Sometimes, being a tech enthusiast is a pain... Last September, my wife and I "made the switch." We bought top-of-the-line Pixel cellphones. Alphabet's
Why I Switched Back to This 'Very Bearish' Company
By Vic Lederman, editorial director, Chaikin Analytics
Sometimes, being a tech enthusiast is a pain... Last September, my wife and I "made the switch." We bought top-of-the-line Pixel cellphones. Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google makes these devices with the Android operating system. I had previously been using Apple's (AAPL) iPhones with the iOS operating system for about 15 years. But as I explained earlier this year, I couldn't resist the call of trying something new. Well, I lasted about nine months. Now, if you're a tech nerd like me, you probably know the narrative around these devices. Tech reviewers say that both platforms are great. The general consensus is that the iPhone has a more polished experience... while the Android devices offer more flexibility. That's roughly accurate. But it buries the reality of the day-to-day experience. For me, it turned out that the more polished experience mattered a lot. I found a slew of annoying things with Google's Android experience. They included everything from clearing notifications to the more buggy nature of the apps on the device. So I've switched back. My wife and I both have iPhones again. And I bought a new personal MacBook Pro for my travels, too. I begrudgingly paid an "Apple tax." This often refers to the higher prices Apple charges for extra storage and memory. And I went back to Apple's proverbial "walled garden." Keep in mind that Apple holds about 20% of the smartphone market. But it dominates the so-called "premium" market. Those are phones that have a wholesale price greater than $600. There, Apple maintains a 67% market share. Samsung comes in second place with 18%. And Google, maker of the Pixel, holds just a few percentage points. Put simply, if you're a high-end tech buyer... you likely have an iPhone in your pocket. That's especially true for U.S. and Chinese consumers. However, that hasn't been enough to save Apple's stock...
Did you know there's a way to access the very best ideas from across Stansberry Research, which would usually cost at least $34,000, for cents on the dollar? Very few readers know about it. But until July 17, you can see exactly how this shortcut "sidesteps" usual subscription fees.
Joel Litman is a millionaire, a member of the CFA Institute, a CPA, and an instructor at business schools like Harvard University and the Wharton School. Recently, Litman went public with details on a radical investing approach he has only shared with very few. Incredibly, it requires just three stocks and has helped his own mother earn 3,400% gains over the years. Click here to see the full story.
The Outlook for Apple's Stock Still Looks Poor
Right now, Apple – the king of smartphones – gets a "very bearish" rating in the Power Gauge. The stock has lost about 2% since I discussed my phone choices back in March. So far in 2025, it's down nearly 17%. Apple has also languished in "bearish" territory in the Power Gauge for most of this year. If you're a regular Chaikin PowerFeed reader, you know why. I explained in March that Apple was struggling with bringing its promised AI tools to market. That's still true today. That matters to investors. But it doesn't matter as much for consumers. You see, I have the ChatGPT app on my iPhone. And I have the Google Gemini app. I even have Apple's assistant, Siri, set up to open the apps. I say two words and I jump right to my preferred AI service. ChatGPT can help answer serious questions. And Gemini can control my Google apps. Will Apple get its AI tools figured out? I think so. But the company is fighting it. Last month, Apple released a whitepaper "proving" that large language models ("LLMs") don't really "think." It was amusing for tech nerds like me. But it reveals that Apple is still struggling with the imperfect nature of LLMs. As I've learned firsthand, the company prides itself on its polished experience. The evolving world of LLMs makes delivering that experience a challenge. But for me, as a consumer... that's OK. I'm happy to have an iPhone in my pocket again. And when I need the services of an LLM, I just open an app. On the other hand, as an investor... I would still follow the Power Gauge's lead and avoid Apple's stock. Good investing, Vic Lederman
Marc Chaikin: 'Ask Me Anything'
In August, Marc Chaikin is doing something he has never done before. After a wild six months for stocks, Marc knows you may have many lingering questions. So, he'll be going on camera – NOT to discuss a specific opportunity, but instead to devote his time to answering YOUR most pressing questions.
But to do that, we need to hear from YOU. If something is keeping you up at night (whether it worries or excites you), we want to hear from you. Marc will answer as many questions as possible during his "Ask Me Anything" event next month.
— According to the Chaikin Power Bar, Small Cap stocks and Large Cap stocks are Bullish. Major indexes are all bullish.
* * * *
Sector Tracker
Sector movement over the last 5 days
Energy
+2.27%
Consumer Discretionary
+1.76%
Industrials
+1.42%
Utilities
+0.94%
Real Estate
+0.89%
Materials
+0.57%
Health Care
+0.5%
Information Technology
+0.28%
Communication
+0.05%
Financial
-0.25%
Consumer Staples
-1.5%
* * * *
Industry Focus
Telecom Services
7
23
7
Over the past 6 months, the Telecom subsector (XTL) has outperformed the S&P 500 by +5.49%. Its Power Bar ratio which measures future potential is Neutral, with an equal number of Bullish and Bearish stocks. It is currently ranked #14 of 21 subsectors and has moved down 3 slots over the past week.
Indicative Stocks
ATEX
Anterix Inc.
CCOI
Cogent Communication
FYBR
Frontier Communicati
* * * *
Top Movers
Gainers
EQT
+5.33%
ADSK
+5.05%
PLTR
+4.96%
FAST
+4.16%
FTNT
+3.95%
Losers
WAT
-13.81%
MU
-4.75%
HAL
-4.59%
STZ
-4.42%
DOW
-4.4%
* * * *
Earnings Report
Earnings Surprises
FAST Fastenal Company
Q2
$0.29
Beat by $0.01
* * * *
You have received this e-mail as part of your subscription to PowerFeed. If you no longer want to receive e-mails from PowerFeed, click here.
For questions about your account or to speak with customer service, call +1 (877) 697-6783 (U.S.), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time or e-mail [email protected]. Please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized financial advice.
Any brokers mentioned constitute a partial list of available brokers and is for your information only. Chaikin Analytics, LLC, does not recommend or endorse any brokers, dealers, or investment advisors.
Chaikin Analytics forbids its writers from having a financial interest in any security they recommend to our subscribers. All employees of Chaikin Analytics, LLC (and affiliated companies) must wait 24 hours after an investment recommendation is published online – or 72 hours after a direct mail publication is sent – before acting on that recommendation.
This work is based on SEC filings, current events, interviews, corporate press releases, and what we've learned as financial journalists. It may contain errors, and you shouldn't make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. It's your money and your responsibility.
