Insights
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Monthly Macro: Fed Signals, Housing Headwinds, and How Companies Are Adapting
William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Fed’s softer tone, how companies are adapting to tariffs and labor shifts, and why housing and hiring trends are setting the stage for a dynamic second half of 2025.
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What Keeps Employees Happy: Lessons From 11 Years of Restaurant Industry Data
Sharon Zackfia, head of consumer research at William Blair, shares insights from over a decade of Glassdoor data to reveal how culture, leadership, and operational models—not just pay—shape employee satisfaction and long-term brand success in the restaurant sector.
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Demographics as Commerce: The Aging-in-Place Revolution
Ryan Daniels, William Blair's group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, explores how America’s rapidly growing senior population is reshaping healthcare, technology, and everyday services through the powerful trend of aging in place.
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Navigating the AI Boom: Enterprise AI Adoption and Impact
From addressing GenAI adoption barriers to understanding energy consumption implications, the conversation surrounding AI’s next chapter is critical to unlocking its full potential. Discover our findings in our fourth installment of Navigating the AI Boom now.
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Economics Weekly: The Dollar Dilemma
While further softening in the exchange rate is expected, in this Economics Weekly, Richard de Chazal discusses why the U.S. is likely still unable to shed its exorbitant privilege and reserve currency status anytime soon, even if there are many reasons to think it might want to.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal: April’s Economic Rollercoaster
William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down a wild month of macroeconomic news, focusing on the impact of President Trump’s tariff policies on the global economy, equity and bond markets, consumer confidence, and corporate inventory strategies.
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Navigating the AI Boom: Applications and Monetization
The number of GenAI companies emerging continues to grow, and how these apps are utilized differs between consumers and enterprises. In our third installment of Navigating the AI Boom, we explore the primary ways to monetize GenAI and how it may impact the software industry.
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Tracking Job Openings and Staffing Demand Trends
Global services analyst Trevor Romeo, CFA discusses the impact of recent economic uncertainties on the staffing industry, highlighting key trends and challenges faced by companies and exploring the evolving landscape of job openings and the future of staffing.
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Brain Health with Lisa Genova: Enduring Strategies to Enhance Memory Care
Join renowned neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova, and William Blair’s head of Private Wealth Management, Ryan DeVore, as they explore preventative steps people can take to maintain brain health and navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
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Navigating Economic Opportunities Amid Global Shifts
Olga Bitel, partner and global strategist at William Blair, shares key insights into navigating the new reality as the global economic landscape shifts in response to the new U.S. administration’s policies, as investors face both challenges and significant opportunities.
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Economics Weekly: Special Report on Liberation Day Tariff Announcements
In this special report on tariffs, Richard de Chazal discusses the current tariff situation, what the Trump administration is hoping to achieve, and the potential impacts on growth and inflation. He also includes thoughts from our research analysts whose companies are most directly impacted by President Trump’s announcements.
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Shaping the Future: Innovations and Trends in Obesity Treatment
William Blair biotech analysts Matt Phipps and Andy Hsieh discuss Andy’s innovative scoring system for evaluating investigational agents in obesity treatment. This system, highlighted in Andy’s report “Shaping the Future: Innovations and Trends in Obesity Treatment,” considers both weight loss and gastrointestinal side effects to provide a more comprehensive clinical assessment. Tune in to hear their insights on the future of obesity therapies, upcoming industry catalysts, and more.
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Navigating the AI Boom: Technological Advancements and Scaling AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems create and leverage vast amounts of data for practitioners, consumers, and investors. In our second installment of confronting GenAI’s most pressing questions, we explore AI's technological advancements and the potential ways experts are scaling them.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—March 2025
William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the juxtaposition between weak consumer sentiment and solid economic data, exploring whether a recession is imminent and the implications of shifting inflation regimes, fiscal policy dominance, and ongoing tariff uncertainty.
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Your Estate Plan – Capture the Golden Opportunity Before It Sunsets
Absent further legislation, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will sunset on January 1, 2026, reverting to 2017 levels, adjusted for inflation, or approximately $7M per taxpayer. As a result, wealthy individuals and families will be subject to significantly more federal estate tax in 2026 than they are today.
