Market Signal Briefing

It's time for investors to give up on the telemedicine leader.

Telemedicine leader Teladoc Health (TDOC 0.92%) has been struggling for several years. The company's services are no longer experiencing the kind of demand they did during the pandemic years. Furthermore, some of its otherwise impressive growth drivers, including its virtual therapy service, BetterHelp, are facing stiff competition. The result of all that has been declining revenue.

Management has made some efforts to turn things around, but so far, none have been successful. And in my view, the company is unlikely to bounce back anytime soon. Investors should consider cutting their losses and exploring other beaten-down healthcare stocks -- in particular,  Pfizer (PFE +0.25%).

Image source: Getty Images.

Why the drugmaker is a better choice
Pfizer also saw its revenue, earnings, and share price jump significantly during the firs few years of the pandemic. In the pharma giant's case, that was because it marketed one of the leading coronavirus vaccines, Comirnaty, and followed that up by launching Paxlovid, a highly successful antiviral treatment for it. However, the strong sales of those products didn't last long, and over the past three years, Pfizer's revenues have (mostly) declined, and its bottom-line numbers have been uninspiring.

Its shares have declined by 50% over this period. But Pfizer's path to a rebound (unlike Teladoc's) seems clear. Even aside from the fact that Pfizer is a well-established corporation that still generates significant profits, it has made moves in recent years that should pay off in the medium term.

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One of the most important tactics was to splurge on acquisitions, which have allowed it to significantly expand its pipeline. Pfizer is expected to secure approvals for several new products in the next few years, which will help stabilize its sales and earnings growth. The company is also targeting attractive markets such as weight management. It's also pursing new treatments inoncology, which remains one of the largest therapeutic areas in terms of sales, and where there is always a need for breakthroughs.

Pfizer has over 100 programs in clinical trials. Additionally, the drugmaker has initiated initiatives to address potential threats to its stability. For example, Pfizer signed a deal with President Donald Trump that will grant it a three-year exemption from Trump's tariffs in exchange for selling some medicines at lower prices to some groups of patients in the U.S. Pfizer is facing challenges to both its top and bottom lines, but it has a clear path to a better future, which is more than can be said about Teladoc.

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Teladoc isn't a cheap stock
Teladoc's ecosystem of members and its international expansion efforts might suggest to some that it has significantly more upside than Pfizer, which is a much larger company by market cap. However, Teladoc has been unable to establish itself in its most important growth market -- virtual therapy -- and continues to bleed red ink while facing competitors in its niche that have much deeper pockets, including Amazon. The telemedicine specialist isn't a bargain and could ultimately destroy more shareholder value in the next few years. Pfizer is a much better option right now.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm  Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE: ITGR) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Integer, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/integer-holdings-corporation-class-action-lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Freeport, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Synopsys, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm  Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Stride, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/stride-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Inclusion showcases a strong U.S. market presence and commitment to long-term shareholder value

, /PRNewswire/ -- Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure company, today announced its inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index®, marking a significant milestone in its global growth strategy. This achievement comes one and a half years after the company's initial listing on the U.S. stock market.

"Ferrovial's inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 highlights the strength of our distinctive integrated business model in delivering essential infrastructure. This milestone enhances our visibility with U.S. and global investors, broadens our shareholder base, and reflects market confidence in our ability to develop high-value projects that drive economic growth and help the communities where we operate thrive. We are committed to executing our growth strategy, investing in the U.S. and creating long-term value for our shareholders," said Ferrovial CEO Ignacio Madridejos.

Ferrovial's addition to the index will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 22, 2025. The company began trading on the U.S. stock market in May 2024, alongside listings in Spain and the Netherlands. This made Ferrovial the first IBEX 35 index component to trade its ordinary shares on Nasdaq.

Ferrovial is one of the largest listed infrastructure companies in North America, where it has operated for more than 20 years building and managing express lanes in Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and Ontario. Currently, the company is also developing the New Terminal One at New York's JFK International Airport. 

About Ferrovial
Ferrovial is one of the world's leading infrastructure companies, with a distinctive integrated business model supporting the entire lifecycle of a project from design, financing and construction to operation and maintenance. The company has a global presence and employs over 25,500 people worldwide. North America is the company's growth engine, representing the majority of its asset value, based on analysts' consensus valuation. Ferrovial is triple listed on the U.S, Spanish and Dutch stock markets. It is included in globally recognized sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Best in Class Index (former Dow Jones Sustainability Index) and strives to conduct its operations in compliance with the principles of the UN Global Compact, which the Company adopted in 2002.

SOURCE Ferrovial

These industry leaders each have a mathematically clear path to join the exclusive $3 trillion club.

