Key Points A Roth conversion doesn't make sense if you expect to land in a lower tax bracket. Be careful with doing a conversion if it's likely to trigger a big tax bill. You may not want to do a Roth conversion if you want to donate your savings to charity. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There's a big downside to saving for retirement in a traditional IRA or...
Key Points A Roth conversion doesn't make sense if you expect to land in a lower tax bracket. Be careful with doing a conversion if it's likely to trigger a big tax bill. You may not want to do a Roth conversion if you want to donate your savings to charity. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There's a big downside to saving for retirement in a traditional IRA or 401(k): These accounts eventually force retirees to take required minimum distributions, or RMDs. If you don't like the idea of that, you may be considering a Roth conversion. With a Roth conversion, you move money from a traditional retirement account into a Roth IRA. From that point onward, your money gets to grow tax-free, you don't pay taxes on withdrawals, and you won't have to take RMDs. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Roth conversions can be a smart strategy for a lot of people. But that doesn't guarantee they make sense for you. Here are three signs that they may be the wrong move. 1. You expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement One of the biggest reasons to do a Roth conversion is to enjoy tax-free withdrawals at a time when your income and tax bracket may be higher. But if you expect your income and tax bracket to be lower in retirement, a Roth conversion doesn't make sense. Your goal should be to pay the least amount of tax on your savings. If a Roth conversion doesn't make sense for you, it doesn't do you much good. 2. Your conversion could trigger a huge tax bill When you do a Roth conversion, it's a taxable event. Any money you move from a traditional retirement account to a Roth IRA is taxed that same year. But if you don't have an opportunity to do a Roth conversion when your income is low, you could end up paying a lot of taxes on that money due to your conversio...
Key Points Annaly Capital and AGNC Investment are both mortgage real estate investment trusts. AGNC Investment has a yield of 13.9%, while Annaly Capital's yield is 12.9%. Both mREITs have complex dividend histories and may not be appropriate for many dividend investors, but they could be valuable additions for the right investor. 10 stocks we like better than Annaly Capital Management › Dividend ...
Key Points Annaly Capital and AGNC Investment are both mortgage real estate investment trusts. AGNC Investment has a yield of 13.9%, while Annaly Capital's yield is 12.9%. Both mREITs have complex dividend histories and may not be appropriate for many dividend investors, but they could be valuable additions for the right investor. 10 stocks we like better than Annaly Capital Management › Dividend investors often start their search for stocks by looking at dividend yields. That's a logical move given their income focus, but there's a risk that yield becomes more important than other factors that can also have a material impact on an investor's long-term results. Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY) and AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC), with their huge double-digit yields, need extra careful vetting. For reference, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is yielding roughly 1.1% today. The average financial stock yields 1.5%. The average real estate investment trust (REIT) yields 3.6%. Mortgage REITs Annaly and AGNC yield 12.9% and 13.9%, respectively. Here are some key things to consider before buying either of these two mortgage REITs, and why you might prefer one over the other. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » What do mortgage REITs do? A property-owning REIT buys physical assets, such as office buildings, and then leases them to tenants. The core business of mortgage REITs like Annaly and AGNC is owning mortgage securities that have been pooled together into bond-like investments. In some ways, a mortgage REIT, which manages a portfolio of mortgage securities, is similar to a bond fund. Notably, both Annaly and AGNC highlight total return as a key goal. This is important for dividend lovers. While most property-owning REITs focus on providing reliable, and often steadily growing, dividends, the ...
