Slideshow
The Globe's Stars and Dogs for the week of Feb. 17
A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
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Kellogg
“Honey, why are there salt and vinegar potato chips in my Frosted Flakes?”
Aiming to expand its snack offerings, cereal giant Kellogg struck a $2.7-billion deal to acquire the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble after a proposed sale of the chip maker to Diamond Foods fell through. With so many product tie-in possibilities, breakfast may never be the same.
Kellogg K-N
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LivePerson
LivePerson – whose original name, DeadPerson, was rejected by focus groups – provides online chat and telephone-based customer service software for companies. Investors are certainly living it up: The company posted double-digit revenue and profit growth for 2011 and issued a bullish forecast, sending the shares to their highest since the company went public in 2000.
LivePerson LPSN-Q
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Smuckers
Which of the following is not a type of Smuckers jam?
a) strawberry;
b) blackberry;
c) blueberry;
d) broken glass-berry.
Answer: d. Still, investors were writhing in pain after the company posted third-quarter earnings well below expectations, causing the stock to plunge the most in the S&P 500. Put that on your toast and eat it.
Smuckers SJM-N
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Zipcar
Zipcar’s stock symbol is fitting, considering investors have made zip since the car-sharing company went public last April. Actually, it’s worse than that: The stock was already down sharply from its post-IPO high and plunged some more this week after the company projected a first-quarter loss and lower-than-expected revenue as it expands in Europe. Call a tow truck.
Zipcar ZIP-Q
Feb. 17 close: $14.06 (U.S.), down $1.27 or 8.3% over week
Zipcar (ZIP-Q)
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Harry Winston Diamond
Want to give your sweetheart a surprise she’ll never forget?
Don’t waste your money on a stupid diamond. Get her 100 shares of Harry Winston Diamond instead. The miner and retailer of diamonds jumped after Citigroup slapped a “buy” on the stock, saying prices are poised to rise because of limited supply and surging jewellery demand in emerging markets.
“Oh, honey, you shouldn’t have.”
Harry Winston Diamond HW-T
