Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

GOLDMAN: Here are the 14 best stocks for fat dividends and huge buybacks (LLL, ANTM, STX, VRSN, LYB, ITW, NOC, CAM, FDX, HES, VIAB, GLW, ADT, CF)

0
0

bern switzerland bank gold coins dump truck spill

The stock market is on track to hit Goldman's target by the end of 2015, according to David Kostin.

And so with Goldman seeing stock prices get near their target, the firm has a basket of stocks that return cash through buybacks and dividends.

We've highlighted the stocks in Goldman's "Total Cash Return to Shareholders" basket, which provides investors more than a 14% total yield on a trailing 12-month basis.

"The current constituents of the 50-stock equal-weighted sector-neutral basket have a median combined shareholder yield of 12% compared with 5% for the median S&P 500 company," Kostin wrote.

Total yield is calculated as the sum of gross buybacks and dividends as a share of market cap.

Note: they are not intended to serve as a well-diversified portfolio.

L-3 Communications: 14.2% total yield

Ticker: LLL

Sector: Industrials

Market Cap: $11 billion

Buyback yield: 11.6%

Dividend yield: 2.7%

Description: L-3 creates electronic and communications products for use in aerospace and national security. 



Anthem: 14.7% total yield

Ticker: ANTM

Sector: Industrials

Market Cap: $39 billion

Buyback yield: 12.8%

Dividend yield: 1.9%

Description: Formerly known as Wellpoint, Anthem is a medical insurance and health care services provider.

Source: Goldman Sachs



Seagate Technology: 15.3% total yield

Ticker: STX

Sector: Technology

Market Cap: $209 billion

Buyback yield: 11.9%

Dividend yield: 3.5%

Description: Seagate creates data storage solutions including hard drives and cloud backups.

Source: Goldman Sachs



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 best buildings of the year, according to London Design Museum

0
0

Foundation Louis Vuitton

The London Design museum has picked out its favorite buildings of the past year.

From the new Louis Vuitton museum in Paris to the specular arched Markthal Rotterdam food market — not to mention some stunning examples of green architecture like Sydney's One Central Park, these are some of the most beautiful buildings ever built.

These 15 stunning structures truly represent the best of the best.

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (London School of Economics), London

Architects: O'Donnell + Tuomey



Sancaklar Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Architects: Emre Arolat Architects



Arena do Morro, Natal, Brazil

Architects: Herzog and De Meuron



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary says this emotional pitch is the reason the show won an Emmy

0
0

farmer lede tree t-pee

In six seasons of "Shark Tank," Kevin O'Leary has seen hundreds of presentations from entrepreneurs. One from season five, however, stands out as the most emotional, and he even credits the pitch as the reason why the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Structured Reality Program in 2014.

Johnny Georges of Arcadia, Florida, presented the Tree T-PEE, a water conservation device for farmers that he developed with his late father in 1984.

The Sharks were both shocked and moved by Georges' genuine desire to selflessly help other farmers with their livelihood, a mission he credits to his father.

Ultimately, guest investor John Paul DeJoria — the billionaire cofounder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Tequila — decided that Georges was too good to pass up, and they made a deal. Before leaving the Tank, Georges explained the influence his father had on his life, and the tears started flowing for everyone in the room.

Here's a breakdown of the pitch.

Johnny Georges worked for his father Rick in the citrus and irrigation industries for over 20 years. In 1984, Georges and his dad developed a plastic, semi-conical device to place around tree roots to block frost and conserve water, and thus energy.



Georges asks for $150,000 in return for 20% of his company. His main goal for the company is to promote water conservation.



In 2009, the University of Florida discovered that trees with T-PEEs used 93% "less water, fertilizer, electricity, and fuel," Foodtank reports.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Take a tour of Betterment, the $500 million New York startup with insane perks for its employees

0
0

betterment officeWith a suite of mobile apps, educational materials, and automated tools, Betterment says it wants to make it easier for people to manage their personal investments.

