On September 9, 2026, Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:IRT) and Centerspace announced a definitive all-stock merger agreement. It creates a combined middle-market apartment REIT with a pro forma equity market capitalization of about $5.0 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $8.1 billion, encompassing more than 44,000 units.
The combined company will retain the Independence Realty Trust name and NYSE ticker "IRT." IRT's Scott Schaeffer continues as Chairman and CEO. The management projects the deal will be roughly 5% accretive to 2027 Core FFO per share for shareholders of both companies.
The merger gives Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:IRT) higher scale and significantly broader geographic diversification. The combined company will own 44,354 apartment units across 163 communities in 17 states, with 58% of pro forma NOI coming from Sunbelt markets, 27% from the Midwest, and 15% from the Mountain West. The overall footprint reduces reliance on any single regional apartment market while keeping substantial exposure to markets with strong population and employment growth.
IRT can apply its existing value-creation strategy across a much larger portfolio. Its value-add renovation program has delivered about a 16% historical return on investment. The firm expects to grow its Wi-Fi initiative and other technology and income-generating programs across Centerspace's properties. Management also expects approximately $24 million in annualized synergies. It supports roughly 5% accretion to 2027 Core FFO per share on a leverage-neutral basis.
The all-stock structure allows the companies to chase greater scale without adding acquisition debt. IRT and Centerspace expect the combined company to retain BBB/BBB investment-grade credit ratings and maintain a well-laddered debt maturity profile. Centerspace shareholders will receive IRT shares and own approximately 22% of the combined company. It gives them exposure to the larger platform. Management also expects the transaction to improve access to capital markets and reduce the combined firm's cost of capital over time.

#management

On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) raised £4.25 billion, or about $5.76 billion, in its first-ever sterling bond sale, slightly more than initially expected, as part of a four-tranche deal spanning 3 to 19 years. Final investor demand came in at more than £10.65 billion, roughly 2.5 times the amount raised, but that was notably lower than the demand Alphabet saw for its own sterling debut in February, a sign ******* ysts said shows hyperscaler borrowing may be starting to test the limits of investor appetite.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s first sterling bond sale shows that investors still have a strong appetite for its debt. The firm raised $5.8 billion through the offering, and demand reached roughly 2.5 times the amount available. The sterling market also has relatively limited supply of large technology-company debt. It could back up demand for future Amazon issuance in the currency. Strong demand gives Amazon another funding channel as it finances its large-scale AI and cloud infrastructure investments.
Amazon can put the proceeds toward AWS, its fastest-growing major business. AWS revenue increased 36.7% year over year in the second quarter. It marks its fastest growth rate in 18 quarters as demand for AI infrastructure accelerated. Funding more data centers, computing capacity and related infrastructure could allow Amazon to capture more of that demand. If AWS sustains its growth while making strong operating profits, the additional debt could support investments in one of Amazon's most important long-term earnings drivers.
The sterling offering diversifies Amazon's funding base as its capital requirements grow. Amazon issued four tranches with maturities ranging from three to 19 years. It gives the business access to UK investors while adding sterling financing alongside its existing dollar, euro, Swiss franc and yen debt. This overall investor base gives Amazon greater flexibility to raise capital across different markets and currencies. So diversification could become more valuable as Amazon funds an unprecedented AI infrastructure buildout without relying entirely on one debt market.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s weaker reception compared with Alphabet signals that investors may demand higher borrowing costs from hyperscalers. Amazon's sterling offering attracted about 2.5 times coverage, below Alphabet's roughly 3.5 times coverage for its recent euro bond sale. The difference shows that demand for hyperscaler debt is not unlimited. If investor appetite continues to weaken, Amazon could face higher yields on future borrowing, increasing the cost of financing its AI infrastructure expansion.

