Market Overview - Major markets have seen gains for five consecutive days, with the Russell 2000 also performing well, indicating a potential continuation of winning streaks for several months [2] - The Dow Jones and S&P 500 have shown positive monthly performance, while the Nasdaq composite is down 1.5% for the month [4][5] - A sector rotation has occurred, moving from technology to healthcare, with materials and consumer staples also outperforming [4][5] Technology Sector Performance - The technology sector has underperformed in November, with notable declines in stocks like Nvidia down 12% month-to-date, while Alphabet has surged 13% [5][8] - Concerns about high valuations in the tech sector persist, with the market at the upper end of its long-term trend channel [10][11] Commodities and Crypto - Gold prices have reached $4,250 per ounce, nearing an all-time high, with a nearly 60% increase year-to-date [7] - Bitcoin has seen a significant decline of 14% in November, currently trading just below $91,000 [6] Consumer Spending Trends - Toy spending is projected to increase by 7% this year, with a third of consumers planning to purchase toys despite inflation concerns [29][30] - Retailers like Walmart and Target are expected to perform well, with Walmart focusing on budget-friendly options and Target seeing a nearly 10% increase in toy sales [38][41] Small Business Insights - Small businesses are expected to thrive during Small Business Saturday, with 86% of consumers planning to shop small this holiday season [43][44] - The importance of local businesses is emphasized, as they are seen as trusted sources for holiday shopping [45] Earnings and Economic Indicators - Upcoming earnings reports include Salesforce, with expectations of solid growth and a revenue boost from its acquisition of Informatica [60] - The Fed's preferred inflation gauge, PCE, is anticipated to remain steady, indicating stable consumer prices [61][62]

Core Insights - Retirement savers are advised to build on successful strategies rather than starting anew each year, especially after a tumultuous 2025 marked by various economic challenges [1] Group 1: Effective Retirement Strategies - Automating Roth IRA conversions during market dips has proven beneficial, allowing for tax-free growth at lower valuations, which should continue into 2026 [3] - Individuals aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions of an additional $7,500 to retirement plans, providing immediate tax savings and long-term compounding benefits before potential rule changes in 2026 [4] - Delaying Social Security claims until age 70 can significantly enhance retirement income, but careful consideration of tax implications is necessary to avoid higher tax brackets [5][6] - Investors are encouraged to rebalance and reassess their portfolios to ensure diversification and alignment with market conditions as they enter 2026 [7]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is experiencing its fourth consecutive down day, with consumer discretionary and tech sectors leading the losses [1][3] - Since the beginning of 2023, the S&P 500 has increased by over 80%, but current volatility highlights the importance of locking in gains [4] Investment Strategy - It is advised to rebalance portfolios by trimming exposure to large-cap tech stocks to align with investment goals and risk tolerance [2][5] - The current market volatility presents opportunities for investors to secure liquidity for future investments [5][6] Small and Mid-Cap Stocks - Small and mid-cap stocks are viewed positively, especially as the small-cap index recently reached an all-time high [7] - Caution is advised as the small-cap space includes both earners and non-earners, with non-earners benefiting from AI trends [8][9] Global Market Insights - Global equities have outperformed, with 50% of S&P revenues coming from international markets, indicating potential opportunities in overlooked international stocks [10][11] - The AI revolution is expected to have global implications, and identifying beneficiaries of this trend is crucial for investment success [12] Investor Sentiment - Investor sentiment is shifting, with clients more receptive to trimming positions during market downturns as they see paper gains diminish [13]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is rebalancing its portfolio by purchasing shares in Alphabet and reducing its stake in Apple, indicating a strategic shift in investment focus [1][8] - The company has sold its stake in Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD and has been increasing investments in Japanese firms since July 2019, aiming for income generation and geographical diversification [3][4] Investment Moves - Berkshire purchased approximately 17.85 million shares of Alphabet for about $4.34 billion, while trimming its Apple holdings by 41-42 million shares, leaving it with 238.2 million shares [1][8] - The reduction in Apple and Bank of America stakes suggests a deliberate effort to lower concentration risk in its investment portfolio [4] Market Position and Competitors - Alphabet holds a dominant position in the online search market with around 90% market share and is expanding in cloud computing and autonomous vehicles, making it an attractive investment for Berkshire [2] - Competitors like Progressive Corporation and Travelers Companies are focusing on inorganic growth strategies to enhance their insurance portfolios and maintain competitiveness in the market [5][6] Financial Performance - Shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) have increased by 11.1% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average [7] - Despite revenue growth expectations for 2025 and 2026, EPS estimates for BRK.B have declined, with a 15.8% decrease for Q4 2025 over the past week [10][11] Valuation Metrics - BRK.B is currently trading at a price-to-book value ratio of 1.55, which is above the industry average of 1.48, indicating a relatively expensive valuation [9] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), reflecting a neutral outlook in the current market environment [12]

