Today we are watching…
1. Goldman Sachs (#goldmans)
It’s a 150-year-old Wall Street giant reborn! Goldman Sachs wants to shake off its reputation for being cliquey with the world’s elite, clinking champagne glasses, and discussing business on the golf course. It released a long-awaited app called Marcus last week, designed as a storefront to put digital banking options in front of the average Joe. “Over time, our ambition is to extend the capabilities of the Marcus app and have that be the centerpiece of our consumer-facing experience,” said Sachs partner Adam Dell. The company also chipped in to make the Apple Card a reality last year, a consumer product that’s minimalist, sleek, and offering 3% cashback on Apple products.
2. Disney (#dis)
‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ just surpassed the “billy mark” in revenue, helping Disney beat its own record for same-studio, single-year releases to achieve that feat. Previously, four billion-dollar Disney movies, including ‘Finding Dory’ and ‘Captain America,’ were premiered in quick succession. However, the Mouse House capitalized on strong consumer confidence last year with no less than seven new blockbusters. Flexing the strength of its franchises, most of those seven titles were sequels and remakes to put the seal on hit sagas of old. Disney’s Lucasfilm isn’t making another film for three years, but the earnings power from Star Wars will be alive for investors in the meantime with content like ‘The Mandalorian’ on Disney TV+, so panic not!