Year-End Investment Strategies and Tax Planning
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Focus on Winning Stocks: For instance, Alphabet (GOOG) has more than doubled in value over the past year, which may lead to it occupying a larger portion of an investor's portfolio, thus taking profits before year-end can mitigate risks and allow for better capital gains tax planning.
- Tax Loss Harvesting Strategy: With NuScale Power (SMR) shares down 50%, investors can sell at a loss to offset gains from other profitable stocks, effectively reducing tax liabilities while avoiding emotional decision-making and promoting rational investment strategies.
- Cash Reallocation: After trimming profits and harvesting losses, investors may find cash in their accounts, providing opportunities to buy new stocks or increase positions in existing investments, especially if certain companies have strong narratives that the market has yet to recognize, potentially leading to future gains.
- Portfolio Maintenance: Investors should regularly review their portfolios to ensure alignment with long-term investment goals, avoiding last-minute decisions before year-end, and it is advisable to conduct portfolio maintenance monthly or quarterly to keep investments orderly and effective.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy GOOG?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on GOOG
Wall Street analysts forecast GOOG stock price to fall
15 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 384.840
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
Current: 384.840
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
About GOOG
Alphabet Inc. is a holding company. The Company's segments include Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. The Google Services segment includes products and services such as ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Google Maps, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Google Cloud segment includes infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers. Its Other Bets segment is engaged in the sale of healthcare-related services and Internet services. Its Google Cloud provides enterprise-ready cloud services, including Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. Google Cloud Platform provides access to solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, including its AI infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, and Gemini for Google Cloud; cybersecurity, and data and analytics. Google Workspace includes cloud-based communication and collaboration tools for enterprises, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
U.S. Smartphone Market Declines 3% in Q1 2026
- Overall Market Decline: The U.S. smartphone market saw a 3% year-over-year decline in Q1 2026, shipping 33.4 million units, primarily due to softer carrier upgrade activity, rising component costs, and delayed flagship launches, indicating a trend of weakening demand.
- Apple's Market Performance: Despite a 3% annual decline in shipments to 19.9 million units, Apple retained its lead in the U.S. smartphone market with a 60% market share, benefiting from the delayed launch of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series, which reduced competition in the premium segment.
- Samsung vs. Motorola Comparison: Samsung's shipments fell 5% to 7.9 million units, but early demand for the Galaxy S26 series remained strong, with pre-orders up nearly 25% from the previous S25 generation; in contrast, Motorola posted an 18% growth in shipments to 3.6 million units, driven by demand for the Moto G lineup and prepaid channels.
- Market Polarization Trend: Omdia noted that the market is increasingly polarized, with premium devices priced above $800 and budget smartphones below $300 proving more resilient than mid-range Android devices, forecasting a 4% decline in total U.S. smartphone shipments for the full year 2026.
See More
Tesla and Alphabet Compete in Robotaxi Market
- Market Potential: A recent McKinsey report indicates that the global robotaxi market is expected to scale significantly by 2030, with a potential value ranging from $5 trillion to $10 trillion, highlighting the immense commercial opportunity in this sector.
- Tesla's Expansion Advantage: Tesla's robotaxi service is currently operational in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, Texas, with plans to expand into five additional cities, demonstrating its proactive approach to market penetration.
- Cost Competitiveness: Tesla anticipates that its Cybercabs will be produced for under $30,000, potentially dropping to $20,000, while Waymo's new self-driving vans cost around $125,000, giving Tesla a significant long-term pricing advantage.
- Investment and Valuation: Alphabet and its partners have injected $16 billion into Waymo, valuing its robotaxi business at $126 billion, reflecting the market's high regard and expectations for this emerging sector.
See More
US Stocks Rebound in Q1, Led by Tech Sector Growth
- Q1 Earnings Surge: As of the end of March 2025, the S&P 500 saw earnings growth exceeding 28%, marking the fastest year-over-year growth since Q4 2021, with 84% of its constituents surpassing analyst expectations, indicating strong market recovery potential.
- Tech Sector Dominance: Companies like Meta and Alphabet made the largest contributions to market improvement, with the 'Magnificent Seven' achieving an average Q1 profit growth of 63%, significantly outpacing the 17% growth of the other 493 stocks, underscoring the tech industry's critical role in overall market performance.
- Market Risks and Imbalance: Despite impressive Q2 gains, the 20% year-to-date rise in energy stocks accounts for most of the market's strength, revealing an imbalance that investors should approach with caution due to potential risks.
- Dependency on Future Growth: Analysts project a 23% earnings growth for the S&P 500 in 2026, yet the tech sector's future growth heavily relies on the performance of other tech firms, where any failure could undermine revenue expectations, adding uncertainty to the market outlook.
