The Business Of Lin
February 20, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: From Knicks jersey sales to tickets on the road, many firms are profiting from Linsanity. But can it last?
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 02/17/2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/02/16/n_jeremy_lin_business.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the sudden financial changes to the various businesses mentioned in the report.
- Do you think this phenomenon can last?
- What strategic plans would you recommend to the various businesses mentioned to take advantage of immediate opportunities?
- How can financial mangers mitigate risk with any chosen strategy?
Green Mountain Coffee’s new Vue
February 20, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has unveiled a new brewing system to build on the popularity of its K-cup line, which may face competition after two key patents expire in September.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 02/16/2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/15/markets/green_mountain_coffee/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- How does the firm generate revenue?
- Is this business model sound?
- What risks are there to cash flow?
- What are other revenue streams the firm should be looking at?
Diamond Foods Debacle May Crack Open a MAC
February 13, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: A rare event occurred late on Wednesday in the deal world. Diamond Foods, the seller of Emerald snack nuts, announced it would restate its financial results for two years. It also placed its chief executive, Michael J. Mendes, and its chief financial officer, Steven M. Neil, on administrative leave.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 02/09/2012
Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/diamond-foods-debacle-may-crack-open-a-mac/?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the financial issues involved.
- What are the implications for the deal?
- How should investors respond to this information?
- Is there a strategic play here?
Google Rarely Misses Estimates, So What Happened?
January 23, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis
Description: Google’s fourth-quarter earnings rise but come in below analysts’ targets, and that doomed the search firm’s stock in late trades. Currency and tax issues, combined with a recent rally, set up the shares for a fall, according to MarketWatch tech editor Dan Gallagher. Lauren Rudser reports.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 01/05/2012
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize what happened at Google, according to this report.
- Do you think now is a good opportunity to pick up Google stock or is this the beginning of a trend?
Weil: Why Zombie Banks Hate to Write Off Bad Loans
January 16, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: There’s a simple explanation for why the world’s zombie banks remain so reluctant to write off worthless assets and tap the equity markets for fresh capital. They don’t want to end up like UniCredit SpA. (UCG)
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 01/11/2012
Questions for discussion:
- What is the explanation for not writing off bad loans, according to this report?
- What could be the consequences of maintaining the status quo?
Not buy-and-hold, but buy-and-sell rarely
January 9, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Financial analysis, Market Analysis
Description: BOSTON (MarketWatch) — As investment strategies go, it’s pretty simple one. Even better, it’s one that will improve, according to the authors of a newly published paper, the risk-adjusted return of your portfolio without much fuss.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 01/05/2012
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/not-buy-and-hold-but-buy-and-sell-rarely-2012-01-05?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the strategy described in this report.
- Do you think it makes sense in general or for a particular sort of investor?
Zynga in same boat as other 2011 tech IPOs
January 2, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues
Description: (MarketWatch) — As we expected, Zynga has so far not been a stock you wanted to buy on its first trading day, not if you were hoping to make a quick buck.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 12/30/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the highlights that explain the stock price movements in this report.
- Do you agree with this assessment?
- What do you think of these companies going forward into 2012?
Google Backing Israel Entrepreneurs Amid Funding Gap
January 2, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues
Description: The Google Inc. (GOOG) executive with his bright yellow vest was impossible to miss in the middle of the Israeli startup owners seeking cash in a rusty boathouse at Tel Aviv’s Jaffa port.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 12/29/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Describe the way in which venture capital investors find Israeli start-ups.
- What is the difference in risk levels between early start-ups and those that have moved forward after 3 or 4 years?
Oracle Sales, Profit Miss Estimates
December 26, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues
Description: Oracle Corp. (ORCL) dropped the most in more than nine years, dragging down other software makers, after it reported quarterly sales and profit that missed analysts’estimates in a sign companies are spending less on programs that help them manage operations.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 12/21/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the highlights in this report.
- What does this report suggest about investing strategies related to the company and the industry?
Put a put income strategy to work for you
December 19, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Financial analysis
Description: Most investors own some mix of stocks, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. In building an equity asset allocation for their portfolio, without knowing it, or simply accepting it, they are taking about 100% of the risk of the equity markets. There is however a safer option for building the equity portion of your portfolio over time versus buying investments at market prices.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 12/13/2011
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/put-a-put-income-strategy-to-work-for-you-2011-12-12?dist=afterbell
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the key points presented in the report.
- What is your opinion of this thinking?
