Kim Kahn

Among active stocks, bank earnings keep coming.

Citigroup is higher after better-than-expected results that showed solid underlying growth.

Seeking Alpha analyst Ian Bezik notes that softer markets revenue was offset by strong gains in investment banking and wealth management, while the bank's credit metrics continue to improve.

Wells Fargo delivered mixed Q4 numbers in 2026 guidance, missing on the top line as net interest income came in below Wall Street forecasts.

The bank now expects 2026 NII of about $50 billion, roughly in line with the consensus, and non-interest expense of $55.7 billion, just under the current street estimate.

Bank of America also turned in Q4 earnings and revenue that topped estimates, reflecting resilient consumers and business clients.

For 2026, B of A is guiding net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis to grow 5-7%.

And Netflix is in focus as it works to revise terms for its Warner Bros.

Discovery deal, shifting to an all-cash offer for the studios and streaming businesses.

The move is aimed at speeding up the transaction that could take months to close, and comes as rival bidder Paramount Skydance has already tabled an all-cash $30 per share bid.

On the economic front, November retail sales rose 0.6% month-on-month, beating the 0.2% consensus and rebounding from a 0.1% decline in October.

And the delayed November producer price index increased 0.2% on the month, in line with expectations and a step up from October's 0.1% gain.

In other news of note, Honeywell confirmed its plans to file an S1 for its quantum computing unit Quantinium to go public, as its quantum ambitions continue to grow.

Quantinium raised $600 million in 2025 at a $10 billion valuation, after a $300 million round in early 2024 led by J.P.

Morgan that valued it at $5 billion.

Other backers include NVIDIA, Mitsui, and Amgen.

And Coca-Cola announced sweeping leadership changes, with Enrique Braun, currently EVP and COO, set to succeed James Quincy as CEO on March 31st.

The company is also creating a new chief digital officer role to unify its digital, data, and operational strategies.

And in the Wall Street Research Corner, B of A estimates that hedge funds now account for about 85% of the total market short interest.

Screening for the most shorted names as a percentage of float, they flagged Moderna at 17.4%, Lenar at 16%, Supermicrocomputer and Brown-Forman both at 14.5%, and Charter Communications at 13.1%.