Carney Says Capitalism Must Reassess Bankers’ ‘Sense of Self’

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Mark Carney wants more “we” and less “me” in global finance. The financial crisis and trading scandals revealed how banks lost their way and staff operated for personal gain without regard to their impact on society, the Bank of England Governor said in a speech yesterday. Rules to prevent such behavior should embody the idea that firms and employees bear responsibility to the system in which they function, he said.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 27, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-27/carney-says-capitalism-must-reassess-bankers-sense-of-self-.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the issues presented in the report?
  • What do you think the responses are likely to be from parties involved?

Top 5 reasons why your CEO just got a big fat raise… and 5 reasons why you didn’t

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: WASHINGTON — Pay for globe-trotting CEOs has soared to new heights, even as most workers remain grounded by paychecks that are barely budging.

Source: NationalPost.com

Date: May 27, 2014

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/27/the-ceo-of-your-company-just-got-a-huge-raise-you-didnt-heres-why/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the overall explanation provided in this report for the wide gap in pay.
  • Do you agree?
  • Should anything be done about the gap by board of directors?
  • How do you think this situation affects investors?

Apple has its mojo back

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: Apple investors have reason to be excited again. iOS 8 is coming. So is the big stock split. And remember that Beats deal? Tim Cook is making his mark.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 23, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/23/investing-the-buzz-apple-tim-cook-ipad-iphone.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why has Apple stock value recovered so much according to the report?
  • Do you think Apple is a good buy going forward?
  • How might the stock respond after the split?

Apple is in trouble and here’s why

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Chamath Palihapitiya, former Facebook Vice President of Growth for Mobile and International, discusses Facebook’s and Google’s acquisition strategies on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 23, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/do-facebook-s-recent-acquisitions-make-sense-ZXH3LiaTQxWPgqHUqHUQEQ.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why is Apple in trouble, according to Chamath Palihapitiya?
  • How should investors use the opinions expressed in this report to guide their decision making?

All about the bling! Tiffany shines

Posted by & filed under Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Tiffany’s shares are soaring as consumers can’t get enough little blue boxes. But it’s not the only luxury retailer doing well. Nordstrom and Michael Kors have reported strong earnings this year too.

Source: CNN.com – video report

Date: May 21, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/21/investing-the-buzz-tiffany-diamonds-michael-kors-nordstrom-luxury.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about Tiffany stock performance and the reasons?
  • What does this suggest to you about the direction of retail stock performance going forward?

Red Lobster’s Sale Embroils Its Parent in a Fight

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: Peeved over the pending sale of Red Lobster, an investment firm wants to replace Darden Restaurants’ (DRI) board of directors. Starboard Value, an activist hedge fund in New York, contends that Darden has “essentially given away” the seafood chain in its recent $2.1 billion agreement to sell it to Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm in San Francisco.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: May 22, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/red-lobsters-sale-sparks-a-fight-for-its-parent#r=hpt-fs

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the issues presented in the report?
  • Who do you think is right in this case?

Golf Market Stuck in Bunker as Thousands Leave the Sport

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: The golf industry is in the rough. Once the go-to activity for corporate bonding, the sport is suffering from an exodus of players, a lack of interest among millennials and the mass closure of courses.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 23, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-23/golf-market-stuck-in-bunker-as-thousands-leave-the-sport.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about the reasons for the decline in stock value of golf equipment manufacturers?
  • Do you think the industry will recover?
  • How should investors treat these companies?

Tim Geithner responds to critics

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner says the banking industry is like ‘the power grid’ and that the economic recovery from the financial crisis is ‘moderate.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/15/n-tim-geithner-financial-crisis-economic-recovery-criticism.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the explanations provided by Tim Geithner for the way he handled the financial crisis.
  • Do you think his explanation makes sense?
  • Do you think his actions are the reason for the slow economic recovery?

Wal-Mart woes deeper than winter snow

Posted by & filed under Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: It was a rough winter for retailers and Wal-Mart was no exception. But the company also issued weak guidance for the warmer second quarter as it boosts investments to remain competitive against Amazon and Costco.

Source: CNN.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/15/investing-the-buzz-walmart-retailers-kohls.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why did Wal-Mart miss earnings targets, according to this report?
  • Do you think Wal-Mart will have more difficulty competing in a crowded retail market?

Sears is in serious trouble

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: Sears used to be an American retail icon. Ditto for Sears-owned Kmart. But with sales plunging and losses mounting, the only thing left for Sears to do is sell assets and close stores. That’s not a reason to buy the stock.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/14/investing-the-buzz-sears-kmart-retailer-eddie-lampert.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why is Sears in trouble?
  • Can the company be returned to the valuations it once enjoyed?
  • How should investors play this stock?