Kasikorn Securities Recommends Buying PLANB and COM7 After Shareholders Approve PLANB's Two Board Seats at COM7
Kasikorn Securities holds a positive view on PLANB and COM7 shares after COM7's extraordinary general meeting of shareholders resolved to approve the appointment of two new directors nominated by PLANB, namely Mr. Prin and Dr. Pinitjorn, to COM7's board. As a result, PLANB is highly likely to begin recognizing its share of profits from COM7 starting September 17, which should support profit growth in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue into 2027. The research team maintains a buy recommendation on both stocks, setting a target price of 6.68 baht for PLANB, supported by its well-performing OOH media business, growth in its higher-margin non-OOH business, and full-year recognition of its share of COM7 profits in 2027. The stock also continues to trade below its historical average and below global peer comparisons. For COM7, the research team notes that the response to iPhone 18 Series pre-orders has been relatively good, and therefore expects third-quarter 2026 sales to grow both year on year and quarter on quarter. It maintains a buy recommendation with a target price of 34.12 baht, and views PLANB's average purchase price of 27.44 baht as potentially a suitable level for re-entering an investment.
SpaceX Wins $946 Million NASA Contract for Three More ISS Crew Flights
NASA has awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract for three additional astronaut missions to the International Space Station, extending the company's crewed flights to the orbiting laboratory through 2030. The award brings SpaceX's total NASA astronaut missions under the contract to 17 and raises its total value to $5.92 billion. The contract covers astronaut and spacecraft preparations, launches, in-space mission operations, crew returns and capsule recovery, and also includes transporting supplies and keeping the spacecraft at the station as an emergency escape vehicle. NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to develop spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the station, and SpaceX's role has grown after Boeing's Starliner encountered problems during its 2024 crewed test flight, which returned the capsule without its crew while astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams came home aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon after their planned 10-day mission stretched beyond nine months. NASA said it wants both companies operating crew flights so a technical problem or accident involving one provider does not interrupt US access to the station.
Snap Launches SPECS Intelligence AI, Expands AR Glasses Trials
Snap introduced its SPECS Intelligence AI service alongside expanded real-world trials of its SPECS AR glasses in September 2026. The launch includes enterprise-focused deployments with partners such as Salesforce, Amazon Web Services and NVIDIA targeting industrial, retail and field use cases. Snap is highlighting a privacy-first architecture for SPECS Intelligence AI, limiting data usage for AI training and personalized advertising. The SPECS Intelligence AI rollout and broader AR glasses push are part of a wider shift in how Snap structures its consumer and enterprise ecosystem, extending its technology into real-world use cases across North America, Europe and other regions. The company's AR narrative hinges on whether an expanding AR ecosystem and new services can turn a social app reliant on ads into a broader computing platform with higher-margin revenue.
AT&T Extends Dallas Cowboys Deal, Keeps AT&T Stadium Name
AT&T has extended its contract with the Dallas Cowboys to power AT&T Stadium's mobile network and fan connectivity, keeping the company's name on the stadium. The company will also debut new stadium technology during the 2026 season, including fan experiences, mixed reality, and AI-powered moments. AT&T Stadium will now be equipped with AT&T Turbo, giving every fan, including customers of other carriers, high-priority network access to post and stream during the game, along with Starbase Connection, which transforms fan-submitted photos into custom Cowboys hype videos across stadium boards. Fans can also "Pose with the Pros" using augmented reality and put themselves in mixed reality catch-and-compete moments with the players. AT&T Stadium currently boasts one of the largest networks in the U.S. with more than 261 miles of fiber and close to 1,000 antennas throughout the stadium. AT&T has been a corporate sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys since 1996 and obtained stadium naming rights in 2013.
Disney Names Karandeep Anand, Ex-Character.AI CEO, as First CTO
Disney has hired Karandeep Anand, the former chief executive of Character.AI, as its first-ever chief technology officer. Anand was chosen for the role by new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, who took over after former company chief Bob Iger stepped down in March, and Variety reports the hiring signals D'Amaro's intent to embrace new technologies. The appointment is a curious twist because Disney sent Character.AI a cease and desist letter in September 2025 accusing the startup of infringing on its beloved characters; Character.AI, founded in 2021, lets users create distinct virtual characters with generative AI and interact with them, and Disney claimed it was hosting copyrighted characters from its franchises. Character.AI has also been sued over allegations that its chatbots encouraged users to commit self-harm and suicide. Anand previously served as a board adviser to Character before becoming CEO in May 2025, worked at Facebook between 2015 and 2021, and spent 15 years at Microsoft before that.
The Walt Disney Company named Karandeep Anand as its first-ever chief technology officer on Friday, filling a newly created senior executive vice president role that reports directly to Chief Executive Officer Josh D'Amaro. Anand, most recently CEO of Character.AI, starts Oct. 2 and will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, product, and engineering, coordinating with technology teams across Disney's segments. A number of Character.AI's technical staff members are also expected to move to Disney with him. Anand previously served as president and chief product officer at the financial technology firm Brex, held senior roles at Meta's Facebook, most recently vice president of ads and business products, and spent 15 years at Microsoft helping build the Azure cloud-computing platform. The hire comes as D'Amaro, who became CEO in March, pushes technology as a central growth driver, with Disney+ at the center of that strategy. Disney had not previously held a company-wide CTO position; the most senior technology post had been held by Adam Smith, who was promoted Thursday to chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment.
