Business owners and landlords tend to be about four times as wealthy as the average American. That’s more than almost any other country included in a new study. Questions: 1. What were the three household groups in the study? 2. Who are the bottom 40 percent in the housing market? 3. Which countries are the… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Financial Statement Analysis
The New Twist in Airline Rates
While the list of things not included with your plane ticket seems to be constantly growing, there is a new twist in ticket rates. As if it isn’t becoming difficult enough, now some airlines have started bidding sites for seat upgrades! Questions: 1. What are the extra fees associated with airline transportation called? 2. What… Read more »
Yummy!
A team of scientists is hard at work behind the scenes to make meat by developing cell lines of various species of animals. Hampton Creek (now called JUST) is among a handful of startups with the goal of bringing “clean meat” and other cultured animal products into the mainstream. Questions: 1. What is the value… Read more »
Vulnerable for a Takeover?
Broadcom LTD made an unsolicited $103 billion bid for Qualcomm to set the stage for a major takeover of the chipmaker and dominate the market of semiconductors used in mobile phones. Questions: 1. What is Qualcomm’s take on this bid? 2. Would this deal cause a monopoly? 3. What are the terms of the deal?… Read more »
Investing In the Name of Christian Values?
Two new exchange-traded funds offer a “biblically responsible” investing approach by explicitly saying in their regulatory filing that they will avoid buying shares in companies that have “any degree of participation in activities that do not align with biblical values.” According to the New York Times, this includes what they call the lesbian, gay, bisexual… Read more »
Release Cards: Another High Interest Problem?
As this article points out, unlike consumer debit cards, prison-issued cards are unregulated and subject to exorbitant fees. Questions: 1. What are the typical charges for these cards? 2. For the person that had $120 and was able to use only $70, calculate the percentage of fees. 3. Who is making the money on these… 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 »
Hard Times in TeslaLand? A New Type of Company, for Sure!
The Silicon Valley automaker is losing more than $4,000 on every Model S electric sedan it sells, using its reckoning of operating losses, and it burned $359 million in cash last quarter in a bull market for luxury vehicles. The company on Wednesday cut its production targets for this year and next. (As an aside:… Read more »
Is Herbalife a Ponzi Scheme?
Herbalife is a company that sells weight loss shakes, vitamins and other similar products worth billions of dollars. The company has been around for more than 30 years. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. So what could be more legitimate? Bill Ackman, who manages a hedge fund thinks the whole thing is… Read more »
When is a Raise Too Small?
Deeb Salem, a former Goldman Sachs trader, says that after making the company in excess of $7 billion in 2010, his $8.25 million raise was not enough compensation. Questions: 1. What percentage drop was Salem’s 2010 raise as compared to his 2009 raise? What percentage drop was Salem’s 2011 raise as compared to his 2010… Read more »