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  • Biogen’s Stock Pullback Offers a Second Chance

    Biogen’s Stock Pullback Offers a Second Chance

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    After slipping to its lowest level since 2013, Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) was all but forgotten by growth investors. That changed in dramatic fashion late last month when the biotech’s pipeline got a major boost. 


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    Why Did Biogen’s Stock Jump Higher?

    On September 27th, Biogen along with co-development partner and Japanese pharmaceutical leader Eisai announced positive top-line data from their Phase 3 trial of lecanemab. The investigational treatment for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease met its primary endpoint in reducing cognitive and functional decline by 27%. It also met the secondary endpoint of changing amyloid levels in the brain in a statistically significant manner.

    The news was greeted with intense buying activity for a stock that had plunged 58% from its summer 2021 peak. Biogen shares gapped up 40% on the day of the announcement in 15-times the 90-day average volume. The stunning gapper erased 10 months of losses in a single day, bringing newfound hope to biotech investors.

    The FDA has agreed to use the Biogen/Eisai trial as a confirmatory study. This means that it will be used to confirm the clinical benefit of the Alzheimer’s candidate as it reviews the pair’s Biologic License Application (BLA). The regulatory body granted priority review for the BLA and set an action date target of January 6th. 

    As the market awaits the pivotal FDA decision, additional data from the lecanemab study is expected to be released at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Congress (CTAC) conference held in San Francisco from November 29th through December 2nd. 

    Is it a Good Time to Invest in Biogen Stock?

    Unfortunately for Biogen shareholders, the big rally was short-lived but not by any fault of the company. Selling pressure set in because of the broader market downturn causing the stock to slide back to the mid-$200’s. 

    A second burst came on Thursday, however, when Biogen benefitted from a strong day in the market and surged back to the $270 level. Yet it is still trading below where it soared on the Phase 3 lecanemab update, giving investors an opportunity to pounce on a name that has momentum on its side and a potential catalyst to come in January’s anticipated FDA decision.

    While some sell-side research firms have taken a cautious stance after the big move (and due to FDA uncertainty), others see more gains ahead. More than a dozen analysts have called Biogen stock a buy since the big news, expecting the positive trial outcome to pave the way for FDA approval. Several of the revised price targets run well into the $300’s.

    However, there’s reason to be cautious here because Biogen is no stranger to extreme volatility. Less than two years ago, the stock went on a wild up and down ride related to another Alzheimer’s drug (aducanumab). The FDA initially offered a positive review of the drug only to decline endorsement days later. Marketed under the Aduhelm name, the drug was ultimately not covered by Medicare, dealing a devastating blow to the company and its investors.

    Many are expecting this time to be different. The data around lecanemab has been particularly strong which, combined with the limited options for Alzheimer’s patients, makes it hard to deny. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Within the next 30 years, the costs associated with Alzhiemer’s and other forms of dementia are expected to approach $1 trillion. 

    What are Biogen’s Growth Prospects?

    The developments around lecanemab will dictate where Biogen’s stock goes in the near-term. Even if it clears regulatory hurdles, securing approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is another hurdle. Getting FDA approval without the backing of Medicare would be a major setback.

    While Biogen has become synonymous with Alzheimer’s treatment over the last few years, the company has a larger growth driver at hand. Led by its flagship Tecfidera product, multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs account for approximately two-thirds of Biogen’s revenue. And with generic competition on the rise in the MS market, the need for a non-MS blockbuster such as lecanemab can’t come soon enough.

    Outside of its MS and Alzheimer’s programs, Biogen owns the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. It has also achieved milestones on new treatments for depression and various neuromuscular disorders. It is ramping up its own biosimilar product launches to combat the growing threat of generics. Looking into the back half of the decade, new programs in neuropsychiatry, Parkinson’s disease, lupus and stroke are expected to progress. 

    In the meantime, Biogen’s five different MS products will be leaned on to build off last year’s $7.1 billion revenue total. Whether its latest Alzheimer’s drug turns into a blockbuster or not, the company is positioned to become more diversified over time. This translates to a diminishing risk profile which, combined with the emerging growth prospects, makes the stock attractive here.

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    MarketBeat Staff

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  • The 4 Biggest Difficulties Every Entrepreneur Faces

    The 4 Biggest Difficulties Every Entrepreneur Faces

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The path to success as an can take many different forms, and no matter what path you choose, difficulties will always exist. It’s easy to become a bit of a skeptic when it comes to doing . The truth is, it’s not easy — and it’s not for everyone. It takes hard work and determination to succeed, no matter how cliché it sounds.

    You also have to recognize challenges as bottlenecks — not as signs of failure, but as obstacles to be overcome. To prepare yourself for any difficulties you might encounter along your entrepreneurial journey, here are some of the most common challenges you should expect to face, along with tips on how to overcome them:

    Related: Entrepreneurship Is All About Overcoming Obstacles

    1. Cash may run out, but it’s not the end of the world

    Cash is one of the most challenging elements of running a business. You have to ensure enough cash is coming in to keep everything and everyone up and running. Companies often go through periods of low cash flow, during which they may have to delay or cancel projects, hire less staff or even shut down entirely.

    Why do entrepreneurs end up low on cash? Well, most of the time, it is a result of a slowing , but it can also occur due to a client going bankrupt or because marketing efforts aren’t working as well as initially anticipated. It could also be that they might not have predicted the amount of money they would need for various aspects of their business.

    When you find yourself in any of these scenarios, managing your cash flow should be your top priority. You can always get a line of from another bank or company that charges very low-interest rates. Managing your credit, however, is a different topic we’ll get into later.

    2. You can’t please everyone, but you can always learn from naysayers

    Try to be on the right side of your own decisions. If you are doing something that you’re passionate about, then it’s easy to convince yourself that people will want what you have to offer. You need to make sure that every decision you make is made with confidence and conviction.

    It’s also important to understand that it’s normal for people to be indifferent toward a certain idea or person. Perhaps they have a preexisting opinion about you or your business that prevents them from considering it fully.

    Besides preconceived notions, consider that naysayers’ lack of interest might also be caused by familiarity, ignorance and fear. You must uncover what causes them and provide a solution.

    Having doubters doesn’t mean your idea or business isn’t good — it could mean that it just needs more work! DOUBTS ARE GOOD! They mean that something is missing from what would be perfect.

    Related: How to Maintain Motivation When Surrounded by Naysayers

    3. Clients are not here to stay — so give them more reasons to

    In the world of entrepreneurship, there are many ways clients can influence your business. They can be a great source of knowledge, especially if they’re interested in what you’re doing and how you do it. In this way, clients can be valuable resources for your company.

    However, it’s important to remember that they are also customers who will want things from you. So, while they may share information and provide valuable feedback, they may also expect different things from you than they did before.

    The difficulty here is that it’s up to you as an entrepreneur to make sure that their expectations are met and that they feel satisfied with their experience with your business. As an entrepreneur, having strong relationships with your clients is the key to remaining competitive while growing your business.

    4. Credit is tough to manage until you’re left with no choice

    Entrepreneurship is a risky endeavor, and credit can be a big problem. But it won’t be a big problem if you know what you’re doing.

    The credit system is a lot like a double-edged sword. On one side, it can help entrepreneurs get the resources they need to start and grow their businesses. On the other side, it can be a hindrance when it comes to keeping your business afloat.

    For example, if you have a loan or line of credit with a bank, your business will have to pay interest on that loan every month. This means that if you don’t pay your bills on time, the bank will take more money out of your account than they’re supposed to — and then charge you more in interest for the money they took out of your account. This can lead to serious financial problems for you and your business.

    To overcome problems with credit and keep your business running smoothly, you’ll need to have an understanding of all the options available to you and then make sure you take advantage of them.

    Related: 3 Tips for Young Entrepreneurs on the Power of Credit

    Important takeaways

    • Having a lot of cash on hand might seem like a good sign, but you must also strike a balance between having an excessive amount out of precaution and not having enough. When you have too much cash, you may be missing out on investment opportunities that could increase your profits.

    • Instead of letting naysayers scare you away from making progress, focus on finding out where the holes are and filling them in before moving forward.

    • Give your clients a sense of ownership, and acknowledge the importance of the role they play in your company’s success.

    • Be smart when it comes to credit, and be aware of all the options available to you.

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    Roy Dekel

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  • 3 Stocks That Could Help You Retire Even in a Bear Market

    3 Stocks That Could Help You Retire Even in a Bear Market

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    September inflation report came in hotter than expected, increasing the chances of aggressive interest rate hikes later this year. Since analysts expect the economy to tip into a recession next year, dividend-paying stocks Walmart (WMT), Coca-Cola (KO), and Greif (GEF), which are backed by solid fundamentals, could help you plan your retirement even in a bear market. Read more….


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    The Federal Reserve has undertaken a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to control the surging inflation. Despite rate hikes, inflation came in hotter than expected in September, rising 0.4% sequentially and 8.2% from a year ago. The report initially rattled financial markets, with stock market futures plunging and Treasury yields increasing.

    The latest GDP estimate showed that the U.S. economy contracted in the first half of this year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon cautioned about the possibility of a recession, as persistent and elevated inflation could cause interest rates to rise higher than 4.5%.

    The S&P 500 has slid more than 20% this year, signaling a bear market. However, there might still be opportunities left for long-term investors, as bear markets usually don’t continue for long.

    Given this backdrop, fundamentally strong dividend stocks Walmart Inc. (WMT), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), and Greif, Inc. (GEF) could be solid investments to ensure a stable income stream. 

    Walmart Inc. (WMT

    WMT engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S.; Walmart International; and Sam’s Club. 

    On October 3, WMT’s division Sam’s Club launched its expanded Photo and Customization Services, where its members are granted access to professional photographers, enhanced photo printing services, as well as made-to-order apparel and home goods, making Sam’s Club the first to do so in the warehouse space.

    On September 28, WMT celebrated the grand opening of Walmart’s first of four Next Generation Fulfillment Centers in Joliet, Illinois. The new FC should improve the company’s operative capacity and might drive up its revenues.  

    In February, WMT declared an annual dividend of $2.24 per share to be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.56 per share. Its annual dividend yields 1.69% on prevailing prices. The company’s dividend payouts have increased at a 1.9% CAGR over the past three and five years. The company has a record of 48 years of consecutive dividend growth. 

    WMT’s total revenues came in at $152.86 billion for the second quarter that ended July 31, 2022, up 8.4% year-over-year. Its consolidated net income came in at $5.15 billion, up 17.9% year-over-year, while its EPS stood at $1.88, up 23.7% year-over-year. 

    The consensus EPS estimate of $1.48 for the fiscal fourth quarter ending April 2023 represents a 14.1% improvement year-over-year. The consensus revenue estimate of $144.64 billion for the same quarter indicates a 3.1% increase from the prior-year period. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history, surpassing the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. 

