Yelp is almost a decade old and has yet to become a profitable business.Their site is fun but their business model is fatally flawed. In brief, as a small business owner I have been solicited on numerous occasions by Yelp marketing. Perhaps you could answer what they cannot. Why would a prudent businessperson spend ad dollars on a service they already obtain free of charge? Keep in mind that consumer buying decisions are made based on the reviews not on paid advertisements. If I have good reviews they will call me. If I have bad reviews they will call someone else. Either result is totally independent of how much one gives Yelp for ads. See the problem? This is not a unique insight I have stated. Ask your local business if they advertise on Yelp. 80% will say no for the reason I have stated. Another 10% will say no because they are almost universally despised in the small business community. Proof? Google "Yelp is a scam" and read what their customers have to say. Investing in Yelp is like buying a ticket on the Titantic. It may look pretty and shiny but it's going to the bottom.
Trading Athersys: Risks And Rewards [View article]
I am unconvinced by the author's assertions. Apparently many other investors share my skepticism. Accordingly, if the author offers valid opinion, it would appear reasonable for him to respond with supporting evidence regarding his position. Specifically, (1) Proof of any fraudulent action(s) by the principals of Athersys and or (2) Hard data supporting the claim of a 95% certainty of trial failure.
I would respectfully suggest the author either rebut these questions via reply or concede through his silence that this article was nothing more than a crude attempt at market manipulation.
WCoastGuyCA brings up a good point. I believe stem cell companies are an opportunity with unlimited upside potential, however one must be careful as to whom you are dealing with. ATHX has close ties to Cleveland Clinic and has been looked at closely by Pfitzer before they got into bed with them. That tells me the science and the principals are sound. My big bet is on ATHX to run away from the field.
Yelp - On Track To Potentially Become The MySpace Of Online Review [View article]
"Yelp's "customers" are not the individuals who read and write reviews, but rather are the businesses that are being reviewed." That one statement is like the child who shouted out that "The Emperor has NO Clothes". So many Yelp "investors" seem dazzled by what a "cool" site it is that they seem to forget the most basic fundamentals about how business must be profitable to survive. It is spot on to point out that one should not just look at the potential market but to question why Yelp after pouring millions of dollars and resorting to extortion has yet to achieve any meaningful penetration of this huge market? Excellent article that should (but probably won't) wake a lot of pundits up.
Clean Energy Fuels For The Transition To Natural Gas Vehicles In The U.S. [View article]
In reply to the author's comment regarding the "foothold" EVs have in the trucking industry I note that the article cited mentions a max weight of 10,000 pound delivery vehicles. The weight of an 18 wheeler and load combination can weigh up to 80,000 pounds legally. In some states, with special configurations and permits, 18 wheel combinations can weigh up to 165,000 pounds. In some states, with an unlimited number of axles, the weight can be virtually unlimited, depending on length limits. The obstacles to producing an economically feasible EV for heavy trucking are perhaps not impossible in the far distant future. However, for those investors seeking a ROI within their own lifetimes, it may be impractical to bank on EV versus natural gas.
Clean Energy Fuels For The Transition To Natural Gas Vehicles In The U.S. [View article]
I suspect T. Boone and his friends at CLNE could care less about the future of widespread EV adoption. Their business model centers on the trucking industry. It will be far, far in the future before an 18 wheeler can be powered by batteries. Simply not enough torque. Meanwhile, regardless of government incentives, oil prices will go up and the U.S. is awash in natural gas. Consequently, I find the argument that EV is the wiser investment as a red herring. The trucking industry alone will make CLNE a $200 stock. The rush to Natural Gas by the trucking industry has begun and investors who stand on the sidelines will be kicking themselves in the near future. I am long on CLNE
I will assume you don't dispute the flaws in their business model since you chose not to rebut those points. Regarding your assertion that their seemingly improved fortunes are not the result of smoke and mirrors, I would suggest you comment on a previous article in Seeking Alpha elaborating a different viewpoint entitled " As Web Traffic Declines Yelp Spends $2 to earn $.90 cents." http://seekingalpha.co...
Facebook Puts Yelp On The Road To Irrelevancy [View article]
OK...this needs to be said. YELP MAKES NO MONEY OFF OF USERS. YELP ONLY MAKES MONEY WHEN SOME NAIVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER ADVERTISES. In other words, no matter how cool Yelp is, how big the market is, how many followers it has, yadda, yadda, yadda, Yelp does not and will not make money because it is the most hated, reviled and despised scam that has ever cursed the small business community. I am a business owner with a 5 star rating on Yelp. Why would I pay for something I get for free? I have many, many friends in the business community that have been threatened and extorted by Yelp. Do you think they'll advertise with them? Wake up people. I'm giving you the view from the real world where Yelp has floundered for 8 years of negative earnings. Take off the rose colored glasses and look at their P&L statement.. It's called due diligence. Yes, Stoppelman is no dummy. That's why he and other insiders are quietly dumping their shares. If you're smart, you'll be getting out too.
Facebook Puts Yelp On The Road To Irrelevancy [View article]
I suspect the concern about FB is a lot of hype and horsesh*t. By the time FB decides what direction to go in, they'll probably already be irrelevant. A bunch of kids playing at being executives, IMHO.. However, your first bullet point about Yelp's profitability (or lack thereof) is all that really matters. After 8 years with virtually no competition, it has remained a consistent loser. Mobile has proved to also be a flop for Yelp. Bottom line is that only the founders who are dumping their shares and shorts will make any money off this POS.
Clean Energy Still Bleeding Too Much Gas [View article]
I suspect their alliance with Pilot stations will give them the moat to fend off future competition. I would also respectfully disagree that the stock in not "investable" at this point. Here it becomes a matter of different investment philosophies. In what I consider a balanced portfolio, there is a portion devoted to speculation. CLNE occupies the majority of my speculative funds. I see it as a darn good bet. The upside on this one could be spectacular. I understand the author's point but the investability of CLNE would be better described as dependent on the investors tolerance for risk.
Yelp - Bubbles Swell Before They Burst [View article]
I disagree that Yelp is run by "retarded kids". Con artists are better described as shrewd and cunning. Yelp's founders will do very, very well. Now as how to describe the "investors" in Yelp.....well that's another matter. -:)
A Step In The Right Direction - Clean(er) Energy In America [View article]
Big oil and the Saudi lobby owns Romney. Although I personally think we have a choice between 2 flawed candidates, Obama is the better choice for our energy future, i.e. natural gas. If Romney wins I short Clne. If Obama wins I'm long Clne. From an investment prospective, that is the "clear choice" between the candidates.
Rail is no longer seen as just a stopgap for transporting oil until pipelines are built. Case in point: Kinder Morgan Partners' (KMP) proposed 277K bbl/day Freedom pipeline would be the first to bring light, sweet oil from Texas' Permian Basin to California, but refiners Valero (VLO), Tesoro (TSO) and Phillips 66 (PSX) won't sign contracts to use Freedom, preferring the flexibility of rail cars and barges. [View news story]
Is this a flaw in the tollway analogy for pipelines?
Does Cell Therapy Hold The Key To Treating Stroke? [View article]
Very informative and well researched article. My main takeaway is that stroke treatment is a hazardous minefield for pharmaceutical companies. Perhaps this is why Pfizer chose to partner with Athersys on less risky potentialities other than stroke. As an investment, I clearly like the upside potential and multiple avenues of possible use with Multistem. At about $2 a share I see an investment in Athersys as a rather astute roll of the dice.
Yelp: Future King Of Content [View article]
Trading Athersys: Risks And Rewards [View article]
I would respectfully suggest the author either rebut these questions via reply or concede through his silence that this article was nothing more than a crude attempt at market manipulation.
Stem Cell Therapy Companies: Underappreciated Outperformers [View article]
Yelp - On Track To Potentially Become The MySpace Of Online Review [View article]
Clean Energy Fuels For The Transition To Natural Gas Vehicles In The U.S. [View article]
Clean Energy Fuels For The Transition To Natural Gas Vehicles In The U.S. [View article]
I am long on CLNE
Yelp: Future King Of Content [View article]
Facebook Puts Yelp On The Road To Irrelevancy [View article]
A. $0
Q. And did you peruse their paid ads or rely on the reviews to make a buying decision?
A. The reviews.
Case closed as to why Yelp has a terminally ill business model.
Facebook Puts Yelp On The Road To Irrelevancy [View article]
Facebook Puts Yelp On The Road To Irrelevancy [View article]
Clean Energy Still Bleeding Too Much Gas [View article]
Yelp - Bubbles Swell Before They Burst [View article]
A Step In The Right Direction - Clean(er) Energy In America [View article]
Rail is no longer seen as just a stopgap for transporting oil until pipelines are built. Case in point: Kinder Morgan Partners' (KMP) proposed 277K bbl/day Freedom pipeline would be the first to bring light, sweet oil from Texas' Permian Basin to California, but refiners Valero (VLO), Tesoro (TSO) and Phillips 66 (PSX) won't sign contracts to use Freedom, preferring the flexibility of rail cars and barges. [View news story]
Does Cell Therapy Hold The Key To Treating Stroke? [View article]
As an investment, I clearly like the upside potential and multiple avenues of possible use with Multistem. At about $2 a share I see an investment in Athersys as a rather astute roll of the dice.