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EBITDA, or the delicate metric of bull**** earnings

Language and impact in finance EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Amortization involves spreading the cost of an intangible asset (e.g. patents or brand names) over its useful life. Depreciation refers to the process of expensing a tangible fixed asset(e.g. machines or buildings) over time to reflect its anticipated wear and tear. ...

Why We Should Be Talking About Sand

At first glance, with Sahara sand dusting our cars and beach visits leaving traces of sand for days, it might appear that sand is abundantly available. However, the reality is starkly different; we are facing a growing crisis of sand scarcity. Sand is the new water Sand is crucial in modern construction and manufacturing. It is used in everything from the concrete of our buildi ...

Quarterly results fetishism

In the past week, I studied the avalanche of financial quarterly press releases from companies including ASM International (ASMI), Tesla, Meta Platforms, Texas Instruments, and BE Semiconductor Industries (BESI). All of these releases share similar characteristics: as a reader, you must stay focused on the content of the press releases. However, for an investor, it is increasin ...

The societal impact of dropping things

With the demand for green energy rising to facilitate the climate transition, all efforts are being directed towards deploying renewable energy sources. Commissioning of wind and solar energy is at an all-time high, and while these sources will undoubtedly spearhead the energy transition, there are still some concerns that need addressing. One major concern is the storage of th ...

The curious case of home improvement retail in the U.S.

Specialty home improvement retailing refers to the distribution of building materials, tools, lawn and garden products, decorations, etc., catering to both professionals (such as residential contractors) and do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. This sector represents a significant segment of the U.S. economy with an estimated market size of USD 1 trillion. Of this, USD 525 billion ...

Blowing Away Expectations: Record-breaking year for wind energy in 2023

The release of the Global Wind Report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) depicts 2023 as a landmark year in the push for renewable energy, characterized by unprecedented growth. This surge in wind energy capacity not only reflects a significant technological advancement, but also comes from a broader commitment to sustainable energy practices worldwide.   The global wind ...

This is how they tell me the world ends

If a title like " This is how they tell me the world ends" doesn't capture your attention, I'm not sure what will. The phrase is the title of a book authored by Nicole Perlroth. Perlroth, an American journalist, has garnered recognition for her extensive reporting on cybersecurity and digital espionage. Since 2011, she has served as a cybersecurity reporter for The New York Tim ...

Beyond 1.5°c: global warming's new peaks and what they mean

This week's Climate Shocker could only be on one topic – a pivotal moment in our planet's global warming trends. According to the latest report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, a disturbing milestone was reached: March 2024 experienced temperatures 1.68°C higher than the pre-industrial average (1850-1900) for the month[1]. What's more, this represents the tenth conse ...

Money for Nothing - the alarming rise of Meme investing

The alarming rise of Meme investing: Money for Nothing And then you turn on the TV, and there's just more of it. The $87 Million lottery winner, that kid actor that just made 20 million on his last movie, that internet stock that shot through the roof, you could have made millions if you had just gotten in early, and that's exactly what I wanted to do: get in. (The Boiler room, ...

Flying cloud factories: planes produce more than carbon dioxide alone

In 2018, planes around the world, both passenger and freight, emitted 1 billion tons of CO2, accounting for 2.5% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions[1]. The aviation industry is a known contributor to climate change, which is why these CO2 emissions are regulated by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Unfortunately, the CO2 emissions do not provide the whole picture regard ...