syahrir maulana/iStock via Getty Images Market Overview The summer's short squeeze, which boosted low-quality stocks, continued in the fourth quarter. The UBS High Short Interest Index advanced more than 25% during the first two weeks while major stock market averages barely budged. During this period, talk of a bubble grew louder and eroded the confidence of investors who had bet on high-flying s...
syahrir maulana/iStock via Getty Images Market Overview The summer's short squeeze, which boosted low-quality stocks, continued in the fourth quarter. The UBS High Short Interest Index advanced more than 25% during the first two weeks while major stock market averages barely budged. During this period, talk of a bubble grew louder and eroded the confidence of investors who had bet on high-flying shares of unprofitable companies with unproven business models. As their collective anxiety intensified, the speculative fever that had gripped the market for much of the previous six months began to break. In the ensuing weeks, a sense of market normalcy slowly emerged. Many investors started questioning narratives that had fueled the mania, shifting their focus from making a quick buck or keeping pace with benchmarks to considering business durability, financial strength, and profitability. The promise of artificial intelligence (Al) remained, and so did expectations for significant investment in Al infrastructure. But investors began to scrutinize the funding for those investments and the future revenue and earnings available to companies in the Al ecosystem. Their gaze also may have broadened a bit, allowing them to see a larger set of attractive industries and companies that had been obscured by their excitement about Al. Value stocks benefited from this intra-quarter market rotation. After lagging in October, they improved in November and December to end the quarter ahead of growth stocks in all market-cap segments. Total return for the Russell 2000 Value® Index, the Carillon Chartwell Small Cap Value Fund's benchmark, was 3.3% in the fourth quarter. The best-performing sectors in the index were healthcare, materials, and communication services. The worst-performing sectors were information technology, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary. Characteristics Total Net Assets (millions) $45.21 Number of holdings: 75 Top 10 Holdings Bruker ( BRKR ) Cushman & Wakefie...
Lower fees, broader sector coverage, and higher yield set these two international ETFs apart for investors weighing global exposure. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM +0.63%) stands out for its recent outperformance and emerging-markets focus, but the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA +0.56%) offers lower costs, a higher yield, and broader developed-market diversification. Both EEM and IEF...
Lower fees, broader sector coverage, and higher yield set these two international ETFs apart for investors weighing global exposure. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM +0.63%) stands out for its recent outperformance and emerging-markets focus, but the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA +0.56%) offers lower costs, a higher yield, and broader developed-market diversification. Both EEM and IEFA are large, liquid exchange-traded funds tracking international stocks, but they target distinct regions: EEM focuses on emerging markets, while IEFA covers developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada. This comparison looks at the cost, performance, risk, and portfolio differences to help investors decide which ETF may better fit their goals. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric IEFA EEM Issuer IShares IShares Expense ratio 0.07% 0.72% 1-yr return (as of 2026-01-22) 31.8% 33.3% Dividend yield 3.5% 2.1% Beta 0.73 0.74 AUM $170.4 billion $25.1 billion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. IEFA is more affordable with a 0.07% expense ratio compared to EEM's 0.72%, and it also offers a higher dividend yield at 3.5% versus EEM's 2.1%—a meaningful difference for income-focused investors. Performance & risk comparison Metric IEFA EEM Max drawdown (5 y) -30.41% -39.82% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,307 $1,044 What's inside EEM holds 1,214 stocks, with a portfolio tilted toward Technology (30%), Financial Services (21%), and Consumer Discretionary (12%). Its top holdings are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing(TSM +2.29%) at 12.6%, Tencent Holdings(TCEHY +0.54%) at 4.5%, and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) at 4.5%, signaling a heavy concentration in Asia's largest tech and internet companies. In contrast, IEFA spans 2,591 developed-market stocks, with its largest sector weightings in Financial Services (23%), Industrials (20%), and Healthcare (11%). ...
Cybersecurity is more important than ever. Cybersecurity has taken a back seat to artificial intelligence investing. However, I think that's a huge mistake. The reality is, with the rise of advanced AI comes increased risk of cyberattacks, as it becomes easier to find system exploits. This means it could be a strong few years for cybersecurity providers, and investors that don't have exposure to t...
