Bitcoin climbs to highest level since late February: CNBC Crypto World
On today's episode of CNBC Crypto World, major cryptocurrencies and broader markets climb following positive Big-Tech earnings. Plus, Robinhood's Q1 earnings report reveals crypto revenue increased 100% compared to the prior year. And, Alisia Painter, co-founder of bitcoin-based blockchain Botanix Labs, discusses the cryptocurrency's performance and what can be expected in May.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Value Meets Growth: 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Even Warren Buffett Might Respect
One prominent search and artificial intelligence (AI) giant trades at a rock-bottom valuation. This social media company could leverage its data horde to become an AI leader. Amid customer and geopolitical concerns, one semiconductor stock has arguably become oversold. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Investors often view value stocks and growth stocks as mutually exclusive. This is likely because growth stocks often trade at premium valuations, and value stocks tend to attract conservative investors, or those focused on income more than growth. That essentially describes investors like Warren Buffett. However, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway includes stocks such as Amazon and T-Mobile that arguably tend more toward growth than value. Knowing that, one can identify artificial intelligence (AI)-oriented value stocks that might draw an investor like Buffett. These names are three examples. Amid Buffett's bent toward technology investors in recent years, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) looks like a stock that could fit Berkshire's portfolio. Alphabet is a longtime leader in the AI field, and that technology helped the company cement its leadership in search, a business that has consistently generated massive free cash flows through its leadership in digital advertising. Nonetheless, it still derives 74% of its revenue from ads, and the rise of ChatGPT has raised questions about Alphabet's business model. With its market share in search now below 90%, it is under pressure to turn to other income sources. Fortunately, it has done just that, deriving 14% of its revenue from Google Cloud. Also, its $45 billion autonomous driving company Waymo also holds the potential to pick up some of the slack. To stay competitive, Alphabet pledged to spend $75 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year. The company holds around $95 billion in liquidity, and it generated $75 billion in free cash flow over the trailing 12 months, a figure that does not include the capex spending. That investment makes it likely the Google parent will stay competitive. When also considering the P/E ratio of about 19, value investors have tremendous incentive to bet on an AI-driven comeback. Most investors likely know Facebook parent Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) better as a social media stock than an AI leader. One can understand that, given the 3.4 billion people that log on to a Meta-owned social media site every day. That amounts to 42% of the population, a figure that implies it is closing in on market saturation. With the amount of data generated by its users, Meta sees its future in the metaverse and AI. To that end, it has begun to invest heavily in technology and data centers, pledging to spend between $64 billion and $72 billion in 2025 in capex to build its infrastructure. Despite that staggering sum, it can likely afford to make this investment. Meta holds more than $70 billion in liquidity, and it generated $50 billion over the trailing 12 months. Additionally, its P/E ratio is just around 27. When considering that reasonable valuation, its massive potential for AI leadership, and ability to generate cash, Meta is a growth stock priced to drive value-oriented investors. Another surprising value stock is Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). The AI chip designer has long led the development of smartphone chipsets, but heavy exposure to China and Apple's plan to develop chipsets in-house have soured many investors on Qualcomm stock. However, investors have good reason to bet on an AI-driven recovery. Qualcomm has diversified into IoT, automotive, PC chips, and data center processors as it prepares for softer smartphone demand. Admittedly, it is not investing as heavily as some tech giants in capex, spending just $1.1 billion over the previous 12 months. Nonetheless, with the DeepSeek breakthrough making low-cost AI more feasible, an AI-driven upgrade cycle could breathe new life into its smartphone business, increasing that segment's 12% annual revenue growth rate. Moreover, its IoT and automotive segments grew revenue at a yearly rate of 27% and 59%, respectively, helping Qualcomm diversify its revenue base more rapidly. Additionally, amid the impending loss of Apple and its China ties, Qualcomm trades at a 15 P/E ratio. That's far below any of the major chip design companies, and with its potential to support AI smartphones and other products, that valuation arguably makes this semiconductor stock too cheap to ignore. Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Will Healy has positions in Berkshire Hathaway and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Value Meets Growth: 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Even Warren Buffett Might Respect was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Hill
14 hours ago
- The Hill
Sunday shows preview: Trump-Musk spat leaves admin reeling; ‘Big, beautiful bill' hits speed bump
President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk's feud spilled out in public on Thursday, with the world's richest man and the world's most powerful leader trading barbs that engulfed news cycles in Washington and abroad. Musk, a Trump ally, was vocal about his disappointment with Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' currently sitting in the Senate. Musk, who spent millions during the 2024 presidential campaign to help elect Trump, called the massive piece of legislation a 'disgusting abomination.' Trump then weighed in on Thursday at the White House during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit, saying, 'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore.' The spat intensified, with Musk floating the prospects of creating a third party, claiming that without his political contributions, Trump would not be victorious against ex-Vice President Harris in November and accusing the president of having ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump threatened to cut off federal contracts awarded to Musk's companies. Later on Thursday, Musk signaled he might be open to brokering a truce with the commander-in-chief. After speaking with several news outlets Friday morning, Trump suggested he is ready to move on and indicated that he will not be speaking with Musk for a while. Trump told CNN Friday morning that he is 'not even thinking about Elon' and added that the SpaceX and Tesla CEO has 'got a problem. The poor guy's got a problem.' In the Senate, Trump's agenda bill, which passed the House chamber last month, has sparked concerns and criticism from GOP senators. The first group of GOP Sens., which consists of Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), are arguing they could vote against the bill if it slashes Medicaid benefits. Others, including Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) have