buys

Florida-based wealth advisory J. L. Bainbridge disclosed a purchase of Eli Lilly and Company valued at approximately $45.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, according to an SEC filing released on Friday.

What Happened

J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. significantly increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (LLY -1.94%), acquiring 61,258 additional shares during the quarter. The estimated value of the purchase was $45.6 million based on the average closing price for the quarter. The position was reported in the firm’s quarterly Form 13-F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

What Else to Know

This buy brings the position to 3.9% of J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc.’s 13F reportable assets.

Top holdings after the filing:

• NASDAQ:MSFT: $164.85 million (13.9% of AUM)
• NASDAQ:AAPL: $122.68 million (10.4% of AUM)
• NASDAQ:GOOGL: $116.65 million (9.9% of AUM)
• NYSE:GS: $71.43 million (6% of AUM)
• NYSE:ETN: $59.86 million (5.1% of AUM)

As of Friday’s market close, shares of Eli Lilly and Company were priced at $802.83, down 11% over the past year and far underperforming the S&P 500’s nearly 14% gain over the same period.

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

• Eli Lilly offers a broad portfolio of pharmaceuticals for diabetes, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and other therapeutic areas, with leading products including Humalog, Trulicity, Jardiance, Verzenio, and Taltz.
• The company generates revenue primarily through the discovery, development, manufacturing, and global sale of branded prescription drugs, leveraging both proprietary research and strategic collaborations.
• It provides pharmaceuticals for chronic and complex diseases worldwide.

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical leader that maintains a diversified portfolio of innovative therapies for high-burden diseases. Its scale, established brands, and strategic partnerships provide competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector.

Foolish Take

Florida-based J.L. Bainbridge & Co. boosted its exposure to Eli Lilly last quarter, purchasing roughly $45.6 million worth of shares even as the stock has endured a difficult stretch. Shares are down 11% over the past year, pressured by valuation concerns and, most recently, political commentary on potential weight-loss drug price cuts. The decline followed remarks by President Donald Trump, who suggested GLP-1 treatments like Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound could face price reductions—a move that briefly sent shares tumbling more than 4% on Friday.

Despite near-term volatility, Bainbridge’s purchase reflects long-term conviction in Lilly’s fundamentals. The pharmaceutical giant remains a dominant player in metabolic and diabetes care, with GLP-1 demand still far outpacing supply. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets called the recent selloff “overdone,” noting that most insured Americans already pay modest out-of-pocket costs for these drugs.

For Bainbridge, whose portfolio is anchored by Microsoft, Apple, and Alphabet, the addition of Lilly underscores a strategy centered on durable growth and innovation-led healthcare exposure. Long-term investors may see current weakness as a potential entry point into one of the most profitable franchises in global pharmaceuticals.

Glossary

Form 13-F: A quarterly SEC filing by institutional investment managers disclosing their equity holdings.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed on behalf of clients by a fund or firm.
Reportable AUM: Portion of a fund’s assets that must be disclosed in regulatory filings, such as the Form 13-F.
Top holdings: The largest investments in a fund, ranked by their value as a percentage of total assets.
Trailing twelve months (TTM): The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Stake: The ownership interest or position an investor holds in a company, usually measured in shares or percentage.
Strategic collaborations: Partnerships between companies to jointly develop, market, or distribute products or services.
Pharmaceutical portfolio: The collection of drugs and therapies a company develops, manufactures, and sells.
Underperforming: Delivering a lower return or performance compared to a benchmark or peer group.

As many stock market observers know, Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks. The most notable sale has been Apple. That position made up over 40% of the portfolio at one time, but the share has since fallen to around 22%.

What investors need to understand is that the selling does not mean Buffett’s team isn’t buying stocks at all. One notable recent purchase has been Domino’s Pizza (DPZ -0.03%). The stock’s past gains and its value proposition have likely inspired this investment, and such optimism warrants a closer look at the business and the stock to see if it is a suitable choice for average investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

Berkshire Hathaway and Domino’s

Domino’s has returned more than 6,500% in stock gains and dividend payments since it went public in 2004. Most investors, including Berkshire Hathaway, have missed out on most of those gains, but Berkshire’s bets could indicate that significant upside remains.

DPZ Total Return Level data by YCharts

Buffett’s company began buying Domino’s shares in the third quarter of 2024 and has increased its position size in every quarter since that time. Today, it holds just over 2.6 million shares, or about 7.75% of the outstanding shares.

Another possible factor in Berkshire’s investment in Domino’s is that it is the world’s largest pizza chain, boasting 21,750 locations globally as of the end of fiscal Q3. Despite that success, investors may question why an investor would want to get into a business like pizza, which at least in theory, has low barriers to entry.

However, no other pizza business has grown to the same size, and one can find the kinds of competitive advantages that attract investors like Buffett when looking at Domino’s more closely.

One key part of Domino’s is its franchise model. This enables the chain to open a large number of locations with a relatively small amount of capital, leveraging high brand recognition to drive business.

Moreover, it offers a digital-first approach, which makes ordering easier and capitalizes on route planning for faster deliveries. Additionally, an efficient supply chain helps standardize food quality and costs, increasing consistency across locations.

Furthermore, despite a global footprint, Domino’s adapts its menu to suit local tastes, and new offerings such as parmesan-stuffed crust or added customization options keep its customers coming back to Domino’s.

The financial case for Domino’s

Buffett’s team was likely also drawn by its financial metrics. Indeed, with its global footprint, the maturity of the business appears to make it more of a value stock.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2025 (ended Sept. 8), revenue of $3.4 billion rose by 4%. Nonetheless, during that time, its free cash flow of $496 million surged 32% higher over the same timeframe. Gains on assets and lower capital expenditures bolstered that cash position.

Additionally, that free cash flow easily covered the company’s $119 million in dividend costs in the first nine months of the fiscal year. At $6.96 per share, its 1.6% dividend yield is well above the 1.2% average for the S&P 500. Buffett’s team also probably liked its 13-year history of payout hikes, a trend that makes further annual payout hikes likely to continue.

Investors should also take note of the pizza chain’s valuation. Its P/E ratio of 25 is below the company’s five-year average earnings multiple of 30. Also, since its P/E ratio has not fallen significantly below 25 since the early 2010s, one can assume that Domino’s stock sells at a reasonable price.

Should you follow Berkshire Hathaway into Domino’s stock?

Given the state of the company, investors can likely make a prudent move by following Berkshire Hathaway into Domino’s stock.

Indeed, a 6,500% total return over the stock’s history may cause some prospective buyers to shy away, particularly because of the competitive nature of the pizza industry.

However, Domino’s brand recognition and its focus on franchising, operational efficiency, and a robust supply chain give the company a competitive advantage. Moreover, investors can buy the stock at a relatively reasonable price and collect an above-average dividend yield.

In the end, even if Domino’s does not generate excitement, the stock is likely to cook up rising dividends and market-beating returns over time.

Quantum computing investing is not an easy field to pick stocks in. There’s a lot of complex knowledge needed to understand the technology, making it hard for investors to discern which company is currently leading the way. Furthermore, the space is rapidly shifting, with new announcements occurring every week that change the landscape.

This makes it difficult to be a quantum computing investor, but I think there is a way to spread out the risk a bit and still have exposure to this important and emerging space. By taking a basket approach and picking a few stocks, investors can increase their odds of success by sacrificing maximum return for a better chance of success. I think this is the best way to approach quantum computing, and I’ve got five picks that help make up a quantum computing basket.

Image source: Getty Images.

Quantum computing pure plays

First, let’s look at some pure plays in this space. These companies are the most exciting, as they’re relatively small but have the chance to turn into giant tech companies if their technology is successful.

