Markets and Business News Review

Stock Market Live August 15: As Trump Heads to Alaska, S&P 500 (VOO) Heads Higher

Joel South — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:04:03 -0400

This article will be updated throughout the day, so check back often for more daily updates.

President Donald Trump headed for Alaska accompanied by senior U.S. officials this morning, with plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine — and perhaps to ink a few trade deals along the way.

Investors seem cautiously optimistic about the event, with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) rising about 0.2% premarket. Other factors influencing the market today:

Bloomberg is reporting on rumors that the President intends to have the United States invest directly in Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) stock, similarly to how the U.S. Department of Defense invested directly in shares of rare earth mining company MP Materials (NYSE: MP in July.)

Legendary investors Warren Buffett (of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B)) and Michael Burry (of Scion Asset Management and The Big Short fame) revealed that they both invested in UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in Q2. Investors are taking this as a “call the bottom” moment and buying into UnitedHealth stock this morning, sending the insurance giant’s shares up more than 10%.

Earnings

Turning now to earnings:

Semiconductor equipment manufacturer and &P 500 component company Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) beat earnings by twelve cents last night, reporting a $2.48 per share profit on sales of $7.3 billion — which also beat estimates. Management forecast weaker than expected earnings in Q4 however — $1.91 to $2.31 per share, with sales falling as much as $1.1 billion below Wall Street’s forecast of $7.3 billion.

Investors are ignoring Q2’s beat, and focusing on the potential disaster that is Q3 instead. Applied Materials stock is crashing 13% premarket.

This morning, Wonder Bread and Tastycake baker Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) reported in-line earnings of $0.30 per share. Sales came up slightly short at $1.2 billion. Guidance through the end of 2025 likewise shows a probable sales shortfall, with revenue of no more than $5.3 billion.

On the plus side, Flowers forecast full-year profit between $1.08 and $1.17 per share, which at the midpoint is better than the $1.09 per share that Wall Street was expecting. Still, Flowers stock is trading down more than 3% premarket.

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Buffett’s $1.6 Billion Bet on UnitedHealth: Is It Finally Time to Buy the Dip?

Rich Duprey — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:49:22 -0400

Key Points in This Article:

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) revealed a new 5 million-share stake in UnitedHealth Group (UNH), valued at $1.6 billion, driving a 10% premarket stock surge.
The position is only 0.5% of Berkshire’s portfolio but signals confidence in UNH’s long-term value.
Investors must decide if Berkshire’s move, led by Buffett or possibly Greg Abel, justifies buying UNH stock.
Nvidia made early investors rich, but there is a new class of ‘Next Nvidia Stocks’ that could be even better. Click here to learn more.

Berkshire’s Big Bet on UnitedHealth

Berkshire Hathaway’s (NYSE:BRK-A)(NYSE:BRK-B) release yesterday of its latest 13F filing sent ripples through the market as it revealed a new 5 million share stake in UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) worth approximately $1.6 billion.

The news is sparking a 10% surge in UNH’s stock price during premarket trading this morning, reflecting investor enthusiasm for the endorsement from the world’s most revered investors.

While this position represents just 0.5% of Berkshire’s sprawling portfolio, it’s a significant vote of confidence for UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. health insurer. The question for retail investors, though, is whether Berkshire’s big bet signals a buying opportunity for UNH stock. Should you follow suit, or is it better to remain cautious given the company’s recent challenges?

A Turbulent Year for UnitedHealth

UnitedHealth has faced a storm of adversity in 2025, with its stock plummeting 50% from its April highs, erasing $300 billion in market capitalization. A series of setbacks have tested the company’s resilience.

In December 2024, the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson triggered public backlash over the company’s claims denial process, damaging its reputation. A rare first-quarter earnings miss, driven by high medical costs, led to an 18% stock price drop in May. The abrupt resignation of CEO Andrew Witty further rattled investors, followed by a Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal probe into alleged Medicare fraud, focusing initially on “upcoding” in its $137 billion Medicare Advantage business.

Additionally, a cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare cost an estimated $2.3 billion, compromising data for 190 million customers. These challenges painted a grim picture, pushing UNH’s stock to a five-year low and raising questions about its stability.

Berkshire’s Vote of Confidence

Berkshire Hathaway’s $1.6 billion investment signals strong belief in UnitedHealth’s long-term value, despite its near-term struggles. The purchase suggests that Buffett — or possibly his named successor Greg Abel, who may be taking on larger investment decisions as Buffett, now 94, eases the transition — sees UNH as undervalued relative to its intrinsic worth.

Trading at $271 per share with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.7, well below the industry average of 16.7, UNH appears to be a bargain. The company’s diversified operations, spanning UnitedHealthcare’s insurance arm and Optum’s health services, along with its $422.8 billion in trailing revenue and $27.2 billion in free cash flow, underscore its fundamental strength.

Berkshire’s stake aligns with its history of betting on resilient, market-leading companies at discounted valuations, suggesting confidence that UNH can navigate its current challenges and return to its historical growth trajectory.

Recent Developments Ease Pressure

Two key developments have bolstered UNH’s outlook. First, the DOJ’s probe has shifted from Medicare Advantage to OptumRx’s pharmacy benefit management practices, reducing immediate risk to UNH’s core insurance business.

Second, the U.S. Senate’s rejection of a Medicaid tax restriction in President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill preserves $19 billion in state Medicaid funding, stabilizing UNH’s 15% revenue stream from its 8.7 million Medicaid beneficiaries.

Insider buying, including $25 million in stock purchases by new CEO Stephen Hemsley — along with president and CFO John Rex buying $5 million worth — further signals internal optimism.

These factors, combined with a 5.2% dividend increase to $2.21 per share and a $327 analyst price target implying 20% upside, support Berkshire’s view that UNH’s current price does not reflect its long-term potential.

Key Takeaways

UnitedHealth Group appears undervalued at its current price, making Berkshire’s investment a compelling signal for long-term investors. However, near-term volatility from ongoing DOJ scrutiny and public perception challenges could lead to a short-term reversal.

Following Buffett’s lead isn’t a bad strategy, but investors might benefit from waiting for the initial market excitement to subside before entering, ensuring a better entry point. With its dominant market position, robust cash flows, and experienced leadership under Hemsley, UNH remains a strong contender for portfolios seeking stability and growth in the healthcare sector.

The post Buffett’s $1.6 Billion Bet on UnitedHealth: Is It Finally Time to Buy the Dip? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) Price Prediction and Forecast 2025-2030 (Aug 15)

Joel South — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:45:14 -0400

SoFi Technologies Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SOFI) chief executive officer recently stated at a conference that the fintech company has targeted 30% member growth and 20% revenue growth. The share price is 5.3% higher than it was a week ago, following a recent better-than-expected earnings report and an announced share offering. The stock is trading a little below a recent multiyear high, and it is 51.2% higher year to date, outperforming the S&P 500. Its one-year gain is 252.3%.

Worries about recession have had an impact on fintech stocks like SoFi. While Jim Cramer has been talking up the stock, Cathie Wood has sold millions worth of shares. Barclays has reiterated its Equal Weight rating and has an $18 price target. Needham maintained a Buy rating and has a $25 target price.

SoFi recently expanded its longstanding partnership with Capitalize to simplify 401(k) transfers, and it announced a $2 billion extension of its Loan Platform Business agreement for personal loans with funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group. The company has been exploring re-entering the crypto and blockchain space. And its shares were added to the MSCI ACWI Index, so it could see increased institutional buying.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) is a premier online financial solutions platform targeting a more affluent demographic.
Its ambition to become a one-stop shop for financial services, along with its growing deposit base, is likely to drive future growth.
24/7 Wall St. projects healthy upside for the stock by the end of the decade.
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SoFi made its public debut on June 1, 2021, through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Social Capital Hedosophia Holding Corp. V. Before the merger, the company’s original name was Social Finance. It started as a student loan financing firm before expanding into loans, mortgage products, and other financial products. After the SPAC acquisition, SoFi was equipped with substantial capital to enhance its technology stack to better scale its 2020 acquisition of Galileo. The Galileo platform was developed to deploy a wide range of financial services quickly, giving SoFi the tools to bring numerous financial products to a mass market.

SoFi went public at $10 per share, and the price quickly jumped 150%, but the stock saw lackluster performance afterward. However, investors only care about what happens from this point on, particularly over the next one, three, and five years. Let’s crunch the numbers and share our best estimate for SoFi’s future share price. No one has a crystal ball and even the Wall Street “experts” are often wrong more than they are right in predicting future stock prices. But we provide our revenue and earnings projections as part of our peer-to-peer valuation.

SoFi’s Recent Performance

The table below summarizes performance in share price, revenue, and profits (net income) since its IPO.

Year	Share Price	Revenue*	Net Income*
2021	$12.50	$977.3	($483.9)
2022	$15.81	$1,519.2	($320.4)
2023	$4.62	$2,067.8	($300.7)
2024	$15.40	$2,343.5	($113.3)

*Revenue and net income in millions

In the past four years, SoFi has more than doubled its revenue, but that top-line growth also came with a jump in total operating costs, particularly the $720 million in sales and marketing expenses in 2023. However, the increases in operating costs are money well spent with in-house technology improvements and member-generating marketing spending.

SoFi is close to hitting an inflection point in profitability and has done a stellar job of expanding revenue and improving earnings per share (EPS).

As SoFi’s revenue grows, it becomes more profitable, meaning its costs per customer decrease. This scalability is important because it indicates that as the company grows, it will become even more profitable. Given that the industry is growing and SoFi is outperforming its peers, there’s strong optimism that SoFi’s earnings per share will continue to rise.

Key Drivers of SoFi’s Stock Performance

Expanding its services and retaining customers.

Expansion Financial Services: SoFi’s ambition to become a one-stop shop for financial services will likely drive future growth. The company plans to continue expanding its product lineup—including new lending products, investment options, and insurance services—to cater to a broader range of financial needs.

Bank Charter and Deposit Base Expansion: Obtaining a national banking charter allows SoFi to use its growing deposit base to fund lending operations more efficiently. This access to lower-cost funds is expected to drive net interest income growth, enhancing profitability as SoFi scales its banking operations.

Cross-Selling and Customer Retention: SoFi’s strategy of cross-selling its wide array of financial products aims to increase the average number of products per customer. This integrated approach is expected to improve customer retention and lifetime value, thereby boosting overall revenue and profitability.

SoFi’s Share Price Estimates 2025-2030

Wall Street remains cautious for now.

The Wall Street consensus one-year price target for SoFi Technologies is $20.11. That target is below the current stock price, meaning that analysts expect no upside for now. Of 22 analysts covering the stock, only six recommend buying shares.

24/7 Wall St. is even more cautious on the stock, with a $12.56 target price by year’s end. Reaching that target would represent a decline of about 46% for the rest of this year.

