Longtime Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook will host his final earnings conference call after the bell on Thursday, July 30. While Cook was not the same type of innovator as his predecessor, Apple founder and legendary CEO Steve Jobs, he did a great job of nurturing Apple's core strengths. He will leave as Apple is the largest company in the world, with a market cap of $5 trillion. The question, though, is whether the stock is still a buy with him ready to depart.
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 »
When Apple reports its fiscal third-quarter results, investors should expect much of the same. iPhone sales should be solid, with the company reportedly seeing a 3% increase in shipments during the quarter and gaining its highest-ever global market share at 20%, according to Centerpoint Research. This should then feed into its high-margin service revenue, which has consistently grown at a mid-teen rate.
Cook leaves Apple as having one of the best business models on the planet, making it easy for its next CEO to get off to a running start. The beauty of Apple is its closed ecosystem, which helps lock in customers. Once someone buys an iPhone, the cost of switching becomes increasingly difficult with each photo taken, subscription bought, and app downloaded. Users then become a part of Apple's huge service revenue machine. Apple is getting a high-margin revenue stream every time someone clicks on a search ad (as it gets a 36% revenue cut from Alphabet's Google), uses Apple Pay, buys cloud storage, or purchases a subscription or app.
Meanwhile, Apple just increased prices for several devices and certain service plans. This should be a nice revenue driver in the coming quarters after Cook leaves, giving incoming CEO John Ternus a solid revenue tailwind as he takes the reins. Ternus will also have time to execute a more comprehensive AI strategy for the company. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Cook's decision to sit back and not throw huge amounts of money into chasing AI models proves to be a smart one.

#revenue #signal #same

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is giving fans a look at her preparations for her upcoming hysterectomy amid her battle with cervical cancer.
The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star, 38, took to TikTok on Tuesday, July 28, to share the must-have items she's purchased in preparation for her surgery.
The products for the procedure, which Polizzi said is happening "soon," include several fan-recommended buys, like an abdominal band to support her midsection, constipation aids and a weighted heating pad.
In another video, Polizzi shared that she also purchased a few loose-fitting nightgowns, as well as oversized underwear to keep the area around her incision comfortable.
"You guys know I don't like pain, and I want to be cozy and comfy, and I needed recommendations on how to, like, recover the best way after my hysterectomy," Polizzii said. "If I'm missing anything, mamas, anybody who has gotten a hysterectomy with the big cut, please help. I don't want to feel pain. If you know me, I'm a baby. I don't like pain. I don't like any type of uncomfortableness, and yeah, I just, I don't like it. So obviously, I'll have, like, some pain meds and stuff."

#don 't #polizzi #purchased

Jared Leto has been accused of criminal **** ual conduct by four women, who claim the offenses occurred when they were teenagers.
In a new BBC documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret" — airing Wednesday — a total of 10 women come forward with allegations against Leto, nine of whom the BBC says are sharing their stories for the first time.
More from Variety
BBC Buys War Drama 'Kabul,' Featuring Eric Dane in One of His Last Roles
Wonder Project Expands International Slate With Three Series from U.K. and Ireland, Including Julia Roberts and Russell T. Davies Shows (EXCLUSIVE)

#dark #variety #buys

Microstrategy has gone four consecutive weeks without buying a single satoshi of Bitcoin, its longest buying freeze in two years, while Michael Saylor keeps posting accumulation charts to X with the caption "We're gonna need another color."
The company sits on $3.225 billion in cash, MSTR is down roughly 33% year-to-date, and Q2 earnings land Thursday after the US market close. The central question for retail investors is blunt: is the BTC dip buy coming today, or is the math still broken?
EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales With Asymmetric Upside in the Current Market
The mechanics of the freeze are straightforward. SEC filings on Jun. 29, Jul. 6, Jul. 13 and Jul. 20 each recorded no Bitcoin buys made under its standing acquisition programs. The filings covering June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20 contained the same answer: nothing.
What makes the silence louder is the contrast with Saylor's behavior on X. He posted Strategy's color-coded Bitcoin accumulation chart on Sunday, July 27, under the caption "We're gonna need another color", a reference to how new purchase tranches get ******* igned a distinct color bubble on the chart.

