These three cheap tech stocks could double from their lows.

Key PointsSoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) provider UiPath has a big opportunity in agentic AI orchestration.

Installed in my home, Bert is a conversation starter like no other. It usually begins with: ‘What on earth is that thing?’ I came across something that makes me happy every day. It’s a figurine of a cheery chef chap holding up a menu board in one hand and giving a big thumbs up with the other. I found it in a reclamation yard in Old Hill in the Black Country. It’s run by a bloke called Bert, who’s very funny in a bone-dry kind of way. The first time I met him he told me he was also a West Brom fan and asked me about our poor season. I told him I couldn’t face discussing them. Half an hour later, as I was negotiating a price for something, I asked him if there was a discount for West Brom fans. He looked at me and said, “You didn’t want to talk about them a minute ago.” There was no discount. Anyway, I decided to name my chef statue after him. Technically I suppose it’s more of a statuette but that’s a bit feminine-sounding for Bert. I was charmed by Bert – both Berts, actually, but here I refer to the statue – the moment I saw him but, as is the way of these things, I didn’t buy him because, you know, where do you put such an object? A week or two passed, though, and his cheeky little face kept coming to mind. So I went back to buy Bert from Bert and he was mine. And mine he will remain until death doth us part. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...

New council brings CEOs closer to policy

Racide Scott Modell, CEO of energy and geopolitical analysis firm Rapidan Energy Group, warned that the U.S. and Iran are headed toward military escalation despite market optimism about a potential ceasefire. In an interview with CNBC, Modell argued that oil prices ( CL1:COM ), ( CO1:COM ) should be higher given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and that the physical realities of supply shortages will soon override the current narrative of de-escalation. The analyst dismissed the reported 15-point peace plan sent by the U.S. to Iran, noting that both nations hold “very, very extremist positions” that remain “entrenched.” Modell pointed out there are no indications of substantive talks occurring, stating, “There’s no way that President Trump can back out of this without opening the strait. So opening talks is a nonstarter for the Iranians at this point.” While oil prices ( CL1:COM ), ( CO1:COM ) have trended lower, Modell credited this to what he called a “master class in verbal intervention by the president” aimed at keeping markets calm. However, he cautioned that this approach has limits, predicting that “physical realities of markets, shortages, lack of tankers, fighting over barrels is going to take over.” Modell highlighted that the U.S. has amassed its largest military concentration in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with thousands of troops now in theater. He suggested military action could begin as early as Friday, with potential moves to seize islands and initiate suppressive fire against Iranian positions disrupting tanker traffic. Iran has demanded five key points in exchange for ending the war while treating the Strait of Hormuz as what Modell described as their “own tollbooth”—a position he characterized as a “nonstarter” for the U.S. administration. The closure of the critical shipping lane has created an inflection point where military action appears to be the only remaining option. The analyst predicted that market sentiment would ...

The verdict marks the end of the first-ever jury trial over whether tech giants should be held accountable for social media addiction. It may influence the outcome of 2,000 other pending lawsuits. (Image credit: Apu Gomes)

jewhyte The narrative surrounding Microsoft's ( MSFT ) 365 and Copilot offerings needs to improve for the tech giant's stock to move higher, investment firm UBS said, following recent meetings with investors. “At 19x CY26E non-GAAP EPS we remain Buy-rated, but acknowledge that the narrative around M365/Copilot needs to improve in order for the stock to really re-rate higher,” analyst Karl Keirstead wrote in a note to clients. As such, Keirstead lowered his price target to $510 from $600. The recent efforts from OpenAI ( OPENAI ) and Anthropic ( ANTHRO ) to move into knowledge work hits at Microsoft's “sweet spot,” but investor focus has shifted to how durable and what kind of growth can come from 365 and Copilot, Keirstead explained. Upon meeting with Microsoft's investor relations team, Keirstead said the Windows giant pointed to usage trends and seat trends picking up in the fiscal second quarter. And notably, recent moves, such as Copilot Cowork, a new E7 bundle, and switching up the leadership, “signal a more aggressive stance and sense of urgency inside Microsoft,” Keirstead added. Aside from 365 and Copilot, Microsoft “sounded very bullish about Azure demand” but did not offer updates on revenue growth and capacity additions beyond what it has already told investors, Keirstead explained. More on Microsoft Microsoft: Fortress Balance Sheet, Deep Value Microsoft: I'm Pounding The Table On This Market Misunderstanding Microsoft: Agentic AI May Be The 2-In-1 Recovery Catalyst Microsoft revamps HR department: report OpenAI plans to discontinue its video generation app Sora

