↗️ Meta (META), Nebius (NBIS): Shares in the Facebook parent rose 2.3% after Reuters reported that the company is planning sweeping layoffs. Meta also inked a $27 billion deal to get AI infrastructure capacity from Nebius, whose shares rallied 15%.
↗️ Meta (META), Nebius (NBIS): Shares in the Facebook parent rose 2.3% after Reuters reported that the company is planning sweeping layoffs. Meta also inked a $27 billion deal to get AI infrastructure capacity from Nebius, whose shares rallied 15%.
Pla2na/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis The mining industry is a space I have a weak spot for right now. I’ve covered it extensively, from small up-and-coming miners to larger and more established ones like the topic of today, MP Materials Corp. ( MP ). The company has been the poster child, in my opinion, for the whole rare earth mineral investment case. Now, once the production at Mount...
Pla2na/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis The mining industry is a space I have a weak spot for right now. I’ve covered it extensively, from small up-and-coming miners to larger and more established ones like the topic of today, MP Materials Corp. ( MP ). The company has been the poster child, in my opinion, for the whole rare earth mineral investment case. Now, once the production at Mountain Pass is increasing and the Texas facility has come online, the case should be clear: MP is a long-term winner. For me, it's still not so clear. The company is still struggling with high production costs and is reporting deep negative figures, much in part because of the higher CapEx last year. But in part also because it’s not able to realize high enough prices to get the net income into the green. I’ve rated MP a Hold before, and I’ll be doing the same today, as I still find it a speculative business, despite being arguably one of the more established mining companies so far. Rating MP a Hold. Since My Last Coverage The last time I covered MP was on December 30, 2025 . I was, and I think rightfully so, skeptical of the price rally the stock has had given the circumstances. In particular, the price of neodymium and the deal that MP now has with the DoD as a supplier of this. Ratings History (Seeking Alpha) Since then, though, the stock has appreciated by some 13%, whereas the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) has declined about 3% instead. I won’t take credit for this, though, since I did rate MP a hold. But as the price of Neodymium, the main mineral you should have in mind when thinking about MP, has rallied this year, which has undoubtedly helped MP’s stock price, too. The question I have is whether or not this is a sustained rally or more temporary and a reflection of the current market fears. Last Quarter Results (Seeking Alpha) Since my last writing, the company has also posted another quarterly report. This showed a strong beat on earnings but a miss on the top line instead by s...
Earnings Call Insights: Assertio Holdings, Inc. (ASRT) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Mark L. Reisenauer emphasized a shift in Assertio’s growth strategy, stating the company will prioritize driving "significant revenue opportunity in our core asset, Rolvedon," and that "our prior strategy of acquiring on-market specialty products is no longer capital efficient or a sustainable strategy to fuel growt...
Earnings Call Insights: Assertio Holdings, Inc. (ASRT) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Mark L. Reisenauer emphasized a shift in Assertio’s growth strategy, stating the company will prioritize driving "significant revenue opportunity in our core asset, Rolvedon," and that "our prior strategy of acquiring on-market specialty products is no longer capital efficient or a sustainable strategy to fuel growth." Reisenauer noted Rolvedon’s integration is now complete and the product maintains a leading market share position, with regular sales of the newly labeled version expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026. CEO Reisenauer explained the company will focus on leveraging its commercial infrastructure for targeted business development, aiming to expand its oncology presence through "individual product acquisition, commercialization agreements, licensing or technology agreements, and/or potential business combinations." President & COO Paul Schwichtenberg highlighted that Assertio’s commercial resources have been realigned to "optimize cash flow from our tail assets while continuing to support the growth of Rolvedon," with personnel and process enhancements targeting the community oncology clinic segment. CFO Ajay Patel reported, "Total product sales in the fourth quarter were $12.8 million compared to $29.6 million in the prior year, primarily driven by the timing of channel inventory associated with the previously disclosed Rolvedon sell-in." Patel added, "Gross margin improved to 75% compared to 61% in the prior year," and "Reported SG&A expenses were $13.1 million, down from $21.4 million in the prior year, reflecting lower legal expenses following completion of litigation-related initiatives as well as reduced personnel costs following restructuring actions taken in the fourth quarter." Outlook Assertio initiated fiscal 2026 revenue guidance in the range of $110 million to $125 million and adjusted EBITDA guidance between $28 million and $40 million. CFO Patel stat...