Market Outlook - The market experienced a phenomenal year in 2025, with the S&P 500 achieving 41 record high closes and a total return of approximately 18% [2] - The bull market reached its 3-year anniversary, and expectations for 2026 include another bull market year with increased volatility and double-digit growth [2] - Key sectors expected to perform well include AI, AI infrastructure, aerospace and defense, biotech, and energy companies, driven by increased capital expenditure over the past two years [2] Diversification Trends - Analysts believe 2026 will emphasize diversification, with the influence of the "Mag Seven" on the S&P 500 weakening [3] - The contribution of the "Mag Seven" to total returns has decreased from 62% two years ago to around 44% for 2025 [3] - Earnings expansion and increased spending are expected to drive double-digit growth, while valuation multiples are anticipated to remain stable [3] Affordable Stocks Analysis - A list of the 15 Best Affordable Stocks was curated using various financial databases, focusing on stocks trading below a forward P/E of 15 with expected upside of over 25% [6] - Hedge fund sentiment was also considered, as imitating top stock picks from hedge funds has historically outperformed the market [7] Company Highlights - **Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)**: - Forward P/E Ratio: 10.61, with a 12-month analyst upside potential of 26.14% [8][9] - Recently announced acquisition of Dynavax Technologies for $2.2 billion, enhancing its adult immunization portfolio [9][11] - The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2026 and will not impact financial guidance for 2025 [11][12] - **PVH Corp. (NYSE:PVH)**: - Forward P/E Ratio: 6.32, with a 12-month analyst upside potential of 30.61% [13] - Experienced a decline of over 21% since its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings release, yet analysts maintain a positive outlook [13] - Fiscal Q3 2025 revenue grew by 1.74% year-over-year to $2.29 billion, exceeding expectations [15] - EPS of $2.83 also surpassed expectations, driven by the execution of the PVH+ plan and growth in key categories [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - Chamath Palihapitiya, known as the "SPAC King," is poised for a significant financial gain following NVIDIA's $20.6 billion acquisition of Groq, a semiconductor company in which his firm, Social Capital, was an early investor [1][4]. Investment Background - Social Capital invested $10 million in Groq in 2017 and an additional $52.3 million in 2018, acquiring nearly one-third ownership of the startup at that time [2]. - Groq has successfully raised multiple funding rounds, with the latest round bringing in $750 million at a valuation of $6.9 billion earlier this year [3]. Financial Implications - Despite dilution from subsequent funding rounds, Palihapitiya's early investment in Groq is expected to yield a substantial financial return, significantly increasing his estimated net worth of $1.2 billion [4][5]. - Social Capital now functions primarily as Palihapitiya's family office, allowing him to capture most of the financial benefits from the Groq exit [5]. Future Projections - Palihapitiya expressed optimism about Groq's future, predicting a valuation of $100 billion by 2045 in a recent post, while acknowledging the challenges the company faced [6]. Deal Structure - The acquisition deal includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement between NVIDIA and Groq for access to Groq's inference technology, with key personnel from Groq set to join NVIDIA [7]. Company Dynamics - Groq has been a valuable asset for Palihapitiya, who previously dismissed partners at Social Capital for attempting to raise outside capital for Groq's funding round [8].

