The Secret Winners in the AI Boom Nobody’s Talking About

2025-10-21 13:25:15 By Robert Davis

Key Points

  • Utilities as hidden AI winners: The explosive demand for electricity from AI data centers makes utilities prime beneficiaries, especially those near major hubs like Washington, Virginia, and emerging regions such as the Dakotas and Michigan.
  • Natural gas as key driver: Most of the new power supply will come from natural gas, with companies like EQT and pipeline operators such as Kinder Morgan positioned to benefit from rising demand.
  • Investor opportunities: Both large and regional utilities (e.g., Constellation, Duke, Southern, DTE, Black Hills) as well as natural gas providers and pipeline firms are expected to see long-term growth as AI drives massive infrastructure expansion.
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The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for electricity, positioning utilities as some of the biggest long-term beneficiaries. Companies serving major data hub regions like Washington, Virginia, and even smaller, cheaper land areas such as Michigan and the Dakotas are expected to see significant growth. Much of this demand will be met by natural gas, with EQT and pipeline operators like Kinder Morgan playing a central role in supplying and transporting energy. Rising reliance on natural gas could help stabilize electricity costs, though prices are still expected to climb over the next several years. For investors, this creates opportunities across both large and regional utilities, as well as natural gas producers and infrastructure firms that will power AI’s growth for the next decade. In this video, Doug and Lee discuss a few potential beneficiaries in the AI boom that aren’t being discussed as much as others, and what potential investors should look for if they hope to find hidden gems of their own.

Doug McIntyre:Lee, to me the hidden winners in the AI boom are the utilities, because the need for electricity is going to be off the charts. You can’t even imagine. I mean, Eric Schmidt, who used to run Google said that 99% of all the electricity in the world would be used by AI after 2030. So who do you like in this space over the course of the next few years?

Lee Jackson:Well, we’re big fans of Constellation and the stock has just been on fire. But any, any utility that is based near the huge hubs for AI data centers is gonna work. So like, it, it, there’s a huge concentration in the Washington DC and Alexandria, Virginia area of data centers. Well, anybody that serves that area, which can be Constellation or it can be Duke or Southern Company that are all in based kind of in the southeastern part of the country, but there’s all also Entergy will probably be a player. And then the company, strangely enough, like, up in, where they’re building up in places like where they were building shale moves are now becoming data centers up in North and South Dakota up through that region. And there’s, there’s smaller utilities based up there that are probably gonna get a big chunk of that business. So it typically, if you can look in areas where they’re building these gigantic centers, that’s where the utilities are gonna do good because they’re gonna have to use natural gas. They’re just not gonna come up with enough from other sources.

Doug McIntyre:This is also a pollution play, but I mean, I’ll give people an example of why they should look at big utilities everywhere in the country. There will be a data center built in, a small township in northern Michigan just came out. It’s in the middle of nowhere. But the land is cheap and they have access to electricity. But the fact of the matter is, is that any large utility in the United States is going to be in the AI data center, uh, business because there’s too much demand. Any place they can find land and electricity. I mean, as you know, they just are putting up one in Louisiana.

Lee Jackson:It’s huge, like a whole county.

Doug McIntyre:Musk has one that is in the close to nowhere in Tennessee. So don’t, if you’re looking at utilities, don’t just look at ones that are near big cities. These guys are looking for places that aren’t near big cities where there’s a lot of real estate, cheap and electricity.

Lee Jackson:Yeah. I think, and if I, if I would’ve researched this, so I think there’s one out in, in North and South Dakota. I think it’s Black Hills, I think it’s BKH is the symbol and they cover like the whole state because you know, north and South Dakota population for both states combined is probably what, a million? Two million? And if, if there’s one in up North Michigan, DTE probably does have that business. So that’s who Detroit Edison is, is the symbol. DTE. Yeah, I think it’s Black Hills or, you know, is, is in North Dakota and it’s, I think BKH and they’re a small one in that area. But yeah, any place like look and see where these companies are building and then you’re gonna find out which local electricity provider, and again, most of it’s gonna be nat gas and one stock that we do like, if you’re looking for the nat gas provider is EQT. They are the big players and the ones to own and they pay a small dividend. But EQT is expected to be the big natural gas player going forward.

