• Better (almost) $4 trillion AI stock to buy now: Microsoft or Alphabet

    Hand with AI in capital letters and AI-related digital icons.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Both Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) continue to grow as they solidify their positions in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Amid a recent surge, Alphabet’s market cap has reached almost $3.9 trillion, while Microsoft’s has pulled back slightly to $3.6 trillion.

    What’s unusual is that the Google parent was substantially smaller than the software giant until recently, when Alphabet pulled ahead. Considering that surge by Alphabet, is it the better investment among multitrillion-dollar companies in the AI realm, or should investors stick with Microsoft?

    The case for Microsoft

    Microsoft has long been a leading cloud company, but it stood out in the AI race because early on it took what is now a 27% ownership stake in OpenAI. Thus, upon the release of GPT-4, that partnership appeared to put Microsoft stock in a strong position as the frenzy around generative AI began to take hold.

    To this end, it has developed its own AI engine, called Copilot, which stands out within Microsoft’s ecosystem. Still, Microsoft has likely drawn the most investor attention from its partnerships. Despite its OpenAI stake, both companies are free to partner with other AI companies. More recently, Microsoft made an agreement with Anthropic to scale Claude AI on Azure servers powered with Nvidia chips.

    Microsoft can also afford such investments. Over the last 12 months, it generated almost $78 billion in free cash flow, and that does not include the $69 billion in capital expenditures (capex) invested over that time.

    Moreover, with the earlier ties to OpenAI, Microsoft rose significantly in prior years, so year-to-date gains have slowed to about 14%. It also trades at a P/E ratio of 34, though it is not far above the S&P 500 average of 31. Ultimately, given its continued progress in AI, that slightly above-average valuation is unlikely to stop the steady rise of Microsoft stock.

    Why investors might choose Alphabet

    After ChatGPT came on the scene, investors began to question whether Alphabet’s Google Search engine was on the way to obsolescence. Its AI-enabled queries bypassed the ads that have long been the source of most of Alphabet’s income.

    However, Alphabet launched Google Gemini to compete with ChatGPT. At first, it seemed like just another AI engine, but over the last few months, it has emerged as the site of choice for real-time information, video generation, and unstructured prompts thanks to the improvements in Gemini 3.

    Additionally, even amid the skepticism, Alphabet’s revenue grew, and it continued to generate massive free cash flows. This has funded Gemini’s improvements, along with its other AI-related businesses, such as Google Cloud and the autonomous driving platform Waymo.

    Furthermore, investors should expect continued improvements as the company plans to spend $91 billion to $93 billion on capex this year alone. Despite that spending, its free cash flow was just under $74 billion over the last 12 months, an indication it can afford these massive outlays.

    Also, despite gaining around 70% so far this year, Alphabet stock trades at a 32 P/E ratio, close to the S&P 500 average. When one also factors in the increasing strength of its AI-related businesses, such conditions could make the Google parent an attractive choice.

    Microsoft or Alphabet?

    Both stocks have shown they are industry leaders in AI, and thus, it is likely that both stocks will continue moving higher. However, if you’re choosing between the two, Alphabet likely holds the edge.

    Indeed, investors should commend Microsoft for its early moves in AI and its ability to make itself essential to more than one major AI engine.

    Still, both the stock price and valuation seem to already reflect that growth. Conversely, Alphabet investors may still benefit from a delayed reaction to the Google parent’s AI.

    Alphabet has spent more than Microsoft on capex, and it has overcome perceptions that AI was passing it by. When also considering its slightly lower valuation, Alphabet should remain in a stronger position to drive higher returns over time.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Better (almost) $4 trillion AI stock to buy now: Microsoft or Alphabet appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now?

    Before you buy Alphabet shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.  The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why 4DMedical, DroneShield, EOS, and Star shares are rising today

    Ecstatic woman looking at her phone outside with her fist pumped.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.1% to 8,646.3 points.

    Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:

    4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

    The 4DMedical share price is up a further 15% to $2.82. Investors have been buying this respiratory imaging technology company’s shares this week following news that it has received regulatory approval in Canada for its CT:VQ product. It is the world’s first and only non-contrast, CT-based ventilation-perfusion imaging solution. 4DMedical highlights that this approval marks a significant expansion of 4DMedical’s presence in North America and allows immediate commercial deployment of CT:VQ across Canada through the company’s strategic partnership with electronics giant Philips.

    DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

    The DroneShield share price is up 20% to $2.76. This morning, this counter drone technology company announced a new contract win valued at $49.6 million from an in-region European reseller on behalf of a European military end-customer. The contract is for handheld counter drone systems, associated accessories, and software updates. Over the past three years, DroneShield revealed that it has received a total of 15 contracts from this reseller worth over $86.5 million.

    Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

    The EOS share price is up a further 14% to $7.37. The catalyst for this was a big announcement from the defence and space company on Monday. That announcement revealed that EOS has signed a binding conditional contract worth $120 million to manufacture and supply a 100kW high energy laser weapon to a company in the Republic of Korea. This represents the second export order for a 100kW class laser defence system, following a first export order to a Western European customer earlier this year. In response, this morning Bell Potter reiterated its buy rating with an improved price target of $9.00.

    Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)

    The Star Entertainment share price is up almost 5% to 11 cents. This morning, the struggling casino and resorts operator announced the exit of its CEO, Steve McCann, with immediate effect. Bruce Mathieson Jnr will take on additional duties as executive chair while a search for a permanent CEO is conducted. McCann said: “Now is the right time for new leadership to be put in place with the experience and passion to build on that momentum and take The Star forward.”

    The post Why 4DMedical, DroneShield, EOS, and Star shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in 4DMedical Limited right now?

    Before you buy 4DMedical Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and 4DMedical Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Electro Optic Systems. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • This ASX mining stock surged 188% in a year, tipped to jump another 27%

    A mining worker clenches his fists celebrating success at sunset in the mine.

    Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares have jumped 3.65% higher in Tuesday morning trade. At the time of writing, the ASX mining stock’s shares are changing hands at $1.14 a piece.

    It’s been a year of success for the African-focused gold mining company. Its shares have climbed 8.1% higher over the past month and are now up a huge 183.75% higher over the past year.

    The ASX mining stock joined the ASX 200 index this month.

    And just yesterday, the ASX gold miner released more good news. A major update on its Doropo Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire has revealed that there is a significantly larger, longer-life, and more valuable project than previously outlined. The new Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) findings has increased the site’s ore reserves by approximately 55% and lengthened the expected mine life to 13 years, from 10 years previously.

    Following the latest update, analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) have written a note to investors outlining their latest expectations for the ASX mining stock.

    More upside ahead for Resolute Mining shares

    In the note, the broker confirmed its outperform rating on Resolute Mining shares. It also raised its target price to $1.45 a piece, up from $1.35 earlier this month.

    At the time of writing, the upgraded target price represents a potential 27.2% upside for investors over the next 12 months.

    “Our NAV increases 12% following the incorporation of Doropo DFS due to the longer mine life and increased production which drives a TP increase of 7%/8% to A$1.45/£0.72. Our 50/50 blend of 1.0x NAV, 7x OCF methodology is also unchanged,” the broker said.

    “Doropo will become RSG’s third operational asset and provides important geographical diversification outside Mali (Syama) and Senegal (Mako), opening up a third production asset in Côte d’Ivoire.”

    What else did Macquarie have to say about the ASX mining stock?

    Macquarie analysts said they have incorporated the DFS findings into their forecasts for Resolute Mining, with initial capital costs of US$516 million and life of mining (LOM) gold production expected at around 2.14Moz. 

    The broker said it conservatively estimates operating costs to be around US$1,652 per oz, compared with the DFS guidelines of US$1,406 per oz.

