{"s":"ok","symbol":["AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL","AAPL"],"headline":["Wedbush Projects $90 for MP Materials: Is This the Only Real Play on American Rare Earth Independence?","Here's Where Interest Rates Could Be Headed This Year if Trump Gets His Way -- and Here's Who'd Benefit","China claims global auto sales lead from Japan, sets sights on quality","IBM’s stock split history: Why Big Blue stopped splitting shares","2 charts show why Magnificent 7 stocks are being loved again","MP Materials Becomes Stable Asset With US Government Backing, Multi-Year Contracts, Wedbush Says","Wealth Manager Builds Position in Fixed-Income ETF, According to Latest SEC Filing","Data center demand drives upside for range of semis ahead of earnings: Susquehanna","When Will Meta Begin Layoffs? Report Outlines Details Of 8,000 Cuts Amid AI Focus","Why the Dow Is Beating the S&P 500 Today"],"content":["Quick Read

Wedbush initiated MP Materials (MP) stock at Outperform with a $90 price target, as MP Materials represents the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the U.S. operating the Mountain Pass Mine and Independence magnet facility with $224.44M in 2025 revenue and record NdPr oxide production of 2,599 metric tons. The U.S. government is actively funding domestic rare earth supply chains, making MP Materials’ vertical integration from mining through magnet manufacturing a structural competitive moat against China’s dominance. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE.

MP Materials (NYSE:MP) stock just earned a strong endorsement from Wedbush, which initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $90 price target. The call frames MP as the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the U.S., a distinction that carries growing weight as Washington pushes to break China's grip on critical minerals.

MP Materials stock is trading around $64.20 as of today, and the Wedbush target sits well above the current analyst consensus of $77.69. With 15 Buy ratings and zero Sell ratings across the analyst community, Wedbush is staking out the most aggressive target of the group.

Ticker Company Firm Action Old Rating New Rating Old Target New Target MP MP Materials Wedbush Initiation N/A Outperform N/A $90

The Analyst's Case

Wedbush's core argument centers on vertical integration as the most underappreciated dimension of the MP Materials story. The cross-pollination between Mountain Pass and Independence creates cost and quality advantages that flow in both directions, meaning the mine makes the magnet facility better, and the magnet facility makes the mine more valuable. That's a structural moat most commodity miners can't claim.

READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

The firm sees MP's mine-to-magnet capability as a genuine competitive advantage at a time when the U.S. government is actively funding domestic rare earth supply chains. The Department of War price protection agreement, which sets a $110/kg floor for NdPr products and generated $51.02 million in PPA income during Q4 2025, is exactly the kind of contractual backstop that makes this thesis more durable than a typical mining play.

Company Snapshot

MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass Mine in California and its Independence magnet manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Mountain Pass is the only scaled rare earth mining and processing site in the Western Hemisphere. The company recorded full-year 2025 revenue of $224.44 million, up 10% year over year, alongside record NdPr oxide production of 2,599 metric tons, more than doubling the prior year's output.

Story Continues

Anchor customers include Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and General Motors (NYSE:GM), with magnet production for GM ramping through 2026. A 10X magnetics facility in Northlake, Texas, backed by a $200 million incentive package, is expected to break ground this year.

Why the Move Matters Now

MP Materials stock has risen 27% year to date, reflecting growing investor recognition of the company's strategic position. The Wedbush $90 target exceeds the broader analyst consensus by a meaningful margin, signaling the firm sees the vertical integration story as not yet fully priced in. With the heavy rare earth separation facility targeting a mid-2026 commissioning, the next catalyst is closer than many investors may realize.

What It Means for Your Portfolio

MP Materials occupies a rare position: it's a critical infrastructure play dressed up as a mining stock. The government-backed revenue floor and blue-chip customer roster provide visibility that's unusual in the materials sector. That said, the company posted a full-year 2025 net loss of $85.87 million, and execution risk on the Northlake facility remains real.

