Stock Movers

On this edition of Stock Movers:  - Hyatt Hotels Corp (H) shares gain after the hotel operator said it will sell the entire Playa Hotels & Resorts real estate portfolio for $2 billion to Tortuga Resorts, a joint venture between KSL Capital Partners and Rodina. Deal includes 15 all-inclusive resorts across Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Hyatt will retain long-term management rights for 13 of the properties and hold $200m in preferred equity. - Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD) shares hit a record high as they are joining the growing push to trade US equities on the blockchain, making tokenized US securities available to 150,000 customers in 30 countries, 24 hours a day, five days a week. The company will own the shares backing the tokens, a spokesperson said, and while token holders will have most of the benefits of the underlying security, including dividends, voting rights won’t be initially supported. Bloomberg News previously reported that the product was in development. - Big US banks such as Goldman Sachs Group (GS), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Bank of America (BAC) shares rose after the industry’s biggest names comfortably cleared the Federal Reserve’s annual stress test late Friday, setting the stage for lenders to boost buybacks and dividends for shareholders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers: Goldman's 2026 capital requirement under current rules may fall 240 bps due to its peer-leading stress-test results improvement (290 bps), partially offset by a 50-bp increase in its systemic surcharge. Circle Internet (CRCL) falls 2.7% in US premarket trading after JPMorgan — which was a lead in its successful IPO this month — starts coverage with an underweight recommendation, citing a valuation that’s beyond the broker’s “comfort zone.” Barclays, meanwhile, gives the stock an overweight rating, saying it’s “one of the only ways” to tap into the stablecoin hype. Disney (DIS) climbs 2% after Jefferies upgraded it’s rating to buy, with the broker now seeing limited risk for a slowdown for its key parks division in 2H 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Tesla (TSLA) shares are lower, following the trend of wind and solar stocks and is the only downside mover of the Mag 7 in the premarket. CEO and founder Elon Musk has spoken out against the bill, saying the bill would destroy millions of US jobs and give "handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future." he also called cuts to electric vehicle and clean energy credits would be "incredibly destructive" to the country.- Juniper Networks (JNPR) is up in the premarket after the Justice Department settled a lawsuit challenging Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $13 billion takeover of Juniper, requiring the combined company to sell HPE's Instant On wireless networking business and auction off a license to Juniper's competing Mist business. The deal would have consolidated the sector from three major players to two, controlling 70% of the market, but the settlement preserves competition in the global networking market.- NextEra Energy (NEE) is one of many wind and solar stocks moving to the downside this morning amid Senate deliberations over the US tax bill. The new version of the bill adjusts key provisions on the SALT deduction, Medicaid, and clean energy, and includes compromises among warring factions of the Senate GOP.- Palantir (PLTR) shares are higher this morning after Friday's decline. It comes amid news the company partnered with Accenture Federal Service to form a strategic partnership to provide AI capabilities to federal agencies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- NextEra Energy (NEE) is one of many wind and solar stocks moving to the downside this morning amid Senate deliberations over the US tax bill. The new version of the bill adjusts key provisions on the SALT deduction, Medicaid, and clean energy, and includes compromises among warring factions of the Senate GOP.- Tesla (TSLA) shares are lower, following the trend of wind and solar stocks and is the only downside mover of the Mag 7 in the premarket. CEO and founder Elon Musk has spoken out against the bill, saying the bill would destroy millions of US jobs and give "handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future." he also called cuts to electric vehicle and clean energy credits would be "incredibly destructive" to the country.- Disney (DIS) is rising in early trading after it was upgraded by Jeffries to a buy from a hold. The broker now sees limited risk for a slowdown for its key parks division in 2H 2025, more positive upside to cruise division in 2026, as well as continued margin expansion for its direct-to-consumer offerings.- Juniper Networks (JNPR) is up in the premarket after the Justice Department settled a lawsuit challenging Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $13 billion takeover of Juniper, requiring the combined company to sell HPE's Instant On wireless networking business and auction off a license to Juniper's competing Mist business. The deal would have consolidated the sector from three major players to two, controlling 70% of the market, but the settlement preserves competition in the global networking market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gap's CEO is battling to save the iconic brand and now it's confronting headwinds from President Trump's tariff policy. The iconic ’90s retailer was on the precipice of death for years. Richard Dickson finally had momentum for a comeback—then came Trump. Bloomberg's Amanda Mull explains the story, in conversation with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carnival Corp. shares jumped after it raised its full-year profit outlook as cruise demand has shrugged off the volatile economic and geopolitical backdrop.   Its stock surged, while peers Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Viking Holdings Ltd. also rose.   The industry appears to be rebounding from earlier worries that demand was softening for vacations. Cruise businesses are also insulated during downturns by customers increasingly booking further in advance, drawn to tickets that offer significant discounts relative to other travel options.   Tim Stenovec and Carol Massar discuss the news with Bloomberg Intelligence Analyst Brian Egger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Equinix (EQIX) shares ended the week higher after seeing two days of consecutive losses. It was the second-best performing stock in the S&P 500 on Friday, following shares falling nearly 20% in the previous two trading sessions. - Royal Caribbean (RCL) shares ended the week higher, driven by Carnival Cruise, which raised its guidance for the second time this year. Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein told analysts in the earnings call that he sees no signs that demand in the travel sector will slow. - Enphase Energy (ENPH) shares, along with other US solar companies saw their shares rise as investors keep close tabs on how the clean energy industry could be impacted by regulatory changes as President Donald Trump's tax bill makes its way through Congress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Nike (NKE) shares jumped as much as 15%, the most intraday since December 2022, after forecasting a smaller-than-expected drop in revenue for the current quarter, a sign that the sportswear company's earnings trend may have hit an inflection point, according to analysts. Nike said its yearlong sales decline is starting to ease, suggesting that Chief Executive Officer Elliott Hill’s strategic moves are paying off. Before today, the stock had lost a third of its value over the past 12 months.The sportswear company expects sales to fall by a mid-single digit in the current quarter, a smaller drop than Wall Street anticipated and an improvement from the previous three-month period. Nike didn’t issue guidance for its full fiscal year due to tariffs and uncertainty.- Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) stocks fell after both names were downgraded to hold from buy at Canaccord Genuity as analyst George Gianarikas sees “potential for rapid disruption.”- Estee Lauder (EL) shares rose after being upgraded to buy from hold and increased its price target.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Nike (NKE) shares rise after the sneaker company's said its yearlong sales decline is finally starting to ease, suggesting that CEO Elliott Hill's strategic moves are paying off.- Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) shares fall after both rideshare firms were downgraded to hold from buy at Canaccord Genuity as analyst George Gianarikas sees “potential for rapid disruption.”- United Natural Foods (UNFI) is climbing after the food distributor said a previously disclosed cybersecurity incident has been contained, and it’s now regularly receiving and shipping products to retailers across its network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Estee Lauder (EL) shares rise after HSBC raised its recommendation to buy from hold and increased its price target to $99 from $80 as it sees the cosmetics company at the end of a downgrade cycle.- Boeing (BA) shares gain after Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded the planemaker to buy from neutral with analyst Olivier Brochet citing improvements that makes the company “appear healthier.”- CoreWeave (CRWV) shares rise. CoreWeave's stock has surged almost 300% since its March IPO, making CEO Michael Intrator's net worth $10.3 billion and ranking him the 311th-richest person in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Nike (NKE) shares are on the upswing this morning after forecasting a smaller-than-expected drop in revenue for the current quarter, a sign that the sportswear company’s earnings trend may have hit an inflection point, analysts say. That comes after a string of strategic moves from CEO Elliott Hill, including a refocusing on sports and a cleanup of inventories.- Nvidia (NVDA) shares are rising as it is close to becoming the first company to reach a $4 trillion market capitalization, after its shares rallied back to a record following a plunge earlier this year. The company's biggest customers, including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet, are projected to increase their spending on computing infrastructure, with annual AI spending expected to rise to nearly $2 trillion by 2028.- Atlantic Union (AUB) shares are up after the bank said it sold about $2 billion of its performing commercial real estate loans to Blackstone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Nike (NKE) shares are on the upswing this morning after forecasting a smaller-than-expected drop in revenue for the current quarter, a sign that the sportswear company’s earnings trend may have hit an inflection point, analysts say. That comes after a string of strategic moves from CEO Elliott Hill, including a refocusing on sports and a cleanup of inventories.- Lululemon (LULU) shares are being lifted by Nike's gains along with the broader retail sector. It comes after Lululemon recently announced layoffs.- Amazon (AMZN) is up this morning after it was upgraded to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane, which viewed the company as the most likely to meet or beat consensus profit expectations through 2030 among hyperscalers, alongside Microsoft. Meanwhile, Alphabet is downgraded to neutral. With capital expenditure for the big four hyperscalers reaching record highs, analyst Stefan Slowinski sees depreciation to sales ratios rising from 6% to 18% by 2030- Nvidia (NVDA) shares are rising as it is close to becoming the first company to reach a $4 trillion market capitalization, after its shares rallied back to a record following a plunge earlier this year. The company's biggest customers, including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet, are projected to increase their spending on computing infrastructure, with annual AI spending expected to rise to nearly $2 trillion by 2028.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- European sportswear stocks are rising on Friday after US giant Nike said its yearlong sales decline is starting to ease, with a smaller sales drop seen in the current quarter than earlier anticipated. - All sides are keen to reach a final investment decision on the project before parliament’s recess on July 21, Financial Times reports, citing unidentified people familiar with the discussions.- Gold headed for its second consecutive weekly loss, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran dented demand for havens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Scarlet Fu, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.- Nvidia (NVDA) shares continues its rally that started yesterday when it rose to an all-time high. Recent earnings from Nvidia were a notable catalyst for bulls, as the report showed robust growth and pointed to more strength ahead despite the impact of restrictions on the sales of advanced semiconductors in China. Prints from Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Amazon.com Inc. — which together make up more than 40% of Nvidia’s revenue, per supply chain data compiled by Bloomberg — further underlined how the company’s biggest customers continue to spend aggressively building out their AI infrastructure.- Circle (CRCL) shares rose after dropping 25% just two days ago as more players begin to enter the stablecoin industry since the Senate passed new legislation.- Micron (MU) shares slid as invested digested its earnings results from yesterday after the closing bell. The top-performing chipmaker on Wall Street this year, delivered an outlook that wasn’t quite rosy enough to keep its 2025 rally going. Though the company posted third-quarter results and a fourth-quarter forecast that exceeded estimates, the stock began sliding Wednesday in late trading after a conference call with executives and continued to decline Thursday. A key focus was high-bandwidth memory, a component used in artificial intelligence computing. The technology is fueling a sales surge at Micron, but the company didn’t predict the kind of runaway growth that some investors were looking for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Coinbase (COIN) shares are on track for their first record in more than three years, capping off a rally fueled by growing acceptance of the cryptocurrency industry on Wall Street and in Washington. The crypto-exchange operator’s stock was up 2.7% on Thursday, trading at $365.05 — higher than the peak close of $357.39 in November 2021, just months after the company went public through a direct listing. Coinbase shares have surged more than 1,000% from a record low in late 2022, which came as the collapse of FTX raised questions about the future of digital assets. The stock’s comeback occurred as cryptocurrency prices rebounded and the industry won powerful new allies, including US President Donald Trump.- Penn Entertainment (PENN) shares climbed as much as 4.9% to reach their highest intraday level since early March, after Citizens raised the recommendation on the casino operator to market outperform from market perform. Analyst Jordan Bender says that after several years of overpromising and underdelivering, leading to a bloated cost structure and balance sheet, he sees the light at the end of the tunnel for PENN shares.