Finance
Verizon Shares Take a Hit After Q1 Sales Warning
March 13, 2025
Tiger Woods' new indoor golf league made its debut last night, banking on the idea that fans want more screen time with their favorite players. Instead of hitting real fairways, golfers are taking swings at a giant screen that shows a virtual course. Anyone up for a round?
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq slid by nearly 2% yesterday, as robust economic data raised doubts about potential interest rate cuts. The job market remains tight, with 8.1 million job openings in November—the highest since May. Additionally, fewer than 3.1 million workers voluntarily left their positions that month, signaling that people are holding onto their jobs longer.
Chilly Reception
Park City Mountain skiers have found themselves stuck on easier slopes after Vail Resorts, the owner of the Utah resort, kept two-thirds of the trails closed due to a strike. Over 200 ski patrollers have walked off the job, leading to a staffing crisis at the largest ski resort in the US during the peak holiday season. Negotiations for a pay raise broke down before the season began, with Vail Resorts rejecting the union’s offer, claiming its wage increases had already outpaced inflation.
Social Media Snowstorm
Skiers have taken to social media to vent their frustration, sharing photos of long lift lines and complaining about how the strike ruined their New Year’s vacation plans. The debate quickly became heated, with some blaming the striking workers for the disruptions, while others expressed support for the union and pointed fingers at Vail Resorts for failing to resolve the issue.
A History of Growth
The strike has also reignited discussions about Vail Resorts' growth under private equity ownership. Back when Apollo Global owned the company in the 1990s, Vail aggressively expanded, acquiring smaller resorts and growing from four to 42 locations today. Together with its rival Alterra, Vail now controls over half of the US ski market. The company’s revenue is heavily reliant on expensive lift tickets and season passes, which can cost skiers upwards of $1,000.
Beyond the Strike
While the strike remains the focal point, the conversation has expanded to include rising costs in the ski industry. Critics argue that the soaring prices of lift tickets and season passes have made skiing increasingly unaffordable for casual enthusiasts, shining a spotlight on Vail Resorts' business practices and its impact on the sport’s accessibility.
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Shifting Sands
As President-elect Trump prepares to take office with a pro-crypto stance, top financial regulators are stepping down. On Monday, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michael Barr announced his departure, followed by CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam’s resignation on Tuesday. Behnam had been pushing for the CFTC to take the lead in regulating bitcoin and crypto exchanges, while Barr had been more focused on establishing regulatory safeguards. Industry advocates have cheered Barr’s exit, calling it a victory for the crypto world.
Changing of the Guard
Barr and Behnam are following in the footsteps of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, a key figure in regulating the crypto industry, who also plans to leave this month. SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga, who had pushed for more oversight of cryptocurrencies, is also resigning, signaling a wider shift in leadership.
Crypto Climb
Bitcoin surged past $100K earlier this week but saw a slight pullback yesterday. This price movement comes as the industry braces for new leadership.
New Faces, Big Ambitions
With the old guard stepping aside, the crypto industry is eagerly anticipating the arrival of regulators more favorable to digital assets, including incoming SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. Advocacy groups such as Stand with Crypto and the Blockchain Association have already outlined their policy priorities, including stablecoin regulation, better banking access for crypto businesses, and the establishment of a crypto oversight council. These groups have been active in political lobbying, spending $133 million on the last US election.
Risks on the Horizon
While the crypto industry celebrates the shift toward more supportive regulation, experts warn that the absence of experienced regulators could leave the sector vulnerable. With the fallout from scandals like FTX still fresh, there are concerns that without proper oversight, the industry might veer off course once again.
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Advertiser's disclosures:
¹ The rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.
² Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($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.
