💰 Maniac Minute: From Panic To Peak In 89 Days

Good morning, Maniacs!

The S&P 500 just logged its fastest 15% rebound in history! The fuel? Trade optimism, an AI-fueled rally, and rate cut anticipation.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Q1 GDP was revised lower, core PCE inflation ticked up for the first time in months, and employment data continues to lose steam.

Also in today’s issue: Nike hits its stride, Wall Street rediscovers war stocks, and one biotech bubble goes pop.

Let’s dive in! 👇

Market Recap 📈

The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Friday, as investors cheered trade optimism and growing conviction that rate cuts are coming.

It was a fitting end to a week that nearly veered off course.

Midweek, stocks surged on a report of strong durable goods orders and signs of a trade breakthrough with China. But just before the closing bell Friday, Trump torpedoed talks with Canada over its proposed digital services tax.

The S&P 500 dipped… then ripped into the close to notch its first new high since February.

That wrapped up a wild round trip: a 24% comeback from the depths of April’s tariff-induced selloff.

According to Dow Jones data, the 89 trading days it took to reclaim the prior high marked the fastest-ever recovery from a 15% drawdown.

Meanwhile, the data painted a mixed picture:

• Q1 GDP was revised down to a 0.5% contraction, dragged lower by a 37.9% spike in imports and a 4.6% plunge in federal spending.

• Initial jobless claims fell to 236,000—a six-week low—but continuing claims hit their highest level since November 2021.

• Core PCE inflation ticked up to 2.7%, keeping the Fed cautious.

Still, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model sees Q2 bouncing back with 2.9% growth, as the whiplash of tariffs smooths out.

Next up: July 9.

That’s the self-imposed deadline for Trump’s tariff deadline. Then again, maybe not. “We can do whatever we want,” he said Friday. “We could extend it, we could make it shorter.”

Classic.

Winners & Losers 🚀

The first half of 2025 is ending with a bang. Nike staged a comeback, defense budgets ballooned, and one drone maker took flight. Others weren’t so lucky—grounded by breakups and market whiplash.

Winners

1. AeroVironment ($AVAV) – Market Cap: $12.7B (+46.6%)

As wars intensify and NATO loads up, this drone maker is riding a tailwind of global demand. $AVAV ( ▲ 2.09% ) posted blowout Q4 earnings, with revenue up 40% thanks to surging sales of its Loitering Munition Systems (LMS) and battlefield-tested Switchblade drones.

The company also forecasted revenue to more than double in 2026, climbing from $821 million to as much as $2 billion. With precision strike tech becoming essential in modern warfare, shares have been climbing fast—up 150% since April.

2. Nike ($NKE) – Market Cap: $106.3B (+20.5%)

Nike may have limped into earnings season, but it sprinted out. Despite a 12% revenue drop and rising tariff costs, the company beat expectations and showed signs that its turnaround is gaining traction.

Goldman Sachs said it was “incrementally encouraged” by the results, pointing to cleaner inventories and rising holiday orders. The market was much more optimistic, sending $NKE ( ▲ 15.19% ) to its biggest one-day gain in history.

Losers

1. Regencell Bioscience ($RGC) – Market Cap: $8.6B (-54.2%)

Earlier this month, I flagged $RGC ( ▼ 13.82% )  as a bubble. Now? It's bursting.

The stock rocketed more than 80,000% on virtually no revenue, no profits, and no real news. With just 6% of shares available for trading and 86% held by its CEO, the float was easy to pump.

At its peak, Yat-Gai Au’s paper net worth soared to $35B—before falling back to a still-unbelievable $7B.

A 38-for-1 stock split triggered 10+ trading halts and sent shares up 283% in a single day. But now the frenzy is fading, and gravity’s doing its thing.

2. Hims & Hers ($HIMS) – Market Cap: $11.1B (-23.1%)

Hims just lost a golden opportunity. Novo Nordisk abruptly ended its weight-loss drug partnership, accusing the telehealth company of deceptive marketing and selling knockoff Wegovy disguised as “personalized” prescriptions.

$HIMS ( ▲ 6.76% )  denied the claims and clapped back on X, but Novo has already moved on, naming WeightWatchers as its next distribution partner. The stock tumbled 30% on the news.

How Does Your Net Worth Stack Up? 🔍

According to Empower, the median U.S. net worth crosses $100K at 40, peaks around $440K in your 60s, and then begins a slow drawdown as retirees start spending their savings.

But the average net worth? That’s a much loftier number. It crosses $100K in your teens and hits $1 million around 50.

Just keep in mind—this figure gets distorted by the ultra-wealthy. For example, Jeff Bezos’ mere presence in Venice this weekend tripled the entire city’s average net worth.

So, which number matters more?

1. Median net worth shows you what’s typical: half have more, half have less.

2. Average is less telling, but maybe more motivating for the ambitious folk.

Whichever column you find yourself eyeing, both follow the same arc:

• A slow build in early adulthood 🧱

• A sharp climb during peak earning years 💼

• Followed by a steady drawdown in retirement 🧓

Keep in mind, these are net worth numbers. That means everything you own minus everything you owe.

It’s the sum of your assets (savings, investments, and your home) minus your liabilities (mortgages, credit cards, or student loans).

Two of the best predictors of rising above the curve?

Homeownership and education. No surprise there: one fuels earnings, the other compounds equity.

Worth The Read 📚

🛰️ Want to bet on SpaceX before it IPOs? A new investment platform plans to tokenize private shares of SpaceX, OpenAI, and more—whether regulators like it or not.

🏡 Crypto will soon count toward mortgage eligibility, as the FHFA greenlights digital assets on regulated exchanges without requiring conversion to cash.

📊 Goldman’s favorite stocks for risk-adjusted returns aren’t exactly flashy. But with scrapyards and struggling pharma, this list is built for low-drama gains.

🏛️ NYC landlords panic after surprise Mamdani win, as his rent-freezing, fare-slashing platform sends shares of major office landlords sliding.

🛫 The top 10 U.S. airports, according to Yelp reviews, reveal which terminals go beyond sad sandwiches and disco tunnels to actually make travel enjoyable.

🎩 These “magic yield” ETFs promise 100%+ returns, but they’re often handing you back your own money, with extra layers of risk and volatility for good measure.

The Week Ahead 🔍

With a short week and a light calendar, markets may drift until Thursday’s data dump. Job growth, services activity, and trade numbers all hit just before the July 4th break.

Monday

• No major reports

Tuesday

• Earnings from Constellation Brands

• June ISM Manufacturing PMI (est. 48.8)

• May JOLTs Job Openings (est. 7.45M)

Wednesday

• Earnings from Haleon

Thursday

• Markets close early for Independence Day

• June Non-Farm Payrolls (est. 129K)

• June Unemployment Rate (est. 4.2%)

• June Labor Participation Rate (est. 62.3%)

• June ISM Services PMI (est. 50.3)

• May Balance of Trade (est. -$70B)

Friday

• Markets closed for Independence Day

That’s it for today! If you made it this far, you’re exactly why I do this.

All I ask for? A little feedback. Your comments, questions, and suggestions help me improve and shape future editions.

Just hit reply or leave a quick review below. It helps more than you know.

Keep stacking,
The Money Maniac 💸

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets. All opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change without notice. Please do your own research or consult with a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.