What do Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Shawn Fain and Lina Khan have in common? On the surface, it might not seem like much — one is an impetuous tech-bro genius, another is a buy-and-hold nonagenarian investor, and the other two are a tough union boss and a business-busting regulator.
But each of them are having a serious impact on your money. They all appear on this year’s MarketWatch 50 list of the most influential people in markets. The MarketWatch 50 is our tally of the investors, CEOs, policymakers, AI players and financial…
“There is no way around the fact that they have stolen our business in Russia, and we are not going to help them make that look legitimate.”
That’s new Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Anderson, according to a Reuters account of a journalist call on Tuesday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer ordered the seizure of Carlsberg’s stake in its Baltika subsidiary. Earlier this month, Carlsberg ended license agreements that allow for its beers to be produced in the country.
According to the presidential decree, Carlsberg retains title to the shares in Baltika Breweries but no longer has any control or influence over the company.
Carlsberg reported a 3% decline in organic volume growth, as a 6.3% slide in Central and Eastern Europe and a 5.2% decline in Western Europe was partly offset by a 1.5% rise in Asia.
The brewer said two-thirds of the volume decline was due to bad weather and another one-third to consumer sentiment.
Organic revenue, however, rose by 5.8%, on price hikes. It kept its operating-profit guidance for the year unchanged at 4% to 7% growth, and launched a new stock-buyback program valued at 1 billion Danish crowns.
Carlsberg said comparisons in the fourth quarter will be positive in China, in light of the year-ago lockdown, but the weak macro environment in Southeast Asia will continue to impact markets.
Carlsberg shares CARL.B, -0.83%
were steady on Tuesday but have dropped 8% this year.
GOOGL, -0.09%,
Amazon.com Inc. AMZN, +6.83%,
Meta Platforms Inc. META, +2.91%
and Microsoft Corp. MSFT, +0.59%
all beat earnings and revenue expectations for the latest quarter, showing, among other things that the advertising market was healthy in the latest quarter and that software spending is holding up.
But one more major test looms in the week ahead. Apple Inc. AAPL, +0.80%
is due to deliver September-quarter results on Thursday and those earnings will answer a key question: Are consumers still so willing to purchase thousand-dollar iPhones in the current economy?
Results from other companies in recent weeks have painted a mixed picture of consumer spending. Visa Inc. V, -0.87%,
Mastercard Inc. MA, -0.14%
and American Express Co. AXP, -1.42%
say that spending remains resilient, but there are also signs that cracks are starting to form in categories deemed non-essential. Just look at Align Technology Inc. ALGN, +0.20%,
the maker of Invisalign orthodontic aligners, which saw its stock plunge last week after noting that people seem to be putting off dental and orthodontic visits.
Just judging by S&P 500 SPX
results so far in the aggregate, the odds would seem to be in Apple’s favor for a beat this quarter. About half of index components have already reported, and 78% have posted earnings upside, while 62% have surprised positively on the top line, according to FactSet.
Revenue will be the key item for Apple, as consensus expectations call for a small decline on the metric, which would mark the fourth consecutive year-over-year drop. It’s also worth noting that companies on the whole haven’t been topping revenue estimates by their usual margin. S&P 500 components in aggregate have reported revenue 0.8% above expectations, which compares with a five-year average of 2.0%, FactSet Senior Earnings Analyst John Butters wrote in a recent report.
Apple’s report could also highlight the impact of currency on corporate results, as the company generates more than half of its revenue internationally.
“Given the stronger U.S. dollar in recent months, are S&P 500 companies with more international revenue exposure reporting lower (year-over-year) earnings and revenues for Q3 compared to S&P 500 companies with more domestic revenue exposure?” Butters asked. “The answer is yes.”
This week in earnings
Many U.S. investors in financial-technology companies likely hadn’t heard of European payments player Worldline SA WLN, +9.06%
before last week, but a warning from the French company about deteriorating conditions in Europe helped send shares of PayPal Holdings Inc. PYPL, -2.63%
and Block Inc. SQ, -3.98%
sharply lower Wednesday, in a selloff one analyst deemed an overreaction. Those companies will look to reassure Wall Street about the health of their businesses with their own reports this week. Plus, while not a payments name, SoFi Technologies Inc. SOFI, -0.43%
will provide another read on the fintech sector. Investors will be watching to see how the end of the student-loan moratorium impacted student lending volumes.
The week ahead will also shed light on how consumers’ dining preferences have evolved in the current economy. Starbucks Corp. SBUX, -0.70%,
Dine Brands Global Inc. DIN, -0.12%,
Cheesecake Factory Inc. CAKE, -0.47%
and Sweetgreen Inc. SG, +0.59%
are among names on the docket. Plus, amid concerns about the impact of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy on eating habits, Kraft Heinz Co.’s management will be in the spotlight.
You can’t spell Advanced Micro Devices without AI (sort of): Nvidia Corp. NVDA, +0.43%
has been ruling the chip world this year thanks to its dominance with the sort of hardware needed to power the corporate AI fervor. Investors will be watching Tuesday afternoon to see how quickly Advanced Micro Devices Inc.’s AMD, +2.95%
own AI story is coming together. “The AMD narrative feels all about their data center (and, particularly, their AI story) right now,” Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to clients. “In the near term the achievability of their 2H data-center growth (guided to 50% half-over-half) will be the question.” Rasgon expects AMD to discuss recent customer wins for its MI300X chip, though he thinks it will take time for the company to see “real volume.”
The number to watch
PayPal transaction margins: Shares of the one-time investor darling are trading at their lowest levels since May 2017, and the latest source of anguish for Wall Street is the company’s transaction margins. PayPal’s lower-margin unbranded checkout business has been growing more quickly than its higher-margin branded checkout product, a trend that’s been weighing on overall transaction margins. Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal expects the third quarter to mark a bottom on the metric before trends stabilize in the fourth quarter. “We do not believe the stock is crowded on the long or short side into earnings, as investors lack conviction regarding the magnitude of transaction margin headwinds in Q3,” he wrote in a recent preview. “In any case, we view Q3 as a potential clearing event.” PayPal posts results Wednesday afternoon.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
A new brand or an existing brand decides to rebrand. Strategy is implemented, growth begins, employees are hired, and growing pains begin. Consistency is maintained by staying on core messaging, social media audiences and impressions grow, and some PR is even generated. Current customers start to advocate for the brand, help promote, and perhaps believe and partake in any social or philanthropic causes the brand represents or helps support. All the boxes are getting checked, right?
Until one day, it happens. An employee makes a misstep or big blunder, and somehow, it’s now on social media. A c-suite executive makes a near-fatal decision on the brand that the core audience dramatically disapproves of, and sales begin to drop fast. An accident occurs thanks to a vendor of your business, but somehow, your business gets pulled into the controversy. Neglect in accounting, or worse, surfaces and funds are missing or removed, directly impacting clients and the company. Sound familiar? The horror stories continue to mount every week. Like identity theft, a PR crisis happens quickly and unexpectedly, takes hard-earned money away, and severely damages reputations.
Millions now take preventative measures to prevent identity theft for themselves and their businesses. Monitoring services have exploded in recent years, preventive action can be taken, and it is commonplace to dispute charges, refute actions caused by hacking or other means; and most understand how this can happen, and it is not the fault of the individual or business.
