In a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, Brown said: "The Scottish government has concluded that whilst we support the fundamental principle of criminalising the purchase of sex, we still retain significant concerns with the provisions as drafted in the bill, and are very aware that there are women in prostitution who have said that this bill as drafted will lead to them being at a hi...
In a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, Brown said: "The Scottish government has concluded that whilst we support the fundamental principle of criminalising the purchase of sex, we still retain significant concerns with the provisions as drafted in the bill, and are very aware that there are women in prostitution who have said that this bill as drafted will lead to them being at a higher risk of violence.
US stocks were muted on Monday as investors continued to debate President Donald Trump picking Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve and parsed over the latest earnings. The S&P 500 Index was little changed at 9:40 a.m. in New York. The technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index rose 0.227% . “Markets are trading cautiously as investors navigate a dense macro calendar and recalibrate expectations around ...
US stocks were muted on Monday as investors continued to debate President Donald Trump picking Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve and parsed over the latest earnings. The S&P 500 Index was little changed at 9:40 a.m. in New York. The technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index rose 0.227% . “Markets are trading cautiously as investors navigate a dense macro calendar and recalibrate expectations around the pace of global monetary easing,” said Daniela Hathorn , senior market analyst at Capital.com. Trump nominated Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair on Friday. Warsh is viewed by Wall Street as a relatively hawkish choice , showing more concern over inflation and being less supportive of interest-rate cuts. “Hawkish perceptions on Warsh appointment still linger this morning,” said Darrell Cronk , chief investment officer for wealth and investment management at Wells Fargo. “We expect Warsh to support a more dovish stance with difficulty shrinking the Fed balance sheet of any materiality. We still believe two FOMC interest rate cuts for 2026 are in the offing.” How Wall Street views Warsh weighed on stocks and precious metals on Friday, and continued to do so on Monday. For the former, Tom Essaye of the Sevens Report noted the market was “mildly disappointed” by the nomination as Warsh had made some less-than-supportive comments on quantitative easing and made calls for “regime change” at the central bank. “Bottom line, markets don’t ‘hate’ the Warsh choice, but markets view the Fed as a major ingredient of the 10+ year bull market in stocks and risk assets, so any potential change makes investors nervous, and we saw that Friday,” said Essaye. While the drop in precious metals has eased, both gold and silver are extending big slumps from Friday’s dramatic selloff. Russ Mould , investment director at AJ Bell, noted that there were “many different theories” as to why gold and silver have retreated in the manner they have, including the metals being “ripe f...
Oakozhan/iStock via Getty Images In late November, I suggested that readers should consider selling Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF ( VTI ) and replacing it with another Vanguard ETF, the Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund ETF ( VBR ). Since then, VBR has ridden the interest in Small-Caps and has gained 5.3%, outpacing VTI's gain of 1.6%. I pointed out in the article that VTI is very t...
Oakozhan/iStock via Getty Images In late November, I suggested that readers should consider selling Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF ( VTI ) and replacing it with another Vanguard ETF, the Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund ETF ( VBR ). Since then, VBR has ridden the interest in Small-Caps and has gained 5.3%, outpacing VTI's gain of 1.6%. I pointed out in the article that VTI is very top-heavy , though it does include some exposure to non Large-Caps. Today, I want to discuss VTI again, as I am changing my rating to Strong Sell, and to share another potential replacement ETF, the ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF ( REGL ). This exchange in exposure will leave the overall portfolio with less exposure to the very largest stocks that have run up a lot in price and that are exposed to the Technology sector and increase exposure to high quality medium-sized companies. What's Wrong With VTI VTI is run by a very strong organization and has an extremely low management fee of 0.03%. In the November review, I noted that it was poorly diversified. As of year-end, the top 5 names made up 24.3% of the ETF.These same four names are the largest in the S&P 500, where they comprise about 25%. Readers should understand that VTI will be highly correlated to the S&P 500. The very heavy Tech exposure is risky in my view, given the federal debt situation and the steepening of the yield curve. I continue to believe that the federal deficit is creating a big challenge for the economy that could hurt stocks. Investors who are expecting to get a lot of exposure to companies that aren't Large-Caps will be disappointed. While there are 3512 stocks in the ETF, the median market cap at year-end was $277 billion, according to the Vanguard VTI page . Vanguard also reports a P/E ratio of 27.4X. Here are the 10 largest holdings: Vanguard A Look at REGL I wrote recently about another ProShares ETF that I really like, the ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF ( SMDV )....
