I'm The Blog

Feel free to read our awesome blog.

CEO Mindset Quotes That Keep Me Honest and Inspired


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Quotations are popular for a reason — sometimes a short piece of wisdom is exactly what’s needed to inspire you, keep you honest or ground you in your values. The ones that tend to stick with you might be large ideas contained in small pieces of text or simple advice that helps you remember something important. They can feel inspiring and give us principles to remember to live by.

I’m known to wear a variety of printed T-shirts with words of motivation on them to help me remember something important to me and to inspire others around me because I love to share an inspiring message. So here are eight of my favorite quotes for CEOs and why I think they’re useful to remember:

Related: 30 of the Most Inspirational Leadership Quotes

1. “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one!” — Cameron Herold, author and coach

One of my favorite quotes that got me to take action was this one from Cameron Herold. This quote represents one of the most important lessons for an entrepreneur to learn — your time is your most valuable resource, so spend it on the tasks that are most important. That means delegating anything that doesn’t require your level of expertise. Would you pay someone your salary to do the work of an assistant? If you don’t have one, you’re already doing that!

2. “It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s more than okay to listen to the people you lead — in fact, it’s essential.” — Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors

Strong leadership requires some level of vulnerability. Admitting when you don’t know something, asking for help and listening to your employees are markers of an effective leader. The leader who tries to do it all on their own will never accomplish as much as the leader who values the expertise of others.

3. “All our productivity, leverage and insight comes from being part of a community, not apart from it. The goal, I think, is to figure out how to become more dependent, not less.” — Seth Godin, author and speaker

One of the most important leadership lessons to learn is that your greatest business asset is your team. Each person brings a unique perspective and skillset, and the best innovations happen in collaboration. Your community extends beyond just your team as well — friends, mentors and family members all provide valuable, enriching relationships. Don’t neglect them.

4. “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” — William Shakespeare

If there’s anyone who managed to set a remarkable legacy, it was Shakespeare. More than what you accomplish, people will remember the way you behaved. And your legacy doesn’t just start after you die; it’s already in action, in the way people associate with you. A legacy and reputation as an honest person will take you far.

Related: 15 Quotes on Success From America’s Top CEOs

5. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

As the CEO of your business, your creativity is one of your most valuable skills, so it’s worth taking the time to practice it. I’m known for dedicating a day each week to creative endeavors to help keep my creative muscles in shape. And I highly encourage everyone to make intentional time for creativity, because the more often you do it, the more easily ideas will come to you.

6. “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” —Harry S. Truman

Stop letting your thoughts get in your way. It’s easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude under the guise of “realism,” but the reality is that it’s optimists who tend to get the best outcomes. Why? Because they’re not easily discouraged, so they’re more likely to learn from their mistakes and keep trying. As opera singer Robert Breault said, “The realist sees reality as concrete. The optimist sees reality as clay.”

7. “What looks like multitasking is really switching back and forth between multiple tasks, which reduces productivity and increases mistakes by up to 50%.” — Susan Cain, author

If you’re anything like the majority of entrepreneurs I know, you’re always trying to do more with your time. Time is your most valuable resource, so it’s important to use it wisely — which is exactly why multitasking is a bad idea. You’ll always get more done when you dedicate your focus to a single task and give it your all.

Related: ‘Let’s Punch Today in the Face!’ 20 Inspiring Quotes and Sayings That Motivated Successful Entrepreneurs

8. “The best way to drive performance in an organization is to create an environment in which information can flow freely, mistakes can be highlighted, and help can be offered and received.” — Simon Sinek, author and speaker

Creating a productive workplace culture can seem dauntingly complex to many executives, but the core of it is collaboration, where each employee is given the resources to perform their best. And in order to have strong collaboration, you need a creative and judgment-free environment where people can bring their ideas, perspectives and expertise to the table, communicate freely, take ownership over their tasks, ask for help when needed and have the freedom to make mistakes. When you create a culture of collaboration, that’s where innovation begins.

If you found one of these quotes particularly inspiring or helpful, write it down on a sticky note and put it somewhere you can see it regularly. Sometimes these short reminders are exactly what we need to refocus and maintain our perspective.



