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February 18, 2026

Year of the Horsepower: Insulet’s Earnings Sprint and Modular Medical’s Quiet Canter -( $MODD $PODD )

Insulet’s (PODD) latest numbers read like the balance sheet of a very determined racehorse: fast, disciplined, and still eager for the next lap, even as a promising upstart named Modular Medical trots onto the same track.

Insulet’s Earnings: Hitting a Full Gallop

Insulet has now strung together multiple years of double‑digit growth, with full‑year revenue first surpassing the $2 billion mark in 2024 and then accelerating to roughly $2.7 billion in 2025, a year‑over‑year increase of about 31%. Omnipod remains the company’s workhorse, with Omnipod revenue mirroring total revenue at roughly $2.7 billion in 2025 and continuing to benefit from global adoption and expanding indications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The fourth quarter has become Insulet’s showcase inning, with Q4 2024 revenue growing about 17% year over year to nearly $600 million, and Q4 2025 results again beating guidance and landing above the high end of the company’s revenue growth range. Margins are behaving more like a seasoned blue‑chip than an early‑stage medtech, with gross margin in the low 70% range and operating leverage improving as scale catches up with R&D and commercial investments.

Omnipod 5: The Thoroughbred in the Diabetes Field

Omnipod 5 has firmly established itself as the fully automated insulin‑delivery “thoroughbred” in the U.S., now cleared for both type 1 and type 2 adults and steadily gaining share as payers, physicians, and patients get more comfortable with patch‑based therapy. Management has highlighted that Omnipod 5 is the first and only automated insulin‑delivery system in the U.S. indicated for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, a label edge that translates into a wider total addressable market.

Clinical data are reinforcing the commercial story, with recent randomized trial results showing meaningful gains in time‑in‑range for users with elevated baseline A1c—exactly the cohort payers hope will generate downstream savings. With Omnipod now a truly global franchise, Insulet’s forward guidance calling for mid‑ to high‑teens revenue growth in 2025 positions the company less like a speculative medtech and more like a durable growth compounder—albeit one still priced and traded like a momentum name.

Year of the Horse: Market Momentum with Reins on Risk

In the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse favors speed, ambition, and a certain enthusiastic disregard for obstacles—exactly the temperament Insulet has shown by repeatedly overshooting its own top‑line guidance. Yet even spirited horses need reins, and recent trading around Insulet’s stock underscores that Street expectations can sprint ahead of even strong fundamentals, with shares occasionally slipping despite earnings beats as investors debate sustainability of growth and margins.

Still, in a diabetes‑device market measured in tens of billions of dollars globally, Insulet’s scale, data, and entrenched installed base make it look more like a front‑runner than a late‑cycle sprinter losing steam heading into the back stretch. For long‑term investors, the question in this Year of the Horse may be less whether Insulet can keep running and more whether volatility along the way is a feature to be harnessed, not a bug to be feared.

Modular Medical: A Nimble Contender Enters the Track

While Insulet thunders down the main straightaway, Modular Medical (NASDAQ: MODD) is just cantering out of the paddock—but it is doing so with a design that aims squarely at the “almost‑pumpers” market of adults on multiple daily injections who find traditional pumps too complex or too expensive. The company’s Pivot tubeless insulin patch pump, built around a removable 3 ml reservoir and a two‑part detachable design, is now moving through key manufacturing and regulatory milestones on its way to a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, subject to FDA 510(k) clearance.

Modular has recently begun validation production lots for the disposable cartridge and infusion set, validated its Pivot controller line for high‑volume manufacturing, and advanced toward ISO 13485 certification and CE Mark via staged audits—all critical prerequisites for U.S. and European commercialization. The company is targeting an estimated $3 billion addressable market for lower‑cost, easy‑to‑learn patch‑pump solutions, even as its own shares trade below Nasdaq’s minimum bid threshold, prompting the exchange to grant a cure period extension into mid‑2026.

Two Horses, One Track: Incumbent vs. Disruptor

At one end of the field, Insulet is the established champion, already generating multibillion‑dollar revenue with a globally recognized platform and strong supporting data; at the other, Modular Medical is the ambitious challenger hoping that a simpler, cheaper Pivot system can carve out a new lane rather than run directly into Omnipod’s slipstream. If the Year of the Horse rewards both speed and stamina, investors may soon have a textbook case study: a dominant incumbent trying to extend its lead, and an undercapitalized but potentially disruptive newcomer betting that the diabetes market still has room for one more fast mover out of the gate.

The Sources


[1] Insulet Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218828620/en/Insulet-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2025-Results
[2] Insulet Reports Full Year 2024 Revenue Increase of 22% and Fourth … https://finance.yahoo.com/news/insulet-reports-full-2024-revenue-210100956.html
[3] Modular Medical (MODD) Advances Toward 2026 Launch with … https://www.gurufocus.com/news/8581685/modular-medical-modd-advances-toward-2026-launch-with-production-milestone
[4] MODD – Modular Med Inc Latest Stock News & Market Updates https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MODD/
[5] Modular Medical Achieves Key Manufacturing Milestone for Pivot … https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/modular-medical-achieves-key-manufacturing-milestone-for-pivot-tubeless-insulin-patch-pump
[6] Insulet Reports Third Quarter 2024 Revenue Increase of 26% Year … https://investors.insulet.com/news/news-details/2024/Insulet-Reports-Third-Quarter-2024-Revenue-Increase-of-26-Year-Over-Year-25-Constant-Currency1/default.aspx
[7] Insulet sales increase 22% in 2024, Q4 performance beats Street https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/insulet-sales-increase-beat-q4-2024/
[8] Insulet Corporation Reports Strong Financial Performance for 2024 https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:8768a7df71fa2:0-insulet-corporation-reports-strong-financial-performance-for-2024/
[9] Insulet beats Q4 estimates, sees strong 2025 growth – Investing.com https://www.investing.com/news/earnings/insulet-beats-q4-estimates-sees-strong-2025-growth-93CH-3881689
[10] Insulet Reports Second Quarter 2024 Revenue Increase of 23 … https://investors.insulet.com/news/news-details/2024/Insulet-Reports-Second-Quarter-2024-Revenue-Increase-of-23-Year-Over-Year/default.aspx
[11] PODD Stock Falls Despite Q4 Earnings and Revenue Beat, Margins … https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/podd-stock-falls-despite-q4-earnings-and-revenue-beat-margins-rise
[12] Insulet Reports Full Year 2024 Revenue Increase of 22% and Fourth … https://investors.insulet.com/news/news-details/2025/Insulet-Reports-Full-Year-2024-Revenue-Increase-of-22-and-Fourth-Quarter-2024-Revenue-Increase-of-17-Year-Over-Year/default.aspx
[13] Quarterly Results – Insulet Corporation – Investor Relations https://investors.insulet.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx
[14] Modular Medical 2/17/2026 Earnings Report – MarketBeat https://www.marketbeat.com/earnings/reports/2026-2-17-modular-medical-inc-stock-1/
[15] Insulet to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial … https://investor.insulet.com/news/news-details/2025/Insulet-to-Announce-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2024-Financial-Results-on-February-20-2025/default.aspx

February 17, 2026

Meta Bets the House on Nvidia GPUs: When Your “Like” Button Runs on a Supercomputer -( $NVDA $META $SPY )

Nvidia and Meta just turned their long-running AI flirtation into something closer to a multiyear marriage contract, with millions of chips as the dowry and a data‑center empire as the venue. For investors, it is less a love story than a statement: in the race to industrial‑scale AI, Meta has decided that renting Nvidia’s future is safer than betting the house on homegrown silicon.

Meta Doubles Down on Nvidia’s AI Future

Meta has agreed to deploy “millions” of Nvidia processors over the next few years, tightening what was already one of the most important supplier relationships in AI. The deal spans GPUs, CPUs, and networking gear and is explicitly described as multiyear and multigenerational, effectively hitching Meta’s AI road map to Nvidia’s Blackwell, Rubin, and whatever architectural sequel Jensen Huang unveils next.

Behind the headline number is a simple strategic admission: Meta wants to keep scaling models like its Llama family and AI features across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and it would rather secure capacity from the industry leader than wait for alternative ecosystems to mature. Having already amassed on the order of 600,000 GPU equivalents by late 2024, Meta is now formalizing the next leg of that buying spree instead of treating it as a series of opportunistic orders.

Blackwell, Rubin and the Rise of Grace and Vera

Nvidia’s side of the pact is not just “more H100s, please.” Meta plans to deploy millions of next‑generation Blackwell and Rubin GPU systems alongside Nvidia’s Grace and Vera CPUs, effectively adopting the full stack from compute to networking. The company will be among the first hyperscalers to scale Grace CPUs as standalone chips in data centers, rather than merely as sidekicks in GPU‑centric servers.cnbc+2

That CPU embrace matters because Meta has identified a growing swath of AI workloads—especially inference and agentic tasks—that do not strictly require a GPU but still need serious performance per watt. Nvidia claims Grace can roughly double performance per watt on certain back‑end jobs, and Meta clearly prefers that math to the complexity of juggling yet another custom CPU platform. If GPUs are the celebrity talent in this story, Grace and Vera are the understated character actors who quietly carry half the plot.

Data Centers, WhatsApp, and the Quiet War on Custom Silicon

The alliance stretches well beyond chips into how those chips talk to each other and to user data. Meta will lean on Nvidia’s networking technologies, including Spectrum‑X Ethernet, to stitch together hyperscale AI data centers designed around training frontier models and serving billions of inference calls a day. At the application edge, Nvidia’s Confidential Computing capabilities will support secure processing for WhatsApp, underscoring that AI infrastructure is increasingly intertwined with encrypted messaging and privacy expectations.finance.

Strategically, Meta’s vote of confidence in Nvidia’s CPUs and networking is a quiet but pointed challenge to the industry trend toward custom silicon at hyperscalers. While Amazon and Google have trumpeted proprietary ARM‑based processors and accelerators, Meta is signaling that a standardized, third‑party platform can still win on integration speed, ecosystem depth, and time to scale. In a market where everyone claims to be building “the future of AI,” Meta has essentially outsourced a large part of that future to a supplier—and done so on purpose.

Market Jitters, Capex Shock, and Nvidia’s Moat

The timing of the announcement is almost impish: AI‑linked equities have been wobbling as investors question whether hyperscale spending can keep defying gravity. Meta’s own stock is down modestly this year, while big software peers and chipmakers have faced sharper pullbacks amid concerns that GPU demand might normalize as custom chips proliferate. Yet the decision to lock in millions of additional Nvidia chips suggests that for at least one mega‑customer, the AI capex story is far from finished—just evolving in form.

For Nvidia, this is less about near‑term revenue (financial terms remain undisclosed) and more about defending an 80‑plus percent share in AI training while extending that moat into inference and CPUs. Analysts largely doubt that TPUs or other bespoke accelerators will unseat Nvidia’s grip on the broad AI market anytime soon, given GPUs’ flexibility across workloads versus the narrower focus of many custom designs. In other words, while rivals are busy explaining how they will eventually catch Nvidia, Meta just signed up to keep paying for the privilege of not finding out.

