With the pace of earnings reports slowing to a trickle as we get a pause in the flow of economic data, we wanted to catch you up on some of the thematic reading that we've been digging into lately. We read many reports, forecasts, articles, and other items each week to inform our thematic investment strategy.
We'd thank those members who have emailed in helpful items and would encourage you to do the same. Send them along to aapclub@thestreet.com.
Following are the themes we're watching, in bold; their corresponding stocks; and the related reading list.
Aging of the Population: Capturing the demographic wave of the aging population and the changing demands it brings with it.
AAP Portfolio: AMN Healthcare (AMN)
- Understanding the epidemic of medical debt
- Aging Societies
- China to raise retirement age to deal with aging population
- China has to figure out how to care for 400 million people over the age of 60 by 2040
- France protests: What to know as Macron forces a retirement-age hike
Cleaner Living: Growing demand for products that claim to be natural, boost health, or have a positive impact on the environment.
AAP Portfolio: ChargePoint (CHPT) , Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) , Ford Motor (F)
- VW beats Tesla to the punch and unveils an affordable electric vehicle
- Electric Vehicles Could Match Gasoline Cars on Price This Year
- Nissan is now using heavy-duty electric trucks to deliver new vehicles
- Mack unveils medium-duty electric trucks
- Tesla applies to expand Gigafactory Berlin to 1 million vehicles per year
Cyber Security & Data Privacy: Securing individuals and organizations against cyber threats and privacy violations:
AAP Portfolio: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR)
- When Legacy Becomes Liability: Redesigning IT Infrastructure for The Cyber Threats of The Future
- Google finds 18 zero-day vulnerabilities in Samsung Exynos chipsets
- FBI: Ransomware hit 860 critical infrastructure organizations in 2022
- NBA alerts fans of a data breach exposing personal information
- SVB account holders targeted with phishing scams
Digital Infrastructure & Connectivity: Companies behind the buildout and upgrading of networks, data storage facilities, and equipment as well as the chips that connect them.
AAP Portfolio: Marvell Technologies (MRVL)
- Global broadband subs to reach 1.6BN
- Top Six Edge Computing Trends to Know About In 2023
- Pioneering The Future of Sustainable Data Centers
- From a New Chip to Broader Ranges-The Push for Terahertz Technology Continues
Digital Privacy & Identity: Companies providing the tools and services that verify authorized users and safeguard personal data privacy:
AAP Portfolio: Clear Secure (YOU)
- Use of Meta tracking tools found to breach EU rules on data transfers
- The Rise of Passwordless Authentication: How Your Organization Can Stay Ahead of The Curve
Luxury Buying Boom: Tapping into aspirational buying and affluent buyers amid rising global wealth:
AAP Portfolio: Coty Inc. (COTY)
- Chinese Buyers to Boost Luxury Goods Sector
- Top-tier Luxury Spending Forecast Still Looks Rosy
- Luxury automaker Porsche issues growth outlook after record 2022 earnings
- Mercedes-Benz expects India to be its fastest-growing market this year
Middle Class Squeeze: Companies poised to benefit as consumers stretch the disposable spending dollars they do have:
- AAP Portfolio: Costco Wholesale (COST)
- Consumer Spending Is Challenged by High Inflation as Retail Sales Fall
- Retailers Rethink Strategies as Consumer Spending Sinks
- Price hikes are a double whammy for pet owners who are crushed by inflation
- Dollar Tree can't afford to sell eggs anymore
Rebuilding America: Turning the focused spending on rebuilding U.S. infrastructure into revenue and profits:
AAP Portfolio: United Rentals (URI) , Vulcan Materials (VMC)
- Major Maryland road construction gets underway Monday
- April start planned for $43.7 million interchange project on Minnesota Highway 23 and U.S. 10 in St. Cloud
- Closures coming to U.S. 23 near Ann Arbor for $69M construction project
- The start of America's infrastructure decade: How macroeconomic factors may shape local strategies