Moody's Reports 60% of U.S. Spending by Top 20% Earners Amid AI Stock Boom
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 19 2026
0mins
Should l Buy QTUM?
Source: Benzinga
- Rising Income Inequality: Moody's analysis reveals that in Q3 2025, the top 20% of earners, making over $175,000 annually, accounted for nearly 60% of U.S. personal spending, marking a new peak since 1989 and illustrating a pronounced K-shaped economic divergence.
- Wealth Effect from AI Stocks: Chief Economist Mark Zandi attributes this disparity to the wealth effect driven by soaring asset prices, particularly from runaway AI stocks, which have significantly boosted the spending power of the wealthy, widening the gap with the bottom 80% of earners.
- Economic Vulnerability Warning: Zandi cautions that an economy reliant on the investment returns of a small elite is inherently fragile, especially vulnerable to stock market volatility, which could jeopardize overall economic growth.
- Societal Instability Concerns: He links this economic bifurcation to increasing societal angst and fractured politics in the U.S., suggesting that such a disparity in economic growth could lead to broader social issues and threaten national stability.
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Analyst Views on QTUM
Wall Street analysts forecast QTUM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for QTUM is USD with a low forecast of USD and a high forecast of USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
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Current: 110.130
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Current: 110.130
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About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Moody's Reports 60% of U.S. Spending by Top 20% Earners Amid AI Stock Boom
- Rising Income Inequality: Moody's analysis reveals that in Q3 2025, the top 20% of earners, making over $175,000 annually, accounted for nearly 60% of U.S. personal spending, marking a new peak since 1989 and illustrating a pronounced K-shaped economic divergence.
- Wealth Effect from AI Stocks: Chief Economist Mark Zandi attributes this disparity to the wealth effect driven by soaring asset prices, particularly from runaway AI stocks, which have significantly boosted the spending power of the wealthy, widening the gap with the bottom 80% of earners.
- Economic Vulnerability Warning: Zandi cautions that an economy reliant on the investment returns of a small elite is inherently fragile, especially vulnerable to stock market volatility, which could jeopardize overall economic growth.
- Societal Instability Concerns: He links this economic bifurcation to increasing societal angst and fractured politics in the U.S., suggesting that such a disparity in economic growth could lead to broader social issues and threaten national stability.
See More
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- ETF Investment Strategy: The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF categorizes companies by their AI exposure and weights them accordingly, avoiding over-concentration in large tech stocks, with only Alphabet, Tesla, and Apple making up 11% of its top ten holdings.
- Active Management Advantage: The iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF boasts over $8 billion in assets under management, focusing on companies like Nvidia and Broadcom, and while its top five holdings account for 28%, its lower expense ratio may provide a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving industry.
- Quantum Computing Outlook: The Defiance Quantum ETF targets quantum computing and related technologies, which, despite being in early stages, could offer significant investment returns due to its potential for unprecedented computing power, attracting investors looking for long-term growth opportunities.
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- Partnership Background: Since November 2025, SEALSQ and Quobly have partnered to focus on critical sectors such as defense, intelligence, finance, and pharmaceuticals, leveraging their technological strengths to drive industry innovation.
- Technology Integration: QUOBLY's CMOS-compatible quantum technology combined with SEALSQ's post-quantum Root-of-Trust capabilities aims to create trusted, industrialized quantum systems for Europe and its strategic partners, enhancing regional security.
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Quantum Stocks to Watch Now: IonQ, D-Wave, and Others
- Quantum Computing's Future: The focus has shifted from whether quantum computing will happen to when it will become a reality.
- Technological Advancements: Ongoing advancements in technology are paving the way for the practical implementation of quantum computing.
- Industry Impact: Various industries are preparing for the transformative effects that quantum computing will bring.
- Research and Development: Significant investment and research efforts are being directed towards overcoming the challenges associated with quantum computing.
See More
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Quantum Computing Breakthrough: A Google lab has developed a chip that computes molecular structures 13,000 times faster than the most powerful supercomputer currently available.
Future Potential: Scientists believe that within five years, quantum computers will be able to solve problems that are currently deemed impossible.
