Markets & Finance

Leopold Aschenbrenner's hedge fund Situational Awareness LP sold the bulk of its leveraged public stock positions to Citadel in late July 2026 following a reported 67% monthly loss, with the fund's assets falling from a reported peak of $45 billion to approximately $10 billion after the transaction. The block sale removed all leverage from the fund's public book, leaving it with unencumbered long stock and options positions alongside private holdings that include a multibillion-dollar Anthropic stake. The precise purchase price, discount, and complete list of transferred positions have not been disclosed, and claims that the deal prevented a broader AI-stock market cascade are not supported by primary records.

IonQ completed its acquisition of SkyWater Technology on July 31, 2026, with SkyWater shareholders receiving $15.00 cash plus 0.4883 IonQ shares per share, against an originally announced equity value of $1.8 billion. The FTC granted early termination without conditions, though the two commissioners disagreed: one found competitive harm below guideline thresholds, while the other argued a behavioral order was warranted to prevent IonQ from withholding foundry access or misusing rivals' technical data. IonQ frames the deal as vertical integration for its domestic quantum supply chain and is scheduled to report Q2 2026 results on August 5.

Palantir Technologies will report second quarter 2026 results on August 3 after U.S. market close, with a 5:00 p.m. Eastern webcast. The key comparisons are set by Q1 2026 figures: total revenue of $1.633 billion, up 85% year over year, and Q2 guidance of $1.797 to $1.801 billion in revenue alongside $1.063 to $1.067 billion in adjusted operating income. No Q2 results exist in the public record ahead of that release, making the August 3 report the first disclosure of whether actual performance aligns with those targets.

Advanced Energy Industries will release its second-quarter 2026 financials after market close on August 3, followed by a 4:30 p.m. Eastern conference call. The report will be measured against management's Q1-issued guidance of $540 million in revenue and $2.18 non-GAAP EPS, both stepping up from Q1's $511 million revenue and 26% year-over-year growth. Key items to watch include whether Data Center Computing growth moderated as expected, how non-GAAP gross margin moved from Q1's 40.1% toward the company's year-end target of approximately 41%, and the status of ongoing manufacturing expansion across Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Mexico.

Adeia posted $104.8 million in Q1 2026 revenue with a 60% adjusted-EBITDA margin, signed eight license agreements including a Google renewal, and filed patent infringement suits against Dish Network and FuboTV. The company maintained full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $395 million to $435 million, though no confirmed numeric Q2 range appears in official filings. The August 3 earnings call is expected to clarify Q2 results, updated guidance, and the status of ongoing litigation.

Loews Corporation will release second-quarter 2026 financial results on August 3, 2026, via written earnings remarks from CEO Ben Tisch and CFO Jane Wang rather than a conference call. The report will cover four core businesses: CNA Financial, Boardwalk Pipelines, Loews Hotels, and Altium Packaging. In the prior quarter, net income declined to $337 million from $370 million year-over-year, with CNA absorbing a $106 million reserve charge and Loews Hotels posting a significant occupancy and EBITDA improvement tied to new Universal Orlando Resort properties.