If you believe the U.S. is serious about rare earth independence and that MP can scale its magnetics business on schedule, the Wedbush initiation makes a compelling case for adding exposure. Watch the Independence facility ramp and the Northlake groundbreaking as the two clearest signals of whether this thesis is on track.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

Wall Street is pouring billions into AI, but most investors are buying the wrong stocks. The analyst who first identified NVIDIA as a buy back in 2010 — before its 28,000% run — has just pinpointed 10 new AI companies he believes could deliver outsized returns from here. One dominates a $100 billion equipment market. Another is solving the single biggest bottleneck holding back AI data centers. A third is a pure-play on an optical networking market set to quadruple. Most investors haven't heard of half these names. Get the free list of all 10 stocks here.

View Comments","The Federal Reserve (Fed) is the central bank of the United States, responsible for keeping the monetary system running as smoothly as possible. One of its biggest jobs is setting the federal funds rate, which influences the cost of borrowing for people and businesses.

The Fed is an independent agency, not a political institution, so the president can't control the rates himself, though President Donald Trump is always pushing boundaries and has threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell before the end of his term next month.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on a little-known company, called an \"Indispensable Monopoly,\" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. \r
\r
Continue »

During a recent Fox Business interview, Trump was asked if he thinks rates will be cut more this year, and he responded, \"When Kevin gets in, I do.\" Trump was referring to Kevin Warsh, his nominee to replace Powell. (The Senate confirms Fed chairs.) So, it's clear the president wants rates lowered. What happens if he gets his way?Image source: Getty Images.

The interest rate journey over the past few years

The U.S. went a good stretch with extremely low interest rates. From March 2020 to February 2022, the fed funds rate stayed at 0.25%. However, the rate was then consistently raised to help fight inflation, and by July 2023, it had jumped to 5.25%, where it remained until August 2024.

The interest rate is now in the 3.5% to 3.75% target range (3.64% at the time of this writing) after the Fed kept it unchanged at its last two meetings.Effective Federal Funds Rate data by YCharts

What industries benefit from interest rate cuts?

But what if Trump's pick gets in and the Federal Open Market Committee lowers interest rates? Real estate would be one of the main beneficiaries. When interest rates decline, mortgage rates follow suit, making homeownership more affordable. The difference between paying 5% versus 3% on a mortgage could easily be tens of thousands of dollars over time, so many people delay buying homes until rates are more favorable.

The same applies to the auto industry, where lower rates mean cheaper car loans, ideally leading to more sales for dealerships and manufacturers.

Tech and growth stocks also tend to flourish with lower interest rates because many of their valuations are based on future earnings, which become more valuable with lower rates. Safer investments also become less attractive at lower rates, driving investors back to the high-growth opportunities offered by the tech sector.

Low interest rates weren't the primary cause, but they surely helped fuel the tech sector's huge growth over the past decade or so, when they hovered just above 0% for much of the time.

Story Continues

What industries could be hurt by interest rate cuts?

The banking industry could be one of the first to see its businesses affected by rate cuts because a large part of its business is taking the money customers deposit (in checking or savings accounts), paying customers interest on it, and then lending it back out at a higher interest rate (mortgages, personal loans, business loans, etc.).

This is called \"net interest income,\" and it can be reduced by lower interest rates because banks earn less on their loans. Sometimes they'll lower the rates they pay on deposits, but it's generally much slower, and they can only go so low before losing customers.

You shouldn't invest in a stock based on what might happen with interest rates, but it's always smart to think about what might happen, who might benefit, and who might lose.

Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity

Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.

On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:

Nvidia:if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009,you’d have $523,131!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $51,457!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $524,786!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 20, 2026

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Here's Where Interest Rates Could Be Headed This Year if Trump Gets His Way -- and Here's Who'd Benefit was originally published by The Motley Fool

View Comments","BEIJING, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily

In a significant shift for the global automotive industry, Chinese automakers sold nearly 27 million vehicles worldwide in 2025, surpassing Japan's approximate 25 million sales. This marks the first time China has ended Japan's 25-year reign as the global sales leader.

