On CNBC's “Halftime Report Final Trades,” on Thursday, Bryn Talkington, managing partner of Requisite Capital Management, named Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) as her final trade.Shares of Magnificent Seven stock Alphabet have soared to new all-time highs in recent days and posted an impressive gain of 54% year-to-date in 2025. Investors in the tech giant are sitting on remarkable gains, including the company’s co-founders, who are now among the wealthiest people in the world.Stephanie Link, chie ...

Core Insights - The S&P 500 index showed minimal change at the end of the week, indicating underlying market activity and rotation among sectors [1] Group 1 - The S&P 500's performance may appear stable, but significant movements and sector rotations are occurring beneath the surface [1]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $4.3 billion investment in Alphabet, while reducing its stake in Apple, marking a significant shift in its equity portfolio as Warren Buffett prepares to step down as CEO [1][2]. Group 1: Investment in Alphabet - Berkshire Hathaway owns 17.85 million shares of Alphabet as of September 30 [1][4]. - The investment in Alphabet is valued at approximately $4.3 billion [1]. Group 2: Changes in Apple Stake - Berkshire reduced its Apple stake to 238.2 million shares from 280 million shares in the third quarter [2]. - The company has sold nearly three-quarters of its original 905 million shares in Apple [2]. Group 3: Overall Equity Portfolio - As of September 30, Berkshire's US-listed stock holdings constitute a significant portion of its $283.2 billion equity portfolio [3].

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway has made a significant investment in Alphabet, purchasing 17.8 million shares worth $4.3 billion as of September 30, indicating a potential shift in investment strategy before Warren Buffett steps down as CEO [1] - Buffett has historically avoided technology investments, focusing instead on companies within his "circle of competence," but this move may signal a new era for the company [2] Investment Activity - In the third quarter, Berkshire spent $6.4 billion on stocks while selling $12.5 billion, marking the twelfth consecutive quarter as net sellers [3] - The company has faced challenges in finding attractive deals due to high stock prices and increased competition, leading to a struggle in making acquisitions [3] Financial Position - Berkshire's cash reserves reached a record $358 billion after subtracting Treasury payables, presenting a significant opportunity for the incoming CEO, Greg Abel, to deploy this capital effectively [4] - Despite the challenges in the investment landscape, Buffett remains optimistic about future opportunities for Berkshire [4]

Core Insights - Pinterest Inc. reported modest third-quarter 2025 results, with net income missing estimates while revenues exceeded expectations, driven by strong growth across all regions and enhanced monetization efforts [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Net income on a GAAP basis was $92.1 million, or 13 cents per share, compared to $30.5 million, or 4 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter, reflecting improved profitability due to top-line growth [2] - Non-GAAP net income increased to $262.9 million, or 38 cents per share, up from $223.3 million, or 32 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter [2] - Revenues rose to $1.049 billion from $898.4 million in the prior-year quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $975 million, marking a 17% year-over-year growth [3][9] User Metrics - Global monthly active users (MAUs) reached 600 million, a record high, with a 17% year-over-year increase [3][9] - MAUs from the United States and Canada were 103 million, up 4% year over year, while the Rest of the World saw a 16% increase to 347 million [7] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues from the United States and Canada totaled $786 million, up 9% year over year, while revenues from Europe increased by 41% to $193 million [6] - Revenues from the Rest of World rose to $70 million from $42 million in the prior-year quarter, exceeding estimates [6] Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - Global ARPU stood at $1.78, up from $1.70 in the year-ago quarter, with significant increases in Europe (31% to $1.31) and the Rest of World (44% to $0.21) [8][9] Operational Efficiency - Adjusted EBITDA was $306.1 million, up from $246.9 million in the prior-year quarter, attributed to disciplined expense management and operational efficiency [9] - Total costs and expenses increased to $990.6 million from $904.3 million in the year-ago quarter, with R&D expenses rising to $371.3 million [10] Cash Flow and Liquidity - The company generated $321.6 million in cash from operating activities, compared to $248 million in the prior-year quarter, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $1.13 billion as of September 30, 2025 [11] Future Outlook - For Q4 2025, Pinterest expects revenues between $1.313 billion and $1.338 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 14-16%, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $533 million and $558 million [12]

