New York, February 2, 2026, 17:57 EST — After-hours trading Micron shares jumped roughly 5.5% on Monday, following a broader bounce in chip stocks. TrendForce upped its projection for conventional DRAM contract prices, now expecting a 90%–95% surge in Q1. Investors are watching closely for new signs on pricing power and supply tightness through mid-February. Micron Technology, Inc. shares climbed ...
New York, February 2, 2026, 17:57 EST — After-hours trading Micron shares jumped roughly 5.5% on Monday, following a broader bounce in chip stocks. TrendForce upped its projection for conventional DRAM contract prices, now expecting a 90%–95% surge in Q1. Investors are watching closely for new signs on pricing power and supply tightness through mid-February. Micron Technology, Inc. shares climbed 5.5% to $437.80 in late Monday trading, driven by a chipmaker rally fueled by fresh optimism around artificial intelligence spending sustaining demand for crucial components. SanDisk surged 15.4%, while Advanced Micro Devices gained 4%, highlighting the strong rebound in semiconductor stocks. (Reuters) This shift is crucial since memory prices are Micron’s quickest adjustment tool. On Monday, market researcher TrendForce revised its forecast for conventional DRAM contract prices, predicting a 90% to 95% jump in the January-to-March quarter versus the previous quarter—up sharply from an earlier estimate of 55% to 60%. (Reuters) TrendForce pointed to “persistent AI and data center demands” as driving a deeper global supply-demand gap, giving suppliers more pricing leverage. For Micron, this usually means contract prices climb, leading to higher revenue per bit shipped—but with a delay—and can swiftly alter profit forecasts in the short term. DRAM, or dynamic random access memory, serves as the working memory in servers, PCs, and a range of devices. While spot markets often react first, contract prices are closely monitored for their influence on wider pricing trends. The surge in memory stocks is being driven by a shortage that’s spreading beyond the typical server cycle. Business Insider highlighted a recent note referencing IDC’s description of an “unprecedented” memory chip shortage. Analysts say AI data center demand continues to outpace supply. (Business Insider) Chip stocks led a rebound on Wall Street Monday, steadying the broader market following a shaky start to 2026...
Investing.com -- Waymo has secured a landmark $16 billion investment, valuing the Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) subsidiary at $126 billion post-money. This significant funding round was spearheaded by prominent venture firms including Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and Dragoneer Investment Group. The company is transitioning from a research-heavy enterprise into a dominant commercial entity wi...
Investing.com -- Waymo has secured a landmark $16 billion investment, valuing the Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) subsidiary at $126 billion post-money. This significant funding round was spearheaded by prominent venture firms including Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and Dragoneer Investment Group. The company is transitioning from a research-heavy enterprise into a dominant commercial entity within the global transportation sector. "This capital underscores that the age of autonomous mobility at scale has arrived, and Waymo is leading the way," the company stated in an official announcement on Monday. The investment follows a year of rapid operational growth, during which the firm tripled its annual volume to 15 million rides. Waymo now provides over 400,000 weekly trips across six major U.S. metropolitan areas, signaling a shift toward widespread public adoption. Safety metrics remain the cornerstone of the company’s pitch to both investors and skeptical regulators. Data from 127 million autonomous miles indicates a 90% reduction in serious injury crashes compared to human-operated vehicles. Strategic expansion is the primary objective for this newly acquired capital as the company eyes international markets. Plans are currently underway to launch ride-hailing operations in 20 additional cities through 2026, including major hubs like London and Tokyo. Financial backers view the company’s data advantage as a structural moat that competitors struggle to replicate. "Waymo has moved beyond research milestones to achieve operational excellence, tripling its weekly paid rides in just one year while maintaining customer delight," noted Konstantine Buhler, Partner at Sequoia. The competitive landscape shows Waymo maintaining a substantial lead over rivals like Tesla Inc. and Amazon’s Zoox. While competitors remain in the trial stages, Waymo has successfully integrated its service into daily urban infrastructure via its own app and partnerships with Uber. Related article...
