Robert, on Wall Street, the idea is to make money. A rising stock price benefits both a company and its insiders (the company has more "wealth", and the insiders are better paid, whether in salary, bonuses, options, whatever.
So whether or not it makes sense in the long term to take on debt, or have a stock split, issue tracking stock, or split a company into separate parts, it can make sense in the short term.
Somebody often makes money on these moves. Maybe you consider money as separate from economic value. But the name of the game is money (maybe power, and a few other things, as well.)
Do you want to put service to others at the top of the list? I realize that many of these companies advertise that their business is service to others. I think that even Microsoft is in business to help you do more and be able to use your computer better/more easily. I don't think that Microsoft says they are in business to make money.
I don't think Disney says it's in business to make money. They are here to provide a better life for everyone, or whatever slogan their PR people came up with.
Regards,
Larry the Simplistic
|