Cybersecurity is more important than ever. Cybersecurity has taken a back seat to artificial intelligence investing. However, I think that's a huge mistake. The reality is, with the rise of advanced AI comes increased risk of cyberattacks, as it becomes easier to find system exploits. This means it could be a strong few years for cybersecurity providers, and investors that don't have exposure to this important field should consider adding some. Two stocks that I think will excel over the next decade in the cybersecurity sector are CrowdStrike (CRWD 0.20%) and SentinelOne (S +0.70%). These companies are both operating in the same sector, but are each worthy investments. AI-powered cybersecurity is the next evolution Both CrowdStrike and SentinelOne deploy the same type of cybersecurity solutions. Each uses AI agents to determine what constitutes normal operation and what constitutes a threat. Then, when an agent detects a threat, it shuts down access to limit any damage done. This has proven to be an incredibly successful business model and has led to strong growth for both companies. S Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts Both companies have fairly similar growth rate patterns, which reflects the overall state of cybersecurity spending. It's still growing at a healthy rate, but it has slowed down a bit as resources are deployed elsewhere to bring generative AI technologies into businesses. Still, greater than 20% growth is nothing for investors to be upset about. The market for cybersecurity spending is still expanding and expected to double over the next few years. CrowdStrike believes that its 2026 total addressable market is $140 billion, but it is expected to increase to $300 billion by 2030. That showcases clear growth in the cybersecurity industry, and anyone involved in the space with a strong offering will see strong growth as a result. Expand NASDAQ : CRWD CrowdStrike Today's Change ( -0.20 %) $ -0.89 Current Price $ 452.88 Key Data Points Market ...
Barcelona capitalised on two defensive mistakes by bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo to seal a 3-0 victory at a rain-drenched Camp Nou on Sunday, regaining top spot in La Liga. Goals from Dani Olmo, Raphinha, and an acrobatic Lamine Yamal strike powered the Catalans to 52 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, while Atlético Madrid trail in third on 44. Barça struggled to break the deadlock against a spi...
Barcelona capitalised on two defensive mistakes by bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo to seal a 3-0 victory at a rain-drenched Camp Nou on Sunday, regaining top spot in La Liga. Goals from Dani Olmo, Raphinha, and an acrobatic Lamine Yamal strike powered the Catalans to 52 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, while Atlético Madrid trail in third on 44. Barça struggled to break the deadlock against a spirited Oviedo until they finally found the breakthrough in the 52nd minute, with Olmo striking home following a defensive lapse. Five minutes later, Oviedo’s struggles deepened, with defender David Costas under-hitting a back pass, which Raphinha intercepted before calmly chipping the onrushing keeper Aaron Escandell to double Barcelona’s lead. Lamine Yamal wrapped up Barça’s win by scoring in the 73rd minute with a brilliant acrobatic volley from an Olmo cross. Robert Lewandowski went close to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute, narrowly missing the target with a header from Lamine Yamal’s inviting cross, as the Catalans began to find their feet. Both teams traded late first-half chances, with Barcelona keeper Joan Garcia saving a close-range effort from Chaira, while Oviedo’s Escandell produced a stunning reflex stop to deny Raphinha’s volley. Barcelona finally broke through after the interval, thanks to a costly error. The Oviedo defender David Carmo hesitated while attempting to clear, allowing Lamine Yamal to press and deflect the ball into Olmo’s path. The midfielder calmly slotted into the bottom corner in the 52nd minute to give the home side the lead, with Raphinha extending their advantage five minutes later thanks to another self-inflicted wound by Oviedo. Lamine Yamal put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute with a moment of brilliance. Olmo’s perfectly weighted cross found the Spanish teenager at the far post, where he leapt to score with an exquisite scissor kick volley that nestled just inside the right post. View image in fullscreen Making history...
Their gap over Celtic remains at six but only four over Rangers, the shark circling the waters at the top, their teeth restored under Danny Rohl. Rangers have come from chaos, humiliation and fury and have moved into serious contention. It seems completely incongruous a club the size of Rangers, its life spent under a gigantic microscope, could possibly move quietly into contention, but that's the...