Doug McIntyre:And their CEO said last week that people who are residential electricity customers should look for a 35% increase in their electricity bills over the next few years unless natural gas is what’s being used to provide the electricity. So it’s like it’s a play to the audience. If you don’t want your electricity bill to go up, then everybody should go back to natural gas. We know it’s not that clean, but it’s gonna make sure that you can still afford your electricity.

Lee Jackson:Well, yeah, and the, the good thing for American citizens is we can, we have more natural gas in the lower 48 and of course in Alaska than anybody. And the president has made, you know, drilling for more when he said drill, baby drill, now he’s talking about drill for gas, baby drill, because that’s where we need it. And gas is still cheap. Three, three and a three and a quarter, 3.50. But that could double over the next couple of years. But also, some of the other big players are the people that move the gas. You know, the MLPs that structure and the nice thing about most of them, um, Kinder Morgan is one, they have huge pipelines that move gas and they have contracts that are locked in for years. So if you wanna play natural gas and utilities, you can do Kinder Morgan, which is KMI. You can do EQT or buy the utilities or buy all the above, but you’re right, that’s gonna be a huge growth area for the next 10 years.

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This 1 ETF Outperformed the VOO 7-to-1 This Year

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Nvidia (NVDA) Investors Are Playing With Fire

-->-->Key PointsDoug McIntyre argues that Nvidia and AMD are overvalued, claiming their relationships with OpenAI—where Nvidia invests in OpenAI and OpenAI buys Nvidia’s chips—amount to questionable “revenue recognition” that could trigger scrutiny from regulators.Doug and Lee Jackson compare the situation to practices from the dot-com era, suggesting that today’s inflated AI valuations and circular investments resemble the “funny money” that fueled the early 2000s tech bubble.Both hosts warn that if the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the SEC challenges these accounting practices, it could lead to a significant market correction, particularly within the AI and semiconductor sectors.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.(Sponsor)-->-->Video Playerhttps://videos.247wallst.com/247wallst.com/2025/10/Nvidia.mp400:0000:0005:23Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Can it be that Nvidia is being extremely overvalued? In a recent podcast, Doug McIntyre discussed why he believes questionable financial arrangements could eventually catch up to them. Doug argues that by investing in OpenAI while openAI in turn buys Nvidia chips, a relationship between the two companies is artificially boosting revenue and misrepresenting the company’s financial health. Doug cites a Wall Street Journal report noting that OpenAI received warrants for up to $160 million AMD shares at just one cent per share, calling the deal “bogus” and potentially in violation of accounting standards. He says he has written to both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC, arguing that these transactions amount to “buying revenue.” Doug and Lee compare the situation to the early 2000s dot-com bubble, when companies inflated value through creative accounting and inter-company deals and express serious doubts that OpenAI’s valuation rivals ExxonMobil’s. Doug warns that if regulators challenge this behavior, it could spark a major correction similar to the 2001–2002 Nasdaq crash. Lee agrees, adding that money is simply being cycled between tech firms rather than generated through genuine business growth.Doug McIntyre:Lee, I think the value of Nvidia is overstated by maybe double AMD about the same. And here’s why. And I’ve seen some analysts write about this. This isn’t me just, you know, going off like a nut. It is not okay for Nvidia to invest money in OpenAI and for OpenAI to buy chips from them. Now I’m gonna read you the latest of these, because to me this one is maybe the, it looks like a good arrangement though. Listen to this. This is from the Wall Street Journal. Okay. OpenAI will receive warrants for up to $160 million AMD shares. Roughly 10% of the chip company or 1 cent a share.Lee Jackson:That’s a good deal.Doug McIntyre:Are there some bogies they have to hit? Yes, but I listen, I wrote just a few minutes ago to the Financial Accounting Standards Board, to their chairman and to the chairman of the SEC. I’m not the only person who thinks that this is bogus. This is basically buying revenue, you know, some of it balance sheet transaction, you know, if you look at. If you look over the p and l and the balance sheet and you put those down, you say, what’s the relationship between these two things? I’m telling you right now that that revenue recognition is bogus. 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Prediction: These 2 Stocks Will Split in 2026

