E*TRADE Generation Trader: FitBit's Position in Wearable Tech
FitBit is a pioneer in wearable technology. But the company has recently shifted its strategy amid competition from the Apple Watch, and as the wearable market has failed to really see mass adoption. Cheddar's Hope King and Brad Smith explore the company's performance using E*Trade's innovative platform.
Adult wearable technology users in the U.S. is expected to grow nearly 12 percent this year, according to eMarketer. In a survey conducted by Cheddar, 18 percent said they own a FitBit compared to 27 percent who've said they own an Apple Watch. 47 percent of those surveyed by Cheddar say they don't wear any wearable technology.
FitBit has had an up and down year, with shares ranging between $5 and $7 a share. Overall, shares are down 17 percent over the course of the past year. The company did introduce its first smartwatch in 2017, and is looking to directly compete against the Apple Watch at a similar price point. Shares also hit a 52-week high in December during the holiday shopping season.
FitBit reports fourth quarter earnings after the Closing Bell Monday. Analysts expect revenue of nearly $590 Million, and to break even in profit.
After Facebook and its family of platforms were down for nearly eight hours on Monday, other social media platforms like Snapchat saw a surge in usage. The social media platform already popular with teens saw a 20 percent jump in activity during Facebook's global outage.
Google's users will now have extensive greener options. The updated services across platforms will allow users to look for eco-friendly routes in Google Maps, book flights with low carbon emissions, and reduce energy usage at home with Nest thermostats.
The recent California oil spill has wreaked havoc on the shores of Huntington Beach as wildlife habitats and potentially some people have been exposed to the 140,000+ gallons of oil in the ocean. Cheddar News was joined by Dr. Deborah Bronsan, President of Deborah Bronson & Associates to learn more about the environmental dangers and how the area can recover from this tragedy.
Shares for Netflix ($NFLZ) surged on survey data that showed people still saw the streaming platform as offering the best content compared to its competitors. A report by investment banking company Cowen Inc. reported the findings, rating it an outperform, and expects Netflix to garner 3.6 million new subscribers in Q3.