In the same way, reputation monitoring services have also exploded in growth. Most understand that a negative Google review, social media posts or other online statements may be untrue. Many try to speak up on behalf of a targeted individual or business. While plenty will pile on and try to create more drama and unnecessary rumors, most dismiss or recount a positive experience with the individual or company.
What is the best way to build preventative measures against potential PR missteps? Start building PR now. Without PR, the only story the public knows is the misstep or controversy. It is the first search result on Google, the first impression on social media, and nothing else is available for the public to consume. By gaining some PR before something happens, at least there is a portfolio of content and articles on your brand before any PR mishaps.
First steps to building a PR portfolio
Many assume their brand speaks for itself, or founders prefer to avoid drawing attention to themselves through PR; instead, they want to focus on raising capital or getting in front of new customers. The daily grind of running the business takes a lot of time, and long hours are already dedicated to business growth.
Entrepreneurs and founders are not politicians (most of the time) and do not think about public image other than the success of their brand. Nonetheless, we are all human, and we hire humans. Mishaps and chaos will happen.
The first step to building a solid PR portfolio is to utilize key and core messaging strategies already developed. It is incredible how many brands spend on building a core strategy that is never implemented. From there, start creating small wins in PR, even if it is not the day’s lead story. Small expansions in services, adding to an existing product line, or even sponsoring a youth sports league are all solid wins that can be leveraged into more extensive media attention.
Build on small wins. New hires, new community involvement, first full year in business — keep getting the brand’s story out there, even if it is through a limited press release that is only picked up by a few media outlets. While careful to stay on topics with some newsworthy value, continuous PR coverage of what’s right and working will help deflect when things go wrong.
From there, keep reinforcing that the brand strives to be a solution-oriented organization that continuously helps solve problems for your customer base. Significant PR wins will follow, and if the PR nightmare does happen, the media and the public will see a PR portfolio of growth, achievement, services and above all — humans trying to work together to build a business or organization — flaws and all.
Overall, suppose the brand is built and viewed as a solution-oriented market leader or influencer, and a portfolio of good work and PR is created. In that case, the missteps and possible nightmares are easier to push through. It used to be said that the first 24 hours were the worst, and while that still holds, in most cases, it can continue longer and more painfully if an ongoing PR campaign is not a part of overall marketing efforts.
The ending of the partnership between the artist Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, in October 2022 appeared to come after weeks of his comments about Jewish people and Black Lives Matter, but the New York Times is reporting that the relationship was troubled from the very start.
At a meeting on the collaborative creation of the very first shoe in 2013, Adidas ADS, -0.10%
ADDYY, -0.03%
designers were stunned when West rejected all of the ideas that were presented using fabric swatches on a table and a mood board, the seven-month investigation found. Instead, West, the Times reports, grabbed a sketch and drew a swastika in marker.
The move shocked the Germans in the room. Germany has a strict ban on displaying the symbol of the Nazi era apart from for artistic purposes. Adding to the sense of horror, the company’s founder — Adolf, or “Adi,” Dassler, who died in 1978 — was a Nazi Party member, and the meeting took place close to Nuremberg, where leaders of the Third Reich were famously tried for crimes against humanity.
“A year ago this week, Adidas threw in the towel.”
West’s fixation on the Nazi era continued, the Times reports, when he later told a Jewish manager at Adidas to kiss a portrait of Adolf Hitler every day. He also told Adidas workers that he admired Hitler’s use and command of propaganda.
West also brought porn to the workplace and made crude, sexual comments at meetings, according to the Times report. Before the swastika episode, West, according to the Times, had made Adidas executives watch porn at a meeting in his Manhattan apartment.
In 2022 he reportedly ambushed executives with a porn film. Other workers complained to top managers that he had made angry sexual comments to them.
The artist, said to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also frequently cried or became angry during meetings, according to the Times investigation. In one instance in 2019, he reportedly moved the operation designing his shoes to Cody, Wyo., and ordered the Adidas team to relocate. In a meeting to discuss his demands with executives, he threw shoes around the room, the Times reports.
Adidas sought to adapt to this behavior, given how valuable the West-established Yeezy brand was to the company, locked in a perennial battle for both revenue and buzz with its U.S.-based rival Nike Inc. NKE, -2.04%.
Yeezy sales would rapidly surpass $1 billion a year and help Adidas resonate with young American customers.
Managers launched a group text chain they called the “Yzy hotline” to discuss his behavior. To reduce stress on individuals, the company is said to have rotated managers in and out of dealing directly with West.
Over time, meanwhile, Adidas sweetened the terms of West’s deal. Under a 2016 contract, he was entitled to a 15% royalty on sales with a $15 million upfront payment as well as millions of dollars in Adidas stock. In 2019, a further $100 million a year was earmarked for marketing, but, in reality, West could spend those funds at will.
When a decision was reached to sell the product — in release batches — with some of the proceeds directed to charity and most of the rest flowing to Adidas, West, even then, was entitled to royalties.
After bottoming in October 2022, Adidas shares have mounted a 67% comeback, with relief over the company’s not having had to book a damaging loss on the Yeezy line one factor in the restoration of investor confidence.
Adidas is quoted as having told the Times that it “has no tolerance for hate speech and offensive behavior, which is why the company terminated the Adidas Yeezy partnership,” while West reportedly declined requests for interviews and comment.
The Times investigation is said to have been based on access to hundreds of previously undisclosed internal records.
In recent quarters, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been talking more about artificial intelligence and cost cutting, while focusing less and less on the company’s multibillion-dollar investment in the metaverse. Expect more of the same when the parent of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads reports results after the close Wednesday.
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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
It’s time to talk about everyone’s favorite subject — social media.
Regardless of how you feel about it, your social media presence CAN impact the success of your PR efforts. If you want to engage in a proactive public relations push, getting your social media house in order is always one of the first orders of business.
Why? Because journalists will check there when you show up on their radar. Nearly 60% said they check social FIRST before writing about a company.
If your social media feed looks like you haven’t posted in months, that’s not a positive signal.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In the not-so-distant past, the elusive verification checkmark on social media was an emblem of influence, credibility and hard-earned recognition. To have that blue tick next to your name was akin to a digital knighthood, signifying that you weren’t just anyone — you were someone of note.
Brands and influencers would invest heavily, sometimes to the tune of thousands of dollars, in comprehensive PR strategies, striving for extensive media coverage to achieve this coveted badge. Enter 2023, and the game has dramatically changed.
Platforms have introduced a novel way to get verified. Meta Verified and X Premium (formerly known as Twitter Blue) now allow users to obtain this verification for just $14.99 or less a month. A significant departure from days of yore when brands and individuals spent vast sums, often employing PR agencies, to build a robust online presence through organic media placements. This symbol, once a testament to your influence, now merely stands as a confirmation that you are who you claim to be, devoid of any implications of credibility or prominence.
The true cost of verification
While $14.99 might sound like a paltry sum for immediate verification, we must assess the broader implications. The prior requirement of achieving this badge organically meant that not just anyone could have it. It acted as a filter, ensuring that those who sported the checkmark had genuinely noteworthy online presences. This naturally added to the allure and value of the verification badge. With its democratization, its sheen of exclusivity has been eroded.
Implications for the PR industry
If the blue tick is no longer a direct reflection of one’s media presence and influence, where does this leave the PR industry? There’s no denying that the immediate incentive for brands to invest in PR campaigns, with the hope of obtaining verification, has been significantly diluted. However, it would be an oversimplification to assume that PR’s importance has been wholly marginalized.
