Past Stories

2026-10-23 11:06 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA SPCX ORCL ORCLPD CRWV

Bond markets are flashing warning signs about the massive debt-fueled AI infrastructure build-out, with long-duration corporate bond prices plunging for major AI companies like Nvidia, SpaceX, Oracle, and CoreWeave. Credit default swap spreads have hit record highs, and market-implied default risks have surged, suggesting investors are increasingly skeptical that AI revenues will justify the enormous capital spending. The article warns that the puzzle pieces are in place for an AI bubble-bursting event similar to past technological booms.

Axe note: Heavy bond sell-offs in global AI firms signal rising skepticism that might ripple into the Johannesburg market and USD/ZAR.

2026-10-23 11:00 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective DRAM SOXX VGT NVDA MU TSM SKHY AAPL MSFT

While semiconductor ETFs SOXX and DRAM have experienced significant declines from their highs, the article argues that the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) is a better long-term investment choice. VGT offers broader tech sector exposure including AI infrastructure and software, lower fees (0.09% vs 0.65%), and more diversification across 314+ holdings compared to DRAM's concentrated bet on three memory chip stocks. The author suggests pairing VGT with individual international semiconductor holdings for customized exposure.

Axe note: Despite steep falls in semiconductor ETFs DRAM and SOXX, Vanguard’s broad tech ETF VGT offers a smarter, lower-cost way to ride the AI wave.

2026-10-23 10:50 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective KHC

Kraft Heinz faces continued investor frustration as its core business shrinks, with Q2 2026 net sales down 1.4% year-over-year and a $6.4 billion operating loss. New CEO Steve Cahillane's $600 million U.S. market revitalization strategy shows limited early results. While the stock offers a high 6.38% dividend yield, the analyst recommends waiting for the turnaround strategy to demonstrate tangible progress before investing.

Axe note: Kraft Heinz’s shrinking business and losses offer little comfort to South African investors eyeing consumer staples.

2026-10-23 10:41 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective META

Meta Platforms reported strong Q3 2026 earnings with 26% revenue growth to $64.6 billion, beating consensus estimates. The company's AI-driven advertising business continues to thrive, with advertising revenue jumping 26%. Meta's new Muse AI agents have attracted over 10 million users in the U.S. and Canada within six weeks, opening a new revenue stream. Despite increased capex spending on AI infrastructure ($135-145 billion), the stock is considered attractively valued at a forward P/E of 19, making it a solid buy heading into 2027.

Axe note: Meta’s strong Q3 results highlight AI-driven revenue gains, but local investors should watch USD/ZAR dynamics before diving in.

2026-10-23 10:39 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral RBLX

Roblox stock has declined 36% in 2026 despite growing revenue and free cash flow, due to slowing bookings growth (8% YoY) and weakening engagement. The company intentionally implemented safety measures and algorithm changes to prioritize long-term growth over near-term monetization. With a new AI creation tool launching and strong free cash flow generation ($294M in Q2), the stock now trades at a more attractive 22x free cash flow valuation.

Axe note: Roblox’s stock drop reflects near-term challenges but emerging strengths hint at a possible rally, with mixed signals for cautious investors.

2026-10-23 10:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective AMZN MSFT GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN META NVDA BRK.A BRK.B

With the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experiencing volatility amid rising bond yields and inflation concerns, Warren Buffett's investment philosophy emphasizes focusing on companies with durable competitive advantages (economic moats) rather than chasing trendy AI stocks. The article warns that while AI is transformative, not all companies in the sector will succeed long-term, drawing parallels to the dot-com bubble. Buffett advocates for diversification, quality businesses at reasonable prices, and patience with compounding rather than market timing.

Axe note: Focus on quality companies with durable advantages rather than chasing AI hype during volatility.

2026-10-23 10:27 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Neutral MCD

McDonald's stock has declined nearly 20% in 2026 and 28% from its lifetime high, facing headwinds including declining consumer traffic, challenging unit economics, and potential demand impacts from GLP-1 diet drugs. While the stock's forward P/E ratio of ~19 and 3% dividend yield appear attractive, the company's slow earnings growth (5% YoY) and persistent business challenges suggest patient investors may find better entry points.