Last week, the company announced it had raised an additional $60 million in Series D funding led by Francisco Partners. The round, which valued the company at nearly $500 million, brought the startup's total funds to $105 million.

Investors include Citi Ventures, Northwestern Mutual, Bessemer Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Globespan Capital Partners, and Anthemis Group.

The 90 employees work out of gorgeous, light-filled offices in New York City, where they can relax in a wood-paneled library or enjoy free, professionally cooked meals several times a week. (Another startup, Homepolish, helped Betterment with the interior design.)

We recently stopped by to check it out for ourselves.

Betterment has 15,000 square feet of space in a historic building in New York's Flatiron District. The startup occupies two floors — one that was once a karate studio and another that served as a storage room for a toy company.



And the space is beautiful, with lots of light spilling onto comfortable couches next to the windows. Betterment has been in this part of the office since the summer of 2013.



The team has about 90 members and expects to grow rapidly in the next year. "We'll need more space soon," founder and CEO Jon Stein told Business Insider.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

17 things you should never put on your résumé

0
0

resume, mistakesHiring managers receive dozens — sometimes hundreds — of résumés for any given opening.

They don't have the time or resources to review each one closely, so they spend approximately six seconds on their initial "fit/no fit" decision

You may be perfect for the job, but if your résumé has just one typo, if it's formatted poorly, or you use the wrong font, it could easily end up in the "no" pile.

Vivian Giang contributed to an earlier version of this article.

1. An objective.

If you applied, it's already obvious you want the job.

The exception: If you're in a unique situation, such as changing industries completely, it may be useful to include a brief summary. 



2. Irrelevant work experiences.

Yes, you might have been the "king of making milkshakes" at the restaurant you worked for in high school. But, unless you are planning on redeeming that title, it is time to get rid of all that clutter.



3. Personal stuff.

Don't include your marital status, religious preference, or social security number.

This might have been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you, so there's no need to include it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most important features in Samsung's sleek new Galaxy S 6 smartphones

0
0

GS6BackWhiteOfficial.JPG

Samsung just announced its two new smartphones, the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge, which will be available in April.

The company emphasized that it started from scratch when designing both phones, which means they look and feel quite different than the company's previous Galaxy phones. 

The Galaxy S 6 edge (yes, the "edge" is lower-cased) is almost exactly like the S 6 inside and out — except for its curved design. The phone's screen is curved on both sides, giving it a distinguished design. 

But it's more than just an aesthetic change, Samsung has improved its software and added in a few other important, yet more subtle features.

SEE ALSO: More coverage of Mobile World Congress 2015

Let's start with the design. The Galaxy S 6 comes in four colors: black, white, blue, and gold.



The Galaxy S 6 edge will be available in green instead of blue.



Samsung says it used a special color filament when creating the phones to make them shimmery.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

100 trips everyone should take in their lifetime

0
0

Iguazu Falls

With spring tantalizingly close, our minds are starting to drift toward vacation.

And if you're stuck in front of a computer all day, then yours probably is, too.

We've updated our bucket list of travel destinations to include reader suggestions and 2015's travel hotspots.

From eating pizza in Naples to sleeping in a luxurious overwater bungalow in the Maldives, these are the 100 trips everyone should take in their lifetime.

Did we miss your dream destination? Let us know in the comments. And check our Wanderlust board on Pinterest for more beautiful travel photos. 

See the great wildebeest migration in Africa's Serengeti National Park.



Get splashed under Iguazu Falls, one of the world's widest waterfalls, which borders Brazil and Argentina.



Snap the ultimate tourist shot at the Grand Canyon in Arizona.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The unusual items that Mark Cuban, Oprah Winfrey, and 10 other successful people have in their offices

0
0

Dan Office 2

We all have our idiosyncrasies and bizarre routines that keep us sane. Certain objects and rituals add comfort to our lives — they make us feel at home.

A comfortable work space is an incredibly important factor when it comes to being productive.

Check out how these successful people have made their offices their own with a variety of unusual, yet meaningful, items. 

