How to Buy Shares of Anthropic Before It Goes Public

by Fred Fuld III

The word “Anthropic” comes from the Greek word anthrōpos which means “human” or “humanity.”

In physics and philosophy, you might hear of the “anthropic principle”—the idea that observations of the universe must be compatible with the conscious life that observes it.

For the company, the founders chose the name as a literal statement of intent: to keep artificial intelligence centered on, aligned with, and safe for humanity. It acts as a daily reminder of their core mission, ensuring that as models grow exponentially more powerful, they remain fundamentally beneficial to human beings.

A Short History of Anthropic


1. The Great OpenAI Schism (2020)

In 2020, Dario Amodei was the Vice President of Research at OpenAI, leading the team that built groundbreaking models like GPT-2 and GPT-3. His sister, Daniela Amodei, was OpenAI’s Vice President of Safety and Policy.

As OpenAI shifted from a pure non-profit to a “capped-profit” structure and signed a massive commercial partnership with Microsoft, the Amodeis and a group of roughly five to ten top OpenAI researchers grew deeply concerned. They felt that commercial pressures were forcing OpenAI to rush powerful models to market before fully understanding how to control them—a dilemma known as the “AI alignment problem.”

2. The Launch (2021)

Unable to resolve these strategic differences, the group left OpenAI. In 2021, they founded Anthropic PBC as a Public Benefit Corporation. This specific legal structure frees them from the traditional corporate obligation to maximize shareholder profit at all costs, legally protecting their right to prioritize safety over speed.

3. Creating “Constitutional AI” (2022)

To build a safer AI, Anthropic pioneered a technique called Constitutional AI. Instead of relying entirely on human reinforcement (where humans manually read and flag thousands of toxic AI responses), they gave their AI a written “constitution”—a set of principles borrowed from documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Apple’s terms of service. They then trained the AI to critique and correct its own behavior based on those rules.

4. Claude and the Trillion-Dollar Backing (2023–Present)

In early 2023, Anthropic released its flagship chatbot, Claude, to rival ChatGPT. Claude quickly developed a reputation in the industry for possessing a massive “context window” (the amount of text it can process at once) and exhibiting a lower tendency to hallucinate.

Recognizing Anthropic as the premier alternative to OpenAI, tech giants rushed to back them. Amazon and Alphabet poured billions into the company, transforming a small group of worried researchers into a massive corporate ecosystem valued at hundreds of billions of dollars.

Anthropic is currently a private company, meaning it does not have shares available for direct purchase on public stock exchanges. However, several publicly traded companies hold significant stakes in it as investors.

Key Publicly Traded Investors

The three primary publicly traded companies with major investments in Anthropic are:

  • Amazon (AMZN): Amazon has invested billions of dollars in Anthropic. A significant portion of this investment involves providing cloud computing infrastructure via Amazon Web Services (AWS) and access to its custom AI chips. Estimates suggest Amazon holds a substantial stake, often cited in the range of 18%.
  • Alphabet (GOOG / GOOGL): Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is also a major investor. Like Amazon, Alphabet provides Anthropic with cloud computing resources (Google Cloud) and access to its specialized AI hardware. Alphabet’s stake is estimated at approximately 14%.
  • Zoom Video Communications (ZM) owns a stake in Anthropic. While tech giants like Amazon and Google get most of the attention for their multi-billion-dollar investments, Zoom made a highly successful early-stage bet on the AI startup that has quietly turned into a massive windfall.

How Much Did Zoom Invest?

Through its investment arm, Zoom Ventures, the company made an initial strategic investment of approximately $51 million in Anthropic in May 2023. At the time, the deal was primarily positioned as a partnership to integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI models directly into Zoom’s software architecture. Zoom later followed this up with an additional private investment of about $46 million.

How Much is Zoom’s Stake Worth?

In a regulatory filing, Zoom officially disclosed that its minority stake in Anthropic was valued at $1.27 billion, representing an unrealized gain of over $1 billion from its initial investment.

However, because Anthropic’s private valuation has continued to skyrocket, Wall Street analysts view this as a moving target:

  • The Baseline Valuation: Zoom’s $1.27 billion valuation mark on its balance sheet was calculated from a prior Anthropic fundraising round that valued the AI startup at $380 billion.
  • The Current Trajectory: With Anthropic continuously raising capital—including a massive multi-billion-dollar round pushing its valuation toward the $900 billion to $1 trillion range—analysts at firms like Baird estimate that Zoom’s stake, even after accounting for dilution, is actually worth anywhere from $2 billion to $4 billion.

Why This Matters for Investors

While a $2 billion to $4 billion stake is relatively small on the balance sheets of trillion-dollar mega-caps like Google or Amazon, it is incredibly significant for a company of Zoom’s size.

With Zoom’s total market capitalization hovering around $27 billion (and roughly $7.8 billion of that sitting in pure cash), its Anthropic holding represents a massive percentage of its overall corporate value. Because retail investors cannot buy private shares of Anthropic directly, many in the stock market are treating Zoom as a unique, highly reactive “proxy stock” to gain indirect exposure to Anthropic’s pre-IPO growth.

