anastos

9 Reasons to Short FirstFed Financial

I've got friends in the banking industry and I hear that DSL is losing customers right and left....their mortgages are toxic and it's just a matter of time before someone has to make a rescue offer.

A Low-Risk Cracker Barrel [CBRL Group] Options Play

You end up with 2000 shares when you click on "buy now" at E*trade.

GM Calls the Top for Oil

When you look at the Japanese automakers, trucks were never their bread and butter. Honda and Toyota didn't get to where they are by selling trucks. They started offering trucks to round out their lineups but Toyota's longterm success never hinged on the Tundra selling 400k units a year. GM and Ford pinned their entire corporate future on the Expedition, the F-150, the Tahoe and the Silverado. Now they're paying for it with a horrible passenger car lineup, which they ignored for the last 10 years, and customers who are forced to turn to foreign automakers to meet their needs. You can talk about carpooling and moving closer to work (all of which are great) but it doesn't excuse GM and Ford getting caught with their pants down on what the consumer wants.

GM Calls the Top for Oil

It's nice to know that GM would only alter their vehicle line due to crazy gas prices and not because of consumers like myself who would rather have a root canal then drive an SUV, let alone buy one. Way to go Corporate America. GM and Ford get what they both deserve....a decreasing customer base horrified at their terrible product lineups and service that sucks.

Downey Financial's Cushion Not So Soft After All

I have a friend in the banking industry and it they won't even take calls from Downey anymore. When a company thinks CFC is a good buy but keeps putting your calls into VM, that's all I need to know about the metrics of their business. Wez is dead right on this.

The Online Brokerage Wars: E*Trade Offers Compelling Risk/Reward

Banc of America Investments!!!! The portal sucks, there's no research and the only reason I use it is because my friend works for them and I trade for $0/up to a zillion shares of anything. If I didn't have access to industry research through work, this would be the most useless online brokerage service, EVER.

Oh, and I own some etfc and am wondering if I should buy more. It's a small position but the price can't get much worse given the information we're hearing about their operations....

The Impending Mortgage Crisis

Okay, every time I hear about the "student loan debt" issue, it makes me want to scream. This is always brought up by people who blew $100k at *insert big name school here* and, when they were done, decided they wanted to go into basket weaving instead of use the law degree they just got.

No one wants to talk about this but college is just like every other decision out there. You need to find a place that meets all of your needs AND that you can afford. Higher education in America isn't a birth rite....and if you go into huge debt trying to get a diploma simply because the name of the school will get you recognized then you deserve all the "student loan debt" you rack up.

Eye on Plane Leasing Sector

In particular, FLY is hindered by some complicated taxation laws on the dividend. Even the idiot proof guide on their website totally threw me off. I keep looking at it like it will suddenly make sense....between QEF elections and Irish withholding restrictions I just gave up....

United Rentals' Private Equities Loss is an Investor's Gain

"Disclosure: In the interest of fair disclosure the author of this newsletter currently holds a long position in this security as well as most investments he recommends."

That's really inspiring of a non-biased research opinion.

Sex May Sell, But Is It Profitable?

Then, by that same logic, we should start shorting gaming stocks because Vegas is going to shut down and all of those companies are going bust up. Then, we can short jewelry stores and car lots because trips to those are usually expensive. Why don't we ban ex-wives, while we're at it because, god knows, they're the most expensive yet useless item around.

While I respect your opinion to not visit these establishments, I feel the views you have provided here may be clouded by your own personal beliefs. I'm not saying these stocks are for everyone but you've written about an industry you have obvious disdain for and it shows.

Jamba Juice: If You Build It, Will They Come?

I agree. Given a large portion of their stores are in California, where the subprime mess is hitting hard, it's a tough call. I own a few hundred shares I got below $3 and will just wait and see what happens.

Sex May Sell, But Is It Profitable?

Comparing Rick's to Manpower or Administaff? Words fail me. The business models aren't even in the same area code, let alone same state. Last time I was in a Manpower office, they didn't offer me a steak, a martini and a table dance. I bought at 15, sold at 28 and bought some more recently back under 20. And, even if they go bust up, they own the real estate most of their clubs are in so there's some kind of underlying tangible asset that doesn't involve a g-string and pasties.

YTB International: Wall Street's Next Online Travel Darling?

Can you guys try and pump this stock any harder?

Jamba Juice: The Worst Already Factored In

Look, this isn't going to be a short term story. If anything, in the next 12 to 18 months, we'll see comps get better and some revenue from their recent licensing deal with Nestle. Until then, I'll get a smoothie and add some vodka in there to make me forget how much of this junk I own.