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Wall Street Loads Up on Meta Shorts Despite 25% YTD Gain

August 20, 2025
MorningBullets is the fastest way to catch up on the market and political news that matter most to your money. Quick takes, sharp insight, and curated opportunities—served fresh every weekday morning.
A dramatic split image of a plummeting stock chart overlaid with a biotech lab setting on one side, and a government building with semiconductor chips on the other, conveying tension and high stakes.
Visualizing the collision of biotech setbacks and government intervention in tech.

Good Morning,

Markets were a mixed bag yesterday with Viking Therapeutics taking a 42% nosedive on weak trial data, splitting Wall Street’s finest down the middle.

Traders are questioning whether AI and metaverse spending can deliver returns, even as the stock is up 25% this year. Is this smart skepticism or another tech overcorrection?

We’ve also got Target’s CEO transition and tariff talks rippling through retail. Stick around for a trivia tidbit to test your financial chops.

And here are your Morning Bullets.

– Truly yours, Fred Frost


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📉 Yesterday's Market Recap

Tuesday saw a choppy market with the Dow scraping a minor gain, while the Nasdaq took a beating, dragged down by tech and growth stock sell-offs. Viking Therapeutics’ 42% plunge stole headlines, but AI darlings like Palantir and Nvidia also bled red. Here’s what moved the needle.


  • Viking Therapeutics Tanks 42%: Disappointing Phase 2 obesity pill data splits analysts between 'Strong Buy' and 'inferior drug' camps. → Benzinga

  • Nasdaq Slumps on Growth Stock Woes: Palantir dives nearly 10% and Nvidia drops 3.5%, fueling broader tech sector declines. → Investors.com

  • Global Shares Slip: Tech-heavy declines in Asia and Europe mirror Wall Street’s AI stock retreat. → ABC News


📉 Daily Performance Snapshot

Index/Asset Closing Value Change
S&P 500 6,411.37 -0.59%
Nasdaq 21,314.95 -1.46%
Dow Jones 44,922.27 +0.02%
Gold $3369.80 +0.33%
Crude Oil $62.52 +1.21%
Bitcoin $113,699 -1.63%
10-yr Treasury Yield 4.302% -0.9%

🔭 What to Watch Today

Today’s calendar brings earnings reports, policy signals, and market reactions that could sway your portfolio. Keep an eye on these developments for potential volatility or opportunity.

  • Target Earnings and CEO Transition (Pre-Market): Q2 results are out with a new CEO announcement—watch for stock movement and guidance updates. → CNN
  • Lowe’s Q2 Earnings (Pre-Market): Expect insights on consumer spending and housing trends after boosted full-year guidance. → Seeking Alpha
  • Fed Chair Powell Speech Preview: Markets await hints on rate cuts amid tariff and inflation concerns. → Fox Business

  • 💡 Opportunity Watch

    Amid today’s turbulence, a few sectors and stocks stand out for potential upside if you’re willing to play the long game. Here’s where the smart money might look.

    • Waste Management (WM): A steady performer with a ‘Sector Outperform’ rating and stable demand regardless of market swings. → MarketBeat
    • ASE Technology (ASX): Well-positioned in AI chip packaging with growth projected into 2026 as data centers expand. → Seeking Alpha
    • Indian Tech Stocks: Nifty’s rally above 25,000 suggests momentum in IT and FMCG for global exposure. → Stocktwits

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    🔥 The Big Bullet

    Wall Street Bets Against Meta More Than Microsoft and Palantir Combined

    What happened: Short interest in Meta Platforms Inc. has surged, surpassing the combined value of short positions in both Microsoft and Palantir. Traders are increasingly betting against Meta despite its strong stock performance this year, with shares up more than 25%. This rising skepticism appears linked to concerns about the company’s heavy investments in artificial intelligence and the metaverse. Meta now tops the leaderboard for tech stock shorts, outpacing even historically polarizing names.

    Why it matters: This shift suggests that investors are questioning the long-term payoff of Meta’s aggressive growth strategy. Short sellers tend to target companies they believe are overvalued or vulnerable to setbacks. While Meta’s year-to-date gains reflect optimism about its AI tools and ad recovery, the swell in bearish bets reveals a split in market sentiment. If these short positions build further, they could put downward pressure on the stock or trigger volatility. Investors may read the sharp divergence between Meta and peers like Microsoft as a sign of tightening scrutiny on high-spending tech firms. Rising interest rates and inflation concerns may also be prompting more caution toward companies with long-term return horizons.

    What’s next: Watch for Meta’s next earnings report and updates on its AI and metaverse investments. These disclosures will likely shape whether short sellers maintain or reduce their positions. Also, institutional moves — such as changes in hedge fund exposure — could shift sentiment quickly. Broader tech sector weakness, like the current drag on Big Tech stocks, might amplify Meta’s risks if it underperforms expectations. On the flip side, stronger-than-expected AI monetization or cost control could squeeze out short sellers and reignite bullish momentum.


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    🧭 Policy & Market Ripples

    • UK Inflation Spikes to 3.8%: Airfare and food costs drive the highest rate since January, dimming rate cut hopes for 2025. → ABC News
    • Home Depot Confirms Tariff Price Hikes: Modest increases on select items due to higher import costs, despite sales growth. → CNN
    • Air Canada Strike Ends: Tentative deal with flight attendants resumes operations after grounding 700 daily flights. → Fox Business

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    Yesterday, 86% of you chose the right answer to the trivia question: FDIC


    The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
    — Alan Watts
    Thanks for joining me through today’s market maze. Your feedback keeps this newsletter sharp—drop me a line anytime.

    Stay sharp,
    Fredrick Frost
    Editor, MorningBullets

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