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1 No-Brainer Stock-Split Stock to Buy With $2000

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5 Best Dividend Stocks in the S&P 500

Key PointsThese dividend stocks have blue-chip businesses.Their payout ratios are low and cash flows are reliable.Each stock is in a different sector and is a leading name.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.(Sponsor)Income investors rarely chase the loudest headlines. They look for companies that mail out checks, no matter what the talking heads predict for next quarter, and the S&P 500 is still the most convenient hunting ground for that kind of reliability.The index has been shifting more towards growth due to the mega-cap stocks doing extremely well over the past three years, and then being joined in by a new group of AI stocks that have ballooned into the top rankings. However, it also has some of the best dividend stocks you can find.The challenge is that the highest yields often sit on businesses whose earnings are shrinking faster than their share price, so a fat number on the screen can be a trap rather than a treat. The following five dividend stocks get you a greatyield that is both rising and sustainable.Realty Income (O)Realty Income (NYSE:O)is called “The Monthly Dividend Company” for good reason. It has been consistently returning cash to its shareholders while increasing the payout. The company is a real estate investment trust. Nevertheless, its clients are often stable retail companies that can weather downturns and keep growing.Realty Income has been able to declare 664 consecutive monthly dividends and is recognized as a Dividend Aristocrat stock for that long record.On top of that, Realty Income’s occupancy rate is among the highest in the REIT industry. Even in 2008, the occupancy rate stood at 97%. If it can pay dividends through the most intense recession to hit the real estate market in modern history, it can keep them rising during good times.You get a 5.39% dividend yield. The payout ratio is very sustainable at 75.45%.Verizon (VZ)Many would scoff atVerizon (NYSE:VZ)if it were portrayed as a good dividend stock two years ago. Today, the scenario has completely shifted. This telecom company had a boatload of debt on its balance sheet during one of the most aggressive periods of interest rate hikes, but managed to keep dividends flowing.Now, as interest rate cuts go down and the AI rally becomes the market’s main focus, VZ stock is becoming a very lucrative opportunity. Its stock has traded sideways year-to-date, but interest rate cuts directly help the company’s bottom line, plus the AI build-out is leading to more demand for Verizon’s extensive infrastructure.I expect VZ stock to follow in the footsteps ofAT&T (NYSE:T)stock in the coming quarters.In the meantime, you get a 6.85% forward dividend yield that has grown for 21 consecutive years. The icing on the cake is that Verizon’s dividend payout ratio is just 57.66%. As debt servicing eases, Verizon will be left with even more room for dividend hikes.Duke Energy (DUK)Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK)is a big electric and gas company that keeps the lights on and the gas flowing for its 7.5 million electric customers and 1.6 million gas customers across six states, mainly in the Southeast and Midwest.It’s one of the best dividend stocks you can buy in the current environment, thanks to tariffs plus interest rate cuts. Lower Treasury yields are making the 3.32% forward yield increasingly juicier when you consider the rate base growth.It has a 5-year CapEx plan of $87 billion to boost growth and margins, with regulators being wooed to approve better rates in exchange for those investments in their states.Furthermore, the Trump-2 admin wants “energy dominance” and is expediting transmission projects to keep up with demand from AI data centers.The payout ratio is 66.45%, and the company has had 14 consecutive years of dividend growth on record.Coca-Cola (KO)Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)is a no-brainer pick for any portfolio of blue-chip dividend stocks. This company is often the first that comes to mind when you think about dividend payers with lasting power. Coca-Cola’s presence is worldwide, and the moat is too strong to ever crack.KO stock has been on a consistent trajectory for the past two decades. In all likelihood, the next two decades will bring more of the same, which is exactly what you want if you plan to buy, reinvest, and snowball your dividend investments.It also acts as a ballast for your portfolio due to how defensive the business is. Having a Coke after every meal is a habit not many people can give up on.You get a 2.86% dividend yield with a payout ratio of just 16.33%, meaning there’s massive room for significant payout hikes. There are 62 consecutive years of dividend growth on record.Merck (MRK)Merck (NYSE:MRK)makes and sells prescription medicines and vaccines. The company’s financial footing is strong, and you get a great buying opportunity today, as MRK stock trades at a 33%-plus discount from early 2024.Investors are increasingly concerned about the impending patent expiration of KeytrudaGardasil sales have also declined in China, and the guidance given in Q4 2024 for this year was disappointing.Merck is preparing prematurely by accelerating drug development, with a pipeline of 20 “potential new blockbuster drugs… could generate over $50 billion in future revenue”. Plus, its ADC platform is turning out to be a significant growth driver.This is a quality name, and analysts expect 16.25% EPS growth in 2025. That’s along with sales growing 1% this year and accelerating growth to 4.88% next year.You get a 3.7% forward dividend yield with a payout ratio of just 41.36%. There have been 14 consecutive years of dividend growth.If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Answer a Few Simple Questions. 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Wall Street Insiders Are Loading Up on These 3 Stocks