SNL producer Lorne Michaels has a present from Reese Witherspoon in his office.

Vanity Fair reported that the creator and producer of Saturday Night Live keeps a dog-head inkwell that actress Reese Witherspoon gifted him.

The comedian also has a bobblehead of his favorite New York Yankee player, Paul O'Neill.  



LeBron James likes to keep Bruce Wayne close by.

The NBA legend keeps a replica batman mask in his pristine LRMR Marketing firm office in Akron, Ohio, according to ESPN.



Creator of 'Mad Men,' Matthew Weiner, keeps a Tibetan prayer horn on his desk.

The creator and executive producer of the drama television show Mad Men, keeps a bust of Ludwig van Beethoven and a Tibetan prayer horn on his desk, according to the Vanity Fair series, "My Desk."

The show's protagonist, alpha male Don Draper, also keeps Weiner company, in the form of a bobblehead, which can be found in Weiner's office.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What it's like to ride 'the Train of Death' from Mexico to the US

0
0

MFrankfurter_Destino_10Photographer Michelle Frankfurter had traveled to Mexico, the US-Mexico border, and Central America for years, working first as a photojournalist and then as a human-rights worker. During her travels, she heard about a particular route that hopeful migrants take to reach the United States. In 2009, she set out to follow it.

Following the path described in Sonia Nazario's award-winning book "Enrique's Journey," Frankfurter headed to southern Mexico and followed the path north. In six journeys, she rode the treacherous El Tren de la Muerte (The Train of Death), came into contact with the drug cartels, and befriended numerous migrant families, many of whom never made it to the US.

Frankfurter has shared some of her photos with us here, but you can check out the rest at her website or in her book "Destino," available now.

The first step of the journey for Frankfurter and thousands of migrants is crossing the Suchiate River between the Guatemalan border town of Tecún Umán and the Mexican town of Hidalgo in the southern state of Chiapas. Migrants ride rafts made of tractor tires across the water.

 



After crossing the river, migrants hike 150 miles on foot to avoid Mexican migration checkpoints and reach Arriaga, a city in Chiapas. Here, a Salvadoran woman feeds her 18-month-old son at a migrant shelter in Chiapas after making the trek.

 

 

 



Frankfurter began the most significant part of her journey in Arriaga. Here, most migrants catch a freight train illegally to start their trek north.

 

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Check Google's plans for its crazy new campus in California (GOOG)

0
0

Larry Page smiling happy

Google just announced details about a beautiful new campus it's planning to develop in Mountain View, California. 

The company is submitting plans to develop four sites in Mountain View's North Bayshore.

This campus is designed by Bjarke Ingels at BIG and Thomas Heatherwick at Heatherwick Studio, and it will be the first time Google has built offices from scratch, instead of taking over previously existing buildings. 

"Instead of constructing immoveable concrete buildings, we’ll create lightweight block-like structures which can be moved around easily as we invest in new product areas," Google writes.



"Large translucent canopies will cover each site, controlling the climate inside yet letting in light and air."



Here's a bird's eye view of the new buildings.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 wonderful things you can do with coconut oil

0
0

coconut oilThree years ago, my best friend started using coconut oil after reading about it on YouTube star Jenna Marble’s blog.

She could not stop raving about it: “It’s a make up remover! It’s a moisturizer! It’s a leave-in conditioner!” 

So I bought a jar, and I haven’t stopped using it since. 

For those who don’t know, coconut oil is a sort of waxy solid at room temperature that becomes oily when it’s heated up in your hands or if it’s been sitting in a hot room. 

Essentially, coconut oil is a sort of Holy Grail of natural products that is good for your skin, hair, nails, cooking, wood polish, dog care, and more.

These are 11 things this cheap, natural product can do:

1. Moisturizer: Whether it’s on your face, body, or hands, coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer. Rub a little bit between your hands and it will instantly become an oil that you can rub all over. Though it’s greasy at first, it will quickly absorb into your skin and nails.

2. Make up remover: Put on coconut oil all over your face before wiping it off with a towel or wipe. It’s one of the most effective make up removers I’ve ever used.

