Why Is Oracle Stock Up Today?
Key Points
Shares of Oracle jumped on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, as Fed Governor Christopher Waller signaled support for holding interest rates steady if inflation data continues improving.
Oracle has sold $43 billion in bonds and plans to raise $20 billion more in debt plus $20 billion in equity this year, making it unusually exposed to interest-rate swings.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also climbed Thursday, up 1.1% and 1.4% respectively, as markets pared back bets on a near-term Fed rate hike.
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Oracle Corp (NYSE: ORCL) finished up 5.7% on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, after a Governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated he'd prefer to keep interest rates steady.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite finished Thursday's trading up 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively.
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Fed's Waller signals openness to holding rates steady in September 2026
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told Reuters on Thursday that if the next inflation reading shows price increases moderating, he is "willing to support holding the policy rate at its current level." He said that he would prefer to "give disinflation a chance," rather than to raise rates too early.
He did, however, say that he would support a rate hike if the data shows inflation heating up.
The market has seen a hike as increasingly likely, today's comments led to a drop in those expectations, and stocks across the board saw a bump.
Oracle's $43 billion debt load leaves it exposed to Fed rate moves
Tech stocks in general tend to be sensitive to interest rate changes, but Oracle is especially so, given its substantial debt burden. The company has watched its free cash flow turn deeply negative as it spends enormous sums in a race to build AI data center capacity.
Image source: Oracle.
Oracle has turned to debt (and equity) to fund the deficit. The company sold $43 billion in bonds last year and expects to raise another $20 billion in the current year, on top of a $20 billion equity raise.
Higher interest rates mean borrowing becomes more expensive and puts further financial strain on a company already on shaky ground.
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Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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