- Meta Platforms (META) shares are up. The company is in advanced talks to acquire PlayAI, a small startup using artificial intelligence to replicate voices, part of the social media company’s push to nab top talent and catch up in the AI race. Meta is expected to acquire the Palo Alto, California-based startup’s technology and some of its employees, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named sharing private information. The deal is not yet finalized and could still change, the people said. Financial terms under discussion could not be learned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Walgreens (WBA) shares rise after the company reported quarterly profit that beat Wall Street’s expectations. It's a hopeful sign as the pharmacy giant prepares to transform into a private company after its market value plummeted due to retail competition.- McCormick (MKC) shares rise after the company's 2Q EPS topped estimates and management reaffirmed its profit and sales guidance. Barclays says the fact that the company reaffirmed its guidance despite an incremental impact from tariffs eases some recent concerns.- Nike (NKE) shares are up ahead of earnings. Nike's turnaround is still in sight despite tariff headwinds and inventory challenges. Alternative data suggest improving store traffic, meaning Nike may report better, though still negative, direct-to-consumer sales in its fiscal 4Q results on June 26.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Equinix (Ticker EQIX) shares fall as its long-term outlook disappointed investors. They plan to build out capacity through 2029, but higher interest expense from up-front debt issuance will counter short-term growth.- McCormick (Ticker MKC) shares rise after the company's 2Q EPS topped estimates and management reaffirmed its profit and sales guidance. Barclays says the fact that the company reaffirmed its guidance despite an incremental impact from tariffs eases some recent concerns.- Enphase (Ticker ENPH) shares rise after recent news that Senate Republicans are discussing changes to a provision in President Trump's that would end tax credits for rooftop solar panels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Micron Technology (MU) shares are higher this morning as it gave an upbeat forecast for the current quarter, driven by demand for artificial intelligence equipment, and posted third-quarter results and a fourth-quarter forecast that exceeded estimates. The company's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) business is fueling a sales surge, with continued growth expected as AI software becomes more complex and requires bigger amounts of memory.- Nvidia (NVDA) is rising in early trading after hitting an all-time high, extending an advance that has cemented its position as one of the most valuable companies in the world. The company's market capitalization has added nearly $1.5 trillion since April, with a current market cap of about $3.77 trillion, overtaking Microsoft. Nvidia's growth is driven by robust earnings and strong demand for its AI chips- ASML (ASML) is moving to the downside this morning as it was downgraded to hold at Jefferies. Analyst Janardan Menon sees headwinds ahead for the semicap equipment sector.- Nike (NKE) shares are higher this morning as it prepares to release fourth quarter earnings after the market closes. It's likely to move to the downside, however, Wall Street is hopeful the worst can be behind for the retail giant. Analysts project revenue and earnings per share to be much lower than the results from a year ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- H&M profit was buoyed by tighter cost control and demand for its women’s fashion and sportswear ranges in the second quarter, a sign Chief Executive Officer Daniel Erver’s turnaround strategy is finally progressing.- Shell says it has not been actively considering making an offer for BP, has not made an approach and no talks have taken place with BP with regards to a possible offer, according to a statement. What to watch for in European M&A today:- The French government wants to open the meal vouchers sector to more competition, as well as making them entirely paperless starting in 2027 and usable on Sundays, Véronique Louwagie, junior minister for commerce and small and midsize businesses, tells RMC radio and Le Parisien newspaper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Micron (MU) shares are up after the largest US maker of computer memory chips, gave an upbeat forecast for the current quarter, helped by demand for artificial intelligence equipment. Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue will be roughly $10.7 billion, the company said in a statement Wednesday. That was well ahead of the $9.89 billion average analyst estimate, sending the shares up in late trading. Micron is seeing increasing demand for components like its high-bandwidth memory, which are used in machines that develop and run AI tools. The company expects continued growth from that market as such software becomes more complex, requiring bigger amounts of memory. The company is also starting to recover from narrower profit margins in the previous quarter.- Yum! Brands (YUM) shares rose after JPMorgan upgraded the operator of such chains as KFC and Taco Bell to overweight from neutral. Analyst John Ivankoe sees “sustained 4%+ unit growth, strong FCF generation,” and a “pulled-back valuation”.- Bumble (BMBL) shares jumped after the dating app said it’s cutting almost one-third of its staff, months after founder Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as chief executive officer to overhaul the struggling dating app. The Austin-based company will eliminate around 240 roles globally, or about 30% of its workforce, it said in an exchange filing Wednesday. It expects to achieve as much as $40 million in annual cost savings from the reductions, and plans to “reinvest the substantial majority” of those savings in “strategic initiatives including product and technology development.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Scarlet Fu, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.- Micron (MU), the largest US maker of computer memory chips, gave an upbeat forecast for the current quarter, helped by demand for artificial intelligence equipment. Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue will be roughly $10.7 billion, the company said in a statement Wednesday. That was well ahead of the $9.89 billion average analyst estimate, sending the shares up in late trading. Micron is seeing increasing demand for components like its high-bandwidth memory, which are used in machines that develop and run AI tools. The company expects continued growth from that market as such software becomes more complex, requiring bigger amounts of memory. The company is also starting to recover from narrower profit margins in the previous quarter.- BP (BP) shares surged as much as 10% in trading after the Wall Street Journal reported that Royal Dutch Shell Plc is in early-stage talks to acquire its London-based rival. Talks between company representatives are active, but any terms of a potential deal couldn’t be learned and a transaction is far from certain, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. BP is under intense pressure after years of under-performance and the intervention of activist shareholder Elliott Investment Management. Speculation has been growing that the embattled company would become a takeover target, and Bloomberg reported in May that Shell had been studying the merits of a deal.