UBS Group AG provides financial advice and solutions to private, institutional, and corporate clients worldwide. It operates through four divisions: Global Wealth Management, Personal & Corporate Banking, Asset Management, and Investment Bank. The Global Wealth Management division offers investment advice and solutions, and lending solutions. This segment also provides estate and wealth planning, investing, corporate and banking, and investment management, as well as mortgage, securities-based, and structured lending solutions. The Personal & Corporate Banking division provides personal banking products and services, such as deposits, cards, and online and mobile banking, as well as lending, investments, and retirement services; and corporate and institutional solutions, including equity and debt capital markets, syndicated and structured credit, private placements, leasing, traditional financing, trade and export finance, and global custody solutions, as well as transaction banking solutions for payment and cash management. The Asset Management division offers equities, fixed income, hedge funds, real estate and private markets, indexed and alternative beta strategies, asset allocation and currency investment strategies, customized multi-asset solutions, advisory and fiduciary services, and multi-manager hedge fund solutions and advisory services. The Investment Bank division advises clients on strategic business opportunities and helps them raise capital to fund their activities; enables its clients to buy, sell, and finance securities on capital markets and to manage their risks and liquidity; distribute, trade, finance, and clear cash equities and equity-linked products; and offers clients differentiated content on major financial markets and securities. The company was formerly known as UBS AG and changed its name to UBS Group AG in December 2014. UBS Group AG was founded in 1862 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland.

UBS Group AG Registered

Key Points
The Federal Reserve's latest rate cut is driving gold prices higher.
Newmont is generating record cash flows on high gold prices and declining costs.
At least a couple of analysts see more than 25% upside in the gold stock.
Shares of Newmont (NYSE: NEM) were shining bright this morning, rising 4.7% higher as of 11:15 a.m. ET Thursday and hitting a 52-week high of $99.21 per share. Gold prices are firming up after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, and at least two analysts believe Newmont stock could rise by more than 25% from here.
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Newmont is making the most of high gold prices
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Wednesday for the third time in 2025, driving the price of gold higher. Interest rates and gold prices are generally inversely related. That's because when interest rates fall, safe-haven assets like gold become more attractive than bonds.
It's a win-win for Newmont, the world's largest gold producer. Newmont is on solid footing, generating a record free cash flow of $1.6 billion in its latest quarter, marking its fourth consecutive quarter with over $1 billion in FCF. In addition to higher gold prices, Newmont's cost-cutting initiatives are also boosting its margins and cash flows.
Just days ago, analyst Fahad Tariq from Jefferies gave Newmont stock a price target of $120 per share. Earlier in December, analyst Daniel Major from UBS raised the gold stock's price objective from $105.5 per share to $125 a share. Both analysts are bullish about gold and expect gold miners to generate larger margins and cash flows amid strong demand and higher gold prices.
Is Newmont the best gold stock to own?
Shares of Newmont have surged 160% in 2025, as of this writing. While that may discourage investors from buying the stock now, Newmont's premium valuation is backed by record cash flows.
Newmont is, in fact, one of the best gold stocks out there, boasting massive gold reserves, steady production, and declining costs. Newmont is also flush with cash and fortifying its balance sheet, having divested assets worth nearly $2.6 billion in 2025 and repaying nearly $3.4 billion in debt this year. The gold stock also pays a dividend and repurchases shares regularly, further reflecting management's confidence in the company's future success.
Should you invest $1,000 in Newmont right now?
Before you buy stock in Newmont, 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 Newmont 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 $499,978!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,126,609!*
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Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Newmont Stock Sizzled to a 52-Week High Today