What It Means for the Next AI Cycle

For Meta, the expanded partnership is a bet that owning vast, Nvidia‑optimized infrastructure will be as strategically important to social media as owning prime urban real estate once was to newspapers. Training larger LLMs, powering recommendation engines, and rolling out AI assistants across apps all become less of a science experiment when you can count your GPUs in the millions rather than the thousands.

For the rest of the market, the deal is a reminder that AI is consolidating into a club of scale players whose capital budgets double as competitive moats. Smaller firms will increasingly access this power indirectly, through Nvidia cloud partners and rented capacity, while a handful of platforms like Meta negotiate directly for the next wave of silicon. In the meantime, as the industry debates whether we are in an AI bubble, Nvidia and Meta have quietly agreed on at least one thing: if this is a bubble, it is going to require a lot more chips.

The Sources

  1. Reuters – “Nvidia to sell Meta millions of chips in multiyear deal”
    https://www.reuters.com/business/nvidia-sell-meta-millions-chips-multiyear-deal-2026-02-17/[reuters]​
  2. CNBC – “Meta expands Nvidia deal to use millions of AI data center chips”
    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/17/meta-nvidia-deal-ai-data-center-chips.html[cnbc]​
  3. Nvidia Newsroom – “Meta Builds AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA”
    https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/meta-builds-ai-infrastructure-with-nvidia[nvidianews.nvidia]​
  4. MLQ.ai – “Nvidia Signs Multiyear Agreement to Supply Meta with Millions of AI Chips”
    https://mlq.ai/news/nvidia-signs-multiyear-agreement-to-supply-meta-with-millions-of-ai-chips/[mlq]​
  5. Wall Street Journal – “Meta Will Buy Millions of Nvidia Chips for AI Build-Out”
    https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-02-17-2026/card/meta-will-buy-millions-of-nvidia-chips-for-ai-build-out[wsj]​
  6. Investing.com – “Nvidia, Meta stocks rise after expanded AI infrastructure pact”
    https://uk.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/nvidia-meta-stocks-rise-after-expanded-ai-infrastructure-pact-4511172[uk.investing]​
  7. MarketScreener – “Meta Builds AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA”
    https://www.marketscreener.com/news/meta-builds-ai-infrastructure-with-nvidia-ce7e5dd9dc81f62d[marketscreener]​
  8. AOL/Finance Video – “Nvidia and Meta expand GPU team up with millions of additional AI chips”
    https://www.aol.com/finance/nvidia-meta-expand-gpu-team-211544630.html[aol]​
  9. Stocktwits News – “Meta Deepens Nvidia Partnership To Deploy ‘Millions’ Of Chips To Boost AI Goals”
    https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/meta-deepens-nvidia-partnership-to-deploy-millions-of-chips-to-boost-ai-goals[stocktwits]​
  10. WSJ live markets blurb (Meta–Nvidia pact context)
    https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-02-17-2026[wsj]​
February 17, 2026

Wall Street Walks a Tightrope: Apple Balances AI Angst as Indices Inch Higher – February 17, 2026 -( $AAPL $GE $MCD $MODD $MTWO $NOK $NVDA $PH Rise!)

US stocks eked out modest gains in choppy trade on Tuesday as investors faded early-session weakness tied to ongoing AI jitters, with Apple’s (AAPL, $263.88, +3.17%) rebound helping pull the major averages back into the green by the close.

Market overview

  • The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished up about 0.1% after swinging between gains and losses of roughly 0.5% to nearly 1% intraday as traders digested another wave of concerns that AI-driven disruption could spill across sectors beyond big tech.
  • The Dow added only a few dozen points (+.07%), reflecting a more muted move in the older‑economy, less tech‑heavy benchmark as investors rotated within cyclicals and financials.
  • Volatility remained elevated following a recent multi‑week tech sell‑off, with investors still treating AI exposure as both a key growth driver and a source of headline risk, particularly after several weeks in which AI fears helped drag the S&P 500 lower in four of the last five weeks.
  • The Russell 2000 closed roughly flat at 2,646.59 as its was a mostly risk-off day down the food curve of stocks.

Drivers and sectors

  • Apple was the clear bellwether, rallying more than 3% after a report indicated the company is accelerating work on three AI‑enabled wearables — smart glasses, a pendant, and next‑generation AirPods — aimed at tightly integrating with Siri and competing more directly with offerings from Meta and others.
  • The move in Apple was reinforced by a high‑profile bullish note from Wedbush, which reiterated an Outperform rating and a 350 dollar price target, arguing that the recent pullback tied to the broader AI sell‑off has been overdone as Apple stays on track to roll out advanced AI features later this year.
  • Financials caught a bid, while pockets of software and AI‑sensitive names remained under pressure as investors tried to sort potential AI “winners” and “losers,” leading to pronounced dispersion beneath the index level.
  • Aerospace and defense was a relative bright spot, with GE Aerospace (GE) climbing 3.7% and names such as Parker‑Hannifin (PH, $1,009.93, +.82%) also advancing, even as some defense primes traded slightly lower on the session.

Macro, earnings, and policy backdrop

  • The session followed the long Presidents Day weekend, leaving investors to re‑price risk around AI disruption without new macro data, but with a busy stretch ahead that includes Walmart’s closely watched earnings on Thursday and several other high‑profile reports in energy, utilities, and cybersecurity.
  • On the macro front, markets are looking toward Friday’s release of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE index, alongside an advance read on fourth‑quarter GDP for additional clues on how resilient consumer demand remains relative to elevated corporate profit margins.
  • Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting, due Wednesday, are another focal point as traders refine expectations around the timing and pace of potential rate cuts against a backdrop of still‑firm growth and an AI‑driven investment boom.

Notable large‑cap themes

  • NVIDIA (NVDA, $184.97, +1.20%) shares remain under scrutiny after a recent pullback that has left the stock trading meaningfully below the average analyst price target even as the company continues to post outsized data‑center growth and prepares for a key earnings update later this month.
  • For consumer bellwethers, McDonald’s (MCD, $327.62, .01%) garnered attention more for product news than price action as the chain kicked off “Shamrock” season, a reminder that promotions and limited‑time offerings remain a lever to support traffic in a still‑competitive quick‑service landscape.
  • In communications and networking, Nokia (NOK, $7.38, +3.84%) rallied about 3.84% on the day, helped by a price‑target bump from JPMorgan to 8.20 dollars and optimism around the company’s 2026 operating‑profit outlook and initiatives tied to AI and cloud‑driven network demand.

VP Watchlist Updates

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: EPRX)

  • EPRX has been trading in the high single digits, with recent historical data showing shares changing hands around the mid‑$8 area on February 17, 2026 amid solid volume, reflecting growing interest following earlier clinical and financing milestones.
  • The company remains a development‑stage story centered on EP‑104GI for eosinophilic esophagitis, supported by earlier positive cohort data, ongoing Phase 2b work, and an extended cash runway following a sizeable public offering that management has indicated should fund operations well into 2028.

Modular Medical (NASDAQ: MODD)

  • MODD ($.4583, +1.82%) has been trading as a diabetes‑tech name, with shares reacting to execution milestones around its Pivot tubeless patch pump platform.Earlier this month, the company began production of validation lots for its disposable cartridge and infusion set, keeping it on track for a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on FDA 510(k) clearance—an event path that positions upcoming regulatory decisions as key stock catalysts.
  • Earlier this month, the company began production of validation lots for its disposable cartridge and infusion set, keeping it on track for a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on FDA 510(k) clearance—an event path that positions upcoming regulatory decisions as key stock catalysts.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOVX)

DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DV)

  • DoubleVerify (DV, $9.32) shares have been grinding higher in recent weeks, supported by positive technical trends and rising volume, with some models projecting mid‑teens percentage upside over the next quarter if the current uptrend holds.
  • The stock still sits in the middle of a broader rising channel, and short‑term signals remain constructive so long as it can maintain support near the mid‑teens level flagged by recent moving‑average and volume‑based analysis..

The InterGroup Corporation (NASDAQ: INTG)

  • The InterGroup Corporation, a small‑cap real estate and hospitality‑focused holding company, has traded in the high‑$20s in recent sessions. Recent filings and commentary highlight that results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, benefited from improved hotel metrics and gains on real estate transactions, even as the company continues to carry substantial mortgage and subordinated note obligations. With a market capitalization in the low‑$60 million range and thin trading, INTG remains a tightly held, event‑driven real estate story where periodic asset sales and refinancing activity can materially influence quarterly earnings.

Serina Therapeutics (NYSE American: SER)

  • Serina Therapeutics, a polymer‑based drug delivery company, recently received FDA clearance for its IND on SER‑252 after a prior clinical hold, enabling initiation of site‑level work and the formal start of its next clinical phase.
  • Serina Therapeutics is drawing increased institutional attention, with at least two covering analysts assigning a Strong Buy consensus rating as of mid‑February, reflecting optimism around its polymer‑based drug‑delivery platform and advancing pipeline.
  • With the story still early and catalysts largely clinical rather than commercial, position sizing and time horizon remain key considerations for investors leaning into the bullish analyst stance.

M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO) & Volato Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SOAR)

  • Volato and M2i Global reaffirmed their goal of closing their business combination in the first quarter of 2026, citing steady advancement through SEC review and integration planning as they move toward a combined listing. The deal, originally announced in 2025, will effectively transition Volato from a pure‑play private aviation operator into a diversified platform spanning aviation technology and critical minerals, with M2i shareholders expected to own the majority of the combined entity. Operationally, the partnership is already visible: the two companies recently initiated their first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the United States from Titanium X, underscoring how the critical‑minerals vertical could become a meaningful growth engine as domestic supply‑chain security rises in strategic importance.
  • On Feb. 4, M2i Global, Inc. along with Volato Group, Inc. announced that Titanium X has initiated its first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the U.S. under its collaboration agreement.

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • NVIDIA has slipped in recent sessions despite delivering another quarter of spectacular data‑center revenue growth and guiding to roughly 65 billion dollars in upcoming quarterly sales, leaving the stock trading more than 40% below the average analyst price target according to one recent review.
  • The February 25 earnings call is shaping up as a key inflection point as investors look for confirmation that surging demand for the next‑generation Blackwell architecture is translating into firm, contracted revenue and sustaining margins rather than simply driving short‑term enthusiasm.

McDonald’s (MCD)

  • McDonald’s enters the late‑February stretch with a renewed marketing push as the chain brings back its Shamrock Shake and OREO Shamrock McFlurry beginning February 17, a seasonal promotion that tends to support traffic and check size during an otherwise slower period for limited‑service restaurants.

Nokia (NOK)

  • Nokia’s stock advanced about 4% during the February 17 session, aided by JPMorgan’s price‑target boost and continued optimism around the company’s 2026 operating‑profit outlook as it leans into AI‑ and cloud‑driven network modernization.
  • The shares closed around 7.30 dollars after touching an intraday high near 7.34, with recent volatility highlighting how quickly sentiment can swing as investors recalibrate expectations for telecom‑equipment spending cycles.

