ASTS, RKLB Stocks Sink To Multi-Month Lows While SPCX Holds Steady – Piper Sandler Says Elon Musk's Company Is Yet To Prove Itself
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares plummeted over 15% and 10% respectively on July 16, 2026, ahead of SpaceX's Starship test flight, even as Piper Sandler initiated coverage of all three space stocks. Piper Sandler named ASTS its preferred pick with an 'Overweight' rating and $100 price target, citing a more palatable valuation and partnerships with major mobile network operators, while assigning RKLB a 'Neutral' rating with an $83 target.
Why it matters: ASTS' decline was compounded by the pricing of a $1 billion convertible senior notes offering with a $79.57 conversion price, and JPMorgan noted the upcoming Starship test outcome could influence sentiment toward SpaceX and its related public equities.
ASTS, RKLB Stocks Sink To Multi-Month Lows While SPCX Holds Steady – Piper Sandler Says Elon Musk's Company Is Yet To Prove Itself
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares plummeted over 15% and 10% respectively on Thursday, hitting multi-month lows ahead of SpaceX's latest Starship test flight, despite Piper Sandler initiating coverage of all three space-sector names. ASTS's selloff was compounded by the pricing of a $1 billion convertible senior notes offering with a $79.57 conversion price, well above its ~$57 trading level; Piper Sandler assigned an 'Overweight' rating and $100 target, citing ASTS's more palatable valuation and mobile network operator partnerships.
Why it matters: Piper Sandler rated RKLB 'Neutral' with an $83 target, noting its Electron vehicle dominates small-payload launches but trades at a premium to SpaceX, while SpaceX (SPCX) received a 'Neutral' rating and $156 target as Piper Sandler said the market needs more time to be convinced of its AI data center ambitions; SPCX traded flat.
Palantir and Sandisk Stocks Are Down 35% and 25%, But Only One Is a Buy Now
Sandisk (SNDK) and Palantir (PLTR) are both popular AI investments that have pulled back significantly—Sandisk down ~25% from recent all-time highs and Palantir down ~35% from its October peak. Sandisk manufactures NAND memory for data centers, benefiting from tight supply and strong AI-driven demand, with Micron projecting market tightness to continue beyond 2027.
Why it matters: Palantir operates an AI software platform that reported 85% revenue growth in its latest quarter, driven by both government and commercial adoption, and the author concludes only one of the two is worth buying at current levels.
SpaceX stock dip below $135 draws comparison to Meta's IPO history
The article questions whether SpaceX's stock falling below $135 signals a bust. It draws a comparison to what happened after Meta's IPO as a possible reference point.
Why it matters: The piece is currently an RSS-imported item awaiting further editorial analysis.
NVO Stock Up on EC Approval of Wegovy Pill to Treat Obesity
Novo Nordisk (NVO) received European Commission approval for a once-daily oral version of Wegovy (semaglutide 25 mg) for adults with obesity and at least one weight-related comorbidity. Phase III OASIS trial data showed approximately 17% average weight loss with the oral tablet versus about 3% with placebo.
Why it matters: Wegovy is now the first GLP-1 tablet approved for weight management across the EU, expanding Novo Nordisk's obesity franchise with a convenient oral alternative expected to support long-term sales growth.
User Doubles Down with $300K NFLX Earnings Bet While Tripping on LSD, Still Holds $280K MSFT Calls
A Reddit user posted that they doubled down on their Netflix position with $300,000 ahead of earnings, a decision they claim to have made while under the influence of LSD. The user funded part of the bet by taking profits from their Microsoft position and is still holding $280,000 in MSFT calls, while sarcastically recommending readers 'inverse me' since they've never even paid for a Netflix subscription.
Why it matters: The post is framed as a classic WSB YOLO DD with heavy ironic humor, acknowledging the investment is essentially a joke despite the large size.
Reddit user reports heavy losses on NBIS, MRVL, and BE
A trader on Reddit's WallStreetBets says three stocks – NBIS, MRVL, and BE – have caused significant losses. The user is considering trimming their positions soon.
Why it matters: The post reflects a bearish sentiment around these names in the community.
Billionaire Leon Cooperman's Top 3 Stocks: Buy, Sell or Hold
Leon Cooperman's Omega Advisors holds three positions: Vertiv Holdings (VRT at $304.57), Rocket Companies (RKT at $14.60), and Energy Transfer (ET at $19.91), each requiring a different call. VRT is deemed a patience play despite strong AI data center fundamentals—Q1 revenue up 30.1% to $2.65B, record $15B backlog, and 26 analysts averaging a $377.40 target—because its 52x forward multiple after an 88% YTD surge prices in near-term execution.
Why it matters: RKT warrants patience as Mr. Cooper and Redfin integration accelerates ahead of schedule, though the bull case hinges on simultaneous rate cuts; ET is rated the most compelling of the three, offering a 6.65% yield with Oracle AI gas contracts already secured.
Stocks making midday moves include Manpower, Abbott, UnitedHealth, TSMC
CNBC reported on stocks making the biggest moves midday, including Manpower, Abbott, UnitedHealth, and TSMC. The report is sourced from an RSS feed and awaits further analysis on market impact.
Moon-themed meme stock humor with TYSM ticker
A Reddit user on WallStreetBets posts a playful moon mission meme involving TYSM. The post jokingly references getting food at a Wendy's dumpster on other planets.
