Few stocks ever land in the "buy now and hold forever" category for me. I can come up with a bear case for nearly every investment I have. However, there are a few companies that have such a rock-solid investment thesis that I doubt the worst-case scenario would ever materialize. These stocks end up in my "buy now and hold forever" pile, and I've got two that I think fit in this category.Amazon (AMZN -1.93%) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM -0.54%) are two companies in this rarified section of my ...

Nvidia (NVDA 1.10%) has been one of the best investments to own over the past few years. However, if you examine how the stock has performed in 2023 and 2024, it's clear that the second half of the year hasn't been as strong as the first half, though it's still been positive.YearPerformance (January-June)Performance (July-December)2023190%17%2024151%8%202514%?In 2025, Nvidia's first half wasn't great, but does that mean it can flip the script and deliver a monstrous second half? Let's find out. Several acti ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple and Amazon, both part of the "Magnificent Seven," have shown strong long-term returns, but current growth rates raise questions about their investment appeal [1] Group 1: Revenue Growth - Both Apple and Amazon have experienced relatively slow revenue growth, with each company growing less than 10% in their most recent quarter [3][5] - Apple's growth issues stem from a lack of innovative products and a lengthening smartphone turnover cycle, leading to less frequent consumer upgrades [6][7] - Amazon's e-commerce segments, while significant, are the slowest-growing parts of its business, impacting overall growth rates [8] Group 2: Profitability - Amazon's high-margin segments, such as AWS and advertising, are growing rapidly, with AWS generating 63% of operating profits despite only accounting for 19% of total sales [10] - In Q1, Amazon's operating profits increased by 20% year over year, significantly outperforming Apple's 6% growth in operating profits [11] - Amazon's profit growth is driven by its strong-performing segments, providing a catalyst for earnings growth that Apple currently lacks [12]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks can be risky, but established companies like Amazon and Microsoft offer safer alternatives for risk-averse investors [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Amazon and Microsoft are leading companies in the AI sector, with Amazon being the fourth-largest publicly traded company and Microsoft the second-largest based on market capitalization [3] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 29% market share in cloud services, while Microsoft Azure has a 22% market share, both benefiting from the growing demand for AI models in the cloud [4] Group 2: Partnerships and Investments - Both Amazon and Microsoft have formed partnerships with top AI companies, including significant investments in Nvidia and OpenAI, with Amazon investing $8 billion in Anthropic [5] Group 3: Internal AI Utilization - Amazon utilizes AI for product recommendations on its e-commerce platform, while Microsoft has integrated OpenAI's GPT-4 across its product offerings [6] Group 4: Financial Stability - Amazon reported nearly $638 billion in revenue and over $59 billion in profits last year, while Microsoft generated over $245 billion in revenue and more than $88 billion in earnings [7] - Both companies have substantial cash reserves, with Amazon holding $94.6 billion and Microsoft $79.6 billion [8] Group 5: Market Leadership - Amazon dominates the e-commerce market with a 37.6% share, and Microsoft leads the desktop operating system market with a 70% share [9] Group 6: Growth Prospects - Amazon's revenue grew by 9% year over year, with earnings increasing by 64%, while Microsoft's revenue rose by 13% and profits by 18% [10] - Both companies are well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing AI trend and the transition to cloud computing [10]

Meeting adjourned to Monday, July 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclarion, Inc. (“Aclarion” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ACON, ACONW), a healthcare technology company that leverages Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ("MRS"), artificial intelligence and a proprietary biomarker to optimize clinical treatments for low back and neck pain, today announced that its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) scheduled for July 7, 2025 has been adjour ...

Core Insights - Apple reached a market capitalization of $3.9 trillion but did not become the first $4 trillion company, while Nvidia and Microsoft are positioned to potentially reach that milestone [1][2] Nvidia's Position - Nvidia is currently the closest company to $4 trillion, being just over 3% away as of July 3 [4] - Nvidia's stock is more volatile and has shown significant recovery, being up over 18% year to date after a decline of around 30% earlier in the year [6] - The company's earnings have surged from under $10 billion to $76.8 billion in a few years, indicating strong growth [9] Earnings Growth and Valuation - Earnings growth and investor sentiment are the primary drivers of stock price appreciation, with Nvidia and Microsoft benefiting from increasing earnings and premium valuations [8] - Nvidia's valuation remains reasonable due to its dominant market share in AI-related products, allowing it to convert over half of its sales into profit [12][13] - Even with a projected earnings growth of 25% per year, Nvidia's P/E ratio could decrease significantly over five years, indicating potential for continued investment appeal [15][18] Microsoft’s Stability - Microsoft offers a more balanced investment option with a lower P/E ratio and diverse earnings sources, including cloud computing and software [20][21] - The company has a consistent capital-return program, including stock buybacks and dividend increases, which may appeal to long-term investors [22] Investment Considerations - Both Nvidia and Microsoft are seen as strong companies that could surpass $4 trillion in market cap, but their stock prices are rising faster than earnings growth, creating pressure to meet investor expectations [23]

Core Viewpoint - The stock of Nano Nuclear Energy experienced a significant rise of 14.5% in June, following a strong performance in May, driven by political support and favorable legislation for the nuclear energy sector [1][2][5]. Group 1: Political Support and Legislation - President Trump's support for the nuclear energy industry has positively influenced investor sentiment, particularly with the development of micro-small modular reactors (SMRs) [2][4]. - An executive order signed by Trump in late May aims to promote the domestic nuclear energy industry by reducing regulatory hurdles for SMR companies like Nano Nuclear [4]. - The Senate's approval of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which extends the nuclear power production tax credit through 2032 and new nuclear generation tax credits through 2033, has been well received by the nuclear energy industry [5]. Group 2: Market Position and Future Prospects - Despite the positive market sentiment and political backing, Nano Nuclear is still far from bringing its SMRs to market and is unlikely to generate revenue in the near future [7]. - Investors seeking exposure to nuclear energy may consider other leading SMR companies or nuclear energy ETFs for reduced risk [8].

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is favored over Microsoft as the better investment in the cloud computing sector due to its strong growth, AI integration, and cost advantages in its cloud services [1][15]. Amazon - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest cloud computing provider globally, holding nearly 30% market share [3]. - AWS is Amazon's most profitable and fastest-growing segment, with a revenue increase of 17% last quarter, driven significantly by AI solutions [4]. - Amazon has developed custom AI chips, Trainium and Inferentia, which optimize performance and cost for AI tasks, providing a competitive edge over Microsoft [5]. - AI is also enhancing Amazon's e-commerce operations, with over 1 million autonomous robots improving warehouse efficiency and customer satisfaction [6]. - The company is leveraging AI for logistics optimization and enhancing third-party seller marketing through its growing digital ad platform [8]. Microsoft - Microsoft Azure has been a major growth driver, with a 33% year-over-year revenue increase last quarter, largely attributed to AI services [9]. - The company is facing capacity constraints and plans to increase capital spending in fiscal 2026, focusing on short-lived assets like GPUs and servers [10]. - Microsoft's early investment in OpenAI has been crucial for Azure's growth, integrating AI technology into its productivity tools [11]. - However, the relationship with OpenAI has become strained, with disputes over investment terms and access to intellectual property [13][14]. - Microsoft is working on developing its own AI chips, but delays have been reported for its next-generation Maia AI chip [17]. Comparative Analysis - Amazon's vertically integrated cloud platform offers a wide range of services, including custom chips and high-margin services, giving it a cost advantage [16]. - Microsoft relies on expensive Nvidia chips and AI models from OpenAI, facing more uncertainties despite Azure's rapid growth [17].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The market has reached new highs, but several growth stocks remain down 20% or more from their all-time highs, presenting attractive investment opportunities. Group 1: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - AMD is down 35% from its high but is gaining traction in the AI inference market, which is expected to surpass AI training in size over time [3][5] - The company reported a 57% increase in data center revenue last quarter, contributing to a total revenue growth of 36% [5] - AMD's strategy does not require it to surpass Nvidia in the GPU market; a modest share can drive significant growth from its smaller base [5] Group 2: GitLab - GitLab's stock is down 65% from its high, yet it plays a crucial role in secure software development with its DevSecOps platform [6][8] - The company experienced a 27% year-over-year revenue growth last quarter, with a dollar-based net retention rate of 122% [7] - Concerns about AI reducing the number of coders are unfounded, as AI has led to increased software development and coder numbers [8] Group 3: e.l.f. Beauty - e.l.f. Beauty's stock is down 40% from its high, with a recent revenue growth slowdown to 4% in fiscal Q4 [9] - The $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber's Rhode brand, which has $212 million in annual sales, could significantly accelerate growth [10] - e.l.f. has opportunities for market share expansion in mass-market cosmetics and potential growth in skincare and other categories [11] Group 4: Dutch Bros - Dutch Bros is down 21% from its high and is in the early stages of a multi-year growth story, targeting 2,029 shops by 2029 [12][14] - The company reported a 4.7% increase in same-store sales last quarter, with company-owned comps climbing 6.9% [13] - Dutch Bros is exploring mobile ordering and food items to enhance sales, recognizing the importance of food offerings in driving revenue [13] Group 5: Cava Group - Cava Group's stock is down 43% from its high, but it has achieved four consecutive quarters of double-digit same-store sales growth, including 10.8% last quarter [15] - The company is expanding rapidly, adding 15 new restaurants last quarter and planning to open 64 to 68 new locations this year [17] - Cava's expansion strategy, particularly its recent push into the Midwest, positions it for significant growth ahead [17]

Group 1: Market Overview - The S&P 500 is experiencing growth after a year of decline, currently up 5% year to date [1] Group 2: Nvidia - Nvidia is the leading AI chip producer, with a stock increase of 1,500% over the past five years, and it reported strong results for the 2026 fiscal fourth quarter [3][4] - The demand for data centers and agentic AI is rapidly increasing, positioning Nvidia for further growth [3][4] Group 3: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre is a major e-commerce and fintech player in Latin America, with a 64% increase in revenue year over year, totaling $22 billion in trailing-12-month sales [5][6] - The company is expanding its marketplace and services, including applying for a bank charter in Mexico, which is expected to enhance customer engagement and growth [6] Group 4: Amazon - Amazon holds nearly 40% of the U.S. e-commerce market and is continuously innovating to maintain its competitive edge [7] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading cloud services provider with 30% market share, generating $100 billion in business, and is focusing on AI development [8][9] Group 5: Shopify - Shopify provides a wide range of e-commerce services, with offline revenue growing at 33% year over year, outpacing total company growth of 27% [10][11] - The company is expanding its market share by targeting medium-sized and enterprise businesses and launching features internationally [11] Group 6: Taiwan Semiconductor - Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) is a key foundry producing chips for major designers like Apple and Nvidia, with a 35% year-over-year sales increase [12][13] - AI accounts for 59% of TSMC's business, while smartphones represent 28%, showcasing its diversified customer base and growth potential [13]