Other Ways to Gain Exposure

Because Anthropic is not yet public, investors looking for exposure to the company have historically relied on a few indirect methods:

  • Publicly Traded Investors: As noted above, buying shares in Amazon or Alphabet is the most common way for public market investors to gain indirect exposure to Anthropic’s growth.
  • Investment Funds/ETFs: Some closed-end funds and investment trusts, such as the Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, have gained exposure to Anthropic by investing in it while it remains private.
  • Pre-IPO Platforms: There are specialized, niche platforms that allow accredited or institutional investors to purchase private shares of companies before they go public. Additionally, some derivatives platforms (such as Kraken, in certain regions) have offered “pre-IPO perpetual” contracts, which allow traders to speculate on a company’s valuation before it officially lists.

IPO Status

Anthropic is widely expected to go public in the near future. While it has not yet completed an IPO, it is considered one of the most highly anticipated upcoming equity offerings alongside companies like OpenAI. Please note that market conditions and regulatory environments can influence the timing of these filings.

Disclosure: Author owns AMZN. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied.

Book Review: How to Get Rich in American History by Joseph S. Moore, Phd.

by Fred Fuld III

The bestseller, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn’t), is one of my favorite books. The author, Joseph S. Moore, Phd. is a professor and financial historian who really knows how to write, and knows how to interweave his writing with lots of humor. 

The book describes how Dr. Moore used historical financial research to determine what works and what doesn’t to become wealthy and live the American Dream. He actually put his money where his research led him, including testing out get-rich-quick schemes and buying land on the moon.

One of my favorite chapters was Chapter 3: Crypto Isn’t the Future; It’s the Past. And in Chapter 6 (another favorite chapter), Moore discusses how he actually created his own crypto currency, and for a while, was a crypto billionaire.

The following are some examples of just a few of the chapters to pique your interest:

  • Real Estate is a Terrible Way to Make Money
  • Going Broke Is Better Than Ever
  • You Can Beat the Market; You Probably Shouldn’t
  • Stocks Used to be Bad For the Long Term

This gives you an idea of some of the varied topics that are covered, and they are addressed in a very interesting (and even funny) way. 

It may sound unusual for a book about how financial history can guide you to wealth, but How to Get Rich in American History is a can’t-put-it-down book for me, and I highly recommend it.

8 Ways to Invest in SpaceX Before it Goes Public (Even if you are not accredited)

by Fred Fuld III

SpaceX is expected to go public in less than two weeks. Investors are interested in following Elon Musk by investing in the companies he is involved with, other than Tesla (TSLA). With the success that Musk has been having with rockets and satellites, many investors see the growth potential in those areas.

Fortunately, there are eight ways to participate in the growth of SpaceX, even though it is not yet public.

Before I discuss these options, I want to tell you a story about my Apple (AAPL) experience.

Buying Apple Before It Went Public

Many, many years ago, before Apple went public, I was using an Apple II computer with the VisiCalc spreadsheet program to create financial planning worksheets. I couldn’t believe that calculations could be done so easily on a small machine and then printed out. I was working for an investment management firm at the time and wanted to invest in this little Apple Computer company. (That was the name of the company before it was changed to Apple Inc.) 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t publicly traded. But fortunately, I read in a Forbes article that a publicly traded venture capital company called the Nautilus Fund, which was a closed end fund, that had an ownership interest in Apple shares. The fund held shares of mostly public companies but also some shares of a few private companies. So to make a long story short, I bought some shares of the Nautilus Fund, Apple went public, and Apple shares were spun off to the Nautilus Fund shareholders. The rest is history.

Investing If Not Accredited

So you can see why investors, including myself, want to find some way to get access to SpaceX shares.

If you are an accredited investor, you are probably aware of the options available to you for buying shares in private companies, and where there might be a minimum investment of $25,000. These services include Hiive, Forge, Microventures, and even NASDAQ Private Market.

An individual accredited investor is someone who has a net worth over $1 million, excluding primary residence (individually or with spouse or partner) and/or has an income over $200,000 (individually) or $300,000 (with spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years, and reasonably expects the same for the current year. There is one other qualification that can allow you to meet the accredited requirement. If you are an investment professional with a Series 7, a Series 65, or a Series 82, then you may qualify. There are different rules for organization investors.

But if you are not an accredited investor, there are still eight ways for you to participate. 

First, let’s cover the history SpaceX.

SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002. Musk established SpaceX with the ambitious goal of reducing space transportation costs to make space exploration and colonization more accessible, ultimately aspiring to enable human settlement on Mars. 

Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, the company quickly gained attention for its innovative approach to rocket design and its focus on reusability, a concept that has transformed the aerospace industry.

SpaceX made history in 2008 when its Falcon 1 rocket became the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit. This success was followed by a series of groundbreaking achievements, including the development of the Falcon 9 rocket, which features reusable first-stage boosters, and the Dragon spacecraft, capable of carrying cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). 

