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The popularity of the fried chicken dining sector is not enough to prevent restaurants from filing for bankruptcy protection and going out of business if negative economic factors prevail.The rising cost of doing business and unsustainable debt are often cited as the top reasons for restaurants’ financial distress, forcing them to close businesses.Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee Sailormen Inc., which operated 136 fried chicken locations when it filed for bankruptcy in January 2026, has rejected 22 leases of locations that it could not sell and will permanently close them.

Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc. divests of all of its restaurant locations.Shutterstock

Sailormen disposes of all locations Sailormen will divest all of its Popeyes businesses after selling 97 of its restaurants to five buyers and closing the remaining 39 locations that it could not sell.The debtor had won approval in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami to reject 18 restaurant leases, consisting of 15 locations in Florida and 3 in Georgia, on June 24.Judge Robert A. Mark approved an amended motion on June 27 to add four lease rejections, which amounted to 19 leases for properties in Florida and 3 leases for Georgia locations.Franchisee filed for bankruptcySailormen Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 15, 2026, submitted a motion in January in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida to reject 17 leases retroactively to Jan. 15 after closing eight locations on Jan. 19, five locations on Jan. 20, and four locations on Jan. 22, according to court papers.The debtor asserted that the leases should be rejected as of the petition date, since the restaurants were closed within one week of the petition date and before the hearing on the debtor’s first-day motions.The Miami, Fla.-based wholly owned subsidiary of Interfoods of America Inc. believed that closing the 17 unprofitable locations would reduce its expenses by over $1 million annually.Operator sells 97 locationsThe franchisee subsequently won Mark’s approval on June 23 to sell 97 of its restaurants for a total of $16.55 million, according to court papers.The restaurants included 50 Florida Popeyes locations sold to Pulse Restaurant Group LLC for $2.69 million, 23 Orlando-area restaurants to RFI Ventures LLC for $2.5 million, 16 Miami-area stores to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. for $9.6 million, 5 Savannah, Ga., locations to SBH Foods PLK LLC for $650,000, and 3 West Palm Beach, Fla.-area restaurants to 61 Biscuits LLC for $1.11 million, according to court orders.Sailormen filed for Chapter 11 protection after a failed sale of certain locations, a default on credit facilities, and a series of lawsuits and store closings caused the company financial distress.The franchisee, which was founded in 1987 with 10 locations, was one of the largest domestic Popeyes franchisees in the company’s system, with 136 locations in Florida and Georgia before it began closing locations. It employed about 2,900 workers before the closures.Fried Chicken most popular fast foodFried chicken dining chains were the most popular subsector of the fast-food industry in 2025, as traffic to chicken concepts increased by 3% for the year ending September 2025, while all concepts dropped 1% compared to the previous year, according to market research firm Circana.The popularity of fried chicken chains can be traced to the variety of chicken options offered at restaurants, such as chicken pieces, chicken fingers, or chicken sandwiches, and how consumers enjoy their choices, an expert says.“This is due to the experiences the brands are creating as well as the variety of chicken and how you can enjoy it,” industry expert Reilly Newman of Motif Brands told The Food Institute. “This comes to no surprise, as the experience economy has been taking root across the globe.Sailormen divested properties:92 Florida restaurants sold.5 Georgia restaurants sold.39 locations closed, leases rejected. Source: U.S. Bankruptcy CourtRelated: Giant troubled satellite TV company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The fierce competition between Coke and Pepsi continues in the exclusive agreements that the companies have with chain restaurants, entertainment venues, and hotel chains such as Marriott International.Costco switched its food court beverage from Coke to Pepsi in 2013, then switch it back to Coke in 2025, according to CostcoInsider. And several restaurant chains switched from Pepsi to Coke in recent years such as Panda Express, which transitioned from Pepsi to Coke, beginning in February 2018, according to a company statement.Arby’s restaurant chain also switched from Pepsi to Coke in 2018 after the sandwich chain’s agreement with Pepsi expired.

Pepsi has lost its exclusive global beverage agreement with Marriott International.Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

