Post 372: Social Security Insolvency, Boomer Bailouts, and What the Bitcoin-to-Zero Argument Gets Wrong

• After many quarters of negative U.S. sales growth, Yum! Brands decides to offload its Pizza Hut business.
  • But Taco Bell is still ringing in strong sales growth.
• The Starbucks turnaround plan seems to be working.
• A look at wealth disparity in the U.S.
  • And how the older generation has benefited from central bank policies
    • At the expense of the next generation.
• Lululemon’s North American Sales kick off the year by accelerating downwards.
  • But management thinks they’re off to a good start.
• Apple’s sales soar due to the popularity of its new iPhone 17.
• A quick look at some price increases in America over the last five years.
• Social Security in the U.S. will now be insolvent by 2032.
  • And a look at some solutions.
• Ontario’s housing market is struggling.
  • And could get worse.
• Canada’s government comes to the rescue with a taxpayer-funded baby boomer bailout.
• In Financial Ructions:
  • Technology stocks have now eclipsed their 1999 peak weighting within the S&P500.
    • But their share of earnings has gone up even more.
      • That doesn’t mean that they’re cheap.
  • A look at an op-ed that says Bitcoin is going to zero.
    • But it makes some assumptions I don’t agree with.
• Book Review: Onward by Howard Schultz (Starbucks)
  • We see the importance of empowerment and letting go.
    • A lesson our policymakers have unlearned.
  • A quote from legendary Costco CEO Jim Sinegal.
    • The importance of investing in your customers.
  • And the importance of corporate culture.