According to the Washington Post, the bundle of financial incentives Wisconsin offered to lure Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn’s first major U.S. plant is larger than what New York, Virginia and Tennessee collectively pledged to Amazon.com, a comparison of the two development projects shows. Questions: 1. Foxconn has said its $10-billion factory in southeastern Wisconsin will… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Financial Ratios
New Math: 1 + 1 = $455M
An Ireland-based company, Horizon Pharma, makes a drug called Vimovo. The drug combines the two over-the-counter drugs of Nexium and Aleve and you won’t believe what they charge for it! Questions: 1. According to the article, how much does it cost to buy the new drug. Compare Vimovo’s price to the $40 for a month’s… Read more »
Walmart vs. Amazon: A Grocery War?
Questions: 1. Do you see this as a competition between Walmart and Amazon? Why or why not and are there any other players in the grocery war? 2. According to the video, why didn’t Walmart just create their own logistical team rather than use Uber and Lyft? 3. Would you be willing to pay $7… Read more »
What’s going on with Walmart stock?
The four members of the Walton family controlling more than half the shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had $11 billion of their combined net worth evaporate Wednesday as shares of the retailer plunged on a lower earnings outlook for the coming fiscal year. Questions: 1. Who are the four Waltons that the article is talking… Read more »
Buffett’s New Move
Warren Buffett is paying a hefty price for the biggest bet of his career as his Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) has agreed to buy Precision Castparts Corp (PCP.N), valuing the maker of aerospace and other parts at $32.3 billion. Questions: 1. According to the article, Berkshire’s new deal joins a foray of companies within other… Read more »
Chiquita’s Big Deal
Chiquita Brands International that it had agreed to acquire Fyffes, an Irish fruit and produce distributor, in an all-stock deal that valued Fyffes at about $526 million. The new firm will be called ChiquitaFyffes and will be the world’s largest producer and distributor of bananas. It is expected that the firm will have about $4.6… Read more »
Warning about Emails
Four former leaders of the law firm, Dewey & LeBoeuf, were charged by New York prosecutors with orchestrating a nearly four-year scheme to manipulate the firm’s books during the financial crisis. In emails they talked openly about “fake income,” “accounting tricks” and their ability to fool the firm’s “clueless auditor.” Questions: 1. Explain the role… Read more »
What is a Super Bowl Ad Worth?
Derek Thompson presents evidence on both sides of the debate about whether Super Bowl ads are a waste of money or worthwhile advertising venues. Questions: 1. Rather than the price you pay for the advertisement, what does Mr. Thompson say that Super Bowl advertising is all about? 2. What is this year’s Super Bowl ads… Read more »
Is it fair that some hospitals are charging 400% above their costs to deliver services?
According to government data, hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts — sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses — for the same procedure. This raises questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely. Questions: 1. Discuss the data set and what was included. 2. According to the article, who… Read more »
Survey Shows that Out-of-Network Providers Are Billing Consumers up to Several Thousand Percent more than the Government would pay for similar Medicare Services
According to a new study from the Center for Policy and Research, the nation must address the soaring cost of medical care that continues to rise at an unsustainable rate. For consumers who choose to seek care out-of-network, their survey shows that the charges billed by some out-of-network providers can exceed several hundred or several… Read more »