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2026-07-21 20:24 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN AMZN MSFT NVDA TSM BRK.A BRK.B

Under new leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has significantly increased its stake in Alphabet to nearly $31 billion, making it the conglomerate's fifth-largest holding. The investment reflects confidence in Alphabet as a full-stack AI company with strong cloud computing growth and vertical integration capabilities, offering exposure to AI without excessive volatility.

Axe note: Berkshire Hathaway’s $10bn Alphabet buy signals a shift towards AI-driven growth, highlighting a new era under Greg Abel.

2026-07-21 20:05 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective BRK.A BRK.B AAPL GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN NVDA PLTR

Berkshire Hathaway gains indirect AI exposure through its 2016 acquisition of Precision Castparts, a specialty metal components manufacturer. Originally considered a failed investment during the pandemic, Precision is now thriving by supplying turbine components for gas-powered data center turbines. The subsidiary's operating cash flow surged from $900 million in 2021 to $2.4 billion last year, demonstrating how Berkshire's long-term quality-focused investment strategy can unexpectedly benefit from emerging trends.

Axe note: Berkshire Hathaway’s clever exposure to AI comes through industrial tech, not flashy pure-play stocks.

2026-07-21 20:01 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective RDW

Redwire Corporation stock surged 9.48% on Tuesday following announcements of a major factory expansion in Huntsville, Alabama for drone production and the opening of a new facility in Georgetown, Indiana for microgravity payloads. However, the company continues to burn cash at approximately $155 million annually with $300 million in losses over the past 12 months, raising concerns about the financial sustainability of these expansion plans.

Axe note: Redwire’s stock jumped on growth plans, but heavy losses raise flags for investors keeping an eye from South Africa.

2026-07-21 20:01 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective TSM NVDA AVGO GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN AAPL AMD PLTR

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) is highlighted as a top AI stock pick, outperforming the market with a 32% year-to-date gain. The company controls 73% of the chip foundry market and serves all major tech companies regardless of their CPU architecture. TSMC is investing $265 billion in U.S. fabs and is well-positioned to benefit from agentic AI and other technology trends due to its diversified revenue base.

Axe note: TSMC's dominant foundry position makes it a smarter AI play than headline chip designers right now.

2026-07-21 19:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ETSY

Etsy Director Melissa Reiff sold 3,855 shares worth $328,000 on July 15, 2026, through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established in August 2025. The sale was a non-discretionary options exercise at $85.00 per share and reduced her direct holdings by 18%, though she retains $1.51 million in Etsy equity. The transaction should not be viewed negatively as it was scheduled nearly a year in advance and reflects compensation rather than concerns about the company's prospects.

Axe note: A director’s planned sale at Etsy coincides with strong stock performance and improving fundamentals.

2026-07-21 19:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Bullish VT IXUS

The article compares two major ETFs: Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT), which provides global exposure including U.S. stocks, and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS), which focuses exclusively on non-U.S. markets. While VT offers comprehensive global diversification with a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.06%, IXUS provides better diversification benefits for investors already exposed to U.S. large-caps, offering a higher dividend yield of 3.0% versus 1.6%. The author recommends IXUS for portfolio diversification purposes, citing better international stock outlook according to leading strategists.

Axe note: For local investors looking beyond the U.S., IXUS offers superior diversification and income over VT.

2026-07-21 19:26 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VZ

Verizon announced it will sell 274 company-owned retail stores to franchisees and cut 500 corporate positions, affecting roughly 3,000 employees total. Despite restructuring concerns, the company's 6.5% dividend appears safe due to strong free cash flow coverage (nearly 2x the dividend payout), improved subscriber trends, and raised full-year guidance. Management expects free cash flow of at least $21.5 billion in 2026, comfortably covering the ~$11 billion annual dividend.

Axe note: Verizon’s store franchising and job cuts point to improved efficiency and a secure dividend despite short-term disruption.

2026-07-21 19:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ASML NVDA

ASML stock surged 87% in the first half of 2026, driven by strong AI capex spending and increasing demand for its EUV lithography machines. The company benefited from improving sentiment in the semiconductor sector, rising memory chip prices, and analyst upgrades. Despite strong guidance and a 17% dividend increase, the stock experienced brief pullbacks after earnings reports before surging in May and June on broader AI momentum.

Axe note: ASML’s 87% jump in 2026 highlights AI-driven capex trends that ripple through global tech and impact USD/ZAR dynamics.

2026-07-21 18:31 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective INTC FTNT TSM

Intel stock surged 8.4% on Tuesday following multiple positive developments: the company announced plans to lay off workers in its data center division to achieve over $10 billion in annual savings, partnered with Fortinet to develop a secure semiconductor chip using Intel's foundry services, and benefited from TSMC's announcement of price increases for contract manufacturing services, which strengthens Intel's competitive positioning in the AI chip market.

Axe note: Intel's cost cuts and new partnerships highlight a shift in semiconductor competition with local impact through the rand and tech sector.

2026-07-21 18:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VBR VFVA BMY CELGR EOG CRM INTU CI

Vanguard research forecasts that U.S. value stocks and small-cap stocks will outperform growth stocks over the next 10 years. The article compares two Vanguard ETFs for value stock exposure: the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), a passively managed fund with ultra-low fees, and the Vanguard U.S. Value Factor ETF (VFVA), an actively managed alternative with broader market-cap exposure. Both funds have recently outperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100.

Axe note: Vanguard’s forecast for U.S. value stocks could signal opportunities framed by the rand’s direction and local sector positioning.

