Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it’s us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it’s contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting ...
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it’s us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it’s contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting with us, check out the Odd Lots Discord , where you can hang out and talk with us and with other listeners 24/7. Here’s what Tracy’s thinking about... Last week I mentioned that spreads on bonds sold by some of the biggest, most cash-rich tech companies out there had started to strain under a firehose of new supply. Ultimately, some $115 billion of new investment-grade (IG) debt was issued, with a huge chunk of it coming from hyperscalers. Amazon sold $37 billion on Tuesday alone, pushing total issuance that day to almost $66 billion — a new single-day record. Over at TD Securities, credit strategist Hans Mikkelsen sums up the situation as “too many bonds chasing too little money.” As he puts it: “There is clearly a mismatch between corporate funding needs this year (AI, M&A, leveraged recaps, etc.) and the amount of liquidity in the system.” What’s interesting to me now is that we’re starting to see investors push back against a bunch of different flavors of AI-related debt. As a reminder, blue-chip bonds aren’t the only financing route for hyperscalers hoping to invest billions in the AI buildout. There’s also private credit, leveraged loans, securitized bonds, etc. Morgan Stanley analysts led by Carolyn Campbell note that — despite lots of initial buzz— there don’t actually seem to be that many buyers for data center asset-backed securities (ABS), or bonds backed by revenues from leased server spaces. With so much supply expected to come onto the market, the thinking goes, buyers can afford to wait and see if terms improve: “.... We are surprised at the number of securit...
Sparse evidence for cannabis to treat mental health conditions highlights research gap toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Along with chronic pain, mental health conditions are some of the top reasons people use marijuana for medical purposes. But a sweeping review of cannabis studies over the past 45 years concludes there is little to no high-quality evidence showing this is effective. Th...
Sparse evidence for cannabis to treat mental health conditions highlights research gap toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Along with chronic pain, mental health conditions are some of the top reasons people use marijuana for medical purposes. But a sweeping review of cannabis studies over the past 45 years concludes there is little to no high-quality evidence showing this is effective. The findings, published in the medical journal The Lancet Psychiatry, underscore the extent to which the public's embrace of cannabis has outpaced the scientific research. The new analysis represents the largest effort yet to systematically parse all the data from randomized-controlled trials on cannabis and mental health. A team of researchers in Australia looked at more than 50 clinical trials, considering a wide range of conditions, formulations and types of cannabinoids. The analysis turned up no evidence that cannabis can help with symptoms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or depression — the psychiatric conditions that medical marijuana users most often mention when asked why they're taking the drug. Sponsor Message Insomnia, autism and tic or Tourette's syndrome had more supporting data, though even that evidence was deemed "low quality" by the authors. "We clearly need to do more research on cannabis medicines," says Jack Wilson, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney who led the review. "In the absence of evidence at this time, the routine use of medical cannabis products really should be rarely justified for the treatment of mental health disorders," he told NPR. The findings are not altogether surprising for cannabis researchers who know first-hand how challenging it is to conduct and fund well-controlled trials. For more than 50 years, cannabis has been listed as Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration, though President Trump recently signaled he'd li...
P_Wei/E+ via Getty Images Align Technology ( ALGN ) shares spiked on Tuesday after Barclays upgraded the clear aligner maker to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing a compelling valuation and highlighting the company’s latest quarterly results. Shares of the Tempe, Arizona-based company climbed in early February after its Q4 2025 results exceeded Street forecasts, while its revenue outlook for Q1 ...
P_Wei/E+ via Getty Images Align Technology ( ALGN ) shares spiked on Tuesday after Barclays upgraded the clear aligner maker to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing a compelling valuation and highlighting the company’s latest quarterly results. Shares of the Tempe, Arizona-based company climbed in early February after its Q4 2025 results exceeded Street forecasts, while its revenue outlook for Q1 and full-year 2026 was in line with the FactSet consensus. Barclays analyst Glen Santangelo argued that the financials “were quite impressive” and the company’s risk profile was compelling, particularly due to a recent weakness attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “With the valuation now back to 10x EBITDA, and the underlying web traffic data continuing to look encouraging, we believe the shares are well positioned to benefit in a post-conflict environment," Bloomberg reported, quoting Santangelo. The analyst indicated a $200 price target for the stock, implying an 18% upside from its previous close on Monday. More on Align Technology Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference Transcript Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) Presents at Leerink Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript Align Technology: Broad-Based Q4 Outperformance Supports Upside Align Technology outlines 3%–4% revenue growth target for 2026 as DSO momentum and digital innovation drive outlook Align Technology Non-GAAP EPS of $3.29 beats by $0.32, revenue of $1.05B beats by $20M
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and persistent market uncertainty, investors are increasingly turning to dividend-paying stocks as a source of stability and income. While the dividend landscape is broad, several companies have delivered total returns exceeding 10% in 2026 while still offering attractive yields. The combination of capital appreciation and steady income has made these stocks parti...