    “After incorporating the DFS into our forecasts, our NAV [net asset value] for Doropo has increased 51% to A$1,633m (~US$1,085m), and we calculate a post-tax IRR of 39% which compares to the DFS at US$1,457m and 49%, respectively. Doropo is now RSG’s highest value project and is responsible for ~51% of the NAV for RSG,” Macquarie’s analysts said.

    The post This ASX mining stock surged 188% in a year, tipped to jump another 27% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Resolute Mining Limited right now?

    Before you buy Resolute Mining Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Resolute Mining Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Trump sues the BBC for $5 billion, alleging defamation over January 6 documentary

    Trump sues the BBC for defamation over editing of January 6 speech
    President Donald Trump sues the BBC for $5 billion for defamation.

    President Donald Trump sued the BBC for defamation.

    On Monday night, Trump's lawyers filed a civil complaint in a federal court in Florida and are seeking at least $5 billion in damages from the British broadcaster.

    The lawsuit claims that the BBC has defamed Trump in a Panorama documentary that aired about a week before the 2024 election. The complaint alleges the program presented a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction" of Trump.

    The suit's allegations focus on how the documentary was edited with regard to footage of Trump's January 6, 2021, speech near the White House.

    The White House and BBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    This is a developing story; please check back for updates.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • This 5% ASX dividend stock could pay me every quarter like clockwork

    Woman with $50 notes in her hand thinking, symbolising dividends.

    The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price has been steady in recent months and currently trades around $10 apiece.

    At this level, the company offers a dividend yield close to 5%, but what really sets it apart from most ASX 200 dividend stocks is the frequency of its payouts. Dicker Data pays dividends every 3 months, which is why income investors often pay close attention to it.

    For someone building a passive income stream, getting paid quarterly instead of twice a year can be incredibly appealing.

    A company with a strong dividend habit

    Dicker Data is one of the largest IT distributors in Australia and New Zealand, supplying hardware, software, and cloud solutions from major global brands, including Cisco, Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Although it may not be a household name, it powers a significant portion of the country’s IT channel through thousands of reseller partners.

    The company has also benefited from ongoing demand for cloud migration, AI infrastructure, and cybersecurity spending. These tailwinds have supported steady revenue growth across its FY25 results, helping strengthen its cash flow and dividend capacity.

    In August, Dicker Data reported:

    • Double-digit revenue growth driven by cloud and AI products
    • Improved gross margins
    • Strong operating cash flow
    • A fully-franked dividend of 11 cents per share

    And management has been clear that dividends remain a priority, noting that distributions will continue to reflect the company’s cash generation.

    A quarterly dividend that feels like passive income

    The company has paid 11 cents fully franked every 3 months for the last 12 months. This works out to be 44 cents annually. At today’s share price, that is close to a 5% fully-franked yield.

    For a $10,000 investment, that would translate into roughly:

    • $440 a year in dividends, or
    • $572 a year, including franking credits

    Is Dicker Data still growing?

    Even as the company pays out regular dividends, it continues to invest heavily in expanding its distribution network, warehouses, and vendor partnerships. Its exposure to AI-related infrastructure has also been growing, which could be a meaningful driver over the next few years.

    Macquarie and other brokers have highlighted Dicker Data as a beneficiary of the multi-year shift toward cloud services, device upgrades, and data centre growth.

    Foolish Takeaway

    Dicker Data is one of the rare ASX dividend stocks that pays its shareholders every 3 months. With a near 5% yield, fully franked dividends, and a business tied to long-term technology growth, it offers a mix of stability and income that is hard to find.

    The post This 5% ASX dividend stock could pay me every quarter like clockwork appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Dicker Data right now?

    Before you buy Dicker Data shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Dicker Data wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Macquarie says these two ASX retail stocks are good buying at current levels

    Part of male mannequin dressed in casual clothes holding a sale paper shopping bag.

    With further interest rate cuts almost certainly off the table, picking winners in the ASX retail sector might have become just that little bit much harder.

    The team at Macquarie have done a deep dive into the sector, and believe they’ve come up with some solid picks which will generate impressive share price returns over the next 12 months.