Opendoor (OPEN)

  • Opendoor remains a highly tactical trade around day‑to‑day moves in its share price, with prediction markets even hosting contracts on whether the stock will finish the February 17 session up or down relative to the prior close — a sign of ongoing speculative interest in the iBuying model.
  • With sensitivity to housing turnover, mortgage rates, and capital‑markets access, the stock’s near‑term path is likely to stay closely tied to macro housing data and risk sentiment rather than company‑specific news alone.

The Sources

  1. Yahoo Finance – “Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq end higher in volatile trading day as Apple jumps”
    https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-end-higher-in-volatile-trading-day-as-apple-jumps-210119999.html[sg.finance.yahoo]​
  2. Yahoo Finance – “Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq edge higher in volatile trading as Wall Street assesses AI fears”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-edge-higher-in-volatile-trading-as-wall-street-assesses-ai-fears-143417272.html[finance.yahoo]​
  3. Yahoo Finance – S&P 500 (^GSPC) page (charts, data, and intraday context)
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EGSPC/[finance.yahoo]​
  4. Yahoo Finance – Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) latest news and headlines
    https://au.finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EDJI/news/[au.finance.yahoo]​
  5. Yahoo Finance – Homepage market wrap and live coverage
    https://finance.yahoo.com[finance.yahoo]​
  6. IndexBox – “US Stocks Edge Higher Amid AI, Deal News; Apple Gains, General Mills Falls”
    https://www.indexbox.io/blog/us-stocks-edge-higher-amid-ai-deal-news-apple-gains-general-mills-falls/[indexbox]​
  7. Canada/Yahoo Finance – “US stocks edge higher after swinging through worries about AI and…”
    https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/shares-fall-japan-while-most-062947531.html[ca.finance.yahoo]​
  8. 24/7 Wall St. – “NVIDIA (NVDA) Trading 41% Below Analyst Targets After Recent Drop”
    https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/17/nvidia-nvda-trading-41-below-analyst-targets-after-recent-drop/[247wallst]​
  9. AOL – “NVIDIA (NVDA) Trading 41% Below Analyst Targets After Recent Drop”
    https://www.aol.com/articles/nvidia-nvda-trading-41-below-analyst-targets-after-recent-drop-164525853.html[aol]​
  10. AOL – “AI stocks jump amid broadly positive outlook for 2026 markets”
    https://www.aol.com/articles/ai-stocks-jump-amid-broadly-161321620.html[aol]​

February 17, 2026

GeoVax Tries on Its 2026 “Breakout Year” Jacket — And It Might Just Fit -( $GOVX $IBB $XBI )

GeoVax Labs (NASDAQ: GOVX) is stepping into 2026 talking like an inflection‑year story—and, unusually for biotech, it has the clinical, regulatory and manufacturing pieces to at least justify the wardrobe change. While capital remains tight, the company is pairing late‑stage Mpox vaccine ambitions with fresh financing and a sharpened message around global health readiness.

2026: From Small‑Cap Underdog to Late‑Stage Contender?

Management has framed 2026 as a pivotal portfolio year, with multiple programs converging on value‑defining milestones rather than just incremental updates. For investors used to early‑stage drift, the narrative has shifted toward regulatory de‑risking, clearer execution priorities, and concrete timelines in both infectious disease and oncology.

Across the pipeline, GeoVax is leaning on its MVA and vector platforms to position as a specialist in hard‑to‑serve niches like immunocompromised COVID patients and persistent Mpox risk, rather than chasing already crowded vaccine markets. That focus is increasingly tied to the company’s manufacturing strategy, where scale and geographic diversification are being pitched as strategic assets rather than mere back‑office plumbing.

GEO-MVA: A Second Engine for the Global Mpox Response

At the heart of the story is GEO‑MVA, an MVA‑based Mpox and smallpox vaccine candidate designed explicitly to address the world’s dependence on a single licensed MVA supplier. GeoVax has completed clinical material for GEO‑MVA and is positioning the program for late‑stage execution and supply readiness just as Mpox is proving stubbornly resistant to fading from the headlines, particularly in Africa.

European regulators have provided favorable scientific advice supporting a single pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging trial, giving GeoVax a potentially streamlined path to registration. The company plans to initiate that Phase 3 study in Q4 2026, with immunobridging data targeted for Q2 2027—timelines that, if met, would put GEO‑MVA squarely into the procurement conversation for global health agencies.

Backdrop: An Epidemic That Refuses to Exit Stage Left

If markets have largely moved on from Mpox, the virus has not extended the same courtesy. Evidence cited by GeoVax underscores that transmission, morbidity and mortality continue, with disproportionate burden across Africa and evolving viral clades adding complexity. Persistent inequities in vaccine access and constrained supply have prompted repeated public health emergency declarations and renewed calls for sustained financing and political will.

GeoVax has publicly endorsed this global call to sustain the Mpox response, warning that complacency could prove a “costly mistake” given ongoing zoonotic spillover and entrenched transmission networks. The company argues that redundant, geographically diversified MVA manufacturing capacity is no longer a “nice‑to‑have” but a core pillar of long‑term preparedness, with GEO‑MVA designed to serve both civilian public health and biodefense demand.

COVID-19 and Oncology: Second Acts With Real Data Hooks

While GEO‑MVA may be the headline, GeoVax continues to push its next‑generation COVID‑19 program, GEO‑CM04S1, through multiple Phase 2 trials. The vaccine is being evaluated as a primary option for immunocompromised patients, a booster for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, and a more durable booster for previously mRNA‑vaccinated healthy individuals—a set of indications where the bar for improved durability and breadth remains meaningfully high.

Oncology is the other leg of the stool, anchored by Gedeptin, a gene‑directed prodrug therapy targeting solid tumors and recently evaluated in a multicenter Phase 1/2 trial for advanced head and neck cancers. Management has pointed to upcoming data publications and a planned Phase 2 study in combination with checkpoint inhibitors as part of a broader strategy to push the platform beyond a single‑indication curiosity.

A Pivotal Year, If Execution Cooperates

In a sector known for selling “jam tomorrow,” GeoVax (NASDAQ: GOVX) is attempting something bolder: promising a pivotal year and then pinning that promise to specific trials, regulatory dialogues, and manufacturing milestones. If the company can match execution to rhetoric, 2026 may be remembered less as branding and more as the moment its Mpox, COVID‑19, and oncology bets began to read like a coherent, late‑stage story rather than a biotech wish list.

The Sources

  1. GeoVax Highlights 2026 as a Pivotal Year for Progress
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/geovax-highlights-2026-pivotal-progress-140000892.html
  2. GeoVax Labs Announces $1 Million Registered Direct Offering Priced At-The-Market Under Nasdaq Rules
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/geovax-labs-announces-1-million-130000947.html
  3. GeoVax Endorses Global Call to Sustain Mpox Response as Evidence Confirms Epidemic Is Far from Over (company press release, attached document)
    (Your attached file: “260217_PR-GeoVax-Endorses-Global-Call-to-Sustain-Mpox-Response-FINAL.docx”)
  4. The mpox epidemic is not over: Reducing disproportionate burden in Africa and persistent global risk require a sustained response (PLOS Medicine)
    https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1004893
February 16, 2026

From Benicia to the Bahamas: The Surprising Supply Chain Behind California’s Gas Spike -( $PSX $VLO )

California drivers are discovering that “California premium” at the pump comes with a 40‑cent surprise this February, as refinery shutdowns tighten supply and push the statewide average to roughly the mid‑4‑dollar range per gallon. In true Golden State fashion, the market is responding with a mix of improvisation, imported fuel, and political theater befitting a state that can turn even gasoline into a global story.

A 14‑Day Sprint Higher at the Pump

Over the last two weeks, California gas prices have climbed by about 40 cents per gallon, lifting the statewide average to around 4.58 dollars and keeping the state firmly atop the national price leaderboard. That leaves California drivers paying well above the roughly 2.93‑dollar national average, a spread that could make even the most stoic commuter consider the merits of remote work…or a bicycle.

In metro pockets like San Francisco and San Rafael, regular gas is already hovering north of 4.80 dollars, with some Northern California communities reporting similar pain. The move marks a sharp reversal from January, when statewide retail prices had been easing toward the low‑4‑dollar range before refinery drama took center stage.

Refineries Take a Bow, Prices Take the Stage

The immediate culprit sits not in OPEC’s meeting rooms but along California’s own refining corridor, where key facilities are dialing back or shutting operations. Valero’s (VLO) Benicia refinery, a critical supplier to Northern California, is in the process of idling, adding to earlier pullbacks at Phillips 66’s (PSX) Los Angeles refinery and other facilities that have steadily eroded in‑state gasoline production capacity.

Energy analysts point to a familiar trio driving the squeeze: refinery closures, planned maintenance, and the seasonal shift toward costlier summer‑blend gasoline. When fewer local refineries are running and fuel standards are strict, the market has all the ingredients it needs to stage a brisk little price rally—no Wall Street roadshow required.

Importing Relief: From the Bahamas With Fuel

With California refineries stepping back, the state is increasingly turning to imported gasoline to keep pumps flowing, even if not exactly overflowing. Recent data show California imported more gasoline in November than ever before, with over 40% of those barrels coming from the Bahamas, an origin story more commonly associated with cruise ships than commuter sedans.

The longer supply chain is no trivial detail: shipping fuel from the Caribbean to the Pacific Coast adds logistics costs and time, which filter neatly into higher retail prices. Analysts suggest refinery closures and rising reliance on imports could tack on an additional 5 to 15 cents per gallon over time—on top of the spike drivers are already seeing at the pump.

Farmers, Families, and the Real‑Economy Ripple

While city drivers grumble between podcasts, rural California is feeling the pinch in more tangible ways. In Northern California, farmers and ranchers report that rising diesel and gasoline costs are squeezing margins and complicating harvest planning, even after stocking up on red diesel for tractors ahead of time.

In places like Butte County, regular gas is running in the mid‑4‑dollar range, with diesel near 4.76 dollars, turning every field pass and truck run into a line‑item worth watching. Households, meanwhile, face the familiar arithmetic: higher fuel costs mean less room in the budget for everything from groceries to Little League fees, a tradeoff that rarely shows up in headline CPI but lands squarely in weekend routines.

Policy, Politics, and the Road Ahead

Sacramento is hardly a passive bystander in this narrative, and not just because the state already layers on one of the highest gas taxes in the country. Even as prices climb, policymakers are debating a mileage‑based “road usage” charge that would tax drivers by the mile instead of the gallon to offset declining fuel‑tax revenues as electric and fuel‑efficient vehicles gain share.

