4kodiak/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Microsoft ( MSFT ) has been a very disappointing stock this year, standing out as the worst performer among the Magnificent 7 peers over the period. Data by YCharts As I see it, the poor recent performance is not simply due to Microsoft’s gigantic AI CapEx spending per se. As I've mentioned in my previous work on MSFT , the problem is that the market stil...
4kodiak/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Microsoft ( MSFT ) has been a very disappointing stock this year, standing out as the worst performer among the Magnificent 7 peers over the period. Data by YCharts As I see it, the poor recent performance is not simply due to Microsoft’s gigantic AI CapEx spending per se. As I've mentioned in my previous work on MSFT , the problem is that the market still does not have clear evidence that this CapEx is turning into profitable growth—or when that day will actually come, and whether it will arrive before AI demand cools down. At the end of July, the Redmond-based software giant is expected to report its FY26 Q4 earnings. My investment thesis for Microsoft stock before its FQ4 earnings is quite simple. MSFT will regain momentum when the market realizes that AI CapEx is no longer just margin pressure and really starts to become operating leverage. This turning point might not come in FQ4, nor in FY27 Q1. But I believe that current valuations at historically de-risked levels create a much better opportunity to accumulate shares before a momentum shift—not during it and not after it. Based on this premise, I will frame this article around three signals. Signal 1: Cloud Revenue Growth Needs to Catch Up With COGS Growth The first signal to watch for Microsoft going forward—starting with FQ4—is whether cloud revenue growth is catching up with, or exceeding, the cost of revenue growth. The table below shows Microsoft’s last eight quarters in terms of Intelligent Cloud revenue growth and COGS growth. The table also shows how the gap between them has widened significantly over the last three quarters. Quarter Intelligent Cloud Revenue Growth YoY Intelligent Cloud COGS Growth YoY Gap Revenue - COGS FY24 Q4 19.0% 27.9% -8.9 pp FY25 Q1 20.0% 29.3% -9.3 pp FY25 Q2 19.0% 36.3% -17.3 pp FY25 Q3 21.0% 37.0% -16.0 pp FY25 Q4 26.0% 34.5% -8.5 pp FY26 Q1 28.0% 43.0% -15.0 pp FY26 Q2 29.0% 44.0% -15.0 pp FY26 Q3 30.0% 47.0% -17.0 pp Click to enl...
With a 5-year EPS growth forecasted at 25.08%, Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:ZETA) is among the 12 Best Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 24, BofA raised its price target on Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:ZETA) to $28 from $24 while maintaining a Buy rating after the company announced a seven-year […]
With a 5-year EPS growth forecasted at 25.08%, Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:ZETA) is among the 12 Best Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 24, BofA raised its price target on Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:ZETA) to $28 from $24 while maintaining a Buy rating after the company announced a seven-year […]
Braemar Hotels & Resorts ( BHR ) stock dipped 2.1% in Wednesday morning trading as the REIT f ought back against accusations made by an activist investor that has been threatening a proxy battle. In June, Al Shams Investment and its principal, Wafic Said, accused Braemar ( BHR ) of self-dealing in a series of recent transactions, including a management spinout and the sale of three hotels. The inv...
Braemar Hotels & Resorts ( BHR ) stock dipped 2.1% in Wednesday morning trading as the REIT f ought back against accusations made by an activist investor that has been threatening a proxy battle. In June, Al Shams Investment and its principal, Wafic Said, accused Braemar ( BHR ) of self-dealing in a series of recent transactions, including a management spinout and the sale of three hotels. The investor said it plans to put up an opposing slate of nominees for the REIT's board. " For more than two years now, Mr. Said has been aggressively trying to undermine the company," Braemar said in a statement. "His latest efforts are forcing us to continue to spend company resources needlessly, and we are particularly concerned about his apparent self-interested motives and checkered past." Braemar ( BHR ) said it took three actions that Al Shams had requested, while it resisted other "ill-advised demands." It has: Started the process of separating from its external advisor, Ashford, to become a self-managed REIT; Renegotiated the terms of the company sale fee, resulting in a $94.3M lower payment to Ashford than was contractually due; and Hired Ferguson Partners, a nationally recognized search firm, to recruit new and fully independent members to the board, including installing an independent chairman, a process in which its current chairman, Monty J. Bennett, is not involved. More on Braemar Hotels & Resorts Braemar Hotels & Resorts: World-Class Hotels, Uninvestable Common Stock Braemar shareholder accuses company of self-dealing after management spin-out Braemar Hotels & Resorts to sell Park Hyatt Beaver Creek for $176M Historical earnings data for Braemar Hotels & Resorts Financial information for Braemar Hotels & Resorts
Costco (NASDAQ:COST) keeps quietly compounding while the stock market debates AI and rate cuts. Membership fees hit $1.37 billion last quarter, worldwide renewals sit at 89.7%, and comparable sales just accelerated to 9.8%. Cost stock trades at $950.25, up 10.51% year to date but still 3.18% below where it traded a year ago. Can this ... Price Prediction: Can Costco Stock Double by 2032?
