Market Signal Briefing

Story HighlightsThe PENGU price today is  $ 0.01753327The token could hit $0.046 in 2025 and reach $0.389 by 2030.Real-world toys, partnerships, and global branding strengthen PENGU’s long-term potential.Pudgy Penguins has transformed from a simple NFT collection into a cultural icon recognized worldwide. With toys in millions of homes, over 50 billion social media views, and partnerships stretching from Lufthansa to mainstream retailers, the project has captured both crypto natives and everyday audiences. At the heart of this ecosystem lies $PENGU, the official community token that embodies the project’s spirit of memes, resilience, and togetherness.

As the token gains traction, many investors are asking: how high can Pengu go in the coming years? This analysis blends tokenomics, cultural momentum, and adoption trends with projected price ranges for 2025 through 2030.

CryptocurrencyPudgy PenguinsTokenPENGUPrice$0.0175 -4.14% Market Cap$ 1,102,147,993.5324h Volume$ 135,239,354.1123Circulating Supply62,860,396,090.04Total Supply88,888,888,888.00All-Time High$ 0.0574 on 17 December 2024All-Time Low$ 0.0037 on 09 April 2025Pudgy Penguins Price ChartTechnical AnalysisPENGU is trading at $0.01748, pressured below the 20-day SMA at $0.02096 with a persistent downtrend. Technicals indicate:

Key Support: $0.01747 (lower Bollinger Band), $0.01724 (recent low)Resistance: $0.02096 (20-day SMA), $0.02444 (upper Bollinger Band)Indicators: RSI at 32.35 shows strong bearish momentum, nearing oversold territory.PENGU Short-Term Price PredictionPudgy Penguins Price Prediction 2025The price of Pengu currently sits at $0.01748. If momentum continues, the average price for 2025 is projected at $0.046. The potential low could test $0.023, while bullish conditions may push it up to $0.069.

Growth drivers include retail expansion of Pudgy Penguins toys, deeper community adoption of PENGU, and stronger presence in mainstream media campaigns. However, risks tied to meme-token volatility and market cycles should not be overlooked.

YearPotential LowPotential AveragePotential High2025$0.023$0.046$0.069Pudgy Penguins Mid-Term Price PredictionYearPotential LowPotential AveragePotential High2026$0.034$0.069$0.1032027$0.052$0.103$0.155Pengu Price Forecast 2026In 2026, Pengu could benefit from expanding Web3-native games and continued toy sales. The token is projected to average $0.069, with a potential low near $0.034 and a high of $0.103.

Pudgy Penguins Price Prediction 2027By 2027, broader adoption of $PENGU across merchandise and loyalty integrations may lift its average to $0.103. It may trade between $0.052 and $0.155, depending on market conditions and ecosystem growth.

Pudgy Penguins Long-Term Price PredictionYearPotential LowPotential AveragePotential High2028$0.078$0.155$0.2332029$0.117$0.233$0.3492030$0.175$0.349$0.389Pengu Price Forecast 2028If partnerships with gaming and entertainment companies deepen, Pengu could reach an average price of $0.155. The token might bottom around $0.078 and peak near $0.233.

Pengu Price Outlook 2029In 2029, Pengu’s cultural appeal could translate into a stronger market presence. Its average projection stands at $0.233, with a range of $0.117 on the low end and $0.349 in bullish conditions.

Pengu Price Prediction 2030By 2030, assuming Pudgy Penguins maintains its cultural relevance and brand partnerships expand, PENGU may reach an average of $0.349. The conservative floor is $0.175, while an optimistic scenario pushes it as high as $0.389.

Market AnalysisFirm Name202520262030CoinDCX$0.068$0.085$0.31Binance$0.03059$0.03212$0.03904CoinCodex$0.02203$0.041669$0.061224*The above figures represent average estimates from leading market trackers.

CoinPedia’s $PENGU Price PredictionWith over 50 billion in social media views and partnerships stretching from Lufthansa to mainstream retailers, PENGU’s price could soar to new highs. Successively, we can expect a bullish target of $0.069 by the end of 2025. In contrast, failing to do so could plummet the price to $0.023.

YearPotential LowPotential AveragePotential High2025$0.023$0.046$0.069Key Factors & RisksUtility Growth: PENGU’s future value depends on expanding use cases like Pudgy World and NFT collaborations.Market Volatility: Large token unlocks, whale moves, and speculation lead to high price swings and risk.Security Risks: Phishing scams and scams targeting investors pose ongoing threats and losses.Regulatory Uncertainty: Regulatory clarity for NFTs and hybrid tokens remains unclear, adding risk.Transparency Gaps: Limited project documentation and changing tokenomics create fundamental uncertainty.Competition & Liquidity: New projects and shifting investor interest could drain liquidity and momentum.FAQsWhat is Pengu?

PENGU is the official token of Pudgy Penguins, a global cultural brand born from NFTs.

Is Pengu a meme coin?

Yes and no, while PENGU thrives on memes and community spirit, it stands apart from typical meme coins by being tied to a globally recognized brand with real-world products and partnerships.

Can Pengu reach $1 by 2030?

Based on current growth trajectories, $1 looks ambitious by 2030.

Journalist

Posted: November 2, 2025

Key takeaways
Why is Solana trading so high despite weak sentiment?
Because SOL trades at 3x its TVL, with strong inflows from institutions like BSOL ETF pushing prices up.

What does negative funding and soft derivatives mean for SOL?
Traders are cautious and leaning short, but Spot buyers are keeping SOL’s price stable.

Solana’s [SOL] numbers don’t match the mood. The network now has over $40 billion in user assets, and SOL trades at more than 3 times its TVL.

Even so, on-chain sentiment is weak, with Funding Rates turning deeply negative as traders reduce risk. Meanwhile, Wall Street is still buying.

What’s going on?

Solana valuation far above its TVL
Solana apps now hold roughly $40 billion in user assets, yet SOL trades at more than 3x the ecosystem’s TVL. The chart shows how this multiple expanded through late-2024 and early-2025, even as TVL kept climbing.

Source: TokenTerminal/X

That means price strength was driven by outside flows, bidding the asset up faster than on-chain value grew.

Stablecoins, liquid staking, DEXs, lending, and RWAs pushed TVL toward all-time highs, but the FDV/TVL ratio stayed elevated.

In simple terms: Solana was priced aggressively, and markets paid a premium for exposure.

Institutions didn’t hesitate
While Solana looked “expensive” relative to TVL, that didn’t stop institutions from buying.

Source: Eric Balchunas/X

Bitwise’s BSOL ETF posted $417 million in weekly inflows, the highest across all crypto ETPs. Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas called it a “big time debut,” and the data backs it up.

Even though Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT slowed this week, BSOL kept moving. Wall Street money is getting in, and the higher prices might be driven by institutions.

Sentiment is soft, but price holds its range

Source: Coinalyze

Derivatives data shows that Open Interest has slipped from the highs, and Average Funding Rates have stayed negative around -0.17. This means traders have been leaning short and paying to be short.

Yet Spot price hasn’t broken down.

Source: TradingView

On the daily chart, SOL is still holding inside a tight $180-$195 band, with RSI near 44 and CMF slightly negative. This means caution.

