The Bot Brief

                     "There is no force more powerful than an idea whose time has come."    Victor Hugo

 

Bots in the News:

 

Equity markets were shaken this week with increasing tensions in the Middle East, diminishing prospects that the Fed will be able to ease money supply this year, and some notable earnings disappointments. Consequently, the broad market tumbled 3% during the week while the Bot Index fell 3.75%.

 

Within the thirty-stock Bot Index, only six companies reported positive positions for the week and five of the six were associated with defense spending. The best performer was ABB Ltd. whose stock rose 7.76%. The stock jumped on Thursday following its first quarter earnings report. While not particularly sterling, investors focused on an 8% increase in gross profit at a 37.4% margin. Equally enticing for investors was the company’s free cash flow, which grew to $551 million, up 240% over the prior year’s first quarter.

 

The remaining five gainers included defense manufacturers – Lockheed Martin (+2.99%), AeroVironment (+1.97%), Northrup Grumman (+1.47%), RTX Corp. (+1.46%) and Textron (+.72%)

 

The worst performers included Tesla, whose automobile recall fortunes continue to haunt investors and NVIDIA Corp. whose recent management comments were interpreted negatively by investors. The two companies declined 14% and 13.58% respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member: American Economic Association, Society of Professional Journalists, United States Press Association. Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts, Robotic Industries Association (now A3 Automation), Member IEEE. 

 

 

The Bot Brief is a weekly newsletter designed for economists, investment specialists, journalists, and academicians. It receives no remuneration from any companies that may from time to time be featured in the brief and its commentaries, analysis, opinions, and research represent the subjective view of Balcones Investment Research, LLC. Due to the complex and rapidly changing nature of the subject matter, the company makes no assurances as to the absolute accuracy of the material presented.