-->-->Key PointsInsiders have been buying these three stocks recently.The volume and the number of buys are unusually high.The management of these companies likely see more upside ahead.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.(Sponsor)-->-->People don’t like to throw money into a sinking ship, and by that logic, insider buys in Wall Street can be an easy way to gauge how well a company might do in the coming quarters. An “insider buy” is the legal purchase of a company’s stock by its own executives, directors, or major shareholders.These buys are considered legal if they areproperly disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The public can freely view these insider trades. Research shows that insider purchase patterns are often good signals for buying and selling, with stocks that have insider buying outperforming the overall market by 6% to 10.2% per year.As such, it pays to look into stocks with a high number of insider buys. Here are three such stocks:Scholar Rock Holding (SRRK)Loading stock data...Scholar Rock (NASDAQ:SRRK)is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for diseases where protein growth factors play a central role. It does not yet have commercial products. It generates revenue primarily through collaboration and licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical partners.The company’s Director Srinivas Akkaraju made three buys of the stock in early October, all filed this Tuesday. His first buy was worth $14.44 million, followed by two more worth $697.71k and $3.67 million, respectively. He is a non-employee director but has deep biotech credentials.This is a very strong vote of confidence, as previous insider trades have been planned and pre-announced sales from other officers and directors.The likely rationale comes from Phase 3 SAPPHIRE data showing apitegromab improved motor milestones in a statistically significant way. Approval is possible in both Europe and the U.S. next year.This could push the stock up even higher.CarMax (KMX)Loading stock data...CarMax (NYSE:KMX)is America’s largest used-car retailer.It operates CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (CAF). The company also wholesales trade-ins via on-site auctions, sells extended-service plans, and performs reconditioning and repair work.KMX stock has been in a rather sorry state since 2021. It went through a significant decline from late 2021 to late 2022 that more than halved KMX’s value. It was on a sustained recovery from then to early 2025.This year, it has again entered into a second phase of selloffs, with the stock down 45% year-to-date.Insiders are betting against the trend. Director Oneil Mark F bought $499.81k worth of shares on the 2nd of October. The same day, Director Steenrod Mitchell D bought $91.14k worth of shares.Earlier this year, CarMax withdrew its long-term unit-growth algorithm, “citing a lack of clarity,” which the Street read as “we don’t know how low this cycle goes.”But these insider buys show that management sees light at the end of the tunnelInventories have come down from $3.94 billion at the start of the year to $3.15 billion in the most recent quarter. Plus, the Federal Reserve’s rate cut in September and two more planned rate cuts this year can give the company a surprisingly fast snap-back in 2026-27.If you can tolerate 6 to 12 months of choppy numbers, the risk is worth the eventual payoff.Sportsman’s Warehouse (SPWH)Loading stock data...Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings (NASDAQ:SPWH)is a specialty retailer focused on outdoor recreation gear. The company operates a chain of stores across the United States offering a one-stop shopping experience for hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting enthusiasts.There has been a flurry of insider buying activity in the past week. Director Mcbee Richard D bought $61.75k of the stock on October 2, along with CEO Stone Paul buying $20.42k of the stock. The next day, Paul bought $167.94k more, with Director Tucci Michael D joining in by buying $140.5k worth of SPWH.The insiders seem to be betting that the worst of the margin squeeze and liquidity scare is behind SPWH, the new merchandising strategy is taking hold, and the shares discount an outcome far worse than they now expect.The stock seems to have bottomed and is up 219% from its trough. It is a penny stock, so multibagger returns are possible if management can keep executing.If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:Answer a Few Simple Questions. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Choose Your  Fit Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of.Get started today! (sponsor)

