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

A Googler takes us on a tour of his gorgeous New York City apartment

0
0

haw bin chai apartment tour

Googler Haw-Bin Chai desperately needed to remodel his apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

The space was cramped and dull, and since it's in a building that dates to 1929, it was difficult to adapt the apartment to his needs.

Chai, a software engineer on a technical infrastructure team at Google, found out about Homepolish through an internal email chain.

He decided to purchase 55 hours of design time with Homepolish's Kevin Clark. It ended up making a world of difference.

"I found that I was spending a lot more time in my apartment," Chai told to Business Insider. "I come straight home after work a lot more, whereas before I would go somewhere to read or go to the park."

Chai's apartment dates to 1929 and had a rather strange layout when he moved into the space a year ago. The Homepolish team decided to knock down a few walls — including one where the kitchen island stands now — to open up the space.



Suddenly, the whole apartment felt much bigger and more functional. They added a touch of nature with a small herb garden on one wall.



The kitchen tiles were custom made and shipped from Morocco.

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We tried ‘Dirty Diet Coke’ — the bizarre beverage people on Pinterest are obsessed with

0
0

dirty diet coke

While making a list of 43 things you can do with a can of coke, I stumbled upon a recipe for something called “Dirty Diet Coke.”

The drink included Diet Coke, half and half, coconut syrup, and lime. It was ridiculously easy to make, and back in 2013, Pinterest bloggers were raving about it.

But it sounded disgusting.

So Business Insider decided to make our own and see what all the fuss was about. 

The recipe is very, very easy. You’ll need a tablespoon and a knife in addition to your ingredients.

Let’s get started. First, quarter the lime.

dirty diet coke

Squeeze the juice of the lime slice into the glass.

dirty diet coke

Add your Diet Coke.

dirty diet coke

Add one or two tablespoons of coconut syrup. I added two and it was very coconut-y, so if you don’t like that flavor, add less.

dirty diet coke

Add one to two tablespoons of half and half. Adding this really grossed me out, but I persevered. 

dirty diet coke

This was the ultimate end product that we garnished with another lime wedge. It looked like fizzy coffee, or as one of my testers said, “it looks like a swamp.”

dirty diet coke

“Is that iced coffee and a lime?” asked another tester before they tasted it.

I was also skeptical, but ultimately it tasted good. Even really, really good. It reminded me of how I would imagine a coconut Diet Coke might taste with an aftertaste akin to a mudslide thanks to the half and half.

I was viscerally angry about the recipe at first because the combination of synthetic sugar in Diet Coke, real sugar in coconut syrup, and pointless dairy in the half and half seemed so completely devoid of nutrition,” said one taste tester. “I thought it would be way too sweet, but it was actually really refreshing and not too sugary.”

"I think it’s delicious,” another Business Insider tester said. “I would buy it.”

But the general consensus is with the half and half calories and amount of sugar in this drink, no one would want to make their own Dirty Diet Coke on a regular basis.

Unless, that is, it included alcohol.

Hand it to me in a coconut with about three shots of rum, a paper umbrella and a fancy name, and I'd probably buy it at a poolside bar,” added a tester.

dirty diet coke

Verdict: Out of six testers, everyone loved it. Thanks Pinterest.

SEE ALSO: Lawn maintenance, bug repellent, and 41 other bizarre things you can do with a can of Coke

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Japanese lifestyle guru explains how to organize your home once — and then never again

Everything we know about Apple's next big iPhone update, iOS 9 (AAPL)

0
0

iphone 6 and 6 plus

Next week, Apple will tell us about its next big update for the iPhone and iPad.

Every year at its Worldwide Developer Conference, the company reveals all of the new features its planning to bring to iOS in the fall.

Although Apple hasn't confirmed anything just yet, 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman has spoken to several people familiar with the company's plans for iOS 9. Here are the biggest additions we're expecting to see based on his reports. 

We may finally see Apple's much-rumored Spotify killer.

Apple is reportedly working on a music streaming service of its own to compete directly with Spotify. Multiple reports, including those from Gurman, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times have suggested that it will be powered by Beats Music. A person familiar with Apple's plans previously told us that the company is talking to musicians to see if they're interested in curating their own streams on the service, too. The streaming service said to cost $10 per month, and we may hear about it when Apple introduces iOS 9. 



A smarter Siri is coming.

