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Michael Saylor Hints at More MicroStrategy Bitcoin Buys After “Dead Cat Bounce” Debate

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MicroStrategy Bitcoin Holdings. Source: Strategy

MicroStrategy has not bought Bitcoin (BTC) in two weeks, its most recent regulatory filing shows. In his latest post, however, Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has investors betting the company may have broke that pause last week.

Saylor wrote “A little more orange” above a chart of the firm’s holdings. He has used that format before purchase disclosures. MicroStrategy reports any Bitcoin buying every Monday.

Strategy’s Bitcoin Holdings Have Not Moved Since August

The company told the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 14 that it neither bought nor sold Bitcoin between September 8 and September 13. Its filing a week earlier reported the same for the previous seven days.

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Strategy held roughly 845,050 BTC as of September 13. It paid $63.73 billion for that stack, an average of $75,412 per coin.

MicroStrategy Bitcoin Holdings. Source: Strategy
MicroStrategy Bitcoin Holdings. Source: Strategy

Its last purchase was 4,603 BTC for $369.7 million, disclosed on August 31. That deal ended a 10-week pause. BeInCrypto called the restart the day before it was announced, after a similar Saylor teaser.

Cash is the constraint. Strategy spent $139.3 million buying back preferred shares in the week to September 13 rather than buying Bitcoin. That left $1.30 billion in the account it uses for purchases. The firm has also sold Bitcoin to support that share price this year.

Calacanis Called Bitcoin Boring and Saylor Answered Him

Angel investor Jason Calacanis started the argument on Friday. He posted a one-year chart showing Bitcoin down about 31% and wrote that the dead cat continues to bounce.

A dead cat bounce is a short price recovery inside a bigger decline, named for the idea that even a dead cat bounces if it falls far enough.

Calacanis said Bitcoin works poorly for payments and smart contracts and no longer excites the public. He compared it to compact discs in the streaming era.

“Jason, you’ve watched Bitcoin grow since 2011. It’s now a $1.6 trillion success and the world’s most valuable digital asset. Digital Capital is the killer app. Preserving wealth across generations is a bigger ambition than entertaining a dinner party. The orange tie stays,” Saylor challenged.

ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood equally rejected the dead cat label and pointed to her firm’s research on Bitcoin and artificial intelligence.

By the strict market definition, Jason’s label does not fit, because a dead cat bounce is only confirmed when price rolls over and breaks the old low. Bitcoin price at $81,292 as of this writing is still above the roughly $75,000 dip it rebounded from.

Dead Cat Bounce Illustration
Dead Cat Bounce Illustration

What he actually argued is a cultural verdict rather than a chart call, that Bitcoin stopped winning new use cases and settled into a boring store of value. That part is opinion, not something the price data can prove or disprove.

The post Michael Saylor Hints at More MicroStrategy Bitcoin Buys After “Dead Cat Bounce” Debate appeared first on BeInCrypto.




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KeyBanc Raises AppFolio (APPF) Price Target: What Investors Need to Know

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KeyBanc Raises AppFolio (APPF) Price Target: What Investors Need to Know

On September 17, KeyBanc lifted its price target on AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF) from $255 to $280 and maintained its Overweight rating on the stock after conducting customer checks and speaking with the company’s investor relations team to better understand the resident services opportunity.

KeyBanc Raises AppFolio (APPF) Price Target: What Investors Need to Know
KeyBanc Raises AppFolio (APPF) Price Target: What Investors Need to Know

KeyBanc believes resident services could become a meaningful driver of average revenue per user (ARPU) for the company, as residents could potentially spend more than $100 per month on additional offerings. While adoption remains in its early stages and certain states have restrictions, KeyBanc continues to see this as the most significant upside driver.

The research firm’s new $280 price target is based on 7.5 times 2027 enterprise value-to-sales and 27 times enterprise value-to-free cash flow.

AppFolio Raises 2026 Outlook, But Risks Remain

The company has been seeing strong growth. For the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF) reported revenue of $281 million, up 19% year over year. It also crossed $1 billion in trailing 12-month revenue for the first time.

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The company raised its full-year revenue guidance, supported by continued growth in premium-tier adoption and increasing use of its products and services. AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF) now expects full-year 2026 revenue between $1.117 billion and $1.127 billion, while its non-GAAP operating margin range as a percentage of revenue is expected to range from 26.5% to 28.0%.

