Core Insights - Holiday spending often leads to debt, stress, and regret for many Americans, driven by easy access to credit, social pressures, aggressive marketing, and impulse buying [1][2] Spending Habits - A survey by AICPA revealed that 39% of respondents regretted overspending during the holidays, yet 79% still plan to use credit cards, with 52% not expecting to pay off their balances [6][5] - Only 25% of Americans create a holiday budget, and those who do often do not stick to it [7] Marketing Influence - Advertising creates a sense of duty or guilt, leading individuals to overspend to demonstrate love through expensive gifts [3][6] - The pervasive nature of marketing, including social media and commercials, contributes to the pressure to keep up with others [3] Recommendations for Budgeting - Experts suggest planning early, making a gift list, and tracking spending to avoid impulse purchases [8][9] - The AICPA recommends setting an affordable budget for each person on the gift list and sticking to it [8] Couples' Gifting Strategies - Couples are encouraged to agree on a spending budget and consider non-monetary gifts to avoid the pressure of outdoing each other [10][11]

Key Takeaways Micron Technology's fiscal first-quarter results are due for release after the market closes Wednesday, with analysts expecting growing sales and profits.Options pricing suggests traders expect Micron's stock could move up to 9% in either direction by the end of the week. Micron Technology is set to report earnings after the market closes Wednesday, with traders expecting a big move in the memory chip maker's stock. Options pricing suggests traders expect Micron (MU) shares could swing up ...

Key Takeaways The stock market defied expectations again this year. One Wall Street analyst is telling investors not to expect it to happen in 2026. Subramanian on Monday said "buy-the-dream" AI stocks are "maybe headed for a little bit of an air pocket.†The AI trade has been pressured recently by concerns that tech companies are spending too much on a technology with uncertain commercial potential. Subramanian acknowledged similarities between today's market and the Dotcom Bubble of the 1990s, but noted th ...

Why Middle-Class Retirees Still Worry Despite COLA Increases 31 minutes ago Retirees now know the Social Security COLA for next year is 2.8%. Payments reflecting the increase begin in January 2026, but the modest bump of $56 per month, on average, won't likely quell deeper concerns about the program among. Many retired workers fear that their actual costs are rising faster than the adjustment, while those still in the workforce grapple with larger fears that Social Security won't be there when they need it. ...

Core Insights - Jefferies identifies potential investment opportunities in the tech sector despite recent challenges, particularly focusing on companies with strong fundamentals and peer-leading growth [2][10] Company Highlights - AppLovin (APP) is a top pick for Jefferies, having more than doubled in value in 2025, reaching a high near $725, with expectations for further growth due to a planned expansion of its advertising platform in 2026 [5][6] - Reddit (RDDT), Spotify (SPOT), and Roku (ROKU) have all increased over a third in value in 2025, with Jefferies projecting significant upside potential: $325 target for Reddit (45% gain), $135 for Roku (33% gain), and $800 for Spotify (26% gain) [7] - Uber (UBER) has risen approximately 40% year-to-date, with Jefferies forecasting a further 40% increase to $120, driven by partnerships and new customer acquisitions [8] - Zillow (Z) has faced a 17% decline from September highs but is expected to recover, with a target of $100 as it introduces new tools for agents [9]

Core Insights - Google is entering the home listings market, potentially increasing competition for Zillow and other real estate platforms [1][4] - Shares of Zillow Group fell over 10% following the news, indicating market concern about Google's new home ad features [1][2] - Other companies in the home listing sector, such as CoStar and Rocket Companies, also experienced stock declines [2][3] Company Impact - Zillow's stock is down approximately 8% year-to-date, while CoStar has lost about 12% and Rocket Companies has seen a decline of over 60% in 2025 [3] - Goldman Sachs analysts believe that while there may not be an immediate impact on Zillow's business, the long-term risk from Google's new product is significant for real estate portals [3] Market Reaction - The introduction of Google's home ad features has raised concerns among investors, leading to a notable drop in stock prices for Zillow and its competitors [2][4] - Alphabet's shares remained relatively stable despite the market turmoil affecting other companies [2]

Key Takeaways Roomba robot vacuum maker iRobot announced a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sunday.A deal for Amazon to buy the company fell through last year. Shares of iRobot (IRBT) plummeted over 70% Monday morning after the Roomba robot vacuum maker announced a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sunday. The company said it plans to have one of its lenders and its primary contract manufacturer, a Chinese robotics firm called Picea, acquire 100% of its equity, with iRobot set to continue operating as a ...

Core Insights - Wall Street is anticipated to experience a significant year for IPOs in 2026, with SpaceX potentially leading the charge [1][10] Company Overview - SpaceX is reportedly considering an IPO that could raise $30 billion and value the company at approximately $1.5 trillion, making it one of the largest companies in the S&P 500 [2][3] - If successful, SpaceX's IPO would surpass Saudi Aramco's $29 billion debut in 2019, marking the largest IPO in history [3] Financial Projections - SpaceX is currently valued at $800 billion, which is double its valuation from the summer of 2023 [3] - Market watchers estimate a 14% chance that SpaceX's market capitalization will exceed $2 trillion on its first day of trading [5] Leadership and Stakeholder Impact - Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, holds about 42% of the company, which constitutes more than a quarter of his $470 billion fortune [6] - A successful IPO could position Musk to become the world's first trillionaire sooner than anticipated [6] Industry Context - The IPO market is recovering after a downturn caused by high interest rates, with activity beginning to normalize in 2025 [4][11] - Other major companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are also exploring public offerings, indicating a broader trend in the tech and AI sectors [9][10]

Key Takeaways Weed stocks dropped Monday afternoon, reversing early gains on hopes President Trump could soon issue an executive order reclassifying marijuana. An expected reclassification from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug would help companies in the sector reduce their taxes and relax banking restrictions. Weed stocks aren't flying so high anymore. Shares of Tilray Brands (TLRY) dropped nearly 5%, Canopy Growth (CGC) slipped 3%, and other cannabis stocks also lost ground in recent trading, reve ...

Core Insights - ServiceNow's shares declined significantly following reports of a potential acquisition of Armis for up to $7 billion, which would mark the largest acquisition in ServiceNow's history [1][5] - The acquisition would provide ServiceNow with access to Armis's cybersecurity platform, enhancing its capabilities in managing connected devices [2][5] - Investors reacted negatively to the news, likely due to concerns over the high cost of the acquisition, contributing to a challenging year for ServiceNow's stock performance [3] Company and Industry Summary - Armis, currently owned by Insight Partners, was acquired for $1.1 billion in 2020, indicating a substantial increase in its valuation if the current deal proceeds [4] - ServiceNow's stock has experienced a decline of over 11% recently, reaching its lowest level since April, and has lost more than 25% of its value since the beginning of 2025 [2][3] - The acquisition interest comes amid a trend in the tech industry, with other companies like Alphabet and Palo Alto Networks also pursuing cybersecurity acquisitions [4]