Back in April, Morgan Stanley had highlighted how accelerating Agentic AI demand could boost demand for central processing units (CPUs) beyond the ‌graphic chips that have dominated the AI theme so far.
"As AI transitions from generation to autonomous action, the computing bottleneck is shifting towards CPU and memory, driving a step-change in general-purpose compute intensity."
The firm estimated that agentic AI could add $32.5–60 billion to a data-center CPU market already exceeding $100 billion by 2030.
Piper Sandler now backs this claim, ******* erting that Agentic AI is driving demand for Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)'s CPU server products amid limited supply. On September 9, Piper Sandler ******* yst David O'Connor initiated coverage on Intel with a Neutral rating and a $110 price target.
Egorov Artem/Shutterstock.com

#agentic #piper #morgan

On August 6, PureCycle Technologies (NASDAQ:PCT) reported second-quarter results for the period ended June 30, and buried in the numbers was something the plastics recycler has chased for years: an actual branded product on store shelves. Select Downy detergent caps made with PureCycle's PureFive resin entered commercial production for Procter & Gamble during the quarter, the first tangible sign the company's purification technology can clear a major consumer brand's supply chain. Revenue came in at $4.5 million, up roughly 173% from a year earlier and the sixth straight quarter of sequential growth.
The Downy win was not an isolated event. PureCycle said select Tide caps are scheduled for retail production in the third quarter, with Vicks ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs child-resistant lids targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. Seven customer conversions took place during the quarter, alongside six new commercial partnerships spanning closures, automotive, film, and food packaging, including Amcor, Motherson, and Innovia Films. Regulation is doing real work here too. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection approved PureFive as post-consumer recycled content, a decision that arrives as the state's food contact exemption expires in January 2027 and its recycled content requirement climbs to 20%, while California's SB54 is already in effect.
Operationally, the Ironton facility's planned turnaround finished ahead of schedule and under budget, with more than 170 reliability and rate projects completed and inspections showing no corrosion on major equipment. On-site compounding, commissioned in April, is now running 24 hours a day, five days a week, with plans to expand to seven by the fourth quarter. PureCycle also picked up ISO 9001:2015 certification in May and closed the quarter with $236.9 million in total liquidity after a June capital raise.
The other side of the ledger is harder to ignore. PureCycle posted a net loss of $142.2 million for the quarter, and adjusted EBITDA actually widened to a loss of $31.7 million from a loss of $27.8 million a year earlier, a shift the company attributes to smaller non-cash addbacks rather than weaker operations. PureFive production fell to 4.5 million pounds for the quarter, a direct result of the planned turnaround, even though output was still up about 32% from a year ago. Growth is not coming cheap either. Full-year 2026 project spending guidance was raised to a range of $45 million to $50 million, up from the prior $39 million to $45 million.

#year #loss

On September 10, LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ:LPTH) reported fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year results that turned a multiyear strategic bet into a financial statement. Revenue nearly doubled for the year, margins expanded, and the company walked away from its last manufacturing ties to China. For a small-cap optics supplier that spent years explaining a strategy, this was the quarter the strategy started explaining itself.
Annual revenue climbed 92.7% to $71.7 million from $37.2 million, and the fourth quarter alone hit a record $21.2 million, up 73.8% year over year. That growth is not just volume. Full-year gross margin expanded to 36% from 27.2%, and the fourth quarter came in even higher at 39.4%, because ****** emblies, modules and cameras now make up 44% of annual sales instead of being sold as raw components.
CEO Sam Rubin said the shift reflects both a change in what LightPath sells and better execution on what it already made, noting every one of its four product groups improved margin for the year. Backlog finished at $110.9 million, up 197% from $37.4 million a year earlier, with $85.6 million of it scheduled for delivery within 12 months. Weeks after the fiscal year closed, the company booked another $24 million in counter-UAS orders, and some of those programs have already moved to monthly delivery cadences of tens of units.
LightPath also completed its exit from China, selling its subsidiary there for $4.5 million paid out over five years, leaving the company with no manufacturing footprint in a country that increasingly can't supply the defense primes it depends on. That matters because defense programs face a deadline this decade to source optics away from covered nations, and qualification cycles run two to three years, meaning the sourcing decisions being made now will determine who wins contracts in 2029 and 2030.
The company's fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $4.1 million from $7.1 million a year earlier, but full-year operating expenses jumped to $45.5 million from $22 million, and $15.6 million of that was a noncash charge tied to G5 Infrared outperforming the earnout targets set at acquisition. Management called that charge mostly behind the business now that the final G5 payout has been accrued for January 2027, but it is a reminder that acquisition accounting can swing the income statement even when operations are healthy.

#year #quarter #China

KYIV, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russia if its partners ensure ‌that Moscow will refrain from hitting Ukrainian ‌energy facilities, infrastructure and food supply routes, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.
Zelenskiy's comments, posted on Telegram, appeared to amount to a denial that Ukraine had formally endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that Ukraine and Russia ‌had agreed not ⁠to hit each other's energy targets.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine was not convinced that Russia ⁠was willing to abide by any agreement.
"Ukraine is not certain that Russia is willing to stick to any agreement," he wrote.
"The war must be brought to an ‌end. And a de-escalatory step regarding critical infrastructure could be the first step toward peace. We expect specifics from our partners."

#president

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)'s Middle East business showed a meaningful improvement in July, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) declining 12% year over year, a sharp improvement from the 43% decline in the second quarter. The improvement came despite continued regional conflict, suggesting that demand is proving more resilient than initially feared. More importantly, Marriott's global business remains strong: global room revenue increased 7% in July, with the U.S. and Canada up 8%.
However, the Middle East remains a risk to Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)'s growth strategy. The region represents only about 3% of Marriott's global fees but 6% of its development pipeline, meaning prolonged conflict can have an outsized impact on future hotel openings. Supply-chain disruptions and restricted capital flows have already delayed projects, pushing Marriott toward the lower end of its full-year net unit growth target.
The biggest positive is that the Middle East headwind appears to be easing faster than expected. Moving from a 43% RevPAR decline in the second quarter to just 12% in July suggests travel demand can recover even as geopolitical risks remain elevated. If the conflict stabilizes, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) could see a relatively quick rebound in regional occupancy and room rates.
More importantly, the Middle East is not large enough to overwhelm Marriott's broader global performance. The company generated a 7% increase in global room revenue in July, while U.S. and Canadian room revenue rose 8%. RevPAR growth was also broad-based across luxury, premium/select and mid-scale brands, suggesting that Marriott's strength is not dependent solely on wealthy travelers.
Marriott also benefits from an ***** et-light, fee-driven model, meaning stronger hotel demand can translate into attractive cash generation without requiring the company to own most of the underlying properties. Barron's has highlighted the resilience of this model, alongside the strength of Marriott Bonvoy and additional growth opportunities from its credit-card partnerships.

#marriott #middle #room

TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) plans to invest $10 billion alongside its partners in Angola over the next five years, with the goal of maintaining and potentially increasing its oil production in the country. TotalEnergies currently produces around 450,000 barrels per day in Angola, making it the country's largest oil operator and accounting for more than 40% of its total output.
The investment will go toward existing operations, new exploration, and projects aimed at replacing production from Angola's aging offshore fields. One of the biggest projects in the pipeline is the $6 billion Kaminho development, which is expected to start producing oil in 2028. TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) is also expanding its exploration efforts after signing agreements for two additional offshore blocks. On top of that, the company recently announced a new discovery in Block 17 that could add roughly 6,000 barrels per day to production.
The investment strengthens TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE)'s position in one of Africa's key oil-producing markets and, perhaps more importantly, helps protect a major source of existing production. With around 450,000 barrels per day already coming from Angola, simply keeping output at current levels could continue to provide a meaningful contribution to the company's upstream cash flow. Any additional production from new discoveries and projects would offer further upside.
The current oil-price environment also works in TotalEnergies' favor. Brent crude recently climbed above $100 a barrel amid supply concerns and geopolitical tensions and is currently trading near this range. If prices remain elevated, projects designed to maintain or increase Angolan production could generate strong returns and make the company's investment more attractive.
There are also signs that TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) is doing more than just trying to slow production declines. Its recent Acacia-5 discovery in Block 17 could add around 6,000 barrels per day, while the company is expanding its exploration presence through new offshore blocks in the Lower Congo Basin. Angola's efforts to reform its oil sector and attract more exploration investment could also create a more favorable environment for TotalEnergies over the longer term.

#investment #offshore

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) is facing a mixed outlook after GE Aerospace agreed to acquire Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for about $11.75 billion to secure more control over critical engine castings and expand production capacity. The announcement initially hit Howmet shares, which fell about 10%, as investors worried that GE could eventually rely less on outside suppliers such as Howmet.
However, Howmet CEO John Plant said he is comfortable with the deal and remains confident in Howmet's ability to grow. The bigger issue for Howmet right now appears to be how quickly it can expand capacity to keep up with soaring demand. Commercial aircraft production, defense activity and aftermarket demand are all increasing, while Howmet is also benefiting from demand for turbine components used in data centers. Plant said the scale of the required capital expansion is itself "testing" the company.
The strongest bullish argument for Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) is that GE's decision to spend nearly $12 billion on CPP validates how strategically valuable aerospace castings and engine components have become. The acquisition is aimed at addressing a supply bottleneck rather than signaling weak demand. GE expects airfoil demand to rise by more than 30% through 2030, while aircraft manufacturers and defense customers continue to push production higher. That creates a favorable industry backdrop for Howmet as well.
Howmet also has an opportunity to benefit from customers looking for additional capacity outside GE's newly integrated supply chain. If demand continues to exceed available casting capacity, Howmet's existing manufacturing footprint and expertise could give it significant pricing power and support further investment. Plant's comments that the company is being "tested" by the sheer scale of expansion suggest that Howmet is dealing with a capacity problem caused by strong demand, rather than a lack of orders.
Another positive is that Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM)'s exposure extends beyond commercial aircraft. Its blades and vanes are also used in gas turbines serving the rapidly expanding data-center market, providing another avenue for growth alongside aerospace. Plant has also indicated that the company intends to revisit its longer-term revenue targets, after previously saying revenue could potentially double from 2025 levels within three to five years.

#commercial

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is reportedly considering selling its 35% stake in Sadara Chemical, its $20 billion chemicals joint venture with Saudi Aramco, as the company continues to reshape its portfolio amid a prolonged downturn in the global chemicals industry. No final decision has been made, and Aramco or another strategic or financial investor could potentially acquire Dow's stake.
The potential exit comes as Sadara has become a significant financial burden for Dow. As of June 30, Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) had a negative investment balance of $793 million in Sadara and had suspended recognition of its share of the venture's equity losses in the first quarter. Dow has also been exposed to Sadara's financing obligations and previously disclosed that the venture had drawn on a credit facility.
At the same time, Sadara remains a major industrial ****** et, operating a complex in Jubail with more than 3 million metric tons of annual chemicals and plastics capacity. Its operations were disrupted earlier this year by the Middle East conflict, adding transportation, supply-chain, and operating pressures to an industry already dealing with weak demand and global oversupply.
The strongest argument for Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is that exiting Sadara could remove a persistent drag on cash flow and allow management to redirect capital toward businesses with better returns. Dow's exposure to Sadara is no longer simply an investment in a large Saudi chemicals complex; the company has accumulated a negative investment balance and financial obligations ****** ociated with the venture. A sale could therefore reduce Dow's exposure to future funding requirements and limit the amount of capital that could otherwise have to be committed to the partnership.
That would be particularly valuable because Dow is already trying to improve its cash generation. Management has said its objective is to reach free-cash-flow breakeven while pursuing significant cost reductions. In March, CEO Jim Fitterling said Dow's goal was to avoid putting additional cash into Sadara during 2026, while describing the venture as having low operating cash costs but more challenging fixed costs and financing obligations.

#chemicals

Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: $BMNR) bought another 27,180 Ethereum (CRYPTO:
$ETH) over the past week.
The latest purchase put the serial crypto acquirer closer to its goal of owning 5% of Ethereum's circulating supply.
Bitmine spent $68 million U.S. acquiring Ethereum over the last week, buying the digital ****** et at an average price of just over $2,500 U.S.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster

#bitmine #technologies #bmnr

Goldman Sachs raised its 2035 humanoid robot forecast nearly 5x to 6.5 million units, now valuing the market at $138 billion.
Each humanoid robot carries between $3,000 and $6,000 in semiconductor content, potentially generating up to $39 billion in annual chip demand at full scale.
Picks-and-shovels suppliers like semiconductor and automation companies offer a smarter entry than betting on which humanoid robot manufacturer wins.
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Artificial intelligence is moving out of the data center and into the physical world. Autonomous vehicles, warehouse robots, and increasingly capable machines are giving AI a body, creating what Goldman Sachs calls "physical AI." The investment opportunity could be much larger than the market for humanoid robots themselves. Every machine needs processors, memory, sensors, motors, and software, creating a new demand stream for companies already supplying the AI economy.

#robot #sachs

Founded in 1977 and headquartered in South Korea, LX Pantos has grown into a global logistics provider spanning freight forwarding, contract logistics, e-commerce fulfillment, last-mile delivery and installation, and supply chain management consulting. The company now operates more than 380 locations worldwide with a workforce of approximately 8,500 employees, moving more than 1.6 million TEUs of ocean freight and over 120,000 tons of air freight annually. In 2025, LX Pantos recorded revenue of approximately $5.85 billion.
For President and CEO Lee Yong-ho, those figures mark a foundation rather than a destination.
"Since **** uming the role of CEO, I have set a clear vision for LX Pantos: to build the company into a 'Korea-born, global logistics company,' and we have been pursuing that goal with unwavering commitment," Lee said.
That vision marks a departure from the model that carried LX Pantos for decades on domestic corporate freight volumes.
"For many years, LX Pantos grew rapidly by leveraging freight volumes from domestic corporate customers. However, we have also recognized that growth driven primarily by the domestic market has its limitations," Lee said. "It is now time for LX Pantos to evolve into a truly global logistics company — one that is not confined to any single country or customer segment, but is capable of delivering comprehensive logistics solutions to customers worldwide."

