Core Insights - Alphabet is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings, with analysts anticipating significant interest in the results as the company has seen a stock increase of over 70% in the past six months, making it a top performer in 2025 [2][6] - The company has recently joined the $4 trillion club, alongside Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple, highlighting its strong market position [2] Financial Performance - Earnings per share are projected at $2.63, with total revenue expected to reach $111.43 billion [9] - Google Cloud revenue is anticipated to be $16.18 billion, while YouTube advertising revenue is expected to be $11.84 billion [9] - Traffic acquisition costs are estimated at $16.20 billion [9] AI Developments - Alphabet has made significant strides in AI, including a deal to enhance Apple's Siri with its Gemini AI models, which could impact 2.5 billion active Apple devices [3] - The launch of Gemini 3 models received strong reviews, and the company introduced its seventh generation of tensor processing units, named Ironwood [4] - Google has also launched an AI feature called "Personal Intelligence" to provide personalized answers by integrating data from various apps [7] Strategic Moves - Alphabet's acquisition of data center company Intersect for $4.75 billion is aimed at bolstering its AI infrastructure, which is critical for meeting growing demand [5] - Waymo, Alphabet's driverless car unit, has expanded its robotaxi services to major U.S. cities and raised $16 billion in funding, valuing the company at $126 billion [10] Legal and Competitive Landscape - Google is appealing a federal ruling regarding its alleged monopoly in internet search, which may delay any potential remedies [8]

President and CEO of Qualcomm Cristiano Amon delivers a speech at the Web Summit at Parque das Nacoes in Lisbon, on November 12, 2024.Qualcomm reported fiscal first-quarter earnings on Wednesday that beat expectations, but the company's forecast came up short because of the global memory shortage. Shares sank following the release.Here's how the chipmaker did versus LSEG consensus estimates:EPS: $3.50, adjusted, versus $3.41 expectedRevenue: $12.25 billion, versus $12.21 billion expectedIn the current quart ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent decisions to exclude New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former coach Bill Belichick from the Pro Football Hall of Fame highlight flaws in the voting system, prompting calls for accountability and change [1][3]. Group 1: Criticism of the Hall of Fame Voting Process - Terrell Owens criticized the Hall of Fame voting process, stating that it is "plain dumb" to overlook Kraft and Belichick given the Patriots' success, including their potential seventh Super Bowl win [1]. - Owens suggested that Jim Porter, the Hall of Fame's president, should implement changes to the criteria or mission statement to address the perceived flaws in the selection process [2]. - Owens emphasized that the writers responsible for the voting should be held accountable for not adhering to the established guidelines and bylaws, indicating a need for a reevaluation of their roles [3]. Group 2: Personal Experience and Financial Implications - Owens, a former NFL player and Hall of Fame inductee, experienced the voting process firsthand, having been passed over twice before his induction in 2018 despite ranking highly in receiving categories [4]. - He noted that being a first-ballot Hall of Famer carries significant financial opportunities, and the prestige associated with it seems to have diminished over time [5]. - In protest of the flawed process, Owens chose to hold his own celebration at his alma mater instead of attending the official induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio [5].

Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, speaks during an unveiling event in New York, Feb. 26, 2025.Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has tapped one of the company's top marketplace executives to be his new "shadow" advisor, the company announced Wednesday.In a blog post, Amazon said Dharmesh Mehta, vice president of worldwide selling partner services, will become Jassy's technical advisor in March.The role of technical advisor, often referred to internally as a "shadow," is one of the most sought after positions in the company. Th ...

In this articleLLYThe Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk logos.Mike Blake | Tom Little | ReutersIt's a tale of two drugmakers in the red-hot obesity drug market. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are grappling with lower prices in the U.S., but their 2026 outlooks are diverging sharply: While Novo is bracing for a sales decline, Lilly sees revenue jumping again thanks to its blockbuster medicines. The split in guidance – despite similar headwinds – underscores the strength of Lilly's position in the obesity and diabe ...

OpenAI's artificial intelligence models could help power Amazon's digital assistant Alexa and other internal projects at the e-commerce giant, CNBC confirmed on Wednesday. The collaboration between the two companies is being discussed in tandem with Amazon's ongoing talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential. OpenAI could also use Amazon's AI chips and compute as part of the deal, the person said. ...

Core Viewpoint - Hedge funds are significantly increasing their short positions against software stocks, leading to a substantial decline in the sector, with a total market value loss of $1 trillion this year [1][3]. Group 1: Hedge Fund Activity - Hedge funds have realized a $24 billion profit from shorting software stocks in 2026 [1]. - Analysts indicate that hedge funds are currently net short on software stocks, reflecting a bearish sentiment in the industry [4]. Group 2: Market Performance - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) has experienced an 8% drop this week, contributing to a year-to-date loss exceeding 21% [3]. - Since reaching its all-time high in September of the previous year, the ETF has declined by 30% [3]. Group 3: Focus of Short Selling - The primary targets for short selling are companies offering basic automation services that can be easily replicated by emerging AI technologies [2].

Core Viewpoint - Crude oil prices increased approximately 3% following reports of a potential collapse in planned talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding nuclear negotiations [1][2]. Group 1: Oil Price Movement - U.S. crude oil rose by $1.80, or 2.9%, reaching $65.01 per barrel [1] - Global benchmark Brent increased by $1.88, or 2.8%, to $69.21 per barrel [1]. Group 2: Negotiation Details - The U.S. and Iran had initially agreed to meet in Istanbul with other Middle Eastern countries as observers, but Iran proposed a change to a bilateral meeting in Oman, which the U.S. ultimately rejected [2]. - The breakdown in talks follows recent military tensions, including the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone and Iranian gunboats attempting to board a U.S. merchant vessel [3]. Group 3: Potential for Future Talks - There remains a possibility for talks to occur this week or next if Iran agrees to the original meeting format in Istanbul [3].

Market Overview - Stocks are facing pressure due to fears that AI disruption may negatively impact traditional enterprise software companies, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 1% and 2% respectively [1] - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares fell over 16% despite reporting a beat and raise, indicating that the market expected even stronger guidance [1] - Eli Lilly shares rose nearly 10% following a significant earnings beat and raise, with further analysis to be released [1] Sector Rotation - The rotation away from technology stocks is benefiting industrials, with Eaton experiencing volatility but closing nearly 1% higher after a mixed fourth quarter and light guidance [1] - Dover, another industrial stock, saw shares increase nearly 3% due to the same rotation [1] Company-Specific Updates - GE Vernova shares dropped 7.5% to around $722 despite an upgrade from Baird to outperform, with a new price target set at $923, up from $701 [1] - Analysts at Baird noted that concerns about overcapacity are not immediate, and the energy infrastructure cycle is still in early stages [1] - GE Vernova was upgraded to a buy-equivalent rating after solid earnings, with a reiterated price target of $800 based on confidence in its power and electrification businesses [1] Additional Stocks Covered - Other stocks mentioned include Advanced Micro Devices, Chipotle, Uber, Amgen, and Five Below, indicating a broad market interest [1]

The Microsoft logo and lettering can be seen on the Microsoft Deutschland GmbH headquarters building in Parkstadt Schwabing in Munich.Microsoft said Wednesday that top security leader Charlie Bell will take on a new role and that Hayete Gallot will return to the company to run security after a stint at Google.Bell joined Microsoft in 2021 after 23 years at Amazon, where he played a key management role inside Amazon Web Services. He was seen as a candidate to become CEO of AWS, but Amazon picked former execu ...