Apple is reportedly working on a new, smarter version of Siri that not only answers your questions, but also integrates with Apple's services such as Spotlight Search, Calendar, and Passbook, according to Gurman. It sounds like a much-needed answer to Google Now — especially since Google just unveiled its Google Now on Tap personal assistant that can serve up information before you even ask for it. 



Apple Maps will get a lot better.

Apple is adding new features to Apple Maps too, according to Gurman, including public transit directions for buses, trains, and subways. It's a much needed feature that's kept it far behind Google Maps and other navigation apps. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Business Insider staffers reveal the one item they never travel without

0
0

Suitcase Traveler Street

Traveling can be an amazing experience.

But it can also be a disaster if you don't pack the right things.

We asked Business Insider editors and writers to tell us the one essential item they always travel with.

From obvious things like passports and credit cards to things you might not think of like rechargeable phone cases and facial mists, here's what you should pack for every trip.

Cash

Keeping some cash in your pocket while traveling is a always a good idea, in case your wallet is stolen or one of your credit cards isn't accepted. 

"An unmarked, untorn US $100 bill of updated design is the only non-precious metal that's accepted as legal tender literally everywhere in the world. It's having a small gold bar in your pocket," defense and military editor Armin Rosen said. 



Credit cards

Along with some cash, it's a good idea to bring credit cards on your trip. Just make sure to call your credit card company in advance to let them know you'll be traveling abroad.

However, be aware that some credit cards, like American Express, may not be accepted all over the world. So, to be safe, bring a card like a Visa or Mastercard, which is more likely to be accepted globally.

"Although I am a loyal Amex customer, too many places don't accept Amex outside of the US, so I got a Visa credit card, which I never use here in the US, just for that purpose — to bring with me when I travel," careers editor Jacquelyn Smith said.



Kindle

A Kindle is more lightweight than a hardcover book, and it's also easier to read while laying on a beach.

"I never travel without my Kindle. Usually, when I arrive in my final destination, the mood strikes me to read something totally different from what I read on the way there. I can never predict what it will be. So it's perfect that I can bring my entire book collection with me in the form of the Kindle," digital culture editor Molly Mulshine said.

Price: $119



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A mysterious retail guru most people have never heard of just became richer than Warren Buffett

0
0

Amancio Ortega

Zara's mysterious founder, Amancio Ortega, is now the world's second-richest man — surpassing even Warren Buffet. But despite his impressive net worth, many people have never heard of him. 

The 79-year-old Spaniard fiercely guards his privacy and gives few interviews to the press. 

Ortega founded fast-fashion giant Zara with his then wife Rosalia in 1975. Today, his retail company Intidex SA — which owns Zara, as well as Massimo Dutti and Pull&Bear — has over 6,600 outposts around the world. Zara in and of itself is changing retail forever.

According to Bloomberg, Ortega's net worth is a whopping $71.5 billion as of June 2, 2015. The only person left for him to beat in this financial category? Bill Gates, who has a net worth of $85.5 billion. However, Bloomberg's data notes that since last year, Gates' net worth has decreased by $1.1 billion, while Ortega's has increased by an impressive $10.4 billion.

Amancio Ortega is the second-richest man in the world, with a net worth estimated at $71.5 billion.

Source: Bloomberg



This is his second wife, Flora. The couple has been married since 2001.

Source: Bloomberg



In August 2013, his ex-wife and Zara cofounder, Rosalia Mera, died at age 69. She was Spain's richest woman.

Source: Associated Press



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THEN & NOW: The cast of 'Entourage' 11 years after the hit HBO show premiered

0
0

Entourage Movie

With the "Entourage" movie opening in theaters everywhere today, we're looking back on the 11 years since the show premiered in 2004.

Since the show ended its eight season run in 2011, the actors and actresses who made up the main cast have gone on to star in numerous television and movie roles  but none have managed to top their "Entourage" fame just yet.

See what Vinnie, Eric, Drama, Turtle, and Ari, the rest of the crew have been up to since the show ended.

THEN: Adrian Grenier played the young Hollywood movie star Vincent "Vinnie" Chase.



NOW: Grenier starred in the 2013 apocalyptic dramedy "Goodbye World" and became an environmental activist.

In March, Grenier's Kickstarter to fund a search for the "loneliest whale in the world" was saved at the last minute by a $50,000 donation from actor and fellow activist Leonardo DiCaprio.