Source link

Train Your Design Team with This Adobe Creative Cloud Course Bundle, Only $24.97


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

You could be crafting a new logo for your revamped business or trying to optimize the layout for your website, but either way, the odds are you’ll use one of the tools in the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite to do it. Or if you don’t, the high-priced pro you hired will — considering 33 million creatives use it, according to ProDesignTools.

Whether you’re trying to cut costs or keep all your design work in-house, if you want to familiarize yourself with the Creative Cloud Suite, there’s a much easier method than trial and error. The All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite comes with ten courses and 73 hours of material showing you the ins and outs of apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Animate, and Affect Effects, and it’s only $24.97 this week.

Train on industry standard design software.

This bundle gives you the chance to train yourself or give your creative team the tools to learn some of the most common apps in the creative field. Courses are not linear, so you can join any you want or need and study video lectures led by real design professionals.

This bundle does not come with the apps themselves, but anyone enrolled can join courses to learn about Premiere Pro, Lightroom, After Effects, Animate, Illustrator, Photoshop, and XD. You don’t need any prior experience to start this bundle, and several courses even go into advanced topics to help you quickly get the hang of complex software.

Become an Adobe Creative Cloud aficionado.

Train yourself or your team on the design software behind the creative industry.

For this week only, you can get the All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle for $24.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

Save $360 on This Bundle Featuring Windows 11 Pro and Office Pro 2019 Through March 24


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

With over 1.5 billion active users, Microsoft’s Windows product line is a proven commodity among professionals across industries. In order to maximize the potential of this technology, the occasional upgrade is required, and we’re serving up a pair of high-performing products for one low price.

For a limited time, the All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle can be purchased at only $49.97 (reg. $408). This deal does not require a coupon and lasts through March 24 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

Featuring touchscreen capabilities and an array of customizable settings, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro brings your operating system up to speed and unlocks new potential. Enhance user interface efficiency and reduce lagging with an OS that offers information protection and additional security, such as data encryption, while supplying access to DirectX 12 Ultimate and Microsoft Teams.

Looking to make the most of your new OS? Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is an ideal resource for content creators and data crunches alike. It comes equipped with these programs:

  • Access for database management.
  • Excel for data analysis and budgeting.
  • OneNote for accurate and easier note-taking.
  • Outlook for improved email efficiency.
  • PowerPoint for the creation of impactful visual presentations.
  • Publisher for page layout and graphic design.
  • Word for text processing and written documents.
  • Publisher for page layout and graphic design.

This package carries a store rating of 4.1 out of 5 based on verified buyer reviews. Five-star feedback features a February 2024 review that reads, “Both licenses are added to your Microsoft account, so they are also backed up and tied to your account, which is another plus and peace of mind.”

Instantly improve your setup with a boost from The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle, available at only $49.97 (reg. $408) through March 24 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

Generate Images, Text, and More with This $44.97 AI Toolset


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to completely change how you do business. As it turns out, 77% of companies are either using AI already or exploring how they could use it. So, the time to find out how to best use AI to get ahead of the competition is now. All AI isn’t made the same, and even if other companies are using it, you could pull ahead by getting access to a full AI toolset vs. using a general chatbot.

Producti is an all-in-one AI toolkit that helps with everything from content creation to personal growth. Whether you need to simplify complex tasks or find new ways to streamline difficult and labor-intensive workflows, Producti could give you the tools to get the job done. And you can even get a lifetime subscription to Producti AI Pro for $44.97.

Producti gives you AI tools for everything from crafting compelling content to managing tasks and scheduling meetings. It’s like a whole team of skilled pros at your fingertips. If you need to write copy for a landing page, use Producti’s AI content generation. If you need a few pictures for that page, just switch over to image generation.

Video content may help pull in a bigger audience on socials, but you don’t need to hire voice actors. Use Producti for text-to-speech conversion. You can also use Producti for coding, chat support, and so much more. And lifetime access means you get to take advantage of all Producti updates still to come.

Get AI tools to generate text, images, and more.

Use code TAKE5 to get a lifetime subscription to Producti AI for $44.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

Learn How to Change Your Business with Excel — Just $35 for 48 Hours Only


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Being competent or even advanced with Microsoft Excel has proven to be something that can save your business time and money while also improving productivity. From running formulas to automating data calculations to better-keeping track of budgets and spending, this program can serve in so many ways.

