Category Archive: Finance
Productivity Forecast
Labor productivity is the key to our standard of living, as we said in our recent article. In this one we discuss determinants of productivity and its forecast. Labor productivity is determined by three factors: labor quality, capital, and everything else, usually called total factor productivity. Labor quality varies, to nobody’s surprise. Some workforces are highly […]
When The Current Housing Bubble Finally Bursts
Bubbles are followed by echo-bubbles, and the bursting of the second bubble ends the speculative cycle. If we have learned anything in the past 20 years of massive asset bubbles and equally massive declines when the bubbles finally pop, it’s this: those caught up in the expansionary phase of the bubble cannot believe the bubble that’s […]
Advance Auto Parts Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates, Rise 6.2% Y/Y
Advance Auto Parts (AAP – Analyst Report) operates in the U.S. automotive aftermarket industry and is primarily engaged in selling replacement parts (excluding tires), accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported vehicles. It is the largest automotive parts provider in North America. The company enhances profits through its relentless focus on store expansion. The rise in […]
Chicago Fed: U.S. Economic Growth Remains Sluggish In April
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index’s three-month average (CFNAI-MA3) ticked higher in April, but growth remained below the historical trend for the third month in a row. The latest string of three consecutive negative values represents the longest stretch of below-trend data in nearly two years. Still, CFNAI-MA3 inched up to -0.23 last month and so it […]
EC Can REITs Sustain Their Gains?
Since the so-called Taper Tantrum of 2013, real estate investment trusts (REITs) have been taking their cues from the Federal Reserve Board. Recall, the tantrum was when the market got spooked about the prospects of an abrupt withdrawal of Fed accommodation. Rates on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note shot up 135 basis points (82 percent) […]
RBC Capital’s Top 5 Favorite Internet Stocks
With the first quarter of the 2015 behind us, Mark Mahaney of RBC Captial was able to offer some insight into his favorite large-cap Internet stocks. Looking back at the first quarter, Mahaney noted that trends within the Internet sector remained consistent. The analyst divides the sector into stocks that garner revenue through advertising, retail, or travel. […]
CVS Health Corporation Snaps Up Omnicare Inc. For $10.4B
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) agreed on Thursday to acquire pharmacy services provider Omnicare Inc. (OCR) for $10.4 billion to expand its footprint in serving the growing senior patient population. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is scheduled to close near the end of the year. CVS offers $98 a share to acquire Omnicare CVS Health, the […]
The (Investment) World Is Changing And You Need To Get On Board
Fast Company posted an article that looked at existing jobs that are likely to change dramatically or disappear altogether over the next ten years. Change happens of course often spurred along by technology and/or innovation. Capital markets are no different. Certain jobs don’t exist anymore or there are fewer of them (like exchange personnel) and new products […]
Dollar Tree’s Q1 Earnings And Sales Miss, Rises Y/Y
Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR – Analyst Report), one of the leading operators of discount stores, came out with first-quarter fiscal 2015 results, wherein earnings of 71 cents per share surged 6% from the prior-year quarter. However, the company’s bottom line fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 74 cents. The company provided second-quarter fiscal 2015 earnings guidance […]
Fearless Thursday – Fiddling While Rome Burns
TM editors’ note: This article discusses a penny stock and/or microcap. Such stocks are easily manipulated; do your own careful due diligence. This is just getting silly! Look at the ridiculous and FAKE move up that began BEFORE the Fed announcement at 2pm that was completely reversed by 3pm with, as usual, twice as much down […]
