Today is Friday, February 20, 2026.

The Early Bird Index today is 77.74.

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Live Nation $LYV ( ▲ 3.31% ) grew its ticket sales, propelling its financial results on Thursday and sending the stock up 3.51% in after-hours trading.

Financials: Live Nation reported revenue of $6.3 billion in the past quarter, which was better than expected.

Quote: “With a deep pipeline of large-scale shows and ticket demand continuing its ascent, we are positioned for another year of double-digit operating income and AOI growth in 2026.” – Michael Rapino, President and CEO.

Early Bird’s Nest Egg Gains: Live Nation expects strong ticket sales in 2026 because much of the year is already effectively “pre‑sold” and demand indicators are running well ahead of 2025 levels. Key festivals, such as the Electric Daisy Carnival, are already sold out.

Final Thoughts: Despite the good results, investors of Live Nation are at least somewhat concerned about the antitrust pressure that the company faces.

Notable Earnings Today: Western Union (NYSE: WU), Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR), PPL (NYSE: PPL), Balchem (Nasdaq: BCPC), Oil States (NYSE: OIS), Lamar Advertising (Nasdaq: LAMR), Cogent Communications (Nasdaq: CCOI), Hudbay Minerals (TSE: HBM).

Notable IPOs Today: Rank One Computing Corporation Common stock (Nasdaq: ROC), Bimergen Energy Corporation (NYSE American: BESS).

Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: Aivana (Wefunder), Share (Wefunder).

Notable Economic Events Today: GDP (8:30 a.m. ET), PCE Price Index / Core PCE Price Index (8:30 a.m. ET), Personal Spending (8:30 a.m. ET), S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (9:45 a.m. ET), S&P Global Services PMI (9:45 a.m. ET), S&P Global Composite PMI (9:45 a.m. ET), New Home Sales (10:00 a.m. ET), Michigan Consumer Expectations / Sentiment (10:00 a.m. ET).

Despite posting mixed financial results on Thursday, the real estate company Opendoor Technologies $OPEN ( ▲ 7.53% ) surged 16.13% in after-hours trading.

Financials: Opendoor reported a loss of $1.26 per share in the past quarter, which was lower than expected. But revenue reached $736 million, which was better than expected.

Powering the Story: While sales are down, investors were enthusiastic due to Opendoor’s acquisition growth. Opendoor claims that its October 2025 acquisition cohort was its best-performing October in company history, with acquisitions increasing 46%.

Final Thoughts: The stock was already up over 200% in the past 12 months.

Akamai Technologies $AKAM ( ▼ 14.07% ) fell 7.92% in after-hours trading on Thursday after releasing financial earnings results.

Financials: Akamai reported earnings of $1.84 per share in the past quarter and revenue of $1.09 billion. Both were better than expected.

Powering the Story: The problem was the company’s outlook, with projections for the current quarter and current year both falling short of estimates.

Final Thoughts: It’s a setback for Akamai. The stock started 2026 with a 28% gain.

Borrowing Spike: Americans turned to new credit cards and personal loans last year as higher prices burned (Yahoo! Finance)

Alarming: Bitcoin ETFs will go to zero sooner than we think if outflows don’t slow down as $8.5B leaves since October (CryptoSlate)

New Top Company: Amazon surpasses Walmart in annual revenue for first time, as both chase AI-fueled growth (CNBC)

Despite Tariffs: In 2025, Trade Deficit in Goods Reached Record High (New York Times)

Current Stable Price: Bitcoin steadies near $67,000 as traders pay for crash protection (CoinDesk)

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_{The contents of Early Bird are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. They do not constitute trade or investment recommendations, and they are not financial or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to consult licensed professionals for personalized guidance regarding their financial or legal situations.}