- Nvidia (NVDA) shares rose to an all-time high on Wednesday, with the leader in artificial intelligence chips extending an advance that has cemented its position as one of the most valuable companies in the world. The stock rose 4.3% to $154.31, taking out an all-time high that has stood since January. The record is only the latest milestone for the company, which has risen 63% off an April low, a rally that has added nearly $1.5 trillion to its market capitalization. With the day’s gain, Nvidia stands as the world’s largest stock, with a market cap of about $3.77 trillion, overtaking Microsoft Corp. at $3.66 trillion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Coinbase (COIN) shares gain after Bernstein raised the target on the crypto trading platform to $510, a Street high and 48% above Tuesday’s close, from $310. The company’s revenue is set to more than double by 2027 as it benefits from strong trading growth, as well as non-trading revenue lines such as staking and stablecoins, analyst Gautam Chhugani wrote in a note to clients.- FedEx (FDX) shares sank after the carrier warned that its profit would be worse than expected this quarter and declined to offer guidance for the rest of the year, underscoring the significant impact that President Donald Trump’s trade war continues to have on its business. The company’s shares fell 5.6% as of 9:33 a.m. in New York on Wednesday after FedEx reported quarterly results, extending their slide for the year. The shipping giant’s stock was down 18% in 2025 through Tuesday’s close, while the S&P 500 index rose modestly over that span.- General Mills (GIS) shares fell after the food company reported a larger-than-expected drop in 4Q organic sales, driven by a 7% decline in its North America Retail segment. GIS also projects a steeper decline in annual adjusted EPS than the current consensus estimate. “Our full-year sales trends did not meet our expectations, driven in part by continued value-seeking orientation and weaker consumer sentiment,” CEO Jeff Harmening said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Bumble (BMBL) shares rise after the company said it’s cutting almost one-third of its staff, months after founder Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as chief executive officer to overhaul the struggling dating app.- FedEx (FDX) shares drop after the company warned that its profit will be worse than expected this quarter and declines to offer guidance for the rest of the year due to the uncertain global demand environment.- Blackberry (BB) shares gain after the software company boosted its revenue forecast for the full year. Analysts were positive about the company’s forecast and hiked their price target on the stock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- FedEx (FDX) is sinking on a warning on tariffs. FedEx warns that its profit will be worse than expected this quarter due to the impact of President Donald Trump's trade war on its business. The company's shares dropped 6% in premarket trading, and its stock is down 18% year to date, with US-China shipments deteriorating sharply in May.- Quantumscape (QS) shares are soaring after the company said it made a big leap forward in its process for making solid-state batteries. The battery startup said after the bell that it has successfully integrated its advanced Cobra separator process into baseline cell production.- Coinbase (COIN) is moving to the upside today as it gets a price target boost. Bernstein raised the target on Coinbase Global Inc. Class A to $510 from $310. Maintains outperform rating. Bernstein moved its target to the high end of the range, implying a 48% increase from last price.- BlackBerry (BB) shares are higher this morning after the software company boosted its revenue forecast for the full year. Analysts were positive about the company’s forecast and hiked their price target on the stock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers: - FedEx (FDX) is sinking on a warning on tariffs. FedEx warns that its profit will be worse than expected this quarter due to the impact of President Donald Trump's trade war on its business. The company's shares dropped 6% in premarket trading, and its stock is down 18% year to date, with US-China shipments deteriorating sharply in May. - UPS (UPS) shares are following FedEx lower on broader concerns about the shipping industry. President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policies continue to handcuff the ability of executives to predict where their businesses are headed. That lack of visibility is especially challenging for FedEx and shippers — economic bellwethers. - Coinbase (COIN) is moving to the upside today as it gets a price target boost. Bernstein raised the target on Coinbase Global Inc. Class A to $510 from $310. Maintains outperform rating. Bernstein moved its target to the high end of the range, implying a 48% increase from last price.- BlackBerry (BB) shares are higher this morning after the software company boosted its revenue forecast for the full year. Analysts were positive about the company’s forecast and hiked their price target on the stock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Babcock International Group raised its medium-term profit target and announced its first-ever share buyback as the UK defense firm benefits from a surge in military spending.- Worldline SA shares fell by more than a fifth on Wednesday, following reports that the company covered up fraud by customers.- Stellantis rises as much as 4.1% as Jefferies upgrades the automaker to buy from hold, writing in a note that operations may be starting to take a more positive turn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Carnival (CCL) shares jumped after it raised its full-year profit outlook as cruise demand has shrugged off the volatile economic and geopolitical backdrop. Its stock surged by as much as 10%, while peers Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Viking Holdings Ltd. also rose by more than 4.3%. Earnings will be around $1.97 per share this year, the company said in a statement Tuesday morning, up from its previous view of $1.83 per share. Analysts had expected $1.85 per share. The cruise operator also hiked its targets in March after a strong start saw impressive booking growth with record pricing.- US defense stocks are declining Tuesday as Israel and Iran appeared to be honoring a ceasefire agreement unexpectedly announced by President Donald Trump overnight.- Uber (UBER) shares are up after the ride-hailing company said in a press release that it will be partnering with Alphabet Inc’s Waymo to offer ride-sharing through autonomous vehicles in Atlanta. In addition, Lime, the Uber-backed electric bike startup, has hired investment banks to prepare for a US initial public offering, according to a report from Reuters.- FedEx (FDX) shares are down in after hours trading after the company forecasted a worse-than-expected profit for the current quarter in a sign that soft demand from consumers and businesses rattled by tariffs is unlikely to improve in the near term. Adjusted earnings in its fiscal first quarter will be $3.40 to $4 a share, the company said Tuesday in a statement. The range fell below the $4.03 average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers: Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Scarlet Fu, Alix Steel, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.