Why?
For reference, it's a college paper.
2007-09-29 11:04:41 · 3 answers · asked by ♥ 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
US Tobacco.
It was the most profitable public company of the 20th century -- because when the tobacco trust was broken up -- they got the non-cigarette business. They were the only tobacco company that got to keep its monopoly. Their finances look like what the Cocaine Cartel's finance would look like if we could see their books.
It is interesting for a few reasons. They were an all equity firm -- but about 10 years or so back took out a billion dollars worth of debt & bought back shares. They did this so they could get a tax shield from debt. They were also sued by a Swedish company that claimed that they were breaking anti-trust laws. They lost, had to pay a billion dollars -- and it hardly made a dent in their share price.
They pay incredibly high dividends & use most of the rest of their earnings to buy back shares.
It is a disgusting product -- but the finacials are really interesting.
Their stock ticker is UST
2007-09-29 11:17:45 · answer #1 · answered by Ranto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Um, I don't know. Maybe Microsoft. Or some other big electronics product company like Toshiba or Sony?
2007-09-29 11:12:15 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about Starbuck's... Since college students tend to like drinking Starbuck's...
2007-09-29 11:12:17 · answer #3 · answered by Gary C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