Market Signal Briefing

Journalist

Posted: January 14, 2026

Sui Network experienced an extended mainnet stall on 14 January, temporarily disrupting transactions and access to ecosystem applications.

In a post shared on X, the Sui team confirmed that the network was “currently experiencing a network stall,” adding that the core development team was actively working on a fix. 

Source: X/Sui

The update warned users that dApps such as Slush and SuiScan could be unavailable and that transactions might be delayed or unable to process until normal operations resume.

At the time of writing, the network had not yet fully recovered.

Sui transactions halt as validators fail to finalize blocks On-chain data from Sui explorers revealed a series of stalled or system-level transactions, characterized by repeated entries and failed attempts to finalize blocks. The downtime has been for almost 3 hours at the time of this writing.

While some programmable transactions continued to appear, overall throughput dropped sharply, indicating that validators were unable to consistently agree on new blocks.

Source: Sui scanner

The incident marks one of the more visible disruptions on Sui in recent months. It comes amid renewed attention on the network’s performance during periods of rising activity.

Sui TVL climbs back above $1bn before outage Despite the stall, recent data from DeFiLlama shows that Sui’s total value locked [TVL] had already staged a notable recovery before the disruption.

As of 14 January, Sui’s TVL stood at approximately $1.05 billion, its highest level in several weeks. This represents a rebound from late-December levels, when TVL hovered around the $900 million mark. 

Source: DefiLlama

The rise was accompanied by increased decentralized exchange [DEX] activity, with daily DEX volume reaching roughly $371 million on the same day.

The TVL recovery suggests that capital had been flowing back into Sui-based DeFi protocols, even as broader market conditions remained volatile.

SUI price rebounds toward $2 amid higher volume SUI’s price action also reflected renewed momentum before the network stall.

On the 12-hour chart, SUI was trading at around $1.90, up roughly 4.7% on the day, after rebounding from December lows near $1.40.

Trading volume increased alongside the move, with several recent sessions exhibiting elevated activity compared to late December.

Source: TradingView

However, the rally remains technically fragile. SUI is still trading well below its November highs above $2.50, and the broader trend since October continues to show lower highs despite the recent bounce.

The ongoing network disruption adds layer of uncertainty for short-term price action, particularly if the stall persists.

Network reliability back in focus The Sui team has not yet provided a timeline for full restoration, stating only that updates would be shared as they become available. 

Until then, users and developers remain unable to rely on normal transaction processing.

Final Thoughts Sui’s extended mainnet stall comes at a moment when the network had begun showing signs of renewed momentum, with TVL rebounding above $1 billion and decentralized trading activity picking up. While the outage has not yet triggered a sharp unwind in on-chain capital or price, the incident puts renewed focus on network reliability as usage and liquidity start to return.

Key NotesPrivacy-focused cryptocurrencies experienced significant upward momentum with DASH outperforming major competitors in the category.Exchange relistings and payment platform integrations potentially catalyzed increased trading activity and market participation.Derivatives markets saw substantial forced closures as short positions were liquidated during the price surge. DASH posted a 54% gain over 24 hours, reaching $85.96 as trading volume climbed to $1.29 billion across exchanges.

The token’s daily volume rose 72% from the previous session. Seven-day volume increased 525%, climbing from approximately $39 million on Jan. 10 to $1.29 billion on Jan. 14. Despite the rally, DASH DASH $85.51 24h volatility: 53.0% Market cap: $1.07 B Vol. 24h: $1.34 B remains approximately 94% below its December 2017 peak of $1,493.59. The move extends a seven-day rally that has seen the token gain 107% from its weekly low of $36.87.

DASH price 1D | Source: TradingView

DASH is classified as a privacy coin, a category of cryptocurrency that obscures transaction details using cryptographic features, distinguishing them from transparent blockchains like Bitcoin.

The token led all major privacy coins during the session. Horizen gained 23.1%, Decred added 19.3%, Zcash rose 9.3%, and Monero increased 8.6%, according to CoinGecko category data.

On Jan. 13, Alchemy Pay announced support for DASH, enabling users to purchase the token with credit cards, Apple Pay, and bank transfers across 173 countries, though it remains unclear whether this partnership was a significant driver of the price increase.

We’re excited to support @dashpay on #AlchemyPay’s fiat on-ramp. $DASH can now be purchased with local fiat payments across 173 countries, bringing fast, affordable digital cash closer to everyday use.https://t.co/U6rM4iuCAP$ACH pic.twitter.com/oVbn7gOPh7

— Alchemy Pay|$ACH: Fiat-Crypto Payment Gateway (@AlchemyPay) January 13, 2026

Analyst Commentary Analyst @CryptoWinkle pointed to improved trading access after OKX, a major exchange, relisted the token. The analyst noted that the relisting “restored access and depth, driving participation” while accumulation patterns became visible as selling pressure faded. The move follows OKX’s Nov. 23 Zcash relisting, signaling renewed exchange appetite for privacy tokens.

$DASH: momentum returning@Dashpay posted a sharp +23% daily move, breaking above key resistance as liquidity improved and sellers stepped aside.

What stands out:
1) Liquidity catalyst: OKX relisting restored access and depth, driving participation
2) Structure: Price reclaimed… pic.twitter.com/TwntHAjXXH

— Crypto Winkle (@CryptoWinkle) January 13, 2026

Multiple traders on X observed a broader rotation into privacy-focused assets. Trader @rushicrypto characterized the environment as “privacy season,” while @KookCapitalLLC noted that “privacy betas are going crazy.”

Broader Market Conditions In the derivatives market, traders betting against rising prices were forced to close positions. Total forced closures reached $770.22 million over 24 hours, with short positions accounting for 86.8% of that figure.

The Fear & Greed Index, a market sentiment indicator ranging from 0 (extreme fear) to 100 (extreme greed), registered 48, indicating neutral sentiment. This marked a recovery from 26 the previous day. The broader market added 3.42% to total market capitalization, which reached $3.37 trillion.

The privacy coins category gained 13.1% overall, with a combined market cap of $24 billion. The category has added 24.6% over seven days. While DASH led daily gains, Monero holds the largest market cap in the sector at $13.4 billion. Zcash has struggled following the ECC team’s mass resignation on Jan. 7, which triggered a price drop amid governance disputes with the Bootstrap nonprofit board.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, News

As a Web3 marketing strategist and former CMO of DuckDAO, Zoran Spirkovski translates complex crypto concepts into compelling narratives that drive growth. With a background in crypto journalism, he excels in developing go-to-market strategies for DeFi, L2, and GameFi projects.

Zoran Spirkovski on X

Key Takeaways SKIL is shifting to an AI-native platform, positioning AI as core to skill management and GTM strategy.SKIL used AI in above 50% of content work in 3Q26, helping cut content and software development costs 2.4%.SKIL is integrating AI and CAISY into next-gen Percipio to enhance learning and aid enterprise contracts. Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL - Free Report) has adopted AI as a native construct inside its platform, which is turning out to be a critical component in the company’s journey. Inclination toward AI is due to the company’s faith in trends shifting toward AI-driven skills management, which is changing the go-to-market (GTM) approach to capturing opportunities.

