Spotlight : Things I came across this month
Aug 2024
Disclaimer: The information contained within this website and article is not financial advice and reflects my opinion in a strictly personal capacity. I am an engineer by training and profession; I do not possess formal qualifications in finance or investment. I may hold positions in the stocks mentioned and hence probably biased. This website and article aren’t written to give you advice. I am just using it as my online journal to share knowledge and insights and to get feedback - I can’t guarantee the complete accuracy of all content so don’t rely on it. Please conduct your own research or consult a professional financial advisor - I am not the one.
The market has thrown in the towel, and it feels like all my companies have issued downgrade news that I can't even see. Yet, everyone seems to know and is selling them like crazy.
So, I decided to log out of my trading account and focus on putting together my spotlight article.
Here's a pertinent reminder:
Investing’s greatest lessons can’t be taught in a book or in a classroom. They have to be experienced. Oftentimes the greatest teacher is loss because those lessons you’ll never forget
I hope you're managing your emotions well. With that, let me share what I've found interesting in the last few weeks.
Objective Corporation (ASX:OCL) winning in UK
Objective Corporation has secured a significant victory in the UK. On the back of successful applications for Round 4 of the PropTech Innovation Fund, four Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are adopting Objective Keyplan to develop their Local Plan and improve land assessment. This move is set to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of land planning and assessment in these regions.
Read more about it here.
Alcidion (ASX : ALC) making move but slow
Alcidion's Patientrack system has been tested for use in Emergency Departments (ED) in Scotland. This initiative is part of the planning for Lanarkshire's new University Hospital Monklands, which is expected to be completed by 2031. The testing phase aims to enhance patient monitoring and care in emergency settings, contributing to the hospital's future readiness.
Read more about it here.
Megaport (ASX: MP1) has joined hands with Aviatrix
I see the partnership between Aviatrix and Megaport as huge news. AI will live in more than one place, so having flexible and secure paths to your AI will be essential. My research shows that organizations continue to bring AI on-premises to the edge. Solutions like Aviatrix, with partners like Megaport, could make this easier, especially for highly regulated industries.
Read more about it here.
Prophecy International ( ASX: PRO) - Right time at right place?
The SIEM market is seeing significant consolidation with LogRhythm and Exabeam announcing their intent to merge, Cisco completing the acquisition of Splunk, and IBM partnering with Palo Alto Networks for cybersecurity. This consolidation is a natural evolution as the technology matures.
Read more about the recent mergers and partnerships here:
These significant changes in the SIEM market necessitate a strategic approach to security detection and response architecture. My hypothesis is that Prophecy International could benefit from this industry consolidation. I plan to write a separate article exploring this potential in more detail—stay tuned!
NEXTDC (ASX:NXT) losing Australian Electoral Commission as a customer
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has begun moving its systems out of NEXTDC data centers. This significant shift may indicate broader trends in how governmental organizations are managing their data infrastructure needs.
Read more about it here.
Cogstate (ASX : CGS): Breakthrough in Alzheimer's Detection
Scientists have developed a blood test that can detect Alzheimer's disease with 90% accuracy, outperforming traditional methods by about 20%. This new test uses mass spectrometry to measure specific proteins in the blood, which are linked to Alzheimer's.
An algorithm then analyzes these measurements to calculate the likelihood of the disease. This approach offers a less invasive, simpler, and more cost-effective method for diagnosing Alzheimer's compared to current practices.
Read more about this breakthrough here.
Researchers Develop Deep Learning Model to Predict Breast Cancer ( I would have tagged ASX:VHT but now probably PME?)
Researchers have developed a deep learning model that can predict breast cancer with remarkable accuracy. This model uses advanced algorithms to analyze mammogram images, identifying patterns that may be indicative of cancer. This method has the potential to improve early detection and outcomes for patients significantly.
Read more about it here.
Cloud Market Growth Continuing
New data from Synergy Research Group shows that Q2 enterprise spending on cloud infrastructure services was $79 billion worldwide, up $14.1 billion or 22% from the second quarter of 2023.
After seeing growth rates soften a little through much of 2023, this is the third consecutive quarter in which the year-on-year growth rate was 20% or more, with generative AI being one of the factors behind the market acceleration.
In terms of competitive positioning, Amazon maintains a strong lead in the market, though Microsoft and Google again had higher percentage growth numbers.
All three have seen their growth rates increase substantially since mid-2023. Their Q2 worldwide market shares were 32%, 23%, and 12%, respectively.
Read more about it here.
Nanosonics (ASX :NAN) new marketing video
Nanosonics has started new marketing compaign - Never miss a spot
It seems to be targeting competition with UVC Radiation technology ( may be feeling the heat ?)
That’s all for this month’s spotlight. Thank you for reading