Description: Slow sales for Darden Restaurant chains Olive Garden and Red Lobster have investors asking for the check as Americans opt to dine at home. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/22/investing-bz-darden.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Why is there concern over financial details related to these firms? Do you agree with the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Company Analysis
Bank Investors Dismiss Moody’s Cuts As Years Too Late
Description: Moody’s Investors Service suffered a downgrade of its own as markets responded to the company’s rating cuts yesterday of 15 of the world’s largest banks by bidding up the value of their stocks and bonds. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-21/credit-suisse-cut-3-levels-as-moody-s-downgrades-biggest-banks.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report have to say about… Read more »
Know Where The Money is Going Before You Ask For It
Description: Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena didn’t necessarily know he wanted to start a business, but he did have a clear concept of what he wanted. “I was trying to make my personal website and I wasn’t satisfied with any of the existing services†said Casalena in interview, “I had a very clear concept of what… Read more »
Nokia: Are the Finnish finished?
Description: Ignore the takeover rumors, ailing cell phone maker Nokia won’t be acquired anytime soon. In fact, now is probably the time to bail. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/14/investing-bz-nokia.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Summarize the analysis and recommendations presented by the reporter. Do you agree? What would you advise Nokia… Read more »
Rajat Gupta Convicted Of Insider Trading By U.S. Jury
Description: Rajat Gupta, who reached the pinnacle of corporate America as managing partner of McKinsey & Co. and as a director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), was convicted by a federal jury of leaking inside information to hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jun 15, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/rajat-gupta-convicted-of-insider-trading-by-u-s-jury.html… Read more »
Profits aren’t the only consideration for newspapers
Description: It might make sense for some newspapers in some cities to quickly switch to digital. It doesn’t make sense in New Orleans. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jun 07, 2012 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/07/profits-arent-the-only-consideration-for-newspapers/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Describe the financial scenario facing the newspaper business. What steps would you advise financial managers of these businesses take?
U.S. Blue Chips Want You to Buy Their Debt
Description: “Looking for CD or Money Market Rates? You can do better.†That’s the pitch that greets visitors to General Electric’s (GE) Interest Plus website. GE, Duke Energy (DUK), Ford Motor (F), and Caterpillar (CAT), are among companies enticing a growing number of individuals to buy their debt through investments sometimes billed as higher-yield alternatives… Read more »
Short-Sellers Find Friends in Banks
Description: As Facebook’s underwriters were frantically trying to shore up Facebook’s share price following the company’s IPO, managers at the same firms were helping short-sellers bet that the newly minted stock would fall. Jonathan Cheng has details on digits. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: May 25, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/short-sellers-find-friends-in-banks/7960CBE8-4D5A-49EF-9739-A678CB652384 Questions for Discussion: Summarize the… Read more »
Facebook’s stock should trade for $13.80
Description: Commentary: Here’s a fair-price calculation for Facebook Source: Marketwatch.com Date: May 25, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebooks-stock-should-trade-for-1380-2012-05-25 Questions for Discussions: What is the basis for the calculations? Do you think the approach is sound? What do you think Facebook is worth?
Our journey buying into Facebook’s IPO
Description: As trading volumes spiked to 567 million shares, CNNMoney tried to get in on the action. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 18, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/18/n-cnnmoney-buys-facebook-shares.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Describe the barriers to buying into the IPO on the first day of trading? How do you think these constraints affected the trading values… Read more »
