Welcome back to Smash, Trash, or Stash.

This is the no-BS series where I run through stocks/cryptos suggested by readers and give my recommendation.

• SMASH the Buy button → Strong Buy / High-Conviction Stock

• TRASH that stock → Hard Pass / Avoid for now

Or…

• STASH that stock on the watchlist → Keep on watchlist / Not ready yet but worth tracking

Let’s get to it:

Meta Platforms (META): SMASH the Buy Button

I’ve gotten plenty of questions about Meta after the pullback to $600.

My opinion hasn’t changed. Meta is still one of the strongest businesses in the world.

The company owns what is essentially an “attention monopoly” through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with more than 4 billion users across its platforms.

But the real story today is the AI engine underneath.

While many companies are still trying to figure out how to monetize AI, Meta is already using it to improve ad targeting, content recommendations, and engagement across its ecosystem.

The financials reflect this too, with earnings expectations continuing to move higher as AI-driven monetization improves.

That’s exactly the kind of foundation I want underneath a long-term AI investment.

SMASH the Buy Button.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI): Trash It

I was previously more constructive on SoFi because the valuation had finally started looking reasonable after the stock got cut in half.

But the recent Muddy Waters short report changes the conversation.

The firm accused SoFi of aggressive accounting practices, hidden leverage, and inflated profitability metrics. SoFi strongly denies the claims, of course.

Still, when accounting concerns emerge around a financial company, the risk profile changes dramatically.

At that point, it stops becoming a valuation debate and starts becoming a question of trust.

Personally, I’d rather focus on the many high-quality opportunities in the market that aren’t surrounded by accounting controversy.

For now, SOFI is in the TRASH category for me.

nLIGHT (LASR): SMASH the Buy Button

This is one of the more speculative AI infrastructure plays I’ve looked at recently… but I also understand why investors are excited.

LASR operates in advanced lasers and directed energy systems, which James Altucher labeled the most important bottleneck in the next phase of the AI buildout.

The stock recently pulled back from $85 to $70, which makes the setup more interesting after an aggressive run.

But let’s be clear: This is where the risk starts showing up in the AI trade.

The company is still unprofitable and trades at a rich valuation relative to revenues.

That can work extremely well in bull markets.

But it also means volatility could be brutal if sentiment shifts or growth expectations cool.

Personally, I think this falls into the “high-risk, high-reward” bucket of AI infrastructure speculation.

SMASH if you’re willing to bear the risk.

Tyler Technologies (TYL): Stash for Later

I’ll be honest, this was a reader recommendation, and when I saw the ticker, knowing it’s a software name, my immediate thought was “TRASH.”

But then I did some digging.

TYL is actually a pretty interesting business.

Tyler Technologies provides software to local governments, schools, courts, and public agencies. In other words, it operates in one of the stickiest corners of software imaginable.

Once governments install these systems, they rarely switch.

That creates highly recurring revenue, strong retention, and steady long-term growth.

The problem is that TYL still trades at a premium valuation, plus the entire software sector is selling off hard on AI fears.

So while TYL may rebound eventually, I’m not making that bet anytime soon.

STASH.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS): Smash the Buy Button

This is a stock I’ve covered before, but I continue getting questions about it.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is building a space-based cellular network designed to connect your everyday smartphone directly to satellites.

No towers. No dead zones. Just broadband from space.

However, that vision hit a speed bump recently when a Blue Origin launch carrying one of ASTS’s communications satellites failed to place it into the correct orbit.

The press release said the satellite will soon be “de-orbited,” which is a nice way of saying it’s going to fall out of the sky and burn up on re-entry.

Not ideal. But also not thesis-breaking.

After the incident, I got notes from James Altucher and Ray Blanco.

James: “ASTS is a buy here.”

Ray: “Only down 11%. I was hoping to pick up more in the 60s.”

That tells you how they’re viewing the pullback: not as a failure… but as an opportunity.

I’m with them.

SMASH the Buy Button on ASTS.

Have a Stock or Crypto You Want Covered?

Send me an email at AskDavis@paradigmpressgroup.com with your pick.

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Just real analysis from someone who watches markets every single day.