Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The company, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017, stands to benefit from growing support for nuclear power and President Trump's deal with Saudi Arabia.

SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating the proposed acquisition of LXP Industrial Trust (NYSE: LXP) by Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM; TSX: BAM) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to determine whether the transaction is fair to LXP shareholders and whether LXP’s Board of Trustees breached its fiduciary duties by agreeing to sell the Company for inadequate consideration.

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, LXP shareholders will receive $61.20 in cash for each LXP common share they own upon completion of the transaction. The transaction is valued at approximately $5.2 billion, including net debt and preferred equity.

To learn more, visit: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/lxp-industrial-trust/

If you are a shareholder of LXP and believe the proposed merger undervalues the Company, or if you have information concerning the transaction, we encourage you to contact Johnson Fistel to discuss your legal rights.

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In 2024, Johnson Fistel was ranked in the Top 10 Plaintiff Law Firms by ISS Securities Class Action Services. The firm has recovered approximately $90,725,000 for aggrieved clients in cases where it served as lead or co-lead counsel, marking the eighth time it has been recognized among the top U.S. plaintiffs' securities law firms.

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The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has strained the power grid. Rising electricity prices have led communities to push back against the construction of new AI data centers. Since AI can't "live" without a reliable power source, the technology industry has a big problem on its hands. Bloom Energy (BE +8.64%) is well-positioned to help solve the power problem.

But don't rush out and buy Bloom Energy's stock. You might be better off with Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP 0.27%) instead. Here's why this high-yield partnership could set you up for life.

Image source: Getty Images.

Bloom Energy has a timely solution Bloom Energy makes hydrogen fuel cells. It is an interesting technology on two fronts. First, it is clean because it doesn't produce greenhouse gases. Second, the fuel cells are made in a factory and can be delivered wherever they are needed, providing on-site power. It can be quicker and easier to build and deliver a fuel cell to a new AI data center than to obtain a grid connection.

That's why Bloom Energy's product backlog rose 2.5x year over year to $6 billion at the start of 2026. But that's just the start of the story, because each new fuel cell comes along with a long-term service contract. The revenue from those contracts expands the backlog to a whopping $20 billion. There are many reasons to like Bloom Energy's story.

The problem is that the stock has risen roughly 1,000% over just the past year. It's very clear that investors are aware of the opportunity. That's not to suggest the stock can't go higher, but the price-to-sales ratio is lofty at 29x. Most investors will probably be better off with a different AI power play.

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Brookfield Renewable is built for the long term Brookfield Renewable owns a globally diversified portfolio of clean energy assets. The diversification it provides is extensive, spanning hydroelectric, solar, wind, storage, and nuclear. Geographically, it operates in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. But the real linchpin here is that Brookfield Renewable is also serving AI data centers, having inked notable supply contracts with Google and Microsoft (MSFT 0.94%).

The power contracts that Brookfield Renewable signs are generally long-term, so the income it generates is highly reliable. Which is what supports the stock's lofty 4.6% yield. The distribution has grown at an annualized rate of 5% over the past decade, in line with the long-term target of 5% to 9% annual distribution growth.

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Brookfield Renewable actively manages its portfolio, so it is always buying and selling assets. However, the approach's long-term success is pretty clear from the steady growth of the distribution. If you are an income investor, Brookfield Renewable's lofty yield and reliable distribution growth will make it an appealing long-term holding. But what's also notable here is the valuation, since the price-to-sales ratio is 1.5x. That's in line with the five-year average, so it wouldn't be fair to suggest that the partnership is "cheap" today. But compared to Bloom Energy, it looks like a bargain.

Bloom Energy is a growth stock, Brookfield Renewable is a reliable tortoise In reality, Bloom Energy and Brookfield Renewable Partners are likely to attract two different types of investors. Bloom Energy is a growth stock, Brookfield Renewable is an income stock. However, of the two, Brookfield Renewable's reliable, growing distribution can set you up for a lifetime of income while still giving you direct exposure to the AI sector. And you'll benefit from diversification beyond AI and across multiple power platforms.

Bloom Energy is an all-in bet on fuel cells, and the AI story is the main factor driving its stock higher right now. If either of those pieces of the story crumbles, the stock could pull back dramatically. For many investors, including those not focused on income, Brookfield Renewable is likely to be the better choice.

Brookfield Asset Management remains a compelling GARP opportunity, offering a 4.4% yield and trading below its normal P/E average. BAM's fee-related earnings growth is driven by robust fundraising and AI infrastructure tailwinds. Expanded partnerships, such as the $25B Bloom Energy deal and Westinghouse nuclear investments, position BAM for durable long-term growth.

