FRPT: Thinking Long Term To Beat Wall Street
Freshpet reported Q4 2025 earnings, with shares slipping nearly 4% as Wall Street focuses on slowing sales growth. The company highlighted an expanding pet‑parent market, now 36 million households, and its 4% share of the $38 billion dog‑food sector. Core “MVP” customers—2.4 million heavy‑spending households—accounted for 71% of 2025 revenue, while adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 17.8%. Management targets 20‑22% EBITDA margin by 2027 and 7‑10% top‑line growth in 2026.
Analysts Overstate Global Copper Supply by Ignoring Strategic Reserves
I am seeing many market analysts include the accumulated copper stockpiles in the US in their global balance of copper stockpiles and therefore conclude that there are >1 million tonnes of available copper in global stockpiles today. I am not...
Dollar's Dominance Will Persist Despite Trumpian Challenges
Former ECBer, Vitor Constancio, thinks the dollar debasement narrative is overstated. He says, yes, Trumpian policies are challenging the international monetary order, but they are not, as yet, leading it to crumble: "the dollar will continue to dominate for decades ahead". His...
Comment Letter on Nasdaq’s Proposed Additional Initial Listing Criteria for Companies Primarily Operating in China
The Council of Institutional Investors (CII) submitted a comment letter backing Nasdaq’s proposed rule that adds initial listing criteria for Chinese micro‑cap companies, including a $25 million minimum proceeds requirement. CII applauds the effort to curb abnormal trading in the smallest...
Why Are Amphenol, Royal Caribbean, and Freeport Insiders Selling?
Insiders at Amphenol, Royal Caribbean, and Freeport‑McMoRan have sold multi‑million‑dollar stock positions despite recent price rallies. Amphenol CEO Adam Norwitt sold about $76 million after exercising options, yet retains roughly 2.8 million shares. Royal Caribbean executives collectively off‑loaded more than $168 million, including...
Optiver and Virtu-Backed Optimal Market Technologies Options Execution Platform Launches
Optimal Market Technologies has launched a US listed options execution platform backed by Optiver, Virtu Financial, Akuna Capital and BSC Ventures. The FINRA‑approved broker‑dealer expects commercial availability later in Q1, initially serving retail options wholesalers, institutional broker‑dealers and large asset...
The Global Week Ahead
The Mexican army killed CJNG boss "El Mencho" near Puerto Vallarta, triggering fierce gun battles and an unprecedented U.S. military task‑force partnership. President Trump announced a new 15% tariff regime under Section 122, but it can only stay in effect for...
The FIRE Movement Is So Back Thanks To AI Disruption
The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, born from the 2008‑2009 crisis, surged during COVID‑19 and then waned as remote work became mainstream. In 2024‑2025 large firms began re‑imposing in‑office mandates while pouring billions into AI, prompting massive productivity gains...
4 Trade Ideas for Merck: Bonus Idea
Merck (MRK) is consolidating under resistance around $123 within a six‑month uptrend, with bullish RSI, positive MACD and low 1.2% short interest. The stock offers a 2.78% dividend yield and will trade ex‑dividend on March 16, while earnings are slated for...
Stock Movers: Gilead Sciences, Merck, Domino's (Podcast)
On Feb 23, 2026, Gilead Sciences announced a cash deal to acquire biotech Arcellx for up to $7.8 billion, aiming to broaden its oncology portfolio. Merck & Co. is reportedly preparing to split its pharmaceutical division into separate cancer and non‑cancer units ahead...
PGAV Establishes Strategic Global Presence Led by John Kasman
PGAV, a leading destination‑design firm, is establishing a dedicated international hub in Abu Dhabi to serve the fast‑growing immersive tourism markets of the Middle East and China. The expansion, overseen by principal John Kasman, builds on longstanding client relationships and...
Domino's Gained More Market Share Last Year
Domino’s reported a stronger‑than‑expected 2025, with U.S. same‑store sales climbing 3.7% and a one‑point gain in market share that lifted its pizza‑category share to 30%. The earnings beat sent the stock up about 5% in pre‑market trading. The company added...
Armenia’s Not Getting Off the Struggle Bus Just Yet
Armenia’s aging Soviet‑era nuclear reactor leaves the country on the brink of an energy crisis, and Moscow’s dwindling support after the Ukraine war has removed its traditional security backstop. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance recently signed a nuclear cooperation deal...
The Long Telegram Just Turned 80. Our Times Demand a New One.
The Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe marks the 80th anniversary of George Kennan’s Long Telegram, arguing that today’s geopolitical turbulence demands a comparable strategic blueprint. He highlights a simultaneous great‑power contest involving Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s assertiveness around Taiwan, and an...
Renewed Sense of Confidence Feeds Through Into eBay Q4 2025 Earnings
eBay reported a full‑year GMV of roughly $80 billion, up 6% globally and nearly 10% in the United States, marking a return to double‑digit growth. Focus categories such as fashion and refurbished tech drove over 12% GMV expansion and now account...
How Is This Possible?
The episode dissects Tripadvisor’s shocking Q4 FY25 results, which sent the stock tumbling below $10—a historic low—following a 2025 merger that eliminated a controlling shareholder. Host examines activist investor Jeff Smith’s aggressive push for strategic change, highlighted by his pointed...
