Tag Archives: Austin Smith

Amazon's Huge Hidden Weapon Against Netflix

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In this video, Austin Smith highlights what he sees as Amazon.com‘s biggest advantage over Netflix: data on customer searches and preferences. While both companies mine their databases to better offer content to their customers, Austin points out that Amazon has the larger, more complete database. Amazon is also improving its operations, particularly its distribution operations, and is narrowing the advantage Netflix has in that regard. In Austin’s opinion, momentum and data mining are going in Amazon’s favor.

Everyone knows Amazon is a big player in the streaming game, but at its sky-high valuation, most investors are worried it’s the company’s share price that will get knocked down instead of its competitors’. The Motley Fool’s premium report will tell you what’s driving the company’s growth and fill you in on reasons to buy and reasons to sell Amazon. The report also has you covered with a full year of free analyst updates to keep you informed as the company’s story changes, so click here now to read more.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips“, contentId: “cms.30522”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:NFLX, NASDAQ:AMZN”, contentTitle: “Amazon’s Huge Hidden Weapon Against Netflix”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “10”,

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/amazons-huge-hidden-weapon-in-the-streaming-war/

The Huge Mistake Amazon, Google, and eBay Are All Making

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Online retailing is touting same-day-delivery service. In this video, Austin Smith makes the case that same-day delivery is nothing more than a headline-grabber. Online retailers may feel a need to offer this service to be competitive, but Austin says shoppers are more focused on free delivery, price, and selection — and he believes Amazon.com rules the roost in these metrics.

Same-day delivery may be a waste, but Amazon is still a great company to own for the long run. That’s why we’ve named it one of the “3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich” You can uncover the other two companies we selected in our new premium report, totally free. Just click here now to keep reading.

The article The Huge Mistake Amazon, Google, and eBay Are All Making originally appeared on Fool.com.


Austin Smith owns shares of Google and eBay. Jeremy Phillips owns shares of Google and Amazon.com. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Amazon.com, eBay, and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/the-huge-mistake-amazon-google-and-ebay-are-all-ma/

Are Best Buy and Samsung Making J.C. Penney's Mistake?

By Austin Smith and Eric Bleeker, CFA, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

J.C. Penney‘s big turnaround pivoted on the idea of a store-within-a-store shopping experience. The radical shift had Wall Street enamored at first, but the novel concept is far from new. The design has been tried with mixed success across all varieties of bricks-and-mortar retailers. 

Best Buy is the most recent dying retailer to attempt such a move after announcing its partnership with Samsung to create retail shops within larger Best Buy stores. There are echoes here not just of J.C. Penney’s attempted strategy, but also of Apple‘s own experience inside Target stores today and Circuit City stores of yesteryear. 

Whether Best Buy and Samsung can pull off an Apple retail success will depend on their execution, but what seems on the surface to be a mimicking of J.C. Penney’s ill-fated strategy is actually rather different. Check out the following video for more details.

One thing is for sure: The retail space is in the midst of the biggest paradigm shift since mail order took off at the turn of last century. Only the most forward-looking and capable companies will survive, and they’ll handsomely reward investors who understand the landscape. You can read about the 3 Companies Ready to Rule Retail in The Motley Fool’s special report. Uncovering these top picks is free today; just click here to read more.

The article Are Best Buy and Samsung Making J.C. Penney’s Mistake? originally appeared on Fool.com.


Austin Smith owns shares of Apple. Eric Bleeker, CFA, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/are-best-buy-and-samsung-making-jc-penneys-mistake/

Investing Lessons From the 78% of NFL Players Who Go Broke

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Here’s a statistic that may shock you: 78% of NFL players declare bankruptcy within five years of leaving pro football. In this video, Austin Smith offers two lessons from this sad statistic: Spend less than you earn — much less, in the case of professional athletes, who have a short window for earning big paydays —  and have patience in building your wealth. While we may dream of a big payday, chances are we’ll have to slowly accumulate wealth.

For more details, including how Warren Buffett figures into the equation, check out the video.

