Comments on: Yahoo’s Yang Speaks, Notes That Glass Remains Half Full

By: Mighty Sam Faceball

Mighty Sam Faceball — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:41:58 +0000

Obviously people don’t seem to understand that shareholder value is not the only measure in the world. There is no law that says Yahoo has an obligation to maximize shareholder value. Their only obligation is to do what they believe is in the best long term interest of the company. No judge or jury is going to second guess the Yahoo board concerning their fiduciary duty in the absence of some kind of gross mismanagement, fraud, conflict of interest or failure to perform due diligence. I’m amazed that so many people think that fucking lawyers and lawsuits somehow illustrate what’s “correct” and “appropriate”. Ninety percent of lawyers are full of shit most of the time.

By: Yahoo!

Yahoo! — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:49:03 +0000

I can only speak for the foot soldiers at Yahoo!, but for the most part – we are ecstatic to have monkey boy off our back. After years of questionable leadership, Yahoo! does finally have a mission that we can believe in. Props to Jerry for having the balls to stand up to Balmer. Whether we can actually deliver on the new open strategy remains to be seen, but at least we have a goal that makes sense and inspires us to move forward – Mr. Softie would have ruined everything.

By: Tower of Hanoi

Tower of Hanoi — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:22:07 +0000

will Y! go with some other buyer ? Say if you start listing those companies that can afford to buy Y!.. 1)M$ 2)Google 3)EBay 4)Amazon .. who else ?

By: Silicon Moon

Silicon Moon — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:11:40 +0000

Microsoft-Yahoo Dead… Yahoo Needs a New CEO…

So who should be Yahoo!’s new CEO? Obviously someone with operating experience at an Internet company, unlike Terry Stemel, and strong knowledge of the online ad marketplace….

By: Sandeep

Sandeep — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:37:39 +0000

“…they would have maximized shareholder value…”

Michael: This is the most common line that is said in the boardrooms and in the MBA groups throughout the world. Let me say this: People (including on this blog) have no clue what the meaning of “maximizing shareholder value” is.

No one can find out the real valuation of any company (public or private). Stock markets are the closest ones. But its very difficult (even for Wall Street) to put a fair valuation on a high-growth, high-tech company because things move very fast in the tech world.

Microsoft has the money and they should have paid $5 extra for Yahoo. But that would have been a disaster (I explained it in my blog: http://webinsider.blogspot.com).

This “distraction” was good for Yahoo. A jolt of this kind may give them some energy to regroup and execute. Stock price will not go back to $19. Wall street knows that Yahoo got the jolt and will execute (at least they hope so).

By: Jim M

Jim M — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:25:40 +0000

What’s the secret that Yang is going to bring to the table?

By: Alan Wilensky

Alan Wilensky — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:07:23 +0000

It takes vision too see beyond par value – Yang is either a damned visionary, or so rich that he doesn’t care about widows and orphans portfolios. As for me, a non-stockholder, I think this was a good call, for all the turmoil and things that get planned in mergers, but never get executed with alacrity.

http://abmw.wor...ut-or-the-call/

By: Gan

Gan — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:41:54 +0000

I think folks are generally justified to question Yahoo!’s past performance – ‘coz the company has not performed.

But, the newly laid out strategy is clear and precise. The company’s announcements are clearly furthering that vision one step at a time. However as many mentioned – the key is going to be execution. If the company can stick to the fundamentals and continue delivering quality products as per the plan – Y!’s stock has nowhere to go but up.

As a long time investor of Y!, I am rooting for them. I would say the company has to beat expectations handily in the upcoming quarter just to take some heat off their back. A solid performance for another additional quarter will make all the naysayers look like jokers.

Go Yahoo!

By: tom

tom — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:09:37 +0000

Users and shareholders really should not be lumped into the same camp.

Most actual users of Yahoo never wanted the deal to happen while shareholders who wanted the deal are only looking for the quick cash out. The only people complaining are those who bet wrong when they had 3 entire months to sell their stock while this whole thing was playing out. Tough luck.

