As Big Tech Dominates the News, Small-Cap Stocks Are Surging. Can This Momentum Continue?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 16 2026
0mins
Should l Buy BAC?
Source: Barron's
Tesla's Ambition: Elon Musk predicts that Optimus robots will become the best surgeons on Earth by the end of the decade.
Walmart's Drone Delivery Expansion: Walmart is collaborating with Alphabet to increase aerial drone delivery services to 40 million customers next year, a significant rise from the current two million.
Disney's Theme Park Update: Walt Disney is planning to retheme its Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios to feature The Muppets, showcasing the company's focus on innovative attractions.
Small-Cap Stocks Performance: There is a notable trend of small-cap stocks outperforming larger ones since mid-November, raising questions about whether this is a temporary phenomenon or the beginning of a longer-term recovery.
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Analyst Views on BAC
Wall Street analysts forecast BAC stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 53.910
Low
55.00
Averages
61.64
High
71.00
Current: 53.910
Low
55.00
Averages
61.64
High
71.00
About BAC
Bank of America Corporation is a bank holding company and a financial holding company. Its segments include Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking and Global Markets. Consumer Banking segment offers a range of credit, banking and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The GWIM includes two businesses: Merrill Wealth Management, which provides tailored solutions to meet clients' needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking and retirement products and Bank of America Private Bank, which provides comprehensive wealth management solutions. Global Banking segment provides a range of lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions, and underwriting and advisory services. Global Markets segment offers sales and trading services and research services to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Bank of America Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings, Shares Rise
- Strong Performance: Bank of America reported net interest income of $15.75 billion for Q1 2026, exceeding market expectations and driving a 1.8% increase in share price, reflecting its profitability in a high-rate environment.
- Robust Loan Growth: The bank achieved a loan growth rate of 1.7% for the quarter and 8.6% year-over-year while maintaining a conservative loan-to-deposit ratio of 58%, showcasing its solid credit strategy and market competitiveness.
- Analyst Optimism: Analysts generally express optimism about Bank of America's future, believing that in a “higher-for-longer” rate environment, net interest income is likely to continue growing through FY27, supporting its earnings outlook.
- Future Outlook: The CFO projected net interest income growth of 6% to 8% and plans to redeem €1.5 billion of senior notes on May 4, 2026, further optimizing the capital structure.
See More
Alaska Air and Bank of America Extend Credit Card Partnership
- Partnership Extension: Alaska Air and Bank of America announced a multi-year extension of their co-branded credit card agreement, aimed at enhancing the value of the Atmos Rewards program, which is expected to deliver greater benefits to cardholders and drive long-term value creation for both companies.
- Increased Investment: The partnership will see increased investment in the Atmos Rewards brand, including the introduction of new cards and upgrades to existing ones, enhancing the cardholder experience and potentially driving Alaska's loyalty platform beyond the $150 million profit target outlined in its strategy.
- Market Recognition: The Atmos Rewards program has been recognized as the best Airline Rewards Program for 2026 by NerdWallet, reflecting its competitive edge and appeal in the market, further solidifying Alaska Air's brand image.
- Single Issuer Strategy: Alaska Air is moving towards having Bank of America as the single issuer for all co-branded credit cards under the Atmos Rewards program, a strategy designed to streamline operations and enhance the consistency and convenience of services for cardholders, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
See More
Alaska Airlines Extends Partnership with Bank of America
- Partnership Extension: Alaska Airlines and Bank of America announced a multi-year extension of their co-branded credit card agreement, continuing over 30 years of strategic partnership, which is expected to enhance cardholder value and support the growth of the Atmos Rewards program.
- Significant Revenue Growth: In 2025, revenue from the co-branded credit card portfolio grew by 10%, driven by the launch of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program and the introduction of the new premium Summit Visa Infinite® card, attracting high-spending customers and earning industry recognition.
- Product Innovation and Integration: The companies aim to make Bank of America the sole issuer of all co-brand credit cards for the Atmos Rewards program, enhancing cardholder experience and product diversity through streamlined operations and improved service consistency.