Why it matters: The market impact is unclear and pending review.
1 Stock Under $50 with Promising Prospects and 2 We Turn Down
StockStory highlights Helmerich & Payne (HP) at $33 as the standout pick, citing its position as North America's largest operator of super-spec drilling rigs capable of horizontal wells over two miles long. Baldwin Insurance Group (BWIN) at $25.42 is flagged for avoidance due to stagnant operating margins, a 6× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio, and declining free cash flow margins over the past five years.
Why it matters: LifeStance Health Group (LFST) at $10.97 is also recommended against, with concerns over its thin 0.9% free cash flow margin, negative returns on capital, and an expensive 32.7× forward P/E despite serving 880,000+ patients annually.
2 Profitable Stocks Worth Your Attention and 1 We Find Risky
StockStory highlights Upwork (UPWK) and Armstrong World Industries (AWI) as two profitable stocks with strong fundamentals, while flagging Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) as risky. Upwork's average revenue per customer has grown 10.1% annually over two years, with EPS surging 239% over three years and robust free cash flow generation.
Why it matters: Armstrong World Industries boasts a 25.9% operating margin, 12.1% annual revenue growth over two years, and a 5.2 percentage point free cash flow margin expansion over five years, while DFIN faces declining sales (-3.4% annually) and weaker EPS growth (8.4% annually).
Why Sandisk Stock Is Still Dropping
Sandisk (SNDK) shares fell 9.6% for a second straight day after TSMC beat Q2 earnings but warned capital investment would rise above $60 billion, exceeding prior forecasts of $54 billion. The article argues the sell-off is misplaced: TSMC's heavy AI chip production expansion should increase demand for Sandisk's NAND flash memory chips, which pair with TSMC-made CPUs and GPUs.
Why it matters: While acknowledging that rising competition and eventual cyclical supply-demand shifts could pressure margins, the author concludes Sandisk's profits look safe for now and the TSMC spending is a positive signal for memory chip demand.
Netflix Earnings: Key Question for Stock Recovery
Netflix is set to report earnings after the market close. The biggest question is what the streaming giant needs to address to get its stock back on track.
Micron Stock Down 31% from High, Cited as Potential Buying Opportunity
Micron stock has fallen 31% from its recent high. The article suggests this decline could be the best time to buy the stock.
PayPal Deal Buzz: Can New Owners Fix Profitability Pressure?
PayPal reportedly received a $53 billion takeover offer from Stripe and Advent International at $60.50 per share, about 28% above its recent closing price, backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing. PayPal's Q1 2026 results showed top-line growth—revenue rose 7% to $8.35 billion and payment volume increased 11% to $464 billion—but profitability came under pressure with operating income falling 5% and net income dropping 7%.
Why it matters: The company expects a tougher Q2 2026 with low-single-digit revenue growth and a high-single-digit EPS decline, while trading at a discounted forward P/E of 10.00X versus the industry's 17.12X and holding a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Ciena vs. Nokia: Which AI Networking Stock Is the Better Buy?
Ciena (CIEN) reported record Q2 FY2026 revenues of $1.57 billion (+40% YoY) with adjusted EPS of $1.64 (~4x prior year), raised its full-year revenue guidance to ~$6.3 billion, and expanded its backlog to $7.7 billion driven by hyperscaler AI infrastructure demand. Nokia (NOK) posted 49% YoY growth in AI and cloud net sales with €1 billion in new orders, and raised its AI addressable market growth outlook to a 27% CAGR (2025-2028) from 16%, reflecting stronger-than-expected AI-related infrastructure investments.
Why it matters: Both companies are launching next-generation optical and IP networking solutions for AI data centers, but Ciena faces supply constraints while Nokia introduced a next-gen hyperscale multi-rail solution that increases fiber density without expanding physical infrastructure.
Thought Shares Were Safe — Until They Weren't
A WSB user posted about their WDC losses, acknowledging they used some leverage but emphasizing the pain of seeing those losses remain visible as a reminder. The post reflects a common retail investor lesson: even 'safer' share-only strategies can deliver painful losses when concentrated in volatile stocks.
Why it matters: The trader is using the experience as a personal lesson to avoid repeating the same mistake, highlighting the emotional toll of leveraged or concentrated positions.
WallStreetBets praised for its genuine humor compared to other Reddit communities
A Reddit user praises the r/wallstreetbets community for maintaining a genuine sense of humor that sets it apart from other subreddits. The poster wonders why this humor doesn't translate to other communities or real life, suggesting WSB's wit makes other parts of the internet seem dull by comparison.
Why it matters: The post reflects the community's self-aware identity as a place where members bring levity and entertainment to financial discussions.
Trader Holds September and October Calls With Full Conviction
A WSB user is holding September and October calls and believes the rally has more room to run. The poster expresses strong conviction that the move is not over and is willing to let the options expire worthless rather than exit early.
Why it matters: No specific ticker is mentioned in the post, making it a general bullish sentiment play on near-term options.
Portfolio Pain: All Shares, All Down
A WSB user posted a screenshot of their portfolio showing heavy losses across their share holdings. The post title 'Ouch Ouch Ouch' and the comment that 'it stings looking at this' indicate significant paper losses on an all-equity portfolio.
Why it matters: The original poster appears to be venting about a painful drawdown with no diversification into other asset classes.