Nasdaq at Record High, iPhone 17 Highlights Ecosystem Lessons
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Edition #124
Investing Unlocks: How to Capitalize on the Hot Topics From The Last 7 Days
We analyze recent trends and opportunities, offering strategic insights that help you manage risks and identify growth opportunities for your portfolio.
🚀 Stocks Rally as Investors Await Fed Rate Decision
Markets rallied modestly as hopes of a Federal Reserve rate cut grew, while weaker labour and inflation data added fuel to expectations that easing may be on the horizon. The Nasdaq hit a record high, helped by strength in Big Tech and AI-related names.
This coming week is expected to be driven by major economic data and central bank signals. Key reports include Retail Sales, Industrial Production, Building Permits & Housing Starts, and of course the FOMC policy decision and Powell’s press conference on Wednesday Sep 17, with markets widely expecting a 25 basis-point rate cut.
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Hot Topics
Novo Nordisk, maker of obesity drug Wegovy, to cut 9,000 jobs to sharpen focus, meet competition
Klarna prices IPO at $40, valuing buy now, pay later company at $15 billion ahead of trading debut
Why Grok’s seamless integration into X makes it more dangerous to Hollywood than standalone tools
Investing Data Story
Gold is leading 2025 returns, with Bitcoin following as a strong second. See where key assets stand and what it means for your investment strategy.
Gold Leads 2025 Asset Returns, Bitcoin Close Behind
iPhone Drives Apple’s Ecosystem Lock-In
Apple’s latest iPhone 17 line-up deepens its ecosystem play with a sleeker ultra-thin model and a $100 price hike for the Pro. As the Statista chart shows, owning an iPhone makes users far more likely to buy into other Apple products, from Apple Watch to AirPods, cementing the iPhone’s role as the cornerstone of Apple’s tightly knit ecosystem.
Apple’s ecosystem reminds us that the real growth story is in businesses where the first purchase is just the start. Investors may want to explore other companies that excel at building sticky ecosystems where lifetime customer value compounds over time. Here’s a list of 5 areas for further investigation:
Other Tech Ecosystems – Companies that, like Apple, use a core product or platform to draw customers deeper into a suite of connected services, creating long-term stickiness.
Microsoft (MSFT) – Windows + Office + Azure + LinkedIn.
Alphabet (GOOGL) – Android + YouTube + Google Cloud.
Amazon (AMZN) – Prime + e-commerce + AWS + Alexa.
Subscription / Service Attach Rates – Businesses where one-time purchases act as gateways to recurring services, driving predictable and higher-margin revenue streams.
Tesla (TSLA) – Vehicles tied to software features, autopilot, and charging.
Peloton (PTON) – Equipment linked to recurring fitness subscriptions.
Sony (SONY) – PlayStation consoles funnelling users into PS Plus and digital games.
Switching Costs & Stickiness – Firms where leaving the ecosystem is difficult or expensive, creating strong customer retention and long-term pricing power.
Adobe (ADBE) – Creative Cloud suite dominates creative workflows.
Intuit (INTU) – Tax and accounting solutions tie into payroll and financial services.
Oracle (ORCL) – Enterprise databases and cloud software embedded deeply into operations.
Consumer Loyalty & Pricing Power – Brands that can command premium pricing and retain customers through strong brand equity and integrated ecosystems.
Starbucks (SBUX) – Coffee brand leveraging rewards programs and daily habits to maintain pricing power.
LVMH (MC) – Luxury portfolio spanning fashion, beauty, wine, and jewelry.
Nike (NKE) – Sportswear tied to Nike apps, digital community, and loyalty programs.
Emerging Ecosystem Builders – Younger or fast-evolving companies constructing ecosystems where the initial product leads to broader monetization potential.
Rivian (RIVN) – EVs expanding into software, energy, and charging infrastructure.
Spotify (SPOT) – Music subscriptions branching into podcasts, audiobooks, and learning courses.
Sea Limited (SE) – Gaming (Garena) as an entry point into e-commerce (Shopee) and fintech (SeaMoney).
Explore ecosystem lessons for investors →
Earnings Performance
Oracle Q1 FY26
In Q1 Fiscal 2026, which ended August 31, Oracle reported Total Remaining Performance Obligations of $455 billion, up an astonishing 359 % year-over-year in both USD and constant currency. CEO Safra Catz described the quarter as “astonishing,” noting that Oracle had signed four multibillion-dollar cloud contracts with three customers, sharply boosting its backlog.
Remaining Performance Obligations, or RPO, represent contracted revenue that has been booked but not yet recognized. It is a reliable indicator of Oracle’s future revenue pipeline. Many of these contracts are tied to cloud infrastructure for AI initiatives, highlighting Oracle’s growing importance in the hyperscale cloud market.
Shares of ORCL surged on the news, propelling co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth closer to Elon Musk’s at the top of the global wealth rankings.
Other Earnings Updates
Rubrik Stock (RUBR): Posts 51% Revenue Growth, Expands Into AI
Warrior Met Coal Stock (HCC): Rides Q2 Beat, Blue Creek Expansion Ahead
Energy Fuels Inc (UUUU): Hits 52-Week High on Rare-Earth Breakthrough
Investing Data Story
68 years of S&P 500 data shows long-term returns stay strong—even when buying at market highs. Here's why timing isn't everything.
It Seems There’s No Bad Time to Invest
TSX30: Canada’s Market Beating Stocks
TSX30 reveals the 30 stocks that crushed the market over the past 3 years. With average gains of 431%, this annual ranking highlights the companies rewriting the growth story on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Analyst Strong Buy Ratings This Week! 📈
Looking for stocks with strong analyst backing? These companies have earned top-tier "Strong Buy" ratings from analysts, signaling potential upside for investors.
Whether you’re eyeing small-to-mid cap opportunities in the U.S. and Canada or want to stick with trusted S&P 500 blue-chip picks, this list highlights stocks that experts believe could outperform.
🔍 Do your research and see if any of these fit your portfolio!
Markets and Gold Smash All-Time Highs
By September 9, major equity benchmarks and gold all pushed into uncharted territory. The Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones each notched record closes, while gold surged past $3,600. These simultaneous highs highlight both the resilience of stocks and the growing appeal of hard assets in today’s market.