Both Brookfield Asset Management (BAM 1.97%) and Blackstone (BX 3.49%) dominate the world of alternative investments, which include assets like real estate and private equity that are not traded on public exchanges. While one leans heavily into infrastructure and renewable power, the other uses its massive scale to influence global markets. This makes both companies vital to follow for those interested in the sector.

Brookfield Asset Management focuses on "real" assets, providing investment products in renewable power, infrastructure, private equity, and credit. The company manages nearly $1 trillion for over 2,400 institutional clients, making it a prominent player among financial stocks. Strategic moves in 2026 include the expected acquisition of Oaktree Capital Management and an AI infrastructure partnership with Nvidia.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $4.9 billion, representing a growth rate of approximately 23.5% over the prior year. This expansion helped the firm generate net income of roughly $2.5 billion for the period. The company maintained a strong net margin of about 50.5%, although this was a slight decrease from the 54.5% net margin reported in the prior fiscal year.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio, which measures total debt against shareholder equity, was roughly 0.4x. The current ratio, representing the ability to cover short-term debts with short-term assets, was approximately 4.2x. Free cash flow, calculated as cash from operations minus capital expenditures, was close to $2.1 billion for the fiscal year.

The case for BlackstoneBlackstone operates as the world's largest alternative asset manager, overseeing more than $1.3 trillion across segments like real estate and private credit. The firm serves a global base of institutional investors and is rapidly growing its reach to individual investors through dedicated private wealth platforms. Current activities include backing AI service providers through ventures like Anthropic and pursuing an acquisition of H&R Real Estate Investment Trust in mid-2026.

During FY 2025, the firm generated revenue of nearly $13.8 billion, a 21.6% increase compared to the prior fiscal year. This resulted in net income of approximately $3.0 billion for the same period. While the top line grew significantly, the net margin was roughly 21.8%, representing the percentage of revenue kept as profit after all costs.

Based on its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.5x. The current ratio is close to 0.9x, indicating that current liabilities slightly exceed current assets. Free cash flow for the year reached roughly $1.7 billion, though stock-based compensation represented roughly 104.7% of operating cash flow, meaning reported cash generation is heavily inflated by this non-cash add-back.

Risk profile comparisonBrookfield Asset Management faces risks from interest rate volatility, which affects the valuations of its infrastructure and real estate holdings. Operating in over 50 countries exposes the firm to complex international regulations and varying compliance costs. The rapid pace of expansion through acquisitions, such as Boralex and Peakstone Realty Trust, also introduces significant integration and operational execution risks.

Blackstone is sensitive to economic cycles that can impact fundraising and performance-based revenue. Elevated interest rates negatively affect real estate valuations, which is a core part of its portfolio. The firm also faces intense competition for high-quality assets from other major managers like Apollo Global Management and KKR while navigating increased regulatory oversight.

Valuation comparisonBlackstone trades at a lower P/S ratio, while Brookfield Asset Management carries a higher Forward P/E based on future earnings estimates.

MetricBrookfield Asset ManagementBlackstoneSector BenchmarkForward P/E27.0x21.7x17.2xP/S ratio15.8x11.1xN/ASector benchmark uses the SPDR XLF sector ETF. Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?Brookfield Asset Management and Blackstone are two of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, with each managing more than $1 trillion in assets. Which is the better buy this year? It depends on your goals and what’s already in your portfolio. Blackstone’s business is more straightforward and is focused on credit, private equity, and hedge funds. It grows its earnings by collecting performance and asset management fees and returns the earnings to investors via share repurchases and dividends (its annual dividend yield is around 4%).

Brookfield Asset Management performs similar asset management functions as Blackstone, but also operates a portfolio of its own renewable energy, infrastructure, and real estate companies. Instead of paying all of its earnings back to investors (its recent dividend yield was close to 4.2%), it also reinvests some of its earnings into its businesses.

Both stocks have been stellar holdings, delivering more than 60% total returns over the last five years, and investors may find there’s room for both in their portfolios. But if I had to choose only one, I prefer Brookfield’s more diversified approach to alternative asset management.

June 23, 2026 10:22 ET  | Source: Brookfield Asset Management Ltd

BROOKFIELD, News, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) (“Brookfield”) is pleased to share that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Office of Energy Dominance Financing (“EDF”) has conditionally committed funding for $17.5 billion in loan facilities (the “American Supply Chain Loans” or “the Loans”) to support investment in U.S. nuclear reactors. The Loans intend to finance the long-lead equipment necessary to construct up to 10 Westinghouse Electric Company (“Westinghouse”) AP1000 nuclear reactors in the United States. Westinghouse is a leading global nuclear services business jointly owned by Brookfield and its institutional partners (51%) and Cameco Corporation (49%).

