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CEO Confidence in U.S. Economy Plunges in Q2 Survey

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A CEO addressing a group

In a surprising new survey of 141 of the Fortune Global 500 Chief Executive Officers, the leaders of some of the largest companies in the world, we learn that they are losing confidence in the U.S. economy. The survey, conducted by The Conference Board, a nonpartisan think tank, and The Business Council, an association of CEOs, showed a significant decline in CEO confidence in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the first quarter.

How CEOs feel about the economy is important. When CEOs lose confidence, they tend to pull back on hiring and investment, further weighing down the economy, according to AXIOS reporter Emily Peck.

Read more on the dramatic drop in CEO confidence in the U.S. Economy…

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Resideo Announces Q1 Results; Revenues Up, Profits Up, But Its Stock Crashes 18%

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An image from the Resideo Q1 presentation modified

Resideo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: REZI), predominantly a security and safety products company with two major divisions, including Products and Solutions (manufacturing) and ADI (distribution), announced the financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2026 this week. The company reported that revenues beat previously forecasted guidance, and adjusted earnings grew as well.

And yet the market reacted strongly, with the value of Resideo’s stock crashing almost 18% on the day after it released its results. Read on to see why the stock declined.

Read why the value of Resideo stock crashed the day after it released its results…

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Emerald & Questex Acquired by PE Firm Apollo Global Mgmt; Deal Valued at $1.5B

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Emerald Holding, Inc. has been acquired by Apollo

Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), a major consolidator of trade shows and business conferences in multiple industries, including owner of the CEDIA Expo and CEPro/Commercial Integrator/Security Sales & Integration, has agreed to be acquired by Apollo Global Management, one of the largest private equity companies in the world that specializes in “alternative assets.” In the same announcement, we learned that Apollo is also acquiring another event consolidation company known as Questex, as part of the same transaction, and which Apollo intends to merge with Emerald.

The deal, in which Apollo will pay $5.03 per share, is said to be valued at approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the back half of 2026 and will create one of the largest trade show and conference event consolidators in the U.S.

Read all about the acquisition of Emerald…

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Samsung Q1 Profits Skyrocket 755% on Massive AI-Related Chip Demand

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Samsung Electronics just reported an incredible operating profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 that surged a much-stronger-than-expected 755% year-over-year. Even so, the company felt compelled to warn investors that the conflict in the Middle East is clouding the view of the future.

See more on Samsung’s spectacular Q1/2026 numbers…

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Sony Pictures Entertainment Lays Off Hundreds of Employees in Restructuring

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Ravi Ahuja, CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment
Ravi Ahuja, Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO

On Tuesday, we learned that Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is laying off hundreds of employees from its film studio, TV studios, and division HQ, according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter (HR). The reason behind the company’s move is said to be an effort by CEO Ravi Ahuja to refocus the company on “certain core growth areas, while pulling back in other places.”

See more about the Sony Pictures layoffs…

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TCL & Sony Execute a Definitive Agreement; TCL To Be Majority Owner of Sony Video & Audio Biz

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TCL partners with Sony to take over its TV & Audio business

‘Sony’s Home Entertainment Products Will Be Transferred to TCL’

In a huge deal between two power tech players – Japan’s Sony Corporation and China’s TCL Electronics Holding Limited – TCL is set to become the majority owner of Bravia, Inc., a new holding company that will consist of Sony’s TV and audio business units. It is a deal that may ripple through the industry, as other brands may seek to mimic Sony’s move to jettison its hardware properties in order to transform themselves into a more profitable software, content, and services company.

Learn more about TCL taking over Sony’s TV and audio businesses…

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Meta is Planning Sweeping Layoffs of as Much as 20% ‘or More’ of the Company

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A sign on the Meta campus

The Reuters News Agency is reporting that Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is preparing plans to lay off as much as 20% – “or more” – of the entire company. These plans are being made at the same time that the company has said it is preparing to spend at least $600 billion on data centers by 2028 to facilitate its growing artificial intelligence (AI) business.

Read more on the huge disruption at Meta…

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Video Projector Maker Barco Acquires Audio Company VerVent, Owner of Focal and Naim

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[Photo: Barco]

In a move that has some of Strata-gee’s sources perplexed and scratching their heads, high-end commercial and pro video projector and display manufacturer Barco (Euronext: BAR) announced this week that it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire VerVent Audio Holding (“VerVent” and “Vervent”). VerVent itself was created by the merger of French loudspeaker maker Focal and British high-performance audio electronics manufacturer NAIM some years ago.

See more on the merger of Barco and VerVent…

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Masimo Acquired by Danaher: Is This the Conclusion to an Epic Saga?

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Danaher Corp has acquired Masimo Corp

Four years ago, in February 2022, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) acquired the major audio company Sound United from Charlesbank Capital Partners in a transaction valued at $1.025 billion. That was a momentous time for Masimo and Sound United, which was about to embark on a crazy sequence of events that would see Masimo’s stock value crash, the company attempt to enter consumer health, the emergence of an activist investment group, a huge lawsuit ensue with Apple, a massive change in the governing Board, founder Joe Kiani quit (or was fired, depending on who you ask), a major cyberattack, and three years later, Sound United sold to Harman International Industries in a deal worth $350 million.

What was also momentous in February 2022 was that Strata-gee began its coverage of Masimo and took that wild and crazy ride along with them. But why am I writing about Masimo now? They’re back by popular demand…

Read all about the latest developments at Masimo…

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Sonos Q1/2026 Shows Little Progress; CEO Gives Clues to His Turnaround Plan

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Cover page for Sonos fiscal 2026 first quarter results

Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) reported its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the period that ended on December 27, 2025. The results paint the picture of a company going through a painful transformation. And while some progress has clearly been made, there is still a long way to go – and it remains unclear whether the company will ultimately be successful. However, we’ll look at where they are right now, the plan they roughly sketched out for next steps, and you can see what you think.

Learn all about the Sonos quarterly earnings for Q1 of 2026…

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