Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or ...

Core Insights - The market has shifted its focus from beating earnings expectations to the importance of future guidance, as demonstrated by Intel's recent performance [1][3][8] Company Performance - Intel reported earnings of $0.15 per share and revenue of $13.7 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.08 per share and $13.4 billion, respectively [1] - Despite the positive earnings report, Intel's stock fell by 17% the following day due to a disappointing revenue outlook for the next quarter, projected between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, below the analyst expectation of $12.51 billion [2][3] Market Dynamics - The current earnings season indicates that markets are prioritizing forward visibility and growth momentum over past performance [3][8] - Major technology companies, including Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, and Apple, are expected to report earnings soon, with a focus on guidance related to artificial intelligence spending [4] Investment Trends - There is growing impatience in the market regarding AI investments, with companies that demonstrate clear monetization in cloud services being rewarded, while those that spend aggressively without measurable impacts face declines [5] - The technology sector, representing over a third of the S&P 500's market capitalization, must show that AI spending translates into real demand and earnings growth to justify elevated valuations [6] Earnings Overview - Early earnings data shows strong profit growth, with most companies beating estimates; however, growth is concentrated among a small number of large firms, making the market susceptible to negative surprises [7]

Fitz-Gerald Group CIO Keith Fitz-Gerald shared his optimism about Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) potential in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). He also hinted at a ” very impressive” release from the tech giant this spring.Fitz-Gerald, in a conversation with host Stuart Varney on Fox Business on Monday, pointed out Apple’s strong market presence, high margins, and cash flow, and predicted a major product launch in the spring, akin to the iPhone’s revolutionary form factor change. “It reminds me of the lead- ...

Core Viewpoint - The EU's Digital Markets Act mandates Apple to allow developers to inform customers about alternative offers outside its App Store, amidst concerns over the presence of "nudify" apps that exploit AI to create non-consensual sexualized images of individuals [1][4]. Group 1: App Store Findings - A review by Tech Transparency Project identified 55 nudify apps on Google Play and 47 on the Apple App Store [2]. - Apple removed 28 apps identified in the report after being contacted by TPP and CNBC, while also warning developers about potential removals for guideline violations [3]. - Google suspended several apps for violating its policies but did not disclose the exact number of removals due to an ongoing investigation [5]. Group 2: Safety and Security Concerns - Both Apple and Google claim to prioritize user safety, yet they host apps that can transform innocent photos into abusive images [4]. - TTP's director emphasized that the identified apps are designed for non-consensual sexualization, rather than merely changing outfits [8]. Group 3: Context and Background - The report follows backlash against Elon Musk's xAI for its Grok AI tool generating sexualized images, highlighting ongoing concerns about AI's role in creating harmful content [6]. - The watchdog organization utilized search terms like "nudify" and "undress" to locate these apps, testing their functionality with AI-generated images [7].

Core Insights - 2026 is expected to see continued significant spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure by major tech companies, following a substantial increase in 2025 [1][2] - The earnings season for major tech firms will provide insights into their spending plans and expected profitability from AI investments [2][3] Group 1: Capital Expenditures - The four hyperscalers—Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon—are projected to increase capital expenditures to over $470 billion in 2026, up from approximately $350 billion in 2025 [3] - Meta has raised its capital expenditure guidance for 2025 to between $70 billion and $72 billion, with analysts forecasting nearly 57% growth in 2026 to over $110 billion [18][19] - Amazon's capital expenditure forecast for 2026 has been increased to $125 billion, with analysts expecting it to grow to $146 billion [25][26] Group 2: Company-Specific Developments - Microsoft is under pressure to control costs while expanding its Azure cloud unit, with capital expenditures expected to rise to $98.8 billion this fiscal year [11][12] - Meta's AI investments have raised concerns among investors due to its reliance on digital advertising for revenue, especially after a failed product launch [16][17] - Apple is focusing on a partnership with Google for its Siri overhaul, while also monitoring its capital expenditure costs and potential iPhone sales growth [21][24] Group 3: Market Dynamics - OpenAI's commitments have reached $1.4 trillion, necessitating ongoing fundraising to support its plans, which are closely tied to the broader tech industry [6][7] - Alphabet has increased its capital expenditure forecast for 2025 to a range of $91 billion to $93 billion, with expectations of over $115 billion in 2026 [30] - Tesla's automotive deliveries fell by 8.6% in 2025, and investors are keen to see updates on its core automotive and energy sales, as well as future growth from new ventures [35][36]

