GoPro's Hero4 Receives Much Appreciation From Analysts

The action camera makers have launched the new Hero 4 Session which is attracting quite a lot of positive attention of the analysts.

GoPro stock has recently launched its new action camera the Hero4 Session which has attracted quite a lot of attention of the customers in the industry. The new action camera is making the interested customers quite amused, as it weighs as light as 2.6 ounces only. This particular fact has made the new camera the smallest camera that it has ever produced. The firm’s new product has only been receiving great reviews as it has been reported that the product is one of the most easy to use gadgets the firm has so far produced. Furthermore, it has been noted that the small camera makes things easy for the user as it creates quite a useful connection with a smartphone.

GoPro cameras have taken the industry by storm since the time of inception without any doubts. The firm has been producing high-class technology action cameras that have proved their worth by being the best in the industry. Analysts are now seen discussing how the camera making giant has finally managed to make a tiny little camera but that too, which is capable of making high-class videos.

The high definition videos can be made just by tapping the button on the camera which will easily help the user to capture the moments around him. However, if the button is kept pressed by him, the video will then be shot at a time lapse mode. Another button which is present on the camera is the one from which the user will be allowed to turn the camera on as well as turn the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and off. It has been observed by the analysts that the camera that GoPro business has long been working on and has finally launched are definitely worth the money since such a high-end product which is so user friendly is hard to find elsewhere.

Furthermore, there are two different filters and frames available on the camera with the help of which the users will be able to make videos in what they like and make it look the way they want. Since the new camera has been noted down to be around 35 percent lighter than all the other cameras that have so far been produced by the firm, it is being said that now customers and users will be easily able to attach their cameras to their bike helmets or arm bands without any hassle. The camera was launched on July 12 and has already managed to gather quite a lot of positive comments.

Bidness ETC - Johnson & Johnson Releases 2014 Citizenship & Sustainability Report

Its 2014 Citizenship & Sustainability Report presents activities and progress regarding its commitment and impacts in accordance with GRI 2013 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

Medical researcher, drugs producer, and consumer goods producer, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has released its 2014 Citizenship and Sustainability Report, which presents its activities and progress made in accordance to its GRI 2013 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. In first step, performance against selected pool of goals and GRI indicators has been verified by the ERM Certification & Verification Services. Below are selected 2014 highlights during the fiscal year 2013-2014 year.

Johnson & Johnson has leveraged its expertise in areas of public health by improving maternal and newborn survival rate, preventing spread of infectious disease, strengthening the health care system, on top of healthcare workers training. Furthermore, the company has continued to drive the innovation culture across the enterprise for delivering high-quality standard healthcare. To top it all, in collaboration with partners in the social, economic, and environmental aspect of its supply chain, the organization has driven sustainability efforts beyond its mandate, to set up an example for itself and for the others.

Lastly, innovation has provided means for the company to stay relevant and bring about a notable difference to its patients and customers that it serves. As evidence of its strong innovation drive, it has realized a less than 10% reduction in its CO2 emissions against the 7% that is set as a baseline from the energy that is being currently generated from its own clean energy sources. It has also clocked in a less than 20% decline in its fleet emission per mile, almost missing its 2015 ‘healthy future’ targets.

The downside of the report, though, is that the company seems to be struggling with its water reduction targets. It only achieved a 2.3% reduction in general water usage, way off its target of meeting a 10% absolute reduction in its water usage. Simultaneously, it also reported a slight uptick in its waste disposal of site, as well as a 13% increase in toxic waste generation.

Johnson & Johnson CEO, Alex Gorsky, stated that the company’s sustainability practices are an integral part to the success of the business, and that they are taking the work quite seriously, despite the challenges on slipping off from some targets that may require further time to be achieved.

J&J is a renowned company with a huge assortment of portfolios on its side. Thus, market analysts and experts engrave their eyes on the future endeavors of the company. Its stock price ended the day at $98.94, a gain of 0.75% the previous day.

Bidness ETC - Is Google Being Crushed By Facebook?

