When OpenAI publicly released ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022, shares of Palantir Technologies (PLTR 3.29%) were trading for $6. Today, the stock hovers around $150 -- a nearly 2,000% gain in just three years. With a market cap of $368 billion, Palantir is almost worth the combined value of legacy enterprise software stocks Salesforce and SAP. It's obvious by now that demand for artificial intelligence (...
When OpenAI publicly released ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022, shares of Palantir Technologies (PLTR 3.29%) were trading for $6. Today, the stock hovers around $150 -- a nearly 2,000% gain in just three years. With a market cap of $368 billion, Palantir is almost worth the combined value of legacy enterprise software stocks Salesforce and SAP. It's obvious by now that demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is the core tailwind fueling Palantir's parabolic rise. The question some are asking is whether Palantir's soaring valuation is sustainable. Below, I'll break down why smart investors continue to buy the stock hand over fist -- despite the appearance of an overvalued name benefiting from AI-driven tailwinds. Why does Palantir stock look so expensive? When I was an investment banking analyst, I spent countless hours putting together comparable company analyses. In layman's terms, this means that I benchmarked our client against a peer set of comparable businesses in the same industry to derive a valuation range. Broadly speaking, analysts will look at price-to-sales (P/S), price-to-earnings (P/E), or enterprise value-to-EBITDA multiples depending on the company and industry in question. As far as software stocks are concerned, the P/S ratio is a good metric to start with. Many SaaS businesses are not consistently profitable, and so measuring a cohort on a revenue basis levels the playing field. If you were to base an investment in Palantir purely off of the figures above, you'd come to the quick conclusion that Palantir stock is absurdly overvalued relative to other leading SaaS enterprises. While I understand that logic, it's flawed. A once-in-a-generation opportunity: Palantir is actually dirt cheap Smart investors understand that peer analysis has its shortcomings. While companies like Snowflake, ServiceNow, Databricks, and MongoDB each represent high-growth players in their respective software verticals, none are true, direct competitors to Palantir. This raises the ...
Artificial intelligence accelerators developed by companies like Nvidia and Broadcom require more memory than traditional processors. That has made memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology (MU 4.89%) one of the hottest stocks on the market. Demand for memory chips has led to an unprecedented supply shortage, causing prices to skyrocket. Indeed, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) prices have nea...
Artificial intelligence accelerators developed by companies like Nvidia and Broadcom require more memory than traditional processors. That has made memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology (MU 4.89%) one of the hottest stocks on the market. Demand for memory chips has led to an unprecedented supply shortage, causing prices to skyrocket. Indeed, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) prices have nearly tripled over the past year, according to The Wall Street Journal. And Micron stock has advanced 350% to $423 per share over the same period. Here's my prediction: Micron will trade around $554 per share after the company delivers its fourth-quarter financial report in late 2027. That implies 31% upside from its current share price. Micron reported exceptional financial results in the second quarter Micron is a semiconductor company that develops memory and storage solutions for personal computers, mobile devices, data center servers, and automotive systems. It is the third-largest manufacturer of DRAM memory products, including the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and NAND flash memory products behind South Korean companies Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Micron reported exceptional financial results in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Feb. 26). Revenue increased 196% to $23.8 billion, driven by record sales in DRAM, HBM, and NAND memory products. Non-GAAP net income increased 682% to $12.20 per diluted share. But the stock declined following the report because investors are uncertain how long the good times will last. The memory chip industry is defined by boom-and-bust cycles Memory chips are commodities in that little differentiation exists between products from different suppliers. That means memory chip manufacturers compete primarily on price, which itself is determined by supply and demand. Historically, the memory chip industry has oscillated between supply shortages that drive prices higher and supply gluts that drive prices lower. That happens because sup...
Morning, I’m Louise Moon from Bloomberg UK’s breaking news team, bringing you up to speed on today’s top business stories. As the war in Iran enters its fourth week and shows no sign of de-escalating, Keir Starmer is today convening an emergency meeting — including Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, and top ministers. Discussion points include the economic impact of the crisis, energy securit...
