The Street

For many people, the best type of holiday is a camping trip and the best type of camping trip is done in a camper van in which one rolls through vast open landscapes with a group of friends.

The global market for the sale of recreational vehicles (RV) and camper vans is currently projected to expand from $8.20 billion in 2025 to $17.60 billion by 2035. Along with the United States, countries with some of the biggest camper van sales and rentals include Canada, Spain, Portugal and Australia.

But despite the market seeing overall growth, many of the individual companies producing them have faced multiple challenges as orders soared during the covid-19 pandemic and rise of people working remotely while global supply issues restrained what the manufacturers were able to produce.

High interest rates and rising manufacturing costs have, in some cases, created situations in which individual camper companies got into a financial hole that only got deeper when post-pandemic orders ebbed.

Maverick Campers and Caravans collapses in liquidation, no refunds

Australian camper van manufacturer Maverick Campers and Caravans was the most recent player in this space to collapse and go into full liquidation after efforts to renegotiate a $500,000 AUD debt with its financiers collapsed at the eleventh hour.

A judge granted the creditors a winding-up order and, as of Oct. 1, the company has been ordered to liquidate. The legal process in Australia is the equivalent closest to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Yulia Petrenko and Malcolm Kimbal Howell of Adelaide-based Jirsch Sutherland were assigned as liquidators overseeing the process; according to Petrenko, the camper van manufacturer was approximately $6 million AUD in debt.

Related: Company behind holiday parks insolvent, to be dissolved

In an emotional video posted to the company’s Facebook page, Maverick CEO Matthew Winen classified the situation as a “nightmare” that left it with “no choice but to go into liquidation.”

“As you can imagine the bombshell hit when we thought we were all good,” Winen said in an address to customers. “We were absolutely blown away.”

Maverick Campers and Caravans is an Australian camper van manufacturer based in Adelaide.Gary Yeowell / Getty Images

“The other retailers in the industry must be nervous”: Maverick Campers and Caravans CEO

Winen went on to say that they had approximately 72 orders for its vehicles currently on the books. As the company is now in the process of liquidating its assets, it is unable to provide refunds for uncompleted orders.

While Winen encouraged affected customers to contact the liquidators, individual customers are considered unsecured creditors who are last on the list behind major banks and lenders to get compensation through a court-ordered liquidation.

More Travel News:

Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.

There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in The Bahamas

Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026

Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri Lanka

“The other retailers in the industry must be nervous because they are all going through financial stress and they see a financier do this,” Winen said further. “We will be reaching out to customers, particularly those who have paid more than 30 to 40 percent deposits.”

In September 2026, another Australian camper van manufacturer, Australian Off Road, also entered voluntary administration with more than $9 million AUD in debt. Both companies struggled with similar issues around rising costs and supply issues alongside high competition.

Related: National park closes camping and tent locations until 2027

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this deal

Some would say that an outfit’s accessories are just as important as the clothes themselves. A statement necklace or stunning pair of earrings can take a good outfit and make it a great one. The best part is you don’t need an expensive designer piece to do that. There are tons of great pieces that don’t require you to spend a fortune to add them to your jewelry collection. The Cate and Chloe Swarovski Crystal Earrings that Walmart has a deal on right now are the perfect example.

The popular hoop earrings are marked down, and you can get a pair on sale for only $20 for a limited time.

Cate and Chloe Swarovski Crystal Earrings, $20 (was $40) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?

The white gold-plated earrings, which are also available in rose gold and yellow gold, feature an intricately woven design of round Swarovski crystals. There are 18 crystals per earring around each hoop. The lightweight latch-back closures provide a sturdy but comfortable hold for hours of wear. Even those with sensitive skin don’t have to worry about irritation since the hoops are made of hypoallergenic, lead-free, and nickel-free brass metal.

Related: Walmart’s Swarovski hoop earrings with over 24,000 5-star ratings is 50% off

The sparkling yet simple earrings are perfect to pair with casual or formal wear, and they make a great gift for bridal parties, anniversaries, birthdays, and more, thanks to the elegant jewelry box they come in.

Details to know

Color options: White gold, rose gold, and yellow gold.

Size: The hoops measure 2.3 millimeters wide, 22.2 millimeters high, and 21.8 millimeters long.

