Market Signal Briefing

BTC now eyes $114K after a Sunday surge.

Bitcoin’s unexpected Sunday pump continues as the asset surged past $113,000 minutes ago for the first time since Tuesday.

This comes following positive news from US Secretary Bessent, who noted that China is ready to make a deal that will remove the 100% tariff imposed by the POTUS.

BREAKING: US Treasury Secretary Bessent says China is “ready” to make a trade deal with the US after 2 days of negotiations.

Bessent says the agreement will remove President Trump’s 100% tariff set to go live November 1st.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) October 26, 2025

Recall that Donald Trump shocked the financial markets on October 10 when he claimed that China was deceitful in some sensitive economic areas and warned that the US would impose a 100% tariff against several products. Later, he confirmed the new taxation, which was supposed to become official on November 1.

However, the leaders of the two superpowers have scheduled a meeting this week in Europe. In the meantime, both parties’ delegations have met on a couple of occasions to discuss the terms.

According to a Reuters report from earlier today, the POTUS said he was confident of striking a deal with President Xi Jinping, after top economic officials reached a preliminary consensus in the trade talks.

The Kobeissi Letter noted that this is the 10th and final step of Trump’s tariff plan, which includes announcing a new deal and a subsequent surge in the financial markets.

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Since most of them are closed on Sunday, the only beneficiary for now is the crypto industry. The leader, bitcoin, has rocketed to a multi-day peak of almost $113,500 after breaking past $112,000 and $113,000 earlier today. The asset plunged hard during the October 10 massacre, dropping to as low as $101,000 on some exchanges.

BTCUSD. Source: TradingView

This exciting asset has rallied over the last few years.

Stocks and bonds are great ways to build wealth. However, traditional asset classes often look boring compared to the explosive potential of cryptocurrency. With prices up by a jaw-dropping 9,400% over the last five years, Solana (SOL +2.11%) is an excellent example of the industry's millionaire-making potential. For comparison, the S&P 500 returned a relatively measly 96% over the same period.

But does this speed-focused blockchain network have what it takes to continue trouncing the market? Let's dig deeper into the pros and cons of investing in Solana to see what the future might bring.

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Is it time to diversify away from the dollar?
For many Americans, 2025 highlights the serious challenge of currency risk. You can diversify your net worth into everything from stocks to real estate. But if all these assets are denominated and primarily traded in U.S. dollars, a decline in the currency could eat away at your returns.

This year, the dollar index, which compares the U.S. dollar to a basket of other popular currencies, declined an alarming 8.8%, significantly eroding the S&P 500's return of 14.5%. And concerns about volatile U.S. trade policy, central bank independence, and a rising national debt could continue to pressure the dollar's performance over the long term.

Cryptocurrency allows investors to reduce their exposure to the dollar while also enjoying the potential for market-crushing returns that might be harder to find in alternative fiat currencies like the euro or Japanese yen.

Solana stands out
Unlike traditional asset classes, cryptocurrencies can't be valued based on intrinsic factors like revenue, earnings, or growth. However, that doesn't mean they are all the same. Despite launching relatively recently in 2020, Solana has quickly soared to become the sixth-largest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $100 million. And its success likely has a lot to do with its innovative and performance-focused design.

The blockchain was unique for pioneering a system called proof of history (POH), which helps it process a whopping 50,000 transactions per second. For context, rival Ethereum processes just 15 to 30 transactions per second. Solana's POH is combined with a more traditional proof-of-stake (POS) block validation system that allows investors to earn rewards of newly minted SOL tokens by acting as validators on the network.

Image source: Getty Images.

Solana's stellar performance has given it a strong brand. And just as importantly, it is attracting development activity to the network. Like Ethereum, the Solana blockchain is designed to be a platform for programmable decentralized applications (dApps). And its speed and scalability have attracted recent high-profile projects like President Donald Trump's cryptocurrency, Official Trump, which has a market cap of $1.2 billion.

While meme coins like Official Trump rarely turn into sustainable successes, they benefit the Solana network by boosting network volume, which means more fees and more staking demand for Solana tokens. These projects also increase the blockchain's visibility and prestige.

Is Solana a millionaire-maker cryptocurrency?
With a market cap of $100 million, most of Solana's easy multibagger returns have already been made. And investors shouldn't expect a repeat of the 9,400% rally the asset enjoyed over the last half-decade. That said, Solana is still a long-term winner, especially considering the macroeconomic tailwinds blowing over the cryptocurrency industry as American investors face a greater need to diversify outside of the dollar.

Solana's technical prowess and growing brand recognition should help it outperform alternatives in the industry. Meanwhile, its POS consensus mechanism allows patient investors to earn impressive yields from staking rewards. According to data from Coinbase Global, the current estimated reward rate of Solana is 4.32% per year, which is very appealing compared to the S&P 500 average dividend yield of just 1.2%.

Cover image via www.freepik.com

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

With both on-chain and technical indicators suggesting a possible change in market sentiment, Shiba Inu has displayed some of its strongest accumulation signals in recent weeks. A rebound phase may be developing beneath the surface despite the recent session's lack of volatility, given the combination of stabilizing price action and declining exchange inflows.

Shiba Inu supply goes downExchange inflow metrics have fallen by more than 62% in the last day, which translates to a net decline of about 1.008 billion SHIB entering exchanges. Reduced inflow typically indicates fewer tokens are being prepared for sale, which is a sign that holders are growing more optimistic about a future price recovery. This makes it a bullish signal.

SHIB/USDT Chart by TradingViewAccording to CryptoQuant data, the Exchange Inflow (Mean MA7) metric experienced a sharp decline of 83.45%, while the Exchange Outflow (Mean MA7) metric saw a decline of 58.78%. With only a slight shift over the last week (-0.01%), the Exchange Reserve is still stable at 82.08 trillion SHIB, suggesting that overall market liquidity is contracting rather than increasing.

HOT Stories

Shiba Inu stays enclosedSHIB is still trading within a small consolidation zone on the chart, hovering just above the crucial support level at $0.0000095. The price has effectively stabilized since the October crash, but it is still below the 50- and 100-day moving averages. This sideways pattern and waning on-chain activity frequently occur before volatility increases, either by a relief rally or a breakout.

