Charles Schwab stated that Avalanche’s positioning in real-world assets and institutional use cases could support a higher valuation for AVAX, despite its smaller market share.
Jim Ferraioli’s research highlighted the customizable blockchain infrastructure. Stablecoin issuance, lending, asset management, and liquid staking were cited as key examples of economic activity on the network.
The fundamental question for the organization was whether investors would focus solely on transaction volume or on the economic value and quality of the transactions. A stronger emphasis on the latter approach could make Avalanche’s institutional use case even more valuable.
The study reported that, based on September 7th data, Avalanche ranked fifth among smart contract networks with $3.4 billion in locked assets. However, it added that Ethereum did not yet have the sector standard status.
AVAX’s token economy was rated as above average. The maximum supply of 720 million, the burning of transaction fees, and the staking mechanism were cited as positive aspects.
However, Schwab noted that the network’s monthly transaction fees have been declining since 2023. A warning was issued that the growth of private networks may not increase mainnet usage and AVAX demand at the same rate.
On the valuation side, the ratio of market value to the total fees generated by the network was examined. It was noted that this indicator has varied between 200 and 1,200 times in the last three years.
*This is not investment advice.
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France’s borrowing costs are now higher than Italy’s. Weekend riots pushed the French 10-year yield to about 4.85% on Monday, the sharpest rise in the G7.
Italy, long seen as Europe’s riskier borrower, pays about 4.52%. For French households, that gap is already reaching mortgages, savings, and jobs.
Why France’s Costs are SkyrocketingProtests over school conditions and living costs turned violent this weekend. Authorities arrested close to 2,400 people, the Guardian reported.
Investors track the gap between French and German 10-year yields as a gauge of French risk. It now sits near 145 basis points, or 1.45 percentage points. In early September, it stood around 85.
Meanwhile, the deficit is expected to reach 5.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. The EU limit is 3%.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu needs about €54 billion in savings for 2027. However, he lacks a parliamentary majority.
“With France already facing a difficult fiscal backdrop and the 2027 election approaching, the weekend adds another layer of political risk for markets.”
Jim Reid, analyst at Deutsche Bank
France borrowing costs spread versus Germany, FR10Y-DE10Y daily chart / Source: TradingViewAre French Stocks Flashing a Warning?The CAC 40, France’s benchmark index, trades about 10% below its August peak. Each rebound since then has stalled lower.
On Monday, it slipped back under support near 7,890. The next floor sits around 7,510.
Banks led the drop. BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and Société Générale each fell more than 2%, according to the Telegraph.
CAC 40 daily chart showing downtrend as France borrowing costs rise / Source: TradingViewWhat Should French Households Check Now? Mortgages. The average 20-year rate reached 3.66% in October, up from 3.17% early this year, per broker Pretto. On a €250,000 loan, that adds about €63 a month. Buyers may benefit from securing a written rate offer early. Savings. The Livret A, France’s tax-free savings account, pays 1.70%, roughly matching inflation. Eligible lower earners get 2.50% on the means-tested LEP account. Bank deposits remain protected up to €100,000 per bank. Life insurance. Euro funds in assurance-vie policies returned 2.63% on average in 2025. Higher bond yields tend to lift these returns gradually. Jobs and shops. Carrefour expects repair costs above €10 million, with some franchise staff placed on furlough. That state scheme pays 60% of gross salary. Many shop policies require theft reports within two working days. Travel and imports. The euro slipped to about $1.12, near its weakest since May 2025. Dollar-priced trips and goods now cost more. Can Friday’s Moody’s Review Break the Cycle?Moody’s reviews France’s Aa3 rating on Oct. 23, with a negative outlook already attached, according to the national debt agency. S&P follows on Nov. 27.
A downgrade could push yields higher still. In turn, that would feed the living costs that sparked the protests.
With an election due next spring, bond yields may become the clearest gauge of what this unrest costs households.
Shareholders in Meta, Tesla, Netflix, and SpaceX get quarterly results Tuesday and Wednesday, after the US market closes. Nasdaq values the first three at about $3.6 trillion combined.
Forecasts, not beats, have moved these stocks lately. In July, Netflix topped profit estimates by a cent, then fell about 9% after hours on a weaker outlook.
Meta plans $130 billion to $145 billion of equipment and data center spending in 2026, according to its results.
In the second quarter, $31.1 billion of spending left Meta just $784 million in free cash flow, the cash left after investment. Its shares fell over 7% after hours as profit also missed forecasts.
Meta also expects a roughly $10 billion legal charge this quarter. It stems from a settlement worth up to $18 billion over claims its apps harmed children.
SpaceX spent $18.4 billion in the second quarter, $15.8 billion of it on AI, and lost $541 million, its filing shows.
Still, Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen said the AI unit turned a $1.1 billion profit on an adjusted basis.
Much of that money flows to chipmaker Nvidia. SpaceX is now reportedly seeking $40 billion in debt to buy its chips.
Tesla already beat delivery forecasts, handing over 486,532 cars. However, in July it earned $0.33 per share against a $0.55 estimate as margins slipped.
What Would Prove the AI Spending Is Paying Off?For Meta, the test is whether its $130 billion to $145 billion spending range rises.
For SpaceX, it is progress toward a target Elon Musk set in August. ARR, or annual recurring revenue, measures a yearly sales pace.
“we are expecting to reach a $100 billion-plus ARR in December of this year,” Elon Musk stated.
For Tesla, it is whether margins recover. Analysts tracked by Nasdaq expect $0.21 per share, down from $0.37 a year ago.
Netflix’s test is different. It forecast $12.86 billion in revenue and about $3 billion in 2026 ad sales, its shareholder letter shows.
Last week, strong bank earnings failed to lift bank shares, a gap Jim Cramer flagged. This week, the AI spenders face the same test.
CNBC host Jim Cramer backed Reddit (RDDT) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) but passed on SiTime (SITM) on Thursday’s “Mad Money,” favoring stocks that have fallen over those priced for growth while interest rates climb.
The picks span social media, rockets, refiners and chips, yet one thread links them. The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised rates in September, and Cramer leaned toward stocks that had already sold off.
Does a Sell-Off Make Reddit and Rocket Lab Worth Owning?Cramer said he wants to buy Reddit after its slide this year. In contrast, one caller said investors punished lost, unprofitable Google traffic and ignored Reddit’s earnings from direct users.
Reddit is down over 12% in the last 3 months. Image: Trading ViewHowever, CEO Steve Huffman called Google search referrals choppy in July, even as revenue grew 61%.
On Rocket Lab, Cramer said the failure to launch hurt the stock less than he expected. On Wednesday, Rocket Lab delayed the debut of Neutron, its medium-lift rocket, to 2027, Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, Rocket Lab reported a record $2.36 billion backlog in the second quarter, up 137% year over year. However, it has yet to turn a profit, and Neutron anchors that plan.
Where Does Oil Risk Sit in Cramer’s Energy Calls?Cramer prefers Chevron to Exxon, unless taxes complicate a swap. He told a caller Enterprise Products Partners earns from natural gas liquids, such as ethane and propane, not oil.
Cramer called Valero (VLO) a binary bet on the crack spread, the gap between crude costs and refined fuel prices. He tied the spread to the Iran war.
On SiTime, which makes silicon timing chips, he drew the clearest line.
“It’s expensive, and I’m not recommending expensive stocks in tech or out of tech.”
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money,” CNBC
If the Fed keeps hiking, the same valuation test could reach crypto. Grayscale’s rate hike outlook argues that higher rates hit assets unevenly.
The Fed meets Oct. 27-28, and futures price about a 27% chance of another hike.
Jim Cramer says investors are punishing bank stocks even when earnings beat estimates. Morgan Stanley (MS) fell nearly 3% on Wednesday after its revenue grew 12% and topped forecasts.
Cramer attributes the sell-off to worries about sticky inflation and climbing rates, not weak results. Goldman Sachs also beat estimates, yet it lost another 1.5% on Wednesday, CNBC reported.
Why Did a 12% Revenue Beat Fail to Lift Morgan Stanley?Morgan Stanley’s third-quarter revenue rose to $20.3 billion from $18.2 billion a year earlier, according to its filing.
Morgan Stanley’s stocks failed to climb. Source: Trading ViewInstitutional Securities, the unit combining investment banking with sales and trading, grew 18% to $10 billion.
Cramer noted that fixed income fell short of expectations, and the filing shows a 7% decline.
In contrast, wealth management revenue rose 10%, and client assets across wealth and investment management reached a record $10.5 trillion.
Still, Chief Executive Ted Pick told CNBC he is cautiously optimistic about the fourth quarter, Cramer said.
“it’s not easy to own these bank stocks right now.”
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money, via CNBC
Morgan Stanley is also a lead underwriter on Anthropic’s IPO, which Cramer said is due in November.
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Herman Chan says Anthropic IPO deal flow could lift Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
Does Cramer See an Iran Resolution Reviving Bank Stocks?Cramer said a resolution to the war in Iran, even an imperfect one, could cool inflation.
In his view, that would give the Federal Reserve room to back off rate hikes.
He expects capital markets to bounce back if that happens.
Meanwhile, his Charitable Trust portfolio upgraded Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs to buy-equivalent ratings, CNBC reported.
Cramer says the group no longer trades as one, because each bank now has different characteristics.
Momei Qu, head of venture at PSP Growth, says Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are becoming AI stocks. Their earnings do not show that link yet, she told Bloomberg.
Therefore, bank shares may keep trading on inflation and rate signals rather than on quarterly beats.
Ford and JPMorganChase each aim to put up to $1 billion behind Michigan suppliers. Rare earth stocks, among the closest listed plays on US manufacturing, have slid as much as 29% in a month.
Ford, JPMorganChase and the State of Michigan launched the Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation and Transformation (LIFT) on Sept. 29. The $1 billion figures are decade-long aspirations, or about $100 million a year each.
JPMorganChase held $5 trillion in assets on June 30, so $1 billion in loans equals about 0.02% of that. Not too much of a spend, but at least an indicator of where the bank feels there is value.
