Enrique Abeyta:

The Tesla-SpaceX Merger: 3 Stocks That Could Win Big

During SpaceX's earnings call Tuesday, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla and SpaceX have formed special committees to explore a merger. Prediction market Kalshi has put the odds of a merger before 2028 as high as 80%.

I'm watching three companies that could benefit from his next moves, whether through takeovers, rival deals, or a surge in spending.

T-Mobile (TMUS) operates one of America's largest wireless networks. Buying it could give Musk quick access to millions of customers, nationwide infrastructure, and valuable wireless spectrum. It's a risky possibility given the cost and legal barriers, but worth watching.

There's another possible takeover target, but not for Musk. AT&T or Verizon could seek to buy AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) to gain its satellite-to-phone technology and better compete with Starlink. Amazon, Google, or even a foreign government could also want access to its tech.

This last one may be the most overlooked opportunity. SBA Communications (SBAC) owns and operates cell towers. If SpaceX builds a ground-based wireless network to strengthen Starlink, it could become a major new customer for tower operators.

Now, I'm not necessarily saying to go out and buy these stocks today. But they are three strong examples of companies to follow closely as events unfold.

⇒ Read More Here

Ari Goldschmidt:

Meta Shocked by $25B Fine After N.M. Refused To Join Multistate Settlement

Meta must pay $25 billion to New Mexico after a jury found the tech giant guilty of nearly 44 million violations of state consumer protection laws.

The largest fine to ever hit Meta came after New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez declined to join an $18 billion settlement Meta reached earlier this year with attorneys general in nearly all states.

In his opinion Wednesday, U.S. district court judge Francis J. Mathew said there was no "bright line rule" for determining the appropriate penalty for Meta's repeated and willful deception of users since 2010 about their "control of data, third-party data misuse, misinformation, hate speech, and equal enforcement."

New Mexico had asked the court to impose even higher fines, up to $40 billion. The entire state of 2 million people were harmed by Meta's conduct, Torrez argued, and it seemed dubious that Meta would make meaningful changes unless the penalty impacted Meta's stock price.

The company plans to appeal. Legal experts told Reuters the company has a decent chance at slashing the fine on appeal based on constitutional claims.

⇒ Read More Here

Ray Blanco:

Unitree Unveils Fearsome Bodyguard Robot

On Wednesday, China's Unitree released a teaser for its new "bodyguard" robot. Like with its uber-popular G1 model, it demonstrated that the humanoid robot, the H2-X "Kung Fu Legend: Guardian," could pull off all sorts of physical feats – only this time it's implied that these violent capabilities aren't only for show.

In a promotional video, the robot performs its own veritable Jackie Chan highlight reel, front-flipping over cars, somersaulting after jumping from a high point, and flying through a series of acrobatic kicks. At one point, it even lifts a vehicle to save someone from being crushed, punches a dent in the door of another, and scares off a (staged) knifeman.

It's still unclear how Unitree intends the robot to be used, beyond branding it as a robotic bodyguard. Unitree highlighted that the new model could operate for about eight hours while standing.

We also don't know if the video shows the robot acting on its own, being teleoperated, or carrying out pre-programmed moves.

As of now, Unitree hasn't said how much the robot would cost or when it would go on sale.

⇒ Read More Here