News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
AST SpaceMobile vs. Rocket Lab: Which Stock Is The Superior SpaceX Competitor?
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 3.07%) made headlines when it raised $75 billion from investors in an initial public offering (nearly $86 billion if you include the investment bankers' overallotment). The stock rocketed higher after the IPO, but it has now fallen back down to the $135 IPO price. There are alternatives to consider, such as AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 17.03%) and Rocket Lab (RKLB 11.62%). Here's why you might want to buy one of these stocks over SpaceX. What does SpaceX do? The simple answer is SpaceX does a lot. For example, it builds and launches rockets. In fact, it appears well ahead of the competition in terms of technology, with rockets that return and land after use. Reusing launch rockets materially reduces launch costs. SpaceX also operates Starlink, a satellite-based telecommunication network. And it is building an artificial intelligence business. This is where things get interesting. SpaceX is a money-losing start-up, but its Starlink business is profitable. As the company clearly spelled out in its IPO prospectus, space launches and AI are burning through cash. You can avoid the money-losing businesses and just focus on the one segment of SpaceX that is profitable, the satellite-based broadband network, if you buy AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile: Not up to speed, but getting close AST SpaceMobile isn't profitable yet, either. However, it operates a satellite-based broadband network. And it is working to expand that network to cover the entire planet. It is getting close to a commercial launch of its network, but there's a vital difference between Starlink and AST SpaceMobile: Starlink's service is bespoke, while AST SpaceMobile is partnered with large cellphone service providers. That means it has a built-in customer base and is likely to hit the ground running when its service starts operating. It still has material spending needs as it works to broaden its geographic coverage, but it also has major telecom partners as supporters. If you are worried that Elon Musk is pulling SpaceX in too many directions, AST SpaceMobile would be a way to focus on the one part of that company that actually makes money today. That said, AST SpaceMobile likely won't be profitable for a while longer, given the huge cost of building and launching satellites. Rocket Lab: Everything but the AI One sizable drawback with AST SpaceMobile is that it doesn't launch its own satellites. It has to contract that out to other companies, which means, in some ways, it is at the mercy of its space-focused competitors. Rocket Lab currently builds and launches rockets and makes other space technology. However, it has agreed to buy Iridium Communications (IRDM 4.23%), which operates a space-based broadband network, in an $8 billion deal. That will, effectively, make Rocket Lab a fully integrated space company, just like SpaceX. But it will leave out the AI part of the business, which is currently eating up huge amounts of SpaceX cash. It isn't that Rocket Lab doesn't use AI; it does. But it uses AI internally to support its own business. Rocket Lab isn't profitable either, so it, too, is still a money-losing start-up. As with SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile, only the most aggressive investors should consider it. However, it lets you focus on space and avoid getting caught up in the AI hype running through the stock market today. What are you looking to own? When you step back and look at SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Rocket Lab, there are a few big takeaways. First, the only way to get direct access to Elon Musk is to buy SpaceX. If that's what has you interested in space, then stick with the "original." Second, you can focus on the one part of SpaceX that's profitable if you buy AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile isn't profitable, as it is still building out its satellite business, but it has major partners to help it along. Third, if you want everything but SpaceX's AI business, your best option is Rocket Lab. The caveat here is that it still hasn't completed the purchase of Iridium. If you choose to go this route, you might want to hold off until the deal is consummated. One final consideration here: All three companies are still money-losing start-ups. Only the most aggressive growth investors should probably consider buying any of them. The space sector is still very early in its development, and it is far from clear which companies will be the long-term winners.
SpaceX's Starship test flight aborted shortly before launch
A planned test flight of SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket system ever built, was aborted shortly before launch, company founder Elon Musk said on Thursday. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he also owns. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," he added. The giant Starship rocket last completed a test flight in May, its 12th overall. Several engines also failed during that flight, but the test otherwise went largely according to plan. It marked the first flight of Starship Version 3, which SpaceX says has been extensively redesigned, including improvements to its design and performance. US space agency NASA hopes to use Starship to send astronauts to the moon, while Musk's stated goal is for humans to reach Mars. The Starship rocket system consists of two parts that separate after the launch: the about 70-metre-long Super Heavy booster and the upper stage, also called Starship, which measures around 50 metres. The system has been developed so that both the spacecraft and the booster can be reused after returning to Earth. The system was first tested in April 2023, when it exploded after a few minutes. Later tests saw the upper stage reach space and land under control in the Indian Ocean. However, several recent test flights fell well short of expectations. SpaceX recently carried out the largest initial public offering to date, although its shares have since fallen below their issue price.
