New York, January 15, 2026, 11:05 EST
- Boston Scientific struck a deal to acquire Penumbra for roughly $14.5 billion, sending Penumbra’s shares up
- Verizon handed out $20 credits following a 10-hour wireless outage that caught federal attention
- Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley saw their quarterly profits rise, driven by increased dealmaking and trading activity
Boston Scientific (BSX) struck a deal to acquire Penumbra (PEN) for roughly $14.5 billion on Thursday, drawing attention to the medical device sector. This move came amid Verizon’s (VZ) ongoing outage issues and new earnings reports from Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS).
The Penumbra deal marks the first significant healthcare takeover of 2026, arriving just as investors seek confirmation that large mergers are making a comeback. With borrowing costs down and regulators taking a softer stance, Wall Street has been buzzing—now this deal puts those hopes to the test.
Bank earnings reinforced the trend. Goldman and Morgan Stanley flagged stronger deal flow. At the same time, Verizon’s network disruption highlighted how fast operational slip-ups can spiral into regulatory scrutiny and customer credits.
Boston Scientific announced it will pay $374 per Penumbra share in a mix of cash and stock. CEO Mike Mahoney described Penumbra as “a well-established company” and said the deal taps into “new, fast-growing segments” within vascular care. Penumbra’s CEO Adam Elsesser highlighted the company’s focus on “deep innovation for complex diseases.” 1
The deal prices Penumbra about 19% above its last closing price, sending its shares up over 12% early Thursday. Truist analyst Richard Newitter noted the acquisition plugs a hole in Boston Scientific’s neurovascular portfolio, bringing it back into brain clot-removal devices—a business it exited when it sold to Stryker more than ten years ago. 2
Verizon announced a $20 credit for hundreds of thousands of customers affected by a 10-hour outage on Wednesday, attributing the disruption to a software glitch. The company insisted the issue was not the result of a cyberattack and advised users still experiencing problems to restart their devices. The Federal Communications Commission said it will investigate the outage. 3
Goldman Sachs posted fourth-quarter profits that topped Wall Street expectations, driven by a boost in dealmaking and stronger trading. “The stock has been on a tear and already discounted these results,” said Gerard Cassidy of RBC Capital Markets, as Goldman shares slipped in premarket action. 4
Morgan Stanley beat forecasts, thanks largely to a 47% surge in investment banking revenue, which hit $2.41 billion. CFO Sharon Yeshaya told Reuters she’s seeing “an accelerating pipeline in M&A and IPOs.” CEO Ted Pick highlighted geopolitical risks but emphasized the bank’s intent to remain “patient” on acquisitions. 5
Together, the updates highlighted two types of catalysts investors often track. One involves deal activity — who’s acquiring whom, and what that signals about growth and confidence. The other covers the messier issues, such as outages and complaints, that can quickly draw regulatory attention.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) remained in focus, as investors kept an eye on the satellite-to-smartphone angle gaining traction in retail circles. A recent Motley Fool piece highlighted AST as a risky play, emphasizing that success in space-based cellular broadband hinges on execution, not just bold claims. 6
AST says its BlueBird satellites aim to deliver 4G and 5G service straight to standard smartphones. The company claims partnerships with over 50 mobile network operators, reaching nearly 3 billion subscribers. Founder and CEO Abel Avellan said they have a “fully-funded plan” to launch 45 to 60 satellites by 2026, with deployments scheduled through 2025 and 2026. https://ast-science.com/partners/ 7
Today’s major headlines come with caveats. Boston Scientific has to clear closing hurdles and brace for a deal that’s likely to dilute adjusted earnings per share in its first full year post-close. Verizon is under FCC scrutiny, with ongoing risks of customer churn. Banks’ deal flow hinges on markets remaining open and investor confidence staying intact. For AST and other space-telecom names, launch timetables, spectrum approvals, and funding requirements can shift abruptly — and the stocks often react accordingly.
