__Disrupt the [1st person plural](https://www.we.co/)...__ The __We Company__ has visionary visions to turn real estate into utopias, starting with its WeWork office spaces. It's already stealthily filed to IPO, but the *WSJ* [just reported](https://www.wsj.com/articles/wework-to-raise-billions-selling-debt-ahead-of-ipo-11562524614) that it's first taking a pit stop with the banks to borrow $4B. Achieve [goal #1](https://learn.robinhood.com/articles/6UsdUrlnUvxiDpDT4D2bup/what-is-an-initial-public-offering-ipo/) of the IPO now so it's better ready for goal #2 later:

- __Goal #1: Raise money.__ With the IPO, We planned to create millions of new shares of itself to sell to the public for cash. 
- __Goal #2: Go public.__ All of We's investors (We founders, We venture capitalists, We employees) have We shares that are just pieces of paper. When it's a public company, it becomes easy to sell those shares for cash. 

__A $47B cash-burning machine...__ WeWork's biz model calls for a ton of spending. Right now, it's hugely unprofitable (it lost $1.9B last year — that's more than the $1.8B it generated in revenue). Here's how WeWork happens:

1. __It signs leases__ for huge office buildings.
2. __It WeWorkifies them__ by optimizing dead workspaces and cutting them into different sized, rentable pieces (small enough for one woman entrepreneurs, big enough for Amazon). Then it tosses in draft lager taps and ironic wallpaper.
3. __It collects rent__ from WeWork tenants.


Wait

__Sometimes it's safe to wait...__ Going public is like going pro. If WeWork raises $4B in cash now by borrowing, it can afford to take another year playing in college to refine its profit skills before facing the judgemental eye of the public market. Look what happened to __[Uber](https://robinhood.com/stocks/UBER)__ and __[Lyft](https://robinhood.com/stocks/LYFT)__ — those money-losing companies both went pro this year, and their stocks are below where they began trading on IPO day.

WeWork is reportedly slow-playing its IPO, borrowing $4B first

__Something happened over Spring Break...__ Snapchat changed. Parent company __[Snap](https://robinhood.com/stocks/snap)__ shares have nearly tripled since February, driven by analysts upgrading their price targets for the stock. And *that's* been driven by Snapchat strengthening — and then flexing — the two biceps of tech apps: growth and engagement.

__Left Bicep = "Growth"...__ The last time Snap updated us in March it had 190M daily active users. To grow beyond that, it's made two key moves:

1. __Viral filters:__ That gender-swapping filter in May [more than doubled](https://onezero.medium.com/snapchats-gender-swap-and-baby-filters-doubled-downloads-of-the-app-40a633c02ff0) the number of daily app downloads from 600K to 1.5M.
2. __New app:__ Finally updating its glitchy Android app increased the number of people snapping by 6%.

__Right Bicep = "Engagement"...__ To enhance the time users spend in the app, Snapchat launched games in April:

- __Bitmoji Party:__ Snapchat's 1st original game was deeply multi-playered so you could spend time with your friends' digitally-better-looking avatar versions of themselves.
- __Bitmoji Tennis:__ Just launched last week, the new game [lets you](https://venturebeat.com/2019/07/01/why-snapchat-is-making-mobile-games-like-bitmoji-tennis/) hit a microphone button to yell at your opponent — without having to leave the app.


Rebound

__Snapchat is covering steps #1 and #2 (growth and engagement)...__ Now it's gotta focus on Step #3: making money. A shocking 90% of all Americans age 13-24 use Snapchat, so the app's trying to monetize them through ads — and its revenues impressively rose 39% in the 1st quarter. But investors eventually want profits, and that means nailing step #3 as it flexes its growth and engagement.

Snap stock has subtly/shockingly almost tripled since February

__A room full of brains and calculators...__ That's the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan government agency that takes proposed legislation and calculates the economic impact. Its newest [report](https://www.cbo.gov/publication/55410) dives into the "Raise the Wage Act" — which would increase the minimum wage nationwide to $15/hour by 2025. It'll likely pass in the Democrat-controlled House of Reps, but it’s unlikely to become law right now.

__Paying people more is a trend...__ Although the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) can't even buy a Chipotle burrito (*pre*-guac) after not being increased since 2009, [29 states](https://www.npr.org/2019/07/08/739607964/-15-minimum-wage-would-boost-17-million-workers-cut-1-3-million-jobs-cbo-says) plus DC have increased theirs during that period. Here's who'd win and lose with a nationwide livable wage.

- __Winners:__ 17M people would get their pay upped to $15. And 10M more would likely get raises because a rising tide lifts bigger boats, too. Plus, 1.3M working-poor would escape poverty.
- __Losers:__ The CBO predicts 1.3M Americans would lose their jobs, as managers don't think they're worth $15/hour, or decide to use machines instead of costlier humans. 
- __*One caveat*:__ These are just predictions based on economic theory and math. The CBO isn't Professor Dumbledore.

This is a test - do we see this image?

__Companies would lose, at first, for sure...__ Higher wages = higher costs = smaller profits. __McDonald's__ has been lobbying against an increased minimum wage for that reason (but actually [ended](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/27/mcdonalds-says-its-done-lobbying-against-raising-minimum-wage/?utm_term=.b5da0c20ad8b) its fight recently because wage hikes seemed inevitable). But longer term, the CBO tells us that 27M Americans will have more money... which they will spend... which could increase companies' profits. We'll know for sure when the theoretical becomes real. 

$15/hour minimum wage is getting debated: 27M winners, 1.3M jobless

Dow Jones

S&P 500

Nasdaq

Bitcoin

10-Yr US Treasury

_Snapchat’s got a scar for every day since Facebook copied it_

What if the minimum wage were $15/hour?

__By a really, really big margin...__ __[Roku](https://robinhood.com/stocks/roku)__ (little Roku) is America's most popular video streaming platform. A research report [revealed](https://news.strategyanalytics.com/press-release/intelligent-home/roku-stretches-lead-1-streaming-tv-platform-us-after-record-q1) that the binge-empowering dongle makes up 30% of all streaming devices sold in the US — that's double the share of #2 (Amazon Fire TV). Roku's edge: It sells its own dongle hardware device *and* it is pre-installed on many smart TVs. Dangerous combo.

