NEW YORK — The NFL will unveil its highly anticipated 2026 regular-season schedule on Thursday, May 14, powered for the first time by Amazon Web Services artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, promising fans deeper insights, personalized viewing options and a more data-driven approach to one of the league’s biggest annual events.

The schedule release, traditionally one of the most exciting days on the NFL calendar, will be broadcast live across NFL Network, ESPN, and the league’s digital platforms beginning at 8 p.m. ET. This marks the first year the NFL has partnered with AWS to use machine learning models for schedule optimization, aiming to balance competitive fairness, travel demands, and broadcast appeal.

AWS technology transforms schedule creation

For the first time, AWS’s cloud infrastructure and AI tools played a central role in generating thousands of potential schedules before finalizing the version that best satisfied multiple constraints. The technology helped minimize back-to-back road games, optimize travel distances, and ensure key rivalries received optimal national television slots.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell highlighted the partnership during a recent media availability. “AWS has helped us create the fairest and most fan-friendly schedule we’ve ever produced,” he said. “This technology allows us to analyze millions of variables in real time — something that was impossible just a few years ago.”

What fans can expect on May 14

The 2026 schedule release will follow the familiar format fans love while incorporating new digital features. The NFL app and NFL+ will offer interactive tools allowing users to filter games by team, division, prime-time slots, and international matchups. Personalized “My Schedule” features will let fans generate custom calendars with alerts for their favorite teams.

Key highlights expected to dominate discussion include:

• The traditional Thanksgiving Day tripleheader
• Potential Christmas Day games
• International games in London, Munich, and possibly São Paulo
• Prime-time matchups featuring high-profile rivalries and high-scoring offenses

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder — wait, no, the NFL champion from the previous season will open the season on Thursday Night Football in a traditional kickoff game.

Major storylines heading into 2026

The schedule release will shine a spotlight on several compelling narratives:

• Aaron Rodgers’ future: Depending on his status with the Pittsburgh Steelers or a potential new team, his games will carry major intrigue.
• Rookie quarterbacks: The 2026 draft class, headlined by top prospects, will make their regular-season debuts under the national spotlight.
• Super Bowl rematch potential: Teams from the previous Super Bowl will likely face each other again.
• Expanded international presence: With growing global interest, more games outside the U.S. are anticipated.

Impact on teams and players

For the 32 NFL clubs, the schedule release marks the true beginning of preparations for the 2026 campaign. Teams will immediately begin analyzing opponents, travel schedules, and bye weeks to adjust training camp and preseason plans.

Players have mixed feelings about the May release date. While it provides clarity for family planning and training, many veterans note the increasing physical and mental demands of the modern NFL calendar. The AWS-powered optimization aims to reduce excessive travel fatigue, particularly for West Coast teams making multiple cross-country trips.

Broadcast and streaming implications

The 2026 season will feature expanded streaming options. Amazon Prime Video will once again handle exclusive Thursday Night Football games, while Netflix and YouTube continue growing their NFL presence. The schedule release will reveal which matchups receive the biggest national windows across ABC, ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, and streaming platforms.

Fan engagement and viewing parties

NFL fans are already planning watch parties and social media events for the May 14 release. Fantasy football leagues typically see a surge in activity immediately following the schedule drop as managers begin early draft research. Bars and restaurants across the country are expected to draw large crowds for the primetime reveal.

Historical context

The NFL has released its schedule in May since 2005 (with occasional exceptions). Last year’s release generated record digital engagement, with over 65 million unique users accessing NFL platforms within 24 hours. The league expects even higher numbers in 2026 thanks to improved technology and global interest.

What analysts are watching for

League insiders and betting markets are particularly interested in:

• Strength of schedule rankings for playoff contenders
• Primetime game distribution
• Bye week clustering
• Potential for flexible scheduling in the final weeks

Early projections suggest the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles could face particularly challenging slates, while certain rebuilding teams may benefit from more favorable matchups.

The road to Super Bowl LXI

The 2026 schedule will culminate in Super Bowl LXI on February 8, 2027, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The release of the 17-game regular season roadmap is the first major step on that journey for all 32 teams.