#sterling #infrastructure #NASDAQ #amzn

GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) is trying to recover after an 8.5% decline, with Bernstein defending the stock as "wired to win" and highlighting that data centers account for only 38% of its electrification order book. This supports the argument that the company's utility exposure extends beyond AI power demand alone. That diversification is a real consideration, but it does not directly address the concern raised by GLJ Research. The firm's Sell rating is not based on doubts about AI-driven power demand. Instead, GLJ Research argues that GE Vernova is still a fundamentally cyclical gas-turbine manufacturer, while its current valuation reflects an **** umption that the ongoing boom can remain permanent.
GE Vernova shares stabilized after an 8.5% decline triggered by GLJ Research's new Sell rating and broader concerns that a slowdown in AI spending could weigh on the company's order book. Bernstein **** yst Sunaina Ocalan directly challenged the view that GE Vernova's outlook depends mainly on AI infrastructure spending:
While data center orders were $5 billion in H1 2026, or about 38% of electrification orders, the remaining 62% was utility-driven. Utility spend should continue to grow, supported by grid reliability and resilience investments. A slowdown in data center demand may alleviate generation bottlenecks but would do little to address existing grid constraints.
Bernstein continues to rate the stock a Buy with a $1,298 price target, while nearly 80% of **** ysts covering GE Vernova also have a Buy rating. In a separate development, the company announced a wind turbine supply agreement with Eurus Energy Holdings in **** an.
GLJ Research's Gordon Johnson argued that GE Vernova's turbines being sold out does not justify the stock trading at roughly 38.9x forward EV/EBITDA at the time the report was released. Johnson described the company as "a cyclical gas turbine manufacturer priced as a secular compounder," highlighting the premium valuation placed on a fundamentally cyclical business. His model estimates 2027 EBITDA at $7.42 billion, which is 22% below Wall Street consensus. The lower forecast is partly based on the timing of turbine orders, as equipment scheduled for 2027 delivery was ordered in 2024, before the company introduced its more recent price increase.

#bernstein #turbine #Stock #data

On September 8, 2026, CNBC reported that Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) shares fell about 10% after the company said its experimental drug del-desiran failed to meet its primary goal in a late-stage trial for myotonic dystrophy type 1.
It marked the company's third clinical setback in a week following the earlier failure of cardiovascular drug pelacarsen and a separate pause of eight trials of cell therapy rap-cel after three patient deaths. The decline erased roughly 24 billion Swiss francs, or about $29.6 billion, in market value and put Novartis on pace for one of its worst trading days in company history.
Remibrutinib provides a major remaining pipeline catalyst since Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) reported successful late-stage results for remibrutinib in multiple sclerosis. It gives investors a credible growth driver after the failures of pelacarsen and del-desiran. The business expects more remibrutinib data later this year, making the drug an important test of whether its remaining pipeline can help long-term growth.
Novartis still expects 5% to 6% annual sales growth through 2030. Management reaffirmed its full-year financial guidance and maintained its target for 5% to 6% compound annual sales growth from 2025 through 2030. That guidance shows the company still expects its overall portfolio and remaining pipeline ******* ets to offset pressure from aging drugs.
The company retains a diversified commercial portfolio. The del-desiran failure removes a potentially important future revenue contributor, but Novartis still makes substantial revenue from its existing medicines. It also retains other pipeline ******* ets. That diversification gives the firm financial capacity to absorb individual clinical failures while it rebuilds investor confidence in its growth pipeline.

#company #remibrutinib

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) has secured Madrid as the fourth city covered by its partnership with WeRide, bringing Spain into its rapidly expanding autonomous vehicle network. The company's broader AV strategy covers more than 30 partners, while Uber expects to commit more than $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years. At the center of that strategy is Uber's decision not to build self-driving technology itself. Instead, the company wants to become the indispensable demand layer for whichever AV providers ultimately emerge as winners. Yet the diversification strategy is facing pressure in key areas. One of its most prominent AV partners is pulling back, while another remains under an active safety investigation.
Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO have secured Spain's first national permit covering level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles. The permit was issued by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic and allows the companies to begin deployment preparations on public roads in Madrid. Under the permit, WeRide can test its GXR vehicles and conduct roadmapping throughout Madrid in preparation for a commercial launch planned for year-end. The rollout will begin with 20 vehicles, each supervised by an in-car specialist, operating across high-demand areas of Greater Madrid. Madrid becomes the fourth city included in the Uber-WeRide partnership, which plans to reach 15 cities globally by 2030. The expansion also fits Uber's broader ******* et-light AV strategy, which includes more than 30 partnerships while Uber expects to commit over $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years.
The diversification of Uber's AV network does not eliminate risks from individual partners. Uber and Waymo confirmed in late June that their Phoenix partnership had ended, while Waymo is reportedly considering a broader exit from its relationship with Uber. This comes even as Uber executives have publicly criticized Waymo's model while investing substantial capital in competing fleets. Avride is facing a separate challenge, with the NHTSA investigating the Uber AV partner after multiple crashes. At the same time, Tesla is ramping up its own Cybercab fleet, while Waymo has raised $16 billion to accelerate its independent growth. Together, these moves could reduce Waymo's reliance on Uber while increasing competitive pressure on Uber's AV platform.

#madrid #waymo

VYMI outran SCHY 29% to 23% over the past year while charging a lower 0.07% fee and covering both developed and emerging markets.
IDV delivers the highest yield at 5%, but its 0.50% expense ratio is seven times VYMI's fee, eroding long-term accumulation returns.
SCHY holders switching to VYMI in taxable accounts should check cost basis first, since many carry embedded gains after 2026's international rally.
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SCHD holders reaching for international diversification usually land on one name first: Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHY), built on the same Dow Jones dividend-quality methodology that made the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD) a portfolio staple. SCHY looks like SCHD's international twin because Schwab designed it that way. However, three deep-pocketed rivals from Vanguard, Fidelity, and BlackRock now compete for the same wallet share, and one has quietly outrun SCHY on nearly every metric that matters to a SCHD-style investor.