In 2012, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS, marking a significant milestone in public-private partnerships in space exploration.

In 2020, SpaceX achieved another historic milestone with its Crew Dragon spacecraft, which carried NASA astronauts to the ISS as part of the Commercial Crew Program. This made SpaceX the first private company to launch humans into orbit. 

Beyond crewed missions, the company has developed the Starship rocket, intended for deep-space missions and capable of transporting cargo and passengers to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

SpaceX has also revolutionized global communications with its Starlink project, a satellite internet network designed to provide high-speed internet access worldwide. By combining technological innovation with a vision for humanity’s future in space, SpaceX continues to play a pivotal role in advancing aerospace technology and shaping the future of space exploration.

Ways to Invest

  1. ARK Venture Fund

There is a closed-end fund called ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX), which reportedly has over 10% of it’s assets in SpaceX, in addition to ownership of shares in a couple more Musk companies, X and xAI. 

At the time this article was written, an individual investor would have to buy the stock through SoFi. As a matter of fact, for a limited time, SoFi is offering $25 worth of free stock including fractional shares if you sign up through THIS LINK. There are dozens of choices of free stock that you can choose from.

According to the fund prospectus:

“Unlike an investor in many closed-end funds, Shareholders should not expect to be able to sell their Shares regardless of how the Fund performs. An investment in the Fund is considered illiquid.”

It also says, “Unlike many closed-end funds, the Shares are not listed on any securities exchange. The Fund intends to provide liquidity through quarterly offers to repurchase a limited amount of the Fund’s Shares (expected to be 5% of the Fund’s Shares outstanding per quarter).”

The fund has a management fee of 2.75%. The price of the fund has gone up by 71.8% over the last twelve months.

2. Destiny Tech100

There is one other closed-end fund that owns SpaceX, called Destiny Tech100 Inc. (DXYZ),which trades on the New York Stock Exchange. It currently has over 20 companies in its portfolio with SpaceX making up the largest share at around 15%. Other stocks in the portfolio include Axiom Space, OpenAI, Instacart, Stripe, and Discord. The company has a management fee of 2.5%. In the last twelve months, the stock has gone up by 115.9%.

3. Baron Partners Fund (BPTRX)

The Baron Partners Fund (BPTRX) is a mutual fund that has approximately 33% of its portfolio invested in SpaceX.

4. Baron Asset Fund (BARAX)

The Baron Asset Fund (BARAX) is a mutual fund that has approximately 25% of its portfolio invested in SpaceX.

5. Baron Focused Growth Fund (BFGFX)

The Baron Growth Fund (BFGFX) is a mutual fund that has approximately 21% of its portfolio invested in SpaceX.

6. Baron Global Opportunity Fund (BGAIX)

The Baron Global Opportunity Fund (BGAIX) is a mutual fund that has approximately 20.5% of its portfolio invested in SpaceX.

7. Baron Opportunity Fund (BIOPX)

The Baron Opportunity Fund (BIOPX) is a mutual fund that has approximately 15% of its portfolio invested in SpaceX.

8. The Fundrise Innovation Fund (VCX)

This fund is focused on investing in potentially high-growth private technology businesses. SpaceX makes up roughly 5% of the fund.

If you are considering investing in SpaceX, even indirectly, you may think your investment will go to the moon or Mars. Just remember that there are extensive risks involved. 

Disclosure: Author owns AAPL, TSLA, BPTRX, and DXYZ. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend in June 2026

The following is a short list of some of the many stocks going ex-dividend during the next month, which can be helpful for traders and investors interested in the stock trading technique known as “Buying Dividends” or “Dividend Capture.” This strategy involves purchasing stocks before the ex dividend date and selling them shortly after the ex-date at a similar price, while still being eligible to receive the dividend payment.

Although this dividend capture strategy generally proves effective in bull markets and flat or choppy markets, it is advisable to exercise caution and consider avoiding this strategy during bear markets. To qualify for the dividend, it is necessary to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date and refrain from selling it until on or after the ex-date.

However, it is important to note that the actual dividend may not be paid for several weeks, as the payment date may not be until two months after the ex-dividend date.

For investors seeking a comprehensive list of stocks going ex-dividend in the near future, WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable list containing numerous dividend-paying companies. Here are a few examples showcasing the stock symbol, ex-dividend date, periodic dividend amount, and annual yield.

Hasbro, Inc. (HAS)6/1/20260.703.24%
PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)6/5/20261.484.05%
Alphabet Inc. Class A (GOOGL)6/8/20260.220.23%
Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ)6/12/20260.311.23%
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO)6/15/20260.10833.19%
Domino’s Pizza Inc (DPZ)6/15/20261.992.56%
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP)6/26/20260.233.06%
Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX)6/30/20260.0253.29%

To access the entire list of over 100 ex-dividend stocks, subscribers will receive an email in the next couple days with the full list. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up using the provided signup box below. Don’t miss out on this valuable information, and the best part is that it’s free!

