Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in banking, trust, securities, and other businesses related to financial services in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through Retail & Business Banking Company, Corporate & Institutional Company, Global Corporate Company, Global Markets Company, Asset Management Company, and Others segments. The company provides deposit products; syndicated, housing, and card loans; business matching services; and advisory services related to overseas expansions, and mergers and acquisitions-related services. It also offers consulting services, including asset management and asset succession; payroll services; and sells lottery tickets issued by prefectures and ordinance-designated cities. In addition, it offers fund management, underwriting of equity and bonds, risk hedging products, etc. for corporate customers; solutions based on capital management, business strategy, and financial strategy; real estate services; advisory services and solutions, such as advice on proposals on various investment products to financial institutions; and financial services that include funding support and public bonds underwriting. Further, the company offers corporate finance and transaction banking srvices; sales and trading services; investment products; pension funds; and ALM and investment services, including stable capital raising and balance sheet management, as well as management of fixed income, equity, and other securities portfolios. Additionally, the company provides online banking, cash management solutions, currency transaction, trade finance, custody, yen correspondence settlement, and research and consulting services; trust, securitization and structured finance, and stock transfers; and private banking and information technology-related services. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Mizuho Financial Group выглядит дешёвой по мультипликаторам, но эта дешевизна уже частично объясняется слабой рентабельностью и высокой долговой нагрузкой. P/E 4.89, P/S 0.31, P/B 0.15 и P/FCF 1.29 заметно ниже медианы отрасли, что обычно поддерживает идею недооценки, однако для финансового сектора столь низкие уровни часто отражают ограниченный рост качества капитала и прибыли. При этом динамика P/B и P/S в последние периоды в целом улучшалась, что говорит о постепенном восстановлении оценки рынком, но база остаётся очень низкой. ROE 3.86, ROA 0.15 и ROI 1.61 существенно слабее отрасли и заметно ниже собственных уровней прошлого года, поэтому качество доходности капитала сейчас не подтверждает более высокий мультипликатор. Return on tangible equity 10.22 выглядит лучше и показывает, что на материальном капитале бизнес зарабатывает приемлемо, но этого недостаточно, чтобы полностью компенсировать слабые ROE/ROA. Маржа прибыли 14.10%, операционная маржа 17.82% и gross margin 44.38% ниже отраслевых ориентиров и хуже прошлых значений, что указывает на давление на эффективность. С другой стороны, выручка 14.03 млрд и чистая прибыль 2.01 млрд остаются крупными и в целом устойчивыми, а операционная прибыль 2.54 млрд подтверждает способность банка генерировать результат. Собственный капитал 73.3 млрд вырос по сравнению с предыдущими периодами, что является позитивным сигналом для устойчивости баланса. Но debt/equity 1.72 выше отраслевой медианы, long-term debt остаётся значимым, а current ratio около 0.97 и quick ratio на нуле подчёркивают специфику банковской модели и ограниченную краткосрочную ликвидность. Дивидендная доходность 1.14% снизилась по сравнению с прошлыми периодами, поэтому дивидендный фактор сейчас не выглядит сильным драйвером переоценки. В сумме картина получается смешанной: оценка по рынку очень низкая и это поддерживает потенциал, но слабая рентабельность, ухудшение маржинальности и повышенная долговая нагрузка ограничивают масштаб возможного апсайда. Для инвестора это скорее история умеренной недооценки с качественными рисками, а не кандидат на агрессивное повышение целевой оценки. Поэтому базовый прогноз стоит лишь слегка скорректировать вниз, сохраняя осторожный взгляд на краткосрочный потенциал.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Sponosred

Mizuho выглядит очень дешёвой по мультипликаторам, но слабая рентабельность, ухудшение маржи и высокая долговая нагрузка сдерживают переоценку.

Key Points
Several analysts initiated coverage on Cerebras stock this week.
Despite the analysts' bullish ratings and price targets, investors would be wise to place greater emphasis on the company's fundamentals in deciding whether or not to buy Cerebras stock.
After sinking more than 15% last week, shares of Cerebras (NASDAQ: CBRS) have been heading in the other direction over the past few days. With several analysts initiating coverage on the artificial intelligence (AI) stock and setting auspicious price targets, investors have found sufficient cause to click the buy button.
According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Cerebras shares are up 10.2% from the close of trading last Friday through yesterday's close.
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Wall Street has a warm welcome for this AI powerhouse
Immediately after Cerebras's initial public offering (IPO), there weren't many analysts expressing opinions on the stock's prospects. But that changed this week.
On Monday, several analysts initiated coverage with bullish outlooks.
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley assigned an overweight rating and $280 price target.
Mizuho assigned an outperform rating and $300 price target.
UBS assigned a buy rating and $300 price target.
TD Cowen analyst Joshua Buchalter assigned a buy rating and $275 price target.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore assigned an overweight rating and $250 price target.
Analysts identified several factors that supported their optimistic takes on Cerebras stock. According to Thefly.com, Joseph Moore, for example, recognized that Cerebras' contracts suggest the company could generate $6 billion in revenue in 2028, with the potential to grow even more. For context, Cerebras reported sales of $510 million in 2025.
On the other hand, a Craig-Hallum analyst, who rated Cerebras as a buy and set a $325 price target, recognized "a need for speed in AI inferencing," adding that both OpenAI and Amazon's AWS both embraced Cerebras "because they [Cerebras] are the fastest in the world."
Should Main Street investors follow Wall Street's lead?
As the developer of a leading full-stack AI infrastructure solution, Cerebras stock has garnered considerable market interest since the company's IPO. While the tide of bullish analyst sentiment is noteworthy this week, investors would be better served to focus on the company's financials to ensure its growth prospects remain intact.
Should you buy stock in Cerebras Systems right now?
Before you buy stock in Cerebras Systems, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Cerebras Systems 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 $438,283!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,257,427!*
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Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Cerebras Stock Is Rising This Week

Key Points
S&P Global is spinning off its Mobility business into a standalone company.
The new company, Mobility Global, will start trading on the NYSE on July 1 under the ticker MBGL.
The spinoff should benefit SPGI, allowing it to focus more resources on its market-leading businesses.
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) is best known for its credit ratings and indexes, but it also has a strong institutional consulting and analytics arm.
Its Market Intelligence business, which provides data, analytics, and insights for companies, is one of its largest revenue drivers, generating $1.3 billion in revenue last quarter, an 8% year-over-year increase.
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It also has an energy consulting business, formerly known as Plattʻs, that provides data on energy and commodities.
In addition, it has S&P Mobility, which was formed in 2022 after S&P acquired IHS Markit. This segment provides data and intelligence on the automobile industry.
But as of July 1, Mobility will no longer be part of S&P Global as it is being spun off into its own company, Mobility Global, which will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MBGL.
What does this mean for S&P Global investors?
How the spin-off will benefit SPGI
The spin-off of the Mobility business has been in the works for more than a year now, but it was finalized in late May.
As part of the deal, S&P Global shareholders will receive one share of Mobility Global common stock for every share of S&P Global common stock held at the close of business on June 15. The distribution of Mobility Global shares is expected to be effective on July 1. Normal trading of Mobility Global stock will begin on July 1.
Mobility is S&P Global's smallest business, generating about $454 million in revenue last quarter, up 8%, and $93 million in operating profit, up 9%. It was the slowest grower last quarter, profit-wise, but operating profits grew a robust 21% last year.
When the spinoff was first announced last year, S&P Global President and CEO Martina Cheung said it would allow the company to focus more on its core businesses -- credit ratings, indexes, market intelligence, and commodity insights. Further, it will simplify operations and free up resources for the company to pursue innovation, artificial intelligence initiatives, and growth opportunities within its other market-leading businesses.
93% of analysts say buy
Wall Street analysts are bullish on the spinoff, as SPGI has received price target upgrades in recent weeks from Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and Mizuho Financial Group, among others.
Some 93% of analysts rate S&P Global stock as a buy with a median price target of $543 per share. That would suggest 28% upside for the stock over the next 12 months.
The stock price is down 18% this year, but it has been a consistent long-term performer due to its market leadership across multiple business segments. Over the past 10 years, it has had an average annualized return of 15%. Also, it is a Dividend King, with 53 straight years of dividend increases.
This blue chip winner is also about as cheap as it's been in a while, trading at just 21 times forward earnings.
Mobility was not a significant revenue generator for S&P Global, but spinning it off could spur more growth as the company focuses its resources on its market-leading core businesses.
Should you buy stock in S&P Global right now?
Before you buy stock in S&P Global, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and S&P Global 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 $463,900!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,294,401!*
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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Dave Kovaleski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Goldman Sachs Group, JPMorgan Chase, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

S&P Global Is Spinning Off Its Mobility Business This Summer. Here's What Shareholders Need to Know.

