Interested in Texas Instruments Incorporated? Here are five stocks we like better.
Texas Instruments, Philip Morris International, and W.P. Carey all recently raised their dividends and offer yields ranging from roughly 2% to nearly 6%.
Although all three stocks show elevated trailing payout ratios, forward-looking estimates using future earnings or AFFO suggest their dividends are sustainable.
Each company's growth drivers differ, with Texas Instruments benefiting from chip demand, Philip Morris from smoke-free products, and W.P. Carey facing pressure from higher interest rates.
Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN), Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), and W.P. Carey (NYSE: WPC) are key names across semiconductors, tobacco, and real estate with strong dividend yields. These three names not only have yields between 2% and 6% but also just increased their payments. At first glance, their dividend sustainability looks questionable, with all three having elevated payout ratios. However, adjusting for future growth and using the appropriate payout metric shows that their dividends are on solid footing.

#instruments #dividends #yields #international

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), maker of the da Vinci surgical robots, trades at about $382, some 36% below its 52-week high. Even so, you pay about 35.9 times trailing adjusted earnings. That is normalized net income with stock-based compensation added back, a basis meant to sit closer to the one ****** ysts forecast on, though the two are not defined identically. ****** ysts' forecasts run to 2027, the year Intuitive plans to start lowering what customers pay per use on some instruments.
The shares were trading about 11% lower the day after second-quarter results in July showed slower US procedure growth. US da Vinci procedures grew 12% in the second quarter, against 14% in the first. Management pointed to two likely causes, with the CFO noting that some customers say coverage changes are delaying deferrable procedures, alongside a little of the law of large numbers.
What the price still pays for is revenue growing faster than procedures. On the first-quarter call, the CFO credited that largely to da Vinci 5 and its higher pricing. More than half of the da Vinci systems Intuitive placed in the second quarter were da Vinci 5.
On ****** ysts' 2026 estimates, today's price is about 35.1 times earnings. On their 2027 estimates, it is about 31.4 times. The revenue forecast behind that looks modest: about 13.1% growth a year through 2027, against 20.7% growth over the past twelve months.
Consensus has earnings and revenue growing at a similar pace between 2026 and 2027, so margins hold roughly steady. Intuitive enters that stretch with an operating margin of 31.3% over the past twelve months, above its three-year average of 27.7%.

#intuitive #analysts #year #procedures

Weitz Investment Management, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Multi Cap Equity Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The Multi Cap Equity Fund's Institutional Class returned 7.90% in Q2, underperforming the Bloomberg U.S. 3000 Index's 15.71% gain. Markets rose in the quarter on hopes of de-escalating Middle East tensions and easing oil flow. Investor focus shifted back to artificial intelligence, despite component shortages like processing chips affecting profits and valuations. Valuation-sensitive investors are selective within the AI sector, in contrast to valuation-agnostic indexes that adopt a more relaxed strategy. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund highlighted Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD). Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. On September 15, 2026, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) closed at $1,330.40 per share. Over the past month, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) declined 6.64%, and its shares gained 4.43% over the past 52 weeks. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) has a market capitalization of $26.66 billion.
Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund stated the following regarding Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Less familiar to shareholders may be our new position in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD), a global supplier of precision measurement instruments across laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications where accuracy, reliability and regulatory compliance are vital. Its highly specialized sales and service organization is a key competitive advantage, working collaboratively with customers to optimize their workflows and improve productivity, reinforcing long-term customer relationships. We have long admired Mettler's business and purchased a small position during a brief period of price dislocation during the quarter."
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 48 hedge fund portfolios held Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) at the end of the second quarter, down from 50 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) 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.

#mettler #quarter

Exton, Pennsylvania-based West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products. Valued at $25.7 billion by market cap, the company's technologies include the design and manufacture of packaging components, research and development of drug delivery systems, and contract laboratory services and other services.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and WST perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the medical instruments & supplies industry. WST stands out as a market leader with a diversified portfolio serving pharma and healthcare.
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#Stock #billion

Two former Robinhood engineers allegedly used confidential information about upcoming cryptocurrency listings to make profitable trades on decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Hefu Chai, 36, and Huaisong "Jerry" Xiang, 30, each face one count of commodities fraud and one count of wire fraud.
"Today's charges make clear that corporate insiders cannot evade the securities and commodities laws by trading based on misappropriated information in derivatives like perpetual futures, tokenized securities, or other similar financial instruments," U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said in a statement.
Perpetual futures, or "perps," let traders speculate on an **** et's price—often with leverage—without owning it. Unlike conventional futures, the derivatives do not expire. Hyperliquid is one of the largest decentralized platforms for trading perps and has faced increased regulatory scrutiny.
According to the DOJ, the engineers allegedly used nonpublic information about upcoming Robinhood Crypto token listings to buy related perpetual futures before the announcements, earning profits "for their own benefit" between 2025 and 2026. Each defendant earned more than $50,000 from the alleged scheme, the Justice Department said.

