China’s order for Meta Platforms to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus is less about a single deal and more about a broader tension shaping the country’s tech strategy: how to build global champions without losing control.

The episode highlights a recurring dilemma for Beijing.

While policymakers want domestic firms to compete internationally and attract foreign capital, they remain wary of companies moving offshore and slipping beyond regulatory reach.

Beijing reasserts control over offshore ambitions

Manus, founded about a year ago by engineers Red Xiao and Ji Yichao, initially operated under a Chinese parent but later relocated to Singapore.

The startup gained attention in Silicon Valley for its AI agents capable of handling complex tasks such as booking travel and managing spreadsheets with minimal human input.

Meta had said Manus “would exit China entirely with no residual ownership there,” underscoring the company’s shift away from its home market.

After securing $75 million from US venture capital firm Benchmark in May 2025, Manus shut its China offices, laid off staff, and moved operations abroad.

Employees were subsequently integrated into Meta’s Singapore offices.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has since intervened, stating it would “prohibit foreign investment in Manus in accordance with laws and regulations, and requires the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction.”

Reuters reported that the company’s co-founders were barred from leaving China during the review, signaling Beijing’s effort to reassert authority after the firm’s offshore transition.

Deal reversal underscores structural constraints

Unwinding the acquisition presents significant legal and operational challenges.

Questions remain over how Meta will recover funds from earlier investors, including Chinese tech group Tencent, and whether those investments must also be reversed.

The integration of Manus into Meta’s operations complicates matters further.

Once personnel, code, and intellectual property are embedded, separating them becomes increasingly difficult.

Meta said: “The transaction complied fully with applicable law. We anticipate an appropriate resolution to the inquiry.”

At the same time, China’s leverage is limited.

Meta’s core platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, do not operate in the country, reducing the tools available to regulators.

AI ambitions collide with global capital realities

The dispute reflects deeper tensions in China’s artificial intelligence push.

Authorities appear to have underestimated Manus’s strategic importance until after it relocated and was acquired, prompting a delayed regulatory response.

The fallout is also likely to feature in upcoming US-China diplomatic discussions, adding a geopolitical layer to the issue.

For entrepreneurs, the signal is clear: relocating overseas to tap global capital does not guarantee insulation from domestic oversight.

The timing is particularly sensitive. US AI startups raised nearly $270 billion in the first quarter, more than 13 times the funding secured by Chinese peers, according to a KPMG report.

While Manus illustrates China’s ambitions in cutting-edge technology, the episode also underscores the limits those ambitions face as regulatory priorities and global expansion goals collide.

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Global markets and technology sectors saw significant developments on Monday, as OpenAI and Microsoft reworked their partnership to allow broader cloud distribution, China moved to block Meta Platforms’ planned acquisition of Manus, US officials weighed Iran’s latest proposal amid ongoing tensions, and oil prices surged on supply concerns linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Microsoft-OpenAI deal amendment

OpenAI and Microsoft unveiled a revised agreement that loosens long-standing exclusivity terms, granting the AI startup greater commercial flexibility while maintaining core elements of their collaboration.

At the center of the changes is the removal of Microsoft’s exclusive access to OpenAI’s models, allowing the startup to distribute its products across multiple cloud providers, including those operated by rivals.

“Microsoft remains OpenAI’s primary cloud partner, and OpenAI products will ship first on Azure, unless Microsoft cannot and chooses not to support the necessary capabilities. OpenAI can now serve all its products to customers across any cloud provider,” the companies said in a joint statement.

The agreement also revises intellectual property terms. “Microsoft will continue to have a license to OpenAI IP for models and products through 2032. Microsoft’s license will now be non-exclusive,” the statement said.

Financially, revenue share payments from OpenAI to Microsoft will continue through 2030 at the same percentage but, will now include an overall cap.

“Today, we are announcing an amended agreement to simplify our partnership and the way we work together, grounded in flexibility, certainty, and a focus on delivering the benefits of AI broadly,” the statement added.

The shift reflects evolving dynamics in the AI sector, where companies are balancing cooperation with competition as they scale advanced technologies.

China blocks Meta’s Manus deal

China has ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of Manus, in a move that underscores tightening oversight of strategic technology deals involving artificial intelligence.

The directive from the National Development and Reform Commission effectively halts what had been seen as a landmark cross-border transaction.