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and persistent market uncertainty, investors are increasingly turning to dividend-paying stocks as a source of stability and income. While the dividend landscape is broad, several companies have delivered total returns exceeding 10% in 2026 while still offering attractive yields. The combination of capital appreciation and steady income has made these stocks particularly appealing as conflicts in the Middle East intensify, prompting market participants to prioritize resilience and cash flow in portfolio positioning. Outlined below are 15 dividend stocks with market caps north of $10B that currently offer investors yields of 4% or higher and each have also returned more than 10% in 2026. The list is ranked by YTD performance. Verizon Communications ( VZ ), +25.1% YTD Edison International ( EIX ), +21.6% YTD Plains All American Pipeline ( PAA ), +18.3% YTD Cheniere Energy Partners ( CQP ), +18% YTD Altria Group ( MO ), +17.1% YTD Enterprise Products Partners ( EPD ), +16.4% YTD Viper Energy ( VNOM ), +16.2% YTD ONEOK ( OKE ), +16% YTD Realty Income ( O ), +15.2% YTD Kimco Realty ( KIM ), +14.4% YTD Energy Transfer ( ET ), +13.6% YTD AngloGold Ashanti ( AU ), +13.4% YTD Public Storage ( PSA ), +11.6% YTD AT&T ( T ), +11.6% YTD W. P. Carey ( WPC ), +11.5% YTD Dividend ETFs: ( VIG ), ( SCHD ), ( VYM ), ( DGRO ), ( SDY ), ( DVY ), ( IDV ), ( DGRW ), ( NOBL ), ( HDV ), ( RDVY ), ( VIGI ), and ( SDVY ). More on markets Market fear remains elevated as the VIX holds above 20 since the Middle East conflict began Traders bet on Powell's departure as FOMC rate decision looms From bullish to cautious: Rising geopolitical risks drive investors back into cash Oil shock playbook: Defensive sectors outperform while tech lags, Schroders says Is a recession on the horizon? SA analysts weigh in
fcafotodigital/iStock via Getty Images Focus of Article: The focus of PART 1 of this article is to analyze Rithm Capital Corp.’s ( RITM ) recent results and compare several of the company’s metrics to 17 mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) peers. This analysis will show past and current data with supporting documentation. Table 1a will compare RITM’s investment composition, recent levera...
fcafotodigital/iStock via Getty Images Focus of Article: The focus of PART 1 of this article is to analyze Rithm Capital Corp.’s ( RITM ) recent results and compare several of the company’s metrics to 17 mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) peers. This analysis will show past and current data with supporting documentation. Table 1a will compare RITM’s investment composition, recent leverage, hedging coverage ratio, and change in investment portfolio size to the 17 mREIT peers. Table 1b will compare RITM’s BV, economic return (loss), and premium (discount) to estimated CURRENT BV using stock prices as of 3/13/2026 to 17 mREIT peers. Table 2a will show an overview of RITM’s investment portfolio, Table 2b will provide a portfolio overview of RITM’s prior acquisition of Sculptor Capital Management Inc. (Sculptor), Table 2c will provide a portfolio overview of the company’s recent acquisition of Crestline Management L.P. (Crestline), and Table 2d will provide some details regarding one of the company’s largest current driver of earnings, its mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) sub-portfolio. Table 3 will show RITM’s recent hedging coverage ratio over the prior 3 quarters (only contributor/team to provide continuous detailed hedging metrics). I am writing this 2-part article due to requests that such an analysis be specifically performed on RITM versus its mREIT peers at periodic intervals. This article also discusses the importance of understanding the composition of RITM’s investment, derivatives, and asset management portfolios regarding projecting the company’s future quarterly results as interest rates/yields fluctuate. Understanding the characteristics of a company’s investment, derivatives, and asset management portfolios can shed some light on which companies are overvalued or undervalued strictly per a “numbers” analysis. This is not the only data that should be examined to initiate a position within a particular stock/sector. However, I believe this analy...
