The Readback - podcast cover

The Readback

Barron'swww.barrons.com
The Readback explores why only a few of our most hyped companies and ideas end up meeting their promise. The lessons learned hold value not just for investors, but for everyone trying to find the next big thing.
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Episodes

69: Berkshire After Buffett

Athletes retire, presidents leave office, and musicians lose their voice. Not Warren Buffett. For more than five decades, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) has sat in the same chair and stuck to the same strategies. But the Oracle of Omaha can't stop time, and this year he'll turn 90. Today on the Readback, Barron's Andrew Bary joins Alex Eule to discuss how Berkshire Hathaway could look after Buffett. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Feb 19, 202018 min

68: The SoftBank Question

For years, tech startups could do no wrong. They were changing the world - and always for the good, or so we thought. The thinking changed when office leasing startup WeWork imploded last year. Much of the hype that built up WeWork and tech unicorns can be tied to SoftBank, a Japanese telecom giant that has poured $100 billion worth of investment into startups. It's become the face of tech's failures, but ask SoftBank and, for the most part, things are still going according to plan. This week Ba...

Feb 13, 202018 min

67: GE Shows Signs of Life

General Electric was worth nearly $600 billion in 2000. Today's it's just over $100 billion. It's a staggering fall from grace that will be studied in business schools for years to come. This week, Barron's Al Root joins Alex Eule to discuss what went wrong -- and how it can be fixed. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 05, 202016 min

66: Are You Ready for Some Gambling?

If you're at a Super Bowl party this weekend and folks are staring at their phones, they're not just being rude. They may be making money or at least trying. In more and more states, online sports betting is becoming legal. Barron's Andrew Bary joins host Alex Eule to discuss how it could forever change the way we view sports. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 202016 min

65: Sustainable Investing Hits a Tipping Point

From Wall Street to Davos, sustainable investing is blazing a path into the mainstream. After years of mostly talking about socially responsible investing, the world is actually coming to realize that ESG - environment, social and governance-factors are not just about improving the world. They also promise the potential for strong returns. This week, Alex Eule is joined by Barron's Leslie Norton who has spent several years covering sustainable investments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Jan 22, 202013 min

64: Can We Forgive Boeing?

Boeing has been an emotional topic throughout the last year. For months, we've heard more and more about how the company mishandled its 737 Max - not just the crashes of the plane but the response to the crashes. And yet, for the most part, investors have stuck with the stock. Barron's Al Root joins Alex Eule to explain why. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 202016 min

63: Get Ready to Pay Up, Consumers

2019 was a banner year for stocks, but it's possible that it was an even better time for consumers. It was, of course, the year for food delivery, one-day shipping, ride-sharing, and streaming -- great services at bargain-basement prices. Tech reporter Tae Kim joins Alex Eule to discuss whether these new offerings are all too good to be true -- and how long they will last. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Jan 08, 202015 min

52: Why Interest Rates Are Going Negative (Rebroadcast)

The Readback team is taking a quick break. We'll be back with a new episode next week. In the meantime, we've selected one of our favorite episodes to re-release: Anyone with a savings account is familiar with the impact of low interest rates. The most generous savings accounts in the U.S. barely pay 2%. Bonds aren't a whole lot better. But in Europe and much of the world, interest rates are not just low -- they're actually negative. Matt Klein joins host Alex Eule to explain. First published on...

Jan 01, 202015 min

62: Tesla vs. the Minivan

Everyone loves to talk about electric cars. And, based on the success of Tesla, it seems like everyone wants to drive one. The strange thing is no one really wants to buy them. Less than 2% of the cars sold in the U.S. this year were electric. This week, Alex Eule talks to Barron's Jack Hough about whether - after years of false starts - we might finally be on the cusp of the electric car revolution. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Dec 24, 201916 min

61: The World's First $2 Trillion Company

For almost 90 years, the enormous oil company Saudi Aramco has been in the hands of the Saudi Royal family. And last week, the kingdom put a small stake up for sale in the public market, in the biggest IPO ever. The shares rose in their first few days of trading and the company is now valued at about $2 trillion. In this episode, Avi Salzman joins guest-host Ben Walsh to discuss whether the oil company is really that valuable. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

Dec 18, 201917 min

60: The Forgotten Small Stocks

Shares of Apple are up a staggering 70% in 2019. That's not supposed to happen. By the time companies reach the size of Apple, their earnings growth (and their stock gains) tend to slow. But not in this market. We live in an age of huge companies getting huger. Barron's Avi Salzman and Alex Eule discuss the investment case for small-cap stocks and whether they might be having a comeback. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Dec 11, 201913 min

59: A Printer and Copier Walk Into a Bar...

We're in a golden age for technology. Silicon Valley is changing the way we live. For better and worse. The stocks of these companies are having a banner year and an even better decade. Barron's Eric Savitz joins host Alex Eule to discuss why many of the tech pioneers -- the ones that arguably created Silicon Valley -- have been left behind. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 04, 201915 min

58: Hurray for Dividends!

