Market Overview - On February 19, U.S. stock indices fell collectively due to multiple negative factors, including tightening liquidity in the private credit industry and escalating geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 267.5 points, a decline of 0.54%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.28% and 0.31%, respectively, with the Nasdaq experiencing a cumulative decline of over 2% since 2026 [1][2]. Private Credit Industry - A liquidity crisis in the private credit sector was a core reason for the market's weakness. Blue Owl Capital announced the sale of $1.4 billion in loan assets and tightened investor liquidity, leading to a significant drop in its stock price by 1%. This triggered a collective decline in the private credit sector, with major firms like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management seeing their stock prices fall by over 5% [2][3]. Geopolitical Tensions - The geopolitical tension between the U.S. and Iran has become another major market disturbance. President Trump indicated a decision on potential military action against Iran would be made within ten days, which has heightened investor caution and led to a general sell-off of risk assets [3]. Corporate Earnings and Guidance - Discrepancies in corporate earnings and guidance have intensified market volatility. Walmart's fourth-quarter revenue and profit exceeded expectations, but its annual profit guidance fell short, resulting in a stock price drop of over 1%. In contrast, Amazon surpassed Walmart in projected net sales for 2025, reaching $716.9 billion [4]. Economic Data - Recent economic data showed initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell to 206,000, significantly below expectations, indicating resilience in the labor market. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 16.3, the highest since September of the previous year. However, the trade deficit unexpectedly widened to $70.3 billion in December 2025, with the annual goods trade deficit reaching a record $1.2409 trillion, an increase of $25.5 billion or 2.1% from the previous year [4]. Market Sentiment - According to a recent survey by the American Association of Individual Investors, the proportion of bearish retail investors has exceeded bullish investors for the first time since November of the previous year, with bearish, bullish, and neutral sentiments at 36.9%, 34.5%, and 28.5%, respectively. This reflects a growing caution among investors [5]. Sector Rotation - The U.S. stock market is undergoing a rotation in leading sectors. Excluding the top companies, other stocks in the S&P 500 are in urgent need of earnings momentum. Despite a decline in valuations for the "Magnificent Seven," their price-to-sales ratios remain at historical highs, indicating they are not in undervalued territory [5].

Market Overview - On February 19, U.S. stock markets opened lower and closed down, with all three major indices declining [1][2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.54% to 49,395.16 points, the S&P 500 decreased by 0.28% to 6,861.89 points, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.31% to 22,682.73 points [2][3] Asset Management Sector - Blue Owl Capital announced the sale of $1.4 billion in loan assets from three private debt funds, raising concerns among investors about potential losses in the private loan sector [4] - Following this news, several asset management companies experienced significant stock declines: Blue Owl Capital down 5.93%, Blackstone down 5.37%, Apollo Global Management down 5.21%, Ares Management down 3.08%, and Brookfield down 2.68% [4] Software Industry - The software sector also showed weakness, with notable declines in stocks such as Cadence Design Systems down 2.76%, SAP down 2.41%, Intuit down 2.06%, and ServiceNow down 1.33% [4] - Concerns about artificial intelligence potentially disrupting the software industry were highlighted, with Mistral AI's CEO stating that over 50% of enterprise software could be replaced by this technology [4] Energy Sector - Energy stocks mostly rose amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with ConocoPhillips up 0.97% and Chevron up 0.49% [5] Retail Sector - Walmart's stock fell by 1.38% after the company provided a fiscal year profit guidance that fell short of market expectations, overshadowing its better-than-expected fourth-quarter results [5] Technology Stocks - Major tech stocks had mixed performances: Nvidia down 0.04%, Apple down 1.43%, Alphabet down 0.13%, Microsoft down 0.29%, Amazon up 0.03%, Meta up 0.24%, and Tesla up 0.12% [6][7] Chinese Stocks - The LiFeng Chinese stock index fell by 0.54%, and the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index decreased by 0.35% [8] - Popular Chinese stocks mostly declined, with Bawang Tea down 2.5%, Trip.com down 2.28%, Alibaba down 0.96%, and Pinduoduo down 0.94% [8] Company News - Amazon surpassed Walmart to become the highest-grossing company globally, reporting $717 billion in sales for the fiscal year ending December, compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion [9] - AMD announced it will support a $300 million loan to Crusoe, backed by chip products [10] - Hims & Hers Health is acquiring Australian digital health company Eucalyptus for up to $1.15 billion, which boosted its stock by approximately 7% in pre-market trading [11] - Yorkville America Equities LLC announced plans to acquire the Point Bridge America First ETF, focusing on investments aligned with former President Trump's "America First" ideology [12] - BE Semiconductor Industries reported fourth-quarter revenue of €166.4 million, exceeding analyst expectations, and projected a revenue growth of 5%-15% for the first quarter [13]

