$440 billion.
That's how much Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are investing in AI this year. In a single year. From just four companies. That's greater than the GDP of 168 countries.
And it's on top of the estimated $400 billion they spent last year.
Now, I want you to sit with that for a moment because these are the four most powerful, most data-rich, most sophisticated companies on the planet. They don't make $440 billion bets on "maybe."
They are building the infrastructure of an entirely new economy.
And they're doing it at a pace and scale that most people simply cannot comprehend but here's the part of this story that almost nobody has connected…
The federal government is matching them stride for stride.
With Executive Order 14365, Trump effectively declared AI a national security imperative… on par with the Manhattan Project.
He established an AI Litigation Task Force at the DOJ with a singular mission: to steamroll any state, any regulator, and any law that tries to slow down the machine.
The government is no longer a referee. They are now the lead investor.
They're taking equity stakes in companies like Intel and MP Materials. They're stockpiling lithium and rare earth minerals like they used to stockpile oil.
We are no longer living in a free-market democracy.
We are living in what I call a Technological Republic.
A new system where the "Invisible Hand" of the market has been replaced by a "Visible Fist"… one that is picking winners and losers with the full weight of the White House, the Department of Justice, and the military behind it.
This is not a prediction. This is policy. It's already in motion.
And if you are still investing by the old rules of the 1990s or 2000s… if you're holding "safe" blue-chip stocks that belong to the old economy… you are standing directly in the path of the steamroller.
But for those who understand which companies are being chosen by this new power structure… the wealth potential is unlike anything we've seen since the Gilded Age.
Luke Lango and I have identified the chokepoints of this new economy… the assets that sit at the intersection of these unprecedented capital flows.
The stocks to buy… the stocks to sell… and the three money moves to ensure you and your loved ones end up on the winning side of this new economic reality.
It's all laid out for you here.
➡ Click here to stream it at no cost.
Good investing,
Porter Stansberry
Unmanned Profits: The New Kings of the Modern Battlefield
Submitted by Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Publication Date: 3/6/2026.
Key Points
- AeroVironment's battle-proven loitering munitions have become an essential tool for modern ground forces, driving significant revenue growth.
- Kratos is pioneering the future of air combat with its high-performance, attritable aircraft, designed to serve as a powerful force multiplier.
- Red Cat’s strategic partnerships are rapidly expanding its capabilities into new defense domains, including counter-drone systems and maritime security.
- Special Report: Elon Musk already made me a "wealthy man"
The 21st-century battlefield looks fundamentally different from how it did just a decade ago. The new calculus of conflict is no longer determined solely by the number of tanks or fighter jets a nation possesses. Instead, strategic dominance increasingly hinges on the deployment of sophisticated, cost-effective, and often expendable unmanned systems. This technological pivot has been on full display in recent global conflicts, where swarms of autonomous and intelligent drones have proven capable of altering the course of entire battles—delivering precision strikes and invaluable intelligence without risking a single human life.
This paradigm shift has created a distinct opportunity for investors. While the broader defense sector has drawn attention, the most direct exposure to this trend comes from specialized, pure-play companies whose growth is tightly linked to unmanned technology.
AeroVironment: The Battle-Tested Industry Standard
Silver paying 20% dividend. Plus 68% share gains (Ad)
Silver Is Now a Growth AND Income Play
For decades, silver paid nothing. That just changed. One tiny ETF is delivering 20% annualized distributions plus 68% share appreciation in just 5 months.
Click here to learn more about this fund.AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) has solidified its position as an industry standard in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) space. With deep, long-standing ties to the U.S. Department of Defense, the company is a foundational player whose technology is considered essential for modern infantry tactics. Its Switchblade family of loitering munitions has become synonymous with the kamikaze-drone concept, delivering precision kinetic effects that have proven highly effective on the front lines in Ukraine and other conflict zones. That real-world success is reflected in the company's financials, with recent quarterly revenue rising more than 150% year over year.