Right now, the RSI is close to 40, indicating a neutral to slightly bullish bias with room for upward movement. A possible bottom pattern is hinted at by the steadying candle formation, but the volume is still modest.

All things considered, the data suggests that selling pressure is abating and that investor interest might soon resume. The market may stage a strong recovery toward $0.000012-$0.000013 if inflows continue to decline while SHIB remains above $0.0000095. This new accumulation zone would be one of the more advantageous periods for patient investors in recent months.

Iran’s financial system just suffered one of its most dramatic implosions in years. The country’s Central Bank declared Ayandeh bank, one of its largest private lenders, bankrupt and its assets were absorbed by the state.

Founded in 2012 with over 270 branches nationwide, Ayandeh bank had accumulated $5.2 billion in losses and nearly $3 billion in debt, according to Asharq Al‑Awsat. The state‑owned Melli Bank has now absorbed its assets, promising depositors their savings are “secure.” But Iranians have learned to temper such assurances.​

According to Reuters, Iran’s economy is now teetering under simultaneous hyperinflation and severe recession, squeezed further by a snapback of U.N. sanctions and a collapsing rial. Lines quickly formed outside shuttered Ayandeh branches in Tehran, echoing scenes from past crises.

For ordinary Iranians, the real fear isn’t corporate losses, it’s access. Insured deposits in Iran are capped at just 1 billion rials (roughly $930) and payout processes can take years. Those holding more may never see their money again.​

A familiar story of fragilityIran isn’t alone. Around the globe, central banks have stepped in to cushion financial chaos, often too late for depositors caught in the wrong institutions. In the United States, the shock failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank in 2023 became the biggest cluster of collapses since 2008. Even as the FDIC and Treasury guaranteed deposits, thousands of startups, small businesses, and uninsured clients were left scrambling.​

According to a Morningstar report published in October 2025, U.S. regional banks continue to show growing signs of financial stress, even after boosting reserves and shoring up deposits following the 2023 banking crisis. Delinquencies and loan defaults are rising amid persistent inflation, elevated borrowing costs, and losses tied to lower‑income borrowers.

Although balance sheets are stronger on paper, confidence remains fragile. Market volatility this quarter pushed bank stocks lower before a partial recovery on better‑than‑expected earnings. Analysts now expect a new wave of regional bank mergers and acquisitions as larger players move to absorb weaker rivals.

The Ayandeh bank collapse follows years of poor governance and opaque loans to politically connected projects, including the debt‑ridden Iran Mall mega‑complex. More than 90% of the bank’s funds reportedly went to affiliated companies that never repaid.​

Ayandeh bank makes the case for seizure‑proof moneyWhat makes these crises rhyme isn’t the geography or ideology; it’s the fragility of trust. Whether in Tehran or San Francisco, savers face counterparty risk every time they deposit funds into a system dependent on state rescue.

Bitcoin flips the script completely. It doesn’t ask you to trust a central authority because there isn’t one. There’s no bank to freeze your funds, and no government to quietly inflate your savings away. It operates beyond borders and politics, moving freely where traditional finance cannot. When banks fail, the promises behind your account balances vanish overnight. But when you hold Bitcoin yourself, there’s no counterparty, just math. And math, unlike governments or banks, doesn’t break its word.

The Ayandeh bank collapse isn’t a local tragedy; it’s a global warning. Bank failures, capital controls, and confiscations eventually follow financial repression, wherever it arises. For millions watching savings vaporize through no fault of their own, Bitcoin isn’t speculation anymore. It’s insurance against the system itself.

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

With a steady recovery from its steep correction earlier this month, XRP is once again standing in front of a market turning point as it consolidates around the $2.66 mark. Refocusing attention on the $3 psychological level, the recent price action indicates increasing momentum and a potential transition from short-term weakness toward a renewed bullish phase.

XRP's dramatic recoveryFollowing a string of higher lows that suggest fresh accumulation, XRP has dramatically recovered from the $2.35 support on the daily chart. Now that it has risen above the 200-day moving average (black line) once more, the asset is testing the 50-day EMA close to $2.77, which has historically been used as both confirmation and resistance for trend reversals.

XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewIt is much more likely that XRP will sustain a rally toward $3.00-$3.10 if it can hold above this zone and secure a daily close above $2.80. Following weeks of cautious selling, there has been a slight increase in trading volume, indicating that institutional and large-holder participation is gradually returning.

HOT Stories

XRP gets rejected?A balanced state between buying and selling pressure is reflected by the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is currently at 53. This is the perfect setting for a breakout attempt without overbought conditions. But investors should keep an eye on the adjacent resistance zones, which are between $2.77 and $2.90, where XRP has been repeatedly rejected in the past.

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The overall bullish structure would need to hold if there was a short-term pullback toward $2.55-$2.45, which could be triggered if this area is not broken. Short liquidations and rekindled speculative demand could drive XRP’s move toward $3.00 quickly and decisively if it is able to break above $2.90.

Given that XRP frequently serves as a sentiment driver for large-cap assets, the breakout would also portend a more widespread recovery in the altcoin market.

XRP is at a crucial stage of its recovery. A confirmed breakout above $2.80 could pave the way to $3 and beyond, but if it doesn’t, there may be another consolidation phase before the subsequent leg up. The market structure indicates that momentum is beginning to shift back toward buyers.

Bitcoin is flexing its digital muscles at $113,710, backed by a $2.25 trillion market cap and a cool $26.39 billion in 24-hour trading volume. With prices bouncing between $111,216 and $113,800 today, it seems the world's largest cryptocurrency is doing its best impression of a tightrope walker—with laser eyes.

Key Takeaways
Why is LINK likely to dip toward the $15 level?
This level was the low of a rising channel, and the current bearish momentum could take Chainlink to this key support.

Is a recovery possible from $15?
It would depend on Bitcoin and the wider market sentiment, but onchain metrics such as holder accumulation ratio showed that bullish conviction from holders was extremely high.

Even before the market crash on the 10th of October, Chainlink [LINK] had shown bearish momentum was growing. The $22 support level back in September was retested as resistance in the first week of October.

