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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: People have finally seen the light on Disney

Cramer on BloggingStocks: People have finally seen the light on Disney originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The future investment stars are already with us. The NYSE Financial Future Challenge, operated by the NYSE Foundation, By Kids for Kids, K12 Inc. and the United Investors Association, is in full swing, with five finalists just identified. To reach this level, the participants had to develop a new product, idea or process that would "excite, educate and motivate their peers" to become interested in the financial marketplace. The eventual winner lurks within this subset and will receive a $2,500 prize -- a great way to get that portfolio started. And, he or she will be feted at a closing bell ceremony at the NYSE (NYX) on January 11, 2010.

The finalists presented a variety of ideas which are sure to generate some buzz. Kelsey Foss, a 12-year-old from Mountainville, NY, proposed a new television show, "Stock Market Tycoon Idol," which would harness the popularity of reality TV while amping up the content. The program would involve the journeys of 10 kids as they seek to make money or lose it, with the possibility of becoming virtual millionaires along the way. The show would be set at a mock NYSE studio on Wall Street, and exports would be brought out to mentor the contestants. The reality TV reach would help engage a younger audience.

Continue reading Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge

Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Six Flags raises the 'going concern' flag

Six Flags raises the 'going concern' flag originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The roller coasters at Six Flags (NASDAQ: SIX) are fun for the theme parks' patrons, but shareholders of Six Flags have experienced a ride more like The Tower of Terror, a simulated freefall thrill ride. The company reported its second quarter results on Friday, losing $41.8 million from continuing operations, compared with a loss of $39.1 million in the second quarter of 2006, as revenue increased 6%. The loss per share of $.50 was nearly double the consensus estimates.

Mark Shapiro, Six Flags President and CEO, commented: "Although our peak business period occurs in the third quarter, we witnessed encouraging results for the first six months, especially when you consider 4% fewer operating days and unprecedented rain in the state of Texas. The fact that in-park spending and guest satisfaction scores are at an all-time high indicates both the return of families to Six Flags and their approval of the makeover. We are in position for the long-term turnaround we envisioned for our shareholders."

But those shareholders apparently aren't buying it, as the shares shed another 16% on Friday to close at $3.90, after trading over $6 as recently as June. In 1999, the stock was above $30.

So is Six Flags a good deal, with its market cap of under $375 million? In many ways, the company is a lot like Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP), whose shares have tanked after the company failed to find a buyer. Saddled with enormous debt loads (1.4 billion for Trump and 2.65 billion for Six Flags), you have to worry that these companies will be unlikely to make the capital investments necessary to stay relevant in competitive industries. The huge debt service requirements make it difficult for these companies to generate cash and while Six Flags does have a $275 million revolving credit facility, that's not that much considering that the company has lost $200 million in the past 6 months.

I would stay away from these stocks for now. The huge debt loads make them too speculative.

Six Flags earnings not amusing to shareholders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. is planning an initial public offering, following in the footsteps of arch rival Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX), reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
  
• Archer-Daniel-Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) is expected to enter the sugar cane ethanol business in Brazil, including the possible purchase of Cosan, Brazil's largest ethanol producer, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• British energy company BP plc (NYSE: BP) will agree to the demands of the Russian government to give up its stake in the $20B Kovykta gas project, reported the U.K. Times.
• From BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" column:
• Bulls and bears argue over where it is time to own Deere and Company (NYSE: DE) stock, some see the stock hitting $150, some believe the party is over.
• Document Security Systems Inc (NYSE: DMC) has nine patented technologies to help protect documents and printed products from brand and security fakers, leading Brookhaven Capital Management to believe it will reach $50-a-share over the next two years.
• WBB Securities believes Cleveland BioLabs Inc (NASDAQ: CBLI) is likely by summer's end to get a U.S. Department of Defense contract for its radiation protection compound called Protectan or CBLB502.

• CNN.com reported that a 16-year-old girl had both of her feet severed in an accident on the free-fall ride "Superman Tower of Power" at Six Flags Inc's (NYSE: SIX) Kentucky Kingdom amusement park yesterday.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-22-07: KKR to follow Blackstone public originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Six Flags plays the oldies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stock futures are lower

Before the bell 3-16-07: Futures lower ahead of CPI, consumer confidence originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN) mid-quarter update conference call at 5pm. Note that Stifel just upgraded Texas Instruments to Buy from Hold as they believe the mid-quarter update will show improving trends.

• Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.
• Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) to hold annual shareholder meeting at 11:30am.
• PDUFA Date for GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR's (NYSE:GSK) Tykerb, a breast cancer drug.

• Retailers Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ:HOTT) and Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) to report earnings. Hot Topic's Q4 conference call is at 4:30pm, Zumiez's Q4 conference call is at 5pm.
• PDUFA Date for Novartis AG ADS's (NYSE:NVS) Tekturna, a treatment for high blood pressure.

• Bayer AG ADS (NYSE:BAY) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 6am.
• Six Flags Inc (NYSE:SIX) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4pm. Note that earlier this week, Cramer specified Six Flags as a stock he was bullish on during the "Lightning Round" of his Mad Money television show.

• IMAX Corp (NASDAQ:IMAX) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE:ANN) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

Market highlights for next week: Texas Instruments mid-quarter update originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Six Flags: Will it amuse this year?

Six Flags: Will it amuse this year? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) is the top conservative investment idea for 2007 from Chris Mayer, editor of Capital & Crisis. The advisor notes, "Six Flags is a great brand name, and about 34 million people visited its amusement and water parks last year. And they all come and spend money.

"Dan Snyder, the whiz-bang executive who made billions with Snyder Communications, took control of the company last November. He's also the guy who bought the Washington Redskins. In the time he's owned the Redskins, profits have tripled, and it's now the most valuable property in the NFL.

"One of the first things he did was hire Mark Shapiro to run the show at Six Flags. Shapiro was the No. 2 guy at ESPN. So he knows a few things about marketing and building up a media asset. Since he's joined Six Flags, he's brought on a bunch of executives and operators from ESPN and Disney.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Chris Mayer waves the flag for Six Flags

Top Picks 2007: Chris Mayer waves the flag for Six Flags originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Hartford Financial (NYSE: HIG) to hold a 10am conference call regarding 2007 earnings guidance
• FCC to hold a hearing on Media Ownership at 1pm
• Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to hold Q4 mid-quarter update at 5pm

• Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) to hold mid-quarter update at 8:30am
• Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 11am
• General Electric (NYSE: GE) to hold financial update conference call at 3pm

• Dynegy (NYSE: DYN) to hold 2007 earnings and cash flow estimates webcast at 8am
• Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to hold public hearing at 9am

Thursday December 14

• Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 10am
• PDUFA Date for Novartis' (NYSE: NVS) Rasilez

Friday December 15

• PDUFA Date for Oscient Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: OSCI) Factive

Earnings news due out this week: Highlights originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On his MAD MONEY show, Jim Cramer always knows how to throw the generally-accepted investing viewpoints for a loop (har har). Tonight he discussed a new perspective on roller coasters when he suggested that Six Flags, Inc. (NYSE:SIX) is a way to make money, as a real estate play instead of as an entertainment company.

On a recent visit he paid $147 for 3 people, but said you can get less with a crushed Coke can; he criticized the park, which operates 30 units in North America, saying that the lines were long and you don't get enough rides for the time.

With such poor service and the risk of thugs, his biggest concern was the risk of bankruptcy -- never a good thing for equity investors, who are paid dead last (and usually nothing) in an asset sale. He found some research that confirmed his fears out of Prudential, but then decided to think outside the box.

As a real estate play they could make a mint if they tore down their parks and sold off the land. Modest proposal? Perhaps.

Cramer evaluated the rating, and noted that even the bears think there is only $1 or $2 downside. He said that CRT Capital named this as a "Strong Buy" because the young CEO may get a grasp of it and the land values alone are huge. He said the theme park can be a theme park because of its real estate. He said the bad numbers are really bad, and thinks the $4 is the floor. He calls it a "2 down 6 up scenario", meaning it can only fall $2.00 and can go up as much as $6.00 from current levels.

[Photo Whatknot]

Cramer says 'tear down Six Flags'; money's in the land originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.