Critics warn that layering a per‑mile fee on top of high pump prices risks turning California’s daily commute into something resembling a luxury product, while supporters argue it is a necessary modernization of how the state funds roads and bridges. The political tension has grown loud enough that some lawmakers are calling the state “at a breaking point,” linking refinery closures, shrinking supply, and rising costs into a single, voter‑tested talking point.

A Forecast With a $1.21 Question

If you zoom out beyond this month’s 40‑cent surge, the more consequential story may lie in the trajectory through 2026. UC Davis economists studying the impact of refinery closures estimate that, by August 2026, California gasoline prices could be as much as 1.21 dollars per gallon higher than they would have been absent the shutdowns, assuming no major market shifts.

That kind of structural lift would hard‑wire a new, higher “normal” into California fuel economics, leaving the current mid‑4‑dollar range looking more like a staging area than a peak. If those projections hold, the state’s love affair with long commutes and weekend getaways may encounter a more formidable gatekeeper at the corner station than even the most ruthless parking enforcement unit.

For Now, Buckle Up—and Fill Strategically

In the near term, drivers have limited tools: shop around within their region, watch for loyalty‑program discounts, and time fill‑ups in anticipation of further increases. Some Southern California promotions are dangling one‑day deals with up to 40 cents off per gallon, a reminder that even in a tight market, competitive skirmishes can still emerge.

Longer term, the combination of refinery closures, tighter environmental standards, and a shift toward cleaner fleets is nudging California toward a structural reset in how it moves people and goods—though not without some sticker shock along the way. For now, the message from the market is clear enough: in California’s latest act, the cars still run on gasoline, but the punchline runs on 40 extra cents.

The Sources


[1] California gas prices have risen 40 cents in the last 14 days https://nypost.com/2026/02/15/us-news/california-gas-prices-have-risen-40-cents-in-the-last-14-days/
[2] Gasoline-starved California is turning to fuel from the Bahamas https://fortune.com/2026/02/15/gasoline-supply-shortage-california-bahamas-shipping-oil-refineries-pipelines/
[3] California average gas prices – AAA Fuel Prices https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=CA
[4] Gasoline-Starved California Is Turning to Fuel From the Bahamas https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gasoline-starved-california-turning-fuel-160000840.html
[5] California’s High Gas Prices and Refinery Closures Have Real … https://californiaglobe.com/fr/californias-high-gas-prices-and-refinery-closures-have-real-consequences/
[6] LYING MAGA As of mid-February 2026, California has the highest … https://www.facebook.com/100064722214657/posts/lying-maga-as-of-mid-february-2026-california-has-the-highest-gas-prices-in-the-/1388574783309916/
[7] California Retail Gas Price (Monthly) – Historical Data & T… – YCharts https://ycharts.com/indicators/california_retail_price_of_gasoline_monthly
[8] California All Grades All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices … – EIA https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMM_EPM0_PTE_SCA_DPG&f=M
[9] California gas prices have risen 40 cents in the last 14 days https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4366979/posts
[10] California gas prices expected to soar as Valero closes refinery https://nypost.com/2026/02/04/us-news/valero-shuts-california-refinery-early-as-gas-prices-poised-to-spike/
[11] California Gas Prices Set to Soar in 2026 https://caes.ucdavis.edu/news/california-gas-prices-set-soar-2026
[12] California Gas Prices Edge Higher as February Kicks Off https://www.carmichaeltimes.com/2026/02/09/562982/california-gas-prices-edge-higher-as-february-kicks-off
[13] Fact check: Claims swirling on California gas prices https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/25/fact-check-claims-swirling-on-california-gas-prices/
[14] Gas prices rise in SoCal. Get 40 cents off every gallon for one day https://www.aol.com/articles/gas-prices-rise-socal-40-174717821.html
[15] LA, Orange County Gas Prices Rise For 18th Consecutive Day https://mynewsla.com/orange-county/2026/02/15/la-orange-county-gas-prices-rise-for-18th-consecutive-day/

February 13, 2026

AI Disruption Fears Drive Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Lower This Week, But Russell 2000 Pops Higher – February 13, 2026 -( $FSLY $MRNA $RIVN Rise!)

U.S. stocks limped into the long weekend with a mixed close on Friday, February 13, 2026, wrapping up a volatile, AI‑driven risk‑off week that left all three major indices firmly in the red.

Index recap for the week

  • The S&P 500 slipped about 1.4% for the week as a late Friday stabilization failed to erase losses from a midweek tech rout tied to artificial intelligence disruption fears.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined roughly 1.2% over the same stretch, holding up better than growth benchmarks but still succumbing to broad de‑risking.
  • The Nasdaq Composite dropped about 2.1%, underperforming as investors rotated out of AI‑linked leaders and high‑multiple tech after one of the sharpest single‑day sell‑offs of 2026.

On Friday, the Dow added about 0.1%, the S&P 500 was roughly flat to modestly positive by .05%, and the Nasdaq slipped around 0.2%, highlighting a fragile attempt to find a floor after Thursday’s steep decline. The small caps pin the Russel 2000 popped 1.18% on Friday, but still fell .89% over the last 5-days.

Macro drivers and AI jitters

  • A cooler‑than‑expected January Consumer Price Index, with headline prices up 0.2% month‑on‑month and 2.4% year‑on‑year, revived expectations that the Federal Reserve could begin easing as early as June, with futures leaning toward a quarter‑point cut and at least two reductions by year‑end.
  • Despite the friendlier inflation data, markets were dominated by worries that AI could upend business models across software, real estate, logistics, and transportation, extending the initial derating of mega‑cap “Magnificent” tech names into a broader cross‑sector scare.
  • Volatility jumped as measured by the VIX, which pushed above 20 during the worst of the selloff, underscoring the degree of positioning unwind after months of enthusiasm around AI beneficiaries.

Investors now head into a shortened week—with markets closed Monday for Presidents’ Day—monitoring whether AI disruption fears remain a temporary shakeout or evolve into a more durable risk‑off regime.

Sector and single‑stock highlights

  • Tech, financials, and communication services led declines, with many large‑cap AI and software names posting outsized drops as traders questioned whether profit growth can keep pace with capital being poured into AI infrastructure.
  • Not all AI‑linked stories were negative: Applied Materials rallied after guiding to strong demand from AI‑driven capacity buildouts, while Pinterest sank as investors fretted about AI’s impact on its advertising and discovery economics.
  • Outside pure tech, Rivian (RIVN) surged more than 25% on upbeat earnings and an accelerated timeline for its R2 midsize EV, while Moderna (MRNA) gained around 10% on a revenue beat supported by its COVID vaccine franchise.
  • In digital assets, Bitcoin rebounded roughly 5% on Friday to approach the 69,000 level after briefly sliding toward 65,000 during Thursday’s equity selloff, aided by softer inflation and renewed optimism around pending crypto legislation in Congress.

Nvidia, a key AI bellwether, slipped more than 1% on Friday and has struggled to advance since setting an all‑time high last October, with investors cautious ahead of its February 25 earnings report.

VP Watchlist Updates

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: EPRX)

  • EPRX has been trading in the high single digits, with recent historical data showing shares changing hands around the mid‑$8 area on February 13, 2026 amid solid volume, reflecting growing interest following earlier clinical and financing milestones.
  • The company remains a development‑stage story centered on EP‑104GI for eosinophilic esophagitis, supported by earlier positive cohort data, ongoing Phase 2b work, and an extended cash runway following a sizeable public offering that management has indicated should fund operations well into 2028.

Modular Medical (NASDAQ: MODD)

  • MODD has been trading as a diabetes‑tech name, with shares reacting to execution milestones around its Pivot tubeless patch pump platform.
  • Earlier this month, the company began production of validation lots for its disposable cartridge and infusion set, keeping it on track for a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on FDA 510(k) clearance—an event path that positions upcoming regulatory decisions as key stock catalysts.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOVX)

  • GOVX continues to behave like a high‑beta small‑cap vaccine and oncology platform name, sensitive to financing and pipeline headlines.
  • On February 13, 2026, GeoVax announced a 1 million dollar registered direct offering priced at‑the‑market under Nasdaq rules, providing incremental capital but also introducing near‑term dilution; management has separately highlighted 2026 as a pivotal year, with a move toward a Phase 3 program for its GEO‑MVA smallpox/orthopox candidate and additional clinical readouts across its portfolio.

flyExclusive, Inc. (NYSE American: FLYX)

  • FLYX has traded as a thinly followed private aviation and jet‑card operator, with shares reflecting both cyclical business‑jet demand and company‑specific execution around fleet utilization.
  • Recent trading suggests the stock remains volatile but relatively quiet on new fundamental catalysts, leaving sentiment tethered to broader views on discretionary travel spending and corporate flight activity in 2026.

DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DV)

  • DV, a digital ad verification and measurement provider, has moved in sympathy with ad‑tech and broader software names during the AI‑driven risk‑off trade, with investors weighing AI’s potential to both enhance and disrupt ad measurement models.
  • With markets focused on how AI will reshape digital advertising workflows, upcoming earnings and any commentary around AI‑enhanced products, client spending, and margin trajectory remain central to the DV equity narrative.

The InterGroup Corporation (NASDAQ: INTG)

  • The InterGroup Corporation, a small‑cap real estate and hospitality‑focused holding company, has traded in the high‑$20s in recent sessions, with intraday ranges on February 12 spanning roughly the upper‑$28s to just under $29.50 and a latest quote near $29.49. Recent filings and commentary highlight that results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, benefited from improved hotel metrics and gains on real estate transactions, even as the company continues to carry substantial mortgage and subordinated note obligations. With a market capitalization in the low‑$60 million range and thin trading, INTG remains a tightly held, event‑driven real estate story where periodic asset sales and refinancing activity can materially influence quarterly earnings.

Serina Therapeutics (NYSE American: SER)

  • Serina Therapeutics, a polymer‑based drug delivery company, recently received FDA clearance for its IND on SER‑252 after a prior clinical hold, enabling initiation of site‑level work and the formal start of its next clinical phase.

Volato Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SOAR) and M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO)

Volato and M2i Global reaffirmed their goal of closing their business combination in the first quarter of 2026, citing steady advancement through SEC review and integration planning as they move toward a combined listing. The deal, originally announced in 2025, will effectively transition Volato from a pure‑play private aviation operator into a diversified platform spanning aviation technology and critical minerals, with M2i shareholders expected to own the majority of the combined entity. Operationally, the partnership is already visible: the two companies recently initiated their first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the United States from Titanium X, underscoring how the critical‑minerals vertical could become a meaningful growth engine as domestic supply‑chain security rises in strategic importance.

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • NVDA slipped a bit more than 1% on Friday even as broader indices stabilized, extending a period of consolidation after peaking at an all‑time high last October.
  • With earnings slated for February 25, the stock sits at the center of the AI debate: investors are watching closely to see whether data‑center and GPU demand can continue to justify premium valuations amid growing scrutiny of AI spending payback.

