Description: A member of the Sackler family that owns OxyContin’s maker directed the company to put a premium on selling high dosages of its potentially addicting painkillers, according to new disclosures in a lawsuit. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 31, 2019 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/health/opioids-purdue-pharma-sackler.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say to investors about risk? Is… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Industry Analysis
Why Airbus and Boeing are the only two companies to dominate 99% of the large plane market
Description: Why Airbus and Boeing are the only two companies to dominate 99% of the large plane market Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/26/why-airbus-and-boeing-dominate-99-percent-of-the-large-plane-market.html Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the industry, and these two companies in particular, that investors should take away? Is Boeing a good… Read more »
Big Pharma’s Drug Studies Are Getting a NASA-Style Makeover
Description: A third of development costs comes from clinical trials. Novartis wants to make them cheaper and faster. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-25/big-pharma-s-drug-studies-are-getting-a-nasa-style-makeover?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the approach being developed to reduce and control expenses? Why do you suppose it is only now being considered by these drug companies? Should investors… Read more »
Microsoft’s Tech Chief Talks Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality, and Sod Farming
Description: As Microsoft’s chief technology officer, Kevin Scott has the challenging job of keeping his company atop all of the tech trends. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: http://fortune.com/2019/01/25/microsoft-cto-artificial-intelligence-mixed-reality/ Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest to investors about the future of Microsoft product development? Do you see the firm… Read more »
Dow gains more than 100 points as Goldman posts best day in 10 years
Description: Stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered strong quarterly earnings from major banks like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/stock-market-futures-higher-after-brexit-vote-bank-earnigns-in-focus.html Questions for discussion: Why are bank stock performances so important to overall market expectations? Why do you think there might be concern going… Read more »
Health care industry spends $30 billion a year on marketing
Description: Critics say patients are often misled by ads that advocate high-priced drugs, unapproved stem cell treatments or genetic tests. Source: NBC.com Date: Jan 08, 2019 Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/health-care-industry-spends-30-billion-year-marketing-n956251 Questions for discussion: Summarize the criticisms directed at the health care industry in this report? Do you agree with the assessments? How should the industry, governments, investors,… Read more »
Snap nosedives nearly 14% after its CFO unexpectedly resigns less than one year into his job
Description: Snap shares plummeted 13.8 percent Wednesday afternoon following the company’s announcement Tuesday that its chief financial officer is resigning after less than a year on the job. Source: CNBC.com Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/snap-nosedives-after-cfo-resigns-less-than-one-year-on-the-job.html Questions for discussion: Explain the drop in stock price in terms of managerial conditions. Do you think the stock is… Read more »
10 Ways Roku Is Growing Its Ad Business
Description: Roku, the David to the connected-TV-device Goliaths (Apple, Amazon and Google), is differentiating itself by expanding its advertising business. Source: emarketer.com Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/10-ways-roku-is-growing-its-ads-business?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest to investors about the future financial performance of the firm? Would you be a buyer at this time?
Amazon could surge 20 percent this year as opportunities are ‘mostly unconstrained’
Description: Amazon is set for a bull run in 2019 as shares could surge more than 20 percent, according to a new report from Pivotal Research Group. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 07, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/07/amazon-stock-could-surge-20-percent-in-2019-analyst-says.html Questions for discussion: What is the basis for Amazon’s growth potential, according to the report? How are Amazon,… Read more »
More Start-Ups Have an Unfamiliar Message for Venture Capitalists: Get Lost
Description: On a sunny Saturday morning in New York a few months ago, a group of 50 start-up founders gathered in the dank basement of a Lower East Side bar. They scribbled notes at long tables, sipping coffee and LaCroix while a stack of pizza boxes emanated the odor of hot garlic. One by one,… Read more »
