Business
Alphabet Stock Dips to $306 Amid Geopolitical Volatility and Heavy AI CapEx Outlook
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) shares closed at $306.36 on March 2, 2026, down 1.63% or $5.07 from the prior session, reflecting broader market pressure from escalating Middle East conflict and investor caution over the company’s aggressive capital expenditure plans for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The Class C shares opened at $302.96, ranged from a low of $301.06 to a high of $308.14, and traded on volume of about 21.8 million shares. Pre-market activity on March 3 indicated further softness, with quotes dipping toward $298-$305 amid risk-off sentiment tied to oil price surges and regional instability. Alphabet’s market capitalization hovered near $3.7 trillion, underscoring its position as one of the world’s most valuable companies despite the recent pullback.
The decline followed a volatile February, when shares peaked near $345-$350 early in the month before retreating. Year-to-date performance has been modest, with GOOG down roughly 2-3% in 2026 after strong gains in late 2025. Over the trailing 12 months, however, the stock remains up significantly, reflecting sustained momentum in search, cloud and AI-driven segments.
The latest session’s weakness aligned with broader tech sector headwinds. Escalating U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran over the weekend triggered fears of prolonged energy disruptions, pushing Brent crude higher and compressing valuations for growth-oriented names like Alphabet. Analysts noted that while Alphabet’s core advertising business shows resilience, higher energy costs and macroeconomic uncertainty could indirectly pressure digital ad spending.
Alphabet’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, released Feb. 4, 2026, provided a strong backdrop. The company reported consolidated revenues of $113.8 billion, up 18% year-over-year (17% in constant currency), surpassing expectations. Google Services revenues climbed 14% to $95.9 billion, led by 17% growth in Search & other, 17% in subscriptions, platforms and devices, and 9% in YouTube ads. Full-year YouTube revenue across ads and subscriptions exceeded $60 billion, while paid subscriptions topped 325 million.
Google Cloud delivered standout performance, with revenues surging 48% to $17.7 billion, driven by demand for AI infrastructure, enterprise solutions and core GCP products. The segment’s operating income reached $5.3 billion, reflecting improved margins amid scaling efficiencies.
Consolidated operating income rose 16% to $35.9 billion, with a 31.6% margin (including a $2.1 billion Waymo compensation charge). Net income jumped 30% to $34.5 billion, and diluted EPS climbed 31% to $2.82, beating estimates. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted Gemini 3’s launch as a milestone, with first-party models processing over 10 billion tokens per minute via API and the Gemini App reaching 750 million monthly active users.
For 2026, management guided capital expenditures of $175 billion to $185 billion — a substantial increase — to meet surging AI demand and expand infrastructure. The outlook has sparked debate: bulls view it as essential for maintaining leadership in AI and cloud, while some warn of near-term free cash flow pressure and depreciation impacts on margins.
Analysts remain largely constructive. Consensus 12-month price targets cluster in the $340-$350 range, implying 10-15% upside from current levels. Recent commentary emphasizes Alphabet’s AI moat, with Search seeing record usage and Gemini adoption accelerating. Google Cloud’s run rate now exceeds $70 billion annually, positioning it as a key growth engine.
Challenges include competitive pressures in digital advertising, regulatory scrutiny (including ongoing antitrust cases) and the high cost of AI investments. Depreciation rose sharply in 2025, and further acceleration is expected in 2026, potentially weighing on short-term profitability.
Technical levels show support near $300-$305, with resistance around $320-$330. The stock trades at a forward P/E of about 27-29 based on 2026 estimates, reasonable given projected revenue growth of 12-15% and operating margin expansion.
Investors eye the next earnings report, expected around April 23, 2026, for updates on Q1 performance, AI monetization (including potential Gemini ads) and capex execution. Amid geopolitical uncertainty, Alphabet’s diversified revenue streams — from resilient Search to high-growth Cloud — offer defensive qualities within tech.
As shares consolidate after earlier highs, Alphabet balances near-term macro risks with long-term AI and cloud tailwinds, keeping it a core holding for growth-oriented portfolios.
Business
A hit of Doughpamine

Jessica Entzel Nolan, a former Michelin Guide inspector, is formulating gourmet cookie dough in resealable packaging.
Business
Verley Series A raises $38 million

Company is expanding into the United States in second half of 2026.
Business
Raymond James reiterates Scholar Rock stock Strong Buy on debt facility

