Top 50 Stocks

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Intuitive Surgical

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Intuitive Surgical

Today’s Quick Pick is Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). While 2024 was a good year for the market, it wasn’t so great for the healthcare. The sector was down about .04%. Moderna was down 60%, CVS Health was down 50% and Walgreens was down 55%–but there were a few big winners. Intuitive Surgical, maker of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, was the best performing healthcare stock in 2024. The stock went up 54.7% in 2024 and it’s gone up another 11.7% so far in 2025. At the moment, Morningstar says the stock is trading at 67% premium, with a high PE of around 80, so I’d suggest waiting to buy on a dip. I like this company because it’s growing revenue steadily, around 10% a year. I believe there is a good chance at getting a substantial market dip in 2025, and if that happens, take a look at this great long-term, steady performer in the healthcare sector. The stock has been a member of my long-term 50 Stocks Portfolio since January 28, 2019. the shares are up 257% since then as of the close on February 10.

AMD’s drop on huge revenue growth exemplifies risks in the tech sector

Yesterday, February 4, after the close of trading Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported record revenue growth for the fourth quarter. The chipmaker even reported growth in market share at the expense of rival Intel (INTC).
Yet in after-hours reading the stock dropped 8.80%. Today’s regular session confirmed the tumble with a 6.27% tumble. The problem for AMD, revenue growth in the company’s data center unit, which competes in the market for AI chips with Nvidia (NVDA) revenue slowed. The problem for the tech sector as a whole, and especially AI stocks, is that the dip in the growth rate for data center revenue was to a “disappointing” 69% rate. That’s only disappointing in comparison to the a year-over-year growth rate of of 122% that the company reported for the third quarter of 2024. This raises the important question for AI and tech stocks: Are current valuations for the stocks predicated on unachievable exceptions for extraordinarily high growth rates for unrealistically long time periods?

Saturday Night Quarterback Part 2, on a Sunday says, For the week ahead expect…

Saturday Night Quarterback Part 2, on a Sunday says, For the week ahead expect…

This week its earnings, earnings, and earnings. From the tech giants and more. This week, we’ll discover three things. First, are tech company earnings as good as the market clearly expects. I think that with the exception of Apple (AAPL) and Tesla (TSLA) the answer will be Yes. Second, how much of this good news is already priced into the recent rally. These stocks could retreat even on news that’s as good as expected. An advance will, I think, require a surprise or two. And, third, how worried is Wall Street really, given the recent boom in all things AI, about capital spending at the big AI companies and falling profit margins.

Nvidia to get pop from CES and Huang keynote

Nvidia to get pop from CES and Huang keynote

Last year, Nvidia’s stock experienced a 16% increase over the 10 days following the beginning of the huge Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This year Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver the opening keynote speech at 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas time. (That’s 9:30 New York time.) I’d expect a couple of volatile days for Nvidia shares following Huang’s talk.

Palo Alto Networks beats on earnings, but it’s not enough

Palo Alto Networks beats on earnings, but it’s not enough

Shares ofPalo Alto Networks (PANW) fell 5.32% in after-hours trading today, November 20. The company reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter after the market close. Non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.56 beat analyst estimates by $0.08. Revenue of $2.14 billion, an increase of 13.8% year-over-year, beat by $20 million. But it wasn’t enough for a stock that trades at 54 times trailing 12-month earnings per share.

Nvidia to get pop from CES and Huang keynote

With stocks looking stalled, Nvidia reports after the close on Wednesday

NVIDIA (NVDA) will release its third quarter results after the market closes on Wednesday. Analysts are forecasting over 80% year over year growth in both revenue and EPS. Several Wall Street firms have raised their price targets on Nvidia ahead of its earnings report, citing strong demand for AI chips and the potential for upside surprises. Analysts from HSBC, Oppenheimer, Susquehanna, Wedbush, Raymond James, and Mizuho have increased their price targets, with HSBC setting the highest at $200. The stock closed at $140.15 on Monday, November 18. On the other hand…

Pick #7 CNH Industrial for my Special Report “10 new stock ideas for an old rally”

Pick #7 CNH Industrial for my Special Report “10 new stock ideas for an old rally”

Today I added CNH Industrial (CNH) as Pick #7 for my Special Report “10 new stock ideas for an old rally.” I also added the stock to my Jubak Picks Portfolio. Here’s what I wrote:
I like farm equipment maker CNH Industrial for the same reason I own Deere (DE) in my long-term 50 Stocks Portfolio. In the long term the world’s farmers are facing a huge challenge: produce more food as an increasingly chaotic climate makes growing stuff harder and harder. One important piece of the solution is a new generation of intelligent farm equipment that uses artificial intelligence to guide everything from when to plant to when to fertilize. At the moment, though, I like CNH more on price. CNH, the #2 farm equipment maker, is invitingly attractive because it is so cheap, absolutely and in comparison to Deere.