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7:02 a.m.: JPMorgan hikes Roku price target Roku's focus on monetization for its Platform segment may spell good news for the stock. Analyst Cory Carpenter kept his overweight rating on the stock but upped his price target by $10 to $90. "We believe Lilly's launch of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) indication for its GLP-1 medication tirzepatide poses significant patient funnel disruption/distortion risks," the analyst wrote. Analyst Sara Senatore upped its price target by $6 to $118, which implies more than 22% upside from Tuesday's close. "Licensing China would also allow SBUX management to train its focus on the US (73% of 2023 EBITDA before corporate expenses)," the analyst wrote in a Wednesday note.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Cory Carpenter, Carpenter, Roku, TTD, they've, — Sean Conlon, Wolfe, Resmed Wolfe, Mike, Eli Lilly, Sara Senatore, Senatore, Brian Niccol's, Lizzie Dove, Hilton, Dove, Adrienne Yih, Yih, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Marriott International, Barclays, Corp, JPMorgan, Google, Amazon, Bank of America, Marriott, Wyndham, Hilton, VF Corp Locations: Starbucks, China, Tuesday's, Timberland, VFC

☆ Amazon drivers are poised to get a 7% pay rise after they started to think about unionizing
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewAmazon is spending $2.1 billion on its delivery service network — including pay increases — following renewed unionization efforts among delivery workers. Out of the $2.1 billion investment, Amazon said it will allocate $660 million toward "rate card increases and bonuses." Related storiesAmazon's delivery drivers are hired by third-party courier companies known as Delivery Service Partners, or DSPs. Amazon has said it doesn't dictate pay and can only decide what the minimum pay for drivers is. Drivers had been in disagreement with the company over whether Amazon bears any legal responsibility to its delivery drivers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon, Partners, National Labor Relations, NLRB, Drivers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

☆ Amazon hikes wages for contract delivery drivers as union pressures grow
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In an aerial view, Amazon delivery trucks sit parked at an Amazon distribution center on July 16, 2024 in Richmond, California. Amazon is bumping its average national pay for contracted delivery drivers to roughly $22 an hour, up from $20.50 an hour, the company said Thursday. The Teamsters union has led a number of strikes at Amazon delivery facilities in the past year, and it's made organizing Amazon employees a key focus after launching a division dedicated to the online retail giant in 2021. Amazon has fought to avoid being designated as a joint employer of its contracted delivery drivers, arguing that the workers are employed by third-party firms. WATCH: Amazon delivery companies skip safety checks to keep up with quotas

Persons: Beryl Tomay, it's Organizations: Amazon, Teamsters, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Richmond , California, Las Vegas

☆ These are the top tech picks of UBS for rest of year, including an Nvidia alternative
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Sean Conlon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Some tech stocks are due for outperformance heading into year's end, according to UBS. Nvidia dragged other chip stocks down with it, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) suffering its worst day since March 2020. Wall Street is also bullish on the chipmaker, with 41 of the 50 analysts covering the name issuing a strong buy or buy rating, according to LSEG. In the IT hardware and electronics manufacturing services sector, UBS named Dell Technologies , given a PC refresh cycle and developing strength in AI optimized servers. UBS has a buy rating on the stock, and its target implies more than 48% upside from Tuesday's close.

Persons: chipmaker, Timothy Arcuri, Palantir, monetization Organizations: UBS, Nvidia, VanEck Semiconductor, Devices, AMD, Dell Technologies, DELL, P Global, Dell, Spotify

☆ This small-cap tech stock is set to rally nearly 30%, TD Cowen says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Credo Technology has emerged to take the crown as TD Cowen's top small- and mid-cap stock pick after a red-hot start to the year. Analyst Matthew Ramsay also upped his price target for the stock to $35 from $24, implying that Credo shares could rally 28% from Monday's close. Specifically, he thinks that Credo's revenue could inflect in the second half of its fiscal year as a number of its programs begin to ramp, including some GenAI buildouts. Credo's key program ramps within its active electrical cables at Microsoft and Amazon should also play a role in pushing the company's fundamentals higher. "Overall, we see the diversification of the company's revenue base as a key de-risking of the model and should benefit the durability of revenues going forward," Ramsey said.