jewhyte The narrative surrounding Microsoft's ( MSFT ) 365 and Copilot offerings needs to improve for the tech giant's stock to move higher, investment firm UBS said, following recent meetings with investors. “At 19x CY26E non-GAAP EPS we remain Buy-rated, but acknowledge that the narrative around M365/Copilot needs to improve in order for the stock to really re-rate higher,” analyst Karl Keirstead wrote in a note to clients. As such, Keirstead lowered his price target to $510 from $600. The recent efforts from OpenAI ( OPENAI ) and Anthropic ( ANTHRO ) to move into knowledge work hits at Microsoft's “sweet spot,” but investor focus has shifted to how durable and what kind of growth can come from 365 and Copilot, Keirstead explained. Upon meeting with Microsoft's investor relations team, Keirstead said the Windows giant pointed to usage trends and seat trends picking up in the fiscal second quarter. And notably, recent moves, such as Copilot Cowork, a new E7 bundle, and switching up the leadership, “signal a more aggressive stance and sense of urgency inside Microsoft,” Keirstead added. Aside from 365 and Copilot, Microsoft “sounded very bullish about Azure demand” but did not offer updates on revenue growth and capacity additions beyond what it has already told investors, Keirstead explained. More on Microsoft Microsoft: Fortress Balance Sheet, Deep Value Microsoft: I'm Pounding The Table On This Market Misunderstanding Microsoft: Agentic AI May Be The 2-In-1 Recovery Catalyst Microsoft revamps HR department: report OpenAI plans to discontinue its video generation app Sora

jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images It has only been two months since the publication of my previous coverage of Paychex, Inc. ( PAYX ). Despite its attractive valuation then, the stock price downtrend persisted and crossed below the $100 mark to its one-year low. I can’t blame the market due to the continued macroeconomic volatility and some uncertainty brought upon by AI. Yet, PAYX’s robust growth, intact fundamentals, and strategic concentration on SMEs position it well against these challenges. Technicals adhere to it as new buying opportunities emerge. Q3 2026: Growth And Margins Are Attractive In my previous coverage, I’ve already expressed my concerns about the external market forces that may affect the performance of Paychex, Inc. Macroeconomic volatility and RTO, or return-to-office, policies were additional concerns. But once again, PAYX proved that there’s no stopping yet as it sustains its growth with well-managed efficiency amid its expanding operating capacity. We have seen this in its most recent performance. In Q3 2026, its operating revenue amounted to $1.81B , up by 19.8% YoY from $1.51B. This YoY growth was higher than in my previous coverage at 18.2%. In fact, this was its strongest YoY performance in the eight quarters , proving that its continued expansion has become more fruitful. As you can see, both its revenue components increased. The impact of its Paycor acquisition continued to materialize. But most importantly, PAYX maintained strong customer retention with over 800,000 clients. Likewise, its total expenses rose by 24%, which completely offset revenue growth. But this wasn’t automatically a bad thing. After all, revenues were still high enough to cover the whole amount. We should also consider the impact of inflation on its cost pressures. More interestingly, its cost of service, which is mainly the direct cost of its operations, only increased by 11%. The huge bulk came from its SG&A expenses, which should not be surprising ...

Taiwan Semiconductor Faces Challenges Amidst Global Market Shifts StocksToTrade

Investor and "Shark Tank" personality Kevin O'Leary criticized government-subsidized Intel Corp. chips used in robots, calling a recent malfunction a warning about the risks of poorly supported technology. Robot Malfunction Sparks Criticism On Sunday, O'Leary posted on X, referencing a viral video showing a robot malfunction near a tray of fries. "This is not funny, and I’ll tell you why," he wrote. He added, "This is what happens when you use government-subsidized Intel chips. You don’t wanna p

A 1.5% yield sounds unimpressive until you realize the dividend check doubles roughly every seven years. That is the premise behind the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEARCA:VIG): skip the high-yield traps and own companies that raise their dividends year after year, compounding income alongside capital appreciation. What VIG Is Actually Trying to Do VIG tracks ... VIG Returned 223% Over 10 Years and Still Costs Almost Nothing

As Arm enters the AI chip race with its own silicon, should investors jump in, or wait for a better entry point?