THIS IS "THE CLOSE." ROMAINE: STOCKS GETTING SOME OF THEIR MOJO BACK. I'M ROMAINE BOSTICK. >> I'M KATIE GREIFELD.WE ARE KICKING OFF TO THE CLOSING BELL. SOME MOJO. THAT IS HIGHER THAN WHERE WE FINISH THE DAY.CONSIDER WE WERE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SO IT LITTLE BIT OF AN ENTHUSIASM DRAIN, LEADING THE WAY. IT IS HIGHER BY ABOUT TWO BASIS POINTS. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE HAWKISH THAN SOMEWHERE EXPECTING.AND BITCOIN BITCOIN DOWN ABOUT 2%. ROMAINE: WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY WE ARE SEEING WEAKNESS IN STOCKS. A MAJOR DR ...

Market Overview - Major U.S. indices showed a rebound with the S&P 500 up approximately 0.6%, the Dow up about 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite up around 0.8% [6] - The trading day ended with a total of 317 stocks advancing and 185 declining, indicating a generally positive market sentiment [7] Booking Holdings - Booking Holdings reported earnings per share (EPS) of $48.80, aligning closely with street estimates, and revenue of $6.35 billion, slightly above the expected $6.13 billion [8][9] - Gross bookings reached $43 billion, surpassing the anticipated $41.99 billion, but the stock saw limited movement post-announcement [9] - The company’s CEO emphasized the focus on generative AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, aiming to enhance value for travelers and partners [11][12] - Booking Holdings anticipates first-quarter room nights to increase by 5% to 7% and gross bookings growth in the low double digits, with a forecast of 14% to 16% growth for the first quarter [13] Avis Budget - Avis Budget reported a revenue miss of $2.66 billion against expectations of $2.74 billion, resulting in a net loss attributed to a $518 million asset impairment [15] - The company noted a 21% decrease in per unit fleet costs but provided a full-year adjusted EBITDA forecast of $800 million to $1 billion, with the upper end below street estimates [15] Omnicom - Omnicom's fourth-quarter revenue was reported at $5.5 billion, exceeding the street estimate of $4.52 billion, although adjusted EPS was slightly below expectations at $2.59 [17] Cadence Design Systems - Cadence Design Systems experienced a significant stock increase of approximately 7.6% after reporting fourth-quarter results that beat expectations and provided a positive outlook [18] Wingstop - Wingstop shares rose about 10% after reporting adjusted EPS and domestic comp sales growth for the fourth quarter that exceeded consensus estimates, despite concerns about consumer spending [20] DoorDash - DoorDash's fourth-quarter EPS was reported at $0.48, missing estimates of $0.55, with revenue also falling short of expectations for the first quarter [21][22] eBay - eBay's fourth-quarter net revenue was $2.97 billion, surpassing estimates of $2.87 billion, and the company announced plans to acquire Depop from Etsy for approximately $1.625 billion [23][25] Molson Coors - Molson Coors reported net sales of $2.66 billion, slightly below analyst estimates, but underlying EPS beat expectations at $1.21 per share [26] - Year-over-year net sales declined by about 3%, reflecting ongoing challenges in the beer market [27] Carvana - Carvana's fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was reported at $511 million, missing the street estimate of $535.7 million, while revenue was $5.6 billion, exceeding expectations [28]

And right now we are 2 minutes away from the end of the trading day. Romaine Bostick here with Katie Greipel taking you through to that closing bell with the global simulcast Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec pop up on the screen. Welcome to our audiences across all of our Bloomberg platforms.That's television, that's radio. That's our partnership with YouTube passing the most crucial moments of the day. Carol Massar Yes, we had a little bit of a rebound rally here on the day, some of the gains being given back ...