Connor Teskey, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Asset Management, said: “Westinghouse continues to be at the forefront of major public and private partnerships that will materially accelerate the build-out of large-scale nuclear power generation, help meet growing energy demand, and support energy security in the U.S.  The loan facilities help advance President Trump’s Executive Order and serves as a catalyst for nuclear, providing the certainty needed to enhance the domestic nuclear supply chain and accelerate construction of nuclear projects that will deliver reliable baseload power around the country for decades to come.”

The conditional financing package will enable eligible utility and energy company partners, the anticipated owners of the projects, to purchase long-lead items and help accelerate construction and commercial operations of Westinghouse reactors by up to three years, with the aim of having 10 reactors under construction by 2030. It is expected that DOE may make up to five Loans, with each loan supporting two reactors.

While this conditional commitment indicates DOE’s intent to provide loans to finance the projects, Westinghouse, its owners, and its partners must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions before DOE enters into definitive financing documents and funds the Loans.

About Brookfield

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX, BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com

Contact information:

Media:Investors:Simon Maine Alex JacksonManaging Director – CorporateVice President – InvestorCommunicationsRelations  (332) 298-0447 (416) [email protected]@brookfield.com   Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of other relevant securities legislation, including applicable securities laws in Canada, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs and assumptions and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of BAM are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “intend”, expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “foresee”, “could”, “estimate”, “goal”, “plan”, “seek”, “strive”, “will”, “may” and “should” and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the expectation of the DOE to make the Loans and satisfaction of certain conditions prior to entering into definitive financing documents.

Although BAM believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in the United States and Canada, not presently known to BAM, or that BAM currently believes are not material, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements. Reference should be made to “Item 1A - Risk Factors” and “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements” in BAM’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, BAM undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Brookfield Asset Management delivers robust fee-related earnings growth, driven by infrastructure, credit, energy, real estate, and insurance capital management. BAM's fee-bearing capital reached $614 billion, with 87% long-term, and significant uncalled commitments and new mandates poised to drive future fee income. Private credit and insurance capital, including the Just Group mandate, are key growth catalysts, with $67 billion in uncalled commitments yet to generate fees.

Brookfield Asset Management offers double-digit earnings growth, a nearly 4% dividend yield, and is trading at historically low valuation multiples. BAM's record fundraising, substantial uncalled commitments, and growing AUM underpin robust future earnings, particularly as carry becomes a more meaningful contributor. The business model enables distributing over 90% of earnings while still compounding growth, with high-quality, long-term, and scalable AUM—especially from insurance mandates.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 12, 2026) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (the "Company" or "BaM") is pleased to announce that it has closed the New Jersey equity interest transaction, which it had previously disclosed in a news release dated August 27, 2025. As per prior disclosure, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, DEP Nevada, Inc. ("DEP"), entered into a Purchase Agreement with Ascend New Jersey, LLC (the "Purchaser"), whereby DEP, which owned 100% of BaM Body and Mind Dispensary NJ, Inc. ("BAM NJ") agreed to sell all of the equity interests (the "Interests") in BAM NJ to the Purchaser and a social equity partner (the "Social Equity Partner"), which resulted in Purchaser owning 35% of BAM NJ and Purchaser's Social Equity Partner owning 65% of BAM NJ.

REIT buyouts are heating up as private equity targets deep discounts. We recently profited from three REIT takeovers. Two small REITs could be next, with big upside potential.

Investors looking for stocks in the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector might want to consider either Bread Financial Holdings (BFH - Free Report) or Brookfield Asset Management (BAM - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.

Right now, Bread Financial Holdings is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Brookfield Asset Management has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that BFH has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.

BFH currently has a forward P/E ratio of 8.19, while BAM has a forward P/E of 26.02. We also note that BFH has a PEG ratio of 0.82. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. BAM currently has a PEG ratio of 1.84.

Another notable valuation metric for BFH is its P/B ratio of 1.05. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BAM has a P/B of 9.14.

Based on these metrics and many more, BFH holds a Value grade of B, while BAM has a Value grade of F.

BFH is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that BFH is likely the superior value option right now.

© audioundwerbung / iStock via Getty Images

Shares of FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) are ripping higher in midday trading Wednesday, up 15% as hydrogen bulls rotate back into the most beaten-down name in the complex. Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) stock is participating as well, gaining 9%.

Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) shares, by contrast, are barely budging with a 1% uptick. That’s the story today: the hydrogen trade isn’t participating equally across all stocks in the fuel-cell sector today.

The split caps a volatile week. On Monday, May 18, this column flagged FCEL and PLUG getting hit hard in a hot-trade pullback. Today marks a reversal, but only for the names with a credible AI data center hook.

Mean Reversion Meets an AI Data Center Catalyst FCEL stock is the day’s clear winner because it had the most room to bounce. The shares were heading in with a one-month gain of 139% and a year-to-date move of 137%, yet the five-year chart still shows a 92% drawdown.

