Mesh Optical Technologies, a startup building hardware to move information at high speeds within data centers, raised a $50 million funding round led by Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital. SpaceX alum and Mesh CEO Travis Brashears discusses the company’s plans to scale manufacturing of its technology in the US. -------- Like this video? Subscribe to Bloomberg Technology on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrM7B7SL_g1edFOnmj-SDKg Watch the latest full episodes of "Bloomberg Technology" with Caroline Hyde ...

Quarterly Earnings Results Presentation Q4 2025 (February 2026) Forward Looking Statements This presentation contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements, which are not historical facts and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Statements that do not describe historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. All forward-lookin ...

Core Insights - Hillman Solutions Corp. reported a record net sales of $1.55 billion for the full year 2025, reflecting a 5.4% increase compared to 2024 [1][6] - The company anticipates a 6.3% increase in net sales for 2026, with guidance set between $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion [1][8] - Hillman achieved a net income of $40.3 million for 2025, compared to a net loss of $17.3 million in 2024 [6][24] Financial Performance - **Fourth Quarter 2025 Results**: - Net sales increased by 4.5% to $365.1 million compared to Q4 2024 [6] - Net income was $1.6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(1.2) million in the prior year [6][24] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 2.3% to $57.5 million [6] - **Full Year 2025 Results**: - Net sales reached $1.55 billion, up from $1.47 billion in 2024 [6][24] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 13.9% to $275.3 million [6] - Free Cash Flow totaled $35.1 million, down from $98.1 million in 2024 [6][34] Balance Sheet and Liquidity - As of December 27, 2025, total assets were $2.36 billion, compared to $2.33 billion in 2024 [17] - Gross debt decreased to $693.1 million from $718.6 million at the end of 2024 [6][17] - Net debt improved to $665.8 million from $674.0 million in the previous year [6][32] - Liquidity available totaled $306 million, consisting of $279 million in borrowing capacity and $27 million in cash [6] Management Commentary - The CEO highlighted the company's ability to navigate a dynamic tariff environment while achieving record results [5] - The company plans to continue investing in growth opportunities, including the MinuteKey 3.5 fleet, expected to yield healthy returns [5][7] Guidance for 2026 - Hillman provided guidance for 2026, projecting net sales between $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion, adjusted EBITDA between $275 million and $285 million, and free cash flow between $100 million and $120 million [8][7]

Market Performance - The U.S. stock market exhibited a mixed performance on February 16th, 2026, with technology stocks achieving record gains while blue-chip stocks experienced a slight decline [1] - The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7% to a new all-time high of 16,794.87, driven by optimism surrounding AI integration [2] - The S&P 500 increased by 0.1% to close at 5,308.13, nearing its record high [2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%, or nearly 200 points, to end at 39,806.77, following profit-taking in industrial and financial sectors [3] - Small-cap stocks saw a modest increase, with the Russell 2000 rising 0.3% to finish at 2,102.50 [3] Corporate Earnings and Developments - Palo Alto Networks reported quarterly results that met revenue expectations, but investors are focused on its updated guidance for the fiscal year [4] - Zoom Video exceeded analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings, benefiting from its focus on enterprise AI tools [5] - Li Auto experienced stock volatility after reporting a decline in vehicle margins amid a competitive EV market [5] - Norwegian Cruise Line was a top gainer in the S&P 500, raising its full-year profit forecast due to strong demand and higher ticket prices [6] Economic Outlook and Federal Reserve Sentiment - Federal Reserve officials emphasized a "patient" approach to monetary policy, with Vice Chair Philip Jefferson noting that recent inflation data is encouraging but not yet definitive [7] - Treasury yields remained steady as the market adjusted expectations for the Fed's future rate decisions, with a higher probability of rates staying elevated for an extended period [8] Upcoming Market Events - Nvidia's earnings report, scheduled for Wednesday, is anticipated to influence the tech sector significantly, including companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Alphabet [9] - The release of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes on Wednesday is expected to provide insights into inflation target discussions [10] - Notable earnings reports from retail giants Target and Lowe's are also expected this week, which will be crucial for assessing U.S. consumer spending trends [10]