Much of what drives the U.S. economy has changed over the past couple of decades. For example, energy stalwart ExxonMobil and industrial bellwether General Electric were the two largest publicly traded companies by market cap in 2005, valued at $375 billion and $362 billion, respectively. Fast forward 20 years, and technology companies -- particularly those well-versed in artificial intelligence (AI) -- lead the list. In fact, nine of the world's 10 most valuable companies have clear ties to AI.

Only four companies have earned membership in the ultra-exclusive $3 trillion club, and each is a powerhouse in its own right. Chipmaker Nvidia tops the charts at $4.5 trillion (as of this writing), with iPhone maker Apple nipping at its heels at $4.1 trillion. Search pioneer Alphabet recently vaulted to No. 3 at $3.8 trillion, while cloud and software provider Microsoft clocks in at $3.6 trillion to take the No. 4 position.

The next generation of triple trillionaires is already in the making. I predict that Broadcom (AVGO 11.43%), at $1.9 trillion, and Meta Platforms (META 1.34%), at $1.6 trillion, will soon make the grade, joining the $3 trillion club by the end of 2027.

Image source: Getty Images.

The case for Broadcom
The accelerating adoption of AI over the past few years has sparked a rapid and ongoing expansion in the data center space. While Broadcom is primarily known as a semiconductor company, many of its networking supplies and accessories are critical components required for the data center buildout.

Furthermore, its Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) -- chips that can be customized for specific use cases -- have been hailed as an energy-efficient alternative to Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) for certain large-scale applications.

In the third quarter, Broadcom delivered revenue of $15.9 billion, up 22% year over year, driving adjusted earnings per share (EPS) up 36% to $1.69. Perhaps as importantly, its backlog hit a record $110 billion, fueled by strong demand for AI.

Broadcom has a market cap of $1.89 trillion (as of this writing), so it will take gains of 59% to bring its market cap to $3 trillion. The company is expected to generate revenue of $63.4 billion in 2025, according to Wall Street, resulting in a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of roughly 30. If its P/S remains constant, Broadcom will need to generate revenue of roughly $100 billion annually to support a $3 trillion market cap.

Wall Street is bullish, forecasting revenue growth of 29% annually over the coming five years. If the company meets that benchmark, it could generate $100 billion in revenue and achieve a $3 trillion market cap as early as 2027. Furthermore, it boasts a price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.42, when any number lower than 1 is the measure of an undervalued stock.

The case for Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms has long been at the forefront of AI development, using these sophisticated algorithms to surface more relevant content on its social media platforms and better target its advertising to the right audience. The advent of generative AI has supercharged the company's results as Meta's Llama AI models are ranked among the best in the industry.

In the third quarter, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the company's AI recommendation engine was "delivering higher quality and more relevant content." As a result, users are spending 5% more time on Facebook and 10% more on Threads. Higher engagement is boosting advertising revenue, as the average price per ad has increased by 10%.

This success is fueling the company's financial results. In the third quarter, Meta generated revenue of $51.2 billion, which jumped 26% year over year, resulting in adjusted EPS of $7.25, which climbed 20%.

Meta has a market cap of roughly $1.68 trillion (as of this writing), so it will take a stock price increase of roughly 78% to propel its value to $3 trillion. Wall Street estimates that Meta will generate revenue of more than $199 billion in 2025, resulting in a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 8. Assuming its P/S remains constant, Meta will need to generate revenue of roughly $355 billion annually to support a $3 trillion market cap.

Wall Street is currently forecasting Meta's revenue growth at nearly 15% annually over the next five years. If the company can achieve that benchmark, it could surpass a $3 trillion market cap as soon as 2029.

However, recent reports suggest Meta plans to make steep cuts to its metaverse spending, something that has long weighed on the stock. I suspect investors will reward Meta with a higher multiple, and the resulting valuation expansion will knock a couple of years off those calculations. And a 29 times earnings, the price is right.

Danny Vena, CPA has positions in Alphabet, Apple, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and GE Aerospace and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Learn what NeurIPS means for investors, why Blackwell could drive the next leg higher, and the underappreciated risks.

Nvidia (NVDA 3.30%) is pushing open AI at NeurIPS and showing why Blackwell is becoming the platform that makes frontier mixture-of-experts models practical, faster, and cheaper to run at scale. But China uncertainty and AI bubble fears are real, and when expectations are this high, the next catalyst can move the stock in either direction.

*Stock prices used were the market prices of Dec. 5, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 9, 2025.

Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

QQQ carries a higher expense ratio than VUG and has delivered a slightly stronger 5-year total return. Both ETFs are extremely liquid, with QQQ showing a somewhat lower volatility profile and similar tech-heavy sector allocations.