Grenier and filmmaker Josh Zeman will use the proceeds from the fundraiser to film a team of scientists as they search for the lonely whale — called "52 Hertz" for the high frequency of its mating song that no other whale speaks.



THEN: Kevin Connolly starred in all 96 episodes of "Entourage" as Eric "E" Murphy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 best retail companies to work for in America

0
0

Retail is the backbone of the American economy, and all roles within the industry can lead to successful, and meaningful, careers. That's why a number of retail companies were featured on our list of the 50 best companies to work for in America.

Business Insider teamed up with employer-information website PayScale to find US companies that stand out in pay, happiness, and more. We broke out the retail companies from the list and have presented them here. Read the full methodology here.

Johnson & Johnson came in first on this list, with 76% of employees reporting both high job satisfaction and high job meaning at the company. E-commerce giant eBay followed behind.

Here are the 15 best retail companies to work for:

BI_graphics_Best Retail Companies 2015

SEE ALSO: The 50 best companies to work for in America

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here are the 11 best companies to work for in the US

24 photos from the Tiananmen Square protests that China has tried to erase from history

0
0

man walks past tiananmen gate with mao poster

June 4 marks the 26th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-Democracy protests that ended in bloodshed, and China has done its best to scrub the event from collective memory.

Ahead of Wednesday's anniversary, China has gone to great lengths to censor discussion about the tragedy in 1989, when Chinese troops killed unarmed civilians in the center of Beijing. (The exact death toll is in dispute, but some estimate that more than 1,000 pro-democracy protesters were killed.)

In an apparent effort to keep people from recalling the violence, China has taken the drastic measure of blocking access to Google in the country. The country has also taken measures to quell protestors themselves. For example, Chinese authorities arrested a well-known artist named Guo Jian after he created a diorama of Tiananmen Square covered in ground meat.

While Jian's diorama may have been disturbing, photographs from the actual protest are utterly heartbreaking. We've gathered some of more iconic images in recognition of the 25th anniversary.

Adam Taylor and Erin Fuchs contributed to this report.

The protests began in April of 1989, after the death of ousted General Secretary Hu Yaobang.



Many saw Hu as a reformer. He had the support of students, who wanted the Chinese government to continue his pro-market and pro-democracy policies.



Following Hu's official state funeral, some 100,000 students gathered in the Beijing's central square.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 photos from the bloody protests in China that happened 26 years ago today

0
0

man walks past tiananmen gate with mao poster

This Thursday, June 4, marks the 26th anniversary of the pro-democracy student protests that led to bloodshed in China's Tiananmen Square in 1989.

China has done its best to scrub the event from collective memory.

The country has already detained dozens of dissidents and activists ahead of the anniversary, even putting some "on vacation" with police, Radio Free Asia reported. Meanwhile thousands rallied in Hong Kong last week to remember the victims from 1989.

On the major 25th anniversary last year, China went to great lengths to censor discussion about the tragedy, when Chinese troops killed unarmed civilians in the center of Beijing. (The exact death toll is in dispute, but some estimate that more than 1,000 pro-democracy protesters were killed.)

In an apparent effort to keep people from recalling the violence, China took the drastic measure last year of blocking access to Google in the country. The country also took measures to quell protestors themselves. For example, Chinese authorities arrested a well-known artist named Guo Jian after he created a diorama of Tiananmen Square covered in ground meat. 

We've gathered some of more iconic images to remember the historic event.

Adam Taylor wrote the original version of this post.

The protests began in April of 1989, after the death of ousted General Secretary Hu Yaobang.



Many saw Hu as a reformer. He had the support of students, who wanted the Chinese government to continue his pro-market and pro-democracy policies.



Following Hu's official state funeral, some 100,000 students gathered in the Beijing's central square.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THEN & NOW: The cast of 'Jurassic Park' 22 years later

0
0

jurassic parkWhen "Jurassic Park" came out in 1993, it was a groundbreaking marvel. It revolutionized CGI while telling a compelling story.

With the next installment, "Jurassic World," out in theaters June 12, now seemed like as good a time as any to see where everybody from the original is today.

The actors and actresses who helped bring the original classic to life have found success long after escaping the clutches of the Velociraptors.

THEN: In perhaps the biggest role of his career, Sam Neill played leading paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, who gets invited to the dinosaur-filled island home to Jurassic Park.



