State Economics

Business

Lockheed Martin Posts Record Backlog, Unveils Major Investment Push Amid Global Defense Demand Surge

Lockheed Martin capped a year of robust sales growth with a historic $194 billion order backlog, driven by soaring demand for its advanced defense systems. The aerospace giant announced plans for a significant 'step function' increase in capital investment for 2026 to ramp up production of missiles and next-generation capabilities.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southwest Airlines Charts Aggressive Course After 'Year of Transformation,' Forecasts Earnings Surge in 2026

Southwest Airlines capped off 2025 with record revenue and improved operations, positioning the carrier for what executives project will be a dramatic earnings acceleration next year, driven by new initiatives like assigned seating and a refined loyalty program.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mastercard Caps Off 'Very Strong' 2025, Eyes Growth in Services and New Tech for 2026

Mastercard reported robust Q4 and full-year 2025 results, driven by double-digit revenue growth and surging value-added services. Executives expressed confidence for 2026, highlighting strategic wins, investments in digital assets like stablecoins, and a focus on 'agentic commerce,' even as they plan a restructuring affecting 4% of staff.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

International Paper Unveils Major Split: To Form Two Regional Packaging Giants

In a strategic overhaul, International Paper announced plans to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies focused on North America and EMEA markets, marking the next phase of its multi-year transformation.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Liberty Energy Navigates Market Turbulence, Bets Big on Power Infrastructure Expansion

Despite a challenging year marked by oil price volatility and softer demand for completion services, Liberty Energy (LBRT) closed 2025 with a resilient Q4 performance. The company is aggressively scaling its distributed power solutions business, targeting 3 GW of projects by 2029, even as it manages pricing pressures in its core fracking operations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Kirby Caps Record 2025 with Strong Momentum, Eyes Steady Growth Amid Market Headwinds

Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) reported record annual earnings for 2025, fueled by robust free cash flow and strategic capital returns. While Q4 faced seasonal pressures, management highlighted a late-quarter rebound in inland marine and surging demand in power generation, setting the stage for what they project as a year of steady financial performance in 2026.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Lazard Posts Record Advisory Revenue in 2025, Citing Strategic Gains and Asset Management Turnaround

Lazard Ltd. reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, driven by record financial advisory fees and a rebound in assets under management. Executives framed the performance as validation of the firm's long-term 'Lazard 2030' strategy, highlighting talent investments and a robust pipeline for future growth.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Meta Stock Surges Over 10% as Analysts Boost Price Target, Citing AI Leadership

Shares of Meta Platforms soared Thursday, fueled by a significant price target upgrade from BofA Securities. The rally comes despite the company reporting a slight dip in full-year profit, as investors focus on strong revenue growth and the company's positioning in the artificial intelligence race.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bitcoin Tumbles to $82K Amid Policy Jitters, Triggering $1.7B in Market Liquidations

Bitcoin plunged to a nine-month low as a confluence of political uncertainty and geopolitical tensions sparked a broad market sell-off, forcing over $1.6 billion in leveraged positions to close.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

South Korea Proposes Sweeping Crypto Overshaul, Aiming to Align Digital Asset Rules with Traditional Banking

South Korean regulators are forming a task force to propose stricter anti-money laundering rules for cryptocurrency transactions by 2026, potentially removing minimum thresholds for identity disclosure to mirror traditional finance oversight.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Carnival Corp Shares Surge 8.6% on Strong Industry Tailwinds and Corporate Restructuring Plan

Carnival Corporation & PLC saw its stock price climb sharply Thursday, buoyed by robust earnings from rival Royal Caribbean and the company's own announcement of a planned corporate unification and dividend payment.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Joby Aviation Shares Plunge 16.7% on $1.38 Billion Capital Raise Plan

Shares of electric air taxi developer Joby Aviation tumbled sharply Thursday as the market reacted to the company's announcement of a major new fundraising effort, raising concerns over potential shareholder dilution.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

LendingClub Shares Plunge 16% as Accounting Change Overshadows Strong Earnings

LendingClub Corp. (LC) shares tumbled sharply this week, extending losses for a third consecutive session after the company announced a shift to fair value accounting. The move, aimed at aligning revenue with credit costs, spooked investors despite the fintech firm reporting a 164% surge in annual net income.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Expedia Announces Workforce Reduction Amid AI-Driven Restructuring

Expedia Group has filed a WARN notice confirming 162 job cuts at its Seattle headquarters and among remote staff, marking the latest in a series of layoffs as the company accelerates its AI transformation amid intensifying industry competition.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

SAP Shares Hit 52-Week Low as AI Disruption Fears Rattle Software Sector

SAP SE's stock plunged to a yearly low following a cautious sector outlook from JPMorgan, which highlighted AI's potential to disrupt traditional SaaS business models, despite the company reporting robust annual earnings.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Vizsla Silver Shares Plunge 14.9% Following Abduction of 10 Employees in Mexico

Vizsla Silver Corp. (VZLA) shares tumbled sharply Thursday after reports that 10 of its employees were abducted from company housing in Mexico, forcing a temporary halt to operations and rattling investor confidence amid broader weakness in silver prices.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Dolby Laboratories Surpasses Expectations in Q1 2026, Driven by Automotive and Streaming Growth

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) kicked off fiscal 2026 with robust first-quarter results, exceeding its own revenue and earnings forecasts. The audio-visual technology leader credits strong deal timing and highlighted significant momentum in automotive, television, and mobile partnerships, including expanded ties with Qualcomm and major social media platforms.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bitcoin Plunges Below $82,000, Erasing $10,000 in 24 Hours as Market Braces for Potential Fed Shake-Up

A brutal sell-off wiped nearly $10,000 from Bitcoin's value, pushing it perilously close to its November low. The sharp decline, which triggered over $1.75 billion in liquidations, coincides with speculation of a major leadership change at the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

MarineMax Navigates Choppy Waters: Q1 Revenue Rises Amid Industry-Wide Margin Squeeze

Despite posting year-over-year revenue growth, MarineMax's first-quarter earnings reveal the persistent headwinds buffeting the recreational boating industry, from aggressive promotions to cautious consumers. Management points to early spring signals and a fortified balance sheet as reasons for cautious optimism.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Hexcel Eyes Sustained Aerospace Rebound After Challenging 2025, Outlines Growth Plan

Following a year hampered by supply chain issues and inventory adjustments, advanced materials maker Hexcel signals a turning point, forecasting stronger sales and profitability in 2026 as commercial aircraft production is poised for a multi-year upswing.

Jan 30, 2026