The Longer-Term Approach of Activist Investors

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

Description: Bruce Goldfarb, Okapi Partners president and chief executive officer, discusses the longer-term approach of activist investors with Bloomberg’s Alix Steel and Keri Geiger on “Bloomberg ‹GO›.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 27, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-11-27/the-longer-term-approach-of-activist-investors Questions for discussion: What does Bruce Goldfarb suggest is happening in investing circles? What advice… Read more »

Black Friday: Deep Dive Into Consumer Retail Trends

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

Description: Matthew Shay, president and chief executive officer at National Retail Federation, and Bloomberg Gadfly columnist Shelly Banjo discuss consumer trends of this holiday shopping season and the negative impact of weather on recent retail sales. They speak on “Bloomberg ‹GO›.” (Banjo is a Bloomberg Gadfly columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.) (Source: Bloomberg)… Read more »

This Brick-and-Mortar Retailer is Bringing the Story Back to Stores

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: Story’s founder Rachel Shechtman explains why it’s not online. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Nov 20, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1Nhg4sI Questions for discussion: What are the differences, from a financial operations point of view, of operating a Storys retailing site versus a conventional retailer?

Pfizer, Allergan in $155 billion inversion deal

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

Description: Pfizer Inc. and Allergan PLC said Monday that they would merge in a so-called inversion deal worth about $155 billion that would create the world’s biggest drug maker by sales. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Nov 23, 2015 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pfizer-allergan-in-155-billion-inversion-deal-2015-11-23-84852729 Questions for discussion: What is an “inversion deal”? What motivated this merger? Do you think it… Read more »

Bill Ackman Found a Cheap Way to Buy More Valeant Stock

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

Description: “The biggest regret I have with Valeant is that we’re not in a position to buy more,” said Bill Ackman on a conference call earlier this month, but he solved that problem just a couple weeks later. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 24, 2015 Link: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-11-24/bill-ackman-found-a-cheap-way-to-buy-more-valeant-stock Questions for Discussions: How did Bill Ackerman manage to buy more… Read more »

Dorsey unfazed by Square’s lower IPO price

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

Description: Square CEO Jack Dorsey says that the company is focused on long-term growth and that the lower IPO price is just ‘one moment in time.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 19, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2015/11/19/square-ipo-jack-dorsey-valuation.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the main criteria that should be used to estimate the valuation of Square?… Read more »

Debt Market Distortions Go Global as Nothing Makes Sense Anymore

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description: Something very strange is happening in the world of fixed income. Across developed markets, the conventional relationship between government debt — long considered the risk-free benchmark — and other assets has been turned upside-down. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 15, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-15/debt-market-distortions-go-global-as-nothing-makes-sense-anymore Questions for discussion: What is the unusual situation currently… Read more »

Why Aren’t Women-Owned Business Growing?

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: The number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. has increased by nearly 30% over the past six years, but why they aren’t growing financially? SBE Council’s Susan Solovic offers some answers on Lunch Break With Tanya Rivero. Photo: Getty Source: WSJ.com – video report Date: Oct 22, 2015 Link: http://on.wsj.com/1OKUc8L Questions for discussion: Summarize… Read more »

Goldman Says the Years of Emerging-Markets Doldrums Are Over

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

Description: After three years of disappointment, emerging markets are about to turn the corner, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 19, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-19/goldman-says-three-years-of-emerging-markets-doldrums-is-over Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments supporting the predictions presented in this report. Do you agree with the assessments?