In a post on X, crypto analyst Ali Martinez showed a LINK price chart to asset why the altcoin is likely to dip to $15 soon. The idea was based on a rising channel.

LINK was headed toward the bottom of the channel at $15, which would likely see a strong bullish reaction.

Do onchain metrics support the idea of a Chainlink rally?
The first clue was the steadily falling Balance on Exchanges of LINK. This decline was not unique to Chainlink.

Even Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] saw a decline in exchange balances, taking them to lows not seen in years.

It was a bullish sign for the market, as tokens flowing out of the exchange show they were likely being accumulated.

Accumulation spikes to record levels
The Holder Accumulation Ratio surged to a historic 98.9%. It meant that nearly all addresses with changing balances were adding to their LINK positions.

This level of synchronized accumulation suggested a strong market-wide bias toward accumulation, often preceding major upward movements.

Also, Martinez projected a potential extension toward $46 (1.272 Fib) if the channel support held and accumulation persisted.

Moreover, the Percent of Supply Held by Top 1% Addresses has also climbed steadily, from about 73% in late 2024 to nearly 80% in October 2025.

It showed high conviction from the largest holders to continue to increase their holdings even as the price retraced over the past six weeks.

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories.
His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity.
Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution.
As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

Sit back, take it easy, and let this dividend ETF do the work you'd be doing if you bought individual stocks yourself.

It takes a lot of work to build a stock portfolio. The work doesn't end once you've bought a collection of stocks, either, because you have to maintain the portfolio. So, what if you could pay someone a tiny fee to do all of that work for you?

That's what's on offer from Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD +0.00%). Here's why this is the smartest exchange-traded fund (ETF) to buy right now whether you have $100 or $100,000.

What do you do when you buy dividend stocks?
If you are a long-term investor who loves dividend stocks, you probably do something similar to what I do. My list of factors to look for includes a well-run business, financial strength, a strong dividend history, attractive yield, and solid dividend growth prospects. No single item is singularly important, per se, because selecting a stock is more art than science. It's a balancing act.

Image source: Getty Images.

My portfolio is somewhat eclectic, though I do tend to end up with concentrations in specific income-focused sectors. But adding a stock into the mix is just step one, though notably it is a very big step. After that, I monitor quarterly earnings and news flow around the company to make sure things are going reasonably well.

I don't need perfection, but I also don't want the business to implode without my knowing it. Managing a diversified portfolio is a lot of effort. It would be even more problematic if I were trying to do this work and hold down a non-finance related job. Not to mention keeping a loving relationship with my significant other (and the child we brought into this world) afloat. Investing in individual stocks is just hard and time-consuming, there's no way around that fact.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. It just means you need to consider the larger picture. What good is a big portfolio if your personal life suffers because of that portfolio? Money is important, but it shouldn't be the only thing that is important.

A better way to invest in dividends?
I recently bought a starter position in Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF. It's just a starter position, but I expect it will grow materially in importance over time. The reason I bought it is that, following extensive discussions, I know my family isn't going to invest like I invest. They either have no interest in the market or lack the time and energy to do what I do. I need to set them up with an investment that can take care of the hard dividend investing work without costing too much money. Exchange-traded fund Schwab US Dividend Equity is a "nearly perfect" option.

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Getting the cost out of the way upfront (I'm proudly cheap...I mean frugal), the expense ratio is a tiny 0.06%. That's practically free on Wall Street. Next up is the dividend yield, which is currently around 3.8%. I'd prefer 4%, which is the rule-of-thumb retirement withdrawal rate, but given how much work I save owning this ETF, I'm not going to complain about the yield being 0.2 percentage points shy of 4%.

But the real reason to buy Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is its approach. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. The index starts by only considering companies that have a decade or more of annual dividend increases under their belts (real estate investment trusts are excluded from consideration).

Then a composite score is created for each company, looking at cash flow to total debt, return on equity, dividend yield, and a company's five-year dividend growth rate. The 100 highest ranked companies get into the index with a market cap weighting. The index is updated annually.

That's basically what I do, and what most dividend investors do, when they are looking for a stock. Essentially, Schwab US Dividend Equity owns good businesses that are growing, that offer attractive yields, and that have yields backed by a growing dividend.

The only place where the ETF diverges from my approach is that the portfolio is restructured every year. I prefer to buy and hold for the long term, in a Warren Buffett-esque attempt to benefit from the long-term growth of the businesses I own.

Not perfect, but it is the best compromise I've found
So I can't say that Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is a 100% replacement for my dividend investment approach. But I like what it does and I think it would be a good compromise for my family when they end up taking over our family's investing (hopefully no time soon, since it means I'll be incapable of doing it anymore).

If history is any guide, the ETF will provide them with income today, income growth for tomorrow, and modest capital appreciation over time. And all while owning a diversified collection of well-run businesses.

I think that combination makes this a smart investment for my family and me, and it could be a smart one for you, too. A $100 investment gets your foot in the door with around three shares, but you'll probably want to buy more over time...or at least that's my plan.

Broadcom's custom AI accelerator chips are starting to become more popular.

The artificial intelligence arms race is waging on, but in reality, the only place investors are seeing any real benefits is by investing in the AI infrastructure plays. These are areas where real money is being spent, and that's where I think most investors should be picking stocks. Since the AI arms race began in 2023, the top investment pick in this space has been Nvidia.

However, other viable alternatives are popping up, including Broadcom (AVGO +2.86%). Broadcom's product line is quite attractive and offers a viable alternative to Nvidia's chips. But is it the smartest way to invest in AI? Let's take a look.

Broadcom isn't just focused on AI
Broadcom is a much larger business than just AI. While Nvidia is focused on building its graphics processing units (GPUs) and the hardware and software to support them, Broadcom has multiple other business wings. Broadcom's product lineup includes mainframe hardware and software, virtual desktop software via its acquisition of VMware, cybersecurity software, and many other product lines. However, these divisions aren't driving Broadcom's growth; its AI division is.

Broadcom has two primary AI infrastructure products: connectivity switches and custom AI accelerator chips. Connectivity switches are deployed in data centers to stitch information back together after a workload has been split up to be run on different computing units. These are critical pieces of hardware for an artificial intelligence data center, but they aren't used in as large quantities as some of Broadcom's custom AI accelerators.