Year	Est. Revenue ($B)	Est. Net Income ($B)	Est. EPS Normalized	Price to Sales Multiple	Est. Market Cap ($B)
2025	$2.84	$0.32	$0.21	3.5	$9.94
2026	$3.45	$0.584	$0.43	3.5	$12.08
2027	$3.79	$0.707	$0.62	3.5	$13.27
2028	$4.33	$0.902	$0.83	3.5	$15.16
2029	$4.84	$1.096	$1.02	3.5	$16.94
2030	$5.34	$1.279	$1.10	3.5	$18.69

24/7 Wall St. compared other fintech/lenders when deciding on our price-to-sales valuation of 3.5 times for the entire time frame of our analysis. Included in the analysis were Block Inc. (NYSE: XYZ), PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL), Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST), LendingClub Corp. (NYSE: LC), and Affirm Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM), which gives us a blended valuation of around 3.3x sales.

By the end of the decade, we estimate SoFi’s stock price will be $38.16 per share with 10% year-over-year revenue growth. Our estimated price would be almost 64% higher than the current share price.

Year	Price Target	Change From Current Price
2025	$12.56	−46.1%
2026	$19.19	−17.6%
2027	$23.75	2.0%
2028	$27.74	19.1%
2029	$34.58	48.5%
2030	$38.16	63.8%

SoFi Soars 150%: Can It Double Again by 2026?

The post SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) Price Prediction and Forecast 2025-2030 (Aug 15) appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Why Hands-Off Investing Pays Off

Jeff Sommer — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:31:04 -0400

Put money into low-cost stock and bond funds, but don’t forget the rest of the recipe: Leave your investments alone.

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) Bull, Base, & Bear Price Prediction and Forecast (Aug 15)

Joel South — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:15:14 -0400

The trade war with China was tough on Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) investors. In April, shares hit a year-to-date low below $87 apiece. Like its fellow Magnificent 7 members, Nvidia struggled due to economic uncertainties about the effects of tariffs, as well as due to Chinese AI innovations. Bears saw Nvidia stock falling further because of bearish pressure from the broader market. Yet, some investors remain optimistic for a sustained rebound, and that has been the case. The stock returned to all-time highs as tariff fears dissipated and macro data improved.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock continues to recover from the year-to-date low.
With the AI darling now trading near an all-time high, many are wondering where the stock could go next.
This analysis looks at three scenarios and where Nvidia stock could be in 2030.
Nvidia made early investors rich, but there is a new class of “Next Nvidia Stocks” that could be even better. Click here to learn more.

The bearish argument that prevailed on Wall Street early this year is not entirely gone. While the AI rally may continue, it remains speculative, whereas the reasons for Nvidia stock’s decline in the spring are genuine.

Nvidia may still be at a crossroads right now. We do not know for sure where the stock will go next, but with the data on hand, we can speculate. That’s what we are doing here.

Three Key Drivers of Nvidia Performance Through 2030

Will Nvidia continue to lead in AI?

1. AI Infrastructure Dominance: Nvidia controls an estimated 80% of the AI accelerator market through its H100/H200 GPUs and CUDA software ecosystem. It is tough for Nvidia customers to switch to another supplier. This has allowed the company to dominate the industry, with customers returning year after year. As such, it is well-positioned to capture growth from the $400 billion AI chip market projected for 2030.

2. Data Center Expansion: Its data center revenue has surged from $4.3 billion in Q1 2023 to over $35.6 billion in Q4 2024. Maintaining leadership here requires continuous innovation in GPU architecture and energy efficiency as AI workloads grow exponentially. So far, Nvidia has managed to do that.

3. Margin Preservation: One of the biggest arguments against Nvidia is that it may not be able to hold on to its massive margins as competitors catch up and become more attractive to Nvidia’s customers. This has not happened yet, and Nvidia has maintained its hold on the market quite well. In turn, this has allowed the company to have industry-leading gross margins at 73% in Q4 FY2025.

Nvidia Stock Price Prediction in 2030: Bull, Bear, & Baseline

Will it reach new heights or tumble further?

24/7 Wall St. estimates that Nvidia’s stock price in 2030 will be $491 per share in our bull case, $241 in our base case, and $38 in our bear case. That would represent increases of 169.8% and 32.4%, and a decrease of 79.1%, respectively, from current levels. Each of these estimates comes from a specific scenario analysis of Nvidia’s business segments.

The Bull Case for Nvidia’s Share Price

Assumptions for our bull case are as follows:

AI growth: Nvidia currently holds about 80% of the AI accelerator market. Analysts project this dominance could continue through Blackwell GPU adoption and CUDA’s software moat. This may allow data center revenue to grow at a 25% CAGR to $351 billion by 2030 vs. $115.2 billion in FY2025. Gross margins could remain above 70% due to limited competition in high-end AI training chips.
Automotive & robotics: A 50% CAGR in automotive revenue to $25 billion by 2030 is achievable if Level 4 autonomy reaches even 15% to 20% penetration.
Software: CUDA is already a big part of Nvidia’s moat, but this could get even better if the AI narrative succeeds in the long run. Nvidia could potentially shift this to a SaaS model once more developers become dependent on it.

All things considered, $491 per share is possible, with around $240 billion in net income if all that revenue materializes and margins hold up. Investors will still have to pay a 50x TTM earnings multiple for the stock. The market cap would be $12 trillion.

The likelihood of this happening is quite low, given the amount of ground Nvidia would have to cover.

The Base Case for Nvidia’s Share Price

Assumptions for our base case are as follows:

AI growth: Data center revenue can grow at 15% CAGR to $230+ billion by 2030. If Nvidia retains a 60% to 65% market share here, it could reach that goal, especially if competitors keep falling behind.
AI narrative success: The AI narrative would still have to succeed for Nvidia to reach our base case price of $241. Otherwise, there would be no growth, and investors would quickly slash the growth premium to a discount.

Nvidia’s valuation for the base case would be $8.9 trillion. We strongly recommend reading this share price forecast for a more detailed analysis of our base case.

The Bear Case for Nvidia’s Share Price

You may have noticed the big gap between the base case and the bear case. This is mostly because the bear case assumes that the AI narrative would fail.

If that happens, the result would be catastrophic for Nvidia and its stock. The only reason the shares trade at such a high valuation is that the company is directly linked to AI and its prospects. Without it, it will return to being known as a gaming GPU company with some links to crypto mining.

However, that scenario is unlikely. AI demand is not going to disappear overnight. However, what can happen is that AI development could slow down. As a result, Nvidia would slow down too. It needs continuous orders from hyperscalers and AI startups to maintain its momentum and strong margins. If AI slows down and companies are no longer willing to run massive AI models at a loss, they’re also unlikely to upgrade their GPUs to whatever Nvidia has to offer. This would crush Nvidia’s margins and turn revenue growth red, and investors would no longer pay a growth premium for the stock. $38 for such a scenario is reasonable, if not a bit rich, considering that would still leave Nvidia with a $932 billion valuation.

Regardless, our baseline remains at $241 for 2030.

Is Nvidia a $50 Trillion Stock? This Top Wall Street Analyst Thinks So

The post Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) Bull, Base, & Bear Price Prediction and Forecast (Aug 15) appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

What Business Will Be Watching For in the Trump-Putin Talks

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:04:18 -0400

Normalized economic ties between Russia and the West may be a long way off, but there’s global interest in what’s said about sanctions and tariffs.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Stock Price Prediction in 2030: Bull, Bear, & Baseline Forecasts (Aug 15)

Joel South — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:00:44 -0400

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been one of the stock market’s biggest success stories ever. The company had its initial public offering in May 1997 and traded for an astonishingly low split-adjusted price of just seven cents per share.

Since then, the stock has gained over 307,800% as the company has grown into the linchpin of e-commerce. Since its inception, Amazon has become a mainstay in the Magnificent 7 and now commands the fourth-largest market cap of any publicly traded company.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been one of the stock market’s biggest success stories ever.
For investors, the only thing that matters now is what the stock does from this point forward.
So, here 24/7 Wall St. makes bullish, bearish, and baseline cases for where the share price will be in 2030.
If you’re looking for a megatrend with huge potential, be sure to grab a complimentary copy of our “The Next NVIDIA” report. The free report includes a complete industry map of AI investments that includes many small caps.

However, for investors, what matters most now is how the stock performs going forward. Let’s crunch the numbers on a 2030 price prediction for Amazon. Of course, no one has a crystal ball. But based on the macroeconomic environment, industry trends, Amazon’s growth metrics and other factors such as price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, 24/7 Wall St. can make cases for bulls, bears, and a baseline.

Amazon’s Performance Over the Past Decade

From 2014 to 2024, shares of Amazon surged by more than 1,025%, from $19.94 to $223.75. A considerable amount of that gain came between March 2020—coinciding with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic—and last year. From March 13, 2020, through the end of December 2024, the stock climbed from $89.25 per share to $134.50, a gain of 150.70%, as the company became the focal point for sourcing materials during lockdowns.

Over the past decade, revenue increased from $89 billion to $638 billion, an astounding increase of more than 616%. At the same time, net income (profit) grew from −$0.241 billion to $59.2 billion, which translates to an incredible gain of 24,664.3%.

The ride up was not always smooth, though. All those COVID-19 era sales being “pulled forward” led to challenges in 2022, and the company swung to a surprise loss. As Amazon enters the back half of the decade, a few different key areas will determine its performance.

Three Key Drivers of Amazon’s Performance Through 2030

1. E-commerce Success: While the pandemic resulted in record sales for Amazon, it also led to many competitors investing heavily to compete with the online retail giant. While e-commerce still makes up just 15% of retail sales, the company accounted for 40% of all U.S. e-commerce sales in 2023. With few companies capable of disrupting its market share, Amazon is likely to continue to dominate.

2. Amazon Web Services: Amazon Web Services is the world’s largest cloud provider. Additionally, it is Amazon’s most profitable business segment. However, the unit isn’t growing as fast as competing cloud services like Azure, offered by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Google Cloud, offered by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL). Nonetheless, Amazon is at risk of falling behind Microsoft before 2030 if it can’t stop market share losses. Nonetheless, it generated $107.6 billion in sales in 2024 and should remain in its position as the world’s largest cloud service.

3. Advertising: In 2024, Amazon’s full-year advertising revenue was $56.2 billion, bolstered by the first year that ads ran on Prime Video and the inclusion of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football. That figure was nearly double the amount Amazon generated in ad revenue from the prior three years. Advertising could be another high-margin business line for the company. Last year, Amazon’s ad business grew faster than the company’s overall growth and ranked third in the digital advertising space behind only Alphabet and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META).

