Good morning.
Inflation printed lower than expected yesterday, and the stock market gladly took the positive news as fuel for a rally.
Economists are urging caution.
Meanwhile, we’re just urging you to unplug from the mainstream finance news flow and build a 2026 playbook based on data.
In this issue:
Nike stock just plummeted 12% because of China
Chipotle is combating GLP-1s and inflation with… chicken cups
ChatGPT hits $3B in consumer spending faster than TikTok
Let's get into it.
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📰 Market Headlines
Markets rallied Thursday after a cooler inflation print reignited hopes for early 2026 rate cuts.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.9%, the Nasdaq surged 1.6%, and the Dow added 0.4%.
The S&P 500 also ended its 4-day losing streak.
Economists urged caution about the inflation data, calling it unreliable due to disrupted collection during the shutdown. Core CPI dropped to 2.6%, but experts noted the absence of month-over-month data and the limited November collection.
"It's hard to take this data seriously," said one Navy Federal Credit Union economist, while Harvard's Jason Furman suggested the Bureau of Labor Statistics made a "big judgment error" in shelter calculations that understated inflation.
But the market did not care, using the news as rally fuel.
Nike (NKE) shares are down almost 12% pre-market on news that sales in China have plummeted. The company posted expectation-beating earnings and revenue, but that wasn’t enough to get investors to overlook the flagging China sales.
Earnings per share: $0.53 actual vs. $0.38 expected
Revenue: $12.43 billion actual vs. $12.22 billion expected
Chipotle (CMG) is taking a stab at winning customers back by launching chicken cups. The new menu item has 32 grams of protein and will sell at a national average price of $3.82. The move seems to be part of a wider trend of restaurants rethinking portion sizes as GLP-1s and macronutrient tracking become more popular with consumers, according to CNBC.
Cannabis stocks climbed after President Trump signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana under federal law. Tilray rose 2% and Canopy Growth gained 6%. The move could ease banking restrictions and open the door for FDA-approved cannabis treatments.
BP fell 3% after CEO Murray Auchincloss’s abrupt exit. Meg O’Neill, head of Australia’s Woodside Energy, will take over in April. The leadership change marks BP’s fourth CEO in just over four years and signals another pivot in its energy strategy.
UBS forecasted the global AI market could hit $3.1 trillion by 2030, calling fears of an AI bubble “overblown.” The bank expects the S&P 500 to reach 7,300 by mid-2026, powered by AI adoption and looser Fed policy.
ChatGPT’s mobile app hit $3 billion in consumer spending, reaching the milestone faster than TikTok or Disney+. Most of that came in 2025, when users spent $2.48 billion on subscriptions. OpenAI’s new app store launch hints at more monetization ahead.
The future belongs to the generalist, not the specialist, in the era of AI according to Marc Andreessen (a16z):
😱 Fear & Greed Index
🤖 AI/Future/Tech News
Cisco's security team discovered Chinese hackers exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in AsyncOS software since late November.
Rivian unleashed "Universal Hands-Free" driving across 3.5 million miles of US and Canadian roads, up from 135,000 highway miles.
🪙 Crypto
Spot Bitcoin ETFs soared to $457 million in inflows on Wednesday.
SEC charged Bitcoin miner Danh Vo with defrauding 6,400 investors out of $48.5 million through bogus hosting agreements.
Coinbase's stock tumbled to seven-month lows around $243 even as analysts praised its "everything exchange" rollout.
🚨 Trending on Reddit
Adobe chatter jumped as users vented about subscription fatigue and bugs, yet many admitted Photoshop still rules despite Canva and Figma’s appeal.
Google mentions spiked after a sharp dip, sparking “buy the dip” talk and debate over whether its chip push can offset pressure from OpenAI’s latest moves.
🤫 Insider Trading
📊 IPOs and Earnings
CarMax reported a drop in third-quarter revenue and profit as the used car market softened, with overall revenue falling 6.9% to $5.79 billion; shares sank about 7% in premarket trading.
Birkenstock posted a 16% revenue jump for fiscal 2025, but a cautious 2026 outlook due to tariff and currency headwinds sent shares sliding about 8%.
Accenture reported Q1 revenue of $18.74 billion, beating estimates on strong AI demand, but its weak Q2 forecast sent shares slipping around 2% in premarket trading.
❓Market Trivia Corner
🎤️ What you said last time
🚚 Market Movers
Data center deals hit a staggering $61 billion in 2025. S&P Global expects that demand to actually increase in 2026.
Oracle and OpenAI won approval for their 1.4-gigawatt data center in Michigan amid a heated hearing where opponents called the project "Armageddon."
Starbucks supplier Cuisine Solutions hired Morgan Stanley and Rothschild to explore a sale in a deal that could top $2 billion.
🎪 Crowdfunding Showcase
Havn is redefining athleisure with the world’s first EMF-blocking apparel, shielding wearers from 99% of radiation emitted by phones, Wi-Fi, and connected devices. The San Francisco startup has generated $18 million+ in cumulative revenue and grown 36% in 2024 while remaining profitable. Its patented WaveStopper™ fabric, made with pure silver fibers, has been tested to military-grade standards and is now HSA/FSA approved.
Backers include Lululemon’s former President Brett Conrad, NBA star Rudy Gobert, and Science Ventures. With over 5,000 five-star reviews and traction across consumer, medical, and military markets, Havn is aiming for a billion-dollar exit as the next health-focused athleisure leader.
🧠 The Missing (Market) Links
The University of Texas at Austin just ranked as the most-valuable college sports program at $1.48 billion. See all of the top 75 programs.
Wiz Khalifa was sentenced to 9 months in Romanian Jail for smoking weed on stage at his concert.
Today is the deadline of the DOJ’s order for the release of the Epstein files.
Prices jumped 25% since 2020, but the 4% rule creator said early retirees are "cheating themselves" by sticking to his old guidance.
A 26-year-old bookstore manager lived in Manhattan on $53,000 and called the financial strain worthwhile.
📜 Quote of the Day
📢 We want to hear from you.
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⭐️ What did you think of today's edition?
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Cheers,
Brandon & Blake of Invested Inc
The information provided in Stocks & Income is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Stocks & Income is not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or licensed financial planner. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We may hold positions in or receive compensation from the companies or products mentioned. Disclosures will be made where applicable.
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