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<title>24/7 Wall St.</title>
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<description>Insightful Analysis and Commentary for U.S. and Global Equity Investors</description>
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<title>Delta CEO Ignored Elon Musk’s Warning That “It Will Get Much Worse.” Now Musk Predicts Ed Bastian Will “Lose His Job” As United And American Race To Try And Poach Delta’s Premium Customers</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/delta-ceo-ignored-elon-musks-warning-that-it-will-get-much-worse-now-musk-predicts-ed-bastian-will-lose-his-job-as-united-and-american-race-to-try-and-poach-deltas-premium-customers/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[AJ Tiarsmith]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:56:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672422&preview=true&preview_id=1672422</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Elon Musk publicly predicted Delta's CEO will lose his job over a Wi-Fi decision, and now United and American are spending real money to make that happen by poaching the elite flyers who fuel Delta's most profitable revenue streams.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/delta-ceo-ignored-elon-musks-warning-that-it-will-get-much-worse-now-musk-predicts-ed-bastian-will-lose-his-job-as-united-and-american-race-to-try-and-poach-deltas-premium-customers/">Delta CEO Ignored Elon Musk’s Warning That “It Will Get Much Worse.” Now Musk Predicts Ed Bastian Will “Lose His Job” As United And American Race To Try And Poach Delta’s Premium Customers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672422">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>On August 19, 2026, <strong>Delta Air Lines</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DAL/">NYSE:DAL</a>) passengers complained about slow in-flight Wi-Fi and rebooked on other carriers for Starlink. Elon Musk responded: “I warned them. It will get much worse.” Days later, Musk said Delta made a “grave error” by picking the service of <strong>Amazon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMZN/">NASDAQ:AMZN</a>) over Starlink, according to Yahoo Finance. Delta kept its plan. Six weeks later, its two biggest rivals are going after its best customers.</p>
<h2>Why Delta Chose Amazon Leo</h2>
<p>Delta said in March 2026 it would use Amazon’s <a title="Amazon Is Ready to Take on StarLink in Space-Based Broadband" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/24/amazon-is-ready-to-take-on-starlink-in-space-based-broadband/">low-earth-orbit Leo network</a> on 500 aircraft, with installations starting in 2028. Chief Executive Ed Bastian argued Amazon offers retailing capability, Prime and video gaming technology that Starlink lacks, with better bandwidth at lower cost. On the July earnings call, Bastian said, “We’re no longer competing on price as much as we’re competing on value and experience and service.” In the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/27904/000002790426000029/deltaairlinesannouncesjune.htm">second quarter</a>, premium product revenue grew 17% and loyalty revenue grew 19%.</p>
<h2>How the Feud Got Personal</h2>
<p>In late September, the travel site Live and Let’s Fly reported claims from a shared social media post. According to that post, Bastian allegedly said in private that Delta did not want to be with Elon Musk. The post’s author said the claims could not be independently confirmed. PYOK reported that Delta won’t confirm or deny the reported comments.</p>
<p>Musk then posted twice on September 30. In the first post, Elon Musk said the “best way to sandbox an AI” is to put it on a Delta flight. In the second, responding to the reported comments, Elon Musk said Bastian will “lose his job” over this. That is Musk’s claim. Nothing confirms it.</p>
<h2>United and American Are Already Courting Delta’s Elite Flyers</h2>
<p>Live and Let’s Fly reported that <strong>United Airlines</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/UAL/">NASDAQ:UAL</a>) launched a “Switch to Better Wi-Fi” status match. It includes a fast track to Premier 1K, United’s top published tier, for the highest-level members from Delta and <strong>American Airlines</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AAL/">NASDAQ:AAL</a>).</p>
<p>American rolled out its own tier-by-tier status matches, according to Live and Let’s Fly. Elon Musk posted: “Both @United and @AmericanAir have @Starlink!”</p>
<p>Elite flyers drive outsized profit through premium fares, corporate travel and co-branded card spending. Delta expects $9 billion in American Express payments this year. Its premium corporate sales grew 25% last quarter. Rivals paying to win those customers while the fight is in the news presents a direct risk to that revenue.</p>
<h2>Airlines Using Starlink Have the Wi-Fi Edge</h2>
<p>Starlink is already on United’s 560+ aircraft, with full fleet conversion expected by end of 2027. <strong>Southwest Airlines</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/LUV/">NYSE:LUV</a>) and American also picked Starlink. American will bring Starlink to its entire fleet, according to Live and Let’s Fly. Delta still counts on Viasat until Leo arrives.</p>
<h2>Delta Shares Show No Damage So Far</h2>
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<p>As of 7:59 PM ET on October 1, 2026, Delta stock traded at $84.15, up 0.82% for the session and up 22.19% year to date. So far, the share price reflects little concern about the dispute.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="DAL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-dal/full?v=70944cf8a8ac" alt="DAL price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>The Wi-Fi gap will last for years, giving rivals reason to keep making offers. Delta’s third-quarter EPS guidance of $2.00-$2.50 will be an early test of whether elite flyers are leaving.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="DAL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-dal/full?v=2b100f7300e4" alt="DAL earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<ul>
<li>Whether premium and loyalty revenue growth slows in Delta’s next earnings report, which would suggest elite flyers are leaving.</li>
<li>Whether Delta answers with its own retention offer.</li>
<li>Whether the Amazon Leo schedule delays or speeds up.</li>
</ul>
<div>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/delta-ceo-ignored-elon-musks-warning-that-it-will-get-much-worse-now-musk-predicts-ed-bastian-will-lose-his-job-as-united-and-american-race-to-try-and-poach-deltas-premium-customers/">Delta CEO Ignored Elon Musk’s Warning That “It Will Get Much Worse.” Now Musk Predicts Ed Bastian Will “Lose His Job” As United And American Race To Try And Poach Delta’s Premium Customers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672422">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Clark Howard Warned GM Would Rather Sell Fewer Cars for More Money, and Then GM Reported Its Quarter</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/clark-howard-warned-gm-would-rather-sell-fewer-cars-for-more-money-and-then-gm-reported-its-quarter/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:40:27 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672288&preview=true&preview_id=1672288</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Consumer advocate Clark Howard called out Ford and GM for choosing profit over sales volume, and then GM released numbers that seemed to prove his point. Here is what that strategy costs a buyer who walks into a showroom without knowing it is happening.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/clark-howard-warned-gm-would-rather-sell-fewer-cars-for-more-money-and-then-gm-reported-its-quarter/">Clark Howard Warned GM Would Rather Sell Fewer Cars for More Money, and Then GM Reported Its Quarter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672288">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>On his September 21 podcast, consumer advocate Clark Howard accused <strong>Ford</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/F/">NYSE:F</a>) and <strong>General Motors</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GM/">NYSE:GM</a>) of shrinking supply on purpose: <em>“Ford and GM had both made a decision along with some of the European brands, that they would rather sell a lot less metal. They call it metal. A lot fewer cars for a lot more money than get market share.”</em></p>
<p>GM reported its sales ten days later. According to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/10/01/general-motors-auto-sales-fall-5-point-5-percent-in-q3.html">CNBC’s coverage of GM’s third-quarter sales</a>, unit sales fell 6% from a year earlier and are down 6% year to date. In the same report, GM said the industry sales rate stayed strong in the upper 16 million range. So GM is selling fewer vehicles in a healthy market.</p>
<p>This matters to anyone walking into a showroom. Howard said the average American-brand vehicle now sells for 50 plus thousand, while Subaru and <strong>Honda</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HMC/">NYSE:HMC</a>) average 37 grand. If you expect the market to hand you a discount, you will overpay.</p>
<h2>GM’s Own Earnings Back Up Howard’s Charge</h2>
<p>Howard is right, and GM’s quarterly results show it. In the first quarter of 2026, North American wholesale volume fell to 793,000 units from 827,000. Even so, adjusted EBIT rose 22% to $4.3 billion. Fewer trucks left the factory, and GM made more money on each one.</p>
<p>Management described the strategy itself on its July call. GM said its incentives run one and a half to two points below the industry average. It also said per-unit profit on full-size pickups is up over 25% since 2020.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="GM" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-gm/full?v=a08b39896710" alt="GM earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>To be fair, part of the third-quarter fall has another explanation. EV sales dropped more than 50%. GM blames the EV tax credit that expired in September 2025, which pulled demand forward, plus discontinued models like the Chevrolet Malibu. Gas-powered sales were up fractionally. Pricing discipline is still stated policy, though. It added 600 million in first-half profit.</p>
<p>Shareholders got the <em>“more money”</em> half of the deal. GM’s quarterly dividend went from $0.12 to $0.15, then to $0.18. That’s a 50% increase.</p>
<p>Even so, shares sit near $79, down about 8% over the past month.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="GM" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-gm/full?v=d36a65c9789f" alt="GM price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>How a $13,000 Sticker Gap Turns Into $15,000</h2>
<p>Here’s an example. Say you compare a $50,000 domestic SUV with a $37,000 rival. The sticker gap is $13,000.</p>
<p>Assume both are financed over 60 months at an sample 7% APR.</p>
<p>The pricier vehicle costs about $990 a month, compared with about $733. That’s an extra $257 every month.</p>
<p>You’d pay roughly $9,404 in interest on the first loan and $6,959 on the second.</p>
<p>Over the full loan, the real gap is about $15,445, and interest grows it every month. Small incentives add to the gap. Two points of MSRP on a $50,000 vehicle is $1,000 in discounts you’d likely see at a brand that discounts like the rest of the industry.</p>
<h2>Your Loan Rate Decides How Much the Premium Hurts</h2>
<p>The variable that matters most is your interest rate. On that same $13,000 premium, a 1.9% loan makes the total gap about $13,638. A 10% loan drives it to about $16,573.</p>
<p>Borrowers with excellent credit pay roughly the sticker difference. Borrowers with weaker credit pay the premium plus thousands more in interest. If your rate is high, buying from an automaker that limits supply costs you the most.</p>
<h2>How to Shop When Automakers Limit Supply</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Compare across brands in the same category.</strong> Howard’s list includes Buick at 36 grand and Kia at 38. Price at least two of them against any vehicle you’re considering, and compare total loan cost instead of the monthly payment.</li>
<li><strong>Get a <a title="I’m Approved for a Car Loan - How Should I Negotiate at the Dealership?" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/08/29/im-approved-for-a-car-loan-how-should-i-negotiate-at-the-dealership/">preapproved rate</a> before you visit a dealer.</strong> Enter that rate into a loan calculator for each vehicle. Seeing the total cost over five years makes the true price gap clear.</li>
<li><strong>Skip the end-of-model clearance plan for trucks.</strong> New Silverado and Sierra pickups arrive in December, but GM says it hasn’t seen the <em>“typical heavy discounting at the end of the cycle.”</em> Don’t build your budget around a markdown that may never come.</li>
<li><strong>Negotiate the <a title="I’m Approved for a Car Loan - How Should I Negotiate at the Dealership?" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/08/29/im-approved-for-a-car-loan-how-should-i-negotiate-at-the-dealership/">out-the-door price</a> by email.</strong> Ask several dealers for a written total that includes fees. This avoids the showroom pressure tactics Howard has criticized for years, and it makes dealers compete on the one number that matters.</li>
</ol>
<p>GM decided to sell fewer vehicles at higher prices, so the savings come from comparing total costs before you sign.</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/clark-howard-warned-gm-would-rather-sell-fewer-cars-for-more-money-and-then-gm-reported-its-quarter/">Clark Howard Warned GM Would Rather Sell Fewer Cars for More Money, and Then GM Reported Its Quarter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672288">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Trump Plans Exclusive Dinner For 185 Largest Holders Of Trump Meme Coin, After Token Crash Cost Investors $3.2 Billion</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/trump-plans-exclusive-dinner-for-185-largest-holders-of-trump-meme-coin-after-token-crash-cost-investors-3-2-billion/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[AJ Tiarsmith]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672408&preview=true&preview_id=1672408</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Trump's meme coin has wiped out billions in investor value, yet the company behind it just opened a contest where the largest holders compete for a seat at an exclusive presidential dinner, and the screening happens entirely out of public view.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/trump-plans-exclusive-dinner-for-185-largest-holders-of-trump-meme-coin-after-token-crash-cost-investors-3-2-billion/">Trump Plans Exclusive Dinner For 185 Largest Holders Of Trump Meme Coin, After Token Crash Cost Investors $3.2 Billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672408">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>On October 1, 2026, the company behind the <strong>OFFICIAL TRUMP</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/TRUMP/">CRYPTO:TRUMP</a>) meme coin opened a contest that awards gala seats to the token’s largest holders. Crypto News reports that the contest covers the top 185 holders. CoinGape reports that the gala is set for Nov 22 in Washington and that seats will be awarded through a time-weighted contest.</p>
<p>As of 2:39 p.m. ET on October 1, 2026, TRUMP was trading at $2.07.</p>
<h2>What Holders Are Competing For</h2>
<p>The dinner will be held at a Trump-branded property in Washington. The top 29 holders get a VIP reception, and the top 4 receive an 18-karat trademarked gold watch.</p>
<p>“Time-weighted” means the contest counts how long you have held the token and how much you own, favoring early buyers who hold until the event. The largest account holds $104 million of TRUMP.</p>
<h2>A 97% Collapse Alongside a Recent Rebound</h2>
<p>TRUMP hit its all-time high of $73.43 on January 19, 2025. It now stands 97.18% below that peak and is down 72.54% over the past year. Its market value of $583.6 million ranks 108 among crypto assets, which puts it outside the top 100.</p>
<p>The token hit an all-time low of $1.37 on August 13, 2026 and has gained 43.18% over the past 60 days, up 2.32% in 24 hours.</p>
<h2>Billions Lost, Hundreds of Millions Earned</h2>
<p>Watchdog group Public Citizen estimates that investors in the meme coin are $3.2 billion underwater. Its total across all of the president’s crypto ventures is $4.7 billion. Separately, reporting on financial disclosures indicates the president earned $635 million in <a title="Trump Made $1.4 Billion Off Crypto and Meme Coins. His Golf Courses Weren't Even Close" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/02/trump-made-1-4-billion-off-crypto-and-meme-coins-his-golf-courses-werent-even-close/">licensing fees</a> from the meme coin, part of $1.4 billion in crypto earnings disclosed for 2025.</p>
<p>The president sold the company marketing rights to his name, creating legal distance between him and the token. A longtime associate leads the venture.</p>
<h2>Reality Check: Who Gets a Seat</h2>
<p>“Foreign buyers and special interests can compete for a seat at his dinner and the guests are vetted in secret. Americans deserve to know who is buying access to Trump, and what they want in return,” said Zach Everson, research director at Public Citizen.</p>
<p>The first gala in May 2025 had 220 guests, including a Chinese billionaire, Fortune reported. Afterward, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun celebrated the dinner as a “strong signal” to the industry, according to the South China Morning Post. This will be the third such event. Members of Congress objected to the earlier ones, and reporting says Democrats are again threatening scrutiny.</p>
<p>Reporting also tells the story of Nick Pinto, a 26-year-old who put $450,000 into the token and now holds roughly $50,000. According to that reporting, he attended the first dinner, where the president stayed about 20 minutes and the steak was 5 ounces. He plans to go again.</p>
<h2>What Is Actually Being Sold Here?</h2>
<p>Public Citizen describes the contest as an access market presented as a loyalty reward. The time weighting keeps buyers holding, the levels pay off for bigger positions, and the screening happens out of public view. Critics, including Public Citizen, say those features amount to a sales mechanism built around access to the president. Before Nov 22, three things will show which way this goes: whether the company releases its screening rules or guest list, whether congressional Democrats open a formal inquiry, and whether TRUMP stays above its August low of $1.37, according to CoinGape.</p>
<div>
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<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=e7e7688e-2d95-45af-8539-3332b37d48ff&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672408&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/trump-plans-exclusive-dinner-for-185-largest-holders-of-trump-meme-coin-after-token-crash-cost-investors-3-2-billion/">Trump Plans Exclusive Dinner For 185 Largest Holders Of Trump Meme Coin, After Token Crash Cost Investors $3.2 Billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672408">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>‘It’s Just Gone’: Daughter Says Her 84-Year-Old Mom Wrote 41 Checks in One Month and Gave Away $200,000</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/its-just-gone-daughter-says-her-84-year-old-mom-wrote-41-checks-in-one-month-and-gave-away-200000/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:28:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672210&preview=true&preview_id=1672210</guid>
<description><![CDATA[An 84-year-old woman moved in with her daughter carrying $400,000 from selling her home, and half of it has quietly vanished through a checkbook no one had the legal authority to close.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/its-just-gone-daughter-says-her-84-year-old-mom-wrote-41-checks-in-one-month-and-gave-away-200000/">‘It’s Just Gone’: Daughter Says Her 84-Year-Old Mom Wrote 41 Checks in One Month and Gave Away $200,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672210">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><em>“It’s gone. It’s just gone.”</em> A 60-year-old caller named Sophia used those words on a recent episode of <a href="https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/890/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/RM6042336258.mp3">The Ramsey Show</a> to describe her mother’s money.</p>
<p>Her 84-year-old mother wrote 41 checks last month, averaging $27 each, to charities and political organizations. The total ran to about $1,100 in one month.</p>
<p>That monthly figure is the visible part of a much larger drain. The mother moved in with Sophia’s family in 2022 carrying a $400,000 check from selling her house. Roughly $200,000 of it has since left her accounts.</p>
<p>What remains is about $150,000 in a CD, $43,800 in savings and $2,000 in checking. Every check written today comes out of the fund meant for her later care.</p>
<p>That care is coming. Sophia is 60 and has MS. Her husband is 63 with a bad back. The family expects to need paid help in the home for her mother, who still drives.</p>
<h2>A Safe CD Can’t Outrun an Open Checkbook</h2>
<p>Hosts George Kamel and Jade Warshaw told Sophia to get a durable power of attorney, trace the checks, choke off the appeals, cap the giving and invest the CD. That advice is right, and the checkbook comes before the portfolio.</p>
<p>The FDIC national average 12-month CD rate was 1.7% in September 2026. At that rate, the $150,000 CD earns about $2,595 a year.</p>
<p>Her check-writing pace runs roughly $13,200 a year. The money is leaving about five times faster than the CD replaces it. Moving cash into a CD slowed nothing, because the leak runs through the checkbook.</p>
<p>The warning signs showed up earlier. A year before the call, the family found she had taken in about $48,000 in deposits against $90,000 in withdrawals. A gap like that, repeated year after year, is how half a house disappears.</p>
<p>The 1.7% figure is also just the bank average. Top online banks routinely pay 3 to 5 times the national average, and CD rate roundups this week show competitive yields well above it. CD interest is taxable, too, and can push more of a retiree’s Social Security benefits into the taxable zone.</p>
<p>Why is the leak so steady? Sophia said her mother’s name had been <em>“sold to everyone.”</em> Charities call, then mail follow-up appeals, and her mother answers them with checks. She is <em>“forgetful”</em> and <em>“getting more and more forgetful over time,”</em> and she does not know how much has left her account. Kamel raised the possibility of elder abuse.</p>
<h2>Her Signature Still Counts, for Now</h2>
<p>The variable that determines how this ends is capacity. Sophia’s mother is forgetful but still drives and is not completely incapacitated. While she can understand what she is signing, a durable power of attorney is a simple legal document. It lets Sophia act on her accounts and stays in force if her mother’s memory declines further.</p>
<p>If the family waits until she can no longer sign, that door closes. The usual path then runs through a court guardianship or conservatorship, a process that is slower, more expensive and public. Meanwhile, the checks keep clearing and Sophia has no legal standing to stop them. Getting the document signed while she still has her faculties is the most time-sensitive advice from the call.</p>
<h2>Five Moves That Stop the Bleeding This Month</h2>
<ol>
<li>Sign the durable power of attorney first. Book an elder-law attorney and have the parent sign while she has capacity. Every other step on this list gets easier with that authority in hand.</li>
<li>Pull the bank statements. Every check leaves a paper trail, as the hosts noted. List every payee from the past year, flag repeat recipients and unfamiliar organizations, and verify any charity before more money goes out.</li>
<li>Cut off the pipeline. Register her phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry and stop the junk mail before it reaches her. Fewer appeals mean fewer checks.</li>
<li>Set a giving budget. The hosts suggested $100 to $200 a month. That keeps her generosity and dignity intact while limiting the spending well below last month’s $1,100.</li>
<li>Put the CD money to work. Once authority is in place, move it into investments matched to her care timeline, as the hosts advised. Even cash reserved for near-term care can earn more than a bank-average CD.</li>
</ol>
<p>Paperwork and a firm budget are what guard her remaining savings against the checkbook. Most late-life money messes trace back to a missing signature, a outdated beneficiary form, or an account no one has authority to touch, which is the whole reason we put a full <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">estate checklist together in a free guide</a>.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672210&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/its-just-gone-daughter-says-her-84-year-old-mom-wrote-41-checks-in-one-month-and-gave-away-200000/">‘It’s Just Gone’: Daughter Says Her 84-Year-Old Mom Wrote 41 Checks in One Month and Gave Away $200,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672210">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The Account High Earners Are Filling Before Their 401(k) in 2026 Isn’t a Roth</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/the-account-high-earners-are-filling-before-their-401k-in-2026-isnt-a-roth/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:27:08 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670585&preview=true&preview_id=1670585</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SECURE 2.0 quietly erased a deduction millions of high earners built their retirement math around, and the replacement hiding in plain sight is not the account most financial advisors recommend filling next.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/the-account-high-earners-are-filling-before-their-401k-in-2026-isnt-a-roth/">The Account High Earners Are Filling Before Their 401(k) in 2026 Isn’t a Roth</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670585">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Picture a 58-year-old manager with $1.1 million in her 401(k) who opened her first 2026 pay stub and found her take-home pay had shrunk. Her contribution rate was unchanged. Her catch-up dollars had simply moved to the Roth side of the plan, and the tax deduction she had counted on for a decade went with them. As one California CPA told <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>“It is a major change for a lot of people.”</em></p>
<p>For high earners in their 50s and early 60s, the best pretax dollar left in 2026 now sits in a health savings account. Here is why the HSA belongs ahead of those catch-up contributions.</p>
<h2>Your Catch-Up Deduction Vanished in January</h2>
<p>Under <a title="The 2026 Rule Change That Forces Workers Earning Over $145,000 Into Roth Catch-Up Contributions" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/04/09/the-2026-rule-change-that-forces-workers-earning-over-145000-into-roth-catch-up-contributions/">SECURE 2.0</a>, workers 50 and older who earned more than $150,000 in 2025 must now make catch-up contributions as Roth. The test uses Box 3 on your 2025 W-2, so side income on a 1099 or K-1 does not count toward it.</p>
<p>The catch-up itself is $8,000 this year, or $11,250 for workers aged 60 to 63. The lost deduction is real money. A 55-year-old in the 24% bracket who used to defer the full catch-up pretax gave up roughly $1,900 in federal tax savings. A 62-year-old making the super catch-up lost about $2,700.</p>
<h2>Where the Deduction Went: Your HSA</h2>
<p>If you are on an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan, you can contribute $4,400 for self-only coverage or $8,750 for family coverage in 2026, plus a $1,000 catch-up once you turn 55. Those dollars are deductible going in, grow untaxed, and come out tax-free for qualified medical costs.</p>
<p>Run the comparison at the same bracket. A family HSA limit of $8,750 is larger than the $8,000 catch-up that used to save our 55-year-old about $1,900, so a fully funded HSA more than makes up for the deduction the new rule took away. For the 62-year-old, the family limit plus the $1,000 catch-up covers most of the $11,250 super catch-up.</p>
<p>Payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA taxes. A 401(k) deferral, pretax or Roth, is still hit with Social Security and Medicare payroll tax. That makes each HSA dollar run through your paycheck slightly more valuable than a traditional 401(k) dollar ever was.</p>
<h2>Why HSA Money Sidesteps the Retirement Tax Cascade</h2>
<p>Every traditional 401(k) withdrawal in retirement counts as ordinary income. Stack enough of it and up to 85% of your <a title="A Retiree With the Average $2,081 Check Needs Just $12,514 in Other Income Before the IRS Starts Taxing Social Security. That Line Hasn't Moved Since 1984." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/03/a-retiree-with-the-average-2081-check-needs-just-12514-in-other-income-before-the-irs-starts-taxing-social-security-that-line-hasnt-moved-since-1984/">Social Security becomes taxable</a>. Push further and <a title="IRMAA Isn't a Tax, but a Retired Couple Can Pay $8,000+ a Year Extra for the Same Medicare" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/16/irmaa-isnt-a-tax-but-a-retired-couple-can-pay-8000-a-year-extra-for-the-same-medicare/">Medicare’s IRMAA surcharges</a> kick in, adding roughly $70 to $400+ per month per person based on your income from two years earlier. A retiree in the 22% bracket who trips both can face an effective marginal rate near 40%.</p>
<p>Qualified HSA withdrawals never show up in that income calculation. You can use them for Medicare Part B, Part D, and Medicare Advantage premiums, plus dental, vision, and long-term care costs, without affecting your Social Security taxation or your IRMAA tier. For a couple with a seven-figure 401(k), that shelter is the whole point (we mapped out this rule alongside eight other IRS traps that quietly drain retirement accounts in a free guide here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/retirees-tax-trap-map-offer-c81a95bb.html">The Retiree’s Tax Trap Map</a>).</p>
<p>The forced Roth catch-up carries its own perks. Roth 401(k) balances have had no required withdrawals since 2024, and those withdrawals are also cascade-proof. The HSA simply wins on both ends: a deduction today and tax-free money later.</p>
<h2>Three Moves to Make Before Year-End</h2>
<ol>
<li>Pull your 2025 W-2 and check Box 3. If it tops $150,000 and you have HSA-eligible coverage, raise your HSA payroll deduction to the maximum for your coverage tier before sending new money to catch-up contributions. Keep getting your full employer match first, since that remains free money.</li>
<li>Invest the HSA and leave it alone. Pay today’s medical bills from cash and save the receipts, because you can reimburse yourself tax-free years later for expenses incurred after the account opened. With the 10-year Treasury yield near 5.2%, a default HSA cash sweep paying far less is costing you growth.</li>
<li>Plan your Medicare exit. Contributions must stop once you enroll in any part of Medicare, and Part A coverage backdates up to six months when you sign up after 65. If you are still working past 65, stop HSA contributions six months before you enroll to avoid an excess-contribution penalty.</li>
</ol>
<p>The catch-up rule changed which account gives high earners a deduction. Filling the HSA first keeps that deduction alive and builds a pool of retirement money the tax cascade cannot touch.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670585&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/the-account-high-earners-are-filling-before-their-401k-in-2026-isnt-a-roth/">The Account High Earners Are Filling Before Their 401(k) in 2026 Isn’t a Roth</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670585">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Pentagon Taps Elon Musk To Help Military Decide Which Weapons To Build Next. Musk’s Company SpaceX Already Holds $8 Billion In Defense Contracts</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/pentagon-taps-elon-musk-to-help-military-decide-which-weapons-to-build-next-musks-company-spacex-already-holds-8-billion-in-defense-contracts/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[AJ Tiarsmith]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:26:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672430&preview=true&preview_id=1672430</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Pentagon just handed Elon Musk a role shaping which weapons America builds for the next century, and SpaceX already holds billions in the contracts those decisions will influence.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/pentagon-taps-elon-musk-to-help-military-decide-which-weapons-to-build-next-musks-company-spacex-already-holds-8-billion-in-defense-contracts/">Pentagon Taps Elon Musk To Help Military Decide Which Weapons To Build Next. Musk’s Company SpaceX Already Holds $8 Billion In Defense Contracts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672430">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>On September 30, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appointed Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to lead a Pentagon review of future war. The effort, called Project Meridian, is a 120-day study, according to TRT World.</p>
<p>Musk runs <strong>SpaceX</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPCX/">NASDAQ:SPCX</a>). Its shares fell 1.85% in the October 1 session, to $148.07 on a delayed quote as of 7:59 PM ET. No evidence links that move to the appointment.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="SPCX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-spcx/full?v=4fa3e0e761ce" alt="SPCX price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>What Project Meridian Actually Commits To</h2>
<p>Final recommendations are due to Hegseth on January 28, 2027. They will come as a public report plus a classified annex. By design, the study stops short of producing new strategy or policy documents, limiting formal weight. The Pentagon’s chief technology officer manages it. It launched alongside a new Autonomous Warfare Command, according to OECD AI Policy Observatory. Budget, staffing and pay terms were not disclosed.</p>
<p>The scope covers AI, autonomy, directed energy, robotics and biotechnology across underground settings to cislunar space. Hegseth said the work should “be focused on discovering, developing, and fielding the weapons and systems that our children and grandchildren will need in their lifetimes, without any creative limitations or restrictions, on any future battlefield.” Palmer Luckey said: “Together, we will not only study the wars being fought today but also think seriously about the wars we cannot afford to fight in 2030, 2050, and 2100.”</p>
<h2>What SPCX Holders Are Now Exposed To</h2>
<p>SpaceX holds $8 billion in defense contracts in 2026, including national security launch services and Starshield, a secure satellite network for government customers. In Q2 2026, Enterprise & Government revenue rose 108% to $1.806 billion. Total quarterly revenue was $7.81 billion.</p>
<p>The stock is up 4.11% over the past month and down 8% since its June 12, 2026 debut. That figure shows the return since listing. Public shareholders now have exposure to a government advisory process that the company’s own CEO helps lead.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="SPCX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-spcx/full?v=f95b74142de1" alt="SPCX price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why the Vendor-Advisor Overlap Cuts Both Ways</h2>
<p>Two co-leads run Pentagon suppliers. Anduril sells jammers, interceptors and autonomous systems under its own contracts. The Guardian reported that the appointments raise conflict-of-interest concerns.</p>
<p>A counterargument: the people who built today’s defense technology typically sell it. Reusable rockets and low-cost autonomy came from commercial builders. Emil Michael said he wants “five more Andurils and Palantirs and SpaceXs”, suggesting the department treats commercial builders as a capability source by design.</p>
<h2>Does a Study That Cannot Set Policy Matter?</h2>
<p>Its influence comes through what gets funded. The FY2027 request calls for $59.7 billion for space capabilities. For SpaceX holders, any near-term business effect remains undefined. Watch after January 28, 2027 whether the public report is released in full and whether the following year’s procurement requests follow its recommendations.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=46cd2aa5-5711-41f8-ab14-f3ec71702347&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672430&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
</p>
<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=46cd2aa5-5711-41f8-ab14-f3ec71702347&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672430&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/02/pentagon-taps-elon-musk-to-help-military-decide-which-weapons-to-build-next-musks-company-spacex-already-holds-8-billion-in-defense-contracts/">Pentagon Taps Elon Musk To Help Military Decide Which Weapons To Build Next. Musk’s Company SpaceX Already Holds $8 Billion In Defense Contracts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672430">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>US Regulators Have Changed Bank Crypto Rules With Every New President Since 2017. Why a Law Is Better for Bitcoin</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/us-regulators-have-changed-bank-crypto-rules-with-every-new-president-since-2017-why-a-law-is-better-for-bitcoin/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:15:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672331&preview=true&preview_id=1672331</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bank regulators have flipped their crypto stance with every new president since 2017, and Wall Street is already pricing in rules that the next administration could erase overnight. The fate of Bitcoin's banking access may hinge on a single question Congress has so far refused to answer.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/us-regulators-have-changed-bank-crypto-rules-with-every-new-president-since-2017-why-a-law-is-better-for-bitcoin/">US Regulators Have Changed Bank Crypto Rules With Every New President Since 2017. Why a Law Is Better for Bitcoin</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672331">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">US bank regulators have shifted their bank crypto rules with each new president since 2017, alternating between allowing banks to hold </span><b>Bitcoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO: BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) for customers and warning against it. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), laws remain stable over time, while regulatory changes can be reversed quickly by the next administration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">For Bitcoin holders, these fluctuating policies impact how easily banks and their clients can buy and hold the cryptocurrency. As of October 2, 2026, Bitcoin is trading at about $85,975, reflecting a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/09/bitcoin-is-down-for-2026-here-is-the-exact-price-it-has-to-reclaim-by-december-31-to-break-even/"><span style="font-weight: 400">3% decline this year</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> and a 28.7% drop over the past year. This raises the question: how much of the recent regulatory optimism for crypto will endure through the next White House transition?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Bank Crypto Rules Have Flipped With Every President Since 2017</span></h2>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-1933377095-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A chalk drawing on a dark blue chalkboard depicts a neoclassical building resembling a bank, with four prominent columns and multiple windows. A glowing, golden Bitcoin symbol sits atop the building's triangular roof. Two chalk-drawn trees frame the building, one on each side, and two pieces of white chalk lie in the bottom right corner of the frame." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="The chalk drawing of a bank building topped with a glowing Bitcoin symbol visually questions cryptocurrencys position within traditional finance, echoing discussions about where financial deposits are truly migrating." data-id="1602727" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In July 2020, during President Trump’s first term, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) informed national banks that they could hold crypto for their customers. The OCC later issued guidance allowing banks to hold stablecoin reserves and operate blockchain nodes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, the Biden administration took a different approach. In November 2021, the OCC mandated that banks obtain their supervisor’s approval before engaging in any crypto activities. Additionally, the SEC’s 2022 accounting guidance made custody more expensive by requiring firms to list customers’ crypto as a liability. By early 2023, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the OCC collectively cautioned banks about crypto risks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">This trend shifted again when Trump returned to office. In January 2025, the SEC eliminated its accounting guidance; in March 2025, the OCC lifted the sign-off requirement, and the FDIC and the Fed retracted their warnings that spring.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Why a Crypto Law Outlasts a Regulator’s Rules</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock-1976930807-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A dark brown wooden judge's gavel rests on its block on a light wooden table. A gold Ripple cryptocurrency coin, featuring a world map and the 'ripple' logo, stands upright on a silver coin in front of the gavel. In the blurred background, a row of old, worn law books with dark and reddish spines fills the shelves." width="1500" height="1001" data-caption="A gavel rests alongside a Ripple coin, symbolizing the ongoing legal and regulatory challenges facing the cryptocurrency industry, as highlighted by discussions around the CLARITY Act." data-id="1543421" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Regulators can move quickly and act independently. For instance, an agency leader can issue guidelines, enact rules, or revoke old letters without needing a Congressional vote. This was evident when the SEC </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/19/xrp-news-the-sec-classified-xrp-as-a-digital-commodity-alongside-bitcoin-what-it-means-for-xrp-price/"><span style="font-weight: 400">classified XRP as a digital commodity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> in March 2026. Conversely, the new agency head can also easily undo these actions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In contrast, a law requires majorities in both houses of Congress and the president’s signature to be enacted. Reversing such a law demands a similar effort. For that reason, the GENIUS Act, enacted in July 2025, established stablecoin regulations as law. However, the broader </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/18/the-clarity-act-died-on-tuesday-by-friday-the-sec-and-cftc-had-written-three-rules-what-changed-for-xrp-bitcoin-and-solana/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CLARITY Act stalled in the Senate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> in September, leaving bank access to Bitcoin dependent on agency rules.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The CRS highlights this trade-off between speed and durability in its reports R48430 and R48963, and crypto has mostly received the faster, less stable option.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">The SEC’s October 1 Custody Proposal Follows the Same Pattern</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/shutterstock-1125043328-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Bitcoin Cryptocurrency is Digital payment money, Gold coins with B letter symbol electronic circuit on EURO EYP20 bill.Cryptocurrency can uses designed,Business Finance and Investment Risk Ideas" width="1500" height="987" data-caption="" data-id="1577467" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">On October 1, 2026, the SEC proposed a cryptocurrency custody framework for investment advisers and funds. This plan could allow advisers to hold crypto on clients’ behalf through state trust companies and brokers. The public will have 60 days to comment after it appears in the Federal Register, but even if finalized, it will remain a regulation – the less durable option the CRS describes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Wall Street has already started to act on such regulations. One major bank cited the SEC’s actions as a reason to offset the CLARITY Act’s failure when it raised its Bitcoin price target. Similarly, </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/18/bitwise-cio-matt-hougan-adjusts-his-crypto-outlook-after-the-senate-vote-heres-what-he-changed/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitwise’s Matt Hougan revised his outlook</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> following the Senate vote. Both of these adjustments rely on support that a future SEC could retract just as swiftly as it was granted.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Can Today’s Bank Crypto Rules Survive the Next President?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">A law offers greater stability for Bitcoin than regulatory guidelines because Congress must act twice to repeal it, while a regulator can revoke a rule on its own. Thus, the current favorable stance toward banks may only last as long as the officials who implemented it, leaving Bitcoin investors vulnerable to future policy changes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">This insight suggests much of the recent positive news may be short-lived, since it largely stems from agency actions. Until Congress passes a comprehensive crypto bill that codifies bank and custody rules into statute, uncertainty remains about whether any of today’s bank crypto rules will survive the next presidential administration.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/us-regulators-have-changed-bank-crypto-rules-with-every-new-president-since-2017-why-a-law-is-better-for-bitcoin/">US Regulators Have Changed Bank Crypto Rules With Every New President Since 2017. Why a Law Is Better for Bitcoin</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672331">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Arbitrum Is Up More Than 100% Since August, and 92.6 Million ARB Unlocks Every Month Until Early 2027. Can the Rally Survive the Supply?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/arbitrum-is-up-more-than-100-since-august-and-92-6-million-arb-unlocks-every-month-until-early-2027-can-the-rally-survive-the-supply/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:41:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671381&preview=true&preview_id=1671381</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Arbitrum has surged roughly 159% in two months, but a wave of insider token unlocks hits the market every single month through early 2027. Whether that steady supply pressure quietly kills the rally or gets swallowed by rising demand may come down to one pivotal mid-October price test.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/arbitrum-is-up-more-than-100-since-august-and-92-6-million-arb-unlocks-every-month-until-early-2027-can-the-rally-survive-the-supply/">Arbitrum Is Up More Than 100% Since August, and 92.6 Million ARB Unlocks Every Month Until Early 2027. Can the Rally Survive the Supply?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671381">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><b>Arbitrum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ARB/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ARB</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) has grown impressively, climbing about 159% over the past 60 days to about 20 cents as of October 2, 2026. This marks a significant increase since early August. However, every token unlock adds 92.6 million ARB to the market each month, and this process will continue until early 2027.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">At the current price, each monthly release amounts to about $19 million, representing 1.3% of the ARB already in circulation. The big question is whether this rapid price increase can be sustained while new tokens consistently hit the market.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Standard Chartered’s $10 Target and Robinhood Chain Sparked ARB’s Rally</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock-2666083209-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A businessman can use a laptop and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) to engage in peer-to-peer financial transactions directly, bypassing traditional institutions like banks and brokerages." width="1500" height="467" data-caption="" data-id="1672574" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The recent surge can be traced directly to some key endorsements. On September 14, Geoff Kendrick, who leads digital assets research at Standard Chartered, set an ambitious </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/26/standard-chartered-believes-arbitrum-is-hugely-undervalued-with-70x-upside-potential/"><span style="font-weight: 400">$10 target for ARB</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> by the end of 2030—about 70 times its price of 13 cents on that day. The market responded positively, pushing ARB up by roughly 70% to 22 cents within four days.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Kendrick’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400"><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">optimism is linked to the <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/24/ethereum-rises-8-in-a-month-but-arbitrum-soars-135-is-robinhood-chain-to-blame/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robinhood Chain</a>, which is</span> built on Arbitrum’s technology. Robinhood sends 10% of the chain’s revenue back to Arbitrum, with 8% going to the Arbitrum treasury and 2% allocated to a developer fund.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">ARB is a governance token. This means that holders have a say in how the treasury funds are spent, but they do not have a direct claim on the generated revenue. Therefore, while the treasury can grow, ARB holders will only benefit if they vote to use that revenue in a way that supports the token’s value.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Arbitrum Unlocks 92.6 Million ARB Every Month Until Early 2027</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock-1443756098-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Close-up Of A Judge's Hand Holding Gavel Over Stacked Golden" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1672575" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Token unlocks release coins that were previously held back from trading. These typically include tokens set aside for the project’s team and early investors. Each monthly unlock will distribute approximately 48.5 million ARB to investors, 32.1 million to the team, and 12 million to the Arbitrum treasury.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The next unlock is expected in mid-October, followed by additional releases in November, December, January, and February. Currently, around 463 million to 556 million ARB remain locked, valued at approximately $93 million to $111 million at a price of 20 cents. The disparity stems from differing views on whether the unlock schedule ends in February or March 2027.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Most of these tokens were allocated to insiders at prices far below the current market rate. This means each unlock could create selling pressure during price rallies. Still, the $19 million in new supply is small compared to ARB’s trading volume, which reached about $125 million on September 14. Moreover, Arbitrum has previously handled a significant unlock of around 1.1 billion ARB in March 2024.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">ARB’s Rally Is a Rebound From Its June 2026 Low</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock-1443300560-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="EOS cryptocurrency coin on judge balance scales. Disputes connected with EOS cryptocurrency concept." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1672576" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">It’s crucial to view these gains in context. ARB hit an all-time low of around 7 cents on June 26, 2026, so its rise to 20 cents represents an impressive recovery of roughly 184%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, in the broader picture, ARB is down about 51% over the past year and is currently trading about 91% below its all-time high of $2.39 in January 2024. Its overall gain for 2026 remains a modest 10%, despite a summer rally that boosted </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/21/ethereums-layer-2-tokens-rallied-up-to-26-in-a-day-why-ethereum-only-managed-7/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum layer-2 tokens</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> across the board.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Recently, momentum has cooled, with ARB dropping about 5% in the week ending September 30, indicating that some investors may have taken profits ahead of the upcoming October release.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Can Arbitrum’s Rally Survive the Token Unlock Schedule?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Arbitrum’s current rally could likely absorb the fresh supply, as each $19 million token release is a small fraction of daily trading. However, sustaining this upward momentum may prove challenging, as insiders will have the opportunity to sell monthly. Without any direct revenue claims from the Robinhood Chain, the risk increases if demand wanes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">If buyers retreat, ARB could potentially drop back to its June low near 7 cents, erasing around 65% of its current value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The immediate test is whether ARB can hold 20 cents through the mid-October unlock. If Arbitrum’s governance participants decide to allocate Robinhood Chain revenue towards ARB or if Robinhood reports impressive revenue figures, buyers might continue to support each monthly unlock on the way toward a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/27/can-arbitrum-reach-1-what-it-would-take-and-why-ethereum-could-decide-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400">potential $1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Conversely, if ARB slips below 20 cents and stays there through the November release, it suggests that the supply increase is exerting more pressure than anticipated.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/02/arbitrum-is-up-more-than-100-since-august-and-92-6-million-arb-unlocks-every-month-until-early-2027-can-the-rally-survive-the-supply/">Arbitrum Is Up More Than 100% Since August, and 92.6 Million ARB Unlocks Every Month Until Early 2027. Can the Rally Survive the Supply?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671381">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Why a 62-Year-Old Couple With $1.4 Million Is Paying the IRS Early on Purpose</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/why-a-62-year-old-couple-with-1-4-million-is-paying-the-irs-early-on-purpose/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:14:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670587&preview=true&preview_id=1670587</guid>
<description><![CDATA[They retired at 62 with more than a million dollars saved and immediately started writing checks to the IRS they had no obligation to write. The reason involves a narrow window that closes the moment Social Security and Medicare enter the picture.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/02/why-a-62-year-old-couple-with-1-4-million-is-paying-the-irs-early-on-purpose/">Why a 62-Year-Old Couple With $1.4 Million Is Paying the IRS Early on Purpose</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670587">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Both 62, this couple has just retired with $1.4 million, nearly all of it in traditional 401(k)s. They plan to delay Social Security, hold enough cash to cover a few years of spending, and are about to do something that looks backward: pull extra money out this year and write the IRS a check they are not yet required to write.</p>
<p>Their balance already puts them well ahead of most peers. Fidelity data shows the average 401(k) for savers aged 60 to 64 at $246,500, and their nest egg falls between Northwestern Mutual’s $1.26 million retirement “magic number” and Schwab’s $1.6 million.</p>
<p>A caller named Zoe from Washington described almost the same setup on a Clark Howard advisor episode: $1.5 million in a 401(k), plans to convert $90,000 while staying under the 24% bracket, and a frank worry: <em>“If I don’t do anything, RMD is going to be very painful.”</em></p>
<h2>Why Low Brackets at 62 Are a Rental</h2>
<p>In 2026, joint filers get a $32,200 standard deduction. The 12% bracket ends at $100,800 of taxable income, and the 22% bracket runs until income passes $211,400.</p>
<p>With no paycheck and no Social Security yet, this couple’s taxable income is close to zero. That empty space is their most valuable tax asset, running out when benefits and required withdrawals start. They aim to convert enough each year to fill the 22% bracket and stop short of 24%. Every dollar taxed now at 10%, 12%, or 22% won’t land later on top of everything else (we sized up this quiet window between the last paycheck and the first RMD here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/roth-window-offer-4b96044f.html">The Roth Window</a>).</p>
<h2>Medicare’s Two-Year Memory Makes This Year Special</h2>
<p><a title="Retiree With $1.2 Million Discovers Roth Conversion Doubled His First Medicare Premium" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/07/retiree-with-1-2-million-discovers-roth-conversion-doubled-his-first-medicare-premium/">IRMAA</a>, the Medicare premium surcharge, is based on the tax return filed two years before. Income earned at 62 determines premiums at 64, before either spouse is on Medicare. Income at 63 determines premiums at 65. That makes 62 the one year this couple can convert aggressively with zero Medicare consequences.</p>
<p>Starting at 63, they should size conversions to stay below the initial IRMAA threshold, published each fall. If they buy <a title="Retiring at 64 With $2.9 Million Means One Roth Conversion Could Cost a Couple $14,000 in ACA Subsidy Clawback" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/15/retiring-at-64-with-2-9-million-means-one-roth-conversion-could-cost-a-couple-14000-in-aca-subsidy-clawback/">marketplace health coverage</a> before 65, conversion income can reduce premium subsidies, so run that number before converting.</p>
<h2>A Tax Bomb Parked at 75</h2>
<p>For anyone born in 1960 or later, <a title="I am 62 years old with $700k in a 401(k). Would converting $70k annually help avoid RMDs?" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/06/03/i-am-62-years-old-with-700k-in-a-401k-would-converting-70k-annually-help-avoid-rmds/">required minimum distributions</a> begin at 75. Left untouched for more than a decade, the 401(k) keeps compounding, and RMDs divide that larger balance by a shrinking life-expectancy factor. The forced withdrawals grow faster than most people expect.</p>
<p>Those RMDs stack on <a title="Will You Have to Pay Taxes on Your Social Security Benefits? Here's How to Know" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/02/17/will-you-have-to-pay-taxes-on-your-social-security-benefits-heres-how-to-know/">Social Security benefits</a> that rise with inflation; the 2027 COLA is tracking toward 3.3%. Pile them together and up to 85% of benefits becomes taxable while IRMAA surcharges kick in. A couple officially in the 22% bracket can face an effective marginal rate near 40%.</p>
<p>Wes Moss, answering on Clark Howard’s show, gave the right pacing: <em>“Typically the right way to do <a title="A 62-Year-Old Weighs a $500,000 Roth Conversion and the Tax Gamble That Could Backfire" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/06/a-62-year-old-weighs-a-500000-roth-conversion-and-the-tax-gamble-that-could-backfire/">Roth conversions</a> is in chunks spread out over time.”</em></p>
<p>Moss takes listener questions at <a href="http://wesmoss.com/ask"><strong>wesmoss.com/ask</strong></a>, and lays out his retirement framework in his new best-selling book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1969190027"><strong>The Retire Sooner Method</strong></a>.</p>
<h2>Paying the Bill From Outside the 401(k)</h2>
<p>Where the tax money comes from matters. Zoe planned to take an extra 30k to cover the tax, which means that money gets taxed too and leaves the shelter for good. Paying from cash or taxable holdings keeps the full converted amount growing tax-free.</p>
<p>Cash does carry an opportunity cost, with the 10-year Treasury yield at 5.2%. Even so, spending some of it to buy decades of tax-free growth is the better trade for this couple.</p>
<p>Suze Orman says that converting makes <em>“absolutely no sense”</em> for workers still earning a paycheck and within eight years of retirement. She’s right about peak earners. A retired 62-year-old with no wages is in the opposite position: the lowest bracket they’ll see for the rest of their lives.</p>
<h2>Three Moves Before December 31</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Size your 2026 conversion.</strong> Total your year-to-date income, account for the $32,200 standard deduction, and choose a conversion that keeps taxable income below $211,400. Conversions must be completed by year-end to count for 2026.</li>
<li><strong>Build an IRMAA calendar.</strong> Mark the year each spouse turns 63. From that point, look up the current first IRMAA tier every fall and cap conversions below it, since that income sets Medicare premiums two years later.</li>
<li><strong>Start the Roth clock now.</strong> Orman notes that the <a title="She Opened a Roth With $50 at 47 and Forgot About It. That Forgotten Account Is Why Her $400,000 Conversion at 62 Came Out Completely Tax-Free." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/21/she-opened-a-roth-with-50-at-47-and-forgot-about-it-that-forgotten-account-is-why-her-400000-conversion-at-62-came-out-completely-tax-free/">five-year clock on a Roth 401(k)</a> <em>“does not transfer”</em> to a new Roth IRA. Open and fund a Roth IRA this year so future conversions and rollovers land in an account whose clock is already running.</li>
</ol>
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<title>He’ll Inherit His Mother’s Dallas Home. Her Over-65 Tax Ceiling Will Die With Her, and the School Tax Bill Will Double</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/hell-inherit-his-mothers-dallas-home-her-over-65-tax-ceiling-will-die-with-her-and-the-school-tax-bill-will-double/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:37:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671336&preview=true&preview_id=1671336</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Inheriting a paid-off Dallas home sounds like a financial windfall until the first property tax bill arrives without Mom's senior protections, and suddenly the carrying costs look nothing like what she paid for decades.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/hell-inherit-his-mothers-dallas-home-her-over-65-tax-ceiling-will-die-with-her-and-the-school-tax-bill-will-double/">He’ll Inherit His Mother’s Dallas Home. Her Over-65 Tax Ceiling Will Die With Her, and the School Tax Bill Will Double</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671336">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>His mother qualified for <a title="Turn 65 in Texas and Your School Property Tax Freezes for Life. Move Across Town and the Freeze Follows You, but Only as a Percentage and Only If You File" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/13/turn-65-in-texas-and-your-school-property-tax-freezes-for-life-move-across-town-and-the-freeze-follows-you-but-only-as-a-percentage-and-only-if-you-file/">Texas’s over-65 exemption</a> years ago, and the school district portion of her Dallas property tax bill has barely moved since. The house kept gaining value the whole time. When he inherits it, her <a title="Texas Retirees Can Freeze Part of Their Property Tax Bill at 65, but Moving Changes the Math" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/25/texas-retirees-can-freeze-part-of-their-property-tax-bill-at-65-but-moving-changes-the-math/">school tax ceiling</a> expires, and the school bill can reset to far more than what she paid.</p>
<p>This is one of the most common surprises in Texas estate settlements, as adult children inherit a paid-off house and assume the carrying costs will match Mom’s. Then the first full-value appraisal notice arrives.</p>
<h2>Why Mom’s School Tax Ceiling Stops With Her</h2>
<p>Texas homeowners who qualify for the over-65 exemption get a school tax ceiling. The school portion freezes at the qualifying year’s dollar amount. It drops further when the state raises exemptions. Only a surviving spouse aged 55 or older can keep it. A son or daughter loses it.</p>
<p>Two other protections end with the ownership change. Her additional over-65 school exemption, $60,000 on top of the $140,000 general homestead exemption after voters approved increases in 2025, belonged to her. And the 10% annual cap on homestead appraisal increases resets, so the county can value the house at full market price once he owns it. Her exemptions generally carry through the rest of the year she dies. The first full-price bill lands the following year.</p>
<h2>Texas Collects at the Property Line</h2>
<p>Texas ranks 7th overall in the State Tax Competitiveness Index, including 1st for individual income tax. Its property tax rank is 40th. With no income tax, school districts lean hard on homeowners, which is why losing a senior ceiling stings more in Dallas than in most states.</p>
<p>Property tax gaps compound. A recent <em>Wall Street Journal</em> profile described Illinois retirees who were paying more than $13,000 a year in property taxes before moving to Arizona, where they pay about $3,600. They invested the difference, and that balance now exceeds $100,000. <em>“That decision is getting more valuable by the day,”</em> the husband said. The same logic runs in reverse for an heir paying a full-value Dallas school bill on a house he never uses.</p>
<h2>Step-Up in Basis Versus a Rising Holding Cost</h2>
<p>Two forces drive the whole decision. An inherited house gets a <a title="Inherited Stock Resets Its Tax Bill to Zero and Here's the IRS Rule That Does It" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/19/inherited-stock-resets-its-tax-bill-to-zero-heres-the-irs-rule-that-does-it/">stepped-up cost basis</a> equal to its market value on the date of death. Sell within a year or so near that value, and capital gains tax is close to zero, while holding it means every year adds a full-value school bill, insurance, and maintenance on an asset producing no income.</p>
<p>Market conditions are mixed. The Case-Shiller national index hit 336.7 in June 2026, its highest reading of the past year. Existing home sales slipped to a 3.98 million annualized pace in August, the lowest in that stretch and inside a range associated with a soft market. Prices are firm, but buyers are fewer, so budget for a longer listing period.</p>
<h2>Sell or Move In: Pick One Early</h2>
<h3>Path 1: Sell Within a Year</h3>
<p>For an heir who already owns a home, this is the strongest path, as the step-up wipes out most of the gain and the sale ends the full-value tax exposure before it compounds. Selling quickly is what counts, because a vacant house costs money every month.</p>
<h3>Path 2: Move In and Claim the Homestead</h3>
<p>If he plans to live there, Texas lets an heir who occupies the home claim the homestead exemption, even before probate wraps up, with an heirship affidavit. That restores the general exemption and starts a new appraisal cap. If he is 65 or older himself, he gets his own school tax ceiling, frozen at his new, higher bill rather than Mom’s.</p>
<p>Renting the house out is the worst option for most heirs. A landlord pays the full-value school bill with no homestead exemption, and in older Dallas neighborhoods rent often barely covers taxes, insurance, and repairs.</p>
<h2>Two Moves to Make Before the Next Appraisal Notice</h2>
<p>First, pull Mom’s latest Dallas Central Appraisal District notice and compare the market value to the taxable value. That gap is roughly what he will be taxed on next. Multiply it by the district’s current school rate using the district’s online estimator to see the real number.</p>
<p>Second, avoid the biggest mistake: letting the house sit vacant through a full tax year while siblings debate. If there are multiple heirs or no will, a probate attorney earns the fee here, because nobody can sell or claim a clean homestead until title is settled. Most of these problems arise from a missing will, a outdated beneficiary, or an untitled account, which is why we put the full estate cleanup checklist in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">free guide here</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/hell-inherit-his-mothers-dallas-home-her-over-65-tax-ceiling-will-die-with-her-and-the-school-tax-bill-will-double/">He’ll Inherit His Mother’s Dallas Home. Her Over-65 Tax Ceiling Will Die With Her, and the School Tax Bill Will Double</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671336">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Some Workers Pay Social Security Tax on $184,500 of Income. Lawmakers Want Them to Get Nothing Back</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/some-workers-pay-social-security-tax-on-184500-of-income-lawmakers-want-them-to-get-nothing-back/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Maurie Backman]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:06:10 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1664039</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Social Security faces cuts that could push retirees into poverty, and some lawmakers have a controversial fix that punishes the very workers who played by the rules for decades.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/some-workers-pay-social-security-tax-on-184500-of-income-lawmakers-want-them-to-get-nothing-back/">Some Workers Pay Social Security Tax on $184,500 of Income. Lawmakers Want Them to Get Nothing Back</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1664039">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Without Social Security, many older Americans today would struggle to make ends meet. Unfortunately, Social Security is facing a funding crisis that could result in broad 22% benefit cuts as early as 2032.</p>
<p>The problem boils down to a shrinking labor force. Social Security gets most of its revenue from payroll taxes. But the ratio of workers to retirees is declining due to lower birth rates, among other factors.</p>
<p>Of course, cutting benefits could push countless Social Security recipients into poverty. Many people today who are living on Social Security alone are barely getting by as it is. Having to potentially live on 22% less just isn’t feasible for those who are already resorting to measures like skimping on groceries and medication.</p>
<p>Lawmakers know they need to come up with a way to prevent Social Security cuts. And there are different solutions they can look at. One of them, however, is unlikely to sit well with higher earners.</p>
<h2>Some lawmakers want to take Social Security away from the rich</h2>
<p>Social Security benefits are earned by paying taxes on wages. Workers’ 35 highest-paid years of income are taken into account when calculating retirement benefits, and their filing ages also play a role in how much money they get.</p>
<p>Social Security has a wage cap that determines how much earnings are taxed to fund the program each year. In 2026, that cap sits at $184,500. The cap tends to increase from year to year in line with wage growth.</p>
<p>To save Social Security from cuts, some lawmakers have proposed means testing retirees and cutting or taking benefits away from wealthy seniors who don’t “need” the money. The logic is that doing so preserves benefits for seniors who are less well-off and don’t have savings to fall back on.</p>
<p>To put it another way, if a wealthy senior enters retirement with $4 million, their Social Security checks aren’t spelling the difference between whether they can afford food or not. Those benefits are probably serving as bonus money.</p>
<p>Taking those benefits away might sting. But that way, seniors who truly need that money may be able to get more of it given Social Security’s precarious financial situation.</p>
<h2>Why means testing probably won’t fly</h2>
<p>There are different solutions that have been proposed to prevent Social Security cuts. These include raising the wage cap substantially or getting rid of it completely, increasing the current 12.4% Social Security payroll tax rate, and raising the program’s full retirement age, which is when recipients can get their monthly benefits without a reduction.</p>
<p>All of these solutions come with drawbacks. A higher wage cap doesn’t just burden strong earners. It burdens employers, too, since they split that Social Security tax bill equally with the people they employ.</p>
<p>A broad increase in the Social Security tax rate would hurt workers on a whole and cause financial strain for those who can’t afford to lose more money to taxes. And raising the program’s full retirement age effectively forces people to stay in the workforce longer, which some — namely, those in physical jobs — can’t easily do.</p>
<p>But these proposals don’t change the nature of Social Security. Means testing does.</p>
<p>Means testing retirees and taking benefits away from the rich converts Social Security from an entitlement program to a welfare program. And that’s not what it’s supposed to be.</p>
<p>Means testing also penalizes retirees who maintained good financial habits and saved well.</p>
<p>Someone retiring with a few million dollars didn’t necessarily serve as the CEO of a big company. People who save and invest for 40 years can accumulate a lot of wealth over time. Critics of means testing argue that it’s not fair to penalize people for saving to fund their retirement when they paid into Social Security like everyone else.</p>
<p>Of course, means testing is one solution of many to prevent Social Security cuts, and there’s no reason to assume it will move forward. But it’s something that’s been discussed, so higher earners should be aware that the idea has been floated.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/some-workers-pay-social-security-tax-on-184500-of-income-lawmakers-want-them-to-get-nothing-back/">Some Workers Pay Social Security Tax on $184,500 of Income. Lawmakers Want Them to Get Nothing Back</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1664039">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Wall Street Is Asking What Could Break the AI Boom. Retired From Tech, He Exercises $100,000 of Old Stock Options, and Social Security May Ignore the Payout</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/wall-street-is-asking-what-could-break-the-ai-boom-at-64-he-exercises-100000-of-old-stock-options-and-social-security-may-ignore-the-payout/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:00:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1669453&preview=true&preview_id=1669453</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A 64-year-old retiree exercises old tech stock options and pockets $100,000, but whether Social Security treats that windfall as current earnings or past work could be the difference between a full year of vanished checks and zero impact on benefits.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/wall-street-is-asking-what-could-break-the-ai-boom-at-64-he-exercises-100000-of-old-stock-options-and-social-security-may-ignore-the-payout/">Wall Street Is Asking What Could Break the AI Boom. Retired From Tech, He Exercises $100,000 of Old Stock Options, and Social Security May Ignore the Payout</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1669453">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>The <a title="The AI Boom Runs on Debt. Global Regulators Want to Shut Off the Tap" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/05/the-ai-boom-runs-on-debt-global-regulators-want-to-shut-off-the-tap/">AI boom</a> is still running. The harder question on Wall Street is what might eventually break it. If history is any teacher, market booms fade when capital flows slow. Speculative booms tend to stretch until money becomes harder or more expensive to borrow. AI is still booming, but how long it can last remains to be seen.</p>
<p>That uncertainty gives a 64-year-old who recently retired from a technology company reason to revisit pay he left behind. He holds old stock options from the job. With tech valuations strong, he exercises them and realizes $100,000 of compensation.</p>
<p>He already collects Social Security. A six-figure payout at 64 looks like the kind of income that makes checks disappear. Social Security has a rule for this, and stock options are specifically on its list.</p>
<h2>Start With What Kind of Options He Holds</h2>
<p>Assume these are nonqualified stock options. Exercising them results in $100,000 of compensation reported as wages on his 2026 W-2. Incentive stock options can get very different income and payroll tax treatment, so this detail comes first.</p>
<h2>How $100,000 Could Erase a Year of Checks</h2>
<p>For someone age 64 in 2026, <a title="A 61-Year-Old Widow Claimed Survivor Benefits While Still Working, Then the Earnings Test Triggered a $1-for-$2 Clawback" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/13/a-61-year-old-widow-claimed-survivor-benefits-while-still-working-then-the-earnings-test-triggered-a-1-for-2-clawback/">full retirement age</a> is 67. Anyone collecting before that age faces the <a title="Retirees Lose Half of Every Dollar Earned Above $24,480 Tipping Point" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/19/retirees-lose-half-of-every-dollar-earned-above-23400-tipping-point/">retirement earnings test</a>, a cap on work income before benefits get reduced.</p>
<p>For 2026, the limit is $24,480. Above that, the agency deducts $1 in benefits for every $2 of earnings.</p>
<p>If the full $100,000 counted as 2026 wages, he would be $75,520 over the limit, so the agency could subtract $37,760. On a $2,000 monthly benefit, a full year of checks totals $24,000. That withholding would erase all of it.</p>
<p>Smaller benefits eventually return. Social Security permanently increases the monthly benefit at FRA to credit the months it held back. Still, a year with no checks at 64 leaves a hole most households would struggle to fill.</p>
<h2>Social Security Cares When He Earned It</h2>
<p>Social Security calls certain post-retirement payments <a title="He Exercised $180,000 in Stock Options After Retiring at 64. His W-2 Said Wages. Social Security Said Prior Work." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/09/02/he-exercised-180000-in-stock-options-after-retiring-at-64-his-w-2-said-wages-social-security-said-prior-work/">special wage payments</a>. These are dollars received after retiring that pay for work done before retiring. The agency says they usually do not reduce retirement benefits. Its examples include bonuses, accumulated leave, severance, commissions, deferred compensation and stock options.</p>
<p>If his $100,000 counts, the options have $0 earnings-test impact. What matters is when he earned them, regardless of when he exercises.</p>
<h3>An Old Grant Can Still Count as New Pay</h3>
<p>Grant date alone does not settle it. Social Security asks whether the payment covers services completed before he stopped working. In the clean version, the options came from his former employer, every work or vesting condition was met before he retired, and he did not need to keep working in 2026 for them to vest. If staying employed this year was required, the answer could change.</p>
<h2>A W-2 Can Make Old Pay Look Brand New</h2>
<p>The $100,000 lands on a 2026 W-2, so it can look like current wages. The agency notes that it may not know a payment belongs to earlier work unless the retiree tells the agency.</p>
<p>Form SSA-131, the Employer Report of Special Wage Payments, lets a former employer flag pay issued in one year for services performed earlier. Stock options appear among the examples on the form.</p>
<h2>Taxes and Later Gains Follow Separate Rules</h2>
<p>Staying clear of the earnings test leaves the income tax bill in place. The $100,000 spread on nonqualified options is still taxable compensation. The special rule only determines which period the earnings go to when Social Security figures benefit reductions.</p>
<p>After he exercises, that $100,000 of compensation becomes part of his tax basis in the shares, along with what he paid to exercise the options. If he holds them and they rise another $40,000, that gain counts as <a title="He Made $50,000 on Corn Futures. Social Security Asked Whether He Had Corn in the Field." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/08/31/he-made-50000-on-corn-futures-social-security-asked-whether-he-had-corn-in-the-field/">investment income</a>. The earnings test counts only wages and net self-employment income, so the gain falls outside it.</p>
<h2>Paperwork to Nail Down Before Exercising</h2>
<ol>
<li>Option type. Plan documents confirm whether these are nonqualified options that result in W-2 wages at exercise.</li>
<li>Vesting dates and conditions. He needs a record showing what service was required and that all of it ended before his last day.</li>
<li>W-2 reporting. The former employer’s payroll team can explain how the exercise will be coded.</li>
<li>Special wage payment documentation. He should ask whether the employer will file Form SSA-131 and keep his own vesting records in case Social Security questions his earnings.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Timing That Decides Whether His Checks Survive</h2>
<p>The AI boom may give him good reason to exercise while valuations are strong. For Social Security, what matters is when he earned the options. At 64, $100,000 on this year’s W-2 can erase his checks. If it pays for work he finished before retiring, Social Security may count that money toward his old working life instead.</p>
<p>Every equity plan is written a little differently, and one vesting clause can switch the result. A short call with the plan administrator, followed by one to Social Security, before exercising is worth the time (we mapped out four tax traps that catch people phasing out of work in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/retire-twice-offer-ea1c550f.html">free semi-retirement guide here</a>).</p>
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<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1669453&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/wall-street-is-asking-what-could-break-the-ai-boom-at-64-he-exercises-100000-of-old-stock-options-and-social-security-may-ignore-the-payout/">Wall Street Is Asking What Could Break the AI Boom. Retired From Tech, He Exercises $100,000 of Old Stock Options, and Social Security May Ignore the Payout</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1669453">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The Hidden Cost of Owning Every Stock: $167,050 of a $500,000 VTI Position Sits in Its Top Ten Names</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/the-hidden-cost-of-owning-every-stock-167050-of-a-500000-vti-position-sits-in-its-top-ten-names/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:33:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671998&preview=true&preview_id=1671998</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A fund owning thousands of stocks sounds like true diversification, but the math behind a $500,000 VTI position tells a more uncomfortable story about where your money actually goes.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/the-hidden-cost-of-owning-every-stock-167050-of-a-500000-vti-position-sits-in-its-top-ten-names/">The Hidden Cost of Owning Every Stock: $167,050 of a $500,000 VTI Position Sits in Its Top Ten Names</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671998">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Picture a $500,000 retirement account held entirely in the <strong>Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VTI/">NYSEARCA:VTI</a>). Based on the fund’s holdings as of August 31, 2026, $167,050 of that money sits in just ten holdings. The remaining $332,950 is spread across every other company the fund owns, and those number in the thousands. One pile holds ten names. The other holds the rest of the U.S. stock market.</p>
<h2>What Your Dollars Actually Own</h2>
<p>Those dollar figures are simple arithmetic on a hypothetical balance. They rest on one number: the fund’s ten largest holdings made up 33.41% of VTI as of August 31, 2026. Treat that as a point-in-time view. Weights move with prices every trading day, and a fund’s concentration can shift significantly between reports.</p>
<p>VTI does exactly what it promises. One ticker captures the entire public U.S. stock market, with no stock picking and no judgment calls. The cost sits in how it allocates money. VTI weights holdings by market capitalization (company size by share value). Every dollar flows in proportion to that size, so the biggest companies take the biggest share.</p>
<h2>Why a Fund of Thousands Behaves Like a Much Smaller One</h2>
<p>Vanguard states this design openly. Its practical effect gets less attention. The fund’s returns are driven largely by its largest holdings, while thousands of smaller companies in the tail barely register in either direction. Owning them sits closer to a rounding error than to diversification.</p>
<p>Breadth measures how many companies you own. Balance measures how equally your money is spread across them. VTI delivers far more of the first than the second.</p>
<p>Price data shows how closely the whole market tracks its top end. Over the ten years through October 1, 2026, VTI gained 235.72%. Over the same stretch, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>), which holds only large U.S. companies, rose 252.13%. Over one year, the figures were 13.89% and 14.33%. Those are price changes that exclude dividends, but the pattern is clear. Adding thousands of smaller stocks has produced results that look much like the large-cap index alone. If you also own an S&P 500 fund, much of your money likely sits in the same top names twice.</p>
<h2>A Top Ten List With Fewer Than Ten Companies</h2>
<p>One detail affects how concentration gets presented. <strong>Alphabet</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GOOGL/">NASDAQ:GOOGL</a>) takes up two separate lines in VTI’s holdings, under two share classes with different CUSIPs (unique security ID codes). A reader scanning the top ten sees ten rows but fewer than ten companies. As such, the list understates how concentrated the top of the fund really is.</p>
<h2>Competing <a title="These 3 Total Market ETFs Look Interchangeable but Picking the Wrong One Costs You Real Money Over a Lifetime" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/23/these-3-total-market-etfs-look-interchangeable-but-picking-the-wrong-one-costs-you-real-money-over-a-lifetime/">Total Market Funds</a> Share the Same Shape</h2>
<p>VTI’s concentration reflects the market itself, so any fund tracking the whole market will show it. The <strong>iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ITOT/">NYSEARCA:ITOT</a>) charges a 0.03% net expense ratio, according to its <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1100663/000119312526327942/d122325d497k.htm">prospectus</a> dated July 31, 2026. The <strong>Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SCHB/">NYSEARCA:SCHB</a>) offers similar broad exposure. Both weight by company size.</p>
<p>Moving among total market funds changes the label while the top-heavy structure stays. An investor who wants the market’s return should expect the market’s composition.</p>
<p>Concentration also works in both directions. The same structure that rewarded holders when the largest companies led would weigh on returns if those names stalled. Nothing in the holdings data signals which way that goes next.</p>
<h2>Who Should Own VTI and What to Check</h2>
<p>If you want the U.S. market’s return at a low cost and accept its current shape, VTI does that job well. The concentration is simply what matching the market looks like right now. If you choose a total market fund specifically to avoid relying on a handful of companies—especially at or near retirement—you might consider pairing it with a second fund. That fund would need weights set independently of company size, such as an <a title="3 Equal-Weight ETFs Outpacing the S&P 500 in 2026" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/04/09/3-equal-weight-etfs-outpacing-the-sp-500-in-2026/">equal-weighted</a> or <a title="3 Small-Cap ETFs Beating the S&P 500 Right Now That Most Investors Have Never Heard Of" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/04/22/3-small-cap-etfs-beating-the-sp-500-right-now-that-most-investors-have-never-heard-of/">small- and mid-cap strategy</a>.</p>
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<title>3 Growth ETFs to Buy Before 2027: One Charges Just 0.03%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/3-growth-etfs-to-buy-before-2027-one-charges-just-0-03/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:03:01 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671672&preview=true&preview_id=1671672</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Three growth ETFs from Vanguard, Schwab, and State Street all chase the same megacap names yet deliver different outcomes depending on which index rulebook they follow, and picking the wrong one for your goals could quietly cost you more than you realize.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/3-growth-etfs-to-buy-before-2027-one-charges-just-0-03/">3 Growth ETFs to Buy Before 2027: One Charges Just 0.03%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671672">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Investors continue to turn to growth funds as a way to drive outsized returns. Three leaders in this category include the <strong>Vanguard Growth ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VUG/">NYSEARCA:VUG</a>), the <strong>SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPYG/">NYSEARCA:SPYG</a>), and the <strong>Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SCHG/">NYSEARCA:SCHG</a>).</p>
<p>All three are passive large-cap growth funds from State Street, Schwab, and Vanguard, and all three lean hard on the same handful of megacaps. They follow different indexes with different rules, and those rules decide what you own. Choosing by fee alone or by last year’s return could both lead you wrong.</p>
<h2>SPYG: Last Year’s Leader, Built Only From S&P 500 Members</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e86e023"
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data-symbol="SPYG"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/SPYG?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/spyg/"
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<p>SPYG tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, which starts with S&P 500 companies only. S&P scores each member on growth and value characteristics, then puts it to the growth index, the value index, or splits its market value between both. Holdings are weighted by float-adjusted market cap.</p>
<p>That split rule produces surprises. Berkshire Hathaway holds about 3% of the fund and JPMorgan Chase about 2%, per its June 30 portfolio filing, names that few investors would traditionally call growth stocks.</p>
<p>NVIDIA sits on top at almost 14%, while Apple accounts for only about 6%.</p>
<p>At mid-year, the fund had about $53 billion in net assets. According to the State Street fact sheet, the current expense ratio sits at 0.04%. Over five years, SPYG gained about 98% on an adjusted basis. Over ten years, the gain was about 420%.</p>
<h2>SCHG: The Widest Net and the Strongest Decade</h2>
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<p>SCHG follows the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which draws from a broader universe than the S&P 500 Growth and typically holds more names. It is also the largest of the three, with roughly $61 billion in net assets as of May 31.</p>
<p>Its top end looks closer to VUG than to SPYG. NVIDIA was about 11% of assets, Apple 10%, Microsoft 7%, and Amazon 6%. Below that, it spreads into payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard, health care names like Eli Lilly, and power infrastructure companies including GE Vernova and Vertiv.</p>
<p>SCHG’s one-year return trailed both rivals. Over longer periods, it leads: about 455% over ten years, the best of the group, and about 96% over five years. SCHG also maintains an expense ratio of 0.04%.</p>
<h2>VUG: A 0.03% Fee Paired With the Heaviest Megacap Tilt</h2>
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<p>VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. CRSP ranks large U.S. companies on a blend of historical and forward-looking growth measures, then weights the qualifiers by market cap. It maintains the lowest fee among the trio.</p>
<p>The trade-off is concentration. As of June 5, NVIDIA made up 13% of the fund, Apple 12%, Alphabet 10%, and Microsoft 9%. With four companies each carrying roughly a tenth of the portfolio, a rough quarter from any one of them moves your entire position.</p>
<p>VUG returned 14.32% over the one-year window, about 89% over five years and about 421% over ten.</p>
<h2>Why Index Rules Split the Returns</h2>
<p>All three funds automatically copy an index, so the performance gap traces back to what each rulebook put in the portfolio. Index construction alone drives the gap.</p>
<p>Apple is the clearest example. It accounts for about 12% in VUG and 10% in SCHG, against about 6% in SPYG. Whatever Apple did over the past year landed harder on VUG and SCHG shareholders.</p>
<p>SPYG filled that room with chipmakers and chip-equipment suppliers. Micron held about 4% at mid-year, and Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA each carried between 1% and 2%. It also held a larger NVIDIA holding than either peer in the latest filings. Over this particular one-year window, that semiconductor-heavy mix came out ahead.</p>
<h2>One Strong Year Flips Over a Decade</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Fund</th>
<th>1 Year (9/29/25 to 9/30/26)</th>
<th>5 Years (10/1/21 to 9/30/26)</th>
<th>10 Years (9/30/16 to 9/30/26)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SPYG</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td>98%</td>
<td>420%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VUG</td>
<td>14.32%</td>
<td>89%</td>
<td>421%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SCHG</td>
<td>14.30%</td>
<td>96%</td>
<td>455%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>SPYG led over one year and five years. Over ten, it finished last, a hair behind VUG, while SCHG came out on top. The one-year ranking failed to hold, and that is the most useful takeaway for anyone shopping these funds.</p>
<p>Even the one-year number is thin. Start the period one day later, on September 30, 2025, and SPYG’s adjusted price gain reads about 18%. Trailing returns are snapshots of one specific window, and they change daily.</p>
<h2>Where a Few Basis Points Turn Into Real Money</h2>
<p>Against a one-year return gap measured in whole percentage points, a fee gap of a few hundredths of a percent looks irrelevant. Over one year, it is.</p>
<p>Fees behave differently over decades. They come out every year, in good markets and bad, and each dollar taken also stops compounding for every year that follows. Across a multi-decade retirement account, that drag stacks up quietly. Future returns are unknowable, while the fee is printed on the fact sheet the day you buy. It is the one variable you control.</p>
<h2>Matching Each Fund to Your Goals</h2>
<p>VUG suits the cost-focused, buy-and-hold investor who accepts that four megacaps drive much of the outcome. SCHG fits investors seeking the widest selection universe and the best ten-year record of the three. SPYG’s construction appeals to investors who like S&P 500 membership as a screen and want lower Apple exposure with heavier chip exposure, as long as they understand last year’s lead says nothing about next year.</p>
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<title>Wall Street Backs Coherent, Rocket Lab and Vertiv</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-backs-coherent-rocket-lab-and-vertiv/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Robert Castellano]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:58:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672410</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bernstein, Citi, and Wells Fargo all launched bullish coverage on Coherent, Rocket Lab, and Vertiv within weeks of each other, but the real question is whether the commercial developments driving those calls can actually deliver the returns analysts are projecting.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-backs-coherent-rocket-lab-and-vertiv/">Wall Street Backs Coherent, Rocket Lab and Vertiv</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672410">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><ul style="font-weight: 400">
<li>Coherent’s new optics platform could increase the amount of revenue it captures from each AI infrastructure deployment.</li>
<li>Rocket Lab’s largest commercial Electron order demonstrates the value customers place on dedicated satellite launches.</li>
<li>Vertiv’s power and cooling business already generates substantial earnings, while its planned microgrid acquisition expands its opportunity.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why Wall Street Is Revisiting These Three Companies</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Banks have been busy issuing bullish calls on companies I have analyzed, including Coherent (NYSE: <a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/cohr/">COHR</a>), Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: <a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/rklb/">RKLB</a>), and Vertiv (NYSE: <a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/vrt/">VRT</a>). Bernstein initiated Coherent with an Outperform rating and a $350 price target, Citi initiated Rocket Lab with a Buy rating and a $105 target, and Wells Fargo initiated Vertiv at Overweight with a $340 target. These are new coverage decisions rather than upgrades to existing ratings, but they raise the same investment question: what do the analysts see that could support further appreciation?</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The connection among these companies is more useful than their presence on a list of analyst recommendations. Each supplies something customers need to expand their operations. Coherent addresses the movement of information through AI systems, Rocket Lab provides dedicated access to satellite orbits, and Vertiv supplies the power and cooling infrastructure required to operate data centers. Customers purchase these capabilities because their own investments cannot function effectively without them.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">For investors, the important distinction is how each company turns that requirement into additional revenue and earnings. Coherent is seeking to supply a larger portion of an optical connection, Rocket Lab is securing repeat orders for a specialized launch service, and Vertiv is expanding the infrastructure it can supply and service at each data center. Those mechanisms provide a more useful basis for evaluating the stocks than treating every favorable analyst call as an equivalent buying signal.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>What the Analyst Targets Actually Tell Investors</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Bernstein analyst Daniel Zhu’s $350 target for Coherent implies approximately 9.7% upside from the October 1 closing price of $319.19 provided for this article. Citi analyst John Godyn’s $105 target for Rocket Lab implies approximately 49.0% upside from the supplied $70.46 close. The roughly 51% figure circulated with Rocket Lab’s initiation used an earlier share-price reference.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Tusa initiated Vertiv coverage on September 24 with an Overweight rating and a $340 target. His argument centered on its data center exposure, the opportunity to supply more equipment within each deployment, and the addition of services that can support margins and earnings.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">According to Table 1, all three analysts assigned favorable ratings, but the targets address businesses with different commercial opportunities and execution requirements. A price target expresses an analyst’s valuation judgment; it does not show how much future growth is already incorporated into the market price or establish the probability of realizing the projected return.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%" colspan="4"><strong>Table 1. New Bullish Analyst Coverage and the Business Opportunity</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Metric</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Coherent</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Rocket Lab</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Vertiv</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Stock symbol</td>
<td style="width: 25%"><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/cohr/">COHR</a></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/rklb/">RKLB</a></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/vrt/">VRT</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Research firm</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Bernstein</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Citi</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Wells Fargo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Analyst</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Daniel Zhu</td>
<td style="width: 25%">John Godyn</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Stephen Tusa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Coverage action</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Initiated at Outperform</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Initiated at Buy</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Initiated at Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Price target</td>
<td style="width: 25%">$350</td>
<td style="width: 25%">$105</td>
