Odds not in Hunger Games publisher’s favor

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description: Scholastic shares are lower on weaker-than-expected sales of Hunger Games and the looming fiscal cliff school budget cuts. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 21, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/11/21/investing-buzz-scholastic-hunger-games-fiscal-cliff.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Explain the reasons for the stock market decline of Scholastic? Do you think this stock represents a good speculative play on how… Read more »

Cyber Monday goes mobile

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Online shopping deals can be had even before Cyber Monday and savvy shoppers can get them from their phones. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 23, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/11/23/n-cyber-monday-mobile.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the financial implications for the changes in shopping behavior due to online options? How might these affect cash flows,… Read more »

Black Friday results a useless indicator

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description:  Commentary: Initial reports from retailers are unreliable Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 23, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/black-friday-results-a-useless-indicator-2012-11-23 Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about the value of Black Friday as an indicator? Why do you suppose it is given such prominent attention by analysts?  

Why Some M&A Deals Are Best Done In-House

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: When PPR, the French owner of Gucci, sold a stake in its African distributor CFAO in August, it didn’t use an investment bank to handle the transaction. Instead, the company turned to an in-house mergers-and-acquisitions team led by a former France Telecom (FTE) M&A executive. “When we can, we do it on our own,”… Read more »

How HPs Disastrous Deal Blows a Hole in Consulting

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Description: HP lost $8.8 billion on acquisition gone bad. Are high-priced consultants and accountants like KPMG and Deloitte to blame? Source: TheDailyBeast.com Date: Nov 21, 2012 Link:  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/21/how-hp-s-disastrous-deal-blows-a-hole-in-consulting.html Questions for Discussions: Who is at fault for this situation? What does this report say about the value of consultants and their effort at due diligence? What… Read more »

More bad news for PC makers

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Dell’s latest results were awful, sending shares of the struggling stock even lower. A similar fate likely awaits Hewlett-Packard next week. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 16, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/11/16/investing-hp-dell.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Explain the reasons for stock market declines of Dell and HP? What could turn these stock values around? Would… Read more »

Fed Looks to Send Clear Rate-Hike Signals

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: The Federal Reserve is inching closer to revamping its communications strategy by stating more explicitly than ever before what would get officials to raise short-terms interest rates. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Nov 13, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/QEUT6E Questions for Discussions: What are the implications for providing clearly defined triggers for interest rate changes?… Read more »

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos: The ultimate disrupter

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Description:  He’s a pro-customer, tightfisted risk-taker who is conditioning Wall Street to embrace his erratic earnings. If you’re running a business with high margins — watch out. Source: Fortune.com Date: Nov 16, 2012 Link:  http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jeff-bezos-amazon/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: What does the article say about Jeff Bezos’ management thinking and style? Why has Amazon succeeded? Where… Read more »

Stop calling it a ‘fiscal cliff’

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: Commentary: Austerity would hurt but it wouldn’t be sudden Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 14, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stop-calling-it-a-fiscal-cliff-2012-11-14?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the key changes that will take place if no changes are made to current law. Do you agree with the assessment presented by the commentator in this report? How do you think markets… Read more »

Twinkie Maker Hostess to Close

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description:  Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of iconic treats such as Twinkies and traditional pantry staple Wonder Bread, said Friday it is shuttering its plants and firing about 18,000 workers as it seeks to liquidate the 82-year-old business. Source:  WSJ.com Date: Nov 16, 2012 Link:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324556304578122632560842670.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons for the demise… Read more »