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You're not alone if you were disappointed by Social Security's 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2.5% benefit increase added just $49 to the average monthly check while many retirees saw their expenses rise by more than this over the last year. That's incredibly frustrating if you depend on your benefits for a significant chunk of your monthly income.
The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of Colombia Tolima Los Brasiles Peaberry Organic coffee, grab a seat by the fire, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: Trust in a Black Hat World : Investors and Advisors, on the state of markets, and the state of ETFs: You are on your own. There are few left to trust. ( Echo Beach ) Why Japan Succeeds Despite Stagnation : For more than three decades, Japan has endured near-complete economic stagnation.
No financial goal fits everyone perfectly. Everyone's personal financial goals should reflect their unique circumstances and aspirations. That said, the million-dollar mark has long been recognized as a financial mark of "success," especially regarding retirement savings. Well, what if I told you a million-dollar retirement could be achievable by investing less than most modern monthly car payments in the U.S.?
To call SoFi 's (NASDAQ: SOFI) growth story an impressive one doesn't really do the company justice. Since going public in 2021, SoFi's membership based has increased from 3.4 million to more than 10 million, and it has evolved from a relatively small lender into a full-featured online bank. But even with the impressive growth, SoFi is still a relatively small financial institution.
Is Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) an electric vehicle (EV) company? At first blush, it seems a silly question. It's the most successful EV company in history, having parlayed its success with cars all the way to becoming the seventh-largest American company, with a market cap of more than $1 trillion. Yet, CEO Elon Musk says there is another product that will take his company to the next level.
Retirement is a new beginning for a lot of people. It's a chance to devote time to activities you may have put on the back burner during your working years. And for some, it's a chance to strike out for a new city, maybe a few towns over, or possibly on another continent. Relocating in retirement can be an exciting opportunity to see the world or a chance to move closer to family and friends.
History seems to be repeating itself for Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD). In the early 2000s, it was said that Intel let AMD survive only so that Intel wouldn't be considered a monopoly in the PC processor market. Over the past decade, AMD eventually fought back and now compares favorably to Intel, but that hasn't done much for shareholders lately.
Quantum computing could be the next big thing in tech after artificial intelligence (AI). However, it will take many years before the market really takes shape and practical uses for quantum computing develop. Still, quantum computing could be worth an estimated $840 billion in the next 15 years, according to Boston Consulting Group, and that's simply too big a market for investors to ignore.
Quantum computing could be the next big thing in tech after artificial intelligence (AI). However, it will take many years before the market really takes shape and practical uses for quantum computing develop. Still, quantum computing could be worth an estimated $840 billion in the next 15 years, according to Boston Consulting Group, and that's simply too big a market for investors to ignore.
It's been a fantastic two-year run for MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) , which is up more than 1,200% during that time period. This stock market success can primarily be attributed to its unprecedented Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) buying spree, which has seen the company accumulate more than 2% of all Bitcoin currently in circulation. Not unsurprisingly, MicroStrategy's stock price has shot up over the past two years as the price of Bitcoin soared.
Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) and Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) are two cryptocurrencies that are quite similar in terms of their capabilities, objectives, and target users, but they're quite different in terms of their merits as investments. Both were designed to beat the royalty of the cryptocurrency market, specifically Ethereum , but only one can really be said to have succeeded.
Dividend Kings, or companies that have raised their payouts for at least 50 consecutive years, provide a great starting point for investors looking for reliable passive income sources. But some Dividend Kings don't consistently raise their dividends by a meaningful amount, or they have fractures in their business model that could jeopardize future raises.
Investors are always on the lookout for the next stock split -- for a couple of reasons. These operations that increase the number of shares and reduce the per-share price accordingly often make it easier to invest in a high-flying stock. And they also generally signal that management is confident about a company's future, with the idea that the stock has what it takes to soar once again from its new lower price.
