I have had my problem with Starbucks (SBUX) CEO Howard "Schultzie" Schultz in the past, but his latest little stunt has really ticked me off.

First things first, I will enjoy the occasional cup of Starbucks coffee, but the price has put a venti mocha-frappa-latte-chino out of my budget so I have started making my own at home. The company's product is good, but its competitors -- namely McDonald's (MCD) and Dunkin' Donuts -- offer a comparable product at a fraction of the price. I have long thought that Starbucks' saturation business model has been its biggest fault, with Schultzie's leadership running a close second.

Continue reading Starbucks CEO gives himself $1.3 million: So that's why coffee costs so much

Starbucks CEO gives himself $1.3 million: So that's why coffee costs so much originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Goldman Sachs shareholders want less bonuses, more of the profit

Goldman Sachs shareholders want less bonuses, more of the profit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You know, it figures that this would be the year that I give up my Bengals season tickets. I suffered through three years of horrid football and decided that I was not going to renew my tickets for financial reasons or as a protest against the team's (mis)management in the past 19 years.

That said, one reason that did not attribute to my giving up the tickets was the NFL's new tailgating rules. In an article Darren Rovell put on Twitter this morning (featured in USAToday), a New York Jets fan says that the tailgating rules (that limit tailgating to 3.5 hours before kickoff) may be the "final nail" that forces him to give up his season tickets. The new tailgating rules are supposed to help "crack down on drunken and disruptive fans" by limiting the time fans can tailgate.

Continue reading JockStocks: Tailgating policies won't affect 'real' fans

JockStocks: Tailgating policies won't affect 'real' fans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading NetApp reports healthy quarterly earnings on strong equipment sales

NetApp reports healthy quarterly earnings on strong equipment sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although some members of his administration don't hold Fox News in too high of regard, President Barack Obama did sit down with the news outlet to discuss the economy. In the interview, President Obama offered what some are calling his "sternest warning" about containing deficits. President Obama believes that a further compilation of government debt could lead to a double-dip recession.

The president believes that his administration faces a "delicate balance of trying to boost the economy and spur job creation," but the administration has to set the economy on "a path toward long-term deficit reduction." He noted that it is important "to recognize ... that at some point, people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy in a way that could actually lead to a double-dip recession."

Continue reading President Obama cautions against double-dip recession

President Obama cautions against double-dip recession originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Boeing receives yet another big plane order

Boeing receives yet another big plane order originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Also reporting earnings Tuesday morning was home-improvement retailer Home Depot (HD). The company announced that third-quarter earnings dropped 8.9% to 41 cents per share thanks to weak housing and home renovation markets. That was a nickel better than analysts' expectations.

Revenue dropped from a year ago as well, but the $16.36 billion in revenue was better than the expected $16.27 billion. The company also expects full-year earnings of $1.55 per share, which is better than the forecast $1.52 per share.

Continue reading Home Depot tops Q3 estimates, but bad news drags the stock lower

Home Depot tops Q3 estimates, but bad news drags the stock lower originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. mega-retailer Target (TGT) stepped into the earnings spotlight Tuesday morning, and the company had a nice surprise for investors.

The firm reported third-quarter earnings of 58 cents per share, topping both the consensus estimate (50 cents per share) and last year's results (49 cents per share). Quarterly sales totaled $14.8 billion, matching the consensus estimate. For those who do not remember, analysts upped their estimates for Target after the company announced that it would beat its estimate of 43 cents per share.

Continue reading Target tops Q3 expectations, introduces 'low-price promise'

Target tops Q3 expectations, introduces 'low-price promise' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Perhaps a bit of the shine is wearing off of solar stocks. Solar panel company ReneSola (SOL) turned in a third-quarter loss of $10.2 million, or seven cents per share, compared to earnings of 23 cents per share ($32.4 million) a year ago. Quarterly revenue fell to $141 million from $216 million a year ago. Expectations called for a loss of eight cents per share on revenue of $135.5 million.

The company stated, "We witnessed a strong rebound in customer demand for our quality products in the third quarter of 2009 and reached a corporate landmark as ReneSola achieved the highest quarterly shipments of solar products in its history." I'm not buying it. SOL saw earnings and revenue walk off a cliff when compared to a year ago ... so let's make sure that we talk about great customer demand. Of course, customer demand wasn't good enough to help you swing to a third-quarter profit.

Continue reading ReneSola turns in a third-quarter loss

ReneSola turns in a third-quarter loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lowe's (LOW) kicked off the week's earnings reports by posting third-quarter earnings of 24 cents per share, matching the consensus estimate. Revenue checked in at $11.4 billion, which -- while 3% lower than a year ago -- was better than the expected revenue of $11.28 billion. LOW's same-store sales dropped 7.5%.

