Monday, July 24, 2017

Strategic High Ground


The following successful companies currently enjoy the strategic high ground in their markets ... and their stock prices reflect it, IMHO. Here are what I feel are the indicated reasons for their success (besides mostly good operational prowess):

Tesla -- Almost $5 billion in U.S. government subsidies.

Facebook -- Huge share of corporate media on-line advertising dollars without, like most other media giants, having to spend on content ... because its users provide it.

Apple -- Respectable market share in the smart-phone business with very high margins because of premium pricing and off-shore manufacturing.

Amazon -- Ability to predatory price for on-line retail goods because of its Internet " cloud" (Web Services) revenues and profits.

Google (Alphabet)  -- Dominate market share in on-line searching and associated ads ... allowing it to gobble up other Internet opportunities at will.

Microsoft -- Owns the operating system and Internet browser of record on most newly purchased PCs along with the ability continually to obsolete and replace its commodity software products.

Netflix -- Huge and growing (international) subscriber base due to the appeal of its original content programming, the spiraling cost of the movie theater experience ... and the quality/low cost of home theaters.

How long these companies will enjoy these lofty positions is anyone's guess (witness Walmart).

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