Category Archives: The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Pier 1 Imports

Posted on January 16, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Pier 1 Imports, Inc. engages in the retail sale of decorative accessories, furniture, candles, housewares, gifts, and seasonal products.”

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The Study of Failure

“The committee reported that the intervention board responsible for storing food mountains had completed only seven of the planned twenty-six computer systems. The board's officials admitted that their original plans had been over-optimistic and there had been a failure of management. Computer delays in handling export refunds and levies had cost Britain an extra Pounds 5 million. ("Farm subsidy scheme `is open to fraud'; Parliament." Times [London, England], 29 Nov. 1990. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, PIR, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: PAVmed Inc.

Posted on January 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “PAVmed Inc. (PAVM) operates as a medical device company in the United States. The company's lead product pipeline includes CarpX, a percutaneous device to treat carpal tunnel syndrome; PortIO, an implantable intraosseous vascular access device; and DisappEAR, an antimicrobial resorbable ear tube.  The company was formerly known as PAXmed Inc. and changed its name to PAVmed Inc. in April 2015. PAVmed Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in New York, New York.”

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The Study of Failure

“He cited bad management, failure to learn from the lessons of the past, highly-geared buy-outs, and buying assets at too high a price as major reasons for failure. ("Failures among firms grow." Guardian [London, England], 24 Oct. 1990, p. 20. Infotrac Newsstand,  Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in PAVM, The Study of Failure

PG&E: Bankruptcy Was All Too Predictable

Posted on January 14, 2019 by | Leave a comment

On January 14, 2019, it was announced that PG&E (PCG) would file bankruptcy on January 29, 2019.

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All along, we have felt that the actions of PG&E shortly before their bankruptcy filing in 2001 was done in the most disingenuous fashion reflecting their culture.  This explains why we posted a September 4, 2011 blurb titled “PG&E Fleeces Investors and Consumers Alike.”

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We expect that PG&E will easily achieve the 2001 low.  When and if PG&E emerges from bankruptcy, we believe that any short-term gains are not worth the long-term instability that is a common feature of the company and the stock.

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Posted in PG and E, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: NTN Buzztime

Posted on January 14, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “NTN Buzztime, Inc. provides interactive entertainment and dining technology to bars and restaurants in the United States and Canada. The company was formerly known as NTN Communications, Inc. and changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005. NTN Buzztime, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Carlsbad, California.”

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The Study of Failure

“We are all unwitting victims of the failure prejudice - believing that there is no value in being wrong. (Levine, Frederic A. "WESTCHESTER OPINION; Failures Offer Lessons on Winning." New York Times, 7 Jan. 1990. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, NTN, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Nyrstar NV

Posted on January 13, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Nyrstar NV engages in mining, smelting, and producing zinc, lead, and other base and precious metals primarily in Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Latin America.”

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The Study of Failure

“The basic lesson from their failure has been that what worked for the Japanese in cars and semiconductors - a headlong rush to seize market share - turned out to be far more expensive, and ultimately futile, in the securities industry (Sterngold, James. "Japan's Washout on Wall Street." New York Times, 11 June 1989. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

See Also: Market Share and Market Price, And Never the Twain Shall Meet

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Posted in Chart of the Day, market share, NYRSY, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: MicroVision

Posted on January 12, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “MicroVision, Inc. develops PicoP scanning technology that provides high-resolution miniature projection, and three-dimensional sensing and image capture solutions in the United States. Its PicoP scanning technology comprises micro-electrical mechanical systems, laser diodes, opto-mechanics, and electronics.”

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The Study of Failure

“Afghanistan, like Vietnam, is yet one more lesson in the inevitable failure of imperialism to make a better world. As always, it seems to take an international humiliation to drive the message home ("Looking for the exit." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada], 8 Jan. 1988, p. A6. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.)”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, MVIS, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Diana Containerships

Posted on January 11, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Diana Containerships Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the seaborne transportation industry worldwide.”

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The Study of Failure

“Yet failure is the rule in a normal existence rather than the exception. Everyone makes errors and we rarely complete a task the first time without mistakes. Though many seek to be the best, few can succeed. The top position, as the name implies, can only be held by one; therefore most will never reach the summits of their professions, sports, and avocations, even though we have been taught that our own self-worth is dependent on striving toward the loftiest goals (Levine, Frederic A. "WESTCHESTER OPINION; Failures Offer Lessons on Winning." New York Times, 7 Jan. 1990. Infotrac Newsstand, Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, DCIX, The Study of Failure

Ethereum: Stunning -93% Decline

Posted on January 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

On February 5, 2018, in an article titled “Ethereum: Downside Targets”, we said the following:

“In addition to the conservative downside target, we have indicated the level Ethereum would be at if it lost –93% (red line) as Bitcoin did in the period from June 2011 to November 2011 (yeah, it took only five months).  Such a decline in Ethereum would bring the price to $96.95.”

On December 14, 2018, Ethereum was quoted at a low price of $84.06.  The difference between the high of $1,385.02 and $84.06 is equal to –93.93%.  This decline was similar to the decline experienced by Bitcoin in 2011.

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On January 24, 2018, in a lead-up to the February 5, 2018 article, we referenced the comparison between Bitcoin in the run-up to the 2011 peak and the run-up to the Ethereum peak in 2018, suggesting that if they can rise in the same percentage then they can decline in a similar fashion.  This latest example only solidifies our studies of failure in markets and elsewhere.

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Posted in ethereum, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: AutoWeb Inc.

Posted on January 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “AutoWeb, Inc. operates as a digital marketing company for the automotive industry in the United States. The company was formerly known as Autobytel Inc. and changed its name to AutoWeb, Inc. in October 2017. AutoWeb, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.”

