June 19, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Top Quantum Computing Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Now

With investors digesting the latest update from the Federal Reserve, tech stocks could present an interesting opportunity now. Accordingly, quantum computing stocks could be worth watching in the stock market now. What is quantum computing might you ask? As the name suggests, this area of tech primarily consists of computers that employ quantum theory. Without going too deep into the details, quantum computers operate on the same tech that enables physicists to predict the movement of subatomic particles. In short, this means of estimation translates to quantum computers being able to outperform the cutting-edge supercomputers of today. For these reasons, investors looking to bet on the next phase of computing would be eyeing the sector now.

If anything, there is no shortage of exciting news in the sector for investors now. Earlier this week, IBM (NYSE: IBM) unveiled Europe’s first quantum computer in Germany. Through a collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute, the company successfully created the Q System One. According to IBM, it is now “Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in the industrial context.” The company also believes that this is a vital step towards the quantum industry which could “be worth more than $65 billion by 2030.” Elsewhere, other tech giants are also making their plays in the quantum computing world now. Namely, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is currently offering users the chance to experiment with this area of tech via its Amazon Braket division. Having read all of this, you might be keen to add some quantum computing stocks to your portfolio. In that case, here are four making waves in the stock market today.

Quantum Computing Stocks To Watch Now

Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet or more commonly known as Google is a multinational tech company. Through its Google Quantum AI, the company is advancing the state-of-the-art of quantum computing and developing tools for researchers to operate beyond classical capabilities. GOOGL stock closed Friday’s trading session at $2,402.22 and is up by over 35% year-to-date. In April, the company announced its first-quarter 2021 financial results.

In it, the company posted total revenue of $55.31 billion for the quarter, a 34% increase year-over-year. Operating income for the quarter was a cool $16.43 billion, representing a 30% increase compared to a year ago. Also, Google reported a net income of $17.93 billion for the quarter or diluted earnings per share of $26.29.

This impressive quarter reflected elevated consumer activity online and broad-based growth in its advertiser revenue. The company also continues to see momentum for its Google Cloud segment. Given the exciting quarter, will you consider buying GOOGL stock for these reasons?

Nvidia Corporation

Nvidia is a quantum computing stock that has taken the world by storm. The company has essentially redefined modern computer graphics through its pioneering work in the graphics processing unit (GPU) that is used by millions worldwide. Its products are used in growing markets like the gaming, professional visualization, data center, and automotive industries. NVDA stock currently trades at $745.55 as of the closing bell on Friday and has more than doubled in valuation in the last year.

In late May, the company reported record financials for its first-quarter fiscal 2022. Diving in, Nvidia reported revenue of $5.66 billion for the quarter, an 84% increase year-over-year. Its gaming and data center segments also reported record revenue at $2.76 billion and $2.05 billion respectively. Net income for the quarter was $1.91 billion or diluted earnings per share of $3.03. This represented an increase of 106% compared to a year ago. 

Its gaming revenue doubled year-over-year due to its new generation of RTX 30 series GPUs. Notably, on June 1, 2021, the company announced its latest gaming flagship, the RTX 3080 Ti GPUs. Nvidia says that it is 1.5x faster than the previous generation and offers an incredible leap in performance and fidelity. “With RTX such a huge success, gamers, and creators will be thrilled with the performance and features the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti offers,” said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GeForce business unit at NVIDIA. For these reasons, is NVDA stock worth buying?

[Read More] Best Stocks For Inflation In 2021? 4 Real Estate Stocks To Watch

Applied Materials Inc.

Applied Materials is a leader in materials engineering solutions. Its products are used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Also, its expertise in modifying materials at the atomic level and on an industrial scale is unrivaled. In essence, it manufactures chips for electronics, flat panel displays, and solar products. AMAT stock currently trades at $131.23 as of 4:00 p.m. ET. and has more than doubled in the last year. 

On Wednesday, the company announced a breakthrough in chip wiring. In doing so, Applied Materials has found a new way to engineer the wiring of advanced logic chips that will enable scaling to the 3nm node and beyond. The new solution is called Endura Copper Barrier Seed IMS. It combines seven different process technologies in one system under high vacuum.

Integrating these multiple process technologies in a vacuum allows the company to reengineer materials and structures. Basically, this could help consumers have more capable devices and longer battery life. Given this piece of news, is AMAT stock a top quantum computing stock to consider buying?

[Read More] Best Stocks Moving Today? 4 Biotech Names To Watch

Advanced Micro Devices

Following that, we will be looking at Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD). Similar to our earlier entry, it is a semiconductor company. In brief, the company develops computer processors and related tech. Through its offerings, AMD offers consumers and businesses alike high-performance graphics and computing power.

Logically, the company would be looking towards quantum computing to expand its current offering to the next level. As of last month, the company’s processors are currently powering the Perlmutter supercomputer at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. According to AMD, this processor facilitates research in clean energy, microelectronics, and quantum information science.

Now, AMD stock is currently trading at $84.65 as of Friday’s close. Couple this with its leading position in the semiconductor industry and investors could consider it a viable tech investment now. Regardless, AMD’s processors continue to bolster some of the biggest names in tech today. This is evident as Google Cloud is now using third-generation AMD EPYC processors for its business. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian had this to say, “By collaborating with AMD, Google Cloud customers can now leverage amazing performance for scale-out applications, with great price-performance, all without compromising x86 compatibility.” As digital workloads continue to grow, so would the demand for AMD’s products. With all this in mind, would you consider AMD stock a top buy now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/375073

June 18, 2021 7 min read

This story originally appeared on StockNews
Retail stocks have been surging lately, given their improving financials and bullish market sentiment amid the economic recovery. This trend is likely to continue in the near term, backed by continued progress on the vaccination front and rising consumer spending. Shares of The Gap (GPS), DICK’S Sporting Goods (DKS), and Urban Outfitters (URBN) are poised to maintain this momentum in the near term.

The fast-paced revival of the US economy and ease of social distancing mandates with continued progress on the vaccination front have been resulting in rising foot traffic in retail stores, as people are preferring physical stores over online platforms for their shopping needs. National Retail Federation (NRF) expects retail sales to grow between 10.5% and 13.5% to an estimated total of $4.44 trillion to $4.56 trillion in 2021.

The macroeconomic trends are driving investors to bet on retail stocks lately, as the pent-up demand and rising consumer spending are driving revenues of retailers. The strong investor interest in the retail industry can be observed from the S&P Retail Select Industry Index’s 45.4% gain year-to-date. This compares with the broader S&P 500 index’s 12.4% return.

As the country is on track to vaccinate at least 70% of its population within July 4, retail stocks should continue to rally. Shares of popular retailers The Gap, Inc. (GPS), DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS), and Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) have gained strong momentum lately and we don’t expect their momentum to end anytime soon.

