The stock for Lyft began the week over $13 a share. After reporting that earnings exceeded expectations, even though rider usage is down (meaning the Lyft average profit margin is rising) the stocks price began to slide- why? Because investors noticed Uber market share is up which causes average investors to be concerned Lyft has an inferior market Share to Uber, currently priced more than double of Lyft’s stock. The Morningstar investment rating of Lyft stock is 5 out of 5 stars and the long term investment powerhouse issues a fair market value of Lyft’s stock between $50 and $60 a share – making Lyft stock a “great value.”

Uber’s current increased market share is unsustainable as Uber has not yet turned a profit in the United States. Not even close.

Furthermore – for options investors the calls for $12 and $15 dollars a share are going for over $300 in the short term – meaning investors can by covered calls essentially costing around $7 a share with a buyer willing to purchase them for $10-12 giving a 70% chance of a 45% return in 12 months.

Plus collectors of Hiltons points get points for every Lyft when you link your accounts.

Investors that would like to experience high gains in 2023 should think pink and Lyft their savings – possibly in a suite at the Hilton.

– Joseph Smith

Htxjoe@me.com

Maybe I’m weird or maybe it’s because my parents were Jehovahs Witness and I was raised without Christmas, but this is my favorite time of year – Election Day followed soon by Thanksgiving- by far my favorite section of calendar.

While last election brought us Joe Biden which is like that ugly sweater from your least favorite aunt – you have to pretend to appreciate it because he’s a democratically elected President and not everybody gets one of those, and we kind of knew it was coming when we saw the name on the wrapping paper of apparently impossible to miscount votes.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those guys that rides with my guy through right and wrong, I was one of the millions of Americans that watched in horror as President Trump suggested injecting bleach as a cure for coronavirus- which to be fair would effectively kill the virus, unfortunately equally effectively as shooting yourself in the head.

I watch in unwavering curiosity as those on the left praise President Biden for his sound leadership – I mean, I understand he’s not Trump and that’s enough for a lot of people to be pleased with his performance, but is there anyone better off under Biden’s “leadership” – other than Ukraine?

Needless to say, I vote Republican but I can still recognize when my guy does something stupid. I watch Fox News but I don’t watch Sean Hannity because I don’t need right wing propaganda to tell me which way to vote. I love Fox News Sunday w/ Chris Wallace because he frequently asks tougher questions to Republicans and always gives Juan Williams – one of the most coherent and intelligent left wing advocates – an equal or almost equal voice on his show. I like fair and balanced News that reports both sides and let’s you decide.

I was shocked watching Tucker Carlson today, one of the most hated anchors from those on the left. He echoed what I previously thought I was the only one saying – American politics sometimes needs a liberal voice to check the morality of the war machine, for example speak out against nuclear war with Russia. I thought I was the only one pleading for the return of two party politics – I didn’t realize what we had until it was gone, but these days the war hawking is coming equally from both sides! What happened to “No War for Oil” and “Bring Home our Troops?”

I sincerely hope and pray that tomorrow restores us to some semblance of balance in Washington. Republican or Democrat, please go out and vote tomorrow. Although I ask of the left – don’t vote for the Democrats only because they’re not Republicans, vote for the ones that stand for peace and equality. And of Republicans- just get out there and vote because I can’t listen to many more speeches about Republican fascism, we need to get out there and prove the enemy wrong, left or right, we all believe in Democracy, we just have some different ideas about what makes America great – and if your guy doesn’t have any ideas, maybe consider someone new this time.

My Christmas morning is coming – more likely Wednesday than Tuesday because somehow more technology equals more time to count votes – but I have a feeling aunt Betty ran out of ugly sweaters this year – comon new Xbox! Or new Tesla might be more appropriate for this election!

Don’t miss your chance, speak tomorrow or save your trolling for two more years!

I love you America – and god bless the Houston Astros!

– Joseph Smith

Htxjoe@me.com

I’ve long been deviating from business to talk politics, so I’m very happy to switch to a much lighter passion of mine, Houston Astros baseball. November 5th, 2022 Dusty Baker has become the first African American skipper to lead a club to a World Series victory!

I first started watching the Astros in 1986, division championship against the New York Mets and I’ve been hooked on Astros Baseball ever since. It was a long bleak road at times, but even in last place I’ve always been a super fan of the young talented players that scraped their way to 100 losses. Needless to say the past 6 years have been a much smoother ride with 6 consecutive league titles, one of the most exciting World Series victories of all times against the Dodgers in 2017, and a few frustrating losses in the championship against inferior teams- but after 5 long years, the Astros have finally won their second pennant in franchise history!

It was a nail biting journey, we’ve lost some extremely talented players, to trades and injuries, but the amazing performances of rookie Jeremy Peña provided a seamless transition from Allstar shortstop Carlos Correa, Verlander had a couple rough starts after a Cy Young performance season, but recovered in time to give us a much needed win in game 5 – and Framber Valdez, wow! Garret Cole is tough for any team to replace but this amazing rookie set the world record for quality starts outshining Kershaw in his first complete season in a starting lineup – and delivered four more quality starts in the playoffs including a World Series win in game 6 tonight – extend this rookies contract now!

