Altria: The New 10-Year Treasury Note [View article]
So, basically, what some people are saying, is that this stock is going to keep rolling, if the corporation can avoid a fatal lawsuit. I have been long for some time, but I am worried that a spike in interest rates would have MO shares take a hit.
I don't think that either of us needs to worry about that, for the time being, though. The Fed is talking about even more stimulus. It will be interesting to see what happens to MO, if / when the economy recovers. And if the economy recovers, then other parts of our business / investment portfolios should be doing well, anyway.
Microsoft Nook No Threat For Apple iPad [View article]
We will see what happens. Microsoft is a great company - and maybe I should have toned this article down a bit. I did not mean to come off as angry - or wildly biased. Microsoft has done so much to Revolutionize this World - that I will always respect that company.
I do think that MSFT and AAPL will always be linked. I see the two companies as a Venn Diagram, where the two share some things in common, but have completely divergent cultures.
The choice to invest in either company, is more so a function of your personality and your investment strategy. Neither way is necessarily "right" or "wrong."
At these levels, I see Microsoft as more of a conservative position. The corporation will always rake in cash, but can it grow earnings? If MSFT cannot grow earnings significantly over the long term - then it will trade like a utility. The stock will just sit there and kick out dividends. I think if investors buy Microsoft as a growth story - than they will be disappointed. If investors buy into MSFT, as a stable play, than they will be happy.
I am saying these things because MSFT has had a lot of ideas - that were unceremoniously killed over the years. There is something going on in the culture over there - that is hurting innovation. Without innovation, it is hard to grow profits. If MSFT is just running after market leaders - then their sales will be commoditized.
On the other hand, if AAPL is just a fad, then its shares will collapse. If AAPL can continue to roll out innovation, then its shares will outperform tremendously. Although AAPL does have a stockpile of cash, I still see it more so as a higher risk / higher reward position. If AAPL loses its "halo effect," for any reason, these gaudy profit margins will disappear.
I am still writing and learning. I will take all of you all's concerns into consideration, as I improve (hopefully).
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
I never thought that people could be so passionate about their phones. This thing is going to turn into a review of phones - at this point. I plan on staying with the iPhone. Of course, I am biased.
No, I do not like Siri.
What's the point?
Whenever one of my friends tries to use Siri - I want to bash them over the head - with their own phone.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Yes, and we all must remain vigilant as we monitor this sector.
Disclosure: I have been long Nike for years.
I never bought into Tommy Hilfiger.
Yes, Woz gushed all over this phone. He then came out later and said that the iPhone is still his favorite. Cynics will say "Of course it is his favorite (yeah, right)!"
I really think that any corporation that wants to outflank AAPL, will either need to win a popularity contest or concede defeat. Maybe, Redmond should just let AAPL have all the hipsters and celebrities, while MSFT-NOK target the practical crowd. Yes, I know that this sounds dumb. But, this is the world that we live in.
People do not behave rationally.
At this point, we can only speculate.
But, I sense that the Lumia and the iPhone aren't necessarily even after the same customer.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Trust me. I find the hecklers hilarious. I mean, they are the ones up here reading - and taking shots at me. They may not agree with what I am saying - but at least they are entertained. At least there is dialogue. Besides that, I know who I am. People are nice and genuinely friendly to me in "real life" - once they get to know me. And when they don't know me - they are usually scared stiff - because I am not exactly a small guy. I am used to disarming people with humor - so they don't assume that I am some thug who will whip their [butt] for no reason.
That aside, I do agree with what you are saying. I just think that MSFT-NOK are late to the party. And people are now happily in pocket - within Apple's ecosystem. And MSFT has this same pattern: they get left behind and then they throw cash at whatever is "hot." MSFT is set to do the same thing with this whole Nook partnership, also.
MSFT is just mining for cash on the floor of Wall Street. They are like a technical version of Apache. Apache stock, at least, has done something over the past decade.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
The Pro Lumia crowd confirm the irony that is Microsoft.
Microsoft is functionally boring.
It's like the company and its supporters cannot wrap their heads around the idea of "popular culture." Yes, people will do things, throughout eternity, simply to get with the "in" crowd. No, their decision making does not always make sense. There are people in this world - who own every Michael Jordan shoe ever made. Die Hard Nike "fan-boys," who scoff at the idea of Reebok.
Brand Loyalty, gentlemen.
And maybe MSFT will always be attractive to technical types, while AAPL is more so attractive to creative types.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Could it be - that maybe - these phones aren't even going after the same market?
I feel that consumers who like the Lumia are after something more practical. Especially at $99.
And, I feel that people who want the iPhone, maybe more so concerned with "image."
I did think about including those thoughts in the article - but this is information that is very hard to quantify. Either way, "Image" = high profit margins. I think that a lot of you people are irate - because you don't understand that some people do things - just to be part of their version of the "in" crowd. And some people do own more than one phone - just to play the part.
Yes, there are people who treat a phone like a handbag, or a man purse, for you gentlemen.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
You bring up good points.
But, I think that Apple's halo effect of integrated products must always be taken into consideration. I think this halo effect is the primary reason why it will be difficult for competitors to steal share.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
We will just have to kick back and see what happens in these phone wars. It will be interesting, to say the least. Everybody is quick to pull the "fan boy" card. There are a lot of people - who just like AAPL - for whatever reason. These people want to be trend setters and part of the "in" crowd. And being "cool" translates into high gross margins.
