partner and chief investment strategist at Crescent Capital. Jack, traders overwhelmingly believe there will be no move tomorrow, so that wouldn't be a surprise. So, but why must investors pay such close attention to what happens and what Chairman Powell says tomorrow during the show during his news conference.>> Yeah, you're right. Um, it's all about the outlook. It's all about the language, uh, the nuance.Uh right now we started the year with uh investors anticipating two rate cuts this year. That has now ...

U.S. Stock Market - U.S. stocks traded higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 100 points, up 0.29% to 47,082.50, NASDAQ rose 0.42% to 22,469.06, and S&P 500 increased by 0.36% to 6,723.55 [1] - Energy shares climbed by 1.7%, while industrials stocks fell by 0.1% [1] Company Performance - Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:ESLT) shares jumped over 10% after reporting fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.56, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $3.09 [2] - The company reported quarterly sales of $2.148 billion, slightly missing the analyst consensus estimate of $2.151 billion [2] Commodity Market - Oil traded up 1.9% to $95.25, gold increased by 0.2% to $5,012.20, silver rose 0.1% to $80.72, while copper fell 0.9% to $5.7770 [3] European Market - European shares were higher, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 rising 0.91%, Spain's IBEX 35 Index up 1.48%, London's FTSE 100 increasing by 0.99%, Germany's DAX gaining 0.82%, and France's CAC 40 rising 0.87% [4] Asia Pacific Markets - Asian markets closed mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.09%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gaining 0.13%, China's Shanghai Composite slipping 0.85%, and India's BSE Sensex increasing by 0.75% [5]

Core Insights - AeroVironment Inc. reported FQ3 2026 revenue of $408.0 million, marking a 143% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by the acquisition of BlueHalo, which contributed $176.5 million to the total product and service revenue [1][3] - The Autonomous Systems segment generated $278.7 million in revenue, and the company has a record-funded backlog of $1.1 billion [1] Financial Performance - Despite increased sales, AeroVironment faced non-cash charges, including a $151.3 million goodwill impairment charge related to its Space reporting unit, leading to a loss from operations of $179.0 million for the quarter [2] - The gross margin decreased to 24% from 38% the previous year, attributed to a higher proportion of service revenue from BlueHalo and $43.9 million in intangible amortization and purchase accounting expenses [2] - The company reported a net loss of $156.6 million, or $3.15 per diluted share, for FQ3 [3] Future Outlook - AeroVironment updated its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting total revenue between $1.85 billion and $1.95 billion, supported by a strong book-to-bill ratio of 1.6 for the first nine months of the fiscal year [3] Company Overview - AeroVironment is a global defense technology leader that designs, develops, produces, delivers, and supports a portfolio of robotic systems and related services both in the US and internationally, operating in two segments: Autonomous Systems; and Space, Cyber & Directed Energy [4]

Core Insights - Elbit Systems reported a revenue of $2.15 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting an 11.3% increase year-over-year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.12 billion by 1.27% [1] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) was $3.56, up from $2.66 in the same quarter last year, resulting in a surprise of 10.33% compared to the consensus estimate of $3.23 [1] Financial Performance - Elbit's stock has returned +29.3% over the past month, contrasting with a -1.9% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3] Revenue by Segments - Aerospace segment revenue was $548.2 million, below the average estimate of $606.02 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 14.5% [4] - C4I and Cyber segment revenue reached $240.8 million, exceeding the average estimate of $224.03 million, with a year-over-year increase of 19.4% [4] - Intersegment revenue was reported at $-151.2 million, slightly better than the average estimate of $-158.27 million, showing a year-over-year change of +1.8% [4] - Land segment revenue was $581.1 million, below the average estimate of $642.51 million, but still reflecting a year-over-year increase of 22.4% [4] - ESA segment revenue was $473.1 million, surpassing the average estimate of $447.22 million, with a year-over-year growth of 9.5% [4] - ISTAR and EW segment revenue was $456.6 million, exceeding the average estimate of $360.1 million, marking a significant year-over-year increase of 38.7% [4]

"Palantir is probably the most important defense tech play out there."Cathie Wood explains why she's shifting focus into defense technology, telling Anna Edwards the smaller firms have "more leverage" than traditional contractors https://t.co/18P3qLYyuk https://t.co/ZUTlXBA0Mn ...

Core Viewpoint - IM Cannabis Corp. (IMC) is strategically entering the defense and homeland security technology sectors by signing a non-binding letter of intent to acquire 51% of Blackaxe Technologies, a Polish company specializing in advanced defense and intelligence solutions [1][2]. Company Overview - IMC is a medical cannabis company operating in Israel and Germany, currently focused on expanding into technology-driven sectors [6]. - The company operates a medical cannabis platform that serves patients in Israel and Germany, leveraging proprietary data and patient insights [7]. Acquisition Details - The proposed acquisition of Blackaxe Technologies represents a significant strategic expansion for IMC into the defense sector, particularly in areas such as satellite intelligence, AI analytics, and counter-drone solutions [2][3]. - Blackaxe operates using advanced Israeli technologies aimed at supporting governments and defense organizations in addressing aerial and intelligence threats [3]. Market Context - The transaction is set against a backdrop of a rapidly expanding global defense and security market, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and new threats, including low-cost drones and advanced missile systems [4]. - Current conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have increased demand for satellite intelligence and counter-drone technologies, which are critical for military and homeland security agencies [4]. Transaction Conditions - The proposed transaction is subject to due diligence, execution of definitive agreements, customary closing conditions, and regulatory approvals [5].