Former Executive Director of the USAID COVID-19 Task Force Jeremy Konyndyk joined Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Konyndyk explains to hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini the negative impact of the US withdrawal from the WHO in January and the dismantling of USAID on the public health response. (Source: Bloomberg)
Former Executive Director of the USAID COVID-19 Task Force Jeremy Konyndyk joined Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Konyndyk explains to hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini the negative impact of the US withdrawal from the WHO in January and the dismantling of USAID on the public health response. (Source: Bloomberg)
hh5800/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis Perhaps, Nvidia’s ( NVDA ) latest earnings represented the point where the narrative around AI completely changed. For years, investors were thinking of Nvidia as primarily benefiting from hyperscaler AI spending and the growth in demand for its GPUs. What these earnings quietly showed, however, is that Nvidia has evolved into the foundational infra...
hh5800/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis Perhaps, Nvidia’s ( NVDA ) latest earnings represented the point where the narrative around AI completely changed. For years, investors were thinking of Nvidia as primarily benefiting from hyperscaler AI spending and the growth in demand for its GPUs. What these earnings quietly showed, however, is that Nvidia has evolved into the foundational infrastructure layer in the world of AI. It is not only selling the chips anymore. The company started to monetize the entire AI factory stack that involves compute, networking, orchestration, sovereign AI deployments and even CPUs. Since my last coverage , NVDA is up 8% but it still hasn’t experienced the kind of explosive rerating many smaller AI stocks have seen this year. Considering that the annualized revenue run rate is reaching a staggering $400 billion, sovereign AI growth is already exceeding 80% and agentic AI is significantly boosting compute intensity per interaction, I think that there may be an element of misunderstanding how structurally big Nvidia’s opportunity truly becomes over the next decade. Data by YCharts How Nvidia’s Q1 Earnings Quietly Changed The AI Narrative If anything, Nvidia’s latest earnings showed that the company became something way more important than a provider of high-performance GPUs to hyperscalers. This time, Nvidia posted revenues up by 85% year over year to $82 billion with guidance for next quarter suggesting the company’s annualized revenue run rate reaching a whopping $364 billion ( $91 billion *4). It is important to note, though, that this earnings report has shown us quite a few other things. First off, the growth in the ACIE segment was much bigger than in hyperscaler revenue, where the latter came at $38 billion and the former at $37 billion. ACIE grew 31% over a quarter, whereas hyperscalers declined 14%. This quiet signals how much of a risk it might be to continue thinking of Nvidia as an undiversified vendor of chips depende...
Yau Ming Low/iStock Editorial via Getty Images If there’s one phrase that really captures what’s going on in QSR Pizza right now, it’s probably ' winner takes all .' And in a lot of markets around the world, Domino's Pizza ( DPZ ) really did take all the traffic they could get—even if that 'all' still isn't all that impressive. At the end of the day, this is still a price war. Seeking Alpha Even s...
Yau Ming Low/iStock Editorial via Getty Images If there’s one phrase that really captures what’s going on in QSR Pizza right now, it’s probably ' winner takes all .' And in a lot of markets around the world, Domino's Pizza ( DPZ ) really did take all the traffic they could get—even if that 'all' still isn't all that impressive. At the end of the day, this is still a price war. Seeking Alpha Even so, it looks like my gut feeling that Domino's Pizza Group ( DPUKY ) was getting hit a little too hard ended up being right on the money. Since I said this master franchisee looked dirt-cheap around ~$4.80 (with downside of only about ~3.7% if dividends merely stayed flat forever under the Gordon Model) Domino's UK has bounced back and already delivered close to a 10% total return, versus a bit over 7% for the S&P. We're still below the ~$6 target I had in mind, and the last time I checked, the dividend was still covered by FCF by about 2.1x. So, I think the question all the lads (notice I didn't use the traditional 'folks' this time) are asking themselves is whether this cash machine still has room to run from here. It's the same story as other chains I cover, like Dine Brands ( DIN ) and MTY Food Group ( MTY:CA ). Sometimes Mr. Market only looks at same-store sales but forgets about long-term shareholder returns. Just to give you a quick look at what still matters a lot going into FY 2026: QSR Pizza is resilient during recessions/downturns and highly promotion-driven. Franchisees may even see a dip in margins, but Domino's can gain market share by running value promotions as it is doing in the U.S. and Canada ('Best Deal Ever') and the UK ('Price Slice'). New modular stores are protecting franchisee economies (only 720 sq ft costing £200,000 to £250,000, with a payback of just 2 years) and allowing them to expand inland along roads away from urban centers. Despite increasing SKUs along with in-store complexity, Domino's UK launched Chick ’N’ Dip and is already running it w...
