As the world looks to electrify 65 million miles of roadways, an iconic gas station-convenience store chain places itself at the frontlines of determining how quickly—and profitably—that transition occurs.
Fundamental Thinking
The perspectives of Harding Loevner’s sector and industry analysts on a range of investment topics.
Crushed: The Search for an Investment Opportunity in Wine
Not every industry is conducive to long-term growth. In the wine industry, a disruptor from Down Under faces an especially steep climb.
Modeling the Metaverse: Facebook, Apple, Meta, and the Fight to Profit from the Next Big Thing
What has long been a subject of science fiction—a totally immersive virtual world inhabited by all of humanity—is increasingly a part of Big Tech companies’ plans for future growth. And the winner is…
Super Cycles: This Time It Might Be for Wheel
E-bikes, the latest mobility craze for aging Baby Boomers, may have enough juice to help one venerable component maker engineer a breakaway.
The Pot Thickens: Online Gambling Comes of Age
With the pandemic accelerating internet wagering’s spread around the world, a handful of seasoned global players vie with new regulation and competition to take their game to the next level.
It’s a Wrap? How Consumer Behavior Is Shaping the Future of Plastic Packaging
Consumer goods companies are being pressured to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics from product packaging. This presents an opportunity and a challenge. One thing seems certain: companies that ignore demands for eco-friendly packaging do so at their peril.
Faster Fashion: Why Being Quick to Market Matters More Now for Apparel Companies
To regain market share lost to nimble competitors, established footwear and apparel brands are taking steps to accelerate design, production, and sales.
The New Retail: Why the Future of Shopping Will Be a Story of Bits and Bricks
In-store apps and “digitized” brick-and-mortar stores point to a future where online and offline shopping is highly integrated.
Why Battling Bugs Is a Booming Business, and May Be Getting Bigger
Climate change and other global trends could lead to more encounters with pests—and rising demand for pest control services.
The Ramadan Effect: How Islam’s Holy Month Impacts Businesses
Unlike Christmas, Diwali, or Chinese New Year, Ramadan shifts about 11 days earlier each year and is not confined to a single season—or financial quarter.
Domestic Disruptors: For Some Japanese Companies, Breaking with Custom Offers a Rare Path to Growth
By emphasing efficiency over tradition, ABC-Mart and MonotaRO have achieved high growth despite Japan’s stagnant economy.
Will the Sharing Economy Deliver the Goods?
Uber, Airbnb, and other stars of the sharing economy have high valuations that seem to belie their profitability. Is the sharing economy all hype?