Their gap over Celtic remains at six but only four over Rangers, the shark circling the waters at the top, their teeth restored under Danny Rohl. Rangers have come from chaos, humiliation and fury and have moved into serious contention. It seems completely incongruous a club the size of Rangers, its life spent under a gigantic microscope, could possibly move quietly into contention, but that's the reality. It only seems like five minutes ago since the boos at Ibrox could be heard in all corners of the country, where laughter was the dominant noise. Now, relatively speaking, we hear the sound of purring from that club. This league is one of the greatest of our times; impossible to call but oh so easy to enjoy. Celtic folk will feel they should still be locked together with Rangers on points and would be had it not been for that red card, a rarity for them in domestic football. They will be incensed about the decision to send off Trusty for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity when leading 2-1. Was it all that obvious? Martin O'Neill thought no. Derek McInnes thought yes. Funny, that. It did change things, though. Trusty had gone just 10 minutes when Braga had his chance to level it; point blank and a goal to all the world. Kasper Schmeichel denied him. Only six minutes remained but, actually, there were another eight on top. The temptation was to cheer when the board went up. The equaliser sent Tynecastle into an advanced state of delirium. Just like the first time, the source of Celtic's problems was their remarkable inability to deal with deliveries into their box. Along with their angst about the red card some honesty about their defending should form part of their analysis. When Oisin McEntee nodded down at the back post, Braga smashed it home and sent Celtic back down the road in pain. This league has a way to run. Any one of the top three could win it and any one of Falkirk and Motherwell could have a say in deciding who does because, on their day, ...
Key Points United Parcel Service was a high-flying stock during the coronavirus pandemic. Following the end of the pandemic, UPS shares fell sharply amid a corporate makeover. That makeover is already showing early results for those who can handle a turnaround investment. 10 stocks we like better than United Parcel Service › United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), commonly known as UPS, operates one of...
Key Points United Parcel Service was a high-flying stock during the coronavirus pandemic. Following the end of the pandemic, UPS shares fell sharply amid a corporate makeover. That makeover is already showing early results for those who can handle a turnaround investment. 10 stocks we like better than United Parcel Service › United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), commonly known as UPS, operates one of the world's dominant package delivery services. It is a vital cog in modern society, as e-commerce continues to grow. Add a huge 6% dividend yield, and dividend investors might be tempted to buy the stock while it languishes below $110 per share. Before you jump aboard, you'll want to understand a few things. It would be hard to replicate UPS's business Delivering packages sounds simple, but it is actually a capital-intensive, logistically complex effort. UPS owns a large collection of retail stores, sorting and distribution facilities, a massive fleet of local delivery trucks, and long-haul assets, like tractor-trailers and airplanes. And it has to have the technology to track every single package moving through its extensive system. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » It would be hard, if not impossible, to replace UPS. In fact, even after years of building its own delivery network, e-commerce giant Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) still uses UPS. However, Amazon is also a key part of UPS's current business revamp, with the story dating back to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. During the pandemic, shopping online was the preferred way to buy things because people were stuck at home, socially distancing themselves. Demand for package delivery services skyrocketed, and UPS's stock rose dramatically. When the world reopened, demand normalized, and UPS's stock plunged. It was about this time that this industrial company decided it needed to overhaul its...
Senate Democrats and Republicans call for investigation into killing of Alex Pretti toggle caption Adam Gray/AP/FR172090 AP Congressional leaders are pushing back against the Trump administration's account of the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old U.S. citizen shot dead by federal officers during an immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis Saturday. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., accused the...
Senate Democrats and Republicans call for investigation into killing of Alex Pretti toggle caption Adam Gray/AP/FR172090 AP Congressional leaders are pushing back against the Trump administration's account of the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old U.S. citizen shot dead by federal officers during an immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis Saturday. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., accused the administration of a "cover up" Sunday and said the federal government is ignoring a court order that allows state investigators to access evidence in Pretti's killing. "Our state investigators had to get a warrant to have access to the evidence of the shooting of Alex Pretti," Smith said. "And even then, the federal agents refused to give them access to the evidence. So this looks very much like another cover up." Sponsor Message Pretti's killing has prompted strong bipartisan condemnation, a forceful defense from the Trump administration and the prospect of another government shutdown, this one over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is part of DHS. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a reported statement Saturday that her department will lead the investigation into the killing. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told CBS News Sunday that his department hasn't received any cooperation or information from the federal government. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., warned the Trump administration against any attempt to shut out local and state law enforcement from the investigation. "There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday's Minneapolis shooting," Tillis said in a post Sunday morning. "Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump's legacy." Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also called for a "full joint federal and state investigation" and said the "credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake" in a stateme...
Andrzej Rostek/iStock via Getty Images Foreign exchange markets are bracing for renewed volatility after the yen’s sharp rally late last week revived speculation about official intervention by Japan, possibly with U.S. backing, Reuters reported on Sunday. Thin trading conditions in early Asian hours on Monday could amplify price swings, particularly with an Australian holiday reducing liquidity. T...