hh5800/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis Perhaps, Nvidia’s ( NVDA ) latest earnings represented the point where the narrative around AI completely changed. For years, investors were thinking of Nvidia as primarily benefiting from hyperscaler AI spending and the growth in demand for its GPUs. What these earnings quietly showed, however, is that Nvidia has evolved into the foundational infra...
hh5800/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis Perhaps, Nvidia’s ( NVDA ) latest earnings represented the point where the narrative around AI completely changed. For years, investors were thinking of Nvidia as primarily benefiting from hyperscaler AI spending and the growth in demand for its GPUs. What these earnings quietly showed, however, is that Nvidia has evolved into the foundational infrastructure layer in the world of AI. It is not only selling the chips anymore. The company started to monetize the entire AI factory stack that involves compute, networking, orchestration, sovereign AI deployments and even CPUs. Since my last coverage , NVDA is up 8% but it still hasn’t experienced the kind of explosive rerating many smaller AI stocks have seen this year. Considering that the annualized revenue run rate is reaching a staggering $400 billion, sovereign AI growth is already exceeding 80% and agentic AI is significantly boosting compute intensity per interaction, I think that there may be an element of misunderstanding how structurally big Nvidia’s opportunity truly becomes over the next decade. Data by YCharts How Nvidia’s Q1 Earnings Quietly Changed The AI Narrative If anything, Nvidia’s latest earnings showed that the company became something way more important than a provider of high-performance GPUs to hyperscalers. This time, Nvidia posted revenues up by 85% year over year to $82 billion with guidance for next quarter suggesting the company’s annualized revenue run rate reaching a whopping $364 billion ( $91 billion *4). It is important to note, though, that this earnings report has shown us quite a few other things. First off, the growth in the ACIE segment was much bigger than in hyperscaler revenue, where the latter came at $38 billion and the former at $37 billion. ACIE grew 31% over a quarter, whereas hyperscalers declined 14%. This quiet signals how much of a risk it might be to continue thinking of Nvidia as an undiversified vendor of chips depende...
Every quarter, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires institutional investors with over $100 million in assets to list exactly what U.S. publicly traded stocks they own, how many shares they hold, and the total dollar amount of those positions. One company that investors follow religiously is Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +1.48%)(BRKB +1.32%). Investors have finally caught a glimpse of w...
Every quarter, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires institutional investors with over $100 million in assets to list exactly what U.S. publicly traded stocks they own, how many shares they hold, and the total dollar amount of those positions. One company that investors follow religiously is Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +1.48%)(BRKB +1.32%). Investors have finally caught a glimpse of what Berkshire bought and sold during the first quarter. The conglomerate trimmed several stocks from its portfolio, but its top three holdings remained steady: Apple (AAPL +1.38%), American Express (AXP +0.73%), and Coca-Cola (KO +0.38%). American Express is a quintessential Warren Buffett investment that Berkshire Hathaway has owned for decades, and there's one major reason why it remains a top holding after all these years. Expand NYSE : AXP American Express Today's Change ( 0.73 %) $ 2.25 Current Price $ 311.95 Key Data Points Market Cap $213B Day's Range $ 310.65 - $ 314.13 52wk Range $ 286.15 - $ 387.49 Volume 99.4K Avg Vol 3.7M Gross Margin 60.19 % Dividend Yield 1.09 % American Express boasts a strong economic moat In Q1, Berkshire Hathaway sold its entire stake in both Visa and Mastercard but continued to hold American Express. What separates American Express from its competitors is that it operates a closed-loop payments network, meaning it is the card issuer and network processor, and also holds and services its own credit card loans. This enables American Express to earn both network fees from transactions and interest income on its loans. Another advantage for American Express is its successful branding targeted toward high-net-worth, high-spend individuals. The company positions itself as a luxury card and offers customers rewards and benefits to reflect this. Benefits like Centurion Lounges, concierge services, and early access to ticket sales reinforce its status as a premium brand, rather than just a payment method. As a result, American Express cardholders ...
