Good morning! Today is Monday, January 5, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
Happy 2026! It’s Tony. When you examine your year-end statements on retirement savings, you’re likely in for a pleasant surprise this month — and that’s especially true if you had stock of Charlotte companies, as I report below. And if the theme of January is fresh starts, today’s Ledger can help you out, from “Dry January” suggestions to a self-improvement email course to an upcoming webinar we’re hosting on how to support aging loved ones. And more! Let’s get to it!
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Today's Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we bring clarity to complexity. Through thoughtful planning and personal attention, we help you pursue opportunities and reclaim time for what matters most.
If you owned Charlotte stocks in 2025, you probably did very well; City was ‘king of the stock market,’ powered by banks and manufacturers
by Tony Mecia
If you have money in the stock market, the best advice tends to be to have it spread out among a wide range of stocks.
But if, for some reason, you held stocks only in major Charlotte-area companies last year, you probably would have had a better year than the overall market, which was already strong, with major indexes up double digits.
Last year was a boom year for stocks of Charlotte companies. Of 24 local stocks tracked by The Charlotte Ledger, 14 were up by double-digit percentages in 2025 — including five major banks and five large manufacturers.
Charlotte’s gains were so big in 2025 that financial network CNBC published an article Friday headlined “‘Queen City’ Charlotte was the king of the stock market in 2025.” It compared the stock prices of major companies in 36 cities and found that Charlotte came out No. 1, ahead of No. 2 Silicon Valley and No. 3 Washington, D.C. (Dallas was last.)
Charlotte’s stock success was probably mostly a fluky coincidence, but financial services companies that play an outsized role in the city’s economy generally had a strong year because of regulatory shifts and solid earnings, and some manufacturers benefited from tariff changes.
Some of the highlights:
Leading the pack in 2025 among the local companies The Ledger follows was CommScope, the Catawba County telecommunications equipment maker, whose stock price more than tripled after it sold off one of its divisions for $10.5B in August. (We are charitably including them on our list even though they moved their headquarters to Texas in November.)
The stocks of Charlotte-based banks, and those with significant employment here, also fared well in 2025, including Wells Fargo (+33%), Ally (+26%), Bank of America (+25%), Truist (+13%) and U.S. Bank (+12%).
Selected local manufacturers also had a big year. Locally based manufacturers with a strong 2025 were lithium maker Albemarle (+64%), Davidson-based airplane equipment-maker Curtiss-Wright (+55%) and steelmaker Nucor (+40%).
Two local companies were taken private in 2025, so they no longer have publicly traded stock: Financial technology company AvidXchange was bought by private-equity firm TPG and payments company Corpay in October, and health care company Premier was bought by private-equity firm Patient Square Capital in November.
Major indexes were up above historical averages in 2025, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 13%, the NASDAQ up 20% and the S&P 500 up 16%.
Here’s the full list of how the stock prices of companies with a strong local presence fared in 2025:
CommScope, telecommunications manufacturing, ⬆️ 248%
Albemarle, chemical manufacturing, ⬆️ 64%
Curtiss-Wright, airplane equipment manufacturer, ⬆️ 55%
Nucor, steel manufacturing, ⬆️ 40%
SPX, industrial manufacturing, ⬆️ 37%
LendingTree, financial technology, ⬆️ 37%
Brighthouse Financial, financial services, ⬆️ 35%
Wells Fargo, financial services, ⬆️ 33%
Ally Financial, financial services, ⬆️ 26%
Bank of America, financial services, ⬆️ 25%
Coke Consolidated, beverage manufacturing, ⬆️ 22%
Microsoft, technology, ⬆️ 15%
Truist, financial services, ⬆️ 13%
US Bancorp, financial services, ⬆️ 12%
Duke Energy, utilities, ⬆️ 9%
Kroger, food retail, ⬆️ 2%
Lowe’s Cos., home improvement retail, ⬇️ 2%
Sonic Automotive, automotive retail, ⬇️ 2%
Driven Brands, automotive services, ⬇️ 8%
American Airlines, commercial aviation, ⬇️ 12%
Ingersoll Rand, industrial manufacturing, ⬇️ 12%
Honeywell, industrial manufacturing, ⬇️ 14%
Cato, clothing retail, ⬇️ 21%
Jeld-Wen, building materials manufacturing, ⬇️ 70%
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
Sycamore Brewing’s retail sales fell by 85% the week after its co-founder’s arrest
New data shows just how much sales of Sycamore Brewing’s beers plunged after the news surfaced last month that its co-founder was charged with sex crimes involving a 13-year-old girl.
According to figures compiled by retail market research company Circana and shared with The Ledger, the sales of Sycamore products in grocery stores and convenience stores were mostly stable in the weeks leading up to mid-December.
