Group 1 - Analysts at Barclays predict that the physical AI market, including robots and robotaxis, could reach $1 trillion by 2035, driven by advancements in technology [1][2] - The report highlights that significant improvements in "brains, brawn and batteries" will push AI-enabled robotics to a critical turning point [2] - Nvidia's Alpamayo technology is expected to enhance autonomous driving capabilities and assist in production and manufacturing tasks, indicating a broader application of physical AI [3] Group 2 - Elon Musk has expressed concerns about potential competition for Tesla's Optimus robot from Chinese companies, indicating a competitive landscape in humanoid robotics [4] - Tesla's robotics capabilities are underscored by the performance of the Atlas robot from Boston Dynamics, which can lift objects up to 110 lbs and operate in a wide temperature range [5] - Tesla's stock price experienced a decline of 1.63% to $410.63 at market close, but saw a slight recovery of 0.80% to $413.92 in premarket trading [6]

Core Insights - Perplexity AI is shifting its focus from advertising to subscriptions and enterprise clients to achieve sustainable revenue growth [1][2] - The company aims to target high-powered professionals, emphasizing revenue retention over other metrics [2] - Perplexity AI reached $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by October 2025 and is expanding its enterprise offerings [3] Monetization Strategy - The company is prioritizing monetization, particularly through subscriptions and enterprise sales, rather than the volume of questions answered [2] - A five-person enterprise sales team is currently in place, with plans for expansion in the near future [3] Advertising Approach - Previous attempts to incorporate ads into AI-generated answers were unsuccessful, as users expressed skepticism about their credibility [3][4] - Perplexity AI will continue to offer free access to its services, albeit with rate limits [4] Product Development and Security Concerns - The CEO highlighted the potential of on-device AI to enhance user control and automate tasks, while also warning against misuse of the AI browser, Comet [5] - Security vulnerabilities were identified in Comet following audits by Brave and Guardio, raising concerns about its capabilities [6]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday after a slight increase on Tuesday, with all major benchmark indices showing positive futures [1] - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.07%, while the two-year bond was at 3.45%, indicating market expectations for interest rates [2] - The Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Russell 2000 indices recorded gains of 0.48%, 0.57%, 0.63%, and 0.40% respectively [2] Company Insights - Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE:OVV) rose 4.17% after announcing a definitive agreement to sell its Anadarko assets in Oklahoma for $3 billion in cash, maintaining a stronger price trend over all time frames but ranking poorly in growth [6] - DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) was up 0.30% as analysts expect it to post quarterly earnings of 59 cents per share on revenue of $3.99 billion, although it maintains a weaker price trend across all time frames with a poor value ranking [7] - Celanese (CE) is noted to maintain a stronger price trend over the long, short, and medium terms according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [2] - Tactile Systems Technology (TCMD) shows a weaker price trend in the short term but a strong trend in the medium and long terms, with a solid quality ranking [3] - Palo Alto Networks (PANW) has a weak price trend across all time frames but holds a strong growth ranking [4] Analyst Insights - Adam Turnquist from LPL Financial expects the U.S. stock market and economy to remain resilient despite market narrative shifts, particularly regarding fears of an AI "bubble" and industry-level disruptions in the software sector [9] - Turnquist views recent selling pressure in software stocks as potentially overly punitive, given supportive broader fundamentals, and anticipates no recession until 2026, supported by fiscal stimulus and AI productivity gains [10] - He notes a tilt towards risk aversion as big tech cools but maintains that the broad market's long-term uptrend remains intact [10]

Core Points - The first $36 billion in Japanese-funded infrastructure and industrial projects has been approved, marking the launch of a $550 billion investment pact [1][2] - This initiative aims to revitalize the American industrial base and is seen as a mutual benefit for both Japan and the United States [2][3] - The investment committee, chaired by Lutnick, will recommend projects while Japan will provide feasibility input, with a profit-sharing structure favoring the U.S. [5] Strategic Insights - The announcement reflects a multi-year commitment from Japan to enhance economic security for both nations [2][3] - President Trump attributes the capital inflow to his administration's trade policy, particularly the use of tariffs [4] - The agreement allows the U.S. to retain 90% of generated cash flows after initial costs are recovered, indicating a favorable financial structure for the U.S. [5]

Auddia Inc. (NASDAQ:AUUD) jumped 91.66% in overnight trading to $1.60 on Tuesday. The move followed the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing disclosing a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Colorado-based Thramann Holdings, LLC. Thramann Holdings is wholly owned by Auddia’s President and CEO, Jeff Thramann.Related-Party Deal Triggers After-Hours SpikeAccording to the filing, under the agreement, both entities would merge under holding company McCarthy Finney Inc., a Delaware co ...

Group 1 - Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills, impacting global shipping and U.S. defense contractors as regional tensions rise [1] - The Strait of Hormuz is crucial as it handles 20% of the world's oil, leading to increased scrutiny on tanker companies and defense stocks [2] - As of February 18, Brent crude is trading at approximately $67.63 per barrel, up 0.31%, while West Texas Intermediate is at about $62.40 per barrel, higher by 0.22% [2] Group 2 - Despite military tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister expressed optimism for a sustainable solution during a U.N. disarmament conference, indicating a potential diplomatic opening [4] - U.S. Vice President noted that while some progress has been made in indirect nuclear talks, Iran has not acknowledged certain "red lines" set by the previous administration [4]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. stock futures are trading higher, indicating a positive market sentiment for the day ahead [1] Group 1 - Certain stocks are expected to attract investor attention today [1]

Group 1 - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that the company is "misunderstood" on Wall Street, with traditional finance players divided between embracing and resisting cryptocurrency [1][2] - Armstrong compared the skepticism towards cryptocurrency to how taxi companies viewed ridesharing models, suggesting that traditional finance professionals see crypto as a threat to their established careers [1][2] - He emphasized that Coinbase is not yet a consensus view among traditional analysts and encouraged focusing on the company's actions and track record rather than analyst models [2] Group 2 - Coinbase's fourth-quarter revenue for 2025 was reported at $1.78 billion, which missed analyst estimates, while the EPS was strong at $0.66, beating forecasts [3] - The full-year revenue for Coinbase reached $7.2 billion, marking a 9% increase from the previous year [3] - The stock has a consensus price target of $314.94 from 29 analysts, with an average price target of $194, indicating a potential upside of about 17.23% [3] Group 3 - Armstrong accused banks of stifling competition and called for lawmakers to create a "level playing field" through legislation [4] - Coinbase shares experienced a decline of 0.32% in after-hours trading, following a 1.03% increase during the regular trading session, closing at $166.02 [4] - The stock maintains a weaker price trend in the short, medium, and long term, with an average Value ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [4]

urban-gro Inc. (NASDAQ:UGRO) jumped 77.71% in after-hours trading to $5.74 on Tuesday following the company’s announcement that it completed its merger with U.S.-based Flash Sports and Media, Inc.The stock closed regular session down 10.03% at $3.23, according to Benzinga Pro data.Here’s How the Merger Deal Is StructuredOn Tuesday, the Colorado-based company acquired 100% of Flash’s outstanding shares. Under the terms of the deal, Flash shareholders will receive a capped amount of unregistered Common Stock ...

Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) will release earnings for its fourth quarter before the opening bell on Wednesday, Feb. 18.Analysts expect the Schaffhausen, Switzerland-based company to report quarterly earnings at $2.39 per share. That's down from $2.41 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Moody’s quarterly revenue is $2.01 billion (it reported $1.82 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.On Oct. 29, the company reported third-quarter revenue growth of 12% year-on-year to $1.77 bil ...