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AST SpaceMobile, a satellite designer, said Monday that the company has 45 to 60 fully funded satellites that it plans to deploy by next year.
The company, a rival to SpaceX, said it’s targeting intermittent service in the U.S. by the end of the year.
Shares of AST SpaceMobile soared more than 10% on Tuesday.

Jaque Silva | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Satellite designer AST SpaceMobile said it’s preparing to deploy nearly five dozen satellites to power cellular-based broadband networks, a move that establishes the company as a rival to Elon Musk’s dominant SpaceX.
The company, based in Texas, released its second-quarter earnings after the bell on Monday, reporting that its satellites are fully funded and preparing for deployment with more than $1.5 billion on its balance sheet.

Shares of the space company surged more than 10% on the news on Tuesday. The stock is up more than 140% year to date in what’s been a boom for space broadband technology.
“We are confirming our fully-funded plan to deploy 45 to 60 satellites into orbit by 2026 to support continuous service in the US, Europe, Japan, and other strategic markets, including the U.S. Government,” CEO Abel Avellan said in the report. “We also have planned orbital launches every one to two months on average during 2025 and 2026.”
AST SpaceMobile currently has six satellites in orbit, used for both commercial and government applications. The company plans to deploy service in the U.S. by the end of the year, followed by the U.K., Japan and Canada in the first quarter of 2026.
Avellan added that AST SpaceMobile plans to launch satellites every one to two months to reach its goal of 45 to 60 by next year.
With Monday’s announcement, the company joins the growing race to build broadband service in space, with notable player SpaceX currently boasting more than 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. Other rivals in the space include Globalstar, backed by Apple, and Project Kuiper, backed by Amazon.

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Quantum computing is advancing quickly and becoming commercially viable. As a result, it now needs its own real estate.
Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Google and Amazon are all making investments and breakthroughs in quantum computing. 
The fledgling industry needs access to academics, infrastructure, an educated workforce, government support, private investment and public-private advocacy, according to JLL experts. 

A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.
Just as artificial intelligence turned the data center sector into a gold mine, quantum computing is already ramping up to its own real estate revolution. 

Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the ability of the most powerful classical computers. Until now, these super computers have mostly lived at academic or government facilities, because they have had limited practical applications. That’s also why investment in quantum has lagged AI by about a decade. 
But quantum computing is suddenly now advancing quickly and becoming commercially viable. As a result, it now needs its own real estate. A new report from JLL says significant real estate implications are “on the horizon.”
“There’s going to be a defined point in time where we’ve reached commercialization of the technology, where there’s commercial utility, and at that point we see a significant ramp taking place to the scale of like what we saw with artificial intelligence,” said Andrew Batson, head of data center research at JLL. 
“We see the private sector play really married to the point at which commercialization of the product takes place,” he said.  
That point could be just five years away, according to analysts.

Parts of the IBM Quantum System Two are displayed at IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center on June 6, 2025 in Yorktown Heights, New York.
Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images

Enormous potential

Last year, quantum companies brought in less than $750 million in revenue, and startups focused on quantum technology collectively attracted about $2 billion in funding, according to the JLL report, which cited research from McKinsey and Pitchbook. With rapid advancements in just the past year, forecasts suggest quantum computing could see $20 billion in investments by 2030 and generate $100 billion in revenue by 2035, according to the report. 
“A potential ‘quantum advantage breakthrough’ around 2030 could trigger $50B in investments, similar to ChatGPT’s effect on AI funding,” according to the JLL report.

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Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Google and Amazon are all making investments and breakthroughs in quantum computing. 
“The next big accelerator in the cloud will be quantum, and I’m excited about our progress,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on the company’s earnings call last month. 
Its practical applications are only just beginning to be understood. 
“Think pharma, agriculture and then material science, which really spans all types of manufacturing. Additionally, financial services. If we think about encryption, that’s both a huge opportunity and threat presented by quantum,” said Batson. 

So where does quantum computing live?

With the vast majority of quantum computing currently living in academic or government institutions, it makes sense that the majority of new development to house it commercially will be concentrated in those regions. 
The fledgling industry needs access to academics, infrastructure, an educated workforce, government support, private investment and public-private advocacy, according to JLL experts. 
The top 20 global quantum markets today have formed near national research centers and universities. In the U.S., that includes Chicago; Boston; New Haven, Connecticut; parts of Colorado and Maryland and Southern California.
Silicon Valley’s PsiQuantum chose a Chicago steel mill complex to open a facility funded primarily by the state of Illinois. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, developed by Related Midwest, is set to span 128 acres, or roughly 5.6 million square feet.

A rendering of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park under development in Chicago.
Courtesy of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park

Batson called Chicago the poster child for private real estate development around quantum computing, but he noted that private development overall domestically still makes up less than 20% of the market.   