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The chips, which Broadcom calls XPUs, are an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs. Currently, Nvidia's GPUs are the undisputed king of accelerated computing, as they are highly flexible for multiple workloads. However, most AI data centers only see one type of workload, which means this flexibility is a wasted cost. Still, the AI hyperscalers aren't running their AI models the same way, so this flexibility is needed, even if it drives up costs for the industry.

Broadcom solved this problem by directly partnering with AI hyperscalers to design a chip with the specific workload in mind. This allows Broadcom to produce more powerful and cheaper chips for its clients, which is a win-win. Not every company has signed on to this approach, so Nvidia will still be a dominant force in this industry, but Broadcom could take more market share as more AI companies deploy Broadcom's chips.

Image source: Getty Images.

OpenAI and Broadcom recently announced a 10-gigawatt deal, which showcases that Broadcom's chips are starting to become more popular. Broadcom doesn't normally announce who its clients are, but many have linked its other customers to Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. However, there's also a mystery fifth customer that placed a $10 billion order for chips that many assumed to be OpenAI, which turned out to be incorrect.

As the AI arms race heats up, limited energy resources will require companies to turn to more powerful solutions at cheaper price points so that the capital pool can be spent in other places, such as building electricity capacity. This bodes well for Broadcom, but is the stock a top one to buy now?

Broadcom's stock isn't cheap
The market is well aware of Broadcom's recent success and has bid the stock up as a result. It now trades for over 50 times forward earnings despite growing at a relatively slow 22% rate.

AVGO PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

This makes Broadcom's stock seem speculative, but that narrative could flip in 2026. Broadcom generated $16 billion in revenue during the third quarter of its fiscal 2025 (ended Aug. 3), with $5.2 billion coming from its AI product lineup. AI revenue increased at a 63% pace, so this is clearly the growth driver for the company. As Broadcom's business grows to become further concentrated into AI, this could accelerate its companywide growth rate and justify its current premium valuation.

Broadcom is a smart way to invest in the AI arms race, as it's going to benefit from a strategy shift from some of the biggest spenders in this space. This makes it an excellent stock pick, and I think it could outperform its peers significantly over the next few years.

Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Anthropic makes a massive AI partnership to use Google TPUs to increase its AI computation capacity.

In today's video, I discuss recent updates impacting Amazon (AMZN +1.41%), Alphabet (GOOGL +2.70%) (GOOG +2.67%), and other artificial intelligence (AI) companies. To learn more, check out the short video, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.

*Stock prices used were the after-market prices of Oct. 23, 2025. The video was published on Oct. 23, 2025.

Jose Najarro has positions in Alphabet, Marvell Technology, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and Marvell Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Jose Najarro is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

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Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of V.F. Corporation (NYSE: VFC) between October 30, 2023 and May 20, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important November 12, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased V.F. Corporation securities 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 V.F. Corporation class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44811 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 12, 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 disseminated materially false and misleading statements and/or concealed material adverse facts concerning the true state of V.F. Corporation's turnaround plans. Specifically, defendants provided investors with material information concerning V.F. Corporation's turnaround plan ("Reinvent"), which in part focused on efforts to return the Vans brand to positive growth. The lawsuit alleges that defendants concealed that additional significant reset actions would be necessary to return the Vans brand to growth, and would result in significant setbacks to Vans' revenue growth trajectory. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the V.F. Corporation class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44811 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.

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SummaryWestern Midstream Partners and MPLX are top midstream picks, offering high yields, strong growth, and disciplined capital allocation.However, I believe WES is a better buy than MPLX today.I detail why in this article.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of High Yield Investor get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More »canakat/E+ via Getty Images

Midstream infrastructure is my highest conviction investment right now, and as such, it is by far my largest individual sector allocation. I recently detailed why this was, so rather than regurgitate all the reasons why I like the midstream sector

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

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This luxury EV maker still has a lot to prove.

Lucid Group (LCID 0.91%), a producer of luxury electric vehicles (EVs), attracted a lot of attention when it went public on July 26, 2021, through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Its stock opened at $25.24 and closed at a record high of $57.75 per share less than four months later.

But then it plunged -- falling so far, in fact, that last month, management felt the need to conduct a 1-for-10 reverse stock split. So as of this writing, it trades at a share price of just under $20. But had it not conducted that financial maneuver, it would be trading below $2. On a reverse-split adjusted basis, it's down by more than 90% from its price the day it joined the public markets.

Lucid initially impressed the bulls for several reasons. It was led by Tesla's former chief vehicle engineer, Peter Rawlinson. It was all set to produce its first vehicles. And management claimed it would be able to deliver 20,000 vehicles in 2022, 49,000 vehicles in 2023, and 90,000 vehicles in 2024. It started to deliver its first model, the Air sedan, in October 2021.

Image source: Lucid.

But like many other SPAC-backed EV makers, Lucid overpromised and under-delivered. It only delivered 4,369 vehicles in 2022, 6,001 vehicles in 2023, and 10,241 vehicles in 2024. It struggled with supply chain constraints, intense competition, the impacts of inflation, higher interest rates, and reduced EV subsidies on the broader EV market. Rawlinson also stepped down as CEO this past February, and the company's board still hasn't appointed his permanent replacement yet.

All of those challenges make Lucid seem like a risky investment. But should you buy its beaten-down stock while it still trades below Wall Street's average price target of $23.43?

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What the bulls will tell you about Lucid
Lucid bulls believe the company's new models will attract more customers, that its recent partnership with Uber Technologies and autonomous vehicle technology specialist Nuro will give it a foothold in the nascent robotaxi market, and that its Saudi Arabian backers will help it expand its production facilities.

This spring, Lucid started to deliver its second vehicle, the Gravity SUV, to the general public. It plans to produce 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles for the full year as it ramps up its production of the Gravity and continues to deliver more Air sedans. In July, it partnered with Uber and Nuro in a deal that will -- if all goes to plan -- see Uber deploying at least 20,000 autonomous Gravity SUV robotaxis across the United States over the next six years. Lucid delivered its first test vehicle for that project in September.