Ford’s orders would arrive over a decade, subject to its standard supplier qualification and approval processes. In addition, the announcement quantifies no earnings impact for either company.
Will US Manufacturing Stocks Catch the Funding Wave?Critical minerals are among the program’s first supply challenges, and Ford CEO Jim Farley named magnets and rare earths. The program’s other target areas include robotics, semiconductors and battery storage, though the announcement names no listed suppliers.
USA Rare Earth (USAR), a magnet maker still building its plants, fell 29% in a month through Oct. 8. Meanwhile, the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) lost 21% over that span.
MP Materials (MP) runs the only large-scale US rare earth mine. Even so, it closed at $46.14 on Oct. 9, under half its October 2025 high.
The selling has hit builders hardest, 24/7 Wall St. reported, as they spend ahead of revenue. An earlier leg of the slide came on US-China thaw hopes ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, 24/7 Wall St. reported.
LIFT’s pitch targets that gap, since the announcement blames uncertain demand and late financing for stalled suppliers. Yet it targets Michigan expansions, while MP Materials builds in Texas and USA Rare Earth in Oklahoma and South Carolina.
JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon said $5 billion has gone directly into security-focused firms, against up to $10 billion planned. At the same time, money managers are split on whether the S&P 500’s record rally can broaden beyond big tech.
Oil prices dipped after President Donald Trump declared an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. CNBC host Jim Cramer expects crude to stay near $100 while the war continues.
However, Moscow has not commented, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hit a Kyiv power plant after the announcement. Trump gave no terms for the pause.
Does an Energy Ceasefire Reach the Iran War Behind Fuel Prices?Brent crude traded near $103 per barrel on Monday, according to Trading Economics. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark, sat near $90. Over the past month, however, WTI fell about 12% while Brent slipped about 3.5%.
Cramer pointed to a pattern in earlier ceasefire headlines.
“We have seen these again and again and we are fooled again and again.”
oil falling on an energy cease fire. We have seen these again and again and we are fooled again and again. As long as there is a war on oil will stay clustered around $100
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) October 12, 2026 The truce covers Russia and Ukraine only. Zelensky said Ukraine will hold its fire on Russian energy sites if Moscow does the same.
Britain, France, and Canada have also voiced support.
Meanwhile, the BBC links the rise in global fuel costs, diesel especially, to the war with Iran.
Trump wants Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil sites, a demand tied to his Russian diesel deal. That deal temporarily eases sanctions on Russian imports.
In contrast, seven US senators from both parties argue the deal contradicts the existing ban on Russian energy imports. Zelensky says it helps Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Higher pump prices have already fed broader inflation, the BBC reports. Still, if Brent holds near $100, that pressure could persist for stocks, bonds, and consumers.
Until Moscow responds and Iran-related supply risks ease, Cramer’s $100 line may stay the level markets test.
Jim Cramer called SpaceX’s newest deal “HUGE” on Thursday. On Friday morning, he posted a printout tracking something else. It counts the SpaceX shares insiders are now free to sell.
Friday’s batch was up to 328.4 million shares. The next big one is four times larger.
When SpaceX listed in June, early investors and staff agreed not to sell for a while. That promise is called a lockup.
SpaceX lets those shares out in batches. Cramer’s sheet maps every date.
Friday’s release was worth nearly $51 billion, by Motley Fool’s count. The outlet called the schedule a fleecing of retail investors.
The biggest batch, up to 1.31 billion shares, opens two trading days after third-quarter results. SpaceX has not set that date.
The sheet carries its own warning. Being allowed to sell does not mean holders will sell.
SpaceX Lockup ReleasesIs SpaceX Stock Too Expensive? Cramer Says NoCramer is not telling anyone to run. This week, he defended the stock’s price.
“Yes, there are stocks that I think are insanely priced, but SpaceX is not one of them,” said Cramer.
SpaceX trades at about 137 times its expected earnings for the next 12 months, according to FactSet data.
SpaceX Stock Performance. Source: Yahoo FinanceNot everyone agrees. Investor George Noble, who is betting against the stock, put its fair value at $30 in August.
Thursday’s spectrum deal would let Starlink sell phone service directly. SpaceX rose about 3.9% before Friday’s open, while the same news sent carrier stocks lower.
Cramer’s own rule is patience. In July, he urged Mad Money viewers to wait for the first lockup release before buying big.
Past releases have cut both ways. The stock rose around the August unlock and slipped on later dates, including the September 24 unlock.
That post-earnings batch will be the largest since the initial public offering (IPO). Cramer’s sheet flags it as the bigger event ahead.
Temasek’s investment chief called an artificial intelligence (AI) trade unwind the biggest risk facing global markets. Yet, the firm still plans to more than double its AI allocation by 2031.
Rohit Sipahimalani made the comments at the Milken Asia Summit 2026 in Singapore on Wednesday. He also flagged a second risk for equities and a planned shift in how Temasek holds its AI stakes.
Temasek Investment Chief Warns of Two Key Market Risks for 2027Sipahimalani does not see an AI unwind as imminent, though he said markets could face bumps in 2027.
“The unwinding of the AI trade is the biggest risk…We don’t see that as imminent. But, will you have bumps in 2027, possibly yes,” he said.
Those bumps would matter for Temasek, whose gains have leaned heavily on AI so far. The S$518 billion ($405 billion) investment firm holds positions in several leading AI firms, among them OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia.
It also plans to lift AI-related investments from 6% of its portfolio to up to 15% by 2031. Because AI can change quickly, Sipahimalani wants that exposure to be easier to adjust.
About half now sits in public markets, and he would ideally raise that share to 70% to 75%. Listed holdings give Temasek more flexibility to pivot, he said, while private stakes leave little room to act.
Sipahimalani’s second concern lies outside AI, in inflation and the rates environment. Bond markets are already feeling that pressure. According to Bloomberg, global bonds have slumped as energy costs and government borrowing drive bets on further rate hikes.
“Inflation is a risk, together with what is happening in the rates environment, that means there probably is a risk of some breaking point in the equity market at some point,” he added
He grouped it with AI as the two key risks he sees for 2027.
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Dalio, Burry, Hayes, and Cramer Have Sounded AI AlarmsOther prominent investors have also raised concerns about the AI boom. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio described AI as a classic bubble nearing its bursting point. He tied the risk to debt-funded spending and rising interest rates.
Michael Burry wrote in late September that the AI bubble may burst sooner than he first expected. Arthur Hayes also expects the AI buildout to crash.
So far, the stock market has brushed off these warnings. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hit record highs this week on optimism over tech earnings.
Rates, however, remain a pressure point. Jim Cramer named the impact of higher interest rates on stocks as his big fear right now. The Mad Money host expects earnings season to show how costlier borrowing is hitting companies.
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As U.S. long-term Treasury yields recently surged to their highest level since 2002, two prominent strategists who have long been bearish on sovereign bonds have turned bullish. Anatole Kaletsky, co-founder of Gavekal Research, this week turned positive on 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasuries; Jim Bianco, founder of Bianco Research, also shifted to a bullish stance on long-term U.S. Treasuries last week, marking his first positive view on the asset in six years. On Monday, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield closed at around 5.31%, while the 30-year yield rose to 5.66%, both hitting their highest closing levels since 2002. Bianco argued that after a prolonged sell-off, the absolute yields on long-term U.S. Treasuries are now attractive. TLT, the roughly $47 billion long-term U.S. Treasury bond ETF, had fallen for 10 consecutive trading days, but has still recorded around $5.3 billion in net inflows so far this year. Kaletsky has advised avoiding government bonds of major advanced economies since 2022, but now believes U.S. interest rates could fall again in the future; Bianco, meanwhile, noted that long-term Treasuries also hold hedging value if the economy weakens significantly or the stock market undergoes a major correction. However, factors including the U.S. fiscal deficit, Treasury supply, financing needs of AI firms, war-related spending, and rising energy prices could continue to push long-term yields higher.
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Jim Rickards says gold could hit $10,000 faster than expected, calling it simple math, backed by central bank buying and shifting dollar dynamics.
Why could gold hit $10,000 sooner than most analysts expect? Jim Rickards says it is “fifth grade math”: going from $9,000 to $10,000 is only an 11% move, much smaller than the jump from $3,000 to $4,000. He also explains why central bank buying puts a floor under gold, and why a strong dollar and a falling gold price do not mean what the debasement crowd thinks.
Chapters:
0:00 Jim Rickards and the 1998 LTCM Rescue
0:31 What Breaks First: Why Crises Start a Year Before They Hit
3:10 Where’s the Leverage? The Yen Carry Trade vs. Private Credit
5:13 Gold as a Dollar Signal: Why “King Dollar” Contradicts the Debasement Trade
7:33 The Case for $10,000 Gold by Mid-2027
10:24 Bitcoin vs. Gold: Rickards’ Skeptical View
13:07 Will Bitcoin Be a Safe Haven or a Risk Asset in the Next Crisis?
14:45 MoneyGPT: AI Risk and the Fallacy of Composition
17:49 Why Rickards Calls Stablecoins the Most Dangerous Thing in the World
22:58 The Fed’s September Rate Hike and What Comes Next
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BTC Inc., Bitcoin Magazine, or any affiliated entities. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. Nothing contained in this show constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. Viewers should consult their own advisors before making financial or business decisions.
Patrick Green
Patrick Green is an Assistant Producer and Channel Manager on the multimedia team at Bitcoin Magazine, focusing on production, content distribution, and channel strategy across the network.
Economist and financial commentator Jim Rickards has issued a warning on the risks stablecoins pose to global bond markets, while reiterating his view that gold’s price could climb to $10,000 by mid-2027. Rickards, known for his work as an author and advisor in financial intelligence, addressed a range of market topics in a recent interview.
Gold outlook: Central bank buying and price trajectoryRickards argued that an 11% move from $9,000 to $10,000 gold is mathematically less demanding than previous leaps, such as the climb from $3,000 to $4,000. He described this projected rise as “fifth grade math,” highlighting the relative simplicity for gold to achieve new milestones as its price advances.