Key Points
Arm stock has soared in 2026.
Arm stock is trading at a rich valuation, so investors may be more comfortable investing in an AI ETF.
Thanks in large part to the market's rampant enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) stock has soared more than 210% since the start of 2026, and one firm thinks that the stock is poised to rocket even higher. This new, bullish outlook on Arm stock is driving the semiconductor stock higher during today's market session.
As of 11:36 a.m. ET, shares of Arm are up 13%.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
This firm sees Arm stock ascending to a new all-time high
Maintaining an outperform rating, Mizuho hiked its price target on Arm stock to $360 from $290. According to Thefly.com, the firm raised its price target on the belief that demand for dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a type of computer memory used to temporarily store data that your computer is actively using, will remain strong through 2027; moreover, Mizuho recognizes that the high bandwidth memory's total addressable market is growing -- two factors that bode well for semiconductor specialist Arm.
Based on Arm's closing price of $302.71, the new price target implies upside of 19%. Should Arm stock, in fact, rise to $360, it will represent a new all-time high. As of this writing, Arm's intraday high was $345.60 earlier today.
Will Arm stock cost you an arm and a leg?
While Mizuho sees Arm stock continuing to rise, investors should bear in mind that shares are trading at a steep valuation -- about 356 times trailing earnings. In light of this, AI investors may be more comfortable investing in an AI ETF that includes Arm stock among its holdings to gain exposure to Arm stock.
Should you buy stock in Arm Holdings right now?
Before you buy stock in Arm Holdings, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Arm Holdings 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 $471,072!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,303,352!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2026.
Scott Levine 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.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Arm Holdings Stock Jumped Higher Today