Authorities had launched a probe shortly after the deal was announced in December, citing concerns over illegal foreign investment and the potential transfer of sensitive technologies.

The regulator said it would “prohibit foreign investment in Manus in accordance with laws and regulations, and requires the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction.”

The decision reflects growing concerns within China about technology leakage and signals stricter scrutiny for future deals involving high-growth AI startups.

Trump discusses Iran proposal

The White House said US officials are reviewing Iran’s latest proposal as geopolitical tensions continue to shape global markets.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump had met national security officials earlier in the day to discuss the matter.

“His red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear,” she said, adding that Trump would address the issue “very soon.”

The comments come amid reports that Tehran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US ending its blockade of Iranian ports, while deferring negotiations over its nuclear program.

However, the US has maintained that key conditions, including preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, remain non-negotiable.

Oil prices surge on supply concerns

Oil markets reacted sharply to the geopolitical developments, with Brent crude rising more than 2% to around $108.10, extending gains from the previous week.

Prices have been driven higher by disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, which has significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The lack of progress means the market is tightening every day, requiring oil prices to reprice at higher levels,” said Warren Patterson.

Shipping data showed minimal tanker movement in the region, while analysts pointed to a substantial supply shortfall.

“There’s little alternative to fill a roughly 13m b/d shortfall. In the short term, inventories help to fill the gap, whether commercial or strategic reserves,” Patterson added.

Goldman Sachs has revised its forecasts, expecting Brent crude to reach $90 per barrel in the fourth quarter, while warning that sustained supply disruptions may push prices higher.

The ongoing standoff continues to fuel uncertainty, with energy markets closely tied to the outcome of geopolitical negotiations.

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US stocks ended mixed on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closing at fresh record highs, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower as rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty tempered investor sentiment.

The S&P 500 gained 0.12% to close at 7,173.91, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.20% to settle at 24,887.10.

Both benchmarks also touched intraday all-time highs. In contrast, the Dow fell 62.92 points, or 0.13%, to 49,167.79.

Markets traded in a narrow range throughout the session, showing limited conviction after a strong rally last week that pushed major indexes to repeated record closes.

Oil surge, Iran tensions weigh on sentiment

Investor caution was driven in part by rising oil prices and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Crude prices moved higher as the US and Iran remained at an impasse over negotiations.

President Donald Trump on Saturday canceled plans to send envoys to Pakistan for ceasefire talks.

“Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards; they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said no meeting between Tehran and Washington is currently planned.

Oil prices responded to the stalemate, with West Texas Intermediate settling 2.09% higher at $96.37 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 2.75% to $108.23.

Despite reports that Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for easing tensions, uncertainty continues to dominate the outlook.

Equities showed signs of consolidation following a strong upward run.

The S&P 500 has now more than doubled since the bull market began in October 2022.

Geopolitical risks remain a key concern for investors.

Earnings and Fed in focus this week

Investors are bracing for a packed week of catalysts, including earnings, economic data, and the Federal Reserve’s policy decision.

Five of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” technology giants — Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Microsoft — are scheduled to report results.

So far, earnings have been broadly positive.

Of the 139 S&P 500 companies that have reported, 81% have beaten estimates, with analysts now projecting 16.1% year-on-year earnings growth, according to LSEG I/B/E/S.

The companies reporting this week account for roughly 44% of the index’s market capitalization, underscoring their importance to market direction.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at the conclusion of its policy meeting, with investors closely watching for signals on inflation and the economic impact of higher energy prices.

Individual stocks saw mixed moves, with Verizon rising after lifting its annual forecast, while Domino’s Pizza fell on weaker-than-expected sales.

Nvidia extended recent gains, reclaiming a market valuation above $5 trillion.

As markets hover near record levels, investors remain focused on the interplay between earnings momentum, central bank policy, and geopolitical developments.

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Evercore ISI analysts led by Kirk Materne are heading into Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) fiscal Q3 earnings on April 29^th with a decidedly bullish outlook.

Consensus is for the multinational to report $4.07 a share of earnings on $81.4 billion in revenue, indicating mid-to-late teens gains in both the top and bottom line.

Ahead of the quarterly release, Evercore sees several “green shoots” for Microsoft shares, which are already up nearly 20% versus their recent low.  