And you people who insult me are hilarious.
If we were to meet face-to-face, at least we could both sit down and speak passionately on the market. We may not agree with what the other person is saying - but it is rare to find people who want to talk shop - outside of work.
Sirius XM Investors : Web 2.0, Apple, Pandora, And The Boogeyman Should Not Scare You [View article]
Altria: The New 10-Year Treasury Note [View article]
I don't think that either of us needs to worry about that, for the time being, though. The Fed is talking about even more stimulus. It will be interesting to see what happens to MO, if / when the economy recovers. And if the economy recovers, then other parts of our business / investment portfolios should be doing well, anyway.
Microsoft Nook No Threat For Apple iPad [View article]
http://cnet.co/FPJWI3
There is something going on at MSFT -- that is hurting the company's ability to redefine itself and innovate.
Microsoft Nook No Threat For Apple iPad [View article]
I do think that MSFT and AAPL will always be linked. I see the two companies as a Venn Diagram, where the two share some things in common, but have completely divergent cultures.
The choice to invest in either company, is more so a function of your personality and your investment strategy. Neither way is necessarily "right" or "wrong."
At these levels, I see Microsoft as more of a conservative position. The corporation will always rake in cash, but can it grow earnings? If MSFT cannot grow earnings significantly over the long term - then it will trade like a utility. The stock will just sit there and kick out dividends. I think if investors buy Microsoft as a growth story - than they will be disappointed. If investors buy into MSFT, as a stable play, than they will be happy.
I am saying these things because MSFT has had a lot of ideas - that were unceremoniously killed over the years. There is something going on in the culture over there - that is hurting innovation. Without innovation, it is hard to grow profits. If MSFT is just running after market leaders - then their sales will be commoditized.
On the other hand, if AAPL is just a fad, then its shares will collapse. If AAPL can continue to roll out innovation, then its shares will outperform tremendously. Although AAPL does have a stockpile of cash, I still see it more so as a higher risk / higher reward position. If AAPL loses its "halo effect," for any reason, these gaudy profit margins will disappear.
I am still writing and learning. I will take all of you all's concerns into consideration, as I improve (hopefully).
Facebook IPO Analysis: Zuckerberg Shoots Self In Foot [View article]
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
http://bit.ly/IssGeA
The chart accounts for splits.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
It's almost like being a "shock" jock.
This place is like Sports Talk radio.
It's like going up on ESPN and saying ANYTHING about LeBron James or Tim Tebow - and people are going to be IRATE.
Why are people so mad?
Let's all relax.
Handshakes and Hugs.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
No, I do not like Siri.
What's the point?
Whenever one of my friends tries to use Siri - I want to bash them over the head - with their own phone.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Disclosure: I have been long Nike for years.
I never bought into Tommy Hilfiger.
Yes, Woz gushed all over this phone. He then came out later and said that the iPhone is still his favorite. Cynics will say "Of course it is his favorite (yeah, right)!"
I really think that any corporation that wants to outflank AAPL, will either need to win a popularity contest or concede defeat. Maybe, Redmond should just let AAPL have all the hipsters and celebrities, while MSFT-NOK target the practical crowd. Yes, I know that this sounds dumb. But, this is the world that we live in.
People do not behave rationally.
At this point, we can only speculate.
But, I sense that the Lumia and the iPhone aren't necessarily even after the same customer.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
That aside, I do agree with what you are saying. I just think that MSFT-NOK are late to the party. And people are now happily in pocket - within Apple's ecosystem. And MSFT has this same pattern: they get left behind and then they throw cash at whatever is "hot." MSFT is set to do the same thing with this whole Nook partnership, also.
MSFT is just mining for cash on the floor of Wall Street. They are like a technical version of Apache. Apache stock, at least, has done something over the past decade.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
Microsoft is functionally boring.
It's like the company and its supporters cannot wrap their heads around the idea of "popular culture." Yes, people will do things, throughout eternity, simply to get with the "in" crowd. No, their decision making does not always make sense. There are people in this world - who own every Michael Jordan shoe ever made. Die Hard Nike "fan-boys," who scoff at the idea of Reebok.
Brand Loyalty, gentlemen.
And maybe MSFT will always be attractive to technical types, while AAPL is more so attractive to creative types.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
I feel that consumers who like the Lumia are after something more practical. Especially at $99.
And, I feel that people who want the iPhone, maybe more so concerned with "image."
I did think about including those thoughts in the article - but this is information that is very hard to quantify. Either way, "Image" = high profit margins. I think that a lot of you people are irate - because you don't understand that some people do things - just to be part of their version of the "in" crowd. And some people do own more than one phone - just to play the part.
Yes, there are people who treat a phone like a handbag, or a man purse, for you gentlemen.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
But, I think that Apple's halo effect of integrated products must always be taken into consideration. I think this halo effect is the primary reason why it will be difficult for competitors to steal share.
Nokia Lumia Is No Apple iPhone Killer [View article]
And you people who insult me are hilarious.
If we were to meet face-to-face, at least we could both sit down and speak passionately on the market. We may not agree with what the other person is saying - but it is rare to find people who want to talk shop - outside of work.
Cheers!