The Gap, Inc. (GPS)

GPS is a leading global retailer of apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. It offers a wide collection of brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta. The company operates through company-operated stores, franchise stores, Websites, and third-party arrangements.

On May 27, GPS and Walmart (WMT) announced a strategic partnership to launch Gap’s new home collection on Walmart’s retail platform. Leveraging WMT’s position as the world’s largest retail company should provide GPS with a prominent growth opportunity.

On April 13, GPS announced its new credit card program agreement with Barclays PLC (BCS) and Mastercard Incorporated (MA) to provide higher reward points to respective cardholders for purchases made at GPS. This should increase the GPS’ sales volume significantly, while improving customer engagement and frequency.

GPS’s net sales increased 89.4% year-over-year to $3.99 billion in the fiscal first quarter, that ended May 1. Its operating income grew 119.3% from the year-ago value to $240 million. Net income stood at $166 million, up 117.8% from the same period last year. The company’s EPS increased 117.1% year-over-year to $0.43.

Analysts expect GPS’s revenues to increase 24% year-over-year to $17.11 billion in the current year. The consensus EPS estimate of $1.75 for the ongoing year indicates a 182.9% rise compared to last year. EPS is also expected to increase 341.2% year-over-year to $0.41 in the current quarter ending July 2021. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history as well, as it has beaten the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.

Shares of GPS have gained 200.9% over the past year, and 60.4% year-to-date. The stock is currently trading above its 200-day moving average of $27.36, indicating an overall uptrend. Also, it is currently trading 16.2% below its 52-week high of $37.63.

GPS has an overall grade of B, which equates to a Buy rating in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings are calculated considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.

The stock has an A grade for Momentum, and a B grade for Value, Growth, Sentiment, and Quality. GPS is ranked #12 out of 65 stocks in the A-rated Fashion & Luxury industry.

To see additional grades for GPS, click here.

Click here to check out our Retail Industry Report for 2021

DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS)

DKS is a leading omni-channel sporting goods retailer offering an array of sports goods, fitness equipment, golf equipment, and hunting and fishing gear products. The company operates through brick-and-mortar stores as well as its e-commerce platform.

On June 1, DKS announced its plans to open seven new and relocated stores across the country. This expansionary initiative should attract more customers and expand the company’s market reach significantly. Earlier in May, DKS also announced the opening of four new stores in four states.

DKS’s revenues increased 118.9% year-over-year to $2.92 billion in the fiscal first quarter, which ended on May 1. Its operating income grew 355.6% from the year-ago value to $475.81 million, while its net income improved 352.2% year-over-year to $361.76 million over this period. The company’s EPS increased 299.4% year-over-year to $3.41.

The consensus revenue estimate of $10.81 billion for the current fiscal year indicates a 12.8% improvement from the last year. Analysts expect the company’s EPS to come in at $8.70 in the ongoing year, indicating a 42.2% rise from its year-ago value. Also, DKS surpassed the Street EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

DKS gained 73.4% over the past six months, and 62.7% year-to-date. It is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $91.10 and $75.36 respectively, indicating an uptrend. DKS is currently trading 11.9% below its 52-week high of $102.33.

DKS has an overall grade of B, which equates to a Buy rating in our proprietary ratings system. DKS has a grade of A for Momentum and Quality, and a grade B for Value. It is ranked #13 out of 34 stocks in the A-rated Athletics & Recreation industry.

Beyond what we’ve stated above, we also provide grades for DKS for Sentiment, Growth, and Stability. Click here to view all DKS Ratings.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN)

URBN is a specialty retail company that operates two segments: Retail and Wholesale. The company offers a wide range of lifestyle products operating through Urban Outfitters Anthropologie stores, Free People retail stores, BHLDN stores, Terrain, Menus & Venues, and subscription rental services under the brand name Nuuly.

On April 19, URBN partnered with FABSCRAP such that URBN will facilitate FABSCRAP’s expansion in Philadelphia. This partnership demonstrates URBN’s commitment towards sustainable development.

URBN’s net sales increased 57.6% year-over-year to $927.42 million in the fiscal first quarter, which ended on April 30. Its income from operations grew 137.1% from the year-ago value to $73.50 million. Net income stood at $53.55 million, up 138.7% from the same period last year. The company’s EPS increased 138.3% year-over-year to $0.54.

Analysts expect URBN’s revenues to increase 27.10% year-over-year to $4.38 billion in the current year. The consensus EPS estimate of $0.77 for the ongoing quarter indicates a 120% improvement year-over-year. The EPS is expected to come in at $2.68 for the current year, an increase of 26,700% compared to last year. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history as well, as it has beaten the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

URBN gained 49% year-to-date, and 41.5% over the past six months. It is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $37.45 and $33.38, respectively, indicating an uptrend. Moreover, the stock is currently trading 10% below its 52-week high of $41.95.

It is no surprise that URBN has an overall grade of B, which equates to a Buy rating in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. URBN has a grade of A for Momentum, and a grade B for Sentiment and Quality. It is ranked #17 in the Fashion & Luxury industry.

Click here to view additional grades for URBN.

GPS shares were trading at $31.43 per share on Friday afternoon, down $0.95 (-2.93%). Year-to-date, GPS has gained 56.93%, versus a 11.68% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

About the Author: Subhasree Kar

Subhasree’s keen interest in financial instruments led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. After earning a Master’s degree in Economics, she gained knowledge of equity research and portfolio management at Finlatics.

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The post 3 Retail Stocks with Strong Momentum to Buy This Summer appeared first on StockNews.com https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/375062

June 18, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Why These Top Cybersecurity Stocks Could Pop In 2021

The bull thesis for some of the top cybersecurity stocks in the stock market today continues to grow. If anything, the world today is more exposed to cybercrimes than ever. As most would agree, this would likely see demand for cybersecurity services skyrocketing. Whether it is private organizations, federal bodies, or even critical infrastructure, nobody seems to be safe now. Over half a year since the devastating SolarWinds (NYSE: SWI) hack of 2020, cyberattacks have only escalated more.

We only need to look at the barrage of major cybersecurity breaches this year to see this. The most prominent incidents would include ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline company and JBS Foods. Colonial Pipeline operates the largest refined oil pipeline in the U.S. while JBS is the largest meat processing company in the world. Together, the ransom paid to hackers from both incidents totaled a whopping $15.4 million. More recently, even fast-food giant McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) reported data breaches in its South Korean and Taiwanese systems.

Not to mention, the issue of Russian state-sponsored cyberattacks on the U.S. remains an active one. According to former Obama defense official, Evelyn Farkas, these attacks are likely to persist. By and large, with constant updates regarding new cyberthreats in our world today, organizations and investors alike would be turning towards cybersecurity players now. Meanwhile, companies in the industry continue to expand and bolster their services as well. Take Check Point Software (NASDAQ: CHKP) for example. Earlier this week, the company significantly expanded its unified cloud security platform, making it the broadest workload security provider in the market. Pair all this with the current dips in tech and investors may find interesting opportunities in cybersecurity stocks now. Here are three trending in the stock market now.

Best Cybersecurity Stocks To Watch In June

BlackBerry Limited

BlackBerry is a cybersecurity company that provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company boasts to have secured more than 500 million endpoints including 175 million cars that are on the road today. It is based in Ontario, Canada, and leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy solutions. BB stock closed Thursday’s trading session at $13.51 a share.

Today, the company announced that Frost & Sullivan has presented BlackBerry AtHoc with the 2021 Technology Innovation Leadership Award for safe city solutions. Frost & Sullivan reports that BlackBerry AtHoc was chosen for its superior communication and collaboration capabilities, its ability to integrate with any endpoint, and its excellence in providing situational awareness and actionable intelligence. Most impressively, BlackBerry AtHoc can be used by any organization and operator across an entire city or broader geography. This would ultimately enable business continuity, keep people safe, and deliver a citywide response to critical events.

The company will report its first-quarter fiscal 2022 on June 24, 2021. In light of that, how has the company been doing financially? In the company’s latest quarter financials reported in March, BlackBerry reported a total company non-GAAP revenue of $215 million. During the quarter, it entered into an exclusive negotiation with a North American entity for the potential sale of part of the patent portfolio relating primarily to mobile devices, messaging, and wireless networking. Net cash generated from operating activities was $51 million. It also ended the year with $804 million in total cash, cash equivalents, and investments. All things considered, will you add BB stock to your watchlist?

[Read More] Best Stocks To Buy Now? 5 Dividend Stocks To Watch

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.

CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity technology company that provides cloud workload and endpoint security, threat intelligence, and cyber-attack response services. Boasting world-class intelligence, its products and software provide better protection by combining machine learning, artificial intelligence, behavioral analytics, and proactive threat hunting in a single solution. CRWD stock is currently trading at $241.31 as of Thursday’s closing bell.

In early June, the company reported impressive first-quarter financials. Firstly, total revenue for the quarter was $302.8 million, a 70% increase year-over-year. Subscription revenue made the bulk of this revenue at $281.2 million, a 73% increase compared to a year ago. The company also ended the quarter with $1.68 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Impressively, it also added 1,524 net new subscription customers in the quarter representing an 82% growth year-over-year.

During the quarter, the company was also recognized by Gartner Inc as a Leader for the second time and placed furthest for Completeness of Vision in the 2021 Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platform. It also announced Falcon Fusion, a unified and extensible framework purpose-built on the CrowdStrike Falcon platform to orchestrate and automate complex workflows. This would ultimately improve security operation center efficiency. Given how it has kicked off the new fiscal year with strong momentum and delivered an outstanding first quarter, the company believes that there will still be robust demand driven by secular trends such as digital and security transformation. With all this in mind, will you be watching CRWD stock?

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Palo Alto Networks Inc.

Topping off our list today is Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW). For the uninitiated, the California-based cybersecurity company is one of the major players in the industry now. In short, the company mainly operates via its proprietary digital security platform. The likes of which house its advanced firewall and cloud-based offerings. Through a combination of the two, PANW provides comprehensive coverage against breaches across cloud environments. As it stands, PANW stock is currently trading at $372.07 a share as of Thursday’s end of the trading day. Would investors be wise to jump on now?

Well, if anything, PANW appears to be aware of the shifting needs of its customers. Earlier this month, the company released several key updates to its Prisma Cloud service. In particular, these updates serve to minimize false network alerts, detect data breaches, and provide comprehensive coverage for customers. Simply put, all of this will serve to eliminate blind spots in existing systems while minimizing security team strain. As cyber threats continue to grow, PANW is clearly not sitting idly by.

On the financial front, the company appears to be gaining momentum as well. In its second-quarter fiscal posted last month, PANW beat Wall Street’s estimates in terms of earnings and revenue. For a sense of scale, the company raked in total revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter. CEO Nikesh Arora believes that this is mostly thanks to industry tailwinds incentivizing organizations to opt for its more premium services. Would all this make PANW stock a top watch for you now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374936

June 14, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

3 Top Leisure Stocks To Watch In June

As we continue to head towards a post-pandemic market, it comes as no surprise that leisure stocks are in focus. Indeed, the leisure industry appears to be gaining momentum in the stock market today. With widespread vaccination efforts and stimulus checks, consumers are likely looking to spend on leisure activities. In fact, a recent study conducted by professional services firm Deloitte seems to back this up. According to Deloitte, 22% of consumers who are looking to travel plan to spend “significantly more” on trips compared to 2019. As such, our focus for today will be on leisure companies that could benefit from the post-pandemic tourism boom.

After all, virtually most parts of the world have been homebound for more than a year now. Logically, this would result in a build-up of demand for tourism-related activities as more parts of the world reopen. Even now, we can see that some of the top names in the industry continue to prepare for busy times ahead. Earlier this month, TripAdvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP) announced that it would be bolstering its existing partnership with Trip.com (NASDAQ: TCOM). The duo is now offering joint customers preferential pricing services covering over 10,000 homestay locations. Because of all this, investors would be eyeing the top names in the industry now.

While the traditional in-person leisure companies are hard at work, newer frontiers in travel are also making headlines. Take the recent news around Jeff Bezos’ space tourism company, Blue Origin. The Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) CEO auctioned off a place on the company’s first spaceflight for $28 million over the weekend. Having read all of this, you might be keen to invest in the top leisure stocks yourself. If you are, here are three worth knowing in the stock market now.

Leisure Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] This Week

Walt Disney Company

First up, we will be looking at the entertainment industry giant Disney. For the most part, few can boast a portfolio of leisure offerings as impressive as Disney’s. From its timeless classics to multi-billion-dollar pop culture IPs, the company would have plenty of streams of revenue now. Specifically, two key businesses are fueling the company’s growth pathway now. These are its tourism and streaming services respectively. Given the current momentum we are seeing in both divisions, investors could be eyeing DIS stock now. As it stands, DIS stock is currently trading above its pre-pandemic level.

Now, to understand the company’s long-term growth prospects, we would have to examine its current offerings. On one hand, Disney’s resorts and cruise experiences will likely benefit from the economy reopening. Whether it is the Disneyland experience or a Star Wars-based cruise voyage, the company has plenty to offer now. Accordingly, Disney’s operations continue to return towards pre-pandemic capacities while upholding new norms. Over the weekend, the company announced that it would be lifting indoor mask mandates for fully vaccinated guests. On the other hand, Disney’s streaming service, Disney + continues to dominate in the streaming space now. In just over 19 months since launch, the platform already boasts over 100 million paid subscribers. With management looking to more than double this figure by 2024, things do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

By and large, most would argue that Disney is firing on all cylinders right now. For one thing, its current media portfolio helped it spring back from its initial pandemic-related losses. With the addition of its conventional leisure services, DIS stock could have more room to run moving forward. Would you agree?

