Passport to Wall Street

Market Update: Dow Falls 300 Points, S&P 500, Nasdaq Rise Higher

Rachel Hemple — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:06:29 -0500

Stocks were mixed on Friday as a disappointing outlook from Intel (INTC ) stalled the broad-based rally following easing geopolitical tensions earlier in the week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA ) dropped nearly 300 points to settle at 49,098.71, underperforming the broader market. The S&P 500 Index (SPY ) ended the session above the flatline to close at 6,915.61, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (QQQ ) rose about 0.3% to end the day at 23,501.24.

In the spotlight, Intel shares plunged about 17% on Friday after the semiconductor maker offered soft forward guidance despite its fourth-quarter earnings beat. The company expects first-quarter revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, and for adjusted earnings per share to breakeven.

"Our conviction in the essential role of CPUs in the AI era continues to grow," CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a statement. "Our priorities are clear: sharpen execution, reinvigorate engineering excellence, and fully capitalize on the vast opportunity AI presents across all of our businesses."

In economic news, consumer sentiment rose in January as near-term inflation expectations decreased, the University of Michigan reported Friday. The month's headline index rose 6.6% from December to 56.4; the index is still more than 20% below its reading from January 2025. Consumers' one-year outlook also declined by 0.2 percentage point month-to-month to 4%, while the five-year outlook ticked 0.1 percentage point higher to 3.3%.

"While the overall improvement was small, it was broad based, seen across the income distribution, educational attainment, older and younger consumers, and Republicans and Democrats alike," said Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, in a statement. "However, national sentiment remains more than 20% below a year ago, as consumers continue to report pressures on their purchasing power stemming from high prices and the prospect of weakening labor markets."

Elsewhere, Goldman Sachs upgraded Spotify (SPOT ) ahead of the company's earnings report next month to a rating of Buy from Neutral. Analyst Eric Sheridan, however, lowered high price target on the audio streaming giant by $35 to $7000, which still implies more than 40% upside from the stock's Thursday close.

"In our opinion, we see SPOT as well-positioned to capitalize on/benefit from rising generative AI adoption given it is a) leading global position amongst distribution platforms; b) offering across media types; c) relationships with both large music labels and independent artists/content creators; & d) structural data advantage and existing scaled products to facilitate AI/ML-driven discovery/curation," Sheridan said in a Thursday note to clients.

Looking ahead, earnings reports are expected to dominate headlines next week, with notable reports including Microsoft (MSFT ), Meta Platforms (META ), Tesla (TSLA ), Apple (AAPL ), Visa (V ), Mastercard (MA ), Exxon Mobil (XOM ), Chevron (CVX ), UnitedHealth Group (UNH ), Boeing (BA ), General Motors (GM ) and UPS (UPS ) set to release throughout the week.

Starbucks (SBUX ) may offer market participants some positive long-term targets at the coffee chain's investor day on Thursday, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Lauren Silberman. The company is also set to deliver quarterly earnings on Wednesday.

"We think next week could be a positive catalyst as SBUX provides much needed visibility to the path back to historical margins and drivers of sustainably, solidly positive SSS [same-store sales], which could support meaningful upside to current estimates (and sentiment)," Silberman said in a note late Thursday.

Pfizer CEO Calls RFK's Vaccine Views Anti-Science, Warns US Falling Behind China In Health Research

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:59 -0500

Pfizer Inc. (PFE ) CEO Albert Bourla sharply criticized Robert F. Kennedy's views on vaccines, calling them "anti-science." He suggested that meaningful progress on immunization policy would require a change in leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Speaking Wednesday at a Wall Street Journal event during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Bourla said discussions with Kennedy break down when vaccines enter the conversation, despite productive exchanges on other healthcare topics.

Bourla told WSJ that talks around cancer research and pharmaceutical pricing have been constructive, but vaccine-related discussions are fundamentally different.

He described Kennedy's stance as rigid and ideological, saying it resembles a belief system rather than a scientific debate.

When asked directly what would need to change for vaccine discussions to move forward, Bourla gave a blunt response: 'the health secretary.' He did not elaborate further but made clear that leadership at the top of U.S. health policy is, in his view, a central obstacle.

Beyond vaccines, Bourla also aimed at actions by President Trump's administration that reduced funding for U.S. universities. He warned that these decisions have weakened America's position in global health research at a time when China is rapidly advancing.

China Factor

Bourla said elite U.S. institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford once dominated global rankings in health research. He argued that now Chinese universities account for roughly 80% of top-tier positions, reflecting a significant shift in scientific leadership.

He added that China's pharmaceutical sector is expanding quickly, driven by reforms to intellectual property protections and modernization of its regulatory framework.

Those changes have attracted investment and accelerated domestic innovation, he said.

According to Bourla, Chinese drugmakers are no longer focused solely on generics but are increasingly producing original science that could soon rival Western pharmaceutical companies.

Calling the trend a "meteoric rise," Bourla said Chinese firms are generating credible innovation and high-quality research. He argued that U.S. efforts to slow China's progress have been ineffective and misguided.

"You can't stop China. And you shouldn't," Bourla told WSJ, urging Western governments to focus on strengthening their own competitiveness rather than attempting to restrain scientific advances that could benefit global health, including cancer research.

PFE Price Action: Pfizer shares were down 1.93% at $25.60 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

FedEx Details French Operations Overhaul, Job Cuts Expected

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:53 -0500

FedEx Corporation (FDX ) stock fell Friday after the company unveiled a bold operational transformation plan for its French business. FedEx Corporation said it proposed a sweeping programme to modernise domestic operations and secure competitiveness in France.

FedEx Corporation said the plan includes a major restructuring of its facility footprint and technology upgrades across France.

Strategic Overhaul

The company said the French parcels market has fierce competition and strong cost pressures.

FedEx said it will redesign its ground network, simplify operations and align commercial strategy to boost growth to and from France.

The plan calls for reducing FedEx's domestic station count from 103 to 86 locations.

Under the proposal, the company may cut up to 500 operational jobs while altering roles or schedules for up to 800 team members.

The company also said the transformation could create more than 770 new full- and part-time positions tied to digitised operations.

Investment And Advancements

FedEx confirmed it will invest up to 78 million euros (about $91 million) in upgraded facilities and deployed scanning technologies.

It said the enhancements should improve employee experience and customer service performance.

The company said it will roll out an advanced digital platform to optimize pickup and delivery functions.

The new technology will unify systems, modernize scanning and help improve routes.

Local Impact And Process

FedEx said it will work closely with social partners and follow French labour law throughout consultations.

The company said it will pursue formal discussions with employee representatives on proposed changes.

FDX Price Action: FedEx shares were down 2.14% at $303.18 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Intel's AI Surge Hits Brick Wall As Capacity Crunch Throttles Growth: Analyst

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:45 -0500

Intel Corp. (INTC ) reported mixed fourth-quarter results on Thursday, beating profit expectations but guiding for weaker near-term revenue and flat earnings, highlighting the uneven progress of its turnaround. Persistent supply constraints and margin pressure weighed on the outlook, prompting a sharp selloff in the stock. Intel posted revenue of $13.67 billion, ahead of the $13.37 billion consensus, while adjusted earnings reached 15 cents per share, surpassing expectations for eight cents. Revenue declined 4% year over year, with strength in Data Center and AI partially offsetting weakness in the Client Computing Group.

For the first quarter, Intel forecast revenue of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion, below the $12.49 billion Street estimate, and guided for breakeven adjusted earnings, versus expectations for a modest profit.

Analysts Cite Supply Bottlenecks and Margin Pressure

Needham analyst N. Quinn Bolton maintained a Hold rating, noting Intel beat fourth-quarter expectations but guided below both his forecast and Wall Street's.

He said tight chip supply continues to cap shipment volumes, with supply constraints most acute on Intel 10 and 7, where much of the company's output sits.

Bolton said Intel guided adjusted gross margin to 34.5% at the midpoint, citing a less favorable product mix tilted toward Panther Lake, which dilutes corporate margins.

He expects the supply squeeze to trough in the first quarter and ease gradually, adding that Intel plans to prioritize wafer supply toward servers, making the revenue decline more pronounced in Client Computing than in Data Center and AI.

Benchmark analyst Cody Acree reiterated a Buy rating and raised his price forecast to $57 from $50, arguing the stock pullback followed a strong run and was driven by cautious guidance despite a solid quarter.

He described Intel as being in the middle of a major transition, pointing to the 18A process milestone and the early Core Ultra Series 3 launch as signs of improving execution.

Acree called 2026 a "prove-it year" for manufacturing efficiency, while flagging ongoing margin pressure from 18A ramps and component pricing.

JP Morgan analyst Harlan Sur maintained an Underweight rating and lifted his forecast to $35 from $30, saying weaker guidance reflects persistent internal wafer capacity limits, particularly on Intel 10 and 7.

He said gross margin guidance disappointed due to lower revenue and an unfavorable mix as Lunar Lake and Panther Lake remain margin dilutive.

Looking ahead, Sur said Intel is streamlining its server roadmap and accelerating product timing to slow share losses to Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD ), while AI inference workloads continue to support demand for traditional server CPUs.

Sur added that JPMorgan's global team now expects PC shipments to decline about 9% next year, but demand in Data Center and AI should drive low- to mid-single-digit overall revenue growth for Intel this year.

INTC Price Action: Intel shares were down 15.70% at $45.78 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Netflix's $83 Billion Warner Bet: Why YouTube Is The 'Threat' According To Co-CEO

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:38 -0500

Netflix Inc. (NFLX ) is making waves with its $82.7 billion all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD ), marking a dramatic shift from the streaming giant's traditional "build-not-buy" philosophy. YouTube Is Primary Competitive Threat

In a Thursday interview with Stratechery's Ben Thompson, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters identified Alphabet Inc (GOOGL ) (GOOG ) owned YouTube as the company's most formidable competitor. "YouTube is the formidable competitor. They drive a lot of hours, they have a great model," Peters stated in the interview transcript.

Peters explained that Netflix views competition through the lens of time and attention, positioning YouTube's dominance in viewership as a key driver behind the Warner Bros. acquisition strategy.

Rationale Behind $83 Billion Warner Deal

The Netflix co-CEO outlined three primary value drivers for the acquisition: theatrical distribution capabilities, expanded production infrastructure, and the HBO brand's premium positioning. "We started building the value case for this and we got to impressive numbers," Peters said in the interview.

According to Peters, Warner Bros.' content library is currently "being underexploited" and Netflix's global footprint could drive significantly more viewing.

The company switched to an all-cash offer of $27.75 per share on Wednesday, replacing an earlier mixed offer of $23.25 in cash plus $4.50 in Netflix stock.

Regulatory Arguments

Peters argued the deal should be viewed as "really a vertical deal" due to theatrical and production components.

He noted that the majority of HBO's approximately 100 million subscribers already subscribe to Netflix, positioning the combination as complementary rather than directly competitive.

The company is framing its competitive landscape broadly, with Peters emphasizing that YouTube now produces NFL games, will broadcast the Oscars, and has secured deals with major UK broadcasters, including BBC, Channel 4, and ITV.

NFLX Price Action: Netflix shares were up 2.81% at $85.88 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

US Consumer Sentiment Hits 5-Month Highs As Inflation Worries Fall To 1-Year Low

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:31 -0500

American households are starting 2026 on firmer footing, with sentiment ticking up to its highest level in five months and inflation worries slipping to levels not seen since early 2025, just as food prices tumble across grocery aisles.

The University of Michigan's revised consumer sentiment index for January came in at 56.4 on Friday, comfortably above the preliminary 54.0 estimate and December's 52.9 reading.

It marked the second consecutive monthly rise and the best showing since August.

She added, however, that overall sentiment remains more than 20% below its level from a year ago.

Inflation Expectations Retreat, Driven By Food Price Drop

One of the main reasons for improving sentiment lies in diminishing inflation expectations. Year-ahead inflation projections dropped to 4.0%, down from 4.3% last month and the lowest reading since January 2025.

Longer-term expectations inched up slightly to 3.3% from December's 3.2%, still within a manageable range for policymakers.

Food prices, a key pressure point for households over the past two years, are now moving in the opposite direction.

According to Bank of America economist Sara Senatore, deflation is gaining traction across major agricultural commodities in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Notably, sugar prices fell 16.6% year over year, oil declined 11.1%, wheat dropped 10.9% and cheese slid 7.5%. Even milk, which had been more stable, saw a 1.9% year-over-year deflation.

Retail egg prices saw the steepest drop, plunging 26% in January after peaking at +108% year-over-year inflation in March 2025. Chicken breast prices declined 21% and wing prices collapsed 48% year over year.

Bank of America highlights that animal proteins like beef and chicken represent the largest share of input costs, making up 25%-35% of cost of goods sold for most restaurant chains.

Chains like Texas Roadhouse Inc. (TXRH ), McDonald's Corp. (MCD ), and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (CBRL ) will likely see margin relief later this year if deflation persists.

Broader US Economy Gathers Steam

Broader economic indicators continue to point to strong growth without overheating.

On Thursday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis revised the third-quarter GDP growth from 4.3% to 4.4%, while the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model projects an even faster 5.4% expansion for the fourth quarter.

The strength in economic output hasn't translated into resurgent inflation. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 2.8% year over year in November, with core PCE - the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge - also at 2.8%, both matching expectations.

Flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data from S&P Global also showed the U.S. private sector expanding in January, with the composite index at 52.8. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

The services PMI held steady at 52.5, while the manufacturing sector signaled an expansion for the sixth straight month.

"The flash PMI brought news of sustained economic growth at the start of the year, but there are further signs

that the rate of expansion has cooled over the turn of the new year compared to the hotter pace indicated back in

the fall," commented Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Spotify Is On Sale: Why Goldman Sachs Says This Stock Drop Is A Gift For Investors

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:16 -0500

Goldman Sachs turned more constructive on Spotify Technology (SPOT ), arguing that recent weakness in the stock has created an attractive entry point ahead of the company's fourth-quarter earnings.

