Well, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is over for another year.
As you know, CES is the world’s premier event for technology companies to show off their latest designs – and, unsurprisingly, the media buzz always centers on the big boys like Samsung (SSNLF),Sony (SNE), and LG (LPL).
But it’s easy to just report on the obvious stories at the expense of the more under-the-radar – and more interesting – events.
So I’ve dug a little deeper to give you the name of the company that I think quietly “won” CES.
And it’s succeeding without the multi-million-dollar budgets that its large-cap peers enjoy.
After an outstanding showing at CES, the company is clearly ready for success in 2015…
Innovation… French-Style
The company I’m talking about is Parrot S.A. (Paris: PARRO.PA).
This Paris-based, small-cap firm focuses its innovative might in several areas. Here are three areas that it showcased at CES…
Area #1: Drones. At CES, Parrot was one of many companies to feature drones. Its new offering, the eXom, has proximity sensors, a photography camera and pilot camera, flight planning, and even fully autonomous operation.
These capabilities will take drones out of the hands of specially trained operators and put them into the hands of civil and petroleum engineers and surveyors, who use them in their jobs. Parrot also showed off a new series of mini-drones for recreational use, along with mapping software.
Area #2: Auto Industry. The RNB-6 is essentially a car management system. It controls high-quality entertainment and connectivity by cellphone and internet, plus a navigation system, dash cam, and sensors that check the engine, tires, fuel efficiency, and more.
On the driving side, RNB-6 has a lane departure warning system, rear camera, and parking assistance. At CES, RNB-6 won the Best Innovation award in the In-Vehicle Audio-Video category.
Area #3: Horticulture. Ever heard of “wired plants”? At CES, Parrot introduced the H20. It’s a plant sensor that you can stick into the dirt of an existing potted plant. The product basically lets you know if your plant is getting too much or too little water, whether it needs fertilizer, if it’s in the wrong place to get proper sunlight, or if it’s too cold.
And when you go on vacation, the device can automatically water the plant for you while you’re gone. No more relying on a friend, who may not remember to come over and water your plants!
Other Parrot products at CES included wireless headphones for sports and entertainment.
The Unofficial Winner of CES
Now, one product that I don’t think will succeed is Parrot’s Wi-Fi-enabled flower pot. If you recall, I knocked this product in myInternet of Things column last week.
Still, it’s not a stretch to say that Parrot was the winner of CES – at least among the smaller companies.
For investors, this is good and bad news…
Parrot trades in France, but has ADRs available in the United States. However, the shares are rarely traded, which makes it difficult to buy without running the price up beyond its value. So buying the shares directly on the French exchange is the best way to go here.
To living and investing in the future,
Greg Miller
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