Description: Facebook Inc. (FB) reported a plunge in fourth-quarter profit on higher spending, even while it made long-awaited progress luring advertisers eager to reach mobile- device users. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 31, 2013 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-30/facebook-profit-drops-amid-higher-spending-on-features-ad-tools.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial analysis presented in this report for Facebook. Explain the reasoning for… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
What’s behind the bull market
Description: U.S. stocks are flirting with all-time highs, climbing to levels not seen since before the financial crisis. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: Jan 31, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/31/investing/stocks-bull-market/index.html?iid=Lead Questions for Discussions: What are the explanations for the bull market and return to 2007 market levels? What are the concerns going forward? What is your view of the… Read more »
As Music Streaming Grows, Royalties Slow to a Trickle
Description: Like plenty of music fans, Sam Broe jumped at the chance to join Spotify two summers ago, and he hasn’t looked back. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 28, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/business/media/streaming-shakes-up-music-industrys-model-for-royalties.html?ref=media&_r=0 Questions for Discussions: What does this article have to say about the royalties earned by artists? As small business people on the lower end… Read more »
Why Apple is down, and Netflix is up
Description: How could this be? Expectations drive stocks and Apple disappointed Wall Street while Netflix delivered a surprise profit. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 24, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/01/24/investing-buzz-apple-netflix-nokia-stock.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why did Apple’s stock price decline so dramatically on January 24 according to the report? Do you think the stock is oversold?… Read more »
Hasbro cutting jobs after weak holiday
Description: Shares of toymaker Hasbro fell on disappointing fourth quarter sales and layoff news. Rival Mattel was lower too. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 25, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/01/25/investing-buzz-hasbro-mattel-toys-jobs.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why have sales declined for the firm? How should management respond to the trends in customer behavior that were highlighted in the… Read more »
Making the case for negative interest rates
Description: Former Fed official Alan Blinder talks about how to fix the economy, where the next crisis will come from, and how scared investors should be. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jan 25, 2013 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/25/alan-blinder-interest-rates/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: What are the major concerns and recommendations made by Alan Binder? Do you agree with his positions? What… Read more »
Why We’ll Still Never See a 100% Reserve Economy
Description: “I’m going to start with a model of a perfectly safe 100 percent reserve economy,” said Robert Lucas, “…which looks better and better to me.” Lucas, a Nobel Prize-winning economist at the University of Chicago, was speaking two weeks ago at a panel in San Diego to mark the 100th anniversary of the Federal… Read more »
Lululemon: Downward facing stock
Description: Despite continued growth, investors are punishing Lululemon stock on worse-than-expected guidance. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 15, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/01/15/investing-buzz-lululemon.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why has the stock price declined recently? Summarize the financial analysis presented in the report. Why would some investors believe there remains much more growth in the future for… Read more »
Harry Winston to Use Swatch Cash for Diamonds Purchases
Description: Harry Winston Diamond Corp. (HW)’s $1 billion sale of a luxury unit to Swatch Group AG (UHR) provides the cash to invest more in diamond mining, a business that last year was more than twice as profitable as jewelry. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 15, 2013 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-15/harry-winston-to-use-swatch-cash-for-diamonds-purchases.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the logic of… Read more »
Dell buyout talks advance, Silver Lake lines up banks-sources
Description: Talks to take Dell Inc private are at an advanced stage with at least four major banks lined up to provide financing, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, propelling shares of the No. 3 computer maker 7 percent higher. Source: Reuters.com Date: Jan 16, 2013 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/us-dell-deal-idUSBRE90E0XK20130116 Questions for Discussions: Explain… Read more »
