Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 174

Search these unique investing tools

Hedge funds are renowned for using cutting-edge technology to conduct research. Satellites are used to watch car parks outside Walmart stores to estimate retail sales. Some track corporate aircraft to understand where the jets are going in anticipation of acquisitions and deals. If you’re interested, you can track the FAA aircraft registration database where you can find registered aircraft and search flights under flightaware.com.

Like everything else, using this sort of technology is not at all perfect. Kellogg shares rose then fell sharply after hedge funds bid up the stock due to Kellogg corporate aircraft visiting Omaha, Nebraska (Buffet headquarters), Chicago (Kraft/Heinz 3G) and Southern California (where Berkshire director Charlie Munger resides), but no offer was made. It’s public information available for anyone who bothers to search for it.

You don’t need a satellite

Satellites and plane tracking are helpful for traders looking for takeovers. For everyone else, I recommend the internet. Popular sites that we use every day as consumers are very helpful for investors. Some of my favourite research sites are Amazon and Google.

Amazon best sellers

Amazon is the largest e-commerce company in America. Under the best sellers tab you can see the most popular items under each category. It shows what consumers are buying. The number of customer reviews and ratings are important to see how consumers react to new product releases well before any financial data is released. Two of the top five toys are Lego. Some of the most popular electronic products are the Amazon Fire and Kindle. No surprise there, but the most popular gift card on Amazon is Amazon. If you are ever caught on Amazon at work you can now say you are doing market research.

Google Trends

Google has a similar database in Google Trends, which is great for seeing how searches trend over time. If someone is googling a product they are likely to be interested in it and it may lead to increased sales. An example is Netflix, the top searched for item in Australia for 2015. Amazingly, it also topped Google searches for ‘What Is?’, edging out ‘What is love?’ and ‘What is the meaning of life?’ Globally, Australia was the 18th most popular region for Netflix searches. For those interested, Pokemon Go searches peaked in mid-July, though searches are now down 85%.

The internet is allowing information to flow more freely, giving us access to information that previously did not exist. Thankfully we don’t need satellites, just an internet connection.

 

Jason Sedawie is a Portfolio Manager at Decisive Asset Management, a global growth-focused fund. Disclosure: Decisive owns Amazon and Google shares. This article is for general purposes only and does not consider the specific needs of any individual.

 


 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Raising the GST to 15%

Treasurer Jim Chalmers aims to tackle tax reform but faces challenges. Previous reviews struggled due to political sensitivities, highlighting the need for comprehensive and politically feasible change.

100 Aussies: seven charts on who earns, pays, and owns

The Labor government is talking up tax reform to lift Australia’s ailing economic growth. Before any changes are made, it’s important to know who pays tax, who owns assets, and how much people have in their super for retirement.

Here's what should replace the $3 million super tax

With Div. 296 looming, is there a smarter way to tax superannuation? This proposes a fairer, income-linked alternative that respects compounding, ensures predictability, and avoids taxing unrealised capital gains. 

9 winning investment strategies

There are many ways to invest in stocks, but some strategies are more effective than others. Here are nine tried and tested investment approaches - choosing one of these can improve your chances of reaching your financial goals.

Chinese steel - building a Sydney Harbour Bridge every 10 minutes

China's steel production, equivalent to building one Sydney Harbour Bridge every 10 minutes, has driven Australia's economic growth. With China's slowdown, what does this mean for Australia's economy and investments?

With markets near record highs, here's what you should do with your portfolio

Markets have weathered geopolitical turmoil, hitting near record highs. Investors face tough decisions on valuations, asset concentration, and strategic portfolio rebalancing for risk control and future returns.

Latest Updates

Retirement

The best way to get rich and retire early

This goes through the different options including shares, property and business ownership and declares a winner, as well as outlining the mindset needed to earn enough to never have to work again.

Shares

Boom, bubble or alarm?

After a stellar 2025 to date for equities, warning signs - from speculative froth to stretched valuations - suggest the market’s calm may be masking deeper fragilities. Strategic rebalancing feels increasingly timely.

Property

A perfect storm for housing affordability in Australia

Everyone has a theory as to why housing in Australia is so expensive. There are a lot of different factors at play, from skewed migration patterns to banking trends and housing's status as a national obsession.

Economy

Which generation had it toughest?

Each generation believes its economic challenges were uniquely tough - but what does the data say? A closer look reveals a more nuanced, complex story behind the generational hardship debate. 

Shares

Is the iPhone nearing its Blackberry moment?

Blackberry clung on to the superiority of keyboards at the beginning of the touchscreen era and paid the ultimate price. Could the rise of agentic AI and a new generation of hardware do something similar to Apple?

Fixed interest

Things may finally be turning for the bond market

The bond market is quietly regaining strength. As rate cuts loom and economic growth moderates, high-quality credit and global fixed income present renewed opportunities for investors seeking income and stability. 

Shares

The wisdom of buying absurdly expensive stocks (or not!)

Companies trading at over 10x revenue now account for over 20% of the MSCI World index, levels not seen since the dotcom bubble. Can these shares create lasting value, or are they destined to unravel?

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.