At the Goldman Sachs 2025 conference held on Dec. 9, Wells Fargo & Company WFC signaled that its workforce could shrink further in 2026 as part of a broader push to improve efficiency and incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations. Speaking at the conference, CEO Charlie Scharf stated that the bank expects higher severance costs in the current fourth quarter and is preparing for staff reductions as it moves into next year.
WFC: AI Rollout Set to Begin Next Year
Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf emphasized that AI will play a central role in reshaping how the bank operates, noting that AI is “extremely significant” both for driving efficiency and for its “potential” impact on future headcount.
The bank plans to introduce AI gradually over the next year and continue expanding its use beyond 2026. Scharf characterized the transition as a “positive reality,” suggesting that AI-enabled efficiencies will support long-term operational improvements.
While acknowledging that AI is likely to contribute to workforce reductions, Scharf also pointed to significant areas of opportunity, particularly in technology roles. He noted that generative AI tools have already boosted productivity within the bank’s engineering teams by roughly 30-35%.
WFC Rationale: Unlocking Efficiency Through Structural Transformation
Wells Fargo is steadily advancing its multi-year transformation aimed at driving greater efficiency and operational discipline. Since 2020, the bank has pursued substantial cost-reduction initiatives —simplifying its organizational structure, consolidating branches and reducing its workforce from roughly 268,531 employees in December 2020 to about 210,821 as of Sept. 30, 2025. These changes reflect a deliberate shift toward a leaner, less bureaucratic operating model.
While discussing future growth, Scharf noted that since the removal of the asset cap in June 2025, the bank now has room to grow. But he indicated that any acquisitions or expansion will be very selective, only those offering strong returns and strategic value. He emphasized the bank is “under no pressure” to snap up firms just to boost numbers.
Beyond workforce reductions and digital investments, Wells Fargo is also optimizing its physical footprint to further lower structural costs. The bank continues to refine its branch location strategy, with total branches declining 2.1% year over year to 4,108 as of the third quarter of 2025. Management views these actions as essential to improving long-term operating efficiency.
Collectively, these initiatives are on track to generate substantial savings, with the company expecting $15 billion in gross expense reductions by 2025-end. Taken together, they signal that WFC is repositioning itself for a future in which productivity and scalability depend less on headcount and more on streamlined processes, automation and modernized technology infrastructure.
WFC’s Price Performance & Zacks Rank
Shares of Wells Fargo have gained 26.6% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 34.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Wells Fargo currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Similar Steps By Other Finance Firms
This month, according to Business Today news, which was published on MSN, UBS Group AG UBS is preparing to cut up to 10,000 employees globally by 2027 as it advances the integration of Credit Suisse.
Since acquiring Credit Suisse in 2023, the company has already eliminated approximately 15,000 positions, mainly from overlapping roles created by the merger. Looking ahead, workforce reduction may accelerate depending on the progress of Credit Suisse’s integration. These reductions are aimed at removing redundant positions, improving operational efficiency and supporting the broader structural consolidation required to integrate Credit Suisse’s operations fully.
In June 2025, BlackRock, Inc. BLK announced plans to cut 300 jobs, affecting more than 1% of its workforce. This marked the company’s second reduction this year, following a January cut of approximately 200 positions aimed at realigning resources with the firm’s strategic priorities.
The workforce reductions aim to streamline operations and optimize resources, supporting BlackRock’s efforts to improve profitability and integrate its recent acquisitions.
Zacks Naming Top 10 Stocks for 2026
Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2026? History suggests their performance could be sensational.
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WFC to Reshape Its Workforce for AI Era, Signals More Job Cuts in 2026

UBS Group AG UBS is preparing to cut up to 10,000 employees globally by 2027 as it advances the integration of Credit Suisse, according to Business Today news, which was published on MSN News. The reduction could affect roughly 9% of UBS’s workforce, which stood at about 110,000 at the end of 2024.
Since acquiring Credit Suisse in 2023, the company has already eliminated approximately 15,000 positions, mainly from overlapping roles created by the merger. In the third quarter of 2025, the bank cut nearly 322 positions compared with the previous quarter and 6,549 compared with the same period last year. Looking ahead, workforce reduction may accelerate depending on the progress of Credit Suisse’s integration. These reductions are aimed at removing redundant positions, improving operational efficiency, and supporting the broader structural consolidation required to integrate Credit Suisse’s operations fully.
While the pace of job cuts is accelerating, UBS continues to make progress on broader cost reductions and streamlining operations, including branch consolidations, client account migrations, and reducing its non-core and legacy portfolios. The bank has already migrated more than 90% of Credit Suisse’s Wealth Management accounts in Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. It has also transferred more than two-thirds of all Credit Suisse client accounts booked in Switzerland as of October 2025.
Meanwhile, the company’s risk-weighted assets in the Non-Core and Legacy division have declined 64% by the end of the third quarter of 2025, ahead of plan, with targets to fall below $8 billion by year-end and $4 billion by 2026. Since 2022, UBS has delivered $10 billion in gross savings, representing roughly 77% of its $13 billion exit-rate savings target for 2026.
These measures reflect the company’s disciplined effort to integrate Credit Suisse, streamline operations, and optimize efficiency as it navigates ongoing staff reductions.
Similar Move by Other Financial Firms
In June 2025, BlackRock, Inc. BLK announced plans to cut 300 jobs, affecting more than 1% of its workforce. This marked the company’s second reduction this year, following a January cut of approximately 200 positions aimed at realigning resources with the firm’s strategic priorities. Since 2023, BlackRock’s employee count has grown by more than 14% after acquiring Global Infrastructure Partners in October 2024 and Preqin Ltd. in March 2025.
The workforce reductions aim to streamline operations and optimize resources, supporting BlackRock’s efforts to improve profitability and integrate its recent acquisitions.
In the same month, Citigroup Inc. C announced it would reduce approximately 3,500 jobs at its Shanghai and Dalian technology centers by the fourth quarter of 2025, following a $136 million U.S. regulatory fine tied to data management issues. The reductions are part of Citigroup’s broader global overhaul, which includes 20,000 workforce cuts by 2026, aiming to simplify governance, reduce management layers, and improve operational efficiency, with expected annualized savings of $2–2.5 billion.
The move aligns with ongoing efforts to focus on core businesses, including the exit from consumer banking operations in 14 international markets, freeing capital for higher-return segments like wealth management and investment banking.
UBS’ Zacks Rank & Price Performance
Over the past six months, UBS shares have gained 23.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 20.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2026? History suggests their performance could be sensational.
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UBS Group AG (UBS) : 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.

UBS Group AG Plans 10,000 Job Cuts: Will it Boost Efficiency?

Key Points
NuScale Power's small modular nuclear reactor technology has solid potential.
The company also has a commercial partner, which should help it grow.
NuScale Power's largest shareholder, however, is planning to sell its stake.
Shares of NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) logged their worst month in 2025 as they plunged 55.4% in November, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
At one point in the year, NuScale Power stock was up a staggering 200%. After November's big fall, its year-to-date gain has dropped to only 19%, as of the time of this writing. What went wrong with the once red-hot nuclear energy stock?
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NuScale Power isn't selling anything yet
NuScale Power is developing small modular reactors (SMRs) called VOYGR based on its core technology, the NuScale Power Module (NPM). Each NPM can generate 77 Mwe (megawatt electric), and each VOYGR plant is scalable to accommodate up to 12 NPMs. That's where the appeal of SMRs lies: they can be installed in compact and remote locations and are scalable as required, none of which is possible in traditional nuclear power plants.
Amid the ongoing global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, nuclear energy is garnering significant attention as a crucial carbon-free energy source. With President Donald Trump aggressively pushing to deploy advanced nuclear technologies, including SMRs, investors expect big things ahead for NuScale Power.
They also already expect to see the impact on NuScale Power's numbers, and that's where part of the problem lies.
NuScale Power is still a start-up and has yet to commercialize its technology. Whatever little revenue it earns currently is for engineering services provided to RoPower in Romania. Also, NuScale requires a lot of money to develop plants, making fundraising an ongoing concern.
So when NuScale reported its third-quarter numbers on Nov. 6 and its numbers "missed" Wall Street estimates, the stock sank. The company posted a net loss of $273 million on $8 million in revenue. It also issued shares during the quarter to raise $475 million.
Soon after, several analysts slashed their price targets on the stock, adding to the pressure on the stock price. One of the most notable cuts was from UBS, with analyst Jon Windham reducing NuScale Power's price target from $38 per share to $20 per share, citing headwinds such as delays in the Romania project and potential further stock dilution.
Keep an eye on this
NuScale Power has an exclusive partnership with ENTRA1 Energy to commercialize its SMR technology globally. It's a crucial partnership, as much of NuScale's financial and execution burden is passed on to ENTRA1 Energy. ENTRA1 Energy recently secured a contract to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity to the Tennessee Valley Authority across seven states in the U.S. The deployment will utilize NuScale Power SMRs. ENTRA1 could also receive up to $25 billion in funding under the $550 billion U.S.-Japan Framework Agreement.
On the other hand, NuScale Power's largest shareholder, Fluor, plans to sell its stake in the nuclear energy company in 2026. That's something you'd want to watch out for.
Should you invest $1,000 in NuScale Power right now?
Before you buy stock in NuScale Power, 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 NuScale Power 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 $540,587!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,118,210!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 8, 2025
Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NuScale Power. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why NuScale Power Stock Plunged 55% in November

(RTTNews) - UBS is preparing for another major round of cost-cutting. As part of the integration of Credit Suisse, the bank will have to reduce thousands of jobs next year, Swiss paper SonntagsBlick reported on Sunday.
According to the report around 10,000 positions are expected to be eliminated by 2027, both in Switzerland and abroad.
The bank has not provided any official details regarding the downsizing plans.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

UBS Plans To Cut 10,000 Jobs Worldwide By 2027 : Report

Key Points
Carnival has bounced back from COVID-era challenges.
Shares are more expensive than they look on the surface.
Long-term investing is the key to sustainable returns in the stock market, but sometimes it can backfire spectacularly. For example, if you purchased $1,000 of Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) stock 10 years ago, you would have just over $500 today -- a loss of around 50%. That means more than a decade of growth and billions in stock buybacks essentially evaporated during the coronavirus pandemic.
The good news is that Carnival's business is finally getting back on track. And the company aims to regain the value it lost over the previous years. Let's dig deeper into the pros and cons of the stock to decide if investors should give the iconic cruise company a second chance.
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The business is recovering sharply
While there is a lot of talk about the ostensibly terrible U.S. economy (analysts at UBS put the near-term likelihood of recession at 93%), the doom and gloom isn't showing up in Carnival's results. On the contrary, business is booming. Third-quarter revenue rose 3.3% to $8.15 billion based on modest increases in tickets and onboard sales, which typically refers to the purchase of food and drinks during cruises.
Management plans to drive continued growth with new experiences, such as Celebration Key, a private island development in the Bahamas with beaches, dining, and water park attractions. This development is part of a gradual shift in the company's business model, where it is seeking to drive more onboard (or on-island spending) by offering its guests controlled environments where they can continue to spend money outside the ship.
The company expects 3 million guests to visit Celebration Key in 2026 (this would be around 25% of its total passenger volume, based on 2024 numbers). And it plans to open a similar development called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in mid-2026. This is another private island in the Bahamas that aims to offer a more refined and tranquil guest experience.
Can Carnival handle its debts?
While it is easy to get excited about new developments, bookings, and ticket sales, these factors don't mean much if they don't translate to profits. The good news is that Carnival is also making impressive progress in this regard, with operating income rising by a modest 4.2% year over year to $2.27 billion in the third quarter.
Carnival's profitability is crucial, considering the capital-intensive nature of its industry. It must constantly maintain its vessels and buy new ones when they become outdated, while also pouring capital into its new private island developments. The company has also accumulated a considerable amount of debt from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is generating interest expense and will eventually have to be paid off.
As of the third quarter, long-term debt stood at $25 billion, compared to $1.76 billion in cash. The debt generated $317 million in third-quarter interest expense, but this looks very manageable if Carnival can maintain or improve its current levels of profitability. Management has consistently refinanced its debt to spread out maturities over a longer period. Falling interest rates have made it easier to replace higher-interest notes.
I'm still not excited about Carnival
By all means, Carnival is a solid company. Its business has recovered from the pandemic, debt looks manageable, and pivoting to new private island experiences could help it grow onboard revenue while expanding its customer base.
But a good company isn't always a good long-term investment. And there are reasons why it's hard to get excited about this stock, despite its improving fundamentals.
One such example, Carnival is quite expensive. While the company's market cap of $34 billion might look cheap (that corresponds to a forward price-to-earnings multiple of just 11), this metric doesn't account for the company's high debt levels, which give it an enterprise value of $60 billion. That's a high price to pay for a recession-vulnerable business growing at low single digits.
Should you invest $1,000 in Carnival Corp. right now?
Before you buy stock in Carnival Corp., 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 Carnival Corp. 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 $556,658!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,124,157!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 1, 2025
Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. 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.

