Podcast appearances and mentions of William Blair

One of biopharma's most memorable bidding wars finally came to an end on Friday—with Metsera right back in the arms of its original suitor, but with Pfizer paying around $10 billion for the rights to the obesity biotech, a nearly $3 billion increase over its original bid. But while Novo Nordisk may have bowed out of that race, the company still made headlines this past week, with CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar joining Eli Lilly head David Ricks at the White House on Thursday to announce a deal that will see their GLP-1 drugs offered at about $350 per month.   This marks a significant discount to the current list prices of $1086 and $1350 for Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound and Novo's comparator Wegovy, respectively. No matter how low they go, however, the GLP-1 leaders can still be undercut by compounders, Steven Grossman, policy and regulatory consultant and author of the FDA Matters blog, told BioSpace this week.   Speaking of Lilly, the Indianapolis-based pharma had a busy week, reporting 20% weight loss in a mid-stage study of its amylin agonist eloralintide that William Blair analysts said “validates [the] amylin agonist class.” Lilly also netted two new partners, inking a $1.2 billion RNAi pact with SangeneBio to target metabolic diseases and licensing a genetic eye disease therapy from MeiraGTx Holdings for up to $475 million.   On the regulatory front, the FDA awarded the second round of priority review vouchers under its new Commissioner's National Priority Vouchers program. Unlike the first cohort of vouchers, which was announced in October, this group mostly consisted of products already on the market—with the exception of Lilly's orforglipron.   Finally, BioSpace dives into one the hottest trends in the immunology and inflammation (I&I) space—pipeline-in-a-product. Possibly motivated by blockbuster drugs like AbbVie's Skyrizi and Rinvoq and Regeneron and Sanofi's Dupixent, companies are optimizing shots on multiple goals in this lucrative space.  

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and group head of energy and power technologies Jed Dorsheimer explore the seismic changes reshaping the U.S. energy landscape as rising electricity costs and surging demand—especially from AI—put unprecedented pressure on the grid. The discussion also unpacks a five pillar plan for energy abundance, the balance between renewables and firm baseload power, and the economic and geopolitical forces driving a new era in energy markets.

Farr, Miller & Washington's Michael Farr breaks down the big earnings movers, including Affirm, Block, Expedia and Airbnb. William Blair's Jed Dorsheimer breaks down Musk's pay package vote. HSBC's Alastair Pinder on where to invest globally. Rockwell Automation CEO Blake Moret on his company's strong quarter and using AI. LinkedIn Head of Economics Kory Kantenga on alternative jobs data.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gold and silver have just seen their biggest drop in years, rattling investors and sending analysts back to the drawing board. Once tipped to hit $5,000 an ounce by 2026, gold’s outlook is now in question. Is this just a temporary pullback or the start of something bigger? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alexandra Symeonidi, corporate credit analyst on William Blair's emerging markets debt (EMD) team, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite growing fears of a bubble, one of Goldman Sachs' top strategists lays out why the market has more room to run. Then forget pain at the pump, it's now pain at the plug. William Blair out with a new report on how rising energy costs are reshaping the American economy and who stands to benefit. Plus could 15 years of European underperformance be coming to an end? Deutsche Bank arguing just that. And they have a new trade they say can be a big winner. All that on Money Movers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

William Blair energy and environmental services analyst Tim Mulrooney and macro analyst Richard de Chazal explore how reshoring, AI infrastructure, and labor and energy challenges are driving transformation across the U.S. economy.

