May 7, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyWhat is Really Driving Bike Sales in the U.S.?The number of trails open to bicycle riders in the U.S. is fast on the rise, but the number of people who ride bikes more than a few times a year is on the decline. Are these new trails helping the industry?
May 1, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyBoston Beer Is Spending For the Future, But Will It Pay Off?Another mixed quarter for Boston Beer has few surprises. Earnings fell short. Sales were terrific. And management plans more of the same. What does this mean for Boston Beer investors?
Apr 30, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyShould Boston Beer Investors Prepare for a Flat Quarter?With big investments being made just to make sure Boston Beer can keep up with the demand for its products, the company could very well deliver a less-than-impressive earnings number on Wednesday. Long-term investors should look past that. The real story lies in Boston Beer's ability to grab an even bigger share of the craft brew market.
Apr 28, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyCan Local Bike Shops Survive?The number of bike shops in the U.S. is down by more than a third since 2000, and consolidation continues. Yet, Americans are buying just as many bikes -- if not more. What gives?
Apr 24, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyWhy Amazon Prime Air Drones May be Delivering Your Packages Sooner Than You ThinkWhen Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took the company's case for drone delivery to a national audience on "60 Minutes," it very publicly helped to force the hand of the FAA to develop guidelines for unmanned aircraft -- and soon. That may benefit not only Amazon, but a broad range of other U.S. industries eager to put these unmanned aircraft to use
Apr 22, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyBurrito Alert? Why Concerns Over a Planned Price Hike Are Obscuring an Otherwise Great Quarter for ChipotleThe headlines were all about the price hike, but there was plenty of good news in Chipotle's quarter.
Apr 15, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyIs Chipotle's Winning Product Its Food, or Its Message?Success at Chipotle Mexican Grill has come in part due to its food and fast service, but as the company continues to grow and generate more sales at each store, its message has become as important as its menu.
Apr 14, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyHere's Why Google and Amazon Should Continue Taking Moon Shots, and Why Investors Should Embrace ItInvestors should not only be patient with the moon shots companies like Google and Amazon are calling, they should embrace this experimentation, even if the eventual path to profit isn't clear. History shows us how important they can be.
Apr 12, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyWhy a Jack Daniel's and French Cognac Pairing Just Might Make Sense for Brown-FormanAt first blush, Remy Cointreau doesn't look like a very good fit for Brown-Forman's U.S. whiskey-dominated portfolio. But there may be more to this rumored deal than just brandies and sweet liqueurs.
Apr 5, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyBrace Yourself: Anheuser-Busch May Just Be Brewing Up the Next King of Craft BeersAnheuser-Busch InBev has big plans for its Goose Island craft beer label in 2014. With A-B's size and clout, the growing craft market could be in for a bit of a shakeup.
Mar 28, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyWhat's Behind This Whiskey Rebellion?Brown-Forman may have recorded a win when it convinced Tennessee legislators to regulate the labeling of Tennessee whiskey to benefit its iconic Jack Daniel's brand. But it now has a fight on its hands with a distilling giant.
Mar 16, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyCraft Brew Alliance Repositions for 2014 -- Can It Find Bigger Growth?Last year showed promise for Craft Brew Alliance, but it didn’t quite deliver what investors were hoping for. Management remains optimistic, however. Will a brand repositioning deliver what investors are seeking in 2014?
Mar 16, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyIs a McDonald's Move to Extend Breakfast Hours Too Little, Too Late?McDonald's may be extending its breakfast hours, but with key competitors Dunkin' Brands and Starbucks moving fast to build their own breakfast success, is the move too little, too late?
Mar 15, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyStart Hoarding Whiskey, a Shortage Is Coming!Whiskey, especially the high-end stuff, might never have been more popular. This has been great for distillers like Brown-Forman and Beam. But if they can't keep up with demand, is a whiskey shortage on the way?
Mar 15, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyTennessee Honey and Top-Shelf Bourbon Deliver a Win for Brown-FormanBrown-Forman saw quarterly sales up by 8% and profits up by 12%. Credit goes to success of its flavored Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, high-end Woodford Reserve, and a growing international thirst for American whiskey.
Mar 11, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyThis Craft Brew-haha Provides a Look Into a Less-Friendly Beer MarketThe dust-up on social media over Boston Beer around the start of the year drew a lot of attention. For investors in any brewer, it's important to see this from the wider context.
Mar 6, 2014 by John-Erik Koslosky4 Things to Watch When Craft Brew ReportsLast year showed promise, but it didn't turn out quite as well as Craft Brew Alliance had hoped. What's in store for 2014? Here are four things to watch for when during the company's earnings call on Friday.
Mar 4, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyWhy Chipotle Should Be in No Rush to Expand ShopHouseWith Chipotle Mexican Grill's burrito business still in high gear, the company has the gift of time to develop its Asian-inspired ShopHouse fast-casual concept.
Mar 2, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyA-B InBev Beat Estimates, but Challenges RemainA bottom-line beat was good for Anheuser-Busch InBev investors, but the company is facing challenges on a number of fronts.
Feb 26, 2014 by John-Erik KosloskyBoston Beer Missed on Earnings, But It's Why That MattersLower-than-expected earnings and soft guidance sent some investors fleeing Sam Adams maker Boston Beer in the after hours. But behind those numbers was a story of strong growth.