The family-owned burger chain is expanding its footprint across the U.S. Its owner insists one principle will always be true.
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Citigold Review (2026.10 Update: $2,000 Offer, Small Changes)
[2026.10 Update] The welcome bonus is $2,000 for depositing $200,000. Offer ends 01/11/27. One recent change is that funds held in a Citi Savings account now also count toward the bonus requirements. Citi has also introduced Citi Premium Boost: Meet this account’s minimum balance requirement and receive at least $5,000 in Enhanced Direct Deposits (EDDs) each month to qualify for a higher rate on your Citi Savings account—4.00% APY as of October 2026. This makes the opportunity cost of keeping your money in the account relatively low.
[2025.7 Update] It seems starting from 2019, Citigold added a $200 Subscription Rebate benefit: earn up to $200 in statement credits for subscriptions made with: Amazon Prime, Costco, Audible, Hulu, Spotify, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry.
[2024.10 Update] The new offer is $1,500 with $200k deposit requirement.
[2024.1 Update] The new bonus is $1,500/$2,500 with deposit requirement $200k/$300k. The bonus offer seems nice, but requiring $200,000 in the checking account (not including savings or brokerage account!) is insane in my opinion. Nowadays a simple savings account can give you 5%+ APY, so this bonus is completely not worth it.
Application Link
Benefits
- $2,000 sign-up bonus! Please read below for the requirements to get this bonus.
- No monthly fee. But In order to be eligible, you must maintain $200,000 in combined average monthly balance in all eligible deposit, retirement, and investment accounts.
- [New] $200 Subscription Rebate: earn up to $200 in statement credits for subscriptions made with: Amazon Prime, Costco, Audible, Hulu, Spotify, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry.
- Discounted annual fees for some premium credit cards from Citi. The reduced annual fees remain even if you close your Citigold account thereafter.
- Free access to non-Citi ATM.
- $0 Early Termination Fee. So you can close your account at any time, or you can downgrade it to the basic version checking account.
- [New] Citi Premium Boost: Meet this account’s minimum balance requirement and receive at least $5,000 in Enhanced Direct Deposits (EDDs) each month to qualify for a higher rate on your Citi Savings account—4.00% APY as of October 2026. This makes the opportunity cost of keeping your money in the account relatively low.
Bonus Requirements
- This bonus is only available for new clients. Those who currently have a Citi checking or savings account, or have closed an account within 180 days are not eligible for this offer. Those with a Citi credit card are not exempt from these rules.
- Deposit the required amount into your account within 45 calendar days of account opening, then maintain at least that balance every day from day 46 through day 90. The deposit requirements and corresponding cash bonuses are listed below:
Deposit Amount Bonus $30,000 $500 $200,000 $2,000 $1,000,000 $4,000 - [Update] Funds held in both checking and savings accounts count toward the deposit and balance requirements.
Different Citi Checking Accounts
Here is a comparison and contrast on the official website.
Summary
Citigold used to be available to everyone as long as you are willing to pay the monthly fee. However, after Nov. 2016, Citigold requires a balance of at least $200,000 to maintain the account. Now only rich people can consider this account. Now that funds held in savings count toward the bonus requirements and the savings rate can be boosted to a competitive level, this welcome bonus is worth pursuing—provided you have that much spare cash to move around.
Application Link
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Northwestern University professor Thomas Miller ‘Nowcast’ model sees a Democratic sweep in Senate
I started following Thomas Miller’s political forecasts during the January 2021 Senate races in Georgia. Just a few days before the election, the polls and pundits anticipated a relatively easy win for both Republican candidates. But Miller—a prominent data scientist and professor at Northwestern University—posited a Democratic sweep, and he was right. He also called Trump’s victory in 2024. What’s different about Miller’s models? They’re far more current than the polls, and they’re centered on prediction market prices that are typically a better guide than the voter surveys—plus Miller adjusts the outlook in every Senatorial contest by using all we know about every contest.
Now, Miller is applying an updated version of his model for the current Senate elections. You can find the stats on his website, Virtualtout.io, and I highly recommend paying a visit. Once again, Miller starts by incorporating the betting venues’ data. “I use the numbers from two sites, Polymarket and Kalshi,” he told Fortune. “They’re the ones that trade the most dollars, where most of the action happens.” Miller then calibrates the posted “prices” so that they reflect probabilities, and the odds for both leading candidates tally to 100%. In a further step, he deploys multiple time series analysis to find underlying factors driving the betting prices, and uses trusted models from finance and economics to project how they’re likely to influence voters moving forward.
