Nobody has a crystal ball, but if you pay attention, the market tells you where it’s headed. Technology keeps pushing forward and policies are shifting. Even global tensions are reshaping how money moves. This piece looks at what might matter most by 2026. Not for day traders, but for anyone thinking about where to put their money over the next few years.Four investment themes look promising for 2026: Green energy, AI and automation, digital finance, and data analytics.1. The Rise of Green Energy and Sustai ...

Market Overview - Investors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve, with notes from the December meeting expected to provide insights into interest rate strategies and economic outlook as 2026 approaches [1] - The stock market is anticipated to remain volatile, prompting a focus on low-beta stocks [1] Low-Beta Stocks - Recommended low-beta stocks include Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST), Teradata (TDC), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) [1][7] - These stocks are positioned to benefit from ongoing market volatility and changing consumer demands [7] Company Insights - **Teradata (TDC)**: Known for enhancing decision-making and efficiency through AI tools, TDC helps businesses leverage data without disrupting operations, aiming for long-term shareholder value [6] - **Monster Beverage (MNST)**: A leading energy drink developer, MNST is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing global energy drinks market, reflecting healthy margins [7][8] - **Natural Gas Services (NGS)**: As the U.S. increases LNG exports, NGS benefits from higher demand for its compression equipment, essential for transporting gas through pipelines [9] - **The Vita Coco Company (COCO)**: A major player in the healthy drink sector, COCO is thriving due to the booming demand for coconut water across the U.S. [10]

Core Insights - TransUnion (TRU) shares have increased by 4.1% over the past month, outperforming the industry growth of 0.7% [1] - The company's Q4 2025 earnings are projected to rise by 5.2% year over year, with earnings expected to grow by 8.7% in 2025 and 13.1% in 2026 [1] - Revenue growth is anticipated at 8.5% in 2025 and 7.7% in 2026 [1] Factors Supporting Growth - TRU's revenue growth is fueled by the expanding Big Data and analytics market, supported by a stable U.S. economic and lending environment [2] - Key economic indicators such as modest GDP growth, low unemployment, stable delinquencies, lower interest rates, and manageable inflation are positively impacting performance [2] Technological Advancements - The OneTru platform is modernizing TRU's technology by integrating various data and analytic assets, enhancing innovation in credit and non-credit products [3] - The TrueIQ analytics platform, launched in Canada, the UK, and India, is designed to accelerate data processing and improve access for U.S. credit customers [4] - The recent introduction of TrueIQ data enrichment on Snowflake expands market opportunities for data enrichment [4] Financial Health - TRU's current ratio at the end of Q3 2025 was 2.01, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.98, indicating strong liquidity to meet short-term obligations [5] Competitive Landscape - TRU operates in a competitive market with major players like Equifax, Experian, FICO, and LexisNexis, which poses challenges in balancing growth and profitability while investing in technology and talent [6]

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Data analytics firm Verisk said on Monday it had pulled the ​plug on its planned $2.35 billion acquisition of ‌roofing software maker AccuLynx, pinning the termination on a regulatory ‌review delay. Verisk said the decision follows a notification from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that the agency had not completed its review of the transaction ⁠by the termination ‌date of December 26. The company had unveiled its plan to acquire AccuLynx in ‍July, a deal that was initially expecte ...

Core Viewpoint - Verisk has terminated its agreement to acquire AccuLynx due to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) incomplete review of the transaction by the specified deadline [1] Group 1: Acquisition and Debt Redemption - The company will redeem $1.50 billion of senior notes related to the planned acquisition at a price of 101% of their principal amount plus accrued interest [2] - Following the redemption, Verisk's leverage would have been 1.9 times LTM adjusted EBITDA as of September 30, 2025 [2] Group 2: Management Statements and Future Outlook - Lee Shavel, president and CEO, emphasized the company's commitment to capital allocation discipline, balancing organic investments and returning capital to shareholders [3] - The company remains confident in achieving its long-term growth targets for 2026 and beyond [3] Group 3: Company Profile - Verisk is a leading data analytics and technology provider for the global insurance industry, focusing on improving operational efficiency and risk management [4] - The company operates in over 20 countries and is recognized for fostering an inclusive workplace culture [4]

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Market Insights - The cryptocurrency market has significant potential, with many cryptocurrencies experiencing over 100% gains in the last week [1] - However, the volatility of the market means that for every success story, there are many digital coins that quickly fade away, making it difficult to predict future winners [2] Group 2: Stock Market Opportunities - Investors do not need to chase cryptocurrencies to build wealth; there are promising companies in the stock market that can provide substantial gains [3] - Tech stocks have been highlighted as some of the best investments over the past year, with expectations for continued growth into 2026 [3] Group 3: Company Analysis - Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has a high forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 267 and a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 104, indicating potential overvaluation [5] - Despite valuation concerns, Palantir is experiencing rapid growth, with a 63% revenue increase in Q3 and 204 deals over $1 million [6] - The stock has risen 155% this year, following gains of 167% in 2023 and 340% in 2024, with expectations for further growth of 100% or more in 2026 [7][8] Group 4: Company Analysis - Nvidia - Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has seen a significant stock price increase of 819% from 2023 to 2024, followed by a 37% gain in 2025, although recent performance has shown signs of slowing down [10]

Key Takeaways Developments in Santa jobs this year mirror trends in the overall workforce, with job listings down and pay rising for workers with in-demand characteristics, in this case, real beards.Real-bearded Santas make $9 an hour more than their fake-whiskered counterparts, one analysis found.Job listings for Santa have plummeted 35% since 2024 due to dying malls and a shift to online sales. Having a real beard is worth an extra $9 an hour for people who work as Santas, an analysis of job postings f ...

Core Viewpoint - Palantir Technologies has experienced significant stock price increases, but its high valuation raises concerns about future sustainability in the market [1][4][9] Group 1: Stock Performance - Palantir's stock has risen approximately 150% in 2023, outperforming the S&P 500, which increased by 16% [1] - Since the launch of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, Palantir's share price has surged by 2,400%, while the S&P 500 gained 67% during the same period [2] Group 2: Valuation Concerns - Palantir's current market capitalization is around $450 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio exceeding 400, indicating a speculative investment [4][10] - The stock has maintained a P/E ratio over 400 for most of the year, and projections for 2024 suggest it will remain high at over 200 [7][8] Group 3: Market Dynamics - The disconnect between the economy and stock market performance is evident, with rising layoffs and struggling retailers indicating economic challenges [9] - Historical context shows that during market turmoil in 2022, Palantir's stock fell by 65%, significantly more than the S&P 500's 19% decline, suggesting greater vulnerability due to its high valuation [12] Group 4: Future Projections - By the end of 2026, it is anticipated that Palantir's stock could fall below $100, with a possibility of dropping below $50, depending on market conditions [13] - The potential appointment of a new Federal Reserve chair focused on rate cuts could further impact investor confidence and inflation, affecting high-priced stocks like Palantir [11][12]

Equifax (NYSE: EFX) secured 27 patents in the second half of 2025, bringing the total number of patents secured for the year to 62. Twenty of these patents support the company’s approach to artificial intelligence, complementing its EFX.AI strategy and “helping to accelerate the development of cloud-based, AI-enabled solutions that help to create financial opportunities for consumers.”As of Nov 2025, Equifax has nearly “700 issued or pending patents spanning 15 countries, encompassing distinctive techniques ...

Brown Advisory, an investment management company, released its “Brown Advisory Mid-Cap Growth Strategy” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The strategy underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, in the third quarter of 2025, which increased approximately 3%.  In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Brown Advisory Mid-Cap Growth Strategy highlighted st ...