"We like stocks. And we like a lot of 'em. We focus on broadly diversified investments in undervalued stocks for their long-term appreciation potential," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Each month, we suggest a group of stocks that could help serve as a portfolio foundation. Here's a look at three such portfolio 'foundation' stocks: Kraft Foods (KFT), Verizon Communications (VZ) and Waste Management (WM).

Continue reading 'Foundation' Stocks: Kraft, Verizon and Waste Management

'Foundation' Stocks: Kraft, Verizon and Waste Management originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is Waste Management Headed to $45 and Beyond?

Is Waste Management Headed to $45 and Beyond? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Waste Management: The Right Business Model, at the Right Time

Waste Management: The Right Business Model, at the Right Time originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"I'm usually advising investors to avoid garbage, but today I'm advising the opposite," says Jack Adamo, adding, "Waste Management (WM), the largest provider of solid waste disposal in the U.S., is my latest recommendation.

The editor of Insiders Plus explains, "The company also has a growing recyclable and waste-to-energy business.

"The two biggest players, itself and Republic Group, have been on a long road of consolidating the industry. There will eventually only be three of four players.

Continue reading Waste Management (WM): Investing in Garbage

Waste Management (WM): Investing in Garbage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch continues this week, and analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating lots of strong quarterly reports.

For example, year-over-year earnings growth from big oil Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), ExxonMobil (XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) are expected to be in double digits. The same is true of many other energy and mining concerns reporting this week: Allegheny Technologies (ATI), Alliant Energy (LNT), Arch Coal (ACI), Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), CMS Energy (CMS), CONSOL Energy (CNX), DPL (DPL), Hess Corp. (HES), Minerals Technologies (MTX), Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), PPL Corp. (PPL), Southwestern Energy (SWN), Total (TOT), Whiting Petroleum (WLL), Williams Companies (WMB) and Wisconsin Energy (WEC).

Continue reading Week in Preview: The Earnings Crunch Rolls On (MSFT, COP, V)

Week in Preview: The Earnings Crunch Rolls On (MSFT, COP, V) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Waste Management: Waste Not, Profit Alot

Waste Management: Waste Not, Profit Alot originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Managing waste is about as far from glamorous as you can get. But it's essential, and offers relatively reliable growth and defensive qualities that should appeal to conservative investors," says growth stock expert Stephen Leeb.

The editor of The Complete Investor explains, "Waste Management (WM) is the largest waste-management operator in the U.S. and Canada, with about a 25 percent market share.

Continue reading Waste Management (WM): No Glamor, but Reliability

Waste Management (WM): No Glamor, but Reliability originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) lower Q4 earnings topped estimates and same-store sales also declined.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) reaffirmed its earnings outlook but lowered its revenue forecast for the full year.
• Daimler AG (DAI) provided guidance for the year that included slashing its dividend, sending shares lower.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) lower Q4 earnings beat estimates by a penny but it didn't offer guidance, sending shares lower.
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) easily topped Q4 earnings estimates and revenue increased as well.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Campbell, Dell, Goodyear, JCPenney, Merck, Playboy ...

Earnings Highlights: Campbell, Dell, Goodyear, JCPenney, Merck, Playboy ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Waste Management Inc. (WM) shares jumped nearly 4% after the company reported Tuesday that adjusted net income for the fourth quarter came to $257 million, or $0.52 per share, compared with $241.0 million, or $0.49 per share, for the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the fourth quarter totaled $3.0 billion, down from $3.1 billion a year ago. Analysts expected to see $0.48 per share and $2.9 billion.

For the full year, Waste Management posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.00, compared with $2.22 EPS for 2008. Full-year revenue came to $11.8 billion, down from $13.4 billion for 2008. Analysts expected to see $1.96 per share and $11.7 billion.

Continue reading Waste Management Rises After Better-Than-Expected Results

Waste Management Rises After Better-Than-Expected Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst initiations:

• Allegheny (NYSE: AYE) was initiated with a buy at Citigroup as attractive at current levels. Target is $33.
• PPL Corp. (NYSE: PPL) was initiated with a buy at Citigroup. Citi believes PPL's earnings power from the Pennsylvania regulated utility market is being underappreciated. Target is $35.
• FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) was initiated with a Buy at Citigroup who believes the company's current valuation doesn't reflect its transition to full market-based rates in 2011. Target is $56.
• Waste Management (NYSE: WM) coverage resumed with a Neutral at Goldman.
• Exxon (NYSE: XOM) initiated with a Buy at Soleil. Target is $90.
• Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) was initiated with a Buy at ING Group.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, BKS, POT, XOM, WM ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, BKS, POT, XOM, WM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Capital One (NYSE: COF) to Buy from Hold as it believes the credit cycle is starting to recover for U.S. credit cards and an improving economy will support bank credit stabilization. The firm raised its target on shares to $44 from $28.
• JPMorgan upgraded Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation and believes the stock market recovery will serve as a catalyst.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) to Buy from Hold after its channel checks indicated a sooner-than-expected order ramp and stabilizing pricing trends. The firm raised its target on shares to $46 from $39.
• COTT Corp. (NYSE: COT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
• Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BX, COF, DD, MS, VMC, WM, ZION ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BX, COF, DD, MS, VMC, WM, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Waste Management (WMI) will recycle trashed bank ticker

Waste Management (WMI) will recycle trashed bank ticker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Trillions of dollars have been introduced into the world economy since last July, when I thought it would be interesting to jump in and pick stocks prior to the carnage in the financial sector taking complete hold.

For the past eight months our government has been taking over financial institutions, absorbing debt, lowering interest rates, nationalizing some private companies, investing in others, and rebating taxes through stimulus packages to increase liquidity and spending. The Federal Reserve has essentially dropped the interest to zero.

The government was the last to announce that we are in a recession. Well, duh! However, recession or not the world is still open for business although less of it. Gold is down 30% from it's highs and oil having totally collapsed from $147 a barrel at the time of the original story to the low $30's now.

The original story was Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials -- buying into a pool of financial stocks at a time when these stocks went unloved by all.

Continue reading Chasing Value: reviewing financial ruins MBI, MER, WB, WM

Chasing Value: reviewing financial ruins MBI, MER, WB, WM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Eighteen months ago, banks were throwing money around with very little discretion. Now we find that they made a lot of bad loans, took extreme risk and jeopardized the global economy and the well being of hundreds of millions of people.

All this was supported by a simple minded president, corrupt Congress and an over-confident, short sighted investment community maneuvering in and around a sleeping Securities and Exchange Commission.

Having invested in a broad range of real estate assets (as well as stocks), I am feeling the pain like most everyone else. Reduced values, tighter liquidity, and uncertainty rule the market place.

What has me steamed currently is that I think there is more capital in the marketplace than courage! The lack of courage along with a shortage of leadership and wisdom continues to exacerbate a bad situation. I am probably better off than many people having been able to close two loans in the past month. It was not easy. However, after dealing with many financial institutions that are now doing a better job in the review process, I see that they have swung too far to the conservative side.

Continue reading Banking stupidity, then and now

Banking stupidity, then and now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This is the third in a four part series which I hope gives buyers, sellers, shareholders and dare I say management a platform for discussion.

The most valuable asset eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) has is PayPal, the dominant internet financial transaction facilitator. When I started imagining what might happen if eBay started auctioning off its parts I envisioned that PayPal would be worth the highest premium.

I think there would be dozens of interested companies that would find it highly advantageous to acquire PayPal.

The reason eBay bought PalPal in the first place was that they had first hand experience trying to compete with it when it was a separate company, and even with its huge base of customers, eBay could not build much traction. As the old saying goes, "if you can't beat them, join them", or in this case buy them.

For starters, all of the major credit card companies would be very interested with MasterCard Inc'A' (NYSE: MA) and Visa (NYSE: V) leading the bidding and beleaguered American Express (NYSE: AXP) trying to find a way too.

Then there are the few prospering banks still left standing that would have to give this potential acquisition strong consideration. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) which has already bought out Countrywide Financial and will soon add Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) would find this a must have. JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) has added Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) to its group of enterprises and might be best suited to expand the company given its growing resources. Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) that recently agreed to acquire Wachovia Corp (NYSE: WB) after staying on the sidelines most of the year might want PayPal, but I do not think it would pay up.

Continue reading Serious Money: eBay auction off PayPal -- create bidding war

Serious Money: eBay auction off PayPal -- create bidding war originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Around the world, governments are flooding the market with new currency in order to stem the tide of bank collapses and slippery stock market slopes. They are taking over financial institutions, absorbing debt, lowering interest rates, nationalizing some private companies, investing in others, and rebating taxes through stimulus packages to increase liquidity and spending.

So far all we can say is that the world is still open for business, but it is a different world. Even gold and oil are down significantly.

In concert with world markets, the stocks in my daring (maybe fool hardy) story I posted a few months ago Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials -- buying into a pool of financial stocks at a time when the "hate 'em" factor was at a peak, or so I thought -- are down even more. I think I am turning into the web's leading glutton for punishment by posting such stories. However, while my stock ideas have taken a beating now and then, I hope my integrity has remained intact.

I took some major lumps during the collapse of Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) as I candidly posted, Chasing Value: Not -- WaMu one week later - ouch!, and I lost some money also.

Nine of the ten financial stocks I wrote about are down or out at this point. When I last reported, the portfolio was losing 4.8%, and now it is losing 47% to date, not counting dividends. Only MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) is up and there are question marks about this company too.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Money flood & bank mud

Chasing Value: Money flood & bank mud originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The beggars of Wall Street

The beggars of Wall Street originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Earnings still matter

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Earnings still matter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wachovia (NYSE: WB) is recently trading at $4.25 in pre-open trading, below its close of $10. WB October 10 straddle was priced at $7.20 on September 26, November 10 is at $8.40 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

National City (N&SE: NCC) is recently trading at $3.64 in pre-open trading, below its close of $3.71. NCC's share price declined 25% after JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) purchased Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) banking assets. BMO Capital says: "NCC is not in the same situation as WM was." NCC October 4 straddle is priced at $2.45; November 4 straddle is priced at $2.75; according to Track Data, suggesting large price fluctuations.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Wachovia and National City volatility elevated originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If not for the collapse of Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) this week, I would probably not have posted this saga so soon after last Monday's report. However, since I was a shareholder of WaMu and thought there was value in it when I posted Chasing Value: Are you watching WaMu? I felt it was time to take my lumps.

I cannot go on ranting and raving about the failures and deceptions of others without making sure that I am forthright and transparent myself. I did post Chasing Value: Not -- WaMu one week later - ouch! but now WaMu is toast and so is some of my money.

Since I posted Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials, the results of buying into the following pool of financial stocks at a time when the "hate 'em" factor was at a peak, with each passing day investors have found something more to hate.

The portfolio is losing 4.8% to date, not counting dividends. Some of my colleagues thought it was way too early to get back into the financial sector; seems that way now, and one read me the riot act for reporting the story so soon on MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) being up substantially.

Continue reading Chasing Value: WaMu gone, vultures circling for more

Chasing Value: WaMu gone, vultures circling for more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.