Core Viewpoint - Lenovo has reported its highest quarterly performance with revenue of 157.5 billion yuan and a net profit growth rate of 36%, driven by significant growth in AI-related revenue, which increased by 72% year-on-year, now accounting for 32% of total revenue [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Lenovo's revenue reached 157.5 billion yuan, marking a historic high for a single quarter [1] - The net profit growth rate was 36%, with all three major business segments showing double-digit growth [1] - AI-related revenue grew by 72% year-on-year, contributing to 32% of total revenue [1] Group 2: Response to Storage Price Surge - The surge in storage chip prices is described as "unprecedented," driven by the explosive demand for AI model training from major tech companies [2] - Lenovo has implemented a 5% expense control strategy to manage rising costs without cutting R&D or growth investments [2][3] - As of December 2025, Lenovo's inventory reached 9.077 billion USD, up nearly 1.2 billion USD from March, with a significant portion of this inventory being locked in [3] Group 3: AI Strategy and Market Position - Lenovo is positioned as a "seller of shovels" in the AI race, benefiting from the capital expenditures of major tech companies on AI infrastructure [5] - The company has seen a 31% year-on-year growth in its Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), with AI server revenue experiencing high double-digit growth [5] - Lenovo's AI server orders have reached 15.5 billion USD, indicating strong demand [5] Group 4: Future Outlook and Valuation - Lenovo's market valuation is currently below 10 times earnings, while AI service providers typically exceed 20 times [7] - The company is undergoing a strategic restructuring aimed at optimizing costs and product mix, with a target of saving 1.4 billion yuan annually over the next three years [8] - There is a growing recognition of the value of AI at the endpoint, with Lenovo aiming to leverage its hardware to provide integrated AI services [9][11] Group 5: User Experience and AI Integration - Lenovo is focusing on enhancing user experience by optimizing its AI agent, "Lenovo Qira," to provide a unified personal assistant experience across devices [6][12] - The strategy involves integrating various independent models into Lenovo's AI agent, allowing users to interact seamlessly without switching between different models [13] - Lenovo's approach emphasizes the importance of integration capabilities as a competitive barrier in the evolving AI landscape [14]

Core Viewpoint - Immersion Corporation has received a Staff Determination Letter from Nasdaq due to non-compliance with the Filing Rule, as the company has not filed its Quarterly Reports for the fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2025, and October 31, 2025, along with the Annual Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025. The company plans to request a hearing to maintain its listing status on Nasdaq [1]. Group 1: Compliance and Reporting - The Staff Determination Letter was issued on February 10, 2026, based on the company's failure to file the Delayed Reports with the SEC [1]. - Immersion Corporation had previously notified Nasdaq of late filings on multiple occasions in 2025, indicating ongoing audit committee investigations that will lead to the restatement of financial information [1]. - The company is actively working to complete the necessary filings to regain compliance with the Filing Rule [1]. Group 2: Hearing and Listing Status - The Staff Determination Letter does not result in immediate suspension or delisting of the company's securities [1]. - Immersion Corporation intends to request a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel, which will temporarily stay any suspension for 15 days from the date of the hearing request [1]. - Hearings are typically scheduled 30-45 days after the request, and the company will also seek an extended stay pending the hearing [1]. Group 3: Company Background - Immersion Corporation, incorporated in 1993 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999, is a leading provider of haptic technology, enhancing digital interactions through touch feedback [1]. - The company acquired a controlling interest in Barnes & Noble Education on June 10, 2024, which operates bookstores and provides educational content and tools [1].

Core Viewpoint - The artificial intelligence industry is often perceived as a threat to entry-level jobs, but IBM is planning to significantly increase its entry-level hiring in the U.S. by tripling the number of positions by 2026 [2] Group 1: Hiring Strategy - IBM's chief human resource officer announced the initiative to triple entry-level hiring at Charter's Leading with AI Summit [2] - The new entry-level jobs will differ from previous roles, focusing less on tasks that AI can automate, such as coding, and more on customer engagement and people-oriented skills [3] - This strategy aims to ensure that less experienced workers develop the necessary skills for higher-level roles in the future [4] Group 2: Market Impact - 2023 is expected to be a crucial year for understanding AI's impact on the hiring market, with an MIT study predicting that 11.7% of jobs could be automated by AI by 2025 [5] - A TechCrunch survey indicates that investors believe 2026 will reveal AI's potential effects on the labor market, even though the survey did not specifically address labor issues [5]

Group 1 - Wall Street's tech sector experienced a significant decline, erasing over $500 billion in market value across 10 major companies, with both software and legacy hardware firms affected [1] - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) fell more than 3% on Thursday, marking a year-to-date decline of over 20% [2] - Cisco's earnings report was a key catalyst for the broader tech slump, as the company saw an 11% drop in stock price despite reporting earnings of $1.04 per share, exceeding the $1.02 consensus, and revenue of $15.35 billion, above estimates of $15.11 billion [2] Group 2 - Cisco's gross margin guidance for the fiscal third quarter was 65.5%-66.5%, which fell short of the 68% consensus, attributed to a heavier hardware mix and rising commodity costs [3] - Cisco's networking revenue grew 21% year over year, with orders accelerating above 20%, indicating strong demand despite margin pressures [3] - Lenovo, a major player in the tech industry, acknowledged the risk of declining PC shipments due to worsening memory shortages, with the CEO stating the company aims to maintain profitability amid these challenges [4]

Good morning. I'm Yiani executive editor Brian Zazi coming to you straight from [music] our newsroom in New York City. It's a darn busy morning for markets and for me I'm declaring today hot take Thursday.Here's what's up in the investing world. One so much chatter on X about whether to begin buying crashed out software stocks like Salesforce [music] workday service. Now retail investors appear game to catch falling knives.Look at [music] this rapid buying retail investors are doing of software stocks per n ...

Core Insights - Shenzhen is facing competition from other cities like Hangzhou, which has emerged as an "innovation capital" with strong tech companies, prompting local government to initiate a "defense battle" for its innovation status [1][2] - The city has developed a highly efficient "entrepreneurial assembly line" that allows startups to quickly move from idea to product launch without needing extensive manufacturing knowledge [1][2][10] - The influx of capital from various sources, including professor funds and government-backed investments, has created a supportive environment for entrepreneurs, although challenges such as talent imbalance and increased competition are emerging [2][14][17] Government Support and Policies - Shenzhen's government has implemented numerous supportive policies, including low-interest loans and housing assistance, to alleviate the financial burdens on startups [5][12] - The "six ones" initiative in Nanshan district provides comprehensive support for early-stage entrepreneurs, addressing their needs from housing to funding [5][12] - Despite the generous policies, some entrepreneurs feel that the support is more of a bonus rather than a necessity for survival, emphasizing the importance of product viability over government assistance [7][12] Talent and Workforce - The talent pool in Shenzhen is strong in hardware but lacks sufficient software expertise, leading to a reliance on hiring from cities like Beijing and Shanghai for core algorithm development [7][8][12] - The city has a high density of young talent, particularly in AI hardware, but struggles to attract top-tier software engineers, resulting in higher salary premiums for such positions [7][8][12] Entrepreneurial Ecosystem - Shenzhen's entrepreneurial ecosystem is characterized by a network of hardware solution companies that facilitate the rapid development of prototypes and products for startups [9][10] - The city has a well-established supply chain that supports hardware development, allowing entrepreneurs to outsource various components of their projects efficiently [9][10] - Crowdfunding has become a significant avenue for startups to gain visibility and funding, with many successful projects emerging from Shenzhen [10][11] Investment Landscape - The investment landscape in Shenzhen is vibrant, with significant interest from venture capital firms, particularly in the "AI + hardware" sector, as traditional software investments face uncertainty [14][17] - A three-tiered funding structure has emerged, comprising venture capital, professor-led funds, and government investments, creating a comprehensive support network for entrepreneurs [17][18] - Entrepreneurs are under pressure to secure funding quickly, as the current capital influx is seen as a temporary opportunity that may not last beyond 2026 [18][19]