Intel, Palo Alto Networks, GoodRx, Duolingo and BHP Group

Shares in Intel popped 5% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, following reports of major investments in the struggling chipmaker.

Japanese company Softbank Group (9984.T) announced on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement with Intel to buy $2bn of its common stock.

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, said: “This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role.”

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported on Monday that the Trump administration is in talks to take a stake of about 10% in Intel.

Shares in Palo Alto Networks (PANW) jumped more than 5% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, after the US cybersecurity firm's latest quarterly earnings beat expectations.

Palo Alto posted a 16% rise in revenue in the fourth quarter to $2.54bn, compared with estimates of $2.5bn, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $0.95 were also ahead of the $0.89 expected by analysts.

Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, said: “We exited fiscal year 2025 with an acceleration in RPO [remaining performance obligations], and surpassed the $10bn revenue run-rate milestone, positioning ourselves well for sustained growth ahead.”

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For the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, Palo Alto guided to total revenue in the range of $2.45bn to $2.47bn, which would represent year-on-year growth of 15%. The company said it expected to report earnings per share of $0.88 to $0.90.

As for the full year ahead, Palo Alto expects total revenue to be in the range of $10.475bn to $10.525bn and earnings per share of $3.75 to $3.85.

Shares in GoodRx (GDRX) soared more than 37% on Monday and were up a further 3.5% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, after the telemedicine platform operator announced a collaboration with Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B.CO, NVO).

GoodRx said that all strengths of Ozempic and Wegovy pens were available to eligible paying patients in the US for $499 per month through its platform.

The partnership significantly lowered the price of GLP-1 medications, marking the first time Ozempic has been made available to patients at this self-pay price.

Wendy Barnes, CEO of GoodRx, said: “Demand for GLP-1 medications is at an all-time high, but too many Americans still face barriers accessing them. By partnering with Novo Nordisk, we’re taking a significant step forward in making these innovative brand-name treatments more accessible for millions of people who need them.”

The move comes as Novo Nordisk seeks to maintain its share of the weight-loss drug market, amid increasing competition from rivals. On Friday, Novo announced that Wegovy had been approved in the US to treat a form of liver disease.

Shares in Duolingo (DUOL) surged nearly 13% on Monday, after positive news around analyst ratings.

KeyBanc upgraded its rating on the stock to “overweight” from “sector weight”, while Citigroup (C) initiated its coverage of the stock with a “buy” rating.

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Meanwhile, in a New York Times interview published on Sunday, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn responded to the backlash against a memo sent a few months ago, in which it was declared the company would become “AI-first”.

“Internally, this was not controversial,” von Ahn said in the NYT interview. “Externally, as a publicly traded company some people assume that it’s just for profit. Or that we’re trying to lay off humans. And that was not the intent at all.”

On the London market, shares in BHP (BHP.L) rose nearly 2% despite the iron ore company reporting a mixed set of results.

BHP said that attributable profit rose 14% for the year ended 30 June to $9bn, though revenue dipped 8% to £51.3bn.

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Mining giant BHP saw profits fall to a five-year low, as softer iron ore prices weighed on the bottom line. But riding the commodity price wave is part and parcel of being a global miner, and considering where we are in the cycle, performance has been solid.

“Chinese iron ore demand has remained relatively robust, but a general shift to more protectionist trade policies in Western countries is expected to put prices under pressure over the near term.

“What sets BHP apart is its enviable cost base. Its Australian operations deliver ultra-low-cost production, giving it a competitive edge even when prices falter. Meanwhile, the group is steadily ramping up its exposure to copper – a metal with lingering tariff risks but a compelling long-term demand story.

“Management struck an optimistic chord on the broader commodity outlook, underscored by a hike in the dividend payout ratio and a more flexible approach to debt. It’s a signal of confidence, not just in the balance sheet, but in the future of the business.”

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