Is Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) an "AI stock," or just a tech stock? Until recently, many investors were worried that Apple wasn't doing enough to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) products to compete in the AI race. The company seemed to be struggling to create new AI tools, and in 2025, it announced delays for AI upgrades to its Siri voice assistant. But instead of getting distracted by AI or inv...
Is Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) an "AI stock," or just a tech stock? Until recently, many investors were worried that Apple wasn't doing enough to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) products to compete in the AI race. The company seemed to be struggling to create new AI tools, and in 2025, it announced delays for AI upgrades to its Siri voice assistant. But instead of getting distracted by AI or investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI like other major tech companies, Apple has kept plugging away at its core business of selling iPhones and laptops. Based on its most recent quarterly earnings report on April 30, Apple might be benefiting from the AI boom in a surprising way: by becoming an AI pick-and-shovel stock . Let's look at a few reasons why Apple might turn out to be a come-from-behind winner of the AI race, just by doing what the company does best. Continue reading
Whoop fitness wearable. Courtesy: Whoop Wearable fitness tracker Whoop announced on Friday it will introduce in-app access to on-demand licensed clinicians for users in the United States. The new feature comes alongside a suite of health and artificial intelligence-driven features launching globally that will allow users to connect their continuous biometric data with medical guidance in real time...
Whoop fitness wearable. Courtesy: Whoop Wearable fitness tracker Whoop announced on Friday it will introduce in-app access to on-demand licensed clinicians for users in the United States. The new feature comes alongside a suite of health and artificial intelligence-driven features launching globally that will allow users to connect their continuous biometric data with medical guidance in real time. Many of the new features are included in the price of membership, though live video consultation for U.S. users will come at an additional cost. Pricing and details will be available when that option launches this summer, according to the company. "Whoop is a membership, and we take that seriously," said Ed Baker, chief product officer of Whoop, in the press release. "We're always asking how we can deliver more value to our members, and these upcoming features are some of the most meaningful we've ever built." Whoop, which has over 2.5 million users globally, closed a $575 million funding round in March that raised the company's valuation to $10.1 billion, it said. Medical consultations will begin with a comprehensive evaluation of data collected by the device and, when available, blood work and medical history, the company said in its release. A spokesperson told CNBC the video consultation feature is designed to complement a user's existing care, not replace a primary doctor or emergency service. The company declined to comment on whether the service would be capable of providing users with prescriptions. "As our data and coaching insights have become more advanced and personalized, the next step is giving members access to a comprehensive understanding of their overall health," Whoop CEO Will Ahmed told CNBC. The update also includes a partnership with health records keeper HealthEx. Users will be able to keep track of diagnoses, medications and procedures directly within the Whoop app and receive AI-powered personalized coaching and proactive check-in reminders. It co...
There have been supposed alien sightings for centuries. These observations of "unidentified flying objects," or UFOs, have periodically surged, such as during the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Cold War began. There have been more sightings since the early 2000s, driven by advances in sensors and cameras that capture images in real time. Over the last decade, since the work of a shadowy governm...
There have been supposed alien sightings for centuries. These observations of "unidentified flying objects," or UFOs, have periodically surged, such as during the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Cold War began. There have been more sightings since the early 2000s, driven by advances in sensors and cameras that capture images in real time. Over the last decade, since the work of a shadowy government program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was made public in 2017, there has been growing public pressure on the US government to release its files related to aliens. At the same time, UFOs have been rebranded as Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon, or UAP. Amid the growing public outcry, the Pentagon and other officials have repeatedly stated that they have found no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial beings or their technology visiting Earth. But we live in an era of conspiracy theories and an unbounded and increasingly unhinged Internet. No one trusts anyone. So there are plenty of people who believe aliens are real and the government is covering it all up. Read full article Comments
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLK) and Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSEMKT:FTEC) provide low-cost exposure to American tech, differing primarily in their breadth of holdings and concentration. Investors looking for heavy exposure to software and semiconductor giants often turn to these two industry titans. While they overlap significantly in their ...
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLK) and Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSEMKT:FTEC) provide low-cost exposure to American tech, differing primarily in their breadth of holdings and concentration. Investors looking for heavy exposure to software and semiconductor giants often turn to these two industry titans. While they overlap significantly in their top positions, FTEC tracks a broader index than XLK, which limits its universe to technology companies within the S&P 500. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield. Continue reading
Shares of SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN) are down roughly 13% to $8.41 in early Friday trading following the company’s Q1 calendar 2026 earnings report released after the bell on May 7. The stock had closed Thursday at $9.63, up 3% on the day heading into the print. The headline numbers looked strong on the surface. Revenue ... SoundHound Stock Is Down 13% Today – Is It Outperforming Other AI Stocks ...