McDonald’s (MCD)

  • MCD has generally traded as a defensive large‑cap through the week’s volatility rising .13% over the last 5-days closing at $327.58, with quick‑service fundamentals and pricing power helping it participate less in AI‑driven swings that hit higher‑beta growth names.
  • Investor focus remains on traffic trends, international same‑store sales, and any commentary around automation and labor efficiency, which now intersect directly with the broader AI narrative.

Nokia (NOK)

  • NOK, a legacy network and telecom equipment provider, has moved with global tech and hardware sentiment but remains more anchored to carrier capex cycles and 5G deployment than to front‑page AI headlines.
  • As AI workloads demand denser and more efficient networking infrastructure, the market continues to debate how much of that incremental spend will accrue to traditional vendors like Nokia versus newer, AI‑specific architectures.

Opendoor Technologies (OPEN)

  • OPEN trades as a high‑beta housing and iBuying play, making it sensitive to rate expectations and to any AI‑related reassessment of real‑estate business models.
  • With Treasury yields edging lower on softer inflation and AI concerns simultaneously weighing on parts of real estate, the stock sits at a crossroads where easing financing conditions could help, even as investors remain cautious on the durability of the iBuyer model.

Fastly (FSLY, $18.26, +113.07% over the last 5-days)

Fastly Inc. (FSLY) on Wednesday reported a loss of $15.5 million in its fourth quarter. The San Francisco-based company said it had a loss of 10 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 12 cents per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations.

The Sources

  1. Yahoo Finance – “Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq gains fizzle to cap week of sharp losses as AI fears grow”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-gains-fizzle-to-cap-week-of-sharp-losses-as-ai-fears-grow-210219798.html[finance.yahoo]​
  2. The Wall Street Journal – “Stock Market News, Feb. 12, 2026: Tech Shares Lead Broad Selloff as AI Concerns Mount”
    https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-02-12-2026[wsj]​
  3. Nasdaq – “Stocks Plunge on Tech Weakness and AI Fears”
    https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/stocks-plunge-tech-weakness-and-ai-fears[nasdaq]​
  4. BNN Bloomberg – “Wall Street steadies after its AI-induced sell-off”
    https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-shares-lower-sharp-wall-072047890.html[ca.finance.yahoo]​
  5. Investopedia – “Markets News, Feb. 13, 2026: Stocks Post Worst Week of 2026 as AI Fears Roil Wall Street”
    https://www.investopedia.com/stock-market-today-dow-jones-s-and-p-500-02132026-11906132[investopedia]​
  6. Las Vegas Sun – “How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 2/13/2026”
    https://lasvegassun.com/news/2026/feb/13/how-major-us-stock-indexes-fared-friday-2132026/[lasvegassun]​
  7. Reuters – “From software to real estate, U.S. sectors under the grip of AI scare”
    https://www.reuters.com/business/software-real-estate-us-sectors-under-grip-ai-scare-trade-2026-02-13/[reuters]​
  8. Fortune – “Stocks: Friday the 13th brings global selloff as AI fear grips markets”
    https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/stocks-friday-the-13th-global-selloff-gold-ai-fear-markets/[fortune]​
  9. Nasdaq – “Stock Market News for Feb 13, 2026”
    https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/stock-market-news-feb-13-2026[nasdaq]​
  10. Yahoo Finance – “Modular Medical starts production of validation lots for Pivot pump set”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/modular-medical-starts-production-validation-135605935.html[finance.yahoo]​
  11. Investing.com – “Modular Medical begins production of patch pump validation lots”
    https://ng.investing.com/news/company-news/modular-medical-begins-production-of-patch-pump-validation-lots-93CH-2323153[ng.investing]​
  12. GeoVax Labs – “GeoVax News” (company news page including Feb. 13, 2026 offering and 2026 outlook)
    https://geovax.com/geovax-news[geovax]​
  13. Yahoo Finance – “GeoVax Labs Announces $1 Million Registered Direct Offering Priced At-The-Market Under Nasdaq Rules”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/geovax-labs-announces-1-million-130000947.html[finance.yahoo]​
  14. Yahoo Finance – “Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX) Stock Historical Prices & Data”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/EPRX/history/[finance.yahoo]​
  15. Yahoo Finance – “Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX)”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/EPRX/[finance.yahoo]​
  16. Stock Titan – “EPRX – Eupraxia Pharmac Latest Stock News & Market Updates”
    https://www.stocktitan.net/news/EPRX/[stocktitan]​
  17. StockAnalysis – “Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (EPRX) Stock Price History 2021–2026”
    https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/eprx/history/[stockanalysis]​
  18. Public.com – “EPRX Stock Forecast: Analyst Ratings, Predictions & Price Target”
    https://public.com/stocks/eprx/forecast-price-target[public]​
  19. CNBC – “S&P 500 closes little changed after soft inflation report, index notches losing week: Live updates”
    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/stock-market-today-live-updates.html[cnbc]​
  20. MarketWatch – “S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq log worst day in 3 weeks as AI fears thrash stock market”
    https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp500-nasdaq-higher-treasurys-steady-gold-silver-dip/card/s-p-50[marketwatch]​
  21. Los Angeles Times – “Stocks drop sharply as investors hunt for losers that will be hurt by AI”
    https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-02-12/stocks-drop-sharply-as-investors-hunt-for-losers-that-will-be-hurt-by-ai[latimes]​
  22. Yahoo Finance Topic Page – “Latest Stock Market News”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/topic/stock-market-news/[finance.yahoo]​
  23. Yahoo Finance Topic Page – “Artificial intelligence – Yahoo Finance”
    https://finance.yahoo.com/topic/artificial-intelligence/[finance.yahoo]​

February 13, 2026

Market Rally Playbook: Lower Inflation, 2.4% CPI, and Today’s Top 10 Gainers -( $CGNX $DDOG $FSLY $GCMP $IPGP $SPHR $SPOT $UNF )

Inflation’s cool start to 2026 is giving Wall Street something it hasn’t had in a while: room to breathe — and, judging by today’s biggest movers, a little swagger, too.

Inflation Cools, Nerves EaseThe latest Consumer Price Index report showed prices rising 2.4% year over year in January, down from 2.7% in December and marking the slowest pace since mid‑2025. On a monthly basis, prices rose a modest 0.2%, undershooting economists’ expectations and reinforcing the sense that the inflation fever is finally breaking.Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is running near 2.5% over the past year, the lowest since the early days of the post‑pandemic cycle, even as some monthly readings remain a touch firmer. For a Federal Reserve trying to guide inflation gently back toward its 2% target without knocking the economy off course, this is the sort of “neither-too-hot-nor-too-cold” print that keeps rate-cut debates lively but no longer urgent.Consumers Get A Bit Of ReliefHeadline numbers aside, the story beneath the surface is that the cost of living, while still higher than anyone would like, is rising more slowly and more predictably. Gasoline prices have been easing on a year‑over‑year basis, and select grocery categories are showing meaningful pullbacks, helping offset still‑elevated costs in shelter and some staples like coffee and beef.In practical terms, that means household budgets are getting a touch more breathing room each month, even if the memories of 2022–2023 sticker shock are still fresh. The political debate over tariffs and trade remains contentious, but markets today are clearly more focused on the direction of prices than the decibel level in Washington.Wall Street Reacts With Cautious OptimismEquity traders greeted the softer inflation print with a familiar mix of relief and restraint, parsing every decimal for clues about the Fed’s next move. Long‑term Treasury yields have edged lower toward levels last seen in early December, reflecting growing confidence that the central bank can at least contemplate gentler policy without rekindling price pressures.Indexes have wobbled intraday as algorithms and humans negotiated what “2.4% inflation” is worth in price‑to‑earnings terms, but leadership beneath the surface has been clear: investors are rewarding companies that can convert this more stable backdrop into visible growth. In other words, the market is no longer paying up merely for the idea of a soft landing; it wants proof of it on the income statement.Today’s Standout Stock WinnersA look at today’s top day‑gainer list shows a cross‑section of companies that seem particularly well‑positioned for an environment where inflation is cooling but activity remains resilient. From cloud infrastructure to industrial optics, the winners’ circle is a reminder that lower inflation doesn’t dim the demand for innovation; it often shines a brighter spotlight on it.Leading gainers on the day include:

  • Fastly (FSLY) – A content‑delivery and edge‑cloud platform, benefiting as investors revisit high‑beta tech now that the macro backdrop looks less threatening.Cognex (CGNX) – A machine‑vision specialist, riding enthusiasm around automation, industrial efficiency, and the ongoing reshoring and retooling of manufacturing.IPG Photonics (IPGP) – A fiber‑laser leader, often seen as a bellwether for capital spending in advanced manufacturing and precision cutting.Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) – The entertainment and venue operator behind cutting‑edge immersive experiences, gaining as markets bet on discretionary spending and event traffic.UniFirst (UNF) – A uniform and workplace‑services provider, whose steady cash flows make it an attractive way to play a still‑healthy labor market.GCM Grosvenor (GCMG) – An alternative‑asset manager, reflecting risk appetite returning to parts of the market that thrive on deal‑making and capital deployment.Datadog (DDOG) – A cloud‑monitoring and security platform, in favor as enterprises push ahead with digital‑transformation and AI‑driven observability projects.Spotify Technology (SPOT) – The streaming giant, buoyed by margin improvement efforts and the prospect of more predictable consumer spending on subscriptions.Additional mid‑cap tech and industrial names in software, components, and niche services round out the top‑ten list, each offering leveraged exposure to a steadier macro backdrop.Overall, the composition of the gainer board skews toward companies where operating leverage can shine if inflation stays contained and policy gradually loosens.

    • A Market Learning To Live With 2‑Point‑SomethingWith inflation now starting the year at 2.4%, the debate on Wall Street is quietly shifting from “Will the Fed win this fight?” to “What does victory actually look like on earnings calls and in multiples?” A world of 2‑point‑something inflation, modest wage growth, and still‑solid consumer demand is not quite the storybook ending policymakers imagined, but it is a chapter markets are increasingly willing to read.If today’s CPI print is any indication, 2026 may be the year when investors stop trading every data point like a crisis and start treating them like what they are again: regular entries in a macro diary, punctuated—on good days—by a green‑tinted list of double‑digit gainers.

