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2026-07-17 01:15 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX ASTS RKLB IRDM

SpaceX has fallen back to its IPO price of $135. The article compares two alternatives: AST SpaceMobile, which focuses on satellite-based broadband through telecom partnerships but doesn't launch its own satellites, and Rocket Lab, which will become fully integrated after acquiring Iridium Communications. All three companies are unprofitable startups, making them suitable only for aggressive growth investors.

Axe note: Evaluating two SpaceX competitors through a South African investor lens reveals caution and a watchful stance.

2026-07-17 00:33 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN BRK.A BRK.B

Warren Buffett revealed he personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway's $31 billion Alphabet investment, calling it a mistake not to buy sooner. Despite owning the position, Buffett expressed concerns about the massive AI spending by Alphabet and competitors. Alphabet showed strong Q1 2026 results with 22% revenue growth and Google Cloud accelerating at 63%, though the company faces risks from heavy capital expenditure plans of $180-190 billion annually.

Axe note: Warren Buffett personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway’s massive Alphabet investment but voices caution on AI costs.

2026-07-17 00:10 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective NVDA TSM AMD

TSMC reported strong Q2 earnings with revenue up 33% and EPS up 77%, driven by AI chip demand. The company announced a $100 billion additional investment in Arizona manufacturing, including advanced packaging capabilities, which could benefit customers like Nvidia. TSMC's CEO indicated strong demand signals from cloud providers, suggesting sustained long-term AI growth and supporting Nvidia's valuation at 23x forward earnings.

Axe note: TSMC’s big investment signals a longer AI growth cycle that supports Nvidia but leaves local investors to play currency and banks.

2026-07-16 23:19 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRDO

Chi Fung Cheng, CTO of Credo Technology Group, sold 27,500 shares worth $6.6 million through a pre-arranged trading plan established in September 2025. The sale represents only 0.46% of his total holdings, with the insider maintaining approximately 6 million shares worth over $1.3 billion. The transaction is characterized as routine diversification following a 139% one-year stock surge, rather than a bearish signal. Credo has demonstrated strong fundamentals with tripled fiscal 2026 revenue exceeding $1.3 billion and net income growth of over 500%.

Axe note: A small, planned sale by Credo’s CTO after a 139% rally points to routine diversification, not trouble ahead.

2026-07-16 23:16 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective O

June's inflation report showing a decline to 3.5% year-over-year is positive news for Realty Income, a rate-sensitive REIT. With cooling inflation reducing the likelihood of further Fed rate hikes, the stock becomes more attractive for income investors seeking its 5.1% yield and 31-year dividend growth track record. The company owns 15,571 properties with 98.9% occupancy and trades at 14x expected AFFO.

Axe note: Cooling inflation and a pause in Fed rate hikes make rate-sensitive REITs like Realty Income worth a look from a rand perspective.

2026-07-16 23:13 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective KO

Coca-Cola is recommended as a buy ahead of its July 28 earnings report. The beverage giant has beaten earnings expectations for four consecutive quarters, maintains a 64-year dividend increase streak (Dividend King status), generates strong free cash flow of ~$2 billion quarterly, and offers a 2.5% dividend yield. Despite trading at a premium valuation (forward P/E of ~25) and reaching all-time highs, the stock has gained 18% year-to-date and remains a steady, income-generating investment with new leadership focusing on innovation.

Axe note: Coca-Cola’s steady earnings and dividend streak make it attractive despite a rich valuation.

2026-07-16 23:10 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Selective SPCX TSLA AAPL NVDA

SpaceX has fallen below its $135 IPO price after an initial 20% surge. Historical analysis of major IPOs shows eight of ten experienced declines in the first three months, with an average drop of 13%. The article suggests most investors should wait for future buying opportunities rather than investing at current levels, citing the company's heavy investment needs and technology risks.

Axe note: SpaceX's share price falling below its IPO level is a classic early-stage signal; South Africans should watch but avoid jumping in now.

2026-07-16 23:08 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRDO

Credo Technology Group's COO Lam Yat Tung sold approximately 106,000 shares worth $23.9 million on July 15, 2026, under a pre-planned Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted in April. Despite the sale, the insider maintains over 3.1 million shares valued at $705 million. The transaction represents less than 4% of his holdings and follows a 121% one-year stock appreciation. Analysts view this as routine portfolio management rather than a bearish signal, particularly given Credo's strong financial performance with fiscal 2026 revenue exceeding $1.3 billion and record quarterly results.

Axe note: Credo Technology’s COO sold a small portion of shares after a 121% run-up, showing confidence still intact.

2026-07-16 23:02 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VZ

Verizon Communications stock surged over 2% on Thursday, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.4% gain, following the company's announcement to sell 274 retail stores and cut approximately 500 corporate jobs. The restructuring shifts Verizon toward a franchise model for retail operations, with the company retaining direct operation of only about 1,000 stores. This move is part of CEO Dan Schulman's broader efficiency initiative announced last October, which includes a 15% workforce reduction and AI-driven automation of customer service functions.

Axe note: Verizon’s move to franchise retail stores and cut jobs lifted its stock, spotlighting efficiency in a sluggish telecom sector.

2026-07-16 22:31 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective CRDO

Credo Technology Group's COO Yat Tung Lam sold 50,000 shares worth $11.3 million on July 15, 2026, through a pre-planned Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement. Despite the sale, Lam maintains over 3 million shares in the company. The article characterizes this as routine profit-taking after the stock's 121% one-year run, not a sign of concern. Credo reported strong fiscal results with revenue exceeding $1.3 billion and net income of $472.3 million, though the company faces concentration risk with 90% of revenue from its top 10 customers.

Axe note: Credo’s COO sold $11.3 million in shares after a stellar 121% rally, illustrating routine profit-taking amid strong growth but notable customer concentration risk.

