brendanb22

What's your guys opinion? Price has skyrocketed over the past month. Ethereum is really pushing the envelope on digital currency and is clearly garnering a lot of interest. Tough to say what the price / MCAP should be, but it's going to be an exiting next few years for it

Think the growth hinges on what FB can do with the additional digital advertising demand. The question is not if FB is a dominant ad force -- the targeting and scale is unparalleled and at this point you really can't avoid the platform if you're a digital advertiser. The real question is, how much growth in ad revenue is truly possible for Facebook? Are users' news feeds at peak ad capacity? Where will the additional ad demand go and will CPM's rise so that it is no longer pofitable to advertise for many of the players? It looks like the latter is starting to be the case for many companies. In ecom, I've actually seen many instances, where FB is making more contribution margin than the company itself -- i.e. An ecommerce company selling shoes for $100 with a $50 margin (pre ads), will pay $30-$50 to acquire the customer (to FB at essentially 100% margin). At the end of the day, these companies are ultimately working for FB, and the vc funding they continue to get is going right into their pockets. Unless facebook can continue to expand their ad offering (they added audience network recently to do this for example), value of user base (through better targeting options, better engagement, new ad products, etc.), i'm not sure if they can sustain the growth rates in ad revenue they've seen.

Hopefully this PIK can be refi'd ASAP!

Has FCAU ever released what gross margin is on products like Jeep vs Chrysler?

FELP. Still think it's materially undervalued and that Murray will take private within the year

Rewards programs like AIMIA that get paid up front for their points

Amazing how successful the App store has been for Apple. To put it in perspective, it generates about the same amount of revenue at the same growth and margin as FB (valued at $360bn). What's really interesting is that the iPhone from a hardware perspective actually pales in comparison to some of the newer samsung phones that have come out recently, yet people still continue to buy them for the OS. At what point does / should Apple pivot to a Microsoft Windows like model where they license iOS to other hardware co.'s, expand the reach of the app store, and take on a greater % of the smartphone market. This would likely commoditize the iPhone, but would increase Apple's higher margin revenue, and potentially allow them to create their own standalone iOS series of apps that come by default on each phone and generate incremental revenue and network effects (similar to microsoft office). Esp. given Apple's seemingly lack of ability to innovate with the iPhone further, now could be an opportune time to do so. Apple has to be kicking themselves slightly over the fact that they generate 0 revenue from a lot of the massive companies that have been formed thanks to the App Store. Yes they help lock in, but at the same time those users can pivot to Android and still get those same apps now that apple helped to popularize and distribute them. Technically Apple is allowed to rip off any single app on the App store and has done so in the past -- what's to keep them from creating their own snapchat and having it come standard on every iOS phone. Just some things to think about here as Apple potentially transitions to more of a software / services company.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/retail-holdings-n-v-issues-213000753.html strategy update

Great points by many here. A few comments. Over 2016, BTC unfortunately did not live up to the promise of forming a scalable payment network, with lower fees and faster transfer / confirmation times. Going into 2017, I doubt this will ever occur. However, with that being said BTC showed its immense value as an asset class that people can and have fleed to in times of trouble, almost like a digital gold. Just like gold, my bet is that people will flee to BTC in times of trouble, and leave (partially) in times that indicate otherwise. Ultimately another digital currency will emerge that is better suited for nimble, quick transactions and forms the decentralized payment network that so many are predicting (my bet is that it's through the Ethereum blockchain). I'm skeptical of the argument that just because BTC is viewed as a store of value and effectively limited in supply, people will hoard it, drive a bubble and ultimately it's demise. That hasn't happened with gold and unlike tulips, BTC will have much greater and frictionless distribution. BTC may not succeed as money, per se, but I wouldn't bet against it being here to stay and am confident in its appreciation in value.

What leads you to believe that the $88m receivable should have been received or will be soon?

Do either of these have public financials? No, you need to buy shares and contact them. nonamestocks has write ups too. what brokerage did you buy on?

LMB warrants and LIND warrants. Anyone else own?

What's going on with FCAU these past 2 days?

Anyone have the series B preferred prospectus?

On the moat, a lot of it does come from the exclusive partnership with National Geographic. Customers clearly value this, paying over $1000 per trip. Their repeat customer rate is also over 35% which, in my mind, is great for any business, let alone a cruise company. Mgmt. estimates a 20% ROIC on their new cruise ships, exhibiting the pricing power they are able to command. I believe there is also a lot of optionality embedded in the price with the company's expansion to Cuba and recent acquisition of National Habitat. At this price, those both are free additionally upside.