The European Union may soon ban nudify apps after Elon Musk's chatbot Grok emerged as a prime example of the dangers of an AI platform failing to block outputs that sexualized images of real people, including children . In a joint press release , the European Parliament's Internal Market and Civil Liberties committees confirmed that lawmakers voted 101–9 (with 8 abstentions) to simplify the Artifi...
The European Union may soon ban nudify apps after Elon Musk's chatbot Grok emerged as a prime example of the dangers of an AI platform failing to block outputs that sexualized images of real people, including children . In a joint press release , the European Parliament's Internal Market and Civil Liberties committees confirmed that lawmakers voted 101–9 (with 8 abstentions) to simplify the Artificial Intelligence Act and "propose bans on AI 'nudifier' systems." The vote came after the European Commission concluded earlier this year that the AI Act does not prohibit "AI systems that generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or sexually explicit deepfake nudes." At that time, the Commission signaled that Parliament members were already proposing ways to amend the law to strengthen protections against such harmful content. Read full article Comments
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 1.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $339.34 and last traded at $339.5570. Approximately 12,473,613 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 11% from the average daily volume of 13,999,359 shares. The stock had previously closed at $345.98. Get TSM alerts: Sign Up Tai...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 1.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $339.34 and last traded at $339.5570. Approximately 12,473,613 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 11% from the average daily volume of 13,999,359 shares. The stock had previously closed at $345.98. Get TSM alerts: Sign Up Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets TSM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen upped their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Argus raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $391.43. View Our Latest Research Report on TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance The firm's 50 day moving average price is $347.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $307.99. The firm has a market cap of $1.76 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ra...
Phase 1 APOLLO data update demonstrated encouraging clinical activity with a 66% objective response rate in relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including 50% complete responses Research published in Nature Medicine highlighted promising results of multi-antigen targeted T cells in pancreatic cancer Strengthened manufacturing capabilities through collaboration with Cellipont Bioservices and expanded Boa...
Phase 1 APOLLO data update demonstrated encouraging clinical activity with a 66% objective response rate in relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including 50% complete responses Research published in Nature Medicine highlighted promising results of multi-antigen targeted T cells in pancreatic cancer Strengthened manufacturing capabilities through collaboration with Cellipont Bioservices and expanded Board of Directors with appointment of Kathryn Penkus Corzo HOUSTON, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for hematological malignancies and solid tumors, today announced corporate updates and financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025. “In 2025, we continued to advance MT-601, our lead Multi-Antigen Recognizing (MAR)-T cell therapy, and generated highly encouraging clinical data from our ongoing Phase 1 APOLLO study,” said Juan Vera, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Marker Therapeutics. “Updated results reported last August demonstrated a 66% objective response rate in relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including durable complete responses, with a favorable safety profile across evaluated doses. During the year we also reported immunomonitoring data indicating that lymphodepletion enhances the expansion and persistence of MT-601, and we advanced the APOLLO study into dose expansion in patients with relapsed Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). We anticipate providing a data update from the APOLLO study in the second quarter of 2026.” Dr. Vera continued, “Beyond lymphoma, we made important progress expanding our MAR-T platform across hematologic and solid tumors. Recent research from Baylor College of Medicine published in Nature Medicine in early 2026 showed promising results in pancreatic cancer using MAR-T cells and received national coverage on Good Morning America.” “Looking ahead, we expect continued clinical exe...
Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) manufactures DRAM, flash memory, and SSDs. The stock closed Wednesday at $461.73, essentially flat with a 0.01% gain, as coverage and analyst previews highlight its after-the-bell fiscal Q2 earnings report. It’s a key test of AI-driven memory demand and elevated valuation expectations. Trading volume reached 46.1 million shares, coming in about 30% above its three-mon...
Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) manufactures DRAM, flash memory, and SSDs. The stock closed Wednesday at $461.73, essentially flat with a 0.01% gain, as coverage and analyst previews highlight its after-the-bell fiscal Q2 earnings report. It’s a key test of AI-driven memory demand and elevated valuation expectations. Trading volume reached 46.1 million shares, coming in about 30% above its three-month average of 35.5 million shares. Micron Technology IPO'd in 1984 and has grown 32,647% since going public. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 1.37% to 6,624, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) declined 1.46% to finish at 22,152. Within semiconductors, industry peers Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) closed at $304.9 (-2.84%) and Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) finished at $406.77 (-3.40%) as investors reassess AI hardware momentum. Micron stock has soared this year as investors focus on skyrocketing AI-driven memory pricing. Tech sector investors monitoring earnings didn’t move Micron shares much during the session with expectations that quickly rising sales and earnings may already be priced into Micron stock . Continue reading
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) held interest rates steady in March, as expected. The current overnight rate of 3.5-3.75% stands. This decision comes amidst a series of “wait and see” decisions that were expected by the market and previously telegraphed by the Fed. It's clear that they will not lower rates further until they see more progress wi...
