Thank you for that exciting speech about the future of vehicle technology. Can technology sense the world like humans. 9C Skylar explores embodied intelligence.Please welcome Skylar to the stage. [Applause] Hello everyone. I'm Skyler from Nangc.My topic is technology innovation. Today I want to start with a simple yet powerful story about light. A few years ago, a remote village was plugged into darkness every night until a Chinese entrepreneur brought a portable sort device.Suddenly thousands of household ...

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) ranks among the best hot AI stocks to buy right now. Following Meta’s keynote presentation at the Annual Connect conference on September 17, Stifel reiterated its $900 price target for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) and maintained its Buy rating on the company’s shares. The conference featured Meta’s newest range of AI glasses, which include the Oakley Meta Vanguard, the next generation of Meta Ray-Bans, and a new product dubbed Meta RayBan Display that features an ...

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- zSpace, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZSPC), a leader in immersive augmented reality (AR) solutions for education, today announced the release of three new applications designed to prepare learners and workers for careers in industrial robotics. The new applications — Industrial Robotics Training, Industrial Robotics Maintenance, and Industrial Robotics Operations — provide hands-on, risk-free simulations that can be used in classrooms and workforce development programs ...

Hope for Snap's AR operating system seemed to lead the stock higher today.Shares of Snap (SNAP -1.35%) were moving higher as the long-struggling social media stock seemed to gain on reaction to the recent release of the new augmented reality operating system (Snap 2.0), which it announced last week.While there wasn't immediate news out today, some investors seem to see an opportunity in the beaten-down stock as attention around smart glasses is building, following Meta Platforms' push into the category. As ...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. , Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI) ("Vuzix" or the "Company"), a leading supplier of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) technology, today announced that it has successfully achieved the milestones tied to its strategic investment agreement with Quanta Computer Inc. (TWSE: 2382.TW) ("Quanta"). ...

Shares of Snap Inc. SNAP rallied nearly 12% over the last five trading days, closing the week with significant momentum driven by a major product announcement and persistent geopolitical uncertainty surrounding its chief competitor, TikTok.The surge was accompanied by the highest trading volumes in the company’s history, signaling a dramatic increase in investor interest.Check out SNAP’s stock price here. SNAP Soars Nearly 12% In The WeekThe social media company's stock saw its value climb by 11.63% in a we ...

Core Insights - Major tech companies are re-entering the smart glasses market, viewing it as the next significant computing platform, with competition intensifying among Meta, Google, Snap, Apple, and Amazon [3][4][6] Industry Trends - Consumer adoption of smart glasses is on the rise, with approximately 17% of online adults in the U.S. reporting usage, a 4% increase from the previous year [5] - The market for smart glasses without displays is projected to grow to 9.4 million units by 2025, representing a 247.5% increase from 2024, largely driven by Meta [12] Company Developments - Meta has launched advanced smart glasses, including Ray-Ban models starting at $379, featuring longer battery life and AI capabilities [9][10] - Snap is planning to release more powerful augmented reality glasses in 2026, having updated the operating system for its current AR glasses [7][6] - Meta currently holds about 60% of the global market for display-less smart glasses and augmented/virtual reality headsets as of Q2 2025 [11] Technological Advancements - The integration of AI into smart glasses is seen as a key factor for their future success, with companies like OpenAI collaborating with design experts to innovate in this space [4][10] - Smart glasses have become more affordable, now priced in the hundreds rather than over $1,000, making them more accessible to consumers [13] Consumer Behavior - There is a need for tech companies to demonstrate the value of smart glasses to consumers, who are accustomed to using smartphones for recording and communication [14]

