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Google (GOOG +0.5%, GOOGL +0.4%) is in discussions to acquire D2iQ (the cloud start-up formerly known as Mesosphere), Axios reports.
Such a deal would be for more than the $250M raised from VCs, but likely short of the $775M valuation it got via a series D round in 2018, Axios suggests.
The move would shore up Google’s position in Kubernetes, the server-management technology it originally developed, as it squares off against Amazon and Microsoft in cloud offerings.
With the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF up 30% from last month’s low, Canaccord Genuity analyst David Hynes says, “Owning stocks that are straight up into earnings adds risk, and that makes us a bit nervous heading into the Q1 prints.”
Hynes notes that the current macro uncertainties will “give us a chance to buy software stocks cheaper.”
The analyst does favor Atlassian (TEAM +0.3%) and Bandwidth (BAND -0.7%) heading into their results on April 30.
Guggenheim analyst Imtiaz Koujalgi writes that a common question the firm is getting is if security stocks “are overbought” and not pricing in downside risk.
Koujalgi sees CyberArk (CYBR +1.3%) and Proofpoint (PFPT +2.3%) as better positioned than Fortinet (FTNT +1.3%) and Check Point (CHKP +2.4%).
AT&T (T +1.9%) says that HBO Max will be available as a fully integrated offering on Apple (AAPL -0.7%) devices from launch day.
The high-profile launch of the streaming service was set last week at May 27.
And on that date HBO Max will be part of the Apple TV app on iPhones, iPads, the iPod Touches that are left, and Apple TV devices.
The news follows distribution announcements for Max on Charter and YouTube TV, along with AT&T’s own services, Jon Lafayette notes.
Nokia (NOK +1.5%) has set a new rescheduled annual meeting at headquarters, and as with many other AGMs, it’s not possible to attend in person.
The meeting’s set for May 27 at 2 p.m. Finland time (Eastern European), and all participation will come via advance voting and questions.
Management won’t attend, and no webcast will be provided, though pre-recorded speeches by the board chair and by the president/CEO will be published on that day.
The proposals are uniform with those submitted for the AGM set for March 2, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digitimes sources say Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) will raise prices for its enterprise hard disk drives by more than 10% due to high costs and low supplies.
HDD supplies were impacted by the coronavirus and strong orders from cloud-computing clients.
Western Digital shares are up 5.5%. Peer Seagate (NASDAQ:STX) is up 1.7%.
Upcoming catalyst: WDC will report earnings on April 30.
