BellRing Brands: A Protein Shake & A Sigh

They exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, which, frankly, sets a pretty low bar these days. It’s like winning a participation trophy for showing up to the stock market. Sales were up a measly 1%, while adjusted EBITDA—a phrase I still stumble over, even after years of pretending to understand it—dropped from $125 million to $90 million. My aunt Mildred makes more than that selling hand-knitted cat sweaters on Etsy, and she’s mostly selling to cats.

TSM: A Calculated Risk in a Digital Storm

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing – TSM – is that somebody. They don’t pick winners in the AI race; they supply the chips for all the contenders. A neutral position in a war is always a good position to be in. It’s a quiet power, the kind that doesn’t shout, but underpins everything. I’ve been watching them for a while. The stock’s been solid, but it hasn’t exactly taken off. That’s the opportunity. It’s a slow burn, but the kind that leaves a lasting impression.

Tyson & The American Appetite

This, naturally, is good news for Tyson Foods (TSN 1.78%). Not good in a moral sense, of course. Just… financially advantageous. The universe doesn’t care about morality, only about the efficient allocation of resources. And protein, it seems, is now a resource the government wants allocated liberally.

A Modest Dip into Mortgage Bonds

The filing, dated January 27th, 2026, reveals this rather predictable foray into the world of low-duration bonds. The resulting uptick in value – approximately $4.50 million, inclusive of both the new acquisitions and the vagaries of the market – is, of course, perfectly acceptable. One trusts they haven’t become entirely giddy about it.

The Taxman’s Digital Inferno

By 2019, the hounds were loosed. A question on Form 1040, a subtle probe into the digital holdings of the citizenry. And then, the 1099 forms, issued by the exchanges – a digital confession of wealth. It was a clumsy beginning, a bureaucratic attempt to lasso a cloud. But now, as we approach the 2026 filing season, the net tightens. Two new changes loom, and they are, shall we say, interesting.

Disney’s New Helmsman: A Succession Observed

Alongside this shift, Dana Walden has been elevated to President and Chief Creative Officer, tasked with charting the course for media, news, and the endless production of content. A new title, of course, to signify the weight of responsibility – or perhaps simply to justify a larger office.

Iren: A Volatile Virtue in the Age of Machines

The demand, it transpires, is for power. Not the sort of power wielded by statesmen, but the brute force required to sustain the digital leviathans. Meta Platforms, in a display of almost vulgar extravagance, proposes to consume hundreds of gigawatts to fuel its artificial intelligence projects. Microsoft, equally ambitious, speaks of an ‘industrial revolution.’ One suspects these gentlemen have not considered the implications for the national grid, or indeed, the aesthetic impact of so many server farms.

Palantir: Sustaining Growth Amidst Valuation Considerations

Despite a substantial increase in share price over the past three years, Palantir has historically traded at a premium, a factor that has prompted circumspection among certain investment analysts. The question remains: does the current valuation adequately reflect the company’s future growth potential, or does it present a risk to prospective investors?

A Most Peculiar Contest: QLD vs. SOXL

SOXL, a devotee of the semiconductor, pledges to triple your gains – or losses – within a single day. A bold promise, indeed! QLD, more temperate in its approach, merely doubles the daily performance of the NASDAQ-100. It is as if one player stakes all upon a single hand, whilst the other diversifies – a strategy, I daresay, favored by those who prefer prudence to audacity.

Space Bets: Two Companies That Might Just Fly

Rocket Lab doesn’t deal in dreams. They build rockets. Reusable ones. Eighty-one launches to date, dropping satellites into orbit like a seasoned poker player dealing cards. They’re prepping Neutron, a bigger bird, to haul heavier loads. It’s a simple business, if you can manage the physics.