Some, predictably, chase the ephemeral butterflies of growth; others, the solid, earthbound virtues of value. Yet, they all, with a synchronicity that would amuse a flock of starlings, find themselves drawn to the same algorithmic honey pot. Alphabet, you see, is not merely a company; it is a meticulously constructed ecosystem, a digital simulacrum of life itself, where information flows like a subterranean river.
Rakesh, a man who understood the capricious nature of memory – both the digital kind and the human – had, just weeks prior, offered a glimpse into this unfolding drama. He spoke then of “attractive valuations,” a phrase as hollow as a dried gourd, yet it resonated with the ever-optimistic chorus of the market. Now, however, he offered something more substantial, a reason, if one dared to listen, for the rising tide. It wasn’t merely a matter of numbers, he seemed to imply, but of a fundamental imbalance, a yearning for storage in a world drowning in information.
BigBear.ai’s financial performance warrants careful consideration. Despite a year-to-date increase in share price, the company has yet to demonstrate consistent profitability. While a reported net income of $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2025 may appear positive, this figure was largely attributable to accounting adjustments related to derivative liabilities. Excluding this non-cash impact, the company continues to operate at a loss.
There was a fleeting moment, a feverish bloom in early 2024, when whispers of Nvidia’s interest propelled the share price heavenward. A phantom limb of the chip giant, briefly attached, promised salvation. But the market, ever the cruel jester, swiftly revealed the illusion – Nvidia had withdrawn, leaving SoundHound to plummet back to earth, a stark reminder that enthusiasm, untethered from substance, is a fragile thing indeed. It is a lesson repeated endlessly, yet so few seem to learn.
Both have endured a period of distinctly uninspired performance, a state of affairs which, while regrettable, often presents the shrewdest opportunities. Let us examine them in turn, though I offer no guarantees beyond the distinct possibility of disappointment.
The following table summarizes key metrics as of January 26, 2026:
It appears our industrious companies rush headlong into the embrace of these “artificial intelligences,” much like Molière’s characters pursuing fleeting pleasures, all without a thought for the consequences. Zscaler’s report reveals a most alarming truth: every single corporate AI system examined harbors serious flaws. One might ask, are these systems intended to protect, or merely to provide a new avenue for mischief?
That clause, for many, takes the form of the Schedule K-1. A document, not merely a form, but a summons to an alternate tax reality. Arriving, if at all, sometime after the vernal equinox, it demands a reckoning not easily achieved. A separate accounting, a divergence from the standardized 1099-DIV, it introduces a variable of uncertainty into the otherwise predictable cycle of tax preparation. It is a small disruption, perhaps, but one that accumulates, compounding the anxiety of compliance. For those seeking to navigate this bureaucratic maze, the Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) presents itself not as a solution, precisely, but as a…containment measure.
Rich Privorotsky, a name that rolls off the tongue as easily as it rolls in the wealth of Europe, leads the charge at Goldman Sachs Global Banking & Markets. According to him, investors are beginning to unshackle their portfolios from the grasp of these mega-caps, much like prisoners escaping their gilded cages after years of indulgence.
But let us not mistake a recent surge for long-term prosperity. A stock’s performance is a fickle mistress, and past gains are, as any honest broker will tell you (with a wink, of course), no guarantee of future results. We shall investigate whether those who dared to invest in NuScale Power three years ago are now basking in the glow of a profitable venture, or merely warming their hands by a dying ember.