Here's Why Anthropic Is Pushing States to Regulate AI Faster | Tech Biz Web
In the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence, Anthropic is playing a role that feels strikingly counterintuitive for a tech giant. While much of Silicon Valley has aggressively lobbied against government oversight -- fearing that red tape will strangle innovation -- Anthropic is actively inviting it. Last year, the company played a pivotal role in shaping and passing new transparency laws in California and New York. Now, they are signaling that those hard-won victories are already relics of the past. As Cesar Fernandez, Anthropic's head of U.S. state and local government relations, recently told WIRED, the rapid evolution of AI technology means that mere self-reporting is no longer enough. The company is now championing more stringent oversight, arguing that if technology is moving at breakneck speed, our policy responses must accelerate to match it. The motivation behind this stance is rooted in Anthropic's unique corporate DNA. Valued at nearly $1 trillion, the company is undeniably a titan of industry, yet it remains tethered to a founding mission that prioritizes the "safe transition" to a world with transformative AI over pure market dominance. This philosophy has pushed them to support some of the most rigorous proposed regulations in the country. From Illinois to Massachusetts, Anthropic is backing measures that go far beyond simple transparency, advocating for mandatory third-party audits of safety protocols and empowering state attorneys general to hold AI developers accountable. For a company that stands to lose the most from overly restrictive rules, this proactive embrace of regulation is a deliberate, albeit unconventional, strategy. To navigate this complex political landscape, Anthropic has recruited Cesar Fernandez, a seasoned veteran of high-stakes government relations who previously cut his teeth steering policy at companies like Uber and FanDuel. Fernandez's expertise is arriving at a critical juncture; with Congress largely deadlocked on federal AI policy, individual states have stepped into the vacuum to set their own rules. By deploying someone who understands how to win legislative battles on a state-by-state basis, Anthropic is positioning itself as the primary architect of the new AI rulebook. This gives them a significant advantage: they aren't just reacting to laws, they are effectively shaping the environment in which their own future technology will operate. However, not everyone in Silicon Valley sees this as a virtuous quest for safety. A growing chorus of critics, including high-profile tech figures like David Sacks, views Anthropic's behavior through a cynical lens known as "regulatory capture." The argument suggests that by lobbying for complex and expensive compliance requirements, Anthropic is effectively building a moat around its business. If the cost of playing in the AI field becomes high enough due to mandatory audits and strict safety mandates, smaller, hungrier startups will be forced out of the market. To these critics, Anthropic isn't trying to save the world; they are trying to cement their status as an incumbent by rigging the game against potential future competitors. Fernandez and the leadership at Anthropic vehemently reject this "nefarious" characterization. They point out that the legislation they support is carefully calibrated to apply only to "large AI model developers" -- specifically those with hundreds of millions of dollars in development costs and significant annual revenues. From their perspective, the threshold is high enough that it won't affect the average startup just getting off the ground. They argue that the focus is entirely on the industry giants, of which they are a member, acknowledging that companies with the power to influence society at scale should be subject to the intense scrutiny that their own massive scale demands. The reality, however, remains nuanced and arguably somewhat gray. While Anthropic's thresholds might shield early-stage ventures, the line between an "up-and-coming startup" and a "large developer" is blurring, especially as billions of dollars in venture capital flood the sector. Companies like Mistral and Safe Superintelligence are already operating at a scale that could eventually bring them under the umbrella of these regulations. Whether these policies are truly about protecting humanity from "catastrophic risks" or simply about controlling the supply side of the AI market remains a point of heated debate. Ultimately, Anthropic is betting that by leading the regulatory conversation, they can define the safety standards of the future -- and perhaps ensure that the only players left in the game are those willing to play by their, and the government's, sophisticated rules.
