Where will Lucid be in ten years? The question itself presupposes a linear progression of time, which, let’s be honest, is a rather optimistic assumption. But, assuming time continues to…flow (a concept best left to physicists), investors should focus on two rather large, rather important, catalysts.
Recent months have seen a cooling of the initial enthusiasm. Talk of speculative bubbles, decelerating growth, and even circular financial arrangements have cast a shadow over the stock. While the rate of growth has slowed, it is important to note that absolute demand remains robust. This distinction, often lost in the noise of market speculation, is crucial. Some analysts, predictably, have taken note.
They call it ‘macroeconomic uncertainty.’ I call it reality catching up. The K-shaped recovery? It’s a neat term for a widening gulf. Some folks are doing alright. Others are counting pennies for the guacamole. And that, predictably, impacts the bottom line.
Observe, if you will, the rather vulgar disparity in assets under management. BND, with its considerable girth, clearly enjoys the confidence of the multitude. But as I have always maintained, popularity is rarely a sign of superior judgment. Still, the expense ratio of BND is a positively delightful figure – a mere trifle compared to the extravagance demanded by Fidelity. One must ask oneself, is a slightly higher yield truly worth sacrificing such fiscal restraint? The answer, naturally, depends on one’s appetite for unnecessary expenditure.
Lucid, now. They’ve been polishing the chrome, and for a spell, it seemed to catch the light. Deliveries rose, a respectable climb to fifteen thousand eight hundred and forty-one vehicles last year, a gain of fifty-five percent. They say a rising tide lifts all boats, but this isn’t a tide, it’s a surge, and some vessels are built of thinner stuff than others. The fourth quarter saw a particular bustle, a flurry of activity, the eighth straight quarter of deliveries edging upward. They’re building things, no doubt. Production roared ahead, a hundred and sixteen percent jump from the quarter before, almost as if they were trying to outrun a shadow. The Gravity SUV, they say, will be the engine of this growth. But engines need fuel, and this one is running on borrowed time.
The tariffs, ah, those bureaucratic leviathans! They have descended upon Nike like a swarm of particularly bothersome flies, stinging profits and disrupting the flow of goods. One might almost suspect a conspiracy amongst the customs officials, a subtle demand for a… consideration. But even amidst this official meddling, the underlying strength of the brand remains. It is a stubborn thing, this brand, like a peasant refusing to yield his land, and it is this stubbornness that offers a glimmer of hope for the discerning investor.
Let us begin with the vulgarities. Cost. The iShares fund, a rather exclusive establishment, demands 0.15% for its services. Vanguard, a more democratic (or perhaps simply more efficient) operation, asks for a mere 0.03%. A pittance, one might think. Until one considers the cumulative effect over decades. It’s a subtle drain, like a slow leak in a perfectly polished bathtub. The returns, as presented, are…similar. A one-year similarity, mind you. The market, like a fickle lover, rarely repeats itself. The sheer volume of assets under management – $389.22 billion for Vanguard versus a comparatively modest $18.06 billion for iShares – speaks volumes. It suggests a certain…trust. Or perhaps, a lack of imagination amongst the larger investing public.
These aren’t just gains; they’re scorching returns. Look at the numbers, if you can bear to stare into the abyss of pure, unadulterated capital accumulation:
Whilst SoFi continues to attract attention, a discerning mind might reasonably inquire whether there exist other opportunities, businesses of a similar character, yet offered at a more equitable price. To secure a substantial return without incurring undue risk is, after all, the very essence of prudent investment.
Here’s a little table. Numbers are supposed to mean something, but mostly they just are.