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

#1 STUDENT LOANS: After a three-year COVID hiatus, 40 million Americans will soon resume making student loan payments, estimated to average around $400 a month and reduce discretionary income by roughly 8%.  

#2 SOCIAL MEDIA HEALTH RISK: The US Surgeon General recently issued a new advisory that social media poses a “profound risk of harm” to kids and teens based on research linking social media use to anxiety and depression. The advisory urges the need to set limits and the need for government-created health and safety standards surrounding social media.    

#3 FIREPOWER FOR THE AMMO MARKET: Winchester’s data suggests that the number of firearms owners in the US is up nearly 30% from 2019. New participants and the growth in shooting sports have meaningfully raised the floor in ammunition demand.    

#4 EXISTING MORTGAGES: According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as of the fourth quarter of last year, over 80% of existing US mortgages have a rate below 5%. Furthermore, over 50% of mortgages are estimated to have a rate below 4%.

#5 MOM & POP: A recent analysis published by SmartAsset estimates that approximately 5.5 million family-run businesses in the US employ around 60% of the US workforce.

Hodges Private Client is a program offered through Hodges Capital Management, Inc. (“HCM”). HCM is an Investment Advisory Firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hodges Capital Holdings and serves as investment advisor to the Hodges Funds. HCM is affiliated with First Dallas Securities, Inc, a broker-dealer, and investment advisor registered with the SEC.

This discussion is not intended to be a forecast of future events and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Investing in smaller companies involves additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. No current or prospective client should assume that information referenced in this communication is a recommendation to buy or sell any security or is a substitute for personalized investment advice from your individual advisor. HCM does not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisor for any related questions.

All information referenced herein is from sources believed to be reliable and is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. This material was created for informational purposes only and the opinions expressed are solely those of HCM. HCM shall not in any way be liable for claims and makes no expressed or implied representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the data and other information. The data and information are provided as of the date referenced and are subject to change without notice.