Nasdaq AMZN Amazon

Prior to its third-quarter earnings report, electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) released vehicle production metrics. Tesla produced significantly fewer vehicles compared to the second quarter, and it also missed Wall Street estimates by a wide margin. Nonetheless,

Growth investors often lament that if they had just put $10,000 in one of the more successful tech giants, they would be millionaires today. Knowing that, they will often buy what they think are stocks that will soar in the future in the hope of earning such a return years later.

Last week, renowned hedge fund manager Bill Ackman spoke at length about a new position in his portfolio. As it turns out, Silicon Valley investors are not the only ones looking to capitalize on the rising popularity of artificial intelligence (AI).

Most of us probably like the idea of getting something for free. And most of us like the idea of having money, too. Therefore, the prospect of receiving free money should be especially enticing.

Are you eager to retire with a growing stream of income from the dividend stocks in your portfolio? Now is a great time to go shopping.

Social media company Meta Platform's ( NASDAQ:META ) efforts to strengthen its position in the AI (artificial intelligence) race have gained significant traction in recent months. The stock has risen by 162% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's ( SPX ) 12% gain, and analysts see more upside ahead. Meta's attempt to strengthen and monetize its already popular social media platforms by adopting generative AI could boost its revenue and earnings in the next few quarters. Hence, I am bullish on META stock now. Meta Platforms: Gearing Up for Another Strong Quarter Meta (formerly Facebook) is a part of the big tech  FAANG group, which also includes Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ), Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ), Netflix ( NASDAQ:NFLX ), and Alphabet (formerly Google) ( NASDAQ:GOOGL ). Meta Platforms owns social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, the recently launched Threads, and others. These fall under one of its segments, Family of Apps (FoA). Its augmented and virtual reality-related products and services fall under its other reportable segment, Reality Labs (RL). Reality Labs hasn’t been profitable for the company. In Q2, it reported a $3.7 billion operating loss, however, thanks to its FoA segment, which is making up for the damage done. It brought in $31.7 billion in revenue, accounting for a chunk of total revenue, resulting in a $13.1 billion operating profit. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had set 2023 as the "year of efficiency" and has been working hard to make that happen. It entailed layoffs, reducing spending on less significant projects, and focusing on more AI-related projects. During its Q2 earnings call, the company discussed how its AI-related investments over the years are finally paying off. Meta Stock: Powering Through AI Innovations Certainly, it has been a year of efficiency. Most recently, at Meta's Connect conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company's new generative AI products, which sparked market excitement. Meta AI is an advanced conversational assistant that can generate text responses and photo-realistic images and is integrated with Meta's popular products, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Meta AI is powered by Llama 2, its large language model, which it released in July in collaboration with Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ). The company intends to incorporate Meta AI into its mixed reality headset, Quest 3, and another new offering, a new generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The company will launch Quest 3 on October 10. Zuckerberg described Quest 3 as the best value in the industry for combining digital and real-world experiences at a low cost. Indeed, it is low-cost, priced at $500, while competing with Apple's Vision Pro Headset, which will come with a price tag of around $3,500. Apple's headset is set to hit the market in early 2024. What's more, its new generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, are priced at $299. The glasses will be launched in the third week of October. Meta claims the glasses can take pictures, record videos, and connect to social media. Along with these, Meta has added generative AI stickers to its messaging apps. It could use AI to unlock more monetary potential in the wildly popular messaging app WhatsApp, which it purchased for $19 billion in 2014. More features from the company include its monthly subscription charges for ad-free Instagram and Facebook app use in Europe, which could be around 10 euros ($10.60 at current exchange rates). CFO Susan Li stated that the company's capital expenditures could rise in 2024 as it navigates AI and metaverse opportunities by expanding its workforce with more technical roles. Looking ahead, management anticipates revenue in the third quarter to be in the $32 billion to $34.5 billion range, representing an impressive 16% to 25% increase over Q3 2022. Meanwhile, analysts expect its revenue to be in the $29 billion to $34 billion range, with earnings estimates ranging from $2.27 to $4.27 per share, with the consensus EPS estimate landing at $3.59. On October 25, Meta will report its third-quarter earnings. Additionally, Meta closed its Q2 with a hefty cash balance of $53.5 billion and $18.3 billion in long-term debt. Given the company's rapid growth in revenue and profits, repaying the debt shouldn't be hard. Furthermore, it generated a sizable $11 billion in free cash flow in the quarter, which should aid in debt repayment and future project financing. While in pursuit of getting ahead in the AI race, Meta also believes this technology is still in its early stages and thus intends to build it responsibly. Is META Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? Turning to Wall Street, TipRanks rates Meta as a Strong Buy, with 40 Buys, two Holds, and no Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The average META stock price target of $376.47 implies 19.35% upside potential. The highest price target for the stock stands at $435, while the lowest is at $285 per share. The Takeaway Summing up, sitting at a market cap of $811.6 billion, Meta is very close to joining the $1 trillion club. With Meta's efforts to monetize its social media apps and capitalize on the massive growth brought about by AI, the company is well-positioned to achieve this goal. Though the AI niche is enticing, it is also susceptible to market fluctuations. But for now, I share Wall Street's optimism about META stock's outstanding long-term prospects. Disclosure