__Like Gump's shrimping [boat](https://youtu.be/TjcK-LGgtLA?t=262)...__ It turns out __[Delta](https://robinhood.com/stocks/dal)__ is the only major US airline that [doesn't have](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/business/delta-earnings/index.html) a single Boeing 737 MAX in its fleet. That means it's been gaining market share since March, when its rivals had to ground the troubled planes and cancel scheduled flights. It told investors last week that its revenues gained a more-than-expected 8% last quarter as a result.

__You may climb out from your Tesla bunkers...__ Electric car icon __[Tesla](https://robinhood.com/stocks/TSLA)__ doesn't report its 2nd quarter earnings for a couple more weeks. But it served up its quarterly "Vehicle Production & Deliveries" report. Good news for shareholders: Tesla is back to setting personal record numbers of cars sold, [like it's supposed to](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/I8ABCDal2o99W3TesGSBI/articles/1Ci0gzILhvqQaPCIuWhuMD) be doing. That pushed shares up 7% Wednesday.

Highs

Who's up...

__Liquor before weed...__ On Independence Day Eve, __[Canopy Growth](https://robinhood.com/stocks/cgc)__ (Earth's biggest cannabis company) announced the co-CEO was "stepping down," but the man himself clarified that he'd been "[terminated](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/03/canopy-growth-co-ceo-to-step-down.html)." The reason for the firing: Corona-owning liquor legend __[Constellation Brands](https://robinhood.com/stocks/stz)__ owns 37% of Canopy's shares and controls 4 of the 6 seats on Canopy's board. And Constellation wants Canopy to focus more on CBD-infused drinks, less on medical marijuana, so it [canned](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/53D5PZmVR86YJQknpYXKkL/articles/hhYUavVObsQAZQpRrRAZr) the Co-CEO to send a message.

__Technically, the stock rose last week...__ But we're listing __[Deutsche Bank](https://robinhood.com/stocks/DB)__ as a clear debbie downer. It [announced](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48901565)  yesterday that its turnaround plan is to lay off about 20% of its workers. The pain (18K jobs total) hits the London and New York investment banking divisions, but Wall Street is relieved that it's going back to its German roots.

Lows

...and who's down

__Stick it up on the fridge...__ Friday we [learned](https://www.npr.org/2019/07/05/738624184/rebound-in-job-growth-expected-in-june) that the US economy added 224K new jobs in June. We'll get to why stocks *fell* on the good news in a sec, but here are two interesting developments we noticed:

1. __Manufacturing is doing its thing:__ Even though it's the sector most-affected by the US/China trade war, 17K jobs got created in the biz of putting things together (the most since January).
2. __The ironic hiring issue:__ Since so many Americans are getting paychecks, there's a huge demand for *more* workers to serve them burrito bowls, teach them to shavasana, fit them into Allbirds, etc. But with the unemployment rate close to a record low at 3.7%, finding the right available talent is tough.

__Toss in a little context...__ and it helps understand each monthly jobs report a bit better.
- __Compare it to expectations ⬆️:__ Economists expected 162K new jobs. We got 40% more than that in June.
- __Compare it to last month ⬆️:__ Jobs growth plummeted in May to just 72K new jobs. We rebounded hard in June.
- __Compare it to last year ⬇️:__ The average number of jobs added monthly over the past 3 months was 171K — that's down from the 223K we were adding during the same 3-month stretch last year. It's a sign that expansion is [slowing](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/05/business/economy/june-jobs-report.html).


Hired

__It's all about the Fed's July get-together...__ America's central bank decides at next month's meeting what to do about interest rates — lower them to encourage borrowing and growth, or keep things put because the economy doesn't need any help (it could also increase rates, but that's not in the cards right now). Mid-trade war, investors have been expecting/hoping for the Fed to lower rates, which would be great for profits and stocks. But this strong jobs report may keep things in cruise control instead. *Good news for the economy was bad-ish news for the stock market*. 

The June jobs report dominated (but stocks fell) — Here's why

_“Does anyone know who’s setting record highs?”_

Jobs surged. But stocks fell. We look at why.

__The "Sam Walton College of Business"...__ That's where __[Walmart](https://robinhood.com/stocks/WMT)__ CEO Doug McMillon got his BA. It's named after Walmart's founder, and the dress code is *business pleated*, not *Silicon Valley untucked*. And deep reporting by [Recode](https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/7/3/18716431/walmart-jet-marc-lore-modcloth-amazon-ecommerce-losses-online-sales) has revealed that profit-focused retail types at Walmart are annoyed with its new ecommerce darlings.

__Jet.com got acquired in 2016 for $3.3B...__ and it's appeared to put up big results. But it turns out many at Walmart resent Jet.com and the new techies on the block.

- __The positive PR spin:__ Walmart's got its mojo back. It's putting up __a legit fight against Amazon__ and is even beating Bezos in some spots (it was first to offer free 1-day shipping). 
- __The stone cold sober truth:__ Walmart's ecommerce efforts __lose $1B per year__. And Walmart only owns 5% of total online shopping in the US, behind Amazon's 38% (according to Recode).
- __The latest:__ CEO McMillan is telling Jet.com's Marc Lore to __cut costs__. But Jet.com founder-turned-Walmart-ecommerce-guru says they must actually __increase spending__ if Walmart's serious about beating Amazon. 

Squabble

__Growth vs. Profit...__ With tech changing so many industries, you find situations where companies have old-and-profitable divisions squabbling with new-and-growing ones. Managers need the profits now to fuel growth for tomorrow. But the clash of culture can kill morale (and make the old guard feel un-loved). That tension is playing out in plenty of places:

- __Walmart:__ Its physical stores made nearly $7B in profit last year, but we all know the future is online and omni-channel commerce (a combo of online and in-store).
- __Automotive:__ Gas-guzzling trucks/SUVs are making all the money, but management loves to talk about self-driving tech and electric cars.
- __News:__ Fox News and CNN are making bank on TV (political ads are their profit puppies), but the growth is in digital and mobile.

Walmart vs. Jet.com: The old guard is now clashing with its ecommerce newbies

__Good thing he's Canadian, or this holiday would be sad...__ Bruce Linton, co-CEO of the world's largest cannabis company, __[Canopy Growth](https://robinhood.com/stocks/cgc)__, told the world Wednesday that he got fired. Correction: The Company said he “[stepped down](https://www.canopygrowth.com/investors/news-releases/canopy-growth-announces-leadership-transition/).” But he was fired. And it looks like liquor legend and Corona-owner __[Constellation Brands](https://robinhood.com/stocks/stz)__ was behind the big move.