Bears have conviction in the derivatives market, but Spot buyers are still absorbing supply. If funding flips back to neutral, this reset could turn into a rebound rather than another leg lower.

On Thursday, California-based Carmel Capital Partners disclosed that it fully exited its position in BSCR for an estimated $5.9 million during the third quarter.

What HappenedCarmel Capital Partners reported a complete sale of its holding in the Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCR +0.00%), eliminating its position of 301,243 shares. The transaction, estimated at approximately $5.9 million based on average pricing for the quarter, was disclosed in a regulatory filing on Thursday. The full filing is available here.

What Else to KnowTop holdings after the filing:

NYSE:HD: $32.1 million (13.5% of AUM)NYSEMKT:USFR: $27.2 million (11.4% of AUM)NASDAQ:PLTR: $20.7 million (8.7% of AUM)NYSE:LEN: $12.6 million (5.3% of AUM)NYSEMKT:CLOZ: $5.7 million (2.4% of AUM)As of Friday's market close, BSCR shares were priced at $19.70, up 1% over the past year.

ETF OverviewMetricValueAUM$4.2 billionPrice (as of market close Friday)$19.70Yield to maturity4.1%1-year total return4.3%ETF SnapshotBSCR's investment strategy focuses on tracking a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade corporate bonds maturing in 2027, aiming to provide defined maturity exposure.The underlying holdings consist primarily of investment grade corporate bonds with maturities in 2027.The ETF offers investors access to a diversified basket of bonds with a fixed maturity year.The Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF provides investors with targeted exposure to investment grade corporate bonds maturing in 2027. The fund is designed to appeal to investors seeking a defined maturity date and predictable cash flows.

Foolish TakeCarmel Capital Partners’ full exit from the Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ: BSCR) marks the continuation of a measured rotation away from shorter-duration debt toward higher-yield and longer-maturity credit.

The move follows Carmel’s sale of BSCQ and new allocations to BSCV (2031 maturity) and Eldridge’s BBB B-rated Corporate Credit ETF, signaling a conviction that interest rates will continue to moderate gradually through 2026. With yields beginning to decline and the Fed shifting toward a more neutral stance, the firm appears to be locking in longer-term opportunities before spreads tighten further.

As with Carmel's other moves last quarter, this general rotation underscores how defined-maturity ETFs like BSCR can serve as part of a laddering strategy—redeployed strategically as market conditions shift. Carmel’s moves reflect a broader theme among bond investors: After years of rate volatility, capital is flowing into intermediate and longer credit as the outlook for fixed income brightens.

Glossary13F reportable assets: Assets that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC, showing certain equity holdings.

Assets under management (AUM): The total market value of investments managed on behalf of clients by a fund or firm.

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding assets like stocks or bonds.

Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by an investment, expressed as a percentage of its current price.

Investment grade: Bonds rated as relatively low risk of default by credit rating agencies, typically BBB- or higher.

Corporate bond: A debt security issued by a corporation to raise capital, paying interest to investors.

Defined maturity exposure: Investment strategy targeting securities that mature in a specific year, providing a known end date.

Total return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.

Regulatory filing: Official documents submitted to government agencies, often disclosing financial or operational information.

, /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) between May 20, 2025 through August 18, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 23, 2025.

So what: If you purchased James Hardie common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the James Hardie class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46976mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 23, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, James Hardie Industries plc misled investors about the strength of its key North America Fiber Cement segment between May 20 and August 18, 2025. Despite knowing by April and early May that distributors were destocking inventory, James Hardie falsely claimed demand remained strong and that stock levels were "normal."  When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the James Hardie class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46976 or mailto:call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

      Laurence Rosen, Esq.
      Phillip Kim, Esq.
      The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
      275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
      New York, NY 10016
      Tel: (212) 686-1060
      Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
      Fax: (212) 202-3827
      [email protected]
      www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

ServiceNow's NYSE: NOW 5-for-1 stock split is a signal for investors to buy, as the reasons behind the decision point to a sustained uptrend in the stock price.

American rare earth stocks, like American Resources (AREC), USA Rare Earth (USAR), and United States Antimony (UAMY), plunge as US–China tensions ease ahead of President Trump and President Xi's meeting on Thursday in South Korea. William Blair analyst Neal Dingmann outlines how to invest in the rare earth space.

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman says only biological beings are capable of consciousness, and that developers and researchers should stop pursuing projects that suggest otherwise.

"I don't think that is work that people should be doing," Suleyman told CNBC in an interview this week at the AfroTech Conference in Houston, where he was among the keynote speakers. "If you ask the wrong question, you end up with the wrong answer. I think it's totally the wrong question."

Suleyman, Microsoft's top executive working on artificial intelligence, has been one of the leading voices in the rapidly emerging field to speak out against the prospect of seemingly conscious AI, or AI services that can convince humans they're capable of suffering.

In 2023, he co-authored the book "The Coming Wave," which delves into the risks of AI and other emerging technologies. And in August, Suleyman penned an essay titled, "We must build AI for people; not to be a person."

It's a controversial topic, as the AI companion market is swiftly growing, with products from companies including Meta and Elon Musk's xAI. And it's a complicated issue as the generative AI market, led by Sam Altman and OpenAI, pushes towards artificial general intelligence (AGI), or AI that can perform intellectual tasks on par with the capabilities of humans.

Read more CNBC reporting on AIThis Meta alum has spent 10 months leading OpenAI's nationwide hunt for its Stargate data centersAI Sam Altman and the Sora copyright gamble: 'I hope Nintendo doesn't sue us'Anthropic launches Claude Sonnet 4.5, its latest AI model that's 'more of a colleague'Sam Altman on worries about OpenAI’s $850 billion in planned buildouts: ‘I totally get that’Altman told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in August that AGI is "not a super useful term" and that what's really happening is models are advancing quickly and that we'll rely on them "for more and more things."

For Suleyman, it's particularly important to draw a clear contrast between AI getting smarter and more capable versus its ability to ever have human emotions.

"Our physical experience of pain is something that makes us very sad and feel terrible, but the AI doesn't feel sad when it experiences pain," Suleyman said. "It's a very, very important distinction. It's really just creating the perception, the seeming narrative of experience and of itself and of consciousness, but that is not what it's actually experiencing. Technically you know that because we can see what the model is doing."

Within the AI field, there's a theory called biological naturalism, proposed by philosopher John Searle, that says consciousness depends on processes of a living brain. 

"The reason we give people rights today is because we don't want to harm them, because they suffer. They have a pain network, and they have preferences which involve avoiding pain," Suleyman said. "These models don't have that. It's just a simulation."

watch now

Suleyman and others have said that the science of detecting consciousness is still in its infancy. He stopped short of saying that others should be prevented from researching the matter, acknowledging that "different organizations have different missions."

But Suleyman emphasized how strongly he opposes the idea. 

"They're not conscious," he said. "So it would be absurd to pursue research that investigates that question, because they're not and they can't be."

'Places that we won't go'Suleyman is on a speaking tour, in part to inform the public of the risks of pursuing AI consciousness.

Prior to the AfroTech Conference, he spoke last week at the Paley International Council Summit in Silicon Valley. There, Suleyman said that Microsoft will not build chatbots for erotica, a stance that's in conflict with others in the tech industry. Altman announced in October that ChatGPT will allow adult users to engage in erotic conversations, while xAI offers a risque anime companion.

"You can basically buy those services from other companies, so we're making decisions about what places that we won't go," Suleyman reiterated at AfroTech. 

Suleyman joined Microsoft in 2024 after the company paid his startup, Inflection AI, $650 million in a licensing and acquihire deal. He previously co-founded DeepMind and sold it to Google for $400 million over a decade ago.

During his Q&A session at AfroTech, Suleyman said he decided to join Microsoft last year in part because of the company's history, stability and vast technological reach. He was also pursued by CEO Satya Nadella.

"The other thing to say is that Microsoft needed to be self-sufficient in AI," he said onstage. "Satya, our CEO, set about on this mission about 18 months ago, to make sure that in house we have the capacity to train our own models end to end with all of our own data, pre training, post training, reasoning, deployment in products. And that was part of bringing on my team."

Since 2019, Microsoft has been a major investor and cloud partner to OpenAI, and the companies have used their respective strengths to build big AI businesses. But the relationship has shown signs of tension of late, with OpenAI partnering with Microsoft rivals like Google and Oracle, and Microsoft focusing more on its own AI services.

Suleyman's concerns about consciousness have gained resonance. In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 243, which requires that chatbots disclose they are AI and tell minors every three hours to "take a break."

Last week, Microsoft announced new features for its Copilot AI service, including an AI companion called Mico and the ability to engage with Copilot in group chats with others. Suleyman said Microsoft is building services that are aware that they're AI. 

"Quite simply, we're creating AIs that are always working in service of the human," he said. 

There's plenty of room for personality, he added.

"The knowledge is there, and the models are very, very responsive," Suleyman said. "It's on everybody to try and sculpt AI personalities with values that they want to see, they want to use and interact with."

Suleyman highlighted a feature Microsoft launched last week called real talk, which is a conversation style of Copilot designed to challenge users' perspectives instead of being sycophantic.

Suleyman described real talk as sassy and said it had recently roasted him, calling him "the ultimate bundle of contradictions" for warning of the dangers of AI in his book while also accelerating its development at Microsoft. 

"That was just a magical use case because in some ways I was like, I actually do feel kind of seen by this," Suleyman said, noting that AI itself full of contradictions. 

"It is both underwhelming in some ways and, at the same time, it's totally magical," he said. "And if you're not afraid by it, you don't really understand it. You should be afraid by it. The fear is healthy. Skepticism is necessary. We don't need unbridled accelerationism."

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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.

On Friday, Dallas-based Scalar Gauge Management disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold out of Clearwater Analytics Holdings (CWAN +1.21%) in the third quarter, with an estimated transaction value of $11.5 million.

What HappenedAccording to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing released Friday, Scalar Gauge Management sold its entire holding of 524,244 shares in Clearwater Analytics Holdings during the third quarter. The transaction value was $11.5 million based on the average share price for the quarter.

What Else to KnowTop holdings after the filing:

NASDAQ:BL: $32.7 million (16.7% of AUM)NASDAQ:AVGO: $13.9 million (7.1% of AUM)NYSE:FIX: $13.2 million (6.7% of AUM)NYSE:FN: $12.8 million (6.5% of AUM)NASDAQ:AXON: $11.1 million (5.7% of AUM)As of Friday's market close, CWAN shares were priced at $18.41, reflecting an approximate one-year decline of 29% and far underperforming the S&P 500's nearly 17% gain in the same period.

Company OverviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$551.1 millionNet Income (TTM)$406.4 millionPrice (as of market close Friday)$18.41One-Year Price Change(19%)Company snapshotClearwater Analytics Holdings leverages a SaaS business model to deliver mission-critical data aggregation and reporting solutions for institutional investors. It provides SaaS-based solutions for automated investment data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, reporting, performance measurement, compliance monitoring, and risk analytics. Customers include insurers, asset managers, corporations, institutional investors, and government entities seeking robust investment accounting and analytics capabilities.

Foolish TakeScalar Gauge Management’s decision to fully exit Clearwater Analytics Holdings in the third quarter seemingly represents an intentional pullback from software names that have struggled to deliver earnings momentum. The sale comes amid its similar exit from Five9, suggesting a broader rotation out of SaaS holdings amid valuation pressure and near-term fundamental weakness.

Clearwater Analytics reported second-quarter revenue of $181.9 million and reported a net loss of $24.2 million, missing analyst expectations and down from net income of $0.3 million one year prior. Meanwhile, its shares have tumbled 29% over the past year—a stark contrast to the S&P 500’s 17% gain. In its investor commentary, Scalar Gauge acknowledged that small- and mid-cap software valuations have compressed below 2022 levels, even as profitability improves. Despite calling enterprise software one of the “most attractive segments of the economy,” the firm appears to be trimming exposure until sentiment stabilizes.

For long-term investors, the move highlights a common tension in growth investing: Near-term volatility often obscures long-run potential. As digital transformation and AI adoption continue accelerating, disciplined reentry, rather than capitulation, could prove the smarter play.

GlossaryAUM: Assets under management; the total market value of investments managed by a fund or firm.

13F reportable assets: Securities that investment managers must disclose in quarterly SEC filings if they manage over $100 million.

Liquidation: The process of selling off an investment position, often fully exiting a holding.

Transaction value: The total dollar amount received from selling or buying securities in a single transaction.

Stake: The amount of ownership or investment a fund holds in a specific company.

SaaS: Software as a Service; a business model delivering software via the internet, typically by subscription.

Data aggregation: The process of collecting and combining data from multiple sources for analysis or reporting.

Reconciliation: The process of ensuring financial records from different sources are consistent and accurate.

Performance measurement: Assessing how well an investment or portfolio achieves its financial objectives.

Compliance monitoring: Ongoing checks to ensure investments follow legal, regulatory, and policy guidelines.

Risk analytics: Tools and processes used to identify, assess, and manage potential financial risks in investments.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

Taiwan Semiconductor is a predetermined winner in the AI arms race.

Identifying the single best AI stock to buy and hold is incredibly difficult, and everyone has their own opinion on the subject. There are several options, ranging from hardware providers to hyperscalers to software applications, but I think investors should focus on where the money is flowing.

Right now, the biggest area where money is being spent is in building out the AI computing footprint. This makes hardware one of the best areas to invest in, and I've pinpointed what I think the single best AI stock investment is right now. While an argument could be made for Nvidia (NVDA 0.04%) or one of the rising competitors, I think there is no better option than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 0.90%).

TSMC -- as it's also known -- is in the driver's seat for the entire AI computing industry, and is incredibly important for every computing equipment provider because they can't manufacture their own chips. That's where Taiwan Semiconductor comes in, and that makes it a must-own stock in the AI arms race.

AI isn't the same without Taiwan Semiconductor
TSMC is the world's largest chip foundry by revenue. This stems from its role as a neutral chip supplier, as clients aren't worried about their designs getting reverse-engineered and launched under the foundry's name.

