Rolls-Royce increased shareholder returns with a multiyear share buyback program of up to around $12 billion and raised its targets for 2028 after earnings grew last year.

The U.K. engine maker said Thursday that its strong balance sheet allowed it to launch a buyback program of between 7 billion and 9 billion pounds ($9.49 billion-$12.20 billion) for 2026-2028, with 2.5 billion pounds of share repurchases to be completed this year.

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GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) shares traded in a narrow range around $24 in late February 2026, reflecting cautious investor sentiment following a period of volatility driven by CEO Ryan Cohen’s aggressive push toward strategic acquisitions and the company’s robust cash reserves.

As of February 27, 2026, GME closed at $24.03, down 0.29% on moderate volume of about 1.2 million shares. The stock opened at $23.79, reached a high of $24.22 and dipped to a low of $23.70 during the session. This stability comes after a slight pullback from recent peaks near $25 earlier in the month, with the shares up roughly 20% year-to-date in calendar 2026 but still well below the meme-stock frenzy highs of prior years.

GameStop’s market capitalization hovers around $10.7 billion, supported by a cash pile exceeding $8.8 billion as reported in the most recent filings. The company’s balance sheet strength stems from disciplined cost-cutting, reduced store footprint and opportunistic capital raises during past surges. Analysts note that this liquidity positions GameStop uniquely among traditional retailers, enabling potential transformative moves under Cohen’s leadership.

Cohen, who became chairman in 2021 and assumed the CEO role in September 2023, has emphasized turning GameStop into a more agile, value-oriented entity. In January 2026, the board approved a long-term performance award granting Cohen options to purchase over 171.5 million shares at $20.66 each. The package ties significant compensation to ambitious market capitalization milestones: 7.1% for reaching $80 billion, scaling up to 15% at $100 billion. Cohen recused himself from the board’s deliberations on the award, which requires shareholder approval.

The incentive aligns Cohen’s interests with massive upside potential, though it has drawn scrutiny for its scale and lack of base salary. Cohen has publicly criticized “risk-free insiders” and bureaucratic boardrooms, signaling a preference for bold, entrepreneurial strategies over incremental retail tweaks.

Recent months have seen heightened speculation about a “very big” consumer megadeal. In late January 2026 interviews and statements, Cohen hinted at pursuing a transformative acquisition that could “increase the company’s value tenfold.” Reports suggest interest in consumer-facing assets or technology plays to pivot beyond legacy video game retail. While no deal has materialized, the rhetoric has fueled periodic rallies, including an 8.25% jump on February 2 amid acquisition rumors.

GameStop’s most recent financials, from the third quarter ended November 1, 2025 (fiscal Q3 2025), showed net sales of $821 million, down 4.6% year over year from $860.3 million. However, operating income swung to $41.3 million from a $33.4 million loss, driven by lower selling, general and administrative expenses ($221.4 million versus $282 million). Adjusted operating income reached $52.1 million. Net income climbed to $77.1 million, bolstered by interest income and other factors.

The company also disclosed Bitcoin holdings valued at $519.4 million, adding an unconventional asset to its treasury strategy. Cash, equivalents and marketable securities totaled $8.8 billion, up substantially from the prior year.

Investors await the fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, expected around March 24, 2026. Consensus estimates project modest EPS, though variability remains high due to the stock’s meme-driven nature.

Broader industry context includes cautious optimism for video games. Circana forecasts U.S. industry spending to rise 3% to $62.8 billion in 2026, but GameStop faces structural headwinds from digital downloads, streaming and competition from Amazon, Best Buy and direct publisher sales.

Retail investor interest persists on platforms like Reddit’s WallStreetBets, where GME remains a focal point. Options activity has been elevated at times, contributing to short squeezes in the past, though short interest has moderated compared to 2021 peaks.

Analyst coverage remains limited and polarized. Some see the cash hoard and Cohen’s track record (from Chewy) as undervalued catalysts, with outlier fair-value estimates reaching $220 in discounted cash flow models under optimistic growth assumptions. Others point to declining core sales, high valuation multiples (forward P/E around 27 based on trailing EPS of $0.88) and execution risks in pivoting the business.

The stock’s 52-week range spans $19.93 to $35.81, with the latter hit in May 2025 during a brief resurgence. Year-to-date performance in 2026 shows resilience, up about 20% from January levels around $20.

As GameStop navigates its next chapter, attention centers on whether Cohen can deliver on acquisition ambitions without diluting shareholder value. With substantial dry powder and a motivated leader, the company could either evolve into a diversified holding entity or face challenges proving sustainable profitability in a shrinking physical retail segment.

Traders and long-term holders alike monitor for catalysts like deal announcements or earnings surprises. For now, GME trades in a consolidation phase, balancing speculative hope against fundamental retail realities in an evolving gaming landscape.

