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Cadence Design Systems shares pop on earnings beat, custom chip optimism
CNBC· 2026-02-18 20:20
Core Insights - Cadence Design Systems' stock increased by 9% following the release of earnings that surpassed analysts' expectations, reporting an adjusted EPS of $1.99 and revenue of $1.44 billion for Q4 2025, reflecting a 6% year-over-year growth in both metrics [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company reported an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.99 and revenue of $1.44 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025, exceeding analysts' expectations of $1.91 EPS and $1.42 billion in revenue [1] - For the next fiscal year, Cadence expects revenue between $5.9 billion and $6 billion, aligning with FactSet's expectation of $5.94 billion [4] Group 2: Business Strategy and Market Trends - Approximately 45% of Cadence's business now comes from "system companies," which include hyperscalers and end producers of phones and cars, indicating a shift towards integrated hardware and software solutions [2] - The trend of system companies designing their own chips to optimize their hardware and software stack is expected to accelerate, as highlighted by examples from Apple and Google [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Cadence competes with other companies in the chip design software market, including Synopsys and Siemens [4]
Alphabet's new AI music model could lure content creators from rivals
CNBC· 2026-02-18 20:11
Market Overview - The S&P 500 is attempting its first three-session win streak since late January, with markets solidly higher [1] - Sector rotation is a significant theme, with investments increasing in energy, technology, consumer discretionary, materials, and financials, while real estate, utilities, and consumer staples are being sold off [1] Economic Indicators - New orders for manufactured durable goods, excluding transportation, increased by 0.9% in December, surpassing estimates of a 0.3% increase [1] - January industrial production rose by 0.7% month over month, exceeding forecasts of a 0.4% increase [1] Company Developments - Alphabet announced the launch of Lyria 3, a generative music model available in its Gemini app, allowing users to create custom 30-second tracks [1] - The introduction of Lyria 3 is expected to enhance the quality of soundtracks for YouTube Shorts, potentially increasing creator engagement on the platform compared to competitors like TikTok and Instagram Reels [1] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Companies reporting quarterly earnings after the market close include DoorDash, Carvana, Occidental Petroleum, Figma, Blue Owl Capital, and Molson Coors Beverage [1] - Before the market opens on Thursday, Walmart, Quanta Services, Deere, and Wayfair are scheduled to report their results [1]
Meta deal for millions of Nvidia chips is big — these 2 charts illustrate why
CNBC· 2026-02-18 19:39
Core Insights - Meta Platforms' commitment to invest billions in Nvidia chips is a significant boost for Nvidia, which has seen its stock performance decline recently due to competition and shifting investor focus towards memory and storage chips [1] - Nvidia's stock has gained just over 1% in 2026, underperforming compared to other semiconductor stocks like Sandisk, Western Digital, and Micron, which have seen substantial increases [1] - The competitive landscape has shifted with Google's AI advancements, particularly its Gemini 3 model, raising concerns about Nvidia's market position [1] Investment Implications - Meta's investment in Nvidia highlights the importance of Nvidia's technology in the AI sector, potentially changing the narrative around Nvidia's stock performance [1] - The rising prices of memory chips and storage devices could impact Nvidia's GPU demand if customers allocate budgets elsewhere [1] - Meta's decision to also deploy Nvidia's CPUs alongside GPUs indicates a broader reliance on Nvidia's technology, reinforcing its value proposition in the market [1] Market Dynamics - The semiconductor market has seen a shift in focus from GPUs to memory and storage technologies, which are crucial for AI applications, leading to a supply shortage and price increases in these areas [1] - Nvidia's performance has lagged behind competitors like Google and the iShares Semiconductor ETF since mid-November, indicating a potential market misjudgment regarding Nvidia's fundamentals [1] - Meta's ongoing partnership with Broadcom for custom chips suggests that while it is investing in Nvidia, it is not completely abandoning alternative technologies [1]
Goldman Sachs CEO Solomon calls rule-based system for crypto 'very, very important'
CNBC· 2026-02-18 19:01
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said Wednesday "it is very, very important that we codify a rule-based system" for how cryptocurrency and related financial instruments will operate" in the United States."As an American, I think it is very important that as we put legislation in place, we get it right for the long term," Solomon told CNBC's Sara Eisen during an interview in front of attendees at the World Liberty Forum at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., which was hosted by the Trump family's crypto ...
Fed officials split on where interest rates should go, minutes say
CNBC· 2026-02-18 19:00
Divided Federal Reserve officials at their January meeting indicated that further interest rate cuts should be paused for now but could resume later in the year only if inflation cooperates.While the decision to hold the central bank's benchmark rate steady mostly was met with approval, the path ahead appeared less certain, with members conflicted between fighting inflation and supporting the labor market, according to minutes released Wednesday from the Jan. 27-28 meeting."In considering the outlook for mo ...