Key Points
Nvidia continues to dominate the AI chip market, backed by strong demand across industries.
TSMC is a key beneficiary of the surging demand for advanced chip manufacturing capabilities.
Microsoft and Broadcom are emerging as key enablers of AI infrastructure construction, while Palantir is gaining traction in real-world AI deployment.
Technology investing has always been about identifying the next key industry trend. It is no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the dominant force in today's market, even as some investors worry that AI spending may be nearing a peak.
Those concerns are understandable after the strong stock rallies seen over the past couple of years, but the underlying opportunity remains significant. AI infrastructure spending by several of the biggest customers is expected to reach roughly $700 billion in 2026, while several large tech companies continue to report strong revenue growth in the double digits or higher tied to AI demand.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Investors with $5,000 to spare after paying bills or meeting contingencies can consider building positions in companies that provide exposure to the hardware, cloud, and software powering AI. Here are five stocks that meet the criteria.
Nvidia
Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) revenue for fiscal 2026 (ending Jan. 25) surged around 65% year over year to $215.9 billion, driven largely by hyperscalers aggressively investing in data centers. CEO Jensen Huang sees a data-center AI opportunity exceeding $1 trillion through 2027, up from earlier estimates of about $500 billion. This upward revision reflects an accelerated demand for its Blackwell and Rubin systems.
Nvidia's full-stack approach -- built on a tightly integrated system spanning chips, networking, and software -- has made it a crucial enabler of the global AI infrastructure building boom. According to researcher Mizuho, the company is estimated to hold more than a 75% share of the market for AI training and inference chips for data centers.
Its commitment to innovation and expanding global demand continues to support the company's growth. Its $20 billion deal with Groq is also strengthening its position in inference workloads by adding specialized technology and engineering talent.
With strong cash generation and deep integration across the AI stack, Nvidia remains a smart long-term pick.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) has become one of the clearest enablers of the AI boom. In its 2026 first quarter (ending March 31), revenue rose about 39% year over year to $35.9 billion. Gross margin expanded by 3.9 percentage points sequentially to 66.2%, highlighting the company's strong pricing power.
AI demand is now the primary growth engine. High-performance computing accounted for 61% of total first-quarter revenue, while advanced nodes below 7-nanometer contributed 74% of wafer sales.
Management expects revenue to grow above 30% year over year in 2026. With demand for advanced nodes still exceeding supply, the company is positioned to remain a key beneficiary of the ongoing AI infrastructure build-out.
Broadcom
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is benefiting from rising demand for custom chips, as large technology companies focus on optimizing performance and costs. The company is guiding for revenue to grow 47% year over year to around $22 billion, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to be around 68% of total revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
Semiconductor sales are forecast to grow 76% year over year to $14.8 billion, driven by surging AI demand. AI semiconductor revenue is predicted to rise 140% year over year to $10.7 billion.
The company's custom AI accelerator business is scaling up, with deployments across multiple hyperscalers and AI developers, including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Anthropic. Broadcom also expects to generate over $100 billion in AI-related chip revenue by 2027, supported by multiyear contracts and secured supply chains.
With strong profits and close partnerships in custom chips and networking, Broadcom is playing a key role in building the next generation of AI systems.
Microsoft
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is quietly turning into one of the most important players in the AI boom, with its cloud platform and long-term contracts driving steady growth. Analysts expect revenue to rise roughly 16.2% year over year to $81.4 billion and earnings per share to grow 17.7% year over year to $4.07 in the third quarter of fiscal 2026.
Microsoft exited the second quarter with commercial remaining performance obligations (RPOs, a measure of contractual backlog) of $625 billion, up 110% year over year. Hence, the company has impressive revenue visibility, supported by multiyear AI contracts.
It is also focusing on monetizing its Copilot virtual AI assistant. The company had about 15 million paid Microsoft 365 Copilot seats at the end of the second quarter, highlighting its strong enterprise adoption and usage growth.
Evercore analyst Kirk Materne expects Azure AI revenue to grow around 41% year over year to nearly $25.7 billion in calendar 2026, significantly higher than its previous estimate of $21.8 billion. The analyst also forecasts Azure acceleration mostly in the second half of 2026, as data center capacity is tight and may need time to scale up.
Thanks to its impressive presence in the cloud, AI platforms, and enterprise software, Microsoft is becoming a long-term enabler of AI adoption across industries.
Palantir Technologies
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has become a key in applying AI to defense intelligence and real-world business operations.
The Pentagon's recent decision to utilize Palantir's Maven AI platform has ensured long-term stable funding from U.S. military budgets. Previously, the Army consolidated multiple deals into a single agreement with Palantir, valued at around $10 billion over 10 years. These contracts highlight the durability and visibility of the company's government revenue.
Palantir is also gaining in commercial markets through its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which helps organizations derive insights by connecting AI models directly with their enterprise data and operational work flows. This is driving strong adoption across industries such as aerospace, healthcare, and energy.
Although trading at an expensive valuation of nearly 79 times forward earnings, Palantir is still an attractive pick due to its increasingly prominent role in global data-driven decision-making.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia 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 $500,572!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,223,900!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 967% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 199% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 25, 2026.
Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Broadcom, Evercore, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Got $5,000? 5 Tech Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

