That gives it a stake in about 600 companies, mostly technology, says Arnie Ursaner, analyst with CJS Securities. The value of many of those companies has declined. Large media companies also were aggressive buyers of dot-coms, says Safa Rashtchy, analyst with U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray. Shares of both have plummeted this year. Investors apparently are shaking it off.
Investors own Starbucks because it's a coffee company.