Marriott switches from Pepsi to CokeAnd now giant hotel chain Marriott International Inc. has signed a global agreement with The Coca-Cola Company making Coke its global beverage partner, replacing Pepsico after its 34-year agreement with the hotel chain ended.Coca-Cola launched its partnership with Bethesda, Md., hotel chain on July 1 across several drink categories, including carbonated soft drinks and a growing range of hydration and functional beverages, according to a Marriott statement.Coke offered at Marriott in 146 countriesMarriott will introduce Coke products to its guestrooms, restaurants, lounges, meetings and events in about 10,000 properties in 146 countries and territories beginning July 1 and rolling out internationally over the coming months. “This agreement brings together two iconic brands with a shared commitment to quality, consistency, and creating memorable experiences,” Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano said in a statement.”We are focused on delivering the products our guests and Marriott Bonvoy Members know and love, better meeting guest preferences, and creating economic benefits for owners and franchise operators across our system,” Capuano said. “We’re excited to collaborate with The Coca-Cola Company to deliver their great products in more places.”The agreement was developed in collaboration with Hot Shoppe International, Marriott’s global procurement organization, leveraging its scale and supplier network to help drive value for owners and operators worldwide.”This is a great day. On behalf of the entire Coca-Cola system, we’re excited about our future with Marriott and the opportunity to provide travelers more of the brands they love,” Coca-Cola Company CEO Henrique Braun said in a statement.Marriott served Pepsi since 1992Pepsico had been Marriott International’s carbonated beverage provider since 1992 in its lobby markets, restaurants, bars, and in-room dining. The former partners extended their agreement in August 2018, according to a Pepsico statement at the time.Marriott operated 4,000 properties in North America and over 800 hotels globally when it renewed its agreement with Pepsico in 2018.Pepsico and Marriott have not give a specific reason for ending their agreement that lasted over three decades.Marriott and Coca-Cola did not reveal the length of the agreement or any financial details. Marriott’s soda war:Pepsico signs global beverage agreement with Marriott International in 1992.Pepsi renews beverage agreement in 2018. Source: Pepsico.Coca-Cola begins beverage agreement with Marriott International July 1, 2026. Source: MarriottRelated: Giant troubled satellite TV company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Some forms of retail work better in a brick-and-mortar store than they do online.Clothing and footwear, for example, benefits from the ability to try the items on. Even people who wear the same size across multiple brands sometime put on an outfit, a pair of sneakers, or some fancy shoes only to find that they don’t fit right.The internet shines, however, on items that don’t need to be held, touched, or tried on. That has made some retailers more vulnerable than others. Office supply chains, which includes Office Depot and Staples, have been in a slow, steady decline.”Office supply stores as a sector employ some 60,000 people and bring in $10.3 billion in revenue in the U.S., which is projected to decline roughly 2% a year through 2026, according to research firm IBISWorld.That has led to Office Depot closing more than half its stores since 2013, a process that has continued with the chain’s most recent shutdowns.Office Depot has been in a steady declineOffice Depot merged with Office Max in 2013, with the combined chain operating about 1,900 U.S. stores following the merger, according to the Dallas Morning News.At the time of the deal, the two companies said they planned to close 400 stores. The industry was already in decline, according to FOX Business.”Office supply stores are fighting a battle for relevance, with shoppers increasingly buying their paper, toner and technology online from Amazon.com Inc, drugstores or mass merchants. Analysts covering office supply stores have long called for consolidation in what they see as a cluttered sector whose sales crumbled during the last recession,” FOX reported.The company, which is no longer public, reported in a an SEC filing that it had 822 locations as of Nov. 5, 2025.It has continued to shed locations since then, but no longer provides a store count since it does not have to report results as a private company.

Office Depot continues to slowly shrink.Shutterstock

These Office Depot locations have closed since Nov. 2025High Point, NC: Office Depot closed its longtime store at the Peters Plaza IV shopping center at 274 Eastchester Drive on Dec. 20., according to the High Point Enterprise.Fresno, CA: The Office Depot on Divisadero Street shut down Feb. 21 after more than 30 years in business, with employees saying the property owner declined to renew the lease, reported CBS47.Ballard (Seattle), WA: The OfficeMax in Ballard closed April 11, 2026 with the building having been purchased by AutoZone for $7.8 million in late 2025, according to My Ballard.Porterville, CA: The OfficeMax at 1260 W. Henderson Ave., the city’s only major office supply store, is closing, part of a pickup in OfficeMax closures that accelerated in 2025, reported Recorder Online.Merriam, KS: The OfficeMax at Merriam Town Center near Johnson Drive and Antioch Road is closing, with liquidation sales already underway after more than a decade at that location, according to Johnson County Post.The following locations appear to be closed based social media reports, which TheStreet confirmed by using the chain’s store locator tool and seeing that they are no longer listed.Pensacola, FL: The Office Depot at 4337 W. Fairfield Dr. closed in 2026.Albuquerque, NM : The former OfficeMax at 40 Hotel Circle NE closed in 2026.Eugene, OR: The Office Depot at 2859 Chad Dr. is set to close in 2026.Meridian, MS: The Office Depot at 110 15th Place South closed in 2026, per community tracking data; no local news coverage identified. Office Depot continues to close stores.”The retailer is shuttering stores in Grapevine and in Irving, according to signage at the shops on Tuesday [June 30[. It’s not clear when the sites will close. Both had window displays saying they would be open on Independence Day,” the Dallas Morning News reported.Related: Shoppers deliver Macy’s and Kohl’s bad retail newsAmazon has taken market shareOffice supplies like printer paper, pens, notepads, and more are commodities that people can buy without making a dedicated trip.“Even supermarkets have an aisle for office supplies,” IBISWorld Lead Analyst Brigette Thomas told Retail Dive. “But I think the biggest is definitely Amazon.”Amazon has taken office supply sales for much the same reason Walmart and Target took market share from Toys “R” Us years ago. Consumers no longer make a dedicated trip for many commodity purchases. Instead, they buy office supplies while they’re already shopping elsewhere or simply add them to an online order.”Amazon became the largest retailer in the United States in terms of gross merchandise value sometime in 2025, overtaking Walmart, Seeking Alpha reported Thursday (June 25), citing a report by J.P. Morgan.IBISWorld data shows that the decline in the office supplies space has been steady.”The firm noted that office supplies stores as an industry have suffered ‘consistent revenue declines’ every year going back to 2005, due both to competition and the digitization of work itself. The industry declined by an average annual rate of 6.7% since 2016, according to the data.In order for the chain to survive, RTM Nexus CEO Dominick Miserandino believes that a major change is needed.”In most cases, there’s no reason to visit these stores just to buy office supplies,” he told TheStreet. “One of the pivots I’ve been seeing recently though is the office supply stores becoming more in person, event, conference places where you could print your signs and other deliverables.”Related: Nike closes stores, fitness studios, after layoffs

