Archive

2026-07-18 13:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VKTX

Wall Street analysts are bullish on Viking Therapeutics (VKTX), with a consensus price target of $91 representing a potential 150% return. The optimism centers on VK2735, a dual-formulation weight-loss drug showing promising phase 2 efficacy data. However, key phase 3 results won't arrive until late 2027-2028, and some phase 2 oral trial tolerability concerns exist. Cautious investors may want to wait for upcoming maintenance trial results before investing.

Axe note: Wall Street loves Viking Therapeutics’ weight-loss drug, but long trial timelines and side effect worries suggest caution.

2026-07-18 13:20 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SKHY MU NVDA

SK Hynix, now trading on U.S. exchanges via ADR, is compared to Micron as a memory chip investment. SK Hynix leads the HBM market with 56% share and has a strategic partnership with Nvidia, while Micron has a longer track record but entered HBM later. Both companies are benefiting from strong AI infrastructure demand, though the volatile memory chip market poses risks. The article recommends SK Hynix for new investments despite Micron's lower valuation.

Axe note: SK Hynix’s HBM edge and Nvidia tie give it a local angle that tips the scales despite Micron’s value appeal.

2026-07-18 13:15 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Bearish PFE

Pfizer's attractive 7% dividend yield masks significant risks as the company faces a patent cliff with major drugs losing protection in 2027-2028. With a dividend payout ratio over 130% and limited new drug candidates in the pipeline, investors are concerned about the sustainability of the dividend. However, the company has cash reserves and debt options to maintain payments, and management has prioritized dividend preservation.

Axe note: Pfizer’s generous dividend yield hides serious sustainability concerns amid patent expiries and a thin drug pipeline.

2026-07-18 13:14 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective OII

Deanna Goodwin, a Board of Directors member at Oceaneering International, sold 7,000 shares (~$285,000) on July 1, 2026, at $40.69 per share, reducing her direct holdings by 16.32%. The sale occurred near recent highs as the stock was up 80.84% over one year. Despite the sale, Goodwin retained nearly 36,000 shares, suggesting continued confidence in the company's long-term prospects amid strong business developments including $1 billion in customer orders.

Axe note: A board member offloaded 7,000 shares but kept a strong stake amid solid offshore energy order growth.

2026-07-18 12:23 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective SCHD UNH HD ABT NVDA MSFT GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN KO PG CVX

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has returned approximately 20% in 2026, outperforming both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. The $95 billion fund focuses on companies with at least 10 consecutive years of dividend payments and screens for quality fundamentals. Its concentration in healthcare and consumer staples has benefited from a market rotation away from expensive AI and software stocks, though the fund's long-term job is delivering growing income from durable businesses rather than outrunning growth indexes.

Axe note: SCHD ETF’s 3.2% yield and sector focus outshine growth-heavy Nasdaq for now.

2026-07-18 12:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NEE NEEPN NEEPS NEEPT NEEPU NEEPV NEEPW D

NextEra Energy plans to invest $59 billion annually through 2032, with its acquisition of Dominion Energy positioning the combined company to capitalize on expected 60% growth in electricity demand by 2045. The capital spending is projected to support 9%+ annualized earnings growth and enable the company to maintain its decades-long dividend increase streak, making it attractive for dividend growth investors.

Axe note: NextEra Energy’s massive capital expenditure plan signals strong growth but invites caution for South African investors through USD/ZAR exposure.

2026-07-18 12:01 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRM CRWD AMZN MSFT

The article compares Salesforce and CrowdStrike as investment options in 2026. Salesforce, a mature CRM leader with $41.5B revenue and 10% growth, trades at a 12.1x forward P/E with strong profitability (18% net margin). CrowdStrike, a high-growth cybersecurity firm with $4.8B revenue and 22% growth, trades at 165.5x forward P/E but remains unprofitable (-3% net margin). Despite CrowdStrike's superior growth and market necessity, the author recommends Salesforce as the better buy due to its significantly lower valuation and recent positive momentum in AI offerings, suggesting potential stock recovery.

Axe note: Between steady CRM growth and high-flying cybersecurity hype, Salesforce offers the safer JSE link via USD/ZAR exposure this year.

2026-07-18 10:36 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective BRK.A BRK.B

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh faces a no-win scenario as inflation has surged to 4.2% (a three-year high) due to Trump's policies including tariffs and military actions, while Trump simultaneously pressures the Fed to cut rates. Warsh must choose between raising rates to combat inflation (risking Trump's ire and potentially slowing the AI-driven market rally) or holding rates steady (appearing to capitulate to Trump and damaging the Fed's credibility).

Axe note: The Fed faces conflicting pressures that will ripple through USD/ZAR and SA financial stocks.

2026-07-18 10:20 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX TSLA AMZN

SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch was scrubbed when four Raptor engines failed to ignite at liftoff. The company faces mounting pressure from a 2028 NASA deadline for lunar missions and competition from Blue Origin. SpaceX stock has declined 38% from its all-time high, with investors bracing for continued volatility as the company pursues further test flights.

Axe note: A failed Starship launch clouds SpaceX’s near-term outlook amid rising competition and tough deadlines.

2026-07-18 10:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SBUX BROS

Starbucks has reversed its fortunes in 2026 through CEO Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' turnaround plan, featuring improved staffing, faster service, and renewed focus on in-store experience, resulting in positive comparable sales and recovered morning traffic. Dutch Bros' stock has pulled back despite strong 30%+ revenue growth and aggressive expansion plans, representing a valuation reset rather than business deterioration. For the second half of 2026, Starbucks appears the steadier near-term investment with dividend income and international growth potential, while Dutch Bros offers higher long-term upside for patient investors willing to accept volatility.

