Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv Netflix and Apple TV join forces on F1 content February 26, 20266:40 PM UTCUpdated ago By Alan Baldwin Apple's Senior Vice-President of Services Eddy Cue told reporters on a video call that select races and practice sessions would also be made available for free through the season, without giving details. "We look at F1 and Apple TV as a true partnership where we're going to amplify this sport ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr supports Nexstar's proposed $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna, which would create the largest U.S. regional TV station operator [1] Group 1: Merger Details - The acquisition would allow Nexstar to cover 80% of TV households across key geographies [1] - The deal requires the FCC to lift the current cap on station ownership, which limits a company from owning broadcast stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. television households [1] Group 2: Regulatory Context - Carr believes the ownership cap could be revised by the FCC without needing Congressional approval, although Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez disagrees [1] - The National Association of Broadcasters has called for the repeal of the 85-year-old national television ownership rule, arguing it is unfair compared to the lack of restrictions on Big Tech companies [1] Group 3: Industry Competition - Carr argues that the Tegna-Nexstar deal will enhance competition against national networks like Comcast and Walt Disney, which he claims have accumulated excessive power [1] - Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, stated that the ownership cap is one of the last significant protections for competition and diversity in the broadcast and cable ecosystem [1]

Core Insights - Uber Technologies is experiencing significant turnover in its finance leadership, with CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah set to step down on February 16, 2026, after joining the company in November 2023 [1][2] - Balaji Krishnamurthy, who has been with Uber since 2019 and led strategic finance since 2023, will succeed Mahendra-Rajah as CFO [1][4] - The company has had three CFOs in just over three years, reflecting a trend of increasing demands on CFO roles in Fortune 500 companies [5] Leadership Transition - Mahendra-Rajah will continue with Uber as a senior finance advisor to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi until July 1, 2026, and his departure will be treated as a qualifying termination under Uber's executive severance plan [2] - Khosrowshahi praised Mahendra-Rajah for his contributions, including achieving investment-grade status and initiating the first share repurchase program [3] Strategic Focus - Krishnamurthy's appointment comes as Uber accelerates its ambitions in autonomous vehicles and robotaxis, with a partnership with Waabi to deploy at least 25,000 robotaxis [6] - Khosrowshahi stated that Uber is entering 2026 with a rapidly growing topline and significant cash flow, aiming to become the largest facilitator of autonomous vehicle trips globally [7] Financial Performance - Uber reported Q4 2025 results showing 200 million monthly users and a 20% year-over-year revenue growth to $14.4 billion, marking its largest consumer base [7] - However, Q1 2026 guidance for gross bookings is projected between $52 billion and $53.5 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $2.37 billion and $2.47 billion, which fell short of Wall Street expectations [7] Market Outlook - Wedbush Securities maintained a Neutral rating on Uber and reduced its price target to $75, citing concerns that investors may overestimate Uber's long-term advantage as autonomous vehicles scale [8] - The firm estimates that 30% of Uber's U.S. mobility bookings and 25% of profits are at risk due to potential disruption from competitors like Waymo and Tesla [8]

In the late 1980s, Josh D’Amaro went by the nickname “Chief.” Four decades later, D’Amaro has regained the title, this time as chief executive officer of Walt Disney, where he’ll succeed Bob Iger https://t.co/JqLrTZHVZ1 ...

>> NEWSMAKERS AND MARKET MOVERS. THIS IS "THE PULSE" WITH FRANCINE LACQUA. FRANCINE: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE SCREEN A MELTDOWN IN GOLD AND SILVER SPARKS A DOMINO EFFECT IN STOCKS. THE MARKET REVERSAL WHICH BEGAN ON FRIDAY HAS DEEPENED WITH GOLD FALLING AS MUCH AS 10% AND SILVER PLUMMETING 60% AT ONE POINT. THE DOLLAR STRENGTHENED, EXTENDING GAINS ON FRIDAY WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP NOMINATED KEVIN WARSH TO LEAD THE FEDERAL RESERVE.MORE ON THE MARKET REACTION. FIRST TO OUR BLOOMBERG BREAKING ...

Walt Disney reports sales and profit that beat estimates, boosted by a record $10 billion in revenue from the division that includes parks and cruises https://t.co/R4ylW2fZ0d ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures declined on Monday following a drop in major indices on Friday, with Dow Jones down 0.29%, S&P 500 down 0.58%, Nasdaq 100 down 0.88%, and Russell 2000 down 0.55% [1][3] - Precious metals, including Gold and Silver, experienced a significant price drop after a record-breaking rally in January [1] Company Performance - NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI) fell 1.14% as analysts anticipate quarterly earnings of $1.67 per share on revenue of $81.47 billion [5] - Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) was down 0.23% ahead of its earnings report, with expectations of earnings at $1.56 per share on revenue of $25.68 billion [6] - AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ) shares rose 0.96% after announcing a $100 million share repurchase program, maintaining a strong price trend [7] - GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) increased by 2.97% as CEO Ryan Cohen aims to transform the company into a $100 billion powerhouse through major acquisitions [7] Analyst Insights - Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, describes a complex economic outlook for 2026, highlighting a "tense tug-of-war" between various futures and the decoupling of employment from GDP [10][11] - El-Erian notes a "rising tide of volatility" in the stock market and anticipates a shift towards "policy divergence" following the nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve [12] Commodities and Global Markets - Crude oil futures fell by 4.86% to approximately $62.04 per barrel, while Gold Spot prices dropped 3.25% to around $4,707.15 per ounce, down from a record high of $5,595.46 per ounce [15] - Bitcoin traded 6.28% lower at $82,225.86 per coin [15] - Asian markets closed lower on Monday, with notable declines in indices such as Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Japan's Nikkei 225, while European markets showed mixed results in early trading [16]

Exclusive: The Walt Disney board is close to picking theme-park division chairman Josh D’Amaro as the company's next CEO https://t.co/ITOGxNyQIb ...

Company Performance - Netflix closed at $85.36, down 2.18%, with trading volume reaching 124.8 million shares, more than double the three-month average of 48.1 million [1] - The company reported Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street's expectations, with sales and earnings per share increasing by 18% and 30%, respectively [3] - Management provided a conservative 2026 guidance of 14% revenue growth and $6 billion in free cash flow, down from $9 billion in 2025, which left the market slightly disappointed [3] Market Context - The S&P 500 rose 1.16% to finish at 6,875, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.18% to close at 23,225 [2] - Competitors like Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery saw their stock prices increase by 2.62% and 1.03%, respectively, as investors evaluated streaming strategies and deal speculation [2] Future Outlook - India is identified as a promising area for growth, with advertising sales expected to double in 2026 after a 150% increase in 2025 [4] - Netflix-branded content continues to achieve higher engagement, suggesting potential value from a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery [4]

Core Insights - Households are increasingly resistant to rising streaming bills, leading media companies to acknowledge the situation publicly [1][8] - The streaming industry is transitioning from a growth-at-all-costs model to one constrained by household budgets and intensified competition [2] Pricing Pressure - Streaming services have raised subscription fees multiple times over the past two years, but this strategy is now facing challenges as subscriber loyalty wanes [3][4] - The cumulative effect of price increases across platforms like Netflix, Disney, and YouTube Premium is causing households to feel financial pressure more acutely [5] Churn and Subscriber Behavior - Churn is becoming a critical metric again, with viewers more willing to cancel subscriptions after finishing content and return only when new programming is available [6] - Major players like Disney and Hulu are resorting to promotions and bundle discounts to retain users, indicating a lack of confidence that content alone can justify higher fees [7] Changing Consumer Behavior - Consumers are adjusting their behavior in response to price sensitivity, with many now open to ad-supported tiers to lower costs [9][10] - Users are actively managing subscriptions, tracking renewals more closely, and canceling services faster, indicating a shift from passive to active consumer behavior [10] Investor Sentiment - Wall Street is reevaluating growth assumptions as price sensitivity complicates traditional long-term subscriber growth models [11][12] - Market reactions to price hikes, such as Spotify's cautious share movement, reflect concerns about the balance between revenue per user and subscriber growth [13] Bundling Strategies - As standalone subscriptions face resistance, bundles are regaining popularity, with companies packaging multiple services to increase switching costs and reduce churn [14][15] - Bundles shift consumer decision-making from individual service value to the overall package, potentially slowing cancellations even amid price increases [15] Ad-Supported Tiers - The expansion of ad-supported tiers is a direct response to price resistance, with major platforms positioning these options as entry points for cost-conscious users [16][17] - While this strategy aims to stabilize revenue, it introduces risks related to the cyclical nature of advertising revenue and competition from other platforms [18] Implications for Households - The shift towards price sensitivity gives consumers more leverage, leading to more negotiations, discounts, and promotional offers from streaming platforms [19] - Households can expect fewer blanket price increases and more targeted adjustments aimed at premium users [19][20] Future Considerations - The upcoming earnings season will be critical; rising churn alongside higher prices may prompt companies to pause further increases [21] - The conversation around subscription growth is evolving, with the understanding that entertainment budgets are finite despite the essential nature of content [21]