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December 1, 2014

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Warren Buffett's thoughts

ABWA – acquisitions by walking around

December 1, 2014

In his letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders (March 1, 1996) for Year 1995, Warren Buffett said: “A few years back, management consultants popularized a technique called “management by walking around” (MBWA). At Berkshire, we’ve instituted ABWA (acquisitions by walking around).” What is this ABWA that Mr Buffett was talking about? “In May 1994, a week…

Who's Who

Who is Philip Fisher?

American stock investor Philip Arthur Fisher (September 8, 1907 – March 11, 2004) was best known as the author of the investment guide book known as Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits. The book has the reputation of staying in print since it first published in 1958. Philip Fisher’ is said to have begun his career in…

Quotes

Warren Buffett: French cuisine or take-out chicken?

Is a corporation trying to attract shareholders akin to a restaurant trying to attract potential customers? In his letter dated March 3, 1980 for FY1979 to Berkshire Hathaway stakeholders, Warren Buffett said: “Phil Fisher, a respected investor and author, once likened the policies of the corporation in attracting shareholders to those of a restaurant attracting…

Data Update 2 for 2023: A Rocky Year for Equities! January 22, 2023
It is the nature of stocks that you have good years and bad ones, and much as we like to forget about the latter during market booms, they recur at regular intervals, if for no other reason than to remind us that risk is not an abstraction, and that stocks don't always win, even in […]
Data Update 1 for 2023: Setting the table! January 6, 2023
In my last post, I talked about the ritual that I go through every year ahead of my teaching each spring, and in this one, I will start on the first of a series of posts that I make at the start of each year, where I look at data, both macro and company-level. In […]
A Return to Teaching: The Spring 2023 Edition December 21, 2022
If, as you read this post, it feels like you have read it or a close variant before, it is because you have. Each year, ahead of teaching my classes at NYU's Stern School of Business in the spring, I invite readers to accompany me on my journey, and this year is no different. […]
META Lesson 3: Tell me a story! November 15, 2022
In my first two posts on Facebook, I noted that its most recent earnings report, and the market reaction to it, offers an opportunity for us to talk about bigger issues. I started by examining corporate governance, or its absence, and argued that some of the frustration that investors in Facebook feel about their views […]
META Lesson 2: Accounting Inconsistencies and Consequences November 10, 2022
In my last post, I used Facebook's recent troubles to talk about the importance of corporate governance, and how we, as investors, have abandoned the power to change management at many younger tech companies in return for being able to invest in young tech companies, with growth potential and well-regarded founders. In this post, I […]
META Lesson 1: Corporate Governance November 4, 2022
As we get deeper into earnings season for the third quarter of 2022, the biggest negative surprises are coming from technology companies, with the tech giants leading the way. Investors, used to a decade of better-than-expected earnings and rising stock prices at these companies, have been blindsided by unexpected bad news in earnings reports, and […]
Earnings and Cash Flows: A Primer on Free Cash Flow October 25, 2022
It is never pleasant to be in the midst of a market correction, but a market correction does operate as a cleanser for excesses that enter into even the most disciplined investors' playbooks in the good times. This correction has been no exception, as the threat of losing investment capital has focused the minds of […]
Reaping the Whirlwind: A September 2022 Inflation Update! September 26, 2022
In my early 2021 posts on inflation, I argued that while the higher inflation that we were just starting to see could be explained by COVID and supply chain issues, prudence on the part of policy makers required that it be taken as a long term threat and dealt with quickly. Not only did they […]
A Zomato 2022 Update: Value, Pricing and the Gap July 27, 2022
On July 21, 2021, I valued Zomato just ahead of its initial public offering at about ₹41 per share. The market clearly had a very different view, as the stock premiered at ₹74 per share and soared into the stratosphere, peaking at ₹169 per share in late 2021. The last few months have been rocky, as the price […]

Toys 'R' Us brand may be brought back to life October 3, 2018
Bankrupt toy retailer tells bankruptcy court it is looking at possibly reviving the Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us brands.
JCPenney names Jill Soltau as its new CEO October 2, 2018
Read full story for latest details.
S&P downgrades debt-riddled GE and GE Capital October 2, 2018
New General Electric boss Larry Culp just got a fresh reminder of the debt-riddled balance sheet he's inheriting.
Goldman Sachs slants research to help Democrats, top White House adviser says October 2, 2018
Kevin Hassett, President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, suggested Goldman Sachs may be slanting its economic research to help Democrats ahead of the midterm elections.
Meet GE's new boss: Can Larry Culp right the ship? October 1, 2018
General Electric is turning to a outsider to clean up a mess that took decades to create.
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford, from the cornfield to the C-suite October 1, 2018
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford charts her career path, from her first job to becoming the first openly gay CEO at a Fortune 500 company in an interview with CNN's Boss Files.
GE unexpectedly removes its CEO October 1, 2018
Read full story for latest details.
The next big test for Elon Musk arrives this week September 30, 2018
Read full story for latest details.
The S&P 500 achieves best quarter since 2013 September 28, 2018
The longest bull market in history is back on track.

Nokia says is gaining market share, sees 2023 growth January 26, 2023
NOKIA on Thursday (Jan 26) beat quarterly operating profit expectations and forecast higher 2023 sales as the Finnish telecom equipment maker said it had been able to gain market share, benefitting from 5G roll-out in countries such as India.
Brokers’ take: DBS upgrades Paragon Reit to ‘buy’ as China’s borders reopen January 26, 2023
DBS Group Research has upgraded Paragon Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) from “hold” to “buy” as it expects the Reit to be a prime beneficiary of China’s reopening, as well as a key proxy to Orchard Road’s recovery.
Hong Kong stocks end at over 10-month high as Chinese New Year cheers January 26, 2023
HONG Kong shares jumped on Thursday (Jan 26), marking a gain on the first day of trade in the year of the rabbit, with local stock catching up with gains in other markets as trade resumed after the three-day Chinese New Year holiday.
US investment firm eyes stake in Premier League’s Everton FC January 26, 2023
US INVESTMENT firm MSP Sports Capital is considering a potential investment in England’s Everton Football Club, sources said.
Hindenburg vs Adani: The short seller taking on Asia’s richest person January 26, 2023
OVER the past few years, Nathan Anderson has made a name with analysis that sends stocks sinking.