Is it Time to Buy Carnival Stock?

Key Points
PayPal shares have lost nearly a third of their value in 2025.
User engagement trends are moving in the wrong direction.
An extremely cheap valuation helps make up for the challenges the company is facing. But are shares cheap enough?
PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) stock has been crushed this year. Accelerating revenue growth hasn't been enough to help shares climb out of a multiyear slump. Adding to the stock's carnage, shares slipped earlier this week when management raised new concerns about growth in the company's core checkout business.
The digital payments specialist's revenue recently returned to mid-single-digit growth -- and earnings are climbing at an even faster rate. Yet, recent remarks from PayPal's chief financial officer are a good reminder that the company still faces some challenges it needs to work through before it's firing on all cylinders again.
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This begs the question: Is the stock's cheap valuation a reason to buy, or an accurate reflection of deeper problems underneath the surface?
Strong financials and disappointing engagement
It's worth emphasizing that PayPal's business fundamentals have seen dramatic improvement recently. In the third quarter of 2025, PayPal's revenue rose 7% year over year -- an acceleration from 5% growth in Q2. Additionally, the company's adjusted earnings per share increased 12% year over year to $1.34.
Engagement, however, remains a weaker spot for PayPal. Active accounts stayed near 438 million at the end of the third quarter, up only 1% year over year and in line with Q2. Additionally, total payment transactions in Q3 declined 5% year over year. And transactions per active account on a trailing-12-month basis dipped 6% to 57.6, suggesting that many users are transacting less frequently than before.
There's more bad news
Speaking at the UBS (NYSE: UBS) Global Tech & AI Conference, CFO Jamie Miller said that growth in PayPal's branded checkout business would be "at least a couple of points slower" in the fourth quarter than it was in the third quarter. Branded checkout volume grew in the mid-single digits in the third quarter, so Miller's comment implies growth near 3% or worse during the current period, even though overall guidance for the quarter did not change.
Branded checkout remains one of PayPal's most important franchises. It is one of the primary ways many online shoppers encounter PayPal on merchant sites and inside apps -- and it likely boasts a healthier margin than some of the company's lower-fee processing work, such as payment service provider transactions. A slowdown during the holiday season points to persistent competitive pressure from card networks and major technology platforms that are expanding their own checkout offerings.
Importantly, Miller did say that the company is on track to meet its fourth-quarter guidance despite this headwind. In its third-quarter update, management forecast Non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings per share of $1.27 to $1.31 -- up from $1.19 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Still, with PayPal already posting poor performance on some engagement metrics and now with decelerating growth in its branded checkout, there's good reason to be concerned.
But PayPal bulls might argue that the bad news is already priced in. The stock's current valuation is extremely cheap. Trading at about 12 times earnings, quality tech stocks don't get much cheaper than this. However, investors who buy the stock today must believe PayPal can stabilize branded checkout growth, or at least make up for some of its weakening engagement trends with its newer AI (artificial intelligence)-related initiatives like its agentic commerce services.
I personally will stay on the sidelines for now. Given the intense competition in the payments space, I worry that some of the weaknesses in certain PayPal engagement metrics may be signs of shifting trends and competition taking market share. But I'm open to changing my mind if PayPal can show consistent improvement in transactions and engagement.
Should you invest $1,000 in PayPal right now?
Before you buy stock in PayPal, 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 PayPal 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 $556,658!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,124,157!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,001% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% 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 December 1, 2025
Daniel Sparks and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short December 2025 $75 calls on PayPal. 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.