If you’re on the hunt for one stock to start building your riches, The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: “The Motley Fool’s Top Stock for 2013.” Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article Investing Lessons From the 78% of NFL Players Who Go Broke originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

Read | Permalink | <a target=_blank href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/forward/20540118/" title="Send this entry to a friend via

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/investing-lessons-from-the-78-of-nfl-players-who-g/

How the Japanese Government Is Hurting Ford and GM

By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In this video, Motley Fool analyst Brendan Byrnes describes how global currency fluctuations are hurting U.S. automakers in their domestic market. The new Japanese government has enacted policies that devalue the yen relative to the dollar. This allows Japanese automakers, Toyota especially, to make more money off cars made in Japan. This also allows Japanese automakers to price their vehicles more competitively to U.S. cars. The devalued yen and consequent improved price structure for high-quality Japanese cars spells bad news for U.S. automakers.

Worried about Ford?

If you’re concerned that Ford’s turnaround has run its course, relax — there’s good reason to think that the Blue Oval still has big growth opportunities ahead. We’ve outlined those opportunities in detail, in the Fool’s premium Ford research service. If you’re looking for some freshly updated guidance to Ford’s prospects in coming years, you’ve come to the right place — click here to get started now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.30229”, contentTickers: “NYSE:F, NYSE:TM, NYSE:HMC, NYSE:GM“, contentTitle: “How the Japanese Government Is Hurting Ford and GM“, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “31”, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why This Year's Worst Dow Stock Is a Buy

By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Caterpillar has performed badly in the past, but what does the future hold? In this video, Brendan Byrnes lays out his case for investing in the company. Most compelling, he says, is that Caterpillar has entered the mining equipment business, which should mesh well with the growing demand for coal in China. The company also generates more than 60% of its revenues outside the U.S., so as emerging markets grow, Caterpillar’s revenues should get a boost. Best of all, the company is trading at less than 10 times earnings, putting it at a fair entry price.

Check out the video for more details.

Caterpillar is the market share leader in an industry in which size matters, and its quality products, extensive service network, and unparalleled brand strength combine to give it solid competitive advantages. Read all about Caterpillar’s strengths and weaknesses in The Motley Fool’s brand-new report. Just click here to access it now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.30237”, contentTickers: “NYSE:GE, NYSE:CAT, NYSE:JOY”, contentTitle: “Why This Year’s Worst Dow Stock Is a Buy”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “24”, pitchTickers: “NYSE:CAT”, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Surprisingly, This Automaker Has the Most Loyal Customers

By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

A recent survey shows that Ford has the most loyal customers of any major American car company. In this video, Brendan Byrnes discusses how Ford is keeping its customers, particularly buyers of pickup trucks. He notes that while Ford has been able to fend off encroachment from Japanese and other automakers, General Motors hasn’t been so lucky. Even though the survey listed Chevy at No. 5 in customer loyalty, the remaining GM brands were below average. Ford has a solid customer base and reputation in the United States, but what companies could pose a threat? Find out more in the video.

Worried about Ford?

If you’re concerned that Ford’s turnaround has run its course, relax — there’s good reason to think that the Blue Oval still has big growth opportunities ahead. We’ve outlined those opportunities in detail, in the Fool’s premium Ford research service. If you’re looking for some freshly updated guidance to Ford’s prospects in coming years, you’ve come to the right place — click here to get started now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.30210”, contentTickers: “NYSE:TM, NYSE:GM, NYSE:HMC, NYSE:F”, contentTitle: “Surprisingly, This Automaker Has the Most Loyal Customers”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “31”, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Is Buffett Really Wrong About Airlines?

By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Warren Buffett famously does not invest in airlines. However, the airline index is up 35% over the past quarter. Is Buffett wrong about airlines? In this video, Brendan Byrnes says no. Among the significant structural barriers that prevent airlines from being good long-term investments are fuel, labor, and other operating costs, along with a lack of competitive advantage and the cyclical nature of the business. There may be short-term runs in airline stocks, but for the long haul, these aren’t great companies to be had at fair prices. Check out the video for further details.