Goldman Upgrades Spotify After Stock Pullback

Analyst Eric Sheridan upgraded Spotify from Neutral to Buy and lowered the price forecast from $735 to $700.

The analyst upgraded Spotify ahead of its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, citing improving engagement trends and expanding monetization opportunities.

Investor concerns around pricing, premium tier launches, margins, and AI have weighed on the stock in recent months, contributing to a sharp pullback, Sheridan said.

The analyst argued that those debates now understate Spotify's long-term growth potential.

Pricing Power And Margin Expansion Drive The Bull Case

The analyst expects Spotify to drive steady Average revenue per user (ARPU) growth through regular subscription price hikes and rollout of new premium tiers.

He modeled roughly mid-single-digit annual premium ARPU growth over the rest of the decade.

Sheridan sees a clear path for Spotify to expand gross margin by 80 to 100 basis points annually over the next three to four years.

The analyst expects leverage from improving music royalty economics, better utilization of fixed podcast costs.

AI Positioning And Long-Term Growth Outlook

He also views Spotify as well-positioned to benefit from generative AI adoption rather than be disrupted by it.

Sheridan pointed to Spotify's global scale, multi-format content offering and deep relationships with labels and creators as competitive strengths.

Over the long term, the analyst projects Spotify can deliver mid-teens annual revenue growth, driven by subscriber expansion in emerging markets.

He said the recent share price pullback has created an opportunity.

Sheridan reiterated fourth-quarter revenue of 4.5 billion euros and EPS of 2.47 euros.

SPOT Price Action: Spotify Technology shares were up 2.86% at $513.02 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Beijing Blinks: China Tells Tech Giants To Prepare Orders For Nvidia Chips

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:09 -0500

Chinese regulators have signaled a major shift in trade policy by telling the country's largest technology firms that they can begin preparing orders for Nvidia Corp. (NVDA ) H200 artificial intelligence chips.

Regulators recently granted in-principle approval for Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA ), Tencent Holding Ltd (TCEHY ), and ByteDance, for the next stage of purchasing preparations.

These companies now have clearance to discuss specific requirements, such as the exact volume of chips they will need for their operations.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Friday that Beijing will likely encourage these firms to purchase a certain amount of domestic chips as a condition for final approval.

Strategic Victory for Nvidia

Formal approval would represent a significant win for Nvidia as it attempts to resume business within the world's largest semiconductor arena.

CEO Jensen Huang has estimated that the AI chip segment alone could generate $50 billion in the coming years, according to the report.

While Nvidia was absent from the market, local rivals like Huawei Technologies and Cambricon Technologies thrived and planned to increase their own production levels.

High Demand Despite Domestic Push

Alibaba and ByteDance previously expressed private interest in ordering more than 200,000 H200 units each to upgrade their models and compete with U.S. rivals like OpenAI.

Beijing plans to approve these imports as soon as this quarter, though the chips will likely remain barred from sensitive agencies and critical infrastructure.

Reportedly, U.S. export limits on Nvidia's most advanced chips have forced Chinese companies to absorb higher costs.

Regulatory delays have kept many shipments stuck at the border even after Washington approved exports.

That uncertainty has pushed Chinese AI firms to turn to costly black-market supplies or lower-performance domestic chips such as Huawei's Ascend line.

Resellers in China reported that black-market servers containing 8 H200 GPUs are currently commanding a 50% premium at roughly 2.3 million yuan ($330,403).

NVDA Price Action: Nvidia shares were up 1.24% at $187.14 during premarket trading on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

UBS Reportedly Planing Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading For Wealthy Clients

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:01 -0500

UBS Group AG, the world's largest wealth manager with $4.7 trillion in assets, is preparing to offer Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to select private banking clients in Switzerland, with plans to expand to Asia-Pacific and the U.S.

How The Rollout Will Work

UBS is currently selecting partners for the crypto offering after months of discussions, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The bank hasn't made a final decision on how to proceed.

The initial rollout will be limited to select private banking clients in Switzerland who want to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum.

UBS is using outside partners rather than building trading, custody, and compliance infrastructure in-house.

A UBS spokesperson declined to comment on specifics but said the bank "actively monitors developments and explores initiatives that reflect client needs, regulatory developments, market trends and robust risk controls."

The move is driven by rising demand for digital assets from wealthy clients who want crypto exposure through their existing banking relationships rather than navigating crypto-native exchanges.

Why This Matters For Crypto Markets

When large wealth platforms add crypto trading, they bring steadier liquidity and a more traditional investor base to digital assets.

UBS managing $4.7 trillion means even a small allocation to crypto from its client base could move markets.

If just 1% of those assets flowed into bitcoin and ether, that would represent $47 billion in potential demand.

The bank is sticking to bitcoin and ether only-the two most liquid tokens with the clearest regulatory status.

That lowers operational and reputational risk compared to smaller tokens and targets where institutional demand is already concentrated.

The Bigger Institutional Wave

UBS joins a growing list of traditional banks expanding crypto offerings.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM ) is considering offering cryptocurrency trading to institutional clients, while Morgan Stanley (MS ) said it would offer crypto trading on its E*Trade platform starting in the first half of 2026.

The shift from cautious observer to active participant reflects changing risk calculations at major banks.

Crypto is no longer a side project-it's a client-demand and risk-management question that banks can't ignore.

President Donald Trump's push to make America the "crypto capital of the world" is accelerating this trend.

Clearer regulatory frameworks give banks more confidence to build crypto products through tightly controlled channels.

Boeing Leads $244 Billion US Overseas Contract Surge, Nearly Triple 2024 Levels: Report

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:41:01 -0500

U.S. companies, led by Boeing Co. (BA ), have secured foreign government procurement contracts worth $244 billion in 2025, with the assistance of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Boeing Orders Drive 2025 Export Surge

The U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA) reported that the value of the contracts in 2025 nearly tripled the total in 2024, largely due to a substantial increase in Boeing jetliner orders, reported Reuters. on Friday.

The contracts include about $206 billion in U.S. export content and are expected to support roughly 844,000 American jobs, aided by foreign spending commitments from recent trade deals under President Donald Trump.

Boeing's net jetliner orders jumped to 1,075 in 2025 from 377 in 2024, marking its sixth-best order year ever and the first time in seven years it outpaced rival Airbus SE (EADSY ),in net orders.

The agency said the $244 billion total includes $10 billion in defense contracts, $7 billion in energy contracts, and $3.4 billion in technology deals spanning AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and healthcare.

Federal Contracts Drive Corporate Gains

The surge in foreign contracts for U.S. companies, particularly Boeing, highlights the impact of international trade deals on the American economy. Investor Ross Gerber had highlighted the significance of government contracts in driving the success of not just defense but also other major U.S. companies, such as Elon Musk's Tesla Inc. (TSLA ) and SpaceX's success. A Washington Post investigation in February found that Tesla and SpaceX have received more than $38 billion in federal contracts, subsidies, and loans over the past two decades.

Furthermore, the substantial increase in defense sector contracts, including those in technology, indicates a growing reliance on U.S. companies for critical infrastructure and national security, as seen in the recent Pentagon shortlist announcement by Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII ) for a $25 billion contract.

Intel Earnings Spark Sell-Off, But Leveraged ETF Traders Eye Opportunity

Benzinga News — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:40:52 -0500

Trading in leveraged ETFs tied to Intel Corp. (INTC ) is flashing a sharp change in investor sentiment after the chipmaker's latest earnings report.

The Direxion Daily INTC Bull 2X ETF (LINT ), which had surged earlier this year as traders piled into bullish bets ahead of Intel's results, is now in focus as shares of Intel slid roughly 13% in after-hours trading Thursday, and dipped more than 14% after markets opened Friday morning.

In response, LINT plummeted more than 31% Friday morning. Intel's earnings beat expectations, but weaker-than-expected guidance cooled enthusiasm that had driven aggressive positioning through single-stock leveraged products.

LINT had been one of the most active vehicles for traders seeking amplified exposure to Intel, significantly outperforming the stock itself during the pre-earnings run-up. The move reflected short-term conviction rather than long-term investing, with traders using leveraged ETFs to position around a high-stakes catalyst.

"After shares doubled in just over the past four months, the American chipmaker was priced for perfection coming into this evening's earnings," said Ryan Lee, senior vice president of Product and Strategy at Direxion. "Supply shortages weighed heavily on this upcoming quarter's forecast, which should, at least in the near term, cool off this highflyer."

The guidance miss quickly validated those risks, prompting a reset in sentiment across Intel-linked trading products.

Leveraged ETFs React Quickly, Yet Opportunity Arises

Single-stock leveraged ETFs tend to reflect investor confidence in real time, amplifying both upside optimism and downside disappointment. Intel's post-earnings drop underscores how quickly sentiment can shift when expectations are stretched.

"For traders who believe this pullback presents an opportunity to buy back into one of the best-performing chip stocks," Lee said, "LINT offers 2X daily exposure to INTC."

At the same time, Intel's results are reverberating beyond single-stock ETFs.

Intel Earnings Beat, But Forward Outlook Falters

Intel reported fourth-quarter revenue of $13.67 billion, topping analyst estimates of $13.37 billion, while adjusted earnings came in at 15 cents per share, well ahead of expectations of eight cents.

However, total revenue declined 4% year over year. Client Computing Group revenue fell 7% to $8.2 billion, while Data Center and AI revenue rose 9% to $4.7 billion, reinforcing Intel's long-term AI narrative.

Guidance Sparks Sector-Wide Repricing

Intel guided first-quarter revenue to a range of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion, below consensus estimates of $12.49 billion, and projected breakeven adjusted earnings.

"This miss will surely have ripple effects across the sector," Lee said, noting that traders may turn to products such as the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF (SOXL ) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X ETF (SOXS ) to express bullish or bearish views on the broader semiconductor space. SOXL is down around 3% while SOXS is up 3% on Friday.

Execution And Policy Risks Remain In Focus

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan acknowledged execution challenges, emphasizing the need to improve production yields. Lee also flagged rising memory prices and U.S. government involvement as potential sources of volatility later this year.

As earnings season unfolds, leveraged ETFs tied to Intel and the broader semiconductor sector are once again serving as high-frequency sentiment gauges, revealing not just where traders are positioned, but how quickly conviction can change.

Market Update: Dow Climbs 300 Points as Broad Rally Continues

Rachel Hemple — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:40:09 -0500

Stocks rose Thursday as the broad market rally induced by easing geopolitical tensions extended into another session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA ) climbed 300 points to settle at 49,384.01, while the S&P 500 Index (SPY ) added about 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite (QQQ ) rose nearly 1% to end the day at 6,913.35 and 23,436.02, respectively. The session's gains led the Dow to recover from losses suffered earlier in the week. Still, all three major averages were off their session highs -- the Dow rose over 500 points earlier on Thursday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were each about 1% higher.

Stocks rose on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said that he would no longer impose fresh tariffs on several European countries and does not plan to use force to acquire Greenland, of which the president said relevant parties are reaching a deal "framework" in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. All three major market averages rose more than 1% on Wednesday in a broad market rally on the news.

Trump's comments helped alleviate extreme volatility risk, according to Evercore ISI Senior Managing Director Julian Emanuel. Instead, market participants are now turning their attention back to Wall Street's regular schedule of Federal Reserve policy meetings and upcoming earnings reports for clues on stock outlooks.

"The phrase 'No use of force' removed the 'left tail outcome' ... and his Truth Social post that the 'Framework of a Future Deal' was being forged with NATO's Rutte while the 2/1 Tariffs were called off further underpinned risk assets," Emanuel wrote in a Thursday note to clients.

Wednesday's rally highlighted the continued strength of retail investors on Wall Street as well, according to Arun Jain, head of U.S. equity quantitative strategy at JPMorgan.

"As geopolitical developments cast fresh uncertainty over market sentiment this Tuesday, retail investors responded by stepping in strongly to buy the dip," Jain wrote in a Thursday note to clients.

In economic news, the latest inflation reading came in-line with estimates from Dow Jones, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. The agency's personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 2.8% in November on both a headline and core (removing food and energy prices) basis for the the month. This reading supports investors' view that the Fed will hold interest rates steady at its upcoming policy meeting next week following three consecutive cuts in 2025.

For Friday, investors will turn their attention towards Intel's (INTC ) earnings report for insight on the state of the semiconductor industry.

TikTok Deal Sealed: US, China Approve Historic American Spinoff

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:40:18 -0500

The U.S. and China have approved a deal to sell TikTok's U.S. business to a consortium of primarily U.S. investors led by Oracle Corp. (ORCL ) and Silverlake. The transaction concludes a years-long dispute between the social media platform and the two global superpowers over national security concerns.

Deal Structure And Key Investors

The agreement, which is set to close this week according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Semafor, leaves ByteDance with just under 20% ownership of the U.S. business. Oracle, Silverlake and MGX, a state-owned investment firm in the United Arab Emirates focused on artificial intelligence, will each receive 15% stakes. Additional investors include Susquehanna, Dragoneer and DFO, Michael Dell's family office, according to the media outlet.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew stated in December that ByteDance had signed a binding agreement with investors but noted that regulators hadn't yet indicated their approval, according to a report by Semafor on Thursday.

Meeting Trump Administration Deadline

The transaction's completion is designed to meet a Jan. 22 deadline established by the Trump administration in an executive order that granted a 120-day stay on enforcing the federal ban. Former President Joe Biden signed a law in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. business or face a ban over national security concerns.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in September the deal would value the unit at roughly $14 billion, though the final sale price was not disclosed. Details regarding negotiations over TikTok's algorithm, which has been the primary point of contention between the U.S. and Chinese governments, remain unclear.

The White House, Oracle, Silverlake and the Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.

