Why More Investors Are Using Family Trusts to Protect Their Wealth (From SmartAsset)
Written by Jeffrey Neal Johnson 
Key Points - SanDisk's inclusion in the S&P 500 triggers a significant, predictable wave of mandatory buying by the market's largest passive investment funds.
- The company earned its spot on the prestigious index through strong financial performance fueled by powerful demand from the AI sector.
- Membership in the S&P 500 solidifies SanDisk's blue-chip status, providing a broader institutional investor base and enhanced market credibility.
In a remarkable display of corporate momentum, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) has secured a coveted spot in the S&P 500, Wall Street's premier stock market index. This achievement comes less than a year after its strategic separation from parent Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC), validating the company's successful return to independence. The announcement, effective before trading opens on Nov. 28, 2025, has acted as a powerful catalyst, igniting a significant rally in the company's shares and a surge in trading volume. But what’s driving this momentum, and what can investors expect now that SanDisk is officially part of the S&P 500? Why Billions Are Flowing Into SanDisk Stock The sharp jump in SanDisk's stock price is the direct result of a well-documented market phenomenon known as the index effect. The S&P 500 serves as the primary benchmark for U.S. equities, and trillions of dollars in passive index funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are structured to mirror its composition. For the managers of these funds, purchasing SanDisk's stock is not a discretionary decision; it is mandatory. To continue tracking the index accurately, these funds must acquire shares of any new companies added to the indexed. This creates a massive, predictable wave of demand from some of the world's largest institutional investors. The market, fully aware of this impending influx of capital, moves quickly to price in the expected buying pressure. This mechanism was clearly visible after the Nov. 24th announcement, when SanDisk shares surged by over 13% on exceptionally high volume. This liquidity event generated a strong short-term tailwind and reflects the market’s expectation of sustained institutional demand. How SanDisk Earned Its Spot on the Index Entry into the S&P 500 is an exclusive honor reserved for companies that demonstrate fundamental strength. A candidate must meet a strict set of criteria covering market capitalization, liquidity, and, most importantly, financial viability, including a history of positive GAAP earnings. SanDisk's inclusion is therefore a definitive stamp of approval for its impressive business performance since becoming a standalone entity. This financial health was on full display in the company's fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings report, which satisfied the S&P's core requirements with ease: - Impressive Revenue Growth: The company generated $2.31 billion in revenue, marking a 23% increase year-over-year.
- Demonstrated Profitability: SanDisk reported positive GAAP earnings of $0.75 per share, while its non-GAAP earnings of $1.22 per share decisively beat analyst estimates.
Fueling these results is a strong demand for flash memory, driven primarily by the global build-out of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. As data centers expand to handle AI workloads, the need for high-capacity, power-efficient Solid-State Drives (SSDs) has soared. Management confirmed that demand is currently outpacing supply, a favorable dynamic that supports strong pricing power. This is clearly reflected in the company's formidable guidance for its second fiscal quarter, where it projects non-GAAP EPS to nearly triple to a range of $3 to $3.40. This performance proves the spin-off strategy was a success, unlocking SanDisk's operational focus and market value. What's Next for SanDisk's Stock Price? With its stock up over 350% year-to-date, the market has aggressively priced in SanDisk's fundamental turnaround and the S&P 500 inclusion. The current share price of around $220 has exceeded the average analyst price target, suggesting investors are paying a premium amid high expectations for future growth. While the initial rally from the index news may be largely complete, the long-term benefits of membership are just beginning to unfold. For investors, the focus now shifts to the durable advantages of S&P 500 inclusion. - A Broader, More Stable Investor Base: SanDisk will now be an automatic holding in countless institutional and retail investment funds. This expands its shareholder base beyond active stock pickers to the world of passive investors, creating a more stable base of ownership.
- Enhanced Credibility and Visibility: Membership in this blue-chip index elevates SanDisk's corporate profile, strengthening its reputation with customers, partners, and the investment community.
- Improved Liquidity and Trading: Being part of the S&P 500 ensures a consistent and high level of trading volume. Over time, this can lead to more orderly price action and potentially lower volatility compared to non-index peers.
