MSFT - Microsoft Corporation
117.91 0.00 (0.00%)
After hours: 4:34PM EDT
| Previous Close | 117.66 |
| Open | 118.62 |
| Bid | 117.81 x 1000 |
| Ask | 117.81 x 800 |
| Day's Range | 116.85 - 118.71 |
| 52 Week Range | 87.51 - 120.82 |
| Volume | 25,938,047 |
| Avg. Volume | 30,359,311 |
| Market Cap | 904.63B |
| Beta (3Y Monthly) | 1.02 |
| PE Ratio (TTM) | 27.35 |
| EPS (TTM) | 4.31 |
| Earnings Date | Apr 24, 2019 - Apr 29, 2019 |
| Forward Dividend & Yield | 1.84 (1.57%) |
| Ex-Dividend Date | 2019-05-15 |
| 1y Target Est | 126.36 |
- Yahoo Finance Video•5 hours ago
Strauss Zelnick on the Future of Media: Traditional vs. Digital
The future of media will continue to evolve; will traditional broadcasting survive as digital streaming grows? Yahoo Finance’s Adam Shapiro and Julie Hyman join Take-Two Interactive Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick to discuss.
- Reuters•2 hours ago
Adobe, Microsoft to take on Salesforce's marketing software, with LinkedIn as a weapon
Adobe Inc and Microsoft Corp are partnering to bolster each other's sales and marketing software capabilities, taking aim at common rival Salesforce.com Inc, they said on Tuesday. Adobe and Microsoft hope to make it easier for users of Adobe's marketing software to find and target teams of potential customers for business goods on LinkedIn, the social network owned by Microsoft, they said at a conference in Las Vegas.
- Zacks•4 hours ago
ETFs to Ride on Share Buyback Craze
For 2018, the S&P 500 companies returned more than $1.2 trillion to investors, buying back a record $806.4 billion in shares thanks in part to a corporate tax bonanza.
- MarketWatch•4 hours ago
Bull trend survives shot across bow, S&P 500 narrowly holds major support
Technically speaking, the S&P 500 has weathered an aggressive late-month market downdraft, narrowly maintaining major support, writes Michael Ashbaugh.
- Zacks•5 hours ago
3 Tech Stocks for Dividend Investors to Buy Right Now
By limiting our search to companies in our "Computer and Technology" sector with Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) or better rankings, we can ensure that we are finding the highest quality stocks to buy right now. Throw in your preferred dividend yield and you will find some of the best tech stocks for dividend investors to target.
- Market Realist•5 hours ago
Apple’s New Services: Morgan Stanley Approves
Apple's New Services: Morgan Stanley ApprovesApple On March 25, Apple (AAPL) unveiled Apple TV+, its video streaming services, and Apple News+, its paid new subscription services. During the event, CEO Tim Cook tried his best to highlight the
- Investor's Business Daily•5 hours ago
Cloud Computing Companies To Invest In And Watch Amid Hyperscale Demand
The profit and revenue growth of cloud computing companies stand out. The reason is "hyperscale" data center customers demand the highest performance products in software and hardware.
- Motley Fool•8 hours ago
Why Satya Nadella May Be Tech's Best CEO
There’s power in embracing technology that’s not your own.
- TheStreet.com•10 hours ago
The Most Popular Video Games in the U.S.
Video games have come a long way since Pong. The video game market in the U.S. was worth some $18.4 billion, and globally $138 billion in 2017, and is projected to continue to grow. According to VGChartz, these are the top selling video games in the U.
Associated Press•18 hours agoResearchers: ASUS computers infected by auto-update virus
BOSTON (AP) — In a sophisticated targeted espionage operation, hackers infected tens of thousands of computers from the Taiwanese vendor ASUS with malicious software using the company's online automatic update service, security researchers reported Monday.
