KindlyMD Extends Bitcoin Rally, Up +100% This Week, +1200% in May

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KindlyMD surged another 100% this week after shareholders formally approved its merger with Nakamoto Holdings, a Bitcoin-native company. The deal, finalized via written consent on May 18, accelerates the rollout of KindlyMD’s crypto-backed treasury model for healthcare. With David Bailey at the helm and mounting retail momentum, KDLY has now gained 1,200% this month—cementing its position as a breakout play at the intersection of Bitcoin and healthtech.

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Atour (ATAT) Pops +8% on $400M Buyback and Dividend Boost

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Atour Lifestyle Holdings jumped 8% after announcing a $400M three-year share repurchase program and a $0.42 per ADS dividend. The move follows strong Q1 earnings and underscores Atour’s confidence in its cash position, with $434M in reserves. As China’s top upper-midscale hotel chain, the company aims to reward shareholders while scaling its scenario-based retail model and expanding its 1,727-hotel portfolio.

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Uranium Stocks Surge After Trump Signs Nuclear Executive Order

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Nuclear stocks soared after President Trump signed a sweeping executive order to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and accelerate the deployment of next-generation reactors. The executive order slashes red tape and imposes hard deadlines—18 months for new reactor approvals and 12 months for license renewals. It calls for fixed application fees, faster approvals of DOE- and DOD-tested reactor designs, and streamlined licensing pathways for modular and microreactors. Trump specifically criticized the NRC’s “risk-averse culture” and outdated radiation standards, framing the overhaul as key to U.S. energy security and global nuclear dominance.
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The order sets a bold target: quadrupling U.S. nuclear capacity to 400 GW by 2050. It also establishes frameworks for deploying reactors on federal land, reviving dormant plants, and jump-starting domestic uranium mining and enrichment—moves that directly benefit companies like Oklo, which is developing microreactors, and uranium suppliers like Cameco.
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Industry leaders, including Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte and Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez, joined Trump at the Oval Office signing ceremony, signaling White House alignment with nuclear innovators. The announcement marks the most aggressive pro-nuclear regulatory pivot in decades, positioning U.S. firms to lead the global race in advanced reactor deployment.

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Advance Auto Parts (+38%) Rallies on Strong Q1 Beat

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Advance Auto Parts (AAP) surged 38% after posting a smaller-than-expected Q1 loss ($0.22 adj. EPS vs. est. -$0.78) and better-than-forecast revenue of $2.58B (–6.8% YoY). The company reaffirmed full-year EPS guidance of $1.50–$2.50 on $8.4–$8.6B in revenue—even assuming tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada stay in place all year.
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CEO cited strong execution in the pro installer segment (8 weeks of comp sales growth), rapid store closures (513 locations), and improved vendor coordination as key drivers. Tariff mitigation actions and operational efficiencies are helping protect margins.

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Discretionary Divide: Youth Retail Booms While High-End Spending Slows

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Urban Outfitters (URBN) is thriving amid shifting retail currents. Q1 sales rose 10.7% YoY and EPS surged 78%, fueled by strong performance across Free People, Anthropologie, and a 59% increase in Nuuly subscriptions. Foot traffic remains robust, particularly among Gen Z shoppers drawn to affordable, trend-forward fashion. The stock is up 33% YTD, riding a wave of identity-driven, fast-turn consumer spending—often with parental support.
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But the picture looks different at the higher end of discretionary retail. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), a staple of premium home décor, also beat on earnings, yet comparable brand sales were flat, West Elm comps fell 2.2%, and margins compressed amid rising inventory. Despite top-line growth, the stock is down 15.6% YTD, reflecting concerns about demand for big-ticket home purchases.
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This divergence echoes broader pressure in luxury. LVMH is down 25% YTD, facing its steepest decline since 2008. The luxury conglomerate—home to Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi—has been hit by weakening demand in China and looming U.S. tariffs. Chanel and Kering are also seeing profit erosion, with the luxury sector facing post-boom normalization and fading appetite for status-driven goods.
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Discretionary spending isn’t dead—but it’s fragmenting. Retailers like URBN that offer accessible, high-turnover products tied to self-expression are thriving. Meanwhile, premium-tier brands—whether in fashion or home goods—are seeing softer demand as consumers balk at price tags, trade down, or redirect spending. Comparing URBN and WSM is a lens on how price elasticity and generational behavior are reshaping discretionary markets.

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