With verification now just a click and a nominal payment away, the role of PR is primed for evolution, not extinction. The objective shifts from merely aiming for recognition to creating a tangible, authentic and lasting brand image. This involves nuanced storytelling, genuine audience engagement and reinforcing the brand’s ethos consistently. In essence, while the path to verification might have been simplified, the journey to genuine brand resonance has not. PR remains the compass guiding that journey.
The lasting value of organic media presence
Although Meta Verified and X Premium have made the checkmark easily accessible, the intrinsic value of organic media presence remains unparalleled. Earned media placements, genuine endorsements and organic audience interactions continue to be gold standards of authenticity. They offer depth, character and a multi-faceted narrative that a purchased badge simply cannot replicate.
In this new landscape, PR professionals need to articulate and demonstrate the broader benefits of organic media engagement. Campaigns should be designed with a holistic view, emphasizing long-term brand equity over short-term gains. After all, in a world where verification can be bought, genuine brand stories become the real differentiators.
As digital platforms continue to evolve, and the lines between organic and paid recognition blur, the quest for authenticity becomes paramount. Brands and users alike will need to look beyond superficial badges and delve deeper into what truly resonates with audiences. PR, with its emphasis on authentic storytelling and genuine audience connections, remains at the heart of this quest.
While Meta Verified and X Premium have undeniably altered the value proposition of the verification badge, they’ve also highlighted the indispensable role of authentic PR. Brands and influencers must understand that while badges can be bought, credibility, trust and genuine influence are earned. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly cluttered, the onus is on brands and individuals to distinguish themselves, not just through badges but through genuine narratives and meaningful connections. In this endeavor, PR’s role is not just relevant, but more crucial than ever.
Nearly a year ago, OpenAI released ChatGPT 3 into the world, and investors got visions of dollar signs in their heads as they imagined the ways that artificial intelligence could make big money for businesses.
Wall Street’s now coming to terms with the fact that those sorts of paydays are going to take time. As investors have already seen from the past two quarters of earnings, AI has only really delivered financial benefits for a select few hardware companies so far — while spurring new costs for many others.
“The AI boom has already bifurcated into the contenders and pretenders,” said Daniel Newman, chief executive and principal analyst of Futurum Research. And while Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Corp. and Arm Holdings PLC ARM, +0.38%
have stirred up interest, Nvidia Corp. NVDA, -4.68%
has established itself as far and away the greatest “contender,” with AI driving strong demand for its chips tuned for AI training.
Nvidia last quarter reported record earnings, including a 141% jump in revenue for its graphics chips used in AI infrastructure building up data centers. Nvidia, which reports near the end of earnings season on Nov. 21, posted record revenue of $13.5 billion last quarter and is expected to easily top that with $16 billion in the most recent quarter, a surge of 170% versus a year ago. Those estimates include $12.3 billion of revenue coming from data-center sales.
Other chip companies could post gains from AI as well, but to far lesser extents. Candidates include Broadcom Corp. AVGO, -2.01%
and system maker Super Micro Computer Inc. SMCI, +2.35%,
as well as Marvell Technology Inc. MRVL, -0.91%,
which last quarter told analysts that it expects to end the year at a revenue run rate of about $800 million this year from cloud/data-center chips related to AI.
“This is well above what we had outlined last quarter. Put this in perspective: This would put us at the run rate we had previously communicated for all of next year,” Marvel Chief Executive Matthew Murphy told analysts.
Much as Advanced Micro Devices Inc. AMD, -1.24%
and Intel Corp. INTC, -1.37%
want to be in the AI conversations with the graphics chips they hope will be used for AI data-center applications, they won’t see much of an impact yet from AI revenue. Plus, those companies are experiencing a slowdown in PC sales that may overshadow any small benefit from AI chips.
The AI boom in chips is clearly not providing enough of a boost to lift finances for the overall semiconductor sector, which is forecast to see earnings fall 3.3% in the third quarter and post a revenue decline of 0.6%, according to FactSet. The industry is being dragged down in part by Micron Technology Inc. MU, -0.12%,
which reported a 40% drop in revenue and a whopping fiscal fourth-quarter loss in late September for the quarter ended Aug. 31, which is included in FactSet’s third-quarter data. Even so, the company called a bottom to the memory-chip downturn.
“Most of the consumer-based tech is still struggling, [including] PCs, laptops and to a certain extent smartphones,” said Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust Co. Wall Street has tempered expectations related to the impact of Apple Inc.’s AAPL, -0.88%
iPhone 15 launch on the quarter, as estimates call for an overall 1% drop in September-quarter revenue. Last quarter, Apple executives forecast that both Mac and iPad sales would be down by double-digits and that revenue performance would be similar to its June quarter, when revenue fell 1.3%
In addition, when asked about AI, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company views AI and machine learning “as core fundamental technologies that are integral to virtually every product that we build.” Those comments, though, can also apply to the bulk of tech companies, where AI is built into software as another layer to improve a product. Internet companies such as Meta Platforms Inc. META, +0.89%
and Alphabet Inc. GOOG, +0.36%
GOOGL, +0.45%
incorporate AI into their software and algorithms but don’t treat it as a specific, revenue-generating product.
Other software companies are building AI into their products as separate features or add-ons, but they are still in the early stages of seeing whether or not customers will pay more for them. Take Microsoft Corp., MSFT, -0.17%
which has showed off Copilot, an extra AI feature for customers of Microsoft 365.
“[Microsoft] can distinguish itself by providing more details around its AI revenue ramp since we don’t expect much information from Google, who really doesn’t seem to have the monetization plan for Bard and AI-assisted search (SGE) ready to articulate yet,” Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes said in a note to clients this week. He also noted that the cost of offering AI products to consumers is steep, and requires lots of investment.
“There are sophisticated issues to contend with for Microsoft, including balancing the potential for higher revenue from Copilots with the high costs per query and much-needed investment,” Reitzes said. “The balance of AI adoption vs. cost was implied when Microsoft guided to flat operating margins year over year for fiscal 2024.”
Earlier this year, the Information reported that OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and recipient of a hefty investment from Microsoft, has costs of up to $700,000 a day, because the massive amounts of computing power needed to run queries. In February, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Plus, for $20 a month, a service that will give subscribers access to its AI during peak times and faster response times.
Another example is Adobe Inc. ADBE, +1.70%,
which has a few AI offerings, including a subscription service called Generative Credits, tokens that let customers turn text-based prompts into images. Another is Firefly, a generative AI service for images, and an AI option in Photoshop, currently called Photoshop Beta AI, to help users fill in images and other collaborative tools. Adobe did not provide any forecasts on potential revenue generation during its analyst day earlier this month.
Toni Sacconaghi, a Bernstein Research analyst, said AI could drive a massive increase in enterprise productivity, and companies could dramatically increase IT spending on servers in order to invest in productivity-enhancing AI. “However, we note that enterprise adoption appears to be in early stages,” he said in a recent note to clients, adding that it was feasible that spending on AI infrastructure could take money away from other IT projects in process. “We do worry that projected AI infrastructure build out may be occurring too quickly, necessitating a digestion period, which could result in a commensurate stock pullback in AI-related names.”