Following the end of each quarter, institutional investors managing over $100 million are required to file a form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A 13F itemizes the individual stocks money managers bought and sold during the most recent quarter. Investors can use these filings as tools to uncover where the "smart money" is looking for opportunity.
Even if you're new to investing in crypto, you've doubtlessly heard a lot about both Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Cardano , (CRYPTO: ADA) but likely for a very different set of reasons. Let's take a look at this pair to see which one is a better pick for an investment of $5,000. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now.
Applications involving artificial intelligence (AI) seem to be evolving by the day. While it's obvious that different facets of the technology world can be enhanced through AI, it's become apparent that enterprise software is a particularly enormous opportunity. When it comes to AI's biggest trendsetters, investors don't need to look much further than Nvidia , Microsoft , Alphabet , or Amazon.
Once a neglected group, Chinese tech companies have recently captured the attention of investors thanks to a series of positive developments, such as the huge government stimulus and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) services like DeepSeek. Investors looking for companies they can invest in to benefit from the growth of AI in China have generally focused on leading tech companies like Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU).
Autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI). Robots. Energy storage. These are the many products promoted by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) to drive future growth for this technology company. Yet, if you look at the financials, the vast majority of this business still revolves around electric vehicles (EVs), and likely will for many years into the future.
Image source: Getty Images Retirement is all about enjoying the fruits of your labor, but managing your cash wisely is key to making your savings last. While keeping money in a checking account, traditional savings account, or certificate of deposit (CD) might seem like the safe choice, it's typically not the wisest. Looking for a secure place to grow your savings?
Many stocks pay dividends, but dividend investors should be picky. Ideally, a reasonable dividend yield should be paired with a long dividend track record, plenty of profits to support the dividend, and decent long-term growth prospects. Two smart dividend stocks to buy right now are Tanger (NYSE: SKT) and Target (NYSE: TGT). While both companies operate in the retail sector and are exposed to risks posed by tariffs and inflation, there's a lot to like for dividend investors willing to buy and h
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been one of the best-performing stocks on the planet in recent years. In fact, over the past two years, it's soared more than 800%. There's a clear reason for this. The company has created an artificial intelligence (AI) empire, making itself the "go to" player for any customer aiming to build an AI platform. From chips to software, Nvidia has it all -- and this has helped the company deliver double- and triple-digit revenue growth quarter after quarter.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average includes 30 of the strongest companies around. This includes industry leaders that have a long record of delivering solid returns for investors, and many of these stocks pay regular dividends to shareholders. Two notable billionaires, David Tepper of Appaloosa Management and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, hold large stakes in Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).
Shares of Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET) slipped despite the cloud computer networking switch maker reporting solid fourth quarter results and increasing its full-year 2025 guidance. The stock is now down more than 5% year to date, as of this writing. Let's take a close look at Arista's results and guidance to see if this is a good opportunity to buy the stock.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a popular investing theme in recent quarters as the technology promises to help businesses gain in efficiency -- and even develop game-changing products and services. The world's top tech companies have invested in this area, and investors have piled into these stocks to share in the potential gains. Today's $200 billion AI market is forecast to reach $1 trillion by the end of the decade, making it a high-growth opportunity.
In a sense, every investor is a growth investor. Even those who are primarily seeking income enjoy when the stocks they buy increase in value. But which stocks are likely to deliver growth over the next few years? Three Motley Fool contributors think they've found magnificent growth stocks to buy right now. Here's why they picked AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN) , Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) , and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX).
Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to revolutionize transportation. While the technology is evolving, mass adoption still encounters hurdles -- mainly around charging times and driving range compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles. QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) is dedicated to overcoming these barriers with its next-generation battery technology that enhances performance and efficiency.
When the cryptocurrency sector starts to drop, it's often a challenge to hold on to your investments. Still, if you can summon the courage to make a timely purchase of a quality asset like XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) or Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) , the upside can be quite substantial, especially when you commit to not selling anything for a handful of years afterward.