HAKINMHAN/iStock via Getty Images In August last year, I had a cautious Hold view on POET Technologies ( POET ). I had stopped short of a Sell because of a meaningful technological promise in a market that was hungry for AI trades. POET's integrated photonics solutions had a differentiated position for AI networking demand due to the promise of lower power consumption and latency. The markets have...
HAKINMHAN/iStock via Getty Images In August last year, I had a cautious Hold view on POET Technologies ( POET ). I had stopped short of a Sell because of a meaningful technological promise in a market that was hungry for AI trades. POET's integrated photonics solutions had a differentiated position for AI networking demand due to the promise of lower power consumption and latency. The markets have turned less tolerant of long-duration growth assumptions since, and in the past few months several AI trades have come under pressure. That changes POET's position significantly. Some of the risks I was wary of in August, like commercialization and competitive risks, have not altered but have become meaningful in today's environment. Only one quarter of additional quarterly data has emerged since, and the financial trends are broadly in line with what we observed back in August. In fact, some positives have emerged too. POET confirmed initial production orders of ~$5m for 800G optical engines in October . This actually confirms that POET’s technology is moving beyond engineering samples toward early commercial deployment. However, the revenue scale and impact of new orders are numerically still not sufficiently large to be called "on track" to meet early expectations embedded - ~$10m revenue for 2026 and ~$80m in 2027. On the other hand, the stock has surged by 30% from August 2025 levels - this is a concern when August valuations were already at cautionary levels. In a market where long-duration assumptions are being questioned, I feel that weakens the Hold stance I had earlier on POET. Additionally, dilution concerns burden the upside asymmetry potential at current valuations. I believe, overall, that despite execution progress, the valuations have outrun fundamentals at this stage. POET, therefore, becomes a Sell. Revenue and Long-Duration Assumptions Q3 2025 revenues were reported at ~$0.3m - continuing the sequential rise trend starting in Q4 2024. However, the pace o...
Elbit Systems ( ESLT ) declares $1.00/share quarterly dividend , 33.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.75. Forward yield 0.41% Payable April 27; for shareholders of record April 13; ex-div April 13. See ESLT Dividend Scorecard, Yield Chart, & Dividend Growth. More on Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Elbit Systems: The Iran War Changed Everything (R...
Elbit Systems ( ESLT ) declares $1.00/share quarterly dividend , 33.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.75. Forward yield 0.41% Payable April 27; for shareholders of record April 13; ex-div April 13. See ESLT Dividend Scorecard, Yield Chart, & Dividend Growth. More on Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Elbit Systems: The Iran War Changed Everything (Rating Upgrade) Elbit Systems Rides The Defense Boom, But The Valuation Is Stretched Elbit Systems tops earnings, revenue forecast as backlog hits $28.1B Elbit Systems Non-GAAP EPS of $3.56 beats by $0.42, revenue of $2.15B beats by $60M
Greggory DiSalvo A senior TSA official said the ongoing government shutdown may force the temporary closure of smaller U.S. airports due to inadequate staffing of security personnel. “As the weeks continue, if this continues, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports -particularly smaller ones if callout rates go up,” Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam ...
Greggory DiSalvo A senior TSA official said the ongoing government shutdown may force the temporary closure of smaller U.S. airports due to inadequate staffing of security personnel. “As the weeks continue, if this continues, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports -particularly smaller ones if callout rates go up,” Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News on Tuesday, according to CNBC . CNBC noted around 50,000 TSA security personnel have been working without pay since the partial shutdown started last month. Approximately 10% of them failed to report to work on Sunday; the usual call-out rate is under 2%. More on SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF Inflation Expectations Edge Higher On Oil-Driven Tension Prolonged Iran Conflict Starting To Raise Specter Of Stagflation I Have 2 Specific Lines In The Sand Is a recession on the horizon? SA analysts weigh in Traders bet on Powell's departure as FOMC rate decision looms
All eyes are on Oklo (OKLO +1.74%) this week. The nuclear energy start-up, which is building advanced fast-fission power plants called the Aurora powerhouses, is working on several projects with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including its nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel pilot programs. Investors are eagerly awaiting Oklo's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results and 2026 business updates...
