scott146's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/150/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/45916-peltz-signs-confidentiality-agreement-with-wendy-s?source=feed#comment-94751 94751 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:42:19 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/43161-garmin-navteq-soaring-gps-is-hot?source=feed#comment-92629 92629
I see the handheld as a product that should have a lot of success in the US with the 18-49 middle class male demographic. The gadget factor of this product is appealing to a lot of men, and not having to stop and ask for directions would be a huge selling point as well.]]> Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:03:05 -0400
I see the handheld as a product that should have a lot of success in the US with the 18-49 middle class male demographic. The gadget factor of this product is appealing to a lot of men, and not having to stop and ask for directions would be a huge selling point as well.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40949-sony-s-playstation-3-battle-plan-isn-t-about-gaming-it-s-about-costs?source=feed#comment-91116 91116
I think that your analysis makes a lot of sense, and reinforces my sense that the XBox division is a giant cash-sucking black hole for Microsoft.]]> Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:40:34 -0400
I think that your analysis makes a lot of sense, and reinforces my sense that the XBox division is a giant cash-sucking black hole for Microsoft.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40894-us-airways-unhappy-pilots-prove-airline-merger-difficulty?source=feed#comment-91046 91046 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:52:19 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/40669-why-microsoft-must-come-clean-about-xbox-360-flaws?source=feed#comment-90953 90953
N'Gai Croal asks "Did Microsoft's zeal to have the Xbox 360 both launch first and turn a profit--after the first Xbox launched second and lost billions of dollars--cause it to cut corners in a headlong rush to market, resulting in the current debacle?" I think that the answer to that question will turn out to be a resounding "yes!"]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:26:59 -0400
N'Gai Croal asks "Did Microsoft's zeal to have the Xbox 360 both launch first and turn a profit--after the first Xbox launched second and lost billions of dollars--cause it to cut corners in a headlong rush to market, resulting in the current debacle?" I think that the answer to that question will turn out to be a resounding "yes!"]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40733-can-the-gap-turn-things-around?source=feed#comment-90930 90930
I think that the Old Navy line should just be liquidated; long-term I don't think that the business model can survive against Target and Walmart. When your kids are shopping for discount clothes, they don't want to advertise the brand when they wear the clothes. Perhaps they could negotiate a deal to sell Old Navy branded product through Walmart's stores and eliminate the store overhead they have now.

Last time I looked, Banana Republic's prices were significantly higher for similar items that Gap's. I see BR as competing with Nordstrom. I suppose Gap's theory is that once you get to a certain income level you will shift to shopping at BR from Gap. That doesn't make any sense because it's shifting sales around within the company as a whole.

My answer to your question is that I don't think Gap management understands its problems and is basically throwing darts and hoping they hit something. I think the best course of action would be for a breakup of the company. Spin off BR as an independent company, liquidate Old Navy stores and cut a deal to market the product through an established big-box discounter, and focus on the Gap brand by reinforcing the denim and business casual product line and accept a position as a value stock rather than a growth stock.]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:33:36 -0400
I think that the Old Navy line should just be liquidated; long-term I don't think that the business model can survive against Target and Walmart. When your kids are shopping for discount clothes, they don't want to advertise the brand when they wear the clothes. Perhaps they could negotiate a deal to sell Old Navy branded product through Walmart's stores and eliminate the store overhead they have now.

Last time I looked, Banana Republic's prices were significantly higher for similar items that Gap's. I see BR as competing with Nordstrom. I suppose Gap's theory is that once you get to a certain income level you will shift to shopping at BR from Gap. That doesn't make any sense because it's shifting sales around within the company as a whole.