2026-07-21 18:29 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NBIS NVDA

Nebius Group Chairman John Boynton IV sold 6,958 Class A shares worth approximately $1.4 million on July 15, 2026, at a weighted average price of $197.00. The sale represented only 2% of his holdings, leaving him with ~421,000 shares valued at $84.02 million, suggesting he is locking in gains while maintaining a bullish outlook. The transaction occurred after Nebius shares surged nearly 300% over the past 12 months, driven by strong Q1 revenue growth of 684% year-over-year and a $2 billion investment from Nvidia.

Axe note: A small insider sale at Nebius follows a huge run-up, signalling confidence rather than concern.

2026-07-21 18:15 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective JOBY JOBY.WS ACHR ACHR.WS DAL STLA

Joby Aviation is recommended as the stronger eVTOL investment due to its advanced FAA certification progress, 50,000+ test flight miles, strategic partnerships with Delta and Virgin Atlantic, and strong cash position of $1.1 billion. Archer Aviation is advised to be avoided despite high-profile partnerships, as much of its valuation assumes successful execution and it faces significant risks in certification, manufacturing scaling, and commercialization.

Axe note: Joby Aviation leads the eVTOL race with solid progress and partnerships, while Archer Aviation carries too much execution risk.

2026-07-21 18:14 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective SPGM IEFA

SPGM and IEFA offer different approaches to international equity exposure. SPGM provides global exposure including 63% U.S. holdings and has outperformed IEFA with 23.1% one-year returns versus 19.9%. IEFA focuses exclusively on developed markets outside North America with higher dividend yield (3.4% vs 1.8%) and lower expense ratio (0.07% vs 0.09%). The choice depends on whether investors already have U.S. exposure elsewhere in their portfolio.

Axe note: Choosing between SPGM and IEFA depends on your existing U.S. exposure and dividend priorities.

2026-07-21 18:14 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective COST

Costco is predicted to reach a $1 trillion market cap by 2033, requiring 140% growth from its current $417 billion valuation. The company's durable membership model with 92%+ renewal rates, steady warehouse expansion of 30+ per year, and strong e-commerce growth of 20%+ provide multiple growth engines. However, valuation risks exist as the stock already trades at a premium multiple.

Axe note: Costco’s steady growth offers lessons for SA retail investors despite no direct JSE listing.

2026-07-21 18:12 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective IXJ FBT LLY JNJ ABBV

iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) offers broad diversification across 110 global healthcare companies with a lower 0.40% expense ratio, while First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) concentrates on 30 biotech companies with higher growth potential but greater volatility. IXJ suits defensive investors seeking stable exposure to established pharma giants, while FBT appeals to those betting on biotech breakthroughs despite higher risk.

Axe note: IXJ offers broad, steady pharma exposure; FBT targets risky biotech growth.

2026-07-21 17:32 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective IXJ RSPH LLY JNJ ABBV MRNA

IXJ and RSPH are two healthcare ETFs with different strategies: IXJ uses cap-weighted global exposure with larger pharmaceutical companies, offering higher dividends (1.47%) and lower volatility (beta 0.52), while RSPH employs equal-weighting of S&P 500 healthcare stocks, providing stronger 1-year returns (21.01% vs 18.29%) but higher risk (beta 0.81). The choice depends on investor goals—IXJ suits conservative/income-focused investors, while RSPH appeals to growth-oriented investors willing to accept volatility.

Axe note: IXJ offers income and stability; RSPH pushes growth but with more volatility—choose based on your local appetite and risk tolerance.

2026-07-21 17:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NLY NLYPF NLYPG NLYPI NLYPJ STWD

Annaly Capital Management and Starwood Property Trust are two mortgage REITs offering double-digit yields (12.5% and 11.6% respectively). Annaly is deemed the safer income play due to its growing earnings that support recent dividend increases, while Starwood, despite never cutting its dividend in 17 years, currently has distributable earnings below its dividend payout. However, Starwood expects improved coverage from its Fundamental Income Properties acquisition.

Axe note: Annaly offers steadier income, but Starwood’s growth potential makes it a mixed bag for income hunters here in South Africa.

2026-07-21 17:20 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective MU TSM

Micron stock surged 13.4% on Tuesday following TSMC's announcement of price increases up to 10% for contract chip manufacturing in 2027. The price hike, driven by rising input costs, suggests strong AI chip demand allows manufacturers to raise prices without losing customers. Bank of America analyst also noted that cheaper Chinese AI models may require more memory chips than American alternatives, providing additional upside for Micron.

Axe note: Micron’s jump shows strong chip demand, a signal worth watching for South Africa’s rand and sectors tied to technology imports.

2026-07-21 17:18 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective XLE NLR CVX CEG CCJ

State Street's XLE energy ETF delivered 39% returns over one year with a 0.08% expense ratio, significantly outperforming VanEck's NLR nuclear-focused ETF which posted an 8.1% loss. While XLE offers lower costs and higher liquidity through exposure to oil and gas giants, NLR provides a longer-term bet on nuclear power's role in powering AI data centers, despite near-term headwinds from uranium price pullbacks.

Axe note: XLE’s oil and gas exposure outperforms NLR’s nuclear focus, but each serves a different investor time frame.

2026-07-21 17:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CVX GS GSPA GSPC GSPD

Goldman Sachs projects Brent crude could exceed $120/barrel in Q4 2026 if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist, with an average of $100/barrel in 2027. The base case assumes de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran, with Brent averaging $80 in Q4 2026 and $75 in 2027. Both scenarios present strong opportunities for major oil producers like Chevron and ExxonMobil to generate substantial free cash flow and shareholder returns.

Axe note: Goldman Sachs warns Brent crude might hit $120/barrel if Strait of Hormuz tensions persist, boosting energy stocks and the rand.