ORCL Price Action: Oracle shares were trading up 3.09% at $179.25 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Nvidia Dethrones Apple As Taiwan Semiconductor's Largest Customer

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:40:11 -0500

Nvidia Corp's (NVDA ) surge in artificial intelligence demand is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. Nvidia has overtaken Apple Inc. (AAPL ) as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd's (TSM ) largest customer.

Nvidia chief Jensen Huang confirmed the change publicly for the first time during a recent podcast.

Nvidia now ranks as Taiwan Semiconductor's biggest client-an outcome he suggested would please Taiwan Semiconductor founder Morris Chang.

Podcast host Jodi Shelton recalled that Chang once shared a story from their first meeting, when Huang boldly told him Nvidia would one day become his largest customer or one of his biggest, Futunn News reported on Thursday.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has since shifted industry priorities. According to the report, Nvidia now contributes about 13% of Taiwan Semiconductor's total revenue.

Nvidia previously held that position in the early 2000s. However, Apple took the lead in the 2010s after outsourcing production of iPhone and iPad processors to Taiwan Semiconductor.

The report also mentions that Apple has reportedly secured about half of Taiwan Semiconductor's 2-nanometer capacity for its upcoming A20 and A20 Pro smartphone chips.

Analysts See Nvidia's AI Leadership Extending Into 2026

The chip designer became the first company to hit the $4.5 trillion market cap in October as the AI ambitions of companies like Microsoft Corp (MSFT ), Google parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL ) (GOOG ), and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN ) continue to fuel demand for Nvidia's graphics processing units.

JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur said AI-driven demand continues to strongly favor Nvidia as the semiconductor sector heads into the fourth quarter of 2025 earnings season with momentum that should extend into 2026.

Sur tied Nvidia's strength to sustained AI infrastructure spending. The analyst sees meaningful upside in the AI accelerator market, which he estimates at roughly $200 billion in 2025.

Within that landscape, Sur keeps Nvidia as a top pick, citing its central role in accelerated compute.

Price Actions: Nvidia shares were up 0.82% at $184.83 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Taiwan Semiconductor stock is up 1.63%.

PayPal Bets On Agentic Commerce, Acquires Israel-Based Cymbio

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:40:04 -0500

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL ) announced Thursday that it has agreed to acquire Cymbio, tightening its focus on AI-driven commerce as shopping increasingly shifts toward conversational platforms. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move adds infrastructure that enables merchants to place product catalogs directly within AI shopping environments, where discovery and checkout are beginning to merge.

Cymbio is a multi-channel orchestration platform for merchants, enabling connectivity to a global network of marketplaces, retailers, social commerce channels and AI shopping experiences.

Founded in 2015 and based in Tel Aviv (Israel), Cymbio brings experience in marketplace integration and multi-channel commerce.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions, reinforcing PayPal's push to stay relevant as AI reshapes how consumers shop.

Why It Matters?

The deal brings Cymbio's multi-channel orchestration technology into PayPal's agentic commerce stack, allowing sellers to surface products across tools such as Microsoft (MSFT ) Copilot and Perplexity without changing their existing operations.

For PayPal, the objective is scale: keeping merchants visible as AI becomes a primary entry point for online shopping.

Michelle Gill, executive vice president and general manager of small business and financial services at PayPal, said, "Acquiring Cymbio's technology and team will enhance our agentic commerce capabilities and accelerate the expansion to more of our merchants. By making their product catalogs discoverable on AI surfaces, merchants can increase sales while expanding product choice to the millions of consumers shopping on AI platforms today."

Cymbio's systems will power PayPal's Store Sync service, which distributes product data into AI interfaces and routes orders back to merchants' current fulfillment and management platforms. Brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Fabletics, Newegg, and Adorama are already using the service.

The announcement comes as investor sentiment toward PayPal has improved amid broader trade-related developments. In a separate catalyst, PayPal shares rose after easing tariff concerns lifted confidence across global commerce and payments stocks.

PayPal held Cash and equivalents of $14.4 billion as of September 30, 2025.

PYPL Price Action: PayPal Holdings shares were up 0.93% at $56.41 during premarket trading on Thursday. The stock is near its 52-week low of $55.01, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Welcomes Intense AI Rivalry, Predicts Tech's GDP Share Will Rise

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:39:44 -0500

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT ) CEO Satya Nadella said the fierce competition in the AI sector is beneficial and that the technology industry will continue to grow as a share of the U.S. economy. AI Competition Is Healthy, Nadella Says

On Wednesday, Nadella spoke during a recorded appearance on the "All-In" podcast in Davos, describing the current AI landscape as "pretty intense," but not necessarily negative.

He said the influx of new competitors every decade keeps Microsoft "fit," and he welcomed the pressure as a way to stay innovative.

"The way I always think is it's always helpful when you have a complete new set of competitors every decade because that keeps you fit," Nadella said.

He added, "It's a pretty intense time. I'm glad there's the competition."

Nadella Predicts Tech's Economic Role Will Expand

Nadella referenced Microsoft's early days, recalling that when he joined the company in 1992, Novell was considered the "big, existential competitor" at the time.

Novell later lost its dominant position and was acquired in 2011.

He also framed the competition as part of a broader economic trend, saying technology's role in the economy is likely to expand.

"At the end of the day, when I look at it as a percentage of GDP, five years from now, where will tech be? It will be higher," he said.

Nadella said Microsoft's strategy is to focus on what customers want rather than treating every company as a rival, a philosophy he contrasted with the competitive posture advocated by entrepreneur Peter Thiel.

AI Race Intensifies: Alibaba, Google, Cuban Warn Of Bubble

Earlier, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA ) shares surged after reports that China might allow limited imports of Nvidia Corp. (NVDA ) H200 AI chips, though the gains later eased.

Nvidia had tightened H200 sales to China, while regulators considered restrictions and domestic-chip requirements.

Alibaba was reported to be seeking over 200,000 H200 units.

Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG ) (GOOGL ) Google executives revealed the company needed to double AI serving capacity every six months to keep pace with demand.

Despite raising capital spending, Google said it would not dramatically increase spending in 2026, focusing instead on building more efficient infrastructure.

CEO Sundar Pichai called 2026 an "intense" year for AI competition.

Mark Cuban compared the AI race to the 1990s search-engine boom, suggesting it could end with one dominant player and warning that massive spending could create a bubble.

Micron CEO Calls Memory 'Key Enabler' Of AI As It Tackles 'Long Lead Time' To Address Chip Shortage

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:39:35 -0500

Micron Technology Inc. (MU ) CEO Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted the current memory chip shortage, attributing it to the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors. Memory Emerges as Strategic AI Asset

"Memory is a key enabler of AI. It is a strategic asset today, not just a component in the system," he stated on the CNBC 'Squawk on the Street' from Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.

Mehrotra also discussed Micron's efforts to address the shortage, including the expansion of manufacturing infrastructure and the construction of new facilities. He noted that the company is working on increasing its supply capacity to meet the growing demand for memory chips. However, building new fabrication plants takes time, requiring long-term investment in new capacity, Mehrotra added.

"There's a long lead time for construction," stated the CEO.

When asked about the impact of the shortage on prices, Mehrotra emphasized that pricing is a function of the value that memory chips bring. He pointed out that the increasing demand for AI-enabled devices, such as smartphones and PCs, will continue to drive the need for more memory.

Micron's Moves Amid Memory Chip Shortage

The shortage of memory chips has been a significant concern for the tech industry, with companies like NVIDIA (NVDA ) facing constraints in their China business due to the scarcity of advanced memory chips. The shortage has also led to a surge in prices, with Micron confirming a 100% sell-through to AI leaders, further exacerbating the situation.

Despite the challenges posed by the shortage, Micron has been making strategic moves to address the issue. The company recently signed a letter of intent to acquire Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation's P5 fabrication site in Taiwan, a move that could help bolster its production capacity.

Additionally, Micron's plans to invest $200 billion in semiconductor manufacturing and R&D in the US could further strengthen its position in the market.

Price Action: Over the past year, Micron stock surged 255.74%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Wednesday, the stock climbed 6.61% to close at $389.11.

DoorDash Taps 1,000 Hibbett Stores In Push For Instant Retail

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:39:19 -0500

DoorDash, Inc. (DASH ) on Thursday disclosed a deal with Hibbett, Inc. to offer on-demand footwear, apparel, and accessories across the U.S. with ~1,000 stores. With this deal, Hibbett's products are now more accessible via DoorDash, especially in the Southeast and Southwest.

Via DoorDash, customers can order a variety of Hibbett athletic essentials, such as footwear, apparel, and accessories from top brands like Nike (NKE ), Jordan, adidas, and New Balance, delivered straight to their doorstep.

Also, Hibbett will be accessible through DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service that provides $0 delivery fees and lower service charges on eligible orders from thousands of restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide.

Management Commentary

Fuad Hannon, VP of New Verticals at DoorDash, stated, "This partnership reflects our continued focus on building meaningful retail relationships that give consumers greater choice and speed, whether they are gearing up for a game, refreshing everyday essentials, or shopping for last minute accessories and beyond."

Bill Quinn, CIO, Hibbett added, "By connecting with DoorDash's delivery network, we're simplifying the path from checkout to doorstep, so shoppers can get their footwear and apparel shopping done quickly and seamlessly. This new partnership is yet another way for us to provide efficiency and continue to improve our customer experience."

Collaboration With ChatGPT

In December, DoorDash disclosed that it had partnered with ChatGPT's parent company, OpenAI, to integrate grocery shopping directly into ChatGPT. The move allows users to turn recipes into grocery orders delivered from local stores in as little as an hour.

DoorDash plans to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on February 18, 2026.

DASH Price Action: DoorDash shares were up 0.33% at $207.16 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Jamie Dimon Says He'd Pay Higher Taxes If Funds Aid Struggling Americans: 'Raise Taxes And Directly Give It To The People Who Need It'

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:38:25 -0500

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM ) CEO Jamie Dimon said he would support paying higher taxes himself if the money were directly used to help struggling Americans rather than absorbed by what he described as wasteful spending in Washington. Dimon Warns Of A 'K-Shaped' US Economy

On Wednesday, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dimon said the U.S. economy is increasingly divided, with wealthier households continuing to gain while lower-income Americans fall behind, reported Fortune.

Upper-income earners are doing "far better. They got houses and stock," Dimon said.

Lower-income workers, he added, often lack savings, face tougher job prospects and see limited income growth.

JPMorgan CEO Backs Expanded Tax Credits For Workers

Dimon said one way to address the imbalance is to expand income tax credits, effectively boosting take-home pay for working Americans.

"I would give people working more money as a negative tax," he said, arguing the benefits should not be limited to families with children.

Such an approach, Dimon said, would allow people to spend in their communities and improve their financial stability without government micromanagement.

Dimon said he would accept higher taxes to fund such programs but criticized current federal spending.

"If you said, 'Raise taxes and directly give it to the people who need it,' I'd do it," he said.

"That's not what happens. It goes to all these interest groups, you know, and they give it to their friends and all that," he added,

He arguing the money instead flows to special interests in what he called Washington's "swamp."

Buttigieg Pushes Affordability, Schiff Warns Dollar Risk

Last week, Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged voters in western Wisconsin to use political power to make everyday life more affordable, arguing that rising costs were not inevitable but shaped by policy.

He highlighted issues like childcare, wages, housing, and healthcare, and criticized the focus on political spectacle.

Economist Peter Schiff countered President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. subsidized other countries through low tariffs, saying instead that the world subsidized the U.S. because the dollar is the global reserve currency.

He warned that rising debt, tariffs, and geopolitical threats could threaten that status and lead to economic collapse, a view shared by economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Apple Eyes AI Wearable Pin As OpenAI Prepares First Consumer Device: Report

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:37:52 -0500

Apple Inc. (AAPL ) is reportedly working on a new AI-powered pin, which could be launched as early as 2027, to compete with OpenAI's first wearable set to debut in 2026. AI Wearable Still in Early Development

The wearable, similar in size to Apple's AirTag, is still in the early stages of development and may not come to fruition. It is expected to feature multiple cameras, a speaker, and a microphone, reported The Information on Wednesday.

It is unclear if the device will be compatible with other Apple products, such as AirPods or the rumored smart glasses.

The wearable technology market has been difficult for newcomers to crack, a reality highlighted by the troubles of Humane, a startup launched by former Apple employees. Its AI Pin, which projected an interface onto a user's palm, drew criticism for sluggish performance and weak battery life. The device sold fewer than 10,000 units before portions of the company were ultimately acquired by HP for $116 million.

Earlier this month, it was reported that OpenAI is moving its first AI hardware project to Foxconn as it advances plans for a Jony Ive-designed consumer device, codenamed "Gumdrop," targeted for release in 2026 or 2027.

The product-possibly a smart pen or small audio device may include a microphone and camera to sense its environment and enable features like handwritten note transcription into ChatGPT.

Apple Ramps Up Push Into AI Wearables

Apple's move into the AI-powered wearable market comes amid a broader push into AI technology. The company recently announced a partnership with Alphabet Inc. (GOOG ) (GOOGL ) to use Google's Gemini models to power Siri, a move that ARK Invest's Cathie Wood sees as a sign of Apple's strategic weakness in the AI sector.

However, Apple's shift from OpenAI's ChatGPT to Google Gemini was seen as a significant step in strengthening Siri's capabilities, signaling a more serious approach to fixing Apple Intelligence.

Apple's expansion into AI-powered wearables was first reported in December 2025, with the company planning to launch smart glasses and AI-powered AirPods in 2026. The development of a new AI-powered wearable could be another step in this direction.

Price Action: Over the past year, Apple stock climbed 11.23%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Wednesday, the stock edged 0.39% higher to close at $247.65.