Despite the stronger outlook, the company is facing some risks that could limit its growth. Higher infrastructure costs are one concern, as data center spending increases as the company seeks to support more AI usage. Non-GAAP cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, rose to 36% of revenue from 35% a year earlier.

Management also indicated that unit growth among existing customers could become more moderate, which could limit near-term growth.

AppFolio, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:APPF) valuation also leaves less room for disappointment. The stock currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 31.86. This represents a premium when compared with 22.41 for the industry.

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What the Numbers Say

Hedge fund interest in the stock weakened during the second quarter. According to Insider Monkey‘s database, 39 hedge funds held AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF) at the end of the second quarter, down from 43 in the first quarter.

As of August 31, short interest stood at 9.84% of the company’s float, indicating some level of bearish positioning in the stock.

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At the same time, analyst sentiment remains largely positive. Of the 11 analysts covering AppFolio, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPF), 91% rate the stock a Buy. The median 12-month price target of $232.50 suggests an upside of 8.33% from the stock’s current price as of September 18.

AppFolio, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:APPF) biggest potential growth catalyst appears to be resident services, with KeyBanc seeing an opportunity to meaningfully increase revenue per user as adoption develops. However, the stock’s premium valuation, rising infrastructure costs, and potentially slower unit growth make sustained revenue growth and successful execution on new services important factors for the company’s outlook.

While we acknowledge the potential of APPF as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: Nike (NKE) Is Down 40% YTD: Will the Turnaround Strategy Work? and Eli Lilly (LLY) Gets a Big Price Target Boost, Analysts See 20% Upside.

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Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.



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RB Global (RBA) Doubles its Buyback Authorization. Can Cash Generation Support it?

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RB Global (RBA) Doubles its Buyback Authorization. Can Cash Generation Support it?

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) doubled its buyback authorization as profits expanded, putting cash generation at the center of the investment case. On September 15, 2026, the commercial-asset and vehicle marketplace announced Toronto Stock Exchange approval to raise the program’s aggregate dollar ceiling from US$500 million to US$1 billion.

The amendment, expected to take effect September 17, also raises the share limit from 10 million to 14,224,129. Purchases must stay within both ceilings. The program expires March 17, 2027, unless completed or terminated earlier.

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) had already repurchased about 5.36 million shares by September 11, implying about $500 million in spending based on the disclosed average purchase price. The amendment therefore creates roughly $500 million of additional dollar capacity.

Bull Case

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) reported second-quarter revenue growth of 11% to $1.3 billion, while GAAP net income increased 31% to $143.6 million. That earnings expansion strengthens the case for returning capital alongside continued investment in the business.

Retiring shares increases each remaining shareholder’s ownership interest. For RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA), repurchases could create value if executed below intrinsic value while preserving sufficient funding for operations, acquisitions, and debt obligations.

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The authorization also gives management flexibility over execution. RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) can pace purchases around available cash and investment opportunities, with no requirement to exhaust the program. Selective execution could make repurchases a useful complement to reinvestment and debt management.

Bear Case

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) generated $365.8 million of operating cash flow in the first half, down from $483.3 million, a decline of approximately 24%. Operating assets and liabilities absorbed $292.4 million, compared with $117.8 million a year earlier, helping explain why stronger earnings did not translate into higher operating cash flow.

Competing uses were substantial. During the first half, RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) spent $183.9 million on property, plant and equipment and intangible additions, and paid $132.8 million in dividends. Subtracting those outlays from operating cash flow leaves $49.1 million before acquisitions and repurchases. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, consumed another $331.1 million, while buybacks used $150 million.

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) ended June with $524.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $2.9 billion in debt. Accelerating repurchases without stronger cash generation could reduce financial flexibility or increase reliance on borrowing.

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Investors should watch whether cash absorbed by operating assets and liabilities moderates and whether acquisition spending leaves room for repurchases. Funding costs and forgone investment returns also matter when assessing the benefits of buying back shares.

Hedge Fund Sentiment

The filings available so far reflect positions held before RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) reported its expanded share repurchase authorization. Insider Monkey’s database showed 37 hedge funds holding RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) at the end of 2Q2026, down from 41 funds three months earlier.

