FIG trader_

Tom Brown’s School Days

It was a cheap shot, and yes out of context. From my recollection, he was one of the first to call for a shakeup at C, before doing so was an easy "sell".

Tom Brown's Financial Services Picks

the link you had showed an April date on Tom Browns report a $49 target and possible $60 with breakup. Since the stock has achieved the former price without breakup, they must be doing half way decently, though clearly not as right as some of the other banks, and for the most part just being in the right sector has worked. But go back ten years C (under Weill) has still outperformed everybody over the ten year period (even BAC, WFC, BRKA, JPM), with most outperformance coming in the first five years. Any short period of time can tilt toward any one business, say mortgage (WFC) insurance (BRK), investment banking GS; But, I'm not sure Brown's conclusion (selling assets) is the right medicine, or whether its just water cooler talk. Clearly trying to time entry and exits into specific lines of business was the sine qua none of Sandy's magic, but few other major bankers can make that claim, nor can one of the smartest ex sell side banking analyst do so without providing more detail as to how what the company will do with cash, and how secure the returns will be in the next few years (not just quarters), after he sells for top dollar today.