Pfizer, headquartered in New York City, is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies (as measured by revenues.) It holds patents on many of the drugs it manufactures. One of these patents gives Pfizer the exclusive right to market the painkiller, Celebrex. (Celebrex generated $1.9 billion in revenue in 2013.) In a recent patent ruling, […]
Continue readingHow will selling more trucks than cars affect automobile manufacturers’ profits?
May 16, 2014 
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According to a recent article in USA Today (“Crossovers, trucks beating cars in sales,” Alisa Priddle, Detroit Free Press, March 16, 2014), the sales mix for automobile manufacturers such as Ford and GM has shifted to a ratio of approximately 47% cars and 53% trucks. “Trucks” includes light trucks, crossovers, and SUVs. In 1980, cars […]
Continue readingWhat are the direct and indirect costs involved with manufacturing Oscars?
May 12, 2014 0 Comments
The Academy Awards is an annual American awards ceremony honoring achievements in the film industry. Winners receive a statue officially named the “Academy Award of Merit.” However, these statues are much better known by the nickname of “Oscars.” Each Oscar statue weighs 8.5 pounds and takes three to four weeks to manufacture. The statues have […]
Continue readingWhat are the characteristics of the $2 billion in bonds that Tesla Motors is issuing?
May 7, 2014 0 Comments
Tesla Motors, Inc., is an American company that designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars and components. It is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol TSLA. Tesla has plans to build a $4 to $5 billion battery production plant beginning in 2017. To help to pay for the new manufacturing facility, Tesla is issuing […]
Continue readingWhy might Ford be shifting some jobs from Mexico to the United States?
May 1, 2014 0 Comments
Ford is moving production of its 2016 Ford F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks to its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, near Cleveland, Ohio. Currently those medium-duty trucks are produced in Mexico. Ford will be investing $168 million in the Avon Lake facility to retool the plant since it is currently set up to produce […]
Continue readingWhat is the balance sheet impact of the $400 million Netflix just borrowed?
April 28, 2014 0 Comments
In February 2014, Netflix took out a $400 million loan. Netflix is using these funds to help to create original programming, such as its hit series “House of Cards,” and to expand to Europe. Netflix is a publicly-held company trading on NASDAQ under the symbol NFLX. On March 10, 2014, Netflix common stock was selling […]
Continue readingHow will the 3.9% increase in FedEx Freight shipping rates impact the breakeven point for an Etsy jewelry artist?
April 24, 2014 0 Comments
FedEx Corp announced that it would be raising its shipping rates by an average of 3.9% on March 31, 2014. The rate change applies to FedEx Freight shipments within and between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The FedEx Freight segment is a provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, which is the shipping of relatively […]
Continue readingHow does Birchbox report its issuance of $50 million in equity?
April 21, 2014 0 Comments
Birchbox, Inc., is privately-held. It was founded in 2010 by Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp and has its headquarters in New York City. Birchbox offers a subscription service that delivers samples of beauty products to its subscribers. Subscribers can also purchase full-size versions of the products on Birchbox’s website. Birchbox currently has more than 400,000 […]
Continue readingHow will installing tablets at all tables affect Applebee’s breakeven point?
April 15, 2014 1 Comment
At Applebee’s, Presto tablets by E la Carte are being installed at every table. In total, Applebee’s will be purchasing 100,000 tablets. Customers will be able to pay their food bill and order appetizers and desserts using the tablets. The tablets are not replacing wait staff; wait staff will still take the orders for entrees. […]
Continue readingHow did State Street Corp. achieve cost savings from its co-working building design in Boston?
April 10, 2014 0 Comments
“Co-working” is a term to describe a work environment where coworkers share the same office but not necessarily the same boss. Co-working centers feature large, central open spaces with couches, coffee tables, and casual furniture. Some private, traditional offices typically are available for occasional use. The spaces are designed to foster socializing and exchanging ideas […]
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