While other sectors stall, AI investment is accelerating — showing up in earnings calls, corporate budgets, and real-world deployment. Capital is quietly concentrating around companies with clear demand and long-term relevance, and selective opportunities are forming right now.
A new research brief identifies 2 AI stocks trading under $15 that may be positioned for the next phase of growth — including key developments that could move these names in the months ahead.
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Oil Hits $80 as Iran Tensions Flare, ASML Earnings Beat Expectations
Crude jumped past the $80 mark Wednesday morning following reports of escalating tensions with Iran, sending energy stocks higher and reminding everyone that geopolitical risk never really goes away. The move came as ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, beat earnings expectations and rallied tech investors who've been waiting for signs that the chip sector's capital spending cycle hasn't topped out. The Nasdaq is testing a critical resistance level, and traders are watching whether this ASML pop has legs or if it's just another head-fake in a market that's been chopping sideways for weeks.
ASML's numbers matter because they're the only company on earth that makes the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines required for cutting-edge chip production. When they report strong orders, it signals continued demand from Taiwan Semi, Intel, and Samsung. That's a leading indicator for AI infrastructure spending, which has been the single biggest wealth creator in tech over the past three years. Oil at $80, meanwhile, puts a floor under energy names that have been beaten down since early 2025.
🥃 Cole's Take: I've been waiting for oil to find a bid again, and Iran just handed it one. If you're not carrying some energy exposure right now, you're betting on geopolitical calm, which is a sucker's wager. ASML's strength tells me the AI buildout isn't done, and that's where I'm staying overweight.
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Meta Faces Lawsuit Over AI-Driven Layoff Targeting
Twenty-six Meta employees have filed a lawsuit alleging the company used AI systems and keystroke monitoring to identify and target workers on medical or parental leave for layoffs. The suit claims Meta's algorithms flagged employees based on leave status and productivity metrics that were artificially suppressed due to their absences, effectively using automation to purge workers who were legally protected. It's the kind of dystopian HR tech scenario that sounds like science fiction until it shows up in a court filing.
Meta has denied the allegations, but the lawsuit raises uncomfortable questions about how AI is being deployed inside corporations. If the claims are accurate, it's not just an HR scandal, it's a preview of how machine learning can be weaponized to sidestep labor protections under the guise of efficiency. The case will likely hinge on whether Meta's systems were explicitly programmed to consider leave status or if the AI simply learned to correlate it with other termination criteria.
🥃 Cole's Take: This is what happens when you let engineers optimize everything without adult supervision. If Meta really did this, it's not just illegal, it's stupid, because the legal bills and settlement costs will dwarf whatever they saved in severance. I don't short on principle, but I'm watching how this plays out before adding any META to my book.
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BlackRock Hits $15 Trillion AUM, Boosts Buybacks
BlackRock reported second-quarter earnings Wednesday with assets under management reaching a record $15 trillion, a milestone that underscores the firm's dominance in both active and passive fund management. Profits jumped on strong inflows across equities and fixed income, and the company announced it's increasing its quarterly buyback program to $550 million. Shares rose in early trading as investors digested what amounts to a vote of confidence from management in their own stock.
The $15 trillion figure is almost unfathomable. For context, that's roughly two-thirds of annual U.S. GDP flowing through one asset manager's systems. BlackRock's iShares ETF platform continues to be a cash machine, capturing flows from both retail and institutional investors who've largely given up on trying to beat the market. The buyback increase signals that even after this run, management sees value in their own shares at current levels, which is worth noting given how much clarity they have into global capital flows.
🥃 Cole's Take: When the world's largest asset manager is buying back stock aggressively, it's telling you something about where they think equity valuations are headed. I've owned BLK for years, and this just reinforces why I'm not selling. If you're looking for a way to bet on the continued financialization of everything, this is it.
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Jeep Brings Back the Wrangler Laredo for 2027
Jeep announced Wednesday it's reviving the Wrangler Laredo nameplate for the 2027 model year, bringing back a badge that hasn't been on a Wrangler since the 1990s. The new Laredo will slot in as a premium trim, blending heritage styling cues with modern tech and maintaining the Trail Rated capability that's made the Wrangler the default choice for serious off-roaders. It's a smart play for Stellantis, tapping into nostalgia while giving buyers a reason to step up from the base Sport models.
The timing is interesting. The off-road and overlanding market has exploded over the past five years, driven by younger buyers who want capability but also premium interiors and connectivity. Jeep has owned this segment for decades, but they're facing real competition now from Bronco, new Land Rover Defenders, and even EV upstarts like Rivian. Bringing back a name that resonates with long-time Jeep buyers while packaging it with modern features is exactly the kind of product strategy that keeps brands relevant.
🥃 Cole's Take: I've owned two Wranglers over the years, and the Laredo name actually means something to people who remember when Jeeps were still a little raw. If they price this right and don't water it down, it'll sell. I might even trade in my current rig if the package is compelling enough.
Inside Monarch Yachts: Building Dream Boats One Owner at a Time
Denton Douglas, founder of Monarch Yachts, has built a reputation for taking an owner's vision and turning it into a floating reality. In an industry where customization often means picking from a menu of pre-approved options, Douglas has carved out a niche by treating each build as a true bespoke project. His approach combines craftsmanship with a willingness to solve complex design challenges that larger production yards won't touch.
Monarch operates in the 60 to 120-foot range, where buyers have serious money but want something more personal than a production boat from Azimut or Sunseeker. Douglas's background in both naval architecture and business gives him the rare ability to speak both the language of design and the language of clients who are used to getting exactly what they want. For anyone who's spent time around serious boat owners, you know the difference between a yacht that's been spec'd by a dealer and one that's been built around how you actually use it.
🥃 Cole's Take: Custom yacht building is one of those businesses where reputation is everything and shortcuts get exposed in salt water. Douglas has been doing this long enough that he's earned his stripes, and if I were in the market for something in that range, I'd take the meeting. Life's too short to settle for a boat that's 90 percent right.
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Why Your Next Golf Trip Should Be an Open Championship Course
Most golfers dream about playing Augusta or Pebble Beach, but the reality is those rounds are either impossible to book or priced like a used car. The Open Championship rotation, on the other hand, offers 14 courses that are not only accessible but historically significant, and all you need is a plane ticket to the UK and a willingness to deal with weather that changes three times per round. St Andrews, Royal Birkdale, Royal Troon, Carnoustie—these aren't museum pieces, they're living courses where you can walk the same fairways as the game's legends.
The experience of playing true links golf is different from anything in the States. No trees, firm turf, wind that makes club selection a guess, and greens that run faster than you think they should. It's golf the way it was designed before irrigation systems and 7,500-yard championship layouts. If you've been thinking about a serious golf trip and want something more meaningful than another buddy trip to Scottsdale, this is it.
🥃 Cole's Take: I played Royal Troon three years ago and it remains one of the best rounds of my life, even though I shot 84 in a crosswind that nearly killed me. Links golf strips away all the bullshit and reminds you why you fell in love with the game. Book it before you're too old to enjoy it.
📎 Golf.com
Stay sharp, protect your capital, and remember—good decisions compound. — Cole
— Cole Hargrove