Description: With China no longer accepting used plastic and paper, communities are facing steep collection bills, forcing them to end their programs or burn or bury more waste. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 16, 2019 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/16/business/local-recycling-costs.html Questions for discussion: What are the financial details driving the decision-making in this situation? What are some likely solution-oriented… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Industry Analysis
Politics are tearing tech companies apart, says new survey
Description: A survey commissioned by a conservative group shows most tech workers identify as moderate, but the findings leave plenty of room for the right or left to argue about bias. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Mar 02, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90313045/politics-are-tearing-tech-companies-apart-says-new-survey?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=5&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=03022019 Questions for discussion: What does the research say about the influence of politics on company performance?… Read more »
Facebook, Alphabet Stock Could See Boosts From Direct-To-Consumer Brands
Description: Upstart direct-to-consumer brands—think Warby Parker eyeglasses or Allbirds shoes—should give a sustained boost to companies such as Facebook (ticker: FB) and Alphabet ’s (GOOGL) Google that benefit from their marketing efforts. Source: Barrons.com Date: Feb 25, 2019 Link: https://www.barrons.com/articles/facebook-alphabet-stock-could-see-boosts-from-direct-to-consumer-brands-51551111477 Questions for discussion: Summarize what the report says about changes taking place online. What does this mean for investors?
Opinion: How the Upper Middle Class Is Really Doing
Description: Is it more similar to the top 1 percent or the working class? Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 24, 2019 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/24/opinion/income-inequality-upper-middle-class.html?fbclid=IwAR2FSM1zNTrM5USXVZCPKjRW5w4RVA1kI5nOlNE43OrLfLkUmAV74SxxEdM Questions for discussion: What does the research data say about the distribution of wealth since 1980? How much do you think real estate and the stock market have contributed to this phenomenon? Should… Read more »
Warren Buffett’s Big Consumer Bets Bite Back
Description: Warren Buffett has warned investors to stay in their circle of competence when it comes to bets. But now, more than 30 years after Buffett started plowing money into Coca-Cola Co., the rules of the consumer-product game have changed. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Feb 22, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/buffett-s-consumer-bets-bite-as-kraft-coca-cola-face-pressure?srnd=premium Questions for discussion: Why did… Read more »
Kraft Heinz has lost the one thing that distinguished it from General Mills and Mondelez
Description: The one thing Kraft Heinz had going for it was its profit margins. Now, it doesn’t even have that. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Feb 22, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/22/kraft-heinz-lost-what-distinguished-it-from-general-mills-mondelez.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say about changes taking place in the food industry? How should investors deal with the challenges?
Zillow Wants to Flip Your House
Description: A new breed of high-tech real estate flippers is using algorithms (and a healthy dose of Silicon Valley venture capital) to buy at massive scale. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Feb 14, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-02-14/zillow-wants-to-flip-your-house?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the new business model? Do you think it can disrupt the industry?
The Financial Crisis Put a Chill on Big Bank Deals. That Ended Thursday.
Description: Two banks announced the industry’s biggest merger in a decade on Thursday, signaling bank executives’ growing confidence that the regulatory constraints imposed after the 2008 financial crisis have begun to loosen. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 08, 2019 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/business/dealbook/bbt-suntrust-bank-mergers.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the regulatory environment and this merger?… Read more »
Facebook shares are skyrocketing after a massive earnings beat, despite a year full of controversy
Description: Facebook skyrocketed 10.8 percent Thursday after beating analyst expectations on revenue and earnings for its fourth quarter of 2018. Its market value jumped about $47 billion. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 31, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/31/facebook-stock-rises-on-strong-q4-2018-earnings.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial results reported in the article and why they were a surprise? What happened, in… Read more »
For Emerging Markets, China’s Shift to Consumer Goods Is a Blow
Description: Bulls see cheap stocks poised for a rebound. But one big thing has changed since the last boom. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Feb 01, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-01/for-emerging-markets-china-s-shift-to-consumer-goods-is-a-blow?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented. Do you agree with the assessment? What would you advise investors?
