Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...
#1 COULD YOU WAIT A QUARTER OF A CENTURY? According to research from Deutsche Bank, INTC finally surpassed its 2000 dot-com bubble peak on Friday, May 24, 2026 — 26 years later. Intel was the second-largest company by market capitalization at its peak in 2000. It has obviously been a wild ride, with the stock still down more than 70% from its peak as recently as Q3 of last year, even a quarter-century later. Since August 2025, however, the stock has risen well over 300%. The latest leg of this rally followed a strong Q1 2026 earnings report released Thursday, in which the company significantly exceeded analysts’ expectations, including a substantial beat in Q2 revenue guidance. Still, the fact that it took Intel 26 years to surpass its previous record high — during a period in which the S&P 500 climbed approximately 370% (more than 650% including reinvested dividends) — highlights not only the volatility of investing in individual stocks, but also the risks of poor entry points in high-beta sectors such as technology.
#2 MENTAL BARRIERS: On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes at Iffley Road Track. Less than seven weeks later, on June 21, 1954, John Landy broke the record. Once the psychological barrier had been broken, the achievement became increasingly common, and by 1957, more than 15 runners had recorded sub-four-minute miles. According to ESPN, the fabled two-hour marathon barrier has now officially been broken in what was once considered an impossible athletic feat. On April 26, 2026, Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, shattering the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds. Just 11 seconds behind him was Yomif Kejelcha, who, while running his first marathon, also completed the 26.2-mile course in under two hours.
#3 GOAL!!! According to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Social and Economic Impact Report, the tournament is expected to generate more than $40 billion in total North American GDP, creating a significant economic boost driven by 6.5 million visitors and increased tourism, hospitality, and construction activity. The event is projected to create more than 185,000 jobs in the U.S. alone, while host cities are expected to see between $160 million and $620 million in economic activity each.
#4 CHARLES SCHWAB CHASES GEN Z INTO CRYPTO: Charles Schwab announced its move into crypto during its first-quarter earnings call. According to The Daily Upside, Schwab plans to add the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, Bitcoin and Ether. Schwab averaged a record 9.9 million daily trades as quarterly profit jumped more than 30%. Trading activity surged across the industry as geopolitical uncertainty prompted investors to hold smaller positions for shorter periods. Adding crypto offerings could further increase Schwab’s trading volume, especially as younger investors — particularly Gen Z — continue gravitating toward alternative assets amid uncertainty. Gen Z began investing earlier than prior generations and is significantly more likely to invest in alternative assets, especially crypto. As baby boomers age and wealth transfers to younger generations, Wall Street firms are making sure they offer the types of assets Gen Z investors want.
#5 AIRFLOW: Madison Air Solutions has officially claimed the title of the largest industrial IPO since UPS in 1999, pricing its $2.23 billion offering at the top end of its range before surging 18.5% in its market debut. The Chicago-based company manufactures climate-control products for residential and commercial use, including brands such as AprilAire, Big Ass Fans, and Nortek Data Center Cooling. Much of the excitement surrounding Madison Air centers on cooling the servers that power AI infrastructure. According to The Daily Upside, Madison Air’s IPO is the largest of 2026 so far, though it may eventually be eclipsed later this year by offerings from SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, which are all reportedly preparing potential public-market debuts.
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