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SummaryFranklin Dynamic Municipal Bond ETF offers diversified muni bond exposure but delivers an unimpressive 3.51% trailing yield.FLMI's strategy favors middle-to-short tenor and moderate credit risk, resulting in lower interest rate risk but only middling income.I believe more selective muni funds or those taking additional credit risk—without materially higher default risk—offer superior yields.FLMI's 1,000+ holdings and middle-of-the-road positioning make it less attractive versus higher-yielding alternatives like SHYM or NMZ. designer491/iStock via Getty Images

Nuts and bolts matter The bits inside the machine, how they work together, are what determine the output of the machine. If we want to understand what a machine will produce, we need to grasp those internal matters.

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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You'll be hard-pressed to find a better all-around AI pick than Google parent Alphabet.

I suspect few people would argue that Nvidia (NVDA 0.56%) has been the most important player in artificial intelligence (AI) over the last decade. Its stock performance proves it: Nvidia's shares have skyrocketed more than 224x during the period.

The chances look good that Nvidia will continue its winning ways over the next 10 years. But could Google parent Alphabet (GOOG +1.16%) (GOOGL +1.15%) actually be the best AI stock to buy for the next decade?

Image source: Getty Images.

AI is a big tent
One challenge with singling out any AI stock as the best is that AI is a really big tent. Since OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT three years ago, large language models (LLMs) have been the center of attention in the AI world. However, these models represent only one part of the broader AI ecosystem.

Cloud platforms are another important component. Many AI systems are developed, trained, and deployed in the cloud. That's where AI chips come into the picture. Nvidia's GPUs remain the gold standard in powering the servers that run AI models.

Perhaps the most important area of AI, though, is in how the technology is applied. For example, Tesla (TSLA +0.09%) is betting that AI-powered robotaxis and humanoid robots will become massive markets over the next decade and beyond.

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg (META +1.77%) thinks that smart glasses are the ideal device for harnessing the power of AI. He explained in the company's second-quarter earnings call earlier this year that smart glasses "can let an AI see what you see throughout the day, hear what you see, talk to you." Meta is also investing heavily in AI superintelligence (ASI), which could be the ultimate use of AI.

Alphabet checks off all the boxes
You could make solid arguments that Nvidia, Tesla, or Meta could be the best AI stock to buy for the next decade. However, I think Alphabet tops all of them for a simple reason: It checks off all the AI boxes.

The recently released Google Gemini 3.0 is Alphabet's most powerful LLM yet. Some even say that it's the best AI model period. While others will undoubtedly disagree with that claim, Alphabet is well-positioned to remain among the leading developers of AI models going forward.

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More AI apps are being built and deployed in Google Cloud than ever before. Although Alphabet's unit isn't the largest cloud services provider, it's growing faster than bigger rivals Amazon (AMZN +0.16%) Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft (MSFT +0.43%) Azure. Google Cloud's AI chips are also gaining traction in the marketplace as an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs.

Alphabet is ahead of Tesla in the robotaxi market. Its Waymo unit already provides autonomous ride-hailing services in five cities and is preparing to expand into 12 new ones (including its first foray outside the U.S. – London, England).

What about robots? Alphabet has them, too. Its Gemini Robotics models take AI into the physical world and has teamed up with Apptronik to build humanoid robots.

You can also put checkmarks next to smart glasses and ASI. Alphabet is bringing Gemini to smart glasses in a partnership with Warby Parker (WRBY +1.90%). Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis believes that artificial general intelligence (AGI), the stepping stone to ASI, could be available soon after 2030.

Want more AI boxes for Alphabet to check off? No problem. The company's Google Workspace productivity tools are a natural fit for incorporating agentic AI. Google is moving rapidly to develop a universal AI assistant. And I can't leave out that generative AI is also boosting Google Search traffic.

The best AI stock for the next decade?
I doubt that Alphabet will be the best-performing AI stock over the next 10 years. My guess is that some smaller players – some of which we may not even have heard of now – could deliver greater gains.

However, investing involves both the potential of reaping rewards and taking risks. I believe that Alphabet offers the best overall risk-reward proposition of any AI stock on the market right now. That's enough for me to declare it the best AI stock to buy for the next decade.

Keith Speights has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Warby Parker 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.

The three-year restructuring plan is showing some signs of progress in challenging end markets.

Shares in autoparts retailer Advance Auto Parts (AAP 0.06%) rose by 10.1% in November, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The move follows a slew of analyst upgrades after the company's third earnings were released at the end of October. Let's take a closer look at what this means for the investment proposition now.

A perennial value stock
The company is in restructuring mode, and the investment case for buying the stock is based on a simple value proposition. In other words, comparing Advance Auto to its peers like O'Reilly Automotive, and AutoZone, and asking why the company can't get, at least somewhere near, the operational performance of them? If it does so, then the upside potential is significant.

The two charts below provide a small indication of how poorly Advance Auto has performed operationally over the years, and also hint at the potential upside if management turns matters around.

AAP EBITDA Margin (TTM) data by YCharts

But here's the thing: Advance Auto Parts has been in "restructuring mode" for a decade, and little progress has been made.

Is Advance Auto Parts about to turn the corner?
As such, CEO Shane O'Kelly must have known he had a hard task ahead of him when he took over as President and CEO in September 2023. Given the importance of inventory management and logistics in the auto parts retailing business (which revolves around making sure the right parts are in the right stores for customers who want to quickly repair cars), O'Kelly's appointment appears to be a good chance. A longtime veteran of the supply chain industry, O'Kelly was previously the CEO of HD Supply, a major distributor of industrial products.

Favorable market conditions haven't accompanied O'Kelly's tenure, and the tariffs imposed in 2025 have led to increases in prices for imported products, which have led to auto parts retailers "responding rationally by adjusting prices in response to rising product costs," according to O'Kelly on the recent earnings call.

Still, there are signs of improvement, and O'Kelly's plans involve a fundamental rethink of the company's business model. The three-year plan involves the (now completed) closure of 700 stores and locations, as well as four distribution centers, followed by consolidating distribution centers and investing in "market hub" stores. The key to the plan is the new, larger market hub stores, which aim to provide reliable inventory for professional customers.

Image source: Getty Images.

Where next for Advance Auto Parts
O'Kelly's plans make sense, and the third-quarter earnings saw management confirm that it is on track for comparable same-store sales growth of about 1% (midpoint of guidance) in 2025, with an operating income margin of about 2.5%.

That may not sound like much, but it represents a definite improvement over the decline in comparable same-store sales of 0.7% in 2024 and the whopping $713 million operating loss.

As such, investors are growing hopeful that, this time, the turnaround is for real.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryCisco Systems is upgraded to a buy as AI infrastructure momentum accelerates and demand solidifies post-Q4 weakness.Cisco delivered a beat and raise, with FY2026 guidance implying 6.9% revenue and 7.9% EPS growth, signaling accelerating fundamentals.AI orders surged to $1.3 billion from hyperscalers and $200M+ from diversified clients, driving sequential improvement in the AI business.Despite a forward P/E near multiyear highs, Cisco trades at a steep discount to the IT sector, supporting an undervaluation thesis. Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

As you can see in the rating history chart below, I have had mixed views regarding Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) stock this year. In my latest update, I upgraded from a

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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Wall Street analysts unanimously expect shares of Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum to increase over the next year.