Shares of SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN) are down roughly 13% to $8.41 in early Friday trading following the company’s Q1 calendar 2026 earnings report released after the bell on May 7. The stock had closed Thursday at $9.63, up 3% on the day heading into the print. The headline numbers looked strong on the surface. Revenue ... SoundHound Stock Is Down 13% Today – Is It Outperforming Other AI Stocks Like Palantir and C3.ai?
Here are the key takeaways from the US employment report for April, released Friday: Nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000 in April, more than expected, and March’s total was revised up to 185,000, the strongest two-month increase since 2024. The jobless rate held steady at 4.3%. The advance was led by healthcare, which has been the primary driver of job growth over the last year. The transportati...
Here are the key takeaways from the US employment report for April, released Friday: Nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000 in April, more than expected, and March’s total was revised up to 185,000, the strongest two-month increase since 2024. The jobless rate held steady at 4.3%. The advance was led by healthcare, which has been the primary driver of job growth over the last year. The transportation and warehousing sector and retail trade added the most jobs since 2024. Manufacturing fell slightly. The stronger-than-expected report cements the holding pattern on interest rates for the Federal Reserve. In a potential warning sign, the participation rate — the share of the population that is working or looking for work — fell to the lowest since October 2021. People working part-time for economic reasons and discouraged job-seekers rose to the highest this year. The market response was mixed. The S&P 500 futures gained while Treasury yields and the dollar held steady initially before starting to decline. Read the full live blog on the Terminal or online .
G. Love has had better weeks. The Philadelphia musician (real name Garrett Dutton, frontman of the blues-rock band G. Love & Special Sauce) recently set up a new laptop and needed to install the app for his Ledger hardware wallet. He went to the Apple App Store, found what looked like the right app, and downloaded it. Routine stuff, especially if you're a longtime crypto owner like G. Love. But it...
G. Love has had better weeks. The Philadelphia musician (real name Garrett Dutton, frontman of the blues-rock band G. Love & Special Sauce) recently set up a new laptop and needed to install the app for his Ledger hardware wallet. He went to the Apple App Store, found what looked like the right app, and downloaded it. Routine stuff, especially if you're a longtime crypto owner like G. Love. But it wasn't the right app. The one he downloaded and installed from the official App Store was a scam designed to drain crypto wallets. G. Love had $420,000 of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) in his crypto wallet. After installing that app, he had nothing. Continue reading
Earnings Call Insights: Starz Entertainment Corp. (STRZ) Q1 2026 Management view "Over the last 12 months, we've made significant strides in setting the business up for long-term value creation" (President, CEO & Director Jeffrey Hirsch), while reiterating Starz has been "laser-focused on achieving our financial goals of increasing margins to 20%, converting 70% of adjusted OIBDA to unlevered free...
Earnings Call Insights: Starz Entertainment Corp. (STRZ) Q1 2026 Management view "Over the last 12 months, we've made significant strides in setting the business up for long-term value creation" (President, CEO & Director Jeffrey Hirsch), while reiterating Starz has been "laser-focused on achieving our financial goals of increasing margins to 20%, converting 70% of adjusted OIBDA to unlevered free cash flow and delevering to 2.5x as quickly as possible." "Today, we are announcing that we have exited our Pay-Two agreement with Universal" (President, CEO & Director Hirsch), adding that the decision was driven by Amazon overlap: "due to the high subscriber overlap between Amazon and Starz, these titles are heavily watched before they come to us in the Pay-Two window" and "this unique dynamic with Amazon has resulted in lower viewership than we originally projected." "As a result, I'm pleased to announce that our outlook for reaching 20% margin has moved 12 months forward to the back half of 2027 instead of exiting 2028" (President, CEO & Director Hirsch), alongside a plan to replace the Pay-Two economics: "we will reinvest and acquire high-performing titles at superior economics." "OTT revenue in Q1 was $211 million" and "total revenue in Q1 was $307 million" (Chief Financial Officer Scott MacDonald), with the total revenue decline attributed to Canada: "This sequential decline primarily reflects the timing of Canadian licensing revenue." MacDonald also said Starz is centered on "4 metrics going forward: OTT revenue growth, adjusted OIBDA, free cash flow and leverage" and that "the decision to deemphasize subscriber counts is already being validated." "In this past quarter, we have seen churn reach an all-time low in our business" (President of Domestic Networks Alison Hoffman), and "engagement was really strong for the business" with "year-over-year engagement up about 8%." Outlook "We are reaffirming our full year 2026 outlook across all metrics" (CFO MacDonald): "OT...
