Torsten Asmus/iStock via Getty Images Dear Co-Investor Our letter to you is arriving somewhat later in the quarter than usual. Admittedly, it has been a busy earnings season, but the more honest answer is that we have been working on some very intriguing potential investments for next year. As ever, we are unrepentant opportunists . We end up pulling on a thread of an idea and suddenly find ourselves tumbling down the rabbit hole. Over the years, we have trained our noses to follow the subtle scent of o ...

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are highlighted, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is presented as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for supporting the anticipated surge in energy demand from AI data centers [3][7] - This company is characterized as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, benefiting from the increasing need for energy as AI technologies expand [4][5] Market Position - The company is noted for its unique position in the market, being one of the few capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including nuclear energy [7][8] - It is described as debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, which is nearly one-third of its market capitalization, providing a strong financial foundation [8][10] Growth Potential - The company also has an equity stake in another AI-related venture, offering investors indirect exposure to multiple growth engines in the AI sector without the associated premium costs [9][10] - The stock is considered undervalued, trading at less than seven times earnings, which presents a compelling investment opportunity given its ties to the growing AI and energy markets [10][11] Industry Trends - The article discusses the broader trends of onshoring driven by tariffs and the surge in U.S. LNG exports, positioning the company favorably within these dynamics [6][14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, reinforcing the importance of investing in AI-related companies [12]

For those who view technical analysis as an important part of their investment or trading tool kit, these are interesting times. Even those who dismiss it out of hand may have to respect its potential impact on markets right now.Amazon is raising $15 billion in its ‌first bond issue in three years, Boaz Weinstein's Saba Capital Management has sold credit derivatives to lenders seeking protection on names like Oracle and Microsoft, and alternative asset manager Blue Owl - involved with Meta in the financing ...

Corporate borrowing has soared to record highs this year. Some worry that the debt binge powering the AI ambitions of Big Tech could spell trouble. Investors have flocked to recent bond sales, but more borrowing poses risks to markets and the economy, sources say. Big Tech firms have led a frenzy of corporate borrowers tapping the bond markets for cash this year, and the trend is catching the eye of Wall Street observers. While commentators have been nervously eyeing huge AI capex all year, it's n ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of focusing on growth investing opportunities with attractive risk/reward profiles, particularly in the AI sector [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment approach combines price action analysis with fundamental investing, aiming to identify stocks with significant upside potential while avoiding overhyped and overvalued stocks [1] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in identifying high-potential opportunities across various sectors, focusing on growth stocks with robust fundamentals and attractive valuations [1] Group 2: Analyst Recognition - The analyst has been recognized by TipRanks as a Top Analyst and by Seeking Alpha for expertise in Technology, Software, and Internet sectors, as well as for Growth and GARP [1] - The analyst's track record includes outperformance with selected picks, indicating a strong ability to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1] Group 3: Investment Horizon - The investment thesis typically has an 18 to 24 month outlook for the identified opportunities to materialize [1] - The focus is on contrarian plays that have been beaten down but show significant recovery potential [1]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] - A specific company is highlighted as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI technologies [3][7][8] Investment Landscape - Wall Street is investing hundreds of billions into AI, but there is a pressing concern regarding the energy supply needed to sustain this growth [2] - AI data centers, such as those powering large language models, consume energy equivalent to that of small cities, indicating a looming energy crisis [2] - The company in focus is positioned to capitalize on the surge in demand for electricity driven by AI, making it a potentially lucrative investment opportunity [3][6] Company Profile - The company is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, benefiting from tariffs and the onshoring trend in the U.S. [5][6] - It possesses significant nuclear energy infrastructure assets, which are crucial for America's future power strategy [7] - The company is noted for its ability to execute large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewables [7] Financial Position - The company is completely debt-free and has a substantial cash reserve, amounting to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, which positions it favorably compared to heavily indebted competitors [8] - It also holds a significant equity stake in another AI-related company, providing indirect exposure to multiple growth engines in the AI sector [9] Market Sentiment - There is a growing interest from hedge funds in this company, which is considered undervalued and off the radar, trading at less than seven times earnings [10][9] - The company is recognized for delivering real cash flows and owning critical infrastructure, making it a compelling investment choice in the context of the AI and energy sectors [11][12]