As excitement builds toward Thursday’s reveal, the partnership with AWS signals the NFL’s continued embrace of technology to enhance both the on-field product and the fan experience. For millions of football fans counting down the days until September, May 14 cannot come soon enough.

The 2026 NFL schedule promises new rivalries, historic matchups, and another unforgettable season — and it all begins with the highly anticipated release this Thursday.

America turns 250 this year. Laird & Co., a family-run distillery in Colts Neck, N.J., can beat that—easily.

The roots of the business go all the way back to 1698, when founder William Laird began making and selling spirits; it became a formal business entity in 1780, in the midst of the Revolution. George Washington, according to family lore, enjoyed its signature Laird’s Applejack brandy.

Today, the company has expanded and diversified, and become the leading seller of American apple brandy in the U.S. and abroad. But it still makes its signature product with the same recipe, using the same methods. And it is still run by Lairds.

On some level, the arc of the Lairds’ business mirrors the arc of the country: from a colonial, farm-based economy to a national market stitched together by rail, through the shock of Prohibition and the mobilization of war, and into a modern era of reinvention and consolidation. The specifics change—laws, technologies, tastes—but the underlying challenge remains the same: how to survive in a country that is constantly remaking itself.

Tehran also demanded compensation for war damage, emphasised its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the United States to end its naval blockade, ‌guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions ⁠and remove ⁠a ban on Iranian oil sales.

Within hours, Trump dismissed Tehran’s offer in a social media post.

“I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, without giving further detail. The U.S. had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more ​contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Tehran responded on Monday by defending its stance.

“Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (U.S.) blockade and piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly ​frozen in banks due to U.S. pressure,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

NEW YORK — Navitas Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: NVTS) shares skyrocketed more than 25% in morning trading Monday, reaching $22.79 as investors poured into the gallium nitride and silicon carbide power chip specialist amid booming demand for high-efficiency solutions in artificial intelligence data centers.

The semiconductor company, which specializes in next-generation GaNFast and GeneSiC power semiconductors, has emerged as one of the clearest pure-play beneficiaries of the AI infrastructure buildout. Monday’s surge pushed the stock well above recent trading ranges on heavy volume, reflecting renewed enthusiasm for companies enabling faster, cooler and more efficient power conversion in hyperscale data centers.

Q1 results fuel optimism

Navitas reported first-quarter 2026 results on May 5 that showed sequential revenue growth of 18% to $8.59 million, beating analyst expectations. The company highlighted a meaningful shift toward high-power markets, including AI data centers, grid infrastructure, and industrial electrification. Gross margins also expanded as the product mix improved.

CEO Chris Allexandre emphasized the company’s successful pivot away from lower-margin mobile markets toward higher-value AI and energy applications. Navitas guided for Q2 revenue between $10.0 million and $10.5 million, with continued margin expansion driven by its growing design-win pipeline now exceeding $2.4 billion.

AI power revolution drives momentum

The core catalyst for Navitas has been its leadership in gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. These materials allow for significantly more efficient power conversion than traditional silicon, reducing energy loss and heat generation — critical advantages as AI training clusters consume enormous amounts of electricity.

At NVIDIA’s GTC 2026 conference in March, Navitas showcased an innovative 800V-to-6V GaNFast power delivery board designed specifically for NVIDIA’s MGX platform. The demonstration underscored Navitas’ growing integration into next-generation AI infrastructure, sparking investor excitement about multi-year design wins with major hyperscalers.

Analysts note that AI data centers require unprecedented levels of power density and efficiency. Navitas’ solutions address exactly these challenges, positioning the company at the intersection of two of the most powerful secular trends in technology: artificial intelligence and energy efficiency.

Short squeeze and technical breakout

Monday’s explosive move also carried elements of a short squeeze. Navitas had been heavily shorted earlier in the year by investors skeptical of its transition strategy. As positive momentum built on strong guidance and product momentum, shorts were forced to cover, accelerating the upward spiral.

Technically, the stock has broken out of a multi-month consolidation pattern on significantly elevated volume, with analysts raising price targets in recent weeks. Some bullish voices now see potential for $30+ if execution continues and AI spending remains robust.

