Market Overview - The year 2025 began with optimism but faced challenges from low-cost AI initiatives from China, adverse impacts on U.S. Big Tech, Trump tariffs, sticky inflation, and high interest rates, leading to market stabilization in May after a turbulent April [1] - Market euphoria solidified midyear due to easing trade tensions, but momentum faded with the longest U.S. government shutdown halting fourth-quarter economic progress and raising overvaluation concerns in the AI sector [2] - By mid-December, the AI market exhibited a mix of optimism and caution, with Oracle's $10 billion data center project facing funding issues while Micron's strong earnings and AI demand forecast boosted its shares by 17.5% [3] ETF Performance - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) increased by 17.1% year-to-date as of December 22, 2025, while the Nasdaq-100-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) surged 21.4%, and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) advanced 14.1% [4] Semiconductor Sector - The First Trust NASDAQ Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) rose 48.6% YTD, Strive U.S. Semiconductor ETF (SHOC) increased 48.4% YTD, and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) gained 47.1% YTD, driven by sustained demand for AI, cloud computing, and advanced data centers [5] - Chipmakers outperformed due to strong end-market demand and an AI-led investment cycle, supported by heavy spending from hyper-scalers and enterprises [5][7] Japanese Market - The iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF (EWJV) increased 33.2% YTD, WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF (DXJ) rose 32.4% YTD, and WisdomTree Japan SmallCap Dividend ETF (DFJ) gained 30.4% YTD, benefiting from low interest rates and optimism around government spending [6] - Japanese stocks reached record highs following the election of expansionist leader Sanae Takaichi, with a flat yen enhancing profitability for major export-oriented companies [6] Financial Sector - The Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB) rose 32.4% YTD, and iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchange (IAI) increased 26.2% YTD, as the U.S. banking sector reported its highest Q3 profitability in over a decade due to solid margins and healthy credit quality [8] - The Federal Reserve's three rate cuts this year boosted risk-on trade sentiments, favoring financial ETFs as banks benefit from a steepening yield curve [9] Pharmaceutical Sector - The iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE) increased 31.6% YTD, as safe sectors like healthcare gained precedence amid AI bubble fears and a sluggish economy [10] - The pharmaceutical industry is entering an investment "super-cycle," with major drugmakers committing approximately $370 billion to U.S. projects over the next five years [10]

Article contentWe are not calling for the demise of Nvidia Corp., the current AI star. However Alphabet Inc. has exposure to AI, but also to many other high-growth areas such as cloud computing, quantum computing, YouTube, Waymo, SpaceX and so on. Nvidia, despite its attractions, is still essentially tied completely to AI. Alphabet shares rose about 60 per cent so far this year and Nvidia is up about 25-30 per cent. Nvidia’s market cap is about US$4.3 trillion, and Alphabet is at about US$3.7 trillion. Alph ...

Industry Overview - The global drone industry is transitioning from niche applications to mainstream adoption, impacting border defense, surveillance, logistics, and infrastructure monitoring [1] - Increased geopolitical tensions and defense upgrades are driving global drone adoption, with governments allocating more budget to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) [2] - Drones are becoming essential in various sectors, including mining, infrastructure monitoring, real estate, oil and gas exploration, logistics, and filmmaking [3] Technological Advancements - The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and edge processing is enhancing drone capabilities, making them faster and more versatile [4] - AI is enabling autonomous navigation, allowing drones to plan flight paths based on real-time environmental data [4] - The incorporation of 5G and advanced Wi-Fi technology is improving real-time data transmission, broadening commercial applications [4] Market Growth - The global drone tech market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.3% from 2025 to 2030, indicating significant growth potential [5] - Companies with strong R&D pipelines, diversified market exposure, and strategic collaborations are well-positioned for success in the evolving drone landscape [5] Company Highlights AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) - AVAV is a key beneficiary of rising global demand for UAS, developing uncrewed aircraft and related technologies for defense and allied governments [7] - In Q2 fiscal 2026, AVAV's contract awards reached $3.5 billion, with bookings at $1.4 billion, driven by R&D and manufacturing investments [8] - The company expects revenues between $1.95 billion and $2 billion for fiscal 2026 [11] Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS) - KTOS is positioned to benefit from increased defense budgets, with NATO and Pacific allies expected to spend 5% of GDP on defense [13] - The company reported Q3 revenues of $347.6 million, a 26% year-over-year increase, and projects Q4 revenues of $320-$330 million [15] - KTOS is expanding its capabilities through acquisitions and collaborations, including the acquisition of Orbit Technologies [14] Draganfly Inc. (DPRO) - DPRO develops various drone systems, including the Commander 3XL and medical response drones, with a focus on military and public safety applications [16] - The company secured a significant U.S. Army FPV drone order, which includes supply chain support and training [17] - DPRO achieved 14.4% year-over-year revenue growth, supported by rising product sales [18]

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the AI Stocks Making Waves on Wall Street. On December 22, Wedbush reiterated the stock as “Outperform,” with a $625 price target. The firm believes that the stock is a "core winner,” likely to surprise Wall Street with the strength of its AI-driven growth. “Microsoft remains a core winner in the IVES AI 30 list." Analyst Dan Ives said that investors have been underestimating the Azure growth story, remaining skeptical of Microsoft’s AI-led expansion as it h ...

The global data center market is experiencing rapid growth as demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing increases. Industry experts project it will reach over $622 billion by 2030, growing at nearly 11% annually. Equinix (NASDAQ:EQIX) , the world’s largest digital infrastructure company, is at the centre  making big moves. In November 2025, it announced a $22 million data center in Lagos, Nigeria, due to open in early 2026 as part of a wider $100 million push to boost Africa's digital space. Ju ...

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) has been a headline stock in 2025, trading in a wide range as investors grapple with its ambitious pivot to cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. In spite of significant volatility and mixed earnings results, the tech giant’s shares have rallied on optimism surrounding its AI-driven growth prospects and major data center investments. Now, one of Wall Street’s most vocal tech bulls, Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, is making a bold call: Oracle could reach $250 pe ...

Khaveen Investments is a global Investment Advisory Firm dedicated to serving the investment needs of clients worldwide including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, associations, and institutions. We are a registered investment adviser with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). We provide comprehensive services ranging from market and security research to business valuation and wealth management. Our flagship Macroquantamental Hedge Fund maintains a diversified portfolio with exposure to hundreds ...

Khaveen Investments is a global Investment Advisory Firm dedicated to serving the investment needs of clients worldwide including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, associations, and institutions. We are a registered investment adviser with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). We provide comprehensive services ranging from market and security research to business valuation and wealth management. Our flagship Macroquantamental Hedge Fund maintains a diversified portfolio with exposure to hundreds ...

Key Takeaways VZ introduced 5G Network Slice Enhanced Internet with 200 Mbps downlink and 45 Mbps uplink, without data caps.VZ says the solution ensures reliable connectivity for AI inference, computer vision, ML, and cloud apps.Verizon targets media, logistics, construction and public safety as enterprises push AI and cloud workloads.Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ) recently launched 5G Network Slice - Enhanced Internet. A leading-edge fixed wireless internet solution that gives customers supercharged upl ...

Key Points The Invesco QQQ Trust provides much more concentration than an S&P 500 ETF. In the last decade, this ETF has produced a phenomenal 19% annualized gain. Investors have some levers they can pull to boost their potential returns. 10 stocks we like better than Invesco QQQ Trust › Investors don't always need to select individual stocks in order to take advantage of the market's compounding magic. This is where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come into the picture. There are thousands of these i ...