Stock Price Prediction in 2030: Bull, Bear, & Baseline

24/7 Wall St. estimates that Amazon’s stock price in 2030 will be $431 in our bull case, $77 in our bear case, and $250 for our baseline case. Each of these estimates comes from specific scenario analysis into its e-commerce, cloud computing, and advertising businesses.

Bull Case for Amazon’s Share Price

Our bull case for Amazon assumes they continue to top Wall Street projections for the following reasons:

AWS: AWS will continue to expand its cloud-generated revenue. However, its slowing growth is leading to concerns Amazon will continue losing market share to Microsoft’s Azure. Our bull case assumes Amazon effectively stems share losses and the growth of new AI models propels AWS to an 18% compounded growth rate (CAGR) through 2030. With that assumption, we estimate AWS would generate $86 billion in operating profits in 2030.
E-Commerce: Amazon continues to pour investments into its e-commerce business, giving up wider profit margins in order to maintain its market share. Our bull case model assumes growth in new logistics and efficiencies from robotics in warehouses leads to this unit finally delivering operating profits of about $30 billion annually.
Advertising: As of 2024, Amazon’s advertising has seen a CAGR of around 26% and has seen a run rate in excess of $50 billion. Our bull case assumes a 15% CAGR through 2030 with 40% operating margins, which results in $50 billion in operating profits by 2030.

Adding all these numbers together and subtracting some amount for “new bets” the company will likely invest in, we are left with about $150 billion in operating profits. Today, the company trades at about 50 times operating profit, which we reduce to 35 as the company matures (but continues to show strong growth). In our bull case analysis, Amazon is worth $5.25 trillion in 2030, or about $431 per share. This is 86.6% higher than the current share price.

Bear Case for Amazon’s Share Price

Our bear case scenario for Amazon is based on the following reasons:

Cloud Competition: The threat from Microsoft Azure (and to a lesser extent, Google Cloud) is very real. By mid-decade, operating profits could stop growing for AWS as competitive pressures mount. If that results in the company continuing to lose market share, expectations for stock growth could be tempered.
Unprofitable Business Segments: Amazon has seen years of unprofitability in certain business segments, which could resurface amid pushes to remain competitive in certain markets. For example, in 2023, Amazon’s North American segment generated $15 billion in profit, but its international segment incurred a $3 billion loss. In some years, its highly criticized Alexa efforts have resulted in recurring operating losses of about $5 billion per year.
Unsustainable Investments: If Amazon continues to burn money on “moonshots” looking for the next leg of growth, its share price could be hampered between now and 2030. Amazon is familiar with burning cash on ambitious projects, and its sizable investments in AI could be the next example.

In this scenario, 24/7 Wall St. still sees Amazon growing its net income beyond 2024’s $59.2 billion, which is a healthy increase from 2023. However, frustrated shareholders will not be willing to pay the elevated P/E ratio at which Amazon trades (30.55 in Q2 2025). Instead, we apply a 20x P/E, which better reflects Amazon in a low-growth state. Thus, in our bear case scenario, Amazon would trade for just $77 per share in 2030. This would be 66.7% lower than today.

Base Case for Amazon’s Share Price

Our baseline case for Amazon’s share price is much simpler. In this scenario, we simply look at Wall Street forecasts. Analysts see the company’s revenue rising from $710 billion in 2025 to $1.153 trillion by the end of 2030. Additionally, net income is projected to grow from $48.9 billion to $110.7 billion in the same time frame.

Long-term Wall Street forecasts generally overshoot, so assuming that 2030 net income comes in at $100 billion, AWS likely sees its growth slowed—but still expands by around a 10% CAGR—the company does not see as much profit from e-commerce as with our bull scenario and advertising also slows in the years to come. In this scenario, 24/7 Wall St. estimates Amazon’s P/E ratio would fall to about 26. This gives Amazon a baseline case share price of about $250, which would be an 8.2% gain.

Amazon Stock Price Prediction and Forecast 2025-2030

The post Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Stock Price Prediction in 2030: Bull, Bear, & Baseline Forecasts (Aug 15) appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

European investors switch attention to emerging market ETFs

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:00:08 -0400

Developing world stocks outperform US as dollar languishes at three-year lows

Nasdaq Composite Live: The U.S. May Take a Stake in Intel

Ian Cooper — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:53:11 -0400

After dropping on news that the producer price index (PPI) was hotter than expected, the Nasdaq is fighting to go green earlier this morning.

Helping, Intel is gaining momentum following a Bloomberg report that the Trump Administration is in talks to have the U.S. take a stake in the stock.

“Such a move would mark another intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump in industries seen as vital to national security,” as noted by Reuters, adding, “Intel declined to comment on the report but said it was deeply committed to supporting Trump’s efforts to strengthen U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership.”

Apple Just Had its Best Week since 2020

Now up to $232.78, we’d like to see Apple rally to $250 next.

Analysts at BTIG have reiterated a buy rating on the stock with a $198 price target. This was after Apple announced it would reintroduce its Blood Oxygen feature for certain Apple Watch models.

As noted by Investing.com, “The original Blood Oxygen feature was disabled following an International Trade Commission ruling that took effect in late 2023. In January 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection permitted Apple to sell its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 with a software workaround that excluded the pulse oximeter function.”

Apple is also releasing other new and updated AI-powered devices, including robots, a smart speaker with display and security cameras, and an updated “lifelike” Siri capable of communicating with several users at once, as noted by Bloomberg.

July Retail Sales Data is on Deck

Later this morning, markets will get a look at retail sales and consumer sentiment. At the moment, Wall Street is looking for 0.5% as compared to 0.6% for the prior month.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Goldman Sachs Loves 3 Great White North High-Yield Energy Stocks

Lee Jackson — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:10:16 -0400

Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is the world’s second-largest investment bank by revenue and is ranked 55th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations by total revenue. The Wall Street white-glove giant offers financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for the firm’s institutional and corporate clients. In addition, it provides advice, investing, and execution for institutions and individuals across public and private markets. At 24/7 Wall St., we have followed the company’s research for 15 years to bring our readers its top stock ideas. Recently, some big targets on Strong Buy-rated dividend energy stocks from Canada caught our attention.

Oil prices have dropped to levels not seen in four years. Despite OPEC+’s efforts to increase production, the potential for strong sanctions against Russia has put oil back on the front burner on Wall Street. Prices for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude surged this week in front of President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. Despite recent fears over demand, the summer driving season has almost a month left, and temperatures have been unseasonably warm, driving natural gas use.

The Goldman Sachs energy team is very positive on three top Canadian energy stocks that all pay hefty dividends, and all have decent upside to the price target set by the analysts. All three are outstanding ideas for growth and income investors looking to add some top energy stocks to their portfolios.

Why we recommend Goldman Sachs stocks

Goldman Sachs is the acknowledged leader in the investment landscape on Wall Street and worldwide. The firm’s top-notch research department continues to provide institutional and high-net-worth clients with the best ideas across the investment spectrum. It is likely to continue doing so for years.

Canadian Natural Resources

With a hefty dividend and trading right in the middle of the 52-week range, this looks like a solid entry point for new investors. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (NYSE: CNQ) is a senior crude oil and natural gas production company. The company has operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the United Kingdom portion of the North Sea, and Offshore Africa.

The Goldman Sachs team had this to say about the company in its research report:

We remain constructive on the shares, where we see attractive risk/reward following recent underperformance. We continue to highlight the company’s best-in-class operations and cost efficiency efforts, as well as several acquisitions over recent months that strengthen the outlook for volume growth. Though we expect heavy oil differentials to widen out in the second half of 2025, we believe the company’s competitive break-even of low to mid-US$40/b WTI (covering both sustaining capital and the dividend) should protect shares from market volatility.

Its Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading segment produces synthetic crude oil through bitumen mining and upgrading operations at Horizon Oil Sands and the company’s direct and indirect interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project.

Within Western Canada in the Midstream and Refining segment, the company maintains certain activities that include pipeline operations, an electricity co-generation system, and an investment in the North West Redwater Partnership, a general partnership formed to upgrade and refine bitumen in the Province of Alberta.

The Pelican Lake asset is a large, contiguous, shallow, medium crude oil pool. It produces natural gas in western Canada and has a significant land base in both the Montney and Deep Basin.

The Goldman Sachs target price is set at $37, which would be a strong 25% move from current trading levels.

Cenovus Energy

Based in Calgary and trading below $20, Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE: CVE) may have the best total return potential for growth and income investors. The Canada-based integrated energy company has oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region, and upgrading, refining, and marketing operations in Canada and the United States.

The Goldman Sachs analyst had this to say about the company:

At Cenovus Energy, we see significant progress on key Upstream growth projects and highlight the company’s expectation for first oil at West White Rose in 2Q26, where the CGS and topsides have already been installed. We are more confident about a path to profitability in U.S. refining after results improved quarter-over-quarter. We note that management continues to reiterate a focus on integration within the Downstream segment, and views the company as a logical seller of their JV with Phillips 66 at Borger and Wood River.

The company’s segments include:

Upstream
Downstream
Corporate
Eliminations

The Upstream segment includes Oil Sands, Conventional, and Offshore, while the Downstream segment consists of Canadian Manufacturing and the United States Manufacturing.

The company’s upstream operations include:

Oil sands projects in northern Alberta
Thermal and conventional crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) projects across Western Canada
Crude oil production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador
Natural gas and NGLs production offshore China and Indonesia

The Downstream operations include upgrading and refining operations in Canada and the United States, and commercial fuel operations across Canada.

The Goldman Sachs price target is $17.

Suncor Energy

Goldman Sachs recently bumped up its target price for the stock, and with a very solid dividend and outstanding fundamentals, this may be the best pick of the three. Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE: SU) is a Canada-based integrated energy company. Its segments include Oil Sands, Exploration and Production (E&P), and Refining and Marketing.

The analyst noted this in a recent research report:

We came away from this earnings season and our Canada Energy Series incrementally more positive around Suncor Energy, where we see an attractive setup in the back half of the year and into 2026, supported by strong operational momentum, accelerated turnaround improvement, and continued progress on 3-year targets. We note the company completed the Base Plant turnaround ahead of schedule in early July, a project management described as one of the most extensive and complex in recent company history.

Its operations include:

Oil sands development
Production and upgrading
Offshore oil production
Petroleum refining in Canada and the United States
The Petro-Canada retail and wholesale distribution networks, including Canada’s Electric Highway, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations

The company is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a lower-emissions future through investments in lower-emissions intensity power, renewable feedstock fuels, and projects targeting emissions intensity.

Suncor Energy also conducts energy trading activities focused primarily on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. It also wholly owns the Fort Hills Project, which is located in Alberta’s Athabasca region.

The Goldman Sachs price target is $44.