Overall, the information-technology sector itself is expected to see anemic revenue growth this quarter. The consensus on FactSet forecasts a meager 1.35% revenue uptick in the third quarter, with earnings growth of 4.65%. FactSet’s estimates for IT companies exclude internet companies like Meta and Alphabet, which are under the category of communications/interactive media services. That sector is expected to see sales growth of 12%, and earnings growth of 51%, thanks to a 116% boost in Meta’s net income, after it hit a low point in the year-ago quarter.
Amazon.com Inc. AMZN, -0.81%,
in the category of consumer discretionary/broadline retail, is forecast to see earnings growth of 109%, and revenue growth of 11%. Amazon’s cloud services business, AWS, is expected to also see a potential uplift from customers spending money on AI projects, according to a TD Cowen & Co. survey, in which 41% of respondents said they were “highly considering” allocating a budget for generative AI.
“This trend could bode well for Amazon’s AWS,” TD Cowen analyst John Blackledge said in a recent report, adding that he expects AWS revenue growth to reaccelerate in the second half of this year and in 2024, boosted by the move of additional workloads to the cloud, possibly including generative AI.
As companies build up their infrastructure, or their spending on cloud computing to add or improve AI capabilities, they are seeing higher costs, which is affecting margins — especially if revenue has slowed down, as it has in some sectors. Across both the broader S&P 500 SPX,
and the IT sector, earnings are lower than a year ago.
As Newman of Futurum pointed out, “AI stole the budget this year.” And that is a mixed bag for tech.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Public relations (PR) is a multi-faceted effort to manage and build a positive reputation. Powerful PR work includes many things, such as media relations and public sentiment. PR plays a critical role in business success by providing comprehensive brand management.
Some important PR efforts include building brand awareness, being proactive in creating powerful brand messaging, managing marketing campaigns, monitoring reputations and doing damage control in response to adverse incidents that attract negative attention.
To assess your PR needs, start by defining your goals and objectives for PR. Identify your target audience and stakeholders. Make a list of the PR services you need and the scope of the services required. Before searching for a PR agency, calculate a realistic budget for your PR.
Now that you know what you want and how much you can pay, the next step is finding an agency that is a good fit.
How do you identify potential PR agencies?
Begin your search for agency candidates by conducting thorough online research, including exploring agency websites, reading industry news and checking publications. Seek advice through social media and professional networks. You may want to consult industry-specific directories and associations. Ask for recommendations from industry peers and colleagues.
Create a checklist of desirable agency qualities and give weight to the various factors on a ranking scale of one to 10.
For a real-world PR firm evaluation, use this checklist:
Industry experience and expertise
Track record and past client success
Reputation and credibility
Client retention rate
Creativity and innovation
Team composition and qualifications
Communication and responsiveness
Ability to understand and meet business objectives
Measurable results and ROI
Alignment with company values and culture
Look for an agency with experience in your industry or niche. Review agency portfolios and case studies. Examine past PR campaigns and successes. Analyze client testimonials and references. Research industry awards and recognition.
After you have assembled as much research as possible, the next part of the process is to meet with PR agencies for an evaluation.
What should you ask PR agencies when you meet them?
Schedule initial meetings with your top picks. During the meetings, focus on the PR team and past results to understand their PR strategy and planning approach. Ask about the team’s expertise and experience. What is the founder’s story? What has been the growth trajectory of their clients? How many companies have they grown?
Request all media hits they secured for two or three clients over the past 90 to 120 days. Look to see what kind of press the founder and the agency secured for themselves.
Discuss reporting and performance measurement. How do they compensate staff for a key performance metric hit? How many promotions have the members of the team, who would be assigned to your account, received in the last 12 to 18 months? What does their company off-site look like?
After collecting all these key data points, assess their ability to adapt to your specific needs and goals, and don’t be shy when talking about money.
Can you afford it?
PR agencies may use different fee structures. Most require a retainer to get started, and then the billing for services may be project-based, hourly or some combination. Request detailed pricing proposals from each agency under consideration. Compare pricing in relation to the services offered. Naturally, you will want to negotiate the terms of the agency agreement and ensure transparency regarding costs.
Typical PR campaigns cost between $10,000-$15,000 per month and are executed over 6-12 months. If you’re planning to IPO, plan on spending $25,000 or more per month. Large and publicly traded companies need much larger budgets to effectively run campaigns that involve a mix of corporate communications.
Is there a cultural fit?
Ensuring a cultural fit between your needs and the PR agency is usually more important than cost. Cultural misalignment can botch a PR campaign. When you evaluate the agency’s organizational culture and values, consider compatibility with your company’s culture. Determine if the agency aligns with your brand’s image and messaging.
Assess communication style and responsiveness to determine the alignment with your usual business practices. For example, what is your expected response time when you send an email or leave a voicemail?
Evaluate the choices by conducting thorough due diligence on the agencies. Investigate each agency’s reputation and online presence. Look for past controversies, legal issues or ethical concerns for the agency and key executives. Verify the agency’s errors and omissions (E&O) insurance coverage, credentials, certifications and licenses. Check with industry associations and regulatory bodies for validation of an agency to ensure that it is in good standing.
Compile a comprehensive assessment of each agency. Weigh the pros and cons of each agency based on your criteria. Select the PR agency that aligns best with your objectives, budget and culture. Clearly define expectations and goals for the PR campaign. Draft a detailed contract that outlines services, deliverables and timelines. Have an attorney review the agreement. Set up communication channels and reporting mechanisms for an ongoing relationship.
The key steps in the PR agency selection process are to assess your needs, identify potential candidates, meet with them, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and then decide. By following these key steps, you may choose a suitable PR agency. Encourage ongoing communication and collaboration with the chosen agency to avoid serious problems and maintain an alignment of interests as you move ahead.
U.S. stocks are poised to rise on Monday ahead of a week of earnings and economic data releases, including quarterly reports from
Tesla, Netflix, and .
The NCAA started allowing college athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness in 2021, after decades of student-athletes saying it wasn’t fair that they didn’t receive any money while the games they played in generated millions of dollars — especially football and basketball contests. And today, many of these athletes are not just making some extra cash on the side — they’re making millions.
These NIL deals are negotiated by college athletes and their representation, and typically involve leveraging an athlete’s brand and influence through promotional means. For example, a car dealership near a university campus may ask the college’s high-profile quarterback to do a commercial for them in exchange for a monetary payment or a car. Similarly, an athlete can make money from social media, depending on how big their following is.
Football players are among the college athletes who make the most money from NIL deals, followed by men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and women’s basketball. That’s because college football and basketball have multibillion-dollar TV contracts to broadcast games, while most other sports generally have lower visibility.
With that in mind, here are the college athletes who make the most money from NIL deals according to On3’s proprietary NIL algorithm, which is based on NIL-deal data, performance, influence and exposure
10. J.J. McCarthy, $1.3 million
J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines in action against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Getty Images
As the junior quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines football team, McCarthy is one of the six college football QBs in the top 10 of NIL earners.
McCarthy sports 276,000 followers across his social-media platforms, and has deals with Alo, Bose and Bowman.
Tie-8. Bo Nix, $1.4 million
Bo Nix of the Oregon Ducks throws a pass against the Stanford Cardinals.
Getty Images
The senior QB for the Oregon Ducks has led his team to a perfect 5-0 start this season.