The search engine giant has a staggering ads department which is helping Facebook to step up the game.

The most recent news about the Google Inc is that the firm is being threatened the biggest social media network company Facebook Inc. This was made more evident after the second quarter earnings of 2015 where it was seen that the media company has earned more than 99 percent from the clicks on the adverts on the website whereas the search engine giant has only earned 24 percent of its revenue from the same source.

According to a research that was made by ADI, it became clear the users on the internet found the ads shown on the networking site to be more useful than the ones shown on the search engine site. Google business usually shows most of its ads on its video streaming website YouTube and the research that was made showed that out of all the people that were taken as a sample, only 17 percent showed more inclination towards the tech company’s website.

Even though the Android owners have been reportedly earning more revenue from displaying ads on their website as of the reports from the last year, the ADI researchers have anticipated that the coming times might not be too bright for the firm. The expectations include Facebook beating the software company’s previous records by a mile which shows that the threat is quite evident.

As per the previous records, Google has been earning around five times the revenue being enjoyed by Facebook, but this time around the expectations are bound to get reversed, all in the media company’s favor. The reason that the search engine has been facing such a difficult time with businesses that previously used the tech company’s website to display their ads is that a recent change was brought about by the firm in which it made changes in the search algorithm it previously followed which ended up making panels on some websites which were restricted to a desktop version only. This made the companies associated with the giant to cut down on around a massive 10 percent of the user base it was provided the tech company.

This step taken by the company was named as Mobilegeddon and ended up putting quite an adverse effect on the ad industry of Google. This not only helped Facebook to come forward with its ads improvement plans but also helped it to implement more and more of revenue-boosting ideas to make its income flow in more easily. The firm has also been working on showing ads only that are more relevant to the particular user which has raised the value of the adverts by a mile.

Has Apple Cancelled Its "Back To School" Program?

Apple customers are confused whether Apple will continue with its "Back to School" 
promotion.

2006 was the year when Apple Inc. decided to roll out a “Back to School” campaign that was targeted to students and teacher both. The company continued to go forward with this campaign year after year. This program basically allowed teachers and students to avail discounts on certain Apple Products by the start of the month when schools were about to start their new term. Since the past two years, the company made this announcement on July 6. However, many Apple customers were disappointed when the company did not announce about its promotion this year.

Many students and teachers were actually waiting for this promotion to buy Apple products. However, two weeks have passed since July 6 but consumers are still wondering whether Apple will actually have a back to school promotion sale this year or not. The company has been getting several queries on forums and comment boards where they are asking the company regarding this promotion although no official response has been governed by the company. So at this point the only thing buzzing around regarding this promotion are rumors and speculations.

Previously, when the company announced this promotion, users who bought an Apple iPhone, iPad or Mac were awarded a gift card that worth $50 to $100. Earlier, the deals were coupled with incentives like the purchase of Mac resulted in a free iPod. However in FY11, the company chose to come up with gift cards.

At this point, customers are in dismay since now they believe that Apple is not continuing with its promotion since no official announcement has been made by the company in this regard. On the other hand, Angela Ahrendts, the Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple stated that information regarding sale will be unveiled in the form of a video that will soon be pushed to their retail employees in the days to come. So this means, that the promotion is likely to take place in the times to come but with certain amendments. Employees have been acknowledged that information regarding the promotion will be provided to them in the coming week.

Ms. Ahrendts mentioned in a recent video, “I’m sure many of you are thinking also ‘but is there anything else for Back to School’? Well, I need you to wait until next week’s video and I’ll share a little bit more insight with you then.”

So now there is still hope and Apple users need not worry since the company has plans for its “Back to School” promotion.

Bidness ETC - CVS Pharmacy In Court Fight Over Lease Maintenance On Its Downtown Pharmacy

Retail pharmacy receives weak planning commission response from city’s comprehensive land use plan in Racine.

CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS) has got itself involved in a court battle to keep its downtown pharmacy on lease in Main Street of Kansas City, as it filed a lawsuit at a County Circuit Court in Jackson against the landlord, Commerce Tower Group. It is seeking the injunction to prevent the latter from terminating its lease agreement without providing any grounds for a proper cause. This comes amidst the Commerce Tower Group counter claim that the healthcare company previously defaulted on the lease based on allegations that the latter had failed to maintain its premises.

The Main Street property has been housed by retail drugstore chain since the early 1950’s. In 2006, the retail pharmacy company acquired a small retail store Osco, after which CVS proposed to merge its downtown location with the one located at Independence Avenue. The public did not take it down well, and after much pressure, it dropped the plan and instead decided to push ahead with a $2 million upgrade and remodeling store in 2007.

In response to those allegations, CVS investigated and discovered that the deterioration of premises was caused by ordinary wear and tear in the 50-year-old building, but Michael Knight, a partner in the Commerce Group, stated that the property is in a horrible shape and CVS is in default of its lease.

A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled to be held in the Jackson County Circuit Court this week but has been postponed till the end of the current month. Meanwhile, Sean O’Byrne, vice president of business development of the Downtown Council, is mediating between both companies.

Meanwhile, the healthcare company is facing another bureaucratic hurdle following the Racine Plan Commission’s not-so-overwhelming vote to the City Council to amend the city’s comprehensive land-use plan for more intensive business usage at the location of Ohio Street and Washington Avenue.

The pharmacy is going to swim through many city approval processes for the past several months for the construction of more than 13000 square foot pharmacy store on more than 4 acres at the southeastern corner of the intersection.

CVS filed the application in late November last year. The commission sent a recommendation to the City Council not to go for any changes in the city’s land use plan but was ignored in April this year. The council sent that plan back to the commission. The proposal was proved controversial due to traffic concerns, as well as the impacts on the neighborhood, and much more.

Now Matt Sadowski, City Assistant Director of City Development, says that once the new plan reaches the Councilman, a three-quarter vote may be required, since owners of the properties openly oppose the proposed development and even have filed a petition against it.

CVS Health Corp’s stock price ended the day at $104.85, a minute gain of 0.04% the previous day.

Bidness ETC - Coca Coca Receives 'Buy' Ratings From Analysts

The beverage making company has shown some evident struggles on the stock index lately while the analysts remain bullish over the firm's stock.

Coca-Cola Company has recently been covered by a number of equity analysts. Despite the fact that the beverage firm has been experiencing some difficulties in the industry keeping in mind the changes in the demand of the users, the management of the fizzy drink making firm has now handling the company’s problems in a commendable manner which has helped it to step back on the short comings that took their toll before. There are around twenty five equity firm analysts who are of the opinion that the coke makers should be granted a ‘buy’ rating for the shares, whereas eleven analysts firms are those who have given a ‘hold’ to the shares of the company.

On the other hand, Coca-Cola has been undergoing many new plans lately which have made the investors know one thing for sure and that is that the firm has no plans of backing down to the increasing competition in the market. If seen on a consensus level, the healthy milk drink producing firm has also managed to secure an ‘overweight’ rating along with a price target of $44.74 per shares.

As per the recent news, it will also be seen that Coca-Cola has decided to make a huge investment of around $500 million in a communication business that will further be providing high technology communication services to those parts of the world which are less developed. This project is being initiated mainly for rural areas where the communication service is seen to be in an unsatisfying state. The services that will be provided through the networking system will mostly include broadband systems for those areas in the developing and under developed countries where the internet services, as well as basic services to communicate, are not present.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the energy drink makers have been witnessing an unexpected decline in the share price falling by a massive 12.44 percent from the 52 week high price of the shares that has been recorded on the stock index. The sports drinks makers have also reported price to earnings ratio of around 24.78. As for the market cap value of the non-alcoholic drinks making company, the value has been recorded at around $171.73 billion.

Moreover, the short interest shares of Coca-Cola have totaled to come around at $33.76 million which has also shown a tendency of going towards the upward direction. This upheaval has been reported to have taken place by around 16 percent as compared to the previous month that the firm went through.