Today is Friday, July 10, 2026.
The Early Bird Index today is 89.70.
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Is the AI Trade Still Alive? 🤔
South Korea-based semiconductor company SK Hynix $SKHY ( 0.0% ) has its initial public offering in the U.S. today, and it could be a referendum on the AI trade itself in 2026.
Details: The IPO is expected to start at around $149 per share. It is a $28 billion offering of 77.9 million ADRs (American Depositary Receipts). Each ADR represents one-tenth of a common share of the company on the Korea exchange.
Background: SK Hynix’s market value has more than tripled in 2026 to over $1 trillion. SK Hynix wants the listing to fund new chip capacity and packaging facilities, and to help narrow the valuation gap between Korean and U.S. memory-chip stocks.
Powering the Story: The IPO could become the biggest-ever U.S. listing by a foreign company and one of the largest IPO-style share sales ever, making it a major test of demand for AI-linked semiconductors.
Early Bird’s Nest Egg Gains: The deal is also a sentiment check on the AI trade itself.
SK Hynix sits at the center of high-bandwidth memory demand for AI servers, so strong demand would reinforce the idea that investors still want exposure to AI infrastructure.
However, weak pricing or soft aftermarket trading could signal fatigue in the hottest corner of the semiconductor market.
Final Thoughts: It will be interesting to see what impact - if any - SK Hynix’s IPO could have on other AI semiconductor stocks.
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Notables
Notable Earnings Today: Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL).
Notable IPOs Today: Tarsier Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: TARX), SK Hynix Inc. American Depositary Shares (Nasdaq: SKHY).
Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: N/A.
Notable Economic Events Today: WASDE Report (12:00 p.m. ET).
WD-40's Strong Financials
The WD-40 Company $WDFC ( ▼ 2.91% ) surged 15.27% in after-hours trading on Thursday after reporting strong financial earnings results.
Financials: WD-40 reported earnings of $2.33 per share in the past quarter and revenue of $195.1 million. Both were better than expected.
Quote: “Our strong performance was driven by double-digit growth across all three trade blocs.” - CEO Steve Brass.
Details: Net sales increased 24% in the period. The company expects net sales for the full year to grow between 6% and 9%.
Final Thoughts: WD-40’s stock was already up 21.68% this year.
FuboTV Appoints Former Disney Streaming Exec As CEO
The TV streaming company FuboTV $FUBO ( ▼ 0.42% ) ticked up 0.15% in after-hours trading on Thursday after appointing veteran media executive Alisa Bowen as chief executive officer.
Details: Bowen most recently worked at Walt Disney $DIS ( ▼ 0.55% ) as president of the Disney+ streaming service.
Final Thoughts: FuboTV’s stock is down 69% this year and needs an executive with Bowen’s experience to try to turn things around.
Trends to Watch
Oh, Ship: UPS, FedEx Shares Fall on Growing Threat From Amazon Shipping (Bloomberg)
Crypto Surge: Arbitrum jumps 19%, benefitting from Robinhood's $568 million onchain trading frenzy (CoinDesk)
Dirty Air: EPA proposes weakening heavy-duty truck pollution rules (NPR)
Consumer Spending Problems: PepsiCo earnings miss estimates as U.S. consumers tighten their budgets (CNBC)
Tough Bitcoin Market: 'Bottom building in progress': Analysts say bitcoin holder capitulation signals late-stage bear market (The Block)
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The contents of Early Bird are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. They do not constitute trade or investment recommendations, and they are not financial or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to consult licensed professionals for personalized guidance regarding their financial or legal situations.