For those who want to learn Excel on a budget, during this 48-hour flash sale for St. Patrick’s Day that ends on March 17, you can get The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $399). This bundle features 16 courses and nearly 100 hours of content on Microsoft Excel with a range of courses for all experience levels.

In Microsoft Excel 2021/365 Beginners Course, you can explore 100 lectures to learn how to navigate the Excel 2021 interface. This course features helpful keyboard shortcuts, formatting lessons, and even lessons on how to analyze data with charts. It has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars. The course is followed up in the bundle with an intermediate course and an advanced course. The bundle also includes courses on Excel 2019, Excel for business analysts, pivot tables, and more.

Every course in this bundle is taught by an instructor from StreamSkill, which has a background in teaching over one million students online with an average 4.4/5 star instructor rating.

During a 48-hour flash sale for St. Patrick’s Day that ends on March 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

Build Apps for Your Business with This $39.97 Platform


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Building an app could do a lot for your business, from expanding your reach to adding new ways for people to purchase or access your services. However, the average cost for creating even a simple app ranges from $10,000 to $60,000, according to one report from SpdLoad. Outsourcing app creation isn’t your only option, though. You could also give your team the tools to create your own apps, whether it’s for desktop or mobile users.

Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a 64-bit Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with tools to help developers refine their performance and improve efficiency. If you want to equip your team with an IDE they can use to build mobile and desktop applications, get Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 for Windows for just $39.97.

Visual Studio Pro could help enhance your developer team’s productivity by streamlining the coding process overall. This IDE may be ideal for handling larger and more complex projects. This IDE lets developers build cross-platform mobile and desktop applications using .NET MAUI or create responsive web UIs in C# with Blazor. Additionally, the IDE supports debugging and testing of .NET and C++ apps in Linux environments, providing flexibility for developers working across different platforms.

One of the most significant opportunities to streamline coding processes is Visual Studio Pro’s IntelliCode and CodeLens. IntelliCode lets developers learn more about the code they’ve already written and get suggestions for how to continue. CodeLens offers developers deeper insights into the codebase, including recent changes, authors, tests, and commit history. No more wondering who made a change and what it did.

Give your developer team the tools to simplify their workload and increase efficiency.

Until March 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 for Windows for $39.97, with no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

Stay in Contact with This $39.97 Smartwatch


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Communication is an essential part of a functional business. TeamStage reports that 86% of employees blame company failures on poor communication, and one vital step to limiting that risk is making sure you’re always available. Something as simple as a low-cost smartwatch could help that happen.

The MagPRO is a multifunctional smartwatch with a customizable face and magnetic band. This versatile smartwatch is a match for professionals who always need a way to stay apprised of what’s going on at the office but may not be able to be there in person. Whether remote, traveling, or on the road, you can stay connected on a budget with the MagPRO, and it’s only $39.97 for this week.

Keep your team on hand.

Running a business is never the same thing day to day, but this budget-friendly smartwatch is versatile enough to match the flexible professional. It comes with functions for everything from health tracking to activity monitoring and connectivity. And, of course, it also tells you the time.

This smartwatch connects via Bluetooth with your smartphone to receive message alerts and social notifications. It can also track your steps while running to meetings or monitor other wellness data like your estimated calories burned and blood pressure. Just keep in mind that this smartwatch isn’t medical equipment. You can even use the MagPRO at the gym with different presets for tracking sports like basketball, soccer, swimming, and cycling, among others. Plus, it’s IP67 waterproof, but don’t wear it in the pool.

It’s not all function over form here. This smartwatch has a sleek black matte finish and an adjustable magnetic band. Wear it to meetings to check your notifications without ever needing to pull out your phone.

Invest in communication.

Make sure you’re available when your team needs you.

This week only, get the MagPRO Smartwatch on sale for just $39.97, with no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



Source link

What Big Companies Paid (or Didn’t) in Federal Income Taxes: Report


Some of America’s biggest companies, including Tesla, T-Mobile, and Netflix, were front and center in a new report that reveals how much companies paid in federal income taxes — compared to how much they made in profit, and what they paid their top executives.

The Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness released a report Wednesday that highlighted “a significant number” of major U.S. companies, 35 in total, that paid its top five executives more than they paid in federal income taxes between 2018 and 2022.

Elon Musk’s Tesla was No. 1 on the list. The company paid its top five executives $2.5 billion over five years while bringing in $4.4 billion in U.S. profit.

