Description: Coca-Cola needs to show consumers (and investors) that the company is more than just a maker of sugary sodas. Could food and booze soon be part of the Coke brand family Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 15, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/15/investing/coca-cola-investor-day/index.html Questions for discussion: Why should the firm be looking at acquisitions rather… Read more »
Posts Tagged: M&A
Walmart is killing Target and making Amazon sweat
Description: Many retailers are in a world of pain because of Amazon. Walmart is not one of them. It beat Wall Street forecasts for sales and profit on Thursday and improved its forecast for holiday shopping. The stock rose nearly 9% to an all-time high. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 16, 2017 Link:… Read more »
Musical.ly, a Chinese App Big in the U.S., Sells for $1 Billion
Description: SHANGHAI — The only Chinese social-media company to build a major network outside China will be taken over by a fast-growing Chinese upstart. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 10, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/business/dealbook/musically-sold-app-video.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What might explain the valuation of this deal? What does this deal say about valuations for other social media firms?
Comcast’s Careful Steps to Grow Past Cable Yield Results
Description: Comcast is earning its peacock feathers. The $170 billion media firm was early and careful in expanding beyond cable. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 26, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/business/dealbook/comcasts-careful-steps-to-grow-past-cable-yield-results.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: Explain Comcast’s success? What other acquisitions do you think management should consider?
TD Has Quickly Become a Top 10 U.S. Bank and It’s Not Done Yet
Description: Toronto-Dominion Bank’s new U.S. head isn’t being critical when he describes the lender as “sub-scale” in small business and corporate lending, and “underweight” in wealth management. He just thinks there’s market share to be had. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 23, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-23/td-has-quickly-become-a-top-10-u-s-bank-and-it-s-not-done-yet Questions for discussion: How has TD Bank grown… Read more »
Is BlackBerry making a comeback?
Description: BlackBerry lives! The company reported a profit (yes, a profit) that topped Wall Street’s forecasts. The news sent the stock soaring. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 27, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/28/investing/blackberry-earnings/index.html Questions for discussion: Why did BlackBerry stock soar? Do you think the firm represents a good investment opportunity at this time? How… Read more »
Google Is Buying HTC’s Smartphone Expertise for $1.1 Billion
Description: SAN FRANCISCO — Google announced late Wednesday night that it is spending $1.1 billion to hire a team of engineers from the smartphone business of the struggling Taiwanese manufacturer HTC in a bid to bring more hardware expertise to its own mobile technology operations. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 20, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/technology/google-htc-smartphones.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion:… Read more »
Toys ‘R’ Us Is a Cautionary Tale for Technology
Description: How about this setup for a joke: What does Toys “R” Us Inc. have in common with business software companies? Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 21, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-09-21/toys-r-us-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-technology-firms Questions for discussion: What does article say about the use of debt and the consequences? What should investors and financial managers take away from this report?
The World’s Biggest Tech Companies Are No Longer Just American
Description: HONG KONG — The technology world’s $400 billion-and-up club — long a group of exclusively American names like Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon — needs to make room for two Chinese members. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Aug 17, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/17/business/dealbook/alibaba-sales-revenue-first-quarter-profit.html?ref=dealbook Questions for discussion: What does the report say about competition in this industry and how… Read more »
Andrew Left Says BlackBerry Stock Could Double in 2 Years
Description: Andrew Left, Citron Research founder, explains why he thinks BlackBerry Ltd. shares could double in the next two years. He speaks with Bloomberg’s Vonnie Quinn on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: June 01, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2017-06-01/why-andrew-left-says-blackberry-shares-could-double-video Questions for discussion: Why does Andrew Left believe BlackBerry is worth more and… Read more »