The milestone is underscored by three Chinese companies now ranking among the world's top ten automakers. Notably, BYD secured its position as the global leader in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales for the fourth consecutive year.

The shift has sparked a wave of online comparisons: Nokia watching Apple's rise, or Kodak facing the digital revolution.

However, the rise of Chinese automakers is not simply a story about volume. It signals a generational transformation in the global auto industry, driven by strategic foresight and sustained innovation.

Often described as a \"crown jewel\" of modern industry, the automotive sector is a key indicator of a country's manufacturing strength.

In the early 20th century, Ford pioneered assembly-line production, shifting the industry's center from Europe to the United States. In the 1970s, following the oil shocks, Japanese automakers built global dominance on fuel efficiency and lean production. By 1980, Japan had overtaken the United States, and since 2000, companies like Toyota, Honda and Nissan set the pace.

Now, momentum has shifted decisively towards China.

As global decarbonization efforts accelerated, Chinese automakers moved quickly into electrification and intelligent technologies. This led to rapid advancements in areas like battery technology, large in-car displays, and urban automated driving systems (like Navigation on Autopilot - NOA).

Meanwhile, segments of the Japanese auto industry deliberated over the pace of transition, debating whether electric vehicles would fully supplant hybrids.

This divergence in approach led to a widening gap. By 2025, NEVs accounted for nearly 60 percent of China's auto market, compared with less than 3 percent in Japan.

China's rise reflects a long-term strategic vision, not an overnight success. NEVs were designated a national high-tech R&D priority as early as 2001.

Over more than two decades, policies ranging from purchase subsidies to charging infrastructure development, alongside sustained technological breakthroughs and market cultivation, have laid a solid foundation for the industry.

Furthermore, China's comprehensive industrial chain and vast domestic market provided fertile ground for the rapid innovation and large-scale deployment of NEVs.

Story Continues

This well-integrated ecosystem, encompassing upstream sectors like advanced materials, accelerated battery breakthroughs and enabled significant economies of scale.

This industrial clustering not only fosters coordinated innovation but also significantly reduces costs and shortens development cycles. Some estimates suggest Chinese automakers can develop a new electric vehicle in about 18 months -- more than twice as fast as many Japanese counterparts.

An analyst at Japan's Mizuho Bank attributed this to a combination of advanced technology, cost advantages and rapid R&D capabilities.

Yet, scale does not equate to strength. Despite a sharp drop in net profit in 2025, Toyota continues to generate higher per-vehicle profit -- around 17,000 yuan ($2,470) -- than its Chinese competitors.

Having secured the title of \"volume champion,\" Chinese automakers now face the challenge of becoming \"quality champions.\" Key hurdles remain: building stronger brand premium, navigating regulatory headwinds such as carbon tariffs and data security reviews in Europe and the United States, making charging as seamless as refueling; and advancing autonomous driving from promise to reality.

Each milestone reveals new challenges. However, one fact is undeniable: China's auto industry has moved to the center of the global stage. Its focus is shifting beyond speed and scale to pursuing long-term excellence and enduring quality in the new energy era.Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/china-claims-global-auto-sales-lead-from-japan-sets-sights-on-quality-302747419.html

View Comments","Stock splits used to be a common corporate practice. According to the CFA Institute Journal Review, the frequency of stock splits began increasing in the 1920s and peaked in 1982, when roughly 23% of listed companies split their shares. Tech titan IBM split its stock more than a dozen times during that period.

Back then, companies split their stock when their share prices reached “high” levels, usually $100 or more, so they would be more affordable to individual investors.

Today, the rise of electronic trading platforms like Robinhood and WeBull has made it easier for investors to purchase fractional shares, and institutional investors have increased overall liquidity, thus reducing the need for businesses to split their stock.

As a result, stock splits are now seen more as symbolic gestures or proclamations of success. For instance, both Apple (AAPL) and Nvidia (NVDA) split their stock after major share price gains.

