If companies were World Cup teams...

Now that the World Cup is in swing, I thought some of you may find this article by Derek DeCloet of The Globe & Mail humourous (here is an excerpt):

If Companies were World Cup Teams...


Germany equals the Royal Bank of Canada: Ruthlessly efficient, joyless, and ridiculously competent. They always have a few detractors, but when it matters, they seem to perform better than almost everyone else.


Odds of winning the World Cup*: 16 to 1
Stock price: $53, down 6 per cent this year
Price-earnings ratio**: 12

...

Portugal equals Lululemon. Pretty boy striker Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t look out of place wearing a pair of tight yoga pants. Female soccer fans swoon at the thought. But a brave investor would see a short-selling opportunity in something that seems overhyped.


Odds of winning the World Cup: 28 to 1
Stock price: $41.76 (U.S.), up 38.7 per cent this year
Price-earnings ratio: 36

...

Brazil equals Google – powerful, creative and slightly scary. It’s not enough to win; you have to do it with elegance, too. Bet against them at your peril.


Odds of winning the World Cup: 4 to 1
Stock price: $488.50 (U.S.), down 21 per cent
Price-earnings ratio: 18

...

France equals Goldman Sachs. Suave and successful, they’re dogged by critics who accuse them of cheating their way to the top.


Odds of winning the World Cup: 20 to 1
Stock price: $135.64 (U.S.), down 19.7 per cent
Price-earnings ratio: 7

...

The Netherlands equals Rogers Communications. The stylish Dutch breezed through the World Cup qualification rounds hardly breaking a sweat. Rogers cruised to the top of the wireless industry in similar fashion. In each case, we’ll soon know the truth: how much was simply because the competition was weak?


Odds of winning the World Cup: 9 to 1
Stock price: $36.87, up 12.8 per cent
Price-earnings ratio: 13

...

North Korea equals BP. And it’s hard to know which one is less popular with Barack Obama.


Odds of winning the World Cup: 2,000 to 1
Stock price: $33.97 (U.S.), down 41.4 per cent
Price-earnings ratio: 6


LOL ... love the North Korean selection :)

I'll be cheering for The Netherlands...

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