Description: When Ed Sbragia started Sbragia Family Vineyards, it was an accomplishment that was nearly a century in the making. His grandfather moved from Italy to California in 1904 to work in the wineries just north of San Francisco. In the 1940s, Mr. Sbragia’s father bought property in the Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg and… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Company Analysis
Internet Sales Tax Coming Too Late for Some Stores
Description: Anita Demetropoulos, a Maine shopkeeper, figured she would never see the day when her most relentless competitor, Amazon, would be forced to collect sales tax. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 26, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/technology/internet-sales-tax-coming-too-late-for-some-stores.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=business&adxnnlx=1367075722-WWYd/ji/2PZqa8QTItbNpA Questions for Discussions: Do you think the tax legislation was delayed to help companies like Amazon get started? Do you think… Read more »
American Girl drives Mattel sales
Description: Mattel’s stock rises due to strong sales of American Girl, despite slumping sales of iconic brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price. <paramname=”bgcolor” value=”#000000″ /><embedsrc=”http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/.element/apps/cvp/4.0/swf/cnn_money_384x216_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=/video/investing/2013/04/17/investing-the-buzz-mattel.cnnmoney”type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” bgcolor=”#000000″ allowfullscreen=”true”allowscriptaccess=”always” width=”384″ wmode=”transparent” height=”356″> Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 17, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/04/17/investing-the-buzz-mattel.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What is the explanation for Mattel’s stock performance? How should… Read more »
Apple drops 5.5% on signs of downbeat quarter
Description: Apple Inc. shares took another hard hit on Wednesday as more signs emerged of a downbeat earnings report from the company next week. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Apr 17, 2013 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-hit-by-more-signs-of-downbeat-quarter-2013-04-17?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Why has Apple’s stock value fallen this week? What is the basis for predictions of higher prices by Goldman and… Read more »
Microsoft and other PC stocks crash
Description: Shares of Microsoft, Intel, and HP tumble after reports that PC sales plunged nearly 14% in the first quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 11, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/04/11/investing-the-buzz-pc-dead.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why have PC stock prices dropped? Why were they doing well recently? Where do you see them headed in the next… Read more »
Amazon Investors Give CEO Bezos Room to Run
Description: Amazon.com’s (AMZN) Jeff Bezos has the kind of investors any chief executive officer would envy. While others must contend with restive shareholders who demand steadily increasing profits or bigger dividends, Bezos has nearly free rein to pursue his strategy of ignoring earnings and spending heavily to expand into new businesses. The stock is up… Read more »
The Game Theory Behind Starbucks’ Big Coffee Price Cut
Description: Good news for the caffeinated masses: Starbucks (SBUX) is cutting prices, starting May 10, on its bags of coffee sold in grocery stores. The $1-per-bag discount represents a 10 percent discount on its eponymous beans, a 12.5 percent drop on its cheaper Seattle’s Best brand. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Apr 12, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-12/the-game-theory-behind-starbucks-big-coffee-price-cut#r=hpt-lst Questions… Read more »
KPMG rocked by alleged insider trading
Description: KPMG resigned Tuesday as the auditor of Herbalife and Skechers after the partner in charge of the accounting firm’s Los Angeles audit practice was alleged to have engaged in insider trading. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Apr 09, 2013 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kpmg-steps-down-as-herbalife-auditor-2013-04-09?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights in this report. What can management and regulators do… Read more »
How Bitcoin works
Description: The Internet currency, Bitcoin has seen an uptick recently as more people look to the virtual currency as a way to get rich. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 04, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/04/04/n-cmr-bitcoin-explainer-velshi.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What is the difference between trade in Bitcoin and say the US dollar? Do you think this… Read more »
Low-Cost Drugs in Poor Nations Get a Lift in Indian Court
Description: People in developing countries worldwide will continue to have access to low-cost copycat versions of drugs for diseases like H.I.V. and cancer, at least for a while. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 01, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/business/global/top-court-in-india-rejects-novartis-drug-patent.html?_r=0 Questions for Discussions: What is the basis for the decision? Do you think this will become a growing financial… Read more »
