"We think the breakup value is much greater than the current share price."

It ended last week just under $37, lower than the $50 a share most analysts estimate the company's breakup value to be.

Surely, such thinking goes, the breakup value of those media assets alone is worth far more than $15 a share.

Its breakup value has been estimated at as high as $3.6 billion in recent years.

It has been calculated that Allied's breakup value is about 1,000p a share.

But the breakup value does not appear high enough to make this a sure bet.

Time's stock has often been estimated to have an after-tax breakup value of about $150.

Sears's breakup value was estimated to be up to $50 a share greater than the stock's recent price of $45.

One analyst even placed the potential breakup value at more than $80 a share.

And some analysts have said the breakup value of Sears is closer to $80 a share.