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Erin McBride

  • Zuckerberg and Facebook from a Social Media Point of View

    By Erin McBride - May 15, 2012 | Tickers: GOOG, MSFT, YHOO, ZNGA

    Facebook filed an amended S-1 to its initial public offering Tuesday, raising its share price up to $38 per share. Additionally, the company is offering another 50 million shares, for a total of 337 million shares. With these new changes it could bring the company's valuation closer to $106.4 billion, a jaw-dropping number for the value of a social network.

    As the number rises, a few vocal complainers more »

  • Is LinkedIn a Smoke and Mirrors Illusion?

    By Erin McBride - May 8, 2012 | Tickers: LNKD

    LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD) may be one of the most overrated and dangerous website investments, and investors are cautioned to take a deeper look, before being enticed by the exciting numbers posted recently. While others are championing the increased revenue of the company, I question the value of the company, and fear it as an investment.

    LinkedIn is a professional networking site - Facebook without the games, pictures, and friends, and it more »

  • Delta Refinery Purchase Benefits Consumers

    By Erin McBride - May 2, 2012 | Tickers: BP, DAL, PSX, LUV

    Need to save money on gas? Buy your own refinery. That's what Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL) is doing.

    Delta announced plans on Monday to purchase the Trainer oil refinery from Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) for $150 million, after $30 million in state government assistance. (Phillips 66 officially began operating as an independent spin off of ConocoPhillips as of May 1, 2012.)

    The company will have to spend a considerable more »

  • May Day: Occupy Wall Street Aims for a Comeback

    By Erin McBride - May 1, 2012 | Tickers: C, GE, GS, JPM, WFC

    The nearly forgotten Occupy Wall Street protesters plan to make a comeback on May Day. May 1 has many historic meanings, including that of the International Worker's Day, the day the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (which later became the American Federation of Labor) declared that "eight hours shall constitute a legal day's labor from and after May 1, 1886." It is also known as a more »

  • Corporations Support CISPA

    By Erin McBride - April 26, 2012 | Tickers: T, IBM, MSFT, ORCL

    The Obama Administration announced Wednesday it would veto the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) bill, H.R. 3523, if it came to the President’s desk. The Administration cited concerns that the legislation would undermine personal security and civil liberties.

    Sponsored by House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger, CISPA would broaden the intelligence community’s ability to share classified information about more »

  • Effects of the Upcoming ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 Split

    By Erin McBride - April 26, 2012 | Tickers: COP, MRO, MPC

    ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) announced that its first quarter earnings fell three percent to $2.9 billion, or $2.27 per share, on Monday. On Tuesday, shares of the company entered into oversold territory, trading as low as $71.82 per share.

    ConocoPhillips is the third largest oil company in the United States, but it is undergoing some major changes, including splitting into two smaller companies on May 1. One company more »

  • Boeing Net Profit Spikes

    By Erin McBride - April 25, 2012 | Tickers: BA, UAL

    Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) reported a net profit of $923 million, an increase of 58 percent, or $337 million, up from $586 million, over a year earlier. Revenue for the company increased 30 percent to $19.4 billion, higher than analysts' expectations of $18.4 billion. The company forecasted earnings per share of $4.35 for the year on revenue of $78-80 billion.

    Here's why-

    Much of the success more »

  • Facebook's IPO Will be a Game Changer

    By Erin McBride - April 19, 2012 | Tickers: GOOG, MSFT, YHOO, ZNGA

    TechCrunch, a reputable and well-known tech media source, cited sources that indicate Facebook may launch its IPO on May 17, just four weeks away. But no matter when the Facebook IPO takes place, or how much it is valued for, it will be a unique and original case study for the future. Investors will be taking part in an historic opportunity to change the way people around the world interact more »

  • Boeing Edges Out Airbus, But is it Enough?

    By Erin McBride - April 9, 2012 | Tickers: BA

    For the first time in a decade, Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) has edged out Airbus in first quarter commercial aircraft deliveries. But that may not be enough of a reason to celebrate.

    Boeing delivered 137 commercial planes, up 32% from the year-earlier. Airbus (a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EADS)) delivered 131 aircraft, up by 10% from the year before. The companies had both increased production of their more »

  • Rising Fuel Prices Equals More Car Sales in March

    By Erin McBride - April 9, 2012 | Tickers: F, GM

    Are new car payments better than filling up an older gas tank? If current vehicle sales are any indication, the answer is yes. In the past vehicle sales have declined when gas prices have spiked. However, rising fuel prices have not held back American auto sales in the past month. The three big Detroit automakers saw positive sales numbers, and even record high sales numbers in March 2012. Chrysler, Ford more »

  • What Burger King's Return to the Street Brings to the Table

    By Erin McBride - April 5, 2012 | Tickers: JACK, JUSH, MCD, WEN

    The King has left the building- just to return, leave, and return again. Burger King is returning to Wall Street (again).

