Blog

ABB has shown that the story of artificial intelligence is no longer limited to chips, software, and the biggest names in American tech. The Swiss group’s results suggest that the next phase of this trend is increasingly shifting toward industry, energy, and infrastructure, segments that are essential to the entire digital world but often remain outside the main focus of investors. That is precisely why ABB’s latest quarterly results deserve more than just a quick glance at the headline numbers, as they can reveal a great deal about where new growth is actually emerging today.

ASML entered 2026 with results that confirmed strong demand for its technologies while raising market expectations. The company reported first-quarter revenue of €8.8 billion, a gross margin of 53%, basic earnings per share of €7.15*, and R&D expenses of €1.2 billion, demonstrating its ability to maintain strong profitability even while continuing to invest in future products.

Bill Ackman has once again launched a major capital play, this time in one of the most stable and profitable segments of the media business. His firm, Pershing Square, has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire Universal Music Group valued at approximately €55.75 billion, or about $64.31 billion. The goal is not only the acquisition itself but also to move the company closer to the U.S. market, achieve a higher valuation, and expand its investor base.

Unilever has taken one of its biggest strategic moves in recent years by agreeing to merge its Unilever Foods business with McCormick, creating a global group valued at approximately $65 billion with combined revenues of around $20 billion for fiscal year 2025. For shareholders, this is not just another merger announcement, but a clear signal that Unilever’s management wants to radically restructure the portfolio and shift the company’s focus to faster-growing categories outside of packaged foods. This makes it all the more interesting that the market did not receive this deal with enthusiasm.[1]

Apple isn’t pushing into AI through the loudest headlines, but through devices that users hold in their hands every day. In early March, it unveiled the iPhone 17e with an A19 chip, 256 GB of base storage, and a price tag of $599, while in the latest quarter, it reported revenue of $143.8 billion, diluted earnings per share of $2.84, and operating cash flow of nearly $54 billion. This is precisely where the essence of the whole topic begins. The company isn’t trying to sell AI as a standalone product, but as a reason to upgrade iPhones more frequently, stay within the ecosystem, and use new features directly in the system, apps, and services.