Core Viewpoint - The Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit due to alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, primarily related to safety issues at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia, which resulted in significant operational disruptions and stock price declines [1][3][4]. Group 1: Class Action Details - The class action lawsuit is titled Reed v. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. and covers purchasers of Freeport-McMoRan securities from February 15, 2022, to September 24, 2025 [1]. - Investors have until January 12, 2026, to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit [1][7]. - The lawsuit alleges that Freeport-McMoRan and certain executives made false statements and failed to disclose safety risks at the Grasberg mine [3]. Group 2: Incident and Impact - On September 9, 2025, Freeport-McMoRan reported a significant incident at the Grasberg mine, leading to a temporary suspension of operations and a nearly 6% drop in stock price [4]. - Following the incident, on September 24, 2025, it was revealed that two team members were fatally injured, and production estimates for 2026 could be approximately 35% lower than previously expected, causing a further 17% decline in stock price [5]. - An article published on September 25, 2025, highlighted the potential strain on Freeport-McMoRan's relationship with the Indonesian government, resulting in an additional stock price drop of over 6% [6]. Group 3: Company Background - Freeport-McMoRan is engaged in mining operations across North America, South America, and Indonesia, with the Grasberg mine being a significant asset [2]. - Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, the law firm handling the class action, is recognized for its expertise in securities fraud and has secured over $2.5 billion for investors in 2024 alone [8].

Core Viewpoint - High-yield dividend stocks have shown exceptional performance in 2025, contrary to the perception that they are boring or overly risky [1] Group 1: Methodology for Stock Selection - Stocks were screened for dividend yields of at least 2.12%, which is double the current yield of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF [3] - Stocks with market capitalizations below $300 million were excluded to mitigate risks associated with smaller companies [3] Group 2: Top Performing Stocks - Aura Minerals (AUGO) has achieved a gain of 334% with a dividend yield of 2.8% [4] - AngloGold Ashanti (AU) has increased by 290% this year, offering a dividend yield of approximately 2.4% [6] - Banco Santander (SAN) has risen by 160% with a dividend yield of nearly 2.2% [8] Group 3: Factors Driving Performance - The significant rise in Aura Minerals and AngloGold Ashanti's stock prices is primarily attributed to soaring gold prices, driven by economic and geopolitical uncertainties [10] - The decline in the U.S. dollar's value and volatility in bond markets have made gold a more attractive investment [11] - Banco Santander's growth is attributed to robust earnings and record profits for six consecutive quarters, aided by higher interest rates and improved balance sheets [12] Group 4: Future Outlook - The future performance of Aura Minerals and AngloGold Ashanti is closely tied to gold prices, which are expected to remain high but may see moderated gains in 2026 [13][14] - Banco Santander is anticipated to continue rising, but at a slower pace than in 2025, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 10.7 indicating reasonable valuation [15]

Core Viewpoint - Nexa Resources (NEXA) is characterized not solely by zinc price fluctuations but by its operational maturity, particularly regarding the Aripuanã asset, and its strategic portfolio optimization [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Nexa Resources is not a pure-play on zinc prices, indicating a broader operational strategy [1] - The focus on operational maturity suggests that the company is enhancing its efficiency and productivity in its existing assets [1] Group 2: Market Context - The global zinc market is currently facing supply challenges, which may impact pricing and availability [1]

