Could GE get booted from the Dow after 110 years?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Shares of General Electric (GE) keep falling after the company reported lousy earnings last week. GE is down more than 30% this year, easily the worst performer of the 30 companies in the venerable stock average. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 25, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/25/investing/ge-stock-dow-exit/index.html Questions for discussion: Why is GE at risk of delisting from the… Read more »

Comcast’s Careful Steps to Grow Past Cable Yield Results

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Description: Comcast is earning its peacock feathers. The $170 billion media firm was early and careful in expanding beyond cable. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 26, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/business/dealbook/comcasts-careful-steps-to-grow-past-cable-yield-results.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: Explain Comcast’s success? What other acquisitions do you think management should consider?

Bitcoin’s Bewildering Race to $100 Billion

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: There is no official measurement of a market bubble, but one could be the speed and force of the rise, a technique borrowed from the physical realm. Dot-com stocks rose 680 percent from the beginning of 1996 to the end of March 2000. Bitcoin has risen nearly 825 percent in the past year alone, to about $5,700. Source:… Read more »

Not America’s beer? Bud sales fall in U.S.

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Description: This Bud’s not for you? Anheuser-Busch InBev, the owner of Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois, said that beer sales in the U.S. fell 5.6% in the third quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 26, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/26/investing/anheuser-busch-inbev-budweiser-beer-sales/index.html Questions for discussion: What might explain poor sales? What does the report suggest about… Read more »

TD Has Quickly Become a Top 10 U.S. Bank and It’s Not Done Yet

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Description: Toronto-Dominion Bank’s new U.S. head isn’t being critical when he describes the lender as “sub-scale” in small business and corporate lending, and “underweight” in wealth management. He just thinks there’s market share to be had. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 23, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-23/td-has-quickly-become-a-top-10-u-s-bank-and-it-s-not-done-yet Questions for discussion: How has TD Bank grown… Read more »

Dow cruises past 23,000 for the first time

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: The Dow has rocketed through yet another milestone — 23,000. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 17, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/17/investing/dow-23000-stocks-trump/index.html?iid=EL Questions for discussion: Why have some Dow listed stocks declined as the index grew? How much further do you think investors will push the Dow before there is a general correction?

Black Monday anniversary: How the 2017 stock market compares with 1987

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

Description: The 2017 rally isn’t a rerun of the 1987 pre-crash runup Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Oct 19, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-stock-market-stacks-up-on-30th-anniversary-of-1987-crash-2017-10-19?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the comparison? What do you think investors will do about the attention paid to this very public discussion?

eMarketer Releases New Worldwide Ad Spending Estimates

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Description: Spending on paid media worldwide will increase 7.0% in 2017 to $584.14 billion Source: eMarker.com Date: Oct 16, 2017 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/Article/eMarketer-Releases-New-Worldwide-Ad-Spending-Estimates/1016621?ecid=NL1009 Questions for discussion: What do these figures tell investors? Which stocks do you think will partake in this predicted spending growth?

McDonald’s earnings: $1 drinks, premium sandwiches and digital will drive growth

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

Description: Analysts are bullish about McDonald’s thanks to value pricing, menu mix, technology initiatives and more Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Oct 20, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdonalds-earnings-1-drinks-premium-sandwiches-and-digital-will-drive-growth-2017-10-19?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Why are analysts bullish on McDonald’s? Do you agree with this assessment?