Good or bad news? AI spending boom continues this quarter

Good or bad news? AI spending boom continues this quarter

No slowdown on plans for AI capital spending in earnings results this past week from Big Tech. Alphabet/Google (GOOG) said it was increasing what it planned to spend on A.I. data center projects this year by $6 billion, after spending nearly $64 billion over the past nine months. Microsoft (MSFT) said it had spent $35 billion in its latest quarter, $5 billion more than it had told investors to expect just a few months ago.
Amazon (AMZN) said it would be “very aggressive” in adding more data centers and would spend $125 billion this year-— and even more next year. Meta Platforms (META) raised its spending forecast to at least $70 billion by the end of the year, which would be nearly double what it spent last year. The stock market reaction wasn’t unalloyed joy. Investors seemed generally positive on spending plans from Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon. And skeptical of Meta’s strategy and spending.

Tariffs made us do it: Walmart says it will almost certainly raise prices; that’s really bad news for other retailers

Tariffs made us do it: Walmart says it will almost certainly raise prices; that’s really bad news for other retailers

Walmart warned Thursday that price increases look certain–possibly within weeks–even after President Donald Trump announced a deal to reduce tariffs on Chinese exports to “just” 30%.

“We’re positioned to manage the cost pressure from tariffs as well or better than anyone, but even at the reduced levels, the higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon said

Tech stocks face high earnings hurdle

Tech stocks face high earnings hurdle

This week’s quarterly earnings reports from Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META) and Amazon.com (AMZN) face high earnings expectations from Wall Street analysts. Analysts expect the Magnificent Seven-—which also includes Alphabet (GOOG), Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (MVDA)-—to deliver an average of 15% earnings growth in 2025. That expectation has barely budged since the start of March despite the uncertainty of the Trump tariffs. The four megacaps reporting this week collectively have a nearly 20% weighting in the Standard & Poor’s 500.

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Amazon

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Amazon

Today’s Quick Pick is Amazon.com (AMZN)–despite the current tariff panic. While the stock is down due to the broad market sell-off and concerns over tariffs impacting its supply chain, I believe Amazon’s size and logistical power will help it mitigate these challenges. The company can pressure suppliers, adjust pricing algorithms, and shift sourcing to keep costs lower than competitors, potentially gaining an edge as inflation rises. Though these advantages may not be evident in the upcoming April earnings report, I expect Amazon to emerge stronger in the long term, making it a compelling buy once the market shifts from indiscriminate selling to evaluating winners and losers.

Apple delays Siri AI, falls further behind in AI market

Apple delays Siri AI, falls further behind in AI market

Apple (AAPL) has confirmed that it’s delaying the release of a new AI Siri digital assistant. The company now expects to roll out the software sometime “in the coming year.” The effort will give Siri “more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps,” the iPhone maker said in a statement. “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features.” Apple’s struggles to finish the new AI capability for Siri has been a one secret for the last month or so after Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on the delay. The Siri AI features were first touted in June 2024 at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference. When Apple announced the features at WWDC, it didn’t provide an arrival date for the Siri upgrade, Gurman reported. Within the company, though, the plan was to include the new technology in iOS 18.4, which comes out in April.

Good or bad news? AI spending boom continues this quarter

Special Report: 10 stock picks for the 3 hottest sectors in 2025–and when to buy them: Part 1 AI

In 2025 you will want your portfolio fully weighted toward AI, ENERGY, and WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG stocks.
Not just any stock in those sectors, of course. All three sectors will be full of surprises and they won’t play out the way the conventional wisdom now believes. Some stocks in these sectors will do just okay as a rising tide lifts all boats. But some stocks will be GREAT. These winners could be the foundation for another great year for your portfolio. In fact, I expect that 2025 will be a tough year for an investor to make money even if stocks do finish higher. That’s because the year will be filled with more than the usual twists and turns designed make you sell on fear just when you should be holding on or even buying more. And don’t think that the year won’t include more than one of those moments rallies designed to suck you in at the top because–well, because you fear missing out. Yes, FOMO, fear of missing out will be alive and well in 2025. To do well in 2025, you’ll have to not only pick the hot trends, but also understand when that trend is about to zig zag and which stocks you’ll want to ride through all the noise and chaos. Giving you what you need for profits in 2025vis what this Special Report: 10 stock picks for the hottest sectors of 2025 is all about.And there’s no better sector to demonstrate the challenges of 2025 than Artificial Intelligence, the first of my hottest sectors for 2025. (The next two hot trends, energy and weight-loss drugs will follow in the next few days.)

Updated Special Report “11 Trump winners and 5 Harris/Trump losers”–first loser picks after Trump’s win

Updated Special Report “11 Trump winners and 5 Harris/Trump losers”–first loser picks after Trump’s win

When I posted the previous version of this Special Report back on September 30, I wrote: “I don’t know which candidate will win the election. Right now the polls are within the margin of error on the national level–and even tighter in the seven battleground states that will likely decide the election. But I do know the results on November 5 will move stocks. Some right off the bat even before the results are certified. And more significantly as a new administration clarifies its policy views and takes office.” That has changed just a bit with last night’s victory by Donald Trump. We do know who won and will be the President come January 20. And we do know whose policies will move stocks and the financial markets in general. So let’s see if I can bring my picks and strategic advice up to date.

Saturday Night Quarterback (on a Sunday) says, For the week ahead expect…

Saturday Night Quarterback (on a Sunday) says, For the week ahead expect…

The week will bring Big Tech earnings reports and more earnings reports. All capped on Friday with the October jobs report, the last one before the November 7 meeting of the Federal Reserve on interest rates. (Which means that the Fed will be in its blackout period before the meeting–so no Fed speeches.) And, just for good measure, third quarter GDP figures are due Wednesday, October 30, and PCE inflation numbers are scheduled for Thursday, October 31.