Last year most analysts proclaimed that the market would be up by the years end. The only accurate part of the analysis was that the year did end; although not well.When Burlington Northern Santa Fe (NYSE: BNI) was trading at $114 analysts were silent. When it dropped below $100 and then $90 a share I do not recall anyone writing anything accept that "my pal Warren" was buying. At $80, and then $70 not more than a whisper.
Then yesterday when BNI was trading in the mid $60's (it closed at $64.97) Citigroup (NYSE: C) Investment Research analyst Matthew Troy cut shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. to "Sell" from "Hold."
That's great, once again the horses got out of the barn and they want to close the doors. The funny thing about this is that closing the doors will keep the horses out alright, and the sell call might keep some investors out of this stock too, but everyone should do the opposite.
Given that the stock is trading at a discount to the average price that Warren Buffett paid when Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) became the largest shareholder with a 22% stake, Burlington is very much worth watching. You do not need to buy it today; there is no rush. However, I would take advantage of any further negativity if it drops below $60 even with reduced earnings and a modest outlook.
Considering the shaky economy, a stock with a beta of 1.0 and a yield of 2.35% is not such a bad thing to hold, and with Berkshire the majority shareholder perhaps there will be less shenanigans with the books and balance sheet then we are seeing with some companies.
In February I posted Chasing Value: Has BNI become 'Berkshire' Northern Santa Fe and if you bought in at that time, you would have gone down with the market and up with the market and collected your dividend.
In this story I pointed out that I had sold "naked puts" in BNI with April strike prices of $55 and $60 getting paid to cover other peoples fears. They both expired and I got to keep the money but I also wrote that if the stock was put to me, meaning I had to buy them, I would have no problem owning BNI at an average price of $57.50 at a 35% discount to Berkshire.
One more thing; because industry's sometimes move in tandem I would also watch Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) and Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) in case the sector slides on bad news about BNI.
Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I own shares of BRK.B.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-28-2009 @ 3:06PM
Meepmope said...
These are definitely times to be wary of where you're investing. Weighing options and doing your research has its rewards. Here's a great resource:
www.newsmax.com/calltoarms
4-28-2009 @ 9:37PM
william lindblad said...
As long as diesel holds in the 2 dollar range, rails will remain steady - but don't expect any big spikes. As a commerce object they can be highly competitive to the 18 wheelers, but not on a point to point basis.
This is why we no longer have coastal schooners nor an active canal system. I know what I am saying sounds a tad dated and idiotic but, rail passenger traffic went with the car just the same as liners fell to the plane. That is a major problem with the rail system, it lost it's interest (and rail heads) into many smaller hubs and hence, does not have the network, nor can they get it back.
4-29-2009 @ 4:05PM
Donald said...
I stopped buying when the markets were up over $90, and sold at $110.
Then at $70 I restarted buying BNI. This company has been a gold mine for me. I don't care what Citigroup says. Why the hell would I take advice from a company, that as a whole, its Net income was ▼ US$ −27.684 billion for 2008.
If your in it for the long term like me, when gas goes back up (and it will), your rail road portfolio will treat you rather nicely.
5-04-2009 @ 10:40PM
Donald said...
BNI up over $7/share since this Citibank posted it as sell.
Bahahahahaha. the retards that they are.