Month: February 2021

Virtu, SS&C Technologies and Envestnet

Virtu, SS&C Technologies and Envestnet

Virtu, SS&C Technologies and Envestnet are among the Capital Markets Fintech names that ought to draw attention from value investors. We have updated our Capital Markets Fintech table as earnings reports have rolled in. If you are a value investor who looks to cash flow-based valuation metrics, Virtu (tkr: VIRT), SS&C Technologies (tkr: SSNC) and … Continue reading Virtu, SS&C Technologies and Envestnet

BlackRock’s Missed Cloud Opportunity

BlackRock’s Missed Cloud Opportunity

The ETF giant missed an opportunity years ago to build its version of the App Store for Capital Markets-related financial technology. BlackRock (tkr: BLK), announced a partnership with Snowflake (tkr: SNOW), earlier this week. Per the partnership BlackRock will introduce Aladdin Data Cloud where clients may access pre-defined Aladdin data sets, proprietary client data and … Continue reading BlackRock’s Missed Cloud Opportunity

List of 160+ CEOs Who Favor Additional Debt-Funded Transfer Payments To “Stimulate” The U.S. Economy

List of 160+ CEOs Who Favor Additional Debt-Funded Transfer Payments To “Stimulate” The U.S. Economy

The fiscal deficit will be stimulated to new heights once the $1.9 trillion debt package is passed by Congress. Speculative securities, SPAC deal flow, general fraud and moral hazard will also be stimulated along with housing and automobile prices. This debt package will do nothing to create sustainable employment nor sustainable GDP growth. Rather, the … Continue reading List of 160+ CEOs Who Favor Additional Debt-Funded Transfer Payments To “Stimulate” The U.S. Economy

Is The Fed’s View On The Relationship Between Interest Rates and Jobs Wrong?

Is The Fed’s View On The Relationship Between Interest Rates and Jobs Wrong?

Over the past 11 months and as recently as Tuesday the Federal Reserve has consistently reiterated its mission to get the U.S. Economy back to full employment. We are not there yet. The labor participation rate remains below 2008-2009 financial crisis levels. Let me know your thoughts on the below (particularly if you are on … Continue reading Is The Fed’s View On The Relationship Between Interest Rates and Jobs Wrong?

SPAC-Mania, Bitcoin and The Fed

SPAC-Mania, Bitcoin and The Fed

The SPACs just keep coming. EV manufacturer Lucid Motors plans to IPO via Michael Klein's Churchill Capital. Zero revenue and a $24 billion proforma valuation. I find it fascinating that "sober" investors such as Fidelity and BlackRock participate in these bubble deals. Link HERE. Another SPAC listing will take place when Apex Clearing completes its … Continue reading SPAC-Mania, Bitcoin and The Fed

Banks Need To Try Something New

Banks Need To Try Something New

Last night it was reported that M&T Bank (tkr: MTB) would acquire People's United (tkr: PBCT) for more than $7 billion. These "scale" acquisitions between regional banks simply delay the inevitable. What is required is the hard work of evolving business models and service delivery capabilities. More of the same won't suffice. Regional banks are … Continue reading Banks Need To Try Something New

Large Discretionary Technology Projects Continue To Feel Pressure

Large Discretionary Technology Projects Continue To Feel Pressure

Discretionary projects such as large-scale Tech Strategy engagements, large Tech Services engagements (outside of cloud migrations) and large Outsourcing deal activity continues to be pressured. End markets such as Media & Entertainment, Advertising, Travel & Hospitality, Oil & Gas, Government & Education continue to show weakness as articulated by the Technology Services firms that sell … Continue reading Large Discretionary Technology Projects Continue To Feel Pressure

Long Rates Continue To Climb As Inflation Persists. Nothing To See Here.

Long Rates Continue To Climb As Inflation Persists. Nothing To See Here.

The Fed would have us believe "There's nothing to see here," (to quote Frank Drebin), as it relates to inflation. Consumer spending funded by government debt is of inferior quality as compared to spending funded by increased production. In January Americans spent their debt-funded government checks that were mailed out at the end of December. … Continue reading Long Rates Continue To Climb As Inflation Persists. Nothing To See Here.

Corporate Value Transparency Paves The Way For High Performance Companies

Corporate Value Transparency Paves The Way For High Performance Companies

We believe that when company's explicitly state their values it becomes easier to attract talent that is aligned with the company. Ambiguity around employee performance expectations is minimized when corporate values are clearly stated. This transparency is necessary in order for a company to achieve its full operating potential. Below we provide several example of … Continue reading Corporate Value Transparency Paves The Way For High Performance Companies