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Economics Weekly: Debt, Tariffs, and Tax Cuts
In this Economics Weekly, Richard de Chazal again examines the tariff question, but homes in on how it relates to the market’s next major hurdle, which is extending the 2017 tax cuts, and the ultimate goal of all these changes, which is to bring down debt and restore confidence in U.S. public finances.
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Four Questions Business Owners Should Ask Themselves Before a Liquidity Event
For many business owners, selling a company is one of the biggest decisions they will make. William Blair’s Christopher Brathwaite and Emily Guglielmo explore four questions owners should ask themselves to have a successful liquidity event.
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Navigating the AI Boom: Confronting GenAI’s Most Pressing Questions
Delve into William Blair’s latest generative AI report, “Navigating the Boom: Confronting GenAI’s Most Pressing Questions.” Featuring insights from technology analysts Jason Ader, Arjun Bhatia, and Sebastien Naji, this episode explores the current state of AI, industry trends, and the future of AI development.
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Talking Market Trends with Tony Frascotti, Head of Private Shares Trading
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Tony Frascotti, head of private shares trading at William Blair, discusses the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the private shares market, delving into the impact of macroeconomic factors, the influence of AI on investment strategies, and the resurgence of the crypto market.
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Economics Weekly: Making Active Great Again
President Donald Trump’s rapid structural changes are transforming the U.S. economy. This report by Richard de Chazal, CFA, highlights the shift from labor to capital investment, the transition to a supply-driven inflation regime, and the dominance of fiscal policy.
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Navigating the AI Boom: Understanding the Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence
From increased productivity to software development to content creation, GenAI is ushering in a new era of rapid advancement. In our first installment of confronting GenAI's most pressing questions, we explore the economic impact of AI and where the most untapped opportunities are for investors.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—February 2025
William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal reflects on February’s economic narratives, including the impact of noisy data, government spending cuts, climate change, mass deportations, recent inflation data, and the evolving nature of inflation on future monetary policy decisions.
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Updating FDA Approval Analysis for 2024 Data; Strong Year for Approvals and Significant Uptick in Outsourcing Penetration
Discover the latest insights in pharmaceutical outsourcing and services with our comprehensive analysis of FDA approvals for 2024. This report delves into the trends and key conclusions from a decade of data, highlighting the significant uptick in outsourcing penetration and the robust growth in biotech funding.
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Accounting Insights: Navigating Growth and Technology Trends
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, global services analyst Andrew Nicholas, CPA, discusses findings from his team’s extensive inaugural survey of accounting services executives, covering industry dynamics such as organic revenue growth, technology use, and M&A trends.
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Exploring Energy Economics With Dr. Carey W. King
Dr. Carey W. King from the University of Texas at Austin delves into the intricate relationship between energy systems, the economy, and the environment, exploring his innovative HARMONEY Model and discussing the critical role of energy in shaping macroeconomic policies and future sustainability.
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CELLect Horizons: Moving the Needle in Hematological Malignancies
Explore the latest advancements in CAR-T therapies from William Blair’s Equity Research healthcare and biotechnology team. Discover how these next-generation therapies are transforming the treatment landscape for patients with liquid tumors.
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2024 Record Totals for Secondaries Point to Positive 2025 Momentum
Bullish predictions for the secondary market throughout 2024 proved accurate as volume hit record levels by yearend. Now, in 2025’s early weeks, market insiders remain optimistic—with expectations for continued LP- and GP-led growth.
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Rollover Equity and Wealth Planning Considerations
Business owners in the run-up to a liquidity event are well advised to learn about the practices and approaches common in transactions. Among the most important is rollover equity—i.e., when a seller agrees to reinvest sale proceeds in the newly formed company.
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William Blair Thinking Podcast – Monthly Macro: 2025 Kick-Off
In the first Monthly Macro episode of 2025, William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal recounts the numerous events that have shaped the economic landscape since the start of the year. He explores the implications of recent executive policies, the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady, the unusual behavior of Treasury yields, and what these developments mean for the economy as we move further into 2025.
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We’re on IT: Navigating 2025’s Dynamic IT Services Landscape
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, technology analyst Maggie Nolan, partner, CPA, dives into the latest trends in IT services, exploring the impact of generative AI, data infrastructure, and political influences on the industry.