The U.S. government is now in its second week of a shutdown—with the FDA having paused acceptance of all new drug applications for the duration. But it was business as usual at the CDC, which adopted the recent recommendations of its newly revamped advisory committee on chickenpox and COVID-19 vaccines. And another senior leader, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Jeanne Marrazzo, was fired last week, after filing a whistleblower report.  Across the country, cell and gene therapy leaders arrived in Phoenix for the annual Meeting on the Mesa, as the space remains in a state of flux—with regulatory and M&A momentum being stalled by commercial and market challenges. Takeda, for one, is looking to offload its cell therapy platform after years of hefty investment.  President Donald Trump's long-awaited tariffs did not hit on Oct. 1 as promised. But in the face of the looming levies, Pfizer signed a drug pricing deal with the White House that provides a three-year exemption. Amgen appears to be climbing onboard as well, announcing that its lipid-lowering drug Repatha will be available at a steep discount. These moves are all well and good for Big Pharma players, but a recent report from CRB reveals most smaller biopharma companies are not planning any investments to offset tariffs.  In our weekly weight loss segment, Skye Bioscience's cannabinoid receptor 1-targeting candidate nimacimab failed to outpace placebo in reducing body weight but elicited “intriguing synergy” in combination with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, according to William Blair analysts. And regulatory documents shed further light on Pfizer's $4.9 billion takeover of Metsera, in which the New York pharma beat out two higher bidders for the promising obesity startup.  Finally, make sure to check out The 5 Most Powerful Women in Biopharma and BioSpace's inaugural 40 Under 40, highlighting 40 young leaders who have made an impact on the biopharma industry.  

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and energy analyst Neal Dingmann discuss how rapid technological advances, shrinking inventories, and relentless demand—especially for natural gas—are reshaping the energy sector, driving new strategies and investment opportunities for the years ahead.

Friday, September 26, 2025. Week 39.   In #S10e182 I told you about CAMP4, don't miss that, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ0Oj-Zz-B0 Sharing research comments from William Blair & Wedbush   William Blair Initiation of Coverage: “Among several quality investors, the private placement included the Syngap Research Fund, which is active in the Syngap1 patient community and will be an important resource in aiding patient identification and enrollment in the Phase 1/2 trial in our view.”   Wedbush Ph1/2 Will Likely Begin From Ex-U.S., Aiming for Early Intervention. Citing precedents of other intrathecally delivered antisense oligonucleotide programs for CNS indications, where the FDA oftentimes required sponsors to begin at a dose level well below the efficacious dose, CAMP plans to begin patient dosing outside the U.S. for the potential to go directly to doses that are expected to show efficacy. The selection of patient age range will depend on regulatory discussions, and management highlighted the impact of the disease on neurodevelopment, so early intervention could allow patients to have a better opportunity to achieve as normal as possible development. CAMP Will Have Access to Natural History Data being Collected by SRF and CHOP. According to management, a natural history study is being conducted by SynGAP Research Fund (SRF), which also participated in the private placement, in collaboration with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and CAMP will have access to data as well as patients for future clinical study enrollment. Donate now: https://curesyngap1.org/donate/ Beacon of Hope was a great success, raised over $100k.  We need to do this every year.  Thanks to Navarros for getting this launched, also to SJ, Emily Barnes, Peter Halliburton, & Kathryn Helde who helped make this event incredible. Emmy's video (top of) https://curesyngap1.org/resources/movies/ Blog: https://cureSYNGAP1.org/Beacon25 (will be live Friday night 9/26) Pairs well with Gala Blog: https://curesyngap1.org/Gala25  Research is non-stop:  - CRID, get one. https://curesyngap1.org/blog/every-syngap1-related-disorders-patient-needs-a-crid/  - ProMMiS, incredible coordination meeting today.  Sign up. https://curesyngap1.org/resources/studies/syngap1-ProMMiS/  - Sign up for Citizen Health too!  AI Advocate is live for us an awesome. https://www.citizen.health/partners/srf   Episode 183 of #Syngap10 #CureSYNGAP1 #Advocate #PatientAdvocacy #UnmetNeed #SYNGAP1 #SynGAP #SynGAProMMiS

The metals market is in flux. Rising rates, inflation, and global tensions are shaking up gold, silver, copper, and more.Which metals are poised to outperform, and how should investors navigate the risks and opportunities ahead?On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alexandra Symeonidi, corporate credit analyst on William Blair's emerging markets debt (EMD) team, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and specialty retail analyst Dylan Carden unpack why retail stocks are under pressure despite solid earnings, exploring the impact of tariffs, supply chain shifts, and what it means for the holiday season. This episode was recorded on August 22, 2025.

President Trump moved to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. William Blair initiated coverage on 11 exploration & production names. And Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont weighs in on the halting of Revolution Wind Project. 