    Over the past three months, the stock has gained 5.5% to close the last trading session at $132.28. 

    WMT’s POWR Ratings reflect this promising outlook. The company’s overall A rating translates to Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting. 

    It has an A grade for Sentiment and a B for Growth, Stability, and Quality. It is ranked #6 out of 38 stocks in the A-rated Grocery/Big Box Retailers industry.  

    To see the additional POWR Ratings for WMT for Value and Momentum, click here.  

    The Coca-Cola Company (KO)  

    Beverage company KO manufactures, markets, and sells various non-alcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, flavored and enhanced water, sports drinks, juice, dairy and plant-based beverages, tea and coffee, and energy drinks. 

    On September 29, KO and Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP) announced that they had entered into an exclusive agreement to develop and commercialize Topo Chico Spirited, a line of spirit-based, ready-to-drink cocktails. The new product launch might bolster the company’s revenue stream. 

    On July 21, KO declared a quarterly dividend of 44 cents per common share, which was payable to shareholders on October 3. Its annual dividend of $1.76 yields 3.15% on prevailing prices. The company’s dividend payouts have increased at a 3.1% CAGR over the past three years and a 3.6% CAGR over the past five years.  The company has a record of 59 years of consecutive dividend growth.

    KO’s net operating revenue increased 11.8% year-over-year to $11.33 billion in the second quarter that ended July 1. Its non-GAAP gross profit grew 7.2% from the year-ago value to $6.67 billion, while its non-GAAP net income improved 4.4% year-over-year to $3.06 billion. The company’s non-GAAP net earnings per common share increased 2.9% from its year-ago value to $0.70. 

    Street expects KO’s revenue to increase 8.9% year-over-year to $42.09 billion in the fiscal year 2022. Its EPS is estimated to grow 5.9% year-over-year to $2.46 in the same year. It has surpassed EPS estimates in all four trailing quarters, which is impressive.  

    KO’s shares have gained 2.5% over the past five days to close the last trading session at $55.87. 

    KO’s overall B rating equates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The stock has a B grade for Stability, Sentiment, and Quality. It’s ranked #17 out of 35 stocks in the A-rated Beverages industry.  

    Click here to get the KO ratings for Growth, Value, and Momentum. 

    Greif, Inc. (GEF) 

    GEF is a global producer of industrial packaging products and services. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial Packaging; Paper Packaging & Services; and Land Management.  

    On August 30, GEF declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.50 per share on its Class A common stock and $0.75 per share on its Class B common stock, which was payable on October 1, 2022. Its annual dividend of $2.00 yields 3.37% on prevailing prices. The company’s dividend payouts have increased at a 2.2% CAGR over the past three years and a 2.3% CAGR over the past five years. 

    For the fiscal third quarter that ended July 31, 2022, GEF’s net sales increased 8.8% year-over-year to $1.62 billion. The company’s operating profit increased 18.8% year-over-year to $205.70 million. Also, its net income rose 23.4% year-over-year to $146.10 million, while its class A common stock EPS grew 24.9% from its prior-year quarter to $2.36.  

    For the fiscal year ending October 2022, GEF’s EPS and revenue are expected to increase 43.2% and 16% year-over-year to $8.02 and $6.45 billion, respectively. It has surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. 

    The stock has declined 1.4% over the past five days to close the last trading session at $59.34.

    GEF’s POWR Ratings reflect this promising outlook. The stock has an overall rating of A, translating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. It also has a B grade for Value and Quality. Within the A-rated Industrial – Packaging industry, it is ranked #3 out of 22 stocks.  

    Beyond what we’ve stated above, we have also given GEF grades for Growth, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment. Get all GEF ratings here.


    WMT shares were trading at $130.77 per share on Friday afternoon, down $1.51 (-1.14%). Year-to-date, WMT has declined -8.54%, versus a -23.65% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Kritika Sarmah

    Her interest in risky instruments and passion for writing made Kritika an analyst and financial journalist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in commerce and is currently pursuing the CFA program. With her fundamental approach, she aims to help investors identify untapped investment opportunities.

    More…

    The post 3 Stocks That Could Help You Retire Even in a Bear Market appeared first on StockNews.com

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    Kritika Sarmah

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  • With a Recession Looming and Interest Rates Rising, What’s Next for the Economy?

    With a Recession Looming and Interest Rates Rising, What’s Next for the Economy?

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The S&P 500 is down nearly 20% year-to-date, the dollar has lost lots of buying power, and the fed has made it increasingly difficult for young buyers to purchase their first home.

    With all these factors at play, it is essential to listen to economic experts like Jerome Powell. Powell spoke on again in early September. The Fed is expected to continue raising interest rates until the inflation numbers are under control. “Restoring price stability will take some time and requires using our tools forcefully to bring supply and demand into better balance,” Mr. Powell said in those remarks. “While higher interest rates, slower growth and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses.”

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    Dominic Blanco

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  • 3 Easy Ways to Gain Confidence

    3 Easy Ways to Gain Confidence

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    As rises, financial confidence declines. According to a recent New York Life survey, 62% of Americans are financially confident, down from 69% in January. Given the current period of high inflation, Americans are faced with more financial uncertainty than ever before. But how can we combat this?

    “Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” – Roy T Bennett.

    This quote is easier to read than follow! However, in the spirit of regaining power in an economic market that can leave us feeling powerless, here are three great steps that can orient us toward a greater sense of personal and financial confidence:

    1. Make efficient decisions
    2. Follow through with a realistic plan
    3. Have the willpower to take control

    As an investor, you cannot control the stock market or the rising gas prices. But you are in the driver’s seat with your self-awareness, self-assurance and self-determination. Confidence is about acceptance and belief in your strengths, skills and abilities. It is not innate; it can be grown and refined over time.

    Here are three guiding attributes that are foundational to confidence. Building insight into these concepts can empower you to strive for financial freedom and help you thrive in all aspects of your life.

    1. Self-awareness

    Personal

    Setbacks and obstacles are why we stop in our tracks, as we often focus on the negative outcomes which stunt us. To feel growth, we need to see and believe in our abilities to succeed and progress.

    One technique to help attain self-awareness is journaling. I know journaling feels like such an unrealistic task, but it doesn’t have to be an elaborate process if you don’t want it to be. It can be as simple as reaching for your phone to take notes when you see, hear or think about something that moves and inspires you. It really can be as easy as taking a screenshot of something that elicits deep emotion for you or jotting down a memory or reflection. The goal is to connect with thoughts and emotions within us that we would typically move on from. When we journal, we give them space to develop. I keep a notes tab on my phone, a physical journal on my nightstand and a photo folder on my phone that has stored quotes, photos or videos that inspire confidence and in me.

    Another technique can be as simple as setting a time every morning, even just one minute, to be reflective and set an intention for yourself for the day. There is no wrong way to start. You have to give yourself the chance to create this growth by taking proactive steps toward building your self-awareness.

    Related: Why It’s Time to Dust Off That Journal

    Financial

    As you gather more information on a topic, you acquire more knowledge. Still, when it comes to Financial Self-Awareness (FSA), it is a little less about financial literacy in general and more about your financial situation. Many people can recite books or the ratios and formulas for excellent investment advice, but if you don’t know what your net worth is today, how can you make decisions about your future?

    Take some time to jot down your past successes and failures with money; this will give you clarity on your “why.” Once you have reviewed and developed a deeper understanding of your financial history, you can move forward with making the necessary decisions to reach your present and future goals. This clarity and intentionality will assist you in building more confidence.

    2. Self-assurance

    Personal

    This level of self-esteem is not built around knowing you are always right; it’s about being able to get up after you fall and still move forward. We all have strengths, so leverage them and ensure you are implementing them daily. We also all have moments of doubt, and we can move forward by harnessing the moments of assurance from revisiting our accomplishments. When was your last moment of success? Think of anything from gathering the courage to have a difficult conversation with someone in your life to finishing a painting, a book or a degree. Accomplishments come in all sizes, so celebrate them and often remind yourself of your successes.

    Financial

    Historically, money has been a taboo subject, especially for women. I grew up thinking it was rude or inappropriate to talk about money. As I got older, I (thankfully) stopped following that rule, which made me look for more information and continue to learn and understand it. Most people don’t talk about it enough, which is one of the reasons why most people have poor money management skills. This then turns into shame and embarrassment, which can keep us from being honest about money and seeking the right help. The more you talk about money, the more comfortable you’ll feel; consistency is essential. Having a financial plan might sound like a hassle at first, but it will save you from multiple headaches in the future. A financial plan gives you a goal that you can track and ultimately increase your economic confidence.

    Related: 12 Ways to Boost Your Confidence in 2022

    3. Self-determination

    Personal

    Determination is usually tied to actions like “I am determined to learn another language, ” which requires steps to accomplish. This is precisely what self-determination is: building a set of skills to reach those goals.

    What skills do you need to build on most? Here are a few to think about: Decision-making, problem-solving, goal-setting and self-advocacy. Psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan developed a theory of motivation that suggested that people tend to be driven by a need to grow and gain fulfillment. Building life skills that escalate your knowledge allows for the independence you seek, and also increased relationships and interactions with others will lead to high self-determination.

    Related: How Resilience Led Me to Success

    Financial

    Take control of your financial journey by allowing yourself flexibility. Confidence is about understanding your strengths and weaknesses, which change over time. It is okay not to be an expert in all things finance; there are experts in the field who outsource help from others. Stay on top of your finances using financial tools like apps and calendar reminders.

    Looking to save more money? Use a budgeting app like Mint and schedule a time to revisit your budget regularly. A visual representation of your goals and progress will help you stay on track and motivated.

    According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, nearly 80% of women struggle with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work. This means four in five women may be held back in their career advancement by a lack of confidence and visibility. Let’s change these statistics and help each other increase our confidence. Remember that applying these steps takes practice. Start with what feels most comfortable and move on to the next. Becoming financially and personally confident will enable you to trust your abilities to manage your wealth and life fruitfully. Once you deepen your self-awareness, self-assurance and self-determination, it will become phenomenally easier to make efficient decisions, follow them with a plan of action and move with conviction. While inflation creates uncertainty for many, your financial confidence need not be wavered by outside factors.

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    Vanessa N. Martinez

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  • Learning About Bitcoin Is The Path To Financial Freedom

    Learning About Bitcoin Is The Path To Financial Freedom

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    This is an opinion editorial by The Bitcoin General, a Bitcoin proponent, seeker of truth, respecter of individuality and appreciator of freedom.

    For decades, the legacy financial establishment has capitalized on its position to manage wealth for the vast majority of investors. On January 3, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto did something revolutionary: he mined the genesis block of Bitcoin. After witnessing the scandalous events of the great financial crash of 2008, enough was enough. Big banks engaged in reckless conduct with predatory lending practices and incessant greed that drove the world into a global recession. Then came the massive corporate bailouts via the money-printer.

