alengo/iStock via Getty Images My dividend growth [DG] watchlist contains more than 700 stocks with a streak of at least 5 consecutive years of dividend increases. With so many stocks, I use different screens every month to find interesting candidates. I assess the quality of DG stocks using 9F Quality Scores , a new quality scoring system that rates DG stocks on a 10-point scale across 9 weighted...
alengo/iStock via Getty Images My dividend growth [DG] watchlist contains more than 700 stocks with a streak of at least 5 consecutive years of dividend increases. With so many stocks, I use different screens every month to find interesting candidates. I assess the quality of DG stocks using 9F Quality Scores , a new quality scoring system that rates DG stocks on a 10-point scale across 9 weighted factors. Each factor blends qualitative expert assessments with quantitative financial metrics. To estimate a stock’s fair value [FV], I use a valuation system based on a wisdom-of-the-crowds philosophy, referencing up to 40 independent data points or opinions on the stock's value. Since this is a monthly article series with an established format, certain parts and process descriptions are repeated. Readers familiar with Quality Assessment and Stock Valuation systems can safely skip those sections. This Month's Feature Screen This month, I‘m focusing on stocks with forward yields of at least 1%, quality scores above 7.0, and consensus upside of at least 10%. The feature screen produces 25 candidates. Quality Assessment 9F Quality Scores is my new 10-point scale quality scoring system that blends expert qualitative measures and derived quantitative metrics across nine distinct factors: Dividend Safety Dividend Track Record Financial Strength Earnings and Revenue Growth Profitability and Earnings Quality Risk-Adjusted Returns Credit Rating and Capital Structure Moat & Competitive Advantage Governance and ESG I assign different weights to each factor, prioritizing those with the most impact on long-term returns: Dividend Safety is crucial because cuts affect income and stock price. Earnings and Revenue Growth drive future dividend increases. Profitability and Earnings Quality ensure the business is reliable. Dividend Track Record signals management’s commitment. Financial Strength shows balance sheet resilience. The other factors add context but carry lower weights. To ensure...
lcva2/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Microsoft Investors Are In A Bind Now Investors in Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ) are now caught between a rock and a hard place. Should we regard MSFT as mostly a hyperscaler? Or should we consider it a software behemoth ripe for widespread disruption? An untimely update by TCI in a report on Friday corroborated the SaaS apocalypse fears, as their investor ...
lcva2/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Microsoft Investors Are In A Bind Now Investors in Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ) are now caught between a rock and a hard place. Should we regard MSFT as mostly a hyperscaler? Or should we consider it a software behemoth ripe for widespread disruption? An untimely update by TCI in a report on Friday corroborated the SaaS apocalypse fears, as their investor letter prominently featured the Microsoft problem: “AI could change established workflows and lead to the emergence of new productivity platforms, but we also see some risks in [cloud provider] Azure.” With that, TCI’s position in MSFT has nearly been fully sold. The stock took it on the chin yesterday, with the broader Nasdaq ( QQQ ) finishing up almost 2.4%, while the stock fell 1.3% to close the day. By no means do I really consider it a deal breaker. One fund selling out of its Microsoft position should not determine whether we should buy or sell our own. Yet, there’s no doubt that the market’s fears about Microsoft are at an all time high now. MSFT Valuations: How Much Lower Do You Want The Giant To Drop To? MSFT valuations (Koyfin) Because the confidence in its valuation is at the lowest level I’ve observed in the past five years! If MSFT’s valuation chart has any sway in our assessment, it’s at the lowest level since early 2023. At 22.7x forward earnings, the stock is teetering at the -2 standard deviation zone below its 5Y average. When we reached such levels in 2023, then the stock bottomed, and I mean, decisively. Could we again be at that pivotal moment for those who see the plausibility of a sustained recovery from here? Back in my last Microsoft writeup , I enunciated that the company has been gearing up for consumption-based pricing. Microsoft Still Minting Cash Flow MSFT estimates (TIKR) Plus, the software giant continues to print money, right? FCF margins are still printing at almost 20% as we speak. Although the recent earnings scorecard shows that there ar...
The war in Iran was supposed to derail the rally in US stocks and weigh on company outlooks. Instead a blowout earnings season is providing fresh fodder for Wall Street bulls. Corporate America has outstripped expectations by the widest margin outside the Covid-19 era since at least 2013, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data. First-quarter profits at S&P 500 companies have surged 27% so far, m...
