Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK)

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  • commenter
    User 168926
    Mar 27 11:11 AM
    Big Pharma Power Shift: CFOs Have the Mojo Now [view article]
    The finance role should not be restricted keeping score, however in an increasingly complex financial system it is important that finance first masters the 'new basics' of complex financial products, systemic exchange rate changes and risk (both internal and macro).
    Once these are covered, I feel they should be a team member (not leader) in working on cost reduction and more importantly assisting the process of drug development by providing useful financial tools lower in the pyramid (examples: aligned budgeting and headcount systems etc).
    IMHO the major boardroom opportunity is not in finance as addressed in the Ernst & Young report but in human resources. The metamorphosis most needed, not just in the boardroom but at every level in drug companies, is to change HR from just 'keeper of the rules/rewards' to engaged team player who understands the business, nurtures talent, enables change, benchmarks BioTechs, slaughters sacred cows, manages/rewards/retain... a global talent pool and most importantly translates new company strategy into CHANGES in HR systems that support a common goal.
    As Big Pharma attempts to change gear into something more efficient, it would be foolish to try to do this without fundamentally changing the HR role. During a gearchange the only gear that stays unaltered is one that was neither engaged before or after.
    The successful Big Pharma CEO will need a broader and more alligned role from all his functions. Cost cutting by putting finance on steroids won't deliver more successful products--Detroit is testament to that.     Reply
  • commenter
    robert1938
    Mar 24 01:22 AM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    What Kranky says about WMT's meat is absolutely true. A couple of weeks ago, my neighbor bought $40 worth of ribeyes from WMT to celebrate a new job. They looked normal in the package, looked and smelled great on the grill, but I noticed something odd the moment I cut into one: there was no noticeable marbling - my steak cut like a thick slab of country ham. Unfortunately, due to all the saline WMT pumps into their meats (10% in most cases - check the meat label and see for yourself), my $10 ribeye tasted like a salty breakfast ham. I kid you not, it had the same consistency and taste of a freakin ham, even down to the little bubbles that form in a chopped and formed ham. I was disgusted, and will never buy WMT meat again. I am getting to the point where I won't buy WMT's groceries again, because as other posters here have pointed out, the larger grocery stores do actually tend to have cheaper prices. Are they collaborating to make Wal-Mart's food department a thing of the past? I hope so - WMT is growing too large for comfort. Reply
  • commenter
    Vasiliy
    Mar 23 01:25 PM
    Fast Money Recap 3/19/08: Morgan Stanley Outshines Goldman [view article]
    to Tony Soprano - very interesing, 100% agree Reply
  • commenter
    Pepe
    Mar 23 10:32 AM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    To Kranky: Touche! I think there are supporting facts for both of us. There definitely are negative factors involved on both sides of our discussion. Neither side is without need of improvement. My hope is that both sides will profit from the strongly-opinionated popular discussion of this WMT vs. the world debate.
    BTW: I bought my Spiral-cut Ham for Easter at Smith's because their price was lowest! Happy Easter.     Reply
  • commenter
    max stirner
    Mar 23 10:14 AM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    It is interesting that WMT is up 10% this year, when so much else is down. i'll add it to my watch list and start following it. like goatfarmer, i'm curious where the stock price will be in 2 weeks, 1 month, etc.
    a couple years ago i picked up a few shares, but lost interest and sold when month after month the price was flat or sliding.
    i don't confuse the reasons to buy or sell with the reasons to shop or not shop, but i can't resist a quick observation as a consumer.
    up until recently i never shopped at WMT because there wasn't one nearby. i just moved to a city that is full of them. one of the supermarket wallmarts is convenient and i like it for a few reasons. 1.) its open 24 hours 2.) the isles are wide- i don't like dodging and zig-zagging through a crowded obstacle course when i know what i want 3.) i usually don't have to wait long to check-out.
     Reply
  • commenter
    Marol
    Mar 23 06:13 AM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Re: WMT (what else?).

    Like many others -- increasing numbers of others -- I won't shop there. Pepe, Mom & Pop do pay them substantially more -- they are required to by law. I will not go into detail here about unallowed bathroom breaks, required signing-in late (i.e., after working for some time) and signing out early, and on and on. You can check it out.

    So why, when folks generally believe prices are lower, are they doing so poorly? In part, I suspect, because increasing public awareness of their bad and illegal behavior is shifting public opinion. (I agree with Lawrence: This is one reason why we should not try to eliminate non-pure-financial opinions from this excellent website. As for free speech: it's one of the few American principles agreed upon by both political extremes.)

    It is generally considered important for companies to maintain good public relations by behaving well. Nefarious behavior can only be hidden for so long. And then of course there are those darn pesky lawsuits when the truth comes out -- along with far greater publicity, because lawsuits make great headlines.