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk speaks to the media next to its Model S during a press conference in Hong Kong. 25JAN16 SCMP/ Nora Tam (Photo by Nora Tam/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Musk has a net worth of around $184 billion, with about $69.7 billion of that total based on the value of his Tesla stock, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Musk is one of the top three richest people in the world.

The report points out that despite Tesla’s record profits, the company “has never paid a nickel in federal income taxes.” A potential cause of this trend, according to the report, could be Tesla carrying losses forward from before it became profitable.

“These loss carryforwards smooth out the often boom-bust nature of corporate finances,” the report reads.

Related: ‘Next Tesla’ Electric Car Startups Hit Speed Bump: ‘Investors Want To See Demand’

T-Mobile was second on the list, with a profit of $17.9 billion in the U.S. over five years and zero net federal income taxes. The top five executives there were paid $675 million from 2018-2022, according to the report, with CEO and president Mike Sievert receiving $158 million of that total.

There are a number of tax avoidance, or tax minimizing, strategies mentioned in the report, including shifting American profits to offshore tax havens or using stock option tax deductions.

The report does not take state, local, or payroll taxes into account.

Related: Elon Musk Warns Tesla Workers They’ll Be Sleeping on the Production Line to Build Its New Mass-Market EV



Source link

Alibaba (BABA) and Amazon (AMZN) – Unveiling the Unbeatable Reasons to Buy


With rapid e-commerce expansion, the upsurge in social media networking, and the emergence of new, advanced technologies, the internet industry is flourishing. Amid this, let’s analyze compelling factors that make internet stocks Alibaba (BABA) and Amazon (AMZN) ideal buys now. Continue reading….

The growing use of the internet worldwide shows no signs of slowing down. With widespread internet usage, an increasing number of individuals are immersing themselves in online activities, resulting in the surge of e-commerce, social media networking, online banking and financial management, streaming services, remote work and collaboration tools, and more.

Given this backdrop, it could be wise to invest in fundamentally sound internet stocks Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) for potential gains.

In recent years, the internet industry has experienced a revolutionary transformation. Over the past decade, it has transformed from static web pages to an interactive platform encouraging user engagement and connections. The widespread adoption of the internet and the proliferation of digital technologies have reshaped the way we communicate, work, shop, and access information.

Internet users who visit social networks have spiked rapidly over the past years. As of 2019, 77.5% of internet users globally visited a social network and the corresponding figure for 2024 is expected to reach 82.3%.

China, with 1.05 billion users, and the United States, with 311 million users, are among the countries with the highest number of internet users. This growth of the internet is fuelled by various factors, including the affordability of smartphones and mobile data, along with the popularity of online activities such as e-commerce, streaming services, and online learning.

With the high internet usage, e-commerce traffic has also been surged. Mobile devices drive 65% of e-commerce traffic adding to the massive population quantum engaged in online services.

The e-commerce market size is estimated at $8.80 trillion in 2024. Further, it is anticipated to result in a market volume of $18.81 trillion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

As per recent industry calculations, the United States is expected to rank top among 20 countries globally in retail e-commerce development from 2024 to 2028, with a CAGR of 11.8%. The U.S. e-commerce market is currently valued at $843 billion. By 2026, the U.S. online retail market value is projected to surpass the trillion-dollar mark.

Considering these conducive trends, let’s take a look at the fundamentals of the internet stocks: AMZN and BABA.

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)

AMZN engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscription services through online and physical stores internationally. It operates through three segments: North America; International; and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, like Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, and Blink.

On March 4, 2024, AWS, an AMZN company, launched an infrastructure region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AWS region will allow customers to run workloads and securely store customer content in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while serving end users with even lower latency. AWS plans to invest more than $5.30 billion in the plan.

The announcement of the new region reflects AWS’ long-term commitment to meeting the high demand for cloud services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East. It will offer a greater choice for running their applications and serving end users, from data centers to customers like developers, startups, entrepreneurs, and enterprises.

On February 26, AWS announced its collaboration with NTT DOCOMO, INC. (DOCOMO), Japan’s leading mobile operator with more than 89 million subscribers, to commercially deploy DOCOMO’s nationwide 5G Open Radio Access Network (RAN) in Japan. AWS also united with DOCOMO’s OREX initiative to promote the mobile industry’s Open RAN efforts globally.

