Spotify Technology S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides audio streaming services worldwide. It operates through two segments, Premium and Ad-Supported. The Premium segment offers unlimited online and offline streaming access to its catalog of music and podcasts without commercial breaks to its subscribers. The Ad-Supported segment provides on-demand online access to its catalog of music and unlimited online access to the catalog of podcasts to its subscribers on their computers, tablets, and compatible mobile devices. The company also offers sales, distribution and marketing, contract research and development, and customer support services. Spotify Technology S.A. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Spotify Technology S.A.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (Symbol: IYC) where we have detected an approximate $114.9 million dollar outflow -- that's a 6.0% decrease week over week (from 18,250,000 to 17,150,000). Among the largest underlying components of IYC, in trading today Lowe's Companies Inc (Symbol: LOW) is trading flat, Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) is up about 1.2%, and Royal Caribbean Group (Symbol: RCL) is lower by about 9.2%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the IYC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IYC, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, IYC's low point in its 52 week range is $77.66 per share, with $106.415 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $104.42. 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 ».
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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:
PKE Average Annual Return
BOKFL Historical Stock Prices
CPG market cap history
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

IYC, LOW, SPOT, RCL: ETF Outflow Alert

Key Points
AI stocks and related technology names are arguably overvalued.
Despite Netflix's recently reported results that fell short of estimates, the streaming giant's long-term potential remains tremendous.
Netflix shares' recent weak performance translates into a compelling opportunity to step into this potential at a great entry price.
There's no denying artificial intelligence (AI)-related stocks are the market's darlings right now. And understandably so. Their underlying companies are just creating too much positive change for this not to be the case.
The only problem? All the talk about artificial intelligence stocks being in a valuation bubble holds a little too much water. There's good reason to be concerned.
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The fact of the matter is, however, most stocks -- even most growth stocks -- aren't artificial intelligence stocks. Plenty of these names are still worth stepping into at their current prices, too. And one of the best prospects among these tickers is streaming giant Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX).
Netflix, up close and personal
Surprised? Maybe even a little confused? It would be a bit surprising if you weren't. Although it's the obvious powerhouse of the streaming industry, the industry itself is running out of prospective subscribers. Netflix is no exception to this reality, something reflected in its recent subpar performance.
Except, simply adding more paying subscribers isn't the key to this company's growth anymore.
But first things first.
As of the latest tally, $528 billion Netflix is doing about $42 billion worth of business per year, roughly $10 billion of which is being turned into income. That translates into a relatively frothy valuation of around 50 times earnings, but that's not unusual given the company's current growth rates. Last quarter's revenue improved by a little more than 17% year over year, pushing profits up from $5.40 per share to $5.87, for perspective, extending and even accelerating existing trends.
We don't know how many paying customers the company now has, since Netflix stopped disclosing that data as of the beginning of this year. However, as of the end of last year the company boasted 301.6 million members. It's likely added at least a few -- but only a few -- more million subscribers in the meantime; most anyone who wants a particular streaming service already has it.
