Oracle can move AI capacity around fast, but it may not matter.Oracle (ORCL +0.49%) is signing mega-deals to deliver AI infrastructure to hundreds of clients. The company's remaining performance obligations, a metric that measures the value of signed customer contracts that haven't yet been recognized as revenue, reached $523 billion at the end of the most recent quarter.While Oracle has more than 700 AI customers, OpenAI accounts for most of that backlog. A reported $300 billion cloud infrastructure deal w ...

Core Insights - Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) has underperformed its peers, with shares down 1.9%, contrasting with a flat Oil & Gas-Field Services sub-industry and a modest 1.2% gain in the broader Oil-Energy sector [1][3] - The company is facing significant operational challenges, market volatility, and potentially flawed business strategies impacting its market position [3] Performance Overview - LBRT's adjusted EBITDA fell 29% sequentially and 48% year over year in Q3 2025, indicating substantial profitability headwinds due to pricing pressure and lower industry activity [4] - The company forecasts capital expenditures between $525 million and $550 million for 2025, which is a heavy outlay during a market downturn [8] Challenges Affecting Performance - Liquidity pressures are evident, with LBRT ending Q3 with $13 million in cash and $253 million in debt, raising concerns about the ability to manage ongoing capital expenditures and dividends [12] - The power segment's uncertain timing and conversion of contracts create additional revenue visibility challenges, as acknowledged by the CEO [9] Strategic Risks - The aggressive push into the power generation business may dilute management focus from the core oilfield services, risking operational missteps [15] - Financial leverage is increasing, with net debt rising by $99 million in the quarter, which could strain liquidity if core business recovery is delayed [8][12] Market Conditions - Persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and oil producer discipline are expected to keep industry completions activity subdued in the near term, impacting LBRT's traditional revenue base [11] - The company's power business model is vulnerable to natural gas price volatility, which could erode competitive advantages if prices rise significantly [17]