Groupon Is a Straight-Up Ponzi Scheme

Discussion in 'Stocks' started by Pekelo, Jun 12, 2011.

  1. Pekelo

    Pekelo

    Just dipped below $12, that is 40% off of the IPO's price...

    "a bearish note from Ascendiant Capital. The firm, which rates Groupon a Sell, lowered its PT to $11 from $14 on a belief the company's Q4 restatement will increase opex and uncertainty."

    "Groupon (GRPN) acquires social recommendation app Ditto.me for an undisclosed amount. The firm website tips off that the mobile app is effectively closing down in what could be an indication that the buy for Groupon is an "acqui-hire" for talented engineers and designers."
     
    #52     Apr 18, 2012
  2. Pekelo

    Pekelo

    At $3, finally reality is catching up with the management.

    http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/grpn?source=search_general&s=grpn

    "Groupon (GRPN) again used its earnings call to promise its dismal international performance will get better as it improves deal mix, personalization, and mobile support. And again, it refused to promise a big improvement will happen next quarter. Also: marketing expenses are set to start rising again as Groupon spends more to target existing customers, and the company hopes to lower its dependence on e-mails by monetizing search traffic and encouraging the browsing/searching of deals on its site. Average billings/customer fell in both the U.S. and Europe"

    In January, I had 3 predictions for the year. One of them was GRPN ($20 at the time) going down to $10. I guess I was over cautious with that prediction...
     
    #53     Nov 9, 2012
  3. luisHK

    luisHK

    So most of you are saying the 1.2BUSD cash and zero debt in the books as shown on the link below is BS ?

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=GRPN+Key+Statistics

    Can you elaborate a bit, ior give a more recent link on the topic - I read a few today but they didn't go into much details, nor into the dodgy accounting bit
     
    #54     Nov 9, 2012
  4. Pekelo

    Pekelo

    Probably, they have been known to use accounting tricks. The link in the very first post explains the whole system...
     
    #55     Nov 9, 2012
  5. stock_md

    stock_md

    #56     Nov 12, 2012
  6. luisHK

    luisHK

    Thanks for the link, anyone else cares to comment on the issue ?

    I also see 1.2billion liabilities in the september unaudited account, but don't know how to put the shareholders equities in the balance.

    Why is Yahoo showing 1.2 billion cash and no debt, a number found in some reviews as well - although there is mention of no Long term debt, rather than no debt?

    How much cash is the company worth at the moment ?
     
    #57     Nov 13, 2012
  7. m22au

    m22au

    http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1490281/000149028112000037/grouponq310-q.htm

    As at 30 September 2012

    accounts payable 60,016
    accrued merchant payable 573,477
    accrued expenses 245,083
    deferred income tax 75,203
    other CL 171,422
    total CL 1,125,201

    deferred income taxes 28,585
    other NCL 74,643

    total liabilities 1,228,429

    As at 31 December 2011

    accounts payable 40,918
    accrued merchant payable 520,723
    accrued expenses 212,007
    deferred income tax 76,841
    other CL 144,673
    total CL 995,162

    deferred income taxes 7,428
    other NCL 70,766

    total liabilities 1,073,356

    "no debt" is probably slang for "no long-term debt other than tax and miscellaneous small amounts under $75 million".
     
    #58     Nov 13, 2012
  8. the IBD website has an ESP rating of 81 [out of 100]
    which isn't bad

    I'm not too interested in GRPN myself, but I do follow IBD ratings

    marc
    :cool:
     
    #59     Nov 13, 2012
  9. Pekelo

    Pekelo

    Dropped 25% on shitty earnings, fired the idiot CEO...


    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/technology/groupon-dismisses-its-chief-andrew-mason.html?_r=0

    "In two years, Mr. Mason was turning down a reported $6 billion offer from Google. As a reminder that fate is fickle, he put in the reception area of Groupon’s offices a gallery of framed magazine covers featuring Napster, Myspace and other tech wunderkinds that ultimately faded. To these losers, he then added a cover that featured Groupon."

    When it was around $10 in last June, I said:

     
    #60     Mar 1, 2013