Stock splits also usually signify positive momentum for a company, and investors generally respond to a stock split announcement by buying even more shares.

Still, analysts are quick to point out that a stock split does not change the total value of an investor's shares; it only changes the number of shares held and the price of each share.

So while stock splits were once a routine part of corporate strategy, they’ve become a far less common practice today. Few companies illustrate that shift more clearly than IBM (IBM), which hasn’t executed a traditional stock split in decades.

Related: Is IBM a good investment in 2026? Its buy-and-hold prospects explained

A Timeline of IBM’s stock splits

IBM has executed more than a dozen stock splits since its founding in 1911. In fact, if you had purchased one share of IBM before May 29, 1973, you would have 20.92 IBM shares today.

Here's a full list of the company's stock splits:

Recorddate Paymentdate Stock split type 02/16/1926 02/27/1926 3-for-1 01/16/1946 01/28/1946 25% 01/23/1948 02/06/1948 75% 05/07/1954 05/10/1954 25% 05/04/1956 05/15/1956 25% 05/07/1957 05/13/1957 2-for-1 05/05/1959 05/18/1959 50% 05/05/1961 05/16/1961 50% 05/05/1964 05/18/1964 25% 05/03/1966 05/18/1966 50% 05/09/1968 05/24/1968 2-for-1 05/10/1973 05/29/1973 25% 05/10/1979 05/31/1979 4-for-1 05/09/1997 05/27/1997 2-for-1 05/10/1999 05/26/1999 2-for-1

Source: IBM

IBM's stock split history explained

IBM’s stock splits occurred during seasons of expansion, especially in the late 20th century, when it dominated the technology sector.

In 1979, for instance, the company introduced its 4300 series processors and advanced color display terminals, ushering once-bulky mainframe computing powers into everyday workplaces. On May 31, 1979, IBM executed a massive 4-for-1 stock split.

Story Continues

Later, in the 1990s, under transformative CEO Louis Gerstner, the company pivoted from selling only hardware to offering consulting services and IT services, which would make up more than half of its revenues.

And in 1997, Deep Blue, the IBM supercomputer, beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov, raising the public's attention to the potential of machine learning for the very first time.

On May 27, 1997, IBM split its shares 2-for-1.

The last time IBM executed a traditional stock split was in 1999, after it made a strategic investment in Linux, thus becoming the first company to use open-source technology in its mainframe servers.

IBM split shares 2-for-1 on May 26, 1999.

Related: How many employees work at IBM in 2026? Job locations & recent layoffs explained

Was IBM’s Kyndryl spinoff a stock split?

To focus on its hybrid cloud and AI offerings, on November 3, 2021, IBM spun off its Kyndryl business. This meant that Kyndryl (KD) became an independent IT services company with its own publicly traded shares; it was not a stock split.

According to Fast Company, this is an increasingly common practice for companies to avoid becoming targets for activist investors.

IBM sent a letter to shareholders explaining that the move was a \"pro rata dividend\" distribution and that 80.1% of Kyndryl's common stock would be distributed to IBM shareholders.

Dow company histories:

History of Apple: Company timeline and facts History of Coca-Cola: Timeline, facts & milestones History of Nike: Company timeline and facts

For every five shares of IBM stock they held on October 25, 2021, IBM shareholders received one share of the new Kyndryl (KD) stock. The tax-free distribution took place on November 3, 2021.

This spinoff did not change the number of IBM shares that shareholders owned.

As separate businesses, IBM and Kyndryl would have “more agility to focus on their operating and financial models, both will have greater freedom to partner with others, and both will align their investments and capital to their strategic focus areas,” the letter stated. It added: “All of this will create value for clients and for you, the investors, with an improved financial profile of both companies.”

Related: What does IBM do? Inside its AI, cloud & consulting business

Why did IBM stop splitting its stock after 1999?