Nix has 219,000 followers on social media and NIL deals with 7-Eleven, Bojangles and Celsius. Nix is considered one of the top players in the nation and has the third-best betting odds to win college football’s Heisman Trophy on DraftKings DKNG, -2.52%
sportsbook.
Tie-8. Spencer Rattler, $1.4 million
Spencer Rattler of the South Carolina Gamecocks warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Getty Images
The South Carolina Gamecocks senior QB has one of the more robust NIL profiles in the nation. He has deals with Mercedes-Benz MBG, -1.23%,
Leaf trading cards and Raising Canes.
Rattler also has 578,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram META, -0.71%
and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
7. Angel Reese, $1.7 million
Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game.
Getty Images
Reese was one of the breakout stars of the women’s March Madness basketball tournament this year. The Louisiana State University hooper led her team to the 2023 title and famously flashed a “you can’t see me” gesture in the title game.
Reese has brand deals with Airbnb, PlayStation and Intuit TurboTax INTU, -0.50%
and has appeared in ads for Amazon AMZN, +0.01%
and Pepsi Co.’s PEP, +0.59%
Starry. She also has 5.2 million followers across her social-media platforms.
During LSU’s magical title run last season, Reese set an NCAA single-season record with her 34th double-double against the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four.
Reese is one of just two female athletes inside the top 10 in On3’s NIL valuation tracker, and the top college basketball player on the list.
6. Travis Hunter, $2.3 million
Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes signals first down after a catch against the TCU Horned Frogs.
Getty Images
Hunter was one of the college football players who transferred to the University of Colorado from Jackson State last season to follow coach Deion Sanders.
Hunter, a five-star sophomore prospect, plays on both offense and defense — as a wide receiver and a cornerback — a rarity in a high-level college program. He has 1.9 million followers on social media, a successful YouTube GOOG, -0.08%
channel, and endorsements with Celsius Energy Drink and 7-Eleven.
Hunter entered the 2023 college season as the most highly touted NFL prospect at Colorado, and Deion Sanders contends rival schools have attempted to poach him via lucrative NIL deals.
“People offered Travis Hunter a bag — about $1.5 million to try to lure him and buy him out of the transfer portal,” coach Sanders told 247Sports over the summer. “But Travis is not the kind of guy that can be bought. He isn’t built like that. Travis is a relational young man that is built on relationships and stability. And that’s what he wanted and desired. That is why he decided to ride and stay with us.”
If and when Hunter decides to declare for the NFL draft, he will likely have a multimillion-dollar contract as a rookie that could dwarf his collegiate NIL earnings.
5. Caleb Williams, $2.7 million
Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans warms up before a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Getty Images
The University of Southern California QB is seen as a generational NFL prospect and the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but he isn’t the top NIL earner.
Williams has 347,000 followers on social media, and brand deals with United Airlines UAL, -1.24%,
Alo and Beats by Dre.
Once the USC junior QB declares for the draft, his rookie contract will likely be set above $37 million, per Spotrac’s estimates.
4. Arch Manning, $2.8 million
Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns warms up prior to a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Getty Images
The Texas Longhorns freshman QB is one of several top NIL earners whose family plays a role in their fame. Arch Manning is the nephew of Super Bowl champion QBs Peyton and Eli Manning, and the grandson of former NFL QB Archie Manning.
Despite being a backup quarterback with no recorded statistics, the younger Manning has 277,000 followers on social media and has a brand deal with Panini. That deal involved him autographing an extremely rare one-of-one Prizm Black card that was auctioned off for $102,500, which was later donated to charity.
Manning was a standout high school recruit, ranked No. 5 in the nation in the 2023 class, and could have an NFL future.
3. Livvy Dunne, $3.2 million
Olivia Dunne of LSU looks on during a PAC-12 meet against Utah.
Getty Images
Dunne is the only college athlete in the top 10 of NIL earners who doesn’t play basketball or football. The junior LSU gymnast is the top female NIL earner in the nation and has brand deals with Vuori clothing, Body Armor KO, +0.62%
and American Eagle Outfitters.
Dunne is the second most-followed college athlete on social media with 12.1 million followers on Instagram, TikTok and X combined.
For many years Dunne was seen as the poster child for NIL deals, and she said earlier this year that she could make as much as $500,000 from a single post.
“What I love with certain brands is getting long-term brand deals,” Dunne said on the Full Send podcast in June. “Those are probably the best because you build a relationship with the brand and they want you year after year.”
2. Shedeur Sanders, $4.8 million
Shedeur Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates as he walks off the field following an NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Getty Images
University of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has become a phenomenon in the sports world. The 21-year-old junior made headlines after throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns in Colorado’s season-opening shocker against No. 17–ranked Texas Christian.
Colorado has become the center of the football world since Shedeur’s father Deion took over as coach. Coach Prime’s team is currently 4-2 — the team was 1-11 last season, good for last place in its conference.
The quarterback has more than 2.3 million followers on social media, and has already inked several deals with big brands, including with yogurt producer Oikos 0KFX, -1.13%,
Gatorade and Mercedes-Benz. He has shown fans some of his new Mercedes cars on social media, too.
Overall, Shedeur Sanders’s NIL value currently sits at $4.8 million, according to On3, up from $1.5 million at the beginning of the year — that’s the highest value in all of college football. For context, that’s nearly twice the average NFL player’s salary.
1. Bronny James, $5.9 million
Bronny James playing at his high school, Sierra Canyon.
Getty Images
James has perhaps the most famous family member of any person on this list. He is the son of NBA legend LeBron James, and is currently set to begin his freshman basketball season at USC.
The younger James has yet to play a game at his new school, but will immediately be one of the most well-known players in college athletics. James has 13.5 million social media followers, the most of any college athlete, and has brand deals with Nike NKE, +1.10%
and Beats by Dre AAPL, -0.06%,
two brands his dad is also repped by.
Bronny James suffered cardiac arrest in July during a basketball practice and had to be taken to the hospital. But he’s on the road to recovery, and hopes to play basketball this season.
“Bronny is doing extremely well,” the older James said last week. “He has begun his rehab process to get back on the floor this season with his teammates at USC. (With) the successful surgery that he had, he’s on the up-and-up. It’s definitely a whirlwind, a lot of emotions for our family this summer. But the best thing we have is each other.”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In today’s business, establishing a strong brand presence and gaining authority are crucial for entrepreneurs and businesses. To achieve those goals, you must have a solid public relations (PR) strategy in place — and there are two key pieces of that strategy: guest appearances on podcasts in your niche and using social media properly.
So how do you do it? Well, let’s first go over the importance of PR and media coverage, as well as the benefits of being a guest on podcasts and using social media. Not only can using these strategies enhance an entrepreneur’s reputation, expand their reach and ultimately drive more traffic to their business, but it helps give an entrepreneur trust and credibility. If a potential client can’t find much about your business on Google or social media, you’re in trouble. Staying relevant with current PR, podcast interviews and repurposing them for social media content will help you achieve the success your business needs to scale.
Public relations is a strategic communication process that helps entrepreneurs create and maintain a positive image in the eyes of their target audience and the public. By leveraging PR, entrepreneurs can manage their reputation, effectively communicate their brand’s story and differentiate themselves from the competition. All well-known businesses have press, and you should, too.
Media coverage and press releases are essential components of PR and branding. Being featured in reputable publications and or having press releases published can significantly boost a business’s credibility. Media coverage provides third-party validation, positioning the entrepreneur as an authority in their niche and gaining exposure to a much larger audience. Additionally, the right media coverage can lead to increased brand awareness, which can convert into new customers, strategic partnerships and investor opportunities.
Hire PR help
Having the right team to help properly share your story with the media is a huge part of building a public identity with trust and authority. A great public figure business coach or PR agent can help you gain a competitive edge in your industry, as they will have established relationships with journalists, editors and influencers. This allows them to secure media coverage and feature placements, increasing your brand visibility.
Podcast guest appearances
The popularity of podcasting has opened up new doors for entrepreneurs to reach their target audience. Appearing as a guest on popular podcasts allows entrepreneurs to share their expertise, give insights and connect with a new audience.
Podcasts provide a valuable opportunity to tell one’s story in a conversational format, allowing entrepreneurs to showcase their personality and authenticity. By sharing their experiences, lessons learned and industry knowledge, entrepreneurs can establish themselves as thought leaders and build a rapport with listeners they may have not had before. The credibility gained from these interactions can lead to increased brand loyalty and new customers.
Additionally, podcasts often have a niche focus, catering to specific industries or interests. By requesting to be a guest on podcasts aligned with a like-minded audience, entrepreneurs and business owners can reach a highly targeted demographic and generate quality leads and possible fans. Each podcast appearance serves as an endorsement and recommendation from the podcast host, enhancing the entrepreneur’s reputation with the listeners, which is why being a guest is so valuable.
Research and identify your target podcasts. Find podcasts that align with your expertise, interests and story so that you can add value to their audience. You can use platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Podchaser for your research. It’s wise and recommended to listen to any podcast show before you send a pitch. Get a feel for the type of guests they typically have on their show.
Create a 1-page media kit to give a brief on who you are. Include photos, a short bio, website link and your social media handles with insights. This makes it easy and attractive to present yourself professionally, especially if the show gets lots of pitches.
Once you have done your research, know you’re a good fit for the show and can add compelling content, it’s time to develop a strong email or DM pitch. Make sure to include your credentials and potential topics that you can share with their audience. Your pitch should be what you can do for the podcast and their audience, not why you want to be on their show.
I recommend pitching yourself first for free, however, if time is money for you, hire an expert to do the pitches for you. A good PR firm can easily book you on ideal podcast shows.
Synergistic impact
While PR and podcast appearances are powerful strategies on their own, their true potential is realized when they are combined. By strategically coordinating PR efforts and podcast appearances, entrepreneurs can amplify their brand’s visibility and credibility exponentially.
For example, entrepreneurs can leverage their media coverage by sharing it with podcast hosts and producers, increasing the likelihood of securing guest appearances. On the other hand, podcast appearances can generate interest from media outlets, resulting in additional press coverage and creating a cycle of positive exposure.
The synergy between PR and podcasts helps create a consistent brand narrative. When entrepreneurs align their messaging across media coverage and podcast interviews, they strengthen their expertise and brand identity. This consistency builds trust and recognition among the target audience, building long-term relationships and loyalty.
In the dynamic world of business, entrepreneurs must snatch every opportunity to enhance their brand’s visibility and credibility. This includes repurposing your content from relevant publications and podcast appearances on your social media. Social media is the ultimate “business card,” and if you have social proof to share your brand’s story and success, you absolutely should. Make sure to share your media articles and podcast interviews on Instagram, LinkedIn and “X.” Your story may inspire others and get shared many times on social media, giving you additional free traffic and brand awareness.
PR, podcast appearances and social media all go hand-in-hand. They are all a part of branding and are important tools that can help entrepreneurs reach their goals, land more business and pave the way for long-term success.
Stock futures posted modest gains Thursday ahead of a report likely to show that
U.S. inflation fell in September as gasoline price growth slowed and used-car costs declined.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You can charge a premium for products or services if you have a strong personal brand. Individuals build their personal brand by utilizing their reputation, expertise and influence to create a perceived value for their products or services.
Having a personal brand will position you as an authority in your field, which may cause people to perceive your products or services as having a higher quality or greater value, potentially leading them to be willing to pay more for them.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative professional or an executive, building a personal brand will help you stand out, establish credibility and attract new opportunities. But what does personal branding have to do with public relations? In this article, we’ll explore how your personal brand relates to PR and why it’s essential to integrate the two.
Your brand is the unique combination of your skills, experience, personality, values and reputation that sets you apart from others. It’s how people perceive you and what you stand for, personally and professionally.
By crafting a compelling personal brand story, you can create an emotional connection with your audience, establish trust and credibility, and differentiate yourself in a crowded market. A well-told brand story can help to build brand loyalty and affinity, ultimately driving business success.
A strong personal brand is built on consistency, authenticity and a clear message that resonates with your target audience.
How personal branding gives you notoriety
Creating notoriety can result from viral fame or social media stardom or by strategically leveraging your personal brand. At its core, notoriety is all about expanding your network and leveraging your reputation with various stakeholders, such as customers, employees, investors and the media. Your brand plays a significant role in shaping how these stakeholders perceive you and your organization, impacting the success of your public relations efforts if you don’t have an excellent personal brand.
Here are a few ways your personal brand can impact your brand awareness:
Establish your credibility as an expert
A strong personal brand can help establish your credibility as an expert in your industry. This can make it easier to secure media coverage, speaking engagements and other opportunities that can enhance your reputation and promote your organization.
Building credibility is essential for establishing trust and confidence in your abilities, expertise and character. To build credibility, consistently demonstrate expertise in your field, provide value to your clients or customers, be transparent and authentic in your communication and actions, and cultivate strong relationships with others in your industry or community.
Seeking feedback and continually improving your work can also establish a reputation for excellence and dedication to your craft. Remember that building credibility takes time and effort, but by consistently demonstrating your knowledge, reliability and integrity, you can establish a reputation that earns the trust and respect of others.
Consistency is key when establishing yourself as an expert, and a strong personal brand can help ensure your messaging and actions align with your overall goals and values. This can help build trust and strengthen your relationships with key stakeholders.
Differentiate yourself
In today’s crowded market, standing out from the competition is essential. Your personal brand can help differentiate you and your organization by highlighting your unique strengths and values.
To differentiate yourself in a crowded market, it’s pertinent to identify your unique selling proposition (USP) or what sets you apart from others in your field. You can achieve this by pinpointing your core competencies, skills and experiences that make you stand out. You should focus on building expertise in a specific niche or area and showcasing your personality and values to create a unique brand. Equally important, it’s crucial to constantly innovate, learn and stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices. By consistently developing your skills and staying true to your brand, you can create a unique and valuable offering that distinguishes you from others in your field.
Your personal brand can also impact your online presence, which is increasingly important in PR. By developing a robust online persona, you can better manage your reputation and build relationships with key stakeholders.
How to leverage your personal brand to enhance your PR and marketing efforts
Now that we understand the importance of personal branding, let’s look at how you can leverage your brand to enhance your PR and marketing efforts. Here are a few tips:
Develop a clear message: Start by developing a clear and consistent message that reflects your personal brand and aligns with your organization’s goals. Tailor your message to your target audience, and communicate it across all channels, including your website, social media, and PR and marketing campaigns.
Leverage social media: Social media is a powerful tool for building your personal brand and establishing relationships with journalists and other influencers. Use platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram to share your expertise, connect with others and engage in industry conversations.
