UnsubscribeA potential unicorn—still pre-IPO (From Mode Mobile)

Navy Catalyst Ignites Odysight’s Growth Engine

Written by Jeffrey Neal Johnson

A landmark Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Navy has served as the ultimate institutional validation for Odysight.ai (NASDAQ: ODYS), sending shares into a volatile, high-volume surge.

The deal centers on deploying Odysight.ai’s advanced visual sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) platform for condition-based maintenance on mission-critical aircraft carrier arresting cables.

While the market initially reacted to the headline, the core investment thesis appears to be anchored by a much deeper fundamental story: a rapidly monetizing $13.8 million backlog and a pristine, zero-debt balance sheet. As global defense budgets aggressively pivot toward predictive maintenance and operational readiness, this de-risked micro-cap may offer an asymmetrical entry point before its technology scales fleet-wide.

Why This CRADA Is a Game-Changer

The CRADA with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCAD) is much more than a run-of-the-mill supply contract. For a micro-cap like Odysight.ai, it represents a deep, formal collaboration that embeds its technology at the heart of the Pentagon’s modernization efforts. This partnership provides invaluable, real-world operational feedback, allowing Odysight.ai to refine its algorithms and hardware in one of the world’s most demanding environments.

This direct line to the end-user significantly de-risks future product development and provides a powerful competitive moat. Successfully proving the technology on carrier arresting cables, a system under immense and constant operational stress, is a strategic masterstroke.

It provides Odysight.ai with an unimpeachable case study to leverage for expansion into other mission-critical systems. This validation establishes a clear, logical pathway for scaling across the U.S. Navy’s fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing helicopters, and ground vehicle fleets. This approach mirrors a successful pattern of securing contracts with elite military operators worldwide. Odysight.ai has already logged key operational milestones with the Israeli Air Force for its SH-60 helicopter program and the Italian Air Force for AW139 platform testing. These engagements cement the system’s interoperability and establish Odysight.aias a trusted partner within premier international defense supply chains, not just a vendor.

Why Zero Debt and a $13.8M Backlog Matter

Many pre-profitability technology sector companies are hamstrung by weak balance sheets and the constant threat of dilutive financing. Odysight.aistands in stark contrast to this narrative. The technology developer exited its 2025 fiscal year with approximately $26 million in cash and equivalents and, critically, zero long-term debt. This robust liquidity profile is a powerful strategic asset. It provides a multi-year operational runway, granting management the flexibility to execute its pilot programs and scale production without the immediate pressure to tap equity markets. This financial independence allows Odysight.ai to negotiate from a position of strength and focus entirely on technological and commercial execution.

This financial stability is supercharged by exceptional revenue visibility. Odysight.aiis currently working through a contracted backlog of $13.8 million. This figure, representing more than 4.5 times Odysight.ai’s trailing 12-month revenue, signals a fundamental inflection point. Odysight.ai is transitioning from a speculative research-and-development entity into a commercial-stage enterprise with a clear path to accelerated growth. The successful monetization of this backlog throughout 2026 will be the key performance indicator for investors. Consistent conversion of this backlog to top-line revenue could trigger a significant re-rating of the stock, as the market shifts from valuing potential to rewarding proven execution.

The Market’s Volatile Reaction

The Navy CRADA announcement on May 11, 2026, served as a powerful market catalyst, igniting a trading firestorm. Shares of Odysight.ai saw volume surge to 39.12 million, an increase from its daily average of just under 470,000. This surge propelled the stock to an intraday high of $11.30 before aggressive profit-taking sent it to $4.75 by the closing bell.

This extreme price action, which triggered a Limit Up-Limit Down (LULD) trading pause, confirms that both retail momentum traders and institutional algorithms have now firmly fixed their sights on the equity. While the sharp retracement highlights near-term volatility, the record volume and elevated close signal a permanent shift in market awareness.