Taiwan Semiconductor's clients range from major computing players like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +0.68%), and Broadcom (AVGO 1.71%) to consumer device companies like Apple (AAPL 0.31%). If there's a high-tech device that you use, chances are it has chips originating from Taiwan Semiconductor in it.

Because of that, Taiwan Semiconductor could easily be named one of the (if not the) most important companies in the world. None of today's artificial intelligence technology would look the same without Taiwan Semiconductor, and that's why I think it's one of the best options to invest in right now.

Today's Change

(

-0.90

%) $

-2.72

Current Price

$

300.50

Taiwan Semiconductor is also solving one of AI's biggest problems: power consumption. It's no secret that AI data centers are power hungry and are driving consumer electricity prices through the roof in some areas of the country. Additionally, the power grid will start to become a huge issue in a few years as more and more data centers come online.

To solve this energy crisis, many companies are considering building nuclear power plants or other energy-generating technologies to increase energy capacity.

However, Taiwan Semiconductor is tackling this problem from a different angle. Taiwan Semiconductor's new 2nm (nanometer) chip node is entering production currently, and has massive benefits over previous generations. When configured to run at the same processing speeds as 3nm chips, 2nm chips consume 25% to 30% less power. That's a massive improvement and would alleviate part of the energy crisis. While it isn't a solution by itself, it's a part of a larger picture to ensure there's enough electricity available to power AI aspirations.

These chips aren't a free upgrade and will create further increased sales for Taiwan Semiconductor. With that in mind, how much growth can investors expect from Taiwan Semiconductor's stock over the next few years?

Taiwan Semiconductor has already delivered excellent growth
During the third quarter, Taiwan Semiconductor's revenue rose 41% year over year in U.S. dollars, exceeding expectations. But that's in the past. What can investors expect in the future?

Nvidia projects that global data center capital expenditure will total $600 billion this year, but rise to $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030. If we use the high end of that projection, that indicates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46%. However, Taiwan Semiconductor only derives 57% of its revenue from high-powered computing applications. Smartphones account for 30%, and the rest is split among a handful of other industries.

Smartphones aren't the growth engine they used to be, so this will hold back Taiwan Semiconductor's overall growth rate from the AI industry. Even if we project TSMC's revenue to rise at a 20% CAGR from now until 2030, that would indicate 148% revenue growth. Taiwan Semiconductor isn't valued at too much of a premium compared to its big tech peers (24 times 2026's earnings), so this growth should translate directly into stock growth if it can maintain its margins.

A 148% upside in five years is an incredible return, making it my top AI stock to buy now.

Keithen Drury has positions in Broadcom, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

In the midst of an unprecedented AI buildout, Meta is spending more than most. The company is building two massive data centers, and reporting indicates there will be as much as $600 billion in spending on U.S. infrastructure over the next three years.  

Those figures might not raise eyebrows in Silicon Valley, but they’re starting to make Wall Street nervous. 

The issue came to a head this week as Meta reported quarterly earnings, which showed the company’s operating expenses jumping $7 billion year-over-year and nearly $20 billion in capital expense. It was the result of intense spending on AI talent and infrastructure, which has yet to bring in meaningful revenue for the company. When analysts pressed for more specifics, Mark Zuckerberg made it clear the spending was just getting started. 

“The right thing to do is to try to accelerate this to make sure that we have the compute that we need, both for the AI research and new things that we’re doing, and to try to get to a different state on our compute stance on the core business,” Zuckerberg told analysts on the call. “Our view is that when we get the new models that we’re building in MSL in there and get like truly frontier models with novel capabilities that you don’t have in other places, then I think that this is just a massive latent opportunity.” 

If his goal was to reassure investors, it didn’t work. By the end of the call, Meta’s share price had plummeted in value. Two days later, the rout has only deepened. The Meta’s stock dropped 12% by the closing bell on Friday, representing more than $200 billion in lost market cap. 

It’s dangerous to read too much into stock prices, and in strict financial terms, Meta’s quarterly earnings weren’t that bad. ($20 billion in quarterly profit is nothing to complain about.) But this was the first quarter in which Meta’s aggressive AI spending on both talent and infrastructure had a visible impact on the company’s bottom line. Even more alarming was that, aside from a lot of enormous data centers and well-compensated AI researchers, it wasn’t clear what the money actually bought.  

Analysts pressed Zuckerberg on why he was spending so much on AI, and when they could expect to see revenue from the growing spending. But the call came at an odd spot in Meta’s planning, with no clear budget for projected spending and no available product that could anchor a revenue forecast. As a result, Zuckerberg was left with only general claims about the promise of AI.  

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“There are going to be all kinds of new products around different content formats, and we’re starting to see that,” he asid during the call. “And then there are the business versions of all these too, like business A … the other part is how more intelligent models are just going to improve the core business and improve the recommendations that we make across the Family of Apps and improve the recommendations in advertising.” 

Meta isn’t the only company spending billions of dollars on AI infrastructure, so it’s worth teasing out why this same spending isn’t spooking investors at Google or Nvidia, both of which had a great quarter. OpenAI is the biggest offender, spending the same amount with far less financial cushion than Meta.  

There really are concerns that we’re creating a bubble, and if we are, Meta’s core business will let it ride things out better than most. 

But if you ask Sam Altman why he’s spending hundreds of billions of dollars on compute, he’ll tell you he’s operating one of the fastest growing consumer services in human history — and one bringing in $20 billion a year in revenue. We can argue about how sustainable the growth rate is (that’s a separate blog post), but there really is a fast-growing product at the bottom of all the OpenAI hype. A fast-growing ARR figure goes a long way to answer questions. 

Meta doesn’t have a product like that, and it’s not clear where it’s going to come from.  

The company’s most powerful AI product is the Meta AI assistant, which Zuckerberg noted on the call has more than a billion active users. But those numbers are surely juiced by the three billion active users on Facebook and Instagram, and it’s hard to see the current version of Meta AI as a competitor to ChatGPT. There’s also the Vibes video generator, which really did boost daily active users, but has limited business impact beyond that.  

The most ambitious project is the Vanguard smart glasses released earlier this month. However, the glasses feel more like an extension of Meta’s Reality Labs work than a real attempt to harness the power of LLMs.  

Put simply, these are promising experiments, not fully formed products. 

It’s telling then that when he was pressed on infrastructure spending, Zuckerberg’s response wasn’t to point to the recent launches, but to focuse on the next generation. 

Zuckerberg stressed, while emphasizing the pending impact of the Superintelligence Lab’s new models, that he was very excited about new products.  

“It’s not just Meta AI as an assistant,” he said. “We expect to build novel models and novel products, and I’m excited to share more when we have it.”  

But this was an earnings call, not a product launch, so all he could say was that there would be more to share “in the coming months.” 

As the market response showed that answer is wearing thin.  

To be fair, it’s only been four months since Zuckerberg restructured his company’s AI team, and the new Superintelligence team hasn’t had time to launch an earthshaking AI product yet. But as the company spends billions of dollars to stay competitive in AI, there’s still no clear indication of what role Zuckerberg wants to play in the new industry.  

Will Meta AI use the company’s detailed store of personal data to grow into a ChatGPT competitor? Is Vibes the first step in a consumer entertainment play, building off Meta’s targeted ad system? Or maybe Zuckerberg’s references to “business AI” are hints at a more detailed enterprise play? 

