The Club's top 10 things to watch in the stock market Friday

Market Overview - S&P 500 futures are up as the market prepares for the first trading session of 2026, following a 16% gain in 2025, marking the third consecutive annual gain for the index [1] - The Dow and Nasdaq are also expected to open positively after strong performances in the previous year [1] Company Updates - Warren Buffett has officially passed the CEO role of Berkshire Hathaway to Greg Abel, with Buffett leading the company from 1964 to 2024, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 19.9%, approximately double that of the S&P 500 [2] - Argus raised Ulta Beauty's price target to $700 from $650, indicating a nearly 16% upside from 2025's closing price, while maintaining a buy rating [4] - Keefe Bruyette increased the price target for Capital One to $290 from $260, representing nearly a 20% upside from the previous close, while keeping a buy rating [5] - Vertiv shares surged nearly 5% premarket after Barclays upgraded the stock to a buy from hold and raised its price target to $200 from $181, citing substantial upside potential relative to consensus earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 [8] - Raymond James resumed coverage of Apple with a hold rating and no price target, indicating limited upside due to the current valuation reflecting the company's strengths [9] - Shares of Taiwan Semi increased in premarket trading after receiving a one-year license from the U.S. to import chipmaking equipment into its China operations [10] Industry Insights - Casino revenue in Macao increased by 14.8% year-over-year in December, which is positive for U.S. casino operators with significant exposure to the region, including Wynn Resorts, LVS, and MGM [6] - The Financial Times reported that SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI may consider going public this year, with potential proceeds exceeding those from approximately 200 IPOs in 2025, which would benefit Goldman Sachs' investment banking division [7]