Market Overview - The S&P 500 and Dow have risen for nine consecutive months on a total return basis despite rising geopolitical tensions [2] - A potential 5% dip in the market is anticipated in the second half of February due to high optimism and put-to-call ratios, but the bull market remains intact with solid fundamentals [2] Technology Sector Insights - The market is experiencing indiscriminate selling, with a notable increase in short interest in the XLK (Tech ETF) reaching its highest level in years [3] - Software valuations are at their cheapest since 2013, presenting a buying opportunity, as the Carson Group has added to tech and software positions [3] Akebia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) - Akebia reported total revenue of $58.8 million in Q3, with a net income of $540,000, recovering from a $20 million net loss in Q3 2024 [10] - The launch of its dialysis drug Vafseo generated lower-than-expected revenue of $14.3 million, but patient access expanded to 70,000 with over 700 active prescribers [10] - Management anticipates a temporary revenue dip in Q4 due to inventory adjustments but projects growth to resume in Q1 2026, focusing on its 2026 pipeline outlook [11] LiveRamp Holdings Inc. (NYSE:RAMP) - LiveRamp reported a revenue growth of 9% year-over-year to $212 million in FQ3 2026, exceeding expectations [14] - The company has formed a significant strategic partnership with Publicis and expanded its Data Marketplace to include AI models, positioning for double-digit growth in fiscal year 2027 [14] - Subscription net retention has compressed to 101%, and gross margins are expected to dip slightly, with a projected sequential increase in operating expenses of $15 million in FQ4 [15]

Core Insights - LiveRamp's shares increased by 8.3% following the release of strong third-quarter financial results that exceeded analyst expectations and an upward revision of its full-year revenue forecast [1] - The company's total revenue for the quarter rose by 7.7% year-over-year to $199.8 million, surpassing Wall Street projections [1] - LiveRamp reported an adjusted earnings per share of $0.55, which was 13.6% higher than analysts had anticipated [1] - The full-year revenue guidance was slightly raised to a midpoint of $811 million from a previous $808 million, indicating confidence in future performance [1] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the third quarter was $199.8 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 7.7% [1] - Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.55, exceeding analyst expectations by 13.6% [1] - The full-year revenue forecast was increased to $811 million, up from $808 million [1] Market Reaction - LiveRamp's stock has shown volatility, with 11 moves greater than 5% over the past year, indicating that the market views the recent news as significant but not fundamentally altering its perception of the company [3] - The stock is currently down 2.6% year-to-date and is trading 17.2% below its 52-week high of $35.61 [5]