Waymo, the Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) autonomous driving operation, is widely considered the leader in the advance of self-driving car technology. Many believe its product is ahead of those of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), GM, and Ford. Waymo-powered cars have logged over 100 million "fully autonomous miles.†It now operates, or will soon, in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Miami, District of Columbia, and Dallas. It also has limited tests in Tokyo. An incident during the recent blackou ...

Legendary short seller Jim Chanos has publicly disagreed with Elon Musk's economic vision by highlighting a paradox in his dismissal of savings.Musk Vs Chanos: The Twitter SpatIn an X post on Dec. 20, Chanos argued that if Musk's prediction of a ‘no poverty’ future is correct, the very stock market that fuels Musk's vast fortune would become obsolete.The exchange began after Musk, the world’s richest man, dismissed a massive philanthropic effort tied to the new “Trump Accounts.” Musk tweeted that while the ...

Investment firm Gerber Kawasaki's co-founder Ross Gerber has shared concerns that Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) could have a hard time reporting a GAAP profit.Never Make A GAAP ProfitTaking to the social media platform X on Saturday, the investor shared his thoughts on Tesla. "It’s quite possible that tesla will never make a GAAP profit ever again," the investor said. Gerber did not elaborate on the reason(s) behind his opinion.Tesla has been recording declining sales figures across the globe, with the latest da ...

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk predicts a potential valuation of $100 trillion for SpaceX in the future, emphasizing the ambitious nature of commercial space flight [1]. Group 1: SpaceX's Future Plans - Musk envisions building a base on the moon, which aligns with the U.S. government's push for lunar exploration [2]. - He mentioned the possibility of constructing factories on the moon to support deep-space launches of solar-powered AI satellites using a theoretical propulsion method called mass drivers [3]. Group 2: SpaceX IPO Discussion - Bill Ackman proposed that SpaceX could go public next year through a special purpose acquisition rights vehicle, which would allow Tesla shareholders to invest in SpaceX [4]. - Musk previously indicated interest in making SpaceX publicly available to Tesla owners, with a target valuation of $1.5 trillion ahead of the proposed IPO [4].

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft is recognized for rewarding long-term investors through substantial dividends and stock buybacks, positioning itself as a strong investment choice among the "Magnificent Seven" stocks [1][2]. Dividend and Buyback Summary - In fiscal 2025, Microsoft allocated $24.08 billion to dividends and $18.42 billion to stock buybacks, surpassing other S&P 500 companies in total cash spent on dividends [2]. - Microsoft announced a 10% increase in dividends, marking its 16th consecutive annual increase, despite a current yield of only 0.7% [2][3]. - Over the past decade, Microsoft has increased its dividend by over 250%, although the yield has decreased due to a significant rise in stock price [9]. Investment Thesis - Microsoft is characterized as an underrated dividend stock, with a focus on dividend growth rather than just forward yield, which can misrepresent a stock's true income potential [5][8]. - The company is noted for its balanced approach to capital deployment, with a strong presence in cloud computing, AI, software, gaming, and personal computing [11][12]. - Microsoft's commitment to returning capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks positions it as a foundational stock for long-term investment [16][17]. Financial Metrics - Microsoft has a market capitalization of $3.6 trillion and a gross margin of 68.76%, indicating strong financial health [11]. - The company's free cash flow (FCF) remains robust, with capital expenditures rising but not outpacing cash flow from operations, unlike some competitors [12][15].

Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of social media on corporate executives, highlighting both the potential benefits and risks associated with their online presence. It emphasizes the case of Braden Wallake, who became known as the "Crying CEO" after sharing an emotional post about layoffs, which garnered significant attention but also criticism for being manipulative [1][2][10]. Group 1: Social Media Presence of Executives - A growing number of Fortune 500 CEOs are engaging on social media, with nearly 75% having at least one account in the previous year, up from about 50% in 2019 [4]. - Over 70% of Fortune 100 CEOs with social media accounts posted at least once a month in 2024, marking a 32% increase from the previous year [5]. - Executives are increasingly sharing personal content alongside company news, which can enhance engagement with followers [7]. Group 2: Risks and Challenges - Executives face backlash for their social media posts, which can lead to negative perceptions and even material business implications [4][15]. - Anecdotes illustrate how social media missteps can result in public relations crises, as seen with Jason Yanowitz and Mike Gannon, whose posts led to significant criticism and regulatory concerns [10][13]. - The trend of executives attempting to connect with audiences on social media is often viewed as disingenuous, leading to potential discontent among investors, consumers, and employees [15]. Group 3: The Dual Nature of Attention - Despite the risks, some executives believe that any attention can be beneficial for brand recognition, as demonstrated by Wallake and Yehong Zhu, who experienced both negative and positive outcomes from their posts [16][17]. - Zhu's experience highlights the concept of "rage bait," where controversial content can generate significant publicity, even if it attracts criticism [18][19]. - The article suggests that executives may need to navigate the fine line between engaging content and potential backlash, as the digital landscape continues to evolve [6][16].