Global Parametrics Highlights How Parametric Products & Cat Bonds Can Scale Humanitarian Risk Financing
Global Parametrics’ new whitepaper argues that catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance can help bridge the widening humanitarian financing gap, which stands at roughly 36% of the projected $50 billion need in 2024. The report highlights that multi‑year cat bonds can unlock...
The Man Who Would Be King of Saudi Arabia (with Karen Elliott House)
In this episode, Russ Roberts talks with journalist Karen Elliott House about her new book on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, examining the Saudi leader’s drive to modernize the kingdom while consolidating political power. House outlines MBS’s motivations—economic diversification, geopolitical influence, and...
Stock Market Week 08/26: RENIXX Stable Above 1,200 Points - Year-to-Date Gain Climbs to 10.2% - Solaredge: Higher Revenue, Reduced...
The RENIXX renewable‑energy index stayed above the 1,200‑point psychological level last week, posting a 10.2% gain year‑to‑date. Weekly leaders were solar‑focused firms such as First Solar (+10.1%) and Solaredge (+7.2%), while Meridian Energy and others fell. Solaredge reported a 71%...
Debt Restructuring Is Senegal’s Best Bet
Senegal’s public debt has surged to roughly 132% of GDP, placing the country in a severe fiscal bind. With limited access to cheap financing, the government faces a stark choice between costly debt service and a structured debt‑restructuring process. Analysts...
Asian Stocks Rally After Trump’s Supreme Court Tariffs Blow
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of President Trump’s tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, delivering a sharp policy reversal. Asian equity markets responded positively, with technology and e‑commerce stocks leading gains and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up...
PSEi Climbs to 6,488 as Earnings Lift Market Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose to 6,488.51, gaining 0.36% as earnings releases spurred buying in industrial, mining and oil stocks. Turnover hovered around P6.12 billion, reflecting measured participation despite subdued volume from global tariff worries. Market breadth stayed positive with...
Today Only: Up To 4x Bonus Airline Miles On Apple Purchases
Apple shoppers can earn a limited‑time boost of 3.5‑ to 4‑times airline miles per dollar through four major airline shopping portals. The promotion runs on February 23 2026 and applies to most Apple products except flagship iPhones, Vision Pro, and several accessories. Alaska...
GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Accelerate Green Transition Through Mobile Technology
The GSMA has launched a global Innovation Fund offering £100,000‑£200,000 grants to small and growing enterprises that use mobile and digital technologies to accelerate the green transition in low‑ and middle‑income countries. The fund targets solutions that expand clean‑energy access,...
India Exchanges BRICS Ties for Lead Role in the American AI Cage
India is rapidly pivoting from its BRICS stance toward deeper integration with the West, highlighted by a landmark EU free‑trade agreement and its entry into the US‑led Pax Silica AI alliance. The India‑Middle‑East‑Europe Corridor (IMEC) is being repurposed from a logistics...
Dollar 2026 Decline: More Cyclical than Structural
The dollar’s recent slide is viewed as a cyclical correction rather than a structural collapse, with the real trade‑weighted index still well above its long‑term average. Hedging activity is rising, with buy‑side hedge ratios projected to reach roughly 74% by...
Gold Daily Call for February 23rd, 2026
In the February 23, 2026 Gold Daily Call, Florian Grummes analyzes the current gold market, noting a sideways consolidation phase with higher lows and higher highs suggesting a potential breakout toward the $5,350 level. He highlights the bullish momentum in...
All Eight Indicators Green, Confirming Bull Market Regime
✅ 8 for 8 Bullish 🟢 Regime: Confirmed Bull Market The checklist stays fully green. 8 of 8. New weekly update is live. No paywall. Just data. Sign up to get it in your inbox each week. 👉 https://t.co/9fpj33clCJ This remains consolidation inside a confirmed bull...
How Ukraine’s Economy Has Defied the Odds
Ukraine’s economy has rebounded to near pre‑war GDP levels thanks to disciplined fiscal policy, heightened defense spending, and sustained international aid. Restored air and sea corridors revived export channels, while targeted infrastructure grants offset war‑induced fiscal gaps. The government’s focus...
LGT Reinsurer Lumen Re Secures $175m of Retro From Debut Photon Re 2026-1 Cat Bond
Lumen Re, the reinsurance arm of LGT ILS Partners, completed its debut Photon Re Series 2026‑1 catastrophe bond, locking in $175 million of fully‑collateralized retrocession protection against North American peak perils. The issuance was priced below the original guidance, with the...
Taiex Sees Gains Limited Amid Renewed Concerns over U.S. Tariff Policies
Taiwan's Taiex index closed modestly higher on Feb. 23, up 0.5% to 33,773 points, as investors weighed renewed U.S. tariff concerns following President Trump’s new global duties. The market’s early surge, driven by electronics, was trimmed by profit‑taking in TSMC,...
