Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment offers capital raising and financial advisory services, including services related to the underwriting of debt, equity, and other securities, as well as advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, real estate, and project finance. This segment also provides equity and fixed income products comprising sales, financing, prime brokerage, and market-making services; foreign exchange and commodities; corporate and commercial real estate loans, commercial mortgage and secured lending facilities, and financing for sales and trading customers, and asset-backed and mortgage lending; and wealth management services, investment, and research services. The Wealth Management segment offers financial advisor-led brokerage, custody, administrative, and investment advisory services; self-directed brokerage services; financial and wealth planning services; workplace services, including stock plan administration; annuity and insurance products; securities-based lending, residential real estate loans, and other lending products; banking; and retirement plan services to individual investors and small to medium-sized businesses and institutions. The Investment Management segment provides equity, fixed income, alternatives and solutions, and liquidity and overlay services to benefit/defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, third-party fund sponsors, corporations, and individuals through institutional and intermediary channels. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Morgan Stanley

Key Points
Palantir has delivered triple-digit returns for shareholders in three consecutive years.
Independent research firms rank Palantir as a leader in AI decisioning platforms and AI source-to-pay software.
Palantir currently trades at 102 times sales, making it one of the most expensive software stocks in history.
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has delivered triple-digit gains for shareholders in three consecutive years, but it remains one of the most polarizing stocks on Wall Street.
On one hand, Palantir is growing rapidly and its software has become the standard in enterprise artificial intelligence. On the other hand, Palantir is one of the most expensive software stocks in history. Reconciling those facts is challenging.
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Before sharing my prediction about what Palantir's stock price will be in December 2026, I want to discuss the bull-case and bear-case price targets set by Morgan Stanley because I believe they accurately capture the wide range of potential outcomes.
The bull case: Palantir stock soars 130% to $382 per share
Palantir develops data analytics software for customers in the public and private sectors. Its core platforms integrate information and machine learning models into a decision-making framework called an ontology. Its adjacent artificial intelligence (AI) platform lets clients build large language models into applications and business processes.
In the past year, several independent research organizations praised Palantir. Forrester Research ranked the company as a leader in AI decisioning platforms, listing its current capabilities, growth strategy, and positive customer feedback as key strengths. Similarly, the International Data Corp. ranked Palantir as a leader in AI-enabled source-to-pay software, which optimizes supply chain management.
Palantir reported exceptional third-quarter financial results. Revenue increased 63% to $1.1 billion, the ninth consecutive acceleration, and non-GAAP net income increased 110% to $0.21 per diluted share. The company also raised its full-year guidance, which now says revenue will increase 53% in 2025.
"Palantir is not only delivering the best growth in public company software, but also the best profitability in all of software," according to Morgan Stanely analysts Sanjit Singh and Keith Weiss. "It's hard to find a better fundamental story in software." Their bull-case forecast puts Palantir at $382 per share within a year, which implies about 130% upside from the current share price of $165.
The bear case: Palantir stock falls 50% to $81 per share
Singh and Weiss have also outlined a bear-case scenario in which Palantir stock drops to $81 per share. That implies about 50% downside from its current share price of $165. Any number of negative catalysts could bring about that outcome, from disappointing financial results to opinionated management. But those catalysts ultimately come back to the same problem: valuation.
Palantir currently trades at 102 times sales, which makes it the most expensive stock in the S&P 500 three times over. AppLovin is second with a valuation of 33 times sales. Very few software companies have ever achieved a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio above 100, and none has sustained such a high valuation indefinitely.
In fact, among the 100 largest U.S. software stocks, only seven (excluding Palantir) have ever attained a P/S multiple above 100. All seven stocks eventually crashed after reaching their peak valuation. The best outcome was a 70% decline, and the worst was a 90% decline.
My prediction: Palantir will trade at $200 per share in December 2026
I think Palantir will trade around $200 per share in December 2026. That implies about 21% upside from the current share price of $165. I selected that value because it splits the two extremes discussed in previous sections, and I doubt that either bulls or bears will rethink their stance in the next year.
Put differently, some investors will continue to buy Palantir simply because its software has become the enterprise standard in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, other investors will continue to avoid (or even short-sell) the stock because it trades at an absurdly expensive valuation that history says is unsustainable.
However, I do think the risk-reward ratio is heavily skewed toward risk, meaning Palantir is predisposed to sharp declines even in the absence of company-specific catalysts. If investors suspect AI spending has become unsustainable, or the market gets bad news about the economy, Palantir could crash. If that makes you uncomfortable, avoid the stock.
Should you buy stock in Palantir Technologies right now?
Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, 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 Palantir 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 $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2026.
Trevor Jennewine has positions in Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. 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.

