Shares of Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) retreated sharply Thursday, shedding 12.5% as a wave of profit-taking followed the stock's surge to its highest level in nearly eight years. The pullback comes despite analyst optimism around the company's role in powering AI data centers.
As cautious optimism returns to Australian markets, investors are scanning the small-cap space for resilient companies with growth potential. We examine three ASX-listed firms, each with a market capitalisation below $700 million, that stand out for their financial health and strategic positioning.
Chip designer MaxLinear capped off a transformative 2025 with a strong fourth quarter, reporting 30% full-year revenue growth and positive cash flow ahead of schedule. CEO Kishore Seendripu pointed to surging demand in data center optical interconnects and wireless infrastructure as key catalysts, positioning the company for even faster growth in 2026.
As millions of European workers await pay adjustments, new data reveals a continent deeply divided on minimum wage levels. While Western nations lead in nominal terms, purchasing power parity tells a more nuanced story of living standards across the EU and candidate countries.
Wall Street maintains a positive stance on American Tower Corporation (AMT) as it enters 2026, with over 70% of analysts recommending the stock. While several firms have trimmed price targets citing sector headwinds, the long-term outlook for the communications infrastructure giant remains favorable, driven by its data center portfolio and stable tower business.
Bank of America has initiated coverage on electronics manufacturing services provider Celestica with a 'Buy' rating, citing the company's strategic position to capitalize on the AI data center infrastructure boom. The firm set a price target of $400, forecasting strong growth driven by custom server and networking switch demand.
Analysts highlight Credo Technology Group (CRDO) as a core beneficiary of soaring cloud and AI data center spending, with revenue projected to nearly triple in FY2026 amid industry-wide capex surge.
An analysis of SBM Offshore's financial health reveals a Return on Equity significantly below the industry average, raising questions about capital efficiency and its high-debt strategy in a competitive energy services market.
Micron Technology has broken ground on a massive new NAND fabrication facility in Singapore, a decade-long, $24 billion project aimed at meeting explosive demand for AI and data storage. The move signals a strategic long-term pivot but raises questions about market cycles and capital discipline.
The AI and data management firm, Cordel Group Plc (LON:CRDL), is forecast to reach breakeven in 2027 after significant losses. With aggressive growth targets and a conservative balance sheet, analysts are watching closely to see if the company can navigate its critical investment phase.
Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX has finalized its acquisition of artificial intelligence firm xAI, announcing a controversial long-term strategy to develop space-based AI data centers powered by solar energy, citing insurmountable earthly constraints on power and cooling.
Lemonade's stock soared in January, propelled by the launch of a novel, usage-based insurance plan for Tesla vehicles that slashes premiums when Full Self-Driving is engaged, signaling a strategic pivot towards data-driven, autonomous future.
While voice-AI firms like SoundHound capture headlines, data analytics giant Palantir Technologies leverages deep government ties and enterprise contracts to build a potentially more resilient growth narrative in the volatile AI sector.
The explosive growth of artificial intelligence and data centers is driving U.S. electricity demand to unprecedented levels, pushing consumer bills up 42% in a decade. As utilities scramble to upgrade an overburdened grid, AI itself is emerging as a critical tool to unlock next-generation power sources like fusion and geothermal energy.
As Steris prepares to report its fiscal fourth-quarter results, investors are watching to see if the company can maintain its recent streak of topping revenue estimates against a backdrop of mixed signals from the broader healthcare equipment sector.
Palantir Technologies' stock surged after hours as the data analytics firm reported record quarterly results, fueled by its AI platform. CEO Alex Karp hailed an 'iconic' performance while warning that the company's dominance creates societal and political tensions.
Across India's villages and small towns, a new generation of workers is logging on after sunset to label the data that trains the world's most advanced AI systems. This quiet workforce, many of them women and first-generation graduates, is finding economic opportunity while reshaping global tech's supply chain.
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is set to stand trial on Tuesday, facing a litany of charges including rape, domestic violence, and drug possession. The case marks a profound crisis for the modern Norwegian monarchy, unfolding against a backdrop of other royal controversies and health concerns.
Beyond the headlines of rocket launches, companies building the critical infrastructure for the orbital economy are gaining strategic importance. Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), with its niche technologies powering everything from lunar missions to potential space-based data centers, presents a compelling, if complex, investment thesis in the burgeoning space sector.
Asian equities and Bitcoin stabilized Tuesday following a turbulent session, with investors digesting a rebound in US factory data and a calmer precious metals market. Regional indexes recovered, while crypto markets assessed the damage from recent liquidations.