Core Viewpoint - Inturai Ventures Corp. has established the Inturai Defence Advisory Board to enhance its strategy in the defence and national security markets, leveraging the expertise of seasoned military and defence professionals [1][6]. Group 1: Advisory Board Composition - The Defence Advisory Board comprises senior leaders with extensive experience in military operations, defence procurement, and national security policy, aimed at advancing Inturai's spatial intelligence platform [2][8]. - Rear-Admiral (Ret.) Casper Donovan, with 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, brings significant operational and technological development experience [3][6]. - Alex Makrodimitras, with over 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, specializes in operational leadership and advanced technology integration in military settings [4][6]. - Shawn McGowan, with over a decade in defence technology, focuses on building strategic partnerships and navigating complex defence systems [5][6]. Group 2: Strategic Goals and Technology - The company is actively exploring opportunities to accelerate its military and defence strategy in North America, guided by the expertise of the advisory board members [6][10]. - Inturai's sensing platform utilizes artificial intelligence combined with radio and Wi-Fi signal analysis to provide discreet sensing and situational awareness without the need for cameras or specialized hardware [9][10]. - The formation of the Defence Advisory Board is part of Inturai's strategy to engage with defence stakeholders and evaluate partnerships and commercial pathways in North America and allied markets [10][11].

RT C Schmitz (@chrisschmitz)This is an indirect admission that the Block 40/45 E-3G that the USAF sent to the middle east are not up to the challenge of picking up iranian Shahed drones.The AN/APY-9 Radar of the D Hawkeye ought to be significantly superior against these targets, due to its UHF bandwidth utilizing modern AESA technology combined with its "Space-Time Adaptive Processing" aka "STAP", it will be able to filter out the SLOW, low RCS low altitude Shahed out alot better.The challenge for the (upgr ...

Summary of the Conference Call on Aerospace & Defense Industry Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the Aerospace & Defense sector in North America, particularly emphasizing the implications of geopolitical instability on US defense spending [1][2]. Core Insights 1. **Geopolitical Instability**: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is seen as a catalyst for increased US defense spending, marking a shift towards a "fat-tail" environment where extreme geopolitical events are becoming more common [1][2]. 2. **Military Operations**: The US has engaged over 5,500 targets in Iran since February 28, indicating a significant escalation in military operations and the potential for prolonged conflict [2][9]. 3. **Duration of Conflict**: Estimates regarding the length of the current conflict vary, with some officials suggesting it could last around 8 weeks, although there are indications that the US may achieve its objectives sooner [2][12]. 4. **NATO Involvement**: The conflict has prompted broader NATO military engagement, with several European nations increasing their military presence in response to Iranian attacks on allied assets [10][11]. 5. **US Defense Budget Growth**: There is strong momentum towards a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for FY27, representing a ~50% increase compared to FY26, driven by concerns over great power competition and geopolitical instability [12][15]. Structural Changes in Defense Spending 1. **Increased Demand for Munitions**: The conflict has highlighted the need for expanded munitions production and missile defense capabilities, both domestically and among allies [12][15]. 2. **Emerging Technologies**: The evolving nature of warfare, including the use of low-cost drones and advanced technologies, is reshaping military operations and defense strategies [8][13]. 3. **Reliance on Defense Primes**: US Defense Primes are crucial for executing military operations, with ongoing agreements aimed at increasing weapon production capacity to meet heightened demand [13][15]. Market Valuation Insights 1. **Valuation Discrepancies**: The current market valuation of US defense companies is approximately 20% below the S&P 500 on a next twelve months price-to-free cash flow basis, suggesting potential upside as the market may be underestimating the durability of defense demand [14][15]. 2. **Long-term Revenue Visibility**: The urgency for weapon system production is expected to lead to multi-year procurement frameworks, enhancing revenue visibility for defense contractors [13][15]. Additional Considerations - The call emphasized the importance of layered air and missile defense architectures in light of the increasing exposure of non-military assets to conflict [9]. - The geopolitical landscape is evolving, with the potential for broader security coalitions among Western countries if disruptions to energy markets and supply chains continue [11][12]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, highlighting the implications of geopolitical events on the Aerospace & Defense sector and the anticipated growth in US defense spending.

RT Arya Yadeghaar (@AryJeay)The IRGC Navy says it carried out a combined missile & adrone strike on US fighter jet shelters at Sheikh Isa and Al Dhafra air bases, with high-explosive cruise missiles.The statement says it damaged repair/logistics areas and reduced Al Dhafra’s operational capacity, and says it will keep attacking until those bases are evacuated/destroyed. ...