Underscoring the prospect of slowing growth is last quarter's top line of $11.5 billion, which fell just short of analysts' estimates. Meanwhile, earnings missed consensus estimates of $6.97 per share by a pretty wide margin thanks to soaring content and marketing costs. Rattled investors sent Netflix stock careening on Wednesday in response.
The market's mostly overlooking something about Netflix though, and for that matter, its place within the streaming industry.
A standout with staying power
Yes, in some regards Netflix confirmed current and would-be shareholders' worst fears -- it is getting more expensive to be in this business.
This particular company holds a special place within the streaming industry, however. Not only is it the United States' most-watched subscription-based streaming platform according to Nielsen as well as Pew Research, it arguably invented the streaming industry as we know it. It's doing well enough overseas, too.
It matters simply because it's become the habitual first stop for many consumers. Data from Hub Research indicates that 40% of U.S. television watchers start their viewing search with a streaming service rather than cable, with nearly half of that 40% saying they specifically start this search at Netflix. The next-nearest starting point is a relatively dissimilar YouTube. The third-most popular starting point is Walt Disney's streaming app, although only 5% of consumers actually start there. In a similar vein, for most U.S. households that have access to two or streaming services, it's almost always Netflix and then something else.
Then there's the more subjective argument for owning a stake in Netflix that's the result of its long-lived market leadership. That's the fact that it's become such a well-loved and highly utilized service that it's able to do what rivals arguably can't: trying new things to expand its reach and stickiness.
Case in point: Just last week Netflix announced a deal with Spotify to bring some of the latter's more popular podcasts to Netflix's lineup.
Another example of something Netflix can do differently and better than its competitors is its nascent advertising business. While it's been offering ad-subsidized subscription plans for three years now, the company's still only scratched the surface of the opportunity. As Seaport Research Partners analyst David Joyce wrote earlier this month prior to Tuesday's release of Netflix's Q3 results, "We think advertising could double this year and could grow at 48% annually through 2030 to reach $16 billion." And Wedbush media analyst Alicia Reese agrees, adding, "We expect ad revenue to become Netflix's primary revenue driver beginning in 2026."
Don't overthink what everyone else is
As compelling as this assessment so far might be, it's still not the entirety of the reason to consider committing a few thousand bucks to this stock right now. The rest of the bullish argument for owning a stake in Netflix stock here and now is far more pragmatic. That is, with Wednesday's 10% post-earnings stumble following three months' worth of lethargic performance, this stock is just priced too low to pass up now.
Yes, its third quarter was a disappointment. Keep things in perspective, though. Largely thanks to an advertising business it's still trying to fully figure out, the company still grew its top and bottom lines quite nicely in an economic environment that's not exactly robust.
Both are temporary headwinds, however. Once they're in the rearview mirror, look for this already dominant company to continue leveraging its dominance in a way that inspires investors to ignore its stock's lofty valuation and instead focus on its actual growth potential. Don't overthink it in the meantime.
Should you invest $1,000 in Netflix right now?
Before you buy stock in Netflix, 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 Netflix 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 $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix, Spotify Technology, and Walt Disney. 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 Smartest Growth Stock to Buy With $2,000 Right Now