<td style="width: 25%">$340</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Business opportunity examined in this article</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Integrated optical connections for AI systems</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Repeat dedicated launches for satellite constellations</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Power, cooling, and broader data center infrastructure</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%" colspan="4"><strong>Source: The Information Network compilation and analysis.</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Coherent’s sharp rally has already narrowed the gap to Bernstein’s target, making the performance of its new platform especially relevant. Rocket Lab’s larger indicated upside places greater weight on the execution of future growth opportunities. Vertiv offers a different comparison because its infrastructure expansion is already reflected in substantial reported revenue and profits. The three targets should therefore be evaluated alongside the evidence supporting each business.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Coherent: A Larger Role in Each Optical Connection</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">In my August 26, 2026, 24/7 Wall St. article, “SK Hynix Just Expanded Coherent’s AI Upside,” I examined how optical connectivity moving closer to processors and memory could broaden Coherent’s opportunity. PhotonLink gives investors a concrete commercial development to evaluate against that thesis. The platform combines optical technologies with assembly and testing capabilities to deliver integrated solutions for AI infrastructure. Its commercial importance extends beyond an increase in demand for individual lasers or detectors: Coherent is seeking to supply more of the connection that makes those components useful.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">As AI systems expand, information must move efficiently among increasingly powerful processors and switches. Adding processing capacity does not resolve every performance limitation if connections cannot deliver the required bandwidth within acceptable power limits. Moving optical connectivity closer to computing and switching silicon creates opportunities for suppliers that can integrate the necessary components reliably.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">PhotonLink supports co-packaged optics, where optical engines share a package with switching or computing silicon, and near-packaged optics, where they are positioned nearby. The platform also addresses emerging connections between chips. Coherent’s participation across these approaches broadens its opportunity as customers choose different system architectures.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The company has disclosed more than ten engagements in co-packaged optics, more than ten in near-packaged optics, and more than five in chip-to-chip connectivity. It also reports anchor customers and long-term agreements for both co-packaged and near-packaged architectures. These figures indicate commercial activity across multiple approaches, although engagements can overlap and should not be treated as a count of unique customers or guaranteed production orders.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">My view is that the larger investment opportunity lies in how much of each optical deployment Coherent can supply. A customer integrating lasers, fibers, precision optics, and detectors from separate vendors must make those technologies work together. Coherent’s combined offering could simplify that task and increase the revenue available from a successful design. The company has not disclosed enough pricing or margin information to quantify that potential improvement.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Coherent is building from an established manufacturing base, with cumulative shipments exceeding 300 million indium phosphide lasers and one billion indium phosphide and gallium arsenide photodetectors. These are historical component shipments rather than PhotonLink sales, but they demonstrate experience producing critical technologies at scale.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The company expects PhotonLink revenue to begin ramping in the fourth quarter of calendar 2026 and is expanding six-inch indium phosphide and specialty fiber capacity. That gives investors a nearer-term milestone. Production shipments, capacity utilization, and margins will reveal whether the platform is becoming a profitable business as customer systems move into deployment.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The risk is that qualification and deployment proceed more slowly than investors expect. Manufacturing expansion commits capital before the full opportunity is realized, and customer interest does not guarantee immediate volume production. Coherent’s growth case becomes more persuasive when rising shipments are accompanied by attractive economics.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Rocket Lab: Repeat Orders Confirm Electron’s Value</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Rocket Lab’s new Synspective agreement supplies a different type of commercial evidence. The Tokyo-based satellite operator contracted for 20 additional Electron launches, bringing its total contracted Electron missions to 47. The agreement is Rocket Lab’s largest commercial Electron launch contract, with the new missions scheduled annually from 2028 through 2031. Financial terms were not disclosed.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The most revealing feature is the repeat commitment from an existing customer. A satellite constellation operator needs reliable delivery into specific orbits, with scheduling that supports deployment of its network. Synspective’s additional order strengthens the argument that Electron provides a service worth purchasing repeatedly.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Dedicated launch gives the customer greater control over mission timing and orbital placement than sharing a rocket with numerous other payloads. That control has economic value when coverage requirements depend on particular orbital positions or when deployment delays affect the customer’s business. Comparing launch providers solely by rocket size or cost per kilogram can overlook this advantage.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Synspective’s StriX satellites use synthetic aperture radar, allowing them to collect imagery at night and through cloud cover. Rocket Lab supplies the launches required to deploy that constellation. The satellite operator receives the revenue from selling imagery, while Rocket Lab’s opportunity depends on executing the missions economically.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">A multi-year agreement can also improve planning for rocket production, staffing, and launch-site operations. It provides a stronger indication of demand than an expression of interest, but undisclosed pricing prevents a defensible calculation of contract revenue or profit.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The timing requires patience. Twenty missions over the four-year launch window average five annually, although the companies have not disclosed an equal allocation. This agreement should not be interpreted as 20 launches of near-term revenue. Satellite readiness, launch schedules, payment terms, and revenue recognition will determine when the benefits appear.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Rocket Lab’s development of Neutron, its larger reusable vehicle, adds another consideration. Electron’s commercial progress supports the existing business, but it does not resolve the spending requirements or eventual economics of the larger rocket. Investors should assess successful order conversion in Electron alongside disciplined execution of the company’s expansion plans.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Vertiv: More Infrastructure Revenue From Each Data Center</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Vertiv adds an established earnings business to the comparison. In my July 9, 2026, 24/7 Wall St. article, “South Korea’s $576 Billion AI Bet Shows Why Vertiv Is More Than a Cooling Company,” I emphasized that Vertiv’s opportunity extends across power delivery, cooling, and related infrastructure. Wells Fargo’s new bullish coverage reinforces the relevance of that broader positioning.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">For investors, the key relationship is between computing density and infrastructure spending. More demanding equipment can require greater power-delivery and heat-removal capabilities within the same building. Vertiv’s opportunity can therefore expand through additional data center construction and through the infrastructure required to support more intensive computing at existing or planned sites.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">This creates a parallel with Coherent. Coherent seeks to supply more of an optical connection; Vertiv seeks to supply more of the infrastructure required to operate a data center. Both could benefit from increasing customer spending per deployment, although their products, margins, and competitive positions differ.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Vertiv’s second-quarter results provide evidence that demand is already producing earnings. Revenue reached $3.274 billion, up 24% from a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin increased to 22.6%, a gain of 4.1 percentage points, while adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 60% to $1.52. Reported GAAP diluted earnings per share increased 53% to $1.27.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The margin improvement matters because it shows that earnings grew faster than sales. For a company expanding manufacturing and serving larger projects, profitable growth provides stronger support for the investment case than order growth alone. Continued operational execution remains important as deployments become larger and more complicated.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Vertiv’s planned acquisition of UtilityInnovation Group extends that opportunity. Announced September 2, the transaction includes approximately $1.45 billion in cash at closing and up to $1.15 billion in additional payments tied to earnings targets. Completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The acquired capabilities include microgrid controls and coordination of onsite generation and energy storage. These could help Vertiv participate earlier in a customer’s power-planning decisions, extending its involvement beyond equipment installed inside the data center. The distinction matters when power availability determines whether a project can begin operating.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">My interpretation is that this expansion could increase the portion of a customer’s infrastructure budget Vertiv can address. However, it does not mean Vertiv becomes an electricity producer, and the acquisition’s value will depend on integration, customer adoption, and financial returns. A strategically relevant acquisition still needs to earn an acceptable return on its purchase price.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Vertiv consequently offers the clearest current earnings evidence among the three opportunities examined. It also remains exposed to project delays, supply constraints, and the valuation investors assign to expected growth. Strong customer demand is most valuable when equipment is delivered, margins hold, and earnings expectations are met.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>How the Three Companies Convert Demand Into Growth</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">According to Table 2, the most useful comparison is the mechanism through which each company could earn more from customer investment. Coherent’s opportunity involves supplying more technologies within an optical connection, Rocket Lab’s involves repeat dedicated missions, and Vertiv’s involves broader power and cooling content plus services. These differences identify the operating developments investors should monitor after the analyst announcements.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%" colspan="4"><strong>Table 2. Growth Mechanisms, Commercial Timing, and Investor Tests</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Investor consideration</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Coherent</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Rocket Lab</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%"><strong>Vertiv</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Customer requirement</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Efficient movement of information</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Reliable delivery to required orbits</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Reliable power and heat removal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Mechanism for additional revenue</td>
<td style="width: 25%">More optical technologies and assemblies per deployment</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Repeat dedicated launches</td>
<td style="width: 25%">More infrastructure equipment and services per site</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Current evidence examined</td>
<td style="width: 25%">PhotonLink engagements and long-term agreements</td>
<td style="width: 25%">20 additional contracted Synspective missions</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Reported revenue, margin, and earnings growth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Timing of highlighted opportunity</td>
<td style="width: 25%">PhotonLink ramp expected in calendar Q4 2026</td>
<td style="width: 25%">New missions scheduled for 2028–2031</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Existing infrastructure sales; planned acquisition closing in calendar Q4 2026</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Evidence that strengthens the case</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Volume shipments with attractive margins</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Completed launches with improving economics</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Profitable deliveries and successful expansion of power capabilities</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%">Principal execution uncertainty</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Qualification and adoption pace</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Launch timing and development spending</td>
<td style="width: 25%">Project timing, supply constraints, and acquisition integration</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25%" colspan="4"><strong>Source: The Information Network analysis.</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="font-weight: 400">These stocks also provide different forms of exposure rather than interchangeable participation in a single technology theme. Coherent and Vertiv depend partly on AI infrastructure investment, creating some shared demand risk. Rocket Lab’s constellation business adds a separate commercial market, although its development spending and execution requirements introduce their own uncertainties. Owning all three would diversify business activities without eliminating investment risk.</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Investor Takeaway</strong></h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400">The bullish calls on Coherent, Rocket Lab, and Vertiv deserve attention because identifiable commercial developments support each company’s opportunity. PhotonLink could increase Coherent’s contribution to optical connections, Synspective’s repeat order strengthens Electron’s commercial relevance, and Vertiv’s earnings demonstrate that infrastructure demand is already producing financial returns.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">My assessment is that Vertiv offers the strongest current earnings evidence, Coherent offers the nearer-term new-platform catalyst, and Rocket Lab offers longer-duration visibility from its latest launch agreement. Those distinctions concern the opportunities examined here; the best investment still depends on the valuation paid and the growth expectations already incorporated into each stock.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">Investors should connect each purchase decision to the evidence that would justify a higher valuation. For Coherent, that means profitable PhotonLink production. For Rocket Lab, it means successful missions and disciplined expansion spending. For Vertiv, it means continued margin performance and attractive returns from broader power capabilities. The analyst targets frame potential appreciation, while commercial execution determines whether shareholders receive it.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400">
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-backs-coherent-rocket-lab-and-vertiv/">Wall Street Backs Coherent, Rocket Lab and Vertiv</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672410">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Forget URA’s Concentration. This Nuclear Fund Spreads the Bet Across Utilities, Miners and Reactor Builders</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-uras-concentration-this-nuclear-fund-spreads-the-bet-across-utilities-miners-and-reactor-builders/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:33:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671676&preview=true&preview_id=1671676</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two nuclear ETFs tell completely different stories about who wins when atomic energy expands, and owning the wrong one could mean riding a single commodity price instead of the broader industrial buildout.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-uras-concentration-this-nuclear-fund-spreads-the-bet-across-utilities-miners-and-reactor-builders/">Forget URA’s Concentration. This Nuclear Fund Spreads the Bet Across Utilities, Miners and Reactor Builders</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671676">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>If you own the <strong>Global X Uranium ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/URA/">NYSEARCA:URA</a>) to capture the nuclear power expansion, one stock drives a big share of your returns. URA’s July 31, 2026 SEC filing shows <strong>Cameco</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CCJ/">NYSE:CCJ</a>) at 22.18% of net assets. The <strong>VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NLR/">NYSEARCA:NLR</a>) held the same miner at 8.41% in its June 30, 2026 filing. URA holders get a liquid, well-known uranium vehicle with a stronger ten-year record; however, NLR packages the same nuclear story with a very different weighting.</p>
<h2>NLR Owns the Whole Nuclear Supply Chain</h2>
<p>NLR spreads 26 positions across every link that turns uranium into electricity. Reactor operators sit near the top, led by <strong>Constellation Energy</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CEG/">NASDAQ:CEG</a>) at 8.04%, Public Service Enterprise Group at 7.09%, and Finland’s Fortum at 5.75%. These companies sell power from plants already running, linking revenue to electricity demand rather than a <a title="Uranium Holds at $85 as AI Data Centers Go Nuclear" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/07/22/uranium-holds-at-85-as-ai-data-centers-go-nuclear/">spot commodity price</a>.</p>
<p>Miners such as Cameco supply the fuel. Equipment maker <strong>BWX Technologies</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BWXT/">NYSE:BWXT</a>) holds 6.78%, KEPCO Engineering & Construction adds 2.49% as the plant-building leg, and enrichment developer Silex Systems contributes 1.72%. Oklo, at 5.22%, is a speculative, <a title="3 Small Nuclear Stocks Wall Street Has Not Fully Priced for the AI Power Shortage Yet." href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/08/3-small-nuclear-stocks-wall-street-has-not-fully-priced-for-the-ai-power-shortage-yet/">pre-revenue reactor developer</a> and carries far more risk than a <a title="Microsoft and Meta Signed Multi-Decade Nuclear Power Deals. These 3 Stocks Supply That Power" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/03/microsoft-and-meta-signed-multi-decade-nuclear-power-deals-these-3-stocks-supply-that-power/">regulated utility</a> like PSEG. Fortum, KEPCO E&C and Silex trade on foreign exchanges, so most U.S. investors reach them through the fund.</p>
<h2>URA Reaches Past Miners, but Cameco Still Dominates</h2>
<p>URA is wider than its reputation. Its July filing lists 86 positions, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at 2.04% and Doosan Enerbility at 1.96%. The top remains heavy with Cameco, followed by Sprott Physical Uranium Trust at 6.74% and NexGen Energy at 6.07%.</p>
<p>The Sprott trust stores physical uranium. It has no mines, operating costs, or earnings, so its value tracks the uranium price almost directly, which sharpens URA’s sensitivity to the commodity. NLR holds a smaller physical stake through Yellow Cake at 2.79%, offset by its utility weight.</p>
<h2>Five Years Favor NLR, Ten Years Favor URA</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Price Change</th>
<th>URA</th>
<th>NLR</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Year to date</td>
<td>-6.2%</td>
<td>-16.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>One year</td>
<td>-13.71%</td>
<td>-22.16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Five years</td>
<td>105.7%</td>
<td>120.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ten years</td>
<td>329.19%</td>
<td>182.91%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>NLR trailed badly over the past year, led over five years, and is far behind over ten years. These figures exclude distributions. Returns from broadening across the chain have been mixed, so the case for NLR depends on risk shape, with less riding on one miner and one commodity price.</p>
<h2>A Sector-Wide Selloff Hit Both Funds Equally</h2>
<p>Over the past month, NLR fell 12.06%, and URA fell 12.05%. Over one week, NLR lost 7.21% and URA 8.37%. Utilities, miners, and reactor developers moved together when nuclear sentiment turned, so chain-wide exposure offered little shelter.</p>
<p>As of September 30, 2026, NLR traded near 103.88 and URA at 40.08.</p>
<h2>Fees, Fund Size and a Tax-Aware Switch</h2>
<p>NLR’s stated expense ratio is 0.52% — lower than URA’s 0.69%. NLR reported net assets of $4.2 billion as of June 30, 2026, while URA reported $5.4 billion as of July 31, 2026.</p>
<p>The funds overlap heavily, with Cameco, NexGen, Oklo, Kazatomprom, Paladin, and Centrus in both, so a switch mainly re-weights exposure. In a taxable account, selling URA at a gain triggers capital gains tax, and long-term holders may sit on large gains after URA’s ten-year run. An IRA or 401(k) allows a swap without a tax bill.</p>
<h2>Match the Fund to the Nuclear Thesis You Hold</h2>
<p>URA suits an investor who wants concentrated exposure to the uranium price itself through a large Cameco stake, a physical uranium trust, and a stronger ten-year record. NLR suits an investor who wants to own the expansion as an industrial story, with reactor operators, equipment makers, and builders alongside miners. For readers who prefer picking the names directly, we listed five of our favorites across utilities and fuel in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/nuclear-five-offer-4ef05ea0.html">free nuclear report here</a>). For that second goal, NLR’s holdings line up more closely with the thesis.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-uras-concentration-this-nuclear-fund-spreads-the-bet-across-utilities-miners-and-reactor-builders/">Forget URA’s Concentration. This Nuclear Fund Spreads the Bet Across Utilities, Miners and Reactor Builders</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671676">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Is It Too Late to Get Into Crypto in October 2026? What $3.55 Billion of Weekly Inflows and a 33% Quarter Say</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/is-it-too-late-to-get-into-crypto-in-october-2026-what-3-55-billion-of-weekly-inflows-and-a-33-quarter-say/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:03:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672335&preview=true&preview_id=1672335</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Crypto funds just absorbed billions in a single week while Bitcoin posted a massive quarterly gain, yet most major coins still sit deep in the red for the year. Before you buy, there are a few numbers that tell a very different story about where the market actually stands.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/is-it-too-late-to-get-into-crypto-in-october-2026-what-3-55-billion-of-weekly-inflows-and-a-33-quarter-say/">Is It Too Late to Get Into Crypto in October 2026? What $3.55 Billion of Weekly Inflows and a 33% Quarter Say</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672335">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Crypto funds experienced a significant surge, taking in $3.55 billion within just one week, primarily driven by </span><b>Bitcoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">). Bitcoin’s value has increased by 33.4% over the last 90 days. As investors who missed out on the summer rally consider their options, many are left wondering if it’s too late to invest in crypto in October 2026.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, despite these recent gains, most major cryptocurrencies still trade below their values from a year ago. Bitcoin is down 29.7% over the past 12 months, </span><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) has fallen 38.4%, and </span><b>XRP</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) has dropped 49.6%. This raises the question: does a strong quarterly performance indicate buyers are late to the party, or does it suggest that the market is still on the mend?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin’s 33% Quarter Is a Bounce, Not a Full Recovery</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock-2235593749-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A close-up shot of a miniature silver shopping cart holding a large silver Bitcoin coin, several smaller gold coins, and a bright green arrow pointing sharply upwards and to the right. The background is a blurred digital display of a financial chart with red and green lines on a dark screen." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="A Bitcoin coin in a shopping cart with an upward arrow symbolizes potential growth in the cryptocurrency market, aligning with discussions on Coinbases strategic opportunities despite current challenges." data-id="1557841" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The 90-day return reflects the price movement from three months ago, without considering where it began. A coin rebounding from a low point can show a spectacular percentage gain, while a coin steadily climbing can offer a modest rise from a higher starting point.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The following table details key cryptocurrencies, illustrating their 90-day and yearly changes in value:</span></p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><b>Coin</b></th>
<th><b>90-Day Change</b></th>
<th><b>1-Year Change</b></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Zcash</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+208.7%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+1,077.3%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Chainlink</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+80.2%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-36.5%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+52.7%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-38.4%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Solana</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+43.3%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-46.9%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Cardano</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+36.8%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-71.1%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+33.4%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-29.7%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+31.0%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-49.6%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Dogecoin</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">+21.7%</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">-62.2%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><b>Chainlink</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/LINK/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:LINK</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), known for incorporating external data into blockchain applications, rose 80.2% this quarter but remains down 36.5% year over year. Similarly, </span><b>Cardano</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ADA/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ADA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) posted a 36.8% quarterly gain after a staggering 71.1% drop over the past year, leaving buyers from a year ago in a tough spot.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In contrast, </span><b>Zcash</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ZEC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ZEC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/21/privacy-coins-arise-as-top-performers-in-crypto-zcash-surges-164-in-a-month/"><span style="font-weight: 400">privacy-focused coin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, is the standout performer, showing gains in both timeframes. It rose from a low of $185 in February to close September at $1,438, marking a remarkable overall increase of around 677%.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">One Week of Crypto Fund Inflows Proves Less Than It Looks</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock-2402305921-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A close-up overhead shot displays various objects on a document filled with financial text. In the foreground, a silver and orange Ripple (XRP) cryptocurrency coin rests on a pile of gold-colored Ripple and other crypto coins. To the right, a black and gold judge's gavel is positioned. Above the coins and gavel are two novelty 'One Bitcoin' dollar bills. On the left, an origami bird, folded from paper covered in newsprint with words like 'ETH' visible, stands upright. The underlying document contains financial news text mentioning 'Bitcoin (BTC)', 'Ethereum', and 'XRP'." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="The failure of the CLARITY Act vote leaves cryptocurrency markets, represented by Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, navigating an uncertain regulatory landscape. This image symbolizes the ongoing legal and financial pressures on digital assets." data-id="1557876" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Fund inflows represent the capital investors place into crypto investment products, like </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/06/29/you-want-bitcoin-not-the-exchange-horror-stories-these-3-etfs-get-you-25k-in-crypto-no-sketchy-apps/"><span style="font-weight: 400">spot ETFs that directly hold cryptocurrencies</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. This week’s $3.55 billion in inflows indicates substantial buying activity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, one week’s data can be misleading, as inflows can follow price movements as often as they lead them. US spot Bitcoin ETFs alone received about </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/26/bitcoin-etf-inflows-reach-2-4-billion-this-week-but-daily-figures-decline-is-the-momentum-fading/"><span style="font-weight: 400">$2.4 billion from September 21 to September 25</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, according to SoSoValue. However, daily inflows dropped significantly, from $999 million down to $134 million as the week progressed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Moreover, weekly inflow reports capture only money flowing through investment products and do not account for most crypto trading that occurs on exchanges. Therefore, a strong week for funds can coincide with heavy selling elsewhere, masking the true market conditions.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Citi’s Bitcoin Target and a 5.17% Treasury Yield Set the Bar</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/citilogo.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="700" data-caption="" data-id="436790" /></p>
<p><b>Citigroup</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/C/"><span style="font-weight: 400">NYSE:C</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) recently raised its price targets for Bitcoin to $113,000 and Ethereum to $3,028, signaling projected gains of 33.4% and 12.2% respectively from current prices. However, these targets were set following the recent rally, further illustrating the tendency for forecasts, like fund flows, to lag behind price movements.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Compounding this is the current </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/"><span style="font-weight: 400">10-year Treasury yield</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, which reached 5.17% on September 25. Investors holding the note to maturity will earn that return with certainty, while Bitcoin provides no interest, and staking rewards on assets like Ethereum come with market volatility, leading crypto buyers to forego guaranteed returns.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Returns within the crypto space are also uneven. In 2026, for instance, Zcash has risen by 178.6%, while Chainlink is up 17.8%. In contrast, XRP has fallen 19.2%, and Bitcoin has slipped 4.7%, making the decision to invest highly specific to which coin you’re considering.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Is It Too Late to Invest in Crypto in October 2026?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">For those looking to invest in major cryptocurrencies, now may still be a suitable time. Bitcoin, Ethereum, </span><b>Solana</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), and XRP are all priced below where they began 2026, with Ethereum down 9.6% and Solana down 5.3%. Thus, their recent rally indicates a fragmented recovery. However, Zcash stands apart because its substantial gains already reflect earlier price increases, making it a different scenario for potential buyers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">This perspective suits long-term investors who can endure possible downturns and are willing to forgo the steady 5.17% Treasury yield. If fund inflows remain strong despite price decreases, it could indicate that institutional money is leading the charge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin still needs to regain its footing above the $88,900 mark where it </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/09/bitcoin-is-down-for-2026-here-is-the-exact-price-it-has-to-reclaim-by-december-31-to-break-even/"><span style="font-weight: 400">began 2026</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, which is 4.9% higher than its current value. If Bitcoin delays in surpassing that benchmark, it begs the question: is it truly too late to invest in crypto, or is it simply too early to declare a full recovery?</span></p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=5b4b4f9e-0a35-4702-981b-adabd88e0890&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672335&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/is-it-too-late-to-get-into-crypto-in-october-2026-what-3-55-billion-of-weekly-inflows-and-a-33-quarter-say/">Is It Too Late to Get Into Crypto in October 2026? What $3.55 Billion of Weekly Inflows and a 33% Quarter Say</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672335">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Dividend Growth for the Next Decade Starts With These 3 ETFs</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/dividend-growth-for-the-next-decade-starts-with-these-3-etfs/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:03:19 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671669&preview=true&preview_id=1671669</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Three dividend growth ETFs each screen for quality using completely different rules, and those rules determine whether your income stream survives the next recession or quietly stalls. Knowing which filter fits your timeline could make a decade of compounding work for you instead of against you.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/dividend-growth-for-the-next-decade-starts-with-these-3-etfs/">Dividend Growth for the Next Decade Starts With These 3 ETFs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671669">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Over the past 12 months, the <strong>Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VIG/">NYSEARCA:VIG</a>) paid $3.65 per share while trading near $233. That small check is the design. <a title="Dividend Growth or High Yield? One of These ETF Strategies Is Winning in 2026" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/07/23/dividend-growth-or-high-yield-one-of-these-etf-strategies-is-winning-in-2026/">Dividend growth and high yield are separate strategies</a>. These funds accept a thin starting payout in exchange for holding companies whose payouts have climbed, and anyone screening on current yield will skip past all three. VIG, the <strong>iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DGRO/">NYSEARCA:DGRO</a>), and the <strong>WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DGRW/">NASDAQ:DGRW</a>) each find those companies with a different rule, and those rules explain why an investor might own more than one.</p>
<h2>VIG Makes Companies Earn a Decade of Raises Before Joining</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e874481"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="VIG"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/VIG?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/vig/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div>
<p>VIG tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which requires at least 10 consecutive years of dividend growth and excludes the top-yielding names. Both rules do real work. A decade-long streak often means a company kept raising through at least one downturn, and dropping the highest yielders removes stocks whose yields look generous only because their prices collapsed.</p>
<p>VIG anchors this category. It is the largest fund in the group, with roughly $131 billion in net assets as of July, and Vanguard’s pricing sits among the cheapest in the category.</p>
<p>The top of the portfolio deserves a close look. Top holdings include large software and tech companies, the biggest U.S. bank, and a major drugmaker. That mix means VIG acts like a quality large-cap fund.</p>
<p>The fund’s own distribution record — which is separate from the streaks of the companies it holds — shows the mechanism at work. Quarterly payouts in 2016 ran from $0.39 to $0.58. The latest quarterly check was $0.93. That history illustrates how the screen works, but it offers no guarantee about the next ten years.</p>
<p>Tradeoff: the 10-year rule makes younger companies wait years to qualify, and the tech-heavy top means VIG can fall alongside growth stocks.</p>
<h2>DGRO Lowers the Bar to Five Years and Tilts Toward Income</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8745c5"
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data-symbol="DGRO"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/DGRO?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/dgro/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div>
<p>DGRO follows the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index. It requires at least 5 consecutive years of dividend growth, a payout ratio below 75%, and it excludes the top 10% of highest-yielding names along with REITs. Holdings are weighted by dollar dividends paid rather than pure market value.</p>
<p>That weighting is the key difference. Companies that send out more cash get more room in the portfolio, which gives DGRO a modest yield tilt versus VIG. The payout ratio cap matters too, because a company paying out less than three-quarters of its earnings keeps a buffer to fund future raises.</p>
<p>The fund charges 0.08% a year and held about $43 billion in net assets as of July.</p>
<p>It paid $1.49 per share over the past 12 months on a price near $75. Its September 2016 distribution was $0.18; the September 2026 payment came in at $0.38.</p>
<p>Tradeoff: a five-year streak may never have been tested by a full recession, and the REIT exclusion leaves out real estate income entirely.</p>
<h2>DGRW Screens the Earnings Engine Behind Every Raise</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8746df"
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data-symbol="DGRW"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/DGRW?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/dgrw/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div>
<p>DGRW rarely tops a basic dividend screen, which is exactly why it belongs here. WisdomTree screens dividend payers on return on equity, return on assets, and long-term earnings growth expectations. Raises are funded by profits, so this fund examines the engine that pays for future increases. That lets it hold highly profitable companies whose streaks are still too short for VIG.</p>
<p>DGRW pays monthly, though the amounts swing. It paid $0.17 in September 2026 and $0.055 the month before, so expect a lumpy stream of payments.</p>
<p>Trailing 12-month payouts totaled $1.19 on a share price near $97. Its March 2016 distribution was $0.065, compared with $0.17 in March 2026.</p>
<p>Tradeoff: the fee is 0.28%, well above DGRO’s, and earnings-growth screens depend on forecasts that can miss. The fund is also smaller, at about $16.6 billion in net assets as of June.</p>
<h2>What a 10-Year Holding Period Asks of You</h2>
<p>The return you are waiting for is a rising income stream measured against the price you originally paid. In year one, the check looks small next to a high-yield fund. The math only turns in your favor if the underlying companies keep raising for many years, and that takes patience through periods when these funds look ordinary.</p>
<p>Over the decade from September 2016 to September 2026, adjusted share prices rose 265% for DGRW, 244% for DGRO, and 235% for VIG.</p>
<p>Short windows tell a noisier story. Over the past month, DGRO slipped about 4% and VIG about 3%. Anyone judging these funds on a quarter will likely sell before the compounding shows up.</p>
<h2>Where a Dividend Growth Screen Can Let You Down</h2>
<p>Every rule in this article is backward-looking. Each index selects companies that <em>have</em> raised payouts, which says nothing certain about whether they will keep doing so. When a company cuts or freezes its dividend, the index drops it at the next rebalance, often after the stock has already fallen. You take that loss before the screen responds.</p>
<p>Keep two records separate in your head. A fund’s rising distributions reflect its current holdings, while each company’s streak belongs to that company alone. Future payouts carry no guarantee. Concentration adds another layer. VIG’s heavy weighting in a handful of tech names means a rough year for chipmakers can hit a fund many people buy for stability.</p>
<h2>Matching the Fund to Your Goals</h2>
<p>VIG suits investors who want the hardest entry test, since its 10-year streak requirement is the strictest filter on this list. DGRO suits investors who want a bit more income today at a very low fee and can accept shorter track records. DGRW earns a spot as a complement for those who trust profitability over history and will pay a higher fee for that quality tilt. If you want to skip the fund structure and own the individual companies with the longest raise streaks, we ranked ten of them by valuation in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ten-dividend-kings-offer-d9b90e45.html">free Dividend Kings report</a>.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671669&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/dividend-growth-for-the-next-decade-starts-with-these-3-etfs/">Dividend Growth for the Next Decade Starts With These 3 ETFs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671669">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Section 102(a) Shields Your Inheritance From Federal Tax. Five States Don’t Care What the IRS Does</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/section-102a-shields-your-inheritance-from-federal-tax-five-states-dont-care-what-the-irs-does/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vilma Rios]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:37:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Savings Accounts]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671489&preview=true&preview_id=1671489</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The IRS has no claim on your inheritance, but five states wrote their own rules, and your relative's zip code determines whether you walk away with the full amount or hand over tens of thousands before you cash a single check.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/section-102a-shields-your-inheritance-from-federal-tax-five-states-dont-care-what-the-irs-does/">Section 102(a) Shields Your Inheritance From Federal Tax. Five States Don’t Care What the IRS Does</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671489">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Consider a 62-year-old woman whose aunt in Pennsylvania leaves her $200,000. The IRS takes nothing, and Pennsylvania sends her a bill for $30,000.</p>
<p>Federal law makes inheritances tax-free to recipients. Five states tax heirs directly: Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. What you owe depends on how closely you were related to the deceased.</p>
<h2>IRC Section 102 Keeps the IRS Away From Your Inheritance</h2>
<p>The federal shield is Internal Revenue Code Section 102(a). It excludes property acquired by “gift, bequest, devise, or inheritance” from gross income. The $200,000 never appears on your Form 1040.</p>
<p>Section 102(b) taxes income the property earns after you receive it. Withdrawals from inherited traditional IRAs or 401(k)s count as ordinary income. Section 1014 <a title="Inherited Stock Resets Its Tax Bill to Zero and Here's the IRS Rule That Does It" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/19/inherited-stock-resets-its-tax-bill-to-zero-heres-the-irs-rule-that-does-it/">resets the cost basis of inherited stock or real estate</a> to its value at death, wiping out accumulated capital gains.</p>
<p>The federal estate tax under Section 2001 is charged to the estate, and only above a $15 million per-person exemption in 2026. Almost every family falls below that line.</p>
<h2>Five States Tax Heirs Directly, and Iowa Just Left the List</h2>
<p>An estate tax comes out of the whole estate before anyone gets paid, and the size of the estate sets the bill. An inheritance tax lands on each heir’s share, and the heir’s relationship to the deceased sets the rate. Maryland levies both. Its estate tax applies above $5 million.</p>
<p>Iowa was the sixth inheritance-tax state until its repeal took full effect January 1, 2025. The remaining five states:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pennsylvania:</strong> Article XXI of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, with rates at 72 P.S. §9116</li>
<li><strong>New Jersey:</strong> Transfer Inheritance Tax, N.J.S.A. 54:34-1 et seq.</li>
<li><strong>Kentucky:</strong> KRS Chapter 140, with beneficiary classes in KRS 140.070</li>
<li><strong>Maryland:</strong> Tax-General Article §7-203</li>
<li><strong>Nebraska:</strong> Neb. Rev. Stat. §77-2001 through §77-2006, collected by counties</li>
</ul>
<p>Spouses owe nothing in all five states. Kentucky exempts spouses, children, parents, and grandparents. Maryland exempts a spouse, child, stepchild, sibling, and spouse of a child. Pennsylvania charges children 4.5%. Nebraska charges immediate relatives 1% over $100,000.</p>
<h2>Same $200,000 Inheritance, Five Different State Bills</h2>
<p>A niece or nephew inheriting $200,000 would owe:</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>State of the deceased</th>
<th>Rule for a niece or nephew</th>
<th>Tax owed</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pennsylvania</td>
<td>15% on the full amount</td>
<td>$30,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>New Jersey</td>
<td>Class D, 15% on the first $700,000</td>
<td>$30,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Maryland</td>
<td>10% on the full amount</td>
<td>$20,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nebraska</td>
<td>11% over $40,000</td>
<td>$17,600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kentucky</td>
<td>Class B, graduated 4% to 16%</td>
<td>Varies by bracket</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>A sibling inheriting the same $200,000 would owe $24,000 in Pennsylvania. In New Jersey, where siblings are Class C and the first $25,000 is exempt with 11% on the rest, the bill is $19,250. It would be $1,000 in Nebraska and zero in Maryland. A Pennsylvania child would pay $9,000.</p>
<h2>Your Relative’s Address Decides Which State Collects</h2>
<p>The tax follows the deceased’s residence and property location. A Florida heir inheriting from a Pennsylvania aunt owes Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania heir inheriting from a Florida parent owes nothing.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania taxes a resident decedent’s stocks, bonds, and bank accounts wherever they’re held, along with real estate and tangible property in the state. For nonresidents, it taxes only real property and tangible personal property located in Pennsylvania. A retiree who moves to Florida but keeps a Poconos cabin leaves that cabin exposed.</p>
<p>Deadlines count too. Pennsylvania returns are due nine calendar months after death, and paying within three months earns a 5% discount.</p>
<h2>Moves That Shrink or Erase the Bill</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Leave IRAs to charity.</strong> Charities are exempt from Pennsylvania’s tax and avoid income tax on traditional IRAs. Leave cash or stepped-up stock to heirs instead.</li>
<li><strong>Lock down domicile.</strong> Retirees moving to no-tax states should update driver’s license, voter registration, and retitle or sell property left behind.</li>
<li><strong>Watch the gift look-back.</strong> Pennsylvania pulls gifts above $3,000 per recipient made within one year of death back into the taxable estate.</li>
</ol>
<p>Rates may change. Nebraska lawmakers keep debating deeper cuts, and one proposal would lower the rate for remote relatives from 11% to 3%. If a relative in one of these five states plans to leave money to nieces, nephews, or friends, have an estate attorney or CPA run the numbers while that relative can still change the plan (we put the full beneficiary-and-titling checklist that heads off exactly this kind of surprise in a free guide here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">Die With a Plan</a>).</p>
<div>
<h2>Switching Takes Five Minutes and Three Things</h2>
<p>Opening a high-yield savings account requires about five minutes, your Social Security number, a driver’s license, and the account number you’re funding from — that’s the whole job. The only real decision is which bank, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671489&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b">FinanceBuzz’s comparison of today’s top-rated accounts</a> makes that part quick: current APYs, minimums, and any cash bonuses for new deposits, all FDIC-insured, all on one page. Keep in mind these rates are variable — they follow the market, and today’s are well above the national average. Your money starts earning the higher rate the day it arrives, not the day you get around to it. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671489&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b"><strong>Compare the current top accounts here.</strong></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/section-102a-shields-your-inheritance-from-federal-tax-five-states-dont-care-what-the-irs-does/">Section 102(a) Shields Your Inheritance From Federal Tax. Five States Don’t Care What the IRS Does</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671489">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Own an Index Fund, a Growth Fund, and a Tech Fund? You Likely Own the Same Companies Three Times. These 3 ETFs Remove the Overlap</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/own-an-index-fund-a-growth-fund-and-a-tech-fund-you-likely-own-the-same-companies-three-times-these-3-etfs-remove-the-overlap/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:03:56 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671665&preview=true&preview_id=1671665</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Most investors assume owning multiple funds means owning different things, but a quick look at the actual holdings reveals a much more uncomfortable truth about where all that money is really concentrated.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/own-an-index-fund-a-growth-fund-and-a-tech-fund-you-likely-own-the-same-companies-three-times-these-3-etfs-remove-the-overlap/">Own an Index Fund, a Growth Fund, and a Tech Fund? You Likely Own the Same Companies Three Times. These 3 ETFs Remove the Overlap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671665">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>You bought an <a title="The S&P 500 Isn't What You Think It Is Anymore: Here's the Uncomfortable Truth" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/11/the-sp-500-isnt-what-you-think-it-is-anymore-heres-the-uncomfortable-truth/">S&P 500 index fund</a>. A few years later, you added a large-cap growth fund. Then came a technology fund. Three funds, three different reasons. It feels diversified. Open the holdings pages side by side, though, and you’ll find the same handful of giant companies sitting near the top of all three.</p>
<p>A trio of funds with barely overlapping holdings solves the problem: <strong>iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ITOT/">NYSEARCA:ITOT</a>), <strong>Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BND/">NASDAQ:BND</a>), and <strong>iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IXUS/">NASDAQ:IXUS</a>). One covers U.S. stocks, one covers bonds, and one covers companies listed everywhere else.</p>
<h2>Why Your Three Funds Keep Buying the Same Stocks</h2>
<p>Most index funds weight companies by market value. A broad U.S. index fund puts its biggest weights in the largest companies. A large-cap growth fund screens for fast-growing big companies, and when the largest companies are also the fastest growers, those same names rise to the top again. A technology fund adds a third layer, because many of those giants are tech companies.</p>
<p>The result is a statement showing several funds and a portfolio whose fortunes ride on a small group of stocks. When those companies rally, everything you own rallies. When they fall, everything falls together. Your portfolio acts like one position while looking like three.</p>
<p>That concentration can be fine. The trouble starts when it’s invisible. You can’t manage a risk you don’t know you hold.</p>
<h2>ITOT Puts the Entire U.S. Market in One Holding</h2>
<p>ITOT tracks the whole U.S. stock market, reaching past the large caps into mid-size and smaller companies your growth and tech funds likely skip. You still own the giants, but at their market weight instead of being counted three times.</p>
<p>The cost is minimal: a net expense ratio of 0.03%, according to the fund’s July 31, 2026 prospectus. Net assets stood at about $94.1 billion as of June 30, 2026. It pays quarterly, totaling about $1.69 per share over the trailing 12 months. The adjusted price is up 13.35% year-to-date and 16.45% over the past year.</p>
<h2>BND Adds an Asset Class Your Stock Funds Never Touch</h2>
<p>Every fund you own today is a stock fund. BND holds broad U.S. investment-grade bonds and tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, so its overlap with your equity funds is zero. Bond prices respond mainly to interest rates and credit conditions, drivers that differ from the ones moving tech stocks.</p>
<p>The expense ratio is 0.04%, per Vanguard’s June 2026 fact sheet. BND pays monthly, with trailing 12-month distributions of about $2.93 per share. Bonds carry their own risk, though. Rising rates push prices down, and BND’s adjusted price is down 2.85% year-to-date and 2.77% over the past month. Its job is to steady the portfolio.</p>
<h2>IXUS Fills the Biggest Gap in Portfolios Like Yours</h2>
<p>A portfolio built from U.S. index, growth, and tech funds usually holds almost nothing listed outside the U.S. IXUS covers developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. through the <a title="iShares ACWX ETF Throws Out US Companies And Somehow Still Doubled The S&P 500 Returns" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/12/22/ishares-acwx-etf-throws-out-us-companies-and-somehow-still-doubled-the-sp-500-returns/">MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI</a> benchmark, so it sits beside your U.S. funds without duplicating them.</p>
<p>Its July 31, 2026 holdings filing lists names such as Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Shopify, Volvo, Teva Pharmaceutical, and Sea Limited, spanning banks, energy, miners, industrials, and software. Net assets reached about $58.4 billion. Distributions arrive semi-annually, adding up to about $2.80 per share over the trailing 12 months. The adjusted price is up 13.94% year-to-date and 19.42% over the past year.</p>
<h2>Trade-Offs to Weigh Before You Reshuffle</h2>
<p>This lineup spreads risk more truly. ITOT’s adjusted price rose 295.59% over the last ten years, while IXUS gained 141.8% and BND gained 11.57%. Real diversification means some pieces will lag for long periods.</p>
<p>Taxes matter too. Selling existing funds in a taxable account can create a tax bill, so transition deliberately over time rather than in a single session.</p>
<h2>Why This Trio Belongs in Your Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you believed you were diversified because you owned several funds, these three turn fund count into actual breadth: the full U.S. market, a bond market your stock funds never reach, and thousands of companies abroad. Each one holds what the other two leave out, and you finally know exactly what you own.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/own-an-index-fund-a-growth-fund-and-a-tech-fund-you-likely-own-the-same-companies-three-times-these-3-etfs-remove-the-overlap/">Own an Index Fund, a Growth Fund, and a Tech Fund? You Likely Own the Same Companies Three Times. These 3 ETFs Remove the Overlap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671665">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>SEC Proposes New Rule for Investment Advisers to Hold Bitcoin for Clients: Which Coins Will See Over $100 Trillion in Managed Funds First?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/sec-proposes-new-rule-for-investment-advisers-to-hold-bitcoin-for-clients-which-coins-will-see-over-100-trillion-in-managed-funds-first/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:40:14 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672304&preview=true&preview_id=1672304</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The SEC just opened a door that could funnel a slice of $100 trillion in managed funds into crypto, and the race to decide which coins get in first has already begun.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/sec-proposes-new-rule-for-investment-advisers-to-hold-bitcoin-for-clients-which-coins-will-see-over-100-trillion-in-managed-funds-first/">SEC Proposes New Rule for Investment Advisers to Hold Bitcoin for Clients: Which Coins Will See Over $100 Trillion in Managed Funds First?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672304">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">The SEC has introduced a proposed crypto custody rule that may allow registered investment advisers to directly hold </span><b>Bitcoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) and other cryptocurrencies for their clients. Given that these advisers manage over $100 trillion, even a small shift toward crypto could channel significant funds into the market.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Until now, most investment advisers have refrained from buying Bitcoin in managed accounts because of strict custody regulations. The existing rules required the use of a qualified custodian without clearly defining who could hold a private key. If the new proposal is finalized, it raises an important question: which cryptocurrencies will see the first influx of adviser money?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">The SEC’s Crypto Custody Rule Adds New Custodians for Advisers</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2347379185-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A person's hand reaches out to touch a glowing, central white square button labeled 'SEC'. Radiating from it are four other white outlined square icons: a magnifying glass with up and down arrows, a balance scale weighing Bitcoin and dollar symbols, a classical government building, and a judge's gavel. The background is a blurred image of a person and a warm-toned environment, suggesting a digital interface." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is poised to assert its authority over cryptocurrency markets with new rules, as depicted by a central SEC icon surrounded by regulatory concepts." data-id="1600965" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Investment advisers responsible for client assets must typically engage a qualified custodian—a regulated bank or broker responsible for safeguarding those assets. These standards were designed for traditional investments like stock certificates, but the unique nature of cryptocurrencies, which are controlled by private keys, complicates matters. In fact, the SEC withdrew a 2023 proposal on custodial safeguards on June 12, 2025, leaving a gap until now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The new proposal updates the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under this plan, state trust companies could serve as custodians if they implement written safeguarding policies and submit annual audited financial statements. Registered broker-dealers could also qualify based on customer protection standards. Additionally, regulated funds might expand their crypto offerings, and under certain conditions, airdropped coins could stay within the new rules.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">SEC Chair Paul Atkins commented that cryptocurrency has evolved “from a niche curiosity into a multi-trillion-dollar asset class” since the release of the Bitcoin white paper in 2008, noting that “our rules and regulations have not kept pace.” This proposal comes on the heels of </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/18/the-clarity-act-died-on-tuesday-by-friday-the-sec-and-cftc-had-written-three-rules-what-changed-for-xrp-bitcoin-and-solana/"><span style="font-weight: 400">various crypto regulations introduced by the SEC in September</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, following the Senate’s failure to advance the CLARITY Act.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Advisers Could Hold Crypto Keys Themselves Under Strict Conditions</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/imageForEntry1-qhR.jpg" alt="" width="1366" height="768" data-caption="" data-id="730150" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">One notable aspect of the proposal is that it allows advisers to hold private keys themselves, but only after they demonstrate that they could not find an approved custodian for the asset. To ensure security, at least two individuals must authorize any use of these keys, and each client’s coins must be stored in separate addresses.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Moreover, an independent auditor must evaluate the adviser’s custody controls within six months, and fund boards will review the adviser’s determination quarterly. These strict conditions could make self-custody too costly for most advisers, likely leading them to stick with cryptocurrencies that custodians already support.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Spot ETF Assets Show Where Adviser Money Could Go First</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/shutterstock_2631226573-scaled.jpg" alt="A hand arranging wooden blocks to form the acronym ETF on a light wooden surface. This image illustrates investment concepts, financial education, and stock market strategies." width="2560" height="1470" data-caption="A hand arranging wooden blocks to form the acronym ETF on a light wooden surface. This image illustrates investment concepts, financial education, and stock market strategies." data-id="1670886" data-ccinfo="{&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.shutterstock.com/license&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;A hand arranging wooden blocks to form the acronym ETF on a light wooden surface. This image illustrates investment concepts, financial education, and stock market strategies.&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/2631226573&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.shutterstock.com/g/daily_creativity&quot;,&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;daily_creativity&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/2631226573&quot;}" /></p>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/12/ethereum-etfs-took-in-216-million-on-friday-bitcoins-lost-money-for-a-fourth-day-and-xrps-took-zero/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs)</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> give us a glimpse into where regulated funds are being directed once they have a compliant path. As of September 25, 2026, US spot Bitcoin ETFs held $108 billion, while </span><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) funds accounted for $17.8 billion. In comparison, </span><b>Solana</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) funds had $2 billion, and </span><b>XRP</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) funds held $1.8 billion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">These figures show that Bitcoin funds currently control about six times Ethereum’s total investments and more than fifty times Solana’s, with Bitcoin funds already </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/19/bitcoin-etfs-now-own-6-29-of-every-bitcoin-what-happens-when-they-hit-10/"><span style="font-weight: 400">owning 6.29% of all Bitcoin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">While the proposal does not specify particular cryptocurrencies, custodians will ultimately decide which coins advisers can access, as the costs of full self-custody are challenging for many firms.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Which Coins Will the SEC Crypto Custody Rule Help First?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin is poised to be the first cryptocurrency to reach adviser accounts, with Ethereum likely following, as custodians already support both. ETF data indicates that regulated money has a clear preference for these assets. The proposal effectively removes the primary legal barrier that has kept advisers away from crypto, but the SEC must finalize the rule before any changes take effect.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The 60-day comment period will commence once the proposal is published in the Federal Register. If the final regulations include a broader list of custodians and relax self-custody requirements, smaller cryptocurrencies like Solana and </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/23/xrp-etf-whats-approved-whats-still-pending-and-what-the-xrp-price-needs-next/"><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> could also find their way into advised accounts more quickly. Ultimately, does the SEC crypto custody rule primarily extend the advantage that Bitcoin and Ethereum already possess?</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/sec-proposes-new-rule-for-investment-advisers-to-hold-bitcoin-for-clients-which-coins-will-see-over-100-trillion-in-managed-funds-first/">SEC Proposes New Rule for Investment Advisers to Hold Bitcoin for Clients: Which Coins Will See Over $100 Trillion in Managed Funds First?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672304">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Zuckerberg’s Free AI Agent Hit 5 Million Downloads And Google Still Has Its Own Locked Behind A Paywall</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/zuckerbergs-free-ai-agent-hit-5-million-downloads-and-google-still-has-its-own-locked-behind-a-paywall/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:03:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672286&preview=true&preview_id=1672286</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Meta just handed millions of users a free AI agent while Google keeps its own locked behind a subscription, and JPMorgan says the gap between those two strategies could gut one of the most valuable revenue streams in tech.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/zuckerbergs-free-ai-agent-hit-5-million-downloads-and-google-still-has-its-own-locked-behind-a-paywall/">Zuckerberg’s Free AI Agent Hit 5 Million Downloads And Google Still Has Its Own Locked Behind A Paywall</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672286">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>The AI race has moved from test rankings to personal agents on consumers’ phones. CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos reported that <strong>Meta Platforms</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/META/">NASDAQ:META</a>) has an estimated 5 million plus downloads for its free Muse agent three weeks after launch. Meanwhile, <strong>Alphabet</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GOOGL/">NASDAQ:GOOGL</a>) has kept its Spark agent behind a paywall since May, and Spark still will not make calls or purchases for users.</p>
<h2>Meta’s Free Agent Rides 3.6 Billion Users</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e878009"
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<p>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta is making Muse free for a huge number of tokens and expects to earn money by taking a small fee on transactions. That plan depends on reach. In Q2 2026, daily active people across Meta’s family of apps hit 3.60 billion. On the July call, Zuckerberg described the approach:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Rather than centralizing superintelligence, we are focused on distributing it widely and giving everyone the ability to direct it towards what matters to them.”</p></blockquote>
<p>He added that Meta has “always focused on making our products affordable and accessible for everyone.” Usage supports the strategy. After Meta rebuilt its assistant around the Muse models, the number of people using it each day rose 60%.</p>
<h2>Alphabet Shipped a Strong Model and Still Lost the Day</h2>
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data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/googl/"
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<p>Gemini 4 Argon posted strong test in coding and cyber. Even so, Alphabet shares fell 1.43% on Oct 1 after the launch. Over the past month, Meta rose 27.07%, from $571.93 to $726.78. Alphabet slipped 0.07% over the same stretch.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="GOOGL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-googl/full?v=39ad30199645" alt="GOOGL price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>Alphabet’s own numbers are big. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the Gemini app has 950 million monthly active users, and Google has built its consumer AI business around paid levels:</p>
<blockquote><p>“This was our strongest quarter ever for our consumer AI plans, driven by the Gemini App. Overall the number of paid subscriptions has now reached 350 million.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Sigalos said she expects some kind of public Spark launch “in the next few weeks.”</p>
<h2>Microsoft Shows What the Paid Route Earns</h2>
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<p><strong>Microsoft</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MSFT/">NASDAQ:MSFT</a>) is the clearest example of billing for AI up front. Microsoft 365 Copilot has passed 30 million paid seats. CEO Satya Nadella said:</p>
<blockquote><p>“This year, Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Meta’s free approach costs money now and pays off later, if at all. Q2 capex reached $30.12B, free cash flow fell to $784M, and EPS of $6.18 missed the $7.22 consensus estimate.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="META" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-meta/full?v=1426719a30ea" alt="META earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Agents That Move Money Put Google Search at Risk</h2>
<p>JPMorgan warned that agents taking over shopping and travel could cut Google Search out entirely. The bank also said Google keeps shipping AI products without a breakout consumer hit. Search and other revenue was $63.27B in Q2, so a lot of money is exposed.</p>
<p>Investors are already responding. Jim Cramer said that since Muse launched, a gym operator has fallen more than 18%, <strong>Booking Holdings</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BKNG/">NASDAQ:BKNG</a>) is down 10%, and <strong>Expedia</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/EXPE/">NASDAQ:EXPE</a>) is down 3%.</p>
<p>Three things matter next: when Spark reaches the public, whether Muse transaction fees show up in Meta’s Q3 results against guidance of $61-$64B, and whether search queries keep growing as agents start booking trips.</p>
<h2>Data Sources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/10/01/alphabet-shares-slide-as-gemini-4-launch-disappoints-the-street.html">CNBC: Alphabet slides on Gemini 4 agent gap</a>: Muse download estimate, Spark paywall details, JPMorgan’s warning, and Sigalos’s launch schedule.</li>
</ul>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/zuckerbergs-free-ai-agent-hit-5-million-downloads-and-google-still-has-its-own-locked-behind-a-paywall/">Zuckerberg’s Free AI Agent Hit 5 Million Downloads And Google Still Has Its Own Locked Behind A Paywall</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672286">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Forget IWM: This Screened Small-Cap Fund Beat It Year to Date, Over One Year and Over Five Years</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-iwm-this-screened-small-cap-fund-beat-it-year-to-date-over-one-year-and-over-five-years/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:03:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671674&preview=true&preview_id=1671674</guid>
<description><![CDATA[IWM owns every small cap the Russell 2000 will take, profitable or not, and that open-door policy has a measurable cost that most investors never calculate before buying in.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-iwm-this-screened-small-cap-fund-beat-it-year-to-date-over-one-year-and-over-five-years/">Forget IWM: This Screened Small-Cap Fund Beat It Year to Date, Over One Year and Over Five Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671674">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Most investors who own small caps own them through the <strong>iShares Russell 2000 ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IWM/">NYSEARCA:IWM</a>). The appeal is simplicity. The fund buys the entire Russell 2000 at a low cost and accepts whatever the index contains, including companies with heavy debt and no earnings. A screened alternative, the <strong>Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AVUV/">NYSEARCA:AVUV</a>), filters that universe toward cheaper and more profitable businesses, and it has outpaced IWM year-to-date, over one year, and over five years. The figures below are based on quotes from September 30, 2026.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Period (price change)</th>
<th>AVUV</th>
<th>IWM</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Year-to-date</td>
<td>17.04%</td>
<td>13.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>One year</td>
<td>20.03%</td>
<td>15.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Five years</td>
<td>70.34%</td>
<td>27.57%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br />
</p>
<h2>What the Screen Strips Out of Your Small-Cap Portfolio</h2>
<p>The Russell 2000 is market-cap weighted with no profitability or valuation screen. Any company that meets the size rules gets in, so IWM owners hold unprofitable and heavily indebted small companies alongside durable ones. Small firms fail more often than large ones, and an index that owns everything carries that drag by design.</p>
<p>AVUV starts from the same broad universe and tilts it. Its actively managed, systematic process favors smaller, cheaper, and more profitable companies. Expensive, money-losing stocks get cut or reduced. The result is a much tighter portfolio of approximately 795 stocks, while IWM remains far broader. For an IWM holder, the mechanism is plain. Profitable companies bought at low valuations have more earnings cushion when conditions turn, and the five-year window shows the widest difference between the two funds.</p>
<p><br />
</p>
<h2>AVUV Charges More and Must Keep Earning It</h2>
<p>IWM’s expense ratio is 0.19%, per its prospectus dated July 31, 2026. AVUV’s is 0.25%. AVUV is the more expensive fund, and that fee comes out every year regardless of results. The screen has to keep beating the index by enough to cover the higher cost, and nothing guarantees it will. Value tilts can lag for long periods, particularly in growth-led rallies when fast-growing, unprofitable small caps lead.</p>
<h2>September’s Selloff Hit Both Funds Almost Equally</h2>
<p>Small caps have come under pressure, with CNBC reporting on September 24 that a bond liquidation was hammering the group. AVUV fell 2.79% over the past week and 5.54% over the past month. IWM dropped 2.84% and 5.64% over the same windows. Those declines are nearly identical. When the whole asset class derates, a value and profitability screen offers little shelter, and AVUV holders should expect to absorb broad small-cap selloffs in full.</p>
<h2>Tax Consequences of Moving From IWM to AVUV</h2>
<p>Inside an IRA or 401(k), trading IWM for AVUV creates no immediate tax bill, so the decision rests on strategy alone. In a taxable account, selling IWM at a gain triggers capital gains tax, and long-held shares likely carry healthy gains after a 124.67% ten-year price rise. An easier path is directing new contributions to AVUV while leaving existing IWM shares alone, or selling the lots with the smallest gains first. Holders sitting on losses can harvest them and move into AVUV, since the funds follow different strategies, though a tax professional should confirm <a title="He Sold Nothing in the 2022 Crash. He Swapped Into a Similar Fund for a Week, Booked $90,000 of Losses, and Hasn't Paid Capital-Gains Tax Since." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/22/he-sold-nothing-in-the-2022-crash-he-swapped-into-a-similar-fund-for-a-week-booked-90000-of-losses-and-hasnt-paid-capital-gains-tax-since/">wash-sale treatment</a>.</p>
<h2>Which Small-Cap Fund Fits Different Investor Goals</h2>
<p>Those who want the small-cap asset class with no opinion attached have a sound reason to keep IWM and pay less for it. Investors who believe the value and profitability tilt is durable have a sound reason to pay more for AVUV, and the performance record supports that view. For long-horizon investors who can tolerate periods of underperformance, AVUV’s record makes it worth researching as a core small-cap holding. Individual tax situations and time horizons shape how that research applies. A sustained return of growth-led small-cap leadership would likely change that assessment.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/forget-iwm-this-screened-small-cap-fund-beat-it-year-to-date-over-one-year-and-over-five-years/">Forget IWM: This Screened Small-Cap Fund Beat It Year to Date, Over One Year and Over Five Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671674">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to Build $5,750 a Month in Dividend Income for Life</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-5750-a-month-in-dividend-income-for-life/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:59:57 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671844&preview=true&preview_id=1671844</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The yield you chase determines whether your dividend income grows faster than inflation or quietly loses ground every year, and the gap between getting it right and getting it wrong runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars of required capital.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-5750-a-month-in-dividend-income-for-life/">How to Build $5,750 a Month in Dividend Income for Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671844">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Monthly income of $5,750 totals $69,000 per year. That covers a comfortable retirement budget in much of the country. Social Security and pension income could then go toward travel, healthcare, or savings. One equation shows it: divide your income target by your yield to find the capital you need. The yield you choose sets how much money you need and how long the income keeps up with inflation.</p>
<h2>Three Yield Tiers and the Capital Each Requires</h2>
<h3>Conservative Tier: 3% to 4%</h3>
<p>A 3.5% yield on $69,000 means dividing by 0.035, which equals about $1,971,000. <a title="3 Dividend Growth ETFs That Offer Good Yields And Long-Term Gains" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/11/21/3-dividend-growth-etfs-that-offer-good-yields-and-long-term-gains/">dividend growth funds</a> and broad-market dividend portfolios make up this level. <strong>Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SCHD/">NYSEARCA:SCHD</a>) yields about 3.3% on its forward payout. <strong>iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DGRO/">NYSEARCA:DGRO</a>) yields closer to 2.0% and charges a 0.08% expense ratio.</p>
<p>You need the most capital upfront, but in return, you get broad diversification, compounding dividends, and the best chance of growing your principal.</p>
<h3>Moderate Tier: 5% to 7%</h3>
<p>At 6%, $69,000 divided by 0.06 equals $1,150,000, which is why REITs, preferred shares, covered call funds, and high-dividend equity funds live here. <strong>NNN REIT</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NNN/">NYSE:NNN</a>) yields about 6.0%. It recently delivered its 37th consecutive annual dividend increase, with portfolio occupancy at 99%.</p>
<p>Dividend growth is slower, though. <a title="Should I go all in on JEPQ and live off the dividends - what are the risks?" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/06/25/should-i-go-all-in-on-jepq-and-live-off-the-dividends-what-are-the-risks/">Covered call strategies</a> also cap upside, so over decades the income can fall behind inflation.</p>
<h3>Aggressive Tier: 8% to 14%</h3>
<p>Jump up to a 10% yield: $69,000 divided by 0.10 equals $690,000. Business development companies, mortgage REITs, leveraged covered call funds, and <a title="This high yield bond fund just hit a sweet spot, but timing matters" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/04/18/this-high-yield-bond-fund-just-hit-a-sweet-spot-but-timing-matters/">high-yield bond funds</a> fill this level. <strong>Main Street Capital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MAIN/">NYSE:MAIN</a>) yields about 7.8% including supplemental dividends and 5.8% on regular monthly payments alone. Non-accruals (loans that have stopped paying interest) sit at 1% of the portfolio at fair value.</p>
<p>At this level, distributions can be cut, and principal often declines. In many cases, investors are spending down the asset rather than living off its growth.</p>
<h2>A Six-Fund Mix That Lands Near $69,000</h2>
<p>A blended portfolio spreads the trade-offs across all three levels. The mix below includes <strong>JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JEPQ/">NASDAQ:JEPQ</a>), a covered call fund built on large-cap tech. It also includes <strong>Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JAAA/">NYSEARCA:JAAA</a>), which holds AAA-rated slices of <a title="The CLO ETF State Street Spotlighted as 2026's Yield Frontier" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/05/the-clo-etf-state-street-spotlighted-as-2026s-yield-frontier/">collateralized loan obligations</a>. For those two funds, the table uses hypothetical yields of 10% and 5% for illustration; check current distributions.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Fund</th>
<th>Allocation</th>
<th>Yield</th>
<th>Position</th>
<th>Annual Income</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SCHD</td>
<td>25%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>$311,000</td>
<td>$10,123</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DGRO</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>$186,600</td>
<td>$3,794</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JEPQ</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td>10% (typical)</td>
<td>$248,800</td>
<td>$24,880</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NNN</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>6.0%</td>
<td>$186,600</td>
<td>$11,125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MAIN</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>7.8%</td>
<td>$124,400</td>
<td>$9,743</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JAAA</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>5% (typical)</td>
<td>$186,600</td>
<td>$9,330</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The blend yields about 5.5%, so the target takes roughly $1,244,000. That is less capital than the all-conservative path. The cost is that JEPQ and JAAA supply income with little built-in growth, and JAAA’s floating-rate payouts also fall when short-term rates fall. The whole appeal of a mix like this is living off the checks without selling the shares, which is exactly what our <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/never-touch-the-principal-offer-d84e53e1.html">free dividend ladder guide</a> walks through step by step.</p>
<div id="calculator-6abf71e87b074"
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data-calculator-type="withdrawal-rate"
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<h2>Why the Smallest Yield Can Pay the Most Later</h2>
<p>Imagine a $1,971,000 portfolio paying 3.5%, with dividends growing 8% a year. After nine years, the $69,000 starting income rises to about $137,900. A 10% fund with flat payouts still sends $69,000, and inflation reduces its buying power every year.</p>
<p>Two of the holdings have raised their payouts over time. NNN’s quarterly dividend rose from $0.50 in 2018 to $0.62. Main Street’s regular monthly payment climbed from $0.24 in 2024 to $0.265.</p>
<h2>Three Steps Before You Commit Capital</h2>
<ol>
<li>Total your actual annual spending instead of using your old salary. If your real need is $55,000, what you must invest at a 5.5% blend drops in proportion.</li>
<li>Split recurring income from bonus income. Main Street’s $0.30 quarterly supplemental can change, so budget around the regular monthly payment and treat the rest as extra.</li>
<li>Look at taxes by account type. REIT, BDC, and CLO income is mostly taxed as ordinary income, while SCHD and DGRO pay mostly qualified dividends. Holding the higher-yield funds in IRAs can keep more of the $5,750 in your pocket.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=843b4e52-3bd9-4238-8180-faf40ccb9a9f&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671844&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-5750-a-month-in-dividend-income-for-life/">How to Build $5,750 a Month in Dividend Income for Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671844">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>LeBron James Has a Fix for Nike as It Heads Into Its Worst Year Since Jordan Retired</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/lebron-james-has-a-fix-for-nike-as-it-heads-into-its-worst-year-since-jordan-retired/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:40:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672290&preview=true&preview_id=1672290</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nike is staring down its worst stock performance in decades while rivals steal its customers and its own earnings hide a financial lifeline most investors missed. LeBron James thinks he knows exactly where the brand went wrong.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/lebron-james-has-a-fix-for-nike-as-it-heads-into-its-worst-year-since-jordan-retired/">LeBron James Has a Fix for Nike as It Heads Into Its Worst Year Since Jordan Retired</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672290">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>LeBron James still moves money for whoever he plays for. After he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, the team’s ticket sales on <strong>StubHub</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/STUB/">NYSE:STUB</a>) jumped 585%, and the Sixers drew 38% of all NBA ticket search traffic. <strong>Nike</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NKE/">NYSE:NKE</a>) has paid him since 2003, and it heads into tonight’s earnings report in much worse shape.</p>
<p>Nike traded at $35.09 late Thursday. That leaves the stock down 43.46% year to date and 48.01% over the past 12 months. CNBC reported that Nike is on track for its worst year since 1993, the year Michael Jordan first retired.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-nke/full?v=bee68cdd04c2" alt="NKE price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>LeBron’s Fix Goes Straight to What Nike Lost</h2>
<p>At the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit on July 16, Boardroom’s Rich Kleiman asked James how Nike could recover:</p>
<blockquote><p>“You’ve got to get back into the roots. You’ve got to get back to being out in the inner city, having runners. When I was coming up, you had people who were literally out in the communities talking to these younger generations, asking them what they like, what they don’t like.”</p></blockquote>
<p>He ended with a warning:</p>
<blockquote><p>“It was such a cool factor. So we can’t lose our cool.”</p></blockquote>
<p>On Thursday, CNBC paired the clip with Wharton marketing professor Americus Reed, who argued that Nike leaned too hard on direct-to-consumer channels and celebrity deals while letting community relationships slip. A sellout shoe is a transaction; loyalty is separate. Pulling back from retail stores removed the emotion and storytelling that build deeper bonds with shoppers. Reed’s point: a brand “has to live and breathe within the community.”</p>
<h2>Nike’s Recent Profits Lean on a Tariff Refund</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e87bfaa"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="NKE"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/NKE?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div>
<p>In its June 30 report, Nike posted revenue of $10.97 billion, down 1.1% from a year earlier. Diluted EPS came in at $0.72, but $0.52 of that came from a $986 million tariff-recovery benefit. Without the refund, full-year EPS would have been $1.58. Digital sales fell 12%, Greater China dropped 17% on a currency-neutral basis, and Converse sank 32%.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-nke/full?v=2d6927f9ca1c" alt="NKE earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>CEO Elliott Hill named the weakest spots:</p>
<blockquote><p>“We know we’re not living up to our full potential, particularly in Nike Sportswear and Jordan Streetwear, where sell-through remains challenged.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Sportswear and Jordan Streetwear make up about half of Nike’s revenue. Running is strongest, with five consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. Hill: “When we lead with sport, we win.”</p>
<h2>Rivals Reed Named Are Taking Share</h2>
<p>Reed singled out Hoka and <strong>On Holding</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ONON/">NYSE:ONON</a>) as the brands winning shoppers’ attention. On Holding grew Q2 2026 revenue 13.49%, or 21.6% in constant currency. Its gross margin reached 65.4%, and direct sales rose 26.0%. On Holding also signed Kylian Mbappé away from Nike as it moves into soccer. Co-CEO David Allemann described the strategy:</p>
<blockquote><p>“We are proving that a brand can achieve global scale without compromising its premium brand positioning.”</p></blockquote>
<p>At <strong>Deckers Outdoor</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DECK/">NYSE:DECK</a>), Hoka’s net sales rose 7.7% to $703.50 million, and gross margin came in at 56.4%. Nike’s full-year gross margin, excluding the tariff benefit, was 40.8%.</p>
<h2>What to Watch After the Bell</h2>
<p>Management guided for revenue to fall by a low to mid-single digits percentage. CFO Matt Friend said “profitability will bottom before sales” in China. Analysts are conservative: 25 rate the stock a hold, with a $45.63 price target. Watch whether sell-through improves in Sportswear and Jordan, and whether running’s momentum spreads to basketball. Hill warned that “progress will continue to be uneven.”</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-nke/full?v=21de48ac2d30" alt="NKE analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Data Sources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/10/01/whartonas-americus-reed-on-nike-the-brand-is-something-that-has-to-live-and-breathe-within-the-community.html">CNBC: Wharton’s Americus Reed on Nike</a>: Reed’s view on transactions versus loyalty, the effect of direct-to-consumer, and the worst-year-since-1993 comparison.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=2970cc9d-faf1-439a-967c-38fe74dc4e38&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672290&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=2970cc9d-faf1-439a-967c-38fe74dc4e38&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672290&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/lebron-james-has-a-fix-for-nike-as-it-heads-into-its-worst-year-since-jordan-retired/">LeBron James Has a Fix for Nike as It Heads Into Its Worst Year Since Jordan Retired</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672290">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Still 7 Years From Retirement With $600,000 Saved? A Bad Market Right Before You Stop Working Is the Costliest One. These 3 ETFs Lower the Stakes Early</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/still-7-years-from-retirement-with-600000-saved-a-bad-market-right-before-you-stop-working-is-the-costliest-one-these-3-etfs-lower-the-stakes-early/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryne Mauck]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:01:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671667&preview=true&preview_id=1671667</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The years just before retirement are the most financially dangerous of your life, and a bad market in that window can cause damage that no recovery will ever fully undo. Three ETFs can change how much you have at stake before the next selloff arrives.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/still-7-years-from-retirement-with-600000-saved-a-bad-market-right-before-you-stop-working-is-the-costliest-one-these-3-etfs-lower-the-stakes-early/">Still 7 Years From Retirement With $600,000 Saved? A Bad Market Right Before You Stop Working Is the Costliest One. These 3 ETFs Lower the Stakes Early</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671667">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>You are 7 years from retirement with $600,000 saved. The years just before and after your last paycheck form the most dangerous stretch of an investing life. To lower the stakes, consider three funds: the <strong>Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VIG/">NYSEARCA:VIG</a>), the <strong>iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AGG/">NYSEARCA:AGG</a>), and the <strong>iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/USMV/">CBOE:USMV</a>).</p>
<h2>Why a Decline Now Costs More Than One at 40</h2>
<p>Earlier in your career, a market drop repairs itself through time and ongoing contributions, since time lets prices recover and contributions buy shares at lower prices. Both advantages fade as retirement approaches. Your balance is the largest it will ever be, so the same percentage decline wipes out more dollars, and with contributions stopped, no fresh money arrives to buy cheaper shares. Once withdrawals begin, you sell shares at low prices, and those shares are gone before recovery arrives.</p>
<p>Planners call this <a title="A Market Drop at 67 Does Twice the Damage of One at 57. Here's the Math, and the Buffer That Blunts It." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/04/a-market-drop-at-67-does-twice-the-damage-of-one-at-57-heres-the-math-and-the-buffer-that-blunts-it/">sequence-of-returns risk</a>. Volatility has already risen this year. The VIX, Wall Street’s fear gauge, hit 31.05 on March 27, 2026, a high-fear reading, before falling to 16.04 as of September 29.</p>
<h2>Start a Glide Now, Before the Market Picks Your Exit</h2>
<p>Cutting risk in advance is a calm decision. Cutting it during a drop is a decision the market makes for you, locking the loss in. The move works best over several years. It is a gradual glide, the same defense we mapped out in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/the-first-five-years-offer-dcdbf21f.html">free guide to the first five years of retirement</a>.</p>
<p>Lowering stakes still means owning stocks. Your horizon runs decades past retirement, and a portfolio stripped of growth fails slowly as inflation erodes purchasing power. The right stock-to-bond mix depends on your pension, Social Security timing, spending, and health.</p>
<h2>VIG Keeps You in Stocks With Steadier Companies</h2>
<p>VIG tracks U.S. companies with a record of growing dividends. Companies that keep raising payouts tend to have durable cash flow, which changes the character of your stock exposure without pulling you out of the market.</p>
<p>Assets under management total about $130.9 billion. Its largest positions as of July 31, 2026, were Broadcom at 4.63%, Apple at 4.45%, Microsoft at 4.34%, and JPMorgan Chase at 4.07%.</p>
<p>It pays quarterly, totaling $3.6461 per share over the trailing 12 months, and its March payment rose to $0.8334 in 2026 from $0.459 in 2015. On an adjusted basis, shares gained 11.17% over the past year and 67.51% over five years. They also slipped 3.04% over the past month, a reminder that this is still a stock fund.</p>
<h2>AGG Supplies the Ballast You Skipped a Decade Ago</h2>
<p>AGG tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a broad basket of U.S. investment-grade bonds. A bond allocation gives you something to draw on while stocks recover, avoiding the need to sell equities near a low. Its 0.03% expense ratio lets you keep nearly all of your returns.</p>
<p>Bonds carry their own risk. Rising rates push existing bond prices lower. The <a title="The 10-Year Yield Is 2 Basis Points From Its 2007 Peak. One More Push Takes It Back to 2002" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/">10-year Treasury yield</a> reached 5.24% as of September 28, up 0.51% from a month earlier, and AGG fell 2.86% over the past month and 2.95% year-to-date on an adjusted basis. Higher yields mean newly issued bonds pay more.</p>
<h2>USMV Targets Smaller Drops in a Selloff</h2>
<p>USMV tracks the <a title="USMV's Minimum Volatility Promise Got Trounced By the S&P 500. Wait for Redemption or Run?" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/26/usmvs-minimum-volatility-promise-got-trounced-by-the-sp-500-wait-for-redemption-or-run/">MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index</a>, built to deliver U.S. stock exposure with lower volatility. It holds about $23.6 billion in net assets, with top positions including Microsoft at 1.62%, Amphenol at 1.58%, and Welltower at 1.57%. That said, it still owns NVIDIA, Apple, and Broadcom, so technology risk remains.</p>
<p>The design aims for smaller swings and drawdowns. USMV dropped 3.46% over the past month. Over five years it gained 44.49%, trailing VIG’s 67.51%, as lower-volatility strategies can lag in strong rallies.</p>
<h2>Trade-Offs to Weigh Before You Adjust</h2>
<p>Each fund can lose money. VIG and USMV move with the stock market, and AGG loses value when rates climb, so the combined return is a smaller range of outcomes, with less upside in a bull market.</p>
<p>For a saver 7 years out with $600,000 on the line, that trade is the point. Dividend growers keep you invested, bonds give you something to draw on in a slump, and a minimum volatility allocation reduces the swings. Start the transition now, while the decision is still yours.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/still-7-years-from-retirement-with-600000-saved-a-bad-market-right-before-you-stop-working-is-the-costliest-one-these-3-etfs-lower-the-stakes-early/">Still 7 Years From Retirement With $600,000 Saved? A Bad Market Right Before You Stop Working Is the Costliest One. These 3 ETFs Lower the Stakes Early</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671667">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>She’ll Retire in Florida With $150,000. Then the State’s Condo Crisis Will Hand Her a $3,600-a-Month Job in Her Own Building</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/savings-accounts/2026/10/01/shell-retire-in-florida-with-150000-then-the-states-condo-crisis-will-hand-her-a-3600-a-month-job-in-her-own-building/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:35:47 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Savings Accounts]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671334&preview=true&preview_id=1671334</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A paid-off condo near the Gulf sounded like the finish line, but a single letter from the association board turned her retirement plan into something closer to a second career. Florida's condo crisis is forcing owners in older buildings to make a choice most never saw coming.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/savings-accounts/2026/10/01/shell-retire-in-florida-with-150000-then-the-states-condo-crisis-will-hand-her-a-3600-a-month-job-in-her-own-building/">She’ll Retire in Florida With $150,000. Then the State’s Condo Crisis Will Hand Her a $3,600-a-Month Job in Her Own Building</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671334">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Picture a 65-year-old widow. She sells her house up north, buys a paid-off two-bedroom condo in an older building near the Gulf, and keeps $150,000 in an IRA alongside her Social Security check. Two years later, the association board mails a notice. Regular dues plus payments on a special assessment for concrete repairs and newly required reserves now total $3,600 a month.</p>
<p>That bill is the size of a paycheck. To keep her home, she effectively needs a job whose entire purpose is funding her building, and Florida condo owners in older buildings are working through some version of this decision right now.</p>
<h2>Why Florida Condo Owners Are Suddenly Paying for Decades of Delay</h2>
<p>After the 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida lawmakers required milestone structural inspections for older multistory condo buildings and structural integrity reserve studies. They also ended the long-standing practice of letting owners vote to waive reserve funding for major structural components like roofs, load-bearing walls, and foundations.</p>
<p>Many associations had kept dues low for years by skipping those reserves. The new rules pushed that deferred bill onto whoever owns the units today, often in the form of large <a title="The Retirees Who Left Florida for Good Say the Bill That Broke Them Was Not the One They Feared" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/21/the-retirees-who-left-florida-for-good-say-the-bill-that-broke-them-was-not-the-one-they-feared/">special assessments</a> or sharply higher monthly dues.</p>
<h2>Florida Costs More Than Its Tax Reputation Suggests</h2>
<p>Florida earns its retiree-friendly image on taxes. It ranks 4th overall on the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index and 1st on individual income tax. Its income-adjusted state and local tax burden of $5,110 per person sits among the lowest in the country.</p>
<p>Everyday costs tell a different story. <a title="The Hidden Costs of The Villages Start With the Golf Cart and Never Really Stop" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/01/the-hidden-costs-of-the-villages-start-with-the-golf-cart-and-never-really-stop/">Florida’s cost-of-living index</a> is 103, above the national benchmark of 100 and higher than Georgia at 96 or Tennessee at 92. Tax rankings also leave out condo dues and insurance, which is exactly where her budget is breaking.</p>
<h2>One Question Decides Whether She Can Stay</h2>
<p>Everything depends on whether her guaranteed income can cover the new housing cost without touching principal. If Social Security alone can’t carry the $3,600, the IRA has to, and a bill that size would consume the whole account within a few years.</p>
<p>Her cushion is thin to begin with. Fidelity puts the average 401(k) balance for savers aged 65 to 69 at $251,400, and Northwestern Mutual’s survey respondents said they need $1.26 million to retire comfortably. Already, 51% of Americans think they are likely to outlive their savings.</p>
