Technology, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Entrepreneurship
We at CEORater have highlighted the importance of CEO personality in terms of its influence on corporate strategy, operational and financial performance and thereby implications for stock prices. Don't take our word for it, there's plenty of published research from various academic institutions including the work of David Larker and Charles O'Reilly, both of Stanford … Continue reading Cult of CEO Personality & Implications for Stock Prices
Today Disney announced that its new streaming service - Disney+ - crossed the 10 million subscriber mark on Day 1. What might the value of those 10 million new subscribers be if we were to apply a SaaS-like multiple of revenue to the approximate $840 million revenue stream? (read more).
Unbelievable. I was always of the belief that patients/consumers would soon port their medical records to the cloud. It is outrageous that Google and Ascension acted on patient medical records without patient permission. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Ascension CEO Joseph Impicciche ought to step down. Commandeering medical records makes a mockery of privacy law. … Continue reading Google and Ascension Act Brazenly with Patient Medical Records
We look at a few leading FinTech and Information Services companies from a cash flow perspective. (Tickers mentioned: CSGP, FDS, INFO, MSCI, SSNC, VRSK). I reflect on a few names I used to cover during my equity research days. For purposes of this exercise we review SS&C Technologies, Verisk Analytics, IHS Market, FactSet Research Systems, … Continue reading FinTech and Info Services
We attended Polaroid Day at MIT Museum this weekend and were reminded of the genius of Edwin Land, co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. "Like visiting a shrine" is how Apple co-founder Steve Jobs described meeting Land. Polaroid's Board did a great disservice to Land and his company. Film Forever Polaroid's original instant camera - 1947's … Continue reading Polaroid Day & “Polavision” Instant Video
We believe there is significant opportunity cost to Apple TV+. Admittedly it is difficult to quantify. Apple is transitioning from a transaction revenue model (iPhone and related device sales) to a hybrid revenue model as services such as Apple TV+ introduce a recurring revenue element. We like recurring revenue. By definition recurring revenue is predictable … Continue reading Apple TV+
Streaming content provider DAZN suffered a knockout over the weekend that may be impossible to come back from. We are calling it now. The Streaming Wars have suffered the first high profile casualty. DAZN - the nascent streaming network for combat sports - is in the process of raising money. We would love to be … Continue reading Streaming Wars: ESPN+ KO’s DAZN
Microsoft's proof-of-concept "Project Silica" stores Warner Brothers' original Superman movie on a piece of quartz glass measuring 75x75x2 millimeters thick. It is estimated that more than 100 Zettabytes of data will be stored in the cloud by 2023 (from a data volume standpoint one Zettabyte represents as much information as there are grains of sand … Continue reading Mirosoft’s Project Silica stores ‘Superman’ movie on quartz glass using lasers and machine learning
Episodic TV carries a superior risk/reward compared to feature films. The streaming wars featuring Disney (tkr: DIS), Netflix (tkr: NFLX), Apple (tkr: AAPL), Amazon (tkr: AMZN), AT&T (tkr: T), and others will be won by the content producers that capture the most subscribers over a measurable period of time. Questions that content producers must answer … Continue reading Episodic Television Is the Key to Winning the Streaming Wars
CEOs risk losing credibility with employees, shareholders, customers and damaging their companies when they refuse to hold themselves accountable. What do Mark Parker of Nike, Kevin Plank of Under Armour and Dennis Muilenburg of Boeing have in common? Yes, each holds the CEO title (although Parker and Plank will step down at year-end). However, we … Continue reading A Corporate Culture Failure: CEO’s Who Do Not Hold Themselves Accountable
