BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2.9 million college kids unsure of career plans]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/31/2-9-million-college-kids-unsure-of-career-plans/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/31/2-9-million-college-kids-unsure-of-career-plans/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/31/2-9-million-college-kids-unsure-of-career-plans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Across the country, college classes are starting. In each of these classrooms, students are struggling with calculus, trudging through Candide, and wondering just what the hell they're going to do with their degrees upon graduation. The last of these is characteristic of every college student, especially those of us, with the foresight fortitude recklessness zeal to major in liberal arts fields (in my case, Philosophy).

The anxiety is a bit higher this year, given a high rate of unemployment, the likelihood of a "jobless recovery" and the fact that it could take years for destroyed value to be recovered.

Continue reading 2.9 million college kids unsure of career plans

2.9 million college kids unsure of career plans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingattorneyattorneysbiomedicalblsbureau of labor statisticschallenger gray christmasengineeringgreenhuman resourcesinthenewsjoblessjobless recoverylawlawyerlawyerslegallitigationmarketingunemployedunemploymentMon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Iran's great potential and its challenges!]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/10/irans-great-potential-and-its-challenges/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/10/irans-great-potential-and-its-challenges/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/10/irans-great-potential-and-its-challenges/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Iran's flawed democracy is still better than most of the political systems among other countries in the region. For the past few decades the morality police, prodded by religious literalism, have mandated women to cover themselves when they are out in public. This same religious literalism has impeded the potential of a country that has a large population, in a key geographic region, with oil and other natural resources.

Iran is in the midst of a presidential election that has stimulated much heated debate among the population about the failures of the current government in economic and political terms, and that has created a feeling of isolation. The isolation is more than a feeling, and it has limited the growth of the nation to something far less than its capabilities.

Continue reading Iran's great potential and its challenges!

Iran's great potential and its challenges! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engineeringglobal economyglobal politicsGlobalEconomyGlobalPoliticsIanian presidential electionIanianPresidentialElectioniranmedicinenatural resourcesNaturalResourcesoilscienceSheldon LiberSheldonLiberwomens rightsWomensRightsWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fluor (FLR) knows there's plenty of work to be done in the U.S.]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/fluor-flr-knows-theres-plenty-of-work-to-be-done-in-the-unite/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/fluor-flr-knows-theres-plenty-of-work-to-be-done-in-the-unite/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/fluor-flr-knows-theres-plenty-of-work-to-be-done-in-the-unite/#commentsFiled under: ,

Investing, like the politics that leads to U.S. public policy, is the art of the possible.

Conditions shift, windows of opportunity present themselves, even amid choppy seas. One such opportunity is presenting itself with Fluor (NYSE: FLR).

Fluor is a leading international design, engineering, and contracting firm with projects that include designing and building manufacturing facilities, refineries, pharmaceutical facilities, health care buildings, power plants and telecommunications and transportation infrastructure.

Continue reading Fluor (FLR) knows there's plenty of work to be done in the U.S.

Fluor (FLR) knows there's plenty of work to be done in the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>constructiondesignengineeringfiscal stimulus packageFLRFluorinfrastructuremaintenanceTue, 17 Feb 2009 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Stock Picks '09: Fluor (FLR)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/02/top-stock-picks-09-fluor-flr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/02/top-stock-picks-09-fluor-flr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/02/top-stock-picks-09-fluor-flr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Fluor (NYSE: FLR), my top pick for 2009, is a global heavyweight in the engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance field," says noted value investor Nathan Slaughter.

The editor of Half-Priced Stocks explains, "2008 won't go down as one of the most memorable for Fluor shareholders -- but 2009 is likely to tell a different story.

"Texas-based Fluor began by building oil refineries over a century ago and has since expanded its repertoire to encompass other specialties including power, telecommunications, and transportation. Annual revenues are now $20 billion.

"In early December, President-elect Obama unveiled ambitious plans for a hefty economic stimulus package, spearheaded by a pledge to rebuild highways and complete other public works projects that will revitalize our aging infrastructure.

"These bold initiatives are aimed at putting workers back on the payrolls and reinvigorating the nation's economy -- but they will also funnel billions into the coffers of construction firms like Fluor.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Fluor (FLR)

Top Stock Picks '09: Fluor (FLR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bargain stocksconstruction stocksengineeringflrfluorhalf-priced stocksnathan slaughtersteven halperntelecomm stocksthestockadvisors.comtransportation stocksvalue investingvalue stocksFri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lots of stuff will be made in China, but better stuff will be made in the U.S. ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/17/lots-of-stuff-will-be-made-in-china-but-better-stuff-will-be-ma/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/17/lots-of-stuff-will-be-made-in-china-but-better-stuff-will-be-ma/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/17/lots-of-stuff-will-be-made-in-china-but-better-stuff-will-be-ma/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

China will remain a major low-cost center for manufacturing, but it is egregiously incorrect and irresponsible to say it represents the landscape -- the sweep, if you will -- of the manufacturing horizon, says economist Richard Felson.

"Many low cost products will be made in China, and elsewhere, but better products can and will be made in the United States, if we plant the seeds for those industries today," Felson said.

This decade, which many economists call the U.S.'s 'decade of descent,' has been a lost decade concerning manufacturing. A failure to invest in the nation's manufacturing, technology, and basic research segments "has left the United States grossly underinvested, from physical plant and capital investment standpoints," Felson said. "The U.S. auto sector is probably the best known example of this. It is a manufacturing tragedy."

