Blockonomi

Quick Summary
Nvidia releases quarterly results after market close, with expectations centered on AI chip demand and data-center strength
July inflation accelerated to 3.7%, presenting challenges for Federal Reserve policy decisions
Intuit shares declined following disappointing fiscal 2027 revenue guidance below Street expectations
Meta stock gained ground after advancing settlement discussions in state-led child safety litigation
Crude oil retreated beneath $90 per barrel amid diplomatic optimism regarding Strait of Hormuz tensions
All Eyes on Nvidia’s Quarterly Performance
Nvidia commands market attention today as the semiconductor leader gears up to unveil quarterly results following the closing bell.
Wall Street forecasts another robust performance, with particular focus on data-center sales figures, appetite for the company’s newest AI processors, and profitability metrics.
Derivative markets suggest potential volatility of approximately 5% post-announcement, translating to billions in market capitalization movement.
The implications extend far beyond a single company. Shares of chip manufacturers, server producers, and cloud infrastructure providers have demonstrated correlation with Nvidia’s trajectory, positioning tonight’s disclosure as a potential sector-wide catalyst.
July Inflation Acceleration Complicates Fed Policy Path
US inflation exceeded projections, with the year-over-year metric climbing to 3.7% last month.
This uptick introduces complexity into Federal Reserve deliberations. Market participants had anticipated softer readings would support a pause in monetary tightening.
Stubborn price pressures constrain that scenario. Technology equities, particularly high-growth names, face headwinds from elevated borrowing costs since higher discount rates diminish present valuations of projected earnings.
Market observers will scrutinize forthcoming Fed communications for insight into policymakers’ interpretation of the renewed inflationary momentum.
Intuit Shares Tumble on Underwhelming Long-Term Guidance
Intuit experienced selling pressure after the tax and accounting software provider delivered fiscal 2027 revenue projections trailing analyst expectations.
Management projected revenue between $23.28 billion and $23.51 billion, falling short of consensus estimates. The outlook implies growth deceleration to approximately 9% to 10%.
Questions emerged regarding weakening traction at Mailchimp. Additionally, Intuit announced TurboTax pricing reductions aimed at customer acquisition.
The market response illustrates current investor impatience with enterprise software firms delivering below-target expansion rates.
Meta Gains Ground as Litigation Path Clears
Meta posted gains following advancement toward resolution of state attorney general lawsuits concerning purported harm to minors from its social platforms.
The progress reduced a source of regulatory overhang for the company. Meta has faced mounting scrutiny regarding Facebook and Instagram’s influence on adolescent users.
The stock has additionally benefited from investor conviction in Meta’s artificial intelligence initiatives and robust advertising revenue streams, despite substantial capital expenditures on computing infrastructure and AI development.
Crude Prices Retreat on Middle East Diplomatic Optimism
Oil prices declined with Brent crude sliding under $90 per barrel as market participants reacted positively to Iran-Oman diplomatic engagement that could defuse Strait of Hormuz-related risks.
Declining energy costs generally provide equity market support through reduced input expenses and inflation moderation. This dynamic carries particular significance on a day marked by higher-than-anticipated inflation readings.
With Nvidia’s earnings disclosure scheduled for after-hours trading, the outcome could establish momentum for technology shares entering August’s final stretch.
The post Market Movers Today: Nvidia (NVDA) Earnings, Inflation Jump, and Meta (META) Legal Victory appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Qwen3.8-Flash debuts with enhanced multimodal capabilities, excelling at programming and productivity applications
Training expenses reduced to approximately 11% of Qwen3.7-Plus costs
Default processing capacity of 262,144 tokens, scalable to 1 million tokens for extensive applications
Qwen3.8-Flash-Next released as open-source, offering early insights into Qwen4 architecture design
Release coincides with Alibaba’s HK$80 billion capital raise and insider stock purchases exceeding HK$600 million by Jack Ma
On Wednesday, Alibaba (BABA) introduced Qwen3.8-Flash, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence model developed by its Qwen AI team. This latest release focuses on enhanced capabilities for programming tasks and office productivity applications.
The economics of Qwen3.8-Flash represent a significant breakthrough. Training costs clock in at roughly 11% of what Qwen3.7-Plus required, yet Alibaba reports superior results in both coding benchmarks and office productivity scenarios.
API pricing stands at $0.16 USD for every million input tokens and $0.47 USD for every million output tokens. For Chinese market users, this translates to 1 yuan for input and 3 yuan for output per million tokens.
Meet Qwen3.8-Flash, a multimodal MoE and an early preview of the Qwen4 architecture, now open-weight!
The production version Qwen3.8-Flash will be available soon via QwenCloud API at just $ 0.16/1M input tokens and $ 0.47/1M output tokens.
125B parameters + 51B N-gram… pic.twitter.com/SScnmzWS7O
— Qwen (@Alibaba_Qwen) August 26, 2026
With a baseline context window of 262,144 tokens, Qwen3.8-Flash can be extended to process up to 1 million tokens. This substantial capacity enables processing of extensive documents, prolonged dialogue sessions, and data-intensive research applications.
Built on a multimodal Mixture of Experts (MoE) framework, the model operates with 125 billion parameters. According to Alibaba’s benchmarks, it rivals the capabilities of Anthropic’s Opus 4.6 and DeepSeek’s V4-Flash models.
Developer Access and Qwen4 Preview
In tandem with the commercial deployment, Alibaba made Qwen3.8-Flash-Next model weights publicly available through Hugging Face and ModelScope platforms. This enables independent developers to deploy and customize the model on private infrastructure.
Qwen3.8-Flash-Next serves as an architectural blueprint for the forthcoming Qwen4 series. This strategic preview signals Alibaba’s aggressive timeline for launching its next flagship model generation.
Earlier this week, the company unveiled Wan3.0, its enhanced AI-powered video generation platform. Alibaba has maintained a rapid cadence of model releases throughout the month.
Major Capital Injection Fuels AI Expansion
These product launches follow Alibaba’s recent announcement of an HK$80 billion equity financing initiative dedicated to AI development. The capital will support comprehensive infrastructure buildout and advanced AI capability development.
Co-founder Jack Ma acquired over HK$600 million in Hong Kong-listed shares during recent trading sessions. Executive Chairman Joe Tsai and Chief Executive Eddie Wu have similarly increased their holdings, demonstrating leadership confidence in the AI strategy.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as Alibaba’s primary expansion engine amid decelerating e-commerce revenue growth. The Qwen model ecosystem ranks among China’s most adopted platforms, operating in an increasingly competitive domestic AI landscape.
Qwen3.8-Flash’s production deployment is currently available via QwenCloud, with API integration scheduled for imminent release.
The post Alibaba (BABA) Stock: Qwen Slashes AI Training Costs by 89% with New Qwen3.8-Flash Model appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
A confidential initiative dubbed “Project OT” envisioned eliminating up to 60% of certain departments across two phases to build an “AI native” organization
Hours before initiating the first round of terminations on May 20, Zuckerberg abandoned plans for the second wave following internal resistance
The company’s AI agent systems underperformed expectations, contributing to a 40% surge in critical incidents
The social media giant ultimately reduced its workforce by 10% in May, with leadership pledging no additional broad-scale reductions through year-end
Analysts project Meta’s planned $130 billion AI infrastructure investment for 2026 could absorb the company’s entire operational cash generation
Meta Platforms (META) embarked on an ambitious strategy to dramatically reshape its workforce around artificial intelligence. The outcome fell far short of expectations.
A Reuters investigation published this week uncovered details of “Project OT” — an abbreviation for Organization Transformation — a comprehensive restructuring blueprint conceived during meetings at Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian estate in January. The initiative sought to transform Meta into an “AI native” enterprise, with intelligent agents managing substantial portions of work traditionally performed by human employees.
During strategic planning sessions, company leadership examined scenarios involving personnel reductions reaching 60% in select departments. The transformation strategy involved a dual-phase approach: initial terminations scheduled for May followed by a second round in November. An internal human resources leader estimated the combined cuts might rival or exceed the 25% workforce contraction Meta executed three years earlier.
The Strategy Unravels
On the evening of May 19, mere hours before launching the initial phase, Zuckerberg reversed course on the planned November reductions. Meta proceeded with the May 20 terminations, which eliminated 10% of staff positions. However, the more aggressive subsequent cuts were permanently shelved.
Internal opposition proved significant. Employees saturated Meta’s workplace communication channels with grievances. The company’s biannual Pulse survey revealed internal approval ratings plummeting from 74% to 55%. Reuters reported that certain engineering divisions experienced headcount declines approaching 30% by late May.
Meta additionally deployed monitoring software on American employees’ computers to record keystrokes and cursor movements for artificial intelligence model training. Numerous workers concluded they were essentially developing the systems intended to replace them. Labor organizing initiatives gained traction.
