Category: Services Sector

Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Diageo Price Talk Will Tighten, Best Ideas’ SABMiller Bonds Comparatively Cheaper

Diageo is the world’s largest spirits maker, and the strength of its portfolio is unmatched. With eight of the world’s top 25 brands and unrivaled global distribution scale, the firm generates robust free cash flows and has a wide economic moat, in our view. With its strong brand portfolio and unmatched distribution scale, the firm is able to leverage its strength to gain shelf space … Continue reading Diageo Price Talk Will Tighten, Best Ideas’ SABMiller Bonds Comparatively Cheaper

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

ConocoPhillips Makes Progress on Portfolio Transition

ConocoPhillips COP reported first-quarter earnings that indicated its shift to higher-margin assets continues at a healthy pace. Specifically, production from the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Permian was 182 mboe/d in the first quarter, a 42% increase over last year. The increase in production for these plays along with increased oil sands production in Canada shifted ConocoPhillips’ North American oil exposure (excluding Alaska) to 51% from … Continue reading ConocoPhillips Makes Progress on Portfolio Transition

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

RBS` recovery is on track, but its exposure to Ireland will continue to mean heavy loan losses.

Morningstar’s credit rating of BBB+ for Royal Bank of Scotland reflects the bank’s large balance of nonperforming loans but is bolstered by the recent improvements in the bank’s operating performance. Through acquisitions, Royal Bank of Scotland has become a global bank, with operations in 50 countries. RBS is primarily a business bank and is dominated by its global banking and markets division, which has historically … Continue reading RBS` recovery is on track, but its exposure to Ireland will continue to mean heavy loan losses.

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Santander`s First-Quarter Profit Benefits Lower Provisions

In the first quarter of the year, Spain’s largest bank, Grupo Santander SAN , earned EUR 1,205 million, up significantly from the EUR 401 million it earned in the trailing quarter. Most of this increase was due to the non-recurrence of special loan loss provisions in the fourth quarter; excluding this, earnings were up 18% sequentially, but down 26% from the year-ago quarter because of … Continue reading Santander`s First-Quarter Profit Benefits Lower Provisions

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

BASF`s Crop Protection Products Help Boost Results in First Quarter

In the first quarter, BASF BAS continued to rely on its diversified product mix in what has been a challenging market environment for chemical producers. BASF’s agriculture and oil and gas businesses propped up sales in the first quarter, as revenues increased 4.8% year over year. On a geographic basis, management noted that growth in China was below the firm’s expectations during the quarter. Excluding … Continue reading BASF`s Crop Protection Products Help Boost Results in First Quarter

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Credit Suisse Reports a Strong First Quarter

Credit Suisse CS earned CHF 1,026 million (CHF 0.76 per diluted share) in the first quarter compared with CHF 41 million in the year-ago quarter and CHF 221 million in the trailing quarter on better trading results and lower expenses. This quarter’s reported profit, which included CHF 80 million of noncash own-debt losses, amounted to an 11% return on equity. On a management-provided underlying basis, … Continue reading Credit Suisse Reports a Strong First Quarter

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