Aiding this newfound market interest is a shrewd strategic move to enhance liquidity and broaden the shareholder base. On April 9, 2026, Odysight.aifinalized a dual listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). This provides direct access to a deep pool of sophisticated regional institutional capital. This investor base has a nuanced understanding of the defense technology sector and is well-positioned to appreciate the long-term value of Odysight.ai’s contractual milestones, potentially creating a more stable valuation floor for the stock moving forward.

From Pilot to Profit: What to Watch for Next

The path forward for Odysight.ai hinges on execution. While the current analyst consensus rating is a Hold, this is common for a company at its commercial inflection point. The recent Moderate Buy rating and $10 price target from Benchmark Co. suggest that some on Wall Street are beginning to price in the successful execution of the current backlog and the immense scalability of the Navy partnership. The key metric for investors to monitor will be the rate at which the $13.8 million backlog is converted into recognized revenue in the coming quarterly reports. A consistent, sequential increase will validate the entire commercial model.

Furthermore, any announcements of follow-on contracts stemming from the NAWCAD pilot program would serve as a powerful upside catalyst, confirming the land-and-expand strategy. While Odysight.ai appears financially well-positioned to withstand near-term headwinds, investors should remain cognizant of the inherent risks of any micro-cap investment, including customer concentration and the operational challenges of scaling production to meet enterprise-level demand. For investors with a higher risk tolerance and a focus on disruptive defense technology, Odysight.ai offers a de-risked ground-floor opportunity. More conservative market participants may prefer to see a few quarters of consistent backlog conversion before committing capital. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

BNZI – 116 percent Q4 growth and a Zacks Buy upgrade worth watching (Ad)

Banzai International (NASDAQ: BNZI) posted full-year 2025 revenue of $12.2 million, up 169% year-over-year, with Q4 growth of 116% and gross margins expanding to 81.9% – signaling a high-efficiency SaaS model gaining traction.

With over 150,000 customers, a planned acquisition of ConnectAndSell expected to add roughly $15 million in annual revenue, and a recent Zacks Rank No. 2 Buy upgrade, institutional confidence in BNZI’s improving fundamentals is building. Technical indicators also suggest a potential bottom formation.SEE WHY ANALYSTS ARE WARMING UP TO THIS AI MARTECH TURNAROUND PLAY

AST SpaceMobile Plummets on Galactic Q1 Miss: Can Vertical Integration Save the SpaceX Rival?

Written by Jessica Mitacek

When an aerospace upstart’s next-generation BlueBird satellites are the largest commercial communication arrays to ever be deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), expectations for that company can be astronomical.

So when space-based cellular broadband network provider AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) reported Q1 2026 results on Monday, May 11, investors were understandably deflated by a bearish double-miss.

In the lead-up to the earnings call, which was held after the bell, ASTS gained nearly 6%. But after announcing dramatic misses on earnings and revenue, the stock sold off during after-hours trading as the market’s palpable disappointment resulted in a loss of more than 13%.

Here’s what investors need to know about the SpaceX rival going forward.

AST SpaceMobile’s Q1 Disappointment Brings Investors Back Down to Earth

Despite the company’s promising backdrop, the space-based cellular provider posted Q1 earnings per share(EPS) of negative 66 cents versus analyst expectations of negative 23 cents.

The EPS miss was AST SpaceMobile’s fifth in as many quarters.

Quarterly revenue also disappointed, with $14.74 million missing the consensus mark of $39.01 million by a country mile. That was particularly magnified when looking at the company’s Q4 2025 revenue of $54.31 against expectations for $39.53 million.

Fortunately, the Q1 report wasn’t without its highlights. AST SpaceMobile reported a healthy balance sheet with approximately $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of March 31.

The company is still in its nascent stages of revenue generation, but it should be able to continue seamlessly scaling thanks to more than half a million square feet of manufacturing and operations space around the globe. BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 are expected to be delivered within a month, and AST SpaceMobile is in the process of assembly through BlueBird 33. Ultimately, the firm plans to have 100 BlueBird satellites in its fleet.

