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Hyunsoo Rim

GE Vernova soars after lifting outlook and doubling dividends amid AI-powered electricity boom

GE Vernova is up more than 10% as of 6:05 a.m. ET, after the maker of power generation equipment raised its multiyear earnings forecast and boosted shareholder returns.

At Tuesday’s investor day, the company said it now expects $52 billion in revenue and a 20% adjusted EBITDA margin by 2028, up from the $45 billion and 14% that it projected last December, as electricity demand surges on the back of the AI and data center boom.

CFO Ken Parks said momentum is being driven by a “large and growing backlog, with healthy margins from services and better equipment pricing.” GE Vernova expects its total backlog to grow from $135 billion today to ~$200 billion by 2028, including doubling its electrification backlog to $60 billion.

The company also doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share, while expanding its share repurchase authorization from $6 billion to $10 billion.

CEO Scott Strazik dismissed concerns of an AI-driven energy bubble, saying AI “isn’t the only driver” for the company, adding that demand from hyperscalers is growing in magnitude. Separately, GE Vernova also said it’s collaborating with the US government to shore up supplies of rare earth material yttrium, now in short supply amid China’s export curbs.

With this morning’s jump, shares are up more than 105% for the year so far.

The company also doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share, while expanding its share repurchase authorization from $6 billion to $10 billion.

CEO Scott Strazik dismissed concerns of an AI-driven energy bubble, saying AI “isn’t the only driver” for the company, adding that demand from hyperscalers is growing in magnitude. Separately, GE Vernova also said it’s collaborating with the US government to shore up supplies of rare earth material yttrium, now in short supply amid China’s export curbs.

With this morning’s jump, shares are up more than 105% for the year so far.

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Claire Yubin Oh

Unity soars on strong Q1 preliminary results and news it will exit non-strategic ad business

Unity Software is up around 15% in premarket trading on Friday after the gaming software company announced preliminary results for Q1 2026 that were above guidance, largely driven by its Vector AI ad engine.

Per Unity’s statement released after the bell on Thursday, the company now expects Q1 sales to fall between $505 million to $508 million, above its guidance of $480 million to $490 million, and ahead of analyst expectations of $494 million (compiled by FactSet). The company also now forecasts adjusted EBITDA to land between $130 million and $135 million, topping its guidance for $105 million to $110 million and representing a 58% rise from last year.

In the preliminary report, Unity President and CEO Matt Bromberg highlighted Vector, its AI ad tool that matches players with games, delivering “better long term results” for its advertisers, as a key driver. The company expects ~$352 million from its Grow segment, which includes Vector.

Unity also announced that it will be exiting its ironSource Ads Network starting April 30, which has been waned of late to represent only 11% of total revenue growth in the previous quarter. In addition, Unity has engaged a financial advisor to divest its Supersonic game publishing business, noting that these changes will drive “faster revenue growth, increased Adjusted EBITDA, and higher Adjusted EBITDA margins.”

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Matt Phillips

Nasdaq Composite enters correction territory, joining small-cap Russell 2000

The Nasdaq Composite closed down 10.9% from its high of 24,019.99 — reached during intraday trading on October 29 — putting the tech-heavy benchmark conclusively into a “correction.”

A correction is Wall Street’s term of art for a sell-off that’s graver than a garden-variety slump, but not quite as dire as a bear market. (A bear market commences when prices are down 20% from a peak.)

While the proximate cause in the Nasdaq turndown seems to be the war — the Composite is down more than 5% since the start of the conflict on February 28 — it’s worth noting that the index had been stalled out for three months prior to that.

At least Nasdaq investors aren’t alone: the small-cap Russell 2000 slipped into a correction last Friday. The S&P 500 has held up better, relatively speaking, though it, too, is down more than 7% from its intraday high of 7,002.28, which it touched on January 28.

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markets
Max Knoblauch

Hertz and Avis Budget appear to be benefiting as travelers balk at airport wait times

As the Department of Homeland Security shutdown drags on, resulting in some excruciating airport wait times, rental car companies Avis and Hertz are seeing a boost.

Both companies are up more than 10% on Thursday, continuing a weeklong trend of trading momentum. From market close on March 20 to midday Thursday, Avis shares are up about 44%, while Hertz shares are up 24%.

Would-be flyers may be pivoting from sky to highway, even as gas prices climb. According to TravelPulse, search traffic for Hertz is up 15% in recent days.

The TSA is experiencing the longest wait times in its 24-year history, officials have said. Airfares rising as jet fuel prices remain elevated is likely adding to travelers’ decision.

Hertz Reports Spike in Car Rental Searches as US Airports Deal With Long TSA Lines

Hertz Reports Spike in Car Rental Searches as US Airports Deal With Long TSA Lines

Would-be flyers may be pivoting from sky to highway, even as gas prices climb. According to TravelPulse, search traffic for Hertz is up 15% in recent days.

The TSA is experiencing the longest wait times in its 24-year history, officials have said. Airfares rising as jet fuel prices remain elevated is likely adding to travelers’ decision.

markets
Saleah Blancaflor

US gas prices increase $1 in 1 month as markets expect $4 per gallon in coming days

As gas demand remains on the rise in the midst of spring break season and crude oil prices rise as hopes the Iran war will draw down decrease, gas prices have steadily risen.

According to the American Automobile Association, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas is up $0.10 from the previous week and up $1 since last month. AAA reports that there was a steep rise from $2.98 on February 26 to $3.98 as of March 26.

AAA said that average gas prices could hit $4 per gallon in the next few days, which would mark the first time since August 2022 that they’ve hit that level.

According to the Energy Information Administration, demand for gas rose last week from 8.72 million barrels per day to 8.92 million. The data also shows that domestic gas supply fell from 244 million barrels to 241.4 million. Meanwhile, gas production grew last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.

Prediction markets show traders pricing in a 61% chance the price of gas could surpass $4 by the end of the month. As AAA projects that gas prices could continue to rise in the next few weeks, markets also imply there’s a 42% and 40% chance gas could finish roughly around $4.02 or $4.04 per gallon, respectively, by March 31.

(Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.)

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National gas prices increase one dollar in one month

AAA Fuel Prices

AAA said that average gas prices could hit $4 per gallon in the next few days, which would mark the first time since August 2022 that they’ve hit that level.

According to the Energy Information Administration, demand for gas rose last week from 8.72 million barrels per day to 8.92 million. The data also shows that domestic gas supply fell from 244 million barrels to 241.4 million. Meanwhile, gas production grew last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.

Prediction markets show traders pricing in a 61% chance the price of gas could surpass $4 by the end of the month. As AAA projects that gas prices could continue to rise in the next few weeks, markets also imply there’s a 42% and 40% chance gas could finish roughly around $4.02 or $4.04 per gallon, respectively, by March 31.

(Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.)

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