Material: Brass Metal.

Skin-friendly: These earrings are hypoallergenic, lead-free, and nickel-free.

Warranty: 30 days.

Shoppers found them extremely enjoyable to wear for long periods at a time. Even those with sensitive skin said they felt “comfortable enough to wear to bed.” Others said they were the perfect size for hoop earrings and were pleased with the high-quality, heavy feel, and expensive appearance of them.

Shop more deals

Jeenmata Birthstone Tennis Bracelet, $15 (was $19) at Walmart

Amy and Annette Gold Hoop Huggie Earrings, $19 (was $38) at Walmart

Apsvo Love Heart Initial Necklace, $14 (was $116) at Walmart

There are times when expensive jewelry is certainly worth the investment. However, if you can get a gorgeous piece like these Cate and Chloe Swarovski Crystal Earrings for $20, why not take advantage of the Walmart deal before it’s too late?

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this deal

There are thousands of cleaning products on the market these days, so it can be difficult to narrow down your search for the best ones. If you’re on the hunt for a reliable and effective vacuum cleaner that won’t take up a ton of space in your storage closet, Walmart has you covered, thanks to a worthwhile Walmart Flash deal.

The Inse Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner usually retails for $200, but is on sale for only $90 right now, which is a whopping $110 in savings. This model features a strong motor that offers four powerful suction modes that work well on hard floors, low-pile carpets and rugs, furniture, and car interiors, thanks to its interchangeable attachments. It comes with a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and two tailored roller brushes that clean hard-to-reach areas and leave nothing behind. It even has LED lights on the front to illuminate surfaces and show dust you might not have seen otherwise. 

Inse Cordless Stick Vacuum, $90 (was $200) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?

This vacuum features four speeds. You can choose the eco and medium modes for everyday cleanings, select the max mode for picking up messes, and use the auto mode to take the guesswork out of vacuuming altogether. In auto mode, the machine adjusts its settings to best suit the area you’re working in by using an infrared sensor that detects debris. It runs for up to 55 minutes on a single charge and comes with a mounted docking station for added convenience.

Related: DeWalt’s $179 drill and driver tool is on sale at a 90-day-low price of $109

Details to know

Colors: Blue and silver.

Filter type: HEPA.

Battery life: 55 minutes.

Everything this vacuum cleaner sucks up goes through a six-stage purification filtration system with HEPA that captures 99.9% of particles, according to the brand. That means nothing it sucks up goes back into the air, so it’s great for cleaning pet dander, dust, and dirt with ease. The filter should be replaced at least once every six months, depending on how often it’s used.

Over 800 shoppers have given this cordless vacuum a five-star rating, and several even claimed that it’s better than other name-brand options on the market. One person in particular wrote, “This [vacuum] does just as well for less than half the price.”

Shop more deals

Laresar Aromatherapy Cordless Stick Vacuum, $110 (was $180) at Walmart

CareVac Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, $55 (was $90) at Walmart

There’s no telling how long the Inse Cordless Vacuum Cleaner will be on sale for only $90, so add one to your cart while you still can. Plus, if you order now, it can arrive as soon as tomorrow to help you get started on cleaning ASAP.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why we love this deal

With colder weather on the horizon, people want to spend as much as time as possible outdoor. One of the most enjoyable ways to enjoy the great outdoors is to partake in some wonderfully unproductive lounging on a new patio set. Whether you opt for a foundational outdoor sectional or a small bistro set, your home’s outdoor space is where it’s at. Amazon currently has a deal on the latter of those two options, and we think it’s worth a look.

The Tangkula 3-Piece Bistro Patio Set is on sale for only $85 at the moment, which is 29% off the regular price of $120. We can’t think of a better way to set to soak up the last bits of warm weather than with this beautiful wicker option.

Tangkula 3-Piece Bistro Patio Set, $85 (was $120) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

This set is the pint-sized perfection, and we can’t get enough of it. With a powder-coated stainless steel frame, the base of this set is rustproof and corrosion-resistant. Each piece is then wrapped in lovely rattan wicker, adding a gorgeous rustic touch to an otherwise-industrial design. Included with the set are two ergonomic armchairs and a small bistro table. Each chair has a fun, bright red seat cushion that makes for an incredibly comfortable feel. 