Andrzej Rostek/iStock via Getty Images Foreign exchange markets are bracing for renewed volatility after the yen’s sharp rally late last week revived speculation about official intervention by Japan, possibly with U.S. backing, Reuters reported on Sunday. Thin trading conditions in early Asian hours on Monday could amplify price swings, particularly with an Australian holiday reducing liquidity. The yen surged on Friday to around 155.7 per dollar, its strongest move in months, unsettling traders who had been positioned for further weakness. The rebound followed signs that U.S. officials had been monitoring currency markets, a step often viewed as a prelude to intervention. Japanese officials have also stepped up warnings, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaling over the weekend that the government is prepared to respond to what it sees as excessive or speculative moves. Japan’s currency has been under pressure for years and remains near multi-decade lows against the dollar, a slide that has raised import costs and added to inflation strains at home. Policymakers have grown more vocal as the yen’s weakness begins to weigh on households and the broader economy. Market participants now see the risk of coordinated action if the yen resumes its decline, which could trigger a sharper rebound. Recent comments from U.S. and Japanese officials about “one-sided” currency moves have also fueled talk that Washington may be open to measures aimed at stabilizing Asian currencies more broadly, Reuters reported. More on US Dollar / Japanese Yen, US Dollar / Australian Dollar, etc. The Yen Carry Trade: Fears Are Blown Out Of Proportion The BOJ May Finally Trigger A Yen Carry Trade Unwind Japan Might Be A Bomb Ready To Explode-- Why You Should Care Asian indexes turn red following tech retreat on Wall Street Asian markets tick higher after softer U.S. inflation data
"Befuddled By The Insanity Swirling Around Me..." Authored by Jim Quinn via The Burning Platform blog, Fake It Until You Make It “My first rule: I don’t believe anything the government tells me.” — George Carlin The government reported CPI of “only” 2.7% and the financial pundits and Trump toadies celebrated the “lowest inflation in 5 years”. This is after “surprisingly good” unemployment report w...
"Befuddled By The Insanity Swirling Around Me..." Authored by Jim Quinn via The Burning Platform blog, Fake It Until You Make It “My first rule: I don’t believe anything the government tells me.” — George Carlin The government reported CPI of “only” 2.7% and the financial pundits and Trump toadies celebrated the “lowest inflation in 5 years”. This is after “surprisingly good” unemployment report where the country added 50,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%. Of course, they also revealed every month in 2025 had been revised downward. EVERY freaking month was a lie when originally reported. December will eventually be revised to a negative number, when no one is paying attention. The lie did its job of sending the stock market to new all-time highs, because they need to fake it until they make it. It’s embarrassing living under the rule of a quasi-fascist corporate governmental bureaucracy built on a funeral pyre of lies, growing ever larger by the minute, anticipating a spark igniting a conflagration never before seen in history. The average “forgotten man” knows their cost of living increases are nowhere near 2.7%, as they pay 30% more for utilities, 20% more for a steak, 10% more for chicken, 20% more for car insurance, 10% more for homeowners insurance, 10% more for property taxes, 10% more for rent, 35% more for new and used cars since 2020, and the list goes on. The CPI is a LIE. They massage the employment numbers so hard, the BLS bureaucrats must achieve a happy ending every month. It’s laughable when common folk give up looking for a job because there are none to be had, they are no longer counted as unemployed. If you believe there are only 7.5 million Americans unemployed out of the 275 million adult population, while 103 million are Not in the Labor Force, then you are a clueless non-critical thinking dupe who deserves to get it good and hard. The American empire has devolved into a dying lying replica of the degenerate Soviet empire described...
A big week for earnings will see reports from Microsoft, Exxon, Visa, GE Vernova, and many more. The Fed is expected to keep rates steady, as Jerome Powell closes out his final months as Chair.
A big week for earnings will see reports from Microsoft, Exxon, Visa, GE Vernova, and many more. The Fed is expected to keep rates steady, as Jerome Powell closes out his final months as Chair.
Barack and Michelle Obama on Sunday issued a forceful statement condemning the killing of a second US citizen in Minneapolis by federal agents, saying it exemplified US President Donald Trump’s “assault” on American values. “The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are in...
Barack and Michelle Obama on Sunday issued a forceful statement condemning the killing of a second US citizen in Minneapolis by federal agents, saying it exemplified US President Donald Trump’s “assault” on American values. “The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault,” the former president and first lady said in a joint statement, one day after officers shot and killed the American nurse in Minneapolis. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday said he will do everything in his power to prevent “horrific” actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Advertisement The city has “a number of tools” to dissuade Trump from ordering an aggressive ICE operation, Mamdani said on ABC’s This Week. “And whether those tools are the utilisation of the courts or it’s the tools of the bully pulpit or it’s our own city policies, we’re going to exhaust every option to protect New Yorkers,” he said. Advertisement The mayor defended New York’s sanctuary-city policies, which Trump opposes, and allows cities to limit their cooperation with federal agencies seeking to deport undocumented immigrants.
