Category: Technology

Belden Bets $1.85 Billion on RUCKUS Networks to Become a Full-Stack IT/OT Powerhouse

Posted on by [email protected]

Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC) is making its biggest strategic push in years. The St. Louis-based specialty networking solutions provider announced Wednesday it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire RUCKUS Networks from Vistance Networks (Nasdaq: VISN) for approximately $1.85 billion in a debt-financed transaction that fundamentally reshapes what Belden is — and who it competes against.

The deal adds capabilities Belden simply doesn’t have today: enterprise-grade Wi-Fi and switching technology. For a company that has long been the infrastructure layer — the cables, connectors, and passive components behind enterprise and industrial networks — acquiring RUCKUS is a direct move up the stack.

What Belden Is Buying

RUCKUS is not a niche player. The company serves more than 48,000 customers globally with an integrated portfolio spanning Wi-Fi, enterprise switching, and an AI-driven cloud networking platform. Its sweet spots are high-density, mission-critical environments — hospitality, education, and healthcare — exactly the verticals where Belden already has customer relationships and distribution reach.

That overlap is the deal’s core thesis. Belden walks into existing customer accounts and can now offer a complete end-to-end networking solution rather than handing off business to competitors at the active networking layer. The cross-sell opportunity is immediate and doesn’t require building new channels from scratch.

The industrial angle is equally compelling. As manufacturers and industrial operators accelerate the convergence of their IT and OT environments — connecting factory floors to enterprise networks — demand for high-performance wireless and switching in industrial settings is rising sharply. RUCKUS gives Belden a proven platform to chase that opportunity.

The Financial Case

At approximately 13x projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA, Belden is paying a growth multiple, but the numbers justify the premium. RUCKUS comes in with high-single-digit revenue growth, gross margins above 60%, and adjusted EBITDA margins above 20% — all meaningfully better than Belden’s current profile. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to adjusted earnings per share and expand both gross and EBITDA margins in the first full year of ownership.

The combined adjusted EBITDA base is projected at approximately $650 million, which gives Belden a meaningful cash generation engine to attack the debt load. J.P. Morgan has provided fully committed debt financing, and Belden expects to bring net leverage below 3.0x within the first full year post-close, targeting approximately 1.5x by 2029. Share repurchases will be paused until leverage is closer to that long-term target — a responsible trade-off given the size of the bet.

The Bigger Picture

This acquisition is Belden making a definitive statement about what it wants to be. The company has spent years positioning around industrial and enterprise connectivity, but selling passive networking infrastructure in a world moving toward software-defined, cloud-managed networking was increasingly a commodity play. RUCKUS changes that equation.

Bringing an AI-driven cloud networking platform under the Belden umbrella alongside established hardware capabilities creates a more defensible, higher-value business. Customers increasingly want fewer vendors and more complete solutions — Belden is positioning itself to be that vendor.

Both boards have approved the transaction. Close is expected in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Release – Perfect Corp. Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026

Posted on by [email protected]

Research News and Market Data on PERF

April 28, 2026

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Perfect Corp. (NYSE: PERF) (“Perfect” or the “Company”), a leading artificial intelligence (“AI”) company offering AI and augmented reality (“AR”) powered solutions to beauty, fashion, photo and video creative industries, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.

Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026

  • Total revenue was $17.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $16.0 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 12.0%. The increase was primarily due to continued revenue growth in our mobile app and web subscriptions, as well as growth in virtual points revenue, which is generated from end users purchasing and consuming virtual points for AI-powered services available on YouCam mobile apps and web services.
  • Gross profit was $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $12.5 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 17.8%.
  • Operating income was $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to an operating loss of $0.2 million in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of $1.6 million.
  • Netincome was $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $2.3 million during the same period of 2025, an increase of 2.6%.
  • Operating cash flow was $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $4.3 million in the same period of 2025, a decrease of 1.9%.

Ms. Alice H. Chang, Founder, Chairwoman, and Chief Executive Officer of Perfect Corp., commented, “Perfect Corp. continues to focus on advancing its consumer B2C and enterprise B2B businesses through AI-driven innovation. We are seeing continued demand for Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions and intend to continue to focus toward developing products and services in this area. We remain committed to evolving our technology capabilities and expanding our offerings to address opportunities across both segments.”

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026

Revenue

Total revenue was $17.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $16.0 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 12.0%.

  • AI- and AR- cloud solutions and subscription revenue was $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $14.1 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 9.8%. The increase was driven by the continued revenue growth from YouCam mobile app and web subscriptions, supported by growing popularity among consumers for Generative AI technologies and AI editing features for photos and videos.
  • Licensing revenue was $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $1.6 million in the same period of 2025, a decrease of 5.4%. The Company anticipates that this legacy non-recurring revenue will become increasingly immaterial as it continues to prioritize enhancing its market leadership in the consumer beauty and AI mobile apps and web subscriptions as well as AI- and AR-based SaaS subscription solutions for brands and customers.
  • Others revenue was $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $0.3 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 179.5%. The increase was driven by the growth of virtual points purchased and consumed by end users. Virtual points are used for AI-powered services available on YouCam mobile apps and web services.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with $12.5 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 17.8%. Gross margin was 81.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, up from 77.9% in the same period of 2025. The increase in gross margin during the quarter was primarily due to the increase in operational efficiency resulting from the ongoing realignment of engineering professionals as we continue to transition from customization of software toward more standardized AI/API solutions for our customer base.