    The Sources

    1. Yahoo Finance – “Inflation slowed in January as consumer prices rise 2.4% over prior year to start 2026”
      https://finance.yahoo.com/news/inflation-slowed-in-january-as-consumer-prices-rise-24-over-prior-year-to-start-2026-133531279.html[finance.yahoo]​
    2. CNBC – “Consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, less than expected”
      https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/13/cpi-inflation-report-january-2026.html[cnbc]​
    3. USA Today – “US inflation eased to 2.4 percent in January, CPI shows”
      https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/02/13/us-january-inflation-report-cpi/88589798007/[usatoday]​
    4. CNN – “Annual inflation cooled to 2.4% in January, an eight-month low”
      https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/13/economy/us-inflation-cpi-consumer-prices-january[cnn]​
    5. CBS News – “CPI report shows inflation cooled in January, with prices rising at a slower pace”
      https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cpi-report-today-inflation-january-2026-tariffs/[cbsnews]​
    6. Wall Street Journal – “Dow Slips After CPI Report Shows Inflation Slowed to 2.4% in January”
      https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/cpi-inflation-data-stock-market-02-13-2026[wsj]​
    7. Reuters – “Lower gasoline prices restrain US consumer inflation in January”
      https://www.reuters.com/business/us-consumer-prices-rise-less-than-expected-january-2026-02-13/[reuters]​
    8. New York Times – “U.S. Inflation Eased at Start of the Year”
      https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/business/inflation-cpi-report-january.html[nytimes]​
    9. MarketWatch – “CPI report today: Key measure of inflation slows to 5-year low”
      https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/january-2026-cpi-report-today[marketwatch]​
    10. Yahoo Finance – “Top Stock Gains: US stocks posting the highest gains today”
      https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/gainers/[finance.yahoo]​
    11. Yahoo Finance – “Top Stock Gainers Today” (research hub screener)
      https://finance.yahoo.com/research-hub/screener/day_gainers[finance.yahoo]​
    12. Yahoo Finance – Homepage (market data and context)
      https://finance.yahoo.com[finance.yahoo]​

    February 12, 2026

    AI Scare Trade Roils Markets: Tech Stocks Sink, Gold, Silver & Bitcoin Drop Ahead Of CPI February 12, 2026 -( $FSLY $MCD $VIX Rise!)

    US equities sold off sharply on Thursday as the “AI scare trade” widened, sending the major averages lower while investors rotated defensively and raised cash ahead of key inflation data reading or CPI.

    Today in the Markets – Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

    • The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 600 points, breaking back below the psychologically important 50,000 level as AI‑related worries hit economically sensitive sectors including finance, real estate, and software.
    • The S&P 500 slid roughly 1.5%–1.6%, with breadth weakening as selling pressure broadened beyond mega‑cap tech into logistics, business services, and other areas seen as vulnerable to automation risk.
    • The Nasdaq Composite led the downside with a decline of about 2%, marking a third straight losing session as investors reassessed rich valuations across AI leaders and high‑multiple software names.
    • Volatility picked up meaningfully, with the Cboe VIX jumping around the high‑teens in percentage terms as hedging demand increased into Thursday’s close.

    Anxiety over artificial intelligence shifted from exuberance over potential productivity gains to fear over business model disruption, job losses, and margin pressure for incumbents. The sell‑off hit parts of the prior AI winners list, including semiconductors and data‑infrastructure names, but also bled into sectors such as logistics and financials where new AI tools are increasingly being framed as direct threats to existing revenue streams.

    AI “Scare Trade,” Gold, Silver and Crypto

    The day’s narrative centered on a growing “AI disruption” or “AI scare trade,” with investors questioning who actually captures the gains from AI and who sees earnings compressed. High‑profile AI bellwethers, including chipmakers and software platforms, faced renewed valuation scrutiny as participants weighed the possibility of slower spending or pricing pressure once efficiency gains are fully priced into enterprise budgets.

    Risk assets more broadly reflected a risk‑off posture:

    • Gold futures fell roughly 3%, extending a recent downdraft as capital moved toward Treasuries and cash rather than classic inflation hedges. Silver dropped 10.62%.
    • Bitcoin traded near the mid‑$60,000s, off about 2%–3% on the day, as crypto again traded as a high‑beta risk proxy rather than a defensive asset.

    With investors already on edge from a stronger‑than‑expected jobs report that pushed out expectations for the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut, attention turned to upcoming readings on the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. A softer inflation print could offer near‑term relief, but for now the market tone is one of elevated uncertainty around both the economic path and the ultimate winners and losers from AI adoption.

    Sector and Style Trends

    • Technology and communication services were among the weakest sectors as investors took profits in prior AI leaders and high‑multiple growth names.
    • Financials, real estate services, and software names tied to back‑office and white‑collar workflows also came under pressure amid growing concern that generative AI could compress fees, reduce headcount, or alter competitive dynamics.
    • More defensive and “old‑economy” pockets—areas with tangible assets or less obvious AI sensitivity—saw relative outperformance as traders rotated away from high‑beta growth.

    An example highlighted in coverage is Nvidia, which traded near the lower end of its recent range and well below its 52‑week high as investors questioned how sustainable peak AI demand might be if enterprise clients slow incremental infrastructure build‑outs. Similar skepticism surfaced across several other AI‑linked leaders in streaming, data analytics, and enterprise software.

    VP Watchlist Updates

    Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: EPRX)

    Eupraxia remains a clinical‑stage GI‑focused biotech with its lead asset EP‑104GI in eosinophilic esophagitis, where Phase 1b/2a RESOLVE data showed durable tissue and symptom responses and a favorable safety profile out to 52 weeks after a single administration. The company has initiated and is expanding the randomized Phase 2b portion of RESOLVE, with plans to increase enrollment and focus on the higher 8 mg dosing cohort, and has signaled intentions to broaden EP‑104GI into additional GI indications and to deliver Phase 2b data in the back half of 2026. Recent analyst coverage set a price target in the mid to high teens per share and maintained a Buy‑oriented stance, reflecting confidence in the data package and a cash runway that extends into 2026–2028 following prior financings.

    Modular Medical (NASDAQ: MODD)

    Modular Medical advanced its Pivot tubeless insulin patch pump toward commercialization, announcing the start of production of validation lots for the disposable cartridge and infusion set, a key manufacturing milestone on the path to a targeted Q1 2026 launch pending 510(k) clearance. The Pivot platform is designed as a removable, tubeless 3 ml patch pump aimed at adults on multiple daily injections who have been reluctant to adopt traditional pumps due to cost and complexity, giving MODD potential leverage to expand the underpenetrated insulin‑device market if it can execute on manufacturing, regulatory, and reimbursement milestones. Despite a modest market cap and a weak Piotroski F‑score, the company currently carries more cash than debt, which may help bridge the commercialization phase if it can stay on schedule.

    GeoVax Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOVX)

    GeoVax is a clinical‑stage vaccine and immuno‑oncology company whose lead program, GEO‑CM04S1, is in multiple Phase 2 studies targeting immunocompromised patients, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and healthy adults needing a more durable COVID‑19 booster. The pipeline also includes Gedeptin, a gene‑directed oncolytic therapy for head and neck cancer that completed a Phase 1/2 trial and is slated for a Phase 2 study in combination with checkpoint inhibition, as well as GEO‑MVA, a Mpox/smallpox vaccine expected to move directly into Phase 3 on recent European regulatory feedback. To support development, GeoVax has used registered direct offerings and has outlined plans for unit and warrant sales, which help fund R&D but also increase share count and can pressure the stock in the near term.

    flyExclusive, Inc. (NYSE American: FLYX)

    flyExclusive continued to highlight a “disciplined growth” playbook in private aviation, expanding its super‑midsize Challenger 350 fleet to eight aircraft and positioning that segment as its most economically productive category across charter, jet card, and fractional programs. The company reported record preliminary Q4 and full‑year 2025 results, including expected positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4, pointing to improving utilization, operating leverage, and benefits from its vertically integrated maintenance and refurbishment platform. Management expects to add more Challengers, as well as additional XLS and CJ3 aircraft through 2026, which, if demand holds, should support further revenue growth and margin progression.

    DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DV)

    DoubleVerify, a digital media measurement and verification name, has seen its shares consolidate in the high‑single‑digit range in early February, with recent closes around the mid‑$9 area after a stretch of elevated volatility over the past year. Despite the stock’s pullback from a 52‑week high above $23, the name still carries a consensus Buy rating from Wall Street, with analysts’ median price targets implying meaningful upside from current levels as advertisers continue to prioritize brand safety and performance measurement in a fragmented, AI‑driven ad ecosystem. Recent screeners have flagged DV alongside other digital media platforms as a stock to watch, suggesting continued institutional focus even as broader tech sentiment remains choppy.

    The InterGroup Corporation (NASDAQ: INTG)

    The InterGroup Corporation, a small‑cap real estate and hospitality‑focused holding company, has traded in the high‑$20s in recent sessions, with intraday ranges on February 12 spanning roughly the upper‑$28s to just under $29.50 and a latest quote near $29.49. Recent filings and commentary highlight that results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, benefited from improved hotel metrics and gains on real estate transactions, even as the company continues to carry substantial mortgage and subordinated note obligations. With a market capitalization in the low‑$60 million range and thin trading, INTG remains a tightly held, event‑driven real estate story where periodic asset sales and refinancing activity can materially influence quarterly earnings.

    Serina Therapeutics (NYSE American: SER)

    Serina Therapeutics, a polymer‑based drug delivery company, recently received FDA clearance for its IND on SER‑252 after a prior clinical hold, enabling initiation of site‑level work and the formal start of its next clinical phase.

    Volato Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SOAR) and M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO)

    Volato and M2i Global reaffirmed their goal of closing their business combination in the first quarter of 2026, citing steady advancement through SEC review and integration planning as they move toward a combined listing. The deal, originally announced in 2025, will effectively transition Volato from a pure‑play private aviation operator into a diversified platform spanning aviation technology and critical minerals, with M2i shareholders expected to own the majority of the combined entity. Operationally, the partnership is already visible: the two companies recently initiated their first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the United States from Titanium X, underscoring how the critical‑minerals vertical could become a meaningful growth engine as domestic supply‑chain security rises in strategic importance.

    Fastly (FSLY, $16.04, +72.29% today)

    Fastly Inc. (FSLY) on Wednesday reported a loss of $15.5 million in its fourth quarter. The San Francisco-based company said it had a loss of 10 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 12 cents per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations.

    McDonald’s (MCD, $332.08, +2.74%)

    McDonald’s (MCD) posted stronger‑than‑expected fourth‑quarter results on Wednesday, boosted by budget‑friendly menu offerings and marketing campaigns that drove increased traffic and marked a third consecutive quarter of US sales growth.

