The next breakout AI Stock? Here's what Wall Street isn't getting -- yet.

With shares down 21% year to date, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is reeling from a combination of weakening electric vehicle (EV) demand, political uncertainty, and a CEO who seems to have misplaced priorities. The next three years will be a make-or-break period for the company as it attempts to roll out its robotaxis across American cities, while dealing with the potential fallout of unfavorable Trump administration policies. Let's dig deeper to see how this story might play out for Tesla shareholders.It's impossible to analyze Tesla without considering its controversial CEO, Elon Musk, who plays a significant role in its stock's perception, even if he isn't necessarily involved with all its day-to-day decision-making. Love him or hate him, Musk is an incredibly skilled executive. He has a track record of involvement in successful companies ranging from PayPal to Starlink, and typically aims to tackle massive world-changing topics like clean energy, space travel, and brain implants. Continue reading

Asking someone to pick just one stock of the thousands of publicly traded companies in the world is a daunting task. First of all, no portfolio should be built on a single company -- the best way to grow your wealth over time is with a diversified portfolio.But every portfolio has to have a starting point, and if I were starting mine from scratch -- and choosing individual stocks instead of an exchange-traded fund -- my first draft pick would be the unquestioned leader in generative artificial intelligence (AI): Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA).Here are three reasons why.Continue reading

Billionaire investors have proven their talents over the years by producing big returns for clients and for themselves. They don't all make the same moves at the same times, though -- and sometimes they pivot in completely opposite directions. For example, in the past year, Stanley Druckenmiller of the Duquesne Family Office sold all of his Nvidia shares -- but in the first quarter of 2025, Chase Coleman of Tiger Global Management added to his Nvidia position.Both decisions could be winning ones: Druckenmiller locked in his gains on a position he had held for a while; Coleman is positioning himself to potentially benefit from Nvidia's next wave of growth. So, investors don't have to take the exact same path to win in investing.But, in some cases, billionaires do have similar ideas, and this brings me to the subject of Michael Platt and Warren Buffett. Recently, Platt -- the managing director of giant European hedge fund BlueCrest Capital Management -- made an investment move that the "Oracle of Omaha," as Buffett is often called, would applaud. This particular investment is one Buffett himself has held in the recent past -- and one he recommends to every investor. Continue reading

Shareholders of SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) were riding high in 2024 after the stock posted an incredible 836% gain for the year. But 2025 is a different story. SoundHound stock is down 55% from the all-time high it reached late last year.The rise and fall of SoundHound stock has a common denominator: Nvidia. In early 2024, Nvidia revealed that it had recently invested in some promising artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, including SoundHound AI. Shares skyrocketed because investors believed this validated the small company's technology.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading

When you've spent four decades or more in the workforce, it's understandable to be drawn to the idea of claiming Social Security at 62. Those monthly checks may be your ticket to finally retiring, and when you sign up right away, you ensure you'll get the greatest number of checks possible.But there's a downside to claiming early. It can reduce your checks by up to 30%. Here's how that breaks down for the average 62-year-old claimer so you can decide whether it's the best option for you.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading

With a nearly 14% share price gain in June, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) was a clear stock market winner during the month. The initial boost came from the company's impressive fiscal second-quarter 2025 results, which were reported near the start of June, and were subsequently compounded by an important product launch and a series of positive analyst takes on the stock.During that period, Broadcom managed to grow its revenue by a robust 20% year over year to just over $15 billion -- a new quarterly record for the chipmaker. Better, its non-GAAP (adjusted) net income soared 44% higher to nearly $7.8 billion, or $1.58 per share.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading

If you have $500 to invest and love dividends, you have plenty of stocks to choose from. But $500 won't necessarily get you a diversified portfolio of individual stocks.For that sum, you may be better off buying an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that prioritizes dividend income. Two of the best options for buy-and-hold investors today are the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEMKT: VIG) and the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD). Each one appeals to a different kind of income investor.Most dividend investors look first at a stock's yield, but another important factor is the growth potential of the dividend over time. This is exactly the focus of the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. While the ETF's yield is only around 1.8% as of this writing, the quarterly dividend has nearly doubled over the past decade, and that payout growth has been accompanied by a roughly 170% increase in the share price of the ETF.Continue reading

Whether you love your job or hate it, there's a good chance you probably hope to retire one day so you can spend more time with your family or pursuing your interests. But traditional retirement ages -- usually in your early to mid-60s -- can feel unbearably far away.However, you may not have to wait that long if you're willing to make significant sacrifices in the present. Some Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) adherents manage to leave the workforce in their 40s, or even their 30s. But plenty more burn out on the demanding savings strategy. Here's how to know if it's right for you.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading

Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE: FET), a somewhat under-the-radar product supplier to the oil and gas and defense industries, saw a dramatic increase in its share price in June. This was due mainly to a large contract it secured to provide components for a military client across the Pacific Ocean. Investors clearly liked what they heard about the new deal, as they bid up the company's stock by 32% during the month.In mid-month, Forum announced that it had executed a contract with the Indonesian Navy for the supply of a submarine rescue vehicle (SRV) system. The contract covers the SRV, along with a custom-designed launch and recovery system (LARS) and a decompression system.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading