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BNP Paribas analyst Nick Jones said Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google, is strengthening its position in agentic AI, with its cloud and infrastructure strategy supporting future growth.

Analyst Sees Upside From AI And Cloud Positioning

Jones said on Thursday that he is “incrementally positive” on Google’s role in agentic AI, citing its vertically integrated cloud offering.

He noted that Google’s ability to combine its own chips with third-party Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and integrate across platforms should help drive higher enterprise cloud and AI spending.

BNP Paribas set a $390 price forecast on the stock, implying about 15% upside from the $339.3 level.

Cloud Revenue Growth Could Accelerate

Jones said Google’s shift from AI proof-of-concept to enabling enterprises to build and scale agents could boost cloud revenue growth in the medium term.

He added that easier data access and multi-cloud capabilities reduce friction for customers, which should support increased budgets for AI adoption.

Capex And Infrastructure Support Long-Term Strategy

Jones said Google’s rising capital expenditure remains “reasonable,” given its focus on scaling agentic AI.

He pointed to new AI infrastructure, including advanced Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and data architecture, as key enablers of long-term growth as enterprise demand for AI continues to expand.

Technical Analysis

Alphabet is pressing the upper end of its 52-week range, sitting just below the $349.00 high, which is consistent with buyers staying in control. The stock is trading 7.8% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 7.5% above its 100-day SMA, suggesting the short- and intermediate-term trends remain higher.

The moving average convergence divergence (MACD), a trend/momentum indicator, is bullish with the MACD line above the signal line and the histogram positive, which suggests strengthening upside momentum. In everyday terms, MACD staying above its signal line usually means pullbacks are bought faster than rallies fade.

Over the last 12 months, the stock has been up 112.76%, which shows the longer-term tape has rewarded staying with the uptrend. With the price now near the $340.50 resistance area, the next test is whether buyers can absorb supply that has recently stalled rallies.

• Key Resistance: $340.50 — a spot where upside attempts have tended to stall.
• Key Support: $294.00 — an area where demand has previously shown up on pullbacks.

Earnings Outlook

The countdown is on: Alphabet is set to report earnings on April 29, 2026 (confirmed).

• EPS Estimate: $2.62 (Down from $2.81 YoY)
• Revenue Estimate: $104.04 Billion (Up from $90.23 Billion YoY)
• Valuation: P/E of 31.3x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers)

Top ETF Exposure

• Nuveen Growth Opportunities ETF (NYSE:NUGO): 9.39% Weight
• Alger 35 ETF (NYSE:ATFV): 9.31% Weight
• Parnassus Core Select ETF (NYSE:PRCS): 9.70% Weight

Significance: Because GOOGL carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Price Action

GOOGL Stock Price Activity: Alphabet shares were up 0.06% at $339.10 during premarket trading on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo via Shutterstock

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares rose in premarket trading on Thursday after the company expanded its stock buyback plan and reinforced its growth outlook.

According to an exchange filing, the streaming giant approved a fresh $25 billion repurchase authorization, adding to an earlier program announced in December 2024.

The combined plan carries no expiration date and offers flexibility in execution.

Share Repurchase Strategy Expands

The board approved additional capital returns as management seeks to optimize shareholder value.

The company still had about $6.8 billion remaining under its prior authorization at the end of March.

Combining the new $25 billion, the total buyback could go as high as $32 billion, which amounts to about 8% of Netflix’s total market cap. This tantamounts to a significant investment in its own stock.

Netflix said it may conduct buybacks through open-market purchases or structured trading plans. It may also use privately negotiated deals, block trades or accelerated programs.

The company emphasized it has no fixed obligation to repurchase shares.

Warner Merger Failure

The huge buyback comes after Netflix stepping away from a proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) assets.

The move underscores Netflix’s continued emphasis on organic growth.

After the merger was dropped, Bank of America Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich maintained a Buy rating on Netflix, adding that Netflix still has meaningful expansion potential.

The platform remains less than 50% penetrated across global connected TV households, leaving room for subscriber growth in both mature and emerging markets.

First-Quarter Performance

Earlier this month, Netflix posted first-quarter revenue of $12.25 billion, exceeding Wall Street projections. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.23 per share, surpassing analyst expectations.

Revenue climbed 16% from the previous year, supported by subscriber gains, pricing adjustments and advertising growth. The company noted that membership expansion drove results beyond internal forecasts.

Outlook Signals Near-Term Cost Pressure

Netflix expects second-quarter revenue to reach $12.57 billion, alongside projected earnings of 78 cents per share. The company flagged rising content amortization as a near-term headwind.

“We expect Q2 to have the highest year-over-year content amortization growth rate in 2026, before decelerating to mid-to-high single-digit growth in the second half of the year,” the company said.

Netflix reaffirmed its full-year revenue outlook of $50.7 billion to $51.7 billion. The guidance reflects confidence in sustained user growth and monetization improvements.

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions

The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $114.15. Recent analyst moves include:

• Piper Sandler: Overweight (Raises target to $115.00) (April 17)
• Oppenheimer: Outperform (Lowers target to $120.00) (April 17)
• Barclays: Equal-weight (Lowers target to $110.00) (April 17)

Top ETF Exposure

• The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLC): 5.71% weight
• First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:FDN): ~9% weight

Significance: Because Netflix holds meaningful weight in these ETFs, fund flows can influence buying or selling activity in the stock.

NFLX Price Action: Netflix shares were up 1.33% at $94.48 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Cruise stocks were supposed to be the cleanest ceasefire trade on the board. Brent off the highs, Strait of Hormuz rumors of reopening, a consumer that everyone said was still spending.

Carnival Corp. (NYSE:CCL) rallied 16% from its March 30 low. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) bounced 11%. Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) followed.

Then, Wall Street analysts started running the numbers against $90 crude.

And the numbers did not cooperate.

Bank of America analyst Andrew G. Didora became the latest to cut on Wednesday morning, trimming Royal Caribbean’s price target from $330 to $310 and Norwegian Cruise’s from $27 to $25.

The Cruise Ceasefire Rally Meets Reality: BofA Is The Latest To Cut

“1Q26 earnings season should focus on the demand impact of the Iran conflict and the flow through of higher commodity prices,” Didora said in a note.

BofA did not move alone. Morgan Stanley cut Norwegian Cruise’s price target from $24 to $23. UBS took it from $27 to $22. Wells Fargo & Co. cut from $32 to $26. Tigress Financial went from $38 to $32. Barclays trimmed from $22 to $21 .

Every major bank covering the industry has reported lower numbers over the last three weeks.

The pattern is a coordinated rewrite of the same two assumptions: fuel costs are running hotter than models priced, and European bookings are softer than management expected.

Both variables point in the same direction — 2026 yields and earnings per share were too high. Net yield is the cruise industry’s pricing thermometer. It measures net revenue — ticket sales plus onboard spending on drinks, casino, excursions – divided by the berth-days a ship has available to sell.

Think of it as dollars earned per cabin per night, stripped of commissions and pass-through costs.

“As the conflict has continued, we think net yields in 2Q-4Q26 could be softer than initially expected,” Didora said.

“NCLH noted in early March that 2026 bookings were slightly below its optimal booking range and we think any slowdown in the consumer’s booking appetite will only hurt pricing. As such, we expect pricing to remain under pressure,” he added.

What $90 Crude Does To A Cruise Ship’s Income Statement

Cruise lines burn marine bunker fuel, and bunker prices track crude with a one-to-two-week lag.

Brent at $98 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate near $89 – both up roughly 47% year-over-year – translate directly into higher 2026 fuel bills.

BofA just raised its 2026 fuel cost estimates by $174 million for Royal Caribbean and $81 million for Norwegian Cruise.

The fuel price per metric ton assumed for the second quarter jumped 24% for Royal Caribbean and 19% for Norwegian versus prior estimates.

Hedging cushions the blow – Royal Caribbean is 60% hedged for 2026, Norwegian is 51% hedged – but hedging only delays the pain, it does not eliminate it.

Market Reactions And What To Look Next

Shares of Royal Caribbean fell 1% during Wednesday’s morning trading. Norwegian Cruise slipped 0.5%, while Carnival added 0.4%.

Royal Caribbean reports first-quarter earnings on April 30, before the open. Norwegian follows a week later.

What investors will be listening for is not the first quarter print – those numbers are already tracking close to guidance – but the forward commentary.

The ceasefire rally was a reflex. The revision wave is the slow burn.

Cruise stocks have spent three weeks pricing in peace. The question the earnings season will answer is whether they also priced in $90 crude.

Image: Shutterstock

Something in the market’s math doesn’t hold.

The IEA’s director general Fatih Birol has described the current situation at the Strait of Hormuz as the worst energy crisis in history. Oil – which is trading above $90 a barrel – is still 38% above where it traded the day before the conflict began.

At $4.09 per gallon nationally, and $5.86 in California, the pump is not signaling resolution.

Yet seven major energy producers and refiners — the companies that drill the oil, refine the gasoline, and collect the margin — are trading as if Hormuz is already open, the crisis is resolved, and crude is heading back to $65.

Their forward price-to-earnings multiples sit between 7x and 11x, roughly half the S&P 500’s consensus forward P/E of around 22x.

The disconnect is not subtle. It is structural.

The Energy Stocks That Didn’t Get The Memo

The State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:XLE) is up 27% year-to-date, which sounds impressive until you consider that crude oil is up 38% from pre-war levels.

The sector has underperformed its own commodity — and pulled back 10% from its March peak — even as the underlying supply disruption has not materially improved.

That compression is where the opportunity, and the risk, lives.

The April drawdown is the mechanism that created this entry point.

Every name in the table has sold off between 5% and 14% month-to-date, even as WTI has held around $90 and Brent has pushed toward $95. 

APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA), the cheapest name at 7.2x forward P/E, has shed nearly 14% in April alone. Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) trades at 8.6x forward earnings against a median analyst target implying 31.6% upside. Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) — the lone name still negative on the year — carries the widest analyst upside in the group at 38.5%.

Forward price-to-earnings — next-twelve-months P/E — divides the stock price by the earnings analysts expect the company to produce over the coming year. A lower number means investors are paying less for each dollar of expected profit. At 7x to 11x, these names are priced as though the energy cycle ends soon.

Refiners Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC) and Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) present their own logic: crack spreads — the margin between crude input cost and refined product price — typically widen when crude stays elevated and demand holds.

Both names trade below 11x forward earnings despite a supply environment that should structurally support refining margins through the summer driving season.

Company	P/E (Next Twelve Months)	Analyst Target Upside (Med.)	MTD	YTD
APA Corporation	7.2x	+9.3%	−13.8%	+49.6%
Devon Energy Corporation	8.6x	+31.6%	−10.1%	+23.5%
EOG Resources, Inc.	9.5x	+12.2%	−8.4%	+26.1%
Expand Energy Corporation	10.7x	+38.5%	−12.5%	−13.0%
Marathon Petroleum Corporation	10.7x	+9.4%	−8.7%	+37.1%
Valero Energy Corporation	11.2x	+8.1%	−4.9%	+44.4%
Coterra Energy Inc.	11.3x	+13.9%	−10.1%	+20.1%

What’s The Market Actually Pricing In?

Energy stocks have always traded at a discount to the broader market, reflecting the cyclical nature of commodity earnings. But a 50%-plus discount in an environment where oil has been above $80 for more than six weeks — and where there is no immediate resolution to the Strait of Hormuz disruption — is unusual.

The explanation lies in what the market is implicitly pricing. Investors assigning a 7x or 8x multiple to an oil producer are assuming one of two things: either the oil price collapses back toward $60 on a ceasefire, or the earnings cycle peaks before they can compound.

Both are reasonable risks. Neither is certain.

The disconnect is sharpest at APA Corp., which trades at 7.2x forward earnings despite a 49.6% year-to-date return — still the lowest multiple among large-cap U.S. producers.

Devon Energy Corp. shows the most analyst conviction, with a median price target implying 31.6% upside from current levels despite an already strong run.

What This Means For Investors

The valuation gap is a two-sided trade. On one side, if the Hormuz disruption proves durable — no ceasefire, no rerouting solution that meaningfully restores flow — then $90 oil becomes the floor, not the ceiling, and 7x to 11x multiples look like a significant mispricing.

Every dollar of oil above $70 flows almost directly to free cash flow for low-breakeven producers like EOG Resources and Coterra Energy.

On the other side, a rapid ceasefire and Strait reopening could bring oil back toward $65 to $70 within weeks, compressing earnings and making current multiples look less attractive in hindsight.

The market is not wrong to embed that optionality — it is simply the question of which scenario deserves more weight.

Seven of the cheapest stocks in the S&P 500 right now happen to be in the sector with the most direct exposure to the defining macro story of 2026.

Whether that is an opportunity or a trap depends entirely on a waterway 7,000 miles from Wall Street.

Image: Shutterstock

Snap Inc. (NASDAQ:SNAP) shares jumped on Wednesday after the company released an investor update highlighting its product roadmap and long-term monetization strategy.