<div class="fwp-generic-chart-container" data-chart-type="bar" data-height="350" data-chart-data="{"labels":["Her IRA ($150K)","Avg 401(k), age 65-69","Amount Americans say they need"],"datasets":[{"label":"Retirement Savings (USD)","data":[150000,251400,1260000],"backgroundColor":["#FF6384","#36A2EB","#4BC0C0"]}]}" data-chart-options="{"plugins":{"title":{"display":true,"text":"Her Nest Egg vs. Typical Benchmarks"},"legend":{"display":false}},"scales":{"y":{"beginAtZero":true,"title":{"display":true,"text":"USD"}}}}"></div>
<p>Taxes make the IRA path worse. Florida collects no income tax, but every traditional IRA dollar is federally taxable. Pulling a lump sum to pay an assessment can push a single year’s income into a higher federal bracket, reducing what actually reaches the association. (The quiet years before required withdrawals begin are usually the best window to reshape a pre-tax balance. That is the whole subject of our <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/roth-window-offer-4b96044f.html">free Roth conversion guide</a>.)</p>
<h2>Path One: Keep the Unit and Earn the Difference</h2>
<p>Staying can work under three conditions. The assessment has a fixed end date, usually because the association financed repairs with a loan, and the building will be fully funded and marketable once repairs finish. And she is healthy enough to take steady part-time work for the full repayment period.</p>
<p>She would be working in retirement to cover her building’s past neglect, with no guarantee the unit’s resale value recovers, since many buyers avoid buildings with open assessments.</p>
<h2>Path Two: Sell, Rent, and Protect the $150,000</h2>
<p>For most retirees in her position, this is the stronger choice because selling converts an open-ended liability into a known number. Renting replaces surprise assessments with a predictable monthly cost she can match against Social Security.</p>
<p>She may take a lower sale price, because buyers will discount for the assessment. Accepting that loss still beats spending her only liquid savings on repairs and reserves. Relocating is another option: Tennessee also ranks 1st on individual income tax and carries a lower cost-of-living index than Florida.</p>
<h2>What to Check Before This Bill Reaches Your Mailbox</h2>
<ol>
<li>Get the building’s paperwork first. Request the structural integrity reserve study, the milestone inspection report, and the current reserve balance. If reserves look underfunded, assume an assessment is coming and price it into any decision to buy or stay.</li>
<li>Avoid draining the IRA in one tax year. The priciest mistake is a large single withdrawal to pay an assessment, which creates a federal tax bill and leaves nothing for health costs later. If pre-tax money must cover the bill, a CPA who can spread withdrawals across tax years or line them up with an association payment plan can save real dollars.</li>
</ol>
<p>If her Social Security can’t cover the new dues on its own, keeping the condo only delays the same decision while the savings reducing. Selling early preserves both the money and her options.</p>
<div>
<h2>Switching Takes Five Minutes and Three Things</h2>
<p>Opening a high-yield savings account requires about five minutes, your Social Security number, a driver’s license, and the account number you’re funding from — that’s the whole job. The only real decision is which bank, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671334&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b">FinanceBuzz’s comparison of today’s top-rated accounts</a> makes that part quick: current APYs, minimums, and any cash bonuses for new deposits, all FDIC-insured, all on one page. Keep in mind these rates are variable — they follow the market, and today’s are well above the national average. Your money starts earning the higher rate the day it arrives, not the day you get around to it. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671334&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b"><strong>Compare the current top accounts here.</strong></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/savings-accounts/2026/10/01/shell-retire-in-florida-with-150000-then-the-states-condo-crisis-will-hand-her-a-3600-a-month-job-in-her-own-building/">She’ll Retire in Florida With $150,000. Then the State’s Condo Crisis Will Hand Her a $3,600-a-Month Job in Her Own Building</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671334">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Hits Testnet October 6: Will It Influence ETH Price?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-hits-testnet-october-6-will-it-influence-eth-price/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:30:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671311&preview=true&preview_id=1671311</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade arrives on the Sepolia testnet October 6, but ETH sits nearly 45% below its all-time high and traders are split on whether a test run can move real money.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-hits-testnet-october-6-will-it-influence-eth-price/">Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Hits Testnet October 6: Will It Influence ETH Price?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671311">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) developers have announced that the Glamsterdam upgrade is set to activate on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, 2026. While this test network is used for experiments where the tokens hold no real value, the timeline for the main network launch remains uncertain. As the Glamsterdam upgrade gears up for testing, many ETH holders are left wondering if this rehearsal can positively affect the coin’s price.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Currently, ETH is trading at $2,706 as of October 1, which is about 45% lower than its peak of $4,946 on August 24, 2025. With this scheduled upgrade, ETH buyers are questioning whether they should expect an increase in price or if traders are simply interpreting the developer schedule as a signal to buy.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Glamsterdam Reaches the Sepolia Testnet on October 6, With No Mainnet Date</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400"><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2431261001-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A person, seen from the back, wearing a white shirt, sits at a white desk. They are holding a piece of paper with handwritten financial charts and looking towards multiple screens. The main monitor, a laptop, a smartphone on a stand, and a tablet all display complex stock market graphs and data against dark backgrounds. A black keyboard and mouse are also visible on the desk." width="1500" height="998" data-caption="An investor meticulously examines financial charts on multiple screens and a physical document, illustrating the intense scrutiny required to navigate dynamic market shifts discussed by experts like Craig Johnson." data-id="1593513" /></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The Glamsterdam upgrade is a hard fork, meaning it represents a major change to the software that every node—every computer running Ethereum’s software—must adopt simultaneously. If any node chooses not to implement this upgrade, it will stop following the main Ethereum chain. Consequently, developers first test each fork on networks like Sepolia, where no actual user funds are at risk.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The Sepolia test also includes a gas limit target of 200 million. Gas measures the computational effort required for transactions, while the gas limit determines how much can fit into a single block. Increasing the gas limit can allow more transactions per block, which could lead to lower fees when network activity is high.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, </span><span style="font-weight: 400"><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">the upgrade schedule has been <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-slipped-again-sepolia-now-targets-october-6/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delayed in the past</a>, and developers will announce a mainnet date only after</span> the test run completes successfully. Therefore, while October 6 marks an important date for testing, it does not signify a mainnet launch.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Traders Have Watched Glamsterdam for Months, So the Test Date Adds Little</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2200894185-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Stock Market Trader Working Investment Charts, Graphs, Ticker, Diagrams Projected on His Face and Reflecting in Glasses. Financial Analyst and Digital Businessman Selling Shorts and Buying Longs" width="1500" height="843" data-caption="" data-id="1591940" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum developers plan their upgrades through public forums and release details well in advance, making it easy for traders to stay informed. By the time the testnet goes live, interested traders have likely already adjusted their positions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In September, ETH experienced fluctuations even before any code related to Glamsterdam was activated. The coin traded between $2,355 and $2,807 throughout the month as the crypto market began to recover from </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/06/bitcoin-has-fallen-3-straight-quarters-the-historic-pattern-points-to-a-potential-rebound/"><span style="font-weight: 400">three consecutive quarters of losses</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. A trader who invested $1,000 in ETH at its September low would now have about $1,149 at $2,706—this gain reflects broader market trends rather than the expected impact of the upgrade.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">ETH Needs Users and New Money After Mainnet Before Glamsterdam Moves Its Price</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2292254351-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A man in a white collared shirt and brown tie is shown from the chest up, holding a smartphone to his right ear and looking slightly upwards to the right with a thoughtful expression. He has dark hair. The background is a blurred, dark digital display featuring glowing green and red stock market bar charts and scattered financial numbers. Overlaid on the right side of the image are several glowing, interconnected hexagonal icons. The central hexagon prominently displays 'ETF' with 'Exchange Traded Funds' below it. Other hexagons contain symbols like a dollar sign, a hand holding money, an upward-trending bar chart, a circular arrow with a dollar bill, a lightbulb with a checkmark, and a 45% dial." width="1500" height="843" data-caption="A focused investor engages in a critical discussion, set against a backdrop of fluctuating market data and ETF indicators, symbolizing the strategic decisions that shape investment trends." data-id="1597214" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Any meaningful price movement from the Glamsterdam upgrade will depend on the mainnet launch and subsequent user engagement. First, applications and users must utilize the expanded block space, followed by lower fees reaching everyday users. Finally, new buyers will need to enter the market as the network becomes increasingly functional.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">It’s important to note that a spike in transaction volume may not necessarily indicate genuine user interest. Increased activity could be driven by automated trading bots and spam, clouding the real picture until data can distinguish genuine users from bots. Additionally, much </span><span style="font-weight: 400"><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">ETH buying occurs on exchanges or through <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/09/ethereum-etfs-just-posted-a-24-million-outflow-after-an-824-million-week-is-the-streak-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spot Ether ETFs</a>, making it easier to track demand through fund flows than by </span>relying solely on chain activity.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Will the Glamsterdam Upgrade Move ETH’s Price?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In summary, the activation of the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Sepolia testnet on October 6 is unlikely to have a lasting impact on ETH’s price. The test takes place on a network where coins have no real value, the date for the mainnet has not yet been set, and traders have been monitoring Glamsterdam closely for months.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, there is an inherent risk: if the Sepolia test faces issues, it could delay the mainnet launch further.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">If developers confirm a solid mainnet date after a successful test, the Glamsterdam upgrade could become a significant event that affects real stakes. If ETH were to rise above $2,807—a roughly 4% increase—and maintain that level with consistent </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-etfs-which-has-more-room-to-grow-in-2026/"><span style="font-weight: 400">ETF inflows</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> post-mainnet, it could signal a new wave of interest driven by the improved utility of the network.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-hits-testnet-october-6-will-it-influence-eth-price/">Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Hits Testnet October 6: Will It Influence ETH Price?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671311">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Bitcoin Doesn’t Pay Dividends, So How Is This ETF Yielding 25%?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/bitcoin-doesnt-pay-dividends-so-how-is-this-etf-yielding-25/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tony Dong]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:24:30 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1666462</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bitcoin pays no dividends, coupons, or rents, yet one ETF is distributing cash to investors at a rate that rivals high-yield bonds and dividend stocks combined. The mechanism behind it reveals something uncomfortable about what income investors might actually be giving up.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/bitcoin-doesnt-pay-dividends-so-how-is-this-etf-yielding-25/">Bitcoin Doesn’t Pay Dividends, So How Is This ETF Yielding 25%?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1666462">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>There are no earnings, dividends, coupons, rents, or contractual cash flows attached to holding a bitcoin. Your investment return ultimately depends on what someone is willing to pay for the asset in the future. That’s not necessarily an argument against owning it.</p>
<p>Bitcoin’s investment thesis rests on different characteristics, including its fixed issuance schedule, decentralized network, global liquidity, and potential role as a scarce digital asset. But if you’re a retiree or income investor who actually wants regular cash distributions, simply holding Bitcoin doesn’t provide them.</p>
<p>Its extreme volatility, however, creates another possibility. Options on Bitcoin exposure can command substantial premiums precisely because the underlying asset moves around so much. The <strong>NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI)</strong> attempts to monetize that volatility, producing a current distribution rate of 25.61%.</p>
<h2>How BTCI Turns Bitcoin Volatility Into Income</h2>
<p>BTCI obtains its underlying Bitcoin exposure primarily through spot Bitcoin ETFs rather than holding Bitcoin directly. On top of those holdings, NEOS runs an actively managed options strategy. The fund can write options on spot Bitcoin ETFs as well as options tied to the Cboe Bitcoin U.S. ETF Index, or CBTX.</p>
<p>That’s an important part of the structure because BTCI isn’t limited to mechanically writing covered calls against one Bitcoin ETF. The managers can sell and purchase both calls and puts, allowing them to construct multi-leg option positions. Selling options brings premium into the portfolio, while purchased options can alter the strategy’s exposure beyond particular strike prices or help manage the risks created by its short options.</p>
<p>Bitcoin is particularly suited to generating large option premiums because implied volatility tends to be substantially higher than it is for broad stock indexes. An option buyer is effectively paying more for exposure to Bitcoin’s potential price swings, giving the option seller more premium to collect.</p>
<p>Of course, the reason those premiums are large is that Bitcoin can actually make those enormous moves. BTCI is therefore taking one of Bitcoin’s defining risks, volatility, and attempting to convert some of it into current income.</p>
<h2>That 25% Yield Isn’t a 25% Return</h2>
<p>BTCI currently has a 25.61% distribution rate and pays monthly. That’s an extraordinary amount of cash flow for an underlying asset that pays nothing itself. You also pay considerably more for the strategy than you would for straightforward spot Bitcoin exposure. BTCI charges a 0.99% expense ratio.</p>
<p>There has at least been a potentially useful tax characteristic to the distributions. According to BTCI’s September Section 19(a)-1 notice, approximately 95% of its latest distribution was estimated to consist of return of capital. ROC generally reduces your adjusted cost basis rather than creating an immediate tax liability. That can defer taxes until you sell the shares or your basis reaches zero. As always, a 19(a)-1 notice is preliminary and the final tax characterization can differ on Form 1099-DIV.</p>
<p>But I’d pay even closer attention to total return. Since inception, BTCI has lagged the S&P Bitcoin Index on a cumulative total-return basis. That’s critical context for anyone attracted to the 25.61% distribution rate. Bitcoin can experience extremely powerful rallies. When an options-income ETF repeatedly sells exposure to some of that upside, the premiums collected may not fully compensate for gains surrendered during those periods. Add BTCI’s 0.99% expense ratio and there is another hurdle relative to simply holding spot Bitcoin exposure.</p>
<p>That doesn’t make BTCI’s distributions meaningless. Someone actually withdrawing and spending the cash has a different objective from an investor trying to maximize long-term Bitcoin exposure. But for an accumulation investor reinvesting everything, I think the comparison becomes harder to justify. You’re taking Bitcoin risk either way while paying a higher fee and potentially giving up some upside to manufacture income you don’t actually need.</p>
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<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=e7e7688e-2d95-45af-8539-3332b37d48ff&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1666462&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/bitcoin-doesnt-pay-dividends-so-how-is-this-etf-yielding-25/">Bitcoin Doesn’t Pay Dividends, So How Is This ETF Yielding 25%?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1666462">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Tesla Is Down 20% in 2026. These Two Other EV Makers Are Doing Even Worse.</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/tesla-is-down-20-in-2026-these-two-other-ev-makers-are-doing-even-worse/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:13:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672247&preview=true&preview_id=1672247</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Tesla stock has had a rough 2026, but two smaller EV rivals have seen their shares fall even harder, and the gap between them reveals something unsettling about where Wall Street thinks the future of electric vehicles actually lives.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/tesla-is-down-20-in-2026-these-two-other-ev-makers-are-doing-even-worse/">Tesla Is Down 20% in 2026. These Two Other EV Makers Are Doing Even Worse.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672247">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Electric vehicle (EV) makers have had a hard year on Wall Street, and <strong>Tesla</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/TSLA/">NASDAQ:TSLA</a>) stock is a clear case in point. Two smaller rivals, <strong>Rivian Automotive</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RIVN/">NASDAQ:RIVN</a>) and <strong>Lucid Group</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/LCID/">NASDAQ:LCID</a>), have seen their shares fall even further than Tesla stock, which points to pressure aimed directly at the companies that build the cars.</p>
<p>Tesla stock is down 20% this year to $357.68. At the same time, Tesla shares are up 0.8% on today’s session, a small bounce that does little to change the larger picture for the stock.</p>
<p>For comparison, Rivian stock is down 24% this year to $14.90, a deeper slide than the one in Tesla stock. Worse yet, Lucid stock is down 60% this year to $4.18, the steepest drop of the three EV makers.</p>
<h2>What the Fund Figures Show</h2>
<p>The <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is up 12% this year, leaving Tesla, Rivian and Lucid stock trailing the broad market, so the selling reflects something specific to the manufacturers.</p>
<p>Spread across <a title="This Move Will Save Tesla's Stock" href="https://247wallst.com/cars-and-drivers/2025/03/01/this-move-will-save-teslas-stock/">autonomous driving</a>, semiconductors, batteries, software and vehicle technology, the <strong>Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DRIV/">NASDAQ:DRIV</a>) is up 13% this year. A fund built around the hardware and software inside the car is higher while all three automakers are lower, which suggests money has moved to the technology layer and away from the companies assembling the vehicles.</p>
<h2>How Tesla, Rivian and Lucid Compare</h2>
<p>The decline in Tesla stock is the smallest of the three. Beyond cars, Tesla sells battery energy storage systems, <a title="Despite the Green Energy Boom, Solar Stocks Are Not Doing Great" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2023/09/06/despite-the-green-energy-boom-solar-stocks-are-not-doing-great/">solar panels</a> and related services, which gives the company a broader business base than either smaller rival.</p>
<p>In the middle sits Rivian stock, whose 24% slide this year runs deeper than the drop in Tesla stock but avoids the kind of collapse seen at Lucid.</p>
<p>Lucid shares stand apart with a 60% drop this year, by far the deepest decline in the group. A loss of that size tells stockholders the market is questioning Lucid’s path forward far more sharply than it questions Tesla or Rivian. At $4.18, Lucid stock reflects how much confidence has drained from the name.</p>
<h2>What the Gap Means for Investors</h2>
<p>The bull case for Tesla rests on relative strength, since Tesla stock has held up better than Rivian and Lucid shares during a difficult stretch for EV makers. A bear case is just as easy to build, because Tesla shares still trail both DRIV and SPY this year, leaving the stock with ground to recover. Rivian stock and Lucid stock face an even steeper climb, and LCID stock carries the most risk of the three.</p>
<p>Signs that money moved into the technology layer begins reaching the three automakers are worth watching. Any catch-up could favor Rivian stock and Lucid stock first, since those names have the most ground to recover, though that’s also where the risk runs highest.</p>
<p>Investors will want to stay tuned to find out whether the slide in Lucid stock steadies. Investors weighing their exposure should adjust their holdings carefully, given that even Tesla stock trails the DRIV and SPY ETFs this year.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/tesla-is-down-20-in-2026-these-two-other-ev-makers-are-doing-even-worse/">Tesla Is Down 20% in 2026. These Two Other EV Makers Are Doing Even Worse.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672247">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Nobody Wants to Inherit a Margaritaville Home. Here’s What It Costs the Kids When They Do</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/nobody-wants-to-inherit-a-margaritaville-home-heres-what-it-costs-the-kids-when-they-do/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:03:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671842&preview=true&preview_id=1671842</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Your parents bought into the Margaritaville dream, and the estate plan says the house is yours now. Before you celebrate, find out what that gated 55-plus community will actually cost you to keep, sell, or even enter.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/nobody-wants-to-inherit-a-margaritaville-home-heres-what-it-costs-the-kids-when-they-do/">Nobody Wants to Inherit a Margaritaville Home. Here’s What It Costs the Kids When They Do</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671842">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Margaritaville retirement communities market a lifestyle: gated 55+ streets, live music, a golf cart in every driveway. Parents buy in. Then their adult children open an estate plan that says “the house goes to the kids” and nothing more. <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/30/the-real-cost-of-retiring-in-margaritaville-florida-on-a-single-pension/">What does it cost to inherit one of these homes</a>, and what should the parent’s plan set aside so the house stays an asset?</p>
<h2>Your Heirs Can Own It and Still Be Barred From Living There</h2>
<p>Latitude Margaritaville, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a gated 55+ community sold out for new-home sales, <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/20/the-real-cost-of-retiring-in-margaritaville-americas-most-laid-back-retirement-community/">with resales generally running from</a> the mid $300,000s to low $800,000s. Under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act, qualifying communities must keep at least 80% of occupied homes with a resident 55 or older. An heir “can still own the property” but “no owner under the age of 55 may occupy a home unless the requirements of the section are met.”</p>
<p>A 48-year-old heir can end up holding a house they may not be allowed to move into. In practice, that leaves two choices: sell it, or pay to keep an empty house.</p>
<h2>Florida Resets the Tax Bill When the Kids Take Title</h2>
<p>Florida’s Save Our Homes rule caps annual assessment increases on a homestead at 3%. That cap ends when ownership changes. When adult children or other beneficiaries inherit, the property is generally reassessed at full just value the next tax year.</p>
<p>For example, let’s say mom’s capped assessed value is $250,000. After the $50,000 homestead exemption, she pays tax on $200,000. The home’s market value is $450,000; heirs get no exemption. Their taxable base is 2.25 times what Mom paid. Insurance costs depend heavily on county, ranging from $2,105 in Sumter County to $7,863 in Monroe County, with flood coverage requiring a separate policy.</p>
<h2>What a Year of Carrying the House Costs</h2>
<p>Using that $450,000 Daytona resale, here is what 12 months of holding it costs while it sits on the market:</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Line Item</th>
<th>Annual Cost</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HOA dues at $350 a month</td>
<td>$4,200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Homeowners insurance (assumed, within county range above)</td>
<td>$3,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utilities, lawn, and vacant-home maintenance at $250 a month</td>
<td>$3,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Property tax at an assumed 1.6% effective rate after reset</td>
<td>$7,200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td>$17,900</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>That works out to about $1,500 a month. The Hilton Head location’s 2026 dues run $329.11 to $374.56 a month. Swap in your own county’s millage rate and insurance quote.</p>
<p>A full year of carrying costs is reasonable. Existing-home sales slowed to a 3.98 million annual pace, the lowest in the past year. At Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, new homes start between $314,812 and $485,240 and come with builder warranties.</p>
<h2>A Reverse Mortgage Starts a Clock</h2>
<p>Many parents <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/25/the-retirees-who-took-a-reverse-mortgage-say-the-part-nobody-warned-them-about-came-years-later/">use a HECM reverse mortgage</a> to fund this lifestyle. That loan comes due when the last borrower dies. Heirs can pay off the balance, sell the home for the lesser of the outstanding loan balance or 95% of the appraised value, or hand over a deed in lieu of foreclosure. The lender can give heirs six months to settle, plus up to two 90-day extensions if actively marketing the home.</p>
<p>The loan is non-recourse, so heirs never owe more than the house is worth. On a $450,000 appraisal, keeping the house costs no more than $427,500. Interest keeps building up. Refinancing is expensive now that the <a title="Treasury Yields Are at Their Highest Since 2007. Here Are the 4 Retirement Numbers That Just Got Better and the 3 That Got Worse." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/18/treasury-yields-are-at-their-highest-since-2007-here-are-the-4-retirement-numbers-that-just-got-better-and-the-3-that-got-worse/">10-year Treasury yield</a> is at 5.26%, it’s high for the past year.</p>
<h2>What It Takes to Hand Down the House Cleanly</h2>
<p>The <a title="Inherited Stock Resets Its Tax Bill to Zero and Here's the IRS Rule That Does It" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/19/inherited-stock-resets-its-tax-bill-to-zero-heres-the-irs-rule-that-does-it/">step-up in cost basis at death</a> usually keeps capital gains small when heirs sell quickly. Holding time drives the cost. The parent’s plan should fund the exit up front: about $18,000 for each year of expected holding time, kept in a Treasury ladder or high-yield cash outside the portfolio the parent draws on. The plan should also title the home so it can be sold without waiting on probate. A revocable trust or Florida’s <a title="In Five States, One Signature on a " href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/04/in-five-states-one-signature-on-a-lady-bird-deed-moves-the-house-past-medicaid-estate-recovery-entirely-most-families-have-never-heard-of-it/">enhanced life estate deed</a> both work.</p>
<p>Keeping the house indefinitely, paid from portfolio income, takes $17,900 a year. At a 4% withdrawal rate, that requires $447,500 in invested capital, about the price of a second house. Most estates can more easily afford a one-year reserve, a sale-ready title, and a written plan to sell the house (we include the full estate checklist, titling, and beneficiary forms in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">free guide here</a>).</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/nobody-wants-to-inherit-a-margaritaville-home-heres-what-it-costs-the-kids-when-they-do/">Nobody Wants to Inherit a Margaritaville Home. Here’s What It Costs the Kids When They Do</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671842">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Snap Is Down 32% in 2026: Overlooked Bargain or Toxic Stock?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/snap-is-down-32-in-2026-overlooked-bargain-or-toxic-stock/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:02:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672243&preview=true&preview_id=1672243</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Snap has lost nearly a third of its value this year while quietly building something most beaten-down stocks lack. Whether that foundation is enough to survive what management itself calls an uncertain legal landscape is the real question facing buyers right now.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/snap-is-down-32-in-2026-overlooked-bargain-or-toxic-stock/">Snap Is Down 32% in 2026: Overlooked Bargain or Toxic Stock?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672243">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>A broad selloff in social media stocks sits behind the slide in <strong>Snap</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SNAP/">NYSE:SNAP</a>) stock, and that shared decline is the first thing the bargain-or-toxic question has to account for. Snap stock is down 32% this year to $5.47. Shares are up 1% in afternoon trading.</p>
<p>For comparison, <strong>Reddit</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RDDT/">NYSE:RDDT</a>) stock is down 36% this year to $147.75, a steeper slide than the one in Snap stock. Meanwhile, <strong>Pinterest</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PINS/">NYSE:PINS</a>) stock is down 27% this year to $18.98, a softer decline pointing in the same direction. The three ad-funded platforms have moved lower together.</p>
<p>To gauge how far social media has fallen behind, the <strong>Global X Social Media ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SOCL/">NASDAQ:SOCL</a>) is down 21% this year. However, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is up 12% this year. That gap places Snap’s decline inside a sector problem first, with company-specific questions layered on top.</p>
<h2>Cash Flow Anchors the Bargain Case</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e88202e"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
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data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/SNAP?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
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<p>Snap’s quarterly earnings call in early August supplied most of the evidence for the bargain argument. Chief executive and co-founder Evan Spiegel stated that Snapchat is “approaching 1 billion people using our service every month.” Spiegel further declared that free cash flow per share will be Snap’s primary financial objective going forward.</p>
<p>On the cash side, chief financial officer Doug Hott stated that Snap’s free cash flow reached $706 million over the past twelve months. Hott added that Snap has generated positive free cash flow for eight consecutive quarters, while Snap’s gross margin expanded from a year earlier as management restructured the company’s cost base to scale more efficiently. That record highlights the contrast with Snap stock’s 32% decline this year.</p>
<h2>Ad Growth and Legal Risk Weigh on Snap</h2>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="SNAP" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-snap/full?v=8c553141a8fb" alt="SNAP earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>The case against Snap starts with advertising. Doug Hott stated that Snap’s advertising revenue grew 9% from a year earlier, a single-digit pace for the line that remains the core of Snap’s business. Such a pace in Snap’s main revenue engine limits how much the cash story alone can lift sentiment toward the shares.</p>
<p>Snap’s management supplied the second warning on the same call. Hott stated that Snap continues to monitor an evolving legal and regulatory landscape in the U.S. and internationally that could materially impact Snap’s business and financial results, including heightened scrutiny on youth-related issues and <a title="Meta's Lawyers Say A Loss Could Cost $1.4 Trillion. Trial That Could Determine The Future Of Zuckerberg's AI Ambitions Is Underway." href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/17/metas-lawyers-say-a-loss-could-cost-1-4-trillion-trial-that-could-determine-the-future-of-zuckerbergs-ai-ambitions-is-underway/">several trials scheduled in the U.S. later this year</a>. Those outcomes remain uncertain by Snap’s own account, which keeps a legal cloud on the shares.</p>
<h2>Snap Stands Apart From Reddit and Pinterest</h2>
<p>Reddit stock posted the deepest decline of the three at 36% and Pinterest the softer at 27%, with Snap’s 32% in between.</p>
<p>The Global X Social Media ETF holds Snap, Reddit and Pinterest alongside internet, social-media, gaming, dating and digital-platform companies from several countries. The fund’s 21% drop shows the pressure extends well past these three names.</p>
<p>Snap’s distinction is that management has made free cash flow per share the primary financial objective, pairing a depressed share price with an established cash engine. A sector-wide decline alone can’t erase that foundation.</p>
<h2>Bargain or Toxic? A Split Verdict</h2>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="SNAP" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-snap/full?v=a211c9d0dfbe" alt="SNAP price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>Each label captures only part of Snap’s story. The cash generation is real, and so is the legal cloud. Whether Snap’s advertising growth reaccelerates before the litigation is resolved decides which label wins out.</p>
<p>Given the trials Snap has identified, bullish investors may want to keep positions moderate. As you do this, you can consider Snap’s ongoing advantages and drawbacks, such as real cash generation against an unresolved legal cloud.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/snap-is-down-32-in-2026-overlooked-bargain-or-toxic-stock/">Snap Is Down 32% in 2026: Overlooked Bargain or Toxic Stock?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672243">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>XRP Surpasses Bitcoin in 90-Day Gains But Remains Far Off Its All-Time High</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/xrp-surpasses-bitcoin-in-90-day-gains-but-remains-far-off-its-all-time-high/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671367&preview=true&preview_id=1671367</guid>
<description><![CDATA[XRP just topped Bitcoin in 90-day gains, yet the token sits nearly 60% below its peak with a staggering gap that neither ETF inflows nor corporate buyers can realistically close on their own.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/xrp-surpasses-bitcoin-in-90-day-gains-but-remains-far-off-its-all-time-high/">XRP Surpasses Bitcoin in 90-Day Gains But Remains Far Off Its All-Time High</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671367">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) has gained 37% </span><span style="font-weight: 400"><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">over the past 90 days, slightly edging ahead of Bitcoin (<a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRYPTO:BTC</a>), which rose 36%</span>. However, XRP is still trading around 59% below its all-time high of $3.65, reached in July 2025. Investors are keen to understand what could help close this gap and how much demand is needed to boost prices.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">As of October 1, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.49. To return to its peak value, it would need to climb by 145%. Looking at the bigger picture, XRP’s performance has been less impressive, </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/09/only-one-of-these-four-cryptos-is-up-in-2026-and-it-is-not-xrp-cardano-or-dogecoin/"><span style="font-weight: 400">falling about 19% in 2026</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> and nearly 48% over the past year.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP Outpaced Bitcoin Over 90 Days but Trailed Ethereum and Solana</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock-2004204788-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Two shiny, gold-colored cryptocurrency coins are displayed on a dark, textured wooden surface against a solid black background. The coin on the left features the Ripple (XRP) logo and text, while the coin on the right shows the Bitcoin 'B' logo with intricate circuit-like patterns and text around its edge." width="1500" height="999" data-caption="Physical representations of Bitcoin and Ripple (XRP) cryptocurrencies stand side-by-side, symbolizing the diverse digital assets available for investment consideration in todays market." data-id="1548740" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">While XRP has outperformed Bitcoin recently, it lags behind other leading cryptocurrencies. During the same 90-day period, Ethereum (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) jumped 57%, followed by Solana (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) at 48%. This puts XRP third among these major coins.</span></p>
<table style="width: 40.0011%">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="width: 24.2718%"><b>Coin</b></th>
<th style="width: 34.3042%"><b>90-Day Gain</b></th>
<th style="width: 143.318%"><b>Below Record</b></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 24.2718%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum</span></td>
<td style="width: 34.3042%"><span style="font-weight: 400">57%</span></td>
<td style="width: 143.318%"><span style="font-weight: 400">45%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 24.2718%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Solana</span></td>
<td style="width: 34.3042%"><span style="font-weight: 400">48%</span></td>
<td style="width: 143.318%"><span style="font-weight: 400">60%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 24.2718%"><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP</span></td>
<td style="width: 34.3042%"><span style="font-weight: 400">37%</span></td>
<td style="width: 143.318%"><span style="font-weight: 400">59%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 24.2718%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin</span></td>
<td style="width: 34.3042%"><span style="font-weight: 400">36%</span></td>
<td style="width: 143.318%"><span style="font-weight: 400">33%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin has recovered more of its losses, trading only about 33% below its own all-time high. This uneven recovery indicates that buyers are returning to crypto at different rates, with XRP and Solana experiencing the deepest drawdowns from their peak prices.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">A significant portion of XRP’s 90-day increase happened in one rapid surge. The token was trading around $1.00 in mid-August and jumped to an intraday high just below $1.70 on August 22, marking a nearly 70% increase in about a week. Since then, XRP has retraced some of those gains, adding about 8% over the past month.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP Needs a $230 Billion Market Value to Reach Its All-Time High</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock-1695325450-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Physical version of Ripple and dollar banknotes. Exchange xrp for a dollar symbol. Conceptual image for worldwide cryptocurrency and digital payment system." width="1500" height="843" data-caption="" data-id="1543419" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Currently, XRP’s market value is approximately $94 billion, with 63 billion tokens in circulation. To match its all-time high of $3.65, XRP’s market capitalization would need to reach around $230 billion. This means an additional $136 billion in new buying is necessary to </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/27/can-xrp-reach-3-again-in-2026-the-math-from-1-53/"><span style="font-weight: 400">bring XRP back to its peak</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP has a maximum supply of 100 billion tokens. About 37 billion tokens, worth roughly $55 billion at the current price of $1.49, remain outside circulation. Ripple holds the majority of these tokens in escrow and releases them gradually, meaning each new token available for trading requires a buyer to help drive the price up.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth and XRP ETFs Hold 1.65 Billion XRP, Under 2% of the Gap</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shutterstock-1347459875-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="XRP (XRP)" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1369374" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth represents a significant buyer for XRP. Following the approval of a merger, Evernorth, which holds XRP on its balance sheet, is set to go public on Nasdaq. The company owns 473 million XRP, totaling about $705 million, although the listing has not yet taken place.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In addition, U.S. XRP ETFs are another source of demand. These funds collectively hold around 1.18 billion XRP, valued at approximately $1.77 billion, having attracted </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/27/xrp-etfs-saw-no-movement-on-monday-then-75-million-in-four-days-has-the-freeze-ended/"><span style="font-weight: 400">$75 million in just four days</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> at the end of September.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">When combined, Evernorth and the ETFs hold around 1.65 billion XRP, accounting for about 2.6% of the circulating supply. However, their combined value of $2.5 billion is still less than 2% of the $136 billion required for XRP to return to its all-time high. Thus, demand must come from additional buyers to support most of the price increase.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">A 5.17% Treasury Yield Competes With XRP for Investors</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock-1967113351-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A close-up of a United States one hundred-dollar bill with Benjamin Franklin's portrait. A horizontal, jagged tear runs across the upper part of Franklin's face, revealing a bright yellow banner underneath. The word 'YIELD' is written in bold black capital letters on the yellow banner. The torn paper edges are curled outwards, exposing the white underside of the paper." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="A torn hundred-dollar bill reveals the word YIELD, symbolizing the critical examination of high-yield investments in todays financial market. Investors are scrutinizing the sustainability of seemingly attractive returns." data-id="1623277" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">One challenge for XRP is the competition with bond yields. As of September 25, the </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/"><span style="font-weight: 400">10-year Treasury yield</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> was at 5.17%, nearing its 2007 peak. This means investors can earn a reliable return from U.S. government bonds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Since XRP does not pay interest, holding the token means giving up potential returns from safer assets like Treasuries, especially while waiting for a price recovery. Additionally, with the Federal Reserve’s recent rate hike on September 16 and upcoming meetings on October 27 and 28, pressure remains on non-interest-bearing assets.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Is XRP Likely to Hit Its All-Time High in 2026?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The chances of XRP reaching its all-time high of $3.65 before the end of 2026 are slim. To do that, the token needs a 145% increase and about $136 billion in new buying. With Evernorth and the ETFs holding less than 2% of that amount and Treasury yields offering a 5% return, the gap to XRP’s all-time high is more likely to take years to close than months.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">So, what could start to close the gap toward XRP’s all-time high? A daily close above $1.70—about 14% higher—could be an encouraging sign, as sellers have previously halted rallies near that price on August 22 and around $1.66 on September 23. Conversely, if XRP falls below $1.40—around 6% lower—it might </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/13/where-does-xrp-bottom/"><span style="font-weight: 400">slide back toward $1.00</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, which it held in mid-August.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/xrp-surpasses-bitcoin-in-90-day-gains-but-remains-far-off-its-all-time-high/">XRP Surpasses Bitcoin in 90-Day Gains But Remains Far Off Its All-Time High</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671367">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Applied Optoelectronics Is Up 205% This Year. Is It Too Late to Buy AAOI Stock Now?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applied-optoelectronics-is-up-205-this-year-is-it-too-late-to-buy-aaoi-stock-now/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:55:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672238&preview=true&preview_id=1672238</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Applied Optoelectronics has left its optical rivals and the broader chip sector in the dust this year, but the expansion driving that run is still under construction. Whether buyers step in now or wait depends on how much execution risk they are willing to accept.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applied-optoelectronics-is-up-205-this-year-is-it-too-late-to-buy-aaoi-stock-now/">Applied Optoelectronics Is Up 205% This Year. Is It Too Late to Buy AAOI Stock Now?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672238">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Few hardware names have kept pace with <strong>Applied Optoelectronics</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AAOI/">NASDAQ:AAOI</a>) stock this year. Shares of the optical transceiver maker have outrun its closest industry rivals and the chip sector, driven by demand from <a title="A Single Meta Data Center Will Require " href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/21/a-single-meta-data-center-will-require-8-million-miles-of-fiber-these-stocks-are-cashing-in-on-the-802-data-centers-currently-under-construction/">data centers built for artificial intelligence (AI)</a>. Applied Optoelectronics stock is up 205% this year to $106.25.</p>
<p>Additionally, Applied Optoelectronics shares are up 8.7% in afternoon trading, extending its run this year. <strong>Lumentum</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/LITE/">NASDAQ:LITE</a>) stock, which rides the same <a title="A Single Meta Data Center Will Require " href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/21/a-single-meta-data-center-will-require-8-million-miles-of-fiber-these-stocks-are-cashing-in-on-the-802-data-centers-currently-under-construction/">data center optics buildout</a>, is up 180% this year to $1,032.30. Notably, <strong>Coherent</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/COHR/">NYSE:COHR</a>) stock is up 71% this year to $316.05, a more measured climb for another supplier tied to the same theme.</p>
<p>For comparison, the <strong>iShares Semiconductor ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SOXX/">NASDAQ:SOXX</a>) is up 91% this year. That fund holds chip designers and foundries, so its gain works as sector context for the optics move involving Applied Optoelectronics. The broad market has moved at a far slower pace, with the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) up 12% this year.</p>
<h2>Record Revenue Meets a Capacity Ceiling</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e883d63"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="AAOI"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SOXX"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/AAOI?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/aaoi/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div>
<p>Applied Optoelectronics laid the groundwork for this run on its most recent quarterly earnings call, held in early August. On that call, the company reported its fifth consecutive quarter of record revenue and a return to profitability on a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) basis, a measure that excludes items such as stock-based compensation. Chief financial officer Stefan Murry stated that the company’s revenue rose 86% from a year earlier.</p>
<p>Thompson Lin, founder, chairman and chief executive of Applied Optoelectronics, described the bottleneck in direct terms: “Demand to support next-generation <a title="Goldman Sachs Says a $7.6 Trillion AI Spending Boom Is Coming. Skip the GPUs, Follow the Money Here" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/26/goldman-sachs-says-a-7-6-trillion-ai-spending-boom-is-coming-skip-the-gpus-follow-the-money-here/">AI infrastructure</a> remains so robust that our near-term revenue is bounded almost entirely by production capacity and key component availability.” Stefan Murry added that “we believe our 2026 revenue will be around $1.1 billion,” a level he tied to the company’s production capacity and supply chain. In management’s view, demand for the company’s products runs much larger than that.</p>
<h2>One Rerating, Three Different Magnitudes</h2>
<p>Applied Optoelectronics’ upside hinges on capacity: customers are already waiting, and the company is expanding its Texas manufacturing operations, including a new facility dedicated to high-speed transceivers, to close that gap.</p>
<p>However, that framing has been public since the August earnings call, so a buyer at $106.25 is paying for a capacity ramp the market has already heard about. Lumentum and Coherent carry a version of the same outlook, yet Applied Optoelectronics stock has run the most while its expansion is still being built. That leaves less room for error if new lines come up more slowly than planned.</p>
<h2>Is It Too Late for Applied Optoelectronics?</h2>
<p>The revenue ramp tied to the company’s new capacity is still ahead, so the move in Applied Optoelectronics stock may have further to run. What a buyer accepts at this level is execution risk, since management already describes demand as strong (we rounded up seven non-chipmaker suppliers riding the <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">same AI infrastructure buildout in a free report here</a>). The open question is how fast new production lines reach full output.</p>
<p>Whether the new Texas facility lifts output is worth tracking, and the next earnings call may help answer that. Any delay could weigh on Applied Optoelectronics stock, and Lumentum and Coherent could feel similar pressure if enthusiasm for optics cools.</p>
<p>Given that Applied Optoelectronics stock has climbed 205% this year while capacity is still under construction, moderate positions let investors stay with the demand story without depending on a smooth ramp.</p>
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<p><span>It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan. That is exactly what </span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=542d641c-b427-46a7-b092-19a71851f375&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672238&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span>The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income </span></a><span>helps answer. It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn more here.</span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=542d641c-b427-46a7-b092-19a71851f375&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672238&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span> Learn More Here ›</span></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applied-optoelectronics-is-up-205-this-year-is-it-too-late-to-buy-aaoi-stock-now/">Applied Optoelectronics Is Up 205% This Year. Is It Too Late to Buy AAOI Stock Now?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672238">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>How to Build $6,950 a Month in Dividend Income Without Owning a Single REIT</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-6950-a-month-in-dividend-income-without-owning-a-single-reit/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:43:06 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671847&preview=true&preview_id=1671847</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Generating over $83,000 a year in dividend income sounds like a job for REITs, but seven completely different asset classes can get you there at a fraction of the capital you might expect.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-6950-a-month-in-dividend-income-without-owning-a-single-reit/">How to Build $6,950 a Month in Dividend Income Without Owning a Single REIT</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671847">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>A monthly income of $6,950 totals $83,400 a year. This article explains how much capital it takes to generate that income without owning any <a title="A $500,000 REIT Portfolio That Pays You Rent Without Owning a Single Property" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/06/a-500000-reit-portfolio-that-pays-you-rent-without-owning-a-single-property/">real estate investment trusts</a>. The money comes from seven other sources: dividend equity, <a title="Own 100 Shares of SPY? Here's How to Earn High Income Selling Covered Calls" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/25/own-100-shares-of-spy-heres-how-to-earn-high-income-selling-covered-calls/">covered calls</a>, preferred shares, a telecom carrier, a midstream energy partnership, and two <a title="This ETF Puts an 11.59% Private Credit Yield in Your Brokerage Account" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/09/28/this-etf-puts-an-11-59-private-credit-yield-in-your-brokerage-account/">business development companies (BDCs)</a>. BDCs lend to private middle-market firms and must pass most of their income through to shareholders.</p>
<p>The math rests on one equation: income divided by yield equals capital required. Treasuries set the floor for comparison. The 10-year yield is now 5.3%, so anything that yields more than that carries equity, credit, or distribution risk.</p>
<h2>What Each Yield Tier Costs at $83,400 a Year</h2>
<h3>Conservative Tier: Around 3.3%</h3>
<p><strong>iShares Core High Dividend ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HDV/">NYSEARCA:HDV</a>) yields roughly 3.3% and charges 0.08% a year. At that yield, an $83,400 investment at 0.033 produces about $2.5 million. You need the most capital here, and you get the most room for growth in return. Over the past 10 years, the fund’s adjusted price rose 147%.</p>
<h3>Moderate Tier: 6% to 7%</h3>
<p>Three holdings sit in this level, and <strong>iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PFF/">NASDAQ:PFF</a>) yields about 6.0% on a forward basis. <strong>Verizon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VZ/">NYSE:VZ</a>) and <strong>Enterprise Products Partners</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/EPD/">NYSE:EPD</a>) each yield about 6.2%. At a 6% yield, $83,400 divided by 0.06 equals $1.39 million.</p>
<p>Payouts at this level grow slowly. Verizon raised its quarterly dividend to $0.7075. Enterprise lifted its distribution 3% year over year and covers it 1.9x with distributable cash flow. Preferred shares offer little price upside: PFF’s price is down 1% over the past year.</p>
<h3>Aggressive Tier: 10% to 12%</h3>
<p><strong>NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPYI/">CBOE:SPYI</a>) yields about 12.0%. Both <strong>Ares Capital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ARCC/">NASDAQ:ARCC</a>) and <strong>Capital Southwest</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CSWC/">NASDAQ:CSWC</a>) yield near 10.0%. With a 10% yield, $83,400 invested at 0.10 produces $834,000.</p>
<p>The higher yield comes with credit risk. Ares Capital’s net asset value per share slipped from $19.94 to $19.35, and non-accruals rose to 2%. Capital Southwest holds a portfolio that is 99% first-lien senior secured. SPYI writes calls against its stock holdings, which caps gains in strong markets.</p>
<h2>Combining All Seven Into One $83,400 Portfolio</h2>
<p>Weighted by the allocation below, the portfolio yields 7.7%. That means you’d need about $1.08 million in capital.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Holding</th>
<th>Weight</th>
<th>Yield</th>
<th>Capital</th>
<th>Annual Income</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HDV</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>$216,623</td>
<td>$7,149</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPYI</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td>12.0%</td>
<td>$216,623</td>
<td>$25,995</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARCC</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>10.0%</td>
<td>$162,468</td>
<td>$16,247</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFF</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>6.0%</td>
<td>$162,468</td>
<td>$9,748</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSWC</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>10.0%</td>
<td>$108,312</td>
<td>$10,831</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>6.2%</td>
<td>$108,312</td>
<td>$6,715</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPD</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>6.2%</td>
<td>$108,312</td>
<td>$6,715</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="fwp-generic-chart-container" data-chart-type="doughnut" data-height="380" data-chart-data="{"labels":["HDV","SPYI","ARCC","PFF","CSWC","VZ","EPD"],"datasets":[{"label":"Annual Income Contribution","data":[7149,25995,16247,9748,10831,6715,6715],"backgroundColor":["#2E86AB","#A23B72","#F18F01","#C73E1D","#6A994E","#36A2EB","#9966FF"]}]}" data-chart-options="{"plugins":{"title":{"display":true,"text":"Where the $83,400 Comes From"},"legend":{"position":"bottom"}}}"></div>
<p>Overall, this portfolio with SPYI and the two BDCs makes up 45% of the capital and produces more than half of the income.</p>
<h2>Why the Smallest Yield Can Win Over a Decade</h2>
<p>Ares Capital has paid $0.48 every quarter since early 2023. SPYI’s monthly payout went from $0.4755 in January 2023 to $0.5338 recently. Both are reliable payers, and neither has grown much.</p>
<p>By comparison, if HDV’s $7,149 slice grew 8% a year, it would reach about $14,290 in nine years. Fund the full target through HDV at the same growth rate, and it would grow from $83,400 to roughly $166,700. The combined mix gives up that compounding in exchange for needing about $1.44 million less capital upfront.</p>
<p>Run your own version of that compounding on the HDV slice:</p>
<div id="calculator-6abf71e884bfc"
class="fwp-calculator fwp-calculator-compound-interest"
data-calculator-type="compound-interest"
data-calculator-settings="{"id":"calculator-6abf71e884bfc","type":"compound-interest","title":"","principal":"7149","rate":"8","time":"9","compound_frequency":"annually","contribution":"0","contribution_frequency":"annually","amount":1000,"years":10,"inflation_rate":2.5,"investment_rate":7,"starting_income":50000,"cola_rate":2.5,"portfolio_value":1000000,"withdrawal_rate":4,"monthly_benefit":1000,"life_expectancy":85,"current_age":30,"retirement_age":65,"debt_amount":10000,"interest_rate":15,"monthly_payment":300,"additional_payment":0,"home_price":300000,"down_payment_percent":20,"property_tax_rate":1.2,"insurance_rate":0.5,"loan_term":30,"annual_contribution":6000,"current_tax_rate":22,"retirement_tax_rate":15,"return_rate":7,"reinvest_tax_savings":"yes","annual_withdrawal":40000,"withdrawal_period":20,"capital_gains_rate":15,"stock_symbol":"AAPL","investment_amount":10000,"start_date":"2015-01-01","reinvest_dividends":"true"}"
></div>
<h2>Steps to Take Before Building This Portfolio</h2>
<ol>
<li>Model your after-tax income. BDC distributions are taxed mostly as ordinary income, Enterprise sends unitholders a K-1, and covered-call payouts have their own tax treatment. Your $6,950 gross could shrink a lot depending on your bracket and account type.</li>
<li>Check net asset value per share at Ares Capital and Capital Southwest every quarter. If NAV keeps falling while the dividend holds steady, the payout may be using up into capital.</li>
<li>Compare how income would change over time if you reinvested part of the SPYI and BDC payouts into HDV during the first few years. Gradually shifting money toward a growing payer can build a slice of income that offsets inflation.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=63179c63-31a6-418a-80d3-f913e3ee3694&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671847&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-to-build-6950-a-month-in-dividend-income-without-owning-a-single-reit/">How to Build $6,950 a Month in Dividend Income Without Owning a Single REIT</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671847">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>‘We Pay on It Weekly So We Don’t Lose Our Couch and Refrigerator’: Nashville Mom Tallies $100K in Debt Live on Air</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/we-pay-on-it-weekly-so-we-dont-lose-our-couch-and-refrigerator-nashville-mom-tallies-100k-in-debt-live-on-air/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake FitzGerald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:42:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672212&preview=true&preview_id=1672212</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A Nashville mom with a tour bus husband and an $800 savings cushion felt like she had finally turned a corner. Then a live debt tally started, and the number on the other end of that feeling was not what she expected.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/we-pay-on-it-weekly-so-we-dont-lose-our-couch-and-refrigerator-nashville-mom-tallies-100k-in-debt-live-on-air/">‘We Pay on It Weekly So We Don’t Lose Our Couch and Refrigerator’: Nashville Mom Tallies $100K in Debt Live on Air</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672212">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><em>“We pay on it weekly so we don’t lose our couch and refrigerator.”</em> That is how Josie, a Nashville mom of two, described her rent-to-own furniture on <em>The Ramsey Show</em>. The balance is about $1,500. She is also still paying roughly $11,000 through civil court on a car that turned out to be a lemon and was repossessed.</p>
<p>She called because her husband’s tour bus income had finally reached as much as $12,000 in a good month. She was scared to spend the $800 buffer it bought her. Then hosts Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw had her add up the debt out loud, and the total came out to at about $100,000.</p>
<h2>A Six-Figure Hole That Felt Like Comfort</h2>
<p>Josie said she had finally <em>“got comfortable”</em> with savings and a car payment like <em>“a normal person.”</em> Here is what her list actually contained:</p>
<ol>
<li><a title="Dave Ramsey: " href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/27/dave-ramsey-this-is-going-to-take-you-seven-to-10-years-v2-new-series-2/">Student loans</a> of about $60,000. She is still in online college, finishing around September 2027. This is the largest line and the one with the longest tail.</li>
<li>A $14,000 motorcycle loan. It is a second vehicle payment stacked on an income with no floor.</li>
<li>An $8,000 car loan. Miss enough payments and the lender can take the car, which this family has already experienced once.</li>
<li><strong>Rent-to-own furniture.</strong> These contracts typically cost far more than the retail price over the full term, and a missed weekly payment can send the items back to the store.</li>
<li>About $11,000 on the repossessed car. The debt survived the repossession and now runs through a court-ordered monthly payment.</li>
</ol>
<p>Cruze named the feeling precisely: <em>“a weird false security.”</em> Her diagnosis is correct. An $800 balance feels like safety only because the family has never had any. Against a six-figure load and variable pay, it covers almost nothing.</p>
<p>The family already spends lean. Their bare-bones month is about $4,900. The average U.S. household spent $78,535 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</p>
<p>That is about $6,544 a month, and Josie runs about a quarter less. The debt came from financing nearly everything on a paycheck that guarantees nothing.</p>
<h2>Everything Hinges on the Slow Month</h2>
<p>Her husband drives on a 1099 with no guaranteed pay. <em>“Some months he could be around $4,000,”</em> she said, and other months <em>“around 12,000.”</em></p>
<p>In a $12,000 month, the $4,900 budget is covered with room to spare. In a $4,000 month, income falls below the bare-bones number before a single extra debt payment. The $800 gets used first. After that, the weekly furniture payment and the court-ordered car payment are the ones at risk.</p>
<p>A 1099 also means no employer withholds income or self-employment tax. Part of every big month already belongs to the IRS, which makes the good months look fatter than they are.</p>
<p>If a lean stretch drives the family onto a credit card, the cost rises fast. The average card APR was about 21% in May 2026, per Federal Reserve data, a level the series calls as record territory.</p>
<p>So Warshaw pressed on <em>“what is he going to do”</em> in the slow months. Her fix is a <em>“peaks and valleys account”</em> holding about $4,000 before any debt attack. That reserve equals what the household earns in its worst months. Cruze added a first step: get the $800 up to a thousand.</p>
<p>This order is right. Throwing a $12,000 month at the motorcycle feels like progress. If the next month yields only $4,000, though, the family ends up borrowing again at worse terms.</p>
<h2>Build Your Floor Before You Attack the Debt</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Find your real floor.</strong> Pull the last 12 months of deposits and circle the lowest one. Compare it to your bare-bones budget. If the floor sits below the budget, you have a shortfall to plan for.</li>
<li><strong>Fund a peaks-and-valleys account from the good months.</strong> Direct a share of every above-average month into a separate account until it covers at least one worst-case month. Only then send extra money to debt.</li>
<li><strong>Rank debts by consequence before interest rate.</strong> Court-ordered payments, rent-to-own contracts and secured loans carry repossession or legal risk. Keep those current first, even ahead of higher-rate balances.</li>
<li><strong>Wall off the tax money.</strong> Move a set portion of every 1099 deposit into its own savings account the day it arrives. Treat it as gone.</li>
</ol>
<p>On a paycheck that ranges from $4,000 to $12,000, security comes from cash sized to the worst month, and payoff speed comes after that.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672212&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/we-pay-on-it-weekly-so-we-dont-lose-our-couch-and-refrigerator-nashville-mom-tallies-100k-in-debt-live-on-air/">‘We Pay on It Weekly So We Don’t Lose Our Couch and Refrigerator’: Nashville Mom Tallies $100K in Debt Live on Air</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672212">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>His Back Injection Entered Original Medicare’s New AI Review. It Took a Lawsuit to Reveal 5,944 Denials and an 83-Day Wait</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/his-back-injection-entered-original-medicares-new-ai-review-it-took-a-lawsuit-to-reveal-5944-denials-and-an-83-day-wait/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:31:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1668505&preview=true&preview_id=1668505</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When a retired carpenter in Washington chose Original Medicare to escape prior-authorization battles, he discovered a private AI vendor now screens his spine injection first, and what a lawsuit forced into the open about denial rates shocked patient advocates.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/his-back-injection-entered-original-medicares-new-ai-review-it-took-a-lawsuit-to-reveal-5944-denials-and-an-83-day-wait/">His Back Injection Entered Original Medicare’s New AI Review. It Took a Lawsuit to Reveal 5,944 Denials and an 83-Day Wait</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1668505">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>A 72-year-old retired carpenter in Washington has spinal stenosis, and every walk to the mailbox hurts more than the last one. His doctor recommends an epidural steroid injection. He chose Original Medicare partly to get away from the prior-authorization fights he had under <a title="Advantage Plans Said No 4.1 Million Times in 2024. Four in Five Appeals Won. Nine in 10 Denials Were Never Appealed." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/10/advantage-plans-said-no-4-1-million-times-in-2024-four-in-five-appeals-won-nine-in-ten-denials-were-never-appealed/">Medicare Advantage</a>. Then the scheduling office told him the request first had to clear a technology vendor.</p>
<p>He assumed Medicare made the call. In his state, a private company using AI and machine-learning tools reads his medical file before anyone books the procedure.</p>
<h2>6 States Now Run Prior Authorization Inside Original Medicare</h2>
<p>The <a title="Medicare's New AI Screening Program Is Denying Claims in 6 States. Here's What Procedures It Targets." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/29/medicares-new-ai-screening-program-is-denying-claims-in-6-states-heres-what-procedures-it-targets/">Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model</a>, known as WISeR, began January 1, 2026 and is scheduled to run through 2031. It operates in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington, potentially affecting roughly 6.4 million people with Original Medicare, and each state has its own vendor. The rules follow where the care is delivered, so even an out-of-state patient can be affected. Medicare Advantage is outside this model. In those six states, WISeR can apply to epidural steroid injections, cervical fusion, certain nerve stimulators, knee procedures and skin substitutes.</p>
<h2>1,000 Pages of Lawsuit Records Expose the Denial Count</h2>
<p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act request on January 29, 2026. As of March 24, 2026, CMS had released no records and had missed both the expedited and standard response deadlines, <a href="https://www.eff.org/files/2026/03/25/complaint_-_eff_v_cms.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">so EFF sued</a>. Roughly 1,000 pages released through the case showed that two vendors denied or “non-affirmed” 5,944 prior-authorization requests during the first three months.</p>
<p>Washington’s vendor, Virtix Health, initially rejected more requests than it approved. CMS put it under a corrective action plan for delays. Virtix reportedly told Ars Technica its response times improved and the plan ended August 14. Across the released records, one request was still unanswered after 83 days. That measured the whole process, including steps outside the vendor’s control. Vendors generally have three calendar days after receiving a request to decide.</p>
<p>CMS requires a human clinician with relevant expertise to review every non-affirmation. The technology cannot make that call alone. The AI sorts and assesses files inside a system that produced high denial rates and long delays. Vendor pay explains why that matters: vendors can collect as much as 20% of associated savings from care the reviews avoid. CMS says it monitors denial patterns and cuts payments when vendors miss timeliness or accuracy measures.</p>
<h2>Skipping Prior Authorization Still Routes You to the Reviewer</h2>
<p>CMS calls the process voluntary. A provider can skip prior authorization and perform the injection, but Medicare then holds the claim in pre-payment review before it pays. Either path puts the service in front of a WISeR reviewer. Many practices refuse to schedule until they get an approval, and that is how a patient in pain ends up waiting.</p>
<h2>Your Options After the First Non-Affirmation</h2>
<p>A non-affirmation counts as a pre-service decision, so the standard Medicare appeals process stays closed at this stage. The provider can submit again as many times as needed, add medical records and request a peer-to-peer review with the vendor’s doctor. If waiting could seriously threaten the patient’s health or ability to recover function, the provider can request an expedited decision, which is generally due within two calendar days. If the procedure goes ahead and Medicare denies the claim, the patient gets full appeal rights.</p>
<p>The money risk sits in one form. An <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/11/the-form-she-signed-before-a-1800-mri-left-her-with-the-whole-bill-its-called-an-abn/">Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) asks</a> whether he wants to proceed knowing Medicare may not pay. If he chooses treatment after receiving a valid notice, he may owe the listed charges. Choosing the option that bills Medicare preserves his appeal rights. Approval still leaves normal cost sharing, including any unpaid portion of the $283 Part B deductible for 2026. Medicare</p>
<h2>Three Moves That Keep Your Procedure Alive</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Get the paper trail.</strong> Ask for the procedure’s CPT or HCPCS code and whether WISeR covers it, the Unique Tracking Number on the request, and a copy of the approval or non-affirmation notice.</li>
<li><strong>Push for a resubmission.</strong> Find out exactly which documentation the reviewer said was missing. Then ask your doctor to submit again with those records and request a peer-to-peer review. If your mobility is declining, ask for expedited handling.</li>
<li><strong>Question any Advance Beneficiary Notice before you sign.</strong> Ask what the procedure costs in full and why the office expects Medicare to deny it.</li>
</ol>
<p>He chose Original Medicare to keep an insurance company out of the space between him and the treatment chair. In six states, Medicare has put a new reviewer in that space, and it took a lawsuit for the public to see how often that reviewer said no.</p>
<p><em> </em></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/his-back-injection-entered-original-medicares-new-ai-review-it-took-a-lawsuit-to-reveal-5944-denials-and-an-83-day-wait/">His Back Injection Entered Original Medicare’s New AI Review. It Took a Lawsuit to Reveal 5,944 Denials and an 83-Day Wait</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1668505">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>He Sold His Father’s 80 Acres for $600,000. Two Years Later, Medicare Hit Him With Nearly $7,000 in Extra Premiums</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/he-sold-his-fathers-80-acres-for-600000-two-years-later-medicare-hit-him-with-nearly-7000-in-extra-premiums/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Barrington]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:31:10 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672209&preview=true&preview_id=1672209</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Selling inherited farmland feels like a clean financial win until Medicare sends a bill two years later that nobody saw coming. The timing of a family gift versus an inheritance can quietly determine whether that sale costs thousands more than expected.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/he-sold-his-fathers-80-acres-for-600000-two-years-later-medicare-hit-him-with-nearly-7000-in-extra-premiums/">He Sold His Father’s 80 Acres for $600,000. Two Years Later, Medicare Hit Him With Nearly $7,000 in Extra Premiums</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672209">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p>A $600,000 land sale is not $600,000 of income. But when a low carryover basis creates a large taxable gain, Medicare’s two-year IRMAA lookback can turn one transaction into a year of much higher Part B and Part D costs.</p>
<p><em><strong>Editor’s note: </strong></em>This article was updated with 2024 Iowa State University farmland values and September 2026 IRS guidance on IRC Section 1062. Section 1062 can spread payment of the federal income tax attributable to a qualifying farmland sale over four years, but it does not spread recognition of the gain itself and therefore does not, by itself, reduce Medicare IRMAA.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-land-sale-can-hit-medicare-two-years-later" class="wp-block-heading">A Land Sale Can Hit Medicare Two Years Later</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672198" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2642694399-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1161" data-id="1672198" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Eugene_Photo&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Eugene_Photo&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2642694399&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Golden sunset rolling field with hay bales. Panoramic farm landscape for agriculture and harvest season. Scenic countryside background. Rural summer nature concept.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2642694399&quot;}" data-caption="Golden sunset rolling field with hay bales. Panoramic farm landscape for agriculture and harvest season. Scenic countryside background. Rural summer nature concept." /></figure>
<p>A retired landowner can sell property, pay the tax bill, move on with life, and then get another surprise two years later. Medicare’s income-related monthly adjustment amount, better known as IRMAA, generally uses tax information from two years before the premium year. That means a large taxable gain reported on a 2024 return can raise 2026 Part B and Part D costs.The key is that IRMAA follows modified adjusted gross income, not whether the income was recurring or whether the person still has the money. A one-time land sale can therefore create one expensive Medicare year long after the closing papers are filed away.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-600000-sale-price-is-not-600000-of-income" class="wp-block-heading">The $600,000 Sale Price Is Not $600,000 of Income</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672199" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2495520645-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1440" data-id="1672199" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Zoteva&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Zoteva&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2495520645&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Handshake of woman partners in wheat field. Two farmers shake hands with computer tablet, conclude contract in wheat field, sun. Work in team of business partners. Sale of grain Agricultural industry&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2495520645&quot;}" data-caption="Handshake of woman partners in wheat field. Two farmers shake hands with computer tablet, conclude contract in wheat field, sun. Work in team of business partners. Sale of grain Agricultural industry" /></figure>
<p>Medicare does not simply treat the entire $600,000 check as income. For tax purposes, the important number is the taxable gain. That generally starts with the selling price and subtracts the owner’s adjusted basis, along with selling expenses and other applicable adjustments.If the land sells for $600,000 and the owner’s adjusted basis is $80,000, the gain could approach $520,000 before selling expenses and any other basis adjustments are considered. That gain flows into adjusted gross income. For IRMAA, Social Security then adds tax-exempt interest to AGI to arrive at the modified adjusted gross income used for the Medicare surcharge calculation.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-gift-from-his-father-is-where-the-basis-trap-begins" class="wp-block-heading">The Gift From His Father Is Where the Basis Trap Begins</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672197" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2419209681-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1708" data-id="1672197" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;NDAB Creativity&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/NDAB+Creativity&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2419209681&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Team of multicultural male and female farmers harvesting and working in organic farm&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2419209681&quot;}" data-caption="Team of multicultural male and female farmers harvesting and working in organic farm" /></figure>
<p>The father’s decision to deed the land to his son during his lifetime matters enormously. Property received as a gift generally carries over the donor’s adjusted basis for purposes of calculating gain, although special rules can apply in some situations. Decades of appreciation can therefore follow the property straight into the recipient’s tax return.In this hypothetical, an $80,000 carryover basis against a $600,000 sale creates a very large potential gain. The son may feel as though he simply converted family land into retirement cash. The tax code sees the appreciation that accumulated above basis, and Medicare later sees that taxable gain inside the income figure used for IRMAA.</p>
<h2 id="h-inherited-land-often-gets-a-very-different-basis" class="wp-block-heading">Inherited Land Often Gets a Very Different Basis</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672200" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_1922798498-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672200" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Vitalii Vodolazskyi&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Vitalii+Vodolazskyi&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1922798498&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Wooden home as symbol of property and word inheritance.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1922798498&quot;}" data-caption="Wooden home as symbol of property and word inheritance." /></figure>
<p>Had the father kept the property until death and the son inherited it, the result could have been dramatically different. Inherited property generally receives a basis tied to fair market value at the date of death, subject to exceptions and special estate-tax rules. If the land were already worth something close to $600,000 at that point, a later sale near that value might produce a much smaller taxable gain.That does not mean gifting land during life is always a mistake. Estate, gift, income-tax, Medicaid, and family considerations can point in different directions. It does mean that transferring highly appreciated property before death can create a carryover-basis consequence that may show up years later in places families never expected, including Medicare premiums.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-520000-gain-can-reach-the-top-2026-irmaa-tier" class="wp-block-heading">A $520,000 Gain Can Reach the Top 2026 IRMAA Tier</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672201" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2248274327-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672201" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Rix Pix Photography&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Rix+Pix+Photography&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2248274327&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Fake Medicare cardand fake cash with eyeglasses and a pen.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2248274327&quot;}" data-caption="Fake Medicare cardand fake cash with eyeglasses and a pen." /></figure>
<p>For 2026, a single Medicare beneficiary reaches the highest standard IRMAA tier at modified adjusted gross income of $500,000 or more. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month. At the top tier, total Part B rises to $689.90 per month, an additional $487. Someone with Medicare prescription drug coverage also owes a $91 monthly Part D IRMAA on top of the plan’s own premium.Combine those two surcharges and the extra cost is $578 per month, or $6,936 over 12 months. A hypothetical $520,000 gain from the land sale could cross that threshold on its own before considering other taxable retirement income.</p>
<h2 id="h-even-the-first-irmaa-tier-is-a-noticeable-jump" class="wp-block-heading">Even the First IRMAA Tier Is a Noticeable Jump</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672202" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2360511151-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="2560" data-id="1672202" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Drazbedel&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Drazbedel&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2360511151&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;A hand presents a Medicare card on a blue background in flat design style&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2360511151&quot;}" data-caption="A hand presents a Medicare card on a blue background in flat design style" /></figure>
<p>The top bracket gets attention, but a much smaller income overage can still cost real money. In 2026, a single filer with modified adjusted gross income of $109,000 or less pays the standard $202.90 Part B premium. Move above $109,000 and up to $137,000, and Part B rises to $284.10 per month.That first step adds $81.20 a month for Part B. If the beneficiary also has Part D coverage, the first-tier Part D IRMAA adds another $14.50 per month. Together, that is $95.70 more each month, or $1,148.40 over a full year. IRMAA is tiered, so crossing a threshold by a small amount can have a much larger effect than the overage itself suggests.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-iowa-land-price-puts-the-sale-in-context" class="wp-block-heading">The Iowa Land Price Puts the Sale in Context</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672203" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2374201065-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1440" data-id="1672203" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Lena Platonova&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Lena+Platonova&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2374201065&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Aerial view of the Midwest USA in autumn. Rural landscape, countryside. Farmland, Agriculture field&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2374201065&quot;}" data-caption="Aerial view of the Midwest USA in autumn. Rural landscape, countryside. Farmland, Agriculture field" /></figure>
<p>An 80-acre sale for $600,000 works out to $7,500 per acre. Iowa State University’s 2024 Land Value Survey put the statewide average farmland value at $11,467 per acre as of November 2024, after a 3.1% annual decline.That does not mean this particular parcel was underpriced. Soil quality, drainage, location, improvements, local demand, and dozens of other factors can move an individual farm far above or below a statewide average. But it shows that a sale does not have to involve premium Iowa acreage to create a gain large enough to matter for Medicare. A low historical basis can do most of the damage all by itself.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-voluntary-land-sale-usually-does-not-support-an-ssa-44-appeal" class="wp-block-heading">A Voluntary Land Sale Usually Does Not Support an SSA-44 Appeal</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672204" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2053314293-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1667" data-id="1672204" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;GoodIdeas&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/GoodIdeas&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2053314293&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Flag of the United States Social Security Administration along with a flag of the United States of America as a symbol of a connection between them, 3d illustration&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2053314293&quot;}" data-caption="Flag of the United States Social Security Administration along with a flag of the United States of America as a symbol of a connection between them, 3d illustration" /></figure>
<p>Social Security does allow beneficiaries to request a lower IRMAA after certain life-changing events reduce household income. The recognized events include marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, stopping or reducing work, certain pension changes, an employer settlement tied to closure or reorganization, and some losses of income-producing property.A voluntary sale is the problem here. Federal rules specifically say the qualifying loss-of-property event cannot be at the direction of the beneficiary or spouse, including through a sale or transfer. A one-time capital gain is not itself one of the listed life-changing events. If Social Security used incorrect tax information, an amended return applies, or a separate qualifying event occurred, reconsideration may still be appropriate.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-good-news-a-one-time-gain-usually-does-not-last-forever" class="wp-block-heading">The Good News: A One-Time Gain Usually Does Not Last Forever</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672205" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/5913014568_a1f3148bf7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="710" data-id="1672205" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;kenteegardin&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/26373139@N08&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/6052\/5913014568_a1f3148bf7_b.jpg&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Balancing The Account By Hand&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;BY-SA 2.0&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/6052\/5913014568_a1f3148bf7_b.jpg&quot;}" data-caption="" /></figure>
<p>IRMAA is recalculated for each premium year using the most recent tax information Social Security can obtain, generally from two years earlier. So if the big land gain appears only on the 2024 return, it generally affects 2026 premiums rather than permanently locking the beneficiary into the highest tier.The next return still matters. Interest from certificates of deposit, taxable bonds, dividends, IRA withdrawals, and other income can keep adjusted gross income elevated. Even tax-exempt interest matters because Social Security adds it back when calculating IRMAA MAGI. If 2025 income falls back to a lower range, the beneficiary would generally expect a lower IRMAA determination for 2027, subject to the thresholds and tax information applicable to that year.</p>
<h2 id="h-an-installment-sale-can-spread-recognized-gain-across-tax-years" class="wp-block-heading">An Installment Sale Can Spread Recognized Gain Across Tax Years</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672206" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2580189005-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1569" data-id="1672206" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Andrii Yalanskyi&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Andrii+Yalanskyi&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2580189005&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;A businessman examines a plot of land with a magnifying glass. Purchase and sale of land. Plot valuation. Checking for arrests and possible risks to the successful conclusion of the contract.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2580189005&quot;}" data-caption="A businessman examines a plot of land with a magnifying glass. Purchase and sale of land. Plot valuation. Checking for arrests and possible risks to the successful conclusion of the contract." /></figure>
<p>Before a sale closes, one strategy worth modeling is a traditional installment sale under Section 453. An installment sale generally requires at least one payment after the tax year of the sale. Instead of recognizing all eligible gain at once, the seller generally reports a portion of the gain as principal payments are received, while interest is taxed separately.That can reduce the size of a one-year MAGI spike, although it may create smaller IRMAA surcharges across several years instead. It also introduces buyer-credit risk, interest rules, and other tax complications. This is not something to invent after an all-cash closing. The payment terms need to support installment treatment from the transaction itself.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-new-farmland-rule-spreads-the-tax-bill-not-the-irmaa-gain" class="wp-block-heading">The New Farmland Rule Spreads the Tax Bill, Not the IRMAA Gain</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672207" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2012369174-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1591" data-id="1672207" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Andrii Yalanskyi&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Andrii+Yalanskyi&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2012369174&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Money bag and farm field background. Lending and subsidizing farmers. Grants, financial support. Agribusiness profit . Land value valuation. Land tax. Agricultural startups. Secured loan. Investments&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2012369174&quot;}" data-caption="Money bag and farm field background. Lending and subsidizing farmers. Grants, financial support. Agribusiness profit . Land value valuation. Land tax. Agricultural startups. Secured loan. Investments" /></figure>
<p>Public Law 119-21 created Internal Revenue Code Section 1062 for qualifying farmland sales. For eligible sales to qualified farmers, the provision can let the seller pay the federal income tax attributable to the gain in four equal annual installments. The IRS issued proposed regulations on September 28, 2026, detailing the election and its requirements.Here is the crucial Medicare point: Section 1062 defers payment of the tax. It does not spread recognition of the gain over four years. IRS Form 1062 instructions explicitly calculate tax using taxable income that includes the recognized farmland gain. So Section 1062 can help cash flow on a qualifying sale, but by itself it does not solve an IRMAA spike. It also would not retroactively apply to this hypothetical 2024 sale.</p>
<h2 id="h-before-the-closing-model-medicare-alongside-the-tax-bill" class="wp-block-heading">Before the Closing, Model Medicare Alongside the Tax Bill</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672208" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2421700455-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672208" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;insta_photos&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/insta_photos&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2421700455&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Smiling middle aged senior man working on computer sitting at table with wife standing nearby in living room. Happy mature older couple using laptop technology at home. Authentic candid shot.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2421700455&quot;}" data-caption="Smiling middle aged senior man working on computer sitting at table with wife standing nearby in living room. Happy mature older couple using laptop technology at home. Authentic candid shot." /></figure>
<p>Once a large gain is already on the return, the planning window gets much smaller. Before closing, confirm basis records, selling expenses, and whether any installment structure makes sense. In the sale year, available capital losses may offset capital gains, and avoiding unnecessary taxable IRA withdrawals can prevent piling even more income onto an already expensive year.For someone age 70 1/2 or older who already gives to charity, a properly executed qualified charitable distribution from an eligible IRA can also satisfy charitable goals without adding that distribution to taxable income. None of these moves makes the land gain disappear. The point is to look at income tax and Medicare together before the transaction is locked in, not two years later when the IRMAA notice arrives.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=e7e7688e-2d95-45af-8539-3332b37d48ff&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672209&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/he-sold-his-fathers-80-acres-for-600000-two-years-later-medicare-hit-him-with-nearly-7000-in-extra-premiums/">He Sold His Father’s 80 Acres for $600,000. Two Years Later, Medicare Hit Him With Nearly $7,000 in Extra Premiums</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672209">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Humana Reports Third-Quarter Earnings Nov. 6, in the Middle of Open Enrollment. Members Got Their Plan-Change Letters Weeks Earlier. Wall Street Got the Numbers in July</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/humana-reports-third-quarter-earnings-nov-6-in-the-middle-of-open-enrollment-members-got-their-plan-change-letters-weeks-earlier-wall-street-got-the-numbers-in-july/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:30:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671659&preview=true&preview_id=1671659</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Humana already told investors in July how many members it plans to drop. What your neighbor with a surviving plan has not figured out yet is how quietly the costs on that plan changed before open enrollment closes Dec. 7.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/humana-reports-third-quarter-earnings-nov-6-in-the-middle-of-open-enrollment-members-got-their-plan-change-letters-weeks-earlier-wall-street-got-the-numbers-in-july/">Humana Reports Third-Quarter Earnings Nov. 6, in the Middle of Open Enrollment. Members Got Their Plan-Change Letters Weeks Earlier. Wall Street Got the Numbers in July</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671659">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Humana</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HUM/">NYSE:HUM</a>) reports Q3 results on Nov. 6, more than three weeks into <a title="Retirees Get About Eight Weeks Every Fall to Fix a Medicare Mistake. Most Let Open Enrollment Pass Without Checking a Thing." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/06/retirees-get-about-eight-weeks-every-fall-to-fix-a-medicare-mistake-most-let-open-enrollment-pass-without-checking-a-thing/">Medicare Open Enrollment</a>. Executives will talk about membership, medical costs and margins. By that point, a Humana Medicare Advantage member should already have his Annual Notice of Change, the packet explaining key coverage and cost changes taking effect Jan. 1. If it is still sealed on the kitchen counter, he has less time to choose a plan than he thinks.</p>
<p>Wall Street got the big number months ago. On the July 29 earnings call, <a href="https://humana.gcs-web.com/static-files/d10ba81b-24f4-4855-bc93-1f1a104daac2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">management said</a>: “For 2027, we anticipate these plan exits will impact approximately 600,000 members.” That works out to roughly 8% of Humana’s nearly 7.2 million total Medicare Advantage members. Of those, 6.45 million were in individual Medicare Advantage plans at the end of Q2.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="HUM" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-hum/full?v=999a0baeec6d" alt="HUM earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>Members on <a title="Medicare Advantage Lets You In at 65 With No Questions. Medigap Asks Them Forever After. The Switch Most Retirees Can't Make at 72." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/04/medicare-advantage-lets-you-in-at-65-with-no-questions-medigap-asks-them-forever-after-the-switch-most-retirees-cant-make-at-72/">Original Medicare</a> with a <a title="Medicare Advantage Lets You In at 65 With No Questions. Medigap Asks Them Forever After. The Switch Most Retirees Can't Make at 72" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/16/medicare-advantage-lets-you-in-at-65-with-no-questions-medigap-asks-them-forever-after-the-switch-most-retirees-cant-make-at-72-2/">Medigap policy</a> are not affected by Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan changes. Anyone in a Humana Advantage plan should still check the 2027 notice, whether the plan survives or not.</p>
<h2>July Told Investors How Deep the Cuts Would Run</h2>
<p>Humana expects to recapture “just over 40%” of leaving members, about 240,000 people, in other Humana plans. The exits serve a financial target. The CFO called the top priority “returning to a sustainable margin of at least 3%” by 2028. Management said “the majority of the plan exits were in plans with three and a half or lower ratings.”</p>
<p>Discussing CMS’s decision to end the Part D premium stabilization demonstration, CEO Jim Rechtin said: “The impact is unfortunately going to be more on our members…than it is on us.”</p>
