😎 Three Big Tech triumphs

Apple, Meta, and Amazon released their results | Walmart split its stock up for the sake of uninvested employees | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for February 2nd in 3:13 minutes.   💉 Artificial intelligence has the potential to discover the next miracle cure – again, and again, and again. So join us for [The Rise of AI-Driven Healthcare Investments]( on February 13th, and find out how the field could make your portfolio healthier, too. [Grab your free ticket]( Today's big stories - Big Tech companies rolled out earnings updates faster than they release shiny new smartphones, identical to the last besides a slightly adjusted camera configuration - You might already be subscribed to this weirdly accurate stock indicator, without even knowing it – [Read Now]( - Walmart lived up to its discount-heavy reputation, making its stock more affordable with a three-for-one stock split Three Cheers [Three Cheers] What’s going on here? Apple, Meta, and Amazon released results late on Thursday, proving once and for all that good things come in threes. What does this mean? Meta set the trio’s tone with advertising revenue that picked up by 24% from the same time last year, keeping pace with last quarter. The announcement that really sent investors toward Meta’s stock, though, was news of the company’s first-ever dividend. Amazon, for its part, managed to beat most of its expectations. That said, its famed cloud division only just hit targets: AWS made 13% more revenue last quarter than the same time the year before, falling shy of Microsoft’s rate. Apple had issues too, reporting that sales in China fell 13%. Still, with iPhones flying off the conveyor belts, Apple managed to make more revenue and profit than analysts expected. Why should I care? For markets: The end is nigh… maybe. Many a prophet has advised that all good things must eventually come to an end, from Geoffrey Chaucer to Nelly Furtado. That’s a worrying prospect for Big Tech investors, though, after the Magnificent Seven stocks carried US markets on their backs last year. Microsoft offered some reassurance on Tuesday, boasting a cloud business that made 30% more revenue last quarter than the same time last year. And with any luck, Nvidia will dole out more comforting news on February 21st. The bigger picture: Big Tech gets tired, too. Big Tech’s results have been fine, so far, but any Friends fans will know that you can’t trust “fine”. In fairness, though, investors’ expectations could hardly have been higher after last year’s AI furor, so the seven biggest tech companies landing somewhere around that mark is no small feat. Still, Big Tech stocks could enter a “consolidation” phase where prices stay within a tight range for some time, often referred to as moving “sideways” rather than higher or lower. You might also like: [Earnings preview: here’s what matters for Nvidia](. Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [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=Three Cheers&utm_campaign=daily-global-02-02-2024&utm_source=email) Analyst Take The Best Market Indicator Might Be Sitting On Your Bedside Table [The Best Market Indicator Might Be Sitting On Your Bedside Table]( [Photo of Stéphane Renevier, CFA] Stéphane Renevier, CFA, Analyst In some industries – fashion, music, entertainment – being featured on the cover of a major magazine and touted as “the next big thing” is [a reliable sign]( that you’re on the rise. In [markets](, that’d be the end of your run. I’m not even being cynical. [Magazine covers]( just happen to be one of the world’s best, most predictive, time-to-do-the-opposite, contrarian indicators. Here’s a fun look back at the history – and how you might turn all those subscriptions to [your advantage](. That’s today’s Insight: [the weirdly accurate stock indicator you can literally subscribe to](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY CFA INSTITUTE Investing culture is changing, fast Financial influencers aren’t just central bank-ers anymore. The investing sector isn’t immune to this age of social media: [CFA Institute]( went all “investigative journalist” on us, researching how [generation-Z influencers]( are shaping today’s finance space. Young investors rely on trusted voices to help inform their decisions. That’s [a major shift in the culture of information](, and a big responsibility – one that should come with [appropriate regulations](. A peek inside the exclusive report reveals [an evaluation of the regulations]( dictating what is and isn’t allowed with finance content. One hint: there’s a lot more that needs to be done. [Get your hands on the exclusive report]( to reveal the Fin-fluencing trends shaping today’s investing space, and the changes CFA Institute believes need to happen, stat. [Discover More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. True Blue [True Blue] What’s going on here? Walmart announced a three-for-one [stock split]( this week, making it a lot cheaper for employees to pledge allegiance to corporate America. What does this mean? Walmart promises everyday Americans affordable groceries, clothes, and even home decor, proudly promoting the slogan, “Save Money Live Better.” The US retail giant’s stock was at odds with that mission, though, sitting around $165 per share. And because that meant many devoted employees and staunch Walmart supporters couldn’t afford more than a couple of shares, the retailer split its stock into three. So now, employees who already commit their working week to Walmart can sacrifice a chunk of their paychecks to pick up a whole stock for a third for the old price. Why should I care? The bigger picture: It’s all human psychology. Companies consider splits when their stock becomes too successful, commanding a price tag so high that it puts retail investors off. By splitting the stock, the firm creates the illusion that the shares are better value – even though it would take three new $50 shares to match the ownership of a single old $150 one. Stock splits, then, don’t affect a company’s value by themselves: whether or not investors send the stock higher depends, as always, on profit alone. Tesla, for example, split shares three-for-one in August 2022, and the EV maker’s share price has only fallen some 60% since then. For markets: More, more, more. The 26 biggest US firms all have triple-digit stock prices, with Nvidia’s hanging all the way above the $600 mark. Now, some brokers do let retail investors buy fractions of a share, but not all of them. Plus, the ones that do can have off-putting limitations, like not being able to trade during the day and only knowing your price after the market’s closed. So watch this space: Walmart probably won’t be the only one to coax in retail investors by splitting its stock in the coming months. You might also like: [Why it might be time for a small-cap comeback](. Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [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=True Blue&utm_campaign=daily-global-02-02-2024&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "Advice is like snow: the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind." – Samuel Taylor Coleridge (an English poet) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY PROSPER Unlock your investing karma Proper’s [peer-to-peer lending platform]( lets you connect with qualified borrowers seeking loans. And in exchange for helping them meet their personal finance goals, you could get monthly income, portfolio diversification, and solid returns. That’s a combination we can get behind. You can invest in fractions of a loan, meaning you can afford to pick a few and diversify your portfolio. Or if you’d rather, [automated investing tools]( can work with your parameters for you. Plus, fine-tuned security technology keeps a close watch on any potential cyberattacks 24/7. [Discover the alternative investment that actually does good](. [Find Out More]( Investment is made through borrower payment dependent notes (“Notes”) tied to the underlying personal loan and offered pursuant to a Prospectus filed with the SEC. Notes are not guaranteed or FDIC insured, and investors may lose some or all of the principal invested. Investors should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other information described in the Prospectus before investing. Investors should consult their financial advisor if they have any questions or need additional information. Nothing on this page is intended to be investment advice. *** Prosper’s investment platform is only available in certain states in the United States. Investors in certain states may also be subject to financial suitability requirements. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Now count backward from ten. Plenty of folk have been hypnotized – [for better or for worse](, we don’t quite know. 2. There's nothing like staying active. Here's how [different active investing strategies]( could play out for you.* 3. Cook it like Beckham. The [reviews of Brooklyn’s newest career](, reviewed. 4. ESG investing isn’t just a feelgood theory. Here’s how you could [put principles into practice](.* 5. Everyone talks about the jet stream. Not everyone knows [what it actually is](. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. SPONSORED BY HEALTHWORDS.AI [HEALTHWORDS.AI]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🤩 Coming Up Soon... 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