NOW: Neill reprised his role in "Jurassic Park III" and has appeared in TV series including "The Tudors." He now plays Inspector Chester Campbell in the British gangster drama "Peaky Blinders," which is preparing for its third season.

"Peaky Blinders" airs on BBC Two and can be seen on Netflix.



THEN: Laura Dern played paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler, who accompanies Dr. Grant on his trip to Jurassic Park.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything you need to know about NASA's epic mission to Pluto

0
0

new horizonsIn January 2006, NASA launched the fastest spacecraft in history toward the dwarf planet Pluto. Now the spacecraft — called New Horizons— is hastening toward its destination and is scheduled to make its closest approach to Pluto on July 14. 

On that epic day, New Horizons will use its slew of instruments on board to capture images of the distant icy world in unprecedented detail — hundreds of times clearer and thousands of times closer than the Hubble Space Telescope could ever hope to achieve.

Scientists on the New Horizons team have been patiently waiting for this moment for nearly a decade, and now their time is fast approaching. Here are 10 infographics by NASA that will teach you everything scientists know so far about icy Pluto.

Here's a basic introduction to the dwarf planet and the spacecraft that will uncover its secrets.



We mentioned that New Horizons was fast. Well, here's just how fast:



This shows what will happen in the days leading up to and following New Horizon's flyby of this frigid world:



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

19 of the most mind-blowing Google Street View images from under the world's oceans (GOOG)

0
0

google street view pedras secas

To celebrate World Oceans Day, which takes place on June 8, Google has released a series of new Street View imagery from the world's oceans.

Google partnered with the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and the Chagos Conservation Trust to showcase stunning new images from 40 locations around the world, including underwater dives in Bali, the Bahamas, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Google says on its Maps blog that mapping the ocean is key to preserving it, and the company hopes the release of the new photos will encourage people to learn more about the world's underwater and coastal environments.

This little chap was spotted swimming alongside schools of fish around the Isla Campion in the Galapagos Islands.



These steep underwater sea mountains known as Gordon's Rocks in the Galapagos Islands provide a habitat for a whole variety of marine life.



The colorful Tydeman Reef is part of the Great Barrier Reef and is situated just off from the Australian land-mass at Cape Melville.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 24 players who are going to take over the Women's World Cup

0
0

Louisa Nécib

When the Women's World Cup begins on June 6, a whole bunch of players are going to become household names in their countries.

We went through all 24 World Cup teams and picked out one player from each team who's going to be incredibly important to her country's chances.

CANADA: Christine Sinclair (Group A)

Age: 31

Position: Forward

Thing to know: As the undisputed star for the host nation, Sinclair will hope to lead Canada to its first-ever Women's World Cup title. She's Canada's all-time goal scorer with 153 goals.



CHINA: Ma Jun (Group A)

Age: 26

Position: Midfielder

Thing to know: After missing the World Cup for the first time in their nation's history four years ago, China is hoping for a strong showing this summer. With forward Yang Li injured, China will now rely on Ma Jun, who leads the remaining group heading to Canada in goals scored with 15, and is one of its most experienced players.



NEW ZEALAND: Abby Erceg (Group A)

Age: 25

Position: Defender

Thing to know: New Zealand has failed to advance past group play in all three of its prior World Cup appearances, but will look to captain and star defender Abbey Erceg to help anchor their defense and break the trend this time around. Erceg certainly possesses the experience to do so, recently becoming the first New Zealand soccer player — male or female — to reach 100 caps.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 things you should never say on your first day at work

0
0

boss, talk, mistakeWhat you say during your first day on the job can mean the difference between a lasting relationship with your new employer or a dash in the pan for your career.

"If you say something that's off, it sets the tone, and that could be the reason for you to be let go in your first three months," says J.T. O'Donnell, a career and workplace expert, founder of career advice site, CAREEREALISM.com, and author of "Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."

"It's natural to want to be liked — to impress and fit in quickly," explains workplace confidence expert Michelle Kerrigan. "However, many try too hard, and talk too much when they should be listening."

"At my last company..." or "In my last job..."

No one likes a know-it-all.

Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, etiquette and civility expert and author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom,suggests walking into the new job with energy, but she also recommends a splash of humility. "Not the timid, reserved definition, but with an attitude of learning — not knowing-it-all."



