(Lindsey Nicholson/Getty Images)

Hey Snackers,

Judges ruled that McDonald’s must defend a lawsuit over claims that its popular McRib — which has morphed into a bit of a sales panic button for the fast-food giant in recent years — has been misleading customers for years, given that it doesn’t actually contain meat cut from the ribcage, but “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce.”

The plaintiffs are presumably in for another rough day when someone finally decides to burst the bubble on bacon bits and crab sticks as well…

Stocks finished Tuesday slightly up but mostly flat as markets awaited the midterm results.

CORE BUSINESS

Apple’s huge Services division just posted a record $31.6 billion sales haul in the last quarter

When you think of the company that Steve Jobs founded some 50 years ago, your mind likely first arrives at the various devices that have truly revolutionized the way we live in the modern world, of which the company now says there are 2.5 billion in active use globally.

However, Apple’s Services division — often the source of those just-small-enough-to-dismiss transactions that leave your account each month, with various cloud and content subscription payments tacked on to give users the full run of Apple’s walled garden — has become a huge part of the pie, with revenues reaching yet another record in the company’s fourth quarter.

In Q4, sales from Services reached a whopping $31.57 billion, up some 9.8% from the same period last year. While that might have snapped a double-digit growth streak that had run for 12 quarters in a row, as analysts quoted by Variety observed, it still means that Apple offerings such as TV+, Music, Pay, Podcasts, News+, and others are raking in more than $13 billion more each quarter than they were five years ago.

The difference between how much profit Services takes in compared to Apple’s main cash cow, the Products segment, also speaks for itself: The cost of sales on the whopping $82.9 billion that Products brought in for Q4 was $52.1 billion, while the Services segment's cost of sales for the same period was just $7.6 billion.

THE TAKEAWAY

While slowing growth and the unending popularity of Apple’s devices — the company this week said it’s unsure whether it will be able to get more iPhone Duos in by the all-important Christmas trading period, after the $2,000 foldables sold out in a matter of weeks — might mean Services will never catch up to Products in the amount of cash they generate for the company, the profit race between the two has been getting more interesting.

— Thomas Jones

Off the charts

Yum! Brands yesterday reported its last quarter to include which storied restaurant chain, having sold off the last of the brand to LongRange Capital in September? [Answer below].

Answer here.

Snacks Shots

Election: It’s the topic on everyone’s mind, ballots have been cast, and weeks of effort are soon culminating in a decisive and definitive ending. Contender quality has been an issue, but this hard fought contest that has dominated America’s airwaves is coming to a close shortly as votes pour in. I refer, of course, to “Dancing with the Stars,” where Ezra Frech is a 58% favorite to win this season, according to markets.
OK, Fine The Other One: Thanks to a few late races we’re still not exactly sure of plenty of individual outcomes here, but you can follow the latest market pricing of the House margin of victory here.

*Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.

That’s the share of Americans who say they’re giving “quite a lot of thought” to yesterday’s Congressional elections, per a Gallup survey from earlier this year.

While a little over half may seem surprisingly low to some of our more politically-minded readers, it’s actually a record high for this point in the election cycle; up from just 49% from 2022 and 1% higher than the share who were saying the same during the 2010 midterms.

What else we're Snackin'

3 election scenarios that could reshape Wall Street's biggest bets.
CVR Energy has entered a $4.2 billion deal to acquire two refineries and a marketing business from Marathon Petroleum, the company announced yesterday.
Trying to get to the bottom of who’s behind a spate of cyberattacks on refrigerators and freezer cabinets in supermarkets across Europe.
Nvidia has told its data center partners they must sell at least 51% of their services to companies outside China to curb their exposure to the nation, the FT reported.
Yesterday, Pfizer raised its earnings and revenue guidance for 2026, buoyed by demand for its cancer drugs and popular blood thinner Eliquis.

Wednesday

Uber, Datadog, Circle, McDonald’s, Hut 8, Riot Platforms, CVS, Kraft Heinz, and Wayfair scheduled to release earnings ahead of the open.
US Treasury slated to deliver its quarterly refunding announcement at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Postmarket earnings due out from Qualcomm, Coherent, Snap, AMC, AppLovin, Expedia, Figma, Fastly, Cava, TKO, Wolfspeed, Joby Aviation, Beyond, and elf Beauty.

