Investing

Egg prices rose 60% in 2022: Consumers paid $4.30 on average in December for a dozen eggs compared to $1.80 a year earlier. But who’s profiting from that price difference? It’s a complicated answer.
“Everyone tries to make money, but … it’s a very low-margin industry,” said Angel Rubio, senior analyst at Urner Barry, a market research firm that specializes in the wholesale food industry.

There were 373 million laying hens around the U.S. as of January, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After hens lay eggs at a farm, they get graded by the USDA and put into cartons, sold to retailers and then purchased by you, the consumer.
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All told, eggs are an about $10 billion dollar industry, with nearly 13% growth annually in profit from 2017 to 2022, according to IBISWorld. But the egg industry is volatile, too, sensitive to market changes and environmental factors. Much of the price increase of eggs over 2022 stemmed from the deadliest outbreak of bird flu in U.S. history, which killed millions of egg-laying hens.
The egg industry also has its fair share of controversy.
“Each bird is given less space than the dimensions of an iPad on which to live her entire life,” said Kate Brindle, a senior public policy specialist in farm animal protection at The Humane Society of the United States. “And so they have to eat, sleep, defecate, all in the same area, and they’re denied virtually everything that’s natural to them.”

There are only a handful of big players in the industry. Cal-Maine Foods, the only publicly traded egg producer, holds 16.8% of market share. Like some of the other larger companies, it operates farms, processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, warehouses, offices and other properties around the country. Cal-Maine Foods reported a nearly 32% increase in revenue from 2021 to 2022.
“It’s a testament to the fact that they haven’t had any [bird flu] outbreaks, how good they’ve been at biosecurity in their facilities,” said Peter Galbo, a food and beverage analyst for Bank of America. “This is a very experienced, very deep management team that’s been in this industry for a long time.”
The second largest producer is Rose Acre Farms, with about 7% market share, followed by Versova Holdings and Hillandale Farms with just more than 5% each, and Michael Foods with 3.5%, according to IBISWorld.
So who profits from this $10 billion industry? Watch this video to learn who makes money from eggs.

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It’s not too late for families struggling to afford college next year to apply for financial assistance or ask the college financial aid office for more money.
Here’s how to craft your approach.

1. Apply for financial aid

In ordinary years, high school graduates miss out on billions in federal grants because they don’t apply for financial aid. Many families mistakenly assume they won’t qualify and don’t even bother to fill out an application.
Even now, many families haven’t applied for financial aid.

As of February, 38.4% of the high school class of 2023 had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form, according to the National College Attainment Network. (The FAFSA season for the 2023-24 academic year opened Oct. 1, but students who haven’t filed can still apply.)
“It’s not too late,” said Mary Jo Terry, a managing partner at Yrefy, a private student loan refinancing company.

Arrows pointing outwards

For families who have already filed the FAFSA but are still concerned about making ends meet, it is also possible to amend their FAFSA form or ask the college financial aid office for more aid, particularly if you’ve experienced a change in your financial situation, such as a job loss or a disability, according to Kalman Chany, a financial aid consultant and author of The Princeton Review’s “Paying for College.”

2. Negotiate for more school aid

For starters, understand the formula colleges use to come up with the expected family contribution. Financial aid is determined by income information that is not necessarily up to date. For instance, aid for 2023-24 academic year is based on 2021 income.
Further, “it’s not so much what you can afford to pay but what you can afford to finance,” Chany said.
If your circumstances are now different, that should be brought to the financial aid office’s attention with documentation.
But first, also make sure you understand the financial aid award letter — particularly the difference between scholarships and loans, whether those funds are renewable for all four years and if they come with contingencies such as maintaining a certain grade point average.

Then, prepare a response with documentation showing any changes in assets, income, benefits or expenses. If the financial aid package from another comparable school was better, that is also worth documenting in an appeal.
“Syrupy” letters aren’t as effective as taking a more quantitative approach, Chany advised.
“This is a business transaction,” he said. “They are trying to meet their enrollment goals and maintain revenue.”
To that end, “play hard to get,” he added. Don’t post wearing the school sweatshirt on social media or make any moves to give the indication that you will enroll anyway.

Colleges are likely receptive to appeals, Chany said, but “it’s not a buyers’ market like it was at the onset of the pandemic.”