Central banks’ ongoing accumulation of gold, Rickards stated, acts as a support for the metal’s price. He suggested that these purchases provide a floor, making sharp downside moves less likely. In his analysis, he distinguished between the impact of a strong US dollar and the forces that typically drive gold prices.
Rickards emphasized that, “going from $9,000 to $10,000 is a much smaller move than from $3,000 to $4,000, so the next major price jump could arrive sooner than analysts expect.”
He also called attention to the misconception that a rising dollar and declining gold prices confirm currency debasement stories, stating that these two trends can diverge for various reasons and should not always be seen as directly related.
Stablecoins: Risks to the bond marketRickards described stablecoins as “the most dangerous thing in the world” for the bond market, warning that large-scale adoption and integration of these digital assets could introduce significant instability.
Stablecoins are blockchain-based cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a fixed value, often pegged to major fiat currencies such as the US dollar. They are typically backed by reserves that may include bonds, cash, or other assets, serving as a bridge between traditional financial systems and digital markets.
Mini dictionary: Stablecoin — A type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain steady value by being backed by fiat assets such as cash or government bonds, often used to facilitate trading and mitigate volatility in crypto markets.
Rickards cautioned that the mass use of stablecoins could result in vulnerabilities for the broader financial system, particularly if disruptions occur in the underlying bond holdings. He outlined how these digital assets might concentrate systemic risk and exacerbate liquidity issues during times of financial stress.
Rickards characterized stablecoins as “the most dangerous thing in the world” for bond markets, citing the potential for rapid shifts in liquidity and heightened volatility.
Bitcoin vs. gold: Contrasting viewsRickards, who has maintained a skeptical stance on Bitcoin, questioned whether the cryptocurrency would serve as a safe haven or a risk asset in the event of a future crisis. He contrasted Bitcoin’s speculative characteristics with gold’s established role as a store of value. According to Rickards, investors often misunderstand the relationship between these assets, especially during periods of market turmoil.
Interest rate policy and future risksHe also discussed recent decisions by the US Federal Reserve, including a September rate hike, and explored how policy changes may create ripple effects throughout global financial markets. Rickards mentioned both the yen carry trade and the expansion of private credit as trends to monitor, as these could become sources of instability if market conditions deteriorate.
Throughout the interview, Rickards outlined how financial crises often begin to unfold a year in advance, citing historical episodes like the 1998 LTCM rescue as examples of delayed market recognition. He warned that current leverage dynamics, especially outside the traditional banking sector, may fuel unexpected dislocations.
Rickards also referenced the emergence of AI-driven technologies in finance, cautioning about potential risks and misunderstandings surrounding artificial intelligence in investment decision-making.
Goldman Sachs holds buy ratings on 5 stocks heading into the upcoming earnings season. Four have lost ground in 2026, leaving Baker Hughes as the only gainer.
The picks span theme parks, parcel delivery, advertising, Latin American banking and oilfield services. All the companies report their earnings between late October and mid-November.
Goldman Sachs is Betting Against Companies that Lost BigNu Holdings, parent of Brazilian digital bank Nubank, has taken the hardest hit of the 5. Its shares closed at $13.43 on October 2, a 19.77% loss since January. That price also leaves Nu roughly 29% below its 52-week high of $18.98.
Disney and Omnicom sit in the middle of the pack. Disney has shed 10.18% this year to $102.19, while Omnicom is down 8.17% at $74.15.
UPS has held up slightly better, falling 6.22% to $93.02. Baker Hughes, however, has moved in the opposite direction, gaining 22.97% this year to close at $56.
As a result, nearly 43 percentage points separate the best and worst performers among Goldman’s 5 picks.
Goldman Sachs Stock Picks Ahead of Q3 Earnings. Source: BeInCrypto/Google FinanceWhat Does Goldman Sachs See That the Market Has Missed?For Nu, analyst Tito Labarta is focused on the lender’s entry into US consumer credit. He kept a $23 price target, about 71% above Friday’s close.
“We think NU’s ultra-low cost digital approach with a strong consumer experience could allow it to successfully enter the market,” Labarta stated.
At Disney, analyst Michael Ng cut his target to $140 from $144, which still sits about 37% above Friday’s close.
Ng sees Disney in the early stages of an investment cycle spanning products and its Experiences division. He estimates earnings per share (EPS) will compound at roughly 13% a year.
UPS has finished winding down its Amazon volumes, according to its second-quarter earnings release. Goldman expects more consistent profit growth now that the drawdown and related cost cuts are complete. It also sees a leaner, more automated domestic network emerging once the Amazon drag fades.
Goldman also believes Wall Street is underestimating Omnicom’s organic growth, led by double-digit expansion in its media business. The bank flagged Omnicom’s October 20 report as a potential catalyst.
“With shares trading at 6x 2027e EPS, we think Q3 results could be a positive catalyst.”
Lastly, Goldman reinstated coverage of Baker Hughes last month with a buy rating and a $71 target. That sits roughly 27% above Friday’s close.
Analyst Neil Mehta pointed to synergies from the now-completed Chart Industries acquisition. Goldman was among Baker Hughes’ advisers on that deal and helped provide its debt financing.
The calls run against a more cautious read on the season. Jim Cramer has warned that this quarter’s results could fall short of the strong run investors have come to expect.
Omnicom’s October 20 report should offer the first test of Goldman’s picks. UPS and Baker Hughes follow on October 27. Disney and Nu Holdings are expected to report last, around November 12.
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TLDR Tesla shares rallied 5% following third-quarter delivery results that surpassed analyst projections. The electric vehicle maker delivered 486,532 units, exceeding the Street consensus of approximately 461,974. Energy storage deployments underperformed expectations at 13.7 GWh compared to the anticipated 15.9 GWh. CNBC’s Jim Cramer claims his Tesla investment thesis centers on SpaceX exposure rather than vehicle delivery metrics. Third-quarter earnings are scheduled for October 21, with investors focused on free cash flow and Optimus robot production timelines. Tesla stock surged 5% during Friday’s trading session. The rally followed the electric vehicle manufacturer’s announcement of third-quarter delivery figures that exceeded Wall Street forecasts.
Tesla, Inc., TSLA
The company reported deliveries totaling 486,532 vehicles for Q3. This represented a roughly 5% outperformance versus the company-compiled analyst consensus of 461,974 units.
Deliveries for the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover performed particularly well. The combined figure of 478,237 units surpassed both Tesla’s internal consensus and FactSet’s projection of 435,000 vehicles.
Year-over-year comparisons showed total deliveries declined approximately 2% from Q3 of the previous year. Nevertheless, the upside surprise versus expectations provided sufficient momentum to drive shares higher.
The quarterly update contained some disappointing elements. Tesla’s energy storage division failed to meet analyst targets.
Energy storage deployments totaled 13.7 GWh for the quarter. This fell short of the consensus estimate of 15.9 GWh by approximately 14%.
What Analysts Are Watching Colin Rusch from Oppenheimer suggested the delivery outperformance could translate into improved operating cash generation and healthier gross margin profiles. He also identified Full Self-Driving technology as a possible catalyst for future unit demand.
William Blair’s Jed Dorsheimer highlighted the same positive delivery surprise. He simultaneously acknowledged the disappointing performance in the energy storage segment.
Tesla manufactured 464,391 vehicles throughout the quarter. This production total fell approximately 22,000 units short of deliveries, indicating the company reduced on-hand inventory.
The inventory reduction could signal positive implications for cash flow generation. Oppenheimer noted it will monitor capital expenditure levels and balance sheet health in the upcoming earnings release.
Tesla’s third-quarter financial results are scheduled for release on October 21. Market participants will be seeking clarity on the production timeline for the Optimus humanoid robot.
Cramer’s Take Has Nothing to Do With Deliveries CNBC’s Jim Cramer presented an alternative investment rationale for Tesla shares. During his broadcast, he argued the primary growth opportunity lies outside the automotive division.
Cramer emphasized SpaceX as the critical factor. Earlier this year, Tesla converted its $2 billion xAI investment into a direct minority ownership position in SpaceX.
This transaction provides Tesla equity holders with indirect exposure to SpaceX’s financial performance. Cramer drew attention to the space company’s growing computational infrastructure, which generates revenue through capacity leasing to third-party clients.
He projected SpaceX could experience significant earnings acceleration in future periods. According to Cramer, this development would strengthen Tesla’s balance sheet and drive appreciation in the stock price over the long term.
Cramer also commented on the delivery results themselves. He attributed the better-than-expected numbers partly to increasing gasoline prices, which are accelerating consumer interest in electric vehicles.
As conventional fuel expenses rise, electric vehicles present a more economical alternative for cost-sensitive consumers. Cramer believes this macroeconomic trend contributed to Tesla’s ability to exceed delivery projections.
Despite Friday’s advance, Tesla shares remain down more than 15% year-to-date through 2026. The Wall Street consensus rating on the stock currently stands at Overweight.
AI agents and other bots now generate about 57% of web requests, according to Cloudflare data. Internet infrastructure stocks, which carry that traffic, are climbing.
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince expected bots to pass humans by the end of 2027. Instead, he said, it happened in May.
Who Profits When Bots Send Most Web Traffic?These companies run content delivery networks (CDNs), server hubs worldwide that speed up and secure web traffic. More automated requests mean more demand for that capacity, CNBC’s Jim Cramer argues.
Cramer said Cloudflare (NET) is up 121% from its February low. Akamai (AKAM) has gained 51% from its November low, and Fastly (FSLY) is up 159% this year.
Akamai’s latest catalyst is Anthropic. The company announced an $11.6 billion, seven-year commitment from the AI lab on September 24, according to its SEC filing.
The contract covers Anthropic’s central processing unit (CPU) workloads. It also gives the AI lab a warrant to buy up to about 5% of Akamai’s shares.
Shares jumped as much as 16% the next day, CNBC reported. Cramer said they have since given back those gains and more.