The underlying technology also failed to meet performance benchmarks. While code generation increased 220% year-over-year, new functionality deployed to end users grew by merely 36%. Critical technical and security problems jumped 40%, while employee time dedicated to incident resolution climbed 70%.
During early June, cybercriminals exploited vulnerabilities in Meta’s AI-driven customer service chatbot to compromise prominent Instagram profiles. Meta declined to address questions regarding the internal performance metrics.
Zuckerberg’s Response
During an internal company meeting in early July, Zuckerberg conceded the implementation schedule had been delayed. The AI agent capabilities, he admitted, had not “accelerated” at the pace he had projected. He informed staff members he anticipated meaningful progress within the following three to six months.
Following May’s workforce reduction, Zuckerberg distributed an internal communication stating he did “not expect other company-wide layoffs this year.” Leadership subsequently suspended the keystroke monitoring initiative, permitted certain employees to return to their previous assignments, and committed to enhanced workplace amenities.
Meta acknowledged Project OT’s existence when responding to Reuters’ reporting, characterizing it as a year-long initiative centered on expense reduction, organizational redesign, and resource reallocation toward strategic priorities. The company emphasized it never contemplated eliminating 60% of total headcount and that numerous major divisions were excluded from the planning scenarios.
Meta’s artificial intelligence expenditures continue attracting investor attention. The corporation intends to allocate a minimum of $130 billion toward AI processors and infrastructure during 2026. LSEG analysts calculate this investment level will absorb Meta’s complete operating cash generation for that fiscal year.
META stock was trading near $714 at the time of reporting.
The post Meta (META) Stock: How Zuckerberg’s AI Workforce Strategy Crashed and Burned appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
BofA analysts argue SpaceX’s wireless ambitions would support T-Mobile, tower operators, and spectrum valuations
Building a femtocell-based infrastructure could require 500 million to 1.5 billion devices with trillion-dollar costs
Major obstacles include spectrum scarcity, regulatory approvals, power requirements, fiber backhaul, and site leasing
Tower companies like Crown Castle say existing infrastructure enables faster rollout than greenfield construction
Direct-to-device satellite service is positioned as supplementary to terrestrial networks, not a substitute
Wall Street analysts at Bank of America are weighing in on SpaceX’s potential wireless industry entry, concluding that the venture would more likely support T-Mobile and cellular tower operators than threaten their business models.
BREAKING: Bank of America says SpaceX’s wireless ambitions could benefit T-Mobile, cell tower companies and spectrum values.
• A nationwide network would require major investment, more spectrum and years of infrastructure development.
• SpaceX’s satellite service is expected… pic.twitter.com/59JIzmd0s3
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) August 26, 2026
The assessment follows discussions BofA analysts held with T-Mobile’s Chief Technology Officer Dr. John Saw and leadership from Crown Castle.
The Challenge of Building a Femtocell-Based Infrastructure
SpaceX has reportedly considered constructing a wireless network using customer-installed femtocells—compact, internet-connected devices that deliver localized cellular service.
Dr. Saw challenged the viability of this approach. He noted that femtocells cannot deliver a comprehensive nationwide footprint, support seamless user mobility, provide dependable indoor coverage, or manage high-speed highway transitions.
According to his calculations, replicating just T-Mobile’s outdoor network would demand deployment of 500 million to 1.5 billion femtocell units nationwide.
With each unit costing roughly $1,000, the total investment could range from several hundred billion dollars to well over a trillion.
Crown Castle executives echoed this skepticism, emphasizing that femtocells serve best as targeted gap-fillers rather than macro network alternatives.
The Upside for T-Mobile and Tower Operators
According to Bank of America’s analysis, if SpaceX pursues a robust ground-based wireless network, it would probably leverage existing tower infrastructure.
Crown Castle highlighted that current tower sites offer ready access to available space, electrical power, fiber backhaul, regulatory precedents, and established lease frameworks—all of which accelerate deployment compared to developing new locations.
As a reference point, Dish managed to expand across 20,000 tower sites over four years despite constrained capital. With SpaceX’s substantially larger financial resources, deployment could proceed even more rapidly.
This prospect of increased tower leasing demand is a key reason BofA views the SpaceX development favorably for Crown Castle and peer companies.
T-Mobile could also gain from the situation. SpaceX might need to establish partnerships with incumbent carriers or negotiate spectrum-sharing arrangements.
BofA additionally noted that SpaceX holds limited cellular spectrum assets. Attempting to use identical frequencies for both satellite and terrestrial services could trigger interference issues and diminish network capacity.
Direct-to-device satellite connectivity is anticipated to remain a complementary technology, primarily serving users in remote or underserved regions beyond the reach of conventional cellular infrastructure.
BofA’s final assessment: matching established carriers on network coverage, capacity, indoor performance, and overall reliability would require years of focused execution and substantial capital commitment, even for a company with SpaceX’s capabilities.
The post BofA: SpaceX Wireless Expansion Would Lift T-Mobile (TMUS) and Tower Stocks, Not Threaten Them appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Revolution Medicines received FDA clearance for Rasonque (daraxonrasib) to treat metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma on August 26, 2026
Regulatory approval arrived several months earlier than anticipated, benefiting from Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug, and priority review status
Clinical trial participants taking Rasonque achieved a median survival of 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months with conventional chemotherapy
RVMD shares have surged more than 165% this year; analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating with a mean price target of $222.89
Approximately 67,000 Americans receive a pancreatic cancer diagnosis annually, with adenocarcinoma representing 90-95% of cases
Shares of Revolution Medicines (RVMD) moved higher Wednesday following the FDA’s clearance of its oral therapy Rasonque for treating metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The biotech company’s stock climbed approximately 1% during morning trading hours before moderating slightly as the session progressed.
Entering today’s session, RVMD had already posted impressive gains exceeding 165% year-to-date, positioning this regulatory milestone as another achievement in the company’s remarkable 2026 performance.
The timing of the approval caught many by surprise, arriving months earlier than market expectations. With the FDA accepting the New Drug Application for evaluation only on July 22, Wednesday’s authorization represents an unusually rapid regulatory process.
Marketed as Rasonque, daraxonrasib functions as a RAS inhibitor administered once per day. The therapy targets RAS proteins that serve as cellular signaling switches and represent a primary mechanism driving tumor progression in the majority of pancreatic cancer cases.
Public awareness of the treatment expanded significantly after former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who was diagnosed with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer in the previous year, publicly characterized it as a “miracle drug” following his participation in a clinical study.
Regulatory agencies had already signaled strong interest in the therapy, awarding daraxonrasib Breakthrough Therapy Designation in June 2025, along with Orphan Drug status and priority review classification—all indicators suggesting accelerated regulatory consideration.
Clinical Trial Results
The regulatory decision drew upon Phase 3 clinical trial data involving 500 participants, with findings documented in the New England Journal of Medicine. Trial participants receiving Rasonque achieved a median survival duration of 13.2 months, substantially exceeding the 6.7-month median observed in patients receiving conventional chemotherapy.
The treatment reduced mortality risk by 60%. Over half of Rasonque recipients remained alive at the one-year mark, contrasting sharply with less than 20% of chemotherapy patients. Additionally, progression-free survival approximately doubled, extending from 3.6 months to 7.2 months.
Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas characterized the approval as “a critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer.”
Market Opportunity and Significance
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma constitutes 90% to 95% of the approximately 67,000 new pancreatic cancer cases identified in the United States annually. While representing roughly 3.2% of total cancer diagnoses, this malignancy accounts for a disproportionately high percentage of cancer-related fatalities, primarily due to delayed detection and insufficient therapeutic alternatives.
Revolution Medicines initially demonstrated the drug’s promise in April when Phase 3 data release sparked a significant stock rally. The following month, the FDA granted a “safe to proceed” authorization, enabling the company to provide daraxonrasib to patients beyond clinical trial settings.
The biotechnology firm is currently evaluating Rasonque as an initial treatment option for pancreatic cancer and exploring its efficacy in additional RAS-mutated malignancies, including lung and colorectal cancers.
Wall Street analysts have assigned RVMD a Strong Buy consensus rating, comprising 18 Buy recommendations and 1 Hold rating. The average analyst price target stands at $222.89, with the most optimistic projection reaching $291.
The post Revolution Medicines (RVMD) Stock Climbs After Early FDA Green Light for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Shares of Oracle climbed between 3.5% and 4.5% on Wednesday following Citi analyst Tyler Radke’s initiation of a positive catalyst watch.
The firm maintained its Buy rating with a $330 price objective, describing the decline as “four to five standard deviations” beyond Oracle’s typical volatility patterns.
Oracle shares plummeted more than 50% between their June high and July low amid worries about aggressive AI infrastructure investments and expanding debt obligations.
The investment bank upgraded its fiscal 2028-2030 revenue and profit projections, highlighting AI market opportunities and stabilizing credit metrics.