First is IonQ (IONQ -5.85%). It was the first quantum computing pure play company to go public, and has seen tremendous success over the past year. It’s taking a unique approach to the quantum computing realm, utilizing a trapped-ion technology versus the more popular superconducting option.

A trapped-ion quantum computer is inherently more accurate, but trades off processing speed. Still, with quantum computing accuracy being the biggest problem surrounding widespread commercial adoption, investing in a company whose technology is a leader in solving this problem is a wise idea.

Next is Rigetti Computing (RGTI 0.39%). Rigetti is deploying the superconducting quantum computing approach and has seen some recent successes with it. On Sept. 30, Rigetti announced the sale of two quantum computing systems that totaled $5.7 million.

While that’s not the billion-dollar enterprise many investors picture this technology having, it’s a start. Furthermore, because these customers likely explored other quantum computing options available, it’s a big deal that they decided to pick Rigetti over some others.

Last on the pure play list is D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 4.13%). D-Wave Quantum is taking a completely different approach to quantum computing than IonQ or Rigetti. It’s developing a quantum annealing computer, which can’t be used for general-purpose computing like the other two options. Instead, quantum annealing focuses on solving optimization problems, which is incredibly useful for weather patterns, logistics networks, and artificial intelligence (AI) training.

If D-Wave can develop a winning option with this approach, it could dominate the fields that are recognized as having the most value for quantum computing.

Legacy tech players

Next are some legacy tech players competing in the quantum computing space. While these options don’t have nearly the upside of the pure plays, they’re also less risky. If IonQ, D-Wave, or Rigetti fail to produce a commercially viable product, it’s likely that their stock will go to zero. For Alphabet (GOOG 2.17%) (GOOGL 2.23%) and Nvidia (NVDA -0.17%), they have other primary businesses that will ensure their viability for years to come.

Alphabet is seen as a leader in quantum computing from the big tech standpoint. It’s developing quantum computing for internal use, but also to be rented out via its cloud computing service, Google Cloud. If Alphabet can develop its own quantum computer in-house, it can increase its margins in this area, as it won’t have to pay for other companies’ profits, as it does when it buys Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) now. Alphabet has resources that the pure play companies can only dream about, and in a trend that needs heavy capital influx to develop the product, Alphabet could be a huge winner.

Last is Nvidia. Nvidia currently produces the most powerful classical computing units available, and has no plans to develop a quantum computing option. However, Nvidia sees that the real value in quantum computing will be a hybrid approach that uses its GPUs alongside a quantum computing unit. To ensure its hardware is used in this hybrid approach, Nvidia is evolving its leading software, CUDA, for quantum computing, renaming it CUDA-Q.

CUDA software is a primary reason why Nvidia has been so successful in the AI arms race so far, and by offering a quantum computing alternative, it will ensure that its computing products will be used for years to come, even if quantum computing takes the world by storm.

On October 15, 2025, Davenport & Co LLC disclosed a purchase of 155,551 shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) for the period ended Q3 2025, an estimated $47.04 million trade.

What happened

An SEC filing dated October 15, 2025 shows Davenport increased its position in UnitedHealth Group (UNH 0.38%) by 155,551 shares during Q3 2025.

The estimated transaction value, based on the average closing price during the quarter, was approximately $47.04 million.

The post-trade position reached 739,525 shares, with a market value of $255.34 million.

What else to know

Following this buy, UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.36% of Davenport $18.76 billion in 13F reportable assets

The firm’s top holdings after the filing:

1. Brookfield Corp: $583.81 million (3.13% of AUM)
2. Microsoft: $478.54 million (2.56% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
3. Amazon: $451.10 million (2.42% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
4. Markel: $391.43 million (2.1% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
5. Nvidia: $375.98 million (2.01% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30

As of October 14, 2025, shares of UnitedHealth Group were priced at $359.93, down 40.6% over the prior year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 53 percentage points over the same period.

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

UnitedHealth Group:

• Offers health benefit plans, pharmacy care services, healthcare management, and data analytics solutions through segments including UnitedHealthcare and Optum.
• Generates revenue primarily from insurance premiums, healthcare services, and pharmacy benefit management, leveraging scale and integrated platforms.
• Serves national and public sector employers, government programs (Medicare, Medicaid), individuals, and healthcare providers across the United States.

UnitedHealth Group is a leading diversified healthcare company with a broad national footprint and an integrated business model spanning insurance, pharmacy benefits, and healthcare services. The company maintains a competitive edge through its extensive provider networks, data-driven solutions, and ability to serve a wide range of customer segments.

Foolish take

Davenport & Company continued to add to their UnitedHealth position, which now accounts for 1.4% of the firm’s portfolio and is its 9th-largest position.

What makes Davenport’s purchases over the last two quarters noteworthy is that they are essentially doubling down on the company right after its stock sold off heavily.

Hampered by ballooning medical costs, changes in leadership, reduced guidance, and mounting regulatory pressure, UnitedHealth’s stock dropped 39% from its highs in just the last six months.

While UnitedHealth has become a battleground stock of sorts lately, it received a major lift after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it took a $1.6 billion stake in the stock in the second quarter of 2025.

That is great company for Davenport to join, as it also adds to its stake in UnitedHealth.

Regardless of the headwinds facing UnitedHealth, the company remains one of the most dominant health insurers in the United States.

Currently trading at just 16 times earnings and 13 times free cash flow, the risk-reward ratio on UnitedHealth Group is very appealing.

Glossary

13F reportable AUM: Assets under management that must be disclosed in quarterly SEC Form 13F filings by institutional investment managers.
Quarterly average price: The average price of a security over a specific quarter, used for estimating transaction values.
Post-trade holdings: The total number of shares or value held in a security after a trade is completed.
Top holdings: The largest investments in a fund or portfolio, ranked by market value.
Pharmacy benefit management: Services that manage prescription drug programs for health plans, employers, and government programs.
Integrated platforms: Systems that combine multiple services or business functions into a unified offering.
Provider networks: Groups of healthcare professionals and facilities contracted to deliver services to insurance plan members.
Medicare: A U.S. federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, and certain younger individuals with disabilities.
Medicaid: A joint federal and state program in the U.S. providing health coverage to eligible low-income individuals.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) — South Korean chemical giant OCI Holdings said Monday it will enter the solar wafer business to target the U.S. market by acquiring a facility being built in Vietnam.

Toward that end, its subsidiary, OCI TerraSus, plans to spend $78 million to purchase a 65% stake in a 2.7-gigawatt wafer plant from Elite Solar Power Wafer, which is scheduled for completion by the end of this month.

OCI Holdings expects the factory to start rolling out wafers early next year, without having to worry about U.S. tax-credit restrictions.

A solar wafer is a tin slice of crystalline silicon that serves as the primary building block for manufacturing solar cells.

The United States introduced legislation in early July barring prohibited foreign entities from receiving clean energy tax credits. These are entities controlled or significantly influenced by such nations as North Korea, China, Russia and Iran.

OCI Holdings projected that the deal would create synergy because OCI TerraSus is set to provide all the polysilicon needed for the new facility to manufacture non-prohibited foreign entity wafers.

The Seoul-based corporation said the plant’s capacity could be doubled within six months with an additional $40 million investment. However, it has yet to decide whether to proceed with the expansion.

“This strategic investment brings us closer to building a supply chain that facilitates U.S. exports,” OCI Holdings Chairman Lee Woo-hyun said in a statement. “We will continue to strengthen our presence in the global solar market by fostering partnerships with local companies in Southeast Asia.”