Ryan Daniels, William Blair's group head of healthcare technology and services, returns to discuss the accelerating transformation of specialty care in the face of rising acuity, delayed diagnoses, and regulatory shifts. From bundled payments to AI-driven coordination, this episode explores how providers and investors are reshaping oncology, cardiology, and other high-impact disease states.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal dissects July's economic surprises—from noisy GDP data and sticky inflation to the disruptive rise of stablecoins and a renewed case for small- and mid-cap stocks. This episode was recorded on August 1, 2025.

John Sherman, a director for William Blair & Co. and the lead author for the firm's report titled Why Mexico Is Positioned Well as Global Trade Evolves, joins the program to elaborate on his findings. (07/2025)

John Sherman, a director for William Blair & Co. and the lead author for the firm's report titled Why Mexico Is Positioned Well as Global Trade Evolves, joins the program to elaborate on his findings. (07/2025)

John Sherman, a director for William Blair & Co. and the lead author for the firm's report titled Why Mexico Is Positioned Well as Global Trade Evolves, joins the program to elaborate on his findings. (07/2025)

Tesla (TSLA) shares took a beating this morning after CEO Elon Musk announced plans to form an "American Party," widening the divide between Musk and President Trump. That's not all the news hitting the stock. Jenny Horne talks about a downgrade from William Blair off expectations it will lose steam in the energy race. This comes as Trump plans to talk about a potential TikTok deal with China this week.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-...Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-...Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/19192...Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplu...Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-net...Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

In this inspiring chat, Andrew shares his journey from multiple student club rejections at UCLA to landing a coveted investment banking offer at William Blair. Hear how he leveraged the WSO Academy, mock interviews, and cold email networking to turn things around — all while starting late in the recruiting cycle. From setbacks to success, Andrew's story is a must-watch for anyone aiming to break into finance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Fed's softer tone, how companies are adapting to tariffs and labor shifts, and why housing and hiring trends are setting the stage for a dynamic second half of 2025.

Sharon Zackfia, head of consumer research at William Blair, shares insights from over a decade of Glassdoor data to reveal how culture, leadership, and operational models—not just pay—shape employee satisfaction and long-term brand success in the restaurant sector.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair's group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, explores how America's rapidly growing senior population is reshaping healthcare, technology, and everyday services through the powerful trend of aging in place.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal unpacks the latest on global tariffs, inflation pressures, recession risks, and why smidcap stocks might be poised for a comeback in a shifting economic landscape. *This episode was recorded on May 28, 2025

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down a wild month of macroeconomic news, focusing on the impact of President Trump's tariff policies on the global economy, equity and bond markets, consumer confidence and corporate inventory strategies. Richard also shares his firsthand experience of Spain's recent power outage and its unexpected lessons. *Recorded April 30, 2025

Today, we explore the world of tools to break down Snap-on. Snap-on has been around for over 100 years and operates with over a $17 billion market cap. It has continuously evolved the straightforward model of selling tools to specialists, like mechanics, into a durable business model while carving out a leadership position in the professional tools market. My guest is Matt Fleming, portfolio manager at William Blair. Matt gets into what makes Snap-on stand out, the early days of tool innovation, the relationship-focused sales team built around a franchise model, and a financing program that dates back to the very early days. If you've only lived in the world of DeWalt tools, you'll have some fun learning about the professional world through Snap-On. Please enjoy this breakdown of Snap-on.  Subscribe to Colossus Review For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. —- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:02:22) Understanding Snap-on's Market and Customers (00:06:19) Snap-on's Rich History and Evolution (00:15:03) The Financial Dynamics of Snap-On's Franchise Model (00:19:42) Snap-on's Competitive Edge and Innovation (00:22:32) Snap-on's Financial Model and Growth Drivers (00:24:28) Breakdown of Tool Industry Segments (00:25:39) Challenges in the Evolving Auto Repair Market (00:28:38) Historical Performance During Economic Downturns (00:30:25) Margin and Cash Flow Analysis (00:34:16) Capital Allocation and Risk Management (00:41:41) Valuation and Market Comparisons (00:44:58) Key Lessons from Snap-on

William Blair biotech analysts Matt Phipps and Andy Hsieh discuss Andy's innovative scoring system for evaluating investigational agents in obesity treatment. This system, highlighted in Andy's report “Shaping the Future: Innovations and Trends in Obesity Treatment,” considers both weight loss and gastrointestinal side effects to provide a more comprehensive clinical assessment. Tune in to hear their insights on the future of obesity therapies, upcoming industry catalysts, and more.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the juxtaposition between weak consumer sentiment and solid economic data, exploring whether a recession is imminent and the implications of shifting inflation regimes, fiscal policy dominance, and ongoing tariff uncertainty.

