02-20-2026 | Strong earnings, stubborn inflation, rising oil, and a decisive AI chip deal

COMPANIES. ANALOG DEVICES BEATS ESTIMATES AND RAISES DIVIDEND. Analog Devices reported revenue of 3.16 billion dollars for the quarter ended January 31, 2026. Adjusted earnings per share reached 2 dollars and 46 cents. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 11 percent to 1 dollar and 10 cents. It returned 1 billion dollars to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Management projects about 3.5 billion dollars in revenue next quarter, plus or minus 100 million dollars. THE ECONOMY. INFLATION SIGNALS REMAIN MIXED. The Cleveland Federal Reserve nowcast points to slower year over year inflation. At the same time, forecasts for core personal consumption expenditures show monthly readings still above the 2 percent target. Policymakers signal caution on rate cuts as they wait for sustained disinflation. MARKETS. OIL HITS SIX MONTH HIGH. Brent crude settled near 71 dollars and 66 cents a barrel. West Texas Intermediate closed around 66 dollars and 43 cents. United States stock indexes ended lower as investors weighed energy prices and interest rate expectations. INNOVATION. NVIDIA SIGNS MULTIYEAR AI CHIP DEAL. Nvidia will supply millions of artificial intelligence processors to Meta under a multiyear agreement, reinforcing large scale infrastructure spending.