Prediction: Palantir Stock Will Soar to This Price by the End of 2026

Bank Profits Rise Amid Credit Card Uncertainty

It doesn't matter if you're a growth, value, income, or momentum-focused investor -- building a successful investment portfolio takes skill, research, and a little bit of luck.
But how do you find the right combination of stocks? Funding your retirement, your kids' college tuition, or your short- and long-term savings goals certainly requires significant returns.
Enter the Zacks Rank.
What is the Zacks Rank?
A unique, proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank uses earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors create a winning portfolio.
There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise.
Agreement is the extent to which all brokerage analysts are revising their earnings estimates in the same direction. The greater the percentage of analysts revising their estimates higher, the better chance the stock will outperform.
Magnitude is the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate for the current and next fiscal years.
Upside is the difference between the most accurate estimate, which is calculated by Zacks, and the consensus estimate.
Surprise is made up of a company's last few quarters' earnings per share surprises; companies with a positive earnings surprise are more likely to beat expectations in the future.
Each factor is given a raw score, which is recalculated every night and compiled into the Zacks Rank. Utilizing this data, stocks are put into five different groups: Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Sell, and Strong Sell.
The Power of Institutional Investors
The Zacks Rank also allows individual investors, or retail investors, to benefit from the power of institutional investors.
Institutional investors are responsible for managing the trillions of dollars invested in mutual funds, hedge funds, and investment banks. Research has shown that these investors can and do move the market due to the large amount of money they deal with, and thus, the market tends to move in the same direction as them.
In order to figure out the fair value of a company and its shares, these investors will build valuation models focused on earnings and earnings expectations. Because if you raise estimates for the bottom line, it creates a higher fair value for a company.
Institutional investors then act on these changes in earnings estimates, typically buying stocks with rising estimates and selling those with falling estimates; an increase in earnings estimates can translate into higher stock prices and bigger gains for the investor.
Retail investors who get in at the first sign of upward revisions have a distinct advantage over larger investors since it can often take weeks, if not months, for an institutional investor to build a position. They'll also benefit from the expected institutional buying that could follow.
Not only can the Zacks Rank help you take advantage of trends in earnings estimate revisions, but it can also provide a way to get into stocks that are highly sought after by professionals.
How to Invest with the Zacks Rank
The Zacks Rank is known for transforming investment portfolios. In fact, a portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks has beaten the market in 26 of the last 32 years, with an average annual return of +25.41%.
Moreover, stocks with a new #1 (Strong Buy) ranking have some of the biggest profit potential, while those that fell to a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) have some of the worst.
Let's take a look at
Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS)
, which was added to the Zacks Rank #1 list on October 30, 2024.
Headquartered in Chicago, Northern Trust Corporation provides services from sovereign wealth funds to the wealthiest families. The company is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, families, and individuals.
For fiscal 2024, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.45 to $7.49 per share. NTRS boasts an average earnings surprise of 10.1%.
Earnings are expected to grow 19.8% for the current fiscal year, while revenue is projected to increase 21.8%.
Even more impressive, NTRS has gained in value over the past four weeks, up 10.1% compared to the S&P 500's gain of 1.6%.
Bottom Line
With a #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, positive trend in earnings estimate revisions, and strong market momentum, Northern Trust Corporation should be on investors' shortlist.
If you want even more information on the Zacks Ranks, or one of our many other investing strategies, check out the Zacks Education home page.
Discover Today's Top Stocks
Our private Zacks #1 Rank List, based on our quantitative Zacks Rank stock-rating system, has more than doubled the S&P 500 since 1988. Applying the Zacks Rank in your own trading can boost your investing returns on your very next trade. See Today's Zacks #1 Rank List >>
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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.

The Zacks Rank Explained: How to Find Strong Buy Finance Stocks

Key Points
Autonomous driving technology will revolutionize the mobility industry in the coming years, and the multitrillion-dollar technology presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for investors.
Nvidia provides a comprehensive autonomous driving platform that comprises hardware and software solutions that address training, simulation, and inference.
By 2032, Morgan Stanely thinks Alphabet's Waymo will lead the U.S. market in autonomous ride-sharing trips, followed by Tesla in second place and Uber in third place.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will have countless use cases, but autonomous driving is particularly compelling. Self-driving cars will change the mobility industry more profoundly than any technology since the automobile was invented in the late 1800s. So, I feel justified in calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Grand View Research estimates robotaxi sales will increase at 74% annually through 2030, and driverless vehicles will eventually handle most ride-sharing trips, a market Straits Research values at $918 billion by 2033. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analysts estimate autonomous vehicle sales will top $3 trillion by 2040.
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In my opinion, the best way for investors to lean into that opportunity is to own shares of four AI stocks: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG). Here are the details you need.
1. Nvidia
Last year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed autonomous driving technology and robotaxis at the GTC conference. "We've been working on self-driving cars now for over a decade. We build technology that almost every single self-driving car company uses," Huang said. That list includes Alphabet's Waymo, Uber, Tesla, and Amazon's Zoox.
Nvidia is unique in offering an end-to-end autonomous driving platform that spans hardware and software. Its data center graphics processing units (GPUs) train the artificial intelligence (AI) models. Its Omniverse simulation platform (with Cosmos foundation models) generates synthetic training data and validates model safety. And its AGX systems run autonomous driving software within vehicles.
Last year, Nvidia introduced its Hyperion platform, which brings together AGX hardware, autonomous driving software, and a sensor suite (cameras, lidar, and radar) that vehicles need to perceive and navigate the world around them. An Nvidia-Uber partnership brings together Hyperion with driving data to help several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) build autonomous cars.
Here's the big picture: Nvidia is the industry standard in AI infrastructure, and the company is ideally positioned to benefit as autonomous vehicles become more popular. Wall Street estimates earnings will increase at 38% annually in the next three years. That makes the current valuation of 45 times earnings look quite reasonable.
2. Uber Technologies
Uber operates the largest ride-sharing platform in the U.S. and globally. That makes it an ideal partner for autonomous vehicle (AV) companies. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says, "Uber can deliver the lowest operational costs for our AV partners because we are leaps and bounds ahead on every aspect of the go-to-market capabilities that are critical for commercialization."
Uber works with 20+ AV partners, several of which have already commercialized autonomous ride-sharing. In the U.S., its platform links users with Waymo robotaxis in Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin, and Avride robotaxis in Dallas. In the Middle East, its platform connects riders with WeRide robotaxis in Riyadh (Saudia Arabia), and in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (in United Arab Emirates). Uber will bring robotaxis to more than a dozen new cities in the next few years.
Here's the big picture: Morgan Stanley analysts anticipate Uber will account for 22% of autonomous ride-sharing trips in the U.S. by 2032. That would land the company in third place behind Waymo and Tesla. Wall Street estimates Uber's earnings will grow at 28% annually over the next three years. That makes the current valuation of 11 times earnings look cheap.
3. Tesla
Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) platform is unique because it relies solely on computer vision. While other autonomous driving companies equip robotaxis with cameras, radar, and lidar, Tesla equips robotaxis with nothing but cameras. CEO Elon Musk argues humans drive with eyesight alone, so robotaxis should be able to navigate with cameras alone.
Tesla's approach is less costly and more scalable. Morgan Stanley estimates Tesla pays $3,000 per vehicle for cameras, while Waymo spends $30,000 per vehicle for sensors. Also, Tesla does not need to map cities in meticulous detail because it does not use lidar. Instead, its robotaxis should (eventually) be able to navigate any street, even those it has never seen.
Finally, Tesla plans to crowdsource robotaxis from its existing fleet of nearly 8 million cars. In other words, Tesla owners will be able to add their cars to the autonomous ride-sharing platform to earn income, similar to how hosts list rental properties on Airbnb. That means Tesla already has sleeper robotaxis in most U.S. cities, which should let the company scale its service quickly.
Here's the big picture: Morgan Stanley analysts think Tesla will account for 25% of autonomous ride-sharing trips in the U.S. in 2032, putting the company in second place behind Waymo. As a caveat, Tesla is hard to value because its electric car business is struggling, and robotaxis are not yet a substantial source of revenue. That makes Tesla the riskiest stock discussed in this article.
4. Alphabet (Waymo)
Alphabet is best known for its Google subsidiary, which enjoys a strong market position in digital advertising and cloud computing. But its Waymo subsidiary leads the autonomous ride-sharing market with commercial services available in five U.S. cities. The company is also active in two dozen other cities where it is either testing robotaxis or preparing for a commercial launch.
Here's the big picture: Alphabet is a relatively attractive stock based solely on its digital advertising and cloud computing businesses. Indeed, Wall Street estimates the company's earnings will increase at 15% annually in the next three yeras. That makes the current valuation of 32 times earnings look somewhat pricey but not outrageously expensive.
However, Alphabet's nascent robotaxi business could eventually become a material source of revenue. Morgan Stanley expects Waymo to maintain its market leadership in the coming years, such that it accounts for 34% of autonomous ride-sharing trips in the U.S. by 2032.
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 $450,525!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,107!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 937% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% 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 24, 2026.
Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. 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.