Delve into William Blair's latest generative AI report, “Navigating the Boom: Confronting GenAI's Most Pressing Questions.” Featuring insights from technology analysts Jason Ader, Arjun Bhatia, and Sebastien Naji, this episode explores the current state of AI, industry trends, and the future of AI development.

Tony Frascotti, head of private shares trading at William Blair, discusses the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the private shares market, delving into the impact of macroeconomic factors, the influence of AI on investment strategies, and the resurgence of the crypto market. Tony also provides insights into the current state of late-stage investments, the role of data in driving market decisions, and the evolving landscape of private shares trading.

Crowdstrike (CRWD) shares fall after issuing disappointing guidance. Despite beating on its 4Q report, the company's earnings estimates for the year ahead underwhelmed investors. Meanwhile, Palantir (PLTR) is on the move after an upgrade at William Blair. And, Arista Networks (ANET) also catches an upgrade to a Buy rating from UBS. Tom White has this morning's movers.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Palantir (PLTR) has fallen 30% from all-time highs, but Rick Ducat says shares are leveling off around the $84 level calling it a "key level to watch." Following an upgrade from William Blair, Tom White discusses a bullish example options strategy for the A.I. software stock.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) plunged 15% as tariff concerns plague its outlook. Palantir (PLTR) got an upgrade to market perform from underperform by William Blair. Arista Networks (ANET) has a new bull in UBS after the firm upgraded its rating to buy from neutral. Diane King Hall takes a closer look at the morning's biggest movers.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Kevin Hincks looks at a pair of A.I. theme stocks in Palantir (PLTR) and Supermicro (SMCI). Shares of PLTR have fallen more than 30% since hitting all-time highs, but did get an upgrade from William Blair. Meanwhile, SMCI reverses its post-earnings gains. Kevin has example options trades for both PLTR and SMCI.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

George Tsilis highlights Palantir (PLTR) following an upgrade from William Blair. He looks at the company's current contractual obligations with the U.S. government as well as potential growth catalysts in other areas of the economy. George then constructs an example options trade with a neutral to bullish strategy.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal reflects on February's economic narratives, including the impact of noisy data, government spending cuts, climate change, mass deportations, recent inflation data, and the evolving nature of inflation on future monetary policy decisions. *Recorded February 25, 2025

William Blair global services analyst Andrew Nicholas, CPA, discusses findings from his team's extensive inaugural survey of accounting services executives, covering industry dynamics such as organic revenue growth, technology use, and M&A trends.

President Trump has been on a staff cutting rampage since taking office, and this weekend, the hammer came down on an undisclosed number of FDA employees. The firings—which reportedly affected staffers within the FDA's centers for food, medical devices and tobacco products—came days after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as HHS secretary.One space that could have an ally in RFK Jr. is psychedelic therapies, which the new HHS boss has accused the FDA of “suppressing,” along with stem cell therapies. On the flip side, Kennedy is a well-known vaccine critic, though his confirmation didn't affect the approvals of a pair of vaccines—one for GSK's meningococcal shot and another for Bavarian Nordic's chikungunya jab.One notable vaccine maker, however, is struggling. Moderna reported Q4 and 2024 earnings last week, revealing full-year revenue of just over $3 billion—less than half of the nearly $7 billion the company brought in the year before. Adding insult to financial injury, Moderna is also laying off around 50 employees on its digital team.Moderna isn't the only company facing challenges. Several biopharmas, including Merck, Regeneron and Bristol Myers Squibb are facing patent headwinds that, according to William Blair, are the strongest they've been in nearly 15 years. It's also a difficult climate in which to stay alive as a biotech, to which the 13 bankruptcies in 2024 can attest.Finally, BioSpace launched a new NextGen podcast series this week, in which senior editor Annalee Armstrong speaks with execs from four of our NextGen Class of 2025 companies—starting with COUR Pharmaceuticals.