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) held interest rates steady in March, as expected. The current overnight rate of 3.5-3.75% stands. This decision comes amidst a series of “wait and see” decisions that were expected by the market and previously telegraphed by the Fed. It's clear that they will not lower rates further until they see more progress with inflation. Since they began lowering rates in September last year, unemployment has actually risen, and so the dual mandate that the Fed has to contend with is still very much causing them conflict. Data by YCharts The March 2026 FOMC Statement And Changes Every meeting, the FOMC puts out a statement, though they tend to start with the last one as a base. Here's the new FOMC statement compared to the last statement, with new text in red, removed text crossed through, and shared text in black. CNBC Most of the statement was unchanged, aside from some wording about the timing of unemployment and inclusion of the U.S.-Iran War, though no specifics are given apart from that it introduces uncertainty. The most significant change was Governor Waller, who was previously in contention for the chair position before former Governor Warsh was nominated, moving from dissenting to consensus on a hold. T That leaves Governor Miran as the lone dissenter again; he has argued for further cuts during cut cycles and cuts during hold cycles in every meeting he has attended. NYT Powell's Presser Was All About Uncertainty In his penultimate presser as Fed chair—although if Warsh or someone else is not confirmed by the Senate, Powell will stay on as chair pro tem, as is protocol—Powell seemed a bit looser than usual. He declined fewer questions and spoke with more conviction in general. Powell did make a statement on whether he will stay on the board or not. He said that while he is still unsure if he will stay on or retire from the Fed after he is done with his chair appointment (his position...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Sanjay Mehrotra Chief Financial Officer — Mark Murphy Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email pr@fool.com Takeaways Revenue -- $23.9 billion, up 75% sequentially and 196% year over year, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly record. -- $23.9 billion, up 75% sequentially and...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Sanjay Mehrotra Chief Financial Officer — Mark Murphy Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email pr@fool.com Takeaways Revenue -- $23.9 billion, up 75% sequentially and 196% year over year, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly record. -- $23.9 billion, up 75% sequentially and 196% year over year, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly record. DRAM revenue -- $18.8 billion, up 207% year over year and 74% sequentially, making up 79% of total company revenue. -- $18.8 billion, up 207% year over year and 74% sequentially, making up 79% of total company revenue. DRAM pricing -- Increased in the 65%-67% range sequentially, driven by tight industry supply and favorable mix; bit shipments up mid-single digits. -- Increased in the 65%-67% range sequentially, driven by tight industry supply and favorable mix; bit shipments up mid-single digits. NAND revenue -- $5.0 billion, up 169% year over year and 82% sequentially, accounting for 21% of total revenue; bit shipments up low single digits, with prices rising in the 75%-79% range. -- $5.0 billion, up 169% year over year and 82% sequentially, accounting for 21% of total revenue; bit shipments up low single digits, with prices rising in the 75%-79% range. Gross margin -- 75%, a company record, up 18 percentage points sequentially and nearly double from the prior year, attributed mainly to higher pricing. -- 75%, a company record, up 18 percentage points sequentially and nearly double from the prior year, attributed mainly to higher pricing. Operating margin -- 69%, reflecting an increase of 22 percentage points sequentially and 44 percentage points year over year. -- 69%, reflecting an increase of 22 percentage points sequentially and 44 percentage points year over year. Free cash flow -- $6.9 billion, a quarterly record and up 77% from the previous record quarter. -- $6.9 billion, a quarterly record and ...
"I'm still gobsmacked by the Fed's decision," Bob Michele, JPMorgan Asset Management's global head of fixed income, says about the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. (Source: Bloomberg)
"I'm still gobsmacked by the Fed's decision," Bob Michele, JPMorgan Asset Management's global head of fixed income, says about the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. (Source: Bloomberg)
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the best growth stocks to buy right now. On March 16, Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, and Nvidia announced an expanded partnership to accelerate the development of next-gen autonomous driving systems. By using the Nvidia DRIVE Hyperion platform, the collaboration aims to combine Hyundai’s software-defined vehicle/SDV expertise and massive fleet data with Nvidia...