Total Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were $13.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with $12.6 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 4.7%. The increase was primarily due to the recognition of expected credit losses and higher sales and marketing expenses in the first quarter of 2026.

  • Sales and marketing expenses were $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $7.4 million during the same period of 2025, an increase of 3.9%. This increase was primarily due to an increase in mobile apps advertising expenses.
  • Research and development expenses remained relatively stable at $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $3.6 million during the same period of 2025.
  • General and administrative expenses remained stable at $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and for the same period of 2025, demonstrating our effective cost control.
  • Expected credit losses were $307 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to nil in the same period of 2025. The recognition of expected credit losses was primarily attributable to an unexpected order cancellation by a customer.

Operating Income

Total operating income was $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with an operating loss of $0.2 million in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of $1.6 million. The increase was primarily driven by higher revenue and gross profit, while operating expenses grew modestly.

Net Income

Net income was $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $2.3 million during the same period of 2025, an increase of 2.6%. The positive net income was supported by our steady revenue growth and effective cost control.

Liquidity and Capital Resource

As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $120.6 million (or $176.4 million when including 6-month time deposits of $36.4 million, US Treasuries of $15.2 million, and money market funds of $4.2 million, which are classified as financial assets at amortized cost and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS, respectively), compared to $126.0 million (or $172.4 million when including time deposits and US Treasuries) as of December 31, 2025.

The Company had a positive operating cash flow of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $4.3 million in the same period of 2025. The Company continues to invest in growth while maintaining a healthy cash reserve to support business operations underscoring the Company’s operational health and sustainability.

Key Business Metrics

  • The number of active subscribers for the Company’s YouCam mobile apps and web services was 864,000 as of March 31, 2026, compared to over 908,000 as of December 31, 2025, a decrease of 4.8%. This decline was attributable to the increase in the average selling price of mobile app and web service subscription plans introduced in early 2025, which strategically prioritized higher revenue per user and long-term monetization efficiency over short-term volume growth..
  • As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s cumulative customer base included 866 brand clients, with over 989,000 digital stock keeping units (“SKUs”) for makeup, haircare, skincare, shoes, bags, eyewear, watches and jewelry products, compared to 859 brand clients and over 982,000 digital SKUs as of December 31, 2025. The number of Key Customers 1 of the Company as of March 31, 2026 was 118 compared to 135 as of December 31, 2025. The decline in the number of Key Customers was primarily due to customers churns in North America.

Recent Development

On March 18, 2026, Perfect announced receipt of preliminary non-binding “Going Private” proposal.

On March 23, 2026, Perfect’s Board announced the formation of special committee to evaluate on the preliminary non-binding “Going Private” proposal received on March 18, 2026.

On April 20, 2026, Perfect announced appointment of financial advisor and legal counsel to the special committee.

About Perfect Corp.

Founded in 2015, Perfect Corp. is a leading AI company offering self-developed AI- and AR- powered solutions dedicated to transforming the world with digital tech innovations that make your virtual world beautiful. On Perfect’s direct consumer business side, Perfect operates a family of YouCam consumer apps and web-editing services for photo, video and camera users, centered on unleashing creativity with AI-driven features for creation, beautification and enhancement. On Perfect’s enterprise business side, Perfect empowers major beauty, skincare, fashion, jewelry, and watch brands and retailers by supplying them with omnichannel shopping experiences through AR product try-ons and AI-powered skin diagnostics. With cutting-edge technologies such as Generative AI, real-time facial and hand 3D AR rendering and cloud solutions, Perfect enables personalized, enjoyable, and engaging shopping journey and helps brands elevate customer engagement, increase conversion rates, and propel sales growth. Throughout this journey, Perfect maintains its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and fulfilling social responsibilities. For more information, visit https://ir.perfectcorp.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Perfect. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “target,” “seek” or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including strategies or plans, are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Perfect’s reasonable expectations and beliefs concerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Perfect’s control. Forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of the date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Perfect to predict these events or how they may affect Perfect. In addition, risks and uncertainties are described in Perfect’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Perfect cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. There may be additional risks that Perfect presently does not know or that Perfect currently does not believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Perfect, its directors, officers or employees or any other person that Perfect will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. Except as required by applicable law, Perfect does not have any duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere after the date of this communication. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of Perfect as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

View full release here.

Investor Relations Contact
Investor Relations, Perfect Corp.
Email: [email protected]
Category: Investor RelationsSource: Perfect Corp.

Microsoft and OpenAI Rewrite the Rules: What the Amended Partnership Means for the AI Landscape

Posted on by [email protected]

The relationship between Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and OpenAI just got a lot more complicated — and for investors watching the enterprise software and AI space, the implications stretch well beyond two companies renegotiating a contract.

On Monday, Microsoft announced a sweeping revision to its long-term partnership with OpenAI, officially ending its exclusive access to the AI startup’s intellectual property and models. Under the original agreement, Microsoft held exclusive rights to OpenAI’s IP and technology until the company achieved artificial general intelligence (AGI) — a milestone defined as AI that matches or surpasses human intelligence. That clause is now gone.