<h2>Surviving Plans Can Still Cost More</h2>
<p>New 2027 plan data show Humana cutting about 2,400 individual Medicare Advantage plan options. Its average maximum out-of-pocket limit rose about 8%, and <a title="Medicare's 2027 Drug Deductible Is $700, Up $85. You Pay All of It Before Your Plan Pays Anything." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/28/medicares-2027-drug-deductible-is-700-up-85-you-pay-all-of-it-before-your-plan-pays-anything/">Part D</a> deductibles rose about 30%.</p>
<p>So one member loses his plan entirely. His neighbor keeps a Humana option but faces a higher out-of-pocket cap, a bigger drug deductible and steeper copays. That second member may not realize his coverage got more expensive.</p>
<h2>A $0 Premium Can Hide a Pricier Year</h2>
<p>CMS projects that Medicare Advantage premiums will fall in 2027, and that headline is exactly what lulls members. Take a member whose premium stays at $0. His out-of-pocket maximum rises from $5,000 to $5,500, and his specialist copay climbs from $35 to $50.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Healthy year with one specialist visit a month:</strong> he pays $180 more in copays.</li>
<li><strong>Sick year with a hospital stay:</strong> his worst-case medical bill grows by $500.</li>
</ul>
<p>Both figures leave out drugs. The Advantage out-of-pocket cap excludes Part D spending, so a larger drug deductible adds on top of the higher ceiling. Every Advantage member also still pays the <a title="Medicare Premium Growth Often Exceeds Inflation" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/28/medicare-premium-growth-often-exceeds-inflation/">Part B premium</a>, which runs $202.90 a month in 2026. A $0 plan premium leaves that charge in place.</p>
<h2>Nov. 6 Lands After Your Homework Should Start</h2>
<p>Open Enrollment closes Dec. 7. When Humana’s executives walk analysts through retention on the earnings call, your own choice should already be taking shape. Three moves matter most:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Price your bad year.</strong> Put the 2026 and 2027 notices side by side. Compare the 2027 medical out-of-pocket maximum, drug deductible, Part D out-of-pocket limit and 12 months of Part B premiums separately. Then run the same comparison against every competing 2027 plan in your county.</li>
<li><strong>Test the plan against your actual care.</strong> Run every prescription through the 2027 formulary. Look up each doctor and hospital in the 2027 directory instead of assuming the network carried over.</li>
<li><strong>If your plan is going away, check your Medigap rights before you pick another Advantage plan.</strong> When a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you get a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting. A member with chronic conditions may never get another clean chance to move back to Original Medicare. Ask your state insurance department which plan letters qualify and how long the window stays open.</li>
</ol>
<p>Wall Street learned in July that Humana expected about 600,000 members to be affected. Only the fall notice tells each member what that means for his own coverage, and he has until Dec. 7 to act on it.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/humana-reports-third-quarter-earnings-nov-6-in-the-middle-of-open-enrollment-members-got-their-plan-change-letters-weeks-earlier-wall-street-got-the-numbers-in-july/">Humana Reports Third-Quarter Earnings Nov. 6, in the Middle of Open Enrollment. Members Got Their Plan-Change Letters Weeks Earlier. Wall Street Got the Numbers in July</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671659">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Best Crypto to Buy in October 2026: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and High-Potential Alternatives</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/best-crypto-to-buy-in-october-2026-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-solana-and-high-potential-alternatives/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671392&preview=true&preview_id=1671392</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Bitcoin each tell a different story heading into October, but a 64% chance of a Fed rate hike and a 5% Treasury yield could scramble the rankings before the month even begins.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/best-crypto-to-buy-in-october-2026-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-solana-and-high-potential-alternatives/">Best Crypto to Buy in October 2026: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and High-Potential Alternatives</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671392">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">As of September 30, </span><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) has seen impressive growth, climbing about 57% over the past 90 days. This outperformed other major coins: </span><b>Solana</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) increased by 48%, </span><b>XRP</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) grew by 37%, and </span><b>Bitcoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) rose by 36%. For instance, if you had invested $1,000 in Ethereum at the beginning of July, you would have around $1,573 by the end of September.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In the last month alone, Solana led with a 15% increase, while Ethereum and XRP rose 8% and Bitcoin gained 6%. Currently, Solana is priced at $118, about 60% lower than its all-time high, while Ethereum trades at $2,706, about 45% below its peak. This suggests Ethereum not only posted strong 90-day gains but has also fallen less from its peak.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Bitcoin Trails the Majors but Holds Up Best Against Its Record</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock-2527574775-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Bitcoin 3d illustration of futuristic space effect" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1546225" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Despite trailing behind other major coins, Bitcoin has shown resilience. It currently trades at $83,893, about 33% below its record high of $126,080—the smallest gap among the major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin closed its </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/19/bitcoin-is-11-days-from-its-first-winning-quarter-in-a-year-what-needs-to-hold-until-september-30/"><span style="font-weight: 400">first winning quarter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> in a year, making it an appealing option for those prioritizing value protection over aggressive gains.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP is trading at $1.49, approximately 59% below its peak of $3.65 in July 2025. While it performed better than Bitcoin over one month and 90 days, it didn’t quite keep up with Ethereum or Solana in terms of growth, leaving it without a significant edge.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">NEAR, Arbitrum and Zcash Beat Every Major, but With More Risk</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/shutterstock-1932865868-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A human hand holds a shiny gold Zcash cryptocurrency coin, featuring the stylized 'Z' logo and text like 'ZCASH', 'decentralized', 'shielded', and 'secured'. The background is a blurry dark screen displaying a financial market chart with fluctuating green and red lines and bars." width="1500" height="659" data-caption="A Zcash coin is held against a backdrop of a fluctuating market chart, symbolizing its potential for growth and future valuation in the cryptocurrency market." data-id="1664273" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Among the smaller coins discussed, </span><b>NEAR Protocol</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/NEAR/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:NEAR</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) stands out, with a year-to-date increase of about 230% and an impressive 89% growth over the last 12 months. If you invested $1,000 in NEAR at the start of September, you would hold about $2,590 by the end of the month. However, NEAR is currently priced at $5.11, 75% below its record high of $20.44 from January 2022.</span></p>
<p><b>Arbitrum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ARB/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ARB</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2022/09/06/arbitrums-tvl-grows-to-2-65bn-amid-airdrop-speculation/"><span style="font-weight: 400">layer-2 network</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> that offers cheaper transaction processing for Ethereum, has surged about 165% over the last 90 days, yet it trades at only about 20 cents—91% below its all-time high of $2.39 —after falling to a record low in June.</span></p>
<p><b>Zcash</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ZEC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ZEC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), known for its </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/11/07/can-zcash-survive-as-privacy-coins-face-regulatory-heat/"><span style="font-weight: 400">privacy features</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, has also performed well, rising about 75% last month, with its current price at $1,402 and a market value that ranks it among the top ten cryptocurrencies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Other coins like </span><b>Sui</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SUI/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SUI</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), </span><b>Uniswap</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/UNI/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:UNI</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), </span><b>Litecoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/LTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:LTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), and </span><b>Hedera</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/HBAR/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:HBAR</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) also experienced gains between 38% and 74% in September, but their momentum is based on a single month’s performance.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">A 5% Treasury Yield and the October Fed Meeting Threaten Every Coin</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2691070973-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Two diverse business men team upset with bad result businessmen workers multiracial partners in office difficulty trouble with papers and laptop failure low stats displeased working meeting teamwork" width="1500" height="843" data-caption="" data-id="1595776" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Consider the external economic environment when evaluating cryptocurrencies. On September 25, the </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/"><span style="font-weight: 400">10-year Treasury yield</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> was at 5.17%, creating a known return for bonds while cryptocurrencies rely solely on price appreciation for gains. Additionally, the chances of a quarter-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve during its October 27-28 meeting stand at about 64%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Although Goldman Sachs has delayed its </span><span style="font-weight: 400"><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">rate-hike forec<a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/17/goldman-reversed-its-fed-call-twice-in-four-days-what-an-october-hike-does-to-bitcoin-and-xrp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ast</a> due to weaker inflation data, traders’ expectations </span>tend to shift frequently. If rates rise, borrowing costs will increase, and speculative cryptocurrencies may take the hardest hit.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">What Is the Best Crypto to Buy in October 2026?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Among the major coins, Ethereum seems to be the best choice for October 2026 because of its strong performance over the last 90 days and its ability to retain more value than Solana. Bitcoin is a solid option for those focused on value preservation, followed by Solana and XRP.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Among the smaller coins, NEAR stands out, with Zcash following closely. Arbitrum, Sui, Uniswap, Litecoin, and Hedera are better suited for a smaller portion of any portfolio.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Keep in mind that while Ethereum has excelled recently, it still trails Solana over the past month and remains 45% below its peak value. If the Fed holds off on raising rates on October 28, smaller coins could continue to outperform their larger counterparts. However, if a rate hike occurs, those smaller coins could see more significant declines, while Bitcoin and Ethereum may hold up better against market pressures.</span></p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671392&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/best-crypto-to-buy-in-october-2026-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-solana-and-high-potential-alternatives/">Best Crypto to Buy in October 2026: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and High-Potential Alternatives</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671392">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Live: Will Nike Crush Q1 Earnings Tonight After a 2% Intraday Pop?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/live-will-nike-crush-q1-earnings-tonight-after-a-2-intraday-pop/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Richmond]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:26:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Live Earnings Coverage]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672182&preview=true&preview_id=1672182</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nike shares dropped 5% after hours despite beating EPS estimates, and the reason has nothing to do with Q1 results. Follow along as we track live updates, technical levels, and what management's guidance means for the turnaround story.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/live-will-nike-crush-q1-earnings-tonight-after-a-2-intraday-pop/">Live: Will Nike Crush Q1 Earnings Tonight After a 2% Intraday Pop?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672182">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p> <div id="live-blog-container" class="flex flex-col" data-post-id="1672182">
<h2 class="text-3xl font-bold font-heading text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-200">Live Updates</h2>
<div class="flex flex-col">
<div class="js-live-updates-container">
<div class="live-blog-cta-wrapper"><div><h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2><p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=2970cc9d-faf1-439a-967c-38fe74dc4e38&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=live_blog_cta&tpid=1672182&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p><p></p><p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=2970cc9d-faf1-439a-967c-38fe74dc4e38&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=live_blog_cta&tpid=1672182&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Stay On This Page to Receive Live Nike Q1 Earnings Updates</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T14:27:24">2:27<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><p><b>This live blog is being updated by Thomas Richmond, a 24/7 Wall St. contributor. Simply stay on this page, and new updates will appear below automatically.</b></p>
<p><b>We expect Nike to release Q1 earnings shortly after 4:15 p.m. ET.</b></p>
</div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Q1 Earnings Coverage Wrap-Up</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:42:10">4:42<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><p><b>That wraps up our initial coverage of Nike’s Q1 results. Thank you for stopping by!</b></p>
<p><b>Tune in to the earnings call at 5 PM EST for more updates.</b></p>
</div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike's Technical Setup After Falling Through 52-Week Low</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:40:04">4:40<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--technical-setup" data-card-type="TechnicalSetupCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Technical setup</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T20:37:08.208Z">4:37pm ET</time>
</header>
<figure class="ac-ts-ladder-wrap">
<figcaption class="ac-chart-caption">Support & resistance · chart through Thu, Oct 1</figcaption>
<ul class="ac-ts-ladder" aria-label="Support and resistance levels around the current price"><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="R2"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">R2</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$44.89</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist">+27.7%</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-fill" style="left:50%;width:50.0%"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="R1"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">R1</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$36.85</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist">+4.8%</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-fill" style="left:50%;width:8.7%"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="price"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">Now</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$35.15</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-marker"></span></span></li></ul>
</figure>
<dl class="ac-ts-facts">
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>50-day avg</dt><dd>$39.11<span class="ac-ts-fact-sub" data-tone="down">-10.1% below</span></dd></div>
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>200-day avg</dt><dd>$48.89<span class="ac-ts-fact-sub" data-tone="down">-28.1% below</span></dd></div>
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>52-week range</dt><dd><span class="ac-ts-range"><span class="ac-ts-range-track"></span><span class="ac-ts-range-marker" style="left:0.0%"></span></span><span class="ac-ts-fact-sub">$35.16 – $76.97</span></dd></div>
</dl>
<p class="ac-body">At $35.15 the stock has already slipped through its 52-week low of $35.16, leaving open space below the price after guidance came in well below Street estimates. Any bounce has to clear $36.85 first, and the 50-day average at $39.11 and 200-day at $48.89 sit far above, so reclaiming the low is the only near-term test that matters.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Jim Cramer on X: “Nike inventories are down!”</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:38:40">4:38<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--x-post" data-card-type="XPostCard">
<header class="ac-header">
<div class="ac-x-author">
<a class="ac-x-name" href="https://x.com/jimcramer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Cramer</a>
<a class="ac-x-handle" href="https://x.com/jimcramer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@jimcramer</a>
</div>
<a class="ac-time" href="https://x.com/jimcramer/status/2105754519649103922" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><time datetime="2026-10-01T20:19:35.000Z">4:19pm ET</time></a>
</header>
<p class="ac-x-commentary">Cramer's read on Nike's first-quarter results lands on the one line that decides whether the turnaround is real: cleaner inventory means less discounting and better margins ahead.</p>
<blockquote class="ac-x-text">I will say this: Nike inventories are down!</blockquote>
<ul class="ac-x-metrics" aria-label="Engagement metrics">
<li><span class="ac-x-mlabel">Replies</span><span class="ac-x-mval">31</span></li>
<li><span class="ac-x-mlabel">Reposts</span><span class="ac-x-mval">1</span></li>
<li><span class="ac-x-mlabel">Likes</span><span class="ac-x-mval">68</span></li>
</ul>
<footer class="ac-footer">
<ul class="ac-chips" aria-label="Mentioned tickers"><li><a class="ac-chip" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a></li></ul>
<a class="ac-source" href="https://x.com/jimcramer/status/2105754519649103922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: @jimcramer on X</a>
</footer>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Wall Street Sees 30% Upside as Nike Falls Below $35</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:31:25">4:31<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--valuation" data-card-type="ValuationCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Valuation · as of Oct 1</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T20:15:51.621Z">4:15pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-vl-hero">
<div class="ac-vl-hero-top"><span class="ac-vl-price-block"><span class="ac-vl-price">$35.15</span><span class="ac-vl-change" data-tone="down">-0.7%</span></span><span class="ac-vl-target" data-tone="up">Target $45.63 · +29.8%</span></div>
<div class="ac-vl-track"><span class="ac-vl-fill" style="width:4%"></span><span class="ac-vl-price-marker" style="left:4%"></span><span class="ac-vl-target-marker" style="left:28.5%"></span></div>
<div class="ac-vl-axis"><span>52-wk low $35.16</span><span class="ac-vl-axis-high">52-wk high $74.51</span></div>
</div>
<dl class="ac-vl-facts"><div class="ac-vl-fact"><dt>Trailing P/E</dt><dd>17.1×</dd></div><div class="ac-vl-fact"><dt>Forward P/E</dt><dd>20.9×</dd></div><div class="ac-vl-fact"><dt>Price/Sales</dt><dd>1.1×</dd></div><div class="ac-vl-fact"><dt>EV/EBITDA</dt><dd>12.1×</dd></div><div class="ac-vl-fact"><dt>Price/Book</dt><dd>3.6×</dd></div></dl>
<div class="ac-vl-meta">Market cap $53.2B · Revenue -1.1% YoY</div>
<div class="ac-vl-ratings">
<div class="ac-vl-rating-bar" role="img" aria-label="39 analyst ratings"><span class="ac-vl-rating-segment" data-rating="strongBuy" style="width:2.6%"></span><span class="ac-vl-rating-segment" data-rating="buy" style="width:25.6%"></span><span class="ac-vl-rating-segment" data-rating="hold" style="width:64.1%"></span><span class="ac-vl-rating-segment" data-rating="sell" style="width:2.6%"></span><span class="ac-vl-rating-segment" data-rating="strongSell" style="width:5.1%"></span></div>
<div class="ac-vl-rating-legend"><span class="ac-vl-rating-item"><span class="ac-vl-rating-count">1</span> Strong buy</span><span class="ac-vl-rating-item"><span class="ac-vl-rating-count">10</span> Buy</span><span class="ac-vl-rating-item"><span class="ac-vl-rating-count">25</span> Hold</span><span class="ac-vl-rating-item"><span class="ac-vl-rating-count">1</span> Sell</span><span class="ac-vl-rating-item"><span class="ac-vl-rating-count">2</span> Strong sell</span></div>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">At $35.15, Nike is sitting right at its 52-week low of $35.16 and nearly 53% below the $74.51 high, with revenue down 1.1% year over year. Trailing 17x against a forward 21x says the market expects earnings to shrink before they recover, yet the $45.63 consensus target implies about 30% upside, and 25 of 39 analysts still sit on hold.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Insiders Loaded Up on 3 Million Shares Before Earnings.</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:28:43">4:28<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--insider-activity" data-card-type="InsiderActivityCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Insider activity — last 90 days</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T20:20:50.812Z">4:20pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-ia-hero">
<dl class="ac-ia-sides"><div class="ac-ia-side" data-tone="up"><dt>Bought</dt><dd><span class="ac-ia-side-value">3.3M shares</span><span class="ac-ia-side-sub">19 buys</span></dd></div><div class="ac-ia-side" data-tone="down"><dt>Sold</dt><dd><span class="ac-ia-side-value">$1.9M</span><span class="ac-ia-side-sub">22 sales · 2.9M shares</span></dd></div></dl>
<div class="ac-ia-track"><span class="ac-ia-track-buy" style="width:52.8%"></span></div>
<div class="ac-ia-axis">Buys 53% of shares traded</div>
</div>
<ul class="ac-ia-rows"><li class="ac-ia-row"><span class="ac-ia-row-date">Jul 30</span><span class="ac-ia-who"><span class="ac-ia-name">KNIGHT, TRAVIS A</span><span class="ac-ia-title">Director</span></span><span class="ac-ia-side-chip" data-side="buy">Buy</span><span class="ac-ia-amount">2.9M sh</span></li><li class="ac-ia-row"><span class="ac-ia-row-date">Sep 1</span><span class="ac-ia-who"><span class="ac-ia-name">HILL, ELLIOTT</span><span class="ac-ia-title">Director, PRESIDENT & CEO</span></span><span class="ac-ia-side-chip" data-side="buy">Buy</span><span class="ac-ia-amount">108.4K sh</span></li><li class="ac-ia-row"><span class="ac-ia-row-date">Sep 1</span><span class="ac-ia-who"><span class="ac-ia-name">DENTON, DAVID M</span><span class="ac-ia-title">EVP: CFO</span></span><span class="ac-ia-side-chip" data-side="buy">Buy</span><span class="ac-ia-amount">71.2K sh</span></li><li class="ac-ia-row"><span class="ac-ia-row-date">Sep 1</span><span class="ac-ia-who"><span class="ac-ia-name">ALAGIRISAMY, VENKATESH</span><span class="ac-ia-title">EVP: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER</span></span><span class="ac-ia-side-chip" data-side="buy">Buy</span><span class="ac-ia-amount">37.2K sh</span></li><li class="ac-ia-row"><span class="ac-ia-row-date">Sep 1</span><span class="ac-ia-who"><span class="ac-ia-name">HEINLE, TREASURE</span><span class="ac-ia-title">EVP: CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER</span></span><span class="ac-ia-side-chip" data-side="buy">Buy</span><span class="ac-ia-amount">34.1K sh</span></li></ul>
<p class="ac-body">Nike insiders bought 3.26 million shares across 19 transactions in the past 90 days, led by director Travis Knight's 2,850,717-share purchase on July 30 and a September 1 cluster that included CEO Elliott Hill (108,400 shares) and CFO David Denton (71,234). The 22 sells, totaling about $1.9 million, are routine plan and tax-withholding activity.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike’s Guidance Sends Stock Tumbling 5%</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:25:00">4:25<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><p>Nike’s Q1 numbers were mixed, but the outlook is much harder to ignore. Management expects fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS of $1.15 to $1.35, <em>well below the $1.65 analysts expected,</em> while <strong>revenue is expected to decline by a high-single-digit percentage.</strong></p>
<p>That helps explain why the stock is selling off despite Nike beating Q1 EPS estimates and gross margin expectations.</p>
<p>Additionally, <em>Greater China revenue fell 22% year over year</em> to $1.18 billion, missing analysts’ $1.3 billion estimate. Nike Direct also fell 8% and digital sales dropped 13%, showing the weakness goes beyond a single market.</p>
<p>North America was the bright spot, <em>growing 2%,</em> but it wasn’t enough to keep total revenue from falling 4% year-over-year.</p>
</div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Q1 Earnings Are Out - Stock Falls 5% on Results</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:18:04">4:18<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><p>Nike just reported fiscal Q1 earnings, with shares initially down 5% following the report. Here are the key numbers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Revenue: $11.21 billion vs. $11.32 billion expected</li>
<li>EPS: $0.48 vs. $0.44 expected</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Quick Read:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Nike beat EPS expectations by 9%, but revenue missed estimates by about 1%.</li>
<li>The top line remains under pressure, with revenue down 4% year over year despite rising 2% sequentially.</li>
<li>Shares sinking 5% suggests investors are looking past the EPS beat and focusing on Nike’s continued sales weakness.</li>
</ul>
</div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike's Bull vs Bear Case at 52-Week Lows</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T16:10:39">4:10<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--thesis-verdict" data-card-type="ThesisVerdictCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Thesis check</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T20:05:51.391Z">4:05pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-tv-hero">
<div class="ac-tv-hero-top"><span class="ac-tv-verdict" data-verdict="weakening">weakening</span><span class="ac-tv-quote">$35.15 <span class="ac-tv-quote-pct" data-tone="down">-0.7% today</span></span></div>
<div class="ac-tv-thesis">“Nike's turnaround restores growth and margins as inventory clears”</div>
</div>
<div class="ac-tv-columns">
<div class="ac-tv-column" data-side="bull">
<div class="ac-tv-column-label">Bull case</div>
<ul class="ac-tv-points"><li>Cash rebuilt to $7.56 billion and net debt trimmed to $3.47 billion in Q2 FY2026, the healthiest reading in a year</li><li>Current ratio of 1.96x funds the inventory cleanup without outside help</li><li>Polymarket traders price roughly 77% odds of clearing the $0.45 EPS bar</li><li>Sentiment is already washed out, with wallstreetbets debating a fall to $20</li></ul>
</div>
<div class="ac-tv-column" data-side="bear">
<div class="ac-tv-column-label">Bear case</div>
<ul class="ac-tv-points"><li>Management guided Q1 revenue down a low to mid single digit percentage</li><li>Last quarter's 49.2% gross margin leaned on a roughly 900 basis point tariff refund</li><li>Underlying gross margin slid from 45.4% to about 40% over five quarters</li><li>Shares at $35.15, within a whisker of the $35.16 52-week low</li></ul>
</div>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">Strip out the tariff refund, and Nike's core business is still eroding, which is why the stock sits at its 52-week low into tonight. A clean gross margin above 42% with a firmer recovery timeline from management would push this back to intact.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Has $3.5 Billion in Net Debt. Here’s Why That Matters Tonight</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:45:44">3:45<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--balance-sheet" data-card-type="BalanceSheetCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Balance sheet · Q3 2024 – Q2 2026</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T19:15:49.759Z">3:15pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-bs-hero">
<div class="ac-bs-hero-line"><span class="ac-bs-hero-value" data-tone="down">$3.47B</span><span class="ac-bs-hero-label">Net debt</span></div>
<div class="ac-bs-meta">Cash $7.56B · Debt $11.03B · Equity $14.87B · Current ratio 1.96×</div>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">Nike rebuilt its cash position to $7.6 billion in Q2 FY2026 and trimmed net debt back to $3.5 billion, the healthiest reading in a year, so tonight's turnaround update is being judged against a balance sheet that can fund inventory cleanup on its own terms. The current ratio at 1.96 is the tightest in the eight quarters shown, worth keeping an eye on if management leans harder on markdowns.</p>
<div class="ac-chart-caption">Net cash by quarter</div>
<div class="ac-chart" aria-label="NKE net cash by quarter" data-tone="down"><div class="ac-chart" data-chart-type="AreaChart">
<svg viewBox="0 0 640 240" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" role="img" aria-label="Area chart">
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<g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="50" y1="24.00" x2="628" y2="24.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="44" y="24.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">$-3.2B</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="50" y1="118.00" x2="628" y2="118.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="44" y="118.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">$-3.9B</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="50" y1="212.00" x2="628" y2="212.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="44" y="212.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">$-4.6B</text></g>
<path class="highcharts-area" d="M50.00,81.17 L132.44,141.44 L213.98,36.97 L297.33,69.11 L380.67,133.40 L463.12,170.91 L544.65,199.03 L628.00,58.40 L628.00,212.00 L50.00,212.00 Z" fill="url(#ac-chart-fill-gradient-bbj3p90)" />
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</svg>
</div></div>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike’s Margins Exploded Higher Last Quarter But There’s a Catch</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:44:49">3:44<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--margin-trend" data-card-type="MarginTrendCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Margin story · Q3 2024 – Q2 2026</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T19:10:51.923Z">3:10pm ET</time>
</header>
<dl class="ac-mt-facts"><div class="ac-mt-fact"><dt>Gross</dt><dd><span class="ac-mt-fact-value">49.2%</span><span class="ac-mt-fact-delta" data-tone="up">+8.9pp YoY</span></dd></div><div class="ac-mt-fact"><dt>Operating</dt><dd><span class="ac-mt-fact-value">12.0%</span><span class="ac-mt-fact-delta" data-tone="up">+9.1pp YoY</span></dd></div><div class="ac-mt-fact"><dt>Net</dt><dd><span class="ac-mt-fact-value">9.7%</span><span class="ac-mt-fact-delta" data-tone="up">+7.8pp YoY</span></dd></div></dl>
<p class="ac-body">Last quarter’s 49.2% gross margin looks great, but it got a massive boost from a tariff refund. Before that, Nike’s gross margin had fallen from 45.4% to roughly 40% over five quarters. Tonight we’ll get a much cleaner look at whether margins are actually improving, especially with operating margin clearing 10% just once since mid-2024.</p>
<div class="ac-chart-caption">Operating margin by quarter</div>
<div class="ac-chart" aria-label="NKE operating margin by quarter" data-tone="up"><div class="ac-chart" data-chart-type="AreaChart">
<svg viewBox="0 0 640 240" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" role="img" aria-label="Area chart">
<defs>
<linearGradient id="ac-chart-fill-gradient-dlme5dk" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
<stop offset="0%" stop-color="var(--ac-chart-fill-start)" />
<stop offset="100%" stop-color="var(--ac-chart-fill-stop)" />
</linearGradient>
</defs>
<g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="43" y1="24.00" x2="628" y2="24.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="37" y="24.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">12.7%</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="43" y1="118.00" x2="628" y2="118.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="37" y="118.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">7.45%</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="43" y1="212.00" x2="628" y2="212.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="37" y="212.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">2.17%</text></g>
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</svg>
</div></div>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Wall Street Is Buying Nike Ahead of Q1 Earnings Tonight</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:34:24">3:34<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--institutional-ownership" data-card-type="InstitutionalOwnershipCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Tracked 13F positioning</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T19:05:53.374Z">3:05pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-io-hero">
<div class="ac-io-hero-line"><span class="ac-io-hero-value">$426M</span><span class="ac-io-hero-qualifier">across 8 tracked filers</span></div>
<div class="ac-io-flow">5 added · 1 trimmed · 1 exited</div>
</div>
<ul class="ac-io-holders" aria-label="Tracked holders by disclosed value"><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Renaissance Technologies LLC</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:100.0%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$167M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="up">+12%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Millennium Management LLC</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:80.6%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$135M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="up">+2.9%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">D. E. Shaw & Co Inc</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:36.2%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$60M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="up">+12%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Tudor Investment Corp</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:16.8%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$28M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="flat">—</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Gotham Asset Management LLC</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:11.9%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$20M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="up">+5.7%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Two Sigma Investments LLC</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:7.7%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$13M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="up">+1.6%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Balyasny Asset Management LP</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:2.0%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$3M</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="down">-0.7%</span></li><li class="ac-io-holder"><span class="ac-io-holder-name">Brevan Howard</span><div class="ac-io-bar"><span class="ac-io-bar-fill" style="width:2.0%"></span></div><span class="ac-io-holder-value">$516K</span><span class="ac-io-delta" data-tone="flat">—</span></li></ul>
<p class="ac-io-more">+ 1 more tracked holder</p>
<p class="ac-io-lag">As of Jun 30, 2026 quarter end · 13F disclosures lag ~45 days — long positions only, tracked filers only.</p>
<p class="ac-body">Among the eight filers we track, five added to Nike as of the June 30 disclosure, with Renaissance Technologies lifting its share count nearly 12% to a $167 million position at the top of the list. Those filings are roughly 45 days stale and predate tonight's earnings report, covering only positioning as of quarter end, which closed with one exit, one trimmer, and no fresh entries.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Retail Traders Are Asking Whether Nike Will Fall to $20</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:34:00">3:34<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--reddit-hype" data-card-type="RedditHypeCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Reddit hype check</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T19:00:53.354Z">3:00pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-rh-hero">
<div class="ac-rh-activity"><span class="ac-rh-activity-value">25</span><span class="ac-rh-activity-label">Board activity / 100</span><span class="ac-rh-sentiment" data-tone="down">Bearish lean · 24</span></div>
<div class="ac-rh-meta">23 qualified mentions · past 7 days</div>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">Retail chatter into tonight's earnings report is thin and sour, with the most-engaged wallstreetbets thread of the week <strong><em>asking whether Nike can fall to $20.</em></strong> The boards are pricing downside, sentiment that sets up a low bar for any upside surprise.</p>
<div class="ac-chart-caption">Board activity — past 7 days</div>
<div class="ac-chart" aria-label="NKE board activity history" data-tone="down"><div class="ac-chart" data-chart-type="AreaChart">
<svg viewBox="0 0 640 240" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" role="img" aria-label="Area chart">
<defs>
<linearGradient id="ac-chart-fill-gradient-vhlsk8l" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
<stop offset="0%" stop-color="var(--ac-chart-fill-start)" />
<stop offset="100%" stop-color="var(--ac-chart-fill-stop)" />
</linearGradient>
</defs>
<g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="36" y1="24.00" x2="628" y2="24.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="30" y="24.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">50.0</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="36" y1="118.00" x2="628" y2="118.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="30" y="118.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">28.5</text></g><g><line class="highcharts-grid-line" x1="36" y1="212.00" x2="628" y2="212.00" /><text class="ac-chart-axis-label" x="30" y="212.00" text-anchor="end" dominant-baseline="middle">7.04</text></g>
<path class="highcharts-area" d="M36.00,185.89 L237.06,124.57 L248.23,150.85 L259.40,137.71 L270.57,142.09 L281.74,142.09 L292.91,190.27 L304.08,137.71 L315.25,177.13 L337.58,199.03 L348.75,199.03 L371.09,172.75 L560.98,58.87 L572.15,36.97 L583.32,76.39 L594.49,98.29 L605.66,89.53 L616.83,107.05 L628.00,115.81 L628.00,212.00 L36.00,212.00 Z" fill="url(#ac-chart-fill-gradient-vhlsk8l)" />
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</svg>
</div></div>
<a class="ac-rh-post" href="https://reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/1wrbvyg" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">
<span class="ac-rh-post-sub">r/wallstreetbets</span>
<span class="ac-rh-post-title">Could Nike fall to $20 ?</span>
<span class="ac-rh-post-stats">138 upvotes · 109 comments</span>
</a>
<footer class="ac-footer">
<a class="ac-source" href="https://reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/1wrbvyg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: r/wallstreetbets</a>
</footer>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Trades at 52-Week Low Ahead of Q1 Earnings</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:32:30">3:32<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--technical-setup" data-card-type="TechnicalSetupCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Technical setup</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T18:55:53.299Z">2:55pm ET</time>
</header>
<figure class="ac-ts-ladder-wrap">
<figcaption class="ac-chart-caption">Support & resistance · chart through Thu, Oct 1</figcaption>
<ul class="ac-ts-ladder" aria-label="Support and resistance levels around the current price"><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="R2"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">R2</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$44.89</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist">+24.4%</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-fill" style="left:50%;width:50.0%"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="R1"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">R1</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$36.85</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist">+2.1%</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-fill" style="left:50%;width:4.4%"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="price"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">Now</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$36.08</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-marker"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ts-rung" data-kind="S1"><span class="ac-ts-rung-badge">S1</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-value">$35.35</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-dist">-2.0%</span><span class="ac-ts-rung-bar"><span class="ac-ts-rung-axis"></span><span class="ac-ts-rung-fill" style="right:50%;width:4.1%"></span></span></li></ul>
</figure>
<dl class="ac-ts-facts">
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>50-day avg</dt><dd>$39.11<span class="ac-ts-fact-sub" data-tone="down">-7.7% below</span></dd></div>
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>200-day avg</dt><dd>$48.89<span class="ac-ts-fact-sub" data-tone="down">-26.2% below</span></dd></div>
<div class="ac-ts-fact"><dt>52-week range</dt><dd><span class="ac-ts-range"><span class="ac-ts-range-track"></span><span class="ac-ts-range-marker" style="left:2.2%"></span></span><span class="ac-ts-fact-sub">$35.16 – $76.97</span></dd></div>
</dl>
<p class="ac-body">Nike goes into tonight's report sitting at $36.08, less than a dollar above its 52-week low of $35.16 and with support at $35.35 as the only thing underneath. Resistance at $36.85 is the first test on a positive reaction, though the 50-day at $39.11 and the 200-day at $48.89 show how far the stock sits below trend. A break under $35.35 puts it at levels not seen in the past year.</p>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Traders See a 77% Chance Nike Beats Q1 Earnings Tonight</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:31:11">3:31<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--prediction-market" data-card-type="PredictionMarketCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Prediction markets</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T18:50:55.187Z">2:50pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-pm-hero">
<div class="ac-pm-question">Will Nike (NKE) beat quarterly earnings?</div>
<div class="ac-pm-prob"><span class="ac-pm-prob-value">77%</span><span class="ac-pm-prob-label">Yes</span></div>
<div class="ac-pm-meta">Polymarket · $2k traded · resolves Thu, Oct 1</div>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">Traders on Polymarket are leaning heavily toward Nike clearing the $0.45 GAAP EPS bar tonight, pricing roughly three-in-four odds of a beat even with management guiding revenue down low to mid single digits.</p>
<footer class="ac-footer">
<a class="ac-source" href="https://polymarket.com/event/nke-quarterly-earnings-gaap-eps-09-28-2026-0pt45" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: Polymarket</a>
</footer>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike Traders Brace for Chaos With 146% Implied Volatility</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:25:25">3:25<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--options-positioning" data-card-type="OptionsPositioningCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Options positioning</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T18:45:51.261Z">2:45pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-op-gauge">
<div class="ac-op-gauge-head"><span class="ac-op-gauge-value">Put/call 0.89</span><span class="ac-op-gauge-read" data-tone="flat">Balanced</span></div>
<div class="ac-op-gauge-track"><span class="ac-op-gauge-zone" data-zone="calls"></span><span class="ac-op-gauge-zone" data-zone="mid"></span><span class="ac-op-gauge-zone" data-zone="puts"></span><span class="ac-op-gauge-marker" style="left:55.6%"></span></div>
<div class="ac-op-gauge-ends"><span>Calls</span><span>Puts</span></div>
</div>
<dl class="ac-op-facts">
<div class="ac-op-fact"><dt>ATM implied vol</dt><dd>145.9%</dd></div>
<div class="ac-op-fact"><dt>Expiry</dt><dd>Fri, Oct 2<span class="ac-op-fact-sub">chain as of Wed, Sep 30</span></dd></div>
</dl>
<p class="ac-body">Options expiring Thursday are priced for a violent reaction, with at-the-money implied volatility at 145.9% on the $35.50 strike. The 0.89 put/call ratio and the stack of puts at $35 and $36 show traders paying up for downside protection into the report, though crowded hedges can just as easily fuel a squeeze with a strong quarter.</p>
<figure class="ac-op-profile">
<figcaption class="ac-chart-caption">Open interest near the money · <span class="ac-op-legend" data-side="put">puts</span> / <span class="ac-op-legend" data-side="call">calls</span></figcaption>
<ul class="ac-op-rows" aria-label="Open interest by strike, puts left and calls right"><li class="ac-op-row"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$34</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:25.4%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:1.1%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">4.3k / 180</span></li><li class="ac-op-row"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$34.5</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:5.3%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:1.1%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">901 / 194</span></li><li class="ac-op-row"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$35</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:50.0%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:8.2%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">8.6k / 1.4k</span></li><li class="ac-op-row" data-atm="true"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$35.5</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:17.9%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:5.7%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">3.1k / 971</span></li><li class="ac-op-row"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$36</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:43.9%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:28.3%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">7.5k / 4.8k</span></li><li class="ac-op-row"><span class="ac-op-row-strike">$36.5</span><div class="ac-op-bar"><span class="ac-op-bar-axis"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="put" style="right:50%;width:17.2%"></span><span class="ac-op-bar-fill" data-side="call" style="left:50%;width:19.5%"></span></div><span class="ac-op-row-oi">3k / 3.3k</span></li></ul>
</figure>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Analysts' Top Questions Ahead of Nike's Q1 Earnings Tonight</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T15:20:55">3:20<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><div data-blast-theme="247wallst" class="ac-feed"><div class="ac-feed__list"><article class="ac-feed__card"><article class="ac-card ac-card--conference-call-preview" data-card-type="ConferenceCallPreviewCard">
<header class="ac-earnings-header">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity-block">
<div class="ac-earnings-identity">
<img class="ac-company-logo" src="https://247wallst.com/activity-cards/logos/ticker/NKE" alt="" width="20" height="20" /><a class="ac-earnings-symbol" href="https://247wallst.com/companies/nke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NKE</a>
<span class="ac-earnings-name">Nike</span>
</div>
<span class="ac-earnings-period">Call preview · Q1 2027</span>
</div>
<time class="ac-time" datetime="2026-10-01T18:35:51.345Z">2:35pm ET</time>
</header>
<div class="ac-ccp-call">
<span class="ac-ccp-call-date">Thu, Oct 1</span>
<span class="ac-ccp-call-qual">Earnings call · after close</span>
</div>
<p class="ac-body">Turnaround progress has come up on every one of the last three calls, alongside the Greater China reset and the Sportswear and Classics franchise cleanup, so the after-hours move likely hinges on whether management puts a firmer timeline on the recovery rather than on the headline numbers. The gross margin question feeds straight into the other standing thread: the path back to double-digit EBIT margins.</p>
<figure class="ac-ccp-table">
<figcaption class="ac-chart-caption">Analyst hot topics · last 4 calls</figcaption>
<div class="ac-ccp-head"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-quarter">Q2 26</span><span class="ac-ccp-quarter">Q3 26</span><span class="ac-ccp-quarter">Q4 26</span><span class="ac-ccp-quarter">Q1 27</span></span></div>
<ul class="ac-ccp-topics"><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">Turnaround progress & timeline</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q3 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">Greater China reset & strategy</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q3 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">Sportswear & Classics franchise reset</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q3 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">North America growth & wholesale</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q3 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">Path to double-digit EBIT margins</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li><li class="ac-ccp-topic"><span class="ac-ccp-topic-label">Innovation pipeline & product scaling</span><span class="ac-ccp-cells"><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q2 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="true" title="Raised in Q4 26"></span><span class="ac-ccp-cell" data-on="false"></span></span></li></ul>
</figure>
</article></article></div></div></div></div><div class="box live-update-box"><div class="update-header"><h3>Nike's Q1 Earnings Are Tonight. Here’s What Investors Need to Watch</h3></div><div class="update-meta"><time datetime="2026-10-01T14:25:51">2:25<span>pm ET</span></time></div><div class="live-update-content"><p>Nike heads into fiscal Q1 earnings with little room for error. Management guided for <em>revenue to fall by a low- to mid-single-digit percentage,</em> while Wall Street expects roughly $11.3 billion in sales and $0.44 per share in earnings.</p>
<p>Last quarter, Nike’s Q4 gross margin <strong>jumped 890 basis points to 49.2%,</strong> but <em>almost all of that improvement came from a roughly 900-basis-point tariff refund benefit.</em></p>
<p>This quarter should give investors a much clearer view of whether the company’s underlying turnaround is actually improving profitability.</p>
<p>Greater China revenue fell sharply last quarter, and <em>current estimates call for another 12.6% decline</em> in Q1.</p>
<p>With Nike shares already reflecting considerable skepticism about the turnaround, clean margin improvement and signs of stabilization in China could be among the most important factors to watch tonight, besides the EPS number.</p>
</div></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>Nike</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NKE/">NYSE:NKE</a>) is expected to report fiscal Q1 2027 results today at <em>4:15 PM ET</em> after the bell. Shares trade at $35.99, <em><strong>down 42.01% year-to-date.</strong></em></p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-nke/full?v=bee68cdd04c2" alt="NKE price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Tariff Windfall Last Quarter Masked a Shrinking Top Line</h2>
<p>In Nike’s fiscal Q4 report last quarter, on June 30, Nike posted $0.72 in EPS, mostly driven by a one-time IEEPA tariff recovery of <strong>$986 million.</strong> Without the recovery, EPS came in at $0.20, and <strong>gross margin was 40.2%,</strong> down 10 basis points.</p>
<p><em>Nike Direct fell 9%, and Nike Digital dropped 12%, while wholesale grew 1%.</em> Nike’s CEO Elliott Hill has called fiscal 2026 a rebuild year under the <strong>Win Now</strong> plan, which moved about 8,000 employees into teams organized by sport. Running grew at <em>double-digit rates</em> for five consecutive quarters, but Sportswear and Jordan Streetwear are <em>still struggling.</em></p>
<h2>Consensus Estimates</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Q1 FY2027 Estimate</th>
<th>YoY Change</th>
<th>FY 2027 Estimate</th>
<th>FY 2028 Estimate</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Revenue</td>
<td>$11.32B</td>
<td>-3.38%</td>
<td>$45.46B</td>
<td>$47.03B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS</td>
<td>$0.4411</td>
<td>-9.98%</td>
<td>$1.6781</td>
<td>$2.1286</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Analysts expect both revenue and earnings to fall from the year-ago quarter, matching management’s guidance. Fiscal 2027 EPS consensus has dropped from $1.82 90 days ago, with five down revisions in the past 30 days. The fiscal 2028 estimate assumes the turnaround picks up next year.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-nke/full?v=21de48ac2d30" alt="NKE analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>What I’m Watching Tonight: Margins, Wholesale and China</h2>
<p>Here are some of the biggest things I’m watching when Nike reports tonight:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Gross margin:</strong> Management guided <em>Q1 gross margin to be slightly positive,</em> assuming tariffs of 10% through July and 15% after that. The key question is whether fewer discounts and a tighter supply chain offset the higher tariff rate.</li>
<li><strong>North America wholesale:</strong> This channel grew <em>10% last quarter,</em> and <em>sales growth at Foot Locker turned positive</em> for the first time in four years. Retail trends slowed in late April, so analysts will be watching what management says about sell-through.</li>
<li><strong>Greater China:</strong> Wholesale in the region <em>fell 19%.</em> Management said profitability will bottom out before sales do, so investors will be looking for proof that old inventory is being cleared.</li>
<li><strong>World Cup spending:</strong> Demand creation spending is set to grow at a <em>high-single-digit rate</em> on World Cup investment. <em>Nike sold 2.5 times as many national-team kits</em> as it did at the same point in the 2022 World Cup.</li>
<li><strong>Leadership and guidance:</strong> CFO Matt Friend is leaving after nearly 18 years, and Nike is holding an Investor Day on November 16th and 17th. Management already warned that Q2 revenue will slow from Q1.</li>
</ol>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="NKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-nke/full?v=2d6927f9ca1c" alt="NKE earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Earnings History</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>EPS Surprise</th>
<th>Day-of Move</th>
<th>1-Day Move</th>
<th>7-Day Move</th>
<th>30-Day Move</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>FQ4 2026</td>
<td>+465.59%</td>
<td>-1.04%</td>
<td>+4.9%</td>
<td>+4.48%</td>
<td>+1.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FQ3 2026</td>
<td>+24.25%</td>
<td>-15.51%</td>
<td>-0.99%</td>
<td>-1.41%</td>
<td>-3.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FQ2 2026</td>
<td>+41.9%</td>
<td>-10.54%</td>
<td>-2.54%</td>
<td>+4.26%</td>
<td>+10.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FQ1 2026</td>
<td>+84.49%</td>
<td>+6.41%</td>
<td>+0.5%</td>
<td>-6.89%</td>
<td>-12.95%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>On average, over the past year, shares reacted by 0.11% in the seven days following earnings.</strong></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/live-will-nike-crush-q1-earnings-tonight-after-a-2-intraday-pop/">Live: Will Nike Crush Q1 Earnings Tonight After a 2% Intraday Pop?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672182">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
<category domain="tickers">Live Earnings Coverage</category> </item>
<item>
<title>AI Becomes Top Reason For Job Cuts</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-becomes-top-reason-for-job-cuts/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Douglas A. McIntyre]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:25:30 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672228</guid>
<description><![CDATA[New data on job cuts looks reassuring on the surface, but buried in the numbers is a figure that reveals how fast AI is reshaping who gets to keep their job and who faces an uncertain road to finding another one.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-becomes-top-reason-for-job-cuts/">AI Becomes Top Reason For Job Cuts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672228">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p>Challenger, Gray & Christmas posts data on US jobs every month. In September, cuts totaled 43,281. That is down 20% from 54,064 in the same month last year. This further confirms that the US job market is stable.</p>
<p>The year-to-date figures, however, showed a troubling trend. “Through September, employers have announced 573,195 job cuts, down 39% from the 946,426 cuts announced in the first nine months of 2025.” However, AI drove most of those cuts. They totaled 120,136, which is 21% of the total YTD figure.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/Workforce-in-motion-Skills-and-pathways-to-future-jobs-in-the-United-States">McKinsey issued a report</a> earlier this week—“Workforce in motion: Skills and pathways to future jobs in the United States.” The figures were grim: “There will be millions of AI-related job cuts. Some of those will find work. Others will struggle mightily to do so. “We estimate that roughly 11 million workers in declining occupations may need to transition to new jobs, ranging from six million to 16 million depending on the pace of automation adoption and its impact on labor demand.”</p>
<p>Almost half of the McKinsey figure faces an “unpaved path” to get new employment. Most of these, the consulting firm said, are in office and administrative support, retail and sales, and transportation and logistics occupations. Seventy percent will need to reinvent themselves, and it is unclear how that will happen or whether, for many people, it will work at all.</p>
<p>The debate about AI and jobs is getting more heated, as it’s clear that tech sector employees are taking a beating, particularly coders. People who think job loss is inevitable see banking as another sector where employees will struggle. The same is true in law and accounting firms, where many workers are well paid.</p>
<p>The large pool of employees who could be replaced is in sectors that employ millions. This includes the largest retailers and fast-food companies, as well as any other sector with “customer-facing” workers. Last year, The New York Times said Amazon plans to replace half a million jobs. As Amazon grows, its management believes, these jobs will disappear between now and 2033. Its warehouses might not have any workers at all.</p>
<p>The other side of the AI argument is that workers will be “retrained.” Bill Gates recently said the idea of retraining has little or no support.</p>
<p>Does the Challenger, Gray report have any value on its own? Not much, until it is added to the list of AI job destruction arguments.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-becomes-top-reason-for-job-cuts/">AI Becomes Top Reason For Job Cuts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672228">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>She Wants to Sell Her House, Pay Her Daughter $150,000 for the Right to Live in Her Home for Life, and Move In. After One Year Under That Roof, Medicaid Can Call It a Purchase, Not a Gift</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/she-wants-to-sell-her-house-pay-her-daughter-150000-for-the-right-to-live-in-her-home-for-life-and-move-in-after-one-year-under-that-roof-medicaid-can-call-it-a-purchase-not-a-gift/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:09:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671839&preview=true&preview_id=1671839</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A six-figure payment from a parent to an adult child sounds exactly like the kind of gift Medicaid penalizes, but federal law carves out a narrow exception that can flip the entire transaction into a legitimate purchase depending on one condition the parent controls.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/she-wants-to-sell-her-house-pay-her-daughter-150000-for-the-right-to-live-in-her-home-for-life-and-move-in-after-one-year-under-that-roof-medicaid-can-call-it-a-purchase-not-a-gift/">She Wants to Sell Her House, Pay Her Daughter $150,000 for the Right to Live in Her Home for Life, and Move In. After One Year Under That Roof, Medicaid Can Call It a Purchase, Not a Gift</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671839">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>If you own a house and plan to move in with an adult child, Medicaid’s transfer rules contain a provision that can turn a large payment to that child into a purchase instead of a gift. Under federal law, a parent can buy a <a title="The Caregiver Child Exemption: How to Transfer a Parent's Home to Yourself Without Medicaid's Five-Year Penalty" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/27/the-caregiver-child-exemption-how-to-transfer-a-parents-home-to-yourself-without-medicaids-five-year-penalty/">life estate</a> in a child’s home, meaning the legal right to live there for life. Once they have lived there for at least one year after the purchase, the payment can fall outside Medicaid’s penalty for giving away assets. The key factor is the one-year residency period.</p>
<h2>How a Six-Figure Check to Your Child Becomes a Purchase</h2>
<p>Medicaid’s ongoing care program reviews transfers made during a 60-month look-back window. Money handed to a child for less than fair value triggers a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for nursing home care. A life estate purchase works differently.</p>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/27/the-caregiver-child-exemption-how-to-transfer-a-parents-home-to-yourself-without-medicaids-five-year-penalty/">Say a mother sells her house</a>, pays her daughter $150,000 for a lifetime right to live in the daughter’s home, and moves in. If the price matches the actuarial value of that right and she stays a full year, Medicaid treats the deal as cash exchanged for property of equal worth.</p>
<h2>Federal Statute Behind the One-Year Rule</h2>
<p>The rule is found in <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/27/the-caregiver-child-exemption-how-to-transfer-a-parents-home-to-yourself-without-medicaids-five-year-penalty/">42 U.S.C. §1396p(c)(1)(J)</a>, part of the Social Security Act’s Medicaid transfer provisions. The statute says “the purchase of a life estate interest in another individual’s home unless the purchaser resides in the home for a period of at least 1 year after the date of the purchase” is included in the assets Medicaid counts as transferred. A buyer who stays past one year holds a purchase Medicaid allows. Pricing follows actuarial life estate tables, which set a value based on the buyer’s age and the home’s fair market value.</p>
<h2>Who Qualifies and Who Gets Shut Out</h2>
<p>The strategy suits a parent with cash on hand, often from selling her own home, who plans to live with a child long term and is healthy enough to remain there at least a year. It fits poorly for anyone likely to need a nursing home within 12 months, for buyers paying more than the table value, and for arrangements where the child does not own the home.</p>
<p>Selling can take time, and existing home sales ran at an annualized 3.98M in August 2026, a soft reading, while a national home-price gauge reached 337.3 in July 2026.</p>
<h2>Five Steps to Lock in Purchase Treatment</h2>
<ol>
<li>Get an independent appraisal of the child’s home.</li>
<li>Find the life estate factor for the buyer’s age in the actuarial table your state Medicaid agency uses. Multiply it by the appraised value to set the price.</li>
<li>Pay from a traceable account and record a deed or written life estate agreement with the county. Cash with no paperwork looks like a gift.</li>
<li>Move in and stay at least one full year. Keep proof of residence: driver’s license, mail, voter registration, and medical records showing that address.</li>
<li>Report any amount paid above the table value as a gift. For 2026, the federal annual gift exclusion is $19,000 per recipient, and gifts above that require a federal gift tax return.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Where the Plan Can Backfire</h2>
<p>Leaving within the first year means the statute treats the <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/19/they-signed-the-house-over-to-their-daughter-but-kept-the-right-to-sell-it-or-take-it-back-that-one-clause-kept-the-nursing-home-bill-off-the-house-and-handed-her-a-clean-basis-too/">entire payment as a transfer</a>, and the penalty period applies to the full amount. The money also leaves the mother’s control permanently. Once paid, the hypothetical $150,000 belongs to the daughter, exposed to her creditors, a divorce, or her own death. A recorded life estate protects the right to live in the home but does not return the cash.</p>
<p>State rules vary because states choose which life estate tables they apply and how to document the one-year residence requirement. New York is moving toward a 30-month look-back for community-based Medicaid once its statute takes effect. Families should confirm the state’s current life estate table.</p>
<p>They should also check how it documents one year of residence, and whether its <a title="If He Spends His Last Two Years on Medicaid, the State Could Send Her a Letter About Recovering $180,000 From the House. She Might Still Lives There, and Federal Law Says the State Can't Collect a Dollar While She Does" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/29/if-he-spends-his-last-two-years-on-medicaid-the-state-could-send-her-a-letter-about-recovering-180000-from-the-house-she-might-still-lives-there-and-federal-law-says-the-state-cant-collect-a-do/">estate recovery program</a> reaches life estates before any money changes hands. Deeds, beneficiary forms, and ownership determine whether a plan like this holds up or fails, which is the whole point of the checklist we put in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">free estate guide</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/she-wants-to-sell-her-house-pay-her-daughter-150000-for-the-right-to-live-in-her-home-for-life-and-move-in-after-one-year-under-that-roof-medicaid-can-call-it-a-purchase-not-a-gift/">She Wants to Sell Her House, Pay Her Daughter $150,000 for the Right to Live in Her Home for Life, and Move In. After One Year Under That Roof, Medicaid Can Call It a Purchase, Not a Gift</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671839">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>AI Spending Is Entering Its Next Phase. This Stock Could Benefit Most</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-spending-is-entering-its-next-phase-this-stock-could-benefit-most/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671139&preview=true&preview_id=1671139</guid>
<description><![CDATA[AI spending is shifting from raw compute power to the wiring that holds massive clusters together, and one under-the-radar connectivity chipmaker just posted triple-digit revenue growth while trading at a fraction of its closest rivals' valuations.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-spending-is-entering-its-next-phase-this-stock-could-benefit-most/">AI Spending Is Entering Its Next Phase. This Stock Could Benefit Most</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671139">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><a title="Goldman Sachs Says a $7.6 Trillion AI Spending Boom Is Coming. Skip the GPUs, Follow the Money Here" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/26/goldman-sachs-says-a-7-6-trillion-ai-spending-boom-is-coming-skip-the-gpus-follow-the-money-here/">AI infrastructure spending</a> is moving from buying accelerators to wiring huge clusters together reliably. <strong>Credo</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CRDO/">NASDAQ:CRDO</a>) sells into that <a title="These 7 Stocks Will Solve AI's Most Important Bottleneck" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/29/these-7-stocks-will-solve-ais-most-important-bottleneck/">connectivity bottleneck</a>.</p>
<p>The 24/7 Wall St. price target for Credo is $242.79, which implies 25.97% upside from $192.73. Our model rates the stock a buy.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="CRDO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-crdo/full?v=89daf539c642" alt="CRDO price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Current Price</td>
<td>$192.73</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</td>
<td>$242.79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upside/Downside</td>
<td>25.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Recommendation</td>
<td>BUY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Confidence Level</td>
<td>90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Analyst sentiment runs 95% bullish, revenue growth is still in the triple digits, and management expects business to accelerate in the second half of fiscal 2027. A beta of 3.23 means the path to our target will likely be volatile.</p>
<h2>A September Selloff Hit Credo Even After an Earnings Beat</h2>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e891ac1"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="CRDO"
data-variant="article"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/CRDO?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/crdo/"
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<p>Credo fell 17.39% over the past month and is up 33.62% year to date. The stock trades 37.6% below its 52-week high of $308.67.</p>
<p>The decline came after Q1 fiscal 2027 earnings. Revenue was $479 million, up 114.73% and ahead of the $470.38 million estimate. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.20 beat the $1.1651 consensus. Q2 guidance is $525 million to $535 million.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="CRDO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-crdo/full?v=b54bb6018ae2" alt="CRDO earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why Bulls See $334 Coming From Optics</h2>
<p>Management expects fiscal 2027 revenue to grow more than 85%, including more than $600 million of optical revenue. ZeroFlap optics, <a title="These 5 Optical Chip Stocks Are Cashing in on AI Data Center Bandwidth" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/12/these-5-optical-chip-stocks-are-cashing-in-on-ai-data-center-bandwidth/">silicon photonics chips</a> and <a title="These 5 Optical Chip Stocks Are Cashing in on AI Data Center Bandwidth" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/12/these-5-optical-chip-stocks-are-cashing-in-on-ai-data-center-bandwidth/">optical DSPs</a> are each expected to top $100 million. Management noted that “AECs continue to grow, optics is growing faster.”</p>
<p>OmniConnect, Credo’s memory connectivity line, could add thousands of dollars of Credo content per GPU starting in fiscal 2028. Wall Street is enthusiastic, with <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/17/if-ai-spending-keeps-exploding-credo-stock-could-look-very-different-by-2030/">4 Strong Buy, 14 Buy and 1 Hold ratings</a> and a consensus target of $280.1. In our bull case, the stock reaches $334.45, a 73.53% gain.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="CRDO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-crdo/full?v=5dca7c397e72" alt="CRDO analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Customer Concentration Is the Risk to Watch</h2>
<p>Credo’s two largest customers made up 33% and 28% of Q1 revenue. GAAP gross margin fell to 64.5% from 68.2%, driven by amortization from acquisition. Non-GAAP gross margin held at 68%. In a bear case, the stock ends the year at $193.30, roughly flat.</p>
<h2>Is Credo Cheaper Than Astera Labs and Marvell?</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Forward P/E</th>
<th>Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Credo</td>
<td>27x</td>
<td>114.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Astera Labs</td>
<td>56x</td>
<td>104.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Marvell</td>
<td>62x</td>
<td>36.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom</td>
<td>19x</td>
<td>85.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Astera Labs</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ALAB/">NASDAQ:ALAB</a>) is the closest match, selling AI connectivity chips. It trades at about twice Credo’s forward multiple despite slower growth.</p>
<p><strong>Marvell</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MRVL/">NASDAQ:MRVL</a>) competes in optical DSPs at 62x forward earnings while growing at a third of Credo’s pace.</p>
<p><strong>Broadcom</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AVGO/">NASDAQ:AVGO</a>) is cheaper at 19x, reflecting its larger size and diversified business. Against this group, the 24/7 Wall St. price target looks conservative.</p>
<h2>Credo Screens as a Buy at $192</h2>
<p>Our model rates Credo a buy with a 24/7 <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/20/credo-is-up-71-this-year-and-wall-street-just-raised-its-targets-again/">Wall St. price target of $242.79</a> and 90% confidence. Credo is the fastest grower in the group but trades at a lower forward multiple than peers.</p>
<p>Prospects improve if the DSP and silicon photonics ramps land on schedule, and weaken if <a title="3 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Before AI Demand Explodes in September" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/16/3-semiconductor-stocks-to-buy-before-ai-demand-explodes-in-september/">hyperscaler orders slow</a> or a top customer switches suppliers.</p>
<p>Credo is one piece of the AI expansion beyond the GPU makers, and we featured seven other suppliers driving that same wave in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free report you can grab here</a>. At today’s price, growth outweighs risk.</p>
<h2>Credo Price Prediction 2026-2030</h2>
<p>If current growth and market conditions continue, the 24/7 Wall St. price target model projects the following base-case prices:</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2026</td>
<td>$196.42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027</td>
<td>$248.02</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2028</td>
<td>$286.39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2029</td>
<td>$333.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2030</td>
<td>$370.29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario5yr" data-symbol="CRDO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite">
<div class="ppw-loading"><span class="ppw-spinner"></span></div>
</div>
<p>These projections assume Credo executes on its current strategy. Revenue from ALCs and OmniConnect starting in fiscal 2028 could push results higher, while a slowdown in AI capital spending could pull them lower.</p>
<div>
<h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-spending-is-entering-its-next-phase-this-stock-could-benefit-most/">AI Spending Is Entering Its Next Phase. This Stock Could Benefit Most</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671139">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Cybersecurity Jobs Are Projected to Grow 21%. At 62, a $125,000 Career Pivot Could Replace One of His 35 Social Security Years</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/cybersecurity-jobs-are-projected-to-grow-29-at-62-a-125000-career-pivot-could-replace-one-of-his-35-social-security-years/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1669441&preview=true&preview_id=1669441</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A 62-year-old IT veteran finds himself one job offer away from rewriting the earnings record Social Security will use to pay him for the rest of his life, but the math only works if the right years are still sitting in his bottom 35.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/cybersecurity-jobs-are-projected-to-grow-29-at-62-a-125000-career-pivot-could-replace-one-of-his-35-social-security-years/">Cybersecurity Jobs Are Projected to Grow 21%. At 62, a $125,000 Career Pivot Could Replace One of His 35 Social Security Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1669441">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>He’s 62 and has been thinking about winding down. He spent his career in IT, running systems or networks, and a field right next to his is giving him a reason to think again.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to BLS data</a>, information security analyst jobs are projected to grow 21% through 2035, with 2025 median pay of $129,180. A few well-paid years in his early 60s can change the earnings record Social Security uses to set his benefit for life.</p>
<p>What he really needs to know is whether a $125,000 year can push a much lower year out of his highest 35.</p>
<h2>His IT Background Makes This Pivot Realistic</h2>
<p>The move makes sense because he isn’t starting from scratch. Years of networking or systems work can carry over into security. He’s pointing the experience he already has at a job where employers are projected to need many more workers.</p>
<p>Job projections have gotten the broad direction of growth or decline right roughly 70% of the time. Hiring demand looks healthy, with job openings near 7.3 million in the latest federal count.</p>
<h2>Why 62 Isn’t Too Late for a Raise to Count</h2>
<p>Your benefit is calculated from your <a title="The 35-Year Earnings Average That Could Cost You $240,000 in Social Security Benefits" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/02/the-35-year-earnings-average-that-could-cost-you-240000-in-social-security-benefits/">35 highest years</a> of earnings, with older years adjusted up for wage growth. If you took any sabbaticals or had other work gaps, missing years count as zeros. If you already have 35, a new year helps only when it beats one already in the count.</p>
<p>Plenty of people are in this spot.</p>
<h2>What a $125,000 Year Could Push Out</h2>
<p>Suppose one of his current 35 years is worth $45,000 after that adjustment. Swap it for a $125,000 cybersecurity year and his lifetime earnings total goes up by $80,000.</p>
<p>Spread over 35 years, that raises his career average by about $2,286 a year, or roughly $190 a month.</p>
<p>His check goes up by less than $190, because the agency runs that average through a formula that pays back a bigger share of lower earnings. For someone turning 62 in 2026, the formula pays 90% of the first $1,286, 32% of the amount above that up to $7,749, and 15% of anything higher.</p>
<p>If his extra $190 falls in the 32% range, it adds roughly $61 a month to his benefit at <a title="The Unfortunate Truth About Claiming Social Security at Your Full Retirement Age" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/09/the-unfortunate-truth-about-claiming-social-security-at-your-full-retirement-age/">full retirement age</a> (FRA). That’s about $732 a year, for life. If his past earnings already put him in the 15% range, the gain is closer to $29 a month, or $348 a year.</p>
<h2>His Whole $125,000 Salary Counts</h2>
<p>In 2026, Social Security only counts wages up to $184,500, the <a title="Forget COLA: This Is the Social Security Number Retirees Need to Know In 2026" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/01/06/forget-cola-this-is-the-social-security-number-retirees-need-to-know/">most it taxes</a>. His full salary is under that cap, so every dollar goes on his record. A $200,000 offer would count only up to the cap.</p>
<h2>Two Separate Ways to Raise His Check</h2>
<p>The job raises his base benefit. A steady paycheck also makes it easier to wait before taking. He reaches his standard benefit age at 67. Each year he waits past 67 adds 8%, up to age 70.</p>
<div id="calculator-6abf71e8928b0"
class="fwp-calculator fwp-calculator-social-security"
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></div>
<p>Taking benefits before 67 while making $125,000 would also run into Social Security’s earnings limit. In 2026, someone under FRA all year can earn $24,480 before benefits are withheld at a rate of $1 for every $2 above the limit. Those withheld benefits are not simply lost; Social Security recalculates his benefit at FRA to account for months benefits were withheld.</p>
<p>The new job can lift his base benefit first, and the adjustment for his taking age gets applied after that. Every future <a title="Here's What's Driving Social Security's 2027 COLA Estimate Spike" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/16/heres-whats-driving-social-securitys-2027-cola-estimate-spike/">cost-of-living raise</a> builds on that bigger base. Currently, the 2027 raise is tracking toward 3.5%-3.6%.</p>
<h2>Check These Three Things Before Accepting an Offer</h2>
<p>He can pull his earnings record from his online Social Security account and look for three things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Does he already have 35 years of earnings on the record?</li>
<li>Which of his included years are lowest after the wage-growth adjustment?</li>
<li>Would a realistic cybersecurity salary beat those years by a meaningful amount?</li>
</ol>
<p>He can compare the Social Security gain against the salary, the cost of any training, and how many more years he wants to work.</p>
<p>A 21% growth forecast sounds like career news for someone decades younger. At 62, one strong cybersecurity W-2 can still push a lower year out of his top 35 and keep paying him long after the job ends. How much he gains depends on his own earnings history, so his statement will tell him more than any rule of thumb. So will yours.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/cybersecurity-jobs-are-projected-to-grow-29-at-62-a-125000-career-pivot-could-replace-one-of-his-35-social-security-years/">Cybersecurity Jobs Are Projected to Grow 21%. At 62, a $125,000 Career Pivot Could Replace One of His 35 Social Security Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1669441">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Marathon Petroleum Climbs 5%, Valero Energy Gains 4% as Refiners Outrun Integrated Majors; Exxon Mobil Stays Flat</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/marathon-petroleum-climbs-5-valero-energy-gains-4-as-refiners-outrun-integrated-majors-exxon-mobil-stays-flat/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:53:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672188&preview=true&preview_id=1672188</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pure refiners and integrated oil majors are trading as if they belong to entirely different industries today, and the reason comes down to one economic relationship that separates how each type of company actually makes money.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/marathon-petroleum-climbs-5-valero-energy-gains-4-as-refiners-outrun-integrated-majors-exxon-mobil-stays-flat/">Marathon Petroleum Climbs 5%, Valero Energy Gains 4% as Refiners Outrun Integrated Majors; Exxon Mobil Stays Flat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672188">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Refining stocks are breaking away from the integrated oil majors, and the gap places the bid directly on <a title="Forget Oil Prices -- This 1 Refining Number Explains Why These Energy Stocks Are On Fire" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/15/forget-oil-prices-this-1-refining-number-explains-why-these-energy-stocks-are-on-fire/">fuel margins</a>. <strong>Marathon Petroleum</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MPC/">NYSE:MPC</a>) stock has risen 5% to $413.75 this afternoon. Also, <strong>Valero Energy</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VLO/">NYSE:VLO</a>) shares are climbing 4% to $403.25, moving in step with the other large independent refiner.</p>
<p><strong>Exxon Mobil</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/XOM/">NYSE:XOM</a>) stock is practically unchanged at $162.85, up 0.1%, which leaves the integrated major out of the refiners’ advance. Meanwhile, the <strong>Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/XLE/">NYSEARCA:XLE</a>) is up 1% to $62.22. That broad energy-sector portfolio counts Exxon Mobil and <strong>Chevron</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CVX/">NYSE:CVX</a>) as the fund’s two largest disclosed positions, giving XLE far more integrated-major weight than refining exposure.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="MPC" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-mpc/full?v=433bed6923dd" alt="MPC price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><br />
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="VLO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-vlo/full?v=2b2e11bec7be" alt="VLO price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>How a Refiner’s Economics Differ From an Integrated Producer’s</h2>
<p>Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy are refiners, and each company’s economics rest on the margin between what crude costs and what gasoline, diesel and other refined products sell for. Crude is an input cost for Marathon Petroleum, so the company’s refining margin expands whenever product prices pull away from that input cost. The move arrives with no company announcement from Marathon Petroleum, and two large independent refiners rising together while Exxon Mobil stock holds near unchanged places the demand in refining specifically.</p>
<p>For Exxon Mobil and Chevron, a crude oil price move reaches each integrated company from both directions at once, with higher crude lifting what the production side at Exxon Mobil and Chevron makes while raising the input cost each company’s refining side pays. That two-way exposure explains how a single trading day can separate the integrated majors from the pure refiners.</p>
<h2>What the Peer and Fund Figures Show</h2>
<p>Reading the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF takes more care. With Exxon Mobil and Chevron as the fund’s two largest disclosed positions, the fund’s gain leans heavily on the integrated majors and offers little independent confirmation of what Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy are doing. Refining holds a much smaller share of the portfolio, so even a strong refining day can lift XLE only slightly.</p>
<h2>Bull and Bear Cases for a Pure Refiner</h2>
<p>The case for Marathon Petroleum in a market like this rests on what a refiner owns, since when product prices pull away from crude, Marathon Petroleum keeps all of the wider refining margin, with no production business to net that gain against. Valero Energy runs on the same structure, which helps explain why both stocks are moving in step.</p>
<p>However, the same structure cuts the other way. Marathon Petroleum has no upstream barrels to cushion the company’s results when crude rises faster than product prices, and that squeeze is the risk the integrated model at Exxon Mobil and Chevron exists to smooth. A refiner’s upside and downside both arrive in full.</p>
<h2>What the Divergence Means for Investors</h2>
<p>Marathon Petroleum stock and Valero Energy stock are both sending a refining signal, and the fund’s gain adds little to that read given XLE’s tilt toward the majors. Traders can watch for whether Exxon Mobil stock stays near unchanged while the two refiners’ gains hold, since a lasting gap would reinforce the refining-specific story.</p>
<p>Shareholders may want to keep an eye on whether product prices continue pulling away from crude, because that relationship drives both Marathon Petroleum’s refining margin and Valero Energy’s. A reversal in that spread would hit both refiners directly, with no production income at either company to offset the damage.</p>
<p>Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy lack an upstream cushion. If crude oil climbs faster than product prices, moderate positions in both refiners fit a bullish margin setup, while Exxon Mobil and Chevron offer firmer exposure that nets both sides of the barrel.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=29b32703-a1b1-4d0b-88cd-1c502e3892d4&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672188&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
</p>
<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=29b32703-a1b1-4d0b-88cd-1c502e3892d4&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672188&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/marathon-petroleum-climbs-5-valero-energy-gains-4-as-refiners-outrun-integrated-majors-exxon-mobil-stays-flat/">Marathon Petroleum Climbs 5%, Valero Energy Gains 4% as Refiners Outrun Integrated Majors; Exxon Mobil Stays Flat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672188">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Alphabet Slips After Gemini 4 Argon Launch as Tech Sector Rises; Microsoft Holds Steady, Amazon Dips</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/alphabet-slips-after-gemini-4-argon-launch-as-tech-sector-rises-microsoft-holds-steady-amazon-dips/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:51:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672186&preview=true&preview_id=1672186</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Google just launched a frontier AI model that can hunt down security vulnerabilities automatically, yet investors are selling the stock while the rest of tech rallies. The reason why reveals a problem Alphabet has not yet solved.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/alphabet-slips-after-gemini-4-argon-launch-as-tech-sector-rises-microsoft-holds-steady-amazon-dips/">Alphabet Slips After Gemini 4 Argon Launch as Tech Sector Rises; Microsoft Holds Steady, Amazon Dips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672186">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, <strong>Alphabet</strong>‘s (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GOOGL/">NASDAQ:GOOGL</a>) Google unit unveiled Gemini 4 Argon, a frontier AI model aimed directly at enterprise work, and the market is declining to pay up for the announcement. Shares of Alphabet are slipping 2% to $338.85 as the session unfolds, a move that runs against a stronger technology sector.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="GOOGL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-googl/full?v=39ad30199645" alt="GOOGL price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>To measure how isolated the slide in Alphabet shares is, the two major technology funds offer a quick check. Notably, the <strong>Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/XLK/">NYSEARCA:XLK</a>) is up 1% to $198.25, a sign the broader technology group is drawing buyers. The <strong>Invesco QQQ Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/QQQ/">NASDAQ:QQQ</a>) up 0.54% to $743.79, a modest gain for the large-cap benchmark.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Microsoft</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MSFT/">NASDAQ:MSFT</a>) shares are up 0.2% to $514.08, holding steady alongside the sector fund. <strong>Amazon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMZN/">NASDAQ:AMZN</a>) stock is down 0.5% to $247.90, a dip that leaves the stock close to unchanged. With both stocks trading near flat, the pressure looks specific to Alphabet shares.</p>
<h2>Gemini 4 Argon Targets Enterprise Code and Security</h2>
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<p>Alphabet’s Google unit built Gemini 4 Argon for long-horizon enterprise tasks, complex software development and automated defensive cybersecurity. Google stated that Argon’s single-trajectory output capacity reaches 1 million tokens, giving the system more room to follow extended reasoning paths across multi-stage projects. Argon can automatically scan codebases, isolate critical vulnerabilities and write context-aware security patches.</p>
<p>During early testing, Argon identified a severe, previously unmapped vulnerability in hospital healthcare software that earlier models had missed, Google declared, and internal engineering infrastructure at Google already runs Argon, giving the company a live proving ground for the system. For Alphabet, that security use case anchors the bull argument, because automatically finding and patching a vulnerability maps onto a budget and an owner inside a company.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="GOOGL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-googl/full?v=ad9e18f21dff" alt="GOOGL price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Restricted Rollout Leaves Revenue Question Open</h2>
<p>The problem for Alphabet is Argon’s launch, which starts narrow. Google is releasing Argon first to a limited group of trusted cybersecurity specialists through the company’s Fairwind Program, and enterprise users, developers and subscribers are slated to follow once further safety safeguards are in place, according to Google.</p>
<p>An introductory developer interface price of $2 per million input tokens, confirmed by Google, gives an early marker for how Alphabet may charge for Argon. Until enterprise customers and developers gain access, the revenue question Argon was meant to answer stays open for Alphabet. That timing gap helps explain why Alphabet shares are lower even as the sector fund rises.</p>
<p>Microsoft shares holding steady and Amazon stock dipping only slightly show the mega-cap group trading name by name. Alphabet stock stands out as the clear decliner of the three, one day after a frontier model release the market has yet to reward. The divergence is significant because all three companies compete for enterprise technology budgets.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Alphabet’s next test is the timing of Argon’s broader commercial launch, which Google tied to further safety safeguards. Shareholders could look for signs that Google’s developer price of $2 per million input tokens draws early interest once access opens up. A broader release to subscribers could test how far Argon reaches beyond security specialists.</p>
<p>The optimistic case for Alphabet stock rests on Argon turning automated vulnerability patching into paid enterprise work. In contrast, the bear case centers on a restricted launch that pushes revenue further out.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=a5160872-5e73-44c8-b08a-7bc17186cc93&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672186&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
</p>
<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=a5160872-5e73-44c8-b08a-7bc17186cc93&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672186&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/alphabet-slips-after-gemini-4-argon-launch-as-tech-sector-rises-microsoft-holds-steady-amazon-dips/">Alphabet Slips After Gemini 4 Argon Launch as Tech Sector Rises; Microsoft Holds Steady, Amazon Dips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672186">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Better Recession-Proof Dividend Stock: KMI or OKE?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/better-recession-proof-dividend-stock-kmi-or-oke/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:45:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672073&preview=true&preview_id=1672073</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Both KMI and OKE slid hard over the past month, leaving retirement investors stuck choosing between a bigger yield and a safer payout history. These two midstream giants look similar on the surface, but their contract structures and balance sheets tell a very different story.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/better-recession-proof-dividend-stock-kmi-or-oke/">Better Recession-Proof Dividend Stock: KMI or OKE?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672073">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>For investors saving for retirement who need a dividend that lasts an energy downturn, which deserves the slot right now: <strong>Kinder Morgan</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/KMI/">NYSE:KMI</a>) or <strong>ONEOK</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/OKE/">NYSE:OKE</a>)? The question is pressing because both stocks slid over the past month: ONEOK fell 12.04% and Kinder Morgan fell 6.92%.</p>
<p>Midstream companies own the pipelines, processing plants, storage tanks and export docks that move oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the wellhead to buyers. The sturdiest revenue comes from <a title="5 Midstream Giants That Raised Dividends Through Market Cycles: Your Guide to Recession-Resistant Income" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/25/5-midstream-giants-that-raised-dividends-through-market-cycles-your-guide-to-recession-resistant-income/">fee-based contracts</a>, often take-or-pay, where a customer pays for reserved capacity whether or not it ships anything. That cash acts like a toll road. <a title="Midstream Dividends From EPD, Williams, and ONEOK Are Built to Survive Oil Price Chaos" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/06/midstream-dividends-from-epd-williams-and-oneok-are-built-to-survive-oil-price-chaos/">Commodity-sensitive revenue</a> rises and falls with prices and with how hard drillers are working. The more of that second type a company carries, the more a price drop can squeeze the cash behind the dividend.</p>
<h2>ONEOK Wins on Yield and Raise History</h2>
<p>ONEOK raised its quarterly dividend 4% to $1.07 in January 2026, or $4.28 annualized, for a yield of 4.88%. Kinder Morgan pays $1.19 annualized, a 2% increase, against a share price of $30.01.</p>
<p>History leans further toward ONEOK. Kinder Morgan’s quarterly payment dropped from $0.51 in October 2015 to $0.125 in January 2016. ONEOK held at $0.935 through 2020, 2021 and 2022, then resumed raising. Operating cash flow offers a clear gauge of dividend coverage. ONEOK generated $5.6 billion in 2025 against $2.58 billion in dividends, while Kinder Morgan produced $3.45 billion year to date in 2026 against $1.315 billion paid out.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="KMI" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-kmi/full?v=81fdda0d9037" alt="KMI price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><br />
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="OKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-oke/full?v=511d8381196e" alt="OKE price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Kinder Morgan’s Contracts Shield the Payout Better</h2>
<p>Kinder Morgan’s project backlog is ~92% natural gas, with more than 60% tied to power generation and utility demand. Its tanker fleet is 100% leased through 2026 and 97% through 2027, and management said its largest Haynesville customers had hedged, making those volumes largely price insensitive. Gas demand is a boost: the EIA expects U.S. LNG export capacity to reach 27.7 Bcf/d by 2030.</p>
<p>ONEOK earned ~90% of 2025 earnings from fees, a solid figure, but its guidance assumes WTI crude at $55 to $60 per barrel and management cited moderating producer activity as a risk. Its 2026 commodity hedges also roll off, leaving 2027 more exposed to NGL prices in both directions.</p>
<h2>Balance Sheet Strength Favors Kinder Morgan</h2>
<p>Kinder Morgan ended the second quarter at 3.6x net debt to adjusted EBITDA, down from 3.8 at the start of the year. Moody’s upgraded it to Baa1, putting all three agencies at BBB+ equivalent. Management plans more than $3 billion a year of expansion spending. The company says it is funded “almost completely with our internally generated cash flow,” adding: “Right now, we don’t feel like we are capital constrained at all.”</p>
<p>ONEOK is still working toward its long-term leverage target of 3.5x. Cash fell to $78 million from $733 million a year earlier, and 2026 capex of $2.7 billion to $3.2 billion is heading toward the upper end. Credit where due: it retired nearly $3.1 billion of debt in 2025 and deferred meaningful cash taxes until 2031. Leverage and ratings carry this comparison.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="KMI" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-kmi/full?v=41e380930e2b" alt="KMI analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><br />
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="OKE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-oke/full?v=469224d120d3" alt="OKE analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Verdict: Kinder Morgan Owns the Safer Dividend</h2>
<p>Kinder Morgan wins for retirees whose top priority is a check that never declines, as its gas-weighted contracts, lower leverage and internally funded growth matter more today than a cut from a decade ago. Management also raised 2026 guidance, expecting adjusted EPS at least 12% above budget.</p>
<p>ONEOK suits the income investor with a longer runway who wants more yield today and faster raises, and can stomach commodity swings to get them. That trade has paid: ONEOK’s 10-year price gain of 202% tops Kinder Morgan’s 116.3%. Next, watch two developments. First, whether Kinder Morgan converts its $10 billion opportunity set into backlog before year end, and whether ONEOK closes the gap to its leverage target as drilling activity cools.</p>
<div>
<h2>Want Up To $3,000 In Stock? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Complimentary Stock</h2>