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the best growth stocks to buy right now. On March 16, Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, and Nvidia announced an expanded partnership to accelerate the development of next-gen autonomous driving systems. By using the Nvidia DRIVE Hyperion platform, the collaboration aims to combine Hyundai’s software-defined vehicle/SDV expertise and massive fleet data with Nvidia’s AI and accelerated computing power. This unified framework is designed to support a scalable autonomous stack, ranging from Level 2+ driver assistance in production vehicles to Level 4 robotaxi innovation through Hyundai’s JV, Motional. The partnership focuses on a data-driven development cycle. By using real-world data collected from Hyundai and Kia’s global vehicle fleets, the companies will train and refine AI models in simulation and then deploy them back into vehicles. This continuous loop allows the autonomous systems to learn and improve based on diverse, real-world driving conditions, significantly shortening the timeline for validating and scaling advanced safety features. Nvidia (NVDA), Hyundai, Kia Expand Partnership for Next-Gen Autonomous Systems Key leaders from both organizations emphasized that this milestone is critical for realizing a vision of safe, reliable mobility. The integration of Nvidia Corporation’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) AI infrastructure into Hyundai’s vehicle engineering leadership is expected to differentiate its technological competitiveness in the rapidly evolving SDV market. This move ensures that as vehicles transition into computers on wheels, they possess the necessary processing power to handle the complex computations required for high-level autonomy and intelligent cabin experiences. Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is a data center scale AI infrastructure company that operates through two segments: Compute & Networking and Graphics. While we acknowledge the potential of NVDA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upsi...
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $305.55 and last traded at $306.30. Approximately 13,768,876 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average daily volume of 21,716,037 shares. The stock had previously closed at $309.41. Get Alphabet alerts: Sign Up Key Headlines Impacting Alphabet Here are the k...
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $305.55 and last traded at $306.30. Approximately 13,768,876 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average daily volume of 21,716,037 shares. The stock had previously closed at $309.41. Get Alphabet alerts: Sign Up Key Headlines Impacting Alphabet Here are the key news stories impacting Alphabet this week: Positive Sentiment: Wiz acquisition strengthens Google Cloud's security offering and AI-driven enterprise pitch—helps competitive positioning vs. AWS/Azure and supports longer‑term cloud revenue growth. GOOGL's Wiz buyout Wiz acquisition strengthens Google Cloud's security offering and AI-driven enterprise pitch—helps competitive positioning vs. AWS/Azure and supports longer‑term cloud revenue growth. Positive Sentiment: Procurement talks with Chinese cooling suppliers (Envicool and others) signal efforts to cut AI data‑center costs and accelerate capacity buildout—supports AI/service margin expansion and faster deployment of generative AI workloads. Google talks with Envicool Procurement talks with Chinese cooling suppliers (Envicool and others) signal efforts to cut AI data‑center costs and accelerate capacity buildout—supports AI/service margin expansion and faster deployment of generative AI workloads. Positive Sentiment: Rebuilt ties with the U.S. Defense Department and favorable positioning for Pentagon AI work reduce competitive friction that rivals face—potentially opens stable government contract revenues. Google and the Pentagon Rebuilt ties with the U.S. Defense Department and favorable positioning for Pentagon AI work reduce competitive friction that rivals face—potentially opens stable government contract revenues. Positive Sentiment: Product moves like the Stitch redesign (turning plain‑language ideas into high‑fidelity interfaces) are being framed as disruptive to incumbents (e.g., Adobe), highlighting Alphabet's ...
The dollar index (DXY00) on Wednesday rose by +0.51%. The dollar recovered from early losses today and turned higher after US Feb producer prices rose more than expected, a hawkish factor for Fed policy. Also, signs of escalation in the Iran war knocked stocks lower and boosted liquidity demand for the dollar after Iran said it will target energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE ...