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Matt Fisch Chief Financial Officer — Conor Tierney Investor Relations Manager — Keaton Olson Takeaways Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities -- $86.5 million at period end, providing runway "well into 2028." -- $86.5 million at period end, providing runway "well into 2028." Q4...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Matt Fisch Chief Financial Officer — Conor Tierney Investor Relations Manager — Keaton Olson Takeaways Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities -- $86.5 million at period end, providing runway "well into 2028." -- $86.5 million at period end, providing runway "well into 2028." Q4 GAAP operating expenses -- $8.3 million, rising from $7.8 million in the prior year due to higher engineering spend and one-time payroll costs. -- $8.3 million, rising from $7.8 million in the prior year due to higher engineering spend and one-time payroll costs. Q4 Non-GAAP operating expenses -- $7.5 million, up from $6.1 million in the prior quarter, driven chiefly by increased engineering and payroll expenses. -- $7.5 million, up from $6.1 million in the prior quarter, driven chiefly by increased engineering and payroll expenses. Q4 GAAP net loss -- $7.3 million, or $0.17 per share, a reduction from $9.3 million and $0.30 per share in the prior year, attributed mainly to lower fair value adjustments and note repayment. -- $7.3 million, or $0.17 per share, a reduction from $9.3 million and $0.30 per share in the prior year, attributed mainly to lower fair value adjustments and note repayment. Q4 Non-GAAP net loss -- $6.8 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $5.4 million and $0.17 per share in the prior quarter, primarily reflecting increased contract development and payroll costs. -- $6.8 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $5.4 million and $0.17 per share in the prior quarter, primarily reflecting increased contract development and payroll costs. Q4 cash burn -- $7.5 million, up from $6.4 million last year, primarily related to engineering costs, professional services, insurance, and component purchases. -- $7.5 million, up from $6.4 million last year, primarily related to engineering costs, professional services, insurance, and component purchases. New capital...
As the US-Iran conflict enters its 16th day, US markets have experienced significant volatility, with key indices and specific sectors experiencing sharp declines that have brought many stocks into oversold territory. Oversold conditions typically signal heavy selling pressure, though they can also precede short-term rebounds if fundamentals remain intact. Below are some of the most oversold consu...
As the US-Iran conflict enters its 16th day, US markets have experienced significant volatility, with key indices and specific sectors experiencing sharp declines that have brought many stocks into oversold territory. Oversold conditions typically signal heavy selling pressure, though they can also precede short-term rebounds if fundamentals remain intact. Below are some of the most oversold consumer discretionary stocks this week, based on momentum indicators with market cap from $2B to $10B. Samsonite Group S.A. ( SMSEY ), Relative Strength Index 30, fell around 12% in the last 15 days. MINISO Group Holding Limited ( MNSO ), Relative Strength Index 30, slipped about 4% during the same period. Genting Berhad ( GEBHF ), Relative Strength Index 29, fell about 14%. Patrick Industries ( PATK ), Relative Strength Index 29, slipped roughly around 7.7%. Champion Homes ( SKY ), Relative Strength Index 29, declined about 14.7%. Pandora A/S ( PNDRY ), Relative Strength Index 29, dropped around 11.5%. Macy's ( M ), Relative Strength Index 29, slid about 9.3%. AutoNation ( AN ), Relative Strength Index 28, slipped roughly around 5%. Boot Barn Holdings ( BOOT ), Relative Strength Index 28, fell around 11.5%. Hugo Boss AG ( HUGPF ), Relative Strength Index 28 Investor sentiment has been weighed down by geopolitical developments and renewed concerns over energy markets and global demand, contributing to the recent pullback in several consumer-facing stocks. More on State Street® Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR® ETF Retail Sector Recap: Consumers Pull Back On Weak Outlook Consumer Discretionary In The Great Rotation Market Sector Review: Extreme Market Bifurcation Most oversold stocks from the consumer discretionary sector on Wall Street amid Middle East disruptions Royal Caribbean Cruises tops growth factor grades among S&P consumer discretionary holdings
Company improves design efficiency by nearly 10% and launches two additional Trane® Continuum Rubin DSX reference designs SWORDS, Ireland, March 16, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, today announced major enhancements to its industry-first comprehensive thermal management reference design for gigawatt-scale AI factories and unveiled two Trane Continuu...