The 4 Best AI Stocks to Buy as Trillion-Dollar Tech Shapes a Once-in-a-Lifetime Investment Opportunity

Key Points
I/O Fund analysts Beth Kindig says Nvidia could be a $20 trillion company by 2030, a forecast that implies 340% upside from its current market value.
CEO Elon Musk says physical AI could make Tesla a $25 trillion company in the future, a forecast that implies 1,560% upside from its current market value.
Nvidia trades at a very reasonable valuation, but Tesla is harder to value because physical AI products are a negligible source of revenue today.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) are two of the most valuable companies in the world primarily because they are deeply involved in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Nvidia supplies accelerated computing platforms that power AI workloads, and Tesla is developing autonomous driving technology and humanoid robots.
Some experts think the companies will be worth much more (at least $20 trillion) in the future:
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
I/O Fund analyst Beth Kindig says Nvidia could be worth $20 trillion by 2030. That implies about 340% upside from its current market value of $4.5 trillion .
CEO Elon Musk says Tesla could be worth $25 trillion at some point in the future. That implies about 1,560% upside from its current market value of $1.5 trillion.
Here's what investors should know about these AI stocks.
Nvidia: 340% upside implied by Beth Kindig's prediction
Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), chips that accelerate demanding data center workloads, are the industry standard in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Not only because they consistently outperform GPUs from other chipmakers, but also because Nvidia supplements its GPUs with adjacent hardware and software. The company says it takes a "full-stack" approach to accelerated computing.
Nvidia accounted for about 85% of AI accelerator sales in 2025, and many analysts expect the company to maintain a similar level of dominance for years to come. While other chips may be cheaper, Nvidia systems typically have the lowest total cost of ownership because customers do not have to integrate hardware from different suppliers, nor do they have to build software development tools from scratch.
Last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismissed concerns about an AI bubble at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "There are trillions of dollars of infrastructure that need to [be] built out," he commented during an interview. Indeed, Grand View Research estimates the data center GPU sales will increase at 36% annually through 2033, and I/O Fund analyst Beth Kindig expects Nvidia's data center revenue growth to match that pace.
Wall Street estimates Nvidia's adjusted earnings will increase at 38% annually over the next three years. That makes the current valuation of 46 times earnings look quite reasonable. I think Nvidia could achieve a $20 trillion market value in the future, but I am skeptical about timing. It could happen by 2030, but 2035 seems more plausible.
Regardless, the current share price is attractive compared to forward earnings estimates, so patient investors should consider buying a small position today.
Tesla: 1,560% upside implied by Elon Musk's prediction
Last year, Tesla lost its status as the global leader in electric cars sales to Chinese automaker BYD. But investors have brushed aside the market share losses and the correspondingly dismal financial results because the investment thesis now centers on physical AI, a discipline that includes autonomous cars and robots.
Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) software is available in the U.S. and (pending regulatory approval) could launch in Europe and China in February. The company will monetize FSD directly through subscription sales and indirectly through autonomous ride-sharing services. Alphabet's Waymo is currently the market leader with commercial robotaxi services in five U.S. cities. But Tesla plans to expand from two cities to seven cities in 2026 and believes its unique vision-only strategy will support rapid scaling.
Tesla is also building a humanoid robot called Optimus that could substantially disrupt the global jobs market by automating a broad range of work, and not just dangerous and boring work, but also surgery and other tasks that require delicacy and precision. CEO Elon Musk says Optimus will eventually be the most important product the company sells, accounting for as much as 80% of its value.
Physical AI is a significant opportunity for Tesla. Grand View Research expects the robotaxi market to expand at 99% annually through 2033. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley estimates autonomous vehicle sales could approach $4 trillion annually by 2040, while humanoid robot sales increase at 54% annually through 2035.
Here is the big picture: Musk says Tesla's expertise in physical AI is unparalleled. "No one can do what we do," he told analysts last year. Yet, the stock is very difficult to value. The core electric car business is struggling, and physical AI products are not yet a material source of revenue. That creates execution risk.
In other words, while Tesla may indeed be worth $25 trillion in the future, the company could also be worth much less if it fails to execute on opportunities in robotaxis and robots. Indeed, if investors lose confidence in the physical AI narrative and start valuing Tesla like an automotive stock, shares could easily fall 90%.
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 $450,525!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,107!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 937% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% 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 24, 2026.
Trevor Jennewine has positions in Nvidia and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company. 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.