Company transformation story

Navitas has undergone a significant strategic shift over the past 18 months. Once heavily focused on consumer mobile charging, the company has successfully repositioned itself toward high-power applications. This “Navitas 2.0” strategy appears to be paying off as revenue from AI and industrial markets grows rapidly.

Recent governance enhancements, including the appointment of experienced independent directors, have also helped boost investor confidence. The company maintains a strong balance sheet and continues investing in R&D to maintain its technology edge.

Risks and valuation debate

Despite the enthusiasm, some analysts caution that the stock’s rapid rise leaves it vulnerable to pullbacks. Memory and power semiconductor stocks are historically cyclical, and any slowdown in AI capital expenditure could pressure results. At current levels, Navitas trades at premium multiples that assume continued hyper-growth.

However, many growth investors argue the valuation is justified given the massive addressable market and Navitas’ early-mover advantage in GaN and SiC for AI. The company’s expanding design-win pipeline provides some visibility into future revenue.

Broader semiconductor AI theme

Navitas’ surge fits into a larger narrative of AI infrastructure winners. Companies enabling efficient power delivery are increasingly seen as critical picks-and-shovels plays in the AI gold rush. Navitas joins peers benefiting from hyperscaler spending on data center expansion and next-generation computing.

What investors should watch

Going forward, key catalysts for Navitas include:

• Q2 earnings in early August
• Progress on major design wins converting to revenue
• Updates from hyperscaler customers
• Potential new product announcements at industry events

Monday’s dramatic move highlights how quickly sentiment can shift in the semiconductor sector when a company demonstrates clear momentum in a high-growth area like AI power electronics.

As trading continues, Navitas Semiconductor stands out as one of the most compelling — and volatile — stories in the 2026 semiconductor landscape. Whether the rally sustains depends on continued execution, but for now, investors are rewarding the company’s successful pivot to the heart of the AI revolution.

NEW YORK — Shares of Innodata Inc. (NASDAQ: INOD) exploded higher Monday, rising more than 25% in morning trading to $106.72 as investors continued to pile into the AI data engineering and generative AI services company following its blockbuster first-quarter results and sharply raised 2026 outlook.

The surge extends the extraordinary momentum the stock has seen since its earnings release on May 7, when it more than doubled in a single session. Monday’s move pushed Innodata’s year-to-date gains well over 300%, turning the once-obscure data services firm into one of the hottest AI-related plays on Wall Street.

Record Q1 results ignite rally

Innodata reported first-quarter revenue of $90.1 million, a 54% increase from the prior year and well ahead of consensus estimates. Adjusted EBITDA soared to $25.0 million, crushing expectations by 139%, while adjusted gross margin expanded to 47%. Net income nearly doubled to $14.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted share.

CEO Jack Abuhoff highlighted strong execution across the company’s AI-focused businesses, particularly in data annotation, model training support, and evaluation services for large language models. The results reflect accelerating demand from Big Tech clients building next-generation AI systems.

Major Big Tech engagement disclosed

Perhaps most exciting for investors was the announcement of new engagements with an unnamed leading Big Tech company expected to generate approximately $51 million in revenue this year alone. Management noted this customer went from zero contribution last year to potentially the company’s second-largest client in 2026.

Innodata also introduced a new Evaluation and Observability Platform for agentic AI systems, further expanding its offerings in the rapidly growing space of autonomous AI agents.

Guidance raised significantly

Buoyed by strong visibility, Innodata raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance to approximately 40% or more, up from the previous target of 35% or more. The upbeat outlook reinforced investor conviction that the company is well-positioned in the AI value chain.

Why the market is excited

Innodata provides essential data engineering services that power generative AI development, including high-quality training data, annotation, model evaluation, and synthetic data generation. As hyperscalers and AI leaders race to scale their models, demand for these specialized services has surged.

The company’s pivot toward higher-value AI solutions has dramatically improved margins and revenue visibility. Analysts see Innodata as a “picks and shovels” play in the AI gold rush — essential infrastructure that benefits regardless of which large language model ultimately dominates.

