k45

Why Exxon Should Significantly Increase its Dividend

The higher dividends for many of the European oil companies is misleading because U.S. investors have European taxes deducted before we get our money :(

I do agree that Exxon should pay a better dividend.

I don't see Exxon going out of business in my lifetime. A good portion of their profits come from downstream operations. They also have smart management.

Exxon is not a company that stampedes with the herd during short term problems. They are in it for the long haul. Just like they didn't overspend during last year's peak in crude prices. Some companies rushed out and bought at the peak. Exxon sat quietly by and watched the $150/bbl prices evaporate.

I think watching Exxon's actions gives us a more accurate picture of the future energy situation than anything our government or media pushes.

7 Dividend Stocks Increasing Cash Payouts

"1) Is the investment increasing its dividend each year, "

In early 2006, ConAgra's quarterly dividend was .273. It new .20 quarterly dividend is definitely is not "increasing it's dividend each year"

Six ADRs with Largest Market Cap and Best Yields

A lot of foreign stocks tax dividends for U.S. investors so the apparent dividend yield is NOT what you get.

A Review of Two Dutch ADRs: Reed Elsevier and CNH Global

How can CNH be "wholly owned by Fiat Spa" and be publicly traded?

Gabelli Equity Trust Preferred B: When Bad Is Good

AAA rated by whom? The same fools that rated other toxic assets as AAA? The ratings services have shown themselves to be worthless.

April's Little-Known Bullish Trend

Very good study, thanks for the research.

8 Changes GM Needs to Make

Probably the only management worse than Detroit's is Washington.

Government subsidizing/taxing distorts reality (the ethanol scam anyone?) and ends in long term disaster.

Insisting (via outrageous tax manipulation) that people buy what they don't want is a disaster.

McDonald’s: Dividend Stock Analysis

"From the end of 1998 up until December 2008 this dividend growth stock has delivered a ***negative*** annual average total return of 6.70% to its shareholders."

I think you need to recheck your numbers. Even without dividends, Yahoo Finance, Goggle Finance and Valueline all show POSITIVE returns for the last ten years.

The World's 50 Safest Banks in 2009

Agreed on everything said about the corrupt rating agencies. GE is still rated AAA with a "possibility" of a downgrade in TWO years. By then the problem will either be past (unlikely) or GE will have gone down the tubes.

Honest ratings is something NOT provided by the rating agencies.

US Bancorp Cuts Dividend by 88%

My ex wife knew the top management in USB. She had high regard for Grundhoffer (the now retired CEO) but a very low opinion of Richard Davis who is now at the helm. I've been leary since Davis took over, wondering how he would run things down.

"It is important for our shareholders to know that we are not reducing the dividend and preserving capital from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength and a desire to continue to invest in and expand our business." Yeah right. Typical Richard Davis smoke to cover up the problems he has brought. The cards are falling down.

Your Oil Stocks Aren't Coming Back

<<<The major difference between the aforementioned tech giants during the peak of the dot com bubble and the oil and gas stocks now, is that the tech giants were coming down from price-to-earnings multiples of 30, 40, even 50!>>>

Please go back and check your information. Cisco was selling at a P/E of 300 right before the tech stock bubble burst. A 100 PE had been "normal" during Cisco's big growth years, but that was almost reasonable since the PEG was 1 (yes, Cisco was doubling earnings each year for many years). At that point, Cisco had the largest market cap in the world, bigger than either GE or Exxon. The storm flags were flying!

Junk Bonds Today: Realistic Levels?

<<< However, the real unknown is how high the default rate will get.>>>

True. However, many of those bonds at the most risk are already trading at steep discounts (30-50% off of face value). Even if they default, they probably won't be worthless. I've heard that GM(?) is offering 30 cents on the dollar.

Personally I've picked up several individual junk bonds as well as the ETF. Time will only tell if they were a wise choice.

8 Possible Targets for Exxon's Cash

Since when does wise money management make a hog? Oh yeah, since our government wouldn't recognize wise management if it hit them between the eyes.

Exxon already pays more U.S. taxes than than it returns to shareholders.


On Feb 18 01:56 PM bosun.j wrote:

> Sitting on $38B? $14B Q3? Yep, time to send them a tax bill for $30B!
> Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered!

Exxon Mobil: Rationale for Being Short

As crude oil prices drop, Exxon's profit margins in it's chemical operations and retail sales improve. True, those do not fully offset the reduction in profits from crude, but it certainly provides a cushion.

Long term, Exxon has been a good investment through up and down markets. It's a very well managed company with the financial strength to continue building shareholder value. Exxon didn't run out and make expensive acquisitions when the oil bubble peaked. I look for them to make acquisitions at the bottom. Management is probably wiser than most of us.

Procter and (Less) Gamble

Buffett didn't *buy* P&G stock. He bought Gillette, which was bought out by P&G with P&G shares. He has held onto the shares AFAIK.