SlipperyWing

Garmin: Overrated or Underappreciated?

I agree with the sentiment that Garmins other business segments are unappreciated.

The technology behind the aviation segment, particularly the integrated flight deck is far beyond what Wall Street understands. Honeywell and Rockwell Collins can only hope to compete... and they'd love to have Garmins balance sheet too.

A Short Trip for Garmin?

"Lastly, the technology underlying all of the segments and products is the same."

This statement shows how completely naive you are, along with the rest of the world, on Garmin's aviation segment.

Do you have any idea what type of sensors go into the G1000 integrated cockpit? From AHRS attitude and acceleration data in one box, to pure airspeed and altitude data in another box, autopilot servos that trump any existing autopilot in the market, XM weather, a RADAR, engine indicating and crew alerting systems....

And you try to tell me that the underlying technology is the same across segments?

Get with the program jack, everyone seems to think GPS is the only thing Garmin has any experience in.

25 Ultimate Sustainable Energy Growth Stocks

Be careful with criticizing pink sheet stocks with such a broad brush. A few companies, like Vestas are big European companies that are listed on the pink sheets for U.S. market exposure.

That doesn't lend credence to buying shares, but don't assume that a pink sheet listing means an empty balance sheet with a fluff business plan.

I will say that I've found that pink sheet stocks tend to be manipulated more than others, but that's just my opinion and experience.

I will say that this post is little more than a plagiarized business summary with little insight to the individual companies themselves.

25 Ultimate Sustainable Energy Growth Stocks

Be careful with criticizing pink sheet stocks with such a broad brush. A few companies, like Vestas are big European companies that are listed on the pink sheets for U.S. market exposure.

That doesn't lend credence to buying shares, but don't assume that a pink sheet listing means an empty balance sheet with a fluff business plan.

I will say that I've found that pink sheet stocks tend to be manipulated more than others, but that's just my opinion and experience.

I will say that this post is little more than a plagiarized business summary with little insight to the individual companies themselves.

Chesapeake Energy Continues to Shore Up Its Balance Sheet

Debt is one thing, being mortgaged to the hilt is another.

There are contractors (contract tool pushers, welders, excavators, etc) and service companies (SLB, HAL) in Oklahoma who have not been paid by Chesapeake in over 12 months. There are also working interest holders that have common interests with CHK that have not been paid for production in over 12 months (a 6 month lag is more typical).

Chesapeake is essentially holding their money interest free, and have no desire to pay out.

I suspect that you'll hear more about this trend after January 1st, when it makes sense for third parties to start demanding their money (why demand money in December and pay taxes on it for all of 2008).

Chesapeake is in deep trouble, and their cash on hand won't even service their debt, much less pay off common interest holders.

Garmin: Navigating to Nowhere

OK, you hooked me... defend your "poor allocation of capital" statement.

On the surface this is yet another narrowly focused write up on a company with four segments.

Perhaps you didn't read that the Garmin integrated cockpit achieved certification in the Cirrus SR22 platform recently? Did you know that Cirrus builds 4 airplanes per day?

Did you also know that with the Cirrus deal, there are no other OEM's that DON'T offer the Garmin integrated cockpit?

And what about the Forerunner series, in particular the Forerunner 405 that can't seem to stay on a shelf it's so popular.

And then there's the marine division which has been expanded quite extensively over the last 12 to 18 months, the results of which are just now starting to show up on the balance sheet.

The company makes a billion in cash nearly every quarter, has no debt, is buying back shares, is buying up European distributors to help gain market share in the EU over Tom Tom... and you question the capital allocation?

95 Stocks with Low Debt to Equity

Great post, Bill. Well thought out and refreshingly rational.

Why I Prefer TomTom Over Garmin

What a poor analysis. You completely disregard the rest of Garmin's product line, gloss over the fact that they have no debt, forget about the increase in market share in Europe (and just starting out in China).

T2 overpays for something they don't need, have a single product line, and is otherwise leveraged to the hilt....

And you pick TomTom over Garmin?

Sure the nuvifone delay is a disappointment. All delays are. However, in this current cell phone environment, I think this delay may actually be worth it.

A Q3 nuvifone release would go right on the heals of iPhone 2, instinct, and a ton of others...

A Q209 release may actually have better timing, and iphones will be all but obsoletes, or so the electronics life cycles go.