Investors Can Generate Huge Passive Income With 7 Dividend Kings

The post Goldman Sachs Loves 3 Great White North High-Yield Energy Stocks appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Fund managers turn a blind eye to Gaza at their peril

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Buffett Dumps Apple Shares

Douglas A. McIntyre — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:40:11 -0400

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has filed its quarterly Form 13F filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It lists all the stocks the conglomerate holds, plus changes in the number of shares. Berkshire sold 20 million shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) in the period that ended June 30. Despite good earnings, Apple’s slow rollout of major artificial intelligence (AI) products raises concerns about its future revenue.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

Berkshire Hathaway sold 20 million shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) in the period that ended June 30.
The sale cannot be described as a vote of confidence.
Take this quiz to see if you’re on track to retire. (sponsored)

Buffett sold Apple shares last year, but none in 2025 until the recent announcement. The Wall Street Journal points out that Apple remains Berkshire’s largest holding. However, there is no way to describe the sale as a vote of confidence.

Buffett is known as a very long-term investor—until he isn’t. After years as the world’s leading tech company, many now see Apple as losing its innovative edge to Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. The new iPhone 16 was supposed to have had an updated iOS that would also be the launch of a long list of AI-centric features. That launch has been delayed until next year. Apparently, the Siri integration of AI has been slow. Apple’s stock struggled, until recently, because of this delay.

Apple has had one silver lining, which showed up in earnings. There was worry that iPhone sales would be weak because of global competition and the fact that the iPhone 16 was not enough of an upgrade compared to the features of the iPhone 15. iPhone revenue grew 14% in the most recent quarter to $44.6 billion. The iPhone remains the engine of Apple’s success. Its revenue was almost half of the company’s total revenue in the period.

Buffett has not said why he sold these shares, nor is he obliged to. He obviously knows that Apple is playing catch-up in the most important AI advance, perhaps in tech history. That would make anyone question whether the stock can rally after a year of underperformance.

Apple Stock Price Prediction and Forecast 2025-2030

The post Buffett Dumps Apple Shares appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Tariffs Are High. So Is the Stock Market.

Joe Rennison — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:03:21 -0400

Strong corporate earnings, mostly stable tariff rates and the expectation of interest rate cuts have eased worries of a market reckoning.

Tariffs Are High. So Is the Stock Market.

Joe Rennison — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:03:21 -0400

Strong corporate earnings, mostly stable tariff rates and the expectation of interest rate cuts have eased worries of a market reckoning.

SoftBank-owned PayPay files for US listing

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:01:13 -0400

Sale of American depositary shares could value payments company above $10bn and help fund AI bets

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Most Likely Doesn’t Pay Taxes

Susanne Craig and Kirsten Grind — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:17 -0400

Elon Musk’s rocket company relies on federal contracts, but years of losses have most likely let it avoid paying federal income taxes, according to internal company documents.

As Trump Pushes International Students Away, Asian Schools Scoop Them Up

Lydia DePillis and Jin Yu Young — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 02:48:37 -0400

The president’s hostility toward foreign students has made American higher education a riskier proposition for them. Other countries are eager to capitalize.

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Lion City Capital Management LLC

Defensive stocks’ offensive performance

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 01:30:05 -0400

And Chinese deflation

China’s Economy Slows Broadly Even as Exports Keep Rising

Keith Bradsher — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 01:05:59 -0400

Officials blamed U.S. “protectionism” for the dismal July data, but growth was likely held back by real estate and new policies aimed at slowing factory investments.

Crypto group backed by Trump sons hunts for bitcoin companies in Asia

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:26:12 -0400

Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump look to make inroads in region with enthusiasm for digital assets

The bust-up at Germany’s biggest fintech

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:10 -0400

Plus, how a science research sponsor beat Harvard’s endowment and the private auctions shaking the art world

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The three lessons I learned as a professional money manager

Tech bosses spend millions more on personal security

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Companies including Meta and Nvidia have upped their protection budgets after death threats and cyber attacks

The markets are shrugging off chaos

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People are looking at becalmed market conditions and writing them off as the result of a quiet summer

China cracks down on foreign companies stockpiling rare earths

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:52:31 -0400

Beijing determined to retain leverage over supply by preventing buyers from building large inventories

Uncle Nearest Whiskey Is in a Fiscal Bind

Clay Risen — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:23:17 -0400

A federal judge has ordered that Uncle Nearest be placed in receivership, after a lender claimed the company’s finances are in disarray.

Phil Knight, Ex-Nike Chief, and His Wife Pledge $2 Billion to Oregon Cancer Center

Neil Vigdor — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:24:28 -0400

Oregon Health & Science University said the couple’s donation would be the largest single gift to a higher-learning institution in the United States.

PBS Slashes Budget by 21% After Federal Funding Cuts

Benjamin Mullin — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:56:29 -0400

The nonprofit will receive less revenue from its members, which are under pressure to make up for shortfalls of their own.

Intel shares jump on possible US government investment

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:51:03 -0400

American chipmaker’s stock rose 7% after reports the Trump administration could take an ownership stake

Buffett’s Berkshire dumped Apple shares again in second quarter

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:22:39 -0400

Conglomerate resumed selling the Big Tech group’s stock during period of US tariff turmoil

Live: Nu Holdings (NU) Shares Jump 8% After Earnings

Joel South — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:37:06 -0400

Live Updates

Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published.

Confernce Call at 6 p.m. ET

5:33 pm

NU Holdings’ conference call is scheduled for 6 p.m.

We’ll post updates and a summary. If you want to receive that we highly encourage you to leave this page open as new updates will automatically post later.

As of 5:35 p.m. ET, shares are up 8.3% after hours.

Important Metrics for Nu Holdings

5:19 pm

Here’s some important slides from Nu Holdings investor presenation:

Crypto customers are up 41% year-over-year
Active credit card customers up 11%

Mexico continues to see strong growth with customers surging from 7.8 million last year to 12 million in Q2 2025.

Nu Holdings Now Up 7% in After Hours

5:17 pm

While results were largely inline, investors are very pleased with Nu Holdings prior quarter. Shares are up 7% after hours.

More Details on Earnings

5:10 pm

NU | Nu Holdings Ltd. Q2’25 Earnings Highlights:

GAAP EPS: $0.13 []
Revenue: $3.7B []; [UP] +40% YoY
Adj. Gross Margin: 42.2% []; [UP] +160 bps YoY
Net Income: $637M []; [UP] +42% YoY
Adjusted Net Income: $694.5M []; [UP] +42% YoY
Net Interest Income: $2.1B []; [UP] +33% YoY
Deposits: $36.6B []; [UP] +41% YoY
Active Customers: 122.7M []; [UP] +17% YoY

Outlook:

- Expect continued growth driven by customer engagement and expansion into new markets.
- Investment in technology and customer service to maintain high activity rates.

Other Key Q2 Metrics:

Adj. Operating Income: $1.2B []; [UP] +30% YoY
Adj. Operating Expenses: $1.5B []; [UP] +20% YoY
Free Cash Flow: $500M; [UP] +25% YoY
Effective Tax Rate: 25% (vs. 22% YoY)
Monthly Average Revenue per Active Customer (ARPAC): $12.2 []; [UP] +18% YoY
Monthly Average Cost to Serve Per Active Customer: $0.80 []; stable YoY
15 to 90-day NPL Ratio: 4.4% []; [DOWN] -30 bps QoQ
90+ NPL Ratio: 6.6% []; [UP] +10 bps QoQ

CEO Commentary:

David Vélez: “These results prove that it’s possible to scale efficiently, with discipline, and still generate strong earnings while building the foundation for the long-term.”

Results for Last Quarter Largely In Line

5:07 pm

GAAP EPS of $.13 matches Wall Street consensus while revenue of $3.67 billion is once again largely in line.

Earnings Are Finally Out!

5:06 pm

And shares are immediately spiking up 5%. We’ll post more analysis shortly.

It's After 5 p.m. ET

5:03 pm

And that means Nu Holdings earnings could hit any minute. Stay tuned, new updates will post automatically on this live blog the moment earnings hit newswires!

Still No Earnings

4:36 pm

Conference calls have started for other comapnies that reported tonight, but there’s still no earnings from Nu Holdings.

Don’t say we didn’t warn anyone! In our post above we posted these earnings would likely be after 5 p.m.

The moment earnings hit we’ll update this live blog with news and analysis.

Still No Earnings

4:20 pm

Nu Holdings earnings still aren’t out. If you see a price reaction after hours – you can safely ignore it. We will update this post when earnings are released.

NU Shares Falling in Late Trading

3:53 pm

Shares of Nu Holdings have been dropping throughout the afternoon. They’re now down about 3.2% as of 3:54 p.m. ET.

As a reminder, we expect Nu’s earnings to take a bit after the bell. However, whenever they cross news wires we’ll begin updating this live blog with news and analysis. So don’t leave this page as we’ll have you covered right after the company reports.

Wall Street Targets

3:00 pm

Consensus Rating:

18 Strong Buy
6 Buy
6 Hold
Rating: Strong Buy

Price Targets:

High: $19.00
Low: $9.00
Average: $14.81
Current Price: $12.31
Implied Upside: +20.3%

Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU) reports Q2 earnings after the close. Shares have been relatively flat year to date, with investors focused on the monetization curve of its 119M customer base.

We’ll be updating this live blog with news and analysis right after Nu Holdings’ earnings hit the newswires. To receive updates, all you have to do is leave this page open, and updates will post automatically.

Estimates Snapshot

Q2 FY2025 Consensus Estimates:

Revenue: $3.67 billion
EPS (Normalized): $0.14
EPS (GAAP): $.13

Full-Year FY2025 Estimates:

Revenue: $14.79 billion
EPS: $0.59

These figures imply 28.8% YoY revenue growth and 28% EPS growth compared to FY2024’s revenue of $11.52B and EPS of $0.46.

Key Areas to Watch

Credit Growth and Portfolio Composition
Total originations hit record levels last quarter, with 64% YoY growth in loan volume. Management emphasized traction in unsecured and public payroll loans — with secured loan balances up 300% YoY.
Mexico Banking License and Deposit Scale-Up
Mexico revenue nearly doubled YoY to $245M, and Nu was granted a full banking license last quarter. Investors will look for commentary on new product rollouts and the pace of deposit base expansion.
Operating Leverage and Cost Per Customer
NU continues to maintain below $1 cost per customer while ARPAC grows across cohorts. Operating leverage in Brazil remains a core part of the long-term bull case.
NIM and Risk-Adjusted Margins
While consolidated NIM fell to 17.5%, Brazil margins held steady. Credit loss allowances pressured Q1 risk-adjusted NIMs (down 130 bps), but this was largely attributed to seasonality and deposit investment in new markets.
FGTS and Private Payroll Lending Expansion
Co-founder Lago highlighted Nu’s leading share in Brazil’s FGTS market (20–30% of total originations) and its aggressive push into private payroll loans — a new vertical that could materially expand secured lending volumes going forward.