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

MGM Resorts International

Another name to know in the industry now would be MGM Resorts International. In brief, MGM is a global hospitality and entertainment company that operates out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Notably, MGM’s portfolio consists of 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally. Aside from that, the company also operates via its BetMGM online gaming arm. Through BetMGM, the company offers U.S. sports betting services that have and continue to gain momentum in the current digital age.

Similar to our previous entry, MGM was among the companies that were hit hard at the onslaught of the pandemic. However, thanks to its strategic shift towards the digital entertainment industry, the company appears to be on the uptrend now. Evidently, MGM stock is currently looking at gains of over 120% in the past year. Now, with its hospitality division looking at major travel tailwinds, investors may be wondering if MGM’s shares can still grow.

Well, for one thing, MGM has not been resting on its laurels lately. As of last week, the company is currently expanding its BetMGM sports betting app into the Washington, D.C. region. Notably, this will be done via a multi-year partnership with the Washington Nationals baseball team. Moreover, the company is now an authorized gaming operator for the Professional Fighters League, a mixed martial arts sports league. While MGM continues to bolster its increasingly popular gaming offerings, do you think MGM stock could return to its former glory?

[Read More] 4 Semiconductor Stocks To Watch Right Now

United Airlines Holdings Inc.

Following that, we have United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL). For the uninitiated, UAL operates a comprehensive global flight network. The likes of which consist of destinations across all seven continents in the world. Overall, given the company’s standing in the air travel industry, UAL stock would be a viable reopening play for investors. Now, the company’s shares are currently sitting on gains of over 35% year-to-date. While these gains are great, UAL stock is still trading below its pre-pandemic highs. Could this mean that it still has room to grow moving forward?

If anything, there has been no shortage of positive updates from the company. Last week, UAL told its over 40,000 employees that their jobs would remain safe even as federal aid for the industry expires. According to senior VP John Slater, this is mostly thanks to the “increase in customer demand” and UAL’s current outlook. Supporting these claims, the company also provided an update on airline ticket fares the week prior. Namely, UAL is currently seeing ticket prices rise towards 2019 levels, possibly signaling strong travel tailwinds now.

Not to mention, while operations appear to be lifting off, the company is still keen on expanding its services. This is apparent as UAL recently put in an order for 15 high-speed commercial aircraft from Boom Supersonic. In theory, this would offer flyers an alternative means to significantly shorten their travel times. With the company kicking into high gear now, will you be adding UAL stock to your portfolio?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374575

June 12, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Top Tech Stocks To Watch Before Monday

In today’s stock market, investing in tech stocks may not be the toughest task, provided you know what you’re investing into. The industry ranges from tech giants such as Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) to emerging tech companies such as UiPath Inc (NYSE: PATH). So, as long as you do your research and know what the company has to offer, you will likely benefit in the long term. After all, most would agree that technology will be key in defining our future. 

For instance, Google claims that it has developed an artificial intelligence software that can design computer chips faster than humans can. Not only that, a chip that would take humans months to design can be completed by its new AI in less than six hours. These are bold claims but is it really that far-fetched given how much technology has advanced? So, it is safe to assume that the tech industry would continue to thrive regardless of how tech stocks perform in the stock market today. On that note, here are four top tech stocks that may interest you today. 

Top Tech Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] Right Now

Crowdstrike Holdings Inc

CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company that is based in California. The company’s Falcon platform provides the means to detect cybersecurity threats and stop breaches. In detail, its platform is the first multi-tenant, cloud-native, intelligent security solution that is capable of protecting different types of workloads. CRWD stock has been trading sideways since the start of the year. However, it is noteworthy that the stock has risen by more than 140% over the past year. 

Last week, the company announced its first-quarter earnings report. Its revenue came in at $302.8 million, up by 70%. Out of which, subscription revenue was $281.2 million. Meanwhile, operating cash flow was $147.5 million. For a cybersecurity company, new subscriptions are paramount and the company added 1,524 new subscriptions within the first quarter. Overall, the company’s fundamentals seem to be trending in the right direction.

On a side note, CrowdStrike Falcon was selected as one of Ernst & Young LLP’s preferred cybersecurity tech platforms back in May. Hence, strengthening the alliance between the two industry-leading organizations. This alliance would seamlessly integrate cybersecurity operations and risk management to help aid enterprises around the world, and bolster business resiliency. The goal of thwarting ransomware attacks is important as this form of cyberattack continues to be rampant. With that in mind, would CRWD stock be a buy for you?

Read More

Microsoft Corporation

Next up, we have the tech titan that requires no introduction, Microsoft. If you are familiar with personal computers, then you would likely recognize this industry-leading software company. Despite its market capitalization of over $1 trillion, it is impressive to note that MSFT stock has risen by more than 35% over the past year. 

The company just announced recently that it will be making streaming sticks that would allow gamers to play “on any TV or monitor”. Hence, expanding its Xbox gaming beyond consoles. It appears that Microsoft is collaborating with TV manufacturers to embed its Xbox cloud gaming software into its devices. This may potentially allow gamers with these smart TVs to stream Xbox video games. Of course, this does not mean that Microsoft will discontinue its consoles. But the expansion to smart TVs will allow more gamers to access the services without owning a console. 

On top of that, Microsoft also announced a strategic cloud partnership with Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) earlier this month. The partnership aims at accelerating the firm’s digital transformation and shaping the future of innovation in the financial services industry. So, would you say MSFT stock is a top tech stock to buy right now? 

[Read more] Top Stocks To Buy Now? 5 Dividend Stocks To Watch

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

AMD is a multinational semiconductor company that is based in San Clara, California. For over 50 years, the company has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies. Essentially, its products are used in the gaming industry and also for data centers. It boasts hundreds of millions of consumers and many businesses and research facilities rely on AMD’s technology.

In fact, the company just announced on Thursday that it’s EPYC processors will be powering the new Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE: HPE) Alletra 600. The Alletra 600 is a cloud-native data infrastructure storage solution that powers business-critical applications with the cloud experience. It will take advantage of the AMD EPYC 7002 series processors that offer up to 3 times faster performance than previous HPE Nimble Storage All-Flash Arrays. 

Wait, it doesn’t stop there. The company also recently announced a partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team. AMD will be empowering the team with championship-level computing technologies and performance for competitive virtual racing. This really goes to show that AMD is committed to pushing the boundaries of technology to provide the best possible gaming experiences for all. All things considered, would you consider adding AMD stock into your portfolio?

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Asana Inc

Lastly, we have another tech company based in California, Asana. The company operates a work management software as a service that enables individuals and teams to improve working efficiency while enhancing employee engagement. It allows everyone to monitor the progress of their work that connects to the mission of an organization. ASAN stock has been up by over 55% just within the past month. 

