WSJ's Take On the Week - TopPodcast.com

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What Shifting Consumer Habits Mean For CVS, Pepsi, and Beyond Feb 04, 2024

Show notes

This week, multinational food, snack, and beverage company, PepsiCo is set to release their fourth quarter financial results. The soda maker has made headlines recently after their products were removed from European supermarket chain, Carrefour. The split follows a recent announcement by PepsiCo's chief financial officer, Hugh Johnston, that the company is expecting to slow price hikes this year. Jeremy Goldberg, portfolio manager at Professional Advisory Services, joins us to share what these moves will mean for investors. Then, we're turning our attention to CVS Health Corp’s earnings this week. The retail pharmacy chain recently announced plans to close dozens of pharmacies inside Target stores as pharmacies struggle to grow retail profits. WSJ reporter Anna Matthews joins to share what this means for the company's future and what it says about the state of drugstores. We wrap up the show with a 'happy birthday' to Meta, which will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Facebook later this week. Sal Rodriguez, WSJ's social media reporter, joins us to discuss what the tech giant may be looking forward to next.

Further Reading

PepsiCo, Grocery Giant Bicker Over Who Dumped Whom

CVS Is Closing Pharmacies Inside Some Target Stores

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What This Week’s Fed Rate Decision and Tax Season Means for Investors Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

This week, the Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee is expected to release a decision on interest rates. When will the central bank finally begin lowering rates? Former St. Louis Fed President James Bullard joins us to share his thoughts on the decision and what he thinks the Fed needs to prioritize next. Plus, ready or not, tax season is here. Tax filing season starts January 29 and we want to understand what this means for you and your investments. WSJ reporter, Laura Saunders, joins us to share what investors should be paying most attention to as they prepare their filings. Plus, we’re gearing up to enter Apple’s virtual world. The technology company is set to release their mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro, at the end of the week. The company also faces added pressures from Microsoft as the company briefly overtook Apple as the largest U.S. company by market value. Could virtual reality be what keeps Apple on top?

Further Reading

Stocks Fall on Rate-Cut Pessimism

Fed Posts Largest-Ever Annual Operating Loss

How Much Is the Standard Deduction and Should I Take It on My Tax Return?

How You Can Grab a 0% Tax Rate

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

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How The White House is Prioritizing Economic Policies for 2024 Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

As we look ahead to what this year will hold for the markets, one question looming is the results of November's presidential election. While nothing is certain, it’s very likely that President Biden will be the Democratic nominee for president. So what can investors and everyday Americans who are thinking about their bank accounts, jobs and families expect from the rest of 2024 and the next four years if Biden is re-elected? To find out, we’re talking to Jared Bernstein, chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, an agency within the White House that gives the president advice on economic policy. Bernstein previously served as Biden’s chief economist during his first two years as vice president, from 2009 to 2011. In this bonus episode, we'll talk with Bernstein about jobs, the national debt, inflation, China and the trade war, and whether the U.S. economy needs more stimulus or some serious budget cuts.

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Are Things Getting Better For Businesses? NABE's Outlook for 2024 Jan 21, 2024

Show notes

What are business owners' biggest worries and how are they feeling about the economy? This week, the National Association for Business Economics, or NABE, is expected to release its first survey of the year. We spoke with Constance Hunter – a senior adviser at MacroPolicy Perspectives and a past president of NABE – about how investors should be thinking about this data and what it could mean for the economy and financial markets in 2024. And, in our roundtable with WSJ reporters Sharon Terlep and George Downs we discuss Boeing's recent issues with its 737 Max jet and its upcoming earnings call.

Further Reading

Consumers Start 2024 on Strong Footing After a Jolly Holiday

Boeing’s Pile of Problems Gets Bigger as a Crucial Buyer Hesitates

Can Boeing Repair the $12 Billion Hole in Its Reputation?

Inflation Is Down, but It Wasn't 'Transitory'

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

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Will Home Prices Drop in 2024? What Zillow’s Co-Founder Sees Ahead Jan 14, 2024

Show notes

Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff joins us this week to talk about housing and the state of tech and investing in private markets. Although mortgage rates have fallen from their peak in 2023, there may not be enough inventory to bring in potential homebuyers. Rascoff tells us about what he sees as potential obstacles and successes for the housing market. And, as an entrepreneur and a venture capital investor who has co-founded some of the most well-known companies in the U.S., including Hotwire.com, Rascoff also tells us how he’s reading the markets as we get into 2024. Plus, the World Economic Forum begins this week. The annual meeting, held in Davos, Switzerland, brings together cultural, policy and business leaders "to shape global, regional and industry agendas." From AI to unexpected economic optimism, WSJ deputy editor in chief Charles Forelle will discuss what he’ll be looking for from the conference.

Further Reading

Investors’ Hope for 2024: A Return to Long-Lost Normalcy

The Hidden Force Pushing Mortgage Rates Down

Facing Housing Shortages, Cities Try Cramming More Units on Lots

Misinformation Seen as Top Global Risk in Year of Pivotal Elections

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com .

