Activist Investor

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Activist Investor '

An individual or group that purchases large numbers of a public company’s shares and/or tries to obtain seats on the company’s board with the goal of effecting a major change in the company. A company can become a target for activist investors if it is mismanaged, has excessive costs, could be run more profitably as a private company or has another problem that the activist investor believes it can fix to make the company more valuable.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Activist Investor '

Private equity firms, hedge funds and wealthy individuals are types of entities that might decide to act as activist investors. One well-known activist investor is Carl Icahn. He has attempted to make major changes at Yahoo!, Blockbuster, Time Warner and RJR Nabisco, among other companies. Other big-name activist investors include Kirk Kerkorian, Bill Ackman, Eddie Lampert and Nelson Peltz.

One indication that a company may have become a target for activist investors is the filing of SEC Form 13D, which must be filed when an investor purchases 5% or more of a company’s shares.

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'Activist Investor '

  • An Activist Investor Cooks Up Further Criticism Of Cracker Barrel

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/An-Activist-Investor-Cooks-Up-Further-Criticism-Of-Cracker-Barrel-CBRL-TXRH-BWLD-CMG-BH1125.aspx
    ... Comments (0). An Activist Investor Cooks Up Further Criticism Of Cracker Barrel.
    Posted: Nov 28, 2011 07:30 AM by Ryan C. Fuhrmann , CFA. ...

  • Could Your Company Be A Target For Activist Investors?

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/08/activist-investor.asp
    ... (To read more about this activist investor, see Can You Invest Like Carl Icahn?)
    Fixable Problems Ideally, activist investors would come into a situation where ...

  • This Week's Activist Filings

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/This-Weeks-Activist-Filings-FNF-COWN-BKR-CBRL-BH0907.aspx
    ... earnings. The Bottom Line Investors should not attempt to piggyback any activist
    investor without doing some investigation of their own. ...

  • Activism Still Prevails

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Activism-Still-Previals-HAIN-WFMI-UNFI-BEE0526.aspx
    ... business. Even more, having an activist investor involved in a company is
    like a personal advocate fighting for your cause. Activists ...

  • Icahn's Largest Positions

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Icahns-Largest-Positions-GENZ-BIIB-CHK-AMLN-LGF0113.aspx
    ... their impressive track record and experiences. One investor of note is
    activist investor, Carl Icahn. Get Free Stock Analysis By ...

  • Activist Investors: A Good Or Bad Thing?

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/09/activist-investors.asp
    ... This generally occurs when the activist is dissatisfied with management. American
    billionaire investor Carl Icahn is one such example; he is known for buying ...

  • The Auto Industry Gains Traction

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2008/The_Auto_Industry_Gains_Traction.aspx
    GM and Ford’s aggressive restructuring has caught the eye of activist investor Kirk
    Kerkorian. Is it time to add US automakers to your portfolio? ...

  • Icahn's Exciting Stake In Dull Clorox

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Icahns-Exciting-Stake-In-Dull-Clorox-CLX-CHD-CL-UL-ACV0217.aspx
    Activist investor Carl Icahn has taken a 9% stake in consumer products
    company Clorox, and has stated the shares are undervalued. ...

  • Sears Continues To Struggle

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Sears-Continues-To-Struggle-SHLD-JCP-WMT-TGT1229.aspx
    ... Because Lampert owns such a significant stake in Sears, there is no hope for an
    activist investor to get involved, like Bill Ackman recently did with fellow ...

  • 3 Remains A Crowd At Fortune Brands

    http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/3-Remains-A-Crowd-At-Fortune-Brands-FO-MAS-STZ-STZ.B-ELY1101.aspx
    An upcoming battle with an activist investor could mean
    big changes, going forward at Fortune Brands. ...

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