Investing Thread

[TSmith34, Inc.]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-meta-and-alphabet-report-plunging-tax-bills-thanks-to-ai-investment-and-new-rules-in-washington-161229652.html

"So far this year, Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (META), and Alphabet (GOOG) have filed annual reports to the government — and all reported significant drops in what they expect to pay in US federal income taxes.

Amazon's tax bill dropped from about $9 billion in 2024 to $1.2 billion in 2025. Likewise, Meta reported a year-over-year drop from about $9.6 billion in 2024 to $2.8 billion in 2025.

The annual report from Alphabet, meanwhile, reported a tally that combined US federal and state tax totals and showed a drop from about $21.1 billion in 2024 to $13.8 billion in 2025.

These dropping tax bills for 2025 also came as all three companies report profits are on the rise.

Amazon's domestic profits jumped to nearly $90 billion in 2025 — an over 40% increase from 2024. Alphabet's domestic profits jumped over 32% to $143.6 billion, while Meta came in at $79.6 billion, a 20% jump."

[rocky_warrior]

These dropping tax bills for 2025 also came as all three companies report profits are on the rise.

In the investing thread...this would seem to be good news.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

In the investing thread...this would seem to be good news.

That's exactly right. For those of us that own 93% of stocks, great news. For the US more broadly, more of the same that got us where we are.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Several of my coworkers are convinced Palantir is the devil too.  I'm still convinced AI is too dumb to spell. Convince me otherwise.

https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening

Long read. I've been on the fence about how much, how soon, and what AI's upper limits are but I found this pretty thought provoking.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening

Long read. I've been on the fence about how much, how soon, and what AI's upper limits are but I found this pretty thought provoking.

I was at a dinner on Saturday evening speaking with a tax attorney.  He said he's using AI to draft the legal documents and contracts and it's very quick and it's perfect.  He just needs to fill in names and places.  He said it doesn't eliminate paralegals because you still need for other things but you just won't need as many.

[jesmu84]

Interesting economy and market analysis

https://youtu.be/jOR4wuiPeEQ?si=phKimmZR4zKBpiq7

[JWags85]

I was at a dinner on Saturday evening speaking with a tax attorney.  He said he's using AI to draft the legal documents and contracts and it's very quick and it's perfect.  He just needs to fill in names and places.  He said it doesn't eliminate paralegals because you still need for other things but you just won't need as many.

We recently used it for a patent application and it was pretty awesome.  Obviously you still had to feed the technical information and dial in specifics, but it cut out 75-80% of the tedious writing/compiling.  And that's as a non-attorney/legal mind.

[Hards Alumni]

Interesting economy and market analysis

https://youtu.be/jOR4wuiPeEQ?si=phKimmZR4zKBpiq7

Yep, Hank is usually pretty good.  A good listen (you don't need to actually watch) for @MU82

[TSmith34, Inc.]

https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening

Long read. I've been on the fence about how much, how soon, and what AI's upper limits are but I found this pretty thought provoking.

As a counterbalance, the article is getting a fair amount of pushback that it is overhyping AI at this point. Some of the negativity is directed at the author, calling out his penchant for exaggerating in the past, and some, I suspect, is from Luddites.

[Hards Alumni]

As a counterbalance, the article is getting a fair amount of pushback that it is overhyping AI at this point. Some of the negativity is directed at the author, calling out his penchant for exaggerating in the past, and some, I suspect, is from Luddites.

I spot an Ed Zitron reader.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I spot an Ed Zitron reader.

No, had not heard of Ed. The criticism has come from many angles. All part of a healthy debate IMO.

[Hards Alumni]

No, had not heard of Ed. The criticism has come from many angles. All part of a healthy debate IMO.

Oh, well you should!

[MU82]

Yep, Hank is usually pretty good.  A good listen (you don't need to actually watch) for @MU82

Finally got around to watching this. Lots to digest, especially on how the Grift Game basically forms a floor for the stock market and maybe even for the economy. I agree with so much of it, which of course leads to confirmation bias, I admit.

Anyhoo, thanks for the rec.

[jesmu84]

https://x.com/i/status/2023084893169975534

[tower912]

Yup.

[Pakuni]

Fake News.
The Dow is up to $50,000, guys.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Fake News.
The Dow is up to $50,000, guys.

Impressive, but not as impressive as the 258 million American lives saved from stopping fentanyl.

[MU82]

Impressive, but not as impressive as the 258 million American lives saved from stopping fentanyl.

Or the savings on drug prices! 500%, 600%, 900%, 1400%, 1500%, 700%!!!

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Tariffs were just struck down by the Supreme Court.  More mass confusion and a cluster**** is sure to come on Monday.

[rocky_warrior]

Tariffs were just struck down by the Supreme Court.  More mass confusion and a cluster**** is sure to come on Monday.

Most businesses and consumers will benefit from this.  US tax revenue will suffer. 

[Hards Alumni]

Most businesses and consumers will benefit from this.  US tax revenue will suffer. 

Yes, and what will be done with the pot of money?  I'm sure it will be spun as a stimmy from the tariffs and that the executive branch was planning on doing this the entire time!

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Most businesses and consumers will benefit from this.  US tax revenue will suffer. 

It's going to be messy as I see customers seeking refunds from my company who in turn will have to seek a request from refunds from the US Government.  It should be fun.

[rocky_warrior]

It's going to be messy as I see customers seeking refunds from my company who in turn will have to seek a request from refunds from the US Government.  It should be fun.

I know lawyers will benefit, but guessing no actual refunds.  Tax credits to businesses is probably the play.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I know lawyers will benefit, but guessing no actual refunds.  Tax credits to businesses is probably the play.

That's what I was thinking.  It's probably easier.