Core Insights - The rise of rent now, pay later services indicates the increasing unmanageability of housing costs for many Americans [4][9] - Affirm has launched a pilot program allowing renters to split their payments into two installments, partnering with Esusu for credit score reporting [2][5] - Monthly service fees and potential finance charges can make these services more expensive than traditional payment methods [6][9] Company-Specific Insights - Affirm's new service does not charge interest but involves monthly fees, accessible only through Esusu's Plus and Premium services [3][5] - Other companies like Zip and Livble offer similar services, with Zip advertising an annual interest rate of 31.11% and Livble charging monthly finance charges of $30 to $40 [6][7] - Flex provides a rent-splitting option that may require landlord participation, with a monthly fee of $14.99 and additional charges [7] Industry Trends - The growth of rent now, pay later services reflects broader economic challenges, as turning rent into installment debt can increase household debt and reduce overall consumer spending [4] - Many of these services are reported to be more costly than using credit cards for rent payments, highlighting the financial strain on renters [6][9]

Core Insights - Robinhood shares have declined over 40% from their record levels in October due to a pullback in cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin prices nearly 50% off their October highs [1] - The company is set to report fourth-quarter earnings, with traders expecting a potential stock movement of around 9% in either direction by the end of the week [1] - Analysts predict Robinhood will report earnings of 62 cents per share, with a 32% year-over-year revenue increase to a record $1.34 billion [1] Company Performance - Robinhood's stock closed near $87 on Monday, with potential to rise to $95 or fall to $78 based on expected volatility [1] - The company has been expanding its cryptocurrency offerings and tokenization of private companies, which is crucial given its significant revenue derived from cryptocurrency trading [1] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts are overwhelmingly bullish on Robinhood, with all eight analysts recommending buying the shares, suggesting an average price target of $151, indicating nearly 75% upside from Monday's close [1]

-- A Big AppLovin Critic Walked Back Some Of Its Claims. The Stock Jumped. [Major Indexes Rise as Tech Stocks Surge][There Was an 'Unmistakeable' Flight to Value Last Week][What's Next for Crypto After a Rough Week?][How Much Coca-Cola Stock is Expected to Move After Earnings]- Top StoriesEven with Monday's gains, shares of AppLovin have lost about 37% from December's highs amid heightened scrutiny of its practices and investors.Gabby Jones / Bloomberg / Getty ImagesClose### Key Takeaways- CapitalWatch said ...

Core Insights - Software stocks experienced a significant sell-off due to heightened fears regarding AI disruption, with Jefferies analysts suggesting that the negative sentiment is overly harsh and premature [1][1][1] Group 1: Market Sentiment and Valuation - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF ([IGV]) fell approximately 8% last week, resulting in a 22% decline since the beginning of the year [1][1] - Over 40% of the software stocks covered by Jefferies are trading near historically low valuations, indicating potential buying opportunities for investors [1][1] - Sentiment among software investors is reported to be nearly as negative as during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the Dotcom Crash [1][1] Group 2: AI Impact on Software Industry - Concerns about AI-driven competition and "vibe coding" are seen as threats to existing software demand and industry margins [1][1] - Jefferies estimates that AI contributed no more than 3% of revenue for application software companies in its coverage last year, highlighting the current limited impact of AI on software revenues [1][1] - The transition from AI development to deployment has raised new concerns about the future of the software industry [1][1] Group 3: Long-term Outlook and Opportunities - Jefferies believes that fears surrounding AI will ultimately prove to be exaggerated, with long-term benefits expected for software providers that adapt to AI transformations [1][1] - Companies with superior access to data, established distribution networks, and integration into enterprise workflows are positioned to succeed in the evolving landscape [1][1] - Potential catalysts for a rebound in software stocks include clarity on the intentions of AI model providers and evidence of software companies benefiting from AI [1][1]

Core Insights - Kroger has appointed John Foran as CEO, who has a background in leading Walmart's U.S. operations and Air New Zealand, indicating a strategic move to enhance its competitive edge against Walmart in the grocery sector [1][2][3] - Analysts suggest that Foran will initially focus on fundamental aspects such as competitive wages and pricing, while also needing to address Kroger's e-commerce strategy [1][2] Company Strategy - The appointment of Foran comes as Kroger faces intense competition from Walmart and other digital-focused retailers, necessitating a review of its online sales strategy [1][2] - Kroger's previous attempt to merge with Albertson's was blocked, highlighting the challenges the company faces in reinforcing its market position [1][2] Market Context - Traditional supermarkets, including Kroger, are experiencing headwinds from declining pharmacy sales and increased competition from discounters and e-commerce giants [1][2] - The grocery market is becoming increasingly competitive, with discounters like Aldi expanding and new government policies potentially affecting pharmacy sales [1][2] Financial Performance - Kroger's shares have shown resilience, recently increasing by 5% and standing 10% higher than a year ago, despite missing revenue estimates for six consecutive quarters [1][2][3]

