🔥 Zuckerberg Adds Fire to Apple Feud

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Good Morning. This is the Investor Lookout with the daily digest.

Here’s what we got today:

  • 🔥 Meta CEO Takes Another Swing at Apple

  • 💉 Norovirus Vaccine in Phase 3 Trials by Moderna

  • 🌈 Amazon Backs Down on DEI Initiatives

Meta CEO Takes Another Swing at Apple

Old habits die hard. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been in a skirmish with Apple ($AAPL) since 2014 and doesn't show signs of slowing down. In an interview with Joe Rogan, the billionaire said that the iPhone maker hasn't innovated much since its iconic smartphone launch. He also accused Apple of stifling competition and profiting through developer fees by "squeezing people" with a "30% tax." He cited the company's refusal to share the same connectivity protocol for his Ray-Ban Meta glasses, implying Apple protects its ecosystem at the expense of others.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP

  • Meta's ($META) CTO, Andrew Bosworth, has also criticized Apple in the past.

  • Zuckerberg previously denounced Apple's prices, privacy policies, and app store, as well as the latest VR gadget, the Vision Pro.

Norovirus Vaccine in Phase 3 Trials by Moderna

Feelin’ green around the gills each winter? Moderna is testing a fix. The biotech giant says it’s “one step closer” to a norovirus vaccine, as the virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea surges across the U.S. Currently, no FDA-approved shot exists for norovirus, which affects up to 21 million people annually. Moderna’s ($MRNA) Phase 3 trial—dubbed Nova 301—aims to recruit 25,000 adults worldwide, particularly those 60 and older. Each participant receives either the potential vaccine, known as mRNA-1403, or a placebo, then logs any symptoms or side effects. The company’s mRNA technology means the shot doesn’t contain the actual virus.

JAKUB PORZYCKI/NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

  • The Nova 301 trial is scheduled to run through May 2027, with participants tracked for roughly two years.

  • Chinese firm Anhui Zhifei Longcom is also conducting a norovirus vaccine trial.

Amazon Backs Down on DEI Initiatives

Diversity, equity, and inclusion as long as it's profitable. Amazon ($AMZN) is winding down certain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, according to an internal memo from the company’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, Candi Castleberry. The memo describes a broad review of hundreds of programs, aiming to focus on “proven outcomes” rather than separate, overlapping efforts. Amazon becomes the latest major corporation to trim back its DEI strategies amid rising scrutiny and legal pressures. The memo doesn’t specify which programs are being discontinued, but it notes that updates will continue through 2024. Previously, Amazon had individual webpages for topics like “Equity for Black people,” “DEI,” and “LGBTQ+ rights.”

David Ryder | Getty Images News

  • The same pattern can be seen at other companies, such as McDonald's ($MCD) and Meta.

  • In 2020 and 2021, Amazon set goals to increase Black representation in leadership and corporate roles.

Market Analysis For the Average Investor 🔎

#1

If Meta develops alternative platforms or hardware to circumvent Apple’s ecosystem, it may open new revenue avenues—or require higher R&D spending.

#2

Vaccine trials can take years, and success isn’t guaranteed. The Phase 3 timeline (through 2027) means investors may need to be patient before seeing any commercial outcome.

#3

Scaling back certain programs might reduce expenses and simplify operations, which some investors could view as enhancing efficiency.

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