Conclusion

RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA) has gained useful capital-return flexibility, but first-half cash generation leaves limited room after investment and dividends. The investment case strengthens if repurchases accompany improving cash conversion and adequate funding for growth. Actual purchases, liquidity, and debt trends will determine whether the expanded program rewards shareholders.

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While we acknowledge the potential of RBA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: CBRE Group (CBRE) Unit Buys $1.6 Billion Net-Lease Platform. Can Scale Lift Fee Earnings? and Mastercard (MA) Partners With Flowcart. Can In-Chat Payments Deliver Profitable Growth?

This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.

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New crypto presale 2026: MemeToro’s AI utility and stage 7 progress stands out

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New crypto presale 2026: MemeToro’s AI utility and stage 7 progress stands out

New crypto presales often compete for attention with big promises and fast-moving social posts. 

MemeToro is standing out in a different way. It has moved into Stage 7 at $0.00430, raised more than $139K, and published public code for an AI-guided fair-launch system on BNB Chain.

That combination gives buyers more than a price chart to consider. The project wants to use an AI agent to help creators build memecoin launches with fixed distribution and funding rules. $MT is planned as the token that connects users to this wider ecosystem. 

The most bullish case is that MemeToro becomes a useful place to launch, discover, and trade meme assets. The key risk is that the product is still being built. For buyers looking at new crypto presales in 2026, progress and delivery matter more than slogans.

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Discovering MemeToro’s stage 7 crypto presale opportunity

MemeToro is an emerging BNB Chain project that focuses on memecoin creation and trading tools. Its presale has passed $139K, and the active Stage 7 price is $0.00430 per $MT. The project displays a launch target of $0.05186, which creates a large difference between the current price and the target.

The presale is only one part of the story. MemeToro is also building an AI agent that is meant to help launch creators choose fixed token allocations and funding mechanics. The project’s public Solidity release outlines a fair-launch design that aims to remove insider tiers and make key rules visible.

This is what makes the Stage 7 progress notable. Buyers are not only purchasing exposure to a meme token. They are looking at a project that wants to create infrastructure for future BNB Chain memecoin launches.

The current opportunity remains speculative. A presale total does not prove future success. But early funding can give the project more room to complete its technical roadmap, attract users, and move toward a working launchpad.

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How MemeToro’s AI agent utility could create demand

MemeToro’s planned AI agent is designed to simplify launch planning. It could help a creator set up a token distribution, funding plan, and launch settings without needing to understand every smart contract detail. The final rules would then be designed to move through the fair-launch contract structure.

This matters because memecoin launchpads are crowded. A platform needs a reason for users to return after the first launch. MemeToro’s planned ecosystem gives $MT several possible roles, including access, launch funding, platform transactions, staking, and rewards.

The roadmap also includes:

  • memecoin trading tools
  • prediction markets
  • a crypto news portal
  • creator and community activity
  • AI-supported discovery features

These are planned features, not completed products. Still, they show that MemeToro is aiming for utility beyond a simple presale. If users need $MT to access or use key functions, demand could grow with platform activity. That is the central upside case for long-term holders.

Public fair-launch code adds a research layer

MemeToro has released 1,373 lines of Solidity across 17 files under an MIT license. The release includes a fair-launch escrow contract, interfaces, tests, and documentation. In plain language, it is meant to show how the platform could lock important launch rules before buyers take part.

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The stated design aims to prevent a creator from adding a private insider allocation later. It also sets out a model where funds can move only through refund or planned liquidity routes, rather than through a developer-controlled treasury path.

That public approach is important for new crypto presales. Buyers often have to decide whether they trust a project without seeing its underlying systems. MemeToro gives them code to inspect.

The release is not a final security guarantee. The project still needs testnet deployment, liquidity execution, and independent security review. Yet public development gives MemeToro a stronger evidence base than projects that only publish a roadmap. In a high-risk market, visible work can matter.

Tokenomics: $MT distribution & staking metrics

The distribution framework splits the 1.2 billion total supply into clear structural pools. The public sale accounts for 71% of the tokens. The remaining supply is divided into centralized exchange reserves at 10%, marketing partners at 7.56%, platform trading liquidity at 5%, network rewards at 4.44%, and the core team allocation at 2%.

