Core Viewpoint - Kirr Marbach has established a new position in the Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF, acquiring 466,959 shares valued at approximately $7.80 million, indicating a strategic investment in defined-maturity corporate bonds [1][2]. Fund Overview - The Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF has an AUM of $1.52 billion and a current price of $16.64, reflecting a 3% increase over the past year [4][3]. - The ETF offers a dividend yield of 4.7% and a 1-year total return of 8.76%, appealing to investors seeking income and growth [4]. Investment Strategy - The ETF targets U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade corporate bonds maturing in 2031, aiming to match the performance of a defined-maturity index [8]. - The portfolio includes bonds maturing from 2026 to 2031, providing a staggered maturity structure that enhances cash flow management and reduces duration risk [7][10]. Portfolio Composition - The fund primarily holds investment grade corporate bonds, with significant exposure to large, well-known corporate issuers, ensuring a balanced risk profile [10][11]. - Despite the bond focus, the largest positions in the portfolio are in industrials and mega-cap equities, indicating a balanced approach rather than a defensive strategy [11].

Core Viewpoint - Kirr Marbach has established a new position in the Invesco BulletShares 2030 Corporate Bond ETF, acquiring 653,537 shares valued at approximately $11.06 million, indicating a strategic move towards fixed income investments [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Details - The acquisition represents 2.11% of Kirr Marbach's reported 13F assets under management (AUM) as of December 31 [3]. - The ETF's shares were priced at $16.87 as of January 23, reflecting a 3% increase over the past year [3][4]. Group 2: ETF Overview - The Invesco BulletShares 2030 Corporate Bond ETF targets investment-grade corporate bonds maturing in 2030, providing a structured approach for fixed income portfolio construction [6][9]. - The ETF offers a yield of 4.6% and a one-year total return of 8.2%, appealing to both institutional and individual investors seeking predictable cash flows [4][6]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The ETF employs a sampling methodology to replicate an index of U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade corporate bonds, focusing on bonds maturing in 2030 [9]. - The fund's effective duration is just under four years, with a yield to maturity around 4.4%, which is significant in a market where cash yields may decline faster than longer-dated credit [11]. Group 4: Portfolio Implications - The addition of the 2030 corporate bond sleeve is seen as a deliberate strategy to extend duration and lock in yield, rather than a defensive measure [10]. - This move complements existing exposures to other maturities, suggesting a strategy aimed at building a staggered income profile rather than focusing on a single fund [11].

Core Viewpoint - Kirr Marbach has increased its stake in the Invesco BulletShares 2029 Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:BSCT) by purchasing 226,705 shares, valued at approximately $4.27 million, indicating confidence in the fund's strategy and performance [1][2]. Fund Overview - The Invesco BulletShares 2029 Corporate Bond ETF targets investment-grade corporate bonds maturing in 2029, providing a structured approach to fixed income investments with defined maturity dates [6][9]. - As of January 23, the ETF's price was $18.80, reflecting a 2.5% increase over the previous year, with a total return of 7.7% over the past year [3][4]. Financial Metrics - The ETF has an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $2.59 billion and offers a yield of 4.5% [4]. - Following the recent purchase, BSCT now constitutes 2.3% of Kirr Marbach's 13F reportable assets, which total $523.16 million [3]. Investment Strategy - BSCT's investment strategy focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade corporate bonds, with at least 80% of its assets allocated to securities in its underlying index [9]. - The fund is designed to liquidate around December 2029, mimicking a bond ladder approach, which provides a cleaner risk profile compared to longer-duration bond funds [11]. Portfolio Context - The position in BSCT is part of a broader portfolio that includes large industrial and mega-cap equity holdings, suggesting it serves as a ballast rather than a defensive retreat [12]. - The defined-maturity bonds in the portfolio act as a counterweight to volatility and provide predictable cash flow amidst a landscape of cyclical stocks and growth exposure [12].