AWS will deploy Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service Anywhere (Amazon EKS Anywhere), a container management software, enabling the operator to run and optimize its 5G Open RAN easily. Amazon EKS Anywhere will also allow easier integration with other AWS services in AWS Regions, expanding AWS operations further.

AMZN’s trailing-12-month gross profit margin and EBIT margin of 46.98% and 14.88% are 31.2% and 37% higher than the respective industry averages of 35.80% and 10.86%. Similarly, the stock’s trailing-12-month net income margin of 5.29% is 11.1% higher than the industry average of 4.76%.

For the fourth quarter that ended December 31, 2023, AMZN’s total net sales increased 13.9% year-over-year to $691.96 billion, of which its net sales from North America were $105.51 billion, indicating growth of 13% year-over-year. The company’s operating income grew 382.6% from the year-ago value to $13.21 billion.

In addition, the company’s net income and EPS came in at $10.62 billion and $1, up 3721.6% and 3233.3% from the prior year’s quarter, respectively. Its total assets stood at $527.85 billion as of December 31, 2023, compared to $462.67 billion as of December 31, 2022.

As per the first quarter 2024 guidance, the company’s net sales are expected to be between $138 billion and $143.50 billion, or grow between 8% and 13% compared to the first quarter 2023. Its operating income is expected to range from $8 billion to $12 billion.

Analysts expect AMZN’s revenue and EPS for the first quarter (ending March 2024) to increase 11.9% and 171.5% year-over-year to $142.49 billion and $0.84, respectively. Further, the company has topped the consensus revenue and EPS estimates in all four trailing quarters, which is remarkable.

AMZN’s stock has gained 28.2% over the past six months and 85.1% over the past year to close the last trading session at $173.51.

AMZN’s bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, each weighted to an optimal degree.

AMZN’s stock has an A grade for Growth and Sentiment and a B for Momentum and Quality. Within the B-rated Internet industry, AMZN is ranked #6 of 51 stocks.

Click here to access additional ratings of AMZN (Value and Stability).

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA)

Based in Hangzhou, China, BABA provides technology infrastructure and marketing reach for better engagement between businesses and their customers worldwide. It operates through seven segments: China Commerce; International Commerce; Local Consumer Services; Cainiao; Cloud; Digital Media and Entertainment; and Innovation Initiatives and Others.

On February 5, 2024, it was announced that BABA would provide Tmall Global in China following receipt of the initial set of approvals to NextPlat Corp, a global e-commerce provider, for the launch of its exclusive OPKO Health-branded storefront. Initially, the new e-commerce storefront would support sales of up to 40 personal health and wellness products.

On January 9, BABA announced the launch of its latest Smart Assistant features powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The Smart Assistant, an AI-powered global sourcing tool, caters to both newcomers and seasoned entrepreneurs in the dynamic world of global commerce.

BABA’s trailing-12-month EBIT and net income margins of 13.74% and 10.81% are 82.8% and 127% higher than the respective industry averages of 7.51% and 4.76%. Likewise, the stock’s trailing-12-month levered FCF margin of 15.77% is considerably higher than the industry average of 5.53%.

BABA’s revenue for the third quarter that ended December 31, 2023, increased 5.1% year-over-year to $36.67 billion. Its non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS came in at $6.75 billion and $0.33, respectively. The company’s adjusted EBITDA increased marginally year-over-year to $8.39 billion.

As of December 31, 2023, the company’s cash and cash equivalents came in at $35.89 billion.

Street expects BABA’s revenue for the fourth quarter (ending March 2024) to increase 3.1% year-over-year to $30.52 billion. Likewise, the company’s EPS for the current quarter is expected to grow 2.7% year-over-year to $1.56. Moreover, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.

BABA’s shares have gained 3.1% over the past three months to close the last trading session at $73.71.

BABA’s sound fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.

The stock has a B grade for Momentum, Value, and Quality. Within the China industry, BABA is ranked #14 of 40 stocks.

In addition to the POWR Ratings we’ve stated above, we also have BABA ratings for Growth, Sentiment, and Stability. Get all BABA ratings here.

What To Do Next?