By: Masseratti

Masseratti — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:39:15 +0000

Ballmer is a quitter
Yang is stronger
Arrington is the FUDmaster

By: Tampera

Tampera — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:30:18 +0000

More we talk about them greater coverage they get and more profit they make ;0

By: Trench Reynolds

Trench Reynolds — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:49:48 +0000

If my Yang could speak I’d be a hit at parties.

By: Riprap

Riprap — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:57:17 +0000

“…they would have maximized shareholder value by simply accepting Microsoft’s offer back in February.”

When a company’s primary goal is to maximize shareholder value, they should close up shop. A company’s primary goal is to grow the business. A tech investor’s primary goal is to hopefully profit from that innovation — not from quickee deals and buy-outs.

While a Microsoft deal might have gained a short term profit for investors, it would’ve decimated Yahoo. Mergers on this scale are last-minute desperate acts, and rarely work.

By: David Phillips

David Phillips — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:14:23 +0000

Following Y! for the last few weeks, I notice a raft of new products and initiatives that have arrived or are due to be released soon. Turning the Y! properties into a social network is just one example – they learned from 360 and should do better second time round.

The ability to be in the race with Goog, is clearly an advantage. Who else is there and when the Goog monopoly comes under pressure, Y! has a head start.

I say hold and definitely don’t sell.

By: jAcK

jAcK — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:11:26 +0000

#15 Johns should ask for his money back.

“Money for nothing and your chicks for free”

By: mjm

mjm — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:37:24 +0000

Yahoo has never executed. Their corporate culture is driven by consensus. Their decision making is glacial. The Chinese have a great saying that captures Yahoo – “Small Children Driving a Big Car”. Their time has passed……

By: johns

johns — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:32:27 +0000

Yahoo may be adding new services but their [lack of action in] response to problems, such as extract below of a problem I reported, makes it difficult to depend on them for anything other than casual use.

————————————-
It has been nearly one month since your reply. But I have yet to see any fix or change for this acknowledged problem!

Why can you not give me an estimate when this will be fixed?

— Yahoo! Finance wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Finance.
>
> We sincerely apologize for the issue with “Last Trade” and “Change” data
> defaulting to 0.00 within Yahoo! Finance Currencies, ETF’s and
> International markets.
>
> At this time, we would like to reassure you that we are doing everything
> possible to resolve the issue as quickly as we can. Although we can not
> offer you an estimate as to when this problem will be fixed, please be
> assured that we are aware that the problem exists and our engineers are
> further investigating the issue. Unfortunately, we cannot offer any
> further information regarding this issue.
>
> We appreciate your reporting this to us — your input helps us to
> identify ways to constantly maintain and improve our service. We are
> always striving to keep Yahoo! Finance as the best place on the planet
> to stay informed with the latest in financial news and information!
>
> Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Finance.
>
> Regards,
> Derek
> Yahoo! Customer Care
> 68282783
>
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ————————-
>
> Let’s not over complicate the matter. My question is simple:
>
> For symbol XAUUSD=X, WHY does it not show gain/loss from one day to the
> next?

By: Michael Arrington

Michael Arrington — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:16:46 +0000

Lutfar – indeed, the show is most likely only beginning.

By: Selebriti

Selebriti — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:14:35 +0000

nice stuff

By: Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar

Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:13:26 +0000

I am waiting for another day. Show is not over yet, I think. Cheers to TC.

By: ac

ac — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:06:47 +0000

yang is not fit to be ceo. if you want to turn company around you need to fire people left and right like steve jobs.

By: Michael Arrington

Michael Arrington — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:02:38 +0000

One hand clapping – when companies fail to deliver ROI to investors, they might as well hang a for sale shingle on the front door. The hedge fund guys were sniffing at Yahoo before MS came in. If the stock price drops significantly, they’ll be back.

By: Eve

Eve — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:58:26 +0000

I want my $31

By: Bicchiere mezzo vuoto o mezzo pieno ? | Vittorio Pasteris

Bicchiere mezzo vuoto o mezzo pieno ? | Vittorio Pasteris — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:55:13 +0000

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By: Mike Abundo

Mike Abundo — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:45:18 +0000

Will Yahoo shareholders applaud independence and innovation, or will they bitch at their missed payday?

Let’s find out.