Google Ruled a Monopoly… Again? & Netflix Takes Closer Step to $1T

Summary

Morning Brew Daily: Episode Summary Title: Google Ruled a Monopoly… Again? & Netflix Takes Closer Step to $1T
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Hosts: Neal Freyman and Toby Howell

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1. Google Declared a Monopoly Once More

Timestamp: 02:57 - 06:10

Neal and Toby delve into the recent landmark ruling where Google has been deemed a monopoly for the second time within a year. This decision by a district judge focused on Google's dominance in the ad technology market, specifically its acquisition and maintenance of an uncompetitive advantage.

• Neal Freyman explains, “Google is not feeling lucky” after the DOJ's victory, highlighting that Google may face significant structural changes or restrictions on its business operations. (02:57)

• Toby Howell breaks down the specifics: “This case is about how Google dominates online ad sales... it focuses specifically on its role in this digital display ad market and the behind the scenes tech that powers those things.” (04:17)

The judge ruled that Google monopolized two out of three ad tech markets:

1. Publisher Ad Servers – Tools used by publishers to sell ad space.
2. Ad Exchanges – Platforms facilitating the buying and selling of ads.

However, Google was not found to have a monopoly on Ad Networks used by marketers. This partial ruling signals a challenging path ahead for Google, which plans to appeal the aspects of the decision it disagrees with. The hosts note Google's arguments revolve around the affordability and effectiveness of their ad tech tools, but the court remains unconvinced.

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2. Escalating Tensions Between President Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Timestamp: 05:13 - 11:51

The episode transitions to the growing friction between former President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Recently, Trump publicly called for Powell’s termination, criticizing his approach to interest rate adjustments.

• Toby Howell summarizes Trump's stance: “Powell's termination cannot come fast enough... Powell is always too late and wrong when it comes to cutting interest rates.” (06:10)

This conflict underscores a broader Supreme Court case that could potentially strip the Fed of its political independence—a cornerstone of U.S. monetary policy since the 1970s. The hosts discuss the implications of this case:

• Neal Freyman highlights economist concerns: “Reducing the Fed independence could send markets tumbling even more volatile than they are now.” (08:43)

• Toby Howell adds historical context, referencing President Nixon's pressure on the Fed in the 1970s and the subsequent push for Fed autonomy to prevent political interference in economic policy. (09:49)

Current challenges for Powell include balancing the dual mandates of the Fed: controlling inflation and maintaining high employment. Recent speeches by Powell have suggested that the aggressive trade policies under Trump could exacerbate inflation and slow economic growth, putting Powell in a difficult position.

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3. Netflix's Robust Q1 Earnings and $1 Trillion Ambition

Timestamp: 11:51 - 14:24

Shifting focus to the entertainment sector, Neal and Toby discuss Netflix’s impressive first-quarter earnings, positioning the streaming giant closer to a $1 trillion market cap.

• Toby Howell reports: “Netflix reported earnings yesterday and it turns out you can't. Tariff love is blind. The biggest streamer in the world had another blowout quarter, posting a major earnings beat as revenue grew 13% in Q1 and surpassed $10.5 billion.” (12:30)

Netflix has strategically minimized its exposure to tariffs and continues to grow its subscriber base, although it recently stopped reporting subscriber numbers to focus on revenue and financial metrics. The company’s future plans include:

• Introducing an ad-supported tier, which has already attracted 43% of new subscribers in February at a lower price point.

• Executives aim to double revenue by 2030, with a target market cap of $1 trillion.

• Neal Freyman notes the potential risks: “43% of all new Netflix subscribers in February signed up to this lower priced ad tier... advertising spending could drop 5.8% this year if a recession hits.” (13:16)

The hosts acknowledge that while Netflix appears resilient, especially in economic downturns, reliance on advertising revenue introduces new vulnerabilities.

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4. Stock of the Week: Hertz

Timestamp: 15:30 - 18:45

In the segment Stock of the Week, Neal highlights Hertz’s recent stock surge following a significant investment by hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

• Neal Freyman states: “The stock surged 56% on Wednesday after Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund took a $46 million stake, equivalent to about 4% of Hertz's outstanding shares.” (17:30)

Ackman's investment suggests confidence in Hertz’s strategy to pivot from compact to full-size vehicles, leveraging higher tariffs on foreign cars to increase the resale value of their used fleet. However, skepticism remains due to Hertz’s tumultuous history, including bankruptcy in 2021 and substantial short selling.

