CNBC's "Halftime Report Final Trades" segment on Thursday featured some interesting picks from market professionals betting on everything from tech giants to healthcare real estate.
Bryn Talkington, managing partner of Requisite Capital Management, went with Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) (GOOG) as her final trade. It's been quite the run for this Magnificent Seven member—shares have climbed to fresh all-time highs recently and are up an eye-popping 54% year-to-date in 2025. That kind of performance has padded the already substantial fortunes of Alphabet's co-founders, who now rank among the wealthiest people on the planet.
Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist, head of investment solutions and portfolio manager at Hightower Advisors, picked Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). The coffee giant has been making moves in China, which might explain Link's interest. On November 3rd, Starbucks struck a deal with Boyu Capital to create a joint venture for its Chinese retail operations. Under the arrangement, Boyu will take up to a 60% stake in those operations, valued at roughly $4 billion in enterprise value. That's a significant restructuring for one of Starbucks' most important international markets.
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, chose Welltower Inc. (WELL), a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust. His timing looks pretty solid—Morgan Stanley analyst Ronald Kamdem maintained an Overweight rating on Welltower Thursday and bumped up the price target from $170 to $200. Healthcare REITs have become increasingly popular as investors look for exposure to aging demographics and healthcare infrastructure.
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