Look, I get it. The stock market feels like a casino where the house always wins and everyone’s speaking in code. But sometimes, just sometimes, there are actually decent plays hiding in plain sight. Here are five stocks that aren’t completely insane right now, plus one that’s basically financial kryptonite.
The “Holy Grail” Tech Play: ASML
ASML makes the machines that make the chips that power everything from your iPhone to those AI chatbots everyone’s obsessing over. Think of them as the company that sells shovels during a gold rush—except the gold rush is artificial intelligence and it’s not ending anytime soon.
They just crushed earnings, guided revenue up 15% for next year, and are sitting pretty with 52% margins. That’s not a typo. While other tech stocks are having existential crises about valuations, ASML is quietly printing money at $1,000+ per share. Sometimes boring infrastructure plays are the smartest moves.
The Utility That Doesn’t Suck: American Electric Power (AEP)
Utilities are usually about as exciting as watching paint dry, but AEP is different. They’re not just keeping the lights on—they’re powering the data centers that run our AI-obsessed world. Plus, they pay a 3.5% dividend, which beats the heck out of your savings account.
The stock’s up 30% this year because smart money figured out that electricity demand is about to explode. Data centers are power-hungry beasts, and AEP is positioned right in their feeding path.
The Under-$10 Gem: Cemex (CX)
Cement might not sound sexy, but infrastructure spending is real and Cemex is cashing in. At $10 a share, it’s like finding a designer jacket at a thrift store—if that jacket was positioned to benefit from America’s crumbling roads getting fixed.
They’ve cut $150 million in costs and expanded their U.S. footprint. Sometimes the best plays are the ones nobody’s talking about at cocktail parties.
The Income Play with Upside: Duke Energy (DUK)
Another utility, but hear me out. Duke pays over 3.5% in dividends AND they’re partnering with AI companies for power needs. It’s like getting paid to wait while your investment potentially doubles. In this market, that’s basically winning the lottery.
The One to Avoid: Darden (DRI)
Here’s where things get ugly. Darden owns Olive Garden and other casual dining chains, and they’re getting hammered as people tighten their belts. The stock just triggered a “Death Cross”—which sounds dramatic because it is. When people stop eating out, restaurant stocks die first.
Consumer spending is cracking, and DRI is exhibit A. Sometimes the best investment decision is knowing what NOT to buy.
The Bottom Line: In a market full of noise, these picks focus on real businesses solving real problems. ASML and the utilities are infrastructure plays for our digital future. Cemex benefits from actual infrastructure. And Darden? Well, sometimes you need a cautionary tale.
Remember: I’m not your financial advisor, just your friend who reads way too many earnings reports. Do your own homework, but at least now you know where to start looking.