Be authentic: Authenticity is key to building a solid personal brand and establishing stakeholder trust. Be true to yourself and your values, and avoid overstating your accomplishments or expertise.
Monitor your reputation: Keep an eye on your online reputation, and address any negative comments or feedback promptly and professionally. Responding promptly and appropriately can help mitigate any damage and demonstrate your commitment to building strong relationships.
Seek opportunities: Finally, seek opportunities to build your brand through speaking engagements, media interviews and other PR activities. These opportunities can help enhance your reputation and establish you as a thought leader in your industry.
In conclusion, personal branding and your public perception are closely related and can significantly impact your success in any industry. By developing a strong personal brand, you can establish credibility, build relationships and differentiate yourself from the competition. Integrating personal branding and PR can ensure your messaging is consistent and aligned with your organization’s goals and can help you better manage your online reputation.
Two things investors can be sure about: Nothing lasts forever and the stock market always overreacts. The spiking of yields on long-term U.S. Treasury securities has been breathtaking, and it has led to remarkable declines for some sectors and possible bargains for contrarian investors who can commit for the long term.
First we will show how the sectors of the S&P 500
have performed. Then we will look at price-to-earnings valuations for the sectors and compare them to long-term averages. Then we will screen the entire index for companies trading below their long-term forward P/E valuation averages and narrow the list to companies most favored by analysts.
Here are total returns, with dividends reinvested, for the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, with broad indexes below. The sectors are sorted by ascending total returns this year through Monday.
Returns for 2022 are also included, along with those since the end of 2021. Last year’s weakest sector, communications services, has been this year’s strongest performer. This sector includes Alphabet Inc. GOOGL
and Meta Platforms Inc. META,
which have returned 52% and 155% this year, respectively, but are still down since the end of 2021. To the right are returns for the past week and month through Monday.
On Monday, the S&P 500 Utilities sector had its worst one-day performance since 2020, with a 4.7% decline. Investors were reacting to the jump in long-term interest rates.
Here is a link to the U.S. Treasury Department’s summary of the daily yield curve across maturities for Treasury securities.
The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes
jumped 10 basis points in only one day to 4.69% on Monday. A month earlier the 10-year yield was only 4.27%. Also on Monday, the yield on 20-year Treasury bonds
rose to 5.00% from 4.92% on Friday. It was up from 4.56% a month earlier.
The Treasury yield curve is still inverted, with 3-month T-bills
yielding 5.62% on Monday, but that was up only slightly from a month earlier. An inverted yield curve has traditionally signaled that bond investors expect a recession within a year and a lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve. Demand for bonds pushes their prices down. But the reverse has happened over recent days, with the selling of longer-term Treasury securities pushing yields up rapidly.
Another way to illustrate the phenomenon is to look at how the Federal Reserve has shifted the U.S. money supply. Odeon Capital analyst Dick Bove wrote in a note to clients on Friday that “the Federal Reserve has not deviated from its policy to defeat inflation by tightening monetary policy,” as it has shrunk its balance sheet (mostly Treasury securities) to $8.1 trillion from $9 trillion in March 2022. He added: “The M2 money supply was $21.8 trillion in March 2022; today it is $20.8 trillion. You cannot get tighter than these numbers indicate.”
Then on Tuesday, Bove illustrated the Fed’s tightening and the movement of the 10-year yield with two charts:
Odeon Capital Group, Bloomberg
Bove said he believes the bond market has gotten it wrong, with the inverted yield curve reflecting expectations of rate cuts next year. If he is correct, investors can expect longer-term yields to keep shooting up and a normalization of the yield curve.
This has set up a brutal environment for utility stocks, which are typically desired by investors who are seeking dividend income. In a market in which you can receive a yield of 5.5% with little risk over the short term, and in which you can lock in a long-term yield of about 5%, why take a risk in the stock market? And if you believe that the core inflation rate of 3.7% makes a 5% yield seem paltry, keep in mind that not all investors think the same way. Many worry less about the inflation rate because large components of official inflation calculations, such as home prices and car prices, don’t affect everyone every year.
We cannot know when this current selloff of longer-term bonds will end, or how much of an effect it will have on the stock market. But sharp declines in the stock market can set up attractive price points for investors looking to go in for the long haul.
Screening for lower valuations and high ratings
A combination of rising earnings estimates and price declines could shed light on potential buying opportunities, based on forward price-to-earnings ratios.
Let’s look at the sectors again, in the same order, this time to show their forward P/E ratios, based on weighted rolling 12-month consensus estimates for earnings per share among analysts polled by FactSet:
Sector or index
Current P/E to 5-year average
Current P/E to 10-year average
Current P/E to 15-year average
Forward P/E
5-year average P/E
10-year average P/E
15-year average P/E
Utilities
82%
86%
95%
14.99
18.30
17.40
15.82
Real Estate
76%
80%
81%
15.19
19.86
18.89
18.72
Consumer Staples
93%
96%
105%
18.61
19.92
19.30
17.64
Healthcare
103%
104%
115%
16.99
16.46
16.34
14.72
Financials
88%
92%
97%
12.90
14.65
14.08
13.26
Materials
100%
103%
111%
16.91
16.98
16.42
15.27
Industrials
88%
96%
105%
17.38
19.84
18.16
16.56
Energy
106%
63%
73%
11.78
11.17
18.80
16.23
Consumer Discretionary
79%
95%
109%
24.09
30.41
25.39
22.10
Information Technology
109%
130%
146%
24.20
22.17
18.55
16.54
Communication Services
86%
86%
94%
16.41
19.09
19.00
17.43
S&P 500
94%
101%
112%
17.94
19.01
17.76
16.04
DJ Industrial Average
93%
98%
107%
16.25
17.49
16.54
15.17
Nasdaq Composite Index
92%
102%
102%
24.62
26.71
24.18
24.18
Nasdaq-100 Index
97%
110%
126%
24.40
25.23
22.14
19.43
There is a limit to how many columns we can show in the table. The S&P 500’s forward P/E ratio is now 17.94, compared with 16.79 at the end of 2022 and 21.53 at the end of 2021. The benchmark index’s P/E is above its 10- and 15-year average levels but below the five-year average.
If we compare the current sector P/E numbers to 5-, 10- and 15-year averages, we can see that the current levels are below all three averages for four sectors: utilities, real estate, financials and communications services. The first three face obvious difficulties as they adjust to the rising-rate environment, while the real-estate sector reels from continuing low usage rates for office buildings, from the change in behavior brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your own opinions, along with the pricing for some sectors, might drive some investment choices.
A broader screen of the S&P 500 might point to companies for you to research further.
We narrowed the S&P 500 as follows:
Current forward P/E below 5-, 10- and 15-year average valuations. For stocks with negative earnings-per-share estimates for the next 12 months, there is no forward P/E ratio so they were excluded. For stocks listed for less than 15 years, we required at least a 5-year average P/E for comparison. This brought the list down to 138 companies.
“Buy” or equivalent ratings from at least two-thirds of analysts: 41 companies.
Here are the 20 companies that passed the screen, for which analysts’ price targets imply the highest upside potential over the next 12 months.
There is too much data for one table, so first we will show the P/E information:
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you own a business, you know that reputation is everything. It’s not enough to know what your brand is about and its values – you must communicate all these things to clients, partners and stakeholders. This is where PR places your company on the map and establishes the right communication channels. But with so many names out there competing for clients’ attention, how do you know you’re hiring a reliable PR contractor?