By the way, he thinks his model works better than AI.
Miller updates the probabilities of a Republican or Democratic win every 10 minutes. The odds that a candidate will win scroll across the top of the Virtualtout.io screen continuously, in a band resembling a stock ticker tape. For each race, Miller also posts the change over the last 24 hours. Miller calls the streaming feature the “NowCast.”
As for those “underlying” factors, one force swamps all others: Donald Trump. “The states don’t move independently of one another,” says Miller. “If one goes up for Democrats, chances are they’ll all go up for Democrats, and vice versa. The entire market is dominated by what Trump does and says hour by hour.” Put simply, when voters don’t like the POTUS’s words or actions, all Republican odds tend to fall. Miller asserts that his model has identified 85% to 90% of what’s causing the variances on Kalshi and Polymarket, and “my interpretation is that it’s overwhelmingly Trump and the Republican positions generally.”
Though he opened Virtuatout.io to public view about a week ago, Miller started running the numbers on September 17. What’s most striking is just how far the GOP chances have faded in just six weeks.
As of around 9 AM on October 30, five days before most polling sites close, Virtualtout.io gives the Republicans a 17.1%, or just over one-sixth probability, of winning 50 seats and hence retaining control of the upper chamber. On September 17, that figure was twice as high at 34.8%, or slightly better than one-in-three. In all five contests where the Democrats can flip a seat, their chances are better than 60%—in most cases, much better.
In North Carolina, where Republican Thom Tillis is retiring, leaving an open seat, the GOP was never remotely close, and now harbors a minuscule 4% shot at victory. In Texas, the Republican odds have dropped since September 17 from 46.15% to 31.9%, in Ohio from 45.4% to 31.8%, and in Alaska from 32.95% to 28.6%.
In only one state is the GOP faring better than in mid-September and that’s Maine. Republican Susan Collins started as an underdog at 32.6%, but has clawed back to 39.9%, adding 1.7 points in the last 24 hours. In Alaska, things are also looking up for the Republicans: After falling to a low of 23.4% on October 23, incumbent Dan S. Sullivan’s prospects have improved by over 5 points to 28.6%.
For the political pros looking for harbingers of big trouble for either side, the towering sign is the Republican woes in traditional strongholds Iowa and Kansas. In the former, Republican Ashley Hinton dropped from 61.75% on September 17 to a virtual tie at 53.4%, a trend mirrored in Kansas where Adam Hamilton was looking a likely victor six weeks ago at 75.8%; now, he’s down almost 19 points at 57.1%. In the last day, Hinton and Hamilton have shed 1.45% and 2.47 points respectively.
In the one state where Republicans saw a big chance for a flip, the horizon’s receding fast. The GOP chances of beating Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan have slipped from better than a third in mid-September to about a quarter (25.4%).
If the Democrats indeed score a flip in every contest where their probabilities in Miller’s model stand at 60% or better, and hold all the seats they have now, they’ll clinch a majority of 52 to 48, nearly reversing the Republican dominance at 53-47.
In South Carolina, recently rerated on the Fox News Channel from “lean Republican” to “tossup,” Miller still has Darline Graham at a commanding 75%, though she’s slipped 2.4 points in the past 24 hours.
Keep in mind that Miller’s setting odds, not making definitive predictions. A candidate at over 30% still stands a decent chance of winning. And Republicans are over that bogey in Maine, Ohio, and Texas, and close and trending the right way in Alaska. Odds-defying events happen all the time. The problem for Republicans is that they’d have to beat those odds multiple times, plus defend seats they never dreamed they’d have to defend.
It’s still far from over. And one of the best places to get a plausible, non-AI driven snapshot from a data scientist who’s been doing this for six years, is that NowCast on Tom Miller’s Virtualtout.io.
How to Speak with Power and Intention at Work with Dr. Kristine Sickels
Catch the full episode:
Overview
Most of us have walked out of a meeting thinking, “I wish I’d said that.” Dr. Kristine Sickels has a name for it: the voice values gap. It’s the distance between what you believe and what actually comes out of your mouth. Left alone, that gap can quietly cost you promotions, clients, and credit for your own ideas.