3. Acne: Coconut oil has antibacterial properties which can help with acne break outs. Whenever I’m using it, I notice I get less of those tiny pimples on my face. 

4. Treating infections/bug bites/bruises: Coconut oil has Monolaurin, which is said to be good for fighting bug bites. It also has anti-fungal properties and many natural health websites say that it can help with scratches, bug bites, infections, and even to help alleviate bruises.

5. Body scrub: Some beauty bloggers add white or brown sugar to their coconut oil for a make-your-own body scrub. Though I’ve never tried it, it sounds incredible (and cheaper than expensive name-brand alternatives).

6. Leave-in conditioner: When my friends have been introduced to coconut oil, this is one of the first things they’ll try. Coating your hair in coconut oil and letting it rest for 10-20 minutes will let follicles soak up as much moisture as possible. The result is shiny, thick, and very soft hair (just make sure you really rinse out all the greasy oil).

7. Shaving cream: I know a woman who keeps a jar in her shower and will use the oil to shave her legs. Not only is it very nourishing, but the water will roll right off the oil so it keeps protecting your skin while you shave. 

8. Cooking oil: If you’re using coconut oil for beauty as well as for cooking, I’d recommend keeping one jar in the bathroom and second jar in the kitchen. Coconut oil is good in replace of any other cooking oil and YouTube star Jenna Marbles freezes it into ice cube trays to use in smoothies. It can also be used to replace butter. 

9. Energy boost and health supplement: Many health blogs claim that coconut oil is also a natural energy boost that will also keep you full for longer. Though I can’t speak to this, I’ve heard other people truly rely on it as a part of their diet.

10. Wood/leather/metal polish: Simply take a little bit of coconut oil, and rub it into your table, scuffed leather goods, or any metal surface. Buff with a cloth to a shine. Easy.

11. Pet care: Whether it’s for a dry nose, cracked paws, or coat conditioner, coconut oil is a natural product to use for conditioning your pets. It’s also safe for them to eat so you won’t worry if they lick it off (some pet owners even purposefully put it into pet food). 

Those are just a few of the uses for coconut oil — some health blogs have over a hundred things you can do with it.

So now,here’s what to buy: 

For beauty uses, look for unrefined, virgin coconut oil (this is what I use). If you’re cooking, refined coconut oil is best 

You can pick up a substantial jar that will last for months from any organic grocery store such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. It’s pretty cheap, and shouldn’t cost more than $10. If you’re paying over $10 for coconut oil, you’re doing something wrong.

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Life on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch 2 armed gangs fight on a busy road in China

The 9 most successful 'Shark Tank' businesses ever

0
0

Shark Tank

Entrepreneurs who land a spot on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank” get the chance of a lifetime: to showcase their products to more than 7 million viewers and pitch their businesses to a panel of potential investors.

And if an investor, or Shark, likes their ideas, they try to negotiate offers and seal the deals with golden handshakes.

More than 500 businesses have been pitched on the show over five seasons (“Shark Tank” is currently in its sixth season), but more than 50% of the ideas that are given the green light on the air don’t end up closing the deal when the cameras turn off, according to The Richest.com.

Related: How "Shark Tank’s" Mark Cuban became a big fish

The lucky few who have landed a coveted handshake from Sharks, such as Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran or Lori Greiner, form invaluable business partnerships and gain exposure that hopefully leads to a big boost in sales.

If you’re a fan of the show and have ever wondered what resulted from some of the more successful “Shark Tank” pitches, then read on.

Scrub Daddy

Creator: Aaron Krause

Shark: Lori Greiner

Deal: $200,000 for 20% of the business

Concept: Scrub Daddy is a smiley face-shaped sponge that can outlast many average sponges. It also comes in a lemon scent and multiple colors. Scrub Daddy products can be used to clean household or outdoor items, as well as cars and boats. Its unique design tackles hard-to reach-places, like the bottom of a mug or shower corners, and won’t scratch delicate surfaces.