#pantos #Logistics

Costco has raised the price of its Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil and begun limiting how much any one member can purchase, as a global lubricant shortage tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict pushes crude oil toward $100 a barrel.
That 10-quart case — two 5-quart bottles, enough for a typical V6 or V8 oil change — has jumped to $57.99, compared with the roughly $30 price members had grown accustomed to paying, according to The Drive. Stores are capping purchases at two units per customer per week. The retailer has also imposed a five-per-member limit on Mobil 1, with six quarts of that brand running $44.
The rationing reflects pressure from multiple directions. The connection to fuel prices runs through the refinery: base oil shares its crude-oil origins with gasoline and diesel, so when margins on finished fuel are strong, refiners have a financial reason to favor fuel production over lubricant stock, according to The Auto Wire. EIA data showed the gasoline crack spread sitting roughly a dollar per gallon higher than where it stood at the same point in 2025, a gap that has squeezed base oil availability and pushed its price upward.
Regulatory and licensing costs add a separate layer of expense. The Kirkland 5W-30 displays the dexos1 Gen 3 certification, GM's proprietary specification, and earning that mark is not free — manufacturers must put their formulation through GM's independent testing protocol and obtain a license from the automaker, paying separately for each product and each unit sold, according to The Auto Wire. Layered on top of that is an industry-wide burden: when the API SP category took effect around 2020, it introduced seven additional laboratory tests with no equivalent in the previous standard, among them a procedure targeting low-speed pre-ignition, the knock-like detonation problem **** ociated with modern turbocharged, direct-injection engines.
The supply squeeze is unfolding against a backdrop of a worsening global oil deficit. The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast to 102 million barrels per day in August, projecting a deficit of 1.8 million barrels per day in the third quarter — more than double its prior estimate. **** ulative global inventory draws since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict have reached more than 500 million barrels, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said last week that the cushions that had softened earlier price increases have been exhausted. U.S. diesel prices crossed $6 per gallon for the first time, sitting at $6.06 as of Monday, an 8-cent increase from Sunday and 21 cents above week-earlier levels, according to AAA.

#barrels #wire

General Motors is developing a domestic battery supply chain it expects to complete within two to three years, even as the company currently relies on some Chinese-sourced materials for its existing battery production.
Kurt Kelty, GM's vice president of battery and sustainability, told CNBC that the company's near-term goal is full domestic sourcing. "We're developing a supply chain such that, two years from now, three years from now, it will be domestic," Kelty said. "That's what we're aiming for — when we get into market, we've got a domestic source for that."
Kelty's comments center on sodium-ion battery cells that GM is developing with Denver-based startup Peak Energy for use in stationary energy storage systems for homes, businesses, and data centers. GM expects to reach commercial production of those cells around 2029, according to CNBC. A GM spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the company would apply the same domestic sourcing priority to battery cells for future electric vehicles.
Unlike conventional lithium iron phosphate chemistry, sodium-ion cells are built around sodium from soda ash — a resource the U.S. holds in abundance — sidestepping the lithium and ferrous sulfate supply chains that China currently controls. Kelty added that sodium-ion cells handle a broader span of temperatures, which means they can function without the active thermal management that drives up the cost and complexity of stationary storage installations.
"The better thing to do is try to leapfrog, come up with a different technology that's actually better that we can actually source here," Kelty told CNBC.

#battery #supply #years #we 're

Dow Jones futures fell early Monday, along with S&P 500 futures and especially Nasdaq futures. Crude oil prices jumped while AI stocks are under pressure after artificial intelligence leaders called for slowing AI model development. Treasury yields and the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting also are key this week.
The stock market fell last week, but rebounded Friday, with Apple (AAPL), Moderna (MRNA) and NetApp (NTAP) flashing buy signals. The S&P 500 index declined 0.8% and the Nasdaq fell 0.7%, both above their 50-day moving averages. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.6% in last week's stock market trading. The small-cap Russell 2000 shed 2.4%. Both are below their 50-day lines.
A number of stocks flashed buy signals or are setting up, but the choppy index action and rapid sector rotation has been a difficult environment.
U.S. crude oil futures spiked 9.4% to $100.05 a barrel last week, even with Friday's 2.4% decline. Oil prices shot up 20% in the last two weeks amid the widening U.S.-Iran conflict, threatening further oil supply routes.
The 10-year Treasury yield surged 19 basis points to 4.97%, the highest since nearly hitting 5% in October 2023. Markets are betting on a Fed rate hike, even as President Donald Trump reiterated his call for rate cuts.