AT&T and Dallas Cowboys Extend Stadium Partnership Into 2026 Season
AT&T and the Dallas Cowboys announced an agreement to extend their partnership and continue powering the technology and fan experiences at AT&T Stadium. The deal keeps the AT&T name on the building and gives the two a platform to build faster, smarter and more immersive game-day experiences. AT&T Stadium relies on more than 261 miles of fiber and nearly 1,000 antennas throughout the venue, which the companies describe as the largest network of its kind in the country, to serve crowds of more than 100,000 people. For the 2026 season, AT&T is debuting new stadium technology including AT&T Stadium Wayfinding navigation, an expanded AR photo experience called Pose with the Pros, a mixed reality catch-and-compete moment with Dak Prescott, the AI-powered Starbase Connection feature, and AT&T Turbo Live high-priority network access available to fans of all carriers. Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones said AT&T has been at the core of the fan experience and the technology foundation driving operations for 30 years, and AT&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Stankey said the Cowboys will continue to innovate on behalf of fans.
Disney Names Karandeep Anand to Newly Created Chief Technology Officer Role
Disney has tapped former Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand as its chief technology officer, a newly created position aimed at modernizing the company's technology and supporting CEO Josh D'Amaro's push to expand Disney's digital content. Anand starts October 2 and will report directly to D'Amaro. In the role, he will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, product, and engineering, working across Disney's segment technology teams to modernize how the company builds and delivers technology company-wide. D'Amaro said Anand brings a rare mix of experience across infrastructure, consumer technology, and AI, calling him a vital addition to Disney's senior leadership team as the company pursues three priorities: great storytelling as its North Star, technology in service of creativity, and operating as One Disney. Anand will bring with him a number of Character.AI's technical team.
SpaceX Weighs Buying Data From Failed Startups to Feed AI
SpaceX has held internal discussions about buying customer, operational and other data from troubled or failed startups to feed its AI efforts, according to Bloomberg. The talks remain informal and may not result in any transactions. SpaceX has already used information from Elon Musk's social network X, along with internal AI tutors, to help train and improve its software, and reportedly paused hiring for those tutors earlier this year. The push comes as AI becomes a larger part of SpaceX's spending: the company invested $15.8 billion in AI-related capital expenditures during the second quarter, while its AI business generated $2.56 billion in revenue during the period but posted a $1.26 billion operating loss. Investors will be watching whether that spending can eventually turn the company's expanding AI operation into a profitable business.
Disney Names Karandeep Anand Chief Technology Officer in Newly Created Role
The Walt Disney Company announced that Karandeep Anand will join as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, a newly created position, effective October 2. Anand, currently CEO of Character.AI and a former technology leader at Meta and Microsoft, will report directly to Disney Chief Executive Officer Josh D'Amaro. In the role, he will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, product, and engineering, working across the company's segment technology teams. Along with his appointment, a number of Character.AI's technical team are expected to join Disney. The move comes as D'Amaro sharpens Disney's focus on technology as a driver of growth, emphasizing deeper direct relationships with fans and Disney+ as the digital centerpiece.
Upexi Posts $246.1 Million Annual Loss as Solana Treasury Marks First Year
Upexi reported a net loss of $246.1 million, or $3.87 per share, for fiscal year 2026, driven primarily by $195.1 million in unrealized losses and $11.7 million in realized losses on its digital assets. The company held approximately 2.34 million Solana tokens as of June 30, 2026, with a cost basis of approximately $360.3 million, or an average cost per token of $154, and about 95% of those tokens were staked. For the year, the treasury generated approximately $17.4 million in digital asset revenues, or roughly 135,000 Solana tokens, while cash stood at $5.8 million, up 65% from the prior quarter end, and total stockholders' equity was negative $53.8 million against positive equity of $90.1 million a year ago. Chief Executive Officer Allan Marshall said the company extinguished roughly $20 million in debt in June and subsequently refinanced its credit facility, cutting the interest rate from 11.5% to 7.5%, while reducing full-time employees from 59 a year ago to just 10 today. Upexi also repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares at an average weighted price of $0.96 per share for total consideration of approximately $2.8 million under its $50 million repurchase program, and after year-end issued approximately 2.5 million shares under its at-the-market program for gross proceeds of approximately $2.5 million.
