jarco's Comments

Panera Bread: A Simple Strategy Shift To Double Shares

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:05:04 -0400

The two franchises in my immediate area are well positioned geographically but poorly run. Little or no local management presence. Bathrooms not properly maintained and employees lacking the training (and/or enthusiasm) as past staff. Menu becoming stale.

Tesla Motors: What Everyday Investors Are Forgetting

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:38:25 -0400

nwdiver - What were you driving previously?

Is Atlantic Power A Safe Investment?

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:27:06 -0400

Management of this company is riddled with "Investment Bankers" and little else. Debt structure in atrocious. Having recently witnessed systemic weakness via bankruptcies, defaults, and asset maneuvering shenanigans with Dynegy, Ameren, etc., investors would be wise to run not walk from this debockle.

What Does A Big Market Correction Actually Look Like?

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:07:25 -0400

< I just appreciate that there are a lot of smarter people then me who share here>

That said , redmanlive, give yourself credit for participating in S/A in the first place. Being smart enough to know what you don't know is a primary asset. It's a learning process and we all learn more about what we didn't know every investment day.

Bayerische Motoren Werke's CEO Discusses Q1 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Sat, 04 May 2013 08:46:10 -0400

The fact remains that BMW is dumbing down their car technology in order to increase sales penetration into developing nations. The ultimate driving machine is no longer. This is not leading to less electronics and convenience capability rather sacrificing the ultimate ride for volume. New markets lack a baseline; new drivers are oblivious to the older model performance while those of us who are veteran owners readily see the decline and realise competitors are catching up.

What Does A Big Market Correction Actually Look Like?

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:41:42 -0400

Mark to market is the only menu on the table. Value is only real the day one buys or sells otherwise it's an exercise in futility. Suggesting a net worth is something more or less than what someone will buy it for at the moment is strictly an emotion investors should ignore.

Is Barrick Gold A Good Investment?

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:20:45 -0400

So, the question still remains . . . is Barrick Gold a good investment? Your article concludes it 'could be', providing they " efficiently address its other issues like Pascua-Lama project." Since it appears to be the linchpin, I suggest readers would like to have an analysis and prognosis specifically on this project. Can we expect something in the near future?

CenterPoint Energy: Buy This Conservative Utility For Balanced Electric And Gas, But Wait For Dips

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:29:45 -0400

No. I hold a 1000 share position bought in two tranches 2009 and 2010 w/avg. price at 15.28. A concern is another hurricane and the ensuing damage they experienced a few years ago.

Banco Santander Brasil's Improving Performance Presents An Opportunity For Risk-Tolerant Investors

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:22:59 -0400

Caiman - Thanks for your extensive work here. Nice to hear from you again. Perhaps I've missed your latest SAN appraisal and if not, when can we expect your insight?

ConocoPhillips: Cashing In On The Eagle Ford Shale

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:07:20 -0400

Excellent article. Thanks for your efforts here.

Any thoughts you'd like to share on the growing plans to export NG? Here we are importing expensive oil to heat homes in the northeast, particularly New England, and ramping up an export terminal in Niagara, NY among others. The lack of a Washington energy policy is becoming our #1 domestic economic disaster, in my view.

Bank Of America: With No Dividend Hike Shareholders Are Fleeing

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:11:05 -0400

Is it safe to assume you hold SAN and perhaps not BAC?

AT&T: 14% Return Year To Date, Now What?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:33:20 -0400

What makes you believe EFC will be able to sustain a $0.70 /qtr dividend rate when just a year ago the rate was 0.40? How do you rationalize the business risk in the mortgage arena. Very little new construction and associated lending. Where are the mortgages coming from?

AT&T: 14% Return Year To Date, Now What?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:10:57 -0400

I rolled some of my profits into Integrys Energy [TEG]. It's the old Wisconsin Pwr plus other G&E in the Wisc/Minn/Mich area. Up 15% since Feb 12 and even at the higher price its yielding 4.5%.

Nvidia Returning $1 Billion To Investors - What To Expect

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:22:49 -0400

Inside knowledge as to who owns, buys, and sells stock is interesting but where are the guys who understand what's going on in the product development area? Vision is key, in my view, not how many shares the insiders own (most of which was a performance based gift in the first place).

A Flight To Safety Or Crash And Burn?

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:02:33 -0400

The "toll" aspect is very real and should be a rewarding investment. However, toll takers need traffic which, absent a comprehensive energy policy from Washington, looks rather risky at this juncture. Gag, we're using expensive (and dirty) fuel oil to heat 40% homes in New England while exporting cheap, clean burning NG out of the exact same region.