Dividend Definitions

To better understand the dividend-related terms, let’s define them:

Declaration date: This refers to the day when a company announces its intention to distribute a dividend in the future.
Ex-dividend date: On this day, if you purchase the stock, you would not be eligible to receive the upcoming dividend. It is also the first day on which a shareholder can sell their shares and still receive the dividend.
Record date: This marks the day when you must be recorded on the company’s books as a shareholder to qualify for the dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is set two business days prior to the record date.
Payment date: This is the day on which the dividend payment is actually made to the eligible shareholders. It’s important to note that the payment date can be as long as two months after the ex-date.

Before implementing the “Buying Dividends” technique, it is crucial to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the respective company to ensure accuracy and avoid any unexpected changes.

In conclusion, being aware of the stocks going ex-dividend can be advantageous for traders and investors employing the “Buying Dividends” strategy. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com provides a convenient resource to access a comprehensive list of such stocks, allowing individuals to plan their investment decisions effectively. Remember to stay informed and consider market conditions before employing any investment strategy.

Disclosure: Author may have positions in some of the above at the time the article was written. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied

Top Pure Play Data Center Stocks

by Fred Fuld III

The digital landscape is undergoing a massive structural shift, driven by the exponential growth of cloud computing, big data, and the aggressive rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. At the heart of this technological revolution is the data center industry. No longer just simple warehouses for servers, modern data centers have evolved into highly sophisticated, power-intensive infrastructure hubs capable of supporting dense high-performance computing (HPC) environments. As enterprises increasingly outsource their IT infrastructure and AI models demand unprecedented levels of computing power, pure-play data center operators have become some of the most critical real estate and technology plays in the global economy.

To understand where this industry is heading, we look at three distinct pure-play giants leading the charge: Equinix, Inc., Digital Realty Trust, and IREN Limited.

1. Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX)

Profile

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company, operating an unrivaled global footprint of over 260 International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers across more than 30 countries. The company distinguishes itself through its focus on retail colocation and interconnection, serving as a physical meeting place where major cloud providers, network service providers, and enterprises connect their networks directly to one another. Rather than just renting bulk space, Equinix monetizes these high-margin ecosystems via its specialized Fabric platform. In early 2026, the company continues to see immense momentum, with roughly 60% of its largest new bookings tied directly to supporting enterprise AI infrastructure deployments.

Latest Financials & Valuation

  • Market Capitalization: ~$106 billion
  • Trailing P/E Ratio: ~74.0
  • Forward P/E Ratio: ~66.9
  • Key Insight: For real estate investment trusts (REITs) like Equinix, net income-based P/E ratios can look artificially inflated due to massive non-cash depreciation charges. Analysts closely track Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) instead. Equinix recently raised its full-year 2026 AFFO guidance to a staggering $42.31 to $43.11 per share, highlighting incredibly strong underlying cash generation.

2. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR)

Profile

Digital Realty Trust takes a massive macro-scale approach to the industry, providing the full spectrum of data center solutions from high-density colocation to massive hyperscale cloud environments. With a global portfolio spanning six continents, Digital Realty is the foundational backbone for the world’s largest technology companies and cloud hyper-scalers. The company’s strategic focus relies heavily on delivering wholesale power capacity at scale. Driven by unprecedented AI and cloud demand, Digital Realty entered mid-2026 boasting a record-shattering $1.8 billion signed-but-not-commenced leasing backlog, reflecting a multi-year pipeline of revenue waiting to come online as facilities finish construction.

Latest Financials & Valuation

  • Market Capitalization: ~$66 billion
  • Trailing P/E Ratio: ~49.0
  • Forward P/E Ratio: ~64.7
  • Key Insight: Similar to Equinix, Digital Realty trades primarily on Core Funds From Operations (Core FFO). Following a dominant Q1 2026 earnings beat where revenue jumped 16% year-over-year to $1.64 billion, management pushed its full-year 2026 Core FFO guidance up to a robust $8.00 to $8.10 per share.

3. IREN Limited (NASDAQ: IREN)

Profile

Formerly known primarily as Iris Energy, IREN Limited represents the next generation of pure-play data center infrastructure designed specifically for energy-dense, high-performance computing (HPC) and next-generation AI workloads. Strategically securing massive quantities of low-cost, 100% renewable energy, IREN has rapidly expanded beyond its roots in Bitcoin mining to build out enterprise-grade AI cloud services. By utilizing specialized liquid-cooled data center designs and deploying fleets of high-end NVIDIA GPUs, IREN has carved out a distinct niche as an ultra-high-density power operator, providing the raw computational horsepower that modern LLMs (Large Language Models) require.

Latest Financials & Valuation

  • Market Capitalization: ~$20.3 billion
  • Trailing P/E Ratio: ~42.5
  • Forward P/E Ratio: ~62.5
  • Key Insight: Unlike traditional data center REITs, IREN is a high-growth technology infrastructure play with a much higher beta (~4.18) and high earnings volatility. It operates with zero dividend payout, opting instead to funnel 100% of its capital back into aggressive capacity expansion and hardware procurement to fuel its fast-growing AI cloud services business.

