Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is included among the 14 Best US Stocks to Buy for Long Term. Jefferies Maintains Buy on Microsoft (MSFT) Amid Strong RPO Growth and Copilot Demand Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash In its research note on December 4, Jefferies highlighted that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) pushed back against the report from The Information, debating that the data tells a very different story. Microsoft highlighted a 51% RPO growth and strong demand that causes capacity shortag ...

Core Insights - IBM is planning to acquire Confluent, Inc. for approximately $11 billion to enhance its cloud and data services, particularly in real-time data streaming [1][7] - The acquisition is expected to modernize IBM's streaming data and cloud-native data offerings, potentially increasing its client base by providing both traditional and real-time data services [2][7] Company Strategy - IBM is heavily investing in AI to make it scalable for enterprises, exemplified by the launch of Watsonx, which aims to enhance productivity through powerful foundation models [2] - The partnership with SAP focuses on integrating generative AI into retail and consumer-packaged goods sectors to accelerate digital transformation and productivity [3] Competitive Landscape - IBM faces significant competition from Microsoft and Amazon, with Microsoft’s Azure cloud business growing rapidly and making substantial investments in AI infrastructure [4] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its infrastructure, having added 3.8 gigawatts of power capacity in the last year, and is advancing in custom AI hardware development [5] Financial Performance - Over the past year, IBM shares have increased by 33.9%, while the industry has seen a growth of 64.4% [6] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have risen by 2.4% to $11.39 and 2.3% to $12.23, respectively, over the past 60 days [8] Valuation Metrics - IBM currently has a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.1, which is below the industry average [10]

IBM said on Monday it will buy data infrastructure company Confluent in a deal valued at $11 billion, ramping up its cloud-computing offerings to capitalize on an AI-driven demand boom. ...

在国内数字化进入深水区的当下，"选择哪家云服务提供商"成为企业 CIO、技术负责人、业务负责人长 期关注的议题。与五年前不同，如今企业对云平台的要求已经从"可用"走向"可持续"，从"上云"走 向"治理"，从"功能丰富"走向"体系成熟"。 在这个过程中，一个值得注意的现象是：无论企业主要业务是否涉及海外，在讨论国内云服务提供商 时，越来越多企业把 AWS 纳入规划范围。 1. 业务系统之间高度耦合，稳定性要求大幅提升 各类业务系统、后台系统、运营系统之间共享数据、共享链路。一旦某一链路出现故障，可能形成连锁 反应。 这意味着： 云平台必须具备架构级别的高可用能力，而不仅是资源层面的弹性。 2. 数字化进入治理阶段，安全与合规成为底层诉求 数据访问控制、操作审计、加密策略、权限体系、合规落地成为企业内部的核心关注点。 这不是因为品牌声量，而是因为企业在对比复杂架构体系时，发现云平台的长期价值来自三个方向：稳 定性、治理能力、扩展能力。AWS 在这三方面具备可复用、可解释、可延伸的体系化优势。 为了更系统地理解这一趋势，有必要从行业整体的发展路径出发，重新审视云平台选型的底层逻辑。 一、企业正在改变对"云服务商"的 ...

市场观点认为，海外头部AI企业开始新一轮大模型技术角逐，若GPT-5.2性能实现有意义的提升，有望 推高海外训练与推理环节的算力需求，进而带动A股海外算力核心配套环节的订单与产能释放。聚焦A 股海外算力产业链的人工智能与云计算相关指数成份股将享受行业需求上行带来的发展红利，具备业绩 释放的潜在空间。 据报道，OpenAI最早于美国时间12月9日推出其最新的GPT-5.2，作为对谷歌与Anthropic加速竞争的回 应，新版本的开发重点将从以往的功能创新转向提升模型运行速度、系统稳定性以及用户定制化体验。 （文章来源：每日经济新闻） 今日午后，市场维持强势表现，CPO、存储芯片、光刻机、半导体等板块涨幅居前。截至14:08，中证 人工智能主题指数上涨3.5%，中证云计算与大数据主题指数上涨3.2%。 中证人工智能主题指数完整覆盖AI产业链，涵盖上游基建、中游模型、下游应用等环节；中证云计算 与大数据主题指数覆盖计算设备等AI基础设施和计算服务相关领域，二者的前两大权重股均为海外算 力相关标的。 ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon's stock has underperformed in 2025 compared to the S&P 500, raising questions about its future potential and whether it should be prioritized by investors as the year ends [1][2]. E-commerce Performance - Amazon's e-commerce segment experienced a 10% year-over-year growth in Q3, marking one of its best quarters in a long time [5]. - Third-party seller services also rose by 12%, indicating strong performance in this area as well [5]. Valuation Concerns - Amazon's stock has been trading at a premium valuation, averaging around 30 times forward earnings, which is considered high given its growth rates around 10% [6][8]. - The combination of high valuation and moderate growth has limited the stock's potential [8]. Profit Drivers - The majority of Amazon's profits come from its other business units, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS) and advertising services [9]. - AWS revenue grew by 20% in Q3, driven by increased demand for cloud computing and AI workloads [10]. - Although AWS accounted for only 18% of total sales in Q3, it contributed 66% of operating income, highlighting its profitability [11]. Advertising Growth - Amazon's advertising services grew revenue at an impressive 24% in Q3, leveraging consumer data from its e-commerce platform [13]. - High margins in advertising are expected to enhance overall profitability, similar to trends seen in other advertising-focused companies [14]. Future Outlook - The fastest-growing segments, AWS and advertising, are also the highest-margin ones, suggesting that profits will increase at a faster rate than revenue [15]. - The anticipated acceleration in AWS growth and strength in advertising positions Amazon for a strong performance in 2026, making it an attractive investment opportunity [15].