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the recent rise in stock futures as investors are purchasing technology shares following a recent selloff, indicating a potential recovery in the tech sector [1]. Group 1: Company Movements - Nvidia, Meta, Palo Alto, Apple, Sandisk, Palantir, and Cadence Design Systems are identified as key movers in the stock market, reflecting significant investor interest in these companies [1]. - The article suggests that the tech sector is experiencing a rebound as investors take advantage of lower prices after a recent decline [1].

Core Insights - Cadence Design Systems reported strong quarterly results, exceeding revenue and profit estimates due to heightened demand for AI-related chip design software [1] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter revenue increased by 6.2% year-over-year to $1.44 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.42 billion [1] - Adjusted profit for the quarter was $1.99 per share, exceeding the estimated $1.91 per share [1] - For 2025, the company reported revenue of $5.30 billion and forecasts 2026 revenue between $5.9 billion and $6.0 billion, aligning with analyst expectations [1] Market Demand and Future Outlook - The company is experiencing elevated demand for chips capable of handling complex AI processes, benefiting its specialized design software offerings [1] - CFO John Wall indicated that strong fourth-quarter contract bookings resulted in a record $7.8 billion worth of work under contract, providing strong momentum heading into 2026 [1] - Cadence anticipates adjusted profit per share for 2026 to be between $8.05 and $8.15, consistent with analyst estimates of $8.05 [1] Product Development - Cadence introduced a virtual AI "agent" to assist companies like Nvidia in accelerating the design of complex chips, highlighting its role in the competitive U.S.-China technology landscape [1]

