Had You Bought This Magnificent Vanguard ETF at the Start of January, You'd Be Crushing the S&P 500 in 2026

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has returned 23.3% in 2026, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 10.3% return. The ETF's strong performance is driven by five trillion-dollar tech companies—Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon—which comprise 50.6% of its portfolio. While AI infrastructure demand remains strong, rising costs and customer concerns about spending sustainability present near-term risks.

07/14/2026, 11:17 AM • The Motley Fool

Where Will Nvidia Stock Be in 2030?

Nvidia stock has risen 380% over three years but struggled in 2026 with only 12% gains. However, analysts project significant upside by 2030, with the AI data center chip market potentially reaching $825 billion. Even if Nvidia's market share declines to 50%, it could generate over $400 billion in data center chip revenue, while its rapidly growing networking business could push total addressable opportunity above $1 trillion. Analysts project earnings per share could reach $21.24 by fiscal 2031, potentially driving stock price to $573, nearly 2.8x current levels.

07/14/2026, 9:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Which High-Yield ETF Is a Better Buy in 2026: Vanguard VYM vs iShares HDV?

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) are compared as income-focused investment options. VYM offers broader diversification with 605 stocks and a lower 0.04% expense ratio, while HDV provides a more concentrated portfolio of 75 defensive stocks with a higher 2.8% dividend yield. Both ETFs are suitable for dividend investors, with VYM better for growth-oriented income seekers and HDV for those preferring defensive positioning.

07/14/2026, 9:04 AM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: This ETF Will Be the Best Way to Invest in the S&P 500 to Finish 2026

The article argues that the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) may outperform the standard S&P 500 through the end of 2026 due to overconcentration risk in mega-cap tech stocks. With the top 10 holdings accounting for over 39% of the S&P 500 and tech representing 38.6% of the index, the author expects other sectors like industrials and energy to outperform, making RSP's equal-weight approach a better hedge against tech concentration.

07/14/2026, 6:35 AM • The Motley Fool

Got $1,000? 2 Magnificent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Down Over 15% to Buy Hand Over Fist

The article recommends buying Micron Technology and Broadcom as both AI semiconductor stocks have declined over 15% from their all-time highs. Micron benefits from surging memory chip demand for AI data centers with expected 81% revenue growth in FY2027, while Broadcom is positioned to generate over $100 billion in AI semiconductor revenue by 2027 through custom chip partnerships with hyperscalers.

07/14/2026, 6:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Data Center Chip Market Size to Hit $56.80 Billion by 2035 | SNS Insider

The global data center chip market, valued at $22.50 billion in 2025, is expected to reach $56.80 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.70%. Growth is driven by generative AI workload demand, hyperscaler capital expenditure commitments of $300 billion in 2025, and enterprise AI adoption. GPUs are expected to register the highest growth rate, while large hyperscale data centers dominate with 68.04% market share. North America leads globally with 35.73% market share, while Europe and Asia-Pacific show strong growth trajectories.

07/14/2026, 2:30 AM • GlobeNewswire

Cboe Global Markets to Launch Extended Hours for Single-Stock Options. Here's Why It Wins When Volatility Spikes.

Cboe Global Markets is launching extended trading hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET) for single-stock options on approximately 20 mega-cap stocks including the Magnificent Seven. The move is expected to boost revenue through increased trading volume and fees, particularly when market volatility is high. Cboe had a record Q1 with 29% revenue growth and 54% earnings growth, though the stock has since pulled back from its May peak. With the VIXEQ (single-stock volatility index) at historically high levels, Cboe is positioned to benefit if volatility persists.

07/13/2026, 5:05 PM • The Motley Fool

AI Use in Cybersecurity Jumped From 50% to 78% in a Year. AI-Related Failures Rose Sharply Too. New SANS Institute Survey Reveals a Governance Gap.

The 2026 SANS Institute survey reveals rapid AI adoption in cybersecurity (50% to 78% in one year), but governance and workforce structures have not kept pace. While 78% of organizations report AI-enabled attacks and red teaming adoption jumped to 61%, 63% of practitioners report significant AI shortcomings in threat detection. The report highlights a critical gap between deployment speed and proper oversight, with human expertise remaining essential for effective defense.

07/13/2026, 3:29 PM • GlobeNewswire

Nvidia's Biggest Risk Isn't Custom AI Chips From Broadcom or AMD -- It's Something That's Hidden in Plain Sight

While Broadcom and AMD are often cited as competitive threats to Nvidia's AI dominance, the article argues that Nvidia's greatest risk comes from its own major customers developing internal AI chips. These in-house solutions are cheaper, more available, and could erode Nvidia's pricing power, gross margins, and upgrade cycles.

07/13/2026, 7:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock: AMD, Nvidia, or Broadcom

Comparing three AI chip leaders, Nvidia emerges as the best buy despite underperformance year-to-date, offering superior growth and attractive valuation. Broadcom is a solid alternative with strong 2027 growth prospects from custom AI chips for major hyperscalers. AMD, despite its 2026 rally, appears overvalued relative to its competitive position against Nvidia's dominant data center presence.

07/12/2026, 6:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Nvidia Stock Just Did Something for the First Time in 7 Years. Here's What History Says Happens Next.

Nvidia's P/E ratio has compressed to its lowest level in seven years as the stock gained only 5% in 2026, a stark contrast to its 1,100% rise since ChatGPT's launch. Despite concerns about AI capex moderation and competitive threats, historical patterns suggest this valuation compression typically precedes powerful re-rating once earnings confirm growth durability. The company's expansion into adjacent AI stack layers through partnerships positions it for earnings expansion and future valuation growth.

07/12/2026, 9:37 AM • The Motley Fool

Broadcom vs. Marvell: A Valuation Showdown for the Custom AI Chip Trade

Broadcom and Marvell are competing in the custom AI chip market for hyperscalers like Google and Meta. Broadcom is the diversified market leader with custom chips, networking hardware, and software, trading at a lower valuation. Marvell is a smaller, faster-growing challenger focused on custom silicon and optical interconnect technology, commanding a premium valuation. The choice between them depends on whether investors prefer Broadcom's stability and value or Marvell's higher-growth potential at higher risk.

07/12/2026, 9:18 AM • The Motley Fool

Morgan Stanley Warns of "Chipflation" as Hyperscalers Invest More in Compute Capacity: 2 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Stocks to Buy Right Now

Morgan Stanley warns of "chipflation" where memory chip prices rise sharply as AI demand outpaces supply. The firm suggests this creates a "durable supply-demand reset" requiring years for new foundries to reach full capacity. Rather than signaling a slowdown, this environment indicates a transition to focusing on utilization rates and returns on capital. Micron Technology and Broadcom are positioned as strong beneficiaries due to their critical roles in AI infrastructure supply chains.

07/12/2026, 7:14 AM • The Motley Fool

5 Unstoppable Semiconductor Stocks You Can Buy Now in July (2026)

Semiconductor stocks are experiencing strong growth driven by agentic AI proliferation. The article highlights five semiconductor companies as investment opportunities, with undervalued opportunities still available in the sector despite recent gains.

07/11/2026, 2:31 PM • The Motley Fool

Here's Why July 22 Could Be a Big Day for Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel

Greg Abel, the new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has quadrupled the company's stake in Alphabet to $30 billion since taking over in 2026. Alphabet's July 22 earnings report will be a critical test of Abel's first major investment decision, with focus on Google Search revenue growth and Google Cloud's expansion, particularly its $462 billion order backlog.

07/11/2026, 12:16 PM • The Motley Fool