Core Insights - The software industry is experiencing significant changes due to the rise of AI and cloud technologies, leading to market volatility and concerns about traditional companies [1][6][7] Group 1: Impact of AI on Software Development - AI is revolutionizing the software industry by enabling systems to perform tasks such as writing software and creating websites, which are referred to as agentic systems [2][3] - Companies will increasingly utilize agentic systems to enhance productivity rather than replace existing tools, as these agents will act as users of established software [3][4] - The number of programming instances and tool usage is expected to rise as more agents are integrated into companies, leading to a higher demand for software tools [5] Group 2: Role of Established Companies - Established companies like Salesforce and Service Now are likely to remain relevant as they will develop agents optimized for their platforms, countering market fears of disintermediation [6][7][8] - The systems of records maintained by these companies will continue to serve as the foundation for data management, with agents populating and utilizing these systems [9] Group 3: Future of Software Engineering - The role of software engineers will evolve, focusing more on problem-solving and innovation rather than traditional coding, as agents will handle the actual coding tasks [12][13] - This shift will allow engineers to work at a higher level of abstraction, potentially leading to increased productivity and the creation of new solutions [13][14]

The Zacks Diversified Communication Services industry appears well-positioned to capitalize on the healthy demand trends driven by the fast-track 5G deployment and the transition to cloud and fiber network infrastructure. However, high capital expenditures for infrastructure upgrades, volatility in raw material prices, geopolitical conflicts and elevated inventory levels amid uncertain market conditions have dented the industry’s profitability.  Telefonica Brasil S.A. (VIV) , Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) ...

SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iteris, Inc., the world’s trusted technology ecosystem for smart mobility infrastructure management, today announced it has joined forces with JMDiaz, Inc. and LYT to support the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) in deploying a countywide cloud-based Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system across 13 major corridors in Los Angeles County. Iteris was awarded over $2 million for its role in this transformative project. Iteris i ...

Core Insights - Amazon has surpassed Walmart to become the world's largest retailer by annual revenues, achieving $716.9 billion in 2025 compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion [1][10] - The shift highlights the importance of Amazon's technology ecosystem, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), which generated nearly $129 billion in sales last year [4][10] - Amazon's advertising business has also become a significant growth driver, contributing over $60 billion annually [5][10] Investment Opportunities - Investors may find potential in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that include Amazon alongside other leading companies in retail and technology sectors [2][8] - Focusing on ETFs allows investors to mitigate company-specific risks associated with Amazon while still benefiting from its growth and market position [7][8] ETFs to Consider - Global X PureCap MSCI Consumer Discretionary ETF (GXPD) has a net asset value of $22.72 million, with Amazon holding a 33.74% weight [11] - Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) has $6.3 billion in assets, with Amazon at 23.02% weight [12] - State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) manages $22.51 billion, with Amazon at 20.91% weight [13] - ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN) has an average market cap of $177.12 billion, with Amazon at 23.35% weight [15] - VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) has net assets of $264.8 million, with Amazon at 17.08% weight [16]

Core Insights - Retail investors have shown significant interest in five stocks: Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI), Hims & Hers Health Inc. (HIMS), Blue Owl Capital Inc. (OWL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), and Walmart Inc. (WMT), driven by factors such as retail hype, earnings, AI buzz, and corporate news flow [1] Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) - Retail investors are highly bullish on SMCI, with some jokingly considering betting their entire portfolio on the stock for the upcoming months [7] - The stock has a 52-week range of $27.60 to $62.47, currently trading around $32 to $35 per share, and has fallen 45.74% over the year and 24.52% over the last six months [7] - SMCI exhibits a weaker price trend across all time frames but has a strong growth ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [7] Hims & Hers Health Inc. (HIMS) - Retail investors believe HIMS could surpass the $20 mark, despite its current trading range of $15 to $16 per share [7] - The stock has a 52-week range of $15.46 to $70.43 and has declined by 76.18% over the year and 63.53% in the last six months [7] - HIMS shows a weaker price trend in all time frames and has a poor value ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [7] Blue Owl Capital Inc. (OWL) - Retail investors are concerned about the withdrawal limit associated with OWL, which is currently trading around $11 to $13 per share [7] - The stock has a 52-week range of $10.88 to $23.98 and has declined 49.87% over the year and 37.64% in the last six months [7] - OWL has a weaker price trend across all time frames but maintains a solid growth score according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [7] Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) - Retail sentiment towards MSFT has turned sour, with the stock trading around $398 to $400 per share [7] - The stock has a 52-week range of $344.79 to $555.45 and is down 4.25% over the year and 21.21% over the last six months [7] - MSFT shows a weaker price trend across all time frames but has a solid quality score according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [7] Walmart Inc. (WMT) - Some retail investors believe that WMT's decline could lead to a rotation back into tech stocks, with the stock currently trading around $124 to $125 per share [7] - The stock has a 52-week range of $79.85 to $134.69 and has returned 28.45% over the year and the last six months [7] - WMT maintains a stronger price trend across all time frames and has a solid quality ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [8]