    Growth stories to dominate

    Given the challenges the sector is facing, Macquarie has advised that rather than looking for value on an earnings basis, investors should look for a strong growth thematic from companies.

    As they wrote in a note to clients:

    In our view, investors looking to retain exposure to the consumer are best placed to focus on stocks with share growth stories and brand strength (i.e. quality) rather than value, given upcoming macro volatility into 2H26 (driven by potential interest rate increases).

    In household retail, Macquarie’s least preferred sector, share prices in general have been under pressure, particularly for Temple & Webster Ltd (ASX: TPW) which was sold off heavily after a trading update recently.

    Another company which has seen its share price decline has been Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) however the Macquarie team are bullish on the outlook for Nick Scali shares, saying that while potential rate increases will be a negative, “Nick Scali foot traffic data tracking gives us confidence in the trading outlook”.

    Macquarie has an outperform rating on Nick Scali shares and a price target of $28.20 versus the current price of $21.49, indicating potential upside of 31.2%.

    Coffee a growth market

    The Macquarie team is even more bullish on the prospects for Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) shares, with a price target of $39.20 versus the current price of $29.64. If that were to be achieved it would be a 32.2% gain.

    Macquarie says consumer data indicates that discretionary retail spend was strong heading into the sales events such as Black Friday, and they are confident that companies such as Breville represent value at current prices.

    We remain confident in the health of discretionary consumption after Black November, and into Christmas, implying low macroeconomic risks to the small-cap discretionary retail stocks under our coverage. Our analysis … gives us confidence in the health of the underlying consumer for discretionary retailers, heading into 2H26. Given consumer discretionary share prices have all declined YTD FY26 so far (except Baby Bunting (ASX: BBN)), we think this represents a valuation opportunity.  

    Macquarie said Breville was among its top picks in the discretionary sector, with structural growth in the coffee market and new products and market expansion to drive growth.

    In the medium to long term, the expansion of coffee across all key geographic areas continues to be a driver for Breville. We expect revenue to be driven from coffee, as the market continues to go through coffee ‘premiumisation’ and structural growth driven by higher penetration across North America, Europe and APAC.

    The post Macquarie says these two ASX retail stocks are good buying at current levels appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Breville Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Breville Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Breville Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nick Scali and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Bell Potter names three retail stock picks for your Christmas hamper

    Stressed shopper holding shopping bags.

    We’re smack bang in the middle of the busiest retail season of the year, so what better time to have a look at what retail stocks are in favour?

    Bell Potter has had a look at the big names in the sector and says while not all retailers are created equal, three in particular stand out as good buying at current levels.

    Overall, the Bell Potter teams said retail has been “choppy as we’ve seen varying performance between discretionary categories with technology/electronics, wellness and sports and services such as cafes and recreation leading the suite while others such as mass apparel and lifestyle footwear and furniture and household goods lagging”.

    They went on to say:

    Looking ahead, while the pause in interest rate cuts in Australia limits catalysts for the consumer discretionary sector, we continue to prefer key beneficiaries from the rate cuts seen so far and category outperformers. We continue to look for retailers with differentiating customer value propositions and balance sheet strength and support names who may grow via market share expansion with more diverse customer demographics and category exposures.

    So now, on to their retail stock picks for December.

    Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

    The Bell Potter team says Universal is a leading youth-focused streetwear retailer with 100 stores under its Universal Store flagship brand, as well as private label brands Perfect Stranger and Thrills.

    With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 18 times, the Bell Potter team says the company is trading at a discount to its S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) peer group “and see the multiple justified by the distinctive growth traits supporting consistent outperformance in a challenging broader category”.

    There is a longer term opportunity with three brands to grow margins organically via private label product penetration, and Universal is expected to benefit as youth consumers prioritise on-trend streetwear.

    Bell Potter has a price target of $10.50 on Universal Store Holdings compared with the current price of $7.99.

    Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

    Bell Potter says Harvey Norman is the most diversified retailer in terms of category exposure and regional presence, “while benefitting from both as a quasi-retailer/landlord and channel mix via company operated stores and franchising”.

