Wedbush: Nvidia–Intel (INTC) Deal Is a “Game Changer” for Struggling Chipmaker

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is one of the AI Stocks Analysts Are Tracking Closely. On September 18, NVIDIA and Intel Corporation announced a collaboration to jointly develop multiple generations of custom data center and PC products. Nvidia said that it will invest $5 billion in the struggling US chipmaker.
“This is a game changer deal for Intel as it now brings them front and center into the AI game. Along with the recent US Government investment for 10% this has been a golden few weeks for Intel after years of pain and frustration for investors.” “The companies are incrementally focused on connecting NVDA and INTC architectures, leveraging NVDA’s AI strength and accelerated computing with Intel’s CPU tech ecosystem for improved technological solutions for its customers.” “While not announcing a specific timeline for when these parts go on sale, this announcement does not impact the individual growth strategies of NVDA and INTC moving forward as both companies look to capitalize on growing demand for CPUs and GPUs within the AI Revolution,” he added. -Wedbush analysts, led by Daniel Ives.  
The firm believes that the announcement has transformed Intel from being a laggard to a catalyst, strengthening US’s lead in the AI race. “With AI infrastructure investments continuing to grow with the company expecting between $3 trillion to $4 trillion in total AI infrastructure spend by the end of the decade, the chip landscape remains NVDA’s world with everybody else paying rent as more sovereigns and enterprises wait in line for the most advanced chips in the world.” Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) designs, manufactures, and sells computer products and technologies, delivering data storage, computer, networking, and communications platforms. While we acknowledge the potential of INTC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
Got $3,000? 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

We’re quite possibly at the start of what could be a major technological shift with the onset of artificial intelligence (AI). No one knows what new products, services, or companies will be created. However, with estimates of 25-fold growth in the AI market between 2023 and 2023 (according to a UN Trade and Development report), this can’t be ignored. Smart investors will consider ways of betting on this trend. But you don’t have to search far and wide. If you’re ready to invest $3,000, here are two top AI stocks to buy and hold for the long term.

Dominant forces in the internet age

Two of the most successful businesses of all time are Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), which rose to dominance as the internet became much more prevalent. Without a doubt, these are two of the best AI stocks investors should look at. Alphabet and Meta are in very advantageous positions. They already have thriving business models with offerings that reach vast audiences. Alphabet has six products that each serve more than 2 billion people. During the month of June, Meta’s family of apps had 3.48 billion daily active users. I believe a sound strategy is to find businesses that are leveraging AI to improve their existing offerings. In this way, the new technology can be used to upgrade the user experience instead of trying to create something completely new. These companies are doing a great job in this regard. Alphabet’s Gemini model is embedded in its various products and services. And Search, which investors have worried could easily get disrupted by chatbots, counts more than 100 million monthly active users combined on the AI Mode feature in the U.S. and India. Meta is using AI to provide better content recommendations. This is working so well that it led to a 6% jump in time spent on Instagram in the latest quarter. These companies generate their revenues primarily from digital advertising efforts. They’re both utilizing AI to help their customers create more effective, creative, and successful ad campaigns. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called out the opportunity of improving the ad experience. “If we deliver on this vision, then over the coming years I think that the increased productivity from AI will make advertising a meaningfully larger share of global GDP than it is today,” he said on the first-quarter earnings call in 2025. This could lead to much more revenue down the road. I think AI will simply widen the already huge economic moats that Alphabet and Meta have developed. It seems extremely unlikely that these businesses will get disrupted anytime soon. As they push forward with their respective AI capabilities, it becomes even more challenging for companies to encroach on their territory.

Money is not a concern

Businesses are spending huge amounts of money on AI strategies. Alphabet and Meta are no different. Combined, their capital expenditures are set to total $154 billion in 2025, with increases coming in the years ahead. These numbers are hard to overlook. While the returns from this AI investment are uncertain, which is the market’s biggest worry, these companies are in such strong financial shape that it should be less of a concern. Alphabet ended Q2 with $95 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities on its balance sheet. Meta had $47 billion. With incredibly lucrative business models, demonstrated by the tens of billions in profits generated each quarter, they have the resources to move fast and position themselves to be leaders in the AI age.

Cheapest of the “Magnificent Seven”

What’s particularly exciting about these two companies is that investors don’t have to chase expensive valuations in order to gain exposure to AI in their portfolios. There’s undeniably a lot of buzz in this area of the market. However, Alphabet and Meta trade at the cheapest price-to-earnings ratios of all the “Magnificent Seven” constituents. With $3,000, investors can buy about six shares of Alphabet and about two shares of Meta. These might be the only AI stocks you’d need to own.
Why Income Investors Look to Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) When Choosing Dividend Paying Stocks

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), one of the biggest names in internet and cable, continues to navigate a challenging industry. On one hand, it faces stiff competition in broadband services, while on the other, its traditional cable business has been pressured as more consumers shift to streaming and cut the cord. These headwinds have weighed on its stock, which has fallen nearly 16% in 2025.

