You should write a blog
I would like to see more investors blogging about their investments. And although I’m new to blogging, I’ve learned a stack about it this year and I wanted to package up some stuff I’d wish I’d known a year ago to make it easier for those who are thinking about starting. Blogspot, WordPress, or Hosting? …
The risks in Trimantium Growthops
I came across the Trimantium Growthops upcoming IPO recently. It is a consulting business whose listing process reminds me of National Vet Care (ASX: NVL) and Automotive Solutions Group (ASX: 4WD) in that it involves getting agreements from a list of business owners, raising the funds for IPO, and then using the IPO funds to acquire the …
Getswift and Amazon
Topical subject. Getswift Ltd (ASX: GSW) put out a barebones release announcing a deal with Amazon ($AMZN) on Friday morning, before being suspended by the ASX and instructed to prepare a more informative update – probably because shares were up over 100% at one point. The subsequent more informative update was emphatically not more informative, but I’ll get …
10foot Scuttlebutt: December 2017 edition
It’s the holidays. Here’s some stuff in the markets I’ve seen or thought recently, and in place of analysis, I have inserted pictures. Enjoy. Trimantium Growthops I wrote about Trimantium Growthops a few weeks ago, an IPO which seems to have hit a snag – it was supposed to start trading on the 18th of …
Buyer Beware
The bottom end of the ASX is a bad place to be. There is a huge party going on at the moment and it’s happening at the expense of household investors. I wanted to write something that I hope household investors (of which I am one) will find useful. My usual disclaimer applies here, I am …
10foot Scuttlebutt – November 2017 edition
Back with another version of scuttlebutt, and a few things I’ve seen or thought about recently. As usual, you are agreeing to my disclaimer, and the following represents some idle thoughts I’ve had about various businesses in recent times: Oliver’s Real Foods (ASX: OLI) Oliver’s is working smart financially. The company is selling and leasing back …
The Gig Economy, Round 2
I saw the gay marriage result today and that got me thinking about the gig economy and working conditions. What do gay people have to do with the gig economy? Not sure – but AMP’s Shane Oliver asserted on Twitter that workforce participation would likely pick up now that gay people can marry. Why would gay …
Why the life insurance industry needs Amazon
I was having a look at Freedom Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: FIG) after its plunge recently. 4x-5x EBITDA is the price level where 10foot gets interested, especially when there’s embedded value in the existing customers and commissions. Ultimately I’m not comfortable with the business model (cold calling) and probably won’t invest. Freedom is an insurance broker …
A post-mortem for Thorn Group Ltd
I previously bought and sold Thorn Group Ltd (ASX: TGA) shares for the 10foot portfolio. I lost about 8% of the investment or about 0.4% of capital on the transaction, but I avoided the blow up that came following the recent market announcement. I believe that the Thorn purchase was a mistake as I was too …
A qualitative look at Oliver’s Real Foods
I recently had a look at healthy food company Oliver’s Real Foods (ASX: OLI). Oliver’s operates fast-food outlets that sell only healthy and organic food. You can read my purchase thesis here but in my view it is the qualitative factors here that will prove make-or-break for this young brand. These are three key premises (‘beliefs’) that I …