Summary Table

MetricEquinix, Inc. (EQIX)Digital Realty Trust (DLR)IREN Limited (IREN)
Primary FocusRetail Interconnection & ColocationWholesale Hyperscale & ScaleHigh-Density HPC & AI Cloud
Approx. Market Cap$106 Billion$66 Billion$20.3 Billion
Trailing P/E~74.0~49.0~42.5
Forward P/E~66.9~64.7~62.5
Core Cash Metric2026 Guidance: $42.31–$43.11 AFFO/sh2026 Guidance: $8.00–$8.10 Core FFO/shTTM Revenues: $757 Million

Ultimately, the data center industry has transformed from a quiet real estate niche into the absolute backbone of the modern global economy. Whether through Equinix’s interconnected ecosystems, Digital Realty’s massive wholesale capacity, or IREN’s specialized high-density AI power, these pure-play giants are capturing the multi-trillion-dollar tailwinds of cloud expansion and artificial intelligence. As power constraints and land scarcity become the next major bottlenecks for tech, the companies that control this critical infrastructure will remain the gatekeepers of the digital frontier.

Disclosure: Author didn’t own any of the above at the time the article was written. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend in May 2026

The following is a short list of some of the many stocks going ex-dividend during the next month, which can be helpful for traders and investors interested in the stock trading technique known as “Buying Dividends” or “Dividend Capture.” This strategy involves purchasing stocks before the ex dividend date and selling them shortly after the ex-date at a similar price, while still being eligible to receive the dividend payment.

Although this dividend capture strategy generally proves effective in bull markets and flat or choppy markets, it is advisable to exercise caution and consider avoiding this strategy during bear markets. To qualify for the dividend, it is necessary to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date and refrain from selling it until on or after the ex-date.

However, it is important to note that the actual dividend may not be paid for several weeks, as the payment date may not be until two months after the ex-dividend date.

For investors seeking a comprehensive list of stocks going ex-dividend in the near future, WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable list containing numerous dividend-paying companies. Here are a few examples showcasing the stock symbol, ex-dividend date, periodic dividend amount, and annual yield.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)5/1/20261.470.59%
Walmart Inc. (WMT)5/8/20260.24750.77%
SiriusXM Holdings Inc. (SIRI)5/11/20260.274.04%
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO)5/15/20260.10833.26%
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)5/15/20260.622.35%
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)5/21/20260.910.86%
T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS)5/29/20261.022.06%

To access the entire list of over 100 ex-dividend stocks, subscribers will receive an email in the next couple days with the full list. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up using the provided signup box below. Don’t miss out on this valuable information, and the best part is that it’s free!

Dividend Definitions

To better understand the dividend-related terms, let’s define them:

Declaration date: This refers to the day when a company announces its intention to distribute a dividend in the future.
Ex-dividend date: On this day, if you purchase the stock, you would not be eligible to receive the upcoming dividend. It is also the first day on which a shareholder can sell their shares and still receive the dividend.
Record date: This marks the day when you must be recorded on the company’s books as a shareholder to qualify for the dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is set two business days prior to the record date.
Payment date: This is the day on which the dividend payment is actually made to the eligible shareholders. It’s important to note that the payment date can be as long as two months after the ex-date.

Before implementing the “Buying Dividends” technique, it is crucial to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the respective company to ensure accuracy and avoid any unexpected changes.

In conclusion, being aware of the stocks going ex-dividend can be advantageous for traders and investors employing the “Buying Dividends” strategy. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com provides a convenient resource to access a comprehensive list of such stocks, allowing individuals to plan their investment decisions effectively. Remember to stay informed and consider market conditions before employing any investment strategy.

Disclosure: Author may have positions in some of the above at the time the article was written. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied

Are Space Technology Stocks Going to the Moon?

by Fred Fuld III

The space technology sector, once the exclusive playground of national governments and defense giants, has evolved into a dynamic commercial frontier. Often referred to as “NewSpace,” this industry is currently transitioning from a period of speculative growth to one defined by operational execution and revenue generation. The following article examines the current state of the space economy and profiles three distinct players within the ecosystem.

The New High Ground: The State of the Space Economy

The global space industry is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, driven by a drastic reduction in launch costs and a surge in demand for satellite-enabled data. While the initial wave of investment focused on launch capabilities, the “second wave” is centered on utility: what we can do once we are in orbit or on the lunar surface.

Key trends shaping the industry include:

  • The Proliferation of SmallSats: Miniaturized satellites are being deployed in large constellations to provide global internet and persistent Earth observation.
  • Lunar Logistics: With the Artemis program and international interest in the Moon, a private “lunar economy” is emerging to provide transport, power, and communications on the lunar surface.
  • Software-Defined Space: Increasingly, the value of space assets lies in the data analytics and software layers rather than just the hardware.

Company Profiles and Financial Performance

1. Intuitive Machines (LUNR)

Intuitive Machines is a diversified space company focused on space exploration, particularly lunar infrastructure. They gained significant international attention in early 2024 by becoming the first private company to successfully land a spacecraft (Odysseus) on the Moon.