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in EOS Energy Enterprises Inc (Symbol: EOSE), where a total of 149,118 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 14.9 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 60.1% of EOSE's average daily trading volume over the past month of 24.8 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $18 strike call option expiring October 24, 2025, with 9,863 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 986,300 underlying shares of EOSE. Below is a chart showing EOSE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $18 strike highlighted in orange:
Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) options are showing a volume of 8,025 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 802,500 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.1% of SPOT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $695 strike call option expiring October 24, 2025, with 651 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 65,100 underlying shares of SPOT. Below is a chart showing SPOT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $695 strike highlighted in orange:
And MP Materials Corp (Symbol: MP) saw options trading volume of 113,606 contracts, representing approximately 11.4 million underlying shares or approximately 55% of MP's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 20.7 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $82 strike call option expiring October 24, 2025, with 9,319 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 931,900 underlying shares of MP. Below is a chart showing MP's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $82 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for EOSE options, SPOT options, or MP options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding QNST
Arch Capital Group YTD Return
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding WLT
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Tuesday Option Activity: EOSE, SPOT, MP

Key Points
Netflix will start streaming select Spotify video podcasts in early 2026, beginning in the U.S. market.
Top Spotify shows like "The Bill Simmons Podcast" and "The Rewatchables" will soon reach Netflix audiences in several international markets.
Investors should watch how collaborations between streaming specialists can drive growth and reshape competition.
The future of streaming media just got a whole lot more interesting. I certainly didn't see it coming, and I bet no one else did either. Last week, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) and Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) teamed up to put some of Spotify's top podcasts on the video-streaming veteran's global platform.
Netflix and Spotify's groundbreaking podcast partnership isn't just another content deal. It's a glimpse into a radically different entertainment ecosystem. Former rivals become allies, audio-only podcasts turn into TV shows, and the very definition of "content" becomes beautifully, chaotically fluid.
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This is the streaming evolution nobody saw coming: Specialist platforms finally realizing that collaboration might just be the ultimate competitive advantage.
What's happening?
Early next year, you'll see a handful of Spotify podcast shows on the American Netflix service. The partnership starts with a couple of true crime talk shows, a larger set of popular culture and lifestyle shows, and a really heaping helping of sports-oriented podcasts. Other markets will gain access to these series later, though the exact timing and geographical reach remains unknown.
Spotify sees the team-up as an effective way to grow people's access to these podcasts, including ultra-premium stuff like The Bill Simmons Podcast. As a reminder, Spotify paid $185 million for Simmons' Ringer studio in 2020 and presumably even more for a renewal of that deal in March 2025.
Netflix's management highlighted the growing popularity of video-style podcasts, giving subscribers one more content type to enjoy.
Netflix gets sports content on the cheap
I think it's a stroke of genius from both sides of the dealmaking table, though Netflix probably gets the sweeter end of this deal.
Netflix suddenly expands its burgeoning sports coverage very quickly by getting podcast rights, and without paying billions of dollars for direct event coverage deals. Leagues like the NFL, the NBA, and MLB want a lot of money for their game-tracking deals. For example:
Comcast's (NASDAQ: CMCSA) NBCUniversal division is reportedly close to a three-year deal with Major League Baseball, priced at $200 million per year.
The National Basketball Association signed an 11-year coverage deal in the summer of 2024, splitting the rights among NBCUniversal, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Prime Video, and Walt Disney's (NYSE: DIS) ESPN for about $7 billion per year.
As for the National Football League, Netflix has nibbled on a few specific games, but the big contracts are found elsewhere. Comcast, Disney, Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY), Amazon, and Fox (NASDAQ: FOX) are all paying billion-dollar sums per year for their specific slices of NFL media rights. Even YouTube entered this arena, as the Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) subsidiary inked a seven-year deal for Sunday Ticket coverage at $2 billion per year.
The financial details of the Netflix/Spotify partnership are not known, which suggests the payments may be small enough to not require public disclosure. After all, both partners are expecting positive outcomes from this contract. But even if Netflix is spending a few hundred million dollars, it still found a cheaper way to tap into the lucrative sports market.
Audio meets video (and beyond)
I think of podcasts as an audio-centered media format, but this deal was an eye-opener. Adding a few high-end cameras and decent lighting to the radio-like studio instantly creates a video stream instead, and a lot of people prefer that format. From the podcast creators' point of view, I'm sure it doesn't hurt to upgrade the studio environment and pay more attention to the visuals.
So the edges and borders between different content types are getting smudged. Spotify is doing video content and Netflix is adding audio-centric shows. And it won't stop there. I mean, Netflix has dozens of video games already, and there's a hidden "snake" game in the mobile Spotify app. Digital entertainment is digital entertainment, and specialists in one particular media type can easily expand to other fields.
That's particularly true for the well-heeled global giant that started the video-streaming industry in 2011. Netflix has the resources to keep its business growth going by exploring new media types. Recent examples even include brick-and-mortar stores and the upcoming Netflix House experience centers in Philadelphia and Dallas.
Should you invest $1,000 in Netflix right now?
Before you buy stock in Netflix, 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 Netflix 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 $667,945!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,119,558!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,073% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
Anders Bylund has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Netflix, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Netflix, Spotify Technology, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Comcast. 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 Streaming Pivot No One Saw Coming: Netflix Embraces Spotify's Premium Podcasts