2 AI Stocks to Buy Before They Soar to $20 Trillion, According to Wall Street Experts

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Invesco KBW Bank ETF (Symbol: KBWB) where we have detected an approximate $195.9 million dollar outflow -- that's a 3.1% decrease week over week (from 73,000,000 to 70,730,000). Among the largest underlying components of KBWB, in trading today Morgan Stanley (Symbol: MS) is down about 1.8%, Wells Fargo & Co (Symbol: WFC) is down about 1.3%, and Bank of America Corp (Symbol: BAC) is lower by about 1.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the KBWB Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of KBWB, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, KBWB's low point in its 52 week range is $51.125 per share, with $88.84 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $85.08. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
PVT market cap history
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding URZ
ESPR Stock Predictions
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KBWB, MS, WFC, BAC: ETF Outflow Alert

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 23, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Walmart Inc. WMT, Morgan Stanley MS and SAP SE SAP.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for Walmart, Morgan Stanley and SAP
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Walmart Inc., Morgan Stanley and SAP SE. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Jobless Claims Stay Low at +200K, Q3 GDP Up to +4.4%
Today's Featured Research Reports
Walmart’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry over the past six months (+25.3% vs. +23%). The company’s performance reflects strong execution across its omnichannel model, with robust store-led fulfillment, solid e-commerce growth and sustained market share gains.
Third-quarter fiscal 2026 results highlight robust comparable sales, broad-based traffic growth and rapidly expanding higher-margin businesses such as advertising and membership, which represent a meaningful share of operating income. Faster delivery speeds, improved inventory availability and marketplace expansion continue to support e-commerce growth. Managements raised fiscal 2026 view underscores confidence in sustaining growth.
However, margin expansion remains constrained by elevated operating costs and tariff risks. Currency volatility, intense competition and an ongoing mix shift toward lower-margin essentials amid macroeconomic uncertainty are also concerns.
(You can read the full research report on Walmart here >>>)
Shares of Morgan Stanley have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry over the past six months (+30.6% vs. +11.3%). The company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results indicated investment banking (IB) business strength. Its focus on wealth and asset management operations, along with its strategic alliances and acquisitions, will support the top line.
The deal to buy EquityZen will help it tap the rapidly growing private markets landscape. The performance of the IB business will continue to be driven by a strong pipeline, lower rates and the company’s global footprint.
However, expenses will remain elevated due to expansion efforts. While trading revenues have been increasing, growth might become challenging in the future because of the volatile nature of the business. Nonetheless, the company’s efficient capital distribution activities reflect a solid balance sheet.
(You can read the full research report on Morgan Stanley here >>>)
SAP’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past six months (-22.5% vs. -15.6%). The company is facing weak software license revenue and stiff rivalry, along with U.S.-China trade tensions and tariffs, continue to pressure SAP’s license business.
Nevertheless, SAP is riding on healthy Cloud ERP growth and uptake of its Rise with SAP and Grow with SAP solutions amid a volatile macro backdrop. Growing traction in SAP’s Business Suite, Business Data Cloud, AI-driven solutions and integrated platform innovations bodes well. SAP’s fourth-quarter and 2026 pipeline appear strong, driven by renewed momentum across industries.
AI is poised to be a key catalyst in fueling double-digit total revenue growth through 2027. It raised its 2025 outlook, projecting higher profitability while keeping a cautious view on cloud revenue. Cloud revenue is expected near the low end of €21.6-€21.9 billion, with non-IFRS operating profit near the high end of €10.3-€10.6 billion.
(You can read the full research report on SAP here >>>)
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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.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Walmart, Morgan Stanley and SAP SE

