Apple Intelligence Launch and Market Expectations - Apple introduced its AI venture, Apple Intelligence, in June 2023, with availability limited to iPhone 15 Pro models or later, potentially driving a "golden upgrade cycle" [1] - Initial hype around Apple Intelligence led to bullish sentiment on Apple stock, but full capabilities are yet to be realized [2][3] - Analysts have adjusted expectations, with some predicting a "super cycle" of iPhone upgrades in late fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2026 [3][5] iPhone Sales and Consumer Response - iPhone 16 series sold approximately 37 million units during its first preorder weekend, a 12.7% year-over-year drop compared to the iPhone 15 [4] - Consumers appear unmoved by AI functionality, with no significant signs of an upgrade cycle [7][9] - Apple has yet to capitalize on the initial hype of Apple Intelligence, with concerns over consumer excitement around AI [7][8][9] Analyst Perspectives and Market Reactions - Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management believes Apple Intelligence will play a significant role in a potential super cycle, though not in 2025 [3] - Morningstar's William Kerwin noted a shift from initial excitement to expectations of tepid growth in the first year, with more aggressive expectations for the second year [4] - Apple received a rare downgrade to "sell" due to a lack of consumer excitement around AI, according to Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson [9] Financial Impact and Future Outlook - Apple's fiscal Q4 2024 earnings period ended shortly after the iPhone 16 launch, making it too early to assess the revenue impact of Apple Intelligence [5] - Investors will gain a clearer view of Apple Intelligence's impact when the company reports Q1 2025 data on January 30 [5]

Tesla has launched a refreshed Model Y in China as it fights off fierce competition from local rivals.The new Model Y is also available to order in Australia and parts of Asia, but there's no sign of a US release yet.Tesla is under pressure, with annual sales falling even as Chinese competitors like `BYD report booming demand.Tesla has launched an updated version of its most successful car — but you can't order it in the US yet.AD The Elon Musk-run automaker unveiled a long-rumored refresh of the Model Y o ...

Airbus Performance and Market Position - Airbus finished the year with a backlog of 8,658 aircraft, significantly higher than Boeing's 5,499 as of November [1] - Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft in 2024, four short of its revised target of 770, down from an initial target of 800 due to supply-chain constraints [3][8] - Airbus likely delivered about twice as many planes as Boeing, which delivered 318 jets by the end of November [2][3] - Airbus' share price rose 14% in 2024, while Boeing's stock fell 31%, making Boeing the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average [4] Boeing's Challenges and Market Position - Boeing delivered 318 jets by the end of November, significantly fewer than Airbus [2] - Despite its struggles, Boeing's market cap remains around $128 billion, nearly the same as Airbus' [7] Supply Chain and Production Issues - Airbus faced persistent supply chain issues, particularly in engines, aerostructures, and cabin equipment, leading to a reduction in its 2024 delivery target from 800 to 770 planes [5] - Airbus delayed plans to increase production of the A320neo family due to these supply chain challenges [5] - Airbus managed to reach its delivery target with a strong end-of-year push, delivering 123 planes in December compared to an average of 58 in the preceding 11 months [6] Future Outlook and Analyst Predictions - Airbus is set to provide guidance for 2025 deliveries when it reports earnings next month, with Bank of America analysts expecting the guidance to be between 800 and 810 planes [6] - Bank of America is bullish on Airbus, naming it one of its 25 stocks for 2025 [9] - Airbus' primary focus is expected to be on its integration with Spirit AeroSystems, aiming to stabilize fuselage production [9]

Electric Vehicle Emissions Pooling - Carmakers lagging behind on electric vehicle sales can pool with rivals to average out emissions, effectively buying carbon credits from EV leaders like Tesla [1] - Toyota, Ford, Stellantis, and Mazda have pooled with Tesla, while Mercedes-Benz formed a separate pool with Volvo and Polestar [1] Tesla's Regulatory Credits Business - Tesla's total compensation for selling credits to pooled rivals could exceed $1 billion, with Volvo and Polestar potentially banking $300 million [4] - Tesla made $739 million from selling regulatory credits in Q3 2024 [4] - Tesla's regulatory credits business remains strong as rivals struggle to meet emission targets due to lackluster EV demand [7] Impact of US Policy Changes - Incoming US president Donald Trump has promised to roll back emissions targets and EV regulations, which could cost Tesla up to $3.2 billion [2] European Emissions Targets - European manufacturers face tough emissions targets and could incur hundreds of millions in penalties if they fail to comply [6] - Electric vehicle sales in Europe have stagnated, with several countries rolling back EV subsidies [6]

Industry Competition Outlook - Western automakers are facing an existential battle against Chinese counterparts, with a Darwinistic-like price war and market purification expected to eliminate many players within five years [1] - The auto industry will face an "elimination round" from 2025 to 2027, with competition becoming even more heated and cutthroat [2][3] - Most Chinese carmakers are not expected to survive the next decade, with only seven major car companies predicted to exist in the coming 10 years [4][5] Company Performance and Projections - Xpeng delivered 190,068 vehicles in 2024, a 34% increase from 2023, and is on track to achieve profitability by 2025 [3] - Tesla delivered 1.79 million vehicles in 2024, a 1% decrease from 2023 [3] Market Consolidation Trends - The Chinese EV industry will see a "knockout tournament" in the next three to four years, followed by an "all-star competition" in the next seven to eight years [5] - From 300 start-ups, only 100 survived, with fewer than 50 companies still existing and only 40 selling cars annually [4]

Google is joining tech companies like Amazon and Meta in donating to Donald Trump's inauguration.The search giant said it is giving $1 million, more than triple what it gave Trump in 2017.In September, Trump threatened to prosecute Google if he was elected president.Google said it is donating $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's coming inauguration.AD "Google is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration, with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage. We're also donating to the inaug ...

