Good Morning! The stock market has shed $5 trillion in just 21 days. Investors are now the most bullish on Treasuries over stocks in three years, while consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest level since 2022.

UBS is following Deutsche Bank’s lead by banning staff from working remotely on both Friday and Monday. McKinsey is telling women to make better career choices, backtracking from its DEI-champion reputation.

Plus: PepsiCo is nearing a $1.5 billion deal for Poppi, CrossFit is for sale again, Bessent says a stock market correction is "healthy" for markets that had been "euphoric,” and how to be more authentic in job interviews.

History may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. MarketBeat's latest report highlights potential market trends & stocks to watch.

_{SQUEEZ OF THE DAY}

Deutsche CEO Out-earned by a Banker

Deutsche Bank’s highest-paid employee is set to earn nearly twice as much as CEO Christian Sewing in 2024, as the bank ramps up bonuses following a surge in investment banking profits. While Deutsche does not disclose the identity of its top earner, one individual received a staggering €18 million, double Sewing’s €9.8 million salary.

This surge in pay comes on the back of a 78% increase in profits from the bank’s investment banking division, where compensation is more closely tied to performance. As a result, Deutsche increased its overall bonus pool by 25% to €2.5 billion—its highest since 2014. The number of employees earning more than €1 million also jumped 28% to 647.

But not all executives shared in the windfall. Some saw their short-term bonuses cut, including Chief Administrative Officer Stefan Simon, whose payout was slashed to €1 million from €1.8 million after the bank was hit with a €900 million litigation charge related to its Postbank acquisition.

Despite these setbacks, the bank remains bullish. Deutsche expects higher revenues across all divisions and lower overall costs in the coming year, meaning bonuses could rise even further in 2025. While the bank still faces scrutiny over risk management and regulatory concerns, the strong performance of its investment banking unit is driving a renewed focus on rewarding top talent.

Takeaway: In finance, titles don’t always dictate paychecks—performance does. While the CEO may be the public face of the firm, the real money flows to those generating the most revenue, particularly in investment banking.

Looks like DB is on the comeback trail after a rough few years… and maybe, just maybe, it’s finally earning back its BB title.

_{PRESENTED BY MARKETBEAT}

Here Is Your Beat On The Market

MarketBeat is a financial research platform followed by over five million investors. 

They have identified a group of stocks with characteristics similar to the original "Magnificent 7," including global market share, strong cash flows, and a compelling value proposition.

These companies remain relatively under the radar, offering potential opportunities for early investors. 

Learn more about the stocks MarketBeat has highlighted here.

_HEADLINES

Top Reads

• U.S. stock market loses $5 trillion in value in three weeks (CNBC)

• Consumer sentiment slumped to lowest since 2022 (CNBC)

• Tariffs end the age of US stocks exceptionalism (BB)

• Gold surges above $3,000 for the first time (CNBC)

• CrossFit is for sale again amid years of shakeup (NYT)

• UBS follows Deutsche, bans staff from WFH on both Friday and Monday (Fortune)

• DEI champion McKinsey urges women to make better career choices (BB)

• Private equity is heading for a shake-up, experts say (CNBC)

• Bessent says correction "healthy" for markets that had been "euphoric" (Axios)

• Startups prep for potential Medicaid cuts (WSJ)

• Why some Wall Street power players aren’t worried about stocks (NYP)

• Trump and Powell are playing from the same strategy book (YF)

• The Trump migration is prompting the wealthy to move (Axios)

• Trump expels hundreds under Enemies Act as court rebukes law (BB)

• PepsiCo nearing more than $1.5 billion deal for soda brand Poppi (YF)

• March Madness could potentially cost US economy up to $20 billion (Fox)

_{CAPITAL PULSE}

Markets Rundown

Markets Rally as Shutdown Fears Ease, Eyes Turn to Fed

U.S. stocks climbed Friday as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed a House bill to avert a government shutdown, lifting uncertainty before the midnight deadline.

Growth sectors—tech and consumer discretionary—led the charge, though all 11 S&P 500 sectors gained.

Asia markets rose after China pledged consumption-boosting measures, while Europe ticked up on Germany’s infrastructure spending talks.

Bond yields climbed, with the 10-year Treasury at 4.3% and the 2-year at 4.02%. Schumer’s support, needing 60 Senate votes against the GOP’s 53, calmed nerves—history shows shutdowns (like 2018-2019’s 10% S&P 500 gain) rarely dent markets long-term.

Next week, focus shifts to February retail sales (expected +0.8% after January’s -0.9%) and the Fed’s Wednesday meeting, likely holding rates but signaling three 0.25% cuts in 2025 amid slowing growth.

Soft data hints at a mid-cycle hiccup, not a recession, potentially spurring bolder Fed action to buoy the economy and stocks.