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Digital Advertising Buyer Highlights
Driven by GenAI improvements, companies are seeing increased advertising performance, allowing ads to be more dynamic, personalized, and instantaneous. William Blair technology, media, and communications analyst Ralph Schackart sat down with an advertising industry participant to learn more.
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Digital Health Update—No Longer Unicorns, But Phoenixes Abound
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Ryan Daniels, CFA, group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, discusses the latest trends in the digital healthcare marketplace, focusing on consumer-facing solutions, the rise and fall of digital health companies, and the evolving investment landscape.
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Keeping Your Financial Information Secure—And Steps to Take if You Have Been Hacked
As the world becomes more digitally connected, cybersecurity risks will keep rising. Explore our guide to help you keep your financial information secure, recognize digital risks, and identify the next steps to take if your data has been compromised.
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Geopolitical Dynamics, Global Threats, and Personal Security
As our world becomes more interconnected, understanding global affairs and geopolitical risks is crucial for making informed decisions about your safety. Global Guardian CEO and Founder Dale Buckner provides an in-depth look at today’s emerging security challenges.
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Creative Thinking at the Alpha Challenge
Madeleine Johnson of William Blair Investment Management’s marketing team reports from the Alpha Challenge, an investment pitch competition in which M.B.A. and undergraduate students demonstrate their ability to think critically and creatively in high-pressure environments.
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What Can Blue Whales, Shrews, and Megacities Tell Us About Energy Systems
In this episode of Plugged In, host Jed Dorsheimer engages with renowned theoretical physicist and author Geoffrey West, Ph.D., to explore the connections between biological scaling laws and economic systems, discussing how energy and network theories can provide insights into the growth and sustainability of cities and economies.
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Consumer Pulse: Unwrapping Holiday Spending Trends
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, consumer analysts Dylan Carden and Phillip Blee discuss their team’s latest Consumer Pulse report, including holiday shopping trends, anticipated consumer spend, the popularity of gift cards, and the resilience of value and convenience retailers.
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Solar Myths, Nuclear Truths, and the Future of Energy
Jed Dorsheimer welcomes Doomberg for an in-depth discussion on the complexities of renewable energy integration and its impact on grid efficiency, exploring the challenges posed by the variability of renewables, the resurgence of nuclear power, and the critical role of natural gas in bridging the energy transition.
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Decoding the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics and Its Impact on the Economy
Jed Dorsheimer sits down with Andy Lees, founding partner of MacroStrategy Partnership, to explore the critical role of energy in our economy, touching on topics from renewables to inflation and the upcoming U.S. elections, and diving deep into the ways in which energy systems, economic growth, and social hierarchy intersect.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—October 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the latest economic trends, including third-quarter earnings, rising Treasury yields, and the impact of recent Fed rate cuts. He also delves into consumer sentiment and the paradox of strong retail sales amid a “vibecession.”
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From Chips to Systems: How AI is Revolutionizing Compute and Infrastructure
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Jason Ader, co-group head of the technology, media, and communications sector, interviews Sebastien Naji, an equity research associate specializing in semiconductors and infrastructure systems, on their team’s latest report, “From Chips to Systems: How AI Is Revolutionizing Compute and Infrastructure,” which explores the shift from serial to parallel computing, the rise of AI accelerators, and the evolving landscape of semiconductor companies.
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Asset Allocation: Your Biggest Investment Decision
Building a portfolio involves countless decisions. But none is more important than how you allocate your wealth across asset classes. This white paper describes the process of developing a customized asset-allocation strategy, achieving meaningful diversification across and within asset classes, and monitoring allocations and reviewing portfolios.
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Why One Man’s Trash is an Investor’s Treasure
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, global services sector analyst Trevor Romeo dives into his team’s latest white paper on the North American waste and recycling industry, exploring key structural trends and the growing imbalance between waste generation and landfill capacity.
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Diamonds Disrupted
In the luxury goods market, there has been growing consumer preference for sustainable products—particularly for diamonds and other fine jewelry. In this episode of The Active Share, Hugo is joined by Marie-Ann Wachtmeister, co-founder and creative director of Courbet, a Parisian fine jewelry company, for a conversation on how luxury brands are embracing technology, how lab-grown diamonds have upended the traditional diamond industry, and how this shift in values offers new opportunities for companies to appeal to consumers’ changing ethical and environmental concerns.