Billionaire Ken Griffin runs the very successful hedge fund Citadel Advisors. It not only outperformed the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.19%) by 7 percentage points during the last three years, but also ranks as the most profitable hedge fund based on net gains since inception, according to LCH Investments.

Griffin and his team made hundreds of trades in the third quarter, but the decision to buy two popular quantum computing stocks stands out. Here are the details:

Citadel added 51,700 shares of Rigetti Computing (RGTI 6.49%), a stock that has gained 3,750% since January 2023.
Citadel added 122,600 shares of D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 6.02%), a stock that has gained 1,770% since January 2024.

Importantly, Citadel has microscopic stakes in both stocks, but the trades are still interesting because every Wall Street analyst that follows Rigetti and D-Wave expects the stocks to increase in the next year.

Image source: Getty Images.

Rigetti Computing: The median target price implies 42% upside
Among the seven Wall Street analysts that follow Rigetti Computing, the median target price is $40 per share, which implies 42% upside from its current share price of $28. The highest target of $51 implies 82% upside, and even the lowest target of $35 implies 25% upside as of Dec. 6.

Rigetti specializes in superconducting quantum computing, a modality where microscopic superconducting circuits are cooled to temperatures near absolute zero to create qubits, the fundamental unit of quantum information. Qubits are like bits (binary digits) in classical computers, but they encode more information and have unique qualities that let quantum computers solve certain problems more efficiently.

Rigetti benefits from vertical integration, meaning it realizes cost efficiencies by exercising tight control over its supply chain. It manufactures quantum processors, and develops the hardware and software infrastructure needed to provide cloud-based quantum services. The company also designed the first multi-chip quantum processor, which may afford it an edge in scaling fault-tolerant systems.

However, while quantum stocks are popular on Wall Street, many experts believe useful quantum computers -- fault-tolerant systems that solve commercially relevant problems -- are still one or two decades away. Indeed, the quantum computing market will still be 450 times smaller than the artificial intelligence market in 2030, according to Grand View Research.

The biggest problem with Rigetti is valuation. Its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 1,080 is about 10 times higher than the most expensive stock in the S&P 500, which is Palantir. That is unsustainable. I feel confident in predicting that Rigetti shares will decline 80% to 90% at some point in the future.

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D-Wave Quantum: The median target price implies 48% upside
Among the 11 Wall Street analysts that follow D-Wave Quantum, the median target price is $40 per share, which implies 48% upside from its current share price of $27. The highest target of $48 implies 77% upside, and even the lowest target of $35 implies 30% upside as of Dec. 6.

D-Wave takes a different approach to quantum computing compared to Rigetti. While the company still uses superconducting circuits to create qubits, it primarily builds quantum annealers as opposed to gate-based systems. Annealers are a niche technology. They cannot run the majority of quantum algorithms, but they excel at solving optimization problems.

Importantly, gate-based architectures will have more practical applications in the long run, but they are less tolerant of noise and less scalable today. For instance, D-Wave currently builds annealing systems with more than 4,000 physical qubits. But Rigetti's roadmap does not even contemplate 1,000-qubit systems until 2027. The upshot is that D-Wave systems have more utility today, although that utility is still very limited.

In the third quarter, D-Wave's revenue increased 100% to $3.7 million, but its non-GAAP net loss totaled $18.1 million. However, the company has plenty of cash on its balance sheet because it has compensated for losses by diluting stockholders. Its outstanding share count has increased 31% this year and 117% over the past two years.

Nevertheless, the most concerning problem is valuation. D-Wave trades at 325 times sales. That may seem cheap compared to Rigetti, but both stocks are unreasonably expensive, particularly when the quantum computing market is projected to grow at just 21% per year through the end of the decade.

D-Wave may be worth much more in the distant future, but I would be shocked if the stock doesn't drop 80% to 90% at some point between now and then. Investors should wait for a much more reasonable entry point or at least keep any positions very small.

– NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES –

December 08, 2025 04:00 ET

 | Source:

Humanoid Global Holdings Corp.

Vancouver, BC, Dec. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Humanoid Global Holdings Corp. (“Humanoid Global” or the “Company”) (CSE:ROBO, FWB:0XM1, OTCQB:RBOHF), a publicly traded investment issuer focused on building and accelerating a portfolio of pioneering companies in the humanoid robotics and embodied AI sector, is pleased to announce a portfolio update.

Humanoid Global has executed on its mandate to build a diversified portfolio across the full humanoid and embodied AI value chain, investing across enablers, hardware systems, and software intelligence. Supported by its technical advisory committee, the Company has completed investments at stages ranging from early development to later-stage commercial platforms. Below is a comprehensive overview of Humanoid Global’s portfolio companies in the humanoid robotics and embodied AI sector.

“Humanoid technology is evolving beyond individual machines; it is becoming an interconnected ecosystem of platforms, intelligence, and real-world applications,” said Ahad Armin, Technical Advisor of Humanoid Global. “Across our portfolio, each company contributes a critical capability, from autonomous perception and embodied movement to safety, real-time insight, and scalable deployment. Together, these technologies form the foundation for the next generation of humanoid systems capable of operating safely, intuitively, and reliably in dynamic human environments. Our strategic focus is to accelerate the convergence of these innovations into a unified, human-centric robotics landscape, one where humanoids can support industries, empower workers, and enhance the way people live and interact with intelligent systems.

Cartwheel Robotics Inc. (“Cartwheel Robotics”)
Cartwheel Robotics is advancing human-like robotic systems that combine utility with adaptive, companion-oriented behavior. Its platform integrates emotional intelligence and embodied learning to support practical and interactive applications. For more information regarding Cartwheel Robotics please see the Company’s press release dated June 13, 2025, and October 16, 2025.

RideScan Ltd. (“RideScan”)
RideScan develops an AI-driven platform that enhances the reliability, safety, and performance of autonomous and robotic systems by monitoring and predicting component-level issues before they impact operations. For more information regarding RideScan please see the Company’s press release dated September 8, 2025, and October 7, 2025.

Agility Robotics, Inc. (“Agility Robotics”)
Agility Robotics develops Digit, one of the first commercially deployed humanoid robots built for logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing environments. The company focuses on real-world autonomy and scalable deployment across industrial settings. For more information regarding Agility Robotics please see the Company’s press release dated September 16, 2025, September 17, 2025, and November 27, 2025.

U.S. Private Humanoid Developer (“Humanoid Developer”)
Humanoid Developer has raised over US $1 billion to develop a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to perform repetitive and physically demanding tasks in 3PL, retail, and manufacturing operations. Its platform is engineered for modularity, safety, and high-volume commercial deployment.

