Friday Fast Five - 3/27/2026
by Hodges Investment Team, on March 27, 2026
Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...
#1 MARCH MADNESS: The odds of picking a perfect bracket for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are about one in 9.2 quintillion (that’s 9,200,000,000,000,000,000). To put that in perspective, you are more likely to be struck by lightning multiple times or win the lottery several times in a row.
#2 MEMORY SHORTAGE: AI-driven memory demand is overwhelming supply, particularly for DRAM and NAND used in data centers. Last week, Micron Technology said it can currently meet only 50–66% of customer demand, creating a significant supply gap that is expected to persist well into next year.
#3 ONE CLEAR WINNER: According to The Wall Street Journal, long TSA wait times—driven in part by the partial government shutdown—have led to a surge in demand for Clear Secure’s expedited airport screening service. As frustrated travelers look for faster alternatives, CLEAR app downloads have more than tripled compared to last year.
#4 REBAR PRICING: Despite broader economic uncertainty, soft U.S. residential housing starts, and bouts of severe winter weather, steel rebar prices have risen about 4.5% year-to-date to $1,000–$1,060 per ton. The increase has been driven by a mix of U.S. tariffs and strong infrastructure demand, which have tightened order books heading into the spring construction season.
#5 HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY: A recent survey conducted on behalf of athenahealth by The Harris Poll, which included 1,045 U.S. physicians, found that 52% of respondents believe improving access to affordable healthcare is the top issue policymakers should address. This marks the first time the issue has ranked No. 1, rising from 38% in 2024 and 44% in 2025.
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