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

Description:  Oracle Corp. (ORCL) dropped the most in more than nine years, dragging down other software makers, after it reported quarterly sales and profit that missed analysts’estimates in a sign companies are spending less on programs that help them manage operations.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 12/21/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-20/oracle-misses-estimates-as-clients-throttle-tech-spending-shares-decline.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights in this report.
  • What does this report suggest about investing strategies related to the company and the industry?

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

Description:  Wealthy financiers are trying to turn the Occupy movement into a rich vs. poor debate. What they still don’t understand is that Americans don’t hate the rich. They hate the rich in finance.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: 12/23/2011

Link:  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/22/jamie-dimon-rich/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the opinions and ethical issues expressed in this report?
  • What is your thinking about these matters?

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

Description:  Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman explains what the company needs to hire in the near and long-term.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/13/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/12/13/n_cat_ceo_adding_jobs.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the challenges facing the firm?
  • How do these issues relate to your understanding of the state of the economy?
  • What should companies, governments and individuals be doing according to CEO Doug Oberhelman to help create jobs and thereby improve business for Caterpillar and the economy as a whole?

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

Description:  When things looked bleak for Whole Foods in 2008, private-equity retail specialist Leonard Green & Partners gave the natural foods retailer a $425 million cash injection, gobbling up preferred stock that was later converted to nearly 30 million shares.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 12/13/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/whole-foods-shareholders-big-payday-2011-12-13?dist=afterbell

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the financial analysis presented in this report.
  • In your opinion, why has the firm been so successful?
  • What would you advise investors do today?

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

Description:  The ongoing revolutions across the Middle East would seem to be good news for markets. But so far they’ve scared most foreign investors away.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: 12/13/2011

Link:  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/13/investing-middle-east-north-africa/?iid=SF_F_Lead

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the opinions expressed in this report?
  • What would your advice be to investors at this time?

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis.

Description:  Most investors own some mix of stocks, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. In building an equity asset allocation for their portfolio, without knowing it, or simply accepting it, they are taking about 100% of the risk of the equity markets. There is however a safer option for building the equity portion of your portfolio over time versus buying investments at market prices.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 12/13/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/put-a-put-income-strategy-to-work-for-you-2011-12-12?dist=afterbell

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the key points presented in the report.
  • What is your opinion of this thinking?

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

Description: Video games will be the fastest-growing and most exciting form of mass media over the coming decade, says Tim Cross

Source: TheEconomist.com

Date: 12/10/2011

Link: http://www.economist.com/node/21541164

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights in this report.
  • What does this report suggest about investing strategies related to the growth of the industry?

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

Description:  Stocks like to climb a “wall of worry,” according to Mark Hulbert, who says the positive readings on various investor-sentiment surveys suggest it will be tough for stocks to build on recent gains. Laura Mandaro reports. (Photo: AP)

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: 12/08/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/sentiment-looks-too-rosy-for-stronger-stock-rally/1BFCFC60-F0CA-4FEA-9D1A-99C1B0FD903C

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the analysis presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the view that the market will not rally before it falls more?
  • What would you advise investors do today?