In July, OCI TerraSus joined hands with Japan’s Tokuyama to channel $435 million into establishing a semiconductor-grade polysilicon factory in Malaysia. Each company holds a 50% stake in the project.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. directly purchased Argentine pesos on Thursday and finalized a $20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post.

The intent is to provide assistance from the Latin American country’s economic turmoil.

“U.S. Treasury is prepared, immediately, to take whatever exceptional measures are warranted to provide stability to markets,” Bessent said, adding that the Treasury Department conducted four days of meetings with Argentinian Finance Minister Luis Caputo in Washington to come up with the deal.

Bessent has insisted that the Argentina credit swap is not a bailout. Last month, President Trump stopped short of promising Argentina’s President Javier Milei a financial bailout from the Latin American country’s economic turmoil.

Still, U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the deal as a bailout of a country that has benefited from sales of soybeans to China, to the detriment of U.S. farmers.

Argentina is one of the biggest Latin American economies and the biggest borrower from the International Monetary Fund — its total outstanding credit as of Aug. 31 is $41.8 billion.

The offer to financially help Argentina comes as Trump has frequently promoted his “America First” agenda. Critics contend that the planned intervention is a way to reward a personal friend of Trump’s who is facing a critical midterm election next month.

Milei celebrated Bessent’s announcement on social media, hailing his economy minister, Luis Caputo, as “far and away, the best Minister of Economy in all of Argentine history…!!!”

Caputo was in Washington last week for talks with Bessent about the swap line.

Argentina’s deregulation minister, Federico Sturzenegger, also congratulated Caputo and the rest of the economic team. “Let’s keep working so that our children want to stay and live in Argentina,” he wrote, adding a pitch to voters to support Milei in the crucial midterm elections later this month.

Hussein writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires contributed to this report.

The S&P 500 hit another record high this week. It’s now up about 18% over the past year. That has most stocks trading at much higher valuations than they were a year ago. The rally has also compressed dividend yields.

Despite the market’s rally, there are still some attractive opportunities, especially for investors seeking higher dividend yields. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD -0.58%), Energy Transfer (ET -0.80%), and Clearway Energy (CWEN -0.02%) (CWEN.A -0.11%) stand out to a few Fool.com contributing analysts right now. Here’s why they’re compelling buys even as the S&P 500 is at an all-time high.

Image source: Getty Images.

Enterprise Products Partners is strong and still growing

Reuben Gregg Brewer (Enterprise Products Partners): Nobody is going to accuse Enterprise Products Partners of being a hare. It is, decidedly, a tortoise. But given the huge 6.8% distribution yield, few income-focused investors aren’t likely to complain. That’s doubly true when you consider that this master limited partnership’s (MLP’s) distribution is covered by a huge 1.7x by distributable cash flow. A lot would have to go wrong before the distribution was at risk.

Adding to the feeling of security here is the fact that the company is investment-grade rated. Even if distribution coverage faltered, Enterprise Products Partners could lean on its balance sheet for a little while to muddle through a difficult period. But even that is unlikely because the MLP’s business is fee-based. Essentially, it charges customers for using its energy infrastructure assets, like pipelines. The prices of oil and natural gas are far less important than demand for these globally vital fuels. Even when commodity prices are weak, demand for energy still tends to be resilient.

This helps explain why Enterprise Products Partners has been able to increase its distribution annually for 27 consecutive years. That streak, meanwhile, is likely to continue, noting that the MLP is in the middle of a $6 billion capital investment program. As those new projects come online, cash flow will grow and support continued distribution growth. The level of the S&P 500 index, high or low, isn’t likely to change any of these facts much.

The coming growth reacceleration

Matt DiLallo (Energy Transfer): Energy Transfer stands out in today’s high-priced stock market. Units of the master limited partnership (MLP) are currently down about 15% from their 52-week high. As a result, the company has the second-lowest valuation in the energy midstream sector, at less than nine times earnings, which is well below the sector average of 12 times earnings. That low valuation is a big reason why Energy Transfer’s yield is 7.5%.

Slowing growth is the main factor driving down the MLP’s unit price this year. Energy Transfer expects its earnings to be at or below the low end of its guidance range, implying less than 4% growth. That’s well below the 10% compound annual growth rate the company delivered from 2020 through 2024. Energy Transfer has fewer growth catalysts this year as it hasn’t completed many expansion projects or major acquisitions.

However, that’s about to change. Energy Transfer is investing $5 billion into organic capital projects this year, with most expected to come online by the end of 2026. These projects should begin providing meaningful incremental cash flow starting in 2026 and continuing into 2027, which should fuel a growth reacceleration during that period. In addition, the company has more projects in the backlog, including the $5.3 billion Transwestern Pipeline Expansion Project, which should enter service by the end of the decade. It also has several other projects under development.

Energy Transfer is currently in the best financial shape in its history. That puts it in a strong position to continue approving growth capital projects and make acquisitions when the right opportunity arises.

With its unit price down and an exciting growth reacceleration set to kick off in 2026 and ramp up into 2027 as new projects launch, Energy Transfer stands out as a compelling buy right now. It can provide investors with an attractive income stream and high-octane upside potential.

Lock-in dividend growth through at least 2027

Neha Chamaria (Clearway Energy): Clearway Energy yields a hefty 6.3%. That high yield is backed by rising dividends, with the company even setting out dividend per share goals through 2027. The stock, however, has slipped nearly 15% in the past two months. It’s a compelling opportunity to buy.

Based on Clearway Energy’s last quarterly dividend payout, its annualized dividend per share (DPS) comes up to $1.78 per share. The company is targeting a DPS of $1.98 in 2027, which is a neat 11% growth in absolute terms. Since Clearway Energy typically raises its dividend every quarter, that goal looks easily doable. Also, it has its growth plans in place to back those dividends.

Clearway Energy is among the largest clean energy companies in the U.S. with a focus on wind, solar, and battery storage. Its parent company, Clearway Energy Group, has a renewables pipeline of 29 gigawatts. So there’s ample opportunity for growth for Clearway in the form of asset dropdowns from its parent. And it can always supplement growth through third-party acquisitions.

With 2025 kicking off on a strong note thanks to wind project repowering, acquisitions, and opportunities from its parent, Clearway Energy recently upped its guidance. It expects to generate $2.50-$2.70 in cash available for distribution (CAFD) per share in 2027. That should comfortably cover its targeted 2027 DPS, making this high-yield renewable energy stock a solid buy now.

Sept. 16 (UPI) — Officials at U.S.-based website LimeWire have acquired the Fyre Festival brand after emerging as the winning bidder for the fraud-plagued music festival.

LimeWire officials said the purchase enables the digital music provider and the Fyre Festival to combine their brand identities and attract millions of new users.

“Fyre became a symbol of hype gone wrong, but it also made history,” said LimeWire Chief Executive Officer Julian Zehetmayr in a news release.

“We’re not bringing the festival back,” he said. “We’re bringing the brand and the meme back to life.”

The purchase will enable LimeWire and Fyre to start a new chapter that is “grounded in technology, transparency and a sense of humor,” according to the news release.

LimeWire was an early pioneer of online file sharing, which a federal judge ended in October 2010 by ordering it to stop illegally sharing files in a lawsuit filed by the Recording Industry Association of America.

LimeWire’s new owners resurrected the brand in 2022 and seek to do the same with Fyre Festival.

“LimeWire’s acquisition is not about repeating past mistakes,” the news release said. “It’s about saving one of the Internet’s most infamous cultural memes from extinction and turning it into something new.”

The Fyre Festival was a subsidiary of Fyre Media, whose owner was charged and convicted of wire fraud in 2018 for lying to at least two investors.