  • Operational Focus: The company operates through four business units: Lunar Access, Orbital Services, Spatial Data Infrastructure, and Space Products/Infrastructure.
  • Financial Snapshot: * Revenue Growth: For the full year 2023, the company reported revenue of $79.5 million. However, following the success of the IM-1 mission and new contract wins, 2024 revenue guidance has significantly increased, with the company aiming for $210 million to $230 million.
    • Backlog: As of early 2024, the company maintained a robust contracted backlog of approximately $268.2 million, largely driven by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
    • Market Position: LUNR is positioned as a high-stakes “infrastructure” play for the burgeoning lunar economy.

2. Planet Labs (PL)

Planet Labs operates the world’s largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. Their “Doves” capture a complete image of the Earth’s entire landmass every day, creating a searchable history of planetary change.

  • Operational Focus: Planet sells data subscriptions to a wide range of customers, including agricultural firms, government intelligence agencies, and environmental researchers. Their primary value proposition is “persistent monitoring.”
  • Financial Snapshot: * Fiscal Year 2024 Results: Planet reported annual revenue of $220.7 million, representing a 15% year-over-year increase.
    • Gross Margin: The company maintains a strong non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 52-54%, reflecting the scalable nature of their data-as-a-service model.
    • Path to Profitability: While not yet GAAP profitable, the company has emphasized a shift toward Adjusted EBITDA break-even by late fiscal year 2025 by optimizing operating expenses.

3. Firefly Aerospace (FLY)

Since going public in late 2025, Firefly has positioned itself as a “full-service” space company, spanning launch (Alpha), orbital vehicles (Elytra), and lunar landers (Blue Ghost).

  • Recent Developments: In April 2026, Firefly announced a major collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate Jetson AI modules into its Elytra spacecraft. This allows for “Ocula,” a real-time lunar imaging service that processes data in orbit rather than waiting for slow downlinks to Earth.
  • Financial Performance (FY 2025/Q1 2026):
    • Revenue: 2025 revenue surged 163% year-over-year to $159.9 million.
    • Backlog: The company holds a massive $1.4 billion backlog, providing significant multi-year visibility.
    • Earnings: While still in a high-growth reinvestment phase (reporting a net loss), Q4 2025 EPS of -$0.26 beat analyst expectations as launch frequency improved.

Industry Outlook

The space technology sector remains sensitive to interest rates and capital expenditure cycles. However, for companies like Planet Labs and Intuitive Machines, the focus has shifted from “can we get there?” to “can we monetize the data?” For investors and observers, the key metrics to watch over the coming year will be contract backlog conversion, gross margin expansion in data services, and the frequency of successful launch cadences.

Disclosure: Author didn’t own any of the above at the time the article was written. No recommendations are expressed or implied.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend in April of 2026

The following is a short list of some of the many stocks going ex-dividend during the next month, which can be helpful for traders and investors interested in the stock trading technique known as “Buying Dividends” or “Dividend Capture.” This strategy involves purchasing stocks before the ex dividend date and selling them shortly after the ex-date at a similar price, while still being eligible to receive the dividend payment.

Although this dividend capture strategy generally proves effective in bull markets and flat or choppy markets, it is advisable to exercise caution and consider avoiding this strategy during bear markets. To qualify for the dividend, it is necessary to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date and refrain from selling it until on or after the ex-date.

However, it is important to note that the actual dividend may not be paid for several weeks, as the payment date may not be until two months after the ex-dividend date.

For investors seeking a comprehensive list of stocks going ex-dividend in the near future, WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable list containing numerous dividend-paying companies. Here are a few examples showcasing the stock symbol, ex-dividend date, periodic dividend amount, and annual yield.

Comcast Corporation Class A (CMCSA)4/1/20260.334.66%
Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO)4/2/20260.422.10%
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (GEHC)4/2/20260.0350.20%
Intuit Inc. (INTU)4/9/20261.201.11%
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO)4/15/20260.10833.53%
Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (HRZN)4/16/20260.0628.47%
Scholastic Corporation (SCHL)4/30/20260.202.07%

To access the entire list of over 100 ex-dividend stocks, subscribers will receive an email in the next couple days with the full list. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up using the provided signup box below. Don’t miss out on this valuable information, and the best part is that it’s free!

Dividend Definitions

To better understand the dividend-related terms, let’s define them:

Declaration date: This refers to the day when a company announces its intention to distribute a dividend in the future.
Ex-dividend date: On this day, if you purchase the stock, you would not be eligible to receive the upcoming dividend. It is also the first day on which a shareholder can sell their shares and still receive the dividend.
Record date: This marks the day when you must be recorded on the company’s books as a shareholder to qualify for the dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is set two business days prior to the record date.
Payment date: This is the day on which the dividend payment is actually made to the eligible shareholders. It’s important to note that the payment date can be as long as two months after the ex-date.

Before implementing the “Buying Dividends” technique, it is crucial to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the respective company to ensure accuracy and avoid any unexpected changes.