• Toby Howell questions Ackman’s move: “Is Ackman a genius or out of his mind?” (18:45)

The duo debates whether Hertz can stabilize and grow amidst lingering concerns over its business model and market conditions.

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5. Dog of the Week: UnitedHealth Group

Timestamp: 19:30 - 20:58

The Dog of the Week segment covers UnitedHealth Group’s significant stock drop following a disappointing earnings report.

• Toby Howell explains: “UnitedHealth is the largest seller of Medicare health plans, which left it especially vulnerable to both an increased amount of care activity from people using those plans, as well as some payment changes the US Government made to crack down on some of the tactics insurers use to boost their profits.” (19:30)

UnitedHealth faced unforeseen rises in medical costs, leading to the first earnings miss in over a decade and a drastic revision of its 2025 revenue forecast downward by approximately $10 billion. This prompted a 20% drop in its stock price, significantly impacting the Dow Jones Industrial Average due to UnitedHealth’s substantial weight within the index.

• Neal Freyman remarks on the market reaction: “UnitedHealth dropping as much as 20% dragged down the Dow 527 points, which is more than it dropped in 1987 on Black Monday.” (20:58)

The hosts emphasize the limitations of the Dow as a market indicator, given its price-weighted nature, which overrepresents the impact of high-priced stocks like UnitedHealth.

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6. Fast Food Fridays: New Menu Innovations

Timestamp: 21:00 - 30:42

Concluding the episode, Neal and Toby introduce Fast Food Fridays, highlighting recent menu launches from major chains aimed at catering to evolving consumer preferences.

a. Chili's Big QP Burger

• Neal Freyman describes Chili’s competitive move: “On Tuesday, the chain rolled out a new burger called the Big QP, which is essentially a blatant rip off of the McDonald's Quarter Pounder.” (23:23)

Chili’s leverages direct comparisons and price competitiveness to attract customers, continuing a trend of mocking industry leaders to boost its market share. The Big QP mirrors McDonald's offering but boasts “85% more beef” at a lower price, contributing to Chili's impressive 31% quarterly sales growth.

b. McDonald's Snack Wrap Revival

• Neal Freyman shares excitement: “McDonald's teased the long awaited return of the snack wrap, a cult favorite menu item that hasn't been sold in the US in nine years.” (24:34)

The reintroduction of the snack wrap aims to capitalize on nostalgic demand, despite past challenges related to preparation time and sales performance. The hosts anticipate a successful comeback, especially with the current popularity of chicken items.

c. Taco Bell's Mass Pollo Nuggets

• Toby Howell reports Taco Bell's initiative: “Taco Bell is bringing back Mass Pollo, reintroducing crispy chicken nuggets for an extended eight weeks.” (27:12)

These nuggets, adorned with unique flavors like jalapeño buttermilk and served with diverse sauces, reflect Taco Bell’s strategy to blend trendiness with signature taste innovations. The positive reception of their limited-edition launch supports the decision to extend availability.

d. Red Robin's Burger Pass

• Neal Freyman highlights a promotional offer: “Red Robin is offering a Burger Pass for May, allowing passholders to get a free burger and bottomless sides daily for the entire month.” (28:01)

Despite the limited availability and rapid sell-out of the passes, the promotion underscores Red Robin’s commitment to attracting burger enthusiasts through substantial value offerings. The hosts humorously ponder the practicality of utilizing such a deal extensively.

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Conclusion

Neal and Toby wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to enjoy their weekend, highlighting the dynamic interplay between major corporations and economic policies. The discussion provided an insightful look into the challenges and triumphs of tech giants like Google, the financial strategies of entertainment leaders like Netflix, and the competitive maneuvers in the fast-food industry.

For any feedback or queries, listeners are invited to contact Morning Brew Daily at MorningBrew.com.