More great advice from The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: “The Motley Fool’s Top Stock for 2013.” Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article Is Buffett Really Wrong About Airlines? originally appeared on Fool.com.


Austin Smith and Brendan Byrnes have no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

var s …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

What China's Massive Auto Boom Means for Detroit

By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Some predictions have the Chinese auto market growing by 144% in the coming years. In this video, Brendan Byrnes discusses which auto companies are most likely to benefit. Right now, he says, General Motors and Volkswagen have substantial market share and are likely to expand on their stakes. Ford isn’t as big in China as GM or VW are, but it’s investing heavily and won’t go away quietly. With a decline in Japanese auto sales stemming from the country’s current anti-Japan attitudes, American companies could benefit, despite some headwinds related to regulations and infrastructure. Check out the video for further details.

Worried about GM?
Few companies lead to such strong feelings as GM. But ignoring emotions to make good investing decisions is hard. The Fool’s premium GM research service can help, by telling you the truth about GM‘s growth potential in coming years. (Hint: It’s even bigger than you think. But it’s not a sure thing, and we’ll help you understand why.) It might help give you the courage to be greedy while others are still fearful, as well as a better understanding of the real risks facing General Motors. Just click here to get started now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.30220”, contentTickers: “NYSE:F, NYSE:TM, NYSE:HMC, NYSE:GM“, contentTitle: “What China‘s Massive Auto Boom Means for Detroit”, hasVideo: “True”, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Apple and Innovation

By Morgan Housel, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Apple  is one of the most innovative companies to ever exist. That has been a blessing for shareholders, who have enjoyed a 6,000% gain over the last decade.

But what does the need to innovate mean going forward? The answer may not be a clear as you think. In this video, Fool analysts Morgan Housel and Austin Smith discuss the difference between a company that constantly needs to innovate versus those with boring products that rarely change.

There’s no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology’s largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool’s senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker is prepared to fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Morgan Housel“, contentId: “cms.28848”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:AAPL, NYSE:KO, NYSE:CLX”, contentTitle: “Apple and Innovation”, hasVideo: “False”, pitchId: “1”, pitchTickers: “NASDAQ:AAPL”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Scary Numbers From For-Profit Education

By Morgan Housel and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

We’ve all heard about the student loan crises. The numbers are surging out of control. Is it the next bubble? Does it make going to college not worth it?

Like most things in the economy, the answer is: It’s complicated. In this video, Fool analysts Morgan Housel and Austin Smith discuss some unique numbers about student loans, and what they might mean for the for-profit education industry.

The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: “The Motley Fool’s Top Stock for 2013.” Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article Scary Numbers From For-Profit Education originally appeared on Fool.com.

Morgan Housel has no position in any stocks mentioned. Austin Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | <a target=_blank href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/03/scary-numbers-from-for-profit-education/#comments" title="View reader comments …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

3 Reasons to Buy Express Scripts

By Jim Mueller and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In this video, Austin Smith interviews Jim Mueller, author of the Fool’s premium report on Express Scripts. Jim thinks the company is a buy for three reasons:

  • $290 billion of drugs are coming off-patent over the next five years, and the company can benefit from selling more profitable generics.
  • The U.S. and European populations are aging. 
  • Obamacare will bring many more people onto the rolls.

For more details, check out the video.

Do lower costs = profits for your portfolio?
In 2011, a massive shift began. With the first of the baby boomer generation reaching Medicare age, America’s health-care landscape was forever changed. Combine the aging population with the impact of Obamacare, and the need for innovative solutions for skyrocketing health-care costs is as clear as ever. Express Scripts is part of that solution, and in this brand-new premium report on the company, we clearly lay out the opportunity in front of this misunderstood stock. Claim your copy by clicking here now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Jim Mueller and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.25980”, contentTickers: “NYSE:PFE, NYSE:MRK, NASDAQ:ESRX”, contentTitle: “3 Reasons to Buy Express Scripts“, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “85”, pitchTickers: “NASDAQ:ESRX”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Is Verizon Really the Dow's Best Dividend?