#international #schwab

The name "351 Exchange" comes from Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Section 351 permits a person to contribute appreciated property in exchange for shares of a newly formed corporation without recognizing a taxable event at the time of transfer, if certain rules are met.
In this application, the property being contributed is shares of stock or ETFs, in exchange for shares of a newly formed corporation, a new ETF.
To qualify, here are a few rules:
1) The contributor must be an eligible participant. In short, most can participate, but C corporations can cause issues, so they are generally excluded.
2) Each contributor must contribute a diversified portfolio. Diversification is defined by the IRS with two tests applied to each contributor's portfolio: Of the contributed portfolio, (1) the weight of the largest position must be no more than 25%, and (2) the sum of the weights of the top 5 positions must be no more than 50%.

#exchange #shares #section #contribute

Interested in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Goldman Sachs expects its revenue base to reach roughly $70 billion this year, up from the mid-$30 billion range when its strategic plan began in 2018–19, supported by greater diversification and operating leverage.
Asset & Wealth Management is exceeding its targeted high-single-digit growth rate, overseeing about $4 trillion in ******* ets and targeting 30% margins and high-teen returns. Acquisitions and partnerships are expanding its alternatives, ETF, retirement and real estate capabilities.
Goldman expects alternatives fundraising above $125 billion this year and sees major financing opportunities from AI infrastructure investment, while near-term results may face higher expenses, softer FICC activity and a muted investments line.
Digging for Value: Alpha Metallurgical Resources Insider Buys Big

#year #here

Manju Boraiah, Senior PM and Head of Systematic Fixed Income at Allspring Global Investment, reacts to Wednesday's Fed rate decision saying fundamentally, 'we needed the hike.' He also discusses how investors can break out from frozen positions, arguing that trillions of dollars of wealth is sitting in concentrated positions that are being held back by tax bills, and offers a possible solution to move toward diversification.

#manju #systematic

Interested in Qualcomm Incorporated? Here are five stocks we like better.
Qualcomm trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 22, well below rivals like NVIDIA, Broadcom, and AMD, despite its ties to the AI boom.
Analysts, including Rosenblatt Securities with a $235 price target, see upside from Qualcomm's expansion into AI data centers, automotive chips, and on-device AI processing.
Apple's shift to in-house modem chips and a sluggish Android market in China threaten to offset Qualcomm's diversification gains, keeping its consensus rating at Hold.
There's a certain irony in a stock that has just rallied hard still being written off, yet that's exactly where chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) finds itself right now. After a brutal 44% slide through much of the summer, its shares staged an impressive comeback, climbing around 30% since the start of August.

#incorporated

OpenAI holds $122B in cash and no IPO deadline, stripping Nvidia of the urgency and dependency that sustain premium chip pricing.
Broadcom dropped 7.95% and AMD held near flat as markets priced each company's exposure to OpenAI's supplier diversification.
Nvidia owns the training workload that ends once, while purpose-built inference chips capture every query that follows.
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Sarah Friar, chief financial officer of OpenAI, sat with CNBC's Jim Cramer and described her chip procurement in the language a corporate treasurer would use. "We also have a strategy for diversifying our supply chain. And that is just good CFO risk mitigation. You never know when someone's supply chain is going to get gummed up. So you need to have multiple providers."

#chip #stocks #broadcom

During the September 10 episode of Mad Money, a caller inquired about Mad Money host Jim Cramer's confidence that Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) will not go down the same path as Ciena Corporation. He replied:
Okay, so let me just tell you, Arista is up a lot this year. My confidence is with Jayshree Ullall. I think she's amazing and I think it every time the stock has dipped, if you've noticed it. Since her tenure began, you have to buy it, and I'm not backing away from that. I feel the same way I do now, the way I did, oh man, how many years ago when we first met her. She is money, and the company's fantastic.
In its second quarter, the company shattered records by delivering its first-ever $3 billion quarter, reporting $3.036 billion in revenue, a 38% year-over-year and over 12% sequential increase. Management lifted its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to approximately $12.6 billion, representing roughly 40% annual top-line growth. The acceleration is supported by deep integration into cloud architectures, where Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) expects its dedicated AI fabrics revenue to reach at least $3.5 billion in 2026, supported by more than 100 **** ulative Etherlink customers.
Bottom-line performance remains equally strong, with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share reaching $1.02, driven by a 49.9% non-GAAP operating margin and $1.3 billion in non-GAAP quarterly net income. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) ended the quarter with roughly $13.3 billion in cash and marketable securities, offering substantial liquidity. However, its $9.7 billion of non-cancellable purchase commitments also increase working-capital and inventory risk as the company secures components ahead of expected AI demand.
The company's financial results remain heavily tied to two hyperscale customers. According to its 10-K filings, Microsoft accounted for 26%, and Meta Platforms generated 16% of total revenue in fiscal 2025, bringing combined spending from these two cloud giants to 42%. It leaves Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) vulnerable to sudden capital expenditure adjustments, vendor diversification shifts, or project delays by its core buyers.