<p>Looking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion; open a new Active Invest account, fund it with $50 or more, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/sofi?i=beaab39c-0bd5-442d-bd3c-b42b48570094&p=a55abab1-3c01-47d3-9326-1df24e45c37d&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672073&c=1308be9b-d53c-4ba3-964c-7dd7ff9bf5ee&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">you could receive up to $3,000 in complimentary stock</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/better-recession-proof-dividend-stock-kmi-or-oke/">Better Recession-Proof Dividend Stock: KMI or OKE?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672073">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Atlassian Climbs 6% as Beaten-Down Software Names Bounce; HubSpot and Monday.com Gain 4%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/atlassian-climbs-6-as-beaten-down-software-names-bounce-hubspot-and-monday-com-gain-4/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:41:27 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672175&preview=true&preview_id=1672175</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Work management software stocks are bouncing together after a bruising stretch, but a fresh analyst downgrade and a sector-wide rally that could reverse just as fast complicate the story for investors deciding whether to jump back in.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/atlassian-climbs-6-as-beaten-down-software-names-bounce-hubspot-and-monday-com-gain-4/">Atlassian Climbs 6% as Beaten-Down Software Names Bounce; HubSpot and Monday.com Gain 4%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672175">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>A rebound in work management software is gathering pace, with <strong>Atlassian</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/TEAM/">NASDAQ:TEAM</a>) out in front and two of its closest rivals moving in the same direction. Shares of Atlassian trade at $189.18 this afternoon, up 6%.</p>
<p>Also gaining ground, <strong>HubSpot</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HUBS/">NYSE:HUBS</a>) stock is at $213.84, up 4%, following Atlassian higher. <strong>Monday.com</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MNDY/">NASDAQ:MNDY</a>) shares are at $81.82, also up 4%, even with a fresh analyst downgrade still in place.</p>
<p>The <strong>iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IGV/">CBOE:IGV</a>) is up 0.8% to $107.36, a sign that buyers are returning to software as a group. Moreover, the <strong>Invesco QQQ Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/QQQ/">NASDAQ:QQQ</a>) is up 0.47% to $743.26, so large-cap technology is rallying along with the software segment.</p>
<h2>Three Work Management Names Rise Together</h2>
<p>With no company announcement attached, the advance in Atlassian stock leaves the behavior of its peers as the clearest read on the move. HubSpot and Monday.com shares are climbing alongside Atlassian stock, and all three names have fallen over the past month. A shared slide followed by a shared rebound marks this as a bounce in beaten-down names, with buyers returning to the group at once.</p>
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<p>Earlier in September, Atlassian rolled out Jira and DX platform capabilities. These let engineering teams hand routine coding work to artificial intelligence (AI) agents while tracking what they touch and whether their output meets internal standards.</p>
<p>Taroon Mandhana, Atlassian’s chief technology officer of AI and teamwork, stated that organizational context is the biggest bottleneck in AI software engineering. That context, already stored inside customers’ Jira and Confluence, is the main reason investors favor Atlassian, and rivals can’t copy it quickly.</p>
<h2>What the Downgrade Argued on Monday.com</h2>
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<p>The catch in this bounce traces to a research note published on Tuesday by <strong>JPMorgan Chase</strong>. That note cut Monday.com stock to Neutral from Overweight, arguing that the company is struggling to attract new customers. Analyst Samik Chatterjee set a price target of $87 and asserted that a decline in new annual recurring revenue shows the difficulty of sustaining previously strong growth.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="MNDY" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-mndy/full?v=fd8ddc75ff0f" alt="MNDY analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>Chatterjee pointed to Monday.com’s net dollar retention, which measures spending changes among existing customers, slipping to 109% in the second quarter of 2026, and noted longer sales cycles among small and mid-sized business customers. The bank wants a clear change in down-market momentum before turning more positive.</p>
<p>Monday.com shares are rising while the downgrade still stands, which fits sector-wide shifting and leaves its customer-growth questions open.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>The next test is now underway. It is whether the IGV software ETF can extend its gain and whether Atlassian, HubSpot and Monday.com keep moving together, since a bounce built on sector rotation can fade as quickly as it formed.</p>
<p>Atlassian carries the stronger long-term argument, with its agent tooling anchored in customer context, yet the gain in Atlassian stock rests on sector flows, and a broader software pullback could reverse it.</p>
<p>Monday.com presents the tougher setup until JPMorgan Chase sees the down-market improvement the bank asked for, and investors may choose to reduce their exposure while the downgrade stands.</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/atlassian-climbs-6-as-beaten-down-software-names-bounce-hubspot-and-monday-com-gain-4/">Atlassian Climbs 6% as Beaten-Down Software Names Bounce; HubSpot and Monday.com Gain 4%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672175">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>HPE Is the Quiet AI Winner Trading Near Its 52-Week High</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-is-the-quiet-ai-winner-trading-near-its-52-week-high/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:30:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671163&preview=true&preview_id=1671163</guid>
<description><![CDATA[HPE just shattered its 52-week high on a single session surge, yet its forward multiple still sits far below every major competitor building the same AI infrastructure boom. Something in the valuation math does not add up.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-is-the-quiet-ai-winner-trading-near-its-52-week-high/">HPE Is the Quiet AI Winner Trading Near Its 52-Week High</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671163">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Hewlett Packard Enterprise</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HPE/">NYSE:HPE</a>) trades at $66.93 this morning. That is up 8.85% on the session as <a title="While GPUs Get the Headlines, These 3 Stocks Build the Networks That Actually Move Data" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/while-gpus-get-the-headlines-these-3-stocks-build-the-networks-that-actually-move-data/">AI demand</a> keeps raising its networking business. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for HPE is $73.07 over the next 12 months. The model rates it a buy with high confidence.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Current Price</td>
<td>$66.93</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</td>
<td>$73.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upside</td>
<td>9.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Recommendation</td>
<td>BUY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Confidence Level</td>
<td>90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-hpe/full?v=b474cf50486f" alt="HPE price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>We ran the model off Tuesday’s close of $61.49, showing to 18.84% upside. Today’s jump cuts the remaining gap to 9.2%. Our confidence rests on five straight EPS beats, guidance raised through fiscal 2027, and zero Sell ratings on the Street.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-hpe/full?v=2e57391ebe53" alt="HPE price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Record Q3 Results Pushed HPE Past Its Prior 52-Week High</h2>
<p>HPE is up 9.67% over the past week, 28.25% over the past month and 181.79% year to date. Today’s price sits above its prior 52-week high of $65.65 and far above the $19.57 low.</p>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8992c6"
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<p>Fiscal Q3 revenue hit $12.21B, up 32.7%, exceeding the $11.91B consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 cleared the $0.93 estimate. Networking revenue rose 74.9% to $2.89B, and routing went up 270%. HPE announced a $3.5 billion <a title="HPE Cannot Build AI Servers Fast Enough. Is the Stock Still Cheap?" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/03/hpe-cannot-build-ai-servers-fast-enough-is-the-stock-still-cheap/">inferencing server deal with a hyperscaler</a> and expanded work with <strong>Oracle</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ORCL/">NYSE:ORCL</a>) on gigawatt-scale AI networking.</p>
<p>The AI expansion keeps pulling in suppliers well beyond the chipmakers, and networking gear like HPE’s is a big part of the plumbing (we covered seven of these non-chip AI infrastructure names in a free report available here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">7 Stocks Powering the AI Boom</a>).</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img class="attributed" data-id="1671162" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hpe-is-the-quiet-ai-winner-trading-near-its-52-wee-infographic-1790783724788.webp" alt="An infographic titled " /> <footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<h2>Why Bulls See $83 and Beyond</h2>
<p>In the model’s bull case, HPE reaches $83.23. Management’s fiscal 2027 framework calls for EPS of $4.40 to $4.60 and free cash flow of at least $5 billion. That framework leaves out the <strong>AMD</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMD/">NASDAQ:AMD</a>) Helios opportunity, which the CEO sized at “tens of billions of dollars” across the market.</p>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/03/hpe-cannot-build-ai-servers-fast-enough-is-the-stock-still-cheap/">Networks for AI orders reached $700 million in the quarter</a>. Juniper synergies are on track for $600 million in annual run-rate savings by FY28.</p>
<p>The Street is supportive, with 5 Strong Buy ratings, 10 Buys and 8 Holds. The stock already trades above the $68.08 consensus target, so analysts may raise their numbers.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-hpe/full?v=123fde1f0b63" alt="HPE analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Margin Normalization Is the Risk Worth Watching</h2>
<p>Under a downside scenario, HPE slips to $56.43. Management expects gross margin to normalize as AI systems grow. Operating margin guidance of 14-15% for FY27 trails Q3’s 16.2%. Stripping out Juniper, networking grew just 10%.</p>
<p><a title="The Memory Shortage Isn't Close to Ending -- Samsung Just Locked Up 70% of HBM Capacity Through 2031" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/31/the-memory-shortage-isnt-close-to-ending-samsung-just-locked-up-70-of-hbm-capacity-through-2031/">DDR5 and NAND shortages</a> slow shipments. Orders outpace revenue: networking orders rose 36% with record backlog, suggesting supply delays revenue rather than kills demand.</p>
<h2>HPE Trades at a Steep Discount to Dell and Arista</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Forward P/E</th>
<th>Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HPE</td>
<td>14x</td>
<td>33.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dell</td>
<td>21x</td>
<td>57.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arista</td>
<td>39x</td>
<td>37.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Dell Technologies</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DELL/">NYSE:DELL</a>) competes directly for AI server spending. Dell grows faster, earning a higher forward multiple. HPE’s larger networking mix yields higher margins that its 14x forward P/E does not reflect.</p>
<p><strong>Arista Networks</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ANET/">NYSE:ANET</a>) competes head-on in data center switching. Arista’s operating margin is 45.4% versus 12.6% for HPE, explaining most of its premium. HPE’s networking margin is guided to the mid to high 20% range, so part of that gap should close. Our target of about 15x forward earnings looks conservative.</p>
<h2>HPE’s Backlog Tips the Scale Toward Upside</h2>
<p>Our $73.07 target carries a buy rating with 90% confidence. A <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/01/hpe-vs-snowflake-heres-why-the-dividend-play-beats-the-growth-stock/">record backlog priced at a valuation well below peers tips the scale</a> toward upside.</p>
<p>The case strengthens if supply eases and backlog turns to revenue in Q4. It weakens if gross margins contract faster than networking growth can offset. HPE’s valuation still falls behind its fundamentals.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2026</td>
<td>$63.11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027</td>
<td>$77.21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2028</td>
<td>$85.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2029</td>
<td>$93.56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2030</td>
<td>$102.38</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario5yr" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite">
<div class="ppw-loading"><span class="ppw-spinner"></span></div>
</div>
<p>These projections assume HPE keeps executing on its networking-led strategy. A strong Helios ramp could drove results higher, while long-running memory shortages could hold them back.</p><div><h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2><p><em><span>(Sponsor)</span></em><span> Most people spend their entire working lives focusing on one thing: growing a pile of money. Then they retire and discover the skill they actually need is close to the opposite. Turning that pile into steady income, year after year, through good markets and bad, without ever running out.</span></p><p></p><p><span>It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan. That is exactly what </span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=08edd22a-f910-4d34-a37d-39f85862813b&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671163&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span>The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income </span></a><span>helps answer. It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn more here.</span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=08edd22a-f910-4d34-a37d-39f85862813b&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671163&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span> Learn More Here ›</span></a></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-is-the-quiet-ai-winner-trading-near-its-52-week-high/">HPE Is the Quiet AI Winner Trading Near Its 52-Week High</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671163">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Ethereum: A 57% Rise Last Quarter. Can It Reach $3,000 Again?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-a-57-rise-last-quarter-can-it-reach-3000-again/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671356&preview=true&preview_id=1671356</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ethereum just posted its strongest quarter among major cryptocurrencies, but a stubborn ceiling keeps blocking its path to a psychologically critical price target. Two specific triggers could either open the door or delay the breakout until 2027.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-a-57-rise-last-quarter-can-it-reach-3000-again/">Ethereum: A 57% Rise Last Quarter. Can It Reach $3,000 Again?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671356">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) saw an impressive 57% gain over the last 90 days, making it the best-performing major cryptocurrency. This surge has many traders wondering: can Ethereum reach $3,000 once more? This price point was last seen in January 2026.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Despite this recent rally, Ethereum is trading around $2,706 as of October 1, about 45% below its all-time high of $4,946 reached in August 2025. To hit $3,000 again, it needs to climb approximately 11%. Unfortunately, those who bought at the peak are still significantly underwater.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum Outpaced Solana, XRP and Bitcoin Over 90 Days</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3X-Growth.jpg" alt="Three progressively taller stacks of shiny gold coins are arranged on a dark, reflective surface. A glowing yellow, upward-curving arrow originates from the smallest stack and rises to the right, culminating above the largest stack with a bright '3x' symbol. The background is softly blurred with warm, dark tones and a hint of green foliage on the left." width="1024" height="1024" data-caption="The increasing stacks of coins and the 3x growth symbol visually represent the significant returns and wealth accumulation possible through consistent dividend increases." data-id="1511596" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In the past three months, Ethereum outperformed other top cryptocurrencies—Solana (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) gained 48%, XRP (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) increased by 37%, and Bitcoin (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) rose by 36%. This strong performance suggests traders are favoring Ethereum, which could provide solid support for its push toward $3,000.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The rally began from a low of about $1,693 on July 3. A significant boost occurred on August 19, when Ethereum jumped from around $1,917 to $2,252 in one day, a striking 17% increase with the quarter’s highest trading volume.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, the momentum has gradually slowed. Over the past month, Ethereum has climbed only about 8%, after a robust 45% gain over the past two months. It remains down about 10% for the year 2026 and has seen a decline of around 36% over the last year.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum Needs to Clear $2,807 Before It Can Reach $3,000</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock-2498959089-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Money counter machine with dollar banknotes, closeup" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1618811" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum hit a peak of about $2,807 on September 21, shortly after breaking through a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/21/why-is-ethereum-up-today-it-just-broke-above-2672-opening-the-door-to-3000/"><span style="font-weight: 400">key level at $2,672</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, which traders viewed as a gateway to $3,000. Since then, sellers have pushed the price back whenever it has approached that high, leaving Ethereum to close near $2,677 on September 29.</span></p>
<p>This September high now <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/25/ethereum-breaks-year-long-downtrend-but-faces-resistance-at-2800/"><span style="font-weight: 400">serves as resistance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, sitting about 4% above the current price. For a real shot at hitting $3,000, Ethereum would need to close above $2,807, bringing it within 7% of that target. On the downside, the low of about $2,564 recorded on September 20 marks a crucial support level, roughly 5% below where Ethereum stands now.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Why Ethereum Stalled at $3,000 in January</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-1397358848-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Ethereum Cryptocurrency token. Rise in price and Growth of quotations, the green graph up. The behavior of the cryptocurrency exchanges, concept. Modern financial technologies." width="1500" height="843" data-caption="" data-id="1600326" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">At the start of 2026, Ethereum traded around $3,000 and even reached about $3,067 on January 21 before facing heavy selling pressure. It closed at around $3,006 on January 28 but soon dropped to about $2,818, leaving many buyers from that period in a challenging position.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">If Ethereum approaches $3,000 again, these previous holders may be inclined to sell, creating additional resistance at this psychological price point. Traders typically set sell orders at round numbers like $3,000, which further compounds the selling pressure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Moreover, with around 122 million ETH in circulation, reaching $3,000 would raise Ethereum’s market cap from about $330 billion to $366 billion. This means buyers would need to inject around $36 billion to achieve this target—significantly less than what would be required to </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/23/what-would-it-take-for-ethereum-to-hit-5000/"><span style="font-weight: 400">bring Ethereum to $5,000</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Starts Testing October 6</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/shutterstock-1955707429-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Ethereum Coin and Bitcoin in background. Cryptocurrency ETH and BTC. Tokens Blockchain. High Tech Crypto concept. Decentralized crypto currency Ether" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1552263" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum developers are currently working on an important upgrade called Glamsterdam. Scheduled for testing on the Sepolia test network starting October 6, this update comes after </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-slipped-again-sepolia-now-targets-october-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400">some delays in September</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. The Sepolia network allows developers to test changes using coins that do not hold market value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">A successful test could boost market sentiment, while an announcement for the main Ethereum network could be even more influential on the price.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Can Ethereum Reach $3,000 by the End of 2026?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum has a reasonable chance of hitting the $3,000 mark before the end of 2026, but staying above that level may prove challenging. While it only needs an 11% gain to get there, selling pressure from those who previously halted its ascent in January could resurface.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">So, can Ethereum reach $3,000? A daily close above $2,807, combined with a positive Glamsterdam test on October 6, could pave the way. Conversely, if Ethereum closes below $2,564, the strong momentum seen this quarter might start to fade, and the journey to $3,000—and even a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/28/will-ethereum-hit-4000-before-the-end-of-2026/"><span style="font-weight: 400">push towards $4,000</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">—could be pushed back to 2027.</span></p>
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<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671356&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-a-57-rise-last-quarter-can-it-reach-3000-again/">Ethereum: A 57% Rise Last Quarter. Can It Reach $3,000 Again?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671356">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>How Much Do You Need Invested to Collect $8,450 a Month for Life?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-much-do-you-need-invested-to-collect-8450-a-month-for-life/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:21:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671837&preview=true&preview_id=1671837</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Turning a monthly paycheck into permanent investment income sounds straightforward until you realize how dramatically the required capital swings based on one variable most people overlook when building their retirement portfolio.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-much-do-you-need-invested-to-collect-8450-a-month-for-life/">How Much Do You Need Invested to Collect $8,450 a Month for Life?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671837">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Collecting $8,450 a month comes to $101,400 a year. Replacing that paycheck with investment income alone requires a specific amount of capital at each yield level. Fidelity’s retirement guidelines call for savings of 10x salary by age 67 to keep the same lifestyle. For this income, that works out to roughly $1,014,000.</p>
<p>Interest rates shape the comparison, since the <a title="The 10-Year Yield Is 2 Basis Points From Its 2007 Peak. One More Push Takes It Back to 2002" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/">10-year Treasury</a> yields 5.3%, its highest level in the past year. Consumer prices rose about 3% through August. Any yield above the Treasury rate comes with extra risk, and any income that stays flat loses buying power.</p>
<h2>Conservative Tier Requires Close to $2.9 Million</h2>
<p>At a 3.5% yield, $101,400 divided by 0.035 equals about $2,897,000. This tier <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">includes <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/09/11/3-dividend-etfs-to-buy-once-that-give-you-a-raise-every-single-year-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dividend growth funds</a>, broad-market</span> income ETFs, and regulated utilities. <strong>Southern Company</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SO/">NYSE:SO</a>) fits here with a yield near 3.6%, and its quarterly dividend has climbed from $0.70 in late 2023 to $0.76. Demand from data centers drove commercial kWh sales up 7% last quarter. This tier demands the most capital, though it also carries the lowest risk of an income cut.</p>
<h2>Moderate Yields Cut the Bill to $1.69 Million</h2>
<p>At 6%, $101,400 divided by 0.06 equals $1,690,000. This range includes <a title="A $500,000 REIT Portfolio That Pays You Rent Without Owning a Single Property" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/06/a-500000-reit-portfolio-that-pays-you-rent-without-owning-a-single-property/">net lease REITs</a>, high-dividend drugmakers and <a title="2 High-Yield ETFs Paying Up to 11% Without Covered Call Capped Upside" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/27/2-high-yield-etfs-paying-up-to-11-without-covered-call-capped-upside/">covered call ETFs</a>.</p>
<p>The recommendation begins with<strong> W. P. Carey</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/WPC/">NYSE:WPC</a>), which yields about 5.9% after raising its quarterly payout to $0.95. Rent escalators linked to inflation cover 48% of its base rent. The REIT did <a title="6 Dividend Stocks With Huge Yields and Even Bigger Warning Signs" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/16/6-dividend-stocks-with-huge-yields-and-even-bigger-warning-signs/">cut its dividend</a> at the end of 2023, from a prior $1.071.</p>
<p><strong>Pfizer</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PFE/">NYSE:PFE</a>) yields about 6%, and its quarterly dividend is holding flat at $0.43. On the latest earnings call, the CEO said <em>“the dividend will be maintained and eventually after the LOE period will start again growing it.”</em> The tradeoff in this tier is slower dividend growth.</p>
<h2>Aggressive Yields Drop the Requirement Below $1.1 Million</h2>
<p>At 10%, $101,400 divided by 0.10 equals $1,014,000. At 13%, the requirement falls to $780,000. This tier includes business development companies, leveraged bond funds, and mortgage REITs.</p>
<p><strong>Hercules Capital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HTGC/">NYSE:HTGC</a>) yields about 9.4%. Net investment income includes its base dividend at 125%, but non-accrual loans rose from 1 to 2.</p>
<p><strong>PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PDI/">NYSE:PDI</a>) pays $0.2205 a month, which is about 18.7% at a $14 share price. The shares have fallen about 17% over the past year. The high income here can come at the cost of principal.</p>
<h2>How a Seven-Fund Mix Gets There</h2>
<table style="width: 43.6262%;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="width: 54.8112%;">Holding</th>
<th style="width: 18.0414%;">Weight</th>
<th style="width: 25.9498%;">Yield</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">Fidelity High Dividend ETF</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">20%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">About 3% (typical)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">20%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">About 8% (typical)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">W. P. Carey</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">15%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">5.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">PIMCO Dynamic Income</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">15%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">18.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">Hercules Capital</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">10%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">9.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">Southern Company</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">10%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 54.8112%; text-align: center;">Pfizer</td>
<td style="width: 18.0414%; text-align: center;">10%</td>
<td style="width: 25.9498%; text-align: center;">6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>This blend yields about 7.8%, so it needs roughly $1.3 million to produce $8,450 a month. PIMCO Dynamic Income alone supplies about 36% of the income. Together, the two highest yielders supply about 48%.</p>
<h2>Why the Lower Yield Can Pay More Later</h2>
<p>Say $2.9 million earns 3.5% and the dividends grow 8% a year. Income would reach about $202,700 by year nine. Compare that with $1,014,000 earning a flat 10%. That portfolio still pays $101,400, while inflation of about 3% a year shrinks what the money buys. W. P. Carey’s payout has risen about 10% since late 2023, showing the effect of a moderate yield.</p>
<h2>Steps Before Committing Capital</h2>
<ol>
<li>Track actual spending. Social Security or a pension can shrink the amount the portfolio needs to cover, which can move the target into a lower-risk tier.</li>
<li>Test the blend under stress. Remove income from PIMCO Dynamic Income and Hercules and check whether what is left covers essential bills.</li>
<li>Model the taxes. REIT and BDC payouts are mostly taxed as ordinary income, while utility and drug company dividends often qualify for lower rates. Where each holding sits, in an IRA or a taxable account, changes how much of the $8,450 you keep.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
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<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=1f62f2af-c09f-4643-8b5a-4f6196a1e61f&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671837&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/how-much-do-you-need-invested-to-collect-8450-a-month-for-life/">How Much Do You Need Invested to Collect $8,450 a Month for Life?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671837">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Fifth Third Raises Dividend While Walking Capital Tightrope Post-Comerica Deal</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/fifth-third-raises-dividend-while-walking-capital-tightrope-post-comerica-deal/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:15:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672071&preview=true&preview_id=1672071</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Fifth Third just raised its dividend days after absorbing a $12.70 billion bank and watching its capital ratio slip below target. Whether that confidence is earned or premature depends on a number you need to check before the next Fed move.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/fifth-third-raises-dividend-while-walking-capital-tightrope-post-comerica-deal/">Fifth Third Raises Dividend While Walking Capital Tightrope Post-Comerica Deal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672071">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Fifth Third Bancorp</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/FITB/">NASDAQ:FITB</a>) just answered part of the title question itself. On September 17, 2026, the board declared a $0.42 quarterly dividend, up from $0.40, payable October 15. That lifts the annualized forward payout to $1.68, with shares at $50.53 after a 5.25% slide over the past month.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="FITB" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-fitb/full?v=6b23edb4314c" alt="FITB price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>Bank dividends answer to regulators before shareholders. A manufacturer with spare cash can simply pay it out. A bank must first hold enough common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital against its risk-weighted assets, and a thin surplus can restrict payouts even in a profitable year. That matters more now: closing the $12.70B all-stock Comerica deal on February 1, 2026 pushed total assets to $300.1B and made Fifth Third a Category III institution.</p>
<h2>Earnings Cover the Payout With Room to Spare</h2>
<p>The trailing yield is 3.17%. Trailing diluted EPS of $2.97 compares with $1.62 in trailing 12-month dividends, even after merger charges. Second-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.02 exceeded the $0.84 estimate. CFO Bryan Preston put the dividend at the top of the list:</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p>“Our capital priorities remain unchanged. Maintain a strong dividend, support organic growth, where we see the highest returns on deployed capital and then return excess capital through share repurchases.”</p></blockquote>
<h2>Capital Is the Constraint That Matters</h2>
<p>CET1 fell 85 bps to 9.96% after the close and ended June at 9.93%, against a 10% to 10.5% target. Preston said the bank is “effectively there, with capital continuing to build through our earnings power.” Including the $3.2B unrealized securities loss, CET1 drops to 8.7%. Buybacks absorbed the strain: none in the first half, with fourth-quarter repurchases expected at $200 million to $300 million.</p>
<h2>Rates, Deposits and Credit Favor Fifth Third</h2>
<p>The Fed funds upper bound reached 4.00% on September 30, matching the rate assumed in $8.74–$8.80B NII guidance. Net interest margin expanded to 3.36%. Total deposit costs fell to 1.54%, noninterest-bearing balances rose to 28% of core deposits, and the loan-to-core-deposit ratio is 77%.</p>
<p>Net charge-offs hit 0.30%, the lowest since Q2 2023, though nonaccrual inflows reached $354M. Commercial real estate grew just 0.5% as management held a conservative position. CEO Tim Spence on credit: “My own view is that it’ll carry forward, but it’s mix driven.”</p>
<p>Against regional peers <strong>KeyCorp</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/KEY/">NYSE:KEY</a>) and <strong>Regions Financial</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RF/">NYSE:RF</a>), which ride the same rate and credit cycle, Fifth Third’s fees make up 33% of revenue versus a 29% peer median, a protection if lending income softens.</p>
<h2>What Would Actually Threaten the Dividend</h2>
<p>The specific danger is a recession approaching the bank’s downside scenario of 8.5% unemployment in 2027, pushing charge-offs well past the 30–40 bps guide while CET1 is still sitting near 10%. A troubled Comerica conversion that delays the $850M synergy run-rate would compound it. Even then, buybacks get cut before the dividend does.</p>
<h2>Verdict on the Payout</h2>
<p>Yes, the dividend is as safe as the yield suggests. Earnings cover it nearly twice, credit is improving, and management just raised it. Spence’s framing, “stability, profitability, and growth, in that order,” protects the payout. Keep an eye on fourth-quarter CET1 and charge-offs.</p>
<div>
<h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2>
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</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/fifth-third-raises-dividend-while-walking-capital-tightrope-post-comerica-deal/">Fifth Third Raises Dividend While Walking Capital Tightrope Post-Comerica Deal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672071">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The Social Security Tax Cap That Lets Million-Dollar Earners Stop Paying by March</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-social-security-tax-cap-that-lets-million-dollar-earners-stop-paying-by-march/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Maurie Backman]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:13:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1666463</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Not every worker pays Social Security taxes all year long, and the reason why has sparked a fierce debate in Congress over the future of the program itself.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-social-security-tax-cap-that-lets-million-dollar-earners-stop-paying-by-march/">The Social Security Tax Cap That Lets Million-Dollar Earners Stop Paying by March</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1666463">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Social Security taxes are something most workers are resigned to paying all year. Wages up to a certain limit are subject to a 12.4% tax rate, split evenly between employers and employees.</p>
<p>But some workers are able to stop paying their Social Security taxes early on in the year. Here’s why, and what lawmakers want to do about that.</p>
<h2>How Social Security’s tax cap works</h2>
<p>Social Security gets most of its funding from payroll taxes. But there’s a limit as to how much earnings are taxed each year to fund the program. That limit is known as the wage or tax cap.</p>
<p>Social Security’s tax cap changes from year to year. In 2026, for example, up to $184,500 in wages are subject to Social Security taxes. Earnings beyond that point are not taxed.</p>
<p>As such, someone who’s a very high earner could finish paying their Social Security taxes in March. And people who are ultra-high earners could even finish paying their Social Security taxes earlier in the year.</p>
<h2>Why Social Security’s tax cap is now under fire</h2>
<p>If you think it’s unfair that some workers stop paying Social Security taxes in March or sooner, you’re not alone. Some lawmakers have long been up in arms about the fact that a tax cap for Social Security exists. The argument is that it’s not fair that someone earning $184,500 and someone earning $2 million face the same tax bill.</p>
<p>That argument carries even more weight in light of Social Security’s pending financial shortfall. The program needs a serious cash influx to avoid a widespread benefit cut.</p>
<p>There are different options lawmakers can look at to prevent a broad reduction in Social Security benefits, but an increasingly popular one involves getting rid of the tax cap and forcing higher earners to pay into Social Security on all of their wages. However, that introduces a level of complication.</p>
<p>Social Security currently has a maximum monthly benefit it pays that’s tied to the tax cap. If that cap goes away, the only way to keep the program fair would be to raise the maximum benefit. But at that point, it’s unclear as to how much of a net gain Social Security would enjoy, and whether lifting or eliminating the tax cap would actually prevent benefit cuts.</p>
<p>Of course, lawmakers could decide to lift Social Security’s tax cap and not raise the maximum benefit. Doing so, however, changes the nature of the program.</p>
<p>Social Security has long been structured around the fact that the more workers pay in, up to a certain point, the more they get out of it. Compelling higher earners to pay more without the upside shifts Social Security into more of a welfare program, which is not what it’s intended to be.</p>
<p>All told, it’s important to understand how wages are taxed to fund Social Security so you know what to expect. But in a nutshell, if you’re a lower earner, you probably have Social Security taxes taken out of every paycheck during the year. And if you’re a high enough earner, you might finish paying those taxes early on — assuming there’s no major change.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1666463&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-social-security-tax-cap-that-lets-million-dollar-earners-stop-paying-by-march/">The Social Security Tax Cap That Lets Million-Dollar Earners Stop Paying by March</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1666463">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>AMC Sinks 9% as Cinema Stocks Sell Off Together; IMAX Drops 4%, Cinemark Slides 3%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amc-sinks-9-as-cinema-stocks-sell-off-together-imax-drops-4-cinemark-slides-3/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:09:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672166&preview=true&preview_id=1672166</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cinema stocks are tumbling together, and AMC is absorbing the steepest losses even after delivering a quarter that seemed to validate the entire recovery story. Something beyond earnings is driving this selloff across every theater name.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amc-sinks-9-as-cinema-stocks-sell-off-together-imax-drops-4-cinemark-slides-3/">AMC Sinks 9% as Cinema Stocks Sell Off Together; IMAX Drops 4%, Cinemark Slides 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672166">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><a title="AMC Spikes 13% as Refinancing Rally Extends; Cinemark and IMAX Edge Higher" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/28/amc-spikes-13-as-refinancing-rally-extends-cinemark-and-imax-edge-higher/">Movie theater stocks</a> are selling off as a group, and shares of <strong>AMC Entertainment</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMC/">NYSE:AMC</a>) are absorbing the largest losses among the exhibitors. AMC stock is at $2.73, down 9% as the market session continues. The drop puts AMC stock at the front of a broad retreat across theatrical exhibition.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>IMAX</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IMAX/">NYSE:IMAX</a>) shares are at $52.61, down 4%, as the premium-screen supplier trades lower alongside the theater chains that operate its systems. <strong>Cinemark Holdings</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CNK/">NYSE:CNK</a>) stock is at $36.28, down 3%, falling in step with the rest of the group. Together, AMC, IMAX and Cinemark share one film slate and one box-office calendar, so a turn in sentiment toward theatrical exhibition tends to reach all three at once.</p>
<p>Checking in on the equities market overall, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is practically unchanged at $762.34. With the broad market holding steady, the pressure sits directly inside the cinema exhibitors, which marks the decline as a selloff specific to AMC, IMAX and Cinemark stocks. That split matters for AMC shareholders, because the selling traces to how the market views movie theaters as a group.</p>
<h2>Cinema Trade Unwinds as a Group</h2>
<p>Every listed theater name is lower, with AMC, IMAX and Cinemark shares falling together, and that shared direction points at the cinema trade being reversed as a whole. Without a verified company announcement from AMC, sector positioning stands out as the clearest driver of the move. Shares of AMC, IMAX and Cinemark rallied on one recovery story built around a stronger box office, and that same narrative is now working in reverse across all three.</p>
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<p>Looking at the financial side of the equation, AMC’s Q2 2026 report delivered the operating leverage the recovery case rests on. AMC Entertainment reported that attendance rose 13.5% from a year earlier and adjusted EBITDA increased 69.6%, with total operating costs climbing far more slowly than revenues. Those figures came out well before the current selloff, so AMC’s quarter itself sits apart from the move.</p>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="AMC" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-amc/full?v=0d4d999bb924" alt="AMC earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>The tension for AMC shareholders is that the company’s latest quarter delivered what the bull case required, and the stock is lower anyway, though what separates AMC stock from Cinemark and IMAX shares is the magnitude of the decline since all three are falling together. Among the three, the 9% slide in AMC stock is the largest, with shares of IMAX and Cinemark down 4% and 3%, respectively, at the softer end.</p>
<p>IMAX occupies a different seat in the same industry, supplying premium-screen technology to exhibitors, AMC among them, and because IMAX depends on theater attendance, a decline in sentiment toward the chains tends to spill over onto IMAX stock. An <a title="If Spider-Man Wins 2026's Box Office Crown, These Stocks Win Too" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/29/if-spider-man-wins-2026s-box-office-crown-these-stocks-win-too/">upcoming release slate</a> that includes <em>Dune: Part Three</em> and <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> remains the shared fundamental story behind IMAX, AMC and Cinemark alike.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Seasonality in AMC Entertainment’s cash generation adds a reason for caution on the recovery story. The company has stated that working capital generally contributes cash in the second and fourth quarters. It draws on it in the first and third, so one strong period falls short of establishing a full-year trend for AMC on its own. Market watchers may want to check for AMC’s next quarterly update to see whether that pattern holds.</p>
<p>AMC Entertainment’s latest quarter supports the operating story, yet the sharp swings in AMC stock argue for restraint. Investors weighing their exposure should adjust their holdings carefully given AMC’s standing as the hardest-hit name in a selloff that’s reaching every cinema stock.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amc-sinks-9-as-cinema-stocks-sell-off-together-imax-drops-4-cinemark-slides-3/">AMC Sinks 9% as Cinema Stocks Sell Off Together; IMAX Drops 4%, Cinemark Slides 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672166">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>22 Years Later, Her $150 Daily Benefit Covers Less Than Half the Median Private Nursing Home Rate</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/22-years-later-her-150-daily-benefit-covers-less-than-half-the-median-private-nursing-home-rate/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Barrington]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:05:01 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[retirement]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672154&preview=true&preview_id=1672154</guid>
<description><![CDATA[She kept her long-term care policy in force for more than two decades, never missed a premium, and still faces a staggering bill her coverage cannot touch. The reason goes back to a single decision she made when she first signed the paperwork.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/22-years-later-her-150-daily-benefit-covers-less-than-half-the-median-private-nursing-home-rate/">22 Years Later, Her $150 Daily Benefit Covers Less Than Half the Median Private Nursing Home Rate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672154">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p>A $150-a-day long-term care insurance benefit looked substantial in 2004, offering a measure of protection against future nursing-home bills. Without inflation protection, though, that daily limit stayed frozen while care costs kept climbing.</p>
<p>CareScout’s 2025 survey puts the national median rate for a private nursing-home room at $355 a day. Even when the policy pays its full $150 daily benefit, that leaves a $205 daily shortfall, or nearly $75,000 over a full year of care. The insurance may still pay exactly what it promised. The problem is how much less that promise covers more than two decades later.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-policy-did-not-shrink-the-cost-of-care-grew" class="wp-block-heading">The Policy Did Not Shrink. The Cost of Care Grew</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672143" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_1549617053-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672143" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Vitalii Vodolazskyi&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Vitalii+Vodolazskyi&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1549617053&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Long-Term Care Insurance agreement policy and notebook.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1549617053&quot;}" data-caption="Long-Term Care Insurance agreement policy and notebook." /></figure>
<p>In this hypothetical, the woman bought a long-term care policy at 62 in 2004 with a $150 daily maximum and kept it in force for 22 years. Because she declined inflation protection, that $150 benefit did not automatically rise just because her premiums later increased. A premium increase changes what she pays to keep the policy. It does not, by itself, rewrite the daily benefit she originally bought. Once her claim is approved and any waiting period is satisfied, a reimbursement-style policy can still cap covered nursing-home expenses at $150 a day even when the facility charges much more. Some policies use cash or indemnity benefits instead, so the exact payment mechanics always come back to the contract.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-205-daily-gap-becomes-74825-a-year" class="wp-block-heading">A $205 Daily Gap Becomes $74,825 a Year</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672144" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2692223811-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672144" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Halfpoint&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Halfpoint&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2692223811&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Home nurse spending time with elderly lady patient in garden.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2692223811&quot;}" data-caption="Home nurse spending time with elderly lady patient in garden." /></figure>
<p>The latest CareScout Cost of Care Survey puts the 2025 national median for a private nursing-home room at $355 a day, or $129,575 a year. Against that bill, a $150 daily benefit covers about 42% of the daily charge. The policy contributes up to $54,750 over a full 365-day year, while the remaining $205 a day adds up to $74,825. That is still meaningful coverage, but it is nowhere close to paying the entire bill. Local prices can be much higher or lower than the national median, so the real shortfall depends heavily on where the policyholder lives and which facility she uses.</p>
<h2 id="h-inflation-protection-was-designed-for-exactly-this-problem" class="wp-block-heading">Inflation Protection Was Designed for Exactly This Problem</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672145" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2146335327-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1493" data-id="1672145" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Westlight&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Westlight&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2146335327&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Inflation increases. Commodities with financial data. Crude oil, wheat and gold with price change. Inflation in yellow letters. Graphs, charts and moving averages in the background. 3D illustration.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2146335327&quot;}" data-caption="Inflation increases. Commodities with financial data. Crude oil, wheat and gold with price change. Inflation in yellow letters. Graphs, charts and moving averages in the background. 3D illustration." /></figure>
<p>Inflation protection exists because a daily benefit that looks substantial when a policy is purchased can lose buying power over a 20- or 30-year retirement. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners warns that benefits may fail to keep pace with long-term care costs if they do not increase over time. Automatic inflation options raise covered benefit amounts according to the contract, while other designs let the policyholder periodically buy additional coverage. Either approach costs more than leaving the benefit flat. The key point is simple: paying the policy for decades keeps the coverage alive, but only an inflation feature or another contractual increase changes the amount of coverage over time.</p>
<h2 id="h-what-22-years-of-inflation-increases-could-have-done" class="wp-block-heading">What 22 Years of Inflation Increases Could Have Done</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672146" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/6736194099_eb2ac3f1bb_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" data-id="1672146" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;401(K) 2013&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/68751915@N05&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7007\/6736194099_eb2ac3f1bb_b.jpg&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Calculator&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;BY-SA 2.0&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7007\/6736194099_eb2ac3f1bb_b.jpg&quot;}" data-caption="" /></figure>
<p>The math shows how dramatically different inflation options can become over 22 years. Starting from $150 a day, no inflation protection leaves the benefit at $150. A 3% compound increase would grow it to about $287 a day. A 5% simple increase would reach $315, while a 5% compound increase would reach about $439. Those are illustrations, not a promise about any particular policy. Real riders may stop after a set number of years, end at a certain age, use a different percentage, or apply other limits. Still, the comparison shows why the inflation decision made at 62 can matter enormously when the claim does not arrive until 84.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-inflation-rider-never-had-one-universal-price" class="wp-block-heading">The Inflation Rider Never Had One Universal Price</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672147" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_1761147218-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1491" data-id="1672147" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;89stocker&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/89stocker&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1761147218&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Car dealers or managers have offered special prices and conditions for car purchases with insurance. Service and offering or financial banking concept.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1761147218&quot;}" data-caption="Car dealers or managers have offered special prices and conditions for car purchases with insurance. Service and offering or financial banking concept." /></figure>
<p>It is tempting to say she should have bought the rider, but that skips the hardest part of the original decision. Inflation protection raises the cost of long-term care insurance, and there is no reliable one-size-fits-all percentage that tells you how much more it would have cost this woman in 2004. Premiums depend on factors such as age, carrier, benefit amount, benefit period, elimination period, policy design, underwriting, and the inflation option selected. The original claim that a rider typically added 25% to 40% is too broad to use as a universal rule. At 62, she was balancing better future protection against a higher premium she might have to keep paying for decades.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-three-year-benefit-period-is-not-three-years-of-free-care" class="wp-block-heading">A Three-Year Benefit Period Is Not Three Years of Free Care</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672148" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2638102185-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1669" data-id="1672148" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;KinoMasterskaya&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/KinoMasterskaya&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2638102185&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;A person is filling out a medical examination form for insurance purposes, carefully writing on the document. Documenting a life and health insurance form in office of a hospital or insurance agency.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2638102185&quot;}" data-caption="A person is filling out a medical examination form for insurance purposes, carefully writing on the document. Documenting a life and health insurance form in office of a hospital or insurance agency." /></figure>
<p>The daily benefit is only one part of the policy. Long-term care coverage also has a maximum benefit period or lifetime benefit amount. In a policy structured as $150 a day for three years, the maximum pool would be about $164,250, calculated as $150 times 365 days times three years. That does not mean the insurer pays the entire nursing-home bill for three years. If the covered facility charges $355 a day and the policy pays $150, the policyholder is still responsible for the difference while benefits are available. Inflation protection can also increase the lifetime maximum under many policy designs, but the declarations page and rider language control the actual numbers.</p>
<h2 id="h-a-90-day-waiting-period-can-add-nearly-32000-first" class="wp-block-heading">A 90-Day Waiting Period Can Add Nearly $32,000 First</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672149" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2303746373-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1708" data-id="1672149" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2303746373&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Senior woman, nurse and hug in elderly care, life insurance or support together in nature. Rear view of mature female with caregiver in healthcare, medical aid or garden walk at nursing home outdoors&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2303746373&quot;}" data-caption="Senior woman, nurse and hug in elderly care, life insurance or support together in nature. Rear view of mature female with caregiver in healthcare, medical aid or garden walk at nursing home outdoors" /></figure>
<p>Many long-term care policies include an elimination period before benefits begin. Common choices include 30, 60, or 90 days, although other periods exist. If this woman has a 90-day calendar-day elimination period and pays a $355 private-room rate every day, the nursing-home bill during that wait would total $31,950 before the policy starts paying. The wording matters. Some policies count calendar days once the benefit trigger is met, while others count only days when covered services are actually received. A 90-day service-day requirement can therefore take longer than 90 calendar days to satisfy. This is one of those contract details families do not want to discover after admission.</p>
<h2 id="h-medicare-is-not-the-long-term-care-backup-plan" class="wp-block-heading">Medicare Is Not the Long-Term Care Backup Plan</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672150" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2465330977-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672150" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Julia Zavalishina&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Julia+Zavalishina&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2465330977&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Female doctor examining older senior couple in doctor office or at home. Old woman man patient and doctor have consultation in hospital room. Medicine healthcare medical checkup. Visit to doctor&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2465330977&quot;}" data-caption="Female doctor examining older senior couple in doctor office or at home. Old woman man patient and doctor have consultation in hospital room. Medicine healthcare medical checkup. Visit to doctor" /></figure>
<p>Medicare can help with a qualifying short-term skilled nursing stay, but it does not generally cover a long nursing-home stay when custodial care is the only care someone needs. Medicare Part A may cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care when its eligibility rules are met. That is very different from paying for years of help with bathing, dressing, eating, or other daily needs. So when a private long-term care policy leaves a $205 daily gap in this scenario, the family cannot assume Medicare will simply take over the difference. Long-term custodial care is exactly where private savings, long-term care insurance, and eventually Medicaid eligibility often become central to the plan.</p>
<h2 id="h-medicaid-can-enter-later-but-the-state-rules-control" class="wp-block-heading">Medicaid Can Enter Later, but the State Rules Control</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672151" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_1621597114-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672151" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;imtmphoto&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/imtmphoto&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1621597114&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;asian old man sitting in hospital hallway looking sad and depressed&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1621597114&quot;}" data-caption="asian old man sitting in hospital hallway looking sad and depressed" /></figure>
<p>Medicaid can cover nursing-facility care for people who meet their state’s financial and medical eligibility rules and receive care in a Medicaid-certified facility. Private long-term care insurance does not simply disappear when Medicaid begins. Federal Medicaid rules treat long-term care insurance as a potential third-party resource, which means available insurance generally must meet its legal payment obligation before Medicaid pays its share. Income limits, resource rules, patient-pay requirements, and treatment of insurance benefits vary by state. The practical lesson is that Medicaid can become part of the funding plan after assets are depleted, but it is not as simple as having Medicaid automatically write a check for the exact $205 daily shortfall.</p>
<h2 id="h-partnership-status-can-change-the-medicaid-math" class="wp-block-heading">Partnership Status Can Change the Medicaid Math</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672152" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2472675119-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1677" data-id="1672152" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2472675119&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Senior couple, home and tablet with credit card on sofa for online shopping, payment and retirement plan. People, happy and couch at living room for internet banking, budget and investment or finance&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2472675119&quot;}" data-caption="Senior couple, home and tablet with credit card on sofa for online shopping, payment and retirement plan. People, happy and couch at living room for internet banking, budget and investment or finance" /></figure>
<p>A qualified Long-Term Care Partnership policy can provide an additional layer of protection if the owner later needs Medicaid. In participating states, Medicaid can disregard assets equal to benefits paid by a qualified Partnership policy, and the same protected amount can receive estate-recovery protection under the federal Partnership framework. But a policy purchased in 2004 should not automatically be labeled Partnership-qualified or nonqualified. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 expanded Partnership programs, while several states already had earlier programs. Qualification depends on the state, issue date, policy terms, and required consumer protections. For policies issued under the post-2005 framework to buyers ages 61 through 76, some level of inflation protection is required.</p>
<h2 id="h-pull-the-policy-before-the-nursing-home-admission" class="wp-block-heading">Pull the Policy Before the Nursing Home Admission</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672153" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2746679293-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672153" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Garun .Prdt&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Garun+.Prdt&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2746679293&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Professional reviewing business documents with magnifying glass at office desk, representing document management, audit, compliance verification, financial review and corporate inspection process.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2746679293&quot;}" data-caption="Professional reviewing business documents with magnifying glass at office desk, representing document management, audit, compliance verification, financial review and corporate inspection process." /></figure>
<p>The most useful document is not an old premium statement. It is the current policy and declarations page. Confirm the daily or monthly benefit, remaining lifetime maximum, inflation provision, elimination period and how days are counted, benefit period, claim trigger, reimbursement or cash design, home-care and assisted-living coverage, waiver-of-premium rules, and Partnership status. Most policies use benefit triggers tied to needing help with activities of daily living or having a qualifying cognitive impairment. If anything is unclear, ask the insurer for the current schedule of benefits in writing. A frozen $150 benefit can still be valuable. The mistake is assuming it will cover a 2026 care bill the way $150 may have looked capable of doing in 2004.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
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<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672154&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/22-years-later-her-150-daily-benefit-covers-less-than-half-the-median-private-nursing-home-rate/">22 Years Later, Her $150 Daily Benefit Covers Less Than Half the Median Private Nursing Home Rate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672154">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Can SanDisk Hit $2,000 by 2027? Here’s Why the Answer Is Yes</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/can-sandisk-hit-2000-by-2027-heres-why-the-answer-is-yes/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671169&preview=true&preview_id=1671169</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SanDisk already reached $2,354 once this year, then pulled back sharply with the broader AI selloff, and what happens on October 29 could determine whether that high was a ceiling or a floor.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/can-sandisk-hit-2000-by-2027-heres-why-the-answer-is-yes/">Can SanDisk Hit $2,000 by 2027? Here’s Why the Answer Is Yes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671169">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><strong>SanDisk</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SNDK/">NASDAQ:SNDK</a>) will close above $2,000 per share on or before December 31, 2027. The first checkpoint is its confirmed October 29, 2026 earnings report.</p>
<p>The stock trades at $1,731.10 this morning, so it needs a gain of about 15.5% over 15 months. It has already been above that level: it hit a 52-week high of $2,354.39 and traded at $2,107.86 in mid-June.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="SNDK" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-sndk/full?v=7805c28de2fe" alt="SNDK price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>At $2,000, SanDisk Still Trades at a Single-Digit Multiple</h2>
<p>For fiscal 2027, which ends in June, 21 analysts expect average EPS of $213.903. That puts a $2,000 share price at about 9x forward earnings. On the fiscal 2028 consensus of $263.4855, it falls to roughly 8x. The trailing P/E is 24.</p>
<p>SanDisk has beaten EPS estimates in six straight quarters. The latest was fiscal Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $39.25, a 17.94% surprise, on revenue of $8.96B, up 371.6% year over year.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1671168" class="wp-image-1671168 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/can-sandisk-hit-2-000-by-2027-here-s-why-the-answe-infographic-1790783747608.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'Can SanDisk Hit $2,000 by 2027? Here's Why the Answer Is Yes'. The image displays a target of $2,000 by December 31, 2027, with the current price at $1,731.10 and a required gain of ~15.5%. Key sections detail 'Valuation & Earnings Momentum' with a trailing P/E of 24, FY27 forward P/E ~9x, FY28 forward P/E ~8x, a 6-quarter EPS beat streak, and latest Q4 FY26 results showing EPS $39.25 (+17.94% surprise) and revenue $8.96B (+371.6% YoY). 'Contracted Revenue Stability (NBMS)' highlights 8 NBM customers, min. contracted revenue $93.9 billion (at floor pricing), financial guarantees $16.5 billion, and bit coverage >50% (FY27), ~2/3 (FY28). 'Share Buybacks & Financial Strength' lists $15.5B remaining authorization, Q4 FY26 buyback of 2.8M shares for $4.5B, FY2026 free cash flow of $11.49B, and leverage ratio of 0.025. 'Outlook & Scenarios' presents a line graph showing potential stock prices by Dec 2027: Bull Case $2,391.26, Analyst Consensus Target $2,136.54, and Base Case $1,532.63. October 29, 2026 guidance is also provided: Revenue $10.30B - $10.80B, Non-GAAP EPS $44.00 - $46.00, and Gross Margin 83% - 85%." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<h2>Contracted Revenue Takes Much of the Cyclical Risk Out</h2>
<p>SanDisk has signed new business model (NBM) agreements with eight datacenter and edge customers. These are <a title="The $93 Billion Reason Sandisk Is a Must-Own AI Stock" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/18/the-93-billion-reason-sandisk-is-a-must-own-ai-stock/">multi-year supply contracts</a> with firm financial commitments. At floor pricing, they carry at least <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/08/sandisk-stock-has-soared-more-than-500-in-2026-can-the-rally-possibly-continue/">$93.9 billion in expected revenue</a> and are backed by $16.5 billion in financial guarantees.</p>
<p>Management expects NBMs to cover more than 50% of bits in fiscal 2027, rising to approximately two-thirds in fiscal 2028. Management also said, “We expect attractive margins even at floor pricing.”</p>
<p>It expects bits to stay on allocation beyond calendar year 2027, which means customers get limited supply because demand exceeds output. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/a-2400-price-target-on-sandisk-just-lit-a-fire-under-every-memory-stock/">It also sees the NAND market approaching $500 billion in 2027</a>.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="SNDK" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-sndk/full?v=9552346e318e" alt="SNDK analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Buybacks Are Shrinking the Share Count Behind the Target</h2>
<p>Fiscal 2026 free cash flow reached $11.49B, and the leverage ratio stands at 0.025. In fiscal Q4, SanDisk bought back 2,836,000 shares for $4.5 billion.</p>
<p>It still has $15.5B of repurchase authorization left. With fewer shares outstanding, each share gets a bigger slice of earnings, so every quarter of buybacks lifts per-share value on its own.</p>
<h2>What to Watch on October 29</h2>
<p>Guidance for fiscal Q1 calls for revenue of $10.30B to $10.80B and non-GAAP EPS of $44 to $46. The consensus of $46.1841 already sits at the top of that range. Retirement investors should check three things in the report:</p>
<ul>
<li>Whether revenue lands above $10.80B</li>
<li>Whether non-GAAP gross margin holds within 83% to 85%</li>
<li>Whether new NBM deals add to the contracted backlog</li>
</ul>
<p>The stock fell 8.26% over the past week as AI stocks sold off broadly. That decline came with no change to the company’s guidance. Forward estimates point to a bull case of $2,391.26 by late December 2027, against a base case of $1,532.63. The consensus analyst target is $2,136.54.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="SNDK" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-sndk/full?v=7c4fbd33d5c8" alt="SNDK price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>If spot NAND pricing crashes and <a title="3 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Before AI Demand Explodes in September" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/16/3-semiconductor-stocks-to-buy-before-ai-demand-explodes-in-september/">hyperscaler spending stalls</a>, SanDisk will finish 2027 below $2,000. The whole thesis rests on AI data-center demand holding up, which is why we mapped seven suppliers supporting that expansion in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free report you can grab here</a>. Still, with most of its bits contracted at guaranteed floor prices and the stock at about 9x forward earnings, I expect it to close above $2,000 by December 31, 2027.</p><div><h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2><p><em><span>(Sponsor)</span></em><span> Most people spend their entire working lives focusing on one thing: growing a pile of money. Then they retire and discover the skill they actually need is close to the opposite. Turning that pile into steady income, year after year, through good markets and bad, without ever running out.</span></p><p></p><p><span>It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan. That is exactly what </span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=258cfd96-e29b-4cbe-a194-c15c99c79d5b&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671169&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span>The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income </span></a><span>helps answer. It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn more here.</span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=258cfd96-e29b-4cbe-a194-c15c99c79d5b&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671169&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span> Learn More Here ›</span></a></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/can-sandisk-hit-2000-by-2027-heres-why-the-answer-is-yes/">Can SanDisk Hit $2,000 by 2027? Here’s Why the Answer Is Yes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671169">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Retire at 61 With $560,000 in a 401(k) and Live on Rental Income for 12 Years, and by 73 the Account Will Have Crossed $1 Million, With a First RMD of About $38,000</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/retire-at-61-with-560000-in-a-401k-and-live-on-rental-income-for-12-years-and-by-73-the-account-will-have-crossed-1-million-with-a-first-rmd-of-about-38000/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:59:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671756&preview=true&preview_id=1671756</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Leaving a 401(k) untouched for over a decade while rental income pays the bills sounds simple, but the math only works if several things go right every single year.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/retire-at-61-with-560000-in-a-401k-and-live-on-rental-income-for-12-years-and-by-73-the-account-will-have-crossed-1-million-with-a-first-rmd-of-about-38000/">Retire at 61 With $560,000 in a 401(k) and Live on Rental Income for 12 Years, and by 73 the Account Will Have Crossed $1 Million, With a First RMD of About $38,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671756">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Someone who is 61 with $560,000 in a 401(k) can choose not to touch the account at all. In this plan, rent from an investment property pays the household bills, the 401(k) compounds untouched, and the first withdrawal comes only when federal rules require it. Let’s take a look at what happens when the balance <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">reaches $1 million, what the first <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/01/27/in-2026-rmds-are-still-costing-retirees-a-fortune-and-it-needs-to-stop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required minimum distribution (RMD)</a> looks like, and which assumptions must</span> hold for the numbers to work. With long-term interest rates at their highest level in a year, the math behind it matters more right now.</p>
<p>A $560,000 balance is well above typical. <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/30/vanguard-says-women-save-more-than-men-at-every-income-level-men-still-have-30-more/">Vanguard’s <em>How America Saves</em></a> puts the average 401(k) balance at $148,153 and the median at $38,176. Since the median reflects the middle saver, a few very large accounts can pull the average far above it without moving the median. Measured against the middle saver, this retiree holds about 15 times the typical balance.</p>
<h2>How $560,000 Grows Past $1 Million With No New Deposits</h2>
<p>The account needs an average annual return of about 4.95% to reach $1 million, and at 5%, it ends at roughly $1,005,680. That assumes no contributions, no employer match, and no withdrawals; growth comes entirely from compounding, while rental income removes any need to sell shares.</p>
<p><div id="calculator-6abf71e8af15d"
class="fwp-calculator fwp-calculator-compound-interest"
data-calculator-type="compound-interest"
data-calculator-settings="{"id":"calculator-6abf71e8af15d","type":"compound-interest","title":"","principal":"560000","rate":"5","time":"12","compound_frequency":"annually","contribution":"0","contribution_frequency":"annually","amount":1000,"years":10,"inflation_rate":2.5,"investment_rate":7,"starting_income":50000,"cola_rate":2.5,"portfolio_value":1000000,"withdrawal_rate":4,"monthly_benefit":1000,"life_expectancy":85,"current_age":30,"retirement_age":65,"debt_amount":10000,"interest_rate":15,"monthly_payment":300,"additional_payment":0,"home_price":300000,"down_payment_percent":20,"property_tax_rate":1.2,"insurance_rate":0.5,"loan_term":30,"annual_contribution":6000,"current_tax_rate":22,"retirement_tax_rate":15,"return_rate":7,"reinvest_tax_savings":"yes","annual_withdrawal":40000,"withdrawal_period":20,"capital_gains_rate":15,"stock_symbol":"AAPL","investment_amount":10000,"start_date":"2015-01-01","reinvest_dividends":"true"}"
></div></p>
<p>The target is sensitive to the rate of return, and at 4% a year, the same account reaches only about $897,000. The current rate environment does support the 5% assumption. The 10-year Treasury yield hit 5.26% on September 29, 2026, up from a low of 3.97% earlier this year. Still, today’s yield is only a snapshot. It does not guarantee what a diversified portfolio will earn over the full period.</p>
<h2>Rental Income Has to Cover a Full Household Budget</h2>
<p>The whole plan depends on rent covering living costs every year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average household spending was $78,535 in 2024, or about $6,545 a month. Net rent, after property taxes, insurance, repairs, and vacancies, must come close to that figure; otherwise, the shortfall must come from savings outside the 401(k) or from early Social Security.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, costs keep rising throughout those 12 years. The Consumer Price Index stood at 334.1 in August 2026, up 0.4% in one month. Home prices also reached a high on the Case-Shiller index at 337.3. That builds equity in the property, but it says nothing about rent levels, and any year when the property falls short and money comes out of the 401(k) slows the path to $1 million.</p>
<h2>A First RMD of About $38,000, Taxed as Ordinary Income</h2>
<p>The IRS <a title="This Is Exactly How the IRS Determines Your RMD" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/03/06/this-is-exactly-how-the-irs-determines-your-rmd/">Uniform Lifetime Table</a> assigns a divisor of 26.5 at age 73. Dividing $1,005,680 by that divisor gives a first RMD of about $38,000. Every dollar is taxed as ordinary income and added to rental income and Social Security.</p>
<p>Under this year’s brackets, a single filer pays 22% on taxable income above $50,400 after using a $16,100 standard deduction. If rent already fills the lower brackets, much of the RMD is taxed at that rate. Social Security will also be higher by then, with the <a title="Here's What's Driving Social Security's 2027 COLA Estimate Spike" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/16/heres-whats-driving-social-securitys-2027-cola-estimate-spike/">2027 cost-of-living adjustment</a> tracking toward 3.3%.</p>
<h2>Today’s 61-Year-Olds Actually Wait Until 75</h2>
<p>The age-73 timeline applies only to older birth years. Under <a title="Born in 1960 or Later? Your First RMD Just Moved to 75, and That's Two More Conversion Years Nobody Has Told You About." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/24/born-in-1960-or-later-your-first-rmd-just-moved-to-75-and-thats-two-more-conversion-years-nobody-has-told-you-about/">SECURE 2.0</a>, people born in 1960 or later start RMDs at 75. So under current law, a 61-year-old today gets two more years of growth before the first required withdrawal.</p>
<p>At the same return, the balance reaches about $1.11 million. Divided by the IRS factor for that age (24.6), that produces a first RMD near $45,000.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Between 61 and the First Withdrawal</h2>
<p>The plan works on paper because rent replaces withdrawals and returns compound without interruption. Operating costs, vacancies, and the return rate can break it. Three checks show whether it stays on track:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Test the property against real spending.</strong> Compare a full year of net rent with the household’s actual budget, using the $6,545 monthly benchmark as a reference point.</li>
<li><strong>Use the low-income years.</strong> Between retirement and RMD age, taxable income may be modest. Partial <a title="He Spent His 60s Quietly Moving His IRA Into a Roth. At 73, When the IRS Showed Up to Dictate His Withdrawals, There Was Nothing Left to Tax" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/15/he-spent-his-60s-quietly-moving-his-ira-into-a-roth-at-73-when-the-irs-showed-up-to-dictate-his-withdrawals-there-was-nothing-left-to-tax/">Roth conversions</a> that fill the 12% bracket up to $50,400 shrink the pretax balance that drives future RMDs (we sized up that quiet window between the last paycheck and the first RMD in a free <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/roth-window-offer-4b96044f.html">Roth conversion guide</a>).</li>
<li><strong>Confirm the RMD start age by birth year.</strong> The difference between 73 and 75 changes both the balance and the size of the first required withdrawal.</li>
</ol>
<p>Reaching $1 million in the account is the easy part to model. The hard part is keeping the rental property paying the bills every year for more than a decade.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671756&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/retire-at-61-with-560000-in-a-401k-and-live-on-rental-income-for-12-years-and-by-73-the-account-will-have-crossed-1-million-with-a-first-rmd-of-about-38000/">Retire at 61 With $560,000 in a 401(k) and Live on Rental Income for 12 Years, and by 73 the Account Will Have Crossed $1 Million, With a First RMD of About $38,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671756">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Unity Software Rallies 5% as Meta VR Support Extends Into a Second Session; Roblox Inches Higher, Take-Two Slides 3%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unity-software-rallies-5-as-meta-vr-support-extends-into-a-second-session-roblox-inches-higher-take-two-slides-3/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:54:59 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672140&preview=true&preview_id=1672140</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Buyers returned for a second straight session after Unity Software announced early engine support for Meta's upcoming VR headset, but the rally hinges on something that has not happened yet and may not for months.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unity-software-rallies-5-as-meta-vr-support-extends-into-a-second-session-roblox-inches-higher-take-two-slides-3/">Unity Software Rallies 5% as Meta VR Support Extends Into a Second Session; Roblox Inches Higher, Take-Two Slides 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672140">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>The buying has continued for a second day, it seems. It’s turning <strong>Unity Software</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/U/">NYSE:U</a>) into a live test of what early engine support for a new virtual-reality headset is worth. <strong>Meta Platforms</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/META/">NASDAQ:META</a>) is the maker of that device, Meta VR Glasses, which is expected to reach retail customers next spring.</p>
<p>Unity Software stock is up 5% to $43.02 in Thursday afternoon trading, marking a second straight advance for the shares.</p>
<p>Checking in on the peers, <strong>Roblox</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RBLX/">NYSE:RBLX</a>) shares are inching up 0.8% to $42.70. Meanwhile, <strong>Take-Two Interactive</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/TTWO/">NASDAQ:TTWO</a>) stock is falling 3% to $201.94.</p>
<p>At the same time, the <strong>VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ESPO/">NASDAQ:ESPO</a>) is up 0.3% to $96.79. For a broad-market check, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is down 0.2% to $761.05. Unity Software stock is trading as a single-name story inside a gaming group that’s barely moving and a broad market that’s falling.</p>
<h2>Day-One Engine Support for a New Headset Keeps Buyers Engaged</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8b0dcf"
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data-symbol="U"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/U?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/u/"
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<p>Unity Software announced day-one engine support for Meta VR Glasses in the previous session, noting that developers can begin building and testing experiences now, which gives studios more time to prepare titles before the hardware reaches retail customers. No new company release has been confirmed in the current session.</p>
<p>Timing anchors the bull case for Unity Software. Engine support that lands well before the hardware puts the company in front of every studio planning a title for Meta VR Glasses, and developers generally reuse the tools they already know. Unity Software held its August earnings call. On it, chief executive Matt Bromberg stated, “We are really excited to be in a position to help platforms, any and all platforms, be optimized for Unity, because Unity is by far the leading platform for game making in the world.”</p>
<p>However, Unity Software’s revenue from Meta VR Glasses depends on developer adoption that hasn’t happened yet. Unity Software stock is down 3% year to date, leaving the shares below where they began the year despite the rally.</p>
<h2>Unity’s Growing Business</h2>
<p>Advertising drives Unity Software’s growth for now. In <a title="Can Unity Software Turn Its Platform Into an AI Winner" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/03/can-unity-software-turn-its-platform-into-an-ai-winner/">Q2 2026</a>, Unity Software’s revenue rose 23.9% year over year to $546.47 million, led by a 35% jump in Grow Solutions to $389 million on the strength of Unity Vector AI in the Unity Ads Network. Those results give Unity Software the financial room to fund a virtual-reality push while headset demand takes shape.</p>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="U" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-u/full?v=3c2c032c4b97" alt="U earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>The slide in Take-Two shares and the small gain in Roblox stock leave the rest of the gaming group out of step with Unity Software. Roblox and Take-Two carried heavier weightings than Unity Software in the VanEck fund as of June 30, at 7% and 6.9% of net assets against 4.7%, which helps explain the ETF’s modest move. <strong>Nintendo</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NTDOY/">OTC:NTDOY</a>) is another holding.</p>
<h2>Developer Adoption Decides What Unity Software’s Head Start Is Worth</h2>
<p>Unity Software’s next major checkpoint is its Q3 2026 report, with the company guiding its strategic revenue to $540 million to $550 million and targeting a profit under standard accounting rules in the quarter. Shareholders can watch for signs of studios committing titles to Meta VR Glasses before the device reaches retail customers next spring. Named launch titles from well-known studios could give the shares fresh support, while a quiet stretch may leave the rally vulnerable.</p>
<p>Repeat buying of the same announcement can lose momentum quickly, particularly for Unity Software stock given its history of sharp swings, as the return from Unity’s Meta VR Glasses support depends on studios shipping titles for a device that isn’t on sale yet.</p>
<div>
<h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unity-software-rallies-5-as-meta-vr-support-extends-into-a-second-session-roblox-inches-higher-take-two-slides-3/">Unity Software Rallies 5% as Meta VR Support Extends Into a Second Session; Roblox Inches Higher, Take-Two Slides 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672140">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Unusual Machines Tumbles 8% Despite Pentagon’s Autonomous Warfare Push; AeroVironment Eases, Red Cat Pulls Back</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unusual-machines-tumbles-8-despite-pentagons-autonomous-warfare-push-aerovironment-eases-red-cat-pulls-back/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:49:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672134&preview=true&preview_id=1672134</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Pentagon handed drone suppliers the autonomous warfare announcement they craved, yet one stock with a 75% year-to-date gain is tumbling while its rivals barely flinch. The gap between winners and losers inside the drone sector reveals something the policy headlines are not saying outright.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unusual-machines-tumbles-8-despite-pentagons-autonomous-warfare-push-aerovironment-eases-red-cat-pulls-back/">Unusual Machines Tumbles 8% Despite Pentagon’s Autonomous Warfare Push; AeroVironment Eases, Red Cat Pulls Back</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672134">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>The Pentagon gave drone suppliers the autonomous warfare headline they had waited for all year, yet <strong>Unusual Machines</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/UMAC/">NYSEAMERICAN:UMAC</a>) shares are falling hard on the news. Unusual Machines stock is at $22.44, down 8% in afternoon trading. The drop follows a plan from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that puts autonomous weapons and robotics at the center of U.S. military modernization.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>AeroVironment</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AVAV/">NASDAQ:AVAV</a>) stock is at $140.30, down 1%, a much softer dip for the larger autonomy name. <strong>Red Cat Holdings</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RCAT/">NASDAQ:RCAT</a>) stock is at $6.35, down 2%, a pullback far closer to AeroVironment’s than to the slide in Unusual Machines shares. <strong>Kratos Defense & Security Solutions</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/KTOS/">NASDAQ:KTOS</a>) and <strong>Ondas</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ONDS/">NASDAQ:ONDS</a>) round out the drone cluster tied to the Pentagon’s push into autonomous systems.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the <strong>Defiance Drone and Modern Warfare ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JEDI/">NYSEARCA:JEDI</a>) is at $24.86, down 0.9%, and the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is at $760.64, down 0.3%. That leaves the heavy selling concentrated in Unusual Machines stock while the broader drone group trades only modestly lower.</p>
<h2>Pentagon Plan Names a Command and a Budget</h2>
<p>Speaking to officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday, Hegseth announced a set of initiatives to modernize the U.S. military. The highlight for drone suppliers is a new four-star Autonomous Warfare Command, nicknamed Autowarcom, which Hegseth stated would concentrate on expanding robotic and autonomous capabilities across the joint force. Project Agincourt will develop the command’s structure and test a different approach to acquiring autonomous technology.</p>
<p>The Department of War has requested $74 billion for autonomous and counter-drone technology in the Pentagon’s proposed defense budget. Successful manufacturers in military drone competitions can receive orders shortly after the evaluations, yet none of the initiatives named a supplier, which leaves Unusual Machines without a contract attached to any piece of the plan.</p>
<h2>Unusual Machines Has the Biggest Gain to Protect</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8b1f67"
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data-symbol="UMAC"
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data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/UMAC?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
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<p>Unusual Machines stock is up 75% year to date. That run suggests the market had already paid for a favorable Pentagon outcome in this name, so a policy headline arriving without an order gave shareholders a clear reason to lock in their gains. The company’s earlier rally effectively front-loaded the good news Hegseth delivered at Quantico.</p>
<p>Shares of AeroVironment and Red Cat are trading like members of a sector basket absorbing the same headline. The modest pullbacks in AeroVironment stock and Red Cat stock sit much closer to the drone fund’s small decline than to the drop in Unusual Machines shares.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Project Agincourt’s test of a new way to buy autonomous technology is the piece of the plan most likely to turn policy into purchase orders, and traders can watch for whether Unusual Machines appears among the manufacturers receiving orders after the military drone competitions. A named order would give the company something the Wednesday announcement didn’t.</p>
<p>Unusual Machines still benefits from a Pentagon budget request that directs heavy funding toward autonomous and counter-drone technology. The risk is that a 75% gain leaves Unusual Machines stock vulnerable to more profit-taking until a contract appears. Shareholders should watch for whether AeroVironment and Red Cat shares hold near the JEDI drone fund’s modest decline. A widening gap would signal pressure spreading beyond Unusual Machines.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=4a284b28-ae7f-4d7a-ab88-274ac9a6f0a5&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672134&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/unusual-machines-tumbles-8-despite-pentagons-autonomous-warfare-push-aerovironment-eases-red-cat-pulls-back/">Unusual Machines Tumbles 8% Despite Pentagon’s Autonomous Warfare Push; AeroVironment Eases, Red Cat Pulls Back</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672134">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Synopsys Investor Day Impresses BofA and KeyBanc, Driving Higher Price Targets and Stronger Growth Outlook</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/synopsys-investor-day-impresses-bofa-and-keybanc-driving-higher-price-targets-and-stronger-growth-outlook/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:45:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671896&preview=true&preview_id=1671896</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Wall Street analysts left Synopsys's Investor Day with sharply raised price targets and a growth outlook that surprised even the optimists, and the fresh deals with OpenAI and AWS may explain why the stock surged before most investors saw it coming.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/synopsys-investor-day-impresses-bofa-and-keybanc-driving-higher-price-targets-and-stronger-growth-outlook/">Synopsys Investor Day Impresses BofA and KeyBanc, Driving Higher Price Targets and Stronger Growth Outlook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671896">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>BofA raised its price target on <strong>Synopsys</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SNPS/">NASDAQ:SNPS</a>) to $600 from $500 and kept its buy rating. KeyBanc raised its target to $605 from $600 and kept its overweight rating. Both moves followed the company’s September 30, 2026 Investor Day.</p>
<p>Two firms coming to the same conclusion points to growing Wall Street confidence that Synopsys can turn <a title="Nvidia Is No Longer Just a Chip Company. It’s the Infrastructure Platform for All of AI" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/07/nvidia-is-no-longer-just-a-chip-company-its-the-infrastructure-platform-for-all-of-ai/">AI-driven chip complexity</a> into faster earnings growth.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="SNPS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-snps/full?v=c144507ee5c3" alt="SNPS price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Firm</th>
<th>Action</th>
<th>Old Rating</th>
<th>New Rating</th>
<th>Old Target</th>
<th>New Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>Synopsys</td>
<td>BofA</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$500</td>
<td>$600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>Synopsys</td>
<td>KeyBanc</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$600</td>
<td>$605</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Analyst’s Case: Investor Day Targets Beat Expectations</h2>
<p>BofA analyst Vivek Arya said the firm “came away impressed”. Management’s targets mean pro-forma EPS compound annual growth of 23% from FY26-30, which BofA called “well ahead” of consensus. After the meeting, BofA raised its FY27 and FY28 pro-forma EPS estimates by 7% and 16%, respectively.</p>
<p>KeyBanc pointed to much better-than-expected initial FY27 guidance, higher long-term EDA and IP growth targets, significant operating margin expansion, and new partnerships with AWS and OpenAI. In KeyBanc’s view, the event answered many of the bears’ concerns and showed that EDA remains a compelling opportunity at current levels.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="SNPS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-snps/full?v=8d972961bb4c" alt="SNPS analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Company Snapshot: AI Demand Meets Ansys Scale</h2>
<p>Synopsys makes electronic design automation (EDA) software and silicon IP. Its about $35B Ansys acquisition makes it a “silicon-to-systems” engineering provider.</p>
<p>In fiscal Q3 2026, <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/28/synopsys-could-be-one-of-the-biggest-ai-picks-nobody-talks-about/">revenue reached $2.48B, up 42.4% year over year</a> and ahead of the $2.44B consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $3.91 exceeded the $3.67 estimate. Management raised full-year guidance to revenue of $9.69B to $9.74B and non-GAAP EPS of $15.04 to $15.10.</p>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="SNPS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-snps/full?v=cf10b3b18b67" alt="SNPS earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>CEO Sassine Ghazi said at the time that “AI is driving unprecedented complexity and increasing demand for the silicon IP and engineering solutions necessary to deliver next-generation <a title="Nvidia Is No Longer Just a Chip Company. It’s the Infrastructure Platform for All of AI" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/07/nvidia-is-no-longer-just-a-chip-company-its-the-infrastructure-platform-for-all-of-ai/">AI compute, infrastructure and physical AI systems</a>.”</p>
<h2>Why the Move Matters Now for Synopsys Stock</h2>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/12/prediction-synopsys-could-be-the-next-ai-winner/">Synopsys announced two deals alongside Investor Day</a>: GPT-Synopsys, a collaboration with OpenAI, and a multi-year custom silicon IP agreement with AWS. Shares traded at $475.70 Thursday morning. That was up 9.37% in the session and 15.16% over the past week.</p>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8b2f6d"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="SNPS"
data-variant="article"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/SNPS?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/snps/"
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<p>Before the rally, the stock was up just 1.27% year to date and down 3.59% over the past year. Higher earnings estimates could support the move if management delivers on its new targets.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="SNPS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-snps/full?v=8c4857f07ad9" alt="SNPS price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>What It Means for Your Portfolio</h2>
<p>A 23% EPS growth framework from a company with <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/22/the-more-complicated-chips-become-the-more-interesting-synopsys-gets/">a $10.9 billion backlog sets a high bar for long-term investors</a>. Execution risk remains, though.</p>
<p>Management has flagged <a title="Analyst: " href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/06/analyst-every-bureaucratic-delay-hands-ai-markets-directly-to-huawei/">export controls</a>, tariffs, customer concentration, Ansys integration, and planned Q4 restructuring charges. The joint Synopsys and Ansys products are not expected to add to EDA growth until 2027.</p>
<p>The next checkpoint is Q4, where guidance calls for revenue of $2.53B to $2.58B and non-GAAP EPS of $4.10 to $4.16. Keep an eye on the stock as those results test the new outlook.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=5361e63f-f6e0-4f7f-95a8-3103e0420ad5&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671896&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
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<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=5361e63f-f6e0-4f7f-95a8-3103e0420ad5&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671896&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/synopsys-investor-day-impresses-bofa-and-keybanc-driving-higher-price-targets-and-stronger-growth-outlook/">Synopsys Investor Day Impresses BofA and KeyBanc, Driving Higher Price Targets and Stronger Growth Outlook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671896">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>3 Dividend REITs Built Around Warehouses America Cannot Stop Building</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/3-dividend-reits-built-around-warehouses-america-cannot-stop-building/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:45:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671935&preview=true&preview_id=1671935</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Warehouse demand is accelerating from e-commerce, defense, and data centers all at once, and three industrial REITs are quietly capturing that rent growth while their dividends still have plenty of room to climb.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/3-dividend-reits-built-around-warehouses-america-cannot-stop-building/">3 Dividend REITs Built Around Warehouses America Cannot Stop Building</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671935">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Industrial and logistics real estate has moved into a new growth phase, and the demand driver behind warehouse and distribution space is broadening. E-commerce, advanced manufacturing, defense and the build-out of data centers all need more space. “U.S. net absorption totaled 66 million square feet in the second quarter, a strong result and the highest level since 2022,” <strong>Prologis</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PLD/">NYSE:PLD</a>) management said, adding that this “contributed to vacancy declining to 7.2%.” All three names below are <strong>equity REITs</strong> that own and lease physical buildings. Mortgage REITs hold loans and carry interest rate and credit risk that property owners avoid, so keep that category separate from this roster.</p>