The size of this diminutive set is one of its biggest selling points. It’s large enough to feel substantial, making it a wonderful option to fill a small balcony. However, it’s also small enough to be unassuming and fit perfectly as an accent piece in the corner of a large patio. The wraparound design of the chairs looks modern and stylish, while offering superior comfort to whoever may be sitting in them. 

The table has dimensions of 19.5 inches long by 19.5 inches wide by 19 inches high. Each chair measures 24 inches long by 20 inches wide by 31 inches high. The table has a shatter-resistant tempered glass top. It’s easy to clean with simple soap and water, and looks great next to the rugged rattan wicker wrapped around the table’s exterior. This set is available in 11 fun color options, so there’s definitely something for everyone’s tastes. 

Related: Amazon has a rocking chair patio set with cushions for $80

Details to know

Materials: Powder-coated stainless steel wrapped in rattan wicker.

Dimensions: The table measures 19.5 inches long by 19.5 inches wide by 19 inches high, and the chairs measure 24 inches long by 20 inches wide by 31 inches high.

Tabletop: Shatter-resistant tempered glass.

Colorways: 11 variants.

Amazon shoppers were thrilled with this cute little patio set. One said it’s great “for my boho peeps,” adding that it’s a “very beautiful set. Stop your search here for a boho, affordable set…Super easy to put together and incredibly comfortable.”

Shop more deals 

Yitahome 3-Piece Rocking Chair Bistro Patio Set, $122 at Amazon

Shintenchi 3-Piece Rocking Chair Patio Set, $110 at Amazon

Vasagle End Table with Charging Station Set of 2, $36 (was $70) at Amazon

The Tangkula 3-Piece Bistro Patio Set is an incredible buy right now at just $85. If you want to dress up your backyard or patio without spending an arm and a leg, then this is the deal for you. Just be sure to put one in your cart quickly before the deal is gone.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why we love this deal

An ultra-cozy bed you never want to get out of all starts with the right comforter. A plush and fluffy comforter adds another layer of softness to your bed, but you also want to consider the impact it will have on your bedroom. A basic bedspread doesn’t bring much to the table, but if you go for bedding with a gorgeous design, you can elevate the entire ambiance of your space. As temperatures are cooling down, it’s also important to consider the amount of warmth your comforter will provide, because being too hot or too cold can make it hard to drift off to sleep each night. 

The Macy’s Jaylyn Embroidered 5-Piece Comforter Set has everything you could want in a bedspread. The comforter, thick, plush, and warm, features a stunning design reminiscent of intricate lacework, which is continued on the two matching pillow shams. It even comes with two decorative pillows for even more wow factor. Best of all, the highly rated bedding set is now available for $60 in both the full/queen and king sizes with a steep markdown of 70% off. 

Macy’s Jaylyn Embroidered 5-Piece Comforter Set, $60 (was $200) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy’s

Shop at Macy’s

Why do shoppers love it?

The exquisite damask embroidery on this comforter set looks like something fit for royalty. The regal blue base creates a beautiful contrast against the detailed ivory stitching for a piece that’s truly sophisticated. The pillow shams and decorative pillows complete the look, giving you everything you need for an instant bedroom makeover.

Related: Walmart’s $27 comforter is perfect for fall and comes with matching pillow shams

Stuffed with extra filling, the comforter provides a plush feel that you’ll want when snuggling up. The medium-warm comforter is the ideal weight for year-round use, so you don’t have to switch it out when the season changes. The bedding won’t be too hot on warmer days, while still keeping you toasty on chilly nights. If you are in an area with bitterly cold winters, you could always layer a thick blanket underneath. “It is plush and offers plenty of warmth for those cold winter nights,” raved one reviewer. They also remarked, “The material is soft against your skin and makes sound sleeping easy.”

Details to know 

Pieces in set: The five-piece comforter set includes a comforter, two pillow shams, and two decorative pillows.

Sizes available: Full/queen and king.

Material: 100% polyester.

Is it machine washable? Yes.