Cramer is looking to nibble on a software stock and bail on a health-care name
CNBC· 2026-02-18 17:00
Core Insights - Stocks increased on Wednesday, primarily driven by Big Tech, with Nvidia shares rising 2% following a multiyear partnership with Meta for data center chip usage [1] - WTI crude oil prices rose by 3.4% due to concerns over potential U.S.-Iran hostilities, impacting costs across various sectors [1] - Financial stocks rebounded after a previous decline, with a shift in perception regarding AI's role in enhancing productivity rather than replacing jobs [1] Company-Specific Summaries - Palo Alto Networks experienced a 7.3% decline despite exceeding quarterly expectations, as concerns about AI impacting market share persist; however, the CEO believes AI will ultimately benefit the company [1] - Bristol Myers' stock increased by 27% over three months, driven by the FDA approval of the heart medication Camzyos, but challenges in the Alzheimer's drug trials have raised concerns about future performance [1] - Jim Cramer is considering replacing Bristol Myers with Johnson & Johnson or another high-quality stock due to uncertainties surrounding the company's drug trials [1] Additional Stocks Mentioned - Stocks discussed in the rapid-fire segment included Western Digital, Palantir, Cadence Design Systems, and Analog Devices [1]
Microsoft's Brad Smith says U.S. tech should ‘worry a little' about Chinese firms government subsidies
CNBC· 2026-02-18 16:25
Core Viewpoint - American tech companies face challenges from Chinese competitors due to significant government subsidies that support the development of AI technologies [2][3]. Group 1: Competitive Landscape - The competition between U.S. and Chinese companies in AI is intensifying, with U.S. firms having an advantage in access to powerful chips and technology innovation [2]. - Chinese AI companies have received substantial government support, including a multi-billion-dollar national investment fund and energy vouchers, which could make their lower-cost AI models appealing in developing nations [2][3]. Group 2: Historical Context - The approach taken by the Chinese government to subsidize companies has previously disrupted the telecommunications market, aiding firms like Huawei and ZTE while negatively impacting American and European companies [3]. - The existence of global data centers operated by Chinese firms like Huawei and Alibaba suggests that China can easily provide subsidies to enhance their competitive edge [3]. Group 3: Industry Response - There is a call for American companies to improve their competitiveness in light of Chinese subsidies, emphasizing the need for support from the U.S. government [3].
FDA agrees to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine application in a reversal
CNBC· 2026-02-18 16:17
A researcher works in the lab at the Moderna Inc. headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.Moderna said on Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration has agreed to review its experimental mRNA flu shot, reversing the agency's earlier decision to refuse to accept the application in a move that stunned Wall Street and the medical community. The announcement clears a path forward for the vaccine, which is key to Moderna's experimental combination Covid-flu jab and the company's ...
Billionaire Les Wexner's congressional deposition over Jeffrey Epstein ties is underway
CNBC· 2026-02-18 16:10
This Sept. 19, 2014 file photo shows retail mogul Leslie Wexner, at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio. Wexner is severing his last ties with the retail empire that he founded in 1963.A congressional deposition of Leslie Wexner, one of Jeffrey Epstein's closest known associates and top benefactors, kicked off behind closed doors in Ohio on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter told MS NOW.The deposition is occurring weeks after the Department of Justice released millions of additional E ...
Hassett says authors of New York Fed tariff study should be disciplined: 'Worst paper I've ever seen'
CNBC· 2026-02-18 14:52
Core Viewpoint - The recent New York Federal Reserve paper suggests that U.S. companies and consumers bear most of the tariff burden, which has been criticized by White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett as flawed and partisan [1][2]. Group 1: Criticism of the New York Fed Paper - Hassett described the paper as "an embarrassment" and the "worst paper" in the history of the Federal Reserve, arguing that its conclusions are based on inadequate analysis [2]. - He emphasized that the researchers failed to consider the broader economic impacts of tariffs, such as the positive effects on wages and benefits from increased domestic production [1][2]. Group 2: Findings of the New York Fed Paper - The paper indicated that approximately 90% of the additional costs from tariffs were passed on to consumers and companies, although the impact diminished over time [3]. - Hassett countered this by asserting that tariffs had minimal effect on prices and contributed to an improved standard of living [3]. Group 3: Economic Indicators - Hassett noted that inflation has decreased over time, with the consumer price index rising only 2.4% year-over-year in January, and core CPI showing its lowest annual gain since March 2021 at 2.5% [4]. - He highlighted that real wages increased by an average of $1,400 last year, suggesting that consumers benefited from the tariffs [4].