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Records Industry or Company Involved - **Unity Technologies (U)** [2][3] - **Marvell Technology (MRVL)** [4][5] - **ASML** [7][8][10] - **Amazon (AMZN)** [12] - **Palantir Technologies (PLTR)** [13][14] - **Roblox (RBLX)** [15][16] - **Alphabet (GOOGL)** [17][18][19] - **Twilio (TWLO)** [21][22] - **Nvidia (NVDA)** [24][25] - **Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)** [26] - **Meta Platforms (META)** [27][28][29] - **Uber (UBER)** [30][31] - **Booking Holdings (BKNG) and Expedia (EXPE)** [32] - **IBM** [32] Core Points and Arguments Unity Technologies - Jefferies raised Unity's price target to $35 due to positive feedback on its Vector ad product, with ROAS gains now in the 10-20% range, up from 5-7% last quarter [2][3] - Unity's 2025 ad share intent increased by 119 basis points year-over-year [2] Marvell Technology - Fubon Jefferies stated that Alchip is extending its lead over Marvell, with expectations for Alchip to ramp production to 2 million units compared to Marvell's 300,000 [4][5] ASML - ASML's Q2 revenue was €7.69 billion, up 23% year-over-year, with a gross margin of 53.7% [8] - The company provided a Q3 revenue guidance of €7.4-7.9 billion, which was below market expectations [8][10] - Management expressed uncertainty about 2026 growth due to macroeconomic factors [9] Amazon - Bank of America removed Amazon from its US 1 list, citing weaker-than-expected performance during Prime Day [12] Palantir Technologies - Mizuho upgraded Palantir to Neutral, raising the price target to $135, citing strong momentum in AI-driven segments [13][14] Roblox - JPMorgan raised Roblox's price target to $125, highlighting record engagement and bookings growth [15][16] Alphabet - Needham raised Alphabet's price target to $210, citing strength in digital ads and YouTube [17][18] - Cantor Fitzgerald also raised its price target to $196, anticipating strong Q2 results driven by Search and YouTube [19] Twilio - Mizuho noted Twilio's upcoming price hikes in voice and email services, which could add 1-2 percentage points to growth in 2025/2026 [21][22] Nvidia - Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating on Nvidia, projecting potential EPS upside from the resumption of H20 GPU shipments to China [24][25] Advanced Micro Devices - Wells Fargo raised AMD's price target to $185, citing strong data center performance and inventory signals [26] Meta Platforms - Canaccord raised Meta's price target to $850, highlighting strong performance across ad products and AI tools [27][28] - Cantor Fitzgerald also raised its price target to $828 based on solid Q2 ad trends [29] Uber - TD Cowen expects Uber to report Q2 gross bookings of $46 billion, driven by strong performance in Mobility and Delivery [30][31] Booking Holdings and Expedia - Barclays warned of soft U.S. travel trends, expressing caution about rebound expectations for travel stocks [32] IBM - Stifel raised IBM's price target to $310, citing a strong setup for Q2 and a stable defensive profile [32] Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content - The overall sentiment in the tech sector appears mixed, with some companies experiencing strong growth while others face challenges due to macroeconomic uncertainties [9][12][32] - The focus on AI and digital transformation continues to drive investment and growth expectations across multiple sectors, particularly for companies like Palantir and Nvidia [13][24] - The competitive landscape in the semiconductor industry is intensifying, with companies like Alchip gaining significant advantages over established players like Marvell [4][5]

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Industry Overview - **US GDP Growth Forecast**: The 2025 US GDP growth forecast has been downgraded from 2.4% to 1.7% on a Q4/Q4 basis, marking the first below-consensus forecast in 2.5 years. This downgrade is attributed to more adverse trade policy assumptions rather than recent economic data, which remains relatively strong [1][1][1]. Company-Specific Insights MediaTek - **Automotive Sector Growth**: MediaTek's earnings estimates have been raised due to expected growth in the automotive Total Addressable Market (TAM). By 2026E/2027E, the automotive business is projected to contribute 3.6%/6.8% to total revenue, up from 1.8% in 2025E. This growth is driven by market share gains in automotive cockpit SoC solutions and upgrades to mid to high-end segments with higher Average Selling Prices (ASPs) [2][4][4]. BEKE (KE Holdings) - **Southbound Connect Inclusion**: KE Holdings' H-shares have been included in the Southbound Connect, which is expected to support share price growth. Southbound turnover share in the Hong Kong exchange has increased to over 20% year-to-date, with southbound holdings averaging 8% of total share count. The company is also seeing strong secondary home transaction momentum post-Chinese New Year [4][4][4]. Coupang - **Earnings Growth and Operating Leverage**: Coupang is expected to achieve over 20% top-line growth in 2025E, driven by Product Commerce and Developing Offerings. The company anticipates significant operating leverage from 2027, with a potential to reach over 10% adjusted EBITDA margin by that year [4][4][4]. GDS - **P-REIT Issuance**: GDS announced its first monetization of data center assets in China through a sale to a private REIT, receiving Rmb1.2 billion in net cash proceeds. This transaction is seen as a step towards recycling capital for further investments in AI infrastructure [5][5][5]. China Spirits - **Sales Management Measures**: Leading spirits companies, including Wuliangye, are implementing sales management measures that are expected to lead to positive sales growth in 2025. Channel inventory has decreased significantly, and wholesale prices have increased during the Lunar New Year [8][8][8]. Macro Insights - **High-tech Manufacturing in China**: High-tech manufacturing has been a significant growth driver in China, contributing an average of 1.1 percentage points to annual real GDP growth over the last decade. The sector is expected to continue outperforming the broader manufacturing sector, contributing an average of 1.0 percentage point to GDP growth from 2025 to 2029 [9][9][9]. Additional Notes - **US Internet Sector**: The Q4'24 earnings review highlights key themes such as investment in AI and consumer health, with several large-cap stocks rated as Buys [10][10][10]. - **Germany's Fiscal Shift**: Political changes in Germany are expected to unlock significant public spending, potentially benefiting various sectors beyond defense [12][12][12]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, focusing on industry trends, company-specific developments, and macroeconomic factors that could influence investment decisions.

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]