AI Stocks: A Mildly Sensible Approach

Alphabet, formerly known as Google (a name which, incidentally, sounds remarkably like a sneeze), has managed to re-emerge as a frontrunner in the AI arena. They stumbled a bit initially, briefly overshadowed by the flashier newcomers, but have since unleashed Gemini, a generative AI model that, while not quite capable of writing a decent novel (yet), is certainly competent at generating remarkably plausible nonsense. However, the real advantage Alphabet possesses isn’t just the technology itself, but the sheer volume of data they’ve quietly accumulated. (Think of it as a digital hoard, meticulously cataloged and waiting to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.) With your (voluntary, of course, and subject to a 78-page user agreement) permission, Gemini can access your photos, YouTube history, emails, and everything else you’ve ever entrusted to the internet. This allows for a level of personalization that others can only dream of. (It also raises some interesting philosophical questions about the nature of privacy, but let’s not get bogged down in existential dread; there’s money to be made.)

Costco: Still Worth the Membership Fee?

The brilliance of Costco, and it is brilliant, lies in its membership fees. It’s a subscription service for…everything. People willingly hand over money just for the privilege of shopping there. And they keep renewing. At a rate of 92.2% in the US and Canada, and 89.7% worldwide! That’s a loyalty level most companies only dream of. It’s a bit like a really good book club, except instead of discussing literature, you’re discussing the merits of various bulk cheeses. In the first quarter of their 2026 fiscal year, sales were up 8.2%, and earnings per share jumped to $4.50. Not bad for a place that seems perpetually crowded.

Amylyx: A Transaction in the Shifting Light

How does this event compare to Mr. Cohen’s previous dealings? It is a larger gesture than those typically observed, exceeding his usual activity – a median sale of 15,220 shares since September 2024. The context, however, is crucial; the exercise of options lends a particular character to this transaction, a necessary adjustment of accounts rather than a decisive shift in allegiance.

The Shifting Sands of Artificial Intelligence

The prevailing narrative centered on a disconnect between valuation and genuine application. The assumption was simple enough: if the deployment of AI failed to keep pace with the escalating financial commitments, a correction – a rather unpleasant one – was all but guaranteed. Even Satya Nadella, a figure hardly given to alarmism, acknowledged the need for broader adoption beyond the confines of the technology sector itself.

Palantir vs. BigBear.ai: A Comedy of Errors (and Earnings)

Palantir, now they know how to put on a show. Started by supplying the spooks and the Pentagon – very James Bond, very sophisticated. Now they’re selling to everyone, even accountants! Can you imagine? They’ve gone from tracking terrorists to tracking… tax deductions. The stock price has, shall we say, exploded. It’s gone up so much, I’m half expecting Jeff Bezos to offer them a ride to space.

A Prudent Acquisition: Bouvel and the Allure of BOND

The acquisition of 85,742 additional shares elevates Bouvel’s stake to a rather significant 6.38% of their reportable U.S. equity portfolio. A substantial commitment, wouldn’t you agree? One does not simply dabble with such sums. It suggests a confidence in BOND’s potential, or perhaps a weariness with the vulgar displays of more speculative ventures.

Visa & Mastercard: Seriously?

They reported earnings on January 29th. Big deal. Everyone’s praising “solid consumer spending.” Solid? What does that even mean? It’s just a word people throw around. Mastercard’s revenue up 18%, Visa 15%? So what? They’re supposed to be up more! It’s like ordering a pastrami on rye and getting… slightly more than half a pastrami. You just want what you paid for, is that so much to ask?

DFGP: A Rather Large Sum of Money

As of January 27, 2026 – a date that will undoubtedly be remembered by future historians for reasons we can only speculate upon – this purchase constitutes 7.91% of Symmetry Partners’ 13F reportable assets under management. Which is… a lot. It’s like deciding you’re only going to eat 7.91% of a very large pizza. A perfectly reasonable decision, of course, but one that raises questions about the existence of other, even larger pizzas.