Bloom Energy (BE) is trying to make power part of the artificial intelligence trade.The company is getting a larger role in AI infrastructure after Brookfield expanded its financing framework for AI power projects from $5 billion to $25 billion.The fivefold increase gives Bloom a bigger opening to sell fuel-cell power systems into a market where data-center developers are racing to secure electricity for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.Bloom closed at $302.70 on Jun 30 after the announcement. Shares were up 2% to $308.71 around midday July 1, after trading between $286.51 and $320.00 during the session.Bloom gets a bigger role in AI power buildoutThe expanded partnership is designed to finance power projects for AI infrastructure and accelerate the global deployment of Bloom’s fuel cells.Bloom’s role is centered on onsite power. The company’s fuel-cell systems provide electricity for customers that need reliable power near where it is used, including data centers, semiconductor manufacturing sites, utilities and other commercial and industrial users.Related: JPMorgan resets Bloom Energy stock price targetBrookfield brings the capital. Bloom brings the power platform.The partnership is part of Brookfield’s dedicated AI Infrastructure Fund, which launched in November 2025 with a target to deploy $100 billion. The fund focuses on large AI factories, power solutions, compute infrastructure, and strategic capital partnerships.For Bloom, the deal adds scale to an AI power narrative that has already attracted major customers. Reuters reported that Bloom has deployed its fuel-cell technology to data centers through partnerships with American Electric Power (AEP), Equinix (EQIX), and Oracle (ORCL).”Scaling this partnership further strengthens Brookfield’s position as one of the leading global AI infrastructure investors, capable of delivering end-to-end solutions, from electrons to tokens, for some of the world’s most sophisticated customers,” said Sikander Rashid, head of AI Infrastructure at Brookfield.The phrase “from electrons to tokens” captures why the deal drew investor attention,  showing that the AI trade is no longer only about the chips that process data or the cloud platforms that host workloads. It is also about the electricity needed to keep those systems running.Why AI data centers need more powerData-center operators are increasingly turning to nuclear power, renewables and fuel cells to meet rising electricity needs from AI and cloud computing, Reuters reported.The pressure is growing quickly. Reuters reported in June that Goldman Sachs expects U.S. data-center electricity demand to rise from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts in 2027.More AI:Goldman Sachs has blunt message for AI stock investorsMicrosoft CEO sends a blunt warning on AI and the tech ecosystemThe next AI infrastructure race has nothing to do with chipsThe soaring demand is making electricity supply a strategic issue for data-center developers, pushing them to seek ways to overcome grid-connection delays and source power more quickly.Bloom’s fuel-cell systems are built for that kind of demand. They can provide onsite power near customers rather than relying solely on traditional grid connections. For AI developers, faster access to power can affect how quickly they bring new data-center capacity online.Bloom’s AI opportunity comes with testsThe Brookfield expansion gives Bloom a stronger position in one of the fastest-growing corners of AI infrastructure.But it also raises the bar for the company. Investors will want to see how quickly projects move from funding commitments to deployments, how much revenue Bloom can capture, and whether the company can scale its fuel-cell systems while protecting margins.The expectations are already high.Barron’s reported that Bloom Energy stock has surged more than 1,000% over the past 12 months as investors have looked for AI infrastructure power plays. The outlet also reported that Evercore ISI raised its price target on Bloom from $295 to $350, citing the company’s ability to provide clean, reliable and dispatchable power for AI training.