Andrii Yalanskyi/iStock via Getty Images U.S. large-cap communication services stocks have fell in 2026, with the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLC ) down about 5.2% year-to-date through March. In light of this, below is a list of the top 10 large-cap communication services stocks with market capitalizations of $10B or more, ranked by their year-to-date performance. The list is topped by FuboTV ( FUBO ), with a commanding YTD performance of 376.98%, far outpacing the rest of the field. The New York Times Company ( NYT ) and AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ( ASTS ) are the primary runners-up, with YTD gains of 21.23% and 19.76%, respectively. The top 10 features a diverse mix of companies across the communication services sector. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. ( LYV ) represents the movies and entertainment industry, while Charter Communications, Inc. ( CHTR ) and EchoStar Corporation ( SATS ) come from the cable and satellite space. The bottom half of the list includes several names with negative YTD performance, including Electronic Arts Inc. ( EA ), Comcast Corporation ( CMCSA ), Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ( WBD ), and Omnicom Group Inc. ( OMC ). Here is the list: FuboTV Inc. ( FUBO ), YTD perf: 376.98%, Quant rating: Sell 1.50 The New York Times Company ( NYT ), YTD perf: 21.23%, Quant rating: Hold 3.26 AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ( ASTS ), YTD perf: 19.76%, Quant rating: Hold 3.30 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. ( LYV ), YTD perf: 7.16%, Quant rating: Hold 2.85 Charter Communications, Inc. ( CHTR ), YTD perf: 4.24%, Quant rating: Buy 3.99 EchoStar Corporation ( SATS ), YTD perf: 1.97%, Quant rating: Hold 3.44 Electronic Arts Inc. ( EA ), YTD perf: -1.33%, Quant rating: Hold 3.05 Comcast Corporation ( CMCSA ), YTD perf: -2.24%, Quant rating: Hold 3.30 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ( WBD ), YTD perf: -5.34%, Quant rating: Hold 3.39 Omnicom Group Inc. ( OMC ), YTD perf: -6.64%, Quant rating: Strong Buy 4.58 Communication Services ETFs: ( XLC ), ( VOX ), ( IYZ )...

Unusually large activity in GOOG call options that are out-of-the-money (OTM) signals that some institutional investors love Alphabet stock at these prices.

Alphabet Stock Drops, But Huge Unusual Call GOOG Options Activity Highlights Its Value Barchart.com

Alphabet Stock Drops, But Huge Unusual Call GOOG Options Activity Highlights Its Value Yahoo Finance

In this article META GOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after defending the company in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, United States, on February 19, 2026. Jon Putman | Anadolu | Getty Images A jury in Los Angeles determined on Wednesday that Meta and Google were negligent and failed to warn users of the dangers associated with using their platforms, in a case that could have repercussions across the social media and the broader technology market. The personal injury trial commenced in late January in Los Angeles Superior Court. A young woman identified as K.G.M., or Kaley, alleged that she became addicted to apps like Instagram and YouTube as a child. Deliberations began Friday, May 13. Jurors ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiff, who claimed that Meta and YouTube's negligence played a "substantial factor" in causing mental health-related harms. Jury members must now determine potential financial damages related to their verdict. It's one of several trials taking place this year that experts have characterized as the social media industry's "Big Tobacco" moment, comparing it the 1990s, when tobacco companies were forced to pay billions of dollars for lying to the public about the safety and potential harms of their products. On Tuesday, jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico found that Meta willfully violated the state's unfair practices after Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleged that the company failed to properly safeguard its apps from online predators targeting children. Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in damages based on the number of violations. The company said that it would appeal the case. The New Mexico case is separate from other social media lawsuits that state attorneys general have brought against companies including Meta and TikTok. During the six-week trial in L.A., jury members were tasked with determining whether Meta and Yo...

