What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
@481086. Yes, the logical choice would be a minivan. But SUV's are allegedly "more stylish", so they are purchased in droves. I would guess an extremely small proportion of them ever touch a dirt road or tow anything at all -- it's been a while since I've seen data, but I'm highly confident in that statement.
Looking to protect the duopoly/near-duopoly positions they have in many U.S. broadband markets, U.S. telcos and cable companies are lobbying hard to put an end to publicly-funded broadband networks, arguing (without irony) such networks hurt competition. AT&T (T), Time Warner Cable (TWC), Windstream (WIN), and Comcast (CMCSA) are some of the incumbents to have mounted lobbying efforts, which have led at least 19 states to place restrictions on public broadband investments. [View news story]
Normally, one would argue that the private markets will provide any product or service with lower cost and better experience than the government can.
Unfortunately, that has not generally been the experience with US broadband -- whether landline or wireless. So I wouldn't mind seeing "da gubmint" shake up the oligopolies / local monopolies, by competing with them. There is an argument to be made that these should now be viewed as utilities -- I don't know exactly how far I'd want to go with that, but it's a useful framework to commence some kicking of ass.
What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
Has there been any "data" to show that DOE forced the loan to shorten in maturity? I'm not "challenging", just asking. Because I happened to be in the room (ARPA-E Conference, last week) when Musk made it sound (could all be brave face, of course) like that was the first public announcement of the shortening and Tesla was "volunteering" to shorten the maturity.
But more basically, I'm not sure why either one would be strongly motivated to shorten the maturity, in and of itself. It ramps up the financial risk to Tesla and (because of the first) the political risk to DOE. In absence of other data, I'm inclined to view the dynamics this way -- Tesla needed the covenant waiver, DOE said "ok but what in exchange?", Tesla didn't want to dilute equity (it WILL need substantial capital raises) so it agreed to shorten maturity, because it thinks it can get those raises and fund the shortened loan.
Just my uneducated guess, as a fascinated bystander.
What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
Hi Steve,
(preface -- I have no dog in this fight, just a fascinated bystander)
I recently saw an article (I *think* on gigaom.com) wherein Musk directly stated that their purchasing relationship with Panasonic, does involve price breaks as they increase purchases, and that they are on the verge of hitting a "big" (unspecified, of course) tier.
Is Blackstone (BX) treading where AIG used to? The company quietly closed a deal with Citigroup (C) last year to insure the bank against losses on $1.2B of shipping loans. The move allows Citi to keep the loans on its balance sheet while eliminating nearly all it must set aside as provisions. "It was dead, but it seems to be coming back," says a credit researcher. [View news story]
During the next crisis, Blackstone will be considered "essential for a functioning system of financial markets" (aka TBTF)
More on J.C. Penney's (JCP) Q4: No sign of relief for investors just yet as the firm reports comparable store sales fell 31.7%, below the consensus call of -26.9%. Customer are fleeing, but no give up from CEO Ron Johnson: "...we are energized by our shop roll out plans." Gross margin was crushed, falling to 23.8% of sales vs. 30.2% last year. Internet sales slumped again, losing 34.4% Y/Y just marginally better than last quarter's 37% nosedive. Cash position $930M at end of Q4. No guidance is issued, but the retailer says it will open 20 shops geared toward home products in 505 stores with brand partners. JCP -4.4% AH. (PR) [View news story]
"the firm reports comparable store sales fell 31.7%"
Groupon's (GRPN) Q4 earnings are due out after the bell, with analysts estimating that the company swung to an EPS of $0.03 from a loss per share of $0.06 as revenues climbed 26% to $638.41M. Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, who last week upgraded Groupon to "Overweight" from "Neutral," expects Groupon's results and guidance to reflect continued strength in North America and a recovery internationally following two quarters of declines. [View news story]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
Hi Randy. No, I don't think TSLA is in danger of imminent bankruptcy. At $37/share, they've got a lot of headroom to raise additional capital. However, they may have to raise a LOT more capital -- that's a lot more shares to spread amongst very thin results. That's why, regardless of what I may think of their product, I'm not a buyer of the equity.
