Bullseye Brief

Ignore the cheers. Keep going when they boo. Trust the process & stay trust to yourself. That’s the message from world-renowned artist David Drebin, who sold half his works to Elton John at a show in 2004… and he’s never looked back. Today, we explore the surprising similarities between Art & Investing.  

Your Questions Answered - We’ve witnessed some wild trading activity recently, and amid the volatility I’ve received some great questions from your fellow subscribers. I’m going to share them, along with my responses. I figure we all get the benefit that way. Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming.

Unknown, unknowns - These are the things out of nowhere that turn markets upside down, and send executives scrambling. A data-mining company called DataMetrex scours social media for clues about the next Big Thing… clients include NATO and the CIA. CEO Marshall Gunter explains how they do it.

Aim High, Work Hard - My friend and former BloombergTV co-Anchor Cory Johnson has launched The Drill Down podcast as business news platform for business-minded people. Like me, Cory is unapologetically optimistic on what American Ingenuity can accomplish. He shares insights and observations about which companies are winning in 2021… and why.

Market Roadmap - We speak with my friend, and former market maker Judd Hirschberg… one of the original rates traders on Chicago Merc from the 1970s. Judd now runs an advisory service called White Wave Trading Strategies. He’s especially good at identifying relationships across assets and spotting changes in trend.  

Biologist Dr. Deborah Brosnan helps businesses and governments around the world identify practical solutions to environmental challenges. She analyzes what Washington’s trillion dollar Green Plan means for our economy, and specifically how we’ll get there.

Future of Health Care - Chris Plance of PA Consulting helps hospitals save lives… from Robotics to Blockchain, he evaluates which cutting edge technologies make the biggest difference. He’s also lectures at the Rutgers Business School in New Jersey.

What Are You Buying? - WSJ #1 Financial Services Analyst and Gabelli & Co. Portfolio Manager Mac Sykes shares ideas for Q2. Mac also earned Runner-up in the annual StarMine analyst awards for stock picking in 2014 and 2018, and has received several Honorable Mentions from the Annual Institutional Investor Survey. Best of all, he’s an old friend.   

Plowshares & Profits - Top-rated agricultural commodities analyst, former investment banker and Marine Corps veteran Chris Narayanan now advises family farmers on the business of farming, as part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. It’s American Ingenuity come home, and I love the mission

Good to Great - Best-selling author Scott Kirsner founded Innovation Leader to advise CEOs on how to cultivate new ideas within their organizations. As someone focused on American Ingenuity, I want to know his secrets.

I have purposely avoided investing in cannabis. The topic makes me uncomfortable and the science feels nebulous. CEO Liz Wald of Good Earth Organics begs to differ, and she joins us for a spirited, thoughtful conversation.

Thank you for your many thoughtful emails over the past several weeks on money and markets. I love getting great questions, and if one person has asked, probably ten others have been wondering too. So today we’ll do this together… answering every question one at a time.

EV Reality Check - Institutional Investor’s top-ranked Auto Analyst Nick Colas takes us inside the newest electric vehicles, separating what’s possible from what’s not. How long will the rollout take? How much demand is there? Are batteries cost effective vs gas and diesel? What about hydrogen fuel cells? Where will all the electricity come from? 

The Chartist – Top Technical Strategist Chris Verrone of Strategas Research joins us to interpret the charts and share tactical ideas for Q1. Chris describes his work as “technical ideas for fundamental investors” and I read his note every morning. Having been named by Institutional Investor as one of Wall Street's top three strategists for a record seventh year in a row, Chris is exceptional.

23 Amazing Guests - My heartfelt thanks to these CEOs, entrepreneurs and thinkers propelling our world forward. This is their story in their words… our best podcast moments of 2020. It’s a good reminder that our north star of American Ingenuity burns bright.

Sharing & Saving - Vitality Insurance will buy you an iWatch if you send them your health data… and they’ll cut your premiums by 10%. Good deal or an affront to privacy? CEO Adrian Gore explains how it works and why customers love it. We discuss the emerging partnership between doctors, insurers and patients.

Recover & Rebuild - Harvard Business School graduates are teaming up with small business owners in NYC to share their expertise, and data scientist Sharon Joseph explains how even free programs like Google Analytics can make all the difference in connecting with customers. 

What Happens After You Hit Send - Text messaging and group chat platforms generate $5 billion annually, with 20%  growth projected through 2025… but are they secure? DatChat Founder/CEO Darin Myman says no, and he thinks encrypted communication across blockchain may offer our only solution.

Hand Sanitizer for Your Nose - A private company called Halodine has created a revolutionary nasal spray that kills the Covid virus on contact. The NFL distributes this product to its players, and Ophthalmologist/Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Jesse Pelletier joins us to explain how it works.

Technically Speaking - CBOE founding member Judd Hirschberg shares his updated Q4 targets, alerts and inflection points on key US stocks and indicies. Judd’s research is driven by five decades of proprietary models that prioritize  long-term relationships across asset classes. He is highly respected among the Chicago futures trading community, and you can learn more at WhiteWaveTradingStrategies.com. Join us Wednesday at noon.