Core Insights - The current market is heavily influenced by AI, leading to concerns about a potential AI bubble due to overcommitment in spending by companies like OpenAI [5][10][12] - OpenAI has committed over $1.4 trillion in spending, while its revenue for the first half of the year was only $4.3 billion, raising questions about sustainability [10][12][13] - Major tech companies are increasing their capital expenditures (CapEx) significantly, indicating a response to rising demand for AI infrastructure [16][17][19] AI Market Dynamics - The AI market is characterized by a reactionary nature, with companies spending heavily to avoid falling behind competitors [7][14] - Concerns are growing about whether companies are spending based on best-case scenarios without adequate contingency plans [19][20] - Recent earnings reports from tier-one players show a trend of increased CapEx, but market reactions vary based on management commentary and perceived risk [18][20] Supply Chain and Investment Opportunities - There are signs of potential supply chain issues, particularly with Nvidia's new products, which could impact the AI server demand [21][29][30] - Companies like CoreWeave and Supermicro have cut guidance, indicating possible challenges in the AI supply chain [23][29] - Despite current market anxieties, there are long-term opportunities in companies with solid fundamentals in the AI supply chain, such as Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom [37][44][91] Company-Specific Analysis - AMD's recent deal with OpenAI to deploy six gigawatts of power is seen as a strategic move to secure its position in the AI market, despite current financial performance lagging [50][58][62] - Intel's future is uncertain due to its foundry business and lack of commitment to capital expenditures, which could affect its competitive positioning [80][83][88] - Micron is highlighted as a strong player in the memory space, with expected demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) increasing significantly due to AI server build-out [91][92] Broader Market Considerations - The overall sentiment in the tech market is heavily tied to AI, with many investors focusing solely on AI-related growth opportunities [96][97] - There are also attractive investment opportunities outside of AI, such as Rocket Labs, which is positioned to compete in the growing space market [100][102] - The market is currently pricing in high valuations for many tech companies, driven by future potential rather than current performance, making it essential for investors to be cautious [69][64]

Core Insights - Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.04% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.9% [1] - Revenues reached $14.88 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.71%, with a year-over-year growth of 7.5% [2] Financial Performance - Total Annual Recurring Revenues (ARR) were $31.4 billion, up 5%, with product ARR growth of 7% [2] - Total subscription revenues amounted to $8 billion, representing 54% of Cisco's total revenues [2] - Total software revenue increased by 3% year over year to $5.7 billion [2] - Product revenues in Q1 were $11.08 billion, accounting for 74.4% of total revenues, with a year-over-year increase of 9.5% [5] - Service revenues were $3.81 billion, making up 25.6% of total revenues, and increased by 2.1% year over year [5] Segment Performance - Networking revenues were $7.77 billion, up 15% year over year [4] - Security revenues decreased by 2% to $1.98 billion [4] - Collaboration revenues fell by 3% to $1.06 billion [4] - Observability revenues increased by 6% to $274 million [4] Geographic Performance - Americas' revenues grew by 9% year over year to $8.99 billion [6] - EMEA revenues climbed by 5% year over year to $3.78 billion [6] - APJC revenues also increased by 5% year over year to $2.11 billion [6] Operating Metrics - Non-GAAP gross margin was 68.1%, expanding by 120 basis points year over year [7] - Non-GAAP operating income was $5.12 billion, reflecting an 8.4% year-over-year increase [8] - Operating margin improved by 30 basis points year over year to 34.4% [8] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of October 25, 2025, cash and cash equivalents totaled $15.7 billion, down from $16.1 billion [9] - Total debt remained stable at $28.1 billion [9] - Cisco returned $3.6 billion to stockholders through share buybacks and dividends [10] Guidance - For Q2 fiscal 2026, Cisco expects non-GAAP earnings between $1.01 and $1.03 per share, with revenues projected between $15 billion and $15.2 billion [11] - For the full fiscal 2026, non-GAAP earnings are expected to be between $4.08 and $4.14 per share, with revenues anticipated between $60.2 billion and $61 billion [12]

Core Insights - CleanSpark, a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company, has announced a $1.15 billion convertible note offering aimed at accelerating its growth in Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure [1] Company Summary - The company is focusing on expanding its operations in both Bitcoin mining and AI, indicating a strategic diversification of its business model [1] Financial Overview - The convertible note offering is valued at $1.15 billion, which represents a significant capital raise for the company to fund its growth initiatives [1]

Group 1 - The stock market is experiencing volatility as the earnings season concludes, with notable selling pressure on Palantir Technologies and Robinhood Markets despite their strong earnings results [2] - Cisco Systems has faced selling pressure after reaching new highs, indicating a potential shift in investor sentiment [2] - Upcoming earnings reports from Rocket Lab, Nu Holdings, and Cisco are anticipated, which may influence market dynamics [3] Group 2 - Palantir's stock has fallen below a critical trading level, raising questions about its investment viability amidst a broader pullback in AI stocks [5] - Cisco has been upgraded based on expectations that AI orders will enhance fiscal 2026 sales performance [5] - CoreWeave has terminated its deal with Core Scientific after shareholders rejected the offer, highlighting ongoing challenges in the sector [5]