#billion #NYSE #year

GameStop (GME) is a Grapevine, Texas-based specialty retailer operating stores and e-commerce platforms under the GameStop, EB Games, and Micromania banners across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. Once known primarily as a video game and electronics retailer, GameStop has diversified aggressively under Executive Chairman Ryan Cohen, expanding into collectibles, trading cards, pop culture merchandise, and even cryptocurrency and equity investments. The company has become a prominent "meme stock," attracting substantial retail investor attention while pursuing an unconventional capital allocation strategy that includes bitcoin holdings and a sizable equity stake in eBay (EBAY), positioning GameStop as much an investment vehicle as a traditional retailer.
GameStop stock recently traded around $21.15, near the bottom of its 52-week range of $17.79 to $28.10 and below its 200-day moving average. Shares have pulled back significantly from their 2025 meme-stock highs, weighed down by declining video game sales, ongoing store closures, and investor skepticism toward the company's diversification into digital ***** ets and equity investments. The stock did see brief bursts of retail-trader enthusiasm this year, including renewed meme-stock speculation tied to its proposed eBay acquisition, though shares have remained volatile and range-bound as GameStop's core retail business continues shrinking alongside its growing collectibles and investment segments.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Apple Stock as New Offerings Become 'More Exciting'
The EV Bubble Has Burst. How to Play Rivian Stock Now.

#shares

GameStop (GME) is a Grapevine, Texas-based specialty retailer operating stores and e-commerce platforms under the GameStop, EB Games, and Micromania banners across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. Once known primarily as a video game and electronics retailer, GameStop has diversified aggressively under Executive Chairman Ryan Cohen, expanding into collectibles, trading cards, pop culture merchandise, and even cryptocurrency and equity investments. The company has become a prominent "meme stock," attracting substantial retail investor attention while pursuing an unconventional capital allocation strategy that includes bitcoin holdings and a sizable equity stake in eBay (EBAY), positioning GameStop as much an investment vehicle as a traditional retailer.
GameStop stock recently traded around $21.15, near the bottom of its 52-week range of $17.79 to $28.10 and below its 200-day moving average. Shares have pulled back significantly from their 2025 meme-stock highs, weighed down by declining video game sales, ongoing store closures, and investor skepticism toward the company's diversification into digital **** ets and equity investments. The stock did see brief bursts of retail-trader enthusiasm this year, including renewed meme-stock speculation tied to its proposed eBay acquisition, though shares have remained volatile and range-bound as GameStop's core retail business continues shrinking alongside its growing collectibles and investment segments.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Apple Stock as New Offerings Become 'More Exciting'
The EV Bubble Has Burst. How to Play Rivian Stock Now.

#Equity

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) shed roughly $12 billion in market value after hours on September 4, 2026. The stock declined by about 5% to $415. The reason, as strange as it sounds, is a drug it does not own. Novartis announced that pelacarsen, an Lp(a)-lowering therapy, missed its Phase 3 cardiovascular-outcomes trial, Lp(a)HORIZON. And since Amgen's late-stage ******* et olpasiran relies on the same biological premise, investors immediately marked down Amgen on the negative read-through.
The result strikes at a premise rather than at a product. Pelacarsenhad lowered Lp(a) by roughly 80% in earlier studies. In Lp(a)HORIZON, Novartis said pelacarsen substantially lowered Lp(a), but it still failed to reduce the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, and urgent revascularization. It still could not reduce the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, and urgent revascularization. And now the entire hypothesis that lowering Lp(a), a genetic cardiovascular risk factor, actually cuts events, is being directly challenged. Olpasiran is built on the same hypothesis, leading to the repricing of odds as soon as pelacarsen's data were out.
Amgen's olpasiran, an siRNA, lowered Lp(a) by more than 95% at certain doses in Phase 2, compared with reductions of roughly 80% for pelacarsen in earlier studies. The bull case is that this deeper reduction could help olpasiran deliver better cardiovascular outcomes.. The bull case is that this 15% will help Amgen to make a deeper cut and deliver results. While biologically possible, the Lp(a)HORIZON trial provided no evidence that a clinical threshold exists above an 80% reduction. The topline Phase 3 announcement did not establish that deeper Lp(a) lowering would have produced a cardiovascular benefit. It is therefore appropriate to say that the miss lowered olpasiran's probability of success rather than pretending it is irrelevant. Eli Lilly's lepodisiran is running the same deep-reduction experiment, so the hypothesis will be tested with or without Amgen.
Amgen is not an Lp(a) pure-play. MariTide in obesity, Repatha in cholesterol, and Tezspire in asthma drive more value for the company, and this diversification creates a cushion for the stock, although the selloff ultimately became much larger than the initial 5% after-hours reaction. Positioning has stayed calm since the beginning of 2026. Insider Monkey data shows 66 hedge funds held AMGN in the second quarter of 2026, up slightly from 65 in the first. Short interest, on the other hand, sits at just 2.4% of float, reflecting minimal bets against the stock in the market.

