Alphabet’s core and emerging business units are thriving.
The Trade Desk trades at its lowest valuation since 2019.
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for many organizations.
April wasn’t an enjoyable month for investors. The stock market became a roller coaster, marked by stomach-churning volatility with prices plummeting one day and soaring the next. While the Nasdaq Composite bounced off its recent lows, there are still a handful of hot deals on top-tier technology stocks.
Three Fools got together to identify which names investors should focus on in May.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Alphabet(NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG), The Trade Desk(NASDAQ: TTD), and CrowdStrike Holdings(NASDAQ: CRWD) stood out from the crowd.
Here is what makes each stock a table-pounding buy.
Justin Pope (Alphabet): Google’s parent company is working through some adversity. The technology behemoth lost two antitrust lawsuits, and investors fear that the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, such as ChatGPT, could erode Google’s search engine dominance. As a result, Alphabet stock declined by 23% from its high.
If you were looking for reasons to buy the dip on Alphabet, recent first-quarter 2025 earnings gave you several.
Start with Google Search, which grew advertising revenue by 10% year over year. There’s no doubt that AI is becoming increasingly prevalent. But remember, Alphabet is integrating its own AI into Search, including AI Overviews, which now has over 1.5 billion monthly active users.
Next is Google Cloud, core to the company’s AI plans. Google Cloud revenue increased 28% year over year, and its profitability is soaring. Google Cloud’s operating income surpassed $2.1 billion in Q1, compared to just $900 million in the same quarter a year ago. Management also noted that it continues to struggle keeping up with demand, which bodes well for cloud growth.
Lastly, there’s the impressive progress of Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving ride-hailing business. Waymo is performing over 250,000 weekly paid rides, up fivefold from just a year ago. I’d bet most investors think of Tesla first when they think about self-driving vehicles, yet Waymo, not Tesla, currently has a functioning service.
All this comes wrapped in a business that analysts estimate will grow earnings by an average of 16% annually over the long term, and that trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of under 18. I’m struggling to see a better mix of quality, growth, and value than what Alphabet offers today.
Will Healy(The Trade Desk): My choice for stocks to buy in May is The Trade Desk.
The Trade Desk has attracted interest for its ability to manage digital ad campaigns. Since it is not an advertiser like one of its prominent competitors, Google parent Alphabet, it holds a competitive advantage by not having an implicit bias for one platform.
It has leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) through Kokai, which can analyze vast amounts of data to optimize ad slot selection and timing. That allows marketers to maximize returns on their ad campaigns.
Still, despite those strengths, The Trade Desk may seem like the last tech stock one would want to buy at first glance. That’s because it was the worst-performing tech stock in the S&P 500 in Q1 2025, even surpassing Tesla’s decline in percentage terms.
Investors appeared to lose confidence in the stock when it reported its fourth-quarter 2024 results, missing its own revenue number. This occurred after dozens of quarters of topping such forecasts, leading to the stock losing one-third of its value in a single trading session.
Additionally, its Q1 revenue forecast of $575 million would mean a 17% yearly revenue growth rate, pointing to a slowdown that could further dampen enthusiasm for the stock. In comparison, revenue grew by 22% in Q4 despite the miss, and by 26% in 2024.
Nonetheless, when it reports its Q1 results on May 8, it’s likely to return to its past track record of beating its estimates, rather than falling short. That could help rebuild investor confidence in this stock.
Moreover, its stock has fallen by over 60% since December. As a result, its price-to-earnings ratio has dropped to 68, its lowest level since 2019 and down from an earnings multiple above 225 in December. That’s a compelling motivation to overlook the slowdown in revenue growth.
Finally, Alphabet is under increasing fire since a district court ruled that it holds a digital advertising monopoly. That opportunity could be a chance for The Trade Desk to widen its competitive moat, a factor that could easily boost the company’s stock price.
Jake Lerch (CrowdStrike Holdings): My choice is CrowdStrike Holdings.
With so much uncertainty in the market, it’s essential to identify stocks that are continuing to show strength. That’s one of the reasons I like CrowdStrike. The company, which develops AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, is more or less immune to two of the biggest questions plaguing the stock market right now.
The first is trade and tariffs, which are creating an overhang for companies that rely on international trade. Only one-third of CrowdStrike’s revenue comes from international markets. More to the point, the company generates revenue by selling subscriptions to its security modules. As a result, it’s unlikely that CrowdStrike will face much effect from the ongoing trade negotiations.
