Investopedia

Mad Hatter

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Mad Hatter'

A CEO or managerial team whose ability to lead a company is highly suspect. A mad hatter CEO will often make puzzling decisions which many, inside and outside the firm, may question. These types of CEOs are also known for making spontaneous decisions with little thought for the consequences. Sometimes these decisions are driven by personal incentives rather than the motivation to improve the overall performance of the company.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Mad Hatter'

Mad Hatter refers to one of the many strange characters in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." At the tea table, Alice meets the Mad Hatter, who is eternally caught in tea time and constantly quizzing Alice with nonsensical and unanswerable questions. Typically, mad hatter CEOs don't last long in their positions.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Conference Call Basics

    These group calls offer investors a chance to hear management respond to analysts' hard-hitting questions.
  2. Evaluating A Company's Management

    Financial statements don't tell you everything about a company's health. Investigate the management behind the numbers!
  3. Elves And Gnomes: Fairy Tale Investment Terms

    What do elves have to do with investing? Meet the fairytale creatures running around Wall Street.
  4. Get Tough On Management Puff

    Company managers are often skilled at fooling investors. Be critical and don't believe the hype.
  5. The Basics Of Corporate Structure

    CEOs, CFOs, presidents and vice presidents: learn how to tell the difference.
  6. What is a monopoly?

    Monopoly is a fun family game, but in real life, a monopoly can be dangerous to a country's economy. A monopoly occurs when an industry or sector has only one producer of goods or retailer for ...
  7. Weighted Average Cost Of Capital (WACC)

    Weighted average cost of capital may be hard to calculate, but it's a solid way to measure investment quality
  8. Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

    Learn more about what it costs to produce goods.
  9. Working Capital

    Working capital is one of the basic metrics used to evaluate a company's financial health. Find out what it can tell you about a stock and learn how to calculate it.
  10. What is the difference between "hard money" and "soft money"?

    Hard money and soft money are terms that are often used to describe coin money and paper money, respectively. However, these terms are also used to refer to political contributions in the United ...
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.
  2. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  3. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  4. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
  5. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.
  6. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.
Trading Center