In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, John Jantsch talks with Sickels about her new book, The Clearest Voice in the Room. Sickels spent nearly 20 years in corporate marketing leadership. She shares the two 360 reviews that changed how she communicates, why “executive presence” so often rewards volume over substance, and how naming your values out loud gives your team a way to read you.
They also walk through her VOICE framework (values, outcomes, identity, consistency, energy) and the shift from “spotlight speaker” to “lighthouse speaker.” This episode is for small business owners, marketers, and leaders who want to speak with more intention in meetings, sales conversations, and on stage.
Guest bio
Dr. Kristine Sickels spent nearly 20 years at Newell Brands. She rose to senior vice president of marketing over a portfolio worth more than $2 billion that included Rubbermaid, Crock-Pot, Calphalon, Mr. Coffee, and Oster. In 2010 she left corporate life and co-founded C-Sweet, a multimillion-dollar women-owned consulting firm.
Sickels is part of the team at Mic Drop, an education company that helps women build keynotes, book paid speaking engagements, and grow their income and impact. She is the author of The Clearest Voice in the Room: How to Speak with Power and Intention at Work.
Key takeaways
- Start with values. Knowing what you stand for tells you what to say and which topics are worth speaking into.
- Name your values out loud. When Sickels tells a team she values candor, optimism, and curiosity, they know how to read her feedback and her questions.
- Set expectations so candor isn’t misread. When people know what’s coming, a direct critique reads as care for the work. Without that context, it can feel personal.
- Decide the outcome before you walk in. Know whether you want a decision, feedback on a recommendation, or buy-in, and let that shape what you say.
- Ask what “executive presence” means. If you get that feedback, ask for specifics. It might mean handling tough client questions or speaking confidently about risk.
- Watch for the seven silencers. People often hold back because of what they’ve seen happen to others in their culture. A leader who punishes honest feedback ends up hearing none.
- Remember why you’re in the room. Handing over the mic can feel kind. But you were hired for your expertise, and speaking up is part of the job.
- Be a lighthouse speaker. Spotlight speakers worry about how they look. Lighthouse speakers focus on guiding the room through an idea or decision, and that focus eases a lot of the nerves.
- Get your reps in. Waiting for the big moment means missing the everyday meetings where comfort gets built. Try different styles until one feels like you.
- Your energy speaks first. Walking in hurried, distracted, or buried in your phone says plenty before you open your mouth.
Great moments
[00:01]: John opens with the hidden cost of never saying what you believe out loud
[02:13]: Sickels shares the two 360 reviews that reshaped how she communicates
[04:18]: The voice values gap, and that “I wish I’d said that” feeling
[05:52]: Why company values on the wall don’t help when leaders haven’t defined their own
[06:50]: An introduction to the seven silencers
[07:59]: Naming your values to your team: optimism, curiosity, and candor
[10:26]: The trouble with “executive presence” and the loudest voice in the room
[12:21]: Why women often hand over the mic, and why they shouldn’t
[13:15]: Spotlight speaker vs. lighthouse speaker
[15:20]: The VOICE framework: values, outcomes, identity, consistency, energy
[17:50]: Finding a speaking style that feels authentic
[18:40]: Inside Mic Drop and how it helps women build paid speaking careers
[20:11]: Where to find Sickels and her book
Memorable quotes
“I believe that candor is care.” – Dr. Kristine Sickels
“It is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about being the clearest.” – Sickels
“We are hired for our expertise. We are in the room for what we know.” – Sickels
“Knowing what you stand for is going to help you know what to say.” – Sickels
“If we walk into a room and we’re hurried or we’re distracted, we’ve already said a ton and we’ve said nothing.” – Sickels
Resources
leadership, Public Speaking, speaking
To Save the Economy… We’re About to Break It
Book a meeting with an Odoo expert, or try the full platform free for 15 days:
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Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years in a unanimous 12-0 vote, right as the 10-year Treasury closed above 5% for the first time since 2007.
Of the 14 rate-tightening cycles between 1955 and 2009, only four weren’t followed by a recession within 18 months.
The Fed just started another one.
In this video, I’ll break down:
• Why the Fed, which voted 9 to 3 against raising rates in July, flipped to a unanimous 12 to 0 vote just seven weeks later.
• How the damage from capital tightening won’t stay isolated to the AI bubble.
• How rate hikes impact today’s economy.
• What happens when the biggest buildout in history has to keep borrowing right as borrowing gets more expensive.
• How the AI cycle is building at nearly twice the pace of the housing boom at its peak.