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Key Protocol Rules:

  • Presale Release: 100% unlocked and claimable on the official launch date.
  • Partner Lockups: Subject to a 24-month vesting period to prevent dilution.
  • Staking Rewards: Programmatic distribution offering yields up to 35% APR.
  • Security Status: Fully audited smart contract architecture.

FAQs

What is the current $MT price?

The active Stage 7 price is $0.00430 per $MT, based on the latest supplied presale update.

Is MemeToro’s AI agent live?

The AI launchpad is under development. Buyers should treat it as a roadmap feature until the project shows a live product.

How can buyers join the presale?

Use the official MemeToro (memetoro.com) portal, connect a compatible wallet, choose a supported payment option, and confirm the purchase. Never share a seed phrase.

More Information on MemeToro ($MT) Presale Here:

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Website: https://memetoro.com/ 

X: https://x.com/memetoro_mt 

Telegram: https://t.me/memetoro_mt 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0jgWy_DtA 

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2 Monster Stocks to Buy and Hold for at Least the Next 5 Years

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2 Monster Stocks to Buy and Hold for at Least the Next 5 Years

To identify monster stocks before they take off, investors should first focus on underlying business momentum. Stocks can be volatile in the near term, but they ultimately track the business’s long-term growth. Investing in businesses with attractive growth prospects when they trade at attractive valuations relative to earnings can help you succeed in finding tomorrow’s winners.

Here’s why DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) and Viking Holdings (NYSE: VIK) are great candidates right now.

Missed AI’s “Act 1”? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn’t buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of “Act 1″—the R&D phase. “Act 2” is the global rollout. Continue »

Green arrows pointing up.
Image source: Getty Images.

1. DoorDash

DoorDash is a fast-growing logistics platform that makes it easy for customers to get orders from local merchants delivered to their door. The company earns money through merchant commissions, delivery fees, subscriptions, and advertising, and it’s expanding rapidly. Revenue has climbed from $4.9 billion in 2021 to $13.7 billion in 2025, indicating its long-term potential.

It is emerging as the leader in grocery delivery and has also recently gained momentum in restaurant and retail orders. The stock’s performance reflects this trajectory, rising 141% over the past three years. Revenue grew 36% year over year in the second quarter, driven by strength in deliveries and continued growth in DashPass subscribers.

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DoorDash benefits from a reinforcing growth flywheel. Revenue growth funds product improvements, which drive higher order frequency and more DashPass sign-ups. Once customers join DashPass, DoorDash usage can become habitual. In the second quarter, DashPass customers generated 75% of U.S. grocery and retail orders.

There’s room to expand internationally, although DoorDash faces stiffer competition abroad. It is currently No. 2 in the U.K., Italy, Germany, and Canada, but management indicated on the second-quarter earnings call that it’s growing faster than the competition in those markets.

Delivery is a low-margin business, reflecting fierce competition from Uber Eats and Instacart. Even so, DoorDash’s operating profit has improved from -$579 million in 2023 to $723 million in 2025. This shows it can price its service to earn a profit, indicating capital efficiency and a solid competitive position.

The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 34. If DoorDash meets analysts’ expectations for 44% annualized earnings growth, that valuation relative to the growth rate could set up market-beating returns over the next five years.

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Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Advanced Micro Devices vs. SK Hynix

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Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Advanced Micro Devices vs. SK Hynix

As the artificial intelligence boom shifts into a more mature phase, should you choose to invest in the processing power of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) or the essential memory infrastructure of SK Hynix (NASDAQ:SKHY)?

AMD specializes in the brains of computing, designing processors that power cloud servers and gaming consoles. SK Hynix focuses on the storage components, such as High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which are indispensable for training complex AI models. Together, they represent two critical, yet distinct, pillars of the global hardware ecosystem.

The case for Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices designs and sells high-performance computing components for data centers and gaming markets. The company provides specialized chips for major clients like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony. In late 2025, the company secured a strategic partnership with OpenAI to supply powerful graphics processors for AI infrastructure.

In its 2025 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $34.6 billion, representing a significant 34.3% increase over the previous year. This growth supported a net income of $4.3 billion for the period. The net margin, which measures the percentage of revenue remaining after all expenses, improved to 12.5%.