Discover 10 widely held stocks that our proprietary model shows have tremendous downside potential. Please make sure none of these “death trap” stocks are lurking in your portfolio:

10 Stocks to SELL NOW! >


AMZN shares were unchanged in premarket trading Thursday. Year-to-date, AMZN has gained 14.20%, versus a 7.25% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


About the Author: Mangeet Kaur Bouns

Mangeet’s keen interest in the stock market led her to become an investment researcher and financial journalist. Using her fundamental approach to analyzing stocks, Mangeet’s looks to help retail investors understand the underlying factors before making investment decisions.

More…

The post Alibaba (BABA) and Amazon (AMZN) – Unveiling the Unbeatable Reasons to Buy appeared first on StockNews.com



Source link

Elevate Your Portfolio With These 3 Steel Stocks


Following a slowdown in demand and destocking measures undertaken last year, the global steel industry is expected to see demand recover this year. Given this backdrop, investors could consider buying fundamentally strong steel stocks Companhia Siderúrgica (SID), Reliance (RS) and Acerinox (ANIOY). Read on.

Despite persistent headwinds, the steel industry is expected to expand due to rising demand from developing countries like India, favorable government policies that focus on infrastructure development, rapid urbanization, a recovery of demand in China, and technological advancements.

Given the industry’s bright prospects, it could be wise to consider investing in fundamentally solid steel stocks Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (SID), Reliance, Inc. (RS) and Acerinox, S.A. (ANIOY).

Before diving deeper into the fundamentals of these stocks, let’s understand what’s shaping the steel industry’s prospects.

The steel industry is an essential component of the global economy, as steel is used in various applications, including construction, transportation, energy, and packaging. The global steel market is expected to grow at a 2.8% CAGR to reach $1.08 trillion by 2028.

The global steel market took a hit last year as China, the world’s biggest steel consumer, saw its economy struggle due to a property crisis. The steel market also suffered due to weaker growth in several large economies, leading to lower sales.

Destocking was one of the primary reasons steel companies saw their margins getting squeezed. According to the World Steel Association, world crude steel production was 148.1 million tonnes (Mt) in January 2024, a 1.6% decline from January 2023.

Major steel producer ArcelorMittal S.A. (MT) has said that although real demand for steel is likely to remain lackluster this year, apparent demand is showing signs of improvement as destocking reaches maturity. MT’s CEO Genuino Christino has said that world apparent steel demand, excluding China, is expected to grow by 3% to 4% year-over-year in 2024.

China’s economy is expected to continue its recovery with the range of stimulus measures announced by the government that is expected to support demand growth from infrastructure spending. Steel consumption in China is expected to grow between zero and 2%.

Fitch Ratings believes steel demand growth will continue in most regions, with global consumption rising by 20 million tonnes and 30 million tonnes this year compared to 2023. India will drive the demand growth, and Turkey will continue its strong recovery. Europe, the U.S., and Brazil will see demand grow at a moderate pace.

Furthermore, the steel industry is on the verge of a transformational period, propelled by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. These technologies have the potential to transform the industry by increasing automation, boosting quality control, optimizing the supply chain, enabling predictive maintenance, and much more.

Steelmakers may use AI and robotics to improve efficiency, cut costs, and reduce downtime. Investors’ interest in steel stocks is evident from the VanEck Steel ETF’s (SLX) 17.5% returns over the past nine months.

With these favorable trends in mind, let’s delve into the fundamentals of the three Steel stock picks, beginning with the third choice.

Stock #3: Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (SID)

Headquartered in São Paulo, SID is an integrated steel producer in Brazil and Latin America. It operates through five segments: Steel, Mining, Logistics, Energy, and Cement.

SID’s trailing-12-month CAPEX/Sales of 8.62% is 13.6% higher than the industry average of 7.59%.

For the fiscal third quarter that ended September 30, 2023, SID’s net sales revenue increased 2.1% year-over-year to R$11.13 billion ($2.24 billion). Its gross profit and adjusted EBITDA stood at R$2.81 billion ($565.76 million) and R$2.82 billion ($567.76 million), up 10.5% and 3.7% year-over-year, respectively.

For the same quarter, its net income stood at R$90.79 million ($18.31 million). As of September 30, 2023, SID’s current liabilities stood at R$20.68 billion ($4.17 billion), compared to R$21.39 billion ($4.31 billion) as of September 30, 2022.