The Energy Bloom stock has soared in the last year.aire images / Getty Images

The stock move shows that execution is important. A company can benefit from a powerful theme and still face investor pressure if project timelines, margins, or customer demand do not meet expectations.Bloom’s advantage lies in its being tied to a clear need. The deal gives the company a larger financing platform for AI infrastructure power projects and brings it closer to data-center developers trying to solve power constraints. For those developers, the issue is not just securing electricity, but getting it quickly enough to keep AI projects on schedule.The risk is that the market has already priced in a lot of that opportunity.The next test is whether Bloom can turn that demand into real deployments, revenue and profit.Related: Analysts reset Bloom Energy rating as stock explodes higher

Robinhood spent Wednesday announcing a slew of new crypto and AI features at a keynote event in London, but perhaps one of its biggest changes happened offscreen, unannounced to the public.Per documents reviewed by TheStreet, Robinhood quietly added Foreign Transaction Fees (FTFs) to its 3% cash back credit card, the Robinhood Gold Card. Across its website, mentions of “No transaction fees” have been wiped. However, controversially, it appears that the changes were made without informing cardmembers. That’s because, confusingly, these new stipulations might not affect all of them. When did Robinhood Gold Card start charging fees?Robinhood Gold Card user Neil Sarkar flagged the new foreign transaction fees on Reddit’s r/CreditCards community Wednesday night, just over two weeks after being approved for the card. Sarkar told TheStreet that when he was approved, he knew the card did not have any foreign transaction fees. Doing research for an upcoming trip, he found the new language in the company’s FAQ and posted about it.

We reviewed older versions of Robinhood’s FAQ, including its official Rates and Fees Table for the card, and found that the changes have happened in just the last few days. That’s despite indications that the cardholder policies had not been updated since Aug. 8, 2025. Obviously, that couldn’t be the case. Users on Reddit indicated that they reached out to Robinhood Support and heard that these changes happened on Jul. 1, 2026. A support representative for Robinhood told one user that Robinhood added the new foreign exchange fee for “customers who are onboarded on or after 7/1.”That might be why the “changes” weren’t declaredCharitably, this might be why the changes to the foreign transaction fee were not declared to existing Robinhood Gold cardholders. It’s because they don’t apply to them. However, a lack of communication certainly added to confusion.After all, the company’s new policy clearly states that “3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction made in a foreign currency” will be subject to the fees. It also doesn’t make clear how older and newer users are subject to the fee.To better understand the changes, we reached out to Robinhood directly. We await their response and clarity on how FTFs will look for both old and new cardholders alike.Does this affect the Robinhood Platinum Card?Notably, the changes do not affect Robinhood’s newer Robinhood Platinum Card. For now, the language on the invite-only ‘premium’ contender is unchanged. In fact, the product’s page calls out “No foreign transaction fees” still.This is understandable for a premium card. Most premium credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees as a benefit of card membership. This is part of what you’re paying for when you drop $695, $795, or even $895 on an annual fee.Why did Robinhood make this change?We have reached out to Robinhood to understand the reasons behind these changes, but it’s hard to see it as anything more than an economic decision. A few months back, they quietly eliminated a 5% cash back earnings rate on purchases made through its own Travel Portal. And now, this.The Robinhood Gold credit card already offers best-in-class rewards, with 3% cash back on most purchases. There are evidently some exclusions on the card, like tax and rent payments. However, that cash back rate on virtually all other purchases and no foreign transaction fees (FTFs) was an extremely generous offer, especially given the regulations and limits on credit cards outside of the U.S. market.For instance, the U.S. does not require routing of debit or credit card transactions to the cheapest payment network, or implement “interchange ceilings”, which are basically limits on what credit card networks can charge merchants. A lot of these fees on merchants come back to consumers in the form of rewards or cash back. That said, even Robinhood’s 3% cash back isn’t fully funded by U.S. interchange fees. We don’t know particulars, but most Visa programs earn interchange fees of between 1.4% and 2.7%. The remainder is paid up by Robinhood. Robinhood is presumably tired of making up for this in international markets like Europe and Asia, where there are strict rules on routing and interchange that affect the economics of their card. In these markets, Robinhood is probably taking brutal losses by offering 3% cash back. So in an apparent move to disincentivize that behavior, it’s now nerfing one of the major draws of the card product.