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    The Bitcoin General

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  • 3 Essential Steps for Startups to Keep Enough Cash in the Bank

    3 Essential Steps for Startups to Keep Enough Cash in the Bank

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Until your startup is profitable and generating positive cash flow, there is one fundamental question you should be able to answer at any time: How much runway do you have left? Many founders think this question refers to when their cash balance hits zero. Unfortunately, you’ll be in trouble well before then.

    As your cash balance approaches the danger zone, your auditors may issue a “going concern” memo. Your bank might get nervous, restricting access to critical facilities. Key vendors will become worried when you start stretching out payments, tightening credit terms or even requiring cash up front before they ship that next order.

    You need to know the point at which your cash balance gets so low that you risk losing control of your company. Here are three essential steps to ensure you always have enough cash in the bank:

    Related: 10 Expert Tips on Managing Cash Flow as a New Business

    1. Calculate how many months of cash you have

    From the early days of , insisted on having at least enough cash in the bank to keep the company alive for 12 months if revenue dropped to zero. Gates understood that cash equals control, and he never wanted to find himself in a position where he NEEDED money from someone else to ensure the company’s survival.

    When considering how much of a cash balance you need to maintain, use your forward-looking monthly forecast for operating expenses, purchases and capital expenditures. Don’t rely on historical spending patterns. Most startups are on a growth trajectory that regularly ramps costs and investments, which means your forward-looking targets will be higher.

    2. Review these two simple ratios each month

    Just looking at your cash balance as an indication of financial health ignores the state of the rest of your balance sheet. Most importantly, how do your current assets compare to your current liabilities, defined as liabilities that must be settled in the next 12 months? Two simple ratios should be a consistent part of your monthly reporting: the quick and current ratios.

    The quick ratio measures your company’s ability to cover current liabilities with your most liquid assets, such as cash, marketable securities and net accounts receivable (“quick assets”). The formula for the quick ratio is: Quick Assets / Current Liabilities.

    The current ratio, a less conservative measure, compares all of your current assets, including inventory and prepaid expenses, to your current liabilities. The formula for the current ratio is: Current Assets / Current Liabilities.

    These ratios help uncover hidden problems that a seemingly healthy cash balance might mask. For example, when your business starts to miss sales targets, you will likely begin to stretch out payments to vendors to maintain your target cash balance. The current and quick ratios can let you know when those deferred payments are creating a risk level in current liabilities that could soon get out of hand.

    The target for these ratios will vary from company to company. Big red warning lights should flash if you have a ratio under 1.0. Your might want you to maintain a certain ratio to avoid triggering a fundraise or sale process. There might be industry averages that you can use to benchmark your company against peers.

    Assuming you have debt facilities in place, your bank might also have a point of view — which leads us to the third step.

    Related: Long-Term Success Starts With Managing Your Startup’s Runway

    3. Keep an eye on your bank covenants and “Events of Default”

    Another reason that simply relying on your monthly cash balance is a mistake is that you likely have debt facilities that you’ve used to strengthen your cash position. Triggering a default with your lenders can leave your company in a precarious position.

    First, be aware of your financial bank covenants. Often these covenants include a quick or current ratio target that you must maintain throughout the term of the loan. This is the bank’s way of ensuring you have enough liquidity to stay current on payments and eventually pay off your debt.

    Also, be aware that insolvency can trigger a default condition, which allows your bank to call your debt and demand full repayment. This provision is usually tucked away deep in your loan agreement, under the section called “Events of Default.” Insolvency is a technical term meaning that your total liabilities exceed your total assets. You can have cash in the bank, make your debt payments on time and still be technically insolvent.

    Maintaining adequate cash and liquidity levels is the key to always staying in control of your company’s prospects. With so much to think about as a founder, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds of weekly reporting and performance metrics. When all is said and done, spend a little extra time each month taking these steps to reassess your company’s financial health, and you’ll avoid nasty surprises that suddenly narrow your future options.

    Related: 5 Ways to Keep Your Business Finances Healthy

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    Eric Ashman

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  • Is Paramount Global Stock a Hidden Gem in Plain Sight?

    Is Paramount Global Stock a Hidden Gem in Plain Sight?

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    Global media entertainment giant Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) has undergone an image makeover and rebranding after its stock collapsed as ViacomCBS. Hoping to shed its controversial past with the Redstone family drama and the Archegos Capital Management $20 billion blowup, the company has emerged as a still profitable sum-of-all parts media empire which may be vastly overlooked by the market.
    Its shares trade at less than a fifth of its value just over a year ago. Paramount Global is an entertainment powerhouse with brands that include Paramount, Pluto, Showtime, CBS, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET and the Smithsonian Channel.
    CBS is the No. 1 broadcast network in the country and it grew its market share by 20% from last year. Warren Buffett increased his shares from 68.95 million to 78.42 million through the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) 13F filing for Q2 2022 on August 15. Shares have since fallen as they now sell for 8x forward earnings with a 5.15% annual dividend yield.


    MarketBeat.com – MarketBeat

    Top Gun 2 Kills It

    Paramount Studios released five No. 1 box office films in a row. It had the strongest movie of the year, “Top Gun 2,” which raked in $1.45 billion worldwide on a $170 million budget. The movie has surpassed the $714 million box office mark in the U.S., making it the 22nd largest grossing movie of all time in unadjusted global earnings. Management showed impeccable timing for the release of the surprise blockbuster. 

    Streaming Empire

    Its streaming empire faces fierce competition from rivals, including Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), Amazon.com Inc. Prime Video (NADSAQ: AMZN) and Warner Brothers Discovery Inc. (NYSE: WBD). Its streaming assets include the Paramount+ streaming service, which has grown to over 43 million paid subscribers. Pluto has had over 70 million monthly active users (MAUs) on its ad-supported streaming network and its legacy platform, Showtime OTT, still brings in subscription fees from cable TV as well as its streaming platform.

    Is Paramount Global Stock a Hidden Gem in Plain Sight?

    Here’s What the Charts Say

    Using the rifle charts on the weekly and daily time frames provides a precision view of the landscape for PARA stock. The weekly rifle chart has been collapsing on the inverse pup breakdown through the $23.83 Fibonacci (fib) level. The weekly 5-period moving average (MA) resistance continues to fall at $20.85 followed by the weekly 15-period MA resistance at $23.55. The weekly lower Bollinger Bands (BBs) sit at $15.80 still above its weekly market structure low (MSL) buy trigger at $14.89.
    The weekly stochastic rejected the 20-band bounce attempt and crossed back down through the 10-band to stall again for a possible bounce or mini inverse pup. The daily rifle chart is forming an inverse pup breakdown as shares fall under the daily five-period MA at $19.41, followed by a falling daily 15-period MA at $20.14. The daily lower BBs sit at $16.45 as the stochastic stalls below the 20-band for a possible crossover back down to confirm the daily MA inverse pup breakdown. Attractive pullback levels sit at the $17.89 fib, $16.77 fib, $16.02 fib, $14.89 weekly MSL trigger, $13.84 fib, $12.09 fib and the $10.88 fib level.

    Digital Driving Growth

    On August 4, Paramount released its fiscal Q2 results for the quarter ending June 2022. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.64, beating $0.62 consensus analyst estimates by $0.02. Revenues climbed 18% year-over-year (YoY) to $7.78 billion, beating consensus analyst estimates for $7.55 billion. Paramount+ added 4.9 million new subscribers and removed 1.2 million Russia subscribers to grow to over 43 million subscribers. Advertising revenues rose 25% in the DTC segment, driven by increases impressions on both Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Advertising revenues fell (-6%) to $2.17 billion due to lower linear impressions and FX.

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  • 2 Tech Stocks to Consider Buying Over NVIDIA

    2 Tech Stocks to Consider Buying Over NVIDIA

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    Semiconductor companies, such as NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), are struggling amid the market downturn, export restrictions, and slowing demand. However, the broader technology market is expected to endure short-term uncertainties and keep growing due to continued digitization. Hence, we think quality technology stocks Cisco (CSCO) and Hackett Group (HCKT) are better investments than NVDA. Keep reading….


    shutterstock.com – StockNews

    NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) provides graphics, computation, and networking solutions globally. On October 7, new restrictions were imposed on chipmakers, including NVDA, to prevent technology from advancing China’s military power. The companies must now obtain a license from the Commerce Department to export advanced chips and chip-making equipment.

    The above restrictions have closely followed last month’s announcement in which the White House blocked NVDA from exporting high-end graphics chips to China due to similar concerns. The company said the ban impacted $400 million in potential sales to China.

    For the fiscal 2022 second quarter, NVDA’s non-GAAP net income and EPS declined 50.7% and 51% year-over-year to $1.29 billion and $0.51, respectively. Also, analysts expect its EPS and revenue for the fiscal 2023 third quarter (ending October 2022) to come in at $0.71 and $5.85 billion, indicating a 39.3% and 17.6% year-over-year decline, respectively. The stock has plummeted 59.9% year-to-date.

    The recently released jobs data for September seems to have paved the way for another significant interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve during its meeting next month. This indicates another headwind for tech companies.

    Despite the current headwinds, demand for ubiquitous tech goods and services is expected to keep growing amid the increasing adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), the internet of things (IoT), and increasing automation of business processes.

    The global technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.7% over the next five years to reach $3.17 billion by 2027, with the United States expected to strengthen its leadership in this space.

    Hence, we suggest investing in fundamentally strong technology stocks Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) and Hackett Group Inc. (HCKT) instead of NVDA for better risk-adjusted returns.

    Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO)

    CSCO designs, manufactures, and sells internet protocol-based networking and other products across networking, security, collaboration, applications, and the cloud. The company operates through three geographic segments: the Americas; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC). 

    On October 5, CSCO announced an expansion of its existing SD-WAN partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) to allow customers to sidestep the public internet and MPLS to send their Cisco SD-WAN traffic over the latter’s Azure cloud backbone. This is expected to add value by providing speed and cost benefits.

    For the fiscal year 2022 ended July 31, CSCO’s revenue increased 3.6% year-over-year to $51.6 billion, while its operating income increased 8.9% year-over-year to $13.97 billion. The company’s non-GAAP net income increased 3.7% year-over-year to $14.10 billion, which translates to an EPS of $3.36, up 4.3% year-over-year.

    Analysts expect CSCO’s revenue and EPS for the fiscal year 2023 to increase 5% and 5.1% year-over-year to $54.11 billion and $3.53, respectively. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history, surpassing the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

    Over the past month, CSCO’s stock slumped 9.6% to close the last trading session at $40.27.

    CSCO’s overall B rating equates to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.

