💪 Meta's looking ripped

Meta's been working on a strict slimming regime, and its results show glimmers of newfound strength | Boeing had a flying start | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for April 27th in 3:15 minutes. 👀 Insiders don’t come much better than a Morgan Stanley guru with a twenty-year track record. So catch Anthony Rochte on the latest [Finimize Podcast](, and find out what he sees ahead for exchange-traded funds. [Listen in here]( Today's big stories - Meta’s results showed a much fitter firm, and there’s meant to be more slimming to come - Here’s why a recession is even more likely now – [Read Now]( - Boeing’s results look like a bounceback – but you can forget about dividends for now Meta’s Morphosis [Meta’s Morphosis] What’s going on here? Meta has been spending a lot of time on the operating table lately, and better-than-expected results released late on [Wednesday]( show a slight glimmer of hard-earned gains. What does this mean? Facebook-parent Meta is trying to become a leaner, meaner, social media machine by not betting the house on the Metaverse and cutting costs instead. And its recent results showed off its new, hot physique: the social media gargantuan brought in 5% more monthly active users last quarter versus the same time last year, and its core advertising business made 4% more – despite the heavy weight of an economic slowdown. That sent overall revenue up by 3%, defying investor expectations for a fourth-consecutive quarterly drop. And Meta’s future regime looks healthy too, with the firm providing a forecast for 2023’s total expenses that was far slimmer than expected. Investors were practically salivating: they sent Meta’s shares up by more than 10% initially. Why should I care? Zooming out: Age fatefully. Meta’s been under the knife, slicing nearly a quarter of its staff in a bid to rejuvenate its sagging form. And sure, some analysts expect the nipped-and-tucked firm to see profit growth again come June, spurred on by those slimming operations and a more energetic advertising market. But there’s only so much pruning and trimming a firm can do, so Meta will need to muster up some long-term revenue growth if it wants to permanently revisit its glory days. Otherwise, surgery will only delay – not erase – the slower growth effects of aging. Zooming in: Let’s be reel. TikTok’s been plaguing Meta’s business for a while, pinching advertiser-coveted eyeballs away from Facebook and Instagram. And while Instagram’s Reels – an almost uncanny short video format – has been putting up a good fight, Meta will need to make sure its stalwarts stay popular enough to ward off fresh competition in the future, especially as the firm explores ambitions outside of the socials realm. You might also like: [Watch an analyst value Microsoft shares in five simple steps](. Copy to share story: [/metas-morphosis]( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=Meta’s Morphosis&utm_campaign=daily-global-27-04-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Get Ready For A Hard Landing: Why A Recession May Be All But Unavoidable Now [Get Ready For A Hard Landing: Why A Recession May Be All But Unavoidable Now]( [Photo of Reda Farran] Reda Farran, Analyst Just two months ago, there were growing whispers in the market that the Federal Reserve might achieve something truly rare: the so-called [soft landing](. That is, raising interest rates just enough to cool the country’s overheated inflation, but without pushing the whole thing [into a recession](. The chances now appear to have [all but vanished](. That’s today’s Insight: [why a hard landing is far more likely now and how you might brace your portfolio for it.]( [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY DALMORE You haven’t missed your chance to hear from five buzzing startup CEOs Only a few days ago, [five Regulation A+ startups]( put their businesses on display. Their CEOs attended [Dalmore’s Demo Day]( to give everyday investors a ten-minute pitch, highlighting what they have to offer and [the biggest opportunities they see on the horizon](. For you, that could’ve been [a prime opportunity to size up firms]( – pioneers in sectors like real estate, marketplace tech, and even smart window shades – in the early stages of their journeys. Maybe you – being the busy bee you are – couldn’t make the LIVE webinar event. Or maybe you did tune in on the day, and have a hankering to recap [the bits that got your brain ticking](. Either way, you haven’t missed your chance: [you can watch Dalmore’s webinar recording here before it expires](. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Boeing Boing [Boeing Boing] What’s going on here? Planemaker Boeing released a results update [on Wednesday]( – and it sounds a bit like a bounceback. What does this mean? Every airline knows that flying planes can be tricky in the post-Covid world, but making the things is no picnic either. 2018 was the last full year Boeing spent in the black, after all – but now the company's quarterly results suggest it might be regaining its cruising altitude. The behemoth’s first-quarter revenue leaped 28% compared to last year, helping to trim losses more than expected. And Boeing’s captain says it’s sticking to that trajectory: the firm’s boosting production of its once-troubled 737 Max planes, and banking on positive cash flow for the whole of 2023. Those are reassuring words in turbulent times – so it’s no surprise that the stock initially popped when the news broke. Why should I care? Zooming in: Dividends waiting in the wings. Investing in new planes saw Boeing burn through cash like jet fuel for many years. And just when those moves were starting to pay off, along came Covid – bringing the firm back down to Earth and forcing it to take on $40 billion in debt. So, sure, Boeing’s optimistic about its future cash flow, but debt repayment has priority boarding – and that means investors could be waiting quite a while before any dividends come their way. For markets: UPS said “oops”. Parcel deliverer UPS – which boasts around 200 Boeing jets in its fleet – shares more than just a love of aircraft with the planemaker: both companies also serve as early warning systems for economic turbulence. So while Boeing’s results might come as a relief, it’s worth keeping an eye on UPS too: last quarter the firm saw a steeper-than-anticipated 5.4% yearly drop in US parcels, prompting investors to send the stock down 10%. Let’s just hope that’s nothing more than an air pocket. You might also like: [Bank worries, market fears, and the investment everyone’s using to beat them](. Copy to share story: [/boeing-boing]( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=Boeing Boing&utm_campaign=daily-global-27-04-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "Happiness: a good bank account, a good cook, and good digestion." – Jean-Jacques Rousseau (a Genevan philosopher) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY RAISIN Ray Dalio is famous for saying that “cash is trash” That’s a controversial statement, especially now that plenty of investors are stashing the stuff. So Raisin’s cofounder Kevin Mountford put Dalio’s iconic quote into context: while cash has always played [an important role]( for investors, the last few years have seen stocks steal the focus. But in times like these, [holding cash]( can be a savvy way to keep your flexibility and hold onto some value while markets are turned on their heads – especially if you’re in the UK. And if you’re looking to store some notes, you can [open and manage multiple savings accounts]( from specialist banks and building societies with [Raisin UK](’s one-stop-shop platform. That means you can [pick the perks that suit your goals](. And what’s more, you can choose from flexible easy access accounts or lock in for longer with fixed-term plans starting at just [three months](. That gives your faster access to your money – and to [Raisin’s multiple savings tools and platforms]( – on your terms. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. It’s Wes Anderson’s world. We’re all just [living in it](. 2. Real estate, marketplace tech, and smart window shades. Five startup CEOs just pitched their businesses, and you can [watch the session here](.* 3. The catacombs – but older. Scientists unearthed a [two-thousand-year-old necropolis]( near a Paris metro station. 4. Living in a material world. Heaping up possessions doesn’t actually [make you miserable](. 5. Let’s hope they’re not cursed. Archaeologists dug up “[the ancient gods](” of a lost civilization. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up In The Next Week... All events in UK time. 🚀 [Meet The Founder: Selina IPO](: 5pm, May 3rd 💥 [Investing 101: The DIY Investor](: 1pm, May 4th 🙋‍♀️ [Finimize Ladies Investing Club]( (London): 6.30pm, May 4th 👀 And After That... ⚡️ [The Great Energy Transition](: 5pm, May 16th 🏡 [Is It A Good Time To Invest In Real Estate?]( 5pm, May 17th 🏠[Alternative Ways To Invest In Real Estate](: 1pm, May 18th ✅ [Three Industries That Thrive In A Downturn](: 5pm, May 23rd 🚀 [A Beginners Guide To Prop Trading](: 5pm, May 25th 🎉 [Modern Investor Summit 2023](: 12pm, December 5th and 6th ❤️ Share with a friend Thanks for reading {NAME}. If you liked today's brief, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. You stay classy, {NAME} 😉 We’d love to hear your thoughts. [Give feedback]( Want to advertise with us too? 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