Group 1 - Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: APLD) experienced a significant increase of 16.88% week-on-week as investors anticipated its second-quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings results [1] - The company is set to release its financial and operational highlights after market close on January 7, with a conference call planned to discuss the results [2] - Applied Digital has initiated a restructuring process, creating two separate entities for its cloud computing and data center businesses [3] Group 2 - The restructuring strategy includes a merger with EKSO Bionics Holdings Inc., which will be renamed ChronoScale, focusing on an accelerated compute platform for AI workloads [4] - Following the merger, Applied Digital will own 97% of the combined firm, while EKSO Bionics will seek potential buyers for its business and assets [4] - The proposed transaction aims to establish a focused platform to meet the growing demand for GPU-accelerated cloud infrastructure in a capacity-constrained market [5]

Core Viewpoint - H.C. Wainwright downgraded Ekso Bionics to Neutral from Buy due to its non-binding merger agreement with Applied Digital Cloud, indicating a shift from its core business strategy [1] Group 1: Company Actions - Ekso Bionics entered into a non-binding merger agreement with Applied Digital Cloud, which is seen as a prudent move given the tough financial environment [1] - The downgrade reflects concerns that Ekso Bionics is moving away from its primary focus on commercializing exoskeletons for health and industrial applications [1]

Core Viewpoint - Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) is implementing a new corporate strategy that involves spinning off its cloud computing business, which has positively impacted its stock performance, leading to a 3.16% increase in share price to $24.81 [1][5]. Group 1: Corporate Strategy - Applied Digital Corp. will separate its cloud computing segment by merging it with EKSO Bionics Holdings Inc., creating a new entity focused on AI workloads called ChronoScale [2][3]. - The new company, ChronoScale, will be primarily dedicated to an accelerated compute platform for AI, with Applied Digital retaining a 97% ownership stake [3]. Group 2: Market Context - The transaction is designed to address the growing demand for GPU-accelerated cloud infrastructure, aiming to provide high-performance computing solutions in a capacity-constrained market [4]. - By separating the accelerated compute platform from its data center operations, Applied Digital aims to allow both businesses to scale independently and pursue distinct growth strategies [5].

Core Viewpoint - Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. reported a significant decline in revenue for the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower sales of Enterprise Health devices, but anticipates recovery in the second half of the year driven by growth in Personal Health products [3][4]. Financial Performance - For Q2 2025, the company recorded revenue of $2.1 million, down from $5.0 million in Q2 2024, attributed mainly to decreased Enterprise Health device sales [4]. - Gross profit for Q2 2025 was $0.8 million, with a gross margin of approximately 40%, compared to $2.6 million and a gross margin of 53% in Q2 2024 [5]. - The net loss for Q2 2025 was $2.7 million, or $1.24 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $1.99 per share, in Q2 2024 [7][17]. Expenses - Sales and marketing expenses for Q2 2025 were $1.7 million, slightly down from $1.8 million in Q2 2024, mainly due to lower discretionary payroll [6]. - Research and development expenses decreased to $0.9 million in Q2 2025 from $1.1 million in Q2 2024, primarily due to a reduction in headcount [6]. - General and administrative expenses increased to $2.3 million in Q2 2025 from $2.0 million in Q2 2024, attributed to lower allocable costs to manufacturing [7]. Cash Position - As of June 30, 2025, the company had cash and restricted cash totaling $5.2 million, down from $6.5 million at the end of 2024 [8][15]. Strategic Developments - The company named Bionic Prosthetics & Orthotics Group as its first distributor for the Ekso Indego Personal device within the orthotics and prosthetics industry [10]. - Ekso Bionics was accepted into the NVIDIA Connect program, aiming to develop a proprietary foundation model for human motion and integrate AI capabilities across its product portfolio [10]. - The launch of eksoUniversity provides a library of continuing education courses for physical therapists and assistants working with patients with neurological conditions [10].

Core Insights - Ekso Bionics has successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept for integrating AI capabilities into its exoskeleton devices, enhancing user interaction and control [1][3] - The new AI voice agent, named "Ekso Voice Agent," is designed for intelligent control of the EksoNR device and operates on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano hardware [2][3] - The company has a substantial data repository with approximately 350,000 patient sessions and over 15 million data points, which is growing by an average of 60,000 patient steps daily, positioning it well to leverage AI in exoskeleton technology [3] Company Overview - Ekso Bionics is a leader in developing exoskeleton solutions aimed at enhancing human strength, endurance, and mobility for both medical and industrial applications [5] - The company focuses on improving health and quality of life through advanced robotics, offering technologies that assist individuals with paralysis and enhance capabilities in various job sites [5] - Ekso Bionics is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "EKSO" [5] NVIDIA Connect Program - The NVIDIA Connect Program is designed to accelerate product development for technology companies, providing specialized training, engineering support, and access to advanced development kits and GPU platforms [4] - Membership in this program is expected to help Ekso Bionics deliver next-generation solutions in AI and high-performance computing [4]

Core Viewpoint - Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a decrease in revenue primarily due to lower sales of legacy devices, while also noting significant partnerships that may enhance future growth in the Personal Health products segment [1][4][11]. Financial Performance - The company recorded revenue of $3.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from $3.8 million in the same period in 2024, mainly due to lower sales of legacy EksoNR devices, although sales of Ekso Indego Personal devices increased [4]. - Gross profit for the first quarter was $1.8 million, with a gross margin of approximately 53.5%, compared to $2.0 million and a gross margin of 51.9% in the prior year, driven by cost savings in the supply chain [5]. - Sales and marketing expenses decreased to $1.7 million from $1.8 million year-over-year, attributed to lower headcount and travel expenses [6]. - Research and development expenses were $1.0 million, down from $1.1 million in the previous year, mainly due to reduced use of product development consultants [7]. - General and administrative expenses increased to $2.6 million from $2.3 million, primarily due to an impairment loss of an intangible asset and higher legal and audit costs [8]. - The net loss applicable to common stockholders was $2.9 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million, or $0.20 per share, in the same quarter of 2024 [9]. Cash Flow and Position - The company used $2.0 million of net cash in operations for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease from $3.5 million in the same period in 2024 [9]. - As of March 31, 2025, the company had cash and restricted cash totaling $8.1 million, an increase from $6.5 million at the end of 2024 [9][16]. Strategic Partnerships - Ekso Bionics has formed partnerships with National Seating & Mobility (NSM) and Bionic Prosthetics & Orthotics Group (Bionic P&O), which are expected to enhance access to the Ekso Indego Personal device in the complex rehabilitation technology and orthotics and prosthetics markets, respectively [3][11].