Short squeeze adds fuel

Heavy short interest earlier in the year created conditions for a classic short squeeze. As positive news flowed and the stock broke key technical levels, shorts were forced to cover, accelerating the upward move. Trading volume on Friday and Monday has been exceptionally heavy.

Valuation and risks remain

Despite the euphoria, some caution is warranted. At current levels, Innodata trades at premium multiples that assume continued hyper-growth. The stock remains volatile, and any slowdown in AI spending or delays in major contracts could trigger a sharp pullback.

However, many growth investors argue the valuation is justified given the massive addressable market and Innodata’s expanding pipeline. The company’s recent performance suggests it is successfully executing its transformation into a high-growth AI services leader.

Broader AI data services theme

Innodata’s surge fits into a larger wave of enthusiasm for companies enabling AI development. As model training and deployment scale dramatically, specialized data services have become critical bottlenecks. Innodata joins a select group of public companies directly monetizing this trend.

What’s next for Innodata

Investors will watch closely for Q2 results in early August and any updates on the major Big Tech engagements. Continued execution on margins and new customer wins could support further upside, while any signs of slowing AI investment would likely pressure the stock.

Monday’s dramatic move underscores how quickly sentiment can shift in the AI sector when a company delivers tangible results. For Innodata, the combination of record earnings, raised guidance, and major new contracts has transformed it from a niche player into one of 2026’s standout AI stories.

As trading continues, all eyes remain on whether this momentum can be sustained or if profit-taking will eventually cool the red-hot rally. For now, investors are rewarding Innodata’s successful bet on the generative AI revolution.

NEW YORK — Shares of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: BW) surged more than 23% in morning trading Monday to $17.95, extending a remarkable rally as investors rewarded the industrial company’s growing role in powering artificial intelligence data centers and its strong first-quarter performance.

The move comes one day after the company reported first-quarter 2026 results that showed significant backlog growth, new contract wins, and raised full-year guidance, reinforcing its transformation into a key player in the energy infrastructure needed for hyperscale AI facilities.

Q1 earnings beat expectations

Babcock & Wilcox reported first-quarter revenue of $214.4 million, up 44% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $16.1 million — a 296% increase. The company highlighted a massive $2.4 billion power generation project for AI data centers and more than $21 million in new fuel-switching technology awards.

Management raised its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $80–$100 million, citing strong demand for behind-the-meter power solutions tailored to AI factory campuses. The company’s backlog reached $2.7 billion, while its total pipeline exceeded $14 billion.

Major AI power project drives momentum

The biggest catalyst remains Babcock & Wilcox’s $2.4 billion design-build contract with Base Electron to supply 1.2 gigawatts of natural gas-fired power generation capacity for Applied Digital’s AI data centers. The project includes four 300-MW boiler and steam turbine systems, with potential for an additional 1.2 GW.

This positions the century-old boiler and power plant specialist at the center of the AI energy boom, where massive computing clusters require reliable, high-capacity power sources that the strained electrical grid often cannot provide quickly enough.

Analyst and market reaction

Several Wall Street firms have raised price targets on BW in recent weeks, with some bullish voices now calling for $25 or higher. The stock has delivered extraordinary returns, up more than 4,400% over the past year from deeply depressed levels, though it remains volatile.

Monday’s surge came on elevated volume, with traders rotating into industrial names tied to AI infrastructure. Despite the massive run-up, some analysts argue the valuation still offers upside if the company successfully executes on its expanding backlog.

Company transformation story

Babcock & Wilcox has undergone a significant strategic shift, moving from traditional boiler services toward high-growth areas including renewable energy, fuel switching, and now large-scale power generation for data centers. The company has completed more than 150 boiler conversions and continues winning new fuel-switching awards amid baseload power demand.

CEO Kenneth Young has emphasized the company’s ability to deliver turnkey solutions for the energy transition while capitalizing on AI-driven electricity needs. The firm’s parts and services segment also continues performing strongly.

Risks and legal overhang

The rapid rise has not been without controversy. Class action lawsuits allege misleading statements regarding the $2.4 billion contract and potential conflicts of interest. Investors with losses between November 2025 and March 2026 have until June 15 to seek lead plaintiff status.