That wait goes on, but a defeat should not exactly have been a foregone conclusion - even if Aston Villa are flying in third place. Newcastle were fresh from defeating PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek. They had not been beaten at home in the Premier League since October, scoring at least two goals in each of their previous eight top-flight games at St James'. The hosts were fac...
That wait goes on, but a defeat should not exactly have been a foregone conclusion - even if Aston Villa are flying in third place. Newcastle were fresh from defeating PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek. They had not been beaten at home in the Premier League since October, scoring at least two goals in each of their previous eight top-flight games at St James'. The hosts were facing an Aston Villa side who had only touched down from Istanbul in the early hours of Friday morning following their Europa League tie against Fenerbahce. And Howe's men certainly had their chances to strike. The game had not long kicked off when Sandro Tonali weaved past three Aston Villa players only to be denied by the foot of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, while fellow midfielder Lewis Miley saw a header clawed away as his side pushed for an equaliser. Howe paid tribute to the pair for having "good games", on an afternoon he also lost another Brazilian, Joelinton, to a groin injury. But the Newcastle head coach tellingly rued the absence of another midfielder post-match. "It's not necessarily a slight on them," he said. "I just thought we missed Bruno's forward thinking. "He always wants to pass forward and is always looking for a creative pass. You could see we missed that today. "He always wants the ball and he's always demanding the ball from his team-mates. They're massive qualities, and then there's his never-say-die spirit and attitude, too." There have been countless examples. When Newcastle were 3-2 down against Leeds United in the 90th minute earlier this month, Guimaraes scored a late penalty to draw his side level before they went on to, somehow, win the game. When it was goalless in matches versus Crystal Palace, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old opened the scoring. Guimaraes even popped up with a late winner against Fulham back in October. Yet Newcastle never looked like producing a similar moment as the game went on, and forw...
Steven Taylor was dismissed for handball before Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for fighting each other. Juan Pablo Angel scored and Gareth Barry converted two penalties in a 3-0 victory for the visitors. That infamous April 2005 meeting was the last time Aston Villa had won a Premier League game at Newcastle. Before Sunday, that is. That was 17 attempts ago. Since then, both clubs have b...
Steven Taylor was dismissed for handball before Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for fighting each other. Juan Pablo Angel scored and Gareth Barry converted two penalties in a 3-0 victory for the visitors. That infamous April 2005 meeting was the last time Aston Villa had won a Premier League game at Newcastle. Before Sunday, that is. That was 17 attempts ago. Since then, both clubs have been relegated to and returned from the Championship - and this term both are chasing European glory. Newcastle are seventh in the league phase of the Champions League. Villa have already secured a place in the Europa League last 16. However, after losing by an aggregate score of 12-1 on their past three trips to St James' Park, Villa's 2-0 success this time around underlined the progress made under boss Unai Emery. The result keeps Villa, who bounced back from last Sunday's loss to Everton by adding this win to Thursday's Europa League victory away to Fenerbahce, third in the table and firmly in the title race, just four points behind leaders Arsenal. And Emery was insistent that his players had delivered a "complete" performance. "The players were extraordinary," the Spaniard told BBC Match of the Day. "We spoke about this match and the difficulties some teams have with their level here. It is the highest level we can face this season and the players respond fantastic. "We can only help the players tactically. Out on the field, they need to show the attitude and commitment to work to the gameplan and they did it. "Last week we lost and were so disappointed but we can be calm again and have confidence. We were comfortable in what we were doing."
Sundance film festival: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton are exceptional in a smart and funny winner about sex, marriage and partner-swapping Not enough people managed to see last year’s self-billed “unromantic comedy” Splitsville , a shame for how tremendously entertaining it was and for what it represents at this given moment. A seriously well-directed, genuinely funny, ...