Company improves design efficiency by nearly 10% and launches two additional Trane® Continuum Rubin DSX reference designs SWORDS, Ireland, March 16, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, today announced major enhancements to its industry-first comprehensive thermal management reference design for gigawatt-scale AI factories and unveiled two Trane Continuum Rubin DSX reference designs. Engineered specifically to integrate with the NVIDIA® Omniverse™ DSX Blueprint for AI data centers, the new system optimizations achieve a nearly 10% improvement in overall thermal management performance compared to the original 1-gigawatt reference design announced in October. This frees up 22 megawatts of cooling capacity that can be redirected to IT power, helping boost compute output without increasing total energy consumption. "Since the launch of our industry-first thermal management system reference design, our team has continued to work hand-in-hand with NVIDIA to push the boundaries of efficiency, scalability and intelligent simulation for gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure," said Mauro Atalla, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies. "These latest advancements represent a major step forward in helping enable the world’s most demanding AI and high-performance computing environments to scale sustainably, reliably and with accelerated digital insight." "Efficiently scaling gigawatt-scale AI factories requires a fundamental shift in how we approach thermal management and data center infrastructure simulation," said Vladimir Troy, Vice President of AI Infrastructure at NVIDIA. "Trane Technologies’ integration with the NVIDIA Omniverse DSX blueprint enables the creation of high-fidelity digital twins that help operators optimize cooling performance and maximize energy efficiency for the next generation of AI workloads." Through continued collaboration with NVIDIA, including as an NVIDIA Partn...
Andrzej Rostek/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis The iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF ( REM ) warrants a Sell rating due to risk factors for mortgage REITs that will outweigh the ETF’s dividend income. REM’s top holdings are sensitive to interest rates, have high leverage, and lack a record of consecutive dividend growth. These factors are exacerbated by rising energy costs, which could dr...
Andrzej Rostek/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis The iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF ( REM ) warrants a Sell rating due to risk factors for mortgage REITs that will outweigh the ETF’s dividend income. REM’s top holdings are sensitive to interest rates, have high leverage, and lack a record of consecutive dividend growth. These factors are exacerbated by rising energy costs, which could drive higher inflation and interest rate volatility. iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF - Overview and Compared ETFs REM is a passive ETF that seeks to track U.S. REITs that hold commercial and residential mortgages . With its inception in 2007, the fund has 33 holdings and $552 million in AUM. While REM includes REITs, these holdings do not invest in real estate directly. For comparison purposes, other funds examined are VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF ( MORT ), Global X SuperDividend REIT ETF ( SRET ), and Vanguard Real Estate ETF ( VNQ ). MORT tracks an index that captures U.S. mortgage REITs , similar to REM, to provide investors with income through dividends. SRET captures the 30 highest-yielding REITs globally and therefore includes international holdings. VNQ tracks an index that captures a wide range of REITs and excludes mortgage REITs . Funds Compared: Performance, Expense Ratio, and Dividend Yield REM and multiple compared funds offer tempting dividend yields at the expense of capital appreciation. Despite its income component, REM has seen a 10-year average total annual return of just 3.90%. Similarly, MORT has seen an average annual 10-year return of 4.36%. SRET, which strives to capture high-yield REITs, saw a 10-year average annual return of just 2.48%. VNQ, which excludes mortgage REITs, saw the best 10-year average annual return of 6.36%. 10-Year Total Return: REM and Compared REIT Funds (Seeking Alpha) REM is relatively expensive with an expense ratio of 0.48%. While REM has a high dividend yield of 8.99%, the ETF has seen declining dividend growth over the pa...
