Annualgain's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/274154/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/177538-marriott-estimates-higher-q4-revpar?source=feed#comment-799517 799517 seekingalpha.com/artic....

I find them to be long on reporting and short on analysis. The only analysis offered in this article comes in the final two paragraphs, and even that is light. Even the part-time, self-taught amateur contributors to this site tend to offer more than Zacks.

I apologize if I'm unfairly extrapolating two articles to make broad comments about all of Zacks' contributions. I just wonder if Zacks is fully exploiting the opportunity it has on SA, missing the chance to attract paying customers to its full-priced products.]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:34:01 -0500 seekingalpha.com/artic....

I find them to be long on reporting and short on analysis. The only analysis offered in this article comes in the final two paragraphs, and even that is light. Even the part-time, self-taught amateur contributors to this site tend to offer more than Zacks.

I apologize if I'm unfairly extrapolating two articles to make broad comments about all of Zacks' contributions. I just wonder if Zacks is fully exploiting the opportunity it has on SA, missing the chance to attract paying customers to its full-priced products.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/37890?source=feed#comment-796463 796463
While many resist this idea, Mr. Volcker had few doubts. “I’m not alone in this and I think I’m probably going to win in the end.” "
I hope he is right on that front.

But I think even Volcker would agree that there are some financial innovations that have helped, maybe things like the 30-year mortgage (with the proper underwriting standards) or the mutual fund. Or the ETF. ]]> Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:30:35 -0500
While many resist this idea, Mr. Volcker had few doubts. “I’m not alone in this and I think I’m probably going to win in the end.” "
I hope he is right on that front.

But I think even Volcker would agree that there are some financial innovations that have helped, maybe things like the 30-year mortgage (with the proper underwriting standards) or the mutual fund. Or the ETF. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/37703?source=feed#comment-790749 790749 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:57:30 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/37601?source=feed#comment-788459 788459 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:40:27 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/175616-rooftop-solar-generation-ready-for-prime-time?source=feed#comment-783265 783265 How long will the payback have to be in order for you to accept the upfront cost? If I can get paid back in 5 years, I'd put solar on my roof, no question. 10 years is more iffy, 15 a definite no. When you say "several years" what do you mean by several?


On Nov 30 02:08 PM a. palmer jr. wrote:

> I just checked out the prices of solar panels for my house. In answer
> to your title question: Solar panels are NOT ready for prime time
> at my household. It would take several years to make up the price
> of the panels and installation if they would completely eliminate
> my electric bill even if they required no maintenance.]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:14:33 -0500 How long will the payback have to be in order for you to accept the upfront cost? If I can get paid back in 5 years, I'd put solar on my roof, no question. 10 years is more iffy, 15 a definite no. When you say "several years" what do you mean by several?


On Nov 30 02:08 PM a. palmer jr. wrote:

> I just checked out the prices of solar panels for my house. In answer
> to your title question: Solar panels are NOT ready for prime time
> at my household. It would take several years to make up the price
> of the panels and installation if they would completely eliminate
> my electric bill even if they required no maintenance.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/175116-u-s-economic-recovery-and-the-housing-sector-mirage?source=feed#comment-776683 776683
AG]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:28:19 -0500
AG]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/175116-u-s-economic-recovery-and-the-housing-sector-mirage?source=feed#comment-775616 775616
Mr. Nielsen:
The last time I commented on one of your articles, you responded and I think the tone between us became contentious. That is not my intention here, I really just want to learn from you and others. So here's my comment:

How is the recent housing bubble so different from the credit bubble that brought on the great depression? Whether the borrowing was backed by houses or stocks, when the assets declined in value, all the loans were under water. Right?

Now, here's where I think you and I might really differ in our views, i.e. the consumer debt vs. spending balance. Not only is consumer revolving debt down recently, total consumer borrowings are down in aggregate. At the same time consumer spending is increasing, albeit at an anemic rate.

How can consumers pay down debt and increase spending at the same time? Well, despite the fact that the U.S. has more unemployment, personal income is increasing in aggregate. The reason we are going to have very very muted recovery in the U.S. is that consumers are putting some their income increase towards spending and some towards debt reduction.
Consumer Loans: research.stlouisfed.or...
Personal Income: research.stlouisfed.or...
Personal Consumption Expenditures: research.stlouisfed.or...

I don't disagree with the housing stats you provide in your article. I guess I just disagree with the interpretation.

AG]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:49:28 -0500
Mr. Nielsen:
The last time I commented on one of your articles, you responded and I think the tone between us became contentious. That is not my intention here, I really just want to learn from you and others. So here's my comment:

How is the recent housing bubble so different from the credit bubble that brought on the great depression? Whether the borrowing was backed by houses or stocks, when the assets declined in value, all the loans were under water. Right?

Now, here's where I think you and I might really differ in our views, i.e. the consumer debt vs. spending balance. Not only is consumer revolving debt down recently, total consumer borrowings are down in aggregate. At the same time consumer spending is increasing, albeit at an anemic rate.