Costco (NASDAQ:COST) keeps quietly compounding while the stock market debates AI and rate cuts. Membership fees hit $1.37 billion last quarter, worldwide renewals sit at 89.7%, and comparable sales just accelerated to 9.8%. Cost stock trades at $950.25, up 10.51% year to date but still 3.18% below where it traded a year ago. Can this ... Price Prediction: Can Costco Stock Double by 2032?
Investors in US Bancorp (Symbol: USB) saw new options begin trading today, for the February 2027 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 226 days until expiration the newly trading contracts r
Investors in US Bancorp (Symbol: USB) saw new options begin trading today, for the February 2027 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 226 days until expiration the newly trading contracts r
Investors in Micron Technology Inc. (Symbol: MU) saw new options begin trading today, for the July 15th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the MU options chain for the new July 15th contracts and identified one put and one call
Investors in Micron Technology Inc. (Symbol: MU) saw new options begin trading today, for the July 15th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the MU options chain for the new July 15th contracts and identified one put and one call
Investors in VanEck ETF Trust - Semiconductor ETF (Symbol: SMH) saw new options become available today, for the July 15th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the SMH options chain for the new July 15th contracts and identified on
Investors in VanEck ETF Trust - Semiconductor ETF (Symbol: SMH) saw new options become available today, for the July 15th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the SMH options chain for the new July 15th contracts and identified on
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is my top dividend stock to buy right now due to its strong brand power, long record of dividend growth, and above-average yield. Shares are up 18% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 's roughly 10% return. The stock still yields close to 2.6% based on its quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, making it a solid dividend stock to consider right now. Image source: Getty Ima...
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is my top dividend stock to buy right now due to its strong brand power, long record of dividend growth, and above-average yield. Shares are up 18% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 's roughly 10% return. The stock still yields close to 2.6% based on its quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, making it a solid dividend stock to consider right now. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Crude oil prices have spiked while energy stocks trade mostly higher Wednesday after the U.S. and Iran renewed strikes and the U.S. canceled its sanctions waiver for Iranian oil sales, while President Trump warned of new strikes on Iran and said he thinks the ceasefire deal is " over" and a "waste of time." The attacks, which mark the most significant escalatio...
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Crude oil prices have spiked while energy stocks trade mostly higher Wednesday after the U.S. and Iran renewed strikes and the U.S. canceled its sanctions waiver for Iranian oil sales, while President Trump warned of new strikes on Iran and said he thinks the ceasefire deal is " over" and a "waste of time." The attacks, which mark the most significant escalation since the U.S. and Iran signed their memorandum of understanding on June 17, came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles and drones at ships near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Oil prices have surged on the news, with front-month Nymex crude ( CL1:COM ) for August delivery now up 7.3% to $75.62/bbl, and front-month Brent crude ( CO1:COM ) for September delivery up 7.6% to $79.84/bbl. Oil refining stocks comprise four of the top 10 gainers on the S&P 500 in early trading: Baker Hughes ( BKR ) up 4.7%, Valero Energy ( VLO ) up 4.6%, Marathon Petroleum ( MPC ) up 4.4%, Phillips 66 ( PSX ) up 4.3%. Top integrated oil companies post more modest gains, including Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) up 3.7%, Diamondback Energy ( FANG ) up 2.6%, ConocoPhillips ( COP ) up 2.4%, Chevron ( CVX ) up 2%, BP ( BP ) up 1.8%, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) up 0.7%, Shell ( SHEL ) up 0.5%. "The latest military exchanges raise the risk that talks will either stall or continue under much more fragile conditions," Rystad Energy’s head of geopolitical analysis Jorge Leon said in a note. Referring to shipping on the Strait of Hormuz, "even if no sustained physical disruption materializes, uncertainty around vessel safety, insurance costs, potential delays, and the risk of further retaliation is likely to keep volatility elevated in the near term," Leon wrote. The oil market's forward curve has also strengthened, with the front end returning to backwardation, which occurs when futures with near-term deliveries are marketed at a premium over longer-dated contracts. Analysts said the sh...