Formic Technologies, Inc. (“Formic”)
Formic provides robots-as-a-service automation solutions, offering complete deployment, integration, and maintenance under a monthly service model. Its approach reduces upfront capital requirements for industrial automation. For more information regarding Formic please see the Company’s press release dated October 21, 2025.

HOWTOROBOT HOLDING INC. (“HowToRobot”)
HowToRobot operates a global automation marketplace that helps companies identify, source, and implement robotic solutions for their operations. Its platform streamlines the adoption of automation across diverse industries. For more information regarding HowToRobot please see the Company’s press release dated November 4, 2025.

“Humanoid Global’s portfolio reflects our view that humanoid and embodied AI technologies will scale across an entire value chain rather than through any single category,” said Shahab Samimi, CEO of Humanoid Global. “By supporting companies developing core hardware, enabling systems, and software intelligence, we are building exposure to the full breadth of this transformation. Each of our portfolio companies contributes a critical capability, and together they position us to participate in the long-term evolution of real-world robotics.”

-##-

About Humanoid Global Holdings Corp.

Humanoid Global Holdings Corp.  (CSE:ROBO, FWB:0XM1, OTCQB:RBOHF) (“Humanoid Global” or the “Company”) is a publicly traded investment issuer building a portfolio of pioneering companies in the growing humanoid robotics and embodied AI sector, investing in and accelerating their growth. It serves as a global investment platform providing liquidity and access to an actively managed portfolio spanning the value chain of this emerging ecosystem, including advanced software, hardware, and enabling technologies. Led by a team with a proven track record of scaling transformative technologies globally, the Company takes a long-term, partnership-oriented approach. It provides capital and strategic consultation on go-to-market strategies, regulatory pathways, and transaction advisory, while facilitating introductions to customers, suppliers, and strategic partners.

Learn more:
https://www.humanoidglobal.ai/

For further information, please contact:

Shahab Samimi
Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]
[email protected]
(604) 602-0001

CSE:ROBO
OTCQB:RBOHF
FWB:0XM1

ON BEHALF OF MANAGEMENT

Shahab Samimi
Chief Executive Officer

Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein that are not statements of historical fact may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the Company’s investment and growth strategies; anticipated synergies or operational benefits across Humanoid Global’s portfolio; and the Company’s future plans, objectives, or performance.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “potential,” “plan,” or similar expressions. These statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including (without limitation) general economic conditions, market volatility, the Company’s ability to identify and complete future investments, regulatory developments, the availability of financing, and other risks disclosed in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings available on www.sedarplus.ca.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryGlobal X MSCI Greece ETF is upgraded to a buy, driven by robust economic recovery and technical breakout signals.GREK sports a low 9.1x P/E, 7.9% long-term EPS growth, and a 3.65% yield, supporting a reasonable 1.15x PEG ratio.The fund’s concentrated portfolio, high financials exposure, and strong momentum underpin the bullish outlook into 2026.Technical analysis targets GREK at $95, with support at $60–$62 and a rising 200-day moving average. Tuul & Bruno Morandi/DigitalVision via Getty Images

The Greek stock market is the second-best performer so far this year. Second to the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY), the Global X MSCI Greece ETF (GREK) is

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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DECLARATION OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

Information on the total number of voting rights and of shares representing the share capital
(Article 223-16 of the General regulations of the French Financial Market Authority – Autorité
des Marchés Financiers)

Quotation place: Euronext Paris
Compartiment A
ISIN code: FR0000031577

DateTotal number of shares representing the share capitalTotal number of voting rightsNovember, 30 20258 390 660Gross total of voting rights : 12 704 542Net total* of voting rights : 12 691 706 Net total* = total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares net of shares with no voting rights.

VIRBAC: Shaping the future of animal health
NYSE Euronext - Compartiment A / Code ISIN: FR0000031577 / MNEMO: VIRP
Corporate Finance: tel. 33 4 92 08 71 32 / Email: [email protected]
Website: www.virbac.com

Total_nb_of_voting_rights_and_shares_30_11_2025

Demand is soaring for CrowdStrike's cybersecurity solutions, but it might not lead to upside for its stock in 2026.

CrowdStrike (CRWD 0.21%) is a top cybersecurity vendor. Its Falcon platform is one of the industry's only all-in-one enterprise solutions, and thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), it offers a high degree of automation, so businesses can spend more time focusing on their day-to-day operations and less time worrying about cyber threats.

CrowdStrike stock has soared by 200% during the past five years, thanks to strong demand for Falcon, which is fueling rapid revenue growth for the company. However, the stock is currently trading at a sky-high valuation, which could serve as an impediment to further upside in 2026. Read on.

Image source: Getty Images.

The future of cybersecurity
The Falcon platform features 32 different modules (products) covering cloud security, identity security, endpoint (computer and device) protection, and AI security. Enterprises can select different modules based on their needs, and thanks to the recently introduced Falcon Flex subscription, they can even add and remove modules during their contract period as those needs change.

Falcon uses a cloud-based architecture, so each endpoint only requires the installation of a lightweight sensor. This means updates can be pushed autonomously in the background without disrupting workflows, so every computer and device is always ready to thwart the latest threats.

AI is transforming the cyber landscape. Not only are hackers using this technology to create sophisticated threats, but enterprises are also creating new targets for attack when they deploy chatbots and AI agents. Agents often have access to sensitive internal data and systems, and they are much easier to impersonate than human employees because they typically don't have the same secure identity credentials. If a hacker seizes control of one agent, they can cause a substantial amount of damage.

To combat these risks, CrowdStrike launched Falcon Next-Gen Identity Security, which protects all identities, whether human or digital. It uses the company's industry-leading threat intelligence to flag strange behavior and authenticate trusted users. It also adopts a "zero standing privileges" approach, meaning it revokes permission from all identities to certain applications when it isn't required, which safeguards them from unauthorized access.

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CrowdStrike's revenue growth is accelerating
CrowdStrike generated $1.23 billion in total revenue during its fiscal 2026 third quarter (ended Oct. 31), a 22% increase from the year-ago period. It marked the second consecutive quarter in which the company's revenue growth accelerated, which signals significant momentum.

CrowdStrike also reported a record $4.92 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in the third quarter, which was up 23% year over year. Most customers use Falcon on a subscription basis with recurring monthly or yearly payments, so ARR is a very useful metric for investors.

CrowdStrike said about $1.35 billion of its ARR was attributable to Falcon Flex subscriptions at the end of the third quarter, which was up by an eye-popping 200% year over year. This subscription option was only launched last year, but it appears customers really like having the ability to add or remove security modules on the fly. CrowdStrike says Flex accelerates spending growth because it allows customers to try different modules under their existing contracts without having to renegotiate pricing, thus reducing friction.

In fact, the company said the number of "Reflex" accounts -- representing customers who renewed their Flex subscriptions with higher spending -- more than doubled year over year during the third quarter. The company said 10 customers, specifically, Reflexed with double the amount of spending compared to their original Flex subscriptions.

