Independent Research, US Dominant Players, Investment Talk

Investment Talk

Independent Research, US Dominant Players

Investment Talk is for readers who wish to learn about companies that are potentially outside of their own circle of research, as well as those who are longing to become part of a community of like-minded investors and learn more about investment research. I would describe myself as a long-term investor who typically takes a 3Y to 5Y outlook, before reassessing once that period matures. I follow the adage that one should research, reach a conclusion, and then verify and continue to hold so long as the thesis remains intact. My own investing style is one that seeks to find dominant players within their respective market who have shown signs of monopoly or oligopolistic behaviour, unlikely to be disrupted, in tandem with discovering market disruptors who have a high likelihood of disrupting their respective market. Equally (and weighted accordingly) I seek to discover more nuanced, misunderstood, situations with a shorter time frame.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids…</li><li>Every generation has its share of fad products, fashion statements, and hairstyles.</li><li>But what separates a fad from a sustainable trend? Understanding the difference between the two can be challenging.</li></ul>

Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids…Every generation has its share of fad products, fashion statements, and hairstyles.But what separates a fad from a sustainable trend? Understanding the difference between the two can be challenging.

Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

<ul><li>After two years of working through the excessive growth witnessed in 2020, the $6 trillion e- commerce market is expected to accelerate modestly to ~11% in 2024.</li><li>Major secular trends such as mobile commerce (m-commerce) and buy now, pay later (BNPL) should help drive the market forward.</li><li>Digital advertising is expected to grow 9% to $719 billion, with a potential major boost from the fast- growing free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) as major players such as Netflix, Amazon, and Google introduced new content and services to draw increased consumer adoption.</li></ul>

After two years of working through the excessive growth witnessed in 2020, the $6 trillion e- commerce market is expected to accelerate modestly to ~11% in 2024.Major secular trends such as mobile commerce (m-commerce) and buy now, pay later (BNPL) should help drive the market forward.Digital advertising is expected to grow 9% to $719 billion, with a potential major boost from the fast- growing free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) as major players such as Netflix, Amazon, and Google introduced new content and services to draw increased consumer adoption.

Five Trends in Technology for 2024 - Outlook for Key Markets in Tech

Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>I remain bullish on the stock and reiterate a $37 PT. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/confluent-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33443:1" rel="noopener">Confluent (CFLT US)</a> delivered upside to total revenue, gross margin, and non-GAAP operating margin estimates.</li>
<li>The company raised guidance for CY23 total revenue and profitability. There were plenty of positives, including cloud momentum and customer demand.</li>
<li>The US-based data streaming pioneer appears well positioned to outperform my estimates, and I see a path to profitability (non-GAAP) in CY24 at the earliest.</li>
</ul>


I remain bullish on the stock and reiterate a $37 PT. Confluent (CFLT US) delivered upside to total revenue, gross margin, and non-GAAP operating margin estimates.
The company raised guidance for CY23 total revenue and profitability. There were plenty of positives, including cloud momentum and customer demand.
The US-based data streaming pioneer appears well positioned to outperform my estimates, and I see a path to profitability (non-GAAP) in CY24 at the earliest.


Confluent. 2Q Wrap: Solid Results and Leadership Position In a $60B+ TAM

Value Investing

Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA

<ul>
<li>The main focus will remain on Direct-to-Consumer profitability, but areas such as the recently announced restructuring plan and pricing power in parks &amp; experiences also deserve attention.</li>
<li>The main focus is on the company's Direct- to- consumer profitability.</li>
<li>It has been three months since my latest update on <strong>The Walt Disney Company (<span class="ticker-hover-wrapper">NYSE:DIS</span>)</strong> when I highlighted a number of reasons why the company is finally in a good position to deliver on its bottom line figures.</li>
</ul>


The main focus will remain on Direct-to-Consumer profitability, but areas such as the recently announced restructuring plan and pricing power in parks &amp; experiences also deserve attention.
The main focus is on the company's Direct- to- consumer profitability.
It has been three months since my latest update on The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) when I highlighted a number of reasons why the company is finally in a good position to deliver on its bottom line figures.


Disney's Q3 2023 Earnings: A Pivotal Quarter To Appease Investors And Analysts

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist, True Insights

Jeroen Blokland

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist

Build Well-Diversified Multi-Asset Portfolios

True Insights

Our research helps investors build well-diversified multi-asset portfolios and profit from market developments. In addition, our unique and proven Macro – Sentiment – Valuation (MSV) investment framework ensures a consistent flow of new investment opportunities. Together with our market views, these opportunities will be reflected in our live ETF-based Global Multi-Asset Portfolios.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Unlike many suggest, the downgrade of the US credit rating by Fitch, resulting in the US losing its Triple-A status, will have significant impact on markets.</li>
<li>The disappointing ISM Manufacturing Index comes with massive downside for Equities in all regions.</li>
<li>While the Big Tech earnings dream get to live another day, the risks of a further and more significant slowdown in company earnings remain abundant.</li>
</ul>


Unlike many suggest, the downgrade of the US credit rating by Fitch, resulting in the US losing its Triple-A status, will have significant impact on markets.
The disappointing ISM Manufacturing Index comes with massive downside for Equities in all regions.
While the Big Tech earnings dream get to live another day, the risks of a further and more significant slowdown in company earnings remain abundant.


The Weekly Market Monitor (31) – Bye, Bye, Triple-A

United States

Netflix Inc. is an Internet subscription service for watching tv shows and movies. Subscribers can instantly watch unlimited TV shows and movies streamed over the Internet to their TVs, computers and mobile devices and in the United States, subscribers can receive standard definition DVDs and Blu-ray Discs delivered to their homes.

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Netflix Inc (NFLX US)

Fads and Second Acts

Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids… Every generation has its share...

Investment Talk

Five Trends in Technology for 2024 - Outlook for Key Markets in Tech

After two years of working through the excessive growth witnessed in 2020, the $6 trillion e- commerce market is expected to accelerate modestly to...

Water Tower Research

Confluent. 2Q Wrap: Solid Results and Leadership Position In a $60B+ TAM

Confluent reported solid results and achieved sustained high growth despite a choppy macro environment and smaller average deal sizes. The company...

Andrei Zakharov

Disney's Q3 2023 Earnings: A Pivotal Quarter To Appease Investors And Analysts

The main focus will remain on Direct-to-Consumer profitability, but areas such as the recently announced restructuring plan and pricing power in...

Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA

The Weekly Market Monitor (31) – Bye, Bye, Triple-A

The US has lost the Triple A-rating, which, unlike many suggest, will have major implications. If not in the short run, then definitely in the long...

Jeroen Blokland

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