13h ago
Mercedes 2025 profit slumps 57% as $1.2 billion tariffs hit earnings and revenue
Mercedes reported a 57% drop in 2025 earnings before interest and taxes, heavily impacted by about $1.2 billion in tariff expenses and weaker performance in China. Revenue declined 9.2% to €132.2 billion, while net profit fell 48.8% to €5.3 billion and free cash flow from the industrial business dropped to €5.4 billion. The cars division saw double‑digit declines in revenue and profit, but vans and financial services remained profitable, and the company outlined cost‑cutting and product launch plans through 2027.
13h ago
14h ago
SoftBank earns ¥248.6B quarterly profit, below ¥336.7B forecast, as AI-heavy strategy reshapes portfolio
SoftBank recorded a quarterly profit of ¥248.6 billion, coming in under the ¥336.7 billion market expectation and reflecting uneven performance across its business lines. For the April–December period, net income jumped to ¥3.17 trillion, largely supported by a ¥3.6 trillion rebound in Vision Fund gains and sizeable investment profits. Over 2025, SoftBank committed $40 billion to OpenAI through its Vision Fund structure while simultaneously selling major stakes in T-Mobile and Nvidia and announcing multi‑billion‑dollar deals in DigitalBridge and ABB’s robotics unit to deepen its AI and ASI exposure.
14h ago
1d ago
U.S. January budget deficit narrows to $95 billion as receipts climb 9% and customs duties soar
In January, the U.S. budget deficit fell to $95 billion, narrowing by $34 billion from the same month a year earlier as receipts grew faster than outlays. Revenues rose 9% to $560 billion while spending increased 2% to $655 billion, with a sharp jump in customs duties and a temporary drop in interest payments helping contain the gap. For the fiscal year starting October 1, the cumulative deficit reached $697 billion as total revenue hit $1.785 trillion and expenditure climbed to $2.482 trillion.
1d ago
1d ago
Elon Musk merges xAI into SpaceX; co-founders depart; valuations at $1T and $250B
Elon Musk reorganized xAI and folded it into SpaceX in an all-stock deal valuing SpaceX at $1 trillion and xAI at $250 billion. Co-founders Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu left earlier this week, while regulators in the U.S., Europe, and Asia are investigating Grok's explicit deepfake output. SpaceX aims to list later this year, with the IPO potentially reaching $1.5 trillion, according to Bloomberg.
XAI
XAI-2.21%
1d ago
1d ago
Billy Ackman’s Pershing Square commits $2 billion to Meta as AI spending debate weighs on stock
Billionaire investor Billy Ackman has built a $2 billion position in Meta through his Pershing Square fund, a stake that now represents 10% of the fund's capital. Despite Meta's shares falling 16% over the past year amid concerns about heavy AI-related spending, Ackman and his team argue the stock is deeply undervalued given its 2025 revenue of $200 billion and 3.5 billion daily users. They see Meta's AI investments and advertising model as long-term growth drivers, even as Reality Labs continues to generate significant losses.
1d ago
1d ago
Wall Street analysts slash Robinhood price targets but maintain bullish Buy calls into 2026
Robinhood reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.28 billion, below the $1.35 billion consensus, but earnings of $0.66 per share topped the $0.63 forecast as its stock dropped 9% on Wednesday after a 24% year-to-date slide by Tuesday. Despite weaker net new assets and mixed profitability metrics, major firms including Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Barclays cut 12‑month price targets yet kept Buy ratings, citing upside potential into 2026 alongside record user engagement. A few banks such as Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan stayed more cautious with equal-weight or neutral stances, highlighting near-term risks from crypto and slowing deposits.
1d ago
1d ago
Google enables in-search and Gemini AI shopping with Walmart, Wayfair and Etsy integration
Google has introduced a feature that lets users purchase products directly within Search and Gemini AI, including items from retailers such as Walmart, Wayfair and Etsy. The system, which includes new ad formats and Direct Offers with real-time discounts, is part of Google's AI Mode and is being expanded through partnerships with Shopify, Walmart and Target to support full checkout, payments and digital identity.
1d ago