💰 Maniac Minute: The $7,830 Credit You Can’t Miss

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Good morning, Maniacs!

What do Dollar Tree, gold bars, and Lululemon leggings have in common? They all made headlines last week—for wildly different reasons.

From IPO flops to parenting tax breaks, we’ve got the wins, the misses, and the tips to keep more money in your pocket.

🚨 Before we dive in—don’t skip this! Cast your vote in the Market Sentiment Survey below. Results will be shared on Friday.

Market Recap 📈

It started out fine. Hopes were high, markets were stable, and investors looked ready to break out of the slump.

Then came the 1–2 punch: tariffs and inflation.

On Thursday, new auto import duties flipped the momentum. By Friday, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge delivered the knockout. Prices rose 0.4% in February (and 2.8% YoY), the biggest monthly jump since January 2024.

In other words, rate cuts just got even less likely. (Expect more Trump tweets aimed at the Fed.)

Consumer sentiment tanked too, plunging to its lowest level since November 2022, as Americans fret over rising prices and a softening job market.

All three major indices ended the week in the red. The Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 slipped back into correction territory, while the S&P 500 is teetering dangerously close.

And then there’s gold. Oh, gold. It’s now up over 40% in the past year, notching yet another all-time high. I haven’t felt this kind of FOMO since selling Tesla back in 2018.

Even AI took an L. CoreWeave’s much-hyped IPO fell flat, pricing well below its target range, raising less money than expected, and stoking doubts about the hyperscaler hype cycle.

Not our week, folks.

Apple's New Smart Display Confirms What This Startup Knew All Along

Apple has entered the smart home race with its new Smart Display, firing a $158B signal that connected homes are the future.

When Apple moves in, it doesn’t just join the market — it transforms it.

One company has been quietly preparing for this moment.

Their smart shade technology already works across every major platform, perfectly positioned to capture the wave of new consumers Apple will bring.

While others scramble to catch up, this startup is already shifting production from China to its new facility in the Philippines — built for speed and ready to meet surging demand as Apple’s marketing machine drives mass adoption.

With 200% year-over-year growth and distribution in over 120 Best Buy locations, this company isn’t just ready for Apple’s push — they’re set to thrive from it.

Shares in this tech company are open at just $1.90.

Apple’s move is accelerating the entire sector. Don’t miss this window.

Act Fast- Apple’s Halo effect is coming

_{Past performance is not indicative of future results. Email may contain forward-looking statements. See US Offering for details. Informational purposes only.}

Winners & Losers 🚀

From tariffs slamming the auto sector to weight-loss drugs shedding more than just pounds, last week had big swings across the board.

One company is finally cutting loose a billion-dollar anchor, another is streamlining its focus—and two market darlings are losing their edge.

Winners

1. Dollar Tree ($DLTR) – Market Cap: $15.6B (+9.0%)

Turns out ditching Family pays. Shares popped after Dollar Tree announced it’s selling off the Family Dollar brand for $1B—nearly a decade after acquiring it for $9B.

Analysts cheered the move as long overdue. And with inflation pinching wallets, value-focused shoppers of all income levels are driving sales growth and traffic higher.

Still, clouds are forming: proposed SNAP changes may restrict purchases of sugary, processed goods—Dollar Tree’s bread and butter—and tariffs could squeeze margins further. But for now, the stock is basking in the glow of a fresh start.

2. Rivian ($RIVN) – Market Cap: $14.0B (+7.0%)

While Trump’s 25% import tariffs rattled most automakers, Rivian came out looking like a patriotic MVP. The EV maker—alongside Tesla and Lucid—builds 100% of its U.S.-sold vehicles domestically. That makes Ford (77%), Stellantis (57%), GM (52%), and Nissan (52%) look exposed by comparison.

Rivian also surprised investors by spinning off a micromobility unit no one even knew existed. The move signals a tighter focus on core EVs—and Wall Street liked the sound of that.

Losers

1. Novo Nordisk ($NVO) – Market Cap: $303.4B (-9.8%)

Wegovy’s not the only thing slimming down—so is Novo’s stock. Shares tumbled last week and are now down nearly 25% this month. The selloff has been driven by rival Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, which is now dominating new obesity prescriptions: 68% of starting doses go to Lilly, with just 32% to Novo.

Add in supply chain issues and the rise of cheaper compounded versions from telehealth startups like $HIMS ( ▲ 5.35% ) , and Novo’s grip on the market is slipping. The FDA is set to shut down those copycats by May 22—but investors aren’t convinced Novo can reclaim the crown fast enough.

