Japan's $36 Billion Bet On US Energy Dominance Authored by Irina Slav via OilPrice.com, Japan has committed $36 billion as the first tranche of its $550-billion U.S. investment pledge under last year’s trade deal, including plans to build a 9.2 GW natural gas power plant in Ohio. The remaining funds will support a synthetic diamond factory and the Texas GulfLink deepwater oil export terminal. The ...
Japan's $36 Billion Bet On US Energy Dominance Authored by Irina Slav via OilPrice.com, Japan has committed $36 billion as the first tranche of its $550-billion U.S. investment pledge under last year’s trade deal, including plans to build a 9.2 GW natural gas power plant in Ohio. The remaining funds will support a synthetic diamond factory and the Texas GulfLink deepwater oil export terminal. The massive gas plant reflects surging U.S. electricity demand — particularly from AI-driven data centers — with natural gas emerging as the preferred source of reliable baseload power. Japan has made the first commitments under a $550-billion investment program that made part of its trade deal with President Trump. Those first commitments are worth $36 billion and include what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has called “the largest natural gas generation facility in history.” The U.S. and Japan sealed a trade deal last summer, featuring a reduction in proposed tariffs—from 25% to 15%—on Japanese imports and a $550-billion Japanese investment pledge for the U.S. economy. Japan also pledged under the deal to expand market access for American goods, including cars, agricultural products, and energy. Most of the money from that first investment tranche would be used to build the largest natural gas power plant, with a capacity of 9.2 GW. “We will strengthen grid reliability, expand baseload power, and support American manufacturing with affordable energy,” Secretary Lutnick said in a statement after the deal. The plant will be built in Ohio. The facility will be operated by a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank, SB Energy. The rest of the money would be split between a synthetic diamond factory and a deepwater oil port in the Gulf. “This project is expected to generate $20–30 billion annually in U.S. crude exports, secure export capacity for our refineries, and reinforce America’s position as the world’s leading energy supplier,” per Lutnick. The deepwater oil project was greenlit by...
alexsl/iStock via Getty Images “Free cash flow” has become a fundamental valuation term not solely confined to strict buyside and sellside equity analysts. Indeed, the term has gone mainstream, largely the result of extremely high capex plans among the AI hyperscalers. The likes of Amazon ( AMZN ), Alphabet ( GOOGL ), Meta Platforms ( META ), Microsoft ( MSFT ), and Oracle ( ORCL ) are pouring ope...
alexsl/iStock via Getty Images “Free cash flow” has become a fundamental valuation term not solely confined to strict buyside and sellside equity analysts. Indeed, the term has gone mainstream, largely the result of extremely high capex plans among the AI hyperscalers. The likes of Amazon ( AMZN ), Alphabet ( GOOGL ), Meta Platforms ( META ), Microsoft ( MSFT ), and Oracle ( ORCL ) are pouring operating cash flow into AI capex projects. The result is, in some cases, negative free cash flow. Now, heavy investment does not, on its own, reduce equity valuation, but when there’s high ROI uncertainty (as there is now with the AI megatrend), low FCF firms may garner reduced fundamental equity valuations. Hence, some investors are flocking to high free cash flow firms, and there are ETFs for that. Among the best-performing free cash flow factor funds is the VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF ( VFLO ). I was bullish on the product back in late 2023 —before heavy volume began entering the ETF. Shares are up a solid 53% over the past 26 months, outperforming the S&P 500 by three percentage points. VFLO’s performance also trounces the total return of the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF ( COWZ ). Today, I reiterate a buy rating, given a reasonable valuation, proven track record, and solid technicals. VFLO Keeping Pace With SPY, Outperforming COWZ StockCharts.com Stretched Tech FCF Multiples Draw Angst Goldman Sachs According to the issuer , VFLO aims to provide large-cap value exposure with free cash flow yield and favorable growth prospects. Thus, it takes the common approach of identifying companies with strong trends in free cash flow and adds a growth filter. The issuer asserts that free cash flow is a crucial metric for assessing a company's value, though some of the most lucrative early-stage investments are in companies with low or even negative free cash flow. For background, free cash flow is operating cash flow minus capital expenditures; it can be used to invest in growing ...
Realty Income (NYSE: O) owns 15,500 single-tenant net lease properties. Its portfolio spans across the United States and Europe. Although it is focused on retail assets, it also owns industrial properties and other properties (like casinos). It is a gigantic business, but there's something interesting happening under the surface. Given Realty Income's vast size, it takes massive property acquisiti...
Realty Income (NYSE: O) owns 15,500 single-tenant net lease properties. Its portfolio spans across the United States and Europe. Although it is focused on retail assets, it also owns industrial properties and other properties (like casinos). It is a gigantic business, but there's something interesting happening under the surface. Given Realty Income's vast size, it takes massive property acquisitions to move the needle on the top and bottom lines. Smaller net lease REITs have a growth advantage here. As an example, Realty Income's dividend has increased at a roughly 4.2% annualized rate over the past 30 years. However, in 2025, the monthly dividend started the year at $0.264 per share per month and ended at $0.27. That's a tiny increase of just 2.3%. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
JasonDoiy/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images The sharp market turnover in the past few months has shaped an undeniable trend: investors are pushing back against all manner of internet and software stocks. For the most part, it's being driven by fear of AI encroaching on core business software, but the pushback against Roblox ( RBLX ) relates to a far more near-term concern: growing backlash agains...
