Caterpillar: U.S. growth offsets China

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

Description:  Caterpillar CEO Douglas Oberhelman says manufacturing growth in the U.S. offset a slowdown in markets like China and Brazil in the past quarter.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 04/25/2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/04/25/n-co-caterpillar-ceo.cnnmoney/

 

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the analysis presented.
  • Do you agree with these views?
  • Would you be a buyer or seller today?

 

Video: Is the market caught between the bulls and bears?

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

Description:  Brian Belski, BMO’s new chief investment strategist, on how long the transition will last.

Source: GlobeandMail.com – video

Date: 04/26/2012

Link:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/markets/markets-blog/market-view-video/video-is-the-market-caught-between-the-bulls-and-bears/article2414897/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are secular and cyclical bulls and bears?
  • Do you agree with this analysis?

Providence Said Selling Hulu Stake at $2 Billion Value

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

Description:  Hulu.com owners Walt Disney Co. (DIS),Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) and News Corp. (NWSA) are close to buying out Providence Equity Partners Inc.’s stake at a price that values the company at $2 billion, said two people with knowledge of the matter.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 04/26/2012

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-26/providence-said-selling-hulu-stake-at-2-billion-value.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think this was a good decision?
  • How would you value the shares?
  • How does this sale affect the overall valuation of the firm?
  • Do you think this was a motivating factor by management?

What If Facebook Isn’t So Special After All?

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

Description:   As the fateful day of Facebook’s initial public offering draws closer, the giant social network’s financial results are attracting more attention. And while its recently updated securities filing shows some blockbuster numbers—including a mind-boggling 900 million active users, half a billion of whom use the site daily—it also reveals some potential red flags, including rapidly rising costs for marketing and other expenses. All of this raises the question that investors will need to answer before too long: Is Facebook unlike anything we have seen before, or is it just another modestly profitable Web business?

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: 04/24/2012

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-24/what-if-facebook-isn-t-so-special-after-all

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the concerns related to the valuation placed on Facebook?
  • How would you go about financially analyzing Facebook?
  • What value would you place on the firm today?

Supremex: The cheque really is in the mail

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

Description:   Are we really ready to stop mailing things? Is the all-digital life just around the corner?

Source:  GlobeandMail.com

Date: 04/25/2012

Link:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/vox/supremex-the-cheque-really-is-in-the-mail/article2414186/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarized the appeal of this stock from an investor’s point of view.
  • Would you be a buyer?
  • How have the firm’s financial managers dealt with the lack of growth?
  • Is this strategy sustainable?

Apple’s rollercoaster April continues to confound investors

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

Description:  During a wild April that has so far seen the company lose – then gain – billions in market cap, predicting Apple (AAPL-Q610.0049.728.87%)’s future has become one of Wall Street’s riskier adventures.

Source:  GlobeandMail.com

Date: 04/25/2012

Link:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/apples-rollercoaster-april-continues-to-confound-investors/article2413987/

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think investors believe Apple has peaked?
  • How do you think Apple will perform over the next year?

No grimacing for McDonald’s investors

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

Description:  With a boost from strong earnings, McDonald’s isn’t the only fast food co. on the up and up. Chipotle and Yum! Brands are following suit.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 04/20/2012

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/04/20/mkts-bz-fast-food.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Compare the financial results for the firms mentioned in this report?
  • How do you explain their performances?
  • Would you be a buyer or seller of any of them?

Apple to see another big iPhone, iPad quarter

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

Description:  Apple Inc. is expected to post another strong period of iPhone and iPad sales when it reports results for the March quarter on Tuesday, despite recent worries that have hurt the stock price over the last week.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 04/20/2012

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-to-see-another-big-iphone-ipad-quarter-2012-04-20?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Would you be a buyer of Apple today?

5 stocks market detectives have locked up

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

Description:   ‘Show me the cash flow,’ gumshoe investors demand

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 04/20/2012

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-stocks-market-detectives-have-locked-up-2012-04-20

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain why cash flow is important for investors and managers.
  • What do you think of these corporate evaluations?