Aug 13, 2026 · 7 min
Cisco questions AI growth as luxury and insurance stocks diverge
Cerebras, Cisco, and StubHub All Lower
The episode pairs a quick read on earnings-driven market moves with a broader question about whether AI can help cities plan for rapid urbanization.
- 1Tapestry’s softer outlook pressured shares, while Birkenstock’s revenue growth lifted its full-year EBITDA guidance.
- 2Accelerant surged after agreeing to be acquired by Thoma Bravo at an enterprise value of approximately $4 billion.
- 3Cisco’s AI data-center forecast raises questions about how quickly projected demand will translate into sales.
Don't miss
The episode shifts from Cisco’s AI sales forecast to Dubai’s long-term urban planning, connecting corporate projections with the practical demands of growth.
The brief
Nathan Hager and Dan Curtis review a market split: Tapestry falls on a softer outlook, while Birkenstock rises on strong revenue and higher full-year EBITDA guidance.
Accelerant becomes the episode’s sharpest corporate-moves story, surging after agreeing to be acquired by Thoma Bravo in a deal valuing the specialty insurance exchange at about $4 billion.
Cisco shares decline after its results and AI data-center sales forecast, putting the focus on whether projected AI demand is arriving at the pace investors expect.
The program then widens from company forecasts to city forecasts, examining how artificial intelligence and long-term planning could help Dubai manage rapid population growth.
The through line is execution: markets test corporate promises against near-term results, while cities must turn smart-city ambitions into infrastructure for expanding populations.
What was said on this episode
13 statements · 11 positive · 2 negative
Tapestry’s 2027 adjusted earnings guidance is below Wall Street expectations.
“the guidance is coming in a little bit softer than Wall Street was expecting”
Listen at 1:15
Kate Spade sales declined 7%.
“There was a 7% drop in Kate Spade sales”
Listen at 1:31
Coach revenue grew 14% on a constant-currency basis.
“Coach saw revenue grow 14% on a constant currency basis”
Listen at 1:33
Tapestry’s Greater China growth was 28% on a currency-adjusted basis.
“Greater China growth, 28% when adjusting for currencies”
Listen at 1:39
Birkenstock third-quarter revenue rose 13%.
“third-quarter revenue rose 13%”
Listen at 2:03
Birkenstock’s direct-to-consumer average sales price is about twice its business sales price.
“the average sales price it sees is about twice that as when it sells to a business”
Listen at 2:25
The Accelerant transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027.
“The transaction is expected to close in the first half of next year”
Listen at 3:20
Accelerant appears to have secured sufficient voting support for the acquisition.
“it looks like it has secured the voting backing that it needs to close this deal”
Listen at 3:35
Cisco’s full-year AI-data-center sales could exceed $7.5 billion based on quarterly sales.
“extrapolate that out, you'd expect something probably a little bit higher. than $7.5 billion for a full year”
Listen at 4:19
Cisco is expected to benefit from data-center buildout.
“Cisco is facing high expectations that will profit from data center build out”
Listen at 4:24
Dubai learned from its sudden population increase.
“Dubai has learned a lot from a sudden increase in population”
Listen at 5:49
Dubai responded effectively to its sudden population increase.
“they reacted very well to it”
Listen at 5:55
Dubai has a long-term urban-planning vision.
“They have a long-term urban planning vision”
Listen at 5:57
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Nathan Hager
Coach
Kate Spade
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