Oil was little changed after a volatile session in which investors weighed signs of less-tight conditions against rising military threats to energy infrastructure across the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate traded above $94 a barrel, after losing 5.3% on Monday, while Brent settled above $100 for a third straight session. The US and Iran both stepped up attacks on energy assets in the region, ...
Oil was little changed after a volatile session in which investors weighed signs of less-tight conditions against rising military threats to energy infrastructure across the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate traded above $94 a barrel, after losing 5.3% on Monday, while Brent settled above $100 for a third straight session. The US and Iran both stepped up attacks on energy assets in the region, including a drone strike on the massive Shah natural gas field in the United Arab Emirates. Traders also assessed global attempts to blunt the worst of an impending supply shock stemming from the US-Israeli war on Iran, from an imminent release from the US emergency stockpile to a trickle of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point. President Donald Trump said the US is “hammering” Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait and reiterated appeals to other nations to help secure the passage. The waterway typically handles a fifth of global oil flows but has been effectively closed by Iran since the war began late last month. The aftershocks of the most volatile week for the global Brent benchmark on record are continuing to reverberate. Daily trading ranges have been far wider than usual as the tumult in the Middle East creates what the International Energy Agency has described as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. “Crude prices in the triple-digit area are usually short-lived, as demand destruction tends to appear very quickly,” said Dennis Kissler , senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial Securitires Inc. “While Iran seems to have dug in, the reality is: they have no navy, a shaken military, and they are being shut out from commerce from neighboring countries. Their need to negotiate will come quicker than not.” A direct communications channel between the US and Iran has been reactivated in recent days, Axios reported , citing unidentified sources. On Monday, Trump said he had req...
The outlook for the U.S. economy will continue to darken as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to oil-tanker traffic, even though the U.S. now produces about as much oil and natural gas as it consumes.
The outlook for the U.S. economy will continue to darken as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to oil-tanker traffic, even though the U.S. now produces about as much oil and natural gas as it consumes.
Whistleblowers who once worked at Meta and X (until the guilt got too much) reveal the truth about the companies that increasingly rule our free time – and it’s even worse than you may have feared. Prep those bunkers now Sometimes it’s a real problem not being able to swear unreservedly in a national newspaper. I mean, I understand social convention and propriety ’n’ all that should be preserved a...
Whistleblowers who once worked at Meta and X (until the guilt got too much) reveal the truth about the companies that increasingly rule our free time – and it’s even worse than you may have feared. Prep those bunkers now Sometimes it’s a real problem not being able to swear unreservedly in a national newspaper. I mean, I understand social convention and propriety ’n’ all that should be preserved and that, generally, as our parents and teachers told us, swearing is nothing but a sign of a poor vocabulary. But not always. Sometimes – and increasingly so, I think, as I look at the burning world around us – swearing might represent the mots justes . It might be the only fair response. Under certain circumstances, anything else begins to look like obfuscation – a veil being drawn over unpleasantness. We would be in a much better position if, to retool Mrs Patrick Campbell’s notes to George Bernard Shaw for this more brutal age, someone early on had told Trump, for example, to eff off, just once. But rules is rules and so I must shape with care my response to Inside the Rage Machine, a documentary about how social media is run. The shortest, most honest, most accurate review I could provide would read: “We’re doomed. We’re all doomed,” before advising you to start prepping a bunker now – use your last moments before pulling the plug on the internet to order supplies or buy an isolated homestead in Montana, then gather a go bag and … just go, people. Go. Continue reading...
Major earnings expected before the bell on Tuesday include: HUYA ( HUYA ) Tencent Music Entertainment Group ( TME ) Corporación América Airports S.A. ( CAAP ) BINGEX LTD ( FLX ) Academy Sports and Outdoors ( ASO ) Other earnings slated for release before Tuesday's open include: ABEO , ATAT , CODA , CWCO , ESLT , GDS , OPTT For Seeking Alpha's full earnings season calendar, click here .