PayPal Stock Looks Dirt Cheap. Time to Buy?

Key Points
Dollar General stock now trades at an attractive discount compared to previous highs.
A recession could actually set up Realty Income for future growth.
As 2025 comes to a close, it will cap off a year of deep economic uncertainty. While new technologies like generative artificial intelligence (AI) have boosted GDP growth from data center spending, regular consumers are still struggling with rising prices and a softening job market. UBS projects that over the near term, there is a 93% chance of a recession.
Generally, economic downturns are bad news for stocks because they mean less spending and slower growth. Companies with particularly weak balance sheets may even declare bankruptcy.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
That said, some businesses are built to thrive no matter what happens with the economy. Let's discuss why Dollar General (NYSE: DG) and Realty Income (NYSE: O) fit the bill.
Realty Income
Realty Income is a leading real estate investment trust (REIT) that is popular with retirees because of its large dividend (currently yielding 5.63%), which is paid monthly instead of quarterly. The company maintained its payout through the financial crisis of 2007 and the dot-com bubble collapse in 2001. And its diversified defensive business model could help ensure decades of value creation.
As a REIT, Realty Income's operating strategy involves acquiring single-tenant commercial properties and leasing them to high-quality tenants such as dollar stores, auto repair shops, and home improvement stores. While some of these tenants are sensitive to the business cycle, the company manages risk through diversification (no client type makes up more than 11% of total rent) and triple-net leases -- meaning that the tenant is responsible for operating costs like taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Paradoxically, a recession may actually set up Realty Income for future growth. And the stock enjoyed substantial bull runs after the downturns in 2001 and 2007, likely because of favorable monetary policy.
The real estate industry is particularly susceptible to interest rates because this influences the cost of capital needed to take out loans and acquire new properties. During recessions, the Federal Reserve usually lowers rates to spur expansion in the economy. And this benefits Realty Income's growth potential while making its stock more attractive relative to other income-producing assets, such as Treasury bonds.
Dollar General
Founded in 1939, Dollar General has since grown to become America's largest chain of dollar stores, a type of convenience store designed to attract lower-income consumers with rock-bottom prices and a no-frills experience. The company faces serious challenges from the inflation crisis over the past half-decade (which forced it to raise more of its prices above $1), but it still looks poised to withstand a recession.
A lot of people mistakenly believe that a recession is synonymous with a bad economy. But that's not necessarily true. Recessions are economic contractions that usually lead to a drop or flattening out in consumer prices.
So while Dollar General's business model struggled with inflation over the last five years, it can still thrive during an actual recession by attracting customers from mainstream big-box retailers like Walmart or Target.
Dollar General's market niche is unique. It lacks the economies of scale of its larger competitors, but it makes up for this by offering products in extremely small quantities. Although these purchases don't necessarily provide a better value for consumers, in a truly desperate economy, they allow people to spend the bare minimum until conditions improve.
Second-quarter net sales jumped 5.1% year over year to $10.7 billion, while operating profits grew 8.3% to $595 million. While these numbers might not be exciting for growth investors, the company offers exceptional value with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of just 16 compared to the S&P 500's average of 22. And it sweetens the deal with a modest dividend yield of 2.16%.
Should you invest $1,000 in Realty Income right now?
Before you buy stock in Realty Income, 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 Realty Income 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 $560,649!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,100,862!*
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Will Ebiefung has positions in Realty Income and is short shares of Dollar General. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Realty Income, Target, and Walmart. 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 Recession-Proof Stocks to Watch in December