- FedEx (FDX) forecast a worse-than-expected profit for the current quarter in a sign that soft demand from consumers and businesses rattled by tariffs is unlikely to improve in the near term. Adjusted earnings in its fiscal first quarter will be $3.40 to $4 a share, the company said Tuesday in a statement. The range fell below the $4.03 average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Although it typically provides a full-year forecast, FedEx said it would only share its outlook for the current quarter due to the “uncertain global demand environment.” The forecast reflects FedEx’s current economic outlook and assumes no further negative developments in the global trade, economic and geopolitical environment, the company said.- Carnival (CCL) shares jumped after it raised its full-year profit outlook as cruise demand has shrugged off the volatile economic and geopolitical backdrop.Its stock surged by as much as 10%, while peers Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Viking Holdings Ltd. also rose by more than 4.3%.Earnings will be around $1.97 per share this year, the company said in a statement Tuesday morning, up from its previous view of $1.83 per share. Analysts had expected $1.85 per share. The cruise operator also hiked its targets in March after a strong start saw impressive booking growth with record pricing. - Tesla (TSLA) shares were lower today after investors learned its self-driving taxis were having some issues. Tesla Robotaxis appeared to violate traffic laws during the company’s first day offering paid rides, with one customer capturing footage of a left turn gone wrong and others traveling in cars that exceeded posted speed limits. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of the incidents and is in contact with the company to gather additional information, the agency said in a statement to Bloomberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Uber (UBER) shares rose after the ride-hailing company said in a press release that it will be partnering with Alphabet Inc’s Waymo to offer ride-sharing through autonomous vehicles in Atlanta. In addition, Lime, the Uber-backed electric bike startup, has hired investment banks to prepare for a US initial public offering, according to a report from Reuters.- Galaxy Digital (GLXY) shares were higher after Rosenblatt Securities started coverage on the crypto company with a buy rating and $25 price target. Rosenblatt Securities analyst Chris Brendler writes that while the company “would likely underperform in the next ‘crypto winter’, GLXY has proven its resiliency in prior cycles,” and “we think a major downturn is unlikely near term and GLXY has arguably never been better positioned."- McDonald's (MCD) and Krispy Kreme (DNUT) announced the two companies will end their partnership on July 2, citing challenges in achieving a sustainable business model. Krispy Kreme shares initially fell before recovering and McDonald's shares closes modestly higher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Tesla (TSLA) shares are higher this morning. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has tied the company’s future to driverless taxis and the tentative launch of the service in Austin yesterday is helping lift the company’s stock ahead of the open. It fell on Monday, even as the broader S&P 500 gained but rallied overnight. That’s pushing up the consumer discretionary sector- Uber (UBER) is rising this morning on news it will begin offering driverless Waymo rides in Atlanta, making it the second market where the two companies are teaming up instead of competing against each other. Uber has struck more than a dozen AV partnerships globally, and the performance of the Atlanta tie-up with Waymo will be crucial in efforts to convince Wall Street that it can be the go-to commercial platform for driverless carmakers.- Mastercard (MA) is up on news that it's deepening its partnership with Fiserv (FI) to integrate its new FIUSD token across a range of Mastercard products and services, expanding stablecoin adoption and utility for their shared customers around the world. Mastercard says people and businesses can use the new, programmable, blockchain-based token across more than 150 million merchants.- Circle (CRCL) is moving to the downside after the stablecoin issuer was initiated at Compass Point Research & Trading with a recommendation of neutral as competition is expected to increase after US stablecoin legislation was passed. Analyst Ed Engel sees Circle’s USDC stablecoin having long-term advantages from tech and liquidity but sees a growing threat of new entrants and declining gross marginsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- ExxonMobil (XOM) is lower this morning along with other major oil giants like Chevron (CVX) as the US, Israel, and Iran work toward a truce. President Trump called on Israel to stop dropping bombs on Iran, calling it a “major violation” of a fragile ceasefire between the two countries he announced just hours beforehand. Moments earlier, Trump told reporters he believed both Israel and Iran had violated the ceasefire but said he believed the fragile truce which was already being tested would hold.- Newmont Corp. (NEM) is following oil lower as commodities drop on news of a truce. “I think they both violated it,” Trump said as he departed the White House to attend the NATO summit at The Hague. But when asked if the ceasefire was breaking, Trump responded “I don’t think so.”- Lockheed Martin (LMT) is down today following commodity stocks lower. The fragile truce followed an extraordinary night in which Tehran retaliated against a US attack by launching missiles at an American air base in Qatar, with no casualties reported.- Fiserv (FI) shares are higher this morning after Mastercard deepened its partnership with Fiserv to integrate its new FIUSD token across a range of Mastercard products and services, expanding stablecoin adoption and utility for their shared customers around the world. Mastercard says people and businesses can use the new, programmable, blockchain-based token across more than 150 million merchantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Stoxx 600 Energy index is down 2.9%, the worst-performing sector in Europe today- Several Persian Gulf states, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have reopened their airspace and resumed operations at some of the world’s busiest airports- Defense suppliers are sliding again after significant declines on MondaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Scarlet Fu, Alix Steel, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.- Tesla (TSLA) shares climbed after the automaker rolled out its long-promised driverless taxi service to a handful of riders, a modest debut for what Elon Musk sees as a transformative new business line. The first robotaxi trips were limited to a narrow portion of Tesla’s hometown of Austin on Sunday, with an employee sitting in the front passenger seat of each vehicle to monitor for safety. The carmaker hand-picked a friendly group of retail investors and social-media influencers to serve as initial riders and live-stream their trips.- Circle (CRCL) shares extended gains for a third consecutive session after the Senate passed stablecoin legislation last week. - Hims & Hers (HIMS) shares dropped following news that Novo Nordisk was scrapping a partnership with the upstart telehealth platform after less than two months. Hims, a telehealth platform, wasn’t stepping back enough from its practice of mass marketing off-brand imitations of the weight-loss medicine, Novo executives said.“The big issue with Hims is that we had an agreement that the mass compounding would stop and unfortunately it didn’t stop,” said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president of product and portfolio strategy at Novo, in an interview. “That’s why we ended the partnership.” In a post on X, Hims Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dudum called Novo executive comments “misleading.” He said Novo had been pressuring Hims to “steer patients to Wegovy regardless of whether it was clinically best for patients.