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Michael Brisky's  Instablog

I'm a self-taught investor with a strong interest in stock selection via fundamental analysis. I try to focus on secular growth trends and how they can useful for the individual investor. I'm a believer in the value of investment for the long term, but also understand its important to remain... More
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Brisky Capital
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In the Know: A Financial Blog by Michael E. Brisky
  • U.S. Natural Gas Rig Count at 7-Year Low

    Baker Hughes put out its rig count again last week, and I'm just updating with the data. The natural gas count slipped to 7-year lows, as producers continue to shut off supply (data via Reuters).


    -The number of rigs drilling for natural gas in the United States fell 7 this week to 665, the lowest level in more than seven years, according to a report on Friday by oil services firm Baker Hughes in Houston.

    -U.S. natural gas drilling rigs have been in a mostly steady decline since peaking above 1,600 in September, and now stand at 869 rigs, or 57 percent, below the same week last year. It is the lowest natural gas rig count since May 3, 2002, when there were 640 rigs operating.

    -Tighter access to credit and a 70 percent slide in natural gas prices to about $3.50 per mmBtu after peaking above $13 last July have forced many producers to scale back drilling operations. But with the natural gas drilling rig count now firmly entrenched below 700, and monthly production down four straight months through June, some analysts expect to see the supply-demand balance tighten soon.
    More »
    Tags: UNG, Natural Gas
    Jul 21 03:39 pm | Link | Comment!
  • Another "Reality" Indicator- Rail Traffic Down

     

    The Association of American Railroads released their weekly rail traffic report again yesterday, and it showed additional year over year declines.

    More »
    Tags: BNI, UNP, NSC, CSX, Railroads
    Jul 17 01:40 pm | Link | 3 Comments
  • Natural Gas Rig Count Slightly Up

    Found an update on the US natural gas rig count via Reuters.
     

    More »
    Jul 03 01:16 pm | Link | Comment!
  • Spin-Offs...Why Do They Often Outperform?

     Spin-Offs often make for interesting investments. There are not that common, but tend to perform well, especially in their first couple of years as a stand-alone stock. This has been written about in a few areas, and specifically by investor and author Joel Greenblatt, as this type of stock is one of his favorite investments. Let's look at what spin-offs are and why they outperform.

    Spin-Off Advisors, a company that specializes in research and portfolio management of spin-offs, define them as this:

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    Tags: KFT, TDC, DFS, Spin-Offs
    May 27 02:37 pm | Link | Comment!
  • Book Review: Invest Like a Dealmaker by Christopher Mayer

    Today I'm taking a look at Invest Like a Dealmaker by Christopher Mayer. Christopher writes the Capital & Crisis newsletter, and this book takes a look at his investment methods. After reading this book, I'd summarize it as a how-to guide for the value investor. The author's focus is to teach investors ways to uncover value by various methods (formulas for stock screens, how to follow fund managers, finding undervalued stocks, etc).

    The author references many, many investors, and maybe even a few too many. He refers frequently to some well known ones like Seth Klarman, Joel Greenblatt, and Bill Miller. A lot of his theory involves following these gurus, and he explains why. I wouldn't consider this just a recycling of these well-known investors, and their theories; Mayer does add some substance as to why these guys are worth following.
     

    As you'd expect with a value-focused author, he takes a bottom-up approach and cares more about individual companies more than their stock, and looks at value over price. He shares with investors how great companies create wealth and how you can spot them.

    I did find a fair amount of useful information in this book, and here are a couple of things in particular:

    More »
    Tags: Book Review
    May 26 12:26 pm | Link | Comment!
  • Book Review: The Gone Fishin' Portfolio by Alexander Green


    Today's book review is The Gone Fishin' Portfolio by Alexander Green. Mr. Green is the investment Director of The Oxford Club, as well as Chairman of Investment U.
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    May 05 01:03 pm | Link | Comment!
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