Analysis Topic: Companies Analysis
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Friday, September 06, 2013
Nokia Deal Could Mark the Last Chapter for Microsoft / Companies / Microsoft
By: Vitaliy_Katsenelson
As a value investor I used to spend a great deal of time in Microsoft hell – on one hand there was the company with enormous cash flows, an incredible return on capital, a huge moat, a cash-rich balance sheet, and trading at single-digit multiples (if you adjust for cash). But on the other hand it threw away cash away for multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, followed up by inevitable write-offs. Its founder and chairman was not interested in running the company, so he delegated to his best friend, who has been wrong at every single technological inflection point, and quite frankly not a very good leader. Every few years the company airbrushes its old products (think of Office), calls it an upgrade, and goes on charging subscription fees; but new products quite frankly … suck. Microsoft's competitors are getting better, and while a strong balance sheet helps in bad times, it is not a competitive advantage against competitors that have even more cash.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Neurotechnology Investing - Digging Below the Surface / Companies / BioTech
By: TLSReport
Neuroscience is about as complex as it gets. The central nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord, where hundreds of billions of neurons are located—and that doesn't include the peripheral nervous system. Casey Lynch, managing director of NeuroInsights, works to make sense of both the disease processes affecting the nervous system and potential therapies that could help patients and enrich investors. In this interview with The Life Sciences Report, Lynch brings some clarity to the complexity, and speaks frankly about the wild goose that some Alzheimer's disease investigators have been chasing.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Why I Like Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition of Nokia’s Cell Phone Business / Companies / Microsoft
By: Profit_Confidential
George Leong writes: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ/MSFT) is finally doing something that I have been calling for over the past several years. With CEO Steve Ballmer set to leave the company (read “Why Microsoft May Finally be Set to Turn its Fortune Around”), the former Wall Street favorite is making plans to aggressively expand its presence in the growing mobility market. How? Through its proposed acquisition of the cell phone business Nokia Corporation (NYSE/NOK), a deal valued at up to $7.2 billion, in an effort to expand in a sector dominated by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ/AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
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Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Microsoft: Look at This Chart Before You Decide to Invest / Companies / Microsoft
By: Money_Morning
Keith Fitz-Gerald writes: Judging from the 7.28% "Ballmer Bounce" that followed his announcement, the markets love the idea of long-suffering Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stepping down.
So do a lot of investors who believe now - finally - it's time to buy Microsoft.
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Friday, August 30, 2013
U.S. Airline Industry - The Unfriendly Skies / Companies / Sector Analysis
By: Peter_Schiff
As if the federal government were not already doing enough to kill the U.S. airline industry with restrictive workplace rules, over-regulation, and a monetary policy that supports higher fuel prices, earlier this month anti-trust authorities at the Justice Department blocked the merger between American Airlines and US Air. (Unbelievably, the regulatory roadblock was thrown up more than a year after the two companies had agreed to terms, and after great expense has been incurred to integrate operations). Although long suffering investors had hoped that the merger would allow the beleaguered airline to finally exit bankruptcy, in the days after the surprise announcement, AMR stock almost fell as much as 60%.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Biotech Stocks Investor Realism / Companies / BioTech
By: TLSReport
Expert healthcare company watcher Andrew Fein of H.C. Wainwright & Co. knows how the sausage is made in the stock analyst factory. And he doesn't pull any punches: In this interview with The Life Sciences Report, Fein dishes out praise for sticking to sellside fundamentals and suggests skimming off bloggers who have yet to earn their analytical chops. He rounds out the menu by naming biotech companies with the potential to rise to the top of the simmering biotech market.
The Life Sciences Report: How has the nature of biotech investing changed since you began analyzing healthcare biotech equities in 2000?
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Thursday, August 29, 2013
Why Chinese Stocks Are Taking Off All of a Sudden / Companies / China Stocks
By: Profit_Confidential
George Leong writes: The comparative advance in the Shanghai Composite Index may be subpar and well below the moves in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore Chinese stocks. Recall a few weeks back when I discussed the upward moves in Chinese stocks. (Read “They’re Not Popular, But These Stocks May Offer Opportunity After All.”)
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Thursday, August 29, 2013
Some People Will Get Stinking Rich on These Tech Devices / Companies / Tech Stocks
By: Money_Morning
Michael A. Robinson writes: You've heard stories about him before - the savvy stock analyst who gets his hands on the hottest new smartphone before Verizon's first bulk order ships... only to smash it to bits so he can see what's inside.
The idea is simple: If you know which company manufactures a small - but key - component in the product, you can invest in it and make a bundle.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Why Microsoft May Finally Be Set to Turn Its Fortune Around / Companies / Microsoft
By: Profit_Confidential
George Leong writes: Steve Ballmer’s run as the head of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ/MSFT) is winding down after his somewhat surprising decision to exit the company within a year.