Akamai expects no change to 2026 revenue guidance. It plans to spend about $1.7 billion more this year on components such as memory.
Is Akamai Really Cheaper Than Cloudflare and Fastly?Cramer called Akamai cheap at under 16 times this year’s earnings estimates. He put Cloudflare at 279 times and Fastly at more than 50.
Cloudflare has seen steady growth for the past six months. Image Source: Trading ViewHe tied Akamai’s discount to a year of heavy spending. Cloudflare’s revenue growth has accelerated for about a year, he said.
Goldman Sachs strategist Peter Oppenheimer sees risk across the sector. He warned of an earnings bubble in tech, pointing to heavy borrowing and AI spending that is outpacing cash flow.
Cloudflare CEO Prince wants AI companies to pay for the content their crawlers collect. On September 15, Cloudflare launched a setting that lets sites refuse AI training while staying in search results.
Apple and Google already honor the opt-out, while Microsoft plans support in early 2027, according to Cloudflare.
Prince says automated traffic could reach 1,000 times human traffic within five years. Whether AI firms pay for it may decide who funds the infrastructure behind it.
Jim Cramer said the impact of higher interest rates is his big fear for the stock market right now. The Mad Money host raised the concern about 2 weeks after the Federal Reserve resumed hiking.
His warning came during a Thursday review of the third quarter, when software stocks rebounded and chip names cooled. He called software’s comeback the defining stock market story of that quarter.
“My big fear right now is the impact of higher interest rates on the stock market,” Cramer said.
The Fed Turned the Dial Back UpThe Federal Reserve raised its target range a quarter point to 3.75% to 4% on September 16. The decision marked its first increase since 2023.
The Fed said the move supports a timelier return to its 2% inflation goal. US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation cooled to 3.4% in August, still well above that target.
Fed projections also showed 16 of 18 participants expecting at least one more hike this year. J.P. Morgan sees that move coming in December, though it expects no long tightening cycle.
Futures traders mostly expect a pause on October 28, with CME FedWatch showing 75.1% odds of no change. By the December 9 meeting, however, the odds of a higher target range climb to 79.4%.
Most of that probability, 61.3%, sits on a single quarter-point move to 4% to 4.25%.
Target rate probabilities for the December 9, 2026 Fed meeting as of October 2. Source: CME FedWatchFollow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Home Depot Shows Where the Pressure LandsThe hike has weighed on rate-sensitive stocks such as Home Depot. Market data shows the retailer down over 6% between September 16 and October 1. Its shares have now lost over 18% since the start of 2026.
Home Depot Stock Performance. Source: TradingViewBorrowing costs have also climbed in the bond market. The 10-year Treasury yield ended October 1 near 5.24%, up from roughly 4.16% at the start of 2026. Ex-Dallas Fed chief Robert Kaplan says traders price a premium tied to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh into yields.
Those pressures have not yet dragged down the broader market, with the S&P 500 up about 12% in 2026. Cramer said the coming earnings season should give a clearer read on how costlier borrowing is affecting companies.
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TLDR CNBC’s Jim Cramer issued a buy recommendation for Apple stock, citing the foldable iPhone Duo rather than the company’s forthcoming smart home product. The foldable iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, with pre-orders launching October 16 and retail availability beginning October 23. Apple shares gained 1% in standard trading and climbed further after hours to reach $334.25. Industry analysts at Counterpoint Research project approximately 6 million iPhone Duo units could be sold in 2026. A separate Apple event scheduled for October 13 will introduce a new smart home hub featuring an integrated display. Jim Cramer has issued a buy recommendation for Apple stock. However, his reasoning might surprise market watchers.
The prominent CNBC personality took to X on Wednesday, urging followers to purchase Apple shares due to the iPhone Duo. He praised the foldable smartphone as “amazing.” Cramer emphasized that his bullish stance is unrelated to the tech giant’s other major product scheduled for release later this month.
Apple shares finished Wednesday’s regular session with a 1% increase. The stock continued its upward momentum during extended trading, climbing to $334.25, representing a 0.37% rise per data from Benzinga Pro.
Apple Inc., AAPL
The foldable iPhone Duo comes with a $1,999 base price tag. Customers can begin placing pre-orders on October 16, with physical availability in American stores starting October 23.
Cramer’s statement came on the heels of reporting by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman revealed that Apple intends to introduce an entirely different product on October 13. This upcoming gadget is a smart home control center featuring an embedded screen.
Details Emerging About the Smart Home Product According to reports, the hub carries the internal designation J490. The device is anticipated to sport approximately a 6-inch square screen.
The system will allegedly identify users through voice analysis. This capability would enable it to provide customized answers depending on which household member is speaking.
Additionally, Apple is preparing enhancements for both the HomePod mini and Apple TV. These products will receive an upgraded Siri virtual assistant as part of the broader update.
The refreshed HomePod mini will allegedly arrive in additional color options, such as green and pink. Cramer made it clear that his investment advice centers exclusively on the Duo, not the smart home initiative.
For years, Apple has trailed behind Amazon.com and Alphabet’s Google in the smart home marketplace. The October 13 presentation represents an opportunity for the company to prove its competitive capabilities.
The event also allows Apple to showcase advancements in artificial intelligence. The corporation has postponed its enhanced Siri assistant on several occasions previously.
Market Response Indicators for New Releases Research firm Counterpoint estimates that Apple may move approximately 6 million iPhone Duo units during 2026. This represents substantial demand for a device with a price point approaching $2,000.
Additional positive indicators have emerged from other markets. Opening week sales of the iPhone 18 Pro in China increased 12% compared to the previous year.
Apple secured 33% of Chinese smartphone sales during this tracking window. Market watchers interpret this as evidence that consumers are prepared to invest in premium-tier devices.
The company’s most recent quarterly earnings per share reached $2.02. This exceeded analyst consensus projections of $1.89.
Quarterly revenue totaled $109.42 billion, marking a 16.4% increase over the comparable period from the prior year. The corporation also announced a $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, distributed in August.
Apple has faced certain challenges recently. The company addressed a zero-day security flaw allegedly exploited in cyberattacks aimed at iPhone cryptocurrency wallets.
A class-action lawsuit in the United Kingdom concerning App Store monopoly allegations was permitted to move forward. Apple has not issued any statement regarding Cramer’s investment recommendation.
Key Highlights Advanced Micro Devices momentarily reached a $1 trillion market capitalization on September 21, 2026, before experiencing a modest retreat. Market commentator Jim Cramer predicts AMD’s rally will persist, emphasizing central processing unit requirements for agentic artificial intelligence applications. Shares have climbed 187% in 2026 and an impressive 281% over a twelve-month period. Despite unveiling Ross, an innovative AI assistant for engineering teams, the stock declined 0.59% during trading. Analyst consensus points to a Strong Buy rating with a mean price target of $648.07. AMD stock currently hovers around $616, reflecting a remarkable 187% gain since January and a staggering 281% appreciation over the trailing twelve months. The semiconductor manufacturer momentarily achieved the prestigious $1 trillion valuation milestone on September 21, 2026, before settling slightly lower.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., AMD
During his September 28 Mad Money broadcast, Jim Cramer weighed in on the extraordinary performance. He characterized Lisa Su’s corporate transformation as “potentially the greatest turnaround in business history” and expressed confidence that momentum remains intact.
Su assumed the chief executive position on October 8, 2014. At that juncture, shares traded near $3 and the entire enterprise commanded a mere $2.5 billion market capitalization.
Cramer’s Focus: Central Processing Units Over Graphics Accelerators Cramer’s bullish perspective on Advanced Micro Devices doesn’t center on graphics processing technology. Instead, he’s concentrating on central processing units and the emerging paradigm of agentic artificial intelligence.
Agentic AI architectures possess the capability to analyze situations, formulate strategies, and execute decisions autonomously. These computational workflows emphasize inference operations that run continuously, creating demand profiles that favor CPUs over the training-centric GPU requirements that propelled Nvidia’s dominance.
AMD’s EPYC server processor lineup has steadily captured market share from Intel over recent years. Data center segment revenue reached $6.7 billion during Q2 2026, representing a 107% year-over-year increase.
The chipmaker’s sixth-generation EPYC processors debuted in July, engineered specifically to handle agentic computing workloads. Additionally, AMD finalized an $8.2 billion acquisition of World Labs, a research organization established by Dr. Fei-Fei Li, significantly enhancing its internal artificial intelligence capabilities.
Understanding the $1 Trillion Valuation Achievement While Nvidia’s data center division alone generated $89 billion in revenue last quarter—exceeding AMD’s total by more than thirteen times—Nvidia’s $5.5 trillion valuation represents only approximately five times AMD’s market capitalization.
This valuation differential reveals that market participants aren’t evaluating AMD based solely on current performance metrics. Instead, investors are betting on the company’s future trajectory.
Cramer acknowledged an important qualification. Any security that climbs 30% within a single month and temporarily touches a $1 trillion valuation faces considerable risk of profit-taking should unexpected developments emerge.
Nevertheless, he maintained his optimistic outlook. Su has negotiated commitments from Anthropic for up to 2 gigawatts of MI450 GPU capacity and broadened AMD Helios installations with industry leaders including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle.
Among 36 Wall Street analysts who published research on AMD during the past three months, 30 recommend buying the stock. Notably, zero analysts rate it a sell, according to TipRanks data.
On Wednesday, September 30, shares edged down 0.59% notwithstanding the introduction of Ross, a sophisticated AI assistant engineered to accelerate engineering workflows spanning design, testing, debugging, and software development.
Ross leverages an extensive AMD knowledge repository containing technical documentation and implementation guides. The platform also employs reusable “agent skills” that enable teams to replicate successful methodologies across multiple initiatives.
“The AMD Ross agentic AI assistant has been a valuable addition to our development workflow,” said Geetha Govindaraj of iWave Global. AMD plans to add new tools to Ross each month.