Sundance film festival: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton are exceptional in a smart and funny winner about sex, marriage and partner-swapping Not enough people managed to see last year’s self-billed “unromantic comedy” Splitsville , a shame for how tremendously entertaining it was and for what it represents at this given moment. A seriously well-directed, genuinely funny, relatably messy look at two couples dealing with the maelstrom of non-monogamy, it was the kind of smart, well-crafted film for adults we are constantly complaining we don’t get enough of. I had a similar thrill watching The Invite at its sold-out Sundance premiere on Saturday night. Like that film, it is also about two adult couples negotiating anxieties surrounding sex with other people – and also like that film, it’s really, consistently funny and stylishly directed, made with the kind of care and rigidity that comedies just aren’t afforded now. It doesn’t have the same absurdist slapstick streak – it’s much more of this world – but it made me feel equally energised, a reminder that maybe that mid-sized movie gap is finally being filled. I just hope more people see this one. Continue reading...
Key Points These dominant internet companies possess incredible network effects, thanks to their billions of users. It would be an almost impossible task to create similar platforms from scratch to compete with them. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Investors are familiar with the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks. These are extremely innovative and disruptive businesses that operate at...
Key Points These dominant internet companies possess incredible network effects, thanks to their billions of users. It would be an almost impossible task to create similar platforms from scratch to compete with them. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Investors are familiar with the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks. These are extremely innovative and disruptive businesses that operate at the forefront of various secular trends. They have commanded a greater share of the stock market's entire capitalization in recent years. It's worth taking a closer look to figure out if there are any opportunities here. It will be exciting for investors to learn that when it comes to a specific characteristic, there are two companies within this elite group that stand out. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Network effects are a powerful trait to have Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) has billions of users across its various platforms. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is in a similar boat, as its social media apps are extremely popular. Those social media apps, as well as Alphabet's Google Search and YouTube services, benefit from incredible network effects. With more usage and users, the businesses collect data that further improve the quality of these platforms, and there's more information and content to display. It's a positive feedback loop that makes their competitive positions unassailable. There is minimal threat of disruption It would be a daunting task to create a widely adopted search engine, video streaming service, or social media app from scratch. The barrier to scale up to billions of users is insurmountable. So, while it seems that technological change is occurring faster than ever these days, investors can rest assured that Alphabet and Meta are almost immune to the threat of disruption. Should you buy stock in Alphabet...
People cling to treetops as 'worst floods in a generation' sweep Mozambique 1 hour ago Share Save Jose Tembe Marracuene Share Save EPA/Shutterstock Tens of thousands of people in Mozambique are being rescued as rising waters continue to devastate the southern African nation - the worst flooding in a generation. Teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been helping with life-saving rescue op...
People cling to treetops as 'worst floods in a generation' sweep Mozambique 1 hour ago Share Save Jose Tembe Marracuene Share Save EPA/Shutterstock Tens of thousands of people in Mozambique are being rescued as rising waters continue to devastate the southern African nation - the worst flooding in a generation. Teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been helping with life-saving rescue operations. "For me, this is the first time I have experienced a calamity of this magnitude. Elders say a similar disaster took place in the 1990s," 24-year-old mechanic Tomaz Antonio Mlau says. EPA/Shutterstock Many areas of south and central Mozambique are under water after two weeks of continuous downpours Mlau and his family, who live near Marracuene - a town 30km (19 miles) north of the capital, Maputo - woke up to find their house inundated after the Inkomati River burst its banks. "When a rescue boat came a few hours afterwards, we did not hesitate to board it and come to safety in Marracuene town," he said, adding they had to abandon all their belongings and only managed to bring a change of clothes. Mlau, his wife and two children have found refuge at one of six centres - schools and churches - that are so far sheltering about 4,000 people. Many of those gathered at Gwazamutini Secondary School are farmers from the low-lying areas with livestock and rice fields. "We lost everything in the floodwaters, including houses, TV sets, fridges, clothing and livestock - cattle, goats and pigs. Our farms are under water. I am a farmer. I grow quality rice," 67-year-old Francisco Fernando Chivindzi told me. His home is in Hobjana, one of several flooded neighbourhoods between the left bank of the Incomati River and the coastal tourism resort of Macaneta. Marracuene town is on the river's right bank. EPA/Shutterstock More than 650,000 people have been affected by the rising water "The floodwaters reached heights we weren't expecting. We have never experienced this level of flood...
The Emirates Stadium was a sea of anxiety. The Arsenal fans are acutely aware that a first Premier League title since 2004 is within their grasp and when it is so tantalising, it will be fraught. Especially when matches like this become a grind. When the attacking patterns do not work. When the team looks vulnerable. Arsenal could feel their nearest rivals, Manchester City and Aston Villa, on thei...