- Long-term Value Creation: This agreement extension not only strengthens Alaska Airlines' loyalty platform but is also expected to exceed the $150 million profit target outlined in the Alaska Accelerate strategy, further driving the company's expansion in global markets.
See More
Netflix Q1 2026 Earnings Analysis
- Earnings Highlights: Netflix's Q1 2026 earnings report revealed a 13% year-over-year revenue growth, but the stock fell due to slowing growth and co-founder Reed Hastings stepping down, indicating investor concerns about future growth prospects.
- Termination Fee Impact: The report included a $2.8 billion termination fee from Warner Brothers Discovery, which added a positive note to the earnings but is viewed as unsustainable, potentially affecting future profit expectations.
- Ad Revenue Projections: Netflix anticipates ad revenue to reach $3 billion in 2026, nearly doubling from 2025, reflecting the company's efforts to diversify its revenue streams, although overall growth rates have not met market expectations.
- User Engagement Boost: Despite challenges, Netflix achieved an all-time high in user engagement this quarter, launching 70 live events, demonstrating positive progress in content innovation and international market expansion.
See More
U.S. Corporate Borrowing Sees Significant Increase
- Corporate Borrowing Surge: U.S. banks reported a sharp increase in corporate borrowing last week, indicating resilience in parts of the economy despite inflationary pressures and fears of a slowdown, showcasing the ongoing demand for working capital.
- Strong Commercial Loan Growth: Bank of America reported over 12% growth in commercial loans, while Wells Fargo's commercial loans surged by 16.4%, highlighting companies' strategies to secure cheaper financing amid uncertain policy conditions.
- Stable Consumer Borrowing: While some banks reported flat or declining consumer loans, overall consumer borrowing balances grew steadily, reflecting resilience in consumer spending, particularly driven by wealthier households.
- Cautious Economic Outlook: Economists caution that prolonged war and persistent inflation could weigh on borrowing, although current financial health of businesses and consumers remains strong, with upcoming quarterly reports expected to provide clearer insights into consumer spending trends.
See More
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Class Action Lawsuit Against Major Banks to Proceed
- Lawsuit Progress: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to decline the banks' appeal allows the class action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) to proceed, potentially leading to a settlement of approximately $770 million, which could significantly impact the banks' financials.
- Allegations: The lawsuit, led by the city of Philadelphia, accuses the banks of conspiring to inflate interest rates on municipal bonds since 2008, which, if proven, could severely damage the banks' reputations and financial stability.
- Market Reaction: Following the lawsuit news, bank stocks showed mixed results, with Bank of America (BAC) falling 0.8% while JPMorgan Chase (JPM) rose 1.4%, indicating varying market expectations regarding the lawsuit's outcome.
- Legal Requirements: In their appeal, the banks argued that the municipalities failed to demonstrate that common issues among plaintiffs would predominate over individual questions, a critical legal requirement that could affect the viability of the class action.
See More
Bank of America Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings, Shares Rise
- Strong Performance: Bank of America reported net interest income of $15.75 billion for Q1 2026, exceeding market expectations and driving a 1.8% increase in share price, reflecting its profitability in a high-rate environment.
- Robust Loan Growth: The bank achieved a loan growth rate of 1.7% for the quarter and 8.6% year-over-year while maintaining a conservative loan-to-deposit ratio of 58%, showcasing its solid credit strategy and market competitiveness.
- Analyst Optimism: Analysts generally express optimism about Bank of America's future, believing that in a “higher-for-longer” rate environment, net interest income is likely to continue growing through FY27, supporting its earnings outlook.
- Future Outlook: The CFO projected net interest income growth of 6% to 8% and plans to redeem €1.5 billion of senior notes on May 4, 2026, further optimizing the capital structure.
See More
Alaska Air and Bank of America Extend Credit Card Partnership
- Partnership Extension: Alaska Air and Bank of America announced a multi-year extension of their co-branded credit card agreement, aimed at enhancing the value of the Atmos Rewards program, which is expected to deliver greater benefits to cardholders and drive long-term value creation for both companies.
- Increased Investment: The partnership will see increased investment in the Atmos Rewards brand, including the introduction of new cards and upgrades to existing ones, enhancing the cardholder experience and potentially driving Alaska's loyalty platform beyond the $150 million profit target outlined in its strategy.