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Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate... See more

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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1791, a Native American confederation led by Miami chief Little Turtle and other leaders defeated Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s American army at present-day Fort Recovery, Ohio.

Have you heard you’re not supposed to drink coffee on an empty stomach? The warning is all over social media, and it claims that the first cup before breakfast is doing damage you can’t feel. Gastroenterologists just weighed in, and their answer isn’t what the internet says. Researchers performed endoscopies on more than 8,000 people to test the claim. A separate experiment found one common morning combo that backfires, sending blood sugar climbing when you’d least want it. So is your pre-breakfast cup safe or not? Ayla has the full story on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Noor, explores the hormonal changes behind thinning hair after 50 and shares a menopause specialist’s approach to supporting fuller-looking hair.

Democrats Flip Ohio’s Top Races

Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday to become Ohio’s first woman elected governor and the first Democrat elected to the office in 20 years.

The former state health director overcame more than $100 million in spending against her and attacks on her pandemic record, while Ramaswamy, endorsed by President Trump, faced bipartisan backlash over an ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother.

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown also unseated Republican Sen. Jon Husted, flipping a U.S. Senate seat for Democrats two years after losing his previous seat to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Husted in January 2025 to replace Vice President JD Vance. Brown will complete Vance’s term, which ends in January 2029, with the seat up for election again in 2028.

$55M Announced for Rural Kids' Health

Gov. Mike DeWine announced more than $55 million in federal awards Monday to bring eye exams, dental care, and health clinics to rural Ohio students.

More than $18 million will take OhioSEE, the state's in-school vision program, to all 88 counties. It launched in January as a 15-county pilot, sending mobile vision vans to schools and providing glasses to students who need them.

Another $17 million launches OhioDENTAL, which will park mobile dental vehicles at schools or set up temporary clinics inside them. The state says Ohio trails other states in preventive dental visits for children.

More than $20 million will open 17 school-based health centers in 15 counties and expand or sustain 49 more.

The money comes from Ohio's $202 million federal Rural Health Transformation award. Earlier rounds sent $1.3 million apiece to 22 rural hospitals, including O'Bleness in Athens.

North Royalton Firefighter Dies in House Fire

A North Royalton firefighter died Monday night after battling a house fire in neighboring Broadview Heights.

Crews were called to the 2100 block of West Royalton Road shortly before 9 p.m. On dispatch audio, a firefighter can be heard calling a "Mayday" and reporting a firefighter down in the basement.

A second North Royalton firefighter is in serious but stable condition, and five police officers were treated for smoke inhalation. Two people inside the home got out safely.

Mayor Paul Marnecheck asked the community to keep the firefighters and their families "in your hearts and prayers, while respecting their privacy." Neither firefighter has been named.

Investigators say the fire doesn't appear suspicious, and the State Fire Marshal will determine the cause. Fire departments across Northeast Ohio posted tributes Tuesday.

Flying together with our sponsor

The Hormone Behind Thinning Hair After 50 (It’s Not Just a Men’s Problem)

If your part has been widening, your ponytail feels thinner, or more hair is collecting in the shower drain, you’re not imagining it.

According to a menopause specialist, when estrogen drops after 50, the relative balance of a hormone called DHT rises. And DHT is known for one thing: shrinking hair follicles.

That’s why so many women who never had hair trouble in their 30s and 40s suddenly see it later. It’s also why thickening shampoos and biotin gummies often disappoint. They don’t address what’s happening at the follicle.

The good news? She says many of those follicles aren’t gone, just dormant.

Her approach skips the serums and foams entirely. It’s two capsules a day, built around a mineral pairing many women over 50 run low on.

See the full breakdown here >>

➤ Statewide: Ohio voters approved Issue 3, adding a photo ID requirement for voting to the state constitution. Ohio already requires photo ID at the polls, but the amendment makes the rule harder for lawmakers to change. (See Details)

➤ Also Statewide: Two Ohio Supreme Court races hadn’t been called as of deadline time. With 88% reporting, Republican Justice Dan Hawkins led by about 33,000 votes, and Justice Jennifer Brunner, the court’s lone Democrat, led by about 1,200. (See Latest)

➤ Toledo: Voters at Beverly Elementary were sent out of their polling place Tuesday morning after a bomb threat, and elections officials brought in extra machines so people could vote outside. Four other area schools also received threats; police cleared all of them. (See Details)

