From coconut latte to single-origin pourover: Chinese coffee-and-tea giant Luckin is said to be in the early stages of considering a bid on Blue Bottle Coffee as it expands its presence beyond Beijing. Luckin is known for creative and low-cost takes on coffee, while Blue Bottle has built a name for itself by selling straightforward, high-quality classics. Blue Bottle Coffee’s majority-owned by Nestle, which bought a 68% stake for $425 million in 2017, according to Bloomberg. Luckin is also said to be cons ...

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 17, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands is pleased to announce that its acai and smoothie bowl QSR brand, Heal Wellness ("Heal"), has entered into a 10-unit franchise development agreement with a U.S.-based multi-unit operator for the State of Colorado.Happy Belly 1To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://reportify-12520680 ...

16 December 2025 | 8:02PM HKT Equity Research China Restaurants: FMD expert call takeaways: UE pressure; Subsidy retreat; Store expansion on white-space/favorable franchise policy On Dec 16, we hosted an expert session on China's freshly made drink (FMD) market, with a franchisee who runs multiple milk tea shops in Zhejiang/Shanghai province, including Chagee, Chapanda, Fridayeve, etc. Key takeaways: 1) Subsidy retreat and lingering UE pressure: The expert expects subsidies to retreat in the mid/long run. U ...

Core Viewpoint - The article evaluates the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) as a current investment option, emphasizing its market price and investment strategy. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The fund's objective is to provide exposure to the UK equity market, focusing on quality investments and diversification [1] - The author emphasizes a long-term investment approach, avoiding high-risk strategies and focusing on reliable income streams [1] Group 2: Market Context - The author has experience in financial services since 2008, with a background in macro analysis and managed income portfolios targeting approximately 8% yields [1] - The article mentions various investment vehicles including broad market ETFs and alternatives like Bitcoin and Gold, indicating a diversified investment strategy [1]

Core Insights - The top 10 stock picks for 2025 yielded a return of 45.6%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's return of 17.6% [34] - The market has experienced volatility due to various factors, including trade disputes and shifts in investor sentiment towards safe havens like gold and silver [8][15] - The performance of stocks is heavily influenced by market sentiment, with a notable shift back to fundamentals following a truce in U.S.-China trade relations [37] Market Overview - The U.S. Dollar Index has decreased by approximately 9.5% year-to-date, indicating a shift away from the U.S. dollar [9] - Technology sector stocks have seen a year-to-date increase of 27%, while consumer staples and healthcare sectors have shown mixed performance [12] - The S&P 500 experienced a maximum pullback of 15% earlier in the year, which historically presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors [19] Stock Performance - The top 10 stocks included companies like Celestica and Credo, which have shown substantial growth, with Celestica up 240% since January 9 [54] - OppFi, initially performing well, faced challenges due to market sentiment but has recently returned to a Buy rating [56] - Stride has been downgraded to a Sell due to poor momentum and analyst revisions, reflecting a significant decline in performance [91] Economic Indicators - The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates three times in the latter half of the year, indicating concerns about the labor market [23] - Major brokerage firms have reduced recession odds following a truce in trade disputes, which has positively impacted market sentiment [24] - Inflation remains a concern, complicating the Fed's decision-making regarding interest rates [25] Future Outlook - The upcoming webinar on January 6 will present the top stock picks for 2026, with expectations of continued focus on companies with strong fundamentals [98] - Analysts are optimistic about the growth potential of companies like Credo, which has a projected earnings growth rate of 78% over the next three to five years [51] - The market remains top-heavy, with 35% of the total market cap attributed to the Magnificent 7 stocks, raising questions about valuation sustainability [30]

A gourmet steak is plated in front of a roaring fire, symbolizing a fine-dining steakhouse experience. Key Points Beef prices are likely to stay elevated into 2026 due to low cattle inventories and drought-related supply constraints. Darden benefits from premium pricing power, while Texas Roadhouse relies on traffic strength and cost discipline. Bloomin’ Brands offers valuation appeal but must reverse negative same-store sales trends to regain investor confidence. Interested in Texas Roadhouse, Inc.? ...

These two small-cap stocks look poised for a recovery heading into 2026.With only a couple of weeks left in 2025, the stock market looks set to close out another winning year. Through Dec. 16, the S&P 500 is up 15.7%, on the way to its third straight year of double-digit gains.Nobody knows for sure where the market is headed in 2026. Some investors see an AI bubble. Others believe the gains that have been dominated by the "Magnificent Seven" stocks will spread to the rest of the market, and some have argued ...

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Key Takeaways DRI reports Q2 FY26 results Dec. 18, with EPS consensus at $2.10 and revenues projected at $3.08B.Darden's Q2 likely benefited from menu innovation, digital and off-premise growth, including Uber Direct.DRI faced margin pressure from higher beef and labor costs, even as Olive Garden and LongHorn supported sales.Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is scheduled to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Dec. 18, 2025, before the opening bell.In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings m ...

Market Trends & Challenges - "Slop bowls" (healthy salads and grain bowls) from places like Cava, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle can cost $15 or more, leading to decreased customer purchases [1] - Sweetgreen's same-store sales fell 9.5% compared to last year [2] - Chipotle's sales are predicted to be in the red for the year [2] - The industry acknowledges consumers still desire healthy lunch options [3] Potential Solutions & Strategies - Offering smaller salads at a discount is one way to drive down costs [3] - Sweetgreen is evaluating its prices and providing lower-priced seasonal options and $13 bowls [4] - Discounts and promotions could potentially revive sales, similar to McDonald's and Burger King [4]