Roblox operates an online video game platform with 80 million daily active users that lets young gamers create, develop, and monetize games (or “experiences”) for other players. The firm offers its developers a hybrid of a game engine, publishing platform, online hosting and services, marketplace with payment processing, and social network. The platform is a closed garden that Roblox controls, earning $3.5 billion in bookings in 2023 through in-game purchases and advertising while benefiting from outsourced game development. Unlike traditional video game publishers, Roblox is more focused on the creation of new tools and monetization techniques for its developers than creating new games or franchises.

Founded in 2012, Coinbase is the leading cryptocurrency exchange platform in the United States. The company intends to be the safe and regulation-compliant point of entry for retail investors and institutions into the cryptocurrency economy. Users can establish an account directly with the firm, instead of using an intermediary, and many choose to allow Coinbase to act as a custodian for their cryptocurrency, giving the company breadth beyond that of a traditional financial exchange. While the company still generates the majority of its revenue from transaction fees charged to its retail customers, Coinbase uses internal investment and acquisitions to expand into adjacent businesses, such as prime brokerage and data analytics.

The Federal Reserve's favorite inflation indicator, the PCE Price Index, will be released by the BEA this morning. PCE differs from the better-known Consumer Price Index because its composition is changed more frequently and it is thus quicker to reflect the impact of real-time pricing fluctuations. In the most recent report, through July, PCE inflation was reported at 2.5% year over year. Core PCE, which removes volatile food and energy prices, rose at a rate of 2.6% in the latest month. Our PCE forecasts are for 2.3% for the headline number and 2.8% for the core reading. Overall, inflation in this cycle peaked in summer 2022 and has been on a fairly consistent downward trek since then. We track 20 inflation measures on a monthly basis. On average, they are indicating that prices are rising at a 2.25% rate year over year, down from 2.70% a month ago. The numbers are volatile and are distorted somewhat by ultra-low readings within the Producer Price Intermediate Goods category, which may well be pointing to easing prices across the inflation spectrum in the months ahead. Focusing on core, our reading is 2.47%, essentially level month over month. That's propped up by sticky prices on shelter and transportation (the Sticky Price Core CPI Index reading is currently 4.1%). Looking ahead, investors are expecting that the Federal Reserve's series of rate hikes ultimately will tame inflation, with the three-year forward expectation rate at 2.17%.

Palantir is an analytical software company that focuses on leveraging data to create efficiencies in its clients’ organizations. The firm serves commercial and government clients via its Foundry and Gotham platforms, respectively. The Denver-based company was founded in 2003 and went public in 2020.