Why Evercore ISI sees massive upside in Microsoft stock

Kirk Materne remains bullish on MSFT stock primarily on Azure growth, which he believes will continue to benefit from high demand for AI services.

According to him, the current capacity constraints actually “validate” Microsoft’s dominant market position, as customers wait for specialized AI compute rather than migrating to competitors.

As new data centers come online throughout 2026, the transition from “capacity-constrained” to “revenue-realized” will provide a significant tailwind for Azure’s long-term margin expansion.

Evercore’s $580 price target on Microsoft suggests potential upside of more than 35% from here.

MSFT shares are attractively priced ahead of Q1 earnings

Evercore ISI recommends sticking with Microsoft shares heading into the giant’s Q3 earnings, also because it remains rather attractively priced in 2026.

At 25x forward earnings, the market is underestimating the “flywheel effect” of MSFT’s artificial intelligence (AI) stack – from the silicon layer up to the Copilot applications, it told clients.

Materne also sees the firm’s amended partnership with OpenAI as positive because it offers more predictable long-term economic terms and IP access through 2032.

Microsoft now has more flexibility to pursue a broader “multi-model” AI strategy – like their work with Mistral and Phi-3 – while maintaining its status as OpenAI’s primary cloud partner, he added.

Technicals warrant buying Microsoft Corp

Kirk Materne’s decision to reiterate an “outperform” rating on MSFT shares only days before its Q3 earnings suggests he expects management to record stable margins despite high capex on data centers.  

The Evercore ISI analyst also likely expects Microsoft Corp to offer upbeat guidance – reassuring investors that the AI monetisation phase is accelerating, particularly with Office 365 Commercial Cloud.

Heading into the quarterly release, MSFT is trading just below its 100-day moving average (MA).

A decisive break above the $429 level is broadly expected to accelerate upward momentum in the near-term.

Where options data suggests MSFT is headed next

Options traders also seem to believe that Microsoft will push higher after earnings on Wednesday.

According to Barchart, the put-to-call ratio on contracts expiring May 1^st sits at 0.39, indicating a strong bullish skew, with the upper price set at $448, indicating potential for 5.77% rally from here.

Note that “Big Short” investor Michael Burry has recently expanded his exposure to MSFT as well

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Shares of Snap Inc. rose sharply on Monday, as a combination of an analyst upgrade, restructuring plans, and improving revenue outlook boosted investor sentiment.

The stock jumped as much as 8.39% trading after Rothschild Redburn upgraded Snap to Buy from Neutral and doubled its price target to $10 from $5.

With shares previously trading around $5.65, the new target implies roughly 77% upside.

The upgrade reflects growing confidence in Snap’s financial trajectory, supported by stronger advertising demand, rising subscription revenue, and ongoing cost discipline.

Upgrade highlights improving fundamentals

Rothschild Redburn pointed to several positive developments underpinning its bullish stance, including diversification of revenue streams and improved cost management.

The firm expects Snap’s core business, excluding Spectacles, to have likely reached GAAP breakeven in fiscal 2025, with meaningful profitability projected in 2026.

Analysts also anticipate the company achieving GAAP profitability within the year.

Growth forecasts remain robust.

The firm projects an 11% compound annual growth rate in revenue between 2025 and 2028, driven by a 7% CAGR in advertising and a sharp increase in subscription revenue—from $745 million in 2025 to $1.755 billion in 2028.

Subscription revenue is expected to rise from 13% to 22% of total revenue over that period, while gross margins are forecast to expand from 55% in 2025 to 63% by 2028.

“These included stronger demand for the company’s main advertising business, growing subscription revenue, and effective cost management efforts,” the note said.

Restructuring and CFO transition in focus

Snap’s rally also comes as investors react to a broader restructuring effort and leadership changes within the company.

The firm is targeting more than $500 million in annualized savings by the second half of 2026 as part of its cost-cutting initiative.

The plan includes reducing approximately 1,000 jobs, or about 16% of its workforce, and eliminating more than 300 open roles.

Snap is also undergoing a leadership transition, with Doug Hott set to take over finance responsibilities following CFO Derek Andersen’s departure.

Andersen is expected to participate in his final earnings call on May 6 before leaving the company on May 8.

The company has guided for $95 million to $130 million in restructuring charges and outlined a “clear path to net income profitability,” alongside a reduced 2026 expense outlook of $2.75 billion and stock-based compensation of $1.05 billion.

