The 7investing Podcast

Taiwan Semiconductor $TSM, the world's largest chipmaking foundry, today just issued the largest CapEx forecast of its company's history.Does this mean the chip industry is finally escaping from its cyclical lows, and is ready for a rebound in 2025? TSMC's 4Q 2024 results showcased a 38% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 57% increase in earnings. Those were good numbers. But there might be even better news on the horizon. Management just approved a 2025 capital budget of between $38 billion and $42 billion. 70% of that is dedicated to "advanced technology production" -- i.e. building new fabs to manufacture the cutting-edge chips demanded by AI. This aggressive CapEx forecast is good news for TSMC and also for the entire semiconductor industry. The company will be spending that 2025 budget on equipment vendors such as $ASML, Applied Materials $AMAT, and Axcelis Technologies $ACLS and also on boatload of supporting functions. Meanwhile, creative innovations are also unlocking new opportunities. Taiwan Semi is transitioning the fundamental architecture of its transistors from FinFET to gate-all-around. It's updating the foundation its entire house is built on; changing the physical design of the smallest building blocks of its circuits to support more efficient and powerful processors. The next few years will be an exciting time for this industry. The semiconductor renaissance looks well-primed to begin a new chapter. See all of our @7investing coverage on $TSMC -- including our current Conviction Rating on the stock -- at:https://7investing.com/company_name/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company/

Innovation and regulation are quite often at odds. Technology relentlessly marches onward; yet it also needs to safely serve the common good. This is ever so true in banking. While banking may have traditionally been considered to be a rather conservative industry, its innovation curve has steepened significantly as physical banks have gone digital, digital banks have employed AI for lending, and managed accounts are embracing cryptocurrencies. Today's 7investing podcast features two banking experts, Caitlin Long and John Maxfield, who share their perspectives on the industry's innovation and offer their insights on: - How crypto-bank Silvergate managed (amazingly) to survive an 80% run on its deposits after the collapse of FTX. - Why overly-restrictive regulations such as excessive capital requirements and limitations on crypto might be soon to change. - What expectations the industry should have of the incoming SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and how he differs from outgoing chair Gary Gensler. - How 'debanking' is unfairly punishing many of the industry's key innovators In the final outro, 7investing CEO Simon Erickson plays a game of "over or under", to hear Caitlin and John's differing insights on a variety of popular companies and topics. This was truly an epic conversation between two banking Wyomingites! Follow @CaitlinLong_ and @MaxfieldonBanks on X/Twitter for even more of their insights. Disclaimer: 7investing's hosts and guests may have positions in the companies or cryptocurrencies discussed on this podcast. Nothing discussed in this program should be considered professional financial advice. To learn more about 7investing, visit our website at 7investing.com.

John Maxfield, a banking expert and host of an elite bank CEO symposium, shares his insights into the dynamic banking landscape. He discusses how recent regulatory changes could boost lending volumes and why investors should focus on key indicators. The conversation highlights SoFi’s rapid growth in fintech, examining risks and revenue streams. Maxfield also emphasizes the importance of valuing companies like SoFi compared to traditional banks, considering both quantitative metrics and qualitative leadership aspects.

Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) is helping pharmaceutical companies create and sell new drugs more efficiently. It's cloud-based software platforms Veeva CRM and Veeva Vault have become industry-standards; deeply embedded with Big Pharma's largest companies. There's an upcoming catalyst next year, as Veeva's CRM platform will migrate from being hosted by Salesforce to its own infrastructure. That will unlock opportunities for it to develop new software products -- perhaps even beyond life sciences -- to make the pie larger with its largest customers. As interest rates fall, it's likely new VC funding will flow into smaller biotech companies and will unlock a new SMB revenue stream as well. 7investing CEO Simon Erickson describes both of these catalysts, as well as why he believes the stock is undervalued, in today's 7investing podcast. To see all of our official stock recommendations and our monthly Best Buys, get started with 7investing at ⁠7investing.com/subscribe⁠. Your first week of our premium membership is entirely free!

