Dear Reader,
If you operate a standard checking or savings account, your money could be moved onto a new government-controlled network called FedNow.
The Fed is calling it a "speed upgrade" for the banking system.
They are telling banks …
"Join our new FedNow network and your customers will be able to send and receive money in seconds. Any time. Any day. Holidays included."
No wonder over 1,500 banks and credit unions have already signed on.
But here's what nobody's talking about …
For the first time in history, every single transaction moving through the US banking system will pass through one centralized "Fed-controlled" hub …
Silently tracking every purchase, transfer, bill payment and donation you make.
Currently, $2 TRILLION worth of transactions go through the traditional network every single day. But soon, it will be funneled through the new network that the Federal Reserve has built, operates and can see in real time.
That's the part buried in the Federal Reserve Docket No. OP-1670.
In fact, on page 84 of the 93-page document, they admit that it will make it easier to track the spending of Americans.
That's why I've put together 4 steps to "Fed proof" your savings before FedNow grants them complete control over your savings.
Discover the 4 simple steps here.
Good luck and God bless!
Martin D. Weiss, PhD
Weiss Ratings Founder
P.S. I've been watching government moves into personal finance for over 50 years. Cyprus savers didn't see it coming in 2013. Canadian truckers didn't see it coming in 2022. Don't let FedNow catch you off guard. See the 4 "Fed proof" steps before it's too late.
Why This Midwest Utility Is the Hottest Stock on Wall Street Right Now
By Chris Markoch. First Published: 4/13/2026.
Key Points
- NiSource is benefiting from rising Midwest data center demand tied to AI infrastructure growth.
- Natural gas is emerging as a near-term solution for hyperscalers needing reliable 24/7 power.
- NI remains in a strong uptrend, but valuation and momentum suggest a pullback may offer a better entry.
- Special Report: The Biggest IPO Ever: Claim Your Stake Today
In real estate, the mantra is location, location, location. That’s the principle behind the recent surge in NiSource (NYSE: NI) stock. NiSource is a utility company that has suddenly become one of the darlings of the analyst community. In fact, despite the firm being up about 15% in 2026, KeyCorp just raised its price target for NI. But is that a ceiling or a floor?
At first glance, NiSource looks like a typical regulated utility delivering natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. But the company has found itself in high demand as the data center buildout pushes into the nation’s heartland.
NiSource Proves Why Location Matters
The bull case for NI isn’t new, but it deserves explanation. Hyperscalers need dedicated data centers to house the servers and related equipment powering their artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions. But this isn’t as simple as “if you build it, they will come.”
Elon’s “Hidden” Company (Ad)
Elon Musk believes this technology could make Tesla the most valuable company in the world — yet the core infrastructure powering it is not owned by Tesla at all.
It belongs to one of Musk's private ventures, with thousands of systems already running globally around the clock. Veteran tech investor Matt McCall has identified a little-known way everyday investors can gain exposure.
The stock is currently trading for less than $30.
Reveal the ticker nowThe sticking point is energy. AI is an immensely power-hungry application, so any new data center requires ample 24/7 power.
This demand runs up against an aging electrical grid that needs upgrades for many applications beyond data centers.
That's one reason nuclear energy has re-entered the conversation, but the payoff from new nuclear is years away — which brings natural gas into play.
Natural gas has become the preferred fuel for hyperscalers, and NiSource may be well positioned to benefit.
One of NiSource’s key operating regions is the Midwest, which is becoming strategically important for data centers for three main reasons:
Cheaper land
Lower power costs
Available grid capacity
KeyCorp’s analysis highlights that NiSource operates in jurisdictions with relatively constructive regulatory environments and modest regulatory lag. That gives customers more cost certainty and helps NiSource deliver stable, predictable earnings.
Is NI Priced for Perfection?
NI is up about 15% in 2026. That has pushed its price-to-earnings ratio above 24x — a premium to the broader market and its sector, though not an extreme one. Still, investors should ask whether the biggest gains are already priced in.
NI has been in a steady uptrend since bottoming near $38 last spring, tracing a series of higher lows that suggest accumulation rather than speculation. The 50-day moving average, currently around $46, has acted as a reliable floor through several pullbacks. This included a sharp but short-lived dip in early March that was quickly bought.
The stock closed on April 9 at $48.47, well above that moving average, which is a constructive sign. Momentum is the main concern. The 14-day RSI has climbed into the mid-60s, placing it just below overbought territory. The signal line at 53 confirms the broader uptrend is intact, but the gap between the two suggests the stock may need to digest recent gains before the next leg higher.
Volume has been relatively steady without the climactic surge that typically signals a top, which is mildly encouraging for bulls. Taken together, the chart suggests NI is extended in the short term but not broken. A pullback toward the 50-day moving average near $46 would represent a more comfortable entry point for investors who believe the data center thesis has further to run.
Why Utilities Like NiSource Are Gaining Investor Attention
A roughly 15% year-to-date gain for a regulated utility is unusual, and momentum cuts both ways. Utilities typically attract defensive flows, but that dynamic can unwind quickly when risk appetite returns.