__Modelo lager. High West whiskey. Robert Mondavi merlot...__ Now pot. Constellation has already got the bar covered, so in 2018 it expanded beyond alcohol by spending $4B to acquire 37% of Canopy. This was the strategic vision: CBD-infused drinks. Canopy brings the marijuana-know-how, Constellation brings the beverage creation/distribution expertise. Then strategies stopped aligning:

- __Linton:__ The co-CEO was busy forging A-list partnerships with Martha Stewart and Snoop.
- __Canopy:__ The cannabis company is focusing on medical marijuana, with plans in 30 countries since the legal situation is easier than recreational.
- __Constellation:__ The alcohol company wants CBD-infused and profit-making drinks ASAP — *but under Linton's leadership of Canopy, that wasn't priority #1*.

__It's all about the Board...__ The CEO may be boss, but he or she has to answer to the Board of Directors. Canopy has 6 seats on its Board, and 3 are execs at Constellation while a 4th is on Constellation's board, too (the alcohol empire managed to get board control with its $4B investment). Only 2 of Canopy's board members are independent from Constellation. Last week, Constellation's CEO was "not pleased with Canopy’s recent reported year-end results,” and it seems he and his board buddies did something about it.

Canopy Growth fires its Co-CEO — and it’s got Corona fingerprints all over it

_That record high / mid-week vacay confidence_

A cannabis CEO gets fired by a beer CEO

__Joltin' Joe is impressed...__ In June of 2009, America's economy hit the low-point of the financial crisis. For the 120 months since, it's been growing. And starting this week, it's officially America's [longest](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/we-re-longest-economic-expansion-ever-it-s-rich-who-n1025611) stretch of economic growth without a recession since World War II. 

__In honor of Independence Day...__ we're jumping into this streak, Snacks style. Here's how the economy has changed since the depths of the Great Recession, which was triggered by the financial crisis, which was triggered by the subprime real estate bubble:

- 🔧 __21M jobs have been created:__ And unemployment is at a modern record low of 3.8%.
- 📈 __Stocks have more than tripled:__ The S&P 500's 230% gain in the past 10 years was powered by low interest rates and ballooning profits. 
- 😬 __We're in a trade war now:__ It's concerning. But at least the economy's in a good enough position to endure the pain.
- 🎭 __The number of billionaires has almost tripled:__ But a divided American recovery has left behind those outside of major jobs hubs.

Expand

__Does an economic expansion die of old age?...__ Every recession in history — except this one — has been followed at some point by another. Many analysts are looking for signs of another economic downturn... which can have the effect of hurting confidence... and actually contributing to the economic downturn (it's a freaky self-fulfilling prophecy). We'll learn more as 2nd quarter earnings reports hit this month.

America's economic expansion is 10-years-old 

__95,200...__ That's the number of __[Tesla](https://robinhood.com/stocks/TSLA)__ cars that were delivered to affluent, environmentally-conscious, and/or tech-obsessed new owners from April-June. That's more than double the number of deliveries in 2018's 2nd quarter, and the positive result popped shares up 7% Tuesday.

__This isn't some earnings report...__ It's the "[Vehicle Production & Deliveries](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/07/02/1877581/0/en/Tesla-Q2-2019-Vehicle-Production-Deliveries.html)" report — car companies preview their financial results with this crude, raw, meaty, production count. But Tesla's had worries about "weak demand" from the beginning of the year. That's when deliveries fell 31% from the quarter before, and flocks of Tesla doubters started chirping that customers just weren't that into Elon's cars. 

Produce

__If Tesla's *not* setting records, then something's wrong...__ Tesla produces a tiny fraction of the number of cars __[General Motors](https://robinhood.com/stocks/GM)__ makes, but its stock by [market value](https://learn.robinhood.com/articles/GByCbiOluG2kcWs1AF6m5/what-is-market-capitalization/) is about 80% of GM. It's like a kid measuring her height with a marker against the wall — Tesla better be setting records each quarter. This report signal's Tesla's master plan is more on track.

Tesla's 2nd quarter record deliveries quiet the skeptics

__Turn up the chill...__ Meditation app  __Calm__ evolved into a unicorn in February, raising $80M to hit a $1B valuation — now $27M has been tossed in from another venture capital firm. The leader of that firm [made clear](https://medium.com/lightspeed-venture-partners/calm-is-creating-quite-a-storm-5917185e8920) that she's a power-user — Calm helped her falling-asleep time drop from 30 minutes on average to less than 5 (that's 150 hours more zzzzs per year).

__The moment of zen...__ occurred last year. Calm charges $60/year (or $400 for "[Calm for Life](https://www.calm.com/freetrial/plans)") to access its meditative relaxation content. But with competition flowing into mindful apps (think Headspace, Aura, and [others](https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-meditation-apps/)), it had to transition from a weekly resolution to a daily habit. So it launched "Sleep Stories" to help you get to your dreams. That's when engagement and retention surged.

- __Celeb strategy:__ Sleep Stories [features](https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/01/calm-sleep-stories/) Matthew McConaughey coaxing you into slumber ("*How often do we ponder depth of the present moment*") or John McEnroe reading tennis rules to your pillow.
- __It became a ritual:__ The feature led to 150M listens from 2M paid subscribers since the feature launched last year.
- __Revenues popped:__ They're on pace to double this year to $150M.

Raised

__You selling a vitamin or aspirin?...__ It's the key question some VCs ask before they invest. A "vitamin" is nice to have, but not critical. An "aspirin" is something customers need. Now. Both have benefits, but the daily need-to-have option drives engagement and growth. Calm's sleep pivot may have turned it into aspirin, and that's why Lightspeed Ventures says it invested.

Meditation app Calm raises another $27M as a mindful McConaughey  unicorn

_Sailing into the 4th at record highs_

Happy 10-year growth-versary, America

__Technically...__ __[Nike](https://robinhood.com/stocks/nke)__ reported its earnings last week. Technically it missed analysts' expectations for the 1st time in 7 years. But we're more focused on CEO Mark Parker's call with investors *after* the earnings report. Just in time for today's USA vs. England World Cup match, he thinks 2019 is a "true [tipping point](https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/nike-misses-earnings-estimates-for-first-time-in-seven-years)" for women's sports.