The fundamental peg is FuelCell’s pivot to data center power. Q4 FY2025 revenue came in at $55.02M, beating estimates by 16%, and unrestricted cash jumped to $278.1M (per the company’s 8-K filing on sec.gov). FuelCell Energy CEO Jason Few stated, “Our strategy is deeply focused on the data center market where we see significant opportunities for our efficient, resilient power solutions.”

Retail is paying attention. One WallStreetBets thread this week framed FCEL stock as “one of 3 fuel cell players among BE, PLUG” riding the AI catalyst, a sign sentiment has flipped after the pullback.

Bloom Energy Is the Structural Leader [bs_stock_chart symbol=”BE”]

Bloom Energy stock is up less today, but the one-year return tells the bigger story. BE shares are up 1,386% over the past year and 169% year to date. The market has already priced in much of the on-site power thesis.

The numbers back the narrative. Bloom Energy’s Q1 2026 revenue hit $751.05M, up 130% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.44 blowing past the $0.1285 consensus (see Bloom’s 8-K on sec.gov). Management raised FY26 revenue guidance to $3.4B to $3.8B on the back of a $5 billion Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM | BAM Price Prediction) AI infrastructure partnership.

Bloom Energy CEO KR Sridhar declared, “Bring-your-own-power has shifted from a slogan to a business necessity for AI hyperscalers and manufacturing facilities. This shift is secular and growing.” That’s the anchor Bloom Energy has and FuelCell is still trying to build.

Why Plug Power Is Sitting This One Out [bs_stock_chart symbol=”PLUG”]

Plug Power’s quiet tape reflects end-market positioning rather than weak results. Q1 2026 revenue of $163.5 million grew 22% year over year, and Plug Power’s GAAP gross margin improved from -55% to -13%. The issue is end-market exposure.

Plug Power’s franchise leans on hydrogen production, electrolyzers, and material handling. Bloom and FuelCell pitch themselves directly to data center operators and hyperscalers, which is the narrative paying premiums today. Even insider activity skews defensive, with Plug’s April 1 Form 4s showing director acquisitions at just $2.26 per share.

PLUG stock did catch a retail bid earlier this month. WallStreetBets sentiment hit 88 on May 11 around a short-squeeze thread, but that euphoria faded. By May 17, the sentiment score had reverted to null.

What to Watch The bull case for the AI data center fuel cell trade rests on durable hyperscaler power demand, with Bloom Energy’s Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) and Brookfield deployments providing real revenue validation. The bear case is unit economics. FuelCell still posted a Q4 net loss of $29.34M, and the 93% five-year drawdown shows how brutal these cycles can be.

The takeaway from today’s tape is simple. The market wants AI-data-center-adjacent fuel cell exposure specifically. That’s why FCEL stock is leading on mean reversion, BE shares are participating as the structural leader, and PLUG stock is drifting.

Investors should watch for fresh hyperscaler power purchase announcements, Bloom Energy’s next earnings update, and whether Plug Power can keep narrowing its losses toward its Q4 2026 EBITDAS-positive target. The divergence is the signal, for the time being at least.

One is designed for growth; the other for stable income.

Joint venture includes an eight-property, 5.3 million-square-foot portfolio anchored by high-quality industrial assets in Canada's largest urban markets June 03, 2026 09:00 ET  | Source: Concert Properties

Vancouver, BC, June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Concert Properties Ltd., through Concert Income Properties ("Concert"), today announced the formation of a joint venture with a Brookfield affiliate for an eight-property Canadian industrial portfolio totaling approximately 5.3 million square feet. The transaction values the portfolio at approximately C$1 billion. 

The portfolio comprises a mix of single-tenant and multi-tenant industrial properties across Canada’s largest urban logistics markets, including Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Ottawa. Fully leased to a diverse roster of credit tenants, the assets benefit from strong connectivity to critical highway, airport, and rail infrastructure and represent stabilized, high-quality industrial real estate with embedded income growth potential.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Brookfield, a globally recognized firm with deep expertise and a strong track record in real estate,” said Lindsay Brand, Chief Investment Officer of Concert Properties Ltd. “Concert has a history of building partnerships defined by shared alignment and a long-term view, and this one is no different. Brookfield brings global scale and a disciplined approach to real estate investment, and we are excited about what we can build together. We look forward to actively managing this portfolio on behalf of the joint venture and to identifying ways to grow this relationship over time.”

“This investment reflects Brookfield’s conviction in high-quality logistics real estate in supply-constrained, high-barrier markets,” said Andy Smith, Managing Partner, Real Estate, Brookfield. “Concert has assembled and managed a strong Canadian industrial portfolio, and we are pleased to partner with them on assets that align well with our global logistics strategy. We look forward to working together to create long-term value across the portfolio.”

CIBC and CBRE acted as advisors to Concert on the transaction.

-30-

About Concert Properties

Founded in 1989, Concert Properties is a diversified Canadian real estate corporation owned by 49 union and management pension plans and institutional investors representing over 200,000 Canadians. Concert develops, owns and manages rental apartments; develops condominium homes; and develops, acquires and manages industrial and office properties. Concert Income Properties, an open-ended Canadian limited partnership fund formed in 2016, acquires, develops and manages industrial, office and multi-family real estate across Canada on behalf of Canadian pension funds and institutional investors.

About Brookfield

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy.We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

https://www.concertproperties.com/ https://www.brookfield.com/ Contact Data Concert Media Contact Katie Stevens Talk Shop Media [email protected] 778-686-0906 Brookfield Media Contact Laura Montross [email protected] 508-769-5942

Today - and likely for the next decade - the market is facing an uncertain inflation and interest rate environment, AI disruption, and geopolitical unrest. I detail two infrastructure dividend growth stocks that are remarkably well positioned to navigate these challenges.

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).

AVGO rattles Wall Street… Alphabet’s $80 billion proof point… AI just entered your brokerage account… why the smart money is betting $50 billion on the AI backbone … As I write Thursday morning, chip stocks are selling off, pulling the AI complex down alongside it.

The culprit: Broadcom (AVGO) reported earnings last night that were, by any objective measure, extraordinary. AI semiconductor revenues climbed 143% year over year, and Q3 guidance calls for $29.4 billion in revenue.

And yet Wall Street is hammering the stock, down 13% as I write.

Why?

Mostly because Broadcom didn’t raise its full-year AI chip guidance. CEO Hock Tan reiterated the existing forecast rather than upgrading it.

Beyond that, the software segment results were light. And Tan said Broadcom would offer “chips only,” rather than the complete integrated AI systems the company had previously said it would provide to customers.

On a stock that had run more than 60% since its late-March low, this was enough to trigger profit-taking – and the ripple has spread to the broader AI trade this morning.

Now, let’s be clear…

The selloff isn’t about Broadcom’s AI business. That business didn’t disappoint – it more than doubled, and AI revenue is expected to triple to $16 billion next quarter. That makes this selloff a valuation story: what happens when a stock priced for perfection only delivers excellence instead.

But that doesn’t mean we can write it off. It prompts a genuine question that all AI investors must answer…

Is this the beginning of growth rates failing to match lofty expectations? Or is the underlying AI buildout powerful enough to keep delivering at the scale the market needs?

To help answer that, let’s rewind to Monday’s news that Alphabet (GOOG) is raising $80 billion – not to survive a downturn, but because the demand for its AI products is outrunning its ability to build the infrastructure to deliver them.

This has massive implications for tomorrow’s AI growth story.

In yesterday’s Digest, I wrote: “If you’re nervous today, listen to your fears – but frame them in facts.”

So, as the AI complex sells off this morning, let’s take our own advice.

A breather or a bust? As we try to read where we are in this AI bull run – and how much growth remains in front of us – Alphabet’s $80 billion raise is one of the clearest signals we’ve seen. Let’s talk about why.

Every time you ask Gemini a question or run an AI-powered search, that query flows through a data center packed with specialized chips, networking equipment and cooling systems.

Billions of people do this daily. But that’s just consumer-side demand…

On top of that, corporations are paying Google directly to run their AI workloads – customer service systems, coding tools, data pipelines – all of it pulling on the same infrastructure.

Now, is Google making money on all this?

Yes, handsomely.

Google Cloud’s operating margin expanded to nearly 33% last quarter. Search revenue grew 19% as AI features drove queries to all-time highs.

On the consumer side, advertising revenue subsidizes the free users. On the enterprise side, companies are paying directly and profitably. Net income jumped 81% year over year to $62.58 billion.

So, with cash flooding in Google’s front door, why raise $80 billion?

Because it’s winning so fast that even one of the most profitable companies on earth can’t build AI infrastructure quickly enough to keep up with its own demand.

It’s no wonder why, when asked earlier this year what keeps him up at night, CEO Sundar Pichai’s answer was two words: compute capacity.

The only way to solve that is to spend at a scale that even Alphabet’s cash machine can’t fully self-fund.

If you’re worried about an AI bubble, trillion-dollar valuations with nothing underneath, or hype outrunning reality – this is one of the most ringing endorsements of the real thing you’re going to see.

A Wall Street elephant just put $10 billion behind that same conclusion Our technology investing expert, Luke Lango, editor of Innovation Investor, reported that Berkshire Hathaway just sunk a boatload of money into Google, and their piece of this deal carries significance well beyond Google’s compute capacity problem:

Either Berkshire finally started understanding technology — or they stopped seeing Alphabet’s AI infrastructure buildout as a technology investment and started seeing it as a utility.

Regulated demand. Contracted revenue. Infrastructure moat. Predictable cash flows at scale. The framework Berkshire has used for railroads, energy pipelines, and insurance for decades.

When Berkshire sees utility economics, they write enormous checks.

That $10 billion tells us more about the AI infrastructure thesis than any earnings report could.

But the implications run well beyond Google. Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META) and the rest are locked in the same arms race.

If Alphabet is pulling in $80 billion to accelerate, the pressure on everyone else to keep the gas pedal down only intensifies.

Here’s Luke on what that means for investors:

The winners are the chipmakers, memory suppliers, networking vendors, server builders, power providers, cooling companies, and high-beta compute clouds supplying the rails of the AI economy.

Luke has been positioning Innovation Investor subscribers in precisely those names… And he believes the biggest catalyst for repricing them is still ahead.

OpenAI and Anthropic are on track for what could be the two largest IPOs in American history – reportedly targeting valuations of roughly $1 trillion and $900 billion, respectively.

When those S-1 filings hit, every Wall Street analyst and institutional investor will scramble to identify the AI infrastructure companies supplying, powering and enabling those businesses – many of them will be the same ones benefitting from Google’s AI ramp-up.

Luke calls getting there first the “Pre-IPO Backdoor.”

The historical pattern supports this. When Facebook went public in 2012, the IPO buyers had a rough ride. But a chipmaker supplying the memory behind the data-center buildout that powered the social media boom quietly returned hundreds of percent over the same window. Luke believes that pattern is about to repeat – at a far larger scale.

The window to position ahead of the repricing is now, before the filings arrive.

Luke lays out the full Pre-IPO Backdoor strategy here — including a free ticker that gives ordinary investors exposure to both OpenAI and Anthropic while they’re still private.

Now, as we assess the overall AI trade and future growth rates, the buildout is one thing. But what about the applications?

Get ready for what’s coming…

The age of agentic AI just arrived in your brokerage account Last week, Robinhood (HOOD) announced two new products: Agentic Trading and an Agentic Credit Card.

The first lets you connect a third-party AI assistant to your brokerage account to execute investing strategies on your behalf – rebalancing your portfolio, monitoring themes, executing trades – with minimal human involvement.

The second lets a separate AI agent hunt for deals and complete purchases using a designated virtual credit card.

In other words, you set the goals, the AI handles the execution.

Robinhood isn’t alone. Google has already launched agentic checkout across Search and Gemini – a live “Buy for me” button that executes purchases directly on merchant websites.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant Rufus now serves 300 million users. Etsy (ETSY) and over a million Shopify (SHOP) merchants are live with agentic commerce capabilities.

And that’s just retail…

Gartner projects agentic AI will autonomously resolve 80% of common customer service issues without human intervention by 2029, cutting operational costs by 30%.

The pace of all this is striking. According to research from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 96% of global technologists predict that agentic AI development and integration will accelerate through 2026, with many experts expecting near-mass consumer adoption this year.

Here’s TechRadar with the impact:

For consumers, this shift is profound, as autonomous agents begin managing the complexities of personal finance, travel, and household logistics, turning once-manual digital tasks into hands-off, automated experiences.

We’re not talking about a chatbot that answers questions. We’re talking about AI that acts on your behalf, in the real world, right now.

For investors still on the fence about whether AI is real or just hype, this is your answer.

But still, for nervous AI investors watching their portfolio sink into the red today, is there another proof point to calm nerves?

“We’re just rewiring the world” If Alphabet’s $80 billion raise and Robinhood’s agentic trading accounts didn’t convince you about AI, consider what Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) is doing.

Brookfield built one of the world’s great fortunes on bridges, toll roads, freight railways, and utilities – the unglamorous, load-bearing infrastructure that quietly powers civilization.

It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t do hype. It writes enormous checks into assets it expects to collect cash from for decades.

It is now going all-in on AI infrastructure.

The firm is raising $50 billion across a new suite of AI-focused infrastructure funds. Its first major deployment: a $5 billion commitment to install Bloom Energy (BE) fuel cells at AI data centers – with the first project tied to an Oracle (ORCL) data center campus spanning 1,400 acres of New Mexico desert, built to support OpenAI’s compute needs.

Brookfield CEO Bruce Flatt recently summed up the firm’s view at the Milken Institute Global Conference:

We’re just rewiring the world.

This framing should sound familiar…

Earlier in this Digest, Luke noted that Berkshire sees Alphabet’s AI buildout through the lens of utility economics – railroads, pipelines, contracted cash flows.

Brookfield is saying the same thing, just more explicitly.

Its CEO, Connor Teskey, described the strategy as “focused on investing in long-life, critical assets,” betting that well-structured contracts will deliver reliable cash flows for years – regardless of which AI model or platform ultimately wins the race.