The minor price decline occurred despite several analyst firms publishing updated research on Tuesday, September 29. William Blair’s Sebastien Naji maintained a Hold stance without establishing a price objective, StoneX’s Cody Acree reiterated a Buy recommendation at $685, and Stifel’s Ruben Roy affirmed a Buy rating at $635.
The Street’s aggregate assessment of AMD stands at Strong Buy, derived from 30 Buy recommendations and six Hold ratings issued during the previous three months. The consensus price target of $648.07 suggests approximately 7% appreciation potential from present trading levels.
Jim Cramer says the real threat to the artificial intelligence trade is public perception, not corporate spending. The CNBC “Mad Money” host warned that a souring story could hurt stocks.
Speaking on the show, Cramer said the AI industry is losing the fight over its own story. Meanwhile, investors keep debating whether spending on data centers has run too high.
Why Jim Cramer Sees a Story Problem for the AI TradeThe warning landed on a day when the 30-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since 2002, CNBC reported.
Cramer argued that public sentiment has turned against AI. He pointed to higher electricity prices and job fears, though he sees no evidence AI has cost jobs.
He also cited the optics of a White House AI lunch with Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Elon Musk.
Research group Data Center Watch counted 45 US projects worth $68 billion stalled by local opposition from April to June.
Cramer also said Anthropic and OpenAI feed the backlash by openly flagging their own safety risks. Its also been reported that Anthropic’s initial public offering (IPO) prospectus flags existential AI risks.
His fix is a better pitch.
“the companies have to start telling better stories.”
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money”, said on the show.
Where the Spending Debate FitsCramer did not address capital expenditure (capex) directly. In fact, he still described AI as the strongest growth theme of the era.
Even so, Goldman Sachs Research forecasts about $1 trillion of global AI investment in 2026.
Hyperscalers, the giant cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, anchor most estimates.
Apollo Global Management chief economist Torsten Slok said credit markets now see more hyperscaler debt risk. He tied the shift to rising leverage and uncertain payback on AI spending.
Still, Freedom Capital Markets’ Paul Meeks, who leads technology research, told CNBC it is too early to judge.
Separately, Cramer flagged the November midterms. He said a Democratic House could bring congressional probes targeting AI leaders. He also warned that October could turn tough if yields keep rising.
Third-quarter capex disclosures from hyperscalers may show whether investors judge AI by its spending or its story.
Rising rates and oil prices are squeezing the stock market, and CNBC’s Investment Committee is split on how to respond. Steve Weiss is raising cash while Jim Lebenthal stays fully invested.
The committee, a panel of money managers on CNBC’s Halftime Report, debated how to position as Treasury yields and Brent crude climbed.
What Rising Rates and Oil Prices Do to StocksThe 10-year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5.27% on Monday, its highest level since 2007. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded above $105 a barrel.
That combination therefore pressures equities in three ways.
Valuations: Higher yields make bonds more competitive and lower what investors pay for future earnings. Rate-sensitive sectors: Real estate, utilities, consumer discretionary and financials tend to feel higher borrowing costs first. Inflation: Costly energy can keep the Federal Reserve’s policy tighter for longer. How the Investment Committee Is PositionedThese forces have led CNBC’s investment committee to make different moves in its portfolio to navigate this tricky time for stocks. Weiss sold Cisco (CSCO) and trimmed Meta Platforms (META). He holds about 25% in cash and says that figure could rise.
Meanwhile, Meta shares fell 4.8% on Monday after a rally of nearly 13% the previous week.
Meta’s strong rally has cooled slightly. Image Source: Trading View “But look, there is no reason for the 10-year yield to come down.”
Steve Weiss, founder and managing partner of Short Hills Capital Partners, on CNBC
He sees 5% as support for the 10-year yield and a clear path to 6%.
Weiss argues yields have no reason to fall while oil stays high, because Iran has every interest in keeping crude rising. He does not see a reason to put cash to work in stocks unless they become clear bargains.
In contrast, Lebenthal, of Cerity Partners, argues earnings can carry stocks higher. He says the market’s forward earnings multiple has fallen from roughly 22 times to 18.5 times this year. Still, he argues, earnings growth justifies that level.
Another member of the committee described clear downtrends in real estate, utilities, consumer discretionary, and financials. That speaker said many investors had expected oil to fall before the midterm elections.
What Could Change the PictureOil is the swing factor, and talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have not produced a deal. However, a drop in crude could ease the pressure.
Turtle Creek strategist David Spika sees stocks gaining 5% to 10% by year-end if oil keeps falling. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee argues higher borrowing costs hit weaker companies harder.
Earnings season will test whether profit growth can offset a 10-year yield above 5%.
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This Explainer provides general factual and educational information. It is non-personalised, does not consider your circumstances or assess suitability, and is not investment research, financial, investment, legal or tax advice, an offer or a recommendation. References to assets, products, providers, protocols or laws are illustrative and do not imply endorsement. Information, regulation and availability may change or vary by jurisdiction; verify material facts using official sources. Crypto-assets and related products may result in total loss.
Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Chairman Tom Lee stated that Wall Street veteran Jim Bianco has turned bullish on U.S. Treasuries for the first time in six years, following U.S. bond yields climbing to roughly a 20-year high, and views the current level as attractive. Should U.S. bond yields begin to decline, narratives around "peak pain" yields, fiscal deficits, inflation concerns, and the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance may simultaneously soften, which could trigger a rebound in risk assets including stocks and crypto.
Trumpflation, the inflation tied to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war, has entered a more entrenched phase. Core inflation held near 3.3% through the summer even as headline prices cooled sharply, new data shows.
That gap between falling headline prices and stubborn core inflation is the real story. It suggests Trumpflation has spread beyond the gas pump and settled into the broader US economy.
Trumpflation’s Two-Front Inflation ProblemTrump reinstated tariffs in July under Section 301 of the Trade Act, months after a Supreme Court defeat. Businesses have passed the higher costs of imported materials on to shoppers.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in late February, cutting off roughly 20 million barrels of daily oil traffic. That is about a fifth of the world’s crude oil supply.
Diesel prices hit an all-time high of $6.50 a gallon in September, according to data cited by Barchart. Roughly a third of the world’s fertilizer supply also transits the strait, pushing up crop and produce costs.
The stickiness shows up in Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. It excludes volatile food and energy costs.
Macro strategist Jim Bianco has noted that core PCE has held above the Fed’s 2% target for 65 straight months. That streak, he argues, shows markets are missing the bigger story by fixating on oil.
Why It Matters for MarketsFed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised interest rates a quarter point on Sept. 16 anyway. Entrenched inflation typically takes a prolonged hiking cycle to unwind, not a single move.
That is a problem for a stock market trading near its richest valuation since the dot-com bubble. The gauge is the Shiller price-to-earnings ratio. Wall Street’s AI-driven rally has largely priced in steady rate relief ahead.
If Trumpflation keeps forcing the Fed’s hand instead, that bet could unravel. Investors banking on cheaper money may need to rethink how long the rally can last. Whether Warsh’s Fed sees it that way may become clear at its next meeting.
Jim Cramer says only two stocks have earned his rare sacred status, a label that exempts them from his own strict sell discipline.
He made that case in the same episode. He told viewers to abandon almost any other holding once its story changes. Nvidia and Apple, however, are the exceptions.
The Rule That Makes Exceptions RareCramer’s core message is blunt. Investors should practice what he calls buy and homework, not buy and hold. A stock earns loyalty only while its original thesis holds. Once the facts change, he says, the position has to go.
That discipline is central to his public reputation. Traders have built entire strategies around wagering against his calls, an approach BeInCrypto has chronicled through the Inverse Cramer trade.
Against that backdrop, naming any stock untouchable is a rare move for Cramer.
Why Nvidia and Apple Get a PassCramer reserves his highest blessing, own it, don’t trade it, for exactly two companies. He pointed to management quality as the deciding factor behind that trust.
He recalled Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s September 2022 appearance on the show. The stock had fallen for most of that year. Meanwhile, Huang described how artificial intelligence would depend on Nvidia’s chips. The stock bottomed within a month and hit new highs by the following spring.
He drew a similar parallel to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. Benioff insisted his business had not slowed during the Great Recession, even as the broader economy did. Both calls proved accurate, Cramer said. That track record, in his view, is what buys lasting trust.
Even so, Cramer stopped short of telling investors to switch off judgment entirely. The homework still applies to Nvidia’s compressed valuation compared with Apple’s record run, he said. Something could still change at either company.
A Reminder That Sacred Status Isn’t GuaranteedIn contrast, Cramer paired the praise with a warning. He cited Bed Bath & Beyond’s failed $11.8 billion buyback strategy. It shows, he said, that even trusted management can misread a business in decline.
For Cramer, stocks earn permanence rather than inherit it. Nvidia and Apple hold that status today. Nothing, however, guarantees they keep it tomorrow.
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This Analysis reflects BeInCrypto's editorial interpretation of information and data available at publication and may become outdated. It is general and non-personalised, does not consider your circumstances, and is not investment research, financial, investment, legal or tax advice, an offer or a recommendation. Forecasts, targets, technical analysis and forward-looking statements are uncertain and may not materialise; past performance and indicators do not predict future results. References to assets, products or providers do not imply endorsement. Crypto-assets and financial products may result in total loss. Verify material information before acting.
Jim Cramer just laid out his personal rulebook for investing discipline. It is the same code of conduct that inspired an entire trading strategy built on wagering against him.
On Mad Money, Cramer told viewers to never buy a full position at once. He also said to keep cash on hand and never panic-sell in a downturn.
The Inverse Cramer TradeTuttle Capital Management launched the Inverse Cramer Tracker ETF (SJIM) in March 2023. The fund was built to short whatever stocks Cramer touted on Mad Money.
Its bullish counterpart, the Long Cramer ETF (LJIM), shut down about five months earlier after attracting even less investor interest.
SJIM followed in February 2024, closing with just $2.4 million under management and a 15% loss since launch. The meme, however, outlived the fund.
