Tech Spending

Business

Analysts Bullish on Applied Materials as AI Spending Fuels Semiconductor Equipment Demand

A wave of analyst upgrades for Applied Materials underscores growing confidence in global semiconductor capital expenditure, driven by the AI infrastructure boom and demand for advanced manufacturing tools. The company's strategic position in wafer fabrication equipment places it at the heart of the industry's next growth phase.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Three Consumer Stocks Facing Headwinds as Economic Uncertainty Weighs on Discretionary Spending

Amid a volatile economic backdrop, consumer discretionary stocks are lagging the broader market. We examine three companies—Columbia Sportswear, Movado, and iHeartMedia—whose business models and valuations make them vulnerable in the current climate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

First Citizens Beats Estimates But Market Sours: Five Key Questions from the Q4 Call

First Citizens BancShares delivered Q4 revenue and adjusted EPS above analyst forecasts, yet its stock fell. While management pointed to strong fundamentals, analysts probed pressures on margins, tech spending, and integration challenges.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Royal Caribbean Rides Wave of Demand: New Ships and Tech Investments Fuel Optimistic Outlook

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) reported strong fourth-quarter results, meeting revenue expectations with a 13.3% year-over-year increase to $4.26 billion. The cruise giant's performance, driven by record passenger volumes and strategic investments, signals robust health in the leisure travel sector.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Microsoft's AI Ambitions Fuel Record Cloud Revenue, But Heavy Spending Weighs on Shares

Microsoft posts record cloud and AI-driven revenue for Q2, fueled by new partnerships and its custom AI chip. However, a significant surge in capital expenditures for AI infrastructure and a slight deceleration in Azure growth triggered the stock's worst single-day drop since 2020, testing investor resolve on the long-term payoff.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Visa Posts Strong Q1 Results as Consumer Spending Holds Steady, Digital Services Fuel Growth

Visa's fiscal first-quarter earnings surpassed expectations, driven by robust cross-border transactions and a surge in high-margin digital services. The payments giant signals confidence in sustained consumer resilience despite some moderation in U.S. debit volumes.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Karman Holdings (KRMN) Soars on Analyst Optimism: A Defense Tech Darling in the Making?

Karman Holdings (NYSE: KRMN) is capturing Wall Street's attention as a series of bullish analyst calls, including a significant price target hike from KeyBanc, fuel its ascent. The stock's rally is tied to sustained momentum in the aerospace and defense sector, though some advise caution after its rapid gains.

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

Meta's $135 Billion AI Bet Signals Accelerating Arms Race, With CoreWeave Poised to Capitalize

Meta Platforms' staggering capital expenditure forecast for 2026, heavily weighted toward AI infrastructure, underscores the intensifying tech investment cycle. Specialized cloud provider CoreWeave emerges as a likely key beneficiary, its fortunes tied to the hyperscaler spending spree.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Microsoft Shares Tumble 10% as Investors Balk at Heavy AI Spending, OpenAI Exposure

Microsoft's stock faced its steepest single-day drop in months, closing down 10% despite posting strong quarterly earnings. The sell-off was driven by investor concerns over surging capital expenditures and the company's significant financial ties to OpenAI.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Tech Jitters, Gold Retreat Rattle Asian Markets as Geopolitical Tensions Simmer

Asian equities faced broad declines Friday, pressured by renewed investor skepticism over the AI investment boom and a sharp pullback in precious metals. The sell-off unfolded against a backdrop of easing oil prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainties.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Apple's iPhone Powers Record Revenue Amid Mac, Wearables Slowdown

Apple's latest quarterly earnings reveal a tale of two halves: blockbuster iPhone sales, particularly in emerging markets like India, drove revenue to a new high, while Mac and wearables segments saw notable declines. The tech giant also faces questions over its AI strategy and conservative spending.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bread Financial Caps 2025 with Strong Growth, Eyes Further Diversification and Tech Investment

Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH) delivered robust fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, meeting expectations through strategic partner expansions, improved credit health, and strengthened capital positioning. Management outlines a 2026 roadmap focused on sustainable growth, deposit mix optimization, and leveraging AI across operations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Veeva Systems: A Buying Opportunity or Overvalued Tech Play? Analysts Weigh In

Veeva Systems' stock has faced recent pressure, declining over 11% in the past year. A deep dive into its valuation reveals a stark contrast: a discounted cash flow model suggests significant upside, while its premium P/E ratio tells a more cautious tale. We examine the numbers and what they mean for investors eyeing the life sciences cloud leader.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The Hidden Engine of the Energy Transition: How Green Tech Fuels Fossil Fuel Demand

Record global investments in wind, solar, and EVs are paradoxically driving a surge in demand for coal, oil, and gas, as the production of essential materials like cement and steel remains locked into hydrocarbon-based economies, primarily in Asia.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Polaris Bets on High-Tech Off-Roading While Maintaining Its Dividend Streak

Powersports giant Polaris unveils an industry-first active suspension system in its flagship RZR, alongside approving its 31st consecutive annual dividend increase, signaling a dual focus on innovation and shareholder returns amid portfolio restructuring.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Amazon's Washington State Layoffs Detailed: Pierce County Impact Emerges as Tech Giant Cuts 2,198 Jobs

Newly filed state documents reveal the geographic breakdown of Amazon's latest workforce reduction in Washington, with T-Mobile and International Paper also submitting layoff notices affecting hundreds more employees across the state.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir Defies Tech Slump with Stellar Q4, Fueled by Surging U.S. Government and Commercial Contracts

The data analytics firm smashed Wall Street forecasts for the fourth quarter, reporting a 70% revenue surge to $1.4 billion, driven by explosive growth in its U.S. operations. Its bullish outlook for 2025 further signals resilience amid sector-wide anxieties.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Valuation Check: Is Technology One's Share Price Running Ahead of Itself?

A deep dive into the software company's valuation using a discounted cash flow model suggests its shares may be trading at a significant premium to their estimated intrinsic value.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

BHP Navigates Tech Ambition and Trade Tensions: Autonomous Mine Push Meets China Market Headwinds

As BHP Group advances plans to create one of the world's first fully autonomous copper mines at Escondida Norte, it simultaneously contends with Chinese import restrictions on its Jimblebar iron ore and ramps up exploration via its 2026 Xplor program, highlighting the complex balancing act facing the global mining giant.

Feb 2, 2026