And here’s Bloomberg, noting the scope of the growth in the area:

These asset managers are plowing ever-more cash into AI, stepping in to finance deals when banks can’t supply the sheer magnitude of cash needed to construct massive data facilities.

The ever-larger deals are turning infrastructure, once a staid and sleepy corner of finance, into a buzzy space that’s sparking both ebullience and trepidation.

That last point is critical for investors to recognize.

Brookfield and these asset managers at large aren’t betting on OpenAI versus Anthropic, or Nvidia versus the next chipmaker. They’re betting on the physical layer beneath it all – the power, the land, the cooling, the connectivity. That’s a bet that pays off no matter who wins the AI arms race above it.

The scale of the opportunity, in Brookfield’s own assessment: $7 trillion.

Bridges. Toll roads. Freight railways. Now AI data centers…

Brookfield doesn’t do bubbles – it does decades.

The bottom line Step back from this morning’s selloff for a moment and look at what today’s Digest actually contains.

Three stories. Three different vantage points – a tech giant, a retail brokerage, and a global infrastructure empire. All pointing in the same direction.

Yes, AVGO is down 13% as I write. But Broadcom’s AI revenue more than doubled, and next quarter it’s expected to triple. The stock is being punished for not beating elevated expectations by enough. That’s a very different problem from a broken thesis.

Meanwhile, Alphabet is raising $80 billion because it can’t build AI infrastructure fast enough to meet demand. Berkshire is writing $10 billion checks because it sees utility economics. Brookfield is committing $50 billion because it sees a $7 trillion opportunity. And AI agents are already executing trades and buying groceries on behalf of ordinary consumers.

A stock getting punished for tripling its AI revenue doesn’t change any of that.

As always, factor in valuations, your personal timeline and your own risk tolerance before acting. Smart investing is never one-size-fits-all. But on the foundational questions – is this AI boom real? And can massive growth continue?

The evidence speaks clearly.

Have a good evening,

Jeff Remsburg

(Disclaimer: I own AVGO, GOOGL, AMZN, and MSFT.)

As the landscape for private markets shifts, many investors are weighing the merits of Brookfield Asset Management (BAM 0.37%) and Ares Management (ARES 0.42%) to find the best long-term growth opportunity.

Both companies are titans in the world of alternative investments, managing capital for some of the largest institutions on the planet. While they share a sector, their financial profiles and asset concentrations offer distinct trade-offs for those looking to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on high-value sectors, such as infrastructure, renewable power, and real estate. The firm manages capital for diverse clients, including pension plans and sovereign wealth funds that seek stable, long-term returns among financial stocks. With operations in more than 15 countries, the company relies on its massive scale to secure large-scale investment opportunities that smaller competitors might miss.

Brookfield’s revenue grew 23.5% to $4.9 billion in fiscal year 2025. It reported net income of roughly $2.5 billion for the period and a solid net margin of 51.4%, showcasing the company's ability to retain a significant portion of its fees as bottom-line profit.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was close to 0.4x. This ratio, which compares total debt to shareholder equity, suggests a conservative approach to leverage compared to many peers in the industry. The current ratio, a measure of how well a company can cover its short-term liabilities, was approximately 4.2x, while free cash flow (FCF) reached nearly $2.1 billion for the year.

The case for Ares ManagementAres Management is a global leader in credit-focused alternative investments, providing critical financing solutions across the private equity and infrastructure landscapes. The firm derives a significant portion of its management fees from Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC 0.18%), its flagship business development company. Customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business, as the advisory agreement with this specific entity is a primary driver of annual revenue and cash flows.

Ares Management generated revenue of roughly $6.5 billion in FY 2025, up nearly 67% from the prior year. The company reported net income of close to $527.4 million and a net margin of 8.2%, reflecting aggressive investments in credit and global markets.

Based on the December 2025 balance sheet, Ares’ management’s debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 3.5x, indicating a greater reliance on borrowed capital to fund operations. The current ratio was roughly 2.2x, while FCF for the year was nearly $3.2 billion. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) accounted for roughly 22.7% of operating cash flow, thereby inflating reported cash generation, since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

Risk profile comparisonBrookfield Asset Management faces intense competition for investment opportunities from other large-scale managers such as Blackstone (BX 1.38%) and KKR (KKR 2.44%). The firm is also subject to complex global regulatory frameworks, where non-compliance could lead to significant fines or reputational damage. Additionally, rising interest rates can lower asset valuations and increase the cost of debt for the capital-heavy projects the firm manages.

Ares Management carries a specific risk related to its revenue concentration. Because a notable slice of its stable management fees originates from Ares Capital, any disruption to the advisory agreement or fee structure could hurt the fund’s top line and cash flows. The firm also operates in the highly competitive credit market, where it must compete with major players like Apollo Global Management (APO 1.02%) for deal flow. Furthermore, prolonged economic downturns could lead to higher default rates within its credit portfolios, potentially reducing its performance-related income.

