The AI trade isn’t over, but the playbook has completely changed. According to BlackRock’s latest “Investment Directions” report, the smart money is moving upstream. After years of chasing hyperscalers, investors are now betting on the physical infrastructure required to keep them running. 📊 THE BLACKROCK SURVEY (732 EMEA Clients): The shift in sentiment is stark:...
JPMorgan Chase posted a strong profit beat this morning ($5.23 EPS vs. $5.00 est), but the market reaction is chilly (-2.8%). Why the sell-off? It comes down to a “high bar” set by 2025’s rally, a surprise miss in Investment Banking, and growing anxiety over Washington’s credit card proposals. 📊 THE TALE OF TWO DESKS:...
The construction industry’s digital transformation is heading to the Nasdaq. EquipmentShare.com, the Missouri-based construction tech firm, has set terms for its IPO, targeting a valuation of up to $6.41 billion. 💰 THE DEAL METRICS: 📱 THE “T3” EDGE: EquipmentShare isn’t just renting bulldozers; it’s connecting them. 🚀 GROWTH VS. PROFIT: Unlike many tech IPOs of...
The line between “Regional Bank” and “Wall Street Powerhouse” just got blurrier. U.S. Bancorp (USB) has agreed to acquire institutional brokerage BTIG in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This is a decisive move to diversify revenue beyond Net Interest Margin (NIM) and compete directly with money-center banks for corporate wallet share. 💰...
The race to automate enterprise conversations just got a new unicorn. Deepgram, the San Francisco-based voice AI infrastructure startup, has raised $130 million at a $1.3 billion valuation. The round was led by AVP, with participation from Citi Ventures and notably, the CIA’s venture arm, In-Q-Tel. 💰 THE FUNDING DEETS: 🤖 THE STRATEGIC SHIFT: CEO...
Polygon Labs is no longer just a scaling solution; it is building a full-stack payments network. In a major consolidation move, the firm announced the acquisition of Coinme (crypto-to-cash payments) and Sequence (infrastructure) for a combined total of over $250 million. 💸 THE STRATEGY: CEO Marc Boiron was explicit about the roadmap: “Our goal is...