(Bloomberg) — For the first time in two years, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) shares are not rallying into a quarterly earnings report — a signal that investors are finding fewer reasons to snap up what has become one of the most expensive stocks in the S&P 500 Index. Shares of the software company have tumbled roughly 29% from their November peak, reached right before Palantir last reported re...
(Bloomberg) — For the first time in two years, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) shares are not rallying into a quarterly earnings report — a signal that investors are finding fewer reasons to snap up what has become one of the most expensive stocks in the S&P 500 Index. Shares of the software company have tumbled roughly 29% from their November peak, reached right before Palantir last reported results, and are down more than 15% to start 2026, putting them among the 15 worst performers in the S&P 500 this year. While the selloff has cut into Palantir’s valuation, shares still trade for about 142 times expected earnings, the third-highest multiple in the S&P 500. Most Read from Bloomberg Despite its hefty price tag, Wall Street expects Palantir to report another quarter of solid growth. Analysts covering the firm estimate adjusted earnings per share will increase 63% to 23 cents in the final quarter of 2025. Revenue is expected to be $1.3 billion, a 61% jump from the same period a year ago. “Investors are looking for ‘show me’ results and valuation — attractive investments, basically,” said Mark Giarelli at Morningstar Investment Service, who has a sell rating and $135 price target on Palantir shares. Palantir stock was up about 2% in early trading Monday. Palantir’s earnings come amid mounting skepticism about Big Tech, with investors demanding to see returns on high spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. That sentiment has weighed on tech shares as traders shift their focus from the earliest winners of the AI trend to companies set to benefit from the billions of dollars pledged by hyperscalers like Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Firms seen as being hurt by AI, including software stocks, are also seeing shares dragged lower. All of this puts pressure on Palantir to deliver forward guidance that beats expectations, proving that it deserves its premium price. However, the valuation being down from its late October peak also could be ...
William Blair’s senior analyst Louie DiPalma believes Palantir Technologies PLTR will report a strong Q4, paving the way for the AI stock to surpass $200 again by the end of 2026. The data analytics giant is scheduled to post its Q4 release today (after the bell). Consensus is for it to earn about 23 cents a share on $1.34 billion in revenue – both handily above Street estimates. And while Palanti...
William Blair’s senior analyst Louie DiPalma believes Palantir Technologies PLTR will report a strong Q4, paving the way for the AI stock to surpass $200 again by the end of 2026. The data analytics giant is scheduled to post its Q4 release today (after the bell). Consensus is for it to earn about 23 cents a share on $1.34 billion in revenue – both handily above Street estimates. And while Palantir stock sure remains expensive at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of more than “190”, DiPalma argues the current market dynamics suggest it’s not as “overvalued” as many believe. Note that the Denver-headquartered firm is posting earnings at a time when its share price is down some 25% versus the 52-week high. Palantir stock may not be that overvalued after all In his research note, Louie DiPalma agreed that Palantir’s valuation remains “frothy”, but said the premium is still defensible when compared to recent venture rounds in the broader AI ecosystem. In 2025, emerging artificial intelligence businesses secured private-market valuations that implied even steeper multiple – making PLTR stock appear relatively more grounded. Additionally, the multinational is strongly positioned to remain at more than 100 on the so-called “Rule of 40”, which serves as an irrefutable evidence of its strong fundamentals. That blend of profitability and scale – DiPalma argued – justifies Palantir’s lofty forward multiple and tempers concerns that it’s egregiously overvalued. Why else is William Blair bullish on PLTR shares William Blair upgraded Palantir shares to “outperform” ahead of the company’s earnings release on February 2nd primarily on proprietary data and shifting political tailwinds. According to the firm’s internal government and commercial trackers, PLTR’s momentum remains far from exhaustion. If anything – in fact – it’s accelerating in 2026. Specifically, its data suggests the new administration is “going all-in with Palantir,” cementing the company’s role as the primary...
Teresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece. But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over €2 (£1.70) – the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome counc...
Teresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece. But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over €2 (£1.70) – the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome council officials after years of discussions. “I think it’s normal and €2 is nothing – the price of a coffee,” Romero said as she left the monument. “The most important thing is to preserve history.” View image in fullscreen Workers sell tickets to enter the Trevi fountain Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPA The aim of the charge, which applies between 11.30am and 10pm on weekdays and from 9am to 10pm at weekends, is to help authorities better manage the crowds and raise funds to pay for the fountain’s upkeep. More than 10 million people visited the Trevi in 2025 alone. The payment is only for visitors who walk down the fountain’s steps to reach the basin. They can enjoy as much time there as they please, tossing coins over their shoulders in a ritual that is said to guarantee a return to the Eternal City, and posing for selfies. They can’t eat, drink or smoke in the area of the basin. People who live in Rome are exempt from the fee, as are people with disabilities and children under the age of six. “This is a very small payment to allow us to protect the Trevi fountain,” said Simona Ugolinelli, a councillor in charge of coordinating the measure. View image in fullscreen Paid admission is expected to draw millions in extra funding each year for the city’s conservation work. Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPA The feewas forecast to bring in €6.5m a year, money that would be used to invest in the fountain and other monuments in the Italian capital, Ugolinelli added. “It’s not as if Rome is the first city in the world to do this,” she said. “In fact, at tourist spots in other cities i...
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly. Top 5 Upgrades: JPMorgan upgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to Neutral from Underweight with a price target of $100, up from $92. JPMorgan believes Church & Dwight's reshaped portfolio will yield better sales growth. JPMorg...
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly. Top 5 Upgrades: JPMorgan upgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to Neutral from Underweight with a price target of $100, up from $92. JPMorgan believes Church & Dwight's reshaped portfolio will yield better sales growth. JPMorgan upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) to Overweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $319. The firm adjusted ratings in the industrial software space, citing a shift in a conviction driven by "diverging fundamentals" within the vertical software-as-service landscape. BTIG upgraded McDonald's (MCD) to Buy from Neutral with a $360 price target, telling investors that the firm's franchise checks suggest changes to the value/promotions strategy is driving traffic growth on a consistent basis. William Blair upgraded Palantir (PLTR) to Outperform from Market Perform without a price target ahead of the company's earnings report. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade following the stock's 30% selloff. Arete upgraded Shopify (SHOP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $175, up from $166. The firm sees an attractive valuation following the recent share weakness. Top 5 Downgrades: JPMorgan downgraded Best Buy (BBY) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $76, down from $99. The firm sees a "tough" Q4 report for the company. Leerink downgraded BioNTech (BNTX) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $113, up from $112. While Leerink remains fundamentally positive on the company's potential for long-term differentiation, the firm does not anticipate meaningful data readouts that confirm the potential of these combinations until 2027 or later. Scotiabank downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Sector Perform from Outperform with an unchanged price target of $85. Following a quantitative analysis and recent chief information security officer checks, the firm i...
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly. Top 5 Upgrades: JPMorgan upgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to Neutral from Underweight with a price target of $100, up from $92. JPMorgan believes Church & Dwight's reshaped portfolio will yield better sales growth. JPMorg...
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly. Top 5 Upgrades: JPMorgan upgraded Church & Dwight (CHD) to Neutral from Underweight with a price target of $100, up from $92. JPMorgan believes Church & Dwight's reshaped portfolio will yield better sales growth. JPMorgan upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) to Overweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $319. The firm adjusted ratings in the industrial software space, citing a shift in a conviction driven by "diverging fundamentals" within the vertical software-as-service landscape. BTIG upgraded McDonald's (MCD) to Buy from Neutral with a $360 price target, telling investors that the firm's franchise checks suggest changes to the value/promotions strategy is driving traffic growth on a consistent basis. William Blair upgraded Palantir (PLTR) to Outperform from Market Perform without a price target ahead of the company's earnings report. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade following the stock's 30% selloff. Arete upgraded Shopify (SHOP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $175, up from $166. The firm sees an attractive valuation following the recent share weakness. Top 5 Downgrades: JPMorgan downgraded Best Buy (BBY) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $76, down from $99. The firm sees a "tough" Q4 report for the company. Leerink downgraded BioNTech (BNTX) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $113, up from $112. While Leerink remains fundamentally positive on the company's potential for long-term differentiation, the firm does not anticipate meaningful data readouts that confirm the potential of these combinations until 2027 or later. Scotiabank downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Sector Perform from Outperform with an unchanged price target of $85. Following a quantitative analysis and recent chief information security officer checks, the firm i...
Semiconductor stocks witnessed healthy demand trends in the fourth quarter of 2025 with an accelerated pace of 5G deployment and increased fiber densification. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment characterized by geopolitical conflicts and tariff wars, the industry seemed to benefit from higher demand for scalable infrastructure for seamless connectivity amid a wide proliferation of Io...
