Description: Alibaba’s IPO pop was stupendous. Wall Street and its favorite clients get billions of dollars in found money. And those who let this happen should be thoroughly ashamed. Source: Fortune.com Date: Sep 19, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/09/19/alibaba-ipo-its-official-wall-street-wins-you-will-lose/ Questions for Discussions: What is the basis for the criticism in this report? Do you agree?
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
The Dumb Money Is Getting Smarter Every Day
Description: In the parlance of Wall Street, there’s the “smart money” and the “dumb money.” The dumb money falls for investing fads, sells into market panics and pays ridiculous fees. The smart money doesn’t. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 17, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-17/the-dumb-money-is-getting-smarter-every-day-.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the changes taking place in investing, according to the… Read more »
The Government Keeps Helping People Buy Failing Cold Stone Creamerys
Description: Would you loan someone money to buy a Cold Stone Creamery franchise if you knew that more than a quarter of those loans default? If you’re the U.S. government, the answer is yes. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 16, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/franchises-the-government-keeps-helping-people-buy-failing-brands#r=nav-fst Questions for Discussions: Why do you suppose the SBA loans continue to be… Read more »
‘Apple Pay’ may be safer than plastic
Description: Security measures on mobile wallets may make them a safer option than plastic credit cards. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 12, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/09/11/apple-iphone-apple-pay-safer-than-plastic.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Do you think Apple Pay will take away business from bank and credit card companies? How much risk does this new technology present to investors… Read more »
Square raises $100 million at $6 billion valuation
Description: Square raises another $100 million, and it isn’t done yet. Source: Fortune.com Date: Sep 12, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/09/12/square-raises-100-million-at-6-billion-valuation/ Questions for Discussions: Evaluate the risk associated with this company in light of the competitive environment and costs of building a network of users. Do you believe the company can be made into an attractive acquisition… Read more »
Blackstone’s $26 Billion Hilton Deal: The Best Leveraged Buyout Ever
Description: In the early spring of 2009, with the recession deepening, Christopher Nassetta stood alone in an empty house in Arlington, Va., surrounded by moving boxes and trying not to despair. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 12, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/blackstones-hilton-deal-best-leveraged-buyout-ever#r=nav-f-story Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights in this story. Do you agree with assessment that… Read more »
Scottish Banks to Move If Independence Is Approved
Description: Scotland’s leading banks warned Thursday that they would move their headquarters to England if Scots vote to leave the United Kingdom, intensifying doubts about the territory’s economic future and dealing a blow to the Scottish independence campaign just days ahead of a historic Source:ABCNews.com Date: Sep 11, 2014 Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/scottish-banks-move-independence-approved-25435839 Questions for Discussions: What… Read more »
What will Yahoo do with Alibaba cash?
Description: With billions in cash coming once Yahoo sells some of its stake in Alibaba, can CEO Marissa Mayer impress investors? Yahoo needs to prove to Wall Street once and for all that its turnaround strategy can work. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 02, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/09/02/what-will-yahoo-do-with-alibaba-money.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What would you… Read more »
Elon Musk: Tesla Stock Price ‘Kind Of High Right Now’
Description: Elon Musk sure knows how to stir up investors. On the day Tesla’s CEO announced that his car company’s $5 billion next generation battery “gigafactory” would be built in Nevada, Musk quipped, ”I think our stock price is kind of high right now to be totally honest.” Musk continued: ”If you care about the long term, Tesla,… Read more »
Alibaba Seeks $21.1 Billion in Record-Breaking U.S. IPO
Description: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the e-commerce company whose fortunes surged along with China’s economy, plans an historic U.S. initial public offering that may also claim the global record. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 06, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-05/alibaba-seeks-21-1-billion-in-record-breaking-u-s-ipo-3-.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights described in this report that argue for and against the IPO… Read more »