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett is a value investor at his core. Value investing involves finding stocks trading below their intrinsic value and buying them at a discount. While the concept often sounds like a no-brainer, value investing is much more difficult than it sounds because many stocks are on sale for a reason. Investors will grapple over whether a stock is truly of value or whether it's a value trap.
One equity holding in Berkshire's portfolio has found itself in the middle of this very argument: Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRI). Shares of the digital audio company have fallen nearly 58% this year, and some Wall Street analysts recently downgraded it. Despite Sirius' struggles, Berkshire has been buying the stock all year long. Does Warren Buffett know something Wall Street doesn't?
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Let's take a look.
Bad news for a poor-performing stock
Sirius operates Sirius satellite radio and the music streaming service Pandora. Earlier this year, the company split off from Liberty Media, attempting to simplify its corporate structure, and also conducted a reverse 1-for-10 stock split to make its shares more attractive to investors. The company has also embarked on a new strategy that involves building out its podcast platform by purchasing exclusive distribution and ad sales rights from large brands like Call Her Daddy and Smartless.
The new strategy caught the attention of Buffett, who loves a good turnaround story. It also doesn't hurt that Sirius is paying a hearty 4.6% dividend yield and contemplating share repurchases. This allows investors to collect passive income while the company executes a turnaround story.
Recently, however, Sirius demonstrated that most turnaround stories require patience. The company provided a strategic update and updated guidance for 2025. Sirius expects next year's revenue to come in around $8.5 billion, which fell short of prior analyst estimates. This would represent a decrease from projected 2024 revenue and is concerning because the company has experienced declining subscribers at times this year.
In its strategic update, Sirius also said it is targeting $200 million of run-rate savings by year-end and further debt reduction of roughly $700. Management also said it is committed to maintaining the company's dividend.
The updated guidance led to several downgrades from analysts, who also lowered their price targets, citing headwinds driven by the disappointing guidance and subscriber trends. In many cases, companies trying to execute a turnaround struggle if they can't show the potential to grow revenue and earnings because investors doubt the strength of the core business.
What does Warren Buffett know?
Berkshire has significantly increased its stake in Sirius this year. It's possible Buffett and his team saw the recent guidance from Sirius and sold the stock or reduced its position. However, I think Buffett and Berkshire are likely invested in Sirius for the long haul. After all, these turnaround stories can take several years to pan out.
Buffett has been a long-term investor in other longer-term turnaround stocks with strong dividends like Kraft Heinz and Citigroup. Sirius' board of directors has also authorized a share repurchase program, so it could pull that lever at some point, too.
While I would like to see better subscriber trends, the company has a plan, is generating significant free cash flow, lowering debt, and paying a healthy dividend. Remember, most analysts are looking out 12 to 18 months, while Buffett may be content to hold a stock for years before it pays off, so both groups could be right. Several analysts are still bullish on Sirius' long-term prospects.
With the stock trading at roughly 8 times earnings, I think long-term investors can afford to give management more time to right the ship.
Should you invest $1,000 in Sirius XM right now?
Before you buy stock in Sirius XM, 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 Sirius XM wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $790,028!*
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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bram Berkowitz has positions in Citigroup. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends Kraft Heinz. 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.

Does Warren Buffett Know Something Wall Street Doesn't? The Billionaire Has Been Buying a Nasdaq Stock-Split Stock With a Hearty 4.6% Dividend Yield That Analysts Recently Downgraded.

