Core Viewpoint - Oracle plans to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion this year to fund its significant investment in cloud computing [1] Group 1 - The company is focusing on expanding its cloud computing capabilities, indicating a strategic shift towards this sector [1] - The planned capital raise reflects Oracle's commitment to enhancing its competitive position in the cloud market [1] - This financial move is part of a broader trend among technology companies investing heavily in cloud infrastructure [1]

Let's bring back our panel. Craig Johnson of Piper Sandler, Joel Kina of Web Bush, and Brian Gardner of Stifel. And we still have so much to get to here before the end of the hour.We just talked about dollar right before the break. So Craig, I'm going to come to you on this one because you got the dollar index falling below a key technical level, four-year low, and this decoupling again between the dollar and treasuries, which reminds me of liberation day, post liberation day market trading last year. >> Yo ...

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Group 1 - Bank stocks are facing complex challenges and benefits heading into 2026 after an unusually strong year, raising questions about the sustainability of the rally [5] - The S&P 500 and Dow closed the week narrowly below the previous week's record highs, while the Nasdaq is about 2% off its record high [5] - Key inflation data and Netflix earnings are upcoming, which may impact market sentiment and stock performance [8] Group 2 - BlackRock and GE Aerospace are highlighted as stocks to watch in the upcoming shortened market action [6] - Intel stock is surging, along with two other Nasdaq 100 giants, indicating strong performance in the tech sector [7][10] - Dow Jones futures show Google leading seven stocks in buy zones, with several companies facing earnings tests [10]

Core Viewpoint - Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) is a significant player in the data storage industry, with a new price target set at $230 by Evercore ISI, indicating a potential upside from its current trading price of $221.51 [1][5] Company Performance - The current stock price of WDC is $221.51, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.27% or $0.59, with a trading range between $216.83 and $229.99 during the day [2][5] - Over the past year, WDC has shown significant volatility, with a high of $230.48 and a low of $28.83 [2] Market Position - Western Digital's market capitalization is approximately $75.93 billion, indicating a strong position in the data storage industry [4] - The trading volume for the day is 8,950,350 shares, demonstrating active investor interest [4] Industry Trends - The ongoing AI trade is driving demand for memory chips, which benefits Western Digital and its competitors, including Micron and SanDisk [3][5]

Company Overview - Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) is a significant player in the data storage industry, recognized for its hard drives and solid-state drives [1] - The company's market capitalization is approximately $75.93 billion, indicating its substantial presence in the industry [4] Stock Performance - On January 16, 2026, Evercore ISI upgraded WDC to an "Outperform" rating, raising the price target from $190 to $230, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance [1][5] - Currently, WDC's stock is priced at $221.51, showing a slight decrease of 0.27% or $0.59, with fluctuations between a low of $216.83 and a high of $229.99 on the day [3][5] - Over the past year, WDC has experienced a high of $230.48 and a low of $28.83, indicating its volatile nature in the market [3] Industry Trends - The upgrade by Evercore ISI aligns with a broader trend in the industry, as both Western Digital and its competitor Seagate (STX) have seen significant stock rallies due to the ongoing AI trade, which is driving demand for memory chips [2] - Companies like Western Digital, Seagate, Micron (MU), and SanDisk (SNDK) are benefiting from the increased demand for memory chips driven by the AI trade [2]

Core Thesis - Futu Holdings Limited is positioned as a strong investment opportunity due to its competitive brokerage platform and significant growth in the Asian and international retail investing markets [2][6]. Financial Performance - Revenue is projected to nearly double from $7.12 billion in 2021 to $13.6 billion in 2024, with net margins consistently around 40%, indicating strong scalability and operating leverage [3]. - The company trades at approximately 18.5 times earnings, which is attractive given a 30% compound annual growth rate in earnings over the past two years [4]. Stock Performance - The stock price has appreciated by 91% over the last year, currently trading near $165, down from a recent high of $199, suggesting potential undervaluation of 20% to 30% based on forward growth expectations [4]. User and Asset Growth - Total brokerage accounts reached 5.61 million as of Q3 2025, representing a 31% year-over-year growth, while total client assets increased by 79% year over year to approximately $158 billion [5]. - Moomoo, the global platform, has surpassed 1.5 million users in Singapore and exceeded 1 million users in Malaysia, indicating strong international adoption [5]. Investment Case - Futu combines high profitability, rapid global user growth, and exposure to attractive markets, supporting a compelling long-term investment case [6].

Geopolitical Impact - The U.S. captured Maduro in Venezuela, leading to a generally positive response in the stock market, particularly in the oil and defense sectors [3][5][6] - Canadian oil stocks are negatively impacted due to competition with Venezuelan heavy crude, which could lower prices for Canadian oil sands [4] - Defense stocks are rising due to geopolitical tensions and potential contracts for infrastructure development in Venezuela [5][6] Market Trends - Memory and storage stocks have surged, with Sandisk up 36% in the past week and 71% in the past month, indicating a high demand for memory chips driven by AI developments [10][11] - Companies like Oklo and Vistra are gaining attention as they provide alternative power solutions for data centers, reflecting the growing need for energy in the tech sector [12][13] - Caterpillar's stock is also rising as demand for equipment to build data centers increases [14][15] Labor Market Insights - The unemployment rate held steady at 4.4%, with a slight increase of 50,000 jobs in December, indicating a stagnant job market [17][19] - The labor participation rate has decreased, suggesting some individuals may have exited the workforce [18] - There is a notable shift where individuals with coding skills may need to transition to construction roles to support data center development [21][26] Company-Specific Developments - Roblox's stock has declined by about 10% in the past week and 45% since its last earnings report, attributed to new age verification requirements for chat, which may hinder user participation [27][28][30] - The company faces public pushback and lawsuits regarding safety concerns on its platform, highlighting the need for self-regulation in the tech industry [29][30] Economic Indicators - The upcoming CPI report and earnings from major financial institutions like Citi and Bank of America will provide insights into economic activity and consumer spending [33][34] - The trucking firm JB Hunt's earnings report will also serve as an economic indicator, reflecting overall market conditions [35] Future Market Outlook - The year 2026 is viewed as a pivotal year for the market, with ongoing debates about whether the AI sector is in a bubble, as many stocks are trading at high valuations [37][39] - External geopolitical events, such as tensions with China and the situation in Ukraine, will likely influence market dynamics throughout the year [40][41] - The political landscape, including the upcoming midterms, may set the tone for market behavior in the latter half of the year [42][43]

Core Viewpoint - The anticipated Santa Claus rally did not occur, but January has started positively for certain technology companies [1] Group 1 - The performance of tech stocks has shown signs of recovery at the beginning of January [1]

WAVE IS UP NEARLY 20% IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY JOINED THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S GENESIS MISSION. SO IS THE AI TRADE BACK FOR GOOD THIS TIME, OR WILL THIS RALLY FADE AGAIN.LET'S ASK GENE MUNSTER. HE'S MANAGING PARTNER AT DEEPWATER ASSET MANAGEMENT. AND GENE, I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK.I HAVE A THEORY, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOURS. WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING ON HERE. I MEAN, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT ACTUALLY IMPROVED SENTIMENT AFTER OPENAI DID THAT MASSIVE RAISE LAST WEEK AFTER SAM ALTMAN CAME OUT AND DEFENDED ...