AI Stocks & Markets

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Verizon enters AI inference business after earnings beat

   Verizon's stock rose following earnings results that exceeded expectations, and the company announced it is beginning to serve AI inference (the computational step where an AI model produces an answer) to enterprise customers. The move positions Verizon as a provider of cloud computing services for AI workloads, diversifying its business beyond traditional telecom. This represents entry into a high-value segment as enterprises build out their AI infrastructure.

   The specific pricing, customer base size, and geographic availability of Verizon's inference service have not yet been detailed in public statements.

2. 2

   Corning's AI-fiber push targets $24.3B revenue by 2029

   Corning is positioning its Optical Communications and Solar businesses as growth engines, backed by a multiyear partnership with NVIDIA to expand U.S.-based optical connectivity manufacturing for AI data centers. The company's Springboard plan targets $24.3 billion（約3.9兆円） revenue and $3.4 billion（約5400億円） earnings by 2029, requiring 15.8% yearly revenue growth. Corning aims to become a critical optical supplier for AI infrastructure, converting multi-billion-dollar supply commitments into sustained growth. However, the strategy carries concentration risk: a slowdown in AI or solar demand, or shifts in policy or technology, could undermine those projections and the narrative supporting current valuations.

   Corning reports earnings on July 28. Execution in Optical Communications is the near-term catalyst, but the company's heavy reliance on AI and solar spending cycles means investors should monitor whether demand holds and whether competitive or policy headwinds emerge.

3. 3

   Amphenol Surges on AI Demand; Analysts See 14.8% Upside to $184.78

   Amphenol's share price has risen to $157.43, delivering a 1-year total shareholder return of 51.74% and a 5-year return of about 4.6x, driven by upbeat earnings estimate revisions, strong institutional buying, and record sales growth in prior quarters. The stock has been lifted by accelerating global deployment of AI-driven data centers, which is driving strong, sustained demand for the company's high-speed interconnect solutions, with exceptional growth in IT datacom revenue. The most widely followed analyst narrative values Amphenol at $184.78, suggesting the stock is 14.8% undervalued at its current price. This valuation assumes aggressive revenue expansion, rising margins, and a premium future earnings multiple, underpinned by expected continued top-line growth and maintained higher incremental margins from AI data center adoption. However, an alternative cash flow analysis (SWS DCF model) estimates fair value at $144.52, implying the stock is overvalued—creating mixed signals about whether the current rally is justified.

   The valuation narrative depends on whether AI-driven data center demand sustains or cools faster than expected, and whether acquisition integration affects margins and cash generation. Investors face a choice between two valuation frameworks: the earnings-multiple view (suggesting upside to $184.78) and the discounted cash flow view (suggesting downside to $144.52).

4. 4

   Booking Holdings bets $700M on AI and Connected Trip for 100 basis points growth in 2026

   Booking Holdings announced a $700 million（約1100億円） strategic reinvestment plan for 2026, expecting to deliver 100 basis points of incremental revenue growth. The company posted strong Q4 2025 results—EPS of $48.80 and revenue of $6.3 billion（約1兆円）, both beating estimates—and approved a 25-for-1 stock split (effective April 2) and a 9.4% dividend increase to $10.50 per share. The reinvestment targets Agentic AI (autonomous rebooking and itinerary personalization), the Connected Trip ecosystem (flights, insurance, ground transport, attractions), and geographic expansion in Asia and the U.S., expected to generate roughly $150 million（約240億円） in AI-driven customer service efficiencies and an incremental $400 million（約640億円） in revenue. The company is offsetting much of this spend with $500–550 million in in-year transformation savings in 2026, over $250 million（約400億円） higher than 2025. This positions Booking to capture share in a normalizing travel market where room night growth is settling into a 4–6% range, compared to earlier double-digit increases.

   Wall Street analysts (44 Buy, 26 Hold, 1 Strong Buy) project an average price target of $6054.35 versus the current $4269.99, implying significant upside. Revenue is forecast at $34.2 billion（約5.5兆円） for FY 2028 and $36.6 billion（約5.9兆円） for FY 2029, with EPS rising to $366.53 and $423.59 respectively. Key risk: regulatory scrutiny under the EU's Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act could pressure Booking's commission take-rate and force business model adjustments.

5. 5

   SpaceX $100B valuation implies zero AI value—Morgan Stanley

   Morgan Stanley analyst issued a valuation note on SpaceX, stating that a $100 billion（約16兆円） valuation would imply zero value attributed to the company's AI and robotics initiatives. The comment highlights debate over how much SpaceX's non-rocket businesses—particularly its artificial intelligence and robotics operations—contribute to the company's overall worth. Investors are grappling with whether to value SpaceX primarily on its established space launch business or to assign significant value to emerging tech areas.

   The valuation methodology and what investors ultimately assign to SpaceX's AI and robotics segments, as these newer business lines become a larger part of the company's strategic focus.

6. 6

   Broadcom urges investors not to miss AI downturn opportunity

   Broadcom has advised investors to view the recent AI sector pullback as a buying opportunity rather than a reason for concern, framing market volatility as a natural part of the investment cycle. As a major supplier of infrastructure chips and networking equipment to data centers and AI companies, Broadcom's stance signals confidence in long-term AI demand despite near-term market weakness. This carries weight for businesses deciding whether to maintain or pause AI infrastructure spending.

   The timing and magnitude of any infrastructure investment decisions by major cloud providers and AI companies will indicate whether Broadcom's thesis—that the downturn is temporary—holds true.