Group 1: Alphabet's Performance and AI Impact - Alphabet's Google Cloud Platform saw a 34% increase in revenue last quarter, reaching $15.2 billion, with an operating margin of 24% [1] - The backlog for Google Cloud grew by 82% year over year to $155 billion, indicating strong future demand [1] - In the search business, Alphabet's revenue growth accelerated to 15% year over year, driven by AI enhancements in search features [2] - The AI mode feature, which integrates the Gemini chatbot interface, has attracted 75 million daily users, contributing to overall query growth [2] - Investor sentiment is shifting positively towards Alphabet as it is recognized for its potential gains from AI advancements [3] Group 2: Bill Ackman's Investment Strategy - Bill Ackman has a concentrated investment strategy, with over half of his hedge fund's $16 billion portfolio in just three companies [4] - Ackman believes that concerns regarding AI chatbots threatening Alphabet are overstated, and he sees significant growth potential for the company [3] - Following positive news and strong earnings, Alphabet's stock price has risen significantly, trading at about 27 times forward earnings estimates [6] Group 3: Uber Technologies Overview - Ackman has built a substantial position in Uber Technologies, praising its profitability under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi [7] - Uber has formed partnerships with autonomous vehicle suppliers, including Alphabet's Waymo, enhancing its value proposition [8] - The company reported a 15% year-over-year increase in monthly active platform consumers and an 18% increase in total trips and gross booking volume [9] - Uber's adjusted EBITDA grew by 35% year over year, indicating strong operating leverage [10] - The company has initiated a $20 billion stock repurchase program, supporting expected adjusted earnings-per-share growth of around 30% [11] Group 4: Brookfield's Growth Potential - Brookfield is a diversified holding company with significant growth drivers in its insurance and asset management segments [12] - The insurance business has tripled its assets from $45 billion to $135 billion in three years, with potential growth to $600 billion [13] - Management anticipates $6 billion in net carried interest income over the next three years, significantly boosting earnings [14] - Ackman expects Brookfield's distributable earnings per share to grow by 30% starting next year, with the stock trading at less than 20 times trailing distributable earnings [15]

Group 1: Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy - The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has decided to maintain its short-term policy interest rate at 0.5%, marking the sixth consecutive meeting without a change [2][9] - Speculation about a potential rate hike to 0.75% before year-end has diminished, particularly after the election of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is seen as favoring looser fiscal policy [3][9] - Investors are closely monitoring statements from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda for indications on future monetary policy adjustments, while the BoJ continues to signal gradual normalization through ETF and J-REIT sales [3][9] Group 2: European and US Market Performance - European stock markets opened positively, with the EuroStoxx 50 up 0.4% and Germany's DAX gaining 0.5%, reflecting cautious optimism among investors [4][5][9] - US futures for Nasdaq and S&P 500 showed slight gains ahead of the market open, following a mixed close on Wednesday, with Nasdaq 100 reaching a record high [6][7][9] - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has tempered expectations for further interest rate cuts in December, despite a recent 25 basis point reduction [7][9] Group 3: Starbucks' Strategic Moves - Starbucks is nearing a deal to sell a partial stake in its China business, valued at approximately $5 billion, aiming to attract new investors while retaining a meaningful minority stake [12][13] - The decision comes as Starbucks faces increased competition in China, with its market share declining from 34% in 2019 to 14% in 2024 due to local low-cost chains like Luckin Coffee [13]

