Tobias

SpaceX is addressing NASA’s concerns about potential delays in its lunar lander for Artemis III by proposing a “simplified mission.” This follows NASA’s hint at reopening the lunar landing contract to competition, possibly including Blue Origin. SpaceX claims their streamlined approach ensures a faster, safer lunar return. NASA is evaluating proposals from both SpaceX and Blue Origin to accelerate HLS production, driven by U.S. space leadership concerns amid China’s lunar ambitions. SpaceX’s Starship has undergone 11 test flights; in-orbit refueling remains a key challenge. NASA has paid SpaceX $2.7B for HLS development.

Apple’s fiscal Q4 revenue surged 8% to $102.47B, exceeding estimates, with EPS at $1.85. Strong performance and rosy holiday quarter forecast boosted shares. Services achieved record revenue across all regions. iPhone sales grew 6%, limited by supply constraints. Q1 guidance projects significant revenue growth, driven by iPhone 17 demand. Management expects robust services growth. Apple ended the quarter with $132 billion in cash, returning $24 billion to shareholders. Price target raised to $300.

OpenAI released two reasoning models, gpt-oss-safeguard-120b and gpt-oss-safeguard-20b, designed to help developers classify and mitigate online harms. These “open-weight” models allow organizations to tailor them to specific policies and understand their decision-making, enhancing online safety. Developed in collaboration with ROOST, Discord, and SafetyKit, the models aim to address ethical concerns surrounding rapidly scaling AI and promote responsible AI development. They are available for download via Hugging Face.

Etsy CEO Josh Silverman will become executive chairman at year-end, with President Kruti Patel Goyal succeeding him on January 1, 2026. The leadership change coincides with Etsy’s Q3 earnings, which saw revenue exceed estimates but a decline in gross merchandise sales, triggering a 12% stock drop. Active buyers decreased, while Depop’s GMS surged. Silverman, who led Etsy through significant growth, faces challenges from increased competition. The company is integrating AI, including a partnership with OpenAI, to boost customer engagement.

Nvidia’s AI dominance highlights strategic alliances with Nokia and Eli Lilly, alongside domestic Blackwell GPU production in Arizona. The Fed is expected to cut rates. OpenAI completed its transition into a nonprofit and affirmed Microsoft’s stake. The government shutdown continues, causing legal challenges and impacting federal employees. Boeing faces a slight dip due to a $4.9B charge on the 777X delays, despite improved deliveries.

Character.AI will eliminate open-ended chats for users under 18 to bolster safety amid rising concerns about AI companions’ impact on vulnerable youth. The decision follows scrutiny, including a tragic suicide linked to the platform. The company will implement age verification and restrict chat functionality by November 25th. Character.AI is also establishing an AI Safety Lab and faces increased regulatory pressure. Other AI developers, including OpenAI and Meta, face similar concerns, prompting industry-wide safety reevaluation.

Fiserv’s shares plummeted 44% after slashing its earnings outlook and announcing a leadership shakeup. The company lowered its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $8.50-$8.60 and revenue growth to 3.5%-4%, citing deteriorating economic conditions in Argentina as a factor. Q3 adjusted EPS and revenue also missed estimates. Takis Georgakopoulos and Dhivya Suryadevara will share the co-president role, and Paul Todd is the new finance chief. Three new members will join the board in 2026. Fiserv is transferring its stock listing to the Nasdaq.

Apple briefly surpassed a $4 trillion market cap, driven by iPhone 17 demand, favorable antitrust rulings securing its Google search deal, and strategic domestic manufacturing investments. Analysts at Bank of America and JPMorgan express optimism, projecting earnings growth and raising price targets based on future AI prospects. While AI rollout delays raise concerns, strong iPhone sales and tariff management contribute to a positive outlook. Upcoming earnings are crucial to validate the iPhone upgrade cycle and demonstrate sustained growth amid competition.

Snowflake (SNOW) filed an 8-K with the SEC after its CRO, Mike Gannon, inadvertently disclosed unauthorized financial guidance on Instagram, estimating the company would exit the year above $4.5 billion and reach $10 billion in a few years. Snowflake clarified that Gannon isn’t authorized to disclose financial information and that investors should disregard his comments. The company reaffirmed its official guidance of $4.395 billion for fiscal year 2026, minimizing potential market impact.

Alphabet’s Q3 earnings exceeded expectations, driving shares up 5% after-hours. Revenue reached $102.35 billion, with EPS at $3.10. Google Cloud’s revenue grew 35% to $15.15 billion, fueled by AI demand. Alphabet is increasing 2025 capital expenditure to $91-93 billion. YouTube ad revenue hit $10.26 billion, and overall ad revenue was $74.18 billion. Net income surged to $34.97 billion, despite a $3.45 billion EU antitrust fine. Cloud customer base growth is high, and AI product use is increasing.