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

#1 Not Your Father's Kidney Stones: This ailment has traditionally been associated with middle-aged men, yet an increasing number of children are developing kidney stones. Experts believe diet plays a significant role, according to The Washington Post. Dr. Gregory Tasian, a researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, notes that the likelihood of a child developing a kidney stone has doubled over the past year. Processed foods and high sodium intake are likely culprits—factors that HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has also cited as contributors to rising obesity and diabetes rates.

#2 Beyond Bitcoin: Bit by bit, Bitcoin has surged past $100,000. Companies that build data centers with specialized hardware and software to solve complex mathematical problems—thereby creating Bitcoin—are called miners, and they can be highly profitable. However, demand for crypto mining may decline over the next five years as the total supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million. Additionally, new, more lucrative opportunities could emerge. AI is increasingly competing for scarce data center space, and Nvidia’s AI chips require massive amounts of electrical power—two attributes Bitcoin miners already possess. As a result, many miners are expected to pivot their business models in the coming years.

#3 Alexandr Wang: Alexandr Wang, the son of Chinese immigrants, attended the World Economic Forum at Davos, founded Scale AI, and wrote a letter to President Trump urging greater investment in artificial intelligence. He also advocates for a hiring approach known as "MEI"—a term that stands for “merit, excellence, and intelligence.” Critics of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have begun embracing MEI as a merit-based hiring philosophy, which Wang describes as ensuring only the most qualified candidates are selected based on meritocracy.

#4 Bad News: "Made for Advertising" (MFA) websites are designed primarily to generate ad revenue by displaying as many advertisements as possible. These sites often rely on sensational headlines, clickbait, and provocative content to attract visitors and maximize page views. Key characteristics of MFA sites include low-quality content, AI-generated text, excessive slideshows, and interconnected networks of sites. Digital advertising company DoubleVerify found that many MFA websites mimic legitimate publishers with slight misspellings, such as “BBCsportss.com.” These sites pose multiple problems: they create a nuisance and potential fraud risk for users searching for legitimate news or information, and they harm advertisers by diminishing campaign effectiveness and damaging brand reputations.

#5 Moving On Out: Southern states and cities remain the most popular relocation destinations in 2024, according to U-Haul data on one-way moves. Texas, which had held the No. 1 spot in previous years, ranked second in 2024. Since 2016, Texas has consistently placed first or second. This year, however, South Carolina claimed the top spot. Meanwhile, California continues to see the fewest inbound moves, ranking last—No. 50—for the fifth consecutive year.

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