Zerbor Corporate earnings this week featured a high-stakes lineup of reports from 19 notable companies across technology, consumer discretionary, industrials, and communication services. Earnings Roundup: Bottom Line: Out of the 19 companies reporting, all 19 exceeded EPS expectations. Notably, 15 of these companies posted year-over-year earnings growth. Top Line: Performance remained robust on th...
Zerbor Corporate earnings this week featured a high-stakes lineup of reports from 19 notable companies across technology, consumer discretionary, industrials, and communication services. Earnings Roundup: Bottom Line: Out of the 19 companies reporting, all 19 exceeded EPS expectations. Notably, 15 of these companies posted year-over-year earnings growth. Top Line: Performance remained robust on the revenue front, with all 19 companies topping Wall Street estimates and successfully delivering top-line expansion. Seeking Alpha (Seeking Alpha) Let’s take a look at some of the companies that reported earnings this week: Analog Devices ( ADI ) posted r ecord fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenue of $3.62 billion (up 37% YoY) and a non-GAAP EPS of $3.09, both beating estimates on robust industrial and data center demand, while management issued upbeat Q3 guidance forecasting revenue of $3.9 billion and EPS of $3.30 at the midpoint. Deere & Company ( DE ) reported fiscal second-quarter 2026 worldwide net sales and revenues of $13.37 billion (up 5% YoY) and net income of $1.773 billion ($6.55 per diluted share), comfortably exceeding analyst expectations despite agricultural market headwinds, while reiterating its full-year net income guidance of $4.5 billion to $5.0 billion. Lowe's Companies ( LOW ) delivered a solid start to fiscal 2026 with total sales rising to $23.1 billion and adjusted diluted EPS beating projections at $3.03, supported by strong spring execution and Pro momentum, while reaffirming its full-year outlook of $92 billion to $94 billion in total sales. NVIDIA Corporation ( NVDA ) beat consensus expectations for fiscal first-quarter 2027, delivering an adjusted EPS of $1.87 against the projected $1.77 along with stellar top-line growth driven by a massive surge in hyperscaler AI infrastructure capex, while issuing forward guidance that signals sustained market dominance. Take-Two Interactive Software ( TTWO ) outpaced management's expectations for fiscal four...
TannySolt/iStock via Getty Images It takes patience for turnaround plays to turn the corner. Some take longer than others, and that’s why getting paid a dividend in the meantime is so important. Unlike hedge fund managers, retail investors only need to answer to themselves. As such, they are also positioned to reap the benefits as the tide turns on a stock so long as they stay in the game. This br...
TannySolt/iStock via Getty Images It takes patience for turnaround plays to turn the corner. Some take longer than others, and that’s why getting paid a dividend in the meantime is so important. Unlike hedge fund managers, retail investors only need to answer to themselves. As such, they are also positioned to reap the benefits as the tide turns on a stock so long as they stay in the game. This brings me to Americold Realty Trust ( COLD ), which I last covered back in January 2025. Admittedly, that call was too early as COLD has continued to face margin pressure since my last piece. That picture appears set to change for the better, as reflected by COLD climbing out of the $10-12 range to $14.81, at present, as shown below. COLD Stock 1-Yr Trend (Seeking Alpha) In this article, I revisit COLD including recent business results , and discuss why now may finally be a good time to pick up this name as it continues to recover, so let’s get started! Why COLD? Americold Realty is a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics and real estate. Its business supports the safe and efficient movement of food worldwide. It has 224 operating facilities across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and South America. COLD has deep relationships with top customers that span decades. This includes serving a range of producers and grocers like General Mills ( GIS ), Kraft Heinz ( KHC ), Tyson Foods ( TSN ), Conagra ( CAG ), and Walmart ( WMT ). COLD’s network is 90% owned and includes high-quality warehouses that are strategically located near population dense markets, as shown below. Investor Presentation COLD’s Q1 2026 results show improving conditions for the company. It delivered AFFO per share of $0.29. While this is down from $0.34 in the prior year period, it was above management and analyst expectations. Physical occupancy was flat YoY despite prolonged inventory destocking that’s pressured warehouse operators. Plus, inventory levels largely stabilized and pricing performa...