Apple offers a relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward investment proposition.SoundHound AI (SOUN 4.74%) bills its technology as "the conversational AI that speaks for itself." The company's voice AI technology has spurred many others to talk about SoundHound, though. The fact that SoundHound's stock has been a seven-bagger over the last three years underscores the point.However, I think there's another company with voice AI technology that's a better long-term bet than SoundHound AI. It's a tech king ...

Core Insights - Apple has chosen to partner with Google for the next generation of its voice assistant, Siri, after evaluating options with Anthropic and OpenAI [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - Apple declined to partner with Anthropic due to their request for "several billion dollars annually over multiple years" [2] - OpenAI opted out of a deal with Apple as both companies are becoming competitors in the AI space [2] - The partnership with Google involves Apple paying "billions of dollars over the life of the deal" to utilize Google's Gemini and cloud technology for Siri [3][4] Group 2: Future Developments - Apple plans to enhance Siri's capabilities, transforming it into an AI chatbot later this year, with Google providing the custom AI model [4] - Apple will maintain its AI system, Apple Intelligence, on its devices while ensuring privacy standards are upheld [4] - Reports indicate that Apple had previously considered using AI models from Anthropic or OpenAI for Siri, but ultimately decided against it [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - There are indications that Apple and OpenAI are competing in various business areas, including AI search tools [6] - OpenAI is reportedly planning to collaborate with manufacturers that supply Apple for its own device production [6]

Both indexes hit their highest levels in more than a week and registered their longest string of advances since December. Gains in a handful of mega-cap names did most of the heavy lifting for the S&P 500, with Apple, Microsoft , Alphabet, Meta and Broadcom offering the ‌benchmark's top boosts. Apple, Meta, ‌Microsoft and Tesla are slated to report quarterly results later this week, setting up a key test for a rally powered by euphoria around AI. Investors will look for signs of measurable payoffs from Liv ...

In my last article on Goldman Sachs ( GS ), I analyzed the company’s third-quarter results and evaluated whether the company is benefiting from a favorable macro backdrop regarding both dealmaking and wealthAn independent investor in the Indian and US equity markets with a CFA Charter and a PhD in Finance from University of Durham, U.K. I hold an Honorary Associate Professor in Finance and Corporate Governance title at Brunel University London. I have a YouTube and a Podcast channel, titled The Stock Doctor ...

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan raised its price target on Apple to $315 from $305 while maintaining an Overweight rating, indicating an improving risk-reward profile ahead of upcoming earnings [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Context - Apple shares underperformed the S&P 500 over the prior two months, falling 13% compared to a 1% gain for the broader index, reflecting investor concerns about gross margin pressure and potential price elasticity risks for iPhone demand [2] - Despite the underperformance, positive indicators suggest strong demand for the iPhone 17 [2] Group 2: Earnings Expectations - JPMorgan anticipates a constructive setup heading into Apple's fiscal first-quarter 2026 results, with the stock trading at approximately 30 times next-twelve-month earnings, below historical peaks observed during major iPhone product cycles [3] - iPhone revenue is expected to exceed consensus forecasts, with projected 16% year-over-year growth, marking the strongest iPhone revenue expansion since September 2021 [4] Group 3: Services and Margin Outlook - For Services, JPMorgan projects App Store revenue growth of about 7% year-over-year in fiscal Q1, below Apple's overall Services growth guidance of roughly 14%, but notes that Apple has multiple non-App Store levers to support Services growth [4] - Limited margin pressure from higher memory costs is anticipated due to Apple's long-term supply contracts and scale advantages, which typically provide more favorable component pricing [5] Group 4: Revenue and Earnings Forecast - JPMorgan forecasts a modest revenue beat and a stronger earnings beat in fiscal Q1, with a fiscal Q2 outlook calling for 10%–12% revenue growth [6] - The higher price target reflects increased earnings power and a valuation multiple more consistent with historical peaks ahead of major product cycles later in the year [6]