The once tech-adverse investor has indirectly put a substantial amount of capital into the technology of the moment.

The leader of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, was a tech stock holdout for decades. Nothing lasts forever, though, and largely thanks to his lieutenants Ted Wechsler and Todd Combs, Berkshire is now a major institutional investor in such equities.

As such, it's also indirectly at the front of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. In fact, nearly one-quarter of Berkshire's equity portfolio market cap is invested in two companies actively utilizing the technology -- Apple (AAPL +0.09%) and Google's parent company, Alphabet (GOOG 1.01%)(GOOGL 1.00%), in the form of its Class A shares. Let's explore how AI is affecting their businesses.

1. Apple
For a huge tech company with considerable resources, Apple hasn't effectively leveraged those advantages to establish any kind of AI leadership. Some might have thought the company would be a pacesetter when it announced Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI-enhanced features, with its usual fanfare in mid-2024.

Image source: Getty Images.

Instead, the rollout of Apple Intelligence (AI, get it?) has felt somewhat haphazard; in some respects, it feels like this historically adventurous company is being cautious at best.

The system is limited to newer products equipped with its more-powerful processors, like the iPhone 17. It also enhances a select group of apps, and in doing so, it basically runs in the background.

To me, the company hasn't yet developed a single whiz-bang piece of software that features AI front and center. That includes Siri, its digital assistant, which has been promised a big AI makeover.

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Apple is a famously secretive company, making it something of a challenge to uncover the core reasons behind its relatively slow development of AI. Turnover might be a factor -- the company's senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy, John Giannandrea, is departing early next year.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that the company's AI lag might have more to do with corporate culture: It prefers to develop its systems and hardware in-house, partnering only selectively. It also likes its iOS ecosystem to be as smooth, reliable, and stable as possible, and many of the current AI models on the scene are often anything but.

So I wouldn't personally flag Apple as an AI play. In fact, I'm glad the company continues to operate in its wheelhouse of cool devices and the useful services that make them compelling products (and help to juice growth, by the way). I'm holding on to my Apple shares, but AI isn't the reason.

2. Alphabet
By contrast, Alphabet has fully embraced AI and is clearly determined to be a leader in the technology. The company has been active in the AI sphere for longer than many might realize -- its modern deep-learning efforts officially began with the formation of the wonderfully named Google Brain project in 2011.

These days, Alphabet is all about integration with its AI offerings, anchored by the foundational Gemini family of models.

Image source: Getty Images.

AI suffuses a raft of company products these days, most notably (and usefully, I'd say) as a solution embedded in the company's near-unavoidable search function. These days, a user input that reads more like a question than a simple query will often be presented with an AI Overview that does a fairly good and accurate job of covering the topic.

The company's AI technology also contributes to many of Google's public-facing software products. A user can effectively apply it as a co-author in a Google Docs document, for example, and harness data from files stored in Google Drive.

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And Alphabet is no slouch when it comes to developing cutting-edge AI hardware. It created tensor processing units (TPUs), powerful specialized chips that can handle the heavy computational needs of AI. The company offers access to them as a service via Google Cloud and is now shifting toward offering them directly to large customers.

Alphabet does not break out granular data on how its AI offerings are helping its fundamentals, but we can safely assume they're a significant driver of growth. In its third quarter, the Google Cloud unit -- which houses many AI tools and services for clients -- experienced a 34% year-over-year increase in revenue to more than $15 billion, largely due to strong demand for these offerings.

So we can say that AI is not only an important technology for Alphabet, it's also sharpening the company's already razor-like competitive edge and helping to bring in billions of bucks in revenue. That, to me, makes it an ideal AI play.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Increasing competition from the rise of food delivery companies is a risk to Domino's.

Dividend stock investors are curious whether Domino's (DPZ 0.54%) is a good investment.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 10, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 12, 2025.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Domino's Pizza. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryProShares Ultra Bitcoin ETF is unsuitable for long-term holding due to daily 2x leverage and compounding decay.BITU can deliver strong returns during sustained Bitcoin rallies but amplifies losses and underperforms spot ETFs during choppy or declining markets.I believe Bitcoin has likely seen its cycle top, with further downside risk of up to 30% from current levels.I am waiting for a deeper pullback, ideally near $73,000 BTC with bullish RSI divergence, before considering leveraged long positions through BITU. oonal/iStock via Getty Images

Just two months after seemingly breaking out to a new all-time high of $126,000 per coin, Bitcoin (BTC-USD) has subsequently fallen all the way to $80,500. Following that late-November low, the coin has since rallied 17% after drawing

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BTC-USD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I'm not an investment advisor.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Some investors are selling Broadcom stock in the wake of its blockbuster financial report. That could be a costly mistake.

The dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) in early 2023 has caused a paradigm shift in the technology landscape. The ability of these sophisticated algorithms to create original content -- including text, images, audio, and computer code -- promises to unleash a windfall of profits by increasing worker productivity and automating mundane and time-consuming tasks.

The first wave of AI was characterized by the rapid adoption of graphics processing units (GPUs), which offer the flexibility and computational horsepower for a broad range of AI tasks. Unfortunately, these AI workhorse chips consume a significant amount of power.

Users are now transitioning to the next phase of AI adoption, seeking more energy-efficient alternatives, and Broadcom (AVGO 11.58%) is profiting from this shift. The company's Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) can be customized to a specific task, making them more cost-effective for those instances. The increasing adoption was clear in its financial report.

Image source: Getty Images.

For its 2025 fiscal fourth quarter (ended Nov. 2), Broadcom delivered results that surpassed already bullish expectations with ease. The company generated record revenue of $18.01 billion, which increased 28% year over year, driving adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.95, which climbed 37%.

This was well ahead of analysts' consensus estimates, which called for revenue of $17.46 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.87.

Broadcom's momentum continued, as its AI-centric revenue soared 74% year over year, marking the 11 successive quarter of accelerating gains. During the earnings call, CEO Hock Tan noted that the demand for the company's AI accelerators, AI switches, and other data center products was unprecedented. "We have never seen bookings of the nature [like] what we have seen over the past three months." He also revealed that, in addition to its $10 billion order last quarter, AI start-up Anthropic added an additional $11 billion order to be filled in the coming year.

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In response to the company's blockbuster earnings, Broadcom sold off, pushed lower by a rash of profit-taking. This is understandable, given the stock's epic run over the past year, notching gains of 125% heading into its financial report. The stock fell as much as 12% in the wake of Broadcom's report, but Wall Street took a different view.

A whopping 15 analysts raised their price targets on the stock, with several of these bullish calls exceeding $500 per share. The general consensus was that Broadcom's beat-and-raise quarter was evidence of the company's ongoing momentum and it remains a buy. In fact, 96% of the analysts who offered an opinion rate Broadcom a buy or strong buy and none recommends selling.

HSBC analyst Frank Lee maintains a Street-high $535 price target, which represents potential upside of 47% compared to Broadcom's price midday on Friday. The analyst said investors fail to appreciate the increasing potential for the company's ASICs, which are experiencing expanding data center adoption among hyperscale computer operators.

Furthermore, the stock price swoon presents a compelling opportunity for investors, as its valuation has suddenly become much more appealing. Broadcom is currently selling for 28 times next year's expected earnings, and its price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio -- which takes into account its accelerating growth -- comes in at 0.39, when any number less than 1 is the standard for an undervalued stock.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

The "As" have it. Buffett's top AI stocks -- Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple -- should deliver solid gains next year.

Warren Buffett and artificial intelligence (AI) go together like... Well, they don't go together. The legendary investor has readily admitted in the past that he doesn't understand AI.

However, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A +0.85%) (BRK.B +0.74%) portfolio includes three top AI stocks. And they could all be big winners in 2026.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Alphabet
In 2017, Buffett told CNBC that he regretted not buying shares of Google's parent company, Alphabet (GOOG 1.03%) (GOOGL 1.03%), earlier. He recently remedied that mistake, loading up on the stock in the third quarter of 2025.

Alphabet is on a big-time AI-fueled roll. The stock has skyrocketed almost 70% year-to-date after sinking more than 20% by early April. I predict AI will continue to serve as a significant tailwind for Alphabet in 2026.

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Google Cloud will almost certainly remain the company's primary growth driver. The successful launch of Google's Gemini 3.0 large language model (LLM) could make Google Cloud more attractive than ever to companies seeking to harness the power of AI.

Nvidia (NVDA 3.30%) might feel some heat next year from Google, too. Although Nvidia's GPUs are still the gold standard among AI chips, Google's most powerful Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) are garnering increasingly more attention. Meta Platforms (META 1.34%) is reportedly considering a multibillion-dollar deal to use Google's TPUs in its data centers.

Don't overlook the likelihood that Google's advertising profits will continue to rise steadily in 2026, thereby pushing its share price higher. The integration of generative AI through AI Overviews and AI Mode has been a hit, with search traffic increasing as a result.

2. Amazon
Buffett didn't make the initial decision to invest in Amazon (AMZN 1.80%) back in the first quarter of 2019. However, he's no doubt happy with the call now. Amazon's stock is up roughly 160% since the end of Q1 of 2019 – a stronger performance than Berkshire Hathaway.