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers:- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) shares fell following worries on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and how it might impact oil prices. Carnival (CCL) is set to report earnings tomorrow, which could give a read on how travelers are feeling.- Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) shares rose on word that New York state is pushing to build a nuclear power plant to meet growing demand for clean energy, the first major US reactor project in more than a decade. Governor Kathy Hochul is directing the New York Power Authority to develop and build at least 1 gigawatt of nuclear capacity, enough to power a million homes. Multiple communities upstate are already lining up to host the project, she said Monday during a speech at the Niagara Falls hydroelectric plant.- Estee Lauder (EL) shares gained after Deutsche Bank upgraded the cosmetics company to buy from hold due to increasing evidence that the firm is diversifying beyond China for future growth. Deutsche Bank analyst Stephen Powers says Estee Lauder’s investment requirements have been mostly fulfilled to the point where top-line growth can be better leveraged to the benefit of margin and profit recovery going forwardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Quantum Computing (QUBT) an innovative, integrated photonics and quantum optics technology company, today announced that it has entered into securities purchase agreements with institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 14,035,089 shares of common stock in a private placement at a purchase price of $14.25 per share.- Fiserv (FI) shares rose as much as 4.5% after the financial-technology company said it plans to launch a stablecoin and platform for its clients. The new platform is slated to be compatible with other stablecoins and enable connection with the other 10,000 financial institutions and millions of merchant locations, according to the company’s press release- Exelixis (EXEL) shares soars as much as 23% to the highest level since July 2000, after the maker of cancer drugs said topline data for its metastatic colorectal cancer treatment had met one of the dual primary endpoints in the intent-to-treat population.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Tesla (TSLA) shares rise after roll out its long-promised driverless taxi service to a handful of riders Sunday, a modest debut for what Elon Musk sees as a transformative new business line. -Northern Trust (NTRS) shares rise after Bank of New York Mellon approached Northern Trust last week to express interest in a possible merger -Estee Lauder (EL) shares rise after Deutsche Bank upgrades the cosmetics company to buy from holdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Northern Trust (NTRS) shares are higher this morning on a WSJ report that Bank of New York Mellon approached it to express interest in a possible merger, which would be a megadeal for the US financial services industry. A tie-up would bring together two of the largest custodian banks in the world, with a combined entity's scale that would help it compete with global asset managers like BlackRock Inc. and Vanguard. BNY has been in the midst of an overhaul aimed at cutting costs and streamlining the institution, and a merger with Northern Trust could help cut Northern Trust's expenses by 20% to 30%.- American Airlines (AAL) is today along with United Airlines (UAL) amid uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Major global airlines have extended flight cancellations to the Persian Gulf, disrupting air traffic to critical hubs such as Dubai, after the US struck nuclear sites in Iran and Tehran vowed to retaliate. The disruptions have affected major travel hubs, with potential risks to global airline traffic, and have led to precautions such as evacuations and route changes by some companies and airlines.- ExxonMobil (XOM) is moving to the upside this morning amid rising oil prices from the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict. The conflict has raised concerns about oil prices and inflation, with oil rising by nearly 6% and US stock futures declining, and has also led to warnings about the risk to global energy supplies and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.- Hims & Hers (HIMS) shares are sliding after Novo Nordisk ended its partnership with the telehealth platform that has been selling compounded obesity drugs, newswire MarketWire reports, citing a statement from the Danish company.- Fiserv Inc. (FI) is also in the green this morning after the Wall Street Journal reported the financial-technology company’s plans to launch a stablecoin and platform for its clients. The new platform is slated to be compatible with other stablecoins and enable connection with the other 10,000 financial institutions and millions of merchant locations, according to the Journal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- ExxonMobil (XOM) is moving to the upside this morning amid rising oil prices from the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict. The conflict has raised concerns about oil prices and inflation, with oil rising by nearly 6% and US stock futures declining, and has also led to warnings about the risk to global energy supplies and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. - RTX Corp. (RTX) is higher this morning along with other defense stocks due to rising geopolitical risk in the Middle East. Iran vowed retaliation and continued attacks on Israel following US strikes on its nuclear facilities, fueling fears of a wider war in the Middle East and rattling global markets. - Lockheed Martin (LMT) is also riding high this morning following RTX and other defense stocks. The US operation over the weekend targeted nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and included 125 aircraft, strikes by Tomahawk missiles, and the use of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs. - Fiserv Inc. (FI) is also in the green this morning after the Wall Street Journal reported the financial-technology company’s plans to launch a stablecoin and platform for its clients. The new platform is slated to be compatible with other stablecoins and enable connection with the other 10,000 financial institutions and millions of merchant locations, according to the Journal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers: - Airlines all in the red as British Airways and Singapore Airlines canceled flights to the Persian Gulf, increasing aviation disruptions in the region - The Stoxx 600 energy sector is the best performer on Monday, up 0.3% while the broader market is little changed by 9:07 a.m. in Frankfurt - European defense stocks are mostly falling, though a Bloomberg index is still up almost 70% YTDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta Platforms has made at $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI and recruited the startup’s chief executive officer to join its artificial intelligence efforts. That investment represents at 49% stake in Scale AI and a 3x premium to recent industry deals.  For more on the deal, Paul Sweeney and Alix Steel speak with Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst Mandeep Singh.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JetBlue Airways Corp. plans to hasten cost cuts by eliminating some flights, ending service to a number of cities and restructuring its leadership ranks as economic uncertainty feeds weaker-than-expected demand for travel, the company said in an internal memo.   