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.
The driverless car revolution won't fully take over in the near term because safety needs to be mastered first, says Jeff Bracken, Group Vice President of the luxury carmaker. His comments come after Uber's fatal autonomous car crash last week, which has left the industry reeling.
In a bid to lure millennials, the luxury carmaker is testing out the new strategy with various pricing models, says Jeff Bracken, Lexus Group Vice President. The carmaker unveiled the Lexus UX model at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/lexus-unveils-a-new-compact-crossover-for-the-urban-explorer).
Facebook may warn users about how their data could be used, but Quartz's David Yanofsky says most people don't understand the full extent of that. And like other addictive products, they're unlikely to give up on it so easily.
The chipmaker pulled testing for its autonomous technology Tuesday, about a week after one of Uber's driverless cars killed a pedestrian. The Verge's Andrew Hawkins says the big players are "trying to be cautious."
Last Sunday, one of Uber's self-driving cars struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. The police said Uber was likely not at fault because the accident would have been hard to avoid, even for a human driver. However, reports have surfaced that uber's driverless technology was faltering well before the crash. Daisuke Wakabayashi, Reporter at the New York Times, breaks down the root of Uber's self-driving problems.
Tesla's new, mass-market car has done away with most controls on the dashboard and allows for panoramic views. Cheddar's Hope King got a look at one with a long-time waitlisted buyer.
In a rush to catch up with rivals, Uber plunged into the self-driving space in 2016. But its tests have failed even its own internal expectations, says Daisuke Wakabayashi, reporter at The New York Times.
Early Monday, the FTC confirmed it is investigating Facebook's data practices. Specifically, the FTC will look into whether the incident with Cambridge Analytica "is violating a previous agreement" with the FTC in 2011, says Kim Hart, managing editor at Axios.
Facebook shares continued to fall Monday after the FTC officially announced it was investigating the social media company over its privacy practices. Cheddar reached out to Facebook for a comment on the FTC probe and received the following statement from Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman:
“We remain strongly committed to protecting people’s information. We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have.”
Chad Morganlander, Portfolio Manager at Washington Crossing Advisors, weighs in on recent market volatility we've been experiencing. He also discusses Dropbox's public debut and whether the company can keep up momentum while so many other tech stocks are tanking. As far as what to expect from the markets moving forward, Morganlander says "put your seatbelt on, put your helmet on, and just ride out the volatility."
Bonnie Fuller, editor-in-chief at Hollywood Life, joins us to recap the biggest moments from the March For Our Lives rally in Washington over the weekend. Fuller says one of the most powerful moments was when Parkland student Emma Gonzalez remained silent for several minutes to represent how many minutes the shooting lasted. The students are planning another national school walkout next month to keep up the pressure on lawmakers to pass gun legislation.
Waymo has been taking a more "slow and steady approach" to self-driving tech than Uber and has racked up more miles of testing, says Alex Roy, Founder of The Human Driving Association. Uber took heat this week after one of its autonomous vehicles struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Ariz.