    It has an A grade for Quality. Within the Technology – Communication/Networking industry, it is ranked #5 out of 49 stocks.

    Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for Growth, Momentum, Stability, Sentiment, and Value for CSCO.

    Hackett Group Inc. (HCKT)

    HCKT operates as a business and technology consulting firm. The company offers benchmarking, executive advisory, business transformation, and cloud enterprise application implementation.

    On September 22, HCKT announced the launch of a new Market Intelligence Service for software and service providers and users. The service will measure software and service providers’ ability to deliver business value and their unique capabilities to help companies achieve Digital World Class performance.

    HCKT believes the new service will be a powerful and attractive value proposition for all C-level executives and their respective teams.

    HCKT’s total revenue increased 3.7% year-over-year to $75.93 million for the second quarter of 2022. The company’s total assets stood at $217.89 million as of July 1, 2022, compared to $207.54 million as of December 31, 2021.

    Analysts expect HCKT’s revenue and EPS for the fiscal year 2022 to increase 6.6% and 10.4% year-over-year to $297.20 million and $1.45, respectively. Also, the company has surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

    HCKT’s stock has slumped 2.4% over the past month to close the last trading session at $19.05.

    HCKT’s promising outlook is reflected in its overall POWR Rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. It also has a grade of A for Sentiment and Quality and a B for Value and Stability.

    HCKT tops the list of 10 stocks in the A-rated Outsourcing – Tech Services industry.

    Click here for an additional rating of HCKT (Growth and Momentum).


    NVDA shares were trading at $116.70 per share on Monday afternoon, down $4.06 (-3.36%). Year-to-date, NVDA has declined -60.29%, versus a -23.32% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Santanu Roy

    Having been fascinated by the traditional and evolving factors that affect investment decisions, Santanu decided to pursue a career as an investment analyst. Prior to his switch to investment research, he was a process associate at Cognizant.

    With a master’s degree in business administration and a fundamental approach to analyzing businesses, he aims to help retail investors identify the best long-term investment opportunities.

    More…

    The post 2 Tech Stocks to Consider Buying Over NVIDIA appeared first on StockNews.com

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  • Could the Crash of the Pound Cause the Fed to Blink on Rates?

    Could the Crash of the Pound Cause the Fed to Blink on Rates?

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    On September 27, 2022, the British pound sterling fell (-3.5%) to $1.084 hitting 37-year lows against the U.S. dollar. The pound tumbled further to a low of $1.0350 after U.K. Chancellor of Exchequer commented two days later there would be “more to come” in regard to the misguided economic stimulus plan of the new U.K. government led by Prime Minister Liz Truss. Three weeks into her term, Truss made a misstep of massive proportions by arguing that the stimulus plan would kickstart the U.K. economy after a decade-long slump.


    MarketBeat.com – MarketBeat

    Egg in the Face

    The stimulus plan includes a multitude of tax cuts for higher income earnings and business incentives that spooked investors to dump the pound and buy the U.S. dollar. The proposed tax cuts would be the highest in nearly 50-years trimming the the top income tax and corporate tax rate. The U.K. government is expected to turn on the printing presses to finance the deficit causing the yield for the 10-year U.K. bonds to spike towards 12-year highs at 3.759%. This comes just days after the Bank of England raised interest rates by 50 basis points stating that the U.K. economy is very likely in a recession. Inflation rose to a near 40-year high in August hitting 9.9%. A series of expenses ranging from Brexit, the pandemic, rising energy costs have thinned out the nation’s finances.  

    Walking Back Tax Cuts

    The public backlash, crash of the British pound, FTSE index sell-off to March lows, rebuke from the IMF, and a sell-off in U.K. bonds forcing the Bank of England (BoE) to ‘blink’ and launch a temporary quantitative easing (QE) program prompted the new U.K. government to drop its previously announced income tax cuts on high earners. The finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced, “It is clear that the abolition of the 45p tax rate has become a distraction from our overriding mission to tackle the challenges facing our economy. As a result, I’m announcing we are not proceeding with the abolition of the 45p tax rate. We get it, and we have listened.” This caused the pound sterling to rebound and bond yields to fall and stabilize.

    Why Did the BoE Blink?

    The Bank of England was the first central bank to ‘blink’ and intervene in its bond market to combat spiking yields. However, the reasons for the intervention are not what most people think. British government bonds also known as gilts saw yields spiking as investors dumped the bonds. British pension funds hold nearly $1.7 trillion in assets. These funds often utilize derivatives to both hedge interest rate risk and optimize gains on certain trading strategies. Derivatives utilize massive leverage. The spike in gilt yields caused some massive derivative trades to collapse sparking margin calls on U.K. pension funds which could have triggered a U.K. version of a Lehman Brothers meltdown moment. The BoE intervened by buying up bonds to push down long-term yields by over 100 basis points and took down U.S. 10-year treasury yields as well. 

    Not Likely in the U.S.

    The Fed has taken a very hawkish stance implying they would not stop rate hikes until inflation fell under its stated target of 2% regardless of a U.S. recession. While it’s not clear if that means maintaining an aggressive rate cut strategy or pulling back the magnitude of the rate hikes back under 75-basis points. The latter would like to put in a floor for the equity markets. Many are speculating that the intervention by the BoE could set a precedent for the world’s central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve to blink amid spiking bond yields. The BoE intervention temporarily stabilized the equity markets as the odds of a 50-basis point rate hike in the November FOMC meeting improved to 43.5%. This sparked debate whether our own Fed would blink if a similar scenario occurred. However, the 75-basis point rate hike odds rebound back to 81% by the end of the week as equity markets sold off towards yearly lows on the Oct. 7 jobs report came in stronger than expected at 288,000 versus 275,000 expectations. This still indicates a hot labor market as the unemployment rate stands at 3.5% down from 3.7%. This means the Fed will have to stay aggressive on inflation as the economy is still not slowing down fast enough.

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  • So Many Charts Are At Key Junctures That Patience Pays

    So Many Charts Are At Key Junctures That Patience Pays

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    Interest rates are nearing new highs which has pushed stocks to new lows. Now oil is looking higher as well. Time to take a technical take on the markets.


    shutterstock.com – StockNews

    So many markets are at critical areas on the charts. A quick walk through of each of these should help shed some insight into what price points to watch for bearish break-downs or bullish break-outs over the coming weeks. Interest rates will likely hold the key until after the next Fed meeting in early November.

    The 10-year Treasury yield is fast approaching recent highs once again near the 4% level. An upside break-out would likely send stocks to new lows while a re-test of the 3.5% area would be bullish for equities.

    The 2-year Treasury yield is at a similar inflection point, albeit with a higher yield. A move past 4.5% would not be a welcome sight for stock traders. Note that the 2-10 is still deeply inverted, which is normally a recessionary sign.

     

    The NASDAQ 100 (QQQ) is hovering right at major support near $270. Not yet oversold yet but definitely getting closer.

    S&P 500 and Russell 2000 displaying identical patterns. Whether stocks hang on and bounce or breakdown and fall further remains to be seen.

    Gold and oil are also at major inflection points on the charts, although oil getting a little overbought short-term.

    Implied volatility in stocks (VXN and VIX) is nearing the recent highs once again, although not quite there yet. Nervousness abounds as stocks fall towards recent lows.

    How this ultimately plays out is anyone’s guess. I prefer to stay hedged and nimble, which is the approach that has been working well recently in the POWR Options portfolio. The recent semiconductor pairs trade -bearish lower rated WOLF and bullish higher rated AVGO- was closed in one day for a 19% profit.

    POWR Options

    What To Do Next?

    If you’re looking for the best options trades for today’s market, you should check out our latest presentation How to Trade Options with the POWR Ratings. Here we show you how to consistently find the top options trades, while minimizing risk.

    If that appeals to you, and you want to learn more about this powerful new options strategy, then click below to get access to this timely investment presentation now:

    How to Trade Options with the POWR Ratings

    All the Best!


    Tim Biggam

    Editor, POWR Options Newsletter

     


    SPY shares closed at $362.79 on Friday, down $-10.41 (-2.79%). Year-to-date, SPY has declined -22.73%, versus a % rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Tim Biggam

    Tim spent 13 years as Chief Options Strategist at Man Securities in Chicago, 4 years as Lead Options Strategist at ThinkorSwim and 3 years as a Market Maker for First Options in Chicago. He makes regular appearances on Bloomberg TV and is a weekly contributor to the TD Ameritrade Network “Morning Trade Live”. His overriding passion is to make the complex world of options more understandable and therefore more useful to the everyday trader.

    Tim is the editor of the POWR Options newsletter. Learn more about Tim’s background, along with links to his most recent articles.

    More…

    The post So Many Charts Are At Key Junctures That Patience Pays appeared first on StockNews.com

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  • Why Q3 Earnings Season Will Majorly Impact Where the Market Heads Next…

    Why Q3 Earnings Season Will Majorly Impact Where the Market Heads Next…

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    In last week’s commentary, we discussed the importance of the mid-June lows for the S&P 500 (SPY) and the possibility of an undercut and then a rebound. In many ways, this is exactly what markets do -> frustrate the maximum amount of bulls and bears. Certainly, the bears were ebullient about this breakdown with many adding to shorts and puts, while many bulls probably capitulated. Now, we are more than 5% above these lows. Next on the docket is the September jobs report tomorrow and a CPI report next week. These will play a large role in determining the path and nature of this bear market rally. In today’s commentary, I want to discuss some lessons from the past 2 bear market rallies and how we are going to apply them to our portfolio. Read on below to find out more….


    shutterstock.com – StockNews

    (Please enjoy this updated version of my weekly commentary originally published October 6th, 2022 in the POWR Stocks Under $10 newsletter).

    Over the last week, the S&P 500 (SPY) is up by 4.4%, although it was up more than 6% at some point, before some profit-taking into the September jobs report.

    It’s been a broad-based rally with strength across the board. Not surprisingly, we are seeing the biggest moves in the most oversold sectors like metals, energy, and tech.

    Why is the Market Rallying?

    From a technical perspective, we have a double bottom, especially with the drop below support and quick recovery. As long as this double bottom is intact, we have to respect the bull case.

    To be clear, this is a bounce. But given the strong technical setup and bearish sentiment, my gut tells me this is likely to turn into a bear market rally that lasts for weeks and tests important resistance levels on the upside.

    And if the fundamentals evolve in a supportive manner, then the bear market rally can even turn into something more meaningful. Every bull market started as a bear market rally, but not every (or most) bear market rally turn into bull markets.

    Again, I think we are at the same precipice. If this is a normal, cyclical recession, then buying at these levels is likely to be rewarded in six to twelve months’ time.