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As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was 0.1x. This ratio shows how much debt the company has relative to what shareholders own. The current ratio stands at 2.9x, indicating that the business has nearly three times more short-term assets than it does liabilities due within a year. Free cash flow, or the cash left after paying for capital assets, was $6.7 billion. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented 21.2% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

The case for SK Hynix

SK Hynix is a global leader among semiconductor stocks. It produces high-speed memory chips and storage solutions essential for servers, mobile devices, and artificial intelligence hardware. While the company does not disclose individual major customers in its filings, its memory products are vital for most large-scale data centers. Its strategy focuses on advancing High Bandwidth Memory technology to meet the rising storage demands of complex software.

In FY 2025, revenue reached 97.2 trillion Korean won, a massive 46.8% jump from the previous fiscal year. This surge led to a net income of 42.9 trillion won. The net margin for the period was 44.2%, reflecting a high level of profitability relative to total sales.

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I Own Constellation for the Nuclear Fleet, Not the AI Headlines. Here’s Why That Matters Now.

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I Own Constellation for the Nuclear Fleet, Not the AI Headlines. Here's Why That Matters Now.

Artificial intelligence and its growing energy demands dominate the headlines, especially for independent power companies like Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG). Deals with hyperscalers like Meta Platforms and Microsoft have put Constellation on the map as power demands soar, but that’s not the only reason to own Constellation.

While AI attracts attention, Constellation’s real advantage is its massive nuclear fleet. With the largest nuclear fleet in the U.S. and a track record of efficient operations, Constellation boasts a strong competitive advantage and durable moat. As nuclear power returns to favor, that moat could become even more valuable. Here’s why.

Missed AI’s “Act 1”? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn’t buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of “Act 1″—the R&D phase. “Act 2” is the global rollout. Continue »

The Constellation Energy logo against a blue backdrop.
Image source: The Motley Fool.

Constellation boasts the U.S.’s largest nuclear energy fleet

Nuclear power is returning to favor, and for good reason. Growing power demand, combined with a desire to cut carbon emissions, makes nuclear a highly appealing choice. On top of that, nuclear provides reliable 24/7 baseload energy, making it a no-brainer for businesses and governments looking to secure carbon-free power.

Constellation boasts a massive fleet of nuclear power assets. It has 22 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity, making it the largest nuclear energy operator in the U.S. by a long shot. The next-closest nuclear fleet operators include Duke Energy, with roughly 11 GW of capacity, and Vistra, with 6.6 GW.

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Constellation’s highly efficient nuclear fleet also comes with downside protection

In addition, Constellation’s nuclear fleet posted a 93% capacity factor in the second quarter and 94.7% in 2025. This was the highest capacity factor in the industry, which the company attributes to its fast refueling time of roughly 21.5 days per outage compared to 35 to 38 days on average. Ultimately, this high capacity factor means Constellation can provide customers with truly reliable energy.

Another benefit of this nuclear fleet is that it is eligible for the federal Nuclear Production Tax Credit (PTC) through 2032. Created as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, this credit provides transferable, inflation-protected credits that serve as an explicit price floor, protecting cash flows if power prices drop.

Constellation’s nuclear fleet has also secured the vast majority of power generation through 2050 and beyond. Commercial nuclear units are licensed to operate for up to 80 years. Key nuclear plants across Constellation have secured these licenses or have filed applications that keep their physical operating authorization active into the late 2040s and 2050s.

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Is it time to buy the dip on Constellation Energy?

Energy demand will continue to grow, and nuclear power has emerged as a key piece in meeting that demand. Constellation recently secured a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Walmart, the retailer’s first-ever nuclear energy PPA.

Constellation Energy has no doubt benefited from the booming demand for power from AI data centers, but its real strength lies in its massive nuclear energy fleet. For investors bullish on the long-term outlook for nuclear energy, Constellation Energy, down 37% from its 52-week high, looks like a solid stock to scoop up today.

Should you buy stock in Constellation Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in Constellation Energy, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Constellation Energy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $387,158!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,365,749!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 932% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of September 20, 2026.

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Courtney Carlsen has positions in Constellation Energy, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Vistra. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Constellation Energy, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Vistra, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Duke Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

I Own Constellation for the Nuclear Fleet, Not the AI Headlines. Here’s Why That Matters Now. was originally published by The Motley Fool



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T-Mobile and Verizon face a new broadband rival

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T-Mobile and Verizon face a new broadband rival

T-Mobile and Verizon have been gaining momentum in attracting new internet customers; however, competition has just intensified with a new rival in the broadband market.  