Meta Raises 2026 Capex Guidance to $130 Billion to $145 Billion
Meta Platforms raised its full-year 2026 capital expenditure guidance to a range of $130 billion to $145 billion, including principal payments on finance leases, narrowed from a prior $125 billion to $145 billion range in its Q2 2026 report on July 29, 2026. The forward guidance nearly doubles Meta's full-year 2025 capex of $72.215 billion, and Q2 capital expenditures alone reached $31.1 billion, driven by servers, data centers, and network infrastructure. To fund the build, Meta ended Q2 with $90.3 billion in cash and marketable securities and $83.7 billion in debt, and announced a strategic venture with BlackRock to develop a one gigawatt data center in El Paso, Texas. CFO Susan Li said Meta is demand constrained today, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is receiving quite a number of offers at a meaningful premium over what we paid for the compute, framing direct compute sales as one leg of a portfolio that also includes APIs, business agents, productivity tools, and subscriptions. The strain is visible in the quarterly numbers: Q2 free cash flow was $784 million, down 91.31% year over year, and operating margin compressed to 31% from 43%, even as Q2 revenue reached $60.801 billion, up 27.96% year over year and above the $60.286 billion consensus, with advertising revenue of $59.4 billion, up 27%.
Wells Fargo Downgrades Netflix to Underweight, Cuts Price Target to $57
Wells Fargo downgraded Netflix to Underweight and cut its price target to $57 from $80, sending the streaming giant's shares down about 5% on Friday. The firm pointed to changing viewing patterns and uncertainty around Netflix's content pipeline as reasons for the more cautious stance, and said the new target implies the stock trading well below its most recent closing level. Wells Fargo analysts estimated overall viewing activity on Netflix declined 8% year over year during the first six months of 2026, adding that engagement with the company's leading original productions weakened and could deteriorate further during the remainder of the year. The report noted Netflix has broadened its entertainment offerings into categories such as sports, gaming and documentaries while increasing its presence on external platforms including Alphabet-owned YouTube, an approach that may expand reach but could alter the balance between broad engagement and blockbuster original programming. The brokerage also trimmed its profitability forecasts for 2027 and 2028, citing expectations for higher content-related pressure, and said investors may face greater uncertainty around future earnings trends as Netflix evaluates its spending priorities and programming strategy.
Alphabet Shares Rise as Evercore and Tigress Lift Targets on Search Rebound
Alphabet shares climbed in premarket trade after Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney raised his price objective to $450 from $420, citing new data showing Google's search position has rebounded. In Evercore's most recent poll, 78% of respondents said they used Google as their preferred search engine in August, up from a low of 70% in 2024 and early 2025. Mahaney said Google's search leadership has improved over the last year and lifted his expectations for Google's search revenue through 2028, with his sales and operating income estimates for 2028 now 4% to 5% above the Wall Street consensus. Alphabet also benefited from a Sept. 16 court verdict that fell short of requiring Google to divest its ad-tech division, though the company has been ordered to adjust its advertising tactics and allow monitoring for six years. Tigress Financial also increased its price target to $485 from $415.
SpaceX Shares Slip as Starship Orbital Test Flight Delayed to Sept. 28
SpaceX shares fell over 2% on Friday after the company pushed back the 14th test flight of its Starship vehicle by six days, to Sept. 28 from an earlier Sept. 22 target. The mission from Starbase in South Texas is the program's first orbital flight, with the upper stage slated to reach about 275 kilometers, complete around six orbits over a nearly 10-hour mission, and deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, each adding a terabit per second of capacity to the network. The Super Heavy booster will attempt an offshore landing while the ship performs a controlled splashdown in the Pacific west of Chile, and SpaceX said no Mechazilla catch is planned this time, walking back earlier expectations. Per Barron's, JPMorgan notes that around $570 million in retail selling occurred over the past three weeks, with retail investors taking $250 million off the table this past week, the largest weekly decline the bank has ever seen. Billionaire investor Ron Baron, whose Baron Capital holds about $25 billion in SpaceX shares, remains bullish, telling CNBC he estimates Starlink generates nearly $18 billion in revenue today and could reach a trillion dollars in revenue in 10 years, supporting a $14 trillion to $15 trillion valuation.
Wells Fargo Downgrades Netflix to Underweight, Cuts Price Target to $57
Wells Fargo downgraded Netflix to Underweight from Equal Weight and cut its price target to $57 from $80, sending the shares down 3.04% in premarket trading. Analyst Steven Cahall cited declining viewership and a weaker content slate in the second half of 2026, estimating viewership falls 4% year over year in that period, including a drop of more than 20% in Top 100 Netflix Originals, after reviewing more than 150 key titles across live events, shows and films. Hours per subscriber per day for Top 100 Originals fell 3% in the first half, and US TV share has slipped below 8% on Nielsen data, with Cahall modeling total second-half hours at 96 billion in his base case. Wells Fargo cut 2027 and 2028 EPS to $3.77 and $4.52 and lowered operating margin estimates to 32.6% and 34.2%. The $57 target rests on 15x 2027 earnings, down from 21x, and Cahall points to the second-half and full-year viewership report due in January 2027 as the negative catalyst.
