Wealth Management News & Insights – January 28, 2024

 

Our Work

Investment Insights – Keith R. Schicker, CFA, Partner & Portfolio Manager

• The Proper Perspective: Free your investments from calendar’s arbitrary conventions. [Investment Insights]

 

Financial Markets

• Credit Card Debt Is Up—and It’s Taking Longer to Pay Down: The four biggest U.S. banks reported higher credit card spending in 2023 compared with the previous year. In fact, since 2020, credit card spending has steadily increased at three of the four. [WSJ]

• Humana Warns High Medical Costs May Hit 2024 Forecast, Shares Slump: U.S. health insurer Humana (HUM.N), opens new tab said on Thursday an increase in demand for medical care among older adults would hurt fourth-quarter results and added uncertainty to its 2024 outlook, sending its shares down 14%. [Reuters]

• Newly Optimistic, Biotech Investors Weigh Lessons of Sector’s Downturn: Venture capitalists and executives expect newer companies will need to identify their first drug prospects earlier and hire more conservatively. [BioPharma]

 

 

The above charts reveal that Biotech Funding and Biotech IPOs reached an all-time high in 2020-2021, with a drop-off over the last few years.

 

Financial Planning

• Comcast’s Prices Are Going Up on Cable TV & Internet This Week: Are you ready to pay more for cable TV? Last month, Comcast started to inform customers in some markets of an upcoming price hike now that price hike is taking effect and customers will see its impact on their next bill. [Cord Cutters]

• AT&T Is Raising the Rates for Its Unlimited Plans, Bumping Hotspot Data: Its unlimited plans are going up by 99 cents per line, per month. But at least you’ll be able to get more hotspot data. [CNET]

• Empty Nesters Own Twice As Many Large Homes As Millennials With Kids: Empty-nest baby boomers own nearly 3 in 10 (28.2%) large U.S. homes. That’s twice as many as millennials with kids, who own just 14.2% of the country’s large homes. Gen Zers with kids own almost none (0.3%) of them. [Redfin]

 

Tax Planning

• Why More People Owe the IRS Money, in Three Charts: Many taxpayers accustomed to getting a refund in April are finding they have a balance due instead. [WSJ]

 

Business Strategy

• Netflix Buys Rights to WWE Raw, Other Shows in Live Streaming Push: The streaming giant is acquiring the rights to WWE Raw in a $5 billion deal to be paid out over 10 years, as the wrestling group’s contract with Comcast nears its expiration, Bloomberg reported. [CBS]

• John Deere, Meet Elon Musk: SpaceX Satellites to Link Farm Giant’s Equipment: Farm machinery maker hires SpaceX’s Starlink service to provide satellite internet connections for tractors, harvesters and crop sprayers in remote areas. [WSJ]

• The $65 Million Perk for CEOs: Personal Use of the Corporate Jet Has Soared: Company spending on the benefit has climbed 50% since before the pandemic. [WSJ]

• The Future Of E-Commerce: Trends To Watch In 2024: E-commerce is a dynamic industry that has transformed the way we shop and conduct business. With rapid advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences, your business must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. [Forbes]

 

 

WWE is among the most cost-efficient cost/hour in live sports, compared to its counterparts including MLB, NHL, and NBA.

 

Life & Work

• The Great Freight-Train Heists of the 21st Century: The explosion of the e-commerce economy has created an opportunity for thieves — and a conundrum for the railways. [NYT]

• They Created a Test to Identify Star QBs. How Did It Miss the Best One in Years: C.J. Stroud has carried the Houston Texans to the NFL playoffs as a rookie despite flunking a cognitive exam before the draft. The scientists behind the test explain why it’s misunderstood. [WSJ]

• Are Seed Oils Bad for You? What to Know About the Oils You Cook With: From olive oil to canola oil, the options seem endless—and are stirring debate. [WSJ]

• Firings and Viagra: What Your Office Janitor Knows: Executive assistants, janitors, IT pros and other office workers in support roles know more than you think. [WSJ]

• Who Won Emmy Awards for 2024? See the Full Winners List Here: “Succession” led the way with 27 nominations for its fourth and final season and brought home six Emmys Monday night, including the coveted award for outstanding drama series for the third time. [CBS]

 

 

Emmy 2024 results are in – The Bear, Beef, & The Last of Us rank highest in shows with multiple wins, and HBO, Netflix , & FX rank the highest for platforms with multiple wins.