#futures #engineers

This story was originally published on CRE Daily. Join 70,000+ commercial real estate professionals getting daily news, market insights, and industry ***** ysis delivered straight to their inbox with the free CRE Daily newsletter.
Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin county records show 1,197 commercial and multifamily loans totaling $13.3 billion maturing over the next 12 months, with another $12.5 billion in loans already past their maturity date.
Only 3 of the 1,197 forward-maturing loans carry a recorded distress filing, underscoring how little of the real risk shows up in public records before a loan actually fails.
The wall stems from two colliding loan vintages: roughly $4.3 billion in 2016-2017 peak-era loans and $2.6 billion in short-term bridge debt originated since 2025.
DFW loan maturities over the next 12 months total $13.3 billion, according to a county-by-county read of deed of trust records by Circlemark. That's on top of $12.5 billion in loans that have already passed their stated maturity date and remain open. Circlemark, which reads scanned county clerk instruments rather than relying on servicer-reported data, calls its own $13.3 billion figure a floor, not a ceiling.

#records

Everett, Washington-based Fortive Corporation (FTV) designs, develops, manufactures, and services professional and engineered products, software, and services. Valued at $16.7 billion by market cap, the company focuses on professional instrumentation, automation, sensing, and transportation technologies.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and FTV perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the scientific & technical instruments industry. FTV stands out for its strong brand recognition and leadership across its IOS, PT, and AHS segments. Its portfolio of established brands creates a durable moat that is hard to replicate, reflecting a sustained commitment to quality, innovation, and service, and supporting long-term growth and profitability.
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#valued

Everett, Washington-based Fortive Corporation (FTV) designs, develops, manufactures, and services professional and engineered products, software, and services. Valued at $16.7 billion by market cap, the company focuses on professional instrumentation, automation, sensing, and transportation technologies.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and FTV perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the scientific & technical instruments industry. FTV stands out for its strong brand recognition and leadership across its IOS, PT, and AHS segments. Its portfolio of established brands creates a durable moat that is hard to replicate, reflecting a sustained commitment to quality, innovation, and service, and supporting long-term growth and profitability.
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.

#Stock #everett #corporation #valued

Prosper Stars & Stripes, a long/short equity fund, recently released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. In Q2 2026, the portfolio delivered a strong net return of +30.1% compared to the Russell 2000 Index's +21.5% return and the HFRX Equity Hedge Index's +10.3% return. The long book drove performance, generating a 43.2% gross contribution, while average net exposure remained relatively modest at 47%. U.S. economic growth remained resilient despite inflation concerns, elevated energy prices, and geopolitical uncertainty. Markets rallied sharply after easing U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices lower, supporting renewed risk appetite. Small-cap equities benefited significantly, with Information Technology, Industrials, and Health Care leading gains, while Energy declined as crude prices fell. Year to date, the Composite returned +23.7%, slightly ahead of the Russell 2000's +22.6% and well above the HFRI Equity Hedge Index's +9.7%. Additionally, you can review the Portfolio's top 5 holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Prosper Stars & Stripes highlighted Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG). Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) specializes in precision measurement and sensing technologies. On September 14, 2026, Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) closed at $60.49 per share. Over the past month, Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) declined 10.77%, while its shares gained 85.95% over the past 52 weeks. Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) has a market capitalization of $805.75 million, and its shares traded within a 52-week range of $28.71 and $151.78.
Prosper Stars & Stripes stated the following regarding Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG) was the largest contributor to our long book during the second quarter of 2026. Vishay's core technologies, bulk metal foil resistors and bonded foil strain gauges, are niche, designed-in sensor solutions embedded in precision instruments, such as semiconductor test equipment and aerospace, medical, military, and robotics applications. Vishay has done a lot of work during the industrial downturn to improve its footprint to have more profitable growth as the industrial economy recovers after years of tepid performance. In addition, Vishay is pursuing a substantial secular growth opportunity in humanoid robotics, with $500 to $1,200 in content per robot. Management is executing on both sides of the ledger: cutting costs while strengthening the leadership bench with new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer roles. Together, these initiatives are expected to lift gross margins and EBITDA margins from 39% and 8% in 2025 toward long-term targets of 46% and 20% over the next several years. We reduced and then exited our position in Vishay during the quarter but still see good value in th

Weitz Investment Management, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Multi Cap Equity Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The Multi Cap Equity Fund's Institutional Class returned 7.90% in Q2, underperforming the Bloomberg U.S. 3000 Index's 15.71% gain. Markets rose in the quarter on hopes of de-escalating Middle East tensions and easing oil flow. Investor focus shifted back to artificial intelligence, despite component shortages like processing chips affecting profits and valuations. Valuation-sensitive investors are selective within the AI sector, in contrast to valuation-agnostic indexes that adopt a more relaxed strategy. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund highlighted Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD). Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. On September 15, 2026, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) closed at $1,330.40 per share. Over the past month, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) declined 6.64%, and its shares gained 4.43% over the past 52 weeks. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) has a market capitalization of $26.66 billion.
Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund stated the following regarding Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Less familiar to shareholders may be our new position in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD), a global supplier of precision measurement instruments across laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications where accuracy, reliability and regulatory compliance are vital. Its highly specialized sales and service organization is a key competitive advantage, working collaboratively with customers to optimize their workflows and improve productivity, reinforcing long-term customer relationships. We have long admired Mettler's business and purchased a small position during a brief period of price dislocation during the quarter."
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 48 hedge fund portfolios held Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) at the end of the second quarter, down from 50 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) 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.

#Equity #fund #weitz

Interested in Intuitive Surgical, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Global procedure growth remains intact despite a recent U.S. slowdown and Affordable Care Act-related uncertainty; Intuitive Surgical maintained its 13.5%–15.5% global procedure-growth outlook, expecting results near the midpoint.
Ambulatory surgery centers and international markets remain important expansion opportunities, with second-quarter system placements rising in the U.S. and abroad. However, China remains pressured by local competition and slower tenders, with improved visibility not expected until 2027.
Future growth could come from da Vinci 5 upgrades, Force Feedback instruments, new procedures and sites of care, and AI services such as Case Insights. The company also reported strong financial performance, including 21% revenue growth and operating and free-cash-flow margins above historical averages.
This AI ETF Is Missing the Biggest AI Winners

#affordable

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) is a leading animal-health diagnostics and technology company best known for providing veterinarians with diagnostic testing, laboratory services, software, and imaging solutions. Valued at a market cap of $45.7 billion, the company develops and supplies diagnostic instruments, test kits, software, and laboratory services that help veterinarians, farmers, and laboratories detect diseases and monitor animal health.
Companies worth between $10 billion and $200 billion are typically classified as "large-cap stocks," and IDXX fits the label perfectly. The company is widely recognized as a market leader in veterinary diagnostics, supported by strong brand recognition, a large installed base of diagnostic instruments across veterinary practices, and a recurring revenue model fueled by consumables and testing services. With its solutions used by veterinary practices in more than 175 countries, the company has built a strong global presence and a broad, highly recurring customer base.
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RKLB Stock Jumps as Rocket Lab Debuts New Solar Cell for ******* e

#Services #Stock #laboratories

On August 5, Cytek Biosciences (NASDAQ:CTKB) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, and the report reads like two different companies at once. Revenue climbed, margins widened, and the installed base of instruments kept expanding. At the same time, the net loss more than doubled from a year earlier and adjusted EBITDA swung negative. For a company selling hardware into cell ***** ysis labs, that split between growing revenue and growing losses is the story investors need to untangle.
Total revenue reached $48.1 million in the second quarter of 2026, up 6% from the second quarter of 2025, and the growth came from more than one source. Cytek expanded its installed base to 3,933 instruments as of June 30, 2026, adding 142 units in the quarter, and each new machine tends to pull in service and reagent sales over time. That dynamic already shows up in the numbers: recurring revenue from service and reagents hit $18.5 million in the quarter, and on a trailing 12-month basis it now makes up 35% of total revenue, up from 32% a year earlier.
Gross profit told a similar story, climbing 19% to $28.3 million, with GAAP gross margin rising to 59% from 52% and adjusted gross margin reaching 61% from 56%. Some of that lift came from a one-time tariff refund, but even stripped of it, adjusted gross margin still improved to 56%. Cytek also launched the Borealis, a 7-laser flow cytometer built for 60-color panels, and rolled out more automated configurations of its Aurora Evo line, giving the sales team new hardware to sell into the rest of 2026. Full-year revenue guidance moved up to a range of $207 million to $212 million, raising the midpoint by $1 million.
The same quarter that grew revenue also widened the losses. Operating expenses rose 15% year over year to $39.7 million, with general and administrative costs jumping 24% to $16.8 million because of litigation-related expenses, severance, and other personnel costs. R&D spending grew 10% to $9.7 million, and sales and marketing rose 9% to $13.2 million, so the increase was not confined to one line item. The loss from operations widened to $11.4 million from $10.6 million a year earlier, and net loss more than doubled to $12.2 million from $5.6 million.
Adjusted EBITDA, which strips out stock-based compensation and currency swings, swung to a $1.5 million loss from a positive $1.3 million a year earlier, after also adjusting for a write-off tied to an early-stage technology investment. The tariff refund that boosted this quarter's headline gross margin also means the underlying figures, 53% GAAP and 56% adjusted, are the more honest baseline going forward. Cash and marketable securities held roughly flat at $262.0 million as of June 30, 2026, down only slightly from $262.2 million three months earlier, so the balance sheet has not yet felt the strain.

