--- title: "The Misfits of 2026: What Happens When You Aren't an AI Darling" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/299741276.md" description: "From monday.com laying off staff to Coupang eating a massive fine, this hodgepodge of market orphans reveals the brutal survival tactics of 2026. You either pivot or go private." datetime: "2026-09-22T09:20:10.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/299741276.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/299741276.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/299741276.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # The Misfits of 2026: What Happens When You Aren't an AI Darling I have read enough breathless hagiographies of trillion-dollar tech aggregators over the past few months to last a lifetime. Today, we are looking at the actual market leftovers—a hodgepodge of disparate companies that didn't fit neatly into any shiny AI bucket. This is stupid and here's why: these seemingly unrelated players reveal the brutal reality of the 2026 market. If you aren't a giant, you are either hustling for relevance, pivoting desperately, or packing up to leave the public circus altogether. ### Coupang (CPNG.US) and monday.com (MNDY.US): Giant Headaches and SaaS Delusions Bom Kim’s Coupang finally made the 2026 Fortune 500, posting a massive **USD 8.9 billion** in Q2 net revenue. But a **USD 410 million** administrative fine from South Korean regulators completely wiped out their profit, leaving them with a **USD 570 million** net loss. By September, Taiwanese authorities slapped them for a data leak. Why aren't you moving faster to fix your compliance? Then there's monday.com. In July, this SaaS darling announced it was laying off 20% of its workforce—not to cut costs, supposedly, but to "pivot to AI." Sure. Despite Q2 revenue hitting **USD 368.6 million** and a growing base of enterprise clients, their soft guidance tells the real story. If you can't beat the AI hype, just pretend to be part of it. Good luck with that. ### Hello Group (MOMO.US) and Inter & Co (INTR.US): The Pivot and the Pragmatist With domestic revenues slumping, Hello Group is banking its survival on the Middle East. Their total Q2 revenue dropped 5.1% to **RMB 2.49 billion**, but their overseas business surged 52%. It’s a forced hand, but at least it pushed them back to profitability with **RMB 237 million** in net income. Meanwhile, the Brazilian fintech Inter & Co is actually executing. They posted a record Q2 with **USD 81 million** in net income, and total revenue jumped 24%. In July, they even launched a line of smart payment rings in the US market. That is how you do cross-border expansion without the drama. ### Babcock & Wilcox (BW.US) and KULR Technology (KULR.US): The Data Center Desperados Babcock & Wilcox, a legacy Ohio energy company, figured out the only way to get Wall Street's attention in 2026 is to whisper "data centers." In August, they signed an agreement with Siemens Energy to provide steam turbines for data center projects. And then we have KULR Technology. In July, they dumped **USD 21.5 million** worth of Bitcoin to pay off debt, effectively exiting the crypto mining farce. Their Q2 revenue plummeted 43% to a meager **USD 2.08 million**, and they bled a **USD 21.9 million** net loss. Now they claim to be focusing on AI data center battery backups. It’s like watching someone blindly chase every fading trend. ### Markel Group (MKL.US) and Tilray Brands (TLRY.US): The Boring and the Brewers Markel Group remains a delightfully boring insurance stalwart. In September, long-time Chairman Steve Markel stepped down to hand the reins to Tom Gayner. They posted **USD 436 million** in adjusted operating income in Q2. Nobody talks about them, but they are quietly making money. As for Tilray Brands, the cannabis dream is dead, so they are essentially a craft beer company now. They reported a record fiscal 2026 with **USD 915.5 million** in revenue. In September, they even partnered with Spirit Halloween for a themed beer. Honestly? Whatever pays the bills. ### AVX Corporation (AVX.US) and Genetron Holdings (GENB.US): The Escape Artists Finally, these two made the smartest move of all—they went private. Kyocera swallowed AVX, and Genetron delisted entirely in 2024. They managed to escape the chaotic public market entirely. This grab bag of companies proves one thing: the middle class of the 2026 stock market is a meat grinder. You either forcefully pivot to AI, quietly sell beer, or take yourself private to survive. Anyone thinking the era of easy money is coming back needs a reality check. *This article does not constitute investment advice.* ### Related Stocks - [KULR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KULR.US.md) - [MKL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MKL.US.md) - [BW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BW.US.md) - [AVX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AVX.US.md) - [INTR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/INTR.US.md) - [GENB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GENB.US.md) - [MOMO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MOMO.US.md) - [CPNG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CPNG.US.md) - [TLRY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TLRY.US.md) - [MNDY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MNDY.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Tilray takes ownership of BrewDog](https://longbridge.com/en/news/299329623.md) - [Coupang (CPNG) Faces Earnings Estimate Cuts, Is It Still A Bargain?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/299239870.md) - [Inter & Co Opens 30-Day Selection Window as Level II BDR Program Winds Down](https://longbridge.com/en/news/299236720.md) - [GENB: AI-driven drug discovery advances lead programs, secures partnerships, targets major growth in asthma and COPD](https://longbridge.com/en/news/298919725.md) - [monday.com (MNDY) Draws Fresh Analyst Support, Is The Stock Still Undervalued?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/298072732.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**