Morning, I’m Louise Moon from Bloomberg UK’s breaking news team, bringing you up to speed on today’s top business stories. As the war in Iran enters its fourth week and shows no sign of de-escalating, Keir Starmer is today convening an emergency meeting — including Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, and top ministers. Discussion points include the economic impact of the crisis, energy security, supply chain resilience and the international response to the war. The clock is ticking on President Trump’s 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, which ends late this evening, while the economic implications for Britain from the war are increasingly serious. Starmer — who yesterday spoke with Trump and agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is “essential” for global energy market stability — is under growing pressure to announce support for energy bills. It comes just as Britain’s economy was starting to get back on track, as my colleague Sam notes below. And only adds to the PM’s list of worries . What’s your take? Ping me on X , LinkedIn or drop me an email at lmoon13@bloomberg.net. Oh, and do subscribe to Bloomberg.com for unlimited access to trusted business journalism on the UK, and beyond. What We’re Watching Coleen Rooney-backed protein shake and supplements firm Applied Nutrition expects some reduction in volumes into the Middle East in the back half of the year, but kept annual revenue expectations in tact. That’s after first half numbers beat estimates. Shares fell 13%, having risen almost 60% since it listed in late 2024. Shares in hospital group Spire Healthcare slumped 21% after confirming late on Friday that Bridgepoint and Triton had both walked away from takeover talks. Spire said it’s still chatting to other parties. Retailers including Currys and Primark owner AB Foods want the government to act faster in removing a tax loophole that has helped online giants like Shein gain market share. Under current rules set to change by March ...
During Nvidia's (NVDA 3.17%) financial analyst question-and-answer session at GTC 2026, CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress fielded a question about Nvidia's free cash flow (FCF) plans. Huang answered first by saying that the primary uses of cash flow are the company's growth and Nvidia's ecosystem -- from its integrated hardware stack to supporting software. Beyond that, Nvidia will still gene...
During Nvidia's (NVDA 3.17%) financial analyst question-and-answer session at GTC 2026, CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress fielded a question about Nvidia's free cash flow (FCF) plans. Huang answered first by saying that the primary uses of cash flow are the company's growth and Nvidia's ecosystem -- from its integrated hardware stack to supporting software. Beyond that, Nvidia will still generate significant FCF. Kress then said that the company expects to use at least 50% of its FCF to return capital to Nvidia shareholders through buybacks and dividends -- especially in the second half of the year as Nvidia works through some of its more capital-intensive investments. Nvidia didn't explicitly say it was raising its dividend. But with so much expected FCF, it would make a ton of sense. Here's why. Nvidia's FCF is reaching unprecedented heights In fiscal 2026, Nvidia earned $215.9 billion in revenue and $96.6 billion in FCF, which supported $41.1 billion in stock buybacks and dividends -- a combined 42.6% of FCF. So Nvidia is already committing a larger percentage of FCF to buybacks and dividends with its 50% target. Analyst consensus estimates call for $8.28 in fiscal 2027 earnings per share, up from $4.90 in fiscal 2026. As a rough estimate, if we take that same growth rate of 69% and apply it to Nvidia's FCF, it would earn $163.3 billion in fiscal 2027 FCF. That translates to over $80 billion in projected buybacks and dividend payments. Nvidia pays quarterly dividend of just $0.01 per share right now, which cost $974 million in fiscal 2026. So almost all of its capital return program is going toward buybacks. Other big tech-focused companies like Apple and Microsoft use a combination of buybacks and growing dividends to reward shareholders. And even Alphabet and Meta Platforms introduced dividends in 2024, although they are still significantly smaller than their buyback budgets. The size of Nvidia's projected FCF and the precedent set by other mega-cap growth...
Key Points At GTC 2026, Nvidia announced plans to return a record amount of cash to shareholders. Nvidia is generating more cash flow than it needs to reinvest in the business. Dividends could complement Nvidia’s stock buybacks and make the stock more appealing to long-term investors. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › During Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) financial analyst question-and-answer sessio...
Key Points At GTC 2026, Nvidia announced plans to return a record amount of cash to shareholders. Nvidia is generating more cash flow than it needs to reinvest in the business. Dividends could complement Nvidia’s stock buybacks and make the stock more appealing to long-term investors. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › During Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) financial analyst question-and-answer session at GTC 2026, CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress fielded a question about Nvidia's free cash flow (FCF) plans. Huang answered first by saying that the primary uses of cash flow are the company's growth and Nvidia's ecosystem -- from its integrated hardware stack to supporting software. Beyond that, Nvidia will still generate significant FCF. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Kress then said that the company expects to use at least 50% of its FCF to return capital to Nvidia shareholders through buybacks and dividends -- especially in the second half of the year as Nvidia works through some of its more capital-intensive investments. Nvidia didn't explicitly say it was raising its dividend. But with so much expected FCF, it would make a ton of sense. Here's why. Nvidia's FCF is reaching unprecedented heights In fiscal 2026, Nvidia earned $215.9 billion in revenue and $96.6 billion in FCF, which supported $41.1 billion in stock buybacks and dividends -- a combined 42.6% of FCF. So Nvidia is already committing a larger percentage of FCF to buybacks and dividends with its 50% target. Analyst consensus estimates call for $8.28 in fiscal 2027 earnings per share, up from $4.90 in fiscal 2026. As a rough estimate, if we take that same growth rate of 69% and apply it to Nvidia's FCF, it would earn $163.3 billion in fiscal 2027 FCF. That translates to over $80 billion in projected buybacks and divi...