In his earnings call comments, CEO Abel Avellan highlighted the company’s 95% vertically integrated manufacturing strategy, noting how it provides a long-term advantage with its manufacturing team ramping up significantly over the past several quarters.

AST SpaceMobile’s Volatility Should Be Expected

AST SpaceMobile has dealt with its fair share of setbacks this year. Launch delays and Blue Origin deployment mishaps have resulted in heightened volatility in share prices. As a result, ASTS now carries a beta of 2.60, meaning it is more than two and a half times as volatile as the broad market.

But with high betas come high risk-reward opportunities. Shortly after the BlueBird 7 LEO failure in late April, the stock bounced back within a week on news that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission granted AST SpaceMobile commercial authority to deliver direct-to-device, or D2D, cellular broadband connectivity from outer space nationwide in the United States.

That catalyst followed another in late February that caused shares of ASTS to jump. In late February,  the Midland, Texas-based firm—which has secured strategic partnerships with Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), AT&T (NYSE: T), Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD), real estate investment trust American Tower (NYSE: AMT), Google and a handful of other tech and communication services companies—announced its first-ever premier government contract.

According to a company press release, AST SpaceMobile entered into an agreement with the United States Space Development Agency for the Europa Track 2 Commercial Solutions program as part of “the Hybrid Acquisition for proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) program,” which carries a total contract value of approximately $30 million.

So selloffs are nothing new to shareholders, many of whom have endured the highs and lows of buying and holding ASTS. Over the past year, while compiling a gain of nearly 204%, the stock has seen trough-to-peak gains as high as 315% while enduring at least 15 double-digit pullbacks.

After a Big Earnings Miss, ASTS Receives a Mixed Outlook

The silver lining is that the company’s revenue is expected to continue growing, which should result in earnings nearly breaking even over the next year. Based on a trailing 12-month EPS of negative $1.32, AST SpaceMobile’s earnings are expected to grow from negative 99 cents to negative one cent over the next four quarters.

Nonetheless, analysts are now understandably conservative in their expectations. The stock’s average 12-month price target is $82.51, indicating a potential upside of over 15%. Meanwhile, AST SpaceMobile has a consensus Reduce rating based on the 10 analysts who currently cover it.

Short interest of nearly 18%—or nearly 54 million shares of the 382 million shares outstanding—remains a short-term concern. However, long-term, the smart money appears to remain bullish on ASTS. Over the past 12 months, institutional buyers have injected nearly $3 billion into the stock, while outflows have totaled less than $500 million. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

A potential unicorn—still pre-IPO (Ad)

Mode Mobile – the company turning smartphones into EarnPhones – has posted $115M+ in revenue, 3-year growth of 32,481%, and an ecosystem of 490M+ users. With a Nasdaq ticker ($MODE) secured and Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank among early backers, the company is positioning for a potential IPO.

Their previous two private raises sold out. Current pre-IPO shares are available at $0.50, with a 20% bonus – but this raise is on track to close soon.REVIEW THE PRE-IPO OFFER DETAILS BEFORE THIS ROUND CLOSES

Axon Surged After Earnings and Is Still Down Over 50% From Highs

Written by Leo Miller

After getting beaten down for the better part of a year, Axon Enterprise (NASDAQ: AXON) scored a big win after its last earnings report. Shares surged by nearly 11% following the firm’s May release, with the company posting impressive sales, earnings, and guidance.

Nonetheless, the defense stock is down big time, still trading at less than 50% of its 52-week high reached in August 2025. Some of this fall was likely justified, but other aspects are much more questionable.

At past highs, Axon traded at a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) near 130x; evident of a company “priced for perfection.” 

However, the stock has also sunk amid fears of artificial intelligence in the software industry. This comes even though hardware sales play a critical role in Axon’s business and make its flywheel effect work.