The Fyre Festival formerly sponsored a live music event and booked musical artists at venues across the nation.

Filmmaker Taika Waititi and his wife, singer-songwriter Rita Ora, last week announced they are producing a stage musical about the failure and eventual cancellation of the 2017 Fyre Music Festival.

Artificial intelligence (AI) investing is what’s keeping the market propped up right now. A significant amount of money is being spent on building AI computing infrastructure, and numerous businesses are benefiting from this spending trend.

By picking up shares of companies that are benefiting from the spending now, investors can ensure they’re not buying into hype.

I’ve got five stocks that meet this criteria, and each looks like a great investment now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Chip companies are making a ton of money from the AI buildout

Since the beginning of the AI arms race, a handful of companies have been assumed winners based on their products. The market turned out to be right about this, as Nvidia (NVDA), Broadcom (AVGO -2.69%), and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM -0.68%) have all delivered spectacular returns. However, they’re not finished yet.

Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) have powered nearly all of the AI workloads that investors know today. Demand for GPUs outpaces supply, so many of Nvidia’s largest clients are working closely with the company to inform it of their future demand years in advance. So, when Nvidia’s management speaks about industry growth, investors should listen.

Nvidia expects global data center capital expenditures to reach $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030. That’s monstrous growth from today’s amount (Nvidia estimates the big four hyperscalers will spend around $600 billion in 2025), and shows that the AI computing infrastructure buildout is far from over.

This clearly makes Nvidia a buy, but it also bodes well for Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor.

Broadcom manufactures connectivity switches for these computing data centers, enabling users to stitch together information being computed across multiple computing units. However, another area where Broadcom is experiencing significant growth is its custom AI accelerators, which it designs in collaboration with end users. This is a direct challenge to Nvidia’s GPU superiority, although both products will continue to be used in the future. With many companies looking to cut Nvidia out to reduce the costs of building a data center, Broadcom is one to watch over the next few years.

Lastly, neither company can produce the actual chip that goes into these products. So, they outsource the work to the world’s leading chip foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor. TSMC doesn’t care which company has the most computing units in data centers around the globe; it just cares that the chips they use are sourced from its factories, making it a neutral player in the AI arms race. While Taiwan Semiconductor may not have the upside of Nvidia or Broadcom, it also doesn’t have the downside. This makes it a safe bet to capitalize on all the AI spending, and it’s one of my top picks for stocks to buy now.

Demand for cloud computing is rising

Two of the largest purchasers of computing equipment are Amazon (AMZN -0.11%) and Alphabet (GOOG 0.56%) (GOOGL 0.57%). While some of this is being used for internal workloads, most of it is being rented back to customers through cloud computing. At its core, cloud computing involves renting excess computing power from one provider and utilizing it themselves. Buying computing equipment from Broadcom or Nvidia isn’t cheap, so this is often the most cost-effective way to access vast computing resources.

Additionally, traditional on-premises computing workloads are migrating to the cloud as existing equipment reaches the end of its life, providing cloud computing providers, such as Alphabet and Amazon, with growth tailwinds to capitalize on. Grand View Research estimates that the global cloud computing market opportunity was about $750 billion in 2024. However, that figure is expected to rise to $2.39 trillion by 2030, making this an excellent industry to invest in.

Alphabet and Amazon are two of the largest cloud computing providers, and I believe each stock is worth owning due to the massive potential in the cloud computing businesses of these two tech giants.

For decades, UnitedHealth Group (UNH -0.40%) could do no wrong. The company raised its dividend by an exceptional 7,266% from 2010 to 2025, while shares rose as much as 1,700% during this run.

But shares have fallen roughly 40% year to date as the company faces a host of problems, from the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of major business segment UnitedHealthcare, to federal investigations into allegedly fraudulent Medicare billing practices.

Nonetheless, shares surged 12% on Aug. 14 after filings revealed Berkshire Hathaway had bought over 5 million shares.

Berkshire’s move was seen as a major vote of confidence in the stock — and investors joined a stampede to follow Warren Buffett into the trade. Should you?

Image source: Getty Images.

Big growth potential for all segments

UnitedHealth operates through four segments. Its UnitedHealthcare segment provides consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for employers. Optum Health provides healthcare management and financial services, while Optum Insight offers data analysis tools, consulting, and tech solutions to healthcare providers. Optum Rx is a direct-to-consumer platform offering pharmacy services and 190 million prescriptions per year to U.S. homes.

In its second-quarter report on July 29, the company reported quarterly revenue of $111.6 billion, up roughly 13% from the year-ago period. The trouble is with margins. For UnitedHealthcare, the biggest segment, operating margin fell from 6.2% in Q1 2025 to 2.4% last quarter. Combined, margin for the three Optum segments fell from 6.1% in Q1 2025 to 4.6% in Q2.

These declines are steep enough that, even with revenue on the upswing, earnings fell from $9.1 billion in Q1 2025 to $5.2 billion last quarter.

Rising medical costs are the chief headwind. In the July earnings report, new CEO Stephen Hensley acknowledged that UNH “significantly underestimated the accelerating medical trend,” and medical costs totaled $6.5 billion more than anticipated.

But management is under no such illusions now. They’re taking actions to boost efficiency and cut waste, from stepping up audits of clinical policy and payment integrity tools, to scaling artificial intelligence (AI) efforts to improve provider and patient experiences while driving down costs. Implementation of AI technologies is part of initiatives the company hopes can deliver almost $1 billion in cost reductions. Perhaps most significantly, the company is raising premiums after saying it underpriced Medicare Advantage plans in 2025.

In the meantime, each of these segments could grow significantly in the years ahead. UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual just rolled out services in its 30th state, while Optum Rx’s growth outlook is 5%-8% annually. Optum Insight is targeting operating margin of 18%-22%, while the 4.7 million patients receiving value-based care from OptumHealth represent only a fraction of the nearly 340 million Americans who could fall under its 100-plus health plans.

It’s not just Berkshire buying

Berkshire Hathaway’s move in UnitedHealth is getting headlines. But billionaire David Tepper also scooped up 2.3 million shares, while Michael Burry of The Big Short fame bought 350,000 call options on the stock in a bet that shares would rise.

In addition, BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, bought over 1 million shares last quarter. Goldman Sachs bought over 1.1 million shares, while Renaissance Technologies (the fabled fund that achieved an average annual return of 66% for decades) bought over 1.35 million.

As for management, Stephen Hensley invested $25 million just days after becoming CEO, while the company’s CFO bought another $5 million worth in shares. All told, the insider buying of UNH stock outweighed insider selling by a nearly 4:1 margin last quarter.

As the investing legend Peter Lynch observed, insiders can sell for many reasons unrelated to a stock. But they buy for only one: They think shares will go up.

Why UnitedHealth is a buy for retail investors, too

Berkshire officials haven’t commented publicly on their rationale for buying UnitedHealthcare, but it’s possible to speculate on their reasons.

Warren Buffett has called cash flow the most important metric in assessing a business’s potential. In a 2000 letter to shareholders, he wrote that dividend yield, the price-to-earnings ratio, book value, and even growth rates “have nothing to do with valuation except to the extent they provide clues to the amount and timing of cash flows into and from the business.”

Positive cash flow shows the company can cover its obligations, return money to shareholders, and potentially pursue growth and expansion. After floundering in 2024, UnitedHealth’s trailing-12-month operating cash flow has rebounded to $29 billion compared to $24.2 billion at the end of last year.

And if price-to-earnings, dividend yield, and growth rates are only background clues to cash flow, these metrics seem to bode well for UnitedHealth, too.