As Memory Chip Prices Soar On Relentless AI Demand, Consumer Electronics Makers Feel The Squeeze: Chip Stocks Soar

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:37:43 -0500

The unrelenting demand from AI data centers has led to a dramatic surge in memory chip prices, taking a toll on the sales and margins of leading consumer electronics makers.

With global AI capex projected to reach between $5 trillion and $8 trillion by 2030, the memory chip supply is increasingly feeling the strain.

The world's leading memory chip manufacturers, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (SSNLF ), SK Hynix Inc. (HXSCL ) and Micron Technology Inc. (MU ) are struggling to keep up with the demand despite soaring prices, and fresh capex plans to shore up supply.

According to Counterpoint Research, the memory market has entered a "hyper-bull" phase, with prices expected to surge another 40% to 50% during the first quarter of 2026, following a similar uptick during the fourth quarter of 2025.

A 64GB RDIMM or Registered Dual In-Line Memory Module, which used to cost $255 during the third-quarter of 2025, is expected to reach $700 by March 2026, with $1,000 well within sight.

Electronics Demand Expected To Fall Amid Rising Prices

As a result, consumer electronics makers such as Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL ), Lenovo Group Ltd. (LNVGY ), HP Inc. (HPQ ), Xiaomi Corp. (XIACF ) and even Apple Inc. (AAPL ), are facing a difficult balancing act of having to balance margins, as well as high prices that could lead to lower demand from consumers.

According to research firm IDC, the average selling price of smartphones globally could rise between 3% to 5%, while the market itself could contract by 5.2% in 2026.

The PC segment isn't faring any better, with the only tailwind being the Microsoft Windows 10 end-of-life refresh cycle, which can help keep demand high even with high prices.

Leading consumer electronics stocks have been hit hard in recent months, witnessing steep declines as a result of these supply-side constraints.

Stocks6 Month Performance

Dell Technologies Inc.-8.90%
Lenovo Group Ltd.-14.02%
HP Inc.-23.14%
Apple Inc.+15.51%
Xiaomi Corp.-38.69%

Memory Chip Stocks Rally

With unrelenting demand and soaring prices, leading memory chip manufacturers have seen their stocks soar over the past couple of months.

Stocks / ETFs6 Month Performance

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.+60.62%
SK Hynix Inc.+181.19%
Micron Technology Inc.+256.26%
SanDisk Corp. (SNDK )+1,112.02%
Western Digital Corp. (WDC )+260.72%
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH )+40.85%

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF, which tracks leading semiconductor and memory stocks, was up 2.96% on Wednesday, closing at $401.93, and is up 0.90% overnight.

Jeff Bezos Vs. Elon Musk, Again: Blue Origin Launches 'TeraWave' To Rival Starlink

Benzinga News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:37:27 -0500

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN ) founder Jeff Bezos-backed commercial space flight company Blue Origin has entered the space-based internet service sector with the new "TeraWave" service set to take on Elon Musk's internet provider Starlink. 6 TBPS Speeds, 2027 Deployment

In an official statement released on Wednesday, Blue Origin announced the "TeraWave" service aimed at enterprise-grade customers, as well as data center and government users, by providing "reliable connectivity for critical operations."

The TeraWave constellation would comprise 5,408 low and medium-Earth orbit satellites, with deployments of the constellation beginning in fourth-quarter 2027, the company said, adding that customers would be able to access speeds of up to 6 TBPS (Terabit per second) via the 128 MEO satellites, as well as speeds of up to 144 GBPS (Gigabits per second) through the 5,280 LEO satellites.

Elon Musk Reacts

Reacting to the news, SpaceX CEO Musk shared that the Starlink service will still have the upper hand when it comes to data speeds. "Starlink space to ground laser links will exceed this," Musk said in a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday.

Starlink's Ryanair Row

The news comes as Starlink has been in the spotlight as Musk faced off against Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY ) CEO, Michael O'Leary, following the latter's comments about not installing Starlink on flights, citing fuel drag and installation costs.

SpaceX's VP of Starlink Engineering, Michael Nicolls, also shared that compared to legacy Wi-Fi providers on flights, Starlink terminals cause a 0.3% increase in fuel consumption on flights.

Qatar Airways also recently announced it would be offering Starlink Wi-Fi on the 787-800 Dreamliner aircraft, in a first-of-its-kind move, while also announcing that the airline's entire Airbus SE (EADSF ) (EADSY ) A350 aircraft fleet will also offer Starlink.

Meanwhile, Musk called Bezos a "copycat" last year as the latter unveiled the "Project Prometheus" initiative, touting it as an alternative to Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI. Project Prometheus will reportedly work on creating AI tools tailored for the automotive, space, robotics, scientific research and other sectors.

With TeraWave, Musk and Bezos will face off in yet another sector after Space, Artificial Intelligence and automotive, as Bezos is also backing Slate Auto, an EV maker focused on making an affordable EV pickup truck.

Market Update: Stocks Reverse Losses on Trump Canceling New European Tariffs

Rachel Hemple — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:13:40 -0500

Stocks rebounded on Wednesday as President Donald Trump pulled back on new tariff threats on several European nations, stating that a deal framework over Greenland has been reached.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA ) jumped nearly 600 points to settle at 49,077.23, while the S&P 500 Index (SPY ) and Nasdaq Composite (QQQ ) each rose about 1.2% to close at 6,875.62 and 23,224.82, respectively.

Market sentiment was boosted Wednesday after Trump said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that he would not use force to acquire Greenland. Investors were encouraged earlier in the session, reversing the so-called "sell America" trade, after Trump also dropped his proposed 10% import tariffs on goods from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, starting Feb. 1.

"Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. "This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st," he added.

Technology names like Nvidia (NVDA ) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD ) each climbed higher on Wednesday as investors rotated back into growth stocks, while gold prices reached a fresh record above $4,800.

On the earnings front, Netflix (NFLX ) shares fell on Wednesday, reaching a 52-week low, after the streaming giant posted underwhelming first-quarter guidance following its lackluster fourth-quarter earnings report late Tuesday. The company now calls for first-quarter earnings of $0.76 per share, well below analysts' estimates of $0.81 per share.

Netflix also amended its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD ) to be an all cash offer late Tuesday, with the company planning to pause share repurchases to fund the deal. The company said in its letter to shareholders it sees the transaction as a move "to accelerate our business strategy."

"We're working really hard to close the acquisition of Warner Bros. Studios and HBO, which we see as a strategic accelerant," CEO Ted Sarandos told analysts during the company's earnings call. "And we're doing all this while we're driving and sustaining healthy growth."

United Airlines (UAL ) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings late Tuesday, and forecasted for potential record earnings this year, benefitting from increased demand for higher-priced tickets. The airline expects adjusted earnings per share of between $12 and $14 for its full year 2026, coming in line with expectations. For its first-quarter, United calls for earnings of $1 to $1.50 per share, coming in above estimates at the high end of the range.

In economic news, pending U.S. home sales fell 9.3% in December over November, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday, offering the latest warning sign from the housing market even as mortgage rates decline. Annually, contract signings for previously owned homes fell 3%.

"After several months of encouraging signs in pending contracts and closed sales, the December new contract figures have dampened the short-term outlook," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, in a statement. "We'll be watching the data in the coming months to determine whether the soft contract signings were a one-month aberration or the start of an underlying trend."

Elsewhere, TD Cowen analysts led by Joshua Buchalter reiterated their buy rating on Broadcom (AVGO ) after meeting with the company on Wednesday, and raised the firm's price target to $450, implying a 35% potential upside from Tuesday's close.

The analysts highlighted that CEO Hock E. Tan "expressed clear confidence in meaningful upside to its most recently disclosed backlog figure, including networking, and that customer owned tooling is not a major concern," Buchalter said in a report issued late Tuesday, adding that Tan "emphasized that Broadcom has seemingly insatiable demand for its products."

Looking ahead, market participants will turn their attention towards earnings reports from Procter & Gamble (PG ) and Intel (INTC ) on Thursday, alongside November's delayed personal consumption expenditures report.

IPO Market Heats Up In January 2026: IPO ETFs To Watch As New Listings Surge

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:29:37 -0500

The U.S. IPO pipeline is showing clear signs of life in January 2026, with 20+ offerings either launched or scheduled during the month. Among the listings expected on Jan. 22 are BitGo Holdings, Aigo Holding Limited, Riku Dining Group Limited, and EquipmentShare.com, while Ethos Technologies, PicS N.V., and York Space Systems are slated to go public on Jan. 29.

The renewed flow of deals is prompting investors to revisit IPO-focused exchange-traded funds as a way to gain exposure to newly public companies without relying on the success of any single listing.

Why Investors Turn to IPO ETFs

IPO ETFs do not participate in the initial offering itself. Instead, they typically add stocks after they begin trading in the public market, allowing investors to capture post-IPO performance while spreading risk across multiple names.

These funds have gained traction during periods of rising issuance, particularly when IPO activity spans multiple sectors such as fintech, industrials, consumer discretionary and aerospace.

Several IPO-focused ETFs stand out as issuance accelerates:

Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO ): Tracks newly public U.S. companies and generally holds them for two to three years, refreshing its portfolio as new listings emerge.
First Trust U.S. Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX ): Follows the IPOX 100 U.S. Index, which includes the largest U.S. IPOs and spin-offs during their first 1,000 trading days, offering exposure to more established post-IPO companies.
First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF (FPXI ): Applies the IPOX methodology to non-U.S. listings, providing global exposure to recent IPOs.

The Bigger Picture

With IPO activity picking up across industries spanning from crypto custody and insurtech to space systems, IPO-focused ETFs are increasingly being viewed as efficient tools to participate in the reopening of the new-issue market.

Jamie Dimon Calls Credit Card Rate Cap 'Economic Disaster'

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:29:30 -0500

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM ) CEO Jamie Dimon issued a warning Wednesday about President Donald Trump's proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates, calling it an "economic disaster" during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Dimon: 80% of Americans Would Lose Credit Access

"It would remove credit from 80% of Americans, and that is their back-up credit," Dimon said, though he added that JPMorgan would survive the impact. The banking chief emphasized that consequences would extend far beyond financial institutions.

"People crying the most will not be the credit card companies; it will be the restaurants, the retailers, the travel companies, the schools, the municipalities," Dimon said.

Broader Industry Fallout Expected

The proposal has drawn criticism from across the financial sector. Citigroup Inc. (C ) outgoing CFO Mark Mason has expressed disapproval alongside Dimon. Mike Taiano of Moody's Ratings said the cap would be credit negative for major card-issuing banks, squeezing net interest income, slowing loan growth and reducing volume-based revenues.

Industry experts have warned the impact could extend to airline loyalty programs, which generate billions from co-branded credit card partnerships. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL ) generated approximately $2 billion from its American Express (AXP ) loyalty partnership in the third quarter of 2025, a 12% year-over-year increase.

Netflix Rejects The Bear Case, Says Critics Are Ignoring Metrics That Actually Matter

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:29:25 -0500

Netflix Inc (NFLX ) is pushing back against a broader bear case that critics say points to weakening fundamentals. Management, however, argues the problem isn't the business, but the metrics being used to judge it. On its fourth quarter earnings call, Netflix executives said surface-level data points like total viewing hours are being overemphasized, while the indicators that actually matter to long-term value creation are being ignored.Concerns have centered on flat or slowing total view hours, with some arguing the company's rumored Warner Bros.-HBO acquisition signals a need to "fix" engagement.

On Netflix's earnings call, Co-CEO Greg Peters dismissed that framing outright, calling it a misread of how the business actually works.

Why View Hours Can Be Misleading

"Total view hours by itself - it's an overly simplified view into engagement and engagement trends," Peters said. He emphasized that the metric is influenced by factors far beyond content demand, including plan mix, tenure, and geography.

One example: international expansion. "Consumers in Japan watch roughly half to two-thirds the amount of TV as American consumers," Peters noted. As Netflix adds more members in markets like Japan - where growth potential remains significant - average view hours per member can decline even as the platform gets healthier.

That's why Netflix evaluates engagement at a portfolio level, not through a single headline metric. "View hours is one element of that," Peters said, "but we also look to those quality metrics."

Retention, Not Hours, Is The Real Signal

Those quality metrics point in a very different direction. Peters said improving content quality translates into outcomes that matter more to investors. "We see improving quality translate into core metrics like better retention," he said.

Netflix's retention, according to Peters, is "among the best in the industry," with customer satisfaction now at an all-time high - a direct rebuttal to the idea that users are disengaging.

Organic Growth Still The Core Thesis

Importantly, Netflix insists its long-term growth ambitions are not dependent on acquisitions. "We're very optimistic about our organic growth prospects," Peters said, adding that the company's aspirational targets "don't include any M&A."

Any deal, including Warner Bros.-HBO, would be "an accelerant," not a crutch.

Investor takeaway: Netflix says bear arguments built on headline engagement metrics miss the bigger picture. Peters points to retention and customer satisfaction as the measures that best reflect the platform's health and long-term growth potential.

Trump Doubles Down On Greenland At Davos: 'We Want A Piece Of Ice'

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:28:08 -0500

President Donald Trump used the global stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday to double down on Greenland, calling it a core U.S. national security interest and signaling he will not back away.

Trump framed Greenland as a strategic vulnerability for the Western alliance and stressed that only the United States is capable of defending it in an era of advanced missile systems, nuclear threats, and great-power competition.

"No nation or group of nations is in a position to secure Greenland other than the United States," Trump told business and political leaders in Davos.

Trump Wants Acquisition Of Greenland, Not Lease

Trump made clear that Washington is seeking full ownership of Greenland, rejecting the idea of a lease or limited defense agreement.

"You can't defend it on a lease," Trump said. "Legally and psychologically, ownership matters."

Trump described Greenland as a critical geographic choke point, positioned between the United States, Russia and China, and therefore central to both American and allied defense planning.

Trump rejected arguments that the push is driven by Greenland's mineral resources, saying the real priority is military positioning and hemispheric defense. "This is about security, not mining," he said.