3. Leverage private scholarships

Otherwise, consider other sources for merit-based aid, Terry advised. “There is so much money out there that people don’t even know is available.”
In fact, there are more than 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships available, often funded by foundations, corporations and other independent organizations, with a total value of more than $7.4 billion, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.
“Every 40 hours you spend applying for scholarships and grants will result in $10,000, on average,” Yrefy’s Terry has calculated.
Check with the college, or ask your high school counselor about opportunities. You can also search websites like Scholarships.com and the College Board.
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If you’re eager to capture higher yields amid rising interest rates, you may consider a Treasury bill ladder, experts say.
The ladder strategy includes several Treasury bills, or T-bills, with staggered maturities, with the chance to reinvest at higher rates as terms expire or to allocate the funds elsewhere.

Damir Khabirov

If you’re eager to capture higher yields amid rising interest rates, you may consider a Treasury bill ladder, depending on your goals, according to financial experts.
Backed by the U.S. government, Treasury bills, or T-bills, are widely considered a relatively safe asset, with terms of four weeks to 52 weeks. You receive the interest when the T-bill matures. 

The ladder strategy includes several T-bills with staggered maturities. When one expires, you can reinvest the funds for a higher yield, which may be appealing as interest rates rise. Or you can allocate the proceeds elsewhere.
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“Bond ladders are cool again,” said Jeremy Keil, a certified financial planner with Keil Financial Partners in Milwaukee, who is currently looking at T-bill ladders of four months, eight months and 12 months. 
Over the past year, T-bill yields have increased after a series of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve — and there may be more on the horizon. As of Feb. 27, six-month and 1-year Treasury bills were both paying over 5%.  

How to earn higher yields in the short term

Keith Singer, a CFP and president of Singer Wealth Advisors in Boca Raton, Florida, said there’s currently an inverted yield curve, meaning some short-term Treasurys have higher yields than longer-term ones. 

“The market is expecting rates to go down,” he explained. Based on what’s known today, the yield curve suggests that inflation will cool and the Fed will eventually start cutting rates, he said.
You can buy T-bills through TreasuryDirect, a website managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which allows you to automatically reinvest into the same term. Or you may purchase T-bills through a brokerage account, which offers more liquidity and flexibility.

It’s better than keeping your money in the bank and it’s better than buying a certificate of deposit.

Keith Singer
President of Singer Wealth Advisors

“It’s better than keeping your money in the bank and it’s better than buying a certificate of deposit,” Singer said, noting there’s also a $250,000 limit per person, bank and ownership category, for Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance.
Keil also agreed that T-bills currently offer “the best rates around” compared to other relatively safe options for cash.
However, the exact selection of T-bills and the amount invested in each one depends on your goals and when you need the money.

For example, if you’re investing money to buy a house in a year’s time, you may include 1-year T-bills in the ladder. “If interest rates tick up a little bit, you’re not going to take a bath,” Singer said. “Because it’s going to mature pretty quickly.”
While a T-bill ladder may not be a good long-term strategy, it makes sense if you need the money sooner for a short-term goal, he added.

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The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday on President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, starting a decision-making process that will impact tens of millions of Americans.
Due to the conservative majority of the Supreme Court, experts say the relief plan faces tough odds.

Supreme Court.
Douglas Rissing | Istock | Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments over President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, starting a decision-making process that will affect the balance sheets of tens of millions of Americans.
The nine justices will consider two legal challenges to Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for borrowers: one from six GOP-led states (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina) and another backed by the Job Creators Network Foundation, a conservative advocacy organization.

Long before the president acted, Republicans had criticized loan forgiveness as a handout to well-off college graduates. They also argued that the president didn’t have the power to forgive consumer debt on his own without authorization from Congress.
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Biden’s policy has faced at least six lawsuits since it was rolled out in August. Dozens of Republican members of Congress have also filed briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan should be ruled unlawful.
There’s no precedent in U.S. history for the kind of sweeping debt forgiveness that the White House has promised to deliver, although consumer advocates point out that large corporations and banks have been bailed out by the government after going through their own crises. And they say that canceling a large share of education debt is necessary to relieve the many borrowers struggling from a broken lending system.
“The court must see these lawsuits as the partisan sham they really are and protect the Biden administration’s historic relief plan,” said Ben Kaufman, director of research and investigations at the Student Borrower Protection Center. “Borrowers deserve better than to be treated like political pawns — lives and livelihoods are at stake.”

Here are three things to know.

