■ Alphabet (GOOGL)
Upgrade to Strong Buy: Raymond James raised its 12-month target price to $400 (approx. 29x 2027E earnings) and upgraded the stock from Buy to Strong Buy, citing a bullish outlook for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Search.
GCP Momentum: Analysts project GCP growth of 44% in 2026 and 36% in 2027, driven by mass deployment of TPUs and GPUs, alongside Gemini API and Vertex AI adoption. By the end of 2027, annual run-rate revenue is estimated at $25B from TPUs, $20B from GPUs, and $10B from Gemini APIs.
Search Resilience: Growth is expected to hold at 13% for both 2026 and 2027, as AI mode adoption (Gemini) offsets potential declines in traditional search.
■ Microsoft (MSFT)
F1 Sponsorship: Signed a new sponsorship deal with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Microsoft branding will appear on the race car's airbox and front wing.
Tech & Scale: While terms weren't disclosed, experts estimate the deal at $60 million per year. Technical collaboration will deepen, utilizing Microsoft Azure AI for race strategy and simulations for the new, lighter W17 car.
■ Meta Platforms (META)
Earnings Watch (Jan 28): Jefferies maintained a Buy rating and $910 target. Following an 18% price dip since the last report, analysts see attractive upside compared to Alphabet and Amazon.
Valuation & Efficiency: Meta’s PER is currently 8x lower than Alphabet's. With an 82% gross margin and aggressive hiring of AI experts, 2026 is expected to see accelerated growth in WhatsApp, Threads, and Llama model monetization.
■ GE Aerospace (GE)
Earnings Beat: Reported Q4 EPS of $1.57 (vs. $1.43 est) and revenue of $11.87 billion (vs. $11.2B est).
Strong Guidance: Issued 2026 EPS guidance of $7.10–$7.40, surpassing the Wall Street estimate of $7.12.
■ Procter & Gamble (PG)
Mixed Results: Q4 EPS ($1.88) slightly beat estimates ($1.86), but revenue ($22.21B) missed the $22.28B forecast.
Segment Weakness: Softening demand for Gillette razors and Pampers diapers impacted top-line growth. Net income fell to $4.32 billion compared to $4.63 billion YoY.
■ Intel (INTC)
SambaNova Deal Halted: Acquisition talks for AI startup SambaNova Systems (previously discussed at a $1.6B valuation) have ended. SambaNova is now seeking $300M–$500M in funding from other tech firms.
Intel's Stance: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger remains Chairman of SambaNova's board, and Intel is considering further investment rather than a full acquisition.
Estimates: Markets expect Q4 EPS of $0.08 and revenue of $13.41 billion.
■ Micron Technology (MU)
Initiated at Outperform: William Blair started coverage with an Outperform rating and a fair value around $450.
AI & HBM: Despite high valuation, tightening memory supply and AI infrastructure spending support further gains. HBM revenue is projected to grow 164% in FY26 and another 40% in FY27.
■ Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Initiated at Buy: Phillip Securities set a $208 target.
Commercial Growth: Analysts expect commercial revenue growth (51%) to outpace government growth (43%) this year, driven by expanding AI solution adoption and geopolitical uncertainty.
■ Alibaba (BABA)
Chip Unit IPO: Reportedly preparing its semiconductor division, T-Head, for an IPO to attract massive AI-related investment, similar to the recent interest in Nvidia and Moore Threads.
■ Seagate Technology (STX)
Upgrade to Outperform: BNP Paribas raised its target to $380.
HDD Supercycle: Driven by data center spending, the HDD market is projected to grow at a 25% CAGR through 2028, supporting a valuation re-rating.
■ Netflix (NFLX)
Ad Revenue Focus: Wedbush ($115 PT) and Jefferies ($134 PT) maintained Outperform/Buy ratings.
Growth Metrics: 2026 ad revenue is projected to exceed $3 billion (100%+ growth), with steady FCF growth of 15% CAGR over the next five years.
■ BlackRock (BLK)
Target Price Hikes: KBW ($1,340), Barclays ($1,350), BofA ($1,467), and Deutsche Bank ($1,380) all raised targets following a strong Q4 beat and solid momentum into 2026.
■ Personal Care & Beauty (ULTA, SBH)
Ulta Beauty (ULTA): Upgraded to Strong Buy ($790 PT) by Raymond James, citing 2026 growth acceleration and engagement with younger consumers.
Sally Beauty (SBH): Upgraded to Outperform ($19 PT) as a top-value small-cap pick, aided by partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats.
■ Oklo (OKLO)
Upgrade to Buy: BofA raised its target to $127.
Meta Prepayment: Meta reportedly paid $25 million for site prep and fuel procurement—a detail not in press releases—significantly lowering Oklo’s risk profile.
■ CVS Health (CVS)
Antitrust Pressure: Faced new House Judiciary Committee allegations regarding PBM (CVS Caremark) practices, specifically concerning pressure on independent pharmacies. CVS strongly denied the claims, citing their role in reducing drug costs.
■ Other Pre-market Movers
■ GameStop (GME): CEO Ryan Cohen purchased 500,000 shares.
■ Mobileye (MBLY): Strong Q4 revenue overshadowed by disappointing guidance.
■ Abbott Laboratories (ABT): Mixed Q4; 2026 EPS guidance ($5.55–$5.80) beat estimates.
■ McCormick (MKC): FY26 revenue guidance beat consensus, but EPS guidance ($3.05–$3.13) fell short.
■ Huntington Bancshares (HBAN): Reported weak NIM and overall results.
■ Venture Global (VG): Won its legal battle against Spain's Repsol.
