Target has its groove back

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

Description: Investors and consumers seem to have forgotten about the big data breach. Target’s stock is at an all-time high. Wall Street loves what new CEO Brian Cornell is doing. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: March 31, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/03/31/target-stock-buzz.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why has Target’s stock price performed so well? Do you think it’s… Read more »

GoDaddy’s surprising IPO pop

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: With the company going public Wednesday, stock price immediately jumped roughly 30 percent. But debt has some investors worried. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: April 01, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1CO9umm Questions for Discussions: Why do you suppose the IPO performed so well on its first day? Do you believe the valuation is appropriate going… Read more »

Motorola Is Unable to Find Buyers After Months-Long Effort

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Description: Motorola Solutions Inc. has failed to find a buyer after seeking to drum up interest from private-equity funds and large industrial companies, people with knowledge of the matter said. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: April 02, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-02/motorola-is-said-unable-to-find-buyers-after-months-long-effort Questions for discussion: Why do you think Motorola is having difficulty finding a buyer? What are the… Read more »

Who Will Pay For McDonald’s Wage Hikes?

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Description: If McDonald’s franchises follow the parent company – which recently hiked wages — and hike their own wages, some of them could soon be out of business. But before they close the door, they may lay-off many of their employees, who will end up paying for the wage hike. Source: Forbes.com Date: April 02,… Read more »

Macaroni & cheers! Buffett’s Heinz buys Kraft

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Description: Heinz, owned by Berkshire Hathaway and private equity firm 3G, are scooping up the maker of Velveeta. Will Warren Buffett look to acquire even more food companies? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: March 25, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/03/25/kraft-heinz-buffett-merger.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the reasons that explain consolidation in the food industry? Which other… Read more »

Oil analysts haven’t been this divided in 8 years: What’s an investor to do?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Standard Chartered Plc’s Paul Horsnell forecasts oil will rise to US$90 a barrel in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Francisco Blanch predicts US$58. Six months ago, they were just US$1 apart. Source: NationalPost.com/Bloomberg – video report Date: March 26, 2015 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/03/27/oil-analysts-havent-been-this-divided-in-8-years-as-market-gets-messier-so-whats-an-investor-to-do/?__lsa=62a8-b7e6 Questions for Discussions: What are the reasons for diverse… Read more »

Swoosh! Nike pops despite strong dollar

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Description: Nike’s guidance for its future orders was surprisingly weak. But that’s only because of the dollar’s surge. Investors are excited that demand remains strong, especially in China and Europe. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: March 20, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/03/20/nike-stock-buzz.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: How does the strong U.S. dollar affect Nike’s financial performance? Explain… Read more »

Investors fly away from U.S. stock funds at a rate last seen in 2009

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

Description: Don’t expect European inflows to keep up torrid pace: analysts Source: MarketWatch.com Date: March 28, 2015 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/investors-flee-us-stock-funds-at-a-rate-last-seen-in-2009-2015-03-27 Questions for discussion: Why are investors moving into European stocks? When do you think it will taper off?

Lululemon Athletica Inc rebounds after yoga-wear maker reassures investors that problems are temporary

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

Description: Canadian yogawear retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc forecast earnings and revenue below expectations on Thursday, but its shares rose after executives said the weak outlook was largely due to temporary West Coast port delays and currency factors. The stock was up 6.2% at US$64.73 in morning trading, with investors reassured that the outlook did not… Read more »

Will the Fed raise interest rates to the detriment of the stock market?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Fortune senior editor Stephen Gandel and writer-reporter Christopher Matthews discuss if the Federal Reserve raising interest rates is a good thing for the economy long-term. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: March 13, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1b8kdxr Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentaries about a rate hike and the consequences for the economy? What do… Read more »