MERIDIAN RESEARCH

The macro backdrop is mixed and partially obscured by data gaps. The Fed Funds rate sits at 3.64% with the 2Y Treasury at 3.78% (FRED), implying the front end is pricing in a neutral-to-mildly-restrictive stance with limited near-term cut expectations. Unemployment at 4.3% (FRED) is consistent with a cooling but not breaking labor market. CPI, 10Y, GDP, and VIX prints were not available in today's pull — I will not speculate on what is missing. The shape of the curve (2Y just above Fed Funds) suggests the market sees cuts on the horizon but not imminently, which is consistent with the soft-landing narrative still embedded in equity multiples.

Overnight tape is risk-off into the open. Dow futures pointed lower ahead of a heavy data/earnings week (Barron's), oil climbed while equity futures wavered (WSJ), and a notable geopolitical/regulatory headline crossed: China announced it will reverse a major AI acquisition by Meta (Washington Post). This is materially relevant for the AI-exposed names in our book — MSFT, NVDA, ADBE, NET, DDOG — as it signals continued bilateral friction over AI assets and supply chain. It is not yet thesis-breaking for any of them but is a data point on the cumulative regulatory overhang on U.S. AI champions operating internationally.

Two sector-specific items deserve flagging. First, United Airlines CEO confirmed he approached American Airlines about a merger (CNBC) — not a portfolio name, but a signal that animal spirits in deal-making are alive at the regulatory edge. Second, Intellia Therapeutics reported positive Phase 3 results in hereditary angioedema, marking the first successful in vivo gene-editing pivotal trial globally (Intellia press release). This is a watershed for the gene-editing modality and is relevant context for our LLY thesis (validates platform biotech but also broadens future competitive landscape for chronic disease) and our broader healthcare screening (NTRA, MEDP).

RECOMMEND tier (3 names):

• MSFT (8/10): No thesis-altering news. Stellantis partnership and continued AI-driven enterprise wins reinforce the cloud/Copilot monetization narrative. UK cloud licensing lawsuit (prior news) remains a tail risk but immaterial to thesis at this stage. Holding conviction.
• NVDA (8/10): +29.3% over the past month — the tape is doing the work. Cerebras IPO chatter (cited in news pipeline) is the first credible competitive signal in custom AI silicon worth tracking, but Cerebras at IPO scale is not a near-term threat to NVDA's CUDA moat. China/Meta AI acquisition reversal (WaPo) is a reminder of geopolitical risk on the China revenue line — already priced into our thesis. Holding conviction; will reassess if NVDA breaks $250 without earnings support.
• MELI (7/10): Cantor and Jefferies remain positive (news feed). +14.99% MoM. No new data; thesis intact.

MONITORING tier — items of note:

• LLY (7/10): Intellia's gene-editing Phase 3 success (Intellia PR) is a long-dated competitive signal — in vivo gene editing for chronic disease is now de-risked as a modality. This does not change the LLY thesis on a 3–5 year horizon (GLP-1 franchise dominance, Mounjaro/Zepbound ramp), but I am adding "modality disruption" to the watch list of risk factors. -3.85% on the week is noise.
• MEDP (5/10): Stock is now -18.16% on the week. The June 8 securities class-action deadline (BFA Law) continues to generate negative flow. This was already a flagged red flag in the initiation note. I am moving MEDP to "high-priority review" — if 1Q earnings (upcoming) confirm bookings/backlog deterioration, conviction drops to 3/10 and the name comes off the watchlist.
• CEG (6/10): +13.49% on the week. Evercore ISI bullish resumption (news feed). Thesis intact; the AI/datacenter power demand narrative is being increasingly priced in. Watching for entry discipline — chasing here is not warranted.
• RYAN (6/10): -9.18% on the week. No fundamental news. Prior thesis flagged the 1Y -49% drawdown as the central question. Continued weakness without a fundamental catalyst is starting to suggest the market knows something I don't. Pulling 10-Q for re-read this week.
• KNSL (7/10): -8.67% on the week, no news. Specialty insurance has rate-cycle risk; need to verify E&S submission growth in next print before adjusting.
• FDS (6/10): -6.24% on the week. News feed returned irrelevant items (Indian fixed-deposit content). No actionable signal. Holding monitor status.
• TTD (6/10): DramaBox short-drama partnership (TTD PR) is incremental content supply for Open Internet — modestly positive, immaterial alone.

All other monitoring positions: no thesis-relevant news in the pipeline. Holding conviction unchanged.

No new initiations today. Pipeline focus this week:

• Intellia (NTLA) — to be screened given today's Phase 3 readout. Not adding to coverage without a full deep dive on cash runway, follow-on indications, and competitive landscape (Verve, Beam, CRSP). Monitoring, not yet covering.
• Re/Max acquisition (WSJ) — the buyer ("tech-focused real-estate firm," unnamed in headline) may warrant screening once disclosed. Real estate tech is a thin field with structural challenges.
• MEDP — high-priority review ahead of next earnings print, as noted above.

• MEDP: Class action deadline June 8, weak price action, prior red flags on disclosure. Will downgrade if Q1 print shows backlog erosion or revenue revision.
• RYAN: Persistent weakness without explanatory news. -9.18% week / -49% trailing year. Possible signs of cycle deterioration in specialty insurance distribution that we have not yet diagnosed. Pulling filings.
• NVDA momentum risk: +29% in 30 days. Conviction is fundamentals-driven, not momentum-driven. If price detaches further from earnings revisions, position sizing discipline (not thesis change) is warranted.
• AI regulatory/geopolitical: China-Meta acquisition reversal (WaPo) is a marker. Cumulative cross-border AI policy risk applies to MSFT, NVDA, ADBE, NET, DDOG.
• CRWD (6/10): +23% MoM is notable. "A Terrible, Terrible Week in Software Stocks" headline (cited) suggests sector volatility — monitor for entry, not exit.
• Macro data gaps: Today's brief is constructed without CPI, 10Y, VIX, or GDP. I am flagging this — any conviction-level decisions today should wait for a complete macro print.

• FRED: Fed Funds rate (3.64%), 2Y Treasury (3.78%), Unemployment (4.3%). CPI/10Y/GDP/