Recent stock volatility has been tied to headlines about the U.S. Space Force SCAR program. A closer look, however, shows this is not a lost contract but a strategic renegotiation to establish a firm-fixed-price deal for a commercialized product—an outcome that could produce more predictable, stable long-term revenue. In a clear signal of management's confidence, AeroVironment announced a significant expansion of its manufacturing capacity. That expansion is intended to scale production for anticipated large orders, positioning the company to meet growing demand from the U.S. military and its allies for its proven systems.
Kratos: Building the High-Tech Future of Air Combat
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) is carving out a niche as a high-tech innovator focused on the next generation of unmanned combat aircraft. The company is a market disruptor with a portfolio of high-performance, attritable jets, including the XQ-58A Valkyrie. These systems are designed to serve as loyal wingmen alongside manned fighter jets—acting as force multipliers by scouting, deploying weapons, and drawing enemy fire at a fraction of the cost of traditional aircraft. That approach addresses the Pentagon's need to generate mass against near-peer adversaries without breaking the budget.
This ambitious vision requires significant capital, and investors have taken note: the stock is up over 200% in the past year. The company recently raised more than $1 billion through a public offering. While such a move can create short-term pressure on a share price, it is best seen as a strategic decision to build a war chest. These funds are intended to scale production facilities, accelerate research and development, and strengthen the company's balance sheet to win and execute multi-billion-dollar program-of-record contracts. Further diversifying its portfolio, Kratos has also secured orders for advanced counter-drone systems, demonstrating its capability to address both offensive and defensive aspects of unmanned warfare.
Red Cat: The Agile Disruptor Seizing New Domains
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) is a smaller, nimbler contender in the drone space, focusing on versatile small UAS for ground forces—such as its Teal 2 system, which provides critical night-vision capabilities for individual soldiers. The company has attracted investor interest not only for its drones but also for a strategy of integrating advanced third-party capabilities to rapidly expand its market reach. The stock's year-to-date performance, up over 80%, reflects that enthusiasm.
A key driver is the announced strategic partnership with Allen Control Systems. The collaboration will integrate Allen Control System's Bullfrog AI-powered autonomous weapon station onto Red Cat's platforms. That accomplishes two critical goals: it propels Red Cat into the lucrative, high-demand Counter-UAS (C-UAS) market, and the initial integration on the company's unmanned surface vessels (USVs) turns Red Cat from a drone-only firm into a multi-domain technology provider for both air and sea. The strategic pivot significantly expands the company's total addressable market and offers a clear path toward accelerated growth.
Finding Your Fit in the Drone Sector
Understanding the distinct profiles of these three companies is key to aligning potential investments with an individual's financial strategy. Each offers a different level of exposure to the drone-warfare thesis.
- AeroVironment: The established leader. With a market capitalization of more than $11 billion, AVAV presents a more mature investment profile. Its growth is tied to proven technology and the ongoing need for militaries to procure and replenish tactical loitering munitions.
- Kratos: The high-tech innovator. Valued at over $15 billion, Kratos offers a higher-growth profile centered on disruptive, next-generation systems. Its future depends on securing large, long-term government contracts for its advanced attritable aircraft.
- Red Cat: The agile disruptor. With a market cap under $2 billion, RCAT represents a higher-risk, higher-reward opportunity. Its smaller revenue base is offset by the potential for rapid growth as it penetrates new markets such as C-UAS and maritime defense.
A Clearer View of the 21st-Century Battlefield
The significant growth shown by these specialized drone companies reflects a fundamental and enduring shift in military strategy rather than a fleeting trend. While large defense conglomerates offer stability, their size dilutes the impact of any single high-growth sector. For investors seeking direct exposure to the unmanned systems revolution, the distinct profiles of AeroVironment, Kratos, and Red Cat offer a spectrum of compelling opportunities—together representing a focused way to participate in the technology-driven future of the defense industry.
How the Risk/Reward Calculation Is Changing for Discount Retail
Submitted by Nathan Reiff. Publication Date: 3/18/2026.
Key Points
- Discount retail stocks can reflect broader consumer sentiment and sensitivities surrounding issues like inflation, the cost of gas and food, and more.