Major earnings expected before the bell on Tuesday include: HUYA ( HUYA ) Tencent Music Entertainment Group ( TME ) Corporación América Airports S.A. ( CAAP ) BINGEX LTD ( FLX ) Academy Sports and Outdoors ( ASO ) Other earnings slated for release before Tuesday's open include: ABEO , ATAT , CODA , CWCO , ESLT , GDS , OPTT For Seeking Alpha's full earnings season calendar, click here .
Elon Musk said Tesla Inc. will launch its "Terafab" AI chip project within a week to power its self-driving technology. Tesla Terafab AI Chip Project On Saturday, Musk said that Tesla's “Terafab project,“ aimed at producing AI chips, is expected to launch in 7 days, signaling a major step in the company's effort to scale its AI infrastructure. Terafab Project launches in 7 days Don't Miss: Tesla i...
Elon Musk said Tesla Inc. will launch its "Terafab" AI chip project within a week to power its self-driving technology. Tesla Terafab AI Chip Project On Saturday, Musk said that Tesla's “Terafab project,“ aimed at producing AI chips, is expected to launch in 7 days, signaling a major step in the company's effort to scale its AI infrastructure. Terafab Project launches in 7 days Don't Miss: Tesla is designing its fifth-generation AI chip, AI5, to power the company's autonomous driving systems, including its Full Self-Driving software, reported Reuters. Musk has previously suggested the company may ultimately need to build its own large-scale chip manufacturing facility to keep up with demand. "Even when we extrapolate the best-case scenario for chip production from our suppliers, it’s still not enough," Musk said during Tesla's annual shareholder meeting last year. He added that the company may need to build a large-scale fabrication plant, calling the idea a "Tesla terafab." "It's like giga but way bigger. I can't see any other way to get to the volume of chips that we're looking for," Musk said. He added, "So I think we're probably going to have to build a gigantic chip fab. It's got to be done." Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights Tesla AI And AGI Ambitions Earlier this month, Musk expressed confidence in Tesla's AI and robotics efforts, saying the company could become one of the developers of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Musk said Tesla would likely be among the companies to create AGI and could potentially be the first to achieve it in humanoid or "atom-shaping" form. Last month, Tesla began recruiting AI chip designers in South Korea to build high-volume AI chips, seeking engineers to help create what it called the world's most advanced mass-produced AI chips. Musk said Tesla had previously considered collaborating with semiconductor giants like Intel Corp, but had not signed any formal agreements. ...
Large passenger jets and advanced chips, BeiDou satellites and the Tiangong space station : these large-scale science and technology projects could be part of China’s efforts to mobilise resources nationwide to speed up the development of new weapons, according to a study by researchers with China’s top defence university. China’s military modernisation has accelerated at a pace that unsettles man...
Large passenger jets and advanced chips, BeiDou satellites and the Tiangong space station : these large-scale science and technology projects could be part of China’s efforts to mobilise resources nationwide to speed up the development of new weapons, according to a study by researchers with China’s top defence university. China’s military modernisation has accelerated at a pace that unsettles many analysts in Washington. In the past decade alone, Beijing has rolled out a sequence of major defence technologies: electromagnetic catapult systems for aircraft carriers, new stealth fighter platforms, hypersonic weapons, directed-energy lasers and rapidly advancing military artificial intelligence systems. The tempo of development is striking not only because of its speed but because of the resources behind it. The United States spent roughly US$997 billion on defence in 2024, while China’s officially announced defence budget for 2026 stands at about US$277 billion. Even allowing for differences in accounting standards and purchasing power, China’s military spending remains far below that of the US Advertisement The disparity becomes clearer when focusing specifically on military research and development. The US Department of Defence allocates about US$140 billion annually to research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) – roughly 15 to 17 per cent of the Pentagon’s total budget. China does not publish a detailed R&D breakdown, but most external estimates suggest that between 5 and 10 per cent of its defence spending goes towards military research – around US$20 billion to US$50 billion. Advertisement Yet China continues to introduce a wide range of advanced systems across multiple technological domains. This has prompted a debate among defence researchers: how can a country with much lower defence spending sustain such a broad portfolio of military innovation? With his colleagues, Wu Ji, director and associate researcher with the science and technology departmen...