In 2026, it plans to launch its third model, a lower-priced SUV called the Lucid Earth, which will start at less than $50,000. That new SUV could help it compete more effectively against Tesla and other EV makers. It also expects to continue gradually fulfilling a 10-year order for 100,000 vehicles from the Saudi Arabian government that it began to deliver on in 2023.

Lucid will need to expand its original AMP-1 plant in Arizona and its new AMP-2 plant in Saudi Arabia to support its growth. But it still had $4.86 billion in total liquidity at the end of its latest quarter, and it's still firmly backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns more than 60% of Lucid's outstanding shares.

From the $808 million in revenue it brought in during 2024, analysts expect Lucid's top line to grow at a compound annual rate of 82% to $4.87 billion in 2027 as it scales up its business. They also expect it to narrow its annual net loss from 2024's $3.06 billion to just $1.79 billion in 2027.

With a market cap of $9.1 billion and a valuation of just 2.4 times next year's expected sales,  the stock looks cheap. Tesla, which is bigger and reliably profitable, trades at 13 times next year's sales. In context, it looks like any positive company-specific news could drive Lucid's stock a lot higher. That might be why its insiders were net buyers of shares over the past six months.

What the bears will tell you about Lucid
Luicd bears believe it will be too difficult for the EV maker to scale up its operations. Consider that Tesla ramped up its annual deliveries from 22,442 vehicles in 2013 to 1.79 million vehicles in 2024 -- but it enjoyed early-mover advantages in the EV market, and its sales were supported by U.S. federal tax incentives for EV buyers.

Lucid is attempting to scale up in a far more saturated and fragmented EV market. President Donald Trump has dialed back U.S. subsidies, and the Big Beautiful Bill brought an end to the federal EV tax credit. Meanwhile, Lucid's luxury EVs are still pricier than Tesla's comparable vehicles.

If Lucid can't successfully ramp up its production to a level that allows it to operate profitably, it will continue to burn billions of dollars as it dilutes its shares with more secondary offerings and heavy stock-based compensation expenses. It could also struggle to find the right permanent CEO to guide it through this next expansion phase.

Is it the right time to buy Lucid's stock?
Lucid delivered 10,496 vehicles in the first nine months of 2025, but it will need to deliver more than 8,500 in the fourth quarter to hit the midpoint of its full-year forecast. That's a high bar to clear -- so I'd rather wait for Lucid to post its full third quarter earnings report on Nov. 5 before deciding if it's the right time to pull the trigger on its out-of-favor stock. I wouldn't rush to buy it while it's below $23, since it still has plenty of room to rise before it would be considered expensive.

Intel's third-quarter report was much better than expected.

Following a big rally over the past couple of months, Intel's (INTC +0.31%) third-quarter earnings report on Thursday was a high-stakes affair for the stock. The chip giant delivered, with revenue growing and earnings coming in far higher than expected. Intel's comeback is still in its early innings, but there were clear signs of progress in the third quarter. Here are six key things about Intel's report that investors need to know.

Image source: Intel.

1. Revenue and profit beat expectations
Intel reported revenue of $13.7 billion in the third quarter, up 3% year over year and $560 million above the average analyst estimate. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.23, far ahead of the $0.01 expected by analysts and up from a loss of $0.46 in the prior-year period.

While Intel handily beat analyst expectations, the company noted that its transactions with the U.S. government during the third quarter are complicated and could lead to a revision of its third-quarter results down the road. Intel has engaged with the SEC to ensure that its accounting treatment is valid, but the U.S. government shutdown has halted this process.

2. The balance sheet is looking better
The investment from the U.S. government, which converted CHIPS Act grants that hadn't yet been delivered into an equity investment, along with investments from Softbank and Nvidia, have strengthened Intel's balance sheet. "One of our top priorities for 2025 was shoring up our balance sheet," said CFO David Zinsner during the earnings call.

Intel ended the third quarter with $30.9 billion in cash and short-term investments, up from $22.1 billion at the end of 2024. The company's total debt has also declined by about $3.4 billion to $46.6 billion. In addition to the investments in Intel, the company secured $3.3 billion with its sale of a majority stake in Altera. With the balance sheet in a stronger position, Intel has more breathing room as it continues to invest in its foundry business.

3. The PC business is making a comeback
The post-pandemic PC business has been rough following an initial surge in demand, but it now looks like the picture is improving. Intel expects the total addressable market (TAM) to approach 290 million units this year, up from 245 million reported by Gartner for 2024. That would represent the strongest growth since the pandemic boom year of 2021.

Intel's client computing group generated $8.5 billion in revenue during the third quarter, up 5% year over year. The company pointed to the Windows 11 refresh, which is being driven by Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, as well as a shift toward newer products like Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake, for the strong performance. While the competitiveness of Intel's PC portfolio is a mixed bag, an improving demand environment is aiding the company's largest segment.

4. Data center profits are rebounding
The data center and AI segment recorded $4.1 billion in revenue during the third quarter, down 1% year over year. However, profitability improved dramatically. Segment operating margin was 23.4% during the quarter, up from just 9.2% in the prior-year period and well above the company's results over the past year.

Intel is optimistic that demand for its data center CPUs will rise in the future. The company pointed to underinvestment in traditional data center infrastructure during the AI boom, as well as soaring demand for infrastructure that can handle AI inference workloads, as two main drivers of TAM expansion. The company's latest Granite Rapids chips are seeing strong demand, according to CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

5. Intel 18A will support three product generations, but yields need to improve
The Intel 18A family of manufacturing processes are critical not only for Intel's foundry business, but also for its product business. Panther Lake, the company's upcoming line of laptop CPUs, will use the Intel 18A process and start shipping before the end of the year. Nova Lake for desktop PCs will follow, as will the Clearwater Rapids and Diamond Rapids server CPUs. All these product lines are expected to use the Intel 18A process in some capacity. In fact, Intel 18A and its variants will support at least the next three generations of PC and server products, according to Tan.

One issue at the moment is the yield for the Intel 18A process. "Yields are, what I would say, yields are adequate to address the supply, but they are not where we need them to be in order to drive the appropriate level of margins," said Zinsner during the earnings call. The Intel 18A process involves a new transistor design and the first implementation of backside power delivery in the industry, both of which ramp up the complexity. Yields are improving, but profitability will hinge on bringing those yields up to industry-standard levels.