Key Points
CRISPR Therapeutics and Spotify Technologies have crushed the market year to date.
CRISPR Therapeutics could maintain that momentum thanks to progress with its leading candidates.
Spotify Technologies' deep ecosystem continues to expand, and the company is turning profitable.
Cathie Wood, the chief executive officer of Ark Invest, can be somewhat of a polarizing figure, with some research indicating that her investment firm's actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have significantly destroyed shareholder value over the long run. Even if that's the case, let's give credit where credit is due. Some of Wood's picks have been fantastic performers, at least over the course of the current fiscal year. Two of them are CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) and Spotify Technologies (NYSE: SPOT). What's more, both of these stocks have excellent prospects and could continue delivering above-average returns for a while.
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1. CRISPR Therapeutics
Shares of CRISPR Therapeutics, a mid-cap biotech focusing on gene editing, are up about 85% this year as the company's most advanced pipeline programs look increasingly promising. Few things can jolt a drugmaker's shares like strong clinical and regulatory progress. That's what could power CRISPR Therapeutics in the next few years. The company's CTX310 seeks to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (TGs), harmful fats that can cause heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. With some 40 million people in the U.S. with elevated levels of either, there is a significant need for new treatment options.
CTX310 is still in the early stages of development. In an ongoing study, the medicine is showing success in lowering LDL and TGs in certain patients.
The company's other promising programs include CTX112, being developed to treat certain types of blood cancers, and CTX320, a therapy that could help lower lipoprotein(a), which, at high levels, can cause heart attacks. CRISPR Therapeutics' gene-editing approach could help raise the standards, leading to better outcomes than currently available therapies. Further, the company already has an approved medicine on the market, called Casgevy, which it developed with Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Casgevy, a medicine for a pair of rare blood disorders, isn't making massive contributions to CRISPR Therapeutics yet, but it could in a few years.
In the meantime, the company could launch -- or at least get close to launching -- one or two brand-new medicines while riding the wave of successful clinical trials. There are risks involved, naturally. Notably, potential clinical setbacks. It's essential to keep that in mind. However, given CRISPR Therapeutics' attractive pipeline for a biotech company of its size, promising results across various programs, and prior success in launching a gene-editing medicine, the company's prospects look promising. The stock could have plenty of upside even after its strong run this year.
2. Spotify Technologies
Spotify Technologies is the leading music streaming platform. That's a significant achievement. Companies like Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet -- three of the largest and most cash-rich corporations in the world -- are in this business and could use their diversified operations to run their music streaming units at a loss to attract customers, thereby undercutting Spotify's efforts.
Despite this risk, Spotify has the top market share worldwide, and the market has started to recognize this -- the shares are up about 50% in 2025. It has built a strong brand name tied to the services it offers and maintained a lead thanks to its deep network effect. The more its ecosystem grows, the more attractive it becomes to artists seeking a broad audience and publicity.
Spotify has also made smart moves, such as its push into podcasting, that have helped the platform grow, albeit at the cost of lower margins in that business. That may not have been ideal for a company that wasn't profitable, but Spotify has made significant progress on the bottom line in recent quarters.
The future should remain bright for the music streaming service. Spotify ended the second quarter with 696 million monthly active users (MAUs), up 11% year over year. However, less than half of those, just 276 million, were premium subscribers. Spotify can increase its revenue by turning more of its users into paying ones and by attracting even more business to its platform. The company is pushing to reach 1 billion MAUs by 2030, which is an attainable goal considering its current position and track record.
Lastly, Spotify has improved its platform through artificial intelligence-related initiatives, such as its virtual assistant, Spotify DJ, which is helping drive engagement on the platform, something that could lead to higher ad sales. With all that going on, the company's future looks bright.
Should you invest $1,000 in CRISPR Therapeutics right now?
Before you buy stock in CRISPR Therapeutics, 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 CRISPR Therapeutics 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 $648,924!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,102,333!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,052% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 13, 2025
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, CRISPR Therapeutics, Spotify Technology, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. 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 Soaring Cathie Wood Stocks to Buy and Hold