He described the island as a critical geographic choke point - situated between the United States, Russia, and China - and therefore central to American and allied defense.

Trump tied Greenland directly to missile defense, arguing the territory would host what he described as "the greatest golden dome ever built."

He said the system would serve as a strategic shield against advanced missile threats, protect not only the United States but also Canada, and reinforce NATO's northern defenses.

According to Trump, full ownership - not leases or basing agreements - is essential, warning that in a future conflict, missile trajectories would place Greenland at the center of any defensive architecture.

A Core National Security Interest

Trump cited World War II as a historical precedent, noting that U.S. forces established and defended bases in Greenland after Denmark fell to Nazi Germany, preventing adversaries from gaining a foothold in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump said the U.S. returned Greenland after the war despite its strategic value.

"This enormous unsecured island is part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. It is therefore a core national security interest of the United States of America."

"I am seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.".

"We want a piece of ice for world protection," Trump said, calling it a modest request relative to decades of U.S. military and financial support for European security.

"You can say yes and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember," Trump warned Europe.

Still, Trump ruled out using "excessive strength and force" to obtain Greenland.

Denmark, NATO And Burden-Sharing

Asked by Børge Brende, current president of the World Economic Forum, what kind of deal he ultimately envisions between the United States and Denmark, Trump suggested negotiations are already implicit, and that cost and security realities favor Washington.

"It's costing Denmark hundreds of millions a year to run it. Denmark's a small country and wonderful people, but it's very expensive."

Trump criticized Denmark for failing to invest in Greenland's defense despite prior commitments.

"They didn't spend the money. They didn't spend anything almost," he said. "We'll see what happens."

He also broadened the issue to NATO burden-sharing, reiterating long-standing grievances about U.S. contributions to the alliance.

"NATO has treated the United States of America very unfairly. We were never asked for anything, and we never got anything," Trump said.

Trump added that U.S. leadership has been decisive in preventing wider conflict in Europe. "We're helping them with Ukraine. Without us, I think Putin would have gone all the way," he said.

Market Reactions

U.S. equities rebounded Wednesday following Tuesday's selloff, with major indexes climbing in mid-morning New York trading. The S&P 500 advanced 0.8%, while small-cap stocks outperformed, pushing the Russell 2000 up 1.2%.

Energy-led sector gains, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE ) jumping 2.5%.

Among mega-cap names, Intel Corp. (INTC ) stood out as the session's top performer.

Johnson & Johnson Expects 2026 Sales To Hit Almost $100 Billion

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:25:25 -0500

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ ) on Wednesday reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.46 per share, up 20.6% year over year, beating the consensus of $2.44. The pharmaceutical and medtech giant reported sales of $24.56 billion, up 9.1% year over year and beating the consensus of $24.16 billion.

Operational growth was 7.1%, and adjusted operational growth was 6.1%.

Innovative Medicine sales increased 10% or 7.9% operationally to $15.76 billion. Fiscal 2025 sales increased 6% to $60.40 billion.

2025 operational sales grew 5.3%, with net acquisitions and divestitures positively impacting growth by 1.2% primarily due to Caplyta.

Growth was driven primarily by Darzalex (daratumumab), Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), Erleada (apalutamide), and Rybrevant/Lazcluze in oncology, Tremfya (guselkumab) and Simponi/Simponi Aria in immunology, and Spravato (esketamine) in neuroscience.

Growth was partially offset by an approximate (1,040) basis points impact from Stelara in Immunology.

Cancer drug sales increased to $6.86 billion, up 24.8% (+21.9% operational). Immunology sales declined to $3.86 billion, a 8.9% decrease (or 10.3% on an operational basis).

MedTech sales increased 7.5% to $8.80 billion. 2025 operational sales grew 5.4%, with net acquisitions and divestitures positively impacting growth by 1.1% primarily due to Shockwave.

Growth was driven primarily by electrophysiology products and Abiomed in Cardiovascular, and wound closure products in General Surgery.

Johnson & Johnson, in its earnings presentation, highlighted that its cancer cell therapy Carvykti and Shockwave each generated annual sales of over $1 billion.

The company said it has 28 platforms with at least $1 billion in annual revenues.

Outlook

Johnson & Johnson issued fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $11.43-$11.63, compared to the consensus of $11.45.

The company expects 2026 sales of $99.50 billion-$100.5 billion compared to the consensus of $98.89 billion.

Price Action: Johnson & Johnson shares were down 0.90% at $216.24 during premarket trading on Wednesday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $220.11, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp Dismisses AI Bubble Concerns, Says 'A Lot Of AI Just Doesn't Work'

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:24:45 -0500

Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR ), rejected the idea that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is in a bubble, attributing the skepticism to the failure of numerous AI projects.

Karp, speaking to Laurence D. Fink at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, dismissed concerns that the AI industry is in a bubble, saying the skepticism stems from the fact that "a lot of AI just doesn't work."

He further explained that the failure of many AI initiatives has led to the perception of an AI bubble.

"People have tried things that just can never work. You buy a LLM, put it on your stack, and wonder why it's not working," Karp noted.

AI Adoption Outpacing Industry Capacity

The American businessman also emphasized that the industry is still in its early stages, noting that the real challenge is figuring out how to make AI work for different countries and companies.

Karp mentioned that the adoption of AI is accelerating beyond the industry's capacity, and simply purchasing large language models off the shelf won't suffice. He added that companies need to build a software layer to manage these models in a way that their organization can understand and use to generate value.

"Once you build a software layer to orchestrate and manage the LLMs in a language your enterprise understands, you actually can create value."

Diverging Views On AI's Bubble Risk

The AI industry has been a topic of intense discussion, with some experts warning of a potential bubble.

Vinod Khosla, a prominent venture capitalist, argued that actual AI usage, rather than volatile stock prices, should determine whether the industry is in a bubble. In contrast, billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio compared the current excitement around AI to the early stages of a bubble, noting similarities to extreme periods in market history.

Meanwhile, Michael Burry, the investor famous for predicting the 2008 housing market crash, warned that the AI sector is in a "mania" that is destined to fail, despite massive capital expenditures by the world's wealthiest corporations.

Netflix Shares Fall After Earnings, Q1 Guidance Below Estimates

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:24:30 -0500

Netflix, Inc. (NFLX ) shares are trading lower Wednesday after the company reported fourth-quarter financial results and issued first-quarter guidance below estimates on Tuesday after the market closed. Multiple firms cut their respective price targets on the stock. Netflix Earnings Breakdown, Analyst Updates

Netflix reported earnings per share of 56 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 55 cents. In addition, the company reported revenue of $12.05 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $11.97 billion.

Netflix said fourth-quarter revenue increased 18% year over year, driven by membership growth, higher pricing and advertising revenue. The company said operating income rose approximately 30% year over year during the quarter and paid memberships surpassed 325 million.

For the first quarter, Netflix guided for earnings per share of 76 cents and revenue of approximately $12.16 billion. The company said it expects advertising revenue growth to continue and plans to invest across content, advertising initiatives and newer formats including live events, video podcasts and games.

Analyst Changes: Following the earnings report, multiple analysts issued price target adjustments:

Pivotal Research analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak maintained a Hold rating on Netflix and lowered the price target from $105 to $95.
Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan maintained a Neutral rating on Netflix and lowered the price target from $112 to $100.
Needham analyst Laura Martin maintained a Buy rating on Netflix and lowered the price target from $150 to $120.
Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett maintained a Neutral rating on Netflix and lowered the price target from $105 to $94.
Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris maintained a Buy rating on Netflix and lowered the price target from $145 to $130.

Technical Analysis Of Netflix

The technical indicators suggest a challenging environment for Netflix. The stock is trading 11.2% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 25.6% below its 100-day SMA, indicating a significant downward trend. Over the past 12 months, shares have increased by 0.34% and are currently positioned closer to their 52-week lows than highs, reflecting ongoing struggles.

The RSI is currently at 25.74, indicating that the stock is in oversold territory, which could suggest a potential rebound if buying interest returns. Meanwhile, the MACD is above the signal line, indicating some bullish momentum, albeit in a generally bearish context.

The combination of an oversold RSI and a bullish MACD suggests mixed momentum, leaving traders cautious.

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Netflix, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

Momentum: Bearish (Score: 14.61/100) - The stock is underperforming the broader market.
Quality: Solid (Score: 73.95/100) - The balance sheet remains healthy.
Value: Risk (Score: 14.68/100) - Trading at a steep premium relative to peers.
Growth: Strong (Score: 75.83/100) - Indicates potential for future expansion.

The Verdict: Netflix's Benzinga Edge signal reveals a mixed outlook. While the Quality and Growth scores indicate some strength, the low Momentum and Value scores suggest caution, as the stock is currently trading at a premium and facing downward pressure.

NFLX Price Action: At the time of writing, Netflix shares are trading 6.82% lower at $81.14, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

After Canada, Another US Ally Set To Revive Old Trade Ties With China: Report

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:23:40 -0500

The UK and China are reportedly set to reinvigorate their 'golden era' business dialogue during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing next week.

UK, China Move to Reset Business Ties

The two countries are planning to revive the "UK-China CEO Council," which was initially established in 2018 under former UK Prime Minister Theresa May and former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during what was then referred to as a "golden era" in their relations, reported Reuters. The council will include top executives from leading British companies such as AstraZeneca (AZN ), BP, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls Royce, among others.

On the Chinese side, companies like Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Mobile, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, China National Pharmaceutical Group, and BYD (BYDDF ) are expected to participate.

The visit and the council's agenda are contingent on China's plans to build its largest embassy in Europe in London, a proposal that received the green light on Tuesday.

Trump's Trade Rhetoric Reshapes Allies

The rekindling of the business dialogue between the UK and China comes at a time of global economic uncertainty. The U.S.-China trade war has been a significant factor in this, with other countries, such as Canada, also navigating their relationships with these two economic powerhouses.

China strategist Michael Pillsbury warned that Canada's trade deal with China and its decision to bypass President Donald Trump could backfire. On the other hand, Economist Justin Wolfers slammed Trump's aggressive trade policies as the reason why U.S. allies are turning towards China.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during Prime Minister's Questions in the British parliament, on Wednesday, vowed that he "will not yield" to Trump's threats of tariffs over the UK's support for Greenland. However, he plans to continue to "constructively" engage with the U.S. on this. Notably, Trump has also criticized Starmer's decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, labeling it "an act of great stupidity."

Halliburton Closes 2025 With Strong Cash Flow, New Global Deals

Benzinga News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:23:25 -0500

Halliburton Company (HAL ) ended the year on a solid note, reporting higher fourth-quarter earnings and revenue as improved operating performance helped it beat Wall Street expectations. The Houston-based company said fourth-quarter 2025 net income totaled $589 million, or 70 cents per diluted share. Excluding impairments, other charges, and tax-related adjustments, adjusted net income was $576 million, or 69 cents per diluted share.

Total revenue rose to $5.66 billion from $5.61 billion a year earlier. Operating income was $746 million, while adjusted operating income, excluding impairments and other charges, was $829 million. Operating margin was 13%, and adjusted operating margin was 15%.

Adjusted earnings of 69 cents per share topped analysts' estimates of 55 cents, while quarterly revenue of $5.657 billion also exceeded the consensus forecast of $5.412 billion.

Segment Performance

Halliburton's Completion and Production segment generated $3.27 billion in revenue during the fourth quarter, with operating income of $570 million. Revenue in the Drilling and Evaluation segment totaled $2.39 billion, while operating income was $367 million.

By geography, North America's revenue was $2.21 billion, down 7% sequentially. International revenue rose 7% from the third quarter to $3.50 billion.

In the international markets, Latin America revenue totaled $1.07 billion, Europe/Africa/CIS revenue was $928 million, and Middle East/Asia revenue reached $1.46 billion.

Halliburton generated $1.17 billion in operating cash flow during the quarter and reported free cash flow of $875 million.

During the fourth quarter, the company repurchased $250 million of its common stock, retired $382 million of its 3.8% senior notes due in November 2025, paid dividends of 17 cents per share, and spent $42 million on its SAP S/4HANA migration.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, Halliburton held $2.21 billion in cash and cash equivalents, while long-term debt totaled $7.16 billion.

Halliburton and VoltaGrid agreed to collaborate on distributed power generation solutions for data centers, with an initial rollout planned for the Middle East and delivery of 400 megawatts of modular natural gas systems targeted for 2028.

Halliburton also signed a framework agreement with Shell for umbilical-less tubing hanger services using its ROCS technology, launched the StreamStar wired drill pipe interface system, and introduced LOGIX unit vitality.

The company was awarded an Integrated Drilling Services contract by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co., in collaboration with Sunlink Energies, to support offshore Nigeria's HI gas field development and the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project.

"I am pleased with Halliburton's fourth-quarter performance and the way we closed out 2025. We outperformed our expectations, and it is clear that Halliburton's strategy and value proposition deliver differentiated results," CEO Jeff Miller said.

"In North America, we will continue our Maximize Value strategy. I expect North America will be the first to respond when macro fundamentals improve."

HAL Price Action: Halliburton shares were up 3.71% at $33.25 during premarket trading on Wednesday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $33.72, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Market Update: Dow Drops 870 Points as 'Sell America' Trade Returns to Wall Street

Rachel Hemple — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:30:42 -0500

Stocks fell deeply on Tuesday as market optimism soured in the wake of increased tariff threats from President Donald Trump on countries who oppose the sale of Greenland to the United States. Those losses led Wall Street to post its worst one-day performance since October.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA ) dropped 870 points to end the session below the 49,000 threshold at 48,488.59, while the broader market S&P 500 Index (SPY ) lost 2% to close at 6,796.86. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (QQQ ) also sank over 2% to settle at 22,954.32.

Impacting investor sentiment, Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Saturday that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland will be subject to a 10% tariff on all goods imported into the U.S. starting Feb. 1 "until such as a Deal is reach for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland." Trump added that those tariffs will increase to 25% starting June 1 if a deal is not reached by then.

European leaders pushed back against Trump's latest tariff threats, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that the European Union and the United States have already reached a trade agreement last July.

"In politics as in business --- a deal is a deal," von der Leyen said at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. "We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping our of the strategic landscape."

Trump, who is set to speak in Davos on Wednesday, told reporters late Monday that he plans to deliver "a lot of messages," calling is a "very interesting Davos."

The weekend news increased what has been called the "sell America" trade on Tuesday. However, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the day's sell-off is an opportunity to buy up key artificial intelligence names like Nvidia (NVDA ), Microsoft (MSFT ), Palantir (PLTR ), and Google (GOOG ) (GOOGL ), among others, at a discount.

"The back and forth war of words between Trump and the EU will give investors another opportunity to own the tech winners and despite the bears always trying to yell fire in a crowded theater," Ives, wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday, adding the "the AI Revolution is still in the early days of playing out."

On the earnings front, shares of 3M (MMM ) sank on Tuesday despite the post-it maker delivering strong fourth-quarter earnings as the company expects tariffs to continue to impact its profits. 3M expects adjusted sales growth of about 4% for its full-year adjusted earnings per share $8.06 in 2026. The company also calls for full-year operating cash flow to be $2.3 billion.

"2025 was an important year for 3M as we build a strong foundation that is reshaping our operating model and driving sustainable value creation," CEO William Brown said in a release.

Looking ahead, all eyes will be on Netflix's (NFLX ) earnings report after market close on Tuesday. In its fourth-quarter last year, the company posted revenue of $10.25 billion.

These 7 Stocks Rallied More Than 200% Since Trump's Inauguration Day

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:31:35 -0500

A year after President Donald Trump returned to the White House, seven stocks in the Russell 1000 ETF (IWB ) have delivered staggering returns, each topping 200% gains.

The performance table reads like a mood board for the market narrative of the past year: space, defense, AI supply constraints, precious metals and a national-security scramble for critical minerals.

7) MP Materials: Rare Earths Become A National Security Matter

MP Materials Corp. (MP ) has rallied 225.84% since Jan. 20, 2025, as Washington got directly involved in the rare-earth business.

In July 2025, the Department of Defense would become MP's largest shareholder under a deal to boost U.S. rare earth magnet supply.

The market repriced MP as strategic infrastructure rather than a cyclical materials producer.

6) Western Digital: The Memory Market Turned Scarce Again

Western Digital Corp. (WDC ) and other storage makers have sharply rallied as AI data centers turned storage into a major supply constraint. Shares of WDC have risen nearly 245% over the past year as cloud providers ramped up demand for high-capacity enterprise storage, tightening supply and improving pricing.

5) Micron Technology: The New AI Winner

Also, Micron Technology Inc. (MU ) became a poster child for the "AI memory crunch," with shares rallying over 250% since Trump's return to the Oval Office.

High-bandwidth memory (HBM) became scarce, pricing power returned, and supply couldn't respond fast enough. Micron moved from commodity exposure to scarcity-driven infrastructure, benefiting directly from AI training and inference workloads.

4) Lumentum: AI Data Centers Needed More Light

Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE ) has soared 277% over the past year as demand for high-speed optical components - key to connecting AI accelerators and massive data flows in next-generation data centers - exploded.

Strong earnings beats and guidance tied to AI infrastructure buildouts reinforced the thesis that photonics are becoming mission-critical. The market now treats Lumentum as an essential AI backbone play rather than a traditional networking supplier.

3) Anglo Ashanti: Gold Fever Is Back

Anglo Ashanti plc (AU ) ranked among the top-performing gold miners over the past year, with shares surging more than 280% as the precious-metals rally accelerated.

Gold reasserted its role as a preferred safe-haven amid macro uncertainty, shifting interest-rate expectations and elevated geopolitical risk, with prices climbing more than 70% over the past year.

The powerful move across the complex - with silver up more than 200% over the same period - translated directly into a sharp re-rating of gold miners, amplifying equity gains through operating leverage.

2) Rocket Lab: Defense Money Met Space Hardware

Rocket Lab Inc. (RKLB ) rallied 290% as its space systems business pulled in large government work.

In December 2025, Rocket Lab announced a $816 million prime contract to build a missile-defense satellite constellation for the U.S. Space Force through the Space Development Agency.

1) AST SpaceMobile: The 'Direct-to-Cell' Dream Got Real

Shares of AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS ) have exploded by 450% as the company pushes to build a global, direct‑to‑phone satellite broadband network.

Investor enthusiasm was further fueled by high-profile partnerships with wireless carriers and AST's role as a prime contractor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program, linked to the Trump administration's Golden Dome defense initiative.

The combination of commercial telecom upside and defense-backed funding positioned AST at the intersection of national security, space infrastructure, and next-generation connectivity.

Nvidia GB300 Chips Become Backbone Of Global AI Data Centers For 2026

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:31:29 -0500

Nvidia Corp's (NVDA ) is tightening its grip on global AI infrastructure as its GB300 platform emerges as the backbone of next-generation data centers worldwide. Nvidia GB300 Platform To Accelerate In 2026

It's GB300 platform is set to dominate the AI server market in 2026, making up an estimated 70% to 80% of global AI server rack shipments, while its next-generation Vera Rubin 200 platform is expected to see broader adoption after the third quarter, according to TrendForce.

According to TrendForce analyst Frank Kung, servers built around GB300 chips entered mass production last quarter and are becoming the core models for Taiwanese server makers in 2026.

This year is expected to be a turning point for AI servers, with a significant increase in shipments of GPU-based rack systems, including Nvidia's GB300 and Vera Rubin 200 platforms, as well as Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s (AMD ) MI400.

This growth is expected to coincide with a rise in the use of custom ASIC-based AI infrastructure by cloud providers such as Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL ) Google, Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN ) Amazon Web Services, and Meta Platforms Inc. (META ), as reported by the Taipei Times on Tuesday.

Analysts noted that while GB300 represents incremental upgrades within Nvidia's Blackwell lineup, the Vera Rubin 200 platform offers a significant increase in power consumption.

TrendForce analyst Fiona Chiu said higher power density and continued AI data center expansion are driving stronger demand for liquid cooling solutions.

Hyperscale And Sovereign AI Builds Center On GB300

Large-scale deployments are already reinforcing GB300's central role.

In October, Nscale deepened its partnership with Microsoft Corp (MSFT ) to roll out a massive AI infrastructure build centered on Nvidia's GB300 GPUs, planning to deploy about 200,000 units across the U.S. and Europe.

In Texas, Nscale plans to install roughly 104,000 GB300 GPUs at a 240MW AI campus, with services for Microsoft starting in the third quarter of 2026 and long-term expansion targeted at 1.2GW.

Microsoft also holds an option for a second phase of about 700MW beginning in late 2027.

Nscale will also deploy GB300 systems in Europe, including around 12,600 GPUs in Portugal starting in early 2026, about 23,000 GPUs at its U.K. campus from 2027, and roughly 52,000 GPUs in Norway.

Nvidia is strengthening its lead in AI infrastructure as new partnerships center on large-scale deployments of its GB300 platform.

HUMAIN, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, expanded its alliance with Nvidia to build sovereign AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the U.S., with plans to roll out as many as 600,000 Nvidia AI systems over the next three years, including GB300 platforms.

NVDA Price Action: Nvidia shares were down 2.45% at $181.66 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Walmart Expands Marketplace With Premium Music Gear, New Leadership, AI Push

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:31:23 -0500

Walmart Inc (WMT ) continues to expand its Marketplace, refresh its leadership team and strengthen its market position as it pushes deeper into premium categories and digital innovation. Walmart Marketplace on Tuesday announced the launch of its Premium Musical Instrument Shop.

This curated destination features some of the most respected brands in the music industry, including Fender, Roland, Boss, Zildjian, Ernie Ball, Hercules, Squier, and Barton Bags.

With this launch, Walmart Marketplace begins the first phase of its expansion into professional-grade musical instruments and accessories, giving everyday shoppers, creators, and musicians access to both new and resold gear from globally trusted brands.

Walmart Marketplace will debut the Premium Musical Instrument Shop at the 2026 NAMM Show.

Available now, the shop offers a curated assortment of guitars, amplifiers, pedals, drum accessories, strings, gig bags and other music essentials.

The launch also creates new opportunities for brands and sellers to connect with Walmart's broad and diverse customer base.

Walmart Marketplace has delivered 14 consecutive quarters of double-digit growth, driven by strong seller adoption and customer demand.

Walmart.com now offers more than half a billion items online to support a wide range of customer needs.

In its most recent quarter, Walmart reported 5.8% year-over-year revenue growth to $179.5 billion, with U.S. e-commerce sales increasing approximately 28%, led by Marketplace and store-fulfilled channels.

Leadership Overhaul Positions Walmart for the Future

Walmart announced a broad leadership overhaul last Friday, appointing new executives across key business units.

Incoming CEO John Furner said the changes strengthen Walmart's leadership bench and position the company for the future as AI reshapes retail.

The board promoted Seth Dallaire to executive vice president and chief growth officer, expanding his oversight to global enterprise platforms, Walmart Connect, Walmart+, Walmart Data Ventures, Vizio, Sam's Club MAP and the global Marketplace. David Guggina became president and CEO of Walmart U.S., Chris Nicholas will lead Walmart International and Latriece Watkins was named president and CEO of Sam's Club U.S.

Index Inclusion and AI Partnership Boost Visibility

Walmart gained after the company announced it would join the Nasdaq-100 index, pushing the stock to a new all-time high.

Walmart entered the Nasdaq-100, Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index and Nasdaq-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index before the market opened on Jan. 20.

Recently, Walmart also boosted investor sentiment by announcing a partnership with Google (GOOG ) (GOOGL ) to integrate Gemini AI into its online shopping experience, enabling personalized product discovery and faster delivery, including local delivery in under three hours.

WMT Price Action: Walmart shares were down 1% at $118.51 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data

Morgan Stanley Snaps Up $110 Million Bay Area Factory

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:31:09 -0500

Morgan Stanley (MS ) on Tuesday announced a new U.S. industrial real estate acquisition through its investment management arm. Morgan Stanley Investment Management, through funds managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI), agreed to buy a premier advanced manufacturing property in Fremont, California, for $110 million.

The site comes with a long-term net lease to Western Digital, a global data storage and infrastructure leader.

The acquisition reflects MSREI's focus on high-quality industrial and innovation-related real estate. MSREI said the Bay Area facility fits its strategy of investing in core innovation corridors with strong infrastructure and talent pools.

The advanced manufacturing asset spans roughly 290,000 square feet. The site's power capacity is high relative to that of standard industrial properties in the region, making it attractive to technology and manufacturing tenants.

Portfolio Expansion

With this deal, MSREI said it acquired about $1.5 billion in U.S. industrial assets in 2025.

The firm's U.S. industrial portfolio now exceeds 75 million square feet.

Will Milam, head of U.S. investments at MSREI, said the purchase shows confidence in the region's manufacturing ecosystem. He cited constrained supply and durable demand for advanced R&D and manufacturing facilities.

Earnings Snapshot

Earlier this month, the U.S. bank reported revenue of $17.89 billion, up 10% year over year, beating the consensus of $17.77 billion.

The firm's 2025 expense efficiency ratio was 68% compared to 71% a year ago, demonstrating operating leverage while continuing to invest in businesses.

"All of our investments are working," CFO Sharon Yeshaya said in an interview with Bloomberg, pointing to share gains in both advisory and debt capital markets. As for data centers specifically, "the hyperscalers are looking for access to capital markets, and we're there to provide those structured solutions."

MS Price Action: Morgan Stanley shares were down 3.45% at $182.57 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Visa Shares Slip As Trump Backs Credit Card Competition Act

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:31:00 -0500

Visa Inc (V ) shares are marginally lower on Tuesday as the company faces pressure following a recent push from President Donald Trump regarding credit card regulations. The stock's decline comes as it is challenged by potential changes that could impact its business model.How The Credit Card Competition Act Could Reshape Visa

The recent selling pressure on Visa follows Trump's endorsement of the Credit Card Competition Act, which aims to disrupt the current duopoly held by Visa and Mastercard. Analysts at Goldman Sachs estimate that even a modest shift in payment volume away from these networks could reduce Visa's earnings by about 3%.

This regulatory threat raises concerns about the sustainability of Visa's high-margin fee structure, which is vital for its profitability. If the proposed changes are enacted, banks may demand lower network fees, further squeezing Visa's revenue streams.

Visa's High-Margin Fee Engine

While Visa does not earn interest like traditional banks, the company functions as one of the toll-takers of the global economy, collecting network fees that issuers and merchants pay to access high-yield credit lending. However, this ecosystem is fragile.

If regulations squeeze issuer revenue through capped APRs and mandated alternative routing, the fallout could be twofold: banks will demand lower fees to preserve their margins, and merchants will gain the leverage to route volume through cheaper networks.

This shift directly threatens the high-margin, recurring revenue that underpins Visa's massive U.S. franchise and Mastercard's premium cross-border business.

Why Visa's Current Position Signals Caution

Currently, Visa is trading approximately 4.1% below its 100-day simple moving average (SMA). Over the past 12 months, shares have increased by 1.34% and are positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows, suggesting a relatively stable performance.

The RSI is at a neutral level, indicating no immediate overbought or oversold conditions. Meanwhile, the MACD is below its signal line, suggesting some bearish pressure on the stock.

The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum.

Key Resistance: $336.00
Key Support: $324.50

Why Analysts Are Bullish Ahead Of Earnings

Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings report on January 29.

