dook's Comments dook's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/3226731/comments More on the Goldman downgrade of Apple (AAPL): Believing an imminent dividend hike/share repurchase could set a floor under the stock price, Goldman is less optimistic about the "timing and impact" of the next product cycle - needed if the stock is going to be an outperformer over the coming year. "The stock's upside potential should be more limited than we previously anticipated." Shares +0.25% premarket. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/919781?source=feed#comment-17106661 17106661 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:42 -0400 Caterpillar's (CAT -1.5%) retail sales of machines -13% Y/Y in three months to February vs -12% in three months to January, with AsiaPacific -26% in Dec-Feb, North America -12%, EMEA -9%, Latin America +3%. Power Systems sales -7% in February period, as in January period; electric power -8%, industrial -25%, transport +15%, petroleum -8%. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/899301?source=feed#comment-16542111 16542111 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:03:51 -0400 More on Molycorp's (MCP) Q4 results: Revenues rose 1.1% Y/Y to $134M vs. $161M analyst consensus. Sees H1 financial performance slightly weaker than H2 2012, but expects global supply and demand for rare earth oxides will approach a healthier balance during 2013, and pricing within many key applications of rare earths will be beneficial to both customers and suppliers. MCP +1.8% AH. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/889621?source=feed#comment-16304821 16304821 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:40:35 -0400 Mobile app stores will generate $25B in revenue this year and 35% of this total ($8.8B) will involve tablet apps, predicts ABI. iOS (AAPL), whose monetization edge over Android (GOOG) is well-documented, is expected to account for 65% of sales - assuming  a 30% cut, that translates into $4.88B in revenue for Apple. Android is seen accounting for 27% of revenue ($2B for Google), and all other platforms 8%. ABI predicts iOS will make up 33% of smartphone downloads and 75% of tablet downloads, and Android 58% and 17%. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/890301?source=feed#comment-16301971 16301971 Everyone is throwing darts at AAPL, but they will over time have to admit that it is one of the greatest companies of our era.]]> Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:07:46 -0400 Everyone is throwing darts at AAPL, but they will over time have to admit that it is one of the greatest companies of our era.]]> Bio-Reference Labs (BRLI -0.6%) slips on a negative article from short-seller The Street Sweeper. The gist of the article says that the company is likely to be faced with a flood of denials from some of the largest health insurance companies in the country, and that growth projections are overly optimistic. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/855951?source=feed#comment-15596861 15596861 Taking the advice of short sellers is usually counterproductive.]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:28:27 -0500 Taking the advice of short sellers is usually counterproductive.]]> This morning's spike in shares of Westport Innovations (WPRT +7.6%) on takeover speculation gains momentum into the close. Chatter centers around potential interest from Cummins (CMI +0.3%), already involved in a JV that accounts for much of WPRT's medium-term profits. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/832521?source=feed#comment-15060371 15060371 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:10:21 -0500 The Street showed no mercy to Nuance (NUAN -18.5%) in response to its EPS miss and forecast for multiple quarters of weakness in healthcare and EMEA sales. Goldman thinks Nuance's goal of $1B in FY13 healthcare sales is now at risk, and Needham (downgrading to Hold) is concerned about guidance for a 200-250 bps FY13 gross margin drop, worse than a prior forecast. Management suggested on the earnings call it's counting on clinical documentation software sales and PC/mobile OEM deals to drive future growth. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/816701?source=feed#comment-14778491 14778491 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:39:30 -0500 Can Xerox Be Liked Again By Investors? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1071271/comments?source=feed#comment-12739451 12739451 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:37:51 -0500 Consider Selling Apple Stock http://seekingalpha.com/article/1069481/comments?source=feed#comment-12709161 12709161 One could choke on all the feces being put out by AAPL bears. There are a lot of so-called investors with an interest in the stock's decline, and a lot of profit takers that are trying to beat higher capital gain rates. The truth is simple: AAPL is a powerful, creative and very successful company whose stock is cheap. The idea that the company has lost it's creativity is ludicrous. May the short sellers be squeezed until their pips squeak.]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:29:55 -0500 One could choke on all the feces being put out by AAPL bears. There are a lot of so-called investors with an interest in the stock's decline, and a lot of profit takers that are trying to beat higher capital gain rates. The truth is simple: AAPL is a powerful, creative and very successful company whose stock is cheap. The idea that the company has lost it's creativity is ludicrous. May the short sellers be squeezed until their pips squeak.]]> Diamond Foods (DMND): FQ1 EPS of $0.24 beats by $0.01. Revenue of $258.5M (-10.5% Y/Y) misses by $16M. Shares +2.1% AH. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/724171?source=feed#comment-12703681 12703681 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:54:36 -0500 Topeka's Brian White says the Apple-dependent Taiwanese suppliers in his "Apple Monitor" collectively saw a 15% M/M sales increase in November. That's well above the 4% averaged over the last 7 years, something White attributes to the strength of Apple's (AAPL -0.6%) fall product refresh. The Apple uber-bull reiterates a Buy and $1,111 PT. (previous) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/711631?source=feed#comment-12460501 12460501 Even the Jefferies downgrade was with a target price of 800 dollars!]]> Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:46:37 -0500 Even the Jefferies downgrade was with a target price of 800 dollars!]]> Molycorp (MCP +15.7%) soars, taking the rest of the rare earth sector with it (AVL +6.2%, REE +11%, REMX +1.7%). Traders describe the move as the continuation of a short squeeze in Molycorp - whose shares dropped below 6 in mid-November after being in the mid-30s 7 months earlier. Adding fuel is a report Interactive Brokers has said there is insufficient stock available for short sales. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/710491?source=feed#comment-12450111 12450111 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:08:12 -0500 Freeport's (FCX) mega-deal for McMoRan (MMR) and Plains (PXP) looks "incestuous" to Jim Mueller: Just for starters, PXP owns 31.5% of MMR and CEO James Flores sits on its board; MMR CEO Jim Bob Moffett is chairman of FCX; B.M. Rankin, a co-founder of FCX with Moffett, sits on MMR’s board. With such a web of relationships, how much independent due diligence was done in reaching the deal? http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/702931?source=feed#comment-12295691 12295691 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:36:44 -0500 In its conference call on the purchase of McMoRan (MMR +82.2%) and Plains Exploration (PXP +26.1%), Freeport McMoRan's (FCX -13.5%) Richard Adkerson says the deal is an add-on to its mining business and not a diversion from current strategy, and FCX will continue to look for new mining opportunities. With margins and cash flows strong, FCX anticipates continuing its current dividend. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/701771?source=feed#comment-12281481 12281481 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:59:06 -0500 Diamond Foods (DMND) -18.7% AH after restating results for FY10 and FY11, and reporting results for the first 3 quarters of FY12 (ended in July). Sales for the first 3 quarters totaled $757.4M (+3.5% Y/Y) and EPS amounted to $0.53, down from a restated $1.54 for the year-ago period. Gross margin fell 480 bps Y/Y to 18.1% thanks to (surprise, surprise) a drop in walnut crop deliveries and higher walnut costs. Diamond expects to report FY12 sales of $950M-$975M vs. FY11's $966.7M. Also, two board members are stepping down, and walnut grower Bill Tos is joining. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/666311?source=feed#comment-11613701 11613701 The management seems to have been reformed. Question: how can the brands be converted to net income that supports the stock price.
In light of all that has happened to DMND, it is difficult for the average investor to estimate where the variables will end up. At this moment, it may be best to stay away.]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:58:48 -0500 The management seems to have been reformed. Question: how can the brands be converted to net income that supports the stock price.
In light of all that has happened to DMND, it is difficult for the average investor to estimate where the variables will end up. At this moment, it may be best to stay away.]]> Cummins (CMI): Q3 EPS of $1.86 misses by $0.04. Revenue of $4.1B (-11% Y/Y) misses by $50M. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/624921?source=feed#comment-11097571 11097571 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:16:31 -0400 Westport Innovations (WPRT) -11.3% premarket after cutting its full-year revenue forecast in a corporate update released Monday. The developer of engine and fuel systems technologies lowered guidance to $340M-$350M from prior $400M-$425M and $412M analyst consensus, citing feedback from OEM and fleet customers in North America and automotive OEM customers in Europe. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/625101?source=feed#comment-11074491 11074491 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:46:05 -0400 6 Business Friendly Features In iOS 6 And What They Say About The New 'Surface' Threat http://seekingalpha.com/article/958851/comments?source=feed#comment-11022861 11022861 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:22:57 -0400 More on Apple: Cash balance stood at $121.3B at end of FQ4. 4.9M Macs shipped (+1% Y/Y). iPhone (main profit engine) units +58% Y/Y and revenue +56% (up from +28% and +22% in FQ3). iPad units +26% and revenue +9%, a major slowdown partly caused by inventory changes. Mac desktop units -24%, notebooks +9%. iPod units -19% and revenue -26%. Implied iPhone ASP of $636 ($625 in FQ3), iPad ASP of $536 ($538 in FQ3). Apple has resumed trading and is down 0.9% AH - some bad news was clearly priced in. CC at 5PM ET (webcast). http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/614131?source=feed#comment-10908851 10908851 The bears have their own motives and their own tactics: the rest of us will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the AAPL juggernaut.]]> Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:29:39 -0400 The bears have their own motives and their own tactics: the rest of us will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the AAPL juggernaut.]]> Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu does his best to defend Apple (AAPL -0.2%) in the face of its recent selloff. Supply chain checks indicate iPhone 5 demand remains strong and production appears to be improving, though Wu thinks lead times remain fixed at 3-4 weeks. He believes a consensus for 17M-18M FQ4 (Sep. quarter) iPad sales could prove high, but argues there could be upside to FQ1 estimates thanks to the iPad Mini. (Nomura) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/577101?source=feed#comment-10340791 10340791 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:10:48 -0400 It takes quite a crystal ball to see three years into the future, even for Caterpillar (CAT), so investors may want to look closely at CAT’s near-term concerns. On that score, CAT told analysts this week that dealer inventory reductions are ahead of expectations and could result in lower FY12 revenue guidance by ~$2B. One positive note: CAT said it won't reduce the dividend, even in a downturn. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/556411?source=feed#comment-9862541 9862541 If you have courage for this kind of market and you are an investor, you could do a lot worse that CAT. Good luck.]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:15:32 -0400 If you have courage for this kind of market and you are an investor, you could do a lot worse that CAT. Good luck.]]> Apple (AAPL) roundup: 1) HTC, which has a relatively weak patent hand, says it has no plans to settle with Apple following the Samsung verdict. The fact Apple doesn't seem interested in seriously negotiating with Android OEMs could be a reason why. 2) Delta Air Lines (DAL) plans to deploy 4,500 iPads at its 3 airport hubs to provide information and food/beverage services to travelers. 3) Apple is reportedly planning an AirPlay upgrade that will allow music to be streamed to speakers via Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/514191?source=feed#comment-8918721 8918721 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:33:16 -0400 Apple (AAPL) roundup: 1) HTC, which has a relatively weak patent hand, says it has no plans to settle with Apple following the Samsung verdict. The fact Apple doesn't seem interested in seriously negotiating with Android OEMs could be a reason why. 2) Delta Air Lines (DAL) plans to deploy 4,500 iPads at its 3 airport hubs to provide information and food/beverage services to travelers. 3) Apple is reportedly planning an AirPlay upgrade that will allow music to be streamed to speakers via Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/514191?source=feed#comment-8918581 8918581 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:29:34 -0400 "Come on. This is farce," says tech legal site Groklaw, incredulous Apple-Samsung jurors took only 21 hours to deliberate over a 700-question form one lawyer says would take him 3 days to understand. Groklaw is also unimpressed with contradictory statements from jurors, several verdict inconsistencies, and the fact jurors reached a decision without reading a 109-page instruction form (.pdf). Some lawyers are predicting this case will reach the Supreme Court, due to the issues it raises about UI and design patents. (more) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/507251?source=feed#comment-8778821 8778821 Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:10:08 -0400 "The hype concerns us, as it sounds vaguely familiar to another decade," says Oracle Research's Laurence Balter, explaining his downgrade of Apple (AAPL -1.4%). Balter is also worried about slowing sales growth, high expectations, and margin risks related to Apple's rumored entry into the TV and set-top box markets. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/499801?source=feed#comment-8631651 8631651 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:16:12 -0400 As Samsung (SSNLF.PK) continues making counter-arguments in its closely-watched California trial with Apple (AAPL), Judge Lucy Koh is calling on the combatants to try once more to reach a settlement."I see risk here for both sides if we go to a verdict," says Koh: her rulings have shown a pro-Apple tilt thus far, but the case will ultimately be decided by a jury. A prior meeting between Apple and Samsung's CEOs apparently failed to accomplish anything. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/489271?source=feed#comment-8439141 8439141 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:16:39 -0400 We've seen plenty of leaked pictures of components going into the next iPhone (AAPL). But as Jay Yarow points out, we haven't seen any yet of the widely-rumored iPad Mini. That's leading Yarow and others to think the Mini hasn't entered production and won't launch next month, as many rumors indicate the next iPhone will. Schematics indicate Apple is looking to make the Mini thinner than the regular iPad. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/486751?source=feed#comment-8419961 8419961 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:47:36 -0400