Eli trilly – Eli Lilly just became the first healthcare company to reach a $1 trillion market cap, thanks to the explosive success of its weight-loss drug Zepbound. Since Zepbound’s launch in late 2023, Lilly’s stock has jumped more than 75%—well ahead of the S&P 500 Index’s 50% gain—and is up 35% year to date. (Source: Reuters, as of 11/21/25)

Can’t touch this – Alphabet has been the lone Magnificent 7 stock to escape the recent AI wobble. Alphabet was up over 8% last week and has more than doubled since hitting its bottom on April 7, 2025. The stock is quickly approaching the $4 trillion market-cap club. (Source: FactSet)

Big bond boom – With a month left in the year, bond issuance set a new yearly record in 2025: $5.95 trillion. Governments and financial institutions account for a large portion of sales, but tech is also driving the boom: Meta just completed the largest high-grade debt sale since 2023. (Source: Bloomberg)

Everyone gets a personal shopper – About 42% of shoppers are using AI tools to make purchases, and retailers are leaning in this holiday season. They’re rolling out chatbots that act as assistants with conversational style suggestions, while AI companies add access to shopping directly in chats. The goal is to help with decision fatigue by sorting through options for you, so all you have to do is pay for your selection. (Source: The New York Times)

Gobbling up all my cash – Despite a bird flu outbreak, turkey prices are down this year (or retailers are opting to discount birds for the holiday). But the rest of the fixins’ are going to cost you: Steel tariffs have raised prices on canned foods, for example, helping push the standard price for a classic Thanksgiving meal up 4.1% this year. (Source: AP News)

One bright spot – As UK unemployment hit a four-year high and GDP growth stalls, British inflation slowed last month for the first time since May, offering some relief to the government before next week's annual budget and boosting the chance of a December rate cut by the Bank of England. (Source: Reuters)

Over the river and through the woods … by car – A record number of Americans planned to travel for Thanksgiving this year: 81.8 million. But due to lingering flight delays and cancellations from the government shutdown, 90% were taking a scenic drive rather than flying. That’s an increase of 1.3 million auto travelers over last year. (Source: AAA)

Something wicked this way comes – "Wicked: For Good” soared to a record-breaking $150 million domestic debut and $226 million globally, making it the biggest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation. The sequel not only topped its predecessor’s $112.5 million start but also claimed the year’s second-largest opening weekend, just behind "A Minecraft Movie." (Source: Variety)

Root canals—they’re good for your heart! – Root canals for dental infections not only protect oral health, but can significantly lower blood sugar—reducing diabetes risk—and improve cholesterol and fatty acid levels tied to heart health. (Source: King’s College London)

Porpoises popping – Though it was deemed unintentional, two Formula 1 drivers were disqualified from last week's Las Vegas Grand Prix after excessive "porpoising" wore down their cars' skid plates more than regulations allow. Porpoising is an aerodynamic issue in which the high speeds cause air to push the car down too much, and it springs back up (like a dolphin). (Source: Yahoo Sports)