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Inflation Update: Not Transitory Yet!
Today we are experiencing a perfect storm of inflation. A perfect storm is formed by seemingly small factors. Each one on its own may not be particularly significant, but once combined they result in an event that significantly exceeds the sum of all parts. I provide an update on my previous two inflation articles, and the risks I see on the horizon in the next few quarters.
Is Tesla Theranos?
Tesla bears make the argument that Elon Musk is similar to Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos, who resorted to deception and fraud. What would happen to Tesla if something were to happen to him?
Elon Musk’s Notorious Promises: Why Tesla’s Future Success Might Not Be in His Hands
Elon Musk is an incredibly ambitious leader with seemingly impossible goals, who has changed the auto industry and accelerated human progress. His success is mostly dependent on the capital he can raise to finance his dreams, which is made possible by the faith people have in him and Tesla. However, it is difficult to tell which of his goals will turn into realities and when.
Autopilot: Musk’s Wishful Thinking or Tesla’s Greatest Advantage?
Autopilot has some useful features, but can be dangerous on roads with unclear lane markings. Is the autopilot Tesla's greatest advantage?
Nokia or Samsung? Why a First-Principles Approach Will Be Key for Developing EVs
Tesla created its cars by breaking out of the domain of existing auto manufacturers and thinking from first principles, creating vehicles with fewer parts and a more customer-friendly approach to buying and servicing.
Why the Survival and Dominance of Car Manufacturers is Far from Certain
Traditional car manufacturers have the advantage of knowledge and experience in manufacturing cars, but can they survive the transition to EV?
Are Electric Cars Good for the Environment?
Two-thirds of the electricity in the US currently comes from fossil fuels, but electric cars could cut CO2 emissions by over a third.
Tesla’s Risky Gamble & The Future of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Tesla's batteries are more efficient but more expensive to replace and require more attention to keep them running efficiently.
How EV Range Anxiety Will Give Way to an EV-Charging “Gold Rush”
Range anxiety is a real concern for electric vehicle (EV) owners, but it is manageable. Charging with a 110-volt outlet can take three days, but a 220-volt outlet can charge the car in 10 hours. Capitalism will build out the charging infrastructure, creating more charging locations like grocery store parking lots.
Why the Gasoline Car to the EV is Like the Horse to the Car
The engine is the most complex and important part of the ICE car, and it is one of the least complex parts of the EV and, perhaps surprisingly, the least important one.
Tesla, Elon Musk and the EV Revolution
In late June 2019, I bought a Tesla Model 3. Most people would just enjoy driving such a car. Not me – I wrote about it for two or three hours a day.
The Subtle Nuances of Softbank
It seems that Softbank stock has been hated and misunderstood every day we’ve owned it – until recently.
Softbank Will Succeed Even If Its WeWork Investment Doesn’t Work Out
My firm is not as big a fan of WeWork as Softbank's CEO, Masayoshi Son, and we have doubts about WeWork's ability to make money. We have watched Son make investment decisions for Softbank, and we believe he has integrity, intelligence, and follows a deliberate process.
Junior Analyst Position
We are looking to hire a junior analyst. For the right candidate this is an opportunity of a lifetime, as this entry-level position has the potential to evolve into a more senior one as the person learns, gets bruised by experience, and IMA continues to grow.
The Invisible Hand: Balancing Supply and Demand in a Capitalist Economy
How the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing has mutated the DNA of the global economy, and how well-meaning economists running central banks don't know the correct price of money or the consequences of their actions.
SoftBank’s Big Plan For A Smarter Internet Is Brilliant
Masayoshi Son doesn’t do anything small nor does he do things in a simple way. A few months ago SoftBank ...
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son Banks on Exponential Growth
I am about to go out on very thin ice. I am a value investor, but I’ll probably get banned ...
The Conn’s Paradox, or the Synergy of Awful
One plus one equals three: That is a business school definition of synergy. Two companies join forces, and the quality ...
Buying Warren Buffett, Richard Branson and Steve Jobs at a Discount
What would you get if you crossed Warren Buffett, Richard Branson and Steve Jobs? Answer: Masayoshi Son, the Korean-Japanese, University of California, Berkeley–educated founder of one of Japan’s most successful companies, SoftBank Corp.
See You in Omaha, Again!
Traditions. I write this word and I think of Tevye the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof saying (actually singing) ...
