In previous years, investors have been focused on growth stocks and high-powered tech companies. But in 2026, there appears to have been a clear change in strategy for investors. Rather than continuing to chase high-valued stocks, investors have been focusing more on dividend stocks. Since the start of the year, the S&P 500 has risen by less than 2%, and the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, which includes the top tech stocks in the "Magnificent Seven," is down more than 3%. What's surprising is that it's be ...

Shares of VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH) gained 12% in January, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. This is a fantastic monthly gain, particularly given that the S&P 500 index was up about 1.5%. The ETF slipped very slightly in the first week of February, as its year-to-date 2026 gain through Feb. 6 is 11.5%. That still compares very favorably to the broader market's 1.4% increase. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best ...

In a move that caught Wall Street off guard, semiconductor giant Texas Instruments (TI) revealed that it is acquiringSilicon Labs. The news comes a week after TI announced its fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 27, and coincides with Silicon Labs’ Q4 report, released Feb. 4. Post-acquisition, TI stock declined by around 2% intraday, while SLAB skyrocketed 49% to a new 52-week high of $207.50 and closed at $203.41. The move signals a major shift for TI, known for industry-leading analog and embedded process ...

Group 1 - Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating potential violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duties related to the sale of Silicon Laboratories Inc. to Texas Instruments for $231.00 per share in cash [1] - Webster Financial Corporation is being investigated for its sale to Banco Santander, S.A. for $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 Santander American Depository Shares for each Webster common share [2] - The firm may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures, and other relief on behalf of shareholders, operating on a contingent fee basis [3] Group 2 - Shareholders are encouraged to contact Halper Sadeh LLC free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options [4] - The firm represents investors globally who have experienced securities fraud and corporate misconduct, recovering millions on behalf of defrauded investors [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the dividend prospects of three popular stocks for income investors: Coca-Cola, Domino's Pizza, and Texas Instruments, highlighting their dividend growth potential and current yields. Group 1: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola is a dividend king, having raised its per share dividend for 63 consecutive years [1] - The stock currently yields 2.8%, down from 3.1% a year ago, with a 3.9% annualized dividend growth over the past 5 years [2] - The company's payout ratio has decreased from above 80% in 2020 to below 70% currently, with forecasts suggesting an increase in the annual dividend from $24 to $26.5 by 2029 [2][3] Group 2: Domino's Pizza - Domino's Pizza has a current yield of 1.7%, with an impressive 18.4% annualized dividend growth over the past 5 years [4] - Analysts forecast the annual dividend will rise from $6.96 to $11.64 by 2029, indicating a capacity to raise the dividend by 14.5% per year [4] - The stock is currently trading at a 5% discount to its fair value estimate of $436 [5] Group 3: Texas Instruments - Texas Instruments is nearing dividend aristocrat status, having increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years [5] - The stock currently yields 2.7%, consistent with its 5-year average, and has shown 10.4% annualized dividend growth over the past 5 years [6] - Analysts project the annual dividend will increase from $5.68 to $6.46 by 2029, with management focusing on redistributing excess cash to shareholders [6][7]

In this piece, we discuss the 10 Best AI Data Center Stocks to Buy Now.The surge in AI data center buildout continued in late January, with demand signals extending beyond Nvidia’s flagship processors. On January 28, 2026, Reuters reported that chipmakers’ shares rose amid renewed demand for AI data center hardware, with Texas Instruments citing strength in power management and signal conversion chips, both of which are essential in data centers.Meanwhile, new capital spending tied to the physical expansion ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 closed at a record high, up about 28 points or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq increased by approximately 0.9%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a decline of about 0.8% [7] - Nine sectors in the S&P 500 were in the green, with big tech stocks performing well, up by about 1.4%. The healthcare sector, however, faced a decline of about 1.7% [8] Texas Instruments Earnings - Texas Instruments reported a fourth-quarter EPS of $1.27, missing the Street's estimate of $1.30, and showing a year-over-year decline [10] - Revenue grew by about 10% to $4.42 billion, in line with estimates, with 14% growth in the analog business and 8% growth in embedded processing [11] - The company invested $3.9 billion in R&D and $4.6 billion in CapEx over the past 12 months, returning $6.5 billion to owners [13] Seagate Earnings - Seagate's second-quarter revenue was reported at $3 billion, slightly above estimates of $2.75 billion, with adjusted EPS of $3.11, beating the estimate of $2.83 [20] - Despite positive revenue and EPS results, the stock declined by 3.2% in after-hours trading, likely due to forecast concerns [21] Healthcare Sector Impact - Medicare Advantage payment rates are set to rise by only 0.09% next year, surprising the market and negatively impacting healthcare stocks [9] - UnitedHealthcare, CVS, and Humana saw significant declines, with UnitedHealth down 19.6%, CVS down 14%, and Humana down over 21% [22] Other Notable Stocks - Corning's stock rose by about 16% after announcing a multiyear agreement worth up to $6 billion with Meta for optical fiber and connectivity solutions [17] - HCA Healthcare shares increased by about 7% after better-than-expected guidance eased investor concerns regarding expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies [19] - JetBlue reported a wider loss than expected, leading to a 6.9% decline in its shares [23] - Pinterest announced layoffs of less than 15% of its workforce, resulting in a 9.6% drop in its stock [24]

