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Adam Garcia
April 16, 2025
Good Afternoon!
Hey, everyone. It's Adam from Elite Trade Club. Here’s what moved the market today.
Markets 📈
The market tanked today upon Fed Chair Powell’s take on current economic conditions, bringing down U.S. indexes. The Nasdaq Composite was hit the hardest, losing over 500 points on the day.
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Market-Moving News 📈
Ride-Hailing
Lyft Secures European Entry Through $200M Purchase of Mobility Platform Free Now
Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) has announced the acquisition of Free Now, a European ride-hailing platform, in a $199 million transaction. The deal marks Lyft’s first entry into the European market and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
The acquisition will bring Free Now’s operations across nine countries under Lyft’s control. Based in Hamburg, Germany, Free Now currently serves more than 150 cities and provides ride-hailing, e-scooter, e-bike, and e-moped access. The platform reported gross bookings exceeding €1 billion in 2024 and operates under a model backed by BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Following the transaction, Lyft will integrate Free Now’s mobility services with its existing platform. The combined network will reach over 50 million users annually across North America and Europe.
Lyft confirmed that the acquisition aligns with its strategic plan to expand operational coverage while maintaining core mobility services. Free Now’s existing management and operational infrastructure will remain in place during integration.
The firm stated that the deal offers immediate geographic diversification and a new consumer base in key Western European markets, including Germany, France, Ireland, and the UK.
Domestic U.S. operations are not expected to change during the acquisition period. Additional integration updates will follow in future corporate disclosures.
Hidden Agenda (Sponsored)
Every investor in America is trying to figure out what Musk will do in Washington, D.C., in the coming weeks.
One Boston-based think tank – who has studied Elon’s work for decades – is stepping forward to share what they’ve found.
They believe his TRUE plan is far more radical than anyone realizes. It could change the way you live, work, get paid, and collect Social Security…
Healthcare
Abbott Confirms $500M U.S. Investment Amid Tariff Pressures
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) announced $500 million in new investments to expand manufacturing and research capacity in the United States. The company detailed plans for facilities in Illinois and Texas, with both projects expected to begin operations by year-end.
The administration reaffirmed Abbott’s full-year earnings guidance despite ongoing tariff-related cost pressure. Management projected the impact of U.S. import levies, tied to sourcing disruptions for materials used in medical device production, to begin in the third quarter.
Operations in China and other international markets continue to support global product flow while Abbott prepares domestic infrastructure to absorb higher sourcing costs. Abbott Laboratories operates 89 manufacturing sites globally, including 35 in the U.S.
Performance in the first quarter exceeded expectations, with strong demand for the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system. Production for this product line spans six sites worldwide, including two in the United States.
Expansion efforts follow a broader strategy to maintain supply continuity and limit exposure to international logistics risks. Abbott confirmed that capital allocation for the new U.S. facilities supports both production capacity and research capabilities.
The financial impact of tariffs remains under internal review. Abbott’s latest investment initiative reflects a shift toward regionalizing select parts of its manufacturing footprint.
Trading Methods (Sponsored)
Bitcoin’s ups and downs have made and lost fortunes. But what if there was a way to outperform BTC—without ever buying it?
Hedge fund titan Larry Benedict has revealed a new approach called "Bitcoin Skimming," a strategy that has outpaced Bitcoin’s returns by as much as 22-to-1.
With the SEC’s latest decision set to shake up crypto markets, now is the perfect time to discover how this works.
Restaurant
Yum! Brands Adjusts International Licensing as Collins Foods Exits Taco Bell, Grows KFC
Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) is set to reallocate brand licensing in Australia and Germany following strategic moves by Collins Foods, one of its key international franchisees. Collins Foods has confirmed plans to exit the Taco Bell business in Australia and increase the number of KFC locations in Germany.
The Australian operator is working with Yum to transfer the license for 27 Taco Bell restaurants to a new owner. This decision follows a reported 2% decline in Taco Bell revenue for the first half of fiscal 2025 and competitive pressures in the region's quick-service Mexican food segment.
In contrast, Yum! Brands have agreed to support the expansion of KFC operations in Germany, where Collins Foods manages 16 of the country's 207 locations. Under the new agreement, Collins intends to open between 40 and 70 additional KFC outlets in Germany through 2030.
The agreement reflects Yum's ongoing international strategy of adjusting brand presence through regional partners.
Taco Bell and KFC remain two of the company's core global brands, with individual licensee plans often reflecting local market performance and demand trends. No other license changes or territory updates have been announced.
Top Winners and Losers 🔥
Hertz Global Holdings Inc [HTZ] $5.71 (+56.44%)
Hertz Global surged at the end of today’s session after investors discovered that hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman had a significant stake in the firm.
AleAnna Inc [ANNA] $16.83 (+33.89%)
AleAnna reached a new record high share price as the cost of gas rises in European nations.
USA Rare Earth Inc [USAR] $15.66 (+15.83%)
USA Rare Earth extended its recovery as China suspends the export of several rare earths.
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd [KC] $10.98 (-16.82%)
Kingsoft Cloud fell after announcing a large public offering that raised dilution concerns among investors.
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc [ARWR] $11.35 (-11.81%)
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals declined today as its veteran CFO retired after 16 years of service, sparking concerns about the company’s future.
Interactive Brokers Group Inc [IBKR] $157.90 (-8.95%)
Interactive Brokers extended losses on Wednesday after announcing lower-than-expected Q1 results.
Tech Titans & Politics (Sponsored)
You may already sense that the tide is turning against Elon Musk and DOGE.
Just this week, President Trump promised to buy a Tesla to help support Musk in the face of a boycott against his company.
But according to one research group, with connections to the Pentagon and the U.S. government, Elon's preparing to strike back in a much bigger way in the days ahead.
That's it for today! Please, write us back, and let us know what you think of the Closing Bell Roundup. We're always eager to hear feedback!
Thanks for reading. I'll see you at the next open!
Best Regards,
— Adam G.
Elite Trade Club
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