Bapcha's Stocks

Why the Dow Is Headed to 6000

For starters, today's DJIA is not the same as it was a few months ago. Gone are GM and Citi- replaced with Cisco, and Travellers. Want to rethink your predictions?

Bapcha

Semis' Downturn - Which Companies Will Survive, Part 2

It's TXN on my website. Chalk up the mistake to SA's editors.

Bapcha


On Mar 08 02:30 PM bonderman wrote:

> TXI, Texas Industries is building materials. TXN is Texas Instruments.

Four Semiconductor Stocks Worth Owning in 2009

SPWR's COGS is 50% higher than the leaders in the business FSLR and SunTech. FSLR and STP are at $2/watt or lower.

Bapcha


On Jan 09 01:46 PM anand wrote:

> As I understand it, SPWRA (or more precisely its joint venture) buys
> polysilicon, produces ingots, converts ingots into wafers (SPWRA
> buys ingots from its joint venture), converts wafers into cells,
> converts cells into modules, and installs modules.
>
> Do you have a good estimate of what SPWRA's cost of goods sold is
> per watt excluding polysilicon (which SPWRA buys from suppliers)?
> What are your projections for how quickly SPWRA's cost of goods sold
> per watt excluding poly will drop over time.

The Winners Will Be Those Who Look to Gold and Commodities

Like all other metals, gold is a commodity. Only my fellow Indians worship it. Even today, I'll take Berkshire over gold.

Gold is DEAD - www.bapcha.com/?s=gold
Bapcha

Four Worthwhile Semiconductor Stocks

I focus on gross margins, growth rates, debt/equity and market capitalization, as I've found them to be the best tools to evaluate semiconductor stocks. Of course I look at EPS, inventory issues, taxation [like the 60+% tax rate for Yahoo] too - while they could affect short-term ups and downs, I am confident that it is just these three metrics plus debt - that matter - when it comes to semiconductor stocks.

Bapcha

Silver - Better Than Gold, But Still a Commodity

I went to mises.org and read through Thomas Paine on Paper Money. If you believe in what he says, there should be no difference in the value of a coin that is 1 oz silver PCGS 70 DCAM [a very pretty silver coin with no scratches visible under a microscope] vs. a slightly scratched PCGS MS 65 [still a pretty coin, but not as glorious as the 70].

But there is. In fact, the owner of five ounces of the PCGS MS 65 will gladly trade his coins for one of the 70 [since he values the coins in fiat currency anyway].

Bapcha

ICICI Bank: Boring Business, Compelling Valuation

After more research, we have found that ICICI's loan practices are absolutely terrible [by US standards]. We found instances in which ICICI under-wrote multiple auto loans without getting the deed to the car that they were financing. They have already written down their $250 M in exposure to US sub-prime paper.


On a more positive note, ICICI does have an excellent Life Insurance business [growing at an over 40% clip].

Bapcha

ICICI Bank: Boring Business, Compelling Valuation

Stockezy/All:

ICICI is targeting home loans [both Rupee and Dollar denominated loans] - with 20% down - for Desis [Indians] who want to own a home in India in addition to what they have here in the US.

Bapcha bapcha.com

Tata Motors Makes Its Move Out of Singur

I was born in India, and know a little about the country. The Tata's have been doing business in India successfully, for over a hundred years. While being NYSE listed, the company culture is not rooted in one that is quarter-to-quarter....... [it's more like quarter century to quarter century]. I know and understand the mind-set of Indian scions, and Ratan Tata is one of the more honourable of the lot. They will come through and be successful in this venture, but I am not too sure that I have the patience for it...... [they sure do !!!!].

I'd rather own the other pieces of the Tata Group than the one that makes autos.

Bapcha

Wells Fargo Sham Revealed

seekingalpha.com/artic...

I agree.

Is Stereotaxis the Next Intuitive Surgical?

Read the paragraph on STXS's huge disadvantage - especially the last sentence that says "it is cost-prohibitive to even think of moving it".

Am I Crazy to Own Gannett?

Yes.

QuickLogic: A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Andy Chan and John Birkner who co-founded QUIK along with HT Chua [I do not know where HT is these days] moved on to a new company called SiliconBlue. QUIK is rudder-less and is destined for the junk heap. At best, they should merge with Actel, and focus on the military market.

Bapcha

Nortel Networks: A History of Failure

I am an engineer trained by Henry Samueli at BRCM [before his felonies] with nearly 2 decades in the Si valley, so I CAN comment on whether NT's products are competitive or not.

Bapcha
bapcha.blogspot.com

Time to Buy Elan?

Historically, ELN has been absolutely terrible at PR. Not much has changed through the years.

Bapcha