Where are they now: After Greiner made the deal with Krause for 20%, Scrub Daddy became the biggest “Shark Tank” success to date, reports Business Insider. When Krause landed a spot on “Shark Tank,” his company was struggling, reaching only $100,000 in sales in 18 months.

Since its television debut, Scrub Daddy has raked in more than $18 million. Consumers can buy the product on QVC and in retail stores such as Target and Bed Bath & Beyond. Krause is on a mission to “reinvent the sponge,” and the Scrub Daddy line has expanded to include various sizes.

In an interview with GOBankingRates, Krause shared a few tips on how other entrepreneurs can perfect their pitches. “Proper planning prevents poor performance,” he said. “Before I went on ‘Shark Tank,’ I watched every episode twice and created a flow chart of potential questions based off each Shark’s personality. There wasn’t a single question I wasn’t prepared for.”

Krause gave another important piece of advice for when it’s time to present the pitch: “It’s important to come across as confident, not arrogant though. You want to act like a person someone wants to do business with.”

Related: Discover the 6 unexpected ways spring cleaning will save you money



Hold Your Haunches

Creator: Erin Bickley & Jenny Greer

Shark: Barbara Corcoran & Lori Greiner

Deal: $75,000 (plus a $100,000 credit line) for 40% of the business

Concept: Defining itself as “shapewear redefined,” Hold Your Haunches is a fashion trouser that has an extendable waistband and integrated compression shell that extends from the waist down to the calf. This two-layer shapewear system shapes and smooths the customer’s figure on the inside while remaining hidden by an outer layer of pants.

Where are they now: In the year leading up to its “Shark Tank” appearance, the company only had $165,000 in sales, reports the Daily Mail. Just six months after the episode aired, Hold Your Haunches saw more than $1.5 million in profits.

When asked about the product’s surprising success, Greiner told GOBankingRates, “The Hold Your Haunches product helps women feel better about their bodies in leggings. Who doesn’t want to look and feel better in their clothes? Plus, [Bickley and Greer] are real hustlers at getting the job at task done. That combination wins.”



Chordbuddy

Creator: Travis Perry

Shark: Robert Herjavec

Deal: $175,000 for 20% of the business

Concept: Music teacher Travis Perry created ChordBuddy for his daughter, a novice guitar player. The device attaches to the neck of an acoustic or electric guitar and has colored tabs that help beginners learn the chords. Perry’s daughter learned how to play so quickly that he knew he had a hit product on his hands.

Where are they now: ChordBuddy started with $150,000 in sales during its first month before “Shark Tank.” In late 2014, Business Insider reported the company was on track to bring in $2 million in sales and had even secured John Rich, from the popular country duo Big and Rich, as a company spokesperson.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 most useless graduate degrees

0
0

Computer Science Coding Student

In many fields, graduate degrees offer distinct benefits for your extra years in school.

Employees armed with a graduate education are often a more attractive hire and can make a higher salary than colleagues who have only a bachelor's degree.

However, for some industries the benefits of going to graduate school are comparatively low and don't justify the extra investment.

Using the recent "Hard Times" report from the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, we examined salary and unemployment data of experienced college graduates and experienced holders of graduate degrees. These are workers whose ages range from 35 to 54.

For roughly 50 fields, we calculated how much more money a graduate degree would bring and the difference in unemployment rates for those with a post-college degree. These figures were then combined to determine which graduate degrees were the most "useless"— basically, which give you the smallest boost in salary and employment.

10. Criminal Justice and Fire Protection

An experienced graduate-degree holder earns 19% more than a college graduate, and the unemployment rate is 18% lower.

Experienced college grads earn an average of $63,000 a year, while experienced graduate degree holders earn $75,000 a year, on average.

4% of experienced college grads are unemployed. 3.3% of experienced graduate degree holders are unemployed.



9. Computer Science

An experienced graduate-degree holder earns 15% more than a college graduate, and the unemployment rate is 20% lower.

