Core Viewpoint - A JPMorgan strategist has made a contrarian call, suggesting that bitcoin is now more appealing than gold following a significant increase in gold's price [1] Group 1 - The strategist's view indicates a shift in investment preference from traditional assets like gold to cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoin [1] - The surge in gold prices has prompted this reevaluation, highlighting the changing dynamics in the investment landscape [1]

Company Overview - FirstService is a leading provider of property management and essential property services across North America, managing a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial assets [6] - The company operates through two segments: FirstService Residential, which focuses on recurring property management contracts and ancillary services, and FirstService Brands, which includes franchise and company-owned service locations [8] - As of January 20, the market capitalization of FirstService is $7.36 billion, with a revenue of $5.48 billion and a net income of $138.55 million for the trailing twelve months [4] Recent Transactions - On January 20, Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors disclosed the purchase of 49,829 additional shares of FirstService, increasing its total position to 144,994 shares, valued at approximately $8.11 million [2] - This transaction reflects an increase in the fund's position value in FirstService by $4.42 million, influenced by trading activity and share price changes [2] Financial Performance - The latest quarterly results indicate a 4% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.45 billion, with adjusted EBITDA rising to $164.8 million, up 3% [10] - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was reported at $1.76, reflecting an 8% increase, driven by steady execution despite challenges [10] - The Residential division showed strong performance with an 8% revenue growth and margin expansion due to new contract wins and labor efficiency gains [10] Investment Appeal - The increase in Jacobson & Schmitt's stake in FirstService highlights the company's stability and recurring, needs-based demand, which is appealing to long-term investors [9] - Despite shares lagging over the past year, the fundamentals of the company remain solid, with reduced debt levels and strong cash flow [11]

Core Viewpoint - Tom Lee, co-founder of Fundstrat and Bitmine, predicts Bitcoin's price will surge to $250,000 this year, reaching a new all-time high, emphasizing that long-term adoption of crypto is stronger than gold despite most investors having little or no exposure to gold [1][7]. Bitcoin Price Outlook - The future price of Bitcoin is contingent on the market overcoming a significant crypto deleveraging event that previously disrupted its correlation with gold [3]. - Lee describes Bitcoin as "digital gold," but notes that the number of investors who accept this view is still smaller than the gold investor base, indicating that more people own gold than crypto [3]. Market Vulnerability - The crypto markets are susceptible to disruptions driven by leverage, with periodic deleveraging events that impair market makers, who function as the central bank of crypto [4]. Gold's Role in Investment - Lee attributes gold's strong performance to geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of easier global monetary policy, while arguing that most investors remain under-allocated in gold [4]. - He suggests that gold should be considered less as a commodity and more as an alternative currency, stating that it does not make sense to view it strictly as a commodity metal [5]. Investment Strategy - Lee advises against emotional reactions to market pullbacks, cautioning that attempts to time the market can negatively impact long-term returns [2][6]. - He emphasizes the importance of maintaining long-term investment discipline, stating that trying to time the market makes investors adversaries to their future performance [6].

Core Viewpoint - The focus is on identifying top stocks for long-term investment to achieve a successful portfolio by 2026 [1] Group 1 - Extensive research has been conducted over the years to pinpoint potential investment opportunities [1]

Core Insights - Traditional investment advice suggests that long-term investors should buy index funds and remain patient to build wealth over time [1] - The article emphasizes the importance of a diversified investment strategy that includes high-quality dividend stocks, Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1] Investment Strategy - The author has developed a hybrid investment system that combines growth and income, allowing for a total return that matches the performance of the S&P 500 [1] - The focus is on identifying lucrative opportunities within the market, particularly in dividend growth stocks, which can provide significant bill-paying potential [1]

Core Insights - The investment approach focuses on identifying businesses with potential for long-term growth and significant terminal value generation [1] - Emphasis is placed on understanding core business economics, including competitive advantages, unit economics, reinvestment opportunities, and management quality [1] - The goal is to generate long-term free cash flow and create shareholder value through fundamental research in sectors with strong secular growth trends [1] Investment Philosophy - The investor is self-educated and has been active in the investment field for 10 years, currently managing personal funds sourced from friends and family [1] - The motivation for sharing insights on platforms like Seeking Alpha is to provide valuable analysis and receive feedback from other investors [1] - The focus is on helping readers understand the drivers of long-term equity value, with an emphasis on analytical and accessible analysis [1]

Core Insights - The investment thesis for Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) is based on its strong long-term earnings growth potential, supported by its liquefaction-as-a-service model [1] Investment Approach - The investment strategy focuses on medium to long-term investments while also considering short-term opportunities to generate alpha [1] - The analysis is grounded in a bottom-up approach, assessing the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies [1] - The goal is to identify companies with solid fundamentals, sustainable competitive advantages, and growth potential [1]

Core Viewpoint - The investment thesis on Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) is based on its strong long-term earnings growth potential, supported by its liquefaction-as-a-service model [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment approach focuses on long-term investments while also considering short-term opportunities to uncover alpha [1] - The analysis is bottom-up, emphasizing the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies [1] - The investment duration is medium to long-term, targeting companies with solid fundamentals and sustainable competitive advantages [1]

Core Insights - Conagra Brands (CAG) is a well-known company with a strong presence in kitchens, offering products such as frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples [1] Company Overview - Conagra Brands specializes in frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples, making it a staple in many households [1] Analyst Background - The analysis is conducted by an independent investment analyst with over four years of experience in global equities, focusing on deep fundamental research and long-term investment theses [1] - The analyst's expertise includes equity research, data analysis, and financial modeling, with a focus on identifying undervalued businesses and high-quality compounders [1] Investment Approach - The investment approach combines bottom-up fundamental analysis with top-down macro context, emphasizing financial statement study, competitive landscape mapping, and qualitative assessment of management quality [1]

Core Insights - Conagra Brands (CAG) is a well-known company with a strong presence in kitchens, offering products such as frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples [1] Company Overview - Conagra Brands specializes in frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples, making it a staple in many households [1] Investment Analysis - The article emphasizes the importance of fundamental research and long-term investment theses in evaluating companies like Conagra Brands [1]