Aug 21, 2026 · 7 min
Retailers beat estimates as crypto stocks ride Bitcoin rally
BJ's Beats; Ross Stores Shares Rise; Cryptocurrency-Linked Stocks Climb
The market roundup contrasts resilient retail guidance and crypto optimism with Flowers Foods’ warning about weaker demand and household pressure.
- 1BJ’s Wholesale Club and Ross raised confidence after stronger earnings guidance and premarket gains.
- 2Bitcoin’s rally lifted cryptocurrency-linked stocks as investors weighed potential U.S. digital-asset regulation.
- 3Flowers Foods fell after missing estimates and cutting its outlook amid weaker volumes and strained household budgets.
Don't miss
Flowers Foods’ missed estimates and reduced outlook show how weaker volumes and pressured household budgets can quickly reverse a market narrative.
The brief
BJ’s Wholesale Club and Ross Stores lead the upside after stronger earnings guidance, offering a snapshot of retailers holding up despite pressure on household budgets.
Bitcoin’s rally pulls cryptocurrency-linked stocks higher, including Strategy, while potential U.S. digital-asset regulation adds a policy dimension to the move.
Flowers Foods supplies the market’s counterpoint: shares fall after an estimates miss and lower full-year outlook tied to weaker volumes and strained household budgets.
The program then widens its lens to smart cities, previewing how Dubai combines artificial intelligence, technology, and long-term planning to manage rapid population growth.
What was said on this episode
12 statements · 9 positive · 1 negative · 1 mixed · 1 neutral
Ross Stores shares rose 8% in pre-market trading.
“Those shares are up 8% in the pre-market”
Listen at 1:39
Bitcoin rose another 7% that morning.
“Bitcoin up another 7% this morning”
Listen at 2:29
Strategy shares rose 10% in pre-market trading.
“Shares are up. 10% in the pre-market.”
Listen at 2:35
Cryptocurrency prices gained more than 20% over the week.
“crypto is continuing its weekly rally up over 20%”
Listen at 2:39
The Clarity Act would give the CFTC primary digital-asset regulatory authority.
“Bill would hand CFTC primary authority to regulate digital asset industry.”
Listen at 2:49
Large financial institutions may embrace digital assets without regulation.
“without these regulations, these large institutions may be embracing digital assets.”
Listen at 3:04
Coinbase shares rose 5% in pre-market trading.
“companies like Coinbase, which is up 5% in the pre-market, following suit.”
Listen at 3:14
Flowers Foods shares fell nearly 4% in pre-market trading.
“shares of Flowers Food, which trades under ticker FLO, are down nearly 4% in the pre-market”
Listen at 3:36
AI will accelerate and compress processes in smart-city development.
“AI will allow in the smart city space to compress a lot of things. the speed will change.”
Listen at 4:55
Dubai learned substantially from its sudden population increase.
“I think Dubai has learned a lot from a sudden increase in population”
Listen at 5:14
Dubai responded effectively to its population increase.
“they reacted very well to it.”
Listen at 5:21
Dubai has a long-term urban-planning vision.
“They have a long-term urban planning vision”
Listen at 5:22
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Featuring
Nathan Hager
BJ's Wholesale Club
Bloomberg L.P.Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.