield of 0.91%, which is below the sector average of 1.37% but is balanced by stability and long-term growth [4]. - The company has a forward payout ratio of 19.14%, indicating that less than one-fifth of expected earnings are distributed to shareholders, allowing for reinvestment and future dividend increases [5]. Historical Performance - Microsoft has increased its dividend for nearly 24 consecutive years, positioning itself among established dividend growth companies, with Broadcom being a notable peer with a 16-year track record of dividend increases [7]. - The shares exhibit strong historical dividend capture characteristics, with an average price recovery time of just 1.3 days following ex-dividend dates [8].

Core Viewpoint - Hims & Hers is currently engaged in a dispute with Novo Nordisk, but the long-term outlook for the company remains positive due to its innovative direct-to-consumer model and significant growth potential [1][11]. Company Overview - Hims & Hers operates as a direct-to-consumer drug company, utilizing a digital platform to engage customers through a lifestyle approach [2]. - The company has seen substantial growth in its subscriber base, increasing from approximately 300,000 at the end of 2020 to a projected 2.5 million by the end of 2025 [4]. Subscriber Growth and Revenue Model - In 2025, Hims & Hers added over 280,000 new subscribers, creating an annuity-like income stream through ongoing subscriptions [5]. - The growing customer base not only supports current revenue but also lays the groundwork for future expansion as subscribers tend to purchase multiple products [4][5]. Expansion Strategy - Hims & Hers aims to broaden its product offerings, which could lead to a significant increase in revenues as the brand gains traction in the consumer market [6]. Market Position and Financial Metrics - The current market capitalization of Hims & Hers is approximately $3.6 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of around 29x, indicating a high valuation that may deter value-oriented investors [7][9]. - The company's gross margin stands at 60.86%, reflecting its profitability [9]. Competitive Landscape - Hims & Hers is facing pushback from Novo Nordisk, which is suing the company to stop the sales of its copycat versions of GLP-1 drugs, a situation that may pose short-term challenges [10][11]. - Despite the competitive pressures, the direct-sales approach of Hims & Hers is resonating well with its subscribers, indicating a strong growth opportunity [11].

Economic Outlook - BlackRock's Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, Rick Rieder, expressed optimism about the economy, citing potential tax cuts from President Trump as a means to maintain economic momentum despite concerns about the national deficit [1] - Rieder emphasized the importance of fostering a hotter economy through tax incentives and deregulation, viewing growth as a primary method to diffuse national debt [1] - He believes the Federal Reserve should cut rates to moderate levels to support a growth-oriented environment [1] Market Analysis - Rieder described the current market as fascinating yet challenging, highlighting the need for humility among investors as industries undergo rapid reevaluations [2] - He predicts the economy will grow above 5% nominal this year, with solid earnings growth expected [2] - A significant technical condition noted is the reliance on stock buybacks from hyperscalers, which have provided support during market pressures [2] Undervalued Stocks - A list of the 10 most undervalued stocks under $30 was provided, focusing on companies trading below a forward P/E of 15 and recently reporting noteworthy developments [3][5] - The strategy aims to identify stocks popular among analysts and elite hedge funds, with a historical performance of 427.7% since May 2014, outperforming benchmarks by 264 percentage points [6] Plains GP Holdings (NASDAQ:PAGP) - Plains GP Holdings reported a Q4 adjusted EBITDA of $738 million and a full-year total of $2.833 billion, undergoing a strategic transformation into a pure-play crude oil midstream provider [7] - The crude oil segment contributed $611 million to the final quarter's EBITDA, while the NGL segment faced seasonal volatility [8] - The company aims for $100 million in annual cost savings by 2027 and plans to invest ~$350 million in growth capital to enhance operations [9] HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) - HP reported a 7% year-over-year revenue increase for FQ1 2026, reaching $14.4 billion, driven by an 11% revenue jump in the Personal Systems segment [11] - The company faces rising input costs, particularly for DRAM and NAND memory, which have surged to ~35% of the PC bill of materials [12] - HP maintained its full-year guidance but expects to land at the lower end of its non-GAAP EPS range due to anticipated declines in PC unit demand [13]

Michael Burry on Thursday issued a warning regarding Nvidia Corp.'s (NASDAQ:NVDA) massive surge in purchase obligations, claiming the chipmaker is mirroring the structural risks that led to Cisco Systems Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:CSCO) collapse during the dot-com bubble.$95 Billion Red FlagWhen combined with other supply agreements, Nvidia's total commitments now stand at approximately $117 billion.Burry argues that this isn’t a reaction to external shocks but a fundamental, risky change in how the company operates. " ...

Shares of Applied Optoelectronics Inc (NASDAQ:AAOI) rose sharply in pre-market trading after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued first-quarter sales guidance above estimates.Applied Optoelectronics reported quarterly losses of 1 cent per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of losses of 11 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $134.274 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $134.120 million.Applied Optoelectronics ...

Atlanta, Georgia-based Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) provides technology and data to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States and internationally. Valued at a market capitalization of $91.1 billion, the company operates through Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology segments. Companies with a market cap of $10 billion or more are typically referred to as “large-cap stocks.” ICE fits right into that category, with its market cap ...

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is gearing up towards accepting a superior all-cash proposal from Paramount Skydance Corp., after streaming video major Netflix Inc. dropped its bid to take over the media and giant. In the latest develpoment in the merger of majors, Netflix declined to raise its offer, stating that the deal, if revised to match Paramount Skydance's suprior proposal, will no longer be financially attractive.Following the news, shares of Netflix and Paramount Skydance were gaining around 8.7 perc ...

Core Insights - Petronas has reported a profit decline for the third consecutive year, primarily due to lower oil prices impacting margins [1] - The company’s profit after tax for 2025 was 45.4 billion ringgit ($11.68 billion), down from 55.1 billion ringgit in 2024, while revenue decreased to 266.1 billion ringgit ($68.44 billion) from 320 billion ringgit [1] Financial Performance - Profit after tax for 2025: 45.4 billion ringgit ($11.68 billion) compared to 55.1 billion ringgit in 2024 [1] - Revenue for 2025: 266.1 billion ringgit ($68.44 billion), down from 320 billion ringgit [1] - Capital investments fell to 41.6 billion ringgit in 2025 from 54.2 billion ringgit in 2024 [1] Business Strategy - Petronas aims to focus on building resilience by strengthening its core hydrocarbons portfolio and expanding new businesses while managing emissions [1] - The company plans to allocate 2 billion ringgit annually for exploration over the next five years [1] Dividend and Government Contribution - Petronas paid 32 billion ringgit in dividends to the Malaysian government last year and expects to pay 20 billion ringgit this year, the lowest since 2017 [1] - The dividend payment is contingent on the company's cash flow situation [1] Emissions and Environmental Impact - Petronas reported a 2.2% increase in carbon emissions in 2025 to 56.95 million tons of CO2 equivalent, mainly due to operational changes [1] - The company achieved a 72% reduction in methane emissions, surpassing its target of 50% [1] Market Outlook - Crude oil prices are expected to remain stable between $65-$70 per barrel over the next five years [1] - The CEO indicated that margin erosion is expected to continue due to cost inflation and softening prices [1]