Jay Bryan: Investing risk hides where you least expect
February 20, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: Bonds riskier than stocks? Surely that’s crazy talk. It turns upside-down what seems to be a fundamental rule of investing.
Source: MontrealGazette.com
Date: 02/11/2012
Questions for discussion:
- What are the key points made in this report?
- Do you agree with the assessments presented?
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?
McDonald’s shows healthy sales growth in U.S. and abroad
February 13, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis
Description: McDonald’s (MCD) said Wednesday that a key revenue figure climbed 6.7% in January as U.S. customers spent more on breakfast, beverages and its new Chicken McBites.
Source: USAToday.com
Date: 02/08/2012
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-02-08/mcdonalds-january-sales/53007014/1
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the highlights of the report.
- Do you think McDonald’s strategy for growth will be attractive to investors?
Apple shares near $500-mark
February 13, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation
Description: It’s hard to take your eyes off Apple Inc. (AAPL-Q495.041.870.38%)these days: The shares hit a new record high of $495 (U.S.) on Thursday, bringing the total gains to about 18 per since the technology company announced stunning quarterly results in January.
Source: GlobeandMail.com
Date: 02/09/2012
Questions for discussion:
- Do you agree with the assessments presented?
- What are your financial projections for Apple looking 12 months ahead?
Don’t write bank stocks a big check
February 6, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis
Description: Financial sector shows investors the money, but caution is advised
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 02/03/2012
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/financial-stocks-show-investors-the-money-2012-02-03
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the highlights of the report.
- Do you agree with these views?
At Credit Suisse, Toxic Bonuses Turn into Gold
January 30, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis
Description: At the depths of the financial crisis, senior bankers at Credit Suisse Group (CS) received $5.05 billion of junk-grade loans and commercial-mortgage-backed bonds as part of their annual bonuses. Those assets, considered long-shot investments when they were transferred to an internal employee fund in late 2008, offered the Swiss investment bank a way to shift risk off its books—while giving the employees a chance to benefit from any recovery in that market.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 01/26/2012
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/at-credit-suisse-toxic-bonuses-turn-into-gold-01262012.html
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the strategy employed and how everyone seems to be benefiting from it.
- Is everyone benefiting fairly from this strategy and is it unethical, in your opinion?
Why you shouldn’t blame ETFs for wild markets
January 30, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues
Description: Critics say the popular funds are causing stocks to swing wildly together. Finding proof is another matter.
Source: Fortune.com
Date: 01/27/2012
Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/27/etfs-market-swings/?iid=SF_F_Lead
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons ETFs are blamed.
- Do you agree with these views?
Bank investors better get used to low returns
January 23, 2012 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues
Description: Reduced risk has translated into a return on shareholder’s equity that’s more akin to a sleepy regulated utility than a top investment firm.
Source: Fortune.com
Date: 01/20/2012
Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/20/bank-earnings-shareholder-return/?iid=SF_F_Lead
Questions for discussion:
- Why are bank stock returns expected to be reduced?
- Do you agree with the explanation?
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?
Investing after the Arab Spring: Unfinished business
December 19, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation
Description: The ongoing revolutions across the Middle East would seem to be good news for markets. But so far they’ve scared most foreign investors away.
Source: Fortune.com
Date: 12/13/2011
Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/13/investing-middle-east-north-africa/?iid=SF_F_Lead
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the opinions expressed in this report?
- What would your advice be to investors at this time?
