CuriosityStream (CURI)
Last on our list is CuriosityStream, an educational online video streaming channel devoted to ‘factual’ content. The site offers streaming services to subscribers, and boasts an audience of 13 million worldwide. It was first launched in 2015 by John Hendricks, who is best known for creating the Discovery Channel, the popular science-oriented cable channel, back in 1985.
CuriosityStream went public at the end of the summer, through a merger deal with the ‘blank check’ special purpose acquisition company Software Acquisition. When the CURI ticker started trading earlier this month, on the NASDAQ exchange, it saw an almost immediate 10% price spike.
The surge in interest in CURI was due in part to its public debut, but also to the company’s reputation and track record. CuriosityStream has received positive news coverage over the years from the
New York Times, the
LA Times, and the
Wall Street Journal. It has also been nominated for 15 awards since 2016, for its science content and production quality, and has won 5 of those.
Writing the first review on file for CURI shares is
Zack Silverof B. Riley securities. He writes, “Our constructive view on CURI starts with a belief that consumers will continue to adopt SVOD as both a replacement and a complement to traditional linear TV… CURI launched its SVOD offering worldwide in 2015 and began to significantly ramp investments in marketing and content in 2018. Mr. Hendricks believes 40% of global viewers are interested in consuming factual programming; our recent survey work suggests that this number is closer to 80% in the U.S.”
Silver initiates coverage of the stock with a Buy rating and a
$16 price target that implies an impressive 45% one-year upside potential form the current share price of $11.02.