Description: JPMorgan Chase kicked off the banking industry’s earnings season on Friday with news that its profits surged 48 percent last year amid signs that consumers and businesses had slowly regained their balance in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 01/14/2011 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/jpmorgans-fourth-quarter-profits-rise-47-to-4-8-billion/?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the explanation for the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
Facebook Moves Toward IPO
Description: Facebook is poised to cross the 500 shareholder mark this year, so is an IPO in the works? Kelsey Hubbard gets a Facebook “status update” from the WSJ’s Dennis Berman. Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-07/apple-s-overture-to-blackstone-cfo-may-presage-deals.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons Apple is expected to go looking for acquisitions. Do you think Tosi would be a good… Read more »
After a Long Ascent, Turbulence for Bonds
Description: WHEN the stock market plummeted in 2008, investors began to pour money into bond mutual funds, which generally performed quite well — at least until this past December. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 01/08/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/mutfund/09bond.html?ref=mutfund Questions for discussion:  Summarize performance of bonds over the last 12 months. How have investors behaved recently? Strategically… Read more »
Facebook? Google is the next Google
Description:Â Only in the fickle world of technology can a company with a market value of $200 billion and nearly 20% sales growth be considered yesterday’s news. Source:Â CNNMoney.com Date: 01/07/2011 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/technology/thebuzz/index.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key factors driving the valuations for Facebook and Google. How do you think they will perform over… Read more »
BBBY goes beyond analysts’ forecasts
Description: Bed Bath & Beyond is raising expectations for the year after same-store sales jumped 7.6% in the first three quarters. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 12/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/12/23/mkts_bed_bath_beyond.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the important financial metrics presented in this report. How do you explain the performance if BBBY in 2010? What do… Read more »
Why Investor Optimism May Be a Red Flag
Description: NOW that the market has risen, investors are becoming optimistic again about stocks. There are many signs of this. The American Association of Individual Investors, for example, reports that most investors now describe themselves as bullish, versus just 20 percent in July. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 12/25/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/your-money/26fund.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the… Read more »
WIll the bull keep running?
Description: Historically, the third year for a president produces a good return for investors. Investment strategists Liz Ann Sonders and Sam Stovall say why 2011 will be no different. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 12/21/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/20/n_ss_panel_4_stocks.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions expressed in this report. How do you expect the markets… Read more »
TD Bank May Make More U.S. Purchases After Chrysler Financial
Description: Toronto-Dominion Bank may continue to make acquisitions in the U.S. after increasing its bet there with the $6.3 billion purchase of Chrysler Financial Corp., capping a record quarter for U.S. takeovers by Canadian lenders. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 12/22/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-22/td-bank-may-make-more-u-s-purchases-after-chrysler-financial.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the possible strategic thinking behind the TD bank’s acquisitions…. Read more »
Run With the Dogs of the Dow
Description: Buying the 10 highest-yielding Dow stocks and holding them for 12 months has rewarded investors with earnings growth and dividends, says financial adviser Kurt Brouwer, editor of MarketWatch’s FundMastery blog. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 12/16/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/run-with-the-dogs-of-the-dow/61758D19-6700-4B86-A696-2E9682191C52 Questions for discussion: Summarize the bond investing strategy described in this report? Do you… Read more »
Red-hot metals could burn investors
Red-hot metals could burn investors Description: Despite strong fundamentals behind the rise of gold and silver, investment in these precious metals is not risk free. Source: CNNMoney.com ñ video report Date: 12/06/2010 C-T  Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation ñ Investing Strategies, Commodities Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/12/06/mkts_gold_silver_futures.cnnmoney/ <object width=”384″ height=”356″ classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ id=”ep”><param name=”allowfullscreen” value=”true” /><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”… Read more »