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
Nintendo Reportedly Working on Two New Switch Models for 2019
Nintendo (OTCMKTS:NTDOY) had a record holiday quarter for sales of its Switch game console, but that still wasn't enough to meet its yearly sales target.Source: Nintendo Adding to the company's woes, sales of its low-cost 3DS handheld are falling even faster than expected. Things will get even tougher this year, with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) expected to release a lower cost, disc-free Xbox One and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) launching its Stadia streaming game service that can deliver AAA games to mobile devices.In response to these challenges, the company is reportedly working on two new Nintendo Switch models: a low-cost version and a higher-end model.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsWith Nintendo stock down 36% from this time last year, and the Switch now two years old, the company clearly feels it needs to make some big moves in 2019. Not One New Nintendo Switch, But TwoGoing back to last fall, slowing Switch momentum was hitting Nintendo stock as investors got nervous. Even after delivering its best Q2 in eight years, NTDOY took a hit over concerns that the Switch wasn't going to sell in the numbers Nintendo was aiming for. Then the first rumors that a new Nintendo Switch was in the works began in the fall of 2018. * 10 Tech Stocks With Key Products That Face an Uncertain Future The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo had plans for a new model of its handheld hybrid console planned for release this summer, with the LCD display expected to get an update. After that initial speculation, rumors began to grow that there was indeed a new Nintendo Switch coming in 2019, but that it would be a lower cost, "stripped-down" version of the current console.Today, The Wall Street Journal came out with a new report on NTDOY's hardware plans. This time, the newspaper's sources say both rumors are true: Nintendo is actually working on two new Switch consoles, a low-cost version, and a new higher-end model. Solving Multiple ProblemsThe strategy of releasing a pair of new Nintendo Switch models could solve multiple problems Nintendo faces in 2019.The low-cost version, which is reported to ditch a few features like the controller's rumble capability, with a focus on portability, could be the successor to the 3DS.Nintendo's lower cost portable is now eight years old, and its sales are declining more quickly than the company anticipated. A low-cost Switch (which would still be compatible with all Switch games) would take over from the 3DS and appeal to gamers who couldn't afford the current Switch. This budget-friendly version could also convince owners of other consoles to pick up a cheap Switch as well, for portable gaming.The increase in overall Switch units would also help to keep third-party game developers interested in the platform.A higher-end version of the Switch would include an improved LCD display and a new processor. According to the WSJ report, Nintendo is targeting gamers who lean toward the Xbox One X or PS4 Pro (although the new Nintendo Switch would not be as powerful as those consoles). It is also likely to trigger an upgrade cycle among current Switch owners who want the improved hardware. * 7 Energy Stocks to Buy Now The company is expected to follow the same approach Microsoft and Sony (NYSE:SNE) took with their upgraded consoles, ensuring games are playable on all console versions, but offering enhanced graphics performance on the higher-end model.Last year, Nintendo tried keeping the Switch's momentum going with Labo cardboard building kits and the release of several big games, primarily Super Smash Bros. While that led to some record-setting quarters, including a holiday sales quarter where the company moved 9.4 million units (up 30% from the previous year), NTDOY still had to revise its full-year sales of the console down. After two years on the market, offering two new Nintendo Switch models -- one for price-conscious shoppers and one to tempt hardcore gamers -- may be the answer to kickstarting sales. And the move may just help Nintendo stock recover from the past year's losses.As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post Nintendo Reportedly Working on Two New Switch Models for 2019 appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Powers Ahead
This article is a part of InvestorPlace's Best ETFs for 2019 contest. Tom Taulli's pick for the contest is the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ).In early December, I wrote a post for InvestorPlace.com regarding my pick for the Best ETFs for 2019 contest. My pick: The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ).At the time, the markets were in the bear phase, and tech stocks were getting hit particularly hard. But of course, within a couple weeks, things would improve in a big way.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsSo what about the BOTZ stock now? Well, the year-to-date return has been solid, with a gain of nearly 19%.Now when it comes to AI and robotics, I think there should be a long-term focus. The fact is that these industries are quite volatile and highly competitive, with huge players like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB). * 7 Marijuana Stocks to Play the CBD Trend Yet I think the risks are well worth it since AI and robotics represent some of the most strategic categories in technology. Consider the following stats: * IDC predicts that spending on robotics and drones will rise this year by 17.6% to $115.7 billion and hit $210.3 billion by 2022. * IDC also forecasts that global spending on cognitive and AI systems will go from $24 billion in 2018 to $77.6 by 2022.As for the BOTZ ETF, it has 37 holdings in its portfolio -- with assets over $1.5 billion -- and a reasonable expense ratio 0.68%. Some of the top holdings include Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), Keyence (OTCMKTS:KYCCF) and OMRON (OTCMKTS:OMRNY). The fund also has much exposure in international markets, with 17.44% in Europe and 48.94% in Asia.In fact, BOTZ stock only had two losers for the year so far. There is ABB (NYSE:ABB), which dropped a mere 1% and Renishaw (OTCMKTS:RNSHF), which was off about 10%.OK then, so what were some of the big winners for BOTZ stock? Let's take a look: * NVDA - 33%: The company's GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) have proven quite adept for AI because of the ability for intensive processing. And NVDA has been aggressive, building out solid businesses in the datacenter and self-driving cars. Yet during the quarter, the company also agreed to shell out $6.9 billion for Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ:MLNX), which develops sophisticated ethernet switches. The deal, which is expected to be accretive, will expand NVDA's footprint in the data center and will also help with AI applications. * iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT) - 47%: The company reported solid results for the fiscal fourth quarter, with earnings soaring from 16 cents a share to 88 cents a share and revenues jumping by 17.7% to $384.7 million. The Street, on the other hand, was looking for earnings of 50 cents a share and revenues of $381 million. During the holiday quarter, IRBT saw lots of traction with its innovative Roomba i7 and i7+ robots, as well as a strong performance in the Japanese market.Tom Taulli is the author of High-Profit IPO Strategies, All About Commodities and All About Short Selling. Follow him on Twitter at @ttaulli. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Powers Ahead appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
10 Tech Stocks With Key Products That Face an Uncertain Future
The technology sector has seen some incredible growth stories, with massive payoff for investors. There are success stories among tech stocks, like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), a company that literally started in a garage, but eventually grew to a giant whose stock value at one point last year pushed its market cap over $1 billion.However, change can come rapidly in the tech industry, and companies that don't innovate -- or that react too slowly to developing trends -- can quickly be left behind. * 7 Marijuana Stocks to Play the CBD Trend Which tech companies are currently at risk? Here are 10 tech stocks that rely heavily on a product with a cloudy future.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Apple (AAPL)Source: Shutterstock Apple is the poster child for tech success, but there's a weak link in the company's story. Most of that phenomenal AAPL stock growth has come thanks to the success of the iPhone.Starting in 2007, the iPhone radically transformed Apple. Even in Q1, when slowing iPhone sales meant AAPL booked a year-over-year revenue decline of 5%, iPhone sales generated nearly $52 billion -- dwarfing the company's next largest division (Services) which recorded $10.9 billion. That slowdown in iPhone revenue isn't a fluke. The smartphone industry in general is seeing a decline in demand at the same time that Chinese manufacturers like Huawei are moving into leadership positions. The iPhone isn't going to go away, but it's not clear at this point just how quickly sales might decline. The one thing that is clear? AAPL stock's days of depending on endlessly expanding iPhone sales are clearly over. Facebook (FB)Source: Shutterstock Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) grew into a tech industry giant by becoming the social network site of choice, then monetizing that popularity by selling advertising.However, the company has been embroiled in controversy over issues ranging from privacy violations to accusations of election influence. The mess has impacted FB stock, and fixing the problems seem like an insurmountable task. * 7 Beaten-Up Stocks to Buy as They Reverse Course At this point, Facebook seems to be thinking that a pivot away from being a social network toward private messaging may be the key to its future. Netflix (NFLX)Source: Vivian D Nguyen via Flickr (Modified)Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) rode the video streaming wave to become a tech titan, with 139 million paying subscribers and a $165 billion market cap.That success has come at a cost, though, as competition for those customers begins to heat up. Netflix has had little problem growing its subscriber base despite competition from services like Amazon's (NASDAQ:AMZN) Prime Video. However, in 2019, two new players are entering the market, and they are very big fish. Disney (NYSE:DIS) is launching its Disney+ streaming service this fall, with a massive catalog of TV and movie programming -- while simultaneously pulling its Marvel and Star Wars content from Netflix. As if that wasn't bad enough, Apple is announcing its own video service. Apple has both deep pockets to spend on content and marketing, and over a billion Apple devices in circulation where it can put its own service front and center. Will the increased competition lead to a shakeout in the video streaming industry that hits Netflix? At this point, the future is up in the air. Qualcomm (QCOM)Source: Shutterstock Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is facing challenges to its chip-making business on multiple fronts.Sales of smartphones -- where its Snapdragon processors have dominated the Android camp -- are slowing. Making that situation more dangerous, leading smartphone manufacturers including Samsung and Huawei have begun equipping some of their phones with their own, custom processors. An attempt to diversify by expanding into smartwatch processors hasn't gone well for