Finance Wrapped - OECD Forecasts Fall for the US

Plus, North Korea is winning bigly with Bitcoin

Author

Brandon Harris
March 21, 2025

Hundreds of investing and finance newsletters hit my (and maybe your) inbox every week. This is the best of the best.

This week:

  • 📉 OECD Gets OCD Over Tariffs

  • 🚗 Will Tesla Look to a New Leader?

  • ☁️ Google Won’t Wiz Away Mutlicloud

  • 🏀 Robinhood Makes Merry With March Madness

  • 🇰🇵 North Korea Sits at Big-Kids Bitcoin Table

  • 🔬 FYI, Hyperfine and Nvidia are Taking on MRI

  • 🤔 3 stocks to consider

With how quickly the market and investment climate is changing right now, we can’t afford to not stay up to date… You can always read the latest and most relevant finance news & updates at FinanceWrapped.com.

📉 OECD Slashes US Growth Forecast

The OECD has dramatically cut its US growth forecast to 2.2% for 2025 and 1.6% for 2026. Aggressive tariff policies are creating ripple effects across North America, with Canada's growth forecast slashed to just 0.7% and Mexico facing a potential 1.3% contraction.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attempts to calm markets by framing recent corrections as "healthy," but consumer sentiment continues to decline for the third straight month.

🚗 Tesla Investors Call for Musk's Exit

Prominent Tesla investor Ross Gerber has publicly called for Elon Musk to step down as CEO, citing his expanding government commitments and neglect of the automaker.

The criticism comes as Tesla struggles with sales and has erased its post-election stock gains, while Musk focuses on his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.

☁️ Google Will Keep Wiz “Multicloud”

In a record-breaking $32 billion deal, Google is acquiring security startup Wiz while promising to maintain its multicloud capabilities.

Google Cloud continues to trail behind AWS and Azure, with just 12% market share compared to AWS's 30% and Azure's 21%. Wiz brings an impressive $700 million annual revenue rate - and is on track to hit $1 billion.

🏀 Robinhood Makes March Madness Predictions

Robinhood is diving into sports betting with a new prediction markets hub, allowing customers to trade on March Madness outcomes through CFTC-regulated exchange KalshiEX.

This move comes just weeks after their brief foray into Pro Football Championship betting was halted by regulators. The platform will also offer trading on Fed rate decisions.

🇰🇵 North Korea Bitcoin Heist Pressures Pole Positions

North Korea has vaulted to become the world's third-largest government Bitcoin holder following a massive $1.4 billion crypto heist from Bybit exchange.

The Lazarus Group, linked to North Korean intelligence, now controls 13,562 BTC valued at $1.14 billion, trailing only the US and UK in government holdings.

🔬 Hyperfine and Nvidia Partner for MRI Technology

Hyperfine and Nvidia have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to transform MRI diagnostics using artificial intelligence and accelerated computing.

The partnership focuses on enhancing Hyperfine's FDA-cleared portable MRI machine, Swoop, making diagnostic imaging faster, more precise, and more affordable globally.

Stock ideas

Here are three of my favorites from this past week.

Analysis provided by ​public.com​.

Remember to always DYOR.

Quest Resource Holding Corp (QRHC)

Bullish Case

  • Attractive Entry Point: The recent selloff coupled with strong underlying asset recovery presents an appealing entry point for investors.

  • Revenue Realignment: QRHC’s clear revenue segregation, especially through waste recovery and fixed service fees, offers resilience against commodity price fluctuations.

  • Upside Catalysts: With evolving market conditions and potential operational wins, QRHC could benefit from renewed investor interest and share price reacceleration.

Bearish Case

  • Recent Selloff Concerns: The recent pre-earnings selloff raises questions about potential lingering adverse factors that may not be immediately resolved.

  • Visibility Uncertainty: Limited guidance on future performance and unclear market signals could keep investor sentiment under pressure in the near term.

Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP)

Bullish Case

  • Growth in Self-Serve Commerce: Poised for strong transaction and subscription fee growth, powered by trends in cashless payments and micro-market expansion.

  • International Expansion: Potential revenue reacceleration in untapped Latin American and EMEA markets provides significant boon to global footprint.

  • Margin Expansion: Attractive growth with incremental margin improvements in transaction fees and subscription services, supported by stable take rates.

Bearish Case

  • Macro Uncertainty: Concerns over economic slowdown and volatility could dampen near-term revenue expectations and create headwinds.

  • Strategic Review Risks: Ongoing speculation regarding potential sales or go-private transactions introduces uncertainty around long-term corporate strategy.

Driven Brands (DRVN)

Bullish Case

  • Inflection Point in Core Segments: Well-positioned for organic growth with stabilization in the US car wash business and a clear focus on Take 5 oil change.

  • Restructuring Opportunities: Simplification of segment reporting and strategic re-segmentation could unlock hidden value and boost investor confidence.

  • Attractive Valuation Metrics: Trading at a compelling EBITDA multiple with growth prospects in automotive services,.

Bearish Case

  • Management and Integration Challenges: Recent CFO turnover and a history of complex segment integrations raise concerns about consistent strategic execution.

  • Debt and Leverage Risks: High leverage and fixed-rate debt exposure could constrain financial flexibility, particularly if growth projections falter.

💙 That’s a wrap

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Disclosures

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  • Nothing above is financial advice