J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Thesis In my last piece on AppLovin Corporation ( APP ), I wrote that "APP was minting cash while it was growing faster than anyone else in the space." Well, that line has aged well. Only now the numbers are bigger, the margins are fatter, and the market mood is strangely worse. In 4Q 2025, revenue came in at $1.66 billion, which represents a 66%...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Thesis In my last piece on AppLovin Corporation ( APP ), I wrote that "APP was minting cash while it was growing faster than anyone else in the space." Well, that line has aged well. Only now the numbers are bigger, the margins are fatter, and the market mood is strangely worse. In 4Q 2025, revenue came in at $1.66 billion, which represents a 66% y/y increase. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA reached $1.4 billion with an 84% margin, and free cash flow (FCF) hit $1.31 billion. It is also important to mention that management guided 1Q 2026 to another 5% to 7% sequential revenue increase with EBITDA margins holding around 84%. I would say that this is the sort of print that makes most software companies look like they forgot how a P&L works. Adam Foroughi, the CEO, framed the disconnect well when he said that there is "...a real disconnect between market sentiment and the reality of our business..." I agree, and this is why I am reiterating a Strong Buy rating. The fresh part of my thesis is not that Axon exists. I already argued in the previous article that AXON is not a buzzword. And I still believe that. The fresh part is that self-serve is now live and the onboarding funnel is being tested in the real world. And yet, paid marketing against Axon is already showing attractive early economics. And management is learning exactly where the friction points still sit. Now, this matters because it takes the APP story from "the next decade could be big" to "the next phase is starting to become measurable." During the 4Q 2025 earnings report, management said that the self-service platform remains on track for a first-half 2026 broader launch. Also, current customers saw material spend increases, and the newer referral cohort is showing trends that are strong enough to get them excited even before it moves the consolidated numbers in a huge way. To me, this means that the market is debating hypothetical threats while the compan...
Andreswd | E+ | Getty Images Because of the extremely high interest rates , credit cards are one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. Even so, at least one-third of credit card users carry a balance from one month to the next, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. However, a new paper published by the Boston Fed found that when credit card interest rates change, cardholders adjus...
Andreswd | E+ | Getty Images Because of the extremely high interest rates , credit cards are one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. Even so, at least one-third of credit card users carry a balance from one month to the next, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. However, a new paper published by the Boston Fed found that when credit card interest rates change, cardholders adjust their spending accordingly. On average, a 1 percentage point increase in the annual percentage rate, or APR, on a credit card leads to a roughly 9% drop in credit card spending the following month — which is an "economically meaningful response," the researchers found. When borrowing becomes more expensive and consumers spend less on their cards, they also reduce their debt burden, the report found. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Boston Fed: Credit card APRs have 'economically meaningful' impact on spending Retirement saver protection rule has died — for the second time More than 7 million student loan borrowers face deadline to leave SAVE plan Department of Labor proposes rules for including alternative assets in 401(k)s 31.5% of car buyers underwater on trade-ins; analyst says amount owed 'troubling' Why your tax refund may look different this year, and what's actually driving it Expecting to fight about money with your partner? You might be wrong: study Belle Burden's 'Strangers' highlights key financial red flags for women Average IRS tax refund is up 10.9%, latest filing data shows 1.4 million filers face tax refund delays amid IRS paper check phaseout Family caregivers now provide $1 trillion worth of care annually, AARP finds Higher gas prices from Iran war could offset Trump's bigger tax refunds Single women see homeownership as 'a wealth-building tool,' economist says Amid March Madness, NY Fed highlights sports betting toll on credit health Social Security benefits can top $100,000 a year for some couples CNBC's Financial Advisor 100: Best financial ad...
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTX) (“Syntec Optics” or the “Company”), a leading provider of technology products to defense, biomedical, communications, and consumer end-market leaders, today announced it will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and provide a business update on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 5:00 p....
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTX) (“Syntec Optics” or the “Company”), a leading provider of technology products to defense, biomedical, communications, and consumer end-market leaders, today announced it will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and provide a business update on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
When the AI race started heating up, I waited patiently to see what Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) would do. Maybe the company's large language model (LLM) would soon debut and surpass its rivals. Or, perhaps exciting new AI features or even devices would launch that would propel the company firmly into the AI era. But then, nothing much happened. Instead, Apple disappointed loyalists (and shareholders like...
