Every so often you have a “feeling.” Today’s is that Amazon’s quarterly earnings report after the close today will be blow-out. And the shares will pop.
Before I give you reasons for my feeling, know:
+ Amazon is expensive. Its P/E is 302. For Amazon that’s meaningless. Still it’s a measure of something.
+ It’s had a big run. There have much cheaper times to buy it recently. Here’s it over the last two years.
Now why I think it will be a blow-out quarter:
+ Amazon has become the default shopping destination for my family and all our friends. Everyone goes to Amazon first. And 99% of the time Amazon has what they want.
+ I keep buying more and more from them. The only thing I buy locally is food for dinner.
+ They’re really good about taking in returns for mistakes I make.
+ Amazon is truly creative. It keeps adding features to to its web site. My favorite is an Amazon credit card which has no expiration date. What a pleasure!
+ Amazon actually listens to its customers. I’ve had several long dialogs with them about changes I’d like made to their web site and their Kindle software. They’ve been very responsive. In contrast, Apple sends back all letters from me saying in essence “Our lawyers have told us to tell you to go pound sand.” Thank you Apple.
+ Everyone else — from Google to Facebook has just had a blow-out quarter. This Internet “thing” seems finally to be popular.
I already own a chunk of Amazon shares. I’ll buy more this morning after I’ve posted this column.
Photo pleasures
+ Microsoft has released a photo app for the iPhone called Microsoft Pix. It’s free from the App Store. It purports to use artificial intelligence to enhance your photos of people. I picked it up this morning. It seems to work great.
+ Instagram is a joy. Open it and take a voyage to gorgeous places and see gorgeous animals. It’s a simple fast pleasure. Here are some Instagram images from my iPhone. It usually tells me where it is and what the animal is.
It pays to be paranoid. Watch out for ATM skimmers. Especially if you’re traveling in Europe this summer. Watch these videos:
Skimmers 101. Click here.
Skimmers 102. Click here.
Watch this gorgeous jaguar fish. Wait a few seconds. You’ll be amazed what he/she catches.
Harry Newton just bought some beautiful white cotton, trim fit shirts from Paul Fredrick — for $26 a piece — three for $78. A bargain. (OK. Amazon didn’t have them.)
Harry Newton.