Investor Update

The April 2026 presentation highlights Snap’s focus on driving engagement, expanding AR experiences, and growing advertising revenue.

It also includes smaller hardware efforts such as AR Spectacles. The update is viewed as a sentiment catalyst ahead of the next earnings cycle.

Restructuring Plan

Snap announced a restructuring plan to cut about 1,000 jobs, or 16% of its workforce. The company will also eliminate more than 300 open roles to reach net income profitability.

It expects pre-tax charges of $95 million to $130 million, mostly in Q2 2026. The move is projected to reduce annualized costs by more than $500 million by the second half of 2026.

Financial Outlook And AI Strategy

Snap updated its Q1 2026 outlook, projecting revenue of approximately $1.529 billion, up 12% year over year. It expects adjusted EBITDA of about $233 million for the quarter.

The company lowered full-year operating expenses to $2.75 billion and reduced stock-based compensation guidance to $1.05 billion.

The restructuring aligns with Snap’s shift toward an AI-driven operating model, with AI generating over 65% of new code, handling more than 1 million monthly support queries, and identifying over 7,500 bugs. The company is targeting gross margins above 60% in 2026 and aims to reach 1 billion monthly active users.

CEO Evan Spiegel said, “change of this magnitude and at this speed is never easy and it will not be seamless,” adding that affected U.S. employees will receive severance, healthcare coverage, equity vesting, and transition support.

SNAP Technical Levels: Key Support and Resistance to Watch

Snap is recovering from a weak longer-term trend, with buyers pushing the stock higher from its March low. The stock is trading 29.7% above its 20-day SMA, indicating strong short-term momentum.

However, it remains 5.7% below its 100-day SMA, suggesting the intermediate trend is not fully repaired.

The moving average structure remains a headwind, with the 20-day SMA below the 50-day SMA. The 50-day SMA is also below the 200-day SMA, signaling a longer-term downtrend.

With the stock still 17.7% below its 200-day SMA, bulls need follow-through to confirm a sustained recovery.

The moving average convergence divergence (MACD), a trend/momentum measure, is above its signal line, which leans toward improving momentum versus earlier in the downtrend. In everyday terms, MACD being above the signal line means upside pressure is currently outweighing downside pressure, even if the bigger trend is still repairing.

• Key Resistance: $6.50 — a round-number area where rebounds often stall if buyers hesitate.
• Key Support: $5.00 — a psychological level that can attract dip-buying if the move fades.

Snap Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions:

Snap has a Hold Rating and an average price target of $9.05 (high: $16.00; low: $5.50) from 34 analysts. Recent analyst moves include:

• Canaccord Genuity: Hold (Lowers Target to $6.00) (April 14)
• Wells Fargo: Equal-Weight (Lowers Target to $6.00) (April 7)
• Freedom Broker: Buy (Lowers Target to $8.00) (February 23)

SNAP Price Action: Snap shares were up 6.23% at $5.94 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image via Shutterstock

On Tuesday, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) kicked off the first-quarter 2026 earnings season with results that beat Wall Street expectations, driven by strong revenue growth and resilient consumer activity.

The bank reported net income of $16.5 billion, or $5.94 per share, up 17% from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share also came in at $5.94, surpassing analyst estimates of $5.45.

Managed net revenue rose to $50.5 billion, topping expectations of $49.2 billion.

Earnings Details

Net interest income, excluding Markets, increased 3% year over year to $23.3 billion, supported by higher deposit balances and increased revolving balances in card services.

Noninterest revenue, excluding Markets, climbed 14% to $15.7 billion, driven by asset management fees, auto lease income, and stronger payments and investment banking activity.

Markets revenue jumped 20% to $11.6 billion.

Loan and Deposit Growth

The firm posted a return on equity of 19% and a return on tangible common equity of 23%.

Average loans grew 11% year over year and 2% sequentially, while average deposits increased 7% year over year and 1% from the prior quarter.

Provision for credit losses was $2.51 billion. Net charge-offs totaled $2.3 billion, down slightly, while the net reserve build stood at $191 million.

JPMorgan returned $4.1 billion in common dividends, or $1.50 per share, and repurchased $8.1 billion in stock during the quarter.

Balance Sheet and Capital

The bank ended the quarter with a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 14.3% under the standardized approach.