The post Live: Nu Holdings (NU) Shares Jump 8% After Earnings appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Live: KULR Shares Skyrocket 17% After Earnings

Eric Bleeker — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:36:39 -0400

Live Updates

Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published.

Conference Call Has Ended

5:28 pm

KULR’s conference call has ended. As we noted earlier, it was largely contentious, but that’s to be expected with shares down 78% year-to-date.

That figure will improve tomorrow, as shares are up 17% after hours. We’ve included some slides from the call below.

Very Bitter Call!

4:59 pm

The Q&A with KULR is full of largely angry (frustrated?) questions. Someone asked a pretty good question why the company doesn’t host a call the next morning so investors can ask about the most recent quarter.

I'll Give Management Credit

4:54 pm

They’re taking some hard questions from shareholders. The most recent question is about the company dilluting shareholders and treating its shareholder base as an ‘ATM.’

On KULR's Call

4:46 pm

We’re listening in to KULR’s call right now.

Shares are currently up 17%. The company announced a 1 to 8 reverse stock split to get its price comfortably above delisting issues.

In addition, revenue growth exceeded expectations.

We’ll post notes from their call shortly.

More Details on KULR's Quarter

4:32 pm

KULR | KULR Technology Group Q2’25 Earnings Highlights:

EPS: $0.22 []
Revenue: $3.97M (Est. $3.50M) []; [UP] +63% YoY
Adj. Gross Margin: 18% []; [DOWN] -600 bps YoY
Net Income: $8.14M []; [UP] +$14.03M YoY
Operating Loss: $9.45M; [DOWN] +77% YoY
SG&A Expenses: $6.94M; [UP] +51% YoY
R&D Expenses: $2.44M; [UP] +86% YoY
Cash and Accounts Receivable: $24.73M

Q2’25 Outlook:

Revenue: $4.50M ±10% (Est. $4.00M) []
- The outlook reflects continued growth in product sales and strategic investments in R&D.
- Management expects to leverage its Bitcoin holdings to support operational expansion and product development.

Q2 Segment Performance:

Product Sales Revenue: $1.98M (Est. $1.75M) []; [UP] +74% YoY

Other Key Q2 Metrics:

BTC Holdings: 1,021 BTC; [UP] +$101M in acquisitions
BTC Yield: 291.2%;

CEO Commentary:

Michael Mo: “KULR is in its strongest financial position to accelerate its growth and continue its innovations. Alongside the increased revenue in Q2, our Bitcoin holdings provide a solid financial balance sheet that enables us to invest confidently in developing new KULR ONE battery products, expand our R&D efforts, and drive towards the next phase of our growth.”

CFO Commentary:

Shawn Canter: “We are proud to deliver another revenue record quarter – the highest in KULR’s history. Revenue rose 63% year-over-year. We continue to invest for KULR’s long-term growth and scalability. In parallel, we are executing on our Bitcoin treasury strategy. We hold over 1,035 BTC and a yield approaching 300%. We remain confident in our ability to build shareholder value through our energy management, exoskeleton and BTC strategies.”

A Good Day for KULR Investors

4:29 pm

KULR has reported and shares are up 15%. We’ll post more analysis shortly.

KULR Shares Down 2.7% Today

3:34 pm

KULR Technology reports after the bell today and shares have sold off slightly. As of 3:35 p.m. ET they’re down 2.7%.

The company has sold off throughout 2025 even while Bitcoin performed well. We’ll see if there’s enough business momentum announced today to turn the story around.

KULR Technology Group (NYSE: KULR) reports afte the bell today. Shares soared across 2024, eventually hitting $43.92 at the end of 2024.

Yet, it’s been an awful 2025 so far. Shares are down 78% even while the price of Bitcoin continues to rise. The company currently has a market capitilization of a little more than $200 million while recently reporting its Treasury had reached 1,021 BTC. In other words, the value of its Bitcoin today stands at about $120 million, or 60% the company’s total value.

Investors will be watching for progress recording revenue. While sales are still small, Wall Street does expect $19.5 million in revenue in 2025 and growth to $34.75 million in 2026.

Key Areas to Watch for In Q2

KULR is currently followed by only two analysts who provide estimates. Here’s what they expect from last quarter:

Revenue: $3.45 million
EPS (GAAP): -$.12
EPS (Adjusted): -$.08

Here are some key themes to watch from the company’s call tonight:

What deal progress will be announced?
- The comapny discussed mutliple partnerships and potential deals last quarter including ones with UPS. What updates will the company offer on moving these deals toward generating revnue?
Will the company stick to its expectations of doubling sales in 2025?
- Last year KULR generated sales of $10.74 million. In the first quarter it produced $2.45 million and analysts expect $3.45 million in the second quarter. Those numbers imply significant revenue acceleration happening in the back half of the year. Will KULR stick to this projection?

The post Live: KULR Shares Skyrocket 17% After Earnings appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Gregory C. O’Connell, Developer Who Revived Red Hook, Dies at 83

Sam Roberts — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:33:23 -0400

A former N.Y.P.D. detective, he rejuvenated properties on the Brooklyn waterfront and restored a historic village in upstate New York.

Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 54, Die; Designers Made Barbies Into Art

Joanne Kaufman — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:32:32 -0400

They transformed dolls into one-of-a-kind pieces that sold for thousands of dollars. A married couple, they died in a car crash in Italy.

Live: Quantum Computing (QUBT) Drops 3% After Announcing Q2 Earnings

Joel South — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:28:16 -0400

Live Updates

Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published.

Not Much in Q&A

5:04 pm

Well, that was a very light Q&A session! Here’s the questions the company took in their call via S&P Capital IQ:

Troy Jensen Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division

Congrats on all the traction here. Maybe first off for Yuping. I guess I’d be curious, to me revenues aren’t really important. They won’t be for several years to meet the technical milestone. So could you just kind of lay out what are the 2 or 3 most important milestones that we need to see from you guys over the next 1 to 3 years?

Yuping Huang Chief Executive Officer

Thank you, Troy. Over the next 2 to 3 years, in fact, our focus would be to integrate our Quantum machines with our non-photonic chips. So that has been our technology road map and as you have seen that over the past 3 years, we have really pushed to testing and to demonstrate the Quantum machine using discrete optical components. And then in March of 2025 this year so we have finished our thin-film lithium niobate foundry and now that give us another platform that we will for us to translate our Quantum photonic technology that we have demonstrated with discrete optical components to on-chip. So over the next 2 years, we are going to use our [indiscernible] chips in our direct machine and use it to enhance the performance of our Quantum photonic reservoir system and also to use for our quantum sensing and in particular, the quantum photonic [ wider meter ]. So with the integration of nano-photonic chips, we can expect to significantly reduce size, weight, power and also the cost of our Quantum machines and we will also be able to boost the performance. And in the meanwhile, our foundry can not only support the further development of our quantum machines but also offer services to others. In fact, so we have received preorders and orders for our foundry services. So this is going to a pretty fun ramp-up journey for us over the next 2 years.

Troy Jensen Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division

Yes. Understood. Maybe a follow-up here for Chris. I’m just curious on OpEx. And obviously, you guys have a much larger balance sheet now, and is there any intentions to accelerate spending or do M&A? Or just kind of maybe give us some color on what you think kind of second half R&D and G&A expenses might look like?

Christopher Roberts Chief Financial Officer

Well, it’s a good question, Troy. We are certainly hiring additional people. You can see from the results we’ve announced that our labor costs have grown quite a bit since last year. We’re bringing on additional engineers and sales staff and moving to accelerate the development of our technology. We do not have anything announced relating to acquisitions but as we previously stated, looking at strategic opportunities is part of the plan, and we’re in the process of talking with bankers and looking for opportunities that will enable us to fill out our technology road map as well as accelerate revenue development — revenue generation, sorry.

QUBT On AI & Other New Client Engagements

4:52 pm

Here’s QUBT CEO Yuping Huang on AI opportunities and other new customer wins. Transcription is via S&P Capital IQ:

“This quarter, we saw a new traction in our quantum AI portfolio. During the quarter, a major global automotive manufacturer purchase one of our [ mic ] reservoir computing systems which will be used to explore edge-based machine learning applications such as time series protection and image recognition.

This is an important proof point for real-world use of our reservoir ] computing platform. Subsequent to the quarter in July 2025, we announced a new commercial order from a top 5 U.S. bank, marking the first domestic commercial sale of our Quantum Cybersecurity Solution, underscoring recent demand for Quantum’s secure data protection. We also advanced our work with strategic government partners.

During the quarter, we were awarded a subcontract valued at over 400,000 to support NASA’s Langley Research Center. Under this contract, we are applying our Dirac-3 [ Quanta ] optimization machine to develop a quantum-based technology for removing solar noise from space-based LIDAR data. An issue that has historically limited NASA’s ability to block reliable data atmospheric observations.

This builds on our prior work with NASA and highlights the real-world value of our Quantum systems for scientific applications. Continue to be a significant partner to government institutions remains a key goal for us, and we continue to make progress subsequent to this quarter, announcing [indiscernible] [ equivalent ] contract from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology last week.”

Still No Quarterly Results on QUBT's Investor Relations

4:23 pm

Quantum shares are still down about 3%.

Revenue came in lighter than expected at $61,000 versus expectations of $100,000. However, with those numbers so small that miss shouldn’t matter too much.

What might matter more is the company’s reported losses. The company’s press release isn’t hosted on their investor relations site (which, seems like a disservice to the company’s investors).

We have found it and are going through it in more detail.

One note: the company’s loss is mostly from the fair value of derivatives. Overall, operating expenses were $10.2 million. that’s slightly above Wall Street expectations at closer to $9.25 million, but isn’t overly concerning.

The company’s conference call starts at 4:30 and should be the factor that moves the stock the most tomorrow.

As a note, we will post notes from the conference call in this live blog. All you have to do is simply leave it open and new updates will post automatically.

Slow Investor Relations Site

4:12 pm

We still don’t have a press release on Quantum Computing’s Investor Relations site, which is unfortunate.

In particular we want to see more details on that second quarter loss.

Wall Street was expecting a GAAP loss of $9.2 million. If the company reported a loss of $36.5 million, what are the details?

Shares Trending Down Now

4:10 pm

Shares of Quantum are now down about 3.5% after their earnings release.

Earnings Are Out

4:07 pm

It looks like $61,000 in revenue last quarter with a net loss of $36.5 million.

We’re going to provide more analysis momentarily but that’s the flash number.

Market Almost Closed - Get Ready for Earnings

3:57 pm

The market is almost closed and we’re waiting for Quantum Computing’s earnings. The stock is down about 3.9% in late trading. Many ‘momentum’ stocks fell today after new data showed wholesale inflation rose by .9% in July, far ahead of expectations.

