Welcome to Morning Brief presented by Robin Hood, the home to commission free trading. I'm Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sazy. Let's fire up three things you need to know on this day after Christmas trading session.First up, I remain on Santa Claus rally watch as the Grinch may not rip this from the mouths of the bulls. Stocks flirting with fresh records as the Santa rally period is now underway. A little news you can use here.Stocks have enjoyed a Santa Claus rally in nearly 80% of the last 50 years ...

Dan loves tech. Dan, good to see you. Don't know where to start, so I'm going to start on Nvidia.Uh I mentioned at the top we're seeing uh the bulls return to Nvidia. Uh not in a big way, but I would say in a nice way. What's the play there.>> Look, I think the reality is China is going to reopen, you know, for Nvidia. And I think that's something that wasn't necessarily factored in fully. I think investors are realizing it's a big change in the bellway.And look s the reality is the there's one chip in the ...

Let's bring in Lar Larer Hippo partner Eric Hippo to discuss what he expects for the year ahead. Eric, um clearly there's plenty of companies ready, but do you really believe this is going to be a year of unlock in the public markets given how easy it's been for these companies to raise capital privately and put their own values on things. >> Well, we we uh good morning.Uh we we always hope that it's going to be the next year, but this year there are some really good signs. The IPO market as you mentioned u ...

Let's bring in Lar Larer Hippo partner Eric Hippo to discuss what he expects for the year ahead. Eric, um clearly there's plenty of companies ready, but do you really believe this is going to be a year of unlock in the public markets given how easy it's been for these companies to raise capital privately and put their own values on things. >> Well, we we uh good morning.Uh we we always hope that it's going to be the next year, but this year there are some really good signs. The IPO market as you mentioned u ...

I'm joined by Diane Kinghal is with me, host of Morning Movers. And looking back here at one of the big things we've been waiting for, more on the robo taxis. >> They call it the rise of robo taxis, right.There's a few different points to pay attention to here. Uh there are some fits and starts with it essentially. On the plus side, you have Uber and Lyft doing this deal with BYU for UK robo taxes.I'll get into that in just a moment. Where the speed bumps are is uh with Whimo this weekend. uh Alphabet owned ...

Market Overview - Major stock indices are experiencing gains, with the Dow and S&P 500 up approximately 0.8% and the NASDAQ nearly 1% [2][3] - If the current trend continues, the NASDAQ could end a three-week losing streak, marking its first positive week in four weeks [3] - Cryptocurrency market shows a rebound, with Bitcoin rising 3.5% to around $90,000, indicating a significant recovery from last week [5] Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Reserve's Beige Book indicates a slowdown in consumer spending and hiring, alongside rising prices [7][8] - Consumer spending has declined due to factors like the government shutdown, with retail sales also showing weaker performance [8] - The job market is showing signs of deterioration, with increased layoff announcements and hiring freezes [9] - Inflation is reported to have a moderate increase, with businesses facing higher costs due to tariffs [11][12] Global Investment Opportunities - Investors are encouraged to consider global markets, as non-US assets may benefit from a weakening dollar [15][17] - Emerging markets, particularly in Asia, are highlighted as potential areas for investment, especially in sectors linked to AI [19][21] - The AI sector remains a key focus, with expectations for continued growth and investment opportunities [27][29] Value Stocks and Investment Strategies - Value stocks are defined as those priced low relative to earnings, assets, or cash flow, presenting potential upside [33][34] - Caution is advised against value traps, where stocks appear cheap but are declining due to deteriorating business fundamentals [34][35] - A strategy for identifying value stocks includes using filters like price-to-earnings ratios and dividend yields [36][39] Company-Specific Insights - Zscaler reported a 26% growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and a strong free cash flow margin of 52% [80][81] - The company is focusing on cybersecurity, particularly in the context of AI, as enterprises seek to secure their AI applications [91][92] - Zscaler's competitive landscape is evolving, with a focus on zero trust architecture as a differentiator from traditional firewall solutions [88][89] AI and Technology Sector - The AI sector is experiencing significant demand, with companies like Nvidia leading the charge in chip production for AI applications [63][70] - Analysts express confidence in the long-term growth of AI, viewing it as a transformative technology across various sectors [27][66] - Companies are increasingly integrating AI into their operations, with tangible productivity improvements noted in customer support and software development [95][96]