Wells Fargo Downgrades Netflix to Underweight, Cuts Price Target to $57
Wells Fargo downgraded Netflix to Underweight from Equal Weight on Friday, warning that softening viewer engagement and a weaker content slate could pressure the streaming giant's margins and valuation. Analyst Steven Cahall cut his price target for the stock to $57, implying about 25% downside, and lowered his valuation multiple to 15 times forward earnings from 21 times. He said the January viewership report, due with fourth-quarter results, is the negative catalyst, noting viewing at 1.6 hours per subscriber a day in the first half, which he estimated was down 8% from 2023 after adjusting for a password-sharing crackdown and geographic mix. Hours from its top 100 original titles fell in the period, while its U.S. TV share slipped below 8%, and Cahall said Netflix appears to be broadening engagement toward gaming, documentaries, reality and video podcasts as it takes on YouTube, but risks missing the watercooler originals that drive member value. His base case is for second-half hours from top 100 originals to fall 21% year over year, with elevated churn risk into 2027, and he trimmed his 2027 and 2028 earnings estimates to $3.77 and $4.52 a share.
Xenon plunges 24% on trial pause; Netflix downgraded by Wells Fargo
Xenon Pharmaceuticals plunged 24% in premarket trading after submitting a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for azetukalner as a treatment for focal seizures in epilepsy while voluntarily pausing new patient enrollment in ongoing Phase 3 trials for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Netflix slipped 2.1% after Wells Fargo downgraded the streaming giant to Underweight from Equal Weight and cut its price target to $57 from $80, citing weakening engagement trends. Array Technologies fell 3.1% to $4.11 after UBS downgraded the solar tracking company to Neutral from Buy and cut its price target to $5 from $10, pointing to a shift from payment-in-kind to cash payments on preferred dividend obligations that UBS estimates will total roughly $162 million in cumulative cash payments through 2030. Steel Dynamics dropped 3.4% after guiding third-quarter 2026 earnings to $5.34 to $5.38 per diluted share, below the analyst consensus of $5.60. Frontline fell 6% as the tanker company went ex-dividend for a combined payout of $3.41 per share, made up of a regular second-quarter dividend of $2.61 and a special dividend of $0.80 funded by the sale of two very large crude carriers.
SEPO Confirms MCOT-Thai PBS Merger Impossible, Prepares to Ask Cabinet to Review Eight State Enterprises
Thibodi Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, disclosed that reports of a merger between MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS television station, are impossible, because the two organizations operate under different legal provisions. However, the Ministry of Finance is preparing to propose that the Cabinet consider guidelines for resolving MCOT's problems, as well as review the operational plans and roles of eight other state enterprises, in order to assess their future direction, covering approaches such as dissolution, merger, or organizational restructuring, so that these agencies can operate efficiently and keep pace with changing economic conditions. Thibodi said he will wait to submit the matter to the Cabinet, which includes the MCOT issue and is likely to include the eight state enterprises as well, and will then hold another press conference. Earlier, the State Enterprise Policy Committee, or SEPO Board, approved a study to review the roles of eight state enterprises: the Marketing Organization for Farmers, the Public Warehouse Organization, the Market Organization, the Police Printing Office under the Royal Thai Police, the Playing Card Factory, the Liquor Organization, Bangkok Dock Company Limited, and MCOT Public Company Limited.
AST SpaceMobile Hit With Securities Class Action Over Capital Claims and Insider Sales
A securities class action has been filed against AST SpaceMobile and several executives, alleging misleading statements about its capital strength, competitive position in satellite direct-to-cell services, and insider stock sales between March 4, 2025 and July 15, 2026. The lawsuit challenges earlier claims that AST SpaceMobile could fund its satellite constellation rollout without frequent dilution or heavier debt, directly testing one of the company's core investment pillars. The case lands against a backdrop of large convertible note offerings in late 2025 and 2026, with investors already digesting over US$3.0 billion in planned debt financings as AST SpaceMobile pushes toward its target of roughly 45 satellites in orbit by early 2027. The company's narrative projects $2.2 billion revenue and $190.9 million earnings by 2029, requiring 165.5% yearly revenue growth and an earnings increase of about $810 million from -$618.8 million today. Before the lawsuit, the most optimistic analysts assumed AST SpaceMobile could reach about US$2.6 billion of revenue and US$1.3 billion of earnings by 2029.
AIS launches Turn Sabai campaign: pay 0 baht and get an iPhone 18 Pro on 18 September 2026
AIS will open first-day sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on 18 September 2026, alongside the launch of its Turn Sabai campaign, which lets customers pay 0 baht by combining the value of their old device without any condition-based appraisal, added value from AIS, package discounts, and other benefits into a single package of savings. For AIS monthly customers with at least one year of usage who open a new number or port in with a 5G VIP Ultra package priced at 1,699 to 2,999 baht per month on a 24-month contract, they will receive Serenade Gold or Platinum status and a free choice of an auspicious number from 0000 to 9999, plus AIS PLAY Premium Plus and Reel Short free for 24 months. Under other promotions, customers can receive a discount of up to 25,000 baht on the handset when buying a device with a new package starting at 699 baht, or up to 17,300 baht when buying a handset outright without a contract. Trading in a specified older model adds a further discount of up to 5,300 baht, and AIS Serenade customers can use AIS Points to redeem an additional discount of up to 12,000 baht, while general customers can redeem up to 5,000 baht. AIS stated that it is the first and only operator in Southeast Asia to activate carrier aggregation of more than one 5G SA band simultaneously on both the downlink and uplink, through Downlink 3CC and Uplink 2CC, with support for VoNR. In addition, customers with a CLICX account can receive a walk-in queue voucher to buy the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, covering 2,000 units, from 17 to 24 September 2026.