    If this is more in the vein of 2002 or 2008, then stocks are probably in the middle innings of their descent. In that case, the S&P 500 is likely to break 3,000 and we could see the retracement of the entire rally that began in March 2020.

    Earnings and Rates

    So far, all of the market weakness can be attributed to inflation and higher rates pushing down multiples for the S&P 500 (SPY).That’s because earnings growth has managed to remain positive despite the numerous headwinds faced by the economy and increasing concerns of an imminent recession.

    So, the Q3 earnings season is just beginning and will play a major role in determining whether the bounce can turn into a rally, or whether it will quickly roll over. Just to set the stage, analysts are forecasting 2.9% earnings growth for Q3.

    This is a drastic cut from expectations of nearly 10% earnings growth in Q3 a couple of months ago. It’s largely a result of companies’ warnings and guidance lower given the numerous headwinds.

    Objectively, it’s not bad. But, it’s an indication that markets are expecting some pain which creates the potential for an upside surprise. And, this is exactly what happened in Q2 and was one of the factors behind the 18% rally for the S&P 500 between mid-June and early August.

    On the rate front, there are some subtle developments that are conflicting with the last CPI report which sent short-term and long-term rates, shooting up to new highs.

    In essence, we are seeing real estate prices decline, used car prices decline, and freight prices drop, in addition to the relief from lower energy prices.

    Just like the cyclical vs secular recession debate has major implications, the inflation debate is equally compelling and interesting. There is one camp that sees inflation as an onion.

    Just because the outside is fine, doesn’t mean that the core isn’t rotten. Essentially that core inflation is its own beast with only a mild connection to more volatile, cyclical factors.

    The other camp sees core inflation as simply lagging behind more real-time indicators like those mentioned above. This camp believes that inflation has already peaked and that core CPI is simply a lagging indicator.

    Last 2 Bear Market Rallies

    Going back and studying the last 2 bear market rallies in 2022 is quite instructive.

    Both saw double-digit gains in a short period of time and massive gains in the most oversold stocks and sectors. Certain sectors and stocks even were able to make new highs.

    Basically, we have to take advantage of these rallies while being mindful of the endgame, especially if the fundamentals are deteriorating.

    These bear market rallies can help us identify which stocks and sectors are benefitting from secular trends vs cyclical trends. And that can really help fuel outperformance during the next bull market.

    For instance, I’m noticing incredible strength and accumulation in energy, lithium, and alternative energy stocks. On the other hand, oversold stocks can be bought for trade and just trade as these are liable to roll over and make new lows.

     What To Do Next?

    If you’d like to see more top stocks under $10, then you should check out our free special report:

    3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year

    What gives these stocks the right stuff to become big winners, even in the brutal 2022 stock market?

    First, because they are all low priced companies with the most upside potential in today’s volatile markets.

    But even more important, is that they are all top Buy rated stocks according to our coveted POWR Ratings system and they excel in key areas of growth, sentiment and momentum.

    Click below now to see these 3 exciting stocks which could double or more in the year ahead.

    3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year

    All the Best!

    Jaimini Desai
    Chief Growth Strategist, StockNews
    Editor, POWR Stocks Under $10 Newsletter


    SPY shares closed at $362.79 on Friday, down $-10.41 (-2.79%). Year-to-date, SPY has declined -22.73%, versus a % rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Jaimini Desai

    Jaimini Desai has been a financial writer and reporter for nearly a decade. His goal is to help readers identify risks and opportunities in the markets. He is the Chief Growth Strategist for StockNews.com and the editor of the POWR Growth and POWR Stocks Under $10 newsletters. Learn more about Jaimini’s background, along with links to his most recent articles.

    More…

    The post Why Q3 Earnings Season Will Majorly Impact Where the Market Heads Next… appeared first on StockNews.com

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  • Investors: STOP the INSANITY!

    Investors: STOP the INSANITY!

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    Lets talk about the #1 mistake made by investors during a bear market. Better yet, let’s solve this problem by explaining how easy it is to actually make trading profits during a bear market. Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting a different result. So lets try something new to get you on the right side of the stock market (SPY) action. Read on below for more.


    shutterstock.com – StockNews

    I just read another email from a StockNews customer who says this bearish market has pushed them to the sidelines. And they will “Wait and See” to determine what to do next.

    Sorry friends…this is just investing suicide.

    There is no other way to say it. And yet, this is the most common response by investors when times get tough like it has in 2022.

    I want to point out the insanity of this approach in the hopes to get people on a more successful investing path.

    The Danger of “Wait and See

    On the surface, this seems so logical. To appreciate that the current market conditions are rough.  And thus you will wait and see what happens next to then plot your course forward.

    Now the reality check…

    “There is ALWAYS a bull market somewhere”

    This not just an amusing expression…but a statement of fact.

    There is always something going up even in the darkest of times. And thus there is NEVER a good reason to be out of the market.

    The key is aligning your portfolio with the prevailing trends. And since we are in the midst of a long term bear market, then what is going up are investments that profit as the market goes down like inverse ETFs and put options.

    Inverse ETFs are just one of the tools I have used in my Reitmeister Total Return service to produce a +4.65% gain as the S&P 500 (SPY) dove over 15% to new lows (8/15/22 to 9/30/22).

    Then you have Tim Biggam taking advantage of a string of winning put trades in his POWR Options service. Customers of this service have enjoyed a stunning +65.44% gain since the service opened in November 2021.

    By the way you can start a 30 day trial to the above services to enjoy these winning trades. We will discuss that in a minute, but first I need to share one more key point which is…

    Inflation is Destroying Your Cash Accounts

    Right now cash is trash.

    The math is abundantly clear. Inflation is raging at 8% and yet your bank is paying you a small fraction of that which means that every minute your money is in cash…you are losing out to inflation.

    So the “Wait and See” approach to move to cash is insuring you a hefty loss as inflation is such a silent killer of wealth. Thus, cash it is not as safe as you imagined.

    This alone should have you curious to see if there is a better way in which to invest. Like the approaches discussed in the previous section in the Reitmeister Total Return and POWR Options service.

    What to Do Next?

    Start your 30 day trial to POWR Platinum…this is the bundle of all of our active trading services.

    Not only does it include access to the winning trades in my Reitmeister Total Return service, or Tim Biggam’s POWR Options…but also these additional popular services:

    • POWR Growth– Jaimini Desai harnesses the Top 10 Growth Stocks strategy and its +49.10% average annual return. 
    • POWR Trends– In depth commentaries and top picks from the most exciting growth trends from EVs to Space Exploration to Internet of Things to Genomics and more.
    • POWR Value– Steve Reitmeister hand picks the best value stocks by utilizing the Top 10 Value Stocks strategy with +37.67% average annual returns.
    • POWR Ratings Premium – Giving full access to our coveted POWR Ratings for over 5,300 stocks and 2,000 ETFs. 
    • POWR Stocks Under $10 – Based on our most powerful stock picking strategy, with market shattering +59.43% average annual returns. And shockingly good results during bear markets too!

    AND coming soon….

    In just 2 weeks we’re adding a brand new service called POWR Breakouts, that utilizes chart patterns in combination with the fundamental strength of our POWR Ratings to find the stocks most likely to breakout in any market. Truly a best of both worlds approach to find the most timely stocks.

    There really is something here for every investor and EVERY market condition. Without doubt, this is the best way to discover which of our services is right for you, so after your trial you can just keep what suits you most.

    And the cost?

    Just $1 for the next 30 days.

    During your all access trial you’ll get all the current picks, every new trade—including 2 exciting picks coming Monday morning—plus in-depth analysis & market commentary from our experts to put you on the right side of the market action.

    I’m supremely confident that with all these market beating services at your disposal you’ll achieve significant outperformance in 2022 and want to remain a member for a long long time.

    But if I’m wrong you can cancel at any time and be fully protected by our industry-leading performance guarantee. That means we’ll gladly refund every penny you paid for your subscription if we fail to help you beat the market.

    So don’t delay, click the link below to get started now:

    About POWR Platinum & 30 Day Trial >>

    Wishing you a world of investment success!


    Steve Reitmeister

    …but everyone calls me Reity (pronounced “Righty”)
    CEO, Stock News Network and Editor, Reitmeister Total Return


    SPY shares fell $0.18 (-0.05%) in after-hours trading Friday. Year-to-date, SPY has declined -22.73%, versus a % rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Steve Reitmeister

    Steve is better known to the StockNews audience as “Reity”. Not only is he the CEO of the firm, but he also shares his 40 years of investment experience in the Reitmeister Total Return portfolio. Learn more about Reity’s background, along with links to his most recent articles and stock picks.

    More…

    The post Investors: STOP the INSANITY! appeared first on StockNews.com

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  • Where is the Bottom for this Bear Market?

    Where is the Bottom for this Bear Market?

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    Bounces will pop up here and there as they did this past week…but don’t think for a second that this bear market is over because the Fed is not yet done with their mission to tamp down the flames of recession. When all is said and done we will have a recession and the S&P 500 (SPY) will be much lower. This leads to the key question: Where is bottom? Investing veteran Steve Reitmeister shares his views in his updated market outlook below.


    shutterstock.com – StockNews

    September was downright brutal ending with a crescendo of selling that sent stocks to the lowest levels of this bear market. Not surprisingly this created ripe conditions for a 6% relief rally for the S&P 500 (SPY) to kick off October…how quickly that party ended.

    Thursday investors took a modest step back. But then after hours we received word of a terrible earnings report from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

    These are not just AMD problems. Unfortunately it speaks to a wide spread slow down in computer products along with supply chain issues that will no doubt harm many in the sector.

    Couple the above with a Friday jobs report that was just a tad too good which investors know will embolden the Fed to keep raising rates aggressively. This increases the odds of a hard landing for the economy down the road pushing more investors to hit the sell button.

    Long story short…welcome back to the bear market. Get the rest of the investment story and trading plan in the fresh commentary below…

    Market Commentary

    Right now investors are in a can’t win situation as good news sparks stock sell off as readily as bad news. Yes, that is quite odd but it aligns with the general premise of…

    Don’t Fight the Fed!

    When the Fed was lowering rates, as they did for nearly 12 years straight, we all used this saying as a battle cry to stay bullish. That is because lower rates are a catalyst for economic growth, which is great fuel for stock prices.

    Now we have the opposite.

    A Fed that is dead set on extinguishing the flames of inflation with the most aggressive rate hiking policy in history. Meaning the pace at which they are raising rates is unprecedented.

    The reason for this fast pace is not just the high rate of inflation. Sadly, the Fed was asleep at the wheel calling early inflation “transitory” and thus not something to be burdened with.

    When the Fed finally woke up to the stickiness of this inflation, then their only recourse was to aggressively raise rates. The goal is to slow down the economy, which by extension will tame inflation.

