Did you ever wonder what made you pass on what turned out to be a sure thing? What made you thumb your nose at something that now seems obvious to have had real value when you dissed it? Was it all that difficult to see the opportunity? Or did you remember what happened in 2007, when bad debt overwhelmed decent equity and the center almost failed to hold and you prudently decided it was too dangerous to invest? Or you got slaughtered like so many others. It depends. Let's examine the most salient stressor w ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing political discourse surrounding Netflix board member Susan Rice highlights potential corporate accountability issues as Democrats may seek to hold corporations responsible if they regain power in the upcoming midterm elections [2][3]. Group 1: Political Context - President Donald Trump has called for Netflix to dismiss board member Susan Rice, labeling her as a "political hack" and suggesting that her influence is diminished [2]. - Rice has warned that corporations that have aligned with Trump may face repercussions from a Democratic resurgence, indicating a shift in accountability standards [3]. Group 2: Corporate Actions and Acquisitions - Netflix is currently under review by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which excludes cable networks like CNN [4]. - Paramount Skydance has initiated a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $30 per share in cash, indicating competitive tensions in the industry [5]. - The DOJ is investigating whether Netflix's acquisition could harm competition and is examining the company's past acquisitions and their impact on creative talent [5][6]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - The DOJ's review includes scrutiny of Netflix's negotiation tactics with independent content creators, assessing potential anticompetitive practices [6]. - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed confidence in securing regulatory approval for the acquisition, framing the deal as beneficial for consumers, innovation, and workers [6].

In this articleEFXTRUFICOMorsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesThere's a line item in homebuyers' closing costs that's causing a clash in the mortgage industry: the fee for lenders to check borrowers' credit.While the charges — typically in the tens or hundreds of dollars — represent a tiny slice of the amount that buyers pay when a home purchase is finalized, the cost has risen sharply in recent years. Costs in 2026 could rise an average 40% to 50%, according to a Dec. 12 letter from the Mortgage Bank ...

Core Insights - The American Girl brand, celebrating its 40th anniversary, faces significant challenges including digital competition and a changing customer base, leading to a decline in annual sales from over $600 million a decade ago to approximately $200 million in 2023 [3][4] - Despite the decline, American Girl has recently shown signs of stabilization with five consecutive quarters of sales growth, although this growth is from a significantly reduced base [4] - Mattel, the parent company, reported fourth-quarter sales of $1.77 billion, which fell short of expectations, leading to a decline in stock value and a lower profit forecast for 2026 [5][6] Company Overview - American Girl's flagship store in Rockefeller Center maintains a nostalgic atmosphere, attracting customers with its iconic doll displays and themed experiences [2][3] - The brand has evolved from its original focus on historical characters to include modernized versions and diverse characters, such as the upcoming "Girl of the Year," Raquel Reyes [9][12] - Emotional connections to the dolls remain strong, with many customers sharing personal stories about how the brand has influenced their lives and values [8][11] Industry Context - The doll industry is experiencing a shift as children increasingly engage in digital play, posing challenges for traditional toy brands like American Girl [3] - The brand's unique approach, which combines storytelling with character development, has fostered generational loyalty and a dedicated customer base [10][11] - American Girl's expansion into various media and retail formats has helped maintain its relevance in a competitive market [9][10]

Group 1: Datadog - Datadog is an artificial intelligence-powered observability and security platform, with a buy rating and a price target of $180 from Baird analyst William Power [3][6] - The company aims for an adjusted operating margin of over 25%, balancing future growth and near-term profitability [3] - Datadog has solid demand for its products and significant opportunities in AI, logs, developer tools, and security, with 8,500 security customers [4][5] - Security currently represents only 2% of total annual recurring revenue (ARR) from large customers, indicating a vast expansion opportunity [5] Group 2: Vertiv Holdings - Vertiv Holdings provides power and cooling solutions to data centers, reporting a 252% surge in organic orders for Q4 2025 [7][8] - Bank of America analyst Andrew Obin reiterated a buy rating and raised the price target to $277, expecting strong order momentum to continue in 2026 [7][8] - Obin projects 2026 orders to grow by 5% to $18.6 billion, which would add $5 billion to backlog, reflecting a 33% year-over-year increase [9] - Key trends from Vertiv's 10-K filing include strengthening services capabilities and strategic deals with Nvidia and Caterpillar [10] Group 3: Arista Networks - Arista Networks provides networking solutions for AI and data center environments, delivering strong Q4 results and guidance [12] - Following Nvidia's deal with Meta Platforms, Needham analyst Ryan Koontz reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $185, emphasizing minimal impact on Arista's supplier position [13][14] - Meta accounted for 16% of Arista's 2025 revenue, and Koontz views Arista as a dominant supplier for Meta's AI applications [14] - The announcement regarding Nvidia's networking sales to Meta does not reflect new developments in networking, according to Koontz [16]