The soft and smooth polyester material is durable and machine washable, which means you don’t need to take any extra trips to the dry cleaners when the comforter needs refreshing. Overall, shoppers are happy with the construction, quality, and appearance of the bedding set. “It is an elegant addition to my room, and it is warm and comfortable,” one shopper wrote.

Shop more deals

Juniper Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set, $24 (was $80) at Macy’s

Henly Embroidered 5-Piece Comforter Set, $60 (was $200) at Macy’s

Cottage Floral 8-Piece Comforter Set, $30 (was $100) at Macy’s

The Macy’s Jaylyn Embroidered 5-Piece Comforter Set has an intricate design that will look great in the bedroom, but it also offers ample comfort and warmth. You can add it to your own bedroom for just $60, as long as it doesn’t sell out.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why we love this deal

A narrow space in your home can easily become a storage spot with the right shelving. Making use of vertical space without taking up much floor space, compact shelving can help you tidy up your rooms easily in small spaces. Laundry rooms, pantries, garages, closets, and bedrooms can all benefit from having a bit of extra storage space, especially if it’s sturdy and affordable.

The Bestoffice Heavy-Duty 5-Tier Wired Shelf offers strong and compact storage for smaller areas. It’s a versatile option that can fit most places, and offers customizable features, all for just $31 ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day deals. 

Bestoffice Heavy-Duty 5-Tier Wired Shelf, $31 (was $34) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

This unit can handle substantial weight, with each shelf supporting up to 150 pounds, for a total capacity of up to 750 pounds. This makes it super useful for spaces where lightweight organizers may not do the trick, and where there also may not be much storage space. The wire construction keeps the design open, making it easier to find what you need to pull it off the shelf. It measures 22 inches wide, 48 inches tall, and 12 inches deep, giving it a small footprint with a large storage capacity. The tiers can be adjusted in one-inch increments, so the layout can be changed depending on what you need to store, and they can easily be changed by sliding the clip up or down the pole whenever needed. 

Related: Amazon’s 3-drawer storage cabinet with a charging outlet strip is $50 ahead of October Prime Day

For long-term use, the shelf has a powder-coated finish that resists rust and corrosion, adding versatility for different areas, like a humid garage or bathroom. The assembly is straightforward, featuring a tool-free setup. Slide the shelves over the top of the bars and add the clips, and it’s ready to go. The shelf itself is lighter weight, making it easy to move around the house if needed without needing multiple people. It’s available in black or chrome, but the black option is the best deal. 

Details to know

Size: It measures 48 inches tall, 22 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. 

Weight capacity: Each shelf can hold up to 150 pounds. 

Easy setup: The tool-free setup is done in just minutes. 

One reviewer wrote, “The shelf system is actually very well engineered. It was easy to assemble. Even better was the shelf support plastic pieces clipped onto the bars, and you don’t have to hold them, making it simple to assemble.”Another shopper wrote, “This steel shelf worked out perfectly. It’s just the right amount of room on the shelf, and still has the appearance of a skinny or narrow shelf.”

Shop more deals

Songmics 5-Tier Shelf, $25 (was $30) at Amazon

Furinno 4-Tier Bookshelf, $19 (was $48) at Amazon

Olixis 5-Tier Bookshelf with Drawers, $33 (was $43) at Amazon

The Bestoffice Heavy-Duty 5-Tier Wired Shelf offers up to 750 pounds of storage in a compact design, allowing you to have sturdy storage wherever you need it. For just $31 at Amazon, it’s a great option if you’re looking for some extra storage space.

Grindr Inc. (GRND) just made a move that many people did not see coming. On Sept. 30, the dating platform confirmed a deal worth $250 million in cash and stock to buy PurposeMed Inc.

PurposeMed is the parent company of Freddie, an HIV-prevention telehealth platform. 

The deal is the first major one in Grindr’s history, and it’s a surprising one for investors, too. It begs the question: Why is a dating platform buying a healthcare platform?

Let’s get into it.

Inside Grindr’s $250 million bet on Freddie

Grindr isn’t just going to pay $250 million in cash upfront. According to the company’s press release, the payment is split into $190 million in cash and $60 million in common stock.

The deal also includes up to $70 million in additional cash tied to 2027 performance targets, payable in 2028, but Freddie must meet performance targets, which Grindr has yet to specify, to unlock it.