DAOL Securities stated that COM7 has notified the resolution of its shareholders' meeting approving two board seats for PLANB, expanding COM7's board structure from seven seats to nine seats, with PLANB receiving two seats, representing a 22% proportion, which is considered to carry control influence. As a result, PLANB will change its recognition of returns from dividends only to the equity method immediately, driving significant profit growth. The research team holds a positive view on the COM7 deal, in which PLANB currently holds an 11.01% stake, because it helps increase media capacity and expand the customer base, extending the growth of OOH revenue in the long term. Net carry under the equity method is expected at 53 million baht in 2026E before turning to 422 million baht in 2027E. However, the research team's assumptions still exclude upside from synergies. The new target price for 2026E is 7.40 baht and for 2027E is 10.5 baht, based on 26x PE. The research team maintains its net profit estimate for 2026E at 1,258 million baht, up 14% YoY, but still excludes the COM7 deal from its estimates. It also maintains a buy recommendation and keeps the target price at 7.10 baht, based on 2026E PER of 26x. Currently PLANB trades at 2026E PER of 22.7x. The research team continues to favor PLANB for its leadership in the OOH media business and expects it to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the economic recovery and advertising spending.
Upexi Posts $246.1 Million Fiscal 2026 Net Loss as Solana Treasury Drives $195.1 Million Unrealized Hit
Upexi Inc reported a net loss of $246.1 million, or $3.87 per share, for fiscal year 2026, compared with a net loss of $13.7 million in the prior year, driven primarily by $195.1 million in unrealized losses on its digital assets. The company held approximately 2.34 million Solana tokens as of June 30, 2026, with a cost basis of about $360.3 million, or an average cost of $154 per token, and about 95% of those tokens staked, generating roughly $17.4 million in digital asset revenues for the fiscal year. Stockholders' equity swung to negative $53.8 million from positive $90.1 million a year earlier, while general and administrative expenses rose to $26.4 million from $11.9 million and interest expense surged to $13.6 million from $1.2 million. On the balance sheet side, Upexi increased cash to $5.8 million as of June 30, 2026, up 65% from the prior quarter end, extinguished roughly $20 million in debt in June, and subsequently refinanced its credit facility, cutting the interest rate from 11.5% to 7.5% and lowering collateral requirements. The company also completed an efficiency initiative that outsourced manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics and reduced full-time employees from 59 to 10, and repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares at an average price of $0.96 per share for $2.8 million under its $50 million repurchase program.
AIS to begin iPhone 18 Pro deliveries on September 18, 2026, with a trade-in promotion offering zero-baht payments
AIS will begin delivering the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to customers on September 18, 2026, through AIS SIAM, AIS Shop and dealers nationwide. Prapat Siangchan, head of the retail business executive committee at Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited, or ADVANC, said the company is pressing ahead with its strategy of linking Device, Network and Service under three main pillars: Value, Infrastructure/Network and Personalized Convenience. On Value, the company launched the "Trade-in Easy, Pay 0 Baht" campaign, which combines the value of the old device with package benefits, discounts and additional discounts from AIS to reduce the burden of the new handset under specified conditions. For monthly subscribers who have been active for one year or more, as well as customers opening a new number or porting in, they can sign up for the 5G VIP Ultra package priced at 1,699 to 2,999 baht per month with a 24-month service contract to receive Network Priority privileges and Serenade Gold or Platinum benefits. Meanwhile, a handset discount promotion of up to 25,000 baht applies when buying together with a new package, along with discounts for standalone handsets, trade-ins of old devices and the use of AIS Points, with conditions varying by customer type and promotional item. On the network side, the new iPhone models support a 5G-Advanced network that aggregates more than one wave on a 5G SA system simultaneously for both data reception and transmission, through Downlink 3CC and Uplink 2CC, and also support VoNR. On the service side, the AIS Pro team handles everything from evaluating the old device and preparing the new one to data migration and setup, while bringing in AI Assistance to help staff recommend offers that match each customer's needs. AIS believes its iPhone customer base shows strong brand loyalty and upgrades devices continuously, so it aims to use a trade-in strategy alongside 5G packages and after-sales service to spur device upgrades among existing customers.