Core Insights - TransMedics is highlighted as a promising stock with potential for significant growth, projected to triple in value over the next 6-7 years due to its innovative organ care system [2][22] - The discussion emphasizes the importance of identifying AI-native companies that are fully committed to integrating AI into their operations, contrasting them with companies that are resistant to change [3][4] - Market indicators suggest a cautious yet positive outlook for the stock market, with expected annual returns between 8.5% and 10.5%, influenced by cash flow dynamics and margin improvements in technology companies [8][12] Company Insights - TransMedics has developed an organ care system that enhances the viability of donated organs, which is crucial for improving transplant outcomes [2][22] - Aritzia, a Canadian company expanding into the US market, is noted for its strong financial performance and growth potential, with a market cap of approximately $10 billion [22] - United Therapeutics, founded by a NASA scientist, is innovating in the field of organ growth and has a market cap of $20 billion, showcasing a unique approach to addressing rare diseases [21][22] Market Dynamics - The current market is characterized by a significant amount of cash on the sidelines, indicating potential for investment opportunities as this cash flows back into the market [9] - The potential for margin improvements in technology companies is expected to drive higher valuations, with a focus on companies that can leverage AI to enhance productivity [11][12] - The discussion highlights the risk of job displacement due to AI integration, which could lead to wage deflation and impact consumer spending [15][16] Investment Strategy - The investment strategy includes a cautious approach with stocks like Deere and MSCI, which are seen as stable options [18][20] - Moderate investments are suggested in Intel and United Therapeutics, both of which are positioned to benefit from government support and innovative technologies [20][21] - Aggressive investments focus on TransMedics and Aritzia, both of which are expected to experience substantial growth in their respective markets [22]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in Q3 fiscal 2026 increased by 12% year-over-year and 28.5% on a fiscal year-to-date basis, reaching $6.1 million compared to $5.4 million in Q3 fiscal 2025 [3][11] - Gross margin was 52.7% in Q3 fiscal 2026, down from 54% in Q3 fiscal 2025 and 54.8% in the previous quarter [11] - Operating loss for Q3 fiscal 2026 was $6.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.1 million in the prior year and $3.2 million in the prior quarter [13] - Net loss in Q3 fiscal 2026 was $3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in the previous quarter [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales to KYEC were $1.1 million, or 17.9% of net revenues, down from $1.2 million, or 22.7% of net revenues in the same period a year ago [9] - Sales to Nokia increased to $675,000, or 11.1% of net revenues, compared to $239,000, or 4.4% of net revenues in the same period a year ago [10] - Military defense sales accounted for 28.5% of third-quarter shipments, slightly down from 30% in the comparable quarter a year ago [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on defense applications, which have shown early success, particularly with the U.S. Department of Defense [20] - The partnership with G2 Tech is expected to enhance capabilities in real-world applications, particularly in defense and potential commercial uses beyond drones [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is advancing its APU roadmap and hardware development, with plans to tape out Plato in early 2027 [3] - A partnership with G2 Tech for a proof-of-concept in autonomous perimeter security is underway, supported by government funding [4][6] - The focus is on low-power edge AI applications, with an emphasis on performance per watt and responsiveness rather than peak training metrics [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about strong sales from major customers in the first half of calendar 2026 [3] - The company is actively pursuing non-dilutive R&D funding through government defense programs, which is expected to provide additional financial support [24] - Current expectations for Q4 fiscal 2026 are net revenues in the range of $5.7 million to $6.5 million, with a gross margin of approximately 54% to 56% [17] Other Important Information - The company reported a significant increase in cash and cash equivalents to $70.7 million as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to net proceeds from a registered direct offering [16] - Total operating expenses in Q3 fiscal 2026 were $10.1 million, up from $7 million in the same period a year ago, driven by increased R&D spending [11][12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Importance of defense applications for Gemini 2 - Management highlighted that military and defense sectors have been the quickest to adopt their technology, with successful SBIR wins and ongoing evaluations for various applications [20][21] Question: Potential timelines for government funding - Management indicated a continuous pipeline of submissions for SBIRs and other funding programs, emphasizing the non-dilutive nature of this funding and its importance for future business exposure [24]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in Q3 fiscal 2026 increased by 12% year-over-year and 28.5% on a fiscal year-to-date basis, reaching $6.1 million compared to $5.4 million in Q3 fiscal 2025 [3][12] - Gross margin decreased to 52.7% in Q3 fiscal 2026 from 54% in Q3 fiscal 2025, primarily due to product mix [12] - Operating loss for Q3 fiscal 2026 was $6.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.1 million in the prior year [13] - Net loss in Q3 fiscal 2026 was $3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in the previous quarter [14][15] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $70.7 million as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to $46.9 million in net proceeds from a registered direct offering [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales to KYEC were $1.1 million, or 17.9% of net revenues, down from $1.2 million, or 22.7% in the same period a year ago [10] - Sales to Nokia increased to $675,000, or 11.1% of net revenues, compared to $239,000, or 4.4% in the same period a year ago [11] - Military defense sales accounted for 28.5% of third-quarter shipments, slightly down from 30% in the comparable quarter a year ago [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on defense applications, which have shown early success, particularly with the U.S. Department of Defense [21] - The partnership with G2 Tech aims to leverage the company's technology for real-world applications, including drones and smart cities [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is advancing its APU roadmap and hardware development, with plans to tape out Plato in early 2027 [3] - The partnership with G2 Tech for the Sentinel program is expected to enhance the company's capabilities in autonomous perimeter security [4] - The focus is on non-dilutive R&D funding through government defense programs and strategic partnerships to support development [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about strong demand from major customers in the first half of calendar 2026 [3] - The company anticipates receiving over $1 million in government funding for the Sentinel project, which will offset R&D expenses [6] - The outlook for Q4 fiscal 2026 is net revenues in the range of $5.7 million to $6.5 million, with a gross margin of approximately 54% to 56% [18] Other Important Information - The company is expanding cash disclosures in its quarterly earnings to provide better insights into cash consumption and generation [16] - Total operating expenses in Q3 fiscal 2026 were $10.1 million, up from $7 million in the prior year [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Importance of defense applications for Gemini 2 - Management highlighted that military and defense sectors have been the quickest to adopt their technology, with successful partnerships and applications already established [21][24] Question: Timelines for government funding - Management indicated a continuous pipeline of submissions for SBIRs and other funding opportunities, emphasizing the non-dilutive nature of this funding [26]