Core Points - Meta is discontinuing its desktop Messenger apps for Windows and Mac, effective December 15, with users needing to switch to Facebook for chat functionality [1] - Users will receive an in-app notification during the shutdown process, with a 60-day window to continue using Messenger before it is permanently shut down [1] - The mobile Messenger app will remain available for users [1] Data Summary - Users are advised to activate secure storage to save their chat history before the app is permanently removed, as it will be lost otherwise [2] - The Messenger desktop app is no longer available on the Apple App Store, and after December 15, users attempting to access Messenger on desktop will be redirected to Facebook.com or Messenger.com for those without a Facebook account [2]

Group 1 - The stock market is currently at record highs, driven by significant earnings reports from major companies like Apple, Meta, and Microsoft [2][4] - Tesla is highlighted as a key stock to watch, nearing buy points, while Broadcom is recognized for its custom AI chip business [1][4] - The earnings season is in full swing, presenting both opportunities and risks for investors [1][4] Group 2 - TechnipFMC, a company in the oil and gas services sector, is also noted for its performance amid rising oil prices [1][4] - Retailer TJX and cloud-based data analytics firm Snowflake are included in the list of stocks to monitor [1] - The market is reacting positively to various factors, including trade talks and economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index (CPI) [4]

Core Viewpoint - Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are expected to benefit from stable and healthy cloud spending according to UBS [2] Group 1: Company Insights - UBS spoke with 11 customers and partners at Oracle's AI World event to gather insights on cloud spending trends [2]

Core Insights - The "High Income DIY Portfolios" Marketplace service aims to provide high income with low risk and capital preservation for DIY investors, particularly targeting income investors such as retirees or near-retirees [1] Portfolio Strategies - The service offers seven portfolios, including three buy-and-hold portfolios, three rotational portfolios, and a three-bucket NPP model portfolio [1] - Among these, there are two high-income portfolios, two dividend growth investing (DGI) portfolios, and a conservative NPP strategy portfolio designed to minimize drawdowns while promoting high growth [1]

Core Insights - The semiconductor market is experiencing significant growth driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), benefiting both AI-focused chipmakers like Nvidia and semiconductor equipment manufacturers like Applied Materials [1][2]. Company Overview - Applied Materials is a leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, generating 73% of its revenue from semiconductor systems, 23% from related services, and 4% from display and adjacent markets [4]. - The company has seen its stock rise nearly 270% over the past five years, outperforming the S&P 500, which has nearly doubled during the same period [2]. Financial Performance - Revenue growth for Applied Materials has fluctuated over the past five years, with semiconductor systems revenue growth declining from 43% in FY 2021 to just 1% in FY 2024, before recovering to 9% in the first nine months of FY 2025 [5]. - Total revenue growth also decelerated, from 34% in FY 2021 to 2% in FY 2024, with a projected growth of 7% in the first nine months of FY 2025 [5]. - Analysts expect revenue and adjusted EPS to grow by 4% and 8% respectively in FY 2025, and by 3% and 1% in FY 2026 [11]. Market Dynamics - The AI market's growth, recovery in the memory market, stabilization of the supply chain, and lower interest rates are key catalysts for Applied Materials' recent growth [7]. - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing competition for AI leadership among companies and countries [9]. Investment Considerations - Despite its strong performance, Applied Materials is not solely an AI stock, as it is exposed to various other markets, including significant revenue from China, which accounted for 30% of its revenue in the first nine months of FY 2025 [12]. - The stock may still be worth considering for investment, particularly at a lower valuation, but alternatives like ASML, which specializes in high-end lithography systems, may offer better exposure to the AI chipmaking boom [13].

We surveyed experts on their favored picks heading into earnings season —Â and identified companies across the tech sector. ...