Compared with a year earlier, retail sales in North and South Carolina were down 5% in the week beginning Nov. 17, down 6% in the week beginning Nov. 24 and flat (0%) in the week beginning Dec. 1.
But after the arrest of co-founder Justin Brigham on Dec. 11, sales of Sycamore’s products fell by 43% in the week starting Dec. 8 and 85% in the week starting Dec. 15. The numbers show that in the Dec. 15 week, Sycamore’s sales were just over $31,000 for the week, down from about $206,000 in the same week in 2024.
Since Brigham was arrested in Stanly County, much of the company’s business seems to have evaporated, with customers avoiding its South End taproom and stores pulling its beer off the shelves.
It’s unclear how much of Sycamore’s revenue comes from sales at retailers compared with its taproom. The taproom has been almost empty since the criminal allegations surfaced, and a satellite taproom at Charlotte’s airport is closing. Sycamore is Charlotte’s largest brewer by volume, and its growth was fueled in large part by expanding its retail distribution, which its website previously said spanned seven states.
In a statement on social media last week — her third since the arrest — wife and co-founder Sarah Taylor said she is starting divorce proceedings and that Brigham is no longer connected to the business.
She said the company is shutting its South End taproom starting today “to allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space.” She said she would “share more details on reopening in the new year” and was “committed to building a new future for Sycamore.”
Taylor has not granted interview requests from The Ledger or other media about the future of the company. —Tony Mecia
Related Ledger articles:
“The rapid fall of Sycamore Brewing” (Dec. 17)
“An outsider in Charlotte’s craft beer community” (Dec. 20)
Charlotte’s airport has demolished another historic building in Steele Creek — its 2nd in a year-and-a-half
Charlotte’s airport has followed through with its plans to knock down a 200-year-old plantation home, one that was designated as a historic landmark in 1978.
A visit to the site last week, not far from the intersection of Steele Creek Road and I-485 near the Charlotte Premium Outlets, showed the house had been reduced mostly to rubble:
The Ledger reported in June that the airport had received a demolition permit for the structure. It’s on land that the airport bought in 2014 as part of its plans for future warehousing and logistics operations. The airport didn’t reply to The Ledger’s questions about the demolition last week.
It is uncommon for historic landmarks to be demolished in Mecklenburg County, but preservationists say it is happening with increased frequency as development pressures ramp up. The former Midwood School on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood, which was also a designated historic landmark, was torn down in November to make way for apartments.
The demolition of the Grier House comes after the airport in August 2024 tore down the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church manse, which was built in 1914 to house church pastors. The Historic Landmarks Commission sought to have the Charlotte City Council designate it as a landmark, which would have delayed its demolition, but through an apparent bureaucratic mix-up and internal staff disagreements, the issue was never put before the City Council, and the airport knocked down the structure.
Preservationists have said the airport, which is a department of the city government, could have moved the structures to more suitable sites and rehabilitated them, but that the airport shows mostly no willingness to do so. The airport has said it is allowed to demolish the structures under the terms of a 2018 agreement with the FAA and state preservationists, in which the airport paid $450,000 to a fund to support historic preservation efforts. —Tony Mecia
Related Ledger articles:
“Historic landmarks under siege” (December 2024)
“Council members push for answers on demolition of historic house” (August 2024)
“Historic buildings near airport face demolition by city” (August 2024)
Sign up for free webinar: ‘How to Recognize and Respond to Changes in Aging Adults’
Spending time with aging loved ones—especially around the holidays—can bring joy and quiet concern. Maybe something felt off this year: a shift in memory, a change in mood or a home that looked different. Is this normal aging … or time to step in?
Join us for a free webinar next week from The Charlotte Ledger and Caregiving Corner. It’s for family members supporting aging parents, partners or relatives — and for adults planning for their own aging and long-term care.
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Where: Fully virtual
What you’ll learn: You’ll learn the signs of change and what next steps to take with practical guidance from Jennifer Szakaly of Caregiving Corner
Can’t attend live? A recording will be sent to your email.
➡️ Register for free: https://www.cltledger.com/aging-adults-webinar
Giving up alcohol in January is harder than it sounds — these substitutes help
A lot of people rethink their relationship with alcohol in January, and if you’re one of them, you might check out a piece we published last month about credible substitute options.
“Dry January” is upon us, and some people find giving up alcohol is tougher than they thought. In his piece for The Ledger, writer Jay Ahuja described what it’s like forgoing alcohol for the month and shares what actually made it doable: better non-alcoholic beer options that still fit into real life, from watching playoff games to meeting friends out.Jay’s piece provides practical choices and describes what worked for him in recent years and what didn’t. Readers come away with concrete ideas they can actually use.
