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Where thousands of millionaires, CEO’s and high-performing entrepreneurs read the #1 financial newsletter on the web.
Amazon Prepares Another Round of Layoffs 👨🏭
The Stock Investor’s Edge - Helping You Cut Through The Noise 🎶
Unlocking Passive Income: The Highest-Yielding Dividend ETFs Right Now 🤑
Risks and Benefits Breakdown ❌ ✅
Our Top Pick + What That Means For You 📈
“You must buy on the way down. There is far more volume on the way down than on the way back up, and far less competition among buyers. It is almost always better to be too early than too late, but you must be prepared for price markdowns on what you buy.”
Intel (INTC) Stock Drops Sharply
Released Q4 earnings that beat expectations, but gave a weak outlook for Q1 2026.
Projected breakeven adjusted earnings and revenue of $11.7B–$12.7B (below forecasts).
Cited supply constraints as lowest in Q1, expected to improve later in the year.
Concerns remain around competition and meeting demand.
TikTok Avoids U.S. Ban with New Deal
TikTok finalized a joint venture/sale for its U.S. operations late Thursday.
Major investors include Oracle (ORCL), Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX.
Aims to address national security concerns over user data potentially going to China.
This ultimately allows TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.
Capital One Acquires Brex for $5.15 Billion
Announced Thursday: Capital One will buy fintech startup Brex in cash + stock deal (expected close mid-2026).
Q4 earnings released: Revenue $15.6B (slightly beat estimates), but adjusted EPS $3.86 (missed $4.17 consensus).
Shares are down about 12.3% YTD.
Amazon Prepares Another Round of Layoffs
Amazon is planning thousands more corporate job cuts (potentially ~14,000, similar to October's round).
It could start as early as this week.
It will affect areas like AWS, retail, Prime Video, and HR.
The move is part of a broader cost-cutting trend in tech, even with strong earnings/stock gains for many firms.
Linked to rising AI infrastructure costs and part of a goal to trim up to ~30,000 corporate roles overall.
The Stock Investor’s Edge
The hardest part of investing is not finding information. It is about knowing what actually matters, and finding it before the move happens.
The Stock Investor’s Edge helps you cut through the noise with deep research, specific stock buys and options ideas, and real-time market updates you can act on.
If you want to stop reacting and start making calmer, more confident decisions, this community is built for you.
Unlocking Passive Income: The Highest-Yielding Dividend ETFs Right Now
Are you ready to level up your passive income game without the headache of cherry-picking stocks?
In this volatile market, high-yield dividend ETFs are your one-way ticket to cash flow.
Think consistent and reliable income, monthly payouts and even built in diversification.
These ETFs use clever strategies like covered calls to provide higher returns, making them solid for investors looking for quarterly (or even monthly) paydays.
Now you can sit back and let these funds do the heavy lifting.
I’ve crunched the numbers and spotlighted 3 top contenders with yields that'll make your portfolio pop.
Let's dive in.
Before you read more…
Before you go any further, I just want to make one thing clear.
These funds are only for investors looking for cash flow.
While these funds offer high yields, they limit growth opportunities that you can find elsewhere in the market.
If you’re looking to get that extra pop in your cash flow as a margin of safety in case the market takes a turn for the worst, these funds are for you.
If you’re not interested in high-yielding funds for cash flow and prefer to focus only on growth, then I do not recommend buying these funds.
This is simply an informational post providing you with a means to increase the income you earn from the stock market.
JEPI: The Balanced Boss for Reliable Returns
JPMorgan's Equity Premium Income ETF $JEPI ( ▲ 0.02% ) is like that dependable friend who always shows up with pizza, solid income from S&P 500 stocks plus covered calls for that extra juice.
Perfect for conservative income hunters.
Yield: 8.09% offering steady monthly payouts to keep your wallet happy.
Cost Check: Super low 0.35% expense ratio that won't eat into your gains.
Top Holdings:
1. ADI — Analog Devices, Inc. — 1.70% Weight
2. JNJ — Johnson & Johnson — 1.67% Weight
3. GOOGL — Alphabet Inc. — 1.66% Weight
4. HWM — Howmet Aerospace Inc. — 1.60% Weight
5. ROST — Ross Stores, Inc. — 1.57% Weight
6. LOW — Lowe's Companies, Inc. — 1.54% Weight
7. AMZN — Amazon Inc. — 1.53% Weight
8. ABBV — AbbVie Inc. — 1.51% Weight
9. RTX — RTX Corporation — 1.51% Weight
10. MGMXX — JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund — 1.49% Weight
Sector Squad: Tech leads the way at 14.12%, with a strong allocation to industrials (12.09%) and financials (11.87%).
Performance: Since the fund’s inception, the average annual return has been 11.93%.