Shares of Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (NASDAQ: AAOI) surged as much as 45% on February 27, 2026, reaching new 52-week highs above $79 in intraday trading, after the optical networking company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and issued robust guidance fueled by accelerating demand for high-speed data center transceivers amid the AI infrastructure boom.

The stock closed the previous day at $53.69 before the earnings release, but opened sharply higher and traded in a range from about $65.57 to $79.50, with volume exceeding 16 million shares — well above the average. By midday February 27, AAOI was changing hands around $77-78, reflecting a gain of more than 44% from the prior close and pushing the company’s market capitalization above $5 billion.

The rally was triggered by Applied Optoelectronics’ February 26 after-hours release of fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results ended December 31, 2025. Revenue reached a record $134.3 million, up 34% from $100.3 million in the year-ago quarter and surpassing analyst estimates around $128 million to $132 million. The beat was driven by strong growth in data center products, which benefit from hyperscale operators expanding AI capabilities with 400G and emerging 800G optical modules.

On a GAAP basis, the company posted a net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.03 per share, a dramatic improvement from a $119.7 million loss the prior year. Adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings per share came in at a loss of $0.01, beating consensus expectations for a loss of about $0.11. Gross margin expanded to 31.2% GAAP (31.4% non-GAAP), reflecting better product mix and manufacturing efficiencies.

For the full year 2025, revenue soared 83% to $455.7 million from $249.4 million in 2024, while the net loss narrowed significantly to $38.2 million from $186.7 million. Data center revenue climbed 32% to $196 million, and cable television (CATV) revenue nearly tripled to $245 million, highlighting diversified end-market strength.

CEO Thompson Lin struck an optimistic tone during the earnings call, emphasizing momentum heading into 2026. “We have considerable momentum entering 2026, and we believe we are well positioned to accelerate our growth this year,” he said. Management highlighted the ramp-up of next-generation 800G products, capacity expansions including a new 210,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sugar Land, Texas, and first volume orders secured for advanced transceivers.

Guidance further ignited investor enthusiasm. For the first quarter of 2026, Applied Optoelectronics projected revenue between $150 million and $165 million — well above Street estimates near $145 million — with non-GAAP EPS ranging from a loss of $0.09 to breakeven. The company also raised its full-year 2026 outlook, targeting revenue over $1 billion (versus consensus around $834 million) and operating margins of 12% (above the 8% consensus).

On the call, executives projected that if hyperscale demand and 800G ramps continue as anticipated, monthly production could equate to an annualized run rate approaching $378 million by mid-2027, with demand potentially outstripping supply through that period. This supply-constrained narrative reframed the story from episodic growth to a multi-year opportunity in AI-driven optical interconnects.

Analysts responded with swift upgrades and target increases. Needham & Company boosted its price target to $80 from $43, maintaining a buy rating. Rosenblatt raised its target to $125 from $75 on the improved outlook. B. Riley upgraded the stock from sell to neutral, lifting its target to $54 from $15. Other firms followed suit, with some implying significant further upside despite the rapid run-up.

The company also announced a $250 million at-the-market (ATM) equity offering program on February 26, providing flexibility to raise capital opportunistically amid the stock’s strength. While such moves can dilute shareholders, the timing amid high valuation suggests confidence in funding expansion without immediate pressure.

Applied Optoelectronics specializes in fiber-optic networking products, including transceivers, lasers and subsystems for data centers, telecom, CATV and fiber-to-the-home markets. Its positioning in high-speed optical modules positions it to capitalize on AI data center buildouts by major hyperscalers, where bandwidth demands continue to escalate.

Challenges remain, including supply chain constraints for components, competition from larger players and execution risks in scaling 800G production. Some analysts noted a one-quarter delay in certain 800G revenue contributions but viewed the overall trajectory positively.

The post-earnings surge marks a continuation of AAOI’s volatile but upward trend in recent years, with the stock up more than 700% over the past 12 months from lows near $9.71. The 52-week range now extends to $79.50, reflecting renewed interest in optical component suppliers tied to AI infrastructure spending.

Investors will monitor upcoming quarters for evidence that revenue ramps track guidance and margins hold amid capacity investments. The next earnings report is expected in early May for the first quarter of 2026.

As AI adoption drives unprecedented data center expansion, Applied Optoelectronics’ results and forward-looking commentary underscore its emerging role in enabling next-generation connectivity, potentially sustaining momentum for the stock in the months ahead.

New Delhi: India’s Himalayan neighbour Nepal will hold national elections next week, its first since youth-led protests toppled the government of K P Sharma Oli last September, amid hopes of a government that will take steps to boost the economy and create jobs.

Nearly 19 million of Nepal’s 30 million people are eligible to vote in the March 5 election for the 275-member house of representatives. About one million of the voters, most of them youth, were included since last year’s protests.

While direct contest will decide 165 seats, the rest will be decided through proportional representation, where seats are allocated to parties in proportion to their vote share.

