The semiconductor chip shortage has led to a number of companies both rise and fall over the past few months. Now, memory-related chips are starting to see a strong rally, even holding its own as other tech stocks have dipped in the past few days. The move higher may continue, as analysts are starting to upgrade these companies on their strong potential in the next few quarters as well. One potential winner in the space isMicron (MU). The memory chip maker has just been upgraded thanks to rising demand for memory chips. The recent rally has finally brought the share return in-line...

The Internet of Things (IoT) tech trend is one of many such tech trends investors point to as signs of a big opportunity in tech investments over the next decade. IoT looks particularly attractive as it means the interconnectedness of a number of technologies today, even if the trend as a whole may not sound as exciting as, say, electric vehicles or cryptocurrencies. Any company that can play to this trend can likely earn a profit over the next few years. But a company that can provide key components for any IoT device is likely to make a bundle. One potential big winner?Qualcomm ...

The only constant in the world is change. Companies that have been around for decades or even over a century are ones that need to adapt to the times to survive and thrive. For some industries, this change can be quickly driven by technologies and competition. In others, regulatory changes can play a big role as well. Increased environmental regulations in the past few years ensure that even a stodgy industry like utilities have to change as well. Utility providerDominion Energy (D) has been shifting from a heavy mix of traditional energy sources to increased uses of greener sources ...

For many alternative assets, there’s simply no way to make a liquid trade on an exchange. For those who care about fine art, the wine market, rare stamps or coins, there’s no easy fund to buy into. However, investors in the latest new asset class, cryptocurrencies, are finding an increasing number of options. It’s now been a year since major payment platforms have allowed users to park their cash in crypto names instead. A number of brokerage firms allow such trades as well. But there are ways to play the trend without directly investing in the trend. One way might include betting on...

Consumer stocks have been in the spotlight due to strong earnings in the past few days. While many trends point to a strong holiday season, retailers that are known for providing low prices and deals could fare even better with inflationary fears and supply chain shortages still making headlines. One company that could break to new highs this holiday season isKohl’s (KSS). The retailer chain reported on Thursday that both earnings and revenues beat expectations, and the company raised guidance for the fiscal year. With revenue jumping to $4.8 billion, it’s no surprise shares moved hi...

While the stock market is still near all-time highs, a number of companies haven’t gone along for the ride, with a peak earlier in the year, even as those companies have performed well operationally. Among the surprising “off the peak” stocks out there, payment companyVisa (V) has joined the list, shedding nearly 5 percent on Wednesday and down nearly 20 percent from its 52-week high. Shares of the credit card payment company, one of the biggest players in a highly-profitable oligopoly, have now returned under 4 percent in the past year, even as earnings and revenue have grown by dou...

The week has started off with some numbers showing that consumers are spending at an increased rate going into the holiday season. And the third-quarter earnings of retailers are showing solid numbers too.WalMart (WMT) has joined in by reporting higher estimates for the fourth quarter of the year with its most recent earnings report. While shares sold off despite a beat in earnings and revenues, they may yet trend higher. There will still likely be some concerns over the company’s overall holiday sales as delays in the supply chain continue to keep shelves partially bare for some produc...

Many industries fared well during the pandemic, but others were essentially closed down entirely. Any in-person entertainment experience was one of them, which nearly led to the bankruptcy of a number of firms. One such company,AMC Entertainment (AMC), was able to ride a wave of retail investor interest higher. And that higher share price gave the company a second lease on life as they were able to issue new shares to raise cash and pay down debt. Now, the company is benefitting from improving box office numbers as consumers head back to the theater. That trend is likely to continue ...

E-commerce continues to grow as a trend, with more customers making more purchases online globally. While that trend may look played out, companies are still posting record numbers.Alibaba (BABA) just reported an 8.5 percent increase in sales for its Singles Day holiday. The downside? Growth came in at a reported a 26 percent increase from 2019 to 2020 thanks to the pandemic. While that trend is slowing, it’s still a worthwhile one, especially given how shares have performed recently. Thanks to a regulatory crackdown on tech companies, as well as a slowdown in the country’s real esta...

Lost among the shuffle of some of today’s tech trends, the 5G network continues to roll out. The technology includes faster download speeds and a better ability to use video and other tools for communication, work, and play while on the go. It’s a trend combining a number of things from wireless chips to the location of cell towers. With many ways to profit, investors need a way to narrow down opportunities. One such way might be to look at companies that offer 5G services on a recurring revenue model. One of the most obvious plays there are the telecom carriers themselves. It’s a sp...