1. Millions already approved for loan forgiveness

Although the Biden administration had to take down its loan forgiveness application portal shortly after it rolled out its plan because of the legal challenges, the U.S. Department of Education has already been able to “fully approve” more than 16 million people for the relief and even sent their paperwork to loan servicers.
If the Supreme Court decides the administration can carry out its plan, these borrowers could see their debts lowered or erased quickly, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

“It should take one to two weeks for the servicers to implement,” Kantrowitz said.
More than 10 million borrowers are likely also eligible for the relief, and those who didn’t already apply should have another opportunity to do so if the policy survives.

2. Justices to consider if president can cancel debt

At an estimated cost of about $400 billion, Biden’s plan to forgive student debt is one of the most expensive executive actions in history.
The justices are likely to examine whether the president has the power to implement such a sweeping policy.
The Biden administration insists that it’s acting within the law, pointing out that the Heroes Act of 2003 grants the U.S. secretary of education the authority to make changes related to student loans during national emergencies. The country has been operating under an emergency declaration due to Covid-19 since March 2020.

However, opponents of the policy say the administration is incorrectly using the law, which was passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It is not an across-the-board get-out-of-debt provision that an administration can invoke at will,” the six Republican-led states note in their lawsuit against the plan.
Biden officials point out that the public health crisis has caused considerable financial harm to student loan borrowers and that its debt cancellation plan is necessary to stave off a historic rise in delinquencies and defaults.

The court’s conservatives have been very aggressive in striking down the decisions of Congress and the president.

Gregory Caldeira
political science professor at Ohio State University

Student loan borrowers were having problems repaying their debt before Covid. Only about half of borrowers were in repayment in 2019, according to an estimate by Kantrowitz. A quarter — or more than 10 million people — were in delinquency or default, and the rest had applied for temporary relief measures for struggling borrowers, such as deferments or forbearances.
These grim figures led to comparisons to the 2008 mortgage crisis and built pressure on Biden to deliver relief.

3. Legal experts say forgiveness plan faces tough odds

Gregory Caldeira, a political science professor at Ohio State University, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the highest court rules against Biden.
“The court’s conservatives have been very aggressive in striking down the decisions of Congress and the president,” Caldeira said.
For a number of reasons, Dan Urman, a law professor at Northeastern University, also predicts student loan forgiveness won’t survive the Supreme Court.
He said the conservative justices believe government agencies exert too much authority and “violate the separation of powers.” In addition, he said, the concept of loan forgiveness seems to run counter to their notions of individual responsibility.
Such a politically fueled decision, however, is likely to further damage the public’s perception of the judicial branch, Urman said.
“Striking down forgiveness will add to growing skepticism that the conservative justices vote for conservatives, and the liberal justices vote for liberals,” Urman said.
Just 25% of Americans have confidence in the highest court, a Gallup poll found over the summer.

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A one-year program at The Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn is providing an alternative path for Black and Latino students to launch a career in the tech industry.
Support from foundations and corporate sponsors make the program free for students.
A four-year college degree is still a standard requirement for the majority of software engineering jobs, according to the Burning Glass Institute.

How a New York school disrupts education to prepare Black, Latino students for six-figure tech jobs

College can be difficult and expensive for all students, but for many young people of color, those challenges can seem insurmountable. The Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York, however, has created an alternative path — a one-year program to help students get lucrative tech jobs that typically go to college graduates with a four-year degree.
“The story that’s not often told is what happens when a young person gets to college, and what we learned was that college wasn’t serving our students,” said Maya Bhattacharjee-Marcantonio, co-founder of The Marcy Lab School. 

Creating an alternative to a 4-year degree

Partnering with the business community

The Marcy Lab School co-founders Reuben Ogbanna and Bhattacharjee-Marcantonio share ideas at the whiteboard.
Tara McCurrie, CNBC

The co-founders worked with the local community to design a program to prepare students for upwardly mobile careers. They started with the tech sector and the support of several foundations, including Tiger Global Impact Ventures, Charles Hayden Foundation and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. They also have dozens of companies that support, train and hire graduates, including JP Morgan Chase, WW International and Squarespace. 
“Spending years with our students has led them to see them as not only students who have a ton of potential but can be true hiring pipelines for their organizations,” said Ogbonna.
The program is also about building community and self-assurance. “I’ve learned to really advocate for myself and have this level of confidence, because Marcy provided that for me,” said Aneika Nanton, who is a student currently completing a paid internship with WW International as part of the program.  
The school, still in its early stages, boasts an 80% completion rate. The average graduate receives a starting salary of $106,500.  

