The Economist (November 3)
Even as profits have tumbled, balance sheets have soared as companies across the globe put more cash aside. “The financial crisis has made firms more skittish about relying on banks or securities markets for funds.” At least in Japan, this “urge to save may be lessening. Japanese firms, with few growth prospects at home, have been making foreign deals. Marc Zenner of JPMorgan Chase notes that in the past 18 months firms that announce acquisitions have been rewarded with higher share prices.”
Tags: Balance sheets, Banks, Cash, Foreign acquisitions, Japan, Profits, Share price
Barrons (March 31)
An apple a day may keep the doctor away. It certainly improves the S&P’s performance. “Without Apple, first-quarter profits for the Standard & Poor’s 500 would have been up only 10%, not the 13% reported.”
An apple a day may keep the doctor away. It certainly improves the S&P’s performance. “Without Apple, first-quarter profits for the Standard & Poor’s 500 would have been up only 10%, not the 13% reported.”
Economist (January 14, 2012)
Founded in 1880, “Kodak was the Google of its day,” with innovative marketing and pioneering technology. But Kodak quit changing. Profits peaked at $2.5 billion in 1999. With 9 quarterly losses in the past 3 years, Kodak’s share price has fallen by 90% in just the past year. In contrast, “Fujifilm has mastered new tactics and survived. Film went from 60% of its profits in 2000 to basically nothing, yet it found new sources of revenue.” In contrast, Kodak “is poised, like an old photo, to fade away.”
Tags: Fujifilm, Innovation, Kodak, Marketing, Profits, Technology
Wall Street Journal (January 2)
Major U.S. companies are poised to increase spending during 2011. At the 419 nonfinancial companies in the S&P 500, cash increased by nearly 50% over pre-recession levels three years prior. Performance has also improved. “Total U.S. corporate profits in 2010’s third quarter rose 26% from a year earlier to $1.64 trillion, the highest in four years.” As a result, major companies are planning to increase spending on plants, technology, R&D and hiring. Corning, Cummins, GE, Honeywell and 3M were among the many examples cited by the Journal.
Tags: 2011 outlook, Cash, Corporate spending, Profits, U.S.