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Though Verizon sports the Dow’s second biggest dividend and has realized more growth than rival AT&T, that doesn’t make the company a winner. As Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips discuss in the following video, while big dividends and wide moats are nice, there are better opportunities to be found on the index. 

For example, when it comes to a company with a great dividend, a wide moat, and better growth prospects than Verizon, Dow stocks such as McDonald’s and 3M could be a safer bet.

For more, check out the video.

If you’re looking for more great Dow dividends, you’re invited to check out The Motley Fool’s brand-new special report, “The 3 Dow Stocks Dividend Investors Need.” It’s absolutely free, so simply click here now and get your copy today.

The article Is Verizon Really the Dow’s Best Dividend? originally appeared on Fool.com.


Austin Smith owns shares of Apple, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s. Jeremy Phillips owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends 3M, Apple, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s and owns shares of Apple and McDonald’s. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

Read | Permalink | <a target=_blank href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/forward/20524193/" title="Send this …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Will "Going Private" Hurt Facebook?

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith discuss Facebook.

Austin says Facebook’s having trouble monetizing its user base. Increasing ads drives many users away, and still others are turning to mobile, which is even harder to monetize.

As for Web stocks that can be successful in online advertising, Austin points to Google, with its wide moat, the success of Chrome and Android, and its control of search engine optimization and search algorithms around the Web.

For more details, check out the video.

Of course, this is just one side of the story, and there are things every investor needs to know about Facebook. We’ve outlined them in our newest premium research report. There’s a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to “like” about it today, and we’ll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips“, contentId: “cms.26914”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:FB”, contentTitle: “Will “Going Private” Hurt Facebook?”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “16”, pitchTickers: “NASDAQ:FB”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Is EA the Worst Company in America?

By Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Electronic Arts hasn’t been winning any friends with its customer-service snafus recently, and the shoddy behavior has landed the company in The Consumerist‘s bracket for “The Worst Company In America” — yet again.

But the real question is how this poor sentiment translates to investor returns. In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith reflect on what the poor service means for shareholders, and their conclusions aren’t good.

While Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have been taking the headlines when it comes to console gaming, Electronic Arts has been languishing. If you’re wondering how to play the new landscape of gaming, we can help. Our new special report breaks down the risks and opportunities facing the company to help you decide whether EA is right for your portfolio. Click here to get your copy now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.27474”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:EA“, contentTitle: “Is EA the Worst Company in America?”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “97”, pitchTickers: “NASDAQ:EA“, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Pandora Will Never Be a Great Investment

By Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith discuss the future of Pandora.

Jeremy calls the company a “dumb pipe” that doesn’t own its content, all while it goes up against Apple and Amazon.com, which have billions of dollars to play with as they seek to build on their market shares.

Austin notes that those two companies are willing to sustain losses in this business — Apple for the sake of further developing its products’ ecosystems — and says there may be no winner in this market at all, as there are no economies of scale and costs keep rising. Even worse for Pandora is that it has no intellectual property, leaving its business ripe for disruption.

For more details, check out the video.

Pandora has won millions of devotees among music fans but few supporters on Wall Street. The online jukebox seems to be redefining the way we consume music, a transformation that’s only likely to grow. But high royalty rates and competition from all corners threatens to silence the company. Can Pandora translate success with its listeners into a prosperous business model that will deliver for investors? Learn about the key opportunities and potential pitfalls facing the upstart radio streamer in The Motley Fool’s new premium research report. All you have to do is click here now to subscribe to this invaluable investor’s resource.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.26932”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:AAPL, NYSE:DIS, NASDAQ:NFLX, NASDAQ:AMZN, NYSE:P”, contentTitle: “Why Pandora Will Never Be a Great Investment”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

1 Simple Reason HP Will Never Be Great Again

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith discuss the future of Hewlett-Packard.

Austin says HP could be the next IBM if it were to develop a tech consulting arm, which would be a cash-flow machine. But it hasn’t said anything about doing so. Instead, the company is working on a 3-D mobile display, a technology that’s easy to disrupt, doesn’t help in terms of a moat, and may not even be patent-protected.