Julia Hermann, Global Market Strategist at New York Life Investment Management, says financials have been "less loved" by the market, but she says the sector is not strapped for cash and is a high quality area of the market. She speaks on "Bloomberg Open Interest." (Source: Bloomberg)
Julia Hermann, Global Market Strategist at New York Life Investment Management, says financials have been "less loved" by the market, but she says the sector is not strapped for cash and is a high quality area of the market. She speaks on "Bloomberg Open Interest." (Source: Bloomberg)
As the saying goes, there are many possible reasons for an insider to sell a stock, but only one reason to buy -- they expect to make money. So let's look at two noteworthy recent insider buys. On Monday, Navios Maritime Partners', Angeliki Frangou, made a $256,384 buy of NMM,
As the saying goes, there are many possible reasons for an insider to sell a stock, but only one reason to buy -- they expect to make money. So let's look at two noteworthy recent insider buys. On Monday, Navios Maritime Partners', Angeliki Frangou, made a $256,384 buy of NMM,
The Google Pixel 10 lineup. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge Google's upcoming Pixel lineup might cost more than last year's. A report from Dealabs spotted by 9to5Google suggests that Google could raise the starting price of its 41mm Pixel Watch 5 to $399, while adding LTE could bump the price to $499. That's a $50 jump from the base Pixel Watch 4, which starts at $349 for Wi-Fi and $449 for L...
The Google Pixel 10 lineup. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge Google's upcoming Pixel lineup might cost more than last year's. A report from Dealabs spotted by 9to5Google suggests that Google could raise the starting price of its 41mm Pixel Watch 5 to $399, while adding LTE could bump the price to $499. That's a $50 jump from the base Pixel Watch 4, which starts at $349 for Wi-Fi and $449 for LTE. Meanwhile, the larger 45mm Pixel Watch 5 is rumored to cost $429 with Wi-Fi only, or $529 with LTE, marking a $30 increase from the previous generation. A separate report from Dealabs details the potential European pricing for the Pixel 11. The report suggests that Google could drop the lowest 128GB storage … Read the full story at The Verge.
Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products.
Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products.
It’s not a great time to shop for a gaming laptop . The unprecedented rise in cost for RAM (and storage to a slightly lesser extent) has made laptops with low-to-midrange specs cost much more than they should. Recent deals on gaming laptops worth your attention have been uninspiring, but one recently caught my eye: MSI’s Katana laptop with a 15.6-inch 1440p display, Nvidia’s RTX 5060 GPU, a fast I...
It’s not a great time to shop for a gaming laptop . The unprecedented rise in cost for RAM (and storage to a slightly lesser extent) has made laptops with low-to-midrange specs cost much more than they should. Recent deals on gaming laptops worth your attention have been uninspiring, but one recently caught my eye: MSI’s Katana laptop with a 15.6-inch 1440p display, Nvidia’s RTX 5060 GPU, a fast Intel Core i7 CPU, and the pairing of 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD costs $1,133.67 at Amazon . MSI Katana 15 HX (2025) Where to Buy: $1499.99 $1133.67 at Amazon (Core i7 14650HX, RTX 5060) It’s a little painful to be able to recall a time when you used to be able to sometimes find the 4070 or the 5070 GPU variants in laptops around this price point, but those times are behind us for now (but hopefully ahead of us, too, sooner than later). Regardless, the Katana is a good value if you’re shopping in the $1,100 ballpark. I particularly like that its screen has a fast 165Hz refresh rate, and that it’s not hurting for ports. In addition to its barrel plug charging port, it has three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port that can output video, an HDMI 2.1 port supporting up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz output, Ethernet, and a headphone jack. While RAM is bananas expensive right now, the Katana supports up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 6,000MHz via two user-accessible slots. It has just one M.2 SSD slot, though. All of the specifications are listed on MSI’s site. Other Verge-approved deals for your consideration You might already have a good Ethernet switch, but maybe you’ve been kicking around the thought of upgrading. Ugreen’s 10-port gigabit switch doesn’t seem all that remarkable, if not for the fact that eight of its ports support power over Ethernet (PoE). More smart home devices are launching with support the tech, which lets you power devices and supply internet connectivity with a single cable. The switch — now down to $37.97 at Amazon (it fluctuates betwee...
Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products.
Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products.
Space is the hot new sector on Wall Street, and market optimism has sent Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin valuation to the moon. Wednesday, CNBC reported that Blue Origin raised $10 billion, valuing the rocket company at $130 billion. Blue Origin didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Space is the hot new sector on Wall Street, and market optimism has sent Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin valuation to the moon. Wednesday, CNBC reported that Blue Origin raised $10 billion, valuing the rocket company at $130 billion. Blue Origin didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, has been a positive one. He also said his country would be willing to contribute to efforts securing free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Michal spoke to Bloomberg's Oliver Crook on the sidelines of the summit. (Source: Bloomberg)
Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, has been a positive one. He also said his country would be willing to contribute to efforts securing free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Michal spoke to Bloomberg's Oliver Crook on the sidelines of the summit. (Source: Bloomberg)