__When the FIFA match goes better than expected...__ __[Electronic Arts](https://robinhood.com/stocks/EA)__ is the video game company behind *FIFA*, *Madden*, *NBA Live*, and 2000s legend *The Sims* (unforgettable). 

- __Back in May,__ EA said sales for its corona-conomy quarter (April-June) would only rise 1%. 
- __Yesterday,__ at a cozy "fireside chat for the investor community," EA revealed that it was way off. First quarter results are likely to be much better than expected.  

__The stock also rises...__ EA stock ticked [up](https://www.barrons.com/articles/ea-stock-is-rising-as-videogame-sales-boom-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic-51592927728?mod=hp_minor_pos16) after it leveled up its forecast. Some game publishers were expecting 2020 to be a down year, since upcoming new gaming consoles haven't been released yet.  

- __Turns out,__ 2020 was a big one for video game creators. Gaming companies like EA, __[Activision Blizzard](https://robinhood.com/stocks/ATVI)__, and __[Nintendo](https://robinhood.com/stocks/NTDOY)__ have rallied to multiyear highs on lockdown boredom. With live sports canceled, you've turned to EA Sports' games for entertainment. 

Play

__Content is king...__ in media. That goes extra for video games right now. We've seen media snatch up content/IP:  __Netflix__ is on a media buying spree (including signing GoT's writers) and __Spotify__ [struck](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/5A4ZEajsQw0bmhsFuBK1AS/articles/69vDqt7GRc2nQ9TTXjmWSH/) deals with Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Batman. EA bought the rights to make games featuring major sports teams like the NFL, NHL, and  NBA. Its pipeline of new content for games will be key to continued growth.

Electronic Arts levels up its previously boring forecasts as game sales boom

__Biggest fashion rebel of 2020...__ TJ Maxx. Discount retail giant __[TJX](https://robinhood.com/stocks/TJX)__ is the company behind the "[affordable splurge](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/1FKKdbQjIpHVV86ywmUIjB/articles/6YscPrg1Mp9jGaNkCngApy)" trifecta:  TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Homegoods. Now, it's also the unexpected rebel of the corona-conomy: 

- __"Nothing will change:"__ Not a phrase you hear in an economy-pummeling pandemic. TJX's CEO [said](https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-changed-everything-except-t-j-maxx-11592818200?mod=business_lead_pos3) it *won't* leverage ecommerce to boost sales. It'll continue to do absolutely nothing to ramp up its tiny online shopping operation that's currently only 2% of sales.  
- __But TJX takes it to another extreme:__ It fully *shut down* its websites during lockdowns, making online ordering impossible. Now it's actively limiting the items available on its site. 
- __TLDR:__ TJX laughs in the face of online shopping, and wipes ecommerce tears away with a $6 Free People shirt. 

__The magnetic pull of the "treasure hunt"...__ TJX is confident in the joy its customers derive from the "treasure hunting" experience. Finding a $27 Michael Kors bag under a shoe rack is not only fun, but also something to [brag](https://www.investors.com/research/ibd-stock-of-the-day/tjx-earnings-q4-2019-tjx-stock/) about. TJX knows this can only be achieved at its physical stores. 

- __TJX's only focus:__ Drawing shoppers back to its 4.5K brick-and-mortar stores. Since 98% of its sales are in-store (and those stores were closed), TJX took an $887M loss last quarter — But now a majority of its stores have reopened.   
- __*It's working*:__ Sales at reopened stores are actually *higher* than they were a year ago, as deal-starved shoppers flood back into TJX. [Call it](https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-changed-everything-except-t-j-maxx-11592818200?mod=business_lead_pos3) it "revenge spending" — when you've been cooped up so long that you need to make up for all the shopping you *didn't* do. 






"_Don't bother me while I'm Revenge Spending_"

Revenge

__Ecommerce isn't always the solution...__ Online shopping operations can be expensive to implement and maintain. Shipping and returns make it hard to turn a profit on heavily discounted goods. And brands like Ralph Lauren don't want you to see their items selling for $12 online. Plus, ecommerce reduces the number of shoppers at stores. Since TJX thrives on the in-person shopping experience, it's one of the rare companies that can sidestep ecommerce.

TJ Maxx is the unexpected rebel of the corona-conomy, laughing in the face of ecommerce

__Sounds like a pro wrestling match...__ WWDC 2020 is __[Apple](https://robinhood.com/stocks/AAPL)__'s annual developers conference, where it shows off its latest software goodies. App developers eagerly await the week in June, crossing out days on their iCals. Apple [says](https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/06/22/apple-wwdc-2020-widgets-face-mask-memoji-car-keys-orig.cnn-business/video/playlists/top-news-videos/) there are now over 1 Trillion ways to customize your identity with Memoji. But there's only one way to hold a massive event during a pandemic: online. 

__iSpy some changes...__ Meet the new iPhone operating system: iOS 14. Some of our Snacks highlights:

- __Defaults:__ You can now set a default mail app (hello Gmail) and a default browser (goodbye Safari).
- __Home screen fun:__ The "App Library" automatically organizes apps into sensical folders. You can also drag big widgets (like a Weather page or Calendar day) and pin them on your screen for real-time updates. 
- __Picture-in-Picture:__ Keep watching Apple TV or Facetiming while scrolling — the video keeps playing in the corner of the screen while you multitask. Only works for Apple apps, for now (no Netflix/YouTube).
- __App Clips:__ Tiny apps that have specific functions, for when you need to do something like pay a bill or rent a scooter (but don't want to download the actual app). 
- __Slack’ified group messaging:__ You can now reply inline (in a thread) and mention people in group messages. Also, you can choose to only be notified when you're @'d.  
- __Digital car keys:__ Unlock and start your car via iPhone. You can also share keys with others through iMessage (and deactivate whenever). The 1st car to support this will be the 2021 BMW 5-series.


_Settling in for a week-long conference_

Unveil

__The "new new" hype is crucial...__ to Apple's sales growth. It obviously doesn’t want us holding onto our Macs for 5+ years. Apple had to pay a $500M fine over a lawsuit that [alleged](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-iphones-settlement/apple-to-pay-up-to-500-million-to-settle-u-s-lawsuit-over-slow-iphones-idUSKBN20P2E7) it was purposely slowing down older iPhones to make you buy a new one. But these annual shows are a positive way for Apple to stoke enthusiasm over its latest products. The novelty factor is key. TBD if Apple can come up with cool new features indefinitely. 

Electronic Arts levels up its previously boring forecasts as game sales boom

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