Key Points
Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are being used to spot asymmetry in the stock market amid unusual levels of volatility.
Anthropic's Claude model identified Microsoft and Broadcom as high-conviction buys prior to their rallies following the Iran ceasefire announcement.
Microsoft and Broadcom both play critical roles in the development of AI infrastructure.
When geopolitical tremors rocked the stock market ahead of the Iran ceasefire, most investors pounded the sell button. But an artificial intelligence (AI) agent built on Anthropic's Claude models did the opposite -- quietly loading up on Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and making Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) its single largest position.
Now, both stocks are surging. The AI agent's move wasn't a lucky guess. It was the product of a system unburdened by fear -- one that analyzes balance sheets, validates backlog pipelines, and assesses adoption curves. While Wall Street scanned the same data and saw outsize risk, Claude identified asymmetry.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Unlike humans, AI agents are unemotional
Claude's portfolio isn't influenced by headlines or rhetoric that drive stock momentum. Rather, the algorithm runs on ruthless optimization: locating the widest gaps between valuation and intrinsic compounding power.
In late March, an account on X (formerly Twitter) known as The Claude Portfolio revealed that a custom agent allocated 10% of the fund to Broadcom and swapped 8% of its turnover budget into Microsoft. Positions of this size are not incremental tweaks. They represent high-conviction ideas within the broader portfolio because Claude's models calculated expected returns north of 20% while the next-best names hovered around low single digits.
The difference between a Claude agent and a real-life analyst isn't an ability to process data faster. It's simply that bots lack the emotions driving sentiment and psychology. Therefore, it behaves differently compared to a human. Humans have a habit of fixating on the latest headline, rumor, or one specific figure from an earnings report.
Claude, by contrast, treats these variables as inputs to its model rather than as definitive conclusions. In essence, AI dilutes potential concerns into simple questions:
In 10 years, which companies are positioned to own the rails of artificial intelligence?
At what price is this infrastructure being offered today?
The ceasefire in Iran was, frankly, just noise rattling the technology sector. The ongoing structural buildout of AI is what's most relevant to the storyline.
Microsoft remains a quality compounder despite a temporary fire sale
Prior to its bounce back post-ceasefire, Microsoft stock had fallen roughly 28% from its highs -- its worst start to the year since 2008. The company was trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 20 -- 34% below the software sector average and the cheapest valuation in five years.
To Claude, this valuation compression wasn't a signal of weakness or fracture in Microsoft's business. The selling pressure was merely a mispricing of one of the world's largest enterprise cloud platforms at a moment when its fortress was widening.
Claude identified two vectors colliding simultaneously. First, Azure is guiding for 38% growth next quarter, supported by a staggering $625 billion revenue backlog. Second, Copilot crossed 4.7 million paid subscribers, proving that generative AI is not a science experiment but a legitimate revenue engine embedding itself inside Office -- one of the most sticky enterprise software suites on the planet.
The risk to Microsoft's growth seems obvious: Over $100 billion in AI capital expenditures will compress free cash flow in the near term. But Claude views this spending far differently than Wall Street.
The AI trading model sees Microsoft's infrastructure budget not as a capital drain but more as the required price of scaling operating systems for the AI era. If Azure continues to grow and Copilot keeps embedding across Microsoft's vast ecosystem, the current multiple compression should be temporary as the company's earnings power becomes a staple.
Wall Street is pricing Microsoft for fear, whereas Claude is pricing the internet giant as a long-term compounder.
Broadcom is quietly becoming the pick-and-shovel king of custom silicon
While Microsoft supplies cloud infrastructure, Broadcom supplies the silicon that fuels cloud intelligence. In late March, the Claude agent made Broadcom 10% of the portfolio -- its largest single position.
Why was Claude so bullish on Broadcom? Because the AI recognizes that Broadcom has built a near-monopoly in the custom AI chip landscape -- controlling 60% to 80% of the custom silicon market. These chips, known as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), are specialized accelerators that hyperscalers use to train and run next-generation models.
During the first quarter, AI semiconductor revenue grew 106% year over year to $8.4 billion, while Broadcom's order book is on pace to reach $100 billion through 2027. Notably, Broadcom boasts hyperscalers including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and OpenAI as part of its growing backlog.
Shortly after the earnings report, the thesis around Broadcom was validated as Google extended its TPU partnership through 2031. Moreover, Anthropic has committed to 3.5 gigawatts of Broadcom-powered AI TPUs starting next year. Analyst Vijay Rakesh from Mizuho estimates that the Anthropic relationship alone could add $21 billion in revenue for Broadcom this year and reach $42 billion by 2027.
While Wall Street discounts semiconductor stocks for cyclical risk amid macro uncertainty, Claude sees structural inevitability: AI hyperscalers are racing to build their own silicon because clusters of general-purpose chips are no longer enough to keep pace with new applications across agentic AI, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Broadcom isn't selling commoditized shovels. The company is designing the custom-forged steel from which the shovels are made. When the ceasefire was announced and sentiment flipped, Broadcom stock simply rerated to the backlog that's been supporting the company's growth trajectory all along.
Is it too late to buy Microsoft or Broadcom stock?
Claude didn't buy Microsoft and Broadcom as swing trades. The agent understands that the next decade of AI will run on their rails, and those rails are only beginning to be laid. For human investors willing to adopt a similar disciplined approach to an AI-optimized portfolio, the opportunities Claude spotted are still very much alive.
Should you buy stock in Broadcom right now?
Before you buy stock in Broadcom, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Broadcom 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 $555,526!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,156,403!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

A Claude Agent Bought These 2 Trillion-Dollar Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Before the Ceasefire With Iran. Now They Are Both Rallying -- Is It Too Late to Buy?