The revised deal allows OpenAI to distribute its models through any cloud provider, including direct competitors like Amazon Web Services. Microsoft’s Azure platform retains its designation as OpenAI’s primary cloud infrastructure and will continue to receive first access to new OpenAI products — but the competitive moat that defined the original partnership has been significantly narrowed. In exchange, Microsoft will no longer make revenue-sharing payments to OpenAI, though OpenAI is still obligated to continue paying revenue share back to Microsoft through 2030.

MSFT shares dipped roughly 1% on the announcement.

The timing is notable. The renegotiation comes just two days before Microsoft reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday — an earnings report already under a microscope after a rough six months for the stock. MSFT has lost approximately 20% over that period, while cloud rivals Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) have surged 17% and 30%, respectively.

A key metric investors will be watching Wednesday is Azure’s growth rate. In its last reported quarter, Microsoft disclosed that Azure revenue growth was constrained by data center capacity — the business grew 38%, but management indicated it would have hit 40% with sufficient infrastructure in place. Any update on capacity buildout and AI-driven cloud demand will likely move the stock.

But the bigger story here may not be Microsoft at all — it’s what this deal signals for the broader enterprise software market. The so-called “SaaS-pocalypse” — the fear that AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic will build their own enterprise tools and disintermediate traditional software providers — has been quietly hammering the sector for months. With OpenAI now free to go directly to any cloud customer through any platform, that risk just became more tangible.

The damage is already showing up in valuations. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) are each down roughly 31% year-to-date. Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) has shed more than 40%. These are not small-cap companies, but the ripple effects are being felt across the entire software ecosystem — including the mid-market and smaller players who compete for enterprise IT budgets.

For the small and microcap space, the takeaway is straightforward: the enterprise software stack is being repriced in real time. Companies that built their value proposition around integrating with or complementing legacy SaaS platforms need to be asking hard questions about their positioning as AI-native competitors gain distribution.

The Microsoft-OpenAI relationship has always been one of the most consequential partnerships in tech. Monday’s announcement makes it clear that even that relationship isn’t immune to the disruption reshaping the entire industry.

Intel Breaks Its Dot-Com Ceiling: What a 26-Year Breakout Means for the Chip Sector

Posted on by [email protected]

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) did something Friday that took 26 years to accomplish — it traded above its dot-com-era peak set in the year 2000. With shares surging more than 22% on the heels of a blowout first-quarter earnings report, the stock cleared a ceiling that had capped rallies multiple times over the past two decades and is now trading in price discovery territory for the first time since the internet bubble.

The catalyst was a Q1 2026 earnings print that demolished Wall Street expectations across every key metric. Intel posted revenue of $13.6 billion, up 7% year-over-year, against analyst consensus that had penciled in closer to $12.4 billion. Non-GAAP earnings per share came in at $0.29, crushing the $0.01 estimate. For context, that’s a 28-cent beat on the bottom line — a number that tells you just how badly the Street had underestimated Intel’s momentum heading into the quarter.

The segment doing the heavy lifting is Data Center and AI. That division posted revenue growth of 22% year-over-year, making it Intel’s fastest-growing area. More telling: AI-driven business revenue surged 40% year-over-year, marking the sixth consecutive quarter in which the company exceeded its own guidance. Intel Foundry — its contract manufacturing arm — also contributed meaningfully, bringing in $5.4 billion, up 20% sequentially.

It’s worth noting that Intel did report a GAAP net loss of $3.7 billion for the quarter, driven primarily by $4.1 billion in restructuring and other charges, including a Mobileye goodwill impairment. That number is real and matters, but the market’s reaction tells you investors are focused on the operating trajectory — not the one-time write-downs.

The technical story is just as significant as the fundamental one. Intel had been trapped below its 2000 peak for over two decades, with failed breakout attempts in both 2020 and 2021. The stock had already staged a remarkable recovery before earnings, rising more than 60% off its March 30 low and adding roughly $130 billion in market value in that stretch. Friday’s move didn’t just extend that rally — it changed the long-term chart structure entirely.

Intel isn’t alone in its momentum. The PHLX Semiconductor Index is currently on a 17-consecutive-day winning streak, one of the longest runs in the index’s history. The entire chip complex has been repriced higher as AI infrastructure buildout accelerates and demand for advanced silicon continues to outstrip supply.

Management guided Q2 2026 revenue to a range of $13.8 to $14.8 billion, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.20 and a non-GAAP gross margin of 39% — forward guidance that signals the company expects its momentum to hold.

The key watch now is whether Intel can close at a record high above $75.83 by the end of Friday’s session. A confirmed close above that level would be a landmark moment for one of the most watched charts in technology. A retreat back below $65, however, would reframe this move as a failed breakout — and signal the stock needs more time before it can sustain new all-time highs.

Either way, Intel’s earnings don’t just matter for INTC shareholders. They’re a read-through for semiconductor capital spending, AI chip demand, and the broader thesis that the CPU — not just the GPU — has a critical role in the next wave of AI infrastructure.