In recent months, both companies have benefited from a growing trend of consumers switching from traditional internet services offered by cable operators to lower-priced fixed wireless and fiber internet offerings from wireless carriers.

Amid this trend, T-Mobile reportedly added roughly 520,000 broadband customers in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from research and consulting firm Recon Analytics. Verizon gained about 348,000 internet customers during the quarter, its latest earnings report revealed. 

In a May report from RCR Wireless News, Jeff Moore, telecom analyst and principal of Wave7 Research, said the “U.S. broadband duopoly of cable and telcos is fading” as “increased competition from carriers and alternative providers is giving consumers more choices, wider availability, easier setup, and lower prices.” 

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Cricket Wireless introduces 5G home internet service

As T-Mobile and Verizon benefit from shifting consumer behavior, Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, has entered the broadband market by launching 5G home internet service (a fixed wireless internet service). 

Cricket 5G Home Internet officially launched on Sept. 16, according to a new press release. The carrier states that the offering “simplifies connectivity with predictable pricing, no annual contracts, and plan taxes included” in the monthly price. It also runs on AT&T’s network.

The plan is $65 per month, and if new customers bundle it with Cricket Wireless, it is $75 per month. However, existing Cricket Wireless customers can add Cricket 5G Home Internet for $45 per month (with the $5 autopay discount activated). 

Related: T-Mobile adds monthly fee to a new iPhone feature for customers

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The plan offers “unlimited data for streaming, gaming, browsing and everyday household connectivity.” It has a typical download speed of 90-300 Mbps, an upload speed of 8-30 Mbps, and a latency of 30-65 milliseconds. 

Also, Cricket Wireless states that no installation appointments are needed, as customers can set up the service themselves in minutes using the myCricket Internet App.

“Customers are looking for fast, reliable internet that’s simple to buy, easy to understand, and backed by a brand they trust,” said Angela Rittgers, president of Cricket Wireless, in the press release. “With Cricket 5G Home Internet, we’re delivering the internet you need at the value you deserve while removing the complexity; it’s just the smarter way to stay connected.”

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AT&T’s Cricket Wireless has launched 5G home internet service. RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

Cricket Wireless joins a growing push for affordable internet

The move announced by Cricket Wireless comes at a time when the big three carriers, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon, have been revamping their internet offerings this year. 

For example, in March, AT&T launched its OneConnect plan, which costs $90 per month and offers customers combined wireless and 1-gig fiber home internet service (with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps).

In May, T-Mobile refreshed its fiber internet offerings with a new Fiber 300 Mbps plan that starts at $45 per month. It also lowered the price of its Fiber 1 Gig plan from $65 per month to $60 per month, and while its Fiber 2Gbps plan remained at $70 per month, a promotion is no longer required to secure that price. 

More Telecom News:

Verizon took a similar step as AT&T when it launched its Verizon One plan in June, which offers customers combined mobile and home internet service for $70 per month.

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Recently, internet providers have increasingly focused on offering greater value and affordability as consumers become more sensitive to price increases. 

A survey from PCMag in August found that 47% of U.S. consumers saw their monthly internet bills increase over the last 12 months. 

The average estimated price hike was $16.58 per month, reflecting an almost $200 year-over-year increase. In extreme cases, approximately 11% saw price increases exceeding $30 per month.

Amid this trend, 36% said they are unhappy with their internet service and are contemplating switching providers. 

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“So few of us have a true choice when it comes to picking an ISP (internet service provider),” said Eric Griffith, a senior editor covering broadband at PCMag, in the survey release

“Providers coast on their regional monopolies or duopolies,” he added. “That lack of competition means you’re over a barrel, paying high prices for service that seldom improves in any noticeable way.”

Related: Verizon scales back a perk that keeps prices low for customers

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Sep 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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What to Expect From US Stock Markets In the Fourth Week of September

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10Y US Treasuries, Spot Brent, and Dow Jones Industrial Average Performances. Source: TRadingView

US stocks reopen Monday with the 10-year Treasury yield at 5% and the Dow down more than 1.5% last week. A missile strike on Riyadh adds oil risk on top.

