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

#1 DRY POWDER: In October, consumers' balance sheets remain flush with personal saving rates at 7.5% as a percentage of disposable income. While inflation is creating a headwind for consumption, U.S. consumers remain in an excellent position to support demand for discretionary consumption during the upcoming Holiday season.

#2 REUSABLE PACKING: Many well-known fast-food restaurants and grocery stores are testing out reusable packaging. According to one test of 191 stores and restaurants reported by the Associated Press, 80% of those customers who opted for reusable packaging returned it within 60 days.

#3 GOT LITHIUM? Data provided by Strategas estimates that the amount of Lithium needed to build 20 million Tesla vehicles would amount to 127,302 tons, which is 165% greater than the estimated 2019 worldwide Lithium production of 77,000 tons. Lithium, graphite, nickel, and cobalt used in electric vehicle batteries are in limited supply and could see significant demand in the years ahead.

#4 TEXAFORNIA: A new report from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M found that one out of ten people moving to Texas during the pandemic came from California. Furthermore, the report also indicated that in 19 of the past 20 years, California ranked as the top state for people relocating to Texas. The only exception was Louisiana in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.  

#5 STILL TELECOMMUTING: According to the Wall Street Journal, the share of workers returning to the office in the U.S. has reached a pandemic height at roughly 36% of those surveyed.

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