Salvatore "Sam" Mattera

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• Microsoft Can Still Dominate the Tablet Market

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 17, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, HPQ, MSFT

  Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has finally released an Office app for Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone. Interestingly enough, this app isn't available on the iPad.

  That shouldn't be too surprising. At this point, Microsoft still has a chance to become a major player in the tablet market. The smartphone market? Not so much. If Microsoft acts quickly, it can still popularize Windows tablets -- and thereby halt Window’s seemingly more »

• Netflix Continues to Emphasize Original Content with DreamWorks Deal

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 17, 2013 | Tickers: AMZN, DWA, NFLX

  Shares of both Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) and DreamWorks (NASDAQ: DWA) spiked higher on Monday on news that the companies had expanded their partnership. DreamWorks will develop original TV series based on some of its hit movies (Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, etc.) and sell them to Netflix on an exclusive basis.

  While the deal seems like a clear winner for DreamWorks (it lets the company further monetize its intellectual more »

• Is SodaStream a Fad?

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 17, 2013 | Tickers: GMCR, SODA

  Earlier in the month I wrote a piece called “SodaStream is a Fad.” It prompted a response from Motley Fool’s Rick Munarriz, a SodaStream bull (his piece was aptly titled “SodaStream is NOT a Fad”).

  Without rehashing my original argument (I have serious doubts about the company’s business), I'll offer a retort to the counter-points raised by Mr. Munarriz.

  SodaStream is not Green Mountain Coffee

  In recent more »

• Windows Blue Can’t Save the PC

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 17, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, MSFT |

  Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is set to show off its updated version of Windows 8 on June 26 (codenamed Windows Blue). While the update includes a number of features, the most noteworthy are those that bring back the classic Windows feel -- the return of the start button, and the ability to bypass the Metro interface entirely.

  Unfortunately, as I've written in the past, Windows 8’s problems don’t stem more »

• Apple and Microsoft’s Smart TVs: Too Little, Too Late?

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 15, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, CMCSA, MSFT

  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is widely expected to unveil a smart TV sometime in the near future. At the same time, Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) latest console -- the Xbox One -- has many smart TV-esque features.

  Given the current state of TV -- clunky interfaces, confusing remotes -- one might be inclined to believe that these products will be incredibly successful. In the past, I've written that the TV-capabilities of Microsoft’s Xbox more »

• Sirius XM Is Alright -- For Now

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 15, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, NFLX, SIRI

  As part of its iOS 7 unveiling, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced that owners of particular automobiles would soon be able to beam a version of their iPhone’s interface directly to their vehicle’s touch-screen.

  This feature, combined with Apple’s upcoming iTunes Radio, has left some assuming the worse for Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI). Shares closed the week down over 5%.

  While I agree that Sirius XM could be more »

• The Next Industry to Die: Hollywood?

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 15, 2013 | Tickers: CNK, NFLX, RGC

  Legendary filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas made headlines this week after they warned that Hollywood could be on the verge of imploding. Specifically, Spielberg and Lucas believe that studios have made too many aggressive bets on too few films, and that a string of box office failures (something that they feel is inevitable) could bring the industry to its knees.

  It’s an interesting premise, and given that it more »

• GameStop is Living on Borrowed Time

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 14, 2013 | Tickers: GME, MSFT, SNE

  Shares of GameStop (NYSE: GME) have jumped over 13% in the last five days. Excitement over the launch of the next generation of video game consoles, combined with relief that they would not block used games, may have prompted the rally.

  But ultimately, GameStop appears to be facing a bleak future. Like other media formats before it, video games are going digital. And with that in mind, it’s hard more »

• Precious Metal Investing: Silver or Gold?

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 14, 2013 | Tickers: GFI, SLV, SLW, GLD |

  For investors interested in precious metals, it really comes down to one decision: silver or gold? Although they frequently trade in tandem, and are often purchased for the same reasons, they are far from identical.

  Each metal has its own trade-offs. I'll break down the relative arguments for owning one over the other, and then suggest ways for interested investors to get exposure.

  The case for silver

  Silver is more »

• This Week’s Biggest Gaming Announcement Might Have Had Nothing to do With E3

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 14, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, NVDA

  This week, much of gaming’s future was revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Both Microsoft and Sony announced the prices of their next consoles -- set to be released this fall -- and demonstrated a number of games.

  And yet, this week’s biggest game-related announcement might have been Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) upcoming mobile operating system, iOS 7.