In short, the likes of Apple can gain market share, even as it charges more, while everyone else is focusing on things like specs. As Austin sees it, HP and archrival Dell are simply focusing on the wrong things.

For more details, check out the video.

HP may have missed the boat on tech relevance, but there are still huge ways to profit in this space. For example, the amount of data we store every year is growing by a mind-boggling 60% annually! To make sense of this trend and pick out a winner, The Motley Fool has compiled a new report called “The Only Stock You Need to Profit From the NEW Technology Revolution.” The report highlights a company that has gained 300% since first recommended by Fool analysts but still has plenty of room left to run. To get instant access to the name of this company transforming the IT industry, click here — it’s free.

The article 1 Simple Reason HP Will Never Be Great Again originally appeared on Fool.com.


Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips own shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and owns shares of Apple and IBM. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

What Would You Do As J.C. Penney's CEO?

By Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith speculate on what they’d do if they were J.C. Penney‘s CEO.

Austin says J.C. Penney should exit its leases, focus on stores that occupy owned real estate, and follow the example of a company like The Buckle, which controls its growth, has an industry-leading supply chain, and focuses on a high-margin private label that helps it differentiate itself from other department stores

Austin doesn’t think J.C. Penney can ever be great again, but he does think CEO Ron Johnson has given it his best effort.

J.C. Penney has been a train wreck whose comeback always seems just around the next earnings corner, but investors are beginning to doubt that CEO Ron Johnson can weave the same magic that he did at Apple. If you’re wondering whether J.C. Penney is a buy today, you’re invited to claim a copy of The Motley Fool’s must-read report on the company. Learn everything you need to know about Penney’s turnaround — or lack thereof. Simply click here now for instant access.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.26933”, contentTickers: “NYSE:BKE, NYSE:JCP”, contentTitle: “What Would You Do As J.C. Penney’s CEO?”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “78”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Aren't These Tech Executives "Dogfooding"?

By Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith talk about tech executives who don’t often eat their own cooking, or engage in what’s known as “dogfooding” in Silicon Valley parlance. In other words, these execs don’t use their own products. For example, Google‘s Eric Schmidt has been known to use a BlackBerry. Marissa Mayer — at Yahoo! now, but originally at Google — uses an iPhone.

Jeremy says investors should want to see executives using their companies’ products. He notes that Facebook requires employees to access Facebook with mobile devices, to get them thinking about new ideas and solutions. Austin has a slightly different spin, though they agree that the goal should be superior products from the executives’ companies.

For more details, check out the video.

After the world’s most-hyped IPO turned out to be a dud, most investors probably don’t even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this company. We’ve outlined them in our newest premium research report. There’s a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to “like” about it today, and we’ll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Austin Smith and Jeremy Phillips“, contentId: “cms.26931”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:AAPL, NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:BBRY, NASDAQ:FB”, contentTitle: “Why Aren’t These Tech Executives “Dogfooding”?”, hasVideo: “True”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Could Waste Management Be a Bufett Buyout?

By Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

After Warren Buffett shocked the world with his Heinz buyout, investors everywhere are wondering the same thing: What’s next? He’s made it clear that his elephant gun is still loaded and Berkshire Hathaway still has a lot of cash to sport. 

In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith talk about one company that could fit well into his wheelhouse: Waste Management . The company has several typical Buffett traits, including a wide moat, a great dividend, and reliable free cash flow generation. Though Waste Management never appears cheap by traditional metrics, Buffett’s leverage could mean a sweeter deal than most retail investors could muster.

Even if the company isn’t a buyout target, investors could still do well owning shares of Waste Management outright.

But don’t just take our word for it. If you’re wondering whether this dividend dynamo is a buy today, you should read The Motley Fool’s premium analyst report on the company today. Just click here now for access.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.27485”, contentTickers: “NYSE:WM”, contentTitle: “Could Waste Management Be a Bufett Buyout?”, hasVideo: “True”, pitchId: “69”, pitchTickers: “NYSE:WM”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance