Its shares have pulled back from their recent highs, but the tech megacap is still an excellent investment.Alphabet (GOOG +1.60%)(GOOGL +1.47%) has done extremely well for its shareholders this year, and the stock hit a new all-time high of $329 in November. However, after a recent pullback, shares briefly moved below $300 and are still close to that level as of Dec. 19.Many investors may be wondering if they should buy shares now or wait to see if Alphabet falls further, considering the recent dip in the t ...

Explore how sector concentration and volatility set these two leveraged ETFs apart for traders seeking different risk profiles.The Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares (SPXL +2.61%) and the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL +8.14%) are both designed for traders seeking amplified daily returns, but their underlying benchmarks result in very different risk profiles. SPXL magnifies the S&P 500, giving broad market exposure, while SOXL focuses solely on semiconductors -- one of the most volatil ...

The stock trades at an extremely high valuation.Palantir Technologies (PLTR +4.21%) stock has defied gravity. The stock now trades at a market cap of over 100x its trailing revenue, and is valued as the 22nd largest company in the world. Up well over 1,000% since 2023, the software and analytics provider for large enterprises is riding high on the artificial intelligence (AI) wave.It is now potentially one of the most expensive stocks around. After multiple years of AI-enthused growth, will Palantir stock c ...

This ETF is a powerful investment, especially during periods of market volatility.The investments you choose will make or break your portfolio, especially during periods of volatility. While the market is still near record highs right now, a downturn will eventually hit. Whether that's in 2026 or years from now, it's wise to start preparing your investments for the inevitable slump.If you're looking to protect your portfolio as much as possible, a broad-market exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard To ...

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. ...

Since Rivian went public in late 2021, the stock has struggled mightily.Rivian Automotive (RIVN +10.70%) has always played second fiddle to Tesla. Where Tesla has long dominated in sheer scale and brand recognition, Rivian is carving out its own niche and differentiating factors in electric vehicles. Rivian's stock has struggled since the company went public in November 2021. Since then, the stock has lost more than 80% of its value. So the question remains, is there a future for Rivian?NASDAQ : RIVNRivian ...

The two telecom giants are high-yield dividend stocks, but one has more long-term growth potential.In a head-to-head battle of telecommunications giants, AT&T (T 0.45%) and Verizon Communications (VZ 1.46%) are two value stocks with solid dividends and ubiquitous brand recognition. So what stock is the better investment for the long term? Let's look at each.More to the story than recent returns AT&T has had a better 2025 than Verizon. The stock is up just under 7% year to date as of market close on Dec. 17. ...

Microsoft rewards long-term investors in a variety of ways."Magnificent Seven" stocks -- Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft (MSFT +0.40%), Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla -- are known for their market-beating returns in recent years and runways for future growth.So you may be surprised to learn that Microsoft pays more dividends (in terms of total cash spent) than any other S&P 500 company -- even more than Apple, JPMorgan Chase, and high-yield behemoths like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Johnson & Johnson, and Ve ...

The dominant warehouse retailer has disappointed its investors this year.You'd probably struggle to find investors that wouldn't agree that Costco (COST 0.21%) is a wonderful business. The performance of the shares speaks for itself over the long term. However, this year hasn't been as kind. The top retail stock's price is down 6% in 2025 (as of Dec. 17), despite the company performing well.With shares 20% off their peak, investors that haven't owned the business might be ready to buy the dip. Before doing ...

Fee-conscious investors and those seeking broader diversification will find key differences in how these two ETFs shape a portfolio.The Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF (QQQ +1.30%) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.89%) are two of the most popular exchange-traded funds. Each offers exposure to large-cap U.S. stocks, but with distinct approaches. QQQ tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index, which is heavily weighted toward technology, while VOO follows the S&P 500 Index. This comparison highlights key differences in ...