Indonesia’s central bank is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged as policymakers confront mounting pressure on the rupiah from war in the Middle East and investor concerns over fiscal discipline. All 30 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict that Bank Indonesia will hold its benchmark BI-rate at 4.75% on Tuesday, a level that the central bank has maintained since October. BI’s last f...
Indonesia’s central bank is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged as policymakers confront mounting pressure on the rupiah from war in the Middle East and investor concerns over fiscal discipline. All 30 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict that Bank Indonesia will hold its benchmark BI-rate at 4.75% on Tuesday, a level that the central bank has maintained since October. BI’s last four decisions were in line with market expectations, while the four before that were a surprise. The surge in oil prices that followed the US and Israel attack on Iran means Indonesia must pay more for both oil imports and the fuel subsidies that support Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. A rate cut would further strain the rupiah, just as investors worry that the government may breach a budget deficit cap of 3% of gross domestic product, which has long-anchored market confidence. President Prabowo Subianto on March 14 told Bloomberg News he remains committed to fiscal discipline, and that any such breach would be temporary. He also affirmed BI’s independence. Read More: Defiant Prabowo Spars With Indonesia Tycoons and Market Skeptics The war has already sent the rupiah sliding past 17,000 per dollar as investors moved to reduce risks. The spike in global energy costs is hanging over the economy at a time when domestic demand remains vulnerable, leaving policymakers walking a tightrope between supporting stability and growth. “Maintaining the current BI-rate would be the right choice at this time,” said Hosianna Evalita Situmorang , an economist at PT Bank Danamon in Jakarta. Bank Indonesia should continue to strike a balance between protecting rupiah stability and ensuring ample liquidity in order to pass on policy easing to lending rates, she said. Here’s what to look out for on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Jakarta: Iran Risk Prolonged conflict in the Middle East is putting further pressure on Indonesia’s currency, intensifying scrutiny of fiscal policy. Government deliberations over...
The average Social Security benefit is the highest it's ever been, but for most people, it's far less than their monthly retirement expenses. The typical retired worker only gets $2,076 per month, as of February 2026. The good news, that amount isn't locked in forever. It will increase again with the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), to be announced in October. Judging by recent third-party p...
The average Social Security benefit is the highest it's ever been, but for most people, it's far less than their monthly retirement expenses. The typical retired worker only gets $2,076 per month, as of February 2026. The good news, that amount isn't locked in forever. It will increase again with the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), to be announced in October. Judging by recent third-party projections, it could be a little higher than initially anticipated. Yet many seniors still won't be thrilled about the latest estimates. The 2027 Social Security COLA estimate is 2.8% Benefits increased by 2.8% in 2026, and the latest projection from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan senior group, suggests the 2027 COLA is likely to be about the same. This is unchanged from its February 2026 prediction and up slightly from its 2.5% estimate in January. A 2.8% increase would bring the current $2,076 average monthly benefit to $2,134 per month -- a $58 increase. In reality, the 2027 average benefit will likely be higher because this metric rises slightly over time as new beneficiaries with higher average incomes apply for checks. While more money is great, a $58 increase won't be life-changing for most seniors on Social Security. It may not even be enough to cover the increased living costs you face as a result of inflation. Of course, it's still early. The Social Security Administration won't announce the 2027 COLA until mid-October. There's a chance it could come in higher than current estimates. However, COLAs are tied to inflation, so an increase usually means the cost of goods is rising quickly. How seniors can prepare for the 2027 COLA Keep an eye on COLA projections as we get closer to the official announcement date on Oct. 14, 2026. The projections tend to get more accurate as the announcement date nears, so you should be able to get an increasingly good idea of where the COLA will end up. When the government announces the official COLA, you can add tha...