SpaceX abruptly scrubs Starship test flight
SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed what was to be its first Starship flight since the company went public, abruptly calling it off just as the booster began to ignite. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," wrote company head Elon Musk on X. It was to be the mammoth rocket's 13th flight overall. When it eventually takes off, the flight's aims will be similar to those of a mostly successful voyage carried out in May, which debuted the latest edition of the powerful Starship, its third-generation model. The goals of that test were essentially to demonstrate the new designs in flight. It was not without a few glitches, however, including engine issues with the Super Heavy booster that necessitated a crash into the Gulf of Mexico rather than a precision return. The company said "there have been several modifications to hardware and software to address issues seen on the previous flight." SpaceX will aspire the next time around to execute a launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and landing burn of the booster offshore without hiccups. The upper stage will deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, and SpaceX said it will test out a relight of a Raptor engine in space. It will also test upgrades to Starship's heat shield. The latest flight will be the first after Musk's SpaceX went public on Wall Street in June, with a record initial public offering. The rocket company has rapidly expanded its satellite internet service and voiced lofty ambitions for AI data centers in space. There's a lot riding on SpaceX's progress: the company is under contract with NASA to produce a modified version of Starship to serve as a lunar landing system.
AST SpaceMobile vs. Rocket Lab: Which Stock Is The Superior SpaceX Competitor?
Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) made headlines when it raised $75 billion from investors in an initial public offering (nearly $86 billion if you include the investment bankers' overallotment). The stock rocketed higher after the IPO, but it has now fallen back down to the $135 IPO price. There are alternatives to consider, such as AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB). Here's why you might want to buy one of these stocks over SpaceX. What does SpaceX do? The simple answer is SpaceX does a lot. For example, it builds and launches rockets. In fact, it appears well ahead of the competition in terms of technology, with rockets that return and land after use. Reusing launch rockets materially reduces launch costs. SpaceX also operates Starlink, a satellite-based telecommunication network. And it is building an artificial intelligence business. Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue " This is where things get interesting. SpaceX is a money-losing start-up, but its Starlink business is profitable. As the company clearly spelled out in its IPO prospectus, space launches and AI are burning through cash. You can avoid the money-losing businesses and just focus on the one segment of SpaceX that is profitable, the satellite-based broadband network, if you buy AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile: Not up to speed, but getting close AST SpaceMobile isn't profitable yet, either. However, it operates a satellite-based broadband network. And it is working to expand that network to cover the entire planet. It is getting close to a commercial launch of its network, but there's a vital difference between Starlink and AST SpaceMobile: Starlink's service is bespoke, while AST SpaceMobile is partnered with large cellphone service providers. That means it has a built-in customer base and is likely to hit the ground running when its service starts operating. It still has material spending needs as it works to broaden its geographic coverage, but it also has major telecom partners as supporters. If you are worried that Elon Musk is pulling SpaceX in too many directions, AST SpaceMobile would be a way to focus on the one part of that company that actually makes money today. That said, AST SpaceMobile likely won't be profitable for a while longer, given the huge cost of building and launching satellites.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted at the last moment
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket has come within a second or so from blasting off on a test flight but some of the engines failed to start, triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong on Thursday before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming journey halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 124m tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Although the company did not elaborate, on-screen data showed four engines not firing, with the remaining 29 engines immediately shutting down and keeping the rocket anchored to the pad. It was the first time a full-scale Starship experienced a last-second abort like this. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk announced via X. Everything was going SpaceX's way, even the weather, until the partial engine ignition. In the end, the rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have doomed the launch. Some earlier Starship flights ended in explosive fireballs. Elon Musk's company had newest, most advanced Starlinks aboard Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hour-long flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. The rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have resulted in a failed launch. Some earlier Starship flights, for example, ended in explosive fireballs.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted at the last moment
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket has come within a second or so from blasting off on a test flight but some of the engines failed to start, triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong on Thursday before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming journey halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 124m tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Although the company did not elaborate, on-screen data showed four engines not firing, with the remaining 29 engines immediately shutting down and keeping the rocket anchored to the pad. It was the first time a full-scale Starship experienced a last-second abort like this. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk announced via X. Everything was going SpaceX's way, even the weather, until the partial engine ignition. In the end, the rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have doomed the launch. Some earlier Starship flights ended in explosive fireballs. Elon Musk's company had newest, most advanced Starlinks aboard Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hour-long flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. The rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have resulted in a failed launch. Some earlier Starship flights, for example, ended in explosive fireballs.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted at the last moment
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket has come within a second or so from blasting off on a test flight but some of the engines failed to start, triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong on Thursday before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming journey halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 124m tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Although the company did not elaborate, on-screen data showed four engines not firing, with the remaining 29 engines immediately shutting down and keeping the rocket anchored to the pad. It was the first time a full-scale Starship experienced a last-second abort like this. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk announced via X. Everything was going SpaceX's way, even the weather, until the partial engine ignition. In the end, the rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have doomed the launch. Some earlier Starship flights ended in explosive fireballs. Elon Musk's company had newest, most advanced Starlinks aboard Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hour-long flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. The rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have resulted in a failed launch. Some earlier Starship flights, for example, ended in explosive fireballs.