The dollar index (DXY00) on Wednesday rose by +0.51%. The dollar recovered from early losses today and turned higher after US Feb producer prices rose more than expected, a hawkish factor for Fed policy. Also, signs of escalation in the Iran war knocked stocks lower and boosted liquidity demand for the dollar after Iran said it will target energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE in retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes on its South Pars gas field and its Asaluyeh oil industry facilities. The dollar raced to its high on Wednesday afternoon when the FOMC raised its US 2026 GDP and inflation forecasts, and after Fed Chair Powell said there will be no Fed rate cut unless there is progress on inflation. US Feb PPI final demand rose +0.7% m/m and +3.4% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +3.0% y/y. Feb PPI ex-food and energy rose +0.5% m/m and +3.9% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +3.7% y/y, with the +3.9% y/y gain the largest year-on-year increase in 13 months. Join 200K+ Subscribers: US Jan factory orders rose +0.1% m/m, right on expectations. As expected, the FOMC voted 11-1 to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% and said, "US economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace, and inflation remains somewhat elevated." The Fed boosted its 2026 US GDP forecast to 2.4% from 2.3% and raised its 2026 US core PCE projection to 2.7% from 2.5%. The FOMC kept its year-end 2026 federal funds rate projection at 3.375%, implying one quarter point (25 bp) interest rate cut this year. Fed Chair Powell said higher energy prices will push up overall inflation, and if we don't see progress on lower inflation, we "won't see a rate cut." Swaps markets are discounting the odds at 0% for a -25 bp rate cut at the April 28-29 FOMC meeting. The dollar continues to be undercut by a poor outlook for interest rate differentials, with the FOMC expected to cut interest rates by at least -25 bp in 2026, while the BOJ and...
Revenue of $23.86 billion versus $13.64 billion for the prior quarter and $8.05 billion for the same period last year GAAP net income of $13.79 billion, or $12.07 per diluted share Non-GAAP net income of $14.02 billion, or $12.20 per diluted share Operating cash flow of $11.90 billion versus $8.41 billion for the prior quarter and $3.94 billion for the same period last year Micron Technology, Inc....
Revenue of $23.86 billion versus $13.64 billion for the prior quarter and $8.05 billion for the same period last year GAAP net income of $13.79 billion, or $12.07 per diluted share Non-GAAP net income of $14.02 billion, or $12.20 per diluted share Operating cash flow of $11.90 billion versus $8.41 billion for the prior quarter and $3.94 billion for the same period last year Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced results for its second quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended February 26, 2026."Micron set new records across revenue, gross margin, EPS, and free cash flow in fiscal Q2, driven by a strong demand environment, tight industry supply, and our strong execution, and we expect significant records again in fiscal Q3," said Sanjay Mehrotra, Chairman, President and CEO of Micron Technology. "In the AI era, memory has become a strategic asset for our customers, and we are investing in our global manufacturing footprint to support their growing demand. Reflecting confidence in the sustained strength of our business, our board has approved a 30% increase in our quarterly dividend."For the second quarter of 2026, investments in capital expenditures, net were $5.0 billion and adjusted free cash flow was $6.9 billion. Micron ended the quarter with cash, marketable investments, and restricted cash of $16.7 billion. On March 18, 2026, Micron's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, payable in cash on April 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 30, 2026.
Eastern Metals Ltd (ASX: EMS) (Eastern Metals or the Company) (to be renamed Raptor Metals Ltd (ASX: RAP)) is pleased to advise it has recommenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today following its acquisition of Raptor Resources Limited (Raptor Resources). HIGHLIGHTS... Keep Reading...
Eastern Metals Ltd (ASX: EMS) (Eastern Metals or the Company) (to be renamed Raptor Metals Ltd (ASX: RAP)) is pleased to advise it has recommenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today following its acquisition of Raptor Resources Limited (Raptor Resources). HIGHLIGHTS... Keep Reading...
aapsky/iStock via Getty Images Applied Energetics ( AERG ) has lost 2.8% since I reiterated my sell rating for the stock. The company is working on high efficiency laser weapons, which I believe is extremely relevant with the eye on the developments in Iran and its neighbouring countries. However, while the company does have a somewhat promising technology, I do believe that as an early-stage comp...
aapsky/iStock via Getty Images Applied Energetics ( AERG ) has lost 2.8% since I reiterated my sell rating for the stock. The company is working on high efficiency laser weapons, which I believe is extremely relevant with the eye on the developments in Iran and its neighbouring countries. However, while the company does have a somewhat promising technology, I do believe that as an early-stage company and with its current funds it is too exposed for a comfortable investment and even a speculative buy may be too optimistic. There Is A Huge Market For Lasers, But Commercialization Is Far Away Applied Energetics Applied Energetics focuses on laser technology applicable in the national security domain and commercial domain. Lasers can be used for directed energy weapons, counter-drone systems and directed infrared countermeasures. In the commercial domain the ultrashort pulse lasers can be used in commercial, manufacturing and medical fields. Summing all markets, we get to an addressable market of roughly $175 billion of which $53.8 billion is in the national security domain. Applied Energetics The market for lasers is huge, but I would argue that risks for companies like Applied Energetics are large too. We see that the company sees an opportunity for a military technological breakout and I believe they are not wrong in that regard. However, they are not the only provider of high energy lasers to be used in the military domain. Lockheed Martin already has HELs integrated with the AEGIS system on ships and AeroVironment has started the roll out of its counter-drone laser system . Where Applied Energetics expects it has an edge is on their ultra-short pulse laser approach in the military domain. In the commercial domain, ultra-short pulse lasers are already widely applied. So, the $175 billion market likely will be hard to penetration with most of the chances in the military domain and even then they are not a front-runner. That should drive power consumption down to 1% o...