The carrier will eliminate underperforming routes and plans to announce network changes in coming weeks, according to the memo from Chief Executive Officer Joanna Geraghty seen by Bloomberg on Tuesday.   JetBlue implemented budget reductions at support centers and is assessing hiring, spending on business partners and vendors and will combine or restructure some leadership roles. The carrier has halted cosmetic refreshes of four out of its 10 legacy Airbus A320 aircraft used for flights and will park the planes at the end of summer.   For more on JetBlue, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with Bloomberg's Mary Schlangenstein.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Coinbase (COIN) rallied 27% this week, becoming the biggest weekly gainer in the S&P. Coinbase secured its Markets in Crypto Assets license from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, enabling the company to offer a full suite of crypto products to all 27 EU member states. The company also introduced Coinbase payments for commerce platforms, the first full-stack stablecoin payment solution built for commerce platforms at scale.- Circle (CRCL) shares jumped 20% on Friday after Seaport Global gave the stablecoin issuer its first buy rating in the wake of the US Senate’s move this week to pass legislation setting up regulatory rules for cryptocurrencies pegged to the dollar. The company behind USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market share, has seen its shares rise more than 600% since they started trading earlier this month. Optimism around stablecoin regulations has driven the strength. Seaport analyst Jeff Cantwell sees the global stablecoin market having the potential to reach $2 trillion at some point, from about $260 billion now. That would translate into annual revenue growth of 25%-30% for Circle, he wrote in a note to clients Friday. - Solar stocks like Enphase Energy (ENPH) and First Solar (FSLR) declined this week. Earlier in the week, Senate Republicans released a bill that would end tax credits for wind and solar earlier than for other sources, prompting downgrades for the sector at KeyBanc. The new version of the bill would end incentives for wind and solar in 2028, though tax breaks for other sources of power including nuclear, hydropower and geothermal would be allowed to remain until being phased out in 2036.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Scarlet Fu, Alix Steel, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.- Circle (CRCL) shares soared after Seaport Global gave the stablecoin issuer its first buy rating in the wake of the US Senate’s move this week to pass legislation setting up regulatory rules for cryptocurrencies pegged to the dollar. The company behind USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market share, has seen its shares rise more than 600% since they started trading earlier this month. Optimism around stablecoin regulations has driven the strength. Seaport analyst Jeff Cantwell sees the global stablecoin market having the potential to reach $2 trillion at some point, from about $260 billion now. That would translate into annual revenue growth of 25%-30% for Circle, he wrote in a note to clients Friday.- Kroger (KR) shares were higher after its sales surpassed expectations during the latest quarter, a sign that consumers are still spending on groceries and other essentials despite economic turbulence. The nation’s largest supermarket operator said its comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose 3.2% — better than what Wall Street analysts were expecting. The company also raised its full-year sales guidance to a range of 2.25% to 3.25%. It reaffirmed the rest of its outlook. Chief Financial Officer David Kennerley told analysts on the company’s conference call that Kroger has seen an improvement in grocery volumes in recent quarters, which contributed to growth in the latest quarter. Kroger expects further volume expansion over the rest of 2025. Interim Chief Executive Officer Ronald Sargent said he’s optimistic about the rest of the year while citing broader economic uncertainty.- Nvidia (NVDA) shares slumped, along with shares throughout the chip sector on the Wall Street Journal's reporting that a top US official told chipmakers that it's possible waivers they've used to access American technology in China could end up revoked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Stock Movers: - KBR (KBR) shares dropped nearly 9%, the most since early November after the engineering company announced its role in the US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)'s Global Household Goods Contract, which is designed to improve the moving system for military service members and their families. KBR was involved in the contract in a joint venture with HomeSafe Alliance. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Scott Levine says the termination of the contract may reflect risks to government service providers due to efficiency initiatives imposed by the Trump administration. - Circle (CRCL) shares rose as much as 17% on Friday after Seaport Global gave the stablecoin issuer its first buy rating in the wake of the US Senate’s move this week to pass legislation setting up regulatory rules for cryptocurrencies pegged to the dollar. The company behind USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market share, has seen its shares rise more than 600% since they started trading early this month. Optimism around stablecoin regulations has driven the strength. Seaport analyst Jeff Cantwell sees the global stablecoin market having the potential to reach $2 trillion at some point, from about $260 billion now. That would translate into annual revenue growth of 25%-30% for Circle, he wrote in a note to clients Friday. - Kroger (KR) sales surpassed expectations during the latest quarter, a sign that consumers are still spending on groceries and other essentials despite economic turbulence. The nation’s largest supermarket operator said its comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose 3.2% — better than what Wall Street analysts were expecting. The company also raised its full-year sales guidance to a range of 2.25% to 3.25%. It reaffirmed the rest of its outlook. Chief Financial Officer David Kennerley told analysts on the company’s conference call that Kroger has seen an improvement in grocery volumes in recent quarters, which contributed to growth in the latest quarter. Kroger expects further volume expansion over the rest of 2025. Shares of the supermarket operator rose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI) sinkafter the firearm company reported adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter that missed the average analyst estimate.- Kroger’s (KR) sales surpassed expectations during the latest quarter, a sign that consumers are still spending on groceries and other essentials even amid economic turbulence. The nation’s largest supermarket operator said its comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose 3.2% — better than what Wall Street analysts were expecting. The company also raised its full-year sales guidance to a range of 2.25% to 3.25%, but reaffirmed the rest of its outlook.- GMS (GMS) shares rise after the Wall Street Journal reported that Home Depot has made an offer for the building materials firm, potentially setting off a bidding war with QXO which made a $5 billion offer earlier in the weekSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- CarMax (KMX) shares rise after comparable sales and earnings per share for the first quarter that beat consensus estimates. - Darden (DRI) share rise after the company reported comparable sales growth for the fourth quarter that topped the average analyst estimate.