The Emirates Stadium was a sea of anxiety. The Arsenal fans are acutely aware that a first Premier League title since 2004 is within their grasp and when it is so tantalising, it will be fraught. Especially when matches like this become a grind. When the attacking patterns do not work. When the team looks vulnerable. Arsenal could feel their nearest rivals, Manchester City and Aston Villa, on their backs. Both had both won to cut their lead at the top to four points. Mikel Arteta’s team had drawn their previous two league matches 0-0 – against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. They were desperate for something here and when Patrick Dorgu put Manchester United 2-1 up with a scorching drive early in the second half, they would have taken anything. They would end with nothing – apart from a thumping headache. Arsenal had only lost twice previously all season and for a moment they thought they had dug themselves out the hole. It was a set piece, of course, Bukayo Saka’s 84th-minute delivery leading to chaos, an unholy mass of bodies inside the United six-yard box. The substitute, Mikel Merino, touched home. United were not finished. They had played with personality after going behind to a Lisandro Martínez own goal after 29 minutes. They were the better team thereafter, coming to enjoy the ball, to manipulate it with progressive intent. The sting in the tale was brutal for Arsenal. It was provided by Matheus Cunha, who came on as a substitute. United worked the ball neatly between Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo and when Cunha found the space at the back of the Arsenal midfield, he shaped a curler from distance beyond the reach of David Raya. United remain in dreamland under Michael Carrick. The 2-0 win over Manchester City last Saturday was the definition of a new manager bounce. Now this. United have charged up into fourth place. This feels more than mere green shoots of optimism. Arsenal would surely have chosen to face United a few weeks previously. The Manchester ...
Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images Q4 2025 Market Review The Davenport Equity Opportunities Fund ( DEOPX ) declined 4.07% during the fourth quarter, finishing the year down 2.61%. This compared to the Russell Mid Cap® Index, which experienced gains of 0.16% and 10.60% for the quarter and year, respectively. This was certainly a difficult close to a frustrating year. While we had several ...
Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images Q4 2025 Market Review The Davenport Equity Opportunities Fund ( DEOPX ) declined 4.07% during the fourth quarter, finishing the year down 2.61%. This compared to the Russell Mid Cap® Index, which experienced gains of 0.16% and 10.60% for the quarter and year, respectively. This was certainly a difficult close to a frustrating year. While we had several standout performers throughout the year, their returns were muted by a handful of key detractors. This made it difficult to keep up with the index, which received additional thrust from AI momentum darlings that continued their ascent in spite of stratospheric valuations. While frustrated, we have tremendous faith in our process and continue to execute against it with rigorous discipline. We expect this commitment to quality, cash flow, capital allocation and valuation to pay off over time. Fund Update Contributors: Align Technology Inc. ( ALGN ) was the strategy’s top performer during the period, bouncing nearly 25% from depressed levels alongside stabilizing results and more constructive price commentary. Other top contributors included Markel Corp ( MKL ), Etsy Inc. ( ETSY ) and new addition Cooper Companies Inc. ( COO ). We elected to exit our position in Etsy with the stock on a spike. We provide more detail on our purchase of Cooper below. Detractors: Key detractors included Alexandra Real Estate Equities Inc. ( ARE ), Mobileye Global Inc. ( MBLY ), Generac Holdings Inc. ( GNRC ) and Watsco Inc. ( WSO ). In the case of ARE, we had begun to build a position into the company’s most recent earnings report; however, abandoned the effort following deterioration in business trends which resulted in a dramatic change in the company’s cash flow outlook. On the other hand, we added to positions in Watsco and Generac amid weakness. Top Ten Equity Holdings † as of December 31, 2025 Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. 6.09 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 5.64 Clean Harbors, Inc. 5.35 Dra...
維也納獸醫大學首次發現牛隻以「不求人」抓癢 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】如果想抓癢又不想假手於人,顧名思義當然是用「不求人」,但原來這並不是人的專利。奧地利一頭母牛也懂得「不求人」,相信是首次拍...