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Did You Know? Family Office Solutions, Corporate & Executive Services, Corporate Retirement Services
Does your family need a family office? Are you an executive interested in trading plans, concentrated stock solutions, or tax mitigation strategies? Are you fulfilling your fiduciary obligations as a plan sponsor?
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How Insurers are Embracing Technology and Change in an Evolving Risk Environment
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, technology analyst Dylan Becker joins Adam Klauber, group head of the financial services and technology research sector, to discuss highlights from the seventh annual William Blair Insurance, Banking, and Wealth Technology Conference. They delve into key trends in the insurance technology space, including labor constraints, legacy modernization, and the integration of AI infrastructure.
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China’s Steel Slump Creates Global Ripples
The Chinese domestic steel market is going through a major downturn, affecting the industry around the globe, exacerbating global trade tensions, and increasing protectionism. We believe emerging markets (EM) debt investors would be wise to be wary, given the potential for the situation to impact the economy, drive political instability, and create trade tensions in many countries.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—September 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Federal Reserve’s 50-basis-point rate cut and its implications for future monetary policy. He explores the factors behind this decision, the muted impact of the recent tightening cycle, and what it all means for the economy moving forward.
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Liquidity Options Without Giving Up Control of Your Business
For leaders of founder-owned businesses, raising significant capital without relinquishing control can seem challenging. But investors focused on non-control transactions are becoming more common—creating opportunities to support growth, strategic acquisitions, and personal liquidity.
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Furniture and Home Renovations: Post-Pandemic Normalization and the Next Era of Growth
William Blair consumer analyst Phillip Blee joins William Blair Thinking Presents to explore the volatile demand for furniture and home improvement projects over the past four years and provide insights into the industry’s 2024 outlook, including key themes such as the housing market, deflation, rising ocean freight costs, and long-term growth potential.
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Electricity Unplugged: From Deregulation to a Renewable Powered Future
In this episode of Plugged In With Jed Dorsheimer, Jed and Brad Viator, principal of energy advisory B Strategic, spend time discussing the significance of the PJM power auction, the role of renewables and their impact on the grid, the problem-solving potential of energy storage, and what a grid of the future may look like.
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Tax Breaks Target Investing in Struggling Communities
The Opportunity Zone program was established under the sweeping Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The initiative created defined opportunity zones which offer significant potential tax breaks to individuals and companies who invest in selected urban and rural areas that meet income or poverty thresholds.
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Record of Personal Financial and Family Information
Having access to the right information when you need it most is essential to managing your wealth. Our new booklet helps you organize your family’s critical personal and financial information and serves as a consolidated record of your various assets.
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Helping Aging Parents Get the Support They Need
As your parents or other relatives get older, they may need help with everything from managing their daily care to performing tasks such as grocery shopping, paying bills, and getting to appointments. In addition to these everyday activities, they will often need help making significant decisions about their finances and living arrangements.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—August 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, macro analyst Richard de Chazal digs into myriad macroeconomic and market-related events from the past month, including ongoing market volatility, second-quarter earnings season, the intensifying presidential election, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s pivotal Jackson Hole speech.
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Private Shares Trading Sees Barbell Effect: Late-Stage and AI Ventures in High Demand
William Blair’s head of private shares trading, Tony Frascotti discusses the surge in interest for late-stage companies and AI ventures, evolving fundraising trends, and the flexibility in secondary policies amid a transitioning market.
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Exploring the Forces Reshaping the Property & Casualty Insurance Landscape
The casualty side of the insurance industry is being hit by rising levels of claims and losses. In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Adam Klauber, CFA, partner, group head of the financial services and technology sector, provides a framework for understanding the depth of the issue and delves into the underlying nature and causes.
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Provider Burnout: Addressing the Latest Healthcare Crisis With Emerging Technology Solutions
Ryan Daniels, CFA, partner and group head of healthcare technology and services discusses provider burnout across the U.S. healthcare market, how its creating capacity issues in the industry, and the potential for technology solutions in other workforce investments to help reduce workloads and increase access to care.
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PFAS Solutions (Part 2): The Potential Impact of Loper Bright on the PFAS Market
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Tim Mulrooney, group head of global services, follows up on his last episode about the PFAS market to detail how the recent Supreme Court ruling known as Loper Bright could have far-reaching implications for all types of regulations, including environmental ones like PFAS.