<h2>Prologis: A Global Landlord With Room to Spare on Its Payout</h2>
<h3>What It Owns</h3>
<p>Prologis is the largest global industrial/logistics REIT, with logistics real estate across 20 countries, a 1.3 billion square foot portfolio and an expanding <a title="3 REITs Getting Paid as Big Tech Builds Out AI" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/04/3-data-center-reits-collecting-rent-from-the-ai-buildout/">data center platform</a>. Its market cap stands near $121.8B. Management describes its largest customer segment as “basic daily needs, and the logistics that support them,” with growing strength from e-commerce, advanced manufacturing and hyperscale data center customers. No other name here matches that scale or tenant credit depth.</p>
<h3>Demand Backdrop</h3>
<p>Prologis signed a record 67 million square feet of leases in the second quarter, its fourth record in the past seven quarters. Occupancy reached 95.5% (up 20 bps sequentially), cash same-store NOI grew 8.5%, and net effective rent change hit 36.9% (up from 31.9% in Q1). The portfolio lease mark-to-market held at 17%, representing nearly $800 million of embedded NOI available without any further market rent growth.</p>
<h3>Current Yield and Dividend Coverage</h3>
<p>The quarterly dividend is $1.07, or $4.28 annualized, with the latest payment made 2026-09-30. Shares traded at $143.96 when second-quarter results were filed. The payout has climbed from $0.58 per quarter in 2020 to $1.01 in 2025 and the current level.</p>
<p>Coverage for every REIT in this piece is measured on <strong><a title="The Senior Housing Boom Is Here. These 5 REITs Are Paying Investors to Ride It" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/30/the-senior-housing-boom-is-here-these-5-reits-are-paying-investors-to-ride-it/">funds from operations (FFO)</a></strong>. An earnings payout ratio is the wrong tool for a REIT because GAAP net income subtracts depreciation on buildings, a large non-cash charge, which can make a well-funded dividend look like it exceeds earnings. FFO adds that depreciation back and tracks the cash that actually pays shareholders. Prologis raised 2026 Core FFO guidance to $6.22 to $6.30 per share against the $4.28 annualized dividend, a strong cushion. Debt-to-EBITDA sits at 4.7 times.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Bull Case</h3>
<p>Data centers add a second engine. The power pipeline expanded to 5.8 GW, and the quarter brought $802M data center development starts, 100% pre-leased. Management also sees another 19%, 20% of rent upside beyond the current mark-to-market to reach replacement cost rents. Chief executive Daniel S. Letter put it this way: “We believe the business is entering its next phase of growth. Customer demand is broadening, and our opportunity set is expanding as logistics, digital infrastructure and energy needs increasingly intersect.”</p>
<h3>Key Risk: Global Exposure</h3>
<p>Operating in 20 countries brings currency swings and trade policy risk that domestic peers avoid. Asia is the soft spot, with occupancy of 90.6% vs 95.9% US. Prologis also disclosed a possible offer for SEGRO plc under UK Takeover Code, which would deepen its international footprint and add deal execution risk on top of $36.4B consolidated debt. The stock underperformed competitors on Wednesday.</p>
<h2>STAG Industrial: Secondary-Market Warehouses With a Sticky Tenant Base</h2>
<h3>What It Owns</h3>
<p><strong>STAG Industrial</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/STAG/">NYSE:STAG</a>) is a single-tenant industrial/warehouse REIT focused on secondary US markets, with a market cap near $6.88B. Its edge is diversification across many smaller users, and management is now seeing more demand from tenants needing 70,000 square feet or less. Tenant health looks solid: credit loss guidance was cut from 50 basis points to 30 basis points, with just six basis points incurred so far. Retention came in at 75.7%.</p>
<h3>Demand Backdrop</h3>
<p>“In our view, vacancy has peaked both nationally and within STAG’s portfolio,” management said. Operating occupancy reached 95.5%, cash rent change was +19.8% on 5.6M sq ft commenced, and same-store cash NOI rose 3.4%. Data center support work is a quiet tailwind: STAG has leased 2.3 million square feet to data-center-related tenants since the start of last year, with a weighted-average lease term of roughly seven years and rents rolling up 33%. Tenants are also committing early: about 35% of the 2027 leasing plan is already addressed, versus a historical 26% to 28% at this point in the year.</p>
<h3>Current Yield and Dividend Coverage</h3>
<p>STAG pays $0.3875 per share per quarter, or $1.55 annualized, against a share price of $35.70. The stock is up 0.23% year to date and 5.43% over one year. On FFO, second-quarter Core FFO of $0.65 per diluted share (+3.2% YoY) comfortably covered the $0.3875 quarterly dividend. Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDAre is 5.2x, inside management’s target band of five to five and a half times, and liquidity totaled $614 million. A refinanced $350M term loan now matures in Jan 2032.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Bull Case</h3>
<p>STAG grows by buying. It acquired 7 buildings (2.6M sq ft) for $287.1M at 6.1% cash cap rate and is tracking a pipeline of 145 buildings, $4.0B, 35.1M sq ft. Chief executive Bill Crooker said “The second quarter reflected sustained execution across our platform, supported by stabilizing industrial fundamentals.”</p>
<h3>Key Risk: Funding Costs</h3>
<p>An acquisition model depends on cheap capital. Interest expense rose to $37.5M vs $33.6M YoY, and STAG issued 3.4 million shares on a forward basis at a gross average price of $39. With shares now at $35.70, new equity buys less real estate per share. Some secondary markets, including Savannah and Charleston, El Paso and Reno, are also running slower.</p>
<h2>First Industrial Realty Trust: Coastal Rent Gains Driving Dividend Growth</h2>
<h3>What It Owns</h3>
<p><strong>First Industrial Realty Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/FR/">NYSE:FR</a>) is a pure-play US industrial/logistics REIT focused on coastal and major logistics markets, with a market cap near $7.84B. Its tenant demand spans third-party logistics (activity up 18% year over year), manufacturing, food and beverage and automotive (each up 25-plus percent), plus <strong>Amazon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMZN/">NASDAQ:AMZN</a>) and data center-related aerospace and defense users. The portfolio skews toward newer, larger-format buildings in supply-constrained markets.</p>
<h3>Demand Backdrop</h3>
<p>Rent gains lead this group. Cash rental rates rose 39% on commenced new and renewal leases, with 2026 commencement guidance of 35% to 40%. A full-building lease on a 708,000 square foot central Pennsylvania property came in at over 60%. Cash same-store NOI grew 6.7%, and in-service occupancy reached 94.9% (up from 94.3% in Q1 and 94.2% a year ago). Chief executive Peter E. Baccile said “Fundamentals exhibited signs of improvement in the second quarter, with net absorption outpacing moderating new deliveries resulting in lower market vacancy.”</p>
<h3>Current Yield and Dividend Coverage</h3>
<p>First Industrial pays $0.5 per share quarterly, or $2 annualized, against a share price of $59.15. Shares are up 5.91% year to date and 18.76% over one year. The dividend growth record is the strongest here: $0.25 per quarter in 2020, $0.37 in 2024, $0.445 in 2025, and a 12.4% increase to the current rate. Coverage on NAREIT FFO is strong, with raised 2026 guidance of $3.08 to $3.16 per share ($3.12 to $3.20 before proxy campaign costs) against the $2.00 dividend. Management said excess cash flow after capital expenditures and dividends will cover half of roughly $75 million in remaining 2026 development spending.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Bull Case</h3>
<p>Land values are working in its favor. First Industrial sold Phoenix land for $131 million, which management described as “just shy of three times industrial land values in that market.” It started a 613,000 square foot building at First Park New Castle near Philadelphia at an estimated $77 million with a cash yield north of 8%, and it holds a $250M share repurchase program.</p>
<h3>Key Risk: A Near-Term Occupancy Dip</h3>
<p>Management expects in-service occupancy to fall to around 93.5% at the end of the third quarter before recovering to roughly 95.5% by year-end. That rebound assumes about 900,000 square feet of development leasing, mostly in the fourth quarter. A slip in that timing would land directly on same-store results. A contested proxy campaign also cost $5.6M in advisory fees.</p>
<h2>Bottom Line for Income Investors</h2>
<p>All three of these equity REITs fund their dividends from FFO with room to spare, and the industrial recovery is showing up in occupancy, rent spreads and raised guidance. Prologis brings unmatched scale and a data center growth engine, STAG offers a diversified small-tenant base with falling credit losses, and First Industrial delivers the fastest dividend growth on the back of the biggest rent gains. The whole appeal of names like these is collecting the checks without ever having to sell a share, which is the exact setup we walked through in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/never-touch-the-principal-offer-d84e53e1.html">free guide to building a dividend ladder for lifelong income</a>. Keep an eye on the third-quarter reports for First Industrial’s occupancy trough, STAG’s acquisition funding and any Prologis move on SEGRO.</p>
<div>
<h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2>
<p><em><span>(Sponsor)</span></em><span> Most people spend their entire working lives focusing on one thing: growing a pile of money. Then they retire and discover the skill they actually need is close to the opposite. Turning that pile into steady income, year after year, through good markets and bad, without ever running out.</span></p>
</p>
<p><span>It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan. That is exactly what </span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=9578976c-3da6-485e-9842-c780e41ea60f&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671935&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span>The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income </span></a><span>helps answer. It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn more here.</span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=9578976c-3da6-485e-9842-c780e41ea60f&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671935&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span> Learn More Here ›</span></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/3-dividend-reits-built-around-warehouses-america-cannot-stop-building/">3 Dividend REITs Built Around Warehouses America Cannot Stop Building</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671935">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The “Ghost Life Rule” Nobody Mentions: Why an $500,000 Inherited IRA Left to an Estate Could Drain in Five Years or Pay Out Over a Dead Man’s Life Expectancy.</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-ghost-life-rule-nobody-mentions-why-an-500000-inherited-ira-left-to-an-estate-could-drain-in-five-years-or-pay-out-over-a-dead-mans-life-expectancy/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vilma Rios]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:34:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Savings Accounts]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671480&preview=true&preview_id=1671480</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One date on the calendar determines whether an estate inheriting your IRA gets years to spread out withdrawals or faces a brutal five-year deadline, and most people filling out beneficiary forms have never heard of it.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-ghost-life-rule-nobody-mentions-why-an-500000-inherited-ira-left-to-an-estate-could-drain-in-five-years-or-pay-out-over-a-dead-mans-life-expectancy/">The “Ghost Life Rule” Nobody Mentions: Why an $500,000 Inherited IRA Left to an Estate Could Drain in Five Years or Pay Out Over a Dead Man’s Life Expectancy.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671480">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>You can leave a $500,000 IRA to “my estate,” but one date decides whether it drains in five years or pays out over a dead man’s life expectancy.</p>
<p>That date is the owner’s required beginning date to take distributions. It controls every inherited IRA left to an estate, a charity or a trust that fails IRS tests. The tax code calls these heirs <strong><a title="Inherited IRAs and RMDs: The Hidden Risks for Heirs" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/02/04/inherited-iras-and-rmds-the-hidden-risks-for-heirs/">non-designated beneficiaries</a></strong>. Their rules sit in Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. Both payout paths work as follows.</p>
<p>An estate or charity has no life expectancy. The SECURE Act left the older rules for these non-person beneficiaries intact, and <a title="The End of 2025: 3 Must-Know SECURE Act Changes for RMDs and Inherited IRAs" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/12/24/the-end-of-2025-3-must-know-secure-act-changes-for-rmds-and-inherited-iras/">SECURE Act 2.0</a> kept them. The timing that decides which rule applies changed under 2.0.</p>
<p>A blank beneficiary form is dangerous. Many IRA custodial agreements send the account to the owner’s estate when no one is named, making the inheritance subject to non-designated rules.</p>
<h2>Required Beginning Date: One Date Picks the Payout Clock</h2>
<p>The required beginning date (RBD) is April 1 of the year after an owner reaches RMD age. SECURE Act 2.0 set that age at 73 for people born 1951 through 1959 and 75 for those born 1960 or later.</p>
<p>Dying before that date sends the account down one track. Dying on or after it sends the account down another. The IRS guidance on this track was unclear for years. Suze Orman told listeners the IRS was “very, very confusing” on inherited accounts where the owner had already started RMDs. Final regulations issued in 2024 settled the open questions.</p>
<h2>Death Before the RBD Starts a Five-Year Countdown</h2>
<p>If the owner dies before the RBD, the <strong><a title="She Inherited Her Sister's $200,000 IRA at 61. Their Younger Brother Inherited the Same Amount at 48. Only One of Them Has to Empty It in 10 Years" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/22/she-inherited-her-sisters-200000-ira-at-61-their-younger-brother-inherited-the-same-amount-at-48-only-one-of-them-has-to-empty-it-in-10-years/">five-year rule</a></strong> applies. The account must be emptied by December 31 of the 5th year after the year of death. There are no annual required minimum distributions along the way.</p>
<p>Say a 70-year-old dies in 2026 and leaves her IRA to her estate. The estate has until December 31, 2031 to withdraw. It can withdraw in any pattern, though waiting until year five piles the whole balance into a single tax year.</p>
<p>Roth IRAs always land on this track. Roth owners face no lifetime RMDs, so they are treated as dying before their RBD. Qualified Roth withdrawals come out tax-free.</p>
<p>If the owner dies on or after the RBD, the estate takes yearly RMDs based on the deceased owner’s remaining single life expectancy, had he survived. Planners call this the “ghost life rule.”</p>
<p>Look up the owner’s factor on the <a title="This Is Exactly How the IRS Determines Your RMD" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/03/06/this-is-exactly-how-the-irs-determines-your-rmd/">IRS Single Life Table</a> for his age at death. Then subtract 1.0 for the first RMD and another 1.0 each year after.</p>
<p>Take a hypothetical 80-year-old widower who dies in 2026 with a $500,000 traditional IRA and no named beneficiary. The account goes to his estate.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Step</th>
<th>Figure</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Age at death (2026)</td>
<td>80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Single Life Table factor, age 80</td>
<td>11.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First-year factor (2027)</td>
<td>10.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Balance, December 31, 2026</td>
<td>$500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027 required distribution</td>
<td>$49,020</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Every year after, the divisor shrinks by one and is applied to the new year-end balance. If the owner hadn’t taken his 2026 RMD before death, the estate must take it.</p>
<p>Every dollar that comes out of a traditional IRA counts as taxable income. Estates and trusts reach the top 37% federal rate at about $16,000 of 2026 income. A single filer doesn’t reach 37% until income passes $640,600. State income tax is added on top and varies by state.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Name people, plus backups.</strong> Update the beneficiary form after every death, divorce or birth so the account never falls to the estate by default.</li>
<li><strong>Check any trust.</strong> A trust that meets IRS “see-through” requirements lets its beneficiaries use the rules for people. A trust that fails becomes a non-designated beneficiary.</li>
<li><strong>Keep charity gifts separate.</strong> Putting a charity and family members on the same form can force everyone onto the non-person rules unless the charity’s share is paid out by September 30 of the year after death.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you’re past your RBD with a large IRA or a trust in your estate plan, run these numbers with a CPA or fiduciary advisor. The ghost life rule is one of nine IRS provisions that quietly drain inherited retirement accounts, and we charted the rest in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/retirees-tax-trap-map-offer-c81a95bb.html">free tax trap map</a>.</p>
<div>
<h2>Switching Takes Five Minutes and Three Things</h2>
<p>Opening a high-yield savings account requires about five minutes, your Social Security number, a driver’s license, and the account number you’re funding from — that’s the whole job. The only real decision is which bank, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671480&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b">FinanceBuzz’s comparison of today’s top-rated accounts</a> makes that part quick: current APYs, minimums, and any cash bonuses for new deposits, all FDIC-insured, all on one page. Keep in mind these rates are variable — they follow the market, and today’s are well above the national average. Your money starts earning the higher rate the day it arrives, not the day you get around to it. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/highyieldsavings?i=50cd636a-f92f-4240-857e-36dcf09f7f64&p=3979404a-9ad0-4d72-a675-44de7c3ab05e&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671480&c=4e33e5ef-1283-4510-9489-37b869922e12&l=0eea2448-ce9d-4834-b997-ecb9aea7089b"><strong>Compare the current top accounts here.</strong></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/the-ghost-life-rule-nobody-mentions-why-an-500000-inherited-ira-left-to-an-estate-could-drain-in-five-years-or-pay-out-over-a-dead-mans-life-expectancy/">The “Ghost Life Rule” Nobody Mentions: Why an $500,000 Inherited IRA Left to an Estate Could Drain in Five Years or Pay Out Over a Dead Man’s Life Expectancy.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671480">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Micron Stock Slips Despite Record Q4, Analyst Price Hikes. Here’s Why MU Stock Is Still a Buy</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/micron-stock-slips-despite-record-q4-analyst-price-hikes-heres-why-mu-stock-is-still-a-buy/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Duprey]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:32:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672110&preview=true&preview_id=1672110</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Micron just posted a record quarter, analysts are raising price targets, and the stock still fell. The reason why reveals a deeper tension about where memory markets are actually headed.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/micron-stock-slips-despite-record-q4-analyst-price-hikes-heres-why-mu-stock-is-still-a-buy/">Micron Stock Slips Despite Record Q4, Analyst Price Hikes. Here’s Why MU Stock Is Still a Buy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672110">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Micron Technology</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MU/">NASDAQ:MU</a>) stock fell 1.72% to $1,046.79 despite record fiscal Q4 results and analyst price target increases. <strong>Goldman Sachs</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GS/">NYSE:GS</a>) raised its target to $1,250 from $1,100, <strong>Mizuho</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MFG/">NYSE:MFG</a>) to $1,400, and Rosenblatt to $1,900, while <strong>Morningstar</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MORN/">NASDAQ:MORN</a>) cut its fair value to $700 from $850. Wall Street disagrees on cycle duration, but bulls have more evidence on their side.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="MU" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-mu/full?v=acccc4832f80" alt="MU price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Analysts’ Case: Memory Supply Stays Tight Through 2028</h2>
<p>Goldman’s price target increase came as the CEO said memory supply should stay tight through 2028. Q4 revenue reached $54.2 billion, up 31% sequentially and 379% year over year, making it the sixth consecutive record quarter. Non-GAAP EPS of $33.42 beat consensus of $31.35, and gross margin reached 87%, up 210 basis points sequentially.</p>
<p>More than 75% of 2027 output is committed. 26 strategic customer agreements cover over 35% of revenue through 2030, with some extending into 2031. Remaining performance obligations total about $150 billion. CFO Mark Murphy said, “Even at floor prices, we expect margins meaningfully above any prior cycle peak margins.”</p>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="MU" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-mu/full?v=c42efd7446ba" alt="MU earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Company Snapshot: A Record Year Built on AI</h2>
<p>Micron makes <a title="The Semiconductor Upcycle Is Being Driven by Memory Pricing, Not Unit Growth" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/13/the-semiconductor-upcycle-is-being-driven-by-memory-pricing-not-unit-growth/">DRAM and NAND memory</a>. Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 256% to $133.2 billion, and EPS came in at $75.52. Q4 Data Center SSD revenue was nearly $10 billion. Most calendar 2027 <a title="South Korea's $590B Chip Bet Has Semiconductor ETFs Buzzing, but Memory Cycles Have Burned Believers Before" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/06/south-koreas-590b-chip-bet-has-semiconductor-etfs-buzzing-but-memory-cycles-have-burned-believers-before/">HBM supply</a> has been sold at higher prices. Fiscal Q1 guidance: revenue of $61.5 billion ± $1.5 billion, gross margin of about 86.25%, and EPS of $38.15 ± $1.00.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="MU" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-mu/full?v=700e859b758d" alt="MU analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Why the Move Matters Now</h2>
<p>Higher prices drove most of Q4’s gains. DRAM revenue rose 27% while bit shipments grew only in the mid single digits. NAND revenue climbed 42% on price increases of about 30%. Investors are pricing this as a peak that fades once supply catches up.</p>
<p>Management argues catch-up is a long way off. Significant new cleanroom capacity does not arrive until late calendar 2028, and gross margins are expected to rise after Q1. Real risks remain: first-half fiscal 2027 capex is about $25 billion, startup costs are climbing, and Netlist has filed an ITC complaint seeking a ban on Micron’s HBM imports. Yet shares trade at about 7 times forward earnings.</p>
<h2>What It Means for Your Portfolio</h2>
<p>If Micron maintains forward EPS of around $200 and the market applies 10x instead of 6x, that points to a $2,000 stock. Starting December 9, 2026, Micron plans to return 100% of excess cash to shareholders and pays a $0.15 quarterly dividend. With a beta of 2.222, expect sharp moves. Watch whether Q1 margins hold, how many new SCAs are signed, and the next buyback authorization size.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="MU" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-mu/full?v=da0e5ceea0d6" alt="MU price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<div>
<h2><em><span>Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</span></em></h2>
<p><em><span>(Sponsor)</span></em><span> Most people spend their entire working lives focusing on one thing: growing a pile of money. Then they retire and discover the skill they actually need is close to the opposite. Turning that pile into steady income, year after year, through good markets and bad, without ever running out.</span></p>
</p>
<p><span>It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan. That is exactly what </span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=04f098bf-a883-4422-b23c-37b22fd8e7ca&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672110&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span>The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income </span></a><span>helps answer. It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn more here.</span><a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/fisher/ultimateincome?i=04f098bf-a883-4422-b23c-37b22fd8e7ca&p=e9cfdb32-3f69-4ba3-8cc8-e4c7579f63ab&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1672110&c=e9d80901-cfa9-4563-a2b7-4ab9f2e5f76f&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3"><span> Learn More Here ›</span></a></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/micron-stock-slips-despite-record-q4-analyst-price-hikes-heres-why-mu-stock-is-still-a-buy/">Micron Stock Slips Despite Record Q4, Analyst Price Hikes. Here’s Why MU Stock Is Still a Buy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672110">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Oracle Has the Biggest Upside of Any Megacap Right Now: 54%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/oracle-has-the-biggest-upside-of-any-megacap-right-now-54/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670526&preview=true&preview_id=1670526</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Oracle's cloud business is growing faster than it has in years, yet the stock has been cut nearly in half. Our model finds a jarring disconnect between what the business is doing and what the market is pricing in.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/oracle-has-the-biggest-upside-of-any-megacap-right-now-54/">Oracle Has the Biggest Upside of Any Megacap Right Now: 54%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670526">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Oracle is growing faster than it has in years, yet its stock is priced as if something has gone very wrong. Based on our proprietary model, the 24/7 Wall St. price target for <strong>Oracle</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ORCL/">NYSE:ORCL</a>) is $204 over the next 12 months. That is 53.69% above the $132.74 close on September 28.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Model Reference Price</td>
<td>$132.74</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24/7 Wall St. Price Target</td>
<td>$204</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upside</td>
<td>53.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Model Rating</td>
<td>BUY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Confidence Level</td>
<td>90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The model gives Oracle a buy rating with high confidence. On Tuesday, shares rebounded 5.17% to $139.46, cutting implied upside to roughly 46%, still significant for a megacap.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1670525" class="wp-image-1670525 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/oracle-has-the-biggest-upside-of-any-megacap-right-infographic-1790702695588.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'Oracle (ORCL) • NYSE 12-Month Price Prediction'. The current stock price is $132.74 (Sept 28) with a projected upside of +53.69% leading to a price target of $204, recommended as a 'BUY' with 90% confidence. A section 'HOW WE GOT THERE (methodology)' shows a weighted base price of $179.74 derived from trailing P/E-based $198, forward P/E-based $163.60, and analyst consensus $210. 'OUR ADJUSTMENTS' details a base price of $179.74, a 247Factor adjustment of +13.5% (Sentiment, Momentum, Earnings Growth, Volatility), and a Mega-cap Dampening of -50% (Applied to adjustment), resulting in a Final Target of $204. A 'BULL CASE (WHAT COULD GO RIGHT)' section lists positive factors: $30B+ in new AI cloud contracts in Q1 FY2027, $664B RPO backlog (+209B YoY), Cloud Infrastructure revenue +121% YoY, and strong analyst consensus (8 strong buy, 28 buy), with a Bull Case Target of $324.60. A 'BEAR CASE (WHAT COULD GO WRONG)' section lists negative factors: Negative Free Cash Flow (-$5.4B Q1 FY2027), High CapEx ($28.5B Q1 FY2027), Interest expense +55% YoY, and Software License revenue -15%, with a Bear Case Target of $173.72. The bottom line summarizes 'BUY | TARGET: $204 (+53.69%)' and states Oracle's cloud growth accelerates with massive AI demand, presenting significant upside despite short-term cash burn concerns." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<h2>A 50% Drawdown Even as Cloud Growth Tops 100%</h2>
<p>Oracle is down 6.13% over the past week, 7.55% over the past month, 27.75% year to date and 50.24% over the past year. It sits about 56% below its $319.46 52-week high and roughly 22% above its $114.50 low.</p>
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<p>The business kept speeding up while the stock fell. In fiscal Q1 2027, non-GAAP EPS of $1.92 beat the $1.74 estimate. Revenue of $19.345 billion grew 29.6% and also came in above expectations. <a title="AI's Absurd Spending Boom? Hyperscalers Are Spending 102% of Cloud Revenue on Capex" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/22/ais-absurd-spending-boom-hyperscalers-are-spending-102-of-cloud-revenue-on-capex/">Cloud infrastructure revenue</a> rose 121%.</p>
<p>Remaining performance obligations (RPO), meaning revenue that is already signed but not yet recognized, reached $664 billion. Two days after the report, Larry Ellison called off his plan to sell Oracle stock (September 12). Fortune reported that all the options granted to Ellison and his co-CEOs had ended the fiscal year underwater.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="ORCL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-orcl/full?v=acc3288ad7bb" alt="ORCL price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why Bulls See $324 Within Reach</h2>
<p>The bull case reaches $324.60. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/17/price-prediction-as-ai-backlog-soars-oracle-set-for-50-upside/">Oracle delivered 850 megawatts of capacity</a> with more than 300,000 GPUs. GPU utilization was 97.9%, and GPUs up for renewal were renewed or resold at a 20% premium.</p>
<p>Management expects about <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/28/the-600-billion-ai-opportunity-behind-oracle-we-see-51-upside/">half of RPO to convert to sales within 36 months</a>. Multicloud database revenue grew 353%. Investor Day and AI World are both in October. Analysts are firmly positive: 8 strong buy and 28 buy ratings against just 1 sell.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="ORCL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-orcl/full?v=4d484fb0e4ec" alt="ORCL analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2><a title="AI's $10 Trillion Buildout Will Reach 3.6% of GDP. Who's Going to Pay for It?" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/27/ais-10-trillion-buildout-will-reach-3-6-of-gdp-whos-going-to-pay-for-it/">Cash Burn</a> Is the Risk Worth Watching</h2>
<p>The bear case comes in at $173.72. Q1 free cash flow was -$5.396 billion on $28.499 billion of capex. Management expects full-year capex of $90 to $95 billion and has not said when free cash flow will turn positive. Oracle plans to raise about $40 billion this fiscal year. Interest expense rose 55%, and software license revenue fell 15%.</p>
<p>The capex bill is enormous, and Oracle is only one of several hyperscalers writing checks like this. The suppliers doing the powering, cooling, and networking behind that expansion are a separate trade worth knowing, and we rounded up seven of them here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">7 Stocks Powering the AI Boom (That Aren’t Chipmakers)</a>.</p>
<h2>Oracle Trades at a Steep Discount to Microsoft and Amazon</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Forward P/E</th>
<th>Quarterly Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oracle</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>29.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>17.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>19.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Microsoft</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MSFT/">NASDAQ:MSFT</a>) is the closest comparison. Azure competes for the same AI workloads. Microsoft grows more slowly yet carries a higher multiple, in part due to positive free cash flow and a lower beta of 1.108.</p>
<p><strong>Amazon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMZN/">NASDAQ:AMZN</a>) runs AWS and also hosts Oracle’s multicloud databases. If Oracle’s forward EPS were valued at Amazon’s multiple, the stock would be worth about $209. Against these peers, our target looks conservative.</p>
<h2>Oracle Price Prediction 2026-2030</h2>
<p>The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $204 carries a buy rating and 90% confidence. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/18/the-oracle-stock-question-wall-street-will-be-asking-for-years/">Oracle trades at 18x forward earnings</a> while guiding to 34% revenue growth.</p>
<p>Confidence would rise if Q2 cloud growth lands inside the 65% to 71% guidance range and Investor Day outlines a path to positive free cash flow. At current levels, the model sees reward outweighing risk.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="ORCL" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-orcl/full?v=cceff733442d" alt="ORCL price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>24/7 Wall St. Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2026 (12-month target)</td>
<td>$204</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027</td>
<td>$211.02</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2028</td>
<td>$277.67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2029</td>
<td>$333.12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2030</td>
<td>$381.89</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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</div>
<p>The projections rest on Oracle continuing to convert RPO into revenue at its current rate. Delays in <a title="AI May Be Ruined Data Centers" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/22/ai-may-be-ruined-data-centers/">data center power or permits</a> would drag them down, while faster free cash flow could lift them higher.</p><div><h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2><p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=ff6067a5-22c5-4cd2-848d-e19edd68dc4f&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670526&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p><p></p><p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=ff6067a5-22c5-4cd2-848d-e19edd68dc4f&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670526&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/oracle-has-the-biggest-upside-of-any-megacap-right-now-54/">Oracle Has the Biggest Upside of Any Megacap Right Now: 54%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670526">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Grandpa Paid For a Wedding, Now Medicaid Could Deny Months of Nursing Home Payments</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/grandpa-paid-for-a-wedding-now-medicaid-could-deny-months-of-nursing-home-payments/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Barrington]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[retirement]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672105&preview=true&preview_id=1672105</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A grandfather writes $40,000 in checks for a family wedding while healthy and financially independent, then suffers a stroke 18 months later. What happens next inside Kentucky's Medicaid system is something almost no family sees coming.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/grandpa-paid-for-a-wedding-now-medicaid-could-deny-months-of-nursing-home-payments/">Grandpa Paid For a Wedding, Now Medicaid Could Deny Months of Nursing Home Payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672105">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p>Imagine a 79-year-old Kentucky widower who pays $40,000 toward his granddaughter’s wedding in early 2025. He writes checks to the venue, caterer, and florist. No $40,000 deposit ever lands in his granddaughter’s bank account. At the time, he is living independently, has money in the bank, and has no reason to think about Medicaid.</p>
<p>Eighteen months later, a stroke changes everything. He needs nursing-home care, his savings are being spent down, and eventually his countable resources reach Kentucky’s <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/14/medicaid-makes-you-spend-down-to-2000-before-it-pays-for-the-nursing-home-heres-the-surprisingly-long-list-of-things-the-2000-limit-doesnt-count/">$2,000 Medicaid limit</a> for a single applicant. Then the state looks backward. If Kentucky determines that the $40,000 wedding spending was an uncompensated transfer and no exception applies, the result could be 122 days without Medicaid nursing-facility vendor payments.</p>
<p>This is a hypothetical, but the rules and numbers behind it are real. And the part that catches families off guard is not simply that Medicaid can look back five years. It is when the penalty actually begins.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-five-year-lookback-reaches-back-before-the-crisis" class="wp-block-heading">The Five-Year Lookback Reaches Back Before the Crisis</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672095" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2390412687-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672095" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Pixel-Shot&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Pixel-Shot&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2390412687&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Senior woman in wheelchair with caregiver at home, back view&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2390412687&quot;}" data-caption="Senior woman in wheelchair with caregiver at home, back view" /></figure>
<p>Long-term-care Medicaid does not begin its financial review on the day someone enters a nursing home. Federal law generally uses a 60-month lookback for transfers of assets for less than fair-market value, and Kentucky follows that same five-year window. That means a wedding paid for 18 months before a stroke is nowhere close to being outside the state’s review period.</p>
<p>The important distinction is that the <a href="https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/09/01/he-gave-each-grandchild-19000-the-year-before-the-stroke-medicaid-counted-every-dollar-and-handed-the-nursing-home-bill-back-to-the-family/">60-month lookback</a> is a review window, not an automatic five-year punishment. Kentucky examines transfers made during that period to determine whether they were prohibited transfers. If no exception applies, the state presumes a transfer made during the lookback was made to establish Medicaid eligibility.</p>
<h2 id="h-paying-the-caterer-directly-does-not-create-a-safe-harbor" class="wp-block-heading">Paying the Caterer Directly Does Not Create a Safe Harbor</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672096" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2431267537-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1438" data-id="1672096" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Window to Europe&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Window+to+Europe&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2431267537&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Room in a nursing home through an open door, part of a bed, table, chair, wheelchair, partial background blur.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2431267537&quot;}" data-caption="Room in a nursing home through an open door, part of a bed, table, chair, wheelchair, partial background blur." /></figure>
<p>The grandfather never handed his granddaughter a $40,000 check, but that does not automatically keep the spending outside Medicaid’s transfer rules. The basic question is whether he disposed of his own resources for less than fair-market value. Paying someone else’s expenses can still raise that issue even when the money goes directly to a vendor.</p>
<p>That said, the result is not automatic. The facts surrounding the spending matter, including why the payments were made and the circumstances at the time. Kentucky specifically provides a path for applicants who can present convincing evidence that a transfer was made exclusively for a purpose other than establishing Medicaid eligibility. That distinction becomes extremely important in a case involving a healthy, independent grandfather paying for a family wedding long before anyone expected nursing-home care.</p>
<h2 id="h-gift-tax-rules-and-medicaid-rules-are-different" class="wp-block-heading">Gift-Tax Rules and Medicaid Rules Are Different</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672097" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/5482670039_bcda850bfa.jpg" width="499" height="379" data-id="1672097" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;tolworthy&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/66351465@N00&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5139\/5482670039_bcda850bfa.jpg&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;torn tax form&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;BY 2.0&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5139\/5482670039_bcda850bfa.jpg&quot;}" data-caption="" /></figure>
<p>This is where families can get tripped up. The federal <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/21/they-gave-each-grandchild-19000-a-year-for-twelve-years-nearly-1-4-million-left-the-estate-and-the-irs-never-received-a-single-gift-tax-form/">gift-tax exclusion</a> and Medicaid’s transfer rules are completely different systems. The federal annual gift-tax exclusion was $19,000 per recipient in 2025, but that number does not create a $19,000 Medicaid safe harbor.</p>
<p>A transfer’s federal gift-tax treatment does not decide whether Medicaid can examine it later. Likewise, writing checks directly to a venue, florist, school, mortgage company, or another business does not by itself remove the transaction from Medicaid scrutiny. For long-term-care eligibility, the state is concerned with what happened to the applicant’s resources and whether fair value was received in return.</p>
<h2 id="h-kentuckys-2026-math-comes-to-122-days" class="wp-block-heading">Kentucky’s 2026 Math Comes to 122 Days</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672098" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_1677829207-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672098" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Sean Pavone&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Sean+Pavone&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1677829207&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;The Kentucky State Capitol at dusk in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA.&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/1677829207&quot;}" data-caption="The Kentucky State Capitol at dusk in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA." /></figure>
<p>Kentucky makes the penalty calculation surprisingly mechanical once it determines the uncompensated value of a transfer. Effective January 1, 2026, the state’s transfer-resource divider is $325.41 per day. Kentucky’s Medicaid manual says the applicable divider is the one in effect when the transfer is made known to the agency, which will often be the year of the Medicaid application.</p>
<p>For a $40,000 uncompensated transfer discovered during a 2026 application, the arithmetic is $40,000 divided by $325.41, or about 122.92 days. Kentucky rounds the calculation down to the nearest whole day. The result is a <strong>122-day period without Medicaid nursing-facility vendor payment</strong>. That is just about four months, all because of money that left the applicant’s hands a year and a half earlier.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-18-month-gap-does-not-burn-off-the-penalty" class="wp-block-heading">The 18-Month Gap Does Not Burn Off the Penalty</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672099" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2544254813-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1350" data-id="1672099" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2544254813&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Hands, person and document for pension fund with information, law agreement or legal contract. Finance advisor, application or consultation in nursing home for retirement plan with financial security&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2544254813&quot;}" data-caption="Hands, person and document for pension fund with information, law agreement or legal contract. Finance advisor, application or consultation in nursing home for retirement plan with financial security" /></figure>
<p>This is probably the least intuitive part of the entire rule. The 122-day penalty does not normally run during the 18 months between the wedding and the nursing-home application. Kentucky starts a prohibited-transfer penalty at the later of the transfer date specified by its rules or the date the person is otherwise eligible for Medicaid nursing-facility vendor payment.</p>
<p>So the grandfather can spend 18 months living independently after the wedding and still arrive at the nursing home with the entire penalty waiting for him. By then he may have already spent his countable resources down to the Medicaid limit. In other words, the financial penalty can begin at almost exactly the moment he has the fewest resources left to absorb it.</p>
<h2 id="h-122-days-can-mean-roughly-39000-to-45000" class="wp-block-heading">122 Days Can Mean Roughly $39,000 to $45,000</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672094" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2661700427-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672094" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;pics five&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/pics+five&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2661700427&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Doctor or nurse caregiver talking to senior man and showing a document or a brochure at home or nursing home&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2661700427&quot;}" data-caption="Doctor or nurse caregiver talking to senior man and showing a document or a brochure at home or nursing home" /></figure>
<p>The penalty sounds abstract until you compare it with actual nursing-home costs. Kentucky’s 2026 long-term-care consumer guide cites 2025 median nursing-home costs of $320 per day for a semi-private room and $370 per day for a private room. Actual facilities can charge more or less, but those figures show the size of the potential hole.</p>
<p>At those statewide medians, 122 days works out to about <strong>$39,040 for a semi-private room</strong> or <strong>$45,140 for a private room</strong>. Suddenly the $40,000 wedding creates a particularly painful symmetry. A transfer of roughly $40,000 can produce a private-pay gap that is itself roughly $40,000, depending on the facility and room.</p>
<h2 id="h-the-granddaughter-does-not-automatically-get-the-bill" class="wp-block-heading">The Granddaughter Does Not Automatically Get the Bill</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672100" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3192720065_aacbd6cce8_b.jpg" width="1023" height="685" data-id="1672100" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;freeflight046&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/58528295@N00&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3406\/3192720065_aacbd6cce8_b.jpg&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Wedding&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;BY-SA 2.0&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3406\/3192720065_aacbd6cce8_b.jpg&quot;}" data-caption="" /></figure>
<p>Medicaid does not normally respond to the transfer by mailing a $40,000 invoice to the granddaughter. Instead, Kentucky can withhold Medicaid nursing-facility vendor payment during the penalty period. The nursing home still expects to be paid, which leaves the resident facing a private-pay gap at a particularly bad time.</p>
<p>Family members can choose to help, but federal nursing-home rules prohibit a facility from requiring a third party to guarantee payment as a condition of admission, expedited admission, or continued stay. A representative who controls the resident’s money can be required to use the resident’s available resources to pay the facility without taking on personal financial liability. That is one more reason families should read nursing-home admission paperwork carefully rather than assuming a signature is routine.</p>
<h2 id="h-there-is-a-real-defense-if-medicaid-was-never-the-point" class="wp-block-heading">There Is a Real Defense if Medicaid Was Never the Point</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672101" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2716315651-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1350" data-id="1672101" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/PeopleImages&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2716315651&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Hands, laptop and businessman writing on paperwork for financial reporting, balance sheet or auditing. Accountant, employee and documents at accounting firm for cash flow statement and record keeping&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2716315651&quot;}" data-caption="Hands, laptop and businessman writing on paperwork for financial reporting, balance sheet or auditing. Accountant, employee and documents at accounting firm for cash flow statement and record keeping" /></figure>
<p>Kentucky’s rules contain an important exception. An applicant can present convincing evidence that a transfer was made exclusively for a purpose other than establishing Medicaid eligibility. That makes the grandfather’s circumstances at the time of the wedding highly relevant.</p>
<p>If he was healthy, independent, financially comfortable, and had no foreseeable need for long-term care when he paid the wedding bills, those facts can support the argument that qualifying for Medicaid had nothing to do with the decision. It is not an automatic victory. Kentucky sends these situations for review before deciding whether a transfer penalty applies. But it is a far different situation from deliberately giving away assets while preparing to enter a nursing home.</p>
<h2 id="h-returning-the-money-can-change-the-calculation" class="wp-block-heading">Returning the Money Can Change the Calculation</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672102" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2204277278_cbf43f4146_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" data-id="1672102" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;CarbonNYC [in SF!]&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/15923063@N00&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2412\/2204277278_cbf43f4146_b.jpg&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Check Writing&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;BY 2.0&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2412\/2204277278_cbf43f4146_b.jpg&quot;}" data-caption="" /></figure>
<p>Kentucky also has a straightforward rule for transferred resources that come back. If the transferred resource is returned in full, the state removes the penalty as though the transfer never occurred. If only part of the value is returned, Kentucky recalculates the penalty using the reduced transfer amount.</p>
<p>There is a catch. Money returned to the applicant becomes his resource again. If that puts him above Kentucky’s $2,000 countable-resource limit, he may have to use those funds appropriately for his own care or other permissible expenses before qualifying for long-term-care Medicaid. Returning a transfer can solve one eligibility problem while temporarily recreating another, which is why the timing and paperwork matter.</p>
<h2 id="h-wedding-gifts-are-not-the-only-transfers-medicaid-can-review" class="wp-block-heading">Wedding Gifts Are Not the Only Transfers Medicaid Can Review</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-1672103" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/shutterstock_2498841691-scaled-1.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" data-id="1672103" data-ccinfo="{&quot;authorName&quot;:&quot;Dikushin Dmitry&quot;,&quot;authorUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Dikushin+Dmitry&quot;,&quot;imgSrc&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2498841691&quot;,&quot;imgTitle&quot;:&quot;Closeup hand of unrecognizable black male buyer getting car key and greetings from auto dealer while buying new auto in dealership. African American car owner during handing over keys at auto showroom&quot;,&quot;licenseText&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock.com&quot;,&quot;licenseUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/license&quot;,&quot;photoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/2498841691&quot;}" data-caption="Closeup hand of unrecognizable black male buyer getting car key and greetings from auto dealer while buying new auto in dealership. African American car owner during handing over keys at auto showroom" /></figure>
<p>The same basic problem can surface with far more ordinary family help. Money for a child’s down payment, a loan that is later forgiven, recurring cash gifts, tuition paid for a grandchild, or property sold to a relative for less than fair-market value can all be reviewed if they fall inside Medicaid’s five-year lookback.</p>
<p>That does not mean every gift automatically produces a penalty. Exceptions exist, and the reason for the transfer can matter enormously. But the broader lesson is hard to miss. Medicaid’s long-term-care rules can reach financial decisions made years before anyone thought nursing-home care was coming. The wedding may last one night. The paperwork surrounding how it was paid can matter much, much later.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/retirement/2026/10/01/grandpa-paid-for-a-wedding-now-medicaid-could-deny-months-of-nursing-home-payments/">Grandpa Paid For a Wedding, Now Medicaid Could Deny Months of Nursing Home Payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672105">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Evernorth’s XRP Treasury Vote Has Passed: Here’s What It Means for XRP Holders</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/evernorths-xrp-treasury-vote-has-passed-heres-what-it-means-for-xrp-holders/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:30:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671360&preview=true&preview_id=1671360</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Evernorth just won its shareholder vote and is days away from trading XRP on Nasdaq, but a massive paper loss and no commitment to buy more coins raises serious questions about what this company actually means for XRP's price.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/evernorths-xrp-treasury-vote-has-passed-heres-what-it-means-for-xrp-holders/">Evernorth’s XRP Treasury Vote Has Passed: Here’s What It Means for XRP Holders</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671360">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth, a company established to manage </span><b>XRP</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">), cleared its final shareholder vote. Shareholders of Armada Acquisition Corp. II approved the merger, allowing Evernorth’s XRP treasury—approximately 473 million coins—to begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker XRPN starting October 8.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth invested an average of $2.54 per XRP to buy 84 million coins on the open market, while XRP traded at $1.49 as of October 1. This raises an important question for both Evernorth shareholders and XRP holders: What comes next?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">The Evernorth XRP Treasury Starts Trading on Nasdaq on October 8</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/shutterstock-2574978611-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Ripple XRP cryptocurrency coin representing digital innovation and future financial systems." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1565586" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The trading debut on Nasdaq on October 8 is set to provide Evernorth with significant financial resources. The merger will generate about $300 million in gross cash from private placements, $30 million in convertible notes, and other funds left in Armada’s trust.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Notable companies such as <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/17/xrp-price-news-ripple-just-hit-a-50-billion-valuation-will-it-help-xrp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ripple</a>, SBI Group, Pantera Capital, Kraken, GSR, and Arrington Capital support Evernorth, and its CEO, Asheesh Birla, said going public gives investors “a regulated, transparent way to own XRP exposure.” At the current XRP price of $1.49, the total value of Evernorth’s 473 million XRP is approximately $705 million, making up about </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/xrp-etfs-now-hold-1-7-of-all-xrp-after-crossing-1-70-billion-who-is-still-buying-at-1-36/"><span style="font-weight: 400">0.5% of XRP’s total supply</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth Holds 84 Million XRP at an $88 Million Paper Loss</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/shutterstock-1146817055-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Ripple and cryptocurrency investing concept - Businessman using mobile phone application to trade Ripple XRP with another trader in modern graphic interface. Blockchain and financial technology." width="1500" height="999" data-caption="" data-id="1574776" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth’s decision to purchase 84.4 million XRP at $2.54 each on November 4, 2025, for about $214 million now appears to be a loss-making move. At the current XRP price, those coins are worth about $126 million, a loss of about $88 million, or 41%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Holding coins at a loss limits a company’s flexibility. Selling XRP to raise cash would lock in these losses. Additionally, Evernorth faces obligations under its $30 million in convertible notes, which carry a 4% interest rate and must be repaid by 2031 unless it becomes viable to swap them for shares.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">While XRP has risen 37% over the last 90 days, it is still down about 19% in 2026 and remains around 59% below its peak of $3.65 in July 2025. Many investors, including those who bought XRP at prices </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/16/why-cant-xrp-get-back-to-2-75-of-holders-bought-above-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400">above $2.75</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, continue to await a market recovery.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth Has Not Committed to Buying More XRP After the Listing</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/shutterstock-1149881279-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A golden XRP cryptocurrency coin stands vertically on a reflective dark surface, showing its full circular form and the stylized 'XRP' symbol. Directly below, a clear reflection of the coin is visible. In the background, a blue digital screen displays a blurred financial chart with dynamic, colorful lines indicating market movements." width="1500" height="1186" data-caption="An XRP cryptocurrency coin is prominently displayed against a backdrop of a surging financial chart, illustrating the recent market excitement. Investors are weighing whether to buy XRP now or await a potential pullback." data-id="1574752" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth has not committed to acquiring more XRP after the October 8 listing. There is no mention of a lockup period—a promise not to sell for a certain timeframe—and Ripple or any backers have not committed to increasing Evernorth’s holdings. Therefore, Evernorth’s past purchases offer little insight into future demand for XRP.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Moreover, Evernorth must compete for investor interest against simpler options, such as buying XRP directly on exchanges or through </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/19/xrp-etfs-have-been-frozen-at-1-71-billion-when-will-inflows-reach-2-billion/"><span style="font-weight: 400">XRP ETFs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, which do not carry corporate debt. After the listing, Evernorth will need to find ways to generate funds consistently to support further purchases.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">What Happens Now for the Evernorth XRP Treasury and XRP Holders?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth’s shareholders stand to benefit significantly from the successful vote, as the listing provides access to around $300 million in cash and the ability to tap into public markets. Conversely, XRP holders may not see immediate benefits; the vote does not guarantee new buyers and leaves Evernorth holding a portion of its treasury at a 41% loss.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Evernorth’s future could swing in either direction. If XRP prices remain low and its debts come due, Evernorth may have no choice but to sell.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, if future filings show new purchases backed by fresh capital, it could emerge as a consistent buyer in the market. If they instead document sales or if XRP value remains below $2.54 as 2031 nears, the treasury may pose a risk as a potential source of market supply.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/evernorths-xrp-treasury-vote-has-passed-heres-what-it-means-for-xrp-holders/">Evernorth’s XRP Treasury Vote Has Passed: Here’s What It Means for XRP Holders</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671360">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>He Retired From the Steel Mill in June 2025 and Lowered His Medicare Premium. Half a Year of Mill Wages Could Still Follow Him Into 2027</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/he-retired-from-the-steel-mill-in-june-2025-and-lowered-his-medicare-premium-half-a-year-of-mill-wages-could-still-follow-him-into-2027/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:30:04 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1668503&preview=true&preview_id=1668503</guid>
<description><![CDATA[He filed the form, Social Security lowered his Medicare premium, and he assumed the hard part was over. But the agency is still billing him as though he clocked in at the steel mill every morning this year.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/he-retired-from-the-steel-mill-in-june-2025-and-lowered-his-medicare-premium-half-a-year-of-mill-wages-could-still-follow-him-into-2027/">He Retired From the Steel Mill in June 2025 and Lowered His Medicare Premium. Half a Year of Mill Wages Could Still Follow Him Into 2027</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1668503">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>A 68-year-old steel-mill supervisor earned $210,000 in 2024. He retired halfway through 2025 and filed Form SSA-44. Social Security then lowered his 2026 Medicare premium. He assumes Social Security now has retirement figured into his bill. But the agency is still working with an income figure that includes six months of mill wages. His first full year of retirement could bring the premium down again.</p>
<p>This mechanism is limited to people with high incomes. About 8% of Part D enrollees pay income-related surcharges. Single filers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) at or below $109,000, or joint filers at or below $218,000, pay only the standard premiums.</p>
<h2>How His First SSA-44 Fixed 2026</h2>
<p>IRMAA looks back two years, so Social Security priced his 2026 premiums using his 2024 return. At $210,000 as a single filer, he landed in the second-highest surcharge level. At that level, the Part D surcharge alone runs $83.30 a month.</p>
<p>He reported his 2025 work stoppage, which counts as a <a title="Two Retirees, Same Income. Only the One Who Filed a Life-Changing-Event Form Kept the Lower Premium." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/05/two-retirees-same-income-only-the-one-who-filed-a-life-changing-event-form-kept-the-lower-premium/">qualifying life-changing event</a>. Step 2 of the form asks for income from a more recent tax year after the event. His 2025 salary, vacation pay and six months of pension added up to MAGI of $135,000. That was lower than the 2024 figure, so Social Security used it instead.</p>
<p>That $135,000 still includes six months of mill wages. It sits in the first IRMAA level, just $2,000 below the second.</p>
<h2>A Full Year Without Mill Wages</h2>
<p>His expected 2026 MAGI is $85,000. When asking Social Security to adjust his 2026 premiums, that lower figure belongs in Step 2. He does not have to wait until 2027 for a full year without wages to count.</p>
<p>Step 3 is for a further income drop in the following tax year. With 2026 in Step 2, that means 2027 in Step 3. If he supplies no second estimate, Social Security generally carries the first one forward until updated information replaces it. SSA instructs its staff to ask for the missing estimate, but he should check which income figure actually made it into his decision.</p>
<h2>What Those Last Paychecks Still Cost Him</h2>
<p>These figures use the published 2026 schedule to show the scale. Both cases also pay the standard Part B premium of $202.90 a month, plus their Part D plan premium.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MAGI (single)</th>
<th>Part B surcharge, monthly</th>
<th>Part D surcharge, monthly</th>
<th>Combined surcharge, annual per person</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>$135,000</td>
<td>$81.20</td>
<td>$14.50</td>
<td>$1,148.40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>$85,000</td>
<td>$0.00</td>
<td>$0.00</td>
<td>$0.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>His $85,000 sits $24,000 below the first 2026 threshold. But a Roth conversion or other taxable income could eat into that cushion. Any taxable conversion amount belongs in the estimate for that year. The 2027 bill will use the thresholds and surcharges set for 2027.</p>
<h2>A $135,000 Notice Can Still Be Fixed</h2>
<p>If his 2027 notice still uses $135,000, he should contact Social Security with the newer income figure. He can update an existing retirement adjustment without reporting a new life-changing event. SSA-44 is one way to provide the information, but a fresh form is not always needed.</p>
<p>His estimate has to be accurate. Social Security later checks estimates against IRS records, and a significantly wrong one can lead to a refund or a retroactive bill. For IRMAA, MAGI means adjusted gross income plus <a title="She Earns $40,000 in " href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/18/she-earns-40000-in-tax-free-muni-bond-interest-medicare-counts-every-dollar-toward-her-irmaa/">tax-exempt interest</a>, so municipal bond income counts toward his $85,000.</p>
<h2>Three Moves to Make Before the 2027 Notice Arrives</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Update the income figure as soon as you can.</strong> Ask Social Security to review both 2026 and 2027. If he uses SSA-44 to correct 2026 premiums, put his expected 2026 income in Step 2. Complete Step 3 if he expects another drop in 2027.</li>
<li><strong>Build the estimate from full-year numbers.</strong> Include taxable pension and Social Security income, dividends, realized gains, taxable withdrawals and tax-exempt interest. Price any Roth conversion into the estimate before making it. Once he files his 2026 return, send Social Security a signed copy to back up the estimate.</li>
<li><strong>File one form per spouse.</strong> An SSA-44 decision covers only the person who asks. If both spouses pay IRMAA, each one must contact Social Security, even when the same retirement cut their joint income.</li>
</ol>
<p>His first SSA-44 took half a year of mill wages out of the picture. His next update needs to show that the paycheck has stopped altogether.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/he-retired-from-the-steel-mill-in-june-2025-and-lowered-his-medicare-premium-half-a-year-of-mill-wages-could-still-follow-him-into-2027/">He Retired From the Steel Mill in June 2025 and Lowered His Medicare Premium. Half a Year of Mill Wages Could Still Follow Him Into 2027</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1668503">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>At 67, He Is Trying to Leave Advantage. The Medigap Insurer Said Yes, at $385 a Month. His Neighbor Pays $165 for the Same Plan G From the Same Company</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/at-67-he-is-trying-to-leave-advantage-the-medigap-insurer-said-yes-at-385-a-month-his-neighbor-pays-165-for-the-same-plan-g-from-the-same-company/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:30:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671657&preview=true&preview_id=1671657</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two neighbors hold the same Medigap Plan G from the same insurer, but one pays more than twice what the other pays every month, and the reason comes down to a window that quietly shut years before either man thought to check.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/at-67-he-is-trying-to-leave-advantage-the-medigap-insurer-said-yes-at-385-a-month-his-neighbor-pays-165-for-the-same-plan-g-from-the-same-company/">At 67, He Is Trying to Leave Advantage. The Medigap Insurer Said Yes, at $385 a Month. His Neighbor Pays $165 for the Same Plan G From the Same Company</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671657">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Insurers are reshuffling <a title="Analysts Say 2027 Advantage Plans Will Keep the $0 Premium and Silently Trim the Dental, Grocery, and Gym Perks That Sold It" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/03/analysts-say-2027-advantage-plans-will-keep-the-0-premium-and-silently-trim-the-dental-grocery-and-gym-perks-that-sold-it/">Medicare Advantage</a> options for 2027. Every Advantage plan had to send an <a title="Every Medicare Advantage Plan Mails a Notice by Sept. 30 Listing What It's Dropping Next Year. Most Retirees Toss It. The Ones Who Read It Have Until Dec. 7 to Leave" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/16/every-medicare-advantage-plan-mails-a-notice-by-sept-30-listing-what-its-dropping-next-year-most-retirees-toss-it-the-ones-who-read-it-have-until-dec-7-to-leave/">Annual Notice of Change</a> by September 30 explaining changes to 2027 coverage, costs, and other plan terms. Advantage premiums are falling in 2027, but not in every state: 19 are exceptions. That gives members reason to rethink their coverage.</p>
<p>A 67-year-old who joined Medicare Advantage at 65 wants to switch to <a title="Medicare Advantage Lets You In at 65 With No Questions. Medigap Asks Them Forever After. The Switch Most Retirees Can't Make at 72." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/04/medicare-advantage-lets-you-in-at-65-with-no-questions-medigap-asks-them-forever-after-the-switch-most-retirees-cant-make-at-72/">Original Medicare</a> plus <a title="Medigap Plan G Premiums Rose 12% in 2026 Filings. One Chubb Block Got 45%. Certain Policyholders Got Their Birthday Increase on Top." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/11/medigap-plan-g-premiums-rose-12-to-26-in-2026-filings-one-chubb-block-got-45-attained-age-policyholders-got-their-birthday-increase-on-top/">Plan G</a>. The Medigap company quotes $385 a month. His neighbor pays $165 for Plan G from the same insurer. Federal law sets Plan G benefits. Premiums and buying rights vary by person. Our retiree’s situation applies most directly to someone who joined Advantage at 65 and stayed past the one-year trial-right window.</p>
<h2>His Six-Month Medigap Window Does Not Come Back Every Fall</h2>
<p>His federal <a title="The Six Months When Medigap Can’t Say No May Come Only Once. Many People Learn That Years Too Late." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/15/the-six-months-when-medigap-cant-say-no-may-come-only-once-many-people-learn-that-years-too-late/">Medigap Open Enrollment Period</a> started when he turned 65 with Part B and lasted 6 months. During that window, an insurer had to sell him any policy it offered and could not charge him more for pre-existing health problems. It is <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“a one-time enrollment period”</a> that “doesn’t repeat every year, like the Medicare Open Enrollment Period,” per Medicare. Once it closes, insurers can charge more, offer fewer options, or deny the application.</p>
<h2>Same Plan G, Same Insurer, $2,640 Apart</h2>
<p>Several factors set a Medigap premium: the insurer’s pricing method (community, issue-age, or attained-age), age, ZIP code, tobacco use, and household discounts. Outside a protected window, health counts too. The neighbor may have bought during his Medigap open enrollment period, when medical underwriting could not raise the premium because of his health.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Buyer</th>
<th>Plan G Premium (Monthly, Per Person)</th>
<th>Plan G Premium (Annual, Per Person)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Neighbor</td>
<td>$165</td>
<td>$1,980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Him (underwritten)</td>
<td>$385</td>
<td>$4,620</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Difference</td>
<td>$220</td>
<td>$2,640</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Both men still pay the $202.90 standard Part B premium, plus the $283 Part B deductible, which Plan G leaves to the members. If they want prescription-drug coverage, each generally needs a separate Part D plan because Original Medicare does not cover most outpatient prescription drugs. Those line items are only the posted price (<a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/medicares-hidden-bills-offer-ed87adab.html">IRMAA surcharges and coverage gaps can add thousands more a year, and we mapped the full list in a free guide here</a>).</p>
<h2>The Costly Assumption Started Two Years Earlier</h2>
<p>He likely assumed that if Advantage disappointed him, he could switch back and pick up Plan G later. The federal trial right covers only part of that. If he joined Advantage at 65 and switches back within 12 months, he can buy Medigap without insure. After two years, that federal trial protection has expired. The annual enrollment calendar makes Advantage feel reversible, but Medigap rules can make reversing it much more expensive.</p>
<h2>A 2027 Plan Exit Can Hand Him a Federal Right</h2>
<p>The rules split on one question: did he leave his plan, or did his plan leave him? If his Advantage plan exits Medicare, stops serving his area, or he moves out of its service area, he gets a <a title="That Letter Saying Your Hospital Left Your Advantage Plan Also Unlocks a Switching Window. Check It Twice." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/28/that-letter-saying-your-hospital-left-your-advantage-plan-also-unlocks-a-switching-window-read-it-twice/">guaranteed-issue right</a> to certain Medigap policies. The insurer must sell him the policy, cover pre-existing conditions, and charge nothing extra for his health. He can apply as early as 60 calendar days before his Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 calendar days after.</p>
<p>In this scenario, the guaranteed-issue right comes from the plan termination or service-area change, and his plan’s non-renewal letter is the proof. A higher copay or smaller network alone generally does not create that federal protection, so he may still face underwriting. Two 67-year-olds can leave Advantage on the same day. One faces underwriting. The other may have a federal right to skip it.</p>
<h3>Price to Pay</h3>
<p>Underwriting can approve him at a standard or preferred rate, approve him at a higher premium, or turn him down. He got the middle outcome: a policy priced high enough to make leaving Advantage far more expensive than planned. Each insurer underwrites differently, so a second application could come back lower.</p>
<p>Federal law sets the minimum. New York and Connecticut give broader year-round guaranteed issue. The birthday rules in Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, and Oregon generally help only people who already hold a Medigap policy. Medicare.gov tells beneficiaries to check with their State Insurance Department, because state law can grant extra rights.</p>
<h2>Before He Disenrolls From Advantage</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Quote first, drop second.</strong> Get written Plan G quotes from at least three insurers. Ask whether insure applies and whether he holds a federal or state guaranteed-issue right. Secure approval before leaving Advantage.</li>
<li><strong>Keep every notice.</strong> If his plan is exiting for 2027, the non-renewal letter shows his guaranteed-issue right. Apply inside the 60-day/63-day window.</li>
<li><strong>Price the gap over time.</strong> The underwriting markup costs $2,640 a year, or $13,200 over five years at today’s rates, before any future rate increases.</li>
</ol>
<p>Leaving Medicare Advantage can take a single enrollment request. Whether he gets the Medigap price he expected may depend on a window that closed two years ago.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
<p>Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:</p>
<p><strong>1. Answer a Few Simple Questions.</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Choose Your Fit</strong></p>
<p>Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/smartasset?i=ea67dfdb-2bcb-4c07-a738-a6bc4073629c&p=bcd76dae-f1ab-4d93-9ab8-bebab1e3ca86&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671657&c=f2085e18-eba1-4e74-9bde-a8f9fc6616ea&l=0c41af46-5e7b-4131-a754-00c537bcdf56"><strong>Get started today! <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></strong></a></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/at-67-he-is-trying-to-leave-advantage-the-medigap-insurer-said-yes-at-385-a-month-his-neighbor-pays-165-for-the-same-plan-g-from-the-same-company/">At 67, He Is Trying to Leave Advantage. The Medigap Insurer Said Yes, at $385 a Month. His Neighbor Pays $165 for the Same Plan G From the Same Company</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671657">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>JNJ or MRK: One Dividend Is Built to Last, One Faces a Reckoning</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/jnj-or-mrk-one-dividend-is-built-to-last-one-faces-a-reckoning/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:15:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671931&preview=true&preview_id=1671931</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Both JNJ and MRK have surged in 2026, but a looming patent cliff and a balance sheet loaded with acquisition debt mean one of these pharma dividends faces a reckoning that retirement investors cannot afford to ignore.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/jnj-or-mrk-one-dividend-is-built-to-last-one-faces-a-reckoning/">JNJ or MRK: One Dividend Is Built to Last, One Faces a Reckoning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671931">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Johnson & Johnson</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JNJ/">NYSE:JNJ</a>) or <strong>Merck</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MRK/">NYSE:MRK</a>): which pharma dividend looks stronger for retirement-focused income right now? Both stocks have rallied hard in 2026. Merck is up 40.18% year to date and J&J is up 29.1%, so the easy price gains are already secured. The question now is which payout holds up through the next decade of <a title="4 Elite Dividend Stocks Yielding Up to 6.14% With Diversified Pipelines That Protect Your Payout" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/4-elite-dividend-stocks-yielding-up-to-6-14-with-diversified-pipelines-that-protect-your-payout/">patent expirations</a>. I compared them on dividend strength, patent cliff exposure, and balance sheet risk.</p>
<h2>Dividend Strength: J&J Raises Like Clockwork</h2>
<p>Merck offers the higher starting yield at 2.22%, against 1.96% for J&J. Merck’s annualized forward dividend is $3.4 per share on a $0.85 quarterly payment. J&J’s is $5.36 per share after a 3.1% raise to $1.34 declared April 14, 2026.</p>
<p>J&J’s dividend history shows a raise every year from 2009 through 2026, climbing from $0.46 to $1.34 per quarter. Merck has stepped up recently, from $0.77 to $0.81 to $0.85, yet its record includes a flat stretch at $0.38 from 2010 into 2011.</p>
<p>Coverage visibility also favors J&J. It produced $19.7 billion of free cash flow in 2025 and guides to a full-year figure “approaching $21 billion.” Merck’s management said, “We remain committed to the dividend with the goal of increasing it over time,” but supplied no payout ratio or free cash flow figure. <strong>Winner: J&J.</strong></p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="JNJ" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-jnj/full?v=2bee0a2152a2" alt="JNJ price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Patent Cliff Exposure: Merck Faces the Steeper Climb</h2>
<p>Loss of exclusivity means cheaper generic or biosimilar copies can enter the market, and sales of the original drug drop fast. That lost cash is the same cash that funds the dividend.</p>
<p>J&J is living through it now. Stelara sales fell 55.7% in the second quarter, yet total sales rose 5.6% operationally. Stelara had shrunk to 4% of Innovative Medicine, and the rest of that business grew over 14%. Tremfya grew 71% to its first $2 billion quarter, and J&J counts 28 products and platforms each above $1 billion in annual sales.</p>
<p>Merck’s exposure is concentrated. Keytruda represents nearly half of pharma revenue, and the franchise grew just 4% to $8.4 billion last quarter as management noted moderating U.S. growth. Three Phase 3 oncology trials failed: LITESPARK-012, KEYNOTE-975 and KEYNOTE-866. CEO Rob Davis calls the transition “more of a hill than a cliff,” mentioning more than 20 new products and “greater than $70 billion of commercial opportunity,” with growth resuming in the early 2030s. Positive sac-TMT data in endometrial cancer helps, but J&J has already taken its hit while Merck’s still lies ahead. <strong>Winner: J&J.</strong></p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="MRK" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-mrk/full?v=f0db55d71986" alt="MRK price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Balance Sheet Risk: Merck’s Deal Spree Costs More</h2>
<p>J&J ended the second quarter with about $21 billion of cash against $49 billion of debt, a net debt position near $28 billion. Litigation is a ongoing drag, including a $330M first-quarter charge, and the Orthopaedics separation adds execution risk. Those costs remain small relative to free cash flow. Pressuring the payout would take a litigation outcome far larger than anything recorded so far.</p>
<p>Merck’s burden is self-inflicted. The Cidara and Terns deals carry roughly $14.8B in combined one-time charges, and financing costs push full-year other expense to about $1.4 billion. Management says “Business development remains a high priority.” Another large deal stacked on Keytruda erosion is the scenario that pressures the dividend. <strong>Winner: J&J.</strong></p>
<h2>Verdict: J&J Owns the Retirement Income Slot</h2>
<p>J&J wins outright. It has a longer raise record, disclosed cash coverage, and a patent cliff already in the rearview. Merck still offers the higher yield and a cheaper multiple: its forward P/E is 15 against 21 for J&J, and analysts target $155.76 versus a $144.54 share price. Next up: J&J’s Enterprise Business Review on Dec 8, 2026 and whether Merck lifts its payout after holding it at $0.85 all year.</p>
<div>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/jnj-or-mrk-one-dividend-is-built-to-last-one-faces-a-reckoning/">JNJ or MRK: One Dividend Is Built to Last, One Faces a Reckoning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671931">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Bank of America Cut Its Fair Isaac Price Target in Half and the Stock Still Fell Below It</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-of-america-cut-its-fair-isaac-price-target-in-half-and-the-stock-still-fell-below-it/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Omor Ibne Ehsan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:15:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671571&preview=true&preview_id=1671571</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bank of America slashed its Fair Isaac price target by half, yet the stock kept falling right through it. What regulators just changed about mortgage credit scoring may have permanently altered the case for owning FICO.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-of-america-cut-its-fair-isaac-price-target-in-half-and-the-stock-still-fell-below-it/">Bank of America Cut Its Fair Isaac Price Target in Half and the Stock Still Fell Below It</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671571">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Fair Isaac</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/FICO/">NYSE:FICO</a>) slid below $600 in its latest session, closing at $592.52 after <strong>Bank of America</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BAC/">NYSE:BAC</a>) downgraded the stock to Neutral from Buy and cut its price target to $700 from $1,400.</p>
<p>A cut of that size suggests the bank has lost faith in the upside thesis. The stock fell another 4.10% anyway, from a prior close of $617.87.</p>
<p>The market is pricing in something worse than the bank’s reduced view, even though that $700 target still sits above the share price. The average Wall Street target of $1,341.16 sits much higher, although it likely includes estimates set before the latest regulatory news.</p>
<p>The question is whether lenders switch from FICO once there is no pricing penalty, and whether FICO can sustain price increases under scrutiny.</p>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8bd6fd"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="FICO"
data-variant="article"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/FICO?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/fico/"
data-timeframe="1M">
</div></p>
<h2>How a Single Pricing Grid Erased FICO’s Mortgage Edge</h2>
<p>Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy a large share of U.S. home loans and price them partly on borrower credit scores. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said the two will put VantageScore on a single pricing grid with Classic FICO, removing a 20-point penalty that protected FICO’s position.</p>
<p>No start date was given. Rocket Mortgage, the lending arm of <strong>Rocket Companies</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/RKT/">NYSE:RKT</a>), then named the newer VantageScore model its preferred option, an early sign that big lenders may act on the change.</p>
<p>The stock fell 26.52% that session from $840.89, described by Forbes as its worst day since 1989.</p>
<h2>Even a Halved Target Still Sits Above the Share Price</h2>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="FICO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-fico/full?v=e71b171e296d" alt="FICO price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>Bank of America’s analysts said the decision “removes a key distinction between the models, and follows a series of regulatory developments.” They added that “the revised grid adds another risk to score volumes, pricing, and market share.”</p>
<p>Other firms cut too, although less sharply. BMO Capital Markets lowered its target to $1,150 from $1,550 while keeping an Outperform rating, and UBS trimmed its target to $1,130 from $1,200.</p>
<p>The Street still leans bullish. Among analysts, 5 rate the stock a Strong Buy and 9 rate it a Buy, while 6 rate it a Hold and 1 rates it a Sell.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="FICO" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-fico/full?v=e614a8885021" alt="FICO analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>FICO’s Growth Came From Price, Which Regulators Now Watch</h2>
<p></p>
<p>FICO’s recent growth leaned heavily on mortgage pricing. Mortgage origination revenue rose 97% in the fiscal third quarter and made up 62% of total scores revenue, while mortgage score volumes grew only in the low single digits.</p>
<p>The bank’s analysts highlighted that dependence directly: “High and persistent regulatory scrutiny may limit Fair Isaac’s leeway on headline Score price increases.” Slow volume growth makes any cap costly.</p>
<p>Management said lenders pull both scores rather than replacing FICO, and estimated the share of consumers who benefit from VantageScore at a figure “in the 20s”. VantageScore was used on about 9% of Fannie and Freddie mortgages between May and August.</p>
<p>FICO bought back 1.705 million shares for $1.96 billion at an average of $1,149 per share, funded partly with a $1.5 billion term loan. It ended the quarter with $5.58 billion of debt and a stockholders’ deficit of $4.1 billion.</p>
<h2>What Investors Need to See Before FICO Stock Recovers</h2>
<p>The stock is down 48.36% over the past month and 64.96% this year, while the S&P 500 has gained 11.84% year to date. The stock looks cheap, but its valuation rests on mortgage pricing power that is now in question.</p>
<p>It becomes a value trap if large lenders follow Rocket once the grid takes effect, because each lost pull hits the highest-priced part of the business while debt stays elevated. A pending investigation announced by Levi & Korsinsky adds another concern.</p>
<p>The risks outweigh the discount until the evidence changes. The trigger to check is an implementation date for the single pricing grid, plus lender adoption data showing whether VantageScore’s share moves significantly above about 9%.</p>
<p>A useful comparison is <strong>TransUnion</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/TRU/">NYSE:TRU</a>), which sells the underlying credit data, whichever score a lender uses, making it less dependent on who wins the score competition.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-of-america-cut-its-fair-isaac-price-target-in-half-and-the-stock-still-fell-below-it/">Bank of America Cut Its Fair Isaac Price Target in Half and the Stock Still Fell Below It</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671571">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Trump’s $200 Billion Energy Deal Could Supercharge America’s AI Boom — But There’s a Catch</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/trumps-200-billion-energy-deal-could-supercharge-americas-ai-boom-but-theres-a-catch/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Duprey]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:09:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672047</guid>
<description><![CDATA[South Korea just pledged hundreds of billions to power America's AI boom through nuclear reactors, gas plants, and a massive Alaskan pipeline, but a closer look reveals one major piece of that deal is far from settled.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/trumps-200-billion-energy-deal-could-supercharge-americas-ai-boom-but-theres-a-catch/">Trump’s $200 Billion Energy Deal Could Supercharge America’s AI Boom — But There’s a Catch</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672047">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">America’s energy infrastructure is becoming one of the biggest bottlenecks to economic growth. Artificial intelligence data centers are consuming electricity at an accelerating rate, manufacturers are expanding domestic production, and </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-coming-ai-blackout-10-trillion-data-center-surge-threatens-to-break-the-grid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">aging power grids</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are struggling to accommodate both. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, persistently high energy prices are raising operating costs for businesses and squeezing household budgets. Meeting these competing demands will require investments measured in hundreds of billions of dollars, with new generating capacity, transmission systems, and fuel supplies becoming increasingly important. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A massive new foreign investment announcement could help address that challenge, although investors should distinguish between money being pledged and projects actually getting built.</span></p>
<h2>A $200 Billion Energy Infrastructure Commitment</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yesterday, President Trump announced plans for South Korea to invest up to $200 billion in American energy infrastructure, potentially accelerating one of the country’s largest power-generation expansions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Reuters, the announcement represents the </span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-expected-announce-54-billion-south-korea-investment-alaska-lng-sources-say-2026-09-30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">first major project package</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> under a broader $350 billion U.S.-South Korea investment agreement reached last year, including $150 billion designated for shipbuilding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The energy investments encompass three major initiatives:</span></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Project</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Proposed Investment</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eight large-scale nuclear reactors</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$120 billion</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Texas natural gas power facility</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$22.3 billion</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alaska LNG pipeline and infrastructure</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$54 billion</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Total</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$196.3 billion</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Texas project is particularly noteworthy. Its planned 6-plus gigawatts of generating capacity would help supply electricity to power-hungry AI data centers and semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Initial operations are targeted for 2029.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The proposed nuclear expansion, meanwhile, represents a longer-term investment in electricity generation capable of operating around the clock, regardless of weather conditions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For investors, the potential opportunity extends beyond utilities. Construction contractors, electrical-equipment manufacturers, turbine suppliers, and companies producing nuclear components </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/24/nuclear-could-solve-americas-looming-natural-gas-crisis-except-for-this-1-thing/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">could all participate in the buildout</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p> <figure class="wp-block-fwp-infographic infographic-container"
data-infographic-id="247walls-infographic-muppr714-0-zbes"
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<figcaption class="infographic-caption">
<span class="infographic-caption-text">As AI threatens to overwhelm the nation's aging grid, a $200 billion infrastructure war chest is being deployed to secure the future of American power.</span>
<cite class="infographic-attribution">© 24/7 Wall St.</cite>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</p>
<h2>The $54 Billion Catch</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, a $200 billion investment announcement isn’t equivalent to $200 billion in signed construction contracts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">South Korea confirmed the $120 billion nuclear initiative and $22.3 billion Texas project, but immediately clarified that its proposed participation in Alaska’s $54 billion LNG development remains undecided. Seoul’s industry ministry said the project must first undergo commercial and legal reviews.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s no small matter. Alaska LNG envisions an 807-mile pipeline transporting natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to a southern liquefaction and export facility. If completed, it could process up to 20 million metric tons of LNG annually, </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/23/a-knife-fight-is-coming-as-ai-boom-creates-a-natural-gas-crisis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">supplying energy-hungry Asian markets</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, developer </span><b>Glenfarne</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has secured preliminary commitments covering 13 million tons annually and needs another 3 million tons to support a final investment decision. Even those existing commitments must become binding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, roughly 27% of the announced investment package is associated with a project South Korea hasn’t formally agreed to finance.</span></p>
<h2>Key Takeaway</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the end, the announcement reinforces the enormous capital requirements of America’s emerging energy infrastructure expansion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Investors should pay particular attention to the Texas natural gas facility, which South Korea has formally identified as its first strategic investment project, while monitoring the nuclear initiative’s commercial reviews.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The broader opportunity is still compelling: AI expansion requires dependable electricity, regardless of which chipmaker ultimately dominates the industry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, infrastructure announcements don’t generate earnings. Funded projects, equipment orders, and completed construction do. For investors seeking exposure to America’s power expansion, those measurable milestones matter considerably more than the headline investment figure.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/trumps-200-billion-energy-deal-could-supercharge-americas-ai-boom-but-theres-a-catch/">Trump’s $200 Billion Energy Deal Could Supercharge America’s AI Boom — But There’s a Catch</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672047">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>If Their Son Has a Disability and Still Lives at Home, There’s One Fact that Lets Them Deed Him the House Whenever They Choose. And No Nursing-Home Look-Back Can Ever Count It</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/if-their-son-has-a-disability-and-still-lives-at-home-theres-one-fact-that-lets-them-deed-him-the-house-whenever-they-choose-and-no-nursing-home-look-back-can-ever-count-it/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:05:32 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671766&preview=true&preview_id=1671766</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Federal law carves out a quiet exception to Medicaid's five-year look-back, and families with a disabled adult child sitting on a valuable home have almost certainly never been told it exists.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/if-their-son-has-a-disability-and-still-lives-at-home-theres-one-fact-that-lets-them-deed-him-the-house-whenever-they-choose-and-no-nursing-home-look-back-can-ever-count-it/">If Their Son Has a Disability and Still Lives at Home, There’s One Fact that Lets Them Deed Him the House Whenever They Choose. And No Nursing-Home Look-Back Can Ever Count It</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671766">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Parents with a home and an adult son with a disability hold a Medicaid planning tool most families never hear about. Federal law lets them deed the house to that son at any time, even the week before a nursing-home application, and Medicaid can’t penalize the transfer. <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/27/the-caregiver-child-exemption-how-to-transfer-a-parents-home-to-yourself-without-medicaids-five-year-penalty/">Let’s take a deeper look at the rule</a>, who qualifies, how the transfer works in 2026, and the trade-offs that often make a trust the better vessel.</p>
<h2>A Deed That Sits Outside the Five-Year Look-Back</h2>
<p>Medicaid normally reviews every gift made in the 60 months before a long-term care application. A <a title="The Church Got $25,000 and the Grandkids Got the Boat. Medicaid Didn't Care Where the Money Went, Only That It Left Within Five Years of the Nursing Home" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/15/the-church-got-25000-and-the-grandkids-got-the-boat-medicaid-didnt-care-where-the-money-went-only-that-it-left-within-five-years-of-the-nursing-home/">gift inside that window starts a penalty period</a>. A home deeded to a child who is blind or disabled falls outside that rule completely. The deed date and the son’s address are irrelevant. This exemption depends on disability alone.</p>
<h2>Federal Statute Backing the Exemption</h2>
<p>The rule sits in <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/27/she-can-pay-her-daughter-2500-a-month-to-drive-her-cook-and-handle-the-pills-itll-be-in-a-signed-care-contract-so-if-she-ever-needs-a-nursing-home-medicaid-has-to-call-it-wages-not-gifts/">42 U.S.C. §1396p(c)(2)(A)(ii)</a>, also known as Section 1917 of the Social Security Act. It protects transfers of a home to a child who is blind or disabled under the SSI definition in 42 U.S.C. §1382c. A companion clause, §1396p(c)(2)(B)(iii), extends the same protection to transfers into a trust set up solely for that child’s benefit. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 extended the look-back from 36 months to 60 months. The disabled-child exemption survived intact.</p>
<h2>Families Who Qualify and Those Left Out</h2>
<p>A son or daughter of any age qualifies if they meet the SSI standard for blindness or disability. Proof of SSI or SSDI benefits is sufficient proof of disability. The test is meeting the SSI definition, so a child who never applied for SSI can still qualify once the state agency makes its own determination.</p>
<p>Children whose condition falls short of that federal standard are excluded, as are grandchildren and other relatives. A child without a disability can receive the home penalty-free only if they lived there for two years before the parent entered care and provided the care that kept the parent at home.</p>