    Burger King Worldwide Holdings Inc. has changed hands multiple times in the last decade. In 2002, TPG Capital LP, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital Investors, bought 31% of the shares, and took it private. They took it public again in 2006.

    In 2010, 3G Capital bought the more »

  • Coty Called, Avon Didn't Answer

    By Erin McBride - April 4, 2012 | Tickers: AVP

    It is now widely reported that Avon Products (NYSE: AVP) has rejected a $10 billion buyout from beauty company Coty.

    Coty (a privately held company) offered $23.25 per share, a 20% premium over Avon's closing price on Friday of $19.36. Avon rejected the offer, saying it "substantially undervalues" the company, and called it “opportunistic” and “not in the best interest of Avon’s shareholders.”

    It was Coty more »

  • The Quest for the All-American Burger and Stock

    By Erin McBride - April 2, 2012 | Tickers: MCD, WEN, YUM

    There is a quiet burger war afoot in the United States. It isn't just a battle for the best burger. It is a quest for the best-bang-for-your-buck burger, and fast-food chain Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN) is emerging as the victor. In my opinion, Burger King and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) have aimed to be the cheapest burger flippers, but Wendy's has opted to build the best tasting burger more »

  • For Sale: One Iconic American Brand

    By Erin McBride - March 30, 2012 | Tickers: JCP, SHLD

    If you are trying to quietly sell your world-famous, American icon company, make sure your insiders know how to keep a secret.

    The New York Post has “sources” close to the situation saying that Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: SHLD) Chairman Edward Lampert is looking to sell off Lands' End, in his efforts to raise nearly $2 billion in cash. And naturally that exclusive report has been widely circulated across several more »

  • A Mixed Bag of Housing Market Indicators

    By Erin McBride - March 29, 2012 | Tickers: DHI, KBH, LEN, TOL

    Shares of homebuilders fell Friday after the government said sales of U.S. new homes fell in February for the second straight month. The decline came after months of gains even if the improvement has been halting. Homebuilder KB Home (NYSE: KBH) reported net orders fell 8 percent, and its cancellation rate rose to 36% during what is normally peak season. Meanwhile, on wednesday another homebuilder, Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LENmore »)

  • The Business of Love and Money and Online Dating

    By Erin McBride - March 27, 2012 | Tickers: IACI, DATE, LOV

    They are man's two basic desires- love and money.

    One of the first things man did was look for a spouse. In all societies, across all of time, no individual was complete without a partner. It was only a matter of time until man figured out how to combine his two pursuits. While many have attempted to make money and let it bring you love (and failed), the golden more »

  • Buy Gun Stocks When a Democrat is in Office

    By Erin McBride - March 23, 2012 | Tickers: SWHC, RGR

    Within the firearms industry there is a quiet adage that defies the logic of politics. “Guns sell better when a Democrat is in office.”

    It is a well-known fact that Republicans support the firearms industry, while Democrats legislate and limit it. So why would firearms sell better under a Democrat (if the adage is true)? The theory is that when Democrats hold the power, gun owners are scared for their more »

  • Understanding Airfares or How to Save on Your Next Flight

    By Erin McBride - March 16, 2012 | Tickers: EXPE, OWW, LUV, BA, UAL

    The airlines have a gas problem. And by gas obviously we mean the rising price of fuel. Rising fuel prices do not make planes go up. Rising fuel costs make plane tickets go up, but not if the plane tickets were already sold, which is the problem at Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV). Other airlines pass the costs of fuel on to the customer (read below for ways to beat the more »

  • Frack Europe

    By Erin McBride - March 13, 2012 | Tickers: APC, BP, CVX, XOM, HAL

    ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) wants the public to become more aware of systematic hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, and is calling for more transparency in the process.

    “Natural gas from shale holds tremendous promise in many places in Europe due to its lower carbon intensity and suitability for power generation, but we want policymakers and the public to be confident that it can be produced safely and responsibly,” said more »

  • The Argument for Halliburton

    By Erin McBride - March 12, 2012 | Tickers: HAL, SLB

    Just the name Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) brings a reaction. Few Americans are unaware of this massive, powerful company, and just the mention of the name elicits a response. Love it or hate it, people know about Halliburton. But do everyday Americans know what investors know? Why has Halliburton survived? And how strong is it?

    The 93 year old company has survived accusations of “trading with the enemy,” Nigerian bribery scandals more »

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