#quarter #adjusted

On September 4, Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) said its energy and supercon technologies unit, Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies (or BEST), had struck a supply collaboration with Luvata Materials & Solutions to scale up production of RRP superconductors for magnetic confinement fusion. The deal lands right as governments and private developers from Europe to South Korea race to build fusion demonstration plants, and it comes a month after Bruker's core scientific instruments business showed its first real signs of stabilizing. Two very different stories are converging inside one stock.
The Luvata tie-up is not Bruker's first rodeo in fusion. BEST and Luvata previously supplied materials and expertise to ITER, the international fusion megaproject, and to the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, two of the most advanced superconducting plasma facilities ever built. Their RRP superconductors, wires built with the Rod-Restack Process to withstand field strengths between 12 and 20 Tesla, already run inside CERN's Large Hadron Collider and in ultra-high field NMR magnets. That track record matters now because fusion programs are ramping across Europe, the Americas, China, ***** an and South Korea, and Gauss Fusion has already begun evaluating RRP superconductors for its Gauss Industrial Demonstrator and GIGA power plant platform.
The segment is already delivering. On August 4, Bruker reported that BEST revenue climbed 11.9% year over year to $74.2 million in the second quarter, with organic growth of 8.9% net of intercompany eliminations, while first-half BEST revenue rose 12.3% to $141 million. That growth showed up in Bruker's bottom line too. Non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 14.1% from 9% a year earlier, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share grew to $0.49 from $0.32, results strong enough that management kept its full-year non-GAAP EPS growth target of 15% to 17% intact.
None of that shows up on a GAAP basis. Bruker's second-quarter GAAP operating results swung to a $65.3 million loss, versus $11.9 million of GAAP operating income a year earlier, dragged down largely by a $134.9 million non-cash goodwill charge. GAAP diluted earnings per share swung to a loss of $0.41 from a profit of $0.05, and for the first half of 2026 the company posted a GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.39. Impairments do not spend cash, but they are a reminder that some of what Bruker paid for in past acquisitions is now being written down.

#fusion

On September 4, Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) said its energy and supercon technologies unit, Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies (or BEST), had struck a supply collaboration with Luvata Materials & Solutions to scale up production of RRP superconductors for magnetic confinement fusion. The deal lands right as governments and private developers from Europe to South Korea race to build fusion demonstration plants, and it comes a month after Bruker's core scientific instruments business showed its first real signs of stabilizing. Two very different stories are converging inside one stock.
The Luvata tie-up is not Bruker's first rodeo in fusion. BEST and Luvata previously supplied materials and expertise to ITER, the international fusion megaproject, and to the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, two of the most advanced superconducting plasma facilities ever built. Their RRP superconductors, wires built with the Rod-Restack Process to withstand field strengths between 12 and 20 Tesla, already run inside CERN's Large Hadron Collider and in ultra-high field NMR magnets. That track record matters now because fusion programs are ramping across Europe, the Americas, China, **** an and South Korea, and Gauss Fusion has already begun evaluating RRP superconductors for its Gauss Industrial Demonstrator and GIGA power plant platform.
The segment is already delivering. On August 4, Bruker reported that BEST revenue climbed 11.9% year over year to $74.2 million in the second quarter, with organic growth of 8.9% net of intercompany eliminations, while first-half BEST revenue rose 12.3% to $141 million. That growth showed up in Bruker's bottom line too. Non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 14.1% from 9% a year earlier, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share grew to $0.49 from $0.32, results strong enough that management kept its full-year non-GAAP EPS growth target of 15% to 17% intact.
None of that shows up on a GAAP basis. Bruker's second-quarter GAAP operating results swung to a $65.3 million loss, versus $11.9 million of GAAP operating income a year earlier, dragged down largely by a $134.9 million non-cash goodwill charge. GAAP diluted earnings per share swung to a loss of $0.41 from a profit of $0.05, and for the first half of 2026 the company posted a GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.39. Impairments do not spend cash, but they are a reminder that some of what Bruker paid for in past acquisitions is now being written down.