monsitj/iStock via Getty Images Gold's recent selloff has not deterred the optimism for the metal at some major banks, including J.P. Morgan, which said Monday it expects demand from central banks and investors to drive gold prices to $6,300/oz by year-end as the longer-term investment case remains intact. "While the dust has yet to fully settle from last week, it has not derailed our structural b...
monsitj/iStock via Getty Images Gold's recent selloff has not deterred the optimism for the metal at some major banks, including J.P. Morgan, which said Monday it expects demand from central banks and investors to drive gold prices to $6,300/oz by year-end as the longer-term investment case remains intact. "While the dust has yet to fully settle from last week, it has not derailed our structural bullish view on gold," JPM analysts said in a note. "This long-term rally in gold has not and will not be linear, so for now we once again digest, reset and repeat." The bank believes gold prices will be underpinned by exceptionally strong demand from investors and central banks, forecasting average quarterly demand of more than 700 metric tons and projecting gold could climb toward $6,600/oz in 2027. " Our analysis shows that while the air is getting thinner the higher we go in gold prices, we are not yet close to a place where the structural rally in gold is at risk of collapsing under its own weight ," JPM analysts wrote. The bank is more cautious on silver, where it sees the risk of a further move back higher in the gold-to-silver ratio in the coming weeks, without central banks stepping up as structural dip buyers as in gold. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said he looks for gold to reach a new record high above $6,200/oz later this year, and Deutsche Bank reiterated its gold price forecast of $6,000 this year, citing sustained investor demand. Gold and silver extended losses Monday following the big selloff late last week that was attributed at least in part to President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair. The CME Group raised margin requirements on its precious metal futures, with the changes set to take effect after Monday's market close. "The increase in margin requirements makes holding speculative positions less appealing now and this will also force a lot on the retail side of the market who do not have the extra liquidity to sell p...
Joby Aviation is expected to launch its air taxi services as soon as this year. Joby Aviation (JOBY 0.71%) is a leading developer of flying taxis, more formally known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These vehicles could potentially change the nature of transportation, allowing people to fly high above the city and skip ahead of the traffic grid below. Joby has big plans...
Joby Aviation is expected to launch its air taxi services as soon as this year. Joby Aviation (JOBY 0.71%) is a leading developer of flying taxis, more formally known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These vehicles could potentially change the nature of transportation, allowing people to fly high above the city and skip ahead of the traffic grid below. Joby has big plans for this year, but it also has some work to do before it becomes commercially viable. Here's what investors need to know. Expand NYSE : JOBY Joby Aviation Today's Change ( -0.71 %) $ -0.07 Current Price $ 10.49 Key Data Points Market Cap $9.6B Day's Range $ 10.40 - $ 10.73 52wk Range $ 4.96 - $ 20.95 Volume 2.2M Avg Vol 25M Gross Margin -11490.90 % Joby is making progress in the Dubai and U.S. markets Joby Aviation is working closely with regulators in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and plans to launch its air taxi services in the region as soon as this year. The eVTOL developer has a six-year exclusive partnership with the Road and Transport Authority to build its first vertiport at Dubai International Airport. The vertiport was roughly 60% complete as of November, and the company expects construction to be completed sometime in the first quarter of this year. Three additional landing sites will be placed at major local landmarks, including the Dubai Mall, Atlantis the Royal, and The American University of Dubai. The company has received permission to fly from local civil aviation authorities and has conducted demonstration flights at the Dubai Airshow. Joby plans to start its first passenger flights in Dubai this year, demonstrating its ability to offer air taxi services and gauging demand for it. In the U.S., Joby has entered the final stage of its certification process known as Type Inspection Authorization. Joby is part of the White House's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which enables it to test its mature aircraft in select U.S. markets before receiving full...
Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take daily podcast today. The Department of Justice released another batch of documents from the so-called Epstein Files on Friday. It brings the total number of pages the DOJ has made public since December to nearly 3.5 million. On today’s Big Take, host David Gura is joined by Bloomberg investigative reporter and podcast host Jason Leopold to discuss what wa...
Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take daily podcast today. The Department of Justice released another batch of documents from the so-called Epstein Files on Friday. It brings the total number of pages the DOJ has made public since December to nearly 3.5 million. On today’s Big Take, host David Gura is joined by Bloomberg investigative reporter and podcast host Jason Leopold to discuss what was and wasn’t in the latest document release — and what we’ve learned about Epstein and his business connections. Further listening: Jason’s Disclosure podcast What to Expect in the DOJ Epstein Files Release Listen and follow The Big Take on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Terminal clients: click here to subscribe. This episode was produced by: Julia Press; Editor: Jeff Grocott; Fact-checker: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Sound Design/Engineer: Alex Sugiura; Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Senior Editor: Elisabeth Ponsot; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
Key Points AST was awarded a contract from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin announced new competition. The stock was volatile over the course of the month, despite posting strong gains. 10 stocks we like better than AST SpaceMobile › Shares of AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) were among the winners last month as the satellite stock benefited from bullish sentiment toward the...
Key Points AST was awarded a contract from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin announced new competition. The stock was volatile over the course of the month, despite posting strong gains. 10 stocks we like better than AST SpaceMobile › Shares of AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) were among the winners last month as the satellite stock benefited from bullish sentiment toward the sector to start the new year, and news that it was awarded a SHIELD contract from the Missile Defense Agency. The bullish momentum was enough to overcome a new competitive threat from Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, and the company also announced a launch date for its new BlueBird 7 satellite. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock finished January up 53%. As you can see, it was nonetheless a volatile month for AST. AST signs a big contract The biggest news in the month for the satellite stock, which specializes in broadband service, was awarded a contract from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense initiative, better known as SHIELD. According to the press release, "The contract encompasses a broad range of work areas that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility." It also shows AST tapping into a new revenue stream from the defense sector, which could become significant as the company grows. The stock rose 14.5% on Jan. 16 after the news came out. The other major news out on AST was the announcement that its BlueBird 7 launch is scheduled for late February, and it's tracking for 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of the year. The BlueBird 7 is identical to the BlueBird 6. Finally, the stock pulled back briefly on Jan. 21 on news that Blue Origin was launching its own competing satellite, which it said...
Today, Feb. 2, 2026, volatility continues in commodities while manufacturing data boosts markets. Markets steadied today after last week’s choppy finish. The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.54%) rose 0.54% to 6,976.44, the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.56%) added 0.56% to 23,592.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +1.05%) climbed 1.05% to 49,407.66 as stocks shook off early commodity-driven selling. Market ...
Today, Feb. 2, 2026, volatility continues in commodities while manufacturing data boosts markets. Markets steadied today after last week’s choppy finish. The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.54%) rose 0.54% to 6,976.44, the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.56%) added 0.56% to 23,592.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +1.05%) climbed 1.05% to 49,407.66 as stocks shook off early commodity-driven selling. Market movers Investors are becoming more cautious about companies that spend a lot on AI, particularly whether those investments are paying off, which is dividing tech stocks. Micron Technology (MU +5.42%) jumped again today on bullish analyst commentary, putting it firmly on the positive side of the split. Nvidia (NVDA 2.89%) dipped following news reports about potentially stalled OpenAI investments. Telecommunications heavyweight AT&T (T +0.34%) gained attention after closing its Lumen fiber deal. Walt Disney (DIS 7.20%) lagged after lukewarm growth forecasts in its earnings report. What this means for investors Stocks found their footing again, boosted by positive manufacturing data. Today’s Institute for Supply Management report showed factory activity had grown in January, taking it to its highest point since August 2022. Volatility in precious metals continued. Prices fell further over the weekend, triggering margin calls, and recovered a little during the day. The drops put an end to record-breaking rallies in gold and silver, and raise questions about whether worse is still to come. Investors will be watching after-hours earnings from Palantir Technologies (PLTR +1.03%) today for signs of over- or underperformance. Alphabet (GOOG +1.88%) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +4.03%) are also due to report this week. The January jobs report, due Friday, will be delayed because of the partial government shutdown.