CrowdStrike stock is far more expensive than its peers
CrowdStrike's business is firing on all cylinders, but its sky-high valuation could limit further upside in the short term. Its stock is trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 28, making it far more expensive than all of its peers in the cybersecurity sector. Palo Alto Networks (PANW +1.62%), for example, is the industry's largest vendor, and its stock trades at a P/S ratio of just 14.5:

CRWD PS Ratio data by YCharts

Palo Alto's revenue increased by 16% in its recent quarter, so CrowdStrike might deserve a premium valuation on the basis that its business is growing more quickly. However, I'm not convinced a P/S ratio of nearly double is appropriate, because Palo Alto is becoming a force in the AI cybersecurity space, with its Next-Generation Security segment experiencing a whopping 29% increase in ARR during the recent quarter.

I'm not suggesting CrowdStrike stock needs to crash from here to bring its valuation in line with its peers, but its elevated P/S ratio does make further upside a challenge. If the company's revenue grows by 20% through calendar year 2026 and its stock delivers zero return, it would still be expensive relative to Palo Alto and other vendors.

As a result, investors looking for blistering gains in the next 12 months or so might be left disappointed. However, longer term, CrowdStrike expects its ARR to more than quadruple to $20 billion during the next decade (by fiscal year 2036), so investors who are willing to hold the stock for a more extended period of time could still earn a great return.

GÖTEBORG, SE / ACCESS Newswire / December 8, 2025 / Smart Eye (STO:SEYE)(OTC PINK:SMTEF)(FRA:SE9)

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED) (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS (IN PARTICULAR, THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM) MAY BE RESTRICTED BY LAW

Smart Eye Aktiebolag (publ) ("Company" or "Smart Eye") today announces that Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) has been mandated as sole bookrunner to arrange a series of fixed income investor meetings commencing on 8 December 2025, to explore the possibility to issue senior unsecured bonds in an expected amount of SEK 300,000,000 under a framework of SEK 600,000,000 and with a tenor of three years (the "Bonds"). A capital market transaction may follow subject to, among other things, prevailing market conditions.

The proceeds from the issuance of the Bonds shall be used to (i) refinance existing debt, and (ii) finance general corporate purposes (including transaction costs and acquisitions).

This information is such that Smart Eye is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 2025-12-08, 10:00 (CET).

For more information:

Martin Krantz, CEO Smart Eye AB
Phone: +46 70-329 26 98
Email: [email protected]

About Smart Eye

Smart Eye is the leading provider of Human Insight AI, technology that understands, supports and predicts human behavior in complex environments. The company is on a mission to bridge the gap between humans and machines for a safe and sustainable future. Supported by Affectiva and iMotions - companies it acquired in 2021 - Smart Eye's multimodal software and hardware solutions provide unparalleled insight into human behavior.

In automotive, Smart Eye's driver monitoring systems and interior sensing solutions improve road safety and the mobility experience. The company's eye tracking technology and iMotions biosensor software platform are also used in behavioral research to enable advanced research in academic and commercial sectors. In media analytics, Affectiva's Emotion AI provides the world's largest brands and market researchers with a deeper understanding of how consumers engage with content, products, and services.

Founded in 1999, Smart Eye is a global company headquartered in Sweden, with customers including NASA, Nissan, Boeing, Honeywell, Volvo, GM, BMW, Polestar, Geely, Harvard University, 26 percent of the Fortune Global 500 companies, and over 1,300 research organizations around the world.

Visit www.smarteye.ai for more information.

Visit our investor web for more financial information: https://smarteye.se/investors/

Smart Eye is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market. The Company's Certified Adviser is Bergs Securities AB.

This information is information that Smart Eye is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 2025-12-08 10:00 CET.

SOURCE: Smart Eye

HomeEarnings Analysis

SummaryS&P 500 earnings are still expected to grow 14% in 2026, which is just 3 weeks away.Q4 ’25 earnings won’t start until January 10th, ’26, but once Q4 earnings hit, investors get the best view of ’26 guidance from managements, and then we’ll see what the expected 14% growth rate for 2026 S&P 500 earnings looks like and how it changes.Oracle reports their fiscal Q2 ’26 financial results on December 11th, after the market close. Oracle’s credit default swaps (CDS) are getting a lot of attention, as they have increased in value for the software giant, meaning the probability of Oracle’s debt defaulting has increased.Costco's quarterly earnings results also come out December 11th after the closing bell. The stock is trading about $175 lower from its all-time high of $1,078 in February ’25, and is now trading below both its 50- and 200-day moving averages. Panuwat Dangsungnoen/iStock via Getty Images

There is still little change in the trend in forward S&P 500 estimate revisions the last few weeks. This blog has not posted on S&P 500 earnings the last few weeks just to give the

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The meme coin market is showing clearer signs of recovery in December. Pump.fun — the leading platform for launching meme coins — is reporting a renewed increase in newly created tokens.

Analysts also note that investor sentiment is shifting toward a higher risk appetite as the year draws to a close.

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How Is Pump.fun Reflecting December’s Increased Risk Appetite?Dune data shows that the number of new meme tokens created daily on Pump.fun has stayed above 20,000 throughout December. On December 2, the figure exceeded 25,000. This was the highest level since mid-September, marking a notable shift.

Daily Token Created on Pump.fun. Source: DuneThis rebound still cannot match the peak levels seen in early 2025. However, it signals a shift in investor psychology.

Many appear to believe that this is a favorable moment for retail capital to flow back into low-cap and newly launched tokens.

Although the number of new tokens shows a mild upward trend, Pump.fun’s revenue and DEX volume remain down more than 80% compared to early 2025.

Daily Active Wallets on Pump.fun. Source: DuneOne positive indicator stands out: the number of active addresses — including new addresses and returning users — has consistently stayed around 100,000 on average since August. The market experienced multiple major liquidation events during this period, yet user participation did not drop sharply.

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Additionally, Michael Nadeau, founder of The DeFi Report, highlighted a notable comparison between user retention in Web2 and on Pump.fun. Pump.fun achieved higher retention rates, with 12.4% in Week 4 and 11.4% in Week 8. In contrast, Web2 averages range from 5% to 10% in Week 4 and 2% to 5% in Week 8.

We just pulled 12 weeks of @Pumpfun user data, and the weekly retention numbers are pretty interesting when you compare them to Web2 norms.

Here’s the rough benchmark for Web2 consumer apps:

1. Fintech: Week-1 retention: 10–15%

2. Gaming: Week-1 retention: 7–12%

3. Consumer… pic.twitter.com/YtuiPLIbe8

— Michael Nadeau | The DeFi Report (@JustDeauIt) December 4, 2025
These data points appear encouraging within a market environment defined by falling valuations and persistent extreme fear during the final quarter of the year.

Furthermore, well-known trader Daan Crypto Trades observed that meme coins have outperformed major altcoins over the past two weeks.

Crypto Sector Performance. Source: Daan Crypto Trades
“Over the past two weeks, memes were the outperformer for a change. It has been a long time since those did well. This is after a long streak of outperformance back in 2023 & 2024,” Daan Crypto Trades stated.

He added that this performance could be an early sign that the market is ready to accept higher risk levels. However, he also cautioned that the trend may be short-lived and might not reflect a long-term shift.

A recent report from BeInCrypto also highlighted at least three indicators suggesting that the meme coin season could return in December. If that scenario plays out, the Pump.fun ecosystem may attract retail investors — those who embrace high risk in pursuit of large potential returns.

At the time of writing, the Pump.fun Ecosystem ranks as the market’s third-best performing category during the first week of December, according to Coingecko.

EMJ Capital CEO Eric Jackson has laid out one of the most aggressive long-term bitcoin targets in the space yet, arguing in an interview with reporter Phil Rosen that the cryptocurrency could reach $50 million per coin by 2041. His projection is tied to a thesis that bitcoin will evolve from “digital gold” into the core collateral layer of the global financial system.

Jackson said his thinking grows out of the same “hundred bagger” framework he used when buying beaten-down equities like Carvana. He recalled entering Carvana after its share price collapsed from around $400 to roughly $3.50 in 2022, at a time when sentiment was almost universally hostile. “You would hear things like, that’s run by a bunch of criminals. This is what a bunch of idiots. Like you’d have to be an idiot to let your company go from $400 this year to $450 or $350 rather,” he told Rosen.

For Jackson, that period illustrated how markets behave at extremes. “It’s human nature almost that when you’re in the moment of max pain or pessimism, you can only see what’s right in front of you,” he said. Yet the underlying product remained strong: “It wasn’t a broken platform. It wasn’t a broken service […] they would tell you they loved it. It was so easy. It was the best customer experience they had.” From there, he could “envision how they were going to be like a much more profitable business” once the company focused on profitability and addressed its debt.

Jackson’s Long-Term Thesis For Bitcoin
He applies the same long-horizon lens to bitcoin, arguing that the day-to-day ticker and polarized narratives obscure its structural potential. “We get so tied to turning on the TV and just seeing, like, what’s the price of Bitcoin today […] Some people are bearish and they say, oh, it’s a Ponzi scheme. And some people are bullish and they just, you know, throw these like kind of pie in the sky targets that you can’t really tie to reality,” Jackson said. “It’s kind of hard to latch on to like, what is the value of this thing?”

Jackson begins with the common “digital gold” framing. He asks how large the gold market is, how many central banks and sovereigns hold it and why. “Could Bitcoin be as big as gold one day? That seems like a safe assumption,” he argued, adding that because it is “digital” and “programmable” rather than a “hunk of rock,” younger generations may prefer it as a store of value. But he stresses that this is only part of the story, as bitcoin has not become a medium for daily transactions “since the guy who bought pizza with Bitcoin back in like 2011.”

The “penny dropped,” he said, when he began to think in terms of what he calls the “global collateral layer” that underpins borrowing by sovereigns and central banks. Historically, that base layer moved from gold to the Eurodollar system from the 1960s onward, and today is heavily intertwined with sovereign debt. “All the countries around the world issue debt and then they kind of borrow against that and they do their daily like government transactions,” he noted, but “there are problems with that.”

In Jackson’s “Vision 2041,” bitcoin replaces the Eurodollar and, functionally, becomes the neutral asset that other balance sheets are built upon. He argues that bitcoin is “much superior” as collateral because it is digital and “apolitical,” sitting outside central banks and the influence of “whoever the latest treasury secretary here is in the US.”

As with the Eurodollar, he does not see this as a direct attack on the dollar or Treasuries, but as a new underlying layer: “There’s some underlying thing that a lot of other countries and the financial systems borrow against to kind of do things.”

Eric Jackson (@ericjackson) expects bitcoin to hit $50 million by 2041.

He compares his thesis to how he knew Carvana, $CVNA, would be a 100-bagger stock pick. pic.twitter.com/CA9BWoR4zF

— Phil Rosen (@philrosenn) December 7, 2025

Looking ahead 15 years, Jackson envisions sovereigns that currently issue and roll debt instead “rely on Bitcoin,” because “over time, like that’s much more logical.” Given the “enormous” scale of the sovereign debt world, he argues that if bitcoin becomes the dominant collateral substrate, its price per coin would need to reach orders of magnitude above current levels—hence his $50 million-by-2041 target.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $91,574.

Bitcoin remains below the 0.618 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Chainlink (LINK) price is trading in a tight price range after a strong recovery from recent lows, placing the asset at a decisive zone where momentum is likely to expand.

Japan, the world’s second-largest economy, saw its 20-year government bond yield rise to 2.947%, the highest since 1998. With debt piling up and borrowing costs climbing rapidly, Japan may be forced to bring hundreds of billions of dollars back home. If that happens, U.S. bonds, Tether, and even Bitcoin could be affected.

Experts predict the Bitcoin price could drop 5–8% if Japanese bond yields stay above 2.90%.

Japan’s Debt Trap Is Reaching Its Breaking PointJapan carries one of the heaviest debt loads on Earth, 263% of its GDP, nearly $10.2 trillion in total. 

For decades, they managed this only because interest rates were near zero. But now, with inflation staying above 2% and the Bank of Japan lifting short-term rates to 0.5%, the cost of borrowing is exploding.

At these new yield levels, Japan’s interest bill could jump from $162 billion to $280 billion over the next decade. That means nearly 38% of government income would go on paying interest. 

No big country has ever handled debt this big without facing serious problems.

Why This Forces Japan Toward Selling U.S. TreasuriesJapan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, holding over $1.13 trillion in Treasuries. But rising Japanese bond yields now make U.S. bonds unprofitable after currency risk. This means Japanese investors will start coming back home.

Economic models predict that up to $500 billion could leave global markets in the next 18 months, pushing U.S. borrowing costs higher even without a Fed rate hike.

Therefore, Japan’s growing debt problem isn’t just Japan’s problem anymore. It could impact global markets.

How Bitcoin and Tether Are at Risk?For years, people borrowed cheap money in Japan, about $1.2 trillion, and used it to buy things like stocks, crypto, and other investments. Now, if Japan sells U.S. bonds, others may follow.

If U.S. bond prices drop, Tether, which holds a lot of Treasuries, will come under pressure. And if Tether falls, Bitcoin usually falls too.

We’ve seen this before, when in July 2024, a BOJ rate hike caused an 18% Bitcoin drop to $53,000, causing nearly $3 billion in value to be wiped out from the crypto market 

Even recently, when BOJ just hinted at a rate hike, Bitcoin fell from $92,000 to $83,832.

Right now, if Japanese yields remain above 2.90%, Bitcoin could move down toward the $87,000 support. However, Trump’s pro-crypto stance and ETF inflows provide buffers, potentially limiting losses to 5-8%.

As of now, Bitcoin is trading near $91,728, about 8% below its earlier highs, with the total crypto market cap at $3.1 trillion.

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The latest BTC bull cycle showed a shift in trading composition. More new capital from institutions flowed in compared to all other cycles, bringing down the year’s average volatility. 

BTC attracted $732B in new liquidity, according to the most recent Digital Asset Report by Glassnode and Fasanara Digital. The review revealed BTC saw more inflows from institutions, but unlike previous cycles, the liquidity stayed within the confines of the BTC market, not flowing into altcoins. 

The latest market cycle attracted more inflows than all other bull markets combined, up from $388B during the 2018-2022 bull market. 

The biggest wave of institutional capital came after the launch of regulated ETF, most directed at the US market. In 2025, the crypto market finally overcame the worst effects of the 2022 crash, returning to growth as a mix of spot and derivative trading. 

BTC completed three major rallies since the crash in November 2022, with the latest climb in 2025 bringing a new all-time peak above $126,000. Over the bear market period, BTC achieved a net gain of 715%, while ETH and the altcoin market had average 350% gains. 

Unlike previous cycles, altcoins underperformed against BTC, with only extremely brief altcoin seasons. Liquidity quickly ran out, or shifted to the hottest trends, only lifting several large-cap altcoins, and causing a meme token season. 

The stablecoin market was a major source of liquidity, up by 89% since November 2022, leaving the crypto economy almost fully dollarized. 

BTC was the main target of fresh capital
The altcoin market showed signs of internal turnover, while BTC was the only digital coin to attract regular inflows of capital. The crypto market showed a different approach to liquidity distribution. 

Glassnode on-chain data showed previous cycles had a predictable flow from BTC and ETH to a wider selection of altcoins. Increased risk, rug pulls and VC-backed low-FDV assets made traders more skeptical of new altcoins.

BTC experienced multiple waves of active inflows, ranging between $40B and $190B per month. For ETH, the inflows remained much smaller, and buying depended on internal stablecoin-based rotation from whales. 

Stablecoins remained an internal factor, but the US dollar increased its share through regulated buying platforms, including ETF, brokerages, Robinhood trading, and other regulated exchanges. Stablecoins also shifted into DeFi, instead of being used for altcoin trading. 

BTC dipped under the short-term holder basis
In Q4, BTC dipped under the cost basis for short-term buyers. The basis price increased after a series of local price peaks, where both retail and whales kept buying. 

BTC dipped under the cost basis for short-term buyers, with some capitulating at prices below $85,000. | Source: Glassnode.
In the past few months, BTC showed signs of short-term pressure and even capitulation, especially at levels below $90,000. However, the presence of institutional buying was a factor to dampen volatility. 

The BTC volatility index remained under 2% for most of the year. The 2025 cycle differed from the 2021 rally, with a 50% lower volatility level. The price action reflected the presence of institutions, which protected the market from the panic-selling of native whales or retail traders. 

In the short term, BTC still had relatively volatile periods, but lower in comparison to previous cycles.

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One figure represents decades of trading experience. The other is labeled “the individual with the highest IQ in the world” based on standardized tests. What are their predictions for Bitcoin’s price in the second week of December?

Interestingly, their views appear to clash. Their opposite perspectives highlight how even those with exceptional experience or intelligence can interpret the market in very different ways.

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Peter Brandt – Bitcoin Is Retesting Before Returning to a DowntrendPeter Brandt, a legendary trader with decades spent in commodity and equity markets, is warning about a bleak scenario for Bitcoin.

In his latest Bitcoin analysis, he argues that BTC is retesting a broadening top pattern. This formation shows rising highs and falling lows, often signaling a weakening uptrend.

Bitcoin Price Prediction. Source: Peter Brandt
“This week’s rally may be all the retesting of the broadening top we will see BTC. Of course, we will see.” – Peter Brandt predicted.

Brandt has repeatedly warned about a dead cat bounce scenario for Bitcoin. His chart markings suggest that BTC might push as high as $102,000 before possibly correcting toward $58,840 in the near term.

His perspective acts as a cold reminder from past cycles: the market does not reward naïveté, and classical technical models remain reliable guides amid relentless volatility.

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YoungHoon Kim – Manipulation Has Passed, and BTC Is Ready for a New ATHIn contrast, YoungHoon Kim — whose verified IQ score is 276 — views the situation through the lens of game theory.

In his latest assessment, Kim argues that the current dip represents temporary manipulation by market whales. He believes it could fade within a week. After that, Bitcoin may move toward a new all-time high.

“In my personal view, Bitcoin’s current price is just a temporary discount caused by what seems to be market manipulation. I think any such manipulation may disappear within a week, and then it could start accelerating toward a new ATH.”

– World's Highest IQ 276 Holder pic.twitter.com/MPOt0W5V1f

— YoungHoon Kim, IQ 276 (@yhbryankimiq) December 7, 2025
Bull Theory, an X account focused on crypto analysis, provides supporting evidence for Kim’s view.

Recent price action shows Bitcoin dropping to $87,700 before quickly rebounding to $91,200. This rapid dump-and-pump sequence, completed within four hours, reflects typical low-liquidity weekend manipulation aimed at wiping out both long and short leveraged positions.

Between the two perspectives—one shaped by decades of technical pattern mastery and the other based on reasoning about crypto market behavior—the answer may soon become clear during the second week of December.

These predictions emerge as the FOMC meeting approaches. Historical data shows a pattern during the last two rate cuts (September 17 and October 29):

Bitcoin tends to rise a few days before the announcement,
Bounce slightly right after the decision,
And then drop sharply afterward.
The market may soon reveal which outlook proves correct.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins Signals Tokenization Revolution — XRP Ledger on the LookoutPaul Atkins, SEC Chair, delivered a strong endorsement of tokenization, framing it as an imminent market shift rather than speculative theory. 

In a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, he predicted that digitization and tokenization could arrive within years, not decades.

Tokenization turns traditional assets, stocks, bonds, and funds, into programmable tokens on distributed ledgers, enabling fractional ownership, automated corporate actions, and faster, auditable settlements. 

SEC Chair Atkins highlighted that on-chain settlement reduces operational and counterparty risk by shortening the gap between trade execution and final settlement, boosting transparency and predictability for investors and regulators. 

By lowering investment minimums and allowing fractional shares, tokenization can expand access and liquidity, even in traditionally illiquid markets.

Adoption of tokenized markets is accelerating: exchanges, custodians, and fintechs are running pilots, while policymakers craft frameworks for issuance, custody, and on-chain trading. 

The SEC favors clear rulemaking over ad hoc enforcement, signaling predictable standards that could boost institutional participation and enable safer scaling. Public remarks and taskforce activity underscore a deliberate shift toward establishing formal 'rules of the road' for digital assets.

Therefore, Atkins highlights a near-term future for distributed-ledger projects that enable rapid settlement and low-cost transactions, spotlighting the XRP Ledger as a leading platform for tokenized rails. Clearer rules and proactive regulatory engagement could pave the way for integrations with broker-dealers and clearing systems, expanding utility beyond speculative trading. 

Key challenges, such as interoperability, custody, governance, and investor protection, remain, but with regulators openly acknowledging tokenization’s potential, firms should prioritize rigorous testing, compliance-ready architectures, and interoperable frameworks.

ConclusionThe SEC Chair’s endorsement signals a turning point for tokenization, moving digital assets from experimentation to core financial infrastructure. By enabling faster settlement, greater transparency, and lower risk, tokenized markets are set to transform how investors access, trade, and manage assets. 