Total loss-absorbing capacity stood at $572 billion, and the supplementary leverage ratio was 5.6%.

Book value per share rose 8% to $128.38, while tangible book value increased 8% to $108.87.

Management Commentary

Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said, “The U.S. economy remained resilient in the quarter, with consumers still earning and spending and businesses still healthy.”

Dimon said the economy’s resilience is being supported by multiple tailwinds, including stronger fiscal stimulus, deregulation benefits, rising AI-led investment and the Federal Reserve’s asset purchases.

However, he cautioned that risks are becoming more complex, citing geopolitical conflicts, volatile energy prices, trade uncertainty, large global deficits and high asset valuations.

While the outcomes remain uncertain, he stressed that these factors are meaningful and underscore the need to prepare for a wide range of scenarios.

“While we cannot predict how these risks and uncertainties will ultimately play out, they are significant and they reinforce why we prepare the Firm for a wide range of environments,” he said.

During the earnings call, CFO Jeremy Barnum said the bank has about $50 billion in private credit exposure within a broader $160 billion exposure to non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).

He also noted that the persistent U.S. GSIB surcharge is a drag on international competitiveness. At the same time, consumer spending growth continues to outpace last year’s levels, while client engagement and investment banking pipelines remain strong.

Barnum added that developments in the Middle East could affect deal timing and execution. Looking ahead, he said the bigger concern would be how a future credit cycle stress might ripple through the broader financial system.

Segment Performance

Consumer & Community Banking posted net income of $5.0 billion, up 12%, on revenue of $19.6 billion.

Commercial & Investment Bank profit surged 30% to $9.0 billion, with revenue rising 19% to $23.4 billion, led by strength in Markets and Banking & Payments.

Asset & Wealth Management reported net income of $1.8 billion, up 12%, as assets under management reached $4.8 trillion.

Outlook

JPMorgan expects fiscal 2026 net interest income of about $103 billion, or $95 billion excluding Markets.

The firm also projects a card services net charge-off rate of roughly 3.4%.

JPM Price Action: JPMorgan Chase shares were down 0.05% at $313.51 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo via Shutterstock

Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) shares are climbing Monday. The stock reached a new 52-week high of $25.55 during the session. This surge follows the historic completion of NASA’s Artemis II mission.

The Nasdaq is up 0.18% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.09%.

Artemis II Success Validates Lunar Sector

Investor optimism spiked after the Orion spacecraft successfully splashed down Friday. The mission saw four astronauts travel 694,000 miles, the farthest deep-space distance ever recorded.

Former President Barack Obama praised the crew on Saturday via X. Obama stated, “What the Artemis II astronauts did over the last 10 days was a testament to their bravery.” He called the safe 24,000 mph re-entry a “testament to human ingenuity.”

Political Support Boosts Market Sentiment

Broad political praise has further fueled the rally. President Donald Trump called the mission a symbol of American strength and global leadership. This bipartisan support reinforces the long-term viability of the space exploration sector.

Houston Homecoming Fuels Optimism

The crew arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston recently. They are now beginning post-flight debriefs.

Technical Analysis

At $23.85, LUNR is trading 20.9% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA), the stock’s average price over the last 20 sessions, which suggests buyers have controlled the short-term trend. It’s also 45.5% above its 100-day SMA.

Moving average convergence divergence (MACD), a trend/momentum measure, is bullish with the MACD line at 1.3272 above the 0.8944 signal line.

The stock is also sitting near the top of its 52-week range after setting a new 52-week high on Monday, and the 211.64% 12-month gain shows the longer-term trend has been strong.

• Key Resistance: $25.00
• Key Support: $20.50

LUNR Price Action: Intuitive Machines shares were up 3.14% at $24.31 at the time of publication on Monday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $25.00, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is doubling down on the next frontier of artificial intelligence, shifting beyond chatbots to “world models” while leveraging its fast-growing open-source ecosystem to expand its global AI footprint.

Shift Beyond Language Models Into World Models

Alibaba Cloud is moving beyond traditional large language models toward AI systems that better simulate the real world. The move reflects growing recognition that text-trained large language models have inherent limitations.

Unlike text-based systems such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, these “world models” rely on multimodal data — including video, audio, and physical interactions — to better mirror real-world environments.

To capitalize on this shift, Alibaba led a 2 billion yuan ($290 million) investment in ShengShu, the developer behind the Vidu AI video generation tool, CNBC reported on Thursday.