Upexi Cuts Headcount to 10, Refinances Debt to 7.5% as Staking Revenue Targeted to Cover Cash Costs
Upexi said it expects staking revenue to more than cover its ongoing cash expenses on a go-forward basis after cutting full-time employees from 59 a year ago to just 10 and refinancing a credit facility rate from 11.5% to 7.5%. On the company's Q4 2026 earnings call, CEO Allan Marshall said the quarter ending June 30, 2026 marked the one-year anniversary of its Solana treasury strategy, with roughly $20 million of debt extinguished in June and cash of $5.8 million at June 30, up 65% sequentially. CFO Andrew Norstrud said the company held approximately 2.34 million Solana tokens with a cost basis of approximately $360.3 million and an average cost per token of $154, with approximately 95% of those tokens staked, alongside $165.3 million in Solana, $180.1 million in total assets and $45.6 million in working capital. For the fiscal year, Norstrud reported approximately $17.4 million in digital asset revenues, $195.1 million in unrealized losses, $11.7 million in realized losses and a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $10.3 million, with a net loss of $246.1 million, or $3.87 per share. The company repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares at an average weighted price of $0.96 per share for total consideration of approximately $2.8 million, and after year-end issued approximately 2.5 million shares via its ATM for approximately $2.5 million in gross proceeds.
Supreme Administrative Court dismisses DPC in 1.2-billion-baht case; ADVANC still faces two more
The Supreme Administrative Court ruled on 17 September 2026 to dismiss the case against Digital Phone Company Limited, or DPC, a subsidiary of ADVANC, in case number 1651/2558, valued at 1.2 billion baht. It is one of three cases filed since 2015 by National Telecom Public Company Limited, or NT, against both the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, or NBTC, and DPC. The three cases have a combined value of 3.2 billion baht and concern claims for compensation for the use of telecommunications equipment and networks during the 1800MHz spectrum remedy period between 16 September 2014 and 25 November 2015, after NT's concession ended. As a result of the ruling, DPC does not have to pay the 1,223 million baht demanded by NT, and the case is now final. However, two related cases remain, case numbers 918/2558 and 741/2559, with a combined value of 1.98 billion baht, which are still under consideration by the Supreme Administrative Court. In a worst-case scenario, losing both cases would affect earnings per share by only 0.67 baht per share. Asia Plus Securities maintains a Buy recommendation on ADVANC shares with a 2027 target price of 428 baht, expecting normal profit to grow by an average of 11% per year during 2026 to 2027, and anticipates dividend payouts at attractive rates of around 0% to 5.1% for 2026 to 2027 respectively. ADVANC shares have risen 12% since the start of the year, while TRUE has risen 17% since the start of the year.
LiveOne Buys 1.47M PodcastOne Shares, Lifts Stake to 20.8M
LiveOne has acquired 1.47 million common shares of PodcastOne since March 31, 2026 at an average price of $2.81 per share, raising its total ownership to 20.8 million PodcastOne shares. The purchases include 374,109 shares acquired in the first half of fiscal 2027. PodcastOne's cash position stood at more than $6.5 million as of today. Bankers are reviewing inbound potential M&A and monetization options, and PodcastOne and its bankers are exploring a potential consolidation with LiveOne into a single public company, a combination that could yield $3 million in potential annual synergies along with public-company cost savings.
The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled to dismiss a case brought against Digital Phone Company Limited, or DPC, a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited, or ADVANC, in case number 1651/2558, in which National Telecom Public Company Limited, or NT, sought compensation for the use of telecommunications equipment and networks. As a result, DPC will not have to pay 1.223 billion baht. The ruling is final. This case is one of three that NT filed against the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and DPC in the Central Administrative Court starting in 2015, seeking compensation for the temporary consumer protection period after the expiry of the 1800 MHz spectrum concession, covering 16 September 2014 to 25 November 2015. The total amount claimed from DPC across all three cases was more than 3.202 billion baht, plus interest of 7.5 percent per year. In 2022, the Central Administrative Court dismissed all three cases against DPC, and NT appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court. The remaining two cases, case numbers 918/2558 and 741/2559, with a combined disputed amount of approximately 1.979 billion baht, are still under consideration by the Supreme Administrative Court.
ADVANC says Supreme Administrative Court dismisses case against DPC, no 1.223 billion baht payment required
Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited, or ADVANC, announced that the Supreme Administrative Court issued a ruling on 17 September 2026 dismissing the case against Digital Phone Company Limited, or DPC, a subsidiary of ADVANC, in case number 1651/2558, in which National Telecom Public Company Limited, or NT, sued to claim payment for telecommunications equipment and network usage. As a result, DPC is not required to pay 1.223 billion baht, and the case is now final. Meanwhile, two other cases, case numbers 918/2558 and 741/2559, which are the remaining parts of the same group of cases with a combined value of 1.979 billion baht, are still under consideration by the Supreme Administrative Court. ADVANC will report further significant developments.
ADVANC Gets Good News as Supreme Administrative Court Dismisses Case, Freeing DPC from 1.223 Billion Baht Payment
The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled to dismiss the case against Digital Phone Company Limited, or DPC, a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited, or ADVANC, in a dispute with National Telecom Public Company Limited, or NT, over charges for telecommunications equipment and network usage during the temporary protection period after the concession ended. As a result, DPC will not have to pay 1.223 billion baht. This case, docket number 1651/2558, is now final. DPC's disputes total three cases with a combined value of 3.202 billion baht plus interest at 7.5% per year. The other two cases, docket numbers 918/2558 and 741/2559, with a combined value of 1.979 billion baht, remain under consideration by the Supreme Administrative Court. Kasikorn Securities sees the ruling as positive momentum for ADVANC and notes that the recent sharp decline in the share price has brought its valuation back to a more attractive level, supporting a dividend yield of 4.8%, with a target price of 385.34 baht.