A substantial $85 billion order backlog and an upcoming investor day scheduled for late October provide additional near-term positive catalysts.
Shares of Oracle surged as much as 4.5% during Wednesday’s morning session after Citi analyst Tyler Radke initiated a positive catalyst watch, characterizing the recent decline as among the most severe in the software giant’s corporate history.
Radke maintained his Buy recommendation alongside a $330 price objective. At the time of publication, Oracle was changing hands near $147, representing substantial distance from the analyst’s target.
The enterprise software company shed over half its market value between its June zenith and July nadir. Radke characterized this movement as “four to five standard deviations” beyond Oracle’s normal price fluctuations, occurring within merely 30 to 40 trading sessions.
According to Citi’s analysis, this magnitude of decline has generated an unusual buying opportunity for market participants.
The dramatic selloff stemmed from investor anxiety surrounding Oracle’s substantial capital expenditures on AI infrastructure for major clients including Microsoft and OpenAI, coupled with a substantial increase in leverage. Throughout a five-year period, Oracle’s debt obligations expanded 60%. Free cash flow reversed from a positive $13.8 billion to a negative $23.7 billion during this timeframe.
Wall Street forecasts suggest Oracle will consume an additional $90 billion throughout the coming two years.
Investment Bank Views Negative Factors as Fully Reflected
Notwithstanding these concerning figures, Citi contends the most pessimistic scenarios have been incorporated into the current valuation. The firm highlighted “insatiable” appetite for AI capabilities and Oracle’s $85 billion order backlog, which it believes provides nearly sufficient coverage for the organization’s immediate cash requirements.
The investment bank also elevated its revenue and profit forecasts for fiscal years spanning 2028 through 2030. For 2030, Citi anticipates Oracle could generate $22 in earnings per share, representing a three-fold or potentially four-fold increase over present GAAP earnings.
Enhanced credit market indicators form another component of the bullish thesis. Citi observed that bond spreads and credit default swap spreads have begun narrowing, indicating that compulsory liquidation pressure may be diminishing.
Upcoming Earnings Release and Investor Day Draw Attention
Oracle plans to announce earnings in September and will conduct a planned investor day during late October. Citi’s research note identified both occasions as potentially favorable catalysts.
The trading session prior to Wednesday’s advance, Oracle showcased its distributed cloud architecture at an industry conference, strengthening its enterprise AI market position.
The general market provided minimal support. The S&P 500 advanced merely 0.1% while the Nasdaq concluded essentially unchanged, indicating Oracle’s strength was clearly company-specific.
Among enterprise software peers, SAP declined more than 3% following a UBS rating cut to Neutral, potentially enhancing Oracle’s relative appeal during the session.
Oracle’s consensus analyst rating continues to be Buy. The equity’s 52-week trading range extends from $114.50 to $345.72, positioning shares considerably beneath their recent peaks.
Trading at a price-to-earnings multiple below 25 with projected five-year growth of 27% annually, Citi’s $330 price objective suggests the stock could potentially more than double from present levels.
The post Citi Calls Oracle (ORCL) Stock’s 50% Plunge a Historic Buying Opportunity appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
AWS has finalized a definitive acquisition agreement with DuckLabs, the Amsterdam company that developed the open-source DuckDB analytical database.
DuckDB, along with DuckLake and Quack projects, will continue as free, open-source initiatives under the independent DuckDB Foundation’s oversight.
Founders Hannes Mühleisen and Mark Raasveldt will continue heading the team and guiding the technical roadmap of the open-source initiative.
DuckLabs and AWS have maintained a collaborative partnership throughout 2024.
The acquisition is designed to deliver faster, more streamlined, and economical analytics solutions for AWS users.
Amazon has revealed a definitive acquisition deal with DuckLabs, the Amsterdam-headquartered organization responsible for developing DuckDB, a popular open-source analytical database. The companies have not revealed financial specifics of the transaction.
Today, @ducklabs_com is joining @awscloud. The move is expected to be completed by early September.
Joining AWS gives DuckLabs the resources and reach to bring DuckDB, DuckLake, and the Quack protocol to many more developers and organizations – and to pursue ideas at a scale… pic.twitter.com/RtiNhsOSHq
— DuckDB (@duckdb) August 26, 2026
Through this transaction, the engineering personnel from DuckLabs will become part of AWS. The original creators, Hannes Mühleisen and Mark Raasveldt, who jointly developed DuckDB, will maintain their leadership roles over the team and continue steering the technical vision of the open-source initiative once the acquisition is finalized.
Amazon emphasized a crucial distinction: DuckDB itself is not being purchased. The open-source initiative will stay freely accessible and independently managed by the DuckDB Foundation, a nonprofit entity, under MIT licensing terms.
“Becoming part of AWS provides us with the capabilities and scale to deliver this technology to significantly more developers and enterprises,” Mühleisen and Raasveldt stated on their official website.
DuckLabs and AWS have maintained a collaborative working relationship throughout 2024, making this less of an unexpected acquisition and more of a formalization of an existing partnership.
Strategic Value for AWS
Andy Warfield, vice president and distinguished engineer at Amazon, characterized DuckLabs as an organization with proven success in creating software that resonates deeply with developers. This characterization carries significant weight.
“I believe that philosophy, not merely simplifying data accessibility, but genuinely enabling individuals to explore, create, and truly drive innovation with data, aligns perfectly with AWS’s and our customers’ approach to data,” Warfield explained.
According to Amazon, the strategic objective is to deliver AWS analytics solutions that are quicker, more straightforward, and economically efficient. This represents a targeted message to AWS enterprise clients who rely on analytical capabilities at significant scale.
Following the acquisition, the DuckLabs team will maintain its operations in Amsterdam, as confirmed in the official announcement.
Continuity for the DuckDB Community
Amazon took deliberate steps to provide assurance to the DuckDB community. The company emphasized that current DuckDB users will experience no changes to their workflows.
The DuckLake and Quack initiatives are similarly not included in the acquisition scope. All three projects will continue operating under the DuckDB Foundation’s independent governance structure.
This clarity is significant because DuckDB has cultivated a dedicated community among data professionals and engineers. Any suggestion that Amazon might restrict or commercialize the project would have generated substantial concern.
Mühleisen and Raasveldt have guided DuckDB’s evolution for close to ten years. Their ongoing participation represents a central element of Amazon’s positioning of this acquisition.
Amazon anticipates the deal will complete in the near term, pending standard closing requirements. Following completion, the company plans to provide additional information about integration plans and collaborative efforts between the teams.
According to the company, the DuckLabs team delivers “exceptional database engineering capabilities,” which AWS will leverage directly to benefit its analytics customer base.
The post Amazon (AMZN) Stock: AWS Confirms Acquisition of DuckLabs for Enhanced Data Analytics appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, engaged in acquisition discussions with Okta spanning from late 2024 through early 2025, which ultimately collapsed due to pricing disputes.
In spring 2025, Arora approached Datadog’s CEO Olivier Pomel with an acquisition proposal, but Pomel declined interest, resulting in no official bid.
Following the failed negotiations, Palo Alto Networks completed a $25 billion CyberArk acquisition in July 2025 and a $3.35 billion Chronosphere purchase in January 2026.
The CyberArk and Chronosphere acquisitions collectively added $338 million to Palo Alto’s $3 billion quarterly revenue reported in April.
Current reports indicate Arora is considering Cribl, with a $3.5 billion valuation, and ClickHouse, valued at $15 billion, for potential future acquisitions.
New revelations indicate that Palo Alto Networks (PANW) CEO Nikesh Arora pursued acquisition negotiations with both Okta and Datadog, though neither materialized into formal deals, as reported by The Information on Wednesday.
Throughout the final months of 2024 and into the beginning of 2025, Arora conducted multiple meetings with Todd McKinnon, Okta’s chief executive. The discussions centered around potential product integration opportunities between the two companies, though negotiations ultimately broke down when the parties failed to agree on valuation terms.
At the beginning of 2024, Okta carried a market valuation of approximately $13.5 billion. Since that time, the company’s stock has appreciated by around 30%, pushing its current market capitalization to nearly $23 billion.
During the spring months of 2025, Arora initiated contact with Olivier Pomel, the CEO of Datadog, to explore a potential acquisition. Datadog’s public market valuation at that point exceeded $40 billion. However, Pomel showed no interest in entertaining the proposal, and Palo Alto never submitted a formal acquisition offer.
In the months that followed, Datadog’s valuation has experienced significant growth, approximately doubling to surpass $80 billion. Such a substantial price increase makes any prospective future transaction highly improbable.
Completed Acquisitions
After the Okta and Datadog negotiations failed to materialize, Palo Alto Networks pivoted its acquisition strategy. The company announced a $25 billion agreement to purchase CyberArk in July 2025. Subsequently, in January 2026, Palo Alto acquired Chronosphere for $3.35 billion, securing a log data and observability platform that directly competes with Datadog.
