Financial Skeptic

Financial Skeptic Disclosure

georgeg — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:03:00 -0400

Just thought I would point out my standard disclosure that I do not own positions in the securities that I blog about for three trading days before and three trading days after the date of the blog post
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CIT Bad Start with Disclosure

georgeg — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:23:00 -0400

CIT Financial (CIT) led by Chairman and CEO John A. Thain announced they finished off 2009 and it was good riddance to bad rubbish. They mentioned something about Fresh Start Accounting (FSA). The conference call was announced and very little other substantive information was provided in the earning
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Sony (Japan) Loves Jacko

georgeg — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:25:00 -0400

Sony (SNE) loves Jacko. Japan has long loved Michael Jackson. So when Sony makes a deal with the estate it makes strategic sense for the Japanese consumer. In fact you may even conclude that the estate has been ripped off. Sony has been able to keep away from the unseemly side and exploit the creati
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Pepsi Bribes Itself

georgeg — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:31:00 -0400

Pepsi (PEP) announces a dividend increase (good) and a substantial share buy back program (bad; very bad) The $15 Billion buy back officially signals that management believes the shares are under-valued and should be taken out of the game. The share buy back is approximately 15% of Pepsi’s market
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Google - China -- Dig Two Graves

georgeg — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:06:00 -0500

Google (Goog) may shut down it's China search engine according to the Financial Times of London. Informed rumor has it that talks are not going well. China publicly warned Google to follow the law on Friday. Google is used to re-inventing the world not following old laws that they did not believe in
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Amazon -- Canadian Evil?

georgeg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:36:00 -0500

Amazon (AMZN) is in a cultural business battle in Canada. They have proposed a huge distribution facility which needs to be approved by the Federal Government. Amazon is big and will have a huge impact. The publishers have stayed officially quiet. Why annoy Amazon? The main Canadian competitor Chapt
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West Marine -- Late Audit -- CFO to Blame??

georgeg — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:44:00 -0500

West Marine (WMAR) sunk investor perceptions and announced delays in finalizing the audit and therefore confirming their year end numbers. Geoff Eisenberg, West Marine’s CEO, stated: “While we are working to finalize our audit, we are pleased to say that, as previously reported, we had a year th
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Brown Forman Take a Stiff Drink

georgeg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:24:00 -0500

Brown-Forman (BFA; BFB) headlines its earnings release with “Underlying Operating Income 10% and Increases EPS 8% for the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2010” Lets take a closer look at how they got there. In Q3 sales are up 10% and cost of sales are only up 2%. Normally that’s huge for any bus
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Bank of Nova Scotia -- Pulled Punch?

georgeg — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:19:00 -0500

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) announced Q1 earnings of just under $1 Billion. You have to wonder what are they holding back. There is lots of political back lash when a Canadian bank announces earnings over $1 Billion so by keeping this under the radar are the executives just staying comfortable and set
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McDonalds Respects Tim Horton's

georgeg — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:19:00 -0500

McDonald’s (MCD) respects or fears Tim Horton’s (THI). Traditionally at this time of year Canadian Coffee shop Tim Horton’s has a roll up the rim to rim contest. You buy a coffee, roll up the card board rim and see if you get a prize. Usually another coffer or donut. Sometimes serious cash pri
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