BUZZ-Winmark jumps on S&P SmallCap addition, to replace Guess

** Shares of franchising firm Winmark WINA.O jump 4.2% to over three-month high of $465.23 early Thurs as co poised to join the S&P SmallCap 600 index .SPCY next week

** WINA to replace apparel retailer Guess GES.N in SPCY effective Mon, Jan 26, S&P Dow Jones Indices said late Weds

** GES being taken private by a group, including its co-founders, CEO and Reebok-owner Authentic Brands, in $1.4 bln deal announced in Aug

** Stephens analyst Melissa Roberts said she anticipates passive funds will need to purchase about 403,000 shares, which implies five days of buying demand

** Minneapolis, Minnesota-based WINA has ~3.6 mln shares outstanding for about $1.6 bln market cap as of Weds

** About 19,000 WINA shares have traded so far on Thurs vs their 10-DMA volume of around 89,000 shares, per LSEG

** With the move on the session, WINA shares up 15% to begin 2026 and up nearly 25% over the past 12 months

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))