Middle East Turmoil Causes WTI Crude Oil to Surge Nearly 10%
Volatility surged on Monday following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran this weekend, resulting in the death of Iran's leader Khamenei while blowing a gaping hole into an already teetering Middle East power balance. Energy was by far the strongest sector in the S&P 500 as WTI Crude Oil prices spiked by nearly 10% well above $70 per barrel, though the Treasury market was also hardly a beneficiary of safe-haven flows as investors recalibrated the inflationary impact of costlier gas prices into more complicated assumptions for Fed easing. Industrials also outperformed as Defense names rallied, though Consumer stocks - particularly airlines and cruise lines - buckled under the weight of lower discretionary spending implications of a higher price tag at the pump. The Vix briefly topped the 25-hangle - the highest level since November.Stocks bounced from the gap lower Monday morning, though the evening session is seeing uneasiness persist as investors mull the implications and assess the likely duration and the potential range of macroeconomic outcomes as the conflict unfolds. S&P e-minis and Nasdaq 100 futures are off by more than 0.2%. In commodities, Gold - already the beneficiaries of geopolitical turbulence - also remains bid above $5,370 per ounce, while Crude Oil remains north of $71 per barrel.Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER AFTER EARNINGS -Ousterup 19.4%LendingTreeup 12.6%Ingram Microup 9.8%Plug Powerup 8.8%Dave Inc.up 8.4%Asanaup 5.8%Amerescoup 3.4%Core Scientificup 3.1%ALSO HIGHER -CoStar Groupup 3.0% after insider BuyDOWN AFTER EARNINGS -MongoDBdown 23.7%Surgery Partnersdown 22.7%Harrowdown 13.2%Credo Technologydown 7.4%Nuvation Biodown 6.7%Power Solutionsdown 5.8%Limbach Holdingsdown 5.3%Archer Aviationdown 4.7%Quantum Computingdown 2.8%Senseonics Holdingsdown 2.2%ALSO LOWER -H2O Americadown 2.8% after equity offering
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on OUST
About OUST
About the author

- Insider Sale: Ouster's COO Darien Spencer sold 10,938 shares on March 12, 2026, for approximately $256,308, representing 3.25% of his direct holdings, which is above the recent median of 1.09% per sale but still within historical norms.
- Market Performance Review: As of March 12, 2026, Ouster's stock closed at $22.56, with a market capitalization of $1.42 billion, reflecting a remarkable 201.6% increase in share price over the past year, indicating strong competitive performance.
- Revenue Growth Momentum: Ouster reported total revenue of $169.38 million in 2025, marking a 52% year-over-year increase, and although it incurred a loss of $60 million last year, this was an improvement over the $97 million loss in 2024, suggesting potential for future growth.
- Investor Confidence Analysis: While insider sales can raise market concerns, Spencer's sale, constituting only 3.25% of his total holdings, is unlikely to indicate a loss of confidence in Ouster, but rather a modest profit-taking move amidst strong stock performance.
- Blue-Collar Employment Revival: Oppenheimer analysts suggest that while AI may rapidly displace white-collar jobs, it could simultaneously drive demand for blue-collar roles, particularly in manufacturing, with employment projected to remain below pre-pandemic levels by 2026.
- Investment Theme Analysis: Oppenheimer outlined five investable themes, including the physical-to-digital connection, emphasizing the value of sensors and data pipelines, with companies in this space expected to benefit from automation trends, including Aeva Technologies and Tesla.
- Automation Tools Opportunity: The analysts identified automation tools that can reskill transitioning workforces, recommending companies like Caterpillar and Rockwell Automation, which enhance worksite experiences through task automation and AI agents.
- Autonomous Systems Development: Oppenheimer also highlighted companies supporting autonomous physical systems, such as Mobileye Global and Aurora Innovation, noting that as fully autonomous solutions are commercialized, human roles will still be essential for remote monitoring and maintenance to ensure safety and problem resolution.

AI's Impact on Stock Trades: Artificial intelligence is significantly influencing stock market activities, acting as both a catalyst for growth and a source of concern for investors.
Hyperscaler Spending: Companies associated with hyperscalers are experiencing stock boosts due to increased spending on AI data centers.
Software Companies at Risk: Conversely, fears of obsolescence are causing declines in the stock prices of software companies that may not adapt to AI advancements.
Dual Nature of AI: The dual role of AI as both a beneficial and detrimental force highlights the volatility and uncertainty in the tech sector.
- Investor Event Schedule: Ouster will participate in the Cantor Global Technology & Industrial Growth Conference on March 10, 2026, in New York, with CFO Ken Gianella and SVP Chen Geng attending to showcase the company's leadership in Physical AI and attract potential investor interest.
- Annual Conference Participation: Ouster will also attend the 38th Annual Roth Conference on March 24, 2026, in Laguna Niguel, California, with both CFO and SVP present to strengthen ties with institutional investors and advance the company's strategic development.
- Investor Relations Contact: Institutional investors interested in meeting with Ouster's management can reach out through their representatives or email investors@ouster.io, ensuring smooth communication and enhancing investor engagement.
- Global Business Presence: Headquartered in San Francisco, Ouster focuses on providing high-performance digital lidar solutions across industrial, robotics, automotive, and smart infrastructure sectors, with a global customer base in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, highlighting its extensive influence in the Physical AI domain.
- Ouster Inc Options Volume: Ouster Inc's options trading volume reached 7,321 contracts today, representing approximately 732,100 shares, which is 45.3% of its average daily trading volume of 1.6 million shares over the past month, indicating a significant increase in market interest.
- High-Frequency Contracts: Within Ouster Inc, the $22 strike call option has shown particularly high activity, with 533 contracts traded today, equating to about 53,300 shares, suggesting that investors are increasingly optimistic about future price increases.
- Kinder Morgan Options Activity: Concurrently, Kinder Morgan's options trading volume was also robust at 60,783 contracts, representing approximately 6.1 million shares, or 44.6% of its average daily trading volume of 13.6 million shares over the past month, reflecting strong market interest in the company.
- Put Option Trading: For Kinder Morgan, the $33 strike put option has garnered attention with 45,780 contracts traded today, amounting to approximately 4.6 million shares, indicating investor concerns regarding potential future price declines.
- Earnings Beat: Ouster reported an adjusted loss of $0.24 per share, outperforming the consensus estimate of a $0.35 loss, indicating improved financial management and boosting investor confidence.
- Revenue Performance: The company posted adjusted revenue of $40.971 million, slightly below the expected $41.100 million, yet product revenue surged 36% year-over-year to $41 million, reflecting strong market demand.
- Record Sensor Shipments: Ouster shipped over 8,100 lidar sensors in the quarter, setting a new record that underscores its technological leadership and market acceptance in the Physical AI sector.
- Optimistic Outlook: Ouster anticipates first-quarter 2026 revenue between $45 million and $48 million, including seven weeks of operations from its Stereolabs acquisition, demonstrating confidence in future growth and strategic positioning.