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Notable Quotes:

• Neal Freyman (02:57): “Google is not feeling lucky.”
• Toby Howell (04:17): “This case is about how Google dominates online ad sales... it focuses specifically on its role in this digital display ad market and the behind the scenes tech that powers those things.”
• Neal Freyman (08:43): “Reducing the Fed independence could send markets tumbling even more volatile than they are now.”
• Toby Howell (06:10): “Powell's termination cannot come fast enough... Powell is always too late and wrong when it comes to cutting interest rates.”
• Neal Freyman (02:57): “Google is not feeling lucky.”
• Neal Freyman (11:51): “Netflix is coming off a record year last year and revenue growth was 16%.”
• Neal Freyman (15:30): “The stock surged 56% on Wednesday after Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund took a $46 million stake.”
• Toby Howell (19:30): “UnitedHealth is the largest seller of Medicare health plans...”

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the Morning Brew Daily episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.

Transcript

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[Neal Freyman]

Good morning, Brew Daily Show. I'm Neal Freyman.

[Toby Howell]

And I'm Toby Howell.

[Neal Freyman]

Today President Trump said Jerome Powell's termination can't come soon enough. But can he fire the Fed chair?

[Toby Howell]

Ben Netflix is looking like the calm within the tariff storm. It just reported some tasty first quarter earnings. It's Friday, April 18th. Let's ride.

[Neal Freyman]

Good Friday morning, everyone. And I mean that literally, because today is Good Friday. That means the markets are closed for the holiday and many of you are looking ahead to the Easter weekend. If there's one thing clouding Easter celebrations this year, it's the price of eggs, which are up about 60% compared to a year ago. Some companies are offering less budget busting alternatives. Jet puffed marshmallows released a color dyeing kit as a festive mess. Free twist on egg decoration for two bucks, which includes six colors, decorating pens, and of course a 24 ounce bag of marshmallows. Toby, what would you draw on a marshmallow?

[Toby Howell]

I would draw an impression of the roof of my mouth because I am eating those things. They are definitely a 2 to 1 ratios of marshmallows decorated to marshmallows consumed. But this trend of finding ways to have some Easter fun without eggs is a fun one. Some moms at a Facebook group were dying potatoes and passing them off as eggs. Not as delicious, but also cost effective. Also rocks. Literal rocks. Definitely not as fun to eat as marshmallows. But still, most of the appeal of dying eggs is just the tradition of it and that you do it with your family. So as long as you keep that going, it doesn't matter if it's actually an egg or a rock or a marshmallow. And now a word from our sponsor, Planet Oat. Neil, you know how some actors just own every scene they're in?

[Neal Freyman]

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[Neal Freyman]