Axe note: Starbucks' turnaround offers stability and dividends, while Dutch Bros' sharp pullback signals risk and opportunity for patient investors.

2026-07-18 10:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA SKHY MU

As AI workloads scale, high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) has become a critical bottleneck. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirmed Nvidia will be the primary customer for HBM4 solutions to power its next-generation Vera Rubin architecture. SK Hynix has emerged as Nvidia's preferred partner, reportedly securing 50-70% of anticipated HBM4 orders through a multiyear co-development partnership announced in June, positioning it as a major beneficiary of the memory supercycle.

Axe note: As Nvidia locks in HBM4 memory orders with SK Hynix, South African investors should watch the rand and tech exposure closely.

2026-07-18 09:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VTI VOO VTWO

The article advocates for passive index investing through the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) rather than individual stock picking. VTI provides broad exposure to 3,500+ U.S. stocks with a low 0.03% expense ratio, allowing investors to participate in overall market growth without the difficulty and risk of selecting individual winners.

Axe note: Broad US ETFs like Vanguard’s VTI offer simplicity, but local nuances mean South Africans should be selective.

2026-07-18 09:17 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective BRK.A BRK.B

Warren Buffett's approach to stock market crashes centers on three key principles: recognizing that markets always recover to new highs, maintaining patience rather than panic-selling, and aggressively buying quality stocks at discounts when opportunities arise. Buffett's success stems from confidence in eventual market recovery and a long-term investment horizon, contrasting with most investors who move to cash during downturns and gradually re-enter after recoveries are obvious.

Axe note: Warren Buffett’s strategy during market crashes boils down to patience and buying strong businesses cheaply.

2026-07-18 09:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ASML

ASML, which holds a practical monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology, is seeing surging demand for its equipment driven by booming AI chip and memory markets. The company reported Q2 revenue of €9.3 billion, beating guidance, and raised its 2026 revenue forecast to €43-45 billion. With plans to increase manufacturing capacity by 30% and potentially another 30% in 2028, ASML appears well-positioned for long-term growth despite trading at a premium 35.5x forward P/E ratio.

Axe note: ASML’s booming EUV machine sales boost global chip making, with mixed local play implications.

2026-07-18 09:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX AMZN GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN VZ T TBB TPA TPC

SpaceX could potentially reach a $5 trillion market cap if its Starmind initiative succeeds in processing AI workloads in space using a constellation of up to 1 million satellites. The company's space-based AI processing offers advantages like free solar power and lower cooling costs compared to terrestrial data centers. However, significant technological hurdles remain and investors may need to wait years for this vision to materialize.

Axe note: SpaceX aims to transform AI processing with satellites, but South African investors should watch USD/ZAR and tech counters closely.

2026-07-18 08:30 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective VOO VTI BND

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman recommends investing in a broad equity index fund as the single best investment to buy and hold for the next decade, citing superior long-term growth potential compared to other asset classes. He specifically suggests funds like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF or Vanguard Total Market ETF for their liquidity and diversification benefits. Ackman advises against bonds due to their historically lower returns and poor near-term outlook amid rising interest rates and persistent inflation.

Axe note: Ackman’s call for a decade-long buy-and-hold in US broad-market ETFs challenges local investors to rethink fixed income and hedge with the rand.

2026-07-18 08:13 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Neutral TSLA

Tesla delivered a record 480,126 vehicles in Q2 2026, up 25% year-over-year, but investors will focus on automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits when earnings are reported on July 22. The key metric has improved for four consecutive quarters, reaching 19.2% in Q1 2026. If margins hold near 19% on record volume without one-time benefits, it supports the bull case; if they decline to mid-teens, it suggests volume was achieved through discounts rather than genuine profitability gains.

Axe note: Tesla's record vehicle deliveries impress, but South African investors should watch automotive margins and rand dynamics closely.

2026-07-18 08:12 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX MU GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN

CFRA analysts recommend selling SpaceX and buying Micron. SpaceX, despite dominating the space industry with reusable rocket technology and Starlink's 12 million subscribers, trades at an expensive 88x sales valuation with a sell target of $115 (12% downside). Micron benefits from severe memory chip supply shortages with DRAM and NAND prices up 90-110% annually, posting 345% revenue growth and 1,215% earnings surge, with a buy target of $1,500 (76% upside) and expected 115% annual sales growth through fiscal 2027.

Axe note: CFRA analysts recommend selling SpaceX on valuation and buying Micron on memory chip shortages and growth.

2026-07-18 08:11 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN

SpaceX stock has declined 45% from its peak of $225.64 to $125, despite strong revenue growth projections and expansion into AI infrastructure. While Wall Street forecasts revenue could double to $39.2B in 2026 and reach $72.7B in 2027, the company trades at a P/S ratio of 88—14 times higher than the Nasdaq-100. Even accounting for future growth, SpaceX remains significantly overvalued and unprofitable, suggesting further downside risk.

Axe note: Sky-high valuation and losses keep SpaceX off my radar despite growth.

2026-07-18 08:10 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA AMD AVGO

Nvidia has emerged as a dominant force in the AI revolution with record revenues and profits, yet trades at a surprisingly low valuation compared to peers. With a forward P/E ratio of 23—between typical growth (29) and value (17) stocks—Nvidia appeals to both growth and value investors. The company's strong competitive position, established track record, and early-stage AI market opportunity make it an attractive long-term holding, though cautious investors should note risks from high AI spending levels and sector volatility.

Axe note: Nvidia’s mix of high growth and moderate valuation presents a rare stock case, but what does this mean for South African investors?