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are being challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) models that can perform tasks previously dependent on enterprise software. And as AI-powered tools enable users to do more with less, enterprise clients may need fewer subscriptions, potentially slowing user growth for SaaS giants. The sell-off in software companies has intensified in 2026, with many high-p...
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are being challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) models that can perform tasks previously dependent on enterprise software. And as AI-powered tools enable users to do more with less, enterprise clients may need fewer subscriptions, potentially slowing user growth for SaaS giants. The sell-off in software companies has intensified in 2026, with many high-profile names from Salesforce to ServiceNow hitting multi-year lows. Application software is a key part of Oracle's (ORCL 1.16%) business. But the company is now a major player in infrastructure software as well, with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) on track to make up the vast majority of Oracle's revenue over the next few years. Here's why Oracle believes it can thrive in the AI age, and whether the growth stock is a buy now. Oracle's bold bet comes at a high price Oracle has transitioned from a software licensing business to a high-margin, subscription-based database and database management software company, to now a major player in cloud computing, with OCI building new, fast, and ultra-efficient data centers specifically engineered for high-performance computing and AI applications. The numbers speak for themselves. In Oracle's latest quarter (third-quarter fiscal 2026), cloud infrastructure-as-a-service and SaaS revenue was $8.9 billion -- up 44% year over year. Cloud computing now makes up a little over half of Oracle's total revenue. And Oracle is forecasting total revenue to jump to $90 billion in fiscal 2027, up from an expected $67 billion in fiscal 2026. Oracle's data center spending is reflected in its soaring capital expenditures (capex). But operating cash flow isn't growing nearly as quickly. As a result, Oracle's debt has exploded higher, especially in the last year, while free cash flow (FCF) has fallen off a cliff. Expand NYSE : ORCL Oracle Today's Change ( -1.16 %) $ -1.79 Current Price $ 152.90 Key Data Points Market Cap $445B Day's Range $ 152.04 - $ ...
Since the start of the year, Alliant Energy's (LNT 1.14%) stock has surged 12.4%, outpacing the S&P 500 by a wide margin. (The S&P 500 is down 1.9% year to date.) The utility stock has enjoyed strong momentum, hitting a new all-time high amid positive developments. Here are three tailwinds fueling Alliant Energy's stock. Expand NASDAQ : LNT Alliant Energy Today's Change ( -1.14 %) $ -0.83 Current ...
Since the start of the year, Alliant Energy's (LNT 1.14%) stock has surged 12.4%, outpacing the S&P 500 by a wide margin. (The S&P 500 is down 1.9% year to date.) The utility stock has enjoyed strong momentum, hitting a new all-time high amid positive developments. Here are three tailwinds fueling Alliant Energy's stock. Expand NASDAQ : LNT Alliant Energy Today's Change ( -1.14 %) $ -0.83 Current Price $ 71.80 Key Data Points Market Cap $19B Day's Range $ 71.73 - $ 72.35 52wk Range $ 57.09 - $ 73.41 Volume 82K Avg Vol 2.5M Gross Margin 26.24 % Dividend Yield 2.83 % 1. Data center energy demand is driving strong growth The primary growth driver for Alliant Energy is the influx of data centers in the U.S. Midwest. Analysts with Wells Fargo have noted that Wisconsin and Iowa are hotspots for data center developments. Notably, Alliant Energy's ability to manage large-scale power demand in the region is highly appealing for data center developers. The company has already secured land zoned for industrial use and has existing access for fiber and transmission networks, so hyperscalers don't need to wait for lengthy transmission line construction. Alliant has executed four Electric Service Agreements (ESA) totaling 3 gigawatts (GW) of load with hyperscaler customers. These contracts are expected to drive a 50% growth in peak demand by 2030. Three of the four contracted data center projects are already under construction -- two in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and one in Beaver Dam, WI. Alliant is also in active negotiations for an additional 2 to 4 GW of large load growth opportunities, which could drive even more growth for the utility provider. 2. Favorable regulations provide visibility into future growth Another thing analysts have highlighted is Alliant's advantageous regulatory position. The regulatory environment in Iowa and Wisconsin is more "utility-friendly," helping provide stability and mitigate some risks. In Wisconsin, the government sets electricity prices two years i...