#horizon #pelacarsen

On September 10, Copart (NASDAQ:CPRT) held its fourth-quarter earnings call and used it to unveil a deal that could reshape its business: an all-cash agreement to acquire ACV, a digital auto marketplace that moved roughly $10 billion of vehicles last year without owning a single lot. The announcement landed alongside a quarter that captured the company's central tension. Revenue rose, but net income fell, and management is now betting that pairing its junkyards with someone else's software can fix that.
The ACV deal is the headline, and for good reason. ACV brings more than 22,000 active buyers and inspection and valuation technology, while Copart contributes over 275 locations, roughly 4 million vehicles sold annually, and about 1 million members across more than 185 countries. Management structured it as an all-cash tender offer funded from cash on hand, with a close targeted by the end of the calendar year and earnings accretion expected in fiscal 2028. Executives framed the fit as physical scale meeting digital liquidity, giving dealers, banks, and fleet sellers a single partner for disposing of vehicles.
That diversification push is already showing up in the numbers. International revenue grew 11.7% to $222.1 million on 15% service revenue growth, and international buyers accounted for 45.7% of total US sales dollars despite making up only 38.2% of units, a sign they are chasing pricier vehicles. Domestically, non-insurance units returned to growth of 0.2% in the quarter after a full-year decline, dealer units rose 5.8%, and BluCar, which serves banks and fleets, expanded nearly 20%. Global average selling prices climbed 3.5%, evidence that Copart's auctions still command pricing power even as volumes soften.
The quarter's numbers show where the strain is. Consolidated revenue grew 2.4% to $1.2 billion, yet net income dropped 17.4% to $327.4 million and diluted earnings per share fell 14.6% to $0.35. Operating expense per car jumped 12.7% year over year as the company poured money into long-haul delivery, **** leExpress, and dedicated wholesale facilities, and US facility costs alone rose 7.7% in the quarter. Lower interest income, a byproduct of the $1.63 billion spent on buybacks earlier in the fiscal year, added to the squeeze.
The core insurance business is also cooling. Global insurance units fell 4.2%, with domestic insurance **** ignments down 7.5%, though management noted that figure would have been up 2.3% excluding the loss of a single customer. Collision claim frequency declined 3.4% even as total loss frequency hit a record 23.3% for a second quarter and severity topped $6,300 per claim, up 8.8%. And the ACV deal itself carries integration risk, since management expects only breakeven results before accretion arrives in fiscal 2028.

#quarter #vehicles #insurance

Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record quarterly revenue of $24 million, validating the long-term strategy of transitioning toward higher-value integrated systems and custom cabling solutions.
Realized significant operating leverage as revenue surpassed the $20 million threshold, driving adjusted EBITDA margins to 11.1%, exceeding the company's 10% long-term goal.
Diversification efforts successfully reduced reliance on traditional telecom, with meaningful contributions from aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, and medical imaging.
Unified engineering and product management teams into a single structure to accelerate product launches and ensure technical innovation translates directly to revenue impact.

#long #product

To summarize my investment approach, I prefer to buy companies with long histories of dividend increases and historically high yields. Those two traits don't come around all that often, and sometimes I find clusters of stocks in specific sectors. I need to think specifically about diversification, one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce risk. Here's how I've done it as I've built my portfolio of around 34 investments.
The Motley Fool recommends that investors own 50 stocks. That's a perfectly fine number, but also a lot of work. And just owning 50 stocks doesn't actually mean you are diversified. You could own 50 technology stocks, for example, which would leave you with exposure to just a single sector. That's not diversification. Diversification is really about owning a reasonable number of investments across a wide range of sectors and ****** et classes.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
My first step toward diversification was to take an honest look at what I want to achieve and what I'm capable of. My goal is a mixture of income and capital appreciation. I am fairly confident in my ability to select dividend stocks, though every investor makes mistakes from time to time, and I know I can only juggle so many stocks at once. In other words, 50 stocks are too many for me, so a core part of my diversification strategy is to outsource some of my work.
For example, I own two Baron mutual funds to gain exposure to growth stocks and smaller companies. I own several closed-end funds: one focused on healthcare stocks with an option income overlay, one investing in convertible securities, and one with a broadly diversified dividend portfolio. And I own three exchange-traded funds: one with an option income focus and two that use very different screening approaches to pick dividend stocks.