Core Insights - The e-commerce market is experiencing growth despite macroeconomic challenges, with a 5.1% increase in e-commerce sales in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024, while total retail sales grew by 4.1% [2][3] - Consumers are increasingly blending online and offline shopping experiences, making it essential for retailers to operate through both channels to remain competitive [3] - The convenience of online shopping is a significant driver of e-commerce growth, particularly among Gen-Z consumers who are accustomed to high levels of digitization [5][6] Industry Overview - E-commerce accounted for approximately 16.4% of total U.S. retail sales, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards integrated shopping experiences [3] - The Internet - Commerce industry is evolving with advancements in technology, including AI, which enhances user satisfaction and personalization [8][10] - The Zacks Internet - Commerce Industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 79, placing it in the top 33% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating positive near-term prospects [12][13] Current Trends - AI is becoming a major enabler of e-commerce, with Adobe estimating a 515-520% increase in AI-driven traffic to retail websites during the 2025 holiday season [11] - Social commerce is gaining traction, especially among Gen-Z consumers, with platforms like TikTok becoming popular for product searches [14] - Subscription models for repeat-use items are expanding, making it easier for consumers to order and for retailers to foster loyalty [14] Company Insights: Expedia Group, Inc. - Expedia is one of the largest online travel booking companies, with significant growth in both B2C and B2B segments, particularly a 26% increase in B2B gross bookings [19][20] - The company resumed its quarterly dividend this year, which is a positive signal for income-seeking investors [22] - Analysts have increased earnings estimates for Expedia, projecting a 24.6% earnings growth in 2025, with the stock up 51.9% year to date [23] Company Insights: Amazon, Inc. - Amazon is a leading online marketplace with a strong Prime loyalty program and a significant presence in the IaaS space through AWS [24][25] - The company has faced scrutiny due to unfair practices related to Prime memberships, resulting in a settlement requiring it to pay $2.5 billion [26] - Despite recent layoffs of 14,000 staff, analysts remain optimistic about Amazon's growth, projecting 11.9% revenue growth and 29.7% earnings growth for 2025 [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Synaptics Incorporated (NASDAQ:SYNA) is recognized as a promising tech stock with an attractive risk/reward profile, particularly as it transitions towards becoming a key player in the Internet of Things (IoT) market [1][3]. Group 1: Analyst Coverage and Ratings - Wells Fargo initiated coverage of Synaptics with an "Overweight" rating and a price target of $95, indicating confidence in the stock's potential through 2026 [3]. - The firm anticipates a valuation re-rating for Synaptics over time, driven by its strategic shifts and product developments [3]. Group 2: Product Development and Market Focus - Synaptics launched the Astra SL2600 Series of multimodal Edge AI processors in October, aimed at various intelligent IoT applications, marking a shift from legacy products to embedded edge compute solutions [4]. - The SL2610 product line targets high-growth markets such as smart appliances, industrial automation, healthcare devices, retail systems, robotics, and autonomous platforms [4]. Group 3: Strategic Collaborations - In November, Synaptics announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, enhancing its transition from a traditional human-interface supplier to a provider of AI-enabled edge solutions [5]. - This partnership focuses on integrating touch and fingerprint sensing technologies for mobile devices, wearables, and AI PCs, emphasizing the importance of sensing, compute, and security in edge intelligence [5]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Synaptics is well-positioned for further growth in the embedded edge and IoT markets, supported by strong product momentum and strategic partnerships [6]. - The company specializes in mixed-signal semiconductor solutions that facilitate intelligent interactions across various sectors, including consumer, automotive, and enterprise environments [6].

Core Viewpoint - High-yield dividend stocks are expected to outperform the S&P 500 as the market broadens into 2026, with increasing popularity in high-yield products, particularly single-stock, leveraged, and derivative income funds that offer attractive yields despite their volatility and risk [1][2]. Group 1: High-Yield Dividend ETFs - The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) has a current yield of 8.2% and utilizes a defensive equity portfolio combined with out-of-the-money S&P 500 call options to generate income, performing well in risk-off environments [5][8]. - The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) invests in the 80 highest-yielding S&P 500 stocks, currently yielding 4.7%, and emphasizes diversification through sectors like REITs, financials, and consumer staples [9][10]. - The iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) focuses on international stocks with a current yield of 4.5%, incorporating quality and dividend history screens to enhance reliability and durability of income [13][14]. Group 2: Market Trends and Opportunities - Signs indicate that the megacap tech rally is losing momentum, suggesting potential investment opportunities outside of current high-profile sectors as the market begins to broaden [2][12]. - The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing down, which may create favorable conditions for defensive-oriented high-yield dividend ETFs like JEPI to perform well [8].