SpaceX aborts Starship launch after engine failure seconds before liftoff
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket came within a second or so from blasting off on a test flight but some of the engines failed to start, triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming flight halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 407 feet (124 meters) tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast on Thursday showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Whichever engines fired abruptly shut down, with the rocket remaining anchored to the pad. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk announced via X. Everything had been going SpaceX's way, including the weather, until the partial engine ignition. Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hourlong flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. NASA is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in the next few years. The space agency has hired SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to build and fly the lunar landers that will return humanity to the surface of the moon after an absence of more than half a century. Both companies need to have their landers -- Starship and Blue Moon -- ready to fly by next year so that the newly named Artemis III crew can practice docking their capsule with them in orbit around Earth. The mission after that -- Artemis IV planned for no earlier than 2028 -- would use one of those landers to take two astronauts to the moon's south polar region. Published on July 17, 2026
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch aborts at last second (video)
Starship Flight 13 will carry 20 Starlink V3 internet satellites, marking their first trip to space before crashing back to Earth after about 20 minutes. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Starship wasn't quite ready to fly today (July 16). SpaceX tried to launch the Starship megarocket on its 13th test flight today but couldn't quite pull it off. Something went wrong just as the giant vehicle's first-stage engines started to fire up, and an abort was triggered. It's too early to say what exactly happened or when SpaceX will try again with Starship Flight 13. "We'll take some time, dig into what triggered that abort once the booster was igniting to launch, and then we'll figure out what our path forward is going to be," SpaceX's Dan Huot said during the company's launch webcast today. "Hopefully, we'll be back real soon for Flight 13 and another attempt to get Starship off the pad," he added. Flight 13 will fly from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas. Today's attempt occurred at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT; 5:45 p.m. local time), right at the beginning of a 90-minute launch window. Flight 13 will be the second test launch of Starship Version 3 (V3), an upgraded variant of the megarocket designed to get it up to operational status. V3's first jaunt, Flight 12 on May 22, was mostly successful, but there were a few issues. For example, Starship's Super Heavy first stage didn't steer itself back for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico as planned, and the Ship upper stage wasn't able to relight one of its Raptor engines in space. Starship V3 will get a second chance on Flight 13, whose goals are similar to those of Flight 12: Get Super Heavy down on target in the Gulf and send Ship most of the way around the world, for a controlled splashdown of its own off the coast of Western Australia. (Ship pulled that off on Flight 12.) There are a few new objectives, however. The most notable is the payload suite flying on Flight 13 -- 20 of SpaceX's next-gen Starlink V3 internet satellites. The company wants to build a constellation of 100,000 Starlink V3 spacecraft in low Earth orbit using Starship, and Flight 13 will mark the satellites' first-ever trip to space. They won't stay up there, however; the spacecraft will be deployed on Ship's suborbital trajectory and will crash back to Earth after about 20 minutes, according to SpaceX. Six of the 20 Starlinks going up on Flight 13 will be equipped with cameras, to image Ship's heat shield. SpaceX did this with a couple of V2 Starlinks on Flight 12 as well.
SpaceX Starship Launch Aborted on the Pad at the last moment
(AP) -- SpaceX's mega Starship rocket came within a few seconds of blasting off on a test flight Thursday, but some of the engines failed to start triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming flight halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 407 feet (124 meters) tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hourlong flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. NASA is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in the next few years.