Analyst Targets

3:00 pm

Consensus Rating:

1 Buy
1 Hold
1 Underperform

Price Targets:

High: $22.00
Low: $15.00
Average: $18.50
Implied Upside: +13.3%

Quantum Computing (Nasdaq: QUBT) reports Q2 results after the close, following a stretch of high volatility driven by investor interest in photonics and quantum computing. After raising over $90 million in early 2025, QCI now enters its next commercial phase with Fab 1 online and customer delivery beginning.

We’ll be updating this live blog with news and analysis right after Quantum Computing’s earnings hit the newswires. To receive updates, all you have to do is leave this page open, and updates will post automatically.

Estimates Snapshot

Q2 FY2025 Consensus Estimates:

Revenue: $100,000
EPS (Normalized): –$0.06

Full-Year FY2025 Estimates:

Revenue: $700,000
EPS: –$0.07

Key Areas to Watch

Foundry Ramp and Fab 2 Signals
QCI’s Tempe-based TFLN photonic chip foundry began early production in Q2. Management says five purchase orders are in hand, including international buyers, and discussions around a second facility (Fab 2) have already begun.
Commercial Revenue vs. R&D Pilots
Recent wins with TU Delft (Netherlands) and a major automotive OEM show traction in vibrometry and reservoir computing, but revenue remains lumpy and concentrated in R&D budgets rather than recurring commercial streams.
Dirac-3 Traction in Federal and Academic Markets
Collaborations with NASA Langley and Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (Sloan Kettering, Rockefeller, Weill Cornell) validate QCI’s optimization tech, but monetization timelines and scaling strategy remain unclear.
Leadership and Vision Post-McGann
Founder Yuping Huang now serves as interim CEO following Dr. McGann’s retirement. Investors will assess strategic clarity, especially in balancing foundry scale-up and hardware/software deployment.
Cash Burn vs. Capital Position
Despite $166M in cash at Q1-end, QCI reported over $8M in quarterly operating expenses. Investors will look for discipline in spending as revenue generation remains nascent.

The post Live: Quantum Computing (QUBT) Drops 3% After Announcing Q2 Earnings appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Live: Applied Materials (AMAT) Sinks 14% After Hours

Joel South — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:27:24 -0400

Live Updates

Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published.

Stock Will Be Very Down Tomorrow

5:24 pm

Well, nothing was said on the Applied Materials call to change around steep after hours losses. The company is down 14% as of 5:25 p.m. ET.

Will this be the start of long-term troubles or a buying opportunity?

It’s our opinion that over a long-term time frame a company like Applied Materials remains a compelling investment opportunity. With that being said, the coming quarters are very challenging for companies as the Trump Administration has made limiting semiconductor equipment a primary focus during trade negotiations.

Here's Applied Materials' Defense of Thier Long-Term Trajectory

4:59 pm

Here’ s what AMAT CEO Gary Dickerson had to say about the company’s guidance and defense of their long term opportunity:

“For Applied’s business, there are 3 main factors that mute our outlook for the quarter ahead. First is digestion of capacity in China. Second is our large backlog of pending export license applications where we have taken a conservative position and assumed none of these licenses will be issued in the next quarter. And third is nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers which is primarily linked to market concentration and fab timing. None of these near-term considerations change our perspective on the longer-term opportunities for the industry and Applied Materials. Leadership in AI remains a major focus for both companies and countries, driving large investments in infrastructure and R&D. Governments around the world, especially the United States government are taking major steps to incentivize companies to build advanced manufacturing capacity onshore.

One example of this is Apple’s American manufacturing program, which was announced last week. We are excited to be a partner in this initiative that is designed to strengthen the end-to-end silicon supply chain in the U.S. As part of this endeavor, we plan to invest more than $200 million in Arizona to establish a state-of-the-art facility for manufacturing specialized components for our equipment. This builds on the more than $400 million we have invested in our U.S. manufacturing infrastructure over the past 5 years to provide the needed capacity and agility to support growing customer demand. Globally, we are now tracking more than 100 new fabs or major fab expansion projects, an increase of about 10% in the past year.

In addition to robust supply chains, deploying AI at large scale requires significant innovation at every level of the technology stack from models, software and data center design to chip architectures and materials. AI’s need for abundant, high-performance and energy-efficient computing is reshaping the semiconductor road map and changing the way chips are designed and manufactured. This next wave of AI semiconductor innovation will be concentrated around 5 key areas: Leading edge logic next-generation high-performance DRAM, high bandwidth memory or DRAM stacking, advanced packaging to connect logic and memory chips together and innovations in power electronics to address energy consumption within the data center and more efficient grid to data center power delivery.

In each of these critical areas, major device architecture inflections are shifting value towards material science and materials engineering, growing Applied’s addressable market and driving closer collaboration with customers. On top of this, these inflections create opportunities for us to grow faster than the underlying market. Based on our deep customer engagements, we have focused our investments in product portfolio on the most enabling applications, and we expect healthy market share gains as these new technologies ramp in volume production. Let me walk you through some examples. — in leading-edge foundry logic, the transition from FinFET to gate-all-around transistors with backside power delivery grows our revenue opportunity by 30% for the equivalent fab capacity. And we are on track to gain multiple points of market share when these nodes ramp in the second half of 2026 and 2027. “

Conference Call Is Starting

4:34 pm

Applied Materials conference call is starting. A few notes.

We will be listening and post notes on the most important areas to watch from the call. These updates will post automatically, all you have to do is leave this page open.
The company will almost surely be down tomorrow. However, if executives can explain their guidance next quarter as something temporary, losses could be trimmed.

Guidance in Focus

4:21 pm

If you’re just catching up, Applied Materials is down big after hours. The stock has dropped 11% after announcing poor guidance. It’s a bit of a replay of Tokyo Electron’s recent earnings.

Here’s exactly what management had to say about why their guidance is so far below Wall Street expectations:

“Applied Materials delivered record performance in our third fiscal quarter, and we are on track to deliver our sixth consecutive year of revenue growth in fiscal 2025,” said Gary Dickerson, President and CEO. “We are currently operating in a dynamic macroeconomic and policy environment, which is creating increased uncertainty and lower visibility in the near term, including for our China business. Despite this, we remain very confident in the longer-term growth opportunities for the semiconductor industry and Applied Materials.”

“We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and non-linear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,” said Brice Hill, Senior Vice President and CFO. “We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.”

A Correction To Earlier

4:17 pm

Adjusted EPS of $2.48 last quarter was a beat versus Wall Street expectations.

The stock is falling due to guidance.

Wall Street expected $7.32 billion in guidance next quarter and the company guided to $6.7 billion at th emidpoint.

That’s a massive shortfall and this kind of reaction is to be expected.

Earnings in More Detail

4:17 pm

AMAT | Applied Materials Q3’25 Earnings Highlights:

Adj. EPS: $2.48 []; UP +17% YoY
Revenue: $7.30B []; UP +8% YoY
Adj. Gross Margin: 48.9% []; UP +150 bps YoY
Net Income: $1.78B []; UP +4% YoY

Outlook:

Revenue: $6.70B ±$500M []
- Expected decline in revenue driven by digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers.
- Management is adapting to near-term uncertainties by leveraging a robust supply chain and deep customer relationships.

Q3 Segment Performance:

Semiconductor Systems Revenue: $5.43B []; UP +10% YoY
Applied Global Services Revenue: $1.60B []; UP +1% YoY
Display Revenue: $263M []; UP +5% YoY

Other Key Q3 Metrics:

Adj. Operating Income: $2.25B []; UP +15% YoY
Adj. Operating Expenses: $1.33B []; UP +5% YoY
R&D Expenses: $901M []; UP +8% YoY
Free Cash Flow: $2.05B; DOWN -2% YoY
Effective Tax Rate: 30.6% (vs. 30.6% YoY)

CEO Commentary:

Gary Dickerson: “Applied Materials delivered record performance in our third fiscal quarter, and we are on track to deliver our sixth consecutive year of revenue growth in fiscal 2025. We are currently operating in a dynamic macroeconomic and policy environment, which is creating increased uncertainty and lower visibility in the near term, including for our China business. Despite this, we remain very confident in the longer-term growth opportunities for the semiconductor industry and Applied Materials.”

CFO Commentary:

Brice Hill: “We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing. We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.”

Semiconductor Equipment Under Pressure Headed into Today's Earnings

3:42 pm

Where does Applied Materials stack up next to other large semiconductor peers in 2025? Here’s a comparison of the year-to-date performance of the largest semi equipment stocks:

Applied Materials: Up 15.3%
Lam Research: Up 48.7%
ASML: Up 7.3%
Tokyo Electron: Down 4.8%
KLA Tencor: Up 50.1%

As you can see, KLA Tencor and Lam Research lead the pack. Applied Materials is in the middle of the ‘Big 5’ semi equipment companies, but a 15% gain in a little more than 7 months is something most investors would gladly accept.

We saw Lam Research beat earnings earlier this season, but uncertainty from Tokyo Electron pulled down stocks across the sector. Applied Materials will give us the best insight yet into the overal healthy of the industry.

Analyst Targets

3:00 pm

Consensus Rating:

13 Strong Buy
13 Buy
12 Hold
Rating: Buy

Price Targets:

High: $250.00
Low: $165.00
Average: $205.84

Revenue up to $7.3B, beating expectations of $7.21B

2:08 pm by Jeremy Phillips

But Wall Street isn’t liking the bottom line numbers as the stock drops another percent down to negative 11% after hours.

AMAT Earnings Are Out - Huge Miss

2:01 pm by Jeremy Phillips

EPS $2.22 vs $2.36. Stock down more than 10%

Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) reports earnings after the close, with the stock trading sideways over the past 6 months. Management has emphasized strong visibility into leading-edge foundry and DRAM demand, especially for gate-all-around and HBM workloads. But with ICAPS and China exposure still pressuring services and mature nodes, the balance of strength vs. softness will be in focus.

We’ll be updating this live blog with news and analysis right after Applied Materials’ earnings hit the newswires. To receive updates, all you have to do is leave this page open, and updates will post automatically.

