AI Replacement of Labor Sparks Unemployment Crisis
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy APO?
Source: Benzinga
- Unemployment Rate Surge Warning: Citrini Research's report predicts that the U.S. unemployment rate could exceed 10% by 2028, with weekly claims nearing half a million, highlighting the potential threat of AI replacing white-collar jobs and signaling significant economic shifts ahead.
- Market Panic Intensifies: Despite Nvidia's blowout earnings and optimistic guidance, its stock fell over 5%, indicating a shift in investor sentiment from euphoria to skepticism, as fears about the future economic landscape grow.
- Private Equity Pressure Mounts: Blue Owl Capital's restriction on redemptions and tightened liquidity terms reveal stress in the private equity sector, while MidCap Financial's dividend cut due to asset markdowns signals further erosion of market confidence.
- Accelerating Sector Rotation: Energy stocks have outperformed technology for 10 consecutive weeks, and value stocks have beaten growth by 12% in the first two months of 2026, suggesting a reevaluation of the AI arms race and a potential repricing of the entire economic hierarchy.
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Analyst Views on APO
Wall Street analysts forecast APO stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 107.080
Low
136.00
Averages
164.45
High
182.00
Current: 107.080
Low
136.00
Averages
164.45
High
182.00
About APO
Apollo Global Management, Inc. is a global alternative asset manager and a retirement services provider. It operates through three segments: Asset Management, Retirement Services and Principal Investing. The Asset Management segment focuses on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. These strategies reflect the range of investment capabilities across its platform based on relative risk and return. The Retirement Services business is conducted by Athene Holding Ltd (Athene), a financial services company that specializes in issuing, reinsuring, and acquiring retirement savings products designed for the increasing number of individuals and institutions seeking to fund retirement needs. Athene product lines include annuities and funding agreements. The Principal Investing segment includes realized performance fee income, realized investment income from its balance sheet investments, and certain allocable expenses related to corporate functions supporting the entire company.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Lawsuit Background: A securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed by Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP on behalf of investors who acquired Apollo Global Management (APO) securities between May 10, 2021, and February 21, 2026, alleging the company failed to disclose ties to Jeffrey Epstein, resulting in investor losses.
- Stock Price Volatility: Following a February 1, 2026, Financial Times article revealing CEO Marc Rowan's communications with Epstein, Apollo's stock price fell 5.7% over two days to close at $126.85, indicating market concerns about the company's reputation.
- Calls for Further Investigation: On February 17, 2026, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors urged the SEC to investigate Apollo's ties to Epstein, leading to a further 5.4% drop in stock price to $118.34, reflecting investor skepticism regarding the company's transparency.
- Ongoing Impact: A CNN report on February 21, 2026, detailing Apollo's entanglement with Epstein caused the stock price to decline by 5% to $113.73, highlighting a significant erosion of investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
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- Class Action Initiated: The Portnoy Law Firm has launched a class action on behalf of investors who purchased Apollo Global Management securities between May 10, 2021, and February 21, 2026, with a deadline for lead plaintiff motions set for May 1, 2026, indicating significant legal exposure for the company.
- Reputation Damage: The lawsuit alleges that Apollo's executives frequently communicated with Jeffrey Epstein in the 2010s, contradicting the company's claims of no business ties, which could severely harm its reputation and undermine investor confidence.
- Stock Price Volatility: Following a February 1, 2026 article in The Financial Times about CEO Marc Rowan consulting Epstein on tax matters, Apollo's stock price fell nearly 6% over two trading days, highlighting the market's sensitivity to negative news.
- Ongoing Impact: Subsequent reports on February 17 and February 21 by The Financial Times and CNN regarding Apollo's ties to Epstein led to further stock declines of over 5%, demonstrating the persistent legal and reputational risks that could have far-reaching implications for the company's future performance.
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- Market Overview: Private credit stocks have experienced a significant pullback recently.
- Investment Opportunity: This decline may create a favorable buying opportunity for investors looking to enter the market.
- Potential for Recovery: Analysts suggest that the market could rebound, making these stocks attractive for long-term investment.
- Strategic Considerations: Investors are advised to assess their risk tolerance and market conditions before making investment decisions.
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- Market Rebound: Trump's announcement that the U.S. will insure Gulf shipping and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz led to a market rebound after significant losses, with the S&P 500 closing down about 1%, well off its session lows of roughly 2.5%, indicating market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Oil Price Impact: The assurances regarding oil trade not only boosted stock prices but also eased crude oil price pressures, highlighting that fluctuations in the oil market could have broader macroeconomic implications that investors need to monitor closely.
- Private Credit Concerns: Blackstone's Jon Gray defended the quality of loans from its main private credit fund, despite allowing investors to withdraw nearly 8% of their investments, which caused Blackstone shares to fall nearly 4%, reflecting growing market concerns about the health of the private credit sector.
- Congressional Hearing Pressure: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick voluntarily agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, although he has not been accused of wrongdoing, potentially impacting his political future.
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- Class Action Filed: Pomerantz LLP has initiated a class action lawsuit against Apollo Global Management, alleging securities fraud and other unlawful business practices, with investors having until May 1, 2026, to apply as Lead Plaintiff.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following revelations of tax arrangement discussions with Jeffrey Epstein, Apollo's stock price fell by $7.69, or 5.72%, closing at $126.85 on February 3, 2026, reflecting investor concerns over governance.
- SEC Investigation Urged: The American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors have called for an SEC investigation into Apollo's ties to Epstein, claiming that the company's communications to investors are misleading and incomplete, further eroding market trust.
- Weak Executive Response: Apollo CEO Marc Rowan's undisclosed meetings with Epstein have raised questions about transparency, with analysts suggesting that this could lead to deeper regulatory scrutiny, potentially impacting the company's future operations and reputation.
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- Meeting Announcement: Apollo has announced that its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held virtually on June 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, with a record date of April 17, 2026, ensuring shareholder participation and voting.
- Asset Management Scale: As of December 31, 2025, Apollo managed approximately $938 billion in assets, demonstrating its strong growth and market position in the global alternative asset management sector.
- Investment Strategy: Apollo aims to provide clients with excess returns across the risk-reward spectrum, from investment-grade credit to private equity, reflecting its expertise in diversified portfolio management.
- Forward-Looking Statements: The company’s release includes forward-looking statements regarding expectations for business performance, liquidity, and capital resources, emphasizing that while management believes these expectations are reasonable, there is no guarantee of future outcomes.
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