Movers & Shakers

• (+) DocuSign ($DOCU) +15% because the company’s AI product is its fastest growing one in entire company history.

• (+) Ulta ($ULTA) +14% after the retail company beat quarterly results on strong holiday demand.

• (–) Li Auto ($LI) -4% after the EV maker missed on earnings.

Private Dealmaking

• Binance raised $2 billion from MGX

• Toyota Tsusho acquired Radius Recycling for $1.34 billion

• Flock Safety, a surveillance tech provider, raised $275 million

• Plata, a consumer credit startup, raised $160 million

• Blackstone bought a 40% stake in Kolte-Patil Developers for $134 million

• Terabase Energy, a solar software provider, raised $130 million

For more PE, VC & M&A deals, subscribe to our Buysiders newsletter.

_{NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH}

Real Estate Digest

Latest News

• How is return to office impacting the residential real estate market

• A California home with its own shark tank hits the market for $59 million

• Manhattan apartment rents jump to record as bidding wars spread

• The best week of the year to sell your home is coming up

• Thinking again about Midtown South, NYC’s new plan is a mass of contradictions

Private Dealmaking

• 425 East 58th Street Apt: 36H New York, NY: 4 Bed / 4 Bath - $3,800,000

• 30 Huntting St Southampton, NY: 6 Bed / 9 Bath -  $9,495,000

• Ag. Ioannis Diakoftis 846 00 Mikonos Greece: 8 Bed / 9 Bath - $5,961,900

• 9370 Arco da Calheta, Madeira Portugal: 3 Bed / 3 Bath -  $6,341,283

• 199 K Ct Seaside Park, NJ: 4 Bed / 3 Bath -  $1,590,000

Fill out this form to get personalized support for buying, selling, renting, or investing in real estate.

_{BOOK OF THE DAY}

The 5 Types of Wealth

Throughout your life, you’ve been slowly indoctrinated to believe that money is the only type of wealth.

In reality, your wealthy life may involve money, but in the end, it will be defined by everything else.

After three years of research, personal experimentation, and thousands of interviews across the globe, Sahil Bloom has created a groundbreaking blueprint to build your life around five types of wealth: Time Wealth, Social Wealth, Mental Wealth, Physical Wealth, and Financial Wealth.

A life of true fulfillment engages all five types—working dynamically, in concert across the seasons of your journey.

Through powerful storytelling, science-backed practices, and actionable insights, in The 5 Types of Wealth, you’ll learn:

• How to prioritize energy-creating tasks to unlock more time in your day
• How to create deeper bonds and build a powerful network
• How to engage your purpose to spark continuous growth
• How to maximize health and vitality through three simple principles
• How to achieve financial independence and define your version of “enough”

No matter where you are on your path—a recent graduate, new parent, midlife warrior, retiree, or anything in between—The 5 Types of Wealth will help you act on your priorities to create an instant positive impact in your daily life, make better decisions, and design the life you’ve always dreamed of.

“A powerful call to action to think deeply about what lights you up—and a guide for how to build a life of meaning and purpose.”—Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

_{DAILY VISUAL}

The Golden Age

_{PRESENTED BY RYSE}

This Smart Home Company Grew 200% Year-Over-Year…

Ring and Nest transformed security and climate control—now RYSE is doing the same for window shades.

With $10M+ in revenue, 127 Best Buy locations, and expansion into Home Depot in 2025, RYSE is positioned to dominate the smart shade market. Their patented retrofit technology makes automation easy—no costly replacements needed.

The smart home market is booming, and RYSE’s public offering is live at $1.90/share.

Invest now before their next phase of growth and receive up to 25% in bonus shares.

_{DAILY ACUMEN}

Focus & Discipline

Focus and discipline are under siege from a relentless storm of distractions—doubts, impulses, and digital noise tugging at your attention.

Success demands grit, not just motivation: embracing the slog of tough tasks like decoding complex problems or studying through exhaustion.

Ditching your phone—literally locking it away—cuts the distraction lifeline, reclaiming your mental bandwidth.

Zero in on the next tiny move—reading one page, writing one line—to dodge overwhelm and kickstart momentum.

Discipline grows like a callus, forged by daily doses of discomfort and steady routines, not innate talent.

Above all, shape your space: clear clutter, surround yourself with driven souls, and mute the chaos—your environment either fuels or foils you.

In a world wired to scatter your mind, these moves turn the tide, building a fortress of focus one hard-won step at a time.

_{ENLIGHTENMENT}

Short Squeez Picks

• How to be authentic in job interviews

• How CEOs navigate their 6 core responsibilities

• Why your colleagues are crucial to your promotion 

• Why adults should revisit their childhood hobbies 

• How psychologists kickstarted AI by studying the human mind

_{MEME-A-PALOOZA}

Memes of the Day