Brew Markets

Episode 224: Today, Ann and John bring you a Summer Friday special - a curiosity episode! As we near the end of this quieter stretch between earnings seasons, they're digging into some of the stories that caught their eye this week. They explore the debate over whether Americans actually want driverless cars on their roads and why Barnes & Noble Education is reinventing the way it sells textbooks...

Episode 223: Today, Ann breaks down blockbuster earnings from Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing – and what’s helping it zip past the rest of the apparel industry. Then we spin through market headlines, including earnings results from Levi Strauss and PepsiCo, plus why AstraZeneca shares are tumbling after a late-stage trial miss. Finally, we take a listener’s question and unpack why some pawn shop stoc...

Episode 222: Today, Ann breaks down the latest developments in the escalating conflict in the Middle East and how renewed tensions are rippling through global markets. Then we spin through today’s market headlines, including Apple’s move to shore up its domestic supply chain and Waymo’s expansion into new markets. Finally, we answer a question from the audience and take a closer look at Loews Corp...

Episode 221: Today, Ann surveys the wave of initiating coverage reports from Wall Street's biggest banks as SpaceX's post-IPO quiet period comes to an end. Then, we spin through today's market headlines, including Walmart's bid to win over cost-conscious consumers, why Rivian shares are sliding and Microsoft's push to replace outside AI models with its own. Finally, we welcome Jeanne Sun, Head of...

Episode 220: Today, Ann surveys South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix’s U.S. Nasdaq listing, why it differs from a traditional IPO and what the size of the blockbuster offering says about investor demand. Then we take a spin through the market headlines, including Lockheed Martin's $3.5 billion push into undersea warfare technology, SpaceX joining the Nasdaq-100 and why Microsoft's Xbox is getti...

Episode 1219: In a market dominated by glamorous mega-caps and AI hyperscalers, small-caps just had their best first half in 35 years.  So today we revisit Ann’s January conversation with Manny Weintraub, Principal of Cannell & Spears.  Manny explains how he defines the category, why we may be at “peak tech” and how simply buying a basket of small caps through an ETF may not be the best approach. ...

Episode 218: Today, Ann revisits her May conversation with Mona Mahajan, Head of Investment Strategy at Edward Jones. They discuss what happens when investors buy on IPO day and how those stocks have historically performed against the broader market. They also cover how midterm elections tend to move markets, where investment opportunities exist beyond the U.S. and what we might expect from the Fe...

Episode 217: Today, Ann revisits her March conversation with Jon McNeill, former President of Tesla and Co-Founder & CEO of DVx Ventures. Jon unpacks the five-step framework behind his book, The Algorithm, drawing on lessons from scaling Tesla, serving on the boards of General Motors and Lululemon, and working alongside Elon Musk. They discuss the leadership habits that drive high-performing compa...

Episode 1216: Today, Ann revisits her January conversation with Bob McCooey, Vice Chairman of the Nasdaq. Recorded before the SpaceX IPO, they discuss how the exchange competes for marquee listings from companies including SpaceX, Anthropic and Databricks. They also cover Walmart's unprecedented move from the NYSE to the Nasdaq, the rise of the retail investor, and how Bob and his team support com...

Episode 215: Today, we step back from the headlines to explore one of the biggest questions in business: How does an industry leader stay on top when the world changes around it? With retailers like Macy's, Victoria's Secret and Lululemon all working to reinvent themselves… or rekindle what worked previously… we look back at the company that once defined American retail: Sears. At its peak, Sears...

Episode 214: Today, we survey Micron's blockbuster earnings, what they reveal about the next phase of the AI buildout and the ripple effect being felt in consumer product prices. Then, we spin through the headlines moving markets – including today's inflation report and what it could mean for the Fed's next rate decision. Plus: earnings from Darden Restaurants and BlackBerry. Finally, it's Prime D...

Episode 213: Today, we survey a new partnership between Tesla, Sunrun Solar and Renew Home that aims to turn millions of American homes into a single, massive virtual power plant. Then, we spin through the headlines moving markets – including earnings from KB Home and FedEx, Germany scrapping its warship project, Wendy's meme-stock moment and Alphabet's addition to the Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Episode 212: Today, we explore the global factors that precipitated today’s tech sell-off and which chip stocks to keep an eye on this week. Then, we spin through the headlines moving markets, including Walmart's acquisition of Vibe.co, earnings from Carnival Cruises and Domino's announcement of a new CEO. Finally, it's Money Mover day – and we're looking for insight into what is happening with Bi...