SKYX Platforms (SKYX) – Additional Agreement For European Hospitality Market

Posted on by [email protected]


Thursday, April 23, 2026

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Additional Agreement. Hot on the heels of last week’s strategic partnership agreement with Group OTT, SKYX signed an agreement with OTT Heritage Hospitality, a prominent European developer, to deploy and market SKYX’s technologies across the European hotel chains segment and buildings. The new agreement provides additional focus and opportunity for SKYX, in our view, marking another significant step in the Company’s global expansion.

OTT Heritage Hospitality. Also founded by Jean-Francois Ott, OTT Heritage is a real estate company specializing in special situation real estate. The strategy consists of acquiring assets affordably in well-known cities, leveraging their underlying market value. With an investment pipeline of €150-250 million, current projects include a hotel consolidation strategy (objective: 2,000+ rooms) in Lourdes, luxury hospitality in Grasse and Prague, and redevelopment of the legendary Magny-Cours Formula 1 track, with the vision to turn the area into a premier destination for car and motorsport enthusiasts, including racing experiences, hotels, F&B, entertainment, and golf.


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The AI Purge: What Big Tech’s Job Cuts Really Signal for Small Cap Markets

Posted on by [email protected]

The wave is no longer building — it has made landfall. In the span of a single week, Meta announced it is cutting 10% of its workforce (roughly 8,000 employees), Microsoft launched a voluntary buyout program targeting approximately 7% of its U.S. staff, and Snap disclosed a 16% reduction — about 1,000 jobs — all under the banner of AI-driven efficiency. Add Amazon, Oracle, Block, and Salesforce to the list, and the message from corporate America’s biggest names is unmistakable: AI is now a cost-cutting weapon, and human headcount is the first casualty.

Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google alone are projected to spend approximately $650 billion in capital expenditures in 2026. The paradox? The same technology they claim is unlocking productivity is also justifying mass layoffs. Snap’s leadership framed their cuts as enabling faster, leaner squads. Block’s CEO publicly attributed a 40% workforce reduction to the deployment of internal intelligence tools. Salesforce pointed to AI coding agents replacing the need for human engineers. The narrative is consistent enough to raise a pointed question: is this genuine transformation, or a convenient cover for margin repair?

For small and microcap investors, the implications cut deeper than headline risk on large-cap tech stocks.

First, AI adoption no longer belongs exclusively to companies with multi-billion-dollar R&D budgets. The same tools that Meta and Microsoft are deploying internally are increasingly available to smaller operators — often through the very platforms Big Tech is building. That’s a real competitive leveler. Small and microcap companies that move early on AI integration stand to compress their cost structures in ways that could dramatically re-rate their earnings profiles.

Second, the displacement of tens of thousands of skilled tech workers creates a talent pipeline that smaller companies can now access. Engineers, product managers, and data scientists who previously would have never considered a company with a sub-$500 million market cap are suddenly in the job market — and often more open to equity-heavy compensation packages. For growth-stage small caps, that is a structural recruiting opportunity.

Third, and perhaps most importantly for investors, Big Tech’s AI spending spree is creating a robust ecosystem of beneficiaries across the supply chain — many of them small and microcap companies. Infrastructure build-out at this scale drives demand for specialized hardware, cooling technology, energy solutions, cybersecurity tools, and vertical AI software providers. These are not household names. They are precisely the kind of companies that ChannelChek and Noble Capital Markets exist to surface.

The layoff headlines are really a signal about where capital is flowing, not just where jobs are disappearing. The companies being cut from the org charts of Menlo Park and Redmond are not the story. The companies quietly building the infrastructure that enables those cuts — and the smaller operators sharp enough to ride the same wave — are where the real opportunity lives.

The AI efficiency era has arrived. The question for small cap investors is whether they are positioned to benefit from it or simply watching it unfold from the sidelines.

Tim Cook’s Exit Is More Than a Transition — It’s a Signal for the Entire Apple Ecosystem

Posted on by [email protected]

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) dropped one of the biggest corporate leadership announcements in years on Monday: Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, transitioning to executive chairman, while John Ternus — currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering — becomes the company’s eighth chief executive. The move was unanimously approved by Apple’s board of directors.

Ternus, 50, is a 25-year Apple veteran who joined the company in 2001 as a product design engineer and rose through the ranks overseeing hardware development for the iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Mac product lines. His appointment continues Apple’s tradition of internal succession — the same approach used when Cook replaced Steve Jobs in 2011.

The transition is effective September 1, with Cook remaining in his CEO role through the summer to ensure continuity. Arthur Levinson, Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will shift to lead independent director at the same time Ternus joins the board.

For investors, the leadership change raises a question that goes beyond Apple’s $4 trillion market cap: what does a hardware-first CEO mean for the company’s strategic direction — and who benefits downstream?

Cook’s tenure was defined by operational excellence and margin expansion. Under his leadership, Apple’s profit more than quadrupled, and the company became the first to achieve a $1 trillion market cap. But the knock on Cook heading into his final years was the same one analysts have leveled at Apple broadly — a lagging AI strategy relative to peers.

Ternus inherits that problem directly. Apple has faced a bumpy rollout of its AI-enhanced Siri platform and relied on Google’s Gemini in January as a bridge while its own large language model development hit snags. The company is now accelerating development of AI-driven wearables — reportedly including smart glasses, a pendant device, and camera-equipped AirPods — along with a foldable iPhone that some analysts are calling the most significant hardware moment in years. Bloomberg has also reported Apple is eyeing deeper moves into robotics.