Persons: Matthew Ramsay, Ramsay, there's, Ramsey Organizations: Technology, Microsoft, Active Electrical Cable Locations: Monday's

☆ A 'server anomaly' that made it look like some advertisers were bidding billions of dollars sent the adtech industry into chaos
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementBusiness Insider confirmed that the cause of the error was a brief "server anomaly" at PubMatic, an adtech company. A PubMatic spokesperson said the anomaly, at one of its US data centers, caused "abnormally high CPMs being passed to the publisher ad server on a limited number of impressions." The PubMatic error occurred in the communication that happened between the SSP and PubMatic's ad server, according to the company. The actual financial impact for individual publishers and adtech companies is likely to be minimal.

Persons: —, Nicolas Schueller, Adomik, Friday's snafu, Kargo, aren't, PubMatic, Scott Messer Organizations: Service, Business, Publishers, CNN, AMC Networks, Fox, The New York Times, Delta Airlines, Comcast Locations: PubMatic, Friday's

☆ Some advertisers are doubling their Amazon spends at the expense of Meta and Google. Here's what's driving the change.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAmazon's push to grow its $47 billion ad business beyond its core search ads is starting to gain steam with advertisers. About 70% to 80% of advertisers' Amazon budgets go to search ads that drive sales, said Laura Meyer, founder and CEO of Amazon agency Envision Horizons. But Amazon is increasingly investing in adtech to grow its ad business beyond search placements and better compete with giants like Meta and Google. AdvertisementPower said that brands often spend 8% of Amazon sales on ads — mostly search ads that drive sales. He said clients are now increasing budgets to represent 12% to 15% of Amazon sales, with the incremental dollars going toward Amazon's adtech formats.

Persons: —, Laura Meyer, Patrick Miller, Mark Power, Power, Horizon's Meyer, it's, Ross Walker, They've Organizations: Service, Amazon, Meta, Google, Business, Trade Locations: Acadia

Companies with upcoming IPOs can offer directed share programs to qualifying groups of retail investors to buy IPO stock. Rather than buying shares through a broker, a directed share program allows investors to buy IPO stock directly from the company. AdvertisementCompanies may offer a directed share program to employees, vendors, or, in Reddit's case, loyal users and moderators. The risk involved with directed share programsOne of the risks associated with directed share programs is that a DSP may harm the company's IPO by causing the IPO value to inflate. How to participate in Reddit's directed share programReddit began rolling out directed share program pre-registration invitations to certain users and moderators on February 22, 2024.

Persons: you'll, Reddit, Redditors, Insider's, Will McDonough, McDonough, Airbnb, Uber, —, there's, Reddit's Organizations: Companies, Corestone, New York Stock Exchange, Reddit, IPOs, DSP Locations: IPOs

☆ Infillion has rehired 40 ex-MediaMath staffers as it presses ahead to relaunch the bankrupt former adtech pioneer
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"If MediaMath was Will Smith — he had a whole acting career before he slapped Chris Rock in the face," Emrich told Insider. It's been a little over three months since Infillion, a US-based adtech company that owns assets like Gimbal and TrueX, bought MediaMath in a bankruptcy auction for $22 million. Emrich's team at Infillion is on track to relaunch the MediaMath demand-side platform and data management platform before the end of the year. Infillion also wants to integrate MediaMath with its other assets so companies can enhance their own advertising businesses using its tech. With the help of former MediaMath CEO Joe Zawadzki and his venture capital firm Aperiam Ventures, which is advising the company, Infillion has hired back 40 former MediaMath staffers.

