Ockham Research Staff @ November 20, 2008 # No Comment Yet
Can this really be? Google stock has continued its unrelenting slide to below $270. A study released today claims that internet ad revenue continues to grow, and with Google taking the lion’s share of those dollars the slide cannot last too much longer.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 20, 2008 # No Comment Yet
The big 3 automakers are in Washington begging for more government funding. But everyone agrees, including Chrysler’s Bob Nardelli, there must be a major shift in the industry in order to get it back on track.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 19, 2008 # No Comment Yet
Cummins, Inc. has certainly fallen out of favor with the market as it is down nearly 70 percent year to date. However, stocks such as this that have strong fundamentals underlying the drop in stock price that should make value investors at least curious.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 18, 2008 # One Comment
Hewlett Packard has offered earnings for the fourth quarter and guidance for the next fiscal year a week before they are scheduled to officially release earnings. The results are impressive and HP management should be commended for their handling of this difficult operating environment and the seamless integration of the EDS acquisition.
More on: HP is Not Embarrassed to Release Earnings Prematurely
Ockham Research Staff @ November 17, 2008 # No Comment Yet
Economic hardship invariably has consequences that can dwarf the original impact of those troubles. With the U.S. already at war and facing an increasingly troubled world, it is probably not a good time to make large reductions to the defense budget. With the U.S. government carrying massively greater amounts of debt now as a result of the financial carnage of the past few months, there will be increased pressure to wring savings out of almost every element of government. However, given past experience in tough economic times, it would be wise for our new government to understand the dire need to maintain a strong national defense.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 17, 2008 # One Comment
FINRA is putting another nail in the coffin of prorprietary research departments at the big investment banking firms. Basically, no longer will advanced access to research be allowed. And since the proprietary trading desks (which trade the brokerage firms own money) could make lots of coin on that advanced access, there is a possibility that more firms will cut their research budgets and analysts staff.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 14, 2008 # No Comment Yet
Gas Utilities could be headed for a few big months as the weather gets cooler in the winter. Here is our pick for who stands to benefit from the change in seasons and also a couple of stocks to avoid.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 14, 2008 # No Comment Yet
The Wall Street research analysts are still declining, both in number and in coverage, and there is no reason to believe that they will be saved. The term “bailout” isn’t used when referring to these analysts, and it appears to us that this is due to the changing requirements for research. Goldman Sachs just let 13 more analysts go, and from what we can see, it appears this trend will continue until anaysts can reconcile the “why” with the “when”.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 14, 2008 # No Comment Yet
United Technologies is not the flashiest company in the market, but it just might be the most consistent. The company has enjoyed significant growth that has not been reflected in the companies stock price. For investors seeking a safe haven from a volatile market, this one could be a winner.
Ockham Research Staff @ November 13, 2008 # One Comment
When your house is burning, there is no sense fretting over painting the fence. With the U.S. economy mired in what will likely be a recession of historic proportions—and an outright depression in some industries—it would be foolish to get too worked up over future inflation concerns. However, it is very likely that inflation will once again become a major concern for central bankers around the world sometime within the next decade. It might behoove the incoming administration and future aspirants to the Presidency to begin searching for another Volker. For it is very likely that such a person will be needed once the current fire is doused.