Danger Zone: Verint Systems (VRNT)
This firm has seen seen margins contract as early success brought more competition. To try and offset competitors taking market share, the firm made numerous shareholder value-destroying acquisitions. Now the stock is pricing in aggressively optimistic improvements in revenue growth and profit margins.
Danger Zone: Tableau Software (DATA)
This stock is on the upswing and is up 23% year-to-date, while the S&P is up just 6%. The fundamentals of the business don’t justify this price move. In fact, negative margins, strong competition, and the overvalued stock price land Tableau Software (DATA) in the Danger Zone this week.
Why Suitors Are Leaving Twitter at the Altar – Danger Zone
Today’s news that Alphabet, Apple, and Disney are unlikely to bid for Twitter should come as no surprise. We think these companies (and many investors) are doing the same work we have done and simply cannot stomach paying anywhere close to Twitter’s current price.
Danger Zone: 8×8 (EGHT)
This week’s Danger Zone is a company that claims consistent profitability and continued success, despite years of shareholder value destruction. Misleading non-GAAP results, large losses, and an overvalued stock price land 8×8 in the Danger Zone.
Why Companies Overpay For Acquisitions
Overpriced acquisitions are far from a new phenomenon, but they’ve been especially prevalent in recent months. As a result, we’ve gathered some ideas about the various reasons companies ignore the evidence and continue to overpay for acquisitions.
Microsoft Vastly Overpays For LinkedIn
Our models show that, even with the most optimistic forecasts, over $20 billion, or $2.60 per MSFT share, of the $26.2 billion purchase is an overpayment and a direct destruction of value for MSFT shareholders.
Danger Zone: Interactive Intelligence (ININ)
But what happens when a once profitable company makes the transition to the cloud and has become largely unprofitable? That company, Interactive Intelligence (ININ) is in the Danger Zone this week.
Danger Zone: Imperva Inc. (IMPV)
This week’s Danger Zone pick has since rebounded and might have investors thinking now is the time to buy. Unfortunately, the fundamentals of this company reveal a different story. Growing losses, misleading non-GAAP metrics, and significant competition land Imperva Inc. (IMPV) in the Danger Zone this week.
Economic Earnings: Explanation & Examples
To derive economic earnings, 30+ adjustments must be made to accounting earnings. These adjustments remove items hidden in the footnotes and MD&A of annual filings and close loopholes within GAAP accounting.
Danger Zone: Blackbaud Inc. (BLKB)
Our call on Valeant (VRX) showed how dangerous it is to trust non-GAAP earnings because they cannot be used to cover true cash costs. For these reasons and more, Blackbaud Inc. (BLKB) lands in the Danger Zone this week.
Open Letter to Larry Ellison: How To Boost Oracle’s Value By $65 Billion
Thesis: Management can boost the market value of ORCL in the amounts provided by aligning the firm’s strategy and performance compensation with real cash flows or what we call return on invested capital.
Danger Zone: Qlik Technologies (QLIK)
Despite deteriorating margins, lack of competitive advantage, and a sky-high valuation, Qlik Technologies (QLIK: $31/share) is up nearly 33% over the past two years and finds itself in the Danger Zone this week.
The Best and Worst of the All Cap Value Style 4Q15
The All Cap Value style ranks fourth out of the twelve fund styles as detailed in our 4Q15 Style Ratings for ETFs and Mutual Funds report. Last quarter, the All Cap Value style ranked fifth. It gets our Neutral rating.
Danger Zone: Proofpoint Inc. (PFPT)
As hacks or data breaches seem to occur almost daily, the cyber security sector is receiving significant attention across the globe. When we focus on fundamentals and cut through the “sector theme” noise, we find some weak links in the cyber security industry. This week’s Danger Zone is one of those weak links.
Danger Zone: Marketo (MKTO)
This week we’ve identified another highflying cloud company that exhibits many of the problematic traits we saw in DWRE and SPLK. Revenue growth can only support a stock for so long and this week’s Danger Zone stock, Marketo (MKTO) has plenty of room to fall.
3Q15 Style Ratings for ETFs & Mutual Funds
At the beginning of the third quarter of 2015, only the Large Cap Value and Large Cap Blend styles earn an Attractive-or-better rating. Our style ratings are based on the aggregation of our fund ratings for every ETF and mutual fund in each style.
Ignore the Hype: Splunk Remains Overvalued
In early 2012, Splunk Inc. burst onto the scene with one of the biggest IPOs of the year. Since then, the stock price has ridden the hype and is up more than 320%. This price increase should raise serious concerns for astute investors.
Get This Cash Cow at a Discount
Strong business fundamentals and low valuations are key ingredients in the overall evaluation of investments. This week’s stock pick of the week brings high profitability and a compelling valuation to the table.
Best Stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Last week, we wrote about the riskiest stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. We thought we’d be remiss to not mention our favorite stocks in the index as well. Not all of the blue chips are created equal, and the following are what we consider to be the most attractive investment opportunities in the Dow at the moment.
Ranked: Our Top 10 ETFs
The following is a list of our top 10 ETFs that have over $100 million in assets under management (AUM), and that are not leveraged.