Group 1 - SGA's U.S. Large Cap Growth Strategy reported a portfolio return of -1.3% (Gross) and -1.4% (Net) in Q3, underperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index which returned 10.5% and the S&P 500 Index which returned 8.1% [1] - The investment objective of SGA is to focus on high-quality growth businesses expected to achieve consistent mid-teens earnings growth, stable revenue, and cash flow [1] - In Q3, lower-quality stocks and cyclical industries outperformed, negatively impacting SGA's investment style [1] Group 2 - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was highlighted as a key stock in SGA's third-quarter investor letter, with a one-month return of -1.44% and a 52-week gain of 64.61% [2] - As of December 31, 2025, Alphabet's stock closed at $313.80 per share, with a market capitalization of $3.78 trillion [2] Group 3 - Alphabet Inc. contributed positively during the quarter, benefiting from a favorable outcome in a key antitrust case, which allowed the company to retain its core assets and business model [3] - The company reported strong Q2 results with 13% constant currency revenue growth, increased normalized margins, and accelerated paid click growth [3] - Notable growth in cloud backlog increased from 27% to 37%, with the number of cloud deals over $250 million doubling year-over-year [3] - Alphabet's leadership in AI, search, and cloud is translating into financial results, prompting management to increase the CapEx budget for further innovation [3] - Despite regulatory risks, Alphabet's diversified revenue streams and strategic investments position it well for continued growth, making it a compelling long-term investment [3]

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet Inc. has transformed from a tech giant facing threats from AI to a potential leader in the AI space within a year, significantly boosting investor sentiment and stock performance [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Alphabet's shares have surged over 120% since hitting lows of approximately $140 in April [2]. - In 2025, GOOG shares have increased by 64.78%, outperforming its peers in the Magnificent 7 [6]. Group 2: AI Strategy - The shift in perception from AI as a threat to an opportunity has been pivotal, with Alphabet demonstrating its ability to leverage AI technology effectively [2]. - Gemini, Alphabet's AI initiative, is rapidly gaining traction, with user interest growing over 300% year-over-year, compared to 67% for ChatGPT [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Despite ChatGPT's dominance with an estimated 85% market share, Gemini is closing the gap, although engagement levels remain lower, with Gemini users averaging 4 queries per day compared to ChatGPT's 7.5 [3][4]. - Google's integration of Gemini into its default search engine is a key factor in its rapid growth [3]. Group 4: Broader Business Performance - Google Cloud is experiencing significant growth, with revenue up 34% year-over-year, surpassing competitors like Amazon and Microsoft [5]. - YouTube commands 13% of U.S. TV time, outperforming Netflix, which holds 8% [5].

Core Insights - Alphabet Inc. is a leading technology platform with a diverse portfolio including Search, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Google Cloud, and digital advertising, dominating global search traffic and online video consumption [2] - The company benefits from strong network effects, extensive computing infrastructure, and advancing AI capabilities, maintaining a robust economic moat in the technology sector [2] DCF Analysis - The DCF model uses a discount rate of 10% and a terminal growth rate of 3%, forecasting free cash flows (FCF) from 2025 to 2029, totaling a present value of $340.4 billion [3] - The terminal value, calculated using a perpetuity growth model, is approximately $1,397.9 billion, leading to a present value of the terminal value of $972.6 billion [3] - The enterprise value of Alphabet is calculated to be $1,313.0 billion [3] Net Debt and Equity Value - Alphabet has cash and equivalents of $98.5 billion and total debt of $33.7 billion, resulting in a net debt of -$64.8 billion [4] - The equity value is estimated at $1,377.8 billion, with an intrinsic value per share of approximately $114 based on shares outstanding of about 12.08 billion [4] Conclusion - The DCF value of Alphabet is $114, while the current market price is around $316, indicating a margin of safety of -64% [5] - Despite being a highly cash-generative business with strong positions in various sectors, the stock is trading above its intrinsic value, reflecting investor confidence in future growth and AI monetization [5][6] - For long-term investors, Alphabet presents significant scale and balance sheet strength, but the current price suggests limited margin of safety, indicating that future growth may already be priced in [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that investing in specific stocks can lead to positive returns in 2026, highlighting three companies as top picks for investors. Group 1: Alphabet - Alphabet is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) products and services, with expectations of significant profits in 2026 [3][4] - Google Cloud is experiencing faster growth compared to competitors like Amazon's AWS and Microsoft's Azure, aided by the launch of the Google Gemini 3.0 large language model [3][4] - The integration of generative AI into Google Search is enhancing search traffic and advertising revenue, contrary to predictions of it being a "Google killer" [4] - The company has a market capitalization of $3.8 trillion, with a current stock price of $313.34 and a gross margin of 59.18% [4][5] Group 2: Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals is expected to see increased momentum for its new cystic fibrosis therapy, Alyftrek, which may cannibalize sales of existing products but is anticipated to boost overall profits [7][10] - The company’s non-opioid pain drug, Journavx, is projected to expand its market access in 2026, leading to higher sales [8] - Vertex is pursuing accelerated approval for Povetacicept as a treatment for IgA nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease affecting a larger patient population than cystic fibrosis [10] - Vertex has a market capitalization of $115 billion, with a current stock price of $453.36 and a gross margin of 86.29% [9][10] Group 3: Enbridge - Enbridge is characterized as a stable investment with a high forward dividend yield of 5.8%, having increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years [12][13] - The company has significant long-term growth prospects, estimating around $50 billion in growth opportunities, particularly in its gas transmission business [14] - Enbridge's operations provide steady cash flow, making it a reliable choice for investors, especially in uncertain economic conditions [15][16] - The company has a market capitalization of $104 billion, with a current stock price of $47.83 and a gross margin of 32.82% [13][14]