__Women are winning Nike...__ 14 of the 24 Women’s World Cup teams enjoy a Nike swoosh across the chest. And the combo of Nike spending big on [this ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=hOVkEHADCg4), covering almost 2/3 of the jerseys, and [record](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/womens-2019-soccer-world-cup-smashes-global-ratings-records-1221957) TV ratings are doing it. These Nike stats just arrived:
- The US Women's National Team jersey is  __the #1 selling soccer jersey__ — *men's or women's* — ever sold on Nike.com.
- And enthusiasm for women's apparel has extended to bras — Parker [announced](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nike-team-usa-womens-world-cup/) Nike's now __the biggest seller of bras__ across North America.

Kicks

__Nike vs. Lululemon...__ That's the biggest matchup worth watching right now. Both are focusing on the opposite genders in the same (non-US) places. It's a fight worth watching.
- __Lulu’s 5-year plan:__ Double men’s sales and quadruple international sales (especially in China) since the majority are sold to North American women.
- __Nike’s focus:__ Sell more to women and to China — 75% of its apparel sold is to men, and China is its fastest-growing market with nearly 20% of all sales.


The Women's World Cup is handing Nike (multiple) records

__Don't sing along with the peasants...__ If you have a 5-digit budget for T-Swift or GNR concerts, then you're qualified for StubHub Beyond, the new loyalty club for event go-ers who spend $10K/year on the ticket platform. __StubHub__ is owned by __[eBay](https://robinhood.com/stocks/EBAY)__, and its parent company wants high-rollers to feel special with "[Beyond](https://www.stubhub.com/beyond)."

__We want to be on this list...__ To get frequent and big-spending customers even more frequent and liberal with their wallets, StubHub's [hooking them up](https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2019/06/24/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/StubHub.aspx) three ways:

- __Exclusive events:__ Think private tour and batting cage experience at Yankee Stadium (it's event #1, starting Thursday). Or VIP tailgate at the Masters golf tournament.
- __Cancellation forgiveness:__ If you can't make the 3rd day of Lollapalooza, you'll get 1 full refund per year, no questions asked. None.
- __Exclusive support line:__ Because, of course.
- __*The Key is exclusive loyalty*:__ With so many secondary market ticket sellers, Beyond could incentivize loyalty to StubHub.

Elite

__This is a classic 80/20 situation...__ Surprised StubHub's doing so much for such a tiny fraction of customers? Don't be. It's not uncommon in business for 80% of profits to come from 20% of users. That's why companies spend an outsize amount of resources keeping high-spenders happy. So expect the VIP-ification (TSA "Clear" > TSA "Pre-check" > TSA "please remove your shoes and prepare for pat down") of corporate America to continue.

StubHub creates VIP status for your buddy who drops $10K/year on tickets

__Aiming for that 9-to-1 job?...__ According to Bloomberg, __[Deutsche Bank's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/DB)__ NYC-based workers are [leaving](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-01/empty-desks-and-early-beers-life-at-deutsche-bank-in-new-york) the office post-lunch for beers nearby. According to other sources, the big German bank expects the CEO to announce [layoffs](https://www.americanbanker.com/articles/deutsche-bank-plans-to-cut-as-many-as-20-000-jobs-in-revamp) of up to 20K of its 91.5K workers. Now that Deutsche's savior mega-merger with Commerzbank [is off](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/business/deutsche-bank-commerzbank-merger/index.html), it's taking out the axe.

__1 number says it all...__ The stock has fallen 80% in the past 4 years, and is down almost 95% from its pre-financial crisis highs. One crucial financial metric shows just how little confidence investors have in management to make money: 

- __Book Value = *value of a company on paper*:__ Deutsche Bank's balance sheet says it's got $71B of net worth.
- __Market Value = *value of a company according to its stock price*:__ Wall Street investors think Deutsche is worth just $16B based on where the shares are trading.
- __Price/Book ratio:__ Divide those two. The resulting Price/Book ratio helps us realize that investors are only giving the bank 22 cents of credit for each dollar of paper value. *Investors think Deutsche Bank is worth less than the bank does.*

Downsize

__It's a vicious cycle...__ After the financial crisis almost destroyed European economies, the continent responded with tough banking regulations. Sadly, the banks responded by making fewer loans, which slowed economic growth, which hurt corporate profits, which hurt the banks. That cycle has just been on repeat over the past decade — Now Deutsche's a shadow of its pre-'08 self.

Deutsche Bank is reportedly planning to lay off over 20% of its workers

_"How do you sell so many jerseys?"_

Nike's Year of the Woman

__Pre-used Gucci has found its home...__ __[The RealReal](https://robinhood.com/stocks/real)__ is your verified 2nd-hand luxury online mall — it's got 100 real-life human experts checking that the Chanel bag is 100% Chanel, giving Millennials guilt-free, lower-cost, and high-end all in one place. The fashion *re*seller's shares [jumped](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/28/business/the-realreal-ipo-luxury-resale/index.html) 45% on its IPO as investors hope a fancy e-thrift-store concept can scale. 

__Friends ➡️ frenemies ➡️ enemies...__ A report about __[Amazon](https://robinhood.com/stocks/AMZN)__ shipping blew our minds — the percentage of packages it ships itself has grown from 17% just 2.5 years ago to [48% today](https://www.axios.com/amazon-shipping-chart-fedex-ups-usps-0dc6bab1-2169-42a8-9e56-0e85c590eb89.html). And it will continue taking more business away from __[UPS](https://robinhood.com/stocks/UPS)__, __[FedEx](https://robinhood.com/stocks/FDX)__, and the US Postal Service since it ships faster: Thanks to its superior data, Amazon-delivered packages arrive in 3.2 days vs. the competition's 6 days.

__Bitcoin rally part II...__ Attention's been on the cryptocurrency's price jump to nearly $14K last week before settling closer to $11K. And chip-maker __[AMD](https://robinhood.com/stocks/amd)__ has been along for the ride. Late last year, AMD [unveiled](https://www.amd.com/en/technologies/blockchain) fresh new products and services for Bitcoin miners and blockchain-thusiasts. If the latest Bitcoin jump feels like a gold rush, then AMD is selling shovels — making money whether the miners find gold or not.

