AI Stocks & Markets

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Arista raises 2026 outlook, launches AI security tool for branches

   Arista Networks raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook and guided to approximately US$2.8 billion（約4500億円） in second-quarter revenue, powered by strong AI-driven networking demand. The company also launched an AI-powered Edge Threat Management solution that combines zero trust security and SD-WAN for branch offices. The revenue upgrade and new security product expand Arista's addressable market beyond core data center switching into branch and edge security, which could help diversify revenue over time and reduce dependence on a small group of hyperscaler customers—a key risk in the current investment case.

   Arista's ability to convert its AI infrastructure momentum into sustained profitability while managing customer concentration risk. The company's narrative projects $18.2 billion（約2.9兆円） revenue by 2029, requiring 23.3% yearly revenue growth, though some analysts assume a more cautious $16.3 billion（約2.6兆円） by 2029, citing risk that hyperscalers may build more networking in-house.

2. 2

   Lowe's stock down 17% but DCF model suggests 10.5% undervaluation

   Lowe's share price has fallen 17.2% year to date in 2026, yet valuation models suggest the stock trades at roughly a 10.5% discount to intrinsic value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model estimates fair value at about $228 per share, while the P/E ratio of 17.3x implies undervaluation compared to a modelled fair multiple of 20.8x. The disconnect between recent weakness and valuation signals hinges on whether Lowe's can execute its stated growth plans — particularly AI-driven operational efficiency and higher-margin professional contractor sales. The company generated about $7.7b in free cash flow over the last twelve months, and the valuation math assumes those cash flows will continue growing; if execution stumbles, the discount may reflect genuine risk rather than opportunity.

   Investors should monitor whether Lowe's delivers on its 2026 growth initiatives (AI tools and professional contractor expansion) and whether free cash generation holds up. The core tension is execution risk: the current valuation offers a reasonable cushion only if the business can sustain its cash flow ambitions without setbacks in acquisitions or operations.

3. 3

   Blackstone profit beats forecasts as assets surge to $1.35 trillion（約220兆円）

   Blackstone reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded profit estimates, driven partly by gains in its artificial intelligence investments. The firm's assets under management reached $1.35 trillion（約220兆円）. Strong AI-related returns helped Blackstone beat market expectations at a time when major financial firms are seeking exposure to AI growth. The milestone asset level signals the firm's expanding scale in an increasingly competitive wealth management market.

   The details on which AI investments or funds drove the outperformance, and whether this trend sustains in coming quarters as AI valuations and investment cycles evolve.

4. 4

   Amphenol gains 50.78% in 52 weeks as AI infrastructure demand surges

   Brasada Capital Management's Q2 2026 investor letter highlighted Amphenol Corporation, a leading manufacturer of electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors. On July 22, 2026, Amphenol closed at $157.51 per share, with shares gaining 50.78% over the past 52 weeks and a market capitalization of $193.77 billion（約31兆円）. The AI infrastructure buildout is driving a 400% increase in memory demand, and Amphenol is positioned as a critical supplier of mission-critical connectors and interconnect systems. Because the cost of failure is exceptionally high in applications like commercial aircraft and EV batteries, customers face significant switching costs and are reluctant to change suppliers once a component is proven reliable, creating durable competitive advantages.

   Amphenol operates a decentralized structure with general managers running business units autonomously, and is diversified across eight major end markets with no single sector accounting for more than 25% of sales. The company engineers the vast majority of its 500,000 SKUs as custom or semi-custom solutions tailored to exact customer requirements.

5. 5

   Blackstone profits surge on AI infrastructure, but CEO warns of 'excessive exuberance'

   Blackstone reported Q2 distributable earnings of $2 billion（約3200億円）, or $1.52 per share, up 26% from a year earlier, beating analyst expectations of $1.7 billion（約2700億円）. CEO Stephen Schwarzman attributed the jump primarily to the firm's earlier investments in data centers, energy, power, and AI companies, and highlighted major Q2 deals including a $35 billion（約5.6兆円） investment platform with Broadcom and Apollo Global Management to lower compute and power costs for AI training, and the launch of an AI cloud provider with Alphabet. Blackstone's infrastructure business grew 7.2% over the quarter and 28.6% over the previous 12 months, making it the firm's best-performing major investment strategy. However, Schwarzman cautioned that while AI will have an impact on society comparable to the commercialization of electricity and the Industrial Revolution, the firm is being selective about where it invests because there is "potential for excessive exuberance" and uncertainty in how the technology will evolve. Across private equity, credit, and real estate, nearly $200 billion（約32兆円） of data center deals have been completed in the private markets since early last year, making major private market investors like Blackstone a crucial driver of the AI boom.

   Blackstone's stock rose 1% on Thursday after briefly declining, and remains down more than 19% since the beginning of January. The firm manages private equity funds holding stakes in core AI companies including SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAI, and CoreWeave.

6. 6

   Blackstone profit surges on AI investments, assets hit record

   Blackstone reported a significant profit increase driven by gains from its artificial intelligence investments. The firm also reached record assets under management, demonstrating strong performance across its portfolio companies that have benefited from AI-related growth. Blackstone's results show that major investment firms are capturing substantial returns from AI exposure. For businesses and investors tracking where capital is flowing, this signals that established asset managers see AI not just as a technology trend but as a core driver of portfolio value and profitability.

   The sustainability of these gains will depend on whether Blackstone's AI-focused portfolio companies continue to deliver returns at the pace investors are now pricing in. The firm's record asset level also sets a higher bar for future growth.