That product roadmap matters significantly for the small and microcap companies sitting inside Apple’s supply chain. Shifts in hardware strategy at the CEO level translate directly into procurement decisions, component specifications, and manufacturing volumes that flow through dozens of smaller, publicly traded suppliers. When Apple pivots toward new form factors — AI wearables, foldable displays, edge-computing hardware — it creates winners and losers across a web of suppliers many of which operate well below the $2 billion market cap threshold.

Wall Street’s initial read on the Ternus appointment has been cautiously positive. Morgan Stanley noted that promoting a product-centric engineer signals Apple’s core hardware flywheel will remain intact. Wedbush’s lead tech analyst characterized the move as an opportunity for Apple to shift from a defensive to offensive posture in the AI hardware race.

Whether Ternus can deliver on both sides of that mandate — preserving Cook’s operational discipline while channeling the kind of product innovation the market has been waiting for — will define not just Apple’s next chapter, but the trajectory of an entire ecosystem of smaller companies built around it.

Apple is scheduled to report fiscal second-quarter earnings next week, with Cook still at the helm for that call. Ternus, however, will almost certainly face pointed questions from investors about his vision from day one.

Release – SKYX Signs Additional Agreement with Prominent European Development Group to Deploy and Market Its Technologies to Vast European Hospitality Market of Over 132,000 Hotels

Posted on by [email protected]

Research News and Market Data on SKYX

April 22, 2026 08:48 ET  | Source: SKYX Platforms Corp.

During the Course of the Agreement the Prominent European Development Group OTT Heritage Hospitality Expects to Market and Deploy SKYX’s Disruptive Technologies into Hundreds of European Hotels, Buildings and Developments

Throughout the Term of the Agreement Prominent Developer and SKYX Expect to Deploy and Market Hundreds of Thousands of Products into Massive European Hospitality Market

124,000 Hotel Rooms are Projected to Open in Europe in 2026, with Over 250,000 Additional Rooms in the Development Pipeline Industry-Wide

Through Its Platform and Network, OTT Heritage Hospitality Provides Access to a Broad Pipeline of Hospitality Projects Across Europe and Intends to Actively Market and Facilitate the Adoption of SKYX’s Technologies Across a Range of Hotel, Building, and Development Opportunities Leveraging Significant Time and Cost Efficiencies of Up to 90%

SKYX’s Technologies are Expected to Offer Long-Term Recurring Revenue Opportunities Through Monitoring, Subscriptions, and AI Services, in Addition to Product Upgrades, Interchangeability and Platform-Wide Integrations for Future Development

MIAMI, April 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ: SKYX) (d/b/a SKYX Technologies) (the “Company” or “SKYX”), an award winning highly disruptive advanced and smart home and AI platform technology company with over 100 U.S. and global pending and issued patents and a portfolio of 60 lighting and home décor websites, with a mission to make homes and buildings become advanced-safe-smart instantly as the new standard, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with OTT Heritage Hospitality, a prominent European developer, to deploy and market its technologies across the vast European hotel chains segment and buildings.

This agreement marks a significant step in SKYX’s global expansion strategy as it continues to advance its mission to make hotels, homes, and buildings smarter, safer, and advanced.

Under the agreement, SKYX’s advanced and smart home and building technologies are expected to penetrate the vast European hotel market with over 132,000 hotels with hundreds of thousands of additional rooms in the development pipeline in addition to residential and commercial projects throughout Europe.

During the course of the agreement SKYX and OTT Heritage Hospitality expect to deploy and market SKYX’s disruptive technologies to hundreds of European hotels, buildings and developments with the aim of deploying hundreds of thousands of units across European hotel and real estate developments.

OTT Heritage Hospitality provides its platform and network as well as access to a broad pipeline of hospitality projects across Europe and intends to actively market and facilitate the adoption of SKYX’s technologies across a range of hotel, building, and development opportunities, leveraging the significant time and cost efficiencies of up to 90% provided by SKYX’s technologies.

Jean-François Ott, Founder of OTT Heritage Hospitality, said; “As a long-time developer of hotel and real estate projects, I see a tremendous opportunity in marketing and facilitating the penetration of SKYX’s highly disruptive technologies into hotels and real estate projects across Europe. By leveraging significant time and cost efficiencies of up to 90% for hotel renovations as well as new builds, we can enable properties to become smarter, safer, and more technologically advanced.”

Rani Kohen, Founder and Executive Chairman of SKYX Platforms, said; “This partnership marks a significant step in our global expansion strategy as we continue with our goal and mission to advance hotels, homes, and buildings by making them smarter and safer. We look forward to partnering with such an established European hotel and real estate developer.”