The company’s price-to-earnings ratio of 13.7 is cheap compared to the S&P 500,
with its average P/E ratio of around 26, while revenue growth of 13% year over year further fuels the bull case. Meanwhile, the company’s recent 5.2% dividend increase — its 15th consecutive annual payout hike — brings its yield to 2.8% as I write this, nearly triple the S&P 500 average.

For investors willing to take a long-term approach and be rewarded with rising income in the meantime, UnitedHealth is a buy.

Investors have been very fortunate over the past couple of years. A tremendous run for technology stocks on artificial intelligence enthusiasm, investments, and rising long-term expectations has carried the broader stock market to impressive heights.

But it seems the market has begun to cool off over the past week or so, with some of the top-performing technology stocks dipping off their highs. As fun as soaring stock prices are, it’s crucial to remember that volatility is a regular part of long-term investing, and that it’s healthy when things take a bit of a breather after an extended run.

It can also be a good opportunity to buy your favorite stocks at lower prices. Three Fools got together to identify three winning tech stocks that still offer that right mix of long-term growth and present-day value. When it was all said and done, Nvidia (NVDA 1.65%), SoundHound AI (SOUN 2.70%), and Netflix (NFLX -0.20%) stood out from the crowd.

Here is what you need to know about each stock right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

This AI accelerator leader is not done rising

Will Healy (Nvidia): It seems nothing can hold back Nvidia’s stock price growth for long. The chip stock is up around 1,400% from its 2022 low as its research spearheaded the rapidly growing AI accelerator industry.

NVDA data by YCharts

That product has so fundamentally changed the company that its data center segment made up 89% of the company’s revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. This is a dramatic turnabout from three years ago, when the data center segment was not significantly larger than Nvidia’s long-established gaming business.

Also, Nvidia’s profits have risen so dramatically that even with its massive gains, its P/E ratio is only about 56. In comparison, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), whose stock has experienced much lower returns, trades at 94 times earnings.

Moreover, there are no meaningful signs of a slowdown. Grand View Research forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% for the AI chip market through 2030, and Nvidia has far exceeded that estimate.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, its revenue of $44 billion rose 69% from year-ago levels. Even though a company with a $4.2 trillion market cap is unlikely to sustain that growth rate, the aforementioned CAGR makes it likely to continue reporting robust revenue growth.

Additionally, competitive threats have not held it back. DeepSeek’s breakthrough on low-cost AI training earlier this year contributed to a temporary pullback of over 40% in the stock price, but Nvidia recovered quickly. Also, while AMD’s upcoming MI400 release next year could bring competition to Nvidia’s Vera Rubin platform, the company still has time to respond to that threat.

Indeed, Nvidia’s massive stock gains and huge market cap might deter some investors from buying. Nonetheless, with its domination of the AI accelerator market and the company’s relatively low P/E ratio, Nvidia stock remains on track for further growth.

A recent pullback in SoundHound AI stock could present an opportunity for long-term investors

Jake Lerch (SoundHound AI): My choice is SoundHound AI. Here’s why.

First, let’s put the recent downturn in context. It’s no surprise that the artificial intelligence (AI) sector is getting hit hard by the recent volatility in the stock market. Many of the stocks in this sector are young companies that are developing cutting-edge technology. Therefore, when the growth trajectory of the industry is questioned, sell-offs can be steep and sudden. Yet, these big sell-offs present an opportunity for long-term investors.

Turning to SoundHound AI specifically, let’s recall that the company is a leader within the voice AI sector. They have solid penetration within the automotive and restaurant sectors.

In addition, one of their primary competitive advantages is their ability to deploy custom voice AI solutions. What this means is that SoundHound works with companies to tailor their specific AI solutions, which are then deployed under the customer’s brand name. This gives SoundHound a leg up on some of its big tech competitors by allowing clients to maintain brand management and data privacy.

Last, let’s recall that only a few weeks ago, SoundHound posted a fantastic quarterly report. The company generated an all-time high of $43 million in revenue, which was up an eye-popping 217% from a year earlier. Management highlighted new or expanded business partnerships across the restaurant, automotive, healthcare, finance, and retail sectors. What’s more, the company raised full-year guidance.

According to Yahoo Finance, sell-side analysts now expect SoundHound to generate $166 million in revenue in 2025 and $215 million in 2026, representing growth of 96% and 29%, respectively.

In short, SoundHound remains a promising long-term investment within the AI sector, thanks to its solid growth trajectory. Growth-oriented investors might therefore want to consider it on this most recent pullback.

Netflix isn’t done delivering for shareholders

Justin Pope (Netflix): The streaming king has delivered in a big way for shareholders. Shares have risen over 70% over the past year, even after a recent 10% dip. While that’s not a very big drop, it’s still a dip long-term investors should consider buying.

One of the prettiest charts you’ll see is that of Netflix’s profit margins over time. As more people sign up for Netflix, the company becomes increasingly profitable because it can spread its content costs across more customers. Netflix stopped reporting subscriber numbers at the end of 2024, but paid subscriptions increased by 15.9% year over year in Q4 to 301.63 million, so new customer acquisition still had plenty of momentum at the end of last year.

NFLX Profit Margin data by YCharts

Additionally, Netflix is beginning to pull multiple growth levers. For instance, Netflix has raised its subscription prices over time and launched an ad-supported membership option a few years ago. It surpassed 70 million subscribers last November, and management expects ad revenue to double this year as some subscribers trade a little convenience for cost savings.

Meanwhile, the future looks bright. Netflix has waded increasingly deeper into live sports, a significant media category that could continue to help drive and sustain subscriptions. Analysts estimate Netflix will grow earnings by an average of almost 23% annually over the next three to five years. I wouldn’t say Netflix’s stock is a once-in-a-lifetime deal at 46 times 2025 earnings estimates, but the stock seems fairly valued for a business with such a strong growth outlook and increasingly fatter profit margins.

Investors who buy and hold Netflix will likely be very happy with their decision a few years from now.

A man issued his honest thoughts about his flight with low-cost airline Ryanair, after being left staggered by the price of a coffee and ham and cheese croissant

A YouTuber has been left shocked by the prices of Ryanair‘s breakfast items on board. Johnny G opted to travel with the low-cost airline from Sofia to Varna in Bulgaria, after hearing complaints about some its services. Before delving into his review, he told his subscribers: “Today I made it my mission to fly with Ryanair and see for myself how bad this airline really is.”

Once settled onto the plane, Johnny, from Switzerland, said he found the cabin “very basic” as he expected, and wasn’t a fan of the seats. Yet, what truly caught him off guard was the pricing of the airline’s refreshments. Presenting the menu to his viewers, a Lavazza coffee was listed at a cost of €3.15 (£2.72), while croissants and breakfast rolls were priced between €3.25 (£2.81) and €6 (£5.19).

Johnny chose to purchase a ham and cheese croissant, which cost €5.75 (just under £5) alongside a coffee during his 2023 flight. Sharing his thoughts, he said: “For a coffee and a croissant, I pay more than for the flight itself.”

What also left him stunned was how nice the coffee actually tasted, compared to others he’s tasted on flights. He added: “To be fair, I’ve probably never had such good coffee on a plane, but it takes me a while to figure out how this wicked cup works.”

After his flight came to an end, he shared his verdict, adding: “Although Ryanair certainly has its imperfections, I don’t think it’s as bad as everyone says.

“You can’t spend pennies and expect gold for it. The crew were friendly, the plane was in good condition and the flight was on time.”

Since Johnny’s experience, inflation has prompted Ryanair to increase their prices. A Lavazza coffee is now €3.75 (£3.25), while a ham and cheese croissant €6 (£5.19).

To some, these prices might appear steep, but keep in mind that only hot beverages served by Ryanair are allowed on flights.