Experienced college grads earn an average of $93,000 a year, while experienced graduate-degree holders earn $107,000 a year, on average.

4% of experienced college grads are unemployed. 3.2% of experienced graduate-degree holders are unemployed.



8. Communications and Mass Media

An experienced graduate-degree holder earns 19% more than a college graduate, and the unemployment rate is 16% lower.

Experienced college grads earn an average of $63,000 a year, while experienced graduate-degree holders earn $75,000 a year, on average.

5.7% of experienced college grads are unemployed. 4.8% of experienced graduate-degree holders are unemployed.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These graphics tell you everything you need to know about the world's greatest subways

0
0

new york city nyc brooklyn subway train

People have a love-hate relationship with subways — but it's mostly love.

Especially for the world's biggest and best-known subways (or undergrounds, or metros). These infographics, from designer Laura Beckman, tell you (almost) everything you need to know, from how old they are to how many miles riders rack up.

Riders jump on subways to the tune of millions of miles every year.



When it comes to cost, Paris is expensive. Kiev, not so much.



Subways have been steadily constructed since the middle of the 19th century.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

31 answers to really tough interview questions

0
0

Confused Couple

Some job interviewers ask tough questions to trip you up or to get you to reveal information you may be trying to conceal. Others want to get a better sense of your thought process or see how you respond under pressure.

Whatever the reason, you'll want to be prepared.

In her book "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions," Vicky Oliver says in order to prevail, you need to "trounce your competition."

One of the best ways to stand out: have the smartest answers to the toughest questions.

Note: Many of these are examples of great responses to help guide you. They won't necessarily work for everyone, in every situation. You should never lie in an interview.

Vivian Giang contributed to a previous version of this article.

Q: What is your biggest weakness that's really a weakness, and not a secret strength?

A: I am extremely impatient. I expect my employees to prove themselves on the very first assignment. If they fail, my tendency is to stop delegating to them and start doing everything myself.

To compensate for my own weakness, however, I have started to really prep my people on exactly what will be expected of them. 

Source: "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions"



Q: Will you be out to take my job?

A: Maybe in about 20 years, but by then, I suspect you'll be running the entire company and will need a good, loyal lieutenant to help you manage this department!  

Source: "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions"



Q: You have changed careers before. Why should I let you experiment on my nickel?

A: As a career-changer, I believe that I'm a better employee because I've gained a lot of diverse skills from moving around. These skills help me solve problems creatively.

Source: "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

17 Mind-Blowing Facts About Warren Buffett And His Wealth

0
0

warren buffett

Warren Buffett has been incredibly successful, and he's extremely wealthy. Warren Buffett's wealth jumped by around $12.7 billion in 2013 alone. But how much is $12.7 billion anyway?

And how good an investor is Warren Buffett really? We've put together some facts that really put him in perspective.

99% of Buffett's wealth was earned after his 50th birthday.

Buffett made $62.7 billion of his $63.3 billion net worth after his 50th birthday.

$60 billion — nearly 95% — is from after his 60th birthday.

Talk about long-term investment strategies.

Source: Fool



Berkshire's Book Value beat the S&P 500 in 43 out of 44 years on a five-year rolling average basis.

From 2008 to 2013, the S&P 500 returned 128%, while Berkshire (based on book value per Class A share) returned 80%

Source: Berkshire Hathaway, Business Insider



Among legends, Buffett has the longest track record for beating the market.

That chart compares investors with the S&P 500 over time. You can see the longevity of Buffett's outperformance is greater than that of other great investors.

Source: Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 24 coolest tech startups in Scandinavia

0
0

Rovio Mighty Eagle Peter Vesterbacka

Scandinavia has given rise to some giant startups. Despite a relative lack of VC funding compared to places like Silicon Valley, entrepreneurs in countries like Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark have developed companies that have changed the world.

You probably don't realise that some of the world's biggest video games, streaming sites, and hardware manufacturers hail from the cold of Scandinavia - but they do.

