Flex, an AI-native private banking platform for high-net-worth business owners, raised $70 million in Series B1 funding led by Halo Fund. The round comes six months after a $60 million Series B in December 2025. Flex is expanding globally to 100+ countries with stablecoin payment rails, multi-currency accounts, and private credit solutions. The company has crossed $10 billion in annualized payment volume and is doubling its team to 200 employees.

Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) outperforms State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) with a lower expense ratio of 0.05% versus 0.15%, better five-year returns ($1,540 vs $1,401 on $1,000 invested), and lower maximum drawdown. VBR tracks a broader index of 835 holdings compared to SLYV's 462 stocks, offering greater diversification for small-cap value investors.

SoFi Technologies was passed over in June's S&P 500 index changes but may qualify by September. With a market cap of $22.2 billion (just below the $22.7 billion threshold) and 10 consecutive quarters of positive net income, the company meets most technical requirements. S&P 500 inclusion would trigger massive purchases from tracking ETFs, potentially boosting the stock short-term and signaling long-term confidence in the company.

Bloom Energy stock surged 10.7% at market open on Tuesday but quickly gave up all gains by afternoon. The spike was driven by speculation that the company could be added to the S&P 500 index, as it now meets all criteria with a $70 billion market cap and recent profitability. Additionally, an analyst upgrade of rival FuelCell Energy validated the fuel cell market opportunity, where Bloom Energy is positioned as the industry leader with strong growth projections and major contracts including a 2.8 gigawatt partnership with Oracle.

Wall Street's momentum trade accelerated last week as earnings beats and AI-fueled optimism drove massive rallies across tech and infrastructure stocks. Ten large-cap stocks emerged as top performers, with gains ranging from 32% to 57%, driven by better-than-expected earnings, raised guidance, and major partnerships in cloud computing, semiconductors, and space technology.

U.S. equities hit fresh record highs on May 6, 2026, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 reaching all-time peaks. AMD and Super Micro Computer surged 16% on strong AI-driven earnings, while oil prices collapsed 6-7% on diplomatic hopes between Washington and Tehran. Technology stocks led gains, though energy stocks declined sharply. Mixed earnings results saw winners like Flex Ltd. (+30%) and DaVita (+18%), while CDW and Coupang fell 20% and 17.5% respectively.

The global medical device contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market is expected to expand significantly at a CAGR of 13.12% from 2026 to 2033, driven by increased outsourcing by OEMs, demand for advanced connected devices, and the shift toward home care and minimally invasive treatments. CDMOs are becoming essential partners for managing regulatory complexities, reducing capital expenditure, and accelerating time-to-market.

Blue Door Asset Management added 88,100 shares of NICE (valued at $10.64 million) in Q4 2025, bringing its total position to 142,900 shares worth $16.15 million. Despite NICE stock declining 16.5% over the past year, the company showed strong fundamentals with 8% revenue growth to $2.95 billion, 13% cloud segment expansion, and 43% EPS growth in 2025, with AI products driving accelerating adoption.

Despite Waystar's stock declining 31.5% over the past year, Blue Door Asset Management purchased 322,600 shares worth $11.49 million in the latest quarter. The healthcare software company reported strong fundamentals with $1.10 billion in revenue (up 17% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $462 million (up 21% YoY), suggesting institutional confidence despite market weakness in software stocks.

AMD's momentum score climbed to 90.84 (top 10% of market) following the launch of Ryzen AI 400 Series desktop processors for Copilot+ experiences. Despite a 7.26% YTD decline, the company maintains strong fundamentals with a quality score of 93.86. Strategic partnerships with Flex for U.S. manufacturing, Meta ($60B multiyear deal), and PC manufacturers (Dell, HP, Lenovo) for Q2 2026 shipments support long-term growth prospects.

Shannon River Fund Management initiated a new $35.26 million position in FormFactor by acquiring 968,161 shares in Q3. FormFactor's stock has risen 22% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500. The company beat Q3 estimates with revenue of $202.7 million, expanded gross margins, and strong free cash flow recovery, driven by double-digit growth in DRAM probe cards and momentum in co-packaged optics systems.

Several large-cap stocks showed significant gains last week, with EchoStar, Rocket Lab, and Pan American Silver experiencing notable price increases due to various factors including analyst upgrades, strategic developments, and market optimism.