Amazon hasn't delivered awe-inspiring returns this year. The stock is up by a meager single-digit percentage while the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.07%) has soared. But I suspect Amazon will fare better in the new year.

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The company's underlying businesses remain strong. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated in the Q3 update that AI was driving "meaningful improvements in every corner of our business." These improvements were especially evident in Amazon Web Services (AWS), which saw sales jump 20% year-over-year to $33 billion.

Agentic AI could be especially important to AWS' growth in 2026. Jassy noted in Amazon's Q3 earnings call, "A lot of the future value companies will get from AI will be in the form of agents. AWS is heavily investing in this area and well well-positioned to be a leader." I think he's right. And I predict that we'll see the early fruits of the agentic AI investments next year.

3. Apple
It might seem like Buffett has soured on Apple (AAPL +0.04%), considering that he's drastically reduced Berkshire's stake in the consumer technology giant. However, Apple remains the largest holding in Berkshire's portfolio. Buffett's sales of the stock don't appear to reflect a change in his view of the company's business.

Apple's stock performance is lagging behind that of the S&P 500 this year. If you look closely, though, you'll see that Apple has trounced the S&P 500 in recent months. I think that momentum will roll over into 2026.

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The company reported iPhone sales of $49 billion for fiscal 2025 Q4, a record high for a September quarter. Counterpoint Research projects that the iPhone will be the top-selling smartphone in 2025, a spot it hasn't held in 14 years.

My hunch is that another device could be the big story for Apple next year, though. The company is expected to unveil its first smart glasses in late 2026. While the launch of the new product is likely to occur in early 2027, the anticipation of a sales catalyst could be all that's needed to send Apple's share price soaring higher.

Keith Speights has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Investors are extremely optimistic about Tesla's prospects in driverless car technology and robotics.

Tesla (TSLA +2.57%) might be one of the most polarizing stocks in the markets right now.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 10, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 12, 2025.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has the following options: long December 2026 $320 puts on Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VIOT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisClosed End Funds Analysis

SummaryAdvent Convertible & Income Fund is upgraded to Buy, offering an 11.1% yield and trading at a 4.61% discount to NAV.AVK’s hybrid strategy, with 48.7% in convertibles and 41% in high-yield securities, targets high income and capital preservation.Leverage remains high at 37.7%, but declining interest rates should reduce risk and improve operating spreads for AVK.Consistent monthly payouts, tax-efficient distributions, and resilience through rate cycles make AVK attractive for income-focused, buy-and-hold investors. PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Overview As market indexes hover near their all-time highs, it can be scary to accumulate equities at this time. However, there are many attractive opportunities across income funds as valuations remain suppressed due to higher interest rates. Advent

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Ilika PLC CEO Graeme Purdy talked with Proactive about a significant milestone for the company as it successfully shipped its 10Ah Goliath battery prototypes on schedule. Purdy noted that the delivery reflects the company's commitment to meeting expectations and keeping to its timelines.

The prototypes will now be evaluated by customers, with Ilika expecting collaborative feedback to further refine its solid-state battery technology. Purdy explained that the next key milestone is the development of a 50Ah cell and that licensing discussions are already underway. He emphasised Ilika’s asset-light model, saying that the company does not intend to build large factories itself but will rely on technology transfer and partners to scale up.

Ilika’s pilot line has achieved a 93% yield, which Purdy described as a “really great validation that we have a robust process that is ready for scale up.” This result exceeds typical expectations at this stage and supports the transition towards commercialisation.

The interview also touched on Ilika’s modelling work with Balance Batteries Ltd, which demonstrated potential cost and performance benefits for EV applications. The company claims a 20% reduction in battery pack costs and a corresponding increase in vehicle range when using its technology.

Proactive: I'm joined by Graeme Purdy, the CEO of Ilika PLC. Graeme, good to speak with you. A significant milestone as the year draws to a close — you've just shipped the 10Ah prototypes on schedule, so a big move for you!

Graeme Purdy: Well, absolutely. At Ilika, we pride ourselves in delivering on time and to expectations. The team is absolutely delighted that we've been able to give our customers an early Christmas present.

Proactive: Maybe stronger batteries than they'll need to power the Christmas tree though, Graeme. So what's the next major step to move Goliath towards commercial production or licensing?

Graeme Purdy: We'll be working closely with those customers to evaluate the performance of the cells. It's interesting — in the industry there are a number of different perspectives on the best duty cycles to test batteries with. Although we have done an extensive testing program already, we will be learning alongside customers, and we expect to get some useful feedback that will help us develop even better batteries.