    I can't resist a suggestion: to save some real money on purchases, shop Craigslist! (If they ever go public, I'll be in line for shares.)     Reply
  • commenter
    KRANKY
    Mar 23 02:57 AM
    My Website
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Hey Pepe. I really do appreciate the advice, but I prefer to make the dollars and not worry about saving the few pennies that Worse-Mart promises and never delivers.
    Ben Franklin had it right: Penny wise and Pound foolish.
    Worse-Mart gets people concentrating on crumbs, while they are raping the commonwealth left and right.

    BTW: for your own health, do not buy meat at WMT. It is processed months in advance. Date stamps are bogus.
    They fired ALL of the butchers for complaining years ago. Documented.
    Don't believe me, look it up.     Reply
  • commenter
    d_teller
    Mar 22 10:54 PM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Just a note of comparison; Walmarts in So.FL have higher prices for food, food brands, meats and fresh produce than the chain supermarkets: Publix & Winn-Dixie.
    The chain supermarkets run weekly sales with prices for most bread, staples and produce that are much cheaper. Walmart's house brands are about the same price/value as Publix's. Produce at the local bodega is much cheaper than at Publix, and 1/3 the price at WalMart.

    This is the same phenomena that occurred when I lived in KY: Walmart ads claiming low prices, but Krogers and Meiers had much cheaper groceries.

    Perhaps for bulk imported sneakers, clothes and other non-food items, Walmart is cheaper than the chain Dept. stores:Penneys, Macy's and Sears. But when I see their "Always low prices", I cringe.
    In terms of their stock's value, I haven't a clue, because unless they pay me to hold their risk, I don't buy their stock.     Reply
  • commenter
    Pepe
    Mar 22 08:51 PM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Dear Kranky,
    If you'd like to save some real money; shop WMT! I don't really care what the price of their shares is. It's the price of my groceries, appliances, and other household needs that matter.
    And where would their employees be working if not at WMT? Do you think Mom & Pop would pay them more?     Reply
  • commenter
    sogreat
    Mar 22 03:40 PM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    BSC is very likely to be removed from SP for "lack of representation". Reply
  • commenter
    KRANKY
    Mar 22 02:54 PM
    My Website
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    I see that I have offended some here. Truth does that sometimes.
    Want to knowwhat eally offends? Tke a look at WMT's ten year chart!
    Dead money, and a LOSER when nominal inflation and a 70% dollar are factored in.
    Here is another curiousity: the best DOW 30 performer last year was Honeywell, yet it was dropped from the index. Typical "sell your winners
    and keep your weeds" strategy.
    I would have done the opposite, dumping the retail DOG's: WMT and HD. They are not industrials anyway...they don't produce anything or provide real service; they are money traders for goods others make. In WMT's case, those goods are NOT USA.

    Worse-Mart: first they kill our towns, then they kill our urban centers ( when allowed in ), then they kill our country.

    But, go ahead.....take a good look at that ten year chart and tell me that this flatline is a good investment.     Reply
  • commenter
    Lawrence
    Klepinger
    Mar 22 12:27 PM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Leser is absolutely right about the Chinese being slaves in their own country - and therefore not buying their products in protest. My hat is off to Leser for the comments. For those readers who want a "non-mass media" appraisal about what is really going on in the "New" China of today may I recommend a book that I have recently published entitled, CHINA HOUSE. It can be viewed on Amazon.com and ordered from that site. If you really care about what is really going on in the PRC this book is essential reading. Keep up the open commentary - both political and economic. I find it impossible separating the two. Reply
  • commenter
    Leser
    Mar 22 12:05 PM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    Although I hold Wal-Mart stock, I feel Kranky has comments of worth. In a free forum, each of us has the write to express our thoughts. It may not have numbers, but the article does show some thoughts influencing the numbers of Wal-Mart, perhaps in a more significant way than one would consider. I have friends who wouldn't buy anything in Wal-Mart as long as there is a mom and pop shop around where they can make their purchases. I respect that, although I will go to Wal-Mart to purchase goods. I sincerely try to avoid the products from China, precisely because of the comment Kranky makes about the people in China being virtual (or in some cases actual) slaves. The negative comments about WMT will affect bottom lines and do have merit in being expressed. It's America, not China, where a point of view that may seem a digression to some should be tolerated for the benefit of knowing that we are all free to express our thoughts civilly, because they will be different than someone elses. So, I guess those who don't like the content have to practice skimming, as probably many people did with this post. Reply
  • commenter
    goatfarmer
    Mar 22 07:45 AM
    My Website
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    WMT is the news of the week. Finally a breakout after three years of bottoming. This is either a bullish signal or a tease. A week or two should give some indication.

    I would agree with the Missouri man. This forum is no place for moaners, whingers,and the otherwise innumerate. I hope this site doesn't descend to the depths of yahoo message boards. Once again, a challenge for the editors of the site exists. Please edit detritutus.     Reply
  • commenter
    tjschoenlein
    Mar 22 06:58 AM
    Best and Worst Dow, S&P 500 Performers YTD [view article]
    KRANKY, If I'm reading you correctly.. you are " kinda " down on Wal-Mart.
    I think this site is better served by omitting your political views and stay with the numbers, PEG, P/E, etc. Just a Missouri boy view.     Reply

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