Armin's Stock Selection

Bargain hunting is boosting home sales, but inventories of unsold homes continue to worsen even in the face of February's sales increase. Buyers are snapping up bargains from the overflowing bargain bin, but that won't exactly make for a rebound.
see source
The X factor, as it always is with housing, is jobs. People without jobs have a tough time buying homes. People afraid of losing their jobs don't want to make major purchases. Given the still vicious news in the jobs arena, a meaningful recovery in housing just isn't in the cards anytime soon.
source:Rising Home Sales? Really?
see source
Just planking a trillion bucks on the table does't necessarily mean spring is coming in overall market. Still more bottom-fishing to come. The key driver will be more jobs and jobs again.

Comments: View Comments |  Tuesday March 24, 2009

Many said that Apple's numbers were so-so, but not so bad at all after the iPod maker posts better-than-expected increase in revenue and profits on strong Mac. But Investors shouldn't be too surprised though since Apple consistently is conservative with its guidance. In fact I've been bullish on AAPL stock for sometime going back several months ago when wrote "love is blind" on my blog here at SLO;

an odd opinion about apple
inspired by book:KARAOKE CAPITALISM

We have heard already people talking about apple in a language usually reserved for small, fluffy animals and close family members! If you like more soul than life, lick the buttons( Steve Jobs once said: " We made the buttons on the screen look so good you'll want to lick them" ) and wow experience you get all in one apple! If your company has to hire a new CEO, you hire Steve and you'll most likely have a true Chief Emotional Officer also. It seems like that magic apple has a synesthetic content, too..
But AAPL is about first, being fit by creating business models that are well adapted to the new business conditions and second, being sexy by building and creating emotional innovations and moods that attract and addict customers. In my opinion the company has the answers about what does the apple sound, feel, taste or smell like.
I'm not smart enough to predict whether share price will double or triple, but for sure more emotions will be added in any product they deliver so driving the sales.
Who will win, fundamental or emotional analysis?
see entry

Btw- Apple CEO Steve Jobs boasted about the company's strong results. "With over $17 billion in revenue for the first half of our fiscal year, we have strong momentum to launch some terrific new products in the coming quarters," Jobs said in a statement.
and
Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer did not appear too concerned about the economic slump. When asked if Apple is feeling any effects of the slowdown, Oppenheimer said that traffic in Apple's retail stores continue to grow.

It has been a volatile couple of months for Apple. Shares plunged earlier this year along with other tech stocks due to concerns about the slowing economy as well as fears about competition for Apple's iPhone from Research in Motion's etc In fact during those setbacks I've been buying it

Of course, would like to listen bearish opinions, if any.
In the meantime, enjoy your investing world!
Everything else is life!

Armin

Comments: View Comments |  Thursday April 24, 2008

Update
Huron Consulting Group Inc (HURN) reported a 44 percent rise in quarterly profit, but forecast first-quarter revenue below market expectations, citing weak performance of its legal financial consulting business.
The Chicago-based financial services consulting company, however, sees profits growing between 20 to 25 percent in 2008, as it seeks to gain from a worsening credit and housing market.
The Chicago-based financial services consulting company, however, sees profits growing between 20 to 25 percent in 2008, as it seeks to gain from a worsening credit and housing market.
Huron's fourth-quarter results were helped by strong performance at its health and education consulting, and corporate consulting segments.Revenue from health and education consulting, which is the biggest contributor to the total revenue, more than doubled to about $50 million.
The company posted earnings of $11.5 million, or 63 cents a share, for the quarter, compared with $8 million, or 46 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 63 percent to $136 million. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $136.4 million, according to Reuters Estimates.
STRONG 2008 OUTLOOK
In 2008, Huron will be working to expand more into the academic medical center space and provide a full range of services to increase efficiency to all hospitals whether troubled or healthy, Chief Executive Gary Holdren said in a conference call.
"There are no macro economic pressure that can slow our growth in the health and education segment in the next several years," Holdren said
Huron forecast first-quarter earnings of 66 cents to 70 cents a share on revenue of $142 million to $147 million.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 70 cents a share on revenue of $154.9 million.
For 2008, Huron sees earnings of $3.10 to $3.28 a share, on revenue of $640 million to $670 million. Analysts expect earnings of $3.11 on revenue of $644.2 million.
Huron said it expects its recently started Tokyo office to have a positive impact on the company's 2008 results.
GAINS FROM CREDIT CRISIS
The benefit from the subprime crisis is a bit delayed for Huron, but they will gain from the turmoil in days to come, Wong Kevane of JMP Securities said by phone, adding it is more a question of when than if. It is not that the business arising out of the credit market crisis is going to someone else and Huron is losing out on it, it is just that the investigations and litigations have not yet started, Holdren said.
Once it does, it will be a business driver for Huron, Holdren added.

Shares of Huron, have lost a third of their value year-to-date, and losing some 22% in my portfolio since inception( days held 210), too. I'll be holding this stock expecting gains from credit crisis and strong 2008 outlook. It seems Huron business is poised to wrestle present market environment!
Would like to hear any bearish opinions, on this stock.

Comments: View Comments |  Monday February 25, 2008

Here's a trading activity on DRYS in my Astra portfolio:

all tickets for DRYS
Buy Jul 30, 2007 740 $55.65
Buy Aug 24, 2007 500 $62.7115
Buy Aug 27, 2007 230 $65.8237
Buy Oct 16, 2007 200 $122.548
Buy Oct 17, 2007 210 $118.8524
Buy Jan 2, 2008 250 $78.281
Buy Jan 9, 2008 460 $62.76
Buy Jan 15, 2008 1,300 $55.1435
Sell Feb 7, 2008 500 $70.953

active tickets for DRYS
Sell Feb 8, 2008 $99.99 400 limit
Portion of fund: 15.10%

Earnings Release: Thursday, February 14, 2008 After 4:00 P.M. EST; Conference Call and Webcast: Friday, February 15, 2008, at 10:00 A.M. EST
So let see if DRYS has been anything worth holding it. I think: yes, or maybe: am I very overconfident?

Comments: View Comments |  Wednesday February 13, 2008

I really believe that time frame in the stock market investing should last well beyond any imaginable short round play and won't abandon the core principals of diversification. So, I've selected FPL Group Inc.(FPL), Utilities sector, to take part in my Astra portfolio for its income and growth potentials while broadening diversification too. Order to buy 30000 $ worth of this stock has been entered.

FPL Group, Inc. ( FPL ) with annual revenues of over $15 billion, is nationally known as a high quality, efficient, and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With a growing presence in 27 states, it is widely recognized as one of the country's premier power companies. Its principal subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, an FPL Group competitive energy subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels.

The company recently announced fourth-quarter and full-year results, citing record net income for full year 2007, and that its subsidiary, FPL Energy, recorded its best year ever.

"FPL Group performed exceptionally well in 2007, driven again by the outstanding performance at FPL Energy," said Lew Hay, chairman and chief executive officer of FPL Group. "Despite some weakness in revenues at Florida Power & Light, particularly late in the year, full-year results for FPL Group exceeded the expectations we set out in the Fall of 2006."
Yield: 2.56%

Comments: View Comments |  Friday February 8, 2008  |  Stocks: FPL,