Deutsche Bank’s Top 5 Water Tech Stocks for 2026

Investing.com -- EquipmentShare.com shares opened at $28.50 in their Nasdaq debut on Friday, rising more than 16% above the company’s initial public offering price of $24.50 per share.

The construction equipment rental company raised $747 million in its IPO, offering 30.5 million shares of Class A common stock. The strong market reception values the company at approximately $7.16 billion.

Founded in 2015 and based in Columbia, Missouri, EquipmentShare describes itself as a construction technology and equipment solutions provider. The company operates a fleet management platform, telematics devices and an equipment rental marketplace using its proprietary technology called T3.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, UBS Investment Bank, Citigroup and Guggenheim Securities served as lead book-running managers for the offering.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- Investors are increasingly rotating into Chinese technology stocks and diversifying away from the U.S. due to lower valuations, government support, and loose fiscal policy in China, according to UBS fund managers who spoke to Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"We like China tech in particular because there’s some success there. There also seems to be government support," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer of UBS Global Wealth Management.

Haefele noted that clients across the U.S., Europe, and Asia are looking for hedges against the dollar, with growing confidence in China’s tech sector encouraging increased investment in the region.

Ulrike Hoffman-Buchardi, Americas CIO and head of global equities at UBS, identified a broader cyclical backdrop as the main market driver. She explained that fiscal stimulus will benefit all regions, creating opportunities in markets trading at more attractive valuations.

"We are optimistic, but also cognizant of downside risks, in particular in those countries and areas where capital has gone; U.S. of course has been a big recipient of those inflows," Hoffman-Buchardi added.

Investing.com - European stocks mostly slipped lower Friday, with geopolitical pressures to the fore as a tense week draws to a close.

The DAX index in Germany closed flat, while the CAC 40 in France slipped 0.1%, while the FTSE 100 in the U.K. also fell 0.1%. 

Elevated political uncertainty 

European equity markets rebounded on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump rowed back on his threat of trade tariffs to gain ownership of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, but the three main indices are still on course for losing weeks as the overall political climate remains tense.

Trump flagged potential military action against Iran, stating the U.S. had a fleet moving towards the Middle East country as he spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One late Thursday, warning Tehran against killing protestors or restarting its nuclear efforts.

“We have an armada... heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump told reporters. “I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” Trump said. 

Additionally, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized European leaders’ response to geopolitical threats in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 

He accused Europe of being “lost” while trying to convince Trump to “change” and support it, rather than uniting to defend itself.

The majority of these European countries have also declined to become involved in Trump’s “Board of Peace,” which was originally designed to oversee the demilitarization and rebuilding of Gaza, amid concerns over its composition and whether it could end up rivalling the United Nations.

U.K. retail sales surged in December

Investors will study a battery of activity data for the European region later in the session, with the release of a series of PMI data points for January, as the region’s economy shows signs of recovery.

Ahead of this, U.K retail sales rose an unexpected 0.4% in December from November, as consumers returned to the shops after declines in both November and October.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to fall by 0.1% in month-on-month terms.

Ericsson to lift dividend, share buyback

In the European corporate sector, Ericsson (ST:ERICb) announced plans for a hefty share buyback and an increase in its dividend after net cash surged as the Swedish telecoms equipment maker’s margin improvements offset a flat mobile network market.

British defense contractor Babcock International (LON:BAB) said it would meet its full-year margin target of 8% after strong organic revenue growth continued through the third quarter, with potential upside if its Indonesian Arrowhead deal progresses.

Pets at Home Group (LON:PETSP) confirmed that Sarah Pollard will join the company in March as Chief Financial Officer Designate.

However, most eyes will be on the tech sector after Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) forecast first-quarter revenue and profit below market estimates late Thursday, resulting in a sharp stock selloff in the extended session on Wall Street.

The U.S. chipmaker said it was struggling to match supply to booming demand for traditional server chips used in artificial intelligence data centers.

Crude set for weekly gains

Oil prices rose on Friday, heading for a fifth straight week of gains, after President Trump flagged potential military action against major producer Iran, raising concerns over more supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Furthermore, reports stated that the Trump administration threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions targeting the Iraqi state, including potentially its critical oil revenues, if Iran-backed armed groups are included in the next government.

Brent futures gained 2.5% to $65.67 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2.6% to $60.89 a barrel.

Both benchmarks are on track for weekly gains of just under 1%.