The companies expect to close everything about the deal in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Also read: Why Morgan Stanley likes Gilead’s HIV prevention play

Freddie is a platform that brings convenience to people. Instead of having to go to a doctor to run tests, get results, and then obtain a prescription, before going to a pharmacy to get the pills, Freddie does all that for you.

It serves patients in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and it has a strong financial track record. PurposeMed expects Freddie to bring in more than $80 million in revenue and over $10 million in adjusted EBITDA for 2026.

That means Grindr is buying a fully functional business that is already profitable. But how does a telehealth platform mix with Grindr’s business?

Grindr’s $250 million deal for Freddie marks its biggest move beyond dating since the app launched in 2009.SOPA Images / Getty Images

How Grindr Health could reshape the business model

Grindr’s CEO George Arison calls the deal a transformational step for the company’s future. According to The Wall Street Journal, Arison believes the company’s new health section could eventually match or exceed the size of Grindr’s dating business.

Grindr already has a performance-medication service called Woodwork. The company plans to merge Freddie and Woodwork to form a single unit called Grindr Health. This new unit will allow users to speak with doctors, book lab tests, get prescriptions, and have medication delivered straight to their doorstep, all from an app.

More Healthcare Stocks:

Veteran Needham analyst sees 44% upside in tumbling health stock

Two years after a costly retreat, Walmart tries health again

Why Morgan Stanley likes Gilead’s HIV prevention play

Gaining customers is where I think Grindr’s advantage is in all of this. Most telehealth startups burn millions on ads just to find patients. However, Grindr already has 16 million users, and many of them fit the desired target description. So the company doesn’t need to spend too much to attract new customers. 

Grindr estimates that about 650,000 people in the U.S. currently take PrEP, while there’s still roughly 2.2 million people who could potentially benefit from it. That means there is still a lot of untapped potential that a discreet telehealth platform can benefit from.

Grindr expects the combined healthcare and pharmacy business to earn more than $400 a month for each active patient. If Grindr’s management can get just 50,000 users to use the platform, that alone could add roughly $240 million in yearly revenue.

What Wall Street makes of GRND after the deal

The market reacted negatively to the deal at first, and Grindr shares fell about 8.17% to close at $14.17 on Oct. 1.

However, the stock is still up about 6% year to date and roughly 16% over the past six months as of the time of writing.

Related: Your health insurer may already own your doctor’s office

Most analysts have stayed positive about the stock. Morgan Stanley recently reiterated its Overweight rating, while Citizens reiterated Market Outperform and a $21 target after the announcement, according to Investing.com.

The stock’s average price target of about $20.80 also suggests it could climb more than 30% from current levels.

The risks GRND investors should keep in view

Running a healthcare company is very different from running a dating app. Freddie must follow HIPAA rules, work with insurance providers, handle medical liability, and ship prescription drugs across state lines. All those come with their own regulations.

In addition, Grindr members have shared very personal information inside the app for years, and any error in how the company handles their health data could erode users’ trust and cause the company’s stock price to drop.

The deal will also temporarily reduce Grindr’s short-term margins, as the company must first invest heavily in building secure medical tech systems and clinical operations. 

For readers considering whether to buy GRND, I think the thesis is reasonable but far from a sure thing. The company is mixing a dating business with a more complex telehealth platform.

Before buying in, some investors might prefer to wait and see whether the deal actually rewards shareholders.

More Stocks NewsJim Cramer spots overlooked AI stock after $11.6 billion dealEli Lilly’s Foundayo delivers diabetes surprise in late-stage studyBofA splits software into winners and losers as AI agents arriveMcDonald’s could soon unlock a major revenue stream

Despite dropping prices to the lowest they have been in 2026, Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip saw a decline in hotel occupancy.

As an avid gambler who used to visit Las Vegas six to eight times a year, nearly always staying on the Strip, it’s not surprising to me. Sin City has suffered from a number of factors that have kept me away.

The loss of Spirit Airlines has taken away a cheap airfare option, and while I can generally get a comped room, food prices and value for my money have slipped. Add in Starbucks lattes costing more than $11, about twice what I pay at home, and Las Vegas has felt more like a money trap than a destination since its recovery after the Covid pandemic.