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
Because this question has rhetorically popped up a number of times, I'll address it as a certified "car guy" and experienced club racer. No, you can't drive a sports car anywhere close to its potential on public roads (nor should you). So why do people buy such cars? A mix of reasons, depending on the person. Silly ego for some, sure. But I'll say this -- even if you don't utilize the 0-60 performance anywhere, the general acceleration capabilities can be enjoyed in many places, just feeling that power (even if leashed) is fun.
It is something that is obviously "valued" in the marketplace.
And to address the inevitable reply to this post -- if this is all Tesla was *ever* intending to produce, I don't think that would be "cricket". But anyone who knows anything about high tech startups knows that a company should FIRST start in high-margin niches and expand from there. That's why -- all else being equal -- I don't have a sense of "outrage" over tax policy supporting "toys for the eco royalty". While it may cause less "outrage" for them to start with econo-boxes, going head to head with Civics or Accords, that would be stupid strategy.
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
John,
You use this particular argument frequently (availability of relevant materials). I am not saying you are "right" or "wrong", merely asking someone with a good engineering mind to compare the following -- taking availability as "static" (which I don't know whether that is correct or not), there are 140,000x more tons of hydrocarbons available than cobalt; so does it take 140k more units of hydrocarbons to power an ICE vis-a-vis an EV?
In the wake of numerous scandals involving Chinese companies listed on Western stock exchanges, Chinese authorities are cracking down on ... those who raise the questions. Huang Kun - part of the team which put together a negative report on Silvercorp (SVM) - was arrested in Beijing at year's end and expects to soon face criminal charges. Documents suggest Silvercorp worked with officials on the investigation of Mr. Huang and even helped pay for it. [View news story]
I never buy Chinese stocks and never will. There are other ways to trade the "China story".
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
LOL, John is definitely one of the frontrunners on that metric.
I should write an article entitled "Tesla, Apple, Google, Sirius and Blackberry are all doomed. Gold and Oil will triple in price this year. Goldman really is doing God's work. And Obama is the greatest POTUS ever".
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
Hi bangwhiz,
I would agree that DoE supporting a company that would END UP (in its final form) as a Lamborghini or Bently (exclusively using a VERY low volume, VERY high price business model) would be neither cricket for taxpayer money nor all that great a vision for private investors.
However, I think it can be readily argued that Tesla is *currently* in a strategy more like BMW or Porsche (the higher end of that anyway). And over the last decade or so, that was a GREAT place to be, I'd argue the best place. They have a deliberate vision of drifting a bit more downmarket, let's call it a more complete version of a BWM/Audi strategy.
I think that's the right place for them to be for at least the next 5 years -- execute and stabilize that business model.
Even if they don't compete against Camry/Accord in the foreseeable future, they will still have a distinctly positive impact on EV vehicles. Once they stabilize this and battery technology improves (which it NEEDS to do), they can start reaching lower downmarket -- and I would expect them to have plenty of competition by then.
What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
Looking to protect the duopoly/near-duopoly positions they have in many U.S. broadband markets, U.S. telcos and cable companies are lobbying hard to put an end to publicly-funded broadband networks, arguing (without irony) such networks hurt competition. AT&T (T), Time Warner Cable (TWC), Windstream (WIN), and Comcast (CMCSA) are some of the incumbents to have mounted lobbying efforts, which have led at least 19 states to place restrictions on public broadband investments. [View news story]
Unfortunately, that has not generally been the experience with US broadband -- whether landline or wireless. So I wouldn't mind seeing "da gubmint" shake up the oligopolies / local monopolies, by competing with them. There is an argument to be made that these should now be viewed as utilities -- I don't know exactly how far I'd want to go with that, but it's a useful framework to commence some kicking of ass.
What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
But more basically, I'm not sure why either one would be strongly motivated to shorten the maturity, in and of itself. It ramps up the financial risk to Tesla and (because of the first) the political risk to DOE. In absence of other data, I'm inclined to view the dynamics this way -- Tesla needed the covenant waiver, DOE said "ok but what in exchange?", Tesla didn't want to dilute equity (it WILL need substantial capital raises) so it agreed to shorten maturity, because it thinks it can get those raises and fund the shortened loan.
Just my uneducated guess, as a fascinated bystander.