“There are many students who are going to go to colleges that have graduation rates that are in the 30s or 40s [percentiles], that have average salaries for their graduates that are just above minimum wage,” Ogbonna said. “What I’d say is that those students aren’t getting a strong return on their investment.”
“We think The Marcy Lab School can scale to thousands of students here in New York City, and potentially have impacts across the country,” said Ogbonna. 

Overcoming degree requirements 

Devonte Duncan was part of the orginal class of nine students at the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York.
Tara McCurrie, CNBC

An increasing number of organizations have embraced the idea of skills-based hiring as the answer to obtaining the talent they need. But the percentage of jobs that require a four-year degree has actually increased. Last year, 57% of job postings for software developers/engineers required a bachelor’s degree, up from 51% five years ago, according to an analysis by data research company Burning Glass Institute.
“When it comes to actually hiring, it’s really tempting to cling to what’s most comfortable,” said Matt Sigelman, president of the institute. 
Former Marcy attendee Devante Duncan said his mom wasn’t happy when she first learned her son had quit his pursuit of a bachelor’s degree to attend the school’s alternative program. Difficulty being able to register for the classes he needed for an engineering degree at a public university — and concern about taking on debt — made him eager to find another option. Duncan, who was one of the first nine to complete The Marcy Lab School, is now earning $140,000 annually as a software engineer at Squarespace.
“I was able to convince her that, you know, it was the right decision,” Duncan said. Once you see that paycheck, he said, “it’s hard not to be convinced.” 

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In addition to the standard fees, even the most amicable divorces tend to accumulate some add-ons.
Review your “divorce landscape” to determine how attitudes might impact the financial toll a divorce takes.
Then estimate the new costs of a single lifestyle, weigh the tax implications and be sure to seek professional help.

Photo by Image Source via Getty Images

Love may not cost a thing, but divorce can come with a hefty price tag.
Most people considering divorce go in with the understanding that it’s going to come with a cost, but many — particularly those pursuing a contested divorce — can experience massive sticker shock when those costs begin to add up during the process.

The majority of these fees simply can’t be avoided, but understanding what to expect can help you better plan for the process. Attorney fees and court fees are a given and can run anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000-plus, depending on factors such as geographic location (divorce is generally more expensive on the coasts), whether the divorce is highly contested, the complexity of the issues, how much litigation is involved and more.
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In addition to the standard fees, even the most amicable divorces tend to accumulate some add-ons. Below are some of the common-but-unexpected costs you may encounter.

Review your divorce landscape

Scenarios like these add more than emotional tension to the situation and can take extra resources to resolve. Expert witnesses, forensic accountants and psychological evaluations are all investments that may add value to your case and more, but the costs can add up, so surveying your unique landscape will help prepare you for what resources will be necessary to chart a path to the other side.
Uncovering potential hidden costs can begin with surveying the landscape of your divorce — determine who the players are, what the climate is, and who you may need to help guide the journey in addition to your attorneys.

The way in which you and your soon-to-be-ex approach your divorce will have a big impact on the final price tag. Mediation and other alternative dispute resolution strategies can save money, but they may also require compromise you aren’t necessarily considering. If you decide that bridging the divide on major financial and custodial issues isn’t possible without litigation, additional expenditures will likely arise.
If your divorce is contested or your partner isn’t cooperative, it’s important to prepare your financial mindset accordingly. Is your spouse the type to hide money or assets? Budget for some forensic accounting. Special subpoenas may be needed to ensure that bank statements and business documents, such as profit-loss statements, along with other important financial documents, are available and accounted for.
When it comes to children, if you and your spouse share similar expectations for custody, the matter can be straightforward to resolve. But if you’re not on the same page, or there are additional issues such as allegations of domestic violence involved, the services of custody experts and other evaluations may be called for.

The literal cost of moving on

You may be very eager to start the next phase of your life, separate and apart from your ex, but if you and your spouse intend to sell shared property and split the profits, it may make sense to discuss the logistics now. Dividing shared assets such as a primary or vacation home, art collections, cars or other big-ticket items requires investment on the front end — whether it’s a real estate attorney, appraisals and/or closing costs. Something as straightforward as transferring title to real property still comes with a fee.