Modern financial markets are triggering cognitive dissonance among investors. On the one hand, we're seeing historical highs among stock indices. On the other hand, there are obvious signs of macroeconomic fatigue. As I detailed recently, looking at the valuation of inflation (through the prism of the Big Mac Index), the real U.S. economy, measured in physical base goods, has actually been in a hi...
Modern financial markets are triggering cognitive dissonance among investors. On the one hand, we're seeing historical highs among stock indices. On the other hand, there are obvious signs of macroeconomic fatigue. As I detailed recently, looking at the valuation of inflation (through the prism of the Big Mac Index), the real U.S. economy, measured in physical base goods, has actually been in a hidden recession for the last 20 years. The stock market, however, has managed to more than double over this time. This systemic disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street generates some frightening statistical anomalies. In a previous article, I also analyzed the Buffett Indicator in detail, which reached an incredible 228%. According to classic theory, an indicator of 100% or higher points to overvaluation. That means a figure of 228% should signal of one of the most massive bubbles in history. Looking at these numbers, an army of analysts predicts an unavoidable catastrophe every day. But what if we're attempting to measure the modern digital economy by an old industrial yardstick? What if this is not a bubble but a fundamental, tectonic shift in the very nature of the structure of the economy? The Illusion of a Bubble: Detachment of Capitalization From GDP To understand why the Buffett Indicator broke, we need to remember the base math of investing. The stock market — capitalization — is not a derivative from gross domestic product (GDP) or aggregate revenue. The stock market always primarily values future earnings. In the industrial era of the 20th century, the share of corporate profit in the general volume of the economy was a relatively stable constant. If GDP grew, corporations sold more goods, their revenue grew, and profit increased proportionally. This is precisely why the Buffett Indicator worked — GDP was a reliable mirror for the valuation of future profits. But in the last two decades, this relationship has fallen apart. If we look at the price-to-earnings...
watch now VIDEO 11:15 11:15 Why Americans are cutting back on dating Markets and Politics Digital Original Video Inflation concerns are spilling into "date-flation" discussions online, as social media users react to a surprising stat: Millennials spend $252, on average, for a date. The figure, which CNBC reported on in April, comes from BMO Financial Group's 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index ...
watch now VIDEO 11:15 11:15 Why Americans are cutting back on dating Markets and Politics Digital Original Video Inflation concerns are spilling into "date-flation" discussions online, as social media users react to a surprising stat: Millennials spend $252, on average, for a date. The figure, which CNBC reported on in April, comes from BMO Financial Group's 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index . The average "all-in" spend on a date in America — including pre-date grooming and gas money, as well as the cost of the date itself — has climbed to $189, up 12.5% from last year, BMO found. "Date-flation," as the report dubbed it, far outpaced the 2.7% inflation rise over the same period. Millennials reported the highest average cost per date and the largest year-over-year increase, according to BMO's year-over-year generational data: Gen Z: $205, up from $194 Millennials: $252, up from $191 Gen X: $173, up from $172 Baby boomers: $126, down from $127 The bank polled 2,501 adults in late December through January. Inflation has worsened since then. The consumer price index rose 3.8% year over year in April 2026, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics reading. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Could Trump Accounts be a model for Social Security? Here’s what experts say 'Survivor's penalty' can affect retirees after a spouse dies. What to expect This federal program trains older workers. The Trump administration wants to cut it Jeff Bezos says bottom half of earners should pay zero in income taxes CNBC's Financial Advisor 100: Best financial advisors, top firms ranked Higher costs are having a ripple effect on dating habits, experts say. "We're seeing that there is this increased cost of living, and it's lowering our dating frequency and how we're seeing or perceiving dating," Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist, told CNBC. "We're seeing people have fewer dinners out and there's a lower tolerance for higher-risk meetups." Half of Americans who date ...