👉 I post everyday here:
All illustrations, visuals, and animations in this video are original and hand-drawn by a freelance artist.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video and on this channel (collectively, the “Content”) is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice, nor a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or investment strategy. Investing involves risk and you must do your own research. Nothing in the Content should be interpreted as creating a fiduciary relationship, financial advisory relationship, or client relationship of any kind. The host, the channel, and all affiliated entities expressly disclaim any and all liability for any direct or consequential loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, reliance upon, or interpretation of the Content. By viewing or interacting with the Content, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and release the host and all related parties from any and all claims related to your reliance on the information provided.
source
Financial Analysts Journal, Q4 2026, Vol. 82 No. 4
Volatility-Managed Target Date Funds
Byounghyo Lim, CFA
A volatility-managed target date fund adjusts equity exposure based on market volatility rather than age alone, improving risk control and retirement wealth outcomes while remaining practical to implement.
Regimes Matter: Regime-Based Dynamic Asset Allocation Using Neural Networks
Uri Carl, Yaacov Kopeliovich, Michael Pokojovy, and Kevin Shea, CFA
Artificial neural networks can help investors adapt portfolios to changing market conditions. This study shows that regime-aware allocation strategies based on neural networks outperform traditional dynamic portfolios.
Machine Learning Classification and Portfolio Construction: Does the Loss Function Matter?
Yang Bai and Kuntara Pukthuanthong
Classification-based machine learning outperforms matched regression models in portfolio construction, highlighting how loss-function choice can improve return classification and portfolio performance.
Foreign Signal Radar
Wei Jiao
Machine learning can uncover foreign market signals that predict US stock returns, revealing global linkages across both domestic and multinational firms and expanding the investable universe for portfolio managers to exploit foreign information.
Volatility Carry Strategies Across Global Asset Classes
Walid Khalfallah, CFA, and Nikolaos Tessaromatis
Volatility carry predicts volatility risk premia across equities, currencies, fixed income, and commodities. Diversified carry and timing strategies deliver strong performance, with volatility swaps proving most resilient to trading costs.
Targeted Offers for Chase Ink Cards, Earn Up to 125K Points
Targeted Offers for Chase Ink Cards
Chase is showing elevated welcome offer for Ink business credit cards, with bonuses up to 125,000 points. These are targeted offers that are higher than what’s publicly available.
These are “You’re Already Approved” offers so you will need to check your accounts in the “Just for you” section to see if you are targeted.
Elevated Offers
- Chase Ink Cash – Earn $1,200 after spending $6,000 within 3 months.
- Chase Ink Unlimited -Earn $1,200 after spending $6,000 within 3 months.
- Chase Ink Preferred – Earn 125,000 points after spending $8,000 within 3 months.
Some people are also seeing a bonus of 300,000 points for the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card.
Keep in mind that you still need to go through the regular approval process, even if you are targeted.
HT: DoC
Canadian economy slows to 1.3% pace, weaker than BOC forecast
The Canadian economy is tracking 1.3% annualized growth between July and September, slowing down from a robust second quarter and coming in weaker than the Bank of Canada forecasted.
Canada expects to seal a deal in June to become the EU’s first ‘associate member’
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June to make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member,” as both sides forge an unprecedented alliance to protect their sovereignty in a changing world order.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and threats against traditional allies have accelerated efforts by Canada and Europe to reduce their dependence on Washington and strengthen their economic and security ties.
“What brings us together goes far beyond geography. We see the world through the same eyes,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “These headwinds won’t stop blowing. This change is permanent.”
Carney said the alliance would help Canada and Europe withstand economic pressure and make their own decisions rather than be dictated to by more powerful countries.
Trump has suggested Canada’s proposed EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he considered it unfriendly.
The move is aimed at reinforcing sovereignty, Carney says
Asked whether Trump could eventually be invited to join the alliance, Carney did not directly answer but insisted it was not aimed against any country.
“It is about reinforcing sovereignty. Why? So we can live our lives as we choose, our people can live their lives as they choose and have the full freedoms that people enjoy in the European Union and in Canada,” Carney said.
“It’s not against anything, it’s for,” he said.
Carney, von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa launched the “Alliance for the Future” at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal, announcing progress on digital trade, European investment in Canadian critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
“Today we move toward associate membership for Canada, and we launch a new alliance for the future,” Carney said.
But the joint declaration made no mention of associate membership, despite both Carney and von der Leyen championing the designation. Instead, the leaders agreed to define an “ever-closer association” by their next summit in 2027.