So far, it’s anyone’s guess. Whatever the answer, the pressure is on Meta to find it — and soon. 

NEW YORK, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) between November 8, 2024 and August 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important November 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Fortinet common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Fortinet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the business impact and sustainability of a purportedly “record” round of FortiGate unit upgrades. Defendants represented that this “refresh cycle” was “by far the largest we’ve seen probably ever,” would generate “around $400 million to $450 million in product revenue” in 2025 and 2026, and would create strong opportunities to cross-sell additional products and services. Defendants also represented that the refresh cycle would “gain momentum” in the second half of 2025 and beyond.

The lawsuit alleges these statements were materially false and misleading. In truth, defendants knew that the refresh cycle would never be as lucrative as they represented because it consisted of old products that were a “small percentage” of the Company’s business. Moreover, defendants misrepresented and concealed that they did not have a clear picture of the true number of FortiGate firewalls that could be upgraded. And while telling investors that the refresh would gain momentum over the course of two years, Fortinet misrepresented and concealed that it had aggressively pushed through roughly half of the refresh in a period of just a few months, by the end of 2Q 2025. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Fortinet class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

The S&P 500 might be pricey, but not every stock is.

It's not easy to find bargain stocks these days. The S&P 500 continues to move higher, approaching 7,000. It now trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 29 and is the second-most expensive it's ever been, according to the Shiller P/E ratio, which takes into account the last 10 years of earnings.

However, not every stock is trading in nosebleed territory. In fact, some stocks still look dirt cheap and could be great investments if you have $2,000 to put into the market.

 
1. General Motors
General Motors (GM +0.61%) has been a longtime laggard, but recently, the legacy automaker seems to be getting the credit it deserves. The stock jumped on its recent third-quarter earnings report, and the company is now benefiting from a number of trends in the auto industry.

First, and most importantly, it's now clear that electric vehicles (EVs) will not displace traditional combustion vehicles, or at least not as fast as Wall Street once expected. A combination of consumer demand shifting away from EVs and the Trump administration's decision to eliminate the $7,500 EV tax credit has given a decided tailwind to automakers like GM.

Investors also once feared that the legacy automaker could get crushed by tariffs, but the government's recent addition of an offset of 3.75% of the value of all trucks made in the U.S. over the next five years seems to give the company an advantage over foreign automakers, at least for vehicles GM sells in the U.S.

Today's Change

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0.42

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69.09

Both of those shifts helped drive third-quarter results above estimates and an improvement in guidance. Revenue in the quarter fell slightly, down 0.3% to $48.6 billion, but that was well ahead of estimates at $45.33 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell from $2.96 to $2.80, which also topped the consensus at $2.32.

GM lowered the estimated gross tariff impact for the year from a range of $4 billion to $5 billion to between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion, and raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from between $8.25 and $10 to a range of $9.75 to $10.50.

Based on that guidance, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of less than 7, and the company has a track record of buying back stock, reducing its shares outstanding by 15% over the last year. It can certainly do more of that as the company spins off cash.

With the threat from EVs now seeming muted and the tariff situation having improved, GM looks in position to push EPS higher, both through profit growth and share buybacks.

2. Deckers
Deckers Outdoor (DECK +0.74%), the parent company of footwear brands like Hoka and Ugg, has been one of the best-performing stocks of this century, but the company has struggled lately.

Pressure from tariffs and headwinds on consumer discretionary spending has pushed the stock down more than 50% from its peak earlier this year. While some of those concerns are warranted, the stock looks oversold at this point, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 14 based on its EPS forecast this year of $6.30 to $6.39.

Deckers is facing challenges, including weakness in the U.S. that led to a 1.7% decline in domestic sales in the quarter, and an estimated $150 million headwind this year from tariffs, though it's making moves to mitigate some of those expenses.

Today's Change

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0.74

%) $

0.60

Current Price

$

81.49

However, the headwinds facing Deckers seem short-term. Consumer spending should eventually improve as the economic cycle turns, and the impact from tariffs will be absorbed by next year.

Meanwhile, there are still bright spots in the business. The international market, including China, is shining as international sales were up 29.3% $591.3 million in the quarter, making up more than 40% of revenue. Wholesale revenue improved 13.4% as the company shifted away from the direct-to-consumer channel, and its core brands both grew double digits in the quarter, though it expects Ugg sales to slow into the key winter months. On the other hand, core franchises at Hoka remain strong.

Overall, Deckers has a proven track record of managing and growing footwear brands, and it should get back to steady bottom-line growth over the long term.

For a reliable winner like Deckers, this price is a true discount.

The stock trades near its highest point this year after Qualcomm announced its AI accelerators.

Qualcomm (QCOM +2.16%) stock surged 11% higher on Oct. 27. Investors again showed interest in the stock after it released its own data center artificial intelligence (AI) chips. Although that move puts it in direct competition with heavyweights like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, demand is such that Qualcomm still could succeed.

The problem comes with its stock and how investors must now assess the opportunity. Does the Oct. 27 surge in the stock price mean Qualcomm has turned a corner, or have the shares moved too far and too fast?

Image source: Getty Images.

Qualcomm and its stock
Among the biggest semiconductor stocks, few have struggled more than Qualcomm. It remains the leading producer of smartphone chipsets and has maintained a technical lead in that niche for decades despite the competition.

Nonetheless, customers have not taken to AI-enabled phones like they did with 5G or other technical improvements. Thus, the current upgrade cycle has not been as robust as past cycles. Also, it appears Apple is finally going to drop Qualcomm as a chipset provider, taking away a critical customer.

Additionally, China is Qualcomm's largest revenue source. This leaves the company particularly vulnerable as the United States' tenuous relationship with the People's Republic brings tremendous uncertainty to its business.

Despite those challenges, Qualcomm's net income grew to almost $8.7 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2025 (ended June 29), a 20% yearly increase. Additionally, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is just 17, far below the S&P 500 average of 32 for stocks such as Nvidia or AMD.

The improving case for Qualcomm stock
Furthermore, the stock is up slightly over the past year, leaving investors to ponder whether the news may have sparked the beginnings of a long-awaited bull market in Qualcomm stock.

Qualcomm has worked for years to diversify beyond smartphone chipsets. With that, it moved into the Internet of Things (IoT) and automotive. Although those segments make up a combined 23% of Qualcomm's revenue, they are growing faster than the still-dominant handset segment. Moreover, Qualcomm has also ventured into making PC chips, and given that, this move into AI accelerators is probably not surprising.

Its first AI accelerator, the AI200, will come out in 2026. It is a rack-scale solution designed to run at a lower cost while still offering optimized performance for large language models (LLMs) and AI inference. It also plans to bring to market an upgraded AI250 accelerator in 2027 that will offer 10x the memory bandwidth of the AI200.

Today's Change

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2.16

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3.83

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$

181.09

Given the rapid expansion of the AI accelerator market, one can understand Qualcomm's interest. According to Grand View Research, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the AI chip market is estimated at 29% through 2030.