2. Lululemon ($LULU) – Market Cap: $35.7B (-9.2%)

Has the athleisure king stretched too far? Despite strong Q4 results and a 38% surge in international sales, Lululemon’s 2025 forecast spooked the market. The brand expects revenue growth of just 5 to 7%—its weakest pace on record.

Slowing U.S. foot traffic, tariff headwinds, and cautious consumers are weighing heavily on the stock. Meanwhile, newcomers like Vuori, On Running, and Alo are chipping away at its once-untouchable market share. Management says new products are hitting… but investors aren’t buying it (literally).

How To Shrink Your Tax Bill As A Parent (Part 1: Credits) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Raising kids might be priceless, but it’s definitely not cheap. Thankfully, the IRS offers a buffet of tax credits to take some of the sting out of parenting costs—from daycare to college tuition.

Here are the most valuable credits worth checking out before you file:

1. Child Tax Credit (CTC) – Get up to $2,000 back per child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable if your tax bill is low. Begins phasing out at $200K for single parents and $400K for joint filers.

2. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Designed for low- to moderate-income earners, this one can net you up to $7,830 with three or more qualifying kids. (There are credits for 0, 1, and 2 kids too—just smaller.) Requires earned income.

3. Credit For Other Dependents – For dependents who don’t qualify for the main child credit (think teens over 17 or elderly relatives), you can snag up to $500.

4. Child Care Credit – If you pay for daycare, after-school programs, or summer camp for kids under 13, you may be able to claim up to $1,050 for one child or $2,100 for two or more. Just note: both spouses need to have earned income to qualify if filing jointly.

5. Education Credits – The American Opportunity Credit offers up to $2,500 per student for undergrad expenses. The Lifetime Learning Credit adds another $2,000 per return for things like grad school or job training.

6. Adoption Credit – Claim up to $16,810 for qualified adoption costs. It’s non-refundable but can carry forward for future years.

These credits are the real deal—many are refundable, and some even cover expenses you’ve already paid. Just be sure to check income thresholds and age cutoffs before claiming them!

Worth The Read 📚

🤖 Elon just merged xAI with X in a $45B deal, consolidating data and compute across two of his biggest bets.

🚨 Medicaid double-paid $4.3B covering the same patients in multiple states. Some people were enrolled in up to five programs at once—while insurers kept collecting.

🏡 Could Trump privatize Fannie & Freddie? Investors are loading up and view the proposed sovereign wealth fund as a potential landing spot.

🌍 Finland tops the happiness rankings—again. But do Nordic countries actually feel joy? A closer look at what the “World Happiness Report” really measures (hint: it’s not smiles).

📉 CoreWeave’s IPO flops out the gate, pricing under its target and finishing its first day of trading right where it started.

🥇 Wall Street’s gold fever is heating up, with price targets climbing to $3,500 and beyond. Trump’s tariffs, falling rates, and central bank buying could send it even higher.

🏝️ North Bay Road now holds $1.7B in homes across just four miles. Welcome to Miami’s richest street, where David Beckham, Cindy Crawford, and Barry Diller are your neighbors.

The smartphone story isn’t over yet…

Uber did it to taxis, Airbnb to hotels, & now Mode is doing it to the $500B smartphone industry.

They’ve turned smartphones from an expense into an income stream - don’t miss your chance to invest.

Invest at $0.26/share

*Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.
*Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.

The Week Ahead 🔍

It’s a quiet week for earnings, but not for data. We’ll get a read on job openings, trade flows, and the March jobs report—plus ISM surveys to help gauge where the economy’s heading next.

Monday

• No major reports

Tuesday

• February JOLTs Job Openings (est. 7.68M)

• March ISM Manufacturing PMI (est. 49.5)

Wednesday

• No major reports

Thursday

• Earnings from ConAgra Brands

• February Exports (est. $271B)

• February Imports (est. $393B)

• March ISM Services PMI (est. 53.0)

Friday

• March Non-Farm Payrolls (est. 128K)

• March Unemployment Rate (est. 4.2%)

• March Labor Participation Rate (est. 62.4%)

That’s a wrap! See you next Monday with all the market insights and money tips you need to stay ahead.

Keep stacking,
The Money Maniac 💸

P.S. Have feedback, burning questions, or just want to say hi? Reply directly to this email!

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.