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TechCheck

Where Silicon Valley meets Wall Street, TechCheck dives deep into stocks, trades, trends and opportunities focused on new technologies while highlighting news from mega-cap heavyweights, social media darlings, streaming giants, growth software and red-hot disruptors. Everyday TechCheck delivers investors what they need to know with compelling in-depth reporting and analysis from investors, analysts and leaders in the industry.
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Episodes

Google I/O Recap 5/10/23

Google held a much anticipated event today, but what really caught the investors’ attention was its demonstration of AI integration with search. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 10, 20233 min

PayPal vs. Block Valuations, Plus Amazon Offers Pickup Incentive While Spotify Cracks Down on AI Streams 5/9/23

PayPal is the better profitability play, yet trails Block’s valuation by a mile. But does any of that matter when pretty much all of fintech are commodity services anyway? Plus, Amazon is offering a $10 incentive for some customers who choose to pick up a purchase in store instead of have it delivered, and Spotify is tackling AI bots who inflate streaming numbers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adver...

May 09, 20238 min

AI Threatens Ad Industry 5/8/23

Investors are trying to price in the downside stock impact of the AI boom, and advertising agencies like WPP, Omnicom Group and Publicis Groupe could be at risk. That’s after a report that Amazon is working on its own AI tools to generate photos and videos that could help it push more ad formats to smaller sellers. Analysts, meanwhile, are warning (and even putting together stock baskets) of other companies under threat. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

May 08, 20234 min

Block CFO & Dropbox CEO weigh in after earnings 5/5/23

Block CFO Amrita Ahuja discusses the company’s earnings, cash app growth, and how worked it with regulators about the issues raised in a short seller report around its verification and compliance programs. Plus, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston says AI played a role when it cut 16% of its workforce last week, but warns that “replacing people with AI shouldn’t be the only motivation.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da...

May 05, 20237 min

TechCheck+ AI Roadkill 5/5/23

You’ve heard about the AI winners – Microsoft, Google, Nvidia and others leading the shift. But what about AI roadkill? The companies who could see their entire business models eviscerated by the coming wave of generative AI? Edtech company Chegg was the first public company to blame AI and ChatGPT for a weak outlook, and lost 50% of its value in one day. But it won’t be the last. This week on TechCheck weekly, the companies most at risk from the AI revolution. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

May 05, 20236 min

Previewing Apple Earnings Plus Big Tech At The White House 5/4/23

Apple is set to report earnings after the bell today, but calling it just a hardware or software company is stale. Instead, Deirdre Bosa explains why more and more analysts are naming it a “can’t live without” consumer staples company. Plus, some of the biggest names in tech including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were at the White House today, meeting with Biden himself to discuss tech's moral responsibilities around AI development. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...

May 04, 20237 min

Chegg Shares Sink on ChatGPT Threat, Plus AI’s Larger Impact on Business and Society 5/2/23

Chegg shares were cut nearly in half after its CEO described how students have increasingly turned to ChatGPT in recent months, hurting new user growth. And that’s not the only company with big news today on AI disruption. IBM said it plans to pause hiring for roles that could be replaced by AI, showing just how much the new technology is creeping into all corners of society. But is AI ultimately going to be a net positive or net negative? A CNBC panel weighs in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

May 02, 202310 min

Softbank’s Arm Files For IPO & How Google Lost Its Edge to OpenAI 5/1/23

Softbank’s chip designer Arm has confidentially filed to go public, seeking a valuation of $30 billion to $70 billion in what is shaping up to be the biggest IPO of the year. Could it be the key to thawing a frozen IPO pipeline? Plus, investor Brad Gerstner lit into Sundar Pichai for losing Google’s AI lead to OpenAI, leaving investors questioning whether he can get tough on the issue. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...