    Or let me put it another way. Recession by its very nature leads to less demand. Everyone who ever took Econ 101 knows this will lower prices thus reigning in inflation.

    Putting these pieces together means the Fed is actively trying to create a recession. And yes, recessions and bear markets go together like peanut butter and jelly.

    This explains why “Don’t Fight the Fed!” now translates as “watch out below!” for stock prices.

    And this also explains why even good news on the economic front is greeted with selling. The most recent instance of that was the October Employment Report on Friday showing robust job gains that only gives the Fed a green light to continue to aggressively raise rates.

    The only real questions are how deep of a recession will we have and thus how far down stock prices should go?

    Those betting on a soft landing would be right to think the recent lows at 3,585 for the S&P 500 (SPY) would seem like a fair bottom for stocks as it represents a nearly 26% decline from the all time highs.

    Unfortunately I have yet to talk to anyone calling for a soft bottom. That’s because with the Fed slow to react to inflation, that they have to be more aggressive in the steps taken. Not just the pace they are raising rates, but also the unwinding of Quantitative Easing. (aka Quantitative Tightening).

    Most investors forgot about this one.

    Now they are unwinding that massive balance sheet $90 billion dollars a month. Here again, lets go back to our Econ 101.

    If the Fed sells these bonds, then it increases the supply of bonds. If demand is the same as the past, then it will naturally lead to higher rates to attractive investors to buy the bonds. This is yet another form of putting the brakes on the economy.

    Back to the point…where is all of this heading?

    Unfortunately the smart money is on much higher rates and a much weaker economy and thus much lower stock prices.

    Let’s not forget that the average bear market endures a 34% decline in stock prices. That would equate to 3,180 this time around.

    But also the average bear market comes hand in hand with a Fed that was LOWERING rates to help the economy recover. Now you have the exact opposite. So it likely points to a weaker economy and lower lows.

    Second, when you have low rates on bonds, it makes the stock market look like a more attractive investment by comparison. That is NOT true when rates are going higher.

    Imagine Treasury yields of 5-7%. That will be the safe money investment choice. Likely corporate bonds paying 2-3% above that.

    It will be very tempting to take that safer route to investment returns. Especially if you believe that rates will come down in the future only padding the return on these bond investments.

    This is another way of saying that demand for stocks will not be as strong at the bottom of this cycle as the typical recession and bear market. And thus it is not crazy to contemplate that stocks will need to fall further to get more investors off the sidelines.

    That is why you need to contemplate that 40% drop is not out of the question. That translates to 2,891 for the S&P 500 (SPY).

    No one rings a bell at the top or the bottom. So timing this perfectly is not in the cards.

    However, it does say that right now the wise choice is to bet on stocks going lower…much lower.

    What To Do Next?

    Discover my special portfolio with 9 simple trades to help you generate gains as the market descends further into bear market territory.

    This plan has been working wonders since it went into place mid August generating a +4.65% gain as the S&P 500 (SPY) tanked over 15%.

    If you have been successfully navigating the investment waters in 2022, then please feel free to ignore.

    However, if the bearish argument shared above does make you curious as to what happens next…then do consider getting my updated “Bear Market Game Plan” that includes specifics on the 9 unique positions in my timely and profitable portfolio.

    Click Here to Learn More >

    Wishing you a world of investment success!


    Steve Reitmeister…but everyone calls me Reity (pronounced “Righty”)
    CEO, Stock News Network and Editor, Reitmeister Total Return


    SPY shares fell $0.17 (-0.05%) in after-hours trading Friday. Year-to-date, SPY has declined -22.73%, versus a % rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


    About the Author: Steve Reitmeister

    Steve is better known to the StockNews audience as “Reity”. Not only is he the CEO of the firm, but he also shares his 40 years of investment experience in the Reitmeister Total Return portfolio. Learn more about Reity’s background, along with links to his most recent articles and stock picks.

    More…

    The post Where is the Bottom for this Bear Market? appeared first on StockNews.com

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    Steve Reitmeister

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  • 2 Regional Banks With Sector-Beating Price Performance

    2 Regional Banks With Sector-Beating Price Performance

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    Large-cap financials such as JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC)  rallied early this week along with the broader market, while some smaller bank stocks, like First Citizens Bancshares (NASDAQ: FCNCA), have been outpacing the wider sector. 


    MarketBeat.com – MarketBeat

    First Citizens, like its entire industry, has seen net interest income and margins expand as interest rates increase. That typically occurs in an environment of rising rates. 

    Regional banks can fly beneath the radar as investment opportunities. Unless you live in an area where one of these banks operates, they aren’t obvious candidates that fall under the famous Peter Lynch “buy what you know” category of investment ideas. But a screener, such as the one you’ll find on MarketBeat.com, can help you identify some not immediately obvious names. 

    First Citizens is a North Carolina-based regional bank that operates 529 branches and offices in 19 states and Washington, DC. It has a market capitalization of $13.48 billion, making it the largest company within the southeast/regional bank sub-industry. 

    The stock has been outperforming not only the financial sector as a whole, but also its regional banking peers. Shares are up 5.78% in the past month and 25.47% in the past three months. 

    MarketBeat analyst data for the stock shows a “moderate-buy” rating with a price target of $925, a potential upside of 9.67%. 

    The stock staged a cup-with-handle breakout on September 12, but chopped along with the broader market volatility. It’s been unable to sustain the breakout, and closed below its 50-day moving average the week ended September 30, but regained that price line. It’s currently trading above its 10- and 21-day moving averages.

    The company reports third-quarter earnings on October 27, with Wall Street eyeing net income of $19.77 per share on revenue of $1.02 billion. Those would be increases of 62% and 110%, respectively. 

    For the full year, analysts expect the company to earn $69.33 per share, up 29% over 2021. Next year, that’s seen rising an additional 31% to $91.05 per share. 

    Other banks, of course, will benefit from a rising-rate environment, and some are already showing share-price appreciation reflecting strong fundamentals. 
    2 Regional Banks With Better Price Action Than Larger Financials

    Currently, Pennsylvania-based Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) is also outperforming financials as a whole. The stock is up 5.94% in the past month and 15.43% in the past three months.

    Fulton has a market capitalization of $2.635 billion, putting it either the higher end of the small-cap categorization or lower end of mid-cap. 

    It’s currently forming a cup-with-handle pattern, with a potential buy point above $17.67. It’s been languishing below that point since mid-August. 

    According to MarketBeat earnings data on the stock, Fulton topped earnings views in five of the past six quarters. In the quarter ended in December 2021, the company met views of $0.37 per share. 

    Fulton is due to report its third quarter on October 18, after the closing bell. Analysts expect the company to earn  $0.44 per share on revenue of $198.64 million. Both would be lower than the year-earlier results, but often, positive guidance can offset declines in revenue or earnings, and send the stock higher. 

    Fulton is categorized as a super-regional bank, meaning it has significant operations in several states.

    Larger, more familiar super-regional banks include PNC (NYSE: PNC). This Pittsburgh-based bank has a large presence in the northeast, with more than 2,600 branches. The stock has been in a correction since January, but so far, has been finding a floor between $146 and $147.

    Another large-cap super-retional is U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), which is down 24.37% year-to-date. It’s also been correcting since January. Unlike PNC, it’s not clear that it’s found its price floor yet.

    It’s not always the largest, most familiar names that offer the best opportunity at any given time. While it’s true that the traditional advice to “buy low, sell high” is correct in any market cycle, it’s not necessarily best to identify the most beaten-down stocks, when a stock that’s holding up better than the broader market may present more opportunity.
    2 Regional Banks With Better Price Action Than Larger Financials

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    Kate Stalter

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  • 3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance

    3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance

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    Mid-caps Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII), Lamb Weston Holdings (NYSE: LW) and Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) all climbed higher recently n heavy trading volume, even as the broader market reversed lower. 


    MarketBeat.com – MarketBeat

    As a whole, mid-caps have been slightly outperforming the S&P 500. The SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF (NYSEARCA: MDY) is up 5.53% so far this week, while its large-cap counterpart, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (ASX: SPY) is up 4.48%.

    Mid-caps typically are those with a market capitalization between $2 and $10 billion. They often have fewer shares in float than you’ll find with larger stocks. These characteristics make mid-caps somewhat more volatile and riskier than large caps, at least in terms of broad asset classes.  

    Digi International advanced 2.34% in nearly triple average turnover Wednesday, tacking on gains to its recent outperformance, which includes gains of:

    • 1 month: +16.19%
    • 3 months: +58.88
    • Year-to-date: +53.32

    The Minnesota-based company specializes in the Internet of Things, which involves connecting products, apps, and services through various wireless devices. Those devices can include factory and industrial settings; household applications, such as appliances and security systems; and automotive gear, among many other examples.

    Digi International gapped up 15.66% on August 4 following the company’s fiscal third-quarter report, in which it topped earnings and revenue views, as you can see using MarketBeat data on the stock

    Earnings growth accelerated in the past two quarters, from 13% to 80%, while revenue growth accelerated from 8% to 31% in the past three quarters. Its three-year annual earnings growth rate is 34%, while revenue grew 12%. 

    That level of fundamental strength is driving the stock price increases. An increase in fourth-quarter guidance also helps.

    On a technical basis, the stock is in a buy range, but continue to be cognizant of broad-market volatility that could pull it, and any stock, sharply lower. 
    3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance

    Lamb Weston is in the decidedly unglamorous business of producing, packaging, and distributing frozen potato products to restaurants, as well as via private-label brands for consumers. But potatoes are apparently in high demand: The stock advanced 4.19% Monday following a better-than-expected fiscal first quarter.

    Earnings of $0.75 per share marked a 317% increase over the year-ago quarter. MarketBeat earnings data for Lamb Weston show the company trounced views by $0.26 per share. Revenue was slightly disappointing, coming in at $1.13 billion, versus analyst expectations of $1.14 billion. Still, that was a year-over-year increase of 14%.

    Other packaged food stocks have held up well recently, and the industry as a whole is among leaders. On Thursday, large-cap food company ConAgra (NYSE: CAG) reported earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street views.

    Lamb Weston shares built upon Wednesday’s gains, rallying in Thursday morning trading. Analysts see the company growing earnings by 36% for the full year, which is fiscal 2023. Next year, that’s expected to rise another 32%, to $3.72. That kind of potential is attracting institutional buyers, MarketBeat data show
    3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance

    Another food-related mid-cap flashing gains for the week is restaurant franchisor Wingstop

    There was no specific company news, but the stock has been the subject of recent positive attention from Wall Street, according to MarketBeat analyst data for the stock. In the past month, Stephens initiated coverage with an overweight rating and Wedbush boosted its price target with a rating of outperform 

    As noted previously by MarketBeat, Wingstop is among food-related stocks that have been capitalizing on consumers’ willingness to continue purchasing food, including dining out,  even as they cut back on other discretionary items. 

