Twilio provides a cloud-based communications platform that enables businesses to embed messaging, voice, video, and authentication capabilities directly into their software applications. The company's platform allows developers to build and manage applications without the complexity of creating and maintaining underlying infrastructure. The company completed its initial public offering in June 2016.

U.S. stocks are up, at midday. The mood feels optimistic with some caution sprinkled in as Wall Street hasn't forgotten the drubbing two days ago. Today's start was helped again by Japan's Nikkei, which rose 1% overnight after the dramatic fall a few nights ago. A Bank of Japan official commented that the central bank wouldn't raise rates further given the market volatility. Earnings reports continue to drive movement in individual U.S. stocks.

Twilio is a cloud-based communications platform-as-a-service company offering communication building blocks that allow for a fully customized customer engagement experience spanning voice, video, chat, and SMS messaging. It does this through various application programming interfaces and prebuilt solution applications aimed at improving customer engagement. The company leverages its Super Network, a global network of carrier relationships, to facilitate high-speed, cost-effective communication.

In this edition, Grab Holdings worth grabbing now; examining medical-device makers' moat; a hard look at software makers' moat; and Vesync, Macy's, and Travelers Companies.