New York, Feb 2, 2026, 17:52 EST — After-hours Apple (AAPL.O) shares rose 4.1%, finishing Monday at $270.01. After-hours trading saw the stock dip 0.6% to $268.31, following a volatile regular session where prices fluctuated between $259.21 and $270.49 on heavy volume. (StockAnalysis) The move followed a weekend policy update in India granting foreign companies five years of tax certainty when sup...
New York, Feb 2, 2026, 17:52 EST — After-hours Apple (AAPL.O) shares rose 4.1%, finishing Monday at $270.01. After-hours trading saw the stock dip 0.6% to $268.31, following a volatile regular session where prices fluctuated between $259.21 and $270.49 on heavy volume. (StockAnalysis) The move followed a weekend policy update in India granting foreign companies five years of tax certainty when supplying equipment to contract manufacturers in designated zones. This tweak could ease obstacles for Apple’s growing iPhone production in the country. “This exemption removes a key deal-breaking risk for electronics manufacturing in India,” said Shankey Agrawal, partner at BMR Legal. (Reuters) Why it matters now: Apple is ramping up its focus on India to expand manufacturing outside China, with the market viewing any policy support as a quick boost. This also highlights that the company’s supply chain narrative remains active, even after its blockbuster holiday quarter. Investors are grappling with Apple’s latest earnings and outlook, which forecast double-digit growth for the March quarter despite warnings about supply bottlenecks. CEO Tim Cook told analysts, “We’re currently constrained,” pointing to a global memory-chip shortage that he expects will weigh more heavily on second-quarter gross margins — the profit metric after production costs — as component prices climb. (Reuters) Those constraints are the catch. The stock has surged, yet the market grapples with pricing in two conflicting factors: steady demand and a cost environment that could tighten if component supplies shrink again. The broader market gave a boost. The S&P 500 climbed 0.54%, while the Nasdaq rose 0.56%, driven by a rotation back into tech and chip-related stocks. “The fundamentals are good and earnings are strong,” noted Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder. Concerns lingered over a partial U.S. government shutdown after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the January em...
This Latin American e-commerce and fintech leader delivers integrated marketplace, payments, and logistics solutions across the region. On February 2, Triasima Portfolio Management Inc. disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it sold 3,013 shares of MercadoLibre (MELI 0.03%) during the fourth quarter, an estimated $6.33 million trade based on quarterly average pric...
This Latin American e-commerce and fintech leader delivers integrated marketplace, payments, and logistics solutions across the region. On February 2, Triasima Portfolio Management Inc. disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it sold 3,013 shares of MercadoLibre (MELI 0.03%) during the fourth quarter, an estimated $6.33 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to the SEC filing dated February 2, Triasima Portfolio Management Inc. sold 3,013 shares of MercadoLibre during the fourth quarter. The estimated value of this sale was $6.33 million, calculated using the average closing price for the quarter. As a result, the fund’s quarter-end position decreased by $7.19 million, a figure that includes both the share sale and price fluctuations. What else to know Following the sale, MercadoLibre represents 0.14% of Triasima Portfolio Management Inc.’s 13F assets under management Top holdings after the filing: NYSE: RY: $41.05 million (6.1% of AUM) NASDAQ: SHOP: $29.40 million (4.4% of AUM) NYSE: TD: $23.70 million (3.6% of AUM) NYSE: KGC: $21.84 million (3.3% of AUM) NYSE: CM: $20.21 million (3.0% of AUM) As of February 2, shares of MercadoLibre were priced at $2,145.37, up 12.4% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500’s 15% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $26.19 billion Net Income (TTM) $2.08 billion Price (as of February 2) $2,145.37 One-Year Price Change 12% Company snapshot MercadoLibre offers a diversified suite of services including the Mercado Libre online marketplace, Mercado Pago fintech platform, logistics and fulfillment via Mercado Envios, digital advertising, and classified listings. The company generates revenue primarily through transaction fees from e-commerce sales, fintech payment processing, credit solutions, logistics services, and value-added advertising products. It serves businesses, merchants, and individual consumers across Latin America,...