Company Overview - Cogent Communications is a global provider of internet connectivity and network services, focusing on scalable, high-capacity infrastructure and a recurring revenue model [6][11] - The company reported a total revenue of $968.34 million and a net income of -$194.71 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4] - The stock has experienced a significant decline, with a 1-year price change of -72.21% as of December 31, 2025 [4] Recent Transaction - Henry W. Kilmer, Vice President of Network Strategy, sold 4,800 shares for a total of $94,992 on December 8, 2025, at a price of $19.79 per share [1][2] - Post-transaction, Kilmer holds 33,800 shares valued at approximately $716,222 [2] - This sale accounted for 12.44% of Kilmer's direct holdings, which is more than double his recent median percentage per sale [6] Stock Performance Context - The transaction occurred after a significant price depreciation, with Cogent shares down 65.98% year over year as of the sale date [6] - The market close price on the sale date was $21.19, indicating intraday volatility as it was higher than the reported sale price [6] - The stock has plummeted approximately 70% from its 52-week high of $84.06, driven by operational struggles following the company's acquisition of Sprint assets [10][11] Strategic Challenges - Cogent is currently facing challenges due to unprofitable customer agreements inherited from the Sprint acquisition, leading to reported losses in its most recent quarter [11] - The company has paused its stock buyback program and reduced its dividend to $0.02 per share [11] - Despite potential demand for AI-related high-capacity data center connections, the turnaround has been slower than anticipated [11]

Group 1 - Alphabet Inc. announced the acquisition of Intersect for $4.75 billion in cash, enhancing its capabilities in data center and energy infrastructure solutions [1] - The acquisition will enable faster generation capacity for data centers and includes the team from Intersect along with multiple gigawatts of energy and data center projects in development [2] - Intersect will operate separately under its own brand and will be led by Sheldon Kimber, while existing assets in Texas and California are not included in the deal [2] Group 2 - Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Alphabet Inc., with Ronald Josey from Citi reiterating a Buy rating and raising the price target from $343 to $350 [3] - Scott Devitt from Wedbush also reiterated a Buy rating and increased the price target from $320 to $350 [3] - Alphabet Inc. operates major segments including Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets [3]

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the best stocks for the next decade. On December 22, BNP Paribas Exane reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $355 price target for Alphabet. This sentiment followed the company’s announcement, on the same day, that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Intersect Power, which is a specialist provider of data center and energy infrastructure, for $4.75 billion in cash plus assumed debt. The firm views this move as a strategic step to accelerate the expansion ...

Core Viewpoint - Citizens raised its price target on Alphabet to $385 from $340 while maintaining a Market Outperform rating, driven by improving search fundamentals and multiple medium-term growth drivers [1] Group 1: Price Target and Rating - Citizens increased Alphabet's price target to $385 from $340, maintaining a Market Outperform rating [1] - The firm's reassessment of estimates and valuation was prompted by Alphabet's shares more than doubling from their May lows [2] Group 2: Revenue Growth and Catalysts - Citizens believes Google could further accelerate search revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, which is a key near-term question for investors [2] - Medium-term catalysts identified include Gemini, Google Cloud, Waymo, and custom TPUs, expected to support broader results inflection in 2026 and 2027 [3] Group 3: Search Performance and Advertising - Query growth in search appears to be accelerating due to AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini, leading to higher engagement [3] - Smart Bidding Exploration is expanding Google's advertising load by connecting advertisers to user intent rather than keywords, increasing the proportion of queries linked to ads [3] Group 4: Q3 Performance and Future Expectations - The third quarter marked the first full period with Smart Bidding Exploration, and the fourth quarter is expected to benefit similarly, supported by a stable macro backdrop for holiday advertising spend [4]

Group 1 - The document does not contain any relevant information regarding companies or industries [1][2][3][4][5][6]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of building a thoughtful investment portfolio that balances strong growth potential with solid fundamentals, focusing on high-quality businesses primarily in the U.S. and Europe [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company prioritizes investing in businesses with staying power, industry-leading profitability, low leverage, and growth potential [1]. - The focus is on portfolio strategy and capital allocation, aiming for long-term financial independence through careful investment choices [1]. Group 2: Market Position - The article highlights the significance of selecting companies that are worth holding for the long haul, indicating a preference for sustainable business models [1].