💰 5 Fact Friday: Beyond Meat Goes Beyond Logic

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POLITICS
1. The Global Poker Match Heats Up 🔥

High-stakes talks with China are officially set for next Thursday, and Washington is making sure it walks in with a full hand (and a few aces up its sleeve).

Here is what’s going on:

1) Australia strikes rare earth gold 🇺🇸🤝🇦🇺

In a direct shot at China’s mineral monopoly, the U.S. signed an $8.5B deal with Australia to expand rare earth processing. It's a big supply chain win and gives the U.S. more muscle heading into the Xi meeting.

2) India leans west 🇮🇳

India is reportedly closing in on a deal to slash its tariffs from 50% to 16%. The move comes after New Delhi began distancing itself from Russian oil, a shift that could open the door to a deeper U.S.-India trade alliance.

3) Chips hit home 💾

NVIDIA and Taiwan Semi just produced the first Blackwell wafer on U.S. soil. Score one for the CHIPS Act and America’s plan to onshore semiconductor power.

4) Russia gets the oil hammer 🛢️

The U.S. also slapped sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft, Russia’s two largest oil producers. The goal? Cut off cash flow and crank up the pressure to end the war in Ukraine. WTI crude jumped 5.6% on the news, its biggest one-day pop in four months.

The takeaway: Uncle Sam is flexing across oil, trade, tech, and minerals. Markets are just hoping it’s enough leverage to strike a deal that finally calms the trade war jitters.

STOCKS
2. Earnings Season Enters The Chat 💬

Earnings season just kicked into high gear, with 80 S&P 500 companies reporting this week alone. From carmakers to chip giants to telecom titans, here’s what moved the market:

Tesla ($TSLA)

Revenue climbed 12% to $28.1B, boosted by a surge of EV buyers racing to secure tax credits before they expired. But even record deliveries couldn’t save the bottom line. Profit fell 31% as price cuts, tariffs, and weak regulatory credits continued to weigh on margins. Musk now shifts his focus to autonomy, robotics, and energy storage, as the self-proclaimed leader in “real-world AI.”

Netflix ($NFLX)

Netflix was cruising toward a strong quarter… until a surprise Brazilian tax expense sideswiped margins. Revenue reached $11.5 billion, and ad-tier sales doubled compared to last year. But the one-time charge pulled operating margins down to 28%, missing Wall Street’s target.

Intel ($INTC)

The domestic chipmaker turned in one of its strongest reports in recent memory, topping estimates across the board. Revenue came in at $13.7 billion. Adjusted earnings per share hit $0.23, far better than the penny-per-share Wall Street had expected. After a tough 2024, this quarter gave investors a glimpse of a potential comeback.

IBM ($IBM)

Big Blue continues to ride the AI wave. Revenue climbed 9% to $16.3 billion, earnings topped expectations, and the company raised its full-year guidance. CEO Arvind Krishna noted that IBM’s AI business grew from $7.5 billion to $9.5 billion in just one quarter. Still, the stock slipped after the report, as some investors chose to take profits after a strong run.

AT&T ($T)

AT&T added 405,000 new wireless subscribers, well ahead of expectations, and saw broadband sign-ups hit an eight-year high. Revenue grew 1.6%, while free cash flow reached $4.9 billion. But in an ultra-competitive market with rising acquisition costs, the company’s modest gains weren’t quite enough to spark a rally.

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FAST FACTS
3. Beyond Meat Goes Beyond Logic 🤯

🍔 Beyond Meat’s meme stock rally: Shares soared more than 1,000% in five days after a short squeeze, a meme ETF added $BYND, and a deal with Walmart. [Read]

📉 America’s passport loses its power: The U.S. passport just fell out of the world’s top 10 for the first time. Singapore now holds the crown. [Read]

💵 Do 7% savings accounts still exist? High-yield savings rates are drifting lower as the Fed trims rates. Still, a few standout offers remain. [Read]

⚠️ No earnings? No problem. Since April, companies reporting losses are outperforming profit-makers. Logic? Who needs it. [Read]

💻 OpenAI launches Chrome rival: The ChatGPT-maker dropped Atlas, a new AI-powered browser for Mac. Early testers say it’s like having a smart assistant glued to your tabs. [Read]

🏒 NHL goes full degen: The National Hockey League just partnered with prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi, letting fans bet on games using crypto or cash. [Read]

🏠 Mortgage rates slide to 13-month low: The average 30-year fixed rate dropped to 6.19% after the 10-year Treasury yield dipped below 4%. Refinance season incoming? [Read]

PERSONAL FINANCE
4. The Real Cost Of Bad Timing 🚨

Index funds are the closest thing to a "sure bet" in investing, but many investors still manage to fumble the ball.

The primary culprit?

Poor timing.

A study by Morningstar reveals that over the past decade, the average investor earned 6.3% annually, while their funds delivered 7.3%. This 1% gap—equating to a 15% shortfall—stems from buying high and selling low, usually driven by emotion over strategy.

Volatility can make the problem even worse.

During the Covid Crash of 2020, for example, investors faced a staggering 2% gap in returns, largely due to panic selling. Meanwhile, high-volatility sector ETFs see an average annual gap of 2.6% as investors attempt to time the market (but often miss the mark).

How can you avoid this fate?

Stick to broadly diversified, low-cost index funds, and resist the urge to chase trends or react to market swings. Consistent strategies like dollar-cost averaging can also smooth out the bumps, helping you capture more of your investments’ true potential.

If you do feel the need to speculate, limit it to a small portion of your portfolio—no more than 5%.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race, especially when it comes to long-term investing.

STOCKS
5. Guess That Stock 🕵️‍♂️

This financial giant is synonymous with style, status, and sky-high spending. But lately, it’s been putting something else on display: earning power.

Can you guess the stock?

1. Last week, the stock reported a blowout quarter, sending shares up 7%. This week, the stock sits at an all-time high.

2. What’s driving the surge? Record sign‑ups from premium customers after revamped Platinum and Delta cards rolled out bigger perks (and steeper fees).

3. Surprisingly, Millennials and Gen Z customers now match Gen X in total spending, as younger generations reach for the high‑end lifestyle.

4. It’s famous for metal cards that clink when you set them down—a subtle status flex that unlocks lounges, concerts, and travel upgrades.

5. Despite the name, most of its cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. In other words, “American” is welcomed worldwide.

Got a guess? Tap here for the answer → 

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