Valuation is a legitimate question, but context matters. Regulated utilities rarely command growth multiples unless the market sees a visible, durable earnings catalyst. In NiSource's case, the data center narrative provides that potential catalyst. If a handful of hyperscaler agreements materialize in its key jurisdictions, the earnings trajectory could make a 24x multiple look reasonable in hindsight.
That said, much of the easy money may already be made. The analyst community is paying attention — KeyCorp's raised price target is unlikely to be the last upgrade — but upgrades often cluster near peaks as well as inflection points. Investors who missed the initial move would be prudent to wait for a pullback rather than chase NI while it’s extended.
The bottom line: NiSource has earned its moment. Its Midwest footprint, constructive regulatory environment, and natural gas infrastructure position it to benefit from one of the most capital-intensive buildouts in modern tech history. Location, it turns out, really does matter. The remaining question is how much of that advantage the market has already priced in.
The Semiconductor Sector Is Hitting All-Time Highs: 2 Stocks Leading the Charge
By Ryan Hasson. First Published: 4/14/2026.
Key Points
- The popular semiconductor ETF (SMH) is up almost 23.% year to date and trading near its all-time highs.
- The sector is significantly outpacing the broader S&P 500 as AI infrastructure spending continues to accelerate.
- Lam Research and Intel are among the SMH's standout performers in 2026, with LRCX up close to 56% and INTC up almost 76% on the year.
- Special Report: The Biggest IPO Ever: Claim Your Stake Today
The semiconductor sector is on fire. While the broader market has spent much of 2026 navigating volatility, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH), the most widely followed sector benchmark, has surged over 20% year to date.
The ETF holds many of the largest semiconductor companies listed in the U.S., including NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), and Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). That performance, at a time when the broader market is only slightly in the green, is a powerful signal about where institutional capital is flowing.
Elon’s “Hidden” Company (Ad)
Elon Musk believes this technology could make Tesla the most valuable company in the world — yet the core infrastructure powering it is not owned by Tesla at all.
It belongs to one of Musk's private ventures, with thousands of systems already running globally around the clock. Veteran tech investor Matt McCall has identified a little-known way everyday investors can gain exposure.
The stock is currently trading for less than $30.
Reveal the ticker nowThe driving force behind the sector's outperformance is clear: AI infrastructure spending is accelerating. Hyperscalers continue to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into data-center buildouts, and semiconductors sit at the foundation of those investments. Whether it's advanced logic chips, memory, wafer-fabrication equipment, or foundry services, demand is outpacing supply across multiple corners of the sector. With that in mind, here are two top SMH holdings that are standing out for their sector strength and outperformance.
Lam Research: The Equipment Giant Up Over 50% YTD
Lam Research is one of the world's leading suppliers of wafer-fabrication equipment. The company provides the machinery that semiconductor manufacturers use to etch, deposit, and clean chips during production. It's a critical but often overlooked part of the semiconductor supply chain: every advanced chip that powers an AI data center has passed through equipment made by companies like Lam Research. As chipmakers push toward ever more advanced nodes and complex architectures like 3D NAND, demand for Lam's tools is accelerating.
The stock has surged over 50% year to date, climbing from roughly $170 at the start of the year to an all-time high of $267.32 on April 13.
The rally and sharp outperformance are supported by improving fundamentals. In its most recent quarterly report for Q2 2026, posted on Jan. 28, Lam reported earnings per share of $1.27, beating the consensus estimate of $1.17, with revenue up 22.1% year over year.
LRCX also offers an income component, with a dividend yield of 0.4%. The company has a 10-year streak of dividend increases and a $10 billion share-buyback program, authorized in 2024, signaling confidence in its long-term trajectory.
Institutional ownership stands at an impressive 85%, reflecting deep conviction from the smart money. Over the prior 12 months, institutions have poured more than $29 billion into the stock versus almost $15.5 billion in outflows. Analysts hold a consensus Moderate Buy rating, and with earnings due on April 22, the next catalyst—and potential re-pricing of the stock—is imminent.
Intel: The Turnaround Trade Up 70% YTD
Intel has been generating headlines and some of the most staggering momentum in the semiconductor sector. The stock is up about 70% year to date, making it one of the strongest performers in both the sector and the S&P 500. The rally has been driven by improving fundamentals and earnings, along with a rapid succession of catalysts that have dramatically shifted the market's perception of a company many had previously written off.
But the real story now isn't what got Intel here; it's what comes next. Earnings are due on April 23, and this report carries unusual weight. After such a dramatic run, the market has priced in considerable optimism. Revenue, foundry progress, and AI-segment growth will all be under the microscope. Any miss or cautious guidance could prompt a sharp reaction, given the elevated expectations built into the stock.
The analysts' view adds an important layer of context. Despite the stock's surge, the consensus rating on INTC remains "Reduce," based on 37 analyst ratings, and the price target of $48.43, which implies over 25% downside from current levels. That is one of the sharpest disconnects between price and analyst consensus in the sector right now. The market is running well ahead of what most analysts are willing to endorse, pricing in a turnaround they have yet to fully validate. Earnings on April 23 will go a long way toward resolving that debate one way or the other.
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