What Does Tesla's Late Form 10-K Filing Mean For Investors [View article]
(preface -- I have no dog in this fight, just a fascinated bystander)
I recently saw an article (I *think* on gigaom.com) wherein Musk directly stated that their purchasing relationship with Panasonic, does involve price breaks as they increase purchases, and that they are on the verge of hitting a "big" (unspecified, of course) tier.
Cheers.
Is Blackstone (BX) treading where AIG used to? The company quietly closed a deal with Citigroup (C) last year to insure the bank against losses on $1.2B of shipping loans. The move allows Citi to keep the loans on its balance sheet while eliminating nearly all it must set aside as provisions. "It was dead, but it seems to be coming back," says a credit researcher. [View news story]
More on J.C. Penney's (JCP) Q4: No sign of relief for investors just yet as the firm reports comparable store sales fell 31.7%, below the consensus call of -26.9%. Customer are fleeing, but no give up from CEO Ron Johnson: "...we are energized by our shop roll out plans." Gross margin was crushed, falling to 23.8% of sales vs. 30.2% last year. Internet sales slumped again, losing 34.4% Y/Y just marginally better than last quarter's 37% nosedive. Cash position $930M at end of Q4. No guidance is issued, but the retailer says it will open 20 shops geared toward home products in 505 stores with brand partners. JCP -4.4% AH. (PR) [View news story]
just letting that one linger. holy moly
Groupon's (GRPN) Q4 earnings are due out after the bell, with analysts estimating that the company swung to an EPS of $0.03 from a loss per share of $0.06 as revenues climbed 26% to $638.41M. Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, who last week upgraded Groupon to "Overweight" from "Neutral," expects Groupon's results and guidance to reflect continued strength in North America and a recovery internationally following two quarters of declines. [View news story]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
It is something that is obviously "valued" in the marketplace.
And to address the inevitable reply to this post -- if this is all Tesla was *ever* intending to produce, I don't think that would be "cricket". But anyone who knows anything about high tech startups knows that a company should FIRST start in high-margin niches and expand from there. That's why -- all else being equal -- I don't have a sense of "outrage" over tax policy supporting "toys for the eco royalty". While it may cause less "outrage" for them to start with econo-boxes, going head to head with Civics or Accords, that would be stupid strategy.
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
You use this particular argument frequently (availability of relevant materials). I am not saying you are "right" or "wrong", merely asking someone with a good engineering mind to compare the following -- taking availability as "static" (which I don't know whether that is correct or not), there are 140,000x more tons of hydrocarbons available than cobalt; so does it take 140k more units of hydrocarbons to power an ICE vis-a-vis an EV?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed light.
In the wake of numerous scandals involving Chinese companies listed on Western stock exchanges, Chinese authorities are cracking down on ... those who raise the questions. Huang Kun - part of the team which put together a negative report on Silvercorp (SVM) - was arrested in Beijing at year's end and expects to soon face criminal charges. Documents suggest Silvercorp worked with officials on the investigation of Mr. Huang and even helped pay for it. [View news story]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
I should write an article entitled "Tesla, Apple, Google, Sirius and Blackberry are all doomed. Gold and Oil will triple in price this year. Goldman really is doing God's work. And Obama is the greatest POTUS ever".
Watch me get 1000 posts, ha.
Rising Jet Fuel Costs Leave Airlines Looking For Answers [View article]
Tesla's Obscenely Expensive Cure For Range Anxiety [View article]
I would agree that DoE supporting a company that would END UP (in its final form) as a Lamborghini or Bently (exclusively using a VERY low volume, VERY high price business model) would be neither cricket for taxpayer money nor all that great a vision for private investors.
However, I think it can be readily argued that Tesla is *currently* in a strategy more like BMW or Porsche (the higher end of that anyway). And over the last decade or so, that was a GREAT place to be, I'd argue the best place. They have a deliberate vision of drifting a bit more downmarket, let's call it a more complete version of a BWM/Audi strategy.
I think that's the right place for them to be for at least the next 5 years -- execute and stabilize that business model.
Even if they don't compete against Camry/Accord in the foreseeable future, they will still have a distinctly positive impact on EV vehicles. Once they stabilize this and battery technology improves (which it NEEDS to do), they can start reaching lower downmarket -- and I would expect them to have plenty of competition by then.