A $3 Trillion Warning, DoorDash's Wild Night & Q4 GDP is Out

Money Masters' Market Pulse Week 8

February 20, 2026

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Dear Money Master,

The latest GDP numbers just came in and they were not pretty. But before you panic, there is an important reason to take them with a grain of salt — and the real story is what happens next for interest rates and your wallet. 💰

Then we get into something that has been quietly building on Wall Street. A major private lender just locked investors out of one of its funds, and analysts are calling it an early warning sign for a $3 trillion market that most people have never even heard of. Finally, DoorDash delivered one of the most chaotic earnings nights of the year, and the reason the stock swung so violently tells you everything about how Wall Street really works. 🎢

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📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - February 20th, 2026

🌍 Economics:

Q4 GDP Missed BIG - But Take This Number With a Grain of Salt 📊 — READ MORE

The U.S. economy grew at just 1.4% annualized in Q4 2025, less than half the 2.5% economists expected. At the same time, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, core PCE, came in at 3%, well above the Fed's 2% target. Slow growth and sticky inflation showing up together is the worst combination possible, and it puts the Federal Reserve in a very uncomfortable position.

GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is the total value of everything an economy produces: goods, services, construction and exports. Government spending is one of its four core components, which means a shutdown directly pulls the number down. The 2025 shutdown almost certainly made this GDP print look worse than the underlying economy actually was. But here is the problem: inflation did not get that same excuse. Core PCE at 3% is real, and it is sitting well above the Fed's 2% target. So even if growth partially rebounds, the Fed cannot cut rates while inflation stays this hot. Right now they are stuck watching two problems pull in opposite directions, with no clean move available.

💹 Finance:

"Canary in the Coal Mine" — Private Credit's $3 Trillion Problem Just Went Public 🚨 — READ MORE

Blue Owl Capital, one of Wall Street's biggest private lenders, permanently blocked investor withdrawals from one of its funds this week and sold off $1.4 billion in loan assets. An analyst called it a "canary in the coal mine," a phrase that comes from miners who brought live canaries underground. If toxic gas leaked, the canary died first, warning the miners before it was too late. On Wall Street it means the same thing: a small early signal that something much bigger may be coming.

Private credit is when companies borrow directly from non-bank lenders instead of traditional banks, and it has grown into a $3 trillion global market. The core problem is a mismatch: these funds let investors withdraw every three months but the underlying loans are locked up for years. When everyone rushes for the exit at once, the fund cannot sell fast enough so it locks the door. With borrowing costs higher and defaults ticking up, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has warned the risks are "hiding in plain sight." This one is worth watching closely.

💹Earnings:

DoorDash Missed, Then Recovered After Hours — Here's What Actually Happened 🍕📈 — READ MORE

DoorDash reported Q4 revenue of $3.96 billion against $3.99 billion expected, and earnings of 48 cents per share versus 59 cents expected. The stock dropped sharply on the news. Then CEO Tony Xu got on the analyst call, made his case, and shares recovered strongly after hours. That kind of reversal is rare and it tells you something important about how markets work.

Investors don't just react to last quarter's numbers. They trade on what comes next. Xu's argument was simple: DoorDash is spending heavily now on integrating Deliveroo, building a global tech platform and developing autonomous delivery because those bets pay off later. Total orders grew 32% year over year to 903 million, and gross order value jumped 39% to $29.7 billion. The underlying business is not slowing down. The company is choosing investment over short term profit, and for one night at least, Wall Street agreed with that call.

Ray Dalio: "The S&P Fell 28% Last Year." Wait, What?

He's measuring in gold, not dollars. And that's the point.

The dollar dropped 10% in 2025. So, yeah, your portfolio went up in dollars, but, Dalio says your real return isn’t so exciting.

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To your financial empowerment, The Money Masters Team

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DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of actions taken based on the information provided. Always conduct your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.