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The Study of Failure

“There is a danger in getting so wrapped up by success we expect it - and label lesser success as failure. Such as is happening to Gooden this season. Gooden was 24-4 in 35 starts with a 1.53 ERA last season. This year he's having an 'ordinary outstanding' season. ("The Baseball Page: Clemens Learns About Failure." UPI Archive: Sports News, 5 July 1986. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.)”

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Posted in AUTO, Chart of the Day, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: SPAR Group

Posted on January 9, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “SPAR Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides merchandising and marketing services worldwide. The company's syndicated services include product reordering and replenishment; ensuring its products for distribution; adding new products; implementing store planogram schematics; setting product category shelves; ensuring that product shelf tags are in place; checking for salability of the clients' products; placing new product and promotional items in prominent positions; and kiosk replenishment and maintenance services for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. Its dedicated services consist of syndicated services, as well as new store set-up, store remodel, and fixture installation services for a specific retailer or manufacturer.”

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The Study of Failure

“Hitters fail in their task to reach base roughly seven times out of 10. Pitchers fail to get hitters out perhaps 25 percent of the time and allow an average of one run in every two or three innings ("The Baseball Page: Clemens Learns About Failure." UPI Archive: Sports News, 5 July 1986. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, SGRP, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Workhorse Group

Posted on January 8, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Workhorse Group Inc. designs, manufactures, builds, sells, and leases battery-electric vehicles and aircraft in the United States. It operates through two divisions, Automotive and Aviation. The company also develops cloud-based and real-time telematics performance monitoring system that enables fleet operators to optimize energy and route efficiency. Its products include electric cargo vans, and medium and light-duty pickup trucks, as well as HorseFly delivery drones and truck systems. The company was formerly known as AMP Holding Inc. and changed its name to Workhorse Group Inc. in April 2015. Workhorse Group Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Loveland, Ohio.”

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The Study of Failure

“'If I have one word of advice to pass along to Bo Jackson,' said Kirk Gibson, Detroit's football-to-baseball star right fielder, 'it is to prepare to accept failure.' ("The Baseball Page: Clemens Learns About Failure." UPI Archive: Sports News, 5 July 1986. Infotrac Newsstand, . Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, The Study of Failure, WKHS

Chart of the Day: AirMedia Group

Posted on January 7, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “AirMedia Group Inc. operates out-of-home advertising platforms in the People's Republic of China. The company operates a network of digital (television) TV screens on planes operated by 7 airlines; and gas station media network, as well as other outdoor media advertising platforms in gas stations. It also displays non-advertising content, such as weather, sports, comedy clips, local attractions, documentaries, commentaries, and reality shows.”

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The Study of Failure

“Baseball is really a game of failure. Statistics measure everything happening to individuals who pass over the white foul lines in a game that is played alone and yet together. All the numbers are a measure of failure, what is not done, more than what is accomplished ("The Baseball Page: Clemens Learns About Failure." UPI Archive: Sports News, 5 July 1986. Infotrac Newsstand, Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.).”

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Posted in AMCN, Chart of the Day, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Attis Industries

Posted on January 6, 2019 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Attis Industries, Inc., a technology company, focuses on biomass innovation and healthcare technologies. The company operates in two divisions, Technologies and Innovation. The Technology division focuses on providing patient care services; diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for patients and healthcare providers; and products and services in various areas, including hospital consulting services for laboratory and emergency department, polymerase chain reaction molecular testing, pharmacogenetics testing, and medication therapy management. This division also offers Bright City, a mobile application that enables towns, cities, and municipalities to communicate directly. The Innovation division focuses on producing materials and fuels from renewable sources. The company was formerly known as Meridian Waste Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to Attis Industries, Inc. in April 2018. Attis Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Milton, Georgia.”

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The Study of Failure

“We intuitively know the value of not being hard on children who fail. What parent will scold an infant who stumbles while learning to walk or yell at the 7-year-old who falls during early attempts to master a two-wheeler? When children are young, we encourage all efforts and soothe their feelings when they meet defeats, yet as they grow older we begin to focus on success and lose our tolerance for their failures. (Levine, Frederic A. "WESTCHESTER OPINION; Failures Offer Lessons on Winning." New York Times, 7 Jan. 1990. Infotrac Newsstand, Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.)”

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Posted in ATIS, Chart of the Day, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: Microbot Medical

Posted on January 5, 2019 by | 1 comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “Microbot Medical Inc., a pre-clinical medical device company, researches, designs, and develops micro-robotics assisted medical technologies targeting the minimally invasive surgery space.”

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The Study of Failure

“The 256-page document reprimanded the space agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., for trying to 'contain potentially serious problems' and for urging rocket maker Morton Thiokol Inc. to reverse its position against launching the shuttle in cold weather. 'A well structured and managed system emphasizing safety' would have detected mounting concerns about the desn of booster rocket seals and the fatal launch might have been averted, the report said. ("The Rogers Commission, calling the Challenger disaster 'an accident..." UPI Archive: Washington News, 9 June 1986. Infotrac Newsstand, Accessed 17 Dec. 2018.)”

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Posted in Chart of the Day, MBOT, The Study of Failure

Chart of the Day: BGC Partners

Posted on December 27, 2018 by | Leave a comment

According to Yahoo!Finance, “BGC Partners, Inc. operates as a brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets worldwide.”

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The Study of Failure

“It is to be hoped the United States learned a lesson from 'the global-scale failure of its policy in Iran,' the article said. If not, 'it means new failure and in other regions where they continue to act as though the rest of the world is a hostage of the U.S. ego’ ("Soviet congratulations on hostage release." UPI Archive: International, 28 Jan. 1981.).”

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Posted in BGCP, Chart of the Day, The Study of Failure