Key Takeaways
- Most major U.S. banks fell short of earnings expectations, except for Goldman Sachs.
- Netflix implemented a new compensation model for 'The Rip,' offering backend bonuses to cast and crew.
- Beyond Meat is pivoting into the sports recovery drink market with a new plant-based beverage.
- Vail Resorts experienced a significant drop in skier visits due to a 50% snowfall deficit.
- Spotify has increased its U.S. subscription prices for the third time since 2023.
- Harvard University dropped to third in global scientific output rankings, surpassed by Chinese institutions.
Deep Dive
- Indeed will present its 2026 hiring trends report at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- The report forecasts evolving skill demands and the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market.
- Full findings are available for listeners at indeed.com/2026hiringtrends for detailed insights.
- Executives from JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America expressed concerns about proposed 10% interest rate caps.
- They stated that such caps on credit card interest rates could restrict credit access for consumers and negatively impact the economy.
- Despite concerns, trading desks at these banks saw significant gains due to market volatility, boosting overall performance.
- Ben Affleck praised Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos for his openness to a new compensation model for their film 'The Rip.'
- For the first time, the entire cast and crew of a Netflix film will receive performance-based bonuses if the movie performs well.
- This unique deal departs from Netflix's standard practice of offering higher upfront fees without backend participation.
- Beyond Meat is expanding into the sports recovery drink category with a plant-based beverage called 'Beyond Immerse.'
- The new drink features pea protein and high fiber content, capitalizing on growing interest in non-meat protein sources.
- This pivot comes as the company faces a decline in its core plant-based business and stock value, with market demand for animal proteins surging.
- Vail Resorts' stock declined nearly 25% over the past year due to a significant snow shortage in its Western U.S. mountain locations.
- The region experienced its driest conditions since 1978, with only 4.4 inches of snow and 11% of Rocky Mountain terrain open in January.
- The lack of snow has impacted revenue from lift tickets, ski school, and dining, while sales of its Epic Pass have also softened.
- Harvard University has dropped to third place in the Leiden rankings, which measure scientific output.
- Two Chinese universities, led by Zhejiang University at number one, have surpassed Harvard in these rankings.
- The United States also shows a 19% decrease in international student enrollment for August 2025, contrasting with China's recruitment efforts.