When the AI race started heating up, I waited patiently to see what Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) would do. Maybe the company's large language model (LLM) would soon debut and surpass its rivals. Or, perhaps exciting new AI features or even devices would launch that would propel the company firmly into the AI era. But then, nothing much happened. Instead, Apple disappointed loyalists (and shareholders like me) with some promises of new Apple Intelligence features that were eventually delayed. Continue reading
In this episode of Rule Breakers , Motley Fool analysts Emily Flippen and Bill Barker face off with 10 companies, 10 market-cap ranges, and one simple question each round: inside or outside? Play along and keep score as you listen--and see if your intuition can meet or beat our two veteran Foolish analysts. To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center...
In this episode of Rule Breakers , Motley Fool analysts Emily Flippen and Bill Barker face off with 10 companies, 10 market-cap ranges, and one simple question each round: inside or outside? Play along and keep score as you listen--and see if your intuition can meet or beat our two veteran Foolish analysts. To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center . When you're ready to invest, check out this top 10 list of stocks to buy . A full transcript is below. Continue reading
Germany’s second-largest lender warned that private credit is now so big, it poses a major risk to the US economy. The market’s “considerable size” and its “inherent lack of transparency” have turned private credit into “a risk for the financial markets,” DZ Bank said in its annual report published Tuesday. “In the event of another financial crisis in the United States, this risk could trigger a c...
Germany’s second-largest lender warned that private credit is now so big, it poses a major risk to the US economy. The market’s “considerable size” and its “inherent lack of transparency” have turned private credit into “a risk for the financial markets,” DZ Bank said in its annual report published Tuesday. “In the event of another financial crisis in the United States, this risk could trigger a chain reaction with severe negative effects for the US economy.” Private credit — a $1.8 trillion industry — has recently been rattled by concerns about overspending on artificial intelligence, the technology’s disruptive power and lending standards more broadly. Several large private credit providers have limited withdrawals from individual funds as investors have sought to pull money. Read More: Private Credit Gate-Crashers Are Forcing Funds Into Brutal Spot Private credit backs many private equity-owned midsize companies. A pullback would make it tougher for lower-rated businesses to refinance, potentially hitting the real economy. The developments have attracted regulatory scrutiny. The European Central Bank will begin a fresh round of checks on banks that it supervises as concerns intensify over loan quality in the private credit sector, people familiar with the matter have said. Several European lenders including Deutsche Bank AG and Societe Generale SA have touted the quality of their exposures to private credit. While the involved executives acknowledged that the asset class could face a bumpy road, they also said they don’t consider it as a systemic risk. DZ Bank had €661 billion ($760 billion) worth of assets at the end of last year , making it the second-biggest lender headquartered in Germany after Deutsche Bank.
Crown Reserve Acquisition ( CRAQ ) will merge with Carvix in an all-stock transaction valuing Carvix at $1.0B. The SPAC will redomicile to Delaware before closing, with the combined company remaining Nasdaq-listed. Crown Reserve aims to raise at least $80M via PIPE and secure a $20M equity line, with $10M minimum cash required at closing. Carvix shareholders may receive up to 50M earnout shares ov...
Crown Reserve Acquisition ( CRAQ ) will merge with Carvix in an all-stock transaction valuing Carvix at $1.0B. The SPAC will redomicile to Delaware before closing, with the combined company remaining Nasdaq-listed. Crown Reserve aims to raise at least $80M via PIPE and secure a $20M equity line, with $10M minimum cash required at closing. Carvix shareholders may receive up to 50M earnout shares over four years tied to revenue and EBITDA targets. The post-merger board will have five members, with Carvix nominating the majority and management staying in place. More on Cal Redwood Acquisition Corp. Financial information for Cal Redwood Acquisition Corp.
Teledyne Marine, part of Teledyne Technologies ( TDY ) on Tuesday said it has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence ( MOD ) in support of the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Data Gathering (FMDG) - Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect. Under this contract, Teledyne will supply numerous autonomous ocean observing systems, including Sentinel and Slocum gliders, APEX floats, and associa...
