BLOG OF ADAM HARTUNG
Find Opportunities Out of the Box
Opportunity assessments are the most powerful way to generate growth. Examining the full value chain can provide more insights into trends than customer surveys alone. Companies can get ahead of competition with trends.
Now’s The Time To Buy FAANG Stocks
Since 2012, I’ve been a huge fan of Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google. And they have dramatically outperformed the market. In the last few weeks their values have fallen dramatically, and I’ve heard grumblings that these are no longer the stocks to own. I...
The Bitcoin Fad – Successfully Understanding Trends vs Fads
Bitcoin value continues to decline, as I predicted in Aug 2017 because it has all the signs of being a fad. Many thought Bitcoin was “the next big thing” and maybe it will be in the future, but for now investors have stopped celebrating with “Macarena”.
Facebook Launches “Portal” – Why You Want to Pay Attention
Facebook’s latest innovation, Portal, integrates with Alexa, Instagram, and other technologies to enhance personal network communications. The stock of Facebook is well off its recent high so could this be an attempt to rebuild its reputation as an innovator? A closer look at Portal shows it has the potential to be a social media disruptor.
New ebook from Adam Hartung on Facebook
In the recently published, "Facebook- The Making of a Great Company", Adam Hartung analyzes the rise of Facebook and its impact on the financial community, business marketing and innovation. Adam's posts over the years have predicted key milestones in Facebook's...
Reports of Facebook’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated (Paraphrasing Mark Twain)
Adam Hartung has analyzed Facebook extensively for years and has projected the company’s growth, innovation and path to disruption. Here are his most recent posts on Facebook and an outlook.
Medical Tourism TREND – or How to Make a Fortune From US Health Care Stupidity
US Medical costs keep rising, the population keeps aging, and cost of insurance is prohibitive. But people need to recover from illness and get back to wellness. Needs plus Trends equals opportunities… for medical industries in other countries.
Apple’s Installed Base – Foundation for Success, or Curse?
The last few quarters sales growth has not been as good for Apple as it once was. The iPhone X didn’t sell as fast as they hoped, and while the Apple Watch outsells the entire Swiss watch industry it does not generate the volumes of an iPhone. And other new products...
Harley Davidson Has Far Worse Problems Than President Trump or EU Tariffs
Harley Davidson’s response to avoid EU tariffs is to build a plant in Europe- where competition is tougher than in the US. Seems a bit too late for this aging brand that’s been bailed out, lost market share for years and is facing changing demand.
GE Kicked Off the Dow (DJIA) – The Worst Board of Directors in America
GE’s payout ratio has climbed since 2014, propping up the share price. In 2018, GE was paying out more than earnings. Why didn’t GE re-invest in its own businesses? Perhaps the Board didn’t understand trends and innovation. Anyone can sell off assets but they proved it’s hard to choose a good CEO.
How Ants Kill Elephants – The Amazon.com, Sears & Walmart Story
Small companies operate in the niches disregarded by larger firms. It’s in these fringe markets where trends begin, often unnoticed, until its too late to react. Is your firm watching these market segments?
Why You Want To Own Facebook – And Big Investors Have To
Facebook is following the Amazon playbook on market domination through innovation.
Amazon Alexa Is Becoming Ubiquitous – And That’s an Apple Threat
Apple’s Siri is 7 years old, but the neighbor kids down the street Alexa and Cortana are only 4 years old but growing up much faster. Alexa may soon be the popular kid on the block.
Why Innovative Value Propositions Are Killed By Misguided Value Delivery Implementation
Start-ups and marketing development teams can create great ideas. But that’s just halfway to success. Implement well to win.
Netflix – Delivering Your Value Proposition Is More Successful Than Optimizing Your Value Delivery System
To innovate for successful growth, focus on your Value Proposition instead of your Value Delivery System.
Why “Telltale Signs” point badly for Walmart. Keep Buying Amazon.
E-commerce continues to be a difficult compromise for brick-and-mortar retail companies like Walmart. The e-commerce segment, led by Amazon, has learned how to provide a comfortable and intuitive experience for online buyers. Walmart must wrestle with trends.
The Decline of CDs and PCs – Trends Affect Us All More Than We Think
Streaming music replaced music on CD in about 10 years. Most people saw the trend. CDs are recycled as clocks. Today, laptops and the operating systems are undergoing a similar disruption. Is your portfolio up-to-date?
United Airlines – How Bad Strategy Created a Culture That Kills Puppies
United Airlines’ strategy has lost sight of customer needs as it chases cost reductions. This has created a culture of indifference or even disregard for customers. Most other airlines have either led the way or followed suit. Is this the way to build value? or invite re-regulation?
Warren Buffett Is Loading Up On Apple – Why You Should be Wary
In February, Berkshire Hathaway revealed it had dumped its IBM position. Good riddance to a stock that has gone down for 5 years while the S&P went up! What did Buffett do with the money? He loaded up on Apple – making that high-flyer Berkshire’s #1 holding. So,...
Walmart’s Surprising Tumble – Analysts Never Learn, Will You?
On February 20, 2018 Walmart’s stock had its biggest price drop ever. And the second biggest percentage decline ever. Even though same store sales improved, investors sold off the stock in droves. And after a pretty healthy recent valuation run-up. What happened?...
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