machines

The AI market is booming. Bain projects the total addressable market for AI hardware and software will grow 40%-55% annually, reaching $780 billion to $990 billion by 2027.

This growth is enabling companies that provide AI tools, such as chips for data centers, to benefit as demand surges for infrastructure supporting AI applications. Nvidia (NVDA -0.77%) and Broadcom (AVGO -0.00%) stand out as early leaders of the AI megatrend. They’re turning into cash-flow machines. Both are producing such an abundance of cash that they’re returning most of their growing windfalls to shareholders.

Image source: Nvidia.

1. An AI-powered cash-flow machine

Nvidia pioneered GPU-accelerated computing, a technology that leverages specialized semiconductors and algorithms to enhance the speed of compute-intensive operations within applications. This advanced technology is crucial for supporting innovations like AI and robotics. Unsurprisingly, AI-focused tech companies have been snapping up Nvidia’s AI semiconductors to turn data centers into supercomputers.

The semiconductor company generated $46.7 billion of revenue in its recently completed fiscal 2026 second quarter. That was up 6% from the first quarter and 56% from the year-ago period. The bulk of those sales were to data center customers ($41.1 billion).

Nvidia’s AI semiconductor platform has become a cash-printing machine. During the first half of its 2026 fiscal year, the company generated nearly $43 billion in cash from operations — up from almost $30 billion during the year-ago period. Of that cash, Nvidia returned $24.3 billion to investors via dividends and share repurchases. Despite this massive cash return, the company still had nearly $57 billion in cash on its balance sheet at the end of the period.

Nvidia plans to keep returning cash to investors. With only $14.7 billion remaining on its buyback authorization at the end of the second quarter, Nvidia’s board in late August added another $60 billion for share repurchases.

Meanwhile, there’s more AI-powered growth ahead for Nvidia. The company’s Blackwell platform is becoming the gold standard in AI. Blackwell data center sales surged 17% sequentially in the second quarter and should continue growing briskly in the future as more companies adopt this technology.

2. The AI-powered accelerator

Broadcom has also been cashing in on the AI race. The infrastructure software and semiconductor company reported a 22% year-over-year increase in its revenue in its fiscal third quarter of 2025, pushing it to a record $16 billion. AI revenue growth accelerated in the period, surging 63% to $5.2 billion.

The company generated nearly $7.2 billion in cash from operations during the period. The capital-light business spent only $142 million on capital expenses, enabling it to produce over $7 billion in free cash flow, representing an impressive 44% of its revenue. Free cash flow has surged 47% over the past year.

Broadcom returned $2.8 billion of that cash to investors via dividends. The company previously increased its dividend by 11% for this fiscal year, marking its 14th consecutive year of dividend increases since initiating the payout in fiscal 2011. The semiconductor company also authorized a $10 billion share repurchase program earlier this year, $4.2 billion of which it bought back in its fiscal second quarter. Even with those robust cash returns, Broadcom ended its fiscal third quarter with nearly $11 billion of cash on its balance sheet.

The company’s robust cash flow should continue growing. Broadcom expects its AI semiconductor revenue to accelerate to $6.2 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter, pushing its total revenue up to $17.4 billion in the period. That should further boost its free cash flow, providing Broadcom with more funds to return to shareholders. The semiconductor giant will likely give its investors another sizable raise later this year when it announces its annual dividend increase, and extend its growth streak to 15 years in a row.

Cashing in on the AI megatrend

Surging global investment in AI semiconductors is transforming Nvidia and Broadcom into cash-flow machines. Their ability to convert massive AI-driven revenue into cash is allowing them to return more money to investors through dividends and buybacks. With their cash printing presses unlikely to slow down anytime soon, they’re potentially compelling investment opportunities for those seeking companies cashing in on the AI megatrend.

President Trump said Monday he would renew his assault on mail-in voting after Russia’s autocratic leader, Vladimir Putin, told him to do so at their meeting in Alaska last week.

The president provided few details, but wrote on social media that he would “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.”

Already in March, Trump had issued an executive order directing the Justice Department to “take all necessary action” to prevent mail-in ballots received after election day from being counted. The order also attempted to impose a proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration.

Those portions of the executive action has been enjoined by courts over constitutional concerns. But another provision, directing the independent U.S. Election Assistance Commission to shift its guidance on voting machines banning the use of certain bar codes and quick-response codes, has been allowed to proceed.

The U.S. Constitution states that the timing, place and manner of elections “shall be prescribed in each state” by local legislatures, and that Congress has the ability to pass laws altering state election regulations. The president is given no authority to prescribe or govern election procedures.

Trump’s action comes on the heels of his meeting with Putin in Anchorage, where the Russian leader told him that mail-in ballots led to his electoral defeat in 2020, according to the president.

