Michael Finarelli

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• A Tough Pill To Swallow

  By Michael Finarelli - February 15, 2012 | Tickers: BMY, LLY, MRK, PFE, TEVA |

  The pharmaceutical industry has seen its fair share of regulatory controversy in the past.  From pay-for-delay settlements between brand innovators and generic producers to the attacks launched on the ‘consulting fees’ paid to doctors who push branded medications, lawmakers and activist groups alike have targeted Big Pharma in an attempt to promote industry competition which would theoretically lower prices for consumers.  This is a particularly large debate given the weakened more »

• Everyday Low Prices, Everyday Low Returns

  By Michael Finarelli - February 13, 2012 | Tickers: COST, TGT, KR, WMT |

  When it comes to the financial markets, there’s something that’s so alluring about growth for both individual and institutional investors alike. Whether its growth in sales, growth in earnings, growth in store units (the list goes on and on). Clearly, we live in a society that craves and rewards this notion of having more.  Even in the corporate setting, managers often fall prey to this desire as they more »

• OMG, Mark Zuckerberg is Controlling the Social Revolution!

  By Michael Finarelli - February 8, 2012 | Tickers: GOOG, MSFT

  In the latest bit of drama from the Facebook IPO saga, one dirty little seven-letter word has reared its ugly head: Control! According to the latest filings, through both his shares as well as the agreements with other investors, CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s voting power approaches 60% of total shares. What does this mean for fellow shareholders? Mr. Zuckerberg believes his say on shareholder matters such as capital allocation policies more »

• Will Red Robin Continue to Sizzle?

  By Michael Finarelli - February 7, 2012 | Tickers: MCD, RRGB

  Corporate turnarounds can do wonders for a stock’s price, especially when they are aggressively pursued by large institutional activist investors. Take the case of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (NASDAQ: RRGB).  Over the last several years Red Robin has battled against rising food inflation costs, weak sales, intensifying competition, and a fair dose of poor management. It didn’t take long for this deadly combination of ingredients to show up more »

• Is Now the Time to Fill Your Cart with Supervalu?

  By Michael Finarelli - February 7, 2012 | Tickers: SWY, SVU, KR, WMT

  Although not as highly honored as some other professional fields (medicine being an obvious example), the field of investment is no less intellectually stimulating. Nor does the field of investment require any less analytical capacity. At their core both fields, as well as all others, demand the need to make decisions in a complex setting where variables can often change rapidly.

  That's why I believe, at least when it more »

• OMG! Hey Mark Zuckerberg, Where's the Trust?

  By Michael Finarelli - February 3, 2012

  In the latest bit of drama from the Face book IPO saga, one dirty little seven letter word has reared its ugly head: Control! According to the latest filings, through both his shares as well as the agreements with other investors, Mr. Zuckerberg’s voting power approaches 60% of total shares. What does this mean for fellow shareholders? Mr. Zuckerberg believes his say on shareholder matters such as capital allocation more »

• Little Bravado for Dawson's Shares

  By Michael Finarelli - February 1, 2012 | Tickers: DWSN

  Unlike the reverberating acoustic force of an Inova Vibration Machine used in the multi dimensional underground mapping processes of Dawson Geophysical (NASDAQ: DWSN), the company’s stock has moved little in response to this morning’s quarterly earnings report.  This leader in seismic data processing who serves numerous oil and gas explorations and production companies, such as Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) and Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) to name a few more »

• Welcome To IPO Mania and the Facebook Gamble!

  By Michael Finarelli - January 31, 2012 | Tickers: GOOG

  Step right up one and all. Take a spin at the IPO wheel! Try your luck at a chance for untold future riches!

  As I learn more about Facebook’s upcoming initial Public Offering and the proposed valuation that it would grant the company, I can’t help but feel the sense that I’m walking through the front doors of a casino amazed at the sights and sounds before more »

• The End of Easy Oil?

  By Michael Finarelli - January 27, 2012 | Tickers: DNR

  Scientific news publisher The Scientific American recently put out an article titled “Has Petroleum Production Peaked: Ending the Era of Easy Oil.” The article suggests that easily extracted oil peaked in 2005 and as a result we now find ourselves globally in the midst of a so-called production plateau. The author argues that from here on the recovery of additional barrels of oil will be much more difficult and costly more »

• Does Opportunity Knock in Surround Sound?

  By Michael Finarelli - January 26, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, DLB, MSFT

  If you’ve stepped inside of a movie theater in the past decade here in the US, then you are likely familiar with the customary ear popping experience thanks to the leader in audio enhancement technology, Dolby (NYSE: DLB). What the company may be less well known for is the dominance of the Dolby Standard encoded across PCs, digital TVs, set-top boxes, and numerous other devices. 

  Despite being the long-standing more »