#20 - Become a Tree Farmer 🌲

Author

Graham Schroeder
August 23, 2024

Your home base for investing, finance, personal growth.

This week we dive into early robotaxi growth potential, how heart disease will continue to rise and provide investment opportunities, and why you should water trees.

Market Recap

  • US Employment Falls in Latest Revision

    • U.S. government revised its employment data to 818,000 as fewer jobs were added from March 2022 to March 2023 than initially reported.

    • Challenges in collecting accurate employment data and possible overestimation of job creation during the initial reports lead to this revision.

    • The downward revision could alter perception of the labor market's strength, as it suggests weaker job growth than previously believed.

  • Alphabet's Waymo Robotaxi Doubles Paid Rides in Three Months

    • Waymo has growing robotaxi demand as it is now averaging over 100,000 rides per week in the US.

    • The service has expanded in Phoenix and San Francisco, with some areas offering 24/7 availability.

    • Waymo is beginning to positioning itself as a potential competitor to companies like Uber and Lyft by focusing on reliability and efficiency in its autonomous services.

  • J&J Set to Acquire Medical Device Maker V-Wave

    • Tuesday J&J announced it would buy privately held V-Wave for up to $1.7 billion, their second deal this year boosting its market for heart disease devices.

    • V-Wave's device is implanted in the heart to help reduce heart failure and other cardiovascular events.

    • According to the CDC, 1 in every 5 deaths is caused by heart disease (an estimated 17.9 million lives each year). According to the American Heart Association more than 60% of US adults will have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050. This will provide a large market opportunity over the next couple of decades to invest in companies that provide solutions to this ever growing health issue.

Freedom Fund Portfolio

Freedom Fund Background: I created the Freedom Fund as a public brokerage account back in October of 2022 to share that anyone with a social security # and a bank account can begin their investing journey by investing a couple hundred dollars a week. Every week and month I post on X (@GrahamInvesting) public updates about the purchases, exits, dividends, and growth of the fund if you want to follow in real time. The biggest obstacle people have to investing is just getting started so I decided to start a new account at $0 to start from nothing with you.

Quote of The Week

Henderson's quote speaks to the idea of selflessness and the long-term impact of our actions. Whether you are thinking about where to plant your time, money, attention, and emotions the harsh truth is that in the long run your placement of these resources will not always be of benefit to yourself and will be one day be a reward of others. A breakdown of how it can be interpreted in terms of investing in yourself, others, and time:

Investment in Yourself

  • Investing in yourself means developing your skills, knowledge, and character not just for immediate gains but for the long-term impact you can have. Like planting a tree, personal growth often doesn’t yield instant results, but it builds a foundation that can benefit yourself and others in the future.

  • By cultivating your abilities and values, you can create a legacy that can inspire and support others long after you’re gone. The shade of the tree represents the influence and benefits that others will experience because of your efforts.

Investment in Others

  • This part of the quote emphasizes the importance of helping others without expecting anything in return through selfless contributions. By investing in others through mentorship, support, or kindness you are planting seeds that will grow into something beneficial for future generations.

  • Trees symbolize the strength of relationships and communities that are built through acts of giving. When you invest in others (or plant/water the trees) you are contributing to a well-being that enhances society as a whole.

Investment of Time

  • Investing in time means understanding that the most valuable outcomes often take years, or even generations to manifest. Time is an individuals most valuable resource that they have. How people choose to spend their time can either pay dividends by benefitting or consequently damaging not only themselves but also the environment around them. Just as a tree takes time to grow and provide shade, the earlier and more frequently you water it the stronger they grow. The longer you leave them out in the heat early on with no water will likely cause them to never reach their potential growth.

  • This idea also reflects the wisdom in delaying gratification. Understanding that true success and fulfillment often come from efforts that aren’t immediately rewarded. It’s about putting in the work now for benefits that will be reaped by others later.

In essence, the quote encourages a life of purpose. Where/how you invest in yourself, others, and your time creates a positive impact that extends beyond your own life, contributing to a greater good for the future.

The purpose of this newsletter is to encourage you and our other 77 Gazette subscribers to start and stay consistent with your personal, professional, and financial journey.

Thanks for investing your time reading this.

Disclaimer: Graham’s Gazette provides information and resources related to investing, financial topics, and personal growth for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content presented is not intended to be construed as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. Graham’s Gazette and its creators do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided nor do they guarantee any specific results from such use of information.