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PFAS Solutions (Part 1): The Big Business of Turning Forever into Never
Tim Mulrooney, William Blair’s group head of global services, provides insight into the recent EPA rulings on PFAS compounds, exploring their impact on public water utilities and the broader implications for industries nationwide. He also discusses the expected surge in demand for PFAS advisory, testing, and remediation services, and examines the technologies poised to address the issue.
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Atmos CEO Discusses Customizing Solutions for Customers
Finding sustainable solutions has become a priority across industries. By creating environmentally friendly solutions for landfill operations and producing recycled asphalt for infrastructure applications, Atmos Technologies is finding unique approaches that positively impact communities.
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India’s Wake-Up Call: Strengthening Institutions to Support Local Communities
Making the growth case for India involves answering one key question: How can India differentiate itself from China? In William Blair Investment Management’s podcast, The Active Share, experts discuss what it would take for India to evolve into a global economic powerhouse.
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Supply Rationing Could Ease Downside Risks on Nickel Prices
Alexandra Symeonidi, CFA, delves into the significant expansion of nickel production in Indonesia following the 2020 export ban, its impact on global supply and prices, and the potential market effects of Indonesia's recent policy changes on nickel smelting permits.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—June 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, macro analyst Richard de Chazal walks through highlights from William Blair’s 44th Annual Growth Stock Conference and explains how the event provides a window into the state of the U.S. consumer. He also dissects the latest macro data, including CPI and PPI releases, the FOMC meeting, and the impact of the European elections on the global macro landscape.
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Exploring Opportunities Within Banktech
Financial services and technology analyst Cristopher Kennedy digs into his report on the banktech industry, exploring the rapid adoption of digital banking and the resulting surge in app-based consumer engagement, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the importance of technology investments for the sector.
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Secondaries in 2024: Optimism, New Buyers, and Improving Deal Activity
Predictions that last year’s strong second half for secondaries portended good things have proved accurate so far in 2024, with new buyers emerging, bid-ask spreads shrinking, and deal activity improving. William Blair’s Private Capital Advisory team outlines the improving state of the secondary market in its latest report.
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Provider Burnout—Addressing the Latest Healthcare Crisis With Emerging Technology Solutions
William Blair’s equity research group head of healthcare technology and services analyzes provider burnout across the U.S. healthcare market, how it’s creating capacity issues in the industry, and the potential for technology and other workforce investments to help reduce burnout and increase access to care.
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Anticipating the Next Frontier for GLP-1 Therapies
Over the past 3 years, the GLP-1 drug class has revolutionized how obesity is managed, and no other therapeutic category has made such a profound impact in that short period of time. Andy Hsieh, Ph.D., partner, explores how recent scientific advances created optimism that there will be more novel drug candidates, potentially generating a wave of new therapies that could help millions of patients around the world.
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The Future of GLP-1s
Biotech equity research analysts Andy Hsieh and Matt Phipps join group head Tim Lugo to discuss the latest developments in GLP-1s for diabetes and obesity treatment, including the emergence of oral therapies and the profound weight loss results seen in recent datasets. The conversation also covers the commercial trajectory of drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, the potential for market growth, and the challenges of patient retention and reimbursement, concluding with a look at the future of the field, including the exploration of new mechanisms and the focus on quality of weight loss.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—May 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, macro analyst Richard de Chazal provides insight on what’s happening with cyclicals versus defensive stocks, details how the Fed may be thinking about the latest CPI report, debates the economic impact of immigration, and explains his thinking about what he deems the next leg of the capex revival.
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The Next Leg of the Capex Revival
For almost a decade, a central theme in William Blair’s research has been about the unfolding productivity and capex revival. Macro Analyst Richard de Chazal explains that while the progress around this narrative has been slow, evidence suggests momentum has started to pick up as a result of several structural economic dynamics.
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Digital Advertising Budgets Continue to Recover Steadily
Equity analyst Ralph Schackart breaks down findings from his team’s quarterly digital advertising executive survey, including the continued improvement in confidence among advertising executives as it relates to go-forward budgeting, the increased importance of video and search in online ad strategies, and the anticipated impact that recent regulations will have on which social media platforms ad executives plan to use in the future.
