Financial & Business News

Many investors know about the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, one of the easiest ways to invest in the broader market. But Vanguard actually has more than 80 different exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that meet a varied list of investor criteria.

Santa Claus will soon be on his way delivering presents to kids around the world. But could the jolly gift-giver bring something for investors, too?

Shares of the medical-device maker DexCom (DXCM 5.57%) are down by 37% this year. The diabetes-focused healthcare company disappointed investors with its second-quarter results, leading to a massive drop in its stock price overnight.

Hubspot stock price has done well this year and is loitering near its highest level since December 2021. HUBS was trading at $720, and was slowly forming a bullish flag chart pattern, pointing to more gains in the coming months.

SoundHound AI (SOUN 15.38%) is likely one of the cheapest artificial intelligence (AI) stocks available (at least on a dollar-per-share basis). While most brokerages offer fractional shares, not all do, and that can limit what stocks investors can buy.

This company utilizes artificial intelligence to improve business processes.

With a capital structure composed of 80% equity and one of the youngest fleets in the refined product market, Scorpio Tankers is well-positioned to navigate the current market weakness. Using the average daily rate of ~$29,500 reported in Q3, Scorpio Tankers would generate approximately $450 million in annual free cash flows after accounting for $182 million in depreciation. This would represent a free cash flow yield of ~17.5% relative to the current market capitalization of $2.56 billion.

The weight-loss biotech Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 1.83%) saw its stock get absolutely slammed on Dec. 18, falling 18% as a result of a new move announced by Merck (MRK -1.48%).

Memory chip manufacturer Micron (MU 3.48%) threw investors for a loop on Thursday with a quarterly report that featured an outlook that wasn't even in the ballpark of Wall Street's expectations.

I upgrade Darden Restaurants (DRI) from sell to hold, recognizing its ability to thrive in a tough promotional environment and maintain strong margins. DRI's recent performance, including a revenue beat and expanded margins, demonstrates resilience and potential for revenue growth despite intense competition. Olive Garden's positive SSSG, LongHorn's loyal customer base, and the promising Uber Eats partnership are key growth drivers for DRI.