That said, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) still holds a dominant position, running Xfinity, the largest pay-TV and home internet provider in the US, and Sky, the biggest pay-TV operator in Europe. Its portfolio also includes several broadcast and cable channels, as well as live-action and animated film studios.

Beyond that, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) runs the Peacock streaming platform and Comcast Spectacor, a sports entertainment company with a strong presence in Philadelphia. It also oversees four Universal Studios theme parks across the globe, adding another layer of diversification to its business.

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is one of the best dividend paying stocks to buy, as the company has raised its payouts for 21 consecutive years. It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.18%, as of September 19.

While we acknowledge the potential of CMCSA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Analog Devices’ (ADI) Dividend History and its Impact on Dividend Paying Stocks Portfolios

Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) develops and sells high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing chips that power a wide range of uses, including industrial automation, automotive systems, consumer electronics, and advanced communications networks.

In recent years, Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) has placed strong emphasis on innovation and research and development. The aim is to stay at the forefront of technology while meeting the evolving demands of its industrial, automotive, communications, and consumer markets. Its long-term success depends on sustained R&D spending, close collaboration with customers, and aligning its solutions with major growth trends like the digital transformation of manufacturing and the rise of AI-powered infrastructure.

In addition, Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) has also been distributing dividends generously over the years, which makes it one of the best dividend-paying stocks to buy now. The company has raised its payouts for 21 years straight. Currently, it pays a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.61%, as of September 19.

While we acknowledge the potential of ADI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Disclosure: None.

3 Social Security Spousal Benefit Misconceptions That Could Cost You Dearly

Social Security spousal benefits could give your household a much-needed financial boost in retirement. With the average check around $955 per month as of August 2025, these benefits aren’t enough to live on on their own, but when paired with your partner’s retirement checks, Social Security could cover a sizable chunk of your expenses. All you have to do to claim a spousal benefit is wait for your partner to apply and then sign up yourself. But if you hope to maximize your checks, you’ll need to avoid falling prey to the following three common misconceptions as well.

Misconception 1: You only get a spousal benefit if you didn’t work

It’s possible to qualify for a spousal benefit even if you’ve never worked a day in your life. As long as you’ve been married for at least one year, have a child with your spouse, or qualified for Social Security or railroad retirement benefits in the month before your marriage, you’re eligible provided your spouse qualifies for retirement benefits. To do this, they’ll need to have worked long enough to earn 40 credits, where one credit equals $1,810 in earnings in 2025 and you can earn a maximum of four credits per year. It’s possible to qualify for both retirement and spousal benefits if you worked as well. But the Social Security Administration only pays you an amount equal to the larger of the two benefits. For example, if your own retirement benefit is $2,000 and your spousal benefit is $1,000, you’d get the retirement benefit. But if the numbers were switched, you’d get the $1,000 that represented your own retirement benefit, plus another $1,000 of your spousal benefit for a total of $2,000. So it’s possible that you could receive a spousal benefit even if you also qualify for a retirement benefit. It depends on how your earnings history compares to your spouse’s. Your age at sign-up matters, too. You must wait until your full retirement age (FRA) to get the whole retirement or spousal benefit you qualify for per check. This is 67 for most workers today. Claiming early reduces your retirement benefit by 5/9 of 1% per month for up to 36 months and then by 5/12 of 1% per month thereafter, for a total loss of up to 30% for those who apply as soon as they become eligible at 62. Spousal benefits see an even steeper early claiming penalty at 25/36 of 1% per month for up to 36 months before dropping to 5/12 of 1% per month. That could shrink your checks by up to 35% if you apply immediately at 62.

Misconception 2: Delaying until 70 will get you your largest checks

One strategy for maximizing your lifetime retirement benefit is to avoid signing up for Social Security until you turn 70. Once you pass your FRA, your checks begin to grow by 2/3 of 1% per month, or 8% per year. If your FRA is 67, that means you could add another 24% to your benefit that way. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for spousal beneficiaries. Spousal benefits max out at your FRA. You should definitely sign up by then so you don’t miss out on hard-earned money. If you qualify for retirement and spousal benefits, this is another factor to weigh when deciding when you want to sign up. Your spousal benefit might be larger at the moment, but if you’re able to wait a few years, your retirement benefit could give you more money per month. You can estimate your retirement benefit at every possible claiming age using your my Social Security account. This already contains the details of how much you’ve paid Social Security payroll taxes on to date. If you know the benefit your spouse qualifies for at their FRA, you can also estimate your spousal benefits at every claiming age.