    The Sources


    [1] Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq sink as tech stocks get pummeled https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-sink-as-tech-stocks-get-pummeled-163424340.html
    [2] Stock Market Today: Tech Shares Lead Broad Selloff as AI … https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-02-12-2026
    [3] Dow S&P 500 and Nasdaq crash today: What triggered US stock … https://economictimes.com/news/international/us/what-triggered-us-stock-market-crash-today-wall-street-plunges-as-1-2-trillion-ai-scare-trade-slams-logistics-and-software-stocks-dow-sp-500-and-nasdaq-each-fall-over-1/articleshow/128270356.cms
    [4] Dow Sheds Over 600 Points Amid Growing AI Concerns – Finviz https://finviz.com/news/309817/dow-sheds-over-600-points-amid-growing-ai-concerns
    [5] Nasdaq Index: AI Fears Hit Tech Stocks as US Indices Slide Today https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/nasdaq-index-ai-fears-hit-tech-stocks-as-us-indices-slide-today-forecast-analysis-1579289
    [6] Nasdaq 100 Sinks 2% as AI Jitters Roil Wall Street: Markets Wrap https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates
    [7] Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq sink as tech stocks get pummeled, AI … https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-sink-as-tech-stocks-get-pummeled-ai-disruption-fears-grow-204024118.html
    [8] Dow Jones Futures: AI Disruption Fears Grip Stock Market; Arista … https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/dow-jones-futures-ai-disruption-fears-arista-applied-materials-earnings-late/
    [9] flyExclusive Acquires Two Additional Challenger 350 Aircraft … https://ir.flyexclusive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/165/flyexclusive-acquires-two-additional-challenger-350
    [10] Press Releases https://ir.flyexclusive.com/news-events/press-releases
    [11] Volato Group and M2i Global Reaffirm Targeted First Quarter 2026 … https://ir.flyvolato.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/131/volato-group-and-m2i-global-reaffirm-targeted-first-quarter-2026-merger-closing-and-advance-sec-review
    [12] Volato Group stock soars after M2i Global acquisition announcement https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/volato-group-stock-soars-after-m2i-global-acquisition-announcement-93CH-4157699
    [13] M2i Global, along with Volato Group, Initiate First Shipment of … https://ir.flyvolato.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/134/m2i-global-along-with-volato-group-initiate-first-shipment-of-titanium-ore-from-western-australia-to-u-s-from-titanium-x
    [14] Analysts Set Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. PT at $14.33 https://nationaltoday.com/us/wa/seattle/news/2026/02/12/analysts-set-eupraxia-pharmaceuticals-inc-pt-at-14-33
    [15] EPRX – Eupraxia Pharmac Latest Stock News & Market Updates https://www.stocktitan.net/news/EPRX/
    [16] Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX) | News & Upcoming Events https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/EPRX/news
    [17] Modular Medical (MODD) Advances Toward 2026 Launch with … https://www.gurufocus.com/news/8581685/modular-medical-modd-advances-toward-2026-launch-with-production-milestone
    [18] Modular Medical starts production of validation lots for Pivot pump set https://finance.yahoo.com/news/modular-medical-starts-production-validation-135605935.html
    [19] Company Media Room of Modular Medical, Inc. https://company-997241.suite.accessnewswire.com
    [20] Modular Medical begins production of patch pump validation lots https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/modular-medical-begins-production-of-patch-pump-validation-lots-93CH-4484868
    [21] GeoVax Labs outlines unit and warrant sale to fund R&D – Stock Titan https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/GOVX/s-1-geo-vax-labs-inc-files-ipo-registration-statement-7394b6fefbc2.html
    [22] GeoVax Labs Announces $2.5 Million Registered Direct Offering https://www.geovax.com/investors/press-releases/geovax-labs-announces-2-5-million-registered-direct-offering
    [23] GeoVax Announces 1-for-25 Reverse Stock Split to Regain … https://finance.yahoo.com/news/geovax-announces-1-25-reverse-140000832.html
    [24] DoubleVerify Holdings Stock Price History – Investing.com https://www.investing.com/equities/doubleverify-holdings-historical-data
    [25] DoubleVerify Holdings Stock Price | DV Stock Quote, News, and … https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/dv-stock
    [26] DoubleVerify Holdings (DV) Stock Forecast: Analyst Ratings … https://public.com/stocks/dv/forecast-price-target
    [27] Top Digital Media Stocks To Keep An Eye On – February 12th https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/top-digital-media-stocks-to-keep-an-eye-on-february-12th-2026-02-12/
    [28] DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) Stock Price, News, Quote & History https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DV/
    [29] Intergroup: INTG Stock Price Quote & News – Robinhood https://robinhood.com/us/en/stocks/INTG/
    [30] The Intergroup Stock Price Today | NASDAQ: INTG Live https://www.investing.com/equities/the-intergroup-co
    [31] INTG – The InterGroup Corporation (NasdaqCM) – Share Price and … https://fintel.io/s/us/intg
    [32] Real estate gain lifts The InterGroup Corporation (INTG) quarterly … https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/INTG/10-q-intergroup-corp-quarterly-earnings-report-d578d71f0c70.html
    [33] Serina Therapeutics gets FDA clearance for SER-252 IND https://www.stocktitan.net/news/SER/serina-therapeutics-announces-fda-clearance-of-ind-application-for-p8h7qea4xz12.html
    [34] Serina Therapeutics receives NYSE listing deficiency notice https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/serina-therapeutics-receives-nyse-listing-deficiency-notice-93CH-4450747
    [35] Serina Therapeutics Faces NYSE American Compliance Deficiency … https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/SER/pressreleases/37090454/serina-therapeutics-faces-nyse-american-compliance-deficiency-notice/
    [36] Here’s Why We’re Not At All Concerned With Eupraxia … https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-why-were-not-concerned-170612714.html
    [37] Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (TSX:EPRX) Trades With S&P/TSX Index https://kalkinemedia.com/ca/stocks/healthcare/eupraxia-pharmaceuticals-tsxeprx-trades-with-sptsx-index
    [38] EPRX – EUPRAXIA PHARMACEUTICALS INC | News – OTC Markets https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EPRX/news/Eupraxia-Pharmaceuticals-Reports-Third-Quarter-2025-Financial-Results?e&id=3347379
    [39] Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX) Stock Price, News, … https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/EPRX/
    40 Equity Trading Insights – Stock Traders Daily https://news.stocktradersdaily.com/canada/eprxwta-equity-trading-insights_20260211_de6d16
    [41] Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq sink as tech gets hit as … https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-sink-as-tech-stocks-get-pummeled-163424340.html
    [42] JTAI Stock Sees Sharp Swing – What’s The Latest On … – Stocktwits https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/jtai-stock-volatile-after-merger-agreement-update/cZRTpHnR4rF
    [43] DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) Stock Historical Prices & Data https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DV/history/
    [44] Historical Data – DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. – Stock Data https://ir.doubleverify.com/stock-data/historical-data/default.aspx
    [45] DoubleVerify Holdings (DV) Stock Price History 2021-2026 https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/dv/history/

    February 12, 2026

    The Big Mac Meets the Skinny Pill: How McDonald’s and Eli Lilly Are Sharing the Same Consumer -( $LLY $MCD )

    McDonald’s (MCD) has handled low-carb fads, kale revolutions, and the brief reign of cauliflower rice, but its newest rival comes with a prescription label and a co-pay. GLP-1 weight-loss medicines—from injectables like Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Mounjaro and Zepbound to the next wave of oral pills—are reshaping how consumers think about appetite, indulgence, and value, one portion-controlled bite at a time. For McDonald’s, that means the customer now has a second CFO sitting on their shoulder: their endocrinologist.

    “Behavior Changes” – McDonald’s and Lilly Read the Same Tea Leaves

    On a recent call, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged that as GLP-1 use rises, consumers eat fewer calories and narrow what they order. Eli Lilly’s own leadership has been saying the quiet part out loud for years, with CEO David Ricks noting that people on GLP-1 drugs can cut daily intake by roughly 800 calories and that he expects as many as one-fifth of Americans could eventually use these medicines. In effect, McDonald’s and Lilly are watching the same behavioral curve from opposite sides of the income statement—one sees smaller baskets, the other sees soaring prescription volume.

    Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 Engine: Mounjaro, Zepbound, and the Pill on Deck

    For Lilly, the GLP-1 revolution is not a side business; it is the business. Mounjaro and Zepbound generated tens of billions of dollars in revenue through 2025, propelling Lilly to best-in-class growth and positioning tirzepatide as one of the world’s top-selling therapies. The next leg comes from an oral GLP-1 (orforglipron) and expanded obesity indications, which could push access well beyond the early-adopter cohort and normalize pharmaceutical appetite control the way statins normalized cholesterol management.

    When One Side’s Revenue Growth Is the Other Side’s Check Size

    The better Lilly’s GLP-1 franchise performs, the more pressure flows into restaurant P&Ls. Studies and early transaction data suggest GLP-1 users eat 20–30% less food, spend less on fast food, and increasingly favor high-quality proteins over sugary drinks, breads, and alcohol. While Eli Lilly guides to another year of double-digit revenue growth on the back of obesity drugs, analysts are simultaneously modeling slower traffic growth and smaller average tickets for chains most exposed to discretionary calories.

    Protein, Portions, and the GLP-1 Playbook Under the Arches

    McDonald’s isn’t waiting for a surprise from the drive-thru speaker; it is tailoring the menu to match this new pharmacologically portion-controlled customer. The company is leaning into protein-centric items—beef and especially chicken—and testing high-protein formats and portionable products that let GLP-1 users get their main dish without feeling nudged toward extra fries or a large soda. With emerging research showing that GLP-1 users prioritize main entrées over sides and snacks, the chain is effectively re-architecting its check from “Would you like fries with that?” to “Let’s perfect the entrée you actually came for.”

    GLP-1 Users Aren’t Ditching Restaurants—They’re Editing the Order

    So far, restaurant traffic has proved more resilient than some of the scarier slide decks implied. Circana and other trackers find that GLP-1 users are still going out but simplifying orders: more mains, fewer sides, and sharper interest in lighter or higher-protein choices, a pattern echoed by broader research showing shifts toward fresher foods and away from heavy, sugar-laden items. That aligns neatly with Lilly’s description of GLP-1 drugs as tools that help people “control our urges,” effectively turning impulse items into line items up for renegotiation.

    Value Meals, Smaller Appetites, and Bigger Pharma

    Even as GLP-1s tamp down portions, McDonald’s is still leaning hard on value, using bundled meals and sharp price points to stay relevant to households navigating both inflation and new eating norms. The irony is that while McDonald’s trims combo complexity to preserve its average check, Lilly is building a multi-decade franchise out of the very behavior change that makes that trimming necessary. For investors, that sets up an unusual pairing: a fast-food bellwether optimizing for smaller but more efficient orders, and a pharma leader monetizing the macro trend that makes “supersize me” sound like a period-piece reference.

    The Long-Term Question: Diet Casualty or GLP-1-Compatible Comfort Food?

    The rise of GLP-1 medications is on track to become one of the most significant consumer-health shifts of the decade, with Lilly at the center and companies like McDonald’s recalibrating in real time. The downside risk is straightforward: less volume, fewer add-ons, and an eventual step-down in per-visit spending if GLP-1 uptake reaches the one-in-five Americans that Lilly’s CEO has floated. The upside, at least for McDonald’s, is that by meeting this new customer where they are—smaller portions, more protein, transparent value—it may prove that there is still room in a GLP-1 world for a burger, so long as the science and the seasoning can peacefully coexist.