#last #NASDAQ

During the September 3 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer mentioned Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for its unconventional approach to powering hyperscale data centers in partnership with Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX). He said:
How about Microsoft? Look, Mr. Softee is getting religion. They've realized that by giving us more disclosure on Azure, their cloud infrastructure business, we'll find more things to like. They're right. In the end, I come to praise Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, not bury her. They've been very clever getting power for the data centers, pumping it right out of the Permian. They got this deal with Chevron as a partner… 2.67 gigawatts. No one's talking about it. It's the cleanest behind the meter plan for power I have seen yet. People even, and this is not a stretch, I'm not kidding, people even like Copilot.
CFO Amy Hood provided Wall Street with a much clearer look at actual cloud demand by breaking down detailed Azure growth metrics and data center capacity constraints. At the same time, enterprise adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot is moving past initial trials, with major corporations deploying the AI ***** istant across workforce segments.
A major highlight of the company's infrastructure strategy is a twenty-year agreement with Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) for a proposed 2.67-gigawatt natural gas power plant in West Texas. Designed to supply dedicated off-grid electricity directly to a hyperscale data center in the Permian Basin, the project bypasses regional grid transmission queues to secure reliable power for continuous AI workloads. Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) president of Cloud Operations + Innovation, Noelle Walsh, commented:
Our agreement with Chevron helps ensure we'll have dedicated, large-scale power to support the evolution and reliability of advanced compute. Through this partnership, we're delighted to grow with and become a deeper part of the West Texas community.

#chevron #power #they 've

Six weeks after AI bets nearly wrecked his hedge fund, Leopold Aschenbrenner is putting money into the same companies again. His hedge fund, Situational Awareness, bought call options on AMD, Bloom Energy, CoreWeave, SK Hynix and SanDisk, CNBC reported, citing sources. The trades ran from late last week into this week.
The former OpenAI researcher became famous for a 2024 essay arguing that AI could reach human-level intelligence by 2027. He built an investment business around that belief, backing companies supplying the computing capacity and electricity AI needs.
July exposed how dangerous that bet had become. Borrowed money magnified falling share prices, triggering demands for cash the fund could not meet. **** ets shrank from a peak above $45 billion to roughly $10 billion, according to CNBC.
Ken Griffin's Citadel bought distressed holdings at a discount. Situational Awareness kept private investments, including Anthropic. The SEC later subpoenaed Wall Street banks over their dealings with the fund. The reported inquiry carried no allegation of wrongdoing.
His return uses call options: contracts that let buyers purchase shares at a fixed price before a deadline. When paid for upfront without borrowing, their losses are capped at the purchase cost. That entire amount can still disappear if the options expire worthless.

#bought #call

ChargePoint (CHPT) surged 39% YTD to $9.20, with the entire gain compressed into the past month alone.
Peers Blink Charging (BLNK) and EVgo (EVGO) are down 18% and 53% YTD, leaving ChargePoint's rally entirely without peer support.
Breaking $10 requires the same concentrated buyers to keep absorbing supply, and no broad charging market recovery will carry it there on its own.
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ChargePoint Holdings (NYSE:CHPT) stock is up 38% year to date (YTD) and trades at $9.18 midday Friday, putting the EV-charging name within striking distance of $10. ChargePoint stock is up 46% over the past month, which means the entire 2026 advance has arrived inside the last four weeks. That timing turns a routine year-to-date figure into a concentrated story about one stock's recent bid.

#Stock

October WTI crude oil (CLV26) on Friday closed down -2.43 (-2.37%), and October RBOB gasoline (RBV26) closed down -0.0860 (-2.53%).
Oct WTI oil prices on Friday fell back after Thursday's +6.7% rally to a 3.5-month high. Oil prices fell back after the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday warned that high oil prices and restricted oil supply will cause the biggest drop in global oil demand this year since the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the projected demand drop, the IEA raised its estimate for this year's global oil deficit to 1.7 million bpd from last month's 1.3 million bpd estimate due to the restricted supply caused by the US-Iran war. The IEA said the return of a global oil surplus will be delayed until 2027, later than its previous estimate of late 2026.
Crude Oil Prices Soar on Fears US-Iran War to Persist
Crude Oil at $100 Gets All the Attention. Watch These 5 Charts to Track the Energy Market Mechanics Behind the Headlines.
Nat-Gas Prices Recover as European Nat-Gas Surges