Momentum builds ahead of earnings

Snap’s stock has shown signs of short-term strength, trading above its 20-day moving average, though it remains below longer-term trend indicators.

The shares are still down about 32.7% over the past 12 months, highlighting the uneven nature of its recovery.

Options activity has also picked up, with trading volumes running well above average and calls outpacing puts, suggesting a modestly bullish tone among investors.

Key technical levels remain in focus. Resistance is seen around $6.50, while support lies near $5.00, where dip-buying has previously emerged.

The company is set to report earnings on May 6, with analysts expecting a narrower loss of 7 cents per share on revenue of about $1.53 billion, up from $1.36 billion a year earlier.

Broader analyst sentiment remains mixed, with the stock carrying a Hold rating and an average price target of $7.89.

However, recent upward revisions to earnings estimates and improving fundamentals have added to optimism.

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The stock market is in a strong bull market, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices rising to their record highs. This article explores some of the best ETFs to buy if you have $100,000 to invest today.

iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV)

Warren Buffett has always advised his followers to be greedy when others are fearful and to be fear when others are greedy.

The IGV ETF has underperformed the market this year as investors remained concerned that software companies will be fully disrupted by AI tools by Anthropic, OpenAI, and X. This explains why most companies like Atlassian, ServiceNow, and SalesForce have tumbled.

However, the reality is that the fear is largely exaggerated as many software companies will thrive in the new era of AI. For example, while AI tools can be helpful in accounting, chances that companies will abandon Intuit’s QuickBooks are minimal.

The same is true with other services such as those offered by companies like ServiceNow, Atlassian, Salesforce, and Microsoft.

Indeed, AI will help these companies by helping them cut costs and improving their products and services. Therefore, buying the IGV ETF is a bet that software is not dead.

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM)

Thousands of American ETFs have been created to beat the S&P 500 Index. A closer look at most of them shows that just a handful of them have successfully done that over the years.

Therefore, it makes sense to bet on the biggest American companies. Indeed, most analysts have boost their outlook for the S&P 500 Index this month.

There are several funds that track this index, with the most notable of them being the SPY, IVV, and VOO. Still, the SPYM is the best of them because of its 0.02% expense ratio, which makes it the cheapest.

For example, a $100,000 investment in the fund costs just $20, while a similar one in the SPY costs $90 a year. The $70 spread can be enormous over time.

Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM)

The QQQM ETF is another good ETF to invest in today as it tracks the biggest technology companies in the United States. It has a long history of beating the S&P 500 Index because of the role that technology companies play in the US economy.

The QQQM ETF has jumped by over 42% in the past 12 months, and this trend will likely continue as the AI boom gains steam. Indeed, financial results show that most American companies have continued spending billions of dollars in the industry.

This ETF, which has $82 billion in assets, is a better one than the popular QQQ because of its lower fees. It has am expense ratio of 0.15%, lower than the QQQ’s 0.18%. There is never a need to pay more for the same product.

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)

The SCHD ETF is another fund to complement the other tech-heavy funds like SPYM and QQQM. Its main advantage is that technology plays a smaller role in its performance. 

Instead, the biggest companies in the fund are in industries like health care, consumer defensive, energy, and technology. Its top companies are Chevron, ConocoPhilips, Merck, and Coca-Cola.

The fund’s dividend yield of 3.36% is not all that encouraging in an era when income premium funds are paying double digit yields. However, if the AI boom fades, the SCHD will be one of the best funds in terms of its performance as we saw earlier this year when it surged to a record high.

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POET Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: POET) tanked on Monday morning after Marvell Technology abruptly canceled all outstanding purchase orders, citing an alleged breach of confidentiality.

Following the post-announcement crash, POET looks headed to challenge its 20-day MA.

A clear break below the $7.83 level is broadly expected to accelerate bearish momentum in the near-term.

POET shares have been rather volatile in 2026; they started in April at roughly $5, soared all the way up to $15 last week, and are now hovering again at about $8 only.

CFO’s remarks that prompted a sell-off in POET stock

POET Technologies stock is slipping today primarily because of what CFO Thomas Mika recently said in a high-profile interview with Stocktwits.

Speaking with the finance media platform, Mika explicitly named Marvell as a major customer –  confirming that POET had received a purchase order tied to Marvell’s hardware ecosystem.

This disclosure was intended to validate his firm’s “Optical Interposer” tech to retail investors, but it ended up violating strict non-disclosure agreement (NDA) typical of high-stakes semiconductor partnerships.

MRVL has – therefore – responded by issuing a formal notice of cancellation on April 23, alleging the unauthorized disclosure of shipping details and order specifics constituted a terminal breach of contract.

Significance of MRVL news for POET Technologies shares

Losing business from Marvell Technology is a catastrophic blow to POET stock because the giant represented the most credible link between the Canadian firm and the huge AI data center market.

Investors had bid it up on the belief that its components were being integrated into next-generation AI chips, potentially even those being developed for Alphabet’s Google.

Without Marvell’s stamp of approval, POET Technologies Inc is once again relegated to the status of a speculative micro-cap with unproven commercial scale.

In short, the cancellation removes a vital revenue pipeline and, perhaps more damagingly, stains the firm’s reputation, making other tier-one tech giants like Nvidia or Broadcom wary of entering future co-development agreements.

POET remains a high-risk investment in 2026

Beyond the Marvell debacle, POET’s fundamentals remain dangerously thin. Before the crash, the stock was trading at a massive premium to its book value, fuelled mostly by social media hype.

Financially, the company remains a “money pit” losing nearly $63 million in 2025 on a meager $1 million in total revenue.

While recent $150 million share offering provided a temporary cash runway, the ongoing burn and lack of mass production milestones make POET Technologies shares a high-risk investment.

With short-sellers like Wolfpack Research circling and Jim Cramer previously warning the market has priced in production that doesn’t exist, POET appears to be a classic story of “too much talk, too little tech.”

And the company does not currently pay a dividend either to incentivize ownership, despite these risks.

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WhiteBIT, the largest European cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, and FC Barcelona have entered a landmark five-year agreement through 2030, bringing together two global leaders to shape the future of fan engagement, digital finance, and sport. 

This partnership is a strategic alliance between category leaders, where crypto meets one of the most influential sports institutions in the world to set new standards for how technology integrates into global fan ecosystems.

As the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner of the club, WhiteBIT will take on an expanded role across the FC Barcelona’s men’s first team, women’s team, and basketball team, as well as partner with the Barça Innovation Hub.

Together, the partners will move beyond visibility to execution—developing real-world crypto applications designed to scale across the sports industry.

At the core of the collaboration is a shared ambition: to turn crypto into a practical, everyday tool for millions of fans worldwide.

The partnership will introduce new initiatives in fan engagement, digital education, and interactive experiences—bridging the gap between technology and global audiences.

A new identity for everyday crypto payments

WhiteBIT and FC Barcelona will introduce an FC Barcelona–themed design for the WhiteBIT Nova debit card, allowing fans to personalise their card with the club’s visual identity while using it for everyday payments using crypto.

The new card skin will combine the functionality of the WhiteBIT Nova card with an exclusive FC Barcelona look.

In addition to the design update, the card will provide added benefits for fans, including special features and future partner advantages linked to the collaboration.

Over the past three years, the partnership between WhiteBIT and FC Barcelona has become a reference model for bringing Web3 into real-world utility.

The new agreement builds on this foundation, scaling joint initiatives in fan engagement, education, and digital activations into more integrated, long-term projects within the club’s ecosystem.

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Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is pushing higher on Apr. 27, even though the telecommunications giant came in slightly shy of revenue estimates for its first financial quarter.

While the top-line number of $34.4 billion narrowly missed the consensus of roughly $35 billion, the post-earnings momentum helped VZ break above its 20-day moving average (MA) on Monday.

This signals a shift in near-term momentum in favour of the bulls.

At writing, Verizon stock is up some 20% versus its YTD low already, but the Q1 release offered ample reasons to expect more from it as the year unfolds.

Why is Verizon stock rallying after Q1 earnings?

VZ shares are in “green” primarily because the firm recorded 55,000 postpaid phone net additions against expectations of a “net loss”.

For the NYSE-listed giant, Q1 is seasonally the most difficult for growth, yet the report on Monday marked its first positive first-quarter for postpaid phone net additions since 2013.

Under the leadership of CEO Dan Schulman, Verizon’s “Value” and “myPlan” offerings are finally resonating with a price-conscious consumer base.