See More
Three Beginner-Friendly Growth Stocks to Consider
- Alphabet's Market Dominance: Google's parent company, Alphabet, commands a 90% share of global web searches, and its cloud computing division generated $20 billion in revenue last quarter, up 63% year-over-year, indicating strong growth potential in digital storage and productivity solutions.
- MercadoLibre's Growth Potential: As a leading e-commerce player in Latin America, MercadoLibre's revenue surged 49% year-over-year last quarter, and the region's e-commerce market is rapidly expanding, likely to continue attracting investor interest.
- GE Vernova's Strong Backlog: GE Vernova's total business backlog has reached $150 billion, with its power division's backlog at $94 billion, reflecting robust demand in the natural gas turbine sector and expected sustained growth over the next few years.
- Investor Confidence Rebounding: Despite a 280% increase in GE Vernova's stock price since last April, analysts still view the stock as undervalued, with an average price target of $1,248, 20% above its current price, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth.
See More
Alphabet and MercadoLibre Among Promising Growth Stocks
- Market Dominance: Alphabet's Google commands a staggering 90% of the global search market, with its Android operating system installed on over 66% of handheld devices worldwide, ensuring sustained revenue growth in digital advertising and mobile services, with a projected 15% sales growth by 2025.
- Cloud Computing Surge: Google Cloud generated $20 billion in revenue last quarter, marking a 63% year-over-year increase, with $6.6 billion converted into operating income, reflecting strong demand for digital storage and productivity solutions, further solidifying its market position.
- Latin American E-commerce Potential: MercadoLibre's revenue surged 49% year-over-year last quarter, highlighting the rapid growth of the e-commerce market in Latin America, which is expected to continue attracting investor interest; despite short-term profitability pressures from free shipping, the long-term customer growth potential remains significant.
- Growth Outlook for GE Vernova: GE Vernova's backlog has reached $150 billion, with its power division sold out through 2028, poised to benefit from rising power production demands driven by AI data centers; despite a 280% stock price increase, analysts still view it as undervalued, with a target price of $1,248.
See More
Risks and Opportunities Behind Market Rally
- Market Rally Analysis: Since late 2025, the S&P 500 has risen over 9%, recovering from a 5% decline at the start of the year due to military conflicts in Iran, indicating a strong market rebound; however, this rebound is uneven, prompting investors to exercise caution.
- Earnings Growth Highlights: According to FactSet, 84% of S&P 500 constituents exceeded analyst expectations in Q1, with earnings growth surpassing 28%, marking the fastest year-over-year growth since the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, showcasing robust corporate earnings momentum.
- Tech Stocks Dominate Market: Technology companies like Meta and Alphabet contributed significantly to market improvements, and while energy stocks benefited from soaring oil prices, the strong performance of tech stocks still accounts for about one-third of the S&P 500's total market value, indicating structural imbalances in the market.
- Future Growth Risks: Although analysts expect a 23% earnings growth for the S&P 500 in 2026, the future growth of the tech sector heavily relies on the performance of other tech companies, meaning any failure in one link could impact overall revenue and earnings expectations, necessitating caution from investors regarding potential risks.
See More
U.S. Smartphone Market Declines 3% in Q1 2026
- Overall Market Decline: The U.S. smartphone market saw a 3% year-over-year decline in Q1 2026, shipping 33.4 million units, primarily due to softer carrier upgrade activity, rising component costs, and delayed flagship launches, indicating a trend of weakening demand.
- Apple's Market Performance: Despite a 3% annual decline in shipments to 19.9 million units, Apple retained its lead in the U.S. smartphone market with a 60% market share, benefiting from the delayed launch of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series, which reduced competition in the premium segment.
- Samsung vs. Motorola Comparison: Samsung's shipments fell 5% to 7.9 million units, but early demand for the Galaxy S26 series remained strong, with pre-orders up nearly 25% from the previous S25 generation; in contrast, Motorola posted an 18% growth in shipments to 3.6 million units, driven by demand for the Moto G lineup and prepaid channels.
- Market Polarization Trend: Omdia noted that the market is increasingly polarized, with premium devices priced above $800 and budget smartphones below $300 proving more resilient than mid-range Android devices, forecasting a 4% decline in total U.S. smartphone shipments for the full year 2026.
See More
Tesla and Alphabet Compete in Robotaxi Market
- Market Potential: A recent McKinsey report indicates that the global robotaxi market is expected to scale significantly by 2030, with a potential value ranging from $5 trillion to $10 trillion, highlighting the immense commercial opportunity in this sector.
- Tesla's Expansion Advantage: Tesla's robotaxi service is currently operational in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, Texas, with plans to expand into five additional cities, demonstrating its proactive approach to market penetration.