Aside from the rise of fractional trading, which reduced the need to execute stock splits, along with the growing popularity of spinning off corporate divisions, which is a different way to restructure business growth, IBM has shifted its focus towards consistent dividend growth and long-term stability—making stock splits less relevant to its overall strategy.

After all, 30 consecutive years of quarterly cash increases places IBM in the elite category of dividend aristocrats — and that’s something the company will always prioritize.

Related: The Dow’s best dividend stocks: A shortlist for income investors

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Investing section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

View Comments","With geopolitical tensions simmering down ever so slightly versus March's hysteria, investors are back on the hunt for attractively valued companies with strong earnings growth potential.

That mission is likely to lead them back to the Magnificent Seven.

Fresh analysis of S&P 500 earnings estimates by Morgan Stanley underscore the point. Net income growth for the Magnificent Seven is expected to not only accelerate in the first three quarters of this year, it's poised to sharply outpace the rest of the S&P 500. The S&P 493 will be unlikely eclipse the Mag 7 in terms of earnings growth until the fourth of this year, given tougher comparisons to 2025 for the tech giants.

Mag Seven net income is estimated to grow 25% in 2026 compared to 11% for the S&P 493. The relative outperformance on net income is expected to stretch into 2027, Morgan Stanley notes.

The Magnificent Seven is a group of high-performing, mega-cap US tech stocks that have dominated the market’s returns since 2023. They include: Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META) and Tesla (TSLA).Mag Seven earnings growth has a runaway of relative outperformance this year.·Morgan StanleyMag Seven earnings growth will stay strong in 2027 too.·Morgan Stanley

Investors appear to be rallying around the notion, again, that this is a tech or bust market, largely due to strong profit potential.

Investors have pivoted aggressively from defensive oil and gold positions back into the AI supercycle trades, bolstered by Taiwan Semiconductor's (TSM) strong earnings and a stronger outlook for AI demand last week.

The report proved the sector’s fundamental growth remains unbreakable despite geopolitical volatility.

Amazon has also been a strong performer the past month as investors bet its AWS business will be lifted by exposure to demand from key customer Anthropic (ANTH.PVT).

The average gain for a member of the Magnificent Seven complex is 11% over the past month, with the largest increase at 20% for Amazon.

\"Recent data points suggest an even faster acceleration of AI capabilities than we expected,\" Morgan Stanley strategist Sam Coffin said in a note.

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

View Comments","MP Materials (MP) has raised its status from a speculative commodity investment subject to Chinese p

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Already have a subscription? Sign in","On April 15, 2026, Gradient Capital Advisors, LLC disclosed a purchase of 52,666 shares of Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF(NASDAQ:DFGP), an estimated $2.87 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.

What happened

According to an SEC filing dated April 15, 2026, Gradient Capital Advisors, LLC increased its holding in Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF by 52,666 shares. The estimated transaction value, based on the fund’s buy activity and the average quarterly closing price, was $2.87 million. The stake’s quarter-end reported value rose by $2.83 million, reflecting both the share addition and market price changes.

What else to know

Gradient Capital Advisors, LLC’s buy lifted the position to 3.0% of its reportable 13F AUM.

Top five holdings after the filing:

NYSEMKT: IVV: $34,548,482 (9.0% of AUM) NASDAQ: AAPL: $18,171,832 (4.7% of AUM) NYSEMKT: SPDW: $14,382,854 (3.7% of AUM) NASDAQ: VCSH: $13,965,901 (3.6% of AUM) NASDAQ: DFGP: $11,715,938 (3.0% of AUM)

As of April 15, 2026, shares of Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF were priced at $54.52.

The fund’s one-year total return is 6.5%, and its dividend yield is 3.33%. Its price is 3.0% below its 52-week high.

ETF overview

Metric Value AUM $2.398 billion Dividend Yield 3.33% Price (as of market close April 15, 2026) $54.52 1-Year Total Return 6.5%

ETF snapshot

The investment strategy seeks to provide broad exposure to global fixed-income markets by investing in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and foreign debt securities, including both investment-grade and select lower-rated bonds. Structured as an exchange-traded fund (ETF). Targets both institutional and individual investors seeking core fixed income exposure.

Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF (DFGP) leverages a systematic investment process to allocate across a wide spectrum of U.S. and international bonds, balancing credit quality and duration to optimize risk-adjusted returns.

What this transaction means for investors

Gradient Capital, a California-based wealth manager, recently disclosed the purchase of approximately $2.9 million worth of Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF (DFGP) shares during the first quarter (the three months ending on March 31, 2026). Here are some key takeaways for investors.

First, DFGP is a bond ETF, meaning it invests in fixed-income securities. DFGP is a global bond fund, so its top holdings include both U.S. and foreign bonds. Some of its largest holdings are in U.S. mortgage-backed bonds and bonds issued by Canadian provinces, like Alberta and British Columbia.

Story Continues

In terms of performance, DFGP has performed well recently. The ETF has generated a three-year total return of 18.1%, equating to a compound annual growth rate of 7.1%. DFGP boasts a dividend yield of 3.3% and an expense ratio of 0.22%.

As for risks, DFGP — like all bond funds — is sensitive to changes in interest rates. In particular, rising interest rates pose a risk. Therefore, investors who fear inflation may rise will likely avoid investing in bond ETFs.

All in all, though, income-seeking investors may want to consider DFGP for its global footprint, solid performance history, and reasonable fees.

Should you buy stock in Dimensional ETF Trust - Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF right now?

Before you buy stock in Dimensional ETF Trust - Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Dimensional ETF Trust - Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $524,786!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,236,406!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 20, 2026.

Jake Lerch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Wealth Manager Builds Position in Fixed-Income ETF, According to Latest SEC Filing was originally published by The Motley Fool

View Comments","[Processor chip on circuit board with copy space for design]
Alexander Sikov

Data center infrastructure demand should drive a modest upside for a range of semiconductors for their first-quarter results and second-quarter outlooks, according to Susquehanna.

This includes AMD (AMD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMD]) and Intel (INTC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INTC]) as AI workloads are boosting CPU demand. Arm's (ARM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ARM]) hyperscaler CPUs are also expected to continue gaining share in cloud computing. ASIC suppliers being drawn into hyperscaler roadmaps has also proved positive for Broadcom (AVGO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AVGO]) and Marvell (MRVL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRVL]). And of course, Nvidia (NVDA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVDA]) rages full steam ahead with its Blackwell and Rubin revenue expected to surpass $1T by the end of 2027.

\"For Optical/AI Networking, we (unsurprisingly) expect continued upside, driven by an ever-expanding 800G cycle and an emerging 1.6T cycle (and OCS/CPO),\" said Susquehanna analysts, led by Christopher Roland, in an extensive investor report on Monday. \"Nonetheless, the expanding networking TAM is also benefiting copper, and we expect the environment for AECs, LEs, and DSPs to remain constructive for all.\"

Optical companies such as Coherent (COHR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/COHR]), Lumentum (LITE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LITE]), and Fabrinet (FN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FN]) all stand out as beneficiaries. Susquehanna increased its price target on these stocks to $425 from $250, to $1,100 from $550, and to $850 from $570, respectively. Susquehanna also nudged up Credo's (CRDO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CRDO]) price target to $200 from $170.

Outside the data center market, upside is more limited. Besides Apple (AAPL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AAPL]), Susquehanna expects the smartphone market to drag in 2026. It expects a year-over-year decline of 10% in smartphone shipments. Auto also appears weaker as Tesla's (TSLA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TSLA]) first-quarter deliveries were less than market expectations.

For industrial names, the data center end market has provided a spark, prompting Susquehanna to edge up its price target on Texas Instruments (TXN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TXN]) to $275 from $260, Microchip Technology (NCHP) to $95 from $90, and Analog Devices (ADI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ADI]) to $475 from $400.

