Editor
Investors shook off the early morning lethargy on Tuesday as a flurry of tech M&A activity and massive defense contracts injected some much-needed adrenaline into the premarket session. From Silicon Valley’s relentless pursuit of “agentic” AI to a surprising marriage between high-performance computing and exoskeleton robotics, the morning tape offered a glimpse into how the industry’s heavyweights are reshuffling their decks for 2026.
The Applied Digital-Ekso Gambit
Applied Digital (APLD) saw its shares climb more than 1% in early trading following a strategic pivot that caught many on the Street off guard. The company announced it will spin off its burgeoning cloud business, merging it with Ekso Bionics—a move that looks, on paper, like a play to bridge the gap between massive data processing and wearable tech.
While Applied Digital’s move was measured, Ekso Bionics’ stock went into orbit, rallying a staggering 51%. For a company with a modest $18.5 million market cap, this isn’t just a deal; it’s a transformation.
“This is the kind of ‘weird chemistry’ we’re seeing more of lately,” says Elena Vance, a senior tech analyst at Northshore Capital. “Applied Digital wants to lean out and focus on core infrastructure, while Ekso gets the computational backbone it needs to make their bionics smarter. It’s a high-risk, high-reward bet on the convergence of hardware and the cloud.”
Meta’s Quest for the ‘Autonomous Employee’
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms remains in a “buy, don’t build” mood when it comes to the next frontier of artificial intelligence. The social media giant has quietly swallowed Manus, a Singapore-based startup specializing in general-purpose AI agents.
While the price tag remains under wraps, the intent is clear. Meta isn’t just looking for better chatbots; they are hunting for “agents”—AI that can actually execute tasks, manage workflows, and operate autonomously across platforms. It’s a subtle shift from AI that talks to AI that does.
“Meta is effectively in an arms race for talent and IP,” notes Marcus Thorne, an independent M&A consultant. “The Manus acquisition tells us that Zuck is betting big on ‘agentic AI.’ They want to own the digital assistants that will eventually run our businesses for us.”
A Multi-Billion Dollar Windfall for Boeing
Away from the software labs, Boeing managed to find some rare blue sky. The aerospace giant’s stock ticked upward after the U.S. Air Force confirmed an $8.58 billion contract for the production of fighter jets destined for Israel.
The deal serves as a timely reminder of Boeing’s “too big to fail” status within the American defense apparatus. Despite the persistent headwinds facing its commercial aviation wing, the defense sector continues to provide a sturdy, taxpayer-funded floor for the company’s valuation. In the world of high-stakes tech M&A activity and defense spending, Boeing remains the ultimate institutional incumbent.
Looking Ahead
The morning’s action suggests that despite high interest rates, the appetite for strategic consolidation hasn’t faded. Whether it’s through surgical spinoffs or the quiet acquisition of international AI talent, the market’s biggest players are signaling that they aren’t content to sit on their cash. Expect the focus to remain on these smaller, specialized “bolt-on” acquisitions as companies look to buy the innovation they can’t wait to build.
