🩱 “Keeping Up With $5B” — Skims’ money situation. Country Music’s AI hit. Netflix’s theme park opens. +Harvard Grade InflAAAAtion

We predict that the Corona-conomy is accelerating trends, including contactless payments, subscriptions, and cord-cutting. Universal Studios is going direct-to-consumer with its latest movies, which questions the whole must-be-in-theaters-first-for-90-days thing. And Airbnb promised investors and employees it would IPO this year, but now it’s got to make a careful calculation as its bookings plummet: Side with guests or hosts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 Maalis 202018min

Even though ride-hailing has plummeted in the corona-conomy, Uber’s CEO announced the company has $10B of cash, food delivery, and some side hustle ideas. Media consumption is surging while you work from home, and Netflix’s business model may put it above its media rivals. Ford’s touching its $13B loan as part of an anti-treat-yo-self plan, but that’s more of a problem for its bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Maalis 202016min

While it looks like nearly every stock has fallen, Walmart shares just hit a record high — we repeat: Record high stock price during this crisis. Apple just issued a subtle press release for new products that basically admits 1 big failure. And Starbucks has a couple billion dollars in extra cash, so it decided to treat itself… to more stock… of itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Maalis 202020min

Lyft is worth 1 Lyft, but 1 Lyft is now worth less than $6B, so we’re wondering who may buy it (the whole company). Toilet paper sales have surged for Kimberly Clark, but the front-loaded demand now may not help its future sales. And the latest update in the government’s COVID-19 response is a nearly $1 Trillion stimulus package that completes a policy trifecta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Maalis 202019min

To rescue financial markets from pandemic ruin, The Fed took drastic measures Sunday — but it’s already used up its major tools. To help people figure out testing for COVID-19, Google’s deployed “Project Baseline”, which is like Healthcare.gov but for disease screening. And private businesses are making “flattening the curve” possible with pro-social distancing policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Maalis 202017min

Despite your work-from-home lifestyle right now, office IM’ing service Slack announced a quarter that didn’t live up to expectations, because work software habits take time. Direct-to-patient half-icorn Ro has a new strategy: Launch pharmacies so it can vertically integrate your healthcare experience. And with the sudden end of the bull market, we’re looking at the history and reality of market cycles in the USA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Maalis 202017min

The worst day for markets since 1987’s Black Monday. We’re looking at why the stimulus keg from the government didn’t save stocks. Virus-testing company Lab Corp is now facing the moment it’s been waiting for (but it’s stock is still down). And Direct-to-Consumer startups and stocks have been having a different kind of moment, so we’re looking at Casper/Brandless/Harry’s/Outdoor Voice’s CAC problem (“customer acquisition cost”). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Maalis 202018min

Another wild market drop has us officially in a “bear market”, and there’s chatter about a bailouts, so we’re looking at the last bailout and when/why they actually should happen. Pepsi splurged to buy Rockstar Beverages because you’re not a beverage these days unless you’re a “functional” beverage. And word leaked about Apple’s “Project Seymour” — a workout-guiding app that Peloton has a problem with (because it’s a problem for Peloton). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Maalis 202017min