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2 Mid-Cap Growth Stocks Dan Loeb Bought Up Last Quarter

SharkNinja(NYSE:SN) andPrimo Brands(NYSE:PRMB) are two stocks Dan Loeb of Third Point, who is one of my favorite professional money managers to follow closely, recently purchased.Just look underneath the hood of his portfolio, and you can see some very interesting names, many of which have impressive growth runways and reasonable (or perhaps unreasonably depressed) valuations. Perhaps most intriguingly, Loeb’s fund has some mid-cap gems, which might be a source of outsized long-term gains.-->-->Key PointsDan Loeb and Third Point made some interesting moves in the second quarter. Investors might wish to follow their coattails.SN and PRMB stand out as low-cost mid-cap hidden gems for value investors looking to diversify further.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.(Sponsor)-->-->SharkNinjaSharkNinja, has a relatively interesting name and one that growth investors should familiarize themselves with, given its disruption potential in the kitchen and around the home. The company makes home appliances and various other handy products under the Shark and Ninja brands. Even if you’ve never heard of the stock, you might already have a Shark or Ninja product in your closet or kitchen.Now, SharkNinja is more than just a maker of vacuums and kitchen goods; it’s more of a technology firm that thrives at finding new ways to do things better. Whether that involves cleaning, cooking, or something else, SharkNinja designs products with customer feedback in mind.The company’s tech and consumer-focused approach has been a success, to say the least. Just look at the stock, which has more than doubled in the last two years despite the more recent 22% correction in shares. I think the latest dip is nothing more than a buying opportunity as the firm unlocks the power of reviews by actively listening and revisiting the drawing board if needed.Like a shark or a ninja, the company is agile and able to adapt to changing consumer tastes and preferences. At 25.7 times trailing price-to-earnings (P/E), the $13.7 billion firm stands out as a cheap growth play to keep tabs on. With the firm teaming up with Kevin Hart and David Beckham, I do think SharkNinja is entering a golden age of growth as brand awareness looks to kick things up a few notches.Primo BrandsBet you’ve probably never heard ofPrimo Brands, formerly Primo Water, a Canadian-American firm in the business of bottled water. Whether we’re talking about hydrating the entire office with the company’s dispensers or consumer-facing brands such as Pure Life, Poland Springs, or Arrowhead, Primo is a hidden gem in the bottled water scene.Of late, things have been quite leaky for shares of Primo, which are down over 30% so far this year. Indeed, water sales have been under pressure of late, but with a strong portfolio of brands and stickiness in its subscription business, I think the latest dip is more than buyable.As more consumers turn away from sugary sodas and towards healthier beverage options (it doesn’t get much healthier than water), I suspect the long-term trend will be a friend of Primo. In the meantime, there’s a lot of work for management to do as they drive further efficiencies across the business. The $8 billion bottled water play may not be exciting, but it does have highly predictable cash flows. And with a mere 11.8 times forward P/E multiple, perhaps it’s not a mystery why Third Point was a buyer in the second quarter. Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.Here’s how it works:1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.

