Tech

U.S. AI stocks slid again as investors weighed AI-driven earnings against margins and deal quality, with Broadcom down over 11% and Nvidia, AMD, and Oracle also lower, dragging major indices. Despite near-term softness, the AI thesis remains intact for many, with potential for sustained earnings if hyperscaler demand holds. The week saw a Dow rise on financials while tech lagged, fueling questions about AI-cycle profitability amid higher costs. Other highlights: China’s decelerating growth, Berkshire’s leadership changes, Jimmy Lai guilty, and copper prices rally on supply and electrification demand.

The AI stock sell-off persisted as investors weigh whether AI-driven revenue can sustain profits amid price competition and deal-cycle uncertainty. Broadcom beat on revenue but signaled tighter margins, while Nvidia, AMD, and Oracle also fell. Analysts note a split between expanding AI opportunities and margin discipline, with some seeing 2026 profitability from data-center growth and others warning near-term sentiment remains fragile. News brief: Oracle denied OpenAI data-center delays; Coinbase plans in-house prediction markets powered by Kalshi. Berkshire’s leadership transition and upcoming European policy events add macro headwinds.

words.Broadcom’s AI chip backlog is huge, but lower margins and possible delays in OpenAI’s data‑center build‑out create downside risk, while competition with Marvell adds uncertainty; its forward P/E of ~42 leaves little margin for error, prompting a “hold” stance. Costco trades at a forward P/E of ~43, yet membership renewal rates are slipping and sales remain uneven, exposing the retailer to compression versus Walmart. Both companies face high valuations and emerging headwinds, so investors should proceed cautiously, monitoring margin stability for Broadcom and renewal trends for Costco.

words.ServiceNow is close to acquiring cybersecurity startup Armis in a deal valued at up to $7 billion, its largest ever. Armis, recently funded with $435 million and targeting an IPO by 2026‑27, boasts $300 million in annual recurring revenue and expertise in securing enterprise IoT devices. The acquisition would let ServiceNow embed device‑security into its Now Platform, creating cross‑sell opportunities, richer data analytics, and a stronger stance against rivals like Microsoft. Success hinges on integrating the two engineering cultures and retaining Armis talent amid a booming cyber‑spending market and a sluggish IPO environment.

words.The S&P 500 slipped after a fresh high, driven by a tech‑stock rotation while materials, financials and industrials led gains; the Dow rose 1 %. Investors await the “Santa Claus rally” starting Dec 19. Key week‑long stories: Broadcom fell 11.5% on cautious AI‑chip demand; Oracle dropped further after delaying OpenAI data‑center projects; Nvidia secured limited export licences for a throttled AI accelerator to China; GE Vernova posted strong guidance on AI‑data‑center power‑equipment. Market focus now is Fed policy, AI‑chip supply‑chain dynamics, and enterprise‑software spending.

.Coinbase will launch an in‑house prediction‑market platform powered by Kalshi, announced at its Dec. 17 “Coinbase System Update.” The partnership, non‑exclusive but sole at launch, aims to broaden Coinbase’s product suite amid waning crypto sentiment and competition from Robinhood, Gemini and Kraken. Integrating Kalshi’s hybrid on‑chain/off‑chain contracts offers high‑margin revenue and regulatory compliance via Kalshi’s CFTC‑registered status. Success depends on robust technology, regulatory navigation, and user demand for diversified assets such as tokenized equities and event‑based contracts.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar warned that the White House’s new executive order—directing the Attorney General to challenge state AI statutes and the Commerce Department to catalog “onerous” regulations—is “the wrong approach” and likely illegal. The move, backed by OpenAI, Google and Andreessen Horowitz, aims to curb state‑level AI bans but faces criticism from consumer groups and legal experts who say it can’t preempt state law and will spark lawsuits. Meanwhile, state laws in Colorado and California push for consumer protections, and the order also permits limited Nvidia chip sales to China, adding market uncertainty.

Oracle refuted a Bloomberg report that its OpenAI data‑center rollout would slip to 2028, insisting all milestones remain on schedule despite labor and material shortages. The claim sent Oracle shares down over 4% after hours. The $300 billion, five‑year partnership with OpenAI aims to add 10 + gigawatts of AI compute, while Nvidia and Broadcom negotiate hardware deals. Supply‑chain constraints are pushing hyperscalers toward modular designs. Oracle sees the deal as a revenue‑diversification boost, offering integrated database‑cloud solutions and a high‑profile reference to attract more AI customers.

Broadcom’s shares fell ~11% despite a strong Q4 earnings beat and raised full‑year guidance. Investors reacted to two concerns: CEO Hock Tan’s non‑committal view on customers designing their own chips, and CFO Kirsten Spears’ warning of lower gross margins as more third‑party components are shipped. Analysts argue these issues are overstated; Broadcom’s custom silicon serves major AI customers (Alphabet, Meta, TikTok, Anthropic) and its large AI‑enabled infrastructure market offers ample growth. With robust cash flow and a record $413 stock price, the dip may present a buying opportunity.

that.Rivian’s first Autonomy and AI Day in Palo Alto showcased its in‑house RAP1 silicon chip and an upgraded AI‑driven software stack aimed at “personal Level 4” autonomy. The company promised OTA updates to its hands‑free system and hinted at chip licensing revenue. Shares fell 6% after the event but rebounded over 15% the next day; Needham lifted its price target 64% to $23, citing the technology rollout, while other analysts remained cautious about demand weakness, the loss of the EV tax credit and liquidity pressures. Rivian ends Q3 2025 with $7.7 billion in cash.