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 dealGrocery shopping is one weekly expense that never seems to fail to shock us when we glance at that final receipt. With the way things have been priced lately, it feels like it’s becoming the norm to blow a couple of hundred dollars during a quick trip to the store. However, we don’t always have the budget to do that, which is why when it comes to food, we’re always on the lookout and ready to load up when a good deal hits shelves. The only problem with that? Not having enough space to store it. Thankfully, you can still score those grocery store savings with the help of a mini chest freezer, like the Tacool Mini Chest Freezer, which makes preserving protein, bulk meats, produce, ready-to-eat meals, bread, ice cream and so much more.Thanks to the extra space you get from something like the Tacool Mini Chest Freezer, you can stock up with no worries about where you’re going to store everything. Not only are they perfect for households that buy in bulk, but they help declutter your in-kitchen freezer and can help keep food frozen longer when emergency situations strike and power outages occur. And what’s even better? The Tacool Mini Chest Freezer is on sale at Target right at Walmart for 44% off. You can save $70 on the originally-priced $160 freezer by getting it for only $90 if you act quickly. Tacool Mini Chest Freezer, $90 (was $160) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?The convenient thing about chest freezers is that you don’t usually have to worry about finding space in your kitchen for them. They’re typically stored in garages and basements, out of the way but close enough to a standard 120-volt AC wall outlet. What many don’t know is that freezer chests are actually among some of the most energy-efficient appliances available, so while the addition of another electrical appliance might cause you to pause for worries about increasing your electricity bill, running one on average can cost less than $50 a year. A ches freezer retains the cold better because of its tighter seals, and because you’re not opening it as frequently as your upright kitchen freezer, it retains its chill for far longer. The top-lid design keeps the cold air from spilling out since it stays low and close to the bottom, whereas an upright design has air spilling out as soon as you open it.The chest provides a remarkable amount of space for food storage. Measuring 17.3 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 29.6 inches high, the freezer provides 3.5 cubic feet of space perfect for storing frozen foods, bulk items, and meal prep. What’s nice about this chest is that although it provides a ton of storage space it’s not overly large and clunky. It’s compact and sleek, so it won’t dominate the area wherever it is stored. It easily fits into tight crevices in kitchens, garages, RVs, and dorm rooms. The chest has seven temperature modes, ranging between -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit at level 7 up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at level one. This means you can choose whether the freezer actually acts like a freezer for meat and ice cream or more like a fridge for produce and drinks. Related: Amazon has a 5-pack of food storage containers with a removable colanders for $21 ahead of Prime DayIt features metal double hinges for a smooth opening and closing experience, two bottom wheels for easy maneuvering, two adjustable feet, and two removable interior storage baskets for items you want quick and easy access to. What to expect from a $90 mini chest freezer: Pros and consProsSleek design with ample storage: The petite freezer is shockingly spacious inside, offering 3.5 cubic feet of storage space. Versatile in use: With seven temperature modes ranging between -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you can adjust the chest to the most optimal storage conditions for whatever you’re storing. Energy-efficient: Freezer chests are more energy-efficient than the standard upright versions most folks use in their kitchen. ConsEasily damaged: The exterior can be dented or damaged if you aren’t careful when you’re installing. Shoppers love how great this is for expanding your storage space when you feel limited. “Just what I needed to keep a supply of frozen meat and veggies on hand. It has lots of room and keeps everything just right,” one shopper said. It’s perfect for smaller homes, apartments, and door rooms, as well as on RVS and boats. With the various temperature modes and petite size, the possibilities are endless. Shop more deals Frigidaire Built-in Dishwasher, $299 (was $399) at WalmartHamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven, $59 (was $80) at WalmartBeautiful 2-Slice Toaster, $36 (was $46) at WalmartEveryone can always use some more space, and with the Tacool Mini Chest Freezer you can ensure that your groceries last longer and your money never goes to waste. 

Sandisk (SNDK) has gained about 762.52% year to date at the time of writing, Wednesday afternoon, July 1. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 index (SPY) is up about 9.54% in the same period.The third-largest enterprise solid-state drive (SSD) manufacturer has outpaced the S&P 500 by a wide margin, thanks to its position in the semiconductor sector, which is rallying on the AI boom.Positive news driving Sandisk’s stock includes:Intel’s first-quarter earnings boosted confidence in the semiconductor sector.Bank of America revised its semiconductor industry forecast.The stock closed 10.62% down, as the semiconductor sector is facing a somewhat prolonged sell-off. The drop comes despite Bernstein’s recent price target raise to $3,000.Contrary to current sentiment, a research note shared with me, Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan and his team reiterated a bullish view on SanDisk and raised their price target.Bank of America raises Sandisk stock price targetThe team believes that the supply-and-demand imbalance in the NAND market will persist through the calendar year 2027. This should enable SanDisk to maintain pricing power for longer.In its third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year 2026, SanDisk reported that it ended the quarter with three signed New Business Model (“NBM”) agreements and signed two additional NBM agreements in the fiscal fourth quarter.These are multiyear contracts that improve revenue visibility.Analysts said they expect a majority of cloud and client-segment customers to eventually sign NBM agreements.Looking ahead, the team said they believe that Q4 fiscal year 2026 revenue and EPS will be $9.1 billion and $37.01, respectively. They noted that their estimates are higher than the Wall Street consensus, at $8.35 billion in revenue and $34.26 in EPS.Mohan reiterated a buy rating on SanDisk stock and raised the price target to $2,500 from $2,100, based on a 10x multiple.What do other analysts think, and how does Bank of America’s opinion compare? According to MarketBeat, 21 of the 25 analysts covering Sandisk stock rate it a buy. Four give a hold rating. The average price target is $1,684.24.Bank of America flags risks for Sandisk outlookMemory stocks are known for suffering from boom-and-bust cycles. The AI data center build-out and huge capital expenditure plans from hyperscalers have created an abnormally long boom part of the cycle for memory stocks.The team noted that oversupply could cause a sharp drop in NAND prices.Mohan wrote: “Some clients have expressed concern on long-term sustainability of memory demand if AI driven purchases are lower than expected.”Analysts said that a rapid ramp by China-based competitor Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) could impact NAND pricing due to additional supply entering the market, adding that they believe YMTC will focus on the China market.More tech stocks:Bank of America resets Intel stock price targetMorgan Stanley resets Nvidia stock forecast after key eventBank of America resets Broadcom stock price target after earningsThe Department of War recently released a list of Chinese Military Companies in Accordance With Section 1260H. We can call this simply the Pentagon’s blacklist, and YMTC is on it.Bank of America’s view that YMTC will focus on the Chinese market makes even more sense, given that it is on that blacklist.However, the latest developments in the market, driven by the aggressive pricing of memory chips, might change that.