#buying #accumulation

Job seekers are exhausted. Tired of shooting résumés into the void and getting ghosted, many have started paying for AI tools that blast their application out to every open role they can find. But according to Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait, employers are just as miserable—and he's got a name for the hiring nightmare: an AI doom loop.
"This is the first time when really both sides have been unhappy," Chait told Fortune. "The market just isn't working for either side."
Job seekers, he says, are "piling more and more job applications into the black hole and not getting any progress." It doesn't matter how many they send—they "just don't get anywhere."
So they've turned to AI tools that make the process less painful. "You can go search on Google, and there are tools that advertise, use AI to automatically apply to every Greenhouse job," the jobs board boss said. "Someone goes and buys that tool, it's like 20 bucks, and now they can just shoot out job applications willy-nilly to as many jobs as they want."
On the other side of the inbox, recruiters are drowning. There are currently 175,000 live jobs on Greenhouse's platform—and on average, for every job ad posted, around 254 job seekers are applying, pushing applications per recruiter up by 412%.

#Jobs #getting #side

For a company that prides itself on the stablecoin it developed and manages, Circle Internet Group's (NYSE: CRCL) stock has been anything but stable lately. The recent slump in the shares has clearly appealed to the contrarian instincts of top institutional investor Cathie Wood and her Ark Invest team, as they loaded up on Circle shares last week.
These buys totaled $14 million, a considerable sum. Let's take a closer look at this and identify one very attractive quality about Circle stock that's sustaining its bulls.
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 »
Last Tuesday, Ark Invest added to its existing pile of Circle stock with several new buys totaling 220,012 shares, valued at roughly $13.9 million.
These purchases were spread among three Ark exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the Ark Innovation ETF taking 159,517 shares, the Ark Next Generation ETF gaining 42,400, and the Ark Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF absorbing 18,095.

#last

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
The people who shape financial decisions aren't always investors—they're often the teachers, mentors and advisers whose ideas take root long before someone ever buys their first **** et.
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki says that's why choosing the right teachers may be one of the most important financial decisions a person can make.
"Most school teachers, they're good people, you know, they mean well," Kiyosaki said on the "School of Hard Knocks" podcast in 2025. "They're employees. They need job security. They need a pension.
"And that's going to affect your brain because that's who they are spiritually. They're cowards. No, not really," he continued. "But choose your teachers wisely."

#people #need

CLOZ charges 0.50% to pick BBB-B CLO tranches, delivering 7% yield and 10% annualized returns versus JAAA's 5% at just 0.20%.
Active management fees earn their keep in BBB-B CLO tranches where manager and vintage selection drive returns, but add little value in AAA paper.
Don't wait: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Collateralized loan obligation ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing corners of fixed income by offering floating-rate coupons, historically low default rates, and yields that outpace investment-grade corporates. The trade-off is that CLO tranches are not standardized bonds, and the manager picking them matters. That is why the Eldridge BBB-B CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:CLOZ) charges 0.50% while the Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:JAAA) charges 0.20%, and the question is whether the extra fee buys something you cannot get elsewhere at a lower cost.
The four other funds worth measuring against CLOZ are JAAA, the Janus Henderson B-BBB CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:JBBB), the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF (NYSEARCA:CLOA), and the Eldridge AAA CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:CLOX). Each sits at a different point on the rating ladder and answers the active-versus-passive question differently.

#charges

Delaying Social Security to 70 earns 8% annually, turning a $2,500/month benefit at 67 into roughly $3,100 per month. That represents a permanent $600/month gain for both spouses.
Freed home equity replaces unclaimed Social Security income, shields investments from forced selling, and delivers tax-free spending cash during the bridge years.
Married couples can exclude up to $500,000 in home-sale gains, but excess gains are taxable and can spike Medicare IRMAA premiums two years later.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A couple in their late 60s sells the house they raised kids in (stairs are annoying, property taxes climb, two bedrooms sit empty) and buys something smaller. They walk away with roughly $300,000 in cash after closing. The question: do they turn on Social Security, or use that freed equity to wait?

