Archive

2026-07-18 04:19 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective BRK.A BRK.B SSUMY MARUY

Under new CEO Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stakes in three Japanese trading houses—Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Marubeni—during Q2 2026. Berkshire's combined five trading house positions, worth $35.4 billion (up from $23.5 billion a year prior), generate $862 million in annual dividends and are funded with cheap yen-denominated debt at 1.2% interest, creating an attractive 5.6% yield on original cost.

Axe note: Greg Abel’s Japan move shows smart capital allocation, but South African exposure is limited.

2026-07-18 03:35 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective PEP MCD PG

The article discusses three undervalued dividend stocks suitable for long-term buy-and-hold investing strategies. It emphasizes that investing in dividend stocks is an excellent way to generate passive income and requires a different mindset compared to short-term trading.

Axe note: A look at three undervalued dividend stocks offering steady income and growth, suitable for long-term investors.

2026-07-18 03:34 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective PYPL

PayPal is reportedly up for sale with Stripe and Advent International bidding $60.50 per share. The acquisition offer has caused PayPal stock to surge 17%, though some investors like Michael Burry argue the bid is too low. The real prize in the deal is considered to be Venmo, PayPal's popular payment platform.

Axe note: PayPal’s takeover talks have lit a fire under its shares, but how should we interpret this from a South African perspective?

2026-07-18 03:34 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral LCID

Lucid Group stock surged 29% after the company strongly refuted rumors of bankruptcy and take-private discussions. The EV manufacturer's stock jumped from initial concerns, though the company is undergoing another restructuring effort.

Axe note: Lucid’s shares jumped on bankruptcy denial, but restructuring questions remain.

2026-07-18 03:32 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Bearish SPCX

SpaceX stock (SPCX) has experienced a significant drop, falling 5.43% to $123.99 as of July 17, 2026. The article discusses whether this decline presents a buying opportunity for investors, with the stock dropping below its IPO price following a delayed Starship launch.

Axe note: SpaceX’s dip underscores why SA investors should avoid chasing US tech IPOs with weak South African links.

2026-07-18 02:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ASTS T TBB TPA TPC VZ

AST SpaceMobile is preparing to launch commercial satellite-based broadband services in early 2027, differentiating itself from Starlink through partnerships with major telecom providers like AT&T and Verizon. The company generated $15M in Q1 2026 revenue and projects $1B annual revenue post-launch, but faces execution risks. The stock has declined nearly 60% from recent highs, making it suitable only for aggressive investors willing to wait for proof of commercial viability.

Axe note: AST SpaceMobile’s planned commercial launch in 2027 offers growth but comes with steep execution risks and a volatile share price.

2026-07-18 02:07 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ETSY W AMZN GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN FDX

Etsy and Wayfair represent different e-commerce strategies in the discretionary spending market. Etsy maintains profitability with a 5.7% net margin and asset-light model, while Wayfair generates higher revenue ($12.5B vs $2.9B) but remains unprofitable with a -2.5% net margin. The article recommends Etsy for conservative investors seeking steady cash flow and Wayfair for aggressive investors betting on housing market recovery.

Axe note: Etsy’s profitability contrasts with Wayfair’s growth gamble, making them suitable for different risk appetites.

2026-07-18 01:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective LLY NVO

While Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (Mounjaro and Zepbound) account for nearly two-thirds of revenues with strong growth, the company is strategically using profits from these drugs to build a diversified pipeline in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience through acquisitions like AtaiBeckley and Ventyx Biosciences. Non-weight-loss drugs are already showing 160% revenue growth, positioning Eli Lilly for long-term success beyond the limited patent life of GLP-1 drugs.

Axe note: Eli Lilly’s surge isn’t just about GLP-1 weight-loss drugs but smarter pipeline expansion—here’s why that matters for the rand and local markets.

2026-07-18 00:03 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective STUB

StubHub stock fell 13% this week after Washington, D.C. passed the RESALE Act, capping secondary ticket resale markups at 10%. Analyst Jason Bazinet estimates that if similar caps averaging 15% are implemented across multiple jurisdictions currently considering such measures, StubHub's revenue could decline by 30% and EBITDA could drop by $95 million if 20% of sales are affected.

Axe note: Washington D.C.’s new law on ticket resale markups could cut StubHub’s revenue sharply, a warning for JSE stocks reliant on high-margin models.

2026-07-17 23:12 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective TRV

Travelers Companies (TRV) surged 9.22% on Friday following a strong Q2 earnings report that significantly beat analyst expectations. Net income jumped 46% to $2.2 billion ($10.26 per share), crushing the consensus estimate of $5.34, driven by lower catastrophe losses, favorable reserve development, and higher investment income. However, revenue growth was modest at 1% year-over-year, and net written premiums declined slightly, suggesting the strong profitability may not be sustainable.

Axe note: Travelers Companies beat earnings expectations sharply but showed mixed signals beneath the headline numbers.

2026-07-17 21:29 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Bullish GDX

The article compares VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV), two popular precious metals investment vehicles with different mechanics. While SLV provides direct exposure to physical silver bullion, GDX offers equity-based exposure to gold mining companies. Over five years, GDX delivered superior returns ($2,339 vs $2,196 on a $1,000 investment) with lower volatility. The article recommends GDX as the better buy, citing dividend income, favorable tax treatment compared to collectibles, and expectations for continued gold miner outperformance in 2026.

Axe note: Gold mining stocks edge silver bullion in returns and risk, making miners preferable for South African investors.

