ZenInvestor

Writedowns and Capital Raised by Financial Firms

What conclusions did you draw from this? Comparing write downs to 'current' market cap only tells me that some stocks may well be 'beaten down' more than they should have, or is that some companies have taken more write downs and therefore are safer from further write downs?

The facts as you have presented them are well known, and thanks for compiling them, but opining on their meaning would have added something to the bare recitation of facts you have presented for us to ponder on our own.

The Current Market Atmosphere: Easy Money Hard to Come by

Well, I got my post censored. I guess if you really LIKE something it stays, but if you simply post anything contrary it disappears. Hmmm. I restate that this is not insightful, just a 'rehash' of old information. Is that so harsh it need to be censored?

Metrics, Mortgages and Analysts

The other obvious from the 'investment banks' is that E*Trade bank is FDIC regulated. They have a layer of reasonableness tests that no Lehman or Bear Stearns ever had to adhere to, and the E*Trade Bank call reports and capital levels are strongly into the well capitalized side.

The reason the 'street' does not see it is fear, and part of that is well founded since many regulated banks were able to hid portfolio issues from regulators through their sheer size and the complexity of the deals. Cindy's point about 'first in, first out' of the crises is well founded. The fact that E*Trade owned up quickly and sold the sub prime to Citadel for a deep discount has set them up to exit the credit crunch early. Q2 will be the real sign that their recovery, if not complete, is well down that road.

Comparative Price Shopping: Selected Banking, Mortgage and Brokerage Stocks

User 181243 it appears 'you' are the 'newbie'! Just proves that anyone can post.

Comparative Price Shopping: Selected Banking, Mortgage and Brokerage Stocks

This is right on the money. ETFC is way too beat up, and they now have a team with a lot of depth in managing the portfolio and the bank side. The brokerage was always top notch. I am a customer, and became a shareholder because I understand that the bank side is where the upside is for this stock. They have taken high reserves, and missed their Q1 number to take more, the bank is well capitalized and now well run. As they work through the 11 B Heloc portfolio, and liquidity returns to this market, they will be more than positioned for earnings surprised that are on the positive side. This is a $5.50 to 6.50 stock after Q2 earning release. The new team is on the right track, and their platform is the best in the business.