See More
Moody's Reports 60% of U.S. Spending by Top 20% Earners Amid AI Stock Boom
- Rising Income Inequality: Moody's analysis reveals that in Q3 2025, the top 20% of earners, making over $175,000 annually, accounted for nearly 60% of U.S. personal spending, marking a new peak since 1989 and illustrating a pronounced K-shaped economic divergence.
- Wealth Effect from AI Stocks: Chief Economist Mark Zandi attributes this disparity to the wealth effect driven by soaring asset prices, particularly from runaway AI stocks, which have significantly boosted the spending power of the wealthy, widening the gap with the bottom 80% of earners.
- Economic Vulnerability Warning: Zandi cautions that an economy reliant on the investment returns of a small elite is inherently fragile, especially vulnerable to stock market volatility, which could jeopardize overall economic growth.
- Societal Instability Concerns: He links this economic bifurcation to increasing societal angst and fractured politics in the U.S., suggesting that such a disparity in economic growth could lead to broader social issues and threaten national stability.
See More
AI Stocks Drive Market Up, ETFs Become New Investment Favorites
- Market Growth Potential: The AI market is projected to grow to $2.4 trillion by 2032, indicating that this sector is still in its early innings, allowing investors to capture future growth opportunities through ETFs.
- ETF Investment Strategy: The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF categorizes companies by their AI exposure and weights them accordingly, avoiding over-concentration in large tech stocks, with only Alphabet, Tesla, and Apple making up 11% of its top ten holdings.
- Active Management Advantage: The iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF boasts over $8 billion in assets under management, focusing on companies like Nvidia and Broadcom, and while its top five holdings account for 28%, its lower expense ratio may provide a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving industry.
- Quantum Computing Outlook: The Defiance Quantum ETF targets quantum computing and related technologies, which, despite being in early stages, could offer significant investment returns due to its potential for unprecedented computing power, attracting investors looking for long-term growth opportunities.
See More
SEALSQ Plans $200 Million Majority Stake Acquisition in Quobly
- Investment Plan: SEALSQ is looking to invest in French quantum technology firm Quobly through a multi-stage transaction starting with a minority stake, potentially leading to a $200 million majority ownership, indicating strong interest in the quantum technology sector.
- Partnership Background: Since November 2025, SEALSQ and Quobly have partnered to focus on critical sectors such as defense, intelligence, finance, and pharmaceuticals, leveraging their technological strengths to drive industry innovation.
- Technology Integration: QUOBLY's CMOS-compatible quantum technology combined with SEALSQ's post-quantum Root-of-Trust capabilities aims to create trusted, industrialized quantum systems for Europe and its strategic partners, enhancing regional security.
- Financial Performance: SEALSQ reported preliminary FY2025 revenue of approximately $18 million, a 66% increase, and expects revenue growth of 50%-100% in FY2026, reflecting rising market demand for post-quantum security products.
See More
Quantum Technology Has Arrived: What's Ahead for IonQ, D-Wave, and Rigetti Stocks?
Quantum Computing's Future: The focus has shifted from questioning the feasibility of quantum computing to anticipating its timeline for practical implementation.
Technological Advancements: Ongoing advancements in quantum technology suggest that significant breakthroughs are on the horizon, making it a matter of time before quantum computing becomes mainstream.
See More
Quantum Stocks to Watch Now: IonQ, D-Wave, and Others
- Quantum Computing's Future: The focus has shifted from whether quantum computing will happen to when it will become a reality.
- Technological Advancements: Ongoing advancements in technology are paving the way for the practical implementation of quantum computing.
- Industry Impact: Various industries are preparing for the transformative effects that quantum computing will bring.
- Research and Development: Significant investment and research efforts are being directed towards overcoming the challenges associated with quantum computing.
See More
Quantum stocks resemble the state of AI five years ago, presenting potential for significant gains.
Quantum Computing Breakthrough: A Google lab has developed a chip that computes molecular structures 13,000 times faster than the most powerful supercomputer currently available.
Future Potential: Scientists believe that within five years, quantum computers will be able to solve problems that are currently deemed impossible.
See More