The CEO stated that the company is pivoting toward an AI-native platform and content provider like Netflix, a pretty optimistic comparison, displaying the management’s confidence. On the operational and content efficiency front, Skillsoft’s AI-led strategy bears fruit. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, SKIL reported that it used AI in more than 50% of the design, curation and production of its content.

Content and software development expenses dipped 2.4% year over year on the back of productivity gains from utilizing AI. The company has gathered trust points from its customers by using the same AI tools internally that it provides to its customers.

Investors might be taken aback due to the deterioration in SKIL’s revenues, as it dipped 6% year over year to $129 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The primary contributor to this detriment was the Global Knowledge (“GK”) segment, which recorded an 18% year-over-year decline in its revenues. However, the Talent Development Solutions (“TDS”) segment appears promising.

During the recently reported quarter’s earnings call, the CEO remarked that AI is not replacing learning platforms, but rather elevating their strategic relevance. The company’s motives align with the aforementioned phenomenon as it integrates AI and CAISY in the next-gen Skillsoft Percipio to drive enterprise contracts.

SKIL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesSkillsoft has plummeted 73% in a year against the industry’s 19.4% growth. Meanwhile, SKIL’s industry peer VerifyMe (VRME - Free Report) has fallen 74.1%, while Agora (API - Free Report) has gained 13.2%.

1-Year Share Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SKIL trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.14. It trades cheaper than VerifyMe’s and Agora’s 1.04 and 2.94, respectively.

Price/Sales - F12MImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

Skillsoft has a Value Score of A. Agora and VerifyMe carry a Value Score of C.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS for 2025 is set at $4.17, which has been revised up 19.8% over the past 60 days. The consensus mark for EPS for 2026 is pinned at $4.54, which has been revised down 9.9% over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SKIL sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways PAAS raised the 2025 silver guidance to 22-25M ounces after producing 15.6M ounces in the past nine months.PAAS has gained a 44% stake in Juanicipio, and is expected to produce 14.7-16.7M ounces in 2025.PAAS expects gains from La Colorada ventilation improvements and higher throughput at El Penon. Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS - Free Report) delivered a solid performance in the first nine months of 2025, backed by strong production growth and record silver prices. PAAS’s silver production increased 4% year over year in the first nine months of 2025 to 15.6 million ounces. This upbeat performance has set an optimistic tone for the fourth quarter.

In early September, PAAS completed its previously stated acquisition of MAG Silver Corp. Pan American Silver gained a 44% stake in the Juanicipio project, which is a large-scale, high-grade silver mine in Zacatecas operated by Fresnillo plc. PAAS’s production outlook for the Juanicipio mine is at 14.7-16.7 million ounces of silver for 2025.

Considering a month of strong performance from its stake in the Juanicipio mine, Pan American Silver increased its 2025 silver production outlook to 22-25 million ounces at the end of the third quarter of 2025 from the prior stated 20-21 million. The company produced 21.1 million ounces of silver in 2024.

The results will also benefit from higher output at La Colorada mine due to a significant improvement in ventilation conditions. In the first nine months of 2025, El Peñon saw gains attributed to higher throughput, resulting from higher silver grades. Huaron reported improved numbers due to higher throughput from additional development meters and tons, but at lower grades. These will also aid the company’s upbeat guidance.

Pan American Silver Peers’ 2025 GuidanceHecla Mining Company (HL - Free Report) projected 2025 silver production of 16.2-17 million ounces. Hecla Mining produced 16.2 million ounces of silver in 2024.

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM - Free Report) expected 2025 production of 2.5-2.8 million silver equivalent ounces (AgEq). Avino Silver produced 2.65 million ounces of AgEq in 2024.

PAAS’ Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesPan American Silver’s stock has skyrocketed 167.9% in a year compared with the industry’s upsurge of 212.9%. Meanwhile, the Basic Materials sector has risen 41.3% and the S&P 500 has returned 21.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PAAS is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple of 15.20X, at a discount to the industry average of 20.12X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In comparison, Avino Silver and Hecla Mining are trading higher at 22.45X and 41.91, respectively.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pan American Silver’s earnings for 2025 and 2026 has moved up 2.8% and 7.9%, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus mark for 2025 earnings is pegged at $2.21 per share, indicating a year-over-year upsurge of 179.7%. The estimate for 2026 of $3.67 suggests an increase of 66.1%. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PAAS currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways Realty Income offers stability with broad diversification, high occupancy and dividend growth.Prologis saw strong Q3 leasing activity and sharp rent growth as older leases rolled over.PLD is expanding development and data center capacity to drive long-term cash flow growth. Choosing between Realty Income (O - Free Report) and Prologis (PLD - Free Report) is not a simple income-versus-growth debate. Both are high-quality REITs with long operating histories, strong management teams and global portfolios. Yet, they are built for very different investor needs. Realty Income is designed to deliver consistency and predictability, while Prologis is structured to capture long-term growth tied to global logistics and infrastructure trends.

What makes this comparison timely is how each company is positioning itself for the next phase of the real estate cycle. Realty Income is leaning into scale, diversification and partnerships to reinforce stability. Prologis is doubling down on secular demand drivers such as e-commerce, supply-chain reconfiguration and data infrastructure. These choices shape not only near-term performance but also how each company compounds value over time.

For investors deciding where to allocate capital today, the key question is not which company is safer, but which one is better positioned to grow cash flows steadily in a changing global economy.

The Case for Realty IncomeRealty Income’s biggest strength is the durability of its business model. As of the third quarter of 2025, the company owned more than 15,500 properties leased to more than 1,600 tenants across 92 industries, with portfolio occupancy close to 99%. This level of diversification reduces dependence on any single tenant or sector and supports reliable rent collection through different economic cycles. During the third quarter of 2025, rent recapture on expiring leases exceeded 100%, showing that Realty Income has been able to maintain pricing power even in a cautious environment.

The company has also remained very active on the capital deployment front. In the third quarter alone, Realty Income invested about $1.4 billion, taking year-to-date investments to nearly $4 billion. Europe has become an increasingly important growth market, accounting for a large share of new investments, while strategic initiatives such as the partnership with GIC and the $800 million preferred equity investment in CityCenter Las Vegas expand the company’s opportunity set beyond traditional net lease acquisitions. Management raised full-year 2025 investment guidance to roughly $6 billion.

From an income perspective, Realty Income continues to do what it is best known for. The company declared its 133rd common stock monthly dividend increase in 2025, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable income generator. This consistency is supported by long lease terms, high-quality tenants and disciplined balance sheet management, which together help smooth earnings and cash flows.

That said, the price of Realty Income’s stability is measured growth. Same-store revenue gains are steady but limited, and the net lease structure caps upside in stronger economies. Exposure to select retail tenants requires ongoing credit vigilance, while broad diversification reduces sensitivity to faster-growing sectors, slightly moderating near-term growth potential.