These two completed transactions generated a combined $338 million in revenue contribution to the $3 billion total that Palo Alto Networks disclosed for its April quarter earnings.
On Wednesday, Palo Alto stock declined 0.38%, closing at $338.60. Meanwhile, Datadog shares climbed 2.95% following the news, and Okta shares dropped 1.12%.
When contacted for comment, a Palo Alto Networks representative stated the company maintains a policy against addressing “rumors or speculation.” Representatives from both Datadog and Okta declined to provide statements.
Future Acquisition Targets
Arora’s acquisition strategy shows no signs of deceleration. Recent reports suggest he’s currently assessing companies that would complement the capabilities acquired through the Chronosphere transaction.
One potential target under consideration is Cribl, a data management platform company carrying a $3.5 billion valuation. Another company drawing attention is ClickHouse, a database technology firm that secured funding at a $15 billion valuation during January 2026.
Additionally, Arora is exploring potential transactions within the artificial intelligence security sector. The strategic rationale centers on the evolving threat landscape where AI-powered tools are transforming cyberattack methodologies, elevating the importance of real-time monitoring solutions for enterprise clients.
Shares of Chronosphere, which operates under the CHRN ticker symbol, decreased 4.64% on Wednesday.
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Key Takeaways
Fourth-quarter and full-year financial results from IREN are scheduled for release on August 27 following market close
Analyst projections point to a loss of $0.46 per share with revenues reaching $135.6M
Shares declined approximately 5% during Wednesday’s session before the announcement
Technical indicators showing a death cross pattern alongside balance sheet worries are fueling downward momentum
The company elevated its 2026 ARR projection above $4B following approximately $2.8B in fresh AI cloud agreements announced in July
IREN Limited (IREN) will unveil its fourth-quarter and complete 2026 fiscal year earnings on August 27 following the market’s close. Trading activity on Wednesday showed shares declining roughly 5% to $40.16 as market participants adopted a cautious stance before the financial disclosure.
Current Street expectations forecast earnings per share at negative $0.46 with top-line revenues coming in at $135.6M. The analyst community’s outlook entering this reporting period reflects heightened caution. Throughout the past three months, no analysts have increased their EPS projections, whereas two firms have lowered their forecasts.
The revenue outlook paints an equally subdued picture. Ten downward adjustments have been recorded, with no upward revisions during the same timeframe.
Key Focus Areas for Market Watchers
While reported figures matter, forward-looking guidance represents the critical element investors are monitoring. During July, IREN boosted its 2026 annual recurring revenue objective beyond $4B, representing an increase from the previous $3.4B target, following the execution of extended cloud infrastructure agreements with prominent AI development firms worth approximately $2.8B in aggregate.
Management indicated at that juncture that roughly 85% of the updated ARR goal was already secured through binding agreements. This substantial forward commitment level drew notice from Seeking Alpha analyst Petri Dish Reports.
“The way I see it, that level of forward coverage is unusually high for an AI infrastructure name at this stage. What it tells us is that demand isn’t just strong here, it’s already locked in,” the analyst said.
Company executives have also communicated expectations to deploy 140,000 GPUs before 2026 concludes.
Projecting into subsequent periods, Passage Research anticipates IREN’s 2027 ARR climbing above $6.5B. The same research firm forecasts AI Cloud ARR reaching $10B during 2028, with growth continuing to nearly $11B by 2029.
“In 2027, as the business ramps up, capacity comes online, and more GPUs are commissioned. The 1.21 GW in capacity should equate to an ARR that is north of $6.5 billion,” the analyst noted.
Passage Research’s revenue model for the upcoming year stands at $3.1B, marginally exceeding the consensus Street estimate of $3B.
Technical Patterns and Balance Sheet Concerns
Wednesday’s price decline extends beyond typical pre-announcement volatility. A technical death cross formation has activated momentum-driven selling, compounding pressure from bearish research notes highlighting the company’s leverage profile.
Market participants are expressing apprehension regarding IREN’s debt-financed growth approach, with questions emerging about potential balance sheet strain. Additional concerns include possible dilution from the Mirantis transaction, coupled with elevated short positioning.
Despite recent weakness, IREN’s price performance since the beginning of the year remains positive at approximately 12%, while daily trading volume averages exceed 45 million shares. The firm’s current market capitalization stands near $14.21B.
The organization’s contracted power resources and multi-year customer commitments provide enhanced visibility regarding capacity utilization and revenue generation as the earnings announcement approaches.
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TLDR:
SIMD-550 and SIMD-553 could cut Solana issuance by $1.4B-$1.5B over six years, per 21Shares.
Daily SOL burns could jump from about 600-800 SOL to 7,500-9,000 SOL under SIMD-553’s fee.
Solana staking yield could fall from near 5.25% to roughly 2.25% by year three under SIMD-550.
Solana’s 67.93% staking ratio runs nearly double Ethereum’s 34.14% ratio, per 21Shares data.
Solana is advancing two governance proposals that could reshape SOL’s supply dynamics over the next several years. The changes, known as SIMD-550 and SIMD-553, target protocol inflation and transaction-based burns.
Together, they are projected to cut Solana’s issuance by $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion across six years, according to data from 21Shares. The shift would also sharply raise daily SOL burns while compressing staking yield for validators and holders.
How SIMD-550 and SIMD-553 Reshape Solana’s SOL Supply
SIMD-550, proposed by Solana infrastructure firm Helius, doubles the network’s annual disinflation rate from -15% to -30%. That change moves Solana’s path to its 1.5% terminal inflation rate up from around 2032 to the first half of 2029.
Nominal staking yield is projected to fall alongside the faster disinflation curve. According to 21Shares, yield could drop to roughly 4.34% in year one and near 2.25% by year three.
SIMD-553, submitted by Solana research firm Temporal, was approved and merged on July 20. It introduces a burn fee tied to compute units used in financial transactions on the network.
Daily SOL burns could climb from roughly 600 to 800 SOL currently to between 7,500 and 9,000 SOL under the new structure. That range equaled between $712,500 and $855,000 in daily value as of August 24, based on 21Shares figures.
Combined, the two proposals are projected to reduce issuance by $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion over six years. The final outcome still depends on the SIMD-550 vote and validator fee design under SIMD-553.
Solana Proposals Could Sharply Increase SOL Burns and Cut Issuance by $1.4B-$1.5B Over Six Years
According to 21Shares, Solana is advancing two governance proposals, SIMD-550 and SIMD-553. SIMD-550 would double the annual disinflation rate from -15% to -30%, moving Solana’s path… pic.twitter.com/rQ8jqgBRNX
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 26, 2026
What the Yield Compression Means for Solana Holders
Solana’s staking yield currently sits near 5.25%, drawing from protocol inflation, transaction fees, and MEV revenue. Protocol inflation makes up the largest share at roughly 3.78%, according to 21Shares.
A drop from about 6% to near 3% within two years would roughly halve staking income per SOL. Validator economics add another layer of uncertainty, since SIMD-553’s fee design for validators remains unresolved.
Under current projections, two of Solana’s 738 validators would turn unprofitable in year one. That figure could climb to 30 validators by year three if fees rise as expected.
Solana’s staking ratio stands near 67.93%, nearly double Ethereum’s 34.14%. Lower yield is designed in part to push capital out of staking and into DeFi activity across the network.
Comparable upgrades offer some historical context. Ethereum’s EIP-1559 burn mechanism gained 37% in the month after its August 2021 launch, while Cosmos’s Proposal 848 rose 25% in the month following its November 2023 passage.
Both moves also coincided with broader market strength, so the upgrades were not the only factor behind those gains.
The post Solana Proposals Could Slash SOL Issuance by $1.5B Over Six Years appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
UBS shifted SAP rating from Buy to Neutral while increasing price target to EUR201 from EUR164
Slow deployment of agentic AI solutions to enterprise clients flagged as primary concern by analyst Michael Briest
Company has rolled out 17 ready-to-use AI agents, making its 200-agent year-end goal appear increasingly challenging
American depositary receipts declined more than 2% during morning trading, extending 2026 losses to approximately 13%
Despite forecasting 19% earnings CAGR through 2028, UBS warns of potential cloud backlog deceleration in second half
Shares of SAP experienced a notable decline Wednesday following UBS’s decision to downgrade the enterprise software company, with analysts expressing concerns about insufficient AI momentum in the near term.
While analyst Michael Briest elevated his price objective to EUR201 from EUR164, he emphasized that SAP is experiencing significant delays in bringing agentic AI capabilities to its customer base. This sluggish rollout, Briest contends, constrains SAP’s AI revenue potential and incentivizes some enterprise clients to develop proprietary AI tools as alternatives.