Second, there are growing fears that data center spending could slow down. That’s weighed on the large cloud service providers (like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet) and the companies that rely on selling materials for data centers (like Nvidia). However, CrowdStrike doesn’t fall into either of those two categories.
It provides cybersecurity for organizations, and there’s no sign that cybersecurity spending will be dropping off any time soon. CrowdStrike averaged 40% revenue growth over the last three years. While that figure has now dropped to 25% in its most recent quarter (for the three months ending on Jan. 31, 2025), it’s still a rapid pace.
Cybersecurity remains a must-have service at just about every organization — no one wants to see their data or systems compromised. As a result, I think CrowdStrike will continue to outperform in a market that’s still trying to find its footing in 2025.
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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Jake Lerch has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, CrowdStrike, Nvidia, Tesla, and The Trade Desk. Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Will Healy has positions in CrowdStrike and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, CrowdStrike, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
3 Top Technology Stocks to Buy in May was originally published by The Motley Fool
Bitcoin broke its all-time high multiple times this week, and is currently sitting at around $98,000. Bitcoin isn’t the only crypto asset smashing records this week though, let’s get into it!
Solana saw a significant surge, with its market cap surpassing household names like Starbucks. The Solana blockchain is also now leading all others in daily net inflows. (Even Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency!)
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy continues to pay off handsomely. Since adopting Bitcoin in August 2020, the company’s stock is up over 2,300%, outpacing Berkshire Hathaway’s 36% growth over the same period. Remarkably, MicroStrategy has also outperformed Bitcoin itself, which rose around 600%. The company now holds 331,200 BTC, purchased for approximately $16.5 billion, making it the largest corporate Bitcoin holder. CEO Michael Saylor remains bullish, predicting Bitcoin could hit $13 million within the next 20 years.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing unprecedented momentum too, with $1.7 billion in inflows last week alone, marking the sixth consecutive week of positive activity. Total AUM for these ETFs now stand at over $95 billion, representing over 5% of Bitcoin’s market cap. Ethereum ETFs are also doing well, with record inflows of $515 million last week.
Ripple’s XRP has surged almost 100% in the past week, driven by rumors that SEC Chair Gary Gensler was stepping down following Trump’s re-election. (This rumor was confirmed today as Gary Gesler announced his January 2025 resignation in an X post). Speculation about Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse advising Trump on crypto policy has further fueled bullish sentiment around XRP. Adding to the excitement around the token, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has suggested potential collaborations between Cardano and Ripple to integrate DeFi components, enhance liquidity, and even build stablecoin layers.
Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, is reportedly in talks to acquire Bakkt, a crypto trading platform owned by ICE. The news sent Bakkt’s stock soaring by over 160%, underscoring the growing intersection between traditional finance, crypto, and media ventures under the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly stance.
Lastly, we saw more speculation about regulatory shifts under Trump as former Binance US CEO Brian Brooks is considered a potential replacement for Gary Gensler. Brooks, known for his crypto expertise, could introduce a more favorable environment for crypto.
See which banks are currently paying the highest CD rates. If you’re looking for a secure place to store your savings, a certificate of deposit (CD) may be a great choice. These accounts often provide higher interest rates than traditional checking and savings accounts. However, can vary widely. Learn more about CD rates today and where to find with the best rates available.
Today’s CD rates vary quite a bit. In general, however, CD rates are beginning to decline due to the Fed’s decision to cut its benchmark rate three times in the later part of 2024. Even so, some banks are still offering competitive CD rates.
For those that are, top rates reach about 4% APY. This is especially true for shorter terms of one year or less.
Today, the highest CD rate 4.40% APY, offered by Marcus by Goldman Sachs on its 14-month CD. There is a $500 minimum opening deposit required.
Here is a look at some of the best CD rates available today from our verified partners:
Compare these rates to the national average as of April 2025 (the most recent data available from the FDIC):
Compared with today’s top CD rates, national averages are much lower. This highlights the importance of shopping around for the best CD rates before opening an account.
Online banks and neobanks are financial institutions that operate solely via the web. That means they have lower overhead costs than traditional brick and mortar banks. As a result, they’re able to pass those savings on to their customers in the form of higher interest rates on deposit accounts (including CDs) and lower fees. If you’re looking for the best CD rates available today, an online bank is a great place to start.
However, online banks aren’t the only financial institutions offering competitive CD rates. It’s also worth checking with credit unions. As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, credit unions return their profits to customers, who are also member-owners. Although many credit unions have strict membership requirements that are limited to those who belong to certain associations or work or live in certain areas, there are also several credit unions that just about anyone can join.