Ford (F) trades at a forward P/E of roughly 9, with a base case projecting $2,500 growing to ~$3,558 by 2031, a 42% total return.
Ford Pro's 879,000 paid software subscribers, up 30% year over year, anchor the bull case while Model e losses of up to $4.5B remain the key risk.
Act now: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Ford didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Ford (NYSE:F) is trading at $14.20, and a $2,500 stake today buys into a legacy automaker in the middle of a transformation: leaner Model e losses, a Ford Pro software business scaling into the hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and management pushing toward an 8% adjusted EBIT margin by 2029. The question for a five-year holder is simple: what could that $2,500 actually be worth by 2031?
Under the base case, a $2,500 investment in Ford could grow to about $3,557.75 by 2031, a total return of 42.31%. That maps to a modeled five-year price of $20.20 per share, or an annualized return of 7.31%. The model carries a confidence score of 0.9 (High), reflecting stable **** yst coverage, positive year-over-year earnings growth, and Ford's large-cap profile.

Retail investors made SK Hynix (SKHY) one of their biggest buys on Friday, according to the latest data from VandaTrack. By Monday, the stock had fallen as much as 9% as South Korea's KOSPI (^KS11) plunged nearly 9%.
That kind of whiplash is becoming familiar. Retail traders are cashing out of Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Nvidia (NVDA), and chip stocks while chasing newer stories. The broader market is not following them lower.
VandaTrack data shows Sandisk (SNDK), Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia among the biggest sources of retail selling last week. Western Digital (WDC), Meta (META), and American Airlines (AAL) also made the list.
The flow pattern looks "more consistent with rotation than outright de-risking," Vanda wrote Monday. Retail trading activity remains near records, but investors are selling nearly as much as they buy.
The "Magnificent Seven" is no longer one retail position. Microsoft and Nvidia attracted net buying over Vanda's 10-day window, while Apple and Tesla became sources of cash.

Bitcoin's latest slide has revived a question that has been sitting beneath the surface of the market for months: How much of Bitcoin's support is actually Bitcoin demand — and how much of it is tied to Strategy's ability to keep buying?
For Mike Green, chief strategist at Simplify ***** et Management, the answer remains one of the biggest unresolved risks in crypto.
Green has been warning that Michael Saylor's plans to issue debt to acquire more Bitcoing at Strategy is not simply a bullish corporate treasury bet. In his view, it is levered exposure to a highly volatile ***** et that only works as long as Bitcoin keeps rising, but becomes increasingly fragile when the price moves the other way. And with Bitcoin moving closer to $60,000 after trading near $75,000 when Green last joined Coinage, he says the underlying risk has not gone away.
"Nothing has changed," Green told Coinage this week. "He has still adopted an extraordinary levered exposure. He will always need to sell Bitcoin in order to obtain liquidity. Unless Bitcoin rises enough that he can increase his borrowing capacity against it."
That is the problem Green has been trying to highlight. Strategy's Bitcoin position is often treated by the market as a simple accumulation story: Michael Saylor buys Bitcoin, Strategy raises capital, the company buys more Bitcoin, and the cycle reinforces itself as long as the price goes up. But Green argues that the same structure can become dangerous in reverse.

This might be one of the stranger superstitions to uphold if William Mouw buys into what happened to his putting in the second round of the ISCO Championship on Friday.
Mouw, the tournament's defending champion, only made 50 feet of putts in Thursday's opening round and ranked 116th in the field in strokes gained on the greens. In search of some different mojo, he half-joked with his caddie that the flat stick was so cold that he was going to put it into boiling water.
Then … he actually did it, and the result was he rolled in 105 feet of putts, making five birdies on his front nine, and finished with a seven-under 63 at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Ky., to sit solo sixth at nine under heading into the weekend.
"I put my putting in hot water last night and it stayed hot. I woke up with it hot out of the water and stayed hot all round. That was nice," Mouw said.
"I'm going to do it tonight, too," he added.

AVGO guided $56 billion in AI semiconductor revenue for fiscal 2026, up 180%, with Q2 bookings running 3x the revenue shipped.
Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta signed multi-year, multi-gigawatt compute deals with Broadcom, extending revenue visibility into 2028.
Wall Street consensus sits at 44 buys and zero sells, with a $524 price target against a current share price of $360.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) is now being talked about in $200 billion increments. That figure represents forward AI opportunity framing, surfaced on the company's Q2 FY2026 earnings call, when JPMorgan ****** yst Harlan Sur pressed CEO Hock Tan on an implied $200 billion-plus 18-month backlog covering the back half of 2026 through fiscal 2027.