Major chip stocks have rallied this year due to the generative artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Advanced chips are needed for developing and training AI models. While Nvidia ( NASDAQ:NVDA ) is seen as the frontrunner in the AI race, other chip companies are working on innovative products that can capture growth opportunities in the AI market. We used TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool to place Broadcom ( NASDAQ:AVGO ), Nvidia, and Intel ( NASDAQ:INTC ) against each other to find the best chip stock, as per Wall Street analysts.    Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) Broadcom shares have rallied 51% year-to-date, as the company is expected to benefit from the generative AI wave. However, the company’s Q4 FY23 revenue growth guidance of 4% disappointed investors, especially after Nvidia issued a market-crushing outlook.   Moreover, a report by The Information that tech giant Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL, GOOG ) is thinking about ditching Broadcom as its supplier of AI chips as early as 2027 further impacted investor sentiment. The report also said that Marvell Technology ( NASDAQ:MRVL ) could replace AVGO as one of Google’s AI chip development partners. Despite all this noise, Wall Street analysts remain bullish on Broadcom, as they see it as the next big semiconductor play to immensely gain from AI-induced demand, trailing only Nvidia. The company expects generative AI to account for over 25% of its semiconductor revenue in FY24, up from 10% in FY22. What is the Price Target for AVGO? Last month, Truist Financial analyst William Stein reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO stock and raised the price target to $995 from $942. The analyst noted that while the company’s traditional chip business is stabilizing, its AI revenue is accelerating and supporting a more stable and "growthy" model. Stein thinks there is more room for upside to both Broadcom’s fundamentals and the stock over time, given continued dividend growth, potential M&A benefits, and revenue growth looking possibly higher than the mid-single-digit level. With 16 Buys and two Holds, Broadcom stock earns a Strong Buy consensus rating. At $984.94, the average price target implies 16.5% upside. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) Nvidia shares have skyrocketed 213% so far this year, as the semiconductor giant is seeing a spike in demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs) from companies that are aggressively pursuing their generative AI ambitions. The company’s Q2 FY24 revenue jumped 101%, while adjusted EPS surged 429%, mainly driven by a 171% rise in the data center segment’s revenue. The data center segment includes the HGX platform, which is witnessing robust demand from cloud services providers and large consumer internet companies like Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ), Alphabet, Meta Platforms ( NASDAQ:META ), and Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ). Looking ahead, the company expects its Q3 FY24 revenue to increase 170%, as clients are seeking the company’s advanced GPUs to build and run AI applications. Is Nvidia a Good Stock to Buy Now? On October 2, Goldman Sachs analyst Toshiya Hari added Nvidia to its Conviction Buy List. Hari views the company as the principal “shovel supplier” in the AI wave. Also, the analyst believes that NVDA will maintain its position as the “accelerated computing industry standard for the foreseeable future given its competitive moat and the urgency with which customers are developing and deploying increasingly complex AI models.” Wall Street’s Strong Buy consensus rating on NVDA stock is based on 38 Buys and one Hold. The average price target of $647.07 implies 41.4% upside. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Intel shares have risen 37% year-to-date, as investors are appreciating the company’s turnaround efforts. After two consecutive quarters of losses, the company returned to profitability in the second quarter despite continued weakness in the top line. Persistent weakness in the PC market has significantly impacted Intel’s revenue. Moreover, cloud companies and several other enterprises are more interested in securing graphics processors for generative AI than Intel’s central processors. Against a tough demand backdrop, the company delivered improved earnings driven by its cost reduction efforts. The company is taking several initiatives to turn around its business. Earlier this week, the company announced its intention to separate its Programmable Solutions Group (PSG) into a standalone business. The PSG unit, which makes programmable chips for defense, telecommunications, and other end markets, will eventually be spun out through an IPO. The move follows the company’s Mobileye ( NASDAQ:MBLY ) spin-off last year.   Is Intel a Buy, Sell, or Hold? While several analysts cheered Intel’s PSG announcement, Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis is skeptical about it and reiterated a Hold rating on the stock on October 4. “If it's about accountability, then it's unclear why PSG was folded into [Data Center and AI Group] when times were good during the pandemic and it's being broken off when the business is turning negative,” said Curtis. Curtis said that he appreciates Intel’s turnaround efforts but remains on the sidelines as he is doubtful about the company's ability to execute on its roadmap. Further, he expects some downside to the Q4 2023 and Q1 2024 estimates. Wall Street’s Hold consensus rating on INTC stock is based on six Buys, 20 Holds, and five Sells. The average price target of $36.53 indicates that the stock could be range-bound at current levels. Conclusion Analysts are bullish on Nvidia and Broadcom, while they are sidelined on Intel. Nvidia has outperformed Broadcom and Intel so far this year and yet Wall Street expects the highest upside in NVDA stock from current levels. The company’s advanced GPUs and innovative technology are expected to drive continued strength in its performance.   Disclosure