Build better habits in 2026 with a short free email series from The Charlotte Ledger
If you want to start the year with better habits, clearer goals and fewer false starts, check out “A Better You” from The Charlotte Ledger.
It’s a free, two-minute daily email from The Charlotte Ledger, featuring practical advice from local experts you can actually use. Each day for 12 days, you’ll receive a brief email with tips to help you build momentum in 2026 — in areas including goal-setting, productivity, self-discipline and financial topics.
Get started today:
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
TUESDAY: “Coffee with the Chamber,” 8:30-9:30 a.m., at Business Network International, 3430 Toringdon Way, Suite 300. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for an invigorating morning event that brings together coffee lovers and business professionals from across the Charlotte area. Whether you’re a startup founder, a seasoned executive or just a morning person, this event is the perfect opportunity to brew new connections and spark innovative conversations. Registration required. Free.
FRIDAY: “Senior Scholars Weekly Meetings,” 10-11 a.m., at Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Road. Join the members of Senior Scholars as Dr. Cori Faklaris, an assistant professor at UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics, demystifies tools like chatbox and image generators, teaches how to avoid AI fraud and how to write effective prompts—in short, how to make AI your personal intern. $5 for guests. $25 annual membership.
JANUARY 24: “Freedom in the Air,” 6-7:15 p.m., at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, 7th Street Concerts has woven together the voices and traditions that shaped the American story. Spirituals, folk songs and fiddle tunes meet the elegance of Baroque and colonial music, revealing a shared language of resilience and hope. Festivities begin at 5:30 with a complimentary pre-concert Happy Hour followed by the concert. $30-$54/ticket. Free parking.
In brief:
Playoff fever incoming, but long odds: The Carolina Panthers will host their first home playoff game in 10 years, playing the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., despite losing three of their last four games. The Panthers are 10-point underdogs in the game, and they face the longest odds of any playoff team to win the Super Bowl: A $1 bet on the Panthers to win the Super Bowl would pay $130 in the event that happens.
Flights resume from CLT to the Caribbean: American Airlines and other carriers resumed flights to the Caribbean on Sunday, after flights on Saturday were canceled in the wake of the military action in Venezuela. American announced it was adding flights to the region on Sunday and Monday, including flights from Charlotte, which is one of its main gateways to Caribbean destinations.
FBI arrests Mint Hill man in connection with planned attack: The FBI thwarted what it called a “potential terrorist attack,” in which a Mint Hill man was charged with planning to attack people with hammers and knives at a local fast food restaurant and grocery store on New Year’s Eve in support of ISIS. The suspect, 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, had been under FBI surveillance and believed he was talking with an ISIS representative who was really an undercover agent, and he stated the desire to “do jihad soon” and was a “soldier of the state.” (WCNC)
Greenway section opens: A new one-mile extension of the McAlpine Creek Greenway has opened off Pineville-Matthews Road, adding multimillion-dollar boardwalks and a pedestrian bridge to the McAlpine/McMullen/Four Mile network as part of a roughly $7.9M project largely funded by the N.C. Department of Transportation. (Axios Charlotte)
Officers released from hospital: Both Mint Hill police officers wounded in a shootout during a child custody exchange on Dec. 26 have been released from the hospital after exchanging gunfire with a man who produced a firearm and was killed at the scene. (Fox 46)
Gaston BBQ institution closes: After nearly 80 years in business, R.O.’s Bar-B-Cue — a Gaston County institution founded in 1946 and best known for its tangy orange slaw — closed its restaurant operations on Dec. 27, while planning to continue selling its slaw and pimento cheese in stores. (Business North Carolina)
Lottery money to schools drops: A new audit found that even as North Carolina Education Lottery sales hit records, the share of ticket money going to public education fell to just 16% in fiscal year 2025, largely because higher payouts to players — especially from digital games and fewer billion-dollar jackpots — cut into profits. (WRAL)
Knight Foundation alters DEI language: The Knight Foundation — a longtime backer of Charlotte projects ranging from local journalism and arts groups to west Charlotte community development and cultural institutions — quietly removed explicit diversity, equity and inclusion language from its “About” page this fall, while retaining broader language about inclusivity. The foundation did not respond to a request for comment about the change. (The Objective)
‘Naughty List’ arrests in Gaston County: Undercover officers arrested 78 people and filed 154 charges during “Operation Naughty List,” a weeks-long retail theft crackdown at Target and Walmart stores in Gaston County that recovered more than $4,300 in merchandise and led to multiple drug seizures. (WBTV)
Statue returned to jazz club: A statue of Charlotte jazz legend Loonis McGlohon was returned to an uptown Charlotte nightclub after being stolen earlier in December, accompanied by an apology note saying the taker was “under the influence,” didn’t realize it was a family monument and never meant to cause suffering. (WBTV)
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