Persons: Rob Emrich, they'll, MediaMath, Will Smith —, Chris Rock, Emrich, It's, Infillion, Joe Zawadzki, Carl Millikin, Vince Li, Geoff King Organizations: TrueX, MediaMath's, Google, Business, Aperiam Ventures Locations: US, Infillion, America

☆ Read the pitch deck that helped AI adtech company Qortex raise $6 million, led by Nvidia and Samsung alumni
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Qortex, which uses AI to target ads in streaming TV, online video, and video games, said Monday it had raised a $6 million Series A round, led by GFT Ventures. Because Qortex's technology analyzes what's happening in the video frame-by-frame, it understands what's happening at a very granular level, said Rosenberg. For instance, Rosenberg said Qortex could help publishers identify strobing lights in video to remain ADA compliant, or quickly scan video archives to find specific content. While GFT has invested in about 10 companies so far Herbst said, Qortex is "one of the first and honestly one of my favorites." Check out select slides from the pitch deck that helped Qortex raise its $6 million Series A round.

Persons: Zack Rosenberg, Qortex, Rosenberg, Jeff Herbst, Herbst, Mark Pedowitz, Sid Mookerji, GFT Organizations: GFT Ventures, Silicon Road Ventures, Business, GFT, Nvidia, CW Network, Silicon, Ventures, NHL, Allstate

☆ UBS upgrades shares of this entertainment conglomerate, sees nearly 20% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Deals with emerging music platforms and a move toward newer streaming payment models are set to boost Warner Music Group , according to UBS. Warner Music Group stock is down 11% year to date, providing an attractive entry point for investors, Levi wrote. Additionally, the analyst believes Warner Music Group stands to benefit as the music industry moves toward new deals designed to better reward artists. Simultaneously, these updated music streaming payment models should reduce fraudulent nonmusic streams. Despite the stock's year-to-date losses, Warner Music is up 19% over the past three months.

Persons: Levi, Bryan Castellani, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Warner Music Group, UBS, Warner Music

☆ UPS drivers' $170,000 pay package has some Amazon drivers thinking it's time to quit. They make about $18 an hour.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jokes and memes are being shared around their facility about UPS drivers winning a $170,000 deal. The pay gap between UPS drivers and Amazon drivers has even inspired memes on Reddit. The memes refer to Amazon's contracted drivers as "broke" compared to UPS drivers who make six figures, including benefits, in some areas. Two Arkansas-based drivers who work for an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, or DSP, told Insider the joke is on them. Both said they encounter UPS drivers and realize the Amazon drivers are delivering "twice as many" packages.

Persons: Amazon's, Jordan Talmon, Talmon, Simone Griffin, Hunter Deaver, who's, Deaver, Griffin Organizations: DSP, Service, UPS, Teamsters, Amazon Locations: Arkansas, Wall, Silicon, California

☆ Inside Infillion's 4-year plan to revive fallen adtech pioneer MediaMath back to a $100 million business
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Adtech platform Infillion closed its $22 million deal to buy fallen adtech firm MediaMath out of bankruptcy on Friday. Now Infillion CEO Rob Emrich must make good on a business plan to get MediaMath back to earning $100 million in net revenue within 4 years. It's aiming to relaunch the MediaMath platform in early 2024. Zawadzki and his adtech focused venture capital firm Aperiam Ventures are providing Infillion with strategic advice on getting MediaMath back off the ground. Emrich previously told Insider that Infillion is preparing to take $30 million in operating losses on MediaMath over the next three years.

Persons: Rob Emrich, Infillion, Emrich, MediaMath, there's, Tom Triscari, Infillion isn't, Emirch, Joe Zawadzki, —, Zawadzki, Joe, Aperiam, Eric Franchi Organizations: Facebook, Sanofi, Mobile, Trade, Google, Leomade, Aperiam Ventures, TrueX, Disney Locations: Staples

☆ Amazon says it's boosting pay for contract delivery drivers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon said it plans to boost wages for contracted drivers as part of a $440 million investment this year into its third-party delivery program but declined to say by how much. The DSP program, launched in 2018, comprises about 279,000 drivers, often distinguishable by blue Amazon-branded vans, who are responsible for delivering packages the last few miles to shoppers' doorsteps. The DSPs regularly pay above the minimum set by Amazon, and it audits DSP wages "on a regular basis," Tomay said. The DSP program is a key weapon for Amazon's logistics arsenal that has allowed it to reduce its reliance on carriers such as the U.S. Critics have argued Amazon relies on subcontracted delivery drivers to dodge liability and avoid unionization.

