Bloomberg Investigative Reporter — Journalist (2 trade ideas)

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Date Ticker Direction Thesis Source
Feb 18, 2026
APO
WATCH "Leon Black has acknowledged paying Jeffrey Epstein $158 million... The new really leaked documents... said it was much more than just estate and tax planning... Epstein was a fixer." Although Leon Black has stepped down as CEO, he remains the founder of Apollo Global Management, a firm the speaker calls "iconic" and "revered." The release of 3.5 million files ensures a prolonged "drip feed" of negative headlines regarding the firm's creator. Institutional LPs (pensions/endowments) are highly sensitive to reputational and ESG risks. While the firm is operationally distinct, the "headline risk" creates an overhang on the stock and potential volatility as the market digests the full extent of the "intimacy" described. Monitor for entry. The firm is strong ("revered"), but the news cycle is toxic. Avoid catching a falling knife until the full scope of the 3.5 million files is understood. The market may view this as "old news" (priced in) since Black has already departed the firm. Bloomberg Markets
The Epstein Files: Epstein Was a Fixer for Le...
Feb 18, 2026
HARD ASSETS
WATCH "One of Black's investment vehicles agreed to pay, I want to be say a $1.8 million commission for helping to sell a Paul Klee oil work... And that money went to one of the women." The investigation highlights the specific mechanics of how high-end art (Paul Klee) and collectibles are used to obscure payments and transfer wealth outside of traditional banking scrutiny. This high-profile exposure often leads to increased regulatory pressure on the opaque art market and "investment vehicles" used for collectibles, potentially reducing liquidity or increasing compliance costs for the sector. Watch for regulatory headwinds in the high-end art and collectibles market. The art market is unregulated and highly opaque; regulatory changes take years to materialize. Bloomberg Markets
The Epstein Files: Epstein Was a Fixer for Le...