Activist Investors Call on Apple to Address Youth Phone Addiction
Apple under fire after two Apple investors urged the company to step up and play a bigger role in managing smartphone overuse and addiction. David Benoit, Activism Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, was with us to discuss why Jana Partners has decided to push Apple to develop tools and research the effects of smartphone overuse by young people.
Benoit says the investors aren’t saying its necessarily Apple’s responsibility to monitor phone usage. Instead, he thinks they believe that Apple could play an important role in acknowledging that they aren’t sure what the impact of all this phone usage will be, but could score points by giving parents the option to monitor usage.
Activist investors typically focus on things like buybacks and acquisitions. Benoit says this move by Jana Partners to take a stance on corporate responsibility is very different. He thinks following Jana's advice could help protect Apple from potential backlash on teen iPhone usage. In addition, Benoit says goodwill could help drive future sales if consumers feel Apple made a phone that is safe for kids.
Sustainable footwear and apparel company Allbirds made its public debut on the Nasdaq on Wednesday, and CFO Mike Bufano joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to discuss the IPO and the company's $3.3 billion valuation. Bufano attributed its recent success to product offerings and expanded brick and mortar locations. "There's lower returns when people go to a store and then there's no outbound shipping when people go to a store as well. So, the stores are both great brand beacons, they're profitable in and of themselves, and they help the overall margin profile of the business," he said.
Avis stock surged more than 200 percent on October 2 after the company reported better-than-expected earnings. The move comes as Avis also looks to get involved in the EV industry and Elon Musk clouded the issue over Tesla's contract with Hertz. Joel Hawthorne, head trader and CEO of the Morning Snapshot, gave Cheddar his insight into what's happening for the rental car company on Wall Street.
Rob Garf, VP of industry strategy and insights at Salesforce, joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to talk about the rising cost of goods this holiday season noting shoppers will be paying 20 percent more than the previous year. He explained that while consumers will be willing to spend more on gifts, they will likely purchase fewer items and visit fewer stores. Garf also said he expects the pandemic norm of online shopping to continue its growth during the holidays.
Nike and Dick's Sporting Goods announced an integration of their loyalty programs that will allow customers to shop for exclusive Nike branded apparel on the Dick's Sporting Goods platform. Customers will also be able to make returns at its retail locations even if shoes were purchased directly from Nike.
John Freeman, VP of equity research at CFRA Research, joined Cheddar to break down factors weighing on video game publisher Activision Blizzard as it deals with the fallout from delayed releases and sexual harassment scandals. While not great for business, Freeman also questioned if the issues of the toxic corporate culture could have had an impact on title delays as well.
Steven Salz, Co-Founder & CEO of Rivalry, joins Cheddar News to break down how the metaverse plays into Internet culture, how augmenting human experiences impacts businesses, and how 5G technology plays into making it all possible.
Bed Bath & Beyond and Kroger have announced a new e-commerce partnership as the grocer looks to expand home goods and baby product offerings. Bed Bath & Beyond is also expected to expand its online product stock.