Key Takeaways NICE beat Q4 estimates with $3.24 EPS and $786.5M revenues, driven by 14% cloud growth.Cloud made up 77% of sales as CX AI momentum and enterprise traction lifted results.NICE guided up to $3.19B 2026 revenue and settled $460M debt, shares jumped 13%.Nice (NICE) reported adjusted earnings of $3.24 per share in the fourth quarter of 2025, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.84% and increased 7% year over year.Non-GAAP revenues of $786.5 million surpassed the consensus mark by 1.01% and ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding investment strategies, asset allocation, and market conditions globally, particularly in the USA [1] Investment Strategy - The investment philosophy focuses on finding Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP), inspired by investor Peter Lynch, which seeks businesses with strong earnings growth at reasonable valuations [1] - The analysis includes sectors such as Financials, Aerospace/Defense, and Software, as well as growth sectors like Technology (AI, Cybersecurity, Cloud, Fintech), Healthcare (Biotech, Digital Health), Energy Transition (Renewables, EVs, Green Manufacturing), and Advanced Industries (Robotics, Space, Advanced Manufacturing, Future Mobility) [1] Market Trends - The article highlights the impact of digital disruption, sustainability, and evolving demographics on investment opportunities [1] - Insights are drawn from global interactions across various trading desks in major financial hubs, indicating a comprehensive understanding of worldwide market trends [1]

Core Insights - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has expanded its buyback authorization by an additional $4 billion, supported by strong business momentum and cash generation [1] - The company generated $3.02 billion in revenues for the fiscal second quarter, reflecting a 7% sequential increase and a 25% year-over-year growth, primarily driven by data center demand and high-capacity hard disk drives [2] - Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $2.13, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.95 and representing a 78% year-over-year increase [2] - Gross margin improved to 46.1%, a 770 basis point increase from the previous year, due to a favorable product mix and cost control measures [3] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $653 million, allowing the company to return over 100% of its free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [6] - WDC shipped over 3.5 million latest-generation ePMR drives, indicating strong customer adoption, and delivered a total of 215 exabytes to customers, marking a 22% year-over-year increase [5] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP operating income totaled $1.02 billion, up 72% year over year, with margins expanding more than 930 basis points to 33.8% [3] - The company has returned a total of $1.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks since launching its capital return program [6] - WDC carries $4.7 billion in long-term debt, which includes the current portion [7] Market Dynamics - The demand for higher-density storage is rising due to accelerated AI and cloud adoption, with WDC collaborating closely with hyperscale customers to meet this demand [4] - The company is advancing its technology roadmaps, including HAMR and ePMR, to drive the adoption of higher-capacity drives [4] - The storage industry remains cyclical, with potential sharp shifts in pricing and demand [7] Competitive Landscape - Seagate Technology has resumed share repurchases, indicating a shift in capital allocation strategy [9] - Pure Storage has announced its largest-ever share repurchase authorization of $400 million, reflecting confidence in business momentum and balance sheet strength [12] - WDC's shares have gained 27.1% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry, which increased by 25% [14] Valuation and Estimates - WDC's shares are currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 21.83X, compared to the industry's 19.32X [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC's earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised up by 17.4% to $8.96 over the past 60 days [16]

Core Insights - The company achieved record revenue of $9 billion for 2025, driven by the 'Arista 2.0' strategy and strong momentum in generative AI, cloud, and enterprise sectors [1] - International growth was a significant performance driver, with both Asia and Europe experiencing annual growth rates exceeding 40% [1] - The core cloud and AI titans contributed 48% of total revenue, while the 'AI and specialty providers' segment, including major players like Apple and Oracle, grew to account for 20% of revenue [1] Strategic Developments - The company surpassed strategic milestones with $800 million allocated for campus/branch expansion and $1.5 billion for AI center networking in the fiscal year [1] - Management attributes market leadership to the differentiated EOS software stack, which facilitates high-performance switching across a range of speeds from 10G to 800G [1] - The acquisition of VeloCloud in July 2025 has been successfully integrated into a unified client-to-branch-to-campus secure networking solution [1] Market Positioning - The company is positioning itself as the 'gold standard' for terabit networks, with a focus on reducing job completion time for training and minimizing latency for inference [1]

All right, Amazon's down again. Eighth day in a row. Investors showing some concern after the company announced plans to spend $200 billion on the AI build during that last earnings report on Thursday.For more on those capex plans, we are joined by CNBC's John Port as well as the CEO of Amazon Web Services in a CNBC exclusive. John, over to you. >> Sarah, thanks.Matt Garmin, uh, good to see you. Um, first after earnings. Uh, I guess I saw you in San Francisco a few days ago, but first time on TV.$200 billio ...