Core Viewpoint - Tesla shareholders have approved CEO Elon Musk's pay package, which received 75% support among voting shares, indicating strong backing for Musk's vision for the company's future [1] Group 1: Compensation and Future Vision - The vote on Musk's compensation was framed as a vote for Tesla's future roadmap, emphasizing a vision that includes physical AI, 1 million robots, and 1 million robo-taxis [2] - Musk's compensation is milestone-based, meaning he will only receive payment if Tesla meets specific performance targets [3][4] - The approval of the compensation package reflects confidence in Tesla's ability to deliver on its ambitious goals [6] Group 2: Leadership and Key Person Risk - There is a recognition of key person risk associated with Musk's leadership, but the company is expected to find a successor in the early stages of its transition towards an AI-driven future [9][10] - The discussion highlights the importance of design leadership in Tesla's success and the potential for transformative leadership in the company [10] Group 3: Investment in AI - Tesla's potential investment in X AI was discussed, with a majority of shareholders supporting the idea, indicating a strategic move towards integrating AI into the company's operations [11] - The excitement around physical AI and humanoid robots suggests a strong belief in the future potential of these technologies for Tesla [13]

Core Viewpoint - The upcoming shareholder meeting is expected to highlight Tesla's growth opportunities, emphasizing the potential for significant valuation increases if ambitious goals are met [1]. Group 1: Valuation and Compensation - If Tesla achieves an $8 trillion valuation, Elon Musk's compensation could be justified at around a trillion dollars, reflecting the company's operational and profitability milestones [3]. - The last three profitability milestones include achieving $400 billion in EBITDA over a 12-month period, which is unprecedented [3]. Group 2: Future Growth Drivers - Tesla's future growth is anticipated to be driven primarily by advancements in physical AI rather than just automotive sales [5][6]. - The company is focusing on applications of AI in various sectors, including robots and autonomous driving, indicating a strategic shift away from solely automotive revenue [6]. Group 3: Analyst Perspective - The current hold rating on Tesla shares reflects a full valuation based on existing fundamentals, with flat earnings projected for the next year [7]. - Analysts foresee negative earnings revisions but acknowledge that the market is increasingly focusing on Tesla's growth potential rather than just its automotive business [8].

Core Viewpoint - Tesla shareholders are voting on a proposed pay package for Elon Musk that could be worth up to $878 billion, which includes performance metrics that must be met for Musk to unlock more shares and compensation [2][4]. Group 1: Pay Package Details - The proposed pay package is structured in tranches, similar to a previous package that was rejected by a Delaware court [2]. - If approved, the package could increase Musk's stake in Tesla to over 25% [2]. - Key performance metrics include delivering 20 million Teslas, deploying 1 million robo-taxis, and deploying 1 million humanoid robots [3]. Group 2: Support and Opposition - Supporters of the pay package include Elon Musk and investment firms like Arc Invest and Bearing Capital, who believe that meeting the metrics will benefit all stakeholders [4]. - Opponents, including various retirement and pension funds, argue that the package lacks sufficient accountability measures regarding Musk's political activities and time commitment to Tesla projects [4]. Group 3: Historical Context - The previous pay package announced on January 23, 2018, faced skepticism, but Musk ultimately met all performance metrics, leading to significant increases in Tesla's share price [5]. - The outcome of the current shareholder vote is expected shortly after the meeting begins at 4 PM [6].

Financial Performance - Tesla's Q3 adjusted EPS was $0.50, versus consensus at $0.54 [1] - Tesla's Q3 revenue was $28.10 billion, beating the street's expectation of $26.36 billion [1] - Q3 gross margins were better than expected [1] - Q3 free cash flow was $3.99 billion, beating the estimate of $1.25 billion [2] EV Market and Demand - The expiration of EV tax credits in the US may lead to a decline in Q4 deliveries and overall deliveries in 2026 [49] - Tesla's EV sales potential is estimated to be around 1.9 million units per year [6] - Analysts estimate Tesla is looking at more like 1.6 million cars next year [7] - Tesla released two models under $40,000, but they may still be more expensive than comparable midsize SUVs [51][52] Autonomous Driving and Robotics - The autonomous valuation is believed to be worth $1 trillion alone to the Tesla story over the next few years [55] - Tesla aims to transition from selling cars to software and robotics in the future [56] - The success of Tesla's robo taxi business depends on the software's functionality, safety, and regulatory approvals [60] - Analysts predict that in 2-3 years, it will become commonplace to have robots in houses [35] Executive Compensation and Governance - Shareholders are expected to approve Elon Musk's potential $1 trillion pay package [62][63] - The pay package incentivizes Elon Musk to grow Tesla's market cap to a maximum of $8.5 trillion and successfully roll out robo taxis and Optimus robots [63]