*By Michael Teich*
Amazon inked a new partnership with American Express, but don't expect the financial industry to be the next area the tech giant jumps into.
"The thing that people misunderstand is that tech companies don't want to manufacture financial products," said Lex Sokolin, Global Director of Fintech Strategy at Autonomous Research. "It's about making the ecosystem and the platform more powerful, and finance is just a feature inside of that."
American Express announced Tuesday it will launch a co-branded Amazon credit card for small businesses. The move accelerates Amazon's foray into financial products and strengthens its position as a lender. The goal, Sokolin said, is to enable small businesses to finance their activities, getting more products on Amazon's platform, and ultimately driving more commerce.
Plus, the opportunity costs of devoting itself to the financial industry are too high.
"Amazon has tremendous high-growth, super interesting, blue oceans to explore,” he said. "They could be investing in building a mortgage business, or they can build artificial intelligence business."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/amazon-bolsters-financial-prowess-with-new-credit-card)
PepsiCo and Beyond Meat are partnering together to launch a plant-based jerky. This is the first in a series of plant-based foods the pair will roll out together.
M&M's is rebranding its iconic chocolate candy characters with new looks and storylines highlighting the "progressive world" we live in today. Jane Hwang, global vice president of M&M's, joined Cheddar to talk about the company's rebrand. "M&M's is on a mission to create a world where everyone feels they belong," she said. The multi-colored, anthropomorphized candies will be getting an updated look and tone, according to Hwang, such as Green receiving a makeover that reflects more female empowerment and confidence.
From delays in delivery during the pandemic to a not-so-positive cameo to "And Just Like That" on HBO Max, Peloton may be spinning its way out of the spotlight. The at-home fitness company stock plummeted following insiders selling $500 million worth of its stock leading up to the sharp decline. Andrew Boone, director and equity research analyst at JMP Securities, talked to Cheddar about why he isn't feeling too concerned about the sell-off, calling Peloton a "best in class product."
After announcing a subscription price increase, Netflix will be releasing its Q4 earnings later on Thursday. Tuna Amobi, director and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, spoke with Cheddar's Baker Machado to discuss what investors can look forward to from the streaming giant. “It’s really a very, very watershed, I might add, report for Netflix, ”Amobi said about the much-anticipated announcement.
