Smartbird, Inc.

Apple's CEOs, Intel & AI, and Another SaaSpocalype

Key Points
Allbirds shares spiked on chatter of a radical pivot from shoes to an unproven GPU cloud venture.
Investors face major uncertainty until SEC filings clarify any sale, new strategy, or leadership.
A once-troubled footwear stock may be reinventing itself as an AI infrastructure play, chasing the GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS) boom and sparking wild trading swings. Watch the video below to see why this dramatic pivot has investors both intrigued and wary.
*This video was published on April 20, 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Should you buy stock in Allbirds right now?
Before you buy stock in Allbirds, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Allbirds wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $511,411!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,238,736!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 986% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 199% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
David Meier has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Jason Moser has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Jim Gillies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Allbirds' Sudden Pivot to "Newbird AI" Sends Shares Soaring -- but Investors Should Treat This GPUaaS Story With Caution

(1:00) - What Is Behind The Recent Surge In Memory Stocks?
(4:45) - How Will Google’s New Approach Impact The Industry?
(6:40) - Roundhill Memory ETF: DRAM
(10:00) - Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF: MAGS
(15:25) - Roundhill Meme Stock ETF: MEME
(19:40) - What Themes Should Investors Be Watching Right Now?
(22:30) - Episode Roundup: SNDK, MU, STX, WDC, CAR, BIRD, XDIV
In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Dave Mazza, CEO at Roundhill Investments, about the “Mag 7,” red-hot memory stocks, and a few other interesting corners of the market.
The Roundhill Memory ETF DRAM has become the hottest new ETF of 2026, surpassing $1 billion in AUM in only 10 trading days. SanDisk SNDK is up more than 2,880% over the past 12 months.
Other names like Micron MU and Western Digital WDC have also seen strong gains amid concerns about a potential shortage of memory chips, which are critical inputs for AI data centers.
Two other major players in the space, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, are listed in South Korea and are not very easy to access for US-based investors. DRAM is the first US-listed ETF to offer targeted exposure to global memory semiconductor companies.
These stocks pulled back sharply late last month after reports that Google GOOGL may have developed a technology that reduces the amount of memory required for large language models. How could Google’s new approach impact the outlook for memory stocks?
Big tech stocks had struggled earlier this year. There were concerns about heavy spending by the hyperscalers Microsoft MSFT, Alphabet, Amazon AMZN, and Meta Platforms META, and whether those massive investments will ultimately generate strong returns.
At the same time, there were worries about disruption in certain areas from AI. Can the recent bounce in the Mag 7 stocks continue?
Meme stocks like Allbirds BIRD and Avis CAR have soared lately. But investors should be cautious about these short-term, risky bets.
Tune in to the podcast to learn more.
Be sure to look out for the next edition of ETF Spotlight, and remember to subscribe!
If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@zacks.com
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Memory Mania, Mag 7 Rebound, & More

Key Points
Allbirds stock initially rose 500% on news of its pivot into AI.
The company's stock has lost nearly 98% of its value since its IPO in late 2021.
It'll be one of the most bizarre headlines you'll read in 2026. Allbirds (NASDAQ: BIRD), the eco-friendly sneaker brand once valued at more than $4 billion, announced it is leaving the shoe business entirely and making a full pivot into artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Allbirds will sell its remaining intellectual property and shoe assets to American Exchange Group and rebrand as NewBird AI. It's not exactly a natural or expected move into AI, but the stock still shot up more than 500% on the news.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Investors really need to know two things about this skyrocketing jump.
1. Change of business plan
The new Allbirds company will operate as a GPU-as-a-service and AI solutions cloud provider going forward. An unnamed institutional investor backs the new company and plans to grow its neocloud platform, expand partnerships, and use M&A tactics to achieve its goals. The institutional investor made a definitive agreement with Allbirds for a $50 million convertible financing facility. This money will fully enable the jump into AI.
2. Reasons for skepticism
More than being surprised, investors should exercise caution. This pivot isn't just surprising; it feels a lot like a play to attract meme stock attention. The company could definitely succeed, but given its late and unusual start in the AI race, it may face more challenges than opportunities ahead. Competition in this space is fierce and incredibly well-funded.
Still, Allbirds isn't the first company to pivot into a completely new line of business; from dot-com rebranding to sudden crypto-mining interests, it's been done before with varying levels of success. Allbirds investors will be anxious to see how this move from comfort to compute plays out.
Should you buy stock in Allbirds right now?
Before you buy stock in Allbirds, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Allbirds wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $524,786!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,236,406!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 199% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 18, 2026.
Catie Hogan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Things to Know About the Allbirds Pivot Into AI

In this video, I will cover ASML's (NASDAQ: ASML) earnings report and the recent updates regarding Meta, Broadcom, CoreWeave, and Allbirds. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.
*Stock prices used were from the trading day of April. 15, 2026. The video was published on April. 15, 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Should you buy stock in ASML right now?
Before you buy stock in ASML, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and ASML wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $573,160!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,204,712!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,002% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 15, 2026.
Neil Rozenbaum has positions in CoreWeave and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Broadcom, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Company That Makes Every AI Chip Possible Just Reported, and What It Said Should Excite Every Investor