The Case for PrologisPrologis operates at the center of global logistics, a segment supported by long-term structural demand rather than short-term economic cycles. In the third quarter of 2025, Prologis signed nearly 62 million square feet of leases, one of the strongest leasing quarters in its history. Portfolio occupancy improved sequentially to about 95.3%, while rent change was strong, with net effective rent growth close to 50% and cash rent growth around 29% during the quarter. These figures highlight the company’s ability to capture mark-to-market gains as older leases roll over.

Prologis also increased its full-year development starts outlook to as much as $3.25 billion at its share, with more than half of development activity tied to build-to-suit projects for large global customers. This approach reduces leasing risk while locking in long-term demand.
One of Prologis’ most important differentiators is how it is expanding beyond traditional warehouses. With 5.2 gigawatts of power either secured or in an advanced stage, Prologis is one of the largest owners of utility-fed power available for data centers, representing billions of dollars in long-term investment opportunity. This strategy ties Prologis directly to growth in cloud computing, AI workloads and digital infrastructure while leveraging its existing land bank and customer relationships.

Balance sheet strength further supports this growth. Prologis ended the quarter with an in-place cost of debt around 3.2%, an average debt maturity of more than eight years and broad access to global capital markets. This financial flexibility allows the company to invest through cycles without sacrificing long-term returns.

While there are some risks to consider with industrial real estate being influenced by global trade and economic conditions, these negatives are relatively limited when weighed against the company’s leasing momentum, embedded rent growth, and expanding development and data center platforms.

How Do Estimates Compare for Realty Income & Prologis?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Realty Income’s 2025 and 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 8.49% and 7.48%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2025 and 2026 funds from operations (FFO) per share suggests year-over-year growth of only 1.67% and 3.69%, respectively. Moreover, over the past two months, estimates for O’s 2025 FFO per share have been tweaked southward, while estimates for 2026 have been kept unchanged.

For Realty Income:

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Prologis’ 2025 and 2026 sales calls for year-over-year growth of 8.72% and 6.30%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2025 FFO per share has remained unchanged over the past two months, while the same for 2026 has declined a tad to $5.80 and $6.08. However, the figures suggest a year-over-year increase of 4.32% and 4.72%, respectively.

For Prologis:

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance and Valuation of O & PLDOver the past six months, Realty Income shares have risen 4.5%, while Prologis stock has rallied 19.9%. In comparison, the S&P 500 composite has advanced 14.8% in the same time frame. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

O is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing REITs, of 13.38X, which is above its three-year median.

Meanwhile, PLD is presently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 21.37X, which is also above its three-year median of 20.86X. Both O and PLD carry a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: PLD Has the EdgeRealty Income remains a high-quality REIT built for investors who prioritize steady income and low volatility. Its scale, diversification and disciplined approach provide confidence that cash flows will remain resilient over time. However, Prologis combines financial strength with exposure to powerful secular growth drivers in logistics, supply chains and digital infrastructure. With strong leasing activity, meaningful embedded rent growth and a growing data center opportunity, Prologis offers a clearer path to sustained long-term cash flow expansion.

For investors choosing between the two, PLD emerges as the stronger stock to consider. Estimate revisions also suggest that Prologis stands out as the better REIT pick currently.

While PLD carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), O has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Good morning from San Francisco! It's day three of the annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference – the biggest gathering of biotech and pharma execs, investors and analysts in the U.S.

The sun has been shining this week, and so has the sector's optimism. Several drugmakers, investors and advisors suggest that 2026 is already shaping up to be a good — or at least better — year than the last, with major drug pricing and tariff headwinds largely settled, interest rates falling, and, most importantly, encouraging science emerging from companies big and small.

On the dealmaking front, it's been relatively quiet this week. No major tie-ups have been announced, but that doesn't mean they aren't on the way. Meanwhile, companies are charting their year ahead, highlighting key business and drug pipeline updates. 

Here's a recap of what I've heard from my conversations with a few major CEOs. 

Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told me in a Monday interview that the company's brand-new oral GLP-1 for obesity, the Wegovy pill, and its injectable counterpart under the same name will allow it to expand the incretin market in 2026. 

But he said this year "will be the year of price pressure" following a drug pricing deal Novo Nordisk struck with President Donald Trump in November, along with the introduction of cheaper generic versions of some of the company's drugs in certain international markets. 

"When the price goes down, you feel the impact of it immediately," Doustdar said. But he added that the company seeks to build volume growth to offset those price cuts, which "will not be overnight." 

Doustdar added that on top of progressing its own pipeline, Novo Nordisk will be active on the business development side to "see if anyone else out there has something that can complement our own pipeline." Those comments come after Novo Nordisk lost a heated bidding war with Pfizer last year over the obesity biotech Metsera. 

Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner told me in a Tuesday interview that the company has the potential to deliver up to 10 new products by the end of the decade. Those comments come as Bristol Myers Squibb prepares to offset losses from an upcoming loss of exclusivity cycle of blockbuster drugs over the next several years, which will allow generic competitors to come to the market. 

"We've intentionally built this portfolio to be quite diverse and so while we know not everything is going to work, we feel really good about the substrate we have in late-stage development, and the mid-stage pipeline is also progressing nicely," he said. 

Boerner highlighted 11 late-stage program readouts in 2026 across six potential new products. That includes the upcoming Alzheimer's psychosis trials — called the Adept program – for Cobenfy, the company's prescription medication approved in late 2024 for treating adults with schizophrenia. 

When it comes to business development, Boerner said the company is "casting a wide net." He added that Bristol Myers Squibb is hoping to build on the core therapeutic areas it knows well, look across different phases of development and focus on "the best, most innovative science that we can find" to tackle difficult-to-treat diseases. 

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is "all in on obesity" following its roughly $10 billion acquisition of the obesity biotech Metsera last year. Speaking to a group of reporters on Monday, Bourla said the company plans to launch 10 different late-stage studies of obesity products from Metsera by the end of the year, including one study it started ​in November. 

He also said there were a few things Pfizer didn't take into account when negotiating that Metsera deal, including the large out-of-pocket market for obesity drugs, where patients are willing to pay for treatments with cash. Bourla likened the opportunity to Pfizer's experience with Viagra, which the company launched in 1998.

"Both Lilly and Novo presented their sales and had significant sales outside the reimbursement system. Basically, outside the U.S., we were calculating very limited sales," Bourla said. "Now we see that this operates almost like ‌Viagra, where people were willing to pay and buy it, although it was not reimbursed at all."

And here's some of the other pharma news that came up during the conference: 

Eli Lilly and Nvidia on Monday announced that the two companies would jointly invest up to $1 billion over five years to create a lab in San Francisco focused on using AI to accelerate drug discovery.AbbVie on Monday struck a deal with the Trump administration to lower some of its drug prices and invest $100 billion domestically over the next decade in exchange for an exemption from tariffs and "future pricing mandates." The company is now among more than a dozen large drugmakers that struck similar agreements with Trump as part of his "most favored nation" policy.AbbVie also said Monday it has agreed to pay $650 million upfront to license an experimental cancer therapy from China's RemeGen, in a deal that could eventually be worth nearly $5.6 billion. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at a new email: [email protected].