Raymond James reiterates Scholar Rock stock Strong Buy on debt facility
Business
Kongsberg Automotive ASA 2025 Q4 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (OTCMKTS:KGAUF) 2026-03-03
Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team
Business
The 5 White Label CBD Brands Helping Entrepreneurs Launch Faster
Breaking into the CBD market does not have to involve months of product development, complex compliance preparation, or large upfront manufacturing costs. For many entrepreneurs, the quickest route to market is partnering with a dependable white-label supplier who can manage formulation, testing, and production while you focus on branding and sales.
The white label CBD sector has expanded rapidly across Europe, giving startups access to professional-grade products that are ready to sell under their own brand. From high-quality oils to gummies, creams, and capsules, the right manufacturing partner can significantly reduce time to launch.
In this list, we explore five standout white-label CBD partners helping founders launch faster.
Essentia Pura
occupies a leading position in the white-label CBD market for entrepreneurs seeking speed without compromising on quality.
The company offers a comprehensive service model that allows founders to move from idea to market-ready product efficiently. Their product range includes CBD oils, capsules, topical products, and gummies suitable for private labelling.
Key advantages include:
- Regulatory-ready formulations for UK and EU markets
- Third-party laboratory testing and Certificates of Analysis
- Competitive minimum order quantities
- Branding, packaging, and compliance guidance
- Proven, consumer-tested product formulations
For entrepreneurs who want to launch a CBD brand with minimal technical complexity, Essentia Pura operates as a practical production partner rather than simply a supplier.
Greenmotiv
Greenmotiv is particularly popular with smaller start-ups and boutique wellness brands.
The company focuses on flexibility, allowing entrepreneurs to begin with smaller production batches. This approach is useful for founders who wish to test market response before scaling inventory.
Highlights include:
- Low minimum order quantities
- Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD options
- Assistance with design and regulatory documentation
- Wellness-focused product positioning
Greenmotiv is well-suited to niche CBD brands and businesses experimenting with market positioning.
Nordic Oil
As one of Europe’s well-known CBD consumer brands, Nordic Oil also offers white-label manufacturing services.
Their advantage lies in retail experience. Since they operate a successful CBD brand themselves, their formulations are developed with consumer usability and product consistency in mind.
Entrepreneurs often choose Nordic Oil for:
- Retail-tested product formulations
- Optional marketing and design assistance
- Efficient production workflows
- Starter-friendly order volumes
Nordic Oil is a strong option for founders who value credibility and established product performance.
BRITISHCANNABIS
BRITISHCANNABIS focuses on high-quality manufacturing tailored specifically to the United Kingdom’s regulatory landscape.
For businesses targeting British consumers, regulatory alignment is particularly valuable. Their production standards are designed to reduce compliance uncertainty when entering the UK CBD market.
Strengths include:
- Premium product positioning suitable for retail distribution
- Recognition for manufacturing quality within the industry
- Strong emphasis on safety and regulatory standards
- Professional-grade production facilities
BRITISHCANNABIS is especially suitable for brands planning to sell through physical retailers or premium wellness channels.
HexaPartners
HexaPartners offers one of the more flexible product development approaches within the white-label CBD sector.
Entrepreneurs looking to build a broad wellness brand rather than focus on a single product line may find their service model particularly useful.
They provide:
- Multiple product formats, including oils, capsules, and creams
- Custom formulation options
- Support for niche brand concepts
- Flexible manufacturing arrangements
HexaPartners works well for businesses planning long-term product portfolio expansion.
Rounding It All Up
Launching a CBD brand is considerably easier when working with a reliable manufacturing partner. White-label suppliers remove many of the technical and operational challenges, allowing entrepreneurs to concentrate on marketing, customer acquisition, and brand development.
Ultimately, choosing the right partner involves balancing product quality, compliance support, manufacturing flexibility, and long-term business objectives.
Business
Uncertainty remains the primal force impacting ingredients markets

Geopolitical events, domestic policy disruptions keep food industry in flux.
Business
Dollar, Swiss Franc Rally as Middle East Conflict Boosts Safe Havens
The dollar and Swiss franc rose sharply Monday as strikes across the Middle East encouraged investors to seek safe-haven assets.
President Trump and Israel launched military attacks on Iran at the weekend, killing a large number of Iran’s top leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched strikes across the Middle East.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Business
OoMee scaling seaweed-powered beverage portfolio

Aqua Theon raises $13 million, dedicating $5 million to its brand, OoMee.
Business
Papa John’s to shutter 300 ‘underperforming’ restaurants across North America by 2027
Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
Pizza chain Papa John’s said it plans to close hundreds of underperforming restaurants in North America by the end of next year.
“We have identified approximately 300 underperforming restaurants across North America that are not meeting brand expectations or lack a clear path to sustainable financial improvement, as well as locations where we can effectively transfer sales to a nearby restaurant,” Papa John’s Chief Financial Officer Ravi Thanawala said last week during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call.
Thanawala described the locations as being primarily franchise-owned, more than a decade old and generating less than $600,000 in annual sales (AUVs). He said the majority of the restaurants will shutter by the end of 2027, with about 200 closures happening this year.
BAHAMA BREEZE TO CLOSE ALL ITS RESTAURANTS

The locations expected to close are mostly franchise-owned and more than a decade old. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We believe these closures will further strengthen the system, increasing AUVs by at least 3% and improve franchisee health by allowing franchisees to reallocate resources towards operational excellence in their remaining restaurants and open units in priority markets,” Thanawala said.
WENDY’S TO CLOSE HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS AS COMPANY LOOKS TO FOCUS ON VALUE TO BOOST SALES
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PZZA | PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL INC. | 31.94 | +0.59 | +1.88% |
He also said that the majority of the company’s restaurants worldwide have “performed well over the years and delivered strong returns for both corporate and franchise owners,” and that the strategic closure of underperforming restaurants are “among the most impactful actions we can take to improve restaurant profitability and fleet health.”

