On February 2, Francis Gannon, co-CIO of Royce Investment Partners, joined CNBC’s “Power Lunch” to talk about the long-awaited upswing in small-cap stocks. He noted that small caps have outperformed large-cap stocks since the market hit its lows in April 2025.During the discussion, it was noted that sectors such as Industrials, Information Technology, and Financials still offer many attractive small-cap opportunities.Gannon said that small-cap companies have a strong earnings outlook in 2026. He believes th ...

US futures dropped and Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. Bitcoin tumbled as much as 5% early Monday, dropping below $65,000. The sell-off has been driven by investors pulling out of speculative assets and concerns about future cryptocurrency regulation. The original cryptocurrency, pitched as “digital gold”, has lost nearly half of its value since Oct 6, when it hit a record high of $126,210.50, Markets in Japan a ...

Core Viewpoint - WISeKey International Holding Ltd is relocating its headquarters from Geneva to Pont-Rouge in August 2026, aiming to enhance its position in the digital and quantum technology sectors [3][12]. Group 1: Relocation Details - The new headquarters will be situated in Pont-Rouge, a modern and sustainable business district completed in 2023, which offers exceptional connectivity and a vibrant ecosystem for innovation [4][5]. - Pont-Rouge spans over 100,000 m² and includes premium office facilities, co-working spaces, and iconic buildings, already hosting major firms like EY and KPMG [5]. Group 2: Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence - The headquarters will house the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence, aimed at establishing Geneva as a global leader in applied quantum technologies [6][12]. - The Center will integrate various technologies including quantum computing, cybersecurity, and AI, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for industrial applications [6][12]. Group 3: SEALSQ Quantum Computer Hub - The Quantum Computer Hub, operated by WISeKey's subsidiary SEALSQ Corp, will focus on practical quantum architectures for secure integration into critical infrastructures across various sectors [7]. - The hub will emphasize hybrid quantum/classical computing models and secure interfaces between quantum processors and embedded systems [8]. Group 4: SEALSQ Quantum Fund - The SEALSQ Quantum Investment Fund, with over USD 100 million, aims to build a root-to-quantum vertical stack and accelerate the deployment of secure quantum technologies in the US and Europe [10]. - The fund's strategy seeks to eliminate fragmentation in the quantum value chain, promoting sovereign and certifiable quantum solutions [11]. Group 5: Strategic Commitment - The relocation and establishment of the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence reflect WISeKey and SEALSQ's commitment to technological sovereignty in Europe and the development of trusted digital infrastructures [12][16].

Core Viewpoint - WISeKey International Holding Ltd is relocating its headquarters from Geneva to Pont-Rouge in August 2026, aiming to enhance its position in the digital and quantum technology sectors [3][12]. Group 1: Relocation Details - The new headquarters will be situated in Pont-Rouge, a modern and sustainable business district completed in 2023, which offers exceptional connectivity and a vibrant ecosystem for innovation [4][5]. - Pont-Rouge spans over 100,000 m² and includes premium office facilities, co-working spaces, and iconic buildings, already hosting major firms like EY and KPMG [5]. Group 2: Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence - The headquarters will house the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence, aimed at establishing Geneva as a global leader in applied quantum technologies [6][12]. - The Center will integrate various technologies including quantum computing, cybersecurity, and AI, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for industrial applications [6][12]. Group 3: SEALSQ Quantum Computer Hub - The Quantum Computer Hub, operated by WISeKey's subsidiary SEALSQ Corp, will focus on practical quantum architectures for secure integration into critical infrastructures across various sectors [7]. - The hub will emphasize hybrid quantum/classical computing models and secure interfaces between quantum processors and embedded systems [8]. Group 4: SEALSQ Quantum Fund - The SEALSQ Quantum Investment Fund, with over USD 100 million, aims to build a root-to-quantum vertical stack and accelerate the deployment of secure quantum technologies in the US and Europe [10]. - The fund's strategy seeks to eliminate fragmentation in the quantum value chain, promoting sovereign and certifiable quantum solutions [11]. Group 5: Strategic Commitment - The relocation and establishment of the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence reflect WISeKey and SEALSQ's commitment to technological sovereignty in Europe and the development of trusted digital infrastructures [12][16]. - The initiative aligns with Geneva's role in sustainable innovation and human-centric technology, focusing on security, trust, and ethics [16].

Core Insights - SEALSQ Corp and WISeKey International Holding Ltd are relocating their Geneva headquarters to Pont-Rouge in August 2026, reflecting their rapid expansion and ambition in digital and quantum technologies [3][12] - The new headquarters will host the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence, aimed at establishing Geneva as a global reference for applied quantum technologies [6][12] Company Overview - SEALSQ specializes in developing and selling semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology hardware and software products [3][13] - The company is focused on creating post-quantum semiconductors that provide robust protection for sensitive data across various applications, including healthcare, defense, and IoT [14][17] Quantum Center of Excellence - The Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence will serve as a deep-tech convergence platform, integrating quantum computing, post-quantum cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies [6][10] - The center will feature a live demonstration environment showcasing the interoperability of the group's technologies across different domains [9] Quantum Investment Fund - The SEALSQ Quantum Investment Fund, with over USD 100 million, aims to build a root-to-quantum vertical stack and accelerate the deployment of secure quantum technologies in the U.S. and Europe [10][11] - The fund's strategy focuses on eliminating fragmentation between research, hardware, and deployment to create scalable quantum solutions [11] Strategic Commitment - The relocation and establishment of the Geneva Quantum Center of Excellence highlight SEALSQ and WISeKey's commitment to technological sovereignty in Europe and the development of trusted digital infrastructures [12][16]

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. futures dropped and Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Bitcoin tumbled as much as 5% early Monday, dropping below $65,000. The sell-off has been driven by investors pulling out of speculative assets and concerns about future cryptocurrency regulation. The original cryptocurrency, pitched as “digital gold,” has lost nearly half of its value since Oct. 6, when it hit a record high of $126,210.5 ...

Core Viewpoint - Palo Alto Networks has experienced a significant decline in stock price, down over 25% in the past year, and further dropped following its recent fiscal Q2 earnings announcement, raising questions about potential investment opportunities [1]. Financial Performance - For fiscal Q2 2026, Palo Alto reported a revenue increase of 15% year over year, reaching $2.59 billion, which was at the high end of its forecast [5]. - Service revenue grew by 13% to $2.08 billion, with subscription revenue up 14% and support revenue increasing by 12% [5]. - Product revenue rose by 22% to $514 million, driven by growth in software firewalls [5]. - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) surged by 27% year over year to $1.03, exceeding guidance of $0.93 to $0.95 [6]. Strategic Acquisitions - Palo Alto is actively pursuing a platformization strategy, acquiring companies to enhance its cybersecurity solutions [3]. - Recent acquisitions include Chronosphere for real-time data monitoring and CyberArk for privileged access, with a new acquisition of Koi for AI enterprise endpoint security solutions announced alongside the earnings report [3][4]. - While these acquisitions strengthen the company's market position, they are expected to negatively impact EPS in the short term due to the stock component of the CyberArk deal [4]. Future Guidance - The company updated its full-year guidance, projecting revenue growth of 22% to 23% for fiscal 2026, with a revised revenue forecast of $11.28 billion to $11.31 billion [8]. - The next-generation security annual recurring revenue (ARR) is expected to reach $8.52 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 53% to 54% [9]. - Adjusted EPS guidance was lowered to $3.65 to $3.70, indicating a growth rate of 9% to 11% [9]. Valuation and Investment Outlook - The recent drop in stock price has led to a more attractive valuation, with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 9 times fiscal 2027 estimates and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 33 times 2027 estimates [10]. - Despite initial EPS pressure from acquisitions, these strategic moves are viewed as beneficial for long-term growth, suggesting that current stock levels may present a buying opportunity [10][11].

Core Viewpoint - CrowdStrike is experiencing strong growth, but its stock valuation assumes this growth will continue without significant challenges, leading to a potential disconnect between stock performance and business fundamentals [1][2]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, CrowdStrike's revenue increased by 22% year over year to $1.23 billion, with subscription revenue growing by 21% to $1.17 billion [5]. - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) rose by 23% year over year to $4.92 billion, with net new ARR of $265 million for the quarter [6]. - The company generated $398 million in operating cash flow and $296 million in free cash flow, resulting in a free cash flow margin of 24% [7]. Customer Adoption - 49% of customers are using six or more modules, an increase from 48% in fiscal Q2 and 47% in the previous year [5]. - Adoption rates for seven and eight modules stand at 34% and 24%, respectively [5]. Valuation Concerns - Despite strong revenue growth and cash generation, CrowdStrike reported a loss from operations of $69 million in fiscal Q3, raising concerns about its profitability [9]. - The company's market capitalization is approximately $98 billion, and its price-to-sales ratio of 21 is considered high for a software company, indicating that the stock is priced for near-perfect execution [10][11]. Competitive Landscape - The cybersecurity market is becoming increasingly crowded, with potential pricing pressures from larger tech companies offering bundled security solutions [13]. - Execution risks are present, particularly related to incident-related costs from product updates, which could impact sales [14].

Core Insights - Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN) is recognized as a promising investment opportunity, particularly following its recent partnership with Vercel to enhance security measures on the Skills.sh platform [1][3]. Group 1: Partnership and Security Enhancements - The partnership with Vercel will enable Gen Digital's Agent Trust Hub to perform safety checks on every skill shared on Skills.sh, providing four risk ratings: Safe, Low Risk, High Risk, and Critical Risk [2]. - The scanning process will utilize advanced threat detection to identify unsafe permissions, anomalies, or malicious intent, thereby increasing trust within the ecosystem [2][3]. Group 2: Market Context and Product Offering - Gen Digital specializes in cybersecurity software and services aimed at consumers and small businesses, including antivirus protection, identity theft prevention, and VPN solutions [3]. - The evolution of AI agents from simple chatbots to more complex entities raises concerns about potential malicious skills that could compromise data security or facilitate scams [3].

Core Viewpoint - Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) has been downgraded from "Buy" to "Hold" by Freedom Capital Markets despite exceeding market expectations in Q4 2025, with a price target set at $90.00 [1][3]. Financial Performance - Fortinet's Q4 results surpassed both market expectations and its own guidance, driven by a large-scale network equipment refresh cycle [2][3]. - The service segment showed steady growth, supported by expanding Unified SASE cloud solutions and the integration of recent acquisitions [2]. Valuation and Risks - The downgrade was attributed to valuation constraints, with concerns over margin risks stemming from rising memory prices, foreign exchange volatility, and increasing competition [2][3]. - Long-term growth rates may face challenges due to potential margin compression risks linked to the same factors [3]. Industry Context - Fortinet operates in the cybersecurity sector, providing enterprise-level next-generation firewalls and network security solutions, utilizing artificial intelligence across its products [4].