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SPY Got Beat 3-To-1 By This ETF This Year

-->-->Key PointsThe S&P 500 has performed well this year.However, some ETFs have still trounced its gains.This one ETF is “boring” in nature but is outperforming even most tech stocks.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.(Sponsor)-->-->iShares Gold Trust ETF (NYSEARCA:IAU)had significantly outperformedSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY)this year. While SPY has posted impressive gains of nearly 15% year-to-date—making this a stronger-than-average year for the S&P 500 with almost three months remaining—gold spot prices have made iShares Gold Trust a better investment so far in 2025. A new gold rush is brewingSpot gold prices have been explosive this year and have trounced even big-name tech stocks likeNvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)year-to-date. For the long-term, cost-conscious investor, iShares Gold Trust ETF  is a great bet. It has $61.5 billion in total assets and low fees at just 0.25%, or $25 per $10,000.Loading stock data...Each share of IAU constitutes a fractional undivided interest in physical gold held in secure vaults by JPMorgan Chase Bank as the custodian. The gold is allocated, meaning it is specifically identified and held in the name of the trust.It’s ideal for investors who want direct gold price exposure without the hassle of buying, storing, or insuring bullion.IAU may not even be at its peak potential, as trends say that gold is set to continue going up. As of this writing, gold broke through $4,000/oz. Two years ago, this was a fantasy.Why a gold surge can continue for yearsThere is a “perfect storm” underway for the yellow metal. First, the Federal Reserve is restarting interest rate cuts, with one already going through last month. Two more rate cuts are expected by the end of this year. Each tick lower in real yields automatically makes non-coupon gold more attractive as it lowers the opportunity cost for holding growth.Second, the U.S. dollar has softened significantly this year. This translates over into a higher price and then demand for gold. Central banks worldwide are expected to buy over 1,000 tonnes of gold in 2025 in a bid to diversify away from dollar-heavy reserves. Central banks have bought over 1,000 tonnes of gold for three consecutive years.On top of that, geopolitical fog, tariffs, and a U.S. government shutdown and hot conflicts in two regions have revived gold’s oldest use-case: the asset you own when nothing else feels safe.Reserve diversification is a multi-year theme, mine supply is flat despite the price incentive, and recycling flows have actually fallen as consumers hold old jewellery in anticipation of even higher quotes. Add the fact that global debt-to-GDP is still rising and real yields are still modest, and the floor under bullion looks more solid than usual.Can IAU keep trouncing the SPY?Analysts are constantly upping their price targets to follow the uptrend. UBS says $4,200 by year-end, with some having their price targets at $4,500 or more. Goldman Sachs says $5,000 next year. This implies a 25% gain from here, something that the S&P 500 is unlikely to match.For holders of IAU, the implication is that the ETF may still be in the early innings of a structural repricing rather than the late stages of a cyclical burst.Gold can and likely will correct sometime in the future, but holding cash and waiting for it to happen is not a smart idea today.If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)

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Stock Market Live October 9: Delta Earnings Beat Helps Lift S&P 500 (VOO)