Core Insights - Tesla has rapidly expanded its California "Robotaxi" program, registering 1,655 vehicles and 798 drivers as of now, a significant increase from 28 vehicles and 128 drivers at the launch in August [1][2] Group 1: Vehicle and Driver Registration - The number of vehicles registered reflects those approved for use, not the actual operational fleet, and the current number of drivers could be higher as Tesla is not required to update the state on new drivers [2] - In comparison, Waymo has 1,955 vehicles registered in California, with over 1,000 operating in its autonomous fleet [2][3] Group 2: Operational Status and Permits - Tesla's "Robotaxi" is not registered as an autonomous vehicle service in California, which has strict regulations, and the company has not applied for a driverless testing permit [4][5] - The current permit allows Tesla to provide transportation services to employees and select members of the public, but a separate permit is needed for transporting passengers using an autonomous vehicle [5] Group 3: User Experience and Challenges - Users have reported long wait times since the public launch of the Robotaxi app in September, with some experiencing waits of up to 40 minutes [6] - During peak hours, there have been instances of ride unavailability due to a lack of inventory, while off-peak wait times average around ten minutes [7] Group 4: Expansion Plans - In Austin, Tesla has begun testing vehicles without drivers, with plans to have around 500 vehicles operational by the end of the year, although the exact number of cars in service is unclear [8]

Core Insights - Tesla is intensifying its efforts on the "Robotaxi" service by recruiting factory workers and sales staff to serve as AI operators for its ride-hailing fleet [1][2][11] - The company aims to enhance ride-hailing availability in the Bay Area and has experienced increased wait times since launching the Robotaxi app to the public [3][4] Recruitment and Operations - Tesla is offering additional hours and pay to production associates and material handlers to take on the role of AI operators, with incentives for referring friends [1][2] - The AI operators will monitor vehicles using Tesla's Full Self-Driving software and take control when necessary, as the company plans to transition to a fully autonomous service [2][11] Service Expansion and Challenges - Tesla has registered 1,655 vehicles and 798 drivers for its ride-hailing service in California, but it is not yet authorized to transport the public in an autonomous vehicle [8][7] - The company has completed self-certification for service in Nevada and Arizona but has not yet begun offering paid rides in these states [5][6] Future Plans - Tesla is hiring AI operators across various states, with plans to expand its service to eight to ten metropolitan areas by the end of the year [11][12] - The company is testing its service in multiple cities and aims to roll out a driverless feature in Austin by the end of the year [9][10]

Core Insights - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman proposed merging SpaceX with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings, allowing Tesla shareholders priority access to invest in SpaceX [1][2] - The proposal aims to reward Tesla shareholders and democratize the IPO process, aligning with Elon Musk's previous comments on ownership access for Tesla supporters [2] SPARC Structure Details - The proposed transaction would distribute 0.5 SPARs per Tesla share, resulting in approximately 1.723 billion SPARs outstanding, with each SPAR exercisable for two shares of SpaceX, totaling 3.446 billion shares [3] - The structure eliminates underwriting fees and maintains 100% common stock capitalization, with Pershing Square waiving its sponsor warrant rights [4] Capital Raising Flexibility - At an exercise price of $11.03 per SPAR, SpaceX could raise about $42 billion, with $38 billion from SPAR exercises and an additional $4 billion from Pershing Square; if the exercise price were $42, total proceeds could reach approximately $148.7 billion [5] - The structure allows flexibility between primary and secondary shares, with a target for due diligence and a definitive agreement within 45 days, aiming for a mid-February announcement [6] Future Opportunities - If the SPARC merger is successful, Ackman and Musk would influence SpaceX's funding and organizational structure, with SPAR holders potentially gaining access to future offerings from Musk's AI company, xAI [7] - SpaceX is reportedly preparing for a potential IPO that could reach up to $1.5 trillion, significantly surpassing major aerospace competitors, highlighting the opportunity Ackman's proposal seeks to leverage [8]

Group 1: Trade Policies and Economic Impact - The newly elected U.S. president's potential implementation of large tariffs on Canadian imports is a significant concern for Canadian businesses in 2025 [2][6] - Trump's focus on trade deficits may lead to substantial changes in global trade dynamics, with tariffs being used to fund corporate tax cuts [3][10] - A targeted 10-15% tariff on non-energy products is anticipated, which could disrupt Canadian manufacturing and lead to retaliatory tariffs from Canada [6][7] Group 2: Inflation and Interest Rates - Inflation concerns are expected to persist in 2025, driven by tariff-induced price increases and a booming U.S. stock market, potentially pushing inflation above 3% [12][13] - The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to maintain higher interest rates, impacting both U.S. and Canadian monetary policies [14][18] - Canadian inflation remained closer to target at around 2.2%, but the Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% due to economic resilience and trade uncertainties [18] Group 3: Stock Market Predictions - The first half of 2025 may experience gains due to post-election optimism, but the second half could see declines due to tariffs and stretched valuations impacting corporate earnings [20][21] - High expectations for earnings growth could lead to skepticism among investors if projections begin to decline [22][23] - Overall, markets are expected to be up in 2025, with positive news on tariffs and inflation benefiting stock and commodity markets [23] Group 4: Canadian Housing Market - Canadian housing prices are projected to face downward pressure, with average home prices declining by about 6% in 2025, contrary to CREA's forecast of a 6.6% rise [32][35] - Fixed mortgage rates did not decrease significantly, maintaining high borrowing costs and limiting buyer activity [36][37] - The condo market is particularly vulnerable, with high inventory levels and cooling investor demand leading to downward price pressure [37] Group 5: Oil Market Dynamics - The global oil market is expected to remain below USD $75 per barrel due to rising U.S. production and OPEC's reluctance to cut supply [38][40] - Despite a brief peak, crude oil prices spent the majority of the year below the anticipated ceiling, with demand growth from China failing to materialize [40] Group 6: Electric Vehicle Market - Tesla's market valuation is questioned, with concerns about its sustainability compared to traditional car manufacturers and increasing competition from companies like BYD [41][45] - Despite a significant drop in Tesla's stock price earlier in the year, it rebounded, raising questions about the long-term viability of its high P/E ratio [46][48]