MORE ON INTEL, AMD, AND MARVELL

\t* Marvell: An AI Winner Tackling The Biggest Bottleneck With Data Transfer Optics [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4891927-marvell-an-ai-winner-tackling-the-biggest-bottleneck-with-data-transfer-optics]
\t* AMD: $600 Bullseye [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4891874-amd-600-bullseye]
\t* Intel Has Gone Too Far Too Fast (Rating Downgrade) [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4891862-intel-has-gone-too-far-too-fast-rating-downgrade]
\t* AMD, Intel, Lattice get price target boosts at Stifel ahead of earnings [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4576546-amd-intel-lattice-get-price-target-boosts-at-stifel-ahead-of-earnings]
\t* Marvell gains, Broadcom, Celestica dip on Google report [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4576506-marvell-gains-broadcom-celestica-dip-on-google-report]

","Meta Platforms will reportedly start its first round of mass layoffs on May 20, cutting about 8,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its global workforce, with further reductions expected later this year, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg accelerates an AI-focused restructuring.

The specifics of the cuts have not yet been finalized, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the plans. The sources disclosed that the company’s executives may adjust their plans as they observe developments in artificial intelligence capabilities.

Meta did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.

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Zuckerberg Bets Big On AI Amid Leaner Operations

Zuckerberg is investing heavily in AI to transform the company’s operations, aligning with a broader trend among major U.S. companies, particularly in the tech sector.

Despite Meta’s significant layoffs in 2022 and 2023, the company’s stock was struggling at the time. However, it is currently in a more stable financial position. Meta’s shares have risen by 5.86% since the beginning of the year.

The impending layoffs at Meta have been a topic of discussion for some time. In March, the company hinted at significant workforce reductions to fund large-scale AI investments while tightening operating costs.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is also dealing with internal challenges, as some employees have raised concerns about job security. A post on the anonymous forum Blind, allegedly written by a Meta engineer, pointed to increasing internal competition and a growing belief among employees that layoffs are unavoidable. \"I'm done with tech,\" the post stated.

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Goldman Sachs Flags Long-Term Worker Risk

Amid the layoffs in the tech industry, the prediction market is betting on whether 2026 will see more layoffs than 2025. Data from Kalshi, a federally authorized betting platform, shows that over $14.6 million has been bet on the contract “More tech layoffs in 2026 than in 2025?”

In early April, a new analysis by Goldman Sachs warned that AI-driven job displacement could impose lasting financial setbacks on affected workers, including pay cuts and slower career growth.

Some analysts, however, argue that many tech layoffs reflect post-pandemic overhiring corrections rather than genuine AI-driven displacement.

Story Continues

Stock Performance

Meta has a market capitalization of $1.74 trillion, with a 52-week high of $796.25 and a 52-week low of $479.80.

The large-cap stock is up 37.30% year to date.

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View Comments","Salesforce and a handful of other larger stocks were keeping the Dow around breakeven on Monday. Only 13 of the Dow's 30 stocks were rising, but the blue-chip index was moving in and out of positive territory in the first-half or so of trading. Other big stocks lifting the Dow were International Business Machines, JPMorgan Chase, Apple, and Travelers, which together added nearly 100 points.

Continue Reading"],"source":["https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/wedbush-projects-90-mp-materials-154928009.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/heres-where-interest-rates-could-153700055.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/china-claims-global-auto-sales-152700244.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/ibm-stock-split-history-why-151900240.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-charts-show-why-magnificent-7-stocks-are-being-loved-again-151105348.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/mp-materials-becomes-stable-asset-150942122.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/options/articles/wealth-manager-builds-position-fixed-145659972.html","https://seekingalpha.com/news/4576643-data-center-demand-drives-upside-for-range-of-semis-ahead-of-earnings-susquehanna?utm_source=feed_news_all&utm_medium=referral&feed_item_type=news","https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/meta-begin-layoffs-report-outlines-143108408.html","https://finance.yahoo.com/m/f1046cd7-662a-35af-b3a6-89fef881b911/why-the-dow-is-beating-the.html"],"publicationDate":[1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600,1776657600],"updated":1776702598}