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Next GameStop (NYSE:GME)? Why 2021 Is the Year for BlackBerry (TSX:BB) – The Motley Fool Canada

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I tend to solidify whether financial news is truly a big deal by one thing: my husband. If he starts asking about something in the stock market, I know it’s a really big deal. That’s what happened when the historic rise of GameStop (NYSE:GME) flooded the airwaves.

While GameStop is no longer heading up headlines, I still think there is something to be learned from the meteoric rise and enormous fall of the company. In fact, it may not be the last time we see such a short squeeze from the likes of GameStop stock. In fact, this could be the year that we see many companies have such movement as the pandemic (hopefully) comes to a conclusion.

Place your bets

When I talk about bets, I want to be clear: I don’t mean you should start looking for the next short squeeze. That is a very dangerous game. In fact, the reason it’s called a short squeeze is because short sellers who bet the stock would lose money were forced to buy the stock just so they wouldn’t see their losses increase even further — not the best investment strategy, especially when the stock collapsed almost immediately after.

So when you place your bets on a stock, it should be as a long-term hold. It’s not really betting at all, frankly. You’re investing in a company’s fundamentals, believing it has the strength to go the distance. That’s why it’s a great time to get behind a company like BlackBerry Ltd. (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB).

But here’s the great news. There could be yet another BlackBerry frenzy like we saw at the beginning of the year. Even one similar to GameStop stock. Why? Let’s dive in.

Deep value in post-COVID recovery

You might not consider BlackBerry stock as a solid post-COVID recovery play. However, the company’s recent movement comes largely from the announcement by the United States President Joe Biden that electric vehicles (EV) – and other green energy initiatives – will see massive investment worth billions of dollars.

Even better, President Biden stated he would be changing 650,000 federal vehicles into EVs. This announcement is just further fuel to the fire that is the EV industry — an industry that will see massive influence in BlackBerry stock. Several motor companies have announced plans to have a full-fleet of EVs and plug-in hybrids by 2030. The entire industry could be worth $1 trillion by that point, according to estimates!

And what company will many of these companies use for their in-car software? BlackBerry. The company even partnered with Amazon Web Services to improve its IVY platform, and make cloud-based data safer and more user friendly. With Apple and Google also potentially entering the car industry, BlackBerry stock could rise as its QNX software remains at the forefront of autonomous vehicle use.

COVID recovery fuel

So what does this have to do with a COVID recovery? Right now, motor companies remain stalled on the production line. The red tape that has to be crossed to see cars safely out the door is stringent. But as these walls slowly come down, companies should be able to ramp up production, which means a higher demand for BlackBerry’s software.

So really, even though there was a recent boost in share price, the company’s future growth prospects leave plenty of room to grow. BlackBerry stock could shoot up as it partners with even more household-name organizations. Investors may even see the triple-digit prices we saw two decades ago, leaving today’s share price of about $13 as of writing a steal of a deal.

Speaking of upside, here is another list of HIGH GROWTH options to consider before buying a risky stock in bulk.

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John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of Amazon and GameStop. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends BlackBerry and BlackBerry and recommends the following options: long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon and short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon.

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Stop Asking Your Interviewer Cliché Questions

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Most job search advice is cookie-cutter. The advice you’re following is almost certainly the same advice other job seekers follow, making you just another candidate following the same script.

In today’s hyper-competitive job market, standing out is critical, a challenge most job seekers struggle with. Instead of relying on generic questions recommended by self-proclaimed career coaches, which often lead to a forgettable interview, ask unique, thought-provoking questions that’ll spark engaging conversations and leave a lasting impression.

English philosopher Francis Bacon once said, “A prudent question is one half of wisdom.”

The questions you ask convey the following:

  • Your level of interest in the company and the role.
  • Contributing to your employer’s success is essential.
  • You desire a cultural fit.

Here are the top four questions experts recommend candidates ask; hence, they’ve become cliché questions you should avoid asking:

  • “What are the key responsibilities of this position?”

Most likely, the job description answers this question. Therefore, asking this question indicates you didn’t read the job description. If you require clarification, ask, “How many outbound calls will I be required to make daily?” “What will be my monthly revenue target?”

  • “What does a typical day look like?”

