Why OpenAI dominated the AI trade in 2025

The market loves putting money to work on AI stocks; that much has been made clear in the past two years. The appetite to own AI plays is broadening to more under-the-radar names, including companies that are using the technology aggressively in the industrial sector. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits down on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with C.H. Robinson (CHRW) CEO Dave Bozeman. Bozeman has led the 120-year-old logistics player for more than two years, following considerable stints in transportation operations at Amazon, Harley-Davidson, and Caterpillar. Since his arrival, C.H. Robinson has leaned hard into AI to drive improved operating profits. The company has delivered in a big way, sending the stock price up 55% in 2025. Bozeman shares what’s next in the company’s tech-driven overhaul, what the future of freight looks like, and whether the trade war stands to send the US economy into a ditch ultimately. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There has been one company at the very center of the AI trade this year. That is none other than OpenAI (OPAI.PVT)! OpenAI has won Yahoo Finance’s 11th annual Company of the Year award. Here is why. First, it undeniably led the market narrative for investors in 2025. When it announced big deals, stocks popped. When it issued a cautionary statement, stocks took a hit. Second, OpenAI secured scores of new, transformational deals with large public companies, including Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD), and Oracle (ORCL). And three, its year of dealmaking will likely see the company end the year as the world’s most valuable private business — with an estimated valuation of $500 billion, according to Yahoo Finance data. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talked exclusively with OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar about the company’s path forward — from eventually turning profitable to a potential push into hardware. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The battle to analyze your health data has arguably never been fiercer. The Apple (AAPL) Watch has sold tens of millions of units, all of which are collecting health data. Whoop is eyeing an IPO. Not to mention, there are an array of other major players in the wearables space, such as Samsung (005930.KS) and Garmin (GRMN). Does there need to be one winner, though, as the longevity industry continues to grow in size? Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits down on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Oura Health CEO Tom Hale. Oura — the maker of the popular health tracking ring — is fresh off raising $900 million from a series of investors. The proceeds are being earmarked for international expansion, and perhaps a foray into payments. Hale shares his ultimate vision for Oura Health, what he has learned about leadership three years into being CEO, and the dos and don'ts of health tracking. Megaphone Podcast Copy TemplateYahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Summarize this data   Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Turn on screen reader supportTo enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The driverless car race is well underway. While Waymo is seen as having a leadership position, Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk is aiming for robotaxi debuts likely in 2026. Thus far, the race to bring autonomous trucks to life to address driver shortages is a bit more open. Aurora Innovation (AUR) is seen as the leader at this juncture and is backed by Uber (UBER), boasting key partnerships with Paccar (PCAR), Nvidia (NVDA), and Volvo (VOLCAR-B.ST). The company has successfully debuted driverless commercial trucks on select routes in Texas, with plans to expand to more routes in 2026. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Aurora Innovation co-founder and Chris Urmson. Urmson led Google's (GOOG) driverless technology unit for several years, which ultimately became Waymo. He shares his vision for Aurora Innovation, the 2026 product roadmap, and why autonomous technology is needed for commercial trucks. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The apparel retail industry has experienced its share of ups and downs this year. A focus by the Trump administration on tariffs has raised supply chain costs for most apparel manufacturers. In turn, those manufacturers have passed on price increases to shoppers. Consumers have responded by delaying purchases for deals or forgoing them altogether. The more positive end of the spectrum remains the high-end luxury space. The sector is selling higher-priced goods to consumers, allowing them to sit on another year of wealth gains through the stock market. Still, not everyone is winning. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Mackage CEO Tanya Golesic. Mackage was founded in Montreal, Canada, in 1999 by Eran Elfassy. Today, the luxury brand is led by former executives from Jimmy Choo and Ralph Lauren, including Tanya Golesic. Golesic has expanded distribution while staying true to the brand’s luxury athletic DNA. She shares what has defined the brand’s year, her career, and what’s on tap for 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spotting a legendary CEO amid a sea of titans. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Hilton (HLT) CEO Chris Nassetta. Nassetta is one of Corporate America's longest-serving CEOs, having assumed the top position in 2007 after leadership positions at Host Hotels. He has managed through a host of major hotel industry challenges ranging from the aftermath of the Great Financial Crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, Nassetta has helped to significantly grow Hilton around the world. Today, it operates more than 9,000 hotels spanning 25 brands. Nassetta shares what’s next in the storied Hilton story, and how long he plans to stay leading the company. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just like that, the crypto bears have resurfaced. The fall has brought a bear market for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Experts cite a range of factors. For one, the Fed's lack of enthusiasm for a December rate cut has reduced investors' risk appetite. Crypto is still one of the riskiest assets in the game. And two, a questionable presidential pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has cast new scrutiny on the cast of characters continuing to linger in the crypto space. How long will the bear market continue? Have institutions lost interest in crypto after a year of significant upside catalysts? Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Coinbase (COIN) head of institutional strategy John D’Agostino. D’Agostini takes Sozzi inside the latest thinking of institutions on crypto and stock, and what 2026 may hold for the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more than $2.1 trillion in assets under management, BNY (BNY) remains one of the heavyweights in the financial services industry. It also has the distinction of being America’s oldest bank! As one might imagine with such a distinction, BNY has witnessed a range of market cycles and new technologies over the decades. Keeping the company at the leading edge of industry changes today, such as AI and cryptocurrency, will require nimble management and an unwavering focus on clients. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Jose Minaya, Global Head of BNY Investments. Minaya stock his personal story from growing up in New York and his investment philosophy. He breaks down how BNY is spending on AI and the impact it will have on the future of investing. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keeping the United States safe comes with its share of investment opportunities for the financial services industry. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Capitol Meridian Partners co-founder Brooke Coburn. Coburn was a founding member of the tech, media, and telecom practice at private equity powerhouse The Carlyle Group. Coburn co-founded Capitol Meridian Partners in 2021 with longtime colleague Adam Palmer. Meridian aims to invest in companies across the defense industry, from aerospace players to those developing government software. Coburn shares his investment philosophy as the sector sees renewed interest amid investments by the Trump administration. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doing the game of baseball differently. Think an 11-rule system, one of them being that if a player bunts, they are automatically out. If a fan catches a ball, the player is out. All-in-ticket pricing means that food and your seat are included in one price. Players dancing out of the blue in the outfield. A person pitching while being on stilts. A two-hour time limit for the game. If you think this all sounds ridiculous, you are right — the thing is, it's being done already! Enter the Savannah Bananas, an independent baseball team founded officially in 2016 by Jesse Cole. The Bananas have gone from a sports sideshow to the real deal, filling out stadiums reserved for pro teams and appearing on ESPN. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with founder and owner Jesse Cole. Coles shares why he views Walt Disney as one of his ultimate business inspirations and how he got a business like the Bananas off the ground in a competitive sporting arena. Cole also details what’s next for his company after a transformational 2025. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected]. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices