Archive

2026-07-14 15:37 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective MARA WULF MS MSPA MSPE MSPF MSPI MSPK MSPL MSPO MSPP MSPQ BAC BACPB BACPE BACPK BACPL BACPM BACPN BACPO BACPP BACPQ BACPS BMLPG BMLPH BMLPJ BMLPL MERPK

Bitcoin has declined 50% from its October 2025 peak of $126,128, following the established halving cycle pattern. Historical data suggests recovery could take 2-3 years, with the next halving in April 2028 potentially catalyzing the next bull cycle. The cryptocurrency is increasingly acting like a traditional asset due to institutional adoption via spot Bitcoin ETFs (launched January 2024), improved regulatory clarity, and miners diversifying into AI computing contracts.

Axe note: Bitcoin’s halving cycle and institutional interest suggest a slow recovery over 2-3 years, with implications for rand volatility and miners.

2026-07-14 15:36 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NEM

Newmont Corp (NEM) stock rose up to 5.4% following a TD Cowen analyst upgrade from hold to buy on valuation grounds, despite the analyst lowering the price target to $127 from $129. The analyst sees strength in gold's long-term outlook driven by central bank diversification away from U.S. dollar assets, positioning Newmont as an ideal way to play a potential gold recovery.

Axe note: Newmont’s valuation appeal highlights why AngloGold Ashanti could benefit from rising gold demand.

2026-07-14 15:35 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective DLO

DLocal director Sebastian Kanovich sold 25,700 Class A shares for $398,350 on July 7, 2026, under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale liquidated his entire direct Class A position but he retains 11.6 million convertible Class B shares. The analyst views this as a non-concerning transaction and remains bullish on DLocal as a dominant fintech payment processor, though notes concerns about declining net take rates.

Axe note: DLocal's director sells shares, but the business still looks strong amid growth concerns.

2026-07-14 15:33 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral HOOD

Robinhood Markets stock has recovered from earlier 2026 losses but trades at a rich 37x forward earnings. While the company has expanded beyond stock trading into crypto, options, banking products, and new ventures like prediction markets, its growth is heavily dependent on cryptocurrency trading, which declined 47% in Q1 2026. The stock faces near-term catalysts from Trump accounts and SpaceX IPO selection, but the author recommends only buying if you believe in the long-term vision and can tolerate volatility, as cryptocurrency headwinds may persist.

Axe note: Robinhood’s stock recovery is shadowed by big risks tied to crypto and pricey valuation.

2026-07-14 15:33 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral PLTR

Palantir Technologies stock gained 2.2% on news that Q2 earnings will be reported on August 3. Wall Street analysts expect 80% year-over-year revenue growth to $1.8 billion and earnings to more than double to $0.35 per share. However, at 142x trailing earnings, the stock remains expensive even with strong growth projections. The author recommends focusing on free cash flow metrics when earnings are announced to determine if the stock is undervalued.

Axe note: Palantir expects big growth, but its rich valuation makes me cautious from an SA perspective.

2026-07-14 15:32 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NB NIOBW

NioCorp stock jumped over 10% after CEO Mark Smith announced on CNBC that trade agreements for critical minerals between the U.S. and allies like Japan, the EU, and Mexico could be announced 'literally any day.' This follows President Trump's 180-day deadline to address national security concerns regarding imported processed critical minerals. The company is pursuing its Elk Creek Project to produce rare-earth elements, with potential price floors expected to enhance project financing and returns.

Axe note: NioCorp’s jump highlights global moves in critical minerals, with local implications for mining sectors and the rand.

2026-07-14 15:17 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective VGT NVDA AAPL MSFT GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN AMZN AVGO MU AMD INTC LRCX UBER

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has returned 23.3% in 2026, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 10.3% return. The ETF's strong performance is driven by five trillion-dollar tech companies—Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon—which comprise 50.6% of its portfolio. While AI infrastructure demand remains strong, rising costs and customer concerns about spending sustainability present near-term risks.

