This week, several stocks caught investors’ attention, driven by significant developments and market momentum. Here’s the breakdown of this week’s trending stocks:
Confluent ($CFLT) to Be Acquired by IBM in $11B Deal
Confluent, a company that helps businesses stream and connect their data in real time, jumped after IBM announced a plan to acquire it for $11B in cash. The deal will give IBM a smart data platform that supports the fast, connected data flows needed for enterprise generative AI and AI agents.
Under the agreement, IBM will buy all outstanding shares of Confluent for $31 per share in cash. IBM says the deal is designed to create an end-to-end platform that helps businesses connect, process, and govern their data in real time — something that has become essential as companies roll out generative AI tools and AI agents.
Confluent’s technology, built on Apache Kafka, allows data to move instantly across applications instead of sitting in static databases. IBM said this real-time data flow is becoming a foundation for enterprise AI, which needs fast, clean, and connected data to work properly. Confluent already serves more than 6,500 customers worldwide, including over 40% of the Fortune 500.
The two companies also highlighted strong strategic fit: IBM wants to strengthen its hybrid cloud and AI portfolio, while Confluent gains IBM’s global reach, customer network, and scale. IBM expects the acquisition to boost adjusted EBITDA within the first year after closing and free cash flow by year two.
The deal, which still requires regulatory approvals and a shareholder vote, is expected to close by mid-2026.
Stock Price Reaction
Confluent shares skyrocketed roughly 30% on the announcement.
Wave Life Sciences ($WVE) Shares Positive Early Data for Obesity Drug
Wave Life Sciences ($WVE), a biotech company focused on RNA-based medicines, shared positive early results from its Phase 1 INLIGHT trial for its obesity drug candidate, WVE-007. The update showed that a single dose of the drug led to lower body fat and higher muscle mass after three months.
According to the company, patients who received one 240 mg injection saw a 9.4% drop in harmful visceral fat and a 4.5% drop in total body fat. At the same time, lean mass increased by 3.2%. The placebo group did not see meaningful changes.
What Makes WVE-007 Different
WVE-007 targets a gene called INHBE, which is linked to fat storage and metabolic health. The company explained that people who naturally have lower activity of this gene tend to have healthier fat levels and a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease.
In this trial, the drug also strongly lowered Activin E, a protein tied to fat buildup. These effects lasted for months after just one dose, supporting the idea that the drug may only need to be given once or twice a year.
Safety Profile So Far
Wave said WVE-007 has been generally safe and well tolerated so far. There were no serious side effects, no patient dropouts, and no meaningful changes in lab results such as liver or cholesterol tests. All treatment-related side effects were classified as mild.
What’s Next
The INLIGHT study is still ongoing, with higher-dose groups already fully enrolled. Wave expects to release:
- Six-month follow-up data for the 240 mg dose in early 2026
- Three-month data for the 400 mg dose in early 2026
- Additional updates from higher doses later in 2026
The company is also preparing Phase 2 trials that will test WVE-007 both on its own and alongside GLP-1 drugs, as well as as a maintenance treatment after GLP-1 therapy.
Stock Price Reaction
$WVE shares surged more than 70% following the release of the positive trial data.
CoreWeave Plans $2 Billion Convertible Notes Offering
CoreWeave ($CRWV), a company that provides cloud computing for AI, said it plans to raise $2 billion by selling convertible notes that come due in 2031. These notes can later be turned into CoreWeave stock, depending on certain conditions. The company may also sell up to $300 million more if buyers want extra.
The notes will pay interest every six months and can be converted into cash or CoreWeave shares in the future, depending on what the company chooses. The exact interest rate and conversion terms will be decided when the deal is priced.
CoreWeave said it will use part of the money to help cover the cost of financial hedges that reduce dilution if the notes are converted into stock. The rest will be used for general business needs as the company continues expanding its AI cloud operations.
This fundraising happens through a private sale to large institutional investors, not the general public.
Stock Price Reaction
CRWV shares initially fell about 2% after the announcement but later recovered all the losses.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. The content is based on publicly available information and reflects the author’s opinions as of the publication date, which may change without notice. All investments carry inherent risks, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Forward-looking statements, including references to projected revenues, market trends, or business developments, are based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ due to various factors, including regulatory changes, economic conditions, competitive pressures, and unforeseen market fluctuations. Readers should conduct their own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. BBAE holds no position in the securities mentioned, nor are they compensated by the companies mentioned.
