Group 1 - Meta is acquiring AI startup Mattis for $2 billion, marking its entry into the AI agent market [1][2] - The acquisition positions Meta to compete with Microsoft's co-pilot and Salesforce's Agent Force, indicating a growing urgency in the AI sector [2][8] - Meta has approximately $45 billion in cash, suggesting it has the financial capacity to pursue such acquisitions [3] Group 2 - The S&P 500 has historically averaged gains of 1.3% during the holiday season, with positive returns occurring about 78% of the time [4] - There is a notable trend of cash accumulation among S&P companies, with a total of about $7 trillion in cash available [7] - The market is experiencing a rotation and profit-taking, particularly in AI-related stocks, as concerns about an AI bubble persist [27][28] Group 3 - The acquisition of Mattis is seen as a strategic move for Meta to enhance its AI capabilities, which currently lack foundational applications [10][11] - Analysts suggest that the deal reflects a broader trend of companies opting for mergers and acquisitions to expedite technology development rather than building in-house [8][9] - The startup's advanced AI capabilities, which include sophisticated functions beyond simple chatbots, are expected to significantly enhance Meta's offerings [13][14] Group 4 - Mining companies are highlighted as strong investment opportunities due to rising metal prices and increased demand driven by geopolitical factors [21][23] - The U.S. has placed silver on its critical minerals list, indicating a strategic focus on securing resources amid global competition [22] - Analysts predict that the days of cheap silver are over, with significant price increases expected in the metals market [21][25]

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NUBURU, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a global pioneer in high- performance blue laser technology, today provided a comprehensive update outlining multiple near-term strategic execution milestones expected to be achieved in January 2026. These milestones reflect continued progress across the Company's previously announced defense platform expansion, financial strengthening initiatives, and transformation into an integrated Defense & Security Hub. January 2026 Execution Milestones Upda ...

City workers in the La Defense business district of Paris, France, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.4% higher by 11:30 a.m. London time (6.30 a.m. ET) to break through 590 points – a new record.European stocks picked up steam and moved further into green territory on Tuesday, in a holiday-shortened trading week.Mining stocks topped the blue-chip index, with Fresnillo gaining 5.3%. Peer miners Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore rose between 2.3% and 2%. Gains came as go ...

President Trump and Secretary of War Hegseth have spoken repeatedly about the need to upgrade the US military’s equipment, and allocations of as high as $1 trillion have been estimated to maintain technical and tactical superiority against US adversaries. With military contract bids already triggering gains for defense industry companies, 2026 looks to escalate things further to ensure The Trump Doctrine peace initiatives continue. Aerospace and Defense ETFs should benefit handsomely from these contract awa ...

The CNBC app, global market [music] news in one place. Customizable sections and personalized alerts. Stocks tracking, [music] interactive charts and market insights, all in your hands. So as you can see we've scooped up about a tenth of a percent from the outset. Silia. And as we look at the final trading days of 2025, also worth keeping in mind that of course we're likely to see also lower volumes this week. We have the bank holiday on uh for New Year's Day as well. So let's see what this week will have f ...

Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is one of the best emerging technology stocks to invest in. On December 19, KeyBanc initiated coverage of Redwire with a Sector Weight rating but set no price target on the shares. The firm believes that following the company’s acquisition of Edge Autonomy, Redwire is transforming into a multi-domain space and defense firm. However, while this expansion significantly increases the company’s scale, it comes at the expense of shareholder dilution. In other news, on December 1 ...

Key Takeaways RBC Bearings' Aerospace/Defense revenues surged 38.8% year over year in fiscal Q2 on strong market demand.RBC's backlog reached $1.06B, supported by solid execution and rising commercial aerospace orders.Defense revenues jumped 73.3%, driven by higher demand for bearings in marine and missile applications.RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC) is experiencing persistent strength in aerospace and defense markets. Solid momentum in the commercial aerospace market, driven by strong growth in orders from ...

