Tech stocks partying like its 1999

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

Description: Shares of internet companies like Priceline, Yelp, Facebook, Netflix and Yahoo are at or near all-time or multi-year highs, thanks to solid profits and revenue prospects. But is this another bubble waiting to burst?

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/10/03/investing-the-buzz-tech-stocks.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think a tech bubble is forming?
  • What are the arguments for and against this thinking?

Tesla stock may be losing air

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

Description: Shares of the electric car maker slumped on an analyst downgrade. But Tesla is up more than 450% in 2013. Is there more room to fall?

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 02, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/10/02/investing-the-buzz-tesla-motors-elon-musk.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the reasons for concern over the stock valuation?
  • Do you think the stock will drop back in a significant way?
  • How would you play the stock today?

Icahn Pushes Apple CEO for $150 Billion Share Buyback

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

Description: Carl Icahn, who disclosed a $1 billion stake in Apple Inc. (AAPL) in August, said he had dinner with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and “pushed hard” for a $150-billion share buyback.

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Oct 01, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-01/apple-s-cook-pushed-hard-by-icahn-for-150-billion-buyback.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the financial plan proposed by Carl Icahn.
  • What is the current plan at Apple?
  • What do you think the best decision is for Apple and for shareholders?

Twitter unwraps IPO details

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

Description: Twitter revealed its filing for a proposed initial public offering on Thursday afternoon, setting in motion a debut that could be the most significant tech IPO since Facebook Inc. went public last year.

Source: MarketWatch.com

Date: Oct 03, 2013

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/twitter-unwraps-ipo-details-2013-10-03

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the financial condition at Twitter.
  • What do believe the firm is worth?

For Constellation, Cerveza Makes Money the Way Beer Never Could

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

Description: Constellation Brands (STZ) put out a nice recipe for a profitable cocktail today:• 4 parts beer (must be Mexican)?• 3 parts wine (Arbor Mist, Ravenswood, Robert Mondavi)?• a splash of spirits (Svedka Vodka, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky)

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 03, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-03/for-constellation-cerveza-makes-money-the-way-beer-never-could

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the basis for the dramatic success of the firm?
  • Would you grow the firm through more acquisition or by new product development?

NY AG wants to ‘redefine’ insider trading

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

Description: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the law has always lagged behind technology and it has to adapt as companies get data early to trade on it within milliseconds.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 26, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/09/26/investing-ny-ag-eric-schneiderman-early-data-insider-trading.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the problems discussed and the solutions presented.
  • Do you think there are solutions?
  • Do you think there is a problem?

Why Home Depot’s not building many stores

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

Description: Home Depot CEO says that the boost in online sales has allowed his company to grow while cutting back on brick-and-mortar expansion.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 24, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/25/f-leadership-home-depot-ceo-frank-blake-stores.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How has customer behavior changed strategic planning at Home Depot?
  • How will the reduction in new store openings affect cash flow and financial planning?

Nike does it again; shares hit a record high

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Nike Inc. NKE has delivered again. Its shares, which debuted as a part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday, jumped 5%  Friday to a record $74 after the company late Thursday reported a better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit amid stronger-than-expected sales. The company’s upside was even more notable in a retail environment where many apparel retailers have disappointed.

Source: MarketWatch.com

Date: Sep 27, 2013

Link: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/behindthestorefront/2013/09/27/nike-does-it-again-shares-hit-a-record-high/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is basis for Nike stock rise?
  • Do you believe it will be able to maintain a presence on the Dow?

4 reasons billions in fines can’t stop Jamie Dimon’s stock

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Management Issues.

Description: Why haven’t JPMorgan’s legal issues done more to dent the stock?

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 27, 2013

Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/27/jpmorgan-stock-rising/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the reasons JP Morgan is still a popular stock.
  • Do you think anything has changed as a result of the fines?

J. C. Penney Is on the Brink

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: J. C. Penney (JCP), the centenarian retailer, is reeling from post-traumatic stress disorder. Its sales, stock price, and management credibility are all tanking. The company is in disarray after activist hedge fund manager Bill Ackman installed a chief executive officer (now departed) whose aborted attempt to reinvent the department store failed miserably and alienated longtime customers. Penney hasn’t registered a quarterly profit in two years. Suppliers are scared. The stores echo.

Source: Businessweek.com – video report

Date: Sep 27, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-27/j-dot-c-dot-penney-on-the-brink#r=hpt-lst

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the situation at J.C. Penney.
  • Do you think the company can survive with the current plan?
  • What would you do if you were in charge at the company?