We’ve Got Our Eye on the ‘Sky’ as a New Position
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Paramount Skydance ($PSKY) and California’s attorney general are in advanced discussions over concessions that could be made to possibly settle a lawsuit blocking Paramount’s $110B merger with Warner Bros. ($WBD). A dozen Democratic party-led state AGs, led by California, sued to block this deal back in July. A trial date had been set for this March. Last Tuesday, a court ordered Paramount management and California AG Rob Bonta to meet by this coming October 14 to try to reach a settlement.
The talks between Paramount Skydance and California officials are said to include a financial penalty if the company fails to make good on its commitment to distribute 30 films per year in theaters. According to Bloomberg News, Paramount would have to pay $30 million for each film that falls short of that goal.
Additionally, the WSJ is reporting that Paramount is considering a $1.5 billion investment in movie and television production in California as part of potential concessions aimed at resolving the legal challenge. Under discussion is a commitment to keep both Paramount’s studio lot and Warner Bros. studio lot in California and a promise not to sell either facility.
Trading
We find the above interesting as the $10,000 Portfolio is considering initiating Paramount Skydance with a long position. That decision has not been made.
While the Portfolio likes the idea of a Paramount/Warner Bros merger from a business perspective, the heavy involvement of the Ellison family is not a selling point for us given the poor quality of Oracle’s ($ORCL) balance sheet.
Monday’s Intentions
– Sell 20 shares of $VELO at or close to the last sale of $10.94.
Thursday’s Intentions vs Actual Trades
– Purchase 10 shares of $OCUL at or close to the last sale of $10.03.
– Bought 10 shares of OCUL at $10.10.
– Purchase 15 shares of $PTON at or close to the last sale of $4.88.
– Bought 15 shares of PTON at $4.98.
Other Portfolio News
Aspen Aerogels
On Friday, Aspen Aerogels ($ASPN) announced that the firm’s management will meet with B. Riley this Thursday, September 24, in New York City.
Rocket Lab
On Saturday, Rocket Lab ($RKLB) successfully launched the firm’s latest Earth-observation satellite to space for synthetic aperture radar company, Synspective. Dubbed the “Owl by the Dozen” mission, this project launched from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and delivered the 12th StriX satellite directly into an exact 572km low Earth orbit.
This expands Synspective’s existing Earth-monitoring constellation. That launch marks Rocket Lab’s 96th Electron flight and the firm’s 17th launch of 2026.
Current Positions
Long 60 shares of ASPN at $5.1083. Target Price: $10. Last sale: $5.10.
Long 100 shares of $EVLV at $5.7883. Target Price: $8.50. Last sale: $5.10.
Long 110 shares of OCUL at $8.6209. Target Price: $14. Last sale: $10.10.
Long 250 shares of $ONDS at $8.0932. Target Price: $12. Last sale: $7.48.
Long 100 shares of $PL at $20.3367. Target Price: $26. Last sale: $16.68.
Long 50 shares of PTON at $5.0815. Target Price: $9. Last sale: $4.98.
Long 7 shares of RKLB at $73.8629. Target Price $97. Last sale: $65.41.
Long 120 shares of $SOFI at $16.0609. Target Price: $24. Last sale: $17.32.
Short one SOFI $22 Nov 19th call at $1.20, Last sale: $0.31.
Long 50 shares of $SWBI at $14.0414. Target Price: $19. Last sale: $13.50.
Long 70 shares of VELO at $11.3871. Target Price: $18. Last sale: $10.94.
Cash: $141.21.
Portfolio Value: $9,799.04, -2.0% from inception on March 24th.
At the time of publication, Guilfoyle and the $10,000 Portfolio was long ASPN, EVLV, OCUL, ONDS, PL, PTON, RKLB, SOFI, SWBI and VELO.
