For many investors, a family trust may be a key part of a smart estate and financial plan, especially for preserving and passing on wealth. A family trust is a specific type of trust you could use to help ensure your loved ones receive your wealth, and potentially avoid public disclosure of trust assets. Wondering if a family trust is right for your assets? Speaking with a financial advisor could be a good first step to answering that question and potentially setting one up. Benefits of a family trust:Avoid probate: Helps keep matters private and potentially saves your heirs time and legal fees.Shield assets: Potentially protect assets from creditors, lawsuits, and even divorce.Legacy planning: Define how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritanceTax strategy: With estate tax thresholds set to decrease in 2026, trusts can potentially be used proactively to minimize exposure and lock in current exemptions while they last.If you’re thinking about creating or updating a trust, now may be the right time to speak with a fiduciary financial advisor. That’s why we created a free tool to help match you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest. It’s never too late to plan to work toward a comfortable retirement. Get your financial advisor matches today. Try SmartAsset’s Financial Advisor Matching Tool Hire a pro. Find and compare vetted financial advisors serving your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest.Get Started This is not an offer to buy or sell any security or interest. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Working with an adviser may come with potential downsides such as payment of fees (which will reduce returns). Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There are no guarantees that working with an adviser will yield positive returns. The existence of a fiduciary duty does not prevent the rise of potential conflicts of interest. SmartAsset.com is not intended to provide legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice or financial advice (Other than referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries (“Adviser(s)”) with a regulatory body in the United States). The article and opinions in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you consult your accountant, tax, or legal advisor with regard to your individual situation.   SmartAsset Advisors, LLC (“SmartAsset”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Insight Technology, is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. SmartAsset’s services are limited to referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries (“Adviser(s)”) with a regulatory body in the United States that have elected to participate in our matching platform based on information gathered from users through our online questionnaire. SmartAsset receives compensation from Advisers for our services. SmartAsset does not review the ongoing performance of any Adviser, participate in the management of any user’s account by an Adviser or provide advice regarding specific investments.   We do not manage client funds or hold custody of assets, we help users connect with relevant financial advisors.

---

Sunday’s Bonus Content

3 AI Names With Big Buybacks: GEV, PSTG, and LSCC Signal Confidence

Submitted by Leo Miller. First Published: 12/16/2025. 

Key Takeaways

• GE Vernova is up more than 100% in 2025. It just boosted its buyback capacity, signaling confidence going forward.
• Pure Storage’s $400 million buyback authorization indicates that it sees value in its share price after a 27% post-earnings drop.
• Lattice Semiconductor has risen more than 30% this year and just fortified its buyback coffers.

Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have taken a hit lately — but not all move in lockstep. Some names are rallying, others are falling, and a few are holding steady while signaling confidence with new buyback authorizations. Here are three AI-related stocks with differing trajectories but one thing in common: expanded buyback programs.

Let’s break down what their recent moves mean for investors.

GEV Boosts Mid-Term Outlook and Buybacks

FREE BUY ALERT: 3 stocks to own in 2026 (Ad)

While market uncertainty could send some of America’s most popular stocks crashing down even further in 2026 …

This secret has identified three under-the-radar picks that could thrive in 2026 and beyond.

To learn their names and ticker symbols for FREE …Click here NOW — before it’s too late.

First up is one of the biggest names powering AI, GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV). Shares have jumped about 21% since Nov. 21, despite a nearly 7% pullback from Dec. 10–12 after Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) earnings triggered an AI sector sell-off.

The stock’s recent gain followed a Dec. 9 press release that drove shares nearly 16% higher the next day. The company raised its multi-year outlook through 2028 and now expects to generate $52 billion in revenue that year, up from prior estimates of $45 billion.

GEV also raised its buyback authorization to $10 billion — roughly 5.5% of its $177 billion market capitalization. That move signals management’s confidence in the company’s outlook and the trajectory of the stock.

Even with shares up more than 100% in 2025, management appears to see continued value. Analysts largely agree. The MarketBeat consensus price target is about $654, implying roughly 3% downside. Among forecasts updated after the outlook increase, the average target is $802, implying about 19% upside.

PSTG Announces Record Buyback Authorization After Shares Tank

Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) took a big hit after its Dec. 2 earnings release, with shares plunging more than 27% the following day. That drop came even though the company beat revenue estimates and matched adjusted earnings-per-share expectations; plans to significantly increase research and development spending weighed on sentiment.

On Dec. 10, Pure Storage added $400 million to its repurchase program, raising total buyback capacity to $420 million.

That equals roughly 1.9% of the stock’s approximately $22.4 billion market capitalization and is Pure Storage’s largest buyback announcement to date. Given the timing, the company likely views the recent sell-off as an attractive buying opportunity.

Analyst targets support that view. The consensus price target near $95 implies about 34% upside. Among analysts who updated their forecasts after the earnings release, the average target is around $92.50, which still suggests roughly 30% upside.

LSCC: $250 Million Buyback Amid Increasing AI Adoption

Last is a smaller but appreciating name, Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC). Lattice’s Nov. 3 earnings slightly beat revenue estimates and matched EPS expectations, yet the stock fell more than 13% on Nov. 4.

Since then, shares have rebounded, gaining over 19% and rising more than 33% year-to-date in 2025.

Supporting the recovery was a $250 million buyback authorization announced on Dec. 5 — about 2.4% of its $10.3 billion market capitalization.

Lattice is positioning itself as a growing player in AI, forecasting that AI applications will account for 25% of its total demand in 2026, up from less than 20% in 2025. That rising relevance in the AI ecosystem bolsters the rationale for the repurchase.

Analysts see more limited upside in Lattice. The consensus price target near $77.50 implies about 3% upside, while the average of targets updated after the earnings release is nearly $80, implying roughly 6% upside.

Take Note of PSTG’s Big Buyback Boost

GEV, PSTG, and LSCC are all sending a similar message: management believes buybacks are a prudent use of capital and a vote of confidence in each business. Among them, Pure Storage’s timing and the size of its $400 million addition stand out — it appears the company is betting the recent sell-off is overdone and is using share repurchases to capitalize on a lower price.

This email message is a sponsored message from SmartAsset, a third-party advertiser of MarketBeat. Why did I receive this message?. 

If you need help with your newsletter, don’t hesitate to contact our U.S. based support team at contact@marketbeat.com.

If you would no longer like to receive promotional emails from MarketBeat advertisers, you can unsubscribe or manage your mailing preferences here.

© 2006-2025 MarketBeat Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
345 North Reid Place, Sixth Floor, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57103-7078. USA..

Check This Out: Wall Street Legend’s Unexpected New Year Move (From Brownstone Research)