<h2>Five Steps to Deed the House in 2026</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Document the disability.</strong> Provide a Social Security or SSI award letter plus a birth certificate showing parentage.</li>
<li><strong>Pick the vessel.</strong> Choose between an outright deed under §1396p(c)(2)(A)(ii) and a trust under §1396p(c)(2)(B)(iii).</li>
<li><strong>Record the transfer.</strong> Record the new deed with the county, or retitle the house in the trust’s name.</li>
<li><strong>File <a title="He Lent His Daughter the Down Payment at the Rate the IRS Publishes, Then Forgave $19,000 of It Every Christmas. Eleven Years Later the House Was Hers and the IRS Never Saw a Gift Tax Return" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/29/he-lent-his-daughter-the-down-payment-at-the-rate-the-irs-publishes-then-forgave-19000-of-it-every-christmas-eleven-years-later-the-house-was-hers-and-the-irs-never-saw-a-gift-tax-return/">IRS Form 709</a>.</strong> The 2026 annual gift exclusion is $19,000, so a more expensive house requires a gift tax return. Tax becomes due only after lifetime taxable gifts pass the $15,000,000 basic exclusion set for 2026.</li>
<li><strong>Disclose it on the Medicaid application.</strong> Report the transfer with disability documentation so the caseworker applies the exemption.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Hidden Costs of Handing Over the Deed Outright</h2>
<p>An outright deed comes with three problems. First, the son’s own benefits. SSI ignores the home you live in, but if he moves to a group home, the house can count against the $2,000 resource limit. If he receives Medicaid at 55 <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">or older, <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/29/if-he-spends-his-last-two-years-on-medicaid-the-state-could-send-her-a-letter-about-recovering-180000-from-the-house-she-might-still-lives-there-and-federal-law-says-the-state-cant-collect-a-do/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the state can seek repayment from his estate</a>, and the house could pay for his </span>care.</p>
<p>Second, the tax basis matters, because a lifetime gift carries over the parents’ original cost under IRC §1015. Inherited property gets a basis equal to fair market value at the date of death. On a house bought decades ago, that difference can mean a large taxable gain when the son sells.</p>
<p>Third, control becomes an issue, since a son who can’t manage property may need a court-appointed guardian before anyone can sell or refinance the house. Once he owns it, his creditors can reach it, too.</p>
<h2>Why a <a title="The Special Needs Trust a 64-Year-Old Mother Set Up Before Her Adult Son's Disability Disqualified Him From the Family Inheritance" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/02/the-special-needs-trust-a-64-year-old-mother-set-up-before-her-adult-sons-disability-disqualified-him-from-the-family-inheritance/">Supplemental-Needs Trust</a> Usually Comes Out Ahead</h2>
<p>A supplemental-needs trust holds assets for the beneficiary’s benefit without affecting their eligibility for Medicaid or SSI. A house moved into that trust under §1396p(c)(2)(B)(iii) gets the same penalty-free treatment. It stays out of the son’s countable resources, and a trustee handles upkeep and any eventual sale.</p>
<p>The trust has its own rules. A trust drafted under §1396p(d)(4)(A) must repay the state’s Medicaid costs when the son dies. The parents can sign the deed whenever they choose. The basis cost and trust drafting are the parts that call for planning ahead of time (we put the full checklist for wills, trusts, beneficiaries, and titling in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/die-with-a-plan-offer-6188e424.html">free estate guide here</a>).</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/if-their-son-has-a-disability-and-still-lives-at-home-theres-one-fact-that-lets-them-deed-him-the-house-whenever-they-choose-and-no-nursing-home-look-back-can-ever-count-it/">If Their Son Has a Disability and Still Lives at Home, There’s One Fact that Lets Them Deed Him the House Whenever They Choose. And No Nursing-Home Look-Back Can Ever Count It</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671766">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Want $8,000 in Passive Income? Invest $25,000 in Each of These 4 Dividend Stocks</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/want-8000-in-passive-income-invest-25000-in-each-of-these-4-dividend-stocks/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joel South]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:03:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672076&preview=true&preview_id=1672076</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rising Treasury yields are punishing rate-sensitive stocks and pushing certain dividend payouts to levels that look almost too good to be true. Four names now sit at yields most investors never considered realistic, but the durability of those checks depends entirely on what the cash flow numbers actually say.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/want-8000-in-passive-income-invest-25000-in-each-of-these-4-dividend-stocks/">Want $8,000 in Passive Income? Invest $25,000 in Each of These 4 Dividend Stocks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672076">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Rate-sensitive income stocks are being repriced as long-term yields rise. <strong>Realty Income</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/O/">NYSE:O</a>) fell 12.36% over the past month, while the <a title="Bond Market Collapse Sends Yields to Decades-Old Highs. Dividend Stocks Are Most at Risk." href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/24/bond-market-collapse-sends-yields-to-decades-old-highs-dividend-stocks-are-most-at-risk/">10-year Treasury yield</a> hit 5.26% on September 29, 2026, its high for the past year. Falling prices lift yields, and that dynamic sets up this entire roster.</p>
<p>A yield that rises because the price dropped is only as durable as the cash flow behind it. Coverage, measured on AFFO or Core FFO for REITs and net investment income for the <a title="Replacing a $65,000 Salary With Business Development Company Income? Here's What You'll Need Invested" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/05/replacing-a-65000-salary-with-business-development-company-income-heres-what-youll-need-invested/">business development company</a>, determines whether each payout holds.</p>
<p>A $25,000 holding in all four high-yield names generates income across $100,000 invested. The group produces $8,271 a year, clearing the $8,000 target. Two conservative <a title="5 REITs That Turn Long-Term Leases Into Reliable Dividend Income" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/12/5-reits-that-turn-long-term-leases-into-reliable-dividend-income/">net-lease REITs</a> sit at the low end; two higher-risk payers sit at the top.</p>
<h2>Realty Income</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stock #4: Realty Income (NYSE: O)</li>
<li>Yield: 6.09%</li>
<li>Shares for $25,000: 467.1</li>
<li>Annual Passive Income: ~$1,522</li>
</ul>
<p>Realty Income owns a diversified net-lease portfolio across retail, industrial and gaming, expanding into data centers through a $6 billion hyperscale joint venture. The REIT pays out about 90% of taxable income, and an income-focused valuation that just got cheaper sets the yield.</p>
<p>Q2 2026 AFFO per share rose 3.8% to $1.09, and full-year guidance was raised to $4.44 to $4.45, well topping the $3.258 forward dividend. Occupancy is 98.8% and Fitch rates the company A. The risk is rates: higher Treasury yields compete directly with this payout.</p>
<h2>NNN REIT</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stock #3: <strong>NNN REIT</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NNN/">NYSE:NNN</a>)</li>
<li>Yield: 6.18%</li>
<li>Shares for $25,000: 623.1</li>
<li>Annual Passive Income: ~$1,545</li>
</ul>
<p>NNN REIT owns 3,774 freestanding single-tenant retail properties on long triple-net leases, led by auto service, convenience stores and early childhood education. Retail net-lease names reprice to higher yields when rates rise.</p>
<p>Q2 AFFO reached $0.90 per share, up 5.9%, and full-year guidance rose to $3.55 to $3.59 against a $2.48 annualized dividend. Management cited a 69% AFFO payout ratio, and the July raise was its 37th consecutive annual increase. The risk is refinancing: a $350 million due date arrives in December 2026, with 10-year debt pricing discussed at mid-5% to 5.6%.</p>
<h2>Gladstone Commercial</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stock #2: <strong>Gladstone Commercial</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GOOD/">NASDAQ:GOOD</a>)</li>
<li>Yield: 9.53%</li>
<li>Shares for $25,000: 1,985.7</li>
<li>Annual Passive Income: ~$2,383</li>
</ul>
<p>Gladstone Commercial is an ultra-high-yield, small-cap net-lease REIT with 151 properties, 98.7% leased, and 69% of annualized straight-line rent from industrial. Its size, external management, office exposure and past dividend cut keep the yield near double digits.</p>
<p>Payout coverage has reduced. Q2 Core FFO of $0.38 per share exceeded the $0.30 quarterly distribution, but it included a one-time termination fee of about $1.9 million. Full-year 2025 Core FFO was $1.40 against the $1.20 annual payout, a thin margin. Management said it wants its distribution ratio lower, and one Florida office building remains a noted concern.</p>
<h2>Hercules Capital</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stock #1: <strong>Hercules Capital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HTGC/">NYSE:HTGC</a>)</li>
<li>Distribution Rate: 11.28%</li>
<li>Shares for $25,000: 1,500.6</li>
<li>Annual Passive Income: ~$2,821</li>
</ul>
<p>Hercules Capital lends to venture-backed technology and life sciences companies through a portfolio that is 86.8% first-lien and 97.8% floating rate, with a 13.4% GAAP effective yield on venture loans.</p>
<p>The distribution rate reflects the total declared payout, including a $0.07 quarterly supplemental on top of the $0.40 base. BDC distributions can include discretionary components that may not repeat. Q2 net investment income of $92.9 million covered the base distribution at 125%, and NAV rose to $12.15 per share. Credit is the watch item: non-accruals rose from one loan to two.</p>
<h2>Income Breakdown by Position</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Yield or Distribution Rate</th>
<th>Annual Dividend Income</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Realty Income</td>
<td>6.09%</td>
<td>$1,522</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NNN REIT</td>
<td>6.18%</td>
<td>$1,545</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gladstone Commercial</td>
<td>9.53%</td>
<td>$2,383</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hercules Capital</td>
<td>11.28%</td>
<td>$2,821</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td>8.27% blended</td>
<td>$8,271</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Who This Income Stream Fits</h2>
<p>Together, these four holdings produce $8,271 of annual income on a $100,000 investment, a blended yield of 8.27%. Realty Income contributes $1,522, NNN REIT adds $1,545, Gladstone Commercial adds $2,383, and Hercules Capital fills out the lineup with $2,821. That works out to about $689 a month.</p>
<p>This mix fits an income investor who wants steady compounders as ballast and accepts thinner coverage at the top for bigger checks. Retirees gain liquidity that direct real estate lacks, since any position can be trimmed in a single session. Reinvesting that monthly stream at today’s lower prices speeds up the income curve (turning a lump sum into something that acts like a paycheck is the whole exercise in our <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/paycheck-portfolio-method-offer-9d9c872f.html">free guide to the method</a>).</p>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/want-8000-in-passive-income-invest-25000-in-each-of-these-4-dividend-stocks/">Want $8,000 in Passive Income? Invest $25,000 in Each of These 4 Dividend Stocks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672076">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>AppLovin Falls 3% as Wells Fargo Calls Pixel Install Spike a False Start; Trade Desk Sits Out the Selloff, Magnite Dips</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applovin-falls-3-as-wells-fargo-calls-pixel-install-spike-a-false-start-trade-desk-sits-out-the-selloff-magnite-dips/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:02:10 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672049&preview=true&preview_id=1672049</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Wells Fargo just challenged the metric investors have been using to track AppLovin's e-commerce progress, and the stock is paying for it. Whether the firm's skepticism holds or gets overturned by better data could define where AppLovin heads from here.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applovin-falls-3-as-wells-fargo-calls-pixel-install-spike-a-false-start-trade-desk-sits-out-the-selloff-magnite-dips/">AppLovin Falls 3% as Wells Fargo Calls Pixel Install Spike a False Start; Trade Desk Sits Out the Selloff, Magnite Dips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672049">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>A single research note is reopening the debate over how much real merchant traction sits behind <strong>AppLovin</strong>‘s (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/APP/">NASDAQ:APP</a>) e-commerce push. AppLovin stock is down 3% to $281.31 this morning. Meanwhile, shares of <strong>The Trade Desk</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/TTD/">NASDAQ:TTD</a>) are up 0.2% to $12.20, sitting out the selling that has hit AppLovin stock.</p>
<p><strong>Magnite</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MGNI/">NASDAQ:MGNI</a>) shares are sliding 0.7% to $25.08, a far softer decline than the one in AppLovin stock. The <strong>Invesco QQQ Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/QQQ/">NASDAQ:QQQ</a>) is also down 0.1% to $738.80, leaving large-cap technology close to flat. Taken together, those moves frame the drop in AppLovin stock as a repricing of one company’s growth story, with little evidence of a broad ad-tech selloff.</p>
<h2>Wells Fargo Calls the Pixel Spike a False Start</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8c125e"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="APP"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/APP?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/app/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div></p>
<p>The pressure traces to a note from <strong>Wells Fargo</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/WFC/">NYSE:WFC</a>) telling clients that a recent spike in merchant Pixel installs at AppLovin looks weaker than the raw count suggests. Investors asked about Pixel adds over the past two weeks. Wells Fargo found that raw installs did rise while the mix of new sites failed to improve. Most of the new sites, the firm determined, were Asia-Pacific storefronts built on <strong>Shopify</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SHOP/">NASDAQ:SHOP</a>) with little or no measurable web traffic.</p>
<p>On a traffic-weighted basis, Wells Fargo sees no meaningful pickup, pushing back on the idea that AppLovin’s e-commerce customer growth had suddenly accelerated. Calling the burst a false start, the firm stated that a real e-commerce turn at AppLovin still looks more like a story for next year. Wells Fargo kept an Equal Weight rating and a $325 price target on AppLovin stock.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="APP" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-app/full?v=34a2ea990109" alt="APP price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="APP" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-app/full?v=8add78d0eb7f" alt="APP analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Why Pixel Installs Matter for AppLovin</h2>
<p>Analysts treat new Pixel installs as a merchant testing count. The tally is one of the few public indicators for whether AppLovin’s web advertising push is landing real stores. That role explains why a note on install quality is weighing on AppLovin stock, where selling centers on a measurement question with Wells Fargo challenging what the install count means for AppLovin’s merchant growth.</p>
<p>In any case, AppLovin stock is down 58% year-to-date. That steep slide has made AppLovin shares highly sensitive to any read on the company’s web advertising push, and a single note on install quality was enough to add fresh pressure.</p>
<p>Notably, Trade Desk stock is barely changed and Magnite shares are only slightly lower, which points to an AppLovin-specific repricing.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Fresh Pixel data showing installs from storefronts with measurable traffic could answer the core objection in the Wells Fargo note on AppLovin. A traffic-weighted pickup would challenge the firm’s view that a real e-commerce turn at AppLovin belongs to next year. Any shift in the mix toward higher-traffic merchants could matter more for AppLovin than the raw install total.</p>
<p>Careful calibration of one’s holdings makes sense given AppLovin’s 58% decline year-to-date and a Wells Fargo timeline that places a real e-commerce turn next year. Patience may be the best attitude toward AppLovin stock while the market sorts out how much of the company’s web growth reflects real merchants.</p>
<div>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/applovin-falls-3-as-wells-fargo-calls-pixel-install-spike-a-false-start-trade-desk-sits-out-the-selloff-magnite-dips/">AppLovin Falls 3% as Wells Fargo Calls Pixel Install Spike a False Start; Trade Desk Sits Out the Selloff, Magnite Dips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672049">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>AMD Doesn’t Need to Beat Nvidia to Be a Big AI Winner</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amd-doesnt-need-to-beat-nvidia-to-be-a-big-ai-winner/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:00:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670543&preview=true&preview_id=1670543</guid>
<description><![CDATA[AMD's Data Center revenue just doubled and hyperscalers are signing gigawatt-scale deals, yet our model flags a specific risk hiding in plain sight that could send the stock sharply lower before those wins fully materialize.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amd-doesnt-need-to-beat-nvidia-to-be-a-big-ai-winner/">AMD Doesn’t Need to Beat Nvidia to Be a Big AI Winner</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670543">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><strong>AMD</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMD/">NASDAQ:AMD</a>) has become the second <a title="Nvidia Is No Longer Just a Chip Company. It’s the Infrastructure Platform for All of AI" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/07/nvidia-is-no-longer-just-a-chip-company-its-the-infrastructure-platform-for-all-of-ai/">AI chip supplier</a> <a title="Goldman Sachs Says a $7.6 Trillion AI Spending Boom Is Coming. Skip the GPUs, Follow the Money Here" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/26/goldman-sachs-says-a-7-6-trillion-ai-spending-boom-is-coming-skip-the-gpus-follow-the-money-here/">hyperscalers</a> want, with Data Center revenue up 107% last quarter. Our own model sets the 24/7 Wall St. price target at $591.95 for the next 12 months. The stock trades at $613.32 today.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1670542" class="wp-image-1670542 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/amd-doesn-t-need-to-beat-nvidia-to-be-a-big-ai-win-infographic-1790702748777.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'AMD • NASDAQ 12-Month Price Prediction' on a dark background. The top section, 'THE CALL', shows a current price and price target of $591.95, a -3.48% downside, and a 'HOLD' recommendation with 90% confidence. Below, 'HOW WE GOT THERE' shows a horizontal bar chart with Trailing P/E ($122.66, 20%), Forward P/E ($306.66, 50%), and Analyst Target ($185.55, 30%) leading to a Weighted Base Price of $522.46. 'OUR ADJUSTMENTS' displays a waterfall chart starting from $522.46 (Base Price), showing incremental adjustments for Sector Momentum (+0.07), Analyst Consensus (+0.024), Earnings Growth (+0.015), Volatility (-0.015), and Price Position (+0.0075), culminating in a Final Target of $591.95. Additional factors 247Factor (1.133) and Mega-Cap Dampener (0.5) are listed. 'BULL CASE' details three potential positives (Helios demand, earnings, gigawatt-scale deployments) with a target of $680.30. 'BEAR CASE' details four potential negatives (Helios delay, HBM supply, gaming revenue, trailing P/E) with a target of $457.38. The 'THE BOTTOM LINE' section reiterates a '[HOLD]' recommendation for $591.95 (-3.48%), stating valuation is the deciding factor and AMD is an AI winner but priced about right, advising to watch Helios and HBM supply. The overall design uses green, blue, red, yellow, and white text on a black background." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Current Price</td>
<td>$613.32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</td>
<td>$591.95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upside/Downside</td>
<td>-3.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Recommendation</td>
<td>HOLD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Confidence Level</td>
<td>90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="AMD" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-amd/full?v=18f3f4043e4d" alt="AMD price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>The gap between price and target is small, and the model is highly confident. AMD is close to fair value after rising 186.13% year to date. Q3 guidance of about $13B in revenue, roughly 41% growth, keeps the growth story on track.</p>
<h2>Why We Could Be Wrong</h2>
<p>Our target is below today’s price. The stock could beat our number if Helios keeps running ahead of plan. Management says Helios demand is “tracking ahead of our initial forecasts”. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/amd-is-up-293-in-a-year-and-still-climbing-this-is-where-itll-trade-in-2027/">Earnings could also blow past the $20 long-term EPS target.</a></p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="AMD" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-amd/full?v=486a806397c0" alt="AMD price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>A 284% Run Fueled by a Data Center Doubling</h2>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/25/189-the-year-to-date-number-that-pushed-amd-into-the-trillion-dollar-club/">AMD is up 284.28% over the past year</a> and 31.61% over the past month. It trades about 3% below its $639 52-week high.</p>
<p>Q2 revenue came in at $11.54B, up 50.1% and ahead of the $11.31B estimate. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.66 beat expectations of $1.61. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 56% from 43% a year earlier.</p>
<h2>Gigawatt Deals Could Push AMD Toward $680</h2>
<p>Anthropic plans to deploy up to 2 GW of <a title="AMD Just Put 300 Billion-Parameter AI Models on a Desktop" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/08/amd-just-put-300-billion-parameter-ai-models-on-a-desktop/">MI450 GPUs</a>. OpenAI committed to 6 GW and Meta to up to 6 GW.</p>
<p>AMD expects server revenue to grow more than 80% in the second half and Data Center revenue to more than double in 2027. Among analysts, <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/amd-just-cracked-1-trillion-and-one-strategist-says-750-is-next/">43 rate the stock a buy or better</a>. The bull case reaches $680.30.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="AMD" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-amd/full?v=270a625bf2da" alt="AMD analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>What Could Drag AMD Toward $457</h2>
<p>The bear case is at $457.38. A <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/amd-is-up-187-this-year-take-profits-or-buy-more/">trailing P/E of about 229 leaves little room for a Helios delay.</a> Gaming revenue fell 31%, and <a title="The Memory Shortage Isn't Close to Ending -- Samsung Just Locked Up 70% of HBM Capacity Through 2031" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/31/the-memory-shortage-isnt-close-to-ending-samsung-just-locked-up-70-of-hbm-capacity-through-2031/">HBM memory supply</a> is tight. Free cash flow fell 9.89%, but capital spending rose 186.52%. On forward earnings, the multiple is closer to 50x.</p>
<h2>How AMD Stacks Up Against NVIDIA and Intel</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Trailing P/E</th>
<th>Latest Quarter Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>229</td>
<td>50.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>105.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intel</td>
<td>Negative</td>
<td>25.42%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>NVIDIA</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NVDA/">NASDAQ:NVDA</a>) is the standard every <a title="Nvidia Is No Longer Just a Chip Company. It’s the Infrastructure Platform for All of AI" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/07/nvidia-is-no-longer-just-a-chip-company-its-the-infrastructure-platform-for-all-of-ai/">AI accelerator</a> gets measured against. It grew faster than AMD last quarter at a lower trailing multiple and guides to a 74% gross margin. That comparison makes our target reasonable.</p>
<p><strong>Intel</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/INTC/">NASDAQ:INTC</a>) is the x86 rival AMD keeps taking share from. Its Data Center and AI revenue rose 59%, but it guides to only about a 42% non-GAAP gross margin. That margin gap justifies AMD’s premium over Intel.</p>
<h2>AMD Price Prediction 2026-2030</h2>
<p>I’m sticking with a 24/7 Wall St. price target of $591.95 and a hold rating at 90% confidence. Valuation is the deciding factor.</p>
<p>I’d get more positive if Q3 revenue tops $13B and Helios shipments rise in Q4. AMD is a real AI winner (we reverse-engineered what the biggest chip winners looked like early on in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/next-nvidia-playbook-offer-db00d27d.html">free playbook you can grab here</a>), and today the stock is priced about right.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Bear</th>
<th>Base</th>
<th>Bull</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2026</td>
<td>$613.32</td>
<td>$613.32</td>
<td>$613.32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027</td>
<td>$483.21</td>
<td>$620.53</td>
<td>$656.58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2028</td>
<td>$453.30</td>
<td>$600.66</td>
<td>$694.76</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2029</td>
<td>$402.09</td>
<td>$619.19</td>
<td>$783.83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2030</td>
<td>$419.18</td>
<td>$605.55</td>
<td>$774.29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario5yr" data-symbol="AMD" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite">
<div class="ppw-loading"><span class="ppw-spinner"></span></div>
</div>
<p>These forecasts depend on AMD continuing to execute. The biggest key factors are the pace of the Helios ramp and HBM memory supply.</p><div><h2>Want Up To $3,000 In Stock? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Complimentary Stock</h2><p>Looking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion; open a new Active Invest account, fund it with $50 or more, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/sofi?i=f626366d-826b-4343-a74b-4995fdfdc923&p=a55abab1-3c01-47d3-9326-1df24e45c37d&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670543&c=1308be9b-d53c-4ba3-964c-7dd7ff9bf5ee&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">you could receive up to $3,000 in complimentary stock</a>.</p><p></p><p>From $0 commission trading<span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">3</span> to fractional shares<span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">4</span> and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/sofi?i=f626366d-826b-4343-a74b-4995fdfdc923&p=a55abab1-3c01-47d3-9326-1df24e45c37d&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670543&c=1308be9b-d53c-4ba3-964c-7dd7ff9bf5ee&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">sign up and secure your bonus.</a> <span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">(Sponsor)</span></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/amd-doesnt-need-to-beat-nvidia-to-be-a-big-ai-winner/">AMD Doesn’t Need to Beat Nvidia to Be a Big AI Winner</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670543">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Ethereum Was the Best Major of the Last Quarter at 57% and Still Sits 46% Below Its High. Is $3,000 the Next Stop?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-was-the-best-major-of-the-last-quarter-at-57-and-still-sits-46-below-its-high-is-3000-the-next-stop/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671365&preview=true&preview_id=1671365</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ethereum crushed every major crypto last quarter, but a single price level stands between it and a milestone that would erase its 2026 losses. Whether the upcoming Glamsterdam network test pushes it there or sends it sliding could decide when bulls finally declare victory.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-was-the-best-major-of-the-last-quarter-at-57-and-still-sits-46-below-its-high-is-3000-the-next-stop/">Ethereum Was the Best Major of the Last Quarter at 57% and Still Sits 46% Below Its High. Is $3,000 the Next Stop?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671365">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">In the third quarter of 2026, </span><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO: ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) outperformed other major cryptocurrencies, climbing approximately 57%. It now needs to rise about 11% to reach $3,000. However, as of September 30, Ethereum was still 46% below its record high of $4,946 set on August 24, 2025.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Trading at $2,706 on October 1, Ethereum has fluctuated between $2,564 and $2,807 since September 20. The big question now is—can Ethereum reach $3,000 in the near future, or is the momentum from this past quarter fading?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum Outperformed Solana, XRP and Bitcoin in the Third Quarter</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/shutterstock-2186021207-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Ethereum cryptocurrencies and background graph statistics" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1551689" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Over the last 90 days leading to September 30, Ethereum’s impressive 57% rise surpassed </span><b>Solana</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) at 48%, </span><b>XRP</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/XRP/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:XRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) at 37%, and </span><b>Bitcoin</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/BTC/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:BTC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) at 36%. This performance occurred even as Bitcoin aimed for its </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/19/bitcoin-is-11-days-from-its-first-winning-quarter-in-a-year-what-needs-to-hold-until-september-30/"><span style="font-weight: 400">first winning quarter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> in a year. A $1,000 investment in Ethereum at the beginning of July would be worth about $1,573 by the end of September, compared to approximately $1,359 in Bitcoin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">One of the biggest price jumps occurred on August 19, when Ethereum opened at $1,917 and closed at $2,252, a one-day gain of roughly 17%. This surge also reflected the highest trading volume for the quarter. The sharp rise in buyers shows Ethereum led this rotation, and rotation leaders often maintain momentum until buyers shift their focus elsewhere.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum Needs About 11% to Reach $3,000, Close to Where It Started 2026</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/shutterstock-2462007001-medium-licensed.jpg" alt="Cryptocurrency concept. Shining Ethereum Classic cryptocurrency coin in front of two piles gold coins . selective focus." width="1000" height="667" data-caption="" data-id="1537050" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum began 2026 near $2,970 and is still down about 9% for the year. Reaching $3,000 would not only mark a return to January prices, but it would also make this year positive for the coin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, for Ethereum to hit that pivotal $3,000 mark, it first needs to surpass $2,807, the high from September 21—about 4% above the current price. On the downside, the September 20 low of $2,564 is about 5% below the current trading level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum’s large market capitalization complicates its price movements. With around 122 million ETH in circulation, a jump from $2,706 to $3,000 would add about $36 billion to its market value—significantly larger than a similar percentage increase for smaller cryptocurrencies. Additionally, </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/09/ethereum-etfs-just-posted-a-24-million-outflow-after-an-824-million-week-is-the-streak-over/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum-related ETFs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> saw an influx of $824 million one week, but experienced outflows in early September.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Glamsterdam’s October 6 Test Could Lift Ethereum, but Treasuries Pay 5.17%</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2131301131-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A golden physical Ethereum cryptocurrency coin is centered in the foreground, with its reflective surface. The coin features the Ethereum logo, '[ETH]', and text like 'DECENTRALIZED PLATFORM THAT RUNS SMART CONTRACTS'. In the blurred background, a stack of gold and silver coins is visible. The primary background is a vivid blue, showing a out-of-focus financial chart with green and red candlestick patterns and a light blue upward trend line." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="A golden Ethereum coin stands before a dynamic financial chart, representing the expanding influence of digital assets and tokenized finance within the global economy." data-id="1600383" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">On October 6, Ethereum’s upcoming network upgrade, </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-slipped-again-sepolia-now-targets-october-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Glamsterdam</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, is set to be tested on Sepolia, a test network where developers work through upgrades with tokens that hold no real value. However, there is currently no established mainnet date for this upgrade, meaning buyers have a rehearsal date but no clear launch timeline.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Investors also need to consider competition from traditional bonds, as the </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/"><span style="font-weight: 400">10-year Treasury yield</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> was at 5.17% on September 25. In this scenario, $10,000 in Treasuries would yield about $517 annually, whereas Ethereum holders can earn only through price appreciation unless they stake their coins.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Can Ethereum Reach $3,000 as Its Next Stop?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">$3,000 seems to be the most likely next target for Ethereum, given that it led the majors last quarter, and reaching that price would simply mean returning to its January level. However, Ethereum must first close above $2,807, the September 21 high.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The potential challenge is that the upcoming Glamsterdam test could shape market sentiment. If Ethereum closes above $2,807 following the October 6 test, reaching $3,000 could be within grasp before year-end. Conversely, if it drops below $2,564 first, the journey to $3,000 could push into 2027.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-was-the-best-major-of-the-last-quarter-at-57-and-still-sits-46-below-its-high-is-3000-the-next-stop/">Ethereum Was the Best Major of the Last Quarter at 57% and Still Sits 46% Below Its High. Is $3,000 the Next Stop?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671365">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Boeing Offered 17,000 Workers a 32% Raise. A Retired Engineer’s Union Strike Check Can Count as $0 Toward Social Security’s Earnings Test</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/boeing-offered-17000-workers-a-32-raise-a-retired-engineers-union-strike-check-can-count-as-0-toward-social-securitys-earnings-test/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gerelyn Terzo]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:00:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671606&preview=true&preview_id=1671606</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A Boeing engineer on strike can collect tens of thousands in union payments and watch the Social Security earnings test treat nearly every dollar as though it never existed, yet the IRS tells a completely different story come tax season.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/boeing-offered-17000-workers-a-32-raise-a-retired-engineers-union-strike-check-can-count-as-0-toward-social-securitys-earnings-test/">Boeing Offered 17,000 Workers a 32% Raise. A Retired Engineer’s Union Strike Check Can Count as $0 Toward Social Security’s Earnings Test</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671606">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Boeing</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BA/">NYSE:BA</a>) has an improved contract offer in front of its largest white-collar union, and the vote is coming up. If members turn it down a second time, roughly 17,000 engineers and technical workers could walk out as soon as Oct. 7, the day after their current contracts expire. Boeing workers went on strike in 2025 in a standoff that lasted for several months.</p>
<p>Consider a hypothetical 64-year-old Boeing engineer who took Social Security early and kept working is a useful example. Every paycheck counts toward the retirement earnings test, the rule that cuts benefits for people under <a title="The Social Security Earnings Rule That Trips Up Almost Every New Retiree" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/05/29/the-social-security-earnings-rule-that-trips-up-almost-every-new-retiree/">full retirement age</a> (FRA) who earn too much. A strike ends those paychecks. His union sends strike benefits instead.</p>
<p>Ordinary <a title="He Cut His Factory Hours at 63 to Protect Social Security. The Union’s “Lost-Time” Checks Put Him Over the Limit." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/08/16/he-cut-his-factory-hours-at-63-to-protect-social-security-the-unions-lost-time-checks-put-him-over-the-limit/">union strike benefits</a> generally don’t count as wages, even if the worker walks a picket line. The IRS can still tax that same money.</p>
<h2>One Union Check Gets Two Very Different Answers</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IRS Publication 525</a> treats strike and lockout benefits as taxable income. Ordinary strike benefits are not wages, whether the worker pickets or stays on call, per Social Security.</p>
<p>That means one payment can land three ways:</p>
<ul>
<li>Federal taxable income: usually yes.</li>
<li>Wages counted by Social Security: generally $0.</li>
<li>Earnings-test amount: generally $0.</li>
</ul>
<p>One exception: if a union pays separately for picket or strike duties, that pay counts as wages once it reaches at least $100 in the calendar year. Ordinary strike benefits stay outside that category.</p>
<h2>How $15,000 in Strike Benefits Can Count as $0</h2>
<p>Back to our engineer. Say he earned $20,000 in wages before the walkout and then collects $15,000 in union strike benefits. He took in $35,000 in cash, but his wages for the earnings test generally stay at $20,000.</p>
<p>For 2026, the limit for someone under full retirement age (FRA) all year is $24,480. Above that, Social Security holds back $1 for every $2 earned over the line. At $20,000, he’s below the limit and loses nothing under the annual test.</p>
<p>Change one detail and the result flips. If the same $15,000 had been regular salary, his countable earnings would be $35,000. That’s $10,520 over the limit, and the annual formula could withhold $5,260 in benefits. He’d have the same cash in hand with a very different Social Security outcome.</p>
<div class="fwp-generic-chart-container" data-chart-type="bar" data-height="350" data-chart-data="{"labels":["$20K salary + $15K strike benefits","$35K all salary"],"datasets":[{"label":"Countable earnings","data":[20000,35000],"backgroundColor":"#36A2EB"},{"label":"Benefits withheld","data":[0,5260],"backgroundColor":"#FF6384"}]}" data-chart-options="{"plugins":{"title":{"display":true,"text":"Same $35,000 in Cash, Very Different Earnings-Test Result"}},"scales":{"y":{"beginAtZero":true,"title":{"display":true,"text":"Dollars"}}}}"></div>
<p>Income withheld under the earnings test isn’t permanent. Social Security recalculates his benefit to credit the months it held back after he reaches full retirement age.</p>
<h2>Your Tax Return Still Counts Every Strike Dollar</h2>
<p>The IRS treats strike benefits as taxable, raising <a title="He Went on Strike From the Steel Mill at 63. His Union Check Was Taxable, but Social Security Treated It Differently From His Paycheck." href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/09/10/he-went-on-strike-from-the-steel-mill-at-63-his-union-check-was-taxable-but-social-security-treated-it-differently-from-his-paycheck/">adjusted gross income</a> (AGI) even though Social Security ignores them for the earnings test. For someone getting benefits, that matters in a second way.</p>
<p>For single filers, up to 50% of Social Security benefits can become taxable once combined income passes $25,000; for married couples filing jointly, the threshold is $32,000.</p>
<p>Above $34,000 for single filers, up to 85% of benefits can become taxable; for married couples filing jointly, the second threshold is $44,000.</p>
<h2>A Long Strike Can Change Who Gets Withheld</h2>
<p>A strike trades weeks of countable salary for union benefits that generally don’t count as wages. For a worker already close to the $24,480 limit, that trade could decide whether any benefits get withheld this year. Striking doesn’t give anyone a Social Security advantage on its own. The outcome depends on how much salary came in before the walkout and on the size and type of each union payment.</p>
<h2>Five Details to Confirm Before Counting on $0</h2>
<ol>
<li>Payment type: Find out whether each check is an ordinary strike benefit or separate pay for strike duties. The two are treated very differently.</li>
<li>Year-to-date wages: Add up your salary from January through the last day before the strike. Your earnings-test exposure starts from that figure.</li>
<li>Picket payments: Ask the union whether it pays anything separately for services. Once that pay reaches $100 for the year, it can count as wages.</li>
<li>Tax reporting: Learn how the union will report your benefits so nothing on your return comes as a surprise.</li>
<li>Combined income: Estimate whether taxable strike benefits push you past the $25,000 or $32,000 limits and make more of your Social Security taxable.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you’re taking Social Security early, work through that checklist before a walkout begins, not after the first union check arrives.</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/10/01/boeing-offered-17000-workers-a-32-raise-a-retired-engineers-union-strike-check-can-count-as-0-toward-social-securitys-earnings-test/">Boeing Offered 17,000 Workers a 32% Raise. A Retired Engineer’s Union Strike Check Can Count as $0 Toward Social Security’s Earnings Test</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671606">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Ciena Climbs 6% After a Week of Bullish Analyst Calls; Arista Ticks Up, Cisco Holds Steady</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ciena-climbs-6-after-a-week-of-bullish-analyst-calls-arista-ticks-up-cisco-holds-steady/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:57:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672051&preview=true&preview_id=1672051</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bullish analyst calls piled up all week on one optical networking name, and now the stock is surging while its closest peers barely budge. Here is what the sell-side sees that the market is only starting to price in.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ciena-climbs-6-after-a-week-of-bullish-analyst-calls-arista-ticks-up-cisco-holds-steady/">Ciena Climbs 6% After a Week of Bullish Analyst Calls; Arista Ticks Up, Cisco Holds Steady</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672051">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>A week of upbeat sell-side research on <a title="These 7 Stocks Will Solve AI's Most Important Bottleneck" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/06/29/these-7-stocks-will-solve-ais-most-important-bottleneck/">artificial intelligence (AI) networking</a> is showing up in shares of <strong>Ciena</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CIEN/">NYSE:CIEN</a>). Ciena stock is at $371.68, up 6% in early trading action. With the company itself quiet on news, the gain looks like the market catching up to a sell-side re-rating of Ciena stock that’s been building for a week.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, shares of fellow AI networking supplier <strong>Arista Networks</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ANET/">NYSE:ANET</a>) are at $205.30, up 0.8%. <strong>Cisco Systems</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/CSCO/">NASDAQ:CSCO</a>) stock is holding steady at $107.94, up 0.3%. That split leaves Ciena stock out in front of the networking group by a wide margin.</p>
<p>Tech names are stronger overall, with the <strong>iShares U.S. Technology ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IYW/">NYSEARCA:IYW</a>) at $265.36, up 0.2%. In contrast, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is at $760.92, down 0.2%.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="CIEN" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-cien/full?v=d95d09f35661" alt="CIEN price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Evercore and Bernstein Make the Optical Case</h2>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="CIEN" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-cien/full?v=5f63e73220ef" alt="CIEN analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani upgraded Ciena stock to Outperform late last week and raised the firm’s price target to $550. Daryanani’s argument is that an AI system runs only as fast as the chips inside it can exchange information across server racks and between <a title="AI May Be Ruined Data Centers" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/22/ai-may-be-ruined-data-centers/">data centers</a>. When those connections fall behind, operators lose efficiency. They struggle to get full use of equipment they’ve already paid for, and Daryanani sees the opportunity in Ciena’s <a title="A Single Meta Data Center Will Require " href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/21/a-single-meta-data-center-will-require-8-million-miles-of-fiber-these-stocks-are-cashing-in-on-the-802-data-centers-currently-under-construction/">optical networking technology</a>, which moves that traffic inside data centers and over longer distances.</p>
<p>Bernstein added to the momentum in the previous session, launching coverage of Ciena stock at Outperform as part of a positive rollout across the U.S. networking group. In that research, Bernstein told investors that networking and optical companies stand to be structural winners within <a title="Goldman Sachs Says a $7.6 Trillion AI Spending Boom Is Coming. Skip the GPUs, Follow the Money Here" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/26/goldman-sachs-says-a-7-6-trillion-ai-spending-boom-is-coming-skip-the-gpus-follow-the-money-here/">AI infrastructure</a>. Both calls point at the same bottleneck, and Ciena sells the optical transport that lets data centers, and the links between them, keep pace with the compute being installed around them.</p>
<h2>Ciena’s Own Re-Rating Stands Apart From Its Peers</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8c6549"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="CIEN"
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data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/CIEN?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/cien/"
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<p>Ciena stock is up 59% year to date, so the two analyst calls are landing on a name that has already run a long way. Evercore ISI’s higher price target arriving after that kind of climb raises the bar into strength, at a point when the market was already rewarding Ciena’s optical franchise.</p>
<p>Arista and Cisco shares are barely moving alongside Ciena stock, suggesting the market views the analyst calls as specific to Ciena. <strong>Extreme Networks</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/EXTR/">NASDAQ:EXTR</a>), a smaller enterprise networking peer, rounds out the group.</p>
<p>Both firms point to a bottleneck supporting the bullish thesis, where every new rack of <a title="3 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Before AI Demand Explodes in September" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/16/3-semiconductor-stocks-to-buy-before-ai-demand-explodes-in-september/">AI chips</a> depends on faster optical links (we highlighted seven suppliers solving exactly these AI expansion bottlenecks, from power to networking, in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free report here</a>). Much of that story may already be priced in after this year’s run, so any slowdown in <a title="Hyperscalers Hit $700 Billion in 2026 AI Spending Plans" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/01/hyperscalers-hit-700-billion-in-2026-ai-spending-plans/">AI infrastructure spending</a> could weigh on the shares.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>It’s worth watching whether other firms follow Evercore ISI and Bernstein with bullish research on Ciena. Any pickup in Arista or Cisco shares toward Ciena’s pace could signal the buying is spreading across AI networking.</p>
<p>Anyone sizing up their exposure should adjust their holdings carefully given that Ciena stock is up 59% year to date and the latest price target raise arrived into strength. Keeping one’s Ciena stake moderate leaves room to benefit from the AI networking demand case both firms laid out while limiting the damage if momentum in CIEN stock fades.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ciena-climbs-6-after-a-week-of-bullish-analyst-calls-arista-ticks-up-cisco-holds-steady/">Ciena Climbs 6% After a Week of Bullish Analyst Calls; Arista Ticks Up, Cisco Holds Steady</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672051">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>BYD Proves Lead Over Tesla Won’t Stop</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/byd-proves-lead-over-tesla-wont-stop/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Douglas A. McIntyre]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:52:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672034</guid>
<description><![CDATA[BYD has spent two years outmuscling Tesla across Europe while Tesla hemorrhages ground in China, raising a question investors can no longer ignore: what happens when a car company loses every market except its home turf?]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/byd-proves-lead-over-tesla-wont-stop/">BYD Proves Lead Over Tesla Won’t Stop</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672034">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p>The EU is the world’s third-largest car market. Car makers sell about 13 million cars there a year, behind America’s 16 million and China’s 34 million. However, it has a distinction. It is the only large market in which all the world’s major car companies compete. The US blocks Chinese car sales. China’s highly successful car industry has effectively edged out foreign car companies. Tesla (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/tsla/">NASDAQ: TSLA</a>) has modest sales. VW and Toyota (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/tm/">NYSE: TM</a>) sell via joint ventures with local companies.</p>
<p>Major US, Japanese, and South Korean companies all have significant EU sales. VW- and Stellantis-owned brands lead the market. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association<a href="https://www.acea.auto/files/Press_release_car_registrations_August_2026.pdf"> provides data</a> for all EU sales.</p>
<p>BYD has dominated Tesla in the EU market for over two years. That dominance persisted in August and through the first eight months of the year, although Tesla’s sales growth has recovered from poor sales in 2025.</p>
<p>BYD’s sales from January through August were 177,752, up 163%. Tesla’s sales for the period were 142,165, up 65.9%. Last year, <a href="https://electrek.co/2026/01/06/tesla-full-2025-data-europe-total-bloodbath/">Electrek reported</a>, “Tesla’s full 2025 data from Europe is in, and it is a total bloodbath.”</p>
<p>Tesla has been painted into a corner. It trails in China’s EV market. It trails rival BYD in Europe. In the US, it has regained market share and has over half of the market. However, overall US EV sales were down about 20% in the first half of the year.</p>
<p>Shaky global sales have more than offset Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s argument that his company is really a robotaxi, robotics, and AI company. Investors are looking at car sales, which remain its primary business by far. While many of the mega-tech stocks have recovered this year, largely because of their presence in the AI sector, Tesla’s stock is down 21%. The figure is down 33% from two months ago.</p>
<p>Tesla has mediocre sales across the world’s largest markets, but those sales are not enough to convince shareholders</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/byd-proves-lead-over-tesla-wont-stop/">BYD Proves Lead Over Tesla Won’t Stop</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672034">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Bank Stocks Slide as Money-Center Names Lead Financials Lower: Citigroup Falls 4%, Bank of America Drops 3%, JPMorgan Chase Slips</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-stocks-slide-as-money-center-names-lead-financials-lower-citigroup-falls-4-bank-of-america-drops-3-jpmorgan-chase-slips/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:51:07 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1672043&preview=true&preview_id=1672043</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Citigroup is getting hit harder than Bank of America despite the legal headline landing at Merrill Lynch, and the gap between the two lenders points to something beyond the settlement driving the selloff across money-center banks.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-stocks-slide-as-money-center-names-lead-financials-lower-citigroup-falls-4-bank-of-america-drops-3-jpmorgan-chase-slips/">Bank Stocks Slide as Money-Center Names Lead Financials Lower: Citigroup Falls 4%, Bank of America Drops 3%, JPMorgan Chase Slips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672043">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Selling across financial stocks is landing hardest on some of the biggest U.S. banks, and <strong>Citigroup</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/C/">NYSE:C</a>) shares are leading the money-center names lower as traders pull back from the group. Citigroup stock is down 4% to $123.81, posting the largest decline among the large banks.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Bank of America</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BAC/">NYSE:BAC</a>) stock is down 3% to $53.07, a smaller drop than Citigroup stock is posting despite a fresh legal headline from the Merrill Lynch unit. <strong>JPMorgan Chase</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JPM/">NYSE:JPM</a>) stock is down 0.9% to $327.81, the smallest pullback of the three and a sign that sellers are drawing clear lines between the biggest banks.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the <strong><a title="The XLF Financial Sector ETF Puts 25% of Your Money in Just Two Stocks" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/17/the-xlf-financial-sector-etf-puts-25-of-your-money-in-just-two-stocks/">Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF</a></strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/XLF/">NYSEARCA:XLF</a>) is down 0.99% to $52.87, a smaller decline than Citigroup and Bank of America shares are showing. The <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is down 0.3% to $760.54, so equities overall are seeing only a modest pullback.</p>
<h2>Merrill Lynch Settlement Lands at Bank of America</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8c8e1f"
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<p>Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch unit will pay $39 million to settle a class action over cash sweep accounts, Reuters reported. Settlement papers were filed late Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, and the case centered on <a title="Your Broker Sweeps Your Cash Into an Account Paying 0.01% While These 3 ETFs Pay 400 Times More" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/08/31/your-broker-sweeps-your-cash-into-an-account-paying-0-01-while-these-3-etfs-pay-400-times-more/">idle retirement cash</a> that customers stated Merrill Lynch swept into deposit accounts paying very little interest. Approval from U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni is still required, and the agreement avoids a trial that had been set for mid-October.</p>
<p>For Bank of America, the payment is a small sum next to the scale of the bank’s operations, and the agreement removes trial risk from the company’s legal calendar. Because the class action was already public, the deal adds no surprise expense. That makes the settlement a thin explanation for the 3% slide in Bank of America stock, and the Merrill Lynch news says nothing about the largest drop in Citigroup stock.</p>
<h2>Citigroup’s Steeper Slide Points to Positioning</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8c8fa3"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="C"
data-variant="article"
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data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/C?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
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<p>Citigroup stock is falling harder than Bank of America stock, even though the only company-specific legal headline in the group involves the Merrill Lynch unit. This pattern points to positioning across the large banks as the main force behind the slide in Citigroup stock, since the settlement explains little of the gap between the two lenders.</p>
<p>JPMorgan Chase stock is holding up best of the three, with a 0.9% decline that’s slightly smaller than the 0.99% drop in the industry ETF. The distance between JPMorgan Chase stock and Citigroup stock shows sellers discriminating between names, with Bank of America shares landing in the middle.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Whether Citigroup stock holds above $124 or keeps leading the money-center group lower is worth watching, since that answer could show if the positioning trade is running its course. Bank of America’s next step is court approval of the Merrill Lynch settlement, and a signed order from Judge Caproni could close out the dispute without the trial that had been set for mid-October.</p>
<p>JPMorgan Chase stock offers a useful read on breadth, since a deeper decline in the name holding up best could signal that the selling is spreading across the large banks. Shareholders can also watch whether the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF keeps holding up better than Citigroup and Bank of America shares, confirming the pressure is staying concentrated in the money-center names.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/bank-stocks-slide-as-money-center-names-lead-financials-lower-citigroup-falls-4-bank-of-america-drops-3-jpmorgan-chase-slips/">Bank Stocks Slide as Money-Center Names Lead Financials Lower: Citigroup Falls 4%, Bank of America Drops 3%, JPMorgan Chase Slips</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1672043">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>What It Actually Takes for Bank of America to Keep Raising Its Dividend</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/what-it-actually-takes-for-bank-of-america-to-keep-raising-its-dividend/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:45:50 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671927&preview=true&preview_id=1671927</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bank of America just raised its dividend again, but a razor-thin capital cushion separates the next raise from a payout freeze. Here is the precise mechanism that determines whether shareholders get another bump or watch buybacks disappear first.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/what-it-actually-takes-for-bank-of-america-to-keep-raising-its-dividend/">What It Actually Takes for Bank of America to Keep Raising Its Dividend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671927">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Bank of America</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BAC/">NYSE:BAC</a>) raised its quarterly common dividend to $0.32 from $0.28, declared on July 24, 2026. The annualized forward payout now stands at $1.28 per share. Second-quarter EPS was $1.21, and the bank paid $2.0B in common dividends against $9.07B of net income. Capital is the constraint.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="BAC" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-bac/full?v=8ab0211d35fe" alt="BAC price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2>Why Record Profits Still Hit a Capital Ceiling</h2>
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<p>As a systemically important bank, Bank of America must hold common equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital above a regulatory floor. Every dollar paid out reduces that pool. Every new loan raises risk-weighted assets, which raises required capital. CFO Alastair Borthwick laid out the math during July’s earnings call:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Tier 1 common equity grew to nearly $202 billion while our RWA increased to $1.8 trillion driven by loan growth and capital markets activity.”</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>“We remain in a strong position with our CET1 ratio stable at 11.2% and that remains well ahead of our 10% minimum ratio.”</p></blockquote>
<p>That reserve is the smallest among peers. <strong>JPMorgan Chase</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JPM/">NYSE:JPM</a>) reported a 14.3% CET1 ratio in Q1 2026, and <strong>Citigroup</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/C/">NYSE:C</a>) ended 2025 at 13.2%. Bank of America’s average loans rose 8% to $1.2 trillion, consuming capital peers with more slack can return.</p>
<h2>Stress Tests Set the Payout Calendar</h2>
<p>The Fed’s annual stress test resets each bank’s buffer, and dividend increases arrive after summer results. CEO Brian Moynihan tied credit discipline to those results on the July 14, 2026 call:</p>
<blockquote><p>“We stick to our credit knitting, so to speak. It’s been consistent. It’s been long-term. You can see it in the stress test results, again, that just got issued.”</p></blockquote>
<h2>Buybacks Take the Bigger Slice</h2>
<p>Dividends and repurchases draw from the same capital. In Q2 2026, the bank spent $6.0B on buybacks versus $2.0B on dividends. In Q1, repurchases were roughly $7.2B of $9.3B returned.</p>
<p>The dividend held at $0.18 through mid-2021, then stepped to $0.21, $0.22, $0.24, $0.26, $0.28 and $0.32, one raise annually since 2021. Management treats the dividend as a sticky commitment and buybacks as the flexible valve.</p>
<h2>What Must Hold, and What Would Stall Raises</h2>
<p>Raises continue if:</p>
<ul>
<li>Net interest income compounds. Q2 NII hit $16.00B, up 9%.</li>
<li>Credit stays healthy. The net charge-off ratio improved to 0.47% from 0.55%.</li>
<li>CET1 stays clear of the 10% minimum while loans grow.</li>
</ul>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="BAC" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-bac/full?v=bdc80800a8b6" alt="BAC earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>Raises stall if:</p>
<ul>
<li>Rates fall. A 100 bps downward shift would reduce NII by about $2.2B.</li>
<li>$70.3B of commercial real estate exposure goes bad.</li>
<li>Capital rules tighten or Global Markets revenue falls.</li>
</ul>
<p>Borthwick highlighted one internal tool:</p>
<blockquote><p>“As we continue to pay that down, that’ll free up more capital. It’ll help us on the return on tangible common equity as well.”</p></blockquote>
<h2>Our View: Steady Raises, Flexible Buybacks</h2>
<p>Bank of America will raise its dividend annually, and the jump to $0.32 signals board confidence in the stress-test outcome. The real limit is the gap between an 11.2% CET1 ratio and the 10% floor. When capital tightens, buybacks shrink first and the dividend holds. The next checkpoint is the October 14 third-quarter report.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/what-it-actually-takes-for-bank-of-america-to-keep-raising-its-dividend/">What It Actually Takes for Bank of America to Keep Raising Its Dividend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671927">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>America’s Critical Supply Chain Is Breaking</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/americas-critical-supply-chain-is-breaking/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Duprey]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:43:10 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671979</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sixteen trucking companies collapsed in under a month, and the forces driving them under are far from finished. What is happening inside America's freight industry could soon show up in your grocery bill, your delivery window, and your portfolio.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/americas-critical-supply-chain-is-breaking/">America’s Critical Supply Chain Is Breaking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671979">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">America’s economy runs on trucks. Nearly everything consumers purchase, from </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/10/inflation-is-about-to-hit-hard-as-diesel-prices-soar-to-record-near-6-a-gallon/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">groceries and household essentials</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to construction materials and electronics, spends at least part of its journey traveling on the nation’s highways. Yet the companies responsible for keeping those goods moving are facing a growing financial squeeze. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Record diesel prices, rising insurance premiums, and higher maintenance expenses are colliding with freight rates that haven’t kept pace. Smaller operators, often working with little financial cushion, are particularly vulnerable. The consequences extend beyond trucking itself — threatening higher consumer prices, disrupted deliveries, and another source of inflation investors cannot afford to ignore.</span></p>
<h2>America’s Trucking Industry Is Running Out of Road</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The warning signs are becoming difficult to dismiss.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">FreightWaves recently reported that at least 16 American trucking, delivery, and transportation companies </span><a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/16-trucking-companies-hit-bankruptcy-court-in-less-than-a-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">filed for bankruptcy protection</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in less than a month, between late August and September 21.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The failures span everything from single-truck operators to regional fleets, suggesting the financial strain isn’t confined to one corner of the transportation industry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the more notable filings:</span></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Company</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Business/Financial Exposure</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Xoco Transport</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over 40 tractors, 65 drivers, and 70 trailers</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Globemaster</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">51 trucks; up to $10 million in liabilities</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Expedite Express</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Historically operated 114 trucks and drivers</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>CLJ Transporting</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">18 trucks and 30 drivers</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>RP Hay Hauling</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Agricultural transportation; up to $10 million in liabilities</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Mill Creek Logistics</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Express delivery; up to $10 million in liabilities</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The inclusion of CLJ Transporting is particularly revealing. As an </span><b>Amazon</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/amzn/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NASDAQ:AMZN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) Delivery Service Partner, the Florida company helped handle last-mile deliveries — getting packages from distribution facilities to customers’ doorsteps. Its Chapter 11 filing listed up to $500,000 in assets against liabilities potentially reaching $1 million.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, Arizona-based </span><b>RP Hay Hauling</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘s bankruptcy illustrates how the financial distress extends into agricultural supply chains, not just consumer deliveries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Importantly, Chapter 11 doesn’t necessarily mean these companies have stopped operating. It allows them to restructure their debts. Several smaller carriers, however, have filed for Chapter 7 liquidation.</span></p>
<p> <figure class="wp-block-fwp-infographic infographic-container"
data-infographic-id="247walls-infographic-mupnr5nz-0-cvye"
data-share-id="QASiThmV">
<!-- Lightbox trigger -->
<a href="https://247wallst.com/cdn-cgi/imagedelivery/XaQqGmJkNE7OzU_SNXiB6g/247walls-infographic-mupnr5nz-0-cvye/full"
class="infographic-lightbox-trigger"
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data-caption="A 72% fuel spike and stagnant rates are crushing the backbone of American commerce—forcing massive bankruptcies in record time."
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<figcaption class="infographic-caption">
<span class="infographic-caption-text">A 72% fuel spike and stagnant rates are crushing the backbone of American commerce—forcing massive bankruptcies in record time.</span>
<cite class="infographic-attribution">© 24/7 Wall St.</cite>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</p>
<h2>Diesel Prices Are Breaking the Business Model</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diesel fuel </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/11/diesel-prices-just-shattered-6-a-gallon-heres-why-your-grocery-bill-could-be-next/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">prices are at record highs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. On the day of the FreightWaves report, the national average price of diesel fuel hit an all-time record high of $6.53 a gallon, according to AAA. Although the per-gallon cost has eased slightly since to $6.39, it still remains well above the norm. Just one month ago, diesel fuel cost $5.63 a gallon, while it stood at $3.71 last year. That’s a 72% increase in just 12 months.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A truck consuming 100 gallons daily incurs another $100 in operating expenses for every $1 increase in diesel prices. Across a 40-truck fleet operating five days weekly, that’s an additional $20,000 in weekly fuel costs alone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carriers can attempt to pass those expenses along through higher freight rates, but competitive pricing limits their flexibility. Worse, higher insurance, equipment, and maintenance costs don’t disappear when trucks sit idle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s a vicious cycle. Carriers need higher shipping rates to survive, but customers facing their own financial pressures resist paying them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As weaker operators disappear, surviving carriers may eventually gain pricing power. Unfortunately, that relief could come directly from consumers’ wallets.</span></p>
<h2>Key Takeaway</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In short, America’s supply chain isn’t collapsing, but it may be approaching a breaking point, especially for smaller transportation operators who are showing unmistakable financial distress.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For investors, that’s important. Larger, diversified logistics operators such as </span><b>United Parcel Service</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/ups/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NYSE:UPS</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), </span><b>FedEx</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/fdx/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NYSE:FDX</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), </span><b>J.B. Hunt Transport Services</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/jbht/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NASDAQ:JBHT</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and </span><b>GXO Logistics</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/gxo/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NYSE:GXO</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) warrant attention because their scale, established customer relationships, and fuel-surcharge mechanisms provide advantages smaller competitors often lack, though none is immune to weakening freight demand or higher operating expenses.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">America still needs its freight delivered. Trucking is the critical link in the entire supply chain. The question is increasingly becoming which companies will remain financially capable of delivering it.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/americas-critical-supply-chain-is-breaking/">America’s Critical Supply Chain Is Breaking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671979">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>4 Tesla Entry Points Show the Milestones Investors Cheered Were Not Always the Best Times to Buy</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/4-tesla-entry-points-show-the-milestones-investors-cheered-were-not-always-the-best-times-to-buy/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Trey Thoelcke]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:35:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671708&preview=true&preview_id=1671708</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Tesla investors who celebrated the biggest milestones in company history did not always walk away with the biggest gains, and the gap between some of those entry points is staggering enough to reframe how investors think about riding hype.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/4-tesla-entry-points-show-the-milestones-investors-cheered-were-not-always-the-best-times-to-buy/">4 Tesla Entry Points Show the Milestones Investors Cheered Were Not Always the Best Times to Buy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671708">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><strong>Tesla</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/tsla/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASDAQ:TSLA</a>) investors celebrated milestones that turned out to be the worst moments to buy. The returns below all anchor to the final close of $354.81 on September 30, 2026. All entry prices are split-adjusted.</p>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8cd515"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="TSLA"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/TSLA?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/tsla/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div></p>
<h2><strong>IPO Day Buyers Locked In a Return That No Later Milestone Approached</strong></h2>
<p>Tesla began trading on June 29, 2010, as a money-losing niche carmaker. After adjusting for splits, the entry price was $1.59, and the return through the anchor close is 22,177.73%. It tops this list by a wide margin.</p>
<h2>Model 3 Handover Buyers Caught the Mass Market Turn</h2>
<p>Tesla began its first <a title="How Tesla's Model 3 Must Do to Win" href="https://247wallst.com/cars-and-drivers/2017/07/28/how-teslas-model-3-must-do-to-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Model 3 customer deliveries</a> on July 28, 2017, marking the move to the mass market. Buyers who purchased that day paid $22.34 and have earned 1,488.37%. That is a strong result but a small fraction of what the IPO buyer collected.</p>
<h2><strong>S&P 500 Inclusion Delivered Validation at a Steep Price</strong></h2>
<p>CNBC reported that Tesla would join the S&P 500 in a single step before the open on December 21, 2020. Inclusion was widely interpreted as institutional approval and triggered one of the largest index fund trades on record.</p>
<p>An investor who bought at $216.62 has earned 63.79% after waiting the better part of six years, only slightly ahead of a robotaxi buyer who entered the stock nearly four years later. Approval and a good entry price are two different things.</p>
<h2><strong>Robotaxi Night Buyers Paid the Pre-Reveal Close</strong></h2>
<p>NPR reported that Tesla would unveil its robotaxi at the We, Robot event on the evening of October 10, 2024, after the market closed. This entry point uses the closing price of $238.77 from that day, recorded before the Cybercab appeared on stage. The stock has returned 48.6% since then.</p>
<p>On its Q2 2026 call, Tesla said the Robotaxi fleet had expanded to seven U.S. markets, with “more than 380,000 miles of unsupervised Robotaxi” logged. Steve Eisman remains a skeptic, saying on his podcast that “Elon Musk has a history of overpromising and underdelivering” on robotaxis.</p>
<h2><strong>Every Milestone Buyer Is Still Ahead, but Recent Ones Are Sliding</strong></h2>
<p>Measured against Thursday’s premarket price of $355.90, Tesla is down 20.0% over the past year and 20.1% year to date. The five-year return is 37.8%, and the ten-year return is 2,516.5%.</p>
<p>Fundamentals explain the recent slide. Q2 2026 EPS of $0.33 missed expectations by 38.5%; operating margin fell to 1.4%; and free cash flow was negative $1.09 billion. Management expects full-year capex of “more than $25 billion.” Shares trade at 333 times trailing earnings and 159 times forward earnings, the kind of multiple that makes knowing when to leave the party the real question. (We wrote a free handbook on riding a mania and planning the exit here: <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/bubble-survivors-handbook-offer-7c850cb7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Bubble Survivor’s Handbook</a>.)</p>
<h2><strong>Price Paid Outweighs Years Held</strong></h2>
<p>The S&P 500 buyer waited years longer than the robotaxi buyer for a slightly larger result. Entry price determines returns. Next, watch earnings, robotaxi expansion, and whether heavy capex restores margins.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="TSLA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-tsla/full?v=0fbfb825dad4" alt="TSLA analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="TSLA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-tsla/full?v=05cd3c801dc9" alt="TSLA price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p> </p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/4-tesla-entry-points-show-the-milestones-investors-cheered-were-not-always-the-best-times-to-buy/">4 Tesla Entry Points Show the Milestones Investors Cheered Were Not Always the Best Times to Buy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671708">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Arizona Retirees Who Bought a House With a Pool Say It Was the Most Expensive Thing They Never Used</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/arizona-retirees-who-bought-a-house-with-a-pool-say-it-was-the-most-expensive-thing-they-never-used/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:33:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671764&preview=true&preview_id=1671764</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Thousands of Arizona retirees locked in a backyard pool they almost never use, and the bills keep arriving whether anyone swims or not. Before you buy, there is a portfolio number attached to that water.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/arizona-retirees-who-bought-a-house-with-a-pool-say-it-was-the-most-expensive-thing-they-never-used/">Arizona Retirees Who Bought a House With a Pool Say It Was the Most Expensive Thing They Never Used</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671764">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Arizona retirees often buy homes with pools, then regret it. They use the pool heavily the first spring, <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/22/the-retirees-who-left-arizona-for-good-say-the-summers-were-the-smallest-part-of-it/">but by July the water is too warm</a>. After that, it mostly sits idle except when grandkids visit. The bills keep arriving either way. Before closing on a pool home, ask: What does the pool cost over a 25-year retirement, and how much of your portfolio must you set aside to pay for it?</p>
<h2>What a Phoenix Pool Costs Each Year, Whether Anyone Swims or Not</h2>
<p>Most Arizona homeowners pay $130 to $190 per month for weekly pool service with chemicals included. One Phoenix owner on Reddit put it this way: “We’re currently paying $160 a month for weekly service that includes chemicals.” Then come the other costs. Industry estimates put pool electricity at $500 to $1,200 a year, water at $200 to $600, repairs at $200 to $500, and higher insurance at $200 to $500. The big bills come less often. Resurfacing plus tile runs $8,000 to $15,000 in the Phoenix metro and is needed every 10 to 15 years. A new pump, filter, and heater costs $3,000 to $8,000 every 8 to 12 years.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pool Cost</th>
<th>Working Annual Figure</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Weekly service with chemicals</td>
<td>$1,920</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Electricity</td>
<td>$800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Water</td>
<td>$400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Repairs</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Insurance increase</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Resurfacing savings (a $12,000 job every 12 years)</td>
<td>$1,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Equipment savings (a $5,500 replacement every 10 years)</td>
<td>$550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td>$5,370</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>A variable speed pump can cut $500 to $1,200 per year from that total. It is the one upgrade that reliably pays for itself.</p>
<h2>Turning the Pool Into a Portfolio Number</h2>
<p>Most retirees pay for the pool from <a title="In 2026, RMDs Are Still Costing Retirees a Fortune and It Needs To Stop" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/01/27/in-2026-rmds-are-still-costing-retirees-a-fortune-and-it-needs-to-stop/">IRA withdrawals</a>, which are taxed. Arizona taxes other income at a flat 2.5%. Assume a 12% federal bracket plus state tax. Paying $5,370 in pool bills takes about $6,300 in gross withdrawals. At a 4% withdrawal rate, that requires roughly $157,000 of portfolio set aside just for the pool. Over 25 years, you would spend about $134,000 in today’s dollars.</p>
<p><div id="calculator-6abf71e8ce69f"
class="fwp-calculator fwp-calculator-withdrawal-rate"
data-calculator-type="withdrawal-rate"
data-calculator-settings="{"id":"calculator-6abf71e8ce69f","type":"withdrawal-rate","title":"","principal":1000,"rate":"5","time":"25","compound_frequency":"annually","contribution":0,"contribution_frequency":"annually","amount":1000,"years":10,"inflation_rate":2.5,"investment_rate":7,"starting_income":50000,"cola_rate":2.5,"portfolio_value":"157000","withdrawal_rate":"4","monthly_benefit":1000,"life_expectancy":85,"current_age":30,"retirement_age":65,"debt_amount":10000,"interest_rate":15,"monthly_payment":300,"additional_payment":0,"home_price":300000,"down_payment_percent":20,"property_tax_rate":1.2,"insurance_rate":0.5,"loan_term":30,"annual_contribution":6000,"current_tax_rate":22,"retirement_tax_rate":15,"return_rate":7,"reinvest_tax_savings":"yes","annual_withdrawal":40000,"withdrawal_period":20,"capital_gains_rate":15,"stock_symbol":"AAPL","investment_amount":10000,"start_date":"2015-01-01","reinvest_dividends":"true"}"
></div></p>
<p>The average U.S. household spent $78,535 in 2024. Arizona’s cost-of-living index is 100.677. Two average Social Security checks of $2,071 each bring in $49,704 a year. To cover the rest of the budget at 4%, a couple needs about $720,000. Add the pool, and the target rises to about $878,000. <a title="Medicare Part B Just Crossed $200 a Month for the First Time. Here's What That Means for Retirees" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/18/medicare-part-b-just-crossed-200-a-month-for-the-first-time-heres-what-that-means-for-retirees/">Medicare Part B</a> costs $202.90 a month per person, or about $4,870 a year for a couple.</p>
<p>When you <a title="Why Delaying Social Security to 70 Pays Off in More Ways Than a 77% Bigger Check" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/30/why-delaying-social-security-to-70-pays-off-in-more-ways-than-a-77-bigger-check/">claim Social Security, it</a> makes a big difference here. Waiting from 67 to 70 raises your benefit by 24%. For a couple with average-size checks, that adds about $11,900 a year, almost twice what the pool costs after taxes.</p>
<h2>Equity Tied Up in the Pool Earns Nothing</h2>
<p>In warm-climate states, pools add roughly 5% to 8% to a home’s value. The median Phoenix metro single-family home sells for $504,900, so the pool’s share is $25,000 to $40,000. That money sits in concrete. It throws off no income, and you only get it back if you sell. Selling has its own problems. Existing home sales are running at an annualized 3.98 million, which counts as a soft market. Sellers in their late 70s who no longer want to manage a pool will sell into whatever market exists at the time. Clark Howard has made the same point about bigger homes on his podcast: “There’s more maintenance, repairs you have to make over time.”</p>
<p>Another way to get water without the bills. The Oro Valley couple in the Journal’s story chose a <a title="The Hidden Costs of Sun City, Arizona Nobody Mentions Until You Move In" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/13/the-hidden-costs-of-sun-city-arizona-nobody-mentions-until-you-move-in/">55+ community</a> with pools and a golf course. That swaps the pool bills for HOA dues, and it skips the equity premium at purchase.</p>
<h2>What It Takes to Own the Pool Without Regret</h2>
<p>For a couple with average Social Security, an Arizona pool retirement takes about $880,000 in savings at 4%, with roughly $157,000 earmarked for the pool. Pick a home with a pool that has a variable-speed pump and a fresh surface. Waiting to claim Social Security until 70 brings in enough extra to cover the pool. The pool really costs about $157,000 of portfolio plus the equity sunk into the backyard. Set that aside in your plan before you buy.</p>
<div>
<h2>If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention <span style="font-size:0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></h2>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/arizona-retirees-who-bought-a-house-with-a-pool-say-it-was-the-most-expensive-thing-they-never-used/">Arizona Retirees Who Bought a House With a Pool Say It Was the Most Expensive Thing They Never Used</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671764">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>An Analyst Says Dogecoin Falls to $0.05 in 2027 While Whales Spend $110 Million Buying It. Who Is Right?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/an-analyst-says-dogecoin-falls-to-0-05-in-2027-while-whales-spend-110-million-buying-it-who-is-right/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671385&preview=true&preview_id=1671385</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Whales just poured over $100 million into Dogecoin while one analyst insists the coin is headed for a painful collapse. The data tells two very different stories, and only one side can be right.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/an-analyst-says-dogecoin-falls-to-0-05-in-2027-while-whales-spend-110-million-buying-it-who-is-right/">An Analyst Says Dogecoin Falls to $0.05 in 2027 While Whales Spend $110 Million Buying It. Who Is Right?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671385">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">An analyst’s forecast published on September 30, 2026, suggests that Dogecoin (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/DOGE/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:DOGE</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) may fall to $0.05 in 2027, which would be about 47% lower than its current price. Interestingly, during that same week, large investors—known as whales—purchased approximately 1.14 billion DOGE, totaling around $110 million, in just four days, according to on-chain analyst Ali Martinez.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">So, what’s the verdict? Will Dogecoin really drop to $0.05, or are the whales ahead of the curve on a potential recovery? As of now, Dogecoin trades near $0.095, showing a 15% increase over the past month. The answer largely hinges on whether demand from these large purchases can keep pace with the new coins Dogecoin continues to produce daily.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Dogecoin’s Five-Year Slide Backs the $0.05 Prediction</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/shutterstock-1956496855-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Dogecoin is a cryptocurrency invented by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, who decided to create a payment system that is instant, fun, and free from traditional banking fees." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1669213" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Historical data backs the forecast for a drop to $0.05. Dogecoin peaked at approximately $0.73 on May 7, 2021, but it has since </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/26/xrp-vs-dogecoin-which-discount-closes-first/"><span style="font-weight: 400">declined by about 87%</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. Although there have been moments when buyers pushed the price higher, these rallies consistently fell short of repeating that 2021 high.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Supply dynamics also support this bearish view. With around </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/28/can-dogecoin-reach-1-before-xrp-hits-5/"><span style="font-weight: 400">156 billion coins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> currently in circulation and no maximum supply limit, miners add roughly 5.3 billion new DOGE annually. At the current price of $0.095, this translates to new supply worth about $500 million each year, or around $1.4 million daily—an amount buyers must absorb just to maintain the current price level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, for Dogecoin to drop to $0.05, more than a gradual downward trend is needed. At that price point, Dogecoin’s total market value would drop from about $14.8 billion to $7.8 billion, requiring holders to sell about $7 billion worth of coins into a market that may have limited demand. So far, this kind of significant drop in buy pressure has not been seen in recent trading activity.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Whales Bought 2.6 Months of New Dogecoin in Four Days</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2221784461-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Rare view closeup picture with selective focus on smartphone with candlestick charts of cryptocurrency app, checking changes, weighing risks of buying or selling digital money" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1591948" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Whales’ large purchases stand out against this backdrop. The 1.14 billion DOGE accumulated by these major players amounts to roughly 80 days’ worth of mining output, meaning they absorbed about 2.6 months of new coins within just four days.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, the metrics used to track whale purchases may not paint a complete picture. Large transfers from exchange wallets are often categorized as buying, but these transactions could reflect storage moves or transfers between custodians rather than actual market purchases. Furthermore, if these whales decide to sell during the next price rally, their buying could quickly turn into additional supply.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">On the other hand, every sale requires a buyer on the opposite end. While the $110 million reflects a significant change in Dogecoin ownership near the $0.095 mark, it doesn’t conclusively prove that buyers outnumber sellers over the longer term.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Dogecoin ETFs Hold $15.5 Million, a Fraction of Whale Buying</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock-2062057802-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="A close-up of a golden Dogecoin cryptocurrency coin, featuring the Shiba Inu dog logo and text 'WOW much coin how money very rich crypto plz mine' around its edge. It stands upright in front of a stack of several other gold-colored coins on a dark, reflective surface. The background is a soft blur of blue and green lines, resembling a financial market chart." width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="A Dogecoin stands prominently against a blurred backdrop of financial market graphs, symbolizing its journey as a retail investor favorite amidst cryptocurrency fluctuations in 2026." data-id="1602332" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Fund activity provides a clearer signal of market sentiment. U.S. Dogecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recently reported a record inflow of $2.89 million, bringing their total holdings to about $15.5 million. However, this amount only represents roughly 0.1% of Dogecoin’s overall market value, and the record week’s inflow equals less than 3% of the whale purchases.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Adding to this uncertainty, Bitwise has announced plans to close its Dogecoin ETF on October 14, limiting investors’ options for holding the coin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">On another front, developers are making moves to attract attention. DogeOS recently launched its Chikyū public testnet, allowing developers to trial Ethereum-style applications using tokens currently without a market value. The initiative’s real impact will depend on a successful rollout and sustained user engagement.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Dogecoin Has Slipped Back Below $0.10 After a Short Squeeze</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/shutterstock-2002007354-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Cryptocurrency on Binance trading app, Bitcoin BTC with BNB, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Cardano, Litecoin, altcoin digital coin crypto currency defi p2p decentralized finance and fintech banking market" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1496697" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Price movements offer the quickest way to gauge market sentiment. Following a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/25/dogecoin-reclaims-0-10-amidst-12-7-million-short-squeeze-can-it-maintain-this-level-in-october/"><span style="font-weight: 400">short squeeze</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, Dogecoin briefly climbed back above $0.10 in late September, but it has since retreated to around $0.095—roughly 5% below that level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Investors who bought around the $0.10 mark are now approaching a break-even point, and many could sell as soon as they recover their initial investment. Thus, each attempt for Dogecoin to rise above $0.10 may face fresh selling pressure. A daily close above this level would indicate that whale demand has absorbed that selling pressure.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Will Dogecoin Fall to $0.05, or Are the Whales Right?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">For now, whales appear to have the upper hand in the near term, but their position is not guaranteed. The $0.05 prediction requires a significant 47% decline alongside approximately $7 billion in selling pressure, while recent trends show more buying interest than selling. However, the $110 million bought by whales is only a small fraction of the $500 million that miners introduce yearly, and Dogecoin’s dramatic decline from its 2021 peak supports the analyst’s bearish view.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ultimately, will Dogecoin fall to $0.05? A consistent daily close above $0.10, combined with continued </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/26/what-would-10000-xrp-and-10000-dogecoin-be-worth-in-2030/"><span style="font-weight: 400">long-term buying</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> and further ETF inflows, could suggest that the whales are interpreting the market correctly. On the other hand, a slip below $0.09 while fund inflows appear to wane, might lend weight to the analyst’s prediction.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/an-analyst-says-dogecoin-falls-to-0-05-in-2027-while-whales-spend-110-million-buying-it-who-is-right/">An Analyst Says Dogecoin Falls to $0.05 in 2027 While Whales Spend $110 Million Buying It. Who Is Right?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671385">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>AI Needs Massive Storage. Seagate Is Ready</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-needs-massive-storage-seagate-is-ready/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670540&preview=true&preview_id=1670540</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Seagate has already surged over 230% this year on the back of record margins and nearly sold-out capacity, but the real question now is whether the stock still has room to run or has simply gotten too far ahead of itself.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/ai-needs-massive-storage-seagate-is-ready/">AI Needs Massive Storage. Seagate Is Ready</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670540">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Seagate Technology</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/STX/">NASDAQ:STX</a>) trades at $906.26 midday Tuesday. The 24/7 Wall St. price target stands at $934.59 over the next 12 months, which works out to 3.1% upside. The stock earns a hold rating, and our confidence in that call is high.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1670539" class="wp-image-1670539 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ai-needs-massive-storage-seagate-is-ready-infographic-1790702739198.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'Seagate Technology (STX) | 12-Month Price Prediction' shows a current price of $906.26, a price target of $934.59, and a +3.1% upside, with a 'HOLD' recommendation and 90% confidence level. The 'How We Got There (Valuation Methodology)' section shows horizontal bars for Forward P/E-Based ($600.2), Trailing P/E-Based ($921.9), and Analyst Consensus ($1,125), leading to a Weighted Base Price of $821.98. The 'Our Adjustments (247Factor Impact)' section uses a bar chart to illustrate a base price of $821.98, with adjustments of +13.7% leading to a final target of $934.59, listing factors like Sector Momentum, Earnings Growth, Analyst Sentiment, Volatility, and Mega-cap Dampening. The 'Bull Case' section, marked in green, lists factors like Strong Guidance ($7.30 EPS for Fiscal Q1 2027) and AI demand, with a target of $1,218.84. The 'Bear Case' section, marked in red, lists Valuation Risks, Cyclicality, and External Risks, with a target of $710.31. The 'Bottom Line' reiterates the HOLD recommendation and price target, with a summary text." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<h3>24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary</h3>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Current Price</td>
<td>$906.26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</td>
<td>$934.59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upside/Downside</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Recommendation</td>
<td>HOLD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Confidence Level</td>
<td>90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Seagate’s business is running well. The hold rating reflects valuation concerns while operations remain strong.</p>
<p>After a 230.19% year-to-date run, the market has priced in much of the <a title="Seagate and Western Digital: AI Storage Demand Is Now Showing Up in Pricing Power" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/16/seagate-and-western-digital-ai-storage-demand-is-now-showing-up-in-pricing-power/">AI storage story</a>. The question now is whether margins can expand fast enough to justify further gains.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="STX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-stx/full?v=b66c2c100732" alt="STX price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>A 230% Rally Built on Record Margins</h2>
<p>STX is up 3.38% over the past week and 9.31% over the past month. It trades 20.7% off the 52-week high of $1,143.27, and the 52-week low is far behind at $207.78.</p>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8d04fa"
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data-symbol="STX"
data-variant="article"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/STX?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
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<p>In its fiscal Q4 earnings report, revenue came in at $3.63B, beating estimates and rising 48.5% year over year. Non-GAAP EPS of $5.71 topped the $5.09 consensus. Non-GAAP gross margin reached 52.7%, up from 40.1% just three quarters earlier. For all of fiscal 2026, free cash flow reached an all-time high of $3.11B.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="STX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-stx/full?v=22f7566774bb" alt="STX earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why Bulls See $1,219 Ahead</h2>
