Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...
#1 Not in My Backyard: Communities across the country are pushing back against new AI data centers, worried that soaring electricity demand will raise their power bills. One potential solution lies far from their backyards: data centers in space. In November 2025, Starcloud launched a refrigerator-sized satellite equipped with an AI system and an NVIDIA H100 GPU to test orbital computing. Google’s Project Suncatcher aims to follow with two AI chip satellites in 2027. Operating in space avoids land, zoning, and grid constraints while addressing two major challenges of Earth-based data centers: (1) abundant solar power, with solar irradiance 36% stronger in orbit, and (2) natural heat dissipation, eliminating the need for expensive cooling systems. Two hurdles remain, however: solar arrays would need to span miles, and launch costs are still prohibitive.
#2 Rio de Gym-eiro: “Exercising more” once again tops New Year’s resolutions in the U.S., yet only 15% of Americans have a gym membership. In Brazil, the number is double, at 30%. Like samba dance—deeply rooted in Brazilian culture—working out is intertwined with the country’s emphasis on appearance and rhythm, making fitness more of a national norm than a resolution.
#3 A “Rapid Review” for the New GLP Pill: At the J.P. Morgan conference, CEO David Ricks said he expects a “rapid review” for Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, which is now moving quickly through the FDA. This comes just after rival Novo Nordisk launched an oral version of Wegovy. The pill format offers clear advantages over injectables: greater convenience, better adherence, and no injection-site complications. Beginning in April, millions of Medicare enrollees will gain broad access to obesity medications, significantly expanding the market.
#4 The Algorithm Made Me Do It: TikTok is increasingly a powerful commerce engine. Users ages 25–44 lead all demographics in responding to ads—54% research products after viewing, and 47% go on to make purchases. The broader trend echoes across platforms: one-third of adults ages 18–34 have bought something via social media, compared with 23% of those ages 35–54. Social commerce is becoming a mainstream shopping channel, especially for younger consumers.
#5 Out of the Office: Years after the pandemic, remote work has reshaped the American workplace. According to The Economist, most white-collar employees now work hybrid schedules, and roughly 15% of workers in large metros telecommute daily. That share is even higher in Portland (20%), Denver (21%), Raleigh (23%), and Austin (24%). The impact on city centers is stark: office vacancies in Austin and Denver now exceed 25%, underscoring how entrenched remote work has become and how dramatically it is reshaping commercial real estate.
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