The funding will support the development of a “general world model” to bridge digital environments, such as games and AI-generated video, with physical applications, such as autonomous driving and robotics.

Expanding Bets Across the World Model Ecosystem

Alibaba is deepening its push into “world model” AI with targeted investments. Last month, alongside Baidu, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:BIDU) Baidu Ventures, it co-led a $50 million round in Tripo AI, which creates 3D models from photos and is building AI systems grounded in physical environments.

Earlier, in September, Alibaba also led a $60 million investment in PixVerse, whose AI world model enables users to control how videos evolve in real time during generation.

Beyond investments, Alibaba is advancing its own capabilities, releasing open-source video AI models and launching a robotics-focused model in February.

Open-Source Momentum Strengthens Global Position

At the same time, Alibaba Cloud is gaining significant traction in open-source AI. Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen models now drive over 50% of global open-source AI downloads, nearing 1 billion total downloads—far ahead of rivals like Meta Platforms, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:META) Llama.

The surge, led by Qwen 3.5, is driven by low-cost, smaller models that are easy to deploy, SCMP reported on Friday. Chinese models have dominated open-source adoption since 2024, though players like OpenAI and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) are starting to regain ground.

Technical Analysis

At $128.55, Alibaba is trading 1.1% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA), the stock’s average price over the last 20 sessions, which suggests short-term stabilization is trying to take hold. At the same time, it’s trading 14.4% below its 100-day SMA, indicating the intermediate trend still leans bearish.

The moving average convergence divergence (MACD), a trend/momentum indicator, is at -4.9703, while the signal line is at -5.9890, suggesting downside pressure is easing. That said, the broader moving-average structure remains heavy after the death cross in April, which often reflects longer-cycle selling control.

Over the last 12 months, the stock has risen 22.56%, a backward-looking gain that suggests the longer-term picture hasn’t fully broken despite the drawdown. Within its $95.73 to $192.67 52-week range, the stock is well off its highs, consistent with a market still rebuilding confidence after prior peaks.

• Key Resistance: $139.00 — a level where rallies have recently struggled to push through.
• Key Support: $128.50 — a near-term floor that buyers are trying to defend right now.

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

Looking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the May 14, 2026 (estimated) earnings report.

• EPS Estimate: $1.29 (Down from $1.73 YoY)
• Revenue Estimate: $35.35 Billion (Up from $32.58 Billion YoY)
• Valuation: P/E of 22.6x (Suggests fair valuation relative to peers)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $182.21. Recent analyst moves include:

• Susquehanna: Positive (Lowers Target to $170.00) (March 26)
• JP Morgan: Overweight (Lowers Target to $205.00) (March 20)
• Mizuho: Outperform (Lowers Target to $190.00) (March 20)

Top ETF Exposure

• SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (NYSE:XNTK): 3.53% Weight
• Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NASDAQ:EMEQ): 3.35% Weight
• Robo Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (NYSE:THNQ): 2.59% Weight

Significance: Because BABA carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Price Action

BABA Price Action: Alibaba shares were up 0.82% at $128.72 during premarket trading on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image via Shutterstock

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) said Monday its board has approved an additional $500 million for its share repurchase program, lifting the total authorization to $1.5 billion.

Boosts Share Buyback

The company has already repurchased 413,130 shares of its Class A common stock at an average price of $364.57 per share, totaling $150.6 million under the existing program.

“We repurchased $150.6 million of shares following our record Q4 FY26, as we see a growing disconnect between our improving momentum fueled by AI tailwinds and our current valuation,” said Burt Podbere, CrowdStrike’s CFO.

“We have increased our share repurchase authorization to $1.5 billion to opportunistically return value to shareholders as we progress toward our goal of reaching $20 billion in ending ARR by FY36.”

Recent Earnings

Last month, CrowdStrike reported fourth-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations. Revenue rose to $1.31 billion, slightly ahead of analyst estimates of about $1.30 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.12 per share, also beating consensus forecasts of $1.10 per share.

Annual recurring revenue (ARR) climbed 24% year over year to $5.25 billion, driven by $330.7 million in net new ARR added during the quarter.

Looking ahead, the company guided for fiscal 2027 revenue in the range of $5.87 billion to $5.93 billion, compared with estimates of $5.86 billion. It expects full-year adjusted earnings of $4.78 to $4.90 per share, roughly in line with consensus estimates of $4.82 per share.

