 Dear Reader, Over the past 25 years, I've made it my mission to speak up when something feels off in the markets. A month before the dot-com bubble burst, I published a warning essentially saying: "This can't last." In 2008, I rang the alarm on housing calling the fall of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. I've exposed shady CEOs, market frauds, and financial bubbles before most investors saw the cracks. Eventually, CNBC gave me a nickname I didn't ask for: "The Prophet." But what I see happening right now... it's much bigger. Some are even calling it, "The bubble to burst them all." And that's why I've stepped forward in a way I never have before... to show you exactly what's coming... and how to stay on the right side of it. Because if I'm right again – and I've put together all my proof for you – this may be your final chance to prepare. Click here to see the full details while there's still time. Regards, Whitney Tilson
Editor, Stansberry's Investment Advisory
This Week's Bonus Article These 3 Consumer Stocks Just Authorized Big-Time Buyback ProgramsReported by Leo Miller. Article Posted: 12/29/2025. 
In Brief- Kroger, lululemon, and Etsy all expanded share repurchase authorizations large enough to meaningfully support per-share results.
- Kroger holds one of the highest buyback yields in the S&P 500.
- Etsy’s authorization is the biggest relative to company size, making execution on repurchases a key sentiment signal.
Three consumer goods stocks recently authorized sizable share repurchases; each now has buyback capacity equal to at least 5% of its market capitalization. This gives them a potential tailwind for key per-share metrics, such as adjusted earnings per share (EPS), and signals management confidence in their outlooks. Let's look at the recent repurchase news for Kroger (NYSE: KR), lululemon athletica (NASDAQ: LULU), and Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY). Kroger Boosts Capacity After Aggressive Buyback Spending in 2025Less than 0.2% of investors know this market exists...
There's a hidden market where crypto trades at 80-95%cheaper than mainstream exchanges. It's called the "Native" Markets, and it's how every crypto millionaire has made their fortune. Don't buy at the top - get in before retail even knows: Click here for the FREE guide on how it's done. On Dec. 23, the $40 billion consumer staples stock Kroger added $2 billion to its buyback authorization. That increase builds on prior programs and brings Kroger's total buyback capacity to roughly $2.9 billion — about 7.2% of its market capitalization. Relative to its size, Kroger has been a heavy buyer of its own stock. The firm has spent more than $6 billion on buybacks over the last 12 months (LTM). After issuing roughly $200 million of shares over the same period, the stock's LTM buyback yield sits at approximately 14.4%. That places Kroger among the top 10 companies in the S&P 500 by LTM buyback yield. Kroger clearly views buybacks as an important way to return capital to shareholders. It is not the only tool the company uses. Kroger also pays a dividend yielding about 2.2%, roughly double the S&P 500 average of 1.1%. LULU's Tough 2025 Leads to New CEO, New BuybacksNext up is lululemon. The consumer discretionary stock has had a difficult 2025, down roughly 45% year-to-date (YTD). On Dec. 11, alongside its latest earnings release, the company made two major announcements. First, lululemon said CEO Calvin McDonald will step down; the company is searching for a permanent replacement to lead its next phase of growth. Second, the firm approved a $1 billion buyback program, bringing total buyback capacity to about $1.6 billion — roughly 6.5% of the stock's $24.5 billion market capitalization. The authorization lets the company continue repurchasing shares at approximately the recent pace; LTM buyback spending totals about $1.3 billion. While a CEO transition and added buybacks could help restore investor confidence, markets will want to see more. With one quarter left in fiscal 2025, the company is forecasting annual sales growth of about 4%. That would be well below the roughly 10% growth recorded last year and nearly 19% the year before. Although the expanded repurchase authorization can support per-share results, the longer-term market verdict will hinge on product momentum, execution, and the outcome of the CEO search. After Post-Earnings Crash, Etsy Now Holds Massive Buyback CapacityE-commerce and consumer discretionary stock Etsy was up nearly 43% in 2025 through Oct. 27, but its Oct. 29 earnings report sent shares down about 10%. Continued selling since then leaves the stock up only 5.4% for the year. Although Etsy beat estimates on both sales and adjusted EPS, it described the outlook on consumer spending as "uncertain" and issued cautious guidance, which triggered the steep pullback. Management changes added to the pressure: CEO Josh Silverman stepped down and Kruti Patel Goyal was named his replacement, which further dented investor confidence. On Dec. 18, Etsy tried to shore up that confidence by announcing a new $750 million share repurchase program. Including more than $200 million of remaining capacity, the company's total buyback capacity now ranges from roughly $950 million to $1 billion. At the midpoint, that equals about 17.7% of its $5.5 billion market capitalization. As Etsy put it, "we see value in our shares." Keep an Eye on Etsy's RepurchasesThe main takeaway across these three companies is simple: buyback capacity has increased enough to affect share count and per-share metrics if managements follow through. Etsy's authorization is particularly large relative to its market cap. Investors will be watching actual repurchase activity over the next few quarters to gauge management's conviction. Strong near-term buybacks could help restore confidence after a choppy stretch for the stock; weak execution would leave the authorization looking more like a signal than substance.
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