Axe note: McDonald’s has lost a fifth of its value due to weak traffic and new challenges, raising questions about its near-term prospects.

2026-10-23 10:15 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX BSP BRK.A BRK.B

Warren Buffett's cautionary stance on IPOs is examined through historical performance data. The article argues that mega-IPO stocks typically underperform in their first 12 months because companies go public during bull markets when valuations are inflated. Additional headwinds include the shift from hype to fundamentals, high initial valuations based on rapid growth expectations, and selling pressure from insider lockup period expirations.

Axe note: Mega-IPO stocks often stumble in their first 12 months, caught between inflated expectations and insider selling.

2026-10-23 10:04 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective VOO

The Federal Reserve plans to maintain higher interest rates for longer, with three more quarter-point increases expected by mid-2027. While higher rates typically pressure stock prices, historical precedent shows market outcomes depend on corporate earnings growth and economic conditions. The S&P 500 remains near all-time highs due to AI-driven earnings, but uncertainty about AI spending cycles and inflation trending toward 4% create risk. Investors are advised to maintain a buy-and-hold strategy and review portfolio concentration in tech and growth stocks.

Axe note: The Fed’s plan to keep rates high longer will reshape global markets, with clear implications for the rand and JSE sectors.

2026-10-23 09:50 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective SE NVDA CRWV SPCX

Sea Limited's stock plunged 20% in two weeks after CEO Forrest Li announced plans to spin off its fintech arm Monee and enter the AI cloud computing business. While investors reacted negatively due to concerns about losing a high-growth business and entering a competitive, capital-intensive field, the author argues these moves could unlock significant value through a conglomerate discount resolution and capitalize on high-demand AI computing capacity.

Axe note: Sea Limited’s plunge on its fintech spinoff and AI pivot looks scary but might reward patient investors.

2026-10-23 09:43 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective PFE BMY CELGR

Pfizer offers a higher dividend yield of 5.8% compared to Bristol Myers Squibb's 4.3%, making it more attractive for income investors. However, Bristol Myers Squibb maintains a safer dividend with a 55% payout ratio versus Pfizer's over 100% payout ratio. Both pharma companies face patent cliffs but have growth prospects. The article suggests Pfizer is better for maximizing income, while Bristol Myers Squibb may deliver higher total returns due to lower execution risk.

Axe note: Pfizer pays more income today, but Bristol Myers offers a steadier and potentially safer dividend over time.

2026-10-23 09:30 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective GDX NEM AEM

The article compares two gold investment ETFs: iShares Gold Trust (IAU), which holds physical bullion with a lower 0.25% expense ratio, and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), which invests in mining company stocks with a 0.51% expense ratio. While GDX has delivered higher 5-year returns ($2,868 vs $2,331 on $1,000), it carries significantly higher volatility and risk. For long-term investors seeking simple gold exposure, IAU is recommended due to its lower costs and direct commodity exposure, though GDX may offer greater upside under favorable conditions.

Axe note: Choose between steady, simple gold exposure or a riskier ride via miners when hedging with gold.

2026-10-23 09:30 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective TTMI

TTM Technologies stock fell 21.3% this week despite posting record Q3 revenue of $1.20 billion and beating earnings estimates. The sell-off was triggered by supply chain bottlenecks extending component lead times to 24 weeks, causing the data center division to miss targets by 10%, combined with rising debt from recent acquisitions adding $20 million quarterly in interest expenses.

Axe note: TTM Technologies delivered record revenue but operational delays and rising debt spooked investors.

2026-10-23 09:30 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Bearish RIVN LCID ACHR JOBY

Four EV and air taxi stocks—Rivian, Lucid, Archer Aviation, and Joby Aviation—have suffered significant declines in 2026. The article examines whether 2027 could be a turnaround year for each company. Rivian's success hinges on the launch of its affordable Standard R2 SUV, Lucid must achieve profitability with a lower-cost model, while Archer and Joby await critical FAA type certification for their eVTOL aircraft designs.