Netflix, SpaceX, Alphabet, Alcoa and Intuitive Surgical: Why These 5 Stocks Are on Investors' Radars Toda
Major U.S. indices ended Thursday in the red, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 0.2% to 52,552.97. The S&P 500 declined 0.51% to 7,533.77, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.47% to 25,881.95. Across U.S. equity markets, trading was mixed beneath the surface at midday, with gains in defensive and value stocks offsetting weakness in chipmakers and speculative technology shares, prompting a rotation into smaller-cap stocks. These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day: Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) Netflix's stock closed up 0.91% at $74.35, reaching an intraday high of $74.68 and a low of $72.94. The streaming giant's shares are nearing critical lows, with a 52-week range of $127.75 to $70.86. In the after-hours session, the stock plumetted 9.05% to $67.62. Looking ahead, Netflix guided third-quarter revenue of $12.86 billion and EPS of 82 cents, both below Wall Street expectations, while narrowing its full-year revenue outlook to $51.0 billion-$51.4 billion, around the low end of its previous range. The softer guidance appeared to weigh on investor sentiment. Space Exploration Technologies Corp (NASDAQ:SPCX) SpaceX shares fell 3.08% to close at $131.11, with a high of $137.76 and a low of $130.74. The stock's 52-week range is $225.64 to $130.74. The shares declined 3.08% to $127.07 in extended trading. Meanwhile, SpaceX's launch of its Starship mega rocket was aborted Thursday night after "some of the engines didn't start," CEO Elon Musk said on X, triggering an automatic launch abort. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Alphabet's Class C stock dropped 4.43% to $353.81, with an intraday high of $374.35 and a low of $351.67. The 52-week range is $404.44 to $181.50. Reports of delays in Google's Gemini project have raised concerns about the company's competitive position in AI. Alcoa Corp. (NYSE:AA) Alcoa's shares decreased by 3.56%, closing at $46.85, with a high of $47.90 and a low of $46.39. The stock's 52-week range is $84.38 to $28.11. The stock fell 2.8% to $45.54 in after-hours trading. Alcoa shares fell in the after-hours session after the aluminum producer reported second-quarter earnings of $2.12 per share, missing Wall Street estimates of $2.25, although revenue of $3.97 billion edged past the $3.94 billion consensus. The earnings miss appeared to outweigh solid top-line performance. During the quarter, aluminum production rose 5% sequentially and shipments increased 18%, while total third-party revenue climbed 24%. CEO William Oplinger also highlighted favorable aluminum prices and the company's recently announced agreement with South32 as key strategic achievements. Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) Intuitive Surgical's stock rose 3.43% to $402.33, with a high of $405.50 and a low of $393.68. The 52-week range is $603.88 to $378.50. In extended trading, the stock fell sharply by 10.79% to $358.93. The medical device maker reported second-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations, with EPS of $2.80 beating the $2.50 consensus and revenue of $2.89 billion exceeding estimates of $2.82 billion. The company also reported strong operating metrics, with combined da Vinci and Ion procedures up 16% year over year, 468 da Vinci systems placed during the quarter and continued growth in its installed base. CEO Dave Rosa said the results reflected the strength of the company's portfolio across robotic surgery, lung diagnostics and digital solutions. Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate Netflix stock has a Momentum score in the 5th percentile and a Value score in the 19th percentile. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
SpaceX aborts planned 13th launch of Starship from South Texas
CEO Elon Musk said some engines failed to start, triggering an automatic abort of the launch. SpaceX came within a few seconds Thursday of Starship's 13th test flight and the first to deploy actual Starlink satellites, but the launch was aborted when some of the mega-rocket's engines failed to start. The Texas company's stock, which has been generally declining since its record initial public offering last month, fell sharply in after-hours trading. SpaceX said it will have to figure out what went wrong before making another attempt. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," CEO Elon Musk said later on X. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days." A dashboard showing the rocket's status during the SpaceX livestream of the planned launch indicated that only 29 of the Super Heavy Booster's 33 Raptor engines ignited. Though countdown holds to deal with such issues are not uncommon, SpaceX was unable to restart its countdown Thursday in part because there wasn't enough water. When the Super Heavy booster's Raptor engines briefly fired, they triggered the water deluge system under the rocket, which diffuses heat and vibration. Though the engines were immediately shut down, the system released thousands of gallons of water from tanks that need to be refilled before the next launch attempt. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board for release during the planned hourlong flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor the upper-stage Starship spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. NASA is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in the next few years. Delays in its development have already caused years of delays in the NASA program.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted on pad at last moment
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket came within a second or so of blasting off on a test flight but some of the engines failed to start, triggering a launch abort. Elon Musk's company said it will have to figure out what went wrong before making another attempt to send Starship on a space-skimming flight halfway around the world. It was supposed to be the 13th flight for Starship, which, at 407 feet (124 metres) tall with 33 main engines, is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast on Thursday (July 16, 2026) showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Whichever engines fired abruptly shut down, with the rocket remaining anchored to the pad. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk announced via X. Everything had been going SpaceX's way, including the weather, until the partial engine ignition. Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hourlong flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor the spacecraft was meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. NASA is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in the next few years. The space agency has hired SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to build and fly the lunar landers that will return humanity to the surface of the moon after an absence of more than half a century. Both companies need to have their landers -- Starship and Blue Moon -- ready to fly by next year so that the newly named Artemis III crew can practise docking their capsule with them in orbit around Earth. The mission after that -- Artemis IV planned for no earlier than 2028 -- would use one of those landers to take two astronauts to the moon's south polar region.