Key Points
Software stock trailed the S&P 500 by an abnormally wide margin in the past year, creating a buying opportunity.
AppLovin's AI-powered platform helps brands create and optimize the performance of advertising campaigns.
Atlassian's AI-powered software helps technical (DevOps) and business teams collaborate and complete projects.
The S&P North American Technology Software Index tracks the performance of 111 software stocks. It has underperformed the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) by 19 percentage points during the past year, the worst relative performance for the software industry since the bear market of 2022.
Excluding that incident, software stocks have not underperformed the S&P 500 so badly at any point in the past decade. And the reason for that trend is artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, investors are worried that AI will disrupt traditional business models and reduce demand for many software products.
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Morgan Stanley analysts Sanjit Singh and Keith Weiss see things differently. "Productivity unleashed by AI will expand the pool of developers and spur a wave of app modernization initiatives." In that context, the recent underperformance in software stocks creates a buying opportunity seen just once in the past decade.
Here's why AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) and Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) are my picks for the best AI software stocks to buy now.
AppLovin: 45% upside implied by the median target price
AppLovin develops ad tech software that helps brands engage consumers and monetize web content with targeted campaigns. The company initially focused on mobile gaming, where it helped developers market and monetize apps, but it more recently expanded into e-commerce advertising. That feature is part of a new self-service platform that streamlines the onboarding process and will eventually automate every workflow.
AppLovin has differentiated itself in two important ways. First, it earns revenue based on ad performance (i.e., cost-per-action), whereas competitors like The Trade Desk simply take a percentage of ad spend. Second, the artificial intelligence (AI) that powers its recommendation engine (Axon) outperforms similar targeting tools from other advertisers.
Indeed, Morningstar analyst Mark Giarelli says Axon has played a central role in the company's success. "AppLovin is driving a 45% higher return on ad spending than [Meta Platforms] and 115% higher compared with secondary advertising platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat [by Snap], and YouTube," he wrote in a recent note to clients.
Wall Street estimates AppLovin's adjusted earnings will increase at 58% annually through 2027. That makes the current valuation of 66 times earnings look reasonable, especially when the company beat the consensus earnings estimate by an average of 21% in the last six quarters.
Among 32 analysts, AppLovin has a median target price of $774.50 per share. That implies 45% upside from its current share price of $533. Patient investors should feel comfortable buying a small position today.
Atlassian: 84% upside implied by the median target price
Atlassian develops work management and collaboration software for development and operations (DevOps) teams and non-technical teams like marketing and human resources. The company also develops IT service management software. Consultancy Gartner has recognized Atlassian as a technology leader in DevOps, marketing work management, and enterprise service management platforms.
Atlassian has differentiated itself in two ways. First, it invests more in R&D than its peers because it relies on self-service sales and word-of-mouth marketing. Second, it is the only work management software vendor that connects technical, non-technical, and IT service teams on a common platform, which not only fosters better collaboration across the enterprise, but also affords the company numerous opportunities to upsell existing customers.
Atlassian has introduced a suite of generative AI features called Rovo. It supports intelligent search, process automation, and code generation to improve productivity and efficiency across business teams. As a well-established software vendor in several product categories, Atlassian could be a substantial winner as the AI boom unfolds.
Wall Street expects Atlassian's adjusted earnings to increase at 22% annually through the fiscal year ending in June 2027. That makes the current valuation of 31 times earnings look reasonable, especially because the company beat the consensus earnings estimate by an average of 16% over the last six quarters.
Among 34 analysts, Atlassian has a median target price of $225 per share. That implies 84% upside from the current share price of $122. With shares trading 62% below the high, investors have a great opportunity to buy a small position.
Should you buy stock in AppLovin right now?
Before you buy stock in AppLovin, 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 AppLovin 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 $460,340!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,123,789!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 23, 2026.
Trevor Jennewine has positions in The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Atlassian, Meta Platforms, Pinterest, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner. 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 Once-in-a-Decade Investment Opportunity: The 2 Best AI Stocks to Buy Now