On Monday, the company reported a smaller-than-expected loss in the fiscal first quarter of 2022 and beat revenue expectations. Revenue generated in the quarter was $76.7 million, an increase of 61% from the prior year’s quarter. Besides that, the company expects revenues for fiscal 2022 to come in the range of $336 to $340 million. This would represent an increase of approximately 50% year-over-year. Only time would tell if the company could live up to its expectations.

Asana believes that its web and mobile application is slowly gaining popularity among organizations. Whether teams are working from home or fully in offices, monitoring work progress would be much easier with its application. After all, clarity on who is doing what and when is essential for the success of any organization. That said, would you consider buying ASAN stock at this point in time?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374420

June 11, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Do You Have These Top Green Energy Stocks On Your Summer Watchlist?

It would not surprise me to see that green energy stocks are amongst the most active stocks today. Understandably, with the effects of climate change being more severe than ever, the green energy industry would be increasingly crucial. As the world makes the shift towards clean and sustainable sources of energy, green energy stocks could flourish. Because of this, investors could be eyeing the sector now. For one thing, investment banking firm Citi (NYSE: C) seems to believe so. Yesterday, Citi’s head of investment strategy for Asia-Pacific, Ken Pang highlighted the sector as being “very productive” now.

According to Pang, major governments around the world are focusing on sustainable development. By extension, this would mean that there would be ample funds flowing into the industry. Not only that but, the analyst also believes that the green energy trend “is likely to be with us for a good part of the next decade”. This could make green energy stocks potential long-term plays for investors now. For example, we could look at leading names in the solar energy industry now. Companies such as Enphase (NASDAQ: ENPH) and Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ) have seen their share prices skyrocket over the past year. In that time ENPH stock is up by over 200% and DQ stock is looking at gains of over 490%.

Meanwhile, First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is looking to invest $680 million towards expanding its U.S. solar manufacturing capacities. With no shortage of exciting developments in the industry today, you might be keen on green energy stocks yourself. If you are, here are four to know in the stock market now.

Green Energy Stocks To Watch This Month

General Electric Company

To begin with, we have the General Electric Company (GE). As the name suggests, the multinational conglomerate boasts numerous ventures in the energy industry. Today, we will be focusing on its GE Renewable Energy division. By GE’s estimates, its green energy arm is a $15.7 billion business. Moreover, it boasts one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry. This includes but is not limited to, a combination of onshore and offshore wind turbines, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions. To date, GE Renewable Energy has installed over 400 gigawatts of clean renewable energy, equipping over 90% of utilities globally with its grid solutions.

Impressive green portfolio aside, GE does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. As of yesterday, the company is currently working with LafargeHolcim, a global leader in building solutions, on its latest wind energy project. Together, both companies will be exploring more sustainable and cost-saving applications for old decommissioned wind turbines. Before that, GE also landed one of the largest onshore wind contracts in the Southeast Asia region last month.

Moreover, it is working with some of the biggest renewable energy names in the Philippine-Vietnam region. In this collaboration, GE will be supplying, installing, and commissioning wind turbines for the 88-megawatt wind farm in Vietnam. With the company’s green energy division kicking into high gear now, GE stock could be a viable green energy play. Would you say the same? 

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Ford Motor Company

Ford is a multinational automaker that has been investing heavily into the green energy space with its new line of electric vehicles. The company has recently announced its Ford+ plans for growth and value creation based on its electric vehicles and connected services. Diving in, the company says it expects 40% of Ford vehicle sales to be all-electric by 2030 and raised its planned electrification spending to over $30 billion by 2025. This would include the development of its proprietary IonBoost batteries. F stock is up by over 70% year-to-date.

Earlier this week, the company announced a new type of pickup that is stunningly fuel-efficient and packed with clever technology and features. The all-new 2022 Ford Maverick is a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup, with a full-hybrid powertrain. It is built for durability and is capable of carrying a 1,500 pounds payload.

“The Maverick product proposition is like nothing else out there. It’s a great-looking truck featuring four doors with room for five adults, a standard full-hybrid engine with city fuel economy that beats a Honda Civic, plenty of towing and hauling for weekend trips or do-it-yourself projects, and it starts under $20,000,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “We believe it will be compelling to a lot of people who never before considered a truck.” For these reasons, will you watch F stock?

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Brookfield Renewable Partners LP

Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) is a green energy company that owns and operates renewable power assets. In essence, it operates one of the world’s largest publicly traded renewable power platforms. Its portfolio consists of approximately 21,000 MW of capacity and nearly 6,000 generating facilities in North America. Last month, it reported strong first-quarter financials.

Diving in, it generated funds from operations of $242 million, or $0.38 per unit, a 21% increase on a normalized per unit basis over the same period in the prior year. The company also made progress in approximately 6,000 megawatts through construction and advanced stage permitting. It also added nearly 4,500 megawatts to its development pipeline.

During the quarter, it also signed 29 agreements for approximately 2,300 GWh of renewable generation with corporate off-takers across all major industries. Lastly, BEP also says that it invested or agreed to invest $1.6 billion of equity across a range of transactions, including onshore wind. Given the excitement surrounding the company, will you watch BEP stock?

[Read more] Top Stocks To Buy Now? 5 Dividend Stocks To Watch

Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power is a company that engages in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems. Its systems are used to replace conventional batteries in equipment and vehicles powered by electricity. In essence, the company dubs itself as the architect of modern hydrogen and fuel cell technology, and for good reason. It has taken the technology from concept to commercialization and has revolutionized the material handling industry with its full-service GenKey solution.

On Thursday, the company announced plans to build a green hydrogen production plant in Camden County, Georgia to serve customers across the southeastern U.S. The plant will produce 15 tons per day of liquid green hydrogen, produced using 100% renewable energy and intended to fuel transportation applications, including material handling and fuel cell electric vehicle fleets.

Plug Power is investing $84 million in the facility, which is expected to create at least 24 jobs in the local community starting in 2022. All things considered, is PLUG stock worth watching?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374401

June 10, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Are These The Best Gaming Stocks To Buy For Long-Term Gains?

It is without question that gaming stocks have been one of the bigger winners in the stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has helped many gaming companies to reach record profits as customers opted for digital solutions, which aids in the reduction of additional expenses like manufacturing and distribution. However, with the economy reopening and people starting to step outdoors, there may be concerns if the gaming industry could sustain its robust growth.  

One should note that the gaming industry is no longer a niche for certain age groups. Given how mobile gaming and improvements to hardware used in games these days, gaming has become a viable form of entertainment for all age groups. Just look at the PlayStation 5 from Sony Group Corp (NYSE: SONY) which has been in high demand since its release back in November 2020. Even up to date, it appears that there is still a limited supply. Therefore, it is safe to assume that gaming has crept into most people’s lives and will continue to be a form of leisure. So, would a list of some of the top gaming stocks in the stock market today interest you? 