The Dutch lithography juggernaut ASML (Nasdaq: ASML) has been one of the semiconductor industry's best performing stocks of the past decade. Yet its high-flying shares have sold off 33% in the past three months, perhaps due to its underwhelming forward guidance that could indicate slowing demand. ASML has looked to Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) for much of its growth this past year. Intel has been all-in on expanding its foundry group and aggressively placed orders for six of ASML's latest-and-greatest EUV machines last year. That was a huge sign of confidence, and ASML's shares shot up 50% during the first half of 2024. Yet now facing a cash-crunch, Intel is delaying its new $30 billion Germany fab and is pushing out many of its previously-expected orders. That caused ASML to pull back on its fiscal year forecast and to suffer the wrath of a displeased and suddenly-very-grumpy market. With ASML regain the confidence of investors? Will Intel be an opportunity or a liability going forward? 7investing CEO Simon Erickson shares his thoughts in today's podcast. Would you like to see all of 7investing's stock market recommendations and monthly Best Buys? Learn more about how you can take our service for a 7-day free trial at 7investing.com/subscribe.

Lululemon (Nasdaq: LULU) has expanded from being a niche yoga retailer to an international fitness super-brand. New CEO Calvin McDonald has tripled its sales in five years and maintained its industry-leading 20% operating margin. Yet recently, perhaps due to concerns of a slowdown in consumer spending or of rising competition, the stock has been selling for a dirt-cheap valuation. Now priced at just 15x its trailing cash flow, it could an inexpensive opportunity for opportunistic investors to consider. Would you like to see our official Conviction Rating on Lululemon - meaning whether we think the stock is a "Strong Buy", "Buy", or "Hold"? See all of 7investing's recommendations, conviction ratings, and premium coverage by getting started FOR FREE today at ⁠7investing.com/subscribe⁠. Disclaimer: The 7investing podcast should not be considered personalized financial advise. Its host and guests may have positions in the stocks that are mentioned.

Our newest stock recommendation is now live! On the 1st of each month, 7investing issues its newest official recommendation. This is the one stock it feels most confident in adding to its scorecard (which we also track in real-time at 7investing.com/recommendations). What led us to recommend this Large Cap, Moderate Risk, Retail company this month? In today's episode, Simon describes 5 specific metrics that investors should consider when selecting stocks -- especially now that the Fed's cutting rates and we're in a more growth-friendly environment.

Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) is one of the most efficient publicly-traded companies in the world, converting 50% of its 2024 revenue into cold, hard cash flow. Furthermore, it's using those operating cash flows in shareholder-friendly ways, such as repurchase large amounts of its stock and a newly-initiated dividend. 7investing CEO Simon Erickson takes a look at the company's second quarter results and discuss several initiatives that could be even better news for investors going forward. To sign up free for 7investing and see our most recent five Best Buys for September, visit 7investing.com/subscribe

7investing's Watch List of New Ideas introduces stocks that we've never formally recommended yet are worth considering as future scorecard additions. You can think of this as our pipeline of new investment opportunities. This month, 7investing CEO Simon Erickson is adding two new two European companies: BE Semiconductor (OTC: BESIY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO). He describes why Besi's advanced packaging leadership makes it a natural winner from innovative new chip designs, and why Novo Nordisk is still in the earliest innings of introducing Ozempic as a treatment for obesity. 7investing makes its formal recommendations available through its Premium Membership. To see all of our stock market recommendations through a 100% free 7 day trial, join today at 7investing.com/subscribe.

Fertility benefits company Progyny's (Nasdaq: PGNY) stock is selling off 33% in today's trading session after announced it's losing its largest customer who accounted for 13% of the previous year's revenue. This customer was unnamed, but it's most likely Amazon. Even though Progyny has historically had nearly 100% client retention and receives excellent net promoter scores, this could be a red flag for investors. 7investing CEO Simon Erickson shares his thoughts about the company's previous struggles, the Alabama Supreme Court's recent ruling about IVF embryos, and how investors should think about Progyny's stock going forward.