6. Supply constraints will hurt the PC business next quarter
Intel is facing a situation where there's strong demand for chips that use its older Intel 10 and Intel 7 processes, but not enough manufacturing capacity. "Capacity constraints, especially on Intel 10 and Intel 7, limited our ability to fully meet demand in Q3 for both data center and client products," said Zinsner during the earnings call.

In the fourth quarter, Intel plans to prioritize the data center business. The company will focus on increasing the output of lucrative server CPUs at the expense of entry-level PC chips. The result will be a modest sales decline in the client computing segment and strong sequential growth in the data center segment. This situation will eventually go away as newer manufacturing processes ramp up and demand for older parts fade, but for now, it's stunting Intel's growth.

Is Intel stock a buy after earnings?
Intel is still in turnaround mode, and it will take time for the company's strategy to bear fruit. Market share gains in the PC business are a possibility in 2026 as the company launches Panther Lake and Nova Lake, and the prioritization of server CPUs in the near term will help boost the data center business.

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The foundry business is operating on a longer timeline. The Intel 18A process still needs major customers, as does the next-generation Intel 14A process. For Intel Foundry to be sustainable and profitable, the company is going to need to win some major customer commitments.

While it's tough to value Intel stock right now, given that earnings are deeply depressed and the turnaround is ongoing, the company's position as the only U.S.-based advanced logic chip manufacturer shouldn't be ignored. With Intel stock down more than 40% from its multiyear high, betting on a turnaround looks like a reasonable idea for long-term investors.

A general view shows HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, December 29, 2023. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SEOUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

(329180.KS), opens new tab and U.S. military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls

(HII.N), opens new tab have agreed to jointly build U.S. navy auxiliary ships, the South Korean shipbuilder said on Sunday.

In a bid to advance cooperation in shipbuilding between the two countries, HD Hyundai and Huntington Ingalls signed a memorandum of agreement in Gyeongju, South Korea, where Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events will take place throughout next week, HD Hyundai Heavy said in a statement.

Sign up here.

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Gyeongju in a few days and hold summit talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Under the agreement, the two companies will explore joint investments in building new shipyards or acquiring existing ship construction facilities in the U.S., according to HD Hyundai Heavy.

Helping Trump revive U.S. shipbuilding, South Korea has pledged to invest $150 billion in the sector, as part of $350 billion of investment funds the Asian country agreed to put into U.S. projects after winning U.S. tariff cuts in late July.

However, details of the broad tariff agreement between the two countries haven't been hammered out yet. Trump has said it was close to being finalised, while South Korean officials said the two sides were still far apart on key issues.

Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by David Holmes

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Nvidia is only a short rise away from crossing this important threshold.

Wall Street has never seen a $5 trillion stock. However, Nvidia (NVDA +2.26%) is getting awfully close, hovering at about a $4.5 trillion market capitalization. Less than a decade ago, Wall Street had never seen a $1 trillion company, so this meteoric rise from a company that was worth about $14 billion a decade ago is nothing short of incredible.

I think Nvidia will be the first company to cross the $5 trillion threshold, beating Apple and Microsoft to the punch. However, there are concerns about an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble forming. Could it stop this giant from reaching that important milestone?

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia expects growth to continue for multiple years
Nvidia makes graphics processing units (GPUs), which are generally used to process workloads that need a lot of computing power. GPUs were invented to process gaming graphics, but eventually found use cases in other areas like engineering simulations, drug discovery, and cryptocurrency mining. Artificial intelligence workloads have been the largest use case for GPUs by far, and that doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Nvidia's co-founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, commented during the company's Q2 earnings release that he expects AI data center capital expenditures to rise from $600 billion in 2025 to $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030. That's a bold projection, and has caused many to fear that companies like Nvidia have gotten too bullish on the AI buildout.

However, investors must understand that these AI data centers are planned years in advance. The AI hyperscalers must get approval to build them from various municipalities, secure electricity and other utility needs, build the site, and then fill them with chips from companies like Nvidia.

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This means that for all of the massive AI data centers that are being announced this year, it will take a few years before Nvidia chips make their way into service. This requires the hyperscalers to be in contact with Nvidia years in advance of when they actually need the GPUs, which gives Nvidia a valuable view into the future.

With this in mind, investors need to start thinking about where Nvidia could head should its projection pan out.

A $5 trillion market cap is just the beginning for Nvidia
Should Nvidia's $3 trillion to $4 trillion data center capital expenditure projection pan out, it has a ton of room to run. Wall Street analysts project that Nvidia will generate about $206 billion in revenue during fiscal 2026 (ending January 2026), which is about a third of the total data center capital expenditures Nvidia expects for 2026. If we decrease that share to 25% by 2030 and use the bottom end of the total spending projection ($3 trillion), that means Nvidia could generate $750 billion in revenue.

If Nvidia can maintain its 50% profit margin, that would indicate $375 billion in profits. If we apply a 25 times earnings multiple to that profit projection, that would yield a $9.4 trillion company by 2030. That's more than a double from today's prices, which would indicate that Nvidia has the potential to crush the market. Additionally, it would position it nicely to become the first company to cross the $10 trillion mark not long after that.

If AI spending pans out like Nvidia projects, it will be the first to cross several valuation thresholds, as Nvidia's growth is far greater than all of its big tech peers.

If Nvidia can maintain this growth, as its projections indicate it should, Nvidia will continue to be one of the best investments an investor can make over the next five years. As a result, I think it's still safe to invest in Nvidia right now.

Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. 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.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Grindr Inc.’s (NYSE: GRND) board of directors and majority stockholders James Fu Bin Lu and George Raymond Zage, III, for potential breaches of their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with a potential take-private sale of Grindr that would cash out the entire minority stockholder interest.

If you are a current shareholder of Grindr, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc.

Why is Grindr being Investigated?

On October 14, 2025, SEC filings revealed that Lu and Zage were in the process of proposing a transaction to the Company which would take the company private, squeezing out all of the minority stockholders while preserving Lu and Zage’s personal ownership. Lu and Zage have disclosed that they have secured debt financing for up to $1 billion, so long as the deal is at or above $15 per share.  