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What the New Year Holds for Small Businesses and Big Banks Jan 07, 2024

Show notes

Investors are bullish on big companies, but what about the small ones that drive almost half of U.S. economic activity? Arlan Hamilton leads a venture capital firm that invests in these small firms and has a front-row seat. Her fund, Backstage Capital, has invested in hundreds of small companies that are hoping to become large ones and she’ll tell us what she sees happening right now and what’s on the horizon. Plus, is banking back? Bank stocks soared at the end of 2023, with a couple even outperforming the S&P 500. It shows investors have put the banking crisis that sunk the market in March behind them. But is the coast all clear? And how did we get here? We’ll find out from WSJ banking reporter Rachel Ensign as the three largest banks in the country — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo — are all scheduled to report their earnings on Friday.

Further Reading

WSJ Reports: Small Business

The Coming Deluge for Small Business

U.S. Small-Business Sentiment Kept Sliding in September

How the Fed's Fight Against Inflation Could Hit Small Business

First Republic Crashed and Burned. This Bank Wants to Copy Its Business.

How the 2023 Bank Crisis Can Still Be Felt in 2024

Best Banks and Credit Unions for 2024

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Take On the Year: What to Expect in Markets and Money in 2024 Dec 31, 2023

Show notes

The new year is upon us, and this week we’re telling you what you need to know to make sense of the markets as we head into 2024. It’s our final episode of 2023, and what a year it was: a long-forecast recession never materialized, the U.S. economy saw solid growth, and the stock market delivered spectacular returns – all while rising interest rates put the squeeze on borrowers and the housing market. So what should we expect for 2024? David Kelly, chief global strategist and head of the Global Market Insights Strategy team for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, joins us to share his outlook and explain what you should be on the lookout for next year. Then, we're taking on questions from our listeners about the economy, mortgage rates and what’s next for the Federal Reserve.

Further Reading

Fed Official Says Central Bank Isn’t ‘Really Talking About Rate Cuts’

Chicago Fed’s Goolsbee Says Fed May Need to Shift Its Focus to Jobs

Fed Begins Pivot Toward Lowering Rates as Inflation Declines

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

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Still Have Inflation Concerns? Spending Data May Offer Insight Dec 17, 2023

Show notes

This week, we’re getting data from the Federal Reserve's favored measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures report, or PCE. While surprisingly strong consumer spending has helped boost the economy this past year, several reports show that consumers’ spending may be getting maxed out by high grocery prices and rising costs for medical care and transportation. Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, joins to share what rising jobless claims and strong consumer spending means for the economy. Plus, Carmax and FedEx are expected to release their earnings report this week. While the two companies may seem disconnected, they now share a common competitor: Amazon. The e-commerce giant has recently announced plans to begin selling cars online, and just weeks before, officially became the largest delivery company in the U.S. WSJ’s Amazon reporter Dana Mattioli joins to share what Amazon’s business moves mean for companies like Carmax and FedEx.

Further Reading

Inflation Edges Lower, but Still Too High for the Fed

How Inflation Can Keep Falling

Hyundai to Be First Automaker to Sell New Cars on Amazon

The Biggest Delivery Business in the U.S. Is No Longer UPS or FedEx

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

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How The Fed Is Moving the Markets Beyond Interest Rate Hikes Dec 10, 2023

Show notes

This week, we’re getting the fourth-quarter earnings from Photoshop creator, Adobe. The company’s announcement in October of new AI tools and services led to a five-percent jump in its stock, solidifying the investor excitement still surrounding AI technology. Dan Gallagher, a technology columnist for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, joins to explain how these new services will affect Adobe’s business and what investors should be looking for in its latest earnings report. Then, we’re turning our attention to the Federal Reserve. We’ll be getting another interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve this week and while investors will be looking to see if those rates finally begin to come down, we’re examining a few of the other levers the Federal Reserve pulls to move the markets. Mark Cabana, head of US Rates Strategy at BofA Securities, joins us to share what are those other levers and how they determine the direction of the markets, the economy and the cost to borrow money. Don’t worry, we still left room for dessert. Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, is also expected to report earnings this week. The restaurant sector has seen a slower decline than other sectors when it comes to consumer spending. WSJ reporter Heather Haddon joins us to share why that is and how Gen-Z is influencing restaurants’ marketing strategy.

We want to know what you’ve been wondering about the economy, companies, stocks, bonds, or markets in general. Send us a note or a voice-memo recording to takeontheweek@wsj.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 416-3489.

Further Reading

A New Way to Tell Deepfakes From Real Photos: Can It Work?

Adobe May Be Tech’s Biggest AI Bet Yet

Fed’s Interest Rate Hikes Are Probably Over, but Officials Are Reluctant to Say So

Investors See Interest-Rate Cuts Coming Soon, Recession or Not

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

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