This year has been one of milestones for top tech company Nvidia ( NVDA -2.09% ) . The artificial intelligence (AI) chip leader delivered record earnings quarter after quarter as demand for its products and services soared. Thanks to a triple-digit share price gain, the company even temporarily became the largest by market value -- surpassing Apple . Nvidia also won a spot among the elite, with an invitation to join the Dow Jones Industrial Average , and the stock became the best performer on the benchmark for the year. It's clear that this AI powerhouse has been firing on all cylinders. But the string of milestones isn't over. The company just reached yet another one, worth about $30 billion and showing exactly how important this stock is to investors right now. Let's take a closer look and consider whether Nvidia stock is a buy for 2025. The GPU is a natural for AI First, though, a quick summary of the Nvidia story so far. The company makes the world's top-performing graphics processing units (GPUs), a type of chip that mainly powered video games in its earlier days. But the GPU's ability to process many tasks at once made it a natural for other areas too. That's how and why the GPU expanded into AI. In fact, this chip plays a central role in crucial AI tasks -- such as the training and inferencing of large language models . As a result, Nvidia's revenue has exploded higher in recent years. For example, in the latest quarter, revenue came in at a record of more than $35 billion -- higher than a full year of revenue just two years ago. Importantly, the company is also highly profitable on sales, with a gross margin of more than 70% in recent quarters. Nvidia even expects gross margin to remain above 70% during the launch of its Blackwell architecture. This illustrates the strength of the company's cost structure -- because launches, involving new logistics and manufacturing processes, generally weigh on profit. As mentioned above, this tech giant has reached milestone after milestone over the past year, and now it's finishing up 2024 with yet another one. Nvidia is on its way to becoming the most-bought security by retail investors this year. Retail investor purchases represented nearly $30 billion in net inflows into Nvidia as of Dec. 17, according to Vanda Research. Last year, Nvidia was only the No. 4 most-purchased stock, with about $11 billion in inflows, and Tesla took the top spot. The data also show that net inflows from retail investors into Nvidia have increased by nine-fold from 2021. So, regular investors like you and me have piled into Nvidia in recent times, and the company has become a key part of many portfolios. But does Nvidia have what it takes to continue being an investor favorite, and is the stock a buy for 2025? Nvidia's valuation Nvidia's popularity among investors has driven valuation higher. Today, the stock trades for 47x forward earnings estimates , around its most expensive level this year. Still, it's not a ridiculously high level for a growth stock, especially one operating in a dynamic industry that's in the early days of its story. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says that about $1 trillion in outdated computers operate in the world today, and they'll need to be updated for accelerated computing. This suggests that a lot more growth could be ahead for Nvidia over the long term. Something big is happening in the near term that could continue pushing Nvidia stock higher. As mentioned, Nvidia is launching Blackwell, a move that's already started with a production ramp during this current quarter. Blackwell is a fully customizable system, with seven different chips, various networking options and more -- and its performance could be a game-changer for users. Speaking of users, they've been lining up to get in on Blackwell for quite some time, with demand reaching "insane" levels, as Huang said during a CNBC interview this fall. Nvidia even says it expects several billion dollars in Blackwell revenue during this first quarter of commercialization. All this means that Nvidia, even after its gains this year, has what it takes to continue attracting retail investors and landing at the top of their investing lists. This popularity doesn't make the stock a buy -- but other elements do. Nvidia's market leadership, its focus on innovation, and the launch of Blackwell could drive this stock higher in the weeks and months to come, making it a top stock to add to your portfolio for 2025.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Aaron Rodgers Thinks The New York Jets Might Be 'Cursed'
The Chicago Cubs are looking to add to their roster. Although the Kyle Tucker rumors are currently controlling the headlines, the Cubs were very active at the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. Players eligible for the Rule 5 Draft were to be added to 40-man rosters earlier this offseason if they were to be protected, just as the Cubs did with Owen Caissie. On Wednesday, those efforts came to fruition. In the Major League phase of the draft, the Cubs made a selection. Teams will pass if their 40-man roster is full or there isn't a player they're interested in. The rules for the Rule 5 Draft, along with the full results, can be found here . Having not been on the Detroit Tigers 40-man roster, the Cubs selected 3B/SS Gage Workman. Workman's first three minor-league seasons were largely underwhelming. However, the infielder had a huge offensive outburst at Double-A in 2024, slashing .280/.366/.476 with 18 home runs, 89 RBIs, 29 doubles, 30 steals, and 85 runs scored over 126 games. A fair majority of his totals were career highs as well. The Workman addition is intriguing. Listed as a third baseman, Workman could be a replacement on the 40-man roster for other third baseman who, based on speculation, could be a part of a big trade. From there, the Cubs drafted a trio of minor league pitchers. RHP William Jensen, RHP Nolan Clenney, and RHP Robert Kwiatkowski were all selected from the Double-A level for the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, respectively. Jensen has made a handful of starts in the minors over the last two seasons, but has largely served as a bullpen arm. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, Jensen held a 3.74 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 35 appearances (six starts). He struggled a bit at Triple-A, but could be a bullpen piece for the Cubs at some point in the next two seasons. The 28-year-old Clenney showed a lot of promise in 2021 and 2022, pitching to a 4.80 ERA in 37 appearances. While fanning 95, the righty looked like a high-upside arm. However, his last two seasons leave a lot to be desired and as an older prospect, the Cubs may try to tinker his arsenal in the pitch lab and expedite him to the MLB bullpen. Finally, Kwiatkowski is another older righty (27) that the Cubs see something in. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, the righty posted a 2.86 ERA with 71 strikeouts but 25 walks in 36 appearances (two starts). Despite the high number of walks, Kwiatkowski showed well in 78.2 innings of work and could be another gem for the bullpen. Along the way, the Cubs lost three players to other teams. RHP Richard Gallardo went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the minor league phase. In addition, OF Jacob Wetzel was also scooped up by Toronto in the second round of the minor league phase. Finally, RHP Angel Gonzalez was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals, also in the second round of the minor league phase. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.Evolution: What Will Humans Look Like in 50,000 Years?
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBBetty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actor
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.
Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate, Going back to Donald Trump's first campaign for president in 2016, one of the former businessman's key economic promises has been to revive the American manufacturing sector. As Trump now looks to continue the progress from his first term when he returns to the White House this January, investing in manufacturing innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced robotics will be key to making U.S. manufacturers competitive in the global economy. Manufacturing employment decreased by 46,000 in October, just the latest in a series of bad headlines for the sector under the Biden-Harris administration. While Biden campaigned to continue Trump's policies that brought about a pre-pandemic manufacturing boom, he failed to match the robust levels of growth seen during Trump's first term. Trump outlined a series of policies during this year's campaign to jump-start the American manufacturing sector, including ensuring the country has the "#1 lowest cost energy in the world," easing the regulatory burden on businesses and erecting more tariffs to protect American businesses from an influx of cheap foreign goods. Another top priority for the incoming Trump administration will be securing America's status as the global leader in manufacturing innovation and technology – a title that other nations, most notably China, are now contending for. There are legitimate concerns about how the advent of advanced robotics and AI will replace human labor in the manufacturing sector. But the undeniable reality is that automation has significantly increased productivity and driven economic growth. The companies – and, by extension, the employees – that make the best investments in new technologies will be the ones best positioned to succeed in the years and decades ahead. Yonathan Zilberman, an Israeli engineering professor whom I spoke to for this column, told me that industry and political leaders shouldn't view automation and robots as taking jobs from humans. Instead,... Ben Solis