T. Boone Pickens Makes A Killing Off Clean Energy Fuels Corp. Stock Sale
2010-01-25
I thought my readers would enjoy this post from The Business Insider:
It’s Time To Cash Out Of Casino Stocks
2010-01-22
Glenn Curtis of Investopedia recently suggested that it was time to leave the casino stocks. In his article he discusses 4 companies:
- Las Vegas Sands Corp.
- MGM Mirage
- Boyd Gaming Corporation
- Wynn Resorts, Limited
I haven’t done a stock analysis post on these four companies but I did a quick check on each one. Frankly, none of them pass the test as a decent company. I would never suggest that anyone invest in these companies in their present condition. They just aren’t that well run to justify an investment compared to other companies on the Good list!
A few of Glenn’s comments (more here):
The space was in the spotlight earlier this month, thanks in large part to upbeat revenue numbers from Macau during December. Macau has become a hot destination in recent years and is located in China. But if you think all this means I’m bullish on some of the bigger casino names, you’re mistaken. In fact, I think many stocks in this space are ripe for a fall.
Why My Reels Aren’t Spinning
Many of the big names have had a huge run since the spring of 2009. For example, MGM Mirage has seen its stock rise from the low single digits, under $2 per share in the spring, to currently trading at around $11.50. Las Vegas Sands has seen its stock rise from under $1.40 per share to its present position, hovering around the $18 mark. But again, I think the run is severely overdone.My No.1 concern is that I don’t see many average people traveling, or even pondering expensive vacations in the months to come. And I’m not convinced that placing money into a slot machine or laying it on a hand of poker or “21” will sound too attractive to many, particularly until the job market shows some real life. In essence, the macro picture doesn’t seem to match the rise in the escalating stock prices.
You can lose your shirt at the casino or investing in them!
Cramer sees a market move if Brown wins in MA
2010-01-18
From CNBC’s Mad Money:
Jim Cramer (text from Newsbusters.org):
The number you need to watch is the number that Scott Brown racks up against Martha Coakley in this amazing Massachusetts Senate race. I say amazing ’cause this was supposed to be a walkover. I mean, even a few weeks ago it was a lock for Democrat Coakley. But now everything’s up in the air, and a Brown win would be devastating for the president’s agenda. Let’s put Brown, okay, and I don’t mean UPS which I happen to own for my charitable trust. Particularly on healthcare reform, because Republican Brown has said he will definitely vote against the plan.
Brown in the Senate? That wrecks the 60-vote supermajority the Democrats have been counting on. It could spell the end for this almost year-long nightmare of a piece of healthcare legislation.
What does a Brown election mean larger than this? Well, first you’re going to get a knee-jerk rally in all the so-called penalized stocks — the HMOs, the drugs, the medical device-makers. I call it “knee-jerk,” though, because these stocks have been on fire for months. Look at Cramer fave WellPoint, or United Health. 52 week high. 52 week high. Merck, 52 week high. It’s been clear as a bell that the healthcare reform wasn’t going to affect most healthcare stocks. That’s versus what we thought last year.
More important, though, I think investors who are nervous about the dictatorship of the Pelosi proletariat will feel at ease, and we could have a gigantic rally off a Coakley loss and a Brown win. It will be a signal that a more pro-business, less pro-labor government could be in front of us. Hey, would you say it is more China like perhaps? No, we can never be as capitalist as the Communist Chinese. But how about a little bit less like the old Soviet Union? Yeah, that would be a bit more like it. Pelosi politburo emasculation! Everything from the banks, which are usually in the Democrats’ penalty box, or the oils which are despised by this administration for being carbon, could be propelled dramatically higher all of this Tuesday night.
Netflix ($NFLX) streaming coming to Wii
2010-01-14
It seems that Netflix (NFLX) will be adding the number one game console, Nintendo’s Wii, to its list of streaming destinations this spring. This is good news as Netflix moves from a DVD delivery service to a content streaming service. The ability to stream will be tied to the user’s membership.
Netflix will need to do more to make streaming a simple matter. They are competing with the cable stations (that typically only offer a small number of movies). The advantage that Netflix needs to offer is the ability to stream a large number of titles to a variety of devices so that they remain a force in the industry as others start to offer this service. Their DVD rental business had a very high cost of entry for competitors but streaming to a computer is not nearly as high cost. Their key is to control enough customers that the studios give them preferential pricing.
BloggingStocks.com also has some interesting analysis. Here is part of what they think and you can click through to read more:
Nintendo fans and movie buffs, unite and rejoice! At long last, Netflix (NFLX) has said its streaming video service will be available for the Nintendo Wii this spring. Wii is bringing up the rear a bit here, as consumers with an Xbox 360 from Microsoft (MSFT) or a Sony (SNE) PlayStation 3 already enjoy access to Netflix films.
Here’s the fine print: Wii users have to have a broadband connection and a Netflix subsription that costs $9 per month or more. Upon receiving a special “instant-streaming” disc for the Wii, they will have access to their instant queue, essentially using the Wii as a portal through which to play the films (of course, a TV is still necesssary). Currently, there are about 17,000 titles (movies and TV shows) available for streaming, a far cry from the 100,000 names a Netflix subscriber can get in good old-fashioned disc format.
Comcast needs to roll some heads
2010-01-10
I had discussed this in my earlier posting but Comcast really needs to fix some things at NBC. Anybody associated with this mistake needs to go flip burgers for a living.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Comedian Jay Leno will return to his 11:35 p.m. timeslot on NBC and end his nightly 10 p.m. comedy-talk series, NBC Universal chairman of television entertainment Jeff Gaspin told reporters on Sunday. “[‘The Jay Leno Show’] did not meet our affiliates’ needs and we realized we needed to make a change,” Mr. Gaspin told reporters gathered at a Television Critics Association conference in Pasadena, Calif.
Mr. Gaspin said the network hopes to move Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” to 12:05 a.m. and Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” to 1:05 a.m. But those arrangements have not been confirmed and talks with the hosts and their management teams are ongoing, Mr. Gaspin said.