Description: Apple Inc.’s approach to Blackstone Group LP Chief Financial Officer Laurence Tosi about becoming finance chief may be a sign Steve Jobs is ready to pick up the dealmaking pace. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 01/07/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-07/apple-s-overture-to-blackstone-cfo-may-presage-deals.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons Apple is expected to go looking for acquisitions. Do you think Tosi… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Company Analysis
Will Apple sour in 2011?
Description: Readers of ‘The Buzz’ are surprisingly bearish on the technology giant despite a super 2010. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/23/n_bz_apple_aapl_2011.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasoning that supports further increases ahead for Apple and those that don’t. What do you think will happen to Apple stock value? What do you… Read more »
BBBY goes beyond analysts’ forecasts
Description: Bed Bath & Beyond is raising expectations for the year after same-store sales jumped 7.6% in the first three quarters. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 12/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/12/23/mkts_bed_bath_beyond.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the important financial metrics presented in this report. How do you explain the performance if BBBY in 2010? What do… Read more »
Ernst & Young Is Nuts to Say Lehman Was Clean: Jonathan Weil
Description: Two weeks before New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office sued Ernst & Young LLP, a prominent U.S. consulting firm issued a press release touting its ability to help others manage the risk of fraud. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 12/23/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-23/ernst-young-is-nuts-to-say-lehman-was-clean-jonathan-weil.html Questions for discussion: What are the commentary leveled at the industry in this… Read more »
Cerberus’s Feinberg Said to Recoup 90% of 2007 Bet on Chrysler After Sale
Description: Cerberus Capital Management LP’s bet on Chrysler survived bankruptcy and the 2008 financial crisis to recoup about 90 percent of the original investment, said two people with knowledge of the matter. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 12/22/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-22/cerberus-is-said-to-recoup-90-of-chrysler-investment-after-loan-unit-sale.html Questions for discussion: Evaluate the net value of the deal to Cerberus today. Who are the… Read more »
TD Bank May Make More U.S. Purchases After Chrysler Financial
Description: Toronto-Dominion Bank may continue to make acquisitions in the U.S. after increasing its bet there with the $6.3 billion purchase of Chrysler Financial Corp., capping a record quarter for U.S. takeovers by Canadian lenders. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 12/22/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-22/td-bank-may-make-more-u-s-purchases-after-chrysler-financial.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the possible strategic thinking behind the TD bank’s acquisitions…. Read more »
RIM shares up on earnings; questions remain
Description: While investors have bid up shares of Research In Motion Ltd. significantly over the past few months, Wall Street remains cool on the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone franchise — despite it’ relatively strong performance this year. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 12/17/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rim-results-keep-wall-street-divided-2010-12-17 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reported financial results for RIM and… Read more »
Title Costco Wholesale Profit Increases on Gasoline, Grocery Sales
Title Costco Wholesale Profit Increases on Gasoline, Grocery Sales Description: Costco Wholesale Corp. posted a 17 percent increase in first-quarter profit, surpassing some analystsà estimates, as membership fees boosted revenue for the largest U.S. warehouse-club chain Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 12/08/2010 C-T Economic Analysis,  Company Analysis – Investing Strategies, Stocks Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-08/costco-wholesale-first-quarter-profit-gains-17-on-gasoline-grocery-sales.html Questions for discussion:  Summarize… Read more »
Groupon reportedly spurns Google’s billions
Description: Groupon Inc. has walked away from a Google Inc. acquisition offer worth as much as $6 billion, according to reports late Friday, appearing to set the stage for a Groupon IPO as soon as next year. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 12/04/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google-merger-2010-12-04 Questions for discussion: Do you think Groupon is… Read more »
Tiffany shows its sparkle
Description: The season of bling in full swing, as Tiffany reports a 14% surge in sales, and Signet gets a boost from record gold prices. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 11/24/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/11/24/mkts_tiffany_signet.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial results reported? Do you believe these results suggest a positive change in consumer attitude toward… Read more »