#prices #estimate #october #closed

Apple (AAPL) is selling iPhones and Macs faster than it can build them, but the number a holder should fear most is the gross margin underneath those sales. Leaving out tariff refunds, that margin fell in the June quarter and is guided lower again for the September quarter. Management puts both steps down to rising memory prices, while the stock's price-to-earnings multiple sits near the top of its 10-year range.
Excluding Tariff Refunds, Apple's Margin Slips As iPhone And Mac Set June-Quarter Records
Demand is not the worry. iPhone revenue rose 22% from a year earlier in the June quarter and Mac revenue rose 29%, both June-quarter records. Management says the brake on sales is supply of the advanced nodes its chips are made on.
Reported gross margin was 50.1% in the June quarter, but tariff refunds supplied about two points of it. Without them, the margin fell 120 basis points from 49.3% in the March quarter, and the September-quarter guide takes off another 160 basis points at its midpoint. On $466.8 billion of revenue over the past year, each point of gross margin is worth about $4.7 billion of gross profit.
And Management Says Memory Prices Explain All Of That Slide

#gross #tariff #year

Interested in Lam Research Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better.
Lam Research raised its 2026 wafer-fabrication equipment spending outlook to the low-$150 billion range from $135 billion-$140 billion, driven by sustained AI demand and expectations for eight to 10 new leading-edge fabs through 2027.
AI hardware is increasing equipment intensity, while advanced chip designs and packaging are expanding Lam's addressable market. The company cited growing opportunities in gate-all-around transistors, backside power delivery, advanced packaging and dry-resist technology.
Lam is accelerating capacity expansion, including a second Malaysia facility, as clean-room availability and supply-chain capacity constrain the industry. The company also expects NAND upgrades to accelerate, while targeting mid-50% gross margins and reporting record customer-support revenue.
From High Dividend Growth to High Yield, These 3 Stocks Just Boosted Dividend Payouts

#billion #Research #equipment #advanced

Qualcomm (QCOM) grew revenue just 1.9% over the last twelve months, against a compound pace of about 6.2% a year over five years and 4.5% over three. The quarterly path is worse. Across the last four quarters, year-over-year growth slid from 10.0% to 5.0%, then to declines of 3.5% and 4.0%. That turn to shrinking quarterly sales is the risk to weigh.
Phones Still Bring In About Half The Sales
In fiscal Q3 2026, handset chip revenue was $5.1 billion, about half of the $9.9 billion total. The CEO says unprecedented memory prices, plus supply shortages driven by data center demand, are pulling revenue down across mobile and consumer electronics. Management puts the net effect at a 20% drop in its Android chip revenue in 2026 from 2025.
And Apple Revenue Is Exiting Faster Than Planned
Apple is the second drag. Citing its own supply constraints, Qualcomm said on its fiscal Q3 2026 call that it expects materially lower share in new iPhone launches than its prior 20% estimate. An ****** yst put fiscal 2026 Apple product revenue at about $7.5 billion, and management called that a fair range.

#revenue #Apple #fiscal #management

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is making its largest acquisition since becoming a standalone publicly traded company. It agreed to acquire Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for around $12 billion.
CPP is one of the world's largest precision castings providers. It's a major GE supplier. Precision castings is a major pressure point for the aerospace engines industry. Acquiring CPP would give GE Aerospace greater control over a critical part of its engine supply chain.
And the deal could strengthen GE's ability to meet demand already sitting in its backlog. But the investment case depends on whether additional production capacity generates enough free cash flow to justify the deal's premium price.
rommma/Shutterstock.com
Engine manufacturers like GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) are struggling to keep pace with surging demand due to supply chain constraints. CPP is a major supplier of precision castings for GE's LEAP and GEnx engines. GE plans to raise CPP's output. It would do that by improving factory yields and machine use. With the CPP deal, GE also sees a path to accelerate production of new engine technologies.

#NYSE #largest #engines #supply

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) faces a governance test alongside its turnaround. Reuters reported on September 7 that Institutional Shareholder Services, or ISS, recommended opposing executive compensation, citing weak financial performance and inadequately explained incentive targets.
The September 23 non-binding advisory vote covers fiscal 2026 named-executive compensation. It does not separately approve new CEO John Brase's package. Brase succeeded Sean Connolly on June 1, after fiscal 2026 ended, separating his compensation arrangements from the prior year's pay decisions.
The proxy lists Brase's annual base salary at $1.15 million, his annual incentive target at 150% of eligible salary, and annual long-term incentives of $7.3 million, split 60% into performance shares and 40% into restricted stock units. Incentive opportunities are not guaranteed realized pay.
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) needs executives willing to work through changes whose benefits may take several years to appear. Brase's priorities include restoring margins, investing in brands and the supply chain, simplifying operations, and rebalancing capital allocation.
A mix of performance awards and service-based equity can support that effort. Performance shares link rewards to results, while restricted units help retain leaders through disruption. Retention has value if it allows management to complete difficult changes instead of optimizing the next quarterly result.

#performance

Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) is seeking investors for a potential data center near its Loma de la Lata power plant in Patagonia. Investors favor a 20-to-40-MW pilot, with potential electricity demand reaching up to 500 MW after expansion. Electrical infrastructure for the full concept could cost almost $900 million, according to a September 7 Reuters report.
The Reuters report did not identify an anchor customer, committed financing, or a final investment decision. The electrical estimate does not establish the total development budget or the amount Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) would invest. Those distinctions matter when ****** sing the potential shareholder return.
Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) could turn proximity to generation and gas resources into a commercial advantage. Locating computing demand beside an energy complex offers a starting point for coordinating fuel supply, power delivery, and future expansion.
The attraction for shareholders would be dependable electricity sales under contracts that compensate Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) for the infrastructure and operating risks it ****** umes. A customer with strong credit and a long-term commitment could improve revenue visibility and support financing.
Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) is quoting energy prices to interested parties and aims to reach initial agreements by the end of 2026, according to Reuters. That provides a near-term commercial milestone.

#Potential #electrical #power

Tamboran Resources Corporation (NYSE:TBN) announced September 7 that it and Daly Waters Energy, LP had begun gas sales from the Shenandoah South Pilot Project into Australia's Northern Territory network. The deliveries mark the Beetaloo Basin's first gas sales and move the project into revenue generation.
The Sturt Plateau Compression Facility has a capacity of approximately 48.5 million cubic feet per day. Contracted supply of approximately 38.8 million cubic feet per day is expected by early 2027 under a long-term take-or-pay agreement with the Northern Territory Government. These are gross project volumes. Commissioning gas receives a discounted price because supply remains interruptible.
Tamboran Resources Corporation (NYSE:TBN) now has a working route from wells through processing infrastructure to a customer. All five wells on the Shenandoah South 2 pad have been drilled, stimulated and connected to the facility. Initial deliveries reduce uncertainty around the physical connection between the resource and its market.
Contracted demand equals 80% of stated processing capacity, providing a substantial foundation for utilization once production reaches the target. Take-or-pay agreements generally require buyers to pay for committed volumes even if they do not take delivery, subject to contractual conditions.
The gas sales agreement specifies a fixed price with annual adjustments linked to Australia's Consumer Price Index. That structure provides more revenue visibility than relying entirely on spot-market demand, although the price remains confidential.

#corporation

US natural gas production is projected to reach a record high of 111.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2026, up from 107.6 bcfd in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). By 2027, domestic supply is expected to hit 115.9 bcfd.
But that's only half the story.
Over the next two years, US natural gas supply and demand will both rise to record levels, the EIA states in its Short-Term Energy Outlook.
Domestic gas consumption is projected to rise from a record 91.9 bcfd in 2025 to 111.7 bcfd in 2026 and 115.9 bcfd in 2027.
The agency said increased drilling efficiency, rising electricity demand, and expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity continue to drive production despite selective capital spending by producers.

#bcfd #record #production #demand

Horizon Technology Finance Corp., an affiliate of Monroe Capital, on September 10 said that the RoHo Capital Opportunity Fund LLC, a joint venture formed by Horizon and CR Financial Holdings, Inc., the holding company for Roth Capital Partners, LLC, has provided a $20-million senior credit facility to NeoVolta, Inc., with the ability to increase the facility to $30 million upon mutual agreement. An initial $20 million was funded at closing to support NeoVolta's continued growth.NeoVolta is an energy technology company focused on developing and manufacturing domestic battery energy storage systems (BESS). Together with its joint venture partner LONGi, NeoVolta is developing a 210,600-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pendergrass, Georgia, to produce BESS systems designed to meet U.S. domestic content and supply-chain requirements. The facility is expected to have an initial annual production capacity of up to 2 GWh, with the potential to scale to 8 GWh over time."Providing growth capital to innovative companies operating in attractive, high-growth markets is a core focus of RoHo's investment strategy," said Paul Seitz, chief investment officer of Horizon. "Formed by Horizon and Roth Capital, RoHo pairs Horizon's venture lending and structuring expertise with Roth's deep public markets relationships to deliver flexible growth capital to small- and micro-cap public companies. We are pleased to support NeoVolta's growth plans with a tailored financing solution and look forward to continuing to deploy capital through RoHo in support of innovative public companies pursuing significant market opportunities.""Horizon and Roth Capital bring valuable experience and a collaborative approach as we advance NeoVolta's domestic battery energy storage systems manufacturing platform," said Ardes Johnson, CEO of NeoVolta. "As we ramp our Georgia facility and pursue larger commercial and utility-scale opportunities, this relationship supports our ability to execute on our long-term growth strategy."Horizon Technology Finance Corp. is a specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital and private equity-backed companies and publicly traded companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries. The investment objective of Horizon is to maximize its investment portfolio's return by generating current income from the debt investments it makes and capital appreciation from the warrants it receives when making such debt investments. Horizon is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, with a regional office in Pleasanton, California, and investment professionals located throughout the U.S.Monroe Capital is a premier ****** et management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, opportunistic, structured credit, real estate and equity.CR Financial Holdings, Inc., is a private hol

