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.
The world's most valuable publicly traded company may actually be worth closer to $1.5 trillion, says Eric Jackson, founder and president of the investment firm EMJ. "This is a company that should be valued as a services business," he says, and that it should trade at a higher multiple to sales.
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Junta Nakai, global head of business development at fintech company Selerity, says automation in the financial industry has so far been primarily used by the consumer. But his technology will fundamentally change the way traders and financial analysts work.
The speaker maker acknowledged in its IPO filings that one risk to its business could be that partners like Amazon and Google could end their deals at any time. But on the day of the company's market debut, Sonos VP of Finance and Investor Relations Mike Groeninger says his company provides a "winning formula" and he's not worried. Sonos stock opened at $16 a share, above the IPO price, but below its expected range.
Mark Spiegel, managing member of Stanphyl Capital, says Tesla's second quarter was "just horrible," citing the electric carmaker's greater-than-expected loss, its cash-flow deficit and low demand for its Model 3 vehicle. Still, Spiegel says Tesla's current quarter could be the company's best ever, it just won't be as good as CEO Elon Musk says it will be.
Speaker maker Sonos went public Thursday, putting up almost 14 million shares for sale. Rob Marvin, associate features editor at PC Mag, breaks down what sort of competition and challenges the company will face moving forward.
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Tesla posted a bigger than expected loss, but CEO Elon Musk promises that by next quarter, the electric carmaker will turn a profit. Musk also apologized for his rude behavior during the first quarter earnings call, and investors seemed to accept his apology, as shared jumped after his comments.
Citibank is exploring various crypto products that it could offer retail customers, Cheddar has learned. Juliana Berger, a senior vice president of product in Citi’s mobile bank division, is overseeing the secretive initiative.
Mike Sievert, President and COO of T-Mobile U.S., joins Cheddar after the company's earnings report. He says that if the proposed merger with Sprint goes through, the combined companies will have seven times the wireless capacity they do individually and could actually increase competition in the field.
