Retail sales climbed a very impressive seasonally adjusted 0.8% in December when compared to November. And retail sales jumped 5.6% in December year-over-year (YOY), coming in significantly above inflation which is running below 4%. Additionally, the University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment rose 21% YOY this month to 78.8. Moreover, the index’s gain in
Stocks to buy
With the steady rise of artificial intelligence, we asked Grok AI for its thoughts on the future of the market. Grok AI, or just Grok, provides a new take on the original ChatGPT format of large language modeling. We then asked it to help identify the top artificial intelligence stocks. Founded by Elon Musk in
In the stock market, the allure of small-cap stocks often lies in their untapped potential and the promise of substantial returns. Three small-cap stocks stand out as captivating players ready to skyrocket by 2025 in the intricate web of financial opportunities. Here, the first has strategically pivoted its focus, shedding legacy businesses and streamlining operations
Blue-chip healthcare stocks tend to be among the top portfolio picks for long-term investors today. Though their blue-chip status implies maturity, which they have, it also implies that the companies have limited growth prospects. That’s far from the case for the best blue-chip healthcare stocks today. Healthcare and MedTech are emerging, changing and innovative stock
Over the years, social media has turned from an internet curiosity to a marketing powerhouse. It gave businesses of various sizes an avenue to reach a wider audience and effectively market products. It created a social economy where even personalities or products become overnight successes. Large companies have taken advantage of this arrangement; some have
With the S&P 500 reaching new highs last week, investors appear to be taking an optimistic view of the overall stock market. However, not all stocks are participating in this rally. Some high-quality companies are still trading at beaten-down valuations, making them attractive value plays for investors. As monetary policy continues shifting in a more dovish direction,
Merger arbitrage investors looking for quality M&A picks to eke out some gains got their collective teeth kicked in last week. However, if you’re looking for more merger arbitrage picks in 2024, don’t lose hope—there are still opportunities at hand. Remember that merger arbitrage trades generally involve buying shares in a company that’s either a
The earnings season is the most exciting time of the year. That is when some of the top companies share detailed insights into the business and help investors rebalance their portfolios. Several market overreactions impact the stock even if there is good news, but smart investors know it is an opportunity to buy. The earnings
In stock investments, seasoned investors often seek high diamonds in rough — undervalued stocks with the potential for astronomical returns. A millionaire’s calculated bet can be reflected in these seven stocks, each representing a unique sector and promising significant growth. Leading the pack is the first stock, flaunting remarkable top-line growth and an impressive track
Defining high-yield dividend stocks is an intriguing task. Some loosely define high-yield stocks as those with dividend yields exceeding key benchmarks like the S&P 500 (1.5%) or a 10-year U.S. Treasury note (4.1%). For over a century, dividends played a crucial role in stock returns. Despite this fact, not all dividend stocks prove to be
Real estate is in a complicated position right now. On the one hand, it appears that interest rates have already peaked for this cycle and are set to start declining in the coming months. In fact, the Federal Reserve has suggested that there could be multiple rate cuts in 2024, depending on how the economy
Following an impressive period of growth for electrification-related stocks in the transportation sector, a pause prompted by surging inflation and increasing borrowing costs presents a potentially opportune moment to consider purchasing EV stocks. While electric vehicles remain a prospective future, the sector faced setbacks due to challenging economic conditions. For Chinese EV producers such as
Investing in global or international stocks could be a great move for U.S. investors. Not only are global stocks less correlated to indices like the S&P 500 than domestic ones, but investors can also enjoy currency diversification. And, they may potentially avoid paying withholding taxes on their investments if made strategically. More broadly, though, global
Large language models (LLMs) allow users to get a glimpse into the milieu of their social environment, as the responses of these models are determined by the aggregate thoughts and opinions of people at large. This means that models like Grok, a recently released LLM by X, can potentially be used as a starting point
There are a few stock market trends that savvy investors will want to keep on top of. These trends are centered around the composition of investor flows to different equities, as well as leaning on forward projections of which sectors, industries, and geographies will come out on top by the end of the year. The
There are many ways to add artificial intelligence (AI) technology exposure to your portfolio. Here’s an unexpected way to do this, while also positioning your portfolio for growth in 2024. Conduct your due diligence on Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) and, after discovering what makes this company essential to today’s businesses, consider a position in CRM stock. Just
Even as the S&P 500 marks new highs, many top growth stocks haven’t seen the same momentum. Since most of the recent market gains come from just a handful of leading stocks, hidden opportunities in growth stocks abound. Some are small-caps, of course, and those represent the best long-term growth stocks as they have more room to run. Others,
Some of the worst and most deadly diseases affect our brains. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system “causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body,” preventing some victims from walking.” Brain cancer is often a quick killer, while Alzheimer’s, of course, causes victims to slowly lose their cognitive abilities and is
There’s been little in the way of news/announcements with Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) stock recently. As before, all eyes are on the AI software company’s upcoming earnings release, scheduled post-market Feb. 5. I can understand why PLTR stock owners may plan to take profits. There are increasing concerns that AI stocks, even high-quality names like this
Want to generate extra income without working extra hours? Dividend stocks allow many investors to fulfill that goal. These stocks often give out dividends every quarter that you can reinvest or use to cover various expenses. Most corporations distributing dividends to their investors hike their dividend payouts each year. However, some dividend stocks are better