Qualcomm's new releases and the industry growth sound promising. Nonetheless, in addition to Nvidia and AMD, investors should remember that Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and OpenAI are also developing AI accelerators. With that intense competition, it is unclear if or how much Qualcomm's solution will ultimately stand out. Such uncertainty may make it difficult for investors to determine whether that industry can spark a bull market in Qualcomm stock or if they should stay on the sidelines.

Has Qualcomm stock turned a corner?
It is likely too early to tell whether the AI chip release means Qualcomm stock has turned a corner, but the behavior of other AI stocks suggests more gains are coming for Qualcomm. Admittedly, Qualcomm stock has struggled for years amid the state of its smartphone chipset business and its geopolitical challenges.

However, the stock has not yet made huge gains over the past year despite the Oct. 27 buying spree. Moreover, the 17 P/E ratio makes Qualcomm far cheaper than its largest competitors in the AI accelerator space. Furthermore, Qualcomm's net income has increased significantly without the help of an AI accelerator product.

Hence, given the low valuation and rapid income growth, the move into AI accelerators could be just the catalyst Qualcomm's shares need to move higher.

Will Healy has positions in Advanced Micro Devices. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool 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.

Some might call them boring businesses, but they have tremendous dividend growth track records.

Dividends are one of investors' most powerful tools for earning strong returns over the long run. Buying shares of strong dividend-paying companies and reinvesting the payout allows compounding to work its magic. That's partly why, over the long run, dividend stocks have vastly outperformed non-paying counterparts. It also helps that corporations that can issue regular (and growing) payouts tend to have robust underlying businesses.

With that said, let's consider two outstanding dividend stocks that are worth holding on to for good: AbbVie (ABBV 4.45%) and Zoetis (ZTS +0.34%).

1. AbbVie
AbbVie, a well-known, leading pharmaceutical company, has many of the qualities of a forever stock. First, the products it sells will never go out of style, at least until we stumble upon a way to cure all diseases, which probably won't happen anytime soon. Second, AbbVie generates consistent revenue and earnings even in times of economic troubles. The company's portfolio of medicines spans immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and other areas. Many treat chronic, sometimes life-threatening, conditions.

One exception is AbbVie's Botox Cosmetic, a product people can choose to forgo without significant consequences when the economy is down. Still, its brand name makes it a perpetual leader in its niche. The broader point is that demand for AbbVie's medicines remains high when the going gets rough, and since insurance generally helps cover the costs, patients don't bear the full burden during economic recessions.

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-10.16

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$

218.04

Third, AbbVie has the innovative qualities and the deep pipeline necessary to survive patent cliffs. After expertly navigating the loss of patent exclusivity for Humira -- a medicine that generated $21.2 billion in annual sales at its peak -- a couple of years ago, AbbVie quickly returned to top-line growth and won't face another major patent cliff through the end of the decade at least.

The company's growth drivers, especially its immunology medicines Skyrizi and Rinvoq, should help it post excellent financial results through the mid-2030s at least. By then, the company will likely have found new gems to replace them.That's how pharmaceutical companies stay in business for a long time, and AbbVie has shown that it can follow this blueprint.

Then, there is the company's dividend record. AbbVie is a member of the Dividend Kings, a group of corporations that have raised their payouts for at least 50 straight years. AbbVie's own streak stands at 53. Overall, AbbVie looks like a reliable dividend payer that should continue to perform well and reward shareholders for a long time. The stock is a great forever pick for dividend seekers.

2. Zoetis
Zoetis is a leading animal health company. Its products span multiple categories, including poultry, companion animals, and fish. Zoetis also sells a variety of products for these animals. It boasts about 300 brands, with 17 of its products generating over $100 million in annual revenue. However, the company's most important long-term opportunity lies within its companion animal category, where it already generates most of its sales. There are several reasons for that.

The company's livestock segment, for instance, is cyclical. Demand for animal protein can dip significantly due to economic conditions. Other factors, sometimes unpredictable ones (such as disease outbreaks), can affect it.

In contrast, the company's companion animal unit is more stable. There is consistent demand for products to care for dogs and cats. This mirrors the recurring prescriptions people receive, which force them to refill medicines at regular intervals. And since many owners consider their pets family members, they are more than willing to pay for them.

Today's Change

(

0.34

%) $

0.49

Current Price

$

144.09

Partly thanks to its strong performance in the companion animal category, Zoetis has remained a leader in the animal health niche, generally generating stronger revenue and earnings growth than the average, while consistently innovating and launching newer products. Over the long run, we can expect this segment to perform well as pet ownership continues to rise.

Lastly, looking at Zoetis' dividend track record, the company has increased its payouts by 502.4% over the past 10 years. Zoetis is a dream come true for income-oriented investors focused on the long game.

Viking's stock surged in one trading session after a positive clinical trial report last year.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 0.37%) leaped onto center stage early last year when it announced promising news about a candidate addressing an area of soaring demand: weight loss. The biotech then said its weight loss candidate, VK2735, met the goals of its phase 2 study. Investors realized it would be continuing into later-stage trials -- and the stock price surged more than 120% in one trading session.

Viking remains on track, with the injectable candidate in phase 3 trials and an oral version now in phase 2. As for the stock price, it lost momentum and fell 47% over the past year. But in recent times, the positive momentum has gained some ground. The shares have climbed about 16% over the past three months.

Now, heading into the first week of November, Viking faces a couple of potential catalysts. Should you buy the stock before Nov. 5 to possibly benefit? Let's find out.

Image source: Getty Images.

Viking's weight loss candidate
First, let's take a quick look at Viking's ups and downs over the past year or so. The company's VK2735 falls into the same category of drugs as those dominating the weight loss market today. These are GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists such as those made by pharma giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. These types of drugs act on hormones involved in the digestion process and, as a result, help control blood sugar levels and appetite.

Though Novo Nordisk and Lilly already dominate the market, demand is so great for these products that there's room for others to enter -- and potentially generate blockbuster revenue down the road. Viking, with a candidate in phase 3 trials right now, could reach the finish line within the next few years if all goes smoothly. The candidate in its phase 2 study showed up to 13.1% average weight loss after 13 weeks -- and researchers didn't observe a plateau, which means patients may continue to lose weight after that period.

Today's Change

(

-0.37

%) $

-0.14

Current Price

$

38.03

Viking versus Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly
It's impossible to compare Viking's candidate with the Novo Nordisk and Lilly drugs since each trial design is different -- and the pharmaceutical companies' drugs today are being used in the real world. But Viking's trial results are solid and suggest it could clearly find a spot in the weight loss market -- a market that analysts say may approach $100 billion by the end of this decade.

Though Viking shares have declined from their peak and spent some time in the doldrums, this isn't based on any bad news from the company. Reasons for the stock price movement could be many, from some investors locking in profits to disappointment that the company hasn't been acquired by a bigger player seeking access to the obesity market. The positive point here is that these reasons don't support a sell case for this stock.

Now, let's consider the potential catalysts coming up this week -- and whether you should buy the stock before Nov. 5.

Presentations this week
Viking is set to make poster presentations about VK2735 at two medical conferences this week. At ObesityWeek 2025, the company will make two poster presentations, scheduled for Nov. 5 and 6. One will cover how VK2735 impacted prediabetes and metabolic syndrome in the phase 2 study, and the other will detail the design of the company's phase 3 study in patients with obesity and at least one weight-linked health problem.

