Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Hi Doc47,
Thank you for reading the article and your comment regarding the piece. Just a bit of information for you, BP has people running it who are all highly educated and typically from Oxford, Cambridge, and the best schools in the United States. In addition, they have many partnerships with academic institutions all over the U.S. to help in their efforts regarding all areas of the environment- air, sea, land, etc. I would not at all minimize the competence of the management at BP, in fact, I think they are incredibly capable and downright impressive, but that is only my opinion. You might look into the matter to see if I am correct. Thanks again for reading the article and the comment, I very much appreciate it.
Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Hi Inspector Javert,
Thank you for your comment. I am not sure who Cris Frangold is. I believe investing is based on individual research, analysis, and judgment. Especially at a time when quantitative methodologies are in vogue, history has shown many of the best investors did their own work and reaped the rewards, or penalties, of the market. Thank you again for the kind words and reading the article.
Coffee With That Cupcake? A Crumbs Bake Shop Follow-Up [View article]
Hi Robin,
Thank you for reading both articles and your opinion and question. The current CEO was a board member and used to be in management at federated dept stores, I believe, or a division of theirs, before Macy's bought them. The founders still own a big piece of this enterprise, and they have a lot of incentive for the company to do better. I hope that helps.
Hi all- Paulson has a long track record of outperforming the market and almost any index associated with it. If you do some homework, he is a guy any investor can learn from, if you are willing to take the time to find out about him.
A Turnaround In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow The Lead Of Starbucks And McDonald's (Part 2) [View article]
Hi Raymond,
Thank you for reading the article and the questions about Crumbs Bake Shop. First, full disclosure, I own shares of it. Next, based on their last conference call, they have no plans to do another offering. They have been renegotiating lease terms on underperforming locations already, at least that is what the company stated in the conference call. As far as what might be lacking in their offerings, they are adding candy to mall based locations to see how that incrementally adds to sales. I think the big issue is to deal with underperforming locations and continue growing selectively, while improving operational efficiency to generate cash flow. All the while, they should continue to work on finding ways to improve their marketing and increase foot traffic. Basic fundamentals is where the focus is should be. If you would like to be added to my free monthly newsletter and blog, please send me your email address at information@y-hc.com or yale@y-hc.com. Thanks again for your questions and please feel free to always ask.
Yale Bock, CFA President, Y H & C Investments
Regarding their offerings, I have never tried them, but my family and friends who live in NY say they don't have the best cupcakes in NY, but they are solid and an institution in the city. On FB they have over 70K followers. Regarding their coffee, they said in their conference call they will choose a new coffee partner by the end of June, so on their next earnings release they should indicate who that is. They have high hopes for the new coffee partner increasing both beverage and food sales dramatically.
2 Turnarounds In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow Starbucks' And McDonald's Lead - Part 1 [View article]
Hi Bhavikpatel756,
Thank you for reading the article and your comment. If the company proves it can grow the top line and improve its operating performance, institutions will come back on board. It will take some time, as most investments do. Good luck with your investments and thank you again for the comment.
Best Buy's Balance Sheet: How Do You Calculate The Hidden Losses That Investors Can't See? [View article]
Hi Seeking Beta,
Thank you for the response and explanation. I appreciate your explanation as well. I agree with the premise the bs is in pretty good shape, which is why I believe they have the staying power to turn things around. Certainly, the on line position and customer service issues are going to be areas of attention in the future. Time will tell as to how it plays out, but I am sure Circuit City shareholders thought the same as well. Best of luck with your investments and SA writings and no worries about length. As Mitt Romney says, sometimes things are not simple to explain.
Best Buy's Balance Sheet: How Do You Calculate The Hidden Losses That Investors Can't See? [View article]
Hi Seeking Beta,
Interesting article and premise and as a fellow contributor, I appreciate the different perspective you take with this piece. At the same time, the article does not quantify your premise, nor does it include any financial information to give me any idea about the human capital impact that should show how operations are being affected over time, and in the future. In addition, with respect to the balance sheet and the hidden impact, at the very least, a presentation of the current quarters balance sheet, with an analysis of its cash to debt position, interest obligations, lease commitments, and cash flow relative to those items would go a long way in helping legitimize your thesis. As a best buy investor, who owns it for clients, you bring attention to valid points about their human capital weaknesses, and I appreciate it. Your own analysis about the comprehensiveness of the article might reveal areas to improve as well. Thank you for the article and my comment was meant to be constructive, and not offensive.
USA Technologies: A Proxy Fight To Control The Future Of A Promising Payment Processor [View article]
Hi Ward59,
Thank you for reading the article and the comment. Consistently having a bottom line profit and growing the top and bottom line will move the stock. Execution is the key issue. Thanks again for reading the article and good luck with your investments.
USA Technologies: A Proxy Fight To Control The Future Of A Promising Payment Processor [View article]
Hi Gary,
Thank you for reading the article and your comment. Lincoln's A House Divided applies to many situations, this one included. Let's see what happens. Best of luck with your investments and thanks again for reading the article and the comment.
A Turnaround In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow The Lead Of Starbucks And McDonald's (Part 2) [View article]
Hi Aaron,
Thank you for reading the article and your question. On micro cap stocks which are thinly traded, any trade has a big spread on the bid and ask, and that accounts for the large percentage move. My understanding is company owned stores are the plan.
Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and your comment regarding the piece. Just a bit of information for you, BP has people running it who are all highly educated and typically from Oxford, Cambridge, and the best schools in the United States. In addition, they have many partnerships with academic institutions all over the U.S. to help in their efforts regarding all areas of the environment- air, sea, land, etc. I would not at all minimize the competence of the management at BP, in fact, I think they are incredibly capable and downright impressive, but that is only my opinion. You might look into the matter to see if I am correct. Thanks again for reading the article and the comment, I very much appreciate it.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and the kind words. Best of luck on your investments.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and kind words. Best of luck with your BP and other investments.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Steady Goes The Big Ship - An Update On The Progress Of Transforming BP [View article]
Thank you for your comment. I am not sure who Cris Frangold is. I believe investing is based on individual research, analysis, and judgment. Especially at a time when quantitative methodologies are in vogue, history has shown many of the best investors did their own work and reaped the rewards, or penalties, of the market. Thank you again for the kind words and reading the article.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Coffee With That Cupcake? A Crumbs Bake Shop Follow-Up [View article]
Thank you for reading both articles and your opinion and question. The current CEO was a board member and used to be in management at federated dept stores, I believe, or a division of theirs, before Macy's bought them. The founders still own a big piece of this enterprise, and they have a lot of incentive for the company to do better. I hope that helps.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
John Paulson: Lucky Or Great? [View article]
Hi all- Paulson has a long track record of outperforming the market and almost any index associated with it. If you do some homework, he is a guy any investor can learn from, if you are willing to take the time to find out about him.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Unilife Strives To Be A Major Player In Medical Devices [View article]
Thank you for the analysis and comment. Sorry it took a while to respond to your comment.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
A Turnaround In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow The Lead Of Starbucks And McDonald's (Part 2) [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and the questions about Crumbs Bake Shop. First, full disclosure, I own shares of it. Next, based on their last conference call, they have no plans to do another offering. They have been renegotiating lease terms on underperforming locations already, at least that is what the company stated in the conference call. As far as what might be lacking in their offerings, they are adding candy to mall based locations to see how that incrementally adds to sales. I think the big issue is to deal with underperforming locations and continue growing selectively, while improving operational efficiency to generate cash flow. All the while, they should continue to work on finding ways to improve their marketing and increase foot traffic. Basic fundamentals is where the focus is should be. If you would like to be added to my free monthly newsletter and blog, please send me your email address at information@y-hc.com or yale@y-hc.com. Thanks again for your questions and please feel free to always ask.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Regarding their offerings, I have never tried them, but my family and friends who live in NY say they don't have the best cupcakes in NY, but they are solid and an institution in the city. On FB they have over 70K followers. Regarding their coffee, they said in their conference call they will choose a new coffee partner by the end of June, so on their next earnings release they should indicate who that is. They have high hopes for the new coffee partner increasing both beverage and food sales dramatically.
2 Turnarounds In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow Starbucks' And McDonald's Lead - Part 1 [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and your comment. If the company proves it can grow the top line and improve its operating performance, institutions will come back on board. It will take some time, as most investments do. Good luck with your investments and thank you again for the comment.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Investing In Today's Tough Regulatory Environment [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and your comment. Good luck with your investments.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
Best Buy's Balance Sheet: How Do You Calculate The Hidden Losses That Investors Can't See? [View article]
Thank you for the response and explanation. I appreciate your explanation as well. I agree with the premise the bs is in pretty good shape, which is why I believe they have the staying power to turn things around. Certainly, the on line position and customer service issues are going to be areas of attention in the future. Time will tell as to how it plays out, but I am sure Circuit City shareholders thought the same as well. Best of luck with your investments and SA writings and no worries about length. As Mitt Romney says, sometimes things are not simple to explain.
Yale Bock, CFA
Best Buy's Balance Sheet: How Do You Calculate The Hidden Losses That Investors Can't See? [View article]
Interesting article and premise and as a fellow contributor, I appreciate the different perspective you take with this piece. At the same time, the article does not quantify your premise, nor does it include any financial information to give me any idea about the human capital impact that should show how operations are being affected over time, and in the future. In addition, with respect to the balance sheet and the hidden impact, at the very least, a presentation of the current quarters balance sheet, with an analysis of its cash to debt position, interest obligations, lease commitments, and cash flow relative to those items would go a long way in helping legitimize your thesis. As a best buy investor, who owns it for clients, you bring attention to valid points about their human capital weaknesses, and I appreciate it. Your own analysis about the comprehensiveness of the article might reveal areas to improve as well. Thank you for the article and my comment was meant to be constructive, and not offensive.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
USA Technologies: A Proxy Fight To Control The Future Of A Promising Payment Processor [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and the comment. Consistently having a bottom line profit and growing the top and bottom line will move the stock. Execution is the key issue. Thanks again for reading the article and good luck with your investments.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
USA Technologies: A Proxy Fight To Control The Future Of A Promising Payment Processor [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and your comment. Lincoln's A House Divided applies to many situations, this one included. Let's see what happens. Best of luck with your investments and thanks again for reading the article and the comment.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Investments
A Turnaround In Specialty Retail Trying To Follow The Lead Of Starbucks And McDonald's (Part 2) [View article]
Thank you for reading the article and your question. On micro cap stocks which are thinly traded, any trade has a big spread on the bid and ask, and that accounts for the large percentage move. My understanding is company owned stores are the plan.
Yale Bock, CFA
President, Y H & C Inve