A New Chapter for SanDisk SanDisk's entry into the S&P 500 is a two-pronged event. It is a powerful market catalyst that has driven significant near-term interest in its stock, but more importantly, it serves as a fundamental affirmation of the company's successful strategy and robust execution. With the inclusion event now largely priced into the stock, the market's focus will rightly turn to SanDisk's ability to continue delivering on its ambitious financial targets in the coming quarters. Forget ChatGPT.
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Key Points - Two names critical to powering artificial intelligence got good news in late November.
- The U.S. government is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to nuclear energy, supporting Constellation's Three Mile Island plans.
- GE Vernova saw positive momentum in its worst-performing segment amid a surge in natural gas and electrification demand.
Markets are reacting positively to recent news surrounding two key players in the energy ecosystem. Shares of Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) and GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) both shot up on Nov. 19, reflecting renewed investor confidence tied to sector-specific developments and long-term growth potential in clean and nuclear energy. Constellation Awarded $1 Billion Government Loan Constellation Energy is the market’s most well-established nuclear stock. The company operates the United States' largest nuclear energy fleet, with a capacity of around 22 gigawatts (GW). With artificial intelligence (AI) increasing energy needs, Constellation’s stock price has delivered a total return of 58% in 2025. Many view nuclear energy as the most ideal way to meet AI demand, as it is highly reliable and carbon-free. Constellation has signed multiple agreements with AI hyperscalers. Its 20-year deal with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) was a huge win, boosting shares by over 22% on Sept. 20, 2024. Constellation committed to restarting operations at its Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor. However, restarting a nuclear plant is no easy task, requiring a significant investment of time and money. Luckily for Constellation, on Nov. 18, the Department of Energy said it would loan the firm $1 billion to aid this process. This is significant, accounting for more than 60% of the reopening's estimated $1.6 billion cost. Constellation will still have to pay the loan back. However, the key advantage is that government loans often have much lower interest rates than private loans. Specifically, Constellation will only have to pay an interest rate of 37.5 basis points above that of U.S. Treasuries. This is likely a very good deal for Constellation, offering the firm a much lower rate than it could receive for the project otherwise. Additionally, the loan signals the Trump Administration’s continued support of the nuclear energy industry. With heavy regulation in this space, having a strong relationship with the government is key to Constellation’s bullish thesis. Clearly, the administration is on Constellation’s side. Shares gained 5.3% on Nov. 19 in reaction to this news. GEV Gains on International Wind Victory Next up is GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV). With energy needs soaring, the company has also seen its shares perform impressively in 2025. The stock has delivered a total return of more than 74% on the year. While Constellation specializes in nuclear, GEV makes much of its hay in natural gas. GE Vernova doesn’t operate natural gas facilities itself, but rather is the world’s largest producer of natural gas turbines. These heavy-duty machines convert natural gas into electricity. Demand for turbines is growing briskly. The company’s Power segment saw revenue rise 14% last quarter, and orders rose 50%. The company’s Electrification segment is also doing very well. Revenues rose 32% last quarter, and orders rose 104%. Through three quarters, the firm has already booked $900 million in electrification orders from hyperscalers. That’s 50% more than it booked from these customers in all of 2024. However, GE Vernova’s wind business is lagging behind, with sales falling 9% and orders rising just 6% last quarter. That’s why investors were happy to see the firm announce a wind repower agreement with Taiwan Power Company. The company will supply Taiwan Power with kits to upgrade and extend the life of its wind turbines. Notably, this is the first international onshore wind repower agreement GE Vernova has signed. It provides hope that similar deals may occur in the future to support GE Vernova’s underperforming segment. Shares spiked 7.3% on the day of the Nov. 19 announcement. However, the deal is just one step in the right direction. GE Vernova will need to show consistent progress to convince markets that its wind business is turning a corner. Skepticism around this may be why the stock fell over 6% on Nov. 20. Still, the S&P 500 Index also dropped 1.5% that day as hopes of a Federal Reserve rate cut fell. Due to its long-term and capital-intensive operations, changing interest rate expectations can have a particularly strong effect on GEV shares. CEG’s Government Relationship Bodes Well for Shares Ultimately, these pieces of news are encouraging developments for both Constellation and GE Vernova. Constellation’s announcement stands out. It demonstrates the current administration’s keen interest in helping the nuclear industry succeed, supporting the stock’s outlook. Twenty-six years ago, I warned readers about a major economic shift — and while I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, the same pattern is emerging again, only larger and faster. The forces reshaping our financial system today mirror the transition that rewarded investors who moved out of fading legacy names and into the companies driving the next era of growth, and I'm issuing a new set of recommendations to help you stay ahead of what's already unfolding. Get my full update and recommendations here Written by Chris Markoch 
Key Points - Palantir’s strong earnings and surging commercial revenue show its AI-driven growth story is still accelerating.