__iProblems...__ __[Apple](https://robinhood.com/stocks/aapl)__ shares dipped 2% on word that Chief Design Officer Jony Ive (the man behind the look/feel of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, OG MacBook, and new Apple HQ) is leaving to start his own company. Then we [learned](https://www.engadget.com/2019/06/29/apple-to-improve-news-plus/) that the new Apple News+ subscription service isn't delivering for the participating magazines and news sites — one publisher said it's getting "one-twentieth" the revenue they expected.

__Driving off into the sunset...__ __[Tesla's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/TSLA)__ head of production reportedly [left](https://electrek.co/2019/06/26/tesla-loses-head-of-production/) the company, with brutal timing — this week Tesla announces its production and delivery numbers for the 2nd quarter. It needs to quiet skeptics who wonder if demand for the Model 3 is slowing. PS: There was another [report](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/26/tesla-secret-lab-building-battery-cells-to-reduce-panasonic-dependency.html) that Musk's building a secret battery lab.

__Pets > People...__ Lucky Charms pioneer __[General Mills](https://robinhood.com/stocks/gis)__ revealed that its snacks biz is suffering, with sales falling 2% last quarter (the CFO admitted that Fiber One bars "fell out of step" with diet trends). Good thing humans are [spending](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/investing/general-mills-earnings/index.html) more on their pets than on themselves — GMills' pet food sales surged 38% because it acquired __Blue Buffalo__ last year, along with its fancy meal options for Fido (bison, rabbit, halibut, and alligator are go-to ingredients).

...And who's down

__Omg...__ Budweiser-owner __[AB InBev](https://robinhood.com/stocks/BUD)__ just made its biggest wine [acquisition](https://www.brewbound.com/news/anheuser-busch-buys-wine-company-co-founded-by-the-fat-jew) ever: Babe Wine. Josh Ostrovsky — aka comedian [The Fat Jewish](https://www.instagram.com/thefatjewish/?hl=en) — launched White Girl Rosé in 2015 during the infamous Hamptons rosé shortage of 2015. His goal was to become "the Bud Light of wine." Now it's official.

__Bud's been around forever. Keep it that way...__ ZX Ventures is Bud's in-house venture capital arm that buys stakes in innovative alcohol ventures since that's cheaper than having to innovate itself. It already had a stake in Babe, and just slurped up the very last of it to become the 100% owner. Here's why it made sense:

- __Sales of rosé in America rose 8%__ last year while beer sales have been slowly declining. *White Girl Rosé* has that trend covered. 
- __Sales of canned wine jumped 69%__ — *Babe* brand's convenient 12 oz cans of wine "with bubbles" are a big reason for that growth. 
- __*Babe* aggressively targets the bachelorette crowd__ (hello "[Party Box](https://www.drinkbabe.net/)") with social media marketing that Bud wants to hang with — model Emily Ratajkowski (23M Insta followers) is Babe's Chief Taste Officer.

Cork

__Bud needs a better summer drink...__ Your local 7/11 is likely out of non-beer options labeled "spiked," "hard," and "bubbly." The same trend that's got us hooked on LaCroix over soda has consumers wanting lighter, fruitier summer drinks over beer. Bud rival __[Constellation Brands](https://robinhood.com/stocks/stz)__ was [showing off](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/28/constellation-brands-q1-2020.html) its new non-beer Corona sparkling spin-offs in its earnings report Friday. Now Bud needs some bubbles.   

AB-InBev acquires Insta-famous White Girl Rosé to get into canned wine

_Budweiser shows up just in time for Rosé season_

Budweiser goes rosé all day

__When you track every Amazon package for 2.5 years...__ you learn juicy details. Data-obsessed company Rakuten [found](https://www.axios.com/amazon-shipping-chart-fedex-ups-usps-0dc6bab1-2169-42a8-9e56-0e85c590eb89.html) that the percent of __[Amazon](https://robinhood.com/stocks/amzn)__ packages delivered *by Amazon* rose from 16% in 2017 to 48% today — The US Postal Service ships 33%, UPS has 17%, and FedEx covers under 2%. All of Amazon's gains over that span were at the expense of the Postal Service (just as Trump started [demanding](https://www.ttnews.com/articles/trump-targets-amazon-call-higher-postal-shipping-rates) Amazon pay more for mail).  

__How'd it happen so fast?...__ A combo of strategic under-the-radar and high-profile shipping fleets:

- __Amazon Flex:__ Lets gig workers deliver packages in their own Honda Civic delivery coupe à la Uber/Lyft, making [$18-$25/hour](https://flex.amazon.com/).
- __Amazon Delivery Partners:__ Amazon entices local entrepreneurs to start micro-delivery companies to handle last-mile delivery of packages to stoops across their hometowns.
- __Amazon Now:__ Those Amazon-branded [vans](https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/06/technology/amazon-van-mercedes/index.html) that can deliver to a bar within an hour.
- __Amazon Locker, Amazon Counter:__ Deliver a bunch of things to 1 spot, like a student center or a __[Rite Aid](https://robinhood.com/stocks/RAD)__ (that partnership was announced yesterday), letting customers [carry their stuff](http://fortune.com/2019/06/27/amazons-counter-pickup-orders-rite-aid/) home. 
- __Planes__ (Amazon just leased 15 at the Paris Air Show), __drones__ (arriving "within months"), and a $1.5B __air hub__ in Kentucky.

Ship

__Let the competition give you data, then beat them with it...__ Amazon's relationship with a bunch of partners shifted from friends to frenemies to enemies — It partnered up at first, but eventually used partnership data to do it better itself. Amazon's done that with physical stores (Amazon Go) and even video (Amazon Original films). And according to Rakuten, Amazon-delivered packages take 3.2 days on average. Everyone else takes 6.

Data shows Amazon ships almost half its packages ITSELF

__Bitcoin is having (another) moment...__ The price of the OG cryptocurrency rose from under $4K in March to over $13K this week (but [fell](https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/06/27/bitcoin-prices-plunge-after-surging-heres-what-five-experts-say-about-the-digital-currency.html) to $10K Thursday). As the price surges, so does incentive to mine Bitcoin — New coins generated by people crunching numbers on high-powered, [energy-devouring](https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613658/bitcoin-mining-may-be-pumping-out-as-much-cosub2-sub-per-year-as-kansas-city/) computers. That just gives __[Advanced Micro Devices](https://robinhood.com/stocks/AMD)__ __(AMD)__ another something to smile about. 