Key Points
Earlier this year, CVS Health shares fell after reports that Medicare payment rates would only increase by 0.09% next year.
However, with Medicare's final ruling selecting a much higher 2.5% escalation, CVS, like other healthcare stocks, have bounced back in price.
Cheaper than peers, and with forecasts of further earnings runway, there's still time to buy into what may become an extended rally for CVS Health.
In a matter of months, a key issue affecting CVS Health's (NYSE: CVS) performance has seemingly vanished. On April 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the amount by which it will increase payments to providers operating under the Medicare program.
As you may recall, the original proposed increase was poorly received by investors, mostly because it was barely above zero and heightened concerns about a further squeeze on industry margins. But now, with the official increase far better than expected, healthcare stocks like CVS Health have surged again.
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Rather than being the recipient of a short-lived rally, the latest Medicare rate increase could kick off a further surge in shares.
What makes the Medicare decision a big deal for CVS
Back in January, news of CMS's proposed 0.09% Medicare rate increase sparked a sharp sell-off in top healthcare stock, including CVS. To some, this may be surprising. After all, isn't CVS just a pharmacy chain?
That hasn't been the case for quite some time. Currently, CVS is a highly diversified provider of healthcare services. Besides operating its eponymous chain of pharmacies, CVS Health is the parent company of health insurance provider Aetna. As a major provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the prospect of just a 0.09% increase signaled lower profitability ahead.
However, with CMS's finalized payment policy calling for a nearly 2.5% increase, perceptions regarding future profitability have improved considerably. With this increase, insurers will collect $13 billion more in payments than previously expected.
Although payment increases still lag rising costs of as much as 9% annually, sell-side analysts like Mizuho's Jared Holz believe plan providers like CVS Health's Aetna unit have a greater chance of increasing their margins next year, mostly through benefit cuts.
Why the rally could continue
The biggest takeaway with the Medicare payment rate decision news is what it could mean for CVS Health's earnings in the coming year. Although managed care accounts for only a portion of CVS's overall business, the aforementioned news bodes well for confidence in management's 2026 earnings guidance.
As stated in the Q4 2025 earnings report, management expects CVS's adjusted earnings per share to come in between $7 and $7.20 per share. Shares have rallied from the low $70s since the Medicare announcement, implying the stock is trading at around 11 times forward earnings. Health insurance stocks like UnitedHealth Group and Humana trade at 15 to 20 times forward earnings.
That's not to say that CVS is destined to reach valuation parity with these stocks, but even partially bridging the valuation gap could have a considerable impact on CVS's stock price. For instance, at 13 or 14 times forward earnings, based on current guidance, a move to $90 or $100 per share may be reasonable. The potential upside, both in the near and longer term, could be even greater.
The high end of analyst estimates calls for CVS to report EPS of $7.40 this year, with the larger Medicare payments perhaps driving a further double-digit earnings growth in 2027. Alongside growth potential, an investment in CVS Health offers steady gains via the stock's 3.4% forward dividend yield.
Should you buy stock in CVS Health right now?
Before you buy stock in CVS Health, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and CVS Health 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 $555,526!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,156,403!*
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Thomas Niel has positions in UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool recommends CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

CVS Health Just Got a $13 Billion Reprieve. Here's Why the Stock Could Keep Climbing.

The average one-year price target for Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. - Depositary Receipt (NYSE:MFG) has been revised to $10.66 / share. This is an increase of 27.53% from the prior estimate of $8.36 dated February 23, 2026.
The price target is an average of many targets provided by analysts. The latest targets range from a low of -$3.69 to a high of $22.16 / share. The average price target represents an increase of 21.16% from the latest reported closing price of $8.80 / share.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 395 funds or institutions reporting positions in Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. - Depositary Receipt. This is an increase of 23 owner(s) or 6.18% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to MFG is 0.03%, an increase of 55.49%. Total shares owned by institutions increased in the last three months by 14.73% to 242,400K shares. The put/call ratio of MFG is 1.26, indicating a bearish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Natixis Advisors holds 16,561K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 2,398K shares , representing an increase of 85.52%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in MFG by 632.94% over the last quarter.
Goldman Sachs Group holds 16,267K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 14,550K shares , representing an increase of 10.55%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in MFG by 23.09% over the last quarter.
Bank Of America holds 15,677K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 12,602K shares , representing an increase of 19.61%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in MFG by 38.79% over the last quarter.
Lazard Asset Management holds 10,507K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,095K shares , representing a decrease of 5.60%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in MFG by 38.65% over the last quarter.
Northern Trust holds 10,381K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 10,315K shares , representing an increase of 0.64%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in MFG by 0.74% over the last quarter.
Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research platforms available to individual investors, traders, financial advisors, and small hedge funds.
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. - Depositary Receipt (MFG) Price Target Increased by 27.53% to 10.66