What about data centers?

Quantum computing, for now at least, cannot live in the traditional data centers that house AI and the cloud. That’s because the racks and the physical form of a quantum computer are different. Quantum computers also need electromagnetic shielding to prevent what’s called “noise,” which in this case refers to any outside disturbances, be they electrical, magnetic, vibration or sound. 
“The primary question I’m getting from clients is, does it make existing data centers obsolete? And the answer to that is no. Quantum computing is accretive to the existing data center infrastructure that exists,” said Batson. “Is it redevelopment of existing? Is it brand new? It’s all of the above.”
There are really two potential trajectories for quantum real estate, according to the JLL report. It could remain concentrated in today’s existing hubs or move in with data centers. The argument for the former is that because it is a very specialized technology, there are really very few places that can support it at a larger scale. 
On the other hand, data centers could provide necessary cloud infrastructure for the quantum computing of the future. Integrating quantum with AI could make both more efficient.  
“It’s a period of education and monitoring the development of the technology,” said Batson. “We’re just kind of waiting to see where it is, what it is, and how it happens.” More

Swiss sportswear company On beat Wall Street’s revenue expectations.
The sneaker company, credited with taking market share from Nike, grew sales 32% in its second quarter and raised its full-year revenue guidance.
The company raised prices in July to offset the impact of new tariffs on Vietnamese imports.

On Running shoes at On’s headquarters in in Zurich, Switzerland.

On sales rose 32% in the Swiss sportswear company’s second quarter, leading it to raise its full-year revenue guidance even as it contends with new tariffs on imports from Vietnam. 
The buzzy sneaker brand, which has been credited with taking market share from Nike, now expects full-year sales of 2.91 billion Swiss francs ($3.58 billion), up from its previous outlook of 2.86 billion francs. That’s in line with Wall Street expectations of 2.92 billion francs, according to LSEG. 

On also raised its gross margin guidance to a range of 60.5% to 61%, compared with its previous outlook of between 60% and 60.5%. 
Shares spiked about 17% in premarket trading Tuesday.
The company, which sources about 90% of its goods from Vietnam, raised prices on July 1 to offset the higher costs. It hasn’t seen demand slow down among wholesale partners or consumers, CEO Martin Hoffmann told CNBC in an interview. 
“We have a lot of confidence in our lifestyle business, so we skewed the price increases more towards the lifestyle business, while trying to stay a bit more where we were on our running products,” Hoffmann explained. “So far, we don’t see negative impact from the price increases.” 
The company, which has grown more than 30% in nearly every quarter since 2023, beat Wall Street’s sales expectations for the second quarter. 

Here’s how On did in its second quarter compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

Loss per share: 9 cents in francs adjusted. The figure wasn’t immediately comparable to estimates.  
Revenue: 749 million francs vs. 705 million francs expected

On’s net loss in the three months ended June 30 was 40.9 million francs or 12 cents per share, compared to a net income of 30.8 million francs, or 10 cents per share, in the year-ago period. The loss was primarily driven by foreign exchange fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc.
Sales rose to 749 million francs, up 32% from 568 million francs a year earlier.
On, founded in Switzerland in 2010, has sought to become the most premium sportswear brand on the market. It is one of several companies that have been taking share from Nike, most notably in its running segment. The company draws a fraction of Nike’s annual sales, but it has garnered a reputation for innovation, a recent knock against the legacy sneaker giant. 
In a sneaker category that’s been relatively soft in recent years, On has consistently grown sales in the mid-double digits and still has more room to grow given how low its brand awareness is in some parts of the world. 
One key to the strategy has been balancing direct sales through its own website and stores and sales through wholesale. At a time when Nike pulled away from wholesalers, On and others filled that crucial shelf space while growing their store footprint and digital revenue. 
During the second quarter, On’s wholesale and direct-to-consumer revenue both exceeded Wall Street expectations. On’s wholesale revenue was 441 million francs, compared to estimates of 429 million francs, according to StreetAccount. Direct sales were 308 million francs, compared to expectations of 279 million francs, according to StreetAccount. 
Sales in the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and the Asia-Pacific region all beat expectations, according to StreetAccount. 
While On doesn’t break out its performance in China, Hoffmann said it’s been a bright spot for the company, as sales grew about 50% in the second quarter compared to the year-ago period. 
“The American and the Chinese consumer is very strong for On,” said Hoffmann. “We have seen basically 50% same-store growth in our retail stores, even bigger growth in our [e-commerce] channel, and then the new stores come on top so … China is a very strong market for us.”

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The airline issued a going-concern warning in its quarterly filing, months after emerging from bankruptcy,
The budget airline icon has tried to attract bookings by marketing more upscale products like premium economy.
The carrier has been challenged by an oversupply of domestic flights, changing consumer tastes and an engine grounding.

