Oppenheimer downgraded IBM to Perform and removed its $350 price target after the company pre-announced weak second-quarter 2026 results ahead of its 22 July earnings call. IBM's results missed estimates across every segment, with total revenue growing just 1% year-over-year to $17.2 billion. Software revenue grew 5% year-over-year, significantly below Oppenheimer's 12% estimate. Infrastructure revenue fell 7% year-over-year, whilst consulting revenue remained flat. Management attributed the shortfall to weakness in Transaction Processing software, shifting buying behaviour towards servers and storage due to memory cost pressures, and large deal slippage at quarter-end. Oppenheimer believes IBM will struggle to achieve double-digit software growth without additional large acquisitions.

Forward Industries announces appointment of Michael Ashe to Board of Directors. Forward Industries, Inc. - GlobeNewswire - Wed Jul 15, 3:05PM CDT AUSTIN, TX, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Forward Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: FWDI) (the "Company" or "Forward Industries"), the leading Solana treasury company, today announced the appointment of Michael Ashe, currently Chief Strategy Officer at Galaxy Digital, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Ashe previously served as a board observer and will now join the Board as a director, effective immediately. With nearly six years at Galaxy, Mr. Ashe has held a wide range of leadership roles including Head of Strategy & Corporate Development and Head of Investment Banking, where he leads the firm's strategic vision and direction. Prior to Galaxy, Mr. Ashe served as a Director of Investment Banking at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. for nearly six years, where he advised clients from the firm's New York office. Mr. Ashe's career began at Citi, where he spent almost seven years across multiple disciplines including Equity Capital Markets, Structured Finance, and Strategy & Planning, building a well-rounded foundation in financial services. Mr. Ashe holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. "Michael has been a valued voice in our boardroom as an observer, and his appointment as a director reflects the confidence we have in his judgment and expertise as a seasoned veteran in both the crypto industry and the broader finance and technology industries. As Forward continues to grow and scale the largest Solana treasury company, we are fortunate to have his full participation in guiding the Company's strategy and governance." said Kyle Samani, Chairman of the Board of Forward Industries. About Forward Industries, Inc. Forward Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: FWDI) is a Solana focused digital asset treasury company, with the strategy to buy, hold, stake, trade, invest in, and grow SOL and SOL related digital assets, protocols and businesses. Forward's mission is to expand and strengthen the Solana ecosystem by acquiring and staking SOL and engaging with, providing tools to and investing in the Solana network, Solana developers and Solana related projects in order to increase shareholder value. In connection with a private placement transaction in September 2025, Forward launched a digital asset treasury strategy supported by industry leading investors and operating partners including Galaxy Digital and Jump Crypto. For more information on the Company's Solana treasury strategy, visit www.forwardindustries.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "may," "will," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "project," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including statements relating to the Company's future growth and scaling. Each forward-looking statement contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the digital asset treasury strategy (including the at-the-market equity offering program and the share repurchase program); changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to the Company's operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of Solana and other cryptocurrencies; the risk that the price of the Company's common stock may be highly correlated to the price of the digital assets that it holds; risks related to increased competition in the industries and markets in which the Company does and will operate (including the applicable digital assets market); risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. Investor Relations Contact Sean Mansouri, CFA / Aaron D'Souza Elevate IR (720) 330-2829 [email protected] This article contains syndicated content. We have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content, and may receive compensation for placement of the content on this site. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Motaz Ashri joins Oppenheimer after Morgan Stanley termination review. Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A., operating as Investment Fraud Lawyers, has initiated an independent investigation into Motaz Ashri (CRD# 8018725), a financial advisor based in Coral Gables, Florida, and currently registered with Oppenheimer & Company. As a firm of former Wall Street defense attorneys, Investment Loss Recovery Group bring profound insider knowledge and specialized experience to help individual investors recover losses. Its aim is to provide you with transparent facts, the significance of recent disclosures, and what steps you can take if you have any concerns about your accounts or portfolio. Why is Motaz Ashri under investigation? Table of Contents Its firm's investigation centers on the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ashri's March 2026 termination from Morgan Stanley. According to public filings, Morgan Stanley alleged policy violations, specifically regarding: * Reporting of an outside private securities investment * Emailing a Morgan Stanley client information about both a securities investment and a real estate investment opportunity Such activities may fall under "selling away", a practice that FINRA Rule 3280 directly regulates. This rule prohibits registered representatives from engaging in private securities transactions outside their member firm's procedures unless detailed written notice is provided and firm approval