J.C. Penney (JCP) confirms Ron Johnson is "stepping down and leaving the company." Mike Ullman, who was J.C. Penney's CEO until Nov. 2011, is replacing Johnson as CEO, and has also been elected to the company's board. Investors don't seem crazy about the choice, JCP now just +0.5% AH. (previous) Update (5:33): Shares are now down 4.4% AH. [View news story]
uh...replacing a failing CEO with the failed CEO he replaced isn't exactly the formula for success.
The actual cost of Tesla's (TSLA) Model S financing plan for its cheapest model is $1,051/month (per Tesla's site), assuming a 2.95% APR, 10% down, and a 66-month loan. To get to Tesla's estimated "true cost of ownership" of $373/month, one has to discount (among other things) $284/month in energy savings, a $222/month business tax benefit, and (amusingly) $100/month for "time spent driving to a gas station and refueling" - Tesla assumes buyers value their time at $100/hour. Shares now -2% AH. [View news story]
The actual cost of Tesla's (TSLA) Model S financing plan for its cheapest model is $1,051/month (per Tesla's site), assuming a 2.95% APR, 10% down, and a 66-month loan. To get to Tesla's estimated "true cost of ownership" of $373/month, one has to discount (among other things) $284/month in energy savings, a $222/month business tax benefit, and (amusingly) $100/month for "time spent driving to a gas station and refueling" - Tesla assumes buyers value their time at $100/hour. Shares now -2% AH. [View news story]
Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T (T) have reportedly been working on a $245B breakup bid for Vodafone (VOD) whereby Verizon would realize its long-held dream of gaining full control of Verizon Wireless and AT&T would obtain Vodafone's non U.S. assets. "Usually reliable people" tell the FT that Verizon and AT&T would offer 260p a share in what would be the biggest takeover in history. Vodafone shares are +4.8% at 195.64 pence in London. [View news story]
Verizon would acquire the Vodafone stake of Verizon Wireless, and AT&T would acquire all overseas Vodafone assets.
Williams Partners Builds On Dividend Yield In Spite Of Cash Flow Shortfall [View article]
Just to let you know, I'm also long $KMI. Williams did have major financial issues a little over a decade ago. They were in the telecommunicatioons biz, and it led to a large debt load. The management wasn't on the ball. They spun off their fiber optic cable ops, and concentrated on ng production, processing and transportation. The recent move to acquire a 50% GP stake in $ACMP only further pushes the company into a fee based model, which(in my opinion) where the real security and $$$ is.
They've righted the ship, and made the right moves as of late. Corporate cultures can change, hell for a time Richard Kinder was the President and COO of Enron. That hasn't stopped me from investing heavily in his companies.
Williams Partners Builds On Dividend Yield In Spite Of Cash Flow Shortfall [View article]
I think an acquisition that hasn't been talked about enough for $WMB, is the 50% GP stake in $ACMP. Moving forward, I believe it will be a huge asset that will continue to reap benefits for WMB shareholders.
"Apple (AAPL) thrived because its CEO was a jack-of-all-trades who stood atop a mountain of experts," writes Bleacher Report founder Bryan Goldberg. "Let's face it -- Was Steve Jobs really an expert in anything? ... Would Tim Cook or Ron Johnson concede that Steve knew supply-chain or retail better than they did?" But Jobs "knew when to listen to each [expert], and when to stop listening to each one." Goldberg sees AOL, which he suspects is "rife with editors, engineers, and salespeople talking past each other," as a company sorely in need of a jack-of-all-trades. [View news story]
What about ideas/products post-Jobs? All I've seen is margins drop 600 basis points and continued talk of "cheaper ipad" "cheaper iphone"...that train of thought won't help those sagging margins.
Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has reportedly spent at least $2B in buying stakes in Pepsi (PEP) and Mondelez (MDLZ), prompting fevered speculation as to what the activist investor is up to. One theory is that Peltz will push a merger of the companies, another is that he'll press Pepsi to break up, or that he'll just sit there and do nothing. [View news story]
Except, the $PEP "breakup" has been discussed ad nauseam. Up to and including questions asked/answered by more than one Pepsi CEO. I wouldn't be suprised by an eventual spinoff of the snack division, but as a shareholder I like the diversity of the business. I think it'd be a great move by $PEP to acquire $MDLZ(also a shareholder of that), because it'd greatly diversify the snack division as well. I agree though, this "activist" talk is a popular one these days; and unless you go in very strongly, you're not going to be taken seriously.
AT&T (T) could acquire Vodafone's (VOD) non-U.S. assets if reported talks between Verizon (VZ) and Vodafone lead to a merger, thinks BofA/Merrill. Analyst David Barden estimates $70B would be enough for AT&T, which has made its interest in foreign expansion clear, to buy Vodafone's giant collection of international mobile properties. (tower sales) [View news story]
lol...So Vodafone is going to sell themselves out completely? VZ and T wish.
Elephants Buffett Could Yet Bag In 2013 [View article]
Hard to still consider newspapers as mass media(imo). Yes, there are still a few massive ones, but the majority aren't. I don't buy the "controlling media" aspect either, the media has long had a slobbering love affair for The Oracle. Berkshire has spent 344M over the past 14-16 months of newspapers. While it's certainly a very small part of the overall portfolio, it will always be a laggard.
The potential of West Africa’s emerging pre-salt play and big gas discoveries off East Africa are set to drive an 18% leap in annual drilling expenditure to more than $17B across the region over the next five years, GBI Research predicts. Rig contractors such as Seadrill (SDRL) and Ensco (ESV) operating modern units designed for Africa’s deepwater plays are set to cash in on the prospecting surge. [View news story]
I agree Wigit. People need to immerse themselves in the info in order to understand it. I see no problem if SDRL spins off 6-8 rigs in an MLP(for example) and the parent co still holds 60-70%+ of the MLP.
J.C. Penney (JCP) confirms Ron Johnson is "stepping down and leaving the company." Mike Ullman, who was J.C. Penney's CEO until Nov. 2011, is replacing Johnson as CEO, and has also been elected to the company's board. Investors don't seem crazy about the choice, JCP now just +0.5% AH. (previous) Update (5:33): Shares are now down 4.4% AH. [View news story]
The actual cost of Tesla's (TSLA) Model S financing plan for its cheapest model is $1,051/month (per Tesla's site), assuming a 2.95% APR, 10% down, and a 66-month loan. To get to Tesla's estimated "true cost of ownership" of $373/month, one has to discount (among other things) $284/month in energy savings, a $222/month business tax benefit, and (amusingly) $100/month for "time spent driving to a gas station and refueling" - Tesla assumes buyers value their time at $100/hour. Shares now -2% AH. [View news story]
The actual cost of Tesla's (TSLA) Model S financing plan for its cheapest model is $1,051/month (per Tesla's site), assuming a 2.95% APR, 10% down, and a 66-month loan. To get to Tesla's estimated "true cost of ownership" of $373/month, one has to discount (among other things) $284/month in energy savings, a $222/month business tax benefit, and (amusingly) $100/month for "time spent driving to a gas station and refueling" - Tesla assumes buyers value their time at $100/hour. Shares now -2% AH. [View news story]
Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T (T) have reportedly been working on a $245B breakup bid for Vodafone (VOD) whereby Verizon would realize its long-held dream of gaining full control of Verizon Wireless and AT&T would obtain Vodafone's non U.S. assets. "Usually reliable people" tell the FT that Verizon and AT&T would offer 260p a share in what would be the biggest takeover in history. Vodafone shares are +4.8% at 195.64 pence in London. [View news story]
Williams Partners Builds On Dividend Yield In Spite Of Cash Flow Shortfall [View article]
They've righted the ship, and made the right moves as of late. Corporate cultures can change, hell for a time Richard Kinder was the President and COO of Enron. That hasn't stopped me from investing heavily in his companies.
Williams Partners Builds On Dividend Yield In Spite Of Cash Flow Shortfall [View article]
It's understandable that MLP investors would be irritated as several - Calumet Specialty (CLMT) and Access Midstream (ACMP) are the latest - again revisit the trough for more capital and dilute their holdings, but demand for MLPs is so strong that unit prices of some involved in recent financings - BWP, DPM, EPB, EPD, MCEP - already have recouped initial losses and gained since their announcements. [View news story]
It's understandable that MLP investors would be irritated as several - Calumet Specialty (CLMT) and Access Midstream (ACMP) are the latest - again revisit the trough for more capital and dilute their holdings, but demand for MLPs is so strong that unit prices of some involved in recent financings - BWP, DPM, EPB, EPD, MCEP - already have recouped initial losses and gained since their announcements. [View news story]
"Apple (AAPL) thrived because its CEO was a jack-of-all-trades who stood atop a mountain of experts," writes Bleacher Report founder Bryan Goldberg. "Let's face it -- Was Steve Jobs really an expert in anything? ... Would Tim Cook or Ron Johnson concede that Steve knew supply-chain or retail better than they did?" But Jobs "knew when to listen to each [expert], and when to stop listening to each one." Goldberg sees AOL, which he suspects is "rife with editors, engineers, and salespeople talking past each other," as a company sorely in need of a jack-of-all-trades. [View news story]
Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has reportedly spent at least $2B in buying stakes in Pepsi (PEP) and Mondelez (MDLZ), prompting fevered speculation as to what the activist investor is up to. One theory is that Peltz will push a merger of the companies, another is that he'll press Pepsi to break up, or that he'll just sit there and do nothing. [View news story]
AT&T (T) could acquire Vodafone's (VOD) non-U.S. assets if reported talks between Verizon (VZ) and Vodafone lead to a merger, thinks BofA/Merrill. Analyst David Barden estimates $70B would be enough for AT&T, which has made its interest in foreign expansion clear, to buy Vodafone's giant collection of international mobile properties. (tower sales) [View news story]
Is Freeport-McMoRan's Stock A Good Buy At $33 A Share? [View article]
Elephants Buffett Could Yet Bag In 2013 [View article]
Elephants Buffett Could Yet Bag In 2013 [View article]
The potential of West Africa’s emerging pre-salt play and big gas discoveries off East Africa are set to drive an 18% leap in annual drilling expenditure to more than $17B across the region over the next five years, GBI Research predicts. Rig contractors such as Seadrill (SDRL) and Ensco (ESV) operating modern units designed for Africa’s deepwater plays are set to cash in on the prospecting surge. [View news story]