Core Viewpoint - The article discusses three distinct AI stocks that investors should consider for long-term investment, highlighting their unique attributes and potential in the AI sector. Group 1: Alphabet (GOOGL) - Alphabet is characterized as a stable investment with a high floor due to its established position in AI and cloud computing, making it a reliable choice for investors [5][8] - The company reported a market capitalization of $3.8 trillion and generated $74.1 billion in revenue from its core digital advertising business in Q3 [7] - Alphabet's ongoing investments in autonomous vehicles and quantum computing further enhance its growth prospects, making it a dependable option for buy-and-hold investors over the next three to five years [8] Group 2: Tesla (TSLA) - Tesla represents a high-risk, high-reward investment, with CEO Elon Musk emphasizing the potential value of its humanoid robot, Tesla Optimus [9][12] - The company has a market cap of $1.5 trillion, but its core vehicle business has faced challenges in recent quarters, which could impact stock performance [10][12] - The humanoid robotics market is projected to grow into a $5 trillion total addressable market by 2050, presenting significant upside potential for Tesla [11] Group 3: International Business Machines (IBM) - IBM is positioned as a rare AI dividend stock, appealing to investors seeking income alongside growth, with a dividend yield of 2.27% [13][15] - The company has a market cap of $277 billion and has raised its dividend for 29 consecutive years, reflecting its long-term growth capabilities [14][15] - IBM is actively expanding its AI ecosystem through mergers and acquisitions, with anticipated earnings growth at a high-single-digit annualized rate over the next three to five years [16]

Company Overview - AppLovin (APP) stock closed at $673.82, down 2.87%, underperforming the S&P 500, which lost 0.74% [1] - Over the past month, AppLovin's stock has increased by 6.23%, outperforming the Business Services sector's gain of 2.83% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.79% [1] Earnings Forecast - AppLovin is expected to report an EPS of $2.89, reflecting a growth of 67.05% year-over-year [2] - Revenue is projected to be $1.6 billion, indicating a 16.86% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Full-Year Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for AppLovin's full-year earnings are $9.32 per share and revenue of $5.57 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +105.74% and +18.2%, respectively [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions are seen as positive indicators for the business outlook [3] Valuation Metrics - AppLovin has a Forward P/E ratio of 74.46, significantly higher than the industry average of 18.56 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.72, compared to the Technology Services industry's average PEG ratio of 1.72 [6] Industry Context - The Technology Services industry, part of the Business Services sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 92, placing it in the top 38% of over 250 industries [7] - Strong industry rankings correlate with superior performance, with the top 50% rated industries outperforming the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

For retirees, consistency of dividend payments is of utmost priority, especially given the rising cost of living and living longer. The most consistent dividend payors are the businesses with solid cash flows and a proven track record of paying stable dividends, regardless of market cycles.Today, we spotlight three such businesses for consideration. What Makes a Stock Retirement-Friendly?Taking a step back, we have to first consider what makes a stock retirement-friendly. First, the company should have a su ...

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMD) CEO, Lisa Su, reflected on the influence of former IBM (NYSE:IBM) CEO Lou Gerstner on her early career, after the former tech executive died on Saturday, aged 83. An ‘Amazingly Curious’ Leader On Sunday, in a post on X, Su described Gerstner as a leader who was “amazingly curious and insightful” about technology, while noting that she was privileged to learn and work under his leadership early in her career. Su said she was “so honored to have had a c ...

