UBS: $MU COULD REPURCHASE MORE THAN 40% OF ITS SHARES BY THE END OF 2028
UBS expects Micron to generate over $40 billion in free cash flow through 2028. Once its buyback restriction expires on December 9, 2026, the company could potentially use that cash to repurchase more than 40% of its shares at the current price.
Japan's Rakuten to establish joint venture with $ASTS to build out LEO satellite networks for Japan per Digitimes/Nikkei.
"The move is widely viewed as a strategic response to the growing influence of $SPCX Starlink in Japan"
Here’s why $RKLB just spent ~$8B acquiring $IRDM.
Rocket Lab wants to own the network, spectrum and recurring revenue layer once satellites are in orbit which is why this deal is really about vertical integration as Neutron comes online.
Once Rocket Lab can launch Iridium satellites on Neutron then it internalizes a cost that used to flow to third-party launch providers making the deal way more accretive over time as Neutron comes online.
What I like is that Iridium also brings something Rocket Lab stack has lacked which is recurring, high-margin service revenue tied to global connectivity, direct-to-device and government communications.
The space economy is splitting into companies that can launch and refresh their own networks and companies that have to rent access to orbit. $SPCX already proved which side wins because if you own both launch and the network then you control the cost structure, refresh cycle and margin stack in a way third-party launch customers cannot match.
Launch gets you to orbit but connectivity is what you monetize once you're there and the companies that own both the launch layer and the network become the platforms of the space economy.