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The Federal Reserve cut rates three times last year, and the rumor mill says they might do it again. Now, I’m no economist, but even I know what that means. Lower rates make holding shiny, non-producing assets like gold and silver a little more… palatable. It’s like offering a free bagel with your investment. Suddenly, it’s a little more attractive, isn’t it? When everything else is paying peanuts, a little sparkle can go a long way. Think of it as the difference between a drab accountant and a dazzling showman – both have their place, but which one do you want on a Saturday night?

Wood was relatively quiet on Wednesday, which, for her, is like a nun at a rave. She made moves on five stocks, but three caught my eye – mostly because I’m paid to look. We’re talking Netflix (NFLX 1.43%), Tempus AI (TEM +2.03%), and Kodiak AI (KDK +2.17%). She’s doubling down on these, which is either genius or a spectacular display of confirmation bias. Let’s unpack this, shall we?

It appears we have a business that’s caught the eye of investors, those keen to get in on the ground floor of an expanding coffee empire. There are, naturally, arguments to be had on both sides – the bulls and the bears, as they’re known – but does Dutch Bros possess the necessary ingredients to transform a modest investment into a positively opulent fortune?

The past twelve months have been… agreeable. A seventeen percent return, they say. A fleeting moment of prosperity. One almost hesitates to mention it, lest it vanish like a dream. It’s a reminder that even in the most predictable of investments, fortune remains a fickle companion.

Is it a fluke? Could be. Everything is a potential disaster, isn’t it? But I’m leaning towards… intrigued. Dangerously intrigued. And when I’m intrigued, I tend to poke things with a very large stick. Which, in this case, means a significant investment.

The Nasdaq, though it harbors within its listings companies dealing in tangible goods – Kraft-Heinz, Marriott, even the purveyor of quick meals, Wendy’s – is predominantly known as a haven for those who traffic in the intangible: code, algorithms, and the promises they hold. To join their ranks is to claim kinship, to suggest a shared destiny. One wonders, however, if this claim is borne of genuine evolution, or merely a shrewd attempt to adorn itself in the trappings of modernity. The motivations of men, particularly those who command vast fortunes, are rarely simple.

They call it an investment bank. A polite term for a highly sophisticated gambling den. They advise companies on mergers, acquisitions, IPOs…basically, they grease the wheels of capitalistic excess. They help the rich get richer, and take a hefty cut for their trouble. It’s simple, really. Brutally simple. And they’re good at it. DAMN good.

This, of course, has created a rather lucrative market – projected to reach $377 billion by 2028, according to IDC. A sum large enough to tempt even the most cynical investor. One observes, therefore, a predictable scramble for dominance, and certain players are, shall we say, better positioned than others. We shall consider two: Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft – not necessarily the brightest stars, but certainly amongst the least objectionable.