iBankCoin
Joined Jan 1, 1970
509 Blog Posts

Update on Alpha’s “20”

Here’s an update on the new group of stocks I bought on 05/12/08.

Today I added [[GLW]] @ $25.74 (05/13/08).

This rounds out the “20”.

As a group, they were up 1.72% today (05/13/08).

————————————————-

Dollar weighted breakdown:

44% Energy

11% Industrials

3% Info Tech

41% Materials

——————————————–

I’ll post more meaningful data as this develops a track record.

Comments »

Woodshedder’s Excellent Catch

I’m posting this just in case some of you missed an excellent comment and observation by the Wood-meister in my previous post on Corning (GLW)….

“Dawg, re: GLW

It is my understanding that they have a significant portion of the diesel oxidation catalyst business mandated by the Gov. These new regulations basically make the diesel engine a portable air cleaner. Seriously, in the 2010 models, the exhaust from school buses, 18 wheelers, etc., will actually be cleaner than the outside air.

I believe that Corning is making the majority of the substrates in these oxidation catalysts. Keep in mind that every commercial diesel vehicle will now have these installed for emissions.

I may be off on some of the specifics here…but I believe I am correct. I have been watching GLW as I think this side of the business may have been missed by the less astute researcher.”

——————————-

Woody,

Very perceptive. You wood [sic] be correct.

Their environmental technologies unit is a diamond in the rough. They have been involved with clean air technologies for over 30 years now. Yet, it is hardly ever mentioned. The sales in this segment of their business are to the emissions control systems OEMs. As you pointed out, the use of GLW substrates and filters are being required by auto and diesel engine manufacturers in both the U.S. and Japan, following new environmental regulations and standards.

Three of their scientists received the 2003 National Medal of Technology for their invention of high-performance cellular ceramic substrates which will be used under the new regs. GLW’s enviro. tech. is the standard of choice by OEMs.

The environmental technlogies unit showed some weakness in Q1:2008, partly related to weakening heavy-duty diesel engine demand, and the slow economy in general. However, for reasons that you so adeptly fleshed out, I expect to see this portion of their business be a larger contributor to revenues in 2008.

GLW may be one of the best undiscovered “green” companies.

Comments »

Selling HPQ and Buying GLW

Frankly, I’m scratching my head and wondering WTF is HPQ doing? Why are they buying EDS? Yes, I know…to compete with IBM….Uh-huh…..I am doubtful on that one.

When in doubt, I sell. So I’m selling [[HPQ]]

hpq051308.png

Right now I’m still feeling that tech is a good value. My “pistola to the head” pick, if I had to choose one tech stock right now, would be Corning [[GLW]]

glw051308.png

Corning reported a very solid Q1, despite the slowing U.S. economy. The economy failed to put the homo hammer on the worldwide demand for precision display glass used in LCD TVs, and desktop and notebook PC displays. People of today need three things in life: to be entertained, to waste time on the internet, and sex….and food….four things.

Highlights:

Company management guided higher on its 2008 volume growth forecast for global precision glass demand to the higher end of the 25%-30% range.

Top-line growth in the most recent quarter actually took a backseat to cost containment measures. Gross margin increased by 4.50% sequentially, about 3.50% of that gain was estimated to be as a result of operating efficiency.

A fundamental target price would be $33-$35. The PnF chart, based on the count, is showing a technical price objective of $42. However, that is not in stone, nor is it gospel.

Update: I initiated a position in GLW today  @ 25.74 (12:14 ET). I sold HPQ @ 43.70 (12:12 ET) 

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be used as the primary basis of investment decisions.  Because of individual investors requirements, it should not be construed as advice designed to meet the particular investment needs of any investor. Consult your financial advisor prior to taking any actions. The information and opinions contained here are those of the author and are not necessarily the same as those of iBankCoin, its principals or its affiliates. The author may have a position in one or more stocks mentioned here. Trade at your own risk.

Comments »

Late Night Thought: There May Be Undervalued Assets in Your Pocket

Value investors, get this: you may be sitting on a gold mine and not even know it.

I’ll let you in on a secret: there are two “investments” that are trading well below net asset value (NAV). In fact, one of them is priced at a 51% discount to NAV! Can you guess what it is?

(I know, I know…I sound like some newsletter writer with a “teaser” stock trying to get you to buy a subscription. Relax. This is a freebie.)

According to the LME, since 2003, copper and nickel have tripled and zinc has quadrupled. Zinc is up 76% this year; copper is up 68% and nickel up 42%.

A penny is 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.

It now costs our government 1.67 cents to make a penny.

A nickel is actually 75% copper and 25% nickel.

I now costs our government 7.7 cents to make a nickel.