EPS Estimate: $3.14 (Up from $2.75 YoY)
Revenue Estimate: $10.69 billion (Up from $9.51 billion YoY)
Valuation: P/E of 32.2x (Indicates premium valuation)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $396.15. Recent analyst moves include:

B of A Securities: Upgraded to Buy (Target $382.00) (Dec. 11, 2025)
HSBC: Upgraded to Buy (Raised Target to $389.00) (Dec. 8, 2025)
Macquarie: Outperform (Lowered Target to $410.00) (Oct. 29, 2025)

Valuation Insight: While the stock trades at a premium P/E multiple, the strong consensus and 14% expected earnings growth suggest analysts view this growth as justification for the 23% upside to analyst targets.

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Visa, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

Momentum: Weak (Score: 22.36/100) - Stock is underperforming relative to the market.
Quality: Strong (Score: 91.9/100) - Balance sheet remains healthy.
Value: Risk (Score: 9.92/100) - Trading at a steep premium relative to peers.
Growth: Moderate (Score: 49.88/100) - Growth potential is average compared to the market.

The Verdict: Visa's Benzinga Edge signal reveals a classic 'High-Flyer' setup. While the Quality score indicates a solid balance sheet, the low Momentum and Value scores suggest that the stock may be overpriced, prompting caution among investors.

Top ETF Exposure

State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF ): 7.44% Weight
Akre Focus ETF (AKRE ): 9.58% Weight

Significance: Because V carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Visa Shares Trade Lower Tuesday

V Price Action: Visa shares were down 0.78% at $325.80 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Uber CEO Warns The 'Biggest Factor' In AV Growth Is Affordability, As Significant Scaling Could Take 10-20 Years

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:30:04 -0500

Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER ) CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted the key factors influencing the growth of autonomous vehicles. High Costs Slow AV Adoption

Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Davos, on Tuesday, Khosrowshahi emphasized the critical role of affordability in the expansion of autonomous vehicles. He noted that the current cost of these vehicles is "well over" $100,000.

The CEO added that many autonomous vehicles on the road today lack the computing capacity required to meet safety standards, and he expects their deployment to remain relatively limited over the next three to five years.

Khosrowshahi estimated that it will take 10 to 20 years for autonomous vehicles to become a "significant part" of the ride-hailing business, particularly outside high-fare markets such as the United States and Europe.

He also voiced strong confidence in the safety of autonomous drivers, predicting that within a decade, human drivers could be viewed as riskier than robotic ones. The CEO further warned of economic disruption, saying robot drivers are likely to cause a "gradual job displacement" in driving and information technology as automation expands.

Uber Bets Big On Self-Driving Tech

Uber has been actively involved in the development and implementation of autonomous vehicles. In December 2025, the company announced the launch of its robotaxi service in Dallas, a move seen as a significant step towards integrating autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing business.

The company has also been working on improving the technology behind its autonomous vehicles. In January 2026, the company renewed its partnership with TomTom to enhance its routing and location services. This partnership aimed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Uber's autonomous vehicles, addressing some of the concerns raised by Khosrowshahi.

Despite the challenges, the future of autonomous vehicles looks promising. Following the announcement of Nvidia's Alpamayo AI platform in January 2026, Uber's stock responded positively. This development was seen as a significant step in addressing the concerns around the obsolescence of Uber's autonomous vehicle technology.

Price Action: Over the past year, Uber stock climbed 25.26%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Monday, the stock edged 0.56% higher to close at $84.85.

ServiceNow Taps OpenAI In 3-Year Deal For Enterprise AI Agents

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:29:50 -0500

OpenAI and ServiceNow Inc. (NOW ) are deepening their AI push as the software maker looks to embed advanced automation into core business workflows and reignite growth momentum.

OpenAI and ServiceNow entered a three-year partnership to embed OpenAI's AI models directly into ServiceNow's business software, allowing customers to use ChatGPT-powered tools inside everyday workflows.

Under the agreement, ServiceNow will rely on OpenAI's models within its platform and has committed revenue to OpenAI, though the companies did not disclose financial details.

Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's chief operating officer, said enterprises want OpenAI's intelligence built straight into ServiceNow processes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Enterprise AI Push Benefits Both Companies

For OpenAI, the partnership supports its push to expand enterprise adoption.

For ServiceNow, the agreement offers a faster way to add advanced AI capabilities without developing its own large models.

ServiceNow plans to build AI voice agents for customer service using OpenAI's speech models, according to ServiceNow president and COO Amit Zavery.

ServiceNow engineers will develop these tools with OpenAI's guidance and help customers deploy them.

Strategic Moves Come As ServiceNow Seeks Growth

The AI partnership follows a challenging period for ServiceNow.

The stock tanked 41% over the last 12 months, as it failed to meet quarterly EPS estimates in the previous 4 quarters.

In December, ServiceNow shared plans to buy cybersecurity firm Armis in a $7.75 billion all-cash deal.

The company funded the acquisition with cash on hand and debt, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

The deal is designed to help ServiceNow offer more proactive, automated cybersecurity across all connected devices.

NOW Price Action: ServiceNow shares were down 0.80% at $126.29 at the time of publication on Tuesday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week low, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Post-It Maker 3M Focuses On Expanding Margins In 2026

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:29:31 -0500

Post-it maker 3M Company (MMM ) stock fell Tuesday after the industrial giant reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings.

The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted sales of $6.023 billion, which came slightly above the consensus estimate of $6.012 billion.

Adjusted sales increased 3.7% year-on-year (Y/Y), with adjusted organic sales up 2.2% Y/Y.

The adjusted operating margin expanded 140 basis points to 21.1% in the quarter.

Adjusted earnings per share rose 9% Y/Y to $1.83, topping the Street estimate of $1.80.

3M returned around $900 million to shareholders during the quarter and reported adjusted free cash flow of $1.3 billion.

Segment Performance

By segment, Safety & Industrial posted 6.0% adjusted sales growth to $2.87 billion, with adjusted operating margin expanding to 24.1% from 21.0% a year ago quarter.

Transportation & Electronics' revenue grew 3.3% Y/Y to $1.85 billion, and its adjusted operating margin expanded to 20.3% from 19.4% a year ago quarter.

The Consumer segment saw Y/Y growth decline to 1.2% to $1.21 billion, with adjusted operating margin contracting to 17.9% from 19.0% a year ago.

2026 Outlook

3M sees 2026 adjusted EPS outlook of $8.50-$8.70 (versus consensus of $8.61) and adjusted sales outlook of about $25.250 billion, versus street view of $25.040 billion.

3M now expects adjusted sales organic growth of around 3% and adjusted operating profit margin of 24.1% to 24.2%

The company expects adjusted operating cash flow of $5.6 billion to $5.8 billion, resulting in >100% adjusted free cash flow conversion.

Management Commentary

William Brown, 3M Chairman and CEO, said, "Our accelerated pace of innovation and commercial execution positions us to outperform the macro environment again in 2026. Our continued operating rigor supports further margin expansion and earnings growth, putting us on a clear path to meet or exceed the 2027 financial commitments we outlined at our Investor Day last year."

MMM Price Action: 3M shares were down 4.65% at $160.00 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Netflix Switches To All-Cash Offer For Warner Bros Discovery Amid Board Support

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:28:53 -0500

Netflix Inc. (NFLX ) has decided to switch to an all-cash offer for the acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD ) studio and streaming businesses. This decision was made without increasing the $82.7 billion price, effectively countering rival Paramount's (PSKY ) efforts. Netflix's new all-cash offer for Warner Bros Discovery's studio and streaming businesses has received unanimous approval from the latter's board. Both Netflix and Paramount are eyeing Warner Bros for its renowned film and television studios, extensive content library, and major franchises like "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter," and DC Comics' superheroes Batman and Superman.

Under the revised deal, Netflix will acquire Warner Bros.' film and television studios, content library, and HBO Max streaming service for $27.75 per share in cash, replacing its earlier offer of $23.25 in cash plus $4.50 in Netflix stock.

Battle For Warner Bros Intensifies

This decision by Netflix comes after a series of events in the ongoing battle for Warner Bros Discovery. Earlier this month, Paramount had filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros for not disclosing financial details of its deal with Netflix, following a failed hostile takeover bid.

Paramount CEO David Ellison also warned of launching a proxy fight to replace Warner Bros.' board with directors willing to negotiate with Paramount, saying he is frustrated that the company has refused to engage in talks.

Price Action: Over the past year, Netflix stock climbed 1.18%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Monday, the stock edged 0.06% lower to close at $88.00.

UBS Names Google As Quantum Computing 'Pioneer,' Flags Volatility Risks In Smaller Pure Plays

Benzinga News — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:28:35 -0500

UBS has identified several key quantum computing stocks that are leading the industry, with the technology offering "extraordinary potential."

Quantum Advantage May Arrive In 2030s

The analysts, led by Madeleine Jenkins, highlighted that quantum computing is a fragmented and immature market, with significant potential in areas such as molecular simulation, optimization, AI, and cryptography, reported CNBC.

The report also noted the recent "meaningful breakthroughs" in the quantum space despite the slow pace. UBS predicts that the era of quantum advantage, where quantum significantly outperforms classical systems, could arrive as early as the 2030s.

UBS noted that qubits, the building blocks of quantum computing, can be made in multiple ways, with superconducting and trapped-ion qubits leading the field. This narrows the quantum computing race to a small number of companies poised to adopt and advance the technology across various industries.

UBS Flags Risk In Pure-Play Quantum

The analysts called Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL ) (GOOG ) Google the "pioneer" and leader in quantum computing, while Microsoft Corp. (MSFT ) and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN ) are more diversified players.

However, UBS says that pure-play players in quantum technology, such as IonQ Inc. (IONQ ), D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS ), and Rigetti Computing Inc. (RGTI ) are far more volatile than the broader market.

Over the past year, IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti surged 12.12%, 358.35% and 83.26%, respectively, as per data from Benzinga Pro.

Quantum Sector Heats Up Fast

In a recent interview, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai likened the current state of quantum computing to where AI was five years ago, suggesting an imminent "very exciting phase in quantum."

Meanwhile, smaller companies in the quantum computing space have also been making waves. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT ) recently saw its stock rise after an analyst identified multiple ways for the company to win in the quantum and opto-electronics space.

Market Update: Stocks Slip, End Week Lower on New Federal Reserve Concerns

Rachel Hemple — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:21:52 -0500

Stocks dipped lower on Friday as growing uncertainty over the next Federal Reserve Chair weighed on positive momentum from strong quarterly earnings, leading Wall Street to end the week in the red.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA ) fell 80 points to settle at 49,359.33 on Friday, while the S&P 500 Index (SPY ) and Nasdaq Composite (QQQ ) each ticked below the flatline to end the session at 6,940.01 and 23,515.38, respectively. All three major averages also closed out the week slightly lower, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq underperforming the boarder market with a loss of 0.4%.

Impacting sentiment, President Donald Trump said in remarks at the White House on Friday that he would rather keep National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett in his current role instead of becoming the next central bank chair. Hassett has been a favorite on Wall Street to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell once his term is up in May.

Stocks were coming off of a winning session on Friday, as strong earnings from semiconductor stocks and financial heavyweights boosted market optimism. That momentum slightly boiled over into Friday, as Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis raised the firm's price target on Nvidia (NVDA ) to $275 from $250, implying a more than 45% potential upside for the microchip maker.

"Industry checks suggest further upside with beats continuing as Blackwell ramps," he wrote in a Friday note. "See increased systems sales with the ramp of the Rubin, further increasing the competitive moat." Curtis's base case for Nvidia sees the company as the dominant supplier of data center chips.

Elsewhere, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said in remarks before an economic forum on Friday that policymakers could cut interest rates further this year to support a potentially weakening labor market.

"Absent a clear and sustained improvement in labor market conditions, we should remain ready to adjust policy to bring it closer to neutral," Bowman said. "We should also avoid signaling that we will pause without identifying that conditions have changed. Doing so will indicate that we are not attentive or responsive to the recent and expected path of the labor market."

Wall Street will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Markets will be open for regular trading hours on Tuesday.

Dan Ives Calls It 1996, Not 1999 — 3 AI Stocks Wall Street Still Isn't Pricing In

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:59:33 -0500

Dan Ives is pushing back on the market's biggest AI anxiety. As tech earnings kick off, the Wedbush analyst says this isn't a 1999-style excess cycle - it's mid-1996, when spending accelerates, doubts linger, and the biggest gains are still ahead. His message is clear: upcoming results should validate a massive AI buildout that the Street continues to underestimate in both scale and duration.

Why Earnings Matter More Than Valuations Right Now

Ives expects a strong fourth-quarter earnings season led by Big Tech, backed by field checks showing robust enterprise AI demand at Microsoft (MSFT ), Alphabet (GOOG ) (GOOGL ), and Amazon (AMZN ). More importantly, he believes investors are still underappreciating what comes next - an estimated $3 trillion in AI spending over the next three years, with more than $550 billion in capex already in motion.

That framing matters because AI is moving beyond infrastructure. As deployments mature, the opportunity shifts toward platforms that monetize usage, workloads, and execution, not just chip sales.

3 AI Stocks Levered To The Next Phase

Snowflake

Snowflake Inc (SNOW ) is the quintessential AI consumption proxy - customers pay for data processed, not seats. As AI workloads increase, so does consumption revenue. "Enterprise consumption phase is ahead of us into 2026," says Ives.

Snowflake currently trades at an enterprise value well below long-term growth comps (~EV/NTM Revenue ~10-11x vs peers at 15x+), implying the market still treats it like a post-hype laggard. With usage increasing across AI projects, Snowflake's model stands to benefit disproportionately as enterprises scale AI workloads.

MongoDB

MongoDB Inc. (MDB ) has emerged as a go-to database for modern AI applications, especially those needing real-time, flexible data structures for LLMs and analytics. Ives sees the "launch of LLM models across the board."

