Core Viewpoint - Investors have recently shifted focus to niche stocks as skepticism grows regarding the returns on investments made by the Magnificent Seven tech giants in artificial intelligence development [1][12]. Group 1: Performance of the Magnificent Seven - The Magnificent Seven tech giants, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, have led the stock market for the past three years, but their performance has declined since the end of 2025 [1][12]. - Alphabet and Amazon are the only stocks among the Magnificent Seven that have seen gains, with Alphabet rising nearly 20% during the recent downturn [2][12]. - The Magnificent Seven index is currently trading at 28 times profits expected over the next 12 months, which is below previous peaks and in line with the average over the past decade [10][13]. Group 2: Investment Shifts and Market Reactions - Traders have increasingly invested in companies benefiting from Big Tech's spending, such as Sandisk, which is up over 130%, Micron Technology, which has risen 76%, and Western Digital, which has gained 67% since the Magnificent Seven index peaked [3][12]. - The upcoming earnings reports from Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, Apple, Alphabet, and Nvidia are expected to provide insights into the health of various tech sectors, with a projected profit growth of 20% for the fourth quarter, the slowest since early 2023 [4][6][12]. Group 3: Capital Expenditures and Growth Expectations - Major tech companies are expected to spend approximately USD 475 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, significantly up from USD 230 billion in 2024, raising investor expectations for returns on these investments [7][12]. - Microsoft’s Azure revenue rose 39% in its fiscal first quarter, with expectations of 36% growth in the second quarter, highlighting the demand for cloud services driven by AI [7][12]. - Companies that fail to meet growth targets may face significant market penalties, as seen with Meta Platforms, which experienced an 11% drop in stock price following a projection of increased capital expenditures without clear profit pathways [8][12]. Group 4: Comparative Earnings Growth - The 493 companies in the S&P 500 not included in the Magnificent Seven are projected to deliver only 8% earnings growth in the fourth quarter, significantly slower than the expected growth from the tech giants [9][12]. - Nvidia shares have increased by 1,184% since the end of 2022, yet are priced at 24 times anticipated profits, slightly above the S&P 500's multiple of 22, indicating that the stocks are not historically expensive [10][13]. Group 5: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - Investors are awaiting signs of growth from the Magnificent Seven, with the current earnings season viewed as a critical milestone for assessing progress [11][13]. - The sentiment in the market has shifted to a "show-me story," where investors demand tangible results from Big Tech's investments in AI and other technologies [4][12].

The An index tracking the group closed at a record on Oct. 29, and since then the shares of five of the seven members are down and trailing the S&P 500 Index. Alphabet, which has soared almost 20% during that stretch, and Amazon.com are the only stocks in the green. Bloomberg In response, traders have been piling into the recipients of Big Tech's largesse. Memory and storage maker Sandisk Corp. is up more than 130% since the Magnificent Seven index hit an all-time high and then retreated, while Micron Te ...

Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg Investors have made a pile of money recently by focusing on niche stocks in the AI trade. Earnings from some of the world’s biggest technology companies this week will offer an indication of whether they should stick to that strategy in 2026. The Magnificent Seven tech giants — Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp. and Tesla Inc. — have led the stock market higher for much of the past three years. But that reversed ...

Core Viewpoint - Zebra Technologies is strategically positioned to manage incoming tariff expenses due to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain challenges, leading to strong financial performance in the first quarter of 2024 [1][2]. Financial Performance - In the first quarter, Zebra reported an 11% year-over-year increase in revenues and a 42% rise in earnings, surpassing Wall Street's consensus estimates [1]. - The company anticipates direct tariff costs of approximately $30 million in Q2 2025 and $70 million for the entire fiscal year [4]. - Tariff expenses are expected to impact adjusted EBITDA, which was $292 million in Q2 and $1.05 billion for fiscal year 2024, representing roughly 10% of adjusted EBITDA profits in the next quarter and less than 7% for the full year [5]. Supply Chain Management - Zebra has diversified its supply chain, reducing shipments from China to the U.S. from 85% to an expected 30% by the end of Q2, enhancing supply chain resiliency [8]. - While most manufacturing can be relocated, some key components are still sourced from China, indicating that tariff costs will not be entirely avoidable [9][10]. Market Outlook - The demand for data-tracking services and supply chain analytics is expected to drive revenue growth and margin expansion for Zebra [11]. - Despite a 34% decline in stock price over the last three months, trading at 13 times free cash flows, the market's reaction may be overly pessimistic given Zebra's anticipated robust sales growth and manageable tariff impact [12]. - Investing in Zebra is seen as a strategic opportunity for long-term growth in data-driven sectors such as shipping, manufacturing, and retail [13].