American depositary receipts for SAP dropped more than 2% during Wednesday’s early session. Year-to-date performance shows the stock trailing with losses around 13% in 2026.
SAP has successfully launched 17 pre-configured AI agents to date, with an additional 15 currently in deployment phase. However, UBS suggests the ambitious goal of releasing 200 agents before year’s end appears increasingly unrealistic.
The complexity of SAP’s client ecosystem presents a significant challenge. Numerous large enterprise customers operate multiple ERP system instances spanning various versions, frequently hosted on private cloud infrastructure with extensive customization. This fragmented environment complicates SAP’s ability to implement standardized AI solutions efficiently.
InvestingPro data reveals four analysts have recently lowered earnings projections for the coming period. The stock currently commands a P/E ratio of 27.86, appearing elevated when measured against anticipated near-term earnings expansion.
Cloud Expansion and Cash Flow Face Headwinds
While UBS maintains expectations for a 19% compound annual earnings growth rate extending through 2028, supported by the ongoing RISE migration initiative, the investment bank cautioned that cloud backlog expansion will probably decelerate during the latter half of this year.
Prospects for free cash flow outperformance appear diminished compared to the previous two-year period. UBS identified evidence suggesting migration credit utilization is creating drag on cash generation metrics.
SAP isn’t experiencing these challenges in isolation. Software stocks broadly faced selling pressure Wednesday.
Broader Software Sector Weakness
Zoom Communications tumbled more than 5% in morning trading following disappointing forward guidance. Benchmark analyst Matthew Harrigan identified “unanticipated slowing Online activity” as the culprit, though maintained a Buy recommendation.
Intuit experienced a roughly 2% decline after releasing fiscal fourth-quarter results Tuesday evening. The stock has plummeted nearly 50% throughout this year. While earnings surpassed analyst expectations, revenue growth guidance of 9% to 10% for the current year significantly underperformed last year’s 14% expansion.
Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi explained the company is prioritizing market share expansion and customer base acceleration. “I’m resetting expectations for the company because this is the perfect time to do it, where we can play offense,” he stated during the earnings conference call.
Salesforce, Okta, and Nutanix were scheduled to announce quarterly results after Wednesday’s market close.
SAP’s second-quarter cloud revenue growth registered at 24%, meeting analyst projections, while current cloud backlog expansion of 26% exceeded consensus estimates. Nevertheless, operating income fell short of Wall Street forecasts, partially attributed to merger and acquisition-related expenses.
Bernstein SocGen and TD Cowen both reduced their SAP price targets following second-quarter results while maintaining constructive ratings. BMO Capital implemented a modest target increase, whereas Oppenheimer maintained its Perform stance.
The post SAP (SAP) Stock Slides as UBS Flags AI Agent Rollout Concerns appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
MP Materials delivered second-quarter revenue of $108.49 million, marking an 89% increase from the prior year and surpassing Wall Street’s $96.89 million forecast
Revenue composition underwent a dramatic transformation, pivoting from raw concentrate exports to refined NdPr oxide and metal products, with that segment soaring from $25 million to $95 million
The Department of Defense disbursed $17.6 million to MP Materials through a price-floor mechanism after NdPr market rates dropped beneath the guaranteed $110/kg threshold
Institutional stakeholders control 52.55% of outstanding shares, highlighted by Odyssean LLC’s dramatic 236.7% position increase during the second quarter
Analyst community maintains a collective “Buy” recommendation with a mean price objective of $78.21; shares currently trade near $60.25
Shares of MP Materials (MP) commenced trading Wednesday at $60.25, positioned approximately 45% beneath the 52-week peak of $100.25, despite strengthening operational fundamentals.
The rare-earth processing company disclosed second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue totaling $108.49 million, representing an 89% year-over-year expansion and exceeding the Street’s $96.89 million projection. Adjusted EBITDA reversed course from a $12.5 million deficit to a $28.5 million gain during the comparable timeframe.
The firm posted earnings per share of -$0.01 for the three-month period, aligning with analyst forecasts. This marked a substantial improvement from the -$0.13 EPS recorded in last year’s corresponding quarter.
The revenue expansion stems primarily from a strategic product portfolio transformation. MP has deliberately transitioned away from marketing unprocessed rare-earth concentrate, which was historically exported to Chinese refiners. The company now markets separated NdPr oxide and metal products, representing significantly higher-margin offerings.
During the second quarter of 2025, MP Materials generated approximately $25 million from NdPr oxide and metal sales, complemented by $12 million from concentrate transactions. In the most recent quarter, concentrate revenue dropped to zero, while oxide and metal sales climbed to $95 million.
Escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing catalyzed this strategic pivot. MP Materials discontinued concentrate sales beginning last April, transitioning all processing operations to its Mountain Pass complex in California.
Government Price Protection Mechanism Activated
MP collected $17.6 million through a Pentagon-backed price stabilization program during the second quarter. The Defense Department had established a guaranteed floor price of $110 per kilogram for MP’s NdPr output. When prevailing market rates fell below that benchmark, federal authorities compensated the difference.
This payment factored into the quarterly financial statements and stems from the public-private collaboration unveiled last July.
Institutional Capital Flows Into MP Materials
Among institutional investors, Odyssean LLC expanded its MP Materials stake by 236.7% during Q2, elevating its holdings to 28,273 shares worth approximately $1.58 million.
Additional investment firms followed suit. Oak Thistle LLC initiated a fresh position valued at approximately $1.54 million. Amundi increased its ownership by 260.2% in the first quarter, currently maintaining 385,001 shares worth $18.58 million. Institutional entities collectively control 52.55% of total shares.
Regarding insider transactions, Chief Operating Officer Michael Rosenthal acquired 10,000 shares at $54.30 per share in June, representing a $543,000 investment. Chief Executive Officer James Litinsky divested 185,167 shares at an average price of $69.14 in early June, trimming his position by 1.57%.
Wall Street Coverage and Price Objectives
Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” designation on August 19. Citigroup sustained a “positive” outlook in July. JPMorgan reduced its price objective from $75 to $60 while preserving an “overweight” stance. Barclays lowered its target from $69 to $65, likewise maintaining “overweight.”
The aggregate view among 16 sell-side analysts constitutes a “Buy” rating, with a mean price target of $78.21. A single analyst assigns a “Sell” recommendation.
Wall Street projects MP Materials will report -$0.07 EPS for the complete fiscal year. The equity commands a market capitalization of $10.73 billion and exhibits a beta coefficient of 1.88.
MP’s upcoming catalyst involves its second permanent magnet manufacturing facility, designated 10X, which management anticipates commissioning in 2028.
The post MP Materials (MP) Stock: Should Investors Buy After Record-Breaking Q2 Performance? appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Chinese AI developer Moonshot AI is negotiating with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to deploy its Kimi K3 model across their cloud infrastructure
The Beijing-based company is requesting as much as 30% of revenues generated from K3-powered services on Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud platforms
If finalized, this would represent the first significant revenue-sharing arrangement between a Chinese artificial intelligence company and major American cloud service providers
Key sticking points in negotiations include profit distribution, data governance, and token consumption tracking
The company confronts allegations from U.S. authorities claiming it leveraged Anthropic’s Fable technology to develop Kimi K3, accusations the firm strongly disputes
Beijing-based artificial intelligence developer Moonshot AI has entered preliminary discussions with three American technology behemoths—Microsoft, Amazon, and Google—regarding the deployment of its Kimi K3 language model across their respective cloud computing infrastructures, multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations told Reuters.
China's Moonshot AI is in talks with Microsoft, Amazon and Google to bring Kimi K3 to Azure, AWS and Google Cloud, per Reuters.
Moonshot is seeking up to 30% of K3-related revenue, in what could be the first major China AI-U.S. cloud revenue-sharing deal. pic.twitter.com/b9mJpgh5yf
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 26, 2026
The Chinese firm is proposing a compensation structure that would grant it up to 30% of all revenue derived from K3-powered applications and services operating on Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.
Should these discussions culminate in formal agreements, they would establish an unprecedented financial partnership model between Chinese AI innovators and American cloud infrastructure leaders.
Industry insiders cautioned that negotiations remain in preliminary phases, with no certainty that binding contracts will emerge from current talks.
Representatives from Moonshot, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google refused to provide statements regarding the ongoing discussions.
Understanding Kimi K3’s Capabilities
Kimi K3 represents an open-weight artificial intelligence architecture featuring 2.8 trillion parameters, positioned by Moonshot as the planet’s most expansive publicly accessible model. Open-weight frameworks allow unrestricted downloading and customization by developers.
Industry experts note that despite its open-weight designation, the overwhelming majority of enterprise users will likely access K3 through cloud platforms rather than deploying it locally, given the prohibitive computational infrastructure requirements.
