The Magnificent Seven tech stocks, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:FB), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), continued to lead the tech industry in 2024, largely due to their investments in artificial intelligence. But the companies have had varying degrees of success with their AI efforts in 2024. Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon have done particularly …
Read More »Can Stock Buybacks Boost Investor Returns?
Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) recent $60 billion stock buyback and dividend increase come as part of a broader trend among tech giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Meta (NASDAQ: META), all using repurchases to enhance shareholder value. Buybacks can increase earnings per share and provide tax-efficient returns, but only if executed well. However, if poorly timed or mismanaged, they can hurt long-term growth. With the recent 1% excise tax on buybacks under the Inflation Reduction Act, companies face new costs, prompting investors to evaluate these programs carefully.
Read More »What Does E*TRADE’s Sector Data Tell Us About Potential Sector Returns for 2024
E*TRADE's Monthly Sector Rotation report highlights investor movement across S&P 500 sectors. In August, Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, and Consumer Staples saw positive inflows, while Communication Services, Health Care, and Financials faced outflows. Despite concerns about a tech sector rotation, IT continued its strength, driven by stocks like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Meanwhile, Real Estate declined sharply amid rising interest rates and economic uncertainty. Historical trends suggest that top-performing sectors, like tech in 2023, often lose momentum the following year. This dynamic could impact sector performance in 2024.
Read More »Big Tech’s Strategic Investments in Artificial Intelligence
Big Tech companies are increasingly investing in artificial intelligence (AI) through strategic acquisitions and collaborations. Major firms like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are focusing on their AI-related investments. These moves aim to enhance technological capabilities, integrate AI into core business strategies, and maintain a competitive edge. The article also addresses the challenges posed by regulatory scrutiny and the implications for the broader industry. As AI continues to evolve, these strategic decisions will likely influence the future of technology and global economic trends.
Read More »Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google & Others Shaking Up Tech Industry & Changing the World
Acquisitions are a huge part of driving the tech industry forward. They bring in new ideas, fresh talent, proprietary technologies, and much more. We’re only half way through 2014 and we have already seen major players shake up the tech industry through mergers and acquisitions. The Big 4 of the tech world (Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google) all have made very important acquisitions, and some may even change the world. Let's take a look at the details in this extremely informative infographic.
Read More »My Top 6 Stock Picks for 2013 – According to Me, Myself and I
Like Warren Buffett I don't believe that investors should diversify very much. As long as I feel comfortable with a sector or a particular stock, I don't have a problem with over-exposing myself to it. My style...[may be] more aggressive than most...[but,] as far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as speculation, just risk reward calculations. The only question is how much risk you want to undertake to earn the yield or appreciation you are hoping for so, [and to that end, each of my top 6 picks for 2013 - according to me myself and I - include] a scale of 1 to 10 for the risks associated with each and a second number for the possible appreciation the stock could yield during the year. Here are my top picks for 2013. Words: 1180
Read More »Which is Riskier? Investing in Gold & Silver or in the Dow 30 Stocks?
While gold is slightly more volatile than the Dow 30, on average, all of the individual components are more volatile than gold and only half are less volatile than silver and platinum. [So much for] the prevailing myth...that they are risky investments due to their volatility. [Let's take a closer look at the specifics.] Words: 250
Read More »