Micron’s Q3 FY26 GAAP gross margin was 84.6%, and for Q4, it expects 86%.Shutterstock

Memory cartel’s prices provoke Apple’s lobbyingJust like Sandisk has implemented NBM contracts, which are multiyear agreements, so has Micron (MU). Micron is the third-largest supplier of memory chips, and it has shifted its business model towards what it calls strategic customer agreements (SCAs).In a way, memory chip manufacturers are behaving like a cartel. Bank of America calls this “increasing supply-side discipline.”We can see the results from Sandisk’s Q3, which reported a GAAP gross margin of 78.4%, and it expects gross margin in the range of 78.9% to 80.9% in Q4. Micron’s Q3 FY26 GAAP gross margin was 84.6%, and for Q4, it expects 86%.These are incredible margins for hardware companies, but they are putting pressure on the non-AI part of the tech industry, prompting an unusual reaction.Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to buy memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), which is on the Pentagon’s blacklist.CXMT isn’t a threat to Sandisk, as it only makes DRAM, but if one company gets the Pentagon’s green light, that opens the door for YMTC.On top of this China problem, memory companies are ignoring the bigger issue: the macroeconomic effects of their pricing.High memory prices might be a one headwind too many for the AI bubbleThe AI bubble is already facing several headwinds.Tech writer and prominent AI skeptic Ed Zitron published leaked OpenAI’s audited financial statements, which were verified by the Financial Times. This revealed an impressive increase in OpenAI’s net loss, from $5.09 billion in 2024 to $38.53 billion in 2025.OpenAI is considering postponing its IPO until 2027, The New York Times reported.To make matters worse for OpenAI, the era of “tokenmaxxing” has ended. Or, to put it simply, many companies are capping their use of AI because it is too expensive.This has led OpenAI to consider drastically lowering its prices, according to the Wall Street Journal.An unprofitable company at the center of the AI bubble is delaying its IPO and considering lowering prices.After all the talk about demand for compute being sky-high, Meta has revealed it plans to launch a cloud infrastructure business to sell its excess capacity, Bloomberg reported.This is the second company with an “excess” supercomputer capacity. The first one was xAI, when it decided to rent Colossus 1 to Anthropic.Hyperscalers confirmed huge capital expenditures for this year. The surging prices of memory must be pushing them even higher.But if the companies aren’t willing to pay high costs of AI models, and the companies making these models are unprofitable, yet they are the ones that need the capacity, why is this capacity being built?Related: Bank of America resets Marvell stock price target

