Number of distressed U.S. retailers at highest level since Great Recession

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Moody’s says 14% of its retail names are sitting at the lowest level of the credit-rating spectrum Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 27, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/number-of-distressed-us-retailers-at-highest-level-since-great-recession-2017-02-27?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial analysis of the industry as presented in the report. How should investors evaluate these stocks today? Do you foresee opportunities for mergers or… Read more »

What Lyft’s Funding, and Uber’s Struggles, Mean for the Sharing Economy

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Ride-hailing service Lyft is seeking $500 million in funding, which would value the company between $6 billion and $7 billion, Reuters reports. By comparison, its biggest competitor Uber is valued at about $70 billion. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Feb 23, 2017 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/Article/What-Lyfts-Funding-Ubers-Struggles-Mean-Sharing-Economy/1015361?ecid=NL1001 Questions for Discussions: What does the report suggest about the growth prospects… Read more »

Warren Buffett’s ‘bottom line’ in letter to Berkshire Hathaway: Don’t waste money on investment fees

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: OMAHA, Neb. — Billionaire Warren Buffett used his much anticipated annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders to reiterate his wariness of high Wall Street fees and his positive outlook for the U.S. economy. Source: NationalPost.com Date: Feb 25, 2017 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/investing/global-investor/warren-buffetts-bottom-line-in-annual-letter-to-berkshire-hathaway-dont-waste-money-on-investment-fees Questions for discussion: What is the basis for Buffett’s advice? What would happen… Read more »

Stocks and bonds tell investors two different stories

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Treasury yields are falling, but the VIX has remained steady Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 24, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stocks-and-bonds-tell-investors-two-different-stories-2017-02-24 Questions for discussion: Explain the analysis presented in this report. What do you think these indicators are suggesting?

Peak Market?

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Like any good private-equity investor, Carlyle has demonstrated a knack for buying when others are selling, and vice versa. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 24, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/business/dealbook/carlyle-distressed-assets.html?ref=dealbook&_r=0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented in this article. Do you agree with this line of thinking?

Warren Buffett Has a Paper Gain of $13.5 Billion From His Bank of America Bet

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: They don’t call him the Oracle of Omaha for nothing. Warren Buffett’s $5 billion bet on then-struggling Bank of America in 2011 has resulted in around $13.5 billion in gains for Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company he heads. Source: Fortune.com Date: Feb 24, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/02/24/warren-buffett-bank-of-america/?iid=leftrail Questions for Discussions: What was Buffett’s bet? Do… Read more »

General Motors, Considering Exiting Europe, Talks About Selling Opel

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: FRANKFURT — General Motors floated the possibility on Tuesday that it could exit the large but troubled European market by selling its chronically unprofitable Opel unit to the French maker of Peugeot and Citroën cars. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 14, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/business/dealbook/general-motors-peugeot-opel.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons for GM’s thinking. Do you… Read more »