Global stocks, funds and policy shifts on Feb. 21

Monster Beverage drew heavy institutional activity in Q3 as Public Sector Pension Investment Board cut its stake by 73% and HighTower Advisors trimmed holdings by 26.2%. Despite those reductions and reported insider selling by executives, the stock recently traded near record highs around $83.76, with a market cap of $81.84 billion and a PE near 48. Analysts remain broadly constructive: across two separate coverage updates, 14 brokers rate the shares Buy versus nine Hold and one Sell, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" and an average target of about $79–$79.50. Deutsche Bank, Argus and others have recently raised targets, while the company prepares to report Q4 2025 results on Feb. 26.

In biopharma, BridgeBio Pharma saw HighTower Advisors slash its stake by 94.6% in Q3, even as headlines highlighted strong Phase 3 PROPEL 3 achondroplasia data and a series of analyst upgrades. Twenty-two brokers now rate BridgeBio a Buy versus one Sell, with a consensus target around $82.05. Shares recently traded near $68.14. Elsewhere in healthcare, Gilead Sciences attracted new buying from Empirical Wealth Management, which lifted its position by 52.1% to about 78,500 shares. Gilead reported Q4 EPS of $1.86, slightly above consensus, on $7.93 billion of revenue, and issued 2026 EPS guidance of $8.45–$8.85. The stock recently traded near $151 with a dividend yield of roughly 2.2% following a quarterly payout increase to $0.82.

Medical technology names also remained active. Becton, Dickinson’s stock was held by multiple institutions, though Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund reduced its stake by 74.1% in Q3. The company recently reported quarterly EPS of $2.91, topping estimates, on $5.25 billion of revenue, and set 2026 guidance at $12.35–$12.65 EPS. STERIS, another equipment provider, saw Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund trim its holdings by 75.7%, but the stock retains a "Moderate Buy" analyst consensus and a target price around $275.20 following 9.2% year-on-year revenue growth and 2026 EPS guidance of $10.15–$10.30.

Real estate investment trusts drew a mix of upgrades and cautious positioning. Digital Realty Trust reported Q4 EPS of $1.86, slight revenue outperformance at $1.63 billion and 2026 EPS guidance of $7.90–$8.00, alongside a quarterly dividend of $1.22 (2.8% yield). The data-center REIT maintains a "Moderate Buy" consensus and an average target near $192, despite a recent downgrade by one service to "strong sell". Retail-focused Kite Realty was upgraded from Sell to Hold by one research service, with Wall Street targets clustered around $25.63. Healthcare- and senior‑living‑oriented REITs such as Ventas and LTC Properties continued to emphasize income, with Ventas guiding 2026 EPS to $3.78–$3.88 and raising its dividend to $0.52 quarterly, while LTC maintained a $0.19 monthly payout, implying yields near the mid‑single digits.

In utilities and power infrastructure, Evergy’s Q4 EPS of $0.42 missed consensus, but revenue grew 11.1% year-on-year to $754 million. Management rolled out a five‑year capital plan of about $21.6 billion and issued 2026 EPS guidance of $4.14–$4.34. Evergy declared a $0.695 quarterly dividend (about 3.5% yield), and multiple brokers, including Wells Fargo (WFC) and Royal Bank of Canada, trimmed or reaffirmed price targets in the low‑ to mid‑$80s, with a "Moderate Buy" profile. Duke Energy, which drew a large new investment from ANTIPODES PARTNERS, reported Q4 EPS of $1.52 on $45.79 billion of revenue, announced a quarterly dividend of $1.78 (3.9% yield), and guided 2026 EPS to $7.12. Enbridge, another ANTIPODES holding, raised its dividend to $0.97 quarterly (about 7.5% yield) and continues to carry a "Moderate Buy" consensus, partly offset by some analysts’ Reduce recommendations.

Infrastructure and industrial names also updated investors. Cheniere Energy, now in ANTIPODES’ portfolio, cited 2025 sales of $3.58 billion, $310 million in net income and $403 million in adjusted free cash flow, while authorizing $208 million in share repurchases (an 8% share count reduction). Builder‑oriented suppliers such as Builders FirstSource and Arcosa faced mixed recommendations: Builders FirstSource carries a Hold overall, with a consensus target near $129, after Q4 earnings modestly missed on EPS while revenue declined 12.1% year-on-year. Arcosa was upgraded to Buy by one service and maintains a "Moderate Buy" on Wall Street, supported by infrastructure demand.

Among financials and payments, MetLife saw HighTower Advisors trim its position by 14.3% in Q3 even as the insurer posted Q4 EPS of $2.49 on $52.44 billion in revenue, with analysts projecting full‑year 2026 EPS of about 9.65 and maintaining a "Moderate Buy" rating. Mastercard (MA) reported Q4 EPS of $4.76 versus $4.24 expected, on $8.81 billion in revenue, and recently declared a $0.87 quarterly dividend (0.7% yield). Despite some institutional selling, brokers remain broadly positive: six rate the stock Strong Buy, 16 Buy and two Hold, with a consensus target of roughly $669. In REIT finance and credit markets, Franklin BSP Realty Trust and FS Credit Opportunities both carry "Moderate Buy" consensus views following recent dividend adjustments. Franklin BSP reduced its quarterly payout to $0.20 (about 8.8% yield at recent prices), while FS Credit Opportunities maintained a monthly dividend near 14.6% annualized. Analyst commentary on both entities underscores elevated yield against credit and rate risk.

On the policy front, multiple items framed the macro backdrop. A recent US Supreme Court decision struck down President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose certain tariffs, with political analysts suggesting this ruling raises the stakes for his upcoming State of the Union address amid a "rough patch" marked by affordability concerns and immigration controversy. Separately, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met in New Delhi to advance cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths, with officials highlighting Brazil’s large reserves and India’s interest in diversifying away from Chinese supply. The meeting coincided with broader discussions on trade, multilateralism and new investment flows between the two emerging economies.