If you’re not familiar with mixed martial arts, it’s one, if not the, fastest growing sports in the world. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combat sport encompassing a combination of wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai, as well as other striking and grappling styles. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is akin to the National Football League (NFL) of MMA. The parent company of the UFC is Zuffa, LLC, which is associated with
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Bill Gross of Pimco on political/economic realities that lie before the U.S.: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security now account for 44% of total federal spending and are steadily rising. Previous Congresses (and Administrations) have relied on the assumption that we can grow our way out of this onerous debt burden. Unless entitlements are substantially reformed, the U.S. will likely default on its debt; not in conventional ways, but via inflation, currency devaluation and low to
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In a previous blog titled, “Speculative Stocks – A Strategy for Lowering Risk,” I mentioned the company GelTech (GLTC.OB) as a small cap stock with a pivotal point in their company’s history that was soon to arrive. That point was their ability to become one of the listed companies that the U.S. Forrest Service is contracted to do business with. Their particular product, FireIce, was under evaluation and passed the necessary tests to be one
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The irony is that by educating their populaces, Chinese and Middle Eastern autocracies are sowing the seed of their own destruction. Develop a population of smart, educated young people, then fail to give them jobs and opportunities, and you have the makings of a revolution…READ MORE. My Take: In the article linked above Nicholas Vardy is making the case for a “Black Swan” in China. (Note: A “Black Swan” is an event or occurrence that
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The pumping of stocks is real. If you think it’s not, then you’re in a horrible state of denial. Every investor needs to be aware of the phenomenon and how it occurs. Being aware will prevent you from getting caught with the short end of the investment stick and may help you understand why a stock you own is behaving in a bi-polar fashion. What exactly is this pumping I speak of? Typically, you will
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Many people outside the investing community (and some within) often express their displeasure and confusion of the valuation of certain companies. “How can X company be worth Y dollars?” is the typical message expressed. It is often difficult to surmise why certain companies carry such high valuations. I think many in the investing community at times shake their head when they see certain stocks having astronomical price increases. Stock prices are ultimately controlled by human
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Isn’t there a third way, an energy policy that is both clean and market-based? The answer is yes and it was recently articulated by John Rowe, CEO of nuclear power utility Exelon (EXC). In a March 8th speech before the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)…Rowe argued that both the Republicans in Congress and President Obama were wrong in their approach to energy policy. Specifically, the EPA should be allowed to do its job and enforce the
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The world of advertising is changing rapidly. The Yellow Pages is going the way of the dinosaur and mobile advertising is blooming in the wake of tremendous smart phone adoption levels. Canada’s Yellow Media (YLO.TO) appears to be a company of the old work of advertising that has planned appropriately to thrive in advertising’s new mediums. I have not done an extensive amount of research on this company, so I am not saying it’s a
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The United States is on a fiscal path towards insolvency and policymakers are at a “tipping point,” a Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday...READ MORE. My Take: Well, this isn’t the most comforting thing to read. Yet, the author does add that he thinks we will avoid insolvency. Though many of us take a more micro focus when investing, it’s important that we keep our eyes on the macro environment. If investors are scared from
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Investors that focus on growth stocks, typically look for innovative companies. What’s new ‘out there’ that will blossom into an amazing growth story? Often I find myself and other investors wondering towards the outskirts of the market to find innovation. Innovation is seen as something radical and uniquely new rather than the synthesis of existing technologies into a unique good or service. The point I’m making is that you do not need to be radical
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