Tim Cook's Improbable Victory In Washington [View article]
While all here and in the press seem to be accepting Cook's claim that Apple broke no laws in its avoidance/evasion of US corporate taxes, that is really a decision only a jury can make if the US government were to prosecute Apple for some violation of the IRS code. I would not be surprised to hear that the question has or will be considered (at least) by a US Attorney.
Tim Cook's Improbable Victory In Washington [View article]
People who think Apple came out of this unscathed are whistling past the graveyard. Levin drove a big stake into the heart of the false claim that US corporate "offshore" profits are already taxed by some other government. They aren't. And the mundanity of the legal tax evasion is laid bare for all to see, even if no one else will say it. What better cover for conservatives to support corporate tax reform than the example of a high-flying California-based tech company not paying its fair share?
Exxon Mobil (XOM) says CEO Rex Tillerson’s total compensation reached $40.2M last year, up 15% Y/Y, with much of the increase due to a change in pension value and other deferred compensation earnings. Tillerson's salary rose to $2.5M from $2.4M; effective Jan. 1, his salary increased to $2.7M. [View news story]
To align management's interest with shareholders incentive compensation beyond salary should be based on dividends.If Tillerson was compensated based on dividends rather than huge chunks of owner's principal shareholders would know he was on their side.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) says CEO Rex Tillerson’s total compensation reached $40.2M last year, up 15% Y/Y, with much of the increase due to a change in pension value and other deferred compensation earnings. Tillerson's salary rose to $2.5M from $2.4M; effective Jan. 1, his salary increased to $2.7M. [View news story]
Good to see those share buybacks may be working for someone.
Microsoft (MSFT +3.6%) roundup: 1) Windows Phone 8 will be updated by year's end to support 1080p displays, The Verge reports. Given 1080p Android phones are already out, Microsoft needs this to happen quickly. 2) Microsoft's shift to a per-CPU-core licensing model from a standard per-CPU model for its SQL Server database and BizTalk middleware reportedly has enterprises worried about broader pricing changes. VMware can sympathize. 3) Microsoft has stepped up its "Scroogled" ad campaign, which assails Google's commitment to user privacy and search result objectivity. [View news story]
The display screen is not what MS is changing. They're changing their software to utilize the full screen resolution.
Banks this Friday will begin making payments to ~4.2M borrowers whose homes were in any stage of foreclosure in 2009-10. The payments, which will range from $300 to $125K, are compensation for the robo-signing scandal when bank employees said foreclosure documents were correct without reviewing them. Part of the settlement: BAC, C, GS, HBC, JPM, MET, MS, PNC, SAN, STI, USB, WFC. [View news story]
Countrywide deserves no pass for profiting from underwriting fraud. They brought the fire to their own house.
Apple (AAPL) appears to have further kowtowed to Chinese sensibilities by removing an app from its online store in China that provides access to books by author Wang Lixiong, whose works are mostly banned in the country. Apple would only say that the app included "content that is illegal in China." The move comes days after CEO Tim Cook apologized for Apple's treatment of Chinese consumers following sustained media criticism. [View news story]
Yes, it is completely inappropriate to expect a private corporation to sacrifice profit to human rights.
Don't Fall Into These 10 Buyback Traps [View article]
Thanks for giving some metrics to the claim of shareholder benefits from buybacks. Investors need to look beyond what they're being told by self-interested management and consultants.
Edison International's (EIX +0.2%) Southern California subsidiary files draft license amendment to regulators as it seeks approval to restart an idled nuclear reactor before summer. The proposal calls for the Unit 2 reactor at the San Onofre station to be run for five months at 70% capacity. (Previously: Edison says reactor can run safely at 100%)[View news story]
What happens if SONGS does not get relicensed? Suprisingly little public exploration of that possibility by investors.
Toys "R" Us, which is partly owned by KKR (KKR) and Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), has finally ended its plans to go public, due to "unfavorable market conditions" and a change in CEO. The move comes a month after boss Gerald Storch said he was stepping down, and as Q4 revenue dropped 2.6% to $5.77B and profit slumped 30% to $239M. [View news story]
Another ticking LBO time bomb. Tick, tick, tick...
Tim Cook's Improbable Victory In Washington [View article]
Tim Cook's Improbable Victory In Washington [View article]
Playing Momentum With Insiders [View article]
4 High Yield Dividends To Consider And 2 To Avoid [View article]
The Similarity To 1979-82 Is Uncanny [View article]
Silicon Motion Could Be The Next Himax [View article]
Starbucks (SBUX): FQ2 EPS of $0.48 in-line. Revenue of $3.56B (+12% Y/Y) misses by $2M. Shares -1.1% AH. (PR) [View news story]
Exxon Mobil (XOM) says CEO Rex Tillerson’s total compensation reached $40.2M last year, up 15% Y/Y, with much of the increase due to a change in pension value and other deferred compensation earnings. Tillerson's salary rose to $2.5M from $2.4M; effective Jan. 1, his salary increased to $2.7M. [View news story]
Exxon Mobil (XOM) says CEO Rex Tillerson’s total compensation reached $40.2M last year, up 15% Y/Y, with much of the increase due to a change in pension value and other deferred compensation earnings. Tillerson's salary rose to $2.5M from $2.4M; effective Jan. 1, his salary increased to $2.7M. [View news story]
Microsoft (MSFT +3.6%) roundup: 1) Windows Phone 8 will be updated by year's end to support 1080p displays, The Verge reports. Given 1080p Android phones are already out, Microsoft needs this to happen quickly. 2) Microsoft's shift to a per-CPU-core licensing model from a standard per-CPU model for its SQL Server database and BizTalk middleware reportedly has enterprises worried about broader pricing changes. VMware can sympathize. 3) Microsoft has stepped up its "Scroogled" ad campaign, which assails Google's commitment to user privacy and search result objectivity. [View news story]
Banks this Friday will begin making payments to ~4.2M borrowers whose homes were in any stage of foreclosure in 2009-10. The payments, which will range from $300 to $125K, are compensation for the robo-signing scandal when bank employees said foreclosure documents were correct without reviewing them. Part of the settlement: BAC, C, GS, HBC, JPM, MET, MS, PNC, SAN, STI, USB, WFC. [View news story]
Apple (AAPL) appears to have further kowtowed to Chinese sensibilities by removing an app from its online store in China that provides access to books by author Wang Lixiong, whose works are mostly banned in the country. Apple would only say that the app included "content that is illegal in China." The move comes days after CEO Tim Cook apologized for Apple's treatment of Chinese consumers following sustained media criticism. [View news story]
Don't Fall Into These 10 Buyback Traps [View article]
Edison International's (EIX +0.2%) Southern California subsidiary files draft license amendment to regulators as it seeks approval to restart an idled nuclear reactor before summer. The proposal calls for the Unit 2 reactor at the San Onofre station to be run for five months at 70% capacity. (Previously: Edison says reactor can run safely at 100%) [View news story]
Toys "R" Us, which is partly owned by KKR (KKR) and Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), has finally ended its plans to go public, due to "unfavorable market conditions" and a change in CEO. The move comes a month after boss Gerald Storch said he was stepping down, and as Q4 revenue dropped 2.6% to $5.77B and profit slumped 30% to $239M. [View news story]