Semiconductor stocks witnessed healthy demand trends in the fourth quarter of 2025 with an accelerated pace of 5G deployment and increased fiber densification. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment characterized by geopolitical conflicts and tariff wars, the industry seemed to benefit from higher demand for scalable infrastructure for seamless connectivity amid a wide proliferation of IoT devices. Monthly data on global semiconductor sales from the Semiconductor Industry Association corroborates this growth momentum. Monthly sales in October 2025 improved 4.7% sequentially to $72.7 billion, while November 2025’s metrics jumped 3.5% sequentially to $75.3 billion. Semiconductor chips are the building blocks of telecommunication equipment, electronic goods and IoT devices. A steady pace of 5G deployment and investments by leading carriers to increase their fiber footprint in rural areas to bridge the digital divide seemed to infuse confidence in the sector. In addition, a seamless transition from an economy-of-scale network operating model to demand-driven operations that offer easy programmability and flexible automation were tailwinds. Factors at Play Solid 5G Traction, Fiber Densification 5G has fast-tracked the wide proliferation of video and other bandwidth-intensive applications with a high-speed data transmission rate and zero latency. 5G is touted as the primary catalyst for next-generation IoT services, which include connected cars, augmented reality, virtual reality platforms, smart cities and connected devices that are likely to revolutionize key industry verticals. Expansion of fiber optic networks by carriers to support their 4G LTE and 5G wireless standards, as well as wireline connections, is acting as a tailwind. The fiber-optic cable network is vital for backhaul and the last-mile local loop, which are required by wireless service providers for 5G deployment. Fiber networks are also essential for the growing deployment of small cells that bri...
S&P Global's final read on January U.S. Manufacturing PMI was 52.4, higher than the initial estimate of 51.9 and 51.8 in December, according to data released on Monday. Growth was in part driven by inventory building as new orders, despite returning to expansion in January, increased only modestly. Confidence in the outlook nonetheless held up well, remaining unchanged and only fractionally below ...
S&P Global's final read on January U.S. Manufacturing PMI was 52.4, higher than the initial estimate of 51.9 and 51.8 in December, according to data released on Monday. Growth was in part driven by inventory building as new orders, despite returning to expansion in January, increased only modestly. Confidence in the outlook nonetheless held up well, remaining unchanged and only fractionally below its long-term trend level in January. Production increased at a sharp pace that was the most pronounced since last August and the joint-strongest since May 2022. "Production growth consequently significantly outpaced that of new orders at the start of the year, resulting in a further accumulation of unsold warehouse inventory," noted Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "While just below trend, business growth expectations for the year ahead are, however, holding up as firms anticipate improving demand, thanks in part to lower interest rates, reduced import competition due to tariffs, and more government support. However, political uncertainty remains a key drag on business sentiment," said Williamson. More on U.S. Economy Markets may stay choppy, but fundamentals remain supportive, Oppenheimer says Trump said to tap veteran BLS economist as agency chief
Shares of Tesla TSLA rose 2% in extended trading on Jan. 28, 2026 (as reported by CNBC), but ended the following day’s trading with a 3.4% slip after posting mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results. Lower year-over-year revenues, which also missed analysts’ expectations, on account of a double-digit decline in vehicle deliveries along with a 61% slump in net income, are likely to have driven the slump i...
Shares of Tesla TSLA rose 2% in extended trading on Jan. 28, 2026 (as reported by CNBC), but ended the following day’s trading with a 3.4% slip after posting mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results. Lower year-over-year revenues, which also missed analysts’ expectations, on account of a double-digit decline in vehicle deliveries along with a 61% slump in net income, are likely to have driven the slump in TSLA’s share price. Looking ahead, Tesla expects to incur capital expenditures of more than $20 billion, with the lion’s share allocated to AI-related initiatives, as well as development and factory expansion for new products, including Cybercab, Semi, Optimus and Megapack. While this robust pipeline and the recent price pullback may tempt dip-buyers, many remain wary of the long-term viability of Tesla’s new profit centers. The pivot to an AI-first model comes at a time when the American automaker is already battling intense international competition and a shrinking share of the traditional EV market. Critics argue that betting the farm on robotaxis — a segment fraught with regulatory hurdles and technical ‘edge cases’ — is a high-stakes attempt to recoup margins lost to the EV price wars. Given the organic headwinds of an aging fleet and the industry-specific challenges of autonomous scaling, Tesla's "physical AI" vision may face a much longer and more expensive road to fruition than current valuations suggest. Against this backdrop, a risk-averse investor may prefer to avoid direct single-stock exposure and instead monitor exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with significant Tesla weightings. By holding a diversified basket of industry leaders alongside Tesla, these funds mitigate the idiosyncratic risks associated with a single company's pivot, effectively spreading exposure across diverse sectors. But before mentioning these ETFs, let us check how Tesla performed in the fourth quarter in terms of other metrics. A Brief Analysis of TSLA’s Q4 Results Tesla reported fourth-qua...
