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

#1 SHUTDOWN GROUNDS THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that flight capacity will be reduced by 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown, affecting an estimated 3,500–4,000 flights per day. The reduction, which has no set end date, is a proactive measure to maintain safety amid staffing shortages, as air traffic controllers and TSA workers continue to work without pay.

#2 EV SURGE: Off-lease electric vehicles (EVs) are set to flood the market in 2026, with more than 330,000 units expected to return—over 200% higher than 2025 levels. This surge is already pressuring used EV prices, which have fallen about 9% year over year to an average of $37,000, with nearly one-third listed below $25,000.

 #3 MLB REBOUNDS: The LA Dodgers’ dramatic World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays drew 27.3 million U.S. viewers—baseball’s largest audience in years—and more than 40 million worldwide when including Canadian and Japanese fans. The finale capped a strong year for MLB, which saw double-digit gains in TV viewership and average in-person attendance rise to 29,000 per game. Efforts to modernize the sport, including rule changes and shorter game times, have helped reenergize fan interest. Star players like Shohei Ohtani and MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto have also fueled excitement as MLB prepares to finalize a new media rights deal.

#4 U.S. HOUSING MARKET DELAYS: The median age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. has risen to a record 40 years, while first-timers now make up just 21% of home purchases—the lowest share on record. High home prices, elevated interest rates, and record-high down payments are delaying younger Americans from entering the housing market, while older and wealthier buyers increasingly dominate purchases, often paying in cash. This marks a sharp shift from the 1980s and 2010, when first-time buyers were typically in their late 20s or early 30s.

#5 NVIDIA’S TRILLION-DOLLAR DOMINATION: Nvidia made history last week by becoming the first company ever valued at $5 trillion, cementing its role as a key driver of global markets and the AI revolution. Its stock has led Wall Street gains since early 2023, outperforming most sectors and surpassing the market value of entire countries’ equity markets. The company continues to expand through partnerships with major firms such as Nokia, Samsung, and Hyundai, underscoring its growing influence and potential for further growth. 

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