Key Points CEO James Peck acquired 118,625 shares at around $8.43 per share on May 18, 2026, representing a transaction value of ~$1 million. Directly owned shares now total 424,683, while indirect holdings via PAVentures II, LLC remain substantial at 9,665,342 shares. Peck retains a total of 10,090,025 shares following the transaction (direct and indirect holdings combined). 10 stocks we like bet...
Key Points CEO James Peck acquired 118,625 shares at around $8.43 per share on May 18, 2026, representing a transaction value of ~$1 million. Directly owned shares now total 424,683, while indirect holdings via PAVentures II, LLC remain substantial at 9,665,342 shares. Peck retains a total of 10,090,025 shares following the transaction (direct and indirect holdings combined). 10 stocks we like better than Niq Global Intelligence Plc › CEO and Chairman of the Board James M. Peck reported an open-market purchase of 118,625 shares in his company NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ) for a total value of approximately $1 million, according to the SEC Form 4 filing. Transaction summary Metric Value Shares traded 118,625 Transaction value ~$1.0 million Post-transaction shares (direct) 424,683 Post-transaction value (direct ownership) ~$3.58 million Transaction and post-transaction values based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($8.43). Key questions How does this purchase impact James Peck's overall ownership in NIQ Global Intelligence? The transaction increases direct ownership by 38.76%, but due to substantial indirect holdings, it drives only a 1.19% change in total equity exposure. The transaction increases direct ownership by 38.76%, but due to substantial indirect holdings, it drives only a 1.19% change in total equity exposure. What is the context of the share classes, and does this represent a full commitment to Common Stock? This transaction pertains exclusively to Common Stock; Peck continues to own 10,090,025 Ordinary Shares (direct and indirect), thus maintaining significant ongoing exposure. This transaction pertains exclusively to Common Stock; Peck continues to own 10,090,025 Ordinary Shares (direct and indirect), thus maintaining significant ongoing exposure. Was the transaction size large relative to available capacity? The purchase reflects a meaningful use of direct capacity, with direct holdings increasing sharply, but it is minor in relat...
For most aging workers, Social Security provides more than just a monthly check. The payout they receive serves as a financial foundation that helps nearly nine out of 10 retired workers make ends meet, according to a quarter-century of annual surveys from Gallup. But for some Social Security beneficiaries, this payout they've come to rely on isn't guaranteed. Since President Donald Trump took off...
For most aging workers, Social Security provides more than just a monthly check. The payout they receive serves as a financial foundation that helps nearly nine out of 10 retired workers make ends meet, according to a quarter-century of annual surveys from Gallup. But for some Social Security beneficiaries, this payout they've come to rely on isn't guaranteed. Since President Donald Trump took office for his second, non-consecutive term on Jan. 20, 2025, he and his administration have enacted several changes to America's leading retirement program. Chief among them are two Social Security garnishments: one already in place and one that appears likely to be reinstated later this year. Trump and his administration have overseen several Social Security changes To preface the following discussion, Social Security is a dynamic program. Changes are made on a near-annual basis to keep up with inflation and other shifting variables. For instance, Social Security beneficiaries were privy to a "Trump bump" this year, with Donald Trump's tariff and trade policy lifting the inflation rate and increasing the program's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to 2.8%. There's a good chance beneficiaries will enjoy a second consecutive Trump bump in 2027 due to inflationary pressures from the Iran war. On a more direct level, President Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 that established Sept. 30, 2025, as the compliance date to end the issuance of paper checks by the federal government. Electronic payments are deemed safer and more cost-effective for Social Security and its recipients. But perhaps the most eyebrow-raising Social Security change in Trump's second term was the Social Security Administration (SSA) adjusting the overpayment recovery rate that was previously changed under former President Joe Biden. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the overpayment clawback rate was set at 100%. In other words, if the SSA sent you benefits that you weren't owed, and you didn't ...