Core Viewpoint - SLB is experiencing a positive stock performance, with a recent increase in share price and upcoming earnings report that may reflect a decline in earnings per share but an increase in revenue [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - SLB closed at $38.55, marking a +1.72% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.14% [1]. - Over the past month, SLB shares have gained 3.55%, surpassing the Business Services sector's gain of 3.18% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.94% [1]. Group 2: Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings report is scheduled for January 23, 2026, with projected earnings per share (EPS) of $0.74, indicating a 19.57% decrease from the same quarter last year [2]. - Revenue is projected to be $9.54 billion, reflecting a 2.74% increase from the equivalent quarter last year [2]. Group 3: Annual Estimates - For the annual period, earnings are anticipated to be $2.89 per share and revenue at $35.78 billion, representing declines of -15.25% and -1.41% respectively from the previous year [3]. - Recent modifications to analyst estimates for SLB indicate shifting business dynamics, with positive changes reflecting analyst optimism [3]. Group 4: Valuation Metrics - SLB is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 13.12, which is below the industry average of 18.83, indicating a discount compared to its peers [6]. - The Technology Services industry, part of the Business Services sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 95, placing it in the top 39% of over 250 industries [6]. Group 5: Analyst Ratings - The Zacks Rank system rates SLB at 4 (Sell), with the consensus EPS projection remaining unchanged over the past 30 days [5]. - The Zacks Rank has a historical track record of outperformance, with 1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988 [5].

Investors interested in Technology Services stocks are likely familiar with ScanSource (SCSC) and Symbotic Inc. (SYM) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate ...

Core Insights - Cipher Mining (CIFR) is advancing its AI and high-performance computing (HPC) expansion through long-term contracts and a rapidly scaling pipeline, reshaping its growth profile [1] Group 1: AI/HPC Expansion - During Q3 2025, Cipher Mining executed two significant AI/HPC transactions, including a 10-year hosting agreement with Fluidstack and a 15-year lease with Amazon Web Services (AWS), securing approximately $8.5 billion in contracted lease payments, with revenues expected to start in 2026 [2][9] - The company has successfully grown its contracted AI hosting capacity from zero to 544 MW in a single quarter, while maintaining a development pipeline of 3.2 GW extending through 2029 and beyond [3][9] Group 2: Revenue Growth and Estimates - AI revenues are anticipated to ramp up primarily from 2026, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate projecting a 15.69% revenue growth for that year, indicating expectations for accelerating contributions from the expanding AI/HPC platform [4] - For the full year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for loss is pegged at 88 cents per share, remaining unchanged over the past 30 days [14] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - IREN Limited is a competitor with a GPU-centric strategy, building a large-scale GPU cloud platform supported by a $9.7 billion Microsoft contract, aiming for over $500 million in AI Cloud ARR by early fiscal 2026 [5] - TeraWulf is emerging as a competitor through a long-term joint venture with Fluidstack, targeting long-duration contracts valued at $9.5 billion over 25 years, although its capacity expansion is back-end loaded, likely not online before 2026 [6] Group 4: Share Price Performance - Cipher Mining shares have increased by 207.7% over the past six months, significantly outperforming the Zacks Technology Services industry's gain of 20.9%, while the broader Zacks Business Services sector declined by 7.8% [7]

Ocado Group is set to offer its grocery technology to more potential customers after its mutual exclusivity arrangements ended with retailers in most of the markets in which it operates, including Kroger in the United States.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free ac ...

Core Insights - The company was perceived to be in an unfixable decline when leadership was taken over in 1993, prompting a strategic shift from hardware to services [1] Company Focus Shift - The strategic change involved moving the company's focus from hardware products to service-oriented offerings, indicating a significant transformation in its business model [1]

Core Insights - Lewis Gersner, former IBM chairman and CEO, passed away at age 83, recognized for transforming IBM's business model towards services and significantly increasing its stock value during his tenure [1][2]. Company Overview - Gersner was the first outsider to lead IBM, taking the role in 1993 after serving as CEO of RJR Nabisco [1]. - Under his leadership, IBM's stock rose over 700%, although the company faced challenges in revenue and was perceived as "legacy tech" in later years [2]. Workforce Changes - In the early 1990s, IBM employed approximately 350,000 people, but this number has since decreased to around 270,000, reflecting significant workforce reductions during Gersner's restructuring efforts [3]. Industry Context - Gersner's strategies in the 1990s are seen as relevant today as large companies navigate technological shifts and productivity challenges, highlighting a historical trend of legacy companies reducing costs and workforce [4].