My answer to your question is that I don't think Gap management understands its problems and is basically throwing darts and hoping they hit something. I think the best course of action would be for a breakup of the company. Spin off BR as an independent company, liquidate Old Navy stores and cut a deal to market the product through an established big-box discounter, and focus on the Gap brand by reinforcing the denim and business casual product line and accept a position as a value stock rather than a growth stock.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/39927-iphone-a-look-inside?source=feed#comment-90202 90202 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:39:23 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/39412-recession-or-slowdown-what-do-the-numbers-say?source=feed#comment-89648 89648 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:03:08 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/38364-gap-great-potential-but-where-is-it-going?source=feed#comment-88595 88595 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:48:50 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/38101-hedge-funds-and-the-s-p-500-too-close-for-comfort?source=feed#comment-88325 88325 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:47:55 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/37934-coca-cola-lagging-fundamentals-may-impede-further-dividend-growth?source=feed#comment-88249 88249 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:43:40 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/37475-crude-inventories-report-the-more-people-watch-it-the-less-useful-it-becomes?source=feed#comment-87888 87888
Although this information is now useless as a trading indicator, it does tell us that crude prices have become disconnected from US inventories. According to the EIA's data, crude inventories have been at the top of their historical range for more than a year...so the price of crude reflects future event risk more than it does current supply concerns.]]> Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:04:29 -0400
Although this information is now useless as a trading indicator, it does tell us that crude prices have become disconnected from US inventories. According to the EIA's data, crude inventories have been at the top of their historical range for more than a year...so the price of crude reflects future event risk more than it does current supply concerns.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/37481-oil-and-gas-drilling-the-price-is-right-but-the-industry-s-in-trouble?source=feed#comment-87887 87887 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:48:30 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/36758-peak-oil-test-looming?source=feed#comment-87210 87210 Tue, 29 May 2007 18:11:47 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/36343-private-equity-discipline-is-giving-way-to-momentum-and-euphoria?source=feed#comment-86856 86856 Wed, 23 May 2007 18:48:20 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/36348-autozone-sustainable-business-model?source=feed#comment-86848 86848 Wed, 23 May 2007 17:53:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/35834-the-next-home-equity-surge?source=feed#comment-86391 86391
It is a creative new financing option which if used properly is a nice addition to the range of credit options available to consumers; but at this point it is just an attempt to keep the housing lending market afloat.]]> Thu, 17 May 2007 09:57:02 -0400
It is a creative new financing option which if used properly is a nice addition to the range of credit options available to consumers; but at this point it is just an attempt to keep the housing lending market afloat.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35751-berkshire-hathaway-hold-off-until-buffett-steps-down?source=feed#comment-86307 86307 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:14:54 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/34992-execution-of-excellence-maximizes-metaphorical-distance-from-wall-street?source=feed#comment-85787 85787 Wed, 09 May 2007 10:39:17 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/34011-the-activist-investor-private-equity-s-polonius?source=feed#comment-85248 85248 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:43:23 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/33853-microsoft-s-earnings-report-slacker-xbox-360-consoles?source=feed#comment-85239 85239
In addition, Microsoft has never been about fixing deficiencies with existing products, unless absolutely forced to by the market. They'll be adding new features to the Xbox line forever before they think about changing the power brick.]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:00:20 -0400
In addition, Microsoft has never been about fixing deficiencies with existing products, unless absolutely forced to by the market. They'll be adding new features to the Xbox line forever before they think about changing the power brick.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/33451-can-japan-s-newest-real-estate-boom-be-sustained?source=feed#comment-84947 84947 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:35:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/32969-google-s-billion-dollar-quarter-a-closer-look?source=feed#comment-84608 84608
The contrast between Google's excellence in execution and Microsoft's stumbling and fumbling couldn't be greater. The cultural difference between these two companies is epitomized by Schmidt's statement that "Each of these strategies involves creating solutions that benefit both advertisers and users, and it is the synergy between them that we have been able to harness." On the other hand, it is clear to everyone that Microsoft's main goal is to continue to milk their installed base while they fumble around trying to find a coherent strategy for the future.]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:32:23 -0400
The contrast between Google's excellence in execution and Microsoft's stumbling and fumbling couldn't be greater. The cultural difference between these two companies is epitomized by Schmidt's statement that "Each of these strategies involves creating solutions that benefit both advertisers and users, and it is the synergy between them that we have been able to harness." On the other hand, it is clear to everyone that Microsoft's main goal is to continue to milk their installed base while they fumble around trying to find a coherent strategy for the future.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32568-credit-derivatives-market-optimism-misguided?source=feed#comment-84401 84401 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:42:53 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/32568-credit-derivatives-market-optimism-misguided?source=feed#comment-84400 84400 wasatchecon.blogspot.c...">Source of market risk under the radar; the key being this quote: ""According to the FSA, it took the largest banks 44 days to confirm a basic credit derivatives trade and about twice that for complex deals.""

So not only do regulators have the issues you mention, if there were a crisis, just clearing outstanding trades would be a source of serious problems.]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:42:01 -0400 wasatchecon.blogspot.c...">Source of market risk under the radar; the key being this quote: ""According to the FSA, it took the largest banks 44 days to confirm a basic credit derivatives trade and about twice that for complex deals.""

So not only do regulators have the issues you mention, if there were a crisis, just clearing outstanding trades would be a source of serious problems.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32067-a-demographic-perspective-on-etfs?source=feed#comment-84147 84147
The real unintended consequence of a huge excess of men vs women in Chinese society is likely to be social and political destabilization. A large number of these men will be from the lower end of the economic spectrum, and sociologists agree that a group of under- or un-employed single men is a recipe for crime and rebellion.]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:04:38 -0400
The real unintended consequence of a huge excess of men vs women in Chinese society is likely to be social and political destabilization. A large number of these men will be from the lower end of the economic spectrum, and sociologists agree that a group of under- or un-employed single men is a recipe for crime and rebellion.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32166-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-ofheo-releases-harsh-judgments?source=feed#comment-84145 84145
Then when you add in having to fix sleight of hand accounting to upgrading weak accounting systems, it will take forever to get your company's books in order.]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:41:00 -0400
Then when you add in having to fix sleight of hand accounting to upgrading weak accounting systems, it will take forever to get your company's books in order.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/31631-rackable-systems-tough-to-be-a-midget-in-the-land-of-giants?source=feed#comment-83699 83699 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:36:11 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/31630-cisco-ceo-microsoft-has-given-us-a-three-year-lead?source=feed#comment-83698 83698 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:30:56 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/31523-oil-trading-volume-surge-desperation-of-the-roaches?source=feed#comment-83636 83636 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:47:21 -0400