In the first Monthly Macro episode of 2025, William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal recounts the numerous events that have shaped the economic landscape since the start of the year, exploring the implications of recent executive policies, the Fed's decision to hold rates steady, the unusual behavior of Treasury yields, and what these developments mean for the economy as we move further into 2025.

William Blair equity research analyst Maggie Nolan dives into the latest trends in IT services, exploring the impact of generative AI, data infrastructure, and political influences on the industry.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, discusses the latest trends in the digital healthcare marketplace, focusing on consumer-facing solutions, the rise and fall of digital health companies, and the evolving investment landscape.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal looks back at the economic highlights of 2024 and shares his insights and predictions for the U.S. economy in 2025, emphasizing resilience, consumer strength, and potential risks ahead.

Elements of the new Trump administration are coming into focus as announcements of key healthcare appointments and nominations provide indications for what the market can expect starting in January. To dissect the impact these changes might have, Wall Street Analyst Jeff Garro joined Keith Figlioli to wrap up a four-part series of episodes on election implications. Previous episodes featured conversations with JP Morgan's Lisa Gill, Canaccord Genuity's Richard Close, and Maverick Health Policy's Julie Barnes.Jeff Garro is Managing Director and an equity research analyst covering Healthcare IT for Stephens, a family of privately held, independent financial services firms founded in 1933 that's focused on building value for companies, state and local governments, institutions and high-net-worth investors. Prior to joining Stephens in September 2022 Jeff held research analyst roles at Piper Sandler and William Blair.During this conversation, Jeff discussed the policy changes and broader market signals he's watching to advise clients on investments in the healthcare IT market. Some of the topics he discussed with Keith include:Balance in management teams. When discussing elements he looks for in a good investment, Jeff talked about the lessons he's learned evaluating management teams. He says companies need leaders that are great storytellers who can convey their vision and bring more investors under the tent. But cautions to stay vigilant for executives who might believe in their own narrative a little too much and in turn, don't implement the right sets of checks and balances within their organization.Predictions by payer type. One way Jeff is assessing the market in light of pending regulatory and policy changes is by breaking it down by payer type. For example, he expects minimal change in employer-sponsored coverage and a more favorable environment for Medicare Advantage, when comparing the first Trump term to the last few years of the Biden administration. He says Medicaid markets will be harder to predict because potential for decreased federal funding could create market pressures, but could also create opportunities where technology can help. Lastly, he's considering the individual market and the potential for ACA subsidies to not be renewed.Public vs. private markets. While Jeff's primary role is analyzing public markets, he talked about how essential it is to understand innovation and activity occurring in private markets so he can ask the right questions and avoid being blindsided as new companies and technologies evolve. He also discussed the different mentalities of public versus private investors, and how those in private markets generally have the ability to be more patient – an advantage as we're waiting for the new administration's nominees to be appointed and confirmed.The post-COVID reset. There are a lot of problems to solve in healthcare – as there always have been – but Jeff also believes there are a lot of good companies, both public and private, positioned to solve them. He sees a favorable backdrop for healthcare investors following the challenging environment from the global pandemic, and is hopeful that the market has hit a reset from a performance perspective. He sees a shift from “growth at all costs” to a more reasonable approach to sustainable growth and healthy profit margins.To hear Jeff and Keith discuss these topics and more, listen to this episode of Healthcare is Hard: A

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and consumer analyst Dylan Carden delve into the implications of the recent U.S. election results on tariffs, the specialty retail sector, and broader economic trends. *Recorded November 21, 2024

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the latest economic trends, including third-quarter earnings, rising Treasury yields, and the impact of recent Fed rate cuts. He also delves into consumer sentiment and the paradox of strong retail sales amid a “vibecession.”

Jason Ader, co-group head of William Blair's technology, media, and communications research sector, interviews Sebastien Naji, an equity research associate specializing in semiconductors and infrastructure systems, on their team's latest report, “From Chips to Systems: How AI Is Revolutionizing Compute and Infrastructure,” which explores the shift from serial to parallel computing, the rise of AI accelerators, and the evolving landscape of semiconductor companies.

