Meta Platforms (META) shares jumped over 9% on January 29, 2026, hitting year-to-date highs after Q4 earnings surpassed estimates, validating its AI investments. Revenue hit $59.9B vs. $58.4B expected; EPS of $8.88 beat $8.24 forecasts.

All 24 tracked analysts maintain Buy ratings, with mean target at $868 (20% upside). Wedbush raised its target to $900, Jefferies to $1,000, and Morgan Stanley to $825, citing accelerating engagement and monetization via AI tools like Meta AI, now reaching 1B+ monthly users. Capex guidance of $162B–$169B for 2026 exceeded Street’s $151B estimate but drew investor approval. Meta is the sole “Magnificent 7” stock rising today.

Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) shares rose 3.5% to $325.30 on January 29, 2026, after reporting better-than-expected Q4 earnings of $2.69 per share on $594M revenue and issuing upbeat Q1 sales guidance of $625M–$645M.

Benchmark analyst David Williams upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy with a $360 price target, citing “robust backlog” and 20% YoY growth in Q4 bookings. The midpoint of Q1 guidance implies 15% YoY growth and exceeds consensus by 3.5%. LFUS has gained 23.9% YTD, hitting a 52-week high. Over the past year, the stock recorded 11 moves exceeding 5%, suggesting today’s reaction reflects meaningful but not transformative news.

Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet raised $137 million via share and warrant sales to overseas investors, aiming to boost its BTC holdings. The capital raise, disclosed January 29, 2026, includes 24.5 million new shares and one-year warrants exercisable from February 16, 2026, priced above current levels to mitigate immediate dilution.

Metaplanet holds 35,102 BTC (~$2.93B at $83,541/BTC) and previously borrowed $100M against its BTC in November 2025 to acquire more. Despite a 2025 share price plunge from $15.35 to $2.50, MTPLF rose 7% year-to-date to $2.77 as of January 29, 2026. Analysts note sector overcrowding may trigger future M&A as investor attention fragments.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) shares rose 3.6% to $304.75 on January 29, 2026, after reporting Q4 revenue of $19.69B (+12.1% YoY) and adjusted EPS of $4.52, both exceeding estimates. The Software segment led growth, outpacing overall sales.

Management projected >5% constant-currency revenue growth for 2026 and a $1B YoY increase in free cash flow, reinforcing investor confidence. The stock’s move marks one of only eight +/-5% swings in the past year, signaling market recognition of material progress. IBM is up 4.5% YTD, near its 52-week high of $314.98. A $1,000 investment five years ago would now be worth $2,559.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) shares surged 7.4% on January 29, 2026, after its Q4 revenue of $491.3M (+3.7% YoY) and adjusted EPS of $0.52 beat estimates, outweighing weaker-than-expected full-year guidance of $2.05B revenue and $2.20 EPS.

Investors prioritized the quarterly beat and strong cash flow over cautious forward outlook. The stock, up 12.3% YTD to $86.36 (a 52-week high), has shown low volatility—only four moves >5% in the past year—making today’s rally notable. A similar reaction occurred three months ago when Q3 cash flow strength drove a 15.2% gain despite mixed earnings. Five-year returns stand at +97.8% for investors.

Analyst commentary and promotional AI semiconductor pitches were excluded per editorial policy.

First Interstate BancSystem (NASDAQ:FIBK) reported Q4 2025 revenue of $250.2M, down 4.1% YoY and below estimates, but delivered non-GAAP EPS of $1.08 — 71.3% above consensus. Shares fell to $35.70 from $36.66 post-earnings as management cited ongoing branch divestitures and runoff of non-core loans as near-term drags.

CEO James Reuter emphasized strategic refocusing on high-density markets like Colorado and Montana, while CFO David Della Camera tied future margin expansion to reinvestment of maturing assets at higher rates and new relationship banking initiatives. Loan growth is expected to decline in H1 2026 before modest H2 recovery.

Analysts will monitor: (1) pace of branch consolidation, (2) effectiveness of flatter org structure in driving loan growth, and (3) NIM expansion via repricing. Credit quality and buyback activity remain key barometers of execution.

Amphenol Corp. (NYSE: APH) shares rose 2.8% to $149.81 on January 29, 2026, after Barclays and Citigroup raised price targets following the company’s Q4 2025 earnings beat. Sales jumped 49% YoY and adjusted EPS surged 76%, exceeding estimates.

Barclays maintained “Overweight” and lifted its target to $175 from $156; Citigroup kept “Buy” and raised its target to $180 from $175. Management forecasts Q1 2026 sales growth of 43%-45% YoY. The stock has seen 11 moves >5% in the past year, signaling market sensitivity but no fundamental reassessment.

The rally follows a 5.7% gain two weeks prior, driven by Goldman Sachs ($183 target) and BofA ($165 target) citing Amphenol’s expanding role in AI infrastructure via its CommScope acquisition. Shares are up 7.2% YTD but remain 9.9% below their January 2026 high of $166.25.

