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Oracle Credit Default Swaps
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Markets are getting more concerned about Oracle’s AI data center debt

The price of insuring against Oracle defaulting on its growing debt load has spike massively since September.

After a respite Monday, AI bears are back in control Tuesday.

Bellwethers like Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia are getting battered on reports of a brewing collaboration between Alphabet and Meta on chips. And that partnership’s potential threat to OpenAI and some of those who’ve inked deals with the AI startup giant — as investors, customers, suppliers, and sometimes all three! — is causing some jitters out there.

Meanwhile, concerns about all that borrowing that companies have planned or done to finance the giant AI data center build-out boom that’s currently underway continue burbling away in the bond markets. As we’ve mentioned, the price of insuring against a debt default by Oracle has become a closely watched expression of worries about the AI boom.

While some of those concerns seemed to relent earlier today, resulting in a slight reduction in prices for this bond insurance — known as credit default swaps — on Oracle debt, it’s worth pointing out that the concerns also seem to have spread a bit even to companies that have far sturdier financials than Oracle.

And despite today’s dip, the cost to protect against an Oracle default has surged massively in recent weeks.

For instance, according to FactSet data, Microsoft and Meta have also seen prices of insuring against their own default creep higher recently, along with Amazon.

To be clear, the price for insuring Oracle debt is a lot higher than for these other hyperscalers — likely a reflection of the massive amounts of cash the market expects Oracle to burn for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, it shouldn’t be surprising to see markets reflect rising risks for even blue chips like Microsoft as they take on more debt and commit to years of large capital expenditures for a still developing, new technology.

That stunning acceleration in Wall Street’s estimates for Oracle’s cash burn is likely driving the rapid rise in the cost of Oracle CDS. Investors went from thinking that Oracle would generate $25 billion in free cash flow in 2028 to expecting the company to burn $25 billion 2028.

While recently, increased investments in anything AI-related have seemed to push stocks up, that this historical reversal has led not just to more expensive CDS but a slumping share price signals a rise in maybe not skepticism, but at least realism in the market when it comes to the AI boom.

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SpaceX gets a wave of bullish ratings from Wall Street analysts

SpaceX received more than a dozen positive analyst calls on Tuesday — including from major Wall Street banks — as they initiate coverage on Elon Musk’s space and AI company.

SpaceX went public on June 12 at a $2.2 trillion valuation, the largest debut in history. While the company hasn’t yet posted a profit, it seems to have convinced Wall Street that it will get there and grow its valuation on the way.

Of the at least 17 analysts that gave a rating on Tuesday, all but one gave it a “buy” or “outperform” rating. MoffettNathanson was "neutral."

The ratings come as SpaceX joined the Nasdaq 100 index, a benchmark tech-heavy basket of companies that underpins millions of portfolios. The inclusion adds built-in demand for the stock from index funds and ETFs.

Still, SpaceX fell more than 5% on Tuesday amid a broader sell-off, and is currently effectively flat from its opening price of $150 a share.

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Nike sinks to lowest level since 2014 after warning of “challenged” sales environment in Q4 report

Did Nike do it?

Investors had a mixed reaction after the global sports apparel company reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the bell. Shares initially rose 5% as Nike beat out Wall Street expectations amid a hefty tariff refund bonus. However, the stock then sank to its lowest level since August 2014 in postmarket trading.

Here are the Q4 numbers:

  • Revenue of $11.0 billion (estimate: $10.8 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20 (estimate: $0.12).

Ahead of this report, Nike warned that results would be flattered by a one-time tariff refund (now estimated at roughly $0.52 per share for the bottom line). That gave the company an extra cushion in snapping its streak of seven quarters of year-over-year profit declines.

Over the past year, the company had been punished by tariffs on imported goods, stagnant consumer spending, and increasing competition from other footwear brands like New Balance, Adidas, and Hoka.

Outgoing CFO Matthew Friend deemed it an “increasingly challenging operating environment, where sell-through remains challenged.”

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Rocket Lab deal lifts space stocks

Shares of Rocket Lab are surging after announcing an $8 billion acquisition of satellite communications operator Iridium Communications, helping lift a broader basket of space-related stocks as investors piled back into the sector.

Planet Labs, AST SpaceMobile and Redwire all traded higher alongside Rocket Lab, extending gains in an industry that has drawn enhanced investor attention in recent months in light of the strategic importance that governments place on space and satellite communications infrastructure.

In a presentation, Rocket Lab’s management called the purchase “a shortcut” for its satellite communications business.

Under the terms of the agreement, Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash and Rocket Lab stock, valuing Iridium at $54 per share. Backed by a $3.6 billion bridge loan committed by Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, Rocket Lab absorbs Iridium’s globally licensed spectrum and an active base of 2.5 million subscribers.

Rocket Lab has also remained one of the most active launch providers in the sector. The company completed its 12th launch of the year last week, maintaining one of the highest launch cadences among commercial space companies.

Today's rally helps offset a brutal stretch for the group. Rocket Lab shares had fallen over 35% over the prior month, while Planet Labs stock was down more than 40% and AST SpaceMobile stock was down around 30% over the same window.

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