Jeremy Siegel: The Bull Run Is Not Over

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Wharton School Professor of Finance Jeremy Siegel and Josh Rosner, managing director at Graham Fisher, discuss where the U.S. markets go from here with Trish Regan on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Apr 11, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/siegel-says-stock-decline-not-end-of-bull-run-ONp_QCmISD6YTdHOIPjBmw.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the economic and market debate presented… Read more »

Tinder isn’t worth $5 billion, but it’s valuable, investors say

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Tinder may not be worth $5 billion, but investors say the dating app remains an extremely valuable product. Source: Fortune.com Date: Apr 11, 2014 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/11/tinder-isnt-worth-5-billion-but-its-valuable-investors-say/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: What is the business model for this app? Do you think it can generate the cash flow needed to support the valuation currently presented? Would… Read more »

Teen Retailers: Who’s Worth Buying?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Should you invest in what your kid’s like to wear? We put the three A’s under the spotlight: Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Ambercrombie & Fitch. Source: BNN.com – video report Date: Apr 04, 2014 Link: http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip1078271 Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights presented in this report and the reasons for the decline at… Read more »

El-Erian: Cautious optimism about Greece’s return to capital markets

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Renewed access to financing must not divert the debt-troubled nation from implementing critical economic reforms. Source: Fortune.com Date: Apr 03, 2014 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/03/el-erian-caution-optimism-about-greeces-return-to-capital-markets/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summarize El-Erian’s assessment of investing in Greek debt and how the Greek government is managing that debt. How would you categorize the risk associated with Greek debt today?

Liberty Media’s smaller stake in Barnes & Noble may actually be a good thing: analysts

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Barnes & Noble Inc.’s shares fell as much as 16% on Thursday after John Malone’s Liberty Media said it’s slashing its holdings in Barnes & Noble to about 1.7% from the 17% stake it held in 2011. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Apr 03, 2014 Link: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/behindthestorefront/2014/04/03/liberty-medias-smaller-stake-in-barnes-noble-may-actually-be-a-good-thing-analysts/ Questions for discussion: Why did the stock price fall… Read more »

The Pow! Bang! Bam! Plan to Save Marvel, Starring B-List Heroes

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

Description: It’s been four years since Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion. At the time, it wasn’t hailed as a brilliant move. Disney’s stock price sank on news of the deal. Superheroes were hot properties in Hollywood, but Disney was spending billions for a company that had years ago signed away the film rights… Read more »

Honeymoon over for new BlackBerry CEO?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description: BlackBerry shares have enjoyed a solid start to 2014. But the stock fell Thursday after being downgraded to a ‘sell.’ With lackluster quarterly results expected Friday, is time running out for John Chen to turn around the company? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/03/27/investing-the-buzz-blackberry-smartphone-apple-iphone-john-chen.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How should… Read more »

Zuckerberg to Buffett Show Rich Owners Dominating Big M&A Deals

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: The megarich are dominating U.S. megadeals. Seven of the 15 U.S. takeover bids worth more than $10 billion since January 2013 were initiated by firms founded and controlled by one of the 200 wealthiest men in the world, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Last month Facebook Inc. (FB)’s Mark Zuckerberg, who has a… Read more »

More Coffee, Please: Cafés Are Growing Faster Than Their Fast-Food Peers

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

Description: If you’ve tracked how much money you spent at coffee shops in the past few years, there’s a good chance it has gone up. The trend is reflected in rising same-store sales at Starbucks (SBUX) (8 percent in 2013) and Dunkin’ Donuts (DNKN) (3.4 percent). Even if you prefer a boutique coffee shop, it’s hard to… Read more »

Who Needs Banks? PayPal and Lending Club Want to Make Small Business Loans

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning.

Description: Lots of companies have tried to use technology to improve small business lending with data, collecting information about merchants from their social media profiles, online accounting software, and reviews to help lenders decide whether to make loans. Alternative companies such as OnDeck and Kabbage have succeeded at increasing loan volumes and speeding approval times. But… Read more »