usdaed

Micron, they make the things that remember for the machines—the fleeting thoughts, the stored knowledge. DRAM, NAND—fancy names for little plates that hold the ones and zeros. They serve the computers, the phones, the big server farms, even the metal horses we drive. They aren’t the biggest, not yet. Samsung and SK Hynix still hold the lion’s share, but Micron is gaining, a slow tide creeping in. They’ve taken a bit of ground, ten percentage points in this new HBM stuff, the kind that feeds the artificial minds.

But hold on! They had a quarter! A record quarter! Sort of. They’re claiming records, which, let’s be honest, in this business, is like claiming you’ve invented sliced bread. Everyone’s done it. They trimmed their losses, which is good. It’s like a guy who was losing $100 a day now only loses $90. Still losing, folks! Still losing! Is this a turnaround? Maybe. Is it a sign from the heavens? Don’t hold your breath.

Now, they’re whispering about quantum computing. Another potential revolution. Generative AI is getting all the attention, sure. But quantum…quantum feels different. Like something that could genuinely scramble the rules. Three companies, at least, seem to be positioning themselves for this scramble. And, as a fellow traveler on this planet, I’ve been looking at their numbers. Because even revolutions need a price tag.

Mr. Buffett’s skill lay not merely in amassing wealth, but in discerning true value amidst the prevailing fashions of the market. While not entirely immune to error – for even the most discerning eye may occasionally be misled – his successes were, as a general rule, of a most substantial nature. It was, therefore, a matter of some interest to observe his investment choices in the years preceding his withdrawal from public life.

The S&P 500, despite all this, managed a 14% climb last year. Which is… encouraging, I guess. Though I’ve learned not to trust anything that goes up for too long. It always comes down. Like my optimism. The problem is, the administration insists these tariffs aren’t actually costing us anything. That exporters will just… absorb them. Goldman Sachs, bless their heart, did some digging and found that, no, we’re paying. Eighty-two percent of those tariffs, collectively. And by next July, they estimate it’ll be sixty-seven percent just for us, the consumers. It’s like a hidden tax, cleverly disguised as economic policy. I tried explaining this to Carol, but she was already halfway through a rant about the dangers of imported cheese.

That earnings call…that was a moment, wasn’t it? Their first chance to convince everyone this wasn’t a spectacularly expensive impulse buy. It didn’t quite land. The stock took another 5% hit after hours. Solid guidance for 2026, apparently, but overshadowed by…well, a $72 billion question mark. And let’s not forget Paramount Skydance is still lurking, making things even more…complicated. It’s like a particularly messy dating app scenario, honestly.

The company’s strategy—to deploy functioning systems rather than languish in endless pilot projects—is a welcome departure from the usual corporate dithering. It speaks to a pragmatism often absent in these realms. However, this focus on “production-grade” solutions carries with it a certain weight, a responsibility to deliver not merely promises, but tangible results. The larger deal sizes and faster customer acquisition are encouraging, but they also amplify the potential for disillusionment should those expectations prove unfulfilled.

This Nebius, once known by a more Russian moniker – a detail conveniently shed like a winter coat – now fancies itself a purveyor of computational power. They propose to build, for a princely sum, the very foundations upon which these ‘intelligent’ machines shall stand. They speak of ‘full-stack AI cloud platforms,’ a phrase as weighty and opaque as a magistrate’s judgment. The company, it seems, intends to supply the digital bricks and mortar for a world increasingly obsessed with building castles in the air.