In contrast, Autopilot cofounder Chris Josephs built a separate version of the same bet through his trading app. Users can mirror an Inverse Cramer portfolio that takes the opposite side of his calls.
Josephs said the portfolio has gained about 158% since its 2023 launch. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust rose roughly 68% over the same period, he said.
The Inverse Cramer portfolio held about $55 million in assets as of March 2026, according to Josephs.
Rules He Does Not Always FollowThe gap shows up in crypto too. Cramer sold his Bitcoin holdings over quantum-computing fears.
Meanwhile, he told a caller on the same show to buy the coin he had just dumped. That is the opposite of the panic-avoidance rule he now preaches.
BeInCrypto has tracked the pattern before. Traders have drawn similar comparisons using Arthur Hayes’ trading history as another case study in fading big names.
None of this proves today’s rules are wrong. But the overlap is notable. Never buy all at once, always keep cash, never panic. That reads like a checklist of the moves the Inverse Cramer crowd says he breaks himself.
Jim Cramer used a decade of interviews with Tim Cook to argue that Apple’s growth story is nowhere near finished, even as Cook hands the CEO title to John Ternus.
On a CNBC Mad Money “master class” segment built from calls and sit-downs going back to 2015, Cramer’s throughline is his old mantra to own Apple rather than trade it, and he says the mechanisms Cook built to support that call are still compounding long after his exit.
The Buyback EngineCramer’s strongest data point is arithmetic, not sentiment. Since Cook took over in 2011, Apple’s share count has shrunk by more than 40% through buybacks, while the dividend has risen every single year.
Combined with what Cramer calls the industry’s best balance sheet, that shrinking share count did much of the heavy lifting behind Apple’s roughly 2,300% stock rally, a run that also helped push Apple past Nvidia as the world’s most valuable company earlier this year.
AAPL was a consistent performer under Tim Cook. Image Source: Trading ViewIt is also the mechanism Cramer expects to keep working long after Cook has left the building.
The AI “Laggard” DefenseCramer flips the AI criticism on its head. While hyperscalers burn cash building out data centers, Apple keeps capital spending low. Apple also reportedly still collects roughly $20 billion a year from Google alone to remain the iPhone’s default search engine, a deal Cramer argues quietly outweighs whatever Apple pays for its AI tie-in with Google’s chatbot, Gemini.
In his telling, a company that isn’t racing to wreck its own balance sheet on AI infrastructure isn’t lagging so much as picking its spots.
“The man doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”
— Cramer
That’s the case Cramer is making for Cook’s legacy as Ternus takes the wheel: a capital-return machine and a services business built to outlast any one product cycle.
Whether that’s enough on its own, or whether Ternus needs to add a genuine AI push of his own, is the open question Cramer’s tribute conveniently leaves for someone else to answer.
Jim Cramer expects a relatively quiet week for Wall Street, with only a few major corporate events left on the calendar before September ends.
Much of the month’s major macroeconomic news has already passed, with the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan all raising rates. That leaves the last full week with one analyst meeting and a short earnings run.
September Is Doing What September Usually DoesThe major US indexes have posted mixed results so far in September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost roughly 3% so far in September. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has edged up 0.46%, and the Nasdaq Composite has gained 0.58%.
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S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average Performance in September. Source: TradingView The blue-chip index also absorbed most of the damage from the Fed’s decision, falling 1.7% on the week.
The Nasdaq rose 0.7% over those same five sessions as buyers returned to artificial intelligence (AI) names. The Fed also signaled that further tightening could follow.
The calendar also works against US stocks, adding to pressure from central banks. Historically, all three indexes have struggled in this stretch.
The Dow has averaged a 0.8% September loss since 1950, and the Nasdaq has dropped 0.9% since 1971, a seasonality record that has been punishing autumn optimism for decades.
Cramer set expectations accordingly.
“Remember, September is the cruelest month. … Here’s hoping we’ll have a relatively sedate couple of weeks,” he said.
Jim Cramer’s Stock Watchlist Runs From Okta to CostcoWith the macroeconomic calendar relatively light, individual companies could take more of the market’s attention. Cramer identified Okta’s Wednesday analyst meeting as the week’s most consequential corporate event.
The cybersecurity company’s stock has doubled in 2026. CEO Todd McKinnon has also positioned the company’s technology to identify and track AI agents.
“It got me thinking, how is it possible that we have all these real smart people at these AI companies, and they have us all worried about a practical cyber solution?..Why don’t they, like, talk to the cybersecurity guys?” Cramer stated.
Okta Stock Performance in 2026. Source: Google FinanceCramer also highlighted several earnings reports coming out this week. KB Home reports on Tuesday, with shares trading down 17.43% in 2026. Its second-quarter revenue already fell 27% from a year earlier, keeping the housing market in focus.
General Mills reports on Wednesday, down roughly 20% this year. Cramer said he cannot recommend it, citing higher input costs and GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Cintas and Paychex also report on the same day.
Darden Restaurants reports Thursday holding a 12% gain, though Cramer prefers Chili’s owner Brinker International, which has run far ahead of it this year.
Costco closes the week after Thursday’s bell. Shares have slid from above $1,000 in late April to about $894, with Cramer watching for signs of whether younger members are becoming harder to retain.
A quiet week still carries a test, covering housing, small business, groceries, and warehouse retail.
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Trader Loracle’s unrealized loss on Sandi short positions hits $4.67 million, while the unrealized loss on his HYPE short positions has widened to $2.91 million.
Qwen simultaneous interpretation model Qwen3.8-LiveTranslate launched, latency reduced by 18%
Beating AI News: Qianwen releases real-time simultaneous interpretation model Qwen3.8-LiveTranslate. The model cuts the average lag time (LAAL, a metric measuring simultaneous interpretation average delay) from 2.8 seconds of its predecessor to 2.3 seconds, and adds new capabilities including real-time speaker diarization, synchronized source and translation output, and long-context disambiguation. It can now distinguish different speakers, align translations with specific utterances, and ensure translated speech more stably retains each speaker’s voice characteristics. Source and translation texts are also returned in a synchronized stream. The model further leverages previous context to identify names, terms, and references, reducing ambiguity stemming from only processing the current sentence. API pricing remains largely unchanged versus the previous generation. Per Alibaba Cloud’s price list, the prices for audio input, image input, text output, and audio output of Qwen3.8-LiveTranslate in the Beijing region are identical to those of Qwen3.5-LiveTranslate; the four prices for the Singapore region have even decreased slightly.
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An entity added 2,086 ETH to its holdings for $2,599, bringing its total ETH holdings to 9,058.19.
According to monitoring by AI Auntie, a certain entity has bought an additional 2,086 ETH at an average price of $2,599 over the past 15 hours, totaling around $5.42 million. Since yesterday, the entity has been adding to its ETH position by selling UBTC, having purchased a cumulative 9,058.19 ETH for approximately $22.57 million at an average cost of roughly $2,492.62, with an unrealized profit of about $1.22 million at present.
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SlowMist: FomoPeek Versions 1.1–1.2 Contain Malicious Code, May Result in Leakage of Private Keys and Mnemonics
SlowMist, a prominent blockchain security firm, has issued a security alert, revealing it has recently received multiple reports of FomoPeek users’ crypto assets being stolen. Following a joint investigation with OKX’s security team, the firm found that some affected users had previously installed or used FomoPeek versions 1.1 to 1.2, which contain malicious code. SlowMist noted that FomoPeek includes modules unrelated to its legitimate operations, one of which is a kernel exploit framework targeting iOS, supporting 8 distinct attack vectors that automatically select exploitation methods based on the device model and iOS version. Affected iOS versions span 12.0 to 18.7, and 26.0 to 26.1. If the exploit is successful, the app can break out of the iOS sandbox, access and decrypt Keychain data, leading to leaks of private keys, mnemonic phrases, login credentials, and other sensitive files. Additionally, FomoPeek connects to hidden servers unrelated to its public services and can receive remote commands. SlowMist added that analysis of captured plaintext traffic shows the malicious attack functions are currently active and run automatically on a regular basis. The firm advised users who have installed or used FomoPeek versions 1.1 to 1.2 to immediately check their assets for anomalies, generate new private keys and mnemonic phrases on a trusted device that never had the app installed, transfer their assets to a new account promptly, upgrade iOS to the latest version, and avoid continuing to use or reinstalling FomoPeek.
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A BIT-associated address has transferred another 1,000 BTC to Binance, worth $81.06 million.
Per HTX market data, the wallet address bc1qsz associated with BIT (formerly Matrixport) has deposited an additional 1,000 BTC into Binance, worth roughly $81.06 million. On September 15, BIT (formerly Matrixport) deposited 1,400 BTC into Binance, valued at approximately $107.8 million, while withdrawing 10,000 ETH from the exchange, worth around $24.67 million.
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Altcoin season has arrived; the TOTAL3 index has risen over 22% in 30 days, and market sentiment continues to improve.
The altcoin market remains hot, with the TOTAL3 index (total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum) rising over 22% in the past 30 days, while Ethereum’s market share increased by 10.23% over the same period. According to HTX market data, in the last 24 hours: AR rallied more than 46% to a market cap of $260 million; STRK jumped over 32% to $302 million; XTZ gained more than 28% to $354 million; F rose over 27% to $20 million; SYN climbed more than 28% to $54 million; G advanced over 23% to $84 million; INJ rallied more than 23% to $732 million; ZAMA surged over 22% to $205 million; MORPHO jumped more than 18% to $1.721 billion; SKY gained over 14% to $1.671 billion.
Key Takeaways On Mad Money, Jim Cramer highlighted Broadcom as potentially undervalued, noting the shares “may be too cheap to ignore” following a decline exceeding 10% over the past month Shares have retreated approximately 7% following the company’s September 2 quarterly earnings announcement and currently trade about 30% beneath peak levels Third quarter fiscal results showed revenue of $29.6 billion, representing an 85.5% year-over-year increase, while AI semiconductor sales jumped 221% to reach $16.7 billion Management increased annual AI revenue expectations to $58 billion, with longer-term forecasts targeting $230 billion by the 2028 fiscal year The stock’s forward price-to-earnings multiple has contracted to 18.1x, while valuation analysis suggests fair value near $459.95, indicating potential upside of 35.5% Broadcom shares were changing hands around $347 on September 17, gaining approximately 2.3% during the session, though remaining significantly below the highs reached in June.