QCOM stockThe company is embroiled in a lengthy and costly legal battle with Apple, and sales of iPhone modems have been a victim of that fight. * 10 Stocks on the Rise Heading Into the Second Quarter The company has also been fined by regulators in several countries for anti-competitive business practices, and those rulings have the potential to impact Qualcomm's future technology royalty revenues as well. Microsoft (MSFT)Source: Shutterstock Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is hardly a company that's in trouble. In fact, the PC pioneer has been on a tear the past few years, with Microsoft stock climbing to the point where it eclipsed Apple in market cap to close out 2018 despite the fact that MSFT essentially missed out on the entire smartphone revolution.However, some of the company's long-time key products do have a future with big question marks. Windows revenue is tied to PC sales, and that market has been in decline for the better part of a decade. Another question is Office. The company's productivity suite has been a cash cow for decades, but in the "post-PC" world, Microsoft has released free versions for mobile devices. Google is taking over the education market with Chromebooks running its Chrome OS and Google G Suite, and has designs on the business world as well.At the same time, Microsoft is actively pushing subscriptions to Office 365 over purchasing Office outright. There are a lot of variables in play and that introduces a lot of uncertainty into the future of those two key Microsoft products. Intel (INTC)Source: Shutterstock Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is one of the original tech stocks, but the storied chipmaker's computer processors are facing an uncertain future.The company has had to deal with PC sales that have been declining for much of the past decade. It tried to catch the smartphone wave, but its mobile processors were no match for Qualcomm's Snapdragon. Now Intel's remaining PC business faces a triple threat. A resurgent AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) has begun to eat away at Intel's market share. * 5 Cloud Stocks to Help Your Portfolio Fly Meanwhile, Microsoft is continuing to develop a version of Windows that will run on ARM-based computers. And Apple is widely expected to ditch Intel CPUs in its Mac computers in the next few years, in favor of its own custom chips. Fitbit (FIT)Source: Shutterstock Fitbit (NYSE:FIT) helped to kick off the fitness tracker craze, but quickly found itself caught between the Apple Watch and cheap Chinese fitness trackers. In the space of several years, the company went from wearables market leader to a current third place, despite adding smartwatches to its product line.Fitbit has strung together several good-news quarters, but with FIT currently trading down 87% from its 2015 highs, investors aren't convinced that its fitness trackers and smartwatches have a solid future. GoPro (GPRO)Source: ETC-USC via Flickr (Modified)In 2016, action camera maker GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) tried to move from being a single-product company to one with multiple product lines with the launch of its Karma drone.Diversifying its product mix was a good move, especially with the camera industry being pounded by smartphones with their built-in cameras and drones becoming a hot commodity. But the Karma was a flop. GoPro ended up cancelling its drone business after two years and laying off hundreds of workers. * Top 7 Service Sector Stocks That Will Pay You to Own Them With the release of the Hero 7 Black just in time for holiday sales, in February GoPro reported its first quarterly profit since 2017. But smartphone cameras just keep getting better, smartphones are getting more water resistant, and cheap action cameras on Amazon are tempting for consumers. Those factors mean the future of GoPro's action cameras is far from certain. Twitter (TWTR)Source: Shutterstock Twitter (NASDAQ:TWTR) is another social media giant that is under fire. Issues include bot accounts, abusive users, slowing user growth, continued backlash over its 2016 decision to kill short video app Vine, and -- along with Facebook -- accusations the platform was used to help influence the last election.Adding to those challenges is the fact that Twitter is still figuring out monetization. Q4 2017 was the company's first profitable quarter ever, despite being founded in 2006 and publicly traded since 2013. Its expansion into video with offerings like Vine (dead), Periscope (struggling) and NFL football live-streaming (lost to Amazon) hasn't yet paid off in a big way. With social media giants in general under scrutiny and in a constant battle to sign up new users, who knows if people will still be tweeting in a decade? Tesla (TSLA)Source: Shutterstock In many ways, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is a victim of its own success. The company has almost single-handedly kicked off consumer demand for all-electric cars. At the same time, it's also at the forefront of self-driving auto technology.The problem is that the growing market for high-tech, electric cars that Tesla helped to create is now big enough that traditional auto makers are moving in. Autonomous technology is going mainstream and in recent testing, Consumer Reports ranked GM's (NYSE:GM) Cadillac Super Cruise system ahead of Tesla's Autopilot. * 7 Small-Cap Stocks That Make the Grade The big question facing Tesla is whether a future where virtually every auto maker offers an all-electric car, and autonomous tech is widespread is one where it can be viable. Or will it join other companies that were pioneers that got crushed or absorbed by established players once they caught up?As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post 10 Tech Stocks With Key Products That Face an Uncertain Future appeared first on InvestorPlace.
