Market Overview - U.S. equity markets ended the fourth quarter positively, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rising 2.4% and 2.6% respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average led with a 3.6% return [2] - The Russell 1000 Growth Index lagged, increasing only 1.1% as investors shifted from high-growth technology stocks to more defensive sectors [2] - The quarter was marked by significant volatility, influenced by a 43-day government shutdown that affected market transparency and risk appetite [2] Economic and Monetary Policy - Approximately 83% of S&P 500 companies reported positive earnings surprises, indicating a broadening economic recovery beyond the "Magnificent Seven" [4] - The Federal Reserve implemented two 25-basis point cuts, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% by year-end, and concluded its quantitative tightening program [4] - The Fed's balance sheet expanded by approximately $100 billion to $6.6 trillion, reflecting a shift from "abundant" to "ample" bank reserves [4] Sector Performance - Ithaka's portfolio underperformed the Russell 1000 Growth Index by 700 basis points, with stock selection detracting 740 basis points from relative performance [6] - Positive relative returns were generated in the Materials and Processing sector, while Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors were significant sources of underperformance [7] - Weakness in Technology was attributed to fears of AI disintermediating software stocks, while Consumer Discretionary faced pressures from consumer spending concerns [7] Top Contributors and Detractors - Top contributors included Intuitive Surgical (26.6% return), Advanced Micro Devices (32.4%), and Alphabet (28.9%), driven by strong earnings and positive investor sentiment [9][10][12] - Major detractors were ServiceNow (-16.8%), Netflix (-21.8%), and Veeva Systems (-25.1%), with concerns over AI impacts and unexpected financial disclosures affecting stock performance [9][15][16] Investment Strategy and Outlook - Ithaka initiated three new positions and eliminated four during the quarter, with a trailing 12-month turnover of 22.1% [17] - The investment approach focuses on long-term wealth creation through concentrated positions in high-quality companies with strong management and favorable market conditions [4][19] - The narrative around AI is shifting towards tangible productivity gains, suggesting that the economic opportunities from AI will continue to expand [18]

U.S. stock markets experienced a significant downturn today, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq indices declining. This marks their most substantial drop in over three months. The decline was largely driven by heightened risk-off sentiment, exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats related to Greenland. This sell-off wiped out around $700 billion from the market capitalization of major stocks, including Nvidia and Apple.The Nasdaq slid 2.39% to 22,954.32, while the S&P 500 dropped 2.0 ...

As YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram continue to dominate mobile viewing, Netflix is rethinking how its app fits into a social-first video landscape. During its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, the company announced plans to revamp its mobile app and expand its short-form video feature, which it mentions could help promote the new slate of original video podcasts it unveiled last week.Set to launch later in 2026, Netflix’s redesigned mobile app is intended to “better serve the expansion of our business ...

Key Takeaways Markets Sold Off on a Switch to "Risk Off" SentimentPresident Trump Addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos WednesdayNetflix Beats but Guides Lower in Q4, Considers WBD PurchaseUnited Airlines and Interactive Brokers Also Report Q4 BeatsTuesday, January 20th, 2026Major market indexes began the initial trading session of this holiday-shortened week today in negative territory, and slid lower from there. Off session lows by a whisker, the Dow shed -870 points, -1.76%, while the S&P 500 lost ...

US stock futures faltered on Wednesday, eyeing a return to the steepest selloff in months as Wall Street took in President Trump's speech at Davos for insight into the Greenland crisis. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) edged down around 0.3%, while those on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) also backed off 0.3% in a reversal from earlier small gains. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures (ES=F) slipped 0.1%, coming off a bruising Tuesday session that saw investors rush for the exits against a backdrop of g ...

US stock futures turned higher on Wednesday in the wake of the steepest selloff in months as Wall Street took in President Trump's speech at Davos for insight into the Greenland crisis. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) edged up around 0.1%, while those on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) rose 0.3%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures (ES=F) gained 0.4%, coming off a bruising Tuesday session that saw investors rush for the exits against a backdrop of global insecurity. Stocks have flip-flopped as Trump ...

US stock futures faltered on Wednesday, eyeing a return to the steepest selloff in months as Wall Street waited for President Trump's speech at Davos for insight into the Greenland crisis. Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) edged down aroung 0.2%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures (ES=F) hovered just below the flat line, coming off a bruising Tuesday session that saw investors rush for the exits against a backdrop of global insecurity. Markets are weighing ...

US stock futures stepped higher on Wednesday, setting up for a modest rebound after Wall Street suffered its steepest selloff in months. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) edged up 0.2%, while those on the S&P 500 (ES=F) put on 0.3%. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) rose 0.3% too. The cautious move higher follows a bruising regular session that saw investors rush for the exits against a backdrop of global insecurity. The Dow (^DJI) plunged more than 850 points, while the S&P 500 (^ ...

On Tuesday, not only did Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos need to shore-up his “winning bid” to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery; he also needed to convince his shareholders his months-long quest to nail down the deal is worth it after losing what is approaching a whopping $170 billion in his stock’s market value amid the drama, On The Money has learned.At least part of Tuesday’s earnings announcement, in which the company beat expectations, was designed to remind shareholders that the streaming giant is still a gia ...

Netflix (NFLX) reported fourth quarter earnings after the bell on Tuesday that showed better-than-expected results but said it would ramp up its rollout of new content in the year ahead and pause its share repurchase program given its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The streaming giant reported revenue of $12.05 billion, more than Wall Street estimates for $11.96 billion, per Bloomberg consensus data, which matched the company's own forecast. In the fourth quarter of last year, the co ...