The Acquisition & Its Shadow

One notes, with a certain detached curiosity, that this constitutes 1.23% of River Road’s reportable assets. A percentage. A sliver of ownership, meticulously quantified, and yet utterly devoid of meaning beyond its numerical existence. The portfolio, as publicly declared, reveals a hierarchy of holdings: NYSE:BJ at $306.44 million, NYSE:WTM at $251.19 million, and so on, descending into a carefully constructed pyramid of financial commitments. Each figure, a testament to the ceaseless accumulation of… something. The ordering itself feels significant, though the rationale remains elusive. Perhaps it is simply alphabetical. Or perhaps a complex algorithm dictates the arrangement, a secret known only to the custodians of these funds.

IBKR: A Brokerage, and My Existential Dread

For years, they’ve catered to the serious traders, the people who treat the market like a chess game, not a lottery ticket. I suspect they look at accounts like mine with a mixture of pity and mild annoyance. But the brokerage world is changing, and even IBKR can’t ignore it. It’s like my Aunt Mildred suddenly deciding to learn TikTok – inevitable, and slightly unsettling.

Amazon & Costco: A Frugal Man’s Musings

It’s a curious thing, mind you. Amazon, that purveyor of everything under the sun (and a good many things that ought to remain under the sun), and Costco, that warehouse full of bulk bargains, are headin’ into 2026 lookin’ mighty different. Amazon’s been spendin’ money like a drunken sailor, while Costco’s been sittin’ pretty on a pile of membership fees. And yet, it’s Amazon that’s growin’ faster, a fact that’d give old man Scrooge a fit of the vapors.

Ephemeral Fortunes: A Study in Digital Valuation

Below these titans, one finds Meta Platforms, currently valued at a more modest, yet still considerable, sum. It is a company that has, in recent years, undergone a transformation, a shedding of its former skin, and now seeks to establish itself upon new foundations. Whether this endeavor will prove successful remains, as with all things, uncertain.

AKRE: A Trader’s Confession

It’s a new position for them, which is…interesting. It represents 10.45% of their 13F reportable AUM as of December 31st, 2025. Which is a commitment. A statement. I, meanwhile, am still trying to decide if oat milk is a worthwhile investment.

Flywheels & Fool’s Gold

Smiling Investor

Two such enterprises have caught our eye: MercadoLibre (MELI +1.01%) and Toast (TOST 1.51%). Both are currently trading at valuations that suggest either profound skepticism or, more likely, a temporary lapse in collective reason. A discerning investor, one who appreciates a well-constructed scheme, can capitalize on such moments.

Oklo: A Speculative Venture

Currently, Oklo generates no revenue. Its prospects hinge on the successful development and commercialization of technologies that remain, at this juncture, highly speculative. The recent surge in valuation, fueled by the demands of energy-intensive artificial intelligence data centers, appears disproportionate to the demonstrable progress made. One observes a familiar pattern: optimism outpacing reality.

NuScale: A Reactor and a Prayer

But things, apparently, are looking up. Or so they say. The company is, shall we say, regaining momentum. It’s a curious phrase, “regaining momentum,” as if momentum were a lost set of car keys. Still, they’ve got a project in Romania, which is promising. Six small modular reactors, enough to power a moderately sized city, slated for operation in 2033. That’s a good seven years away, of course. Plenty of time for unforeseen complications, geopolitical shifts, or, frankly, just a change of heart. It’s like building a cathedral – you start with enthusiasm and end with a nagging sense of exhaustion.

Prediction Markets Go Wild: Billion-Dollar Bets on Iran’s Next Move!

Several sharp-eyed (or perhaps just lucky) traders anticipated the Feb. 28 strike with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker. One particularly audacious bettor reportedly staked $60,000 three days in advance and walked away with $500,000. If this were a casino, they’d probably ban them for cheating and then sue them for the thrill of it.