Sam Altman-led OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) about a potential investment that could exceed $10 billion and a deal to use its artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The news was first reported by The Information on Tuesday and later by several news outlets, including CNBC and Reuters. OpenAI and Amazon did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s requests for comment. OpenAI Diversifies Deals As AI Race Heats UpThe move follows OpenAI’s recent restructuring and its expanded capa ...

Most AI companies sell tools. Palantir is selling something more.Most companies building artificial intelligence (AI) today sell tools. Some sell models. Others sell dashboards, copilots, or analytics layers. Palantir Technologies (PLTR +2.60%) is doing something different -- and arguably more ambitious.Rather than selling AI features, Palantir is positioning itself as a control layer for enterprise AI. That distinction matters because in large organizations, intelligence alone isn't the bottleneck. Control ...

Core Insights - Shopify has shown strong stock performance and impressive growth rates, with potential for further increases if consumer spending remains robust [1] - The company's digital ecosystem provides a competitive advantage over other e-commerce platforms, which could drive stock performance in the future [1] Business Model - Shopify's business model is akin to Costco's, where customers pay annual subscriptions to access various services and resources [3][4] - The merchant solutions revenue stream is crucial, with a 38% year-over-year growth reported in Q3 2025, indicating the importance of this segment over mere subscription growth [6] Customer Base and Retention - Shopify's customer base includes small businesses and large enterprises, which have deeper budgets, making them less sensitive to economic fluctuations [6] - Significant switching costs help Shopify retain customers, with merchant sales growth reliant on high consumer spending and business investments [7] International Expansion - The majority of Shopify's growth has been in the U.S., but there is substantial untapped potential in international markets [8] - A 42% increase in European gross merchandise volume in Q2 highlights the potential for international revenue growth through attracting more businesses and boosting international sales [9] Valuation Concerns - Shopify's current valuation is high, trading at nearly 20 times sales and a forward P/E ratio above 80, which is significantly higher than the average for software applications [10] - While high revenue growth is expected to continue, any slowdown in consumer spending or interest rate hikes could negatively impact the stock's outlook [11]

Core Viewpoint - The company emphasizes providing actionable and clear investment ideas through independent research, aiming to help members outperform the S&P 500 and avoid significant losses during market volatility [1] Investment Strategy - The company offers a service called Envision Early Retirement, which delivers at least one in-depth article per week focused on investment ideas [1] - The approach has proven effective in navigating both equity and bond market fluctuations [1]

Core Company Insights - CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV) is positioned as a significant player in the AI infrastructure boom, indicating strong growth potential in this sector [1] - The company is recognized for its aggressive growth prospects, with expectations of becoming highly profitable within 1-2 years [1] Investment Philosophy - The investment approach associated with CRWV emphasizes long-term discipline and consistent alpha generation, while also acknowledging the inherent risks involved [1] - The investment strategy is characterized as GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price), focusing on companies that are expected to grow rapidly [1] Analyst's Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in CRWV shares, indicating confidence in the company's future performance [1]

Core Insights - Accenture plc is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on December 18, with analysts expecting earnings of $3.72 per share, an increase from $3.59 per share in the previous year [1] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $18.53 million, up from $17.69 million reported last year [1] - Accenture has agreed to acquire a majority stake in DLB Associates, a US-based AI data center engineering and consulting firm [2] Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley upgraded Accenture from Equal-Weight to Overweight, raising the price target from $271 to $320 [3] - Citigroup initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a price target of $266 [3] - Mizuho maintained an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $348 to $309 [3] - BMO Capital maintained a Market Perform rating and cut the price target from $325 to $270 [3] - Baird maintained an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $350 to $330 [3]

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) will release earnings results for its first quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Dec. 18.Analysts expect the Dublin, Ireland-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.72 per share, up from $3.59 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Accenture's quarterly revenue is $18.53 million. Last year, it reported $17.69 million in revenue, according to Benzinga Pro.On Tuesday, Accenture agreed to acquire a majority stake in US-based AI data center enginee ...

Investor Martin Shkreli, popularly referred to as the “Pharma Bro,” released the traffic data of leading AI websites while highlighting the stark disparities in the usage of popular chatbots. ChatGPT, Gemini Lead The ChargeOn Tuesday, in a post on X, Shkreli said, “55 billion minutes” were spent on leading AI sites last month, while adding that OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Gemini dominated on traffic and engagement, making up 64% and 15% of total user minutes, respectively. Without spe ...

Core Viewpoint - AGNC Investment has a high dividend yield of 14%, but this may mislead investors regarding its long-term viability as a reliable income source [1][12]. Company Overview - AGNC Investment operates as a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT), focusing on managing a portfolio of mortgage securities rather than physical properties [5][6]. - The company's primary objective is to generate higher returns from mortgage securities through interest payments, while managing operational costs [6][8]. Dividend Analysis - AGNC's dividend yield is substantial, but the dividend has been highly volatile and trending lower over the years, which raises concerns for dividend-focused investors [11][12]. - The stock price has also followed a downward trend alongside the dividend, indicating potential issues for investors relying on consistent income [11][12]. Investment Perspective - While AGNC aims for total return, which includes reinvestment of dividends, it may not be suitable for investors seeking stable and growing dividends [8][12]. - Investors should approach AGNC with an understanding of its complexities and the nature of its returns, rather than viewing it solely as a dividend stock [6][13].

Core Points - Pulsar Helium Inc. has awarded security-based compensation to incentivize key team members for the company's future success [1][5] - The company is publicly traded on the AIM market, TSX Venture Exchange, and OTCQB, focusing on helium exploration and development [3][5] Compensation Details - A total of 2,000,000 stock options were granted at a purchase price of CAD$0.69 per share, vesting immediately and valid for five years [5] - Additionally, 1,200,000 performance share units (PSUs) were awarded, vesting in thirds over three years [5] Company Overview - Pulsar's flagship projects include the Topaz helium project in Minnesota and the Tunu helium project in Greenland, both identified as primary helium occurrences not associated with hydrocarbons [3]