The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Putin attempted to influence the last three U.S. presidential elections in Trump’s favor.

“Vladimir Putin said something — one of the most interesting things. He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” Trump told Fox News in an interview.

Trump has criticized mail-in voting since entering politics in 2015. But his presidential campaign embraced the practice leading up to the 2024 election, encouraging his supporters — especially those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina — to take advantage of mail-in voting opportunities.

“Absentee voting, early voting and election day voting are all good options,” Trump said at the time. “Republicans must make a plan, register and vote!”

After a weekend of raucous “No Kings” protests across the country — especially throughout Los Angeles — immigrant activists in music have a new benefit show planned for tonight in Echo Park.

Tom Morello, the guitarist of Rage Against the Machine and a longtime leftist and human rights advocate, will headline a sold-out show called “Defend L.A.” set at the Echoplex on Monday in support of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).

The show will feature like-minded peers including B-Real of Cypress Hill, Pussy Riot, K.Flay and visual artist Shepard Fairey. The Neighborhood Kids, a rising young San Diego hip-hop group whose songs document the on-the-ground reality of communities under threat from immigration raids, will play its most prominent L.A. set to date there. Comedian George Lopez will host.

Morello joined the recent anti-ICE marches in Los Angeles, where protest signs and slogans often echoed his band’s radical-resistance lyrics and imagery. The singer-songwriter wore a guitar emblazoned with anti-ICE messaging onstage at the Boston Calling festival last month.

While downtown L.A., a site of many heated protests, had been placed under a nighttime curfew, Saturday’s “No Kings” marches were broadly peaceful, with only 38 arrests in Los Angeles, mostly for curfew violations. After the marches, the Trump administration recently announced efforts to expand immigration raids in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles.

WITH reformer pilates machines costing around £1,800, it is no wonder that shoppers have raced to buy Aldi’s £149.99 version this weekend.

However, shoppers have been left outraged after spotting that some people had snapped up the devices only to list them for £500 on eBay when they got home.

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TikTok user Anna screenshotted her Vinted page which had numerous machines being sold for over twice the price. 

On her @annaleonora26 account, the upset Aldi shopper said: “Resellers are jerks.”

Many people agreed with her, with one person saying: “I saw this too, some are on eBay at almost £500.”

A second wrote: “I missed out this morning by a couple of minutes and it’s so disappointing to see resellers trying to make a quick profit.”

A third commented: “Was the same with the 5 in 1 styler a few weeks ago- They were putting them on at more than double.”

Aldi’s purse-friendly machine arrived in stores on Sunday for £149.99, and we shared how shopper Kasey Clarke was among lucky Aldi fans who have managed to get their hands on one of the coveted machines after it arrived in stores today.

Taking to her @kaseyclarke0 account, she said: “POV you won the Aldi war and got a pilates reformer.

“Happy Aldi reformer day to those who care.”

The easy-to-assemble machine is £1,750 less than the Original Fold Reformer, which will set you back £1,899.99.

The machine features adaptable resistance levels with five resistance bands and adjustable height settings.

It has a smooth gliding functionality, and has transport wheels for easy movement, and foldable storage capabilities.

If that wasn’t enough for your fitness journey, Aldi is also selling lots of gym accessories to go with it.

Also up for grabs is a pilates pad, a three piece pilates ball set, a pilates ring, and rotation ring,

Each of the products are just £5.99 each, and will help with strength, balance, conditioning and coordination.  

For additional strength training, Aldi’s adjustable step deck (£12.99) allows fitness gurus to add in cardio with ease, and even includes resistance handles and a balance board for a full-body workout.

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As with all Aldi Specialbuys once they’re gone, they’re gone, so head to stores quickly if you want to grab them.

Reformer pilates has become a viral hit online in recent years with over 2.8 million posts being made about it on TikTok.

While it is proven to be an effective workout, it can be costly.

Prices for just one class start at £37 – not something we can afford to do multiple times a week.

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Aldi bosses say: “Whether looking to strengthen cores, improve flexibility, or tone muscles, the machine is designed to help anyone achieve their fitness goals.

“Complete with an introductory exercise chart, it’s a must-have addition to any home gym.”

For those tech savvy trainers, a smart watch is also available for £11.99 to track your progress.

When you are done with your workout, cool down with the foldable fitness mat for just £19.99.

To make sure you get all knots out, use the massage roller for £3.99.

The 5 best exercises to lose weight

By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist

EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to. So how do you find the right workout for you?

As a PT and fitness journalist, I’ve tried everything.

I’ve taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates.

Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas!

The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit.

My top five forms of exercise, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, are:

1. Walking
2. Running
3. Pilates
4. High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
5. Strength training