With clearer regulations and ready technology, platforms like the XRP Ledger are positioned to drive a more efficient, inclusive, and resilient financial system, sooner than anticipated.

Lululemon's growth story isn't as smooth as it once was, but the stock now trades at a valuation that seemed impossible just a few years ago.

Lululemon (LULU +3.49%) spent most of the past decade trading like a premium growth stock. Investors rewarded the company for its strong brand, expanding international footprint, and industry-leading margins. It wasn't unusual for the stock to command a valuation north of 35 to 40 times earnings, as the market believed Lululemon could compound revenue and profits for years.

Today, that narrative looks very different. After several quarters of softer U.S. demand, inconsistent product execution, and rising margin pressure from tariffs, the stock has fallen sharply from its highs. With the valuation now sitting well below historical norms, a new question has emerged: Is Lululemon quietly becoming a value stock?

Let's break down what has changed and what matters most for long-term investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

Lululemon's valuation has reset dramatically
Lululemon's stock is undergoing the kind of significant valuation compression unseen in years. It now trades at a valuation far below its five-year average, reflecting the market's concerns about slowing North American demand and rising costs. As of the time of writing, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.4 times.

This reset doesn't automatically make Lululemon a value stock, but it creates a setup investors haven't seen in years. When a historically premium business trades at a discount, investors must determine whether the lower valuation reflects temporary issues or a permanent shift in fundamentals.

The key is that valuation only unlocks opportunity when the underlying business remains intact. That brings us to the next factor.

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Despite U.S. softness, the core business remains strong
The U.S. slowdown is real, but the long-term outlook remains resilient. For instance, Lululemon maintains gross margins that rank among the highest in the apparel industry. As of the quarter ended Aug. 3, 2025, the gross margin was 58.5%. Even with tariff headwinds, the company continues to operate with superior margins.

Besides, the balance sheet remains clean and cash-generative. Lululemon built its model around direct-to-consumer distribution, tight inventory discipline, and premium pricing -- structural strengths that do not disappear overnight, even though the business is currently going through some challenges to regain its peak performance.

Meanwhile, international markets continue to grow at a strong pace. China and Europe have delivered double-digit growth in recent quarters, and the company is still in the early stages of its long-term expansion plan outside North America. That global runway gives Lululemon multiple growth levers that remain intact even as the U.S. business resets.

This combination of high margins, international growth, and financial stability suggests the business hasn't fundamentally broken. Instead, it shows a strong company navigating a slowdown -- something even great brands experience occasionally.

Market sentiment appears overly pessimistic about the brand
Part of the valuation reset stems from concerns about brand cooling in the U.S. Analysts have pointed out issues with inconsistent design choices and product cycles that were too lengthy. Competition from rivals has also intensified.

These concerns have merit, but they also risk overstating the near-term slowdown as something more permanent. Lululemon continues to demonstrate high customer loyalty, a strong social media presence, and a differentiated position in the performance apparel market. The company has already acknowledged its product missteps and outlined a plan to address them.

This kind of volatility is not new to the apparel industry, as leading companies like Nike and Adidas have also experienced similar tough periods. Recovery takes management's willingness to acknowledge the issues and tackle them head on, and that's what Lululemon is doing now. If the company executes well on its reset, U.S. demand could stabilize faster than the current sentiment suggests.

By then, there may be another reset in sentiment, albeit toward the upside.

What does it mean for investors?
Lululemon doesn't fit the traditional definition of a value stock.

It remains a premium global brand, carries high margins, and operates with a long growth runway. Just that the stock now trades at a valuation that no longer assumes flawless execution, uninterrupted growth, or endless pricing power.

That shift creates a compelling setup for patient investors. If management establishes a strong product discipline, stabilizes U.S. demand, and effectively manages margin pressure, the stock could rerate higher as confidence returns. But if it fails to execute, the current valuation could persist.

In other words, there is a window of opportunity for those who have conviction that Lululemon can execute and return to its historical trajectory to buy at a multi-year low valuation.

Despite having one foot out the door, Berkshire Hathaway's billionaire boss is still positioning his company for long-term success.

We've officially entered the twilight of Warren Buffett's investing career. In a little over three weeks, when the curtain closes on 2025, Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A +0.14%)(BRK.B +0.22%) billionaire leader will step down from the CEO role and hand the reins over to predetermined successor Greg Abel.

Undoubtedly, investors will be sad to see the 95-year-old Buffett go. In his stead, Berkshire Hathaway's Class A shares (BRK.A) have skyrocketed by almost 6,118,000%, as of the closing bell on Dec. 3. For the sake of comparison, the benchmark S&P 500 has gained less than 46,000%, including dividends, over the same time frame. Outperforming Wall Street's major stock indexes while sticking to his value-focused, long-term investment philosophies has been a winning formula for the Oracle of Omaha.

But just because Berkshire's billionaire boss has one foot out the door, it doesn't mean he's not positioning the trillion-dollar company he helped build with his late right-hand man, Charlie Munger, for future success.

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett. Image source: The Motley Fool.

According to Form 13F filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkshire Hathaway's soon-to-be-retiring CEO has bet big on the following five unstoppable stocks for 2026.

Alphabet
Arguably, no investment overseen by the Oracle of Omaha has stood out more this year than the 17,846,142 shares of Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL +1.09%)(GOOG +1.16%) that were purchased during the September-ended quarter. Berkshire bought the Class A voting shares (GOOGL).

Although Buffett has long admired Alphabet's competitive advantages, he'd never taken the plunge (until now).

Google is a virtual monopoly, with the company accounting for between 89% and 93% of global internet search share over the last decade, based on data from GlobalStats. Alphabet is also the parent of streaming service YouTube, which is the second most-visited social website on the planet. This ideal positioning affords the company exceptional ad-pricing power and allows it to take advantage of lengthy economic expansions.

Beyond advertising, Alphabet is a major player in the cloud infrastructure service arena. Google Cloud is the world's No. 3 cloud infrastructure service platform by total spend, with sales increasing by more than 30% on a year-over-year basis. The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into Google Cloud is accelerating its growth rate.

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Sirius XM Holdings
A second unstoppable stock Berkshire's outgoing boss can't stop buying is satellite-radio operator Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI +2.06%). Though "only" 7,338,544 shares have been purchased in 2025, Buffett has been steadily adding to this position for years. Berkshire Hathaway holds more than 37% of Sirius XM's outstanding shares.

What makes this company special is that it's one of America's few legal monopolies. While it faces plenty of competition from terrestrial and online radio providers for listeners, it's the only company that possesses satellite radio licenses. This puts Sirius XM in an advantageous position when pricing its subscriptions.

Another aspect of Sirius XM Holdings' operating model that the Oracle of Omaha likely appreciates is its revenue mix. Whereas most terrestrial and online radio providers are almost exclusively reliant on advertising to keep the lights on, Sirius XM brought in only 20% of its net sales from ads during the first nine months of this year. A whopping 76% of its net sales come from subscriptions, which are far less likely to be cancelled than marketing budgets are to be reduced during economic downturns.