Estimates Snapshot

Q3 FY2025 Consensus Estimates:

Revenue: $7.21 billion
EPS (Normalized): $2.36

Full-Year FY2025 Estimates:

Revenue: $28.79 billion
EPS: $9.51

Key Areas to Watch

AI Infrastructure Demand and Leading-Edge Mix
Management reiterated that leading-edge foundry and DRAM is driving the bulk of system growth. Q3 commentary will focus on gate-all-around traction, DRAM share gains, and acceleration of HBM deployments.
China Exposure and ICAPS Reset
China now accounts for ~25% of semi-related revenue, but growth is restrained by trade restrictions. ICAPS (IoT, power, auto, sensor) remains under cyclical pressure after years of buildout, and utilization remains low.
Services Margin and Subscription Shift
Applied’s AGS business posted record core growth last quarter, with ~66% of revenue now under multiyear subscriptions. But AGS growth will decelerate this quarter due to 200mm tool weakness and China restrictions.
Gross Margin Discipline and Tariff Resilience
Q3 gross margin guidance is 48.3%, supported by favorable mix, pricing power, and global footprint flexibility. Margin commentary will signal whether value-based pricing can drive sustainable expansion into 2026.
5. Advanced Packaging & BESI Tie-Up
Applied’s 9% stake in BESI and integration of hybrid bonding with its Sym3 platform positions it as a leader in next-gen AI packaging. Execution here is a long-term TAM expansion lever and differentiator.

The post Live: Applied Materials (AMAT) Sinks 14% After Hours appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

BlackRock strikes $11bn Saudi Arabian natural gas deal

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:46:28 -0400

Agreement is kingdom’s latest effort to attract foreign capital

Trump’s 100% tariff threat looms over chip sector despite relief for Apple

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:35:37 -0400

US probe into semiconductor sector could leave a patchwork of agreements with individual companies and countries

3 ETFs to Turn $78k Into $500 in Monthly Income

Omor Ibne Ehsan — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:40:29 -0400

Locking in exchange-traded funds with high dividend yields is a very good idea in this environment, especially as the market is convinced that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates more seriously in September.

The recent inflation report did not show tariffs significantly impacting prices. This should lead Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to give the go-ahead for two or more rate cuts this year. And each interest rate cut will also cause the yield of Treasurys to go down accordingly. Currently, the 10-year Treasury yields 4.2% risk-free rate. This ends up driving down the value of dividend stocks and dividend ETFs.

Once this risk-free rate goes down with interest rate cuts, dividend ETFs should see a lot more demand. Here are three that have sustainable yields and can get you $500 every month. The blended dividend yield is 7.7% annually. All of them pay monthly, so investors would need $77,922.08 to get $500 per month if you invest equal amounts in all three.

Key Points

These ETFs pay you monthly, and do so with a generous yield.
They come with stable and sustainable arrangements to keep the income flowing.
The long-term upside potential is also solid.
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Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (GPIQ)

Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:GPIQ) is an actively managed fund that gives you exposure to the Nasdaq-100 index with a dynamic options strategy that also gives you monthly income. The ETF invests at least 80% of its assets in equities from the Nasdaq-100, and it sells covered call options on them on a portion of its holdings to collect premiums, which it then uses to pay its holders.

You forego some upside, but this solid ETF should keep churning out payouts. The tech sector has turned into the economy’s driving force and has outperformed every other sector for nearly three decades. The future looks even brighter due to AI spilling over into every other sector. White-collar work is expected to be dominated by AI, and even blue-collar work will see AI making inroads with the robotics boom.

The top holdings here are as follows:

Performance-wise, GPIQ has delivered a year-to-date total return of about 10.7%. It comes with a dividend yield of 10.39%. The net expense ratio is 0.29%, or $29 per $10,000 invested. This is quite cheap for an actively managed ETF.

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund (RQI)

This is a closed-end instead of an ETF, but it operates similarly and worth looking into. The Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund (NYSE:RQI) focuses on real estate investment trusts (REITs) and similar securities. It puts at least 80% of its assets into real estate income stocks. It then passes on the cash flows to its holders without directly owning properties.

Its top holdings are as follows:

Some investors may immediately get spooked after hearing real estate or REIT, but in 2025, it’s as risky as any other industry. The standards are much harsher for mortgages, and real estate has survived the pandemic and its ripple effects. Several banks ended up failing, but real estate has shown no sign of a collapse. Instead, things are only looking up due to the return to office trend and the significant demand for houses.

RQI spins off a yield of 7.63%. The biggest drawback, however, is the 3.78% expense ratio. However, this is due to the increased interest expense of 2.4% at the moment. Management fees plus “other” expenses get you a 1.38% expense ratio. The expenses are deducted from the fund’s assets.

In my opinion, this setup makes the high yield on RQI even more impressive, as it can keep paying high yields despite the expenses tied to its active management and leverage strategy. Plus, once interest rates go down, so will the expenses. RQI could bounce back to its pre-pandemic price of ~$14 long-term.

Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA)

Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:JAAA) is another actively-managed ETF that invests in high-quality collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). These loans are rated AAA, which is the highest possible rating. This makes it more likely that the ETF (and its holders) will get their money back, plus interest.

JAAA’s portfolio is heavily concentrated in securitized assets.

Here are the top holdings:

These are floating-rate CLOs with maturities stretching into the 2030s, backed by broad pools of corporate loans.

JAAA gets you a 5.09% yield with a net annual expense ratio of 0.20%. The ETF itself has been very stable and has consistently paid high yields.

The post 3 ETFs to Turn $78k Into $500 in Monthly Income appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Bessent Has Yet to Fully Divest Assets, Raising Concern at Ethics Agency

Alan Rappeport — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:29:37 -0400

The Treasury secretary has been slow to shed assets, including farmland, posing potential conflicts of interest.

Did ULTY’s Sky-High Payouts Beat the Market This Past Year?

David Moadel — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:03:14 -0400

YieldMax has a lengthy menu of high-yielding exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA:ULTY) is among the most appealing for passive income investors. Yet, inquiring minds will surely want to know whether the ULTY ETF’s cash distributions have historically outperformed the stock market as a whole.

If you’ve tried putting some capital into ULTY, you’ll know that the fund’s dividends/distributions can add up quickly. You must admit, however, that the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF is more volatile than a market-tracking index such as the S&P 500.

Thus, for the ULTY ETF to be worth the volatility risk, investors should expect its distributions to outpace the historical gains of the S&P 500. Today, we’re going to put the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF to the test and determine whether it’s really a market-beating fund for risk-tolerant income collectors.

Key Points

With its hefty yield and weekly payouts, the UTLY ETF’s distributions easily beat the S&P 500 over 12 months.
However, there’s more to the story as ULTY’s share-price drawdown weighed on investors’ profit-and-loss results.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)

Amazing Yield From Stocks and Options

As of August 14, 2025, the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF advertised an annual distribution rate of 85.9%. Be aware, though, that this is the currently anticipated 12-month distribution yield; it is subject to change in the future, and it doesn’t reflect what has occurred over the past year.

Another feature of the ULTY ETF is that it pays out its cash distributions to the shareholders on a weekly basis. On the other hand, the the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF automatically deducts annualized operating expenses totaling 1.3% worth of the share price.

How can ULTY possibly deliver such massive yield and pay each and every week? To begin with, the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF invests in shares of some fast-moving stocks. These include Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB), IonQ (NYSE:IONQ), Applovin (NASDAQ:APP), Microstrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), Reddit (NYSE:RDDT), Oklo (NYSE:OKLO) and Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ:AFRM). The ULTY ETF holds shares of these and other stocks, and also deploys various options-trading strategies based on these stocks.

The strategies include synthetic long exposure to stocks, writing (selling) covered call options and/or credit spreads, selling calendar call spreads, and others. These options-trading strategies enable the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF to generate substantial income; however, writing covered call options can limit ULTY’s share-price upside potential.

Comparing ULTY to the Market

Now, we’ll concentrate on the weekly cash distributions (but not the share-price movements) of the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF. Did those payments, when added up over the past year, outperform the gains of the stock market overall?

To simplify this comparison, we can use the S&P 500 as a proxy for the stock market. Over the past 12 months, as of Aug. 14, the S&P 500 rallied almost exactly 19% (not including dividends).

That’s a strong single-year performance for the S&P 500. Next, I will add up the past 12 months’ worth of cash distributions from the the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF (I did some rounding to the nearest penny to make it easier). Note that the fund switched from monthly distributions to weekly distributions in May of 2025.

Here’s the rundown after I rounded each payout to the nearest penny and added them all up. From Aug. 13, 2024, to Aug. 13, 2025, the ULTY ETF paid out approximately $7.94 per share in distributions.

Next, we should bear in mind that the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF’s share price was roughly $11.56 on Aug. 13, 2024. I figure that if someone bought ULTY at $11.56 a year ago and collected $7.94 in cash distributions over the past 12 months, that would equate to a percentage-wise return of $7.94 divided by $11.56, or 68.7%.

Don’t Disregard the Risks

For what it’s worth, funds that track the S&P 500 often pay slightly more than 1% in dividends. However, even if we add those dividends to the S&P 500’s 19% gains from the past year, this doesn’t even come close to ULTY’s roughly 68.7% worth of distributions.

On the other hand, there’s a downside to the overall profit-and-loss picture with the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF. Because the fund utilizes covered call option strategies, ULTY’s share-price upside potential can often be limited.

In some instances, the ULTY ETF’s share price can decline sharply, especially if the prices of its stock holdings go down. This may help to account for the underperformance of the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF over the past year.

In terms of historical 12-month share-price performance, the ULTY ETF fell 47.14% as of the morning of August 14, 2025. This highlights the inherent risks associated with some of the fund’s options-trading strategies.

Hence, to answer today’s main question, the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF’s sky-high payouts did beat the market this past year. That said, it’s less clear that ULTY really “beat” the S&P 500 in terms of risk-adjusted returns.

The takeaway: The YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF’s supersized yield comes with share-price risks that shouldn’t be overlooked. At the end of the day, it might make sense to de-risk one’s portfolio by holding a lot more of the S&P 500 than the ULTY ETF.

The post Did ULTY’s Sky-High Payouts Beat the Market This Past Year? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

A Solution to the C.I.A.’s ‘Kryptos’ Sculpture Goes Up for Auction

John Schwartz and Jonathan Corum — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:52:36 -0400

Sleuths have solved three of the panels of the Kryptos sculpture at the agency’s headquarters. Now the artwork’s creator is announcing the sale of the solution to the fourth.

Forget SPY: These 2 Dividend ETFs Beat the S&P 500

Omor Ibne Ehsan — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:09:39 -0400

The default exchange-traded fund for most investors is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY), which tracks the S&P 500. Investors then usually mix it with a Nasdaq-based ETF and some dividend ETFs, depending on their age.

However, it pays to look outwards more often, as plenty of ETFs on the market can land you even higher gains and give you dividends at the same time. I wouldn’t dump SPY entirely, but diversifying into outperformers can improve your portfolio. And if you are a buy-and-hold investor without significant taxable investments in the SPY, it may make more sense to just move into SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLG) due to its lower fees (0.02% vs. SPY’s 0.0945%). Both do the same thing.

But without further ado, here are two ETFs that have trounced both SPLG and SPY.