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 dealThere’s no device better suited for a productive day than a traditional laptop, but a smartphone is more convenient for everyday entertainment, whether you prefer to binge-watch shows on Netflix, stay connected with family on social media, or play irresistible mobile games. A tablet with a keyboard blends the best of both worlds, giving you a more spacious and easy-to-navigate touchscreen for your downtime needs while providing a better typing experience for work and school tasks.You don’t need to break the bank to add this handy electronic to your collection, because the Antemper 2-in-1 Tablet and Laptop is an extra 11% off with a weekly Flash deal at Walmart. At its regular price of $96, this device was a popular pick for its powerful performance and affordability, but it’s even more budget-friendly at just $85 now. The 10.1-inch Android 14 tablet would be a bargain on its own, but you’ll also get a Bluetooth keyboard, wireless mouse, stylus pen, protective case, and all the cords and cables you’ll need with this purchase, making it an unbeatable value.Antemper 2-in-1 Tablet and Laptop, $85 (was $96) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?The shopper-approved selection is backed by perfect five-star ratings from 68% of reviewers. One shopper who purchased it for the office loved how it has “everything you need all in one box,” which includes the 10.1-inch tablet and all the accessories you’d usually have to purchase separately. They added, “We bought six total, if that tells you what we think of them!”This two-in-one tablet and laptop gives you the superior functionality of a laptop without the high price tag. Running on the Android 14 operating system and equipped with a high-performance octa-core processor, it’s a reliable, powerful, and user-friendly device that offers access to your favorite apps, like Facebook, WhatsApp, Roblox, or YouTube. The 10.1-inch high-definition display offers crisp visuals with rich colors that bring movies and photographs to life. Additionally, you’ll enjoy a better viewing experience, as the tablet comes with eye-protection technology that filters out harmful blue light. Related: Amazon has a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet for just $60 that comes in 3 colors”Great processor, awesome picture quality, strong, sturdy build, and it handles mid-level games well too,” one shopper raved. Since the tablet comes built with 8 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 128 GB of ROM, you’ll have no problem with basic tasks and switching between applications. Compared to other tablets, this one is just as impressive, with the reviewer reporting, “I have a Samsung as well, and it’s difficult to distinguish between the two.”Pros and cons of the $85 Antemper 2-in-1 tablet and laptopPros:It works as a mini laptop: By adding the Bluetooth keyboard to the tablet, you’ve essentially turned it into a mini laptop. It comes with everything you need. This electronics bundle comes with a tablet, keyboard, mouse, stylus, protective case, screen protectors, charging cable, and adapter.It’s an exceptional value: For just $85, you’ve got a full-functioning tablet that can be converted into a laptop for basic tasks.Cons:It’s not for advanced computing: While this tablet does come with more memory than many, it won’t have the power to work with large data files or perform advanced gaming.It’s a smaller tablet: It’s larger than your standard smartphone, but this tablet is on the smaller side.Shop more 2-in-1 tablet and laptop dealsAeezo 10.1-Inch Tablet and Keyboard Set, $76 (was $110) at WalmartTabureto Android 15 with Bluetooth Keyboard, $115 at WalmartHeadwolf 2-in-1 Android Tablet and Keyboard, $100 (was $200) at WalmartUpgrade your everyday electronics setup with the Antemper 2-in-1 Tablet and Laptop for just $85 at Walmart. The best Walmart Flash deals typically sell out, so don’t wait to secure this tablet and keyboard for yourself.

Broadcom’s (AVGO) stock took a downward turn in June.Shares fell more than 16% during the month, the worst stretch since March 2025. AVGO closed at $377.75 on July 1, nearly 18% off its highs from a month earlier.Now, a fresh securities filing shows one of the company’s top executives, Mark Brazeal, sold a large block of stock right in the middle of that slide.Mark Brazeal, Broadcom’s Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer, isn’t a household name. However, his trading activity offers a window into what insiders are doing while retail investors watch the AVGO stock chart turn red.Wall Street still likes the stock on paper. But the gap between analyst price targets and AVGO’s actual trading price keeps widening. This raises a critical question: Why are top insiders cashing out now?Broadcom’s top lawyer cashed out $9.68M in stockMark Brazeal sold 25,000 Broadcom shares on June 25 at $387.00 apiece, for a total of $9.68 million, Investing.com reported. The report cited a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29.The transaction was a direct sale, not one automatically triggered by vesting. MarketScreener confirmed that after the sale, Brazeal still directly owns 244,989 Broadcom shares. Related: Micron Technology’s stock buybacks explainedThat stake includes 123,750 restricted stock units, meaning a large chunk of his position hasn’t matured yet and remains tied to Broadcom’s future performance.This wasn’t his first sale of the year. According to Investing.com, Brazeal sold $3.17 million in mid-June. He also sold $10.4 million in January, Investing.com reported. That puts his 2026 sales above $23 million. Since then, the company’s shares have dipped further, closing near $377.75 by July 1, just below his sale price.

Broadcom shares have slid more than 16% in June 2026, even as company insiders continue selling stock.Narumon Bowonkitwanchai / Getty Images

Why Broadcom insiders keep selling into a rough stretchBrazeal isn’t selling alone. Broadcom co-founder and chairman Henry Samueli has offloaded more than $651 million in stock over the past three months, and filed to sell another $71 million on June 29, TradingView reported.CEO Hock Tan sold 300,000 shares worth about $101.3 million earlier this year, and Finbold noted other executives have trimmed positions too. More AI Chip Stocks:JPMorgan resets Broadcom stock price targetHSBC just raised its Micron price target for the 5th timeOpenAI just built a chip to cut Nvidia out of one jobThe sale follows the release of Broadcom’s second quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on June 3. According to Broadcom’s release, Revenue hit a record $22.19 billion, up 48% compared to last year. The company’s AI semiconductor revenue also jumped 143% to $10.8 billion.Despite this, shares still fell more than 12% the next session, as investors focused on declining gross margins of approximately 74%.What the sale means for AVGO investorsInsider sales like Brazeal’s aren’t automatically a bearish signal. Executives often sell shares to cover taxes, diversify, or lock in gains. Broadcom shares are still up about 8% so far this year, though that trails the 104% gain in the chip-focused iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX), TradingView noted.Wall Street remains largely positive about the stock. Of 48 analysts covering AVGO, 44 rate it a buy or higher, and the average price target near $523.73 implies a roughly 41% projected gain, according to Koyfin data cited by Yahoo Finance.That gap between sentiment and price action is worth watching ahead of Broadcom’s third quarter report. However, a single executive’s stock sale rarely tells the whole story.CEO Hock Tan has guided AI semiconductor revenue to grow over 200% compared to last year, hitting $16 billion after the OpenAI chip deal. For long-term shareholders, that execution likely matters more than any single filing. What to watch next:Whether Broadcom’s third quarter outlook holds up when results land later this year.How quickly the OpenAI-designed Jalapeno chip scales toward its planned late-2026 deployment.Whether the pace of insider selling slows once current RSU vesting windows close.Related: Micron just dethroned Nvidia in one key way