Bloomberg•yesterdayEnergy’s Future Is Looking Pretty Sunny
It’s a wealth of data not just on what people do in energy, but also on where employers foresee growth and hiring tightness. A few trends jump out — including that, even in the oil patch, services jobs are a growth industry. In order to explore that services dynamic, it’s important to start with the scale of employment in the three main fuels sectors: oil, gas and coal.
Market Realist•yesterdayRelief from Mueller Report Doesn’t Changes Economic Realities
Markets Weak despite Mueller Report: ‘It’s the Economy, Stupid’(Continued from Prior Part)Mueller reportUS President Donald Trump has received a major reprieve, as Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe didn’t find any evidence of
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
Why Apple Stock Could Get a Massive Lift By 2021
It will be a very interesting next few years for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) as the company continues to pivot its business model. We've seen a more than 40% haircut in Apple stock from its fourth-quarter highs to its lows. That's an extreme fluctuation for any stock, let alone for a company that was the largest by market cap before the decline.Source: Shutterstock With its changing business model though, it may be time to start rethinking Apple stock going forward.Historically, the company has garnered a low valuation, in part because investors think of AAPL as a hardware company susceptible to the whims of consumers. That's one reason why Apple has generally commanded a lower valuation than its mega-cap peers like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) NASDAQ:GOOGL).InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsShould the rhetoric change though? Apple's Business Model Is ShiftingAre you familiar with the razor blade business model? The strategy involves a company practically giving away a shaver with the hope of generating replaceable razor sales. The goal is to get consumers to replace the blades as they dull, essentially securing recurring revenue in the future. This type of business could be thought of as one of the early subscription models -- the same model that cloud companies garner such a high valuation for. * 10 Monthly Dividend Stocks to Buy to Pay the Bills Because of this secured revenue, companies will practically give the razor away for free in hopes of hooking new customers. AAPL is sort of like that, only instead of giving away iPhones and iPads, the company is generating record profits and commanding industry-leading margins.As if this model weren't profitable enough, Apple's goal isn't simply iPhone sales. Instead, it's using this base of a billion-plus devices to drive Services revenue. Whether that's through AppleCare, Apple Pay, iTunes, subscriptions services or App Store sales. As the number of devices grows and we become a more digitized economy, Apple is set to reap massive rewards. Can AAPL Earn $15 in 2021?Needham analysts recently upgraded Apple stock from buy to strong buy.In doing so, the analysts also upped their target on the AAPL stock price from $180 to $225. They argued that AAPL should be viewed more like an ecosystem rather than just a product company.Then Cowen analysts slapped a $220 price target on AAPL stock after initiating it as a buy. Analyst Krish Sankar said, "We view the Services business as an investable long-term theme as EPS contributions can double to $6 by fiscal year 2021, and increasing recurring revenues should drive a higher multiple."Consensus estimates call for Apple to earn $14.21 per share in 2021. If Sankar is right and Services continues to hum, perhaps the company could be pushing $15 in earnings-per-share. If Apple garners even more momentum in its Services unit, that figure could swell even higher. Of course, that may depend on some of its Monday, March 25 announcements. Many are expecting new subscription services to be announced by AAPL. * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Apple Stock: There Are RisksWhile iPhone sales are the company's bread and butter, and although Services growth is robust -- now churning out $10 billion per quarter in revenue -- Apple isn't immune. First, I didn't like the company's strategy in changing iPhone names. It's the first time I've heard confusion from a large portion of customers. Because Apple makes great products, it means consumers don't have to upgrade as often as management may wish. Either way, the added confusion doesn't help drive any more customers through Apple's front door.Second, there has been a lot of pushback by companies -- like Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) -- and developers for the percentage fee Apple takes from App Store sales. Should Apple have to trim its fee, revenue and profit will be hurt.Finally, whether we classify Apple as a hardware company, a software, services and subscription company or something in between, it all hinges on one thing: the consumer. If the economy falls into recession, Apple's top and bottom lines will suffer.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, he was long AAPL, GOOGL and AMZN. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post Why Apple Stock Could Get a Massive Lift By 2021 appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- Zacks•yesterday
IBM Cloud to Aid RemoteMyApp Enhance Vortex Gaming Service
IBM Cloud is selected by RemoteMyApp, Poland-based game streaming startup. The deal exhibits increasing adoption of IBM Cloud across Europe and fortifies presence in gaming market.