#Diversification #funds

Wall Street has bid up defense contractors on geopolitical tensions alongside expanded missile-defense funding, but Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) remains an outlier. On September 4, 2026, the company secured a $508.5 million Missile Defense Agency contract for ICBM and IRBM target flight-test support running through 2035. The non-competitive contract follows the $3 billion (approx.) in framework agreements to expand solid-rocket-motor production for PAC-3 and THAAD interceptors. Despite these bookings, stock slipped 2.5% to $515. The stock is trading near 16 times earnings and 33% below its peak, making Northrop one of the lowest-multiple prime defense contractors.
Northrop is one of the largest-cap defense contractors with exposure to Golden Dome through ******* e sensors and interceptors, while the Sentinel ICBM and the B-21 bomber provide additional exposure to broader U.S. strategic modernization. The recent bookings back that up: the $508.5 million MDA award, the ~$3 billion PAC-3 and THAAD agreements that will double and triple solid-rocket-motor capacity, and $1.4 billion of IBCS-related U.S. and Polish air-and-missile-defense awards announced in 2025. The latest MDA contract includes cost-plus, cost-reimbursable, and fixed-price-incentive elements, which reduce some financial exposure compared with purely fixed-price development work. Long-term missile-shield funding, however, remains tied to both political and defense bets. Legislative approval introduces timing risk, but the bull thesis is already working.
Execution problems explain the valuation discount. The Sentinel ICBM program triggered a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach after projected costs rose 81% to roughly $141 billion, forcing a Pentagon program restructuring. Concurrently, low-rate initial production on the B-21 bomber generated approximately $2 billion in pre-tax charges on fixed-price commitments. Management must demonstrate that these losses have ceased. Till then, multiple expansion will remain limited. Lockheed trades at roughly 19 times earnings compared with Northrop at about 16 times.
Institutional positioning does not point to aggressiveness in short trades. Our Insider Monkey database tracked 59 hedge funds holding NOC in the second quarter of 2026, compared to 62 in the first quarter. Short interest sits at 1.7% of the float, representing a low number of bets against the stock. Paired with -0.11 beta and a 1.9% dividend yield, the stock offers portfolio diversification at a discounted entry multiple.

#northrop

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributed the 7.3% revenue growth to outperforming the broader pet category by 2x to 3x, despite a consumer backdrop that has stabilized but not yet recovered.
Performance was bolstered by triple-digit revenue growth in Chewy Vet Care and triple-digit unit growth in the fresh and frozen portfolio, demonstrating successful diversification beyond core consumables.
Autoship customer sales reached 84.6% of total net sales, which management views as a critical foundation for revenue predictability and durable market share gains.
Profitability expansion was driven by a shift toward high-margin health categories, the scaling of the sponsored ads portfolio, and structural variable cost reductions through automation.

#digit #sales

Gold has long served as a portfolio diversifier, often drawing renewed attention during periods of inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifts in monetary policy. In recent years, gold has rallied sharply, reinforcing its reputation as both a store of value and a hedge against macroeconomic risk.
But gold's path has never been a straight line. While the metal has delivered strong returns in certain environments, it has also gone through extended stretches of sideways performance, contributing little to portfolio growth or income. That leaves investors with a familiar tradeoff: maintain gold exposure for its diversification benefits, or reallocate to ***** ets that can generate income along the way.
The NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI) aims to combine gold's traditional store-of-value role with an income-generating options strategy, seeking to deliver high monthly income while preserving upside potential.
The fund's approach rests on two components:
Gold exposure: Up to 25% of the portfolio is allocated to low-cost physical gold ETPs, with the remaining 75% gained through synthetic exposure via GLD options, aiming to track gold's price movements directly. Limiting direct physical gold exposure to 25% also allows the fund to report taxes via Form 1099-DIV rather than a K-1, simplifying year-end tax reporting for investors.