Call me a monopoly once, shame on you. Call me a monopoly twice. Well, that just makes me Google for the second time in less than a year, Google has been deemed a monopoly in court after a district judge ruled that Google acquired and maintained an uncompetitive advantage in the market for ad technology. It's another victory for the DOJ in its crusade against big tech's power and another stinging defeat for Google, which could see large aspects of its businesses hived off or impeded. Google was already found to monopolize the search market last year. The case decided yesterday concerned the largely invisible but incredibly important ad tech tools that power the Internet. Essentially the inner workings behind why you see an ad on a web page. The DOJ accused Google of monopolizing three separate markets within ad tech, which allowed it to collect monopoly profits from publishers and advertisers who had no alternative, while ultimately harming end consumers. The judge agreed on two out of the three markets. Yes, monopoly on publisher ad servers, which is how publishers sell ad space on their sites. Yes, on the market for ad exchanges which facilitate ad buyers and sellers, but no monopoly on the ad networks used by marketers. A little in the weeds for sure, but tldr, Google is not feeling lucky.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, let's just dive into the weeds a little bit because it is confusing. This case is about how Google dominates online ad sales. So it's not the ads that you see in Google search, it's the ones you see just across the rest of the Internet really. It focuses specifically on its role in this digital display ad market and the behind the scenes tech that powers those things. So what is being challenged here is their dominance in the publisher side ad tools. What's not being challenged is their search advertising business, which accounts for, you know, 90% of its overall revenue. Still, that is a sizable revenue chunk that is up for, you know, debate here. It accounted for 10% of its revenue last year, you know, $10 billion worth. So it's not nothing, but it's not necessarily this existential Thing. But, yeah, when you add up the two latest monopoly rulings, Google is feeling like, God, we can't catch a break here for, for at least initially speaking.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah, I mean, they said they are going to appeal the half of the or the third of the ruling that they lost. Google spokesperson said, we disagree with the court's decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective. Just like their argument in the search case where, you know, the vast majority of people use Google search. Their argument was, sorry for being good. And the other accusation of the DOJ here was that not only do they have these, you know, very powerful ad tech tools, but they warp them together into an ecosystem that entraps people and publishers and advertisers and doesn't allow them to lead the ecosystem, leave the ecosystem. So it's this integration that regulators were also after. Again, Google pushes back and says that all this integration leads to more affordability, more usability. Obviously, those arguments fell on deaf ears.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, specifically what you're describing there is it breaks antitrust law by engaging in a practice called tying, which is forcing customers to use one Google product in order to get access to the other. And so that was one of the things that set off warning bells and caused the judge to rule like they did. So looking ahead here, how does Google kind of navigate these rocky waters like most of big tech? Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, has been kind of going on this charm offensive with President Trump. He attended his inauguration, and then just last week, Trump told reporters, I love Google. So it does seem like there is a little bit of, you know, love coming from the White House. So that may potentially influence how this case happens. But still, second time in eight months that the company has been deemed a monopoly in court. The next big thing to look out for on Google's calendar is not your actual Google Calendar. This is Google's actual calendar. They are a case for the remedies of that initial monopoly case begins on Monday next week. So we'll probably give you an update on what is at stake there. That could mean shaving off Google Chrome, which is a big part of its business. So, yes, a very crowded calendar when it comes to monopoly cases. If you are Google. Jerome Powell and President Trump's beef reached new levels yesterday as Trump explicitly called out the Fed chair. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, Powell's termination cannot come fast enough, explaining that Powell is always too late and wrong when it comes to cutting interest rates. What set off Trump's tirade, a speech given by Powell in Chicago the day before, where he warned that the size and scope of the trade agenda Trump was pursuing could lead to higher inflation and slower growth than initially expected. It's left the Fed in what Powell called a challenging scenario. If the Fed leaves rates where they are to restrain inflation, and it could worsen the job market. The same goes for vice versa. If it tries to stimulate the economy with a rate cut, it could send inflation skyrocketing again. Of course, the subtext of the tension between Trump and Powell is an upcoming Supreme Court case that could pave the way to the Fed losing its political independence, a longtime crusade of Trump, who thinks the President should have more say on rate decisions. The case challenges a little known ruling from 1935 that prevents the President from firing federal agency officials for political reasons. If the Supreme Court rules in the White House's favor, it could bring the Fed under Trump's thumb. So, Neil, this war of words is also heading to the courts. With the fate of Fed independence on.

[Neal Freyman]

The line, economists across the board, both on the right and the left, warn that reducing the Fed independence could send markets tumbling even more volatile than they are now. Because the Fed is supposed to be independent. So it can think long term. People in political office have these four year terms. They need to, they think in a very short term scenario. So, yes, President Trump, like many other presidents, probably want lower rates because that causes the economy to go faster. But if you're Jerome Powell, you are looking over the long term. You are not elected by anyone, so you can keep rates higher because of the inflation threat of what happens when you lower interest rates. Which is why Politico reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, he said he's been working behind the scenes cautioning President Trump and White House officials to say, look, this is something you don't want to mess with. He has previously, previously said publicly the Fed independence is the jewel box that has got to be preserved. So he's pushing back on this within the administration, saying this is just a line you can't cross or else investors will lose faith in the entire system.

[Toby Howell]

Right. And this goes back to the 1970s, actually, because the Fed has guarded its monetary policy since then. Because at the time, President Richard Nixon privately was pressuring his Fed chairman, Arthur Burns, to ease policy ahead of his election. Because you're right, these political people think in terms of election years, and that pushed the US into this punishing recession. And the early 1980s were just kind of a disaster. And so The Fed and a lot of central banks around the world kind of pushed for their operational autonomy, gaining the independence that they now have today. And a lot of investors look at Fed independence as a key ingredient to creating this environment to foster lower inflation, less risk to, you know, bring investment into the country. It is the stabilizing force when it comes to U.S. markets. And so if that comes under, you know, much more fickle political power, then you don't have any of those benefits that independent Fed has granted you.