Altuve, Bregman and Tucker have all struggled offensively this season, but the best pitching in baseball more than made up for it to make for one incredible season. Congratulations world champion Houston Astros, and give credit where credit is due – Dusty Baker maintained his trademark cool & calm demeanor all the way to the very end, but if you watched closely you could see a smile hiding behind his gnarled tooth pick following the Alvarez home run in the bottom of the sixth all the way to the finish line.

Jordan Alvarez has to be an MVP finalist virtually single handedly making up for any short coming in the Astros offense all season and hitting the game winning home run tonight.

Lance McCullers, the entire Astros bullpen, and possibly the pitcher with the worst run support this year – Garcia who managed to throw all year with an ERA under 3.00 on a 100+ win club and still barely beat a .500 win percentage all made important contributions.

Even Martin Maldonado, definitely not known for his batting prowess, hit a game winning home run – that’s what I love about the Astros, from top to bottom no team in baseball has a better collection of talent where amazing offense and defense can come from any player on any given game day.

Congratulations Houston – celebrate safely and have a great weekend, we earned it!

– Joseph Smith

Htxjoe@me.com

While I write primarily for myself, it’s recently been pointed out to me that people read my blog, so today I felt that while I’m not currently representing a client, what better time to talk about everyone’s favorite subject – abortion?

Like most Americans, I have some strong feelings on the issue, and for those of you that know me, you know that I self-identify as “pro-life”, but I am a realist as well, while it would be ideal if every pregnancy ended with two doting parents who live happily ever after I recognize that could never be the case and reality is much more grey than that, a total abortion ban or even an extreme right wing position such as Texas governer Abbot’s six week policy isn’t practical.

I also strongly disagree that overturning Roe vs Wade will cost American lives – it’s a pretty simple fact that abortion ends more life than it saves. I also strongly disagree that abortion is strictly a women’s issue – my first wife and the mother of all of my children had a miscarriage at 4 or 5 months and a piece of me died with my unborn child that I have never recovered – I promise the death of the unborn, while it may not effect every father, it affects a lot more than some think.

The truth is abortion is at best a necessary evil and a traumatic event even for mothers of unwanted pregnancies and fathers who have never had a legal voice in whether or not their unborn child has a right to life.

What about abortion from rape pregnancies? It is completely disgusting to me that any man can get sexual gratification from a horrendous, violent act against a women. And for such a traumatic event to result in pregnancy, I can only try to empathize but could never truly feel how that women must feel, but for any woman facing this horrendous circumstance, it doesn’t have to be all deep scars and trauma – to protect privacy I’ll just say that a women that I love, and I love many women, is the daughter of a child rapist, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

While pondering whether the genetic offspring of a disgusting, violent criminal is worth saving, all I can speak on is my personal experience and the answer is yes – definitely.

While I don’t believe a victim of rape should ever be denied access to abortion, there are viable alternatives. I’m sure it could be hard for some mothers of this horrendous crime to imagine ever loving a baby with the face of the monster that committed the crime – but I believe the innocent face of a newborn baby has tremendous healing power, it could be just what’s needed to move past such a horrible event. Or even if not, plenty of parents needing to adopt would never see a monster, only a sweet innocent baby – a true co-victim of circumstance.

I’ll close with this- my first wife and mother of all of my children is dead, I’ll always love her, would never intentionally tarnish her legacy – but by all accounts was not the greatest of mothers. One of the things I most admire about the women of which I spoke earlier is how loving and protective of her daughter she is – it’s very endearing to me after having three children by a mother who was not the same to say the least. Even though her father was an evil man with violent intent towards children, she is a beautiful, kind and protective mother. Well, maybe not always kind but what mother bear isn’t a little mean when pushed? Point is, such an infant isn’t necessarily cursed by evil genetics – something beautiful, a real flower really can grow from a bowl of dirt.

That’s all for now, although we have our differences I love you America, I would put my uniform back on in a second if times permitted.

– Joseph Smith

Htxjoe@me.com

In October, a proposal for a partnership that would have made affordable care for PTSD, help transitioning service members into the civilian workforce, treatment for military service animals, given free primary care doctor visits and much more to thousands of veterans was declined by the NAAV (National Association of American Veterans) – a national association supposedly dedicated to helping veterans. Health Karma Group, a leading healthcare technology company, would have provided all of the services free of charge to the NAAV, paid $7000 to advertise the availability of its services to veterans who can use them, and pay millions of dollars in royalties to be used to help veterans all across America. As of the time of writing this blog the National Association of American Veterans could not be reached for comment as to why an association declared to be dedicated to the assistance of veterans would not be making these free services available to as many veterans in need as possible. If you think the National Association of American Veterans should make critical mental health, physical health care & service animal care available to as many veterans as possible then email info@naavets.org and let President Constance Burns know that Health Karma, Responders1stcall, virtual EMDR treatments and more should be endorsed and availability fast tracked to any veterans that need a little help through a partnership with the Health Karma Group today. Tell Ms Burns “partner with Health Karma Group & every willing sponsor of veteran health service providers!”

Thanks for your support & God bless America!

– Joseph Smith

United States Navy veteran, Health Karma advocate, CEO Cj Contractor Services

Htxjoe@me.com