Key Points Nearly nine out of 10 retired workers rely on their Social Security income to make ends meet. The Trump administration has enacted several Social Security changes since January 2025, including a 500% increase in the overpayment clawback rate. It's not a matter of if but when Social Security recipients who are delinquent on their federal student loans are subject to a 15% involuntary ben...
Key Points Nearly nine out of 10 retired workers rely on their Social Security income to make ends meet. The Trump administration has enacted several Social Security changes since January 2025, including a 500% increase in the overpayment clawback rate. It's not a matter of if but when Social Security recipients who are delinquent on their federal student loans are subject to a 15% involuntary benefit garnishment. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For most aging workers, Social Security provides more than just a monthly check. The payout they receive serves as a financial foundation that helps nearly nine out of 10 retired workers make ends meet, according to a quarter-century of annual surveys from Gallup. But for some Social Security beneficiaries, this payout they've come to rely on isn't guaranteed. Since President Donald Trump took office for his second, non-consecutive term on Jan. 20, 2025, he and his administration have enacted several changes to America's leading retirement program. Chief among them are two Social Security garnishments: one already in place and one that appears likely to be reinstated later this year. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Trump and his administration have overseen several Social Security changes To preface the following discussion, Social Security is a dynamic program. Changes are made on a near-annual basis to keep up with inflation and other shifting variables. For instance, Social Security beneficiaries were privy to a "Trump bump" this year, with Donald Trump's tariff and trade policy lifting the inflation rate and increasing the program's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to 2.8%. There's a good chance beneficiaries will enjoy a second consecutive Trump bump in 2027 due to inflationary pressures fro...
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) is coming out of a period where investors had several legitimate worries. Up until a few quarters ago (specifically, before Q1 FY26), iPhone growth looked mature, especially given the lack of new AI features in the iPhone 17 and the stagnant situation in China. In my view, the latest numbers (Q1 and Q2 FY26) complicate the bear cas...
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) is coming out of a period where investors had several legitimate worries. Up until a few quarters ago (specifically, before Q1 FY26), iPhone growth looked mature, especially given the lack of new AI features in the iPhone 17 and the stagnant situation in China. In my view, the latest numbers (Q1 and Q2 FY26) complicate the bear case on Apple. In Q2 FY2026, Apple reported revenue of $111.2 billion, up 17%, with EPS up 22% to $2.01. Notably, iPhone revenue rose 22% to roughly $57 billion, with Greater China growing by 28% yoy. Based on management's guidance for the next quarter (14% to 17% revenue growth), and despite some supply constraints that I discuss in this piece, the growth momentum doesn't seem to take a pause. That said, revenue growth is not the only metric going up. The valuation of the company is now sitting at 35x forward earnings, which makes Apple the most expensive stock in the Mag 7 (ex-Tesla, for the obvious reasons ). Overall, I reiterate my buy rating on the stock, although I admit it is quite conditional on the news that will come out during the WWDC26 event. Any pivot in their AI strategy will lead me to a downgrade. I discuss this more below. The iPhone 17 Upgrade Cycle It seems that the Q1 FY26 spike in iPhone sales wasn’t a one-off event. Q2 FY2026 iPhone revenue was $56.99 billion, up 21.7% yoy. Author Compilation So far, the iPhone 17 family is Apple’s most popular lineup in history from launch through the March quarter. Bare in mind that this outperformance is despite the lack of a revamped Siri, a topic I will discuss in just a moment. Overall, I can’t wrap my head around what is driving the iPhone 17 outperformance. In the September debut , Apple highlighted ProMotion, better scratch resistance, all-day battery, A19 performance, a 48MP camera system, and a Center Stage front camera for calls, selfies, and dual capture. Again, I can’t identify which of these features is so...