Market Performance - The U.S. stock market reached new all-time highs on September 18, 2025, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5% to 6,631.96, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing 0.3% to 46,142.42, and the Nasdaq Composite climbing 0.9% to 22,470.73 [1][2] - The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies also saw a significant rise of 2.5% to 2,467.70, surpassing its previous high set in 2021 [2] Technology Sector Influence - The technology sector, particularly semiconductor companies, played a crucial role in the market's rally, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) rebounding strongly after a slight dip [3] - Nvidia announced a strategic investment of $5 billion in Intel, leading to a 22.8% increase in Intel's stock, marking its best day since 1987, while Nvidia's stock rose 3.5% [4] Corporate Developments - Meta Platforms advanced about 1.4% after launching AI-powered smart glasses, while Lyft's shares increased following news of a partnership with Waymo for self-driving taxi services [5] - Conversely, Nucor fell over 4% due to a Q3 EPS forecast below consensus, and FactSet Research Systems dropped over 3% after reporting Q4 adjusted EPS below expectations [6] Earnings Reports - Cracker Barrel reported a Q3 EPS of $0.78, a 20.41% decrease year-over-year, and missed consensus EPS in the previous quarter by -16.24% [8] - Darden Restaurants missed analyst expectations with an EPS of $1.97 and reported sales of $3 billion, leading to a 9.5% decline in its stock [9][10] - FedEx reported year-over-year earnings growth with revenue of $22.2 billion and diluted EPS of $3.46, reflecting improvements from strategic initiatives [11] Economic Indicators - Weekly initial unemployment claims fell by 33,000 to 231,000, indicating a stronger labor market, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey rose to an 8-month high of 23.2 [13] - However, August leading indicators fell 0.5% month-over-month, a larger decline than expected [13] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point to a range of 4-4.25%, with expectations of two more cuts by the end of the year and one in 2026 [12]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Furniture industry is experiencing significant challenges due to persistent inflation, which is weakening household purchasing power and dampening demand for discretionary items [1][4] - Despite modest growth in overall retail activity, furniture sales are under pressure as consumers are cautious about big-ticket purchases [1][4] - Rising labor, occupancy, and marketing expenses, along with intense price competition and supply-chain inefficiencies, are straining profitability [1][5] Trends and Innovations - The industry is focusing on digital transformation, including e-commerce expansion, AR/VR integration, AI-driven personalization, and multifunctional product innovation [2][6] - There is a rising demand for multifunctional furniture, particularly among millennials and Gen Z consumers [2][6] - Companies are investing in product innovation and digital marketing to enhance customer experience and expand market reach [7][8] Economic Conditions - Economic uncertainties continue to pressure the U.S. furniture industry, with inflation remaining stubborn and the Consumer Price Index increasing by 2.9% year over year [4] - Furniture sales declined by 0.3% from July, while overall retail sales rose by 0.6% in August [4] - The Federal Reserve projects unemployment to rise to 4.5% in 2025, and GDP growth is forecasted at just 1.6% for the current year [4] Competitive Landscape - The furniture industry is highly competitive, with traditional retailers facing challenges from online platforms like Etsy, Costco, and Amazon [5] - Companies are making incremental investments to adapt to an expanding omnichannel environment, which is essential for maintaining market share [5][6] - Rising SG&A rates and increased labor costs are placing additional strain on profit margins [5] Company Performance - Flexsteel Industries, Inc. is focusing on strategic execution, product innovation, and market expansion, leading to share gains and improved customer experience [21][22] - Flexsteel's earnings estimates for 2025 have increased to $3.85 per share, reflecting analysts' optimism [23] - Bassett Furniture Industries is benefiting from product innovation and operational efficiency, with e-commerce sales rising over 30% in Q2 2025 [25][26] Valuation Metrics - The Zacks Furniture industry is currently trading at a forward P/E of 10.69X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 23.36X [16] - Over the past five years, the industry's P/E has ranged from 8.14X to 15.03X, with a median of 10.64X [16]

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. and BEIJING, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Visteon Corporation (NASDAQ: VC), a global leader in automotive cockpit electronics and connected car solutions, and FUTURUS, a China-based innovator in the Head-Up Display (HUD) and Augmented Reality (AR) industry, have partnered to co-develop advanced HUD systems for global automakers. The collaboration will focus on developing next-generation Augmented Reality (AR) HUD, Windshield HUD, and Panoramic HUD systems that seamlessly project ...