juststock/iStock via Getty Images Market Summary During the first quarter of 2026, market leadership shifted as small-cap stocks outperformed large caps amid a rotation away from crowded trades by investors. The Russell 2000® small-cap benchmark surpassed the broader market, as measured by the S&P 500®, and growth stocks (particularly large caps) pulled back as value stocks surged, signaling a not...
juststock/iStock via Getty Images Market Summary During the first quarter of 2026, market leadership shifted as small-cap stocks outperformed large caps amid a rotation away from crowded trades by investors. The Russell 2000® small-cap benchmark surpassed the broader market, as measured by the S&P 500®, and growth stocks (particularly large caps) pulled back as value stocks surged, signaling a notable change in investor preferences. Non-U.S. equities outperformed U.S. equities for much of the quarter, though that trend reversed sharply in March as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz weighed more heavily on energy-dependent economies outside the U.S. While the quarter ended with a sharp rally on hopes that hostilities might ease and the Strait of Hormuz could reopen, markets remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. Energy was the top-performing sector across market capitalizations, benefiting from higher oil prices and driving strong returns for value-oriented benchmarks. Fund Performance The Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund ( VKSIX ) returned -6.61% (Class I) in the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2500™ Index, which returned 2.04%. Stock selection in the information technology and industrials sectors detracted from performance. An underweight position in the real estate sector, combined with stock selection in the consumer staples sector, contributed positively to performance. Teledyne Technologies ( TDY ) and Nordson ( NDSN ) were the largest contributors to performance during the quarter. Teledyne provides enabling technologies to sense, transmit, and analyze information for industrial growth markets. Demand has been solid across all the company's business segments, and its defense, space, and energy segments have grown. We believe the company's prudent mergers and acquisitions activity and frugal cost management have led to improved margins as well. Nordson, a manufacturer of precision technology fluid dispensing systems across various indu...
Earnings Call Insights: Willdan Group (WLDN) Q1 2026 Management view “We had a strong start to 2026, continuing the momentum we've been building with solid execution and expanding margins across the business.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “On Monday of this week, we closed the acquisition of Burton Energy Group.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “Burton generated approximat...
Earnings Call Insights: Willdan Group (WLDN) Q1 2026 Management view “We had a strong start to 2026, continuing the momentum we've been building with solid execution and expanding margins across the business.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “On Monday of this week, we closed the acquisition of Burton Energy Group.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “Burton generated approximately $103 million in contract revenue, $15 million in net revenue and $7 million in EBITDA in 2025.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “The acquisition is expected to be accretive to our margin, earnings and EPS this year '26.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “When I became CEO at the beginning of 2024, I talked about our strategy to significantly expand into the commercial sector.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “In 2024, commercial revenue was 7% of our business.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “2 years later, on a full year pro forma basis after Burton, commercial revenue is expected to be about 25% of revenue this year.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “We've had another solid stretch of contract wins.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “For Southern California Edison, SCE, we received a 2-year extension and another $100 million of funding for our commercial energy efficiency program.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “For the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, DASNY, we won a $54 million project to upgrade the central plant at a college in New York City.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “I'm very pleased that we were awarded the $27 million 3-year New York Accelerator program.” (CEO, Director & President Michael Bieber) “We delivered a strong start to 2026, exceeding expectations with solid performance across our businesses and continued margin expansion.” (Executive VP & CFO Creighton Early) “The $18.1 million in adjusted EBITDA was a first quarter record and represented 19....
Katie and Matt discuss financial advisers, a little scooch of private credit, finance book recommendations, call options on time, expected returns, seating charts, rain creating liquidity, E and S vs. G, the church of capital allocation, the market for corporate control and corporate vs. human life cycles.
Katie and Matt discuss financial advisers, a little scooch of private credit, finance book recommendations, call options on time, expected returns, seating charts, rain creating liquidity, E and S vs. G, the church of capital allocation, the market for corporate control and corporate vs. human life cycles.