Four events shape the days ahead. Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck the Saudi capital on Saturday. Fed officials speak and growth data lands Wednesday. President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

10Y US Treasuries, Spot Brent, and Dow Jones Industrial Average Performances. Source: TRadingView
10Y US Treasuries, Spot Brent, and Dow Jones Industrial Average Performances. Source: TradingView

Why 5% on the 10-Year Sets the Price of Every Share

The bond market is where this week starts. A US government bond now pays 5% a year and carries almost no risk. Every company listed on Wall Street has to beat that.

Yardeni Research founder, Ed Yardeni, has already cut his year-end S&P 500 target to 7,900 from 8,400. He had been one of the most bullish forecasters on the street.

“We are starting to worry now that the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield may be on the verge of breaking out above 5%,” he said.

He blamed the bond market, the war in Iran and November’s midterm elections.

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A second problem hides inside Friday’s numbers. Technology and industrials were the only sectors that rose. Yet higher yields hurt technology hardest, because those profits sit furthest in the future. The sector holding the index up has the most to lose.

What Each Event this Week Could Do to Share Prices

Monday brings the oil question. Saudi air defenses destroyed a missile fired at Riyadh, coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said. Brent crude still closed near $104 on Friday, up more than 13% in a month.

Expensive oil splits the market. Energy producers earn more. Airlines and retailers pay more. It also traps the Fed, which raised rates last week and may have to do it again.

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“The plain fact is that inflation is too high and has been for too long,” said Kevin Warsh, chair of the US Federal Reserve.

Wednesday brings another test. S&P Global publishes its flash survey of company managers, the first read on whether costly energy is slowing the economy. Weak growth with high inflation is the mix Wall Street fears most.

Thursday brings another tough gamble. Trump meets Xi at the White House. Tariffs, rare earths and artificial intelligence guardrails are on the table, and the trade truce expires on November 10. A deal lifts exporters and chipmakers. No deal puts tariffs back in play before year end.

Company results add to the mix. KB Home reports Tuesday, and mortgage rates track that same 10-year yield. Costco reports Thursday, where one analyst already warns core earnings could miss forecasts.

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Traders spent Friday lifting their bets on another Fed rate rise in October. This week decides whether they were right.

The post What to Expect From US Stock Markets In the Fourth Week of September appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Younger Investors Could Help Bitcoin ETFs Overtake Gold: Analyst

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Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said this week that Bitcoin ETFs could eventually reach three times the assets of gold ETFs, pointing to younger investors, falling volatility and stronger sales activity around BTC funds.

His view rests on a long-term shift in who owns Bitcoin and how institutions use it, rather than a claim that the cryptocurrency has already displaced gold as a store of value.

Balchunas Sees Bitcoin Closing the Gap With Gold

In a recent interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Balchunas said younger investors are more likely to grow up treating Bitcoin as a store of value, giving Bitcoin ETFs a potential advantage as those investors accumulate more capital.

“I do believe that Bitcoin ETFs will triple gold in assets,” he said.

Right now, gold is less volatile than BTC, and according to the analyst, volatility is the main concern investors report when considering the flagship cryptocurrency.

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But if its volatility and correlation with other assets continue moving closer to gold, he expects larger institutions to become more comfortable using it as a store of value, a safe haven asset or an alternative holding.

Bitcoin is still viewed differently from gold, however, with Balchunas saying it has traded more like the Nasdaq 100 for years, giving it a reputation as a high-beta asset that is closely tied to stocks. He further described it as “gold as a teenager,” contrasting its roughly 17-year history with gold’s much longer record.

His argument also centered on distribution. In a follow-up post, Balchunas pointed out that Bitcoin has “way more enthusiasm and sales firepower.”

He also noted that wholesalers who are familiar with both crypto and the habits of older investors are actively educating clients about BTC ETFs, adding that there is little comparable sales activity around gold ETFs.

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The analyst later stressed that his view does not mean gold disappears.

“Gold isn’t going anywhere,” he wrote. “I just think it will be lapped by Bitcoin ETFs as a category long term.”

ETF Flows Show the Picture Is Still Mixed

The latest fund data provides a less straightforward picture. SoSoValue recorded $159.45 million in net inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs on September 17, following two difficult sessions in which funds lost $295.98 million on September 16 and $450.33 million on September 15.