According to Arena.ai’s evaluation metrics, Kimi K3 currently leads benchmarks focused on web interface generation capabilities. Separate analysis from Artificial Analysis positions its performance alongside OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.8 models.
The company has previously established revenue-sharing frameworks with regional cloud service providers. Chinese IT solutions provider Chinasoft International publicly acknowledged such a partnership in July, though specific financial terms remain confidential.
Political Headwinds and Regulatory Challenges
These commercial discussions unfold against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical friction. Last month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the administration might designate Moonshot for trade restriction measures.
Michael Kratsios, serving as White House science advisor, publicly claimed that Moonshot created Kimi K3 utilizing “industrial distillation” techniques applied to Anthropic’s Fable model. American officials have additionally alleged unauthorized procurement of Nvidia computing hardware by the company.
Moonshot categorically denies the distillation allegations, attributing K3’s advanced capabilities to proprietary architectural innovations and fundamental design improvements.
The organization maintains a computational partnership with Alibaba encompassing approximately 20,000 Nvidia processing units. Reports suggest the firm has been investigating potential acquisition of Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell GPU systems for upcoming model development.
Capital Raising and Public Offering Strategy
Established in 2023 by Yang Zhilin, who completed his research training at Carnegie Mellon University, Moonshot counts Alibaba and additional Chinese technology corporations among its financial backers.
Last month, the venture completed a financing round that valued the company at $35 billion, securing $3.5 billion in capital—exceeding its original fundraising objective of $1 to $2 billion.
According to industry sources, Moonshot is currently pursuing an additional funding round targeting a $50 billion valuation in preparation for a prospective initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, potentially occurring before the conclusion of 2026.
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Key Highlights
Anthropic will present a $30 trillion total addressable market to prospective IPO investors, surpassing SpaceX’s $28.5 trillion projection
Second quarter revenue jumped to $11.6 billion, more than doubling from the previous period, with annualized rates exceeding $65 billion by July’s end
IPO valuation target sits at approximately $2 trillion, with potential capital raise reaching $100 billion
Public S-1 filing anticipated in coming weeks, positioning for potential September or early October market debut
Major stakeholders Amazon and Alphabet positioned to gain significantly from the company’s expansion
As Anthropic gears up for its initial public offering, the artificial intelligence company plans to present investors with a total addressable market valuation exceeding $30 trillion. This projection outpaces even SpaceX’s ambitious $28.5 trillion TAM estimate disclosed prior to its June 2026 market debut.
ANTHROPIC SEES $30T+ AI REVENUE OPPORTUNITY
Anthropic is expected to tell IPO investors its total addressable market exceeds $30T, topping SpaceX’s $28.5T estimate, per WSJ.
The figure represents the potential value of work Anthropic believes AI models could eventually perform,… pic.twitter.com/s91Cj5TiJD
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 25, 2026
For perspective: the collective annual revenue of 191 technology firms within the S&P 1500 index reached $2.4 trillion last year. Anthropic’s projected market opportunity represents more than twelve times that combined figure.
The calculation approach employed by Anthropic casts a wide net. The company includes the entire spectrum of tasks potentially automatable by artificial intelligence models within its market opportunity assessment.
Aggressive TAM projections aren’t unprecedented in high-profile public offerings. Uber presented a $6 trillion market opportunity during its 2019 IPO roadshow. WeWork pitched investors on a $3 trillion addressable market. However, both figures pale in comparison to the projections now being advanced by Anthropic and SpaceX.
Aswath Damodaran, a New York University finance professor widely regarded as the Dean of Valuation, previously commented that SpaceX’s AI-related TAM was already “reaching the end of what’s plausible and pushing beyond.” Anthropic’s even larger market claim will likely encounter similar analytical skepticism.
Financial Performance and IPO Magnitude
Anthropic’s recent financial performance demonstrates substantial traction. The AI company’s second quarter revenue reached $11.6 billion, representing more than a doubling from the prior period. By July 2026’s conclusion, the company’s annualized revenue run rate had surpassed $65 billion.
Looking ahead, Anthropic forecasts revenue between $190 billion and $200 billion for the 2028 fiscal year.
Should these projections materialize, the public offering could establish new records. Anthropic’s targeted valuation of approximately $2 trillion would eclipse SpaceX’s $1.77 trillion mark. The potential capital raise of up to $100 billion would similarly surpass SpaceX’s $86 billion fundraising achievement.
These valuation estimates originate from external investors rather than Anthropic’s leadership team. The company hasn’t issued official confirmation regarding its fundraising objectives or valuation expectations.
Pre-IPO preparations are advancing rapidly. Anthropic’s revolving credit facility is on track to surpass its $10 billion objective. Investment banks are actively vying for participation, seeking to secure lucrative underwriting positions.
Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao has begun conducting preliminary discussions with banking partners and potential investors throughout San Francisco. Investor inquiries have concentrated on competitive dynamics, margin compression from open-source alternatives, and risks associated with data center infrastructure investments.
The company’s S-1 registration statement is anticipated within the coming weeks. Assuming the timeline proceeds smoothly, a September or early October public market entrance remains feasible.
Market reception to Anthropic’s $30 trillion TAM assertion will significantly influence final pricing. Investor skepticism could drive the valuation closer to the company’s most recent private funding round valuation of $965 billion. Conversely, robust institutional demand might propel it toward the ambitious $2 trillion benchmark.
Both Amazon and Alphabet maintain substantial investment positions in Anthropic. Their respective cloud computing divisions provide the computational infrastructure powering Anthropic’s Claude AI models, creating a direct correlation between Anthropic’s revenue expansion and their own infrastructure business metrics.
The post Anthropic’s Bold $30 Trillion Market Claim Sets Stage for Massive IPO appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Intuit exceeded Q4 projections with earnings per share of $4.03 versus the $3.54 consensus and sales of $4.35B against $4.27B anticipated, yet shares plunged 11% in after-hours trading.
Fiscal 2027 revenue growth outlook landed at 9-10%, a decline from FY26’s 14% and beneath Wall Street’s 12% projection.
TurboTax expansion was forecast at merely 2-3%, significantly under the 6.8% analyst estimate, sparking worries about artificial intelligence-driven competition.
Both JPMorgan and Bank of America moved INTU to Neutral ratings, with JPMorgan dramatically reducing its target from $605 down to $331.
Optimistic analysts including Mizuho and Jefferies maintained Outperform positions, setting targets between $380 and $500.
Shares of Intuit tumbled approximately 11% in extended trading after the company released its fourth-quarter fiscal results, falling to $318 before recovering to around $339.75 during Wednesday’s session. The stock is presently down about 3.5% for the day.
The financial results were actually impressive. The company delivered Q4 earnings per share of $4.03 compared to projections of $3.54, representing a beat of almost 14%. Sales reached $4.35 billion, climbing 13.6% from the prior year and surpassing the $4.27 billion Street estimate.
However, the forward-looking projections triggered the selloff.
The company projected fiscal 2027 revenue in the range of $23.28 billion to $23.51 billion, suggesting expansion of 9% to 10%. This marks a deceleration from FY26’s 14% growth rate and misses the $23.72 billion Wall Street forecast.
The TurboTax projection particularly alarmed investors. Management forecast merely 2% to 3% growth for TurboTax, substantially beneath the 6.8% expectation from analysts. Additionally, the company reduced its long-range growth projection for its Global Business Solutions division to 10-15%, down from the previous 15-20% range.
The company blamed the diminished outlook on weakening Mailchimp performance, continued erosion in desktop offerings, and reduced average revenue per TurboTax user following pricing adjustments intended to attract a broader customer base.
Analysts Respond With Rating Cuts
JPMorgan moved INTU to Neutral from Overweight, slashing its target price to $331 from $605. Analyst Samik Chatterjee indicated that disruption threats have spread beyond TurboTax and are now affecting the QuickBooks-centered Global Business Solutions business. Chatterjee highlighted decelerating new user acquisition across both platforms and observed that management refused to provide a timeframe for returning to double-digit expansion.
Bank of America similarly downgraded the shares to Neutral from Buy, trimming its target to $360 from $400. Analyst Tal Liani suggested TurboTax seems to be surrendering market position to cheaper AI-powered competitors rather than successfully converting users to premium assisted services. BofA pointed out that online customer growth in the enterprise division increased only 3% year-over-year.
Both financial institutions anticipate FY27 will involve significant investment, with Intuit deploying aggressive pricing and promotional strategies to restore its customer growth trajectory. Such expenditures are projected to pressure profit margins in the coming quarters.
Optimistic Voices Maintain Support
Not all analysts turned bearish. Mizuho retained its Outperform rating with a $430 target, emphasizing FY27 profitability projections that exceeded Street expectations. Jefferies preserved its Buy rating with a $500 objective, reduced from $550, characterizing the guidance as “conservative.”
BMO Capital and Oppenheimer also maintained Outperform stances at $412 and $380 respectively. The aggregate consensus stands at 24 Buy, 9 Hold, and 2 Sell ratings.
