It's a Free Market | InvestED Podcast |

For any publicly traded company, the bottom line is going to be the driving factor in every major decision that gets made at the corporate level. With US tax rates fluctuating between administrations and shake-ups in the Eurozone, it can be like a game of cat and mouse between governments seeking to collect taxes and the companies doing everything they can to avoid those taxes.
As stakeholders in a business, investors don’t just own a stock-we own a portion of the actions that are taken by that company. With the rise of the internet and easier access to up-to-date information around the world, the social component of investing has become a major factor for many in the market.
In this continuation of last week’s topic, Phil and Danielle discuss the headquarter dilemma that some corporations are wrestling with and weigh the costs and benefits of activism in the corporate sphere.

[@MYSTERYMAN9933]

I agree with everything Phil says about discrimination in hiring. I love listening to Danielle, but I agree with Phil's political stance more than Danielles.

[@joephysics5469]

Danielle I apparently very liberal both socially and fiscally. Phil has run businesses long enough to know that hiring the best people for the jobs will make or break the business.

[@GokhanKaya]

It is a beatiful discussion with a father and daughter and love seeing how Phil is showing lots of restrains. Yet, I would still agree with Phil though.

[@neofar1]

As a linkage, how much do you think international “norms” like ESG can influence these multinationals? Do companies like Tesla and Apple have to fundamentally change how they operate do be in places like the EU, or China, or Dubai? Or does it go the other way around - where these international companies can change the way that governments do business?

[@StanDupp6371]

Warren Buffett has 14 billion in OXY at a price of 60 but now it is 51 because there is no Tesla EV, the future is gas cars in oil and gas as people just repair old gas car.

[@PhilTownRule1Investing]

Thanks for the question! These sorts of programs come along from somewhere and can cause some companies to make sudden changes to appeal to their investors and customers. Some of these changes stick, and in some cases we see that the company may "flip" and go in the opposite direction if the company determines that the program is ultimately detrimental to the business. I don't believe that it will cause these companies to fundamentally change how they do business. Moreso, the companies will adapt the programs in such a way that allows them to continue to conduct business in these places around the world without fundamentally changing the business.