May 01, 20237 min

TechCheck+ The Creators of HBO's Watergate series 'White House Plumbers' 5/1/23

Carl Quintanilla sits down with Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, co-creators, writers and executive producers behind HBO’s five-part mini-series “White House Plumbers” based on the true story of Nixon's Watergate "masterminds," E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. The two discuss balancing historical fact and satire, the painstaking process behind recreating real-life locations, and why both Gregory and Huyck believe the show’s fresh take on the famous robbery is “the greatest story people have neve...

May 01, 202316 min

Digging into Snap, Pinterest, and Amazon earnings 4/28/23

Snap and Pinterest stock are both plummeting today as they warn of ad revenue challenges ahead – even though other big tech names that reported this week are showing advertising resilience. Plus, an Amazon analyst explains why the market might be underappreciating the stock, despite showing positive Q1 metrics like growing profitability and curbing expenses. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising...

Apr 28, 20238 min

AI’s Proving Ground, Plus Microsoft & Alphabet Earnings 4/25/23

Microsoft and Alphabet both report earnings today – key for investors will be what they signal about AI in terms of announcements already made and what’s in store. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 25, 202311 min

TechCheck+ Google on Defense 4/21/23

Is something happening to Google’s dominance? For two decades it enjoyed one of the best business models in history – search. The stock boomed. The company grew and acquired its way to becoming one of the biggest companies in the world. But today Alphabet finds itself cutting staff and facing new competition from ChatGPT and Bing at a pivotal time. Why that matters, and why maybe it doesn’t matter at all. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about...

Apr 21, 20238 min

Tesla Margins Shrink & So Do Tiger Global’s Returns 4/20/23

Tesla cut prices a half dozen times in the last 6 months, and that cut into margins for the latest quarter. As investors are focused on the COST-CUTTING side of the portfolio and what that will do to earnings, we look at the revenue side and how margins could be squeezed from the top line. PLUS – more numbers and performance from Tiger Global as the private markets in tech catch up to the public ones. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect...

Apr 20, 20235 min

Google’s New Phone. Why? 4/19/23

CNBC reported that Google is at work developing its new Pixel phone with a foldable screen – set for a June release and costing in the realm of $1700. Why does Google still invest in phones and physical hardware with such small market share and cost-cuts in other businesses? The answer is in Android and its overwhelming market share, and why it may need leverage in that competition. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...

Apr 19, 20233 min

Nvidia’s AI lead, Netflix earnings & Meta’s non-meta plays 4/18/23

A bull-bear debate on wall street about Nvidia as Microsoft reportedly starts to work on its own chip production. Plus – a look at the stakes for Netflix earnings and what else Meta is doing outside the metaverse. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 18, 20237 min

Samsung CONSIDERED Replacing Google Search 4/17/23

Deirdre is back with the story of Samsung considering switching from Google as its default search engine. Where’d it think about going? Microsoft Bing of course. Why ChatGPT and Bing could destabilize Google’s Search dominance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 17, 20233 min

Tesla Price Cuts & Walmart Sells Bonobos 4/14/23

Tesla just keeps cutting prices. A sign of strength or weakness? And Walmart is selling Bonobos for much less than it bought it for. What that says about its e-commerce ambitions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 14, 20236 min

Jassy’s Letter to Amazon Shareholders 4/13/23

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy published his letter to Amazon shareholders this morning – we parse some of the messages and themes that’ll play out for the rest of 2023 and beyond. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 13, 20234 min

Mad MAX from Warner Brothers Discovery, and Apple iPhone Buttons 4/12/23

Warner Brothers and Discovery combining HBOMax and Discovery+ and naming it… Max? Inside WBD’s new streaming service. Plus – the difference between a solid-state button and physical button, why some people love physical buttons, why iPhone might stick with them, and why that’s tanking one hardware company’s stock. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Apr 12, 20238 min

PC Demand Falls 4/10/23

CNBC’s Steve Kovach and Kristina Partsinevelos report on demand fears from top technology producers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 11, 20236 min

TechCheck+ Creator of 'Extrapolations' on Apple TV+ 4/6/23

Carl Quintanilla sits down with Scott Z. Burns, the creator, EP, and showrunner of 'Extrapolations' on Apple TV+ for a long-ranging conversation on how the star-studded series is reimagining climate change storytelling. He shares how teaming up with Al Gore on 'An Inconvenient Truth' influenced his filmmaking journey, how he curated an A-list cast, and why he feels Hollywood has an obligation to portray the truth about our planet in the hopes of reimagining a brighter future for generations to c...