The war in Iran was supposed to derail the rally in US stocks and weigh on company outlooks. Instead a blowout earnings season is providing fresh fodder for Wall Street bulls. Corporate America has outstripped expectations by the widest margin outside the Covid-19 era since at least 2013, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data. First-quarter profits at S&P 500 companies have surged 27% so far, more than double the roughly 12% analysts had penciled in. The last time year-on-year earnings grew at that pace outside of recoveries from major shocks was over two decades ago, in 2004. “I don’t think I remember a time that sell-side consensus missed actual earnings number by so much,” said Charles-Henry Monchau , chief investment officer at Banque Syz & Co SA. He began the year positioned for international markets to outperform, but the war and AI boom prompted him to tactically shift back toward US stocks, noting that regions such as China and Europe “might not be the winners of this war.” It’s been a wake-up call for Wall Street as stocks race from record to record, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both closed at all-time highs on Friday. Economic resilience has silenced fears of a slowdown in global growth, while concerns that massive investments in hyperscalers and adjacent industries wouldn’t translate into tangible profit growth appear equally overdone. Market forecasters have struggled to keep up. Minneapolis-based US Bank started the year forecasting that S&P 500 earnings would hit $305 in 2026. The first quarter has been so strong that the firm will need to raise its estimates for the year and probably its year-end S&P 500 target, according to Robert Haworth , senior investment strategy director at the bank’s wealth management arm. “We’re clearly low,” he said. This earnings season is shaping up to be all the more remarkable as beats have turned out to be as impressive in scope as they have been in size, with about 85% of companies surpassing analyst forecasts. That am...
Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there's something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game,...
Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there's something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game, snow can be very powerful. And two recent releases - Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow - really capture just what snow is capable of. Let's start with the Moomins. Winter's Warmth is the second game based on the iconic Finnish fai … Read the full story at The Verge.
(Bloomberg) -- The war in Iran was supposed to derail the rally in US stocks and weigh on company outlooks. Instead a blowout earnings season is providing fresh fodder for Wall Street bulls.Most Read from BloombergTrump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US EmployersBillionaire Duke of Westminster to Sell £700 Million of US Real Estate AssetsOnline Mob Fuels 6,000% Stock Rally in Obscur...
(Bloomberg) -- The war in Iran was supposed to derail the rally in US stocks and weigh on company outlooks. Instead a blowout earnings season is providing fresh fodder for Wall Street bulls.Most Read from BloombergTrump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US EmployersBillionaire Duke of Westminster to Sell £700 Million of US Real Estate AssetsOnline Mob Fuels 6,000% Stock Rally in Obscure SpaceX RivalTrump Punts Thorniest Iran Challenges in Push to Open HormuzIran War Is Draining World
Kenneth Cheung/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Investment Thesis Even though META Platforms ( META ) declined by 15% from the time of my last coverage significantly underperforming the market year to date, I think that this makes the case for investing in the company even stronger. Meta continues its transition from a company focused on ads to an established platform making money off AI. The nu...
Kenneth Cheung/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Investment Thesis Even though META Platforms ( META ) declined by 15% from the time of my last coverage significantly underperforming the market year to date, I think that this makes the case for investing in the company even stronger. Meta continues its transition from a company focused on ads to an established platform making money off AI. The number of conversations about business AI increased 10X this year alone. The adoption of Meta AI is growing rapidly among Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users, as well as Ray-Ban Meta hardware, while AI recommendations improved conversions, ad prices and ad impressions. In light of Q2 revenues reaching $61 billion, the implementation of AI is resulting in top-line growth. Data by YCharts $61 Billion In Q2 Revenue Following 10x Expansion In Business AI Volume Meta has released the Muse family of models and Muse Spark is the first release from Meta Superintelligence Labs. This model fuels Meta AI, for instance, engagement data for Q1-FY26 points to increases in user interaction as Instagram reel time spent rose 10% and Facebook video watch time increased 8% globally and watch time in the US and Canada rose 9% . Meta AI sessions per user grew by double-digits, and these figures indicate a shift toward content discovery. Meta uses these models to index posts faster as same-day posts are now more than 30% of recommended reels (doubled YoY). Over 0.5 billion users on Facebook and on Instagram watch AI translated videos weekly. Meta plans to scale these models that indicate a move toward personal and business agents. Moreover, Business AI conversations grew 10x YTD and over 10 million weekly conversations occur between people and business AIs. Meta plans to implement commission structures for these agents and these premium offerings for high compute versions indicate another topline path, in my view. Ad systems also integrated these models, here, conversion rates for landing page...