A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 taxis at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving from Boston on September 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. 
Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Spirit Airlines has warned it might not be able to survive as a going concern if it doesn’t raise more cash, five months after the budget-travel icon emerged from bankruptcy.
After cutting its debt during restructuring, Spirit has tried to attract bookings by marketing more upscale products and looking for new ways to cut costs. Late last month, the airline announced plans to furlough 270 more pilots this fall.

“However, the Company has continued to be affected by adverse market conditions, including elevated domestic capacity and continued weak demand for domestic leisure travel in the second quarter of 2025, resulting in a challenging pricing environment,” the company said in its quarterly report late Monday.
As its financial results aren’t improving at the same pace creditors agreements require, Spirit will need additional cash. Failing to do so could result in defaults. The carrier is looking at selling some aircraft, real estate or airport gates, it said.
“Because of the uncertainty of successfully completing the initiatives to comply with the minimum liquidity covenants and of the outcome of discussions with Company stakeholders, management has concluded there is substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months from the date these financial statements are issued,” it said in the filing.

Spirit’s bankruptcy last year marked the first of a major U.S. airline since 2011.
Known for its bright-yellow planes, Spirit was a budget airline pioneer in the U.S., but struggled in the wake of a failed acquisition by JetBlue Airways last year, shifting consumer tastes to more upmarket products and an engine recall that grounded many of its airplanes.

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AthleteAgent.com provides contact information for professional athletes and agents.
The site was created to improve access to athletes, offering a more streamlined way for organizations to connect with them.
Aaron Rodgers, currently quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is an original founder in the platform and has made a seven-figure investment.

Aaron Rodgers, #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, in action during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 2025.
Justin K. Aller | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is backing a startup that hopes to make athletes more accessible to companies, charities and sponsors.
AthleteAgent.com launched on Tuesday as a rebrand of the former Online Sports Database. The site was created to improve access to athletes, offering a more streamlined way for organizations to connect with them.

The rebrand isn’t just about a new name. AthleteAgent.com is also rolling out a subscription-based model, offering users full access to its growing database for $29.99 per month, or $199.99 per year.

AthleteAgent.com co-founders Ryan Rottman and Aaron Rodgers.
AthleteAgent.com

Rodgers, currently quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is an original founder in the platform. He’s joined by a high-profile group of investors that includes legendary sports agent Scott Boras and the Google for Startups Cloud Program: Scale AI Tier, as well as private equity firms Solyco Capital, Prota Ventures, Bullock Capital and Pressplay Capital.
AthleteAgent.com declined to comment on the exact size of Rodgers’ investment in the company, but said it was in the seven figures.
CEO Sean O’Brien said AthleteAgent.com is on pace for six-figure revenue and positive cash flow this year.
The concept was first co-founded in 2021 by actor and producer Ryan Rottman, who said he noticed a glaring gap in how athletes are listed compared with how actors are made available on IMDb.

“I had a producer from a Hallmark Christmas film look at my IMDb Pro profile — they saw me on “90210” — to see who my agent was and reached out. Since then, I’ve been in eight Hallmark Christmas films. Had that info not been right, they could have moved on to the next person, and I would have missed out,” Rottman told CNBC.
He pitched the idea to Rodgers, who immediately got on board.
“Aaron likes to say we’re building this not for the 1% of athletes, but for the other 99% — to help generate revenue, get their stories out there, find endorsement deals, support their charities. That’s how it came to fruition,” Rottman said.

AthleteAgent.com is an online platform that offers direct access to professional athletes and sports agents, providing verified contact information, contract details, endorsement portfolios and philanthropic involvement.
AthleteAgent.com

Today, AthleteAgent.com has more than 4,000 athletes and 2,000 agents in its database. Each profile offers everything from their representation to their endorsements and philanthropy. The company has a small team that works with the leagues and agents to compile and update the data.
It plans to scale the database by adding front office executives, team contacts and retired athletes in the future.
Rottman said agents have been embracing the platform.
“It saves them time, helps meet endorsement quotas, and we don’t take a cut,” he said.
The tool also helps avoid misfires in outreach, O’Brien said, citing NBA legend LeBron James as a hypothetical example.
“Before us, someone might email Rich Paul for a brand deal — but Maverick Carter is the guy you want for LeBron’s business stuff. We eliminate that confusion,” said O’Brien.

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Sinclair, one of the largest owners of U.S. broadcast stations, is beginning a strategic review of its broadcast business that could result in a merger.
The company is also looking to separate or spinoff its ventures business, which includes pay-TV network the Tennis Channel.
Sinclair is exploring its options amid a push for deregulation across the broadcast TV industry that could lead to more M&A activity.