Host Alex Eule talks to Barron's Lawrence Strauss about dividends-and why investors are always so thankful for the stream of income they provide. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast from Barron's. Hosted by Alex Eule and produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 201917 min

57: Big Tech vs Banks. Finally a Fair Fight

For a supposedly obsolete idea, the checkbook still holds a lot of power. It remains the gateway to Americans' money. Big tech companies want in on the party, but traditional banks have proven surprisingly resilient when it comes to these customer relationships. This week on The Readback, Alex Eule is joined by Ben Walsh to discuss how much longer Wall Street can hold off Silicon Valley. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Nov 20, 201916 min

56: An Industrial Giant Goes High Tech

It's been famously said that software is eating the world. Some traditional companies are having more success than others in fending off the disruption. Host Alex Eule talks to Barron's Al Root about his recent column on one of them -- Honeywell. Hosted by Alex Eule and produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 201914 min

55: Tech's Most Surprising Comeback

Today on The Readback, we're switching things around a little. Guest host Jeffrey Cane interviews Alex Eule about his recent column on Garmin-a tech company that has found success far from Silicon Valley. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast from Barron's. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Published 11.06.2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 06, 201914 min

54: Bears on The Rise

Nicholas Jasinski joins host Alex Eule to talk about Barron's latest Big Money Poll-and why institutional investors are as cautious about stocks-and politics-as they've been in 20 years. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Published on Oct. 30, 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30, 201913 min

53: TV's Streaming Moment

You're going to be hearing an awful lot about television streaming in the coming weeks. Years after Netflix began the streaming revolution, the company is finally getting real competition. In the latest episode of The Readback, Jack Hough joins host Alex Eule to talk streaming-and which companies are likely to win (and lose) in the months ahead. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 201919 min

52: Why Interest Rates Are Going Negative

Anyone with a savings account is familiar with the impact of low interest rates. The most generous savings accounts in the U.S. barely pay 2%. Bonds aren't a whole lot better. But in Europe and much of the world, interest rates are not just low-they're actually negative. Matt Klein joins host Alex Eule to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 201915 min

51: The Race to Zero

Over the last few weeks, the top U.S. discount brokerage firms have been falling over themselves to cut commissions on stock trades. Today on The Readback, Beverly Goodman joins Alex Eule to talk about the disappearance of fees-and why it might be a mixed blessing for investors. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 201914 min

50: Cash Burn Caution

One unicorn after another has gone public this year. These companies tend to have two things in common: High valuations and steep losses. In this episode of The Readback, Jack Hough joins guest host Jeffrey Cane to talk about why investors appear to have lost their appetite for cash-burning companies. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 02, 201915 min

49: The Painful Price of Opioids

In this episode of The Readback, Josh Nathan-Kazis joins host Alex Eule to talk about the coming wave of opioid litigation-and who's likely to pay for the ongoing crisis. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 201914 min

48: Are AT&T's Ambitions Too Big?

AT&T has spent the last few years trying to become far more than just a phone company. But after spending more than $100 billion on acquisitions like DirecTV and Time Warner, the company is now being targeted by an activist investor unhappy with the strategy. Barron's Nicholas Jasinski joins host Alex Eule to discuss why AT&T is suddenly under a microscope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18, 201914 min

47: As the World Ages

We're at the beginning of a global aging boom-and nations are facing mounting challenges. Reshma Kapadia joins host Alex Eule to talk about how four countries are dealing with the retirement crisis. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11, 201916 min

46: Biotech's Big Idea

Biotech companies have been some of the hottest IPOs in recent years. This week, Josh Nathan-Kasiz joins host Alex Eule on The Readback to talk about one of biotech's most promising treatments. The Readback is a finance and business podcast from Barron's. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 04, 201912 min

45: Can the NFL Save TV?

As viewers cut the cord, TV networks still have one reliable, and very powerful, ally: the National Football League. Host Alex Eule is joined by Barron's Jack Hough to discuss the partnership and why investors may be underestimating its importance. The Readback is a weekly finance and business podcast from Barron's. Producer: Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 201918 min

44: The Unpopular Case for Oil Stocks

Andrew Bary joins host Alex Eule to discuss why energy stocks are so unloved and how the weak sentiment could offer a big opportunity for investors. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast. Hosted by Alex Eule and produced by Mette Lützhøft. Published 08/21/2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 21, 201913 min

43: The Trade War Gets Real

This week on The Readback, Avi Salzman joins host Alex Eule to discuss why the escalating U.S.-China battle is once again spooking investors. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast from Barron's. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 14, 201913 min

42: Dead Mall Walking

Jack Hough joins host Alex Eule to discuss the future of malls and why the retail reckoning has only just begun. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast from Barron's. Hosted by Alex Eule and produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 07, 201917 min

41: Paying For Wildfires

Host Alex Eule is joined by Barron's senior writer Alexandra Scaggs to talk about where Pacific Gas & Electric stock is heading after the company declared bankruptcy in the aftermath of California's wildfires. The Readback is a weekly, finance and business podcast from Barron's. Produced by Mette Lützhøft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 01, 201914 min
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