How can consumers pay down debt and increase spending at the same time? Well, despite the fact that the U.S. has more unemployment, personal income is increasing in aggregate. The reason we are going to have very very muted recovery in the U.S. is that consumers are putting some their income increase towards spending and some towards debt reduction.
Consumer Loans: research.stlouisfed.or...
Personal Income: research.stlouisfed.or...
Personal Consumption Expenditures: research.stlouisfed.or...

I don't disagree with the housing stats you provide in your article. I guess I just disagree with the interpretation.

AG]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/36576?source=feed#comment-768783 768783 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:37:48 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/174247-cloud-peak-ipo-piques-our-interest?source=feed#comment-768712 768712 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:07:09 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/174051-the-decade-s-top-25-stocks?source=feed#comment-766098 766098
Not one is from the hottest group at the start of the decade - internet technology/telecom. (unless you want to count Quality Systems, which certainly was not considered an internet stock at the time.) I would expect to see no names from the hottest groups right now - tech advertising, rechargeable batteries, smart phones. (feel free to add to the list).]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:03:46 -0500
Not one is from the hottest group at the start of the decade - internet technology/telecom. (unless you want to count Quality Systems, which certainly was not considered an internet stock at the time.) I would expect to see no names from the hottest groups right now - tech advertising, rechargeable batteries, smart phones. (feel free to add to the list).]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/36576?source=feed#comment-762474 762474 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:19 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/36257?source=feed#comment-754365 754365 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:47 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/172192-forest-laboratories-steady-growth-in-sales-and-earnings?source=feed#comment-752170 752170 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:49:08 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/171109-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-744337 744337 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:57:15 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/170885-finding-opportunity-in-buffett-s-burlington-northern-buy?source=feed#comment-742799 742799
Since 1910 market share has gone to the highway and away from the railway. Airfreight has also taken share as manufacturers get better at using just-in-time inventory.

However, the more commodity-like a good is, the more it make sense to use rail. That's why coal represents about 25% of rail volumes, and grains/ag are another large chunk. These goods will never leave the railways.

High value, high margin goods are just the opposite. You don't see many MacBooks delivered via rail.

Good luck with your market share play, Mr. Kaminis.]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:43:58 -0500
Since 1910 market share has gone to the highway and away from the railway. Airfreight has also taken share as manufacturers get better at using just-in-time inventory.

However, the more commodity-like a good is, the more it make sense to use rail. That's why coal represents about 25% of rail volumes, and grains/ag are another large chunk. These goods will never leave the railways.

High value, high margin goods are just the opposite. You don't see many MacBooks delivered via rail.

Good luck with your market share play, Mr. Kaminis.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/35636?source=feed#comment-741213 741213 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:19:16 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/34128?source=feed#comment-714891 714891 RA) deal shows BX and the rest of private equity that they may have to temper their expectations for the multiples at which they hope to exit some of their holdings.]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:01:07 -0400 RA) deal shows BX and the rest of private equity that they may have to temper their expectations for the multiples at which they hope to exit some of their holdings.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/166192-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-714130 714130 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:17:03 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/165166-japanese-banks-it-ain-t-so-if-you-say-it-ain-t-so?source=feed#comment-708730 708730
If this isn't a reason to short the yen, I don't know what is.]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:28:54 -0400
If this isn't a reason to short the yen, I don't know what is.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/33774?source=feed#comment-706772 706772 2) The report, in addition to reporting sales for the year and quarter ended August also indicates that September sales have accelerated to +3% in the U.S. (excluding gasoline) from -1% in the August quarter. So even if this is a store benefiting from customers seeking value, it is still doing better than it did in the prior period. That too is good news.]]> Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:50:39 -0400 2) The report, in addition to reporting sales for the year and quarter ended August also indicates that September sales have accelerated to +3% in the U.S. (excluding gasoline) from -1% in the August quarter. So even if this is a store benefiting from customers seeking value, it is still doing better than it did in the prior period. That too is good news.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/164669-an-obituary-for-the-paper-industry?source=feed#comment-703676 703676 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:56:11 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/33588?source=feed#comment-702933 702933
He's not a nut. His company may have outgrown his skillset, but he's not a nut.]]> Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:20:37 -0400
He's not a nut. His company may have outgrown his skillset, but he's not a nut.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/33488?source=feed#comment-698847 698847 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:16:43 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/155138-bruce-berkowitz-adds-to-hertz-trims-american-express-holding?source=feed#comment-698473 698473 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:45:01 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163813-enernoc-comverge-may-be-today-s-best-alternative-energy-pure-plays?source=feed#comment-695104 695104 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:09:23 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/33160?source=feed#comment-691268 691268 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:31:45 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/162508-china-natural-gas-deeply-undervalued?source=feed#comment-685101 685101
I like this pick.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:08:21 -0400
I like this pick.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/32745?source=feed#comment-682561 682561 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:51:20 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161654-google-fast-flip-a-little-perspective-please?source=feed#comment-678099 678099
:)]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:30:25 -0400
:)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/33488-koby-menachemi-cto-seeking-alpha/24127-sa-site-status-update-8-23-09?source=feed#comment-666420 666420 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:09:06 -0400