Core Insights - The fourth quarter earnings season is highlighted by major tech companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, and Apple [1] - A consensus indicates an optimistic outlook, with analysts estimating an 8.2% increase in earnings per share for the S&P 500 in Q4, marking the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth if this rate is maintained [2] - Analysts had initially expected an 8.3% increase in earnings per share, a decrease from the previous quarter's 13.6% growth rate, but have recently raised expectations, particularly for tech companies [3] Company Updates - In addition to the major tech earnings, updates will be provided from a diverse range of companies including UnitedHealth, Boeing, General Motors, IBM, Starbucks, Levi Strauss, Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Caterpillar, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, AT&T, and Verizon [4]

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor equipment sector is experiencing significant growth, with stocks in the S&P 500 Semiconductor Equipment & Materials index rising sharply due to increased capital expenditures from chipmakers [2][9]. Group 1: Semiconductor Equipment Performance - The S&P 500 Semiconductor Equipment & Materials index has seen every stock rise by double digits, with four out of five stocks increasing more than 25% since January 1, 2026 [2]. - Key companies in this index include Applied Materials (up 26.6%), Lam Research (up 33.4%), KLA (up 25.1%), Teradyne (up 19.8%), and Qnity Electronics (up 25.8%) [2][3]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - Unlike chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD, these equipment manufacturers do not produce AI chips but provide the systems necessary for chip production, positioning them as essential players in the AI supply chain [3]. - Major semiconductor manufacturers such as Nvidia, Intel, and Samsung are customers of Applied Materials, indicating a strong demand for their products [4]. Group 3: Industry Growth Projections - The semiconductor industry is projected to grow from a valuation of $630 billion to $680 billion in 2024, potentially reaching $1.1 trillion by 2030, primarily driven by AI and data center expansion [5]. - A report by McKinsey suggests that the industry's value could be underestimated, predicting a range of $1.5 trillion to $1.8 trillion by 2030 [6]. Group 4: Capital Expenditure Trends - Chipmakers are significantly increasing their capital expenditures, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) planning to spend between $52 billion and $56 billion on equipment in 2026, up from $41 billion in 2025 [7]. - TSMC's announcement has positively impacted the stock prices of major semiconductor equipment companies, with Applied Materials rising 8%, Lam Research 7%, KLA 6%, and Teradyne 3% following the news [9]. - Nvidia's capital expenditures are also expected to rise from $3.2 billion last year to approximately $6.2 billion this year and $7.6 billion in 2027, indicating a broader trend of increased investment in semiconductor manufacturing [9].

Group 1 - High-growth tech stocks are increasingly paying dividends, contrary to traditional beliefs, driven by the AI spending boom [1] - Companies like Vertiv and Micron Technology have raised dividends significantly but face low yields due to stock price appreciation from AI [2] - There are still AI growth companies that offer decent dividend yields alongside potential share price gains [3] Group 2 - Broadcom has a current dividend yield of 0.7% and has seen its stock price increase over 680% in the last five years, impacting its dividend yield [5][6] - Microsoft has a dividend yield of 0.71% and has consistently increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years since 2006 [8]