Broadcom Inc., AVGO
During his September 14 Mad Money broadcast, Jim Cramer spotlighted Broadcom as particularly noteworthy among artificial intelligence stocks that have experienced significant pressure. His perspective was clear: the shares have been disproportionately punished relative to what he characterized as modest guidance disappointment.
“Down here, roughly 150 points below its June high, the stock may be too cheap to ignore,” Cramer stated.
The decline Cramer referenced began following September 2, when the company released its third fiscal quarter performance. Revenue totaled $29.59 billion, exceeding the $29.25 billion consensus estimate. AI chip sales specifically reached $16.7 billion, representing a 221% year-over-year surge.
Even with results topping expectations, shares declined 3.39% that session. Market participants took issue with forward guidance, which was perceived as merely in-line rather than delivering the outsized beats that had become anticipated.
This dynamic has emerged as somewhat typical. The previous quarter followed an identical trajectory: strong results followed by a 13% share price decline.
Revenue Projections and Expansion Plans Executives raised their full-year AI revenue forecast to $58 billion from the previous $56 billion estimate. Looking further ahead, they outlined projections of $115 billion for fiscal 2027 and $230 billion by fiscal 2028. The company’s remaining performance obligations total $179.2 billion, providing substantial forward revenue visibility.
Broadcom serves major hyperscale customers including Alphabet and Meta, delivering specialized accelerators and advanced networking infrastructure supporting some of the industry’s most ambitious AI deployments.
Total revenue expanded 85.5% year-over-year during the fiscal third quarter, while levered free cash flow reached $39.4 billion through July 31. The company’s return on equity currently stands at 44.2%.
Valuation Metrics and Chart Analysis The post-earnings correction has compressed AVGO’s forward price-to-earnings ratio to approximately 18.1x, down from higher levels seen earlier in the year. On a trailing basis, the multiple remains at 42.4x. The free cash flow yield currently measures 2.4%.
Fundamental valuation frameworks indicate fair value around $459.95, pointing to potential appreciation of 35.5% from present prices. Wall Street analyst targets suggest even greater potential, with consensus projections implying approximately 57.6% upside as of late July.
Technical indicators present a more cautious outlook. Both daily and weekly momentum signals register as Strong Sell. The daily relative strength index stands at 32.46, approaching oversold conditions. The weekly RSI reads 43.26.
Institutional investor interest remains robust. Data from Insider Monkey shows 170 hedge funds maintained positions in Broadcom during the most recent reporting period, down marginally from 173 in the preceding quarter. Fisher Asset Management controlled the largest stake at 15.1 million shares.
Short selling activity remains minimal, with only 1.08% of the float held in short positions as of August 31.
AVGO closed at $347.30, adding $7.79 during the trading session.
CNBC’s Jim Cramer compared stock sector performance across the last three Federal Reserve rate-hike cycles, highlighting how the winners have shifted over time.
The comparison comes after the Fed raised rates in September 2026 for the first time since 2023, citing persistent inflation, a resilient labor market, and oil prices pushed higher by the Middle East conflict.
How Sectors Performed After the First HikeCramer, host of Mad Money, examined three stretches within the Fed’s December 2015 to December 2018 tightening cycle. In the three months after that first hike, defensive sectors led the market.
Utilities, consumer staples, and real estate ranked among the strongest performers, Cramer said. Communication services technically topped the group, though Cramer called that figure misleading.
The sector did not exist under that name until late 2018, so the result actually reflects its predecessor, telecommunications, which investors treated as a safety trade at the time.
The Cycle’s Middle and Final StretchLooking at the roughly one year between the Fed’s first and second hikes, the picture flipped. Energy topped the list, and materials also performed well, while healthcare, real estate, and staples ranked among the worst performers.
Financials and industrials were also among the best performers in that stretch, Cramer said, since inflation stayed tame and recession fears were minimal at the time.
Over the full three-year period, information technology became the dominant sector. Consumer discretionary and financials also outperformed, echoing a similar cyclicals and financials rally strategists are floating today, while communication services, staples, energy, and materials slid toward the bottom as the Fed grew more aggressive.
“Of course, every tightening cycle is different.”
Cramer, CNBC’s Mad Money
Cramer said the current cycle carries a twist the 2015 to 2018 period did not have. War-driven oil prices, rather than broad economic demand, are adding pressure behind the Fed’s latest rate hike.
He added that further tightening could stall if oil slides back toward $80 a barrel, easing that pressure.
Whether defensive sectors repeat their early lead from a decade ago may depend on how quickly that geopolitical shock fades.
Disclaimer
This Analysis reflects BeInCrypto's editorial interpretation of information and data available at publication and may become outdated. It is general and non-personalised, does not consider your circumstances, and is not investment research, financial, investment, legal or tax advice, an offer or a recommendation. Forecasts, targets, technical analysis and forward-looking statements are uncertain and may not materialise; past performance and indicators do not predict future results. References to assets, products or providers do not imply endorsement. Crypto-assets and financial products may result in total loss. Verify material information before acting.
Famous CNBC Mad Money host Jim Cramer reaffirmed his $250 price target on Palantir stock (PLTR) on Thursday. Cramer’s price calls are often a complete hit or miss. “Inverse Cramer” is a popular meme, where investors believe the opposite of his prediction is likely to happen.
Palantir stock currently trades near $175, roughly 43% below the predicted target. So, the big question is, does Wall Street back Cramer’s forecast?
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) Stock Performance. Source: Yahoo FinanceWhat Are Other Analysts Predicting About Palantir Stock? UBS analyst Karl Keirstead lifted his target from $220 to $250 on September 15. D.A. Davidson’s Gil Luria made the same move from $200 four days earlier. Both pointed to demand for sovereign AI. That means AI systems that governments run on their own infrastructure rather than an outside vendor’s cloud.
Both analysts increased their price targets after AIPCon11, the company’s customer showcase. Palantir has also struck a fresh tie-up with Nvidia on supply chain software.
The raises followed Q2 results in which Palantir beat Wall Street estimates. Revenue reached $1.94 billion, up 93% from a year earlier.
Taking my Price Target for Palantir from $200 to $250!
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) October 29, 2025 Most of Wall Street is Still Less BullishThe consensus is more cautious. Across 23 analysts tracked by TipRanks, the average 12-month target stands at $202.11.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) Stock Forecast & Price Target. Source: TipRanksSeventeen rate the stock a buy, four a hold, and two a sell. The lowest target on the board is $80, under half the current price.
Palantir trades at roughly 149 times trailing earnings. That valuation has drawn repeated criticism, including from short seller Michael Burry.
Karp appeared on CNBC the same morning, calling for enforceable guidelines on artificial intelligence. Cramer posted his target shortly afterward.
Shares have added 6.4% over five days, yet they still sit below the 52-week high of $207.52. Closing the $74 gap to Cramer’s target now rests on commercial bookings holding their pace.
Nvidia shares dropped four points on September 14 after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay calling for a systematic slowdown in AI model development. Jim Cramer weighed in on the dip, calling NVDA a stock worth buying, but with a caveat: wait for it to fall further.
His reasoning centers on what he considers insufficient buyback programs from Nvidia, a factor that limits the downside protection investors might otherwise count on during moments of turbulence like this one.
The Amodei paradox Amodei’s essay, published around September 12-13, laid out the case for pacing AI advancements more carefully, citing safety concerns and risks tied to rapid technological leaps.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Anthropic itself has committed to roughly $517 billion in compute spending through August 2026. That money flows directly into the pockets of companies like Nvidia, whose GPU infrastructure underpins virtually every serious AI research lab on the planet.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been open about how the Anthropic relationship is deepening. Grace Blackwell system shipments climbed 27% month-over-month, a pace that suggests demand isn’t just sustained but accelerating.
Nvidia’s demand picture remains staggering The company reported a backlog of orders exceeding $2 trillion in its Q2 results. That’s roughly equivalent to the entire GDP of Italy sitting in a queue waiting for GPU shipments.
The 27% month-over-month increase in Grace Blackwell shipments demonstrates that Nvidia’s latest-generation systems are ramping faster than previous product cycles.
Safety rhetoric vs. spending reality Cramer’s broader point about buybacks deserves attention. Nvidia’s repurchase program, relative to its market capitalization, hasn’t kept pace with what investors in a stock this dominant might expect. Without that cushion, dips triggered by external commentary can extend further than they otherwise would.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Jim Cramer says he sees a parallel between market conditions in 2026 and those that preceded 2018’s brutal stock selloff. The CNBC host stopped short of predicting a full repeat.
On his CNBC show, Mad Money, he mapped out the parallels investors are watching. Then he explained how he thinks people should position for what comes next.
A 2018 Parallel EmergesBoth 2018 and 2026 fall in the second year of a Trump term. Stocks rallied hard in both periods.
Oil prices and Treasury yields climbed in 2018, and they are climbing again now. Inflation also sits above the Federal Reserve’s target in both periods.
Back in 2018, the S&P 500 fell roughly 20% between its September peak and Christmas Eve. A hawkish Powell helped trigger that slide.
The index recovered fast. Powell then cut rates three times, and the S&P 500 closed 2019 up close to 30%.
This time, the pressure sits with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who took over from Powell in May. Oil trades near $100 a barrel, and the 10-year Treasury yield is approaching 5%.
Traders now price rate hike odds near 90% for this month’s Fed meeting.
Trim, Don’t SellCramer isn’t calling for investors to exit the market.
“I’m not saying you should just sell everything because history’s going to repeat itself.”
Cramer
Instead, he wants people to trim winning positions and raise cash.
His own Charitable Trust has pushed cash into the mid-teens as a share of the portfolio. That is higher than usual. A bigger cash pile gives him room to buy quality stocks back if prices fall.
