Ackman’s 10% Meta Stake; Airline Workers v American Airlines; and the Billion Dollar Business of Love

Ackman just placed a fresh AI bet on Meta while quietly dumping Hilton, showing where big money thinks the next growth engine lives. At the same time, Trump ordered the Pentagon to lock in coal power deals, yanking old-school energy back into the national security spotlight. Meanwhile, American Airlines staff are lining up to protest their CEO as operational pain spills into public revolt, and Valentine’s Day spending is set to hit a record $29 billion, turning romance into a debt trap for procrastinators. Power, profit, pressure, and pricey love all this and more in today’s Read It And Eat!

Markets Around The World

Markets as of 11th February 2026. Cells in RED mean that the value is down, cells in Green mean the value is up.

MAJOR HEADLINES

• Bill Ackman’s Fund Exits Hilton and Loads Up Significantly On Meta

Bill Ackman’s hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital Management, has made a high-conviction pivot back into Big Tech, building a major position in Meta Platforms late last year as a direct bet on the company’s long-term artificial intelligence upside. Ackman told investors the move reflects confidence in Meta’s ability to translate massive AI infrastructure spending into sustained growth across advertising, commerce, and platform monetization. The investment signals that large, cash-generating tech platforms are increasingly seen as the safest way to gain exposure to the AI boom without betting on unproven startups.

At the same time, Pershing Square fully exited its position in Hilton Worldwide, marking a clear rotation out of travel and leisure and into technology. The shift reflects a broader repositioning by hedge funds toward scalable, asset-light businesses with AI-driven margin expansion potential, while trimming exposure to sectors more vulnerable to cyclical demand swings, labor pressures, and higher operating costs. Ackman’s move highlights how capital is being reallocated away from reopening and consumer recovery trades toward companies that can compound returns through software, data, and automation.

The Meta bet is not a small add-on it is now one of Pershing Square’s core positions, representing roughly 10% of the fund’s total portfolio, with the stake valued at about $1.7 billion. That scale turns the trade into a defining call on both Meta’s execution and the broader durability of the AI boom. If Meta successfully converts its AI investments into higher ad pricing power, new commerce tools, and platform stickiness, Ackman’s wager could be one of his most consequential bets in years. Reuters

• Trump Orders Pentagon to Buy Power From Coal Plants

President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal-fired plants to supply military installations, a policy aimed at reviving an industry hit hard by cheaper natural gas and renewables. The order announced alongside coal executives frames coal as a component of national security and energy resilience, arguing that on-site or nearby coal generation can provide grid independence for critical bases. It represents another example of the administration using procurement policy to reshape industrial outcomes.

Economically and politically, the directive changes the calculus for the coal sector by promising a stable, government-backed demand stream, albeit tied to specific military contracts and base locations. Critics argue the move risks higher costs and environmental trade-offs, noting that coal plants face commercial headwinds and emissions concerns. Supporters counter that diversified, resilient local generation reduces vulnerabilities from grid failures or cyberattacks and sustains domestic jobs in energy communities.

Practically, implementation will matter. The Defense Department must balance energy security, cost-effectiveness, and environmental rules while navigating procurement timelines and state-level permitting. Contracts could spur short-term cash flows for struggling coal firms, but they do little to solve coal’s long-term competitiveness against cheaper, cleaner alternatives. The policy is as much political signaling as it is energy strategy a blunt instrument that will test the limits of using federal buying power to preserve legacy industries. CNBC

• American Airlines CEO in the Line of Fire; as staff demand his Firing

American Airlines’ CEO Robert Isom found himself on the defensive as frontline staff announced plans to protest outside company headquarters, demanding leadership change amid operational struggles and waning employee morale. Flight attendants and union representatives cite persistent delays, staffing shortfalls, and a perceived lack of accountability for management decisions that have led to passenger disruptions and safety concerns. The protest is a public escalation that exposes the airline’s internal tensions at a sensitive time for travel demand and profitability.

From a business perspective, the demonstration underscores a broader challenge for legacy carriers: modernizing operations while managing labor relations and cost discipline. American’s leadership has pushed new policies on seating assignments, baggage fees, and network capacity to shore up margins, but those same moves can inflame employee sentiment if not paired with clear communication and reinvestment in workforce capacity. For customers, the visible labor unrest risks reputational damage, which can depress premium travel demand and loyalty in a market where alternatives are plentiful.

Looking ahead, the company’s ability to stabilize operations and mend employee relations will be crucial to sustaining its turnaround narrative. Investors will watch metrics like on-time performance, cancellation rates, and unit revenue, while regulators and unions monitor safety and workplace conditions. If leaders fail to reconcile with staff, American could face deeper operational disruption and a longer path to restoring traveler confidence which would blunt any near-term financial gains. Bloomberg 

• Valentine’s Day Spending to Hit Record $29 Billion

Valentine’s Day spending is poised to top a record $29 billion this year, with average per-shopper outlays near $200 as consumers splurge on gifts, dining, and last-minute experiences. Retailers and restaurants lean heavily into the seasonal bump, running targeted promotions and bundles that capitalize on procrastinators and social-media-driven expectations. While the lift is a boon for consumer-facing businesses, it can be a double-edge sword for household budgets already stretched by inflation and credit costs.

To avoid getting trapped in a debt spiral, financial advisors recommend practical steps: set a realistic budget before shopping, prioritize experiences or thoughtful gestures over expensive items, and use cash or debit to prevent impulse credit purchases. If using credit, choose cards with short promotional APRs only when you have a clear repayment plan. Consider lower-cost alternatives home-cooked meals, personalized gifts, or service coupons that deliver emotional value without the price tag.

For personal finances at scale, seasonal spikes like Valentine’s Day are a reminder to build buffer savings and treat holidays as predictable line items in annual planning. Automating a small monthly “celebration fund” can prevent last-minute reliance on high-cost borrowing. Retailers and marketers will push urgency; consumers who plan ahead will preserve both relationships and financial health. CNBC

Minor Headlines

• Goldman Sachs cuts bitcoin ETF holdings by 40% in Q4. The Block 

• Activist investor Ancora to oppose Netflix-Warner Bros deal, backs Paramount bid.  Reuters

• Spotify adds 38 million new listeners in one quarter. Bloomberg

• Prediction markets logged $1.2B in Super Bowl trading volume. Bloomberg

• Switzerland to vote on plan to cap population at 10mn Financial Times

• US House of Representatives votes to overturn Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada Financial Times

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s private island with his family while on vacation in 2012. BBC

• 10 Dead in Shootings at School and Home in Western Canada. NYtimes