Top Gaming Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] Right Now

Electronic Arts Inc

First, we have one of the gaming juggernauts, Electronic Arts (EA). Essentially, the company develops, markets, publishes and distributes games, content, and services. Its games and services can be accessed through a range of platforms, including consoles, personal computers (PCs), mobile phones, and tablets. Some of its most popular games would include FIFA, The Sims Series, Apex Legends, and Need for Speed Series.  

In May, the company announced the acquisition of Metalhead Software, a Canada-based video game studio, and developer of the fan-favorite Super Mega Baseball franchise. This partnership is aimed towards growing the Super Mega Baseball franchise and developing new gaming experiences for players worldwide. This is one of its latest growth and expansion plans for the company which already includes EA SPORTS College Football, EA SPORTS PGA TOUR, and the F1 franchise now published by EA SPORTS through EA’s Codemasters acquisition.  

The company also announced its preliminary financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full-year ended March 31, 2021. Net bookings for fiscal 2021 were $6.19 billion, up by 15%. Furthermore, it delivered 13 new games and had more than 42 million new players join its network. EA was able to deliver a strong financial report despite facing challenges posed by the global pandemic. With all these in mind, would you consider buying EA stock? 

Read More

Activision Blizzard, Inc 

For gaming enthusiasts, Blizzard needs no introduction. However, for those who are new to the scene, this company is a developer and publisher of interactive entertainment content and services. Similar to EA, its content is accessible across various gaming platforms. Have you heard of Candy Crush, World of Warcraft, and Call Of Duty? Well, they all belong to Blizzard along with many other popular games. 

During its first quarter, revenue came in at $2.07 billion, beating estimates of $1.78 billion. Activision Blizzard reported $0.84 per share earnings, topping analyst’s estimates of $0.70 per share. Since its announcement back in May, ATVI stock has risen over 8% to date. It’s no secret that Activision Blizzard is an industry leader that is well-positioned to continue delivering gains to its shareholders. 

Not only is the company financially strong, glimpses of what lies ahead with the company‘s strategy moving forward have also been revealed. Without a doubt, Call of Duty has been a success for the company, where its player count tripled over the past two years. Now, the company plans to replicate its success with its other games. CEO Bobby Kotick even mentioned on the company’s latest conference call that “Call of Duty is the template we’re applying to our proven franchises.” So, do you still believe ATVI stock to be a top gaming stock to buy?  

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. 

Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) is a video game holding company based in New York City. The company owns two major publishing labels, Rockstar Games and 2K. Rockstar Games is the developer and publisher of Grand Theft Auto. Impressively, TTWO stock has risen over 30% over the past year. Now, let us assess if this upward trend is justified and sustainable.

This bullish run thus far is certainly justified given its fiscal 2021 and fourth-quarter earnings report announced in May. The company reported net revenue of 3.37 billion, an increase of 9% year-over-year. Meanwhile, net income came in at $588.9 million, up by a whopping 46% year-over-year. Throughout the year, the company enhanced its organization long-term by broadening its portfolio offerings and investing in creative talent. And hence, this is reflected in its impressive financial numbers. 

As for whether it is sustainable, the company is certainly not resting on its laurels. Last week, TTWO announced that it has acquired privately-held Nordeus for up to $378 million. Nordeus is a mobile games company best known for Top Eleven, the world’s most successful mobile soccer management game. This would further strengthen its mobile game business and broadens its sports portfolio with its first-ever soccer offerings. All things considered, would TTWO stock be one of the better investments now?

[Read More] Best Stocks To Invest In Right Now? 3 Biotech Stocks To Know

Sea Ltd

When looking at gaming stocks, Sea is often overlooked as its platform also consists of electronic commerce and digital financial services. The company operates three businesses, Garena, Shopee, and SeaMoney. Garena is a global game developer and publisher with a presence in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Latin America. It provides access to mobile and personal computer online games.

In its first-quarter earnings report, the company’s revenue skyrocketed to $1.8 billion, an increase of 146.7% year-over-year. On top of that, the gross profit was $645.4 million, up by 212.1% year-over-year. Zooming into its digital entertainment business, it contributed $781.3 million in revenue. This is largely due to the increase in active user base, especially with the continued success of its game Free Fire.

So, if a healthy trend is a key factor for you as an investor, then SE stock would fit the bill. The company’s stock has soared by over 180% within the past year. On top of that, the company boasts diversity as it deals with not only the gaming market. In fact, there are claims that the e-commerce arm, Shopee, will be launching in Colombia and Chile. This is with plans of offering online sales via its website and local apps. Given its strong financial performance and expansive nature, would you consider adding SE stock into your portfolio?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374278

June 9, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

5 Top Entertainment Stocks To Watch Right Now

Entertainment stocks could be in the spotlight once again as the world gradually returns to normalcy. As such, investors looking for the top stocks to buy now in the stock market could be eyeing the sector. Indeed, as more sectors of the economy open up, so too would more forms of entertainment. Live entertainment, in particular, would be a viable means of betting on the entertainment industry now. This would be the case as demand for in-person forms of leisure are higher than ever. While people are getting vaccinated and going out more, investors and companies alike would benefit. In fact, Barron’s recently reported that the average line worker wage in the leisure industry is up by an annualized rate of 23%, a record high. If anything, this would highlight the booming sector all the more.

At the same time, the entertainment stocks that flourished during the pandemic are not resting on their laurels just yet. Evidently, major companies such as Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Discovery (NASDAQ: DISCA) continue to make massive plays. In the case of Amazon, the company recently acquired media juggernaut MGM Studios for $8.45 billion, potentially turbocharging its streaming offerings. Meanwhile, Discovery recently announced that its merger with WarnerMedia will now be known as the Warner Bros. Company. As things seem to be heating up in the world of entertainment now, entertainment stocks could follow suit. With that in mind, here are five making a splash in the stock market today.

Best Entertainment Stocks To Watch In June

Walt Disney Co.

Disney is a diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is based in California.  The company established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and theme parks. Despite being hit by the pandemic in 2020, the company has invested significantly into its Disney+ subscription service, with dedicated content hubs for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

Last month, the company reported its second quarter and six months’ earnings for fiscal 2021. Total revenues for the quarter were $15.61 billion and it also posted a diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the quarter increased by 92% year-over-year to $0.50. Disney states that it is seeing encouraging signs of recovery across its business and it remains focused on ramping up its operations while also fueling long-term growth. This is especially reflected in the reopening of its theme parks, resorts, increased production at its studios, and the continued success of its streaming services.  For these reasons, will you consider watching DIS stock?

Read More

DraftKings Inc.