Core Insights - Hims & Hers Health's stock dropped 25% after the company announced it would cease selling its compounded semaglutide weight-loss pill, just days after its launch, due to legal action from Novo Nordisk [1][1][1] - Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers, seeking to permanently ban the sale of unapproved compounded drugs that infringe on its patents and is pursuing damages [1][1][1] - Hims & Hers has faced significant stock depreciation, losing over 60% of its value in the past 12 months, while Novo Nordisk's shares have decreased by approximately 40% during the same period [1][1][1] Company Developments - Hims & Hers announced the discontinuation of its compounded weight-loss pill, which was marketed as having the same active ingredient as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, following legal threats from Novo Nordisk [1][1][1] - The lawsuit from Novo Nordisk is described by Hims & Hers as a "blatant attack" on Americans who rely on compounded medications, indicating the company's intent to continue advocating for access to these treatments [1][1][1] Industry Context - The FDA has indicated plans to restrict the use of GLP-1 active ingredients in compounded weight-loss medications, specifically mentioning Hims & Hers in its statement [1][1][1] - Eli Lilly is anticipated to receive FDA approval for its own weight-loss pill later this year, which could further impact competition in the weight-loss drug market [1][1][1]

When the beat changes, investors switch up their moves. Last week, they rushed to re-tune their portfolios. ...

Core Insights - Some housing markets remain unaffordable even if mortgage rates drop significantly, while others could see improved affordability with minor rate declines [2][4] - A Zillow report indicates that mortgage rates would need to decrease by over 4% for typical homes to be affordable for median-income families, with current rates at 6.11% [3] Housing Market Analysis - Major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami have average home values exceeding $800,000 and $1 million, making them unaffordable even at a 0% mortgage rate [4] - In cities such as Boston and Seattle, mortgage rates would need to fall below 1% for homes to be affordable, while Dallas, New Orleans, and Nashville require a drop of over two percentage points [4][6] Regional Affordability - In contrast, areas with lower home prices, like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have an average home value of $231,518, allowing affordability even if mortgage rates rise to 9% [5] - Birmingham, Alabama, with an average home value of $132,725, could remain affordable at rates up to 7.62%, and Detroit's average of $76,340 allows for affordability at 7.02% [6]

Economic Data and Earnings Reports - Key economic releases this week include delayed January jobs data, consumer inflation, and retail sales reports due to a recent government shutdown [1][3][4] - The January jobs report is expected to show fewer job additions than anticipated, despite a decrease in the unemployment rate [3] - The January CPI inflation report is anticipated to reveal steady inflation, with core inflation lower than expectations, influencing Federal Reserve rate decisions [4] Company Earnings - Cisco is set to report earnings, which may provide insights into AI infrastructure demand, with the CEO highlighting significant opportunities in this sector [5] - Consumer stocks such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's are also reporting; Coca-Cola has recently exceeded profit expectations, while McDonald's may reveal trends among affluent customers [6] - Other notable earnings reports include those from Ford, Honda, Ferrari, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which will provide insights into auto sales and pharmaceutical demand [7]

Group 1 - The AI investment boom has not led to job creation within its own industry, despite significant investments projected to reach $427 billion in 2025 [1][6] - Employment in the sector related to AI, specifically "Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services," decreased by 6,700 jobs from December 2024 to December 2025, totaling 477,700 jobs [2][6] - Historically, technological innovations have created new job types, but the current wave of AI investment has not yet resulted in similar job gains, leading to a phenomenon termed a "jobless profit boom" [3][5] Group 2 - Tech companies are investing heavily in new data centers and even exploring unconventional energy sources, such as nuclear power plants and gas turbines, to support these facilities, yet the operational workforce remains minimal [4] - The data industry experienced a net loss of 6,700 jobs in 2025, highlighting the limited job creation associated with the AI boom despite substantial financial investments [6]