Key Points Oracle is increasingly well positioned to benefit from AI through its infrastructure software segment and by embedding AI into its applications. Oracle’s leverage adds risk to the investment thesis. 10 stocks we like better than Oracle › Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are being challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) models that can perform tasks previously dependent on enter...
Key Points Oracle is increasingly well positioned to benefit from AI through its infrastructure software segment and by embedding AI into its applications. Oracle’s leverage adds risk to the investment thesis. 10 stocks we like better than Oracle › Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are being challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) models that can perform tasks previously dependent on enterprise software. And as AI-powered tools enable users to do more with less, enterprise clients may need fewer subscriptions, potentially slowing user growth for SaaS giants. The sell-off in software companies has intensified in 2026, with many high-profile names from Salesforce to ServiceNow hitting multi-year lows. 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 » Application software is a key part of Oracle's (NYSE: ORCL) business. But the company is now a major player in infrastructure software as well, with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) on track to make up the vast majority of Oracle's revenue over the next few years. Here's why Oracle believes it can thrive in the AI age, and whether the growth stock is a buy now. Oracle's bold bet comes at a high price Oracle has transitioned from a software licensing business to a high-margin, subscription-based database and database management software company, to now a major player in cloud computing, with OCI building new, fast, and ultra-efficient data centers specifically engineered for high-performance computing and AI applications. The numbers speak for themselves. In Oracle's latest quarter (third-quarter fiscal 2026), cloud infrastructure-as-a-service and SaaS revenue was $8.9 billion -- up 44% year over year. Cloud computing now makes up a little over half of Oracle's total revenue. And Oracle is forecasting total revenue to jump to $90 billion in fiscal...
Key Points Alliant Energy is benefiting from robust energy demand, thanks to the growing presence of artificial intelligence data centers. Favorable regulatory conditions in Iowa and Wisconsin attract hyperscalers and provide visibility into future earnings. Alliant is raising its capital expenditure forecast to expand capacity, including investments in natural gas, energy storage, and renewable e...
Key Points Alliant Energy is benefiting from robust energy demand, thanks to the growing presence of artificial intelligence data centers. Favorable regulatory conditions in Iowa and Wisconsin attract hyperscalers and provide visibility into future earnings. Alliant is raising its capital expenditure forecast to expand capacity, including investments in natural gas, energy storage, and renewable energy sources. 10 stocks we like better than Alliant Energy › Since the start of the year, Alliant Energy's (NASDAQ: LNT) stock has surged 12.4%, outpacing the S&P 500 by a wide margin. (The S&P 500 is down 1.9% year to date.) The utility stock has enjoyed strong momentum, hitting a new all-time high amid positive developments. Here are three tailwinds fueling Alliant Energy's stock. 1. Data center energy demand is driving strong growth The primary growth driver for Alliant Energy is the influx of data centers in the U.S. Midwest. Analysts with Wells Fargo have noted that Wisconsin and Iowa are hotspots for data center developments. 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 » Notably, Alliant Energy's ability to manage large-scale power demand in the region is highly appealing for data center developers. The company has already secured land zoned for industrial use and has existing access for fiber and transmission networks, so hyperscalers don't need to wait for lengthy transmission line construction. Alliant has executed four Electric Service Agreements (ESA) totaling 3 gigawatts (GW) of load with hyperscaler customers. These contracts are expected to drive a 50% growth in peak demand by 2030. Three of the four contracted data center projects are already under construction -- two in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and one in Beaver Dam, WI. Alliant is also in active negotiations for an additional 2 to 4 GW of l...
Jon Ferro, Lisa Abramowicz and Tom Keene host a special edition of "Bloomberg Surveillance" covering Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's remarks. Officials left interest rates unchanged and continue to expect one rate cut this year as they acknowledged increased uncertainty due to war in the Middle East. Powell states he plans to stay at the central bank until after a Justice Department investig...
Jon Ferro, Lisa Abramowicz and Tom Keene host a special edition of "Bloomberg Surveillance" covering Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's remarks. Officials left interest rates unchanged and continue to expect one rate cut this year as they acknowledged increased uncertainty due to war in the Middle East. Powell states he plans to stay at the central bank until after a Justice Department investigation into him and the central bank is complete. (Source: Bloomberg)