Key Points
Archer Aviation is a leading name in the nascent urban air mobility space.
Archer may look pricey at first, given how the company has yet to reach to commercialization stage.
Given the air taxi industry's long-term growth projections, Archer could eventually be worth 10 times this figure.
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) is one of several leading companies in a newly emerging segment of the transportation sector: urban air mobility. Urban air mobility refers to the movement of people and goods at low altitudes within metropolitan areas.
Archer is targeting multiple opportunities within this sector. The company has yet to receive regulatory approval to commence operations. However, investors remain very bullish about Archer and its long-term growth potential.
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Although the company's $6.4 billion market cap may seem to already account for much of its future potential, that's not necessarily the case. Considering long-term industry growth forecasts, there is a possible path for Archer shares to eventually surge tenfold from current price levels.
Archer Aviation at a glance
Archer Aviation specializes in the design and development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These aircraft, which function essentially like faster, quieter, and more fuel-efficient helicopters, have numerous potential commercial and military applications.
Archer seeks to become a major air taxi provider with its flagship Midnight eVTOL. Through commercial partnerships, the company has already laid much of the groundwork for commercialization.
Namely, it has formed partnerships with various airlines worldwide, with plans to launch air taxi operations not just in major U.S. cities like New York but also in large international metropolises such as Abu Dhabi.
Again, many of these strengths are already factored into Archer's current valuation. However, while investors have factored in some of the company's long-term upside, they may still be underestimating its earnings potential at scale.
Why it still has multi-bagger potential
If you've been following the growth of urban air mobility, you've likely heard forecasts that this industry could have a total addressable market in the trillions. However, note that this figure includes potential cases beyond just passenger transportation.
Even so, based on past projections from Morgan Stanley, this could still mean an addressable market worth around $127.6 billion within the next 15 years and a trillion-dollar market within 20 years.
If early mover Archer can capture a moderately high percentage of the market, this could mean tens of billions in annual revenue. However, it's currently unclear what margins eVTOL companies could achieve at scale, given Archer's reliance on commercial partnerships and contract manufacturing.
Given that the company was largely a licensor of its technology at that point, margins could be far greater than those of aircraft manufacturers or airlines. While not certain, down the road it may well be enough to justify a valuation several times the stock's current price. Perhaps, even 10 times today's valuation.
Should you buy Archer Aviation today?
It's not far-fetched to believe that Archer Aviation could have a very bright future. However, that's not to say that the road to multi-bagger status will be a smooth one.
Volatility is likely to persist, especially as the company reaches the stage where it can self-finance its growth. While Archer currently sits on nearly $1.7 billion in cash , its high cash burn suggests further capital-raising is possible, leading to share dilution.
Still, this isn't a deal breaker, more like a reason to keep it on your watch list. Given the strong long-term potential, any near-term weakness could be an opportunity to buy the dip.
Should you buy stock in Archer Aviation right now?
Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, 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 Archer Aviation 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 $460,340!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,123,789!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 937% — 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 January 23, 2026.
Thomas Niel 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.