Core Insights - The article discusses Gregory Beard's leadership of the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF), emphasizing its role as the largest energy lender globally with a loan authority of approximately $289 billion [2][3] - Beard aims to reshape the EDF by focusing on affordability, reliability, and a diversified energy portfolio, moving away from the previous administration's green energy emphasis [8][9] Group 1: Leadership and Objectives - Gregory Beard transitioned from the private sector to lead the EDF, motivated by a strong belief in the agency's mission under Secretary Chris Wright [3] - Beard's immediate focus includes a comprehensive review of loans approved during the Biden administration, impacting over 80% of the portfolio, valued at around $83.6 billion [4][5] - The EDF plans to dispense capital at a record rate, with a focus on projects that align with the Trump administration's energy goals [5][8] Group 2: Loan Portfolio and Strategy - The review process led to the cancellation or withdrawal of approximately $30 billion in conditional loan commitments and the restructuring of about $53 billion in loans [5] - The EDF is now concentrating on six key areas: nuclear, fossil fuels, critical materials, geothermal, grid and transmission, and manufacturing and transportation [8][9] - Beard indicated that the agency is "open for business" and has about 80 active loan applications, with expectations for a significant upcoming loan announcement [10][11] Group 3: Energy Market Dynamics - Rising electricity prices are becoming a critical issue for consumers, outpacing overall inflation [12] - The demand for power is increasing due to factors such as the energy needs of artificial intelligence and the reshoring of manufacturing [13] - Reliability concerns are highlighted, particularly regarding the power grid's ability to meet demand amid climate change-related challenges [14] Group 4: Nuclear Energy Focus - The EDF has historically supported nuclear projects and aims to prioritize this sector, with plans to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050 [20] - The agency is willing to finance up to 80% of project costs, indicating a strong commitment to nuclear energy as a stable power source [21] - Recent loans include a $1 billion commitment to restart the Three Mile Island reactor and significant funding for other nuclear projects [22] Group 5: Critical Minerals Strategy - A key focus for the EDF is to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals, particularly from China, which has previously restricted exports [23][24] - The EDF plans to support domestic projects that can disrupt China's dominance in metal supply chains essential for various industries [24][25] - Beard emphasizes the importance of replicable projects that benefit Americans and ensure repayment, streamlining the agency's operations [25]

Core Viewpoint - India's trade negotiators will reschedule their visit to Washington, D.C. to finalize an interim trade deal with the U.S. following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs [1][2]. Group 1: Trade Negotiations - The meeting will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient date after both sides evaluate the latest developments and their implications [2]. - India's chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, and his team were initially set to begin a three-day meeting in the U.S. later this week [2]. Group 2: Tariff Changes - India is currently facing a 25% reciprocal tariff, which was expected to decrease to 18% after an interim deal was agreed upon earlier this month [3]. - The joint statement from the U.S. and India indicates that either country may modify its commitments in response to changes in agreed-upon tariffs [3]. - India, like other countries, will now face a 15% tariff in addition to the most-favored-nation status rates, which typically range from 2-3% [4].

Market Overview - The stock market rebounded last week, with the Nasdaq ending a five-week losing streak, rising 1.9% due to strong performances from major tech companies like Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Amazon [1] - The S&P 500 increased by 1.1%, breaking a two-week decline, aided by a Supreme Court ruling against President Trump's emergency tariffs [1] Supreme Court Ruling - The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Trump's tariffs, stating that no president had previously used the statute to impose tariffs of such magnitude, requiring clear congressional authorization for such actions [1] - Following the ruling, the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, although some companies like Nike experienced a decline due to ongoing tariff concerns [1] Big Tech Performance - Major tech stocks saw significant gains, with Meta up 2.5% and Nvidia up 3.8% after Meta announced plans to use Nvidia's chips in its data centers, highlighting strong AI demand [1] - Amazon's shares surged 5.6% after a regulatory filing revealed that Bill Ackman's Pershing Square increased its position in the company [1] - Alphabet's stock initially lagged but later rallied to end the week up 3% [1] Private Credit Concerns - Concerns in the private credit market arose from Blue Owl Capital's decision to restrict withdrawals from its private debt fund, causing a nearly 6% drop in its shares [1] - Major private asset managers like Ares Management and Blackstone faced significant declines, with Ares down 8% and Blackstone down 6.6% [1] - Despite these concerns, BlackRock's exposure to private credit did not raise alarms, as its shares only dropped 1% before recovering [1] Portfolio Adjustments - Capital One was the only financial stock traded last week, with additional shares purchased [1] - The company exited its position in Texas Roadhouse due to concerns over ongoing beef inflation issues [1]

Core Viewpoint - President Trump announced an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15% effective immediately, following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his previous "reciprocal" tariffs [1][2][3]. Group 1: Tariff Increase Details - The new tariffs will apply to various countries that Trump claims have been "ripping" off the U.S. for decades [2]. - Trump indicated that additional tariffs may be implemented in the coming months, as the administration will determine and issue new legally permissible tariffs [3]. Group 2: Supreme Court Ruling Context - The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump wrongfully invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his tariffs [3][4]. - The ruling requires that any extension of temporary levies, such as the 10% tariff initially imposed, must receive congressional approval [4]. Group 3: Presidential Response - Trump criticized the Supreme Court's decision, labeling it as "ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American," and specifically targeted Justices Gorsuch and Barrett for their votes [4].

Core Viewpoint - Market volatility may mislead retail investors into focusing on defensive trades, such as dividend-paying stocks and bonds, rather than adopting a total return-oriented investment strategy [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to avoid an income-focused approach, as it may lead to missed opportunities and unintended risks in their portfolios [2][3]. - A total return-oriented approach is recommended, which encompasses stocks, bonds, and other assets, rather than solely focusing on income generation [2]. - The firm warns against "yield-chasing," which involves taking on greater interest rate risk and shifting from investment-grade to high-yield bonds, leading to different risk and return expectations [2]. Group 2: Economic Outlook - The economy is described as resilient, with corporate profitability remaining strong, suggesting a favorable macroeconomic environment for investors [3]. - The emphasis is placed on balancing attractive yield with potential long-term capital appreciation, rather than solely pursuing maximum yield, which is considered a "yield trap" [4].