Later in the week, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, Viking's poster presentations will feature the design of the phase 3 study in type 2 diabetes patients who are also overweight and a look at the company's research into the frequency of cardiometabolic conditions across body mass index levels.

The data could reinforce the importance of VK2735 and other drugs in its class, and that may support optimism about the candidate and Viking in general. Weight loss drugs linked to the reduction of other health problems have an easier road to reimbursement, so these observations shouldn't be overlooked.

Still, since this isn't a trial report or update like the one that drove massive gains early last year, I wouldn't expect enormous stock price movement.

All this means that Viking is a great biotech buy -- its candidate is promising, you can benefit from getting in on the dip, and momentum has been picking up. But you don't have to rush to scoop up this player before Nov. 5. Instead, you can take your time and leisurely build up a position.

NEW YORK, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) between February 23, 2022 and July 30, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important December 15, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Baxter common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Baxter class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17664 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 15, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants misled investors by failing to disclose that: (1) the Novum IQ Large Volume Pump (“Novum LVP”) suffered systemic defects that caused widespread malfunctions, including underinfusion, overinfusion, and complete non-delivery of fluids, which exposed patients to risks of serious injury or death; (2) Baxter was notified of multiple device malfunctions, injuries, and deaths from these defects; (3) Baxter’s attempts to address these defects through customer alerts were inadequate remedial measures, when design flaws persisted and continued to cause serious harm to patients; (4) as a result, there was a heightened risk that customers would be instructed to take existing Novum LVPs out of service and that Baxter would completely pause all new sales of these pumps; and (5) based on the foregoing, Baxter’s statements about the safety, efficacy, product rollout, customer feedback and sales prospects of the Novum LVPs were materially false and misleading. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Baxter class action go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17664 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

The semiconductor company is getting its footing with new management at the helm.

Intel (INTC 0.32%) is officially up 100% this year. The forgotten semiconductor giant is regaining its footing after receiving investments from both Nvidia and the United States government, while also splitting off a subsidiary named Altera. With a cleaned-up balance sheet and earnings momentum, Intel's cash burn has begun to stabilize, with plans to increase its manufacturing capacity in the U.S. as a part of its reshoring strategy.

Today, Intel trades at a market cap of just $200 billion, compared to Nvidia approaching $5 trillion. Does that make Intel stock a buy, with good news finally arriving for the computer chip company? Let's take a closer look and find out.

Today's Change

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%) $

-0.13

Current Price

$

40.03

Nvidia and government investments
After a decade of missteps, Intel has officially lost its position as the top manufacturer of advanced semiconductors for computers, smartphones, and data centers. Artificial intelligence (AI) spending has further deepened this divide. Data centers are now being filled with computer chips from Nvidia and other semiconductor companies instead of from Intel, whose designs have fallen behind the pack.

Since the end of 2022, Intel has been burning cash to try to catch up in semiconductor design and to invest in its own semiconductor foundry to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. A foundry is a manufacturing plant for semiconductors where a company makes third-party designs for customers. Historically, Intel simply manufactured its own chips, but it has since fallen behind in capabilities to its Taiwanese competition.

At the start of this year, investors had counted Intel out, expecting it to keep losing ground to Taiwan Semiconductor and Nvidia. However, Intel's fortunes have begun to change. It brought on new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, a semiconductor design veteran. He then proceeded to sell a stake in Altera, a chip subsidiary for programmable design, for $4.46 billion to raise funds.

Later in the summer, the U.S. government took a strategic stake in Intel as a national champion in semiconductor manufacturing, while Nvidia invested $5 billion into the company. These funds will be used to help Intel invest for the future of AI semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., giving it a better footing to compete without worrying about its balance sheet. This is why Intel stock is up significantly in recent months, rewarding shareholders who bet on the storied brand in one of its darkest moments.

Image source: Getty Images.

Will it split off the foundry?
We can think of Intel as two businesses. There's the integrated design and manufacturing of its own computer chips, which we can call the legacy business model. Last quarter, Intel's combined segments from this legacy business -- including personal computing and data center sales -- generated $12.6 billion in revenue and $3.7 billion in segment operating income. That's a respectable business, but one still significantly behind Nvidia in terms of scale and profitability.

Then, we have the foundry business. It does a measly $4.2 billion in revenue, and it actually lost $2.3 billion last quarter. Intel needs more scale in manufacturing computer chips for other companies before it can generate a profit, which is the main reason the company has negative free cash flow at the moment. A key issue preventing growing demand for Intel's foundry business is that its potential customers compete with Intel's own computer chips when selling into data center deployments.

With this conflict of interest, analysts have proposed that Intel split up its chip design and manufacturing businesses into two separate companies, using the profits and cash flow generated by the chip design business to capitalize the foundry manufacturing business as it scales up. This would make it more palatable for customers to sign up with the Intel foundry, while giving it a balance sheet capable of surviving years of cash burn as it scales up its factories.

It's unclear whether a plan for this is in the works, but it could help the combined design and foundry businesses grow earnings over the long haul.

Is Intel stock a buy today?
With a market value of $200 billion, Intel trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 15 -- if we exclude the money-losing foundry business and simply look at the segment earnings from its personal computer and data center sales. This is a reasonable earnings multiple, especially if you think Intel will start to catch up to competitors like Nvidia over the next decade.

However, that still leaves investors with the foundry business burning a hole in Intel's pocket. Add this subsidiary into the mix, and Intel's stock looks much more expensive on trailing earnings, and risky. If you're a believer in the long-term growth of Intel's foundry and the potential split from its design business, the stock is a buy. But if you think it will stay behind Taiwan Semiconductor forever, then it's best to avoid adding after this massive run-up.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BTE 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.

Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor and this is not a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Investors are recommended to read all of the company's filings and press releases as well as do their own research to determine if the company fits their own investment objectives and risk portfolios.

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.

Donation to help accelerate relief as the island's communities face widespread devastation

, /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's today announced a $1 million donation to support hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts in Jamaica after the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa earlier this week. As a part of the company's long-standing commitment to helping communities when they need it most, the donation will provide grants and product donations to nonprofit relief partners.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Jamaica," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's chairman and CEO. "We believe in showing up to help when communities need it most. Through our nonprofit partners we aim to accelerate recovery efforts to help the island begin the long road to recovery."  

The direct hit from the powerful Category 5 hurricane left many Jamaican communities nearly demolished. Lowe's is working closely with its nonprofit partners on the ground in Jamaica to help meet urgent needs while also planning support for long-term recovery. Since the hurricane made landfall, Lowe's red vest associates have mobilized to deliver critical supplies to the island, including generators and flood relief buckets.

Visit Lowe's Newsroom for updates on Lowe's ongoing work to support recovery efforts.

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week, with total fiscal year 2024 sales of more than $83 billion. Lowe's employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,700 home improvement stores, 530 branches and 130 distribution centers. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.  

Media Contact

Laurel Waller
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
[email protected]

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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.

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 payments leader is making some big moves into AI, and the latest one is a big deal.

There has been no shortage of deals among artificial intelligence (AI) companies recently, with chipmakers, AI software developers, and other types of tech companies announcing big partnerships.

