Shares of US Steel (NYSE: X) are down 6% today. No one on Wall Street seemed to think much of the company's earnings.

Is it any wonder? The company reported third-quarter 2007 net income of $269 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, compared to second-quarter 2007 net income of $302 million, or $2.54 per diluted share, and third-quarter 2006 net income of $417 million, or $3.42 per diluted share. Total revenue rose slightly from $4.1 billion in the third quarter last year to $4.35 billion this year.

US Steel also said it expected poor results in the current quarter. Part of the issue driving down net income was the cost of an acquisition. The latest results included a charge of 23 cents a share for inventory acquired as part of the company's purchase in June of Lone Star Technologies Inc.

US Steel blamed imports from China for keeping its prices to customers low. Higher commodities prices also hurt the firm.

The problem for US Steel now is that China pressures and higher commodities prices are not likely to abate. That puts the company in a bind. Its shares trade in the middle of its 52-week range, changing hands today at a bit above $105. But if price and margin pressures stay as they are as 2008 begins, the stock could move back toward its recent lows around $80 reached just last August.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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US Steel (X) loses its strength originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Money Face-Offs feature. Let us know who you think comes out ahead in this head-to-head match-up, and check out our other Money Face-Off posts.

In this corner, hailing from Beverly Hills and Las Vegas, is 91-year old billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, one-time amateur boxer know as "Rifle Right Kerkorian." And in the other corner, hailing from New York, is 71-year-old corporate raider and activist private equity investor, Carl Icahn, who is never afraid to go toe to toe with an opponent.

Let's get ready to rumble.

Round One begins: Kerkorian drops out of school and becomes a pilot. He gets his start in business buying surplus planes after World War II, as well as Las Vegas properties, becoming the landlord of Caesar's Palace. Icahn, meanwhile, establishes his reputation as a corporate raider during his hostile takeover of TWA in 1985, and becomes one of the inspirations for the character of Gordon "Greed Is Good" Gekko, the antagonist of the 1987 film Wall Street.

Continue reading Money Face-Off: Kirk Kerkorian vs. Carl Icahn

Money Face-Off: Kirk Kerkorian vs. Carl Icahn originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Today, the much-derided Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is a "rock star." Next week, will he become the Fed's answer to one-hit wonder Tommy Tutone of "867-5309 Jenny" fame?

That's tough to know, but Bernake proved that yesterday's idiot is today's genius. The Dow Jones industrial average reversed its recent declines soaring at last check 106.89 points to 12,952.67 after the Federal Reserve slashed in the discount rate -- the interest rate on direct loans -- by 0.5 percentage point to 5.75%.

Will this mean much to the problems affecting the economy?

The real estate market is still lousy. Consumer confidence seems shaky. Retail sales still are weak and investors outside of Wall Street remain very, very nervous but less so today than they have been. Again, that's tough to know.

Market pundits of course were joyful. "It's just a brilliant move in letting the markets know where liquidity can be found and at what cost," Tim Hartzell of Kanaly Trust Co. told Bloomberg News. Is this excitement premature? Again, tough to know.

Continue reading Is Ben Bernanke a 'rock star' or 'one-hit wonder?'

Is Ben Bernanke a 'rock star' or 'one-hit wonder?' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.