Axe note: Vanguard’s tech-heavy ETF crushes the S&P 500 in 2026, but South African investors must weigh local tech exposure and the rand’s reaction to global AI trends.

2026-07-14 15:10 • Investing.com Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ESYJY APO APOS APOPA RYAAY WZZZY

Apollo Global Management has made a £5.7 billion ($7.7 billion) cash offer to acquire easyJet, viewing the airline as undervalued despite sector headwinds from rising fuel costs and geopolitical disruptions. The bid has triggered a 46% rally in easyJet shares and signals that private equity sees cyclical pricing inefficiencies rather than terminal decline in European budget aviation. Apollo plans to expand ancillary revenues and the package holiday division to improve margins. The deal faces an August 7, 2026 regulatory deadline and must navigate EU foreign ownership restrictions.

Axe note: Apollo’s £5.7bn bid for easyJet signals a cyclical rebound in budget airlines, challenging market gloom on rising fuel and geopolitical risks.

2026-07-14 14:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SKHY NVDA MU

SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion through its first U.S. ADR offering to fund expansion of manufacturing capacity for memory chips, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI data centers. The company plans to build new foundries and packaging plants while purchasing advanced lithography equipment. With HBM market projected to grow 25% annually through 2035 and SK Hynix controlling over half the market share, analysts rate the stock as a strong buy with price targets 60% above current levels.

Axe note: SK Hynix’s massive factory investment to ramp up AI chip production signals key trends relevant to South African tech investors tuning into the global semiconductor race.

2026-07-14 14:24 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral PFE

Pfizer's 7.1% dividend yield is the highest in the S&P 500, more than six times the average, raising concerns about sustainability. While the dividend currently appears safe with the company undergoing cost-cutting restructuring, earnings provide limited buffer with diluted per-share profit of $0.47 barely exceeding the quarterly dividend of $0.43. The stock trades at a low valuation of 8x estimated future earnings, potentially making it an underrated income option for investors willing to monitor it closely, though patent cliffs and future sales challenges pose risks.

Axe note: Pfizer offers a rare 7.1% dividend yield, but questions linger over its sustainability amid earnings pressure.

2026-07-14 14:22 • Investing.com Positive Axe Cap view: Selective MSFT

Microsoft is developing its own proprietary AI models (MAI) to reduce reliance on OpenAI and Anthropic, routing tens of thousands of prompts weekly through its in-house technology. The company unveiled seven MAI models in June 2026, including MAI-Thinking-1, which matches Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 on coding tasks. This strategic move aims to convert expensive rented AI costs into owned infrastructure, improving ROI on Microsoft's AI spending while providing leverage in future negotiations with third-party AI providers.

Axe note: Microsoft builds its own AI to reduce expensive reliance on OpenAI and Anthropic services.

2026-07-14 14:20 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective META CRWV NBIS

Meta Platforms is reportedly planning to launch its own cloud computing service, causing stocks of computing capacity providers Nebius and CoreWeave to decline significantly. Both companies have major deals with Meta ($12B and $14B respectively), but the news of Meta's cloud ambitions has sparked investor concerns about reduced reliance on these partners. However, the article argues that AI computing capacity remains supply-constrained and Meta will likely maintain these partnerships given future AI demands.

Axe note: Meta’s move into cloud computing rattles key US AI capacity providers, but South African investors should weigh the local ripple carefully.

2026-07-14 14:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NEE NEEPN NEEPS NEEPT NEEPU NEEPV NEEPW D BKH CEG BEP BEPH BEPI BEPJ BEPPA BE

AI data centers are driving massive electricity demand, causing utility bills to surge and unpaid bills to reach $25 billion by 2025. Regulated utilities face pressure from rate increases and customer payment difficulties, while unregulated power providers and alternative energy companies are positioned to benefit from AI power demand without regulatory constraints.

Axe note: As AI servers push global power demand, South African investors should watch utilities and energy tech through the rand lens.

