The hottest Corporate Profits Substack posts right now

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The Boomcession: Why Americans Hate What Looks Like an Economic Boom

BIG by Matt Stoller • 49161 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Corporate Profits
  1. Aggregate statistics like GDP and headline consumer spending can show a booming economy even when most people feel worse off, because growth is often concentrated in corporate profits and high-end sectors. This mismatch means the economy can look healthy on charts while ordinary households experience recessionary conditions.
  2. A growing share of measured consumer spending is non-discretionary or imputed (for example, bank 'fees' baked into low deposit rates, housing, and health care), so higher spending often reflects higher costs rather than more or better consumption. That creates spending inequality where poorer people’s dollars buy less than wealthier people’s dollars.
  3. Market power and monopoly pricing are driving inflation and redistributing gains away from working people—firms exploit weak competition (like banks not competing on deposit rates) and consolidation raises prices for vulnerable areas. Measuring welfare properly requires subgroup-specific metrics and accounting for price discrimination and monopoly-driven cost increases.

Top Links 1007 US profits. Global public spending. The new nuclear arms race & cultivating your "legitimate strangeness".

Chartbook • 486 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Corporate Profits
  1. US corporate profits are a central economic story, with implications for markets, investment and inequality.
  2. Global public spending is highlighted as a key force shaping national and international economic outcomes through government budgets and policies.
  3. The newsletter warns of a renewed nuclear arms race as a major geopolitical risk and also urges embracing “legitimate strangeness,” valuing unconventional ideas and identities.

The Real Villains

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2905 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Corporate Profits
  1. The murder of a health insurance CEO sparked discussions about the harm caused by insurance companies. Many people feel upset with how these companies treat patients, especially when they deny claims.
  2. The legal system often protects powerful corporations rather than regular people. It's important to recognize that the real problems in society often come from legal actions that allow harm to happen.
  3. Big corporations make massive profits while exploiting workers and environments. This exploitation leads to suffering and poverty, showing that profit-driven systems can be very harmful.

Telltale Signs of a Recession

The Informationist • 1356 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
đź’° Finance Corporate Profits
  1. A recession is a period of economic decline lasting at least six months, indicated by decreasing GDP, rising unemployment, and reduced spending.
  2. The inversion of the US Treasury yield curve is a reliable leading indicator of a coming recession, happening 6 to 18 months before the actual onset.
  3. Divergence between GDP and GDI, along with falling corporate profits, can signal economic contraction, with 93% of CEOs preparing for a recession in 2023.
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How SP culture produces financial crisis

America in Crisis • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
đź’° Finance Corporate Profits
  1. Financial crisis can stem from a shift in profit usage from investment to financial market growth, impacting economic growth.
  2. SP culture, focusing on shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends, can lead to financial instability and economic downturns.
  3. Minsky's financial instability hypothesis outlines how capitalist economies can transition from safe to risky financial structures, culminating in financial crises.

Corporate profits were biggest driver of inflation in Europe, IMF admits

Geopolitical Economy Report • 538 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
đź’° Finance Corporate Profits
  1. Corporate profits have been a major driver of inflation in Europe since 2021, with companies increasing prices more than the rising costs of imported energy.
  2. The IMF suggests that companies may need to reduce profit margins to help keep inflation in line with targets set by the European Central Bank.
  3. The study challenges the traditional view that inflation is solely caused by demand-pull factors, highlighting how excessive profit increases by corporations can also drive inflation.

Top Links 541 US profits have a long way to fall. Africa's new gold rush. Laos' fx reserves running low & the crisis in the Sahel.

Chartbook • 343 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
đź’° Finance Corporate Profits
  1. US corporate profits are expected to decline significantly in the future. This could impact the economy and stock markets.
  2. Africa is experiencing a new wave of interest in gold mining. This could bring economic growth to the region.
  3. Laos is facing a shortage of foreign exchange reserves, which may lead to a financial crisis. Additionally, the Sahel region is experiencing ongoing challenges and instability.

CVS/Aetna's $9 billion in profits paid for a lavish party and stock buybacks. Not patients' medical claims.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 239 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
🏥 Health Politics Corporate Profits
  1. CVS/Aetna made $9 billion in profits, which they used for parties and buying back stocks, not helping patients with their medical costs.
  2. Many patients are struggling with high out-of-pocket medical expenses, leading them to seek help through crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe.
  3. Executives at CVS/Aetna are making huge salaries, while the company is spending less on actual patient care, raising concerns about corporate priorities in healthcare.

Hunger In America

crimeandpunishment • 58 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Corporate Profits
  1. Over 25% of American adults are food insecure due to high inflation and the end of pandemic benefits.
  2. The increase in dollar stores has led to negative impacts on locally owned stores and products.
  3. Food prices have surged, and corporate profits are soaring while millions of Americans, including children, face food insecurity.