Market Chatter: Blackstone Investing $1 Billion to Build Military Technology Firm to Counter Drones

October 7 — Concern over increased scrutiny by US regulators on dealer networks and repair practices led to a decline in agricultural machinery manufacturers' stock prices. The Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Agriculture are seeking public comments on whether agricultural equipment manufacturers and dealers are engaging in anti-competitive practices or restricting repair channels. The probe also focuses on limitations in dealer networks and industry consolidation, areas that could prompt wider regulatory examination of the agricultural equipment sector. Caterpillar (CAT.N) shares fell 6% to $811.44, making it one of the biggest decliners in the S&P 500 index. By midday trading, CNH Industrial CNH.N was down 6% to $12.47, Deere & Company DE.N fell 3.5% to $658.90, and AGCO AGCO.N dropped 6.3% to $108.91. Including these daily changes, the S&P 1500 Agricultural & Farm Machinery Index .SPCOMAGFM has risen 42.6% so far this year. (For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters has automated translations of its reports into several other languages. Due to the possibility of inaccuracies or a lack of full context, Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of the automated translations and provides them only for reader convenience. Reuters accepts no responsibility for any damage or loss arising from the use of automated translation features.)

On October 7th, PepsiCo (PEP.O) shares fell by 1.4%, closing at $124.02. The company will release its quarterly earnings before market open on Thursday, and investors are closely watching for signs of pressure from tightening consumer budgets. According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), Wall Street expects the carbonated beverage and snack giant's Q3 revenue to grow approximately 4% year-on-year to $24.96 billions, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at $2.29, unchanged from a year ago. Last quarter, PEP's revenue exceeded expectations but the company warned that performance in North America would slow due to tighter consumer budgets. Facing cost pressures and the threat from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, PepsiCo (PEP) has limited time left to meet the growth and margin targets set a year ago following activist investor Elliott Management’s $4 billions stake. So far this year, PEP share price has dropped about 14%, underperforming both the S&P 500 Soft Drink & Non-Alcoholic Beverage Index's 8% rise (.SPLRCBEVS) and the S&P 500 Consumer Staples Index's 6% gain (.SPLRCS). The stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 14, below its five-year average of 21. Among 25 analysts' recommendations: 7 rate it as “Strong Buy” or “Buy,” 17 rate it as “Hold,” and 1 rates it as “Sell.” The median target price is $152, down from $170 on July 7. (For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters has automatically translated its reports into several other languages. As automated translations may contain errors or lack necessary context, Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of automated translation texts, and provides them purely for readers’ convenience. Reuters assumes no liability for any damage or loss caused by the use of the automated translation function.)

Tessera Defense and Homeland Security will hold a special shareholder meeting in Netanya, Israel on Oct. 20, 2026. Votes will cover an amendment to the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan to increase shares available for equity awards. The proposal would support equity grants tied to CEO Michael Oster’s employment agreement, including stock options, RSUs, and fully vested shares. Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Tessera Defense and Homeland Security Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via GlobeNewswire (Ref. ID: 202610071430PRIMZONEFULLFEED9841604) on October 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.