In this guide, you’ll discover six tips to help you choose a professional, result-driven PR agency that will work to effectively build your brand reputation and make your brand stand out on the market.
1. Look for an agency with a rich media catalog
A long list of media outlets in an agency’s database is not just a sign of extensive connections in the industry. It also means it will be easier for a media expert to select the outlets that perfectly fit the client’s criteria, such as budget, niche and target audience. Let’s break it down with a simple comparison:
Bad agency: Offers you a list of a couple of dozens of media to choose from to publish your story. It’s unlikely you’ll find an outlet that satisfies all your PR needs – even the core ones.
Good agency: An extensive media catalog with outlets covering various industries, reader demographics and geographic regions. No matter what your PR goals are, you’ll be able to find the right place to publish and promote your business.
Remember: quality always beats quantity. Instead of bringing your brand name to the pages of several little-known or low-quality outlets, it’s crucial to focus on choosing a few or even one reputable source. Expert PR agencies live by this rule and would not waste your time and money on publications with little to no impact.
Bad agency: Likely chooses cheaper outlets with fewer readers to save their (not your) budget. They might also conceal what outlets your piece will feature in until the moment of publication.
Good agency: Focuses on results and transparently communicates the selection of reputable outlets, even if it means a higher price. You will be able to make an informed decision and know exactly what impact the PR campaign will have on your business growth.
Imagine you come to a real estate agency looking to buy a property. An agent keeps pushing you to buy this “amazing” apartment with a “great” interior design and a “fantastic” infrastructure. But they never tell you where the property is or even show you any pictures. That’s what happens if you work with a PR agency that has no open portfolio. It’s a leap into the unknown, often not worth the risk.
Bad agency: Doesn’t have a portfolio. Agents refer to vague NDAs as an excuse, so you don’t really see any examples of the agency’s work and achievements.
Good agency: Shows you real client cases and publications. Better yet, it has a diverse portfolio published on its website, so you can take your time to see and analyze it.
4. Seek full clarity on price and service-wise
When something is too good to be true in the PR industry, it probably is. So, if you found an agency that offers publications in great media for unusually low prices, it’s reasonable to be suspicious. Always explicitly ask for all the details of each publication. Does it come with special tags? Is it a full-on piece about your brand or just a mention? Try to eliminate all the blind spots.
Bad agency: Sells you a publication marked as “advertising” so that search engines will treat it as an ad, not a piece of organic content. Or will promise a high-profile placement but deliver a brief mention in an unrelated article.
Good agency: Is straightforward about prices and services. Will tell you what page your publication will appear on, whether it will carry any tags, etc. You’ll know for sure where you land.
Traditional PR agencies often insist on signing long-term contracts regardless of their clients’ needs. It means a higher price and a lower level of flexibility. What if you can’t afford it consistently due to financial struggles? Or perhaps you will no longer need the PR services in a couple of months. Canceling such contracts can be costly and legally painful.
Bad agency: Pushes you to sign a year-long contract and make a large advance payment and is not fully transparent about the cancelation policy.
Good agency: Strives to be flexible. Offers short-term contracts and is open about the cancellation policy, ensuring you have the freedom to tailor your PR services according to your needs.
6. Read real client reviews
When choosing a PR agency, it’s smart to see what other clients have to say. Reviews provide valuable insights into how the agency operates, the quality of its services, and whether it can truly meet your needs.
Bad agency: Avoids sharing client feedback or only shows you a few cherry-picked positive cases. Or it has many generic reviews that lack specific details about the agency’s actual performance.
Good agency: Is proud of its track record and will show you a range of feedback, both positive and constructive. Reviews include photos and/or links, feature brand names and real company representatives.
All these tips revolve around one core idea: work with professionals. Just like you’re looking for a qualified doctor to attend to your health, an expert mechanic to fix your car, or an experienced teacher to educate your children, only say yes to a PR agency that inspires trust and shows professionalism. After all, PR is a key aspect of your brand’s reputation and success.
Apple Inc. is blaming a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle.
The Cupertino, Calif., company AAPL, +0.30%
said Saturday that it is working on an update to the iOS17 system that powers the iPhone 15 lineup to prevent the devices from becoming uncomfortably hot and is working with apps that are running in ways “causing them to overload the system.”
Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms META, -1.23%,
modified its social media app earlier this week to prevent it from heating up the device on the latest iPhone operating system.
Uber UBER, -0.33%
and other apps such as the video game Asphalt 9 are still in the process of rolling out their updates, Apple said. It didn’t specify a timeline for when its own software fix would be issued but said no safety issues should prevent iPhone 15 owners from using their devices while awaiting the update.
“We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple in a short statement provided to The Associated Press after media reports detailed overheating complaints that are peppering online message boards.
The Wall Street Journal amplified the worries in a story citing the overheating problem in its own testing of the new iPhones, which went on sale a week ago.
It’s not unusual for new iPhones to get uncomfortably warm during the first few days of use or when they are being restored with backup information stored in the cloud — issues that Apple already flags for users. The devices also can get hot when using apps such as video games and augmented reality technology that require a lot of processing power, but the heating issues with the iPhone 15 models have gone beyond those typical situations.
In its acknowledgement, Apple stressed that the trouble isn’t related to the sleek titanium casing that houses the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the stainless steel used on older smartphones.
Apple also dismissed speculation that the overheating problem in the new models might be tied to a shift from its proprietary Lightning charging cable to the more widely used USB-C port that allowed it to comply with a mandate issued by European regulators.
Although Apple expressed confidence that the overheating issue can be quickly fixed with the upcoming software updates, the problem still could dampen sales of its marquee product at time when the company has faced three consecutive quarters of year-over-year declines in overall sales.
The downturn has affected iPhone sales, which fell by a combined 4% in the nine months covered by Apple’s past three fiscal quarters compared with a year earlier.
Apple is trying to pump up its sales in part by raising the starting price for its top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max to $1,200, an increase of $100, or 9%, from last year’s comparable model.
Investor worries about Apple’s uncharacteristic sales funk already have wiped out more than $300 billion in shareholder wealth since the company’s market value closed at $3 trillion for the first time in late June.
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy took aim at social-media companies during the second GOP presidential debate, saying Wednesday night that he would aim to ban anyone age 16 or under from using those companies’ platforms.
“If you’re 16 years old or under, you should not be using an addictive social-media product — period,” said Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur who ranks fourth in GOP primary polls, according a RealClearPolitics average.
He said this move would help with improving mental health and stopping the fentanyl epidemic. Earlier, Ramaswamy had talked about a mom and dad in Iowa whose son died after the teen bought Percocet laced with fentanyl through Snapchat.
That type of ban would hit companies such as Meta Platforms META, -0.41%,
the parent of Instagram and Facebook; Snap SNAP, +1.80%,
the parent of Snapchat; X, formerly known as Twitter; and ByteDance, the Chinese parent of TikTok.
Ramaswamy has started using TikTok in his White House campaign, and another GOP presidential candidate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, attacked him over that at another point in the debate.
“TikTok is one of the most dangerous social-media apps we could have,” she said. “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber.”
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Stock futures traded lower Thursday after equities dropped as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady but signaled that one more quarter-point rate hike was possible this year.