In conclusion, being aware of the stocks going ex-dividend can be advantageous for traders and investors employing the “Buying Dividends” strategy. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com provides a convenient resource to access a comprehensive list of such stocks, allowing individuals to plan their investment decisions effectively. Remember to stay informed and consider market conditions before employing any investment strategy.

Disclosure: Author may have positions in some of the above at the time the article was written. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied

Are Oil Shipping Companies Bullish or Bearish?

by Fred Fuld III

The escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly the military strikes involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran in early 2026, has sent shockwaves through the global energy and maritime sectors. With the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for 20% of global oil—experiencing a 95% drop in traffic, the “oil-shipping nexus” is undergoing its most significant disruption since the 1970s.

The Geopolitical Squeeze: Oil and Freight Rates

Since the conflict escalated on February 28, 2026, Brent Crude surged past $100 per barrel, briefly peaking near $120in mid-March. This spike is a direct result of Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure and the subsequent maritime blockade in the Persian Gulf.

For shipping companies, the situation is a double-edged sword:

  • The Bull Case: Rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope has increased “ton-mile” demand. Suezmax tanker rates have reportedly hit staggering peaks of $400,000 to $500,000 per day as available capacity shrivels.
  • The Bear Case: Rising bunker fuel costs (the single largest expense for carriers) and “risk-off” sentiment in the broader stock market have tempered gains. Investors are weighing massive spot-rate windfalls against the threat of a global recession.

Marine Shipping Stock Profiles

While the sector is volatile, certain companies are positioned to navigate—or even profit from—this turbulence. Below are the profiles and financial standings of four key players as of late March 2026.

1. Costamare Inc. (CMRE)

Costamare is a leading owner of containerships and dry bulk vessels. Unlike pure tanker plays, Costamare relies on long-term charters, providing a “buffer” against immediate spot market volatility.

  • Profile: Headquartered in Monaco, it operates a fleet of 68 containerships and over 40 dry bulk vessels.
  • Financial Snapshot (TTM):
    • Stock Price: ~$16.79 (Down 2% in the last month; up 121% over 1 year).
    • Market Cap: $2.02 Billion.
    • Revenue: $1.09 Billion.
    • Net Income Margin: 33.3%.
    • Dividend Yield: 2.74%.
  • Current Outlook: Analysts maintain a Hold rating. While its revenue backlog is a solid $2.4 billion, a weaker dry bulk market has offset some of the gains seen in its container segment.

2. Danaos Corporation (DAC)

Danaos is one of the world’s largest independent owners of modern, large-size containerships, primarily chartering to giants like Maersk and MSC.

  • Profile: Based in Greece, Danaos focuses on high-efficiency vessels and has a significant presence in the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe lanes.
  • Financial Snapshot (TTM):
    • Stock Price: ~$111.44 (Up 155% over 5 years).
    • Market Cap: $2.03 Billion.
    • P/E Ratio: 4.17 (Indicates the stock may be undervalued).
    • Net Margin: 47.4%.
    • Dividend: $3.50 (Yielding ~3.1%).
  • Current Outlook: Rated as a Buy by several analysts. Its massive cash reserves ($1.04B) and low debt-to-equity ratio (30.4%) make it a favorite for “flight-to-quality” investors during regional instability.

3. Hafnia Limited (HAFN)

Hafnia is a top-tier operator of product tankers, transporting refined oil, chemicals, and gas. It is the company most directly impacted by the Hormuz crisis.

  • Profile: Operates a fleet of approximately 200 vessels. It provides a fully integrated platform, including technical and pool management.
  • Financial Snapshot (TTM):
    • Stock Price: ~$7.00 (Reached an all-time high of $7.68 in early March).
    • Market Cap: $3.60 Billion.
    • P/E Ratio: 10.57.
    • Quarterly Dividend: $0.176 (Variable based on payout policy).
  • Current Outlook: Hafnia is currently in a “Paradox Zone.” While spot rates are at historic highs, the stock has seen “risk-off” selling as investors fear a prolonged blockade could eventually stifle total trade volume.

4. Matson, Inc. (MATX)

Matson is a specialized ocean carrier primarily serving Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, with a high-speed service from China to Long Beach.

  • Profile: Unlike the others, Matson is a U.S.-based Jones Act carrier. This insulates it from some international legal risks but makes it sensitive to U.S. domestic fuel prices.
  • Financial Snapshot (TTM):
    • Stock Price: ~$163.16 (Near its 52-week high of $177.51).
    • Market Cap: $3.83 Billion.
    • EPS (2026 Est.): $13.33.
    • P/E Ratio: 12.00.
  • Current Outlook: Matson has a Strong Buy consensus. Its “China Expedited” service is becoming more valuable as traditional shipping lanes through the Middle East face delays, allowing Matson to command premium pricing.

Just remember, the price of oil can turn on a dime. Anything can happen in the Middle East, good or bad.

Disclosure: Author didn’t own any of the above at the time the article was written. No investment recommendations are expressed or implied.

