Amazon ( AMZN ) shares climbed more than 3% on Thursday, making it one of the S&P 500’s strongest performers, after a string of positive developments reinforced confidence in its growth story. A major catalyst came from Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup backed by Amazon, which just closed a $13 billion funding round at a stunning $183 billion valuation. Amazon holds an estimated 15–19% stake in Anthropic and is already benefiting from its rapid rise. Analysts say Anthropic could spend as much as $5 billion on Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2026, helping to reaccelerate growth at Amazon’s most profitable business unit. AWS, which generates roughly 60% of the company’s operating profits, has faced stiff competition from Microsoft Azure ( MSFT ) and Google Cloud ( GOOG ). But investors are now warming to what some call an “AWS AI Resurgence,” with forecasts suggesting AWS could return to growth above 20% annually by late 2025. The partnership is strategic beyond financi...

American Eagle Outfitters ( AEO ) stunned the market this week as shares skyrocketed more than 30%, fueled by a controversial yet wildly effective ad campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney.  Despite sparking heated debate over its “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” tagline, the denim campaign delivered what executives described as “record-breaking new customer acquisition.” The buzz, coupled with a partnership featuring NFL star Travis Kelce, has given the teen apparel retailer new life heading into the back half of the year. CEO Jay Schottenstein credited the campaigns for driving over 700,000 new customers and generating a staggering 40 billion impressions, noting that “the fall season is off to a positive start.” The surge in visibility has lifted American Eagle back into the spotlight with Gen Z and millennial shoppers—key demographics the retailer has struggled to recapture in recent years. Financial Results Outpace Expectations Beyond marketing wins, the numbers backed up the...

Zscaler ( ZS ) shares traded modestly lower following its latest earnings release, even though the cybersecurity leader once again topped Wall Street’s expectations.  The company reported revenue of $719 million for its fiscal fourth quarter, up 21% from last year, while adjusted earnings came in at $0.89 per share—beating consensus estimates by more than 10%. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) climbed 22% to surpass $3 billion, reflecting healthy demand for Zscaler’s cloud-native security solutions. Remaining performance obligations (RPO), a measure of future revenue under contract, jumped 31% to $5.8 billion. Despite these figures, investor enthusiasm cooled as earnings guidance for the next fiscal year landed in line with, rather than above, analyst forecasts—a rare move for a company known for conservative guidance followed by consistent beats. AI, Zero Trust, and Data Security Driving Expansion Zscaler continues to ride three powerful growth vectors: AI security, Zero Trust Everyw...

Spirit Airlines’ second bankruptcy filing in less than a year has reshaped the competitive landscape of the airline industry.  While the parent company Spirit Aviation Holdings (FLYY) saw shares slide following the announcement, peers such as Frontier Group Holdings (ULCC), Allegiant Travel (ALGT), and JetBlue Airways ( JBLU ) rallied. Frontier emerged as the standout, with its stock jumping more than 25% at one point. Deutsche Bank upgraded Frontier to a “buy,” doubling its price target to $8, citing the company’s aggressive expansion into Spirit’s key markets such as Baltimore, Detroit, and Houston. By year-end, Frontier’s network could overlap 40% of Spirit’s routes, a move that analysts suggest positions it as the biggest near-term winner. Frontier may also benefit if Spirit is forced to shed aircraft or even becomes a takeover target, reigniting speculation of a merger after their failed 2022 tie-up. Still, analysts caution that the ultra-low-cost model remains vulnerable to e...

Alphabet ( GOOG ) shares surged more than 8% on Wednesday after a federal judge handed Google a major win in a long-running antitrust battle. The decision spares the company from having to sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system, a relief for investors who had braced for a far harsher outcome. Court Blocks Harshest Remedies but Imposes New Limits Judge Amit Mehta of the District of Columbia ruled that a forced breakup of Google’s core businesses would be a “poor fit,” rejecting the Justice Department’s request to unwind Chrome or Android. He also declined to block the company’s multibillion-dollar revenue-sharing agreements, such as the roughly $20 billion in annual payments Google makes to Apple ( AAPL ) to keep its search engine the default option on iPhones and Siri. Still, Google faces restrictions. It can no longer sign exclusive distribution deals tying together its search engine, browser, or Gemini AI services, and must share some search index data with competitors. ...

Constellation Brands ( STZ ) shares tumbled more than 6% Tuesday, sinking to their lowest level since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The selloff came after the company behind Corona and Modelo slashed its fiscal 2026 outlook, citing weaker consumer demand for beer and the impact of tariffs. The stock is now down 32% year to date, underscoring the tough stretch for one of the world’s largest beer, wine, and spirits producers. A Steep Reset on Expectations Management now expects adjusted earnings per share of $11.30 to $11.60 for fiscal 2026, well below its previous range of $12.60 to $12.90. Beer sales, once forecast to grow slightly, are now expected to decline 2% to 4%, while operating income could sink 7% to 9%. That marks a sharp reversal from earlier projections of flat-to-modest growth. Enterprise-wide, organic net sales are projected to fall 4% to 6%, compared to prior guidance that ranged from a 2% decline to a potential 1% increase. Free cash flow expectations we...

PepsiCo ( PEP ) surged Tuesday after Elliott Investment Management revealed a $4 billion stake in the soda and snack giant.  Shares climbed as much as 5% in early trading, even as the broader S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell nearly 1%. The move makes Elliott one of PepsiCo’s largest shareholders, giving it a strong voice at a time when the company is facing mounting competitive and operational pressures. For investors, the news marks one of the most significant activist campaigns in recent memory for the consumer packaged goods sector. Elliott is betting that PepsiCo, despite its recent stumbles, has the brand power and global reach to unlock far more value than its current stock price suggests. The Activist Playbook: Refranchising, Divestitures, and Efficiency In its letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott outlined a five-part turnaround plan aimed at driving more than 50% upside in the stock. At the heart of the proposal are sweeping operational changes: Refranchising the bottling network ...