- Market Recognition: The Atmos Rewards program has been recognized as the best Airline Rewards Program for 2026 by NerdWallet, reflecting its competitive edge and appeal in the market, further solidifying Alaska Air's brand image.
- Single Issuer Strategy: Alaska Air is moving towards having Bank of America as the single issuer for all co-branded credit cards under the Atmos Rewards program, a strategy designed to streamline operations and enhance the consistency and convenience of services for cardholders, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
See More
Alaska Airlines Extends Partnership with Bank of America
- Partnership Extension: Alaska Airlines and Bank of America announced a multi-year extension of their co-branded credit card agreement, continuing over 30 years of strategic partnership, which is expected to enhance cardholder value and support the growth of the Atmos Rewards program.
- Significant Revenue Growth: In 2025, revenue from the co-branded credit card portfolio grew by 10%, driven by the launch of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program and the introduction of the new premium Summit Visa Infinite® card, attracting high-spending customers and earning industry recognition.
- Product Innovation and Integration: The companies aim to make Bank of America the sole issuer of all co-brand credit cards for the Atmos Rewards program, enhancing cardholder experience and product diversity through streamlined operations and improved service consistency.
- Long-term Value Creation: This agreement extension not only strengthens Alaska Airlines' loyalty platform but is also expected to exceed the $150 million profit target outlined in the Alaska Accelerate strategy, further driving the company's expansion in global markets.
See More
Netflix Q1 2026 Earnings Analysis
- Earnings Highlights: Netflix's Q1 2026 earnings report revealed a 13% year-over-year revenue growth, but the stock fell due to slowing growth and co-founder Reed Hastings stepping down, indicating investor concerns about future growth prospects.
- Termination Fee Impact: The report included a $2.8 billion termination fee from Warner Brothers Discovery, which added a positive note to the earnings but is viewed as unsustainable, potentially affecting future profit expectations.
- Ad Revenue Projections: Netflix anticipates ad revenue to reach $3 billion in 2026, nearly doubling from 2025, reflecting the company's efforts to diversify its revenue streams, although overall growth rates have not met market expectations.
- User Engagement Boost: Despite challenges, Netflix achieved an all-time high in user engagement this quarter, launching 70 live events, demonstrating positive progress in content innovation and international market expansion.
See More
U.S. Corporate Borrowing Sees Significant Increase
- Corporate Borrowing Surge: U.S. banks reported a sharp increase in corporate borrowing last week, indicating resilience in parts of the economy despite inflationary pressures and fears of a slowdown, showcasing the ongoing demand for working capital.
- Strong Commercial Loan Growth: Bank of America reported over 12% growth in commercial loans, while Wells Fargo's commercial loans surged by 16.4%, highlighting companies' strategies to secure cheaper financing amid uncertain policy conditions.
- Stable Consumer Borrowing: While some banks reported flat or declining consumer loans, overall consumer borrowing balances grew steadily, reflecting resilience in consumer spending, particularly driven by wealthier households.
- Cautious Economic Outlook: Economists caution that prolonged war and persistent inflation could weigh on borrowing, although current financial health of businesses and consumers remains strong, with upcoming quarterly reports expected to provide clearer insights into consumer spending trends.
See More
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Class Action Lawsuit Against Major Banks to Proceed
- Lawsuit Progress: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to decline the banks' appeal allows the class action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) to proceed, potentially leading to a settlement of approximately $770 million, which could significantly impact the banks' financials.
- Allegations: The lawsuit, led by the city of Philadelphia, accuses the banks of conspiring to inflate interest rates on municipal bonds since 2008, which, if proven, could severely damage the banks' reputations and financial stability.
- Market Reaction: Following the lawsuit news, bank stocks showed mixed results, with Bank of America (BAC) falling 0.8% while JPMorgan Chase (JPM) rose 1.4%, indicating varying market expectations regarding the lawsuit's outcome.
- Legal Requirements: In their appeal, the banks argued that the municipalities failed to demonstrate that common issues among plaintiffs would predominate over individual questions, a critical legal requirement that could affect the viability of the class action.
See More