Persons: Beryl Tomay, Tomay Organizations: Amazon, U.S . Postal Service, FedEx, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters, Critics Locations: U.S, California

☆ Adtech firm The Trade Desk has a plan to reduce the cost of digital ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Trade Desk will start undercutting the fees publisher adtech firms tack on to digital ads. The adtech used by publishers often inaccurately prices their inventory, said a Trade Desk exec. Adtech firm The Trade Desk is about to execute a plan to lower the price advertisers pay for digital ads. The Trade Desk operates software called a "demand-side platform" that advertisers use to buy ads across the internet. While other DSPs occasionally send low-ball bids, publishers might be more willing to look at The Trade Desk's bids due to the large amount of advertisers using its platform.

Persons: SSPs, Will Doherty, Doherty, Chris Kane, Adam Soroca, aren't Organizations: Google, Jounce Media, Trade

☆ Every Hollywood company is having a terrible summer except Netflix, whose global content machine should help it ride out the actors' strike: 'They just aren't worried'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But one company that doesn't seem to be sweating it too much is Netflix. And for all of June , Netflix signed up 3.5 million subscribers, the service's best month since Antenna started measuring it. Netflix's robust global content machine should also help it ensure subscribers still see plenty of fresh content during the strike, at least for the near term. Many writers blame Netflix for making it harder to make a living as a result, one of the conditions that led to the strike. Subs growth for Netflix is increasingly coming from overseas, where lower pricing power could cut into its average revenue per user.

Persons: execs, We've, It's, Mark Mahaney, Wedbush, LightShed, gripes, Jefferies Organizations: Netflix, Hollywood, Disney, Warner Bros, Evercore, LightShed Partners, Microsoft Locations: Hollywood, Netflix's

☆ Every Hollywood company is having a terrible summer except Netflix, whose global content machine will help it ride out the actors' strike: 'They just aren't worried'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Netflix's password-sharing crackdown and ad tier are starting to pay off, and over time they can provide a revenue boost. Netflix's robust global content machine should also help it ensure subscribers still see plenty of fresh content during the strike, at least for the near term. Analysts will be looking for more color from Netflix on how subscribers are responding to the password-sharing crackdown and ad tier. And if the strike drags on, Netflix will be impacted at some point by the dearth of new content. Analysts will be waiting to hear if and how Netflix plans to change its content strategy accordingly.

Persons: We've, It's, Mark Mahaney, Wedbush, LightShed, gripes, There's, Jeffries Organizations: Netflix, Hollywood, Disney, Warner Bros, Evercore, LightShed Partners, Microsoft Locations: Netflix's, Hollywood

☆ Amazon wants its delivery companies to repair more of their broken vans — causing some couriers to panic
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Amazon's delivery service partners will soon need 95% of their vans ready for service at all times. Some Amazon delivery companies are panicking over a new rule that would force them to keep fewer vans in need of repair. One DSP owner called the change a "giant nightmare" for small businesses already struggling with costs. An Amazon spokesperson told Insider the company is working with Rivian to provide repair options. Amazon told Insider the changes are intended to improve safety for delivery associates and maximize future revenue for DSPs.

Persons: it's, Rivian, Jimmy Wilson, Wilson, That's Organizations: Amazon, Partners, DSPs, Vehicles, West Coast, Coast DSP, DSP Locations: Coast

☆ Amazon wants its delivery companies to repair more of their broken vans — and some of the couriers are panicking
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon's delivery service partners will soon need 95% of their vans ready for service at all times. Some Amazon delivery companies are panicking over a new rule that would force them to keep fewer vans in need of repair. One DSP owner called the change a "giant nightmare" for small businesses already struggling with costs. Amazon delivery companies worry about an aging fleetAmazon's new rule would require a delivery company with a fleet of 50 vans to keep no more than two vans out of service at a time. "The big issue is that most of Amazon's fleet is aging rapidly," said another West Coast DSP owner.

