Finance
Burlington's stock has surged after the off-price retailer significantly outperformed expectations in its fourth-quarter results.
March 8, 2025
The pop of celebration may have faded, but the future is still fizzing with potential. From AI breakthroughs and quantum leaps to the revival of the woolly mammoth, there’s plenty on the horizon that could reshape the coming years.
Stocks had an impressive run last year (hard to believe, but true), with the S&P 500 closing the year up by around 23%, matching the gains of 2023. This marked only the fourth time in a century that the index has posted back-to-back 20%+ returns. The tech-heavy Nasdaq soared almost 30%, driven by the AI frenzy, rate cuts from the Fed, and a belief that Trump’s policies will be market-friendly. Bitcoin also had a standout year, more than doubling in value.
However, December saw a sharp pullback in stocks, with no "Santa rally" this time around as investors cashed in on profits and market uncertainty increased. The mood worsened further after the Fed hinted at only two rate cuts this year, cooling investor optimism.
The future is here, and it's taking shape in ways we couldn't have imagined just a few years ago. AI hardware is no longer a niche; it's gone mainstream. With smartphones and PCs nearing their upgrade limits, tech companies are leveraging AI to spark new sales. These devices, now marketed as "AI-powered," come with functions built-in, allowing you to use them offline (for those moments when you need CGPT in the middle of nowhere). Last year, Apple unveiled its first iPhone designed for generative AI, dubbed the #AiPhone, while Samsung launched its own AI-enhanced Galaxy. Meanwhile, Intel, Dell, and Microsoft have rolled out AI-equipped PCs, and Meta has integrated AI into its Ray-Ban smartglasses. The next big move? Apple is reportedly working on an AI-powered smart-home tablet.
Autonomous rides are gaining traction. Robotaxis are becoming a common sight on urban streets, with Alphabet’s Waymo leading the way. Currently clocking 150,000 paid rides per week in cities like LA and SF, Waymo is partnering with Uber to roll out driverless rides in Austin and Atlanta this year, with plans for Miami in 2026. Lyft is also getting in on the action with autonomous vehicles of its own, and Tesla is scouting Texas for robotaxi trials. However, GM is pivoting away from its Cruise robotaxi project, choosing instead to focus on autonomous personal cars. By 2040, some experts predict that half of all U.S. taxis could be driverless.
The world of gaming is shifting to the cloud. Cloud gaming is increasingly seen as a threat to traditional consoles, with platforms like Nvidia’s GeForce Now offering high-powered virtual gaming rigs for as low as $20 a month. By 2023, GeForce Now boasted over 25 million subscribers. Xbox Game Pass is expanding its cloud offerings, while Sony's PlayStation has added cloud support to its Portal handheld. As the technology improves, players might choose to forgo the next console upgrade altogether. Interestingly, console makers might not mind this shift, considering Microsoft loses up to $200 on every Xbox sold.
Space travel is evolving, thanks to reusable rockets. Companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab are leading the charge in reducing the cost of space exploration with reusable rockets. These rockets make launching payloads—whether it’s satellites or people—up to 65% cheaper compared to traditional expendable models. This has opened up a $10 billion to $20 billion market, which is quickly becoming crowded. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is readying its New Glenn reusable rocket, and European startup Maiaspace plans to debut its own reusable launcher in 2026. The future of space travel is becoming more accessible—and competitive—by the day.
Presented by Gray Scale
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Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF ("BTC"), an exchange traded product, is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (or the ’40 Act) and therefore is not subject to the same regulations and protections as 1940 Act registered ETFs and mutual funds.
Stepping into the quantum age…
Google recently unveiled a quantum chip called Willow, which the company claims could solve problems in under 5 minutes that would take today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years to crack. As a result, stocks like Rigetti Computing saw a jump. Quantum technology enthusiasts believe it could revolutionize fields like drug development, AI, and weather prediction. But not everyone is on board—some worry that quantum supercomputers could one day break the encryption methods that keep tech security intact. While this has raised concerns in the crypto world, others believe that such a breakthrough is still a long way off.
Wall Street gets a crypto makeover…
Major players like Goldman Sachs, Robinhood, and BlackRock are exploring the idea of bringing traditional assets like stocks to the blockchain. These “tokenized securities” would allow for crypto-like stocks, potentially enabling 24/7 trading, quicker settlements, and lower transaction fees. Things are already in motion: Prometheum, a digital asset company, raised $20 million to build a platform for tokenized securities, while banks are collaborating on shared blockchains. Analysts forecast that the tokenized assets market could reach anywhere between $2 trillion and $4 trillion by 2030.
Bringing the dodo back to life…
Colossal Biosciences, a startup focused on "de-extinction," is making progress on its audacious mission to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth. The company announced it’s just months away from recreating the genome of the Tasmanian tiger, and it promises a mammoth calf (genetically engineered from elephants) by 2028. Experts predict that in the coming decade, manufactured organisms could become a reality. Some believe Colossal’s work might not only revive ancient creatures but also help preserve endangered species and even enhance animals' resistance to toxins.
Tech tackles trash…
AI-powered robots could soon be sorting waste in a bid to reduce landfill waste, a major source of methane emissions. In the meantime, companies are phasing out single-use plastics and opting for biodegradable alternatives like cellulose and seaweed. The EU is pushing for all packaging to be recyclable by 2030. Meanwhile, some cities are taking waste management to the next level: Stockholm and Seoul are installing underground systems that will suck up trash directly from homes, and in some cases, residents who overuse the non-recyclable bins could face additional charges.
Presented by Gray Scale
Bit by bit… Diversify your portfolio with Bitcoin exposure, wherever you invest. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (ticker: BTC) is one of the most affordable1 ways to gain exposure to Bitcoin through your existing brokerage account (though brokerage fees may still apply). That’s right — you don’t need a separate crypto wallet like you would to hold actual Bitcoin. You can invest in BTC the same way as any ETF.
For the crypto-curious… Grayscale is a great place to start. They’ve been offering exposure to crypto through familiar investment vehicles for over a decade. Today, they offer a suite of over 20 different funds covering Solana, Filecoin, Chainlink, and others for investors to choose from.
Type BTC on your preferred investment platform to check out the Bitcoin Mini from Grayscale. Think crypto, invest Grayscale.2
Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF ("BTC"), an exchange traded product, is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (or the ’40 Act) and therefore is not subject to the same regulations and protections as 1940 Act registered ETFs and mutual funds.
Advertiser's disclosures:
¹ The rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.
² Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur.
³ December 23, 2024 will be the last day to invest and be considered a shareholder in 2024. Any investments made after this date will only be considered shareholders starting in 2025.
⁴ Please read the offering circular and related risk at invest.modemobile.com. This is a paid advertisement for Mode Mobile’s Regulation A+ Offering.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing in private company securities is not suitable for all investors because it is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. It should only be considered a long-term investment. You must be prepared to withstand a total loss of your investment. Private company securities are also highly illiquid, and there is no guarantee that a market will develop for such securities.
DealMaker Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer, and member of FINRA | SIPC, located at 105 Maxess Road, Suite 124, Melville, NY 11747, is the Intermediary for this offering and is not an affiliate of or connected with the Issuer. Please check our background on FINRA's BrokerCheck.
