September 14, 2016
Back in 1991, when I was freelancing, casting central newsman Bob Flaherty, then of Equities magazine and now head of his own financial news service, told me to get on a train to New York, visit the offices of something…
September 1, 2016
I just finished a white paper for a large financial institution on the well worn topic about which is better: active or passive investment strategies. Sometimes, it’s productive revisit old topics because they bring a fresh perspective that either reinforces…
June 30, 2016
My friend, entrepreneur Marc Kramer has started about 20 businesses. Some have succeeded, others have not. Among his start-ups, I asked him if he got signals early on that he had a clunker on his hands, and if so, what…
June 9, 2016
When portfolio managers take a position in a company’s shares, or even think about taking a position, it’s a highly analytical process. But interpersonal dynamics have an impact too. When a CEO makes an investor’s Spidey sense tingle, it can…
May 4, 2016
On Monday, I wrote about the wave of CEOs on TV following earnings reports and offered that keeping quiet after earnings can work too. And then none other than Apple’s chief executive officer Tim Cook joins the movement by appearing on…
May 2, 2016
I like earnings season because of the surprises. But sometimes, you get to see something over and over again. In what has become a tough reporting period, CEOs are taking to broadcast outlets explaining, first hand, the shortcomings of the…
March 15, 2016
If a stock shows a significant positive change in revenues or earnings with an attendant rise in the price, do you believe portfolio managers will be moved to buy it? Conversely, if there were a significant negative change in earnings…
March 15, 2016
If you have historical financial statements, your would-be venture capital investor will take high interest in them. VCs typically look at financial statements differently than other investors, and certainly differently than a lender would. This three part series will look at the…
March 15, 2016
If you have historical financial statements, your would-be venture capital investor will take high interest in them. VCs typically look at financial statements differently than other investors, and certainly differently than a lender would. This three part series will look at the…
March 15, 2016
If you have historical financial statements, your would-be venture capital investor will take high interest in them. VCs typically look at financial statements differently than other investors, and certainly differently than a lender would. This three part series will look…
February 10, 2016
All businesses occupy a perch. By that, I mean the manner in which their business operates throws off data that sheds light on their industry, competitors, suppliers or customers. Here’s some examples: • The number of times men click the…
January 19, 2016
As the content arms race rolls on, I’m beginning suspect that some CMOs are getting off track in their approach to content marketing. Too much oversight. Too much strategy. Too much handwringing. In my experience, the primary value of content marketing…
January 4, 2016
Twitter will be acquired. Wall Street loves a good story, but it hates losses. With half a billion in losses in 2014, and the company on track to lose more this year than last, somebody is going to pull the…
December 21, 2015
My client was a unicorn way back in 2008, before the present day meaning of the word was repurposed to mean private companies valued at more than $1 billion. Last time I checked, the company was worth about $10 million, a stunning…
December 19, 2015
Just a few weeks before Christmas, I was a volunteer at a holiday party for underprivileged children. Underprivileged isn’t my word. To get to the party they had to be identified as ‘at risk’ by their teachers. I was helping…
December 17, 2015
With his high profile arrest and perp walk this morning, Martin Shkreli has a massive public relations problem on his hands. As the photo demonstrates, the full force of the law is lined up against him. Mr. Shkreli is the…
December 7, 2015
Sadly, most investors don't read business plans. However, writing one is the only way you will be able to answer the following 50 questions you will be asked before investors show up to the closing table. 1. What is the…
November 30, 2015
In March of this year, Apple Inc. was added to the elite, 30-member Dow Jones Industrial Index, and AT&T was unceremoniously removed. In their press release, S&P Dow Jones Indices said “The timing of Apple's addition to the DJIA hinged…
November 23, 2015
Inversion sure is the right word for the Allergan/Pfizer deal. Because what got the colonists lathered up enough to fight a war against the one global super power at the time was taxation without representation. Somehow that idea got turned…
November 17, 2015
Written for Woodbridge Settlement Funding, LLC following the 11/13/15 following ISIS attacks in Paris.