Core Insights - TCW Concentrated Large Cap Growth Fund reported a return of +4.11% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index which returned +10.51% [1] - The fund highlighted Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) as a key holding, noting its significant market capitalization of $126.005 billion and a share price of $323.67 as of December 24, 2025 [2] Company Overview - Eaton Corporation plc is described as an intelligent power management company serving various markets including data centers, utilities, and aerospace [3] - The company has transitioned from a cyclical industrial conglomerate to a higher growth, higher margin entity focused on electrical and aerospace sectors, benefiting from trends like electronification and AI datacenter buildouts [3] Financial Performance - Eaton Corporation plc reported quarterly earnings of $7 billion for Q3 2025, with a margin increase of 70 basis points to reach 25% [4] - The stock experienced a one-month return of -5.27% but gained 5.23% over the last 52 weeks [2] Market Position - As of the end of Q3 2025, Eaton Corporation plc was held by 72 hedge fund portfolios, a slight decrease from 74 in the previous quarter [4] - The company has a substantial backlog of multi-year megaprojects, providing visibility into future cash flows [3]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market closed on December 25, 2025, for Christmas, following a week where major indices reached all-time highs, with normal trading resuming on December 26, 2025 [1] - On Christmas Eve, the S&P 500 rose 0.3% to close at 6,932.05, marking a year-to-date increase of over 17%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6% to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.2% to 23,613.31, contributing to a 21.6% year-to-date advance [3] Futures and Premarket Activity - Futures contracts for major indices were down approximately 0.1% on December 24, 2025, despite a positive sentiment indicated by a slight gain of 0.09% in the US500 index on December 25, reaching 6,938 points [2] Economic Outlook - Key economic indicators to watch include the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Staff Nowcast on December 26, followed by reports on international trade, pending home sales, and manufacturing surveys on December 29 [4] - The Federal Reserve recently trimmed its benchmark interest rate to a range of 3.5%-3.75%, with analysts expecting rates to remain steady at the January meeting due to mixed economic data [5] Corporate Highlights - Dynavax Technologies saw a 38.2% surge in shares following Sanofi's announcement of a $2.2 billion acquisition [6] - Nike's stock rose 4.6% after Apple CEO Tim Cook purchased nearly $3 million worth of Nike shares [6] - Nvidia shares dipped 0.3% on Christmas Eve but have a year-to-date return of 30.2%, briefly surpassing a $5 trillion market cap in October [10] - Microsoft achieved a 15.6% gain in 2025, with shares trading near $485, leveraging its partnership with OpenAI [10] - ServiceNow confirmed a $7.75 billion acquisition of Armis, although its stock experienced an 11.5% pullback recently [10] - Caterpillar Inc. saw over 60% growth in 2025, driven by its Energy & Transportation segment [10] - Goldman Sachs shares increased by 61% in 2025, identifying potential buying opportunities in the tech sector for 2026 [10] - Eli Lilly shares climbed 40% this year, while Novo Nordisk shares fell nearly 40% due to competition in the weight-loss medication market [10] - Marvell Technology Inc. gained 3.4% on the Nasdaq on December 24 [10] Commodity Markets - Gold and silver futures reached new all-time highs, with gold at $4,555 and silver at $72.75 per ounce [10] - WTI crude oil futures remained stable, trading near $58.40 per barrel [10]

Core Insights - TCW Concentrated Large Cap Growth Fund reported a return of +4.11% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index which returned +10.51% [1] Company Overview - Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT) is a research and advisory company established in 1979, operating through research, conferences, and consulting segments [2] - As of December 24, 2025, Gartner's stock closed at $251.18 per share, with a market capitalization of $19.023 billion [2] Financial Performance - Gartner reported revenue of $1.5 billion in Q3 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3% as reported and 1% on a foreign exchange neutral basis [4] Investment Analysis - Gartner's shares dropped following disappointing quarterly results, despite exceeding consensus estimates; growth excluding U.S. Federal business decelerated, and management lowered forward guidance [3] - Forward guidance now anticipates Contract Value (CV) growth to decelerate from mid-single-digit to low single-digit growth [3] - Approximately 35% to 40% of Gartner's research contract value is in tariff-impacted industries, which are implementing cost-cutting measures and experiencing delayed sales cycles [3] - The rise of AI is disrupting many end markets, impacting Gartner's Business Model Advantage (BMA) and potentially shrinking its Total Addressable Market (TAM) [3] - Due to these factors, the fund decided to completely exit its position in Gartner [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Gartner, Inc. was held by 42 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from 45 in the previous quarter [4] - The company is not listed among the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds [4]

Group 1: Nvidia (NVDA) - Nvidia has consistently exceeded expectations in 2025, solidifying its leadership in artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure [2][3] - The stock has a strong 'Buy' consensus, with 39 out of 41 ratings being 'Buys', and an average price target of $263.58, indicating a potential upside of 40% [3] Group 2: Amazon (AMZN) - Amazon dominates the e-commerce and cloud markets, with a strong growth outlook, particularly in cloud computing, projected to reach $3.3 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 16% [5][6] - The company enjoys a 'Strong Buy' consensus with 45 'Buy' ratings and an average price target of $296.12, suggesting a potential upside of 27.42% [6] Group 3: Broadcom (AVGO) - Broadcom has reported nearly 25% revenue growth in fiscal 2025 and is expected to benefit significantly from AI infrastructure spending, with predictions of its AI business revenue doubling in 2026 [8] - The stock has 27 'Buy' ratings and 2 'Holds', with an average price target of $455.63, indicating a potential increase of 30% [9][10] Group 4: Overall Market Sentiment - The strong 'Buy' consensus on Nvidia, Amazon, and Broadcom reflects Wall Street's optimism towards large-cap technology stocks as 2026 approaches, with analysts expecting these companies to lead major structural themes [11]

SEC Bitcoin ETF, SkyBridge First Trust Bitcoin ETF, SEC rejects bitcoin ETF. Photo by BeInCrypto The US ETF market achieved a historic "triple crown" in 2025, setting records in inflows ($1.4 trillion), new launches (1,100+), and trading volume ($57.9 trillion). This is the first time all three metrics hit records simultaneously since 2021. Three consecutive years of double-digit S&P 500 gains powered the rally. But Wall Street is starting to ask: what comes next? The Ghost of 2022 That precedent carri ...