<p>For fiscal Q1 2027, management guided to $4.10B in revenue and $7.30 in non-GAAP EPS. The CEO said nearline capacity is “<a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/18/prediction-seagate-could-be-a-surprisingly-big-winner-from-the-ai-boom/">almost fully allocated through calendar 2027</a>“. Seagate raised its annual revenue growth target to a minimum of 20%.</p>
<p>Mozaic 4 holds 44 terabytes per drive, with Mozaic 5 targeting 50 terabytes. Both add capacity with minimal bill-of-materials change, giving Seagate operating leverage. Analysts have <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/24/seagate-stock-has-a-bigger-ai-connection-than-you-might-think/">4 strong buy and 18 buy ratings</a>, with a consensus target of $1,125. The bull scenario reaches $1,218.84.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="STX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-stx/full?v=37fc1ea7bb42" alt="STX analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>What Could Knock Seagate Back to $710</h2>
<p>STX trades at 66 times trailing earnings and can swing hard. It fell from $1,031.34 in mid-June to $745.49 a month later. Main risks include tariffs, geopolitical conflict, possible dilution from convertible notes due 2028, and heavy reliance on hyperscaler customers. The hard drive business is historically cyclical.</p>
<p>Seagate posted a loss of -$0.28 per share in March 2023. Counterpoints: Seagate retired $1.40B of debt in fiscal 2026, and build-to-order contracts lock in pricing, limiting oversupply risks. The bear case is $710.31.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="STX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-stx/full?v=4425fcc34925" alt="STX price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Seagate Carries a Premium Over Western Digital and Micron</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Forward P/E</th>
<th>Trailing P/E</th>
<th>Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Seagate</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>48.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>43.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Micron</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>345.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Western Digital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/WDC/">NASDAQ:WDC</a>) competes directly in hard drives, growing revenue at a similar pace yet trading at a lower forward multiple with a consensus target of $664.92.</p>
<p><strong>Micron</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MU/">NASDAQ:MU</a>) shows <a title="What CEO Sanjay Mehrota Just Said Shows Why Micron Is About to Become a $1,000 Stock" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/23/what-ceo-sanjay-mehrotra-just-said-shows-why-micron-is-about-to-become-a-1000-stock/">AI memory demand</a> at larger scale, trading at just 7 times forward earnings, reflecting investor doubt on cyclical memory profits. Against both peers, Seagate’s premium makes a target near fair value look reasonable.</p>
<h2>Seagate Price Prediction 2026-2030</h2>
<p>The 24/7 <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/21/price-prediction-seagate-stock-will-trade-at-900-on-this-date/">Wall St. price target of $934.59</a> backs a hold rating with 90% confidence. Valuation drives the call: the stock trades at a premium to peers. Upside depends on Seagate beating its $7.30 EPS guide and sustained margin expansion.</p>
<p>Downside risks include slower hyperscaler orders or tariff-driven pricing pressure. The business is excellent and the stock is fairly priced. Storage is only one slice of the AI data-center expansion, and we pulled together seven other suppliers, from power to cooling, in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free report you can grab here</a>.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2026</td>
<td>$922.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2027</td>
<td>$934.59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2028</td>
<td>$970.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2029</td>
<td>$1,007.26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2030</td>
<td>$1,045.69</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario5yr" data-symbol="STX" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite">
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<title>T-Bills Guarantee the Rate. These 6 Dividend Stocks Can Actually Grow the Paycheck</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/t-bills-guarantee-the-rate-these-6-dividend-stocks-can-actually-grow-the-paycheck/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:15:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671864&preview=true&preview_id=1671864</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Treasury bills lock in your rate the moment you buy, which sounds like a feature until you realize a dividend can do something a bill never will. Six income stocks reveal exactly where that tradeoff gets complicated.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/t-bills-guarantee-the-rate-these-6-dividend-stocks-can-actually-grow-the-paycheck/">T-Bills Guarantee the Rate. These 6 Dividend Stocks Can Actually Grow the Paycheck</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671864">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Treasury bills paid an average yield of 3.94% on 4-week bills and 4.55% on 52-week bills as of the September 30, 2026 Treasury record, with the 13-week bill at 4.17% and the 26-week bill at 4.38%. Those rates climbed through September. On September 1, 2026, the 13-week bill yielded 3.87% and the 52-week yielded 4.18%. This edition of The Income Desk sets those numbers against six dividend payers that every retiree weighing an income stock against a government-backed rate should understand.</p>
<h2>How a Treasury Bill Pays You, and When the Rate Resets</h2>
<p>A Treasury bill is a short-term loan to the U.S. government. You buy it at auction through TreasuryDirect or a brokerage account, or on the secondary market through a broker. Bills come in maturities ranging from 4-week to 52-week.</p>
<p>A bill pays all of its interest at maturity. You buy it at a discount to its face value, and at maturity the Treasury pays you the full face value. The gap between what you paid and what you receive is your interest. Auction bidding sets that discount, so the yield is determined at purchase and stays fixed until that specific bill matures.</p>
<p>The rate changes only when you buy a new bill. If you roll a 13-week bill four times in a year, you get four different rates, each set by the auction that week. A T-bill ladder behaves like a floating-rate account over time: the yield on any one bill is fixed, but the income stream resets with every rollover.</p>
<p>Treasury notes work differently. They pay a fixed coupon twice a year for terms of two to ten years. On September 30, 2026, the 2-year Treasury yielded 4.88%, the 5-year 5.09% and the 10-year 5.29%. A note locks its coupon for the full term, which protects against falling rates and gives up any benefit from rising ones.</p>
<h3>What the Government Guarantee Covers, and Where It Stops</h3>
<p>Bills and notes are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. That backing covers repayment of face value at maturity. It leaves three risks with you:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Price risk.</strong> If you sell before maturity, you get the market price, and that price falls when rates rise. Anyone who bought a 52-week bill on September 1 at a 4.18% yield and sold on September 30, when new 52-week bills yielded 4.55%, would have sold at a discount to what a hold-to-maturity buyer receives. The longer the maturity, the larger that effect.</li>
<li><strong>Reinvestment risk.</strong> When a bill matures, the next auction may pay less. September showed how quickly bill rates move, and they move in both directions. A retiree living on rolled bills has no control over the next rate.</li>
<li><strong>Inflation risk.</strong> The guarantee covers dollars, while inflation can erode what those dollars buy at maturity.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Dividend Safety First: Six Income Stocks Against a T-Bill</h2>
<p>A higher yield means nothing if the payment is at risk, so safety leads here. The table shows each company’s latest payout and trailing dividend yield based on market data as of October 1, 2026. A dividend yield is the trailing payout divided by today’s share price. It measures income, and total return also includes the stock’s price change, which can be large in either direction.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Latest Payout</th>
<th>Frequency</th>
<th>Annualized Forward Dividend</th>
<th>Trailing Yield</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Norwood Financial</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NWFL/">NASDAQ:NWFL</a>)</td>
<td>$0.32</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>$1.28</td>
<td>3.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Phillips Edison</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PECO/">NASDAQ:PECO</a>)</td>
<td>$0.115</td>
<td>Monthly</td>
<td>$1.38</td>
<td>3.43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Johnson Outdoors</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/JOUT/">NASDAQ:JOUT</a>)</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>$1.32</td>
<td>2.98%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>SAIC</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SAIC/">NASDAQ:SAIC</a>)</td>
<td>$0.37</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>$1.48</td>
<td>1.13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>NetApp</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NTAP/">NASDAQ:NTAP</a>)</td>
<td>$0.52</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>1.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>InterDigital</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IDCC/">NASDAQ:IDCC</a>)</td>
<td>$0.75</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>0.86%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Every trailing yield in this group sits below even the 4-week bill’s 3.94%. On starting income alone, bills win today. The case for a dividend stock rests on what happens to the payment over the next several years.</p>
<h3>Where the Payment Faces Real Pressure</h3>
<p>Norwood Financial, the holding company behind Wayne Bank, carries the highest yield in the group and the clearest credit question. Second-quarter net income rose to $9.33 million, up 50.3% year over year, on record net interest income of $26.8 million. But nonperforming loans rose to 1.23% of total loans after a borrower with roughly $22 million in commercial real estate exposure filed Chapter 11, and the bank’s CRE concentration ratio stands at 202%. The dividend has grown steadily, from $0.29 per quarter in 2023 to $0.32 in 2026, and management lists a “reliable and growing dividend” as a 2026 priority. Loan quality is the variable to keep an eye on.</p>
<p>Johnson Outdoors has held its quarterly payout at $0.33 since January 2024 and declared the next one on September 25, 2026. Trailing diluted EPS, however, sits at -$0.83, so the dividend is running ahead of trailing earnings. Fiscal third-quarter EPS of $1.42 beat the $0.68 consensus, helped by roughly $15 million in tariff refunds that lifted gross margin to 45.3% from 37.6%. Management flagged ongoing tariff and macro uncertainty. For a cyclical maker of boats, fishing electronics and dive gear, that is the profile where a payout can be frozen or cut.</p>
<h3>Where Cash Flow Covers the Check</h3>
<p>NetApp generated $401 million in free cash flow in fiscal Q1 2027, posted non-GAAP EPS of $2.58 against a $2.12 consensus, and raised full-year guidance. CEO George Kurian called the quarter a record-setting start to the year. The quarterly dividend has sat at $0.52 since April 2024, while the company repurchased $200 million of stock in the quarter. Coverage looks strong. The stock’s 52-week range of $92.93 to $216.81 shows how much principal can swing around a small yield.</p>
<p>Science Applications International produced $131 million of free cash flow in fiscal Q2 2027 and guided full-year free cash flow above $600 million. SAIC also won a $740 million DHS recompete after the quarter. Its dividend is well covered and also frozen: the payout has been $0.37 per quarter since April 2019, as SAIC directed most capital to buybacks. A dividend can grow, and SAIC’s shows that growth is a choice management makes.</p>
<h3>Where the Payment Is Growing</h3>
<p>Phillips Edison & Company, a grocery-anchored shopping center REIT with tenants including Kroger, Publix and Albertsons, raised its monthly distribution to $0.115 from $0.1083, effective with the September 15, 2026 ex-dividend date. The monthly payout has risen in stages from $0.085 in 2021. Because the trailing yield captures mostly the old rate, the forward yield runs somewhat higher. Monthly checks also mirror a paycheck more closely than a bill that pays once at maturity.</p>
<p>InterDigital has more than doubled its quarterly dividend, from $0.35 in early 2023 to $0.75 payable October 28, 2026. The patent licensor holds $1.11 billion in cash and reported record annualized recurring revenue of $625.7 million, up 13%. Revenue still swings with catch-up payments and enforcement outcomes: second-quarter revenue fell 13.4% to $260.2 million. The yield is the smallest in the group and the growth record is the strongest.</p>
<h3>Both Halves of the Trade</h3>
<p>A Treasury bill’s payout is set the day you buy it, and nothing a company board does can reduce it. A dividend can be cut, as any holder of a cyclical or credit-sensitive stock learns eventually. A bill’s payout can never grow during its term, and a 10-year note’s coupon stays the same in year ten as in year one. A dividend that rises, as InterDigital’s, Norwood’s and Phillips Edison’s have, can eventually pay more on the original purchase price than a bill does today. That outcome depends on the company, and only the bill’s rate is fixed in advance.</p>
<h2>Taxes Can Flip the Answer Before Yield Does</h2>
<p>Treasury bill and note interest is taxable at the federal level as ordinary income and exempt from state and local income tax. For a retiree in a high-tax state, that exemption narrows the effective gap between a bill and a fully taxed alternative. Discount on a bill is generally taxed in the year the bill matures, so a 52-week bill bought now produces taxable interest in 2027.</p>
<p>Qualified dividends from companies such as NetApp, SAIC, InterDigital, Norwood and Johnson Outdoors are taxed federally at long-term capital gains rates, which sit below ordinary income rates for most holders, provided you meet the holding period around the ex-dividend date. Those dividends are fully taxable at the state level, with no exemption.</p>
<p>REIT distributions follow different rules. Phillips Edison’s payouts are largely taxed as ordinary income, with a partial Section 199A deduction available to eligible holders. That puts REIT income closer to Treasury interest at the federal level, and REIT income carries no state exemption.</p>
<p>Two more points for retirees. Personal exemptions remain at $0 for tax year 2026, though the <a title="Here's Exactly What Social Security Retirees Need to Do to Qualify for the New Tax Deduction" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/27/heres-exactly-what-social-security-retirees-need-to-do-to-qualify-for-the-new-tax-deduction/">One, Big, Beautiful Bill</a> added a separate senior deduction. And inside an IRA or 401(k), none of these distinctions apply until withdrawal, when everything comes out as ordinary income. The tax edge of either option exists only in a taxable account.</p>
<h2>Who Each Option Suits</h2>
<p>Treasury bills suit a retiree who needs a known dollar amount on a known date, lives in a high-tax state, and can tolerate a rate that resets lower at each rollover. Dividend stocks with covered, growing payouts, such as NetApp, SAIC, Phillips Edison and InterDigital, suit a retiree with a long horizon who can absorb price swings in exchange for income that can rise over time. Higher-yielding payers with weaker coverage, such as Johnson Outdoors and Norwood Financial, suit only investors who will monitor earnings and credit quality every quarter and accept that the payment can be reduced.</p>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/t-bills-guarantee-the-rate-these-6-dividend-stocks-can-actually-grow-the-paycheck/">T-Bills Guarantee the Rate. These 6 Dividend Stocks Can Actually Grow the Paycheck</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671864">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Wall Street Sees 40% Upside For Microsoft as AI Monetization Finally Pays Off</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-sees-40-upside-for-microsoft-as-ai-monetization-finally-pays-off/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:15:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671895&preview=true&preview_id=1671895</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Wells Fargo just added Microsoft to its Q4 Tactical Ideas list and pushed its price target well above Wall Street consensus, betting that Azure and Copilot are about to prove the skeptics wrong.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-sees-40-upside-for-microsoft-as-ai-monetization-finally-pays-off/">Wall Street Sees 40% Upside For Microsoft as AI Monetization Finally Pays Off</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671895">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Wells Fargo lifted its price target on <strong>Microsoft</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MSFT/">NASDAQ:MSFT</a>) to $725 from $700 and kept its Overweight rating. It also added the shares to its Q4 “Tactical Ideas list”.</p>
<p>Analyst Michael Turrin sees a “favorable tactical setup” heading into the fourth quarter. The higher target shows that Wall Street is growing more confident Microsoft can turn its AI lead into lasting earnings growth.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="MSFT" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-msft/full?v=bc8a415c5afb" alt="MSFT price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Firm</th>
<th>Action</th>
<th>Old Rating</th>
<th>New Rating</th>
<th>Old Target</th>
<th>New Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$700</td>
<td>$725</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Analyst’s Case: Catalysts Lining Up for Q4</h2>
<p>Turrin cited a “number of key catalysts,” including <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/27/microsofts-ai-investment-could-pay-off-for-years-heres-my-price-target/">Microsoft’s AI advantage starting to pay off</a>, its Ignite conference in November and its new segment reporting.</p>
<p>Wells believes momentum among mega cap tech stocks is “shifting back to” Microsoft as the company “delivers on AI monetization story alongside balanced investment approach.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1671894" class="wp-image-1671894 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/wells-fargo-raises-microsoft-price-target-to-725-a-infographic-1790862925154.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'Key Analyst Upgrade: Microsoft (MSFT)' with a blue and white color scheme. It shows that Wells Fargo analyst Michael Turrin raised the price target to $725 from $700, maintaining an Overweight rating. A large green arrow indicates the new target of $725 with an implied upside of +40.0%. A 'Why Now Takeaway' section states a favorable tactical setup with AI advantage, upcoming Ignite conference, and momentum shifting to mega-cap tech. Five 'Top Rationale Points' are listed with icons: AI Advantage Paying Off (Azure revenue, Copilot seats), Strong Q4 FY26 Results (Revenue $90.01B, EPS $4.74), Surging Future Revenue (performance obligations $678B), Tactical Opportunity (added to Q4 Tactical Ideas List), and Upcoming Catalysts (Ignite conference in November, new segment reporting)." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<p>Recent results back that view: <a title="Live: Will Microsoft Soar After Earnings Tonight?" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/01/28/live-will-microsoft-soar-after-earnings-tonight/">Azure revenue</a> topped $100 billion for the fiscal year. The number of paid seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot exceeded 30 million, and net paid seat additions more than doubled sequentially. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said “demand continues to exceed available supply.”</p>
<h2>Record Quarter and Contract Backlog Fuel the Upgrade</h2>
<p>Microsoft reported fiscal Q4 2026 results on July 29, 2026. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/microsoft-just-had-its-best-quarter-since-1991/">Revenue came in at $90.01 billion,</a> up 17.8% and ahead of the $87.63 billion consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $4.74 beat the $4.24 estimate, helped partly by a $3.2 billion gain on its Anthropic investment.</p>
<p>That was the <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/24/prediction-microsofts-best-growth-opportunity-may-still-be-ahead/">company’s fifth consecutive EPS beat</a>. Commercial remaining performance obligations, a measure of contracted future revenue, rose 84% to $678 billion.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="MSFT" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-msft/full?v=385a71081f0c" alt="MSFT earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>For the full fiscal year, revenue reached $331.84 billion and EPS was $17.28. Heavy spending weighed on cash: capex hit $115.95 billion, and free cash flow fell 6.46% to $66.99 billion.</p>
<h2>Why the Move Matters Now</h2>
<p>Microsoft stock trades at $517.75. It is up 7.74% year to date but only 0.79% over the past year, and it sits below its 52-week high of $549.20. Shares trade at roughly 28x trailing earnings and 25x forward earnings.</p>
<div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8d30c1"
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data-symbol="MSFT"
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data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/MSFT?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/msft/"
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</div>
<p>Wells Fargo’s target is well above the consensus target of $578.42. Analyst sentiment leans strongly positive, with 14 Strong Buy, 38 Buy and 3 Hold ratings. The average fiscal 2027 EPS estimate has risen to $19.7597 from $19.3730 90 days ago.</p>
<p>Over the past 30 days, analysts made <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/microsoft-stock-has-multiple-engines-driving-its-next-leg-higher/">21 upward revisions and 8 downward ones.</a> Management expects Azure growth of about 45% in constant currency this quarter.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="MSFT" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-msft/full?v=b3e29d4fd27c" alt="MSFT analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>What It Means for Your Portfolio</h2>
<p>Spending remains the main risk: Microsoft now expects capex of about $175 billion. Microsoft Cloud gross margin slipped to 65% because of the shift toward <a title="AI's Absurd Spending Boom? Hyperscalers Are Spending 102% of Cloud Revenue on Capex" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/22/ais-absurd-spending-boom-hyperscalers-are-spending-102-of-cloud-revenue-on-capex/">AI infrastructure</a>. Hood said much of that spending goes to shorter-lived chips, which gives the company “a lot more flexibility to manage through those” changes in demand.</p>
<p>Income-focused investors get a modest dividend yield of about 0.69%, with the next ex-dividend date on November 19, 2026.</p>
<p>Long-term investors may see the higher target as a sign of rising analyst confidence, though near-term volatility is still a real risk. Keep an eye on Ignite in November and on Microsoft’s first earnings report under its new segment structure.</p><div><h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2><p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=a5160872-5e73-44c8-b08a-7bc17186cc93&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671895&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p><p></p><p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=a5160872-5e73-44c8-b08a-7bc17186cc93&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671895&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/wall-street-sees-40-upside-for-microsoft-as-ai-monetization-finally-pays-off/">Wall Street Sees 40% Upside For Microsoft as AI Monetization Finally Pays Off</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671895">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>If The S&P 500 Doesn’t Hit 10,000, This ETF Is Going To Zero</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/if-the-sp-500-doesnt-hit-10000-this-etf-is-going-to-zero/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[AJ Tiarsmith]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:09:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671994&preview=true&preview_id=1671994</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Roundhill just launched an ETF that pays off big or goes to zero, with everything riding on a single index level on a single date four years away. Whether the math even makes sense for most investors is a different question entirely.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/if-the-sp-500-doesnt-hit-10000-this-etf-is-going-to-zero/">If The S&P 500 Doesn’t Hit 10,000, This ETF Is Going To Zero</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671994">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Roundhill launched a fund on October 1, 2026 whose entire payoff depends on one number. The <strong>Roundhill S&P 500 Target 10,000 2030 ETF</strong> (ticker XX) holds long-dated call options on the S&P 500 with a strike price of 10,000 that expire in January 2030, according to a launch post by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on <a href="https://x.com/ericbalchunas/status/2105633767763382421">X</a>.</p>
<p>The fund’s expense ratio and prospectus details were not yet available, so the annual fee can’t be confirmed. Investors should verify the fee on Roundhill’s fund page before evaluating it.</p>
<h2>How a 10,000 Strike Call Option Pays or Expires Worthless</h2>
<p>A call option gives its owner the right to buy something at a set price (the “strike”) before a deadline. This fund’s options only carry value at expiration if the S&P 500 sits above 10,000 in January 2030. If the index ends below that level, those options expire worthless. Because the fund apparently holds nothing but these calls, a miss could wipe out most or all of its value.</p>
<p>Traders call this “deep out of the money,” meaning the strike sits far above the current price. The fund’s price will swing with the index, market volatility, and time remaining. Options tend to lose value as the deadline approaches if the index stalls.</p>
<p>For reference, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) traded at 760.65 at 10:25 AM ET on October 1, up 11.55% year to date and 14.18% over one year. SPY’s share price is a proxy, and the index’s exact point level at launch wasn’t available for this article, so the precise climb required can’t be stated here. The index needs to rise far above where it sits today.</p>
<h2>Why Roundhill Built It and Which Rivals Are Coming</h2>
<p>Marketers pitch the fund as long-term leverage to the S&P 500 without the <a title="Analyst Reveals How $200 Billion in Leveraged ETFs Could Amplify the Next Market Selloff" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/10/analyst-reveals-how-200-billion-in-leveraged-etfs-could-amplify-the-next-market-selloff/">volatility drag</a> of <a title="Beware of These 6 Pitfalls That Come With Leveraged ETFs" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/02/14/beware-of-these-6-pitfalls-that-come-with-leveraged-etfs/">daily resetting leveraged ETFs</a>. Those funds reset every day, and in volatile markets that daily reset can erode returns even when the index ends flat. A single long-dated option avoids the daily reset but trades that problem for a hard deadline and a strike that must be cleared.</p>
<p>Competition is forming. Defiance filed for Convexity and Ultra Convexity ETFs built around growth stocks, DRAM and semiconductors on September 30, 2026.</p>
<h2>Money Is Racing Toward Bonds and Cash Instead</h2>
<p>The fund arrives as investors pull toward safety. Minutes before posting about the fund, Balchunas reported that bond ETFs took in $23 billion over five days, or 62% of net ETF flows despite making up 15% of assets, and claimed six of the top eight products. A day earlier, he noted the <strong>SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BIL/">NYSEARCA:BIL</a>) was beating 87% of bond ETFs this year and 83% over five years, with money market funds holding $8 trillion and no outflows expected until rates fall below 3%.</p>
<p>“The 60/40 is more like 80/15/5 today as fixed income ETFs now make up only 16% of total ETF assets, down from 23% in 2020,” Balchunas wrote, adding that “buffers, covered call and gold/btc are crowbarring their way in with the remainder.”</p>
<p>Balchunas sees momentum on the bulls’ side. He calls this the “Road Runner market bc of how it eludes and escapes one doomer narrative after another.”</p>
<h2>Who It Might Suit and Risks to Weigh First</h2>
<p>The product targets investors who want amplified, long-term exposure to the S&P 500 and can accept losing most or all of their investment. It sits outside the core-holding role that a broad index fund plays. Retirement savers face high stakes: 51% of Americans think it is somewhat or very likely they’ll outlive their savings, per Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 study.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Untested:</strong> The fund has no performance history to judge.</li>
<li><strong>Small and thinly traded:</strong> New ETFs typically launch with few assets and wide bid-ask spreads. When funds don’t attract money, they sometimes close.</li>
<li><strong>Expiration risk:</strong> The payoff depends on one index level on one date. Being right about direction but wrong about timing can mean a near-total loss.</li>
<li><strong>Unknown details:</strong> Fees, what happens after January 2030, and tax treatment should be confirmed in the prospectus.</li>
</ul>
<p>Over the coming months, asset growth, trading spreads, and how the fund’s price responds to S&P 500 moves will show whether this structure finds an audience.</p>
<h2>Data Sources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://x.com/ericbalchunas/status/2105633767763382421">Roundhill SPX 10000 ETF launch</a>: Fund name, ticker, launch date, 10,000 strike, January 2030 expiration, and the volatility-drag pitch.</li>
<li>Same source: Attribution of the launch report to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas.</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/01/if-the-sp-500-doesnt-hit-10000-this-etf-is-going-to-zero/">If The S&P 500 Doesn’t Hit 10,000, This ETF Is Going To Zero</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671994">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>United Therapeutics Won Its Patent War and Liquidia Collapsed</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/united-therapeutics-won-its-patent-war-and-liquidia-collapsed/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Omor Ibne Ehsan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:07:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671568&preview=true&preview_id=1671568</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A single court ruling sent one pulmonary hypertension drugmaker soaring and left its rival fighting for survival, but the legal battle over Yutrepia's future is far from settled.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/united-therapeutics-won-its-patent-war-and-liquidia-collapsed/">United Therapeutics Won Its Patent War and Liquidia Collapsed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671568">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>A Delaware court ruling on Wednesday pushed two pulmonary hypertension drugmakers in opposite directions. Pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) is high blood pressure in the lung arteries of patients with scarred lung tissue. It strains the heart over time.</p>
<p><strong>Liquidia</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/lqda/">NASDAQ:LQDA</a>) won approval for Yutrepia, an inhaled dry-powder treprostinil, for that use, and it competes directly with Tyvaso from <strong>United Therapeutics</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/uthr/">NASDAQ:UTHR</a>). Nebulized Tyvaso sales fell 18% year over year in the second quarter, a sign the challenger was already winning patients.</p>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8d4a4c"
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</div></p>
<h2>Liquidia’s Own Concession Made This Ruling Decisive</h2>
<p>A federal judge ruled that two claims of U.S. Patent 11,826,327, which Bloomberg Law reported covers inhaled dry-powder treprostinil for PH-ILD, are valid. Liquidia had already conceded that it infringes those claims, so the validity finding settled liability.</p>
<p>United Therapeutics rose 12.55% Wednesday to close at $541.89. Liquidia fell 57.19% to $30.26, and its lost market value is about $3.18 billion, which shows how much of the stock rested on Yutrepia’s freedom to compete.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="UTHR" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-uthr/full?v=4db4718aa1e5" alt="UTHR analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><br />
</p>
<h2>Injunction, Damages and Appeal Are Still Undecided</h2>
<p>United Therapeutics requested an injunction that “would restrict YUTREPIA’s availability,” and both sides must propose remedies within about a week. The court has decided neither the injunction nor damages, and final judgment remains pending.</p>
<p>Liquidia said its potential damages “cannot currently be reasonably estimated” and plans to ask the FDA to remove the indication from Yutrepia’s label. Chief executive Roger Jeffs said, “We respectfully disagree… fully prepared to pursue all available appellate options.”</p>
<h2>Why the Winner Still Trades Below Its High</h2>
<p>United Therapeutics’ 52-week high is $609.35, and the business explains the remaining gap.</p>
<p>Management called second-quarter results “below our expectations”. Its path to a $4 billion revenue run rate by the end of 2027 has “certainly narrowed,” leaving ralinepag and Nebulized Tyvaso in IPF, both filed with the FDA, to carry more of the growth case.</p>
<p>Liquidia is down 12.26% year to date but still up 33.07% over the past year. That longer record reflects a launch that ended the second quarter at an annualized run rate of about $682 million, which this week’s ruling put at risk.</p>
<h2>What the Ruling Means for LQDA Stock</h2>
<p>Liquidia carries the greater risk from here. Yutrepia derives most of its revenue from one product. Every open question in this case now runs against that single product, while L606, its main pipeline candidate, is only beginning Phase 3 enrollment.</p>
<p>United Therapeutics stands on stronger ground because it holds the valid patent and sells Remodulin, Orenitram, and Unituxin alongside Tyvaso. This view could change if the court prefers a royalty over an injunction, because that outcome would let Yutrepia keep competing.</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/united-therapeutics-won-its-patent-war-and-liquidia-collapsed/">United Therapeutics Won Its Patent War and Liquidia Collapsed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671568">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Goldman Sachs Boosted Its Dividend Again: What Comes Next?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/goldman-sachs-boosted-its-dividend-again-what-comes-next/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Trey Thoelcke]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:05:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671712&preview=true&preview_id=1671712</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs just handed shareholders a bigger quarterly check for the second time this year, but the real question is whether the earnings surge and capital cushion that made it possible can hold long enough to justify expecting another raise.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/goldman-sachs-boosted-its-dividend-again-what-comes-next/">Goldman Sachs Boosted Its Dividend Again: What Comes Next?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671712">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><strong>Goldman Sachs</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/GS/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NYSE:GS</a>) shareholders who held through the ex-dividend date just collected a larger quarterly check. The investment bank paid $5.00 per share on September 29, 2026, up from the $4.50 per share it paid in June. That step-up represented an 11% increase over the prior quarterly rate.</p>
<p>The payment was declared on July 13, 2026, and the ex-dividend date was September 1, 2026. Investors who owned shares before that date qualified for the payout. Anyone who bought on or after September 1 missed this one and will need to wait for the next declaration.</p>
<h2><strong>Dividend Scorecard: A $20 Forward Rate After Back-to-Back Raises</strong></h2>
<p>The latest raise brings Goldman’s annualized forward dividend rate to $20.00 per share. Over the trailing 12 months, shareholders collected $18.00 per share. The gap between those two figures shows how quickly the payout has climbed in 2026.</p>
<table style="width: 71.3403%; height: 168px;">
<thead>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<th style="height: 24px;">Metric</th>
<th style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">Value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Latest quarterly dividend</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">$5.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Prior quarterly dividend</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">$4.50</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Trailing 12-month dividends</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Annualized forward rate</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">$20.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Share price</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">$888.00</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="height: 24px;">Dividend yield</td>
<td style="text-align: right; height: 24px;">1.4%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>A yield under 2% is modest by income-screen standards. Goldman’s appeal for income investors rests on how fast the payout grows. The stock has also pulled back 15.4% over the past month, which pushes the yield higher for new buyers. Shares remain up 1.2% year to date and 13.2% over the past year, and they trade at roughly 14 times trailing earnings and 13 times forward earnings.</p>
<h2><strong>Safety Check: Earnings Coverage Leads the Verdict</strong></h2>
<p>Earnings coverage offers the best read on whether a dividend can last, and Goldman’s is wide. Trailing diluted earnings per share stand at $65.88, compared with $18.00 in dividends paid per share over the same stretch. Profits comfortably exceed the payout.</p>
<p>Quarterly figures show similar coverage. In the quarter ended June 30, Goldman earned $6.628 billion in net income and paid $1.36 billion in common dividends. In the March quarter, net income was $5.63 billion against $1.38 billion in dividends.</p>
<p>Second-quarter results exceeded forecasts. Diluted EPS came in at $20.98, beating the $14.54 consensus estimate, and net revenues of $20.34 billion topped expectations of $16.40 billion. That marked Goldman’s fifth consecutive EPS beat, and net income rose 78.03% year over year.</p>
<p><div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="GS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-gs/full?v=677a0a5ceb9e" alt="GS earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<h2><strong>Why Cash Flow Looks Messy at a Bank</strong></h2>
<p>Income investors used to judging dividends by free cash flow should read Goldman’s cash flow statement with care. At a trading-heavy bank, operating cash flow moves with the size of trading inventories and client balances, so it rarely tracks profitability. Goldman reported annual operating cash flow of −$45.154 billion in 2025, while earning $17.176 billion in net income and paying $5.277 billion in common dividends. Quarterly operating cash flow turned from −$31.868 billion in the March quarter to $6.105 billion in the June quarter, when capital expenditures totaled $502 million.</p>
<p>Those swings reflect balance sheet activity. For a bank, earnings and regulatory capital give the best read on payout safety.</p>
<h2><strong>Capital Cushion Gives the Dividend Room</strong></h2>
<p>Regulators require large banks to hold a minimum layer of high-quality capital, measured by the common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio. Goldman ended the second quarter with a CET1 ratio of 12.9%, against a current requirement of 11.4%, leaving a margin of 150 basis points. Its stress capital buffer of 3.4% is effective through September 2027.</p>
<p>Chief Financial Officer Denis Coleman laid out the priority order on the July 14 earnings call: “Our capital management priorities remain unchanged, which are to invest in our business at attractive returns, sustainably grow our dividend, and return excess capital to shareholders through buybacks.”</p>
<p>Buybacks remain substantial alongside the dividend. Goldman returned $6.38 billion to shareholders in the first quarter and $5.36 billion in the second, when it bought back 4.1 million shares at an average cost of $984.57. Common shares outstanding fell from 317.6 million at the end of 2025 to 304.9 million at the end of June. A shrinking share count makes each future per-share raise easier to fund.</p>
<h2><strong>Track Record Points Firmly Upward</strong></h2>
<p>The per-share payout has climbed twice in 2026 alone. Goldman paid $4.00 in December 2025, raised the quarterly rate to $4.50 in January (a 12.5% increase), and lifted it again to $5.00 with the July 2026 declaration.</p>
<p>Total common dividends paid also rose almost every year, from $1.81 billion in 2018 to $5.277 billion in 2025. Chair and CEO David Solomon put the growth in context during the July call: “In line with our priority to sustainably grow our dividend, we recently announced an increase in our quarterly dividend to $5 a share, representing a 25% increase versus a year ago and a 150% increase over the last five years.”</p>
<p>Recent momentum, including two raises in 2026, offers the best gauge of Goldman’s dividend growth. (For holders who want that growth to fund a lifetime of income without ever selling the shares, we built a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/never-touch-the-principal-offer-d84e53e1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free dividend ladder guide</a> that walks through the structure.)</p>
<h2><strong>What Income Investors Should Watch Next</strong></h2>
<p>Three items matter most for the next payout:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, the third-quarter earnings report will show whether the dealmaking surge holds up; Solomon described a growing advisory backlog and expects the “flywheel of activity” to continue.</li>
<li>Second, the CET1 margin should stay well above the 11.4% requirement.</li>
<li>Third, management cited trade and tariff policy, Middle East conflict, and market volatility as risks, and any of those could cool trading and banking revenue.</li>
</ul>
<p>Investors will also see more talk about leadership. <em>Fortune</em> on Thursday described media speculation about a change at the top of Goldman as misleading gossip. The dividend policy rests on a capital framework that management has consistently reiterated, so the payout path depends more on earnings and capital than on headlines.</p>
<p>Goldman’s dividend is well covered, backed by a capital buffer above regulatory minimums, and growing at a steady pace. The recent pullback in the share price has lifted the yield modestly for investors focused on dividend growth. For income holders, the $5.00 check that just arrived looks like a base for future raises, provided earnings keep pace.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="GS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-gs/full?v=1704cf31101e" alt="GS analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="GS" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-gs/full?v=abf532090e42" alt="GS price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p> </p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/goldman-sachs-boosted-its-dividend-again-what-comes-next/">Goldman Sachs Boosted Its Dividend Again: What Comes Next?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671712">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Paramount Skydance Falls 5% Despite Antitrust Clearance and $41.4B Debt Pricing, Warner Bros. Discovery Holds Flat; Netflix Eases</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/paramount-skydance-falls-5-despite-antitrust-clearance-and-41-4b-debt-pricing-warner-bros-discovery-holds-flat-netflix-eases/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:03:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671984&preview=true&preview_id=1671984</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A federal judge just cleared the final legal hurdle for one of Hollywood's biggest mergers, yet the buyer's stock is sinking fast. The reason comes down to a financing package that dwarfs the company's own market cap.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/paramount-skydance-falls-5-despite-antitrust-clearance-and-41-4b-debt-pricing-warner-bros-discovery-holds-flat-netflix-eases/">Paramount Skydance Falls 5% Despite Antitrust Clearance and $41.4B Debt Pricing, Warner Bros. Discovery Holds Flat; Netflix Eases</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671984">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Paramount Skydance</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PSKY/">NASDAQ:PSKY</a>) stock is sliding on news that clears the final legal hurdle to its purchase of <strong>Warner Bros. Discovery</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/WBD/">NASDAQ:WBD</a>), a reaction that shows the market focusing on what the deal costs the buyer. In morning trading, Paramount Skydance stock is down 5% to $9.80, a drop that compounds a slide leaving the shares down 26% year to date (YTD).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery stock is flat at $30.96, holding steady as the deal approaches completion. <strong>Netflix</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NFLX/">NASDAQ:NFLX</a>) shares are down 2% to $68.34, sliding alongside the wider media group. <strong>Walt Disney</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/DIS/">NYSE:DIS</a>), the other heavyweight in the entertainment and streaming cluster, is set to face a rival built from two major Hollywood studios.</p>
<p>That decline in Paramount Skydance stock runs far deeper than the moves in two benchmark funds. Notably, the <strong>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/XLC/">NYSEARCA:XLC</a>) is down 0.7% to $110.20. The <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is sliding a softer 0.2% to $760.78.</p>
<h2>Court Clears the Merger as Paramount Skydance Prices New Debt</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8d6933"
class="fwp-stock-chart-container"
data-symbol="PSKY"
data-variant="article"
data-benchmark="SPY"
data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/PSKY?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
data-ticker-url="https://247wallst.com/companies/psky/"
data-timeframe="1Y">
</div></p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="PSKY" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-psky/full?v=14a8c068868f" alt="PSKY price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>A federal judge approved Paramount Skydance’s antitrust settlement on Wednesday, clearing the last obstacle to the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin accepted the consent decree in a suit brought by state attorneys general, who had argued the combination would concentrate the markets for theatrical films and television channels. Paramount Skydance stated the merger is expected to close on October 6.</p>
<p>Hours earlier, Paramount Skydance priced $41.4 billion of senior secured notes across first lien and second lien tranches, alongside euro-denominated notes and an incremental term loan facility. It intends to use the offering’s proceeds, with cash on hand and previously announced borrowings and equity financing, to fund the purchase price and repay certain existing debt.</p>
<h2>Leverage Lands on the Buyer</h2>
<p>Paramount Skydance’s financing is where the cost of the deal sits. At $41.4 billion, the secured notes Paramount Skydance just priced dwarf the $10.77 billion market capitalization carried by the shares. That leverage lands on Paramount Skydance as the acquirer, while Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders sit on the receiving end of the purchase price.</p>
<p>Warner Bros. Discovery stock tells the other half of the story. Targets typically go quiet once an agreed deal is days from closing, and that’s the pattern here. With the court hurdle gone, the main open question for the company’s shareholders is timing.</p>
<p>Disney and Netflix now face a larger combined rival. The merged company would pair the Paramount and Warner Bros. studios, the CBS News and CNN newsrooms, and two cable portfolios, putting more scale against Netflix in streaming and against Disney across film and television. Netflix stock is falling further than the sector fund.</p>
<p>The decree sets annual theatrical release minimums with required windows, a domestic production spending floor, a bar on selling or closing the Paramount and Warner Bros. studio lots, separate cable-distribution negotiations for each portfolio, and an editorial independence board for CBS News and CNN. Those obligations limit the options the company could pull to cut costs and service its new debt long after the October 6 close, according to Paramount Skydance.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>October 6 marks the next concrete milestone, since Paramount Skydance expects to close the Warner Bros. Discovery merger on that date. The question is whether PSKY stock stabilizes once the deal closes and the new debt moves from headline to balance sheet. For WBD stock, flat trading may persist until the closing date arrives.</p>
<p>The bull case for Paramount Skydance stock rests on combined studio, streaming, and news assets backed by a court-approved path to closing. However, the company is taking on heavy secured debt while accepting operating limits that run for years. Holdings should be adjusted carefully given the leverage Paramount Skydance is carrying.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/paramount-skydance-falls-5-despite-antitrust-clearance-and-41-4b-debt-pricing-warner-bros-discovery-holds-flat-netflix-eases/">Paramount Skydance Falls 5% Despite Antitrust Clearance and $41.4B Debt Pricing, Warner Bros. Discovery Holds Flat; Netflix Eases</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671984">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>My Nvidia Price Target Looks Beyond the Next Few Quarters</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/my-nvidia-price-target-looks-beyond-the-next-few-quarters/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1670546&preview=true&preview_id=1670546</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NVIDIA just posted quarterly revenue that would have counted as a strong full year not long ago, yet the stock still trades at a fraction of what its earnings growth suggests it deserves. Something has to give, and the path to $350 runs through three very specific conditions.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/my-nvidia-price-target-looks-beyond-the-next-few-quarters/">My Nvidia Price Target Looks Beyond the Next Few Quarters</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670546">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>The quarter<strong> NVIDIA</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NVDA/">NASDAQ:NVDA</a> | <a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/NVDA/price-prediction/">NVDA Price Prediction</a>) just reported would have counted as a strong full year not long ago. Revenue reached $96.22B in Q2 fiscal 2027, up 105.8% year over year. Data Center generated $89.02B, and Networking alone contributed $40.31B.</p>
<p>As Jensen Huang summed it up: “<a title="Goldman Sachs Says a $7.6 Trillion AI Spending Boom Is Coming. Skip the GPUs, Follow the Money Here" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/26/goldman-sachs-says-a-7-6-trillion-ai-spending-boom-is-coming-skip-the-gpus-follow-the-money-here/">AI has reached its inflection point</a>. It’s doing useful work. Its tokens are productive and profitable. Now, compute is revenue.” The stock is up 23.71% year to date, far behind that pace. So can NVIDIA hit $350 in 2027?</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="NVDA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-nvda/full?v=48a9bd0f954e" alt="NVDA price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why NVIDIA Shares Lag Its Own Earnings Growth</h2>
<p>Over the past year, shares gained 29.49% while quarterly net income rose 125.9%. The worries behind that gap are real. Management noted “<a title="The Semiconductor Upcycle Is Being Driven by Memory Pricing, Not Unit Growth" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/13/the-semiconductor-upcycle-is-being-driven-by-memory-pricing-not-unit-growth/">extreme pricing conditions in memory</a>” and expects gross margin to bottom at 71% to 72% in Q4.<a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/23/nvidia-stock-set-for-40-surge-3-catalysts-that-could-drive-the-next-big-move/"> Supply commitments jumped to $279B. </a></p>
<p>Guidance includes <a title="Nvidia: Jensen Huang Says We Should Be Selling Chips to China" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/04/17/nvidia-jensen-huang-says-we-should-be-selling-chips-to-china/">no China data center compute revenue</a>, and days sales outstanding stretched to 60 days from 45. Management even admitted that “some will call this circular financing.”</p>
<p>Recent gains are modest: 1.23% in a week and 5.93% in a month. With a beta of 2.217, any doubt about AI spending hits these shares harder than it hits the broader market.</p>
<h2>Wall Street Sees 42.4% Upside. Our Model Says 17.7%</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/nvidia-stock-is-at-its-cheapest-valuation-since-2015/">consensus target is $327.70, which implies 42.4% upside</a>. Ratings stand at <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/price-prediction-in-2-years-nvidia-will-be-worth-this-much/">9 Strong Buys, 48 Buys, 2 Holds and 1 Sell</a>. The base case is $270.40 (17.68% upside), inside a range that runs from $233.53 to $315.21, with high confidence of 0.9.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="NVDA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-nvda/full?v=4d3fbdc8fe8d" alt="NVDA analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<p>Mega-cap muting holds the earnings growth contribution to just 0.03. The analysts, who are 95% bullish, still lag on the longer horizon in my view. The fiscal 2028 EPS estimate climbed from $13.1277 to $15.6826 in 30 days, with 42 upward revisions and zero cuts.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1670545" class="wp-image-1670545 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/my-nvidia-price-target-looks-beyond-the-next-few-q-infographic-1790702754721.webp" alt="An infographic with a dark blue background presents an analysis of NVIDIA stock's path to $350. The top section shows the current price of $230.18 and a bold target price of $350.00, indicating a +52.1% upside. Below, valuation at the $350 target includes a forward EPS of $13.06 and an implied P/E of 27x. The bottom section details sentiment and scenarios, with Reddit sentiment displayed as " />
<footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What It Takes for NVIDIA to Reach $350</h2>
<p>To get to $350 from today’s price of $230.18 would require a gain of 52.1%.</p>
<p>With forward EPS of $13.0579, a price of $350 implies a forward P/E of 27x. That sits below the 33x implied multiple in our valuation model. Measured against today’s 18x, the rerating needed is 9.2 turns.</p>
<p>I think that rerating is possible. Earnings growth also works in the stock’s favor. Management expects revenue to grow approximately 70% in fiscal 2028, even with supply constraints. At $350, the stock trades at just 22x fiscal 2028 consensus EPS.</p>
<p>Vera Rubin began production shipments in August, and AWS is deploying an additional 2 million GPUs. The board just <a title="NVIDIA Rises 2% as Board Authorizes Record $150B Buyback Increase; AMD and Broadcom Slip" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/28/nvidia-rises-2-as-board-authorizes-record-150b-buyback-increase-amd-and-broadcom-slip/">expanded the buyback into the largest in history</a>, and CNBC reads that as a sign the stock is too cheap for Huang to resist (CNBC; The New York Times). Huang says “demand is accelerating.”</p>
<p>If AI capital spending slows down, the $279B in supply commitments could become a burden.</p>
<h2>Where NVIDIA Trades Today Versus Its Earnings Power</h2>
<p>At 18x forward earnings, NVIDIA trades at a modest multiple for a company growing revenue at triple digits. Shares sit near the top of their 52-week range of $163.90 to $236.</p>
<p>Over 10 years, the stock has returned 13,592.4%. The current multiple prices in doubt that the earnings trend keeps contradicting.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="scenario" data-symbol="NVDA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-scenario-nvda/full?v=b4fd9aaa1f14" alt="NVDA price scenario" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Is $350 Realistic? My Verdict</h2>
<p>Hitting $350 requires a 52.1% gain. I call it a stretch that can be reached.</p>
<p>Three things need to go right: Vera Rubin launches on schedule, gross margins recover after the Q4 low, and fiscal 2028 estimates keep rising. A sharp decline in <a title="AI's Absurd Spending Boom? Hyperscalers Are Spending 102% of Cloud Revenue on Capex" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/08/22/ais-absurd-spending-boom-hyperscalers-are-spending-102-of-cloud-revenue-on-capex/">hyperscaler spending</a> would ruin the thesis.</p>
<p>All of that capex has to be powered, cooled, and networked by somebody, and we covered seven of those suppliers in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free AI infrastructure report</a>. Returns at this level shouldn’t be expected every year, but we’ve outlined the blueprint for how NVIDIA could reach $350 in 2027.</p><div><h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2><p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=57f218e8-3ad1-4037-b9be-88ae57df554b&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670546&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p><p></p><p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=57f218e8-3ad1-4037-b9be-88ae57df554b&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1670546&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/my-nvidia-price-target-looks-beyond-the-next-few-quarters/">My Nvidia Price Target Looks Beyond the Next Few Quarters</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1670546">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Ethereum Upgrades and Solana’s ETF Inflows: Which is the Best Buy for 2030?</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-upgrades-and-solanas-etf-inflows-which-is-the-best-buy-for-2030/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Daodu]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:38 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671307&preview=true&preview_id=1671307</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ethereum is testing a major new upgrade while Solana pulls in institutional money for weeks on end, and both coins sit far below their peaks. One suits the cautious long-term saver, but the other could deliver a far bigger payoff for those who can stomach the risk.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-upgrades-and-solanas-etf-inflows-which-is-the-best-buy-for-2030/">Ethereum Upgrades and Solana’s ETF Inflows: Which is the Best Buy for 2030?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671307">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p><b>Ethereum</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/ETH/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:ETH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) and </span><b>Solana</b><span style="font-weight: 400"> (</span><a href="https://247wallst.com/cryptocurrencies/SOL/"><span style="font-weight: 400">CRYPTO:SOL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">) offer different incentives for investors looking to hold until 2030. Ethereum is currently testing its Glamsterdam upgrade, while U.S. spot funds focused on Solana have experienced 11 consecutive weeks of inflows. This raises the question: when comparing Ethereum vs. Solana, which one better supports your long-term savings goals by 2030?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Both cryptocurrencies are </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/30/which-major-cryptocurrency-has-the-most-potential-for-growth-ranking-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-and-solana-by-distance-from-their-all-time-highs/"><span style="font-weight: 400">trading significantly below their all-time highs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. As of October 1, 2026, Ethereum is priced around $2,706, down 45.3% from its August 2025 peak of $4,946. Meanwhile, Solana is trading around $118, which is 59.8% below its all-time high of $293 from January 2025. So, which asset is more suitable for your savings as we approach 2030?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum Needs an 83% Gain as Glamsterdam Enters Testing</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/crypto-rect.png" alt="A close-up shot of a blue digital screen displaying a grid with names of cryptocurrencies: Zcash, Ripple, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. The background features a faint world map, and small red downward and green upward triangular arrows are visible in various grid cells, indicating market movements." width="1376" height="769" data-caption="A digital display shows Zcash, Bitcoin, and other major cryptocurrencies, reflecting the dynamic nature of the digital asset market discussed in the article." data-id="478745" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum tends to be a more stable investment. With a market cap of $330 billion, it is nearly five times larger than Solana’s $69.4 billion. To regain its previous high, Ethereum would need to rise by 83%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/11/ethereums-glamsterdam-upgrade-slipped-again-sepolia-now-targets-october-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Glamsterdam upgrade is set to be tested on the Sepolia network</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> on October 6, after a previous delay. A test network allows developers to evaluate changes before implementing them on the main network. Ethereum’s last major upgrade, called Fusaka, went live in December 2025. However, a mainnet launch date for Glamsterdam has not been announced yet, and any delay could dampen investor interest.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum’s large market cap limits its upside potential; the larger the network, the more new capital it needs to see significant price increases. Additionally, competing </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/11/19/are-layer-2-networks-helping-or-hurting-ethereums-price/"><span style="font-weight: 400">layer-2 networks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> could attract some of the transaction fees that Ethereum currently earns. Another factor to consider is that Ethereum has no hard supply cap, with approximately 122.1 million ETH currently in circulation.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Solana Leads on ETF Demand, but Fund Flows Can Reverse</span></h2>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shutterstock-2051580854-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg" alt="Solana (SOL)" width="1500" height="1000" data-caption="" data-id="1369381" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">On the other hand, Solana has demonstrated a robust demand, particularly among U.S. spot funds. These funds, which hold Solana directly, have attracted inflows for 11 consecutive weeks, including a significant $188 million in one week. These funds currently hold about 4.37 million SOL, worth approximately $515 million.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Solana has also shown stronger recent performance, with a 16.2% gain over the past 30 days compared to Ethereum’s 9.8%. Additionally, the number of </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/16/ethereum-vs-solana-which-wins-when-wall-street-moves-stocks-on-chain/"><span style="font-weight: 400">tokenized assets and stablecoins on the Solana network</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> has reached record levels, signaling increasing usage alongside recent fund inflows.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, fund inflows can quickly reverse. Even with several months of positive demand, we must consider whether Solana can maintain this momentum through 2030. In early September, Solana experienced a </span><a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/08/solana-etf-inflows-fell-96-in-a-week-from-153-87-million-to-6-18-million-what-changed/"><span style="font-weight: 400">sharp 96% drop in inflows</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, and it has since lost ground, trading below $120. To return to its peak, Solana would need a 149% increase, and about 588 million SOL are currently in circulation.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Is Ethereum or Solana the Better Buy for a 2030 Retirement Plan?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">When looking at the options, Ethereum appears to be a safer choice for a retirement portfolio targeting 2030. With an 83% rise needed to regain its high compared to Solana’s 149%, and a substantially larger market cap, Ethereum offers a lower-risk investment with less chance of significant loss. Solana, on the other hand, suits risk-tolerant investors seeking potentially higher gains driven by recent fund momentum.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">However, investors should remain cautious. If Glamsterdam experiences delays or issues during testing, Ethereum’s advantage could falter. Conversely, if Solana continues to attract substantial investment, it may warrant greater consideration in the Ethereum vs. Solana debate for future investment decisions leading into 2030.</span></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/10/01/ethereum-upgrades-and-solanas-etf-inflows-which-is-the-best-buy-for-2030/">Ethereum Upgrades and Solana’s ETF Inflows: Which is the Best Buy for 2030?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671307">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Moderna Climbs 3% Despite Citigroup’s Downgrade to Sell; BioNTech Inches Higher, Pfizer Treads Water</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/moderna-climbs-3-despite-citigroups-downgrade-to-sell-biontech-inches-higher-pfizer-treads-water/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671981&preview=true&preview_id=1671981</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Citigroup just told investors to sell Moderna and the stock responded by climbing 3%, raising one pointed question about whether pipeline optimism has fully broken free from Wall Street's valuation warnings.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/moderna-climbs-3-despite-citigroups-downgrade-to-sell-biontech-inches-higher-pfizer-treads-water/">Moderna Climbs 3% Despite Citigroup’s Downgrade to Sell; BioNTech Inches Higher, Pfizer Treads Water</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671981">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Buyers are stepping into <strong>Moderna</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MRNA/">NASDAQ:MRNA</a>) shares, evidently. The move comes one session after a <strong>Citigroup</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/c">NYSE:C</a>) downgrade to Sell, a sign the market still prizes the company’s cancer vaccine pipeline over the valuation warning. Moderna stock is climbing 3% to $198.71 in morning trading. Such a bounce sets up a clear test of whether pipeline optimism can survive a bearish call from a major bank.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>BioNTech</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/BNTX/">NASDAQ:BNTX</a>) stock is inching up 0.6% to $98.93, a far smaller gain from the other big name in messenger RNA. <strong>Pfizer</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PFE/">NYSE:PFE</a>) shares are slipping 0.2% to $28.46, leaving BioNTech’s vaccine partner flat water. Both moves look small next to the gain in Moderna stock, which keeps the focus on one name.</p>
<p>The sector fund is in the red as the <strong>iShares Biotechnology ETF</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/IBB/">NASDAQ:IBB</a>) drops 0.3% to $209.96. At the same time, the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/SPY/">NYSEARCA:SPY</a>) is slipping 0.3% to $760.64. That split marks the rally in Moderna stock as a single-name repricing while the broad market drifts lower.</p>
<h2>Citigroup Downgrade Rests on Valuation</h2>
<p><div id="fwp-stock-chart-6abf71e8d93f2"
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data-logo-url="https://img.logo.dev/ticker/MRNA?token=pk_NW1GT8JtRB6RBIU7VgRAqw"
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<p>In the previous session, Citigroup downgraded Moderna stock to Sell from Neutral and lifted its price target to $80 in the same note. Citigroup built the call on valuation, pointing out that Moderna shares had climbed 222% since the melanoma trial results were reported. This framing leaves the underlying science unchallenged and moves the whole debate onto the price investors are paying for Moderna.</p>
<p><div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="MRNA" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-mrna/full?v=0549ef36d19b" alt="MRNA analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div></p>
<p>Under Citigroup’s reading, the melanoma win is already reflected in Moderna stock, which leaves less room for gains without fresh evidence. Geoff Meacham of Citigroup cautioned in August that full validation of the result depends on Moderna’s complete data. A higher target paired with a lower rating signals a firm that respects the science and still balks at the price.</p>
<h2>Melanoma Vaccine Keeps Buyers Interested</h2>
<p>Intismeran autogene is the personalized cancer vaccine at the center of the debate, and Moderna is building it on messenger RNA technology with <strong>Merck</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/mrk">NYSE:MRK</a>) as the development partner on the program, and the vaccine was tested in combination with Merck’s Keytruda. In a pivotal trial, the treatment hit its primary endpoint in patients whose melanoma tumors had already been surgically removed.</p>
<p>Moderna’s complete data hasn’t been presented publicly yet, and it’s expected at a European oncology conference in Madrid in late October. Until those numbers are out, read-across to other tumor types remains an open question for Moderna, and it is still the variable that moves Moderna stock most, because it determines how far the platform could reach.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Next</h2>
<p>Late October brings the next scheduled test, when Moderna’s complete data is due in Madrid. Shareholders can watch for evidence of read-across to other tumor types in Moderna’s full results, since that upside sits beyond the melanoma win Citigroup argues Moderna stock already reflects. Detailed findings that support broader use could reinforce that upside view for Moderna.</p>
<p>Moderna’s upside argument rests on a pipeline that could extend well beyond melanoma, while the downside view leans on Citigroup’s $80 target for Moderna stock and a share price that already bakes in the trial win. Investors should watch whether BioNTech stock continues to track Moderna’s direction or settles back toward the biotechnology fund. Each side has a strong case, and that balance favors a patient approach.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/moderna-climbs-3-despite-citigroups-downgrade-to-sell-biontech-inches-higher-pfizer-treads-water/">Moderna Climbs 3% Despite Citigroup’s Downgrade to Sell; BioNTech Inches Higher, Pfizer Treads Water</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671981">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Her Husband Is Taking Out the Reverse Mortgage in His Name Alone. When He Dies, a 2014 HUD Rule Will Let Her Keep Living There, and the Lender Will Have to Wait</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/her-husband-is-taking-out-the-reverse-mortgage-in-his-name-alone-when-he-dies-a-2014-hud-rule-will-let-her-keep-living-there-and-the-lender-will-have-to-wait/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Beren]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:59:55 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671846&preview=true&preview_id=1671846</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A little-known 2014 HUD rule quietly shifted the power balance between surviving spouses and reverse mortgage lenders, but most couples only discover it exists after the borrower has already died.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/her-husband-is-taking-out-the-reverse-mortgage-in-his-name-alone-when-he-dies-a-2014-hud-rule-will-let-her-keep-living-there-and-the-lender-will-have-to-wait/">Her Husband Is Taking Out the Reverse Mortgage in His Name Alone. When He Dies, a 2014 HUD Rule Will Let Her Keep Living There, and the Lender Will Have to Wait</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671846">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>For those unfamiliar, the crux of a 2014 HUD rule is that it provides protection, especially in cases like a scenario where a younger wife stays in the house after her husband dies <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/25/the-retirees-who-took-a-reverse-mortgage-say-the-part-nobody-warned-them-about-came-years-later/">if he took out a reverse mortgage</a> in his name alone. Under that rule, the lender must defer collection as long as she meets its terms, but many couples don’t learn about HUD Mortgagee Letter 2014-07 until after the borrower dies.</p>
<h2>Why Widows Were Losing Homes Before 2014</h2>
<p>A <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/05/05/the-reverse-mortgage-line-of-credit-that-grows-untouched-for-15-years-and-becomes-a-700000-liquidity-buffer-at-80/">Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)</a> is the FHA-insured reverse mortgage most retirees get, and it used to come due in full when the last borrower died. A spouse left off the loan had to repay it or face foreclosure. Many couples left the younger spouse off on purpose because it raised the initial payout, according to Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.</p>
<p>On September 30, 2013, a federal court ruled in <em>Bennett v. Donovan</em> that the HECM statute, 12 U.S.C. § 1715z-20(j), allowed HUD to insure only loans that came due after both the homeowner and spouse had died. HUD published Mortgagee Letter 2014-07 on April 25, 2014.</p>
<h2>How the Deferral Keeps the Lender Waiting</h2>
<p>The rule covers HECMs whose FHA case numbers were assigned on or after August 4, 2014. If an eligible non-borrowing spouse lives in the home when the borrower dies, the loan’s due-and-payable status is deferred. The balance stays attached to the house, and repayment waits until she dies, moves out, or no longer meets the requirements.</p>
<p>The rule now lives in federal regulation at 24 CFR 206.55. Mortgagee Letter 2021-11 extended it, and lenders had to comply by September 3, 2021. It also covers additional cases, such as when the borrower may live in a health care facility for more than 12 consecutive months, and the rule dropped the requirement that the spouse prove she holds marketable title.</p>
<h2>Who Qualifies for the Protection and Who Misses Out</h2>
<p>The borrowing spouse must be at least 62. A younger spouse can be a non-borrowing spouse. To qualify, she must meet several conditions. She must be named in the loan documents, be married to the borrower at closing, live in the home as her principal residence, and keep paying property taxes and insurance (HUD Mortgagee Letter 2014-07). Common-law spouses also count, and when a spouse the borrower marries after closing does not qualify, according to HUD Housing Notice H 2014-17. Private reverse mortgages may handle spouses differently, so the protection applies only to HECMs.</p>
<p>Loans with case numbers from before August 4, 2014 fall under Mortgagee Letter 2021-11. For those loans, the servicer may choose to hand the loan to HUD through a Mortgagee Optional Election assignment, and that choice belongs to the lender.</p>
<h2>Steps to Secure the Deferral Before Closing</h2>
<ol>
<li>Confirm the loan is an FHA-insured HECM and get the FHA case number in writing.</li>
<li>Attend required HUD-approved counseling together. Counselors must explain every deferral requirement to the non-borrowing spouse.</li>
<li>Before signing, confirm she is named in the loan documents as an eligible non-borrowing spouse and has signed required forms.</li>
<li>Set money aside for property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance after the borrower’s death.</li>
<li>Keep copies of the marriage certificate and closing papers. She will need them when she contacts the servicer after the borrower dies.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Costs and Traps That Can Void the Deferral</h2>
<p>Naming her comes at a cost. For loans after August 4, 2014, HUD insures the HECM using the youngest spouse’s age, whether or not that spouse is a borrower. A younger age means a smaller loan. During the deferral, she cannot take any further draws. Any unused line of credit or monthly payment stops when the borrower dies, though interest keeps building on the balance.</p>
<p>HUD enforces requirements strictly. Missing any at closing or afterward makes the loan due and payable, and the deferral is gone, according to HUD Housing Notice H 2014-17. If she falls behind on taxes or insurance, HUD’s home retention options are not available to non-borrowing spouses (HUD Handbook 7610.1).</p>
<p><a href="https://247wallst.com/housing/2024/01/14/us-housing-market-hits-36-trillion/">Home values affect</a> how often couples face this choice. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index was 337.3 in July 2026, its highest reading in the past year. Higher home equity can make HECMs more appealing to retirees, and couples must decide whether to name the younger spouse at closing. They cannot add the deferral later.</p>
<div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/10/01/her-husband-is-taking-out-the-reverse-mortgage-in-his-name-alone-when-he-dies-a-2014-hud-rule-will-let-her-keep-living-there-and-the-lender-will-have-to-wait/">Her Husband Is Taking Out the Reverse Mortgage in His Name Alone. When He Dies, a 2014 HUD Rule Will Let Her Keep Living There, and the Lender Will Have to Wait</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671846">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Coherent Jumps 10% on PhotonLink Push and Bernstein’s Outperform Start; Lumentum Rises 9%, Corning Advances 3%</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/coherent-jumps-10-on-photonlink-push-and-bernsteins-outperform-start-lumentum-rises-9-corning-advances-3/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Moadel]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:56:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671967</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Coherent's PhotonLink platform and a fresh Wall Street initiation sent optics stocks surging well ahead of the broader market, raising the question of whether this rally signals a durable AI infrastructure trade or another sentiment-driven spike.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/coherent-jumps-10-on-photonlink-push-and-bernsteins-outperform-start-lumentum-rises-9-corning-advances-3/">Coherent Jumps 10% on PhotonLink Push and Bernstein’s Outperform Start; Lumentum Rises 9%, Corning Advances 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671967">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p><strong>Coherent Corp.</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/cohr">NYSE:COHR</a>) stock jumped 10% to $315.71 as traders focused on the company’s PhotonLink platform and fresh Wall Street support for AI infrastructure suppliers. <strong>Lumentum Holdings</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/lite">NASDAQ:LITE</a>) stock rose 9% to $1,058.42, while <strong>Corning</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/glw">NYSE:GLW</a>) stock advanced 3% to $158.89.</p>
<p>The broader optics rally outpaced the market. The <strong>Roundhill Photonics & Optics ETF</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/lyte">CBOE:LYTE</a>) gained 4% to $25.40, while the <strong>SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/spy">NYSE ARCA:SPY</a>) slipped 0.2% to $761.11.</p>
<h2>PhotonLink Brings AI Optics Into Focus</h2>
<p>Coherent introduced PhotonLink in September as an integrated-optics platform for next-generation AI data centers. The company also expanded its Pluggable Optical Line System portfolio, linking chip-to-chip, inside-the-rack, and high-capacity data-center connectivity products to the same AI infrastructure buildout.</p>
<p>PhotonLink highlights Coherent’s vertically integrated position across materials, lasers, optics, specialty fibers, and related manufacturing capabilities. Coherent said the platform includes more than 10 customer engagements for co-packaged optics and more than 10 customer engagements for near-packaged optics.</p>
<p>AI data centers require more bandwidth and more efficient connections as workloads become larger and more complex. Coherent could benefit if hyperscalers and equipment makers accelerate deployments of advanced optical components, though the company must turn early engagement into sustained orders and profitable production.</p>
<h2>Bernstein Starts With Outperform</h2>
<p>Bernstein initiated coverage of Coherent with an Outperform rating as part of broader coverage of U.S. networking and optical companies. Bernstein said networking and optical suppliers could be “structural winners” within AI infrastructure, an assessment that helped reinforce investor interest in Coherent stock.</p>
<p>The research firm also began coverage of Lumentum, <strong>Ciena Corporation</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/cien">NYSE:CIEN</a>), and <strong>Arista Networks</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/anet">NYSE:ANET</a>) with Outperform ratings. Bernstein initiated <strong>Cisco Systems</strong> (<a class="instrument-link stock" href="/companies/csco">NASDAQ:CSCO</a>) and Corning with Market Perform ratings, providing a more balanced view of an industry that has rallied sharply on AI-related expectations.</p>
<p>Coherent stock’s 10% gain exceeded the 4% move in the LYTE ETF, suggesting that PhotonLink and Bernstein’s favorable initiation gave traders a company-specific reason to bid up the shares. Still, Coherent stock can remain sensitive to shifts in AI capital-spending expectations, customer order timing, and concerns about industry capacity.</p>
<h2>Lumentum Extends the Rebound</h2>
<p>Lumentum stock climbed 9% to $1,058.42, extending the recovery that began after a recent optics-sector selloff. Lumentum reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $1.006 billion, up 109.3% year over year, while adjusted earnings per share of $3.23 exceeded the $2.97 consensus estimate.</p>
<p>The company guided for fiscal first-quarter revenue between $1.225 billion and $1.275 billion. Lumentum management said demand signals for 2027 remained “incredibly strong,” while the company also reported that optical-circuit-switch shipments doubled from the fiscal third quarter to the fiscal fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Lumentum could benefit from demand for high-speed networking, optical switching, transceivers, and other hardware needed to connect AI computing systems. Yet Lumentum faces execution risk as the company expands output, with management previously acknowledging that shipments of high-powered lasers were behind demand.</p>
<h2>Corning Joins a Wider Rally</h2>
<p>Corning stock rose 3%, a smaller gain than Coherent stock and Lumentum stock but still well ahead of the SPY ETF’s 0.2% decline. Corning supplies specialty glass, fiber, and optical communications products, giving Corning multiple ways to participate in higher data-center connectivity spending.</p>
<p>The LYTE ETF’s 4% advance suggests the market’s buying interest extended beyond a single company. Coherent stock, Lumentum stock, and Corning stock all moved higher as traders returned to a group that benefits from expectations for rising AI network traffic and increasingly demanding data-center architectures.</p>
<h2>COHR Stock: What to Look For Now</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/lumentum-climbs-7-as-optics-selloff-reverses-a-day-after-citis-11b-switching-call-coherent-and-corning-rise-5/">Coherent stock</a> rally could continue if AI-related orders, customer commentary, and capital-spending plans remain supportive. However, the same theme creates risk if large customers delay infrastructure spending, if competitors build excess capacity, or if elevated expectations leave less room for execution mistakes.</p>
<p>Coherent has a compelling product catalyst in PhotonLink and a new Outperform rating to support the bullish discussion. Investors should watch for signs that the company’s customer engagements become material revenue opportunities, while keeping position sizes modest because optics stocks can move sharply as sentiment toward the AI trade changes.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=0faa6885-628a-4fce-81a3-4b47678bedee&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671967&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
</p>
<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=0faa6885-628a-4fce-81a3-4b47678bedee&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671967&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/coherent-jumps-10-on-photonlink-push-and-bernsteins-outperform-start-lumentum-rises-9-corning-advances-3/">Coherent Jumps 10% on PhotonLink Push and Bernstein’s Outperform Start; Lumentum Rises 9%, Corning Advances 3%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671967">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>6 High-Yield Stocks Where the Market May Be Warning of a Dividend Cut</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/6-high-yield-stocks-where-the-market-may-be-warning-of-a-dividend-cut/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Lange]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671814&preview=true&preview_id=1671814</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A fat dividend yield can mean a generous payout or a stock the market has already written off, and right now six familiar names are flashing signals that suggest the difference matters more than ever.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/6-high-yield-stocks-where-the-market-may-be-warning-of-a-dividend-cut/">6 High-Yield Stocks Where the Market May Be Warning of a Dividend Cut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671814">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p><p></p>
<p>Income investors have a real alternative right now. The <a title="The 10-Year Yield Is 2 Basis Points From Its 2007 Peak. One More Push Takes It Back to 2002" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/29/the-10-year-yield-is-2-basis-points-from-its-2007-peak-one-more-push-takes-it-back-to-2002/">10-year Treasury</a> yielded 5.26% as of September 29, 2026, so any stock paying more has to earn that extra income with real cash. A headline yield only holds up if the company can keep funding it. Often a fat yield is the market signaling trouble the payout has not yet admitted.</p>
<p><strong>Here is the test:</strong> a dividend is sustainable when the right earnings measure covers it, free cash flow pays for it after capital spending, and debt is not doing the heavy lifting. (We counted seven red flags that a fat yield is about to be cut in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/dividend-traps-offer-69e6b8f0.html">free dividend trap guide</a>, which is a useful checklist to run against the names below.)</p>
<h2>Kraft Heinz (KHC): A Yield Built on a Falling Price</h2>
<p><strong>Kraft Heinz</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/KHC/">NASDAQ:KHC</a>) pays $1.6 per share a year, a dividend yield of 6.79%. The payout has not grown. The quarterly dividend has sat at $0.4 since 2020, down from $0.625 in 2018. Shares at $22.77 are down 59.24% over ten years. That marks a <a title="Chasing a 10% Dividend Yield? Here's What Most Retirees Overlook" href="https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/13/chasing-a-10-dividend-yield-heres-what-most-retirees-overlook/">price-driven yield</a>.</p>
<p>Earnings coverage is the second problem. A $7.4B impairment left trailing diluted EPS at -$2.88. Adjusted EPS guidance of $2.03 to $2.09 still covers the dividend, but organic sales are guided -0.5% to -2.0% and brand spending is rising $100M to ~$700M. Cash flow holds up for now: Q2 operating cash flow of $1.082B against capex of $189M and dividends of $475M. Hitting the ~110% FCF conversion target is what keeps this payout safe.</p>
<h2>Verizon (VZ): Leverage Is Creeping Higher</h2>
<p><strong>Verizon</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/VZ/">NYSE:VZ</a>) yields 6.08% on a forward dividend of $2.83. Share price has worked in Verizon’s favor: shares are up 18.28% year to date, and the quarterly payout rose to $0.7075 from $0.69.</p>
<p>The warning sign is what the company owes. Total unsecured debt stands at $136.5B, and net unsecured debt to adjusted EBITDA rose to 2.5x from 2.2x at year-end 2025. Revenue slipped 0.7% and GAAP net income fell 22.9%, while a buyback target of up to $4.5B competes for the same cash. Cash flow offers support: Q2 free cash flow of $6.43B rose 27.1%.</p>
<h2>Altria (MO): Raising the Payout on a Shrinking Base</h2>
<p><strong>Altria</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MO/">NYSE:MO</a>) just lifted its quarterly dividend to $1.11 from $1.06, a forward $4.44 on a $67.44 stock. Shares are up 22.63% year to date, so this yield reflects payout policy.</p>
<p>The danger is holding a dividend through structural stress. Stockholders’ equity is -$3.21B, cash fell 25% to $3.53B, and domestic cigarette volume dropped 5%. Marlboro share slipped to 39.7% and on! pouches lost 4.2 points. Adjusted EPS guidance of $5.56 to $5.72 covers the payout, but pricing power has to keep outpacing volume loss.</p>
<h2>AT&T (T): A Cut Already on the Record</h2>
<p><strong>AT&T</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/T/">NYSE:T</a>) pays $1.11 a year, a yield near 5%, with shares down 9.29% over the past year. The quarterly dividend was $0.52 until it fell to $0.2775 in 2022, flat ever since.</p>
<p>Here the pressure is cash allocation plus debt. Q2 free cash flow of $4.67B fell 4.0%, while the quarter funded $1.976B in dividends and $2.194B in buybacks. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA is 2.68x, above the 2.5x target, and interest expense rose 13.8%. Buybacks give management a lever to pull before cutting the dividend, and FCF guidance of $18B+ supports the payout.</p>
<h2>Pfizer (PFE): Free Cash Flow Trails the Dividend</h2>
<p><strong>Pfizer</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/PFE/">NYSE:PFE</a>) yields 5.99% on $1.72 a year, with shares down 13.48% over five years.</p>
<p>The sharpest warning is cash coverage: a free cash flow yield of 5.58% against a 6.01% dividend yield. Q2 operating cash flow was $835M against $2.451B in dividends, and trailing GAAP EPS of $0.76 sits below the payout. Net debt to EBITDA is 3.26. Adjusted EPS guidance of $2.80 to $3.00 covers it, and the chief executive said “even in the most stretched scenarios that we are running, we will be able to maintain our dividend.”</p>
<h2>Medical Properties Trust: Expensive Debt Eats the Cushion</h2>
<p><strong><a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/MPW/">Medical Properties Trust</a></strong> pays $0.09 quarterly, a yield of roughly 7% to 8% on a stock that last filed at $4.70, after prior cuts. As a REIT, it should be judged on normalized FFO: $0.15 per share, a payout near 60%.</p>
<p>Debt is the threat. New secured notes carry a 9.25% coupon against a 5.37% weighted average rate, net debt to EBITDAre is 8.9x, and interest coverage is just 1.9x. Tenant HSA was paying 75% of agreed rent. Asset sales and no due dates until a roughly $600 million note in June 2028 buy time.</p>
<h2>What to Watch Before the Next Declaration</h2>
<p>Keep an eye on quarterly free cash flow against dividends paid, leverage ratios against stated targets, and whether buybacks decline first. When a cut comes, it usually pulls the share price down too, so the yield you locked in can cost principal. Yield by itself does not make a thesis.</p>
<div>
<h2>Learn 7 Ways To Generate Income With A $1,000,000+ Portfolio</h2>
<p>If you’ve saved over $1,000,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=123248e8-042f-470d-a18c-3ea373cbb22b&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671814&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">this guide is for you.</a> The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life.</p>
</p>
<p>Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/fisher/retirementincome?i=123248e8-042f-470d-a18c-3ea373cbb22b&p=2f32891c-a118-42f4-ae1e-4757d58ccb96&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671814&c=ff1d5c3f-b99c-4253-bbe7-f8aed7b77036&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income</a> from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! <span style="font-size: 0.7em;">(sponsor)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/6-high-yield-stocks-where-the-market-may-be-warning-of-a-dividend-cut/">6 High-Yield Stocks Where the Market May Be Warning of a Dividend Cut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671814">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>HPE Networking Outlook Gets Boost as Barclays, Citi and Wells Fargo Raise Price Targets</title>
<link>https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-networking-outlook-gets-boost-as-barclays-citi-and-wells-fargo-raise-price-targets/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vandita Jadeja]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://247wallst.com/?p=1671900&preview=true&preview_id=1671900</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Citi, Barclays, and Wells Fargo all lifted their HPE price targets after Networking Investor Day, yet the three firms land in very different places on whether the stock's explosive run has already consumed the upside.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-networking-outlook-gets-boost-as-barclays-citi-and-wells-fargo-raise-price-targets/">HPE Networking Outlook Gets Boost as Barclays, Citi and Wells Fargo Raise Price Targets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671900">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>
<p>Three Wall Street firms raised their price targets on <strong>Hewlett Packard Enterprise</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/HPE/">NYSE:HPE</a>) after its <a title="Networking now 30% of HPE revenue but over half of profits" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/03/10/networking-now-30-of-hpe-revenue-but-over-half-of-profits/">Networking Investor Day</a>.</p>
<p>Citi moved its target to $92 from $76, Barclays to $83 from $79, and Wells Fargo to $63 from $54. None of the three changed its rating.</p>
<p>All three point to networking as HPE’s main growth engine, but they still disagree on how much of that upside the stock already prices in.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="768" height="1376" data-id="1671899" class="wp-image-1671899 attributed" src="https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hpe-networking-outlook-gets-boost-as-barclays-citi-infographic-1790862937478.webp" alt="An infographic titled 'HPE Networking Outlook Gets Boost: Analyst Price Target Raises'. It shows Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) with a current stock price of $63.71 as of October 1, 2026. A table lists analyst ratings: Barclays has an 'Overweight' rating, raising its price target from $79 to $83, with an implied upside of +30.3%. Citi has a 'Buy' rating, raising its price target from $76 to $92, with an implied upside of +44.4%. Wells Fargo has an 'Equal Weight' rating, raising its price target from $54 to $63, with an implied upside of -1.1%. All ratings are 'No Change'. The 'Why Now' section explains strong networking growth, AI demand, and Juniper integration. 'Key Rationale Points' highlight a raised FY27 Networking Outlook (14%-17% revenue growth), an AI Networking Demand Surge ($700 million in Q3, cumulative $2.2 billion orders), and Juniper Integration Progress ($600M annual run-rate savings by FY28). The background is light gray with faint stock chart lines, and the text uses green and black." /><footer><cite class="copyright">24/7 Wall St.</cite></footer></figure>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="target" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-price-target-hpe/full?v=b474cf50486f" alt="HPE price target" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Firm</th>
<th>Action</th>
<th>Old Rating</th>
<th>New Rating</th>
<th>Old Target</th>
<th>New Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HPE</td>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise</td>
<td>Citi</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$76</td>
<td>$92</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HPE</td>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$79</td>
<td>$83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HPE</td>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Price Target Raised</td>
<td>Equal Weight</td>
<td>Equal Weight</td>
<td>$54</td>
<td>$63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Analysts Agree Networking Now Drives the Story</h2>
<p>Barclays said HPE raised its fiscal 2027 networking outlook to high-teens to low-20s percent growth. At its September earnings call, the company had guided to 14% to 17%, and that figure left out the Helios platform from <strong>Advanced Micro Devices</strong> (<a href="https://247wallst.com/companies/AMD/">NASDAQ:AMD</a>). Barclays now says HPE sees Helios as an over $1B networking opportunity over the next two years.</p>
<p>Citi said the near-term financial update surprised investors and showed “strong” confidence in sustained growth over the longer term. The firm called the company’s messaging “incrementally bullish” for the shares.</p>
<p>Wells Fargo, taking a more measured view, cited a positive strategy overview and a higher FY27 outlook, and it found the Juniper integration better than expected. It added that performance on winning market share will be the focus.</p>
<div class="ppw-widget" data-widget="ratings" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-analyst-ratings-hpe/full?v=123fde1f0b63" alt="HPE analyst ratings" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>HPE Snapshot: A Record Quarter Set the Stage</h2>
<p>Third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue reached $12.21B, up 32.7% from a year earlier. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 beat the $0.93 consensus, making it the fifth straight quarterly EPS beat. Networking revenue rose 74.9% to $2.89B, and routing climbed 270%.</p>
<p>Orders for HPE’s networks for AI hit a quarterly record of $700 million. Juniper synergies remain on track for $600 million in annual run-rate savings by the end of FY28.</p>
<div class="ew-widget" data-widget="explorer" data-symbol="HPE" aria-busy="true" aria-live="polite"><figure class="widget-fallback-figure"><img class="widget-fallback-img" src="https://247wallst.com/images/widget-earnings-explorer-hpe/full?v=d5683b0c3e72" alt="HPE earnings explorer" width="1600" height="840" onerror="this.style.display='none'" /></figure></div>
<h2>Why These Target Hikes Matter Now</h2>
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<p>Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock trades at $63.71. That is up 168.23% year to date and 22.24% over the past month. The price already sits just above Wells Fargo’s new target, which helps explain why that firm still rates the shares Equal Weight.</p>
<p>Earnings estimates are rising along with the price. Consensus FY27 EPS now stands at $4.5974, compared with $4.1063 30 days ago. Analysts made 15 up revisions in that period and zero down ones.</p>
<h2>What It Means for Your Portfolio</h2>
<p>A stronger networking outlook supports HPE’s growth case for long-term investors, though the stock’s sharp run-up raises the bar for performance. <a title="AI Memory Costs Continue to Explode -- And It's About to Get a Lot Worse" href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/18/ai-memory-costs-continue-to-explode-and-its-about-to-get-a-lot-worse/">Shortages of DDR5 memory and NAND flash</a> continued to restrict the conversion of demand into revenue. The company also lists trade policy and Juniper integration as risks.</p>
<p>All that AI-driven networking demand has to be powered and cooled by someone, and the suppliers behind the data-center expansion rarely get the attention the chipmakers do. We featured seven of them in a <a href="https://247wallst.com/pages/ai-power-seven-offer-d905ec99.html">free report you can grab here</a>.</p>
<p>Income-focused investors get a modest dividend yield of 0.94%. HPE also plans to return at least 75% of fourth-quarter free cash flow to shareholders.</p>
<p>The next checkpoint is the fiscal fourth-quarter report. HPE has guided for revenue of $13.9B to $14.8B and non-GAAP EPS of $1.20 to $1.30. Investors should also keep an eye on Helios ordering, which management expects to open later in the calendar year.</p><div><h2>Want Up To $3,000 In Stock? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Complimentary Stock</h2><p>Looking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion; open a new Active Invest account, fund it with $50 or more, and <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/sofi?i=08edd22a-f910-4d34-a37d-39f85862813b&p=a55abab1-3c01-47d3-9326-1df24e45c37d&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671900&c=1308be9b-d53c-4ba3-964c-7dd7ff9bf5ee&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">you could receive up to $3,000 in complimentary stock</a>.</p><p></p><p>From $0 commission trading<span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">3</span> to fractional shares<span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">4</span> and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to <a target="_blank" href="https://247wallst.com/go/lp/sofi?i=08edd22a-f910-4d34-a37d-39f85862813b&p=a55abab1-3c01-47d3-9326-1df24e45c37d&pos=end_of_article&tpid=1671900&c=1308be9b-d53c-4ba3-964c-7dd7ff9bf5ee&l=638c347b-1fc0-4533-9fc4-e1873549c1c3">sign up and secure your bonus.</a> <span class="fwp-pitch-sponsor">(Sponsor)</span></p></div><p>The post <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/01/hpe-networking-outlook-gets-boost-as-barclays-citi-and-wells-fargo-raise-price-targets/">HPE Networking Outlook Gets Boost as Barclays, Citi and Wells Fargo Raise Price Targets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://247wallst.com?utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=1671900">24/7 Wall St.</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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