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Today is Monday, January 5, 2026.
The Early Bird Index today is 84.35.
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Winning Stock Market Picks 2026
What will be the biggest investing themes and winning stocks in 2026? A group of experts offers their predictions in a new episode of the Early Bird podcast today.
Details: Artificial intelligence, a major theme in 2025, is expected to dominate the market again in 2026. But unlike previous years, the focus on AI will be more on companies that support further AI implementation and can provide value, such as in healthcare technology.
Also: Another growing theme in 2026 will likely involve stocks with international exposure. Many international companies lagged the broader market in 2025, and there’s a chance that trend could be reversed in 2026.
Powering the Story: Some of the winning stocks in 2026 could be connected to AI or could be in a sector that struggled in the previous year, according to experts.
For example, pharmaceutical companies that leverage AI could see a benefit. This is especially true for pharmaceutical companies with a low price-to-earnings ratio, such as Pfizer $PFE ( ▲ 1.03% ).
2026 could see more AI-based startups going public. For example, the food tech company GrubMarket could have an IPO this year.
Meanwhile, regional banks could be poised for a comeback after struggling in 2025. Examples include PNC $PNC ( ▲ 1.04% ) and KeyCorp $KEY ( ▲ 0.94% ). Smaller banks with exposure to commercial real estate, such as U.S. Bancorp $USB ( ▲ 1.06% ), could also rise in 2026.
Yes, But: There will be plenty of losing stocks this year, too, especially as consumer debt continues to rise.
Final Thoughts: Which stocks could fall in 2026? Find out by listening to today’s new episode of the Early Bird podcast.
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Notables
Notable Earnings Today: N/A.
Notable IPOs Today: Cybin Inc. Common Stock (Nasdaq: HELP).
Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: Legion M Entertainment (StartEngine), LifeBridge Innovations (Wefunder), The Wellness (Crowdcube).
Notable Economic Events Today: ISM Manufacturing PMI / Prices / Employment (10:00 a.m. ET).
XRP's Supply-Tightening News
The price of the cryptocurrency XRP $XRP ( ▼ 4.4% ) jumped 4% on Sunday, exceeding most major digital asset price gains that day.
Details: XRP was primarily driven up on supply-tightening news, with a report highlighting that 500 million XRP were removed from supply until 2028.
Also: Strong ETF-related demand and improving U.S. regulatory/legislative context for crypto are helping boost the price.
Final Thoughts: The price jump has been positive for XRP, which was down in 2025.
L3Harris Might Sell Stake
Reuters reported on Sunday that L3Harris Technologies $LHX ( ▲ 0.99% ) might sell a 60% stake in a portfolio of space and propulsion businesses to a private equity firm.
Final Thoughts: Shares of L3Harris are up 49% in the past year.
Trends to Watch
Golden Opportunity: Gold surges as US capture of Venezuela president spurs safe-haven demand (Reuters)
You Know the Drill: Crude prices edge lower as Maduro overthrow casts uncertainty over oil-rich Venezuela (CNBC)
The Latest TV Innovation: Samsung Unveils New Supersized, Color-Rich TVs With More AI (Bloomberg)
Flinching: Buffett leaves, and Berkshire investors waste no time reacting (The Street)
Happy Meme Coin Year: Memecoins rip into 2026 with 23% market cap pump (Cointelegraph)
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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.