Apr 06, 202322 min

Learn from Chamath Palihapitiya's Mistakes, Plus Big Tech Stocks, Congress & China 4/6/23

Chamath Palihapitiya released his annual investor letter. His SPACs and public investments have cratered. Where to look for lessons in that performance and what he’s doing now. Plus – the overall rally in tech stocks: where are we in the cycle? And lawmakers meet with big tech companies. At stake? China, setting up what could be one of the major fault lines in the US economy over the next decade. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a...

Apr 06, 202310 min

TechCheck+ Sports Rights Sleeper Hold 4/6/23

Ari Emanuel & Vince McMahon. WWE & UFC. Apple & Major League Soccer? A whole lot of investors, owners, CEOs and companies are betting that the value of televised sports is going up. It’s in limited supply. What Endeavor’s deal to pull WWE & UFC together tells us about media valuations and where things are headed for the tech companies trying to get involved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

Apr 06, 20234 min

Google Takes On Nvidia in AI 4/5/23

AI is redrawing the lines of competition in big tech. Today it's Google going after Nvidia, arguing its supercomputers / computing capacity is faster (and, attention ESG investors, greener). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 05, 20234 min

WWE UFC Math, Plus The Most 2023 VC Deal of 2023 4/3/23

Ari Emanuel and Endeavor are buying the WWE and merging it with UFC. We break down the math. Plus the most 2023 VC deal of 2023 -- investing in investing in t-bill management. Why a bunch of high-growth investors are excited about a 5% yield product and backing Zamp Finance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 03, 20236 min

Why Are Chinese Tech Companies Breaking Up? 3/31/23

First Alibaba, now JD.com – why some of the largest Chinese tech companies are splitting up, preparing for spin-offs and IPOs of parts of their business, and what that tells us about the Chinese market. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 31, 20234 min

The Government Comes For Crypto Again & Twitter Lost 24 Billion Dollars 3/27/23

Today the CFTC sues Binance, CEO CZ and other members of management, arguing they “have failed to properly supervise Binance’s activities and, indeed, have actively facilitated violations of U.S. law.” Oops. Plus – Elon Musk says Twitter is now worth $20 Billion after buying it for $44 Billion six months ago, the AI chatbot battles chapter 598477556, and the TikTok rally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data f...

Mar 27, 20237 min

Another VC Bubble? And how the tech rally is all Apple & Microsoft 3/24/23

Is there a bubble already brewing in VC? A billion dollar valuation for a pre-revenue AI company, backed by Andreessen Horowitz. Or maybe, this time it's different... And how the rally in tech stocks is all Apple and Microsoft, and maybe a bit of Nvidia too. What does that concentration signal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 24, 20234 min

TechCheck+ Amazon’s Missing Profit 3/24/23

What happened to Amazon’s stock? It’s underperformed the S&P and its big tech peers since the start of 2020. The answer lies in what happened to its profitability during that time frame. The company grew sales, grew headcount, grew its physical footprint, and for a time, grew its share price… But profits never materialized, and investors care in 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 24, 202310 min

Chinese Tech Stocks Sit Back & Another AI Gold Rush 3/21/23

Tech has outperformed in 2023, but Chinese tech stocks have been sitting out this rally. The $KWEB is down 8% this year. Plus – AI announcements today from Nvidia, Google and Adobe. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 21, 20237 min
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