Key Takeaways
- Blue Origin raised $10 billion at a $140 billion valuation in its first-ever outside capital round, with founder Jeff Bezos contributing $2 billion.
- Akamai Technologies (AKAM) signed a multi-year agreement with Anthropic worth up to $20 billion to support distributed AI computing and CPU workloads.
- Costco (COST) beat Q4 earnings expectations with an EPS of $6.75 on net sales of $93.87 billion, driven by a 6.7% increase in adjusted comparable sales.
- U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to mutually support each other’s hosting of the 2026 APEC and G20 summits, signaling a rare moment of diplomatic coordination.
- Delta Air Lines (DAL) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.215 per share, maintaining its commitment to shareholder returns.
Blue Origin Breaks 26-Year Streak of Internal Funding
Blue Origin has successfully raised $10 billion in a landmark funding round that values the aerospace company at $140 billion. This marks the first time the company has accepted outside capital since its founding in 2000, ending Jeff Bezos’s long-standing practice of self-funding the venture through Amazon (AMZN) stock sales.
Bezos personally contributed $2 billion to the round, which reportedly saw overwhelming demand and may close above its initial $10 billion target. The company is projecting a massive revenue surge to over $30 billion by 2030, a significant jump from the $1.4 billion expected this year and the $800 million generated in 2025.
Akamai and Anthropic Forge $20 Billion AI Partnership
Akamai Technologies (AKAM) announced a strategic multi-year agreement with AI lab Anthropic worth an initial $11.6 billion, with potential expansion up to $20 billion. The deal focuses on leveraging Akamai’s distributed cloud infrastructure to handle Anthropic’s rapidly growing CPU workload demands.
To cement the partnership, Akamai issued Anthropic a warrant for up to 7.7 million shares (approximately 5% of outstanding stock) at a price of $111.33 per share. While Akamai kept its 2026 revenue guidance unchanged, it expects to increase its 2026 capital expenditures by $1.7 billion to secure critical supply chain components for the project.
Costco Delivers Strong Q4 Performance
Costco Wholesale (COST) reported robust fourth-quarter results, posting net sales of $93.87 billion and total revenue of $95.72 billion. The retail giant’s EPS of $6.75 handily beat the $6.56 consensus estimate, aided in part by a $0.15 per share benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds.
The company's adjusted comparable sales grew by 6.7%, reflecting continued consumer resilience and membership loyalty. These results come as investors closely monitor Costco’s ability to maintain margins amidst global geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade policies.
Geopolitical and Market Updates
In a significant diplomatic development, President Trump and President Xi Jinping have agreed to support each other in hosting the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the G20 Summit. During the discussions, Xi also called for the U.S. and China to ensure AI technology remains under human control, highlighting a shared concern over the rapid advancement of autonomous systems.
On the domestic front, NYSE short interest rose 2.7% to 22.78 billion shares in mid-September, indicating a slight increase in bearish sentiment or hedging activity among market participants. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines (DAL) reinforced its financial stability by declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.215 per share, payable in November to shareholders of record as of mid-October.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.