A number of smaller tech companies exploded at the start of the year on the back of retail interest. Some of that speculation quickly died out. Even with markets still near all-time highs, these smaller players, which likely have better long-term growth potential, remain out of favor. One particular area where that holds true is with electric vehicles. It’s a potential $30 trillion market over the next decade as the trend of EVs goes mainstream. One of the more interesting companies in the space isQuantumScape (QS). The battery company is working on next-gen technology that would be ...

2020 was a great year for streaming service companies, as quarantined populations turned to binge watching shows old and new. With the economy reopening, however, more options are available to consumers, who want to get out of the house. That creates a challenge for streaming companies to keep their subscribers. For instance, in its latest earnings on Tuesday,Netflix (NFLX) reported lighter-than-expected subscriber growth, the key metric for streaming companies. However, Netflix is already working to develop gaming. While some feared this might cut into video game consoles, it appear...

What’s old can often be new again in tech. Case in point?International Business Machines (IBM). The tech giant is starting to show some signs of life as it pivots away from computer mainframes and more towards software and services. That allowed the company to see a 3 percent rise in revenue compared to a year ago. Compared to its history of losses over the past few years, it looks like a start in the right direction. However, despite those solid headline numbers, things are still a little murkier. A read behind the headlines indicates that the company’s strong quarter was based on h...

Wall Street loves nothing more than a good rumor. Rumors about a potential merger often involve multiple companies. That includes the two companies that might merge, as well as any competitors or big institutions that might be investing. Last week, a rumor broke thatIntel (INTC) is looking to buy GlobalFoundries, a privately held firm. If that’s the case, shares might end up going on a winning streak once again. That’s because GlobalFoundries is a big player in manufacturing semiconductors, which would compliment Intel’s design prowess. Intel was one of the original semiconductor ...

Shares ofGameStop (GME) dropped heavily last week, adding to weeks of sagging since its last earnings report. One potential culprit?Netflix (NFLX), which announced that it hired a former executive from the video game space to develop video games for the streaming giant. Shares of both companies ended up falling the day the news was announced. Many analysts have questioned the move, given the high development costs of video games from scratch. With rising competition in the streaming space, it’s clear that Netflix should look for new niches that fit with its expertise. But streaming v...

The airline industry is back. Earnings season is still unfolding, but the airlines, which looked like they may be facing years of challenge ahead at the start of the pandemic, are already at or near profitability.Delta Airlines (DAL) has led the way with earnings so far. The company earned $1.02 per share, excluding special items on its earnings. The move comes as domestic travel rebounds to pre-pandemic levels. Given that Delta was expected to lose $1.33 per share, the results are nothing short of fantastic. Despite the strong numbers, shares still sold off when the company reported on...

Pandemic restrictions are ending globally, which points to a potential revival, however slowly, of global travel. While some may be wary of international travel, others may be sick of staying at home or traveling domestically. Either way, those trends bode well for the larger travel and tourism industry. With business picking up, the fundamentals of many companies will likely improve, leading to higher share prices for those stocks. One big potential winner here isAirbnb (ABNB). Many who resume traveling may want to avoid the crowds of hotels, and selecting properties with limited ac...

The entertainment industry has been hit hard thanks to the pandemic. While many areas are resuming in-person forms of entertainment once again, the best gauge for how the industry is faring is by looking at box office receipts. While movies have declined somewhat in the past few years thanks to video games and streaming, it’s starting to show signs of a return to a pre-pandemic life. Case in point?The Walt Disney Company (DIS). The company just reported its latest release, Black Widow, hit $90 million in domestic box office sales opening weekend, and $215 million internationally. Tha...

Historically, most companies focused on one product or service. That eventually saturates the market. Today’s tech companies, particularly software ones, are able to break that cycle with new products or better upgrades to existing software. Companies that also pivot to other opportunities can create big value for themselves and shareholders as well. That’s why so many of today’s big tech names have continued to increase in value, even as some of them have become multi-trillion-dollar companies. One up-and-comer for this club isOracle (ORCL). Shares are already up nearly 40 percent t...

Sometimes, a company will be caught in a virtuous loop, where its rising share price attracts analyst upgrades. In turn, the shares rise again, prompting more analysts to turn bullish. While that can sometimes end up looking a little silly in hindsight, for the right company, it may be a sign that growth is taking off. That could be the case with a big growth story in the markets right now, especially when the virtuous cycle leads a company back to all-time highs after a big selloff. In this case, analysts who loveChipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) may be on to something. The company has r...