Aug 31, 2026 · 7 min
SpaceX turbine plans rattle Howmet as AI lifts tech stocks
Akamai Rises, Duolingo Gains, Howmet Aerospace Tumbles
The episode shows how one industrial threat and two analyst upgrades can quickly reshape investor expectations across aerospace and software.
- 1Howmet falls after Elon Musk says SpaceX could produce natural-gas turbine parts, threatening established suppliers.
- 2Akamai gains after Piper Sandler links its prospects to AI infrastructure spending and longer-duration compute contracts.
- 3Duolingo rebounds on an Evercore upgrade despite a steep selloff and persistent concerns about AI disruption.
Don't miss
Howmet’s sharp decline after Elon Musk says SpaceX could make parts for natural-gas turbines.
The brief
Howmet Aerospace becomes the episode’s sharpest move after Elon Musk says SpaceX would produce parts for natural-gas turbines, potentially challenging existing suppliers.
The discussion turns to Akamai, whose shares rise after Piper Sandler upgrades the software company on optimism about AI infrastructure spending and longer-duration compute contracts.
Duolingo rebounds after Evercore raises its rating and price target, even as the language-learning company faces the overhang of a steep prior selloff and AI disruption concerns.
The episode’s central contrast is clear: industrial stocks can be punished by a new potential competitor, while software names benefit when analysts see AI-driven demand.
What was said on this episode
2 statements · 2 positive
Natural-gas turbines are needed to power AI infrastructure.
“these turbines are needed to power AI”
Listen at 2:25
Duolingo’s personality gives it protection against AI disruption.
“there's a personality and there's something that these companies have”
Listen at 5:02
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.
Mentioned
Elon Reeve MuskListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.