For more information about OTT Heritage Hospitality click here: www.ottheritagehospitality.com

For more information about SKYX click here: www.skyx.com

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 100 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.skyx.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “evaluate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target” “view,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements reflect the Company’s reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which have outcomes difficult to predict and may be outside our control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully launch, commercialize, develop additional features and achieve market acceptance of its products and technologies and integrate its products and technologies with third-party platforms or technologies; the Company’s ability to achieve positive cash flows; the Company’s efforts and ability to drive the adoption of its products and technologies as a standard feature, including their use in homes, hotels, offices and cruise ships; the Company’s ability to capture market share; the Company’s estimates of its potential addressable market and demand for its products and technologies; the Company’s ability to raise additional capital to support its operations as needed, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to execute on any sales and licensing or other strategic opportunities; the possibility that any of the Company’s products will become National Electrical Code (NEC)-code or otherwise code mandatory in any jurisdiction, or that any of the Company’s current or future products or technologies will be adopted by any state, country, or municipality, within any specific timeframe or at all; risks arising from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other collaborations; the Company’s ability to attract and retain key executives and qualified personnel; guidance provided by management, which may differ from the Company’s actual operating results; the potential impact of unstable market and economic conditions on the Company’s business, financial condition, and stock price; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. There can be no assurance as to any of the foregoing matters. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws. 

Investor Relations Contacts:

Jeff Ramson
PCG Advisory
[email protected]

Ronald A. Both
Encore Investor Relations
[email protected]         

Release – SelectQuote to Release Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 Earnings on May 5

Posted on by [email protected]
Select Quote

Research News and Market Data on SLQT

04/21/2026

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE: SLQT), a leading distributor of Medicare insurance policies and owner of a rapidly growing healthcare services platform, today announced it will release its fiscal third quarter 2026 financial results before market open on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Chief Executive Officer, Tim Danker, and Chief Financial Officer, Ryan Clement, will host a conference call on the day of the release (May 5, 2026) at 8:30 am ET to discuss the results.

We encourage interested parties to access the live webcast of the event via our investor relations website https://ir.selectquote.com/investor-home/default.aspx or via this link.

For those interested in dialing into the conference call, please register using this link. After registering, confirmation will be sent via email, including dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call, but to ensure you are connected for the full call, we suggest registering a day in advance or at least 10 minutes before the start of the call.

About SelectQuote:

Founded in 1985, SelectQuote (NYSE: SLQT) pioneered the model of providing unbiased comparisons from multiple, highly rated insurance companies, allowing consumers to choose the policy and terms that best meet their unique needs. Two foundational pillars underpin SelectQuote’s success: a strong force of highly trained and skilled agents who provide a consultative needs analysis for every consumer, and proprietary technology that sources and routes high-quality leads. Today, the Company operates an ecosystem offering high touchpoints for consumers across insurance, pharmacy, and virtual care.

With an ecosystem offering engagement points for consumers across insurance, Medicare, pharmacy, and value-based care, the company now has three core business lines: SelectQuote Senior, SelectQuote Healthcare Services, and SelectQuote Life. SelectQuote Senior serves the needs of a demographic that sees around 10,000 people turn 65 each day with a range of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. SelectQuote Healthcare Services is comprised of the SelectRx Pharmacy, a Patient-Centered Pharmacy Home™ (PCPH) accredited pharmacy, SelectPatient Management, a provider of chronic care management services, and Healthcare Select, which proactively connects consumers with a wide breadth of healthcare services supporting their needs.

Investor Relations:
Sloan Bohlen
877-678-4083
[email protected]

Media:
Matt Gunter
913-286-4931
[email protected]

Source: SelectQuote, Inc.

Release – Perfect Announces Appointment of Financial Advisor and Legal Counsel to the Special Committee

Posted on by [email protected]
Perfect Corp

Research News and Market Data on PERF

April 20, 2026

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Perfect Corp. (NYSE: PERF) (“Perfect” or the “Company”), a leading artificial intelligence (“AI”) company offering AI and augmented reality (“AR”) powered solutions to beauty, fashion, photo and video creative industries, today announced that the independent special committee (the “Special Committee”) of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), formed to evaluate and consider the previously announced preliminary non-binding proposal letter dated March 18, 2026 (the “Proposal”), has selected Kroll LLC. as its financial advisor and DLA Piper as its international legal counsel.

The Special Committee is continuing its review and evaluation of the Proposal. The Board cautions its shareholders and others considering trading in its securities that neither the Board nor the Special Committee has made any decision with respect to the Proposal. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be received, that any definitive agreement will be executed relating to the transaction contemplated by the Proposal, or that the transaction contemplated by the Proposal or any other similar transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company does not undertake any obligation to provide any updates with respect to any transaction, except as required under applicable law.

About Perfect Corp.

Founded in 2015, Perfect Corp. is a leading AI company offering self-developed AI- and AR- powered solutions dedicated to transforming the world with digital tech innovations that make your virtual world beautiful. On Perfect’s direct consumer business side, Perfect operates a family of YouCam consumer apps and web-editing services for photo, video and camera users, centered on unleashing creativity with AI-driven features for creation, beautification and enhancement. On Perfect’s enterprise business side, Perfect empowers major beauty, skincare, fashion, jewelry, and watch brands and retailers by supplying them with omnichannel shopping experiences through AR product try-ons and AI-powered skin diagnostics. With cutting-edge technologies such as Generative AI, real-time facial and hand 3D AR rendering and cloud solutions, Perfect enables personalized, enjoyable, and engaging shopping journey and helps brands elevate customer engagement, increase conversion rates, and propel sales growth. Throughout this journey, Perfect maintains its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and fulfilling social responsibilities. For more information, visit https://ir.perfectcorp.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Perfect. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “target,” “seek” or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including strategies or plans, are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Perfect’s reasonable expectations and beliefs concerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Perfect’s control. Forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of the date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Perfect to predict these events or how they may affect Perfect. In addition, risks and uncertainties are described in Perfect’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Perfect cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. There may be additional risks that Perfect presently does not know or that Perfect currently does not believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Perfect, its directors, officers or employees or any other person that Perfect will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. Except as required by applicable law, Perfect does not have any duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere after the date of this communication. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of Perfect as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

Investor Relations Contact
Investor Relations, Perfect Corp.
Email: [email protected]

Source: Perfect Corp.

Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 4.7

Posted on by [email protected]

Anthropic is expanding its AI model lineup with the release of Claude Opus 4.7, a new offering the company positions as its most capable generally available model to date — while deliberately keeping its most powerful, and potentially most dangerous, technology off the open market.

The San Francisco-based AI firm says Opus 4.7 delivers meaningful improvements over its predecessor, Claude Opus 4.6, across a range of performance benchmarks including agentic coding, multidisciplinary reasoning, scaled tool use and computer use. For enterprise users and developers, the model is designed to handle complex, real-world workflows more effectively — a direct response to the growing demand for AI that can operate with greater autonomy across business processes.

But what makes this launch notable is not just what Claude Opus 4.7 can do — it’s what it deliberately cannot.

Anthropic has engineered the new model to have reduced cyber capabilities compared to Claude Mythos Preview, the company’s most advanced model, which was rolled out earlier this month to a limited group of companies as part of a new cybersecurity initiative called Project Glasswing. Mythos is not generally available and Anthropic has no near-term plans to change that. The company says it is using Project Glasswing as a controlled environment to study how powerful models behave in real-world cybersecurity contexts before considering any broader release.

With Opus 4.7, Anthropic has embedded safeguards that automatically detect and block requests flagged as prohibited or high-risk cybersecurity uses. The company said it also experimented with training techniques aimed at selectively reducing those capabilities at the model level — not just through filtering after the fact. Security professionals with legitimate use cases can apply through a formal verification program to access those capabilities.

The approach reflects the tightrope Anthropic has walked since its founding in 2021 — building competitive, high-performance AI while maintaining what has become the company’s core differentiator: a reputation for safety-first development. That reputation is now being tested at an entirely new scale.

The launch of Project Glasswing has triggered a wave of high-profile conversations across Washington and Wall Street, with members of the Trump administration, tech executives and bank CEOs meeting to assess what Mythos-class AI capabilities could mean for national security and financial infrastructure. The underlying question — how powerful should a publicly available AI model be — is no longer theoretical.

For investors and enterprises, the practical implications of Opus 4.7 are more immediate. The model is priced identically to Opus 4.6, meaning businesses get a material upgrade at no additional cost. It is available across all Anthropic Claude products, its API and through cloud distribution partners Microsoft, Google and Amazon — giving it broad accessibility across the enterprise ecosystem.

The release also signals something important about where the AI industry is heading. Capability tiers are becoming a deliberate strategic tool. The most powerful models are being gated, studied and selectively deployed — not because they aren’t ready, but because the institutions using them need to be.

For small and mid-cap technology companies building on top of AI infrastructure, the implications are significant. As foundation model providers like Anthropic establish formal verification programs and tiered access structures, third-party developers and SaaS companies will need to navigate an increasingly credentialed ecosystem — one where access to the most powerful tools requires demonstrating not just technical fit, but responsible use.

Release – ISG Launches First-of-its-Kind Index to Measure AI’s Impact on Technology Services Sector

Posted on by [email protected]

Research News and Market Data on III

4/16/2026

Composite ISG AI Index™ up 77% since December 2022 inception

Infrastructure leading the way, up 160%, followed by software, up 53%, and services, up 0.3%

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, today launched the ISG AI Index™, a first-of-its-kind benchmark that measures how AI is impacting the global technology and business services sector.

The ISG AI Index is a companion to the ISG Index™, the firm’s longstanding and authoritative source for marketplace intelligence on the global technology and business services industry. Detailed findings of the inaugural ISG AI Index will be presented during ISG’s first-quarter ISG Index presentation today at 9 a.m., U.S. Eastern Time.

“For 94 consecutive quarters, ISG has measured the performance of the global technology services industry through our ISG Index,” said Michael P. Connors, chairman and CEO of ISG. “Our highly respected and trusted barometer has evolved over the years to reflect the seismic changes in our industry, including the advent of cloud-based services. Now, the industry is at a new inflection point. It needs a new way to measure the impact of AI on the broader technology services market. The ISG AI Index is that benchmark.”

The ISG AI Index is pegged to a December 2022 starting point. “We selected this month since it coincides with the November 30, 2022 release date of ChatGPT 3.0 and the start of the current AI era,” said Connors. “From there, we are tracking the impact of AI on technology infrastructure, software and services on an ongoing basis, with initial results through the end of 2025.”

Inaugural Results

The inaugural results of the ISG AI Index show that infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) has seen the greatest impact from AI, up 160 percent. Software as-a-service (SaaS) has risen 53 percent while managed services is up only slightly, at 0.3 percent. On a market-weighted basis, the composite ISG AI Index was up 77 percent since inception.

“What we are seeing from the ISG AI Index is that AI is already reshaping the technology services sector, but not evenly,” said Steve Hall, the firm’s chief AI officer who leads both the ISG Index and the new ISG AI Index. “Infrastructure is capturing the first wave of growth, as hyperscalers add data center capacity to meet rising demand. Software is monetizing next, while managed services is still in the build-out phase, and that likely means the bigger services impact is still ahead of us.”

The ISG AI Index measures each of the three market segments through a combination of key performance indicators: revenue, profitability and stock price performance, along with one forward-looking AI indicator unique to each segment.

“For each segment, we picked one indicator that best shows how AI is impacting that part of the market,” Hall said. “In infrastructure, we use capital expenditure, because it tells us how much capacity hyperscalers are building ahead of demand. In software, we use current remaining performance obligations, or cRPO, which is essentially backlog—revenue that’s been sold but not yet recognized, making it one of the best forward-looking indicators of demand. And in services, we use revenue per employee, because it gives us a simple view of productivity—how much output providers are generating from their workforce as AI starts to change how work is done.”

Segment Performance

The clearest signal of AI’s impact on infrastructure services is capital expenditure, which is up 265 percent since the inception of the ISG AI Index. Revenue is up 100 percent, profitability is up 60 percent, and stock performance is up 113 percent.

In software, revenue is up 61 percent, profitability is up 18 percent and stock performance is up 39 percent, with cRPO up 71 percent. “This shows the market is still buying and backlog is still building. The market is simply trying to work out how AI changes pricing, monetization and long-term economics,” Hall said.

While the managed services composite is roughly flat, Hall said the underlying signals show revenue up 8 percent, profitability up 4 percent, stock performance down 36 percent and revenue per employee up nearly 8.5 percent. “What this tells us is that AI has started to improve productivity in services, but that has not yet translated into broad-based monetization or market confidence,” Hall said. “AI is having an impact, but that impact is still in the early stages.”

The next edition of the ISG AI Index, to be published after the second quarter, will include additional market measures: AI sentiment, tracking enterprise signals on demand, pricing, margins and investment priorities, and AI maturity, measuring enterprise readiness, constraints and adoption levels.

Further details about the ISG AI Index and its methodology can be found here.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

Madison Air’s $2.2B IPO Is the Largest US Industrial Listing in 27 Years

Posted on by [email protected]

The industrial sector just had its biggest IPO moment since 1999, and artificial intelligence deserves much of the credit.

Madison Air Solutions Corp. (NYSE: MAIR) debuted on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, raising $2.23 billion after pricing 82.7 million shares at $27 each — the top of its marketed range. By early afternoon, shares were trading around $31.26, a 16% pop that gave the Chicago-based ventilation and filtration systems provider a market capitalization of approximately $13.2 billion.

The last time a US industrial company pulled off an IPO of this magnitude was when UPS raised $5.5 billion in 1999 — a listing that rode the wave of early e-commerce enthusiasm. Madison Air is riding a different wave: the data center buildout fueling the AI boom.

While the company operates across more than 30 brand names — including Nortek Data Center Cooling, Airxchange and Zephyr — and generates revenue from sectors spanning semiconductor manufacturing and life sciences, it is the data center angle that captured investor attention. Data centers account for roughly 20% of Madison Air’s commercial business, and that segment drove about two-thirds of total revenue in 2025. The company’s liquid, hybrid and air cooling products are increasingly critical infrastructure as hyperscalers race to build out AI compute capacity.

The pitch landed. Madison Air is entering the public markets at a moment when HVAC and thermal management companies tied to the data center buildout have become some of the most sought-after names in industrials. Comfort Systems USA surged more than 360% in the 12 months through Wednesday, while Modine Manufacturing roughly tripled over the same period. Madison Air’s IPO is the latest — and largest — in a string of high-profile industrial debuts, following Legence Corp., which surged 148% from its September IPO through Wednesday, and Forgent Power Solutions, which is up 20% since its February debut.

The company posted revenue of $3.34 billion and net income of $124 million for 2025, compared with $2.62 billion in revenue and $236 million in net income the year prior. The margin compression is worth noting — net income fell despite revenue growth — as tariffs added $51.3 million to the company’s cost of goods sold last year. CEO Jill Wyant said Madison Air is offsetting those pressures through pricing adjustments and is still evaluating the impact of more recent tariff changes on metals.

Founder Larry Gies retains control of the company through super-voting shares following the IPO. Madison Industries, which Gies controls, also participated in a concurrent $100 million private placement at the IPO price. The deal was led by Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Jefferies and Wells Fargo, with anchor interest from Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Durable Capital Partners and HRTG GPE — institutions that collectively expressed interest in up to $525 million of shares ahead of the offering.

Madison Air is not a small-cap story — at $13.2 billion, it clears the threshold by a wide margin. But its market debut matters to small and microcap investors for a clear reason: it validates the investability of the broader AI infrastructure supply chain at scale. The companies supplying cooling systems, filtration and thermal management to data centers — many of them smaller, less-covered names — are operating in what Madison Air estimates is a $40 billion market for specialized air systems. When an IPO of this size trades up 16% on day one, it sends a signal about where institutional capital is flowing. The picks-and-shovels trade around AI infrastructure is far from over.