ITEL wins USO3 contract worth about 1.7 billion baht, pushing backlog to nearly 4 billion baht
Interlink Telecom Public Company Limited, or ITEL, disclosed that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, or NBTC, has announced the lowest bidders for the high-speed internet procurement project in remote areas, Phase 3, or USO3. ITEL, together with partners, secured a total of three contracts: two contracts jointly with Thaicom and one contract with TKC covering the southern region. The project value attributable to ITEL alone is about 1.7 billion baht, with clarity on contract signing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The total contract value of the entire USO3 project stands at 5.42 billion baht, covering five regions nationwide. Following this award, the company's work in hand, or backlog, rises from about 2.2 billion baht to 3.9 billion baht. The project execution period is roughly five years, and revenue is expected to be gradually recognized through 2031. As for the outlook for the second half of 2026, the company expects continued growth from the first half, in which it already recorded revenue of about 1.36 billion baht. For the full year 2026, the company maintains its total revenue target at approximately 3.6 billion baht, up from about 2.86 billion baht last year. On the analyst side, Krungsri Securities Public Company Limited recommends buying ITEL shares with a target price of 2.00 baht, expecting revenue recognition to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and to help support a return to stronger profit growth in 2027.
FCC Approves Foreign Ownership in Paramount's $110 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
The Federal Communications Commission approved foreign ownership in Paramount Skydance's planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. The FCC granted Paramount's request to allow financing of more than 25% for the transaction, waiving its 25% cap on foreign equity ownership and permitting individual investors to own up to 20% of the equity. The regulator said foreign investors can have no voting stock and will not have any influence, direction, or control over Paramount's content decisions or company management. Paramount said it appreciated the FCC's careful review and was pleased the petition was granted consistent with its established process. The approval comes as the deal has been halted after 12 state attorneys general, led by California, sued to block the mega media deal in July, with a trial scheduled for March; on Tuesday a court ordered Paramount and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to meet on October 14 to try to work on a potential settlement.
FCC Approves Foreign Investment in Paramount's Warner Acquisition
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on the 17th approved foreign investment in U.S. media giant Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of rival Warner Bros. Discovery. The FCC regulates foreign investment in U.S. television broadcasting, and said it would waive the 25% cap on foreign equity ownership in this case, allowing individual investors to hold up to 20% of the shares. However, foreign investors may not hold voting shares, and may not exert any influence, direction, or control over Paramount's content decisions or corporate management, nor provide comments or guidance, nor be granted access to non-public data concerning U.S. citizens. Paramount welcomed the approval, stating that the merger will give it the scale and resources needed to compete, invest, innovate, and deliver premium content to audiences around the world. According to Paramount, at the close of the transaction, the family led by billionaire and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and RedBird Capital Partners will jointly hold the largest equity stake and 100% of the voting shares in the combined company, while other shareholders will have no management rights whatsoever. According to the FCC, after the transaction closes, Middle Eastern investors will hold approximately 85% of Paramount's shares, of which 15.1% is expected to be held by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.
Meta Launches Muse AI Agent With $20 and $100 Monthly Tiers
Meta Platforms rolled out Muse, an AI agent that can autonomously send emails, sell a car, and book travel on a person's behalf, Reuters reported on September 9, 2026. The agent, modeled on the open-source system OpenClaw, is available initially only in the U.S. through a dedicated app or WhatsApp, and is designed to access apps across email, calendar, payments, health, shopping, and smart-home categories as the centerpiece of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's "personal superintelligence" strategy. Meta launched Muse with a free tier and $20 and $100 monthly subscription options for heavier users, positioning the product as a new revenue stream beyond advertising. The launch follows a delay from April to improve security, and Meta added an autonomous safety agent that monitors Muse's actions, though internal testing uncovered an incident in which Muse exposed private iCloud photos and employees reported repeated logouts, monitoring failures, and inconsistent performance. Meta expects AI infrastructure spending to exceed $130 billion this year and has seen a 40% increase in technical and security incidents linked to AI, while its hedge fund holder count slipped to 254 in the second quarter from 262 in the first even as combined position value rose to $43.75 billion from $41.70 billion.
Snap Shares Slip 1.22% as Analysts Lift EPS Forecast Ahead of Earnings
Snap closed the most recent trading day at $5.65, down 1.22% from the previous session, lagging the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.14% while the Dow added 0.61% and the Nasdaq rose 1.69%. The company behind Snapchat is forecast to report earnings per share of $0.16 in its upcoming release, a 166.67% increase from the prior-year quarter, on revenue of $1.72 billion, up 14.33% year over year. For the full year, consensus estimates project earnings of $0.59 per share and revenue of $6.78 billion, representing changes of +78.79% and +14.35%, respectively. Over the past 30 days the consensus EPS projection has moved 58.62% higher, and Snap currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The stock trades at a forward P/E of 9.85, a discount to the industry average of 20.36, with a PEG ratio of 0.22 versus the Internet - Software industry average of 1.14.