"When do I get a raise?"

"How about getting through the ninety-day probationary period first," Randall suggests.



"BTW, I have to leave early on Fridays."

"If you hadn't talked about that prior to joining, landing in the new job and suddenly dropping these kinds of bombs on them really shows a lack of communication and respect on your part," O'Donnell says.

"They're expecting you to just come in and be there and be present, be eager, be ready and willing to learn."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 most visited cities in the world

0
0

Istanbul mosque

MasterCard just released its 2015 global destination cities index.

The index provides a ranking of the 132 most visited cities around the world by looking at the number of international visitors that are predicted to visit the cities in 2015.

This year, Asian cities dominated the list, along with a few European cities.

Here are the 10 most popular cities in the world with international visitors.

10. Hong Kong, China: 8.66 million international visitors



9. Seoul, South Korea: 10.35 million international visitors



8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 11.12 million international visitors



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

22 remarkable images from the first person ever allowed to photograph Cuba from the sky

0
0

unseen cuba

As relations between the Cuba and the US begin to mellow, the Caribbean country is becoming more and more accessible.

But back in 2010, when Marius Jovaisa first visited the island, things were still quite tense. This presented a challenge to the aerial photographer, who has a long history of photographing beautiful locations from above, and many books and international exhibits of under his belt.

Jovaisa had come to Cuba with a plan to shoot the island's diverse landscape from the sky. The task turned out to be a tall one.

After two years of pleading with the Cuban government, Jovaisa was finally granted permission to photograph Cuba from above, and he became the first photographer to do so.

He spent two and a half years on the project and his subsequent book, "Unseen Cuba," is now available for purchase. The photographs give an exhaustive survey of Cuba from the sky, showing us just how varied and beautiful a place it can be.

Marius Jovaisa has made a long career out of aerial photography. He has taken large-format photos of such places as Cancun, Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula, and his home country of Lithuania.



But getting access to photograph Cuba from above was by far his most challenging project yet.



It took two years for Jovaisa to gain approval from the Cuban government to photograph the country from the air.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

New Orleans faces a terrifying future as sea levels rise

0
0

New Orleans after Katrina

It's been almost 10 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast. But the Crescent City, a cultural treasure that’s home to almost 400,000 people, faces even greater risks in the future.

Most of the city is already below sea level, protected by an unreliable system of levees.

Flood risk will grow more severe as rising sea levels and sinking coastal land produce a local increase of at least four feet by the end of the century. And then there's the inevitable increase in major storm surges caused by extreme weather events.

We've created a guide to the crises ahead and the city's best hope for survival.

More than 50% of New Orleans is already below sea level. The only things keeping the city safe are levees and flood walls.



But sea levels are projected to rise by around 4.5 feet this century as global warming causes water to expand and land ice to melt.



Sea levels are rising faster in Louisiana than almost anywhere else due to rapid sinking of marshy coastal land (orange shows land that disappeared between 1937 and 2000).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 best restaurants in New York City for big groups

0
0

american cutHaving a large group doesn't have to mean missing out on dining at great restaurants in New York. 

Restaurant review site The Infatuation helped us come up with a list of NYC eateries that are perfect for large crowds. 

Whether you're going for a birthday dinner or a bachelor party, here are ten places to hit up the next time you're with a big party. 

Sample traditional Roman dishes with a New York twist at Lupa Osteria Romana

170 Thompson St.

Inspired by the traditional Roman trattoria, Lupa Osteria Romana serves authentic Roman dishes like Bavette Cacio e Pepe, or linguine with black pepper and cheese. 

Brick walls that make for a warm atmosphere, and groups of eight to 27 people can be seated in their private banquette space with three pre-fixed menu options. 

The lunch menu is $39 per person with cured meats like salami, a pasta dish, two mains like fresh market fish, and a dessert. For dinner, you can do the $49 per person menu, which includes cured meats, a pasta, two mains, and dessert, or the $79 per person option with cured meats, two pasta choices, three mains, a selection of cheeses, and dessert. 

Read The Infatuation's Lupa review here

 



Try the 55-year-old famous thin-crust pizza recipe at Rubirosa

235 Mulberry St.

This Italian restaurant uses Angelo Pappalardo's 55-year-old family recipe for thin-crust pizza, a recipe that originated at Joe and Pat's Pizzeria in Staten Island.