24. Yoogaia

Yoogaia is one of Finland's newest and most interesting startups. Founded in October 2014, CEO Mikko Petaja has a small team of four people, but has clearly found a niche in an increasingly popular pastime. Yoga is huge, and he's made it accessible and cheaper online. It brings live instruction to people anywhere in the world by conducting classes over web cam. Yoogaia has been given $630,000 in seed funding to launch the first online, interactive yoga company.



23. Bungalo

Bungalo is an Icelandic accommodation service that focuses on providing cottages through local families who can help visitors explore the area and culture. It offers a more personal B&B-style experience. It was founded in 2010 and last year expanded to launch in the Canadian market. CEO Haukur Gudjonsson leads a team of seven staff.



22. Blendin

Blendin, founded in 2013, secured $100,000 of seed funding in April 2014. It's a new social networking app from Iceland that aims to connects friends who are going out. It pools together information for popular night spots and connects friendship groups all together so that everyone knows the evening plans instead of having to call or message people on WhatsApp, for example. It was nominated for the Nordic Startup Awards last year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Whitney Tilson warned us about Lumber Liquidators months ago in this troubling presentation

0
0

LL pres

Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who runs Kase Capital, was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on "60 Minutes" about his largest short position: Lumber Liquidators.

The report found that the company – North America's largest speciality retailer of hardwood flooring – appears to be selling Chinese-made laminate flooring with levels of formaldehyde that exceeds what's allowed under California law.

"In 16 years of professional money management, I've seen hundreds of companies do all sorts of bad things to get their stock prices up," Tilson told Cooper. "But this has got to be the worst."

Tilson first decided to short Lumber Liquidators stock back in 2013 when he saw the company's profit margins explode, largely due to what appeared to be cheaper cost of goods.

"When you see a commodity business suddenly double its profit margins, that raises red flags,"Tilson said. "It's almost unprecedented for a company."

About six months later, Tilson was tipped off that the company was likely purchasing formaldehyde-tainted laminated flooring in China.

Tilson laid it all out months ago in the following presentations, which he was kind enough to share with Business Insider.







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is what 9 of the world's most popular websites looked like when they launched

0
0

Old Confirm button Facebook

Web design has improved a lot since the birth of the internet. 

Long gone are the pixellated and cluttered monstrosities of the HTML era.

Many of today's most successful websites bear only a minute resemblance of how they used to look when they were first launched. Look at Facebook.

Here, New York-based designer Robert Morris of Ninja Essays put together a graphic of 9 of the most famous sites on the internet, and compared them with how they looked when they were first launched.

 

Apple has come a long way since it presented the Mac OS 8 in 1996.



Pierre Omidyar founded eBay in 1995 as a hobby on his spare time. It is now valued more than $40 billion.

Source: Wikipedia



The Facebook was originally open to Harvard students only. Today, almost 1.5 billion people have a Facebook profile.

Source: Guardian



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 40 richest hedge fund managers

0
0

Andreas Halvorsen

Forbes' magazine has just released its annual world's billionaires list.

This year, we've counted 40 names in the hedge fund industry. A few of these titans have retired in recent years. 

Fund managers are paid through a compensation structure commonly known as the "2 and 20," which stands for a 2% management fee and a 20% performance fee charge. More specifically, "2 and 20″ means a hedge fund manager would charge investors 2% of total assets under management and 20% of any profits.

Overall, 2014 was an incredibly underwhelming year in the hedge fund world. According to research firm Preqin, hedge funds, on average, returned just a mere 3.78%, the lowest annual return since the 1.85% loss in 2011. Still, there were a few fund that delivered impressive returns such as Bill Ackman's Pershing Square.

We've included a round up of the richest fund managers in the world. 

Rob Citrone

Rank: 1741

Net-worth: $1 billion

Age: 50

Fund: Discovery Capital

Source: Forbes



Brian Higgins

Rank: 1533

Net-worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 50

Fund: King Street Capital

Source: Forbes



Richard Chilton, Jr.

Rank: 1533

Net-worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 56

Fund: Chilton Investment Company

Source: Forbes



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images