Sirius XM stock also offers an attractive value proposition. The company's dividend yield has topped 5%, its board has a steady share buyback program in place, and its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 7 is historically cheap.

Image source: Getty Images.

Domino's Pizza
Few stocks demonstrate Warren Buffett's conviction in a business quite like fast-food restaurant chain Domino's Pizza (DPZ 2.46%). Buffett has green-lit the purchase of Domino's stock for five consecutive quarters, resulting in 599,945 additional shares being acquired since the beginning of 2025.

Buffett's attraction to Domino's as an investment likely stems from its ability to garner the trust of its customers. In the late 2000s, the company acknowledged that its products had been subpar and undertook a mea culpa advertising campaign designed to rebuild trust in its brand. More than 15 years later, this transparency has been a catalyst for the company's steady growth.

The success of Domino's Pizza is also a reflection of consistently meeting or surpassing its five-year growth initiatives. The latest plan, dubbed "Hungry for MORE," incorporates AI and other tech tools to improve the company's supply chain and bolster production. Further, this strategy leverages the value of its franchisees and members to enhance the brand and foster customer loyalty.

To keep with the theme, Domino's has a hearty capital-return program. In addition to a steady stream of share buybacks, it's increased its base annual dividend for 13 consecutive years.

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UnitedHealth Group
Berkshire's soon-to-be-retiring CEO is also betting big on health insurance and healthcare services goliath UnitedHealth Group (UNH 0.77%) for 2026. The Oracle of Omaha oversaw the purchase of 5,039,564 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock during the second quarter.

The primary catalyst for this buying activity was likely the price dislocation that occurred in April and May. UnitedHealth's management team warned of higher-than-anticipated costs associated with its Medicare Advantage segment, which led the company to pull and, eventually, reduce its full-year profit guidance by a sizable amount.

Although it's been a less-than-stellar year for UnitedHealth Group, there are silver linings. Namely, its health insurance operations are often highly predictable and profitable. Since higher expenses are inevitable for insurers, they usually have little trouble increasing premiums on their members or exiting unprofitable markets. UnitedHealth is already taking steps to mitigate cost issues in its Medicare Advantage segment moving forward.

Its healthcare services subsidiary, Optum, can be another long-term bright spot for UnitedHealth Group. This generally higher-margin segment provides hospitals and healthcare facilities with a range of services, from pharmacy care services to the software they use.

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Pool Corp.
The fifth and final stock Warren Buffett has bet big on for 2026 is pool supplies and related equipment distributor Pool Corp. (POOL 1.00%). Berkshire's billionaire chief was a buyer for four consecutive quarters (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) and added 2,860,196 shares through the first six months of the current year.

One of the primary draws of Pool Corp stock is likely its strong cyclical ties. The Oracle of Omaha is well aware that economic expansions last considerably longer than recessions, and has angled Berkshire Hathaway's $315 billion investment portfolio to take advantage of this disparity. During periods of prolonged economic growth, homeowners are more likely to install pools and spas.

But dig a bit deeper, and you'll discover that a substantial portion of Pool's revenue stream is recurring. Once a homeowner or business installs a pool or spa, accessories and repairs are necessary to keep it in good working order. This leads to cash flow stability in most economic climates.

Pool Corp has also made a splash with its capital-return program. Through the first nine months of 2025, 85% of its $358 million in allocated capital has come in the form of dividends and share buybacks. In other words, management is incentivizing the long-term investing ethos that's served Warren Buffett well in his six decades as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with NEO NEXT Energy Limited (NEO NEXT) under which TotalEnergies will merge its Upstream business with NEO NEXT and become the leading shareholder in the expanded NEO NEXT, which will be renamed NEO NEXT+, with a 47.5% ownership. After completion of the transaction, NEO NEXT+ will: be jointly owned by TotalEnergies (47.5%), HitecVision (28.875%) and Repsol UK (23.625%) and encompass a large and diverse asset portfolio including nota.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The DJS Law Group  reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Stride, Inc. ("Stride " or "the Company") (NYSE: LRN ) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shareholders who purchased shares of LRN during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointments. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.

CLASS PERIOD:  October 22, 2024 to October 28, 2025

DEADLINE: January 12, 2026

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Stride presented misleading enrollment figures to investors based on "ghost students" and other deceptive practices. The Company failed to perform background checks and follow other compliance requirements. Based on these facts, Stride's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, contact us to participate .

NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS : Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.

WHY DJS LAW GROUP?  DJS Law Group's primary focus is to enhance investor return through balanced counseling and aggressive advocacy. We specialize in securities class actions, corporate governance litigation, and domestic/international M&A appraisals. Our clients are some of the largest and most sophisticated hedge funds and alternative asset managers in the world. The litigation claims of our clients are extraordinarily valuable assets that demand respect, focus, and results.

Join the case to recover your losses.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:
David J. Schwartz
DJS Law Group
274 White Plains Road, Suite 1
Eastchester, NY 10709
Phone: 914-206-9742
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE DJS Law Group LLP

Donald Trump has said he will be "involved" in the decision on whether Netflix should be allowed to buy Warner Bros, as the $72bn (£54bn) deal attracts a media industry backlash.

The US president acknowledged in remarks to reporters there "could be a problem", acknowledging concerns over the streaming giant's market dominance.

Crucially, he did not say where he stood on the issue.

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It was revealed on Friday that Netflix, already the world's biggest streaming service by market share, had agreed to buy Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and HBO Max streaming division.

The deal aims to complete late next year after the Discovery element of the business, mainly legacy TV channels showing cartoons, news and sport, has been spun off.

But the deal has attracted cross-party criticism on competition grounds, and there is also opposition in Hollywood.

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Netflix agrees $72bn takeover of Warner Bros

The Writers Guild of America said: "The world's largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent.

"The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers."

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File pic: Reuters

Republican Senator, Roger Marshall, said in a statement: "Netflix's attempt to buy Warner Bros would be the largest media takeover in history - and it raises serious red flags for consumers, creators, movie theaters, and local businesses alike.

"One company should not have full vertical control of the content and the distribution pipeline that delivers it. And combining two of the largest streaming platforms is a textbook horizontal Antitrust problem.

"Prices, choice, and creative freedom are at stake. Regulators need to take a hard look at this deal, and realize how harmful it would be for consumers and Western society."

Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the parent company of Sky News, were two other bidders in the auction process that preceded the announcement.

The Reuters news agency, citing information from sources, said their bids were rejected in favour of Netflix for different reasons.

Paramount's was seen as having funding concerns, they said, while Comcast's was deemed not to offer so many earlier benefits.

Read more:
Why Netflix could yet get its way in Trump's America
Netflix flexes its muscles - and could yet get its way

Paramount is run by David Ellison, the son of the Oracle tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who is a close ally of Mr Trump.

The president said of the Netflix deal's path to regulatory clearance: "I'll be involved in that decision".

On the likely opposition to the deal. he added: "That's going to be for some economists to tell. But it is a big market share. There's no question it could be a problem."