Current Valuation Metrics
At present prices, INTU is valued at 13.1x forward earnings with an 8.8% free cash flow yield and 81% gross profit margins. A fair value calculation estimates the stock at $557.71, suggesting potential upside of approximately 64% from today’s levels.
Non-GAAP earnings per share guidance for fiscal 2027 arrived at $22.88 to $23.12, roughly 15-16% beneath the previous consensus of $27.30.
“Big bets” including mid-market offerings, assisted tax services, and money management solutions expanded 34% and currently account for 30% of overall revenue, though they remain insufficient to counterbalance the TurboTax deceleration.
The initial assessment of the revised guidance will occur with Q1 FY27 earnings scheduled for December 1.
The post Intuit (INTU) Stock Plunges 11% as FY27 Forecast Disappoints Wall Street appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Altcoins reached 65% of Binance trading volume, marking their strongest volume dominance in two years.
Total2 added roughly $135 billion as capital moved into altcoins during Bitcoin’s nearly 30% rally.
Bitcoin represented just 21% of Binance volume at the altcoin peak, while Ethereum accounted for 13.6%.
CryptoQuant data showed trading activity shifting beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum as altcoin liquidity expanded.
Bitcoin’s nearly 30% rally has coincided with a sharp rise in altcoin trading activity and market capitalization. Altcoins added about $135 billion in value, excluding Ethereum, over the same period.
Binance data showed altcoins reaching 65% of trading volume at their peak. The shift pushed Bitcoin and Ethereum into the background as capital rotated across the crypto market.
Altcoin Volume Dominance Reaches Two-Year High on Binance
According to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, Bitcoin’s rally triggered a stronger response across the altcoin market.
The analyst tracked the increase through Total2, a market capitalization measure that excludes Ethereum. That index gained approximately $135 billion within a short period.
The move reflected a rapid increase in capital flowing into altcoins as Bitcoin’s price climbed. Altcoins did not simply follow Bitcoin’s advance.
Trading volume showed an even sharper change. Binance became a key venue for measuring the shift.
CryptoQuant noted that Binance accounts for nearly 40% of altcoin trading volume across exchanges. That concentration made its volume distribution particularly relevant during the rally.
At the peak, altcoins represented 65% of total trading volume on Binance. CryptoQuant described that level as the highest altcoin dominance recorded there in two years.
Bitcoin accounted for only 21% of Binance volume at that point. Ethereum represented another 13.6%, according to the data shared by Darkfost.
Altcoin Volume Dominance Hits Two-Year High as $135B Flows In
“This divergence speaks volumes about how liquidity is currently being redistributed across the market.” – By @Darkfost_Coc
Complete breakdown https://t.co/9AHnpe85V2 pic.twitter.com/l0QaDYgaTo
— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) August 26, 2026
Altcoin Volume Dominance Signals a Shift in Crypto Market Liquidity
The volume figures arrived after an extended period of lower volatility and subdued trading activity. The latest rally changed that pattern across several parts of the crypto market.
Bitcoin supplied the initial momentum with a maximum gain approaching 30%, according to CryptoQuant’s analysis. However, trading activity later spread more heavily toward altcoins.
The $135 billion increase in Total2 also showed how quickly capital entered the broader market. The figure excluded Ethereum, keeping the focus on other digital assets.
Darkfost linked the divergence between price performance and trading volume to changing liquidity distribution. Altcoins attracted a larger share of activity despite Bitcoin leading the broader rally.
The data does not identify which individual altcoins received the largest inflows. It instead measures the combined expansion of the segment and its growing share of exchange activity.
Consequently, the latest figures show two parallel developments. Bitcoin delivered the initial price surge, while altcoins captured the largest share of Binance trading volume.
CryptoQuant’s data also placed the current activity against a two-year historical range. Altcoin volume dominance had not reached 65% on Binance during that period.
The concentration of trading activity marks a notable change from earlier market conditions. For now, the data shows capital and volume moving beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum into the wider altcoin market.
The post Altcoins Take Over Binance as $135B Floods the Crypto Market appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Meta Platforms will pay as much as $18 billion across a decade to resolve child safety claims filed by 52 attorneys general from US states and territories.
META stock surged over 4% in early trading but retreated to flat levels as settlement terms became public.
The settlement addresses accusations that Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict minors and collected children’s data without proper parental authorization.
Under the agreement, users under 18 face default two-hour daily limits, nighttime app restrictions, and enhanced age verification requirements.
The company plans to book a $10 billion legal charge in Q3 2026, while maintaining all other financial projections.
Meta Platforms has reached a landmark settlement worth up to $18 billion with 52 state and territorial attorneys general, resolving one of the company’s most significant legal challenges related to child safety.
$META SETTLES TEEN SOCIAL MEDIA CASE FOR UP TO $16.68B
Meta has settled with 29 states over claims that Instagram and Facebook harmed children, misled users about safety, and improperly collected data from users under 13.
Court filings show Meta agreed to pay up to $16.68B as… pic.twitter.com/SbyE1IhPjq
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 26, 2026
META stock saw an initial spike exceeding 4% in early trading hours following the announcement. However, shares quickly reversed course and settled into neutral territory as market participants analyzed the agreement’s specifics, particularly the new platform restrictions.
The resolution came during active trial proceedings. Prosecutors claimed Meta intentionally created Facebook and Instagram with addictive features targeting young users and gathered children’s personal information without obtaining proper parental authorization, breaching the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Meta has maintained its innocence throughout.
The tech giant will distribute roughly $18 billion through yearly payments spanning a 10-year period. California is positioned to collect between $1.5 billion and $2.1 billion, with proceeds earmarked for youth mental health initiatives related to digital platform usage.
How Payments Are Structured
The financial arrangement consists of two distinct components. States participating in the settlement will immediately access 70% of the total sum, approximately $12.7 billion, distributed in annual installments throughout the decade.
The balance of 30%, roughly $5.3 billion, comes with conditions. This portion will only be released if YouTube and TikTok implement comparable safety protocols, including one-hour daily usage caps, nighttime restrictions, and age verification systems. Meta’s chief legal officer CJ Mahoney emphasized that the structure “will only work if all our peers join us.”
For accounting purposes, Meta anticipates recording approximately $10 billion as a legal expense in Q3 2026. The company noted this figure was not reflected in projections shared during its Q2 earnings announcement, though all remaining financial forecasts remain intact.
Platform Restrictions for Minors
The agreement extends well beyond monetary compensation. It establishes some of the most rigorous content and usage requirements ever mandated for a leading technology platform.
Minors will encounter a default two-hour daily usage cap, modifiable exclusively by parents. This threshold decreases to one hour if competing platforms implement identical restrictions.
The applications must automatically lock between midnight and 6:00 a.m. for accounts belonging to minors. Push notifications will be disabled from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and throughout school operating hours.
Teenagers can choose to switch to a non-personalized, chronological feed without algorithmic curation. Meta is additionally required to eliminate cosmetic surgery-related image filters for youth accounts and conceal public like counts and reaction metrics.
An independent compliance monitor will track adherence and provide reports directly to state enforcement agencies.
DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb described the settlement as a “monumental public health victory,” stating the protective measures would “fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook.”
Meta derives approximately 98% of its revenue from digital advertising operations and has outlined plans for up to $145 billion in capital spending for 2026 focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The structured settlement eliminates the risk of an unpredictable jury award from that financial outlook.
Meta reaffirmed that all other financial guidance issued during its July earnings report remains unmodified.
The post Meta (META) Agrees to Historic $18 Billion Settlement Over Child Safety Violations appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Q2 revenue climbed 32.7% year-over-year to $341.9 million, surpassing the $328.67 million consensus
Adjusted earnings per share of $0.71 exceeded the $0.61 forecast, marking significant growth from $0.41 last year
Q3 revenue outlook of $405-$415 million significantly outpaced Wall Street’s $359.9 million projection
Several analysts upgraded price targets, with UBS leading at $230
Strong Buy consensus on SMTC with average $204 target suggesting approximately 60% upside potential
Semtech (SMTC) shares surged in trading sessions following the company’s impressive fiscal second-quarter performance and forward-looking guidance that significantly exceeded analyst projections. The semiconductor company’s stock climbed more than 10% during premarket hours, adding to its remarkable 73% year-to-date rally.
The company reported quarterly revenue of $341.9 million, representing a 32.7% increase compared to the prior year and exceeding the Street’s $328.67 million projection. This performance extended Semtech’s revenue growth streak to ten consecutive quarters.
On the profitability front, adjusted earnings per share reached $0.71, substantially beating the analyst consensus of $0.61 and representing a significant improvement from the $0.41 posted in the comparable period last year.
