Welcome to Tuesday Thursday Saturday! Three times a week, I share a snapshot of trending stories across business, tech, and culture. Subscribe and tell me what you want to hear about next! - KP

The Big Story: DIY Declines

Home improvement is hitting a wall. Rising interest rates, high home prices, and immigration uncertainty are sidelining renovations across the U.S., according to a new report via Financial Times. With mortgage rates hovering near 7%, homeowners are reluctant to move or take on costly remodeling projects. The added pressure of potential labor shortages—undocumented workers make up an estimated 15-20% of construction crews by some estimates—isn’t helping.

The FT cites a few stocks in particular as evidence of the trend:

• Jeld-Wen Holdings $JELD (sells doors and windows) — recently hit an all-time low and in the latest earnings predicted a 4%-9% YoY decline in sales for 2025. As of March 3, the stock is trading around $5.50, significantly off the 52-week high of $21.75.

• AO Smith $AOS (water heaters) - has dropped to lowest levels since 2023. Six months ago Stocktwits investors were extremely bullish (97); these days, the vibe has shifted into neutral (49).

• BlueLinx Holdings $BXC (plywood) - has also dropped to the lowest levels since 2023. Stocktwits traders have been bearish on the stock (38 out of 100) for the past month.

Even home improvement giants are feeling the squeeze. Home Depot’s ($HD) Q4 and FY 2024 earnings report showed a slight rebound in same-store sales after eight quarters of declines, but growth remains tepid, with projections at just 1% for 2025. Lowe’s ($LOW) also posted better-than-expected Q4 results but warned of ongoing challenges as high borrowing costs keep customers hesitant.

Historically, home improvement trends follow economic cycles. The pandemic era saw a DIY boom, with 78% of Americans honing their renovation skills in 2020, according to one survey from Craftsman. But as travel and entertainment spending bounced back, the hammer and nails took a backseat. From 2004-2007 (pre-recession), U.S. home improvement spending increased from $358 billion to $429 billion, but by 2010, it had declined to $309 billion.

So, will homeowners adapt to higher rates and resume their projects, or will the sector remain in a slump? Spring Q1 reports from retailers may offer some answers … but for now, the blueprint for recovery remains unfinished.

Daily Rip Live Recap: More Earnings, Jobs Report Ahead, Plus — Someone Needs to Take Away Eric Trump’s Twitter

Every weekday, Shay Boloor and I run down the biggest market news and events LIVE on Stocktwits’ morning show, The Daily Rip Live. Here’s what we recently covered:

• The announcement of a U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve made waves over the weekend specifically around the inclusion of some *choice* alt coins ($XRP, $ADA, $SOL) alongside Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ethereum ($ETH) — which were added to the initial list as a second post that went out one hour after the first one. Some commentators are paying attention to the use of the word ‘reserve’ vs. ‘stockpile,’ which may indicate that this will be an actively managed crypto portfolio under the U.S. government. Meanwhile adult child prodigy Eric Trump is having a completely normal one on X, telling people “you’re welcome” for his tip to “buy the dip.”

  • And an update: By Monday afternoon, the pump was basically gone, as Joe Weisenthal points out. Everybody hates tariffs!

  • Also related: Yesterday, Crypto Czar David Sacks stated that he sold out of all of his positions before joining the administration. He did not, however, address his involvement in crypto-adjacent companies, such as Bitwise.

• This week has another packed earnings calendar, with key updates from the retail sector in particular: Target ($TGT) and Best Buy ($BBY) report today; Kroger ($K), Costco ($COST), Gap Inc ($GAP), and Macy’s ($M) report Thursday. I’ll also be watching Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. ($CBRL) — reporting Thursday as well — 50% for the bit, 40% due to nostalgia, and 10% to see if they can somehow win over literally anyone younger than 80 (who isn’t this author — I freaking love CB).

  • Related: Kroger’s CEO stepped down following an internal investigation into his personal conduct. Someone from the Board is assuming CEO duties, for now.

• My co-host Shay also shared his devastation that Timothee Chalamet and his leather banana suit did not take home the Oscar for Best Actor, though I was pumped to see Anora bring home 5 trophies. In an acceptance speech, Anora creator Sean Baker lamented the shuttering of theaters in the U.S. and urged filmmakers to continue making movies for the big screen. Stocks to watch specific to that trend: $AMC, $NCM, $CNK, and $IMAX.

Hear Shay and I yap about the markets every weekday at 9 a.m. ET on X (@stocktwits), YouTube, LinkedIn, or in your Stocktwits app.

More Headlines

Tariffs are on like Donkey Kong: Trump is moving forward with 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, saying it's about fighting fentanyl trafficking and boosting U.S. manufacturing. The announcement sent the stock market tumbling, with the S&P 500 down 2%, as worries grow over inflation and strained trade ties.

Buffett breaks silence: Warren Buffett is criticizing the tariffs, warning they act like a tax on goods and could hurt consumers. He called tariffs a form of economic warfare and questioned their long-term impact, as key trade partners like China, Canada, and Mexico consider retaliatory measures. He’s 94 and he’s fresh out of … filters, folks!

IPO bubble (tea): Shares of China’s largest bubble tea chain, Mixue Group ($2097.HK), surged over 47% in their Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut, raising $444 million in its IPO. The strong start signals renewed investor confidence in Chinese listings, as Beijing supports private businesses to boost a slowing economy. Globally, there are more Mixcues than McDonald’s.

Sayonara, Skype: Microsoft ($MSFT) is pulling the plug on Skype. The video-calling pioneer, which Microsoft bought for $8.5 billion in 2011, will shut down in May as the company shifts users to Teams—its go-to collaboration platform that everyone happens to hate but not as much as this guy. Skype, once a game-changer in online communication, has been overshadowed for years, and this move cements Microsoft’s focus on a single, streamlined experience. Play the Skype ringtone for old time’s sake here. ✌️

Now Here’s a Chart

As I recently shared on X, it seems like nobody cares about astrology anymore. As someone who consistently does the direct opposite of what my horoscope calls for, I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m feeling quite validated.

Reading List

• AI giant Anthropic just raised another $3.5 billion (Via the company’s CFO on LinkedIn)

• European defense stocks soar as arms makers expect orders boom (The Guardian)

• Prada moving closer to $1.6 billion deal for Versace (Reuters)

• Here's what Trump's Cabinet picks have in their investment portfolios — spoiler alert: Mag 7, precious metals ETFs, $CRSP, $MARA, $HOOD, and a whole lotta crypto (Business Insider)

• Goya Foods’ CEO got pushed out and he decided to publish his own (somewhat unhinged) press release about it (PR Newswire)

• Data: Rich countries produce fewer female entrepreneurs (Statista)

🎧 Now playing: Is any band as consistently SAD as The Lumineers? “Ativan” from their new album, Automatic, will ruin your morning in the best way.

Tuesday Thursday Saturday is written by Katie Perry, owner of Ursa Major Media, which provides fractional marketing services and strategy in software, tech, consumer products, professional services, and other industries. She is also the co-host of Stocktwits’ Daily Rip Live show.

✔ Need senior marketing support? Work with Katie.

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Disclaimer: The contents here reflect recaps and summaries of pre-reported or published data, news, and trends. I have cited sources and context for the information provided to the best of my ability. The purpose of the newsletter is to inform and educate on larger trends shaping business and culture — this is NOT investment advice. As an investor, you should always do your own research before making any decisions about your money or your portfolio.