    The Sources

    1. McDonald’s prepares for wider GLP-1 adoption as weight-loss pills hit market – Yahoo Finance
      https://finance.yahoo.com/news/we-know-that-consumers-behavior-changes-mcdonalds-prepares-for-wider-glp-1-adoption-as-weight-loss-pills-hit-market-130237799.html[2]
    2. How the fast food industry is responding in the booming era of GLP-1s – Yahoo Finance Canada
      https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/fast-food-v-glp-1s-060000302.html[18]
    3. McDonald’s Tests High Protein Menu As GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug Users Surge – Finviz
      https://finviz.com/news/308676/mcdonalds-tests-high-protein-menu-as-glp-1-weight-loss-drug-users-surge[14]
    4. McGut Health Meal? McDonald’s CEO makes surprising prediction for 2026 – Yahoo / AOL
      https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/mcgut-health-meal-mcdonald-ceo-152037367.html[19][20]
    5. McDonald’s downgraded on GLP-1 drug worries: Wall Street’s top calls – Yahoo Finance
      https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonald-downgraded-glp-1-drug-134030401.html[21]
    6. McDonald’s shares slip after downgrade spurred by weight-loss drugs – CBS News
      https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-downgrade-weight-loss-drugs/[22]
    7. GLP-1 Users Are Changing Restaurant Ordering Behaviors – Circana
      https://www.circana.com/post/glp-1-users-aren-t-ditching-restaurants-but-their-ordering-habits-are-changing-new-circana-researc[9]
    8. GLP-1 Users Order More Main Dishes, Less Sides – NACS
      https://www.convenience.org/Media/Daily/2026/January/15/5-GLP1-Users-Order-More-Main-Dishes_HealthyOptions[16]
    9. McDonald’s is all in on its Extra Value Meals, global CFO says – Yahoo Finance
      https://finance.yahoo.com/video/mcdonalds-extra-value-meals-global-145858951.html[15]
    10. MCD Q4 Deep Dive: Value Strategy, Menu Innovation, and … – Yahoo Finance UK
      https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/mcd-q4-deep-dive-value-053131463.html[17]
    11. Why GLP-1 Drugs Are Real Threat To McDonald’s Golden Arches – Seeking Alpha
      https://seekingalpha.com/article/4749042-why-glp-1-drugs-real-threat-to-mcdonalds-golden-arches[12]
    12. Eli Lilly’s 2025 Surge Sets the Stage for Another Big Year in 2026 – Yahoo Finance
      https://finance.yahoo.com/news/eli-lillys-2025-surge-sets-154900858.html[1]
    13. Outlook for Obesity in 2026: From Consolidation to Acceleration – IQVIA
      https://www.iqvia.com/locations/emea/blogs/2026/01/outlook-for-obesity-in-2026[10]
    14. Eli Lilly gaining in GLP-1 market over Novo Nordisk, earnings show – CNBC
      https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/eli-lilly-novo-nordisk-earnings-glp1-market.html[23]
    15. JPM26: Eli Lilly’s obesity drugs target commercial and governmental markets – Pharmaceutical Technology
      https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/analyst-comment/jpm26-eli-lilly-obesity-drugs/[3]
    16. Eli Lilly CEO says people on GLP-1 weight loss drugs eat 800 calories less per day – CNBC
      https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/20/eli-lilly-ceo-says-people-on-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-eat-800-calories-less-per-day.html[4]
    17. More than 20% of Americans will eventually be on GLP-1s – MM+M / DealBook Summit coverage
      https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/eli-lilly-ceo-more-glp-1s-nyt-dealbook-summit/[7]
    18. What to watch for in weight loss drugs in 2026 – NBC News
      https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/weight-loss-drug-prices-2026-glp-1-pills-trumprx-what-expect-rcna249520[5]
    19. How GLP-1 Medications Are Transforming the Food Industry – Mochi
      https://joinmochi.com/blogs/how-glp-1s-are-changing-restaurant-menus-and-food-companies[6]
    20. The Impact of GLP 1 Drugs on the Food Industry – FoodTech 11
      https://foodandhealth.ucdavis.edu/the-impact-of-glp-1-drugs-on-the-food-industry-foodtech-11-doon-insights/[11]
    21. Weight-loss pill approval set to accelerate food industry product overhauls – Reuters
      https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/weight-loss-pill-approval-set-accelerate-food-industry-product-overh-2025-12-24/[8]
    22. Smaller portions, more protein: How GLP-1s are quietly changing chain restaurants – NBC News
      https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/smaller-portions-protein-glp-1s-are-quietly-changing-chain-restaurant-rcna254178[13]

    February 12, 2026

    Meta’s $10 Billion Indiana Data Bet: When AI Meets the Corn Belt -( $META )

    Meta’s decision to plant a more-than-1-gigawatt data center in Lebanon, Indiana, reads like a statement that the future of AI won’t be confined to Silicon Valley ZIP codes. The planned campus, with over $10 billion in investment, is set to become one of Meta’s largest infrastructure projects to date and a cornerstone of its ambitious AI build-out.

    The facility is designed to support both Meta’s core social platforms and its rapidly scaling AI workloads, effectively turning a patch of Hoosier farmland into prime digital real estate. For investors tracking the arms race in AI infrastructure, Indiana just landed squarely on the map.

    Why Indiana, and Why Now?

    Indiana’s pitch combined geography, policy, and a distinctly Midwestern brand of welcome: shovel-ready land, central U.S. logistics, and generous long-term tax incentives. State officials granted Meta a data center sales tax exemption that can extend up to 50 years, contingent on the company hitting capital investment milestones that start at $1 billion and scale into the billions.

    In return, Meta is committing more than $10 billion over multiple phases to build out a 1,500‑acre campus with 13 buildings, including 10 data center facilities that will anchor the LEAP Innovation and Research District. The result is a public–private alliance where Indiana supplies the runway and Meta supplies the jets—and the jet fuel is measured in megawatts and machine learning models.

    Jobs, Growth, and a New Local “Export”

    Economic development officials are already framing the project as a generational upgrade to Lebanon’s economic base. At peak construction, the campus is expected to support more than 4,000 construction jobs, eventually settling into roughly 300 high-wage operational roles once the facility is fully online.

    Beyond payrolls, Meta’s presence is poised to ripple through the local tax base, school funding, and small business ecosystem, with the company launching ongoing grant programs for schools, nonprofits, and workforce development. For a town better known for interstates and grain, exporting AI compute to the rest of the world may become its most modern industry.

    Powering a Gigawatt Data Center—Responsibly

    Running an AI-era data hub that can top 1 gigawatt of capacity is not for the faint of grid. Meta has pledged to match 100% of the facility’s electricity use with clean energy and is targeting LEED Gold certification once the campus is operational. The company is also committing to pay the full tab for the data center’s energy, water, and wastewater needs, easing concerns that local ratepayers could get stuck with an AI-sized utility bill.

    To tackle water usage, the campus will rely on a closed-loop cooling system designed to use little to no water for most of the year, while Meta plans to replenish all of the water it does consume back into local watersheds. Combined with more than $120 million earmarked for water infrastructure upgrades, plus improvements to roads and transmission lines, the project doubles as a quiet infrastructure stimulus package.

    Community Givebacks in the Age of Compute

    Big tech has learned that massive data centers can generate as much local skepticism as local pride, especially around noise, energy demand, and land use. Meta is trying to preempt that backlash by writing community benefits directly into the project’s blueprint.[4][5][7][2]

    The company has pledged $1 million per year to the REMC Fund to assist residents with energy bills, along with additional support for emergency water utility assistance through local partners. On top of that, Meta has committed to annual community impact payments of $1.5 million to Lebanon for each completed phase of the project—funds earmarked for quality-of-life and placemaking efforts that may help residents see opportunity, not just server racks, when they look at the LEAP District.

    The AI Infrastructure Race, with a Midwestern Accent

    Meta’s Indiana build is part of a far larger capital spending plan that could reach as high as $135 billion by 2026 as the company races to secure AI compute at scale. Its peers are hardly standing still: Google has laid out plans for around $180 billion in 2026 capital outlays, while Amazon is signaling roughly $200 billion, much of it also aimed at AI and cloud infrastructure.

    The market response has been telling: the prospect of Meta turning heavy AI capex into future growth helped propel its shares more than 10% higher around the announcement before they eased back, even as rival stocks wobbled on the prospect of an escalating spending war. If data is the new oil, the Indiana campus suggests that the new refineries might just sit beside cornfields, and the wildcatters wear hoodies instead of hard hats.

    Timeline: From Groundbreaking to Go-Live

    Meta has already broken ground on the Lebanon campus, with construction ramping in phases over several years. The site is expected to go operational around 2027 or early 2028, adding to Meta’s existing Indiana footprint that includes a separate data center in Jeffersonville slated to open in 2026.

    By the time the Lebanon campus hits its planned 1‑gigawatt scale, it is expected to stand as one of the company’s most important global hubs for AI computation—a physical reminder that today’s digital empires still depend on concrete, steel, and a great deal of electricity.

    Sources
    [1] Meta Breaks Ground on 1GW Indiana Campus with US$10bn Boost https://datacentremagazine.com/news/meta-breaks-ground-on-1gw-indiana-campus-with-us-10bn-boost
    [2] Meta announces plans to build 1-gigawatt data center in Indiana as … https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-announces-plans-to-build-1-gigawatt-data-center-in-indiana-as-part-of-ai-build-out-180052467.html
    [3] Meta officially announces $10 billion data center under construction … https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/meta-officially-announces-10-billion-201100403.html
    [4] Gov. Braun Breaks Ground on $10B Meta Data Center Campus at … https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-breaks-ground-on-10b-meta-data-center-campus-at-leap-district
    [5] Meta starts construction on $10B, 1GW AI data hub in Indiana https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/meta-1gw-data-center-lebanon-indiana
    [6] Meta’s New Data Center in Lebanon, Indiana Marks a Milestone AI … https://about.fb.com/news/2026/02/metas-new-data-center-lebanon-indiana-marks-milestone-ai-investment/
    [7] Meta’s $10B Indiana data center: Jobs, water, and energy plans https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2026/02/12/metas-10b-lebanon-indiana-data-center-jobs-water-and-energy-plans/88622319007/
    [8] Investing in jobs, infrastructure and schools: Meta data centers help … https://datacenters.atmeta.com/jobs-infrastructure-usa/
    [9] Meta breaks ground on US$ 10B data center in Indiana – W.Media https://w.media/meta-breaks-ground-on-us-10b-data-center-in-indiana/
    [10] Meta’s Indiana AI data center: 3 key details to know – Yahoo Finance https://finance.yahoo.com/video/metas-indiana-ai-data-center-210142910.html
    [11] Meta begins construction of $10 billion Indiana data center to boost … https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-begins-construction-10-billion-180445472.html
    [12] $10+ billion Meta data center campus to be established in Lebanon https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/10-billion-meta-data-center-224033223.html
    [13] NEW: Meta says it is breaking ground on a $10 BILLION data center … https://www.facebook.com/MarcusLeshock/posts/new-meta-says-it-is-breaking-ground-on-a-10-billion-data-center-in-lebanon-india/1428405191972173/
    [14] Details on long-expected Meta data center campus unveiled – Yahoo https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/details-long-expected-meta-data-222255554.html
    [15] Meta 1GW data center in Lebanon! : r/Indiana – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Indiana/comments/1r25l91/meta_1gw_data_center_in_lebanon/

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