維也納獸醫大學首次發現牛隻以「不求人」抓癢 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】如果想抓癢又不想假手於人,顧名思義當然是用「不求人」,但原來這並不是人的專利。奧地利一頭母牛也懂得「不求人」,相信是首次拍到有牛懂得利用工具。 13歲的瑞士褐牛薇羅妮卡在奧地利南部一個小鎮當成寵物飼養,不用「做牛做馬」,「同牛不同命」可能只因牠天資過「牛」。 掃帚放在地上,薇羅妮卡便會伸舌頭叼起來幫自己抓癢。原來薇羅妮卡已是「老手」,飼養牠的農夫維格爾勒稱薇羅妮卡幾歲大已開始用掃帚抓癢,經過多年練習更熟能生巧,可根據身體不同部位所需靈活調整工具,例如掃帚上的硬刷毛用作摩擦上半身較厚和粗糙的皮膚,腹部、肚臍等下半身較嬌嫩就換成較光滑的木柄輕輕地抓。薇羅妮卡甚至會用舌頭調整掃帚位置,放開後又重新咬住。 薇羅妮卡從未經過訓練,令學者也想知道是否有更多物種可能有利用工具的能力。維也納獸醫大學的研究人員觀察多年,認為薇羅妮卡並非隨意使用工具,更能夠區分不同功能。 研究又指近年已發現過大象和馬等有蹄類動物利用工具的例子,推斷只要生態環境和誘因條件合適,有機會是普遍情況,相信過去有可能忽視了牲口這方面的能力。
Shares of United Parcel Service have cratered, but the turnaround effort appears to be working. United Parcel Service (UPS 1.24%), commonly known as UPS, operates one of the world's dominant package delivery services. It is a vital cog in modern society, as e-commerce continues to grow. Add a huge 6% dividend yield, and dividend investors might be tempted to buy the stock while it languishes below...
Shares of United Parcel Service have cratered, but the turnaround effort appears to be working. United Parcel Service (UPS 1.24%), commonly known as UPS, operates one of the world's dominant package delivery services. It is a vital cog in modern society, as e-commerce continues to grow. Add a huge 6% dividend yield, and dividend investors might be tempted to buy the stock while it languishes below $110 per share. Before you jump aboard, you'll want to understand a few things. It would be hard to replicate UPS's business Delivering packages sounds simple, but it is actually a capital-intensive, logistically complex effort. UPS owns a large collection of retail stores, sorting and distribution facilities, a massive fleet of local delivery trucks, and long-haul assets, like tractor-trailers and airplanes. And it has to have the technology to track every single package moving through its extensive system. It would be hard, if not impossible, to replace UPS. In fact, even after years of building its own delivery network, e-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN +2.12%) still uses UPS. However, Amazon is also a key part of UPS's current business revamp, with the story dating back to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. During the pandemic, shopping online was the preferred way to buy things because people were stuck at home, socially distancing themselves. Demand for package delivery services skyrocketed, and UPS's stock rose dramatically. When the world reopened, demand normalized, and UPS's stock plunged. It was about this time that this industrial company decided it needed to overhaul its business. Amazon is important here because it is a large-volume customer, but that volume has very low profit margins. UPS decided it needed to streamline its operations and focus its business on its most profitable customers. This effort included proactively reducing its exposure to Amazon. The business turnaround also involved capital investments in new technology and the closure of less efficien...
Key Points ACWX carries a higher expense ratio and a slightly lower dividend yield than IEFA. ACWX includes emerging markets, resulting in fewer holdings and greater tech exposure than IEFA’s developed-market focus. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT:IEFA) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NASDAQ:ACWX) offer broad access to non-U.S. ...
Key Points ACWX carries a higher expense ratio and a slightly lower dividend yield than IEFA. ACWX includes emerging markets, resulting in fewer holdings and greater tech exposure than IEFA’s developed-market focus. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT:IEFA) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NASDAQ:ACWX) offer broad access to non-U.S. equities, but their approaches differ: IEFA tracks only developed markets, while ACWX adds emerging markets into the mix. This comparison highlights differences in cost, performance, sector tilts, and portfolio construction for investors considering international diversification. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric IEFA ACWX Issuer IShares IShares Expense ratio 0.07% 0.32% 1-yr return (as of Jan. 25, 2026) 28.66% 31.86% Dividend yield 3.4% 2.7% Beta 0.79 0.74 AUM $170.35 billion $8.6 billion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. IEFA appears more affordable with its lower expense ratio, while also offering a higher dividend payout. With over 800 more companies within its total holdings, IEFA’s total assets are significantly higher in value than ACWX’s. Performance & risk comparison Metric IEFA ACWX Max drawdown (5 y) -30.41% -30.06% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,302 $1,267 What's inside Launched nearly 18 years ago, ACWX tracks non-U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, holding 1,796 companies across developed and emerging markets, with a portfolio tilt toward financial services, industrials, and technology. The largest positions are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (2330.TW), Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK), and ASML Holding N.V. (AMS:ASML). IEFA, by contrast, focuses purely on developed markets with a larger portfolio of 2,619 stocks and a lighter allocation to tech companies. Created in 2012, the fund’s largest holdings are ASML, Roche Holding A...