Like a weary traveler telling a story by the fireside, he posted on X on March 4, accusing his father, Donald, of “undermining” the GENIUS Act. From there, the attack rippled: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America were named as the arch‑villains. The message was simple – the banks were choking American savers, denying them higher yields, rewards and, according to Eric, the very freedom the Constitution promises.
Ciena, a purveyor of optical networking hardware and software, had, until recently, benefited from the prevailing enthusiasm surrounding generative artificial intelligence and the associated infrastructure build-out. The stock, despite this present correction, still reflects a remarkable appreciation – a 271% ascent over the past year. This, however, introduces a complication. The higher one climbs, the more precipitous the fall, and the more keenly felt the inevitable impact.
The reason for this peculiar perkiness? Artificial Intelligence, naturally. Or, as I like to call it, the Brain-Boosting Bonanza. Broadcom’s been making the bits and bobs that make these clever machines think, and people are snapping them up like sweets in a schoolyard.
According to a recent dispatch from Bank of America – and one trusts their analysts have access to more than just tea leaves – a rather significant flow of funds is occurring. So far this year, $104 billion has drifted towards international developed markets – Europe, Japan, that sort of thing. A paltry $25 billion, by comparison, has stayed put in the States. Four times as much, you see. One almost feels sorry for the bulls on Broadway.
Last year, their revenues doubled, a rather boisterous boast. Management, those optimistic chaps, predict another year of growth. But the stock market, a beast with a particularly fickle appetite, has decided it doesn’t like the taste. It’s plummeted, first by a hefty 49%, and now, as we speak, is down another 19% this year. Seems investors finally noticed the valuation was puffed up like a prize-winning pumpkin. They’re now attempting to find a price that doesn’t require a ladder to reach.
Apparently, this purchase bumped Encompass’ stake in T1 Energy from a negligible 1% to a rather significant 9.5% of their reportable U.S. equity assets. That’s a jump. I’m not sure if I’ve ever increased my holdings in anything that dramatically. Usually, I just sort of… forget about it. It’s a perfectly valid strategy, if you ask me. Anyway, this means T1 Energy is now one of their top holdings, nestled between NYSE: SOC, NYSE: SEI, NASDAQ: FANG, and NASDAQ: NESR. A veritable alphabet soup of financial instruments. I suspect there’s a spreadsheet involved.
Now, could this be the setup for a magnificent comeback? A phoenix rising from the ashes of investor disappointment? Possibly. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve seen more “sure things” go belly up than I’ve had hot dinners. Still, let’s take a look under the hood, shall we?
Boston Scientific (BSX 1.07%) isn’t exactly a name that sets pulses racing, is it? It’s not the shiny new tech everyone’s clamoring for. Which, frankly, is exactly why I like it. It’s quietly, reliably, addressing the realities of… well, becoming obsolete. And that’s a business model I can get behind. Or, at least, invest in.
Walmart, it must be admitted, has been a remarkably successful enterprise. A rise of 28% in the last year and a staggering 185% over five years… one begins to suspect they’ve discovered a secret formula, perhaps involving strategically placed discount bins and an uncanny understanding of the public appetite for affordable goods. They’ve evolved, you see, moved beyond the humble brick-and-mortar establishment. They’ve dabbled in e-commerce, turned their stores into fulfillment centers – a logistical ballet of cardboard and delivery trucks – and even ventured into the lucrative world of advertising. A true polymath of the retail landscape.
Nio. The Chinese one. They’ve got this clever idea – swapping batteries instead of charging. Like a pit stop for your car. Efficient, if you ignore the logistical nightmare. They’re aiming higher end, but are branching out with cheaper brands. Smart. They’re also trying to escape China, which, let’s be honest, is a good plan for anyone. Then there’s Rivian. American. They make pick-up trucks, SUVs, and delivery vans for Amazon. Amazon! The overlords of everything. It’s either genius or utterly terrifying. They’re planning a more affordable SUV, the R2. Because apparently, everyone wants an electric vehicle, just not at a price that requires selling a kidney.