Underdog Investors

Big news for Best Buy fans and investors! As we approach the four-year post-COVID upgrade cycle, Best Buy is gearing up for a major boost in sales, thanks to a new wave of AI-powered laptops. This exciting development could push the stock price beyond $95, making now a great time to pay attention. Key Takeaways: Time for Upgrades : It’s been four years since many of us bought new computers during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Now, it’s time to upgrade, and Best Buy is ready. Cool New Tech : Best Buy is rolling out 40 new AI-enabled laptops, including some that are exclusive to their stores. These AI laptops are set to be a big hit. Positive Trends : The first quarter of 2024 saw a 1.5% increase in PC shipments, and Best Buy's sales are closely following this trend. Industry Buzz : Experts say one in five PCs shipped in 2024 will be AI-capable, and Best Buy is prepared to sell a lot of them. What Investors Can Do:  If you’re an investor, this is the moment to look at Best Buy closely. The...

Exciting times are ahead for Las Vegas Strip casinos! With the closure of Tropicana Las Vegas and The Mirage Hotel & Casino, there's a golden opportunity for other casino operators to boost their earnings. This major change could shake up the entire Strip, leading to some serious money-making potential. Key Highlights: MGM Resorts Set to Win Big : MGM Resorts International is the biggest player on the Strip with almost 37,000 rooms in top spots like Luxor, Aria, and Bellagio. More Gains for Caesars and Wynn : Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts are also in a prime position to benefit from the reduced competition. Why It Matters : The Mirage's closure alone means finding new homes for one million occupied room nights and $596M in revenue – that's a lot of guests and cash up for grabs! Investor Mood and Market Strength : Even though some investors are worried about inflation and the economy, Las Vegas is still going strong with high spending and packed event calendars....

On July 5, 2024, we got some big news about the U.S. job market that might mean lower interest rates soon. The latest jobs report shows that job growth is slowing down, which could lead to the Federal Reserve cutting rates in September. The June report showed 206,000 new jobs, a bit more than expected, but with big downward revisions for the past two months. This means there were 111,000 fewer jobs added than we thought. The three-month average job growth is now the weakest since January 2021. The unemployment rate went up to 4.1%, higher than last year’s 3.4%, which means more people are looking for jobs. This cooling job market is also slowing down wage growth. Average hourly earnings only grew by 0.3% from last month and 3.9% from last year, the slowest since early 2021. Most of the new jobs were in government and private education/healthcare services. Other sectors like leisure and hospitality, retail, and manufacturing saw job losses. Private payrolls only grew by 136,000 instead ...

On July 5, 2024, Wall Street had a big day! The Nasdaq and S&P 500 hit new record highs, and U.S. Treasurys were in demand. This happened right after a holiday break and thanks to a jobs report that supported hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. The S&P 500 (SP500) went up by 0.29% to 5,553.05 points, and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.75% to 18,325.49 points. But the Dow (DJI) slipped a bit, down 0.19% at 39,234.47 points. Seven out of the 11 S&P sectors were in the green, showing a healthy market. Before the markets opened, a report showed that job growth slowed down in June, and the unemployment rate went up a little to 4.1%. This slowdown is a sign that the job market is cooling off, according to Sarah House from Wells Fargo. Mark Zandi from Moody's Analytics said it’s time for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates because job and wage growth are slowing down, and the unemployment rate is ticking up. This idea gained traction, with the odds of a 25 basis...

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been on an incredible journey, with its stock price skyrocketing due to excitement around AI (Artificial Intelligence), its strong position in the market, and consistently beating expectations. Some say this rise feels like the Dot-Com bubble of the late '90s, but is that really the case? Let's break it down in simple terms. Why Is NVIDIA's Stock So High? In my last look at NVIDIA, I noted that despite its rapid rise, the company’s strong performance made its high price reasonable. Since then, NVIDIA's stock has jumped another 50%, briefly becoming the most valuable company in the world. So, what's driving this massive growth? 1. AI Excitement Think of AI as the latest and greatest gadget everyone wants. The buzz around AI, especially generative AI (the kind that creates new content like text, images, and even music), has been the main reason for NVIDIA's rise. Imagine the excitement around the newest iPhone multiplied many ...

If you've been wondering why your investments have been looking a bit rosier this year, you can thank artificial intelligence (AI). In a stunning turn of events, AI-themed stocks have fueled nearly half of the gains in the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) in 2024.  Let's break down how this high-tech trend is shaking up the market and what it means for your portfolio. AI Stocks: The Market's Secret Sauce Artificial intelligence isn’t just making our gadgets smarter; it’s also turbocharging the stock market. So far this year, AI-related stocks have driven almost 50% of the MSCI ACWI's 11% return. That’s right – just a handful of tech companies are making a huge impact! The Big Players: Nvidia and Friends Leading the charge is Nvidia (NVDA), which has contributed almost 3% to the index’s year-to-date return. That’s a hefty chunk for a single stock. Other tech giants like Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon (AMZN), and Apple (AAPL) are also...

The semiconductor industry is buzzing with excitement as Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) makes big moves to transform itself. Meanwhile, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) continues to shine with its popular AI chips.  Let's break down why Intel might be a great investment right now and how it compares to Nvidia. Key Points: Intel’s Big Makeover : Intel is changing its game by becoming a top manufacturer of high-end semiconductors in the U.S. With the government's support, Intel is setting itself up for a bright future. Intel’s Low Price : Compared to its peers, Intel’s stock is a bargain. This low price offers a great opportunity for investors who expect Intel’s earnings to bounce back. Government Backing : The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 is giving Intel lots of funding and tax breaks. This makes Intel's big investments in U.S. manufacturing less risky and more promising. Future Growth : Intel's strategic investments could lead to big sales and income growth. Analyst...

Exciting news is on the horizon! Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms, and tech giant Apple have been chatting about teaming up on some mind-blowing artificial intelligence (AI) projects. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), these discussions could lead to Meta's cutting-edge AI model being integrated into Apple's new AI system for iPhones. Imagine that! But wait, there’s more! Another AI startup, Anthropic, is also in talks with Apple. They’re discussing how to bring their amazing generative AI technology to Apple’s new AI system, called Apple Intelligence. This is like adding superpowers to your iPhone! Apple, Meta, and Anthropic haven't spilled all the beans yet, so we’ll have to stay tuned for more details. Now, these talks aren’t a done deal just yet. They could still fall through, but if they succeed, it means big things for AI companies. They’d get a chance to reach millions of Apple users, which could mean a lot more business. Some of these companies mig...