To regain market share lost to nimble competitors, established footwear and apparel brands are taking steps to accelerate design, production, and sales.
Fundamental Thinking
The perspectives of Harding Loevner’s sector and industry analysts on a range of investment topics.
Are Biosimilars the Next Big Growth Opportunity for the Pharmaceutical Industry?
As top-selling biologics begin to lose patent protection, some drug makers are investing heavily to meet anticipated demand for biosimilars. Yet the high cost and complexity of these new drugs pose a risk to expected profits.
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.
A Runway to Growth for Airport Services Companies
Fixed-base operators that run a network of locations are likely to achieve higher-than-average earnings growth in the fragmented FBO industry.
Laser Technology Continues to Burn New Ground
Greater precision and speed, combined with lower energy requirements, give lasers a meaningful advantage over other manufacturing tools—and a long growth trajectory for laser equipment companies.
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.
Online Marketplaces for Loans Are Growing Rapidly. Should Banks Be Worried?
Peer-to-peer lending platforms have flourished in a period of steady economic growth, but their popularity with lenders may decline during the next downturn.
How an Industry That Helps Feed an Increasingly Hungry Planet Proved Turbulent for Investors
If global demand for food is rising, why did producers of a key fertilizer falter?
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?
Disrupting Your Closet: How Customized Clothing Can Remake the Apparel Industry
New tools like 3D knitting, body scanning, and augmented reality could make “custom” the new black.