#gaap #bruker #million #already

Andvari ****** ociates, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Andvari's portfolio has performed strongly in the quarter, highlighted by Constellation Software's 19.9% revenue growth and its plans to spend on acquisitions in 2026. The company is also focusing on AI tools to enhance productivity and customer relationships. However, the AI sector is experiencing extreme hype, leading to a growing disconnect between valuations and future cash flows. Predictions suggest the AI investment phase may decline in 1-3 years, despite current high demand for AI infrastructure, which is expected to attract significant competition. Concerns about overbuilding and risky financial behaviors, like Oracle's downgraded credit rating amid a $90-$95 billion AI cloud investment, reflect potential pitfalls. Andvari has minimized exposure to this sector, aiming to protect and grow ****** ets through disciplined investments in stable industries despite recent underperformance during the AI boom. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Andvari ****** ociates highlighted Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN), a semiconductor manufacturer providing chips and solutions for electronics designers and manufacturers. On September 02, 2026, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) closed at $254.80 per share. Over the past month, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) fell 8.48%, while its shares gained 36.05% over the past 52 weeks. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) has a market capitalization of $232.7 billion.
Andvari ****** ociates stated the following regarding Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"I also added Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN), which makes ****** og and power management chips. Texas Instruments and Martin Marietta might be getting a nice temporary ****** p in profits and revenues from helping build out AI infrastructure, but AI and data center-related revenues are by no means the majority of revenues for either of these two companies."
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 111 hedge fund portfolios held Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) at the end of the second quarter, up from 71 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) 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.

#andvari

Andvari **** ociates, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Andvari's portfolio has performed strongly in the quarter, highlighted by Constellation Software's 19.9% revenue growth and its plans to spend on acquisitions in 2026. The company is also focusing on AI tools to enhance productivity and customer relationships. However, the AI sector is experiencing extreme hype, leading to a growing disconnect between valuations and future cash flows. Predictions suggest the AI investment phase may decline in 1-3 years, despite current high demand for AI infrastructure, which is expected to attract significant competition. Concerns about overbuilding and risky financial behaviors, like Oracle's downgraded credit rating amid a $90-$95 billion AI cloud investment, reflect potential pitfalls. Andvari has minimized exposure to this sector, aiming to protect and grow **** ets through disciplined investments in stable industries despite recent underperformance during the AI boom. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Andvari **** ociates highlighted Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is a building materials company that supplies aggregates and heavy-side building materials to the construction industry. On September 02, 2026, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) closed at $517.07 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $36.72 billion. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) posted a one‑month return of ‑3.94%, while its shares lost 16.46% over the past 52 weeks.
Andvari **** ociates stated the following regarding Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"All this said, Andvari does have some exposure to the AI theme. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) one of the largest aggregates companies in the U.S., is also a minor beneficiary of the AI theme given robust construction activity in data centers and power generation. Texas Instruments and Martin Marietta might be getting a nice temporary **** p in profits and revenues from helping build out AI infrastructure, but AI and data center-related revenues are by no means the majority of revenues for either of these two companies."
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 67 hedge fund portfolios held Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) at the end of the second quarter, which was 65 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) 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

While Texas Instruments (TXN) doesn't always get the attention it deserves when it comes to relevance for the artificial intelligence boom, the semiconductor specialist — which focuses on ******* og chips and embedded processors — remains a pivotal cornerstone entity. Year-to-date, TXN stock is up nearly 47%. However, a recent downturn may be setting up a mean-reversion play.
To be sure, the print isn't very encouraging at the moment. In the past two months, TXN stock has lost roughly 15% of equity value. At the same time, the fundamental underpinning is vital for AI applications. Because AI servers and data centers consume massive amounts of electricity (and thus run extremely hot), they require specialized ******* og chips — that's where Texas Instruments fills the gap.
Unusually Heavy Volume in Snowflake Call Options Ahead of Earnings Today
Home Depot Bear Put Spread Could Return 181% in 45 Days
After Nvidia's Earnings Pop, Options Traders Set Their Sights on $260. What It Will Take to Get There.