Axe note: Four US-listed EV and air taxi stocks are struggling and not ready for South African investors to jump in.

2026-10-23 09:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRCL

Circle Internet Group and Strategy represent two different approaches to crypto exposure. Circle operates a stablecoin payment infrastructure business with strong revenue growth (63.9% YoY) and regulatory clarity from the GENIUS Act. Strategy has pivoted to a Bitcoin treasury strategy, accumulating ~850,000 BTC but facing volatility, share dilution risks, and negative free cash flow. The article recommends Circle for long-term investors seeking predictable growth, while Strategy appeals to Bitcoin bulls willing to accept higher volatility.

Axe note: Circle’s steady growth in stablecoins outshines risky Bitcoin treasury plays for local investors.

2026-10-23 09:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SKHY MU ASML NVDA

SK Hynix and Micron are both benefiting from the AI-driven memory supercycle, but with different exposures. SK Hynix leads in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) with a 50% market share and strong Nvidia partnership, while Micron has seen faster recent growth due to rising conventional memory prices. The analyst favors SK Hynix as the better long-term investment due to its advanced memory leadership and reduced exposure to conventional memory price declines.

Axe note: SK Hynix’s focus on advanced memory tech makes it a smarter long-term play than Micron amid the AI-driven demand surge.

2026-10-23 09:06 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective AAPL GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN BSP BRK.A BRK.B

Greg Abel, who took over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after Warren Buffett's retirement on Dec. 31, has significantly shifted the company's investment strategy toward technology and AI stocks. Nearly $116 billion (32%) of Berkshire's $364 billion portfolio is now concentrated in three AI-focused companies: Apple ($78.28 billion), Alphabet ($36 billion), and Bending Spoons ($1.44 billion). This represents a major departure from Buffett's traditional investment approach.

Axe note: Greg Abel’s technology pivot at Berkshire Hathaway highlights AI’s growing muscle, but South African investors must tread carefully.

2026-10-23 09:01 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ASML NVDA

ASML, a critical semiconductor equipment manufacturer, has underperformed the broader semiconductor sector over the past three years despite strong fundamentals. The article suggests a stock split could boost retail investor interest. ASML's Q3 results showed impressive 55% revenue growth to 11.66 billion euros, driven by strong demand for EUV lithography systems used in AI data centers. The company plans to increase capacity by 30% in 2027 and has customer orders extending to 2029-2030, indicating sustained growth momentum. ASML trades at an attractive 27x forward earnings, below its five-year average of 33x.

Axe note: Strong Q3 growth and deep order backlog position ASML well, but what does it mean for South African investors?

2026-10-23 08:44 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective MU SNDK

Micron Technology and Sandisk have both tripled in value in 2026, but they represent different memory stock opportunities. Micron manufactures HBM, DRAM, and NAND memory with a $1 trillion market cap, while Sandisk specializes exclusively in NAND flash memory with a $200 billion market cap. The article recommends Micron as the better choice due to its diversified memory portfolio providing more risk cushion, lower valuation multiples, and significant long-term growth potential in humanoid robotics requiring low-power memory.

Axe note: Micron’s diverse memory tech and lower valuation make it a better buy than Sandisk, especially for those eyeing long-term AI growth.

2026-10-23 08:30 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective ALAB ORCL ORCLPD AMD SMCI SMCIP PLTR GS GSPA GSPC GSPD

Astera Labs dropped 16.5% in an AI sector sell-off despite having no debt and $1.25 billion in cash. The author recommends buying the dip, citing the company's recent launches of PCIe 7 Aries chips and Orion rack-scale design, along with upcoming Q3 earnings on November 3rd. However, the stock trades at high multiples and depends on a few large customers, making it volatile.

Axe note: Astera Labs offers a rare buying opportunity amid a broad AI tech sell-off thanks to strong balance sheets and innovative products.