The winners and losers in the oil game

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

Description: The new age of abundant and cheap energy is changing fortunes in the geopolitical landscapes, strengthening some governments while weakening others. Bloomberg’s Ryan Chilcote reports on “Countdown.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 20, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/oil-prices-the-winners-and-the-losers-hwDmp9QhTW6ZupqOIht39Q.html Questions for Discussions: Who are the winners and losers while oil prices decline? What… Read more »

Best Buy soars. Take that, Amazon!

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

Description: Best Buy was having a lousy 2014. But it’s no longer Amazon’s showroom. Price matching and excitement about new Apple products have helped the company rebound. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 20, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/11/20/best-buy-stock-soars.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why has Best Buy stock rebounded in value? What does the report suggest was… Read more »

Aereo, a live-stream TV startup, files for bankruptcy  

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

Description: Move comes nearly five months after the Supreme Court ruled against the company in a copyright spat with TV networks. Source: Forbes.com – video report Date: Nov 21, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/11/21/aereo-files-for-bankruptcy/ Questions for Discussions: What lesson have investors learned from this bankruptcy? Do you think the courts will mandate any re-distribution technology to negotiate… Read more »

A Dying Mall in Concord, New Hampshire

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: On a crisp Friday evening in late October, Shannon Rich, 33, is standing in a dying American mall. Three customers wander the aisles in a Sears the size of two football fields. The RadioShack is empty. A woman selling smartphone cases watches “Homeland” on a laptop. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 21, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-21/a-dying-mall-in-concord-new-hampshire.html… Read more »

The Real Legacy of the Keystone XL Is Already Settled

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis.

Description: Even if the Senate had passed Mary Landreu’s Keystone bill yesterday, the results would’ve been the same: President Obama, by all accounts, was going to veto it, and since it’s his decision (because the line crosses an international border), we’re probably stuck with speculation about its approval/rejection for at least two more months as… Read more »

Warren Buffett buying battery maker Duracell

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Description: Berkshire Hathaway, owned by Warren Buffett, is buying Duracell for $4.7 billion worth of stock from Proctor & Gamble. P&G will also recapitalize Duracell with $1.7B before the transaction is complete. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Nov 13, 2014 Link: http://for.tn/1xwAcvo Questions for Discussions: How did this deal cause P&G stock to jump?… Read more »

Hasbro in talks to acquire DreamWorks Animation

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

Description: According to Deadline Hollywood, Hasbro is “deeply engaged” in talks to acquire the motion picture company DreamWorks, known for huge blockbuster animation movies like Shrek. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Nov 13, 2014 Link: http://for.tn/1xSIpJM Questions for Discussions: Does the acquisition make sense for these firms and for investors? Do you think investor… Read more »

Walmart Q3 Results Beat Street Expectations: Are They Sustainable?  

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

Description: After seven long quarters of declines, for the third quarter of 2014, Walmart posted a modest increase of 0.5 percent in sales at U.S. stores open at least a year. Source: Forbes.com Date: Nov 13, 2014 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/paularosenblum/2014/11/13/walmart-q3-results-beat-street-expectations-is-it-sustainable/ Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about Walmart financials today and looking ahead? Given… Read more »

What We Learned From High-Cost Lender OnDeck’s IPO Filing

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: OnDeck, a small business lender that has loaned Main Street companies more than $1.7 billion since 2007, sometimes at annual percentage rates exceeding 100 percent, has filed for an initial public offering. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Nov 11, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-11-11/ondeck-ipo-alternative-loans-arent-getting-any-cheaper#r=nav-fst Questions for Discussions: Is OnDeck gouging borrowers, in your opinion? Evaluate the level of… Read more »

Alibaba Said to Seek $8 Billion in Bond Deal for Loan Repayment

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) is planning to raise as much as $8 billion as soon as next week in its first U.S. bond sale, just two months after the Chinese company completed the biggest public stock offering ever, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 13, 2014 Link:… Read more »