24/7 Wall St.

Below are the Top 50 Websites in the US for April 2007 from Comscore.

From William Trent, CFA of Stock Market Beat

Hot on the heels of a strong earnings report, Mid Cap Watch List member United Industrial Corporation (UIC) announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new $50 million stock repurchase plan. The Board also authorized an additional $50 million of stock repurchases, for a total of up to $100 million, contingent on the company executing an amended or new credit facility of at least $200 million in capacity.

My take: Initially I was skeptical about the seriousness of this buyback, which would amount for a significant slug of the $625 million market capitalization even at the smaller $50 million plan. I figured the buyback would just be soaking up shares converted from the bond issue.

Then I looked at the annual report, and saw that the share count is already down nearly 15% from the 2003 peak. So now I’m thinking they are going the slow-motion self-LBO route. And I generally like companies that take that route.

For more information, see all articles on: Stock Market, UIC

This article is for entertainment purposes only and reflects the author’s opinion. It is not a solicitation or advice to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Always consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.

http://stockmarketbeat.com/blog1/

CFO.com’s Sarah Johnson reports that Representative Barney Frank could schedule a Financial Services Committee hearing in late June in which SEC Chairman Cox and commissioners may be on the defensive.

Rep. Frank, chairman of that committee, sent a letter to Cox in late April in which he expressed his concerns about the SEC’s early-stage plans to make shareholders agree to mandatory arbitration over litigation, as reported in the Wall Street Journal in mid-April.

That hearing would happen if the Commission goes ahead with the plan. As the article points out, Frank is concerned that the Commission may be too soft in recent decisions. In an interview with CFO, he told them “he was irritated that the SEC had amended its executive compensation rules late on Christmas Eve without giving him the head’s up about the change…He said that the commission failed to grasp “how greatly they have pissed off America over stock options.”"

Which brings to mind Chairman Cox’s statement to a Reuters reporter a few weeks ago that resolution on many stock option backdating issues would be coming “within weeks.” It’s been weeks, and the only thing of note recently is that the investigation of suspicious option grant timing at Nabors Industries has been finished without consequence. Maybe Representative Frank is on the right track.

http://www.accountingobserver.com/blog/

This morning I saw a headline that made me more excited than watching Jesicca Alba in say – any movie she’s ever done.

12,600 people have put money down for tiny Smart car
United Auto Group Inc. said today that 12,600 prospective buyers have put down $99 deposits to reserve a Smart mini-car. The Smart ForTwo, a two-seat vehicle made by DaimlerChrysler AG, is already sold in Europe and Canada. It’s expected to be available in the United States in early 2008.

My fellow Masters, DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX) is about to make more money than Jessica Alba could ever make doing Sin City 2 or the new Fantastic 4 movie. This tiny little fake car is going to put the Blue Blockers, the Pet Rock, and the Thigh Master to shame.

The smart fortwo pure will start under $12,000*, the smart fortwo passion coupe will start under $14,000* and the smart fortwo passion cabrio will start under $17,000*. Exact pricing will not be determined until late 2007. Once this information has been determined, it will be posted on www.smartusa.com. Okay, comparing sales to the Pet Rock and the other crap I mentioned is a bit much, but believe me, this little car is going to sell and it’s going to push DaimlerChrysler shares to new highs come this year and next.

A ton of people have been waiting for this car to come to the masses, Zap (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) couldn’t get it done and investing in that penny stock is a waste of time. Electrical vehicle maker, Zap, of Santa Rosa, CA, claims it now has $2.9 million worth of orders for the two-seaters, the first of which was put on eBay. Zap does not buy Smarts through DaimlerChrysler but through a partnership with an individual who obtains the cars from dealers in Europe and imports them to the U.S., where they are modified to meet U.S. crash and emissions standards. Well the time has come to put the chips on the table, and if you ever wanted to bet on the Smart Car making you money, it’s now time to go with DaimlerChrysler.

Even if I’m wrong, investing in DaimlerChrysler is the way to go if you are trying to pick the winner in the Auto Sector. They are expected to report Tuesday (5/15) that net profit more than quadrupled in the first quarter. DCX sales are expected to post a first-quarter net profit of $1.88 billion compared to €299 million in the year-ago period, according to a Dow Jones Newswires survey of eight analysts. So if they come out a winner on Tuesday’s call and the analysts start upgrading the stock because DaimlerChrysler kicks ass, well what else can you ask for? Shares of DCX are pricey at $82 a share, I don’t care if Wall Street yahoo’s say "well that’s not bad considering their P/E is 19". Dude, its $82, and how many of you people can afford to rush out and buy 100 shares with that spare $8,200 you got laying around? Not this kid.

The Smart car factor is a wild card and believe me, DCX is going to play that card right, and Wall Street is going to reward them. If I’m wrong, so what, the stock won’t fall that hard and if it does then it’s time to double-down because the Smart car is taking this stock to the promise land. The Smart cars gets at least 40 mpg and with gas prices in the $3 range and likely to be $4 a gallon come 2008, this car makes sense for America. The Smart cars are the equivalent to that put-put you used to have as a kid that you pushed yourself around on like Fred Flinstone on both feet. I’m banking on celebs, yuppies, college kids, Californian’s, and tree-huggers all running out to buy this car.

Despite it’s tiny size, it’s roomy enough for a guy that’s 6′6", its cheap, trendy, and a very cool looking car. Place your bets America, I’m banking on Smart and DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX). Who knows, if Jessica Alba buys one, I’ll run out and buy one too, then we’ll have both have that in common.
"Hey Jessica, do you like nerdy finance bloggers?"
"You bet I do and I love your Smart Car"
"Giggity giggity"
"You’re so funny Phil (laughing)"
"Giggity (said deep and slow)"

Article written by: Phil McCallister
Article posted on: May 11th, 2007

Disclaimer: The Author owns 20 shares of DCX and is banking that Jessica Alba would call him for coffee.

http://thestockmasters.com/index.asp

In a 13D filing after the close on Orbit International (Nasdaq: ORBT), Monarch Activist Partners LP disclosed a 6.1% stake (280K shares) in the company.

The firm said it believes that ORBT’s stock price is significantly undervalued and intend to communicate with management in order to explore measures to enhance shareholder value.

http://13dtracker.blogspot.com/