Joe Kent Makes Genuine Plea To Trump: "Address The Israeli Issue" Recently-resigned director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent told antiwar.com editor Scott Horton that a narrow window for de-escalation still exists, but only if Donald Trump is willing to confront what Kent repeatedly described as the core constraint on U.S. strategy: Israel. “I think he's got to address the Is...
Joe Kent Makes Genuine Plea To Trump: "Address The Israeli Issue" Recently-resigned director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent told antiwar.com editor Scott Horton that a narrow window for de-escalation still exists, but only if Donald Trump is willing to confront what Kent repeatedly described as the core constraint on U.S. strategy: Israel. “I think he's got to address the Israeli issue first and foremost… and demand and force them to stop going on the offense.” Kent addressed Trump’s recent public comments urging restraint, specifically that Israel halt strikes on energy infrastructure, but warned that rhetorical pressure alone would prove ineffective. According to Kent, past behavior suggests compliance would be temporary at best. “If you tell them that they need to stop… they might back off for a week or so, but they're not going to listen to you.” pic.twitter.com/BEeBTR6zs3 — ZeroHedge Debates (@zerohedgeDebate) March 20, 2026 “Take Away Their Ability” Kent outlined what he sees as the only viable leverage: withdrawing U.S. defensive support unless Israel shifts fully to a defensive posture. “You have to take away their ability to do that… we’re not going to support you while you’re on the offense.” Tying American support to Israeli operational restraint would be a massive structural change in the U.S.-Israel relationship (if actually carried out in practice) as it is something rarely done by past Presidents on both sides of the aisle. Kent argued that U.S. and Israeli endgames in Iran are no longer aligned. While Washington may seek limited military objectives, he described Israel’s aims as far more expansive, and far more destabilizing. “The Israelis want full regime change… and have a very high tolerance for chaos.” He warned that such an outcome would carry severe downstream consequences from increased terrorism threats in the continental U.S. to yet another immigration crisis for Europe to unsustainable oil prices. “That would be absol...
Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Kowloon Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International Holdings and Paliburg Holdings agreed to dispose...
Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Kowloon Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International Holdings and Paliburg Holdings agreed to dispose of the 17-storey hotel on Sa Po Road, including two basement floors, the group said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday. The buyer was identified as Blue Sky Properties, a Hong Kong-based unit of Centaline Strategic Investments. Advertisement The purchase amount was about 7.8 per cent lower than the appraised value of HK$1.65 billion at the end of 2025. The sale also included HK$753 million of debt tied to the asset, which would be assumed by the buyer, the filing said. The property would be rebranded under Centaline’s student accommodation platform CampusOne Communities, the company said in a separate statement. Among commercial buildings, hotels are favoured for conversion into student hostels due to lower costs, according to multinational firm Arup. Photo: Sam Tsang The deal highlights investors’ appetite for student accommodation in Hong Kong, where consultancy Savills estimated a deficit of about 88,000 beds.
The ripples of the war against Iran by the US and Israel are exerting inflationary pressures across Africa through higher energy and fertiliser prices, threatening an already fragile economic recovery. Most of Africa’s 54 countries depend on fuel imports and have experienced sharp increases in fuel prices, driven by disruptions to Middle East exports and the surge in global prices. Most are just g...
The ripples of the war against Iran by the US and Israel are exerting inflationary pressures across Africa through higher energy and fertiliser prices, threatening an already fragile economic recovery. Most of Africa’s 54 countries depend on fuel imports and have experienced sharp increases in fuel prices, driven by disruptions to Middle East exports and the surge in global prices. Most are just getting over the price shocks caused by Russia’s war with Ukraine, which started in 2022 and has hurt many African countries that depend on the belligerents for wheat imports. The cycle appears set to be repeated with the war in Iran. Nato chief says 22 countries working to reopen Strait of Hormuz Nato chief says 22 countries working to reopen Strait of Hormuz Since the start of the hostilities, oil and gas infrastructure in Iran and other Persian Gulf countries have been hit, including the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar . Most critically, the Strait of Hormuz , through which more than 20 per cent of the world’s shipments of crude oil pass, was effectively shut, also cutting the export of nitrogen used in fertilisers, as well as other petroleum by-products. Advertisement “The first area which is affected by the current crisis is crude petroleum,” George Elombi, president of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), told reporters in Cairo, Egypt, on March 18. “It is good for those of our countries which are export-oriented in petroleum; for the countries that are net importers of the refined petroleum, the prices will go up.” Elombi said Afreximbank was putting in place measures to give financial help to African countries dependent on fuel imports. Advertisement The squeeze on fertiliser imports comes at a time when the product is needed most across tropical Africa, at the start of the rains and the planting season. Sudan, for example, gets as much as 54 per cent of its fertiliser shipments using the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Nati...