Market Overview - Major stock indexes showed mixed performance, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreasing by nearly 0.2% to 47,632, the S&P 500 remaining steady at 6,890.59, and the Nasdaq increasing by 0.55% to 23,958.47 [1] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75%-4.00% and announced the cessation of its securities holdings runoff starting December 1, marking the end of its quantitative tightening program. This decision was made amid slowing job growth, moderate economic expansion, and persistent inflation pressures, with two dissenting votes [2] Meta Platforms Inc. - Meta's stock saw a slight increase of 0.03%, closing at $751.67, but dropped over 7% in after-hours trading to $696.30. The stock's intraday high was $759.16 and low was $742.51, with a 52-week range of $796.25 to $479.80 [3][4] - The company reported third-quarter revenue of $51.24 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase, and adjusted earnings per share of $7.25. A one-time, non-cash income tax charge of $15.93 billion was included in the earnings report. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized strong performance in AI and wearable technology, with significant investments planned [4] Alphabet Inc. - Alphabet Class C shares increased by 2.51% to close at $275.17, with after-hours trading rising 6.73% to $293.69. Class A shares gained 2.65% to $274.57, also rising 6.72% in after-hours trading to $293.01 [5] - The company reported third-quarter revenue of $102.35 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase, with earnings of $2.87 per share. Growth was driven by Search, YouTube, and Cloud services, while CEO Sundar Pichai noted rapid AI adoption and 650 million users for Gemini. However, the company anticipates higher capital spending in 2025 [6] Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. - Chipotle's stock decreased by 1.24% to close at $39.76, falling 16.5% in after-hours trading to $33.19. The stock's intraday high was $40.65 and low was $39.59, with a 52-week range of $66.74 to $38.30 [7][8] - The company reported third-quarter earnings of $0.29 per share, matching estimates, but revenue of $3 billion slightly missed expectations of $3.02 billion. Comparable restaurant sales and margins saw a modest decline, and the company opened 84 new locations [8] Microsoft Corporation - Microsoft's stock experienced a slight decrease of 0.10%, closing at $541.55, and fell nearly 4% in after-hours trading to $519.99. The stock's intraday high was $546.27 and low was $536.73, with a 52-week range of $555.45 to $344.79 [9][10] - The company reported first-quarter revenue of $77.7 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase, with earnings of $4.13 per share, surpassing the Street's estimate of $3.67. Growth was attributed to strong cloud and AI performance, including a 40% increase in Azure revenue [10] Starbucks Corporation - Starbucks' stock decreased by 1.47%, closing at $84.17, with after-hours trading showing a 1.8% increase. The stock's intraday high was $84.89 and low was $83.28, with a 52-week range of $117.46 to $75.50 [11] - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $9.57 billion, exceeding estimates, while adjusted earnings of $0.52 per share fell short of the $0.56 estimates. Global comparable store sales rose by 1%, with international growth offsetting flat North American sales [11]

Market Overview - The markets are currently perceived as constructive, with good earnings reported despite a lack of economic data, and expectations for rate cuts in an accelerating economy [2][3] - The S&P 500 equal weight index is being monitored to maintain key support levels, particularly the previous high [2][3] PG&E - PG&E is undergoing a transformation from post-bankruptcy recovery into a high-quality growth utility, driven by California's clean energy mandates and a favorable rate structure [4][5] - The company is expected to achieve approximately $13 billion annually in investments, supporting a projected 9% annual earnings growth [5] - Since its bankruptcy, PG&E's stock has increased by about 60%, indicating a positive technical setup with a bullish crossover of moving averages [6][5] Bank of New York Mellon - The selection of Bank of New York Mellon is influenced by the AI narrative and the broader trend of tokenization and digital assets [14][15] - The bank is expected to benefit from structural growth and efficiency gains, with a return on tangible common equity (ROCE) at 25.9% year-to-date, indicating strong profitability [16][17] - The stock is trading at under 15 times forward earnings, with an anticipated long-term earnings per share growth of about 10% [17][18] Alphabet - Alphabet is positioned strongly within the AI sector, with expectations for continued growth in search execution and cloud services, especially as it approaches its earnings report on October 29 [25][26] - The company is expected to report strong ad growth, although any miss could negatively impact sentiment, presenting a potential buying opportunity [27][28] - Technical analysis shows Alphabet trading near key support levels, with a focus on maintaining momentum as it approaches its earnings report [30][32]

American Express - American Express reported better-than-expected earnings, with revenue reaching $18.4 billion, an 11% increase year-over-year, and EPS at $4.14, surpassing expectations [2][5] - The growth was driven by higher card member spending and increased card fees, particularly for the premium Platinum card, which has an annual fee of $895 [3][4] - The CEO noted strong demand for the Platinum card, stating it exceeded expectations, indicating robust performance among affluent consumers [4][7] Regional Banks - Zions Bancorporation experienced a rebound after a significant drop due to concerns over alleged loan fraud, with the stock gaining over 2% following an upgrade from analysts [8][10] - The market reaction to Zions' write-off of $50 million was deemed excessive, as it wiped off approximately $1 billion in market value, but analysts see this as a long-term investment opportunity [10][12] - Concerns about credit quality in the regional banking sector persist, with investors cautious following past issues in 2023 [12][13] Alphabet (Google) - Alphabet's stock has seen over 30% gains this year, with Guggenheim raising its price target from $210 to $280, maintaining a buy rating [15][16] - The digital advertising market is expected to remain steady, with Alphabet and Meta anticipated to capture more ad dollars, reflecting growing confidence in advertiser demand [17][18] - The removal of antitrust concerns has positively impacted Alphabet's outlook, contributing to a more bullish sentiment among analysts [18]