Our next milestone is the 50Ah cell that we're targeting. We're also opening discussions for tech transfer and further scale-up. That is likely to be done by our partners rather than us. It's really important to emphasise that we have an asset-light business model that relies on licensing our technology, rather than Ilika itself building large factories.

Proactive: The pilot line hit a 93% yield. How close is that to commercial requirements, and what does it mean for scaling?

Graeme Purdy: That's a really great question. If you speak to people in the industry, they'll typically say that at a pilot line scale — where Ilika is — you'd expect about 80% yield for it to be considered credible and ready for further scale-up. By the time you get to production, you want a minimum of about 90%. So the fact that we've got 93% on our pilot line is a really great validation that we have a robust process that is ready for scale-up.

Proactive: How do the weight and cost advantages of your oxide coatings strengthen Ilika’s position against established battery markets?

Graeme Purdy: We're all dying for better batteries. We want longer range in our vehicles; we want EVs to cost less. This is the mission that Ilika is on. Irrespective of the fact that this is a solid-state battery development program, we're actually trying to improve batteries so that we, as consumers, have a better experience using them in EVs and other applications.

When we modelled these batteries together with a specialist consultant, Balance Batteries Ltd, and applied that in an EV scenario, we saw a 20% saving on the cost to the pack and also an increase in vehicle range — so that's really important.

Proactive: What's next, Graeme? What should we be watching out for as the year draws to a close and we head into 2026?

Graeme Purdy: We've also got our second product line, Stereax, which is cooking on all gas rings right now as we head into the festive period. So there may well be some additional news associated with that. And then early in the new year, we'll have a bit of a wrap-up with half-year results. I hope we'll get the opportunity to update you again at that point.

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SummaryThis article reveals the main reasons why GPIX is in my portfolio, not JEPI.I favor GPIX for its profitability, tax advantages, and growth participation, while noting JEPI's appeal for conservative capital seeking stability.There are three main criteria that make these ETFs distinct from one another.The decrease in the probability of a U.S. economic recession increases the chances of a continued bull trend, where GPIX is more profitable. monsitj/iStock via Getty Images

Investment thesis The Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF (GPIX) and JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) funds are among the hottest assets for investors looking for steady passive income. Because their

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GPIX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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The sell-off in The Trade Desk stock has it selling for relatively cheap valuations.

The Trade Desk (TTD 1.04%) faces increasing competition, which is concerning to investors.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 10, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 12, 2025.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has positions in The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

Buying these high-yield dividend stocks should be an easy decision.

You don't have to wait until the New Year to celebrate. At least, that's the case if you're an income investor. There are plenty of great dividend stocks worth cheering about.

One problem, though, is that selecting which dividend stocks to buy can be difficult. However, I think some stocks make the decision-making process easy. Here are three no-brainer dividend stocks to buy right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Evergy
If you don't live in Kansas or Missouri, you might not be familiar with Evergy (EVRG +0.59%). However, if you do live in either of those states, the company is a household name. Evergy provides energy to around 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri through its subsidiaries Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro, and Evergy Missouri West.

I think this stock should be a household name for income investors nationwide. Evergy's forward dividend yield is 3.8%. The energy provider has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years, including a 4% increase announced last month.

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Like many utility stocks, Evergy has delivered solid gains in 2025. Evergy's performance is especially impressive considering the weather headwinds the company faced in the second and third quarters, with what CEO David Campbell called "cooler than normal summer weather."

Over the long term, though, Evergy's prospects remain strong. Both Kansas and Missouri offer tax incentives for data centers, making the states attractive to tech companies. Relative to its modest size, Evergy's backlog of large customers requiring power is one of the largest in the U.S.

2. Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial (PRU 0.08%) has one of the most recognizable slogans of the last few decades: "Get a piece of the rock." The financial services company currently has approximately $1.6 trillion in assets under management and operates in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

The company's dividend has been rock-solid. Prudential has increased its dividend for 17 consecutive years and counting. Its forward dividend yield is 4.7%. The financial services giant also has a manageable dividend payout ratio of 73%.

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Granted, Prudential's stock performance has been underwhelming. Shares remain down year to date while the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.07%) has soared by 17%. However, the overall market is priced at a premium, but Prudential isn't. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio is a low 7.8.

Even better, the picture could be improving for the company. Prudential reported record-high adjusted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2025, with growth in every business. Management is focused on improving margins and offering more products and services to retirees, a tremendous growth opportunity.

