Description: Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff explains why he wants to buy Trulia and talks about future growth for the combined company. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/07/28/zillow-ceo-trulia-deal.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons given for the deal. Do you think they deal is a good one? How will this deal… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
Arrogance Is Good: In Defense of Silicon Valley
Description: Sam Altman sits behind his desk with his knees pulled up to his chest, eating dried apricots. He’s 29, but even the most laissez-faire bartender would card him. His hand is forever grabbing his hair while he thinks, making it stick up in Einsteinian tufts. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 07, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-07/silicon-valley-tech-entrepreneurs-behind-the-stereotype#p1 Questions… Read more »
Two cheers for ‘too big to fail’
Description: Had the government not rescued the big banks during the 2008 financial crisis, the public’s expense would surely have been far greater. Source: Fortune.com Date: August 07, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/08/07/two-cheers-for-too-big-to-fail/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments put forward in this article. Do you agree?
Canada’s very own private-equity giant Onex quietly tops returns of big-name U.S. rivals
Description: The best performer of the biggest publicly traded private-equity firms this year won’t be found among U.S. giants such as Blackstone Group LP or KKR & Co. The leader is Canada’s own contender, the dark horse in the race, Gerry Schwartz’s Onex Corp. With a 15% stock gain, Onex is running well ahead of… Read more »
Investors like Amazon 3D phone chatter
Description: The only thing cooler than a 3D phone? A drone delivering it to you. Amazon stock enjoyed a nice pop after announcing (via YouTube) that it will unveil a new product — likely a 3D phone — on June 18. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/06/06/investing-the-buzz-amazon-3d-smartphone-drone-delivery.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions:… Read more »
Why stock market bubble talk is just hot air
Description: Fortune’s Stephen Gandel discusses why it’s not time to bail on the stock market just yet. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/video/2014/06/06/why-stock-market-bubble-talk-is-just-hot-air/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the explanations presented in this report. Do you agree with Stephen Gandel’s assessments and projections?
The ticking time bomb in Europe’s latest economic stimulus
Description: Europe needs to get real about its so-called “zombie bank” problem and take the hits needed to unclog its lending machine. Source: Fortune.com Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/06/06/europe-economy-banks-lending/ Questions for Discussions: What are the problems facing European banks, according to the report? What are the suggested solutions?
Q&A: Travis Kalanick on Uber’s New $17 Billion Valuation
Description: Uber Technologies, the company that allows people to order taxis and private town cars via a smartphone app, has just raised $1.2 billion in a fundraising round that values the four-year-old startup at an astounding $17 billion. Source: Businessweek.com Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-06/q-and-a-travis-kalanick-on-ubers-new-17-billion-valuation#r=hp-ls Questions for Discussions: Summarize the risks and potential returns… Read more »
Bond Rally Is Squeezing the Trading at Big Banks
Description: Wall Street’s biggest firms this year made an extraordinary wager that they probably now regret. Source: NYTimes.com Date: June 05, 2014 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/bond-boom-is-squeezing-the-trading-at-big-banks/?ref=business Questions for discussion: Why did the big banks take the position they did earlier in the year? Can they be blamed for their thinking? How should they go forward in terms… Read more »
Tesla debt: An electric lemon?
Description: Tesla debt may have gotten a junk bond rating from Standard and Poor due to concerns about its ‘niche’ market status. But investors in Tesla stock still have faith in Elon Musk. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/28/n-tesla-electric-cars-elon-musk-bonds.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the differences in thinking by Tesla bond… Read more »