Luka Agrapidis - Seeking Alpha 'Luka Agrapidis' Tag RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/luka-agrapidis Cheap Chindian Cars and High Priced Oil Don't Mix http://seekingalpha.com/article/91141-cheap-chindian-cars-and-high-priced-oil-don-t-mix?source=feed 91141 The rising cost of crude has been attributed to rising world demand and dwindling supply. 'Peak Oil Theory' is debated at family dinner tables and water coolers throughout America. CNBC hosts a parade of analysts who speak in detail on how growing demand in China and India are eating up supply. I wonder and question the health and longevity of this reality.

A growing middle class in India and China are singled out as the largest growing consumer segment of gasoline worldwide. It also happens that it is in China and India where you can find the world's cheapest cars. The highly anticipated Nano, known as the "People's Car", from India's Tata Motors (TTM), is the world's cheapest automobile starting at just $2,500.00 and China boasts a $5,000.00 car from Chery Automobiles sold only in China. Why do the world's cheapest cars come from the two countries with fastest "growing middle class"? Why doesn't this growing middle class go out and buy a shiny new BMW or Mercedes?

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:07:38 -0400 Luka Agrapidis The rising cost of crude has been attributed to rising world demand and dwindling supply. 'Peak Oil Theory' is debated at family dinner tables and water coolers throughout America. CNBC hosts a parade of analysts who speak in detail on how growing demand in China and India are eating up supply. I wonder and question the health and longevity of this reality.

A growing middle class in India and China are singled out as the largest growing consumer segment of gasoline worldwide. It also happens that it is in China and India where you can find the world's cheapest cars. The highly anticipated Nano, known as the "People's Car", from India's Tata Motors (TTM), is the world's cheapest automobile starting at just $2,500.00 and China boasts a $5,000.00 car from Chery Automobiles sold only in China. Why do the world's cheapest cars come from the two countries with fastest "growing middle class"? Why doesn't this growing middle class go out and buy a shiny new BMW or Mercedes?


Complete Story »]]> TTM Luka Agrapidis Cisco Well Positioned To Take Advantage of Next Corporate Upgrade Cycle http://seekingalpha.com/article/38468-cisco-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-next-corporate-upgrade-cycle?source=feed 38468 Cisco Systems is well positioned to take full advantage of the next corporate upgrade cycle, has great growth potential within the consumer market and may even benefit from the Apple (not Cisco) iPhone.

The stock, trading at 17 times next year’s earnings, is on sale. Cisco’s Market Cap is five times that of Avaya (AV), Juniper Networks (JNPR) and Nortel (NT) combined and is trading at a lower PE multiple than any of them.

With its TelePresence technology and acquisition of WebEx, Cisco is able to offer corporate clients value in a wide variety of areas within their organization from internet routing to IP telephony to the conference room. Integrating multiple Cisco solutions with the client’s infrastructure makes it difficult and costly for Cisco to be replaced by competitors.

]]> Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:33:10 -0400 Luka Agrapidis Cisco Systems is well positioned to take full advantage of the next corporate upgrade cycle, has great growth potential within the consumer market and may even benefit from the Apple (not Cisco) iPhone.

The stock, trading at 17 times next year’s earnings, is on sale. Cisco’s Market Cap is five times that of Avaya (AV), Juniper Networks (JNPR) and Nortel (NT) combined and is trading at a lower PE multiple than any of them.

With its TelePresence technology and acquisition of WebEx, Cisco is able to offer corporate clients value in a wide variety of areas within their organization from internet routing to IP telephony to the conference room. Integrating multiple Cisco solutions with the client’s infrastructure makes it difficult and costly for Cisco to be replaced by competitors.


Complete Story »]]> CSCO Luka Agrapidis Wynn Resorts: Price Levels and Buyback Create a Winning Combination http://seekingalpha.com/article/37839-wynn-resorts-price-levels-and-buyback-create-a-winning-combination?source=feed 37839 Even with the last few days of market turmoil it is up over 85% since January of ’06. The move has been largely due to Wynn’s expansion to the island of Macau. Wynn Resorts was granted a concession to operate casino properties in Macau and in September of 2006, the Wynn Macau opened its doors to the public. From November 2006 to end of January 2007, Wynn surged over 40 points but has since been experiencing a pullback.

For those of you who think Macau is something used to pull a plow, here is a little background. Macau is an island 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong, the gaming Mecca of Asia for over forty years. Gross gaming revenue in 2003 was $3.5 billion; that number rose to $5.6 billion in 2005. Given this kind of growth, Macau gaming revenues could easily exceed $10 billion by 2010.

The Wynn Macau was planned as a multi phase project, but in a recent press release the company stated that only a portion of the expected expansion would be open by the end of 2007; the remainder will open at management’s discretion. The problem? China’s decision to further restrict visa requirements to Macau from Guangdong province creates a certain level of uncertainty. We add to that a Venetian property and an MGM property both opening in Macau this year and the management’s decision becomes clear; they are worried… or are they?

]]> Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:23:38 -0400 Luka Agrapidis Even with the last few days of market turmoil it is up over 85% since January of ’06. The move has been largely due to Wynn’s expansion to the island of Macau. Wynn Resorts was granted a concession to operate casino properties in Macau and in September of 2006, the Wynn Macau opened its doors to the public. From November 2006 to end of January 2007, Wynn surged over 40 points but has since been experiencing a pullback.

For those of you who think Macau is something used to pull a plow, here is a little background. Macau is an island 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong, the gaming Mecca of Asia for over forty years. Gross gaming revenue in 2003 was $3.5 billion; that number rose to $5.6 billion in 2005. Given this kind of growth, Macau gaming revenues could easily exceed $10 billion by 2010.

The Wynn Macau was planned as a multi phase project, but in a recent press release the company stated that only a portion of the expected expansion would be open by the end of 2007; the remainder will open at management’s discretion. The problem? China’s decision to further restrict visa requirements to Macau from Guangdong province creates a certain level of uncertainty. We add to that a Venetian property and an MGM property both opening in Macau this year and the management’s decision becomes clear; they are worried… or are they?


Complete Story »]]> WYNN Luka Agrapidis