Amazon (AMZN) is eating the economy, with its influence continuing to expand, and it seems that no sector is safe from the threat of Amazon disruption, Al Root writes in this week's edition of Barron's. On Friday alone, XPO Logistics (XPO) shares plummeted nearly 20% after the company reported a customer loss that analysts suspect is Amazon, the publication notes, while Kroger (KR) was under pressure previously after Amazon announced its plans to buy Whole Foods, Root notes. Further, investors fear that the e-commerce giant is willing to accept lower margins and that it could disrupt industrial distribution franchises like Fastenal (FAST) and W.W. Grainger (GWW), the publication adds. Reference Link

Yeti Holdings stock jumped 17% Thursday after the company beat estimates for fourth-quarter earnings, Jack Hough writes in this week's edition of Barron's. But Yeti's brand-recognition rates are still low, which can be a good sign as it suggests that as more people learn about it, sales could surge, the publication notes. The main thing to like about Yeti is all the untapped growth potential, Hough notes. Reference Link

Loews is a $15B conglomerate that flies under Wall Street's radar, but if investors take a closer look they will find a conservatively run, value-oriented company, with decent growth prospects that trades at a nice discount from its net asset value, Andrew Bary writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Reference Link

Data-center stocks may finally be getting over a rough patch, Daren Fonda writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Equinix (EQIX), CoreSite Realty (COR), Iron Mountain (IRM), and Interxion (INXN) are four leading companies whose stocks look compelling, he contended. Reference Link

The next salvo in the escalating battle between the U.S. and China could come through an executive order that bans U.S. telecom companies from using equipment from certain foreign companies, and any order would largely be directed at Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies, Reshma Kapadia writes in this week's edition of Barron's. While no one walks away a clear winner from a Huawei ban, Nokia (NOK) and Ericsson (ERIC) would benefit by losing their lower-cost rival in wireless-network equipment, Samsung (SSNLF) could benefit as telecom operators try to hedge their bets and diversify their equipment suppliers, and Cisco (CSCO) and Juniper Networks (JNPR) could gain some share if telecom operators move away from Huawei, the publication contends. Reference Link

Energy stocks aren't necessarily the first place income investors look for yields, and yet there are some encouraging signs for energy stocks when it comes to emphasizing capital returns, dividends in particular, Lawrence Strauss writes in this week's edition of Barron's. More discipline capital spending in the sector should help maintain and grow dividends, and Exxon Mobil (XOM), Valero Energy (VLO), Chevron (CVX), Murphy Oil (MUR), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Marathon Oil (MRO) may be worth a look, the publication contends. Reference Link

On Thursday, Amazon scrapped plans to build a regional headquarters in Queens, N.Y, Jack Hough writes in this week's edition of Barron's. In polls, most New Yorkers said they wanted the company and its 25,000 promised jobs, but protesters objected over tax concessions, rising rents, crowded schools, and more, and Amazon decided that local politics were stacked against it, the author notes. Amazon spent its first two decades seemingly disinterested in profits, but it can't avoid them now, and New York's protestors should have more carefully considered the math, Barron's adds, pointing out that New York's governor commissioned a study that found that the tax subsidies would be returned ninefold over 25 years in state and city tax revenues from Amazon and its new army of workers. Reference Link

Investors interested in U.S. cannabis companies face a daunting challenge as just finding the stocks is hard, Bill Alpert writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Companies can't list on the Nasdaq (NDAQ) or New York Stock Exchange (ICE), while companies that sell only in Canada, like Canopy Growth (CGC), can list in the U.S. and tap deeper-pocketed investors, the report notes. The U.S. companies have disclosed investment risks ranging from federal investigations to allegations of self-dealing, alongside thin trading in Canada's market, but potential problems do not seem to be reflected in U.S. cannabis stock prices, which carry a hefty collective market valuation of $14B, despite modest revenues and the ferocious cash-burn rates at loss-making start-ups, the author contends. Reference Link

A court has ruled that Windstream Holdings (WIN) defaulted on its bonds in 2015 by spinning off Uniti Group (UNIT), Bloomberg's Allison McNeely and Tiffany Kary report. The ruling in Manhattan federal court is a victory for Aurelius Capital, which argues taht the deal unfairly took assets away from bondholers that back up their investment, the reporters say. Windstream has warned that a loss could force it into bankruptcy, McNeely and Kary note. Reference Link

A court has ruled that Windstream Holdings (WIN) defaulted on its bonds in 2015 by spinning off Uniti Group (UNIT), Bloomberg reports. The ruling in Manhattan federal court is a victory for Aurelius Capital, which argues taht the deal unfairly took assets away from bondholers that back up their investment, the report says.