Mr. EB_

Traders unite in a call to block a proposed "trader tax" (0.25% on every sale/purchase of stocks, options and futures) - known as (ouch) Let Wall Street Pay for Wall Street's Bailout Act of 2009.

vboring, you are wrong. Say you are a value investor and ONLY sell and buy stocks once a year. That's a very conservative take as many value investors will have more turnover than that. That will cost you 0.5% a year. Doesn't sound like much right? Over 25 years as you save for your retirement, it will cost you 40-60% of your net worth due to compounding on any future gains using conservative return assumptions. Wake up people!

Traders unite in a call to block a proposed "trader tax" (0.25% on every sale/purchase of stocks, options and futures) - known as (ouch) Let Wall Street Pay for Wall Street's Bailout Act of 2009.

Over time 25-30 years, say conservatively we lose 1-2% annually due to this transaction tax. This will cost us investors 50%-75%+ of our long term net worth due to compounding. Whether it's for retirement or paying college for our kids. Seriously folks, this is worst idea ever. 50%-75% of your net worth is at stake if they pass it. Call your Congressman now, don't under-estimate their stupidity, they just add random amendments like this last minute in other bills. Us small investors had NOTHING to do with the Wall St. problems and WE are going to pay for it?!? Did you see the bank CEOs testify before Congress, when asked about this transaction tax, they were like "we're fine with it!". Of course they are fine with it, their customers pay for it NOT them, even though they screwed up. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT this. Call congressman, tell everyone.

Traders unite in a call to block a proposed "trader tax" (0.25% on every sale/purchase of stocks, options and futures) - known as (ouch) Let Wall Street Pay for Wall Street's Bailout Act of 2009.

Over time 25-30 years, say conservatively we lose 1-2% annually due to this transaction tax. This will cost us investors 50%-75%+ of our long term net worth due to compounding. Whether it's for retirement or paying college for our kids. Seriously folks, this is worst idea ever. 50%-75% of your net worth is at stake if they pass it. Call your Congressman now, don't under-estimate their stupidity, they just add random amendments like this last minute in other bills. Us small investors had NOTHING to do with the Wall St. problems and WE are going to pay for it?!? Did you see the bank CEOs testify before Congress, when asked about this transaction tax, they were like "we're fine with it!". Of course they are fine with it, their customers pay for it NOT them, even though they screwed up. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT this. Call congressman, tell everyone.

It "looks as if the bottom has been made" in U.S. stocks, Legg Mason's (LM) famed money-manager Bill Miller says. Miller outperformed the market during previous downturns - but hasn't been able to thus far.

I think he has some nerve to call a bottom given his -59% YTD performance as of Tuesday. And then he goes on to say the Government should buy stocks here?? Geez. Pathetic. Even if he's right, doesn't mean squat to his fundholders.

The holiday shopping season got off to a surprisingly solid start, with Black Friday sales up 3% (or 11%) from a year ago.

If you read the ShopperTrak estimate methodology on their website, they emphasize counting retail foot traffic. Obviously in this retail environment, old estimates based on how many people went out for Black Friday and correlation to actual total spending dollars is tenuous at best.

I mean ShopperTrak said retail sales were UP y/y September and October, and down tiny in November, give me a break.

Meanwhile, Mastercard Spendingpulse which is based on actual spending data from their credit card users, NOT estimates counting foot traffic, shows deep double digit y/y declines in sales dollars.

The holiday shopping season got off to a surprisingly solid start, with Black Friday sales up 3% (or 11%) from a year ago.

If you read the ShopperTrak estimate methodology on their website, they emphasize counting retail foot traffic. Obviously in this retail environment, old estimates based on how many people went out for Black Friday and correlation to actual total spending dollars is tenuous at best.

I mean ShopperTrak said retail sales were UP y/y September and October, and down tiny in November, give me a break.

Meanwhile, Mastercard Spendingpulse which is based on actual spending data from their credit card users, NOT estimates counting foot traffic, shows deep double digit y/y declines in sales dollars.

Hansen Narrowly Misses Estimates, But Earnings Are Far From Failure

The Goldman analyst and even management was confused on the conference call on sales trends of good in April, horrible in May, getting better in June and getting even better to 20% growth in July.

I can't believe these guys can't use their brain. 75% of their energy drink sales are at gas stations and convenience stores. Oil spiked to $145 during that time frame, so obviously gas stations and consumer reacted. However in recent weeks, oil has been plummeting by over 20% in recent weeks from $145 to $117 this morning. This obviously explains the business sales trends of Monster getting better.

This also means August much be getting even better than July for Hansen as oil has fallen like a rock in August.

Now you have a company with sales trends getting better, 9x EPS ex-cash at 20% growth, a great brand, and 39% the float short with a stock price down over 40% in a matter of weeks. Sounds interesting to me.