Even without having to negotiate buying and selling a property, chances are that if one of you is keeping the property, the other is likely moving out. Moving expenses and other relocation costs such as deposits or down payments, setting up utilities, storage and more may not be on the top of your list when thinking about costs as you begin the divorce process.
Beginning to put time into researching these lesser, but still accumulating, costs can be a big help when considering the whole financial picture.

Know the tax consequences

If you’ve previously enjoyed tax savings from joint filing and/or claiming child-related tax benefits, your first “single” tax bill may be very different from what you’re used to. Many child-related tax benefits such as dependent or education credits can only be claimed by one filer, so you may want to plan ahead and address this in your settlement agreement. Without a thorough agreement, you could be left in the lurch if your ex-spouse files before you do or if there’s no clarity on how and when these benefits can be utilized.
Taxes are complex, so it may benefit you to take a collaborative approach with other professionals early in the process. Your divorce attorney can work with financial and tax advisors so you are clear on the tax implications and how you can plan ahead.

Learn to live with higher lifestyle costs

Splitting lifestyle expenses with your spouse, such as insurance, utilities and even your Netflix and Hulu subscriptions, likely resulted in cost savings. Keep in mind that when the marriage ends and your household divides, so will benefits such as family plans and multiple-car discounts. While this might seem obvious — and minor compared with other costs — the reality of paying for everything from vacations to health insurance to home appliance repairs independently often takes people by surprise.
Therapists, business coaches and life coaches can offer invaluable advice to help you find your footing in this new phase of your life, but if you plan to utilize their services, be sure to add these fees to your divorce budget. If possible, consider working with providers who offer flat rates to make your budget more predictable.

How to best prepare your budget and mindset

Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images

The financial aspects of divorce can become less stressful when you take stock of everything before filing.
Seek professional financial guidance if you can. An extra pair of trained eyes can offer substantial benefits both for your daily budget and your new long-term financial outlook. If possible, consult with a financial planner who can offer steps to improve your money management.
If you don’t have an accountant, seek one out promptly. This is especially crucial for anyone who owns a business or manages large investments. Introducing your team to each other, so your attorney can coordinate with other professionals in your life, can make settlement negotiations, or ultimate outcomes, that much easier to navigate.
There are also many things you can do independently as you prepare to transition to a one-income household. From collecting and reviewing copies of bank statements, shared bills and other financial documents to requesting new quotes from insurance and service providers, the more organized and informed you are heading into the divorce, the more prepared you’ll feel.
Taking these steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, will help you minimize stress and stay focused on your future when unexpected costs arise.
 — By Jamie Berger and Sarah Jacobs, founders of New Jersey-based matrimonial and family law firm Jacobs Berger

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An EV600 all-electric light commercial vehicle purpose-built for the delivery of goods and services, built by GM’s electric commercial vehicle business, BrightDrop, is seen in Detroit, Michigan, in this undated photograph.
Brightdrop | Handout | via Reuters

Layoff announcements and warnings of an economic downturn from multiple CEOs during the earnings season have made it difficult to look beyond the ongoing turmoil and pick good stocks for the long term. 
To help with the process, here are five stocks chosen by Wall Street’s top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their track records.

Walmart

Walmart (WMT) topped analysts’ expectations for the fiscal fourth quarter as budget-conscious customers preferred to shop at the big-box retailer due to its lower-price offerings. However, it issued a subdued sales outlook, as stubbornly high inflation continues to impact spending on discretionary items.
Nonetheless, Guggenheim analyst Robert Drbul noted that Walmart is starting the new fiscal year on “solid competitive and operational footing.” The analyst also highlighted the retailer’s market share gains in grocery, growth in private brands and the improvement in inventory levels.
“We continue to believe Walmart is well positioned in an uncertain macro environment, with its price and value proposition and with increased convenience and assortment, despite persistent indicators of pressure on the consumer, including stubborn food inflation,” Drbul said.
The analyst also thinks Walmart can gain more business from higher income families “because the company has made strides in pickup, delivery, and membership.” Drbul reiterated a buy rating on Walmart and a price target of $165.
Drbul ranks 247th among over 8,300 analysts on TipRanks. Moreover, 65% of his ratings have been successful, with each generating a 9.8% average return. (See Walmart Hedge Fund Trading Activity on TipRanks.)