2026-07-16 22:12 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective ATAI LLY

AtaiBeckley shares surged 33.40% after pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly agreed to acquire the mental health-focused biotechnology company for $6.75 per share in cash, plus up to $2.50 per share in milestone payments. The total deal valuation could reach approximately $3.8 billion if all conditions are met. The acquisition is expected to close in Q3, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

Axe note: Eli Lilly’s acquisition of AtaiBeckley highlights growing global interest in innovative mental health therapies with some ripple effects for local biotech sentiment.

2026-07-16 22:11 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective IBM

IBM stock plummeted over 25% following an earnings warning, erasing $67 billion in market value. The decline was triggered by customers shifting spending away from IBM's software toward AI servers and memory chips. While the short-term outlook is concerning, the analyst views this as a cyclical timing issue rather than a fundamental problem, suggesting the crash may present a buying opportunity for patient investors.

Axe note: IBM’s sharp plunge faced a cyclical shift in tech spending—worth watching, but not without risks.

2026-07-16 21:33 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective AVGO GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN META

Broadcom stock has fallen 20% from its all-time high following a poorly received earnings report, but analysts view this as a buying opportunity. The company is positioned for explosive growth in custom AI chips, with major clients including Alphabet, Meta, Anthropic, and OpenAI ramping production through 2026-2027. AI semiconductor revenue is expected to surge from $10.8 billion in Q2 to over $100 billion in 2027, making the stock attractive at current valuations.

Axe note: Broadcom’s chip business slump looks like a buying chance, driven by explosive AI growth that ripples through markets and currencies like the rand.

2026-07-16 21:23 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective BA BAPA

Boeing delivered 64 commercial airplanes in June, bringing its second-quarter total to 171 jets and first-half total to 314—its best first half since 2018. The delivery ramp is critical to Boeing's recovery story, as the company collects most of an airplane's purchase price upon delivery. With 28 more deliveries in Q2 versus Q1, investors should expect improved financial metrics when Boeing reports earnings on July 28, particularly in free cash flow and narrowing losses.

Axe note: Boeing’s first-half jet deliveries hit a five-year high, signaling a stronger financial outlook that could influence USD/ZAR movements.

2026-07-16 21:15 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective AMZN

Amazon's AWS division posted impressive 28% YoY revenue growth in Q1 2026 with a $364 billion backlog, driven by AI demand. However, the backlog heavily relies on spending commitments from Anthropic and OpenAI, which have combined annual revenues of only $72 billion against $27 billion in yearly AWS obligations. Amazon plans $200 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, resulting in negative free cash flow, creating uncertainty about the sustainability of these commitments.

Axe note: AWS growth looks strong but depends heavily on a few big AI clients, while Amazon’s cash flow turns negative.

2026-07-16 21:08 • The Motley Fool Negative Axe Cap view: Bearish LCID TSLA RIVN

Lucid Group surged 8.82% on July 16, 2026, after CEO Silvio Napoli publicly denied bankruptcy and take-private rumors that had caused the stock to plunge over 50% earlier in the week. The company faces significant liquidity concerns, with shares down 93% since its 2020 IPO. Investors will await Lucid's full financial results on August 4 for clarity on the company's future direction.

Axe note: Lucid Group's stock rallied after its CEO denied bankruptcy talk, but the company's serious cash problems remain.

2026-07-16 21:03 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective MU TSM NVDA AVGO ABT SPCX

Tech stocks extended their sell-off on July 16, 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 1.47% amid growing AI spending concerns and escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Micron Technology plunged nearly 6%, while semiconductor leaders like Nvidia and Broadcom declined. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing fell despite record earnings. Abbott Laboratories surged over 10% on strong earnings. A Bank of America survey revealed 45% of fund managers view an AI bubble as the largest market risk.

Axe note: AI spending worries and geopolitical tensions weigh on global tech; what this means for JSE and USD/ZAR.

2026-07-16 21:02 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective VOOG SLYG NVDA MSFT AAPL

Vanguard's VOOG and State Street's SLYG offer different growth investment strategies. VOOG focuses on large-cap tech stocks with higher returns (25.3% 1-yr, $1,941 on $1k invested over 5 years) but greater volatility, while SLYG targets small-cap growth stocks with more balanced sector exposure and lower volatility. VOOG has a lower expense ratio (0.07% vs 0.15%) and is better for tech-focused portfolios, whereas SLYG suits investors seeking diversification beyond the S&P 500.

Axe note: Vanguard's VOOG rides big tech gains, while State Street’s SLYG offers steadier growth with less concentration risk.

2026-07-16 21:02 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective LMND

Lemonade has reduced its reinsurance coverage from 20% to 18% of gross written premiums, retaining more insurance risk as its AI-driven underwriting models improve. The company's gross loss ratio improved significantly to 62% in Q1 2026 from 83% in Q1 2024, suggesting growing confidence in its underwriting capabilities. While the move exposes Lemonade to additional risk, it signals the company is maturing as an insurer and moving closer to profitability.

Axe note: Lemonade retains more insurance risk, betting its AI models can handle underwriting better and push it toward profitability.

2026-07-16 20:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective AMZN GOOG GOOGL GOOGM GOOGN META MSFT AAPL NVDA TSLA

The Magnificent Seven stocks are trading at their lowest relative valuations in a decade, with their P/E premium over the S&P 500 falling to just 10% from a historical 30%. The author recommends Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta as the best buying opportunities, citing their strong AI capabilities, cost advantages, and attractive valuations despite solid growth prospects.

Axe note: The famed US tech giants are priced cheaper relative to history, opening a selective buying window, especially for SA investors eyeing global growth via USD/ZAR.