Kenneth Cheung/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Investment Thesis Even though META Platforms ( META ) declined by 15% from the time of my last coverage significantly underperforming the market year to date, I think that this makes the case for investing in the company even stronger. Meta continues its transition from a company focused on ads to an established platform making money off AI. The nu...
Kenneth Cheung/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Investment Thesis Even though META Platforms ( META ) declined by 15% from the time of my last coverage significantly underperforming the market year to date, I think that this makes the case for investing in the company even stronger. Meta continues its transition from a company focused on ads to an established platform making money off AI. The number of conversations about business AI increased 10X this year alone. The adoption of Meta AI is growing rapidly among Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users, as well as Ray-Ban Meta hardware, while AI recommendations improved conversions, ad prices and ad impressions. In light of Q2 revenues reaching $61 billion, the implementation of AI is resulting in top-line growth. Data by YCharts $61 Billion In Q2 Revenue Following 10x Expansion In Business AI Volume Meta has released the Muse family of models and Muse Spark is the first release from Meta Superintelligence Labs. This model fuels Meta AI, for instance, engagement data for Q1-FY26 points to increases in user interaction as Instagram reel time spent rose 10% and Facebook video watch time increased 8% globally and watch time in the US and Canada rose 9% . Meta AI sessions per user grew by double-digits, and these figures indicate a shift toward content discovery. Meta uses these models to index posts faster as same-day posts are now more than 30% of recommended reels (doubled YoY). Over 0.5 billion users on Facebook and on Instagram watch AI translated videos weekly. Meta plans to scale these models that indicate a move toward personal and business agents. Moreover, Business AI conversations grew 10x YTD and over 10 million weekly conversations occur between people and business AIs. Meta plans to implement commission structures for these agents and these premium offerings for high compute versions indicate another topline path, in my view. Ad systems also integrated these models, here, conversion rates for landing page...
The US and Iran appeared no closer on Saturday to finding an end to their war after the two sides traded fire in the Gulf amid a tenuous ceasefire, while a US intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months. Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab Emirates...
The US and Iran appeared no closer on Saturday to finding an end to their war after the two sides traded fire in the Gulf amid a tenuous ceasefire, while a US intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months. Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack on Friday. Washington has been awaiting Tehran’s response to a US...
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images News Amid multiple reports suggesting that President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to oust FDA commissioner Marty Makary, Trump said late Friday that he is completely unaware of such a proposal. The Wall Street Journal first reported Trump’s plans on Friday, noting that senior White House officials have become increasingly convinced that Makary, a former pancre...
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images News Amid multiple reports suggesting that President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to oust FDA commissioner Marty Makary, Trump said late Friday that he is completely unaware of such a proposal. The Wall Street Journal first reported Trump’s plans on Friday, noting that senior White House officials have become increasingly convinced that Makary, a former pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, should depart after a tumultuous period leading the FDA. Leaving the White House Friday evening, Trump dismissed the idea in response to a question from a reporter. “ Are you going to fire him? ” the reporter asked. “ I’ve been reading about it, but I know nothing about it, ” the President said. Makary, nominated by Trump to lead the FDA in November 2024, has overseen an agency that has suffered several high-profile departures in recent months. Richard Pazdur, the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and a 26-year veteran at the agency, sought retirement in December, just weeks after Makary picked him to lead the unit. Vinay Prasad, the former head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, left the agency last month, marking his second departure in less than eight months. More on pharma majors Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Pfizer Q1 Earnings Review: Stuck In Second Gear, But Dividend Helps Pfizer Inc. 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation HHS officials considered banning SSRI antidepressants - report FDA food head eyed as acting commissioner - report
Home reportedly occupied by mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing college student who went missing in 1996 Soil testing at a property linked to the man convicted in the murder of California college student Kristin Smart, who disappeared in 1996, turned up evidence of human remains, a state sheriff announced on Friday. “We can’t call it Kristin, but there’s evidence to support human r...
Home reportedly occupied by mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing college student who went missing in 1996 Soil testing at a property linked to the man convicted in the murder of California college student Kristin Smart, who disappeared in 1996, turned up evidence of human remains, a state sheriff announced on Friday. “We can’t call it Kristin, but there’s evidence to support human remains – there at one time,” the San Luis Obispo county sheriff, Ian Parkinson, said at a news conference. Continue reading...
Adam Bedoui, 20, and Abdelkader Amir Bousloub, 21, charged with religiously aggravated harassment Two men have been charged with religiously aggravated harassment over allegations they travelled to north London to film antisemitic TikTok videos. Officers were called to reports of a hate crime involving a group of men allegedly harassing members of the Jewish community on Clapton Common at about 9p...
