How China’s Economic Slowdown Is Rippling Around the Region

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

Description:  How China’s Economic Slowdown Is Rippling Around the Region Source: MarketWatch.com and WSJ.com – video report Date: Feb 2, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/video/how-chinas-economic-slowdown-is-rippling-around-the-region/89AF83D6-4A39-4FD7-982F-534892258A73.html Questions for discussion: Summarize what the report says about the impact China’s economic slowdown is having and the reasons given. What is the suggested impact of a return to normal growth? What… Read more »

Why the $15.4 billion Kraft Heinz brand write-down was unusual

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

Description: The ‘mega-impairment’ was non-routine and event driven according to research firm Audit Analytics Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 22, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-the-154-billion-kraft-heinz-brand-write-down-was-unusual-2019-02-22 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the reporting issues at the firm? Do you think investors will be affected?

Warren Buffett’s Big Consumer Bets Bite Back

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Description: Warren Buffett has warned investors to stay in their circle of competence when it comes to bets. But now, more than 30 years after Buffett started plowing money into Coca-Cola Co., the rules of the consumer-product game have changed. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Feb 22, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/buffett-s-consumer-bets-bite-as-kraft-coca-cola-face-pressure?srnd=premium Questions for discussion: Why did… Read more »

Warren Buffett wants to make an ‘elephant-sized’ purchase, but says ‘prices are sky-high’

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Description: Despite a sour year in which Berkshire Hathaway posted a loss and was forced to write down $3 billion on its investments, Warren Buffett told shareholders that he wants to make a big acquisition. Source: CNBC.com Date: Feb 23, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/23/warren-buffett-wants-to-make-an-elephant-sized-purchase-but-says-prices-are-sky-high.html Questions for discussion: What does this report say about the strategy Buffett employs for… Read more »

Kraft Heinz has lost the one thing that distinguished it from General Mills and Mondelez

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Description: The one thing Kraft Heinz had going for it was its profit margins. Now, it doesn’t even have that. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Feb 22, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/22/kraft-heinz-lost-what-distinguished-it-from-general-mills-mondelez.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say about changes taking place in the food industry? How should investors deal with the challenges?

Zillow Wants to Flip Your House

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

Description: A new breed of high-tech real estate flippers is using algorithms (and a healthy dose of Silicon Valley venture capital) to buy at massive scale. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Feb 14, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-02-14/zillow-wants-to-flip-your-house?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the new business model? Do you think it can disrupt the industry?

5 things to know about Levi Strauss & Co. before it goes public

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Description: Levi Strauss & Co. outlines a number of strengths ahead of its IPO, but also faces challenges like climate change Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 16, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-things-to-know-about-levi-strauss-co-before-it-goes-public-2019-02-15 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the IPO? Do you think it represents a good investment?

Amazon abandoning NYC headquarters is a cautionary tale for big tech

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Description:  Amazon’s (AMZN) abandonment of its proposed HQ2 location in New York City is a cautionary tale for tech companies looking to open offices in new cities, several members of the tech community told Yahoo Finance. Source: Finnance.Yahoo.com – video report Date: Feb 06, 2019 Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-long-island-city-lessons-163016646.html Questions for discussion: Summarize what the article says about management’s strategic… Read more »

A tale of two toymakers: Mattel soars, Hasbro sinks, but there’s more to the story

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Description: On Friday shares of Mattel continued to soar after a strong earnings beat on Thursday, while shares of rival Hasbro sank, the result of a poor earnings showing before the bell. But there is more going on than these stock moves show. Source: CNBC.com Date: Feb 08, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/08/a-tale-of-two-toy-makers-mattel-soars-hasbro-sinks.html Questions for discussion: Why did Mattel stock price… Read more »

Bezos’ private life is no concern to investors

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Description: New York (CNN Business)Wall Street traders may love to gossip about merger rumors and other corporate dramas. But the private life of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is apparently of no concern to investors. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 08, 2019 Link: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/08/investing/amazon-stock/index.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say about investor… Read more »