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Jim Cramer says the software sell-off creates opportunities in stocks outside of tech
CNBC· 2026-02-04 18:03
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]
Microsoft brings back executive Hayete Gallot to run cybersecurity, as Charlie Bell takes new role
CNBC· 2026-02-04 17:14
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 ...
January jobs report will be released on February 11 after shutdown delay
CNBC· 2026-02-04 17:09
A 'help wanted' advertisement is displayed in Manhattan on Jan. 9, 2026, in New York City.The January jobs report delayed by the brief government shutdown will be released next week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.The closely watched report now will come out Feb. 11, five days later than its original release date, according to a revised schedule.In addition, the BLS will release the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Thursday, after it originally had been scheduled for Tuesday. There a ...
Nvidia-backed AI voice startup ElevenLabs hits $11 billion valuation in fresh fundraise, as it eyes IPO
CNBC· 2026-02-04 16:06
Core Insights - ElevenLabs has raised $500 million at an $11 billion valuation, significantly increasing from its previous valuation of $3.3 billion after a $180 million Series C round in January 2025 [1] - The funding round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from existing investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Iconiq, as well as new investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Evantic Capital, and Bond [1] Company Overview - Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs is a London-based AI startup that initially focused on AI text-to-speech models and has since expanded into speech-to-text, sound effects, dubbing, music, and conversation [2] - The company provides products that enable enterprises to deploy voice and chat agents, along with a platform for brands and creators to generate and localize audio, with notable clients including Time and Nvidia [2] Financial Performance - ElevenLabs reported over $330 million in annual recurring revenue for 2025, driven by enterprise adoption from companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Revolut [3] - The recent funding is aimed at enhancing the company's capabilities beyond voice technology, with aspirations for an IPO [3] Future Plans - The company intends to broaden its offerings to creators, allowing businesses to develop agents that can talk, type, and take action [4] - ElevenLabs plans to continue its international expansion, with offices in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. [4]
AMD's Lisa Su addresses guidance concerns, says demand still accelerating for advanced chips
CNBC· 2026-02-04 15:15
Core Viewpoint - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su defended the company's forecast, indicating a recent increase in demand for chips, particularly in the AI sector, despite a significant drop in share price [1][2] Group 1: Demand and Performance - AMD has experienced a notable increase in demand over the last two to three months, particularly in its datacenter business [1] - The demand for AMD's central processing units (CPUs) is described as "going gangbusters," driven by businesses rapidly increasing compute capabilities for AI enterprise work [2] - The company's fourth-quarter results exceeded Wall Street expectations, although the outlook was perceived as weak by some analysts [2]
Get the first look at the R2, Rivian's $45,000 SUV. CEO RJ Scaringe gave CNBC an early peek
CNBC· 2026-02-04 15:07
Core Insights - Rivian is facing challenges including the end of federal support for EVs, increased hybrid vehicle sales, and significant cash burn rates, but the CEO emphasizes that the situation is more complex than it appears [1] Vehicle Performance and Features - The R1 model is the best-selling premium electric SUV in the U.S. and has also been a top seller in California, with the R1S starting at nearly $80,000 [2] - The upcoming R2 model is designed to be a more affordable option, targeting the midsize, mid-price SUV EV market, with a starting price of $45,000 [9] - The R2 features a familiar design language, five seats, and is described as agile and capable of off-road driving, though not as extreme as the R1 [3][4][6] Cost Structure and Manufacturing - Rivian has significantly reduced the number of computing units in its vehicles from over 60 in traditional cars to seven in the R2, which has also led to a reduction in wiring length by 2 miles [7] - The company has achieved a dramatic reduction in the cost structure, enabling a ramp-up in production volume while maintaining a focus on quality and customer satisfaction [8][9] Market Outlook and Financials - Analysts are divided on Rivian's ability to compete with Tesla, with expectations of selling around 15,000 R2 units in 2026, although some believe this number could be exceeded [10] - Rivian burned through $3 billion in cash in the first three quarters of 2025, with projections of burning $5 billion in 2026, but has secured a $5 billion deal with Volkswagen that could bring in an additional $2 billion [11][12] - The company aims to capture significant market share with the R2, similar to the R1, which could lead to production challenges if demand exceeds supply [13]