Like many small-cap industrial names, BW remains sensitive to execution risks, project delays, and broader economic conditions. However, current momentum appears driven by tangible contract wins and improving financial metrics.

Broader AI infrastructure theme

Babcock & Wilcox joins a growing list of companies benefiting from the enormous power requirements of AI training and inference. Data centers are projected to consume a dramatically larger share of U.S. electricity in coming years, creating opportunities for companies capable of delivering reliable generation capacity quickly.

What investors should watch

Key upcoming catalysts include progress updates on the $2.4 billion project, additional contract wins, and the Q2 earnings report. Continued strength in the parts and services business and successful execution on fuel-switching projects will also be closely monitored.

Monday’s sharp gain reflects growing Wall Street conviction that Babcock & Wilcox is well-positioned in one of the decade’s most powerful secular trends. While volatility remains high, the company’s pivot toward AI power infrastructure has clearly captured investor imagination.

As trading continues, BW stands out as one of the more compelling industrial turnaround stories of 2026 — a legacy power equipment maker reborn as an essential player in the artificial intelligence revolution.

President Trump rejected the ludicrous Iranian conditions for an end to the war as totally unacceptable. Here’s what he said earlier today: “After reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it.” He added: “I’m not going to waste my time reading it.” It’s basically the same nonsense they were throwing at him a month ago. A permanent end to the war. Lift the blockade. Give them control over the Strait of Hormuz. Give them money. 

No discussion of ending nuclear capabilities or handing over their enriched uranium. Or stopping their missile production. Or ending their state-sponsorship of terror and financing terror proxies. In other words, they’re not serious. Of course not: in 47 years they’ve never been serious.

And that’s why Mr. Trump’s war against Iran along with our ally Israel, is so important and so courageous. One Iranian spokesman says the American conditions amounted to a surrender by Iran. Right. My only disagreement is that it should be an unconditional surrender.

Not only stopping Iran’s radical Islamist crusade against civilization, but also restoring freedom to the vast majority of Persian Iranians who do not favor the crazy inhumane, Nazi-like Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regime. Yet restoring freedom to Israel and the rest of the Middle East, including of course our Gulf allies, and really restoring freedom and prosperity worldwide.

Mr. Trump is in fact doing a great service, literally to the entire world outside of the murderers in Iran. Some 42,000 people have been killed so far this year. Is that not inhumane? Does that not require overthrowing that regime?

I hope we all remember nearly 25 years ago, the Al Qaeda attack on the World Trade Center. The whole country then rallied around American patriotism and security. The radical IRGC is a different breed of Islamic extremism, but it’s the same hatred of America, hatred of Israel, hatred of Western culture, and hatred of civilized people around the world.

It’s why the apparent Democratic party opposition to the Iran war is unfathomable to me. Perhaps it’s because the Democrats have become the anti-Israel party, but that too is unfathomable to me. In any case, Mr. Trump will undoubtedly be taking additional actions against Iran. He has mentioned Project Freedom plus, and in all likelihood there will be substantial combat operations.

For my part, I believe it’s essential that America take total control of the entire Arabian Gulf, Hormuz included. While keeping the successful blockade on Iran which is squeezing down the already collapsing Iranian economy. And perhaps if we give the civilian population some strong help, now is the time they will overthrow the most gruesome government since the Nazis of nearly 100 years ago and perhaps the worst regime of any time in history.

Operator

Good day. My name is Desiree and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to monday.com’s First Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Conference Call.

I would like to turn the call over to monday.com’s Vice President of Investor Relations. Mr. Byron Stephen. Please go ahead.

Byron Stephen
Director of Investor Relations

Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us on today’s conference call to discuss the financial results for monday.com’s First quarter Fiscal Year 2026.

Joining me today are Roy Mann and Eran Zinman co-CEO’s of monday.com; Eliran Glazer, monday.com’s CFO; and Casey George, monday.com’s CRO. We released our results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 earlier today. You can find our quarterly shareholder letter, along with the investor presentation and a replay of today’s webcast under the News and Events section of our IR website at ir.monday.com.

Certain statements made on the call today will be forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s best judgment based on currently available information. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to