Brew Markets

Episode 129: Today, Ann digs into the market’s reaction to the Supreme Court striking down the Trump administration’s tariffs, what the White House is signaling could come next and where it leaves businesses seeking refunds.  Then we look at a potential takeover of PayPal, a strong slate of films bringing hope to AMC and stuff-crust delivering for Domino’s.  Finally, amidst a continued sell-off of...

Episode 128: Today, Ann is joined by Scott Blackley, Chief Financial Officer of Oscar Health to discuss how the company is dusting itself off after a tough, loss-making 2025.  The conversation is a de-jargoned survey of the $1.5 trillion health insurance sector, including insights into the  realities of the Affordable Care Act, state-by-state regulation and how Oscar aims to scale through personal...

Episode 127: Today, Ann digs into reports that Accenture’s new AI policy monitors how its staff uses AI tools and directs promotions toward employees who are more AI-inclined - and what it might portend for people-centric businesses beyond tech.  Then we survey earrings from DoorDash and Walmart as the two companies seek to get a handle on consumer sentiment and spend on tech in the war for delive...

Episode 126: Ann breaks down today’s game film on Madison Square Garden Sports’ record-setting share price performance following news that the company is considering spinning-off the Knicks and Rangers - a classic example of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. Then we survey earnings from Moody’s, Fiverr and Wingstop - as leadership addresses AI adoption, the gig economy and potenti...

Episode 125: Today, Ann looks at two travel-related companies that are facing a growing stake from activist investors - one taking advantage of Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO stepping down - the other pushing for Tripadvisor to sell… itself.  Then we diagnose earrings from Medtronic the medical devices OG that went from producing the first wearable battery powered pacemaker to now developing robotic-...

Episode 124: Today, Ann is joined by the CFO at Match Group, Steve Bailey, to discuss how the company behind Hinge, Tinder and dozens of other dating apps is navigating “swipe fatigue” and skepticism over the insertion of AI into the matchmaking process and where the company is allocating money to reach new users and attract jilted investors back to the stock.  Then we take a look at The Vatican B...

Episode 123: Today, Ann digs into Meta’s SEC filings and financial engineering that’s kept a $27 billion data-center project off its balance sheet - and examines what it means for AI bubble fears.  Then we go inside Robinhood’s latest quarter that saw revenue up despite the drag from crypto’s crash - investor sentiment is mixed, but CEO Vlad Tenev is committed to the company’s future as a “Financi...

Episode 122: Today, Ann explores why - just 6 weeks into his position - Kraft Heinz CEO Steve Cahillane puts a pause on the company’s proposed split and how the market and tie-up architect Berkshire Hathaway received the big news.  Then we dig into earnings for Unity, the development platform behind some of the world’s most popular video games: revenue beat expectations, so why did the market pres...

Episode 121: Today, Ann discusses Spotify’s latest earnings report and why the streaming giant impressed investors besting expectations with a huge jump in subscribers and revenue.  Then we tackle 2026’s "software-mageddon" sell-off that has investors wondering which companies and products are best insulated from the encroachment of AI - we look at the latest numbers, the market results and even a...

Episode 120: Today, Ann explores what’s happening at Monday.com that caused its stock to drop 20% today - even on the back of a slight earnings beat (hint: the software company pulled guidance amidst the sector “choppiness” introduced by AI like Claude). Then, in the wake of a record number of bets placed on the Super Bowl and significant dips in their stock prices, we look at the bets “traditiona...

Episode 119: Today, Ann sits down with Kathy Lien, the Managing Director of FX Strategy at BK Asset Management.  With the U.S. dollar recently sinking to its lowest level in four years, gold and silver hitting all-time highs, and a brand-new Fed Chair nominee entering the picture, they break down what’s driving dollar valuation and what it means for investors and the global economy.  Then with the...

Episode 118: Today, Ann digs into e.l.f. Beauty’s earnings to gauge the impact of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, a year after e.l.f. bought the celebrity brand for a billion dollars in the thick of tariff turmoil.  Then, Ann is joined by PepsiCo CMO Mark Kirkham for a sneak peak inside the company’s advertising playbook going into Super Bowl weekend (hint: it features a polar bear).  Finally, we look at t...

Episode 118: Today, Ann explores how AI innovations - like Anthropic’s roll-out of new Claude tools - is disrupting once-reliable software cash flow machines like LegalZoom, wiping out $300 billion of market cap from the sector yesterday and sending the Nasdaq down another 1.5% today.  Then we look at the earnings for Uber - the company is touting record ridership and  generating cash, but can it...

