2004--Seagate and hard drive sector hit hard times again--is this the reward for sector consolidation?
The Seagate IPO did well but Seagate hit hard times this year, along with the rest of the hard drive industry --- again. What is the point of consolidating an industry from more than 40 companies to about 5 and not being able to enjoy the promised fruits of consolidation? Is this a warning to other consolidating sectors? Wall Street calls it a profitless prosperity. Well, didn't Wall Street drive the consolidation trend? Where is the reward? Maybe somebody can tell the drive makers.
2004--Microsoft gives back money: Microsoft announces large shareholder dividend, gives billions back to investors. To me this says: We don't know what to do with this money and we do not have a good track record of investing this money in our business or other businesses. You, our investors, can probably do better than we can.
Bill Gates: Finally MS gives billions back to investors