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How AIOps Helps Unlock New Efficiencies in an Increasingly Complex IT Landscape
Equity analyst Jake Roberge explains the increasingly important role the observability and AIOps software markets are playing for businesses of all sizes, why these platforms are gaining momentum over legacy monitoring tools, and the key trends he’s seeing throughout the sector.
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Leverage Loan Volume in Q1 Eclipses 2023
Q1 institutional loan volume hit its highest total since 2021, revitalizing leveraged finance markets after a humdrum 2023. With higher deal volume, anticipated rate cuts, and a more encouraging economic outlook, lenders are optimistic about the remainder of 2024.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—April 2024
In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, macro analyst Richard de Chazal puts inflation and Fed rates under a microscope, explains the correlation between gold prices and bond yields, and discusses the Fed’s independence when it comes to policy changes during an election year.
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CMMC 2.0 Set to Materially Expand Cyber and Regulatory Compliance Market
The 220,000+ companies that contract with the Department of Defense will soon face a significantly expanded regulatory framework—known as CMMC 2.0—designed to thwart increased cyber threats and secure the defense industrial base.
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AviationPros Podcast: Addressing Trends and Concerns in the FBO Industry
Josh Ollek, managing director of William Blair’s Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services team, recently joined the AviationPros Podcast. Ollek discussed how high demand for private aviation—spurred by persistent delays and cancellations on commercial flights—has created a hangar shortage across the country. He also outlined electrification trends in private travel and among fixed-base operators.
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On the Ground and in the Cloud: Observability and AIOps
William Blair tech analyst Jake Roberge joins the show to discuss the observability and AIOps software markets, including the increasingly important role these platforms are playing for businesses of all sizes, why they are gaining momentum over legacy monitoring tools, and some of the key trends he’s seeing in the market.
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What Gold, Copper, and Treasurys Are Telling Us About Growth and Inflation
Gold and U.S. Treasuries have historically had a negative correlation. Recently, however, yields are rising and gold continues to reach new highs. Macro analyst Richard de Chazal provides a deep examination of these dynamics and offers his views on the reasons, along with potential implications for investors.
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Is This Another Market Bubble?
Are we facing a stock market bubble? In some ways, the acute rise in select stocks could suggest we are. However, as macro analyst Richard de Chazal examines, many of the valuation metrics of companies driving these gains have so far delivered on these expectations, relative the late 1990s, when it was mostly all narrative and no numbers.
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The Potential Impact of GLP-1s on Restaurants and Fitness Clubs
Will consumer relationships with restaurants and fitness centers change as GLP-1s grow in popularity? Sharon Zackfia, group head of consumer research, breaks down the results of two recent proprietary surveys conducted to gain insight into whether reduced caloric consumption among GLP-1 users could lead to a sales slowdown for restaurants and provide a material tailwind for fitness companies.
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GLP-1s: The $100 Billion Answer to a Trillion-Dollar Question
Ryan Daniels, CFA, partner and group head of healthcare technology and services, discusses the impact of GLP-1 drugs on healthcare spending and care delivery, along with the need for healthcare services and digital health providers that can help employers and consumers effectively manage the emerging wave of GLP-1 drugs.
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Scratching Below the Surface of the Economic Data
While some may be declaring victory in the recession/no-recession debate, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that growth may not be nearly as strong as it seems to be on the surface. Richard de Chazal examines the six data points he believes investors should be cognizant of.
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How Advertising Executives are Navigating Budget Changes in 2024
As economic conditions improve, so too does confidence among advertising executives about their 2024 budget allocations. In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, research analyst Ralph Schackart walks through the results of his latest quarterly digital advertising executive survey, including how digital ad spending has changed in recent months and 2024 budget forecasts.
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What Today’s Inventory Cycle Is Telling Us About Future Growth
Inventory cycles play an important role in understanding economic growth, inflation, and corporate profitability. Macro analyst Richard de Chazal details a variety of factors that are impacting companies’ ability to manage their inventories so far in 2024.
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Advanced Manufacturing in the U.S.: The Future is Now
As companies look to bring manufacturing efficiently closer to the point of consumption, equity analyst Brian Drab details why advanced manufacturing, including 3D printing, will continue to change the entire manufacturing industry here in the U.S.—and worldwide.