Group 1 - Alphabet Inc. is leading the 2025 Magnificent Seven leaderboard with a 66% year-to-date increase, outperforming Nvidia Corp. which is up 42% [1] - Eight country exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking global stocks have surpassed Alphabet's returns, indicating a broader investment landscape beyond U.S. tech [2] - Commodities have driven strong performance in emerging markets, particularly in South Africa, Colombia, and Peru, with silver up 160% and gold nearly 70% year-to-date [3] Group 2 - The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is the top performer among country-focused ETFs, up 87%, followed closely by the iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF, up 85% [4] - In South Africa, mining stocks have seen significant gains, with AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields each surging over 220% [5] - Peru's market has also benefited from mining companies, with six of the top ten holdings in the iShares MSCI Peru ETF posting triple-digit gains [6]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a subdued trading session with low liquidity and volumes following the Christmas market closure, while precious and industrial metals saw significant price movements [1] - Silver prices surged over 6%, surpassing $76 an ounce, driven by a supply crunch in Asian markets [1] Precious Metals Performance - Silver's year-to-date gains reached approximately 164%, marking its strongest annual performance since 1978 [2] - Platinum prices increased by more than 8%, and palladium rose over 11%, with the Aberdeen Physical Platinum Shares ETF up 165% year to date, indicating platinum is on track for its best year on record [3] - Gold prices rose 1.3% to above $4,550 an ounce, while copper climbed 4.6%, recovering from a sharp selloff in July [3] Energy Market Insights - WTI crude oil prices slipped more than 1% amid progress in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine [4] Equity Market Highlights - Freeport-McMoRan Inc., a copper producer, led the S&P 500 with a gain of about 3% [4] - Target Corp. increased by 2.1% following the disclosure of new stakes by activist investors [4] - Nvidia Corp. rose over 1% after analysts praised its $20 billion strategic deal with AI startup Groq, which is expected to enhance Nvidia's competitive position in artificial intelligence [5] Major Indices Performance - The S&P 500 traded flat near 5,930 points after reaching an intraday record of 5,945, on track for its eighth consecutive monthly gain, the longest winning streak since 2018 [6] - Bitcoin traded around $87,000, showing little change [6] Index Performance Summary - Nasdaq 100: 25,672.66 (+0.10%) [7] - S&P 500: 6,933.20 (+0.02%) [7] - Dow Jones Industrial Average: 48,688.73 (-0.09%) [7] - Russell 2000: 2,529.80 (-0.72%) [7] ETF Performance - Vanguard S&P 500 ETF: flat at $634.23 [10] - SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average: down 0.2% to $486.17 [10] - Invesco QQQ Trust Series: eased 0.02% to $623.81 [10] - iShares Russell 2000 ETF: traded at $250.96 [11] - Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund: up 0.3% [11] - Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund: down 0.6% [11]

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm is reminding investors who purchased Freeport-McMoRan Inc. securities between February 15, 2022, and September 24, 2025, about the upcoming lead plaintiff deadline for a securities class action lawsuit [1]. Group 1: Class Action Details - Investors who bought Freeport-McMoRan securities during the specified Class Period may be eligible for compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [2]. - A class action lawsuit has already been filed, and interested parties must move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff by January 12, 2026 [3]. - The lawsuit alleges that Freeport-McMoRan made false and misleading statements regarding safety at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia, which led to increased risks for workers and investors [5]. Group 2: Rosen Law Firm's Credentials - Rosen Law Firm emphasizes the importance of selecting qualified legal counsel with a proven track record in securities class actions, highlighting its own success in achieving significant settlements for investors [4]. - The firm has been recognized for its performance in securities class action settlements, including being ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services in 2017 and securing over $438 million for investors in 2019 [4].