[Neal Freyman]

Meanwhile, Powell is just in a pickle here. I mean, it's, it's a really tough job he has here because he, you know, in that speech on Wednesday, he warned that the tariffs were much greater than the worst case, worst case scenario that anybody at the Fed projected. So tariffs, he expects, will lead to higher than expected inflation and lower growth. And like, as you mentioned, I mean, that is just. Those are clashing priorities because the Fed's has two mandates, which is to keep inflation low and employment high. Those are now clashing. He can't raise interest rates because that would send the economy into a recession. He can't lower them because he's also worried about the inflation. So there are these two competing priorities. He's not sure exactly which ones to prioritize. So we're in this moment of stasis where the Fed held interest rates at their current level for the first two meetings. And it looks like we're just in this wait and see approach because when you move one lever, it affects the other in a bad way. Same vice versa. So, so Powell is just in this, in this state of paralysis.

[Toby Howell]

Pals in a pickle. I like it. Netflix reported earnings yesterday and it turns out you can't. Tariff love is blind. The biggest streamer in the world had another blowout quarter, posting a major earnings beat as revenue grew 13% in Q1 and surpassed 10 and a half billion dollars. As tariffs throw other sectors into turmoil, the streaming giant is looking like the calm and the macroeconomic storm. There's been no material change to our overall business outlook. The company said in a statement yesterday. Netflix is seen as well positioned to ride out market turmoil thanks to minimal exposure to tariffs in an ad business that's driving steady growth. On top of that, analysts believe subscriptions to the service are among the last thing consumers would cut in a downturn. Because what's a recession without a little black mirror to calm the nerves? A slight wrinkle to yesterday's report. After ending last year with over 300 million subscribers, yesterday was the first quarter that Netflix did not report subscriber numbers. Netflix ditched the once important metric to focus on revenue and other financial metrics as performance indicators. So investors were happy to see its revenue and other financial metrics indicated very strong performance this quarter. Netflix certainly has some swagger to it right now. Executives share the ambitious goal to reach a $1 trillion market cap and double its revenue by 2030. And $1 trillion sounds like a lot for a streaming company, but yesterday was a step in the right direction.

[Neal Freyman]

Neil Netflix is coming off a record year last year and revenue growth was 16%. Operating margins were up 27%. They got more subscribers last year than during COVID 41 million compared to 36.6 million in 2020. So yes, the streaming wars are effectively over. Netflix has won. It's just this next act that is an open question. A lot of it involves this ad tier, right? 43% of all new Netflix subscribers in February signed up to this lower priced ad tier, which is at 799amonth. And Netflix thinks that much of its subscriber growth and much of its revenue growth can come from advertising. You said it was recession proof, but the ad market is not immune to a recession. Moffat Nathanson projected that if a recession were to come at us, advertising spending could drop 5.8% this year. It had previously projected ad spending to grow 5.8%. So that's a huge shift from a big, big growth to, you know, a big loss. So we'll see if Netflix manages to weather the storm should it come.

[Toby Howell]

It does think it's pretty well insulated when it comes to tariffs and a downturn. They even At a March meeting, Netflix executives acknowledged the fact that they're the U.S. could enter a an economic downturn, but they said that streaming could be less affected because people stay home and instead of going out to the movies, they just post up on their couch and watch adolescents watch these big Netflix shows. Also, Netflix saw this was a different circumstance, but rapid growth during the COVID 19 pandemic recession. That was literally because we couldn't leave our homes. But it is a little bit of a data point. And then you can go all the way back to the European Union's recession in 2012. International Subscriber Additions grew at a more rapid pace during that downturn. So there are some data points that do show that yes, Netflix is a different business. Back then it didn't have its advertising tier that is driving a lot of growth today. But there's something about just posting up on your couch, tossing on the TV when times are hard outside of your home that Netflix seems to benefit from. Up next, let's do our Stock of the Week Dog of the week.

[Neal Freyman]

The best B2B marketing sometimes ends up in front of the wrong people. It's like advertising fishing gear to a fish.

[Toby Howell]

That's a fitting metaphor. What's also fitting is when you can tap into the right network to target the professionals you're looking for.

