Market Overview - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indices are currently about 10% and 13% below their respective peaks from 2025, indicating they are out of bear market territory [1] - Some index funds and actively managed ETFs remain in bear markets, defined as being 20% or more below their highs [1] Small-Cap Stocks - Small-cap stocks are trading at their lowest price-to-book valuations relative to large-cap stocks in over 25 years, with the gap widening since the start of 2025 [2] - The average stock in the Russell 2000 small-cap index has a price-to-book multiple of 1.8, compared to 4.6 for the typical S&P 500 stock [3] Investment Vehicles - The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO) is highlighted as a preferred investment option due to its low expense ratio of 0.07% and its diversified holdings across 2,000 small-cap stocks [4] - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is currently 25% below its all-time high, affected by the rising-rate environment that has placed REITs in a technical bear market [5][6] Real Estate Sector - Elevated interest rates negatively impact REITs by making risk-free returns more attractive, increasing the cost of capital, and leading to declines in commercial property values [6] - There is potential for a turnaround in the real estate sector, with expectations of four 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate cuts by year-end, alongside a 4.2% yield from the VNQ ETF [7] Technology Sector - The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) is an actively managed ETF that focuses on AI investment opportunities, differing from traditional AI index funds by not being top-heavy with big tech stocks [8][9] - The ETF is currently about 18% below its 2025 peak and 30% below its all-time high, presenting a potential investment opportunity for those interested in AI [10]

Core Insights - Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) reported strong Q1 2025 results, surpassing analyst expectations across most metrics [1] - Following the results, shares of Nasdaq have reacted positively, with analysts maintaining an "Outperform" rating on NDAQ [1]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street is concerned about a potential recession impacting markets in 2025, with the Nasdaq Composite down 16% year-to-date. However, there are growth opportunities in companies like Reddit and Netflix that could yield significant returns in the coming years [1]. Group 1: Reddit - Reddit is positioned for growth in the $700 billion digital advertising market, benefiting from a large user base that includes high-intent shoppers [3]. - Reddit's advertising revenue grew 50% year-over-year in 2024, reaching $1.2 billion, with a notable acceleration of 60% growth in Q4 compared to the previous year [4]. - Approximately 50% of discussions on Reddit are product-related, increasing the platform's value to advertisers. Average revenue per unique user increased by 23% year-over-year in Q4, alongside a 39% growth in daily active unique users [5]. - The stock has decreased by 59% from recent highs, making it more attractive for investment despite potential short-term slowdowns in the digital ad market. Analysts project Reddit's total revenue to reach $3.5 billion by 2028, up from $1.3 billion last year [6]. - Reddit's stock trades at 32 times this year's earnings estimate, presenting a bargain for a company that could potentially double its revenue in a few years [7]. Group 2: Netflix - Netflix has shown strong performance since the market sell-off in 2022, with shares trading around $1,000 and continued momentum in new member sign-ups and margin expansion [8]. - The company reported a 12% year-over-year revenue increase, surpassing 300 million paid memberships, and earnings per share grew by 25% year-over-year [9]. - With over 5 billion people having internet access globally and 1.6 billion with broadband in 2024, Netflix is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this market due to its extensive content library and global presence [10]. - Netflix has invested billions in content production, resulting in a diverse catalog that appeals to various audiences, while also delivering growth in both revenue and earnings [11]. - Analysts expect Netflix's earnings to reach $37 by 2027, representing a 75% increase from trailing-12-month earnings, suggesting potential for similar returns on investment if the stock maintains its valuation [11][12].