Happy Fat Tuesday Zingernation! But maybe in the age of weight-loss drugs, it should be called “Thin Tuesday” — especially since it won’t just be Ozempic users shedding pounds. More than 25 million pounds of plastic beads will be tossed during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.

Everyone knows the weight-loss craze play. But what’s the Pancake Day Play? Buy up regional waste management stocks? Short public restrooms?

Before we dive in, check out how Ignite Funding is changing the financing game.

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

Yesterday: Despite the Dow closing at a record high, it was another mixed day on the Street as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite moved slightly lower.

On Our Radar: U.S. inflation came in slightly higher than expected in January, rising 0.3% month-over-month and reaching 3.1% year-over-year. Economists had forecast a more moderate increase of 0.2% for January and an annual rate of 2.9%. Here’s what this could mean for future Fed rate cuts. 

TOP STORY

Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug Tirzepatide Is Carving Its Piece Of The Pie

Not A Household Name… Yet: Speaking of weight-loss drugs, have you heard of this one? Unlike Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, Eli Lilly’s Tirzepatide — used in Mounjaro, for diabetes, and Zepbound, for weight loss — isn’t exactly a household name yet.

BMO Predicts Big Things: BMO Capital Markets is predicting big things for Eli Lilly thanks to the emerging drugs. The firm sees nearly $12.8 billion for Eli Lilly in tirzepatide revenues for fiscal year 2024.

Price Target Hike: After Eli Lilly’s upbeat Q4 earnings, BMO Capital noted Wall Street estimates once again underestimate tirzepatide growth as demand outpaces supply, and raised its price target from $710 to $865. 

What Next: Read more here.

PRESENTED BY IGNITE FUNDING

The Fickle Nature Of Financing And How Ignite Funding Is Changing The Game

The financing landscape can be challenging for borrowers with stringent qualifications and criteria set by traditional banks and close circles of friends and family. Often, borrowers can find themselves in a frustrating limbo with projects that are too small for national banks but too big for local ones. Additionally, successful ventures that challenge pre-existing norms may be overlooked due to rigid lending standards.

However, financing platforms like Ignite Funding offer bankable borrowers the opportunity to gain financing solutions while providing investors with attractive returns paid monthly. The company has a track record of over a billion dollars in real estate loans and is known for its rigorous due diligence processes and commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relationships.

FIVE ZINGERS

Big Bit Energy: Bitcoin hit an intraday high above $50,000 yesterday for the first time since December 2021.

Speaking Of: Grayscale argues the upcoming Bitcoin halving event will be different this time around. Here’s what changed.

Back-To-Back: Chiefs fans weren’t the only ones getting deja vu on Sunday. Temu’s Super Bowl ad went viral again — for all the wrong reasons.

Broken Heart: An analyst downgraded Hershey just before Valentine’s Day as cocoa futures hit an all-time high.

Always A Bigger Fish: NVIDIA briefly overtook industry-killer Amazon as the fourth largest company in the world by market cap.

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Are Stocks Running Out Of Reasons To Move Higher?

Briefly: “New all-time highs” might not be an everyday occurrence for much longer.

What: On Benzinga’s PreMarket Prep yesterday, Piper Sandler analyst Craig Johnson said indicators are giving a sell signal, and predicted the S&P 500 could pull back to about 4,600.

Why: The analyst argues that, between peak earnings season and before a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve, there simply won’t be any catalysts left to drive the market higher.

So What? Johnson summed it up by saying, “You don’t have to let go, but hold on loosely.” He added that the low is likely to come toward the end of March or early April, at which point the market will provide a better entry point.

What Next: Read more here.

PRESENTED BY IGNITE FUNDING

The Fickle Nature Of Financing And How Ignite Funding Is Changing The Game

The financing landscape can be challenging for borrowers with stringent qualifications and criteria set by traditional banks and close circles of friends and family. Often, borrowers can find themselves in a frustrating limbo with projects that are too small for national banks but too big for local ones. Additionally, successful ventures that challenge pre-existing norms may be overlooked due to rigid lending standards.

However, financing platforms like Ignite Funding offer bankable borrowers the opportunity to gain financing solutions while providing investors with attractive returns paid monthly. The company has a track record of over a billion dollars in real estate loans and is known for its rigorous due diligence processes and commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relationships.