Welcome back to the BBAE Blog, your trusted source for the latest investment insights and analyses from the BBAE team. This week, we’re excited to share some highlights that will keep you informed and ahead of the market. Don’t forget, some of our most valuable insights are available exclusively in the BBAE Pro app—download it now to unlock full access!
- S&P 500: The Winners and Losers of 2025
- Magellan Investment Partners: CME Group Inc. ($CME) Investment Case
- Trending Tickers: $BIDU AI Spin-Off, $WBD Deal Rejection, $MBLY Robotics Acquisition
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S&P 500: The Winners and Losers of 2025
The S&P 500 delivered another strong year in 2025, finishing with a solid double-digit gain despite periods of sharp volatility. A tariff-driven selloff in the spring briefly rattled markets, but the swift and sustained recovery in the months that followed highlighted the underlying resilience of U.S. equities. Performance across the index, however, was far from uniform. Stocks tied to AI-driven data infrastructure, including Western Digital, Micron Technology, and Seagate Technology, posted outsized gains, while other well-known names struggled amid slowing growth, margin pressure, and sector-specific challenges. In this article, we break down the standout winners and laggards of 2025 and explain the key company developments and market forces that drove their stock price moves throughout the year. Read the full article here.
Magellan Investment Partners: CME Group Inc. ($CME) Investment Case
Magellan Investment Partners’ Q3 2025 commentary highlights CME Group as a core defensive holding and the world’s leading derivatives marketplace operating as a near-monopoly in key contracts through network effects from liquidity, clearing, and benchmark status creating substantial barriers to entry. The investment thesis centers on best-in-class 68% operating margins, record 2024 and first-half 2025 results, a business model thriving on uncertainty (transferred record $32 billion mark-to-market in single day during April 2025 tariffs, up 45%), and strategic retail expansion through Robinhood partnerships with strong cryptocurrency contract demand. With September 2024-launched FMX Futures Exchange—backed by major banks challenging interest rate futures via LCH clearing partnership—failing to gain traction one year later as participants fled to CME during volatility, Magellan views CME as well-positioned to grow above GDP benefiting from elevated uncertainty. Read the full article here.
Trending Tickers: $BIDU AI Spin-Off, $WBD Deal Rejection, $MBLY Robotics Acquisition
This week, several stocks attracted attention due to major developments. Here’s a breakdown:
- Baidu ($BIDU): Baidu plans to spin off and list its AI chip unit, Kunlunxin, in Hong Kong, aiming to unlock standalone value for its semiconductor business and attract investors focused on AI hardware. The move reflects Baidu’s broader strategy to surface the value of its AI-driven assets while keeping Kunlunxin as a controlled subsidiary.
- Warner Bros. Discovery ($WBD): Warner Bros. Discovery’s board rejected a takeover proposal from Paramount Skydance, reaffirming its commitment to the previously announced Netflix merger. The company cited higher certainty, lower financial risk, and better overall value in the Netflix deal compared with the Skydance offer.
- Mobileye ($MBLY): Mobileye agreed to acquire humanoid robotics startup Mentee Robotics in a move that expands the company beyond autonomous driving into physical AI. Management views humanoid robots and self-driving systems as sharing core safety and perception challenges, with the acquisition positioned as a long-term bet on real-world AI deployment.
Read the full Weekly Highlights article here.
This article is for informational purposes only and is neither investment advice nor a solicitation to buy or sell securities. All investment involves inherent risks, including the total loss of principal, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Always conduct thorough research or consult with a financial expert before making any investment decisions. BBAE has no position in any investment mentioned.