Company Overview - Fluor is a holding company providing engineering, procurement, construction, fabrication, modularization, and project management services across three segments: energy solutions, urban solutions, and mission solutions [1] - The energy solutions segment focuses on traditional oil and gas markets, while urban solutions serve advanced technologies, life sciences, and infrastructure industries [1] - The mission solutions segment provides technical solutions to U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Energy and Department of Defense [1] Recent Developments - On October 21, Starboard Value announced a nearly 5% stake in Fluor, aiming to unlock value from Fluor's approximately 39% holding in NuScale Power, which constitutes over 60% of Fluor's market capitalization [3] - Fluor's operational turnaround began with the appointment of David Constable as CEO in 2021, shifting focus to lower-risk reimbursable projects, increasing their backlog from 45% to 80% [5] - The company has reduced exposure to loss-making legacy projects from $1.8 billion to $558 million, significantly lowering its risk profile [5] Financial Performance - Fluor has maintained a steady backlog and achieved a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in EBITDA from fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2024, with projections of approximately 9% CAGR from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2028 [6] - The construction market has grown to over $918 billion, positioning Fluor favorably within a duopoly alongside Bechtel [7] - Fluor's current enterprise value is $6.7 billion, valued at 8.9 times its enterprise value to calendar year 2027 estimates for consensus EBITDA [8] Investment in NuScale - Fluor's investment in NuScale, valued at approximately $4.3 billion, represents more than half of Fluor's current enterprise value [11] - If the NuScale stake is excluded, Fluor's enterprise value would drop to $3.3 billion, reflecting a depressed valuation of 4.6 times [12] - Starboard has proposed various strategies to monetize Fluor's NuScale stake, including open-market sales or a tax-free spinoff, which could significantly enhance shareholder value [13][14] Activist Investor Influence - Starboard Value has a successful track record in activist investing, with an average return of 50.55% from prior campaigns in the industrial sector [2] - The relationship between Starboard and Fluor's management, particularly with David Constable, is expected to be constructive and beneficial for shareholders [16]

Warren Buffett has long been regarded as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth now in the hundred billions. And while other wealthy individuals are worth even more right now, Buffett is among the most stable. He’s regarded in financial circles as smart, wise and worthy of listening to. Check Out: If Warren Buffett’s Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across America, How Much Money Would Every Person Get? Read More: 7 Luxury SUVs That Will Become Affordable in 2025 Of course, we expec ...

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's B shares have rebounded 7.2% since their low of $459.11 on August 4, following a nearly 15% drop after Warren Buffett's announcement of stepping down as CEO [1][2] - Year-to-date (YTD), Berkshire's B shares have gained 8.6%, while the S&P 500 has outperformed with a 15.5% increase, widening the underperformance gap to 6.9 percentage points [2] - Berkshire's significant reduction in its Apple stake has resulted in approximately $50 billion in "lost" profits, as Apple shares have risen over 50% since the sales began [3][4] Berkshire's Investment Strategy - Berkshire has reduced its Apple stake from nearly 916 million shares to 280 million shares, a 69% decrease, although Apple remains the largest holding in its equity portfolio [3][4] - If Berkshire had retained its full stake, it would be valued at $241 billion today, compared to the current valuation of $74 billion, resulting in a $167 billion gap [4] - The average selling price of Apple shares was around $185, yielding a pretax gain of approximately $96 billion, but with around $20 billion in taxes deducted [5] Buffett's Perspective on Taxes - Buffett anticipates higher capital gains tax rates in the future, which influenced the decision to sell Apple shares at the current 21% rate rather than a potentially higher rate later [6][10] - He believes that shareholders would prefer to pay taxes now rather than face increased rates in the future, making the sale of Apple shares more attractive [10][17] - Buffett has expressed that Berkshire does not mind paying taxes and views it as appropriate for a company benefiting from the U.S. economy [16]

In the members section, we provide specific commentary on the top ranked funds and discuss whether they deserve a place in your income portfolio. At the CEF/ETF Income Laboratory, we manage closed-end fund (CEF) and exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolios targeting safe and reliable ~8% yields to make income investing easy for you. Check out what our members have to say about our service. To see all that our exclusive membership has to offer, sign up for a free trial by clicking on the following link: SIGN UP ...