Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says - Return On Assets

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AI Rally Valuation Growth - ETF flows, equity inflows, and index performance tracking. Tracking global futures alongside local equities offers insight into broader market sentiment. Futures often react faster to macroeconomic developments, providing early signals for equity investors. Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst who covers technology, appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday to discuss the trajectory of the artificial intelligence sector. He noted that Anthropic, an AI company, recently secured $65 billion in funding, pushing its valuation to approximately $965 billion. Ives described this milestone as “just the tip of the spear,” suggesting that the AI investment cycle may still be in its early stages. During the interview, Ives stated that “for the first time in 30 years, the U.S. is ahead of China” in technological innovation, which he believes could be a key driver of future AI-related gains. He advised investors to shift their focus beyond the leading AI firms and toward what he called “data layer” companies, explicitly naming Snowflake, Datadog and InnoData. According to Ives, “the second, third, fourth derivative, just like we saw this week with Snowflake and Dell, is showing where the spending is.” The analyst also reiterated a bold long-term forecast he had previously shared with CNBC: the Nasdaq Composite Index could exceed 30,000 points by 2027. In his view, the current environment is setting the stage for a “historic” period on Wall Street, particularly as a wave of “mega-IPOs” is expected in 2026. (The specific companies slated for those IPOs were not named in the broadcast.) Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Access to reliable, continuous market data is becoming a standard among active investors. It allows them to respond promptly to sudden shifts, whether in stock prices, energy markets, or agricultural commodities. The combination of speed and context often distinguishes successful traders from the rest.Some traders use alerts strategically to reduce screen time. By focusing only on critical thresholds, they balance efficiency with responsiveness.Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Some investors rely on sentiment alongside traditional indicators. Early detection of behavioral trends can signal emerging opportunities.Cross-market monitoring is particularly valuable during periods of high volatility. Traders can observe how changes in one sector might impact another, allowing for more proactive risk management.

Key Highlights

AI Rally Valuation Growth - ETF flows, equity inflows, and index performance tracking. Investors increasingly view data as a supplement to intuition rather than a replacement. While analytics offer insights, experience and judgment often determine how that information is applied in real-world trading. The key takeaway from Ives’ remarks is that the AI rally may not be limited to a handful of high-profile companies like Anthropic. Instead, the analyst suggests that the spending momentum could ripple through a broader ecosystem. The $65 billion funding round at Anthropic illustrates the magnitude of investor appetite for AI ventures, but Ives argues that the “derivative” benefits—such as demand for data infrastructure and analytics—could be even more significant. Companies like Snowflake (a cloud-based data warehousing firm), Datadog (a monitoring and analytics platform), and InnoData (a data management specialist) are positioned at the “data layer” where AI models require vast amounts of storage, processing and observability. Ives’ mention of Dell alongside Snowflake further implies that hardware and enterprise IT providers may also see elevated demand as AI deployments scale. Additionally, Ives’ Nasdaq forecast of 30,000 points by 2027—more than double the index’s current level—reflects an optimistic view of technology-led market growth. While such predictions are inherently speculative, they underscore the conviction among some analysts that AI could sustain a multi-year expansion phase. The anticipated “mega-IPOs” in 2026 would likely add further liquidity and investor attention to the tech sector. Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Access to multiple perspectives can help refine investment strategies. Traders who consult different data sources often avoid relying on a single signal, reducing the risk of following false trends.Timing is often a differentiator between successful and unsuccessful investment outcomes. Professionals emphasize precise entry and exit points based on data-driven analysis, risk-adjusted positioning, and alignment with broader economic cycles, rather than relying on intuition alone.Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Investor psychology plays a pivotal role in market outcomes. Herd behavior, overconfidence, and loss aversion often drive price swings that deviate from fundamental values. Recognizing these behavioral patterns allows experienced traders to capitalize on mispricings while maintaining a disciplined approach.Monitoring derivatives activity provides early indications of market sentiment. Options and futures positioning often reflect expectations that are not yet evident in spot markets, offering a leading indicator for informed traders.

Expert Insights

AI Rally Valuation Growth - ETF flows, equity inflows, and index performance tracking. Alerts help investors monitor critical levels without constant screen time. They provide convenience while maintaining responsiveness. From an investment perspective, Ives’ analysis suggests that opportunities in the AI space may extend well beyond the companies directly developing large language models. The emphasis on “data layer” firms hints that investors could look at businesses providing the infrastructure that enables AI workloads—cloud platforms, data storage, cybersecurity and observability tools. However, such a strategy involves risks, including high valuations and the possibility that AI adoption may not accelerate as quickly as some forecast. The broader outlook painted by Ives—Nasdaq at 30,000 by 2027—would imply a sustained bull market driven by technological leadership. Yet market conditions, regulatory shifts, or geopolitical factors could alter this trajectory. Similarly, the expected IPO wave in 2026 may introduce new growth stories, but also carry the inherent uncertainties of unproven enterprises. As always, market participants should weigh analysts’ bullish views against their own risk tolerance and investment horizon. The statements from Ives represent one perspective within a wide range of opinions on AI’s future impact. Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Global interconnections necessitate awareness of international events and policy shifts. Developments in one region can propagate through multiple asset classes globally. Recognizing these linkages allows for proactive adjustments and the identification of cross-market opportunities.Real-time monitoring of multiple asset classes can help traders manage risk more effectively. By understanding how commodities, currencies, and equities interact, investors can create hedging strategies or adjust their positions quickly.Anthropic’s $965 Billion Valuation ‘Tip of the Spear’ for AI Rally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives Says Combining different types of data reduces blind spots. Observing multiple indicators improves confidence in market assessments.Investors who track global indices alongside local markets often identify trends earlier than those who focus on one region. Observing cross-market movements can provide insight into potential ripple effects in equities, commodities, and currency pairs.