previously said they would not back the legislation if it retains the current debt and spending levels. The GOP can have three defections total if all Democrats vote against the legislation. Sen. Johnson will be on CNN's 'State of the Union where he will likely discuss if any of his concerns regarding the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' have been addressed. As part of a push to root out waste, fraud and abuse within Medicare, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said this week that a bill sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), that would crack down on Medicare Advantage overpayments known as 'upcoding,' could be inserted into Trump's massive legislation. Cassidy will be on NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday,' where he will likely discuss the latest on the reconciliation package along with his recent visit to the White House. NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday': Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.); Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Ma); U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief policy officer Neil Bradley. ABC's 'This Week': Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). NBC's 'Meet the Press': Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). CNN's 'State of the Union': 'Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.); Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.). CBS' 'Face the Nation': National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.); Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas); Save the Children U.S. President and CEO Janti Soeripto. 'Fox News Sunday': Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought; Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.); Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures': Secretary Of Interior Doug Burgum, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.); House Ways And Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.); Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Better Fintech Stock: SoFi Technologies vs. Robinhood Markets
SoFi Technologies' earnings growth is accelerating as it benefits from its expanding slate of personal finance solutions. Shares of Robinhood Markets have hit a new all-time high thanks to its strong growth outlook and improved financial position. 10 stocks we like better than SoFi Technologies › Digital bank SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) and online brokerage Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) both leverage their innovative platforms to disrupt the traditional financial services sector. Their strong growth rates have translated into impressive returns: Shares of SoFi are up 95% in the past year, while Robinhood stock has climbed by a remarkable 246%. After such large gains, some investors may wonder if they can keep their rallies going. Let's consider which of these fintech leaders is a better buy for your portfolio today. SoFi Technologies has transformed from a student and personal loans specialist into a comprehensive financial services platform. Its digital-first, one-stop shop approach resonates with consumers. Today, it serves 10.9 million members, nearly twice as many as it served just two years ago. In the first quarter -- in what CEO Anthony Noto described as a "tremendous start to 2025" -- SoFi's adjusted net revenue surged 33% year over year while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed 200% to $0.06. The bank's success reflects its ongoing diversification beyond lending products into more fee-based services, as its members are increasingly utilizing more of its banking accounts, credit cards, investing options, and other financial products. SoFi is now positioned for more consistently profitable growth and high-quality cash flows. Management expects the positive trends to continue: It's targeting full-year adjusted EPS of $0.27 to $0.28 -- nearly double the $0.15 result in 2024. This outlook highlights a key advantage of SoFi over Robinhood Markets, which faces greater earnings uncertainty, as its business is still tied to transaction volumes and shifting financial market conditions. Investors who are confident in SoFi's ability to execute its growth strategy and capture more market share from legacy banks have compelling reasons to buy and hold the stock for the long term. As robust as SoFi's operating and financial results have been, Robinhood's recent momentum has been even stronger. In the first quarter, net revenue increased 50% while EPS more than doubled to $0.37 from $0.17 in the prior-year period. The company that redefined retail investing with its pioneering commission-free trading model is capitalizing on its 25.8 million funded accounts, where users are trading more actively and directing more of their total assets to the platform. Much of the growth story stems from the cryptocurrency market boom. Crypto now represents 43% of the platform's total transaction volume and contributes 27% of total revenue. Still, Robinhood Markets is also diversifying its product and service offerings with professional-level trading tools, banking solutions, wealth management options, and the premium Robinhood Gold subscription, all of which are increasing the company's customer wallet share. Wall Street has cheered Robinhood's traction, sending the stock up 94% year-to-date to a high that surpassed the pandemic-era peak it set in 2021. Robinhood aims to replicate its U.S. success as it expands globally. It plans to launch service in the Asia Pacific region, and is bolstering its presence in the digital asset space through its recent acquisition of crypto exchange Bitstamp. Those international ambitions, compared to SoFi's more domestically focused operations, could support greater long-term top- and bottom-line growth, which would help justify the stock's premium valuation. Notably, both Robinhood and Sofi are trading at forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios near 50, suggesting the market's optimism about their potential is fairly equal. Investors who take the view that Robinhood is just getting started on its path toward a dominant position in the online brokerage space should consider making the stock a part of a diversified portfolio. Choosing which of these is the better fintech stock to buy now isn't easy. I'm bullish on both and predict each will deliver positive returns over the next year. If I were forced to pick just one to buy, though, I'd give the edge to SoFi Technologies, which appears to offer a compelling buy-the-dip opportunity with shares still down about 27% from their 52-week high. In my view, SoFi stands to benefit more from a resilient macroeconomic backdrop, fueling lending demand and earnings growth in the coming quarters, which would provide catalysts for the stock to rally higher. Meanwhile, Robinhood must contend with the lofty expectations baked into its stock price following its recent surge. The market's hopes for it could prove difficult to meet, potentially setting the stage for renewed stock price volatility ahead. Before you buy stock in SoFi Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and SoFi Technologies wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Dan Victor has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Fintech Stock: SoFi Technologies vs. Robinhood Markets was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