Street expects SID’s EPS for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, to increase significantly year-over-year to $0.19. Its revenue is expected to increase 8.6% year-over-year to $2.35 billion for the same period. Over the past six months, the stock has gained 34% to close the last trading session at $3.31.

SID’s POWR Ratings reflect this promising outlook. It has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.

It has a B grade for Growth and Stability. Within the A-rated Steel industry, it is ranked #15 out of 31 stocks. To see SID’s rating for Value, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality, click here.

Stock #2: Reliance, Inc. (RS)

RS operates as a diversified metal solutions provider and metals service center company. The company distributes a line of approximately 100,000 metal products and provides metals processing services to general manufacturing, non-residential construction, transportation, aerospace, energy, electronics and semiconductor fabrication, and heavy industries.

On February 14, 2024, RS announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests and related real estate assets of American Alloy Steel, Inc., a leading distributor of specialty carbon and alloy steel plate and round bar, including PVQ material.

This acquisition will broaden RS’s product portfolio and market position in the specialty carbon and alloy steel industries. It is expected to improve RS’s capacity to service customers across a variety of industries, including energy, defense, and manufacturing.

RS’s trailing-12-month ROTA of 12.75% is 350.2% higher than the industry average of 2.83%. Its 12.03% trailing-12-month ROTC is 137% higher than the 5.08% industry average. Additionally, its 18.04% trailing-12-month ROCE is 190.9% higher than the 6.20% industry average.

RS’s net sales for the fiscal fourth quarter (ended December 31, 2023) stood at $3.34 billion, while its operating income came in at $325.10 million. The company’s non-GAAP net income attributable to RS and non-GAAP EPS stood at $274.40 million and $4.73, respectively.

Moreover, the company’s total current liabilities stood at $843.60 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $1.38 billion as of December 31, 2022.

Over the past nine months, the stock has gained 33.8% to close the last trading session at $320.26.

It’s no surprise that RS has an overall B rating, equating to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system.

It has a B grade for Sentiment and Quality. It is ranked #14 in the same industry. Beyond what is stated above, we’ve also rated RS for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Stability. Get all RS ratings here.

Stock #1: Acerinox, S.A. (ANIOY)

Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, ANIOY manufactures, transforms, and markets stainless steel products. Its offerings include coil cold rollings, hot rolled coils, roughing materials, discs, billets, and plates.

On February 5, 2024, ANIOY announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Acerinox’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, North American Stainless (NAS), will acquire Haynes International, a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of technologically advanced high-performance alloys.

This acquisition will enable Acerinox to broaden its product offerings and improve its position in the high-performance alloys industry.

ANIOY’s trailing-12-month ROCE of 9.34% is 50.7% higher than the 6.20% industry average. Its trailing-12-month ROTA of 3.74% is 32.1% higher than the 2.83% industry average. Additionally, its 1.07x trailing-12-month asset turnover ratio is 56.4% higher than the 0.68x industry average.

ANIOY’s net sales amounted to €1.53 billion ($1.66 billion) in the fiscal fourth quarter that ended December 2023. The company’s EBITDA came in at €96 million ($104.37 million), up 6.7% year-over-year.

In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the company’s current liabilities stood at €1.90 billion ($2.07 billion), compared to €1.95 billion ($2.12 billion) as of December 31, 2022.

For the quarter ending June 30, 2024, ANIOY’s revenue is expected to increase 1.1% year-over-year to $1.95 billion. Over the past six months, the stock has gained 5.1% to close the last trading session at $5.20.

ANIOY’s strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of A, which equates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.

It is ranked #2 in the Steel industry. It has a B grade for Value, Stability, and Quality. To see the additional ANIOY ratings for Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment, click here.

What To Do Next?

43 year investment veteran, Steve Reitmeister, has just released his 2024 market outlook along with trading plan and top 11 picks for the year ahead.

2024 Stock Market Outlook >


RS shares were unchanged in premarket trading Wednesday. Year-to-date, RS has gained 14.51%, versus a 6.71% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


About the Author: Rashmi Kumari

Rashmi is passionate about capital markets, wealth management, and financial regulatory issues, which led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. With a master’s degree in commerce, she aspires to make complex financial matters understandable for individual investors and help them make appropriate investment decisions.

More…

The post Elevate Your Portfolio With These 3 Steel Stocks appeared first on StockNews.com



Source link