Stocks with high dividend yields can look very rewarding. Who doesn't like getting 4%, 5%, even 6% or more back on their investment each year, before factoring in capital gains? But these stocks can just as easily woo investors, only for major problems to surface. Next thing you know, a company cuts the dividend, and investors are sitting on steep losses.
It doesn't have to be that way. Some stocks have high dividend yields and strong business fundamentals. These stocks can be game changers for investors looking to boost their portfolios with dividend income.
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 »
Here are two top high-yield dividend stocks to buy and hold. They can easily afford their huge dividends, and their compelling price tags make them strong buys for 2026.
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is a wireless carrier and one of only three companies that dominate the U.S. communications market. Verizon has approximately 146.8 million wireless retail connections and 16.8 million broadband connections. Connectivity is practically as essential to modern life in America as gas and electric utility service. People depend on their smartphones and devices to communicate, socialize, and work.

Artisan Partners, an investment management firm, issued its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund". A copy of this letter is available for download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark Russell Midcap Value Index as the market favored momentum-driven stocks over quality factors. Some holdings faced company-specific setbacks and negative sentiment. The Fund's Investor Class: ARTQX returned -4.93%, Advisor Class: APDQX declined by -4.90%, and Institutional Class: APHQX fell by -4.97%, all trailing the Index's 3.68% gain. The equity market in the quarter was mixed, with mid- and small-cap indices showing resilience despite lagging large-cap growth stocks. Volatility increased, initially fueled by interest in AI and private credit, but escalated after the outbreak of war in Iran, leading to rising oil prices. Sector performance varied, with energy leading the gains. The Fund continues to seek companies capable of value growth during market dislocations at attractive entry points. Also, review the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) as a newly added position. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm that operates through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On July 7, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $69.27 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $23.48 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one-month return of 15.10%, while its shares lost 35.94% over the past 52 weeks.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated six new positions in Q1, representing an above-average rate of new purchase activity. Increased market volatility and greater dispersion in US equities during the quarter created more opportunities to add new names that meet our three margin-of-safety criteria: attractive business economics, sound financial condition and attractive valuation. Additionally, we sought to use recent volatility to upgrade the portfolio's quality. Our three largest new buys by position size were Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO), Veralto and IQVIA Holdings.
Brown & Brown is a leading US insurance broker focused on the middle market. The shares have come under pressure alongside the broader broker group, as investors recalibrated expectations following a period of elevated growth driven by a hard insurance market. As pricing and growth have begun to normalize, valuations have compressed, creating what we believe is a more attractive entry point. From a business economics perspective, insurance brokerage is a compelling model. Brokers act as intermediaries without taking underwriting risk, resulting in high margins, low capital intensity and strong free cash flow conversion, supported by high customer retention. Brown & B

Artificial intelligence (AI) investing has been a winning investment theme during the past four years. Since the AI build-out kicked off in 2023, several of these stocks have been major winners. However, 2026's winners have been a bit more selective, with some companies doing incredibly well, while others are not doing as well.
Overall, I think the AI investment picture is still strong, and this theme will dominate the market for the rest of 2026, into 2027, and beyond until at least 2030. That means some of these stocks will be able to go much higher. If you're looking for which AI stocks are the best buys for the rest of 2026, I think this list is a great place to start, as they could go higher still.
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 »
Micron (NASDAQ: MU) may seem like an odd one to include on this list, in part because its stock has more than tripled this year. However, demand for Micron's core products, NAND and DRAM memory chips, is off the charts, and it doesn't expect market conditions to change through the calendar year 2027. That means Micron can continue to deliver unprecedented growth and thrive from the lack of memory chip supply.
Micron's stock only trades for 13.6 times this year's earnings and 6.6 times next year's earnings, so buying today could lock in major returns by the end of 2027 if tightness in the memory chip market persists.

