latest news in companies
Patterson-UTI Boosts Dividend by 25 Percent After Generating Strong Free Cash Flow
Houston, Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
Patterson-UTI increased its quarterly dividend by 25 percent following $416 million in full-year adjusted free cash flow, signaling operational confidence despite a $9 million fourth-quarter net loss.
NVIDIA and Dassault Systèmes Unite to Build Next-Generation Industrial AI Infrastructure
Santa Clara, Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
Announced February 3, this alliance integrates Dassault’s virtual twins with NVIDIA’s computing to create “Physical AI,” a groundbreaking system anchored in the laws of physics rather than simple prediction.
PayPal Valuation Sinks Below Former Parent eBay Following Earnings Miss
San Jose, Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
In a watershed moment for the fintech sector, PayPal’s market capitalization has fallen below that of its former parent, eBay, for the first time since their 2015 separation. Following a disappointing fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report released in early February 2026, PayPal shares plunged, dragging its valuation down to approximately $40 billion—a stark contrast to its $360 billion peak in 2021. This reversal underscores the company’s struggle against intensifying competition and slowing growth, even as it attempts to pivot toward AI-driven “agentic commerce” under incoming leadership. The valuation crossover signals a profound shift in market sentiment, highlighting the challenges facing the digital payments giant.
Broadcom Unveils First Enterprise Wi-Fi 8 Solution Engineered for AI Workloads
Palo Alto, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
Broadcom (AVGO) has redefined corporate connectivity by launching the industry’s first enterprise Wi-Fi 8 chips. Designed to reduce latency by 25%, this hardware explicitly targets the rigorous infrastructure demands of the AI boom.
Walmart Joins Exclusive $1 Trillion Club Following Digital Pivot
Bentonville, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
Walmart officially surpassed a $1 trillion valuation today, becoming the first traditional retailer to join an elite club previously dominated by technology giants, driven by aggressive e-commerce expansion.
French Authorities Raid X Offices as Investigation into Deepfakes and Child Safety Expands
Paris, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
On Tuesday, Paris cybercrime prosecutors executed a raid on X’s French headquarters, signaling a critical turning point in the platform’s European regulatory challenges. The investigation, which initially scrutinized algorithm manipulation, has broadened to serious allegations regarding the distribution of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual deepfakes generated by the Grok AI. In a move defining the stakes of executive liability, prosecutors have formally summoned Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning in Paris this April, escalating the legal pressure on the social media giant.