---
title: "The Misfit Toys of the Market: Who's Actually Making Money?"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/296207435.md"
description: "This diverse basket of US stocks resembles a chaotic market bazaar. While Samsara demonstrates the real-world profitability of physical AI, legacy players like 3D Systems and Xunlei continue to struggle. Cash flow remains the ultimate truth teller."
datetime: "2026-08-18T09:44:18.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/296207435.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296207435.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/296207435.md)
---

# The Misfit Toys of the Market: Who's Actually Making Money?

Welcome to the island of misfit toys in the US market. We've got everything from self-driving LiDAR and flying cars to cruise lines, cannabis ETFs, and salvage yard auctions. This is a chaotic mix, and honestly, it looks like a blind box game without a theme. But if you look past the disparate names, you'll find a few hard tech players making real money, alongside marginal companies still selling dreams. Let's cut the crap and look at who's actually delivering and who's just asleep at the wheel.

Let's start with **Samsara (IOT.US)**. This company loves to talk about "Physical AI," and frankly, they have the numbers to back it up. In the quarter ending June 2026, total revenue hit **USD 478.8M**, up 30.5% year-over-year, and their ARR blew past the USD 2B mark. The stock has been resilient recently, outperforming the broader tech sector. This is what it looks like when AI actually hits the pavement, rather than just living in pitch decks.

Then there's **Hesai Group (HESAY.US)**, walking a very tight rope. Sure, they pulled in **RMB 681M** in Q1 2026, up 30%, and locked down a Mercedes-Benz contract for L3 LiDAR. But their shares have faced turbulence this year. The narrative for Chinese hardware expanding globally is incredibly tough right now amid geopolitical headwinds. Good luck with that.

Look at **AIRO Group (AIRO.US)**. Urban air mobility—sounds very sci-fi, right? They did **USD 43.2M** in Q2 2026 revenue, growing 75.6%. Meanwhile, executives are selling shares to cover tax obligations. It's a crowded space, and I'm highly skeptical about who actually survives the shakeout.

**3D Systems (DDD.US)** is just exhausting. Q2 2026 revenue was **USD 94.6M**, inching downward. They snagged a **USD 9M** Air Force contract, but they are also in the middle of a CEO transition. The 3D printing hype cycle ended years ago, and the stock's recent sluggishness shows the market is tired of waiting for a turnaround.

And what about **Xunlei (XNET.US)**? Q2 2026 total revenue jumped 38.9% to **USD 102.7M**, but they managed to post a massive GAAP net loss of **USD 218.5M** because of a disastrous investment in Arashi Vision. A USD 20M buyback isn't going to fix a core business that lacks imagination. The stock has been languishing, and honestly, it's a mess.

**LightPath Technologies (LPTH.US)** is playing it smart. They dumped their China business for **USD 4.5M** and leaned into US defense orders, driving Q3 revenue up 109% to **USD 19.1M**. The backlog is massive, and shares have bounced back recently. It's a pragmatic pivot.

The rest of the pack is a complete mixed bag. **Copart (CPRT.US)** operates junk car auctions—it's unsexy but consistently dominant, quietly compounding value. **Brunswick Corp (BRUN.US)** sells boats; the macro environment dictates their fate, and consumer discretionary vulnerability has been obvious in their recent trading. **Viking Holdings (VIK.US)** is riding the travel rebound, but operating heavy cruise ships in this rate environment makes me nervous. Finally, **AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOX.US)** remains a wild ride for adrenaline junkies, with policy catalysts that always seem to be "just around the corner."

Bottom line: Focus on the companies generating real cash flows. The rest is just noise.

_This article does not constitute investment advice._

### Related Stocks

- [VIK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VIK.US.md)
- [AIRO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AIRO.US.md)
- [HESAY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HESAY.US.md)
- [IOT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IOT.US.md)
- [LPTH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/LPTH.US.md)
- [CPRT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CPRT.US.md)
- [DDD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DDD.US.md)
- [BRUN.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BRUN.US.md)
- [XNET.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XNET.US.md)

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- [AIRO Group (NASDAQ:AIRO) COO Sells 16,887 Shares of Stock](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296170237.md)
- [AIRO: Drone-driven revenue growth and margin gains support a positive full-year outlook](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295836224.md)
- [Copart Announces the Addition of David J. Berger to Its Board of Directors | CPRT Stock News](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296175094.md)
- [What To Expect From Viking’s (VIK) Q2 Earnings](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296170324.md)
- [China's Xunlei posts Q2 revenue rises on higher subscription demand](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295779945.md)