⛏ Rare Earths Heat Up, SmallCaps Break Out, Big Money Rotates ⚖️
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Edition #133
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.
🔍 SmallCaps Glow While Macro Signals Flicker
Small and micro-cap stocks held up relatively well last week while large-cap tech idled, as the U.S. government reopening eased an overhang but didn’t shift the growth narrative. Treasury yields drifted higher, pressuring overvalued names and nudging investor focus toward overlooked small and micro-caps that might offer better upside.
This week brings the Federal Reserve’s October meeting minutes, U.S. industrial production and capacity utilisation figures, plus Nvidia’s earnings and evolving geopolitical signals out of Asia following Japan’s Q3 GDP drop. For small and micro-caps the risk/reward mix pivots toward companies with solid fundamentals, early growth signs and less dependency on broad market momentum.
Hot Topics
ConocoPhillips Strikes Natural Gas in Australian Exploration
Samsung Pledges $310B to Boost AI and Semiconductor Investment
Burry Ends Scion Fund, Reveals Bearish Bets on Nvidia & Palantir
Investing Data Story
Energy spending stays dominant, but AI investment is growing 160% by 2030. What retail investors need to know about both megatrends.
AI Growth Surges as Energy Spending Holds Strong
Small Sectors Step Into the Spotlight
The chart highlights a clear shift under the surface of the market. While headlines have focused on mega-cap tech all year, the strongest returns lately have come from smaller, more specialized sectors outside the usual large-cap leadership. This rotation suggests the rally is finally broadening, which historically creates a stronger backdrop for small and micro-cap stock picking.
Rare Earths Shift Creates Micro-Cap Opportunity
Rare earths are back in the headlines as the U.S. and Canada move quickly to reduce their dependence on China for the materials that power EVs, defense systems, and clean-tech manufacturing. Recent reports point to tightening global supply and renewed trade tension, while China’s decision to postpone new export controls after high-level talks offers only a short-term breather in a long strategic contest.
North America is accelerating its own production and processing plans, aiming to build a secure, regional supply chain. Canada’s deposits in Quebec and the Northwest Territories and new U.S. projects tied to magnets and separation tech are starting to draw more attention, especially among early-stage investors.
Australia also remains a key part of the global picture. It hosts the largest pipeline of rare-earth mining and processing projects outside China, making it an important swing producer as supply routes diversify. Its momentum reinforces why North America is racing to catch up.
For small and micro-cap investors this backdrop matters. When supply chains reset, early-stage miners, processors, and technology firms often see the first wave of interest and capital, creating opportunities well before the large-cap names dominate the story.
Earnings Performance
Cisco Systems Inc
Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) opened fiscal 2026 strong, with revenue up 8% to $14.9B and EPS of $0.72 GAAP, $1.00 non-GAAP, both above guidance. Operating cash flow hit $3.2B, reflecting solid margin execution.
Management cited growing demand for secure networking, AI infrastructure, and a campus refresh cycle lifting orders. Cisco remains focused on profitable growth, AI investment, and capital returns. A $0.41 dividend is payable Jan 21, 2026.
Other Earnings Updates
Investing Data Story
Discover six Dividend King stocks with nearly 70 years of rising payouts. Compare yields, payout ratios, and dividend growth for steady income potential.
6 Dividend Kings With 69+ Years of Increases
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!
Retail Appetite Signals a Quiet Shift
You may have noticed retail conviction holding firm on every pullback this year. Phil Rosen pointed out in a recent NYSE segment that younger investors who lived through crypto drawdowns of 70% to 80% barely react to a 15% slide in equities.
That resilience matters for small and micro-cap names because it keeps discovery momentum alive even when institutions move to the sidelines. When retail buyers refuse to flinch, early-stage stories with real traction can keep building pressure beneath the surface.
The rotation from mega caps to small caps is real, especially with those Russell 2000 sectors starting to outpeform. Rare earths opporunity is interesting given the US and Canada push to reduce China dependance. The retail resilience point is key too, when younger investors dont blink at 15% drops after seeing 70% crypto crashes, it keeps momentum going for early stage names.