➤ University Heights: City Council on Monday rejected an amendment that would have ended the city’s requirement that landlords accept Section 8 and other housing vouchers. The vote followed weeks of public debate over the change. (More)

➤ Butler County: Commissioners are weighing raises above this year’s 2% merit benchmark after department heads warned that low pay is driving workers away. Commissioner Don Dixon floated 4% to 5% for the lump-sum portion, and the coroner budgeted a one-time 23% salary increase. (Read Story)

➤ Cincinnati: The St. Vincent de Paul charitable pharmacy, which has filled more than 1 million free prescriptions, is now sharing donated medications with free clinics in Dayton, Canton, Toledo, and other cities. Its warehouse holds about $9 million in drugs donated by nursing homes and individuals. (Read Story)

Enjoy reading The Ohio Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Ohio State debuted at No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, one spot outside the bracket as No. 25 Boise State holds an automatic bid. (See Rankings)

➤ Ohio University beat Akron 28-20, retaking the lead 13 seconds after the Zips went ahead in the fourth quarter. Duncan Brune sealed the win with a 91-yard touchdown run as the Bobcats moved to 5-0 in Mid-American Conference play. (More)

➤ Miami University squandered a 31-16 fourth-quarter lead, falling 34-31 to Buffalo in overtime when the RedHawks missed their game-tying field goal attempt. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Browns waived running back Audric Estime following Sunday's 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh, where the Browns averaged 2.3 yards per carry. Estime scored a touchdown on nine carries in his only game with the team, which visits New Orleans on Sunday. (More)

➤ Former Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz went on trial Monday in Brooklyn federal court on charges they took bribes to help two gamblers win at least $460,000 betting on individual pitches. Both have pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to last about a month. (See Details)

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➤ Take the Daily History Quiz. Most of us learned history once, at seventeen, from someone who was also bored. It holds up better the second time. Five minutes of history, every morning, across every era. Learn More

➤ Construction is rising across Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, led by J Roc Development’s 13-story Naia Noir, the first lakefront high-rise in Cuyahoga County in 53 years. Other projects include 51 affordable senior apartments above a rebuilt Walz library branch and the 135-unit Canopy on Herman Park. (See Photos)

➤ AT&T will disconnect copper landlines Nov. 15 in parts of Mahoning and Columbiana counties, including Sebring, East Palestine, and Wellsville. Customers can switch to AT&T's newer home phone or wireless, but AARP Ohio warned that rural seniors who rely on landlines can't be left behind. (See Details)

➤ Rabbit Hole Books in downtown Dayton is fighting the city's move to revoke its occupancy over code issues tied to a February fire next door. The city called a new emergency exit "meaningful progress" but says the building's owner still has structural repairs to finish. (More)

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The Missing Nutrient Behind Thin Hair

After 50, many women run low on one mineral that helps keep DHT, a hair-thinning hormone, in check.

Biotin won’t fix that. Neither will another bottle of thickening shampoo.

A menopause specialist and an Austin hairstylist found that pairing this mineral with one B vitamin, plus three other targeted nutrients, may help support fuller, stronger-looking hair from the inside out. No serums, no foams. Just two capsules with your morning coffee.

See what it is >>

➤ The Ohio State Highway Patrol is taking entries from Ohio kids 12 and younger to design the colonel's official holiday card. Designs must include the patrol badge, Flying Wheel emblem, and an American flag with a 250th birthday message, and AI-made artwork won't be judged. (See Details)

➤ A 9-year-old girl stopped traffic at a Lodi bus stop to help Connie Seal, a neighbor who cracked her kneecap in a fall during her morning walk. Lodi police recognized Brayla Neel the same day for her quick response. (Read Story)

➤ A Toledo-area foster parent adopted her 4-year-old grandson during a children services ceremony celebrating five adoptions, nearly two decades after she adopted the boy's mother and the mother's two siblings. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statins May Be Helping… and Hurting. Statins are meant to protect your heart — but they can also block something your body desperately needs. CoQ10 fuels every cell, from your brain to your muscles. As you age, or if you take statins, your CoQ10 levels can plummet up to 40% — leaving you tired, foggy, and drained. Click here to discover the right form of CoQ10 you need to support your today. Learn more