Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>McDonald’s Corporation reported a 6% growth in global system-wide sales on a constant currency basis and a 3.8% increase in global comparable sales during the first quarter of 2026.</li><li>These results reflect solid performance across its three operating segments—the U.S., International Operated Markets (IOM), and International Developmental Licensed (IDL) markets.</li><li>The company gained market share in nearly all of its top 10 markets, supported by a consistent focus on value, culturally relevant marketing, and menu innovation.</li></ul>

McDonald’s Corporation reported a 6% growth in global system-wide sales on a constant currency basis and a 3.8% increase in global comparable sales during the first quarter of 2026.These results reflect solid performance across its three operating segments—the U.S., International Operated Markets (IOM), and International Developmental Licensed (IDL) markets.The company gained market share in nearly all of its top 10 markets, supported by a consistent focus on value, culturally relevant marketing, and menu innovation.

McDonald’s Value Push: Can Under-$3 Menu Items Keep Global Sales Momentum Alive?

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The US market is weakening again as an interday reversal after Nvidia results foreshadows continued selling in the AI theme.  Market breadth is weakening and stocks at 52-week lows surging.</li>
<li>Volatility has reached levels last seen during the tariff tantrum in April. Insider sales of Nvidia have surged since June. Private credit and private equity markets are showing stress.</li>
<li>US consumption has narrowed and is highly dependent on stock market gains. Household debt levels are at new highs, and consumer sentiment is lower than during the GFC in 2008/09.</li>
</ul>


The US market is weakening again as an interday reversal after Nvidia results foreshadows continued selling in the AI theme.  Market breadth is weakening and stocks at 52-week lows surging.
Volatility has reached levels last seen during the tariff tantrum in April. Insider sales of Nvidia have surged since June. Private credit and private equity markets are showing stress.
US consumption has narrowed and is highly dependent on stock market gains. Household debt levels are at new highs, and consumer sentiment is lower than during the GFC in 2008/09.


US Market: WALK TO THE EXIT NOW BEFORE EVERYONE STARTS RUNNING!

Independent in-depth research from Finimize, Finimize

Finimize Research

Independent in-depth research from Finimize

Finimize

Finimize is the #1 information platform for modern investors. We empower people to become smarter investors with bitesize insights from world-class analysts. 1 million+ strong community, 250 partners.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The US economy’s resilience hasn’t come from the many – it’s come from the top 10% as the “wealth effect” from rising asset prices has boosted spending.</li>
<li>But it works in reverse too.  Since the richest make up nearly half of America’s consumer spending, that could lead to a serious economic fallout.</li>
<li>It’s worth considering protecting your portfolio. I’ve pulled together one list of companies that should do well and another that could suffer from the change in climate.</li>
</ul>


The US economy’s resilience hasn’t come from the many – it’s come from the top 10% as the “wealth effect” from rising asset prices has boosted spending.
But it works in reverse too.  Since the richest make up nearly half of America’s consumer spending, that could lead to a serious economic fallout.
It’s worth considering protecting your portfolio. I’ve pulled together one list of companies that should do well and another that could suffer from the change in climate.


A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s Reversal

Podcast by Joe Weisenthal & Tracy Alloway, Odd Lots

Odd Lots

Podcast by Joe Weisenthal & Tracy Alloway

Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway explore the most interesting topics in finance, markets and economics. Join the conversation every Monday and Thursday.

<ul><li>McDonald's uses price pack architecture with varying prices for different purchasing methods</li><li>Pricing strategies raise questions about fairness, data privacy, and macroeconomic implications</li><li>Surge pricing in fast food is already present, similar to dynamic pricing in other industries</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

McDonald's uses price pack architecture with varying prices for different purchasing methodsPricing strategies raise questions about fairness, data privacy, and macroeconomic implicationsSurge pricing in fast food is already present, similar to dynamic pricing in other industriesThis content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Corporations Learned The Maximum Amount They Can Charge For a Product

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/par-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:37125:1" rel="noopener">PAR Technology (PAR US)</a>, a hospitality technology outfit, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/task-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32991:1" rel="noopener">TASK Group Holdings (TSK AU)</a> have entered into a <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240311/pdf/061bpzs6l0qsdz.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheme agreement</a>. </li>
<li>PAR is offering A$0.81/share in cash, a 103% premium to last close; or a 50:50 cash/scrip option with an implied value of A$0.98/share, an 145% premium to undisturbed. </li>
<li>TASK’s board unanimously recommends the Scheme in the absence of a superior proposal. A Scheme meeting is expected be held in June.</li>
</ul>



PAR Technology (PAR US), a hospitality technology outfit, and TASK Group Holdings (TSK AU) have entered into a Scheme agreement. 
PAR is offering A$0.81/share in cash, a 103% premium to last close; or a 50:50 cash/scrip option with an implied value of A$0.98/share, an 145% premium to undisturbed. 
TASK’s board unanimously recommends the Scheme in the absence of a superior proposal. A Scheme meeting is expected be held in June.


United States

McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serve a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.

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Mcdonald's Corp (MCD US)

McDonald’s Value Push: Can Under-$3 Menu Items Keep Global Sales Momentum Alive?

McDonald’s Corporation reported a 6% growth in global system-wide sales on a constant currency basis and a 3.8% increase in global comparable...

Baptista Research

US Market: WALK TO THE EXIT NOW BEFORE EVERYONE STARTS RUNNING!

A record share Americans are taking hardship withdrawals from their 401-K plans according to Vanguard, pressuring a central underpinning of the US...

David Mudd

A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s Reversal

The top 10% account for around 50% of consumer spending in the US. This insight looks at the sectors and companies that could win and lose from the...

Finimize Research

Corporations Learned The Maximum Amount They Can Charge For a Product

Odd Lots podcast explores pricing strategies, including McDonald's variable pricing based on ordering methods, with discussions on fairness, value...

Odd Lots

PAR Tech Taken To Task Group (TSK AU)

Trading at a gross/annualised spread (to the cash terms) of 5.2%/15.8%, assuming mid-July completion. If you are an arbitrageur and follow smallish...

David Blennerhassett

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