I covered Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. ( HII ) a little more than a year ago following the release of their Q3 2024 earnings. At that time the stock traded for about $188 per shareI have a masters degree in Analytics from Northwestern University and a bachelors degree in Accounting. I have worked in the investment arena for over 10 years starting as an analyst and working my way up to a management role. Dividend investing is a personal hobby and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with the Seeking ...

Core Insights - Geopolitical instability has significantly boosted the growth of defense companies like Boeing and RTX Corporation, with increased defense budgets from the U.S. and its allies in response to rising global tensions [1][2] Defense Budget Trends - The increase in defense budgets is aimed at modernization and technical superiority, with a focus on enhancing military readiness and investing in advanced weapons systems [2] - The proposed fiscal 2026 defense budget under the Trump administration includes a 13.4% increase, raising total defense spending to approximately $1.01 trillion, emphasizing advanced aircraft and space initiatives [4] Boeing's Position - Boeing's Defense, Space & Security (BDS) segment is set for growth, benefiting from a diverse defense portfolio and a $76 billion backlog, with a 25% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 2025 [5][14] - The company secured $9 billion in contract awards in Q3 2025, with significant funding allocated for programs like the F-15EX and the Space Force [4][5] RTX's Position - RTX has received strong orders for its defense products, achieving $15.9 billion in bookings during Q3 2025, including notable contracts for air and missile defense systems [6][14] - The company maintains a solid defense backlog of $103 billion, indicating robust growth prospects for both domestic and international defense programs [7][14] Financial Comparisons - Boeing's earnings per share (EPS) estimates have decreased by 146.25% and 47.64% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, while RTX's EPS estimates have increased by 0.81% and 0.90% [8][10] - Boeing's shares trade at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 1.75X, compared to RTX's 2.69X, indicating differing valuations [11] - Boeing's total debt to capital stands at 118.3%, significantly higher than RTX's 37.05%, reflecting better debt management by RTX [12] Price Performance - Over the past six months, Boeing's shares have increased by 1.6%, while RTX's shares have risen by 28.8%, showcasing stronger momentum for RTX [13] Investment Recommendation - Currently, RTX is favored due to its better price performance, strong earnings growth, and superior debt management compared to Boeing, although both companies hold a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [15]

Market Performance - On December 24, 2025, U.S. stocks reached record highs, with the S&P 500 closing at 6,932.05, up 22.26 points (0.3%), the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 48,731.16, up 288.75 points (0.6%), and the Nasdaq Composite at 23,613.31, up 51.46 points (0.2%) [2] - This performance marked the third consecutive year of double-digit percentage gains, driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, anticipated interest rate cuts, and sustained economic growth despite recession fears [2] Economic Insights - The U.S. economy expanded at a robust annual pace of 4.3% in Q3 2025, exceeding economists' expectations, supported by a healthy labor market and falling unemployment claims [4] - Consumer confidence has dipped to its lowest level since April due to concerns over high prices, while Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation increased to 2.8%, presenting challenges for the Federal Reserve [4] Corporate News - Novo Nordisk A/S saw a 7.3% increase in shares following FDA approval of its GLP-1 pill for treating obesity [6] - Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. experienced a 0.3% rise in stock due to U.S. government plans for a new class of battleships [10] - ServiceNow Inc. shares fell 1.5% after announcing the acquisition of cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion [10] - ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. surged 5.8% as its board evaluates potential acquisitions [10] - Marvell Technology Inc. gained 3.4% driven by strong performance in AI [10] - Nvidia's stock rose 3% on December 24, contributing significantly to market gains [10] - DENSO CORPORATION announced a joint development agreement with MediaTek Inc. to advance next-generation automotive system-on-chips [10] Upcoming Events - The minutes from the December Federal Open Market Committee meeting will be released on December 30, 2025, providing insights into the Fed's monetary policy outlook [5] - Key Chinese economic data, including PMI figures, are expected on December 31, 2025, along with global PMI surveys and crucial U.S. non-farm payroll data in early January 2026 [5]