Category: Economy

Key Points Social Security is a major source of income for retirees today. A lot of the program’s rules aren’t so well-known. It’s important to educate yourself on Social Security so you can approach retirement with more confidence. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes…

You’re not alone if you’re an investor who’s insistent on being paid monthly dividends rather than quarterly dividends. Indeed, a number of companies have shifted gears from paying dividends every three months to every month. At the end of the day, it’s a small change that makes a big difference for income investors, especially those…

Key Points A home equity line of credit could be a way to consolidate debt. You may find that you get a lower interest rate on a HELOC, plus flexibility. Be aware of the pitfalls of using a HELOC before moving forward. Is a HELOC right for you? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with…

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Key Points Alphabet hasn’t been paying dividends for very long, and the annual yield isn’t impressive. Yet, Alphabet’s firm capital position and low payout ratio indicate the potential for dividend raises. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that…

Conventional wisdom dictates that incomes in the United States tend to rise with education level — and that the highest paying jobs are reserved for those who, at a minimum, have obtained a bachelor’s degree. This widely held belief is not unfounded. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a typical full-time worker with a…

Regardless of the recent stock market volatility, the explosive demand for semiconductors and microchips that has grabbed news headlines and led the market higher over the past few years remains. As the drive toward integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into our everyday lives progresses, a handful of mega-cap companies are capable of meeting that demand. While…

Although OPEC+ has announced plans to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day starting this month, actual increases may be smaller due to overproduction by some members, such as Kazakhstan and Iraq. Paradoxically, oil prices rose after this announcement, possibly because the increase was less than expected, or due to market sentiment expecting a tighter…

More than 40 Wall Street analysts label Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) stock as a buy. And despite the odd plunge (or crash) experienced in the past few years, the bulls have been absolutely spot-on to stick with the social-media juggernaut that’s now making a big splash in AI, with the potential to lead the way into…

Sam Altman is an influential visionary who is essentially the face of AI these days. And while he has a lot to say about the future of AI and the associated revolution to come, I think his investment portfolio is full of gems that stand to profit profoundly from the AI boom, both directly and…

Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI) stock has its bullish supporters, some of whom feel it can withstand global trade issues and that it may be one of the best artificial intelligence (AI) stocks this year. But it is also a target of short sellers, with nearly 19% of shares held short. Supermicro’s most recent…

Key Points Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa have some of the largest military budgets on the African continent The military budgets of all African countries does not amount to what the US spends on its military annually Despite this, a few African countries rank fairly high on the world stage in terms of…

Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Dividend Tech 12:46 pm by Gerelyn Terzo Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) just declared its latest quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share. In 2024, the Big Tech company was making quarterly distributions of $0.75 per share and has been hiking its annual dividend amount consistently over…

Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Consumer Sentiment Improves 10:52 am by Gerelyn Terzo Consumers are feeling more sanguine about the economy of late, according to the latest University of Michigan poll. The early June reading on consumer confidence came in at 60.5, far surpassing economist expectations of 54 and…

Key Points Barclays warns that Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) shares could fall 25% if antitrust litigation forces the company to spin off Chrome, which drives about 30% of its search traffic. Alphabet faces a second major threat from accelerating adoption of AI-based search tools that bypass traditional Google search, potentially eroding its dominant market share. A…

Dividend stocks provide investors with regular income through consistent payouts, appealing to those seeking passive income or portfolio stability. High-yield stocks, often yielding over 5%, offer substantial cash flow, particularly in low-interest-rate environments. Benefits include reliable income, potential capital gains, and inflation protection if dividends grow.  However, high yields can signal risks like unsustainable dividends,…

Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Forget About a Rate Cut, Says JPMorgan 12:15 pm JPMorgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli tells investors to expect nothing new out of next week’s Federal Reserve meeting. There’s essentially no chance for an immediate cut to interest rates, and Feroli in fact expects…

Key Points The latest Forbes data shows there are now over 3,000 billionaires worldwide. More than 800 billionaires live in the United States. The cities with the most billionaires are a mix of resort towns and economic powerhouses like New York and San Francisco. How long is the road to $1 billion? Talk to a…

Key Points A Reddit user found himself in credit card debt because his parents had charged purchases on his card. The poster was upset about the interest he owed and the impact on his credit score. He was able to increase his score dramatically and earn thousands in rewards through the smart use of credit…

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been one of the stock market’s biggest success stories ever. The company had its initial public offering in May 1997 and traded for an astonishingly low split-adjusted price of just seven cents per share. Since then, the stock has gained over 284,200% as the company has grown into the linchpin…

Inheriting a large chunk of money can be an exciting time filled with both gratitude for the financial gift and grief for a lost loved one. Many people talk about how money can be life changing, but not everyone realizes it can also greatly change your relationships. One recent caller to the popular Dave Ramsey…

After hitting an all-time high of $525.15 in February, AppLovin Corp.’s (NASDAQ: APP) share price tumbled more than 35%, due to a pending class action lawsuit and to short seller reports. However, the software company’s better-than-expected first-quarter report gave the stock a boost last month. The share price is now 17.5% higher than at the…

Key Points NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) took the largest equity stake in CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) during its IPO, solidifying a key strategic and financial position in one of its fastest-growing AI customers. CoreWeave’s business is heavily dependent on Nvidia’s chips for AI infrastructure, aligning Nvidia’s investment with its long-term hardware demand growth. CoreWeave’s IPO success, despite…

Those in the coffee industry are feeling the effects of the recent 10% tariff on unroasted coffee beans. One such company is J.M. Smuckers Co., the supplier to some of America’s most famous coffee brands, such as Folgers and Dunkin’. J.M. says coffee is currently their largest raw-material expense. They have been forced to adjust…

SoFi Technologies Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SOFI) chief executive officer recently stated at a conference that the fintech company has targeted 30% member growth and 20% revenue growth. The share price is 4.7% higher than it was a week ago. Although the stock had a strong start to 2025, at last check, the share price was down…

The United States and China have reached an agreement regarding critical trade disputes, says President Trump. These disputes include rare earth metals and high-end chips. The agreement involved China easing up on rare earth exports, which are necessary for civilian industries. Meanwhile, America will lift specific tech export controls. One example of this is photolithography…

The trade war with China was tough on Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) investors. In April, shares hit a year-to-date low below $87 apiece. Like its fellow Magnificent 7 members, Nvidia has struggled due to economic uncertainties about the effects of tariffs, as well as due to Chinese AI innovations. Bears see Nvidia stock falling further…

Israel’s massive attack on Iran caused a significant drop in stock prices before the market opened. Futures were down as much as 2%. Many analysts believe that if this incident leads to a wider war that includes Iraq and other nations in the Middle East, the S&P 500 could drop sharply, much as it did…

Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. Here at 247 Wall St., we consistently…