By focusing on “higher-quality” subscribers and reducing churn, VZ is proving it can grow its core mobile business without relying on aggressive (and expensive) promotional wars that often erode margins.

This fundamental shift in customer acquisition is a significant “buy” signal for long-term investors.

Diversification is driving VZ shares higher

Verizon shares are soaring, also on management’s commitment to transforming the company into a broadband powerhouse.

In Q1, the NY-headquartered firm saw 341,000 total broadband net additions – fuelled largely by its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service, which accounted for 214,000 of those gains.

This tech enables VZ to beam “high-speed” 5G internet directly into homes and businesses without the massive capital expenditure of laying fiber-optic cables.

Simply put, with the recent integration of Frontier assets, Verizon is scaling its fiber footprint alongside its wireless internet.

This dual-threat approach creates a diversified recurring revenue stream that Wall Street seems to find far more attractive than one-off hardware sales.

How to play Verizon after first-quarter earnings?

The real story for the “bottom-line” crowd is the record $13.4 billion in adjusted EBITDA, the highest quarterly result in the company’s history.

By cutting selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses by 3.1%, Verizon demonstrated incredible operating leverage.

Management was so confident in this efficiency that they raised their full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $4.95 to $4.99, up from the previous ceiling of $4.95.

For income-focused investors, this profitability supports a robust 5.93% dividend yield, which has now been raised for 21 consecutive years.

In a market where cash flow is king, VZ stock’s ability to grow earnings by 7.6% year-on-year far outweighs a minor hiccup in quarterly revenue, especially when postpaid phone net adds are now seen hitting as much as 1 million in 2026.

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Shares of Tesla fell more than 3% on Monday to $365.12, underperforming a relatively subdued broader market.

The move comes as investors continued to digest the company’s recent earnings and reassess its long-term growth narrative.

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively.

Post-earnings weakness extends

Tesla shares have come under renewed pressure following last week’s earnings report.

The stock declined 6.1% over the past week, despite the company reporting better-than-expected bottom-line profits.

The primary source of investor concern has been the slower-than-anticipated rollout of Tesla’s robotaxi service, which remains central to its long-term artificial intelligence strategy.

Coming into Monday’s session, Tesla stock was down 16% year-to-date, though it remains up 32% over the past 12 months.

Musk stock registration adds focus on potential supply

Separately, Tesla disclosed a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission registering approximately 304 million shares tied to Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s 2018 compensation award.

The filing does not indicate an immediate sale but allows shares to become freely tradable once the options are exercised.

The compensation package, originally approved by shareholders, faced legal challenges after a Delaware judge voided the award in 2024, citing inadequate disclosures.

Shareholders later reapproved the package, and in 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court upheld the award, preserving Musk’s options.

To qualify for the compensation, Tesla needed to achieve a valuation of $650 billion—a target it has significantly exceeded, with the company now valued at approximately $1.7 trillion on a fully diluted basis.

While the registration itself does not trigger share sales, it raises the prospect of future selling activity when Musk exercises the options, which are set to expire in early 2028.

Such exercises typically result in partial stock sales to cover tax liabilities, as seen in 2021 when Musk sold shares following the exercise of earlier options.

These transactions have historically contributed to volatility in Tesla’s stock.

AI progress remains key driver

Investor sentiment continues to be shaped by Tesla’s progress in artificial intelligence, particularly in autonomous driving and robotics.

Although the company is investing heavily in these areas, progress has been slower than expected, raising questions about the timeline for generating meaningful revenue from AI-driven initiatives.

The robotaxi rollout, in particular, has become a focal point for investors seeking evidence that Tesla can translate its technological ambitions into scalable business models.

At the same time, Tesla’s core electric vehicle business is encountering challenges following the expiration of the federal $7,500 tax credit, reducing demand across the sector and adding pressure on Tesla’s automotive segment.

Outlook hinges on execution

Tesla’s recent share price performance reflects a broader tension between its current financial results and its long-term growth expectations.

While profitability remains resilient, investors are increasingly focused on execution risks, particularly around AI development and deployment.

With both technological progress and potential stock-related developments in focus, Tesla’s trajectory in the near term is likely to remain closely tied to investor confidence in its ability to deliver on its ambitious roadmap.

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