In this episode, Scott Becker covers five key business stories including a potential EU-US tariff deal, Palantir’s remarkable rise, mounting challenges for health insurers, and more.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business Podcast, the Becker Private Equity Podcast. These are five of the stories that we're following today, and thank you for listening. First, the markets are rising today on announcements of an EU-U.S. tariff deal. I think many people probably think that President Trump is pulling rabbits out of the hat, or wherever they think they're pulling them from.
But this is obviously good news to see some of these trade wars soften and move in the right direction. Second, Palantir Technologies is rising again. It's up nearly 110% year to date and has grown to be one of the 20 highest market cap companies in the world by market cap. A great story today, can Palantir become a trillion dollar company?
I've got a typo in my writing, but can Palantir become a trillion dollar company?
Chapter 2: What is the significance of the potential EU-US tariff deal?
Health insurance companies have a huge problem. People are using their medical benefits more, meaning the medical loss ratios have gone up. This means challenges for the insurers. It also means increasing premiums for us. Sort of a disaster. Fourth, five health insurance companies' year-to-date stock market results. I'll just go through five of them very quickly. Centene is down 53% year-to-date.
UnitedHealthcare is down 44% year-to-date. Elevance is down 21% year-to-date. On the flip side, Cigna is up 7% year-to-date, and CVS is up 33% year-to-date. So there is some positive ink there as well. Finally, fifth today, Intel gets crushed Friday. Stock fell nearly 9%.
The new CEO says they will cut 15,000 more jobs, combine assembly at plants, and hold on building a new plant. One commentator said, this guy, Stephan Guilfoyle, It's been since 2018 since Intel has had a competent CEO, and he believes this new one is a competent CEO and needs to give him a chance.
Chapter 3: How has Palantir Technologies achieved remarkable growth?
Just fascinating to watch. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business Podcast, the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Thank you very, very much.