Stockerblog

Postage Increases Might Be the Least of eBay's Problems

Here is what the IRS says:
"Almost everything you own and use for personal purposes, pleasure, business or investment is a capital asset. The difference between the amount for which you sell the capital asset and your basis, which is usually what you paid for it, is a capital gain or a capital loss. While all capital gains are taxable and must be reported on your tax return, only capital losses on investment or business property are deductible. Losses on sales of personal property are not deductible."

Postage Increases Might Be the Least of eBay's Problems

If a lot of these companies (AAPL, AMZN, EBAY, YHOO, etc.) started paying a small dividend, even a nominal one of just a few cents per share per year, they would open up a large market of potential institutional buyers: the mutual funds that have restrictions on only buying income stocks, and trust funds which are prohibited from investing in investments that don't generate an income.

Will Increased Postal Rates Hurt eBay?

I know eBay may have partial blame but from what other ebayers have been telling me, the Post Office wouldn't even release postal rates to anyone prior to the date of the postal increase, other than nominal info on their news releeases. Prior to the rate change day, I gave up after 20 minutes on the USPS web site trying the find rate info, by I have a friend who spent a total of 20 hours on the phone to his local post office and Washington trying to find out what the exact rates were and to get clarification about packaging, but with no success.
There may be an even bigger problem looming for eBay, which won't be theis fault at all [unless they don't lobby against it.] I will be writing about it shortly.

Will Increased Postal Rates Hurt eBay?

I hear the same thing from many other eBay sellers. But this may not be the worst thing; there may be an even bigger problem on the horizon, based on what the government is considering. I plan on writing an article about it in the next couple days.

Six Argentina-Based Investment Opportunities

According to the CIA World Factbook, Argentina is the second largest country by area in South America and the eighth largest by area in the world. Land size may not be a significant factor in investing, but because of its large size, it encompasses a substantial and diverse group of natural resources, including oil, natural gas, timber, sulfur, tungsten, uranium, gold, silver, zinc, magnesium, and copper. [Mining exports increased 500% in the last 10 years.] They also have an extensive amount of farm land and grazing land for cattle. Parts of Argentina are even suitable for growing vineyards, making Argentina the fifth largest wine producer in the world.

Five High Yield Small Cap Stocks

This is a very old article. I actually suggested New Century as a short on March 1 in my blog:
stockerblog.blogspot.c...
Four days later, the stock would have provided a return of 67% to a short seller.

6 Book Stocks To Watch

This is a great analysis. I agree that the link between Amazon's success and book publishers is tenuous, the fact remains that book readership must be up if Wiley's revenues are up 6.7%, Courier's is up 11.5%, McGraw-Hill up 13.7%, etc.

Coffee Stocks: Not Just Starbucks

In most of the financial references I've seen, it has been listed as a restaurant company as opposed to a coffee company. Even on their website, it says that they compete "with all restaurants in the Quick Service category (burgers, subs, pizzas and so on)."
However, I will consider it for the next update of my list.

Investing in Stem Cell Stocks: Growth Industry of the Future?

Thanks, will add it to my list when I do an update.

Six Ways To Invest In Mexico's Growth

Yes, investing in the Mexico ETF is a good suggestion for a diversified play on Mexico stocks.

Shareholder Freebies: A Thing of the Past?

For McDonalds, no you don't have to show up for the meeting. You just have to be a shareholder and NOT elect electronic transmission of the annual report (i.e. you have to make sure you receive printed copies of the annual report). Same with Boston Beer Co, and California Water Service Group.

Amazon's Ad Program Could Augment Revenue Growth

This is a great article. I wrote an article last month of the 12 reasons why Amazon stock should be up substantially this year ( stockerblog.blogspot.c... ), and I didn't even mention context ads. I think you are underestimating the potential of their context ads. With Google, all AdSense ad clicks are directed to the external websites of the companies that are advertising. With Amazon, all their context ads are directed back to Amazon.

A Way to Invest in Craigslist

I know. But stranger things have happened. I remember when Blackboard (BBBB) said that they didn't need to go public, they had no plans to go public and they would never go public. Now they are public.

Four Ways to Invest in Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway

I agree that creating a portfolio based on his increased holdings is probably the best. I'm doing some research on returns of his reduced holdings stocks versus increased holdings stocks.

Starbucks Coffee Struck by Name Play

Interesting observations. By the way, that was a typo for businesswoman.