Episode 211: Today, John digs into why pharma giant AbbVie is writing a $10.9 billion check for a clinical-stage company with no approved drugs and no product revenue - and why the “patent cliff” is forcing drugmakers to shop early. Then we take a spin through the headlines - including Getty’s deal with OpenAI and UPS’s investment in their cold chain logistics network. Next, we play a round of Ove...

Episode 210: Turnarounds are tough – especially as a public company where investors are watching every move. Today, Ann sits down with Kaz Nejatian, CEO of Opendoor, the largest iBuyer in the United States and a company in the midst of a major turnaround effort. In a candid conversation, Kaz explains how he's reshaping the business – from restructuring the real estate portfolio and leaning more he...

Episode 209: Today, we survey the latest Fed rate decision and its new approach to communicating under Chair Kevin Warsh. Then, we spin through the headlines moving markets – and it's all about cars! OG online used-car retailer Carvana is betting on new cars, CarMax reported earnings and BMW just slashed its profit outlook. Finally, we dive into Bending Spoons – the company buying up famous-but-st...

Episode 208: Today, Ann surveys SpaceX's $60 billion acquisition of AI coding platform Cursor and what it suggests about SPCX’s new life as a public company. Then, we spin through market headlines, including earnings out of Dave & Buster's and Pizza Hut's exodus from Yum! Brands. Finally, we welcome JB Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager of Futures and Prediction Markets at Robinhood, to...

Episode 207: Today, Ann unpacks the UK’s proposal to ban children under 16 from major social media platforms – and the impact it could have on the social media companies themselves. Then, it’s a Monday full of merger moments – as Salesforce, Fox and American Express announce acquisition plans. Finally, as SpaceX wraps its first full day of public trading, we answer a listener’s question about whic...

Episode 206: It’s almost the Fourth of July!  Ann welcomes Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer of North America at Kraft Heinz, to the show. They discuss how the company is celebrating America 250 with its first-ever portfolio-wide campaign: 'The United Tastes of America,' which brings together its household brands, from Heinz Ketchup to Oscar Mayer. They also discuss Kraft Heinz’s decision to st...

Episode 205: Today, Ann unpacks Mercedes-Benz's decision to look skyward for its next frontier of growth by entering the drone arms race. Then, we survey earnings out of Navan and Oracle. Also: the European Central Bank just raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, - days before the Federal Reserve's next policy decision. Finally, we take a question from the audience to discuss the dif...

Episode 204: Today, Ann delves into the newly released inflation numbers - just one week before the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision. Then, what Cracker Barrel's earnings say about its turnaround efforts and what has Casey's stock on a tear. Also: we explore why Super Micro Computer shares are falling. Finally, we unpack the Wall Street story inside the NBA Finals and why shares of Ma...

Episode 203: Today, Ann digs into OpenAI’s IPO filing and the race to go public as a wave of blockbuster tech offerings head to Wall Street. Then, we survey earnings from J.M. Smucker, drugmaker GSK's $10.6 billion acquisition of Nuvalent and one of the largest private credit deals in history: Anthropic's newly finalized financing package led by Apollo and Blackstone. Finally, we welcome Erik Hirs...

Episode 202: Today, Ann explores the multibillion-dollar agreement between Corning and Amazon to help build out the tech giant’s next generation of U.S. AI data centers – and why Corning has emerged as one of the AI boom’s most unexpected winners. Then, we dive into earnings from Campbell's and Optical Cable Corporation. Also: Marvell Technology secures a spot in the S&P 500. Finally, we answer a...

Episode 201: Today, Ann welcomes Josh Isner, President of Axon - the public safety technology company originally known for the TASER and now behind body cameras, drones, counter-drone technology and AI-powered dispatch. Josh walks us through Axon's role in securing the World Cup, the explosive growth of its counter-drone business - up 300% last quarter - and what privacy issues come with the scale...

Episode 200: Today, Ann explores the unorthodox SpaceX IPO on the docket for next week - including Elon Musk’s “take it or leave it” approach to pricing.  Then we look at headlines moving the market, including earnings results out of Five Below and Petco and what sent their shares lower.  Finally, we answer a listener’s question about the breakup of Honeywell’s industrial conglomerate.  Check out:...