Tech & Corporate Shuffles: A New Global Order
- Editor
- February 23, 2026
- Artifical Intelligance, Business, Companies & Industry, Global Business, Tech & Innovation
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February 23, 2026 — The global corporate landscape has shifted dramatically this week, marked by a historic change in the world’s revenue leader and a high-stakes standoff in the entertainment industry. From the palm of your hand to the top of the Fortune 500, here are the stories defining the tech and business world today.
Amazon Dethrones Walmart After 13-Year Reign
In a milestone for the digital economy, Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart to become the world’s largest company by revenue. Ending Walmart’s 13-year streak at the summit, Amazon reported a staggering $717 billion in revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, narrowly edging out Walmart’s $713.2 billion.+1
While Walmart remains the king of physical retail—reporting a solid 5% growth driven by its 10,000+ brick-and-mortar stores—Amazon’s victory was secured through its massive diversification. The “everything store” has evolved into a tech titan where e-commerce is bolstered by high-margin engines:+1
- AWS (Cloud Computing): Generated nearly $129 billion, serving as the company’s primary profit driver.
- Advertising & Prime: Subscriptions and ad revenue now contribute over $100 billion combined.
- AI Integration: CEO Andy Jassy noted that Amazon is monetizing AI capacity as fast as it can install it, signaling a “generational opportunity.”
Samsung S26 Ultra: The Price of Innovation
Prospective smartphone buyers are facing a “sticker shock” warning as Samsung prepares to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra on February 25. Reports from South Korea indicate that skyrocketing costs for memory and advanced semiconductors could lead to a significant price hike.+1
While rumors suggest a potential 30% increase in certain markets, specific leaks from IT Chosun highlight a tiered impact:
- The 1TB Ultra Model: Could see a nearly 20% jump (approximately KRW 418,000) due to the rising cost of RAM and NAND storage.
- The Standard S26: Predicted to rise by about 5-6% as Samsung shifts to the more expensive 2nm manufacturing process for its chips.
Samsung leadership is reportedly wary of widening the price gap with Apple, which is rumored to keep its upcoming iPhone 18 pricing stable, but component shortages may leave the tech giant with little choice but to pass costs to the consumer.
The Netflix vs. Warner Bros. Ultimatum
The “Streaming Wars” have reached a fever pitch as Netflix issued a one-week ultimatum to Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This move is part of a complex three-way bidding war involving Paramount-Skydance.
Netflix currently has a merger agreement to acquire WBD’s streaming and studio assets for approximately $83 billion. However, Paramount-Skydance has made a rival hostile bid of over $108 billion to acquire the entire company, including CNN and linear networks.+1
The Deadline: Netflix has granted WBD a narrow seven-day waiver—ending February 23—to finalize terms or consider Paramount’s “best and final” offer. Netflix retains “matching rights,” meaning they can choose to meet Paramount’s price. WBD shareholders are scheduled to vote on the Netflix merger on March 20, provided a superior bid doesn’t derail the deal this week.