How long do you think it will take before the government figures this out?

Comments »

Buying More

I’m in a buying mood today, so I went out and bought 19, count ’em… 19 stocks for my Alpha stock portfolio:

[[AGU]]@86.26

[[AKS]]@68.99

[[CLF]]@89.40 (split adjusted)

[[CLR]]@51.90

[[CNX]]@91.41

[[EAC]]@55.52

[[FDG]]@69.30

[[FLS]]@121.10

[[FTI]]@75.48

[[MA]]@291.75

[[MEE]]@58.50

[[MOS]]@126.98

[[MTL]]@52.10 (split adjusted)

[[PBR]]@65.55

[[POT]]@199.26

[[SGY]]@67.39

[[SID]]@47.44

[[WFT]]@41.99 (split adjusted)

[[WLT]]@83.87

The market will reverse and continue to trade up from here.

I expect an outcry of dissension, since many of you are just trying to do your job. Know this: I am a contrary bearshitter (which means I’m bullish).

I will update any new trades and the performance going forward. Look over my shoulder and see how much money I can make (or lose).

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be used as the primary basis of investment decisions. Because of individual investors requirements, it should not be construed as advice designed to meet the particular investment needs of any investor. Consult your financial advisor prior to taking any actions. The information and opinions contained here are those of the author and are not necessarily the same as those of iBankCoin, its principals or its affiliates. Trade at your own risk.

Comments »

Short the DISH

A new vendetta has just started, people.

Ok, so here’s what happened….

I recently contacted EchoStar Comm. [[DISH]], aka DISH Network last month, to upgrade my subscription to 250 friggin’ channels from 200 (yeah, like I really need to watch 50 more channels). Actually, I did it to get all the sports channels in the universe, plus NESN, the crown jewel, which carries all the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins games.

So guess what? The asshats at DISH can’t just upgrade my programming over the satellite system. After spending three phone calls with three different people who could barely speak English, I finally got to have them schedule a service call to adjust the dish and add some whiz-bang module that would fix everything.

At this point I should mention that I actually have two dishes. One for the sat channels and one for the local channels. Don’t ask me why. And, I have two receivers. One for the upstairs loft and one for the downstairs family room. Here’s the kicker: the guy who originally installed my system used two different dish models and two different sat receiver models. Great. The system was basically jerry-rigged with duct tape.

Anyway, so I requested a service call. That was back on April 18. What happened next, you may ask?…They never showed up for the service call…. twice. How nice. Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for the upgrade, and missing Red Sox baseball.

Then last week, I get a bill. The arrogant fuckers charge me for two weeks of upgraded friggin’ channels, and two service calls!

Strike ONE.

It gets better…I get this call last Tuesday that “the guy” will finally be out to service everything on Saturday (yesterday). Lo and behold, I go online, check my account, and the dickweeds have charged me for TWO more service calls. Hello?! You fuckers have never showed up and I’m still waiting on Red Sox baseball!

Strike TWO.

“We are sorry for your inconvenience. He’ll be out sometime between noon and 5 pm on Saturday”. Wonderful. Now I have to stay around the house on a Saturday afternoon waiting for some service guy to come over. I just know he’ll probably be late after taking an egregiously long lunch and a dump due to the bacon double cheeseburger and fries, supersized, of course. Much to his chagrin, I’m not going to let him shake my hand.

He finally shows up at 4 pm.

It gets worse. They send this guy that looks like he’s sixteen years old, talks with a German accent and appears to be living exclusively on a diet of pork pies. Shit, is this guy for real? Long story short, “Herr Pork Pie” dicks around with the system for TWO HOURS, and you know what he accomplished? Nada. Zero. Squat. I thought Germans were supposed to be smart?

But get this…instead of not being able to simply upgrade the system to the 250 glorious channels, I now have NO reception at all. None! The friggin’ asshat did a monumental cluster-fuck on my sat system. Oh, and it’s quitting time now. Gotta knock off for the day, back tomorrow…See ya.

I am livid. I call 1-800-FUC-DISH and basically rip a new one in some polite Indian guy, interrupting his curry chicken dinner he was trying to eat while listening to me rail.

Today…no show. I want to choke the little German pork pie fucker. I know it’s Mother’s Day. But let’s get our priorities in order. We’re talking baseball here, son.

Livid, part II.

STEE-RIKE THREE!

I’m switching to Direct TV.

Come get your fucking dishes, DISH Network. They’re down by the septic tank, and they’re unwashed.

With service like this, I’m putting them on the “how the hell can they still be in business?” list.

Calling on all troops to short DISH. This sucka is going down, double top breakout or not.

Vendetta on!

dish.png

True and egregious story.

Comments »