Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading global tobacco company established in 1847. Originally part of the American tobacco giant, it became a separate entity in 2008. PMI focuses on manufacturing and selling tobacco products outside the United States, including renowned brands like Marlboro. Operating in over 180 countries, the company is committed to a smoke-free future, investing in alternatives like IQOS, a heated tobacco product. The company’s major acquisitions include Rothmans International in 2002 and a stake in Swedish Match in 2005. PMI’s mergers and acquisitions reflect its strategic vision and commitment to transforming the tobacco industry. The company spun off

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) is a global semiconductor company founded in 1930 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Initially focused on Defense technology, TI expanded into semiconductors in the 1950s. Today, it is a leading player in analog and embedded processing technologies, serving diverse automotive, industrial, and communications industries. The company’s broad product portfolio includes microcontrollers, sensors, and power management solutions. Notable acquisitions include National Semiconductor in 2011, enhancing TI’s analog capabilities. The company’s merger with Burr-Brown Corporation in 2000 further solidified its position in the market. Coming to the share price movement and history of Texas Instruments, in a swift two-year span

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a semiconductor company founded in 1969, is known for producing CPUs, GPUs, and other computing technologies. Initially focused on microprocessors, AMD has expanded its portfolio to include graphics cards and server solutions. Over the years, AMD has been the main competitor to Intel and NVIDIA in the semiconductor industry. Coming to its business expansion journey – AMD’s notable acquisitions include ATI Technologies in 2006, enhancing its graphics capabilities. The company gained market share in recent years with the Ryzen series CPUs and Radeon GPUs. The acquisition of Xilinx in 2020 extended its reach into data centres and embedded

Intuit Inc. is a leading American financial software company founded in 1983 by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx. Starting its journey with its flagship product, ‘Quicken’ personal finance software, Intuit has since expanded its offerings to include TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mint, catering to individuals, small businesses, and accounting professionals. Intuit’s software solutions streamline financial tasks, offering convenience and efficiency to users. Significant acquisitions and mergers have significantly influenced Intuit’s expansion strategy. Notable acquisitions include Mint.com in 2009, expanding its personal finance management offerings, and, more recently, Credit Karma in 2020, broadening its consumer finance services. Intuit’s stock price has increased significantly over

Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK’s largest financial institutions, has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. Established in 1765, it has evolved into a diversified banking powerhouse, offering various financial services, including retail and commercial banking, insurance, and wealth management. The group operates under several well-known brands, such as Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, serving millions of customers across the UK. Lloyds Banking Group has undergone significant acquisitions and mergers, most notably the HBOS (Halifax Bank of Scotland) acquisition in 2009. This acquisition was complex and expensive, damaging Lloyds TSB’s finances. Coupled with the pressure of

Amgen Inc. is a leading biotechnology company founded in 1980 by scientists from the University of California. Having commenced its businesses by developing innovative therapeutics for serious illnesses, Amgen has grown into a global biopharmaceutical powerhouse. Their primary focus areas include oncology, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and neuroscience. Amgen’s success is marked by groundbreaking drugs like Epogen, Neulasta, and Enbrel, which have significantly impacted patient care. The company has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Immunex Corporation in 2002, bolstering its presence in immunology. In 2019, Amgen acquired worldwide rights to Otezla from Celgene, strengthening its position in treating

Verizon Communications, founded in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp., is a leading global communications and technology company headquartered in New York City. Initially focused on landline and wireless services, Verizon has expanded its offerings to include broadband, video, and data solutions. In 2018, Verizon acquired Yahoo, strengthening its digital content and advertising portfolio. The fascinating journey of Verizon Communications’ share price offers two vital lessons for investors: Firstly, diversifying your portfolio is essential. Verizon’s stock experienced a remarkable uptrend after the 2008 global crisis, surging by an impressive 115% between June 2010 and April 2013. However,

SAP SE, founded in 1972 in Germany, is a global leader in enterprise software, offering various solutions for businesses to manage operations, customer relations, and analytics. Initially focused on developing financial accounting systems, SAP has evolved into providing comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Suite, and SAP Cloud Platform. The story of our company’s share prices is like a wild adventure for investors. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it takes a sudden dip – keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. Back in the day, during the dot-com bubble burst, the