Misconception 3: Only married individuals can claim spousal benefits

Spousal Social Security benefits are also available to ex-spouses, provided you were married for at least 10 years before you divorced. You also must not have remarried, though it doesn’t matter if your ex has. You and your ex’s new spouse can both claim spousal Social Security benefits on your ex’s record at the same time. When you’re claiming on your ex’s work record, you don’t have to wait until they sign up in order to claim a spousal benefit. You can do so whenever you’re ready as long as you’re at least 62 and you’ve been divorced for at least two years. If you have any questions about spousal benefits or how your choice to sign up at a certain time could affect your checks, it’s best to contact the Social Security Administration for personalized advice. You can do this by phone or by visiting your local Social Security office.
White House offers more details about potential TikTok deal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox News today and said that an agreement has been reached — but not signed — that would see TikTok’s U.S. operations spun out under majority American ownership.

Leavitt said Americans will hold six of seven board seats in the restructured TikTok, and the short-form video app’s algorithm will be U.S.-controlled, according to Bloomberg.

“So all of those details have already been agreed upon, now we just need this deal to be signed and that will be happening, I anticipate, in the coming days,” Leavitt said.

Bloomberg also reports that a senior White House official said new investors in TikTok will include Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz, and private equity firm Silver Lake Management, with Oracle responsible for the app’s security and safety. Current owner ByteDance would reportedly own less than 20% of the spun off company.

President Donald Trump repeatedly extended the deadline of a U.S. bill that bans TikTok if it isn’t sold to new owners. He said Friday that China’s president Xi Jinping had approved the deal.

StubHub’s stock plunges 10% in third day on NYSE as post-IPO slump deepens

After a long wait to get public, StubHub has had a rough start to life on the New York Stock Exchange.

Shares of the online ticket vendor dropped 10% on Friday, falling for a third straight day since debuting on Wednesday. At $18.46, the stock is now down 21% from its IPO price of $23.50.

StubHub, trading under ticker symbol “STUB,” has lagged behind fellow market newcomers like online lender Klarna, design software company Figma and stablecoin issuer Circle, which delivered early returns for investors following their recent IPOs. Shares of cybersecurity firm Netskope also rose 10% on Friday in their second trading day, after an initial pop on Thursday.

StubHub had been trying to go public for the past several years, but delayed its debut twice. The most recent stall came in April after President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs roiled markets. The company filed an updated prospectus in August, effectively restarting the process to go public, and has since seen its market cap slip to about $6.8 billion from $8.6 billion at its IPO.

Founded in 2000, StubHub primarily generates revenue from connecting buyers with ticket resellers. In the first quarter, revenue rose 10% from a year earlier to $397.6 million. The company’s net loss widened to $35.9 million from $29.7 million a year ago.

StubHub CEO Eric Baker told CNBC on Wednesday that the company expects recently introduced federal regulations around transparent ticket pricing to cause a “one-time” hit to its financial results.

Regulators are zeroing in on online ticket sellers over their pricing mechanisms and whether the companies are doing enough to keep automated purchasing bots in check. The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued StubHub rival Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, accusing it of illegal resale tactics.

While StubHub has failed to excite Wall Street, its struggles haven’t seeped into other deals as the tech IPO market continues to show signs of a resurgence after an extended dry spell. Amazon reseller Pattern Group saw its stock rise 12% on Friday, though shares initially slipped 6%.

Investors in Costamare (NYSE:CMRE) have seen incredible returns of 311% over the past five years

The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But on a lighter note, a good company can see its share price rise well over 100%. For instance, the price of Costamare Inc. (NYSE:CMRE) stock is up an impressive 139% over the last five years. It’s also good to see the share price up 34% over the last quarter.

So let’s investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business’ progress.

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During the five years of share price growth, Costamare moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here.

The company’s earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

This free interactive report on Costamare’s earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Costamare, it has a TSR of 311% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Costamare shareholders have received returns of 20% over twelve months (even including dividends), which isn’t far from the general market return. We should note here that the five-year TSR is more impressive, at 33% per year. Although the share price growth has slowed, the longer term story points to a business well worth watching. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We’ve identified 4 warning signs with Costamare (at least 1 which is concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Instacart (CART): Evaluating Valuation After Expansion into Retail Ads and Health Partnerships

If you have been watching Maplebear (CART), this week’s news might have spurred some questions about where the company is headed. Instacart just rolled out two major partnerships: one with Vroom Delivery to expand its Carrot Ads technology to thousands more convenience stores, and another with Pear Suite to broaden access to healthy food and nutrition support for Medicaid members through Instacart Health. For anyone weighing their next move with CART stock, these announcements highlight Instacart’s strategy to deepen its retail ad network while also growing its footprint in food and health services. Looking at the trends over the past year, Maplebear’s stock has drifted slightly lower, edging down about 2% during that time. The broad market has shifted in the same period, but recent months suggest lingering uncertainty around Instacart’s trajectory. While there have been several announcements, including high-profile conference presentations, momentum has not really picked up, with shares slipping another 5% over the past three months as the market sorts out the longer-term story. After this string of new partnerships but tepid share performance, is Maplebear at a discount for forward-thinking investors, or has the market already priced in its evolving business mix?