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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M's trades at a steep valuation discount even as earnings estimates rise and management lifts guidance under its Bold New Chapter strategy.

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SummaryI am reiterating a Buy rating on Oracle Corporation despite recent revenue misses and negative free cash flow driven by aggressive, debt-fueled capex.Oracle's $523B+ backlog, heavily reliant on OpenAI (60%), presents execution and timing risks, but Meta's Meta Compute is proof that the AI-arms race is not slowing down.This should help bolster investor confidence in ORCL’s backlog that is being heavily discounted at the moment, along with potential cloud computing deals with Meta that may occur in 2026.2026 is set to be a 'show me' year for ORCL; successful RPO conversion and contract wins are key to rerating potential, with current pessimism likely overdone.Looking for more investing ideas like this one? Get them exclusively at The REIT Forum. Learn More » Dragon Claws/iStock via Getty Images

Introduction & Investment Thesis When I last wrote about Oracle Corporation (ORCL) before its Q2 FY26 earnings, I rated the stock a Buy. Unfortunately, the stock dropped after its earnings, when the

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMZN, GOOG, MSFT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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SummaryAIRO (AIRO) underperformed the defense rally despite a proposed $1.5T budget, reflecting execution skepticism rather than weak demand.Strong liquidity of $83.7M cash plus $89.4M follow-on proceeds materially reduces near-term dilution risk.Gross margins remain structurally solid at 58.1% YTD, supporting operating leverage once production stabilizes.JV closure, certifications, and backlog conversion are dull but decisive catalysts that can trigger a nonlinear rerating. Hyunho Song/iStock via Getty Images

The recent defense rally provided a clean hit to see how markets truly react to uncertainty. A proposed $1.5 trillion US defense budget gave the sector a kick start and the predictable group of

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in AIRO over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Key Takeaways Strong sales growth is key for share outperformance.PLTR, HOOD, and W are all seeing favorable top-line trends. The outlook for each remains favorable, underpinned by positive revisions. Revenue growth is the foundation of profits. Strong top-line trends enable companies to scale, operate more efficiently, reinvest in the business, and steadily build shareholder value.

In recent months, several companies – Wayfair (W - Free Report) , Robinhood (HOOD - Free Report) , and Palantir (PLTR - Free Report) – have reported quarterly results showing accelerating sales growth. Companies showing this favorable trend often see their shares benefit as a result, also regularly seeing upward sales revisions.

Wayfair Enjoys MomentumWayfair posted a double-beat against our headline expectations in its latest release, with adjusted EPS of $0.70 climbing 220% year-over-year and sales of $3.1 billion growing 8.1%. The company’s YoY sales growth rates have turned around nicely. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Wayfair’s orders delivered grew by more than 5% year-over-year, with new orders now increasing in the mid-single digits in back-to-back periods. The company has now penciled in a few sizable beats concerning Orders Delivered, reflecting the above-mentioned momentum.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Analysts have bullishly raised their current-year sales expectations for the company. Sales are forecasted to grow nearly 5% YoY in its current fiscal year, the first positive change since 2020.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Palantir Breaks Records (Again)Quarterly sales of $1.2 billion in Palantir’s release reflected a record, climbing 63% from the year-ago period. Growth was broad-based, with US commercial revenue surging 121% YoY and US government revenue shooting 52% higher.

Below is a chart illustrating the company’s YoY revenue growth rates, expressed as a percentage, on a quarterly basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PLTR inked many lucrative deals throughout the period, also closing a record-setting $2.8 billion in Total Contract Value (TCV), up 340% from the same period last year. And to top it off, Customer count grew by 45% YoY.

Analysts have raised their current-year sales expectations in a big way for PLTR, with sales expected to climb 54% year-over-year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

HOOD Reports Surging ActivityRobinhood’s latest quarterly results broke records across several key metrics, also crushing our consensus EPS and sales estimates. Sales grew an impressive 100% year-over-year to a record $1.3 billion, whereas adjusted EPS soared 260%.

Net deposits of $20 billion reflected a quarterly record, with average revenue per user (ARPU) also climbing 82% year-over-year. Activity was broadly strong across its platform, with crypto, options, and equities revenues climbing 300%, 50%, and 86%, respectively.

Below is a chart illustrating the company’s YoY revenue growth rates, expressed as a percentage, on a quarterly basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Sales expectations have followed a very bullish path, with HOOD expected to see 82% YoY revenue growth in its current fiscal year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

Strong sales growth leads to many obvious benefits, as it’s the foundation of generating profits. Above-average top line trends often lead to stock outperformance, as it’s commonly a reflection of red-hot demand, such as we’ve seen with Palantir (PLTR - Free Report) and Robinhood (HOOD - Free Report) . And in the case of Wayfair (W - Free Report) , the top-line turnaround reflects a key inflection point for the company, suggesting that a very tough period may now be in the rearview.

Pre-markets started today’s early session slightly in the red, and have slid a tad deeper upon economic reports out an hour ahead of the opening bell. Currently, the Dow is -150 points, the Nasdaq is -140 and the S&P 500 is -28. The small-cap Russell 2000 is -7 points at this hour.

November PPI Shows Growing Wholesale InflationHeadline Producer Price Index (PPI) data for November — delayed due to last fall’s long federal government shutdown — looked benign to positive on first glance, especially month over month, but also revealed some higher numbers when we peek under the hood a minute. Headline PPI reached +0.2%, up from the downwardly revised +0.1% for October, and below the +0.3% consensus estimate.

Stripping out volatile food and energy prices brings us the core PPI rate month over month, which reached 0.0% in November — down from the upward revision to +0.3% the prior month. There’s nothing to holler about with an unched core PPI rate, but where we see the damage is when we strip away food, energy and trade: +0.2% for the November print, coming down from a big upward revision to +0.7% the previous month.

Year over year PPI came up last month, to +3.0% from an upwardly revised +2.8%. This is the first “3-handle” on yearly PPI since September. Core PPI year over year also reached +3.0%, 10 basis points (bps) higher than the unchanged +2.9% from October. Ex-food, energy and trade, this metric blossoms up to +3.5% — the highest we’ve seen since March of last year.

Following yesterday’s retail-oriented Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers, which were uniformly agreeable with a growing economy that doesn’t have out-of-control inflation, today’s wholesale PPI numbers throw a little cold water on that. A +3.5% read on ex-food, energy and trade year over year is not great news. Keep in mind we’re still playing catch-up, too: December PPI numbers don’t hit the tape for another couple weeks.

Retail Sales Increase in NovemberAnother delayed econ report this morning, due to the government shutdown, is U.S. Retail Sales — also for November. A headline of +0.6% is more robust than the +0.4% estimated, and a bigger jump from the downwardly revised -0.1% reported the prior month. Ex-autos, this number remains strong: +0.5%, more than double the downwardly revised +0.2% from October.