Imagine that you had bought $10,000 worth of Nike stock 20 years ago. Today, that investment would have grown to almost $160,000. Compare that with the S&P 500. A $10,000 investment there would still have grown, but only to $61,000. It goes to show that stock-picking works --

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Warren Buffett might be the world's most famous long-term investor. He's become one of Earth's wealthiest people from a decades-long and fruitful investing career. His secret? Finding wonderful companies at fair (or better) prices and holding them.

There's no denying Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is on the defensive right now. Ditto for the stock. Spurred by the Federal Trade Commission's recently announced antitrust lawsuit levied against the e-commerce giant, Amazon shares are down 13% just since the middle of last month. This pu

The NASDAQ 100 After Hours Indicator is up 9.36 to 14,982.6. The total After hours volume is currently 88,357,633 shares traded.The following are the most active stocks for the after hours session: Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is unchanged at $43.47, with 3,064,433 shares traded.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Amidst recent Nasdaq turbulence, savvy investors should keep an eye on three top-performing stocks - CrowdStrike, T-Mobile, and The Trade Desk - that look poised for potential growth.

Amazon's first pair of prototype satellites for its planned Kuiper internet network were launched into space on Friday from Florida, the company's first step before it deploys thousands more in orbit to beam the internet globally and compete with SpaceX's Starlink.

Growth stocks include companies with the potential for above-average revenue and earnings growth. While growth stocks can offer substantial returns, they are also associated with higher volatility and risk compared to other stocks. Nevertheless, to help investors choose the best growth stocks, TipRanks offers a  stock screener tool. Using this tool, we have shortlisted five growth stocks that have received Strong Buy ratings from analysts and whose price targets reflect upside potential of more than 10%. These stocks also carry Outperform  Smart Scores (i.e., 8, 9, or 10) on TipRanks. Lastly, these companies’ revenues have witnessed a compound annual growth rate of over 10% in the past three years. Let’s take a look at the stocks with the potential to grow and are analysts’ favorites. Lululemon Athletica ( NASDAQ:LULU)  – The athletic apparel retailer’s price forecast of $453 implies nearly 26% upside potential from the current levels.  The company’s revenue has grown at a three-year CAGR of 31.7% in the past three years. LULU stock has a Smart Score of 8 out of 10. Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN)  – The e-commerce giant’s price forecast of $176.02 implies 39.7% upside potential from the current levels.  The company’s revenue has grown at a CAGR of over 18.7%. AMZN carries a Smart Score of 8 out of 10. Over the last 25 days, AMZN stock has consistently received Buy ratings from 16 analysts. Nvidia ( NASDAQ:NVDA)  – The chip giant’s price forecast of $644.69 implies 44.3% upside potential.  NVDA’s revenues have witnessed 35.8% three-year CAGR. Four analysts rated the stock a Buy in the past 10 days, and NVDA stock has a “Perfect 10” Smart Score. Mercadolibre ( NASDAQ:MELI)  – Mercadolibre operates online marketplaces for e-commerce and online auctions. The stock’s average price target implies upside potential of 31.8%.  Its revenues increased at a CAGR of 62.9% in the past three years. Also, it has a Smart Score of 8 out of 10. Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL)  – The multinational technology conglomerate is widely known for its search engine, Google. The stock has upside potential of 11.6% based on its average price target of $150.70, and its  top-line numbers have grown at a CAGR of about 20.4%. Alphabet carries a Smart Score of 9 out of 10, and GOOGL stock received four Buy ratings in the past three days. Disclosure

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail Ventures said on Friday Abu Dhabi Investment Authority would invest 49.67 billion rupees ($597.58 million) in the company at a valuation of $100.8 billion.

Wall Street's main indexes fell on Friday after a strong jobs report deepened fears that interest rates may stay elevated for an extended period.

Investor psychology is hugely important in the stock market. That's part of the reason why companies use stock splits to lower their share price, making them more attractive and accessible to smaller investors without changing the overall market value of the company. These events

Amazon (AMZN) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.