Wall Street analysts see 40%+ long-term revenue growth, driven by expanding ARR and higher attach rates of cloud services. Its Atlas platform - a cloud subscription engine - already represents the majority of revenue and is growing faster than legacy segments, reflecting deepening adoption.

Palantir

Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR ) is one of the few pure plays turning AI into operational decisions for enterprise and government clients. With recent multi-year contracts in defense and health care - some exceeding $100 million annually - Palantir's AI-driven platform is moving from proof-of-concept to mission-critical.

The company has already guided to stronger cash flow and margin expansion, a rare combination in the AI ecosystem. And as Ives says, "true adoption of generative AI will be a major catalyst for the software sector."

Why It Matters For Investors

If Ives is right and this is 1996, not 1999, the risk isn't chasing what already worked - it's overlooking the ecosystem as AI spending shifts from buildout to consumption.

Snowflake, MongoDB, and Palantir aren't about the first inning of AI hype, but the next innings of adoption - where earnings, not narratives, do the talking.

Delta's Caution Hides Opportunity, Says Analyst

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:59:25 -0500

Delta Air Lines (DAL ) struck a more cautious tone on its 2026 outlook while highlighting strong free cash flow, low leverage, and resilient demand from high-end travelers. Bank of America Securities reiterated a bullish stance on Delta Air Lines after management discussions underscored the carrier's disciplined strategy, resilient demand profile, and strong cash-generation framework, reinforcing confidence in its long-term positioning despite a measured tone on guidance.

Analyst Andrew G. Didora reiterated a Buy rating and an $80 price target on Delta Air Lines following a post-earnings virtual meeting with CFO Dan Janki.

Didora highlighted Delta's emphasis on premium revenue, consistent cash generation, and low leverage. Its diversified revenue mix, particularly loyalty and MRO, continues to set it apart from peers, the analyst noted.

He maintained his 2026 EPS estimate of $7.30, citing management commentary that aligned with his long-term investment thesis.

Conservative Guidance Reflects Macroeconomic Uncertainty

Management struck a more cautious tone on near-term guidance, issuing a 2026 EPS range of $6.50-$7.50, below both Didora's forecast and the Street's roughly $7.30. The company pointed to macroeconomic uncertainty in 2025 as the primary driver of this conservatism.

Delta remains constructive on industry fundamentals. Management noted that consumers and businesses have adapted to volatility, while demand from higher-income travelers remains resilient. Didora pointed to 9% premium revenue growth in the fourth quarter and favorable industry capacity trends in early 2026.

MRO Business Repositioning and Growth Outlook

Didora also emphasized the growing contribution from Delta's MRO business, which had stalled near $800 million in revenue as the airline prioritized internal needs. A strategic repositioning has since expanded the backlog, including a 10-year contract with UPS (UPS ).

Management now targets 20% MRO growth, with margins improving from roughly 9% in 2025 to the mid-teens over time. While quarterly results may be uneven, Didora expects a steady annual margin trajectory. On these assumptions, MRO operating profit could exceed $200 million by 2028, up from $76 million in 2025.

Free cash flow remains a key differentiator. Delta generated $4.6 billion in 2025 and expects $3-$4 billion in 2026, even after becoming a partial taxpayer. With disciplined capex and 20-30 aircraft retirements annually, Didora projects net leverage could fall to about 0.5x by 2028.

Didora reiterated his $80 price objective, based on roughly 6.0x 2026E EBITDAR, implying approximately 12% upside from the $71.34 share price as of January 16, 2026.

Morgan Stanley Also Backs Delta Despite Cautious Outlook

Recently, Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker reiterated an Overweight rating on Delta Air Lines with a $90 price target, despite conservative guidance, and expressed confidence. While fourth-quarter EPS beat expectations, Shanker noted that revenues slightly missed, and guidance midpoint fell short.

However, he believes management is intentionally cautious amid elevated headline risks. He highlighted strong underlying fundamentals, including $5 billion in pre-tax profit, record free cash flow, and robust early January demand.

DAL Price Action: Delta Air Lines shares were down 0.34% at $71.40 at the time of publication on Friday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $73.16, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Morgan Stanley Is A Hard-To-Replicate Franchise, Says Analyst

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:59:19 -0500

Morgan Stanley (MS ) stock is trading relatively flat on Friday. On Thursday, the company reported a fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.68, up from $2.22 a year ago and beating the consensus of $2.41. Net earnings increased 18% year over year to $4.397 billion.

Bank of America Securities analyst Ebrahim H. Poonawala reiterated the Buy rating and raised the price forecast from $210 to $220.

The stock hit a record high after fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 core earnings reached $2.73, analyst Poonawala noted. That result exceeded Bank of America's $2.32 forecast and the $2.44 consensus estimate, the analyst noted.

Poonawala said Wealth Management momentum drove investor confidence during the quarter. The segment generated $122 billion in net new assets, compared with $57 billion a year earlier. Pre-tax margins climbed to 31%, marking a 400-basis-point improvement, according to the analyst.

Management avoided raising long-term targets while signaling stronger profitability potential, Poonawala said. CEO Ted Pick said favorable conditions could allow results to meet or exceed firmwide goals. Poonawala said management struck a balance between discipline and confidence during the earnings call.

The analyst said Morgan Stanley remains difficult to replicate due to its integrated business model. That model combines global capital markets, U.S. wealth management, and the E*TRADE platform. Poonawala said E*TRADE adds optionality through younger clients, crypto exposure, and tokenization opportunities.

Management continues focusing on franchise synergies and advisory asset conversion, the analyst noted. AI-driven productivity gains also support margin expansion, according to Poonawala. Those initiatives could lift returns on tangible equity into the mid-20% range.

Management currently targets roughly 20% returns, the analyst said. Poonawala said timing depends on investment spending, capital deployment, and revenue growth conditions.

He raised fiscal 2026 earnings estimates by 4.5% to $11.45. Return on tangible common equity is forecast at 21.9%, Poonawala said. The analyst lifted fiscal 2027 earnings estimates to $12.35.

Higher revenue expectations drove the earnings revisions, according to Poonawala. Deposit growth exceeded expectations, rising 2.5% versus a projected 2.0%. Management expects wealth management net interest income to remain flat early in fiscal 2026. Higher balances should offset rate cuts before income trends higher later in the year.

Poonawala projects investment banking revenue growth of 14% in fiscal 2026. Trading revenue is forecast to rise 2% year over year.

Despite an elevated valuation, the analyst sees upside risk to earnings estimates.

MS Price Action: Morgan Stanley shares were up 0.54% at $192.26 at the time of publication on Friday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Bank Of America CEO Warns $6 Trillion Could Flee To Stablecoins—Here's Why Banks Are Terrified

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:59:14 -0500

Bank of America (BAC ) CEO Brian Moynihan has warned that allowing interest-bearing stablecoins could pull up to $6 trillion in deposits out of banks.

Why Banks Are Fighting Stablecoin Yields

Moynihan said on the bank's earnings call on Wednesday that stablecoins structured like money market funds would pull deposits out of the banking system, forcing banks to rely on expensive wholesale funding instead of cheap customer deposits.

The issue is simple: if stablecoins offer 4% yield while banks pay 0.1% on savings accounts, depositors will move their money on-chain.

Banks would lose their free funding source and either cut lending or borrow from the Fed at market rates, driving up loan costs for businesses and consumers.

"If you take out deposits, they're either not going to be able to loan or they're going to have to get wholesale funding, and that wholesale funding will come at a cost," Moynihan said.

Senate Bill Bans Passive Interest, Allows Staking Rewards

The Senate crypto market structure bill released January 9 by Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) includes a ban on paying interest for merely holding stablecoins.

The bill allows activity-based rewards like staking, liquidity provision, or collateral posting, but blocks yield on idle balances.

Lawmakers filed more than 70 amendments ahead of Wednesday's planned markup, underscoring intense lobbying from both banks and crypto firms.

Coinbase Pulls Support, Markup Gets Postponed

Coinbase Global Inc (COIN ) CEO Brian Armstrong announced Wednesday the exchange cannot support the bill, saying provisions would "kill rewards on stablecoins."

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott postponed the markup later Wednesday, stating "everyone remains at the table working in good faith."

Democrats have also pushed for ethics provisions after reports showed President Donald Trump generated roughly $620 million from family crypto ventures.

Why This Matters For Crypto

Getting yield-bearing stablecoins approved would unlock massive capital flows from traditional banking into on-chain assets.

But banks are lobbying hard to protect their deposit franchise, viewing stablecoins as an existential threat to their lending capacity and profit margins.

The legislative fight determines whether crypto competes directly with banks for deposits or remains locked out of offering basic savings account features.

Micron And 6 Chip Stocks Surge As AI Data Explosion Breaks The Memory Market

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:58:38 -0500

The global memory chip shortage is deepening in early 2026, as relentless AI-driven demand strains supply chains and begins to reshape market winners and losers.

In a research note released Friday, Oxford Economics warned that the ongoing shortage of memory chips is becoming increasingly damaging for global supply chains, particularly for manufacturers that rely on traditional DRAM and NAND chips, such as electronics producers, electrical machinery makers and automakers.

By contrast, memory chipmakers are seeing order books fully booked years in advance, with margins soaring.

The culprit, according to the firm, is insatiable AI-driven demand for advanced, high-margin memory chips - demand that is crowding out production of conventional components used in PCs, smartphones and consumer electronics.

AI Frenzy Ignites Memory Chip Shortage

"We expect the current supply-demand imbalance to persist over the next few years, as long as the AI investment boom continues," said Makoto Tsuchiya, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

"Firms are shifting production capacity towards higher-margin AI chips, leaving less capacity for traditional memory chips," he added.

As chipmakers race to meet record demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips - a key input for AI data centers - production capacity is shifting away from traditional memory products used in PCs, smartphones, cameras and consumer electronics.

That pivot is leaving downstream manufacturers squeezed by higher costs and limited supply.

Who's Hit Hardest - And Who's Thriving?

Oxford Economics estimates that memory chips account for 15%-18% of input costs for PCs and 9%-10% for smartphones, making price increases difficult to absorb.

Oxford's analysis flags electronics, electrical machinery, and carmakers as most exposed to the shortage, alongside IT services that depend heavily on devices powered by memory chips.

PC makers such as Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL ) have already raised prices by 15%-20%, with Lenovo expected to follow.

"Within the electronics sector, the polarization between AI and non-AI players will likely intensify," Tsuchiya said.

"Memory chipmakers will benefit significantly from rising prices, while downstream manufacturers will face mounting input costs," he added.

According to TrendForce, prices for conventional DRAM jumped 45% to 50% in the fourth quarter of 2025. NAND prices rose 33% to 38% over the same period.

South Korean memory-chip giant SK Hynix reportedly sold out its entire 2026 production capacity months ago. While major chipmakers are investing in new facilities, ramping up takes years - and memories of past boom-bust cycles have made many firms hesitant to commit too aggressively.

Samsung estimated its operating profit tripled in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, driven by rising memory prices.

Meanwhile, Chinese chipmakers, once expected to fill the void for traditional DRAM, are now also shifting to higher-end production as Beijing intensifies its AI ambitions.

That leaves a growing gap for consumer-focused memory products, and Oxford Economics warns the effects will ripple across other electronic components - from sensors and lenses to batteries - as production volumes fall.

7 Memory Chip Stocks Already Cashing In

Seven memory-related stocks have already posted triple-digit gains over the past year and extended gains into the start of 2026 as expectations for a prolonged shortage take hold.

Sandisk Corp. (SNDK ): +1,100% (since February 2025), +75% year-to-date (YTD)
Western Digital Corp. (WDC ): +242% (1-year), +29% YTD
Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX ): +240% (1-year), +16.3% YTD
Micron Technology Inc. (MU ): +238% (1-year), +19% YTD
Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNLF ): +175% (1-year), +24% YTD
SK Hynix Inc.: +262% (1-year), +16% YTD
Winbond Electronics Corp.: +666% (1-year), +28% YTD

Oxford Economics sees little relief on the horizon. As long as AI investment remains strong, memory shortages are likely to persist, reinforcing a two-speed tech economy - one where memory chipmakers and AI infrastructure players thrive, while traditional electronics manufacturers struggle under rising costs.

Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon Poised For 'Very Strong' Q4 Earnings, Says Dan Ives: 'This Is A Mid-1996 Moment'

Benzinga News — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:58:24 -0500

Wedbush Analyst, Dan Ives, said Friday that Big Tech is poised for a "very strong" Q4 earnings.

Ives took to X on Friday to predict that the strong performance will be led by the cloud giants Microsoft Corporation (MSFT ), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL ) (GOOG ), and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN ), who have experienced significant demand for their AI enterprise services.

This is a mid-1996 Moment ...and NOT a 1999 Moment for tech," wrote Ives, likening the current tech landscape to mid-1996's internet boom, underlined by genuine adoption and profitability, rather than the speculative bubble of 1999.

The prediction comes on the heels of a strong performance by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM ) as it kickstarts the tech earnings season. The chip giant reported a 35% increase in profits driven by global demand for its products.

TSMC's result is being seen as a strong indicator of the continued growth of the AI industry, with neocloud providers like CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV ) and Nebius Group N.V. (NBIS ) receiving validation for their business model to provide specialized compute power.

Furthermore, Microsoft's commitment to fully fund its data center energy costs has led market experts to predict that the tech giant is on track to reclaim a $4 trillion valuation, further indicating the strength of the tech market.

Meanwhile, Jack Fu, chief executive of Draco Evolution, pointed to the massive spending plans from the largest cloud and technology companies and told Benzinga that stepping into 2026, "the market will care more about return on that spend, not just the headlines."

Microsoft's earnings is scheduled for January 28, while Alphabet and Amazon are likely to report on February 4 and February 5, respectively.

Price Action: Over the past year, Microsoft stock surged 7.56%, as per data from Benzinga Pro, while Alphabet and Amazon climbed 71.37% and 7.94%, respectively.