Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...

#1 One Swipe at a Time: Over a quarter (27.9%) of U.S. internet users use mobile apps to track their steps and health, according to data from Comscore. It's expected that there will be 92.4 million smartphone health and fitness app users in the U.S. by 2025.

#2 Solar Power at the Beach: Several innovative products have been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 isn’t just an ice chest—it’s an electric cooler powered by a detachable solar panel, providing air-cooled refrigeration on the go. Additionally, a foldable, portable solar umbrella with USB-C power ports has also been introduced.

#3 Giga What? Grid Strategies reports that specialists estimate data center demand growth over the next five years could range from as little as 10 GW (gigawatts) to as much as 65 GW by 2029. AI is expected to account for a larger share of data center loads during this period. Currently, AI represents approximately 10–20% of total data center demand. According to McKinsey, from 2023 to 2030, AI will drive 70% of new data center power demand, ultimately constituting about 40% of total data center demand.

#4 Recipes vs. Dance Routines: Mothers in the U.S. spend more than twice as much time on Facebook and Facebook Messenger as they do on the more teen-focused TikTok, according to Comscore data.

#5 The Island of Misfit Toys: Unlike the Island of Misfit Toys from the beloved Christmas TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, many holiday gifts end up as holiday returns. Retailers anticipate a return rate 17% higher than their annual average, according to the National Retail Federation.

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