DraftKings is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company that is headquartered in Boston. In essence, the company is a vertically integrated sports betting operator. The company is also a multi-channel provider of sports betting and gaming technologies. On May 7, 2021, the company reported its first-quarter financials.

In it, DraftKings reported revenue of $312 million, an increase of 253% year-over-year. It also enjoyed strong customer retention and growth that drove its first-quarter results upwards. Monthly Unique Payers for its business-to-customer segment increased 114% year-over-year. Given the strong start to the year, the company increased its 2021 revenue guidance to a range of $1.05 billion to $1.15 billion, which equates to year-over-year growth of 63% to 79%. All things considered, is DKNG stock a top entertainment stock to watch right now?

Skillz Inc.

Skillz is an entertainment stock that focuses on its online mobile multiplayer video game platform and is integrated into several iOS and Android games. Its platform helps developers build multi-million-dollar franchises by enabling social competition in their games. Leveraging its patented technology, Skillz hosts billions of casual eSports tournaments for millions of mobile players worldwide.

Last week, the company announced that it will be acquiring Aarki to form an integrated esports advertising platform. Aarki is a leading marketing platform and the acquisition will broaden Skillz’s footprint across the rapidly expanding mobile gaming industry. This would be the case as Skillz’s competitive platform and Aarki’s advanced advertising capabilities would synergize well. Skillz will acquire 100% of Aarki for approximately $150 million in cash and stock. Will you add SKLZ stock to your watchlist?

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Roku Inc.

Next up, we have video streaming giant Roku Inc. In brief, Roku manufactures video streaming hardware and operates its own streaming platform. For the most part, the company’s end-to-end approach to the streaming market is one of its key strengths. Roku’s streaming platform is essentially a hub for content from some of the biggest names in the industry now.

You have the likes of our earlier entry Disney and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) as main attractions in this respect. Through this model, Roku profits by taking a cut of the subscription fees and through ad revenue for its free content. In return, Roku offers streaming companies a larger addressable audience.

Despite its current success in the streaming space, Roku is currently hard at work building its portfolio of home-grown entertainment. The latest instance of this would be its renewal of the ‘Die Hart’ series starring comedian Kevin Hart for another season. Yesterday’s move marks a first for the company as its original content continues to impress viewers. Time will tell if this means that ROKU stock has more room to grow moving forward. Would you agree?

[Read More] 5 Financial Stocks To Watch In A Rising Interest Rate Environment

FuboTV Inc.

Last but definitely not least, we will be looking at leading sports streaming company, FuboTV Inc. As a key provider of sport-focused content, FUBO stock would be another top entertainment stock to watch now. Notably, the company’s approach to streaming provides sports fans with live TV and sporting events.

To supplement this, Fubo is also working towards adding a layer of interactivity to the viewing experience with live sports betting. Currently, the company is planning to launch a predictive free-to-play gaming app in the third quarter of 2021.

Not to mention, Fubo continues to make strategic plays even now. As of this week, the FuboTV app will be pre-installed on LG’s (NYSE: LPL) Smart TVs in the U.S. This would also include its industry-leading LG OLED TV lineup. Through this collaboration, LG customers can now enjoy over 100 sports, news, and entertainment channels via the FuboTV app. With the current tailwinds in the consumer electronic sector now, Fubo would be expanding its current market reach. Does all this have you eyeing FUBO stock now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374175

June 9, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Trending EV Stocks Gaining Momentum In The Stock Market Now

It’s been a joyous month for EV stocks enthusiasts in the stock market. For the most part, EV stocks have been trending downwards or trading sideways this year. However, we are starting to see signs of recovery, especially over the past month in some of the household EV names. After all, the electrification of vehicles appears to be the future of transportation. Many companies continue to invest in the development of EVs despite having the deliveries and manufacturing disrupted by chip shortages.

For example, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) executives are opening up the cash vaults and ready to splash on the funding of electric vehicles. The company is willing to spend $30 billion on electric vehicle development which includes battery development by 2025. We can also see the adoption of EVs increasing with Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) selling 33,463 China-made EVs in May. This signifies a 29% jump from April. It is worth noting that the company’s China sales account for one-third of its total sales. So, would you say that the hype surrounding the industry is justified? If so, why not take a look at some of the top EV stocks in the stock market today.  

EV Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Now

Li Auto Inc

First, we have a China-based holding company that engages in designing, developing, manufacturing, and sales of smart electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The company’s primary product is the SUV model Li ONE. It also sells peripheral products and provides related services, such as charging stalls, vehicle internet connection services, and extended lifetime warranties. LI stock has been trending upwards for the past month, up by a whopping 65%.  

This impressive climb is likely stimulated by the announcement which was made earlier this month in regards to its delivery update on its Li ONEs. The company announced 4,323 Li ONEs were delivered in May 2021, representing an impressive 101.3% year-over-year increase. The 2021 Li ONE which was released on May 25 received positive feedback from its users as shown by the robust order inflow that took its orders in May to a record high. It is the first vehicle in the world with a full-stack self-developed Navigate on Pilot (NOP) feature in a standard configuration.

Overall, the company now has 83 retail stores covering 57 cities and 147 servicing centers. Moreover, it also has Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 109 cities. So, would now be the best time to jump on the LI stock bandwagon as it shows a strong price action? 

Read More

Nio Inc

Next on the list, we have another rising EV company, Nio. The company also engages in designing, manufacturing, and selling smart and connected EVs. The company differentiates itself through its continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, such as its industry-leading battery swapping technologies, Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), as well as its proprietary autonomous driving technologies and Autonomous-Driving-as-a-Service (ADaaS). 

Earlier this month, the company provided its May 2021 delivery results. NIO delivered 6,711 vehicles which represent a strong 95.3% year-over-year growth. As of May 31, 2021, cumulative deliveries of the ES8, ES6, and EC6 reached 109,514 vehicles. The company still posted strong delivery numbers despite deliveries being adversely impacted for several days due to the disruption of semiconductor supply and certain logistical adjustments. Based on the current production, Nio will be able to accelerate the delivery in June to make up for the delays from May.

The company also posted strong financial numbers in its first-quarter earnings report. Total revenues came in at $1.21 billion, up by a staggering 481.8% from the prior year’s quarter. Meanwhile, gross profit was $237.3 million, compared to a $26.2 million gross loss in the first quarter of 2020. Given that NIO stock is also showing signs of recovery from its sell-down over the past few months, could this be a good time to invest in NIO stock?

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

XPeng Inc 

XPeng Inc is a China-based company that engages in the design, development, production, and sales of smart EVs. The Company’s primary products are environmentally friendly vehicles, namely an SUV (the G3) and a four-door sports sedan (the P7). The Company aims to develop full-stack autonomous driving technology, in-car intelligent operating systems, and core vehicle systems in-house through its proprietary software, core hardware, and data technologies. 