“Las Vegas visitors fell to 3.03 million in August, a 4.3% decline from August 2025, and 136,700 fewer than visitors in July. A Tuesday (Sept. 29) report from Harry Reid International Airport showed airport passenger counts dropped by 9% compared to August 2025,” CDC Gaming reported.

It’s not just that people weren’t visiting.

“The average daily rate for a Las Vegas hotel room fell to $150.32 in August, about $7 less than room rates in July. But hotel occupancy rates struggled along at 74.1%, down 3.4% compared to August 2025. Weekend occupancy came in higher at 85.5%, but midweek occupancy was down to 69.4%,” according to the report.

Las Vegas and the Vegas Strip hurt by Canadian trade war

“The number of Canadians traveling to the United States plunged after President Donald Trump returned to office with remarks about making Canada the 51st state. An acrimonious trade war between the two countries now is threatening to reinforce the informal boycott just as it appeared to be easing slightly,” reported the Associated Press.

Las Vegas tourism officials went to Canada in August to meet with travel advisers, tour operators, and airline representatives.

More Travel:

Disney World shuts down part of legendary resort

Popular Disney World ride shut down with no explanation

Tourists stranded as travel agency files bankruptcy, cancels trips

“We’re here to make sure you know that we care about Canada,” Steve Hill, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said while in Vancouver.

It’s not just politics keeping Canadians from Las Vegas.

“There’s a myriad of factors why Canadian tourism is down: exchange rate, flight ability, costs of the flights, politics all play into it,” Derek Stevens, the owner and CEO of Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas, and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, told CityNews.

Las Vegas visitor numbers have dropped. Shutterstock

Las Vegas is losing lower-income customers

The share of Las Vegas visitors from households earning more than $100,000 (inflation-adjusted to 2015) has grown about 25% since 2022, according to the LVCVA Las Vegas Visitor Profile. That’s a shift driven by a decline in middle- and lower-income travelers.

“Hill said the drop-off is particularly concentrated among younger, early-career visitors and retirees on fixed incomes,” according to Vegas Inc.

Visitors ages 21-29 have decreased more than 10% since 2022, according to the LVCVA Las Vegas Visitor Profile.

Meghann Foye, Travel & Lifestyle Editor, Parade.com, thinks that some steps Las Vegas has taken to grow younger visitors will work over time.

“Las Vegas’ shift toward family-friendly activities, experiential pop-ups like the Malibu Barbie Cafe, and immersive attractions like AREA15 and Universal Horror Unleashed is a smart strategy for attracting and retaining younger audiences,” she told TheStreet.

Las Vegas may have a value problem

RTM Nexus CEO Dominick Miserandino thinks that added competition has hurt Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip.

“Vegas used to own a certain kind of weekend. Now you can get a lot of that same energy in Nashville and other cities, and in some cases have a better overall experience. When people jokingly call Nashville ‘NashVegas,’ that tells you something. Vegas isn’t the only place competing for that trip anymore,” he told TheStreet.

MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle was open about the affordability issue during his company’s second-quarter earnings call.

His company added an all-inclusive price at Luxor and Excalibur, two of MGM’s lower-end resorts, specifically to address the affordability issue.

“I think I commented earlier, the narrative around Los Vegas not providing value and everyone getting beat up on that. We think, we do not think, we know it has helped. We have… followed it closely through social media and otherwise. And it is a great value at the end of the day,” Hornbuckle said.

Caesar’s Entertainment COO Anthony Carano was asked about Las Vegas’ value proposition by Lizzie Dove from Goldman Sachs during his company’s first-quarter earnings call.

“There was a lot of talk last year about bringing value back to Vegas, and we’ve seen one of your peers bring out these all-inclusive packages and whatnot to kind of stimulate that leisure consumer,” she noted.

Carano was blunt in his response.

“Yes. The team is doing a great job here in Vegas looking at all of our properties and welcoming guests at every price point. We’ve got the all you can eat drink at a number of our properties on the east side. We’ve taken a look at price up and down all of our properties. And I think we’re in a pretty good spot to attract every guest to Las Vegas,” he added.

And the numbers suggest that Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip have some good news to celebrate, albeit with fewer tourists joining the party.