Adam Bedoui, 20, and Abdelkader Amir Bousloub, 21, charged with religiously aggravated harassment Two men have been charged with religiously aggravated harassment over allegations they travelled to north London to film antisemitic TikTok videos. Officers were called to reports of a hate crime involving a group of men allegedly harassing members of the Jewish community on Clapton Common at about 9pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan police said. Officers arrested five men in Hackney after the incident, it added. Continue reading...
Dilok Klaisataporn/iStock via Getty Images The April jobs report delivered a mildly pleasant surprise, and the stock market response reflected as much. However, scratch below the surface, and the labor market doesn't look quite as healthy. Here, I discuss the report, along with what it implies for the monetary policy and stock market investing ideas for the current phase for the macroeconomy. What...
Dilok Klaisataporn/iStock via Getty Images The April jobs report delivered a mildly pleasant surprise, and the stock market response reflected as much. However, scratch below the surface, and the labor market doesn't look quite as healthy. Here, I discuss the report, along with what it implies for the monetary policy and stock market investing ideas for the current phase for the macroeconomy. What the labor market report says Remarkable consistency in the unemployment rate along with continued recovery in nonfarm payrolls makes for a positive labor market reading for April. However, loss of labor force and revisions to previous months' figures make for a less satisfying read, as discussed below. Unemployment rate needs to be seen in the context of the labor force The positives: So far, 2026 has been a remarkably consistent year as far as the unemployment rate is concerned. The number came in at 4.3% in April, a rate clocked in three of the last four months. It also landed at exactly the average level of the past 12 months. Encouragingly, the number stays slightly below the Fed's projections for 4.4%, indicating continued strength in the economy. The downside: It does bear mentioning, though, that the rate has been assisted by a continued decline in the civilian labor force, as observed last month as well. The extent of contraction in the labor force slowed down to 92k MoM from the 396k drop in March. Even then, if it weren't for the decline, the unemployment rate would be at 4.4% instead, which is also not excessive but still higher than the actuals. Unemployment Rate (Source: Trading Economics) Nonfarm payrolls' nascent recovery: revisions still disappointing The positives: The additions to nonfarm payrolls were particularly encouraging in April. At 115k, two consecutive months of additions have been seen for the first time in 10 months. The latest gains are also better than the YTD average of 76k and the past 12 months' average of just 20.9k. The downside: Revisio...
"Doesn't Look Good": Explosion Rocks Major New Orleans-Area Refinery As Fuel Markets Tighten A fire broke out Friday afternoon at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery outside New Orleans, according to the facility. Reuters cited people familiar with the incident who said the 190,000-barrel-per-day Chalmette refinery suffered an explosion on Friday afternoon. The explosion can be traced to a reformer he...
"Doesn't Look Good": Explosion Rocks Major New Orleans-Area Refinery As Fuel Markets Tighten A fire broke out Friday afternoon at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery outside New Orleans, according to the facility. Reuters cited people familiar with the incident who said the 190,000-barrel-per-day Chalmette refinery suffered an explosion on Friday afternoon. The explosion can be traced to a reformer heater used to convert refining byproducts into octane-boosting components added to unfinished gasoline to make premium and mid-grade fuel blends. The 190,000-barrel-per-day refinery is one of the major Gulf Coast refineries because it produces gasoline, distillates, and specialty chemicals, so any sustained outage can impact regional fuel balances, especially gasoline and diesel supply. "Fence-line monitoring confirms no off-site impacts," according to the message from the refinery. "Everyone working in the area is safe and accounted for." I have been in direct contact with local officials and law enforcement on the ground regarding the situation at the Chalmette Refinery. We are actively monitoring developments and working closely with parish leaders and first responders to ensure public safety and provide any… — Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) May 8, 2026 Videos of the incident: Crews are responding to an explosion and fire at the Chalmette PBF refinery. 🎥 Gage Zaffuto pic.twitter.com/aYAe5gdcWu — Zack Fradella (@ZackFradellaWx) May 8, 2026 Two different angles of the l explosion and fire at the refinery in Chalmette. Authorities says all employees of the refinery are safe and no injuries have been reported. @WGNOtv pic.twitter.com/lso935kb4y — Ashley Hamilton (@Ashley_WGNO) May 8, 2026 Bloomberg noted that the refinery completed a month-long maintenance program on several units at the end of April. GasBuddy head analyst Patrick De Haan wrote on X, " Not only are the molecules in the refinery itself under tremendous pressure, but refineries themselves are under tre...