Reports have indicated that a U.S. aircraft carrier and several destroyers were set to arrive in the Middle East over the coming days, raising concerns over renewed military action in the region.

Iran is one of the largest oil producers in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and is also a major supplier to top oil importer China. 

Investing.com -- Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. is preparing a significant entry into the Canadian market, signaling a shift in North American automotive trade dynamics. According to reporting from the Globe and Mail, citing recruitment data and industry sources, the Wuhu-based manufacturer is actively hiring for key roles to establish a domestic sales operation from scratch.

The expansion follows a landmark diplomatic shift led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently brokered a deal with Beijing to reduce trade barriers. Under the new agreement, Canada will slash its previous 100% surtax on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1% for a limited quota of imports.

Industry recruiters have reportedly begun poaching talent via LinkedIn, specifically targeting veterans of the Canadian automotive landscape for Chery’s sub-brands, Omoda and Jaecoo. The Globe and Mail reports these outreach efforts describe a "long-term decision to invest and grow its business in Canada," with plans to establish a corporate headquarters in the Toronto area.

The policy shift, announced on Jan. 16, permits the entry of 49,000 Chinese-made EVs annually, a figure set to scale to 70,000 over the next five years. In exchange for this market access, Beijing has pledged to reduce retaliatory duties on Canadian agricultural exports, including canola and various seafood products.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly reportedly met with executives from both Chery and BYD Co. Ltd. during a recent high-level trade mission to China alongside the Prime Minister. While Western brands like Tesla and Volvo already export China-made units to Canada, Chery’s move marks the first concerted push by a homegrown Chinese firm into the mainstream passenger segment.

Observers have noted that the strategy mirrors the 2022 entry of Vietnamese automaker VinFast, which similarly utilized aggressive recruitment to build its Canadian presence. As Chery positions itself for a North American debut, it remains the first among its domestic peers to capitalize on the de-escalation of what Mr. Carney previously described as "unfair" competition.

Investing.com -- Canada’s main stock index was higher on Friday, as a rise in gold prices maintained support for the commodity-heavy average.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 0.28% or 90 points at 33,093.47.

Index gained 0.5% to 33,002.70 on Thursday, within touching distance of an all-time peak recorded earlier this month.

Sentiment during the session was aided by solid U.S. economic data as well as a fading in tariff threats between the U.S. and Europe.

Fueled by geopolitical and trade tensions, along with expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate reductions next week, gold also spiked above the $4,900 an ounce level for the first time. Materials, which include metal mining stocks, subsequently climbed by 2.2%.

U.S. stocks drop

U.S. stock index futures slipped lower Friday, ending a volatile week on a negative note after disappointing earnings from tech giant Intel.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 275 points, or 0.6%, the S&P 500 index fell 14 points, or 0.2%, and the NASDAQ Composite slipped 20 points, or 0.1%.

The main averages on Wall Street climbed in the prior session, buoyed by a reversal in President Donald Trump’s threat to slap additional tariffs on a host of European countries in an attempt to gain control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

Gains on Wednesday and Thursday erased the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s losses from earlier in the week, but the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite are on track for their second negative week in a row.

Greenland deal brings relief

Sentiment received a boost in the second half of the week after U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration had reached a framework trade deal over Greenland, and that he will not tariff European powers in an attempt to coerce control over the Danish territory.

Trump also withdrew his threat to use force to take the island, a sharp reversal from his rhetoric last week. The move offered much relief to markets, after Trump’s earlier tariff threats ramped up global geopolitical tensions and sparked deep losses in Wall Street.

That said, the relationship between many European countries and the Trump administration remains fraught, and the U.S. president added to geopolitical tensions by flagged potential military action against Iran, stating the U.S. had a fleet moving towards the Middle East country as he spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One late Thursday, warning Tehran against killing protestors or restarting its nuclear efforts.

“We have an armada... heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump told reporters. “I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” Trump said.

Intel slumps on disappointing outlook

Turning back to the corporate sector, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) stock slumped in premarket trade after the chipmaker reported a fourth-quarter loss and unveiled a dour outlook for the current quarter.

The company, who has recently been buoyed by fresh backing from major investors including artificial intelligence-darling Nvidia and even the U.S. government, posted a net loss of $333 million for the final three months of its fiscal year, worse than Wall Street analysts had anticipated.

Executives flagged the impact of soaring demand from data centers, which house the chips that power cutting-edge AI models. CFO David Zinsner described supply shortages as an industry-wide problem that could extend well into 2026.

There are more major earnings from the tech sector to digest next week, with Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla all set to report.