Teledyne Marine, part of Teledyne Technologies ( TDY ) on Tuesday said it has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence ( MOD ) in support of the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Data Gathering (FMDG) - Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect. Under this contract, Teledyne will supply numerous autonomous ocean observing systems, including Sentinel and Slocum gliders, APEX floats, and associated services, enabling the Royal Navy to expand its fleet of advanced unmanned technologies to collect high-quality oceanographic data in support of operational planning, maritime safety, and Defence activities, directly supporting Atlantic Bastion. TDY +0.5% premarket to $587.02. Source: Press Release More on Teledyne Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) Presents at 47th Annual TD Cowen Aerospace and Defense Conference Transcript Teledyne's Momentum Makes Me Comfortable Buying At A Premium Teledyne: Re-Rated As Belief In Long-Term Compounding Returns Teledyne projects $6.37B revenue for 2026 while advancing unmanned and defense growth Teledyne Q4 2025 Earnings Preview
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images I bought Palantir ( PLTR ) stock in May of 2024 at roughly $21 a share. In those days PLTR was on a bull run of its own with solid retail interest and strong momentum. I took it as a momentum trade. It worked. I rode it to about $82 by December of 2025. But then the stock had its first major drawdown. It started tanking, and I did not have an investment thesis a...
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images I bought Palantir ( PLTR ) stock in May of 2024 at roughly $21 a share. In those days PLTR was on a bull run of its own with solid retail interest and strong momentum. I took it as a momentum trade. It worked. I rode it to about $82 by December of 2025. But then the stock had its first major drawdown. It started tanking, and I did not have an investment thesis at the time because I took it as a momentum trade. A momentum trade gives you no reason to hold through volatility. So I waited, waited some more, and then eventually exited my entire position by January 2025 around $67. We all know what happened next. Palantir went on a tear toward the $200s, and I watched the whole show from the outside. Although I made solid returns on the initial trade, I could've made much more if I had held even 20% of my position. Not having an understanding of the company I was in and not having a long-term investment thesis around it cost me this much. After selling, I just watched for months. The one thing that kept me from re-entering was that PLTR looked too expensive. They needed to prove the valuation was worth having. And by late 2025, September/October , it started to prove that. The stock was trading around the $170s, but I still couldn't convince myself to buy at the highs. But I have this thing where I cannot bring myself to buy at all-time highs when a stock is in price discovery mode. So I started selling OTM (out of the money) cash-secured puts, roughly 3 months out, about 20% to 25% below the market price at the time. The premiums were paying me between $10 and $15 per share, which is $1000 to $1500 per contract, just to wait and buy PLTR at a price you want. Data by YCharts I sold these put contracts twice. The first time was 100 days out, and I collected about $11 per share in premium. The contract expired worthless because Palantir never touched the strike. And I just pocketed the premium. The second time, I collected about $15 per ...
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images I bought Palantir ( PLTR ) stock in May of 2024 at roughly $21 a share. In those days PLTR was on a bull run of its own with solid retail interest and strong momentum. I took it as a momentum trade. It worked. I rode it to about $82 by December of 2025. But then the stock had its first major drawdown. It started tanking, and I did not have an investment thesis a...
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images I bought Palantir ( PLTR ) stock in May of 2024 at roughly $21 a share. In those days PLTR was on a bull run of its own with solid retail interest and strong momentum. I took it as a momentum trade. It worked. I rode it to about $82 by December of 2025. But then the stock had its first major drawdown. It started tanking, and I did not have an investment thesis at the time because I took it as a momentum trade. A momentum trade gives you no reason to hold through volatility. So I waited, waited some more, and then eventually exited my entire position by January 2025 around $67. We all know what happened next. Palantir went on a tear toward the $200s, and I watched the whole show from the outside. Although I made solid returns on the initial trade, I could've made much more if I had held even 20% of my position. Not having an understanding of the company I was in and not having a long-term investment thesis around it cost me this much. After selling, I just watched for months. The one thing that kept me from re-entering was that PLTR looked too expensive. They needed to prove the valuation was worth having. And by late 2025, September/October , it started to prove that. The stock was trading around the $170s, but I still couldn't convince myself to buy at the highs. But I have this thing where I cannot bring myself to buy at all-time highs when a stock is in price discovery mode. So I started selling OTM (out of the money) cash-secured puts, roughly 3 months out, about 20% to 25% below the market price at the time. The premiums were paying me between $10 and $15 per share, which is $1000 to $1500 per contract, just to wait and buy PLTR at a price you want. Data by YCharts I sold these put contracts twice. The first time was 100 days out, and I collected about $11 per share in premium. The contract expired worthless because Palantir never touched the strike. And I just pocketed the premium. The second time, I collected about $15 per ...
