In the Know

US Retailing Analyst Zhihan Ma joins host Sid Malkani this week to unpack multi-billion dollar global retailer Costco, self-described as a “membership warehouse club” and operating in 14 countries.We delve into the history of the club model, and where Costco fits into this strategy – from their unique pricing and branding strategy to the Kirkland brand as a whole. Plus, we look at Costco’s international strategy, and their runway for growth in other markets.

Senior Technology Analyst Boris Van joins Richard Moffat on the podcast this week to discuss the Chinese travel market. As Chinese consumers shift their rapidly growing disposable income towards experiential consumption, we discuss the potential growth of domestic vs. international travel, the competitive tension between travel agents, hotels and airlines, and finish with the material impact on global hotel room demand.

US Energy & Global Natural Resource Analyst Bob Brackett joins host Diana Wood to walk us through his bullish view on the natural gas market. We discuss the two demand drivers that are permanently inflecting, and the supply squeeze that we cannot ignore, as well as geopolitical factors and the evolving landscape in the US.

Once the hottest start-up and a notorious cash-burn business, Uber has now emerged as a scaled and profitable Internet platform. US Internet Analyst Nikhil Devnani joins host Sid Malkani on the podcast this week to discuss Uber, the category-defining app.We dig into its history and evolution into a global and multi-category on-demand network. Today, Uber faces its next big transition phase to an increasingly autonomous network as driverless cars are finally here. We touch on what these inventions mean for Uber and how the company might navigate this future.

Food Packaging Analyst Alexia Howard joins host Diana Wood on the podcast this week to discuss the potential implications of Make America Healthy Again on the packaged food industry. We look at Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s policies and what impact these could have on food dye, microplastics and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Plus, we consider new legislations around additives, product promotion, and how education may start to shift the way people think about ultra-processed foods.

This week, our Asian Autos Analyst Eunice Lee joins us from Hong Kong to discuss electric vehicles with host Richard Moffat. We discuss rising EV penetration in the Chinese market, self-driving tech, the rapid model upgrade cycle and the cost advantages that have seen the emergence of not just competitive but world-leading products.

This week, Nadine Sarwat (Bernstein’s Americas Alcoholic Beverages & Cannabis Analyst) joins host Diana Wood to look at the future of US whiskey. Nadine starts with a 101 crash course on US whiskey – a spirits category that has gained meaningful share of throat both in the US and internationally. We discuss the role that flavors have played in the rise (and fall) of certain brands. We also dive into the topic on many investors’ minds: is there a US whiskey glut on the horizon?

Senior North America Airlines and Transports Analyst David Vernon joins host Diana Wood on the podcast. In this episode, we take a step back in time and discuss the history of airlines economics and ask what could be different this time around? David discusses segmentation, loyalty programs, the shift in profits and how this sets the stage for the next cycle and impact on the industry overall. He also looks at the appetite for travel from younger consumers and how that will transform the industry in years to come.