Looking ahead, Lowe's forecast fourth-quarter earnings between nine and 13 cents per share and full-year earnings between $1.16 and $1.20 per share. Both of those forecast ranges surround the expected 10 cents per share and $1.20 per share, respectively. Lowe's also noted that it seems that some of the home markets feeling the biggest crunch in the economic crisis are stabilizing. Nevertheless, the home-improvement firm was negatively hit as customers were putting off larger purchases thanks to the economic situation.

Continue reading Lowe's third-quarter profit falls

Lowe's third-quarter profit falls originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Interesting little battle shaping up in the fast-food realm, and it isn't between restaurants -- it is within one. According to the Associated Press, Burger King (BKC) franchisees are suing the company over its recent $1 double cheeseburger promotion.

The reason for the lawsuit is that the franchisees are losing money on the deal because the company is setting maximum menu prices, which Burger King is not allowed to do. The National Franchise Association (NFA), which represents more than 80% of Burger King's U.S. franchise owners, says that the promotion is forcing restaurant owners to sell the quarter-pound burger at a 10-cent loss. One Burger King franchisee said that the burger in question typically costs franchisees $1.10.

Continue reading Burger King franchisees sue over $1 burgers

Burger King franchisees sue over $1 burgers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Target's Black Friday prices are leaked

Target's Black Friday prices are leaked originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Late in the evening of November 11, The Daily Telegraph reported that Barrick Gold (ABX) has shut its hedge book because the world gold supply is running out. Barrick Gold's president, Aaron Regent, told the periodical that global output has been shrinking at a pace for nearly 1 million ounces a year since the start of the decade.

At RBC's annual gold conference in London, Regent noted that "There is a strong case to be made that we are already at 'peak gold.'" Regent believes that production peaked around 2000 and has dropped ever since, he adds that Barrick Gold believes the decline will continue because "It is increasingly difficult to find ore."

Continue reading Barrick Gold shuts hedge book over world gold supply

Barrick Gold shuts hedge book over world gold supply originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Foreclosures fall, but are still higher than a year ago

Foreclosures fall, but are still higher than a year ago originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You all know that I love to cover the business of sports, so I was particularly interested when stories about Mangini and Quinn crossed my Twitter feed.

Here is the situation: the Cleveland Browns have benched quarterback Derek Anderson in favor of Brady Quinn for the Browns' upcoming Monday Night tilt against the Baltimore Ravens. Thing is, this is the second quarterback benching new head coach Eric Mangini has made -- he benched Quinn in week three in favor of Anderson. I am not going to discuss the merit of either of the starting quarterbacks (as neither has done well), but I want to take a look at the idea that Brady Quinn may have been benched in week three so the Browns wouldn't have to pay the escalators built in to Quinn's contract.

Continue reading JockStocks: Could something fishy be happening in Cleveland?

JockStocks: Could something fishy be happening in Cleveland? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Tyson Foods downgraded by JPMorgan

Tyson Foods downgraded by JPMorgan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy use is going to fall this year. That said, the group also believes that energy use will resume its upward trend, should government policies remain the same.

Looking far ahead, the IEA believes that the world's demand is projected to rise by 40% between now and 2030, when demand is estimated to hit 16.8 billion tons of oil equivalent.

Continue reading IEA: Global energy use to resume an upward trend

IEA: Global energy use to resume an upward trend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dr. Doom is back. Last week, New York University economist Nouriel Roubini decided to speak out about the current economic recovery, warning that it cannot last. I'm not quite sure how this blog missed my radar screen, so I must thank Robert J. Samuelson for bringing it to my attention yesterday.

Roubini contends that while there was a massive rally in "all sorts of risky assets" has caused the dollar had weakened sharply and government bond yields have "increased but stayed low and stable." These risky assets that Roubini discusses are equities, oil, energy, and commodity. Dr. Doom believes that the prices for these risky assets have risen too far and too fast compared to macroeconomic fundamentals.

Continue reading Dr. Doom Nouriel Roubini believes the bubble is about to burst

Dr. Doom Nouriel Roubini believes the bubble is about to burst originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I promised myself that I wasn't going to give Nike (NKE) the publicity that it wants with its new rivalry uniforms. You see, the company has decided that 10 colleges will wear specially designed uniforms for their big rivalry games this year, assigning the slogan "Prepare for Combat" to the program.

For example, The Ohio State University will wear "retro-inspired" uniforms when it takes the field against that team from up north (Michigan). I was worried when I heard that Nike was designing this uniform; Ohio State doesn't do alternate uniforms -- they never have. Honestly, it isn't all that bad; the jersey leaves a little to be desired, but perhaps that is just me.

Continue reading Nike's new marketing campaign may be a bit insensitive

Nike's new marketing campaign may be a bit insensitive originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Kraft launches hostile takeover of Cadbury

Kraft launches hostile takeover of Cadbury originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.