Nothing runs like a Deere (investor)

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

Description: Shares of Deere & Company are down after the company gave a cautious outlook due to the sluggish global economy and overly rainy conditions in the Midwest.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/05/15/investing-the-buzz-john-deere.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why are values of Deere stock under pressure?
  • Do you agree that the global economy might be running out of steam?
  • How do you think investors will respond to this information?

Bond investors fear another 1994

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

Description: Some worry bond yields will surge — just like they did when OJ Simpson dominated the headlines — if the Fed tightens sooner rather than later.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 13, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/05/13/investing-the-buzz-us-bonds.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the concerns in the bond market?
  • Do you believe the Fed will be responsive if bonds begin to fall in value too dramatically?

LinkedIn, not Facebook, became social IPO star

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Professional social network’s stock has quadrupled since debut

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 17, 2013

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/linkedin-not-facebook-became-social-ipo-star-2013-05-17?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

  • What explains the IPO success of LinkedIn?
  • Why do you think it has outperformed Facebook?
  • Would you be an investor in either company today?

Facebook IPO put investors through 7 stages of grief

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

Description: One year after its IPO, Facebook remains a highly emotional investment. “Upset,” “optimistic,” “let down,” “hopeful” and “deceived” are just a few of the words MarketWatch readers used in an informal survey to describe their experience as a Facebook shareholder who bought in at the IPO.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 17, 2013

Link: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/05/17/facebook-ipo-put-investors-through-7-stages-of-grief/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the emotional descriptors used to self-describe investors who bought Facebook’s IPO.
  • What lessons are there here for understanding the psychology of retail IPO investors?

Yahoo Board Approves Purchase of Tumblr, WSJ Journal Says

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

Description: Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO)’s board has approved a $1.1 billion acquisition of Tumblr Inc., a service that hosts 108 million blogs, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 19, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-19/yahoo-board-approves-purchase-of-tumblr-wsj-journal-says.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the logic behind this acquisition?
  • How would you evaluate the acquisition cost?
  • Do you think it was a fair price to pay?

Day traders salivate over market highs

Posted by & filed under Industry Analysis, Management Issues, Market Analysis.

Description: Day traders aren’t just looking for higher stock prices, but volatility and volume too. But you need a technological edge to profit.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 09, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/05/09/investing-day-trading-2013-market-highs.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about day trading?
  • What are the risks for the home-based day trader compared to those working in a day-trading office environment?

SodaStream loses its pop

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

Description: Shares of the do-it-at-home beverage maker fell even though earnings topped forecasts. Expectations were high and some think SodaStream is a fad.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 08, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/05/08/investing-the-buzz-sodastream.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why do you think the shares pulled back?
  • Would you be an investor today?

Financial Analysis, Company Analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues, Growth & Valuation –

Online Video-Ad Startups Rivaling Google Seen Near IPOs

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Demand for Web commercials played alongside video clips is fueling growth at marketing startups, putting such companies as Tremor Video Inc., YuMe Inc. and Adap.tv Inc. on course for initial public offerings this year.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 07, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-07/online-video-ad-startups-seen-near-ipos-challenging-google-tech.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think these IPOs are good investments?
  • How can they distinguish themselves from Google?

 

Berkshire CEOs Spend Quietly, Match Buffett on Heinz

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

Description: Warren Buffett stole headlines when he committed $12.1 billion in a deal to take ketchup maker HJ Heinz Co. (HNZ) private this year. Managers at his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) spent as much in 2012 while attracting less attention.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 10, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-10/berkshire-ceos-spend-quietly-match-buffett-on-heinz-deal.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about financial planning of growth and the use of internally generated funds?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of delegating decision-making to the local CEO?

 

Kodak’s Fuzzy Future

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

Description: When Eastman Kodak emerges from bankruptcy this summer or fall, it will be a shadow of the blue-chip corporate giant it once was. A celebrated company whose little yellow packages of film documented generations of birthday parties, weddings and anniversaries, the new Kodak will be more commercially focused, providing printing and imaging services to businesses as well as film to the movie industry.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: May 03, 2013

Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/after-bankruptcy-a-leaner-kodak-faces-an-uphill-battle/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why did Kodak go bankrupt?
  • What does the report say about the real valuations of patents?
  • Can Kodak capitalize on it’s brand and emerge as an industrial giant once more?
  • Would you be an investor in the firm today?