Nvidia announced DLSS 5 on Monday during its GTC conference, and based on early reactions, it’s going to be a divisive update, with some reactions calling it “slop” that unacceptably alters artistic intent. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is calling this the “GPT moment for graphics — blending hand-crafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the contr...
Nvidia announced DLSS 5 on Monday during its GTC conference, and based on early reactions, it’s going to be a divisive update, with some reactions calling it “slop” that unacceptably alters artistic intent. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is calling this the “GPT moment for graphics — blending hand-crafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression.” In games that support DLSS 5, the tools can immediately provide noticeable boosts to lighting and shadows, but unlike previous versions of upscaling that used machine learning to close the gap between high and low graphics settings, this version applies generative AI to rework the lighting and materials with details that feel newly added. Examples shown by Nvidia today from Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, and EA Sports FC each look more life-like, yes, but the DLSS 5 versions have changes that look familiar to the “AI slop” updates we’ve seen applied to photography, video, and other creative endeavors. According to Nvidia, “The AI model is trained end to end to understand complex scene semantics such as characters, hair, fabric and translucent skin, along with environmental lighting conditions like front-lit, back-lit or overcast — all by analyzing a single frame. DLSS 5 then uses its deep understanding to generate visually precise images that handle complex elements such as subsurface scattering on skin, the delicate sheen of fabric and light-material interactions on hair, all while retaining the structure and semantics of the original scene.” Left: Grace Ashcroft / Right: Grok Ashcroft The most noticeable impact is that DLSS 5 seems to make significant changes to how character models appear. In the case of Requiem, generative AI inserted over the original assets makes protagonist Grace Ashcroft look totally different, like she used an Instagram filter that made her lips fuller, and applied intense eye shadow. It...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, March 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Hong Q. Hou Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Mark Lin Vice President, Investor Relations — Mitch Haws TAKEAWAYS Net Sales -- $274.4 million for the quarter, up 3% sequentially and up 9% year over year. -- $274.4 million for the quarter, up 3% sequent...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, March 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Hong Q. Hou Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Mark Lin Vice President, Investor Relations — Mitch Haws TAKEAWAYS Net Sales -- $274.4 million for the quarter, up 3% sequentially and up 9% year over year. -- $274.4 million for the quarter, up 3% sequentially and up 9% year over year. Annual Revenue -- $1.05 billion, a 15% increase, led by strength in data center and LoRa portfolios. -- $1.05 billion, a 15% increase, led by strength in data center and LoRa portfolios. Adjusted Diluted EPS -- $0.44 for the quarter, up 10%; $1.71 for the year, up 94%. -- $0.44 for the quarter, up 10%; $1.71 for the year, up 94%. Adjusted Gross Margin -- 51.6% for the quarter; total Semiconductor Products gross margin was 61.7%, up 350 basis points year over year. -- 51.6% for the quarter; total Semiconductor Products gross margin was 61.7%, up 350 basis points year over year. Adjusted Operating Margin -- 18.2% for the quarter; adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.9%. -- 18.2% for the quarter; adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.9%. Operating Cash Flow -- $61.5 million, up 30% sequentially and up 84% year over year. -- $61.5 million, up 30% sequentially and up 84% year over year. Free Cash Flow -- $59.1 million, up 32% sequentially and up 91% year over year. -- $59.1 million, up 32% sequentially and up 91% year over year. Cash and Cash Equivalents -- $195.2 million at quarter end; debt unchanged at $503 million; adjusted net leverage ratio fell to 1.3. -- $195.2 million at quarter end; debt unchanged at $503 million; adjusted net leverage ratio fell to 1.3. Q1 2027 Guidance -- Net sales expected at $283 million, plus or minus $5 million, representing 13% year-over-year growth at midpoint. -- Net sales expected at $283 million, plus or minus $5 million, representing 13% year-over-year growth at midpoint. Q1 2027 Adjusted Gross Margin Outlook -- 52.8%, plus...