#store

Our ****** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Delivered record Q2 sales outside of the holiday period despite a 'K-shaped' economy and aggressive industry-wide promotional activity.
Performance was bifurcated by price point, with double-digit growth in premium configurations over $6,000 while the under-$6,000 segment remained pressured by inflation and interest rates.
Management is pivoting from a single-platform focus to a multi-platform 'Sactionals sofa company' strategy to address broader market segments and aesthetic preferences.
Operational efficiency improved through the 'Fuel for Growth' program and sourcing diversification, helping to insulate the P&L from volatile ocean freight and domestic shipping costs.

#management

CNBC reported that OpenAI said it will end model access through Cursor on November 12, following **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) $60 billion all-stock acquisition of Cursor's parent company, Anysphere, which closed on August 14.
OpenAI said it "cannot be confident that **** eX will use our technology within our terms of service, based on our experience with Elon Musk's companies violating contracts," pointing to disputes involving X and xAI, including Musk's own courtroom admission that xAI had trained on OpenAI's output. Cursor CEO Michael Truell said on X that OpenAI models handle about 5% of Cursor's user traffic and that the two companies are discussing the decision.
Musk responded on X, calling OpenAI's leadership "utterly untrustworthy." Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown said his company will instead increase compute to support Claude in Cursor.
The actual business disruption looks limited based on the numbers involved. Cursor's own CEO said OpenAI models account for only about 5% of user traffic. It means the vast majority of Cursor's usage already runs on other model providers, limiting how much this cutoff changes the product most users experience.
Cursor can reduce its dependence on OpenAI as **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) expands its AI ecosystem. Losing access to OpenAI models could push Cursor to deepen its relationships with Anthropic and other providers, while **** eX can use its growing AI infrastructure to support the coding platform. That diversification could give Cursor more control over its model supply and reduce its exposure to decisions made by a direct competitor.

#space

With a total return of 57% over the last three years, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD) has been a boon for income-focused investors who value stability and diversification. Those who already own the fund should probably hold on to it for those two reasons.
That said, no investment exists in a vacuum. And potential new investors have a lot of other options to choose from. Let's dig deeper into the pros and cons of SCHD to decide what the next five years might have in store.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
According to research from S&P Global, dividends accounted for a whopping 31% of the S&P 500's total return since 1926, making them a vital part of any long-term investment strategy. This might sound surprising considering blue chip stock yields tend to be relatively small. But these payouts benefit from compounding as they are reinvested into more shares that continue growing and paying more dividends.
And while returning cash directly to investors creates more tax exposure than other strategies like stock buybacks, investors can mitigate the impact by using a tax-advantaged account (such as a Roth IRA). Furthermore, the new cash can be invested in different ****** ets to boost portfolio diversification.

#signal

Vertiv, Applied Optoelectronics, and Innodata entered September well below their 2026 highs despite strong operating growth. The pullbacks do not make them interchangeable bargains. Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT) sells power and cooling, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) supplies optical transceivers, and Innodata Inc. (NASDAQ:INOD) provides data engineering and model-evaluation services.
Vertiv's second-quarter sales rose 24% to $3.27 billion, adjusted operating margin expanded 410 basis points to 22.6%, and adjusted free cash flow reached $925 million. The bull case is rising power and thermal content per AI rack. The bear case is project timing, supply congestion, and expectations built around long-duration demand. Insider Monkey counted 112 hedge funds holding Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT) in Q2, up from 96 in Q1. Cliff Asness's AQR Capital reported 2,686,683 shares, 0.5% more sequentially.
Applied Optoelectronics posted record revenue of $191.9 million, while 800G volume more than doubled from Q1. Management expects 800G and 1.6-terabit demand to exceed production capacity through mid-2027. That capacity ramp is the bull case; a 27.7% GAAP gross margin, a $22.8 million GAAP loss, customer concentration, and execution are the bear case. Fifty-four hedge funds held Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI), down from 55. Value Aligned Research disclosed 1,595,124 shares, 26% more sequentially.
Innodata's revenue grew 58% to $92.1 million and adjusted EBITDA rose 92% to $25.4 million. Its reusable data sets and evaluation work can expand margins, but large-customer dependence and rapidly changing model-training methods create risk. Twenty-five hedge funds held Innodata Inc. (NASDAQ:INOD), up from 20. Mitch Rubin's RiverPark Advisors reported 2,042 shares, 18% more than in Q1.
AAOI's August 14 short-interest settlement showed 10,421,985 shares sold short, equal to 12.81% of float, with 0.69 days to cover..The elevated short-float percentage signals substantial bearish positioning, while the low days-to-cover ratio suggests shorts could cover relatively quickly at recent trading volumes.Vertiv has the strongest cash generation, AAOI the sharpest capacity upside, and Innodata the lightest physical footprint. A buying opportunity exists only if margins, customer diversification, and cash conversion justify each stock's remaining expectations. The risks also differ in timing. Vertiv can lose on delayed data-center construction, AAOI can lose during the manufacturing ramp, and Innodata can lose when a major customer changes vendors or training methods. Investors should therefore avoid using distance from a high as valuation ******* ysis. Order conversion, gross-margin durability, customer concentration, and diluted share growth are the comparable checkpoints. The pullback improves entry prices, but only operating evidence can establish value. Balance-sheet resilience matters most when capacity plans meet a weaker cycle.