Stripping out autos and gasoline costs, Retail Sales were still +0.4% for the month, as is the core print — down from +0.6% in the prior report. These are mostly pre-holiday shopping numbers, and we see the U.S. consumer continuing to pull their weight. By most accounts, holiday shopping went swimmingly, as well, so we might expect further robust numbers on Retail Sales in the next report.

Q4 Bank Earnings Mostly Better than ExpectedA slew of big banks have reported Q4 earnings results this morning, following JPMorgan’s numbers which kicked off earnings season yesterday morning. Citigroup ((C - Free Report) , Bank of America ((BAC - Free Report) and Wells Fargo ((WFC - Free Report) all beat bottom-lines estimates: +1.81 per share for Citi, 98 cents for BofA and $1.76 per share for Wells Fargo.

However, while Citi benefited from putting less into troubled loans, Wells Fargo saw a revenue miss based on high-than-anticipated severance costs. Bank of America saw its Net Interest Income rise in the quarter. BofA and Citi both have only missed on their bottom lines once in the past five years. Citi shares are up on this news at this hour, BofA and Wells are both down -2% on a tough trading morning.

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Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock surged to a new all-time high of $498.83 in December, driven by optimism around its artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and energy initiatives. However, shares have since pulled back 11%% amid broader market concerns. While these ancillary businesses contributed to the stock’s rally, Tesla remains primarily an electric vehicle (EV) company, even as global deliveries declined 8.6% in 2025 to 1.6 million units — the steepest annual drop in its history and the second consecutive year of falling sales. 

Deliveries were down sharply in key markets like Europe (down almost 28%) and China (hitting a three-year low in October). Now, Tesla faces intensified pressure on the automotive front following Nvidia‘s (NASDAQ:NVDA) CES 2026 reveal earlier this month of advanced technology that could challenge its dominance in autonomous driving.

Nvidia’s Deep Roots in Automotive Tech Nvidia has been a key player in the automotive sector since 2015 with its DRIVE platform, a scalable architecture for autonomous vehicles. DRIVE integrates high-performance computing, sensors, and software to enable advanced driver assistance and full autonomy. By 2026, the ecosystem includes partnerships with automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, using DRIVE Hyperion for Level 4-ready systems. The platform processes data from cameras, radars, and LiDAR, supporting simulation for safe testing. This long-term involvement has positioned Nvidia as a supplier-agnostic enabler, contrasting with Tesla’s vertically integrated approach.

The Alpamayo Breakthrough At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveiled the Alpamayo family, an open-source portfolio of AI models, simulation tools, and datasets aimed at accelerating safe, reasoning-based autonomous vehicle development. Alpamayo 1, a 10-billion-parameter vision-language-action model, introduces chain-of-thought reasoning to handle complex, rare scenarios like unpredictable pedestrians or adverse weather. 

Paired with AlpaSim for high-fidelity testing and 1,700 hours of curated driving data, it emphasizes explainability and safety. Mercedes-Benz plans to integrate it into vehicles like the CLA, with U.S. deployments starting this year.

Alpamayo could also revolutionize self-driving by enabling any automaker to become an AV producer through open models that integrate with existing fleets. Developers can fine-tune on proprietary data and validate in simulation before deployment. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER), for example, has partnered on Alpamayo and DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 for Level 4 autonomy, aiming to scale to 100,000 vehicles by 2027 with Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) initially supplying the cars. Others, including Bosch and Magna, are expanding adoption, potentially flooding the market with competitive AV options.

Tesla’s Growing Rivalries Tesla, which is counting on its Cybercab to help revive its fortunes when it begins its production in Q2, trails Alphabet‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) Waymo in autonomy, with Waymo logging over 100 million driverless miles and 450,000 weekly paid rides across five U.S. cities. Tesla’s 7 billion miles are supervised, requiring human intervention.

As more manufacturers adopt Alpamayo, Tesla could face more competition, eroding its EV sales further amid already declining deliveries.

Is Tesla panicking yet? Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla will stop selling Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a one-time $8,000 purchase after Feb. 14, offering it only as a $99 monthly subscription. This aims to boost adoption (currently at 12% of owners) and generate recurring revenue amid slumping sales. It may also hedge legal risks tied to unfulfilled autonomy promises. With more AV choices emerging, Tesla’s sales decline could worsen.

Key Takeaway Nvidia’s Alpamayo isn’t an immediate Tesla-killer but could erode its edge by democratizing AV tech for rivals, pressuring Tesla’s core EV business amid an ongoing decline in EV demand. Still, Tesla’s long-term outlook as the U.S. EV leader remains strong, with analysts forecasting 12% delivery growth to 1.83 million in 2026, aided by a refresh of its Model Y. 

Ancillary segments like energy storage (up significantly) and robotics could offset car woes, but success hinges on ramping up its robotaxi ambitions. Investors shouldn’t be too concerned yet about this threat, though it is real. And if it hits its autonomy milestones, Tesla stock could be considered a buy at this price point. 

Although Tesla stock still trades at a premium, caution is warranted so I wouldn’t be picking up large tranches of shares just yet until it shows clear progress is being made.

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United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

David Bianco, Americas CIO at DWS Group, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss bank earnings, market themes, and more.

Key Takeaways NVTS is exiting lower-margin mobile business to focus on AI data centers and high-power markets.NVTS offers GaN and SiC solutions across the full power path and is part of NVIDIA's 800V AI ecosystem.Material revenue from the AI data center is expected in 2027, with 2026 seen as a transition year for NVTS. Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS - Free Report) is shifting its focus toward AI data centers. The company is moving away from lower-margin mobile and consumer products and putting more effort into high-power markets, such as AI data centers, performance computing, energy and grid infrastructure, and industrial electrification.

AI data centers are pushing power demand higher. This is where Navitas Semiconductor's gallium nitride (GaN) and high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) products can help improve efficiency and power density in these high-power systems. The company also highlighted that it offers both GaN and SiC solutions across the full power path from the grid to the GPU.

Navitas Semiconductor’s inclusion in NVIDIA’s next-generation 800-volt DC “AI factory” ecosystem bodes well for the company's prospects as well. NVIDIA has named Navitas Semiconductor as a power selector partner for this architecture. This matters because it positions NVTS in a large, fast-growing market where power design is becoming a priority.

NVTS is building products for these high-power needs. The company has begun sampling mid-voltage GaN devices at 100 volts, which target the final stages of power conversion inside AI servers. Navitas Semiconductor has already started sampling 2.3 kV and 3.3 kV SiC modules for grid and energy storage systems to support rising power demand from AI infrastructure.

Still, meaningful revenues from AI data centers will not show up before 2027. Navitas Semiconductor expects 2026 to be a transition year, with small but growing shipments tied to traditional server power supplies. The above-mentioned factors demonstrate how NVTS is making a long-term bet on AI data center power upgrades. Navitas Semiconductor 's future growth will depend on whether it can execute fast enough, win multi-generation designs, and scale supply to benefit as the AI power cycle ramps up.

How Competitors Fare Against Navitas SemiconductorThe company faces strong competition from Wolfspeed (WOLF - Free Report) and ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) in the race to supply high-voltage solutions for AI data centers.

Wolfspeed is a key supplier for high-voltage applications in the SiC ecosystem. Wolfspeed is building a $3-billion Mohawk Valley fab to supply SiC for high-voltage systems, including AI data center power infrastructure.

ON Semiconductor is expanding its SiC portfolio and targeting cloud infrastructure customers with integrated power modules. ON Semiconductor has also partnered with NVIDIA to accelerate the move to 800 Volts DC power systems for next-generation AI data centers.

NVTS' Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Navitas Semiconductor have rallied 51.8% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s growth of 27.9%.

NVTS 6-month Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Navitas Semiconductor trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 61.19X, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 8.72X.

NVTS Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Navitas Semiconductor’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 19 cents per share. The estimates for 2026 loss per share have narrowed by 2 cents over the past 60 days.

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Navitas Semiconductor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Owlet is the only FDA-cleared OTC infant monitor, reinforced by an FDA warning on unauthorized devices.Owlet topped 85,000 paying Owlet360 subscribers with attach rates above 25% in fiscal Q3 2025.FDA clarity lifts credibility with parents and partners, raising barriers and strengthening Owlet's position. Owlet, Inc. (OWLT - Free Report) is benefiting from increased regulatory clarity in the infant monitoring market, a factor that may strengthen its competitive positioning over time. As safety and accuracy gain importance for parents and caregivers, regulation is becoming a key differentiator rather than a constraint.

One of the most important developments supporting Owlet’s longer-term outlook is regulatory differentiation. The company remains the first and only FDA-cleared over-the-counter infant monitoring device provider which is currently available. This distinction gained added relevance after the FDA issued a safety communication cautioning consumers against unauthorized infant monitors that have not been reviewed for safety or effectiveness. The company described this development as a clear separation between regulated and unregulated products, reinforcing its credibility and raising barriers to entry.

For parents, FDA clearance helps validate product reliability and safety. For retailers and healthcare partners, it reduces compliance risk when recommending or distributing monitoring devices. From an investor perspective, this regulatory edge suggests that Owlet’s market position may be more defensible than that of competitors operating without clearance, particularly as awareness around infant safety standards increases.

In the third quarter of 2025, the company also highlighted progress beyond hardware, supported by its Owlet360 subscription platform. Paying subscribers surpassed 85,000, while attach rates exceeded 25% by the end of the third quarter. This recurring revenue layer complements the regulated hardware offering and may further strengthen customer stickiness.

Overall, clearer FDA guidance appears to favor compliant players, potentially giving Owlet a durable advantage in a more tightly regulated market.

Owlet’s Competitive LandscapeCompetition in connected infant monitoring and digital health remains intense, with companies such as Masimo (MASI - Free Report) and iRhythm Technologies (IRTC - Free Report) shaping adjacent segments of the regulated monitoring market. Masimo is a leader in medical-grade pulse oximetry and patient monitoring, with strong hospital relationships and a long history of operating under strict regulatory standards. The company’s scale and clinical focus highlight the complexity involved in developing and commercializing compliant monitoring solutions, reinforcing the high regulatory bar Owlet must continue to meet as it expands healthcare partnerships.

iRhythm Technologies operates in remote cardiac monitoring and provides a useful comparison from a business model perspective. The company relies on regulated devices, reimbursement pathways and recurring revenues tied to long-term monitoring services. While iRhythm Technologies targets a different patient group, its experience shows how regulatory clearance can support durable revenue streams.

Against these peers, Owlet remains more narrowly focused on infant health, but its FDA-cleared consumer approach may support deeper engagement if execution stays on track.

OWLT’s Price Performance & EstimatesShares of Owlet have gained 69.1% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry’s 26.3% growth and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 19.2% rise.

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OWLT’s 2026 loss has narrowed to 25 cents from 48 cents in the past 30 days. The company is expected to report 12 cents loss per share in 2025.

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OWLT currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) didn’t gain much in 2025, but a 7% year-to-date gain suggests that the tech giant is turning a new leaf. Amazon Web Services are a key part of the growth story, with artificial intelligence reaccelerating growth. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told investors in the company’s Q3 earnings release that AWS growth rates have returned to 2022 levels, and that has major ramifications for the stock. 

AI Demand Remains Strong  Jassy didn’t just tell investors that AWS’s growth rate has returned to 2022 levels. He also said that the company is still seeing strong demand for AI and core infrastructure. Artificial intelligence plays a direct role in AWS’s success because AI companies need cloud platforms to manage and store data. 

AWS also makes it possible to develop AI agents, which will become more valuable in the years ahead. These agents continue to become more advanced and can help with various tasks, such as automated customer service and optimized workflows. 

Tech giants have committed to spending more on AI this year than they did last year, and all of that money and data has to go somewhere. Amazon’s cloud platform acts as the foundation for many AI builds, and while Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) also have cloud platforms, Amazon is the largest provider in the industry. 

Amazon’s Other Business Segments Can Also Benefit From AI The resurgence of high AWS growth rates isn’t the only catalyst that can turn Amazon into a superb pick for 2026. The company is also using AI to enhance its other product lines. For instance, AI helps Amazon provide personalized product recommendations in its marketplace, and it also results in online ads that generate more clicks. 

Amazon has multiple business segments in key industries that posted impressive growth rates in Q3. Online advertising revenue increased by 24% year-over-year, while online store sales were up by 10% year-over-year. Amazon’s Trainium2 AI chips also did well, registering more than 150% in sequential gains.  It’s already a multi-billion dollar segment under the broader Amazon umbrella.

Physical AI Will Boost The Demand For Cloud Platforms Most of the AI boom has taken place digitally. People use ChatGPT and other AI models to search various prompts, but it can also autogenerate quizzes and perform various tasks that you won’t get from a Google search. 

However, AI demand can go parabolic as physical AI becomes more common. Humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles both require more cloud storage, which can give AWS an additional boost. This technology is starting to become more available, with Waymo expanding its self-driving services to several U.S. cities.

Amazon has plenty of tailwinds that should give the stock a boost in 2026. However, long-term catalysts make the stock look promising beyond this year as well. 

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Key Takeaways QCOM is expanding in AI PCs, gaming, and automotive with new Snapdragon chipsets and platform launches.AMD benefits from rising EPYC processor demand, AI-driven cloud adoption, and a growing data center presence.QCOM shows better valuation metrics, while AMD leads in stock gains and projected 2025 revenue growth. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. (QCOM - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) are premier chip manufacturing firms competing in the mobile, PC and data center markets, with a focus on AI (artificial intelligence) and advanced chip technologies. Qualcomm’s offerings include high-performance, low-power chip designs for mobile devices, PCs, XR (Extended Reality), automotive, wearable, robotics, connectivity and AI use cases. The company boasts a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio comprising 3G, 4G, 5G and other technologies.