The AI App Store Moment

Apple's Headset Strategy and Tesla's EV Sales Windfall

Key Points
Take-Two's upcoming new release in the "Grand Theft Auto" series should drive record financial results.
Spotify's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features are bolstering its growth prospects.
The best growth stocks are often those companies that continue to release more and better products over time. This is the basic formula that fuels more growth for the business and higher share prices over time.
The following two companies are executing on this simple strategy to create wealth for their shareholders. These stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 over the last year and still offer attractive long-term return prospects.
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 »
1. Take-Two Interactive
Some of the most sophisticated investors in the world are taking an interest in leading video game companies. In 2023, Microsoft bought out Activision Blizzard for $75 billion, and just recently, an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners announced a $55 billion deal to acquire Electronic Arts.
Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) is the last one standing of the big three U.S.-based video game companies. After rising 70% over the last year, Take-Two's market cap is currently $47 billion. It should be of interest to the smart money, as it owns one of the most valuable entertainment properties with the Grand Theft Auto franchise, among other titles for console, PC, and mobile platforms. Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 215 million copies since its launch in 2013. Next year's release of Grand Theft Auto VI is a major catalyst for Take-Two that should sustain its momentum and drive record financial results through the end of the decade.
Top game companies are valuable because they have highly engaged player bases, not to mention that video games are the largest entertainment industry. Analysts expect Take-Two to generate $6.1 billion in bookings, or non-GAAP revenue, for fiscal 2026 (which ends in March). By fiscal 2028, the consensus estimate calls for earnings per share to reach $10.26, which is three times Take-Two's expected earnings this year.
In the most recent quarter, Take-Two's net bookings grew 17% year over year to $1.4 billion. The most telling feature of Take-Two's business that makes it a solid investment is the growth of in-game spending, or recurrent consumer spending. This line item grew 17% year over year and totaled 83% of Take-Two's total bookings in the quarter.
In-game spending on virtual currency and other digitally delivered content is high-margin revenue. It is also a good indicator of how deeply engaged players are with Take-Two's biggest games like Grand Theft Auto. There is tremendous anticipation for the next installment, with the launch of the official trailer breaking viewing records earlier this year on YouTube.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on May 26, 2026. Analysts expect bookings to hit $9.1 billion in fiscal 2027, which will create a new plateau of earnings power for Take-Two that should support market-beating returns for investors.
2. Spotify Technology
Shares of leading music streamer Spotify Technology (NYSE: SPOT) have soared 90% over the last year supported by strong user growth and financials. Spotify may not have a monster near-term catalyst like Take-Two, but the reason the stock could hit new highs is how it is using artificial intelligence (AI) to drive higher engagement with its user base.
Spotify's monthly active users have increased from 433 million in Q2 2022 to 696 million in Q2 2025. It's become a large entertainment platform, and while management is aiming to reach 1 billion users, its ability to expand margins through premium services powered by AI makes it a compelling stock to buy for the long term.
Spotify's AI DJ feature, which curates a personalized playlist for each user, requires a premium subscription to access it. This has been a very popular feature for Spotify, contributing to more users signing up for premium subscription plans. Premium subscriptions drive most of the company's revenue, with advertising making up a small portion of the top line.
Spotify is essentially turning into a generative AI-powered service that offers a high degree of personalization. Engagement with AI DJ has nearly doubled over the last year, but Spotify's new Create feature, where users can chat with the AI and provide specific instructions on what they want to listen to, could drive significant growth in premium subscriptions in the coming years, which would be beneficial to margins and earnings growth.
Spotify reported a 53% year-over-year increase in operating profit last quarter. Analysts are expecting the company's earnings per share to grow at an annualized rate of 33% in the coming years. This is enough earnings growth to potentially double the share price to around $1,400 within the next three to five years.
Should you invest $1,000 in Take-Two Interactive Software right now?
Before you buy stock in Take-Two Interactive Software, 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 Take-Two Interactive Software 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 $621,976!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,150,085!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,058% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 29, 2025
John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft, Spotify Technology, and Take-Two Interactive Software. The Motley Fool recommends Electronic Arts and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on 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.

2 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy in October

Below is Validea's guru fundamental report for SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY SA (SPOT). Of the 22 guru strategies we follow, SPOT rates highest using our Quantitative Momentum Investor model based on the published strategy of Wesley Gray. This momentum model looks for stocks with strong and consistent intermediate-term relative performance.
SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY SA (SPOT) is a large-cap growth stock in the Business Services industry. The rating using this strategy is 100% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY SA
SPOT Guru Analysis
More Information on Wesley Gray
Wesley Gray Portfolio
About Wesley Gray: Wesley Gray is the founder of Alpha Architect and the author (along with co-author Jack Vogel) of "Quantitative Momentum A Practitioner's Guide to Building a Momentum-Based Stock Selection System". He is also the author (along with co-author Tobias Carlisle) of "Quantitative Value: A Practitioner's Guide to Automating Intelligent Investment and Eliminating Behavioral Errors". He is an industry recognized expert in the application of quantitative investing strategies. Wes is also a former Marine and has his Phd from the Univerisity of Chicago, where he studied under Nobel Prize winner Eugene Fama.
Additional Research Links
Excess Returns Investing Podcast
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.