Lower visitor counts, however, do not tell the whole story.

“Even with fewer people coming through, gaming revenue has been a bright spot, growing to 135% of 2019 levels and up 2.3% from 2025,” according to the LVCVA. “Gaming brought in $8.13 billion year to date as of July 2026 despite the drop in visitor volume,” added Vegas Inc.

Related: Another amusement park to close forever after last season, getting auctioned off

AI agents might soon do far more of the internet’s browsing, shopping, and searching for people, and all of that automated activity needs to move through networks that were largely built for human traffic.

That shift is creating a potentially lucrative problem for the companies responsible for keeping the internet fast and reliable.

On the Oct. 1 episode of “Mad Money,” Jim Cramer said Akamai Technologies (AKAM) might be one of the cheapest ways for investors to play it, especially after Anthropic committed $11.6 billion over seven years to its infrastructure.

The surprising part is that Wall Street hasn’t treated the deal like a lasting breakthrough. Akamai initially jumped on the announcement before giving back those gains, even as the company builds smaller, distributed data centers designed to run AI closer to users. 

For Cramer, that disconnect between the opportunity and the valuation is precisely what makes the stock interesting.

Why Cramer thinks Wall Street is missing Akamai’s AI shift

The biggest change for Akamai investors is that the company’s AI opportunity is no longer just a spending story. 

Anthropic’s $11.6 billion contractual commitment over seven years gives Akamai a massive long-term customer linked directly to the infrastructure it has been building for AI inference.

More Wall Street:

Wall Street’s AI trade faces its biggest valuation test

The next Wall Street shift is already underway

Wall Street sends strong 4-word verdict on the stock market

Cramer calculated that commitment at roughly $1.66 billion a year, which he noted is more than a third of what Akamai is expected to bring in this year. 

Yet after initially jumping on the announcement, the stock surrendered those gains.

“Well, that feels like a buying opportunity to me,” Cramer said.

That reaction is noteworthy because Akamai is absorbing the cost of its AI expansion before investors can fully see the payoff. 

The company is spending to build out its Inference Cloud, a network of smaller data centers designed to process AI workloads closer to users. Management expects that investment to pressure earnings in the near term, with business improving in Q4 and potentially accelerating further in 2027.

Cramer argued that the valuation already reflects much of that pain. Akamai trades at less than 16 times current-year earnings estimates, versus about 279 times for Cloudflare and more than 50 times for Fastly.

“You’re basically getting the latest Anthropic partnership… for free,” he said.

That leaves the next question: Can Akamai turn one enormous commitment into a broader, repeatable AI growth engine?

.Jim Cramer backs Akamai stock following its $11.6 billion deal with Anthropic.Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

AI agents could turn disruption into demand for Akamai

The same AI agents that could disrupt companies such as Airbnb (ABNB) may create an entirely different opportunity for Akamai.

For context, Cramer recently identified Airbnb as arguably the best stock among the casualties of Meta Platforms’ Muse agents. “It’s easier for an agent to book hotels online than it is for them to comb through rental homes and book directly from the owner,” he said.

In my view, that is the more interesting connection in Cramer’s argument. 

When consumers hand comparison shopping, travel planning, or other online tasks to an agent, the work does not disappear. It multiplies. Instead of a person checking a handful of websites, an agent can search across thousands of them before returning an answer.

Cramer pointed to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince’s claim that “bots have now passed human traffic online for the first time in the Internet’s history,” as Prince’s June 2026 post on X (the former Twitter) stated.

That matters because every additional request still has to move through the internet infrastructure quickly and reliably.

For consumer-facing businesses, agents can pose a threat by weakening habits, changing discovery patterns, or pushing customers toward cheaper alternatives. I made that distinction in looking at Airbnb: An agent may influence where a traveler starts, even if it cannot easily replace the marketplace where the booking ultimately happens.

Akamai sits on the other side of that disruption.

More autonomous browsing means more network traffic, more inference workloads, and potentially greater demand for computing closer to users. That helps explain why Akamai is building smaller, distributed data centers rather than relying entirely on giant centralized facilities.

So the bet is broader than a single Anthropic contract. If agents increasingly do the internet’s work for us, the infrastructure carrying that work could become considerably more valuable.