Jobs and economy are key issues in this election particularly for the youth, Kathmandu-based sources told ET. India will be watching the outcome of the elections closely given its strategic and economic interests in the Himalayan state. China, too, will keep an eye and would prefer to deal with an established political party, preferably the Communists and Maoists, according to Nepal watchers.

Nepal’s largest trading partner is India, accounting for 63% of imports, or $8.6 billion, followed by China at 13%, or $1.8 billion, according to World Bank figures. Over the last few years, India and Nepal have been able to create hydel power partnership, aiming to replicate the India-Bhutan model in future.

Rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah of Rastriya Swatantra Party is among the frontrunners for prime minister. He is in direct contest with four-time prime minister Oli of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).
Oli has an uphill task of getting support from the youth, which had overthrown his government through the street protests. Other contenders include Nepali Congress party’s 49-year-old Gagan Thapa. Former PM and ex-Maoist leader Prachanda may not be eyeing the top post but is active in the election process.

By focusing on owners, listening to tenants, and staying grounded, Andres Aiza has built a career around long-term thinking in a fast-moving market.

Houston’s industrial real estate market is busy and complex. Warehouses move fast. Land trades hands quietly. Deals often start off-market and finish after months of careful work. In the middle of it all is Andres Aiza, a Senior Associate at Alpine Partners, who has built his career by staying close to the details and closer to his clients.

“I grew up here,” Aiza says. “Houston is home. Knowing the city block by block changes how you see opportunities.”

Early Roots in Houston

Aiza was born and raised in Houston. He attended St. Thomas High School and later graduated from the University of Houston’s Bauer School of Business. Growing up locally gave him a clear view of how industrial areas evolve over time.

His early life shaped his outlook. When he was 16, his father passed away in an oil and gas accident. The loss stayed with him, but he prefers to keep the focus on how it influenced his values.

“It taught me not to waste time,” he says. “You learn quickly that relationships matter and that how you treat people lasts.”

His mother also played a key role. “She showed me resilience by example,” Aiza says. “You keep showing up. You do the work. You put your best foot forward.”

Learning the Business From the Inside

Before entering brokerage, Aiza worked for Top Foods Inc., a company that manufactured and imported tortilla chips from Mexico. He spent three years there. The experience gave him a practical view of logistics, manufacturing, and space needs.

“Working inside an operating business changed how I look at buildings,” he says. “You stop seeing square footage and start seeing workflow.”

That perspective still guides his work today. It helps him understand tenants and advise property owners with more clarity.

Entering Industrial Real Estate

Aiza later joined Alpine Partners, an industrial real estate firm based in Houston with a national reach. As a Senior Associate, he focuses on industrial investment sales and project leasing across the Greater Houston area.

Owner representation is the core of his business. He works closely with property owners to help them lease, sell, or reposition assets.

“Every property is different,” he says. “Every owner has a different goal. My job is to line those things up.”

His local ties often lead to off-market opportunities. Years of relationships help surface deals before they reach public listings.

“Most good opportunities don’t start with a sign,” Aiza says. “They start with a conversation.”

Balancing Owners and Tenants

While owner representation leads his work, Aiza also spends time representing tenants. He sees value in that balance.

“Tenant work keeps you honest,” he says. “You learn what users really need. That makes you better for owners too.”

This dual view helps him structure deals that are clear and durable. He has worked on lease and sale transactions involving local businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Many of those deals required creative financial structures to solve timing or operational challenges.

“I like complicated situations,” he says. “They force you to slow down and think.”

Communication as a Competitive Edge

Aiza is bilingual in English and Spanish. That skill allows him to work with a broader range of clients across Houston’s diverse business community.

“Clear language builds trust,” he says. “If people understand what’s happening, decisions get easier.”

Clients often describe him as approachable and direct. He prefers simple explanations and steady communication over pressure tactics.

“I’m not here to rush anyone,” Aiza says. “Good decisions take time.”

A Long-Term View of Leadership

Aiza frames leadership in quiet terms. For him, it is about consistency and follow-through.

“Doing what you say you’ll do still matters,” he says. “It’s not complicated, but it’s not easy either.”

He avoids short-term thinking and focuses on outcomes that make sense years later. That approach shapes how he advises clients and manages relationships.

Outside of work, Aiza spends time with his family, plays golf, and follows Houston Astros baseball. He also supports Heroes for Children, a charity that helps families with children battling cancer, and has volunteered with Loaves & Fishes in Houston.

“Giving back keeps things in perspective,” he says. “It reminds you why community matters.”

Staying Grounded in a Growing Market

Houston’s industrial market continues to expand. New developments rise. Older properties change hands. Through it all, Aiza stays focused on fundamentals.

“The market will change,” he says. “Your values shouldn’t.”

By combining local knowledge, operational insight, and a steady approach, Andres Aiza has built a reputation as a trusted figure in Houston’s industrial real estate space. His career continues to grow, grounded in relationships and shaped by experience rather than hype.