Key Points
Hot inflation data sent speculative stocks like Rigetti tumbling as investors brace for the Fed to delay rate cuts.
A price target cut on rival D-Wave Quantum added pressure across the quantum computing sector.
Rigetti's current valuation prices in enormous success that remains far from guaranteed.
Shares of quantum computing company Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) tumbled Friday, finishing the day down 6.6%.
A one-two punch hit the stock: a hotter-than-expected inflation report and a Wall Street price cut on shares of quantum computing peer, D-Wave Quantum.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Rigetti stock is sliding on troubling economic data
Friday's producer price index (PPI) showed core wholesale prices surging 0.8% in January -- nearly triple the 0.3% economists had forecast. The hot inflation numbers likely mean the Federal Reserve will hold off on any rate cuts for longer than expected, and that is not good news for more speculative stocks like Rigetti's.
When interest rates stay elevated, investors are less willing to pay a premium for future profits, especially when those profits are as uncertain as Rigetti's.
D-Wave Quantum stock gets a price cut
On top of that, analysts at Mizuho slashed its price target on D-Wave stock from $46 to $40 on Friday. The company is a close rival of Rigetti, and at this point, investors tend to tie the fates of all of the quantum pure-plays together.
Is Rigetti stock worth buying on the dip?
Quantum computing may well transform entire industries someday. But I think "someday" has a good chance of being much further off than quantum bulls would hope. Rigetti's valuation is still pricing in enormous success that is far from guaranteed. I wouldn't invest until Rigetti's valuation is more in line with reality.
Should you buy stock in Rigetti Computing right now?
Before you buy stock in Rigetti Computing, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Rigetti Computing 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 $456,188!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,413!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 916% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 27, 2026.
Johnny Rice 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.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Rigetti Computing Stock Slumped on Friday

NVIDIA Corporation’s NVDA shares declined 2.9% on reports that its much-anticipated $100 billion investment in OpenAI had become uncertain or was being scaled back.
Shares of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. MFG rose 2.4% after the company reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of 16 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 14 cents.
Shares of The Walt Disney Company DIS plunged 7.4% over concerns that international visitations to its theme parks in the United States had declined.
Aptiv PLC’s APTV shares gained 2.9% after the company reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenues of $5.15 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.07 billion.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Company News for Feb 3, 2026

Key Points
Broadcom stock is bouncing back today after falling lower on Thursday.
A Mizuho analyst raised the price target on Broadcom stock.
Shares of Broadcom are trading at a premium to their historical valuations.
After ending yesterday's market session about 3% lower from where they were at the close of trading on Wednesday, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) stock is heading higher today, poised to end the week on a positive note.
As of 2:28 p.m. ET, shares of the semiconductor specialist are up 4.1%.
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One analyst believes that Broadcom stock has plenty of room to run in 2026
Maintain an outperform rating, Vijay Rakesh, an analyst at Mizuho, lifted the price target on Broadcom stock to $480 from $450.
According to theFly.com, Rakesh based his more optimistic outlook on Broadcom stock after the firm revisited its price targets on semiconductor stocks, believing that many of them have "attractive valuations." Providing an even more ringing endorsement of Broadcom stock, Mizuho named Broadcom as one of its top semiconductor picks for 2026.
Is it too late now to pick up shares of Broadcom?
While Rakesh sees significant upside to Broadcom stock, investors should hardly take this data point in isolation. Those considering a position in the semiconductor stock should also recognize that shares are trading at a premium to their historical valuation. Currently, Broadcom stock is changing hands at a price-to-earnings ratio of 69.7, a lofty valuation considering its five-year average trailing P/E of 40.2. For those committed to a Broadcom investment, the stock's rich valuation may be less of a concern. Still, those interested in a semiconductor stock that offers a value opportunity will want to look elsewhere.
Should you buy stock in Broadcom right now?
Before you buy stock in Broadcom, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Broadcom 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 $488,222!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,134,333!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 969% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 196% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 9, 2026.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Sponosred

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