Key Points

These ETFs have consistently outperformed the SPY (or the S&P 500).
Both ETFs can continue doing so due to their unique strategies.
On top of their performance, they pay attractive dividends to their shareholders.
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Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO)

Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (NYSEARCA:SPMO) hasn’t gotten nearly as much love as it deserves, especially more recently. It has delivered explosive gains, and the drawdowns have been more or less similar to the S&P 500. You get significantly more upside, with a forward dividend yield of 0.71%. The gains are mainly why I like it here. It is an extremely powerful ETF that most investors are missing out on.

The ETF concentrates on momentum-driven stocks that exclude underperformers, and this works very well during bull markets. It has gained 36.18% in the past year and 143.49% over the past five years. Sometimes, the drawdowns here are even shallower than the S&P 500’s.

You’d think that this ETF comes with exorbitant fees, but that’s not the case either. It is a passively managed ETF, so the fee is just 0.13%, or $13 per $10,000 invested. The strategy is simply to select the top 100 stocks from the S&P 500, sorted by their momentum scores.

Here are its top holdings at the moment:

Holdings are rebalanced twice per year, so the fund will automatically reconstitute its holdings based on which stocks are the most popular in the market.

Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV)

If you are willing to forego some upside potential in exchange for a solid dividend yield, this can be your go-to. Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:FDVV) is a beta exchange-traded fund that tracks the Fidelity High Dividend Index. It focuses on large and mid-cap companies that have high dividend yields and a history of consistent payouts. It invests 80% of its assets in index securities by selecting stocks based on their payout ratios, dividend growth, and uses a hybrid weighting system that blends market cap with equal-weight adjustments.

Here are some of its top holdings:

Fidelity’s strategy of avoiding the top 5% of highest payout ratios has allowed it to filter out value traps and hold quality stocks. Ipso facto, FDVV has delivered 125.38% in total returns over the past five years. This is over 20% more than the SPY.

FDVV comes with a dividend yield of 3.83% and an expense ratio of just 0.16%.

This is an ETF that can lag if the market becomes more explosive, but I’m confident that this is a solid choice over the long run if you want a well-balanced holding that churns out competitive dividend yields and gets you gains that keep up.

The post Forget SPY: These 2 Dividend ETFs Beat the S&P 500 appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Fed Faces High Bar for Big Cuts Despite White House Pressure

Colby Smith — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:57:34 -0400

The Federal Reserve is poised to lower interest rates in September. But signs of stickier inflation could limit how much relief officials can ultimately provide to borrowers.

AI is having some relationship issues

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:51:16 -0400

Companies such as OpenAI are running what amounts to a giant social experiment

Trump Ousts Leadership and Picks 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in Unprecedented Power Move

Christian Drerup — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:29:03 -0400

President Donald Trump has taken unprecedented control over the Kennedy Center Honors, personally selecting this year’s honorees. This move broke with the tradition of bipartisan board selection, which historically has included public input. The announcement reportedly caught staff off guard, prompting the resignation of the event’s executive producer. Trump claims his choices weren’t based on politics, despite the fact he rejected several nominees he labeled “wokesters.”

This shift follows Trump’s broader overhaul of the Kennedy Center, including firing President Deborah Rutter , dismissing the Biden-appointed Board of Trustees, and naming himself Chairman. His administration has significantly boosted the center’s federal funding, with $257 million allocated through his “Big Beautiful Bill.” This staggering amount is six times the usual amount. Additionally, another $32 million is tied to renaming the Opera House after Melania Trump. Separate legislation has even proposed renaming the entire center after Trump. These actions align with his recent efforts to reshape American cultural institutions, including ordering a “comprehensive review” of eight Smithsonian museums and their exhibits.

This slideshow covers all aspects of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, which celebrates the lifetime achievements of individuals selected for their artistic excellence. We cover the unusually politized circumstances surrounding this year’s event, where to watch, and the five honorees recognized in 2025. Learn how Trump’s direct involvement, coupled with his push to rebrand major cultural venues, marks a dramatic departure from past practice and highlights his administration’s unprecedented influence over the arts.

Trump Personally Selects 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees

President Donald Trump broke tradition by personally selecting honorees
Honorees include George Strait, Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and Kiss
The move bypassed the usual bipartisan selection process.

Staff Resignation After Surprise Announcement

Executive producer Matthew Winer resigned the same day as the announcement
Staff were reportedly caught off guard by the early reveal
Traditionally, honorees are decided over months with public input.

Honorees Not Chosen for Politics, Says Trump

Trump said no to ‘wokesters’ but claimed politics were otherwise not a factor
Praised Stallone as a friend and Crawford for Phantom of the Opera performance
Emphasized artistic excellence as main criterion.

Major Leadership Overhaul at the Kennedy Center

Trump fired President Deborah Rutter and Biden-appointed trustees
Named himself Chairman of the Kennedy Center
Longtime chair David Rubenstein was also dismissed.

Massive Funding Increase for the Arts Center

Kennedy Center to receive $257 million under Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
This is six times the usual annual appropriation
Additional $32 million tied to renaming Opera House after Melania Trump.

Push to Rename Cultural Institutions

Bill introduced to rename Kennedy Center after Trump
Opera House may be renamed after Melania Trump
Actions align with broader cultural rebranding efforts.

2025 Honors Gala Scheduled for December 7

Event will feature a weekend of receptions, state dinners, and a gala
Broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+
Marks the most politicized honors in the event’s history.

Honoree: George Strait

George Strait is a legendary country music singer.
He has won multiple Grammy Awards for his contributions to music.
Strait is known for his timeless hits and influence on country music.

Honoree: Michael Crawford

Michael Crawford is a celebrated Broadway actor and singer.
He is best known for originating the role of the Phantom in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.
Crawford’s performances have earned critical acclaim and numerous awards.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is an iconic actor and filmmaker.
He is famous for his roles in the ‘Rocky’ and ‘Rambo’ film series.
Stallone has also written and directed several successful movies.

Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor is a legendary disco singer.
She is best known for the anthem ‘I Will Survive’, which became a symbol of empowerment.
Gaynor’s career spans decades and continues to inspire.

Kiss

Kiss is a world-famous rock band known for its elaborate stage shows.
The group has sold millions of albums worldwide.
Their music and image have left a lasting impact on rock culture.

The post Trump Ousts Leadership and Picks 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in Unprecedented Power Move appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

The Auctioneer and the Treasury Chief: Billy Long’s Quick Fall at the I.R.S.

Andrew Duehren and Maggie Haberman — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:25:58 -0400

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought total control over the I.R.S., an agency where Mr. Long, the new commissioner, had started to put his own mark on the job.

Opendoor Defies Wall Street and Soars 16%. Time to Climb Aboard Again?

Rich Duprey — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:08:22 -0400

Key Points in This Article:

Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) surged last month after a 1,000% gain prediction but crashed soon after.
Today’s 16% jump, briefly hitting 25%, lacks clear news, hinting at meme-driven speculation.
Investors must question if this is a new buying frenzy or a fleeting pump.
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A Meme Stock Rollercoaster

Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ:OPEN) has become a volatile darling of the meme stock crowd, capturing attention with wild price swings driven by social media hype.

Last month, the stock skyrocketed after an analyst predicted a jaw-dropping 1,000% gain, fueling a frenzy among retail investors. However, the rally collapsed almost as quickly as it began, leaving many investors burned as shares plummeted.

Today, OPEN stock is surging once again, rising 16% heading into noontime trading — having also briefly spiked 25% higher earlier in the session — despite no clear catalyst or company-specific news. This sudden jump raises a critical question: Is this the start of another meme-fueled buying frenzy, or a fleeting pump destined to crash?

With Wall Street analysts remaining skeptical and fundamental concerns lingering, investors should tread carefully.

The OPEN Meme Stock Frenzy

Opendoor, a digital platform for buying and selling homes, caught fire in July when a hedge fund analyst’s bold 1,000% gain prediction sent shares soaring. OPEN drew comparisons to Carvana’s (NASDAQ:CVNA) meteoric rise, with some calling Opendoor the “next big thing” in real estate tech. OPEN stock doubled in a week, fueled by retail enthusiasm rather than fundamental strength.

However, the rally proved unsustainable.Last month, I noted that the surge ignored warning signs such as Opendoor’s high debt, inconsistent profitability, and a challenging housing market. By late July, shares cratered, erasing much of the gains as momentum faded and reality set in.

The lack of tangible catalysts — beyond social media buzz — underscored the speculative nature of the rally, leaving latecomers holding the bag.

Bearish Analyst Sentiment

Wall Street remains deeply skeptical of Opendoor’s prospects. Analyst Ryan Tomasello at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods recently downgraded the stock, maintaining his $1 price target, signaling significant downside from current levels.

This bearish outlook also cites Opendoor’s struggles with profitability and a business model vulnerable to housing market fluctuations. Tomasello highlighted the company’s high operational costs and competitive pressures, which erode margins. Even during the July rally, analysts warned that Opendoor’s valuation was detached from its fundamentals, with the stock trading at multiples far exceeding its peers.

The absence of consistent earnings and a clear path to sustainable growth keeps institutional investors wary, contrasting sharply with the retail fervor.

Is Today Deja Vu All Over Again?

Today’s sharp rise mirrors the erratic price action of last month. Yet, with no earnings release, strategic announcements, or macroeconomic triggers, the surge appears driven by renewed retail speculation.

Online discussions about Opendoor’s “untapped” real estate dataset and potential AI partnerships echo earlier narratives that failed to materialize into lasting gains. I have also warned prevously of such “look out below” moments, noting that meme-driven surges often precede sharp declines.

Opendoor’s business model, reliant on flipping homes in a high-interest-rate environment, faces headwinds that speculative hype cannot overcome. The stock’s volatility — while enticing to traders — reflects a lack of fundamental anchoring, making sustained gains unlikely without significant operational improvements.

Key Takeaways

Opendoor’s surge may tempt investors to jump back in, but the stock remains a high-risk play. Its meme stock status, driven by social media rather than fundamentals, invites volatility but not value. The company’s high debt, inconsistent profitability, and exposure to a sluggish housing market are red flags, as highlighted by analysts like Tomasello.

The collapse of the July rally serves as a cautionary tale: chasing momentum without substance often leads to losses. Investors hoping to “climb aboard” should heed the warning signs and avoid getting burned by another speculative spike. Safer investment opportunities can be found in companies with stronger fundamentals and less dependence on retail hype and online chatter.

The post Opendoor Defies Wall Street and Soars 16%. Time to Climb Aboard Again? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Trump’s Tariffs Set to Hit Ireland, Where Drugmakers Play Tax Games

Rebecca Robbins — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:05:47 -0400

Manufacturing in Ireland has long helped many American drug companies pay lower taxes. But that strategy was designed for a world without President Trump’s tariffs.