3. Realty Income
Realty Income (O +0.87%) ranks as the sixth-largest global real estate investment trust (REIT). It owns 15,542 properties in nine countries valued at $61 billion. The REIT has 1,647 tenants representing 92 industries, including familiar names such as 7-Eleven (owned by Seven & I Holdings (SVNDY +1.24%)), Dollar General (DG +0.40%), Walgreens, Wynn Resorts (WYNN 0.95%), and FedEx (FDX 0.15%).

You won't find many dividend programs as good as Realty Income's. The REIT pays its dividends monthly and has even registered the trademark of "The Monthly Dividend Company." Realty Income has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and 113 consecutive quarters. Its forward dividend yield is a juicy 5.7%.

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Sure, Realty Income's stock hasn't delivered awe-inspiring gains this year. However, its total return isn't too shabby.

Most importantly, Realty Income offers investors both stability and solid growth prospects. Since listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994, its beta is only 0.5, indicating low volatility. The REIT's total addressable market is $14 trillion. Around $8.5 trillion of that total is in Europe, where Realty Income doesn't face significant competition.

Like a thrilling corporate drama, the battle for Warner Bros Discovery acquired a sensational new subplot last week when, not willing to let go, Paramount Skydance made a comeback with a $108.4 billion all-cash hostile bid for the studio powerhouse, just days after WBD had sealed a deal with Netflix.

Paramount went straight to investors on Monday with a $30-a-share tender for all of WBD.

Netflix, whose offer arrived first, had valued the company’s studio and streaming assets at $27.75 a share through a mix of cash and stock.

Netflix has proposed a cash-and-stock acquisition of WBD’s studios and streaming businesses, excluding its cable assets, while Paramount wants the entire company—from Warner Bros studios and streaming to CNN and Discovery.

The offers arrive at a moment when media consolidation is reshaping the competitive landscape, and the outcome is expected to influence everything from streaming prices and theatrical releases to employment across Hollywood.

While both companies argue their bids are superior, the implications vary significantly depending on the chosen buyer.

Investors, regulators, Hollywood unions and consumer advocates are weighing not only deal value but also the long-term impact on the industry.

How the offers differ in structure and strategic intent
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Netflix’s proposal, valued at $27.75 a share, focuses on acquiring only the crown jewels of Warner Bros: its iconic studios, HBO and HBO Max, and the associated streaming businesses.

The cable channels—including CNN, Cartoon Network and Discovery—would be spun into a separate company. Investors would receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix stock.

Paramount’s bid, by contrast, is simpler but more sweeping.

It offers WBD shareholders $30 in cash per share for the entire company.

David Ellison, Paramount’s chief executive, has argued that acquiring all of WBD would dramatically scale Paramount’s streaming ambitions and give regulators a cleaner, more straightforward transaction to assess.

Analysts note that the “total value” of both offers is close once adjustments are made for what Netflix is choosing to leave out.

Yet Paramount’s all-cash structure is attractive to investors seeking certainty amid market volatility.

Many now expect Paramount to increase its offer, after internal advisers signalled that the $30 bid was not “best and final.”

Impact on jobs: consolidation likely to bring steep cuts
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Both potential owners claim their deal would be more job-preserving than the alternative, but consolidation on this scale almost always results in redundancies.

The existing merger that created WBD already led to several thousand layoffs, and another round—whether under Netflix or Paramount—appears inevitable.

Paramount executives have said they expect at least $6 billion in savings over three years.

Analysts estimate this would translate into as many as 6,000 job cuts across overlapping film, TV and corporate functions.

Paramount also owns its own studio lot, cable channels and news operations, creating additional areas of duplication.

Netflix’s integration, analysts say, would be less severe in the near term.

Without a legacy studio complex of its own, Netflix would rely heavily on WBD’s existing infrastructure and production teams, reducing immediate pressure for cuts.

However, Netflix has stated that it seeks $2–3 billion in savings, primarily through procurement and distribution efficiencies.

Over time, consolidation of production units and back-office systems could shrink headcount.

Hollywood unions have already called for regulators to block Netflix’s offer on the grounds that it could centralise too much power in a company viewed as hostile to theatrical releases.

However, they acknowledge that a Paramount takeover would also lead to job losses—just potentially in different places.

What the Netflix offer implies for viewers
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A Netflix takeover would unite the world’s largest streaming service with HBO’s prestige offerings and Warner Bros’ deep film library.

For viewers, this raises three major questions: how streaming packages may change, whether theatrical windows will shrink, and how pricing will evolve.

Netflix has told its subscribers that nothing will change immediately and that HBO Max will continue as a separate service for the foreseeable future.

But industry analysts believe bundling is inevitable. Integrating HBO titles into Netflix’s global distribution engine would give Netflix an unprecedented programming footprint.

