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The Private Jet Business Is Booming

Corporate spending on private jets for CEOs and board members in the US hit a 10-year high in 2021, per Financial Times. Meta led the pack, and was the only tech company in the top five. As a group, S&P companies spent almost $34 million last year, a 35% increase over the year before. PR spokespeople attributed the increase to the pandemic. Maybe. Maybe not. In any case, the trend has proven to be a windfall for private jet operators like Wheels Up, which went public in 2021, and Jetty, which has an Expedia-like platform to simplify private jet bookings.

 

After 60 Years – Still Rolling

This week, The Rolling Stones, considered by many of my peers to be the greatest live rock band ever, turns 60. I’ve seen them in concert. And they were very good. Besides the quality of their shows, they made dozens of memorable contributions to Rock & Roll’s great-song book, including Gimme Shelter, Beast of Burden, Sympathy for the Devil, Ruby Tuesday, and Satisfaction. An interesting footnote: Were it not for Alexis Korner and his band, Blues Incorporated, The Rolling Stones might never have happened. Click here.

 

Do This Next Time You’re in Pain…

Soft sounds may help dull pain, a new neurological study in mice shows. The researchers found that, under certain conditions, signaling from the brain’s auditory cortex may inhibit pain processing in the thalamus. Click here.

 

Is a College Education Really Worth It?

The facts:

* 43.4 million Americans have outstanding student loans, totaling $1.7 trillion.

* The average borrower owes $37,000 in federal loans alone, according to the Education Data Initiative.

* 51% of student loan borrowers decided to go to college for the higher earning potential, according to a survey by ResumeLab. But more than half of the respondents ended up in jobs that don’t require a college degree.

 

Are There Still Good Stock Plays Out There?

There is an old saying in the investment world: Bull markets are measured in years and bear markets are measured in months. Does that mean the worst is behind us? I don’t think so, but there is a way to invest in stocks in situations like we are in today without taking on unreasonable risk. And that’s by looking for good, durable businesses that are growing and profitable, in spite of the downward trajectory of the market. And especially if (a) they are undervalued, and (b) have heavy insider buying. That’s what Alex Green, editor of The Oxford Club’s Insider Alert newsletter is doing. And that’s why I’m considering one such company he recommended in the latest issue: Avis Budget Group (Nasdaq: CAR)

For information about The Insider Alert, click here.