burque

PriceSmart: Value for Both Shoppers and Investors

Thank you for an introduction to an interesting company. A perusal of their most recent annual reports, though, makes it hard to guess their growth strategy. They've pulled back from some poorly performing Asian assets, any sense if they plan to try to further saturate Central America/Caribbean or venture heavily into S. America?

For Those Infrastructure Plays, Everything You Ever Needed To Know About Cement

My compliments on an informative, detailed, and objective article, and although quite technical, still makes for an interesting read. I would like to know if you have any similar info on those companies who provide the kilns, clinker coolers, etc to CX, Lafarge, etc. I am looking at KHD and its competitors--even if cement production is down, emerging markets and developed ones will need to buy/upgrade equipment, and I'm wondering if KHD or another company is dominant because of superior technology or other 'moat' in this niche.

Aircraft Suppliers to Benefit from Airline Fuel Woes

On engines, WGOV is a leader in making turbines run more efficiently and saving fuel, but they are not very cheap right now. For alternative fuels, planes in South Africa run on coal-to-liquids provided by SSL, but this is out of local resource necessity and not a technology that saves money or energy, from what little I know.

Oil Companies Paid More Than Bottom 75% of Taxpayers

This is not informative without the denominator. Can you also compare net income of oil companies vs. net income of bottom 75% individual taxpayers?

Should One Invest in Unethical Companies?

Yes, voting with your wallet is the best way to avoid a company. However, the issue is not only whether WMT or any other company will benefit from your purchase of shares, but if you are comfortable trying to make a profit off their business practices. Everyone's threshold will be different, but everyone should at least consider whether they have any no-go areas. It's a very personal decision, but there are certainly stocks I'd prefer to avoid, and seek equal rates of return elsewhere. For example, someone who has had family pass away from lung cancer might avoid tobacco stocks, not because he wants to hurt tobacco companies, but because he will feel better about his portfolio.