Major Averages Decline Amid Rising Oil Prices
The major averages were broadly lower near noon amid a sharp increase in oil prices and bond yields following the latest developments out of the Middle East. Brent crude pushed back above $105 per barrel after Iran rejected ceasefire proposals, with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensifying. Markets are firmly back in risk-off mode as the brief relief trade from earlier in the week gives way to renewed escalation in the Middle East and a fresh surge in energy prices.In response to Iran's rejection, President Donald Trump took to social media to say that Iran "better get serious soon," going so far as to label Iranian negotiators as "very different" and "strange." Meanwhile, Gulf countries issued a joint statement condemning Iran's "criminal" strikes from Iraqi territory on their energy infrastructure.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Corebridgeand Equitable Holdingsin an all-stock mergerMemory stocks, including Micronand Sandisk,amid concerns about Google'scompression techniqueJefferiesreportedthat were buoyed by investment banking, but marred by losses on loans to collapsed companies First Brands and MFSMillerKnollreportedand provided a conservative outlook for Q4Worthington Steelreported2. WALL STREET CALLS:NeedhamArmto Buy with "high-stake bets" paying offAdobewith Market Perform from Outperform at William BlairQualcommto Market Perform from Outperform at BernsteinRobinhoodwith a Buy at JefferiesDaiwa sees Spotifymaintaining high growth,at Outperform3. AROUND THE WEB:President Trump has named MetaCEO Mark Zuckerberg, OracleExecutive Chairman Larry Ellison, NvidiaCEO Jensen Huang, and others to the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, co-chaired by David Sacks, WSJ saysNvidiabacked startup Reflection is in discussions to raise $2.5B at a valuation of $25B, WSJ saysWorsening supply constraints of Inteland AMDCPUs are adding a fresh blow to PC and server makers already hammered by an unprecedented memory chip shortage, Nikkei Asia saysThe release of Meta'snew Ray-Ban smart glasses in the European Union has been hampered by battery and AI regulations as well as supply constraints, Bloomberg reportsFannie Maewill soon accept crypto-backed mortgages, a new product from Better Home & Financeand Coinbasethat allows home buyers to pledge crypto when making a down payment, WSJ says4. MOVERS:Olaplexincreases after announcing it will befor $2.06 per share in cashKodiak Sciencesgains after announcements its GLOW2 study of ZenkudaNavanhigher afterand providing guidance for Q1 and FY27Wave Life Scienceslower afterfrom the INLIGHT trialPony AIfalls after, with revenue lower year-over-year5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Lovesacand provided guidance for Q1 and FY27Commercial Metals, with CEO Peter Matt commenting, "The CMC team delivered another strong quarter"Designer Brands, with EPS beating consensusShoe Carnivaland provided guidance for FY26, with interim CEO Cliff Sifford commenting, "Q4 results exceeded consensus expectations"H.B. Fullerand raised its guidance for FY26INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.45%, or 206.73, to 46,222.76, the Nasdaq was down 1.04%, or 228.92, to 21,700.91, and the S&P 500 was down 0.79%, or 51.85, to 6,540.05.
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Analyst Views on ARM
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- Business Model Expansion: Arm Holdings is broadening its business model, which could positively impact investors, especially as AI technology becomes increasingly vital, enhancing market expectations for its future growth.
- Investor Caution: Despite the expansion attracting attention, The Motley Fool's analyst team did not include Arm Holdings in its current list of top investment stocks, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its short-term performance.
- Historical Returns Comparison: Compared to Arm Holdings, stocks recommended by The Motley Fool Stock Advisor have shown significant returns in the past, with investments in Netflix and Nvidia yielding returns of 497,659% and 1,095,404%, respectively, providing a benchmark for investors.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor's average return of 912% far exceeds the S&P 500's 185%, suggesting that investors should carefully assess Arm Holdings' potential when selecting investment targets.
- Revenue Growth Forecast: Arm Holdings anticipates that its newly launched Arm AGI CPU will drive annual revenue to $15 billion by fiscal 2031, representing over fivefold growth from its current $1.2 billion, indicating strong demand and potential profitability in the AI market.
- Market Share Expansion: The Arm AGI CPU is specifically optimized for AI operations in data centers, featuring 64 CPUs and 8,700 cores, and has already attracted interest from tech giants like Meta and Cloudflare, showcasing its competitive edge in high-performance computing.
- Stock Price Potential: With Arm's current stock price around $157, if it achieves an EPS of $9 in fiscal 2031, applying a conservative P/E ratio of 73 could see the stock soar to $657, reflecting a 318% increase and indicating investor optimism about its future growth.
- R&D Investment Returns: Arm's significant investment in R&D is paying off, with a 26% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 and a gross margin exceeding 97%, laying a solid foundation for its future chip manufacturing business and enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Strong IPO Performance: Arm Holdings went public on September 14, 2023, and its stock has surged over 200% since then, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 45% gain during the same period, indicating strong market confidence in its growth potential.
- Robust Revenue Growth: In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Arm generated $1.2 billion in revenue, a 26% year-over-year increase, with a gross margin exceeding 97%, showcasing solid financial performance despite high R&D expenditures that limited adjusted EPS growth to 10%.
- AI Chip Launch: Arm announced the debut of its AGI CPU, designed specifically for data centers and featuring 64 CPUs with 8,700 cores, which is expected to drive annual revenue growth to $15 billion over the next five years, highlighting its competitive strength in the AI sector.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management forecasts total revenue of $25 billion by fiscal 2031, with an EPS target of $9, suggesting a potential stock price increase of 318% to $657, reflecting the market's optimistic expectations for its long-term growth trajectory.
- Financial Outlook: Arm projects a revenue of $25 billion by FY2031, a significant increase from $5 billion this year, with expected earnings per share rising from $1.78 to $9, indicating strong earnings potential in a rapidly growing market.
- Chip Launch: Arm announced the launch of its first in-house chip, the Arm AGI CPU, designed for AI data centers, with Meta as the lead partner and co-developer, marking a major shift from being an intellectual property provider to a chip manufacturer.
- Market Reaction: Despite a 1.2% drop in ARM shares during Friday's post-market hours, analysts have set an average 12-month price target of $164.73, suggesting about a 14% upside, reflecting a positive sentiment towards the company's future prospects.
- Investment Rating: Seaport Research Partners has assigned a price target of $185 on ARM shares with a ‘Buy’ rating, noting that while there are risks, the company presents a highly compelling opportunity to significantly enhance its earnings power in a fast-growing market.

Report Overview: Recent reports from investment and research firms provide insights into analysts' perspectives on various companies.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in these reports do not reflect the opinions or recommendations of Barron’s.
Investment Services: Some report issuers may have existing or potential investment-banking relationships with the companies analyzed.
Purpose of Reports: The reports serve as a sampling of analyst thinking rather than definitive investment advice.

Report Overview: Recent reports from investment and research firms provide insights into analysts' perspectives on various companies.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in these reports do not reflect the opinions or recommendations of Barron’s.
Investment Services: Some report issuers may have existing or potential investment-banking relationships with the companies analyzed.
Purpose of Reports: The reports serve as a sampling of analyst thinking rather than definitive investment advice.