    Bell Potter has a price target of $8.30 on Harvey Norman shares compared with $7.06 currently, and said the current P/E ratio was justified considering “multiple catalysts” for growth in the near and mid-term.

    Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    The Bell Potter team said Adore is an “omni-channel retailer” selling more than 15,000 third party products from more than 360 brands as well as its own private label brands.

    The Bell Potter team said:

    Key drivers for business growth are its continued store-rollout targeting a network of 25+ stores, along with its private label brands and high-margin retail media arm contributing to margin expansion and thus a strong earnings trajectory. We view ABY as well positioned to take advantage of the high performing beauty category within the Australian market.

    Bell Potter has a price target of $1.25 on Adore Beauty shares compared with $1.20 currently.

    The post Bell Potter names three retail stock picks for your Christmas hamper appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Harvey Norman Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Harvey Norman Holdings Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why it isn’t too late to buy Electro Optic Systems (EOS) shares

    Smiling man working on his laptop.

    Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares have been on fire this week.

    Thanks to the announcement of another major contract win, this ASX defence and space stock has rocketed over 40%.

    This means that its shares are now up over 400% since the start of the year.

    But if you thought it was too late to invest, think again! That’s because Bell Potter believes there’s more upside to come for this high-flying stock.

    What is the broker saying?

    Bell Potter was pleased with the company’s announcement of an US$80 million contract from a South Korean customer for a High Energy Laser Weapon (HELW) and an agreement to establish a joint venture in the country. It said:

    Establishment of a joint venture (JV) between EOS and the customer to develop and supply the Korean market with 100kW HELWs on terms to be agreed; and licensing of IP relating to 100kW HELWs for the Korean market to the JV. The contract is expected to be fulfilled after delivery at the end of CY27e and subsequent demonstrations. The contract was previously expected to be awarded in CY26e.

    We view this award as further evidence of the significant revenue opportunity available to EOS from the directed energy counter-drone (C-UAS) vertical. Currently, EOS is the only supplier in the world to have been awarded a HELW export contract for a 100kW system. We believe that current competitive dynamics in the HELW industry are favourable for EOS, with US companies unable to export directed energy technology; the UK offering a lower power (30kW) weapon; and Israel’s “Iron Beam” system lacking clarity on export restrictions.

    In response, the broker has boosted its earnings estimates meaningfully again. It adds:

    We have upgraded EPS +15%/+42% in CY26/27e, reflecting: revenue upgrades due to the larger than expected HELW contract and increased confidence of further HELW contracts awarded; gross margin expansion on account of greater revenue skew to higher margin HELW contracts; and favourable working capital changes.

    Should you buy Electro Optics Systems (EOS) shares?

    According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on Electro Optics Systems (EOS) shares with an improved price target of $9.00 (from $8.10).

    Based on its current share price of $7.19, this implies potential upside of 25% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Bell Potter concludes:

    We retain our Buy rating and raise our TP to $9.00. EOS is positioned as a market leader in C-UAS solutions and is leveraged to increasing budget allocations to C-UAS technologies. We see positive news flow over the next 6 months stemming from CUAS and RWS contract awards.

    The post Why it isn’t too late to buy Electro Optic Systems (EOS) shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Data centre and rail contract wins have boosted this engineering firm’s shares

    Two IT professionals walk along a wall of mainframes in a data centre discussing various things

    Shares in Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Ltd (ASX: SXE) were trading higher on Tuesday after the company announced $90 million in new contracts across data centres and rail.

    The company said in a statement to the ASX that it had been awarded a range of works on DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)’s SYD1 project located in Sydney’s inner-west, where the existing data centre is being expanded with additional levels and increased power capacity.

    Package of work won

    Southern Cross subsidiary Heyday has been awarded the design and construct scope “for the installation of low-voltage switchboards, busways, generators, and UPS systems, along with the supply and installation of cable containment, LV reticulation, lighting, and general power systems”.