2026-07-17 21:24 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NOW PATH

ServiceNow and UiPath are both positioned to capitalize on the growing agentic AI market, which is forecasted to grow at 46.2% CAGR through 2030. ServiceNow has faster revenue growth (22% YoY) and higher-paying customers, while UiPath recently achieved profitability and has better margin expansion potential. Both trade at similar P/E ratios, but UiPath offers better value for investors focused on margin improvement.

Axe note: Comparing UiPath and ServiceNow through a South African lens highlights UiPath’s margin upside against ServiceNow’s revenue strength.

2026-07-17 21:13 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA AMD INTC GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN TRV PGR ALL ALLPB ALLPH ALLPI ALLPJ

Major stock indices declined on July 17, 2026, as a semiconductor sell-off deepened amid geopolitical tensions and concerns about AI spending sustainability. The Nasdaq fell 1.40%, S&P 500 dropped 1.01%, and Dow Jones slipped 0.77%. Travelers Companies surged 9% on strong earnings, while chip stocks including Nvidia, AMD, and Intel tumbled. The PHLX Semiconductor Index has fallen over 13% in the past month despite being up 63% year-to-date.

Axe note: US chip stocks plunged on AI spending doubts, dragging global sentiment and weighing on the rand.

2026-07-17 21:04 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective DELL NVDA AMD AMZN TSM

Dell Technologies and NVIDIA represent different plays on the AI boom. Dell has surged over 200% in 2026 with strong server sales driven by AI adoption, while NVIDIA remains the dominant chip leader with superior financials and a 55.6% net margin. Though Dell appears cheaper on valuation metrics, NVIDIA is recommended as the better long-term investment due to its market leadership, CUDA software dominance, and stronger balance sheet.

Axe note: NVIDIA's market dominance and profitability make it a stronger AI play than Dell despite Dell's impressive recent gains.

2026-07-17 21:02 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective STT STTPG XLF

The article compares two precious metals ETFs: SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and ABRDN Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR). While GLD offers lower volatility with a 0.40% expense ratio, SIVR is more cost-effective at 0.30% and has outperformed gold over the past 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. The author recommends SIVR as the better buy for 2026, citing silver's higher industrial demand from renewable energy applications and superior long-term performance.

Axe note: Silver ETFs show stronger performance and industrial demand, but gold remains a safer hedge.

2026-07-17 20:31 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRWD DELL MSFT AMZN

The article compares CrowdStrike and Dell Technologies as investment options for 2026. CrowdStrike offers cloud-native cybersecurity growth with 22% revenue growth but trades at a steep 167x forward P/E and faces reputational damage from the July 2024 IT outage. Dell Technologies, trading at a cheaper 21x forward P/E, benefits from massive AI server demand with expected 51% revenue growth and $60 billion in AI server sales projected for FY 2027. The author recommends Dell due to its stronger AI-driven growth trajectory and more attractive valuation despite CrowdStrike's competitive positioning.

Axe note: Dell Technologies' AI-driven growth and valuation edge make it a smarter pick than CrowdStrike for local investors.

2026-07-17 20:25 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX CAT

The article compares SpaceX and Caterpillar as investment options in 2026. SpaceX shows impressive 33.2% revenue growth but operates at a $4.9 billion net loss with negative $14 billion free cash flow, trading at a 197.7x forward P/E ratio. Caterpillar generates $10.3 billion in annual free cash flow with 13.1% net margins and trades at 34.7x forward P/E. The author recommends Caterpillar as the safer choice due to profitability, dividend payments, and exposure to AI-driven data center construction, while SpaceX represents a speculative bet on long-term space economy growth.

Axe note: Caterpillar’s solid profits and cash flow trump SpaceX’s speculative rocket ride this year.

2026-07-17 20:19 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective PNR

Pentair stock plummeted 18.5% to a 52-week low after the company slashed its full-year sales guidance from +2-4% growth to -4-7% decline, citing pool inventory destocking and worsening business conditions. The decline was compounded by the abrupt departure of CFO Nicholas Brazis after just four months, analyst downgrades, and securities fraud investigations into the company's disclosure practices.

Axe note: Pentair’s sharp sales downgrade and CFO exit sent the stock crashing, signaling deeper troubles beyond pool inventory challenges.

2026-07-17 20:09 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective META

Meta is planning massive AI data center spending of $125-145 billion in 2026 alone, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg has not provided concrete details on expected returns on investment. While the company's advertising business is performing well, analysts question whether these unprecedented capital expenditures will generate adequate returns. Meta's recent announcement to lease excess compute capacity suggests potential overbuilding.

Axe note: Meta’s huge AI-driven data center investments raise doubts about returns, leaving investors cautious.

2026-07-17 20:03 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ACHR ACHR.WS ASTS UAL STLA BA BAPA AMZN GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN T TBB TPA TPC VZ

The article compares two aerospace technology stocks: Archer Aviation, developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air mobility, and AST SpaceMobile, building a space-based cellular broadband network. While Archer faces regulatory certification hurdles and slower revenue generation, AST SpaceMobile shows stronger revenue growth trajectory and competitive moats through partnerships with major telecom operators. The analyst recommends AST SpaceMobile as the better buy for 2026 due to its faster path to profitability and established partnerships, despite higher capital expenditures.

Axe note: AST SpaceMobile’s faster growth and telecom partnerships make it a more compelling option than Archer Aviation’s speculative urban air ambitions.