Crocs

Casual footwear maker Crocs (CROX) is seeing robust demand for its products despite difficult macro conditions. Its fourth-quarter revenue surged 61%, reflecting organic growth and the momentum of the Heydude brand, which the company acquired in 2022.  
While Crocs acknowledges the macro headwinds affecting it, it is confident about achieving a record 2023, fueled by demand for its sandals, international growth potential of the Crocs brand and higher market penetration of the Heydude brand in the U.S.
Reacting to the results, Baird analyst Jonathan Komp commented, “The Q4 update included multiple positive developments, including stronger-than-expected Q4 EBIT margin performance, continued robust brand momentum, and reassuring 2023E EPS guidance which is front-weighted and includes multiple areas of conservatism.”
Komp raised his 2023 and 2024 earnings per share estimates, stating that Crocs remains a “favorite idea” at current valuations, given the company’s multiyear growth potential. He reiterated a buy rating and increased his price target to $175 from $155.      
Komp holds the 386th position out of more than 8,300 analysts followed on TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 54% of the time, with each rating generating a 13.8% average return. (See Crocs Blogger Opinions & Sentiment on TipRanks)

The Chefs’ Warehouse

Another company that has displayed strength amid difficult conditions is Chefs’ Warehouse (CHEF), a distributor of specialty food products. It distributes over 55,000 products to more than 40,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Chefs’ Warehouse’s fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share surged nearly 85% year over year, driven by robust sales and improved margins. The company has been boosting its business through organic growth and key acquisitions. In the fourth quarter, the company acquired Chef Middle East, which helped it expand into new markets like United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.
Following the fourth-quarter results, BTIG analyst Peter Saleh reiterated a buy rating and “Top Pick” designation on CHEF, with a price target of $48. Saleh, who ranks 346 out of 8,341 analysts tracked by TipRanks, thinks that “continued sales and earnings progression builds out the company’s favorable long-term potential.”
Saleh noted that the company is “still undervalued given the consistent growth it is achieving.” He also pointed out that investors misunderstood the recent convertible notes issuance, stating, “We believe investors missed the technical details in the filing that place the dilution overhang much higher than the stated conversion price. In our view, this could act as a tailwind for the shares in the near-term.”
Saleh’s ratings have been profitable 65% of the time and each rating has generated a 12.5% return, on average. (See Chef’s Warehouse Stock Chart on TipRanks)

Datadog

Next on our list is cloud-based software company Datadog (DDOG), which recently reported market-beating fourth-quarter results. That said, investors were spooked by its revenue outlook for the first quarter and full year 2023. Macro uncertainties are impacting the cloud spending of Datadog’s larger customers, thus affecting its expansion rate.
Baird analyst William Power lowered his 2023 revenue estimate based on the company’s outlook. He also reduced his operating income forecast to reflect continued growth investments made by the company. (See Datadog Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks)
Nevertheless, Power remains bullish about the long-term prospects of Datadog, as the company has “one of the broadest platforms and a strong R&D engine.” The analyst also noted “strong enterprise trends,” with the company ending the fourth quarter with nearly 2,780 customers contributing annual recurring revenue of $100,000 or more, up from 2,010 customers last year.
Power maintained a buy rating on Datadog and a $100 price target. He ranks 268 among more than 8,000 analysts tracked on TipRanks. Moreover, 55% of his ratings have been profitable, with each rating generating a return of 15.5%, on average.    

Applied Materials

Applied Materials (AMAT) provides manufacturing equipment and software to makers of semiconductors, electronic devices and related industries. Despite the ongoing challenges in the semiconductor space, the company delivered better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings.  
Cheering the results, CEO Gary Dickerson stated that the company’s resilience is backed by its “strong positions with leading customers at key technology inflections, large backlog of differentiated products and growing service business.”
Needham analyst Quinn Bolton increased his price target for Applied Materials to $135 from $120 and reiterated a buy rating following the recent results. Bolton noted that ICAPS (chips for IoT, Communications, Auto, Power and Sensors) “stole the show” in the report. (See Applied Materials Financial Statements on TipRanks)
“ICAPS was the main focus on the call as it was mentioned 56 times and rightfully so. AMAT has become incrementally more positive on ICAPS than it was last Q, as it is set to grow Y/Y in 2023 even in the face of China export restrictions,” Bolton said.
He further explained that the market growth of ICAPS is way higher than the leading edge chips this year due to “end market strength, higher capital intensity, and government incentives.”
Bolton’s convictions can be trusted, given that he is ranked number 1 among more than 8,300 analysts in the TipRanks database. Additionally, his track record of 70% profitable ratings, with each rating delivering an average return of 39.8%, is laudable.

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Hiring a top interior designer is a luxury few consumers can afford, but there’s a growing number of services available to virtually decorate your space for less.
The Expert, for example, offers one-hour consultations with A-list decorators for $1,000 to $2,000.
For consumers who want help but may not have the means or access to a full-service design firm, “we are bridging the gap,” said The Expert’s CEO Leo Seigal.

A renovated apartment in New York City after The Expert consultation sessions with designers Jessica Gersten and Athena Calderone.
The Expert

Aside from bingeing Netflix, creating the picture-perfect home may have been the pandemic’s most popular habit.
Whether it’s organizing a pantry or adding on a home office, gym or spa-like bathroom, homeowners have been upgrading and expanding their spaces at record rates for over two years. 

Although Americans are no longer sheltering at home, the recent rise in mortgages rates has encouraged more people to stay put and renovate rather than relocate.
Even in the face of inflation, ongoing supply chain issues and other factors, the vast majority of homeowners are proceeding with their planned home improvement projects in 2023, according to a Houzz survey of nearly 4,000 homeowners conducted in October.
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At the same time, Instagram and other social media platforms have raised the bar by presenting an endless array of covetable spaces.
For most people, decorating is a daunting task, yet hiring a pro is out of reach.

Few Americans can afford the high-end look depicted online, which often comes with the help of an A-list designer and hefty budget. The average cost to hire an interior designer can vary greatly depending on the region and scope and whether it’s based on a flat rate, hourly fee or percentage of the project, although well-known designers easily charge in the five or six figures.
“It’s a time-consuming and overwhelming process for a lot of homeowners,” said Wayne Gao, co-founder and CEO of Australia-based Furnishd, which offers virtual consultations for $850 per room or $3,250 for the whole house. “It also costs a fortune.”

Virtual design services offer real-world pricing

That’s where virtual services can add value at a fraction of the cost, added Leo Seigal, co-founder and CEO of The Expert. “It’s almost like insurance to make sure you are making the right decision.”
The Expert was started by Seigal and Los Angeles-based interior designer Jake Arnold in early 2021. The service offers one-on-one consultations with over 150 big-name decorators including Arnold, Martin Brudnizki, Brigette Romanek, Ashe Leandro and Rita Konig. Prices range from $250 for a 25-minute call to up $2,000 for an hour.
Of course, online design help is not new. Even before 2020, there were services like Havenly and Homepolish. Retailers such as West Elm and Restoration Hardware offer those services, as well. However, now A-list decorators are getting into the game.
“The pandemic turbocharged interior design and created the environment to get the designers to do this in the first place,” Seigal said.

Americans are also prepared to shell out more based on what they see on sites like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Consumers are now conditioned “to believe they can get whatever they want, whenever they want,” according to an analysis by McKinsey & Company.
However, home upgrades are another level of spending altogether.
“Any renovation has the potential to get really expensive,” Seigal said. “You can’t really afford to make a mistake.”
For consumers who want help but may not have the means or access to a full-service design firm, “we are bridging the gap,” he said.

The pandemic turbocharged interior design and created the environment to get the designers to do this.

Leo Seigal
co-founder and CEO of The Expert

Other top designers, too, have spun off their own virtual consulting service to meet the demand for a less expensive and more accessible option.
Marianne Brown, the principal designer and owner of W Design Collective, also now offers virtual design help starting at $500 for a one-hour call, in addition to the high-end remodels and full-service projects she’s known for, which cost substantially more.
“I couldn’t even afford myself,” she said, referring to the latter.
More recently, however, Brown said she’s wrestled with the effect that the constant stream of home upgrades on social media has on homeowners and women, in particular.
“At least when Vogue tells you your skinny jeans are ‘out’ you are only donating a $50 pair of jeans to Goodwill,” she said. “But when Architectural Digest tells you white kitchens are ‘out,’ you are hiring a painter for $8,000 to repaint your kitchen cabinets.”
Brown advises homeowners to resist the urge to keep up with the Joneses. Rather, she says consider how you will use the space and make sure it reflects your personality. “What have I always loved? Where do I come from and where have I traveled? Stay true to who you are.”
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