    Fellow subsidiary Force Fire has been awarded the fire services and design and construct works for the project, in addition to demolition works it had already completed.

    In addition to this, Trivantage Manufacturing had received an order for the supply of electrical switchboards, and would work closely with Heyday on the design.

    The company said further re the switchboards:

    They are being manufactured locally at our Sydney facilities and are expected to reach completion in accordance with the approved project schedule.

    In rail, Southern Cross said it had been awarded a package of work relating to Sydney Metro’s St Marys Station Project, with that work relating to the electrical and communications systems.

    Experience a key differentiator

    Southern Cross Managing Director Graeme Dunn said it was pleasing to win new contracts in both sectors, which the company had deep experience in.

    He went on to say:

    I am pleased to be announcing further awards in the data centre and rail transport sectors which have been strong and growing sources of activity for us. I note that in both this particular data centre facility and on the Sydney Metro infrastructure development generally, we have done significant volumes of work previously and so to secure these new works is a testament to the quality of our past delivery. I also observe that on both of these developments we are drawing on multiple disciplines from across the group, which not all of our competitors are able to match. This of course benefits us as we are able to get more out of each project, but I believe also benefits our clients as we are able to deepen our relationships with them and better co-ordinate delivery across disciplines to them.

    Southern cross shares were 2.5% higher on Tuesday morning at $2.46. The company was valued at $638.3 million at the close of trade on Monday.

    The post Data centre and rail contract wins have boosted this engineering firm’s shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited right now?

    Before you buy Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

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    Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Southern Cross Electrical Engineering. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • ‘SNL’ spoofed Uber Eats Wrapped. Then Uber actually did it for real.

    Episode 1892 -- Pictured: Sarah Sherman during the "Your Year Wrapped" sketch on Saturday, December 13, 2025
    Uber launched YOUBER, a Spotify-style, year-in-review feature for Uber and Uber Eats users, shortly after a satirical "SNL" skit imagining a similar feature.

    • Uber launched YOUBER, a Spotify-style, year-in-review feature for Uber and Uber Eats users.
    • The feature follows an "SNL" skit where a character found out he spent $24,000 on Uber Eats in a year.
    • Uber has a built-in button for users to share their Uber.

    Your Uber spending is coming back to haunt you — for real.

    Just days after "Saturday Night Live" aired a satirical skit about an "Uber Eats wrapped" and the horrors of discovering how much you spent on it this year, Uber made the embarrassment real with a Spotify-style year-end recap.

    On Monday, the company launched a new year-in-review feature called "YOUBER," which compiles users' activity across both Uber and Uber Eats.

    It's unclear if "SNL" knew about Uber's plans before its spoof. It's also unclear how long Uber had the recap in the works, or if it was influenced by the skit. Uber and NBCUniversal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The feature echoes the sketch that aired on Saturday night, which lays bare how quickly people who willingly participate in data tracking recoil when that data reflects something they don't want to know.

    The skit started with an innocuous character who was delighted to find that she was one of Sabrina Carpenter's top global listeners in 2025. Then the skit took an ominous turn when an advertisement claimed to reveal who the characters "really are" this year, featuring an "Uber Eats wrapped."

    One character learned he had eaten more chicken nuggets than 99% of users worldwide. Another was assigned an "Uber Eats age" — a riff on Spotify's "listening age" — only to be told his was "Dead." The humiliation peaked when a character realized he had spent $24,000 on Uber Eats in a year, prompting him to scream into a pillow in response.

    To access the actual feature, which is only available in the US at the moment, look for the "YOUBER" banner in your app, and it will show riders where they went, how often they opted for Uber Comfort, and which restaurants they returned to again and again.

    The feature also assigns users one of 14 "Uber Personality Profiles," including "Do-Gooder" for Uber Electric loyalists, "Rise & Shiner" for early-morning riders, and "Delivery Darling" for customers who "live for deliveries of all kinds."

    And if you don't want to endure your guilt alone, you can always share it. Uber offers a "Share this Story" button directly within the app.

    Read the original article on Business Insider