A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
|
|
|
Remember when you didn't buy Google back in 2004 because the $85 (U.S.) IPO price seemed outrageously high? Nice call, genius. Shares of the world's most popular search engine topped $600, as Google's quarterly results got a big boost from Internet display and mobile advertising. Oh well, it was only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. |
|
|
Canadian Dollar
|
|
|
Reasons to celebrate now that the loonie is trading near parity: 1) Taking the kids to Disney World will cost just $4,950 instead of $5,000; 2) Homeless people in Buffalo will no longer refuse your Canadian dollar bills; 3) No more taunts of "your currency sucks, eh!" from American friends. Unfortunately, every time the loonie comes close to parity, it gets scared of heights. |
|
|
Gymboree
|
|
|
Everyone knows kids can't keep a secret. And judging by the stock market action in children's wear retailer Gymboree , neither can adults. The stock had been rising for weeks amid rumours about a potential takeover, and it leaped again when Bain Capital's $1.8-billion (U.S.) offer arrived. Psst. Don't tell anyone, but shareholders just made a killing. |
|
|
Fastenal
|
|
|
Fastenal is the largest U.S. retailer of bolts, nails and other fasteners. So it's only fitting that shareholders are feeling screwed. Even though Fastenal posted higher third-quarter sales and earnings and beat analyst estimates, the stock sank after the company warned that economic weakness could delay its store sales goals. Nuts! |
|
|
Corn
|
|
|
Corn comes in many varieties: Creamed corn. Corn on the cob. Popcorn. Corn starch. Those unsightly corns on your feet. But what's really nifty about corn is this: Its price has soared 71 per cent from its 2010 lows, lifted by rising demand from feed mills and ethanol producers and a weak U.S. harvest. Investors would like another helping of corn, please. |
|
|