Although it’s important to understand day-to-day expectations, this question tends to elicit vague responses and rarely leads to a deeper conversation. Don’t focus on what your day will look like; instead, focus on being clear on the results you need to deliver. Nobody I know has ever been fired for not following a “typical day.” However, I know several people who were fired for failing to meet expectations. Before accepting a job offer, ensure you’re capable of meeting the employer’s expectations.

  • “How would you describe the company culture?”

Asking this question screams, “I read somewhere to ask this question.” There are much better ways to research a company’s culture, such as speaking to current and former employees, reading online reviews and news articles. Furthermore, since your interviewer works for the company, they’re presumably comfortable with the culture. Do you expect your interviewer to give you the brutal truth? “Be careful of Craig; get on his bad side, and he’ll make your life miserable.” “Bob is close to retirement. I give him lots of slack, which the rest of the team needs to pick up.”

Truism: No matter how much due diligence you do, only when you start working for the employer will you experience and, therefore, know their culture firsthand.

  • “What opportunities are there for professional development?”

When asked this question, I immediately think the candidate cares more about gaining than contributing, a showstopper. Managing your career is your responsibility, not your employer’s.

Cliché questions don’t impress hiring managers, nor will they differentiate you from your competition. To transform your interaction with your interviewer from a Q&A session into a dynamic discussion, ask unique, insightful questions.

Here are my four go-to questions—I have many moreto accomplish this:

  • “Describe your management style. How will you manage me?”

This question gives your interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves, which we all love doing. As well, being in sync with my boss is extremely important to me. The management style of who’ll be my boss is a determining factor in whether or not I’ll accept the job.

  • “What is the one thing I should never do that’ll piss you off and possibly damage our working relationship beyond repair?”

This question also allows me to determine whether I and my to-be boss would be in sync. Sometimes I ask, “What are your pet peeves?”

  • “When I join the team, what would be the most important contribution you’d want to see from me in the first six months?”

Setting myself up for failure is the last thing I want. As I mentioned, focus on the results you need to produce and timelines. How realistic are the expectations? It’s never about the question; it’s about what you want to know. It’s important to know whether you’ll be able to meet or even exceed your new boss’s expectations.

  • “If I wanted to sell you on an idea or suggestion, what do you need to know?”

Years ago, a candidate asked me this question. I was impressed he wasn’t looking just to put in time; he was looking for how he could be a contributing employee. Every time I ask this question, it leads to an in-depth discussion.

Other questions I’ve asked:

 

  • “What keeps you up at night?”
  • “If you were to leave this company, who would follow?”
  • “How do you handle an employee making a mistake?”
  • “If you were to give a Ted Talk, what topic would you talk about?”
  • “What are three highly valued skills at [company] that I should master to advance?”
  • “What are the informal expectations of the role?”
  • “What is one misconception people have about you [or the company]?”

 

Your questions reveal a great deal about your motivations, drive to make a meaningful impact on the business, and a chance to morph the questioning into a conversation. Cliché questions don’t lead to meaningful discussions, whereas unique, thought-provoking questions do and, in turn, make you memorable.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

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Canadian Natural Resources reports $2.27-billion third-quarter profit

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CALGARY – Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a third-quarter profit of $2.27 billion, down from $2.34 billion in the same quarter last year.

The company says the profit amounted to $1.06 per diluted share for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 compared with $1.06 per diluted share a year earlier.

Product sales totalled $10.40 billion, down from $11.76 billion in the same quarter last year.

Daily production for the quarter averaged 1,363,086 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 1,393,614 a year ago.

On an adjusted basis, Canadian Natural says it earned 97 cents per diluted share for the quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.30 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 90 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CNQ)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Cenovus Energy reports $820M Q3 profit, down from $1.86B a year ago

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CALGARY – Cenovus Energy Inc. reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year as its revenue edged lower.

The company says it earned $820 million or 42 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $1.86 billion or 97 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter totalled $14.25 billion, down from $14.58 billion in the same quarter last year.

Total upstream production in the quarter amounted to 771,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 797,000 a year earlier.

Total downstream throughput was 642,900 barrels per day compared with 664,300 in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, Cenovus says its funds flow amounted to $1.05 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from adjusted funds flow of $1.81 per diluted share a year earlier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CVE)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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