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) rose 0.80% to 7,022.95, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) climbed 1.59% to 24,016.02 as both set new all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) slipped 0.15% to 48,463.72.
Market movers
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) both gained following strong quarterly earnings today. Shares in popular low-cost broker, Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) increased by more than 10% after the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a new proposal on day-trading rules for retail investors.
Allbirds (NASDAQ:BIRD) soared more than 580% after pivoting from footwear to an AI-focused business model, while ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) sank despite solid earnings.
What this means for investors
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both set new records today as stocks rebound on hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted, and oil prices remain elevated though they fell slightly. Optimism about peace negotiations, combined with a strong start to the earnings season, buoyed markets.
Tech stocks, including some software leaders, helped lift the Nasdaq as investors regained some appetite for risk. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) extended their gains. ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), which have taken a battering this year, were both in the green.
The economic impact of the recent energy price hike remains unclear, but markets are showing resilience. For long-term investors, maintaining a diversified portfolio with a mix of geographic, industry, and asset exposure remains a good way to navigate geopolitical upheaval.
Should you buy stock in S&P 500 Index right now?
Before you buy stock in S&P 500 Index, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and S&P 500 Index wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $573,160!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,204,712!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,002% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 15, 2026.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, April 15: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Reach New Highs

Tapestry, Inc.’s TPR flagship Coach brand continues to deliver exceptional momentum, emerging as the key driver of the company’s strong second-quarter fiscal 2026 performance. Coach’s sustained brand heat, strong customer acquisition and product innovation are reinforcing its position in the accessible luxury market while supporting Tapestry’s long-term growth outlook.
During the quarter, Coach posted 25% year-over-year revenue growth, significantly outpacing expectations and accelerating from the prior quarter. The brand added 2.9 million customers globally, with Gen Z shoppers remaining a major growth engine. Management highlighted that rising relevance among younger consumers is also positively influencing demand across older demographics, broadening the brand’s reach and durability.
A major pillar of this momentum remains Coach’s core leather goods business, where demand stayed broad-based across key franchises such as Tabby, Brooklyn and the New York family. Importantly, both average unit retail and unit volumes grew at mid-teen rates, signaling healthy full-price demand rather than promotion-led sales. This reflects the brand’s strong value proposition, craftsmanship and disciplined pricing strategy.
Geographically, Coach’s momentum was equally compelling, with North America sales up 27%, Greater China rising 37% and Europe increasing 26%. These gains underline the brand’s global resonance and effective regional execution, supported by targeted marketing investments and immersive retail experiences.
Tapestry remains confident in Coach’s long-term trajectory, supported by a strong innovation pipeline, sustained marketing investments and immersive retail experiences. With management targeting Coach to evolve into a $10-billion brand over time, its current momentum reinforces its role as a durable and scalable growth engine within the company’s broader strategy.
TPR’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Tapestry have soared 138.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 31%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, TPR trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21.93X, up from the industry’s average of 16.00X. It has a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tapestry’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 26.5%, whereas the same for fiscal 2027 indicates an uptick of 7.6%. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TPR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other Key Picks
Some other top-ranked stocks are FIGS Inc. FIGS, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF and Allbirds Inc. BIRD.
FIGS is a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand. It flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIGS’ current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 11.7% and 15.8%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 187.5%, on average.
Abercrombie & Fitch operates as a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel for men, women and kids. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Abercrombie & Fitch’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 8.6% and 4.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ANF delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 8.4%.
Allbirds is a lifestyle brand with naturally derived materials to make footwear and apparel products. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Allbirds’ 2026 sales implies growth of 0.9% from the year-ago actuals. BIRD delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 15.4%.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.
See
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
FIGS, Inc. (FIGS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tapestry's Growth Story Accelerates on Coach Brand Strength