  Now, for the first time, Apple will openly support third party more »

• Why the Xbox One Will Still be a Massive Success

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 14, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, MSFT, SNE

  Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) took some risks with its latest console, the Xbox One. Perhaps enough risks to sink the machine entirely. The backlash in the gaming community has been resounding: core players do not appear to be happy with the decisions Microsoft has made.

  And yet, I still believe the Xbox One will be successful. Although it will take some time to play out, Microsoft’s strategy with its newest more »

• This Stock Could Benefit From J.C. Penney, Sears’ Decline

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 12, 2013 | Tickers: JCP, M, SHLD

  Two of America’s biggest middle-income department stores are struggling. Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD) is slowly bleeding cash, while J.C. Penney’s (NYSE: JCP) future remains highly uncertain.

  If there’s one company that stands to benefit, it appears to be Macy’s (NYSE: M). Although Macy’s has vastly outperformed both Sears and J.C. Penney over the last year, further upside may lay ahead.

  J.C. Penney’s more »

• Apple’s iTunes Radio Announcement Couldn't Have Been Worse for Pandora

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 12, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, P

  Prior to Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes Radio announcement on Monday, I had written two pieces speculating about the potential ramifications for Pandora’s (NYSE: P) business ahead of Apple’s rumored announcement.

  As it turned out, the rumors proved stunningly accurate: Apple’s iTunes Radio is practically a carbon copy of Pandora. Yet, something funny happened -- Pandora’s shares actually rallied on Monday. Bloomberg declared that “Apple iTunes Radio more »

• Japan’s Government Is Helping Sony Win the Console War

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 11, 2013 | Tickers: MSFT, SNE, TM

  Japan’s ambitious new monetary policy could soon claim its first victim: Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) latest console, the Xbox One.

  The retail prices of Microsoft and Sony’s (NYSE: SNE) newest consoles were unveiled on Monday. The Xbox One will start at $499, while the Playstation 4 will be priced $100 less.

  For video game consoles that will feature many of the same games, a 20% difference in price more »

• Microsoft's Office Business Could Be in Trouble

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 11, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, MSFT

  Proclaiming the inevitable decline of Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows business is hardly controversial at this point. Tablets and smartphones have begun to replace traditional PCs for many users, while Microsoft’s Windows 8 has, in general, not been received favorably.

  But perhaps Windows isn't the only business segment Microsoft is in danger of losing. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced some changes to its Office competitor (iWork) on Monday, while more »

• Why Apple Should be Concerned About Samsung’s Sluggish S4 Sales

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 11, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, SSNLF

  Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF) shares slipped 6% on Friday. An analyst at JPMorgan noted that demand for the company’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S4, appears to have dropped dramatically.

  Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S4 had a fairly robust launch. But now, sales appear to be slowing. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) saw a similar phenomenon play out last fall, when analysts raised concerns that the company’s iPhone 5 was more »

• McDonald’s Continues to Shake Up its Menu

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 10, 2013 | Tickers: BKW, CMG, MCD, YUM

  McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) has been radically overhauling its menu in recent weeks. After teasing the possibility of 24-hour breakfast, the fast food chain has begun to offer a few breakfast items after midnight.

  Meanwhile, McDonald’s has added several new items to its menu, while at the same time getting rid of others.

  But why? What are investors to make of the company's food shakeup?

  McDonald’s looming more »

• Will Apple Cripple Pandora at the WWDC?

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 10, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, P |

  Last week, I wrote a piece entitled “Apple’s iRadio Will Crush Pandora.” My premise was fairly simple: if (as several reputable media outlets had independently reported) Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was about to unveil a streaming Internet radio service, Pandora (NYSE: P) was facing serious -- potentially existential -- challenges.

  I wasn't the only one who thought this -- shares of Pandora plunged Monday on the news. (In fact, over the last more »

• As Whole Foods Enters Detroit, Threat of Over-Expansion Looms

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 8, 2013 | Tickers: CROX, SBUX, WFM

  It happens. Companies over-expand. It’s far from a death sentence, but it can be painful -- at some point in the future, these corporations are forced to admit that they've invested too much, and must look to downsize.

  In the past, holding the stock of these overzealous companies hasn't been a pleasant experience.

  Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM) has been a tremendous growth stock in recent years. But its more »

• SodaStream Is a Fad

  By Salvatore "Sam" Mattera - June 8, 2013 | Tickers: KO, PEP, SODA

  SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA) shares surged early on Thursday before later pulling back. An Israeli tabloid had reported that the company was in talks to be acquired by Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) for as much as $95 per share.

  The idea that a company like Pepsico would want SodaStream is absurd -- although this stock has been a solid performer in recent months, its business is fundamentally based on a fad (one that more »

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