Stock Market Summary – February 18, 2026

In recent stock market trades, Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust bought 30 shares of Capital One Financial at approximately $208 each, increasing its share count to 580. The trust sold 200 shares of Danaher at roughly $207 and 200 shares of Texas Roadhouse at approximately $189, bringing the respective share counts down to 200. The Seattle Seahawks have announced the franchise is up for sale after their 2026 Super Bowl win. The team is valued at nearly $7 billion, and the sale has the potential to become one of the biggest in NFL history.

The Federal Reserve officials are conflicted about the future direction of interest rates; while some argued for a continued hold until inflation is firmly back on track, some suggested the possibility of rate increases if inflation remains at above-target levels. Anthropic, an AI start-up, is having a disagreement with the Pentagon over how its AI models should be used, particularly regarding their potential use for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance.

Notably, Wingstop shares jumped 13% due to an upbeat outlook for 2026, while Moody’s shares rose 6% after exceeding top-bottom line expectations. Madison Square Garden Sports saw a 13% rise in shares as it announced plans to consider the separation of its Knicks NBA franchise from its Rangers NHL business. However, Republic Services dropped 5% after a 2026 forecast fell short and Axcelis Technologies plunged 15% on its lower than expected Q1 guidance. Shares in GPS popped 15% after strong full-year guidance for 2026.

The FDA has agreed to review Moderna’s mRNA flu shot application, reversing a previous decision and leading to a 6% rise in Moderna’s shares. This approval could enable Moderna to make the vaccine available for the forthcoming influenza season.
Finally, according to a Junior Achievement report, AI’s growing influence on the job market does not seem to deter the optimism of high school students about future employment prospects. 73% of teen respondents believed that AI will either have a mainly positive influence, or no impact at all, on their chances of landing a well-paying job.