AT&T: 14% Return Year To Date, Now What?

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:46:37 -0400

Beyond all the "metrics", price movement of T and numerous other high yielders is the result of (1) investors fishing for yield given the near zero fixed yield available elsewhere and (2) European/Mid- East flight to safety

Microsoft Has A Plan To Beat Apple, But Will It Happen?

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:09:11 -0400

A recent news item suggests a further decline in desktop sales is attributed to poor reception of Windows 8. Given the salient opinions and factual data, its difficult to rationalize any further success for MSFT. A similar decline was experienced over many years (decades some have argued) by the likes of Kodak, Polaroid, Xerox, etc. Simply arrogant corporate leadership asleep at the wheel (er, board room conference table).

Microsoft Has A Plan To Beat Apple, But Will It Happen?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:05:51 -0400

Don't forget it's also a generational thing. A much larger % of professionals entering the workforce "grew up" on Apple. Companies previously locked in on MSFT platform are consenting to those who, absent an alternative, are bringing their APPL machines to the office.

Microsoft Has A Plan To Beat Apple, But Will It Happen?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:35:42 -0400

A recent visit to a large mall revealed a "Windows 8" store almost next door to an Apple Store. The latter was quite crowded and the former rather empty. An ensuing visual of this metric will be interesting if and when the MSFT retail pursuit gains traction.

Telecom Face-Off Part 3: The Contenders And Their Business Metrics

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:51:10 -0400

Interesting article and obviously a lot of work on your part. May I suggest that P/E and ROI/ROE are better metrics in most cases. Factors that include enterprise, book, etc. values within the formula are less reliable and illuminating, in my view.

Does Fixed Income Allocation Make Sense For Dividend Investors?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:41:22 -0400

Yikes!

In a recent client survey by a major financial management firm revealed that nearly 60% of their investors disagreed. With little exception, the last thing investors should do as they near retirement is to consider annuities. The only people I know who like annuities are those who sell them..

AT&T: A Toxic Aristocrat

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:21:41 -0400

Hank - Welcome to S/A! From another retired old guy . . . . T was an original baby bell, Southwest. It bought Bell South, Cingular to enhance it's wireless base, and then what was left of AT&T after the babies were spun out, perhaps not in that order. I considered SW to be the strongest especially given its initial SE > SW territory, clearly the fastest in the US

AT&T: A Toxic Aristocrat

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:11:02 -0400

Your comment suggested a misunderstanding of fundamental analysis. Comparing performance within an industry without taking into consideration the potentially highly variable market conditions is a flawed analysis. Selling cars in Detroit is far different than selling cars in Indonesia (or China for that matter). Demands relative to customer expectations, taste, product utility, and economic status are major variables. Where's the level playing field?

AT&T: A Toxic Aristocrat

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:18:56 -0400

Suggest you add VZ and S to your analysis. Aside from Vodaphone's minority (but sizable) ownership of VZ wireless, all their business is outside the US making comparisons questionable,

AT&T: A Toxic Aristocrat

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:14:13 -0400

There's nothing wrong when an analyst doesn't own the stock. You'll find it's quite common and cited repeatedly on CNBC, for example. Best to read everything about a stock YOU own as opinions vary suggesting trends will average out. I own T and found the author's poorly informed as his example response to Ryan Pollack T-Mobil comment illustrates. Again, if you own an issue, best to take in all the reasoned views possible.

Nvidia Is A Steal

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:39:45 -0400

Thanks, I decided to return with full refund and will look at other providers giving preference to NVDA chip cards

Nvidia Is A Steal

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:07:21 -0400

Purevalue - As a PC gamer, what do you think about Alienware X-51? I bought w/NVDA 660 but it developed fan noise problem so I'm looking elsewhere. Any suggestions?

Create Your Own Growing Utility Fund Offering Over 4.5%

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:44:31 -0400

Well, I haven't owned POM for 5 years. Bought most of a 1000 share position in 08, 09, and 10 @ 18.4 avg. On balance, holding period of about 3 years and the price has increased 12% which at least neutralizes inflation while dividend return has been north of 5%. I'll admit not stellar but . . .

Create Your Own Growing Utility Fund Offering Over 4.5%

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:00:27 -0400

Nice idea Henry but your yard appears to have too many dogs. I own POM because they light up congress and you know how those feeders from the public trough like their microphones and links to their travel agents working.

Just my view but staying exclusively within the utility space for yield, while an novel article title, is too problematic. Including T, COP, TOT, TEG, and BMO may offer a safer diversity.

How Much Is AT&T Worth?

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:41:53 -0400

How Much Is AT&T Worth?
$40