Powering Profits: Why Falling Oil Prices Could Boost Hawaiian Electric and ConEd

by Fred Fuld III

The relationship between geopolitical stability and utility stock performance might seem abstract, but for companies heavily dependent on fossil fuels, it is anything but. The current conflict in the Middle East has injected significant volatility into global oil markets, driving up the cost of crude.

However, for forward-looking investors, the focus is already shifting to the aftermath. When the war wraps up and the geopolitical risk premium evaporates, oil prices are likely to retreat from their current highs. This scenario creates a powerful tailwind for a specific subset of the utility sector, most notably Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE)and Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED), ultimately providing a boost to their stock prices.

To understand why, we must examine how these two distinct utilities utilize oil and why lower prices are a significant operational benefit.

The Unique Case of Hawaiian Electric: Ground Zero for Oil Sensitivity

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE) is perhaps the most oil-sensitive publicly traded utility in the United States. Due to Hawaii’s geographical isolation, the islands have historically been unable to access the mainland’s vast interstate natural gas pipelines or large-scale hydroelectric resources.

Consequently, HE has relied on imported petroleum—primarily fuel oil—for the vast majority of its electricity generation. This dependency means that HE’s operational costs are directly coupled to the global price of crude oil.

The Benefit of Falling Prices:

When oil prices drop, HE receives an immediate and substantial benefit:

  1. Lower Generation Costs: The primary advantage is a dramatic reduction in the cost of producing electricity. As fuel is the largest variable expense for an oil-fired plant, cheaper crude directly lowers the bottom line cost of generation.
  2. Increased Affordability and Demand Stability: Hawaii already has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. When oil prices are high, these costs are passed on to consumers via fuel adjustment clauses, straining household and business budgets. Lower oil prices allow HE to reduce these adjustments, making electricity more affordable and stabilizing demand, particularly in crucial sectors like tourism.+1
  3. Improved Cash Flow for Transition: While HE is actively transitioning to renewable energy (with a 100% renewable mandate by 2045), maintaining its existing oil infrastructure is expensive. Lower oil prices improve the company’s free cash flow in the near term, providing more capital to invest in the solar, wind, and storage projects necessary to meet its long-term goals.

The Bottom Line for HE Stock: For investors, a sustainable drop in oil prices transforms HE from a utility struggling with high input costs into one with expanding margins and improved financial flexibility. This shift in sentiment is typically reflected in a higher stock valuation.

Consolidated Edison: Dual-Fuel Capabilities as a Strategic Advantage

Consolidated Edison (ConEd), serving New York City and Westchester County, has a very different profile than Hawaiian Electric. It is a massive urban utility that primarily relies on natural gas, nuclear power, and increasingly, renewables. However, ConEd has a strategic asset that makes it sensitive to oil prices: its dual-fuel capability.

ConEd maintains several large “peaker” plants that can generate electricity using either natural gas or fuel oil. These plants are called into action only during periods of extreme electricity demand (such as heat waves or severe cold snaps) or when natural gas supplies are constrained.

The Benefit of Falling Prices:

A drop in oil prices benefits ConEd primarily through enhanced operational flexibility and cost optimization:

  1. Economic Fuel Switching: When oil prices fall relative to natural gas, ConEd can strategically switch its dual-fuel plants to run on cheaper oil. This allows the utility to choose the most cost-effective fuel source, optimizing its dispatch stack and lowering its overall cost of energy production during peak periods.
  2. Mitigating Gas Price Volatility: Natural gas prices can be highly volatile, especially in the winter when demand for home heating competes with electricity generation. Cheap oil provides an economic “ceiling” for fuel costs. If natural gas prices spike, ConEd has the secure, lower-cost alternative of fuel oil readily available.
  3. Enhanced Reliability at Lower Cost: The ability to use oil ensures that ConEd can meet critical peak demand without being forced to purchase natural gas at exorbitant spot market prices. This enhances the reliability of the grid in New York City while keeping costs manageable, a factor that is looked upon favorably by regulators and investors alike.

The Bottom Line for ED Stock: While oil is a smaller percentage of ConEd’s total energy mix, the strategic use of dual-fuel plants makes cheap oil a distinct advantage. Lower oil prices improve operational efficiency and protect the company from extreme natural gas price spikes, making ED’s earnings more predictable and attractive to defensive investors.

The Market View: A Catalyst for Revaluation

The utility sector is traditionally seen as a “safe haven” for investors seeking stable income and low volatility. However, when specific utilities like Hawaiian Electric and ConEd face high, volatile input costs like oil, that safe-haven status can be compromised.

A post-war environment characterized by falling oil prices acts as a significant catalyst for these companies. It directly improves their near-term financial performance, reduces operational risk, and allows management to focus capital on long-term growth and transition strategies rather than high fuel bills.

For investors who anticipate the cessation of Middle East conflict, positioning in HE and ED stocks now provides an opportunity to capture the upside of a widely anticipated economic normalization: the return of cheap, stable oil prices.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Author didn’t own any of the above at the time the article was written.