Carney said Canadian Cabinet ministers and European commissioners would meet in March before he attends European Council meetings in June, where he intends to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship. Costa confirmed the invitation and said more details would be announced then.
Von der Leyen said Friday there was broad support for bringing Canada closer to the EU, despite disagreement over what to call the relationship.
“On one thing I’m absolutely sure, having spoken about it in the last weeks, is the broad support of having Canada much, much closer to the European Union,” she said.
A new economic partnership
Canada and the EU already have a free-trade agreement that eliminated most tariffs. They wrapped up negotiations Friday on a new digital trade agreement to make it easier for businesses to sell across the Atlantic.
Canada also signed an agreement allowing the European Investment Bank to finance Canadian critical minerals projects, potentially opening a new source of investment for the country’s mining industry.
Canada will also join a European supercomputing initiative that Carney said could transform research. He said Europe’s JUPITER supercomputer could complete in one day calculations that would take Canada’s most powerful research computer six months.
“A tech startup in Vancouver will have a smoother path to customers in Berlin,” Carney said. “Bottom line: less red tape, more growth, more opportunity.”
The two sides also concluded negotiations on a competition agreement intended to curb anti-competitive practices and lower prices for consumers. They will explore linking their instant-payment systems to make cross-border transfers faster and cheaper.
An alliance beyond Canada and Europe
The broader Alliance for the Future could eventually include other like-minded countries, with Canada and the EU at its core.
Costa said the two sides wanted to create a relationship unlike any previous EU partnership with a country outside the bloc.
“Our relationship is so special that we want to create something new: to go beyond a simple association, everything short of full EU membership,” Costa said.
The leaders also agreed to study the feasibility of exporting Canadian liquefied natural gas to Europe and explore new undersea cables connecting Canada, Europe and Asia.
Canada and the EU will begin negotiations on expanding Canadian participation in Erasmus+, the European student exchange program, and explore ways to make it easier for young people to study and work across the Atlantic.
The two sides also agreed on a new border security arrangement and pledged closer cooperation on defense, cybersecurity, Arctic security and countering foreign interference.
The United States accounted for 71.7% of Canada’s merchandise exports in 2025. Carney wants to double exports to other countries over the next decade.
Axon Enterprise vs. Fastly: Which Industrials Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
Choosing between Axon Enterprise (AXON -2.35%) and Fastly Inc. (FSLY -9.85%) requires balancing the steady growth of public safety infrastructure against the high-velocity demands of modern edge cloud computing and content delivery.
AXON & FSLY: Performance Comparison
Key Financial Metrics
AXON – Axon Enterprise
$427.77
–2.35% (–$10.28)
FSLY – Fastly
$23.12
–9.85% (–$2.53)
Market Cap
$36B
52wk Range
$339.01 – $749.96
Gross Margin
59.41%
P/E Ratio
181.42
EPS (TTM)
$2.41
Market Cap
$4.1B
52wk Range
$7.87 – $34.82
Gross Margin
59.07%
P/E Ratio
-47.94
EPS (TTM)
-$0.53
AXON – Axon Enterprise
$427.77
–2.35% (–$10.28)
Market Cap
$36B
52wk Range
$339.01 – $749.96
Gross Margin
59.41%
P/E Ratio
181.42
EPS (TTM)
$2.41
FSLY – Fastly
$23.12
–9.85% (–$2.53)
Market Cap
$4.1B
52wk Range
$7.87 – $34.82
Gross Margin
59.07%
P/E Ratio
-47.94
EPS (TTM)
-$0.53
Axon Enterprise provides mission-critical tools for law enforcement while Fastly powers the digital experiences of global media brands. This comparison examines their financials and risk profiles to help you determine which is the better buy.
The case for Axon Enterprise
Axon Enterprise provides hardware and cloud software for public safety, including Taser devices, body cameras, and digital evidence management. Within the world of defense stocks, the company is unique for its integrated ecosystem of connected hardware alongside cloud-based software such as Axon Evidence and Axon Records. This software-heavy approach allows the company to lock in long-term contracts with law enforcement agencies and federal entities.