Full Truck Alliance Co Ltd ADR (NYSE:YMM) is one of the top mid-cap stocks to own for the long term, according to hedge funds. On June 27, Citi touted Full Truck Alliance Co Ltd ADR (NYSE:YMM) as one of the beaten down Chinese internet stocks worth buying on the dip.
According to the research firm Full Truck Alliance, like other Chinese internet giants, has dropped significantly as investors pour money into artificial intelligence chipmakers. The research firm argues that the stocks are trading close to their cheapest valuations in years after a significant pullback. In contrast they continue to generate significant cash flows which affirm why they are buys on the dip.
Citi insists that the broader China internet sector is down by 24% year to date in the aftermath of investors turning their attention to artificial intelligence hardware winners. Citi insists that Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. holds large cash reserves and continues to buy back shares, moves expected to support the share price and boost shareholder returns.
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YMM) is a digital freight platform—often referred to as the "Uber for trucks"—that connects shippers with commercial truck drivers. Operating primarily in China, it matches supply and demand for road freight, optimizes routes, and provides tools to increase transportation efficiency and reduce empty hauling.
While we acknowledge the potential of YMM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Artisan Partners, an investment management firm, issued its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund". A copy of this letter is available for download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark Russell Midcap Value Index as the market favored momentum-driven stocks over quality factors. Some holdings faced company-specific setbacks and negative sentiment. The Fund's Investor Class: ARTQX returned -4.93%, Advisor Class: APDQX declined by -4.90%, and Institutional Class: APHQX fell by -4.97%, all trailing the Index's 3.68% gain. The equity market in the quarter was mixed, with mid- and small-cap indices showing resilience despite lagging large-cap growth stocks. Volatility increased, initially fueled by interest in AI and private credit, but escalated after the outbreak of war in Iran, leading to rising oil prices. Sector performance varied, with energy leading the gains. The Fund continues to seek companies capable of value growth during market dislocations at attractive entry points. Also, review the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) as a newly added position. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm that operates through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On July 7, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $69.27 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $23.48 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one-month return of 15.10%, while its shares lost 35.94% over the past 52 weeks.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated six new positions in Q1, representing an above-average rate of new purchase activity. Increased market volatility and greater dispersion in US equities during the quarter created more opportunities to add new names that meet our three margin-of-safety criteria: attractive business economics, sound financial condition and attractive valuation. Additionally, we sought to use recent volatility to upgrade the portfolio's quality. Our three largest new buys by position size were Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO), Veralto and IQVIA Holdings.
Brown & Brown is a leading US insurance broker focused on the middle market. The shares have come under pressure alongside the broader broker group, as investors recalibrated expectations following a period of elevated growth driven by a hard insurance market. As pricing and growth have begun to normalize, valuations have compressed, creating what we believe is a more attractive entry point. From a business economics perspective, insurance brokerage is a compelling model. Brokers act as intermediaries without taking underwriting risk, resulting in high margins, low capital intensity and strong free cash flow conversion, supported by high customer retention. Brown & B

Artisan Partners, an investment management firm, issued its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund". A copy of this letter is available for download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark Russell Midcap Value Index as the market favored momentum-driven stocks over quality factors. Some holdings faced company-specific setbacks and negative sentiment. The Fund's Investor Class: ARTQX returned -4.93%, Advisor Class: APDQX declined by -4.90%, and Institutional Class: APHQX fell by -4.97%, all trailing the Index's 3.68% gain. The equity market in the quarter was mixed, with mid- and small-cap indices showing resilience despite lagging large-cap growth stocks. Volatility increased, initially fueled by interest in AI and private credit, but escalated after the outbreak of war in Iran, leading to rising oil prices. Sector performance varied, with energy leading the gains. The Fund continues to seek companies capable of value growth during market dislocations at attractive entry points. Also, review the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) as a newly added position. Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) is an industrial technology company specializing in water **** ytics, water treatment, marking and coding, and packaging and color solutions. On July 7, 2026, Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) closed at $93.10 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $22.86 billion. Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) posted a one-month return of 12.68%, while its shares lost 9.06% over the past 52 weeks.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated six new positions in Q1, representing an above-average rate of new purchase activity. Increased market volatility and greater dispersion in US equities during the quarter created more opportunities to add new names that meet our three margin-of-safety criteria: attractive business economics, sound financial condition and attractive valuation. Additionally, we sought to use recent volatility to upgrade the portfolio's quality. Our three largest new buys by position size were Brown & Brown, Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) and IQVIA Holdings.
Veralto is a provider of water quality and product quality solutions that was spun out of Danaher in 2023. The shares have traded off from prior levels and now reflect more modest expectations, creating an opportunity to invest in a historically high-quality compounder at a more reasonable valuation. The company's conservative guidance for full-year EPS disappointed the market. From a business economics perspective, Veralto benefits from attractive end markets and durable competitive advantages. Its Water Quality and Product Quality & Innovation segments operate in niches characterized by high regulatory requirements,