Advanced Micro has strengthened its position in the semiconductor market, thanks to its evolution from a purebred consumer-PC chip provider to an enterprise-focused company. Its processors are primarily powered by the company's proprietary "Zen" CPU and "Vega" GPU architectures. The company’s acquisition of Xilinx has helped in expanding into multiple embedded markets. AMD now offers Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Adaptive SoCs and Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) products.

With growing AI proliferation in PCs, smartphones, automotive and IoT applications, both Qualcomm and Advanced Micro are steadily advancing their semiconductor portfolio to bolster their competitive edge. Let us analyze in depth the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the companies to understand who is in a better position to maximize gains from the emerging market trends.

The Case for QCOMQualcomm is well-positioned to meet its long-term revenue targets driven by solid 5G traction, greater visibility and a diversified revenue stream. The company is increasingly focusing on the seamless transition from a wireless communications firm for the mobile industry to a connected processor company for the intelligent edge. Qualcomm had extended its collaboration with Garmin with the addition of the Nexus automotive-grade High Performance Compute (HPC) platform. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Platform for automotive, Nexus will integrate multiple vehicle domains, such as in-vehicle infotainment, instrument clusters and ADAS, into a single system for optimal efficiency.

The company is strengthening its foothold in the mobile chipsets market with innovative product launches. It had extended its Snapdragon G Series portfolio with the addition of next-generation gaming chipsets, Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 chips. Qualcomm is also placing strong emphasis on developing advanced chipsets for the emerging market of AI PCs. The strategy is aimed at moving beyond the slowing smartphone industry, which is its primary breadwinner. The Snapdragon X chip for mid-range AI desktops and laptops is the fourth such product in the Snapdragon X processor line, following the successful launch of the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite series.

Despite efforts to ramp up its AI initiatives, Qualcomm has been facing tough competition from Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) in the AI PC market. Shift in the share among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) at the premium tier has reduced Qualcomm's near-term opportunity to sell integrated chipsets from the Snapdragon platform. The company is also facing stiff competition from Samsung’s Exynos processors in the premium smartphone market, while MediaTek is gaining market share in the mid-range and budget smartphone market. Competition is also likely to come from formidable rivals like Broadcom and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) . Qualcomm’s extensive operations in China are further likely to be significantly affected by the U.S.-China trade hostilities.

The Case for AMDAMD is strengthening its footprint in the AI market through an expanding portfolio. The latest MI350 series instinct accelerator families strengthen its competitive position in the AI space. AMD introduced its Helios design supporting Meta Platforms’ new Open Rack Wide specification. It is also benefiting from strong enterprise adoption and expanded cloud deployments.

AMD’s footprint is strong in the data center market thanks to strong adoption of EPYC processors. It is benefiting from strong enterprise adoption, expanded cloud deployments and emerging AI use cases. Rapid adoption of agentic AI is creating additional demand for general-purpose compute infrastructure as customers are realizing that each token generated by a GPU triggers multiple CPU-intensive tasks. This is driving demand for AMD’s fifth-gen EPYC Turin processors. AMD is expanding its footprint in markets like aerospace, streaming, financial services, retail, energy and telecom thanks to strong EPYC demand.

However, in the traditional computing market, which still generates a chunk of its revenues, AMD is up against Intel's strong market position. With Intel systems so well entrenched, there is an obvious preference for system integrators to choose Intel processors over AMD. Moreover, AMD faces significant competition from NVIDIA in the GPU market. AMD has had relatively greater success in the mobile segment, and its current product lineup indicates that this focus will continue. However, competition in the mobile segment is likely to accelerate, with more ARM-based devices coming on the market.

How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for QCOM & AMD?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Qualcomm’s fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 2.7% and 1%, respectively. The EPS estimates have been trending northward on average over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Advanced Micro’s 2025 sales suggests year-over-year growth of 31.6%, while that for EPS implies a rise of 19.6%. The EPS estimates have been trending southward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance & Valuation of QCOM & AMDOver the past year, Qualcomm has gained a mere 0.6% compared with the industry’s growth of 42.8%. Advanced Micro has surged 84.2% over the same period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Qualcomm looks more attractive than Advanced Micro from a valuation standpoint. Going by the price/earnings ratio, Qualcomm’s shares currently trade at 13.46 forward earnings, significantly lower than 34.67 for Advanced Micro.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QCOM or AMD: Which is a Better Pick?Qualcomm and Advanced Micro carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Both companies expect their sales and profits to improve in 2025. Advanced Micro has shown steady revenue and EPS growth for years, while Qualcomm has been facing a bumpy road. AMD has also recorded a better price performance than Qualcomm. However, QCOM is trading cheaply compared with AMD. Qualcomm has a VGM Score of A. Consequently, Qualcomm appears to have a slight edge over AMD and seems to be a better investment option at the moment.

Key Takeaways New home sales rose year over year, but supply indicators weakened in October 2025.Building permits and housing starts declined, signaling cautious builder activity.Lower mortgage rates lifted buyer interest, but macro pressures constrained supply. The U.S. housing market is still navigating choppy waters, especially on the supply side, as evidenced by the new residential sales and building permits data. After a pause of approximately four months, primarily due to the federal government shutdown in October and November 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly released the statistics for October 2025. The month’s new residential sales inched down month over month but grew year over year. On the other hand, October’s new residential construction fell both month over month and year over year.

As of October 2025, the market was adjusting according to the Fed rate cut in September 2025, with expectations about two more cuts by 2025 end boosting optimism. Although the trend of lowering interest rates stimulated the homebuyers’ intention of owning a new house, the homebuilders fell short of this trend. The mortgage rates are circling 6%, but the ongoing macro headwinds are restricting growth opportunities.

Diving Into the NumbersPer the Jan. 13, 2026 report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, new single-family home sales for October 2025 were 737,000 units, down 0.1% from September 2025 but up 18.7% from October 2024. The median sales price of new houses sold in October 2025 was $392,300, down 3.3% month over month and 8% year over year. The average sales price (ASP) of new homes sold during the month was $498,000, up 3% from September 2025 but down 4.6% year over year.

Per the Jan. 9, 2026, report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October 2025 were 1,412,000, indicating a decline of 0.2% month over month and 1.1% year over year. Single-family home building permits during the month were 876,000, down 0.5% from September 2025.

In October 2025, privately-owned housing starts were 1,246,000, indicating 4.6% decline from September 2025 and 7.8% fall from October 2024. Moreover, during the month, single-family housing starts were up month over month by 5.4%.

Privately-owned homes completed in October 2025 was 1.1% more than in September 2025 but 15.3% down year over year at 1,386,000 units. Single-family housing completions in October 2025 were 1,009,000, up 6% month over month.