JasonDoiy/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images The sharp market turnover in the past few months has shaped an undeniable trend: investors are pushing back against all manner of internet and software stocks. For the most part, it's being driven by fear of AI encroaching on core business software, but the pushback against Roblox ( RBLX ) relates to a far more near-term concern: growing backlash against the perception of child safety risk on the platform and the risk of near-term legislation. These fears have brought Roblox stock down ~50% relative to peaks above $130 notched midway through 2025, erasing all of the stock's gains over the past year. We have to ask ourselves now: while risk certainly exists, to what extent do strong results justify holding onto this name? Data by YCharts I last wrote a buy rating on Roblox in November, when the stock was still hovering above $100. It goes without saying that my buy call was ill-timed, and I certainly didn't anticipate the speed of potential regulatory actions against Roblox. That said, we think the company has responded adequately in rolling out age checks via facial recognition, the first online platform to actually do so. On top of this, the company has delivered excellent recent results that aren't commensurate with the stock's rapidly declining valuation. With all this in mind, I'm reiterating my buy rating on the stock. Since the major change in Roblox is valuation, let's first start with a discussion of the stock's latest multiples against its freshly printed outlook for FY26. At current share prices near $62, Roblox trades at a market cap of $43.08 billion. After we net off the $5.55 billion of cash and $993.1 million of debt on Roblox's latest balance sheet, the company's resulting enterprise value is $38.52 billion. For FY26, the company has guided to $8.28-$8.55 billion in bookings (22-26% y/y). As a reminder, bookings is the company's primary top-line metric, as they capture when customers actually pay for in-ga...
According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Metavasi Capital LP disclosed a new stake in TTM Technologies (NASDAQ:TTMI) . The fund acquired 171,202 shares during the fourth quarter, with an estimated transaction value of $11.81 million based on quarterly average pricing. The quarter-end value of the position also stood at $11.81 million, reflecting share...
According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Metavasi Capital LP disclosed a new stake in TTM Technologies (NASDAQ:TTMI) . The fund acquired 171,202 shares during the fourth quarter, with an estimated transaction value of $11.81 million based on quarterly average pricing. The quarter-end value of the position also stood at $11.81 million, reflecting share purchases and market price movement. This was a new position in TTMI for Metavasi Capital LP, representing 4.81% of its $245.42 million 13F U.S. equity assets as of December 31, 2025. Top holdings after the filing: Continue reading
Yik Wai Chee doesn’t think of himself as a believer. The 33-year-old senior executive at a Malaysia-based AI company is the kind of person who deals in data and decision-making frameworks, not destiny. Yet for years, he has consulted bazi, the ancient Chinese system of elemental forecasting, as a kind of strategic gut check on his life. “For me, it is just a long-term ‘luck check’ to see if there ...
Yik Wai Chee doesn’t think of himself as a believer. The 33-year-old senior executive at a Malaysia-based AI company is the kind of person who deals in data and decision-making frameworks, not destiny. Yet for years, he has consulted bazi, the ancient Chinese system of elemental forecasting, as a kind of strategic gut check on his life. “For me, it is just a long-term ‘luck check’ to see if there are general strategies I can adapt to get through some life challenges,” he said. “If it doesn’t...
Deeper regulatory ties and a shared push for new growth sectors are expected to give fresh impetus to cross-border investment flows between China and the Middle East, according to industry players and a United Arab Emirates (UAE) regulator. Hong Kong would benefit from the increased China-Middle East cooperation as the city develops into “a key hub for Middle Eastern capital to deploy in Asia and ...
Deeper regulatory ties and a shared push for new growth sectors are expected to give fresh impetus to cross-border investment flows between China and the Middle East, according to industry players and a United Arab Emirates (UAE) regulator. Hong Kong would benefit from the increased China-Middle East cooperation as the city develops into “a key hub for Middle Eastern capital to deploy in Asia and an important gateway for Chinese capital to go global to the Middle East,” said Linda Cai, inbound...
A lot of people think it's a good idea to save for retirement in a traditional IRA or 401(k) until they realize the flaw in that plan. At some point, these accounts will start imposing required minimum distributions , or RMDs. And if you don't take them, the penalties could be costly. Every time you don't take an RMD on time, you're assessed a 25% penalty on whatever amount doesn't come out of you...
A lot of people think it's a good idea to save for retirement in a traditional IRA or 401(k) until they realize the flaw in that plan. At some point, these accounts will start imposing required minimum distributions , or RMDs. And if you don't take them, the penalties could be costly. Every time you don't take an RMD on time, you're assessed a 25% penalty on whatever amount doesn't come out of your retirement account . So it's in your best interest to take those mandatory withdrawals when you're supposed to. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Tehran resident Hamid struggles to sleep as fears of renewed conflict haunt the Iranian capital after last year’s 12-day war with Israel. “I don’t sleep well at night even while taking pills,” Hamid said, as he expressed concern for his “family’s health … my kids and grandchildren”. The city woke up to blasts overnight from June 12 to 13 last year as Iran’s arch-enemy Israel launched an unpreceden...
Tehran resident Hamid struggles to sleep as fears of renewed conflict haunt the Iranian capital after last year’s 12-day war with Israel. “I don’t sleep well at night even while taking pills,” Hamid said, as he expressed concern for his “family’s health … my kids and grandchildren”. The city woke up to blasts overnight from June 12 to 13 last year as Iran’s arch-enemy Israel launched an unprecedented military campaign. The war erupted as Iran was preparing for another round of talks with the...
BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BETA) is among the 11 Newly-Listed NYSE Stocks to Buy Now. On February 11, 2026, Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu upgraded BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BETA) to Buy from Hold, previously with a $30 price target. Sheila Kahyaoglu said the shares look compelling at current levels following recent risk-off trading and ahead of several […]
BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BETA) is among the 11 Newly-Listed NYSE Stocks to Buy Now. On February 11, 2026, Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu upgraded BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BETA) to Buy from Hold, previously with a $30 price target. Sheila Kahyaoglu said the shares look compelling at current levels following recent risk-off trading and ahead of several […]