Ryanair’s clear policy states: “You must not take hot drinks on the plane, or drink your own alcohol when on the plane.”

Passengers are however welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks on board, as long as it does not exceed the hand-luggage weight limit.

In a recent announcement, Ryanair shared plans to expand their “personal bag” allowance by a sizeable 20 per cent, in line with new EU standards for hand luggage.

Under the changes, passengers will be allowed to carry on a bag with maximum dimensions of 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, without any additional fees.

The bag must weigh under 10kg and it has to fit “under the seat in front you.”

These amendments are expected to come into force in the next coming weeks.

A British expat proved just how far a fiver can get you in Benidorm after finding a ‘hidden gem’ in the Old Town where you can fill up on beer and tapas without breaking the bank

A British woman who has lived in Benidorm for 40 years found a “hidden gem” bar – and the price of beer and tapas was “outstanding”.

Michelle Baker used to run a newspaper in the holiday hotspot for two decades and she now shares valuable information on her Benidormforever Facebook page. And it was here that the mum, who has raised her children in Spain, revealed her latest find. After strolling through the Old Town, Michelle discovered Rumbo Bar, which she said has been there since 1968, and was recently taken over by Juani and Nico.

Writing on her page, she said: “Regular followers know I’m a HUGE supporter of the small bars, and in the Old Town yesterday I stumbled across this little gem; Bar Rumbo.”

She added: “Realising their location is just off the busy square that overlooks the little Mal Pas beach is slightly hidden, the couple have put their heart and soul into making their pet friendly pub as welcoming as possible, with quirky decoration, a selection of board games and they’ve some outstanding offers too.”

And as for the incredible prices, Michelle explained how a beer and two tapas cost just €4.90 (approx £4). A glass of wine meanwhile is just €2.20 while a coffee is priced at €1.50. For something fancier, the owners also sell two cocktails for €10.

Michelle pointed out that the air conditioned space provided a “peaceful escape” from the raucous part of Benidorm.

Explaining why she was keen on highlighting it, she said: “I love to point out the hidden places in the hope more of you will support them before they are all swallowed up by the big boys; your choice to pop in for a round or two of drinks makes all the difference to their day and it shows in their eagerness to please their customers.”

Speaking to Michelle during her pleasant visit, Juani joked that he had no music playing in the bar, but being a musician, he sometimes sings to customers.

He added: “What we really want is for people to feel welcome and meet new friends and they do. Once they find us they come back night after night.”

After posting on her page, one person replied: “In all the years visiting Benidorm I have never seen this bar and we always stay and eat, drink in the old town. I will certainly be looking for it next time we visit.”

Another said: “We used to live above the Rumbo bar it’s a lovely little bar I know the original owner and his son who took over. Miss living in the old town such good memories.”

A third went with: “I don’t want to be in a bar full of English people I know that sounds bad but it’s how I like to spend my time when over in old town.”

June 30 (UPI) — Home Depot on Monday announced an agreement to buy GMS, a leading specialty building products distributor.

The deal, which is expected to be completed in 2026, will see Home Depot acquire GMS for $4.3 billion as it aims to draw in more sales from contractors and other home professionals.

GMS is a distributor of specialty products which include drywall, ceilings, steel framing and other products related to construction and remodeling projects in residential and commercial end markets.

“We are excited to join with SRS and The Home Depot, and we believe this transaction delivers significant value to our customers, suppliers and team,” said president and CEO of GMS, John C. Turner, Jr.

GMS shares were up more than 11%, while Home Depots’ rose slightly in early trading.

Home Depot subsidiary SRS distribution will buy all shares of GMS for $110, as part of the deal, the company said. The total enterprise value is approximately $5.5 billion.

“The combination of GMS and SRS will provide the residential and commercial Pro customer with more fulfillment and service options than ever before. Together, we’ll create a network of more than 1,200 locations and a fleet of more than 8,000 trucks capable of making tens of thousands of jobsite deliveries per day,” said CEO of SRS, Dan Tinker. “GMS is an industry leader with a proven track record of growth, and we look forward to welcoming the entire GMS team to SRS and capturing the exciting opportunity ahead.”

The GMS acquisition is expected to be completed by early 2026, Home Depot said.

A woman called Caitlin bought fish and chips in Tenerife, but Brits have been left floored by the price. They couldn’t get over how it compared to similar meals in the UK

A woman bought fish and chips in Tenerife but Brits have been left astounded by the price. Caitlin, who documents her life in Tenerife online, recently visited a new food spot in Los Cristianos and decided to share her findings with social media users.

Under the name caitlincampb_, she shared her visit to the local chippy on TikTok, and people couldn’t get over how much a classic fish supper set her back. Simply called The Shamrock Fish ‘n Chippy, she decided to visit the restaurant as it’s new, and she noted there’s also a bar there that offers live entertainment too.

Caitlin opted to sample a classic fish and chips when she visited, and they looked pretty tasty. She also offered people a glimpse of the receipt, and this is what caught their attention.

The meal came in at €12.50 overall, with the cod being priced at €8.50 and the chips coming in at €4.00 for a regular portion. This is what captivated people in the comments section.

Astounded by the price, one person said: “£17 at my local in Scotland for a fish supper now.” Another added: “Was it any good?” Caitlin soon replied to this, saying: “Yeah.”

A third responded: “Went there three times in a week – was awesome. They guy server is really good.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “We went there last time. In our opinion, the best on the island.”

If you’re wondering why some people were surprised by the price, Caitlin’s fish and chip supper came in at around £10.68. This varies a lot to some reported prices in the UK.

According to reports, the average price for a regular portion of fish and chips in the UK comes in at around £9.88. Prices can vary significantly though, with London being known as offering the most expensive price at £22.50 for a larger portion.

Meanwhile, in West Yorkshire, it’s said you may be able to snap up the much-loved meal for as little as £6.70 for a smaller portion. However, portion sizes also vary greatly, as some shops can serve a regular fish up to 12oz and chips up to 20oz.

If you didn’t know, the price of cod and haddock has rocketed by 75% in the past year as a result of supply chain disruptions and global factors like the Ukraine war. While the price rise could hit the pockets of punters, it appears Brits still love tucking into fish and chips.

According to average prices, a classic cod and chips will cost you around £10.92. Meanwhile, the average price of haddock and chips is slightly higher at £11.13.

Meanwhile, smaller meal portions tend to come in between £5 to £8, while larger portions can set you back around £11. If it’s high end fish and chips you’re after, the price can vary from anything to £25 to £80.

Recently, one woman left people shocked when she ordered a chippy tea in Liverpool. Suzanna ventured to her favourite chippy to sample what was on offer, and she was left pretty impressed, but the price of the dish did take some people by surprise.

She ordered a small portion of fish, chips and mushy peas, and encouraged other people to share how much they pay to sample the goods where they live. It led to all sorts of answers being put forward.

Harry is known for sharing travel content online, but he recently turned his attention to fish and chips. He was left floored by the price of a meal in Benidorm recently

A man bought fish and chips when he was exploring Benidorm, but was left totally floored by the price. Harry, who often shares his adventures in Spain online, is known for making travel content, and he recently decided to sample fish and chips at the popular holiday resort.

Known as HarryTokky on TikTok, he said he may have sampled the “best” fish and chips he’s tried in Benidorm so far, and he found them at Ray’s Chippy 2. He raved about the recent meal he had at the restaurant, and shared his thoughts with his followers; however, he was left rather astounded by the price.

In the clip, he admitted he’s been told it was the “best chippy” in town, so he decided to give it a try. With many people opting to sample fish and chips when they visit Benidorm, he thought it was important to sample what’s on offer.

