Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) & The Nook

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MSFT Total Return Price data by YCharts

Final Thoughts

Would it make sense to switch artists midway between a new painting or sculpture and expect a masterpiece? Would it make sense to stop a contractor halfway into building a new house and expect the new contractor to finish the design brick for brick following the original’s intent? When it comes to acquiring companies or their business units, the purchasing company is either buying a failing business or unit at a discount, or they are buying a growing business or unit and are overpaying. In the end, it doesn’t really matter because the acquirer will never have the original intent or plans to finish what was started. Even if they did, they’d probably only go halfway.

Michael Carter has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google and Microsoft.

The article There’s No Such Thing as a Halfway Nook originally appeared on Fool.com.

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