Despite this being a controller take-private transaction, there is no indication that any final deal will be conditioned on a majority-of-the-minority stockholder vote. While the Company has announced that it has appointed a special committee in connection with the potential transaction, it remains to be seen whether that will be an effective check on the influence of the controlling stockholders.

BFA Law is investigating Grindr’s board of directors and the majority stockholders (Zage and Lu) to ascertain whether they have breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the contemplated transaction.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc.

What Can You Do?

If you are a current holder of Grindr you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212-789-3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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.

Beyond Meat stock is suddenly soaring. Can it keep going?

Beyond Meat (BYND 23.41%) has become the latest stock to receive the rocket emoji treatment.

The maker of plant-based meat products jumped more than 400% over a two-day span, driven by a social media frenzy that fueled a short squeeze in the new meme stock.

Trading volume topped 1.7 billion shares on Tuesday. That means each share changed hands more than four times, indicating an incredible level of interest in the stock.

Though not much has changed with Beyond Meat's fundamentals in the last week, the trading activity seemed to be triggered by the company's tender offer for $1.1 billion in convertible debt. This offer created 316.2 million shares of Beyond Meat stock, growing shares outstanding by nearly five times.

Typically, a dilution of that size is not a bullish signal. The stock plunged last week, reflecting concerns about massive dilution and desperation as the company made the tender offer to get the debt off its books. At the close of the second quarter, Beyond Meat had less than $700 million in total assets, much less than its convertible debt.

Last week, the stock fell from $2.01 on Oct. 10 to $0.52 on Oct. 16, losing nearly 75% following the tender offer announcement on Oct. 13. However, since then, the stock jumped 596% to $3.62 through Oct. 21, primarily driven by a short squeeze generated on social media.

Image source: Beyond Meat.

Can Beyond Meat stock keep climbing?
Given the momentum in the stock, anything can happen to Beyond Meat in the short term. Parabolic surges, especially in meme stocks, tend to attract more investors as the stock gains. Some investors on platforms like X and Reddit are calling for the stock to return to its earlier heights when the share price was in the triple digits shortly after its IPO, when sales were booming before the pandemic.

On some brokerages, the stock, which had about 54% of its float sold short at the end of September, is no longer available to borrow to short. Meme traders are hopeful that the gains will force short sellers like Ken Griffin's Citadel to cover. Many of the new Beyond Meat bulls see the event as a repeat of the GameStop short squeeze, which kicked off the meme stock run.

However, Beyond Meat's fundamentals are seriously weak, even after the removal of the convertible debt. Unlike fellow meme stock Opendoor Technologies, which would benefit from an improving housing market, there isn't really a macroeconomic shift that would favor Beyond Meat.

People have tried the product by now and have generally decided they don't want to continue buying it. The company is seeing revenue decline, and it continues to lose money.

In the second quarter, its revenue fell 19.6% to $75 million. For several quarters, it had a negative gross profit, meaning it was losing money even before accounting for indirect costs like management salaries and marketing. Not only has Beyond Meat not caught on with consumers, it costs too much to make it.

In the most recent quarter, the company finished with an operating loss of $34.9 million, or an operating margin of negative 46.6%, showing it's still not close to profitability.

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Can Beyond Meat make you a millionaire?
It's possible that Beyond Meat could make a few millionaires in the current rally, especially those who get lucky with options, but it's likely to leave more investors burned.

The short squeeze will eventually break, and there is little in the way of fundamentals propping up the stock. Beyond Meat is now nearly double what it was worth before the tender offer news initially crushed the stock.

The business appears to be headed for bankruptcy. While it could tap the surging price to raise money in an equity offering, the company's problem isn't a lack of funding. It's that, like so many failed consumer products in the past, people have tried it and aren't interested in buying it.

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.

Both of these stocks have lucrative dividend yields, but only one of them seems like a smart investment.

"The market is often stupid, but you can't focus on that. Focus on the underlying value of dividends and earnings." – John C. Bogle

While that's putting it bluntly, Bogle isn't wrong. The markets can and do absolutely move up and down with little rhyme or reason -- not to say certain moves aren't justified by developments.

But the value of dividends and reinvesting them to drive the power of compounding is one of, if not the best, ways to build wealth over the long term.

With all that said, here is one excellent dividend stock yielding more than 6% that deserves investor attention, and another high-yield dividend that could grow stale.

Image source: Getty Images.

A unique income play
Long-term investors scouring the market for dividend stocks might not consider Altria Group Inc. (MO +0.15%). That's fair, because at first glance owning shares of Altria means you own a company with a declining cigarette volume market -- cigarette volumes declined 6% annually between 2019 and 2024 according to Euromonitor -- and a company that operates in a space with increasing taxes and tightening regulations.

So what keeps the company churning out its impressive dividend? A dividend yielding an impressive 6.5% and with 60 dividend increases over the past 56 years under its belt.

The answer lies in the still lucrative U.S. market, where the market size has remained in the mid-$90 billion range for several years, according to Morningstar, as rising tobacco prices help offset declining volume. In fact, while the U.S. market is mature in volume, it's actually a highly affordable market relative to other developed markets -- leaving room for price increases and growth for years to come.

Further, while the company's attempts to diversify haven't gone perfectly, it's still a prudent long-term move and Altria owns stakes in cannabis and vaping producers. Eventually, assuming the company successfully diversifies and acquires or innovates the next big category, it's well-positioned with a massive and intricate distribution system that few competitors can match -- perfect for launching a next-generation product.

MO Free Cash Flow data by YCharts

Cigarette volume may be in decline, but as you can see in the graphic above, the company's margins are expanding and its free cash flow is consistently rising -- and that's what matters to dividend investors.

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Steer clear of a stale business
Conagra Brands (CAG 0.97%) is a packaged food company that operates predominantly in the U.S. market. The majority of its revenue comes from frozen food with recognizable brands such as Marie Callender's, Healthy Choice, Banquet, and Birds Eye, among others.

But wait, there's more -- the company also sells snacks and refrigerated food through brands such as Duncan Hines, Hunt's, Slim Jim, Orville Redenbacher's, and many more.

