CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports on how a roughly 60-point year-to-date spread inside the Mag 7 is turning into a referendum on AI monetization — rewarding Alphabet and Nvidia while pressuring big spenders like Amazon and Meta.

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Alphabet has pulled ahead among the Magnificent Seven technology stocks, benefiting from its comprehensive AI strategy, including in-house chip design and robust cloud infrastructure. The company's Google Cloud division reported 34% growth last quarter, with margins nearing 24%, positioning Alphabet as a leader in monetizing AI advancements.

In contrast, Amazon, Meta, and Apple have lagged behind, with Amazon's AWS growth trailing competitors and Meta's AI investments focused mainly on ad performance due to the absence of a cloud business. The divergence in performance among these major tech firms reflects a broader market shift, with Wall Street prioritizing companies that can effectively monetize AI and deliver strong margins.

Alphabet pulls ahead as the market reprices AI execution

The magnificent seven stocks no longer trading as a monolith in the gap. Well it could widen in 2026. Mackenzie Sagal is joins us now and she will explain Mackenzie. Hey David. So there's roughly a 60 point spread in the mag seven year today with Alphabet leading the pack and Amazon in last place. And that divergence tells you what Wall Street cares about. It's now rewarding companies that show monetization and margin. Leading the pack is Alphabet. It's pulling ahead because it owns the full stack AI chips cloud infrastructure distribution and search. Bringing chip design in-house is margin defense in a world price by NVIDIA. And you can see it in the results. Google Cloud grew 34 percent last quarter with margins now near 24 percent. And NVIDIA is winning two up nearly 40 percent this year because the AI capex wave is still landing on NVIDIA Silicon with Blackwell ramping and capacity effectively spoken for. Now at the other end of the scoreboard Amazon is at the bottom of the pack. It's been betting on its in-house training and AI chip to win on cost. But AWS revenue is only just reaccelerating. It's still trailing Azure and Google Cloud on growth rates and behind Microsoft on backlog without a must use model or consumer AI product pulling workloads onto its stack. Now meta also in the laggard bucket. It had its biggest single day drop in three years after raising its capex outlook. But without a cloud business to monetize that spend directly the AI payoff story is mostly about improved ad performance. And then there's Apple sitting out the arms race entirely. But if models converge on quality it's distribution that wins. So Apple doesn't need to train the models. It just needs to be where people use them. That's the upside case for 2026. And if you want to know where the AI trade is really working look beyond the Mag 7. Some of the biggest winners this year have been the boring picks and shovels memory and storage names like Micron Western Digital and Seagate guys. Yeah we've we've mentioned the divergence and the fact frankly as you pointed out Mackenzie that Apple and Meta obviously Amazon as well Microsoft all trading below the return of the S&P this year. So as you've indicated as well and so it may continue next year we'll see. Obviously NVIDIA is one of the outliers and Alphabet. Wow that stock has been incredible. It really has off the back of its in-house chip program. The TPU has a really strong reputation versus names like Trainium. The Amazon in-house chip hasn't done as well with some of these you know some of these contracts which is why you're seeing new business go into Google Cloud. The other thing I'll say about Meta it's a very interesting story there. They are spending in the range of what Google and Amazon are are paying. They don't have a cloud business to justify that spend. So a lot of that coming back to what they're able to do with ad optimization. Llama their LLM not as popular as Gemini. Another win there for Google. Part of why it's done so well this year. Gemini is at the top of the scoreboard. Yeah you hit it all of course. Yeah that meta thing is fascinating. Again key being the spend is so similar and yet no cloud business to amortize it over. Mackenzie thank you.

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

Taipei City

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

Florida

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

Far-right politics gaining influence across Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

Kyiv

Kyiv residents fear escalation amid Zelenskyy-Trump peace talks

A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

Top 10 natural disasters cost over $120 billion in 2025, report says

Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Russian drones, missiles pound Kyiv ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting

French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

Saint-Tropez

Brigitte Bardot, France's 'legend of the century', has died

A ceasefire is now in place between Cambodia and Thailand after weeks of cross-border fighting. But with nearly a million civilians displaced and trust in short supply, the focus now is on whether the guns will stay silent.

Bangkok

Thailand and Cambodia agree on ceasefire to end weeks of deadly fighting

The storm that hit the Northeast this weekend dropped up to a foot of snow in some areas. New York City saw its highest level of snowfall in nearly four years, and the region's three major airports experienced significant delays and disruptions.

New York

Powerful winter storm brings heavy snow to Northeast

For approximately 10 hours Saturday, Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv with about 500 drones and 40 missiles. The attack comes one day before before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Trump in Mar-a-Lago. Elizabeth Palmer has the latest.

Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met today in Halifax to discuss economic aid amid the Russia-Ukraine war. This comes ahead of Zelenskyy’s plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a peace deal.

Halifax Regional Municipality

Canada announces $2.5B in aid for Ukraine

President Trump said Thursday's strikes on Nigeria targeting ISIS were set for Wednesday but were delayed to Christmas Day for symbolic reasons. Mr. Trump claimed the Nigerian government is failing to protect Christians.

Washington D.C.

Trump says timing of Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria was intentional

The latest attack comes as presidents Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing efforts to end the war.

One dead many injured after Russia launches massive attack on Kyiv

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organisations from accessing them.

Beijing

China sanctions 20 American companies over arms sales to Taiwan

Somalia reacted angrily Friday (December 26) after Israel formally recognised the northern region of Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" -- the first country to do so. U.S. President Donald Trump said he opposed U.S. recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post.

Somaliland

Somalia denounces Israeli recognition of Somaliland

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday (December 26), the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end border clashes that killed dozens of people.

Buri Ram

Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire

Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago, but it hadn't internationally been recognized as an independent state by any country.

Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland

Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.

Mishima

At least 15 injured in chemical attack, stabbing at Japan factory

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "horrific killing spree" and pledged Israel would reinforce its security.

Jerusalem

Palestinian man kills two in car, knife attack in northern Israel

Munitions factories are expected to expand capacity and build new plants as the regime in Pyongyang intensifies weapons development and furthers its ties with Russia.

Pyongyang

Kim Jong-un orders North Korea to boost missile production in 2026

The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

Abuja

Nigeria confirms cooperation with U.S. strikes on IS targets

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (December 26) he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump soon and that a lot could be decided before the New Year as Washington pushes diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskiy: 'A lot' can be decided before New Year ahead of Trump talk

The United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

U.S. launches 'deadly' airstrikes in Nigeria targeting ISIS: Trump

Official results show Asfura edged out his main rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Marred by delays and fraud claims, the Honduran election continues Latin America's shift to the right.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras: Trump ally Nasry Asfura wins disputed presidency

Several people were killed in Southern California when severe storms with heavy rain caused mudslides and flooding, which was made worse in areas affected by wildfires in January.

Heavy rain, flooding turns deadly in California

The U.S. Department of Justice says it has found more than a million more documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying a full release for weeks while officials redact details to protect victims.

DOJ reviews over 1 million newly found Epstein documents

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesday evening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity and hope". He reminded the faithful that refusing to help the poor and vulnerable is comparable to rejecting God altogether.

Alphabet pulls ahead as the market reprices AI execution

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