Kaiser Permanente agrees to a $10.5 million settlement resolving a class-action lawsuit alleging it sent marketing texts after users opted out, violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Florida law. Affected individuals may claim up to $75 per qualifying message.

The settlement covers texts sent between January 21, 2021, and August 20, 2025, to users who replied “stop” but kept receiving messages. Claim forms must be submitted by February 12, 2026. Kaiser denies wrongdoing, stating texts were sent to prospective members who initially requested contact.

No payments will be issued until all appeals conclude. The case was filed in Miami on August 20, 2025, and approved January 28, 2026. Kaiser serves over 12.5 million U.S. members.

Former First Brands Group CEO Patrick James and his brother Edward were indicted Thursday (2026-01-29) on federal fraud charges for allegedly orchestrating a multi-year scheme that extracted billions from banks using falsified documents and financial statements.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York alleges the pair secured financing for First Brands while diverting millions personally. The company filed for bankruptcy in September 2025 with over $9 billion in liabilities and just $12 million in cash, according to court filings tied to the indictment. Both men were arrested in Ohio.

Apple acquires Israeli machine learning startup Q.ai for nearly $2 billion on January 29, 2026, to bolster audio and facial-sensing AI capabilities for AirPods and Vision Pro. The deal marks Apple’s second-largest acquisition after Beats in 2014.

Q.ai, founded in 2022 and backed by Kleiner Perkins and Gradient Ventures, specializes in whisper recognition and noise-filtering audio tech. CEO Aviad Maizels — who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013 — will join Apple with co-founders Yonatan Wexler and Avi Barliya.

The acquisition precedes Apple’s Q1 earnings, where analysts forecast $138B revenue and strongest iPhone sales growth in four years. The move signals intensified AI hardware competition against Meta and Google.

ABB Ltd. (SWX: ABBN) shares surged Thursday after the Swiss industrial giant reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and raised its 2026 outlook, lifting the broader Swiss market to a firm close.

Net income for Q4 rose 18% year-over-year to $987 million, beating consensus estimates by 6%. Revenue climbed 9% to $8.2 billion, driven by strong automation demand in North America and Asia. Management now forecasts 2026 organic sales growth of 5–7%, up from prior guidance of 3–5%.

“Execution remains sharp amid resilient end markets,” said CEO Björn Rosengren. The stock gained 5.2% on Thursday, outperforming the SMI Index’s 0.8% advance. Analysts at UBS upgraded ABB to “Buy,” citing margin expansion and order backlog strength.

Initial U.S. jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 209,000 for the week ended January 24, 2026 — slightly above forecasts of 206,000 — signaling labor market resilience despite holiday disruptions and winter storms.

Continuing claims dropped 38,000 to 1.827 million, the lowest since September 2024. The four-week moving average for initial claims rose modestly to 206,250. Economists note seasonal distortions from Martin Luther King Jr. Day and severe weather may have suppressed filings. While layoffs remain low (Amazon, UPS cuts deemed isolated), hiring momentum is weak. The Conference Board’s January survey shows declining consumer perceptions of job availability, linked to AI-driven workforce reassessments, immigration policy uncertainty, and tariff risks.

The Fed held rates steady this week, citing stabilizing labor metrics. December’s unemployment rate fell to 4.4%. Markets await January’s jobs report for clarity on whether stability is structural or temporary.

SpaceX and xAI are negotiating a merger ahead of SpaceX’s planned 2026 IPO, aiming to consolidate Musk’s AI, satellite, and social media assets under one entity, according to a source briefed on the matter.

The deal would exchange xAI shares for SpaceX stock, facilitated by two Nevada entities established January 21. SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen is listed in filings as managing member or sole officer. No final agreement is signed; terms remain fluid, though some xAI execs may receive cash. SpaceX, valued at $800B, plans an IPO targeting >$1T valuation; xAI was last valued at $230B.

Musk aims to deploy AI data centers in orbit, citing lower long-term energy costs via solar power. The merger could strengthen bids for Pentagon AI contracts — xAI already holds a $200M deal to integrate Grok into U.S. military systems. Starshield satellites already use AI for target tracking.

Rep. Robert Garcia, top Democrat on a House investigative panel, demanded communications from Vitol and Trafigura with the Trump administration regarding Venezuelan oil deals following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January 2026. The firms received the first U.S. licenses to export Venezuelan crude under the new U.S.-managed regime.

Garcia’s Jan 29 letter seeks clarity on revenue flows, contractual agreements, and the traders’ role in executing U.S. policy. A dozen Democrats previously warned 21 firms—including both traders—that Venezuelan investments carry legal and financial risk after their Jan 9 White House meeting. Vitol and Trafigura have not responded to requests for comment. The probe occurs as Republicans face a tight battle to retain House control in November 2026 midterms.