Summary of Key Points from J.P. Morgan's China Credit 2026 Outlook Industry Overview - **China Credit Market**: The report emphasizes a selective approach to investing in China credits, highlighting a spectrum of risk from high-quality TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) companies to solid SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises) and struggling property firms [1][5][10]. Core Insights Economic Outlook - **2025 Growth**: The Chinese economy is projected to grow approximately 5% year-on-year in 2025, supported by strong exports and fiscal expansion despite high U.S. tariffs [5][10]. - **2026 Forecast**: A slowdown to 4.4% growth is anticipated in 2026 due to weaker exports and consumption, with real estate investment expected to contract by 10% [5][11]. China TMT Sector - **Top Picks**: J.P. Morgan recommends Alibaba '35s/'54s and Weibo '30s as top picks due to their solid balance sheets and improving fundamentals [1][5][66]. - **Investment Cycle**: TMT companies are in a heavy investment cycle focusing on AI and new initiatives like food delivery, with Alibaba aggressively expanding its market share [29][30]. - **Competitive Landscape**: Intense competition in food delivery is noted, particularly with Alibaba's expansion impacting Meituan's profitability [30][68]. China SOE Sector - **Defensive Exposure**: China National Chemical is recommended for defensive exposure, with strong demand expected to absorb any potential spread widening from U.S. sanctions [5][66]. - **Spread Compression**: SOE credits have seen significant spread compression, with the JACI China single-A Corporate Index tightening to a 10-year low [78][79]. China Property Sector - **Cautious Sentiment**: The property market remains fragile, with Vanke's bond extension raising concerns. Longfor is the only company rated as Overweight due to its solid balance sheet and transformation to a rental model [1][5][66]. - **Market Risks**: Investor sentiment is expected to remain weak, and banks may tighten funding to private developers [5][66]. Additional Important Insights - **Technical Support**: The report notes that technical factors are supportive of China credits, with limited supply expected to continue into 2026 [5][15]. - **Valuation Trends**: China credits have experienced strong compression, with the JACI China IG Corp Index tightening significantly over the past year [15][16]. - **Funding Strategies**: TMT companies are exploring alternative funding channels, including exchangeable bonds and CNH bonds, to leverage lower costs and increased demand [44][66]. Conclusion - **Investment Strategy**: The report advocates for a selective investment strategy in China credits, focusing on high-quality TMT names and defensive SOEs while remaining cautious in the property sector due to ongoing risks and market fragility [1][5][66].

It’s a digital gold rush as data-center development sweeps through small-town America. As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital storage surges, developers are racing to secure land, power and water.That growth is becoming increasingly concentrated: nearly 1% of U.S. counties, roughly 33, now account for 72% of all data-center activity as of July 2025, according to a recent Goldman Sachs analysis. But the map is changing almost daily. One Georgia community is experiencing that shift ...

Core Viewpoint - Rubric's stock has surged over 22% following the company's earnings report, which exceeded expectations and provided improved guidance for future profitability [1][4][19] Company Overview - Rubric is an enterprise information and application software company focused on data security systems for cloud and enterprise data solutions [3][4] - The company offers enterprise data backup and recovery systems along with cyber security resilience features [3] Financial Performance - Rubric reported an adjusted profit of $0.10 per share, a significant turnaround from a loss of $0.21 per share in the same quarter last year, marking a 300% improvement in earnings per share (EPS) [4][5] - Sales increased to $350 million, up 48% from $236 million in the same quarter last year, indicating robust growth [6] Guidance and Analyst Reactions - The company narrowed its full-year adjusted loss guidance for 2026 from $0.48 to a range of $0.16 to $0.20, reflecting improved expectations [7] - Analysts have responded positively, with Deutsche Bank adjusting its price target to $120 and Barrett increasing its target to $130, both maintaining an outperform rating [8] Competitive Landscape - Rubric competes with both smaller companies like Convault and larger players such as Dell Technologies and IBM [4][11] - The company is seen as moving towards consistent profitability faster than some competitors, which may enhance its market position [12] Customer Base and Partnerships - Rubric has over 6,000 customers, with a growing number spending over $100,000 annually, indicating a strong high-end customer base [13] - Partnerships with companies like Salesforce and Cisco are contributing to better unit economics for Rubric [13] Future Outlook - Analysts expect Rubric to report a full year of adjusted profits in 2027, with continued positive momentum in earnings anticipated over the next four quarters [17][18]

Key Takeaways GWRE's ClaimCenter deployed at Cincinnati Insurance to streamline claims operations.Guidewire Cloud adoption helps insurers modernize systems and improve efficiency.GWRE integrates AI, analytics and new apps to enhance underwriting and policyholder experience.Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) announced that The Cincinnati Insurance Company has successfully deployed Guidewire ClaimCenter to modernize and streamline its claims operations. Running on the Guidewire Cloud Platform, ClaimCenter has al ...