Besides its beloved Vodka Pizza, smothered in vodka sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella, you'll find pasta made in-house and a variety of gluten-free options. 

You can make special accommodations for eight to 20 people with three menus offering appetizers, pasta, pizza, protein dishes, and dessert. Plus, you can reserve a seat at the long Chef's table in a private room. 

Read The Infatuation's Rubirosa review here




Taste a mix of African, Asian, and American cuisine at The Cecil

210 W. 118th St.

The Cecil, in Harlem, classifies itself as an Afro-Asian-American brasserie, so you know you’re in for a lot of options.

Their large menu does in fact offer a wide variety, with one-of-a-kind options like braised goat udon noodles, oxtail dumplings, or their lamb carpaccio topped with pink peppercorns.

With different dining chambers, the restaurant offers an environment that feels both open and intimate.

Read The Infatuation's The Cecil review here



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 wedding gifts that seem like a good idea but can actually be disastrous

0
0

bride wedding gift

Bridal registries are a godsend during wedding season — they take the guesswork out of choosing a gift. 

But what if you've waited until the last-minute and all of the couple's pre-selected gifts have been scooped up?  

When going off the registry, there are a few things to steer clear of. 

1. Any piece of art

Unless you have intimate knowledge of the couple's taste in art (and home décor), step away from the wall hangings and conversation pieces. That butler dog statue is not your friend.  

2. Bulky kitchen appliances

A simple rule is to avoid anything larger than a coffee-maker. So walk away from the industrial-size margarita machine, please. Most first homes are small, meaning there is no space (and no need) for counter-crowding appliances. 

3. Quirky or funny-to-you gag gifts

Speaking of taking up space, just say no to eclectic gifts that serve no purpose; think funky lamps, knick-knacks, etc. And avoid all "joke gifts," including anything baby- or sex-related. Self-help books of the "how to be the perfect spouse" genre are out of the question.    

4. An empty picture frame 

The only exception to this rule: if you have an amazing picture to put inside of the frame. Otherwise, this gift is highly generic and will likely end up being re-gifted. A digital frame, however, is something the bride and groom can put to use as soon as they return from their honeymoon. 

5. Crystal or silver anything

Silver requires maintenance (read: frequent polishing), and crystal is heavy and takes up space. Not all couples want to decorate their new home with shiny objects.  

Join the conversation about this story »

GOLDMAN: These 12 huge companies are prime takeover targets

0
0

Tsukiji fish market japan tuna auction

The market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is red hot right now. And the analysts at Goldman Sachs believe it could get hotter.

"Global M&A volumes are on pace to hit $4 trillion in 2015, just shy of the previous record set in 2007," Goldman's Robert Boroujerdi said. "However, M&A as a percentage of the world’s market cap sits at 5.8%, below the 20 year average of 6.7%. We would need to see a further $650 bn of announcements to close the gap."

Boroujerdi and his team have constructed a basket of 197 stocks that Goldman's clients can trade as a portfolio.

We pulled out the 12 stocks in the portfolio that have market caps above $5 billion and that Goldman believes have a "high, or 30-50%, probability of M&A activity in the next 12 months."

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: VRTX

Market Cap: $29.87 billion

Industry: Healthcare, Biotech

Management Outlook: In an earnings call in late April, CFO Ian Smith talked about the financial goals of the company in the next few years. "Especially thanks that I get a chance to reiterate the comments of what we target financially for the Company a few years from now. And it is to be a Company similar to our larger-cap peers, and that's one of high operating margins," he said.



Mead and Johnson Nutrition Co.

Ticker: MJN

Market Cap: $19.48 billion

Industry: Packaged Food and HHPC

Management Outlook: CEO Kasper Jakobsen, in the 1Q earning report, said, "With over 70% of our business outside the United States, foreign currency translation negatively impacted our topline. Investment in demand-generation activities continues to be strong and we expect an increase to support strategic initiatives in the coming quarters."



Cabot Oil and Gas Corp.

Ticker: COG

Market Cap: $14.17 billion

Industry: Energy, Exploration and Production

Management Outlook: In the Q1 earnings reportPresident and CEO Dan Dinges said while shale extraction is still efficient for the company, low oil prices are having some impact. "While pricing pressure remains a challenge for Marcellus gas in the near-term, Cabot's operating efficiencies in the play continue to exceed expectations," he said.



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




Latest Images