PubMatic Shares Rise 2.6% After Court Orders Behavioral Remedies Against Google
A federal court ordered behavioral remedies against Google that prohibit the company from favoring its own ad tools over rival ad tech platforms, sending shares of digital advertising technology company PubMatic up 2.6% in the afternoon session. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the court order requires Google to prohibit AdWords from preferentially bidding into its own ad tools or directly into DFP. Under the memorandum and opinion unsealed by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, Google must also integrate its ad exchange with rival publisher ad servers and allow publishers to export data from DFP and AdX to facilitate switching providers. The behavioral rules further prevent Google's ad-buying business from manipulating auctions, obligate the company to share data with competitors, and mandate that Google submit to a compliance monitor and a technical committee for six years. PubMatic shares were trading at $17.35, up 2.6% from the previous close.
AT&T Launches Cricket 5G Home Internet and Free Virtual Care With LifeMD
AT&T has introduced Cricket 5G Home Internet, extending fixed wireless broadband over its existing 5G network for Cricket Wireless customers, and has partnered with LifeMD to give eligible AT&T subscribers free virtual healthcare visits and related telehealth services. The two moves widen AT&T's bundled connectivity offer by adding home broadband and healthcare benefits to its consumer plans, with the LifeMD benefits available to more than 100 million eligible customers. AT&T operates as a large US telecom provider with a market value of about $183.1b, and the company must fund the new perks while still managing heavy 5G and fiber spending and legacy revenue pressure. Analysts' forecasts assume 2.5% annual growth and a 13.4% margin, and the key commercial question is how many Cricket users bundle mobile and home service and what that does to churn. Investors will watch subscriber metrics over the next few quarters, especially Cricket 5G Home Internet adoption, uptake of LifeMD benefits, bundle penetration, fiber plus wireless households, and any disclosure on healthcare-driven engagement or reduced churn tied to AT&T's &More program.
Disney names former YouTube executive Adam Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer
Disney has named former YouTube executive Adam Smith as chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, putting the longtime technology leader in charge of the Burbank media giant's streaming business. In the new role, Smith will head Disney's global entertainment streaming business, focusing on strategy and development of the company's platforms, advertising technology and emerging tech. The move underscores the growing importance of technology development and the role of Disney+ as the company's digital centerpiece under new chief executive Josh D'Amaro, who has said he wants the app to be a one-stop shop for fans to engage with Disney's entertainment, sports, games and experiences sectors. Smith, who joined Disney in 2024, most recently served as co-president of direct-to-consumer and chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, and previously spent more than 20 years at YouTube and Google, most recently as vice president of product management. Separately, Joe Earley, who was president of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, will become president of Disney Entertainment Television franchise and content strategy, a newly created role; the longtime marketing executive previously served as president of Hulu.
Disney Names Adam Smith Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer, Joe Earley to New Franchise Role
Adam Smith has been named Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer for Disney Entertainment, with Joe Earley assuming the newly created role of President, Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy, The Walt Disney Company announced. The appointments were announced by Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company. As Chairman, Smith will be responsible for the company's global entertainment SVOD business, overseeing Disney+ and Hulu including product, engineering, advertising technology, programming strategy, viewer experience, partnerships, and data and analytics. Smith joined Disney in 2024 and most recently served as Co-President, Direct-to-Consumer and Chief Product & Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, after more than 20 years at Google and YouTube. Earley, who joined Disney in 2019 to oversee global Disney+ marketing and operations and was named President of Hulu in 2022, will lead strategic development of Disney Entertainment Television franchises and oversee all content and production for international originals, production, labor relations and creative talent development. The Walt Disney Company is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenue of $94.4 billion in its Fiscal Year 2025.
Google Rethink ROI Summit Highlights Gap Between AI Discovery and Payment Readiness
Google's Rethink ROI summit in New York spotlighted a widening gap between rapid AI-driven shopping discovery and merchant payment systems that cannot yet complete agent-initiated transactions. The platform's new conversational attributes let retailers feed structured data, including FAQ, compatible accessories, and substitutes, directly into the Shopping Graph, and in early testing with Lululemon, brand-supplied attributes were incorporated into AI Mode recommendations 50% of the time. Demand for such tools is backed by Adobe Analytics data showing an 805% year-over-year increase in AI-driven traffic to retail sites during Black Friday 2025, while Salesforce Cyber Week data confirms retailers with integrated AI agents grew sales 32% faster than those without, and Adobe found those shoppers are 38% more likely to convert. That traffic, however, is colliding with a payment readiness deficit: the TLT LLP Retail Agility survey of the top 100 UK retailers found that while 49% are investing in agentic AI, only 15% say their payment systems are prepared for agent-initiated transactions. Google is attempting to standardize the transaction layer through the Universal Commerce Protocol and the Universal Cart framework, which aim to enable persistent, cross-platform shopping carts across Search, YouTube, and Gmail, and with a 10-week horizon to Black Friday 2026, the next two months will determine which brands move from discovery-focused AI to transaction-ready agentic commerce.