Artisan Partners, an investment management firm, issued its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund". A copy of this letter is available for download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark Russell Midcap Value Index as the market favored momentum-driven stocks over quality factors. Some holdings faced company-specific setbacks and negative sentiment. The Fund's Investor Class: ARTQX returned -4.93%, Advisor Class: APDQX declined by -4.90%, and Institutional Class: APHQX fell by -4.97%, all trailing the Index's 3.68% gain. The equity market in the quarter was mixed, with mid- and small-cap indices showing resilience despite lagging large-cap growth stocks. Volatility increased, initially fueled by interest in AI and private credit, but escalated after the outbreak of war in Iran, leading to rising oil prices. Sector performance varied, with energy leading the gains. The Fund continues to seek companies capable of value growth during market dislocations at attractive entry points. Also, review the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV). IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) is a US-based provider of clinical research services, commercial insights, and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. On July 7, 2026, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) closed at $208.23 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $34.75 billion. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) posted a one-month return of 14.31%, and its shares gained 28.52% over the past 52 weeks.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated six new positions in Q1, representing an above-average rate of new purchase activity. Increased market volatility and greater dispersion in US equities during the quarter created more opportunities to add new names that meet our three margin-of-safety criteria: attractive business economics, sound financial condition and attractive valuation. Additionally, we sought to use recent volatility to upgrade the portfolio's quality. Our three largest new buys by position size were Brown & Brown, Veralto andIQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV).
IQVIA combines a leading global contract research organization (CRO) franchise with a unique, mission-critical health care data ***** et, creating a diversified model with both cyclical and recurring revenue streams. We believe its Technology & ***** ytics Solutions segment—anchored by proprietary prescription and patient data—provides a durable competitive moat, deeply embedded in pharma workflows, while the CRO business benefits from scale, long-term outsourcing trends and complex trial demand. From a business quality perspective, IQVIA has generated substantial free cash flow and maintained strong competitive positioning, supported by high cust

If you're looking for some great buying opportunities, the market is fortunately providing a handful of them to smart investors. I think the best stocks to buy now are the ones that are beaten down for no reason and could easily turn around in the second half of 2026 as the market comes to its senses.
Three stocks that I think are smart buys now are Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). All three of these stocks are trading at relatively low valuations yet have growth and prospects that could turn today's price into an absolute bargain.
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 »
Microsoft leads this list as it may be the most absurdly priced stock on this list. The company is a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, having close ties to OpenAI and growing its revenue at an 18% pace. With diluted earnings per share (EPS) growing at a 23% pace in its most recent quarter, you'd be right to ******* ume that everything is going great for Microsoft. However, none of that has translated to any stock success.
The stock is cheaply priced at 19.3 times forward earnings -- less than the S&P 500's forward multiple of 21.5. Deals like this on Microsoft's stock rarely come around, and a strong quarterly earnings result later in July could kick-start a rebound.

With 2026 halfway over, it's a good time for investors to reassess their holdings. Artificial intelligence (AI) investing has been a bit of a mixed bag this year. Most of the big-name, dominant companies really haven't had great years so far, and the spotlight has been stolen by some smaller upstarts or companies that have major momentum behind them. Some of these stocks still look like great buys in July, while there are also good reasons to return to the big tech companies.
There are five AI stocks at the top of my shopping list in July, and I believe investors can be confident that they'll be trading far higher by the time 2026 is wrapped up.
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 »
Two of the stocks I have my eye on have actually done phenomenally well in 2026 already. Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) and Nebius (NASDAQ: NBIS) have risen 780% and 187%, respectively. After a start to the year like that, you're likely wondering how in the world they will go higher. That's a fair question, but when you dig in, it's clear that both have far more upside potential.
Sandisk makes NAND memory, and the construction of AI data centers is consuming all that the manufacturers in that niche can supply. Sandisk's exposure to this industry mostly comes through its solid-state drives (SSDs), which are used for long-term data storage. With the data center build-out not expected to slow down anytime soon, the supply crunch that has allowed Sandisk to boost its prices won't be over either. This should help spur the stock higher, and with it trading for a mere 11 times its expected earnings for its fiscal 2027 (which starts in July), it could have far more room to run.

Elliot Anderson may have cost Manchester City considerably months before they agreed to make him the most expensive British footballer ever. When he last played at the Etihad Stadium, in March, he let fly from 25 yards. A crisp, clean strike earned Nottingham Forest an unexpected point. Perhaps City would not have won the **** le anyway, but the loss of two gave them less leeway in the run-in.
Now Anderson forms a £116m statement of intent in their bid to regain their crown and begin Enzo Maresca's reign as the Premier League's greatest force. The World Cup has illustrated some of the reasons to buy him, beyond simply getting one of Manchester United's transfer targets. Anderson has the passing range, over both short and long distances, the athleticism to cover ground, the ability to operate as both a No 6 and a No 8. In a tournament when few England players beyond Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have excelled, he has.
But while the fee is in keeping with the current midfield market, it is astonishing nonetheless. City are huge spenders in one respect, but not another. Their previous club record buy – Jack Grealish, for £100m that really was not well spent at all – was an outlier. Nearly all of their outstanding pieces of business in Pep Guardiola's decade in charge came for between £30m and £65m. Rayan Cherki, last summer, was near the bottom of that scale, even Erling Haaland not at the top. Guardiola's preferred midfield axis in his valedictory season consisted of two of his greatest buys, Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Their combined cost was less than Anderson's, even though the Spaniard was a club record purchase when he joined.
Anderson is a history-maker in one respect. In another, he could have company. There will be at least five £100m men in Premier League midfields next season, unless Enzo Fernandez gets his wish of a move to Real Madrid: Sandro Tonali is going to Tottenham for £100m, Fernandez and Moises Caicedo had a combined cost rising to £222m for Chelsea and **** nal had to fork out £105m for Declan Rice, who is now one of two £100m men in Thomas Tuchel's midfield.
The chorus from the Gunners fans has been that "we got him half price". And if not true, it is nevertheless the case that, so far, only Rice of the midfielders who came at a ground-breaking cost has succeeded. The driving force in **** nal's first Premier League triumph in 22 years, a man who powered them to a Champions League final, a talisman and a great all-rounder, Rice has been a game-changer of a buy.

It's no secret that Enzo Fernández is looking to leave Chelsea this summer, with his agent, former PSG player Javier Pastore, making his client's intentions clear several times now in the last few months.
Much to Pastore's frustration, overt interest in Enzo has been slow to materialize however. Obviously, there are only a handful of teams in the world that could afford Chelsea's £120m asking price, naturally restricting the market and limiting rumors and speculation. But even so, and even with the World Cup going on, it's been rather quiet on the Enzo front.
So it's up to Pastore to make some noise, which he's done yesterday with a fresh round of interviews with Spanish media. In them, Mr. Agent confirms that the situation remains unchanged: Enzo has outgrown what Chelsea can offer and he wants to leave. Personally, he's happy enough. Professionally, he's ready for the next step.
"[Chelsea are] a club that often buys a lot of young talent and gives them playing time in the Premier League, as happened with Enzo. Everyone has their own process and path to follow. He's done very well at Chelsea. He's won ******* les in three and a half years. He's very happy, but there comes a time when you have to follow the player's path, and if he demands things the club can't provide, you have to find solutions."
Obviously, that's not something anyone wants to hear about Chelsea. For the past two decades, it was us who could provide the things players demanded, namely trophies and wages — though even back then, the pull of a Real Madrid would've been hard to fight off. But these days, we certainly don't pay as much as other top teams might, and although we did finally win a couple trophies last year, the BlueCo era has lacked greatly for them. We've qualified for the Champions League just once in the last four seasons and will be without any European football for the second time in the last four years.