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Waiting for the Dam to Burst in Secondaries
Much of what can be said for the overall M&A market heading into 2024 can be said for secondaries—activity still hasn’t fully recovered, there’s a lot of capital on the sidelines, and global turmoil keeps getting in the way. In this quarterly update, we look back at 2023 and forward to 2024, with close looks at GP-led secondaries and the evolution of underserved areas.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—January 2024
Jobs, housing, QT, and the Red Sea. Listen as macro analyst Richard de Chazal examines the current economic indicators, provides context around the potential end to QT, and offers his perspective on a possible Fed pivot, in the first Monthly Macro episode of the year.
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Paving the Way for Non-U.S. Equity Outperformance
Non-U.S. equities are likely beneficiaries of falling interest rates in the U.S. and the dollar weakening rather than strengthening. Ken McAtamney, head of the global equities team, explains why these could potentially pave the way for a good year for global equities. This article is featured on William Blair Investment Management's Active Never Rests blog.
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Biotech Breakthroughs—The Revolutionary Potential of Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disorders
Clinical case studies have sparked significant interest in the use of CAR-T for autoimmune disorders, potentially expanding CAR-Ts’ utility beyond oncology. In this podcast episode of Biotech Breakthroughs, equity research analyst Sami Corwin offers an overview of the known biological underpinnings of autoimmunity and rationale for using CAR-T as a therapeutic, breaks down the CAR-T cell therapy competitive landscape, and analyzes the potential market opportunity for these therapies.
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The Battle of Silicon vs. Lithium Metal
The battery industry has been in search of a revolution. While new architectures like Lithium-metal anodes and solid-state designs have received the lion’s share of development, funding, and investor attention, Jed Dorsheimer outlines his contrary thesis of why high-content silicon may deliver the evolution that the battery industry actually needs.
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U.S. Onshoring and Its Impact on U.S.-Centric Companies
As onshoring continues to reshape the global trade landscape, it is crucial for investors to understand its impact, as Rob Lanphier, partner, and Jim Jones, CFA, partner, explain. This article is featured on William Blair Investment Management's Active Never Rests blog.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—2024 Outlook
Macro analyst Richard de Chazal reflects on the resilient year and expands on his 2024 Outlook’s key themes, including the sticky pockets of inflation, the 3 keys the Fed needs to achieve success next year, Treasury Secretary Yellen’s “Operation Twist” reboot, and more.
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Cell Therapy and Autoimmune Disorders: Expanding CAR-Ts’ Utility Beyond Oncology
Equity research analysts Sami Corwin and Matt Phipps provide an overview of the known biological underpinnings of autoimmunity and the rationale for using chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-Ts) to potentially treat millions who suffer from autoimmune diseases.
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Economic Outlook 2024: Testing Resiliency
While investors will hope for the best in 2024, macro analyst Richard de Chazal examines the resiliency of the markets against a crowded backdrop of Fed policy uncertainty, inflation, bond market and economic dynamics, and other factors each of which will test the limits of the market’s endurance.
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Did November’s Rally Alter the Market Outlook?
What a difference a month makes. Markets swooned in October, only to see virtually all risk assets, including small-caps, rally in November. What changed? Macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down the Fed’s recent statement, the market’s rate expectations, and the current state of the economic slowdown.
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Cosmic Capitalism
The cosmos, the final frontier, the galaxy beyond: Our collective fascination with outer space has always been intense. But with companies and public figures now dedicating huge sums of money to space exploration, it seems a new kind of space race has been born. In this episode of The Active Share, Hugo sits down with Chris Impey, an astronomer, educator, and author, to discuss the potential economic, environmental, and geopolitical ramifications of space exploration.
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On the Ground and In the Cloud: A Deep Dive into the Trends Impacting Developer Technologies
Software developers not only represent the early adopters who will determine the success of a particular product or project, but also have become primary influencers in software purchases. In the latest William Blair Thinking Podcast, analysts Jason Ader, Arjun Bhatia, and Jonathan Ho delve into the key trends and potential disruptions, including generative AI, in this exciting new era of coding capabilities.
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Monthly Macro with Richard de Chazal—October 2023
Macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down what he believes are the three hurdles to higher for longer, walks through what third-quarter earnings may say about the near-term future, and offers his stance on where the Fed is potentially headed as we move toward a new year.
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