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OpenAI said to lay IPO groundwork with $1T valuation target for H2 2026

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Top stories today:

  1. OpenAI said to lay IPO groundwork with $1T valuation target
  2. Microsoft Cloud drives +18% YoY in revenue in Q1 FY26
  3. Alphabet tops $100B in Q3 revenue, sees 2025 capex +9% to $93B
  4. Meta Q3 revenue +26% YoY to $51.2B, net income -83% on Trump bill
  5. Powell tempers Dec. cut hopes as Fed officials remain split

0. Data and calendar

All values as of 6 AM ET / 3 AM PT, other than S&P500 and NASDAQ close (4 PM ET / 1 PM PT).

All times are ET.

Listen to our AI-generated podcast summarizing today’s newsletter (beware of hallucinations):

1. OpenAI said to lay IPO groundwork with $1T valuation target for H2 2026

  • $60B could be raised through the offering.

  • CFO Sarah Friar has reportedly mentioned a 2027 listing to associates, though some advisers believe it could happen sooner.

  • OpenAI is expected to hit $20B in ARR by end-2025, though losses are mounting.

Elon Musk is building the Tesla Smart Home.

Apple is doubling down with new Face-ID locks and smart displays.

The world’s biggest tech giants are battling for dominance in the $158B smart home market, growing 23% each year.

Big Tech is pouring billions— the race is officially on.

Just like how Google acquired Nest for $3.2 Billion and Amazon snapped up Ring for $1.2 Billion, investors are hunting for the next smart home breakout.

As Tesla and Apple race ahead, one startup is riding the wave—leading a massive, overlooked category - smart shades. And RYSE is dominating it.

RYSE checks every box:

  • 10 granted patents

  • Over $12M in revenue

  • 200% annual growth

RYSE is not just another smart gadget—it’s a prime acquisition target in a category with billion-dollar potential.

At just $2.25/share, investors can still get in early—before their next wave of growth.

The next Nest or Ring could be this.

Invest in RYSE now

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3. Microsoft Cloud drives +18% YoY in revenue in Q1 FY26, operating income +24% to $38.0B

  • +12% YoY in net income to $27.7B.

  • $3.1B hit to net income from OpenAI investment, Microsoft said.

  • +28% YoY in Azure and other cloud services revenue to $30.9B (vs. $30.3B expected).

  • $79.5B–$80.6B is the projected revenue for Q2 FY26 (vs. $79.9B expected).

    • +37% in Azure revenue is expected for Q2.

  • +28% YTD in Microsoft shares, but stock dipped slightly on news that FY26 capex growth will outpace FY25.

Microsoft’s capital expenditures reached a record $34.9B to meet surging AI demand

4. Alphabet tops $100B in Q3 revenue, sees 2025 capex +9% to $93B

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