Shares of Tesla TSLA rose 2% in extended trading on Jan. 28, 2026 (as reported by CNBC), but ended the following day’s trading with a 3.4% slip after posting mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results. Lower year-over-year revenues, which also missed analysts’ expectations, on account of a double-digit decline in vehicle deliveries along with a 61% slump in net income, are likely to have driven the slump i...
Shares of Tesla TSLA rose 2% in extended trading on Jan. 28, 2026 (as reported by CNBC), but ended the following day’s trading with a 3.4% slip after posting mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results. Lower year-over-year revenues, which also missed analysts’ expectations, on account of a double-digit decline in vehicle deliveries along with a 61% slump in net income, are likely to have driven the slump in TSLA’s share price. Looking ahead, Tesla expects to incur capital expenditures of more than $20 billion, with the lion’s share allocated to AI-related initiatives, as well as development and factory expansion for new products, including Cybercab, Semi, Optimus and Megapack. While this robust pipeline and the recent price pullback may tempt dip-buyers, many remain wary of the long-term viability of Tesla’s new profit centers. The pivot to an AI-first model comes at a time when the American automaker is already battling intense international competition and a shrinking share of the traditional EV market. Critics argue that betting the farm on robotaxis — a segment fraught with regulatory hurdles and technical ‘edge cases’ — is a high-stakes attempt to recoup margins lost to the EV price wars. Given the organic headwinds of an aging fleet and the industry-specific challenges of autonomous scaling, Tesla's "physical AI" vision may face a much longer and more expensive road to fruition than current valuations suggest. Against this backdrop, a risk-averse investor may prefer to avoid direct single-stock exposure and instead monitor exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with significant Tesla weightings. By holding a diversified basket of industry leaders alongside Tesla, these funds mitigate the idiosyncratic risks associated with a single company's pivot, effectively spreading exposure across diverse sectors. But before mentioning these ETFs, let us check how Tesla performed in the fourth quarter in terms of other metrics. A Brief Analysis of TSLA’s Q4 Results Tesla reported fourth-qua...
Written by Emily J. Thompson , Senior Investment Analyst Source: Globenewswire TEL $ 227.07 + Infinity % 1D 1D 5D 1M 3M 6M YTD 1Y 5Y 1D Line Candle Analyst Views on TEL Wall Street analysts forecast TEL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TEL is 270.70 USD with a low forecast of 240.00 USD and a high forecast of 297.00...
Written by Emily J. Thompson , Senior Investment Analyst Source: Globenewswire TEL $ 227.07 + Infinity % 1D 1D 5D 1M 3M 6M YTD 1Y 5Y 1D Line Candle Analyst Views on TEL Wall Street analysts forecast TEL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TEL is 270.70 USD with a low forecast of 240.00 USD and a high forecast of 297.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals. 10 Analyst Rating Wall Street analysts forecast TEL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TEL is 270.70 USD with a low forecast of 240.00 USD and a high forecast of 297.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals. 7 Buy 3 Hold 0 Sell Moderate Buy Current: 222.780 Low 240.00 Averages 270.70 High 297.00 Current: 222.780 Low 240.00 Averages 270.70 High 297.00 Oppenheimer Oppenheimer Perform -> Outperform upgrade $270 2026-01-27 Reason Oppenheimer Oppenheimer Price Target $270 AI Analysis 2026-01-27 upgrade Perform -> Outperform Reason Oppenheimer upgraded TE Connectivity to Outperform from Perform with a $270 price target. The firm shuffled ratings in the industrials group. The shares have pulled back from 2025 highs even as TE's business model deployment and execution have continued to advance, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm likes the company's "favorable" market dynamics, given its exposure to "rapidly scaling" data centers and electric grids. Barclays Guy Hardwick Overweight maintain $297 -> $302 2026-01-23 Reason Barclays Guy Hardwick Price Target $297 -> $302 2026-01-23 maintain Overweight Reason B...