The more wealth one accumulates, the more fragile one can feel. What begins as a quest for freedom can morph into a fortress mentality. I have seen peers-brilliant, driven individuals-become distracted by the fear of losing what they have built. Instead of leaning into the adaptability that made them successful, they retreat behind walls, both literal and figurative.
AT&T acquired the bundle for $108.7 billion in 2018 and exited for roughly $43 billion in 2022, booking a $47 billion loss in the process. The Ellison family is now paying $111 billion for those same assets, backed by $57.5 billion in debt from Bank of America, Citigroup, and Apollo. Bold move or billionaire ego trip?
Vistra's core business is performing at a level that justifies management's confidence. The record Adjusted EBITDA, locked-in long-term power purchase agreements with hyperscale technology buyers, and a ~30% reduction in share count since November 2021 through roughly $5.9 billion in buybacks paint a picture of a management team allocating capital with conviction.
The company posted adjusted diluted EPS of $0.96, matching consensus estimates. Revenue reached $2.47 billion, beating the $2.44 billion estimate by 1.2% and representing 7.4% year-over-year growth. Adjusted operating income climbed 16.5% to $674 million, while reported operating income declined 2.2% to $621 million. Net income from continuing operations increased 5.8% to $274 million, though higher tax expenses tempered bottom-line gains.
Bristol Myers' Growth Portfolio surged 16% to $7.4 billion in Q4, demonstrating the company's successful product diversification strategy. Key contributors included Opdivo at $2.69 billion (+9%), Eliquis at $3.45 billion (+8%), and standout performers Breyanzi at $392 million (+49%) and Camzyos at $353 million (+59%). However, the Legacy Portfolio declined 15% to $5.1 billion as generic competition intensified. Revlimid plummeted 55%, while Sprycel dropped 60%, reflecting the patent cliff challenges facing the company.
It's a classic, almost predictable homebuilding I-told-you-so moment. The most important thing PulteGroup told the market on its Q4 2025 earnings call wasn't that it plans to divest ICG (Innovative Construction Group). It was why and what that why implies about the hard reality homebuilders keep rediscovering across cycles: Factories love steady pull-through. Homebuilding demand is volatile. During the call, CEO Ryan Marshall went out of his way to validate the asset while stepping away from ownership:
President Donald Trump rattled the defense sector yesterday by signing an executive order prohibiting contractors from issuing dividends or repurchasing shares until they prioritize investments in new facilities and machinery to boost production speed and quality. He specifically targeted RTX ( ) as the most egregious violator, accusing it of favoring shareholders over military needs and warning it could lose access to future contracts unless it ramps up capital spending.
Lennar announced on Tuesday that TPG Real Estate has acquired a majority stake in Quarterra, Lennar's multifamily vertical. Lennar will maintain a minority interest, but the deal signals a strategic recalibration as the builder's multifamily business struggled with a sizeable net loss last year. In fiscal 2025, Lennar's multifamily business experienced an operating loss of roughly $75 million, according to earnings reports released by the company.
United reported Q3 revenue of $15.23 billion, missing estimates of $15.29 billion but growing 2.6% year over year. Premium cabin revenue jumped 6% while basic economy climbed 4%. Cargo rose 3% and the loyalty program expanded 9%. Net income of $949 million declined 1.7% from the prior year, and adjusted EPS of $2.78 beat estimates of $2.67 by 4.1%. CEO Scott Kirby highlighted investments exceeding $1 billion in customer experience, including Starlink installations and enhanced inflight entertainment.
Capital carries memory. If our relationships with money are complex and connected to our emotional state, then fiduciary duty for impact must measure more than basis points.
The hedge fund industry is expected to grow to USD 5 trillion by 2028, driven by demand for alternatives in uncertain markets.