- PR Newswire•yesterday
S&P 500 Q4 2018 Buybacks Set 4th Consecutive Quarterly Record at $223 Billion; 2018 Sets Record $806 Billion
- Q4 share repurchases increased 62.8% year-over-year to a record $223.0 billion - This is the fourth consecutive quarterly record -- longest streak in the 20 years SPDJI has tracked - Total 2018 buybacks ...
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
The Failure of America’s Health-IT System and Amazon’s Opportunity
A decade ago, I was writing two blogs for ZDNet.Source: Shutterstock One covered open source. The other covered health IT.People were very excited about both beats.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 7 Marijuana Stocks to Play the CBD Trend Companies like Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) were about to use the cloud, based on open-source software and cheap hardware, to transform the world. By the end of the decade, even mighty Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) had succumbed to the movement. In the process, it became the most valuable company in the world.Meanwhile, the prospect of Electronic Health Records and $26 billion of sweet, sweet stimulus cash were exciting for the health-care sector. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a.ka., President Obama's stimulus plan, was supposed to finance Electronic Health Records, resulting in the automation of medicine.The hope was that by now, doctors would be seamlessly exchanging health information among themselves and patients, improving care and lowering costs.How did that work out? Open Source IgnoredIt didn't.A recent study by Fortune and Kaiser Health, whose parent was a primary booster of the health-records stimulus, shows it has been a complete disaster.Some of the companies that took the cash did very well, financially. Cerner (NASDAQ:CERN) stock is up 136% since early 2010. Athenahealth (NASDAQ:ATHN) has surged 214%. But how good is that, really, when the average NASDAQ stock has jumped 190% in that time?The biggest winner of the health-IT stimulus has been United Health (NYSE:UNH), which isn't even an IT company, but a health insurer. It has rallied 513% and now brings in over $8 billion per year from health automation. But most "mainstream" IT companies did not exploit the health-IT opportunity. Google, International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) and Microsoft had booths at the 2009 HIMMS health-IT trade show, which I covered.None was among the top-10 health-IT vendors in 2017. Instead, that list is filled with proprietary-software companies like Cerner, the Change Healthcare unit of McKesson (NYSE:MCK), and privately-owned EPIC. Their incompatible solutions have left the health-IT industry in worse shape than before. The Real ScandalThe scandal wasn't the stimulus. The scandal was the response.There was an open-source alternative to all this, called Vista. It was created a half-century ago to automate the Department of Veterans Affairs. The download is free. A cloud-based version was rolled out in 2017. But its sponsor, privately-held Medsphere, remains a minnow in the health-records industry.Vista has become starved of investment because the current Administration walked away from it.While the code is still alive, the Administration is replacing it with a proprietary solution from Cerner. The Department of Defense is going with Cerner and Leidos (NASDAQ:LDOS), another proprietary vendor. This may be the biggest technology scandal of the decade. A development model that we know works is being dumped for one we know doesn't. Cerner and Epic can't even agree to connect their systems. Now patients are dying because the software that hospitals bought is hard to use and doesn't move data. The Bottom Line on Health ITThis may turn out to be the biggest business opportunity that Amazon has ever seen.Amazon knows cloud and open source. Amazon IS cloud and open source. Amazon is also behind Haven, an effort to solve its own health-care cost crisis, along with those of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM).The failure of the electronic-health-care-records stimulus, and the current proprietary health-IT system, means Amazon can launch its health records from a clean sheet of paper. Or it could download, and enhance, the Vista code, as it has incorporated other open-source projects into Amazon Web Services.If you want a tip on how to profit from health -IT profits, buy Amazon stock.Dana Blankenhorn is a financial and technology journalist. He is the author of a new mystery thriller, The Reluctant Detective Finds Her Family, available now at the Amazon Kindle store. Write him at danablankenhorn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @danablankenhorn. As of this writing he owned shares in JPM, MSFT and AMZN. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post The Failure of America's Health-IT System and Amazon's Opportunity appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- InvestorPlace•yesterday
Chasing Amazon Is Nothing but Bad News for Walmart Stock
Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has been chasing and emulating Amazon for way too long, and it's only a matter of time before it really begins to weigh on Walmart stock.Source: Shutterstock CEO Doug McMillon is Captain Ahab and Amazon.Com (NASDAQ:AMZN) is his Moby Dick. Since becoming CEO of the Arkansas-based retailing giant in 2014, McMillon has been trying to steal Amazon's crown as the way America eShops.Under his guidance, Walmart bulked-up the tech group in Silicon Valley, then in 2016 the company bought Jet.Com, an innovative etailer, and handed its CEO, Marc Lore, the keys to its electronic kingdom.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 7 Marijuana Stocks to Play the CBD Trend Since then the shares have gained 33%, and revenues have grown by $30 billion. The problem is, going from $485 billion to $514 billion is just a 6% gain. Between 2016 and early 2018, ecommerce sales did indeed grow faster than Amazon's etailing numbers. Then numbers got bigger and growth sagged,Rather than arguing about how Walmart's Ahab is chasing Moby Dick, what should be asked is why chase Moby Dick at all. Chasing Amazon and Walmart StockIf Amazon jumped off the Empire State Building tomorrow, Walmart might be right behind it.Amazon has its Prime Video and Fire stick. Walmart has its Vudu video and Vudu stick. Amazon has a tablet to keep people in its ecosystem. Walmart has a tablet to keep people in its ecosystem. Amazon has the Twitch game streaming service, so Walmart is planning its own gaming service.But Walmart stock was below $100 per share on Mar. 21 because chief technology officer Jeremy King, who built Walmart Labs in California, is stepping down.King had signed technology partnerships with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA). He was often the face of the company when it sought to compare itself to Amazon.There are analysts who think Walmart's efforts in ecommerce make it a better buy than Amazon. These people are wrong.Walmart is nothing like Amazon, because $30 billion in added sales over two years is growth of just 3% per year. Walmart is supposed to be a stock you buy for income, a dividend of $2.12 per year it takes $6.1 billion to earn back.In its 2016 fiscal year Walmart had net income of $15 billion. This last year net income was $7.2 billion. Walmart's dividend was 48 cents per share five years ago. It's now 52 cents. Based on operating cash flow of $27.7 billion last year the dividend is safe. Based on net income, not so much.Rather than chase Amazon, Walmart should be chasing Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST), which has been beating its Sams Club down for years now.There are indications it's doing that, building its own milk production infrastructure to cut out all middlemen. Walmart has long had a host of store brands, an area where Amazon is only now starting to copy it.Store brands can define a company, even more than its ecommerce initiatives. Walmart's store brands fit squarely in the middle class. Amazon's store brands, like AmazonBasics, tend to be aspirational. Costco's Kirkland merchandise can be better than what it's copying. The Bottom Line on Walmart StockWalmart should be focused on delivering store brands with high quality and low prices through control of the supply chain. Squeezing out costs and handing gains back to investors as dividends rather than buying back stock in hopes of creating capital gains, should be the game plan.That's what a mature company would do. By chasing Amazon and its big capital gains, Walmart is acting like a man with a mid-life crisis ogling that red sports car and the blonde behind the wheel.That story never ends well. Walmart needs to grow up.Dana Blankenhorn is a financial and technology journalist. He is the author of a new mystery thriller, The Reluctant Detective Finds Her Family, available now at the Amazon Kindle store. Write him at danablankenhorn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @danablankenhorn. As of this writing he owned shares in MSFT and AMZN. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post Chasing Amazon Is Nothing but Bad News for Walmart Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- TheStreet.com•yesterday
Why Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon All Want to Be More Like Netflix
Every company that today sells widgets would like to have their business be one that simply bills customers on a regular basis, with the predictability and surety that Wall Street loves in a business. Netflix's entire reporting structure is a nice, simple model of fees from subscribers, which grows in a straight line, quarter after quarter, a model of progress, a word used often in the Netflix quarterly shareholder letter.
- Investor's Business Daily•yesterday
These 3 Tech Titans Are Still Buys, But Here's Why You Should Be Wary
Amazon stock, Microsoft stock and Broadcom stock are still in buy zones from recent breakouts despite the current stock market rally stumble. But be wary.
