Welcome back to opening bell. Joining me right now, Kenny Pulary, partner and chief market strategist at Slate Stone Wealth. Good morning to you.We were talking about some of the uncertainties this morning, whether it's tariffs or Iran, and we have big earnings including Nvidia this week. Some of your thoughts about the market action ahead for this week. >> Look, I think it's clearly going to be focused on Nvidia. That's going to be what drives it.I don't care what you say. You're going to get Home Depot. Y ...

Group 1: David Tepper's Investment Moves - David Tepper has significantly increased his positions in tech stocks, particularly in Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Micron Technology, during the fourth quarter [1] - Tepper tripled his position in Micron to 1.5 million shares, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential as memory processors are sold out for the year [1] - The hedge fund Appaloosa Management, led by Tepper, holds only 45 stocks, making the movements in these positions particularly noteworthy [1] Group 2: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms has seen a 2.04% increase in Tepper's stake, totaling 5.72% of his portfolio, with an addition of 230,000 shares [1] - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $59.89 billion, with an EPS of $8.88, surpassing estimates, and $58.1 billion of that revenue came from advertising [1] - For 2026, Meta is guiding for capital expenditures (CapEx) between $115 billion and $135 billion focused on AI infrastructure [1] Group 3: Alphabet Inc. - Tepper increased his stake in Alphabet by 28.7%, now holding approximately 1.8 million shares, which constitutes 8.10% of his portfolio [1] - Alphabet's revenue reached $113.83 billion, with Google Cloud growing 48% year-over-year to $17.7 billion, marking the first time annual revenues exceeded $400 billion [1] - The company plans to allocate $175 billion to $185 billion in CapEx for the year, primarily for AI infrastructure [1] Group 4: Micron Technology - Tepper's holdings in Micron increased from 500,000 shares to 1.5 million, now making up 6.18% of his portfolio [1] - Micron's stock has surged 348% over the year, with a current trading price of $428.17, driven by demand for AI memory [1] - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $13.64 billion and an EPS of $4.78, exceeding estimates, and is investing $200 billion to expand facilities to meet growing demand [1]

Core Insights - NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is expected to report strong fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on February 25, driven by its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) computing and high-performance datacenter GPUs [1][10] Financial Expectations - Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues are anticipated to reach approximately $65 billion, reflecting a 66.7% year-over-year increase and a 15% sequential rise [2] - The consensus estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is set at $1.52, indicating a year-over-year surge of 70.8% and a sequential growth of 16.9% [3] Datacenter Growth - NVIDIA's datacenter business has been a significant growth driver, with revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 increasing by 66% year-over-year and 25% sequentially to $51.22 billion [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for datacenter revenues in Q4 is projected at $58.72 billion, representing a 65% year-over-year increase and a 14.6% sequential rise [5] AI Demand and Market Trends - The rise of generative AI is creating a substantial demand for high-performance computing power across various industries, including healthcare, automotive, and manufacturing [7][9] - The global generative AI market is projected to grow to $1,260.15 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.3% [8] Chip Technology - NVIDIA's latest chip designs, including Hopper, Ampere, and Blackwell, are integral to many AI applications, supporting major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google [6]

HBM remains Micron's primary growth engine. The company has finalized pricing and supply commitments for all of its 2026 HBM production, including its top-tier HBM4 product, which offers speeds exceeding 11 gigabits per second. Production of HBM4 is scheduled to ramp up in the second half of 2026, with strong yield performance anticipated. The HBM total addressable market (TAM) is expected to increase at a 40% CAGR until 2028, reaching over $100 billion. Micron is in a leading position to capitalize on this ...

The opportunity exists because U.S. export policy has quietly changed. Nvidia's H200 shipments to China and Macau are no longer under automatic denial, but instead subject to case-by-case review — reopening the door to future sales.Billions In Revenue Waiting On ApprovalSur said China remains a major source of demand, even as shipments remain in limbo. The firm estimates that each 100,000-unit shipment could drive about $3 billion in revenue, highlighting how approvals could translate into meaningful financ ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. export policy has shifted, allowing Nvidia's H200 shipments to China and Macau to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, potentially increasing future sales opportunities [1] Group 1: Revenue Potential - China remains a significant source of demand for Nvidia, with each 100,000-unit shipment estimated to generate approximately $3 billion in revenue, indicating substantial financial upside if export approvals are granted [2] - The demand for AI compute in China is strong, and any easing of export approvals could quickly convert this demand into revenue [2] Group 2: Backlog and Demand - Nvidia currently has a backlog exceeding $500 billion, driven by robust global demand and significant investments in AI infrastructure from hyperscalers [3] - The company is expected to report another strong quarter, supported by increasing Blackwell shipments and favorable pricing [3] Group 3: Growth Opportunities - Even without the Chinese market, demand continues to exceed supply; however, accelerated export approvals could provide an additional growth lever for Nvidia [4] - The potential revenue tied to export decisions positions China as a wildcard that could significantly enhance Nvidia's growth trajectory [4]

The U.S. stock market opened with a cautious tone on Monday, February 23, 2026, as investors grappled with a rapidly shifting trade policy landscape and heightened geopolitical risks. Following a volatile but ultimately positive finish to the previous week, major indexes showed signs of consolidation in early trading. The market's primary focus remains the fallout from a landmark Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential tariff authority and the anticipation of a high-stakes earnings report from the world ...