A 25-Basis-Point Decline in the Mortgage Rate Prices-In 1.42 Million Households
A 25‑basis‑point (0.25 percentage‑point) drop in mortgage rates could make monthly payments affordable for an estimated 1.42 million additional households, expanding the pool of qualified borrowers. Simultaneously, incorporating the lower operating costs of energy‑efficient homes into underwriting can deliver an equivalent 75‑basis‑point...
Royal Caribbean Is Cruising Toward a New All-Time High
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has delivered a near‑10% year‑to‑date stock gain, positioning the $84 billion cruise leader for another all‑time high. Under its Perfecta plan, the company is on track for a 20% annualized EPS growth target, posting double‑digit increases each...
Implied Volatility, Not Direction, Causes Nifty Options Losses
90% of Nifty option buyers don’t lose because of wrong direction. They lose because they don’t understand Implied Volatility. >> If you trade Nifty 50, read this thread carefully.... 🧵👇 #Nifty50 #OptionsTrading #IndianStockMarket
Livestock Insurance Subsidy Harvest Costs More Than Direct Payments
New @nberpubs: "A Theory of Subsidy Harvesting in Livestock Price Insurance" https://t.co/a2BTA7aoME "The subsidy harvest is a pure rent and costlier than a direct payment because it requires administrative oversight and federally-subsidized delivery" https://t.co/gmAA7SjVyG
Local Content Rules Halve EV Subsidy Effectiveness
New @nberpubs: "Industrial Policies for Multi-Stage Production: The Battle for Battery-Powered Vehicles" https://t.co/DX6XB7e1R0 "local content requirements... drive up costs and reduce subsidy uptake, undoing more than half of the EV adoption stimulus coming from pure buyer subsidies" 😲
Weekly Market Signals Beat SPX Six Weeks Straight
The Weekly Market Signals have outperformed $SPX for 6 weeks. +3.3% YTD (no leverage). https://t.co/WO1W4p4jFI $SPY $TLT $GLD $DBC $VEU $IEF $UUP
Waller Speaks as US Activity and Orders Dip
Economic calendar for Mon. Feb 23. 8:00am - Fed’s Waller speaks 8:30 - Chicago National Activity Index for December: Expected -0.08; Prior -0.04 10:00 - Factory orders m/m for December: Expected -0.6%; Prior 2.7%
Live on Fox Business: Market & Tariff Outlook
I'll be on @FoxBusiness this morning with @MariaBartiromo today at 7:10 am EST, talking markets, recent tariff developments & what's in store
Dollar Holds Despite Weak GDP, Falters in Asia
When All is Said and Done in FX, Little has been Done: The US dollar was fairly resilient in the face of the softer than expected Q4 GDP reading and the Supreme Court’s tariff decision. However, it came under pressure...
USD Holds Steady Amid Volatility and Holiday Closures
Some volatility, yes, but net-net the $USD is little changed from the it settled at the end of last week. It was initially marked lower but is nearly flat now. Japan mkt were closed for a holiday, while a...
Armenia’s Landlocked Neighbors Limit Post‑Soviet Choices
Armenia’s landlocked position between Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran has left Yerevan with few good options in the post-Soviet world. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/ZWXi1Pbh4h #armenia #geopolitics https://t.co/un8RUyVDaW
U.S. Gas Exports Surpass Domestic Use in 2025
UNITED STATES exported an average of 14.8 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) by tanker and other 9.4 bcf/d by pipeline during the first eleven months of 2025. Total exports exceeded the combined consumption by households (12.0 bcf/d) and offices,...
New Signals for Bonus Momentum-Mean Reversion Strategy
Bonus momentum and mean-reversion switching strategy update and new signals. https://t.co/ubChitFCXs $SPY $TLT $GLD $TLT
Bull‑Bear Spread Peaks, Bulls Still in Control
Bulls are in control, but not at extremes yet... Bull–Bear spread 44.2%, highest since Dec 2024. You need bulls for a bull market. The bulls have the edge. The only question is how far they can push it before it gets...
Record Realized Volatility Gap: Stocks 25 Points Above Index
the realized vol spread of the average single stock vs index just broke to the highest level on record with avg stock realizing ~25 vol points over gs via @zerohedge https://t.co/KVW5ZluLpt
MONY Shows Strong Returns Amid AI Uncertainty
#MONY results look solid but obviously the Hefalump in the Room is treats from AI. ShareScope showing fwd p/e 8.6 falling to 8.1 and fwd Divvy 8.6% rising to 8.9% and remember there are Buybacks as well. Low rating but...
KLSO Boosts WRKS Stake, Calls It Deeply Undervalued
#KLSO increased stake in #WRKS - says very undervalued and mentions an EV/EBITDA multiple of 1.65x. I hold neither.
SoftBank's $30B OpenAI Bet Yields 160% Gain
Quite the investment from SoftBank. SoftBank is up 160% since April 6, 2025 when I wrote it up specifically because of its investment in OpenAI. $9984 $SFTBY
AI Won’t Kill SaaS; Japan’s Fallout Reveals Opportunity
1/ The market is convinced that AI will kill SaaS. That seems overly simplistic. There's been carnage in Japan's SaaS sector, with babies clearly thrown out of the bathwater. That could signal opportunity. https://t.co/cmwPpqWG59