Key Takeaways Persistent geopolitical and economic risks are improving the case for value investing. Value ETFs offer diversification, lower volatility and easier access to undervalued stocks.ETFs like VTV and IWS can help investors implement value investing.The last year was marked by tariff fears, geopolitical tensions and AI bubble concerns. This year too looks set for no less volatility, evident from the investor nervousness about the geopolitical landscape.Following the recent U.S. military operations ...

Michael Burry has really been making headlines since he closed up shop over at Scion Asset Management with the belief that the broad stock market could be in for a rough couple of years. ...

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 is expected to continue its success in 2026, supported by a three-year bull market and strong consensus among Wall Street analysts [1] Group 1: Market Outlook - The S&P 500 (SPY) is anticipated to have another successful year in 2026, following a three-year bull market [1]

By Niket Nishant, Kanchana Chakravarty and Joel Jose Jan 5 (Reuters) - Global investors will actively seek opportunities this year in undervalued pockets of financial markets as growing concerns over an AI bubble push traders to look beyond highly valued technology stocks, according to several analysts. U.S. stocks were volatile in 2025, plunging to near bear market territory in April following President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs before eventually ​rebounding to record highs. The upward momentum ...

Up, up and away? The companies expected to pour more than $500 billion into hyperscaling artificial intelligence this year (including Magnificent 7 members such as Microsoft, Amazon and Google) are still betting big on the technology following that trajectory. The less appealing alternative is up, up and pop, manifesting bubble fears that were inflamed when the Financial Times reported in December that Oracle had lost its “primary backer” for a $10 billion Michigan data center. Afterward, the cloud comput ...

Travis Wolfe / Shutterstock.com Quick Read Oracle suffered a 45% peak-to-trough decline while Google gained strength after its Gemini 3.0 launch. Michael Burry holds a bearish view of the AI trade. The equal-weight S&P 500 gained nearly 10% in 2025 as market strength broadened beyond AI leaders. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. The moment Michael Burry announced his bearish bets on ...

Core Insights - Real estate is presented as a viable alternative investment option during economic uncertainty, providing potential returns and shielding investors from stock market volatility [1] - A significant portion of high-net-worth individuals are diversifying their portfolios with alternative investments, with 40% of those with $1 million to $5 million in assets and 80% of those with over $10 million engaging in such investments [2] Group 1: Market Trends - U.S. equities are facing challenges due to tariff concerns and market overvaluation, leading to increased interest in cash and cash equivalents as a means to preserve wealth [3] - High-net-worth individuals are reportedly holding about 20% of their net worth in cash and cash equivalents as of 2024, indicating a cautious approach to market volatility [6] Group 2: Real Estate Investment Options - Rental properties are recognized as a steady source of passive income, but managing them can be burdensome for many investors [7] - Platforms like Arrived allow investors to buy shares in vacation homes or rental properties, starting with investments as low as $100, thus providing a hassle-free way to earn passive income [9] - Accredited investors can invest in commercial real estate through First National Realty Partners (FNRP), with a minimum investment of $50,000, focusing on properties leased by national brands [11][13] - Mogul offers fractional ownership in high-quality rental properties, with an average annual internal rate of return (IRR) of 18.8% and cash-on-cash yields between 10% and 12% [14][15] Group 3: Alternative Asset Classes - Fine art is highlighted as a resilient asset class during market turbulence, with high-net-worth collectors allocating about 20% of their wealth to art in 2025 [16] - Masterworks enables investors to buy fractional shares in high-value artworks, yielding net annualized returns of 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% from previously sold pieces [18]

Core Insights - Gold experienced a significant rally in 2025, increasing by 32.22% in six months and 67.42% over the year, driven by factors such as rising central bank buying, economic uncertainty, Fed rate cuts, increased ETF inflows, and a weaker dollar [1][11] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Investor appetite for gold and precious metals funds remained strong, with $2.03 billion inflows in the final week of 2025, although gold prices saw a slight pullback due to profit booking and raised futures margins [2] - Analysts project gold prices could reach $4,000-$5,000 per troy ounce in 2026, supported by robust central bank demand, with 95% of central banks planning to increase reserves [3][4] - Goldman Sachs targets $4,900 for gold, while State Street estimates a range of $4,000-$4,500, with geopolitical factors potentially pushing prices to $5,000 [4] Group 2: Economic Influences - Anticipation of further Fed rate cuts in 2026 is expected to support gold prices, with forecasts suggesting three-quarter-point cuts before mid-year due to weak labor markets and inflation uncertainty [6] - A weaker U.S. dollar, resulting from Fed rate cuts, is likely to increase demand for gold, making it more affordable for foreign buyers [7] Group 3: Investment Strategies - Gold serves as a diversification tool for tech-heavy portfolios, with ongoing concerns about elevated valuations in the tech sector prompting investors to seek alternatives like gold [8] - Gold's safe-haven appeal remains strong amid rising macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, as indicated by a 9.7% increase in the CBOE Volatility Index since December 2025 [9] - A long-term passive investment approach is recommended to navigate short-term volatility, with fundamentals supporting further gains in gold [12] Group 4: Gold ETFs - Investors are encouraged to consider gold ETFs such as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and others to increase exposure to gold [14] - GLD is noted for its liquidity with an asset base of $149.43 billion, while GLDM and IAUM are highlighted as cost-effective options for long-term investing [15] - Gold miners ETFs like VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and others provide access to the gold mining industry, which can amplify gains and losses [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that despite skepticism surrounding AI investments, Apple remains a strong stock option due to its business model and performance, which are less dependent on AI compared to other tech companies [1][5]. Group 1: AI Market Context - The AI boom has significantly influenced stock market gains, with AI-related stocks contributing to 75% of S&P 500 returns since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 [2]. - Major tech companies are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with hundreds of billions of dollars allocated to high-powered chips and data centers [2]. - Recent skepticism has emerged regarding the profitability of AI investments, highlighted by an MIT study indicating that 95% of generative AI projects failed to deliver measurable ROI [3][4]. Group 2: Apple's Position - Apple is not categorized as an "AI company" like Oracle or Nvidia, as it spends less on AI and does not rely on AI's future potential for its business model [6][7]. - The company has avoided the costly AI arms race, focusing instead on its core business of selling devices [8]. - Apple's stock has increased by approximately 33% over the past six months, outperforming the S&P 500 and major AI stocks [9]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In fiscal year 2025, Apple achieved record revenue of $416 billion, with a fourth-quarter revenue of $102.5 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year increase [11]. - iPhone revenue rose by 6% year-over-year, setting a new record for the September-ended quarter [11]. - Services revenue grew by 15% year-over-year, with a gross margin of about 75%, indicating a shift towards higher-margin digital services [12][13]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Apple anticipates 10%-12% revenue growth in Q1 2026, driven by double-digit growth in iPhone sales during the holiday season [14]. - Analysts have raised EPS estimates for Apple to $2.67 for the current quarter, reflecting positive investor sentiment [14]. - Despite a price-to-earnings ratio of 34, Apple may appear more attractive compared to high-priced AI stocks if AI investments do not yield quick returns [15]. - Apple is well-positioned for sustained profitability, regardless of the potential AI bubble [16].

Key Points NuScale Energy is the only U.S. company with a small modular reactor design approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The company has not gotten its first official customer, and it's deeply unprofitable. 10 stocks we like better than NuScale Power › NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) was one of the market's hottest stocks earlier in 2025. Before mid-October, the company had gained 200% on the year, driven by its first-mover advantage and its potential to power artificial intelligence (AI) dat ...