For the week through September 17, the ETFs had a combined $426.81 million in net outflows. Meanwhile, cumulative inflows stood at $54.73 billion, while total net assets were $96.25 billion, equal to 6.26% of Bitcoin’s market cap.

As CryptoPotato reported, the products recorded $462.73 million in net outflows across the four trading sessions through September 11. That followed a much stronger period in August, when they attracted more than $1.9 billion in one week.

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Sempra (SRE) Adds a 20-Year LNG Agreement. How Much Commercial Risk Does it Remove?

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Sempra (SRE) Adds a 20-Year LNG Agreement. How Much Commercial Risk Does it Remove?

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) added a long-term customer commitment on September 14, when its infrastructure subsidiary announced a 20-year sales and purchase agreement with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (NYSE:PBR). The agreement covers approximately 0.8 million tonnes annually of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.

Supply will come from the subsidiary’s contracted liquefaction capacity at Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 in Texas. The project is under construction, with trains 3 and 4 expected to begin commercial operations in 2030 and 2031, respectively. The agreement improves visibility into future sales, while the earnings contribution depends on delivery and contract economics.

Sempra's (SRE) Dividend Yield: What Makes it Stand Out This Month
Sempra’s (SRE) Dividend Yield: What Makes it Stand Out This Month

Bull Case

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) becomes the infrastructure subsidiary’s first South American LNG customer. That broadens the geographic base of buyers and establishes a commercial relationship extending over two decades.

For Sempra (NYSE:SRE), the practical benefit is an external buyer for part of the subsidiary’s contracted capacity. Securing that relationship before startup could reduce the need to find buyers for the covered volumes as production approaches, while supporting longer-term supply planning.

The annual commitment equals approximately 6.2% of Phase 2’s planned 13-million-tonne annual capacity. This provides a measure of scale, although it does not establish the percentage of capacity still available for sale.

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The project also has an established development framework. Phase 2 reached a positive final investment decision in September 2025, and Bechtel Energy Inc. received full notice to proceed with construction. Using the same contractor across both phases could support continuity in execution. The new agreement builds on that existing investment and construction program.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) has agreed to sell a 45% interest in Sempra Infrastructure Partners, retaining 25% after closing. The transaction remained pending in the latest disclosures, with closing expected in the third quarter of 2026. Its participation in future LNG earnings would reflect that smaller ownership stake.

Bear Case

The announcement does not disclose the pricing formula, expected contract margin, or detailed payment and termination provisions. Those terms determine how much commodity-price exposure remains and how reliably contracted volumes translate into earnings. A 20-year duration alone does not establish fixed revenue or protected profitability.

Construction remains a substantial financial commitment. At the September 2025 investment decision, estimated project-level incremental capital expenditure was approximately $12 billion, plus $2 billion for shared facilities.

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Cost overruns, commissioning difficulties, or delayed availability of supporting infrastructure could weaken returns even with a customer agreement in place. With commercial operations targeted for 2030 and 2031, the associated LNG delivery cash flows remain years away.

The agreement also leaves counterparty performance and delivery obligations relevant throughout its term. Investors need to distinguish successful customer contracting from successful operation: the facilities must produce LNG reliably, and the commercial arrangements must generate enough margin to support the capital invested.

Hedge Fund Sentiment

The filings available so far reflect positions held before Sempra (NYSE:SRE) reported the 20-year LNG supply agreement. Insider Monkey’s database showed 46 hedge funds holding Sempra (NYSE:SRE) at the end of 2Q2026, down from 51 funds three months earlier.

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Conclusion

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) has improved commercial visibility for part of its infrastructure subsidiary’s future LNG supply. The agreement reduces uncertainty about finding a buyer for those volumes, but the disclosed terms do not quantify the earnings benefit. Construction progress, budget discipline, commissioning, and margins on delivered LNG will determine whether the relationship produces durable returns.

While we acknowledge the potential of SRE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: CBRE Group (CBRE) Unit Buys $1.6 Billion Net-Lease Platform. Can Scale Lift Fee Earnings? and Mastercard (MA) Partners With Flowcart. Can In-Chat Payments Deliver Profitable Growth?

This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.

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