is secured. "Selling away" is considered a red flag due to its association with unapproved investments and heightened risk for investors. What is "selling away," and why does It matter? Selling away refers to a financial advisor's involvement with securities transactions not supervised or authorized by their employing firm. Under FINRA Rule 3280, such conduct is only permitted within strict parameters. For investors, the risks include: * Lack of firm oversight and due diligence * Potential involvement in higher-risk or inappropriate investments * Exposure to fraudulent, illiquid, or unsuitable private offerings If an advisor fails to follow firm or FINRA protocols, both the advisor and the employing firm may be held responsible for resulting losses. Its attorneys possess 95+ years' combined experience in securities law and have recovered funds in scenarios ranging from unauthorized trading to complex "selling away" schemes. Motaz Ashri's professional background. To help you assess any past or present concerns regarding your accounts or investment plans, here is a clear summary of Motaz Ashri's regulatory and employment history as accurately as of June 14, 2026: | Attribute | Details | | Current Broker-Dealer | Oppenheimer & Company, Coral Gables, Florida (since March 2026) | | Prior Employment | Morgan Stanley, Miami, Florida (2026 - 2026) | | Licenses Held | SIE, Series 7, Series 66 | | States Registered | California, Georgia, Ohio | | Industry Experience | 1 year (as of June 2026) | Regulatory and complaint history: A deep dive. It is essential for investors to understand the nature - and limits - of a public regulatory report. Based on its comprehensive review of FINRA BrokerCheck and various public records, Motaz Ashri's current profile includes: * No customer disputes reported * No arbitrations or civil lawsuits involving investor losses * No SEC, state, or FINRA enforcement actions, suspensions, or censures * No criminal proceedings or bankruptcies * No current press or media reports of investor claims or investigations However, the termination for alleged outside securities activity and client communication regarding off-platform investments remains a persistent area of concern for any investors whose accounts were handled by Mr. Ashri during or prior to this transition. Key red flags - why a clean report may not mean safety. While FINRA records show no public complaints or enforcement actions, investors should understand that certain improper private securities activities may stay undisclosed for months or years. "Selling away" and related violations can come to light only after investor losses accumulate, or when internal audits by the advisor's current or former employers prompt further reporting. Red flags for investors include: * Exposure to unfamiliar or private investment opportunities presented or recommended by your advisor * Lack of documentation on firm letterhead for some investments * Email communications or proposals outside official channels * Difficulty accessing statements or recovering invested funds If you have experienced any of these warning signs or have been offered off-platform investments by Motaz Ashri or any other Oppenheimer & Company representative, you may have grounds to pursue the recovery of your funds. Its commitment to investors: why choose Investment Loss Recovery Group? As a premier national investor advocacy law firm, Investment Loss Recovery Group combine: * 98% success rate across hundreds of investor claims * 95+ years of combined securities law experience * Over $520 million in securities matters handled * Top 2% Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer-reviewed ranking * Super Lawyers-designated attorneys * 5.0-star client reviews for exceptional service * No recovery, no fee - you only pay if Investment Loss Recovery Group win back your losses Investment Loss Recovery Group is former Wall Street defense counsel - its insider knowledge allows Investment Loss Recovery Group to fight major financial institutions and advocate fiercely for investors against all forms of misconduct, including unauthorized "selling away," unsuitable recommendations, and other complex securities violations. What steps should you take? If you worked with Motaz Ashri of Oppenheimer & Company (formerly of Morgan Stanley, Coral Gables, Florida), review your account statements closely and watch for any irregular private investments or funds missing from your official brokerage account. Investment Loss Recovery Group recommend the following steps: * Request full documentation relating to all investments from your current and former advisor * Seek clarity about any private or "off-book" opportunities you were offered * Preserve all email correspondence, statements, and promotional materials * Contact its experienced securities fraud attorneys for a confidential review of your potential claim Remember: Time limits ("statutes of limitations") may apply to the recovery of your losses. The sooner you reach out, the more options you may have for recovering your funds and holding financial professionals accountable. Get a free consultation now - protect your interests. If you suspect losses or unauthorized investments involving Motaz Ashri or Oppenheimer & Company, its attorneys are available to review your case free of charge and strictly confidentially. Let Investment Loss Recovery Group put its insider knowledge, proven success, and national reach to work for you. Call now for your complimentary consultation: 1-888-885-7162. Your recovery and peace of mind are its top priority. If you have questions about your investments or have concerns regarding your financial advisor, do not wait. Take control - contact Investment Loss Recovery Group today so Investment Loss Recovery Group can fight for the recovery of your funds. Disclaimer: The information contained in any post on this website is derived from publicly available sources and is not guaranteed as to accuracy and often involves allegations which may or may not be proven at some point in the future. All posts are believed to be accurate as of the time of original posting, but the accuracy and details are subject to and expected to change over time and which may contain opinions of the author at the time posted.