Valuation comparisonWhile Ares Management appears to have a lower Forward P/E based on future earnings estimates, Brookfield Asset Management offers much higher net margins and a significantly less leveraged balance sheet.

MetricBrookfield Asset ManagementAres ManagementSector BenchmarkForward P/E26.3x21.4x16.6xP/S ratio15.5x6.5xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLF sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?Ares is primarily a private credit and direct lending company. Think of it as a large private bank for companies. So Ares gathers billions of dollars from large, wealthy institutions and finds companies — typically mid-sized — that need money, then lends them at high interest rates. That also means Ares faces all the risks a bank faces, such as default risk. Out of its $644 billion assets under management (AUM) as of the first quarter, 66% is concentrated in credit. A slow economy, therefore, can hit Ares hard.

Brookfield, on the other hand, is a diversified asset manager that invests in infrastructure, renewable energy, real estate, private equity, and credit. With an AUM of more than $1 trillion, Brookfield excels at buying assets such as pipelines, toll roads, data centers, solar grids, and commercial skyscrapers, upgrading and operating them, and collecting predictable, inflation-adjusted cash flows. It is emerging as a strong artificial intelligence (AI) play. Last year, for example, Brookfield formed a $20 billion joint venture with Qatar-based Qai to develop AI infrastructure in the country.

The difference in their core portfolio composition is the primary reason why I would pick Brookfield Asset Management stock over Ares Management. With Brookfield targeting 16% annualized growth in fee-based capital (the amount of money Brookfield actively manages and charges fees for) and 18% annualized growth in distributable earnings over the next five years, this stock looks like a compelling buy.

OTTAWA, June 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scout Clean Energy (“Scout”), a leading North American renewable energy developer-owner-operator, held a joint office opening and project construction kick-off near Richmond (Ottawa), Ontario yesterday. In a milestone for the firm’s ongoing efforts in Canada, Scout leadership and staff joined local stakeholders to celebrate the opening of its new office in Ottawa and the start of construction for its Trail Road Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a joint venture with Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. Joining Scout CEO Michael Rucker and staff at the event were construction and development partners, local officials, community members, landowners, and more.

“I couldn’t be more happy or proud to see the growth of our team here in Canada,” said Michael Rucker, Founder and CEO of Scout Clean Energy. “Scout is entering the Ontario and Canadian markets with a splash launching some substantial projects and fielding a seasoned team. This new office will give them the space to continue building projects locally and across the country.”

“Our new home here in Ottawa will serve as a central hub for Canadian development,” said Ken Little, Vice-President of Canadian Development at Scout Clean Energy. “From here, we’re building the clean power solutions and electricity infrastructure our city, our province, and our country need now and in the future.”

“Ontario is building the energy infrastructure needed to power growth and create jobs for Ottawa families,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “This 150 MW battery storage project will strengthen grid reliability and help meet fast rising electricity demand across the region. Increasing reliability, while reducing energy costs for families is a foremost priority of our government. That is why we cut the gas tax by 10 cents and launched Canada's largest energy savings program — putting money back into your pockets as Ontarians invest in energy efficiency."

Scout Clean Energy is a portfolio company managed by Brookfield Asset Management, a global leader in renewable power and decarbonization solutions.

About the Trail Road BESS (Battery Energy Storage System)

Trail Road BESS is a 150 MW lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery energy storage system (BESS) being constructed in Ottawa in partnership with Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, with completion expected in 2027. The project will provide increased capacity for our electricity grid to allow us to meet rising energy demand. It will provide benefits to the community, including funding for local organizations, job opportunities for residents, and reduced energy costs.

About Scout Clean Energy

Scout Clean Energy is a leading renewable energy developer-owner-operator with offices in Ottawa, ON and Boulder, CO. Scout is responsible for the development of approximately 2,000 MW of operating and under construction renewable energy assets. Led by renewable energy veterans, Scout is currently developing a pipeline of approximately 20,000 MW of wind, solar and storage projects across North America, including more than 2,600 MW of advanced-stage projects. Scout is a portfolio company managed by Brookfield Asset Management, which acquired Scout in 2022. For more information, please visit www.scoutcleanenergy.com.

About Brookfield

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across, infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. Brookfield invests client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors.

Our renewable power portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind, utility-scale solar, distributed solar, and storage facilities and our sustainable solutions assets include our investment in a leading global nuclear services business and a portfolio of investments in carbon capture and storage capacity, agricultural renewable natural gas, materials recycling and eFuels manufacturing capacity, among others.

Press Contact

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Phone - 1-240-778-3530
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