- Dollar General and Dollar Tree both reported strong earnings in the latest cycle, but both stocks are down year to date.
- Between the two companies, Dollar Tree may have an advantage thanks to the flexibility of its multi-price strategy and its momentum after divesting the Family Dollar business.
- Special Report: Elon Musk already made me a "wealthy man"
A weak February 2026 jobs report, persistent inflation, and the risk of oil-price spikes related to the ongoing Iran war could further destabilize an economy many investors already view as fragile. Discount retail stores provide a useful window into the financial stresses facing lower-income households. Rising sales at these retailers often signal that customers are tightening budgets and cutting discretionary spending amid economic strain.
Companies like Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) and Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) can therefore offer insight into pressures created by the prices of essentials such as food, housing and gas. While discount retailers can perform well in stronger economies—and their results depend on operations and company-specific factors—they also reflect broader consumer spending trends.
Dollar General's Strong Recent Results May Not Outweigh Anticipated Pressures to Come
Silver paying 20% dividend. Plus 68% share gains (Ad)
Silver Is Now a Growth AND Income Play
For decades, silver paid nothing. That just changed. One tiny ETF is delivering 20% annualized distributions plus 68% share appreciation in just 5 months.
Click here to learn more about this fund.Dollar General posted strong Q4 fiscal 2025 results (period ended Jan. 30, 2026): revenue rose nearly 6% year over year to $10.9 billion, driven by a 4.3% improvement in same-store sales. Gross margin expanded about 105 basis points, helped by lower inventory levels and reduced shrink.
The company remains aggressive on expansion, planning roughly 450 new U.S. stores this year while growing its delivery program and investing in digital initiatives.
Forward guidance, however, was tepid: management expects fiscal 2026 same-store sales to slow to 2.2%–2.7% and net sales to rise 3.7%–4.2%. The company also does not plan share repurchases this fiscal year, which puts pressure on valuation given the stock trades above 19 times earnings.
Although Dollar General may attract more middle-income shoppers, its core customers—households earning $50,000 or less—remain under significant strain. Shares of DG fell more than 9% in the week after the earnings release and are down about 3.6% year-to-date. Analysts see just over 10% upside potential for the stock, and fewer than half of the 30 analyst ratings are Buys.
Dollar Tree's Multi-Price Approach Continues to Succeed, But External Challenges Loom As Well
Dollar Tree reported strong Q4 fiscal 2025 results (period ended Jan. 31, 2026). Comparable store sales rose 5% year over year, and full-year net sales increased 10%. Gross margin expanded 150 basis points, generating about $1.2 billion of cash from operations and enabling $1.6 billion in share repurchases during the fiscal year.
Two factors set Dollar Tree apart from Dollar General. First, its summer 2025 divestiture of the Family Dollar brand helped streamline operations, contributing to a nearly 70% rally in the stock over the past year. Second, Dollar Tree's multi-price strategy—adding items at $3, $5, $7 and other price points alongside its traditional offerings—has gained traction.
As of fiscal 2025 year-end, about 5,300 Dollar Tree locations use the multi-price format, which represents roughly 16% of sales and continues to grow.
Management guided to modest fiscal 2026 results: 3%–4% comp growth, $20.5–$20.7 billion in sales, and earnings per share of $6.50–$6.90. Despite its advantages, Dollar Tree faces headwinds from tariffs, higher energy costs, potential tax changes and other external pressures.
Dollar Tree may be more attractive to some investors due to a cleaner balance sheet and a clearer earnings-growth trajectory. Still, uncertainties remain—chiefly external factors and whether the multi-price strategy will scale successfully. For now, analysts remain cautious on DLTR, assigning a Hold rating with upside roughly comparable to Dollar General.
to bring you the latest market-moving news.
This email message is a sponsored email from Porter & Company, a third-party advertiser of TickerReport and MarketBeat.
Contact Us | Unsubscribe
© 2006-2026 MarketBeat Media, LLC dba TickerReport. All rights reserved.
345 North Reid Place, Sixth Floor, Sioux Falls, SD 57103. United States..
0 Response to "Follow the money. Not the headlines."
Post a Comment