- NVIDIA’s explosive demand signals a long runway for Palantir’s software platforms that turn AI compute into real-world results.
- A recent pullback may confirm support near $150, giving long-term investors a potential buying opportunity.
If nothing else, the bullish earnings reports from Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) have seemed to put to rest the arguments that Palantir’s growth is unsustainable. The company is now solidly profitable with revenue coming in from U.S. government contracts, and more importantly, from an expanding list of commercial customers. However, like many technology stocks, Palantir’s growth was called into question due to concerns that the reality of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom wouldn’t measure up to its hype. This earnings season shows that the AI cycle is still in its early stages. No company brought that point home more than NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA). Palantir is the software “layer” that sits on top of the AI infrastructure boom that NVIDIA is monetizing at the chip level. The robust, some might say insatiable, demand for the company’s GPUs should give investors a strong signal that Palantir’s growth story still has a long way to go. The Link Between NVIDIA’s Results and Palantir NVIDIA provides the hardware that makes AI applications possible. The company’s recent earnings report reaffirmed that companies and governments are not only investing in AI; they’re doing so aggressively. But there’s a difference between AI that’s possible and AI that’s useful. Every new AI cluster and large language model (LLM) needs a way to connect with real-world data, workflows, and decisions. That’s where Palantir comes in. The company’s Gotham, Foundry, and AIP platforms help its customers turn that compute into actionable use cases. The company has drawn rave reviews from customers ranging from supply chains, fraud detection, logistics, healthcare, and of course, defense targeting. Palantir’s value proposition is that it works through the bottleneck of data and orchestrates the data, models, and human users into better decision-making. Palantir Is Shaping the AI Wave A common criticism of Palantir in its first few years of being a publicly traded company was that it was overly reliant on its U.S. government contracts. However, in recent quarters, Palantir has been growing its U.S. commercial revenue at triple-digit rates. In fact, commercial customers now account for about 45% of the company’s total revenue. The company is adding customers at a breakneck pace. Much of that is due to the company’s go-to-market strategy of short AIP “boot camps” that quickly demonstrate the company’s value. The pace and the size of the deals have accelerated with AI-driven demand. The combination of rapid and strong growth off a large base in a category that’s expanding is exactly what long-term investors should look for in a stock that’s likely to compound. Plus, Palantir’s software-first model is asset-light. This creates high gross margins and operating margins that continue to expand. It also means new revenue falls disproportionately to the company’s bottom line. Is the Valuation Overhang a Real Concern? Despite the bullish outlook for future growth, many analysts look at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio above 200x and believe that growth and more is already priced into the stock. But in an AI-first world, a counterargument could be made that analysts are systematically undervaluing Palantir’s earnings power. For example, some analysts believe the company’s 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) could be several times higher than consensus estimates. They also foresee accelerating international adoption (which has been a weakness) and operating margins between 45% and 50%. Using those assumptions, PLTR stock would have a forward P/E between 20x and 40x. That’s still lofty, but in line with many high-quality software names that don’t match Palantir’s growth rate. Is $150 the Floor for PLTR Stock? On Nov. 21, PLTR stock closed around $154. In a short trading week marked by low volume, the stock has bounced higher. That means December will serve as confirmation of support at that level, or if the stock will continue to drop. From its all-time high of around $207 to the closing price of $154, Palantir stock is down about 26%. That’s not unusual; in fact, the stock fell further earlier this year. A richly valued stock like Palantir will tend to have a sharp drawdown on bearish sentiment, regardless of its earnings. However, those pullbacks have served as corrections inside a powerful uptrend that’s still being driven by strong and improving fundamentals. That story remains in place, which is why this pullback is a buying opportunity.
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