SpaceX scrubs Starship Flight 13 launch moments before liftoff
SpaceX scrubs Starship Flight 13 launch moments before liftoffNext launch attempt hopefully in a few days,' says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk SpaceX on Thursday canceled the 13th test flight of its Starship megarocket after some of its engines failed to ignite during the launch attempt. The test flight from the company's Starbase, Texas test site was aborted as the giant vehicle's first-stage engines started to fire up just before the launch, which was scheduled at 6.45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT), Space.com reported. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Space X CEO Elon Musk said on the US social media platform X. "To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week," he added.
SpaceX Short Sellers Rack Up $3.88 Billion as Stock Falls Below IPO Price
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX), Elon Musk's rocket, satellite, and artificial intelligence company, is facing mounting pressure as its stock trades near the $135 per-share price set in its initial public offering. Short sellers have generated approximately $3.88 billion in paper profits, according to data compiled by S3 Partners, after the shares fell as low as $132.15 and moved toward a fourth consecutive session of losses. The stock has also slipped below its IPO price for the first time, while bearish investors have continued increasing their positions as enthusiasm surrounding the newly public company appears to weaken. S3 Partners data show that roughly 181 million SpaceX shares, representing about 28% of the stock available for trading, have been sold short. Ihor Dusaniwsky of S3 Partners said this represents one of the highest short-interest levels recorded by a newly listed company during its first month of trading. Investors added nearly 37 million shares, valued at approximately $5 billion, to short positions over the past week as the stock continued to decline. SpaceX has now lost about one-third of its value since its June 16 closing high, erasing approximately $860 billion in market capitalization during that period. Investors are now focusing on the company's 13th Starship test flight, which could take place as soon as Thursday, along with SpaceX's first quarterly earnings report, which may be released in the coming weeks. The earnings report is expected to allow certain shareholders to sell their stock for the first time, beginning a period during which millions of additional shares could become available for trading. Dusaniwsky noted that the recent share-price weakness and expectations surrounding upcoming lockup expirations have contributed to increased short selling. These developments could keep SpaceX shares volatile as investors assess the rocket launch, the company's financial results, and the potential increase in tradable stock.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted on the pad at the last moment
SpaceX's mega Starship rocket came within a second or so from blasting off on a test flight Thursday but some of the engines failed to ignite, triggering a launch abort amid billowing clouds of smoke and vapor. Elon Musk, the company's founder and CEO, said two engines will be replaced "to be confident of a good flight" before sending Starship on a space-skimming journey halfway around the world. It will be the 13th flight for Starship, which at 407 feet (124 meters) tall with 33 main engines is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX's launch webcast showed the start of engine ignition three seconds before the planned liftoff, viewed from a drone high above the pad. Although the company did not elaborate, on-screen data showed four engines not firing, with the remaining 29 engines immediately shutting down and keeping the rocket anchored to the pad. It was the first time a full-scale Starship experienced a last-second abort like this. The launch team immediately began draining the fuel from the rocket. "Most probable launch timing is early next week," Musk said via X. Everything was going SpaceX's way, even the weather, until the partial engine ignition. In the end, the rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have doomed the launch. Some earlier Starship flights ended in explosive fireballs. Twenty of SpaceX's newest and most advanced Starlinks were on board Starship for release during the planned hourlong flight. The internet satellites were going to try communicating with Starlinks already in orbit while taking photos of Starship's heat shield. Neither the first-stage booster nor spacecraft were meant to be recovered, with both ending up in the sea. The rocket's automatic launch system worked as planned by halting everything. Too few operating engines could have resulted in a failed launch. Some earlier Starship flights, for example, ended in explosive fireballs. NASA is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in the next few years. The space agency has hired SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to build and fly the lunar landers that will return humanity to the surface of the moon after an absence of more than half a century. Both companies need to have their landers -- Starship and Blue Moon -- ready to fly by next year so that the newly named Artemis III crew can practice docking their capsule with them in orbit around Earth. The mission after that -- Artemis IV planned for no earlier than 2028 -- would use one of those landers to take two astronauts to the moon's south polar region. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
SpaceX Bears Gain as Stock Drops
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) short sellers have made an estimated $3.8 bilion in paper gains after the stock slid below its IPO price during a four-day losing streak. According to S3 Partners, short interest has climbed to 181 million shares, or about 28% of the company's 646 million-share tradable float. Shares have fallen 11% over the past 4 sessions, touching an intraday low of $132.15 before closing just above their $135 IPO price. Led by Elon Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), SpaceX designs and launches rockets, operates the Starlink satellite internet network and develops spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company is also building Starship, its next-generation launch system aimed at missions to the Moon and Mars. The recent pullback comes as investors wait for 2 major catalysts: SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight and its earnings report, expected in the first week of August.
