Dear Reader,
We were somewhere in Delaware, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic...
Miles from the next rest stop, my 5-year-old son suddenly howled that he had to go.
I veered off at the next exit, pulled into a shopping mall, and unbuckled his car seat as quickly as I could...
But on our sprint to the restroom, something stopped me in my tracks.
It was a robot.
Not just any robot - it was Elon Musk's Optimus.
For months, the financial research firm I work for has been tracking Optimus' development behind closed doors.
Elon has called it "the biggest product of all time."
But we believe the implications for investors could be even bigger.
In fact, there's one stock (not Tesla) that should be on every investor's radar right now.
Months ago, we predicted:
"It won't be long before Tesla's new product is everywhere - on sale in showrooms across America and around the world."
And now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I'm convinced the rollout is happening faster and at a bigger scale than anyone's prepared for.
One of our top stock experts - whose team has briefed the FBI, the Pentagon, and Fortune 500 CIOs - says the tech behind Optimus could trigger one of the most profound wealth transfers of our lifetime.
To understand exactly what’s happening... and get the name of the stock he recommends you buy for free today... I strongly urge you to watch this urgent presentation now:
Sincerely,
Kelly Brown
Managing Director
P.S. I wasn't expecting to see Optimus in person, but now that I have... I get it. It's a 5'8", 125-pound humanoid robot that can carry 45 pounds while walking at 5 miles per hour - perfect for factory work. Musk believes we'll eventually see 10 billion of them in circulation. Why? Because once this rollout begins, every business that makes something will want one. This could spark a financial story even bigger than anything you’ve seen from Tesla and Elon. Click here now to see what’s coming next.
This Country's Stock Market Was the World's Top Performer in 2025
Author: Leo Miller. Article Posted: 1/28/2026.
Article Highlights
- U.S. stocks have dominated global returns over the past 20 years, far outpacing developed and emerging markets overall.
- That trend flipped in 2025, when international benchmarks delivered much stronger gains than the S&P 500.
- South Korea led the global leaderboard, powered by AI-linked memory chip winners and reform-driven momentum heading into 2026.
Over long periods, U.S. stocks have established themselves as among the best performers in global equity markets. In the 20 years ended Jan. 26, 2026, the S&P 500 Index delivered a total return exceeding 650%.
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA: EFA) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA: EEM) track the performance of international stock-market indexes. EFA focuses on stocks in developed economies, while EEM focuses on emerging or developing-market economies. Over the same period, these ETFs delivered returns below 200%.
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Get the full story on this opportunity now.However, the U.S. lagged in 2025. The S&P 500's 17.7% total return was well behind EFA and EEM, which generated gains of 31.5% and 34%, respectively. Among international markets, one country stood out. This U.S. ally is a key player in the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and saw massive gains among its largest companies.
Samsung and SK Hynix Lead South Korea’s Rally
In 2025, South Korea came out on top as the best-performing stock market in the world. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA: EWY), which tracks more than 80 South Korean stocks, returned 95% for the year. JPMorgan notes that, in U.S. dollar terms, the South Korean market gained nearly 101%.
South Korea's market is highly concentrated, a dynamic that proved advantageous in 2025. Samsung Electronics (OTCMKTS: SSNLF) and SK Hynix account for about 26.5% and 18.4% of EWY's weighting, respectively—almost 45% of the fund combined. Shares of these companies surged: Samsung's total return was roughly 130%, while SK Hynix jumped about 278%. The driver was their dominance in the memory-chip market, where they sit alongside U.S. rival Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), which returned around 240% for the year.
AI systems' growing demand for advanced memory, coupled with constrained supply, sent component prices higher in 2025. Analysts forecast further price increases in 2026. That dynamic has pushed investors into the three stocks, as rising prices translate into material gains in revenue, margins, and profits.
Value Up Reforms Look to Mitigate “Korean Discount”
Reforms to South Korea's corporate governance policies have also helped fuel the rally. The market has long suffered from the so-called "Korean Discount," where Korean stocks often trade at lower valuation multiples than peers elsewhere. Weak protections for minority shareholders have been a key reason for that discount.
Chaebols—large family-controlled conglomerates that dominate much of the economy—have historically limited the influence of outside shareholders and made it difficult to assess true value. They typically prioritize family control and wealth preservation over maximizing shareholder returns.
Policymakers are attempting to address these issues through the "Value Up" program. Reforms include extending the fiduciary duty of independent directors from the "Company" to the "Company and Shareholders," making it easier for minority owners to challenge decisions that are not in their interest.
Memory Stocks and Value Up Could Lead to More Upside in 2026
Looking ahead, many analysts remain bullish on the South Korean market. Goldman Sachs projects a 23% return in 2026, in U.S. dollar terms. Samsung and SK Hynix together hold roughly 80% of the global high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, positioning them as key beneficiaries if shortages persist. That said, their sharp run-ups raise questions about how much further gains can continue.
Morgan Stanley sees South Korea as early in its Value Up journey and highlights tax reform, treasury share cancellations, and consistent government follow-through as important steps to build investor confidence. The firm also notes that South Korea's tax policy is "notoriously difficult to predict," which could complicate the outlook.
EWY is the simplest way for many investors to gain exposure to the South Korean market. Remember that currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the South Korean won will affect returns.
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