Knowing the Mortgage RateAccording to the mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.17% for the week that concluded on Oct. 30, 2025. This fixed rate moved down 2 basis points (bps) from 6.34% at the week concluded on Oct. 23, 2025, and 17 bps from 6.72% at the week concluded on Oct. 2. Notably, the recent 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down 55 bps from 6.72% at the week concluded on Oct. 31, 2024.

Here’s Our Take on the ScenarioIn early 2026, the U.S. housing industry is expected to witness improvements on the back of declining mortgage rate trends and the optimism surrounding the new policies under the current government. Recently, the Trump administration ordered $200 billion in mortgage bond purchases in an attempt to bring down housing costs. This strategic move is anticipated to cool down the ongoing affordability challenges and indicate a housing market rebound in 2026.

However, despite this spark of market improvement, the ongoing macro headwinds related to tariffs and inflationary conditions are taking a toll on the supply side. These trends can be witnessed from the homebuilding industry’s share price underperforming the broader Construction sector and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite in the past six months, as shown in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Homebuilders like Century Communities, Inc. (CCS - Free Report) , Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (DFH - Free Report) and Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK - Free Report) are banking on the favorable fundamentals surrounding the housing market. Despite the ongoing macro headwinds, these homebuilding stocks are expected to experience growth in the near term.

3 Bundled Homebuilders to Look IntoCentury Communities: This Colorado-based homebuilder currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The company’s shares have gained 13.1% in the past six months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Century Communities’ earnings per share (EPS) estimates for 2026 are expected to grow 34.2% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, with the average being 20.4%.

Dream Finders Homes: Based in Jacksonville, FL, this homebuilding company also currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. Shares of the company have declined 29.2% in the past six months.

The company’s earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up in the past 60 days. Dream Finders Homes’ EPS estimates for 2026 are expected to grow 4.6% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters, missed on two occasions and met on the remaining occasion, with the negative average being 2.8%.

Green Brick Partners: Headquartered in Plano, TX, this homebuilder also carries a Zacks Rank of 3. The stock has soared 11.2% in the past six months.

The company’s earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up in the past 90 days. Green Brick Partners’ EPS estimates for 2026 are expected to inch down 0.3% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the consensus mark in three of the trailing four quarters, the average being 13.2%.

Crane NXT, Co. (CXT) CJS Securities 26th Annual "New Ideas for the New Year" Investor Conference January 14, 2026 8:45 AM EST

Company Participants

Aaron Saak - President, CEO & Director
Christina Cristiano - Senior VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Bob Labick - CJS Securities, Inc.

Presentation

Bob Labick
CJS Securities, Inc.

Good morning, and welcome to the 26th Annual CJS Securities New Ideas for the New Year conference. I'm Bob Labick, President of CJS. I'm pleased to have with us Crane NXT here today. Crane NXT is an industrial technology company focused on securing, detecting and authenticating critical items for its customers.

With us presenting from management are President and CEO, Aaron Saak; Senior Vice President and CFO, Christina Cristiano and VP of Investor Relations, Matt Roache. We'll start with the 10- to 15-minute overview management, and then we'll move on to a fireside chat. For clients interested in asking management questions, you can send them through the portal, and we'll try to weave those into the fireside chat. And with that, it's my pleasure to hand it off to Aaron to talk about Crane NXT. Aaron?

Aaron Saak
President, CEO & Director

Good morning, Bob, and thank you for the invitation here to join our conference. We certainly appreciate that and happy New Year to everyone as well joining us today. And appreciate the opportunity to talk about Crane NXT and really our plan ahead not only for '26, but I'm sure we'll talk to our Q&A, Bob, of the growth vector that we're on and started on a few years ago with the company.

Now before I get into some formal presentation and comments, I just want to remind everyone of the forward-looking statement disclosure that you see here on the screen, and I'll leave that for you

14 January 2026 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or the “Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm Market: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a leading global asset manager specialising in digital assets, today announced that, following resolutions passed at the annual general meeting on 30 May 2025 and at the request of the Directors of the Company, Baker Tilly Channel Islands Limited (“Baker Tilly”) will resign as statutory auditor of the Company. The Board of the Company has approved the appointment of BDO LLP (the “Successor Auditor”), a UK member firm of BDO International, as statutory auditor and independent registered public accounting firm to the Company.

The appointment of the Successor Auditor reflects a key step in CoinShares’ strategic expansion into the U.S. market. BDO LLP is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement of registered auditors of companies who are publicly
listed in the United States.

There are no reportable events, including disagreements, consultations, or unresolved issues between the Company and Baker Tilly.

The change has been approved by the Company’s Audit Committee, the Board of Directors and its Shareholders. 

The Board of Directors and Executive Management of the Company would like to record their sincere thanks to Baker Tilly for the professionalism, diligence and constructive support provided throughout their tenure.

About CoinShares

CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading, and securities to a wide array of clients that include corporations, financial institutions, and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, and in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Futures Association and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
Company | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | [email protected]
Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | [email protected]

Press Contact
CoinShares
Benoît Pellevoizin
[email protected]

M Group Strategic Communications
Peter Padovano
[email protected]

Bill Nygren, Partner & CIO-U.S. of Harris Oakmark Funds, joins ‘Squawk on the Street' to discuss the bidding war over Warner Bros. Discovery, bank earnings, and more.

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) shares fell 4.5% as disappointing guidance overshadowed better-than-expected fourth quarter financial results.

The bank reported Q4 net income of $7.6 billion, up from $6.8 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share rose 18% year-over-year to $0.98, beating analyst expectations of $0.96.

Revenue, net of interest expense, increased 7% to $28.4 billion, also ahead of estimates of $27.6 billion.

Net interest income (NII) grew 10% year-over-year to $15.8 billion, driven by higher balances, fixed-rate asset repricing and stronger Global Markets activity, partly offset by lower interest rates.

Provision for credit losses declined to $1.3 billion from $1.5 billion a year earlier, while net charge-offs also fell.

Despite the quarterly beats, investor focus turned to management’s outlook. Bank of America projected 2026 NII growth of 5% to 7%, citing expected Federal Reserve rate cuts and ongoing deposit migration pressures.

The forecast fell short of some Wall Street expectations for more robust growth following the elevated margins seen earlier in 2025, raising concerns that peak NII may be approaching.

For Q4, noninterest expense rose 4% to $17.4 billion, reflecting higher incentive compensation, transaction costs and continued investments in technology, people and brand. The efficiency ratio improved to 61%, down nearly 200 basis points from a year earlier.

For the full year 2025, Bank of America posted net income of $30.5 billion and earnings per share of $3.81, up 19% year-over-year.

Average deposits grew 3% to $2.01 trillion, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of sequential growth, while average loans and leases increased 8%.

The bank returned $8.4 billion to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases and ended the period with a CET1 capital ratio of 11.4%, well above regulatory minimums.

“With solid revenue growth, positive operating leverage, and a lower efficiency ratio, we improved returns year-over-year for both the full year and the quarter,” Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said in a statement.

“With consumers and businesses proving resilient, as well as the regulatory environment and tax and trade policies coming into sharper focus, we expect further economic growth in the year ahead.”