Akamai’s valuation looks reasonable, but execution now has to catch up

For me, Akamai’s valuation is what keeps Cramer’s AI thesis interesting, rather than purely speculative. The stock trades at roughly 16.1 times forward non-GAAP earnings, well below the sector median of 23.7 times and almost exactly in line with its own five-year average, according to Seeking Alpha data.

In other words, investors are not yet paying an unusually large premium for the AI opportunity.

The momentum picture is more complicated. 

Akamai is up 22.6% year to date, comfortably ahead of the S&P 500’s 12% gain, but shares are still down 7.6% over the past six months, even as the index has risen 16.6%, as reported by Seeking Alpha. That disconnect suggests enthusiasm around AI has not translated into consistently stronger confidence in the stock.

Recent earnings explain some of that hesitation. Second-quarter revenue increased 5% to $1.1 billion, while cloud infrastructure services surged 39% and security revenue grew 10%. But non-GAAP earnings per share fell 8%, while non-GAAP operating margin dropped five percentage points to 25% as investment costs weighed on profitability. 

That is the trade-off I would watch most closely. Akamai is already showing real cloud growth, but investors still need evidence that its spending can translate into stronger earnings.

The Anthropic commitment makes that path more credible. It does not eliminate the execution risk.

Related: Moody’s economist offers hope on America’s $40 trillion debt

Launched by childhood friends Teddy Gailas and Peter Phillips out of the Queens borough of New York in 2017, Chip City Cookies was one of the early breakaway stars of the “cookie wars” that swept the country as a food craze 10 years ago.

The chain made a name for itself through its large, gooey cookies with original rotating flavors dropped on social media prior to being available in stores. It expanded quickly to a peak of nearly 50 locations across states including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, Florida, and Illinois.

But amid the shifting wave of food trends and an economy in which many are watching their spending on artisanal versions of common treats more carefully, the cookie craze appears at a major ebb.

Chip City Cookies abruptly closes all remaining stores

Crumbl, which is another breakaway star and major name in this space, slashed the number of its physical stores by 16% from 2024 to 2025. The 20-year-old New York State cookie bakery The Cookie Factory closed its last remaining brick-and-mortar stores to focus on selling exclusively at supermarkets in August 2026.

While observant fans noticed that Chip City Cookies had closed some stores in states like Connecticut earlier in September, chain president Nicolas Baizan just took to social media to say that it is permanently shuttering its last 22 remaining locations at the end of business hours on Oct. 2.

Read Now: Viral cookie chain leaves key market, closes all stores

“Despite extensive efforts to stabilize our business in the face of significant macro-economic headwinds, we have made the very difficult decision to close all of our Chip City locations,” Chip City Cookies said in its statement. “We are grateful to our dedicated employees and loyal customers who have supported us for the past 10 years.”

Chip City opened during the “cookie wars” phase in 2017 by Teddy Gailas and Peter Phillips.Chip City

‘Consumers are spending less and their preferences are evolving:’ Chip City Cookies on abrupt closures

Bazin went on to name “a challenging environment” and “consumers [who…] are spending less” as the main factor that “negatively impacted our sales.”

The abrupt collapse of what was once a breakout star in the food world backed by New York restaurateur and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer sent shockwaves through the industry as well as fans (part of the chain’s success came from its cult following of diehard fans).

Locals near the location on Columbus Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper West Side also reported seeing police officers from the NYPD Evidence Collection Team going inside the shop on the morning of Oct. 2.

More Retail And Travel News:

Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.

Taco Bell to bring back five favorites after 20 years

153-year-old footwear retailer quietly closes 40 stores

While Chip City previously told customers in stores that were announced as closing earlier in the month that any pre-purchased gift cards could be used at other locations throughout October, the abrupt shutdown makes it highly unlikely that these will have any use.

The collapse also comes just several days after founder Peter Phillips sued the company. According to the lawsuit, Phillips was to remain with the company until December after Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality Investments took a majority stake in the brand in March 2026.

Phillips’ suit goes on to claim that the new majority owners pressured him to surrender web domains and sign third-party borrower authorization documents on five small-business loans in order for this agreement to be honored.

Related: Popular chicken chain exits market, closes more locations