    The consensus rating is “moderate buy,” with a price target of $138.65, a potential upside of 4.21%. 

    The company is slated to report its fiscal third quarter on October 26, before the opening bell. Analysts expect earnings of $0.35 per share on revenue of $89.30 million. Those would be increases on both the top- and bottom lines. 

    Earnings data compiled by MarketBeat show that Wingstop beat earnings views in the most recent quarter, although revenue lagged. That didn’t stop investors from piling in, as margins came in well above views. 
    3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance
    3 Stocks With Market-Beating Price Performance

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    Kate Stalter

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  • What New Entrepreneurs Should Know Amid Rising Inflation

    What New Entrepreneurs Should Know Amid Rising Inflation

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Setting up a new enterprise can be both exciting and daunting. You’ll have a lot to think about, but one thing you may not have considered is the impact of inflation on your new enterprise. Open up any newspaper or watch any news report. The higher inflation rates are likely to be a talking point.

    How should new entrepreneurs navigate their new business amid rising interest rates? Here are eight things you need to know:

    1. Increased Prices

    The first way inflation can impact new entrepreneurs is the increased prices in the marketplace. If you are a producer, you may need to budget for the higher cost of raw materials. You need to consider what you need to buy to make your items and look at the price of each component. With higher inflation rates, you could be paying 5% to 8% more for your raw materials, which you will need to factor into your pricing and .

    Even if you are not producing a physical product and instead offer services, your enterprise is not immune to the increased prices. You’ll need to consider the additional cost of heating, lighting, gas, and all the other essentials for your workplace.

    Related: 3 Strategies To Protect Your Business From Inflation

    2. Labor costs

    Higher inflation will also impact wages. With the increasing, workers are more likely to demand higher wages to compensate for the disparity. If your enterprise employs a team or outsourcing any aspect of your business, you will need to look at your labor costs. If you cannot pay higher wages, you will need to anticipate staff attrition or pilfering, as found this study, which will impact your bottom line.

    Another aspect of labor costs is the risk of a drop in employee productivity. If you’ve already agreed on rates for your team or freelancers, there is a chance that they will feel less motivated if you cannot increase their wages. This means that even if you keep your labor costs to the same level as your original business plan, you could suffer efficiency issues and produce fewer products, reducing your income/expenditure balance.

    3. Currency fluctuations

    Even if your enterprise is not a massive importer or exporter, it could still be hit by currency fluctuations. If you purchase raw materials or goods overseas or have overseas freelancers paid in local currency, you will likely find that your dollars don’t stretch as far. While you may have agreed on a rate with a weaker currency, you’ll be paying more. You will need to account for these increases in your enterprise cost analysis.

    Related: Inflation Is a Different Beast for Entrepreneurs. Here’s How to Protect Yourself.

    4. Borrowing limitations

    Borrowing is also subject to the whims of inflation. Many lenders are aware of the increased risks within the market and will increase their rates. Additionally, the Federal Reserve uses interest rates to curb rising inflation. The Fed typically increases the base interest rate to address higher inflation rates and return them to optimal levels. Unfortunately, this rate increase is passed on to personal and business customers.

    If you need to borrow funds for your enterprise, you may find that loans are cost prohibitive. Additionally, lenders may be more hesitant to offer loans to new businesses, so you may struggle to qualify with a limited financial track record.

    If you already have a business loan for your enterprise and it is not on a fixed-rate deal, you will need to factor the higher interest costs into your expenses. Variable rate loans are subject to rate changes, so you are likely to have your lender contact you to let you know your new rate and when it will apply. This makes it very difficult to budget for your typical monthly expenses as your loan repayments could be higher from one month to the next.

    5. Tips to lessen the impact of inflation on your enterprise

    Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to lessen the impact of inflation on your new enterprise:

    6. Reallocate your business capital

    While having cash on hand is a good thing to address any issues that arise with your enterprise, when inflation rates are high, having lots of cash sitting around is not a good idea. The buying power of the dollar is reduced when inflation is high. Let’s say you had $10,000 last year that could buy X number of products. The following year, the same $10,000 would only cover the cost of fewer items.

    This means you’ll need to think carefully about what to do with your business cash. If you don’t want to tie up your funds, as you may need access to them, consider a high-yield savings account or short-term bond. While this may not be as inflation-proof as the stock market or real estate, you won’t sacrifice liquidity.

    7. Negotiate in the dollar

    If you are outsourcing to freelancers or workers outside of the U.S., make sure that you negotiate rates in the dollar. Regardless of currency fluctuations, you will still be paying the same amount. This will eliminate some of the uncertainty, and it will allow you to budget for your costs.

    8. Evaluate your expenses

    Finally, evaluating your enterprise expenses is one of the most effective strategies to lessen the impact of higher inflation. Have a serious look at all your costs and operating expenses. There may be areas where you can make savings, so you can create a buffer to compensate for any increased costs.

    It may be worth reassessing where and how you source raw materials. It may be able to find a better deal or set up a fixed-rate contract to protect against increased costs soon.

    Related: 6 Ways to Protect Your Small Business From Inflation Pressure

    While higher inflation is daunting, being prepared is the best possible defense against the potential rising costs. With a proactive approach, you can address the potential implications of higher inflation. This will allow you to continue your enterprise with minimal disruption and allow you to weather possible financial storms to succeed with your operation.

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    Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

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  • Context Labs Announces CLEAR Path™ Platform to Catalyze Change in Environmental Commodities Markets

    Context Labs Announces CLEAR Path™ Platform to Catalyze Change in Environmental Commodities Markets

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    Leading Market Supporters include KPMG, Williams, Parsons, Project Canary, Carbon GeoCapture & OxoCarbon; Blockchain-enabled Platform Enhances Transparency, Security, Trust, and Traceability To Provide Certified, Trusted Environmental Attributes & Differentiated Commodities

    Context Labs, an Enterprise Data Fabric Climate Tech company based in Cambridge, MA, and Amsterdam, announced today the launch of its CLEAR Path™ Platform (Context Labs Environmental Attribute Registry). CLEAR Path™ ensures that the fundamental building blocks, “data,” for environmental attributes and differentiated commodities, (e.g., carbon, renewable energy credits, water, plastics, and emission certifications), are transparent, secure, attested, trusted, and traceable. These new advanced capabilities provide a solution to mitigate green-washing and avoid double-counting within the industry, targeted at reliably accelerating the global energy transition.

    Powered by the company’s Immutably™ Enterprise Data Fabric, CLEAR Path™ converges advanced machine learning/AI and blockchain technologies to form new empirical, data-driven registry capabilities rendering data as “Asset Grade Data (AGD).” CLEAR Path™ is being supported at launch by KPMG LLP along with select leading global firms, including Williams, Parsons, Project Canary, Carbon GeoCapture, and OxoCarbon.

    “Regulators are increasingly mandating carbon transparency. This is driving increased interest in the carbon intensity of commodities. The work that Context Labs is doing to deliver the highest level of transparency to the Global Environmental Attribute markets through their Next Gen Registry called CLEAR Path™ is a critical ingredient for establishing trust and driving demand for lower carbon solutions,” stated Curtis Ravenel, Senior Advisor to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), Founding Member of the Secretariat of the Financial Stability Board’s Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and Board Member to Context Labs.

    “CLEAR Path™ is powered by Context Labs’ Immutably™ Enterprise Data Fabric Technology, which integrates and connects all sources of data in the verification and creation of environmental attributes, the fundamental building blocks of environmental commodities, and a new digitally quantified ESG. It generates the highest quality certs, credits, and RECs possible, based on transparent Asset Grade Data, military-grade encryption for data security, and immutable traceability on our blockchain fabric,” said Context Labs Founder and CEO, Dan Harple. “CLEAR Path™ solves two of the crucial problems at the crux of the energy transition: effectively, the lack of trust in existing environmental attributes and ESG data underpinning environmental commodities, and the inability to provide traceability for these environmental attributes across market platforms.”

    KPMG is continuing to collaborate closely with Context Labs to deploy data and technology solutions to help businesses measure, monitor and prove their climate and ESG performance and scale their efforts to offer high-quality carbon credits.

    “Voluntary carbon markets, underpinned by timely and accurate data, will be instrumental in the transition to a low carbon economy,” said KPMG US ESG leader, Rob Fisher. “With CLEAR Path™, Context Labs has the opportunity to provide a digital backbone that should help take voluntary markets to scale, increase trust and accountability amongst stakeholders, and provide companies with a better picture of both their environmental impact and risk.”

    “This is another exciting step in our multi-faceted strategy with Context Labs, leveraging technology that enhances our innovative low carbon and carbon neutral market solutions,” said Chad Zamarin, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Development at Williams. “As Williams drives the next generation of the energy marketplace with next-gen gas, clean hydrogen and other low carbon products, CLEAR Path™ from Context Labs will provide an industry-leading platform that will benefit our customers with best-in-class and trusted clean energy solutions.”

    “Parsons is in the business of delivering innovative critical infrastructure across the world, including digitally-enabled solutions for utilities, transportation, environmental remediation, facilities and water and wastewater facilities,” said Peter Torrellas, President of Connected Communities for Parsons. “Today, that means we need to have a wider range of operational and environmental data available across a broader collection of stakeholders to drive climate-aligned decisions. Our collaboration with Context Labs opens new avenues of value creation in climate resilience and energy transition for our public and private sector clients.”

    “Understanding the environmental footprint of how a natural gas molecule is produced and transported is becoming essential data for both sellers and buyers. We provide markets with independent measurements and assessments to verify these environmental attributes, such as low methane intensity or low water attributes. Now Context Labs CLEAR Path™ provides a trusted registry to track, transfer and retire these attributes,” said Will Foiles, Co-Founder and COO, Project Canary. “We believe in the power of markets to help combat climate change, and our combined offering provides exciting capabilities to accelerate the adoption of differentiated, responsibly sourced gas on terms that meet the needs of both sellers and buyers.”

    “Carbon GeoCapture has spent 20 years learning to use unconventional rock formations to reduce capture and cleanup costs and to hold massive amounts of carbon dioxide. As we commercialize our unique approach, we are thrilled to be working with Context Labs to materially enhance how we track the carbon dioxide that we sequester. With CLEAR Path™, we can bring speed and transparency to how we quantify, verify, generate, register, and ultimately trade the highest quality carbon credits that will earn the highest premium in the voluntary carbon markets,” stated John Pope, Ph.D., President, and CEO of Carbon GeoCapture Corp.