#chips #Stock

By Karen Brettell
Sept 2 (Reuters) - Concerns over America's fiscal outlook are mounting. Long-dated Treasury yields are at their highest levels since 2007, while the national debt has surpassed $40 trillion.
It is not the first time Washington has faced an imposing financing challenge. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. can grow out of the debt. But history suggests ‌that when the Treasury cannot rely on the usual mix of investors, instruments and market conditions, it has also created new methods to raise funds.
Here are six financing challenges Washington tackled ‌and how it overcame them.
CREATE NEW BUYERS

#brettell #reuters

Sunnyvale, California-based Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care. Valued at $133.1 billion by market cap, the company offers endoscopes, endoscopic retractors and disectors, scissors, scalpels, forceps, needle holders, electrocautery, ultrasonic cutters, and accessories during surgical procedures.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and ISRG definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the medical instruments & supplies industry. Intuitive Surgical excels in robotic-assisted surgery with its gold-standard da Vinci system, backed by strong brand reputation, continuous R&D investment, and comprehensive surgeon training, driving user proficiency and patient outcomes.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
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#intuitive #dear

As central bankers gather for the 49th annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo., starting Thursday evening, Kansas City Fed president Jeff Schmid warned that the rise of innovation in payments from stablecoins to blockchain and instantaneous payments could be disruptive.
"I think we're going to find that not only is this, from an innovation standpoint, very transitional, it's going to be very disruptive too," Schmid said in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
The theme of this year's gathering focuses on financial innovation in payments and the implications for monetary policy.
"I think we need to prepare," Schmid said. "We're going to be talking in the next decade more about sources of liquidity and duration, maybe more than we talked about capital, because at the end of the day, that $5 [trillion] or $10 trillion that we move a day is going to over time become instantaneous, and that's going to be a change in the system at large."
If payments become instantaneous and settle instantaneously, Schmid wonders, how does that impact liquidity, and what's the nature of ******* ets backing the instruments?

#liquidity

Premium healthcare stocks often trade at elevated valuations for very different reasons. Thermo Fisher's (NYSE:TMO) investment case increasingly depends on whether the life sciences industry is emerging from its post-pandemic slowdown, while Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) continues to hold a dominant position in robotic surgery through factors such as its highly recurring revenue model. Both companies delivered encouraging quarters, but the market is asking different questions of each.
The key issue for investors in this scenario is which premium valuation is better supported by long-term fundamentals.
Thermo Fisher's (NYSE:TMO) investment case increasingly depends on whether life sciences spending is finally emerging from its post-pandemic slowdown. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s (NYSE:TMO) quarter suggests that the recovery in life sciences spending is becoming increasingly broad-based. Management highlighted improving customer activity across pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, while multiple operating segments returned to healthy growth. That broadening recovery is particularly important because earlier signs of improvement had been concentrated in bioprocessing, and stronger demand across multiple businesses suggests the recovery is becoming more durable.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s (NYSE:TMO) Life Sciences Solutions segment reinforced the recovery narrative. Reported revenue climbed 13% year over year, while organic revenue rose 3%, led by continued strength in the high-margin bioproduction business. Healthy demand in this segment suggests pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers continue investing in biologic drug manufacturing, supporting management's view that end-market conditions are improving.
Perhaps the biggest positive from the quarter was the recovery in **** ytical Instruments, a business that had faced weak demand for nearly two years as biotechnology funding slowed. Its return to growth provides another indication that laboratory spending is beginning to normalize.

#suggests

Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Madison Large Cap Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, U.S. stock market indices achieved their best performance since 2020, driven largely by a narrow group of Artificial Intelligence-related stocks. As in the pandemic's early days, investors are fixated on who will benefit from AI, reminiscent of the late 1990s internet bubble. Against this backdrop, The Madison Large Cap Fund (class I) returned 8.4% in the second quarter of 2026, compared to a 15.2% increase in the S&P 500 Index. The current market's extreme narrowness is concerning, and history suggests this won't persist. While AI is reshaping society and the economy, today's winners may not remain so, and booms could lead to busts. Additionally, factors such as a volatile federal administration, growing budget deficits, inflation, high interest rates, and strained consumer finances will significantly impact the economy and stock market in the future. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN), a semiconductor manufacturer providing chips and solutions for electronics designers and manufacturers. Representing 6.39% of the portfolio, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) contributed to performance this quarter. On August 19, 2026, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) closed at $267.45 per share. The one-month return of Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) was -6.30%, and its shares gained 33.05% over the past 52 weeks. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) has a market capitalization of $244.25 billion.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN), a global supplier of ******* og and embedded semiconductors, reported strong results and a good outlook due to the combination of strong end market conditions and accelerating demand for products used in datacenters."
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 71 hedge fund portfolios held Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) at the end of the first quarter, up from 78 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) 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.

#letter

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) provides life sciences solutions, ****** ytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services internationally. The company has a market cap of $217.5 billion and operates through four segments: Life Sciences Solutions, ****** ytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services.
Shares of Thermo Fisher have slightly lagged behind the broader market over the past year, surging 20.3% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 20.4% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has grown by nearly 1.5%, also underperforming SPX's 13.7% gain.
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#specialty

On August 6, 10x Genomics (NASDAQ:TXG) reported second-quarter revenue of $151 million, boosted by a $1.6 million settlement payment from Takara. Strip that out and revenue grew just 3% year-over-year to $149.4 million, a modest number next to the real headline of the quarter: a brand-new instrument platform called Atera, where booked orders have exceeded full-year planned shipments.
By the end of the second quarter, booked orders for Atera already exceeded the roughly 40 units 10x had planned to ship for all of 2026. Demand also showed up in Catalyst Research Services, the program that lets customers run samples on Atera in 10x's own lab before committing to buy a unit. Away from Atera, the existing consumables business kept growing, up 7% overall, with spatial consumables climbing 16% on continued strength in the Xenium platform. During the quarter, 10x acquired Proteintech Genomics, adding single-cell protein panels that management says will let Atera measure proteins alongside gene expression from the same cell.
The balance sheet backed up the story. Cash and marketable securities rose to $552 million, up $105 million from a year earlier, and gross margin expanded to 74% from 72%. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to a range of $610 million to $630 million. New research partnerships with Cleveland Clinic and Lausanne University Hospital, aimed at finding biomarkers of treatment response in oncology, point to where 10x hopes this technology eventually leads: clinical diagnostics.
The flip side of Atera's launch showed up in the instrument line. Total instrument revenue fell 47% year over year, with Chromium instruments down 46% and spatial instruments down 48%, as customers held off on buying older spatial systems while waiting for the new platform. Management expects that pause to continue, guiding for a sequential revenue step down in the third quarter before a bigger jump in the fourth. Even though booked Atera orders already exceed the year's full production plan, 10x kept its shipment target at about 40 units, weighted mostly toward the fourth quarter, a sign the company is still constrained on how fast it can build the machine.
Regionally, APAC revenue fell 19%, partly because customers in China had pulled purchases forward a year earlier ahead of anticipated tariffs. Operating expenses rose to $132.1 million from $95 million, though the comparison is skewed by a $40.7 million patent settlement gain booked in the prior year versus $3.4 million this year.

#year #quarter

A massive structural shift is on the way in financial markets, where artificial intelligence hardware could increasingly become collateral for securitized credit. During the August 11 episode of CNBC's Mad Money, host Jim Cramer detailed how major investment institutions are preparing to issue "compute bonds" backed by data center equipment, drawing direct parallels to established securitized credit markets.
Cramer opened his commentary by pointing out how Wall Street leadership, including Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, aligned with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang to champion data center ***** ets as long-lasting collateral:
Today, we're learning about the possibility of institutions offering compute bonds. This time, trading compute, that's a data center ***** et class, not unlike those securitizations in auto loans. There's Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, talking about the viability of the data center, long-lasting value of the chips in these warehouses full of servers. Then you had a series of ***** ans of finance talk about how logical the whole thing is. Then David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, piped up and pushed them too.
To digest the mechanics of these proposed instruments, Cramer highlighted that compute bonds operate under the exact same structural framework as mortgage-backed or auto loan securities:
What you didn't hear, or at least I didn't hear until I digested it, was that these would be securitizations, just like securities backed by home loans or auto loans. Hence the strong endorsement of Goldman's David Solomon who can see the logic… Now, you may be wondering, will these pieces of paper be backed by the full faith and credit of Jensen Huang and NVIDIA? That's very funny, but no. But neither are the securities based on auto loans or home loans. There's a construct at work here, though. There's a belief that the ***** ets don't depreciate quickly, if at all.