A new documentary charts the tragic events that led to the former NBA star overdosing in a Nevada brothel – and what came next There’s a version of the Lamar Odom story that ends in a Nevada brothel . It’s not hard to imagine the grand finale – the TMZ bulletin relating his fatal drug overdose, followed by emotional tributes to what was lost: a radical basketball prodigy of the New York tradition,...
A new documentary charts the tragic events that led to the former NBA star overdosing in a Nevada brothel – and what came next There’s a version of the Lamar Odom story that ends in a Nevada brothel . It’s not hard to imagine the grand finale – the TMZ bulletin relating his fatal drug overdose, followed by emotional tributes to what was lost: a radical basketball prodigy of the New York tradition, a two-time NBA champion with the Kobe Bryant Lakers, a glittering career that spanned coasts and eras before caving under the weight of addiction. A cautionary tale of incandescent fame, with Odom’s celebrity wife Khloé Kardashian cast as a man-eater to eclipse her more notorious older sister, would have been the epilogue cemented in a thousand think pieces. But by living to tell the tale, Odom has instead become the latest fallen star to prove a core truism of Western mythmaking: heroes who don’t die young are doomed to live long enough to become the villain in their own tale Continue reading...
Nvidia has invested $2 billion in Marvell Technology as part of efforts to make it easier for customers to use the custom artificial intelligence chips that the smaller company designs with Nvidia's networking gear and central processors. Shares of Marvell rose more than 9% in premarket trading on Tuesday, while Nvidia shares were up 1.5%. Through the deal, Nvidia aims to ensure it remains cent...
Nvidia has invested $2 billion in Marvell Technology as part of efforts to make it easier for customers to use the custom artificial intelligence chips that the smaller company designs with Nvidia's networking gear and central processors. Shares of Marvell rose more than 9% in premarket trading on Tuesday, while Nvidia shares were up 1.5%. Through the deal, Nvidia aims to ensure it remains central to meeting the growing computing needs required by AI tools at a time when some companies are opting for custom processors instead of its pricey processors.
nimit srichak/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis In my last piece , I wrote that Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. ( STRL ) was building the foundation for the AI boom. Well, I still believe that. But I think the better way to frame STRL today is this. The company has moved up the value chain, and that changes the earnings power. As of writing this, the company is trading at $420 compared to th...
nimit srichak/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis In my last piece , I wrote that Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. ( STRL ) was building the foundation for the AI boom. Well, I still believe that. But I think the better way to frame STRL today is this. The company has moved up the value chain, and that changes the earnings power. As of writing this, the company is trading at $420 compared to the $330 area when I last wrote on the company. The company finished 2025 with $3.01 billion of signed backlog, $3.31 billion of combined backlog, and a 2026 guidance that points to about 25% of revenue and 28% adjusted EBITDA. Now, in my view, this is a stronger business than the one I covered before, inasmuch as the stock is no longer hiding in plain sight. And this is why I am reiterating Sterling Infrastructure as a Strong Buy. Business Overview Sterling still operates through three segments. But the center of gravity has shifted. In 4Q 2025 , e-infrastructure generated about $1.47 billion of revenue, which is about 59% of the total. This is in addition to producing $346 million of operating income at a 23.6% margin. It is also important to mention that transportation added $640.7 million of revenue with a 12.1% operating margin. On the other side, building solutions contributed $382.6 million and a 10.2% operating margin. And that kind of mix matters because the e-infrastructure segment is now both the biggest piece of the company and the most attractive one. And this is because it serves large blue-chip customers across data centers, manufacturing, e-commerce distribution, warehouses, and power generation. I also note that the company continues to call out hyperscalers, colocation players, and semiconductor-related demand as multiyear growth drivers. When I look at the segment math, this is no longer a balanced 3-legged stool. E-infrastructure is clearly the king on the board now. And the other segments matter mainly because they add diversification and cash flow suppor...