Signage is displayed outside the Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. headquarters in Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S.
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Sinclair, one of the largest broadcast station owners in the U.S., is launching a strategic review of its broadcast business that could result in a merger, the company said Monday.
The company and its advisors have already held deep discussions with potential merger partners, according to people close to the matter who could not speak publicly due to the sensitive nature of the talks. Still, it’s too early to determine a valuation for a potential deal, they added.

At the same time, Sinclair is also looking to spin off or split its ventures unit, which includes pay-TV network the Tennis Channel and marketing technology business Compulse. In 2023, Sinclair reorganized its company into two operating unites — local media, or the broadcast stations, and ventures, which also can act as an investment vehicle.
The company has already received board approval to explore its options. While Sinclair has had significant discussions with potential merger partners, there is no assurance a deal or spinoff will ultimately take place.
Sinclair shares were up nearly 13% in after market trading.
The media industry broadly expects deregulation under the Trump administration, particularly in the broadcast space, which could usher in a wave mergers and acquisitions.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly said in recent months that he would support getting rid of broadcast station ownership rules and caps.

Sinclair has 178 TV stations, which are affiliated with major broadcasters like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and The CW across 78 markets.
The company reported second-quarter earnings last week in which total revenue declined 5% to $784 million and total advertising revenue dropped 6% to $322 million.
Broadcast TV station group owners have suffered in recent years as consumers continue to cut their traditional pay-TV bundles. Most stations make the bulk of their money from so-called retransmission fees, which are paid on a per-subscriber rate by traditional TV distributors, like Charter Communications and DirecTV, for the right to carry the stations.
Advertising, particularly political advertising during local elections, also drives revenue for the companies.
Sinclair has a market capitalization of roughly $875 million, with an enterprise value of more than $4.3 billion, according to FactSet. Its market value has dipped significantly as pay-TV subscribers decline.
Last year, CNBC reported that Sinclair was working with Moelis and looking to sell more than 30% of its broadcast TV footprint, or more than 60 stations. CEO Chris Ripley has said in recent earnings calls that the company was open to offloading parts of its business or exploring deals.
Other broadcast station deals may be in the works, too. Last week The Wall Street Journal reported that Nexstar Media Group, the biggest owner of broadcast TV stations, was in discussions to acquire Tegna, which has explored selling itself in recent years. More

AMC Entertainment reported strong results Monday, narrowing quarterly losses from $32.8 million to just $4.7 million.
AMC reported a 26% increase in attendance during the period.
On an adjusted, per-share basis, AMC reported breaking even.

People walk past an AMC theater in Manhattan, New York City, on Feb. 25, 2025.
Jeenah Moon | Reuters

Shares of AMC Entertainment gained 3% Monday after the movie theater chain reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results.
The stock was up as much as 11% in intraday trading following the company’s earnings report before the bell.

AMC posted revenue of nearly $1.4 billion, up about 35% year over year and topping the $1.35 billion Wall Street estimate, according to LSEG.
AMC reported a net loss of $4.7 million, or just 1 cent per share, notably narrower than the loss of $32.8 million, or 10 cents per share, the company reported in the second quarter of 2024.
On an adjusted, per-share basis, AMC reported breaking even. Wall Street analysts had expected AMC to report an adjusted loss per share of 8 cents, per LSEG.
AMC also said it saw a 26% increase in moviegoers’ attendance compared to last year.
CEO Adam Aron said the company’s results are indicative of a “recovering industry-wide box office” after previously struggling to pare losses amid dual writers’ and actors’ strikes and an overall post-pandemic decline in movie attendance.

The company is also navigating a significant debt load.
“We’ve now addressed all of our 2026 debt maturities pushing them out to 2029,” Aron said. “In so doing, we have put in place a solid foundation to capitalize on what we believe will be our industry’s continued growth momentum, especially evident in the fourth quarter of 2025 and continuing deep into 2026.”
Aron also said the company saw consolidated admissions revenue per patron topping $12 for “the first time ever,” with total consolidated revenue per patron reaching an “unprecedented” $22.26.
The company reported significant growth in its premium offerings, including its AMC Go Plan, with premium auditoriums operating at nearly three times the occupancy of regular auditoriums.
“The combination of a resurgent box office, our unparalleled theatre footprint with premium experiences galore, our compelling marketing programs and our increasing financial strength have a flywheel impact when they all are happening simultaneously,” Aron said.

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Correction: This story has been updated to correct that AMC reported second-quarter revenue of nearly $1.4 billion. A previous version misstated the amount. More

Sarah Gwilliam is neither a software engineer nor, she confesses, does she “speak AI”. But after her father died recently she got the spark of an idea for creating a generative artificial-intelligence startup that would help others like her handle their grief and sort out their late loved ones’ affairs. Call it wedding planning for funerals. More