-->-->Key PointsThe U.S. government remains shutdown for a ninth straight day on Thursday.Delta Air Lines says the shutdown isn’t affecting its operations — yet — and Q3 earnings beat expectations.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; get started by clicking here.(Sponsor)-->-->Live UpdatesLive Coverage Has EndedGet The Best Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Live Earnings Coverage Like This Every QuarterGet earnings reminders, our top analysis on Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, market updates, and brand-new stock recommendations delivered directly to your inbox.Click Here - It's Free Thank you for subscribing! Keep an eye on your email for updates. By providing your email address, you agree to receive communications from us regarding website updates and other offerings that may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.Thursday Wrap-upOct 9, 2025 4:05 PMLive The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF closed Thursday at 617.10, down 0.3%.Inititating on OracleOct 9, 2025 11:24 AMLivePhillip Securities initiated coverage on S&P 500 componentOracle(NYSE: ORCL) stock with a buy rating and a $350 price target this morning.Oracle is a “niche Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and full-stack AI provider,” notes the analyst. Its backlog of future work surged 359% in fiscal Q1 2026, and could reach $144 billion by fiscal 2030 — a 68% compound annual growth rate over four years — powered by “partnerships with major clouds providers and chipmakers [to] support AI training, inference, and database integration, driving 55% YoY infrastructure growth and positioning Oracle for long-term recurring revenue.”Oracle stock is up 3.5% on the new buy rating. The Voo is down 0.3%.United Loves to Fly to Europe (and it Shows)Oct 9, 2025 10:08 AMLiveCircling back to airlines news, Delta rival and fellow S&P 500 componentUnited Airlines(Nasdaq: UAL) announced today it’s opening up nonstop flights from its East Coast hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to a handful of smaller European cities — Bari, Italy; Split, Croatia; and Santiago de Compostela, Spain.Air industry analysts interpret United’s move as a response to Delta’s opening nonstop flights to Malta and Sardinia last month. Whatever the reason, it’s already paying off for United, whose stock is up more than 4% today.Conversely, the Voo has turned around and nosedived to a 0.1% loss. Win some, lose some…Tilray Surprisingly Loses No MoneyOct 9, 2025 9:42 AMLiveBeyond the big S&P 500 companies, Tilray(Nasdaq: TLRY) also reported earnings this morning. Analysts were expecting the marijuana company to lose $0.04 per share, but Tilray says it instead broke even with $0 earned, $0 lost in its fiscal Q1 2026.Revenue for the quarter also exceeded estimates at $209.5 million, and Tilray reaffirmed its non-GAAP guidance for “Adjusted EBITDA” of $62 million to $72 million in fiscal 2026.Tilray stock is up more than 14% on the news. The Voo is now up 0.6%.This article will be updated throughout the day, so check back often for more daily updates.TheVanguard S&P 500 ETF(NYSEMKT: VOO) set a new all-time high on Wednesday, rising 0.6% to close at 618.77. Even as the U.S. government remains stubbornly shut down for an ninth straight day, the market continues to inch higher Thursday, up 0.5% premarket.Helping the market today is a positive earnings forecast fromDelta Air Lines(NYSE: DAL), which forecast today that it will earn between $1.60 and $1.90 per share in Q4, better than the $1.65 per share that analysts were predicting.CEO Ed Bastian warned that if the government shutdown drags on too long, it’s likely to affect his company, and the airline industry in general — and the economy. For the time being, however, Delta’s boss confirms that he hasn’t seen “any impacts at all” on Delta’s business.Commenting on reports yesterday that a handful of airports are starting to see an uptick in flight delays, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agreed that he’s seen a “slight uptick” in air traffic controllers, who are currently working without pay, calling in sick rather than coming to work, and that this could affect flight operations, causing delays.EarningsBut getting back to earnings at Delta, which is an S&P 500 component company, Delta reported its Q3 numbers this morning, which were $0.18 better than expected at $1.71 per share. Revenue was $15.2 billion, also better than expected.Taken in conjunction with the Q4 guidance, and the full-year guidance for a better than expected $6 per share for fiscal 2025, Delta’s report was positive on all fronts, and the stock is up more than 7% premarket.A second big S&P 500 component,PepsiCo(Nasdaq: PEP), also reported good profits this morning. Q3 earnings at Pepsi “beat” by three cents at $2.29 per share, with revenue also ahead of forecasts at $23.9 billion.Pepsi stock us up less than 1% premarket.Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Here’s how it works: 1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz 2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles. 3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.Get Live Earning Updates on Vanguard S&P 500 ETFNever miss important earnings news. Get real-time updates delivered directly to your inbox. We'll also deliver our top stock recommendations and weekly market udpates. Signup -- It's Free Thank you for subscribing! Keep an eye on your email for updates. By providing your email address, you agree to receive communications from us regarding website updates and other offerings that may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.

