Description: With a real-world profit and an inexhaustible supply of virtual cows, Zynga on Friday filed for what is expected to be one of the biggest Internet stock offerings ever, a debut whose fate is tied largely to that of Facebook’s. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/01/2011 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/zynga-files-for-1-billion-i-p-o/?ref=business Questions for discussion: What is the business model… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Company Analysis
The real story behind the market ‘boom’
Description: A new report from TrimTabs, the investment analysts, has blown the whistle on what really went on behind the stock-market “boom†we saw in the first quarter, when the S&P 500 Index rose more than 5%. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 06/29/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-real-story-behind-the-market-boom-2011-06-29?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: What are the implications for this strategy to boost… Read more »
Where Apple is vulnerable: Motorola’s view
Description: Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha says that the only possible weakness for Apple is as it scales up, it may lose its innovative edge. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/22/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/22/t_ls_motorola_apple.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented by Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha. Do you agree with his assessments and projections for… Read more »
Putting RIM back on the winning track
Description: The most telling aspect of Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIM-T28.23-0.91-3.12%) recent conference call was the amount of time its CEOs spent explaining why they should keep their jobs. Source: GlobeandMail.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/putting-rim-back-on-the-winning-track/article2074548/ Questions for discussion: Summarized the reasons for RIM’s recent dramatic fall is share value? How much is… Read more »
Keeping companies like Facebook private – forever
Description: Fortune editors Dan Roth and Dan Primack believe companies will continue to go public even if regulators relax rules forcing them to. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/15/f_deal_ipo_facebook.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to the laws governing when a firm must go public. Are there winners or losers in… Read more »
Pandora Falls Below IPO Price, Reversing Yesterday’s Gain
Description: Pandora Media Inc. fell, erasing yesterday’s gain, amid concern that competition may stymie efforts by the online-radio company to reach profitability. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/16/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-16/pandora-falls-below-ipo-price-reversing-yesterday-s-gain.html Questions for discussion: Explain the volatility of the stock value. How would you estimate a value for the firm? Would you be an investor today?
UPDATE 3-Perkins restaurant chain files for bankruptcy
Description: The owner of the Perkins and Marie Callender’s restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy on Monday with plans to close 65 of its 600 locations and cut 2,500 jobs, according to court documents. Perkins & Marie Callender Inc became the latest food company to fall victim to a sluggish recovery and soaring food prices. Last… Read more »
Aflac’s comeback
Description: Shares of Aflac have taken a beating lately but name recognition is helping the insurer turn things around. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/06/10/mkts_mids_aflac.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you consider Aflac a good investment today? How about insurance companies in general? Why might recent natural and man-made disasters be interpreted as… Read more »
Is ING Direct up for grabs?
Description: Ally, CIT, and GE could be in the running to takeover the online banking company, ING Direct. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/07/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/06/07/mkts_mid_ing.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think this is a good fit for GE? Why would ING be selling this division?
Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump
Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »
