 Hot Tickets From the Alliance
Each week Alliance members submit "Hot Tickets" as a way of presenting new observations and ideas on investable opportunities to ChangeWave.
* Note: These Hot Tickets are for informational purposes only. They do not represent recommendations from ChangeWave.
(1) Spooky Times in Healthcare
MBA09110 writes: "While our specialty medical office remains busy, we have seen an increase in postponed appointments and cancellations for elective visits. As we await financial help for electronic record, other government healthcare proposals and potential tax hikes have us edgy. Additionally, now we have to wait on medical insurance companies that are dragging their feet on more of our payments."
(2) McDonald's and Starbucks
UML04166 writes: "I really don't know if McDonald's (MCD) is offering more coffee options to compete with Starbucks (SBUX), or if it's that people are looking for cheaper options for food, but every time I go I see 6-7 cars in line at the drive-thru. Personally, I've stopped at McDonalds for coffee more often than Starbucks lately. Also, on weekend mornings, the line inside is all the way out the door. They must be doing something right."
(3) Farmer's Markets vs. Grocery Stores
CCF09998 writes: "There is an existing theory that people are starting to eat out less so they will buy more groceries. But new trends in the South could override this. The 'locavore' movement -- eat locally and buy direct from the farmer -- is growing and could represent a potential ChangeWave. Even in medium to large towns, farmer's markets are bypassing commercial chains. The effect on grocery chains could start to show in May when the first produce is ready, and could become an annual trend in grocery store sales."
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