Economic Outlook - Investment professionals are optimistic about the economy, with the majority expecting inflation to remain under 3% and 84% of registered investment advisors anticipating another Federal Reserve rate cut this year [1] Portfolio Adjustments - One-third (31%) of registered investment advisors are increasing client exposure to equities in anticipation of Federal Reserve rate cuts, as lower interest rates reduce borrowing costs for companies, making stocks more attractive compared to bonds [3] - Advisors are reallocating portfolios to balance risk tolerance rather than solely focusing on inflation, emphasizing the importance of diversification [4][6] Market Sentiment - There is a concern that if the Federal Reserve cuts rates due to an economic slowdown or potential recession, market sentiment and stock prices may decline, leading investors to potentially take profits towards the end of the year [4]

Group 1 - Investors should be cautious of complacency as they age, particularly around age 50, as their capacity to absorb risk diminishes despite feeling more risk-tolerant [1] - The last significant economic downturn occurred 17 years ago, suggesting the need for investors to mentally prepare and reposition their portfolios towards safer assets [2] - Recency bias can lead investors to mistakenly believe that current market trends will continue, which can result in crowding into hot sectors like AI and Big Tech without considering potential downturns [3] Group 2 - Investors are advised to adopt a "set-it-and-forget-it" mentality, as frequent portfolio adjustments can lead to diminished returns, likened to a bar of soap that gets smaller the more it is handled [4] - A once-annual review of the portfolio is recommended, focusing on performance, rebalancing, and tax-planning strategies, to avoid excessive tinkering that could harm long-term investment outcomes [5]

Product Features - Introduces the USDC Spot Rebalancing Bot for effortless portfolio management [1] - Enables users to customize their rebalancing schedule and asset ratios [1] - Offers 24/7 automated portfolio optimization [1]

Pekic | E+ | Getty Images[CK bullet with numbers.]The stock market's impressive run in recent years may be fattening your portfolio, but it also might have thrown your intended investment mix off balance.While artificial intelligence stock valuations spurred a market decline on Tuesday, the major indexes are still well up this year, propelled both by AI-related and big technology stocks. Through Tuesday's close, the S&P index is up about 15.1%. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq have also posted double-digit gains ...

Core Insights - Amplius Wealth Advisors sold 27,345 shares of Invesco QQQ Trust, valued at approximately $15.7 million, during the third quarter, reducing its stake in the ETF [1][2][7] - The remaining shares held by Amplius at the end of the third quarter totaled 44,215, representing 2.3% of the firm's 13F assets under management (AUM) [2][3] Financial Metrics - As of the latest market close, Invesco QQQ Trust's price was $617.10, reflecting a 25% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500's nearly 17% gain [3][4] - The total AUM for Invesco QQQ Trust is reported at $402.1 billion, with a one-year total return of 24% [4] Investment Strategy - The sale of QQQ shares is part of a tactical rebalancing strategy by Amplius, rather than a complete shift away from growth investments [7][10] - Despite the reduction in QQQ holdings, Amplius maintains significant exposure through its Amplius Aggressive Asset Allocation ETF (AAAA), which allocates 12.7% of its assets to QQQ [7][10] Market Position - Invesco QQQ Trust is recognized as a leading ETF that provides targeted access to the NASDAQ-100 Index, focusing on large-cap growth stocks, particularly in the technology sector [6][9] - The ETF's structure allows for liquid access to growth-oriented equities, making it a barometer for market leadership in innovation-driven sectors such as cloud computing, AI, and semiconductors [9][11]

Core Insights - David Tepper's Appaloosa LP has significantly reduced its equity portfolio, indicating a cautious stance towards high-growth and technology-linked stocks while consolidating capital into core holdings with better risk-reward profiles [1][7] Reductions in Holdings - **iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI)**: Reduced by 82.14%, selling 4.6 million shares and retaining 1 million, reflecting caution towards Chinese equities due to sluggish growth and regulatory uncertainty [2] - **Oracle Corp (ORCL)**: Decreased by 78.57%, trimming 550,000 shares to hold 150,000, likely due to profit-taking after a strong rally and rising competition concerns [3] - **PDD Holdings Inc (PDD)**: Cut by 54.23%, selling 2.37 million shares and retaining 2 million, indicating a tactical pullback from Chinese e-commerce amid geopolitical tensions [4] - **Meta Platforms Inc (META)**: Reduced by 27.27%, cutting 150,000 shares to hold 400,000, signaling valuation discipline after a surge [5] - **Alphabet Inc (GOOG)**: Decreased by 25.37%, selling 510,000 shares and retaining 1.5 million, reflecting portfolio rebalancing within large-cap tech [6] Full Exits - Appaloosa executed several full exits, including the liquidation of the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves ETF (SPYX), a $2.5 billion PUT position that constituted about 30% of the portfolio, and exited Apple (AAPL) with a $278 million PUT stake [8][9] - Other full exits included Wynn Resorts (WYNN), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), and Broadcom (AVGO), indicating profit-taking in leisure and semiconductor sectors after strong performance [9][10] Overall Strategy - Tepper's recent activity highlights a disciplined risk-management approach, focusing on high-liquidity, large-cap names while maintaining flexibility to redeploy capital towards higher-upside opportunities [7][10]