SEMTECH $SMTC Q2’27 EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS
Revenue: $341.9M (Est. $328.6M) ; +33% YoY
Adj. EPS: $0.71 (Est. $0.61)
Adj. EBITDA: $91.1M (Est. $79.6M)
Adj. Oper Income: $83.6M (Est. $68.4M)
Q3 Guide:
Adj. EPS: $1.05 +/- $0.03 (Est. $0.73)
Revenue:… pic.twitter.com/fCRlGZhvLi
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 25, 2026
However, the forward guidance stole the spotlight. Semtech projected third-quarter revenue between $405 million and $415 million, substantially above Wall Street’s previous expectation of approximately $359.9 million. The company’s adjusted EPS forecast of $1.02 to $1.08 similarly exceeded the $0.73 consensus by a wide margin.
The company’s data-center operations are fueling much of this growth trajectory. Strong order momentum and an all-time high backlog suggest sustained expansion in this critical business unit.
Wall Street Upgrades Price Objectives
Timothy Arcuri from UBS increased his price objective to $230 from $225 while reaffirming his Buy recommendation. He highlighted the impressive 160%+ year-over-year expansion in data-center revenue alongside sustained strength in the LoRa product portfolio. Arcuri projects data-center revenue could surpass $200 million quarterly by the first quarter of fiscal 2028.
Scott Searle at Roth MKM elevated his target to $220 from $190, maintaining his Buy stance. He anticipates the data-center and LoRa divisions to expand 120% year-over-year during Q3 and represent close to 60% of overall revenue.
Benchmark preserved its Buy recommendation with a $230 price objective. Needham retained its Buy rating at $200, emphasizing Data Center and LoRa expansion as primary catalysts supporting the enhanced guidance. Stifel maintained its Buy position with a $188 target.
Morgan Stanley Maintains Reserved Outlook
Some analysts remain measured in their enthusiasm. Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore increased his price objective to $195 from $175 while maintaining a Hold recommendation.
Moore recognized robust demand for Semtech’s optical solutions and accelerating data-center revenue performance. He anticipates the subsequent growth wave will emerge from active copper cable (ACC) products ramping during Q4 and expanded data-center opportunities extending through fiscal year 2028.
UBS additionally noted that data-center expansion should easily compensate for any revenue decline from Semtech’s cellular module divestiture, while simultaneously supporting improved profit margins.
According to TipRanks, SMTC holds a Strong Buy consensus rating supported by 11 Buy recommendations and one Hold.
The consensus price objective of $204 indicates approximately 60% additional upside potential from present trading levels. Accelerated FiberEdge qualification timelines are identified as a primary catalyst for near-term expansion, with CopperEdge products presenting another significant opportunity approaching fiscal year 2028.
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Key Takeaways
Dollar General announces Q2 financial results Thursday morning before trading begins, with analyst consensus at $2.02 per share and $11.20 billion in revenue.
Shares have declined approximately 7% since the beginning of the year, pressured by economic challenges affecting its budget-conscious customer demographic.
Wall Street maintains a Moderate Buy rating on the stock, with a mean price objective of $137.84 representing potential gains of roughly 12%.
Comparable store sales performance will be the critical indicator, with forecasts between 2.5% and 3.0% growth.
Forward-looking management commentary could have greater market impact than quarterly figures, with expectations for maintained rather than elevated annual projections.
Dollar General prepares to unveil its second-quarter financial performance Thursday before market hours, with market participants eager to assess whether its operational improvements remain on course.
Analyst projections point to earnings per share of $2.02, representing growth from $1.86 during the corresponding period last year. Sales are anticipated to reach $11.20 billion, up from $10.72 billion in Q2 2025. DG stock presently changes hands near $122.58, reflecting a year-to-date decline approaching 7%.
Individual investor enthusiasm has diminished leading up to the announcement. TipRanks data indicates that 0.6% of individual investors trimmed their DG positions during the previous week, while portfolio holdings decreased by 2.4% across the last month. Sentiment tracking registers as “Very Negative,” marginally beneath the retail sector benchmark.
The equity currently values at 17.3 times historical earnings and 16.5 times projected estimates. Wall Street consensus stands at Moderate Buy, supported by 8 Buy recommendations and 12 Hold ratings, with a mean price objective of $137.84 and an upper target reaching $175.
Comparable Sales Performance Takes Priority
The most critical figure investors will scrutinize is same-store sales expansion. Oppenheimer’s Rupesh Parikh projects a minimum of 2.5% advancement, pointing to widespread momentum across product categories. Spencer Hanus from Wolfe Research anticipates a slightly higher 3.0% figure.
The underlying question centers on whether fresh food offerings and larger store formats are generating sustainable customer traffic, or if shoppers are merely shifting purchases downward due to financial constraints.
Dollar General plans to launch 450 new locations this year, boosting revenue streams while simultaneously elevating operational expenses. Market watchers seek confirmation that this expansion strategy is enhancing profitability beyond simple top-line growth.
Forward Guidance May Drive Market Reaction
Regardless of quarterly performance strength, management’s outlook statements could ultimately determine investor response. Analysts broadly anticipate leadership will maintain full-year 2026 projections without upward revisions.
The primary concern revolves around energy expenses. Elevated gasoline prices disproportionately impact Dollar General’s budget-conscious primary shoppers, as they allocate larger portions of household income to fuel. This dynamic creates meaningful resistance despite the retailer capturing some higher-income value-seeking customers.
Wolfe Research indicates the turnaround strategy is advancing as planned, with improved operational execution rebuilding market confidence. Oppenheimer anticipates another solid across-the-board performance but highlights more challenging year-over-year comparisons approaching.
Executive succession also draws attention. A new chief executive is projected to assume control in 2027, introducing uncertainty into strategic planning beyond the near term.
During Q1, Dollar General surpassed earnings projections with $2.00 per share compared to the $1.90 consensus estimate, although revenue of $10.8 billion fell slightly short of the $10.82 billion forecast.
Per-share earnings projections for the upcoming quarter have increased 0.69% during the past 60 days and remained unchanged over the previous week, indicating analyst conviction in their models approaching Thursday’s report.
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TLDR
Micron expands leadership roles to boost memory innovation and future growth plans.
MU stock slips as Micron targets stronger execution with executive changes.
Micron names new leaders to accelerate advanced memory product development.
Leadership shakeup positions Micron for rising demand across memory markets.
Micron strengthens operations and technology strategy for long-term expansion.
Micron Technology (MU) stock traded at $928.11, down 0.52%, after an intraday rise toward $940 faded. The company reshaped its leadership team as it targets stronger growth in advanced memory products. The changes focus on improving operations, technology development, and long-term market execution.
Micron Technology, Inc., MU
Micron Expands Executive Leadership Structure
Micron Technology appointed Manish Bhatia as president and chief operating officer with expanded responsibilities. The company also named Dr. Scott DeBoer as president and chief technology and products officer. These appointments aim to strengthen Micron’s ability to meet rising demand for advanced memory solutions.
Bhatia will oversee global operations and business units across Micron’s worldwide business structure. His responsibilities include capital investments, manufacturing execution, customer demand, pricing, and product delivery. Therefore, the company expects the expanded role to improve alignment between operations and market needs.
DeBoer will lead Micron’s technology roadmap and product development initiatives. He will also oversee Micron Research Labs, which focuses on future memory and computing technologies. Meanwhile, the company continues developing solutions for customers requiring higher performance memory products.
Leadership Changes Support Memory Growth Strategy
Micron said the executive changes reflect its focus on expanding innovation and operational strength. The company has adjusted its reporting structure to support growth opportunities across the memory industry. As a result, leadership responsibilities now cover broader areas of business execution and technology advancement.
Bhatia joined Micron in 2017 and previously managed global operations, manufacturing, supply chain, and technology-driven processes. During his tenure, he helped improve factory development and operational efficiency. He supported the company’s efforts to build a stronger manufacturing foundation.
DeBoer has worked at Micron since 1995 and contributed to major technology developments. He has guided the creation of multiple technology nodes and expanded product capabilities. Furthermore, his experience has supported Micron’s position in the competitive memory market.
Micron Prepares for Rising Advanced Memory Demand
The company continues responding to increasing demand for advanced memory products across different markets. Micron expects customer needs to require more specialized and higher-performance memory solutions. Therefore, the leadership structure is designed to support future product development.
Micron also moved Sumit Sadana, former executive vice president and chief business officer, into a senior advisor role. The transition follows his years of contribution to customer relationships and company strategy. The company said the move supports continued leadership development.
The memory sector has gained importance as companies require stronger computing capabilities. Micron’s leadership changes come as the company works to expand its technology pipeline. The new structure places greater focus on innovation, production capacity, and customer support.
Micron remains focused on delivering memory and storage products for growing technology markets. The company expects its expanded leadership team to improve execution across operations and research. The changes represent a strategic move as Micron positions itself for future industry growth.

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