For investors, the company has evolved its growth strategy. Previously, the company had taken steps such as its 2012 acquisition of Ralcorp to boost its private-label exposure, which was later divested at roughly half the purchase price -- oops -- to its current vision of growth through brand investment.

The problem with that is the company spends notably less in product development and marketing, which goes against brand building. Plus, it lacks the number of strong brands needed to drive pricing power or to become a deeply entrenched retail partner/supplier.

Frozen food is the most important category for Conagra, but it is likely to struggle to stand out amid intense competition, especially spending less on marketing and product innovation. Further, while frozen food has been a fast growing grocery category, the market has also historically posted volume declines following inflation-related price increases -- that means consumers aren't willing to pay a premium for frozen products, limiting growth.

Conagra's pivot to brand building was the right move, in my humble opinion, but until the company puts its money where its mouth is to truly invest in its brands as the competition does, investors would be wise to find more promising high dividend-yielding investments.

CAG data by YCharts

What it all means
Remember the first graphic example highlighting Altria's expanding margins and rising free cash flow? Well, as you can see in Conagra's graph above, it can't claim the same. Not all dividend stocks are created equal, despite the vast majority of them being more mature businesses and consistently returning value to shareholders.

Even with declining cigarette volume in the U.S., Altria is driving margin expansion while Conagra is failing to invest in the very brands it expects to improve its margins -- invest accordingly.

Today's market may have a better beverage stock buy.

In 1996, my family traveled to Atlanta, GA and a younger version of me got to visit the World Of Coca-Cola from The Coca-Cola Company (KO 0.33%). I was mesmerized and I've been a big fan of the nostalgic branding ever since. Of course, the company has millions of fans besides me, including one prominent resident of Omaha.

In 1988, Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway began investing in Coca-Cola stock. By 1989, Buffett had invested more than $1 billion of Berkshire's money into the beverage giant from Georgia, good for more than 6% of the overall company at the time.

Buffett's investment in this stock from The Peach State has been just peachy. Thanks to holding for the long term and reinvesting dividends, Berkshire now holds 400 million shares of Coca-Cola, worth more than $28 billion. Moreover, Berkshire also owns more than 9% of the company now thanks to Coca-Cola's stock buybacks.

The Coca-Cola Company reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter of 2025 on Oct. 21, giving investors a timely reason to revisit this stock and ask if it's still a buy in today's market.

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Spoiler alert: Despite my love of the brand, I don't believe Coca-Cola stock is a good buy for many investors today. But Buffett's thought process 40 years ago can guide investors toward a better idea right now.

Why Coca-Cola isn't the best stock right now
For investors trying to outperform the S&P 500, Coca-Cola stock has been a poor choice lately. It's underperformed the market over the last three-, five-, 10-, and 20-year periods, even when factoring in reinvested dividends.

It's not hard to explain why Coca-Cola stock has underperformed the S&P 500: The company has averaged just 5% year-over-year quarterly growth over the last 20 years. That's usually not enough to propel a business to market-beating gains.

Don't misunderstand: Coca-Cola stock still has its virtues. For starters, it's impressive that revenue continues to rise even after 130 years in business -- Q3 net revenues were up 5% from the fiscal third quarter of 2024. I attribute this ongoing growth to Coca-Cola's huge portfolio of beverages. In short, beverages don't go out of style and the company can constantly pivot into consumer trends.

Moreover, Coca-Cola is an accomplished dividend stock, having paid and raised the dividend for more than 60 years, ranking it among the Dividend Kings. With a 2.8% dividend yield as of this writing, the dividend has been more attractive with a higher yield at times. But investors who buy for the dividend today still get a good payout and should enjoy payments for years to come.

All of this being said, many investors want better returns than what Coca-Cola stock has offered in recent years. And that's why I think that investors can use Warren Buffett's thought process to find a better beverage stock today.

Here's what Buffett saw in Coca-Cola 40 years ago
In his 1989 letter to Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders, Warren Buffett wrote about Coca-Cola "drifting" for a short period of time. He then wrote, "What was already the world's most ubiquitous product gained new momentum, with sales overseas virtually exploding." In other words, Coca-Cola had its second phase of growth in international markets after saturating the U.S. market.

It's not nearly as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola was in 1989. But Celsius Holdings (CELH +2.26%) is nevertheless on the cusp of its second act as well thanks to international markets.

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63.35

To be clear, energy drink company Celsius is somewhat drifting in North America. In 2023, the company had nearly $1.3 billion in revenue in North America. As of the second quarter of 2025, it has trailing-12-month revenue of almost $1.6 billion. That's not much growth and it's even more modest when considering that Celsius acquired Alani Nu during this time.

However, Celsius could potentially surpass $100 million in international revenue in 2025, up from around $75 million in 2024. That's a much stronger growth rate and one would only expect for momentum to build in coming years. After all, the company just entered many of its new markets within the past year.

In spite of stiff competition from the beverage giants and direct competitor Monster, Celsius has been able to grow across North America. Now Celsius is looking for a new phase of growth overseas as Coca-Cola did decades ago. And this could fuel the stock to much greater upside than Coca-Cola stock over the next five years.

Could Celsius lose market share in North America? Yes, it's possible. Could Celsius fail to gain traction in international markets? Of course, that could happen as well. But just as Warren Buffett saw potential in Coca-Cola stock as it set its sights to international markets, I see the same potential with Celsius and it's why it's a stock that I continue to hold today.

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.

Loan growth is set to slow down because of economic factors. Margin will likely continue to expand as deposit costs will fall in response to rate cuts. 3Q's provision expense was elevated because of two movie theaters. Provisions will likely dip from the 3Q's level.

SummaryiShares Bitcoin Trust ETF is rated hold as seasonal bullish trends have not materialized, with shares down 4.4% since mid-Q3.IBIT's volatility remains high, and technical signals are mixed, with key support at $59-$62 and a concerning bearish momentum divergence.Despite strong YTD performance and high liquidity, IBIT faces choppy price action and a bearish megaphone pattern, suggesting caution through year-end.While IBIT may benefit from relative strength versus GLD and potential November seasonality, I remain neutral amid conflicting signals. BlackJack3D/iStock via Getty Images

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

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

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