The Fox

Smart Balance: A Smart Investment

Joshua,

If you like the spread then try the milk. It is THE BEST fat free milk on the market. It isn't cheap by any means which hurts in the current recessionary environment, but it is a superior product nonetheless. I bought on Friday at $5.14 and liked the earnings report. The stock is being dumped here (not sure why).

Has your thoughts on the company's prospects changed since the summer? I would be interested in your thoughts.

Cramer Does It Again with CIT Call

Why should the SEC get involved? If you are stupid enough to buy/sell stocks based on a 30 minute TV show broadcast by a guy you have never met and yells "Booyah" constantly...then you get what you deserve. I don't blame Cramer at all for the masses of sheep that buy and then lose. The strong survive and the weak don't. If you aren't willing to educate YOURSELF then you are left as a helpless pawn in the game called Wall Street.

I haven't watched Cramer in years, but there is no doubting his ability to make money. He is easily worth eight to nine figures and did it on his own (albeit with questionable methods according to the book "Trading with the Enemy"). He is an entertainer now. To take him as anything else puts you in the dumba$$ categoty. Just sayin.

Why I Bought CAT

The dividend is the problem and the reason I won't buy it. I agree with you that it is a premier company and that its product is needed. A cut in the yield, though, would send this thing reeling.

Four Points on the 'Great Short Trade'

Scott Croly,

Get over yourself. I haven't read a more "holier than thou" post in some time. MIT, Columbia...how gives a shit. That and a few bucks will get you a cup of coffee. The fact is that you don't know any better what is happening...or going to happen... then anyone else. Our socialistic government is at the wheel so all bets are off. We are, and will continue to be, in uncharted waters. I think I can comfortably say that "This all ends bad". When...how knows.

Gilead Sciences: Stock in Decline or Great Buying Opportunity?

A lot the catalysts you point to are one time events. Stockpiling Tamiflu will be a one quarter event, because as you noted, most countries were already stockpiled with the stuff. Swine flu was a media sensation, however, and large amounts of Tamiflu were not used. Investing in a company because it might win a patent dispute isn't a great idea either. Coin toss. Heads they win; tails they lose. I completely agree that it is a premiere company and that they are THE leading biotech. They aren't cheap on a valuation basis at 19x earnings (not overvalued either though).

The one thing you didn't discuss is the only thing that matters...politics. If Obama starts beating the "affordable drugs and healthcare" drum ALL these stocks are going lower. It is a certainty. I would agree that the stock looks compelling here, but you should do a better job of informing your readers about the downside risks. Cheerleading never helped anyone make money.

Skechers: Ignoring Obvious Value

Dennis-

Get a clue. Just because a couple of old geezers buy some CROXs doesn't mean they are a viable company. Yes, they are a fad. Check the stock price out!!! It has fallen to $4 per share and is on its way to zero. Do you get it? When a company trades at zero it is out-of-business.

Steve Jobs' Health: A Red Herring

You have a lot to learn, my friend. Jobs' health is a HUGE concern to AAPL shareholders whether they be hedge funds or otherwise. Steven Jobs IS Apple. His health has been a concern for sometime now, and AAPL did nothing to alleviate that concern on the conference call. Saying "Jobs health is a private matter" is a far cry from "Jobs health is fine".

Face it- you got caught on the wrong side of the trade. I am short AAPL so I am feeling pretty blessed now. Additionally, don't think AAPL is the only company to get punished on good earnings. RIMM's earnings growth made AAPL look weak (107% year over year growth) and it still sold off. We are in a bear market. Stocks are to be shorted unless they are energy or commodities related. Why people don't see this is beyond me.

Apple Investors Were Pinned on Friday

My God, man, stop being such a cry baby. That is the difference between good traders and bad traders. Good traders go along for the ride (with the big money) while bad traders complain about "manipulation". You were wrong about the direction of AAPL on Friday. Get over it. Who cares about long lines for the new G3 phone...don't you think huge sales numbers have been "factored" in (even if they turn out to have been conservative)?

Also, in regards to RIMM...look at valuation. AAPL may be the "better" company, but RIMM sports a PEG of .86 to AAPL's 1.24. Big difference. Additionally, an telecom analyst (don't remember which) came out on Friday and stated that the G3 iPhone had ZERO impact on Blackberry sales last week. Whether that is true or not is anyone's guess. The point is that RIMM is cheaper and its business has not been effected (according to this analyst) by the new release (yet).

If the $6.00 drop on Friday bothered you...wait until after earnings. You are going to have your head handed to you. AAPL is priced for perfection and this whole "conservative guidance" going forward BS is going to bite them in the ass. The street is looking for $1.08. The "whisper number" is $1.12. God help them if them come in lower than that. Investors will get it even worse if AAPL doesn't raise year end numbers considerably OR they state that iPhone sales will start to cannibalize iPod sales. Look out below if the conference call isn't perfect news going forward. If you don't believe me then look at RIMM. They reported 107% year over year EPS growth and got hammered.

Disclosure: No current position in AAPL or RIMM

Four Stocks That Are Working and Oil Cost in a Working Person's Terms

Where in God's name are you getting the $5.00 per share "in cash" figure for Cogent. I have looked at two sources and both have it closer to $3.00. That is a huge discrepancy.