Yet the move may make the difference between Microsoft being a mediocre technology company or a technology company blazing ahead of its competitors, right at the forefront of technological advances.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Amgen Onyx Deal, The Fastest Route To Biotech Profit Now / Companies / BioTech
By: Money_Morning
Tara Clarke writes: On Sunday, the world's largest independent biotechnology company, Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN), bought Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ONXX) in a $10.4 billion dollar deal - making it the fifth-largest biotech deal in history according to Standard & Poor's Capital IQ.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
The Beating Coming for Austrailian Banking Stocks, Time to Short / Companies / Banking Stocks
By: readtheticker
The banks that escaped balance sheet damage from the 2008 financial crisis are those down under in Australia.
The Aussie banks and economy was saved by the 18% of GDP stimulus China started on the eve of the crisis. This allowed Aussie exports to flow to China without a any major hick up, this also allowed the Aussie property market to avoid any serious down swing.
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013
War on the Horizon as Defense Stocks Outperform / Companies / Sector Analysis
By: Clif_Droke
After two years of winding down the U.S. military's presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the rumblings of war are being felt in Syria. Calls for American intervention in Syria's civil war have been increasing lately, especially after reports indicate that Syria's government used chemical weapons on civilians.
According to a Reuters /Ipsos poll, 60 percent of Americans surveyed said they don't favor the U.S. intervening in Syria, even if it's confirmed that chemical warfare is being used in that country. Only 9 percent believe President Obama should act now.
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
Time for Income-Starved Investors to Reconsider REITs? / Companies / Housing Stocks
By: DailyGainsLetter
John Paul Whitefoot writes: After a serious pullback in May, is it time for income-starved investors to reconsider real estate investment trusts (REITs)? Or will America’s favorite sugar daddy, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, tease investors with ongoing threats of tapering?
The North American REIT bull market was stopped dead in its tracks on May 22, after Bernanke hinted the central bank might begin tapering its massive $85.0-billion-per-month government bond-buying program.
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Friday, August 23, 2013
Investing in Australian Stocks for Faster, Asset-Backed Growth / Companies / Austrailia
By: Money_Morning
Martin Hutchinson writes: I like Australia's stock market right now. I think it provides you with a ton of upside potential.
Virtually every analyst on Wall Street disagrees, of course. They hate Australia. But they didn't like Chile, either, where we're up 46%. And they weren't crazy about Indonesia - another market that's making us good money.
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
Utility Stocks - Today’s Best Bond Alternative / Companies / US Utilities
By: Charles_Carnevale
To refer to any stock or equity as an alternative to bonds or fixed income is sure to stir up the ire and consternation of many professional and individual investors alike who deem themselves prudent. Frankly, under normal circumstances I would tend to agree. But the nature of bonds and other fixed income instruments are not normal today. With today’s extreme, and in the minds of many, contrived low level of interest rates, the risk profile of bonds and fixed income are far from typical. More simply stated, the currently extreme low level of interest offered by bonds and other fixed income instruments have dramatically altered, and I contend, increased their risk profile.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Big Data - How the New "New Money" Will Be Made / Companies / Tech Stocks
By: Money_Morning
Tara Clarke writes: If you're an investor, there's a term you need to know: Big Data.
Data - just the word itself - is the most boring abstraction in the world. The meaning of the word "data" itself is, well, meaninglessness. That's the point.
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Saturday, August 17, 2013
The Truth About Stocks Today / Companies / Stock Market Valuations
By: DailyWealth
Steve Sjuggerud writes: "Stocks are up over 100% since 2009. They're way too expensive now... You shouldn't buy."
I hear this all the time. Frankly, I've heard it so much, I'm tired of hearing it... It's just so plain wrong!
It's true that stocks are up over 100% since 2009. But that doesn't mean stocks are too expensive...
Friday, August 16, 2013
Still Time to Catch Big Growth in Biotech Stocks / Companies / BioTech
By: TLSReport
Biotech has had a scorching run for more than a year and a half, but as broader markets approach more realistic valuations with less potential upside, it becomes even more important to be invested in the right companies with truly meaningful catalysts on the horizon. George Zavoico of MLV & Co. knows how to pick winners from the field, and offers up solid ideas with visible growth drivers in this interview with The Life Sciences Report. Your inner gambler should take note: A beaten-down micro- or small-cap company might, with a bit of luck, bring home the gold.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Apple Stock Hits $500 Thanks to Carl Icahn / Companies / Tech Stocks
By: Money_Morning
Diane Alter writes: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) stock hit about $500 a share today (Wednesday) - a level not seen since January - and some option traders might want to send Carl Icahn a fruit basket...
You see, Tuesday afternoon, in a single tweet, the legendary 77-year-old activist investor added more than $17.26 billion to Apple's market cap. At 2:21 p.m., pre-tweet, AAPL stock was trading at $475. Following the tweet, shares shot up to $494, before settling the day at $489.57.
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Thursday, August 15, 2013
How JPMorgan and the London Whale Can Sink Your Stocks Portfolio / Companies / Banksters
By: Money_Morning
Greg Madison writes: In the spring of 2012, JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s (NYSE: JPM) not-so-rogue trader, Bruno Iksil, better known as the London Whale, made a series of derivatives trades on credit default swaps that only appeared to be unauthorized.
In reality, those trades were just one side of JPMorgan betting against the other in a doom struck hedging strategy.
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