Risk: Equity fluctuations, options risks like liquidity issues, and moderate sensitivity to interest rates. Rising rates could crush valuations, but defensive sectors buffer it.
Future Outlook: Expect to achieve 8-9% yields in stable markets, with volatility potentially pushing it higher.
JEPQ: The Tech Turbo for High-Octane Yields
JPMorgan's Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF $JEPQ ( ▼ 0.72% ) is the adrenaline junkie of the bunch, riding the Nasdaq-100 wave with covered calls for higher income.
If you love growth with a side of payouts, this is the fund for you.
Yield: 10.37% with monthly distributions that'll have you grinning.
Cost Check: Affordable 0.35% expense ratio which is a great bang for your buck.
Top Holdings:
1. NVDA — NVIDIA Corporation — 7.34% Weight
2. AAPL — Apple Inc. — 5.92% Weight
3. GOOGL — Alphabet Inc. — 5.54% Weight
4. MSFT — Microsoft Corporation — 5.49% Weight
5. AMZN — Amazon Inc. — 4.24% Weight
6. META — Meta Platforms, Inc. — 3.07% Weight
7. TSLA — Tesla, Inc. — 2.87% Weight
8. WMT — Walmart Inc. — 2.26% Weight
9. AVGO — Broadcom Inc. — 2.25% Weight
10. MU — Micron Technology, Inc. — 2.24% Weight
Sector Squad:
Very heavily concentrated on tech (43.96%) with consumer discretionary at 11.67% and communication services at 8.73%.
Performance: Since the fund's inception, the average annual return has been 16.55%.
Risk: Non-diversified and very concentrated in tech, so any tech slumps hit hard. Covered calls cap larger gains in bull runs, plus higher interest-rate sensitivity could put pressure on valuations.
Future Outlook: Yields might climb to 11-12% in choppy markets, while option premiums start to shine with market volatility, but watch for tech sector swings in 2026 considering high valuations already.
QYLD: The Yield Monster with Nasdaq Flair
Global X's Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF $QYLD ( ▼ 0.34% ) is a yield-chasing beast.
It sells calls on the Nasdaq-100 for massive monthly income.
For those who want larger payouts without taking on all the risk.
Yield: 11.47% providing you with monthly cash flow on steroids. The highest yielding fund on this list.
Cost Check: A higher 0.60% expense ratio but worth it for the income pop you get from your portfolio.
Top Holdings:
1. NVDA — NVIDIA Corporation — 8.53% Weight
2. AAPL — Apple Inc. — 7.18% Weight
3. MSFT — Microsoft Corporation — 6.66% Weight
4. AMZN — Amazon Inc. — 4.87% Weight
5. GOOGL — Alphabet Inc. — 3.69% Weight
6. TSLA — Tesla, Inc. — 3.65% Weight
7. META — Meta Platforms, Inc. — 3.50% Weight
8. GOOG — Alphabet Inc. — 3.43% Weight
9. WMT — Walmart Inc. — 3.15% Weight
10. AVGO — Broadcom Inc. — 3.09% Weight
Sector Squad:
The heaviest allocation to tech of the bunch (53.65%) with consumer discretionary coming in at 13.08% and communication services at 12.61%.
Performance: Since the fund's inception, the average annual return has been 8.34%.
Risk: Covered calls limit upside in tech rallies, with added volatility from tech exposure. Options trading risks are present such as illiquidity, and investors are exposed to potential bigger losses in downturns. The fund is less rate-sensitive but also less diversified.
Future Outlook: Could hit 12-13% yields with market swings, although total returns might lag in booms, but the fund remains steady in sideways 2026 markets.
Risks and Benefits Breakdown
Let's outline the pros and cons for each:
JEPI: Benefits: Lower volatility for investors looking for a more steady ride, with balanced sectors for downside protection. Consistent 8-9% yields ideal for steady income seekers. Risks: Covered calls hurt gains in hot markets with moderate rate sensitivity which could sting if hikes return.
JEPQ: Benefits: Juicy 10%+ yields from tech premiums with solid annualized returns blending growth and cash, perfect for aggressive portfolios. Risks: Tech-heavy setup increases volatility and call strategy limits rallies, with sharper hits from rate changes.
QYLD: Benefits: Monster 11-12% yields via Nasdaq calls with reliable monthly payouts for max income chasers. Risks: Principal erosion in crashes, upside is capped in bull markets with minimal rate buffers due to tech focus.
Our Top Pick
Diving into high-yield dividend ETFs can be a smart move for increasing your passive income in 2026's uncertain markets.
For the best all-around champ, go with JEPI.
Its balanced approach, solid yields, and lower risk make it the ultimate fund for sustainable payouts without the wild swings.
But if you want to take on a bit more concentration within tech and aren’t afraid of some volatility, consider both QYLD and JEPQ.
Happy investing!
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