This Aviation Stock Could Turn $100,000 Into $1 Million

Thursday, January 22, 2026
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Walmart Inc. (WMT), Morgan Stanley (MS) and SAP SE (SAP). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Jobless Claims Stay Low at +200K, Q3 GDP Up to +4.4%
Today's Featured Research Reports
Walmart’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry over the past six months (+25.3% vs. +23%). The company’s performance reflects strong execution across its omnichannel model, with robust store-led fulfillment, solid e-commerce growth and sustained market share gains.
Third-quarter fiscal 2026 results highlight robust comparable sales, broad-based traffic growth and rapidly expanding higher-margin businesses such as advertising and membership, which represent a meaningful share of operating income. Faster delivery speeds, improved inventory availability and marketplace expansion continue to support e-commerce growth. Managements raised fiscal 2026 view underscores confidence in sustaining growth.
However, margin expansion remains constrained by elevated operating costs and tariff risks. Currency volatility, intense competition and an ongoing mix shift toward lower-margin essentials amid macroeconomic uncertainty are also concerns.
(You can read the full research report on Walmart here >>>)
Shares of Morgan Stanley have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry over the past six months (+30.6% vs. +11.3%). The company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results indicated investment banking (IB) business strength. Its focus on wealth and asset management operations, along with its strategic alliances and acquisitions, will support the top line.
The deal to buy EquityZen will help it tap the rapidly growing private markets landscape. The performance of the IB business will continue to be driven by a strong pipeline, lower rates and the company’s global footprint.
However, expenses will remain elevated due to expansion efforts. While trading revenues have been increasing, growth might become challenging in the future because of the volatile nature of the business. Nonetheless, the company’s efficient capital distribution activities reflect a solid balance sheet.
(You can read the full research report on Morgan Stanley here >>>)
SAP’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past six months (-22.5% vs. -15.6%). The company is facing weak software license revenue and stiff rivalry, along with U.S.-China trade tensions and tariffs, continue to pressure SAP’s license business.
Nevertheless, SAP is riding on healthy Cloud ERP growth and uptake of its Rise with SAP and Grow with SAP solutions amid a volatile macro backdrop. Growing traction in SAP’s Business Suite, Business Data Cloud, AI-driven solutions and integrated platform innovations bodes well. SAP’s fourth-quarter and 2026 pipeline appear strong, driven by renewed momentum across industries.
AI is poised to be a key catalyst in fueling double-digit total revenue growth through 2027. It raised its 2025 outlook, projecting higher profitability while keeping a cautious view on cloud revenue. Cloud revenue is expected near the low end of €21.6-€21.9 billion, with non-IFRS operating profit near the high end of €10.3-€10.6 billion.
(You can read the full research report on SAP here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER), Western Digital Corporation (WDC) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
Featured Reports
Uber (UBER) Benefits From Delivery Business Amid High Debt
The Zacks analyst likes Uber's efforts to expand its Delivery operations in response to the surge in business. A debt load above industry levels and currency-related woes act as headwinds.
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) Banks on Buyouts Amid High Costs
Per the Zacks analyst, a number of acquisitions have helped Arthur J. Gallagher to enhance its capabilities and drive growth. However, elevated expenses remain an overhang.
Amvuttra and Givlaari Sales Boost Alnylam (ALNY), Setbacks A Woe
Per the Zacks Analyst, Amvuttra and Givlaari sales are expected to continue to boost ALNY's revenues. However, potential regulatory/pipeline setbacks and heavy reliance on partnerships remain a woe.
Strong Public Spending Aids EMCOR (EME) Amid Macro Headwinds
Per the Zacks analyst, EMCOR is benefiting from a strong public spending scenario and support from recent acquisitions. However, tariff-related risks and macro pressures mar prospects.
MKS (MKSI) Rides on AI-related Semiconductor Demand and NAND Upgrades
Per the Zacks analyst, MKS is benefiting from the growing demand in the Semiconductor and Electronics and Packaging markets, particularly in AI-related applications and NAND upgrades.
EPAM Systems (EPAM) Gains From Increase in Digital Spending
Per the Zacks analyst, EPAM Systems is gaining from a strong uptick in spending on digital transformation, which is further helping it grow across all its industry verticals and maximum locations.
Service Center Unit Aids Applied Industrial (AIT), Costs Ail
Per the Zacks analyst, Applied Industrial's Service Center Based Distribution unit is led by high demand for technical MRO services and improvement in customer sentiments. High costs remain concerning
New Upgrades
Western Digital (WDC) Poised for Growth on AI Storage and HDD Demand
Per the Zacks analyst, Western Digital's performance is being driven by higher demand for cloud end market and Agentic AI. It has formulated strategies to tackle macro and geopolitical woes.
Estee Lauder's (EL) Sales Benefit From Solid Online Business
Per the Zacks analyst, Estee Lauder is set to benefit from its solid online business. Online sales grew double digits in first quarter, fueled by TikTok Shop, Tmall, Amazon and a new Shopify alliance.
Strong Demand Offsets West Pharmaceuticals' (WST) Tariff Headwind
Per the Zacks analyst, strength in West Pharmaceuticals' proprietary products segment will drive prospects. However, tariff headwind estimated to hurt 2025 sales by $20 million and continue in 2026.
New Downgrades
Reliance on Subsidiaries, Competition Ail National Fuel Gas (NFG)
Per the Zacks analyst, National Fuel Gas will fail to meet obligations if subsidiary performance disappoints, while competition from clean energy providers may further pressure operations.
Eni (E) Faces Pressure from Volatile Oil and Natural Gas Prices
Per the Zacks analyst, Eni's upstream operations remain highly sensitive to oil and natural gas price volatility, which can lead to earnings fluctuations.
Exposure to Gas Price Sensitivity to Hurt Range Resources (RRC)
Per the Zacks analyst, Range Resources' sensitivity to natural gas prices poses risk to its earnings and cash flows. Further, its consolidated acreage may limit long-term inventory renewal.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
SAP SE (SAP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.