#AI

Asian chip stocks declined following a drop in Nvidia’s stock, despite strong earnings. SoftBank, having recently sold its Nvidia shares, also saw a significant fall. Companies like SK Hynix, Samsung, and TSMC, key Nvidia suppliers and competitors, experienced declines. Factors contributing to the downturn include Bitcoin’s selloff, speculation regarding Fed interest rates, tightening financial conditions, and AI bubble concerns. The pullback highlights the interconnectedness and sensitivity of the semiconductor supply chain to major players like Nvidia.

CrowdStrike is a leader in cybersecurity, driven by innovative, AI-powered solutions. Analysts predict significant growth, citing untapped markets in AI ecosystem and cloud infrastructure security. CEO Kurtz emphasizes the “agentic revolution” and its potential to drastically expand the addressable market. Despite a past IT outage, CrowdStrike maintained its customer base. While rival Palo Alto Networks also shows platformization trends, CrowdStrike’s scalable Falcon platform and focus on cloud security position it for continued success in a growing cybersecurity market fueled by AI.

Nvidia’s Q3 earnings exceeded expectations, fueled by the AI boom and reinforced by a bullish outlook. CEO Jensen Huang dismissed “AI bubble” concerns, citing increasing GPU adoption, new AI applications, and agentic AI. The company reaffirmed its $500 billion AI chip order forecast for 2025-2026. China sales were “insignificant” due to geopolitical tensions and competition, despite licenses for H20 chip exports. Analysts see continued growth, projecting substantial future cash flow for Nvidia.

Nvidia’s Q3 earnings exceeded expectations, driving shares up in premarket trading and boosting confidence in the AI sector. Revenue jumped 62% year-over-year, supported by a strong Q4 forecast. CEO Jensen Huang addressed AI bubble concerns, citing robust demand for Nvidia’s GPUs across various sectors. Analysts praised Nvidia’s transparency in tackling potential risks, including supply chain issues and market anxieties. The positive results spurred gains for other chipmakers and related infrastructure providers, signaling renewed optimism in the AI landscape.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reported strong fiscal Q1 earnings, exceeding expectations with $2.47 billion in revenue and adjusted EPS of 93 cents. The company also announced a $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere, a cloud observability platform, linked to the rise of AI. While revenue grew 16% year-over-year, net income slightly decreased. Despite positive guidance, PANW stock dipped in after-hours trading. Investors are watching increased capital expenditures and the integration of CyberArk and Chronosphere for long-term impacts. Remaining purchase obligations grew, showcasing continued demand.

Nvidia’s strong earnings, driven by AI chip demand, boosted Asian chip stocks. SK Hynix and Samsung, key memory suppliers, saw gains along with TSMC, Nvidia’s primary chip manufacturer. Renesas and Tokyo Electron, Nvidia suppliers, also rose. SoftBank, despite selling Nvidia shares, benefited through Arm and AI ventures. Nvidia’s CEO dismissed “AI bubble” concerns, citing a “new computing era,” suggesting long-term industry growth.

Adobe plans to acquire Semrush, a search engine marketing platform, for $1.9 billion in cash. This strategic move aims to enhance Adobe’s marketing tools amid the growing influence of AI. Semrush shares surged 74% on the news, while Adobe’s stock dipped 2%. The acquisition, expected to close in the first half of 2026, reflects Adobe’s focus on empowering brands in the AI-driven era. The deal follows Adobe’s abandoned attempt to acquire Figma.

Nvidia is set to release its fiscal Q3 earnings, expected to show strong revenue ($54.92B) and EPS ($1.25). Investors are focused on future guidance, particularly revenue projections ($61.66B) and insights into the burgeoning AI chip demand and Nvidia’s capacity to meet it. Commentary from CEO Jensen Huang about the $500B in chip orders is crucial. The company’s strategic investments in AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, and its approach to the China market will also be closely watched. Long-term growth projections remain bullish, with sales expected to surge in fiscal year 2027.

Nvidia’s fiscal 2026 Q3 earnings are highly anticipated, with focus on AI spending. Analysts expect EPS of $1.25 on $54.92B revenue, a 53% YoY increase. Revenue from data centers is projected to make up $49.04B. Key questions include the sustainability of 40% capex growth, plans for free cash flow, and details on $500B in orders for Blackwell/Rubin. Concerns remain about funding AI investments and interconnectedness among major players which could lead to systemic risk. Demand signals remain strong, bolstering Nvidia’s position for long-term investors.

Key market updates include: Nvidia’s AI dominance faces scrutiny amid earnings and partnerships with Microsoft/Anthropic, challenging OpenAI. Google unveils Gemini 3 to compete. Target and Lowe’s report mixed retail results. The Epstein Files Transparency Act’s passage prompts fallout, including resignation from OpenAI’s board. Meta wins antitrust battle, keeping Instagram/WhatsApp. Netflix expands into merchandise and IRL experiences.