Fresh from InsurTech Connect 2024, where the industry gathered to discuss insurance innovation's past, present, and future, host Joshua R. Hollander brings you a special episode revisiting our three most downloaded episodes of the last year: Tom Wilde, CEO of Indico - At the forefront of bringing AI and automation to insurance workflows Suri Bhavan, Partner at William Blair - A leading investment banker tracking where money is flowing in insurtech Michael Nadel, Senior Director at Simon-Kutcher & Partners - A strategic consultant helping companies price and scale their solutions While these leaders view the industry through different lenses, they align on several key points: Insurance is only in the "third inning" of digital transformation Data is becoming the key differentiator in insurance, but most companies struggle to utilize it effectively The industry needs to balance innovation with practical implementation They also offer contrasting perspectives on critical issues: The readiness of AI for insurance (Wilde argues it's ready now, while others suggest a more measured approach) The future of insurance distribution (differing views on the role of traditional channels versus digital-first approaches) How to prioritize innovation investments (varying perspectives on what should come first: customer experience, middle office, or core systems) Key Insights: The evolution of AI in insurance, from mobile transformation to middle-office automation The role of deep learning and large language models in handling unstructured data Challenges in integrating new technologies into legacy systems and how to overcome them The importance of pricing strategy and market entry for insurtech startups The intersection of Insurtech and Fintech: automating payments, claims processing, and beyond The role of data in shaping the future of cyber insurance and climate risk management Key Topics Covered: [00:05] Intelligent intake challenges in insurance operations  [03:42] Evolution from PDF scraping to AI-driven processing  [07:12] The role of generative AI in insurance  [10:18] Investment trends in insurtech  [14:08] Insurtech-fintech convergence  [15:21] Data's role in new insurance products  [17:03] Tech-enabled MGAs and market evolution  [18:40] State of insurance digitization  [21:06] Growth strategy pillars  [23:03] Insurance pricing considerations  [27:07] Market entry strategies  Notable Quotes: "In insurance, data has always been king. But today, the challenge is turning unstructured data into fuel for decision-making." - Tom Wilde "The big breakthrough in AI is its ability to handle context. That's why large language models are changing the game." - Tom Wilde "I think by and large, digitization is still in the third inning for most carriers... When you get to life with annuities, that's probably first inning in terms of actual digitization." - Suri Bhavan "We're just starting to see the convergence of Insurtech and Fintech, especially in areas like payments and claims automation." - Suri Bhavan "Pricing is really just a measure of value, the same way that a foot is a measure of distance. When you're pricing your products, it's really all about what the customer values in this product and matching that value to the price relationship." - Michael Nadel "If you're leaving pricing to chance, you're leaving money on the table." - Michael Nadel About Our Guests: Tom Wilde: CEO of Indico, Tom has over 25 years of experience in solving complex digital content problems and is an expert in applying AI and machine learning to insurance workflows. Suri Bhavan: A partner at William Blair, Suri focuses on technology companies operating in the insurtech space, advising them on mergers, acquisitions, and public offerings. Michael Nadel: Senior Director at Simon-Kutcher & Partners. Michael specializes in growth strategies and pricing for insurance carriers and insurtech firms.   Resources: Tom Wilde https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomwilde/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/indico-data-solutions/  Suri Bhavan https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavan-suri-074113/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/william-blair-company/  Michael Nadel  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nadel-13656123/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/simon-kucher/  Josh Hollander https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarhollander/ https://www.horton-usa.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/insurtech-leadership-show/ https://www.insurtechassociation.org/ https://innsure.org/ 

Elastic (ESTC) got an upgrade to Outperform from Market Perform by William Blair. The cloud stock may not have as much milage as competitors like Broadcom (AVGO) and Datadog (DDOG), but George Tsilis highlights what could make this a valuable trade for investors. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribe Download the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185 Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7 Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watch Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-explore Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/ Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

William Blair technology analyst Dylan Becker joins Adam Klauber, group head of the financial services and technology research sector, to discuss highlights from the seventh annual William Blair Insurance, Banking, and Wealth Technology Conference. They delve into key trends in the insurance technology space, including labor constraints, legacy modernization, and the integration of AI infrastructure.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Federal Reserve's 50-basis-point rate cut and its implications for future monetary policy. He also explores the factors behind this decision, the muted impact of the recent tightening cycle, and what it all means for the economy moving forward.