Episode 116: Today, Ann explores the possibility of Elon Musk helming two public companies at once with the announced tie-up and IPO of SpaceX and xAI - the dual-role has been done before, but with mixed results.  Then we drill down on earnings from Grainger, the century-old industrial giant whose stock just hit a 52-week high - did the company deliver in its aim to stock an “endless assortment” o...

Episode 115: Today, Ann examines earnings from Disney - despite a boffo year at the box office and streaming growth, the stock is dragged down by expensive sports rights, fewer foreign visitors to U.S. parks and a looming succession challenge.  Then we look at earnings from SoFi - despite having its first billion dollar quarter, shares are down as the market asks if the fintech can maintain its gr...

Episode 114: Today, Ann is at the Nasdaq in Times Square for a conversation with the exchange’s Vice Chairman Bob McCooey about the outlook for IPOs this year and how the company positions itself to potentially win rumored listings from the likes of SpaceX, Anthropic and Databricks.  They also review investing in Asian companies, Walmart’s unprecedented move from the NYSE to the Nasdaq, the rise o...

Episode 113: Today, Ann shares her firsthand experience at today’s NYC Starbucks Investor Day and how the coffee giant’s CEO Brian Niccol is positioning its comeback around an elevated customer experience.  Next, we put tickers on stickers and role play as the biggest defense companies that reported earnings this week - military budgets are up as is scrutiny from the White House.  Finally, Meta co...

Episode 112: Today, Ann reviews Anta’s plan to buy a 29% stake in Puma - positioning China’s biggest sportswear group to take on Nike as the American sneaker OG struggles through a global turnaround.  Then we look at earnings from AT&T and Seagate - the telecom veteran’s stock is up on low churn and the pioneer hard drive maker is innovating its product for AI build.  Finally, we look at the lates...

Episode 111: Today, Ann covers Meta’s multi-year deal with Corning for $6 billion of fiber-optic cable from the 175-year old glass company that also manufactures 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass… what a tech GLoW-up!   Then we survey UnitedHealthcare’s struggles: soft earnings, investigations into its Medicare Advantage business and affordability pressure from the federal government have...

Episode 110: Episode 110: Today, Ann explores Capital One’s move into fintech with the acquisition of Brex at a nearly 60% discount from its peak valuation.  VCs are looking to get their money out of long-running bets and this deal sees early investors making a good return, while others are left holding the bag.  Then we go inside Intel’s supply and demand issues that have the stock tumbling - and...

Episode 109: Today, Ann discusses small-cap stocks with Manny Weintraub, Principal at investment firm Cannell & Spears.  After a year dominated by mega-cap tech and AI, small-caps are making a run and Weintraub shares how he defines the category and evaluates companies for stability and cash flow.  He previews some stocks that have his attention and lays out why ETFs may not be the best play here....

Episode 108: Today, Ann looks at a new partnership between insurer Lemonade and Tesla that uses driving data to cut rates for Full Self Driving cars - a move that sent shares higher today for both companies.  Then we look at earnings from two historic companies: Procter and Gamble and General Electric - P&G is expanding luxury into diapers and GE is riding a tailwind in aviation.  Finally, we surv...

Episode 107: Today, Ann surveys Berkshire Hathaway’s expected retreat from Kraft Heinz - a decade on and after billions in losses in the ill-fated food tie-up, Berkshire’s new CEO is already making big moves.  Then we pour through Netflix’s earnings and the company’s PR campaign for Warner Brothers Discovery - the investor narrative is concern about debt, price hikes and content spend in 2026. Fin...

Episode 106: Today, ahead of President Trump’s appearance in Davos, Ann examines the latest in the White House bid for Greenland, what’s at stake for the European-US trade relationship and how markets are reacting to the rhetoric.  Then we explore the fallout from a data breach at South Korea’s Coupang - the e-commerce giant that draws comparisons to Amazon: a CEO is out, a former employee is on t...

Episode 105:  Today, Ann welcomes energy guru Alix Steel - Principal at DrivePath Advisors and formerly of Bloomberg - to demystify the energy sector.  The engaging and dynamic conversation brings context and life to a jargon-filled industry.  Alix guides us through OPEC, U.S. shale and Venezuela’s gooey heavy crude.  We explore why oil majors have diversified into renewables and why they might no...