SpaceX abruptly scrubs Starship test flight
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed what was to be its first Starship flight since the company went public, abruptly calling it off just as the booster began to ignite. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," wrote company head Elon Musk on X. It was to be the mammoth rocket's 13th flight overall. When it eventually takes off, the flight's aims will be similar to those of a mostly successful voyage carried out in May, which debuted the latest edition of the powerful Starship, its third-generation model. The goals of that test were essentially to demonstrate the new designs in flight. Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It was not without a few glitches, however, including engine issues with the Super Heavy booster that necessitated a crash into the Gulf of Mexico rather than a precision return. The company said "there have been several modifications to hardware and software to address issues seen on the previous flight." Advertisement SpaceX will aspire the next time around to execute a launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and landing burn of the booster offshore without hiccups. The upper stage will deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, and SpaceX said it will test out a relight of a Raptor engine in space. It will also test upgrades to Starship's heat shield. The latest flight will be the first after Musk's SpaceX went public on Wall Street in June, with a record initial public offering. Advertisement The rocket company has rapidly expanded its satellite internet service and voiced lofty ambitions for AI data centers in space. There's a lot riding on SpaceX's progress: the company is under contract with NASA to produce a modified version of Starship to serve as a lunar landing system.
Microsoft Stock Rises 2.9% as AI Sales Push Targets OpenAI and Anthropic
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), the world's largest software company, is preparing its sales team to compete more aggressively with Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind Claude, and OpenAI, another major AI developer. During internal meetings held Tuesday and Wednesday, Microsoft executives said the company should emphasize its lower costs, stronger security controls, and broader product offering. Executive Vice President Jay Parikh said Microsoft's fiscal 2027 sales message should focus on the company providing a complete end-to-end system while competitors offer individual parts. This strategy supports Microsoft's effort to position itself as a platform where businesses can fine-tune, deploy, and monitor artificial intelligence across their operations. The competitive push comes as Microsoft faces pressure from large AI startups and rival cloud platforms, including Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), the technology company that owns Google. Investors have raised concerns that newer AI tools could replace established software products, while Microsoft's rising data-center spending has added further pressure on sentiment. The stock has fallen 20% this year, although shares gained 2.9% to $396.08 by 1:50 p.m. in New York, representing the largest intraday increase in two weeks. Executive Vice President Jacob Andreou also compared Microsoft's Copilot assistant with Anthropic's Claude for use in Microsoft's office products, saying Claude was slower, less accurate, and lacked suitable security integrations. Anthropic declined to comment. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said customers are expected to focus more heavily over the next year on monitoring AI costs and using cheaper models. Nadella pointed to Unilever, a consumer goods company, which built an automated claims-processing system on Microsoft's platform that is projected to generate about $300 million in savings. The system had previously used one of the most advanced AI models available before switching to a less expensive Microsoft model. Microsoft has also replaced advanced models from OpenAI and Anthropic with its own cheaper alternative in some products, according to Bloomberg. Investors may view the strategy as an attempt to improve AI economics while strengthening Microsoft's position against fast-growing competitors.