[Neal Freyman]

That's what LinkedIn ads is built for. LinkedIn has grown to a network of over 1 billion professionals. Of those, 130 million are decided decision makers. You can target your buyers by job title, industry, company role, seniority, revenue. So many options all in one place. Don't waste precious budget on the wrong audience. Tap into LinkedIn ads to find your people. LinkedIn will even give you a 100 credit on your next campaign so you can try it yourself. Just go to LinkedIn.com mbd that's LinkedIn.com mbd Terms and conditions apply only on LinkedIn ads. Got five minutes to spare?

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Fund your account in five minutes or less and you could earn up to $10,000. Yes, 10K. When you transfer your old investment portfolio, start at public.com/morning brew. That's public.com/morning brew paid for by Public Investing Full disclosures and Podcast Description welcome to my favorite segment of the show, Stock of the Week Dog of the Week because it means it's Friday. At long last Toby and I will pick one stock that soared to space like Katy Perry and another that tumbled back to earth. Also like Katy Perry 11 minutes later I won the pre show. Who cried more after Rory McIlroy won the Masters contest. So I get to go first and my stock of the Week is hurts because Bill Ackman just made a big bet on the yellow rental car company and investors are loving it. The stock surged 56% on Wednesday after Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund took a $46 million stake, equivalent to about 4% of Hertz's outstanding shares. Then yesterday the stock added another 44%. Ackman is now the company's third largest shareholder. So what does he see in Hertz? The potential to upgrade from compact to full size, likely because of the auto tariffs. Trump's 25% tariffs on foreign cars are expected to raise prices for not only new cars, but used cars as well. Since the two typically rise in tandem. That would increase the value of Hertz's vast fleet of used vehicles, which it could sell at a higher price point than before to reap the rewards. Of course, that's the bull case. There are plenty of haters of the stock, which is why nearly half of its float is sold short. Hertz has had a rough time finding stability after emerging from bankruptcy in 2021, when a huge investment in Tesla's flopped hard and a recession would probably kill demand for rentals. Toby, is Ackman a genius or out of his mind?

[Toby Howell]

I guess we'll see. Basically anything Hertz does is better than their decisions they made coming out of 2021 because this decision to go all in on electric vehicles was not the right choice. They placed an order for 100,000 Tesla's. They wanted to remake their image. We're not a gas guzzling rental fleet company anymore. We are this forward looking, modern, environmentally friendly, you know, tech forward company. But the issue was renters kind of hate renting electric vehicles. One, it's that range anxiety, they don't know if they'll be able to fill them up. And then two, they were just difficult to maintain and didn't really hold their resale value that much. So it's very interesting too though that they got bailed out by this very unlikely source of, you know, President Trump's tariffs, jacking up car prices. So I think that is where Ackman is seeing down the line. Is this a more healthy business now than it was, you know, a few years ago? Maybe now that they're rolling back that electric vehicle pursuit. So just seeing the stock movement though, that it's still got a little bit of that meme stock culture to it because I mean this thing went straight up the past few days, so definitely some remnants of that. Of those. The heyday of its mean stock heights. My dog of the week is UnitedHealth Group, which sent shockwaves through the insurance industry with a gloomy annual forecast and its first earnings miss in over 10 years. Yesterday the company said it was hit with some unforeseen rises in medical costs, which caused them to tear up their forecast they made just three months ago. Markets did not like the sound of that. And the company fell as much as 20% when markets opened, its biggest drop since 1999. UnitedHealth is the largest seller of Medicare health plans, which left it especially vulnerable to both an increased amount of care activity from people using those plans, as well as some payment changes the US Government made to crack down on some of the tactics insurers use to boost their profits. The disappointing results also stemmed from Optum Health, the company's clinic, surgery center and home care division, which had previously been its fastest growing profit engine. UnitedHealth cut its 2025 revenue forecast for its once cash cow by around $10 billion. So, Neil, a historically bad day for UnitedHealth, one that also dragged down the rest of the Dow with it, Right?