Core Concept - The article discusses the concept of "wide moats," which refers to companies with sustainable competitive advantages that protect them from rivals, leading to long-term profitability [1][3]. Group 1: Characteristics of Wide-Moat Companies - Wide-moat companies benefit from strong brand recognition, network effects, high customer switching costs, regulatory hurdles, and economies of scale, creating significant challenges for competitors [3]. - These companies typically enjoy solid pricing power, stable profit margins, and the ability to reinvest in their businesses, reinforcing their competitive edge [3][4]. Group 2: Investment Appeal - Investing in wide-moat companies is attractive due to their ability to deliver steady, long-term returns, especially during economic downturns [4][5]. - These firms produce consistent cash flows and provide shareholder value through dividends and stock price growth, making them appealing for long-term wealth building [5]. Group 3: Company Examples - **Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)**: Holds a leadership position in wafer fabrication equipment, benefiting from long-term customer relationships and significant capital requirements in the semiconductor industry [7]. The company is poised for growth due to increasing demand for memory chips driven by AI and other advanced technologies [8][9]. - **NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)**: A leader in GPUs and AI, NVIDIA maintains a technological moat through substantial R&D investments and a strong software ecosystem, which enhances customer retention [10]. The company is expanding its market presence in enterprise AI and data centers, driven by increasing demand for cloud services [11][12]. - **ASML Holding N.V. (ASML)**: A critical supplier in the semiconductor industry, ASML has a near-monopoly on extreme ultraviolet lithography, essential for producing advanced chips [14]. The company's High-NA EUV technology is expected to drive sustained demand as chipmakers produce smaller, more powerful chips [15][16]. - **Moody's Corporation (MCO)**: A leader in credit ratings and analytics, Moody's benefits from regulatory reliance on its ratings and a strong reputation, creating high barriers for new entrants [17]. The company is pursuing growth through strategic acquisitions and diversifying into professional services and enterprise risk solutions [18][19].

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector, bolstered by the rapid growth of cloud computing and data centers, is experiencing a robust demand scenario, particularly for AI-powered data center capacity to manage and store vast amounts of data [1] - The "magnificent 7" stocks are set to invest $650 billion in 2026 for AI infrastructure development, representing a significant 71.1% year-over-year increase in capital spending on the AI ecosystem [2] Company Insights Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol holds a Zacks Rank 2 and benefits from a diversified business model, commanding an estimated 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects [7] - The company is experiencing triple-digit organic growth in its IT datacom segment, driven by high-speed and power interconnect products [8] - Amphenol's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 34.9% and 29.3%, respectively, with a 1.9% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [12] Western Digital Corp. (WDC) - Western Digital, with a Zacks Rank 1, is witnessing strong demand for high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) amid intensified cloud and AI demand [13] - The company is collaborating closely with hyperscale customers to deliver reliable, high-capacity storage solutions, with an expected revenue growth rate of -6.3% and earnings growth rate of 81.7% for the current year [16] Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT) - Vertiv, holding a Zacks Rank 2, benefits from a diverse product portfolio and is strategically expanding capacity to support AI-enabled pipelines [17] - The company has a partnership with NVIDIA to co-develop an 800-volt DC power architecture, ensuring its infrastructure solutions remain relevant as power requirements scale [19] - Vertiv's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 34% and 46.9%, respectively, with a 15.3% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [20] Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) - Lumentum, with a Zacks Rank 1, designs and manufactures optical technologies essential for AI and cloud computing, experiencing significant revenue growth driven by demand for AI infrastructure connectivity solutions [21][22] - The company has a strong collaboration with NVIDIA for developing silicon photonics, positioning it as a key supplier to hyperscale customers [23] - Lumentum's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 76.7% and over 100%, respectively, with a 34.6% improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [24] EMCOR Group Inc. (EME) - EMCOR, holding a Zacks Rank 2, is a leading provider of critical infrastructure to AI-powered data centers, focusing on electrical infrastructure and cooling systems [25] - The company is gaining traction in the data center construction market, which is contributing to its expanding remaining performance obligations (RPOs) [26] - EMCOR's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 5.4% and 8.6%, respectively, with a slight improvement in the earnings consensus estimate over the last 30 days [28]

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.22%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.24%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.66%.  March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are down -0.25%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are down -0.67%. Stock indexes are falling today as uncertainty over American trade policy has sparked risk-off sentiment in asset markets.  After last Friday’s close, President Trump signed an executive order raising global tariffs under Section ...