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $499.91. Recent analyst moves include:

• Wolfe Research: Upgraded to Outperform (Target $450.00) (March 30)
• RBC Capital: Outperform (Maintains Target to $550.00) (March 17)
• Morgan Stanley: Upgraded to Overweight (Raises Target to $510.00) (March 10)

CRWD at $401.69 Above 20-Day, 100-Day SMA

At $401.69, the stock is currently trading above its 20-day and 100-day simple moving averages (SMA), suggesting a bullish short-term trend. Specifically, it is trading 10.2% above its 20-day SMA and 5.1% above its 100-day SMA, indicating strong upward momentum in both the short and intermediate term.

The stock has shown a 12-month performance of 23.05%, reflecting a solid upward trajectory over the past year. Currently, it is positioned within the 52-week range, which has a high of $566.90 and a low of $298.00, suggesting that it is trading closer to the mid-range of its yearly performance.

• Key Resistance: $452.00 — This level may act as a barrier for further upward movement.
• Key Support: $342.50 — This level could provide a safety net for buyers if tested.

CRWD ETF Weights: CIBR 6.85%, BUG 5.66%

• First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:CIBR): 6.85% Weight
• Amplify Cybersecurity ETF (NYSE:HACK): 4.57% Weight
• Global X Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:BUG): 5.66% Weight

Significance: Because CRWD carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.

CRWD Price Action: CrowdStrike Holdings shares were down 0.69% at $396.37 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) on Monday announced it has renewed and expanded its partnership with Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA) through a new five-year agreement to advance data and artificial intelligence capabilities across the automaker’s operations.

Expanded Platform Deployment

Stellantis will expand its use of Palantir Foundry and begin deploying the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) across select functions and regions. Foundry centralizes and operationalizes data, while AIP integrates AI into workflows with governance controls.

Operational Impact And Integration

The combined platforms aim to unify fragmented datasets, improve transparency, and enable faster decision-making within industrial operations.

AIP will build on Stellantis’ existing data structure in Foundry, linking generative AI with internal data and business processes. The approach is intended to strengthen governance, improve traceability, and support the scaled deployment of AI use cases.

The initiative also supports Stellantis’ Data4All strategy by expanding secure data access across teams.

François Bohuon, General Manager of Palantir France and EMEA Executive, and Grégoire Omont, Europe Operations Lead, stated: “By combining Foundry and AIP, we are helping Stellantis embed secure, governed AI at the heart of its operations — turning data into a decisive advantage across every function and geography.”

PLTR 5.5% Below 20-Day SMA

Currently, the stock is trading 5.5% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 12.2% below its 100-day SMA, indicating a bearish trend in the short- to medium-term. Over the past 12 months, shares have increased by 69.50%, and they are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.

The RSI is at 42.24, which is considered neutral territory, suggesting that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. Meanwhile, MACD is at 0.7638, below its signal line at 1.3955, indicating bearish pressure on the stock. The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum.

• Key Resistance: $161.50
• Key Support: $126.50

PLTR May 4, 2026 Earnings

Palantir Technologies is slated to provide its next financial update on May 4, 2026 (estimated).

• EPS Estimate: 26 cents (Up from 13 cents)
• Revenue Estimate: $1.54 billion (Up from $883.86 million)
• Valuation: P/E of 227.1x (Indicates premium valuation)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $173.11. Recent analyst moves include:

• Rosenblatt: Buy (Maintains Target to $200.00) (Mar. 25)
• UBS: Buy (Raises Target to $200.00) (Mar. 18)
• Wedbush: Outperform (Maintains Target to $230.00) (Mar. 16)

Benzinga Edge: Growth 98.56, Value 1.45

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Palantir Technologies, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

• Value: Weak (Score: 1.45) — Trading at a steep premium relative to peers.
• Growth: Strong (Score: 98.56) — High growth potential indicated by strong metrics.
• Momentum: Neutral (Score: 68.79) — Mixed signals in recent trading activity.

The Verdict: Palantir Benzinga Edge signal reveals a growth-heavy profile, suggesting strong market potential despite current value concerns.

PLTR ETF Weights: AIPI 8.93%, IGV 8.32%

• iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV): 8.32% Weight
• Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:SHLD): 5.82% Weight
• REX AI Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:AIPI): 8.93% Weight

Significance: Because PLTR carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Stock Price Activity: PLTR shares were up 0.52% at $143.80, and STLA was up 1.79% at $6.83 during premarket trading on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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