Software is critical to the missile-defense program, and that may mean “many” billions of dollars worth of new business for Palantir.

Palantir could be a big winner of Trump’s $185 billion ‘Golden Dome’ MarketWatch

UVE trades at 1.78x book after a rally, with book value up 48% and reinsurance visibility improving - can underwriting stability justify the premium?

Palantir could be a big winner of Trump’s $185 billion ‘Golden Dome’ marketwatch.com

Nobody can replace the great Gareth Bale, but Harry Wilson is stepping up more than anyone as Wales aim to qualify for the World Cup.

The historic potter Denby (and purveyor of my family’s favourite cereal bowls) is the latest big UK business to say it’s on the verge of going bust . In part it’s blamed softening demand and the increase in the cost of employing people — plus soaring energy costs in the UK. Elsewhere, the CEO of Shell, Wael Sawan is saying that the disruption to fuel supplies seen in the last few weeks in Asia is about to reach Europe . What can be done? Comments by GB Energy boss Jürgen Maier, the man tasked by Ed Miliband with being the nation’s renewables champion, were seized on yesterday as evidence even “green bosses” are deserting the tower — suggesting that more North Sea oil and gas could bring economic benefits to the UK. He later clarified on LinkedIn that he supported using existing fields and tiebacks for their lifetime but does not support exploration licences for new fields as they would not bring down costs now. But he also called for the UK to embrace an “all energy approach to the transition” — and it was this that I think is most interesting. Same too with comments by Tara Singh, the chief executive of lobby group RenewableUK, who called for us to “take energy out of the culture wars” and wrote in The Telegraph last week that the UK should produce more energy “of every kind”. Watching Prime Minister’s Questions this lunchtime as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch poured oil on the fire of this debate I thought, some wish. This “chuck everything at it” approach was also an important strand of the last Tory government’s energy policy that I worked on for a while. The Boris Johnson energy transition accepted that some oil and gas will still be needed in a net zero world. While I have struggled to understand how future oil and gas licenses would help prices now, I have also feared that an outright ban would risk UK resilience and flexibility, as well as making this debate too ideological. The government itself may not be totally deaf to these arguments because there are r...

Los Angeles jury delivers verdict in landmark case accusing Meta and YouTube of designing platforms to addict young users, setting major precedent.

Abstract Aerial Art/DigitalVision via Getty Images During some recent digging into country ETFs, I came across the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF ( EZA ). I found this interesting for several reasons, not least of which due to its intense concentration in miners and financials. On the plus side, this gives significant high-beta exposure to metals, which is compelling given the recent rallies. On the downside, it exposes investors to specific macro risks that are very important to keep in mind when evaluating the fund. Thanks to the attractive dividend yield, investors are being paid to wait, but they may have to wait a long time. I rate EZA a Hold. What You’re Actually Buying Let’s take a look under the hood of this country ETF. The first thing you’ll notice is the extreme top-heavy concentration. The fund’s top 10 holdings make up no less than 67% of the total ETF, which is an eye-watering amount by any standard. For comparison, the top 10 constituents of the VanEck Africa Index ETF ( AFK ), which is already top-heavy by country ETF standards, make up 40% of holdings. Digging deeper into those holdings, we can see that the ETF basically exposes investors to two sectors: mining and banking. At more than 13%, AngloGold Ashanti plc ( AU ) is the fund’s biggest holding, followed by Gold Fields Limited ( GFI ) at around 11%. Overall, basic materials make up just over 32% of the ETF, with financials as a close second at 29%. The biggest financial holding is FirstRand Limited ( FANDY ) at around 6.5% of holdings. The two sectors are distinct but do reinforce each other. The miners make money by selling gold and platinum group metals to the global market, earning in dollars. They spend this money mostly in rand on things like labor, energy, and logistics. This means that a weak rand boosts profitability. When metal prices rise, earnings expand very quickly due to operating leverage. The same mechanism means that earnings compress fast when metal prices drop. Banks, on the o...

ASML's recent deal with a major memory chipmaker confirms its essential role in the accelerating, multi-year buildout of artificial intelligence hardware.

The stablecoin issuer faces an existential challenge.

Key PointsCircle needs to keep minting more USD Coins to grow its profits.