__AMD stock has doubled over the past year...__ The computer chips it's become famous for are getting love from diverse places:

- __Microsoft:__ The tech company is [reportedly](https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-could-make-amd-powered-surface-devices-after-falling-out-with-intel) considering swapping out Intel chips for AMD ones in its next litter of Surface tablets. 
- __Video games:__ PlayStation 5 and the next Xbox are both [contracted](https://www.axios.com/amd-bitcoin-stock-market-rise-ee401a13-c1ad-4529-a42a-4641a0625434.html) to use AMD chips.
- __*Bitcoin:*__ Those miners want AMD in their Bitcoin-digging computers. If the price of Bitcoin stays up, it may boost sales of AMD processors from techies who want to turn newly-minted Bitcoin into cash.

Mining

__AMD is the shovel to Bitcoin's gold...__ Like the gold rush spurred demand for literal shovels, the 2nd Bitcoin boom is hungry for AMD chips. Back in November when Bitcoin hype was hibernating, AMD [unveiled](https://www.amd.com/en/technologies/blockchain) a bunch of services for Bitcoin miners and blockchain developers. That bet could be paying off now. 

AMD is loving Bitcoin-mania Part II

__Chief Design Officer...__ Apologies — Make that *Sir* Chief Design Officer. British-born, fully-[knighted](https://www.wired.com/story/a-reminiscence-of-jony-ives-design-legacy/) Jony Ive is leaving Apple after 27 years to start his own design company (it'll be called "LoveFrom," inspired by [this](https://www.fastcompany.com/90370726/the-name-of-jony-ives-new-company-comes-from-this-steve-jobs-quote) Steve Jobs quote). Apple [assured us](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/06/jony-ive-to-form-independent-design-company-with-apple-as-client/) in its press release that Jony will keep working with Apple — Shares only dipped 1% after the news because it'll be one of his first clients.

__Something you're touching today...__ was probably touched by Ive and his Bauhaus-inspired commitment to "less is more." When Jobs returned to __[Apple](https://robinhood.com/stocks/aapl)__ in 1997, the company was just clicks away from bankruptcy. That's when Jony became Apple's spirit animal by designing these masterpiece devices:

- __iMac desktop (1998):__ The OG-Starburst colored ones that took over your school's computer lab. He also did more recent MacBook Airs.
- __iPod (2001):__ The circular scrolling was a game-changer. He also did the (adorable) iPod Mini.
- __iPhone (2007):__ Apple's greatest commercial success. He also led the teams on the iPad and [AirPods](https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/22/jony-ive-airpods-design-gq/). 
- __A smooth voice:__ He's known for divine British [narration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1KD7DdnRb8&feature=youtu.be).
- __Apple's "neo-futurist" campus (2017):__ Ive stepped away from product innovations to design the [spaceship-ish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnC_dxKc6bk) new Apple HQ building.


iOut

__Apple needs to schedule a Genius Bar appointment for itself...__ 2019's been rough and shares are only up 8% over the last year. Slowing iPhone sales and the trade war with key manufacturing partner China have been a problem. The [departure](https://www.ft.com/content/947e557a-98a8-11e9-8cfb-30c211dcd229?shareType=nongift) of its Apple Store retail chief and now its Chief Designer don't help. 

The designer of the iPhone, Jony Ive, just left Apple

_Apple's spirit animal is leaving_

Amazon already ships 48% of Amazon

__If you have a shopping problem...__ __[Shopify's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/shop)__ complicit in the crime. *And you don't even know it*. That's because Shopify does ecommerce's dirty work — It's the back-end, logistics-coordinating, sales-organizing software for any retailer that may sell something online. And according to [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2019/06/26/apple-business-chat-shopify/), it's making online shopping even easier with Apple's Business Chat.  

- *FYI: __Chubbies__ (shorts), __Bombas__ (socks), __MVMT__ (watches), __TB12__ (Tom Brady gear), and hundreds of thousands more all sell with Shopify as their wingman.* 

__Now you can track your Tom Brady hat (🤢) via iMessage...__ *Text*-based customer support puts help in your pocket. It's easier than lame email, time-destroying phone calls, or annoying chat windows. And it's all part of Shopify's strategy to manage the busy-work of ecommerce so brands like Bombas can focus on sock-knitting:

- __Merchants:__ Those are Shopify's customers (aka businesses that sell products). It specializes in small biz brands, but it's also added big-time companies like Unilever.
- __Pro services:__ Shopify's got tools for web design, bookkeeping, package tracking, customer support, and even Search Engine Optimization (so you show up on the top page of Google search).
- __Insta:__ If you can whip up a t-shirt and post it to Instagram, you can sell it with Shopify's plug-in.

Purchase

__"Ecommerce as a service"...__ The makers of S'well water bottles are focused on making good water bottles. But they've got to be online. Instead of building their own ecommerce situation (which costs huge $$$), they can pay Shopify a monthly fee. That simple value prop has pushed Shopify's valuation to $30B, and its stock up almost 10x since its 2015 IPO.  

Shopify's new iMessage feature for 820K merchants is a customer service game-changer

__The Leprechaun should be ashamed...__ Lucky Charms, Cheerios, and Yoplait icon __[General Mills](https://robinhood.com/stocks/gis)__ fell 4% after an earnings report with two [dominating](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/investing/general-mills-earnings/index.html) themes — Human snacks were down, animal snacks were up. PS: Cereal sales were flat.

__Snack sales fell 2%...__ *Feels meta talking about this.* GMills' Fiber One, Nature Valley, Gushers, and lunchbox throwback Fruit by the Foot.
- Its Fiber One branded foods __"fell out of step"__ (their words) with US diet trends.
- Even the CFO's confused about the direction of its snacks biz: "*We need to __get snacks back on track__*."

__Pet food sales jumped 38%...__ mainly because of General Mills' $8B acquisition of Blue Buffalo last year.
- Blue Buffalo is munching the "pet humanization" trend that Chewy rode to its pet supply IPO this month — It's because __Millennials spend big on labradoodles__ since few of us have kids.
- 90% of dog-owners say Fido is __"part of the family"__ (86% for cat-owners) — And that means paying for Blue Buffalo's premium duck, halibut, and even alligator ([it's true](https://bluebuffalo.com/natural-cat-food/blue-natural-veterinary-diet/np-dry-food-for-cats/)) based pet foods.