All eyes are on Oklo (OKLO +1.74%) this week. The nuclear energy start-up, which is building advanced fast-fission power plants called the Aurora powerhouses, is working on several projects with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including its nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel pilot programs. Investors are eagerly awaiting Oklo's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results and 2026 business updates, which will be announced after market close today. Oklo, however, didn't want to wait until the end of the day to announce its latest win. It has won its first-ever license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Oklo stock jumped 10.5% within minutes of the market's opening this morning, before cooling off a bit and trading 4.5% higher as of 10:45 a.m. ET Tuesday. What the NRC license means for Oklo NRC has granted a materials license to Oklo's wholly owned subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, allowing it to receive, handle, and process isotopes at its Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory. Radioisotopes, a form of isotope, are essential chemical elements used in a variety of critical sectors, ranging from cancer diagnosis and chronic disease treatment to scientific research and national security and defense. The U.S., however, currently relies heavily on imports to meet its demand for isotopes. Oklo is building capabilities to reprocess existing materials into isotopes or produce fresh isotopes in reactors. In early 2026, Oklo signed an agreement with the DOE to design and build a radioisotope pilot facility under the DOE's reactor pilot program. Expand NYSE : OKLO Oklo Today's Change ( 1.74 %) $ 1.04 Current Price $ 60.73 Key Data Points Market Cap $9.3B Day's Range $ 59.25 - $ 65.88 52wk Range $ 17.42 - $ 193.84 Volume 428K Avg Vol 10M The latest NRC license authorizes Oklo and its subsidiary to recover and process waste materials, such as disused radium sources, into high-value isotopes for commercial sale. It's a crucial week ahead for Oklo stock Oklo's first-ever NRC license...
Key Points Oklo is building nuclear power plants and taking the lead in nuclear fuel recycling. The DOE has selected Oklo to build a radiostope pilot facility. Oklo will announce its Q4 earnings after market close on March 17. 10 stocks we like better than Oklo › All eyes are on Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) this week. The nuclear energy start-up, which is building advanced fast-fission power plants called th...
Key Points Oklo is building nuclear power plants and taking the lead in nuclear fuel recycling. The DOE has selected Oklo to build a radiostope pilot facility. Oklo will announce its Q4 earnings after market close on March 17. 10 stocks we like better than Oklo › All eyes are on Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) this week. The nuclear energy start-up, which is building advanced fast-fission power plants called the Aurora powerhouses, is working on several projects with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including its nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel pilot programs. Investors are eagerly awaiting Oklo's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results and 2026 business updates, which will be announced after market close today. 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 » Oklo, however, didn't want to wait until the end of the day to announce its latest win. It has won its first-ever license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Oklo stock jumped 10.5% within minutes of the market's opening this morning, before cooling off a bit and trading 4.5% higher as of 10:45 a.m. ET Tuesday. What the NRC license means for Oklo NRC has granted a materials license to Oklo's wholly owned subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, allowing it to receive, handle, and process isotopes at its Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory. Radioisotopes, a form of isotope, are essential chemical elements used in a variety of critical sectors, ranging from cancer diagnosis and chronic disease treatment to scientific research and national security and defense. The U.S., however, currently relies heavily on imports to meet its demand for isotopes. Oklo is building capabilities to reprocess existing materials into isotopes or produce fresh isotopes in reactors. In early 2026, Oklo signed an agreement with the DOE to design and build a radioisotope pilot facili...
(RTTNews) - Nordex SE (NRDXF), a wind turbine manufacturer, announced on Tuesday, has secured two new repowering orders totaling 136.8 MW for the Fehmarn-Mitte I and Fehmarn-Mitte II wind farms located on the island of Fehmarn, Germany. The contracts, awarded by Fehmarn-Mitte GmbH, cover the supply and installation of 24 N163/5.X turbines, each with a capacity of 5.7 MW, along with a 20-year premi...
(RTTNews) - Nordex SE (NRDXF), a wind turbine manufacturer, announced on Tuesday, has secured two new repowering orders totaling 136.8 MW for the Fehmarn-Mitte I and Fehmarn-Mitte II wind farms located on the island of Fehmarn, Germany. The contracts, awarded by Fehmarn-Mitte GmbH, cover the supply and installation of 24 N163/5.X turbines, each with a capacity of 5.7 MW, along with a 20-year premium service agreement. The new turbines will replace older units at the established onshore wind sites, increasing electricity output while reducing turbine numbers and meeting environmental and distance regulations. Installation is scheduled for the summer of 2027, with full commissioning expected by the fall of 2027. This project highlights the economic and ecological benefits of modern repowering, according to Karsten Brüggemann, Vice President at Nordex SE. NRDXF is currently trading at $50.00 on the OTC Markets. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Google continues to dominate the Search business with a roughly 89.98% share, followed by Microsoft’s Bing, with a 5.01% share, per the latest data from StatCounter. The company has been actively embedding AI, especially within Search, to enhance user experience, provide better AI-focused features and consequently improve ad performance. The company shipped more than 250 product launches within AI...
