Recently, payments behemoth Stripe announced it would add X42 integration, letting AI agents use USDC for payments on base. Now, this is a huge deal because it signals that crypto payments could remain a growing theme regardless of wider market conditions. The best part is though that X42 transactions have fallen off a cliff lately, and this may not be the case for much longer. Those transaction volumes could rise again soon, creating opportunities for profit for those who know where to look. That's why tod ...

This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.Happy Wednesday. I've been craving birria since reading about the Mike's Red Tacos new franchising plan.Stock futures are higher this morning. The three major indexes all ended yesterday's session little changed.Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:1. Delivery troublesThe logo and lettering of online retailer Amazon can be seen on the façade of Amazon Germany's headquarters. ...

Group 1: Investment Grade Bond Sales - UBS raised its 2026 forecast for U.S. tech investment grade bond sales to $360 billion from $300 billion, reflecting increased capital expenditure by major tech firms [1] - The overall forecast for U.S. investment grade debt issuance was increased from $1.725 trillion to $1.8 trillion, with tech accounting for 20% of that total [1] Group 2: Capital Expenditure and Hyperscalers - UBS anticipates aggregate capital expenditure by hyperscalers to approach $770 billion for 2026, which is approximately 23% higher than previous forecasts [1] - Hyperscaler public debt issuance could rise by an additional $40 billion to $50 billion, reaching up to $240 billion [1] Group 3: Non-Dollar Markets and Global Funding - UBS expects an increase in non-U.S. dollar supply in the tech sector, as evidenced by Alphabet's recent bond deals in the Swiss franc and sterling markets [1] - The shift of big tech firms to tap debt markets for funding AI data centers has led to a surge in issuance across various debt markets [1] Group 4: Leveraged Loans Forecast - UBS cut its U.S. leveraged loans forecast to $360 billion from $450 billion, citing expectations that AI-related disruptions could limit supply [1] - Concerns regarding the impact of AI on traditional business models have increased, leading to potential wider spreads in the leveraged loan space [1]

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett sold 75% of his Amazon stock in his final quarter as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, reallocating his technology holdings, which also included a reduction in Apple investments [1] Group 1: Amazon's Performance - Amazon's stock has declined by 12% over the past year, contrasting with a 12% increase in the S&P 500 [1] - Amazon's revenue is heavily reliant on its legacy e-commerce business, which accounted for 82% of its total revenue of $717 billion last year, but only 43% of its operating income [1] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) contributed 18% to revenue and 57% to operating income, highlighting the disparity in profitability between its e-commerce and cloud segments [1] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Amazon has been a leader in cloud computing, holding a 29% market share, but Microsoft has been closing the gap with a 20% share, while Google holds 13% [1] - The competitive landscape in the AI sector is uncertain, with major players like Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, and OpenAI vying for leadership, raising concerns about the potential for significant investments with uncertain returns [1]

Walmart CEO John Furner, left, and Target CEO Michael Fiddelke.Walmart (L) | Getty Images (R)When Walmart and Target report holiday earnings this quarter, investors may quickly brush off those results. Instead, they will likely focus more on the two big-box retailers' futures under new CEOs and the outlook for U.S. consumers in 2026. Both companies had leadership changes this month: Walmart CEO John Furner and Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, both longtime company insiders, took on their roles on Feb. 1.The riv ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 ended 0.1% higher after experiencing a drop of 0.9% earlier in the session, with similar reversals seen in the Nasdaq and Dow [1] - Wall Street's main indexes have faced volatility this month due to concerns over disruptions caused by rapidly improving AI tools affecting various sectors, including software and trucking [1] AI and Technology Sector - Broader AI-linked and megacap technology stocks have declined as investors seek stronger evidence that significant investments in technology are leading to tangible revenue and profit increases [2] - Nvidia's stock rose 1.9% after announcing a multi-year deal to supply Meta Platforms with millions of AI chips, contributing to gains in other megacap stocks like Amazon (up 1.6%) and Microsoft (up 0.7%) [8] Federal Reserve Insights - The release of minutes from the Fed's January policy meeting, where the main lending rate was held steady, is anticipated [3] - Traders are pricing in a 63% chance of a rate cut of at least 25 basis points at the Fed's June meeting, marking the first time odds have exceeded 50% [3] Company-Specific Developments - Palo Alto Networks saw a 7.2% drop after lowering its annual profit forecast due to rising costs from acquisitions aimed at enhancing AI capabilities [6] - Cadence Design Systems experienced a 5.8% increase after surpassing fourth-quarter revenue estimates [6] - Western Digital plans to raise $3.17 billion through a secondary share sale of its stake in former unit Sandisk, resulting in a 2.4% decline in Sandisk's shares [7] Upcoming Economic Indicators - The personal consumption expenditure report, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, will be released later in the week, expected to provide insights into inflation and its potential impact on borrowing costs [7] - Earnings season is underway, with companies like Analog Devices and Charles River Laboratories set to report results [8]