Eating

__Pet food and snacks target the same Millennial customer...__ But General Mills is still getting to know us. It missed with snacks, but nailed it with pet food through a strategic acquisition. That's why its CFO also added this: "You'll see us invest behind some really good ideas on bars and snacks." Translation: *GMills is planning to buy the trendy snacks this generation actually eats.*


General Mills drops 4% because it only half understands Millennials (aka their pets)

__"I lost my access card"...__ Companies basically have an entire division to support that issue. So __Waltz__ turned the access card into a QR Code in a free app on your phone, and __WeWork__ just bought it. We're seeing a trend from the $47B valued private co-working pioneer that's expected to IPO this year or next. 

__It's called "The We Company" technically...__ but it's popping out its credit card to acquire office tech startups. Here are two of the 10+ acquisitions The We Company has made since 2017:

- __Teem:__ The [software](https://www.teem.com/) companies stick in an iPad to greet visitors (and capture your NDA signature) and to book conference rooms.  
- __Euclid:__ Named after the founder of geometry, Euclid offers ["workplace insights"](https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/07/wework-just-acquired-spatial-analytics-platform-euclid-to-bolster-its-software-offerings/). It basically watches how worker bees move around the office and it offers productivity-boosting office layout tweaks.

Work

__WeWork two different ways...__ People spend about a quarter of their life hacking away in an office. So WeWork is getting ready to show public investors its 2 money-making work strategies:

1. __Its own office buildings:__ WeWork leases gigantic towers, WeWork-ifies them with standing desks, snacks, and colorful lounge areas, and rakes in rent from tenants.
2. __Clients' office buildings:__ WeWork's also a consultant, using Teem, Euclid, and Waltz to WeWork-ify your company's space, then collect consulting fees. 


WeWork buys another "office tech" company

_General Mills gets the dog. Doesn't get the Millennial_

WeWork-ify your office

__Treat yo' self...__ A pair of coffee stocks are enjoying record highs — __[Dunkin'](https://robinhood.com/stocks/dnkn)__ is up 29% this year and __[Starbucks](https://robinhood.com/stocks/sbux)__ has risen 30%. [An analyst](http://fortune.com/2019/06/25/stocks-coffee-starbucks-dunkin/) who doesn't even drink coffee (more of a "tea and hot chocolate" guy) just upgraded where he thinks Dunkin's shares can go thanks to a 4-part java strategy.

__"*I'll have what she's having*" — Starbucks...__ It looks like Dunkin's rival ordered the same 4-part coffee growth plan:
1. __Streamlined menus:__ The faster customers can figure out what obscure Arabica bean combo they want, "the happier they'll be" (according to one of Starbucks' [menu engineers](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/starbucks-menus-shorter_n_5bfc3673e4b0eb6d93126cd6)).
2. __More espresso-based drinks:__ For the [1st](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-food/dunkins-espresso-game-changer-years-making) time ever, consumers under 35 drank more espresso drinks (like lattés) than hot drip coffee, in 2017.
3. __Super loyalty programs:__ We're talking "MCommerce." *Mobile* commerce. The ability to see a full menu, order ahead, and gamify buying with rewards leads to orders that are bigger and more frequent.
4. __Tech delivery partnerships:__ Both coffee brands signed delivery deals with Grubhub.

__Coffee *consumption* isn’t a commodity...__ Oil, copper, coffee — All commodities because they aren't differentiated (one bean's pretty much the same as another). But coffee-buying experiences are different. Through apps, delivery, and [Zombie Frappuccino](https://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/frappuccino-blended-beverages/zombie-frappuccino-), Starbucks and Dunkin' can charge a premium for coffee, thereby un-commodifying it.

Starbucks and Dunkin' hit record highs — And they're using the same 4-part strategy

__1 city + 1 tech company = Sidewalk Labs...__ Toronto solicited proposals from private companies to redevelop an empty waterfront neighborhood. Sidewalk Labs won. It's a sister company of Google, a subsidiary of __[Alphabet](https://robinhood.com/stocks/GOOG)__, and just unveiled a 1,500-page, multi-volume smart city plan. If Toronto approves, then one corner of the city gets elegantly coded.

__DWI = Driving While Incognito mode...__ This neighborhood ("super-hood?") will be built [from scratch](https://www.sidewalktoronto.ca/) with every detail optimized for internet-connectedness. Here are a few of them: 

- __Smarts:__ The sidewalks would expand into a lane of traffic before/after rush hour.
- __Reimagined:__ Nobody likes loud trucks, so freight delivery would happen underground.
- __Random:__ [This](https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/11/building-raincoat-prototype-sidewalk-labs-toronto-smart-city/) "giant raincoat" is supposed to protect buildings from snow (it's basically just a big awning).
- __Earth-loving:__ Everything would be built with "[mass timber](https://www.thinkwood.com/news/4-things-to-know-about-mass-timber)," which is apparently better for the world than steel and concrete (and more [*hygge*](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a41187/what-is-hygge-things-to-know-about-the-danish-lifestyle-trend/)).
- __Money:__ Sidewalk Labs would invest $1B in housing (20% "affordable", 20% "middle class", and 60% probably very expensive), office space, retail stores, and community centers like parks.


Cities

__It's not trying to take your data...__ Sidewalk's PR got out ahead of privacy concerns: "*Sidewalk Labs does not share urban data, user data, or personal data with Google.*" Instead, Sidewalk will make money on rent in Toronto. And if other cities buy Sidewalk's plan, it'll charge for its smart-city tricks learned in Toronto. Picture real estate development meets tech. 

- __WeWork__ has perfected how to build __modern offices__.
- __Sidewalk Labs__ is perfecting how to build __modern neighborhoods__.


Alphabet's futuristic smart city division ("Sidewalk Labs") unveils its Toronto plan

__"He Who Must Not Be Named"...__ was dropped a lot at __[BMW's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/BMWYY)__ NEXTGen event in Munich, showing off its electric car progress. The hugely profitable German carmaker's stock has been down on trade war worries and tough new emission regulations in Europe. So it's accelerating plans to cut emissions out altogether with Tesla-killing electric cars. 