Well, PayPal (PYPL +2.00%) just joined the party. The online payments leader announced a deal with ChatGPT developer OpenAI to facilitate payments directly through the AI tool. But what could this mean to investors? Here's a rundown of the key points of the deal and what it could mean for the stock long-term.

PayPal's deal with OpenAI
First, here are the key points of PayPal's deal with OpenAI. The main idea is that PayPal will become the first digital wallet to be embedded into ChatGPT, which will enable users to pay for items they find through the platform.

We've seen several e-commerce companies announce deals to integrate their platforms with ChatGPT, including Etsy, Shopify, and Walmart. So, this deal will essentially let ChatGPT users who want to buy items use PayPal to complete the transaction without ever leaving ChatGPT.

Not only will this deal allow customers to pay for purchases with PayPal, but it will enable PayPal's millions of merchants to sell their products through the leading AI tool.

It's worth mentioning that fintech payment processor Stripe is also involved with OpenAI's Instant Checkout feature, specifically when it comes to allowing users to pay for Etsy purchases. But there are some big differences. Stripe is not a consumer-facing company -- it has no mobile app for consumers, and it cannot store funds on behalf of users. It's a payment tool, not a digital wallet. PayPal will be the first way to use stored funds to shop through ChatGPT.

What will this mean for PayPal investors?
It remains to be seen exactly what AI-powered shopping will ultimately look like or how quickly it will catch on, and it will almost certainly be an industry that evolves rapidly. But the general idea is that ChatGPT (and potentially other AI tools) can effectively serve as personal shoppers, helping users find the right products to meet their needs.

It's tough to overstate what a big win this deal is for PayPal. ChatGPT has more than 700 million weekly active users, several hundred million more than PayPal. This could potentially expose many new users to the PayPal ecosystem, drive increased engagement from existing users, and be a serious needle-mover for payment volume through the platform.

There's no way to quantify exactly what this could mean for PayPal investors, but it's fair to say that this is a big step in the right direction for the business. CEO Alex Chriss and his team have been hard at work over the past two years when it comes to focusing on efficiency and returning the company to profitable growth. This is the latest (and perhaps the most impressive) of several initiatives over the past year that could help earnings growth accelerate to management's 20%+ target over the next few years.

Strong results and profitability already
As a final thought, it's worth mentioning that PayPal announced the OpenAI partnership along with its third-quarter earnings, which were far stronger than investors had expected. Earnings per share grew by 12% year over year on an adjusted basis, payment volume grew 8% to more than $1.8 trillion annually, and the business generated $2.3 billion in free cash flow.

Despite the positive momentum and promising new initiatives like the OpenAI deal, PayPal trades for less than 14 times management's 2025 earnings guidance, and for an even lower multiple of free cash flow.

PayPal has been aggressively buying back its stock for the past couple of years, and it's easy to see why. This isn't just a legacy payments company -- it's at the forefront of agentic AI shopping. In addition to the OpenAI deal, PayPal recently announced a partnership with Alphabet's Google to develop commerce tools for use across its platforms. Buying shares before any of these recent developments start to impact the company's results could end up being a smart move.

Matt Frankel has positions in PayPal and Shopify and has the following options: short January 2027 $170 calls on Shopify. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Etsy, PayPal, Shopify, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short December 2025 $75 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Exxon is delivering strong earnings amid lower oil prices.

Crude prices have slumped this year. Brent oil, the global benchmark price, is currently in the mid-$60s, down about $10 a barrel from this time last year. While lower oil prices tend to negatively impact oil company earnings, ExxonMobil (XOM 0.29%) isn't your average oil producer.

That was abundantly clear in the oil giant's third-quarter financial results. ExxonMobil generated $7.5 billion, or $1.76 per share, of earnings during the period and $14.8 billion in cash flow from operations. That was the highest earnings per share the company has produced compared to similar oil price environments. Here's why Exxon is thriving amid lower oil prices.

Image source: Getty Images.

Drilling down into Exxon's third-quarter financial results
Exxon delivered record-setting production in Guyana and the Permian Basin. The oil giant started its fourth development in Guyana (Yellowtail), which came online four months early and under budget, boosting its average crude oil output to 700,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, the company grew its production in the Permian Basin to 1.7 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day, fueled in part by the expanded use of proprietary technologies that are boosting well recoveries by up to 20%.

Yellowtail was one of eight major capital projects Exxon has started up this year. It has two more on track to come online by the end of 2025. "No one else in our industry is executing at this scale, with this level of innovation, or delivering this kind of value," stated CEO Darren Woods in the third-quarter earnings press release.

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Exxon also continues to execute its structural cost savings program. It has achieved an additional $2.2 billion of savings this year, pushing its cumulative total to $14 billion since launching this initiative in 2019. Exxon aims to increase the total to $18 billion by 2030. This cost-saving strategy enables Exxon to make more money at lower oil prices.

Exxon's strong financial results are allowing it to continue returning significant cash to shareholders. The oil giant returned $9.4 billion to investors via share repurchases and dividends. That brought its year-to-date total to $27.8 billion, comprising $12.9 billion in dividend payments and $14.9 billion in share repurchases. Even with those cash returns, Exxon maintained a fortress-like balance sheet. It boasts a sector-leading 9.5% net-debt-to-capital ratio, backed by a substantial $13.9 billion cash balance.

"ExxonMobil had a strong third quarter," stated CEO Darren Woods in the earnings press release, "continuing to demonstrate that we are truly in a league of our own."

Building toward an even better future
The energy giant continues to invest heavily to build an even better company. Capital spending totaled $8.6 billion in the quarter, including $2.4 billion in growth acquisitions. Exxon acquired an additional 80,000 net acres in the Permian Basin to expand its presence in this core area. Additionally, the company bought key assets from Superior Graphite, advancing its entry into the battery anode materials market.

The company is investing heavily to expand its upstream and downstream businesses. Exxon plans to increase its upstream oil and gas production to an average of 5.4 million BOE per day by 2030 (up from its current level of 4.7 million BOE per day). It aims to derive more than 60% of its future production from advantaged assets (its lowest-cost, highest-margin areas, such as the Permian and Guyana), up from the current level of 50%. Exxon is also investing significantly to expand its downstream product solutions businesses, which include refining, chemicals, and advanced materials. By 2030, Exxon aims to deliver $4.5 billion of annual earnings from this segment, up from $1.6 billion year-to-date.

Add the incremental earnings from these investments to the company's cost-savings initiatives, and Exxon expects to produce significantly higher earnings by 2030. That positions the company to continue returning more cash to investors. Exxon is on track to repurchase $20 billion of its shares this year and intends to buy back a similar amount next year. It also increased its dividend by another 4%, extending its growth streak to an industry-leading 43 consecutive years.

The best just keeps getting better
Exxon's strategy of investing heavily to grow its best assets while simultaneously stripping out structural costs is paying big dividends. The company is earning more money at lower oil prices. The oil giant plans to continue leaning into this strategy over the next five years, positioning it to produce even higher earnings in the future. Exxon's ability to thrive in any market environment makes it one of the best oil stocks to buy and hold for the long term.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in GOOGL over 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.