Whether or not you should put your money in a CD depends on your savings goals. CDs are considered a safe and stable savings vehicle — they don’t lose money (in most cases), are backed by federal insurance, and allow you to lock in today’s best rates.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. First, you must keep your money on deposit for the full term, otherwise you’ll be subject to an early withdrawal penalty. If you want flexible access to your funds, a or might be a better choice.
Additionally, although today’s CD rates are high by historical standards, they don’t match the returns you could achieve by investing your money in the market. If you’re saving for a long-term goal such as retirement, a CD won’t provide the growth you need to reach your savings goal within a reasonable time frame.
Read more: Short- or long-term CD: Which is best for you?
Investment firms specializing in Bitcoin are positioning themselves to lead the way in the push toward a potential global shift in currency systems. Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and inventor of Hashcash, pointed out that firms like Strategy, which have adopted Bitcoin treasuries, are playing a crucial role in advancing what some call hyperbitcoinization—a future where Bitcoin overtakes fiat currencies globally. This shift could see Bitcoin’s market cap soar to more than $200 trillion, he suggested.
Back explained in a recent post that companies like Strategy are taking advantage of the gap between Bitcoin’s future potential and the current state of fiat money. He referred to this approach as a “logical and sustainable arbitrage,” one that is scalable enough for large corporations to move to Bitcoin as a treasury asset. This strategy is already proving successful, with Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings generating over $5.1 billion in profit since the beginning of 2025, according to co-founder Michael Saylor.
In Asia, Metaplanet, known as “Asia’s MicroStrategy,” is also making significant moves in Bitcoin investment. The firm surpassed 5,000 BTC in holdings in April 2025 and plans to acquire 21,000 BTC by 2026. This demonstrates the growing trend of companies in different regions betting on Bitcoin’s future dominance.
The regulatory environment in the United States is also becoming more favorable toward Bitcoin. The U.S. Federal Reserve recently revoked its 2022 guidance, which had previously discouraged banks from dealing with cryptocurrencies. This shift in policy opens the door for more widespread institutional adoption of Bitcoin, and Saylor believes banks can now begin openly supporting Bitcoin without regulatory concerns.
Further fueling Bitcoin’s ascent, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, sourced from Bitcoin seized in criminal cases. This move marks a step toward formal government involvement in Bitcoin, reinforcing its potential as a globally recognized store of value.
Bitcoin’s rising value continues to outpace inflation, with Back noting that Bitcoin’s price has been growing faster than traditional fiat currencies over four-year periods. This trend is central to the idea of hyperbitcoinization, wherein Bitcoin gradually replaces fiat money due to its predictable supply and resistance to inflation. As both institutional and governmental interest in Bitcoin intensifies, the path to a future dominated by Bitcoin as a global reserve currency seems increasingly likely.
Details Emerge From Fatal Golf Cart Accident Involving John Elway
NFL legend John Elway lost his longtime friend and business partner Jeff Sperbeck in a tragic golf cart accident last month. Sperbeck, 62, died on April 30 from a severe head injury he suffered falling off of a cart driven by Elway on Saturday, April 26. Authorities investigated the incident, which …
We recently compiled a list of the 11 Best Materials Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.In this article, we are going to take a look at where Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) stands against the other material stocks.
Materials stocks are those companies that produce chemicals, construction materials, and paper products. Businesses involved in the exploration and processing of commodities are also included in this sector.
Materials demand is cyclical, rendering sector players extremely vulnerable to economic fluctuations. The demand for basic materials tends to drop when economic conditions deteriorate, which lowers prices and impacts the profitability of material producers. However, the materials sector can be impacted by a variety of factors, including the economic cycle. Supply chain challenges, legislation, and inflation are just a few of the many factors that could impact demand, prices, and industry profitability in the materials industry.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a new challenge arose in the industry. The region provides essential metals for steel production and exports minerals for fertilizer, such as potash; therefore, the war caused disruptions in the worldwide supply chain for resources. Most basic materials’ costs increased due to supply constraints, which had a significant impact on both the industry and the overall economy.