Starbucks (SBUX) plans to open up to 5,000 new U.S. cafes and add 25,000 seats by fall 2026, betting on in-store experience over drive-thru dominance. CEO Brian Niccol says revamped stores see longer customer dwell times, countering industry shifts toward mobile and car-side orders.

The company will open ~175 U.S. stores in 2026 and ~400 in 2028, prioritizing smaller, 20%-cheaper formats with seating, drive-thrus, and mobile pickup. Retrofits costing $150K each are underway at 200 locations, targeting 1,000 by fall 2026 and completion by 2028. Starbucks sees white-space opportunities in central, southern, and northeastern U.S., where thousands of sites lack a Starbucks within one mile of competitors.

Same-store sales rose 4% in Q1 FY2026 (Oct-Dec 2025), its best U.S. performance in two years. Management forecasts 3%+ same-store sales growth through FY2028, 5% revenue growth, and EPS of $3.35–$4.00 vs. $2.13 in FY2025. Shares fell 1% on Jan 29, 2026.

Meta Platforms Inc. will double 2026 capex to $135B, while Tesla allocates $20B for AI, robotics, and self-driving tech — plus $2B to Elon Musk’s xAI — escalating the race for AI dominance amid global semiconductor shortages.

Zuckerberg signaled “major AI acceleration” post-2025 overhaul, with new models imminent; Meta shares jumped 11% after earnings beat. Meanwhile, Microsoft and SAP tumbled on AI spending concerns — Microsoft missed Azure growth expectations, SAP warned of cloud backlog weakness. Chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix saw multi-fold profit surges supplying Nvidia’s AI accelerators, though Samsung dipped 1% despite nearing HBM4 certification for Nvidia’s Rubin chips. Musk warned Tesla may build its own chip fab to avoid a “chip wall.” Analysts warn unprecedented valuations and supply constraints risk market correction if AI demand falters.

Bitcoin’s odds of hitting $100,000 before dropping to $69,000 have narrowed to 55%-45% on Myriad Markets as BTC fell 5% weekly to $84,167 (Jan 29, 2026), a two-month low. Two weeks ago, $100K odds stood at 88%.

Solana predictors reversed sharply: 57% now bet SOL drops to $100 before rallying to $150, a 41-point swing from two weeks prior. SOL trades at $118, down 48% YoY. Despite $6.7M in ETF inflows Wednesday, sentiment soured. Trump approval odds on Myriad rose to 55%, defying traditional polls showing 55% disapproval—divergence lacks clear catalyst but coincides with crypto market stress.

AGX Freight Group suspended all operations effective January 31, 2026, after a senior secured lender restricted access to working capital, despite the company claiming no default and sufficient liquidity.

President Mike Williams stated the issue is “not liquidity — it is accessibility,” asserting AGX had funds to pay employees, agents, and carriers. Weeks of efforts to secure interim financing or restructure ownership failed to resolve the impasse. Founded in 2016, the Jacksonville-based logistics firm offered truckload, LTL, and intermodal services and employed approximately 50 people prior to shutdown.

Carriers are now seeking payment clarity, while industry fraud monitors warn of potential impersonation scams using AGX’s name. FreightWaves first reported the suspension on January 29, 2026.

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a crypto regulatory bill on January 29, 2026, in a party-line vote, signaling insufficient bipartisan support for Senate passage. The bill grants the CFTC authority over spot crypto markets and sets rules for exchanges, brokers, and dealers.

The companion Banking Committee bill remains stalled amid fierce lobbying over whether crypto firms can pay interest on stablecoins. Industry groups spent heavily in the 2024 elections to back pro-crypto candidates, seeking legal clarity. The House passed its version in July 2025.

Passage requires at least seven Democratic votes in the full Senate — none supported the bill Thursday. Top Democrat Sen. Cory Booker criticized the omission of DeFi safeguards, calling the near-miss “frustrating.” The White House will meet banking and crypto executives on February 2, 2026, to discuss next steps.

Oracle Corp. (ORCL) has lost over 50% of its market value since its September 10, 2025 peak, as investor skepticism grows over the return on AI infrastructure spending. The stock’s retreat erased roughly $463 billion from its peak valuation of $933 billion.

Investors are reassessing timelines for AI profitability amid vague ROI disclosures from big tech firms pledging tens of billions in data center investments. Concerns intensified after Oracle’s December 2025 earnings, when it signaled accelerated AI capex, pushing its credit risk gauge to a 2009 high.

Analysts cite uncertainty around Oracle’s partnership with unprofitable OpenAI and circular transaction structures involving Nvidia (NVDA). Exclusion of financing partner Blue Owl Capital from a key Michigan data center deal added pressure. Broader software sector de-rating, fueled by fears of AI-driven disruption and rising competition from firms like Anthropic, further weighed on sentiment.