Is Rupert Murdoch Overpaid? Of Course, But Not Really (NWS)
News Corp. (NWS) chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch’s pay fell 14% for 2008 — before you get out the Kleenex, consider that it still totaled $27.5 million. Given that shares of the stock is…
All Work
Douglas A. McIntyre
China’s Economic Stimulus Package Can’t Be Real
The term "China economic stimulus package" has to be an oxymoron. NBC recently made the point that China’s economy can no longer be driven hard by exports. They have become too expensive as labor…
Media Digest 8/20/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg
According to Reuters, US inflation rose as the housing market continued to be troubled. Reuters reports that Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) beat Wall St. expectations. Reuters reports that Ebay (EBAY) will drop some of its listings…
Asia Markets 8/20/2008 Shanghai Up Over 7% (LFC)(CN)
Shares in Asia were mixed while the Shanghai Composite rose 7.6% to 2,523. The Nikkei was down .1% to 12,852. Bridgestone fell 4.2% to 1860 Casia was off 3.7% to 1229. The Hang Seng…
Starbucks (SBUX): A Good Contrarian Investment
It’s been a tough run for contrarians. Badly beaten down companies facing overwhelmingly bearish negative market sentiment have continued to weaken: for now, the bearish masses have been right. Part of the problem is…
Saks (SKS) May Have Overly High Hopes For Its New York Flagship Store
Luxury retailer Saks Inc. (SKS) today reported abysmal results, indicating that higher-end consumers are starting to feel the economic pinch as well. The company is betting that that its flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store…
H-P Scores a Punch (HPQ)
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) posted earnings of $0.86 EPS and $28 Billion revenues after today’s close. First Call had estimates at $0.83 EPS on $27.41 Billion in revenues. As far as guidance for next…
The 52-Week Low Club 8/19/2008 (JCG)(CCJ)(FNM)(SIRF)
J Crew Group (JCG) Analyst downgrade. Drops to $24.86 from 52-week high of $52.44. Cameco Corporation (CCJ) Bad profits. Down to $27.56 from 52-week high of $52.33 Fannie Mae (FNM) Ongoing concerns about shareholders…
As Shareholders Bleed To Death, Bank Of America (BAC) Honored For Environmental Commitment
Why any bank which has undermined the value of its shares by poor management and taken billions of dollars in low-cost loans from the Fed would promote it environmental intiative is beyond imagining. Bank…
Barnes & Noble’s (BKS) Future Leaves The Building
Barnes & Noble’s (BKS) online CEO left the company today. Marie J. Toulantis ran the part of the company on which its future is largely dependent. Call it a metaphor. BKS has to be…
Bracing for H-P Earnings: Did Its Dominance Peak? (HPQ, EDS, IBM, DELL)
Traders and investors alike are braced for the long awaited earnings out of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) after today’s close. First Call has estimates at $0.83 EPS on $27.41 Billion in revenues. Estimates for…
Carlyle Chairman Retires (IBM)
Private equity giant The Carlyle Group has announced that Lou Gerstner will retire as Chairman of Carlyle and will become a senior advisor to its buyout funds in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Carlyle…
Motorola’s (MOT) US Sales Slammed
Motorola’s (MOT) share of the US cellphone market is falling fast. The NPD Group said overall sales of handsets from all manufacturers dropped 13% to 28 million in the second quarter. According to the…
Energy Watch Part IV: Pipelines (DPM, BGH, APL, AHD, EPD, KMP)
Just looking at the drop in price for common units of pipeline master limited partnerships could lead one to believe the midstream business is going to hell in a handbasket. DPC Midstream Partners (NYSE:DPM)…
24/7 Wall St. Day-Trading Alerts (SPLS)(CNFT)(XFML)(JOSB)
According to VSInvestor, several stocks are moving this morning on large volume. Staples (SPLS) is off 9% on poor earnings. These are notes on China Techfaith (CNFT) hitting an all-time low. Xinhua Finance Media…
Annual Inflation Heads Toward 10%
The annual inflation rate in the US will be above 10% by the end of the year. Almost all the signs are pointing that way. The AP writes "The Labor Department reported that wholesale…
Circuit City’s Turnaround Expert Still Under Schoonover, Big Mistake (CC)
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC – News) has appointed director James A. Marcum as vice chairman of the company. In this new position, Marcum is expected to play a key role in leading…
Target’s Earnings Beat, Marred by Cards & Economy (TGT)
Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) has just come out with earnings at $0.82 EPS on $15.47 Billion in revenues versus First Call estimates of $0.76 EPS and $15.46 Billion in revenues. The company’s retail segment…
24/7 Wall St. Most Overpaid CEO Of The Day: Amylin (AMLN) CEO Daniel M. Bradbury
Amylin (AMLN) CEO Dan Bradbury earned a base salary of almost $560,000 last year according to the company proxy. He will probably do as well in 2008. During the last twelve months, shares in…
Early-Bird Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (DKS, IDXX, MA, WIT, ACS, ADP, CHT, FMCN, NT, PTI, TSS)
These are some of the upgrades and downgrades we are seeing from Wall Street this Tuesday morning: Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) Raised to Outperform at Baird. IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) Started as Buy at Piper…