On Feb. 2, 2026, record holiday iPhone sales, surging services, and fresh AI moves put Apple's growth story under the microscope. Expand NASDAQ : AAPL Apple Today's Change ( 4.12 %) $ 10.69 Current Price $ 270.17 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.8T Day's Range $ 259.19 - $ 270.49 52wk Range $ 169.21 - $ 288.62 Volume 3.1M Avg Vol 47M Gross Margin 47.33 % Dividend Yield 0.40 % Apple (AAPL +4.12%), a d...
On Feb. 2, 2026, record holiday iPhone sales, surging services, and fresh AI moves put Apple's growth story under the microscope. Expand NASDAQ : AAPL Apple Today's Change ( 4.12 %) $ 10.69 Current Price $ 270.17 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.8T Day's Range $ 259.19 - $ 270.49 52wk Range $ 169.21 - $ 288.62 Volume 3.1M Avg Vol 47M Gross Margin 47.33 % Dividend Yield 0.40 % Apple (AAPL +4.12%), a designer and seller of consumer electronics, software, and online services, closed Monday at $270.01, up 4.06%. The stock moved higher after the company reported record fiscal Q1 2026 revenue for the period ended Dec. 28, 2025, late last week. Bullish analyst calls and upbeat commentary on iPhone and India growth have investors buying the stock. Trading volume reached 72.9 million shares, coming in about 55% above its three-month average of 47 million shares. Apple IPO'd in 1980 and has grown 210,270% since going public. How the markets moved today The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.54%) added 0.54% to finish Monday at 6,976, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.56%) rose 0.55% to close at 23,592. Within big tech, industry peers Microsoft (MSFT 1.52%) closed at $423.37, down 1.61%, while Alphabet (GOOGL +1.72%) finished at $343.69, up 1.68%, underscoring shifting sentiment among mega-cap tech leaders. What this means for investors Reaction to last week’s Apple earnings continued today. After reporting all-time records for total company revenue and earnings per share (EPS), analysts reiterated support for Apple stock. Chief financial officer Kevan Parekh told investors that Apple expects year-over-year revenue to jump between 13% and 16% in the current quarter. That guidance surpassed analyst estimates. Strong growth in China and India provided more tailwinds for the stock. Several analysts reacted by assigning a $325 price target on the stock. That implies 20% upside even after today’s stock jump.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), a designer and seller of consumer electronics, software, and online services, closed Monday at $270.01, up 4.06%. The stock moved higher after the company reported record fiscal Q1 2026 revenue for the period ended Dec. 28, 2025, late last week. Bullish analyst calls and upbeat commentary on iPhone and India growth have investors buying the stock. Trading volume reached 72.9 m...