Core Insights - The concentration of returns among a small group of technology stocks, primarily American megacaps, has created challenges for diversified fund managers, leading to significant outflows from active equity mutual funds [1][3][15] Investment Trends - In 2025, a small group of tech super stocks accounted for a disproportionate share of market returns, continuing a trend observed over the past decade, which has strained investor patience [2][15] - Approximately $1 trillion was withdrawn from active equity mutual funds in 2025, marking the steepest outflow in the current cycle, while passive equity exchange-traded funds attracted over $600 billion [3][15] Market Dynamics - The S&P 500 outperformed its equal-weighted counterpart throughout the year, indicating a narrow participation in market gains, with fewer than one in five stocks rising alongside the broader market on many days [5][6] - 73% of equity mutual funds in the US underperformed their benchmarks in 2025, the fourth highest rate since 2007, exacerbated by the tech sector's dominance following the recovery from April's tariff scare [8] Portfolio Strategies - Active managers face a dilemma: underweighting the largest stocks risks underperformance, while closely mirroring the index raises questions about the value of active management [7][15] - Dimensional Fund Advisors' International Small Cap Value Portfolio, which returned over 50% in 2025, illustrates the potential of diversifying outside the US large-cap index [9][10] Thematic Investing - Some funds, like VanEck's Global Resources Fund, achieved significant returns by focusing on themes such as alternative energy and base metals, demonstrating the potential of thematic investing [13][14] - Goldman Sachs Asset Management's approach emphasizes finding "alpha" beyond Big Tech, utilizing a proprietary model to analyze a broad range of stocks, resulting in gains of approximately 40% across various funds [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - The Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) has shown exceptional performance, significantly outperforming major benchmarks and popular investments, raising questions about the sustainability of this rally given its focus on international small-cap stocks and commodity exposure [2][3]. Group 1: Fund Performance and Strategy - AVDV has a portfolio valued at $14.6 billion, with an annual fee of 0.36%, and it primarily invests in obscure international small-cap stocks [2][4]. - The fund's top holdings include gold miners like Perseus Mining and B2Gold, coal producer Whitehaven Coal, and Canadian energy company Whitecap Resources, indicating a heavy concentration in materials and energy sectors [3][4]. - The fund's annual turnover rate is 8%, suggesting a buy-and-hold investment strategy without active rotation away from commodity exposure [4][7]. Group 2: Macro Factors Influencing Performance - The global commodity cycle, particularly in industrial metals and energy, is a critical macro factor that could sustain or reverse AVDV's performance [3][6]. - Rising commodity prices tend to benefit AVDV's small-cap value stocks, while a downturn in these markets could adversely affect the fund more than a diversified large-cap fund [3][6]. - Investors are advised to monitor monthly commodity price indexes from the World Bank and quarterly earnings reports from major mining and energy producers to gauge demand and potential impacts on AVDV's performance [6]. Group 3: Risks and Concentration - AVDV's concentration risk is notable, as its top holdings are clustered in cyclical sectors that are sensitive to economic fluctuations [7]. - The fund's management does not actively rotate out of commodity exposure, which could lead to increased vulnerability if market conditions change [7]. - Continuous dominance of materials and energy in the top positions indicates that AVDV remains a leveraged bet on commodity strength rather than a balanced international value investment [7].

Market Performance - The S&P 500 reached a new intraday high but slipped 0.03% to 6,929.94, while the Nasdaq Composite eased 0.09% to 23,593.10, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.04% to 48,710.96 in thin post-Christmas trading [1] - The S&P 500 is up 2.3% for the week, leading to discussions about a potential end-of-year rally or a consolidation phase [3] Company News - Nvidia's stock increased by 1.02% following its announcement of a $20 billion asset acquisition from AI startup Groq, highlighting continued investor interest in AI-driven companies [2][4] - Other materials companies like Freeport-McMoRan and Southern Copper saw gains, contrasting with a nearly 6% loss from Standard Lithium, indicating significant market divergences related to the precious metals rally [2] Commodity Trends - Gold prices reached nearly $4,550 per ounce, while silver surpassed $77 per ounce, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and increased investor interest in these safe-haven assets [4]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is showing signs of a continuing bull market, with the Santa Claus rally expected to occur during the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year [1] - There have been 39 new highs in the market, indicating potential for further upside, although the current bull market is characterized as a lowercase "b" as it heads into 2026 [2] Commodity Insights - The chart for copper indicates a strong upward trend, with potential for an additional 6-7% increase to reach the upper end of its trading range, making copper a favored metal for 2026 [3][4] - The basic materials sector, driven by gold and silver, has been the best performing sector year-to-date, with the GDX showing about 17% more upside potential [5] Currency Impact - The dollar index is on track for its worst year since 2017, which is influencing the attractiveness of gold and silver as central governments opt to buy these metals instead of treasuries [6][7] Biotech Sector - The biotech sector is positioned for growth, especially if rate cuts occur in 2026, with the XBI showing a favorable setup and potential for further gains [7][8] - Specific companies within the biotech index, such as Xalixus, Regeneron, and Travera, are demonstrating constructive chart patterns, suggesting that biotech could become a new focus for momentum investors in the coming year [9]