Persons: it's, Jimmy Wilson, Wilson, That's Organizations: Partners, DSPs, Vehicles, West Coast, Coast DSP, Amazon, DSP Locations: Coast

☆ Why this chip stock could be the next Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Those who missed Nvidia's recent surge may want to consider putting their money in one overlooked artificial intelligence beneficiary: Marvell Technology. The stock surged 181% this year on AI tailwinds. "Not sure we can make sense of the recent AI rally, but this is a name that belongs in the basket." Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya called the chip stock an "underappreciated" AI beneficiary in a recent note. "All in all, MRVL AI revenue is expected to grow at a 100% CAGR from FY23-FY25," Malik said.

☆ How the job of Amazon delivery has changed with Rivian's electric vans and routing software
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Katie Tarasov | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

For now, most Amazon drivers are still in about 110,000 gas-powered vans — primarily Ford Transits, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and Ram ProMasters. Amazon wouldn't share how it determines which of its 3,500 third-party delivery firms, or delivery service partners (DSPs), are receiving Rivian vans first. Workers load packages into Amazon Rivian Electric trucks at an Amazon facility in Poway, California, November 16, 2022. Amazon vans have driver-facing cameras inside, which can catch unsafe driving practices as they happen. For example, an Amazon driver in Missouri was found dead in a front yard in October, allegedly after a dog attack.

☆ Wisconsin Republicans block 'conversion therapy' ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Wisconsin Republicans voted Thursday to again allow therapists, social workers and counselors to try to change LGBTQ clients’ gender identities and sexual orientations — a discredited practice known as conversion therapy. A ban on conversion therapy was passed in 2020 by a state board within the Democratic governor’s administration overseeing licensing for mental health professionals. At least 20 states and the District of Columbia have outlawed conversion therapy for minors, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a pro-LGBTQ rights think tank. He said that’s all that’s at issue, not whether conversion therapy is morally or ethically right or wrong. “(The ban on conversion therapy) is necessary to protect the mental health of children in our state,” Herstand said.

☆ Amazon's driver pay raise could slash the profits of the small businesses that make up its delivery network
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon in September announced a pay raise for some of its delivery drivers. The moves were part of a $450 million investment into the small businesses that make up Amazon's delivery network and employ those drivers, known as Delivery Service Partners. When Amazon told DSPs about the move at their annual Ignite Live convention in Las Vegas, the room cheered, according to two DSPs present. "It's going to be a bloodbath," one DSP told Insider. But one DSP told Insider to expect an exodus after the business owners receive their Employee Retention Tax Credit payouts in January.

☆ Amazon says it will raise pay and add more benefits for some delivery drivers, though the group that protested for higher pay amid rising gas prices was left out
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The program will add a 401(k) plan and educational programs for participants in Amazon's Delivery Service Partner program. Amazon Flex workers protested earlier this year for higher pay, but they are not affected by this announcement. The e-commerce giant announced Tuesday that it is boosting pay and adding benefits for some delivery drivers after workers protested earlier this year amid rising gas prices. However, this wage increase affects Amazon's Delivery Service Partner program, which is separate from Amazon's Flex program. Amazon covers fuel costs for Delivery Service Partners, but it does not cover all fuel costs for Flex delivery partners.

☆ I'm an Amazon delivery driver. Our performance is constantly monitored, but we've found ways to cheat the system.
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-06 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Insider spoke to an Amazon delivery driver who asked to remain anonymous to protect his job. I started working part time as a driver for Amazon in 2019 after seeing an online classified ad. Amazon preaches safety, safety, safety, and while that's a great narrative for the media, behind the scenes it's another story. I've never been in a wreck, but these types of instances can drag a driver's score down, and the bottom line is everything comes down to your score. Amazon prides itself on getting driver safety under control, but then puts demands in place that force us to circumvent the system.

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