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The total short interest in Nasdaq securities has increased slightly, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment towards short selling as of April 15, 2025 Group 1: Nasdaq Global Market - Short interest in 3,143 Nasdaq Global Market securities totaled 13,211,633,004 shares, up from 13,072,444,217 shares in the previous reporting period [1] - The mid-April short interest represents 1.76 days of average daily volume, a decrease from 2.64 days in the prior reporting period [1] Group 2: Nasdaq Capital Market - Short interest in 1,634 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market totaled 2,609,354,721 shares, down from 2,682,510,166 shares in the previous reporting period [2] - This represents an average daily volume of 1.00 day, compared to 1.12 days in the prior reporting period [2] Group 3: Overall Nasdaq Securities - Total short interest across all 4,777 Nasdaq securities reached 15,820,987,725 shares, an increase from 15,754,954,383 shares in the previous reporting period [3] - The average daily volume for this total is 1.52 days, down from 2.14 days in the prior reporting period [3] Group 4: Short Sale Definition - A short sale is defined as the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale consummated by the delivery of a borrowed security [4]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, publications, and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Core Insights - Tomas Riba is an economist and former CFO who focuses on investing in high-quality companies that can compound cash flow over the long term [1] - His investment journey began in 2007, and he has a background in accounting and finance [1] - Riba emphasizes a long-term investment approach, seeking companies with strong competitive advantages, growing industries, expanding margins, low debt, and aligned management [1] Company and Industry Focus - Riba has experience in various industries including pharma, medical devices, textiles, food, and real estate [1] - He currently teaches courses on "Derivatives for risk management" and "Investment analysis" at a Master's Degree program in Financial Management [1] - The focus on companies with strong fundamentals suggests a preference for sectors that demonstrate resilience and growth potential [1]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, publications, and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to consider their financial situation and needs before relying on the information provided [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to perform their own research and understand the risks involved before making investment decisions [1].

Core Points - PicoCELA Inc. has received a Notification Letter from Nasdaq indicating non-compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of US$1.00 per share [1][2] - The company has until October 20, 2025, to regain compliance by maintaining a closing bid price of at least US$1.00 for 10 consecutive business days [3] - The Notification Letter does not currently affect the company's listing status on the Nasdaq Capital Market [3] Company Operations - PicoCELA specializes in enterprise wireless mesh solutions, including the manufacturing and installation of mesh Wi-Fi access point devices [5] - The company's proprietary technology, PicoCELA Backhaul Engine, facilitates flexible installation of Wi-Fi networks without extensive cabling [5] - PicoCELA also offers a cloud portal service, PicoManager, for monitoring connectivity and communication traffic [5]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, publications, and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Core Viewpoint - Nasdaq reported strong first-quarter 2025 results with adjusted earnings per share of 79 cents, exceeding estimates and showing a year-over-year improvement of 25.4% driven by higher revenues and organic growth [1] Financial Performance - Nasdaq's net revenues reached $1.2 billion, marking a 12.5% increase year over year and slightly surpassing estimates by 0.1% [2] - Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew by 8% year over year to $2.8 billion, with organic growth at 9% [2] - Annualized SaaS revenues increased by 14%, accounting for 37% of ARR [2] - Capital Access Platforms' revenues were $479 million, up 11%, driven by growth across all business lines [2] - Financial Technology revenues were $395 million, reflecting a 10% increase [3] - Solutions business revenues rose 11% year over year to $947 million, supported by strong growth in Index and Financial Technology [3] - Market Services net revenues increased by 19% year over year to $281 million, exceeding estimates [3] Operating Expenses and Income - Adjusted operating expenses were $555 million, up 5.9% year over year, reflecting higher investments in technology and personnel [4] - Adjusted operating income increased by 15% year over year to $682 million, with an operating margin of 55%, expanding by 200 basis points [4] Market Activity - Nasdaq welcomed 170 new company listings in the quarter, including 63 initial public offerings, bringing the total number of listed companies to 4,139 [5] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, Nasdaq had cash and cash equivalents of $708 million, a 17% increase from the end of 2024 [6] - Long-term debt decreased by 1.7% to $8.9 billion [6] - Cash flow from operations for the quarter was $663 million [6] Capital Deployment - Nasdaq returned $138 million to shareholders through dividends and $115 million through stock repurchases in the first quarter [7] - The board approved a dividend of 27 cents per share, a 13% increase, to be paid on June 27, 2025 [7] - $1.6 billion remains under the board-authorized share repurchase program as of March 31, 2025 [8] Guidance - Nasdaq expects 2025 non-GAAP operating expenses to be between $2,265 million and $2,325 million, slightly adjusted from previous guidance [9] - The forecasted non-GAAP tax rate for 2025 is projected to be between 22.5% and 24.5% [9]