Today is Thursday, January 8, 2026.
The Early Bird Index today is 85.44.
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LMT's Trump $1.5T Budget Rally
Defense stocks jumped in after-hours trading on Wednesday, including Lockheed Martin $LMT ( ▲ 4.34% ) at 6.16%, after President Trump demanded a 50% higher defense budget.
Details: President Trump posted on social media on Wednesday that he wants the United States military budget to increase from $1 trillion to a record $1.5 trillion in 2027. That proposal boosted several defense stocks in after-hours trading.
Also: That social media message came hours after Trump threatened Raytheon $RTX ( ▲ 0.78% ) on social media to invest in more “plants and equipment” or they would lose government business.
Early Bird’s Nest Egg Gains: Trump’s proposed jump to a $1.5 trillion defense budget by 2027 is very unlikely to be fully enacted as stated.
Defense investors are excited anyway because the proposal signals a materially higher floor for future defense outlays and order books, even if Congress scales it down, and it confirms that rearmament is a top political priority.
Final Thoughts: For context, Lockheed Martin’s stock is up in the past year, but it lags behind the broader market.
3 Tricks Billionaires Use to Help Protect Wealth Through Shaky Markets
“If I hear bad news about the stock market one more time, I’m gonna be sick.”
We get it. Investors are rattled, costs keep rising, and the world keeps getting weirder.
So, who’s better at handling their money than the uber-rich?
Have 3 long-term investing tips UBS (Swiss bank) shared for shaky times:
Hold extra cash for expenses and buying cheap if markets fall.
Diversify outside stocks (Gold, real estate, etc.).
Hold a slice of wealth in alternatives that tend not to move with equities.
The catch? Most alternatives aren’t open to everyday investors
That’s why Masterworks exists: 70,000+ members invest in shares of something that’s appreciated more overall than the S&P 500 over 30 years without moving in lockstep with it.*
Contemporary and post war art by legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and more.
Sounds crazy, but it’s real. One way to help reclaim control this week:
*Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
Notables
Notable Earnings Today: Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX), TD Synnex (NYSE: SNX), Acuity (NYSE: AYI), WD-40 (Nasdaq: WDFC), Simply Good Foods (Nasdaq: SMPL), Commercial Metals (NYSE: CMC), Neogen (Nasdaq: NEOG), Helen of Troy (Nasdaq: HELE), RPM (NYSE: RPM), Lindsay (NYSE: LNN), Aehr Test Systems (Nasdaq: AEHR), Northern Technologies International (Nasdaq: NTIC), Tilray Brands (Nasdaq: TLRY), Simulations Plus (Nasdaq: SLP).
Notable IPOs Today: Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. II Units (Nasdaq: BBCQU), Buda Juice, Inc. (NYSE American: BUDA), Green Circle Decarbonize Technology Limited (NYSE American: GCDT), Innocan Pharma Corporation (NYSE American: INNP).
Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: Big Dog Sauce Company (Honeycomb).
Notable Economic Events Today: Jobless Claims (8:30 a.m. ET), Trade Balance / Imports / Exports (8:30 a.m. ET), Unit Labor Costs (8:30 a.m. ET), Nonfarm Productivity (8:30 a.m. ET), NY Fed 1-Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (11:00 a.m. ET), Consumer Credit (3:00 p.m. ET).
Constellation Brands' Survival
Beer and wine producer Constellation Brands $STZ ( ▲ 5.32% ) jumped 1.89% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after posting better-than-expected financial earnings results.
Financials: Constellation Brands reported earnings of of $3.06 per share in the past quarter and revenue of $2.2 billion. Both were better than expected.
Details: Sales fell 10%, but the company said it outperformed the rest of the industry. Demand for alcohol is down.
Quote: “The operating environment during the third quarter of fiscal 2026 remained challenged, which was in line with our expectations and relatively consistent with the prior quarter.” - CEO Bill Newlands.
Final Thoughts: Shares of Constellation Brands have been down 35% in the past year.
Canadian Solar’s Convertible Notes Offering
Canadian Solar $CSIQ ( ▼ 11.94% ) fell 6.90% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after introducing a $200 million convertible note offering.
Final Thoughts: This comes as the stock is up 65% in the past year.
Trends to Watch
Mark Your Calendar: Solana Mobile sets Jan. 21 launch date for SKR token, confirms airdrop (CoinDesk)
New Issuer: JPMorgan Chase Reaches Deal to Take Over Apple Credit Card (Wall Street Journal)
Meme Stock Bet: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen could be set for a $35 billion payday – with one big caveat (CNN)
Final Step: Ethereum rolls out final planned Blob Parameters Only fork as final step in Fusaka upgrade (The Block)
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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.