__The lead engineer's name means "Happy" auf Deutsch...__ and Mr. Klaus Fröhlich was 110% himself when he made these updates:

1. __The Vision M Next.__ It's basically an electric [batmobile](https://electrek.co/2019/06/25/bmw-unveils-electric-concept-that-looks-like-next-gen-i8-sports-car/). The concept car isn't for sale (it might never be), but it shows how BMW wants e-cars to be sexy.
2. __Vision DC Roadster.__ Also a concept vehicle, but a 2-wheeled electric motorcycle that looks like a [Transformer](https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123784_bmw-motorrad-vision-dc-roadster-concept-charts-path-for-electric-motorcycles).
3. __The big corporate update.__ BMW will meet its goal of 25 electric models by 2023, two years [ahead of schedule](https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/25/bmw-says-its-running-ahead-of-its-electrification-goals/). Next year we get an all-electric X3 SUV. 

Drive

__How valuable is Tesla's head start?...__ Back when Americans obsessed over Chevy Suburbans and other SUVs in the mid-2000s, Elon launched an electric car company. Now, German luxury brands on the short list for the affluent Tesla-buying demographic are catching up. Tesla's a purebred. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes have adapted, Darwin-style.

BMW unveils new electric cars to hit 25 models by 2023

_"And we're putting the Google innovation center up here on the left"_

Google built a WeWork, but for entire cities

__Extra fries...__ Pairs with the 40M more "*fresh beef*" Quarter Pounder burgers that __[McDonald's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/mcd)__ pumped out last quarter compared to a year before. McD's [revealed](https://news.mcdonalds.com/news-releases/news-release-details/one-year-fresh-beef) that sales of Big Mac's new anti-frozen cousin are up 30% since it introduced the option in 2018 — And for the 1st time in 5 years, it gained market share in the obscurely delicious "informal burger category."

__Ronald deserves a Masters Degree...__ in smiles and supply chain management. The creation of a "fresh beef" option was a major investment by the McDonald's team — It took *4 years* to install a new process to go from cow-to-mouth faster and never frozen. Here's what that "[massive transformation](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/mcdonalds-has-sold-lot-fresh-beef-burgers)" included:

- __Designing new fridges__ to handle fresh beef at the right temperature.
- __Distributing new kitchen utensils__ (aka spatulas) to every participating franchise about to flip the softer burgers.
- __Training 3,000 restaurant operators__ to prepare the actual patties.

Crave

__This is why you invest in your growth...__ Just as McD's is spending on its supply chain to accommodate the new patties, it's pursuing another major overhaul: The $6B nationwide [renovation](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-food/mcdonalds-spending-6-billion-nationwide-remodels) of the majority of its 14K US stores by 2020. Fresh beef is a case study on how investing big into your infrastructure can cook up major payoffs.

McDonald's burger market share rises for 1st time in 5 years

__"One + One = Five"...__ That's how Carl Icahn described the merger of __[Eldorado Resorts](https://robinhood.com/stocks/ERI)__ and __[Caesars Entertainment](https://robinhood.com/stocks/CZR)__, announced Monday. Teaming up creates the largest US casino operator, with 60 gambling spots across 16 states. Technically, Eldorado is buying Caesars (faux gondola [situation](https://www.venetian.com/resort/attractions/gondola-rides.html) included), but they'll share ownership 51%/49%. Here's the receipt:

- __Price:__ Eldorado's paying __$8.5B__ in cash and some stock to acquire 100% of Caesars' shares.
- __Debt:__ Caesars carries some baggage — __$8.8B__ of debt. That now belongs to Eldorado.
- __Total cost:__ The law of addition gets us to __$17.3B__ Eldorado is throwing on the table for all of Caesars' chips.


__"Sir, I strongly suggest you [hit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkzMA1jrm00)"...__ Carl Icahn [made](https://www.axios.com/carl-icahn-caesars-eldorado-resorts-acquisition-eac97058-8383-4131-8516-7b0f0ea4e4f7.html) this happen. Here's how:

- His hedge fund __Icahn Enterprises__ bought up 9.8% of Caesars' shares. Then he went public with it, and announced that __the company should sell itself__.
- Caesars' directors immediately __gave Carl 3 seats on the board__ and let him help choose the next CEO.
- Carl's ownership rose to nearly 16%, and he wielded his power to __push for the highest bid from Eldorado__.
- Carl's shares will now be bought for $13.01 — That's __a 51% return in just 4 months__ since he snagged the board seats. 


Gamble

__This is American-style investor activism...__ Carl Icahn helped create that term in 1985, when he famously took control of __TWA Airlines__, turned himself a nice profit, and then left (TWA ended up in bankruptcy 3 times). Here's that activist playbook:  

1. Buy a big chunk of a company's shares.
2. Publicly demand change (often insulting management's competence). 
3. Hope to sell after changes have boosted the stock.

As Carl likes to [put it](https://carlicahn.com/): "*A lot of people die fighting tyranny. The least I can do is vote against it.*"


The biggest US casino was just created — And Carl Icahn orchestrated the whole thing

__Guy sex problems generate billions of profits...__ Not so much for women. __AMAG__ is trying to change that with "Vyleesi," which just earned FDA approval to treat premenopausal Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. That affects 5.8M American women, yet only 1 [other](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/health/vyleesi-libido-women.html) type of therapy is available on the market. But here's how it's different from Viagra:

- Viagra treats arousal problems. __When you want to have sex__.
- Vyleesi treats desire problems. __When you *want to* want to have sex__.  

__The 2nd problem is harder to cure...__ This isn't a pill. Vyleesi requires injection in the thigh or abdomen 45 minutes before sex. And it actually affects the brain (unlike Viagra, which affects one thing). Vyleesi's branding though looks strategically more like a new direct-to-consumer soap startup, brushed with hints of [Millennial pink](https://people.com/health/fda-approves-drug-improve-womens-sex-drive/).

Injection

__The news didn't go down as planned...__ Two key stocks are involved in this story: __[Palatin Technologies](https://robinhood.com/stocks/PTN)__ (which developed the drug) and __[AMAG](https://robinhood.com/stocks/AMAG)__ (the just-outside-of-Boston company licensing/marketing it). Their stocks were up as high as 39% and 12% after the news... until [this article](https://twitter.com/adamfeuerstein/status/1143114841764372480). A science reporter panned the drug for its brutally pill-less injection and unpleasant side effects. Wall Street is [concerned](https://seekingalpha.com/news/3473312-palatin-amag-give-gains-feuerstein-rains-vyleesi-parade). 