Prosper Stars & Stripes, a long/short equity fund, recently released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. In Q2 2026, the portfolio delivered a strong net return of +30.1% compared to the Russell 2000 Index's +21.5% return and the HFRX Equity Hedge Index's +10.3% return. The long book drove performance, generating a 43.2% gross contribution, while average net exposure remained relatively modest at 47%. U.S. economic growth remained resilient despite inflation concerns, elevated energy prices, and geopolitical uncertainty. Markets rallied sharply after easing U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices lower, supporting renewed risk appetite. Small-cap equities benefited significantly, with Information Technology, Industrials, and Health Care leading gains, while Energy declined as crude prices fell. Year to date, the Composite returned +23.7%, slightly ahead of the Russell 2000's +22.6% and well above the HFRI Equity Hedge Index's +9.7%. Additionally, you can review the Portfolio's top 5 holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Prosper Stars & Stripes highlighted The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT). The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) manufactures and sells precision-engineered components and high-energy systems for the aerospace, defense and government, industrial, medical, semiconductor and electronics, and energy industries. On September 09, 2026, The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) closed at $16.46 per share. Over the past month The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) declined 4.02% and its shares lost 15.29% over the past 3 months. The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) has a market capitalization of $511.11 million and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $12.49 to $22.51.
Prosper Stars & Stripes stated the following regarding The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We are also invested in Applied Aerospace & Defense (AADX) and The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT). Elmet's critical materials division supplies inputs for the U.S. military supply chain that are essential to production and increasingly must be sourced domestically, steering business towards the company. We believe the building of domestic supply chains can benefit Elmet and drive better-than-forecast earnings growth as they grow organically and deploy their underutilized balance sheet to broaden their businesses."
The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 19 hedge fund portfolios held The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) at the end of the second quarter which was 0 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ:ELMT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring tr

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% from the month before in August, the Labor Department estimated Sept. 11, in line with forecasters' expectations.
A spike in gas prices drove the increase, rising 3.9% over the month as the Iran war further limited the global oil supply. Over the year, prices for all items rose 3.4%, matching July's pace. That was still enough to surpass workers' paychecks, which rose on average 3.1% over the same period.
After reaching a peak of 9.1% in 2022, year-over-year inflation had made its way back to 2.4% at the start of 2026. It jumped to 3.4% in March driven by rising oil and gas prices following the start of the war. After hitting 4.2% in May, it slowed to 3.5% in June and to 3.4% in July.
It, along with the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, remain above the central bank's 2% annual target.
The Fed typically raises its benchmark for interest rates across the country to help tame inflation and lowers it to stimulate the job market. After Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said Aug. 28 policymakers' focus should be on rising prices and U.S. employers added a surprising 162,000 jobs last month, markets are betting on a rate hike after the Fed's next meeting on Sept. 16. However, one is not guaranteed.

#rising

Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ:DAKT) reported its Q1 FY27 results, showing continued momentum across core segments and its strategic push. The company reported topline figures of $234.6 million, which grew 7.1% compared to the same period last year. This growth was primarily driven by impressive numbers across the Live Events, Transportation, and International units. The diluted EPS of $0.40 was the highest quarterly figure in the last twelve quarters, exhibiting a substantial growth of more than 21%. The business generated $31.4 million in cash from operations, which pushed the cash balance to $154.6 million by the quarter end, after accounting for $4.4 million expenditure on share repurchases.
Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo
The recently reported results point to enhanced profitability and the company's ongoing operational excellence initiatives, which would strengthen investor confidence. An impressive cash position backed with robust operating cash flows would enable Daktronics to pursue its 3-year strategic plan around growth, operational strength, and efficient capital allocation.
For growth, management focused on vertical market expansion during the quarter, with investments in service offerings and software to facilitate recurring revenue growth and customer value.
For operational excellence, the company took several initiatives around supply chain and manufacturing. These include scaling up of Mexico operations, adding automation, refining procurement, and more. Product backlog reached $311.3 million, the sixth straight quarter it has stayed above $300 million, pointing to continued demand spread across the company's varied business segments.

#million #cash #results