Month: March 2018

Retail REITs: Brookfield’s Acquisition of General Growth Properties

Since my post about retail REITs, Brookfield Asset Management (“BAM”) entered into an agreement to acquire a mall REIT, General Growth Properties (“GGP”), so I thought we should take a quick look at that comparable transaction as a touchstone for sector valuations and also because the terms looked interesting.   Continue reading “Retail REITs: Brookfield’s Acquisition of General Growth Properties”

Retail REITs: Apocalypse or Opportunity?

For several months now I have been thinking about the retail landscape, more specifically, landlords who own rental properties occupied by retailers.

The challenges facing retail are well publicized and include the Amazonian “Death Star” obliterating all retailers and a number of high profile retail bankruptcies (recently, Toys R’ Us and Clare’s).  I think the general consensus is that retail focused REITs are cheap, but for good reason.  I may have a different view. Continue reading “Retail REITs: Apocalypse or Opportunity?”

I’m Just Saving…Personal Finance Diary

Ok so no one commented eager to read about retail REITs, so I’m going to do a personal finance post.  For those of you more interested in posts about investing, “move along, nothing to see here.”  I hope this will not crater my readership, but I thought I would start regular posts (likely monthly) tracking my savings and marketable securities levels.  This will serve a diary for me and hopefully as motivation. Continue reading “I’m Just Saving…Personal Finance Diary”

Newell Brands and Uncle Carl

I have been following the Newell Brands (“NWL”) saga for a few months.  I was hoping to write a post at some point discussing a purchase of stock, where I would be teaming up with Carl Icahn (“Uncle Carl”)(regrettably I am sure, no relation), Martin Franklin and the Jarden gang, and Starboard Value/Jeffrey Smith/Jeffrey Smith’s hair stylist. Continue reading “Newell Brands and Uncle Carl”

Buying What No One is Selling

I was just looking at the ads on my site and on another couple of finance sites and was inspired to post this. On my site (although I have been proactive about rejecting ads) and others you will see ads for peer-to-peer lending services, privately traded real estate investment trusts, initial coin offerings, tax liens, gold, oil and gas leases, etc…

Most of these have serious fee, tax, or other short comings.  This led me to think, “Maybe good investments are the ones that no one is selling?” continue

I pulled on a thread and found…a book

I found the book I am currently reading based on a little detective work involving a promising young investor and Warren Buffett.  The subject of the book seems to fit within a theme of successful wealth accumulators, so I thought I would share a little about both the book and the path which led me to discover it. Continue reading “I pulled on a thread and found…a book”

Bet with the GOAT or the goats on AAPL?

The Financial Times Alphaville Blog is a great read and you should consider adding it to your roster. It is not behind a paywall, so check it out (I also subscribe to the FT). Today, Alphaville published The world is overweight Baba, which prompted another thought about Buffett, his opportunity set, and Apple (“AAPL”).  Continue reading “Bet with the GOAT or the goats on AAPL?”

Is Berkshire too Big to Succeed?

Is Berkshire now too big to beat the market?  I have been thinking about this question after reading the most recent annual report and some related commentary. Berkshire has underperformed the S&P 500 over the most recent decade. So is the run over? It is an obvious question and one very ably examined by Jason Zweig of the WSJ Money Beat Blog (subscription required). I enjoyed reading Mr. Zweig’s work, as always, and have a few thoughts of my own.  Continue reading “Is Berkshire too Big to Succeed?”