I understand. Though we wish it weren't so. sometimes companies succeed despite unscrupulous behavior at the top. Is shorting such a company, assuming that the bad behavior will get recognized and punished, wise?
"On paper I made a billion [in Herbalife]." - Icahn. It's when you sell (all your shares) that counts.
What if you own 1,000,000 shares, and you sell 999,999 of them, retaining 1? I think I would say what counts has already been done!!!
So what was Ackman thinking? Was he thinking that Herbalife was a pyramid scheme that would eventually run out of suckers and earnings would stop/plummet? And in fact earnings continued to grow? Or was he thinking there was some inside fraud or something, and this was never found? Man, I gotta try and find that audio from 5 years ago or what not between Ackman and Icon -sounds epic! How could one guy be so wrong, and one so right, taking completely opposite ends of the spectrum, when presumably they are both savvy financial guys?
Just listened to the Ackman Icahn audio on youtube. Two thoughts: 1. They weren't really arguing about Herbalife at all. Icahn didn't even say/admit he was long Herbalife, even when the CNBC guy pressed him. They were arguing about completely unrelated stuff, about setting a lawsuit, whether Icahn told Ackman he wanted to be friends, etc. 2. Icahn sure seemed to come across as a big jerk. He seems to have some reverence around here, but he DID seem like a bully and a guy who wouldn't hesitate to stab you in the back and lie you your face and everyone elses.
Uhhh yeah duh. He is keeping one share because ya never know Herbalife might turn into another Berkshire Hathaway. Uhhh yup.