#backed #center #jensen

Long Cast Advisers, an independent registered investment adviser, released its Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy can be downloaded here. The firm reported strong earnings in the second quarter, with results improving 20%, bringing year-to-date returns to +19%. While performance trailed the Russell 2000 and iShares US MicroCap ETF, it remained well ahead of the iShares SmallCap EAFE (ex-N. Am) ETF. Since inception in 2015, ***** ulative returns stand at 343% (15% CAGR), reflecting the firm's strategy of concentrated, patient investments in small and micro‑cap companies. The firm remains cautious in this environment, emphasizing patience and endurance while avoiding margin and volatility. In addition, please check the firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Long Cast Advisers highlighted Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX). Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) is a global medical device company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells powered surgical instruments for medical device OEMs. On August 7, 2026, Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) closed at $65.56 per share. The one-month return of Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) was 7.88%, and its shares gained 72.87% over the past 52 weeks. Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) has a market capitalization of $209.32 million.
Long Cast Advisers stated the following regarding Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"In 2Q26, Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX), PESI and MTRX were the largest contributors. The PDEX pitch offered an attempt to quantify the anticipated incremental benefits to operations if Zimmer succeeds with the mBos robot commercialization (a corrected version of the slide is below). The milestones, prices and margins are all derived from public filings and we ***** ume four effectors per system sale, as an informed estimate.
Zimmer's purchase of Monogram last year included "contingent valuation rights" (CVRs) that pay out $3.41 / share in each year from 2028 to 2030 that mBos gross revenues exceed certain hurdles. Based on these estimates, we calculated the number of systems needed to achieve those revenues, and it triangulates to a capital sale in the range of ~$1M per machine, in line with the cost of Stryker's Mako platform. Stryker sold 860 units in its first three years, so the forecast 609 units to trigger the final CVR seems achievable. And even if the timing is wrong or our estimates imprecise, as long as the direction is right - and Zimmer is putting significant resources behind the launch - once the system launches, PDEX could experience an exceptional transformation in operating cash flow that would justify a substantially higher corporate value. This is why it remains a top position."

#long #cast #investor

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Both options and stocks can deliver quick profits amid substantial risk. Beyond that, these two trading instruments work very differently. Those differences affect your profit potential, loss exposure, and the skills you need to trade successfully. Here's what you need to know.
Option contracts are sold by option writers (sellers) to option holders (buyers). The price paid for the contract is called the premium. The contract itself gives the holder the right to buy or sell an underlying security at a stated price within a defined time frame. If the holder chooses to proceed with the transaction, called exercising the option, the writer must fulfill it.
Stock trading involves actively buying and selling ownership shares in a company. Once a stock trade is complete, the buyer and seller in the transaction have no further obligation to one another.
The table below outlines how stock trading differs from options trading in terms of ownership rights, capital required, risk, time horizon, and income potential.

#option #affect #Potential #price

Trading in ETFs has exploded over the past few years, as a new generation of investors has come to the market and the number of funds has multiplied, offering exposure to just about every strategy imaginable.

What's interesting, though, is that the most actively traded ETFs aren't necessarily the biggest. Case in point is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). It's the only fund to cross $1 trillion in ******* ets, yet it barely makes the top 10 in terms of daily dollar volume.

The fund that dominates trading is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which tracks the same index and was the largest ETF in the world for decades until VOO overtook it in 2025. It remains the runaway leader in activity, with almost $30 billion of the fund changing hands on Thursday.

The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), which follows the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100, is a juggernaut in its own right, with nearly $24 billion in dollar volume.
After QQQ there is a steep drop off, though tech remains popular. The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) was the third most actively traded fund, with $7.6 billion changing hands.

That is an enormous figure for a fund with only $22.5 billion in ******* ets, a sign that SOXL is a trading vehicle above all else. The same is true of the ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ), which traded $4.4 billion.

SOXL and TQQQ are leveraged instruments that traders use to get amplified exposure to tech, and to the AI trade in particular. But plenty of activity went into unleveraged semiconductor funds as well.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) each traded roughly $4 billion. The two funds track the chip stocks that have benefited most from the AI boom.

The bearish versions drew heavy volume too, with the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares (SOXS) and the ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) both landing in the top 20.

The chip theme extended overseas. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) traded $2.9 billion, and the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM), which is heavily weighted toward Korean names, traded $2.8 billion. Both cracked the top 15, a reflection of how central Korean memory makers have become to the AI story.
Outside of tech, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) stood out with $4.9 billion, far and away the most actively traded small-cap fund. Small caps have had a strong year, rising 23% against 14% for large caps.

On the fixed income side, the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD), at $3.4 billion, and the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT), at $2.3 billion, drew the most activity. Bonds have performed poorly this year amid expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise rates to fight resurgent inflation.

Gold remained a draw as well. The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), with $4.3 billion, and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), with $2.1 billion, both made the list, even though the metal has had a fairly tepid year.

A more surprising entrant in the top 20

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) returned to organic revenue growth in the second quarter, posted stronger bookings across its Scientific Instruments business, and maintained its earnings outlook while adjusting guidance for currency and tax changes.
Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) returned to organic revenue growth, with second-quarter revenue increasing 5.2% to $838.5 million.
Scientific Instruments bookings rose 10% organically, with a book-to-bill ratio above 1.0x, pointing to continued order momentum.
Non-GAAP EPS increased to $0.49 as operating margins improved despite a GAAP loss driven by a non-cash goodwill impairment charge.
Management updated its 2026 outlook for currency and tax impacts while maintaining expectations for double-digit non-GAAP EPS growth.

#bruker #scientific #instruments #returned