Key Points
Nike, Allbirds, and other leading sneaker makers are struggling.
They’ll face tough competitive and macro headwinds for the foreseeable future.
It's been a dark time for the sneaker industry. Nike (NYSE: NKE), the world's top athletic footwear and apparel maker, lost nearly 70% of its value over the past five years as its growth cooled and margins shrank. Allbirds (NASDAQ: BIRD), once hailed as the "next Nike" and valued at over $4 billion after its 2021 IPO, was recently sold for $39 million. Should retail investors avoid this entire industry, or should they just be more selective with their stocks?
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Why did the sneaker market crumble?
During the pandemic, sneaker sales surged worldwide. That acceleration was largely driven by stimulus checks, the expansion of the athleisure market, and social media buzz for limited-edition, exclusive, or celebrity-endorsed sneakers. But that growth spurt ended after the pandemic, leaving companies that produced too many sneakers with excess inventory.
To clear out those inventories, sneaker makers like Nike and Allbirds relied on markdowns, which compressed thei rmargins and diluted their premium appeal. At the same time, faster-growing competitors -- including On and a resurgent New Balance -- fragmented the shrinking market. Nike and many of its premium industry peers struggled to keep up with those smaller competitors as they pulled away their consumers with better aesthetics and more comfortable designs.
In China, once considered a major growth market for U.S. sneaker makers, companies like Nike and Allbirds faced stiff competition from local athletic footwear leaders like Anta Sports and Li-Ning. Inflation, rising interest rates, and other macro headwinds also throttled consumer spending on higher-end shoes worldwide. Many of those shoes also lasted for years -- so higher-end footwear makers struggled to secure return shoppers.
As they faced those formidable challenges, Nike and Allbirds made some major mistakes. Nike alienated its wholesale retail partners and shoppers by shifting too many of its products to its first-party stores and e-commerce platform. Allbirds overexpanded, lost its product identity by launching too many shoe styles, and quickly fell out of fashion.
Should investors go bargain hunting in the sneaker market?
Some of these sneaker makers are faring better than their peers. Still, they ultimately face many of the same challenges: market saturation, soft growth in China, disinterested consumers, and fierce macro headwinds. Some sneaker companies that are growing rapidly today -- like On and Japan's ASICS -- could sputter out just as Nike and Allbirds did.
I might be interested in investing in sneaker makers in a stronger market, but the recent macro headwinds are driving me to avoid the entire industry. I'll stick with stocks in more predictable sectors than try to guess which sneaker maker will outlast its myriad competitors.
Should you buy stock in Nike right now?
Before you buy stock in Nike, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nike wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $550,348!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,127,467!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 959% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 10, 2026.
Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nike and On Holding. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

From Allbirds to Nike, the Sneaker Segment is Running Into the Ground. Here's What Retail Investors Need to Know.

Key Points
Allbirds was once worth as much as $4 billion.
Its collapse offers lessons in mismanagement and IPO timing.
Consumer brands can be faddish and hard to scale.
Allbirds' (Nasdaq: BIRD) fall from grace is now complete.
The once-promising footwear maker said after hours Monday that it would sell itself to American Exchange, the owner of Aerosoles, for just $39 million, or roughly ten times less than what it raised in its IPO.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The decision closes the book on one of the biggest collapses in recent stock market history as Allbirds was worth $4 billion at one point, shortly after its IPO in Nov. 2021. Allbirds stock was down sharply for most of the session after the news came out, but closed up 1%. The price includes all of Allbirds' intellectual property and certain other assets and liabilities, such as inventory.
The company made several errors that torched the business and the stock. It expanded its product line too quickly, getting away from its core "wool runner" shoe and diluting the brand. Its focus on using sustainable materials meant that its products weren't always as durable as alternatives, and it opened brick-and-mortar stores too aggressively, eventually closing most of them.
Allbirds' revenue peaked in 2022 and has steadily eroded since then as it has not had a quarter of positive revenue growth in more than three years. Losses widened as well, and the sale of the business isn't surprising, considering how far the brand has fallen.
The lesson in Allbirds' downfall
There are several takeaways for investors here.
First, Allbirds stock may have been doomed just by the timing of its IPO. Going public in 2021, it caught the end of the pandemic boom, but crashed shortly afterward as investor sentiment moved away from tech stocks, including e-commerce brands like Allbirds, which first caught on in Silicon Valley. The stock lost more than 80% in just a matter of weeks.
It's also a reminder that consumer brands can be fickle, especially in markets like footwear. Competition is steep, and tastes can change quickly. Under Armour was once a hot, high-growth stock, but the company has now struggled to grow for the last decade.
Finally, it's a lesson, especially for consumer product start-ups, that growth is difficult to manage. Expanding too quickly can result in diluting your brand and burning too much cash. WeWork made a similar mistake, and it ended up killing that company's IPO.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter, and a distribution to shareholders of net proceeds is expected to be made in the third quarter, though it's currently unclear how much that will be.
Should you buy stock in Allbirds right now?
Before you buy stock in Allbirds, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Allbirds wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $501,381!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,012,581!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 880% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 31, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Under Armour. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

American Exchange Is Set to Acquire Allbirds for $39 Million. Here's What Investors Need to Know.

(RTTNews) - Allbirds, Inc. (BIRD) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with American Exchange Group. Under the terms of the agreement, American Exchange Group will acquire all of Allbirds' intellectual property along with certain other assets and liabilities. The transaction carries an estimated value of $39 million, subject to purchase price adjustments finalized at closing.
The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Following completion, Allbirds anticipates distributing net proceeds to its stockholders in the third quarter of 2026, after accounting for wind-down expenses.
Allbirds closed Monday's regular trading at $2.98, down $0.20 or 6.29%. However, in overnight trading, the stock rebounded sharply to $3.61, marking a gain of $0.63 points or 21.14%.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.