Meta's engagement is steady after the company cut fact-checking and diversity programs.A potential TikTok ban might've overshadowed concerns about the policy changes.Meta's in-app revenue increased, with global downloads rising.In the days after Meta said it was eliminating fact-checking and scaling back diversity programs, thousands of users reportedly voiced their intention to leave the company's platforms. The data tell a different story.Engagement on Meta's core platforms is similar now to what it was e ...

Company Leadership - UnitedHealthcare named Tim Noel as its new CEO, replacing Brian Thompson who was killed seven weeks prior [1][7] - Noel joined the company in 2007 and was most recently the head of its Medicare and retirement unit [1][7] - Noel brings unparalleled experience with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving healthcare [3] - Official employee pages and social media for Noel appear to have been taken down [6][7] Financial Performance - UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in the US, providing services to over 50 million Americans [2] - The Medicare and retirement arm contributed nearly half of the company's $74.1 billion in revenue for the three months ending in December [2] Market Reaction - The company's shares rose nearly 2% on Thursday following the announcement of Noel as CEO [3] Industry Impact - The killing of Brian Thompson ignited a national debate about the state of the US healthcare and health insurance system [5] - Since the shooting, healthcare companies including UnitedHealthcare have taken down web pages that share details about their leadership [6]

Core Points - JPMorgan Chase announced an increase in CEO Jamie Dimon's compensation for 2024 to $39 million, reflecting an 8.3% rise from $36 million in 2023, following a record year of profitability [1][7] - The compensation package includes a base salary of $1.5 million and $37.5 million in performance-based variable income, with $5 million awarded in cash and $32.5 million in performance share units (PSUs) [2] - The bank reported a record net income of $59 billion for 2024, an 18% increase from nearly $50 billion the previous year, and the stock price rose approximately 57% to about $265 per share over the past 12 months [3] Compensation Details - Dimon's total compensation consists of a base salary of $1.5 million and a significant portion of $37.5 million in performance-based variable income, with PSUs making up 87% of his total variable incentive compensation [2] - The performance share units tie Dimon's annual equity-based compensation directly to ongoing performance metrics [2] Context and Future Outlook - Dimon's pay increase comes amid discussions regarding his tenure as CEO, as he is the longest-serving CEO of a major bank since taking the role in 2006 [4] - He has indicated that his time as CEO may be limited, suggesting he could remain in the role for another four to five years, while also considering a position as executive chairman [5][6]

Amazon's Resumption of PERM Filings - Amazon has resumed the green card application process for foreign workers, planning to reopen PERM processing on January 6, 2025, after suspending it in 2023 and throughout 2024 [1][3] - PERM is part of the US Labor Department's permanent labor certification process, aiming to prove that hiring foreign workers won't negatively impact US job seekers [2] - The resumption of PERM filings may reflect Amazon's outlook for a more competitive job market and follows Trump's campaign vow to give green cards to foreign graduates of US colleges [3][8] Job Market Trends - Amazon has laid off at least 27,000 employees since late 2022, including 200 from its Fashion and Fitness group recently [4] - Resuming PERM filings indicates Amazon sees a potential "rebound" in the job market, according to immigration lawyer Richard Herman [4] - Companies previously suspended green card filings due to layoffs and the high cost and time of processing PERMs, but may now reconsider as labor market conditions improve [5][6] Tech Industry Hiring - HR software maker Karat reported a 12% year-over-year increase in average hiring targets for software engineer roles among US tech companies in 2024 [7] - Stripe laid off 300 employees but plans to grow its total headcount by roughly 1,000 this year [7] - Tech companies in the Bay Area are hiring more, indicating a positive outlook for the industry [7] Trump's Influence on Immigration Policy - President Donald Trump's campaign proposal to give green cards to foreign graduates of US colleges may be a factor in Amazon's decision to resume PERM filings [8] - There is a clash between pro-Trump tech leaders and the MAGA base over the legal immigration of skilled workers [10] - Companies may be trying to anticipate Trump's unpredictable behavior on immigration policy, given his past hard-line stance [11]

Netflix gained a record number of new subscribers in the fourth quarter.The ads plan, launched in 2022, reached 70 million worldwide users in November.Netflix is counting on ads to fuel its growth in 2025 and beyond.Netflix added a record number of new subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2024, as couch potatoes flocked to the streamer for popular programming like Christmas Day NFL games and season 2 of "Squid Game." But such massive growth in new subscribers can't continue forever (especially as Netflix pu ...

Meta's Content Moderation Changes - Meta has recently met with advertisers to reassure them that changes in free speech policies will not lead to harmful content on its platforms [1] - The company has stopped using third-party fact-checkers and will rely on user-made community notes instead [2] - Users will again have the option to see political content on their feeds [2] Advertiser Concerns and Reassurances - Advertisers expressed concerns about the changes, particularly regarding brand safety and suitability [3] - Meta executives reassured advertisers that commitments to brand safety and suitability remain unchanged [3] - Advertisers will still have control over where their ads are placed, ensuring they do not appear next to sensitive content like societal or political issues [4] Broader Changes at Meta - Meta has rolled back its DEI programs and is pushing to cut low performers faster [5] - The company has removed some restrictions on topics like gender and immigration, allowing previously restricted content [3] - These changes are part of a broader shift in Meta's approach to content moderation and free expression [5] Political and Societal Context - The changes at Meta coincide with a different political and societal environment in the US [6] - Meta executives do not perceive any significant internal changes despite the external political shifts [6]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix has reported a strong quarter driven by record-breaking live sports events, but the company is cautious about entering expensive sports deals [1][8]. Group 1: Performance Highlights - The fourth quarter was bolstered by significant live sports events, including the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, which was the most-streamed sporting event ever, and the NFL Christmas Day games, which were the two most-streamed NFL games in history [2]. - Netflix has secured exclusive US rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup for 2027 and 2031 and has initiated a major partnership with WWE [2]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Analysts are advocating for Netflix to expand its sports portfolio, although they note that few US sports rights will be available for renewal in the coming years [3]. - The NBA has a contract for the next 11 years, and the NFL signed an 11-year deal in 2021, with ESPN's UFC rights becoming available in 2025, which may present an opportunity for Netflix [4]. Group 3: Strategic Approach - Netflix executives emphasized that the company will maintain its current strategy regarding sports, treating it as part of its live programming, which also includes other live events [4][6]. - The company aims to leverage live programming, particularly sports, to enhance its advertising business, which is expected to accelerate in 2025 and beyond [4][8]. Group 4: Cost Management - Netflix is committed to cost discipline, indicating that live sports will likely represent a small percentage of total view hours and content expenses [5]. - The company has expressed a preference for owning content rather than renting, which aligns with its cautious approach to the rising costs of live sports rights [5][6].

Core Insights - Netflix has increased its subscription prices in the US, with the standard plan now costing $17.99, up from $15.49, and the premium plan rising to $24.99 from $22.99. The ad-supported plan has also seen an increase to $7.99 from $6.99 [1][6] - The price hikes are in line with industry trends, as competitors like YouTube TV and Disney have also raised their prices significantly [2] - Despite the price increases, Netflix remains the most cost-effective streaming service on a per-hour basis, with users on the ad-free plan paying approximately $0.33 per hour and those on the ad-supported plan paying about $0.15 per hour [3][4] Subscriber Growth and Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, Netflix added nearly 19 million subscribers, exceeding Wall Street's expectations, and generated $1.8 billion in net income [5] - The company anticipates generating close to $2.5 billion in net income for Q1 [5] Customer Retention and Content Strategy - Netflix boasts a low churn rate of 1.8%, indicating strong customer satisfaction and perceived value [4] - The price hikes coincide with Netflix's investment in live programming, including NFL games, which have attracted large audiences [4]

Core Insights - The number of new Netflix subscribers increased significantly in the fourth quarter, adding 19 million new paid users, marking the largest quarterly net additions in the company's history [1][3] - Quarterly revenue reached $10.2 billion, reflecting a 16% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing analysts' expectations of $10.11 billion [1][2] Subscriber Growth - Netflix's subscriber growth was driven by efforts to crack down on password sharing, which led to an influx of new subscribers [2] - The company gained 13 million paying viewers in the same quarter of the previous year, indicating a substantial year-over-year growth [1] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Netflix shares rose as much as 11% in after-hours trading, reflecting positive investor sentiment [2] Future Reporting Changes - Netflix will cease reporting quarterly subscriber numbers starting in 2025, which may impact how the market evaluates its growth moving forward [2][3] Content Performance - The release of season two of "Squid Game" contributed to the subscriber growth, breaking the record for premiere week viewership [2]

Two sets of analysts downgraded Apple, citing weak iPhone demand.Apple's AI-powered iPhone 16 has had mixed reviews; its biggest feature is unavailable in China.Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi are gaining market share over Apple in the key region.Wall Street's confidence in Apple's China performance seems to be slipping as its first-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings announcement approaches. Apple, which is scheduled to report quarterly data on January 30, was downgraded to "underperform" by analysts a ...