2026-07-14 13:34 • Investing.com Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective IBM AMJB JPM JPMPC JPMPD JPMPJ JPMPK JPMPL JPMPM VYLD

U.S. stocks are set to open higher after June inflation came in cooler than expected at 3.5% year-on-year, easing Fed tightening concerns. However, rising oil prices due to U.S.-Iran tensions and reduced Strait of Hormuz shipping activity could complicate the inflation outlook. IBM tumbled 19% after missing revenue forecasts due to a shift in enterprise spending toward hardware, while JPMorgan beat earnings expectations with strong trading and investment banking revenues.

Axe note: Softer US inflation readings give the market hope, but rising oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions complicate the picture for SA investors.

2026-07-14 13:33 • Investing.com Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective SKHY MU AMD INTC

The Korean Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) has surged over 88% in 2026 and 200% in two years, driven primarily by semiconductor companies Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which now account for nearly 60% of the index. This extreme concentration poses regulatory risks, as Goldman Sachs warns that a one percentage point increase in combined weight could force foreign institutional investors to sell due to diversification rules. The KOSPI has become a bet on global AI infrastructure rather than a true gauge of South Korea's economy.

Axe note: KOSPI’s dramatic surge, driven by Samsung and SK Hynix, shows risks in concentrated indexing that SA investors should watch closely.

2026-07-14 13:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective PG

Procter & Gamble has announced its 70th consecutive dividend increase, placing it in an elite tier above Dividend King stocks. With a current dividend yield of 2.9% and annual dividend of $4.26 per share, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $289.68 annually, providing reliable passive income as part of a diversified portfolio.

Axe note: Procter & Gamble's 70-year dividend streak highlights stability that South African investors can learn from.

2026-07-14 13:20 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ASTS VZ T TBB TPA TPC VOD TMUS TMUSI TMUSL TMUSZ

AST SpaceMobile aims to provide global cellular coverage via low-Earth-orbit satellites through partnerships with major telecom operators. Analysts project the stock could reach $174-$290 by 2028 under a bullish scenario, assuming 5% subscriber adoption from 3 billion accessible users, 90% EBITDA margins, and $4.5 billion in net income. The company received FCC approval for U.S. operations and operates a B2B model with carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and Vodafone rather than competing directly with them.

Axe note: AST SpaceMobile's satellite network aims to revolutionize global cellular coverage, but South African investors should watch FX over direct equity exposure.

2026-07-14 13:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA AMD AVGO TSM

Nvidia stock has risen 380% over three years but struggled in 2026 with only 12% gains. However, analysts project significant upside by 2030, with the AI data center chip market potentially reaching $825 billion. Even if Nvidia's market share declines to 50%, it could generate over $400 billion in data center chip revenue, while its rapidly growing networking business could push total addressable opportunity above $1 trillion. Analysts project earnings per share could reach $21.24 by fiscal 2031, potentially driving stock price to $573, nearly 2.8x current levels.

Axe note: Nvidia’s AI chip dominance points to massive tech growth, but South African investors should watch the rand and broader market impacts closely.

2026-07-14 13:04 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VYM HDV AVGO AMJB JPM JPMPC JPMPD JPMPJ JPMPK JPMPL JPMPM VYLD ABBV CVX

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) are compared as income-focused investment options. VYM offers broader diversification with 605 stocks and a lower 0.04% expense ratio, while HDV provides a more concentrated portfolio of 75 defensive stocks with a higher 2.8% dividend yield. Both ETFs are suitable for dividend investors, with VYM better for growth-oriented income seekers and HDV for those preferring defensive positioning.

Axe note: A practical look at whether broader diversification or higher yield suits income investors best this year.

2026-07-14 12:01 • Investing.com Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CASY RKLB RH

Three major company CEOs recently sold significant amounts of stock. Casey's General Stores CEO sold $15.2M in shares after strong 200% gains since 2024, suggesting portfolio diversification. Rocket Lab CEO sold $286M but retains massive holdings, indicating wealth management rather than concern. RH CEO sold $21M despite poor performance, but the sale represents only a 4% reduction in holdings, with another insider buying shares—a potentially bullish signal.

Axe note: Recent big CEO share sales reflect portfolio moves, not red flags for investors.