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), a designer and seller of consumer electronics, software, and online services, closed Monday at $270.01, up 4.06%. The stock moved higher after the company reported record fiscal Q1 2026 revenue for the period ended Dec. 28, 2025, late last week. Bullish analyst calls and upbeat commentary on iPhone and India growth have investors buying the stock. Trading volume reached 72.9 million shares, coming in about 55% above its three-month average of 47 million shares. Apple IPO'd in 1980 and has grown 210,270% since going public. How the markets moved today The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) added 0.54% to finish Monday at 6,976, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) rose 0.55% to close at 23,592. Within big tech, industry peers Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) closed at $423.37, down 1.61%, while Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) finished at $343.69, up 1.68%, underscoring shifting sentiment among mega-cap tech leaders. What this means for investors Reaction to last week’s Apple earnings continued today. After reporting all-time records for total company revenue and earnings per share (EPS), analysts reiterated support for Apple stock. Chief financial officer Kevan Parekh told investors that Apple expects year-over-year revenue to jump between 13% and 16% in the current quarter. That guidance surpassed analyst estimates. Strong growth in China and India provided more tailwinds for the stock. Several analysts reacted by assigning a $325 price target on the stock. That implies 20% upside even after today’s stock jump. Where to invest $1,000 right now When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 942%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 196% for the S&P 500. They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 2, 2026. Howard Smith has positions in Alphabet, Appl...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images The BetaPro Natural Gas Leveraged Daily Bull ETF ( HNU:CA ) is a leveraged exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with 2x the daily performance of natural gas while hedging against the US Dollar relative to the Canadian Dollar. HNU presents investors with strong liquidity, with an average of $40.41mm in share value changing hands on a daily basis. Give...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images The BetaPro Natural Gas Leveraged Daily Bull ETF ( HNU:CA ) is a leveraged exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with 2x the daily performance of natural gas while hedging against the US Dollar relative to the Canadian Dollar. HNU presents investors with strong liquidity, with an average of $40.41mm in share value changing hands on a daily basis. Given that commodities trading is seen as speculative and also given the heightened risk associated with leveraged strategies, investors will need to exhibit strict risk management protocol and should only consider HNU for daily exposure. About BetaPro Natural Gas Leveraged Daily Bull ETF HNU was launched by Global X Investments Canada on January 16, 2008, on the Toronto Stock Exchange [TSX]. The strategy has a management expense ratio of 138 bps, making the strategy on par with US peer leveraged strategies like the ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas ETF ( BOIL ). HNU has a modest bid/ask spread, or the price dispersion between buyers and sellers of the ETF, of 0.30%, adding certain costs to active traders when entering and exiting a trade. HNU was designed to track the BetaPro Natural Gas Rolling Futures Index . The Index was designed to track the most liquid futures contracts for natural gas in the front month, or the month with the nearest expiration, and incrementally rolls forward to the following month beginning on the fourth trading day of each month. Futures contracts generally present a certain degree of value decay as a result of the construct of the contracts. Futures contracts include costs like carry costs, as well as interest costs. Contracts may also be exposed to costs associated with rolling contracts forward to the following month, which may result in additional profit or loss depending on the price difference between the two months. For example, if the natural gas price curve is in contango, HNU may face higher costs to roll the contracts forward, as the f...
Key Points Ford has sharply pivoted away from fully electric vehicles in response to changes made by the Trump administration. Will the new strategy work over the next decade? 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › Long-term investing is usually the key to life-changing returns in the stock market -- but not if you bet on the wrong horse. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an example of a...
Key Points Ford has sharply pivoted away from fully electric vehicles in response to changes made by the Trump administration. Will the new strategy work over the next decade? 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › Long-term investing is usually the key to life-changing returns in the stock market -- but not if you bet on the wrong horse. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an example of a perennial underperformer. Shares in the automotive giant have grown only 16% over the last decade. And while the total return jumps to 97% when you include cash dividends, that's still far below the S&P 500 index's gain of 325% over the same time frame. Can Ford break out of its chronic slump and generate the cash flow needed to maintain or grow the dividend payout that represents the vast majority of its returns? Let's dig deeper to find out what might come next for the company. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » The Trump administration throws a curveball The administration of President Donald Trump has introduced uncertainty to many aspects of the U.S. economy, but the automotive industry is arguably the most affected by the new policies. Massive tariffs on all of the U.S.'s trading partners have disrupted global automotive supply chains. But more importantly, they make it difficult for companies like Ford to properly plan for the future or build production capacity in the best locations. Simply moving production to the U.S. isn't a long-term solution, because the tariffs rest on uncertain legal grounds and could be overturned in the coming months or when a new president takes office. The uncertainty makes it impossible for Ford to predict the correct course of action. And mistakes could have consequences that far outlast Trump's term. The company's abrupt pivot away from electric vehicles demonstrates the value destruction that can occur when a company miscalculates futu...