When push comes to shove, Axon’s results show why there is a lot of room for optimism around this name going forward.

Axon’s Beat and Raise Q1

In Q1 2026, Axon reported revenue of $807.3 million, good for a growth rate of 34% year over year (YOY). This very handily beat estimates of $778.9 million. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose by just under 10% to $1.61, a slight beat over expectations of $1.60. Notably, gross margins took a meaningful hit, leading to revenue growing much faster than adjusted EPS.

Gross margin fell by 150 basis points YOY to 59.1%, with the company noting global tariffs as the primary driver. This is another legitimate factor hurting Axon stock, being a persistent talking point on earnings calls.

Despite this, the company maintained its full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin guidance of 25.5%. Axon also raised its full-year revenue growth guidance to a midpoint of 31%. This is a meaningful boost over past midpoint guidance of 29%, coming as contracted booking growth increased 44% YOY, well above Q1 sales growth. Importantly, Axon is seeing considerable growth from its AI offerings, counteracting the narrative that the technology is a large threat to Axon rather than a tailwind.

AI Growth Soars as Law Enforcement Buys In

Axon’s AI Era plan is its most expensive hardware and software package for law enforcement. Here, bookings rose by 140% YOY, with the company noting that “nearly all large domestic law enforcement agencies are now including AI in their purchases.” That’s a very strong statement, showing that AI is moving to the core of how agencies make purchasing decisions, rather than being a nice-to-have.

Slide 23 of the company’s Investor Deck also illustrates how hardware sales form the basis of the company’s software, services, and AI flywheel effect. In year one of the AI Era Plan, hardware sales represent about half of revenue. This is where the company sells products like tasers, body cameras, virtual reality headsets, and drones.

However, after year one, hardware sales are very minimal. Over a five-year period, the combination of AI and non-AI software and services makes up over 75% of total plan revenue. This includes offerings like Draft One, where AI uses body camera recordings to create a first draft of incident reports, saving officers time on paperwork.

Agencies continue to pay for these services over several years, but they are useful only after first purchasing the necessary hardware. So, while Axon certainly has significant software exposure, its hardware-first model provides protection from AI competition that software-only companies do not possess.

Adding to this is the fact that demand for Axon’s drones is spiking. During the quarter, its counter-drone revenue increased by 300% YOY. Bookings rose considerably more, up 500% YOY, indicating that demand is accelerating.

Axon Continues Its Post-Earnings Success; Markets Remain Unconvinced

Notably, despite recent drops, Axon has continually shown the strength of its business through financial results. Following its past 10 earnings releases, Axon has seen an average post-earnings gain of approximately 12%. That is a feat investors would be hard-pressed to find in many other stocks.

Surely, past post-earnings success does not mean it will continue. However, it is evidence of one thing: the market has repeatedly underestimated Axon and then corrected after the company provides numbers that it cannot deny. It’s arguable that the same thing is happening now, given the stock’s massive decline and post-earnings jump.

Furthermore, much of Axon’s price action continues to coincide with the price action of the overall software market. This indicates that investors have yet to separate Axon from software stocks, despite the significant differences in its business model.

Analysts continue to have a positive outlook on Axon. The MarketBeat consensus price target sits near $713, implying upside north of 75%. Targets updated after the company’s earnings report are considerably lower, averaging around $604. However, this figure still implies substantial upside of just over 50%. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

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A publicly traded peptide company just signed an exclusive partnership with a NYSE-listed MMA media platform tied to Conor McGregor and Dana White – reaching millions of combat sports and biohacking followers worldwide.

On April 15, RFK Jr. announced the FDA would remove 12 peptides from restricted Category 2 status. This company was already selling products tied to three of those peptides – and has developed a patent-pending transdermal patch addressing the 63.2% of adults with needle phobia. The peptide therapeutics market is projected to reach $294 billion by 2033.READ THE FULL REPORT ON THIS SMALL-CAP PEPTIDE COMPANY NOW

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