Papa John’s operated more than 3,500 restaurants in North America as of the fourth quarter of 2025. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The company reported a 5.4% decline in same-store sales in the fourth quarter, which CEO Todd Penegor said “reflected a weak consumer backdrop and elevated promotional environment.”
THIS FAST-GROWING CHAIN SAYS ‘NO DISCOUNTS’ – AND IT’S PAYING OFF
Papa John’s operated 3,523 restaurants in North America as of the fourth quarter of 2025. It opened 96 new locations in its latest fiscal year.
Rival pizza chain Pizza Hut also recently announced that it will close 250 locations in the U.S. through June.

The closures will affect “underperforming” Pizza Hut restaurants. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Ranjith Roy, the chief financial officer of Pizza Hut’s corporate parent Yum! Brands, said during an earnings call that the closures will primarily target weaker-performing Pizza Hut restaurants as part of a broader effort to modernize the chain.
Business
Wall Street Lunch: Dow Plunges 1,200 Points Before Dip-Buyers Pitch In
MF3d/iStock via Getty Images

Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Bulls and bears battle as oil, dollar rally. (0:15) Paramount debt cut to junk. (2:39) Amazon buys George Washington University satellite campus. (2:52)
This is an abridged transcript of the podcast:
Our top story so far, the dip-buyers and the froth-fighters are trading blows on Wall Street today.
Stocks sank at the opening bell on a global tech selloff sparked by a 7% plunge in South Korea’s Kospi — driven by double-digit declines in Samsung and SK Hynix.
The selloff deepened, and the Dow Jones (DJI) shed 1,200 points — on pace for its worst drop since Liberation Day — while the S&P 500 (SP500) hit its lowest level of 2026.
Treasury yields shot higher, with the 10-year (US10) topping 4.1%. The VIX (VIX) — the fear gauge — hit a three-month high. And gold (GLD) and silver (SLV) sank.
That move in metals looked counterintuitive — gold usually gets a safe-haven bid.
But former J.P. Morgan strategist Marko Kolanovic has pointed out that the silver ETF (SLV), along with the South Korea equity ETF (EWY), has been acting more like a meme stock lately.
But the bears couldn’t keep up the momentum. Stocks caught a bid about an hour into trading.
At the time of recording, the major averages are down less than 1.5% at their highs of the day.
A couple of assets, though, are trading with more conviction.
The greenback keeps catching a bid — hitting its highest level since mid-January and on pace for its strongest two-day rally in about a year. The dollar index (DXY) moved back above its 200-day moving average.
And oil prices are going parabolic — with Brent (CO1:COM) and WTI (CL1:COM) up another 7%.
Iraq has cut production by nearly 1.5M barrels per day, and that could rise to 3M if disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz continue.
Robert Brooks, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, says there’s “a weird tendency in markets to downplay unexpected shocks when they happen.
People don’t like to look like they didn’t see it coming, so they downplay the shock and the impact, he said.
What’s happening now in oil “is absolutely massive.”
Among active stocks, Cigna (CI) slipped after the company said CEO David Cordani is retiring. He’ll be replaced by President and COO Brian Evanko on July 1.
Evanko currently oversees Cigna’s Evernorth Health Services unit, which includes its pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts.
Best Buy (BBY) is up after boosting profit despite soft sales.
“Moving forward to FY27, we are excited about the momentum in our business,” CFO Matt Bilunas said. “We also expect to continue to navigate a mixed macro environment.”
Credo Technology (CRDO) is getting slammed after its Q3 beat wasn’t enough to satisfy investors given valuation.
Needham came to the company’s defense, with analyst N. Quinn Bolton — who really does sound like a Sherlock Holmes character — saying revenue growth is being driven by Active Electrical Cable proliferation and customer diversification.
And Fitch Ratings cut Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY) corporate and long-term debt ratings to junk after the company agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
The deal is expected to leave the combined entity with roughly $79B in net debt.
In other news of notes, tired: educating humans. Wired (quite literally): powering AI bots.
Amazon (AMZN) has struck a deal to acquire George Washington University’s Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Va., for about $427M.
The deal was executed through Amazon Data Services, and the price comes out to roughly $3.5M an acre for the 120-acre site.
It’s in Loudoun County — a major U.S. data center hub — and the deed allows Amazon to develop the property into a data or IT center to support its expanding cloud and AI infrastructure.
GW has the option to keep programs and services at the site for up to five years.
And in the Wall Street Research Corner, on Monday, we told you about the Jefferies AI Risk Basket.
On the flip side, Jefferies has now updated its AI Beneficiaries Basket.
The quant team says the bullish AI basket is broadly flat this year — with trading shifting toward risks from AI disintermediation. That’s analyst speak for cutting out the middleman.
They built the basket by using AI to identify about 30 stocks with market caps above $20B that are “direct beneficiaries of the AI boom.”
You know the big names. So here are a few that may not be on your radar: Digital Realty Trust (DLR), Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR), CoreWeave (CRWV), Microchip Technology (MCHP) and Iron Mountain (IRM).
Check out the full list here.
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