Looking forward, a cautiously positive view for the materials sector in 2025 has been strengthened by long-term structural demand and improved macroeconomic conditions. Persistent economic concerns in the United States and a noticeable slowdown in China, two important markets for industrial materials, burdened the sector in 2024. However, according to Fidelity, the situation seems more favorable for growth in 2025 as China implements economic stimulus measures and central banks in major economies currently lean toward monetary easing. Some subsectors stand to benefit from both a short-term cyclical recovery and advantageous long-term supply-demand imbalances, especially those related to copper and other crucial inputs for infrastructure and electrification. Furthermore, the sector’s rate-sensitive industries, such as chemicals, may gain from lower interest rates, while more robust, high-quality firms may provide defensive strength. The sector is positioned for a potentially better performance in 2025 due to a combination of financial assistance, a possible recovery in Chinese demand, and strategic exposure to growth-linked materials.
Currently, according to a strategist for equity derivatives at Barclays, Stefano Pascale, options traders are undervaluing the risks associated with materials stocks because the sector’s predicted volatility is close to historic lows, making downside protection cheap. Steel and paper companies are among the materials stocks that are susceptible to tariffs because of their dependence on international supply chains, and additional tariffs are anticipated to be announced soon by President Trump.
Despite this, Pascale commented:
“The volatility market is giving you an exceptionally good opportunity here of cheap materials puts. Even if you didn’t have a trade war, this would be, historically speaking, a very attractive trade.”
Materials underperformed in 2018 due to Trump’s tariffs, and similar drops may be seen this year, with the Dow down 7%. According to statistics provided by Bloomberg Intelligence, sell-side analysts have lowered their expectations for the material sector, anticipating earnings to climb 5.9% this year, down from an estimate of 16% in January. However, traders must consider liquidity risks, as the bid-ask spread for materials options is $0.20, as opposed to $0.04 for broader market options.
We sifted through the Materials ETFs and online rankings to form an initial list of the 25 materials stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkey’s database of 1009 hedge funds in Q4 2024 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Jim Cramer on Martin Marietta Materials (MLM): “Road Building Is Booming — This Is the One You Want!”
A large construction project with cranes and forklifts in action, demonstrating the company’s building materials business.
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is among the best materials stocks since it is a major manufacturer of construction materials, which include crushed stone, sand, and gravel, in the United States. The company sold 191 million tons of aggregates in 2024. The majority of the firm’s sales come from its most significant markets, which are Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Additionally, the company uses its aggregates in its ready-mixed concrete and asphalt businesses and makes cement in Texas. Its magnesia specialties business manufactures magnesium-based chemical products and dolomitic lime. The firm is poised to gain from higher infrastructure spending in the United States. Although the company mostly produces aggregates, it also produces cement in Texas.
Despite the difficult market conditions, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) produced exceptional overall performance in 2024. In Q4 of 2024, the business reported consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $545 million, an 8% growth, while margins jumped by 210 basis points to 33%. Its Magnesia Specialties division generated record-breaking revenues of $320 million and gross profit of $107 million, showing gains of 2% and 10%, respectively. Over $2 billion in non-core asset divestitures and $4 billion in total purchases were among the approximately $6 billion in portfolio-enhancing deals the company conducted.
The business earned the highest full-year safety event rates in Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM)’s history, and it obtained a world-class lost time incident rate for the eighth consecutive year.
Overall, MLM ranks 10th on our list of the best materials stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of MLM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MLM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stock To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Bitcoin is trading up 11% from the lows of $74,450 as of Wednesday, as overall markets saw a significant jump — with the Nasdaq up nearly 12%, the S&P 500 up 9%, and the Dow up 8%.
The altcoin market, including ETH, is up 8.35%, but still 40% below its all-time high of $1.6 trillion. It would need to rise by 70% to reach that peak again.
Screenshot via TradingView User NoticeTrades
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Bitcoin Weekly Chart
Bitcoin has shown demand at the previous weekly swing from March 10, which is around $76,560. This is a crucial level for Bitcoin to hold in the short term. As we’ve seen a significant rally, Bitcoin should not return to the lows if the price is going to reverse the daily trend.
Closing above the 50EMA on the weekly also would be ideal.
Screenshot via TradingView User NoticeTrades
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.
Bitcoin Daily Chart
Even with this massive rally, the structure on the daily chart still remains bearish. This is why understanding structure is important. Just because sentiment may feel more bullish than ever, as the markets haven’t seen a rally like this in a long time, things could still continue the bearish trend.
Screenshot via TradingView User NoticeTrades
In terms of the daily structure, this is a decent start for a rally, but there are key levels to monitor.
The first is the $88,000 range, where price was rejected twice.
The second is the $92,000 range, which is the lower end of the consolidation that eventually broke.
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With this strong rally on Wednesday, you would want to see continuation. That’s the key here. If you start seeing this momentum fade and price trades back below $80,000, it could be a sign that this was just a move to create another lower high on the daily, setting up a continuation to the downside.
As always, it’s crucial to stay disciplined and monitor the key levels closely. The market’s reaction at these price points will give us a clearer picture of whether the rally can sustain itself or if the bearish trend will resume. Keep an eye on the structure and adjust your strategy accordingly. Patience and proper risk management will be key as we navigate through these critical levels.
Bitcoin ETFs have faced persistent outflows throughout April, with investors pulling money from the products despite the recent price recovery, according to data from U.K.-based asset manager Farside Investors.
The outflows have been nearly consistent across the month, with all but one day in April recording outflows from the various Bitcoin ETFs. Total April outflows reached $812.3 million as of Friday, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) leading the exodus at $393.2 million withdrawn.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) has also experienced large outflows, with $256.4 million leaving the fund during this period, according to Farside. The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) had $64.5 million in outflows, while the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) saw $42.3 million exit the fund.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) stands as the only ETF showing positive flows for the month, adding $36.7 million during the period, according to Farside’s data.
The largest single-day outflow occurred on April 8, when Bitcoin ETFs lost $326.3 million—the same day President Donald Trump implemented a 104% tariff rate on Chinese imports. This outflow was more than double the next biggest outflow day in April.
Despite the consistent ETF outflows, Bitcoin’s price has shown resilience. The cryptocurrency most recently traded at around $84,150, according to CoinMarketCap data, posting a 7.8% gain over the previous seven days and a fractional gain over the past 24 hours.
April 2 stands out as the only positive day in the month’s flow data, with the ETFs collectively adding $218.1 million, according to Farside. This influx of capital came just as the Trump administration announced an additional 34% tariff on Chinese imports, raising the cumulative tariff rate to 54%.
For the year to date, Bitcoin ETF flows remain positive at $215.2 million, despite the recent outflow trend. IBIT leads with $2.3 billion in net inflows for the year, while GBTC has experienced the largest outflows at $1.23 billion.
As Bitcoin ETFs experience outflows, Strategy Inc. (MSTR) continues adding to its holdings. According to a Monday Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the company purchased 3,459 Bitcoin for approximately $285.8 million between April 7 and April 13 at an average price of $82,618 per Bitcoin.
This latest acquisition brings Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 531,644, representing an aggregate investment of $35.9 billion at an average purchase price of $67,556 per Bitcoin.
It is hard to get excited after looking at Contact Energy’s (NZSE:CEN) recent performance, when its stock has declined 5.2% over the past three months. To decide if this trend could continue, we decided to look at its weak fundamentals as they shape the long-term market trends. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Contact Energy’s ROE today.
ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. Simply put, it is used to assess the profitability of a company in relation to its equity capital.
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The formula for return on equity is:
Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders’ Equity
So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Contact Energy is:
8.5% = NZ$224m ÷ NZ$2.6b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024).
The ‘return’ is the yearly profit. That means that for every NZ$1 worth of shareholders’ equity, the company generated NZ$0.08 in profit.
View our latest analysis for Contact Energy
We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company’s future earnings. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or “retain”, we are then able to evaluate a company’s future ability to generate profits. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don’t necessarily bear these characteristics.
On the face of it, Contact Energy’s ROE is not much to talk about. Yet, a closer study shows that the company’s ROE is similar to the industry average of 8.5%. On the other hand, Contact Energy reported a moderate 9.5% net income growth over the past five years. Taking into consideration that the ROE is not particularly high, we reckon that there could also be other factors at play which could be influencing the company’s growth. For example, it is possible that the company’s management has made some good strategic decisions, or that the company has a low payout ratio.
As a next step, we compared Contact Energy’s net income growth with the industry and were disappointed to see that the company’s growth is lower than the industry average growth of 20% in the same period.
NZSE:CEN Past Earnings Growth April 13th 2025
Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if Contact Energy is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E , relative to its industry.
Contact Energy’s high three-year median payout ratio of 135% suggests that the company is paying out more to its shareholders than what it is making. In spite of this, the company was able to grow its earnings respectably, as we saw above. Although, the high payout ratio is certainly something we would keep an eye on if the company is not able to keep up its growth, or if business deteriorates. Our risks dashboard should have the 3 risks we have identified for Contact Energy.
Moreover, Contact Energy is determined to keep sharing its profits with shareholders which we infer from its long history of paying a dividend for at least ten years. Based on the latest analysts’ estimates, we found that the company’s future payout ratio over the next three years is expected to hold steady at 109%. Regardless, the future ROE for Contact Energy is predicted to rise to 13% despite there being not much change expected in its payout ratio.
Overall, we would be extremely cautious before making any decision on Contact Energy. Although the company has shown a fair bit of growth in earnings, yet the low ROE and the low rate of reinvestment makes us skeptical about the continuity of that growth, especially when or if the business comes to face any threats. On studying current analyst estimates, we found that analysts expect the company to continue its recent growth streak. To know more about the company’s future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content?Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
President Donald Trump stated in a post to Truth Social: “Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S. I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future.” Analysts have highlighted that reciprocal tariffs came in “worse than anticipated across-the-board,” with Vietnam most meaningful for Softlines stocks and China/Vietnam for Hardlines.
Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>>
Bitcoin’s price continued its decline on Thursday, as selling pressure from Bitcoin mining operators, Mt. Gox refunds, and actions from the German state of Saxony continued. However, a crypto expert told Investing.com that the ongoing downtrend could be “a bear trap.”
The defunct Mt. Gox exchange remains a key issue for the world’s largest cryptocurrency, with the exchange’s trustees recently starting to refund tokens to clients affected by a 2014 hack. The exact amount of this distribution is unclear, but wallets linked to the exchange moved about $9 billion worth of tokens earlier this year.
Moreover, the German government has been offloading Bitcoin confiscated from a piracy website, potentially holding at least $2 billion worth of tokens.
The sharp decline in Bitcoin price has raised concerns that major Bitcoin miners might start selling some of their holdings to break even, particularly after Bitcoin’s halving earlier this year reduced miner rewards.
These factors have weighed on BTC significantly in the recent period, shaving roughly 15% of its value over the past month.
Bitcoin is currently trading above the $58,000 mark, having bounced from last week’s low of $53,600. The cryptocurrency remains in a technical downtrend from March’s record high of $73,800, with consecutive lower highs at $71,300 and $63,900.
Eugene Cheung, head of institutions at Bybit, said that while optimism remains for the medium-term outlook, the cryptocurrency market is not immune to abrupt macro events that could significantly affect global market sentiments. However, Cheung notes that the $57,000 support level has so far helped hold Bitcoin price, pointing to the resilience of the market and limiting further declines.
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“If the price can climb back above the 200-day moving average quickly, this recent decline could be considered a bear trap, and a rally higher could be expected,” Cheung told Investing.com.
Historically, market corrections have acted as healthy resets within ongoing bull markets, aligning with well-established trends. Cheung notes that there has been a decline in trading activity and crypto prices on centralized exchanges for nearly two months following the halving event in previous Bitcoin cycles, a pattern that has repeated in the current cycle.
“The market cycles can last 12 to 18 months after Bitcoin halving before producing a new cycle top,” he said. “Despite common fears that “this time is different,” the cyclical nature of markets often sees history not repeating but certainly rhyming.”
The days of staying at one company and working your way up the ladder are long gone. With less job security, the rise of the gig economy and as wages lag behind the cost of living, more people are working multiple different jobs at once.
A study by the essay writing platform Academized shows that 52% of millennials in the US are working side hustles to earn extra money. Dubbed “polyworking”, nearly a quarter (24%) of those workers have three jobs and a third (33%) have four or more income-earning roles outside their full-time work.
Money — or rather, a lack of it — is the key reason why people are polyworking. In the UK, the average worker is now £11,000 a year worse off than they would have been if wages hadn’t stagnated after the 2008 financial crisis. It’s a similar story in the US, where wages are stagnating and in some cases, falling.
Nicola Morrison, an HR director of The HR Dept Leicester and North West Leicestershire, says that there are other reasons why younger generations are adopting polyworking.
“The desire to work flexibly, cost of living pressures, exploring different career paths or passions are all factors,” says Morrison. “It’s also a lot more accessible with platforms like TikTok and Etsy (ETSY) providing a way of pursuing different income streams or interests, as well as providing more agility than what are considered to be more ‘traditional’ jobs.”
Read more: How ’emotional labour’ is fuelling burnout
But with levels of burnout rising among millennials and younger generations, experts are concerned about the long-term mental health implications of the trend.
Around one in five people say they’ve needed to take time off work due to stress and poor mental health. According to the Burnout Report 2025, there has been an increase in those needing time off among workers under the age of 44.
So how can you manage multiple jobs without risking your health?
When the pressure is on to earn more, the temptation is to say yes to every opportunity that arises. However, it’s important to avoid overcommitting.
“It’s easy to stretch yourself too thin,” says Sophia Mullins, a corporate wellbeing expert and founder of Wall Street Wellness LLC. “Time and energy are not unlimited. Without clear boundaries and realistic expectations, polyworking can become a fast track to burnout and not meeting the mark in any of your jobs.”
Even if the pressure is on to earn more, it’s important to avoid overcommitting. ·nicoletaionescu via Getty Images
“Be alert to triggers such as reduced engagement, missed deadlines, or low energy, as it might indicate there are workload challenges,” says Morrison.
If you’re feeling mentally or physically tired or disinterested in work you usually enjoy, it is usually a sign to cut back on work. Feeling irritable, sad, frustrated and anxious can also be a sign of burnout.
Mullins also advises being intentional about the kind of work you take on. However, this can be easier said than done if you are under pressure to increase your income.
“You have to be honest about what you can take on, and why you’re doing it in the first place,” says Mullins. “If your ‘side gig’ energises you and aligns with your values, it can actually support your well-being. But if it starts to feel like a source of burden or overwhelm, that’s a sign to pause and reassess the value it is adding to your life.”
If you do find yourself needing to take on jobs you don’t particularly enjoy, it might help to think about the bigger picture. Earning more money may help alleviate stress, or mean you can spend more on the things you enjoy.
Decide on a main focus
Dr Yath Premadasan, a medical advisor and risk officer in healthtech who helps healthcare workers tackle burnout, says it’s important to decide where to focus most of your energy.
Read more: How to ask an employer about flexible working without explicitly asking
“Treat everything else as a side endeavour,” he says. “For me, that focus is on healthtech, where I lead product oversight and AI risk management. On the side, I write a newsletter, consult on a few projects, and occasionally practice medicine.
“It is also important to build boundaries around your time, reflect on your workload regularly, and learn from the trial and error that comes with handling multiple responsibilities.”
Money aside, there are positives to polyworking. With firm boundaries around your time and scheduled time off, working different jobs doesn’t have to be chaotic. Depending on what you do, a side hustle can provide a creative outlet.
“One of the biggest pros is that poly-working allows people to express parts of themselves that their main job might not tap into,” says Mullins. “For some, it’s about creativity and purpose. For others, it’s a step toward greater autonomy and diversifying their income sources.”
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::A Nigerian official blames Boko Haram insurgents after several people were killed when their bus hit a landmine
:: April 12, 2025
:: Damboa, Nigeria
:: Babagana Zulum, Borno State Governor
“There is resurgence of Boko Haram activities in Borno state and there is a need for Borno state government, the military, as well as paramilitary to work together in order to abort the looming situation.”
“For the last one year or so, we have not witnessed IED explosion between Maiduguri to Damboa, but unfortunately the road was closed for about one month, and I believe this is one of the reasons why insurgents have decided to come and plant IEDs because of lack of vehicular movement along the road.”
Seven other travelers were taken to the intensive care unit of a hospital in the state capital Maiduguri, while 14 people sustained minor injuries in the incident, according to Zulum.
He also said the government would foot the bills of those injured as he visited some of them at a hospital.
Landmines are common in the northeast region where the Islamist group Boko Haram frequently launches attacks on security facilities and civilian communities, and has kidnapped hundreds of school children in the past.
The governor urged the security agencies to intensify efforts in combating insurgency and securing major roads across the state.
In one of the largest deals in the crypto space to date, crypto payments company XRP, to integrate a broader range of services that will attract large institutions, CEO Brad Garlinghouse told Fortune. “Ripple needs to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to appeal and expand to a larger segment of the biggest bulge bracket institutions,” he said.
The deal consisted of mostly cash as well as XRP and stock, Garlinghouse said. The acquisition will close in the coming months pending regulatory approval, and Hidden Road founder Marc Asch will stay on to head the prime broker at Ripple. FT Partners provided financial advice to Hidden Road.
Primer brokers are integral to the efficiency of financial markets, including emerging crypto ones, as they provide a range of services—including trading, custody, lending and borrowing—to large institutions like hedge funds, banks and private equity firms. Because of this, they require a substantial amount of capital to function. As part of the deal, Ripple will “inject billions of dollars of capital to provide immediate scale and satisfy the demand for Hidden Road’s prime brokerage,” the company said in a statement.