He opted for a small cod and chips, as well as curry sauce and a soft drink. When he was handed the food, he admitted it looked “absolutely amazing.”

Harry said: “We’ve got the small cod and chips, we’ve got the gravy as well. No, we’ve got the curry sauce, my apologies. Let’s get plenty of salt on there.

“Oh the batter is incredible, super crunchy. Beautiful, beautiful. Honestly, it’s that hot, I cannot even eat it. I’m going to have to wait a few minutes for it to cool down but, honestly, this is so tasty.

“I mean, if you are coming to Benidorm, you’ve got to check this place out. It’s incredible. Right guys, I have just finished my meal, and I have no other words other than exceptional.”

Warning: Below video may contain offensive language

When he was handed the bill, he told viewers the meal came to €13.65. When converted, this equates to around £11.68, and Harry thought it was an “absolute bargain.”

He signs off the video by decribing the eatery as a “secret hidden gem”, and he spoke highly of how good the food was. People were quick to comment and share their thoughts after he posted the video.

One said: “Was there two weeks ago – best chippy in Benidorm.” Another added: “It looks lovely – can’t wait to try it.”

A third replied: “I’ll check it out when I’m over in September. I’ve heard it’s the best in Beni.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “I was there last week – spot on and great price too.”

Others were also quick to recommend other places to get fish and chips in the area that are also highly rated. Some examples included Dave’s Chippy, Planet Benidorm and John and Joseph’s, among others.

To put the price into perspective, it’s reported the average price for a regular portion of fish and chips in the UK comes in at around £9.88. Prices can vary significantly though, with London being known for offering the most expensive price at £22.50 for a larger portion.

Meanwhile, in West Yorkshire, it’s said you may be able to snap up the much-loved meal for as little as £6.70 for a smaller portion. However, portion sizes also vary greatly, as some shops can serve a regular fish up to 12oz and chips up to 20oz.

If you didn’t know, the price of cod and haddock has rocketed by 75% in the past year as a result of supply chain disruptions and global factors like the Ukraine war. While the price rise could hit the pockets of punters, it appears Brits still love tucking into fish and chips.

According to average prices, a classic cod and chips will cost you around £10.92. Meanwhile, the average price of haddock and chips is slightly higher at £11.13.

Smaller meal portions tend to come in between £5 to £8, while larger portions can set you back around £11. If it’s high end fish and chips you’re after, the price can vary from anything to £25 to £80.

A woman bought a McDonald’s meal while she was on holiday in Turkey but she was totally floored by price. She couldn’t believe how much money the meal set her back

A woman who jetted off to Turkey on holiday was left floored when she bought a McDonald’s meal. The holidaymaker, known as Emzie, said she was gobsmacked when she was handed the bill after she snapped up a meal at the airport.

She said the price of a McDonald’s meal is “ridiculous” at Antalya Airport, as it was “nothing speical” when compared to offerings at UK stores. Emzie posted about the incident on TikTok as she couldn’t believe how much money it cost her to purchase a few burgers, and many people agreed that the prices seemed to be more expensive than you’d expect.

In the clip, she said: “What can I say? McDonald’s at Antalya Airport – crazy prices. They want €20, which is roughly about £18, for a Big Mac meal – that’s a regular size.

“We got two triple cheese burgers, a medium Coke and a medium Fanta, and in total in English that was £37.00. There’s nothing special about it.”

Emzie said she didn’t think the meal was worth the hefty price tag, and people shared their personal views in the comments too. Many couldn’t believe their eyes after they saw the receipt, and the video prompted hundreds to comment.

One person said: “We paid £94.” Another wrote: “I spent €85 there for me and my two kids.”

A third also replied: “Omg – they are disgusting prices.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “How can anyone afford to pay that or want to pay that? It’s actually insane.”

However, despite people sharing similar experiences, others were quick to point out that they didn’t think she should have bought the food if she considered it too expensive.

Someone else chimed in with: “Can’t buy it and the complain. You saw the prices before buying.” Another added: “Just don’t buy them?”

One more also wrote: “Don’t buy it then. Eat before you leave the hotel. Most drivers in Turkey stop on the way to the airport at a diner or shop.”

Even though people had varied views, some have been raisng concerns about rising prices in Turkey lately. There are reasons why inflation has hit the popular holiday destination, according to reports.

Why is Turkey becoming so expensive?

There are a few reasons why prices are said to have shot up in Turkey. Statista shared some advice.

The website reads: “Domestic producer price indices have been continuously rising, which has directly resulted in a price increase in all consumer goods and services. Accordingly, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in all commodity groups increased extremely since 2022.

“In the same year, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category had one of the highest inflation rates in the CPI. This particularly affected Turkish consumers, as these products accounted for the highest share of household expenditure in 2023.

“Since 2020, food prices have increased significantly around the world, and Turkey is no exception. Although inflation has started to slow down recently, food prices in Turkey continue to go up steadily, increasing by 48.6 percent in November 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year.

“It is not surprising that food inflation has not simmered down, as the producer price index (PPI) of agricultural products followed a constant increasing trend in the country over the past few years.”

However, it’s noted the country is also taking steps to help boost tourism, including addressing rising prices, making tourist offerings more diverse and investing in infrastructure. The Government is said to be working to reduce inflation, and some people are also promoting niche tourism areas like spas and health care.

McDonald’s has been asked to comment.

DRIVERS looking to buy an affordable but reliable older motor should consider one of these top 10 picks from the Which? annual car survey.

The consumer group has revealed a list of cars it recommends with five-star reliability ratings between 10-15 years old, some for less than £3,000.

From nippy city cars to big family SUVs, there are options for all drivers hunting for a bargain buy that doesn’t scrimp on quality.

Michael Passingham, senior researcher at Which?, told thisismoney that hybrid cars have come to dominate the list of most reliable, older vehicles.

He said: “Why do these cars perform so well? One reason could be that the hardest part of a car’s life – starting and pulling away – are mostly handled by the small electric motor.

“These motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines and, along with sturdy main battery packs, really don’t have to work all that hard. 

“The downside is that our data shows a much higher failure rate of the 12V battery (the small battery all cars have) on full hybrids; this component is worked hard so it pays to buy a quality one and get it replaced every five years or so.”

In good news for consumers, so called ‘full’ hybrids’ have been removed from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars planned by the government.

Micheal warned against opting for a plug-in hybrid, saying that this type of car has “one of the least reliable engine types according to our data”.

Here is the full list of the 10 best buys for the most reliable older cars…

10. Toyota Auris (2012-2019)

Average used price: £4,650

10

Faults: 28% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 5.3

The predecessor to the Toyota Corolla, the Auris served as the brands family hatchback offering for almost two decades until it was replaced in 2019.

The second generation Auris, sold between 2012-2019, boasts impressive reliability with less than three in ten owners reporting faults in the last year, and only seven per cent saying their vehicle broke down.

The average price of £4,650 makes this a competitive option when looking for a family, and environment, friendly hatchback.

The only caveat is that the Auris took an average of 5.3 days to get back on the road after a breakdown, which is higher than other cars on this list.

9. Suzuki Alto (2009-2014)

Average used price: £2,800

10

Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 1% Days off the road: 2.6

The Suzuki Alto, released in 2009, is still living up to its promise of being a cheap, compact and reliable supermini.

It was first offered for £6,000-£7,000 and now can be snapped up for less than three grand, the cheapest buy on this list.

The simplicity of the Alto makes it a particularly reliable option, with just 1 per cent reporting breakdowns in the last 12 months, and a quarter saying they had to deal with faults.

If it does need a repair, the Alto’s simplicity means it gets back to you in an average of only 2.6 days.

8. Toyota Yaris (2011-2020)

Average used price: £3,100

10

Faults: 23% Breakdowns: 6% Days off the road: 3.1

The go-to small, dependable car for many in the last 25 years, the Yaris, is still making recommendation lists for its affordability and reliability.

With less than a quarter reporting faults and only 6 per cent dealing with a breakdown in the last 12 months, the Yaris still holds up remarkably well after all this time.

This is the 2011-2020 model with a hybrid drivetrain, an addition which makes it economical to drive as well as to buy, averaging just over £3,000.

7. Suzuki Swift (2010-2016)

Average used price: £3,500

10

Faults: 27% Breakdowns: 8% Days off the road: 1.4 

Suzuki appears again on this list with the 2010-2016 Swift supermini, a compact, simple vehicle at a compelling price.

Received positively upon release, the Swift was praised for being fun to drive with a competitive blend of efficiency and performance.

Now on sale for only around three and a half grand, this might be a great option for those looking for a small but fiery little motor.

Although it scores a little worse on breakdowns, with 8 per cent being the highest on this list, it does only spend a brief 1.4 days in the shop when things do go wrong.

Couple this with a good score of 27 per cent reporting faults, and this characterful car is still a good buy in 2025.

6. BMW X1 (2009-2015)

Average used price: £5,200

10

Faults: 35% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 2.1

In a shock entry to this list, the BMW X1 is an outlier for luxury SUVs, which are often unreliable and costly to repair.

On the contrary, the X1 competes with other, much smaller, simpler cars with a respectable record of just 7 per cent reporting breakdowns last year and only 2.1 days taken to fix on average.

Consumers may be able to take advantage of typically low SUV resale prices, generally due to reliability and repair cost concerns, to pick up this hidden gem for a very reasonable price of around £5,000.

That said, the X1 does rank low on this list in terms of faults, with over a third experiencing issues in the last 12 months.

5. Skoda CitiGo (2009-2019)

Average used price: £4,500

10

Faults: 22% Breakdowns: 5% Days off the road: 2.8

Mechanically identical to the VW Up!, the Skoda CitiGo was meant for squeezing into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets while keeping your fuel costs and insurance premiums to a minimum.

After being discontinued five years ago, the CitiGo now makes for a tempting prospect on the second-hand market.

It was initially praised for being surprisingly roomy for being so small, and for being the cheaper alternative to the Up! while essentially being the same car.

It boasts impressive reliability, with only 22 per cent reporting faults and 5 per cent experiencing a break down.

The CitiGo is fairly quick to repair as well, only spending 2.8 days at the garage before being ready for more.

4. Honda Jazz (2008-2015)

Average used price: £3,800

10

Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 4% Days off the road: 2.7

Almost exclusively driven by those of a certain age, the Honda Jazz is popular amongst the older demographic for a reason: its convenient, reliable and easy to drive.

These attributes might get Grandma excited, but they should also make the Jazz an attractive option for anyone looking for a solid vehicle at a bargain price.

One in four owners reported a fault with their cars and the average time in the garage was 2.7 days being fixed by mechanics.

Your Jazz shouldn’t be seeing the inside of a garage too often though, with only 4 per cent breaking down in the last year.

3. Lexus RX 450h (2009-2015)

Average used price: £6,400 

10

Faults: 16% Breakdowns: 0%  Days off the road: 2 

This chunky SUV was voted the most satisfying car to own in 2024 in a Which? survey.

A glance at the cars record quickly confirms that one of the factors that make it so popular must be its excellent reliability.

Looking at the hybrid-powered models here, only 16 per cent reported a fault in the last year and none had their RX break down on them.

For the times that the RX was sent into the garage, it only spent 2 days on average being worked on.

The price is a little higher than some others on this list, but buyers are getting both space, comfort and relatively good fuel efficiency.

2. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015)

Average used price: £3,800

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Faults: 26% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.7

The iconic MX-5 speeds into the number two spot for good reason, bucking the trend of unreliable sports car to still deliver thrilling driving with solid build quality at a good price.

Hailing originally from the late 1980’s, this example of the world’s best selling roadster is the third generation MX-5, it debuted in 2005 and still holds up today.

The record from Which?’s data is flawless when it comes to breakdowns, and shows that this classic is quick to fix only spending 1.7 days in the shop.

Just over a quarter reported faults, but that’s not a huge figure when it comes to second-hand sports cars.

1. Lexus CT 200h (2011-2020)

Average used price: £7,300

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Faults: 13% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.2 

Topping the list as the most reliable 10 to 15 year-old car comes the Lexus CT 200h, a full hybrid hatchback which served as the brands answer to the Ford Focus and VW Golf until 2020.

CT 200h owners surveyed by Which? delivered glowing reviews, reporting zero breakdowns and only 13 per cent experiencing a fault with their car.

Drivers praised the vehicles comfort and, of course, reliability, only pointing to a small boot and clunky infotainment system as critiques, as reported by thisismoney.

The car sells for around £7,000, the priciest offering so far, but its near spotless record should mean your investment pays off with a dependable motor that is good for years to come.

The ones to steer clear of

Which? puts the diesel powered Vauxhall Zafira (2005-2014) and Nissan Qashqai (2007-20013) as two of the least reliable vehicles that consumers should steer well clear of if dependability is their aim.

The Zafira has become known for catching fires in recent years due to issues with its heater blower motor and regulator. This usually happens when owners replace parts with cheaper, aftermarket components.

It is hardly a wonder that drivers are turning to cut-price alternatives when the Zafira breaks down on three in ten owners, with more than half reporting faults in the last year.

The car also takes a whopping 14 days on average for repairs to be made.

The first generation Nissan Qashqai also from suffers reliability issues, and needs almost a week in the garage on average before it is road-ready after a malfunction.

Both these cars use diesel fuel, and Which? has found that this is by far the worst fuel type for reliability, with an average fault rate of 48 per cent, compared to 39 per cent for petrol and 23 per cent for hybrids.

A SHOPPER has been praised for sharing their haul after nabbing laundry essentials for a quarter of the normal price in Asda.

The thrifty person took to Facebook to post about their epic find, after a trip to their local supermarket.

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In a post on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on the social media site, they shared a snap of the purchases and reveal the discount they got at the till.

“I just picked these up in Asda,” they wrote.

They then revealed they’d paid £1 each for the boxes of Fairy laundry pods – usually £4.50 a pop, and big bottles of Lenor for just 70p.

Also in their spree was two bottles of the ASDA Pure Cotton Sensitive Fabric Softener, which they got for 68p each rather than £2.48.

And other jealous shoppers took to the comments section to weigh in on the person’s find, with one writing: “Wowsas, brilliant find!”

“Bloody hell, never that cheap near me!” another sighed.

“I wish this would happen to me lol, never EVER does!” a third insisted.

“I really wanna get to my Asda but then I don’t ever get good bargains.” someone else moaned.

“Some people are lucky!” another pointed out.

“Well done!” someone else said.

“I got some a week or so ago, but not that cheap. Shared them with family as I bought a lot.”

“Bargain, there at the right time!” another raved.

However, others accused the bargain hunter of “telling porkies”.

“I went Asda last night and they were normally priced at our Asda,” one wrote.

To which another added: “She’s telling the truth.

“I got some today in Asda for £1, I bought all and made the worker get the rest from the top shelf… it was the Bold ones though.”

“It is in our store as well, it’s all deleted lines,” someone else said.

“They went down last week at my store,” another added.

“The colleagues had most of them so might be the same in other stores.

“Doesn’t get a chance to go out on the shop floor!”