Oracle shares closed lower for a seventh straight session on Tuesday, slipping 0.82% to $146.55, according to a Seeking Alpha report.The stock has now fallen more than 55% from its 52 week high near $346, according to Seeking Alpha market data. What makes this stretch different is not the price action itself. It is what showed up in Oracle’s own paperwork days earlier.Oracle built its name as an enterprise database and software company before pivoting hard into AI data center infrastructure, positioning itself as a landlord for AI compute rather than just a software vendor.That pivot is now central to how investors value the stock.What changed in Oracle’s own filingOracle filed its fiscal 2026 annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23.Buried in the risk factors section is language the company did not carry a year ago, according to the filing.Oracle now warns that if it cannot secure data center capacity at affordable rates, or fails to plan its infrastructure buildout properly, its profitability could decline.Oracle also added a separate warning in the same annual report that its AI products might not perform as expected. That outcome could hurt both its reputation and its revenue.A company that has spent two years selling investors on an AI supercycle just told the SEC, in writing, that the buildout itself carries real financial risk.

Oracle shares fell for a seventh straight session as a new SEC filing warned that its AI data center buildout could pressure profitability.Bloomberg / Getty Images

Why the timing lines upCompanies revise risk factors every year, and most edits are cosmetic. This one is not. Oracle has committed nearly $250 billion to long term data center leases running 15 to 20 years, according to a Fortune report.Those lease payments do not shrink if AI demand slows.Crucially, Oracle’s balance sheet does have one operational shock absorber: the company doesn’t actually begin paying rent to its data center landlords until those facilities are built out and fully functional.That buys Oracle some structural breathing room during the physical construction phase. However, once the lights flip on, the 15-to-20-year clock starts ticking, whether a tenant is ready to occupy the server racks or notRelated: The new phase of the bull market — and how to buy inOracle also said it plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion in debt and equity during 2026 to keep funding its buildout, Fortune reported.That is new financing layered on top of commitments Oracle already carries for the next two decades. The new risk language effectively puts that math in writing for the first time.The customer concentration behind the warningOracle’s AI infrastructure growth leans heavily on one relationship. The company signed a roughly $300 billion, multiyear deal to supply data center capacity to OpenAI, according to a separate Fortune report. That contract anchors the growth story Oracle has told analysts for the past year.It also means a large share of Oracle’s future cloud revenue depends on one counterparty’s demand holding up. If OpenAI’s compute needs shift or its financing tightens, Oracle absorbs that exposure directly through the leases and debt already on its books.To be fair, OpenAI isn’t exactly running on fumes. The company’s record-breaking $122 billion funding round in March closed at an $852 billion valuation, providing a massive capital cushion.More Oracle:Oracle stock suffers its worst weekly slump since the 2001 dot-com bustOracle stock analyst reboots outlook as costs spark debateBank of America aggressively revamps Oracle stock price targetBut even with a war chest that size, a multiyear contract obligations structure means Oracle is explicitly tying its long-term financial health to the staying power of a single generative AI leader.That concentration is likely why a routine sounding filing update is drawing attention instead of being filed away as boilerplate.What the losing streak is actually pricingNone of this means Oracle’s AI strategy is wrong. Demand for AI training and inference capacity is real, and Oracle positioned itself early as a primary supplier rather than a bystander.Seven straight red sessions look more like a market pricing execution risk than a market rejecting the thesis outright.ORCL shares are trading lower today, currently down $3.35 (or 2.29%) as of mid-afternoon. This follows a trend from yesterday, June 30, when the stock closed at $146.55.Investors saw the stock open this morning at $144.49, briefly reaching a session high of $147.55 before the recent pullback.Oracle is not alone in funding AI buildout with debt instead of free cash flow, a shift from how tech companies have historically paid for growth.What sets Oracle apart is how directly its own filing now states the downside case, in the company’s own words, rather than leaving investors to infer it from bond spreads or analyst notes.The next real test comes at Oracle’s following earnings report, when investors get an updated read on backlog conversion against the capital already committed.Until then, the open question is not whether Oracle can build the data centers. It is whether the company can carry the debt long enough for that capacity to start paying for itself.Related: Oracle stock suffers its worst weekly slump since 2001 dot-com bust