Company Strategy and Leadership - Starbucks is hosting a three-hour training session for US store employees later this month, aimed at revitalizing the company under new CEO Brian Niccol [1][9] - The training will focus on re-emphasizing Starbucks' role as a welcoming coffeehouse where customers gather and enjoy high-quality coffee crafted by skilled baristas [2][9] - CEO Brian Niccol, who previously led major changes at Chipotle, has introduced several operational changes since taking over in September, including the reintroduction of self-service condiment bars and a goal of preparing customer orders in four minutes or less [5][6] Employee Engagement and Operational Efficiency - Store employees, referred to as "partners," are required to attend the training sessions, which will take place between January 21 and 26 at various times and locations [3][4] - Some partners may need to fill in shifts at other stores to accommodate attendance, highlighting the company's commitment to ensuring widespread participation [4] - Employees have expressed hope that the training will lead to further workflow improvements, such as the recent change of using blenders instead of shaking drinks, which saves valuable seconds per order [7] Market Context and Challenges - The training initiative comes as Starbucks faces slumping sales in recent quarters, prompting a broader turnaround effort under Niccol's leadership [5][9] - The company aims to balance being an inviting place for customers to linger while also efficiently serving those seeking quick to-go service [6]

Disney and pay-TV provider Fubo just reached a deal that will shake up sports TV.There will be new ways to watch sports in 2025, including new services from ESPN.Media analysts shared what the new deal means for sports fans, including cord-cutters.Disney's fear of not getting sports streaming right is making the whole marketplace confusing for viewers. AD A newly announced deal between Disney and Fubo will give sports fans more streaming choices in 2025.The Mouse House is combining its Hulu + Live TV servi ...

Meta's Content Moderation Policy Changes - Meta plans to replace third-party fact-checkers with a community-based fact-checking program, addressing criticism of partisanship and overcorrection in the previous system [3] - Meta will loosen content moderation restrictions on topics considered "part of mainstream discourse" and reintroduce political content to users' feeds [3] - The company emphasized preventing censorship of speech in its announcement, with no direct mention of brand safety concerns [3] Advertiser Reactions and Concerns - Some advertisers worry about Meta's commitment to brand safety, particularly around hate speech and adult nudity [4][7] - Advertisers are cautious about publicly criticizing platforms or threatening to pull spending due to political sensitivities [9] - Advertisers have outstanding questions about Meta's new thresholds for removing posts and the roadmap for monitoring misinformation trends [11] Industry Perspectives on Meta's Strategy - Industry analysts believe many marketers will continue spending on Meta as long as it delivers expected audiences and ad performance [9] - Meta commands about 21% of the US digital ad market, second only to Google [9] - Some advertising executives support Meta's announcement, viewing it as a step toward boosting engagement and free speech [15][16] Comparison with X's Community Notes - Advertisers are closely watching how Meta's Community Notes-like feature will perform, given mixed results with X's implementation [12][14] - Studies show X's Community Notes may be too slow to counter misinformation during its most viral stages but have been effective in specific cases like Covid vaccine misinformation [14] - Meta's approach is seen as an evolution of brand-safety standards rather than a retreat from protecting users and marketers [16][17]

Meta's Policy Shift - Meta announced it will stop using third-party fact-checkers and instead adopt a user-generated community notes feature, similar to Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) [2][4] - The decision was influenced by the incoming Trump administration and a perceived shift in American attitudes toward censorship, free speech, and content moderation [1][3][4] - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated the move aims to address concerns about biased employees overly censoring content [3] Content Moderation and Political Climate - Meta is relocating some content moderation teams from California to Texas, citing political alignment differences between the states [3] - The company acknowledged past complaints of bias, particularly from Republicans, regarding content moderation and the banning of former President Donald Trump [5][6] - Meta's CMO Alex Schultz noted that community notes on X have been more successful in engaging contributors across the political spectrum [6] Advertiser Relations and Brand Safety - Meta plans to maintain brand safety tools for advertisers, focusing on hate speech and adult nudity rather than fact-checked content [8] - The company emphasized a commitment to precision in content moderation, avoiding unnecessary removals [8] - Meta's approach to advertiser relations will differ from X, with no plans to denigrate or sue advertisers [7] Leadership and Strategic Direction - Zuckerberg is described as returning to his core values, taking advantage of the current moment to align Meta's policies with his vision [4][5] - Schultz highlighted that the changes reflect a response to broader societal shifts and the company's adaptability to different administrations [2][3][4]