Most Popular Narrative: 30.7% Undervalued

According to the most widely followed narrative, Maplebear appears significantly undervalued compared to its estimated fair value. Analysts see major catalysts in the company’s technology-driven growth and resilient revenue streams.
Deepening enterprise partnerships and a growing suite of omnichannel retailer integrations (such as Storefront, Carrot Ads, Caper Carts, Carrot Tags) are increasing stickiness with major retail chains. These trends are creating new recurring revenue streams and driving higher-margin, non-transaction-based revenues (for example, advertising and in-store technology). This development makes the business model less volatile and supports sustainable margin expansion and earnings resilience.
Ever wondered what’s boosting Maplebear’s value despite its recent stock slump? The real drivers lie in a set of bold financial forecasts and margin upgrades that could catch even seasoned investors off guard. The narrative’s profit assumptions and future earnings growth paint a very different picture than what recent headlines suggest. Craving the full story? Wait until you see the numbers behind this surprisingly high fair value. Result: Fair Value of $59.88 (UNDERVALUED) However, rising labor costs and increased competition could quickly undermine Instacart’s growth outlook. This makes the bullish valuation case less certain.

Another View: Multiples Tell a Different Story

Taking a look at Maplebear from a different perspective, its current pricing compared to similar companies in the industry reflects less of a discount than the fair value estimate suggests. Is the optimism already accounted for, or could there be additional upside? Stay updated when valuation signals shift by adding Maplebear to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our screener to discover other companies that fit your criteria.

Build Your Own Maplebear Narrative

If you prefer digging into details yourself or have a different take, you can shape your own Maplebear story in just a few minutes using our simple tools. Do it your way. A good starting point is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards investors are optimistic about regarding Maplebear.

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Unusual Machines (UMAC): A Fresh Look at Valuation as CEO Prepares for Q3 Investor Summit

Unusual Machines (NYSEAM:UMAC) is about to take center stage, with its CEO stepping up for a highly anticipated talk at the Q3 Investor Summit Group Virtual Conference. For investors wondering whether to hold or make a move, this presentation comes at a time when many are looking for clues about the company’s next steps and strategic direction. Company conference slots might not always shake up the share price, but upcoming remarks from the top executive can sometimes tip the scales in how markets perceive future prospects and growth plans. Over the past year, Unusual Machines has put in a 7% gain, outpacing some of its peers. Momentum has picked up notably in the past month, with the stock up 36%. While annual performance is in positive territory, the stock is rebounding from weakness earlier in the year, and the pace of gains has gathered steam as the conference approaches. Investors are also watching annual revenue and net income growth. Both have turned sharply higher in recent reports, hinting the company has moved into a new phase of expansion. With all eyes on the CEO’s conference remarks and recent momentum, the question becomes whether there is real value left for new investors, or if the stock is already pricing in everything the future might hold?

Most Popular Narrative: 22.9% Undervalued

The most widely followed valuation narrative sees Unusual Machines as significantly undervalued, with pricing that reflects both rapid future growth and robust demand from new government contracts.
Significant government policy changes and increasing U.S. federal investment in drone technology are set to unlock material new demand for domestically sourced drone components. Unusual Machines’ expectation of imminent and sizable government orders, including multiple customers competing for contracts such as the $500 million PBAS program, positions the company to capture a large share of a rapidly expanding market. This is likely to result in sequential revenue growth over the next several quarters.
Want to know what’s really fueling this bullish outlook? The narrative is built on bold estimates about how fast revenue and profit margins might scale in coming years. How high could this growth rocket, and what’s the key number that analysts are banking on? The answer may surprise you. However, Unusual Machines’ reliance on rapid government contract growth and volatile regulatory environments could quickly change the outlook for future revenue and profit margins.

Another View: Why the Market Might Disagree

Looking from a different angle, a simple comparison to the industry average book value paints a less optimistic picture. This measure suggests Unusual Machines could actually be expensive for its sector. Could the recent momentum be running ahead of fundamentals? Stay updated when valuation signals shift by adding Unusual Machines to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our screener to discover other companies that fit your criteria.

Build Your Own Unusual Machines Narrative

If these narratives do not capture your perspective or you prefer making investment decisions based on your own analysis, take a few minutes to explore the data and develop your unique view. Do it your way. A great starting point for your Unusual Machines research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 4 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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