VONNIE: IT IS 5:00 A.M. IN NEW YORK CITY. LET US GET YOU SET UP FOR THE DAY. A MAJOR DEAL, JAPAN VOWS TO INVEST 36 BILLION DOLLARS IN U.S. OIL, GAS AND CRITICAL MINIMAL PROJECTS. TALKS ON UKRAINE AND RUSSIA YOU -- RESUME A SECOND DAY OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THE U.S. AND IRAN HAIL THEIR PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR TALKS. EQUITIES RALLYING AS AI JITTERS EASE AHEAD OF THE LATEST FED MEETING MINUTES. LET US LOOK AT THE MARKETS WITH FUTURES APPOINTED HIGHER. THE S&P FINISHED UP ABOUT .1%. NASDAQ 100 DOWN .1%. IN THE AI J ...

Core Insights - Alibaba Group is set to release its quarterly earnings on February 19, 2026, with analysts projecting an EPS of $1.91 and revenue of approximately $41.9 billion, expected before market opening [1][6] - The company is currently facing scrutiny due to an ongoing securities fraud investigation, which may affect investor sentiment [2][6] - Alibaba's cloud revenue has increased by 34% year-over-year, driven by rising demand for artificial intelligence technologies, although significant capital expenditures have negatively impacted operating income and free cash flow [3][4][6] Financial Performance - Alibaba's fiscal second-quarter revenue grew by 5%, but its non-GAAP EPS experienced a 71% decline due to investments in AI and cloud infrastructure [4] - Key financial metrics include a P/E ratio of 20.17, a price-to-sales ratio of 2.46, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of 2.60, with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 1.46, indicating strong short-term financial health [5]

Core Insights - Seth Klarman, a prominent billionaire investor, has significantly increased his stake in Amazon while reducing his investment in Alphabet, indicating a strategic shift in focus towards Amazon's growth potential [5][13]. Investment Actions - Klarman's Baupost Group ended 2025 with approximately $5.3 billion in assets under management, with a notable increase in Amazon shares, totaling over 9% of invested assets by year-end [5][6]. - The fund cut its stake in Alphabet's Class C shares by 41.5%, or 770,957 shares, marking the second consecutive quarter of reduction in this position [13][14]. Amazon's Market Position - Amazon holds a 37.6% share of U.S. e-commerce spending as of 2024, showcasing its dominance in the online retail sector [7]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) commands a 28% share of global cloud infrastructure service spending, with a significant contribution to the company's operating income [8][9]. Financial Performance - AWS experienced a 24% year-over-year sales growth in the fourth quarter, driven by the adoption of AI solutions, despite representing only 18% of Amazon's net sales [9]. - As higher-margin segments like AWS and subscription services grow, Amazon's operating cash flow and earnings per share are expected to outpace sales growth [10]. Valuation Metrics - Amazon shares are currently valued at 21 times forward-year EPS and 9.8 times forecast cash flow for 2027, representing a 51% discount to its average forward P/E ratio over the past five years [11]. Alphabet's Market Position - Alphabet's Class C shares have seen significant profit-taking, with the stock effectively doubling between May 2025 and the end of the year [14]. - Despite a forward P/E of 23, which suggests value, Klarman's decision to sell may reflect a shift in investment strategy as Alphabet's growth potential appears less compelling compared to Amazon [15]. Google Cloud Growth - Google Cloud reported a remarkable 48% revenue growth in the fourth quarter, indicating strong demand for its services, particularly in generative AI solutions [18].

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Amazon.com Inc. by over 75% in Q4, while acquiring a new stake in the New York Times Co. valued at $351.7 million [1][2] Investment Changes - Berkshire Hathaway's current holdings in Amazon now stand at approximately 2.3 million shares after the reduction [2] - The company also decreased its stakes in Bank of America Corp. and Apple Inc. to 7.1% and 1.5%, respectively, starting in 2024 [2] New Investments - During the same period, Berkshire Hathaway increased its stakes in Chevron Corp. to 6.5% and Chubb Ltd to 8.7% [3] - The initial investment in Chubb was revealed in May 2024, following a secret accumulation of shares the previous year [3] Strategic Acquisitions - Buffett has been actively pursuing new acquisitions, including a $9.7 billion deal for Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s petrochemical business and a $5.6 billion stake in Alphabet Inc. [4] - Following the announcement of the New York Times Co. investment, its shares rose over 10% in post-market trading [4]