Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) employees tried to pull their best Gandalf the White yesterday, but Saruman — I mean, Jeff Bezos — wasn’t having it.
Almost 8,000 Amazon employees signed a letter requesting that the company take immediate and serious steps toward curbing its environmental impact.
The letter was to be given to Bezos at the company’s annual shareholder meeting this past Wednesday.
But their plea fell on deaf ears. Actually, it fell on no ears at all. After taking questions from investors on the highlights of Amazon’s businesses, Jeff ghosted like a bad Tinder date.
When the employees were finally recognized to speak … Jeff was dust in the wind.
Apparently, he was only there for a moment, and the next moment was gone. When they asked when Mr. Bezos would be able to receive the letter and answer employee questions, employees were told not to hang on. Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.
According to Amazon officials, the company has discussed its renewable energy goals, but doesn’t “have any dates associated with that.”
The Takeaway:
Zero emissions is a lofty goal, and it may even help Amazon’s business and improve its bottom line. It would certainly help the company’s public image, which is divided between “retail savior” and “the Eye of Sauron.”
Clearly, Jeff isn’t ready to talk about such a hot-button issue right now.
But, is there an impact to investors? That’s a definite … maybe? Amazon isn’t shy about spending cash, and investors should be well aware of that by now. And it will take considerable cash to push the company toward carbon-neutral operations.
If that level of potential spending bothers you (and why would it with the company dropping billions on content for Amazon Prime Video?), then keep an eye out for Bezos finally deigning to listen to concerned employees. Until then, it’s business as usual — which is to buy Amazon.
Good, Better … Best! |
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Good: I’m Sorry, Dave, I’m Afraid I Can’t Do That Regular, coordinated in-house health care is on its way. Robotic health care assistants are the wave of the future — and the bane of my uncle Jerry. No more skipping meds or whiskey and cigars in the afternoon for you! We all know about artificial intelligence (AI) and the AI robot revolution [Note: link to PRL AI promo]. But what you may not know is that the revolution will have a profound impact on end-of-life care. Per a recent AARP survey, 77% of retirees want to stay in their homes as they get older. Nursing homes are right out. But the feasibility of that, especially given severe medical conditions, is highly unlikely. This is where robotic care comes in, allowing many aging adults to finally imagine at-home care, without high costs. If you’re looking for investment ideas in the sector, Banyan Hill’s own Nick Tate can fill you in on the details. Better: Why, Hello Old Sport
Don’t be a dewdropper and get your cheaters on, because you’re going to want to read this. The Roaring ’20s are back! But not quite in the way you might think. In the 1920s, credit card companies sprung up like weeds — more than 1,500, according to our estimates. That growth in consumer credit spurred one of the biggest boom periods in U.S. history. The “Roaring 2020s” brings the same potential for consumer-centric growth. But it will be defined by a new way to pay, one completely foreign to its namesake. With Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, Alipay and the like, banks are out and mobile payments are the bee’s knees. That means no bank fees, no commissions and no interest payments. And the ones at the front of the pack will use blockchain. If you don’t know much about blockchain, it’s the key tech behind bitcoin that makes it so secure as a payment system. For initial hotsy-totsy investment ideas, check out this video. Best: Stay on Target!
It wasn’t that long ago that retail behemoth Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) was closing stores. Sniff … it’s just come so far! This week, Target announced quite possibly its best quarter yet. The company saw a 15% rise in earnings, a 5% jump in same-store sales and a whopping 36% spike in digital sales. What’s more, Target’s outlook was … well … on target. Second-quarter guidance came in above the consensus, and full-year expectations were conservative. Analysts expect 2019 results to surpass the company’s goals. If Target is the Rebel Alliance, and Amazon is the Death Star, this week’s salvo was the start of Target’s trench run. Good things are coming, despite the so-called retail apocalypse. It’s too soon to snap up TGT stock, however, especially after yesterday’s 7% jump. Wait for the price to settle down, and may the discounts be with you! |
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Great Stuff’s Thursday: Heard on the Street Members observed that a patient approach to determining future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate would likely remain appropriate for some time, especially in an environment of moderate economic growth and muted inflation pressures, even if global economic and financial conditions continued to improve. — Federal Open Market Committee minutes, May 2019 That was one dry and boring quote. And the rest of it was just as dusty. Seriously, the Fed needs to lighten up a bit. The important thing here is that the party is still on. Easy money and low interest rates are here “for some time,” even if the economy improves. Will it ever stop? Yo, I don’t know. So, ramp up that bull portfolio and watch it glow. |
All That Glitters … Should Not Be Used to Hedge |
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But just because cryptocurrencies saw a resurgence amid a market downturn does not make them a good hedge for your portfolio. “It’s critical to use the right tools for the right job,” says Automatic Profits Alert editor Chad Shoop. After all, you wouldn’t use C4 as modeling clay to make your dad a Father’s Day coffee mug, right? I mean, sure, he always picked you up from school in that T-top Camaro, blaring Mötley Crüe and wearing flip flops and cut-offs … even in winter. But is that any reason to mess with his coffee? I digress… The best ways to hedge your portfolio are the traditional ways. And Chad Shoop outlines both in a new video, which you can check out below.
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Yoo-Hoo! I’ll Make You Famous. |
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Want to see your quote in an edition of Great Stuff? Send me your great stuff! Market memes, snide remarks, stock tips … the sky’s the limit. (But no profanity, please. We can’t publish that s%*& here.) Drop me a line at GreatStuff@banyanhill.com [Note: this email isn’t set up yet.], and, if you’re really lucky, your wisdom could end up immortalized in the Great Stuff e-zine. Until next time, good trading! Regards, |
