Category: Daily Instagraph

Berkshire Hathaway delivered a standout performance in 2024, reporting a net profit of $90 billion, a $3 billion stock repurchase, and a 15% segment margin—up 3 percentage points year-over-year—along with $53 billion in unrealized investment gains. In the fourth quarter, operating earnings surged 71% to $14.5 billion, fueled by a 48% jump in insurance investment … Continued

One last thought before the weekend—no need for lengthy explanations this time. The cover of The Economist says it all: NATO, the transatlantic defense alliance, is under serious strain, and Europe is increasingly on its own. This moment feels like a final wake-up call for Europe to unite if it wants to remain relevant—economically, politically, … Continued

European equities have outperformed their U.S. counterparts since the start of the year, and this trend isn’t just driven by market sentiment, as illustrated in today’s graph. For the first time in two years, analysts have begun revising earnings forecasts for European companies upwards relative to their U.S. peers (white line). While the shift is … Continued

European defence stocks continue their strong rally as governments prepare for increased military spending. The Goldman Sachs European Defense basket reached a record high, reflecting growing investor confidence in the sector. We own Dassault Aviation, the producer of the Rafale fighters, as a 3.2% position in our European Value Fund and believe it still offers … Continued

European equities are still trading at a record valuation discount relative to the U.S., and history shows that when valuation gaps stretch too far, they don’t stay that way forever—the rubber band eventually snaps back, the problem is to know when. Add to that a more aggressive ECB easing cycle, a potential resolution in the … Continued

US inflation ticked up slightly, with headline rising from 2.9% to 3.0% and core from 3.1% to 3.3%. However, the details are less concerning—energy inflation turned positive, and core goods declined at a slower pace, while services inflation, the main driver, eased slightly. The biggest headline? Egg prices surged 13.8% due to a bird flu … Continued

The S&P 500 rarely delivers so-called “average” annual returns of 5-10%, as most years experience either substantial gains or notable losses. Historical data since 1950 ( source: Matt Cerminaro on LinkedIn ) shows that years within this range are the exception rather than the rule, making the long-term average somewhat misleading. Investors who expect steady, … Continued

Investors have been pulling out of ESG funds at a record pace over the last two years, with U.S. ESG funds facing $20 billion in outflows in 2024, surpassing the $18 billion recorded in 2023. This trend reflects mounting dissatisfaction, driven in part by significant performance challenges. Since January 2022, for example, the S&P Global … Continued

And the tariff saga intensifies: On Sunday, Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the US, hitting every country, including key suppliers like Canada and Mexico. While the timeline remains unclear, the consequences are not—trade disruptions and an escalating tariff war seem inevitable, with likely retaliatory measures from … Continued

While much of the market buzz focuses on the Magnificent 7, European bank stocks have quietly staged an impressive rally over the past two years, with the Eurostoxx Banking Index surging 50% during this period. Fundamentally, European banks have spent the last decade recovering from the financial crisis, navigating cost-cutting measures, asset write-offs, and stringent … Continued