Describing itself as a "technology company known for developing innovations that enable next-generation solutions for the semiconductor and media industries," Adeia (ADEA) does not make physical products or sell consumer software. Rather, its business strategy is to invent, patent and license foundational technologies.
Adeia maintains long-standing relationships with global tech, semiconductor and media giants. Partners include the likes of Google-parent Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Walt Disney (DIS) and Netflix (NFLX).
In the latest monthly list of new buys by the best mutual funds, these savvy money managers scooped up $98.6 million worth of Adeia stock. And in a further showing of demand, the intellectual property, or IP, licensing firm earns a strong 1.5 up/down volume ratio. Any number above 1.0 indicates demand for shares.
In May, Adeia entered into a new multiyear IP license agreement with Google. The renewal gives the artificial intelligence, cloud and search giant broad access to Adeia's media IP portfolio. Google has been an Adeia customer since 2012.
Including through its collaboration with Google, Adeia's innovations are embedded in billions of devices worldwide. The IP licensing firm's technology enables advanced functionality across streaming, connected TV, and digital entertainment platforms.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is the big name in tech these days. Its numbers have been out of this world, with both sales and profits rising at exceptionally high rates. Demand is high for its memory and storage products, while supply is limited, creating a terrific scenario for the company to be able to raise prices and for demand to remain robust.
This year, the stock has more than tripled in value, as it's been one of the hottest buys on the market. But could that change? In July, there's another big-name memory stock that could list on a top U.S. exchange, and for investors, it may be a more intriguing option to consider.
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 »
SK Hynix, one of the largest memory chipmakers in the world, plans to issue American depositary receipts on the Nasdaq exchange soon. They could begin trading by July 10 and would likely offer significant competition to Micron. The South Korean company is publicly traded, but by being on the Nasdaq, that would inevitably draw more attention to the tech stock and make it more accessible to the average North American investor.
The company, like Micron, has a valuation of more than $1 trillion. And with a dominant position in the high-bandwidth memory market, where it holds around 60% market share, it may lure many investors away from Micron's stock, making it suddenly less desirable for growth investors.

A Monday memo from Graham Platner's campaign shows the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine is battling an onslaught of outside GOP spending.
The memo, obtained by Politico, says Republicans spent $4.3 million on the race between Platner and incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) from last Tuesday through Monday. Collins's campaign spent $500,000, while PACs supporting her spent $3.7 million.
Platner's campaign, meanwhile, spent $440,000 during the aforementioned time period. When including ad buys from the League of Labor Voters, Common Defense and Majority Forward in support of the Democrat, the party's spending in the race hit $1.6 million.
The memo also noted GOP groups will outspend Democrats 4-to-1 in the race over the upcoming week. Pine Tree Results PAC, which backs Collins, is spending roughly $1.5 million weekly and is slated to spend nearly $10 million more by early August, the document shows.
"The GOP understands the stakes of this race, which is why they are investing millions of dollars every week to protect Susan Collins," the memo reads. "In order to remain in a strong position to win in November, the campaign needs the resources to fight back against this onslaught of GOP spending."

Paramount+ is chronicling the Texas Tech football team’s offseason in a new, upcoming docuseries.
The series, which is currently untitled, follows the team through the most recent offseason. Cameras began rolling in January 2026, and the four-episode documentary is expected to premiere ahead of this year’s college football season. It’s from director and showrunner Micah Brown (Coach Prime, Untold: Sign Stealer).
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Shares of digital banking specialist SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) have had a rough 2026. As of this writing, the stock is down about a third year to date, sliding from about $26 at the end of 2025 to around $18.
But while many investors have been selling, the company's CEO has been doing the opposite. Anthony Noto has repeatedly stepped into the market to buy SoFi shares this year, most recently in mid-June.
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 »
When a chief executive buys his own stock with his own money -- especially after a steep drop -- it tends to get investors' attention.
Does Noto's conviction make SoFi a contrarian opportunity? Or is the sell-off a fair reflection of the company's risks?