Key Points
Two analysts tracking the aerospace giant cut their price targets on its equity.
Despite that, the pair remained bullish on its prospects.
On a generally bullish Thursday for the U.S. stock markets, Airbus (OTC: EADSY) wasn't a popular title. The sprawling European aerospace company took a nearly 2% hit to its share price, on the back of two analyst price target cuts.
Chop, chop
The two prognosticators in question -- Christophe Menard of Deutsche Bank and UBS's Ian Douglas-Pennant -- both labor for Europe-headquartered researchers. On Thursday morning, Menard reduced his Airbus fair value assessment to 222 euros ($259) per share, from his previous 228 euros ($266). Douglas-Pennant cut his to 230 euros ($268) from 240 euros ($280).
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These lowered expectations don't mean that either analyst is now an Airbus bear, however, as both maintained their existing buy recommendation on the stock.
It wasn't immediately clear why either pundit adjusted their takes on the company. It didn't seem coincidental that the two price target cuts came a day after Airbus cut its full-year 2025 delivery estimate. It's reduced this estimate by 4% to a total of roughly 790 jets for the year, due in no small part to a several manufacturing issues with its A320 airliner.
No serious loss of altitude
It's probable that the two analysts held fast to their buy recommendations because this news from Airbus isn't too alarming.
No one likes a cut in delivery estimates, but there is clear demand for the A320, and it isn't outrageous or unusual for manufacturers of highly sophisticated planes to experience such difficulties. I think the company will work these out, so these latest developments wouldn't scare me away from owning the stock.
Should you invest $1,000 in Airbus SE right now?
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $560,649!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,100,862!*
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Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Airbus Stock Stalled on Thursday

Key Points
A UBS analyst maintained a "neutral" rating on NuScale stock but lowered his price target.
A potential deal between Meta and Alphabet is raising questions about the energy demand AI will create.
Shares of NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) fell on Tuesday, finishing down 6%. The drop came as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
In a research note released today, UBS analyst Jon Windham maintained a "Neutral" rating for NuScale stock, but slashed his price target by nearly 50%. The note comes amid news that complicates the narrative driving NuScale stock higher.
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UBS cuts NuScale's price target
Windham cut his price target for NuScale stock from $38 to $20, a massive drop that now represents only a small upside from its current level. The research note cites concerns over potential cash flow issues from a major project.
AI's energy demands could be less than anticipated
NuScale and other nuclear companies have seen their stocks skyrocket this year as investors anticipate the energy needs of artificial intelligence (AI). Much has been said about the growing supply gap and the strain AI data centers will put on the grid.
Today, however, it was revealed that Meta Platforms is in talks to spend billions on chips from Alphabet. The chips, TPUs, are specialized semiconductors that are much more energy efficient than the GPUs that have made Nvidia the most valuable company in the world.
NuScale investors appeared spooked by the possibility that this is a sort of canary in the coal mine, indicating the industry is moving toward a much more energy-efficient model, one that may drastically reduce demand for what NuScale is building.
I think this fear is likely overblown, but I still wouldn't recommend NuScale stock at this price. I think it could have a future, but there are still too many unknowns to justify its current valuation in my eyes.
Should you invest $1,000 in NuScale Power right now?
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Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends NuScale Power. 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.

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