5 Things to Watch on
February 17, 2026

Stock index futures are trading lower as Wall Street returns from the President’s Day holiday, while Bitcoin (BTC) remains under pressure, down more than -22% year-to-date amid lingering doubts about the asset class’s long-term viability. BTC-heavy firm Strategy (MSTR), led by Michael Saylor, pushed back on solvency concerns, stating it could withstand a plunge in BTC to $8,000 and still fully cover its debt. The company has amassed 714,644 BTC, worth roughly $49B, since adopting it as a treasury reserve in 2020, though its shares have fallen nearly -60% over the past year.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is up over +3% in premarket trading after securing a seven-day waiver from Netflix (NFLX) to reengage with Paramount Skydance (PSKY) over its $30 per share hostile bid. PSKY signaled it could raise the offer to $31 if talks resume, keeping takeover speculation alive. While WBD’s board still backs the deal with NFLX, investors are betting a higher competing bid could emerge.

Danaher (DHR) is down over -5% in premarket trading after announcing a nearly $10B all-cash deal to acquire Masimo (MASI), paying $180 per share, a nearly +40% premium to Friday’s close. The transaction values MASI at roughly 18x estimated 2027 EBITDA and will be funded through cash and debt. MASI, known for its patient-monitoring devices, will operate within DHR’s Diagnostics segment alongside Radiometer and Cepheid. Investors appear cautious on integration and financing, even as DHR expands its footprint in medical technology.

Alibaba Group (BABA) is up slightly in premarket trading after unveiling its Qwen3.5 AI model series, highlighting improved multimodal and agentic capabilities. The company released both open-weight and hosted versions, claiming performance on par with leading global peers as China’s AI race intensifies. Investors are focused on whether BABA can convert rapid AI innovation into stronger cloud growth and monetization.

ZIM Integrated Shipping (ZIM) is up over +35% in premarket trading after announcing it will be acquired by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd for $35 per share in cash, a 58% premium to its February 13 close and valuing the company at roughly $4.2B. The deal requires approval from ZIM shareholders, regulators, and the State of Israel, which holds a “golden share” granting veto power over strategic ownership changes.