In its latest annual report, filed for FY 2025, revenue reached about $2.8 billion, representing growth of roughly 33.5% compared to the prior year. The company reported a net income of approximately $124.9 million, resulting in a net margin of around 4.5%. This net margin declined from roughly 18.1% in the previous year as the company invested in expanding its product suite and headcount.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 0.6x, meaning total debt is about 60% of shareholder equity. The current ratio of nearly 2.5x indicates a strong ability to cover short-term debts with current assets. Free cash flow was around $75.1 million, though stock-based compensation represented roughly 300% of operating cash flow, meaning reported cash generation is heavily inflated by this non-cash add-back.
The case for Fastly Inc.
Fastly operates an edge cloud computing platform that serves a global customer base, specifically focusing on the media and entertainment industry. While it maintains a broad customer list, the company remains dependent on a limited number of major accounts for a significant portion of its revenue. Following a 2025 restructuring, the company continues its relationship with TikTok and has expanded its partnership with Jio Platforms to power infrastructure across India.
In FY 2025, revenue reached about $624.0 million, an increase of roughly 14.8% over the prior twelve months. The company reported a net loss of approximately $121.7 million, which translates to a net margin of nearly negative 19.5%. While still negative, this reflects an improvement over the net margin of roughly negative 29.1% seen in 2024, as the company works toward narrowing its losses.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 0.5x, showing a relatively conservative use of debt. The current ratio of nearly 2.6x indicates the company has sufficient short-term assets to cover its immediate liabilities. Free cash flow was roughly $65.8 million, but stock-based compensation represented roughly 124% of operating cash flow, meaning reported cash generation is heavily inflated by this non-cash add-back.
Risk profile comparison
Axon Enterprise faces strategic dependence on law enforcement agencies globally, making it vulnerable to shifts in municipal budgets and policy changes. The company also deals with operational risks related to the semiconductor supply chain and the heavy burden of managing sensitive evidence data. Furthermore, increasing reliance on subscription billing models impacts short-term liquidity, and the company must navigate restrictive financial covenants under its current credit facilities.
Fastly deals with significant revenue concentration from a limited number of major customers, particularly within the media sector. It faces intense competition from large-scale providers like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT -1.55%), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN -1.41%), and Cloudflare Inc. (NET -9.54%), which may offer more aggressive pricing. Any interruption in its edge cloud platform could lead to service-level claims and reputational damage, while evolving data privacy regulations add another layer of compliance risk.
Valuation comparison
Axon Enterprise trades at a much higher premium to Fastly, reflecting its positive net income and stronger revenue growth rate compared to the edge cloud provider.
| Metric | Axon Enterprise | Fastly |
|---|---|---|
| Forward P/E | 54.0x | 42.8x |
| P/S ratio | 10.5x | 5.2x |
Valuation metrics include those sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from those of other data providers.
The Forward P/E ratio compares the stock price to future earnings estimates for the coming year. The P/S ratio measures market value against sales over the past twelve months.
Which stock would I buy in 2026?
Fastly processes over 5 trillion requests a day, a huge number that is actually just a small part of the total addressable market (TAM) for the business. Management sees the TAM as $22 billion, giving it a long runway for growth. The company has posted three straight quarters of more than 20% growth (year-over-year).
One of the company’s competitive edges, it says, is that it delivers its resources dynamically, allocating them in real time to whatever the load is on a global basis. So, for example, one Thursday night, its network might be delivering Thursday Night Football. On Black Friday, the exact same network is handling e-commerce. The next week, it might be handling a video game release. Fastly says that makes it a much more efficient network than competitors, who have siloed networks for security, compute, and delivery, et cetera.
For the current fiscal year, look for sales to grow to $741 million, a 19% rise over the prior year, with a much narrower net loss of about $72 million.
Axon Enterprise has a fine outlook for growth as law enforcement is increasingly equipped with Tasers and the public is becoming increasingly demanding that agents wear body cameras. Its cloud-based evidence control system is also an increasingly desired service for law enforcement organizations, too.
Expansion into Europe and Canada should also help, as should a focus on producing personal consumer-protection devices. In particular, all the data and video created by Axon customers have to be managed, and the company is seeing strong demand for its AI-based management systems from customers who find many of the services create efficiencies within their operations.
In its fiscal 2026, sales are seen growing well, up about a third to $3.7 billion, with net income of around $290 million and free cash flow of $425 million, well over 2025’s levels.
Axon’s strong growth makes it appealing, but the valuation is a stumbling block right now. Axon shares are priced as if they are tech growth stocks. They could be, given the company’s expansion into cloud services, but it feels too high. Fastly is more affordable and brings decent top-line growth as well.