[Neal Freyman]

A very curious outcome in the stock market, too. You might have checked your stocks yesterday or the major indexes and saw that the Dow was down over a percent, 1.3%, while the S&P 500 was up 0.1%. Usually those indexes go pretty much in lockstep with each other. So it's curious to see such a massive divergence. And that is, you know, specifically because of UnitedHealth. UnitedHealth is the highest weighted stock in the Dow. And we talked about this a lot. The Dow is a index of 30 companies that is not representative of the stock market because it is weighted by share price, not by market value. UnitedHealth has a share price of more than $400 per share, which means it is weighted more in the Dow than much more valuable companies like Apple or Nvidia. So whatever UnitedHealth does on any given day, that's typically what the Dow is going to do. So UnitedHealth dropping as much as 20%, dragged down the Dow 527 points, which is more than it dropped in 1987 on Black Monday. So that is sort of the divergence you saw between the Dow and S and P. Blame UnitedHealth for this truly shocking earnings report. Investors were absolutely floored. The CEO said, I don't even know what's going on. Like we never. We issue very conservative expectations and guidance going forward. And we completely whiffed on that like a huge executional misstep. Finally introducing a new segment to take you into the weekend we're calling Fast Food Fridays. This week, a number of chains introduced Ortiz new menu items that you simply must know about if you are a patriotic American. So here we go. First up, Chili's, which cannot stop itself from trolling McDonald's. On Tuesday, the chain rolled out a new burger called the Big QP, which is essentially a blatant rip off of the McDonald's Quarter Pound Pounder. It has the exact same toppings, two slices of American cheese, pickles, ketchup and diced onions, but says it has 85% more beef. Chili's is leaning into the comparison with its marketing campaign, noting in a press Release that its 1099 burger deal is less expensive than the same one at McDonald's. And in a new TV ad called a Quarter Pounder. Tiny. Bashing McDonald's while copying its menu items is a recipe that's been working really well for Chili's. In the most recent quarter, sales surged 31%, the third straight quarter of double digit growth.

[Toby Howell]

It's not the first McDonald's inspired burger to even come out of Chili's recently. To the Big QP is the second one. The first one was this Big Mac esque burger called the Big Smasher that also kind of rolled out with this very pointed ad campaign that called out the Big Mac. So it is not shying away from these comparisons whatsoever. And the reason why Chili's feels emboldened to do this is remember, McDonald's prices kind of have creeped upwards over the last few years as inflation started to impact consumers. And it actually has hurt, hurt McDonald's a lot because now you're competing with someone like Chili, someone like Chipotle, getting into that, you know, fast casual realm because your prices are no longer low enough that you, you feel like you're getting a good value. So it's very astute of Chili's to realize that, hey, this market leader is very vulnerable right now. Let's get after it. Let's, they are release burgers called the big QB. Let's put the exact same toppings on that McDonald's does and let's, you know, call them out. And Chili's is just absolutely crushing it right now. The 31% growth. Its parent company, Brinker International has seen its stock go up 200% over the past year. So Chili's is just undefeated right now. I'm feeling love in this Chili's tonight.

[Neal Freyman]

Even while getting stuffed into a marketing locker by Chili's, McDonald's is still going on offense. The fast food giant teased the long awaited return of the snack wrap, a cult favorite menu item that hasn't been sold in the US in nine years. On Tuesday, the official McDonald's account posted, quote, snack wraps 0x14 2025 implying that the snack wraps would return on the 14th day of a month. That's still TBD. They sound like Gandalf, but it'll probably be before October given the 0 as the first digit of the month. This isn't a total surprise because execs had previously said that the snack wrap would be coming back this year, but it's getting realer than ever.

[Toby Howell]

The snack Wrap is one of those weird menu items that has a massive cult following. I mean, we were speaking about it, we just have good memories of it. I used to eat 10 of them after soccer practice, but it was discontinued all the way back in 2016, which is wild to think about at this point because it was just very time consuming to prepare. You had to steam the tortilla. You had to assemble multiple ingredients, which slowed down service times. And then also, despite what revisionist history might say, snack wraps didn't meet sales expectations at the time. So even though it is one of those things that people have been clamoring for for almost a decade, at this point, it wasn't exactly this big sales juggernaut. That being said, I think it's a great move to release it now. Chicken is having a moment again. Why not capitalize on, you know, people's love for this menu item as well? So I do think just the the forces of people love chicken and people love snack wrap will kind of make this a pretty successful re debut.