Amazon makes Alexa+ AI assistant available to everyone in the U.S. nearly a year after launch
CNBC· 2026-02-04 14:05
Core Insights - Amazon has officially launched Alexa+ for all U.S. consumers, nearly a year after its initial preview release [1] - Alexa+ is an enhanced version of the original Alexa, capable of handling multiple queries simultaneously and performing tasks like booking services [2] Pricing and Access - Starting Wednesday, Amazon will charge $19.99 per month for Alexa+ access, while Prime members can use the service for free [2] - A free trial of Alexa+ is available through a dedicated website and app, but usage will be limited [2]
Fed pick: Tillis doubles down on Warsh blockade over concerns about Fed independence
CNBC· 2026-02-04 13:15
Core Viewpoint - U.S. Senator Thom Tillis is blocking Kevin Warsh's nomination to lead the Federal Reserve until the Department of Justice concludes its investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell [1][2] Group 1 - Senator Tillis expressed willingness to maintain the blockade throughout the remainder of Congress to ensure the truth is uncovered and to preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve [2] - Tillis indicated that he would support Warsh's nomination if the investigation is resolved satisfactorily [2]
Private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, far short of expectations, ADP says
CNBC· 2026-02-04 13:15
Core Insights - The U.S. labor market showed minimal growth in January, with hiring falling short of expectations, indicating a continuation of a weak job market from 2025 [3][4] Employment Data - Private companies added only 22,000 jobs in January, significantly lower than the revised 37,000 increase in December and below the Dow Jones forecast of 45,000 [2] - The education and health services sector was the only significant contributor, adding 74,000 jobs, while other sectors experienced losses [2][4] Sector Performance - Financial activities added 14,000 jobs, construction increased by 9,000, and trade, transportation, utilities, and leisure and hospitality each contributed 4,000 jobs [4] - Notable job losses occurred in professional and business services (-57,000), other services (-13,000), and manufacturing (-8,000) [4] Company Size Impact - Job growth was primarily driven by companies with 50 to 499 employees, while small firms remained flat and large employers reduced their workforce by 18,000 [5] Wage Growth - Wage growth remained stable, with employees staying in their positions experiencing a 4.5% increase compared to December [5] Reporting Context - The ADP report serves as a precursor to the Bureau of Labor Statistics nonfarm payrolls report, which is delayed due to a partial government shutdown [6]
Disney's next CEO, Chipotle's traffic problem, government shutdown ends and more in Morning Squawk
CNBC· 2026-02-04 13:00
Group 1: Disney - Disney has appointed Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO, effective March 18, succeeding Bob Iger. D'Amaro has nearly three decades of experience at Disney and previously chaired the experiences division, which recently achieved $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time [2][5] - Disney's stock has declined over 40% in the past five years, contrasting with the S&P 500's increase of over 80% during the same period [5] Group 2: Chipotle - Chipotle's shares fell more than 5% after reporting a decline in traffic for the fourth consecutive quarter, with same-store sales down 1.7% in 2025, marking its first annual drop since 2016. The company anticipates flat same-store sales in 2026 [3][4] - Over the last 12 months, Chipotle's shares have decreased nearly 33%, prompting the company to introduce "protein cups" and slow down price increases to attract customers [4] Group 3: Novo Nordisk - Novo Nordisk expects a decline in sales and profit growth this year, leading to a drop of over 14% in U.S.-listed shares, marking the worst day in about six months. The forecast is impacted by a deal with the Trump administration to cut prices and loss of exclusivity for its drugs [10][11] - CEO Mike Doustdar indicated that the company's situation may worsen before it improves, contributing to the negative outlook [11] Group 4: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's shares rose more than 8% in premarket trading after exceeding analyst expectations in the fourth quarter. The company also provided a stronger-than-anticipated full-year revenue outlook, driven by high demand for its drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro [12]