The deal will benefit Ripple by requiring Hidden Road to integrate some of the company’s products in an attempt to further adoption. The prime broker will integrate the use of RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, as collateral across its prime brokerage products and explore using the XRP Ledger, the blockchain that underlies XRP, to “improve the efficiency of settlement,” Garlinghouse said.
The acquisition comes as the regulatory environment in the U.S. shifts in favor of the crypto industry, giving the greenlight to financial institutions that were previously hesitant to engage with the asset class. Since President Trump publicly endorsed the adoption of Bitcoin by the U.S. government, institutions like Fidelity, Bank of New York Mellon and even Gamestop have begun to embrace crypto, making prime brokers like Hidden Road increasingly important.
Hidden Road was founded in 2018 by Asch, who comes from a background in hedge funds, including stints working for billionaire Steven Cohen’s firms SAC Capital and Point72 Asset Management. The company focuses on cryptocurrencies and foreign exchange, competing with other crypto prime brokers like FalconX and Coinbase Prime. In 2024, Hidden Road facilitated the transfer of $3 trillion worth of funds.
Hidden Road raised $50 million in a Series A in 2022 that included participation from Castle Island Ventures, Coinbase Ventures and Citadel Securities. The company had been weighing a potential sale or capital raise since mid-March, Bloomberg reported last month citing “people with knowledge of the matter.”
Wall Street watches a company’s quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.
The earnings figure itself is key, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb even higher.
The Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company’s report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to look at a qualifying stock. Garmin (GRMN) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.70 a share eight days away from its upcoming earnings release on April 30, 2025.
GRMN has an Earnings ESP figure of 2.88%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.70 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.65.
GRMN is just one of a large group of Computer and Technology stocks with a positive ESP figure. Blink Charging (BLNK) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.
Blink Charging is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on May 8, 2025. BLNK’s Most Accurate Estimate sits at -$0.14 a share 16 days from its next earnings release.
For Blink Charging, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of -$0.14 is 2.32%.
Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, GRMN and BLNK could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.
Use the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they’re reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Despite occasional scams in the solar market, homeowners across the United States are continuing to unlock massive savings by installing rooftop solar panels, sometimes thousands of dollars’ worth over time.
CleanTechnica’s Zachary Shahan recently shared that while a few bad actors exist in the solar installation industry, they’re rare and certainly shouldn’t dissuade households from going solar. In fact, given the falling price of panels and rising utility bills, the financial case for switching to solar is stronger than ever. As Shahan put it: “Many homeowners can save thousands of dollars by going solar.”
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that in 2023, residential electricity bills increased by 2% each month compared to 2022. In 2024, the average spend on utilities increased by 3%, per Business Wire.
Meanwhile, solar panels are becoming more accessible. While installation may set you back by around $29,000, according to EnergySage, the benefits you’ll get from solar panels, including significant energy savings, will eventually outweigh the price tag. As one commenter pointed out, solar plus batteries “can still save a ton of money.”
However, solar’s appeal isn’t just about cost-cutting. Residential solar systems also play a crucial role in reducing the pollution that contributes to our planet’s rising temperatures. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, each kilowatt-hour of solar power helps reduce carbon pollution by replacing electricity generated from dirty energy.
Meanwhile, digital platforms are making it easier for homeowners to explore their options with confidence. Using trusted platforms like EnergySage, which has been vetted by TCD, homeowners can compare solar quotes and assess credible local installers. These tools can help avoid scams while helping buyers find deals that shrink electricity bills and cut carbon pollution — one of the most powerful steps toward a more climate-resilient future.
Home solar systems can also bolster communities during extreme weather events and grid outages. And thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, many installations currently qualify for significant tax credits — though these won’t last forever, and future political changes could impact them. EnergySage helps with managing these benefits as well, and since they often save homeowners around $10,000, they’re obviously hugely valuable to get right.
Solar is already benefiting many Americans. One Reddit user shared: “Our solar will have paid for itself 5.5 years after installation (probably sooner – we are 18mo in so far). The monthly electric bill was $300+, now it is $10-$20 (mandatory utility use fees).”
One commenter advised that if you’re serious about saving money while still using sustainable energy: “You’ll need to crunch the numbers and maybe lean into battery storage. It’s not one-size-fits-all; balance is key. Stick with what works for you, run your own calculations, and remember: a little extra investment now might mean major savings down the road.”
For anyone curious about whether their roof could deliver similar savings, there are simple ways to get started — and they don’t involve cold calls or guesswork.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.