CNBC's 'Final Trades': Amphenol, Uber, Alphabet and More

On CNBC's "Final Trades," the panelists picked Amphenol, Alphabet, Uber, and iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF. Amphenol was acquired by CommScope for $10.5 billion, while Alphabet agreed to pay a $36 million fine in Australia. Uber reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results with 18% YoY revenue growth. iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF rose 0.4% on Monday.

On CNBC's "Final Trades" panel, the focus was on Amphenol, Alphabet, Uber, and iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF. Here's a rundown of the latest developments:

Amphenol Acquisition by CommScope

CommScope has acquired Amphenol for $10.5 billion. This acquisition aims to strengthen CommScope's position in the networking and connectivity market. The deal, announced on July 2, 2025, is expected to create synergies and enhance CommScope's product offerings [1].

Alphabet's $36 Million Fine in Australia

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has agreed to pay a $36 million fine in Australia due to antitrust violations. The penalty stems from agreements with the country's two largest telecom companies, Telstra and Optus, under which Google pre-installed its search application on Android phones, excluding rival search engines. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found these arrangements had a substantial impact on competition. Despite the fine, Alphabet continues to perform well financially, reporting a 14% year-over-year revenue increase in the second quarter of 2025 to $96.4 billion. The company's cloud business experienced notable growth, with revenue reaching $13.6 billion, up 32% year-over-year [2].

Uber's Strong Q2 2025 Results

Uber reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results, with revenue growing 18% year-over-year to $12.65 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations. The company also reported a 4% beat in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and a 16.7% margin in adjusted EBITDA. The quarter saw increased monthly active platform consumers and a significant rise in Uber One membership, fueled by both premium and lower-cost offerings. The leadership attributed operating margin gains to product mix improvements and disciplined operational execution [3].

iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF

iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) rose 0.4% on Monday, July 2, 2025. The ETF, which tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Discretionary Index, includes companies that provide goods and services that consumers can easily forgo, such as cars, clothing, and entertainment. The ETF's performance reflects the overall health of the consumer discretionary sector, which has been robust due to increased consumer spending and economic growth.

Conclusion

The panel's picks reflect a mix of consolidation, regulatory challenges, and strong financial performance. Investors should closely monitor these developments, as they could significantly impact the companies' valuations and the broader market.

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/alphabet-stock-paulson-acquires-9k-shares-analysts-predict-214-05-average-price-target-brokerage-firms-rate-goog-outperform-2508/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-must-read-analyst-questions-053505559.html
[3] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/google-agrees-36-million-fine-anti-competitive-deals-with-australia-telcos-2025-08-18/