Ten boring companies in deep trouble
You’re more likely to see “Ten ballistic stocks to send your portfolio into orbit“ on the cover of the popular investment mags, but the stocks with the most potential are often boring companies, apparently in trouble. How do you find them? You could start here…
Yes boring can be ballistic too. But first, a reader’s stung [...]
The Northern Rock blame game
The authorities are pointing the finger of blame at each other for the implosion of Northern Rock, but who’s really to blame?
You’ve got to watch last Monday’s Dispatches programme (How the banks bet your money *1) presented by Jon Moulton, the financier.
His voice lends authority to the programme might otherwise lack, and also some spice [...]
The great crash of 2009 revisited
Fear and loathing are stalking the market but in the long-run it’s valuations that drive it.
Last year I wrote a blog that, tongue in cheek, predicted the Great Crash of 2009. At the time, I was researching bearish ideas to test the arguments of Ken Fisher.
Last month James Montier, author of Behavioural Investing and an [...]
Is HMV in the ‘buggy whip’ business?
With the invention of cars, the buggy whips used for driving horses became redundant. With the invention of downloads, the future’s bleak for music retailers, then.
While HMV (HMV) reported higher like-for-like sales last Christmas, it was only good news relative to what had gone before. Sales have barely risen over the last two or three [...]
The cheapest six shares on the market #5
Dr Keith Anderson scans the whole market for the cheapest six stocks based on their size, industry and long-term earnings power.
It’s time for Dr Keith Anderson’s quarterly selection of the cheapest six shares on the market.
I’ve explained the maths behind the selection process before*1 but, to summarise, Keith adjusts the price earnings ratio to [...]
DEATH: The new growth industry
As profits keep rising at Dignity, investors seem to think the company is set for growth. But how exactly has it turned our steady death rate into a growth industry?
Unfortunately it’s not quietly bumping people off. What a great scoop that would be!
Neither is Dignity (DTY) on my ‘approved list‘ of companies with low debt [...]
How to call the financial director
…And get him to call you back. The best way to check you understand how a company makes money is to call its financial director, yet for some reason most investors are too shy!
In fact we’re not just shy, some of us are down right sceptical.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, I hope [...]