Co-CEO Greg Peters has suggested the companies could eventually introduce mixed subscription plans, bringing HBO originals under Netflix’s pricing tiers.

The larger concern for cinemas is whether Netflix would eventually shorten theatrical windows for major Warner Bros releases.

The company has historically favoured quick streaming debuts and limited theatrical runs.

While it has committed to maintaining Warner’s established theatrical contracts through 2029, long-term incentives may shift.

For consumers, consolidation typically leads to higher prices.

Experts expect subscription fees for any Netflix-HBO Max bundle to increase within 12–18 months of a deal closing.

What the Paramount offer implies for viewers
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Paramount has argued that combining its studio with Warner Bros would expand theatrical outputs, not shrink them.

Paramount sits at an “existential crossroads” right now because buying Warner Discovery would be crucial to helping the company scale its direct-to-consumer streaming business, MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman wrote Monday in a research note.

Ellison has pledged to release at least 30 films a year—significantly more than either studio currently produces independently.

Paramount owns CBS News and dozens of cable channels.

A combined entity could reshape the US news and entertainment landscape, creating potential synergies but also raising fears of reduced diversity in content.

Bundling CBS, Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single subscription could create one of the industry’s largest entertainment packages, almost certainly at a higher price point.

The merger would also give Paramount a broad content library similar in scale to Disney’s.

Analysts believe the combined company would eventually consolidate its streaming offerings under a single umbrella, likely retiring the Paramount+ brand and re-centring the business around a unified Warner-Paramount service.

How regulators may view both offers
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Both deals face intense regulatory scrutiny, though analysts differ on which one stands a better chance.

Netflix has 302 million paying subscribers, compared with 128 million at WBD and 79 million at Paramount.

A tie-up between Netflix and WBD would significantly strengthen its lead as the world’s largest streaming platform, typically a major concern for regulators.

But if authorities treat YouTube and TikTok as part of the competitive landscape, Netflix’s market share appears far less dominant.

Paramount believes it has an advantage because it is much smaller.

But the political dimension complicates the picture.

Trump has long been critical of CNN, frequently branding it “Fake News,” and some analysts suggest he may prefer to see the network folded into Paramount’s portfolio.

Paramount already owns CBS News, which recently appointed Bari Weiss — a vocal critic of progressive cultural trends — as editor-in-chief.

From a regulatory standpoint, a Paramount bid would draw scrutiny over the merger of two major Hollywood studios.

But beyond the economics, political considerations loom large.

Trump said on Sunday that he “would be involved” in determining who ultimately acquires WBD, indicating he could influence the process through the Justice Department’s antitrust authority.

On the surface, Paramount may appear to have an edge: David Ellison is the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a close Trump ally, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, is among the financial backers of the Paramount offer.

Polymarket odds suggest a near-tie, with a 42% chance each that Netflix or Paramount will succeed before June 2027.

Ball in WBD’s investors’ court as they expect Paramount to sweeten the bid
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WBD shares bounced back 9% on Monday after Paramount unveiled its hostile bid, reversing the 9.8% drop recorded on Friday when Netflix announced its agreement with the studio.

Paramount chief executive David Ellison spent Tuesday meeting Warner investors in New York, urging them to press the company’s management and board to favour his bid over Netflix’s, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Several attendees left the meetings believing a higher bid from Paramount was likely, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Warner’s stock climbed roughly 4% across Tuesday and Wednesday as the meetings unfolded, trading close to $30 a share — just shy of both offer values.

That narrow gap suggests investors believe at least one bidder will return with an improved proposal, hedge-fund managers said.

If investors doubted a deal would close, the stock would trade at a steeper discount, given the lengthy timeline and regulatory risk involved.

Instead, the pricing indicates expectations for a swift outcome.

Shareholders broadly anticipate that Paramount will raise its offer.

A regulatory filing on Monday offered the clearest hint yet that Paramount is prepared to pay more.

In it, Blair Effron of Centerview, advising Paramount, texted Evercore’s Roger Altman — who is advising WBD — to underline that Paramount’s previous proposal “did not include ‘best and final’.”

Effron reached out after WBD chief David Zaslav did not respond to Ellison’s December 4 message expressing willingness to go further to secure a deal.

If Paramount ultimately raises its offer, WBD could argue that agreeing to Netflix’s deal helped draw a richer bid from a rival, potentially supporting its decision-making, analysts said.

Warner Bros. Discovery shares have surged almost 40% — from just over $21 before the offers emerged to just under $29.

Paramount’s $30-a-share bid for the entire company, including the cable networks, has pushed the stock above the value implied by Netflix’s proposal.