Robinhood Markets Inc. ( HOOD ), the online brokerage that revolutionized retail investing with commission-free trading, has agreed to pay $45 million to settle regulatory violations. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that two of its subsidiaries, Robinhood Securities LLC and Robinhood Financial LLC, were penalized for infractions related to cybersecurity, trading activity reporting, and customer communication. The SEC revealed that between 2020 and 2022, Robinhood failed to promptly report suspicious transactions, lacked safeguards against identity theft, and experienced a cybersecurity breach exposing millions of customer records. Additionally, the firm violated short sale rules and failed to maintain required electronic records. Despite these missteps, Robinhood has addressed many of these issues, according to General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz. Robinhood Securities will pay $33.5 million, while Robinhood Financial will pay $11.5 million. The settlement also i...

TikTok’s future in the United States hangs in the balance as reports surface that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is being considered as a potential buyer of the platform’s U.S. operations. With a looming January 19 deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. arm or face a nationwide ban, the stakes have never been higher. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether to uphold the Congressional mandate aimed at addressing national security concerns. National Security Concerns Drive Divestment Push U.S. lawmakers have long expressed fears that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance poses a national security risk, citing the potential for American user data to be accessed by the Chinese government. The platform, with its 170 million U.S. users, has become a focal point in the broader tensions between Washington and Beijing. President-elect Donald Trump has made TikTok a key talking point, pledging to “save” the app while balancing security considerations. His ad...

Rising bond yields have placed immense pressure on growth stocks, hitting valuations hard. The Nasdaq Composite, heavily weighted with tech stocks, is down nearly 7% from its December peak. Higher yields devalue future profits, particularly for companies whose earnings potential lies far ahead. Despite the turbulence, there are bargains among the rubble. Analysts suggest focusing on undervalued stocks—those priced attractively relative to their future earnings potential. For investors, this approach could present an opportunity to capitalize on a potential rebound once yields stabilize. Key Picks in the Growth SpaceVertiv Holdings ( VRT ) Vertiv specializes in AI-driven digital infrastructure, offering essential products like power management and thermal solutions for AI data centers. As artificial intelligence adoption grows, so does the demand for data centers—and Vertiv's role within this ecosystem is crucial. With analysts projecting annual revenue growth of 15% through 2027, d...

Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF ) reported a record-breaking holiday season on Monday, raising its fourth-quarter and full-year sales guidance. However, the retailer’s stock plummeted nearly 20% to $131.01, marking its largest drop since May 2022. Despite the upbeat sales performance, investors were unimpressed with the lack of upward revision to operating margin projections, which remain at 16% for the quarter and 15% for the full year. Markets have set high expectations for Abercrombie, a company that has transformed its brand and achieved significant growth over the past year. The stock has surged 66% in that time, fueled by a shift toward high-quality, tailored clothing aimed at a 20-to-40-year-old demographic. Yet, the elevated expectations have made the stock particularly sensitive to any signs of slowing momentum. Sales Growth Amid Rising Challenges Abercrombie’s updated guidance now predicts a 7% to 8% increase in fourth-quarter sales compared to the previous year, up from the pr...

MicroStrategy Inc. ( MSTR ), the Virginia-based enterprise software company turned Bitcoin evangelist, made headlines again with its latest cryptocurrency acquisition. Over the past week, the firm purchased $243 million worth of Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to over 2% of the cryptocurrency’s finite supply. This marks the tenth consecutive week of Bitcoin acquisitions for the company, solidifying its position as a dominant player in the digital asset market. Since co-founder and Chairman Michael Saylor initiated MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin buy-and-hold strategy in 2020, the company has amassed approximately $41 billion in Bitcoin. Its latest purchase of 2,530 tokens was made at an average price of $95,972, according to a filing with the SEC. While the pace of acquisitions has slowed, MicroStrategy remains committed to raising $42 billion through stock sales and convertible debt offerings to fuel further purchases, with $6.5 billion still available under its current plan. Bitcoin Fac...

eBay ( EBAY ) stock soared nearly 10% Wednesday, closing at $69.40—its highest level since November 2021—following Meta Platforms’ ( META ) announcement to feature eBay listings on Facebook Marketplace. The partnership marks a significant move for eBay, as the auction site’s sellers gain access to Facebook’s vast user base across the U.S., France, and Germany. The pilot program, announced by Meta, allows Facebook Marketplace users to browse eBay listings and complete purchases on the eBay platform. This integration aims to boost visibility for eBay’s sellers while expanding product options for Marketplace users. The initiative comes in the wake of Meta’s ongoing antitrust battles with the European Commission, which fined the tech giant €800 million last year for alleged anti-competitive practices linked to Marketplace. A Strategic Boost for eBay’s Growth Prospects For eBay, the partnership represents a potential lifeline amid stagnant growth. The company reported 133 million active buy...

The first recorded bird flu death in the United States has heightened concerns over the spread of H5N1, driving attention to vaccine developments. Louisiana health officials confirmed the death of a patient over 65 with underlying health conditions, marking a sobering milestone in the virus’s trajectory. While most U.S. cases of H5N1 have been mild, the virus’s high global fatality rate—about 50% of 950 cases reported to the World Health Organization over two decades—underscores the need for preventative measures. In response, vaccine manufacturers, including Moderna ( MRNA ), are racing to develop solutions for the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which is spreading rapidly through farms and wildlife across North America. Moderna Stock Surges Amid Vaccine Development News Moderna shares soared over 14% on Tuesday, emerging as the S&P 500’s top gainer. The rally came a day after the Louisiana Department of Health announced the bird flu fatality. The biotech company’s focus on mRN...