Two ways to read it -- either the rats are deserting a sinking ship or Mr. Karayannopoulos sat these two down and said, "You aided and abetted the shenanigans that preceded my arrival. I have no confidence in you. Goodbye." How you answer that unknown and what you believe the future is for the entire industry determines whether you agree with the street consensus of impending doom for MCP or believe it is bottoming here and will claw its way back.
A Virtually Unknown Way To Play Resurgent Coal -- And So Much More [View article]
I track the consolidated numbers because I am buying the sum of the parts, rather than each subsidiary. I still like the company (and Delek, which I mentioned in a previous comment!)
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Mentioning SDRL and "retired conservative investor" in the same breath is bit of a stretch. I do believe that Jon Fredriksen, as primary shareholder, wants to keep those dividends at least steady and, better, growing. But I caution that he is a man who uses leverage to his advantage. In a weak period for drilling that is a double-edged sword. If I were going for safety, with a reduced yield and a "possibly" lower capital gain probability I would personally buy either STO or RDS-A and keep SDRL as a small part of the portfolio only!
Maya, I was trying to figure out how to update something on my SA profile and stumbled into the Wayback Machine -- and saw an article I wrote back in Sept 09 titled "The Nine Best Natural Gas, Oil Pipelines for Income and Capital Gains."
Man, those were $20 bills lying in the street just waiting to be picked up. I hope you've found a similar one here!
Interesting read, dg. I'll let others make the big bucks if they hit the home runs with many of these firms. Me, I'm happy to keep advancing runners to home plate one base at a time via BP, HON, WM and the rest of the companies whose other businesses I like anyway!
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
shughes, I wish I could remember where I read a recent article about a university that, rather than burning coal and releasing the various toxins therein, heated it instead to create a liquid which, with some enhancements they are patenting, can be used like any other liquid as fuel -- oil, gasoline, LNG, etc. IF this proves out -- one never knows though I believe some of our best minds will always find new technological breakthroughs -- America will not only be sitting on massive natural gas reserves but on 400 years worth of coal as well...
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
An important question, S@m. The short answers are "yes" and "the former."
I believe the advisor or investor who succeeds is the one who makes the fewest mistakes. That means that in a swirling tornado of an up-market we still need to play both offense AND defense. In our client portfolios and my own, we always retain some income producing holdings and some long/short funds. That will be on a sliding scale depending upon valuation levels.
As for portfolio construction, we seek value. If one sector offers it in spades, we are willing to more heavily weight that sector but we believe diversification across sectors is essential. We do our best to never fall in love with a particular company's stock OR a particular industry or sector!
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Any time I can add to our positions in either company for less than 20, I do. Our basis is already in the high teens for both, but I'm not abashed about "averaging up" a wee bit for firms I believe represent good quality and give us the cushion of what I believe is a relatively secure dividend. I say relatively because these days, one never knows!
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Thank you for your comment, prairiedog. Nice to hear from you again.
Even if there were ZERO environmental opposition to fracking, the economics just aren't there. The first fracking results in a high flow which has a rapidly diminishing curve until, at least with current technologies, the gas explorers (since it's mostly gas, not oil, that is currently most amenable to fracking) are spending more on sand, chemicals and proppants to get the rock opened than they are taking out in gas.
Elephant fields in deep water, however, are like Spindletop and the Energizer Bunny -- they "just keep going and going and going..."
Maya, I checked and they are still trading and still paying. Sounds like WFC may have placed them somewhere different on your statement or some such???? (I don't keep up w the pfd anymore. My holdings are in the the cv bonds now which also pay a delightful yield at my most recent entry price.)
'Are Mom And Pop Investors Late To The Party Again?' [View article]
It's true, auto44. No one has a lock on the fear of missing something everyone touts (AAPL at 700) or the fear of losing everything (perhaps gold stocks today as they are in freefall.) We swallowed hard and found the discipline to advise selling AAPL at that magic number and are swallowing equally hard as we begin to buy the gold and silver royalty firms ("streamers") today. It seems the more uncomfortable and lonely I am in my buy and sell decisions, the better they work out! It does take a toll on the psyche, though, hence my current R&R week in the wine country... :>))
'Are Mom And Pop Investors Late To The Party Again?' [View article]
Maybe it's time to reconsider the appellation the hedgies have placed upon themselves as "the best and the brightest" to something more accurate like "the smart-mouthed and smarmiest," eh? :>)
REE/Strategic Minerals Concentrator, Dec. 7,2012 [View instapost]
REE/Strategic Minerals Concentrator, Dec. 7,2012 [View instapost]
http://bit.ly/11DEiFo
A Virtually Unknown Way To Play Resurgent Coal -- And So Much More [View article]
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
QC #255, March 13, 2013 [View instapost]
Man, those were $20 bills lying in the street just waiting to be picked up. I hope you've found a similar one here!
QC #255, March 13, 2013 [View instapost]
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
I believe the advisor or investor who succeeds is the one who makes the fewest mistakes. That means that in a swirling tornado of an up-market we still need to play both offense AND defense. In our client portfolios and my own, we always retain some income producing holdings and some long/short funds. That will be on a sliding scale depending upon valuation levels.
As for portfolio construction, we seek value. If one sector offers it in spades, we are willing to more heavily weight that sector but we believe diversification across sectors is essential. We do our best to never fall in love with a particular company's stock OR a particular industry or sector!
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
"Both."
:>))
Economic Malaise Not Affecting These Countries (Or Companies) [View article]
Even if there were ZERO environmental opposition to fracking, the economics just aren't there. The first fracking results in a high flow which has a rapidly diminishing curve until, at least with current technologies, the gas explorers (since it's mostly gas, not oil, that is currently most amenable to fracking) are spending more on sand, chemicals and proppants to get the rock opened than they are taking out in gas.
Elephant fields in deep water, however, are like Spindletop and the Energizer Bunny -- they "just keep going and going and going..."
REE/Strategic Minerals Concentrator, Dec. 7,2012 [View instapost]
'Are Mom And Pop Investors Late To The Party Again?' [View article]
'Are Mom And Pop Investors Late To The Party Again?' [View article]
'Are Mom And Pop Investors Late To The Party Again?' [View article]
Other contributions welcome!