Cramer thinks Warsh is unlikely to repeat Powell’s 2018 mistakes. He also thinks markets understand this administration’s pressure on the Fed better than they did in 2018.
Still, he called the parallels eerie enough to watch. History may not repeat exactly, he said, but it could rhyme.
Key Takeaways Jim Cramer issued a strong “MUST BUY” recommendation for CrowdStrike shares on Monday following CEO George Kurtz’s analysis of AI-powered cyber threats. CEO Kurtz introduced the concept of “Agent-state,” describing how AI-enabled attacks now operate as automated campaigns running at machine speed. In partnership with Nvidia, CrowdStrike unveiled SafeMind on September 1, an adaptive agentic defense platform that evolves with each blocked threat. Shares of CRWD rose 3.86% during after-hours trading, reaching $214.72 from Friday’s close of $206.74. Year-to-date performance shows CrowdStrike up more than 74%, though the stock has declined approximately 6% in the last thirty days. On Monday, Jim Cramer issued a strong buy recommendation for CrowdStrike (CRWD) following a detailed post from CEO George Kurtz addressing the current landscape of AI-powered cybersecurity.
CrowdStrike shares advanced 3.86% during after-hours trading, moving to $214.72. The cybersecurity company had finished Friday’s session at $206.74.
CoreWeave, Inc. Class A Common Stock, CRWV
On X, Cramer amplified Kurtz’s message, declaring it “the most important post you will read on this MUST BUY stock.”
Kurtz’s statement came as a response to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s call for AI development labs to reduce the velocity of frontier AI innovation. OpenAI’s Sam Altman voiced support for Amodei’s position, joined by multiple prominent figures in the AI sector.
However, Kurtz challenged the notion that deceleration would enhance security. He maintained that frontier technology will advance at its own momentum, and the cybersecurity sector must ensure that progression happens with proper safeguards.
“Pacing what comes next doesn’t secure what’s already here,” Kurtz stated in his post.
Understanding the Agent-State Phenomenon According to Kurtz, the cybersecurity landscape has undergone a fundamental transformation. AI technology now provides every criminal actor and individual threat with what he described as “elite execution” capabilities. Modern attacks are no longer executed by single operators but through synchronized AI-driven agents conducting complete campaigns with minimal human oversight.
“The unit of threat is no longer the hacker. It’s an autonomous campaign. I call it the Agent-state,” Kurtz explained.
To counter this emerging threat model, Kurtz advocates treating each AI agent as a privileged identity requiring rigorous permissions, time-limited credentials, and emergency shutdown capabilities. He emphasized that critical decision-making authority must stay with human operators.
Kurtz also acknowledged that both Anthropic and OpenAI have pledged to integrate independent security evaluators with full employee access into their infrastructure. He confirmed that CrowdStrike plans to contribute its real-world threat intelligence to these collaborative efforts.
The SafeMind Platform and Nvidia Collaboration CrowdStrike and Nvidia jointly introduced SafeMind on September 1, an agentic defense architecture designed for continuous improvement. Kurtz characterized the system as one that evolves with each threat it successfully neutralizes.
During recent client conversations, Kurtz revealed that agentic threats are a universal concern among CrowdStrike’s customer base, indicating rising demand for advanced defensive solutions.
While the stock experienced a positive move in extended trading, CRWD has experienced roughly a 6% pullback over the previous month following a peak in late August. That high point followed the company’s announcement of record quarterly performance, which accelerated security budget discussions among enterprise customers.
On a year-to-date basis, CrowdStrike has gained 74.46%, and has climbed over 85% across the trailing twelve months. The stock maintains a Momentum rating in the 96th percentile alongside a Growth rating in the 97th percentile.
Cramer clarified that his overall market outlook remains cautious, drawing parallels to 2018 conditions and recommending that investors lock in gains on strong performers rather than engage in panic selling. He identified cybersecurity as a core investment theme for 2026 during an August discussion.
As of Monday morning, CrowdStrike was trading at $214.72 in extended-hours activity.
Six weeks after AI bets nearly wrecked his hedge fund, Leopold Aschenbrenner is putting money into the same companies again. His hedge fund, Situational Awareness, bought call options on AMD, Bloom Energy, CoreWeave, SK Hynix and SanDisk, CNBC reported, citing sources. The trades ran from late last week into this week.
The former OpenAI researcher became famous for a 2024 essay arguing that AI could reach human-level intelligence by 2027. He built an investment business around that belief, backing companies supplying the computing capacity and electricity AI needs.
July exposed how dangerous that bet had become. Borrowed money magnified falling share prices, triggering demands for cash the fund could not meet. Assets shrank from a peak above $45 billion to roughly $10 billion, according to CNBC.
Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situation Awareness has reportedly been active in the options market while building significant stakes in $CRWV, $SNDK, $BE and $AMD.
He’s leaning right back into the AI trade after blowing up the fund earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/8aol5y5tAU
— Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) September 11, 2026 What July Cost Leopold AschenbrennerKen Griffin’s Citadel bought distressed holdings at a discount. Situational Awareness kept private investments, including Anthropic. The SEC later subpoenaed Wall Street banks over their dealings with the fund. The reported inquiry carried no allegation of wrongdoing.
His return uses call options: contracts that let buyers purchase shares at a fixed price before a deadline. When paid for upfront without borrowing, their losses are capped at the purchase cost. That entire amount can still disappear if the options expire worthless.
The familiar names have drawn attention. On Friday, CNBC’s Jim Cramer wrote:
“Someone is shooting against all the Situational Stocks!”
What July Cost Leopold AschenbrennerFriday’s trading was mixed: Bloom rose nearly 7% and AMD almost 3%. SanDisk and CoreWeave fell.
AMD’s outstanding put options also recently outnumbered calls, though those contracts can reflect investors protecting existing holdings.
It remains unclear whether Aschenbrenner is using surviving cash or fresh investor money. He is again betting on the companies behind the AI boom, with contracts that put a deadline on the payoff.
AMD, BE, CRWV, and SNDK Stock Performances. Source: TradingViewFollow us on X to get the latest news as it happens.
Mad Money host Jim Cramer says the 30-year Treasury, not company fundamentals, is now the single force driving stock prices. He points to a yield near 5.3% squeezing housing, borrowing costs, and equity valuations.
Cramer recalled a lesson from his early Goldman Sachs days. An instructor corrected his fundamentals-based take on Delta Air Lines by pointing to the long bond instead.
Why the Long Bond Now Overrides FundamentalsCramer argued a government-backed 5.3% yield gives investors a safer alternative to stocks. That pressure is already forcing capital-intensive sectors, like airlines, to compete for funding.
“The long bond, the 30-year Treasury, is in charge of everything.”
— Jim Cramer, CNBC
Cramer’s warning echoes a pattern already seen this year. In August, bond stress hit Asia, pushing investors toward Bitcoin and gold.
A similar dynamic emerged in late August. BeInCrypto reported on a dangerous September pattern linking bonds, stocks, and Bitcoin.
Housing and Treasury Supply Add to the SqueezeHigher long-term rates are hitting housing directly. Cramer noted mortgage rates breached 7%, discouraging new listings and pricing out buyers.
Housing touches nearly every part of the economy, from materials and wages to retail spending. Cramer said that ripple effect makes the sector especially sensitive to rate moves.
Cramer also criticized the scale of Treasury issuance. He noted roughly $4.5 trillion in long bonds are outstanding.
That dwarfs the government’s buyback program, which he called too small to move yields. He also flagged proposed stimulus checks as a further drag on the deficit.
That concern echoes recent BeInCrypto coverage of how rates threaten GOP turnout ahead of the midterms.
For investors over 50, Cramer said Treasuries now beat lower-yielding stocks. Younger investors, he added, can still afford to hold riskier growth names.
With oil prices still elevated, Cramer said energy costs and Treasury yields will keep dictating which sectors suffer first. Airlines, he suggested, remain the most exposed.
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Copper reached an all-time high of $14,617 a ton on the London Metal Exchange today. The rally extended into a fourth session as traders positioned for US tariffs on refined metal.
The advance marked a second consecutive record. Copper has gained around 17% this year, supported by tight near-term supply and steady industrial demand.
Washington Silence Keeps a Premium on the PriceA proclamation signed last August placed a 50% tariff on semi-finished copper products. Refined metal escaped, and the Commerce Department was told to revisit the question.
Its report was due June 30. Roughly two months past that date, the White House still has nothing on paper. Traders keep pricing the levy anyway.
Merchants shipped hundreds of thousands of tons to the US this year to capture higher prices there. Near-term availability outside the US has tightened as a direct result.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Morgan Stanley now sees the possibility of the first annual decline in global copper mine supply since 2017.
Meanwhile, copper is trading near record highs.
The world is hunting for supply.
We need more mines.
— Gold Telegraph ⚡ (@GoldTelegraph) September 6, 2026 Supply explains the other half. The world’s biggest mines are ageing, and output is not keeping pace with data centers, renewable power, and grid upgrades.
Market analyst Jim Bianco noted that copper has advanced more than 68% since April 2025. That run predates the current speculation about tariffs.
The metal recently broke its previous record, set in January. It then cleared $14,600 a ton for the first time. Previously, August saw a record on Comex, with copper pushing past $6.71 a pound.
Copper Prices in 2026. Source: TradingViewGold Retreats as Copper RunsCopper’s climb arrives while bullion sees a mixed performance. Gold trades near $4,405 an ounce, roughly 21.8% below the record $5,589.38 it set on January 28.
Some traders read the divergence as a rotation out of defensive positions and into industrial exposure. Analyst Qmo pointed to the copper-gold ratio, which he said broke its downtrend for the first time this year.
The signal is not clean, however. Gold rose about 10% in August, its strongest month since January, and remains up roughly 25% over 12 months.
That leaves the tariff decision as the near-term variable. Its arrival would test whether copper’s record rests on policy expectations or on the supply gap underneath them.
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