    “CLEAR Path™ facilitates the trust, traceability, and compliance in the data behind carbon methodologies and projects,” said Ludovino Lopes, OxoCarbon Chairman, Member of the United Nations Global Compact and Environmental and Carbon Legal Advisor. The foundations of an environmentally sympathetic and sustainable global economy need to be built on the basis of trust, transparency, and the highest level of legal and regulatory compliance. OxoCarbon is committed to delivering premium quality carbon credits from nature-based solutions by ensuring the highest level of environmental integrity, trust, traceability, and compliance, and CLEAR Path™ will enable this.

    About

    Context Labs provides solutions for customers who demand trusted provenance in their data, tracked veracity through the data’s supply chain of use, and a requirement for trusted insights. It is dedicated to sourcing, organizing, and contextualizing the world’s ESG information, enabling data to become trusted, shared, and utilized as Asset Grade Data to provide insights and solutions through Asset Grade Analytics that informs markets. Context Labs’ mission is to provide the world’s trusted data fabric platform, delivering Asset Grade Data, using its Immutably™ Enterprise Data Fabric platform, deploying machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, and cryptographic blockchain technologies, for context-driven insights. The company was formed out of MIT research and is comprised of a leadership team that has been instrumental in the at-scale growth of the Internet, in prior companies.

    Contact: press@contextlabs.com | www.contextlabs.com | @contextlabsbv

    KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 144 countries and territories and has more than 236,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

    KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.

    Williams As the world demands reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, Williams will be there with the best transport, storage, and delivery solutions to reliably fuel the clean energy economy. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams is an industry-leading, investment-grade C-Corp. with operations across the natural gas value chain, including gathering, processing, interstate transportation, storage, wholesale marketing and trading of natural gas and natural gas liquids. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, Williams connects the best supplies with the growing demand for clean energy. Williams owns and operates more than 30,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including Transco, the nation’s largest volume and fastest-growing pipeline – and handles approximately 30 percent of the natural gas in the United States that is used every day for clean-power generation, heating, and industrial use. Learn how the company is leveraging its nationwide footprint to incorporate clean hydrogen, next-generation gas and other innovations at www.williams.com.

    Parsons Corporation is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, C5ISR, transportation, environmental remediation, and water/wastewater treatment. Please visit www.Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we’re making an impact.

    Project Canary® is the leading provider of on-demand climate insights for emission-intensive companies. The company provides operational insights, emissions data, and verified climate attributes to decarbonize energy systems by integrating sensor data with real-time portal and in-depth data analytics. They are the leaders of independently verified climate credentials that support investment, safety, reporting, and disclosure actions. www.projectcanary.com

    Carbon GEOCapture is focused on using its technology and knowledge to sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide in geologic formations as economically and quickly as possible. CGC was founded in 2016 to drive safe, affordable sequestration of carbon dioxide in geologic reservoirs. More information is available at www.carbongeocapture.com.

    OxoCarbon is committed to delivering premium quality carbon credits from nature-based solutions by ensuring the highest level of integrity, traceability, transparency, and compliance. Our rigorous validation procedures add incremental layers of value over existing standards and methodologies for carbon emissions, environmental assets, and services, enabling us to deliver environmental assets of the highest quality, in line with the long-term sustainability needs of our planet. www.oxocarbon.com

    Source: Context Labs

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  • Challenger banks: Disrupting the Swiss market  – Banking blog

    Challenger banks: Disrupting the Swiss market – Banking blog

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    This blog is the first in a series on the impact of challenger banks on the Swiss market. It provides insights into how challenger banks threaten to disrupt traditional banks, the different types of banks that are entering the market, and the need to adapt the challenger banks’ operating models to grow successfully.

    Today, banks are changing rapidly to keep up with their customers, who are demanding better experiences and more sophisticated products and services from their providers. For most people, visiting a bank branch used to be the main way of interacting with their bank. However, more and more people are choosing to interact with their banks digitally rather than through a traditional bank set-up.

    This has led to the rise of challenger banks, allowing new entrants to gain momentum and increase their market share in the Swiss banking sector. They have achieved this by offering a superior digital user experience compared to traditional players, by leveraging strong capabilities in technology and focusing on customer centricity. Naturally this raises the questions:
    • To what extent are challenger banks a threat to the market share of traditional banks?
    • Are traditional banks able to keep up with the rapid pace of innovations and customer-centric offerings?

    A problem for traditional banks today is that they are bound by legacy systems and have rigid operating models and governance structures. Even so, many market players have been innovative in adopting new systems and technologies, and in customising client journeys. Upgrading to highly customised systems is costly and does not always justify the cost, ultimately leading many banks to hold back their system upgrade plans. Additionally, the systems of traditional banks have been pieced together over years by internal developers and external outsourcers. This has made them sluggish in keeping up with innovative challenger banks which are changing the banking market status quo.

    Brief history of Swiss banking

    Brief history of Swiss Banking_blog
    Swiss bank development – Source: Deloitte internal research

    The legal and regulatory framework of the Swiss banking sector played an important role in allowing Switzerland to become the banking powerhouse it is today. Since the foundation of the first public bank in Switzerland in the 16th century and up until today, five centuries later, their dominant position was not challenged. Historically, banks owned the entirety of their value chain and differentiated their offerings by creating product and service packages for customers at slightly different rates than their competitors. However, the core operating model has remained the same and has always consisted of building customer relationships and distributing services through brick-and-mortar branches.

    Business models in the banking industry evolved slowly until the creation of the first challenger bank in 2009 which accelerated the business model transformation to keep up with changing customer demands. Backed by private funding, challenger banks have since filled a gap in the market by addressing the increasing demands from customers for innovative features as well as “real-time” transaction speeds. With their new operating models, challenger banks are building large customer bases and are intent on dominating the market. However, they need to obtain a banking licence and address a multitude of regulatory requirements − just like traditional players, which are more experienced and still hold a majority share of the Swiss market.

    Gaining market share whilst addressing regulatory and operational challenges

    Although challenger banks aim to compete with traditional banks by using mobile-centric technology and targeting specific customer segments, they face some challenges to successful growth. We identify four distinct types of banks in the market, each with their unique challenges.

    Challenger banks_Categorization of challenger banks – Source: Deloitte internal research

    Main regulatory and operational challenges for challenger banks in the Swiss market include but are not limited to:
    Licence vs. no licence: Without a banking licence, organisations can still offer prepaid cards, permitting customers to cap the foreign currency fee. However, to generate revenue and make profits, expansion is needed into other financial products and services, such as personal loans, mortgages, credit cards and digital assets. A question is whether it would be more profitable to partner with existing traditional players or to undertake a rigorous and time-consuming banking licence application process.

    Client due diligence and ongoing monitoring: To provide adequate evidence of compliance with Swiss banking regulations and banking secrecy laws it is necessary to establish a client risk assessment framework, relevant policies/procedures and appropriate transaction monitoring alerts. A lack of regulatory and compliance expertise and poorly defined processes might result in failure to gather sufficient information to identify high risk customers, such as politically exposed persons (PEPs), sanctioned individuals and money laundering organisations.

    Governance and internal controls: The governance of Swiss banks is characterised by a strict separation of activities between the board of directors, which is responsible for oversight, and the executive management. There may be a lack of clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each core product offerings and internal functions, and insufficient monitoring of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. This leads to increased FINMA scrutiny, exposure to financial fines, and reputational risk.

    Compliance risk management: This is a major concern for challenger banks of all sizes. The complexity of region-specific banking rules and regulatory risks means that even major banks with large compliance teams struggle to stay compliant.

    Combatting risks in line with the evolution of the business model

    There are only limited differences between the regulatory and financial crime risks faced by challenger banks and those facing traditional retail banks. Unlike traditional banks, which have large legal and compliance teams, challenger banks are thinly resourced and face increasing pressure from regulators. It is therefore vital for challenger banks to evaluate and mitigate their risks continually, in line with their evolving business model. The most critical and urgent areas for both new and existing challenger banks to focus on are summarised below:

    Banking licence: Before engaging in business operations to offer a wider range of financial products and services, challenger banks should obtain authorisation from the Swiss Financial Market and Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Applications for a licence must be submitted to FINMA in an official Swiss language, containing general information with supporting documentation about their intended operations. The lead time for obtaining a licence is between 6 to 12 months, depending on the quality, completeness and complexity of the application.

    Operating model: Banks should build a robust target operating model with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, to ensure that their various business functions are lean and compliant. They should enhance the customer journey with innovative and risk-based measures to meet their ambitions for growth and profitability.

    Client risk assessment: They should define a robust and flexible risk assessment framework to determine standard and enhanced client due diligence checks,
    with the ability to identify the ultimate beneficial ownership in complex structures, manage financial crime risks and trigger adequate transaction monitoring alerts.

    Control framework: They should avoid regulatory risks relating to anti-money laundering, KYC, banking secrecy, PEP, and sanctions, through risk-based customer screening and appropriate systems. They should enhance their reporting and operational resilience with quality assurance controls.

    Conclusion

    As challenger banks continue to attract more customers and expand their operations in Switzerland, they must pay close attention to the requirements of FINMA and the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA). Balancing regulatory compliance with achieving internal operational growth can be a challenge for many newcomers. It is therefore crucial that challenger banks should manage regulatory and compliance risks effectively by establishing a robust operating model, to position themselves for growth and operational resilience in the Swiss market.

    If you would like to know more about the landscape for challenger banks and how Deloitte can help, please reach out to our contacts below.

    Sources:
    [1] https://www2.deloitte.com/ch/en/pages/financial-services/articles/digitalisation-banking-online-covid-19-pandemic.html

    [2] https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/multi-firm-reviews/financial-crime-controls-at-challenger-banks

    [3] https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and regulations/switzerland?msclkid=53079fa6c72711ec8fd3352e9249c895

    [4] https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-007-8999?contextData=(sc.Default)&msclkid=b9229eccc72411ec8b01e08fcdff0f31&transitionType=Default&firstPage=true

     

    Sergio Cruz

    Sergio Cruz, Partner, Consulting

    Sergio is the lead Partner of Deloitte’s Business Operations practice in Zurich and has more than 25 year of experience in Consulting. He focuses on large scale front-to-back digitalisation programs in financial services and has worked on several large assignments both in Switzerland and abroad, covering the implementation of regulatory requirements and the definition as well as implementation of target operating models and process optimisations.

    Email | LinkedIn

    David Klidjian_3 (002)

    David Klidjian, Director, Consulting

    David is a Director in Consulting and leads Deloitte’s Business Operations Banking Industry for Switzerland. He has significant experience of Investment Banking and Wealth Management working in the UK, US, Asia and Switzerland. His focus area is on large Front-to-back operations transformations and setup and expansion of new banking operating models.

    Email  | LinkedIn

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    Parenting 101: 5 Facts you should know about Terry Fox

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    The annual Terry Fox Run takes place on September 18th, and more than 650 communities across the country participate to raise money for cancer research. In honour of this hero, we present 5 facts you should know about Terry Fox.

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