Member Articles

Valuentum’s Best Ideas Newsletter Portfolio

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*Portfolio information as of published date in top, left corner of table above. The Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio is not a real money portfolio. Past results are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results may differ from simulated information provided. There is substantial risk associated with investing in financial instruments. By The Valuentum Team The Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio seeks to find stocks that have both good value and good momentum characteristics and typically targets capital appreciation potential over a longer-term horizon. The newsletter puts the Valuentum Buying Index methodology into practice. To access Valuentum’s in-depth articles and analysis on holdings in the portfolio of its Best Ideas Newsletter (as well as their 16-page reports and dividend reports, where … Read more

Tesla’s Shares Remain Pricey

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Image Source: Tesla By Brian Nelson, CFA Tesla (TSLA) recently reported better than expected fourth quarter results, but revenue of $24.9 billion fell 3% in the quarter driven by lower automotive revenues, which declined 11% year-over-year. The consensus revenue estimate was $24.8 billion. Total gross profit fared better, however, advancing 20%, but income from operations dropped 11%, to $1.41 billion in the quarter. Its operating margin contracted 50 basis points year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA fell 4%, as its adjusted EBITDA margin fell 17 basis points. Non-GAAP net income dropped 16% in the quarter, while non-GAAP earnings per share fell 17%, to $0.50, a nickel better than expected. Management had the following to say about the results: 2025 marked a critical year … Read more

NextEra Energy Targets Long Term Earnings Growth

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Image Source: NextEra Energy By Brian Nelson, CFA NextEra Energy (NEE) recently reported fourth quarter results that were mixed. Revenue missed the consensus forecast, while non-GAAP earnings per share slightly beat. Fourth quarter 2025 adjusted net income attributable to NextEra Energy was $1.133 billion, or $0.54 per share, compared to $1.095 billion, or $0.53 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. On an adjusted basis, full-year 2025 earnings were $7.683 billion, or $3.71 per share, compared to $7.063 billion, or $3.43 per share, in 2024, representing year-over-year growth of roughly 8.2%. Management had the following to say about the results: NextEra Energy delivered strong operational and financial performance in 2025, increasing full-year adjusted earnings per share by more than … Read more

Cisco Faces Headwinds Due to Gross Margin Pressures

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Image Source: Cisco By Brian Nelson, CFA On February 11, Cisco (CSCO) reported better than expected results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Quarterly revenue of $15.3 billion increased 10% year-over-year, beating the consensus forecast of $15.11 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share for the quarter came in at $1.04, up 11% year-over-year, and better than the consensus estimate of $1.02. The double-digit top and bottom-line growth exceeded Cisco’s guidance, and it was encouraging to see earnings advance faster than revenue in the quarter. Non-GAAP gross margin came in at 67.5%, down from 68.7% in last year’s quarter, while its non-GAAP operating margin was 34.6% in the quarter. Management had the following to say about the results: Cisco’s strong … Read more

Visa’s Free Cash Flow Margin Is Fantastic

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA Visa (V) recently reported first quarter fiscal 2026 results with revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share coming in better than expected. Net revenue increased 15%, or 13% on a constant-dollar basis, to $10.9 billion. GAAP net income came in at $5.9 billion, or $3.03 per share, up 17%, while non-GAAP net income came in at $6.1 billion or $3.17 per share, up 15%. Management had the following to say about the results: Visa delivered a very strong fiscal first quarter with net revenue up 15% year-over-year, GAAP EPS up 17% and non-GAAP EPS up 15%, driven by resilient consumer spending and a strong holiday season, as well as continued strength in value-added services … Read more

Alphabet Targets Capex in the Range of $175-$185 Billion in 2026

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA On February 4, Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) reported better than expected fourth quarter results with both revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share exceeding the consensus forecast. Consolidated Alphabet revenues increased 18%, or 17% in constant currency, to $113.8 billion. Management noted that it experienced strong momentum across the business and acceleration in growth in both Google Services and Google Cloud. Google Services revenues increased 14%, to $95.9 billion, led by 17% growth in Google Search & other, 17% in Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices, and 9% in YouTube revenue, which exceeded $60 billion for the full year 2025. Google Cloud revenue increased 48%, to $17.7 billion. Management had the following to say about the … Read more

Altria Targets Progressive Dividend Growth Goal

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA On January 29, Altria (MO) reported mixed fourth quarter results with revenue coming in ahead of the consensus forecast, but non-GAAP earnings per share missing the mark. Revenue net of excise taxes fell 0.5% in the quarter, while adjusted diluted earnings per share were flat on a year-over-year basis. In the fourth quarter, Altria repurchased 4.8 million shares for a total cost of $288 million and had $1 billion remaining under its $2 billion share repurchase program, which expires on December 31, 2026. The company paid dividends of $1.8 billion in the fourth quarter. Management had the following to say about the results: 2025 was a year of continued momentum for Altria, marked … Read more

Apple Reports Record-Breaking Quarter; Free Cash Flow Robust

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA On January 29, Apple (AAPL) reported first quarter fiscal 2026 (December quarter end) results that came in better than expectations. The iPhone maker put up all-time records for total company revenue and earnings per share. Its iPhone and Services revenue reached all-time highs as well. Apple’s quarterly revenue of $143.8 billion was up 16% year-over-year, beating consensus expectations of $138.5 billion, while diluted earnings per share was $2.84, up 19% year-over-year, beating the consensus estimate of $2.67 per share. Management had the following to say about the results: Today, Apple is proud to report a remarkable, record-breaking quarter, with revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent from a year ago and well above … Read more

Meta Platforms Climbs on Expected Advertising Revenue Strength

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA On January 28, Meta Platforms (META) reported fourth quarter results that showed a beat on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue increased 24% year-over-year in the quarter (up 23% on a constant currency basis), to $59.9 billion, beating consensus expectations for growth of about 21%, while income from operations advanced 6% year-over-year. Its operating margin contracted roughly 7 percentage points in the period, though net income and diluted earnings per share increased 9% and 11%, respectively. Diluted earnings per share was $8.88, up from $8.02 in the year ago period. Family daily active people (DAP) was 3.58 billion on average for December 2025, an increase of 7% year-over-year. Ad impressions increased 18% … Read more

Microsoft’s In-Line Cloud Growth and Elevated Capex Weigh on Shares

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Image Source: TradingView By Brian Nelson, CFA On January 28, Microsoft (MSFT) reported strong second quarter fiscal 2026 results (ended December 31, 2025) with both revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share exceeding the consensus forecast. Revenue of $81.3 billion beat consensus of $80.3 billion and increased 17% year-over-year (up 15% in constant currency), while operating income of $38.3 billion increased 21% year-over-year (up 19% in constant currency). Non-GAAP net income was $30.9 billion in the quarter, increasing 23% year-over-year (up 21% in constant currency). Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at $4.14, increasing 24% (up 21% in constant currency) and exceeding the consensus forecast of $3.92. Management had the following to say about the results: We are only at … Read more