
Investors should consider Amazon (AMZN) as a top long-term pick for 2026, as its acquisition of Globalstar allows it to disrupt internet providers by bundling satellite data with Prime memberships. Microsoft (MSFT) is currently viewed as a high-conviction "buy" following a 20-25% price dip, offering a rare opportunity to acquire a dominant tech giant at a historically low free cash flow multiple. Keep a close watch on Anthropic for a potential 2026 IPO, as its superior enterprise revenue growth and $380 billion valuation offer significant upside compared to a struggling OpenAI. If you currently hold Allbirds (ALB), analysts recommend selling immediately to capture the recent 900% price spike, viewing the pivot to AI chips as an unsustainable "jazz hands" maneuver. For long-term wealth building, prioritize maximizing 529 College Savings Plans and Robinhood (HOOD) automated accounts to leverage tax-free compounding over a 20-year horizon.
• Amazon is acquiring satellite operator Globalstar in a deal valued at approximately $11.5 billion. • The move is a strategic effort to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink via Amazon's satellite initiative, now referred to as Project LEO (formerly Project Kuiper). • Key Assets Gained: • 24 existing operational satellites. • Valuable Spectrum licenses (radio waves for wireless signals), which are typically expensive and difficult to acquire from the FCC. • Strategic Goals: • Consumer (B2C): Potential to bundle high-speed satellite internet with Amazon Prime memberships, directly challenging telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast. • Business (B2B): Providing private wireless networks for Amazon’s massive infrastructure, including warehouses, delivery hubs, robots, and drones. • Timeline: A direct-to-device satellite system rollout is expected by 2028. Amazon plans to deploy 3,200 satellites by 2029 (compared to Starlink’s current 10,000+).
• Top Stock Pick: Scott Galloway named Amazon his "big tech stock pick for 2026," citing its position as the world's strongest infrastructure company. • Market Disruption: Investors should watch for Amazon to leverage its 115 million Prime households to achieve "overnight" scale in the ISP (Internet Service Provider) market. • Infrastructure Synergy: The acquisition lowers long-term operational costs for Amazon’s logistics and robotics divisions by owning the communication network they run on.
• Anthropic is currently seeing massive enterprise momentum, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) jumping from $9 billion at the end of 2025 to $30 billion in early 2026. • It has surpassed OpenAI in revenue for the first time, driven by a "better" business model focused almost exclusively on high-paying enterprise clients. • Client Growth: The company now has 1,000 customers paying over $1 million per year (doubled since February). • Financial Health: Projects positive free cash flow by 2027.
• IPO Outlook: Predicted to be the "best IPO of 2026," likely hitting the market before OpenAI due to superior financial momentum and enterprise stability. • Valuation Arbitrage: Recent funding rounds at a $380 billion valuation are viewed as "ridiculously low" compared to OpenAI’s $850 billion, suggesting significant upside for new investors. • Enterprise Dominance: 80% of revenue comes from business clients (vs. 40% for OpenAI), making it less sensitive to consumer sentiment or "free" competition.
• OpenAI is reportedly "distancing itself" from Microsoft (MSFT) and moving closer to Amazon (AMZN), claiming Microsoft limited its ability to reach enterprise customers. • The company is facing internal and external friction, including a public legal battle with Elon Musk and a "bad consumer reputation" for CEO Sam Altman. • Risk Factor: Prediction that there is a 27% chance Sam Altman is replaced as CEO by the end of the year due to negative PR and "shitting the bed" in the enterprise market.
• Sentiment: Bearish/Neutral. The company is perceived as "flailing" and "burning up on reentry" compared to Anthropic’s rise. • Strategic Blunder: Publicly criticizing Microsoft—a key partner and investor—is viewed as a major mistake driven by ego rather than sound business strategy. • Investment Warning: The $850 billion valuation with a "guaranteed 17% return" for some investors could crush previous investors if the IPO price doesn't meet expectations.
• The stock has declined roughly 20-25% in the last six months as the market reacts to the "trouble in Mudville" regarding its partnership with OpenAI.
• Actionable Insight: Scott Galloway views Microsoft as a "really good buy right now," noting that its multiple of free cash flow is cheaper than it has been in years. • Resilience: Analysts suggest Microsoft is strong enough to write off its OpenAI investment if necessary without compromising its long-term stability.
• United’s CEO reportedly pitched a merger with American Airlines to the Trump administration. • A combined entity would control 40% of U.S. domestic capacity. • Financial Contrast: United is better run ($3.4B profit on $59B sales) while American is struggling ($111M profit on $54B sales with $25B in debt).
• Sentiment: Highly Bearish on the deal's approval. The merger is described as "dead on arrival" due to extreme antitrust concerns (289 overlapping routes). • Consumer Risk: If approved, this would likely lead to skyrocketing ticket prices and a transfer of wealth from consumers to shareholders. • Market Reaction: American Airlines stock jumped 10% on the news, but analysts warn this is likely a "short-term pop" that won't materialize into a closed deal.
• The struggling sneaker brand rebranded as Newbird AI, pivoting from shoes to leasing AI chips (GPUs). • Shares spiked nearly 900% following the announcement.
• Sentiment: Bearish / "No Bird." • Actionable Insight: "If you're in Allbirds right now, just take it from me, sell." • Risk Factor: This is viewed as a "jazz hands" pivot to create an illusion of value. Analysts predict a wave of "copycat" AI pivots from failing companies (e.g., Chegg, GameStop) that will likely end in delisting or SEC charges.
• Discussion of the "Trump Accounts" (Treasury seed deposits for children) managed by BNY Mellon with an app built by Robinhood (HOOD). • The Power of Compounding: A $10,000 investment in a 529 College Savings Plan in 2007 grew to $85,000 by 2025 without additional contributions.
• Actionable Insight: Parents should maximize 529 plans due to tax-free growth and withdrawals for education. • Wealth Strategy: Use "scaffolding" to overcome human flaws in saving. Automate investments (matching programs, baby bonds) to benefit from the "up and to the right" trajectory of the markets over 20+ year horizons.

By New York Magazine
Every Tuesday and Friday, tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics. They make bold predictions, pick winners and losers, and bicker and banter like no one else. After all, with great power comes great scrutiny. From New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.