Sorry, I’ve been busy, this is Friday’s post

Good Afternoon, fellas, and welcome back to ToTheUnknown—
The newsletter that's better at connecting the dots than a conspiracy theorist with red string and a corkboard.

It’s been a wild ride this week—markets tanked after the rate cut, whispers of AI taking over trading floors are buzzing louder than a caffeine addict at 3 AM, and we’ve got some hot investment takes to share.

Let’s break it all down:

• 🤖 Griffain AI: The Future of Trading?

• 🛠️ What I’ve Been Up To

• 🌍 Market Watch: J-Powell’s Latest Moves

• 👀 Investments to Watch

🤖 Griffain AI: The Future of Trading?

So, I just discovered Griffain—an AI agent that's essentially a GPT for trading.

Picture this: a bot analyzing the markets, spotting trends, and making trades while you sleep.

Sounds sci-fi, right?

Well, Griffain isn’t quite there yet, but it’s promising, but the future’s looking pretty bright for AI in finance.

This platform runs on the Solana ecosystem (crypto nerds, take note) and is designed to create scalable AI agents for on-chain tasks. It’s still in beta, and here’s the kicker—you need an invite to even try it.

Fingers crossed I snag one soon.

Heads up—this tech is just in its early stages, so don’t expect it to take Warren Buffett’s seat just yet.

But it’s another glimpse into how AI and blockchain are reshaping finance. If this tech keeps evolving (which it will), the days of old-school brokers yelling on trading floors might be numbered.

I’ll keep you updated.

🛠️ What I’ve Been Up To

School's been eating up my free time, but I’ve been staying in the loop with financial news (so you don’t have to).

I’m almost done with the Learning How to Learn course, which is like hacking your brain to learn smarter, not harder. Even though I’ve been top of my class, this course has been eye-opening. It dives into what’s happening inside your brain while you learn; the hacks are gold. I highly recommend it—especially if you’re curious about how to absorb knowledge faster and more effectively.

Now that my Christmas break has started, I’m gearing up for some next-level learning—and maybe even experimenting with new business ideas this spring or summer.

💡 Quick heads-up: In the future, I might introduce a premium version of my journey updates and business experiments.

Why?

Because sharing all my lessons takes time away from my own business, and I want to bring even more value to you guys (and offset the time I invest).

🎯 If you're 13-18:
If you’re not hitting the gym yet, what are you doing?

Seriously.

I joined when I was 14 (nobody asked my age), and it’s been a game-changer. Not just for my physique or looks—but mentally, it’s helped me build discipline and confidence, which are priceless in life and business.

Bonus: Exercise helps your brain work better. How else would I remember everything about business and stay on top of my game?

🌍 Market Watch: J-Powell’s Latest Moves

When J-Powell took the mic yesterday, it wasn’t just to announce a 0.25% rate cut. Here’s the tea:

• The Fed revised its 2025 rate cut plan from 3 cuts down to 2.

• They also bumped the inflation target from 2.1% to 2.5%.

💸 What does this mean for you?
Loans and credit repayments will stay higher for longer → making it pricier to borrow and encouraging people to spend less.

And by raising its inflation target to 2.5%, the Fed is subtly admitting it’s struggling to hit its original goal.

What’s next?

The market’s expecting no more cuts in January. The Fed skips February, so by March 19, we could be back to speculating about three cuts in 2025.

TL;DR: If you’re planning on taking out a loan, buckle up—it’s gonna cost. But don’t stress too much; the Fed loves changing their plans. This could flip again in a few months.

👀 Investments to Watch

🎯 5 Growth Stocks That Could Deliver 20% Returns

Alright, let’s talk stocks—the kind that makes your portfolio go 📈 instead of 🫠.

If you’re chasing that sweet, sweet 20% annual return, you’ll need companies with killer growth prospects, solid cash flow, and a "get-outta-my-way" vibe in their industries. Here are five hot picks that check all the boxes:

1/ NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)

The grandmaster of graphics processing units (GPUs) and the undefeated champ of AI tech. NVIDIA is also leading designer of system-on-a-chip units (SoCs) for gaming, professional visualization, data centers, and automotive markets.

🏎️ Growth Drivers:

• AI Domination: Their GPUs power AI breakthroughs, with applications in machine learning and data analytics.

• Gaming Industry: Gamers need high-performance gear, the continuous demand for hardware supports NVIDIA's revenue.

• Data Center Boom: As cloud computing grows, so does NVIDIA’s paycheck.

💸 Financial Performance:

• NVIDIA has been crushing it with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 20% over the past five years.

• The company's strong profit margins and return on equity (ROE) indicate efficient management and profitability. Chef’s kiss 😘 

🔍Analyst Insights:

• NVIDIA is expected to ride the AI and data-center train all the way to the moon.