There has been some interesting and mixed news flow around Boeing (NYSE: BA) recently. While what is being reported about the aerospace giant isn't coming from official sources at the aerospace giant, the assertions still come from credible sources, and they touch on key company objectives. To summarize the three main narratives: Start Your Mornings Smarter!
There's a bit of a stigma surrounding manufactured home communities. Many people wouldn't consider living in one because they view them as less desirable than renting an apartment or single-family home. However, these properties provide 25% more space than a typical rental property while costing 50% less per square foot. That affordability is one reason why those living in a manufactured home community tend to stay there a very long time.
Most dividend stocks pay a pittance these days. The S&P 500 's dividend yield is around 1.2%, near its lowest level in over two decades. However, income-seeking investors have higher-yielding options, especially if they're willing to take on more risk. For example, AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC) , Broadstone Net Lease (NYSE: BNL) , and Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) currently offer dividends yielding between 6.4% and 13.7%.
Last year was a record for Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) , with significant milestones and achievements in the aerospace industry. Its flagship Electron rocket continued to prove its worth, making Rocket Lab a key player in the market for small satellite launches and the No. 2 launch company in the U.S., behind only SpaceX. It is also making strides in developing its larger launch vehicle, which promises to expand its capabilities further and support a broader range of missions.
Hundreds of companies pay dividends. Many offer dividend yields well above average (the S&P 500 's dividend yield is around 1.2%). That can make it difficult for income-seeking investors to choose which ones belong in their portfolio. Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) believes its more than 6%-yielding dividend should be at the top of every income investor's list.
People who collect Social Security, or who are gearing up to retire, tend to pay attention to one key aspect of the program -- cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs. Those tend to be all over the news because they have a direct impact on seniors' buying power from year to year. In 2025, Social Security benefits received a 2.5% COLA. That happened to be the smallest raise to arrive in years, though, so it left a lot of older Americans disappointed.
With the price of Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) falling to nearly $163 on Feb. 18, investors are right to assume it'll take a powerful cocktail of catalysts and new tailwinds to send its price back up toward $300. Something like a totally new category of cryptocurrency investments finding its home on the chain would probably do the trick. And there's evidence that such a new category is emerging, with Solana as one of the quickly developing hotspots of activity within the segment.
Shares of Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) are trading near their 52-week low. The domestic automaker recently wrapped up its 2024 fiscal year, with heavy losses in its electric vehicle business wiping out much of the profits from its combustion model sales. Additionally, heightened volatility due to ongoing trade conflicts with Mexico and Canada threatens tariffs on goods and materials imported into the United States.
Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) , often called Supermicro, has taken investors on quite the roller-coaster ride since the start of 2024. Once the hottest stock on Wall Street, it now sits around 60% below its all-time high. This makes it look like a deep value play, as the stock price looks fairly cheap compared to some of its artificial intelligence (AI) peers.
The transportation market has been dominated by old forms of transportation -- planes, trains, and automobiles -- for decades. Few new technologies have successfully entered the sector. Uber Technologies innovated on a part of this market with its ride-sharing application, but the transportation vehicles used are still mainly automobiles. Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) aims to bring a true transportation innovation to market for the first time in decades.
I'll admit it -- I don't understand most of Warren Buffett's investments. His Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) holds massive stakes in financial giants like American Express , Bank of America , and Chubb. If the subprime mortgage meltdown of 2008 taught me anything, it would be that I don't get how the banking sector works and should never own banking stocks again.
It's not uncommon for Stanley Druckenmiller to buy a group of stocks in one particular sector. The billionaire investor has done this frequently with tech stocks and, recently, financials. That's because Druckenmiller keeps a close eye not just on the performance of individual companies but also on the broader economy. Certain conditions favor some sectors over others, so astute investors can detect changes in the cycle and shift their portfolio to pick stocks suited to outperform.
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