BullHorn: SXSW: Who’ll be the best?

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

Description: Foursquare and Gowalla were big hits last year at the technology conference in Austin, Texas. Are they takeover targets now?

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 03/10/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/10/mkts_bh_sxsw_bsft_fnsr.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the analysis presented about each company.
  • Do you think any one of these companies has an advantage in the developing technologies of “real-time web”?
  • What are the revenue streams that might emerge from this technology?

Bargains for Stock Investors

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description: Value-stock investors can find buying opportunities in any market climate. Michael Scanlon, co-manager of John Hancock Large Cap Equity Fund, talks about three stocks he sees as bargains: Microsoft, Sirius XM and Lazard. Jonathan Burton reports.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: 03/08/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/bargains-for-stock-investors/21F018C1-4AD2-4A08-978E-566865F6A54B

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the evaluation methods and investing strategies used by Michael Scanlon. 
  • Do you agree with his buy recommendations?
  • What are the mitigating factors for Microsoft?

GM keeps churning with big CFO shift

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Management Issues.

Description:  The Microsoft guy who brought his much-needed financial chops to General Motors Co. when the Detroit auto maker needed them the most is on his way out after just a year on the job.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 03/11/2011

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gm-cfo-calls-it-quits-investors-wince-2011-03-10?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:  

  • Why do you think investors responded as they did?
  • Do you have concerns about the company because of this change in management?
  • Would you be a buyer on this price change?

Bernanke Recovery Flawed as Companies Get Credit Denied to U.S. Consumers

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description: Thirteen hundred miles from Wall Street, Alex Fairchild is still waiting for a little of the U.S. government’s multitrillion-dollar bailouts and Federal Reserve largesse to trickle his way.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 03/11/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-11/bernanke-recovery-flawed-as-companies-get-credit-denied-to-u-s-consumers.html

Questions for discussion: 

  • What does this report suggest about the credit crunch and recovery process?
  • How should investors and businesses view this information as they plan strategies for the near future?
  • What is your view of consumer and business spending for the next 12 months?
  • Do you think the Fed will change its current thinking and actions?

BullHorn: Jobs back, Monster Hiding

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

Description: LinkedIn and other social networking sites have taken the teeth out of job search website Monster.com.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 03/04/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/04/mkts_bh_jobs_monster.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Do you agree with the analysis presented of these firms?
  • How should investors respond to the trends shown?
  • Do you believe Monster has lost its ability to stand out in today’s online recruiting market?
  • Do you believe Monster or Linked In represent better growth potential for investors?

Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis.

Description:

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: 03/01/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/why-2011-may-be-the-end-of-the-housing-crash/9A7D3C38-BBDD-4DCF-8C8D-41A080E3969B

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the analysis and metrics used to argue that housing might be turning around this year.
  • Do you agree with the analysis presented?
  • Why did prices collapse so abruptly and why might that not happen now?
  • Instead of actually buying a house, would you invest through the alternatives such as mutual funds and the companies specifically mentioned in the report?
  • Is there an argument that could be made for housing rebounding in price as did the stock markets over the past two years?

Saudi Stocks End Longest Losing Streak Since 1996 After State Purchases

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

Description:  Saudi stocks rose for the first time in three weeks, rallying the most in more than two years, after the finance minister said the Arab world’s largest economy is benefitting from higher oil prices and in “excellent” shape.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 03/05/2011

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-05/saudi-stocks-end-longest-losing-streak-since-1996-after-state-purchases.html

Questions for discussion:  

  • Explain the recent price behavior of the stocks mentioned in this report.
  • What specific concerns are there due to political instability and the affect on future prices?
  • Would you be a buyer today?
  • How could a current investor in these stocks mitigate the risk of ownership?

Cheap, Ultrafast Broadband? At Least Hong Kong Has It

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description: HONG KONG residents can enjoy astoundingly fast broadband at an astoundingly low price. It became available last year, when a scrappy company called Hong Kong Broadband Network introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home service: a speed of 1,000 megabits a second — known as a “gig” — for less than $26 a month.

Source:  NYTimes.com

Date: 03/05/2011

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/business/06digi.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why has this superior broadband service not spread to other markets in North America?
  • How would a forced change to upgrade service affect the financial status of current service providers?
  • How could this be mitigated?

$100 oil: Here to stay or soon to go?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description: Market veterans were expecting oil prices to reach $100 a barrel even before the political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa hit the fan this year, and now that oil’s reached triple digits, predicting prices is more daunting than ever.

Source: Marletwatch.com

Date: 03/04/2011

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/100-oil-here-to-stay-or-soon-to-go-2011-03-03?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the reasons for the rapid rise in oil prices recently.
  • What are the arguments suggesting they may fall back, continue to rise, or stabilize?
  • What is your view of oil prices over the next 12 months?
  • How would you suggest an investor and financial manager of firm affected by oil prices approach this environment?
  • How could derivatives play a role in this environment from an investor’s and financial manager’s point of view looking to hedge?

Buying Boeing

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description: Shares of Boeing are flying higher after the aerospace company landed a multi-billion dollar contract to make 180 aerial tankers for the Air Force. 

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 02/25/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/02/25/mkts_boeing_0225.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Is there a fundamental concern investors should have when a company is highly dependent on government related spending?
  • Do you think there was a serious risk at Boeing if this contract had not been announced?
  • Do you think Boeing represents a good investment at this time?
  • How will this contract affect the firm’s cash flow and financial planning?