- Cost Competitiveness: Tesla anticipates that its Cybercabs will be produced for under $30,000, potentially dropping to $20,000, while Waymo's new self-driving vans cost around $125,000, giving Tesla a significant long-term pricing advantage.
- Investment and Valuation: Alphabet and its partners have injected $16 billion into Waymo, valuing its robotaxi business at $126 billion, reflecting the market's high regard and expectations for this emerging sector.
See More
US Stocks Rebound in Q1, Led by Tech Sector Growth
- Q1 Earnings Surge: As of the end of March 2025, the S&P 500 saw earnings growth exceeding 28%, marking the fastest year-over-year growth since Q4 2021, with 84% of its constituents surpassing analyst expectations, indicating strong market recovery potential.
- Tech Sector Dominance: Companies like Meta and Alphabet made the largest contributions to market improvement, with the 'Magnificent Seven' achieving an average Q1 profit growth of 63%, significantly outpacing the 17% growth of the other 493 stocks, underscoring the tech industry's critical role in overall market performance.
- Market Risks and Imbalance: Despite impressive Q2 gains, the 20% year-to-date rise in energy stocks accounts for most of the market's strength, revealing an imbalance that investors should approach with caution due to potential risks.
- Dependency on Future Growth: Analysts project a 23% earnings growth for the S&P 500 in 2026, yet the tech sector's future growth heavily relies on the performance of other tech firms, where any failure could undermine revenue expectations, adding uncertainty to the market outlook.
See More
Three Beginner-Friendly Growth Stocks to Consider
- Alphabet's Market Dominance: Google's parent company, Alphabet, commands a 90% share of global web searches, and its cloud computing division generated $20 billion in revenue last quarter, up 63% year-over-year, indicating strong growth potential in digital storage and productivity solutions.
- MercadoLibre's Growth Potential: As a leading e-commerce player in Latin America, MercadoLibre's revenue surged 49% year-over-year last quarter, and the region's e-commerce market is rapidly expanding, likely to continue attracting investor interest.
- GE Vernova's Strong Backlog: GE Vernova's total business backlog has reached $150 billion, with its power division's backlog at $94 billion, reflecting robust demand in the natural gas turbine sector and expected sustained growth over the next few years.
- Investor Confidence Rebounding: Despite a 280% increase in GE Vernova's stock price since last April, analysts still view the stock as undervalued, with an average price target of $1,248, 20% above its current price, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth.
See More
Alphabet and MercadoLibre Among Promising Growth Stocks
- Market Dominance: Alphabet's Google commands a staggering 90% of the global search market, with its Android operating system installed on over 66% of handheld devices worldwide, ensuring sustained revenue growth in digital advertising and mobile services, with a projected 15% sales growth by 2025.
- Cloud Computing Surge: Google Cloud generated $20 billion in revenue last quarter, marking a 63% year-over-year increase, with $6.6 billion converted into operating income, reflecting strong demand for digital storage and productivity solutions, further solidifying its market position.
- Latin American E-commerce Potential: MercadoLibre's revenue surged 49% year-over-year last quarter, highlighting the rapid growth of the e-commerce market in Latin America, which is expected to continue attracting investor interest; despite short-term profitability pressures from free shipping, the long-term customer growth potential remains significant.
- Growth Outlook for GE Vernova: GE Vernova's backlog has reached $150 billion, with its power division sold out through 2028, poised to benefit from rising power production demands driven by AI data centers; despite a 280% stock price increase, analysts still view it as undervalued, with a target price of $1,248.
See More
Risks and Opportunities Behind Market Rally
- Market Rally Analysis: Since late 2025, the S&P 500 has risen over 9%, recovering from a 5% decline at the start of the year due to military conflicts in Iran, indicating a strong market rebound; however, this rebound is uneven, prompting investors to exercise caution.
- Earnings Growth Highlights: According to FactSet, 84% of S&P 500 constituents exceeded analyst expectations in Q1, with earnings growth surpassing 28%, marking the fastest year-over-year growth since the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, showcasing robust corporate earnings momentum.
- Tech Stocks Dominate Market: Technology companies like Meta and Alphabet contributed significantly to market improvements, and while energy stocks benefited from soaring oil prices, the strong performance of tech stocks still accounts for about one-third of the S&P 500's total market value, indicating structural imbalances in the market.
- Future Growth Risks: Although analysts expect a 23% earnings growth for the S&P 500 in 2026, the future growth of the tech sector heavily relies on the performance of other tech companies, meaning any failure in one link could impact overall revenue and earnings expectations, necessitating caution from investors regarding potential risks.
See More