[Neal Freyman]

What's your, what's your pick on the month? Oh, it'll come back. So we know it's before October.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, I don't know if June, like a summer thing. Yeah, Midsummer snack wraps in the summer sounds pretty good to me. Next up, Taco Bell is Living Moss. By bringing back Mass Pollo to their menu Beginning on April 24, it is reintroducing crispy chicken nuggets to its menu for an extended eight week. And if all goes well, its take on nuggets could become a permanent menu item by next year. Taco Bell first introduced the seemingly out of place item back in December as kind of a novelty expansion beyond its typical offerings. But demand was so high that they sold out of a month's supply of the chicken nuggets in about a week. Neal remember these things? Taco Bell put their own twist on them all. White meat dipped in zesty jalapeno buttermilk, then coated in tortilla chips and breadcrumbs. Plus they come with a variety of sauces, including a partnership with Hidden Valley for a spicy Ranch I never got the chance to try because they sold out so quickly, which is why Taco Bell is bringing them back.

[Neal Freyman]

I mean, you just mentioned that chicken was all the rage in fast food and Taco Bell is showing that here by bringing back the chicken nuggets for a longer period of time, perhaps making that permanent in 2026. They hope that chicken will be a $5 million $5 billion menu category by 2030. McDonald's is half of its sales as much as beef in chicken. So this is just everyone's, everyone's loving pollo these days and Taco Bell is bringing it back. I think the X factor is also these sauces. The Hidden Valley Fire Ranch sauce fans went crazy over it. So the ability, I think it's just two trends here, which is chicken and the ability to customize and dip things in sauce are just things that Gen Z love. So fast food restaurants are absolutely just chasing after that and they did it right.

[Toby Howell]

Like they put the tortilla chips on the outside. They just added enough that made it feel like a Taco Bell menu item and not just a trend chasing thing, even though it's a little bit of both. I really do want to try them though because it just sounds good, you know, zesty buttermilk Ranch, like the, the, the ranch sauce itself sounds very delicious. Our final fast food Friday update is that Red Robin Yum. Is getting mighty generous with its burgers. In May. The chain is offering a Burger Pass, which is a physical card that passholders can brandish to get a free burger and bottomless sides daily for the entire month of May. The card will set you back only 20 bucks, but the total value by Red Robin's estimation is $682. The impetus behind the invention of the bottomless Burger pass is that May is National Burger Month. You'll probably see other restaurants advertising deals of their own, but none as juicy as Red Robins. Unfortunately, there is one caveat that I have for all you burger loving listeners out there. I regret to inform you that the passes went on sale at 11am Eastern yesterday and sold out in minutes.

[Neal Freyman]

Well, this got me thinking. How many burgers could I possibly eat in a month? I mean, $20 is a great deal. Obviously we can't get it now because you know, they broke the website and they're all sold out. But I was just going through my mind like how many burgers could I possibly eat over a 30 day span? I think the answer is maybe 10.

[Toby Howell]

So you're still getting great value though?

[Neal Freyman]

Of course I am. Yeah, $20 for a single meal is something you'll take now, but, you know, over the course of the month, it's just, how many burgers can I possibly fit into my stomach? And I think I just have to go Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday. Maybe one more thrown in. So I get to 10.

[Toby Howell]

Here's the X factor, though. It's the sides, because you can get bottomless sides. So maybe you bring a friend. You give your friend the burger, and then you have the Caesar salad, the milkshake, they're steamed broccoli, too, if you're feeling rather healthy for that day. Holders get around 22 value. $22 of value per day. So you really only have to go one time or twice to actually get your value. So 10 times, I mean, that was actually on the higher end of what I would expect. I was thinking, like once a week, maybe for you. But let's. Let's see if you're. You can put your burger with your. Where your mouth is.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, let's snack. Wrap it up there. Thanks so much for starting your morning with us. Have a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend. For any questions, comments, or feedback, send an email to Morning Brew daily at Morning Broadcom. Let's roll the credits. Emily Milian is our executive producer. Raymond Lu is our producer. Our associate producers are Olivia Graham and Olivia Lake. Eugenia Ogu is back taking a celeb shot as technical director. Garrett Peck is on audio hair makeup knows what they're having for lunch. Devin Emery is our president, and our show is a production of Morning Brew.

[Toby Howell]

Great show today, Neil. I wish you all well.