Towards the end of May, the company said that its smart EVs have cumulatively conducted 380,000 times over-the-air upgrades. XPeng has released cumulatively 23 FOTA (firmware over-the-air) updates for G3 and P7 users, with 134 new functions added and 2,326 functions optimized from Jan 2019 to May 2021. This is significant as it is able to upgrade its chassis, powertrain, and battery management on top of its autonomous driving, navigation, electronics, and infotainment systems. 

As for its May delivery update, XPeng delivered a total of 5,686 Smart EVs. This represents a 483% increase year-over-year. Out of which, 3,797 consisted of P7s, and 1,889 were the G3s. The number of P7s delivered in May reached a record high of 3,797, demonstrating the strong customer appeal of XPeng’s market-leading smart features. All things considered, would XPEV stock be a buy for you?

[Read More] 5 Financial Stocks To Watch In A Rising Interest Rate Environment

Magna International Inc.

To sum up the list, we have the mobility technology company, Magna. The company is a leading global automotive supplier. Its products can be found on most vehicles today, and come from 347 operations, and 84 product developments. Magna is one of the auto equipment providers that is making considerable strides in amping up electrification capabilities. As of now, it is already making e-drive gearboxes for Nio and XPeng. 

Not only that, but the company will also be making Fisker Inc’s (NYSE: FSR) Ocean SUV, starting in late 2022. In fact, MGA stock has more than doubled over the past year with speculations of Magna potentially building a possible Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) car. After all, Magna is one of the largest car parts suppliers with a history of assembling vehicles. 

In May, Magna reported its first-quarter earnings. The company posted sales of $10.2 billion, an increase of 18%. Also, global light vehicle production increased by 18%, largely driven by an 87% increase in China. Meanwhile, adjusted EBIT was up by 91%. The company generated strong earnings despite industry supply constraints that impacted its production schedules. So, would you consider adding MGA stock to your portfolio?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374170

June 9, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Top Financial Stocks To Watch Now For The Long Term Portfolio

Financial stocks have traditionally been solid investments in the stock market. With U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen signaling that a slightly higher interest rate environment would be a plus for society, many investors are turning to top financial stocks that could see their profit margins expand as rates climb. While banks may be the first thing that comes to your mind, there are also several other types of companies that could benefit as well.

You see, there are plenty of choices for you when it comes to looking for the best financial stocks to buy. But today, we are not talking about DogeCoin or other cryptocurrencies. Admittedly, the financial sector is very broad indeed, covering banks, insurance, financial services, fintech, and more. If anything, rising rates tend to point to a strengthening economy. And the financial space is an excellent sector to place your bet on. Now, if you share the same sentiment that financial stocks could benefit from rising rates, do you have this list of top financial stocks to buy in the stock market right now?

Top Financial Stocks To Watch In A Reopening Economy

JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan is hands down one of the most profitable of the big global banks, and it’s also the largest bank by market capitalization in the U.S. The bank’s recent success is primarily driven by its credit card and auto loan businesses.

It’s also one of investors’ favorite financial stocks because of its low valuation. The company appears undervalued from the price metrics with its P/E ratio and P/B ratio well under industry averages. JPM stock has been up by over 30% year-to-date. 

From its first-quarter fiscal results, the company posted revenue of $33.1 billion, which was up by 14%. Net income for the quarter was a whopping $14.3 billion, a 399% increase year-over-year. Its diluted earnings per share for the quarter was $4.50. A chunk of this revenue came from its Consumer & Business Banking segments, with net revenues of $5.6 billion. Considering the impressive quarterly earnings and seemingly low valuation, would you say JPM stock is a top financial stock to buy right now?

[Read More] C3.ai (AI) Vs Palantir Technologies (PLTR): Which Artificial Intelligence Stock Is The Better Buy?

Bank of America

Bank of America or BAC is another favorite financial stock among investors because the bank is seeing moderate loan growth in the second quarter. This is reassuring considering most banks in the first quarter saw total loan balances declining from the end of 2020.

Furthermore, BAC has also made major improvements in efficiency as it has been working on its online and mobile technology. The bank also said that it plans to raise its dividend along with increasing share repurchases, should the bank pass the annual stress test this year.

The company was one of the first few to kick-start the first-quarter earnings. From there, the company also posted total revenue of $22.8 billion for the quarter. Total net income was $8.1 billion, more than double what it was a year ago. The majority of this income came from its consumer banking segment at $2.7 billion and global markets segment at $2.1 billion. Deposits were up by 25% to a staggering $924 billion. With such an impressive quarter, will you consider adding BAC stock to your watchlist?

Read More

Visa

Visa is a payments technology company that connects its users through electronic payments. The company enables global commerce through the transfer of value and information among participants. From the company’s latest fiscal report, Visa posted revenue of $5.73 billion and net income of $3.0 billion.

In addition, the company saw payment volume grow 11% in the quarter. This goes to show that recovery is well underway after the pandemic has impacted spending trends, especially with international travel largely stalled. 

You could say that credit card companies have taken full advantage of the reopening theme. Visa also received another boost this week after an upgrade from analyst Christopher Donat. The analyst upgraded the financial stock to overweight from neutral, saying in a note to clients over the weekend that the stock looked cheap relative to Mastercard (NYSE: MA). Considering that the US economy is recovering pretty quickly, is V stock worth your attention now?

PayPal

Coming up next is a leading fintech player, PayPal. For the uninitiated, the online payments company offers a plethora of financial services to consumers. These range from online money transfers to even cryptocurrency-related services.

In terms of scale, if digital payments are available, PayPal likely operates in that region. In fact, the company’s strongest ever first-quarter results are a key testament to PayPal’s dominance in the digital payments space.

From the fiscal report, the company posted revenue of $6.03 billion, which beat analysts’ expectations. First-quarter net profit rose to $1.10 billion from $84 million a year earlier. Also, the company saw its total payment volume surge by 50% year-over-year to $285 billion. This strong quarter demonstrates the sustained momentum in PayPal’s business as the world continues to shift to the digital economy. With strong fundamentals and a dominant industry position, is PYPL stock a buy-and-hold investment?

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway may not be your typical financial stock at a first glance, but it is an insurance company at its core. For those unfamiliar, the company has three main insurance divisions, the auto insurance businesses GEICO, the reinsurance division, and general insurance. One of the reasons why the group has been so successful as a financial company is because of its willingness to stomach large, complex risks that other companies may not be willing to underwrite. 

The company also happens to own large stakes in several major US banks. If you are not sure how to pick a winner from losers amongst the financial companies, an investment in Berkshire Hathaway may be an option to consider. And that is because of its highly diversified portfolio.

Most of Berkshire Hathaway’s investment portfolio is tied up largely to bank stocks and consumer goods businesses. These two sectors are not only benefiting from the reopening plays but it is also poised to benefit from a rising rate environment. Considering all these, would you place your bet on BRK.B stock right now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/374066