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Two Income ETFs Outperforming the S&P 500 This Year

I’m generally not a fan of chasing returns, whether they be in individual stocks or in mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs). However, I also know that investors look for above-market returns, and want to at least check out the funds that outperformed broader indexes to see what companies these funds are invested in, and why there’s some sort of outperformance differential. -->-->Key PointsCreating passive income via investing in ETFs can seem like a good idea, but many don’t beat benchmarks like the S&P 500.Here are three that have, and why they look like buying opportunities here.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.(Sponsor)-->-->To be honest, I’m a creature of curiosity as well, so this is one educational exercise I thought I’d dive into to provide some value to readers as well. I’m looking for income-focused ETFs that have outperformed the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis (I put the end of September as the cut off date, for simplicity’s sake). As of Sep. 30, the S&P 500 produced a year-to-date return of around 14.5%, so let’s dive into three income ETFs that managed to beat this benchmark and why. Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF (TGLR)Loading stock data...One ETF I haven’t touched on in the past, but which has clearly been a winner thus far this year, is the Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF (TGLR). Shares of TGLR are up more than 20% at the time of writing, providing investors with a spread of around 6% over and above the performance of the benchmark S&P 500 index. What’s impressive about this performance is the fact that the Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF is concentrated on large-cap U.S. stocks. Given the high concentration of mega-cap stocks within the S&P 500 (indices are typically weighted by market capitalization), one might expect to see much more consistent performance. Now, both funds do provide investors with very high correlation to the same assets. But for a fund like TGLR that has an even more aggressive size and quality tilt, one can expect to see outperformance and underperformance, depending on the point in the market cycle we’re in. For those who think this rally can continue, and want to invest in an ETF that uses a 12-factor model to pick stocks on the basis of valuation and dividend potential, this is a great way to go. Franklin U.S. Core Dividend Tilt ETF (UDIV)Loading stock data...Another top dividend-focused ETF which managed to beat the market (excluding its dividend yield of 1.5%, still higher than the S&P 500’s) is the Franklin U.S. Core Dividend Tilt ETF (UDIV). This ETF is up approximately 15.5% this year, driven by strong growth seen in the a wide range of sectors.Unlike the other ETFs on this list that have tilted their portfolios more aggressively toward tech stocks, UDIV has a more balanced and moderate portfolio of a range of companies in varying industries. Now, these companies clearly have outsized growth potential, or this fund would not have beaten the overall S&P 500 since the beginning of the year. But I also think this fund’s core holdings having higher dividend yields than other comparable income ETFs does signal a trend which could be coming to the surface – more investors want to own income-paying equities as interest rates come down.For investors who think the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again, this is a top ETF to consider right now. At least, that’s my view. ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Artistocrats ETF (TDV)Loading stock data...Last, but certainly not least on this list of income ETFs that have outperformed the broader market is the ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Aristocrats ETF (TDV). This ETF has posted a year-to-date performance of around 16.5%, so investors in this fund have had even better of a run than those in SPY, at least thus far in 2025.That shouldn’t make too many investors confused, since this ETF is almost entirely tech focused. As is the case with other market-beating funds, it’s really impossible to beat the S&P 500 without being even more overweight tech than the broader index. That’s the case here, with the TDV ETF tracking the S&P 500 Technology Dividend Aristocrats, a group of companies that have maintained dividends for at least seven years. What’s interesting about this fact is that many of the “Magnificent 7” and similar mega-cap tech stocks either don’t pay a dividend, or haven’t for seven years. Thus, the quality of companies within this portfolio, and the selection process behind the scenes does appear to be world-class. If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)

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