2/ The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD)

The Trade Desk operates a cloud-based platform for ad buyers, enabling data-driven digital advertising campaigns across various formats and devices.

🏎️ Growth Drivers:

• Digital Advertising Shift: As businesses ditch traditional ads for digital ones, demand for The Trade Desk's services is increaseing.

• Programmatic Advertising: The company's platform facilitates automated, real-time ad buying = smarter, faster campaigns.

• Global Expansion: The Trade Desk's international growth opens new revenue streams.

💸 Financial Performance:

• The Trade Desk has achieved a revenue CAGR of approximately 35% over the past five years, with sky-high customer retention. Once people use it, they’re hooked.

🔍Analyst Insights:

• The Trade Desk is expected to keep crushing it as ad budgets migrate online.

3/ ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW)

ServiceNow is like the Swiss Army knife for businesses—solving problems, automating workflows, and looking good doing it.

🏎️ Growth Drivers:

• Digital Transformation: Organizations' shift to digital operations increases demand for ServiceNow's platforms.

• Workflow Automation: ServiceNow's solutions enhance efficiency across various business functions. They take the pain out of boring, repetitive tasks.

• AI Integration: Incorporating AI supercharges their platform, making businesses smarter and faster.

💸 Financial Performance:

• ServiceNow has a revenue CAGR of around 30% over the past five years.

• The company's subscription-based model ensures recurring revenue and customer loyalty.

🔍Analyst Insights:

• Analysts see a bright future for ServiceNow as it continues to innovate and expand globally.

4. AppLovin Corporation (APP)

If mobile games had a secret weapon, it’d be AppLovin. They help developers make $$$ with smarter ads and tools. They enhance user acquisition and monetization.

🏎️ Growth Drivers:

• Mobile Gaming Boom: The growing mobile gaming market increases demand for AppLovin's services.

• Ad Tech Solutions: Their AI helps devs optimize ad campaigns like pros.

• AI-Powered Optimization: Utilizing AI enhances the efficiency of marketing campaigns on its platform.

💸 Financial Performance:

• AppLovin has demonstrated significant revenue growth, with a CAGR of 50% in recent years.

• The company's expanding customer base and increasing average revenue per user indicate strong market adoption.

🔍Analyst Insights:

• Analysts highlight AppLovin's innovative platform and strategic acquisitions as key growth factors.

• The company's focus on AI and machine learning positions it well for future expansion.

5. Datadog, Inc. (DDOG)

Datadog provides a monitoring and analytics platform for developers, IT operations teams, and business users in the cloud age.

🏎️ Growth Drivers:

• Cloud Adoption: As companies go cloud-first, Datadog is in high demand.

• DevOps Integration: Datadog's platform supports the growing DevOps culture, enhancing development efficiency.

• AI and Machine Learning: Incorporating AI improves the platform's predictive analytics capabilities.

💸 Financial Performance:

• Datadog has a revenue CAGR of 70% over the past three years.
  Their customers? Loyal AF.

🔍Analyst Insights:

• Analysts say Datadog is sitting pretty at the intersection of cloud and AI innovation.

• The company's investments in AI and machine learning are expected to enhance its competitive position.

TL;DR:

Investing in these five companies—NVIDIA, The Trade Desk, ServiceNow, AppLovin, and Datadog—offers the potential for substantial returns, driven by their innovative solutions, market leadership, and alignment with emerging industry trends. Do your homework, but these stocks have potential to turbocharge your portfolio. 🚀

🤑 Dividend Stocks Worth Watching

Prefer slow and steady cash flow over heart-pumping growth?

Dividend stocks are like the tortoises of the investing world—steady payouts and consistent performance.

• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
  A diversified healthcare conglomerate with a strong track record of dividend payments and a current yield of 3.07%.

• Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)
  A leading consumer goods company offering a dividend yield of around 2.5%, known for its consistent dividend growth.

• Coca-Cola Co. (KO)
  A beverage industry giant with a dividend yield of about 3%, recognized for its stable dividend payments.

• PepsiCo Inc. (PEP)
  A global food and beverage leader providing a dividend yield of approximately 2.8%, with a history of dividend increases.

• McDonald's Corp. (MCD)
  A fast-food industry leader offering a dividend yield of around 2.3%, known for its reliable dividend payouts.

🥵 The Crypto Take

Here’s the hot take: while stocks are great, crypto’s where I’ve been spending more time lately.

The stock market is steady, sure—but if you’re hunting for real growth, crypto can deliver. You don’t even have to bet on meme coins. Find solid tokens with proven track records, and you might see better results. Keep your stock portfolio for dividends and your crypto wallet for those moonshot opportunities.

That’s it for today, folks.

Hope you enjoyed this one—whether it’s Griffain AI, Fed gossip, or gym advice, there’s always something to learn.

Catch you next time,

P.S.: Got a gym guide coming your way. No excuses—time to level up. 💪