Fed to meet next week

The economic data slate includes S&P PMI data for January later Friday, as well as the Michigan consumer sentiment index, but these releases are unlikely to change sentiment ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve meeting.

The central bank is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged, amid growing uncertainty over the U.S. economy.

Trump confirmed Thursday that he has concluded his search for the next Federal Reserve chair after interviewing a final shortlist of candidates.

The current shortlist of potential nominees features a mix of institutional insiders and private sector veterans. Included in the final deliberations are National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, BlackRock executive Rick Rieder, current Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and former governor Kevin Warsh.

Gold hits new record high

Gold prices hit a record high earlier Friday, coming in sight of the closely watched $5,000 an ounce level after Trump said the U.S. had deployed ships towards Iran, pushing up demand for safe havens. Oil prices also rose Friday, heading for a fifth straight week of gains.

Spot gold rose as much as 0.7% to a record high of $4,967.48 an ounce, while gold futures for February rose over 1% to $4,969.69/oz.

Oil climbs

Brent futures gained 1.3% to $64.86 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.4% to $60.17 a barrel.

Both benchmarks are on track for weekly gains of just under 1%.

Reports have indicated that a U.S. aircraft carrier and several destroyers were set to arrive in the Middle East over the coming days, raising concerns around renewed military action in the region.

Iran is one of the largest oil producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and is also a major supplier to top oil importer China.

Investing.com -- As investors assess 2026, Barclays has identified standout performers in the US software sector poised for significant growth.

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Their analysis highlights companies that are well-positioned to capitalize on artificial intelligence trends while offering attractive valuations in the current market environment.

Barclays’ top software picks combine established industry leaders with emerging players, each with unique catalysts that could drive outperformance in the coming year. Here’s a closer look at their top recommendations:

1. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM)

Barclays views Salesforce as one of their most favored names in 2026, despite recent investor skepticism. The company has faced headwinds from growth deceleration (largely due to tough comparisons from the 2020-2021 COVID period) and concerns that AI might compress seat demand.

However, Barclays believes these fears are either overblown or mistimed. In 2026, they expect a reacceleration in cRPO and organic revenue growth, driven by easier comparisons, expanded sales capacity, and initial revenue contributions from AI products like Agentforce. With shares currently trading at just 14x EV/FCF for calendar year 2027, Barclays sees a compelling setup for investors to reconsider the stock.

Goldman Sachs recently initiated coverage on Salesforce with a Buy rating, citing the company’s Agentforce AI vision as a potential driver of performance. Salesforce also announced the general availability of its redesigned, AI-powered Slackbot for its enterprise customers.

2. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL)

After what Barclays describes as a "roller coaster" 2025, they anticipate 2026 will be more stable for Oracle, confirming its position as a high-growth tech asset. The analysis points to two key catalysts: First, Oracle’s large RPO (remaining performance obligation) base will begin converting to revenue, particularly in the second half of 2026, validating both contract quality and management’s gross margin projections for AI workloads (30-40%).

Second, investors should gain better visibility into Oracle’s funding options as the year progresses, with management committed to maintaining investment-grade ratings. With shares having surrendered their September gains (when RPO jumped significantly), Barclays finds the current valuation (22x CY27 PE) highly attractive for a company positioned for substantial multi-year earnings growth.

In recent developments, Oracle is part of a group of investors expected to close a deal for TikTok’s US operations. Separately, Morgan Stanley lowered its price target on the company, citing concerns about investment needs for its AI infrastructure, while Guggenheim reaffirmed its Buy rating.

3. DigitalOcean (NYSE:DOCN)

For small-cap investors, Barclays highlights DigitalOcean as their top pick. Under new management, the company is pivoting from its previous focus on profitability over growth to accelerate product innovation and position itself within the AI ecosystem.

Rather than competing directly with large hyperscalers on massive data centers for AI model development, DigitalOcean is targeting the AI inference market, which requires less compute capacity but offers higher gross margins. Barclays notes that inference is projected to be the larger segment of the AI market long-term, potentially enabling a multi-year growth story without requiring enormous capital investments. They expect approximately 30MW of AI capacity to come online at DigitalOcean soon, which should help accelerate revenue growth.

Following strong third-quarter 2025 results that surpassed analyst expectations, DigitalOcean has pulled its 18-20% revenue growth target forward to 2026. The company also appointed a former Oracle Cloud executive as its new Chief Product and Technology Officer to lead its platform roadmap.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.