#innodata

If you're looking to add some high-growth stocks to your portfolio, there is a trio of options I've been eying that look like an excellent addition. These are some of the fastest-growing stocks on the market, and their growth routes vary, which is important for portfolio diversification.
The three stocks I'm recommending are Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), and Nebius Group (NASDAQ: NBIS). These three stocks are some of the fastest-growing stocks available, and all are great buys now.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Nvidia may be a bit of a surprise, considering it's the world's largest company by market cap. But it just grew revenue by 106% year over year in its previous quarter. That shows demand for its GPU computing products remains high, and that any company involved in AI is utilizing Nvidia's products.
However, its growth isn't expected to slow down anytime soon. CFO Colette Kress dropped a bombshell during the Q2 earnings call that management expects 70% revenue growth in the next fiscal year. While that's just guidance, Nvidia has proven quarter after quarter that it tends to exceed its internal projections.

#NASDAQ

ADP's 92% client retention and $11.04 EPS covering a $6.64 dividend powers growth, while Aflac CEO Dan Amos confirmed 43 straight years of dividend increases.
Chevron leads the trio with a 3.49% yield, $15.4 billion in free cash flow, and a 20-year Microsoft power deal delivering returns independent of oil prices.
Owning all three Aristocrats together delivers genuine sector diversification across payroll fees, insurance capital, and integrated energy inside a single income strategy.
Just released. Our ******* ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Dividend Aristocrats get lumped together as if they are one defensive blob of consumer staples names, but the label actually spans wildly different business models. The three companies below sit in payroll processing, supplemental insurance and integrated energy, and each has stacked annual dividend increases well past the 25-year bar the headline demands.

#Dividend

The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX), headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer. With a market cap of $147.9 billion, the company operates off-price retail concepts and e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, and Europe that offer a wide range of brand name and designer merchandise.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and TJX definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the apparel retail industry. TJX has cemented its leadership in off-price retail by leveraging strong vendor relationships and efficient procurement to offer branded merchandise at significantly lower prices than traditional channels. Its treasure-hunt shopping experience, driven by a diverse and ever-changing ****** ortment, continues to resonate with cost-conscious consumers and build a loyal customer base, while strategic investments in Multibrand Outlet Stores in Mexico and Brands for Less in the Middle East underscore its focus on international expansion and geographic diversification.
Dear GameStop Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 8
SMCI vs. CoreWeave: 1 AI Infrastructure Model Has the Bigger Opportunity
Why ****** ysts Think Sellas Life Sciences Stock Can Gain 150% From Here

#price #Companies #market #billion

While the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLK) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT:VGT) both track the U.S. tech sector, the Vanguard fund offers significantly broader diversification through its multi-cap index.
These funds serve as foundational blocks for investors targeting the innovation-driven growth of the American tech sector, including exposure to the artificial intelligence boom. While they may appear identical at first glance, subtle differences in index construction and portfolio concentration can lead to different outcomes during various market cycles.
The Vanguard fund is larger, with $160.2 billion in ******* ets under management (AUM), compared to $119.3 billion for the State Street fund. This ******* ysis explores how their unique weighting methodologies influence risk and reward.
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XLK

#sector #technology #nysemkt

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) has agreed to acquire privately held Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash, including an upfront payment and milestone-based payments. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The acquisition expands Lilly's immunology pipeline and gives it access to Merida's antibody-engineering platform, which is designed to selectively eliminate disease-causing autoantibodies while preserving normal immune function. Merida's lead candidate, MER511, is in Phase 1 development for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease (TED). Early data showed substantial reductions in disease-related antibodies along with a favorable initial safety profile.
The deal also fits Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s broader strategy of using the cash generated by its obesity and diabetes franchises to diversify into additional therapeutic areas. Lilly has been active in acquisitions throughout 2026, making Merida the latest addition to its expanding pipeline.
The biggest benefit for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is pipeline diversification. The company has generated significant growth from Mounjaro and Zepbound, but that success also increases its reliance on the obesity and diabetes markets. Adding Merida gives Lilly another potential growth platform in immunology.
Merida's technology could be particularly valuable if it works beyond its lead program. Rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, its approach is designed to target the antibodies responsible for specific autoimmune and allergic diseases. This could potentially offer a more targeted treatment strategy and create opportunities across several conditions.

#lilly #NYSE #immunology