Google continues to dominate the Search business with a roughly 89.98% share, followed by Microsoft’s Bing, with a 5.01% share, per the latest data from StatCounter. The company has been actively embedding AI, especially within Search, to enhance user experience, provide better AI-focused features and consequently improve ad performance. The company shipped more than 250 product launches within AI Mode and AI Overviews in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the company integrated Gemini 3 directly into AI Mode in Search. Upgradation of AI Overviews to Gemini 3 is offering users a best-in-class AI response at the top of the search results page. GOOGL has made the transition from an AI overview to a conversation in AI Mode completely seamless. This is driving up user experience as well as engagement. In the United States, Alphabet saw daily AI Mode queries per user double since launch, and AI Overviews continue to perform very well. Queries in AI Mode are three times longer than traditional searches. The company is also seeing sessions becoming more conversational, with a significant portion of queries in AI Mode now leading to a follow-up question. Circle to Search is also now available on over 580 million Android devices. Google Cloud is benefiting from strong Gen AI adoption due to leading models, including Gemini, Imagen, Veo, Chirp and Lyria. Per CRN that cited Synergy Research Group data for the fourth quarter of 2025, Amazon cloud arm AWS, Microsoft and Google Cloud achieved 68% share – roughly two-thirds – of total enterprise spending on cloud infrastructure services. Google Cloud’s market share increased globally while Amazon’s dropped. The addition of Wiz to Google Cloud boosts Alphabet’s security footprint. Google Cloud’s expanding enterprise clientele has been a key catalyst. More than 120,000 enterprises use Gemini, including AI companies like Lovable and Open Evidence and global enterprises like Airbus and Honeywell. Moreover, 95% of the top 20 and over 80% ...
AlexLMX/iStock via Getty Images Woodside Energy ( WDS ) has signed a deal with the Western Australia government to export ~3M metric tons more liquefied natural gas in return for selling additional gas to the domestic market, the Australian Financial Review reported Tuesday. Domestic gas policy in Western Australia state requires LNG exporters to reserve ~15% of their production for domestic ma...
AlexLMX/iStock via Getty Images Woodside Energy ( WDS ) has signed a deal with the Western Australia government to export ~3M metric tons more liquefied natural gas in return for selling additional gas to the domestic market, the Australian Financial Review reported Tuesday. Domestic gas policy in Western Australia state requires LNG exporters to reserve ~15% of their production for domestic markets to ensure stable supply for the region. The deal reportedly was secured last month through an amendment to a state agreement governing the use of infrastructure supporting Woodside’s ( WDS ) Pluto gas project, with the company agreeing to supply 23 petajoules of additional gas into the domestic market by 2029, AFR reported . Despite a longtime domestic reservation policy, Western Australia is facing gas shortfalls by 2030, and the government is intent on tightening the screws on large gas producers such as Woodside ( WDS ) to provide more energy to the local market as the state transitions away from coal-fired power. More on Woodside Energy Woodside Energy: Entering Harvest Mode With Strong LNG Tailwinds Woodside Energy: Upgrading Rating On Disciplined Execution Woodside Energy Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
China EV giants and Tesla rivals BYD and Geely will use Nvidia autonomous vehicle systems to develop self-driving cars. Nvidia stock is hitting resistance, while Uber regained a key level.
China EV giants and Tesla rivals BYD and Geely will use Nvidia autonomous vehicle systems to develop self-driving cars. Nvidia stock is hitting resistance, while Uber regained a key level.
Key Points XRP's value has been declining this year, right along with Bitcoin. However, cryptocurrencies could rally if interest rates come down. The new Fed chair could cut rates as early as June. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › When XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) rallied in late 2024, there was a lot of excitement that wide-scale crypto reform would make the cryptocurrency a hot investment under Presiden...
Key Points XRP's value has been declining this year, right along with Bitcoin. However, cryptocurrencies could rally if interest rates come down. The new Fed chair could cut rates as early as June. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › When XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) rallied in late 2024, there was a lot of excitement that wide-scale crypto reform would make the cryptocurrency a hot investment under President Donald Trump. And while there has been some crypto reform, it's been a bit underwhelming. Although XRP hasn't given back all of the gains it accumulated after Trump's election win, the digital currency has been nosediving for the past several months. On Tuesday, it was trading around $1.50 -- down nearly 60% from its 52-week high of $3.65. Things have looked bleak for XRP of late. However, there may be a catalyst coming soon. Here's why I think the cryptocurrency could end up rising back to over $2 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 » Rate cuts could spark a rally It's no secret that President Trump hasn't been happy with Fed chair Jerome Powell not cutting interest rates fast enough in order to help the economy. Recently, Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve later this year, as Powell's term ends in May. Warsh may be much more likely to cut rates, even if economic conditions aren't necessarily ideal. While the economic picture is a complicated one right now due to the ongoing war in Iran and rising oil prices impacting inflation, economists still expect rates to come down in June -- after Powell's term is set to end. There may even be multiple cuts this year. And for speculative investments, including cryptocurrencies such as XRP, that could lead to a rally. XRP is risky, but it may have room to rise a lot higher So far this year, XRP has fallen by 18%, wh...
Key Points Stocks have been doing well in recent years, and valuations look inflated today. The Shiller price-to-earnings ratio is around 39 -- the highest it's been in decades. Predicting a market crash, however, is by no means easy. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › The stock market appears to be on shaky ground of late, as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Nasdaq are both down t...
Key Points Stocks have been doing well in recent years, and valuations look inflated today. The Shiller price-to-earnings ratio is around 39 -- the highest it's been in decades. Predicting a market crash, however, is by no means easy. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › The stock market appears to be on shaky ground of late, as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Nasdaq are both down this year. There appears to be considerable apprehension from investors of late, as there's plenty of uncertainty around the economy, and the war in Iran adds yet another element of risk into the equation. On top of all this, stocks entered the year at fairly high valuations. As a result, investors are concerned about what will happen with the stock market this year. It's off to a slow start, but by no means is it in a full-blown free fall, at least not yet anyway. Is a crash inevitable, and if so, what should you do? 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 » A slowdown may be inevitable, but a crash isn't necessarily a guarantee It's not hard to make a case for why the stock market should decline this year, but whether it will is another story. Consider that in each of the past three years, the S&P 500 has outperformed its long-run average of 10%. In 2023 and 2024, it rose by more than 20%. Last year, its 16% gain was its worst performance during that three-year period, and that's still well above its historical average. The S&P 500's valuation also looks inflated when you look at the Shiller price-to-earnings ratio, which is at around 39 -- the highest it's been since the early 2000s. The ratio is based on inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade and is a good gauge of how cheap or expensive stocks are. And right now, they look expensive, even with the recent softness in the market. A crash...
Key Points Adobe shares fell despite another quarter of consistent revenue growth and huge cash-flow generation. The stock is very cheap at the moment. 10 stocks we like better than Adobe › Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) continues to deliver solid revenue growth and generate huge free cash flow, but its stock still struggles to shake off the narrative that Adobe's business is being disrupted by artificial i...
Key Points Adobe shares fell despite another quarter of consistent revenue growth and huge cash-flow generation. The stock is very cheap at the moment. 10 stocks we like better than Adobe › Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) continues to deliver solid revenue growth and generate huge free cash flow, but its stock still struggles to shake off the narrative that Adobe's business is being disrupted by artificial intelligence (AI). Shares trade down more than 25% year to date, having been caught in this year's software-as-a-service (SaaS) sell-off, and down more than 40% over the past five years. Let's take a closer look at Adobe's results and prospects to see if anything can get the stock out of its funk. 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 » Consistent growth continues Nothing suggests that Adobe is being disrupted by AI, with the company consistently delivering low-double-digit revenue growth, quarter in and quarter out. That continued for its fiscal first quarter of 2026, as it produced revenue growth of 12% year over year to $6.4 billion. This was above its previous forecast for revenue of between $6.25 billion and $6.3 billion. Annual recurring revenue (ARR), meanwhile, jumped 11% to $26.06 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed 19% year over year to $6.06, ahead of Adobe's prior $5.85 to $5.90 outlook. The company also achieved a record operating cash flow of $2.96 billion in the quarter. The "creative & marketing professionals" customer group saw revenue increase by 12% to $4.39 billion. Revenue from the "business professionals & consumers" group jumped by 16% to $1.78 billion. While the investor narrative has been that AI is going to hurt Adobe's business, the company saw its AI ARR more than triple in the quarter, and it highlighted strong momentum for both Adobe Firefly and GenStudi...