- Circle (CRCL) shares rise after the US Senate passed stablecoin legislation setting up regulatory rules for crypto currencies pegged to the dollar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers:- CarMax (KMX) shares rise 10% ahead of the bell after the used-car seller reported comparable sales and earnings per share for the first quarter that beat consensus estimates. - Shares of Darden (DRI,) the parent company of casual dining chains Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, are up 3.3% in premarket trading after the company reported comparable sales growth for the fourth quarter that topped the average analyst estimate. The company’s board also authorized a new share repurchase program worth up to $1 billion of common stock.- Accenture (ANC) shares are down 4% in premarket trading, after the IT services company reported its third-quarter results and gave an outlook. Analysts highlighted bookings as a weak spot of the print.- Circle Internet Group (CRCL) shares are set to extend gains, rising 14% in premarket trading. The stablecoin issuer rallied almost 34% on Wednesday after the US Senate passed stablecoin legislation setting up regulatory rules for crypto currencies pegged to the dollar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Stock Movers: - CarMax (KMX) reported earnings per share for the first quarter that beat the average analyst estimate. - Circle Internet Group (CRCL) shares are set to extend gains, rising 14% in premarket trading. The stablecoin issuer rallied almost 34% on Wednesday after the US Senate passed stablecoin legislation setting up regulatory rules for crypto currencies pegged to the dollar. - Home Depot (HD) has made an offer for GMS Inc., potentially setting off a bidding war with QXO Inc. which this week made a $5 billion offer for the building-products distributor, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The offer from Home Depot, the world’s largest home-improvement retailer, is for an undetermined sum, the Journal said, citing people with knowledge of the matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta Platforms Inc. has finalized a multibillion-dollar investment in Scale AI and recruited the startup’s chief executive officer to join its artificial intelligence efforts — an unusual deal that signals a heightened push by the social media giant to catch up on AI development.   Meta said Thursday that it has backed Scale, without including details. The size of the investment was $14.3 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. The deal values the startup at more than $29 billion, including the money raised, Scale said in a blog post Thursday.   As part of the investment, Scale CEO and co-founder Alexandr Wang is set to take on a new role at Meta on its AI team. Wang will join the company’s “superintelligence” unit, focused on building AI that performs as well as humans, a hypothetical advance often referred to as artificial general intelligence. Wang will stay on at Scale as a board member.   Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec discuss the move with Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Dave Lee, who wrote the following column on the matter:    (Bloomberg Opinion) -- It sounded like something that should have come from the sports desk — a $14.3 billion transfer fee for a young up-and-coming prospect as Meta Platforms Inc. looks to rebuild its team for the tough season ahead. The head coach is an under-pressure Mark Zuckerberg, and the hot talent is Alexandr Wang, 28. His company is Scale AI, and Meta is taking a 49% stake, it was confirmed last week.  Were this an acquisition, it would be the second largest in Meta’s history after its $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp in 2014. But it’s not an acquisition, so don’t call it that, even though it bears many of the hallmarks of one.  Wang is going to join Meta as a top executive tasked with running a crack team to build an AI superintelligence, sitting next to Zuckerberg at Meta’s headquarters. Other Scale AI employees will join, too, according to multiple reports. So — definitely not an acquisition, just an investment that also includes putting the the company’s top talent on Meta’s payroll. Meanwhile, Meta has been trying to poach AI talent from Google and OpenAI with the promise of “seven- to nine-figure” salaries, the New York Times reported.  In its defense, Meta is hardly a pioneer here. As Bloomberg Tech’s Jackie Davalos mentioned in her analysis, this kind of squad building is becoming a regular occurrence. Microsoft Corp. signed Inflection AI’s co-founders; Alphabet Inc. hired Character.AI’s founders; Amazon.com Inc. took on Adept AI’s chief executive officer. On none of these occasions did they acquire the actual companies. Two forces are driving this approach. The first, glaringly, is that the big companies are particularly keen to avoid being seen to be making acquisitions right now when judges are deep in consideration over whether earlier actions, such as Meta’s purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp, should be deemed illegal. For Meta, structuring the Scale AI deal as an investment means avoiding a long, turbulent timeline that would come with a buyout effort. But the second factor is what I find more interesting. Ever since the launch of ChatGPT, there’s been no shortage of soul-searching among big tech firms as to why they didn’t get there first. How could it be that the pioneering work was done outside of their campuses by individuals and companies with relative pennies compared with their R&D budgets? The reason, as evidenced by these hirings and investments, is the very nature of bigness. Now that the big tech companies are mature businesses, never has their inability to move quickly and take risks been more apparent. Does an Alexandr Wang find success at a place like Meta had he been hired as a young engineer? A company with 77,000 employees and a fierce focus on keeping Wall Street happy? One that’s run by a CEO he would likely have never been able to meet, let alone be able to influence? Startups have always had an upper hand in this way, for sure, but the low barrier to entry for those with bright AI ideas means it has never been easier to attract attention. But then what? Founders are finding themselves staring at unfathomably large data center costs to scale their businesses. When a hyperscaler like Meta comes knocking, it can look like the only sensible way forward. So the startup ecosystem may now behave like the minor leagues. Feeder clubs that are a breeding ground for talent wait in the wings of the bigger teams with the deepest pockets. The talent leaves, but the club remains. In what form isn’t quite clear, though at least investors get their money back.  The approach may seem exp

On this episode of Stock Movers:-Whitbread reported comparable sales for the first quarter of -1%. - Hays slumps as much as 20%, the most in nine years, sending the staffing firm’s shares to their lowest since October 2008. The company released an unscheduled update, saying that current tough market conditions would persist into FY26, with permanent recruitment activity levels especially weak. - European luxury stocks drop, led by Richemont and Swatch, after a report showed Swiss watch exports fell 9.5% in May, driven by US downturn following a strong month of April.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.