In any industry, market share is a key metric. How much of the total market one company gets can result in bigger profits, and also open up opportunities to take advantage of a larger size. Investors remain wary about inflation and rising costs. Those costs are usually seen when making a purchase, even if inflation has worked its way through the entire system. Retail companies are working on ways to lower prices and knock down inflation. One way is by finding products that can be sold at a lower price. RetailerTarget (TGT) is working on plans to lower prices on about 5,000 frequently...

While the market trends higher over time, some companies can be out of favor with the market. If they’re capable of finding ways to improve their business and profitability, they’ll likely have a catch-up rally. Such rallies can beat the overall market returns handily over time. And they’re the kind of move that can be common in large, established companies that tend to otherwise perform as slow-moving investments. One way to find these opportunities is to follow activist investors. For instance, right now activist investors are targetingJohnson Controls (JCI), a manufacturer of buil...

There’s a saying in the video game industry that a delayed game can become good. But a game that’s rushed out with flaws will never be great. Some video game companies have taken that philosophy to heart, even when it means delaying an anticipated release. That can be tough for some studios, since they have to develop the game before they can sell it and generate revenue. For larger studios working with multiple properties, it’s somewhat easier. For instance,Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) just announced the delay of the anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.  The move also brought a ...

The AI rally of the past 18 months has largely focused on big-tech names and semiconductor manufacturers. But AI’s applications can encompass and benefit every company, no matter what industry it’s in. That’s leading to a number of stealth AI plays. These are companies that will benefit from the rise of this technology and its rollout in the years ahead. Investors who buy into these companies can see market-beating returns in the years ahead. One such company isDell Technologies (DELL). Best known for personal computer manufacturing, the company’s expansion into servers plays right i...

10 AI Stocks to Buy Now Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has unleashed a massive investor interest in artificial intelligence (AI). That’s because generative AI like the kind developed by ChatGPT shows how powerful this trend has become. And it’s kicked off a race by companies to develop AI programs and systems of their own. With AI tools, companies can create more efficient manufacturing processes. Reduce waste. Better utilize their workforce. Even if there are only small gains in those areas, that can add up to billions of dollars in added value for a large co...

Investors looking for market-beating returns have several strategies that they can use. One strategy is to buy a company that’s out of favor with the market. Ideally, the company is even hated. As long as that company can survive and the issues surrounding shares are temporary, the stock should trend higher in time. That could include big one-time events, like buying an oil company after a major oil spill. Today, the top contrarian opportunity is inBoeing (BA). The airline manufacturer has had a series of high-profile issues in recent months. It’s now come out that the company has vi...

Consumers are finally starting to feel the impact of higher interest rates. They’re cutting back on spending to avoid having to pay high interest rates on borrowed money. That trend is impacting sales, particularly for larger products that often need to be financed. However, that trend could easily shift the other way when interest rates start to decline. Today’s investors may want to start looking for consumer goods companies to grab on sale. Today’s weakening sales numbers can easily reverse when rates drop. Home improvement retailerHome Depot (HD) is one of the first retailers to ...

AI stocks have been on a tear, particularly big-tech companies that have been spending big on AI to grab an early lead. However, the market is showing an increasing reluctance to simply invest in any company willing to throw billions in AI. Now, we’re seeing that some companies that have been late to the party have been biding their time well. That’s because they can get in now, by employing technology that someone else has already developed. That’s the apparent plan for consumer tech giantApple (AAPL). The company may be making a deal with OpenAI to build AI onto devices such as the...

The past 18 months have been great for just about any stock related to artificial intelligence (AI). However, the biggest moves have occurred in massive, big-tech companies. These companies have the capital to move in quickly and build out their AI infrastructure, after all. However, the real opportunity now may be in smaller companies playing to niche corners of the AI trend. That’s because it’s easier for a smaller company to double its earnings or market cap than a multi-billion-dollar tech giant. One smaller play isSoundHound AI (SOUN). The company’s AI voice technology services ...

Markets tend to get jittery during earnings season. In the long-term, earnings matter. In the short-term, other factors may be at play. That can include how a company discusses its forward outlook. Or there may be some aspect to a company’s revenues or profit margins that lead to a selloff. Fortunately, that’s an opportunity for investors. While short-term traders may beat down shares of a great company, its creates a buying opportunity for those with a bullish outlook. For instance, metaverse video game companyRoblox (RBLX) just reported fantastic earnings. However, the company didn...