U.S. can seize the high end

The solution? Invest in industry, basic research, and technology to re-grab the high-end, and beyond, Felson says.

Think next-generation cars, he says. Think even more efficient jet engines and power systems. Think solar technology. Think wind power. Think smart electric grid. Think expanded universities to train the civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers needed to develop the innovative, energy-efficient, and smart systems of tomorrow.

Continue reading Lots of stuff will be made in China, but better stuff will be made in the U.S.

Lots of stuff will be made in China, but better stuff will be made in the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business investmentcapital equipmentcorporate tax crediteducationengineeringexportsgdpglobalizationhigher educationmanufacturingmathsciencetechnologytradeU.S. economyWed, 17 Dec 2008 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Volcker: U.S. needs more civil engineers and fewer financial engineers ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/24/volcker-u-s-needs-more-civil-engineers-and-fewer-financial-eng/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/24/volcker-u-s-needs-more-civil-engineers-and-fewer-financial-eng/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/24/volcker-u-s-needs-more-civil-engineers-and-fewer-financial-eng/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Every once in while during a crisis or history-altering event, you run across a quote or an observation that sort of summarizes events on the ground, in a nutshell. Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker articulated one such observation during a recent chat he had with PBS's Charlie Rose.

"It seems to me what our nation needs is more civil engineers and electrical engineers and fewer financial engineers," Volcker said.

U.S.: a decade of descent

And there you have it -- the United States' decade of descent, in a nutshell. Volcker's observation speaks volumes about where the United States economy -- and the nation, at large, for that matter -- is today.

For reasons that historians will undoubtedly debate for decades (globalization, automation, flawed public policies, inadequate regulations, overconsumption, the availability of foreign capital, greed) the United States embarked on a financing boom -- creating an increasing array of creative and untenable mortgage types, accompanied by an equally problematic set of mortgage backed securities. It generated an unsustainable housing bubble, which ended as all bubbles do -- badly -- triggering the global financial crisis.

And yet, all the while, as Volcker observed, public investment in infrastructure -- the physical backbone of the economy, of the nation, really -- declined. That infrastructure is now in a state of disrepair. The nation's schools, hospitals, roads/bridges/mass transit systems/air travel system and even our electric grid are inadequate to meet the nation's current requirements, let alone the requirements of an expanding, vibrant, dynamic, twenty-first century economy.

Continue reading Volcker: U.S. needs more civil engineers and fewer financial engineers

Volcker: U.S. needs more civil engineers and fewer financial engineers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Charlie Showcivil engineeringcivil engineerscredit default swapsderivativesengineeringgdphousing bubbleHousingBubbleinthenewsmortgage backed securitiesPaul VolckerPBSU.S. economyVolckerFri, 24 Oct 2008 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[For Shaw Group, the developing world is a lucrative world]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/14/for-shaw-group-the-developing-world-is-a-lucrative-world/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/14/for-shaw-group-the-developing-world-is-a-lucrative-world/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/14/for-shaw-group-the-developing-world-is-a-lucrative-world/#commentsFiled under:

Readers of this space know that in addition to oil / oil services, one of my preferred sectors is: infrastructure / public services. That's because despite the U.S. economic slowdown, global growth proceeds at a better-than-adequate pace, with infrastructure work playing a significant role. And with the aforementioned in mind, The Shaw Group is worth an evaluation.

The Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) is a leading supplier of industrial piping systems, including engineering, pipe erection and construction / maintenance services.

Analysts really like the fact that Shaw Group has also positioned itself as one of the largest engineering and construction contractors for the power generation market and as a top environmental services company. Another positive: SGR's large geographic footprint.

Analysts see 7-11% revenue growth for F2008, and 9-12% for F2009, with adequate margins. The Reuters F2008/F2009 EPS consensus estimates for SGR are $2.30/$3.32.

Continue reading For Shaw Group, the developing world is a lucrative world

For Shaw Group, the developing world is a lucrative world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 May 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emerging marketsengineeringinfrastructureSGRShaw GroupWed, 14 May 2008 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[KBR reports surprising first-quarter earnings on arbitration award]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/02/kbr-reports-surprising-first-quarter-earnings-on-arbitration-awa/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/02/kbr-reports-surprising-first-quarter-earnings-on-arbitration-awa/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/02/kbr-reports-surprising-first-quarter-earnings-on-arbitration-awa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

KBR Inc. (NYSE: KBR), an engineering and construction company that was once a unit of Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), reported this morning that profit more than doubled for its first-quarter as the company benefited from a arbitration award gain.

KBR posted earnings for the quarter of 58 cents per share, which was much higher than the 34 cents per share that analysts predicted. The income figures were definitely something to cheer about. During its first quarter last year, the company had a profit of $28 million. That number surged this quarter to $98 million.

Analysts had been expecting revenue of $2.30 billion, but KBR surprised everyone by posting $2.52 billion in sales, a 24.3% increase, during the quarter. This is a nice rebound from the same period last year when the military contractor's sales were $2.03 billion.

Continue reading KBR reports surprising first-quarter earnings on arbitration award

KBR reports surprising first-quarter earnings on arbitration award originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsengineeringKBRmilitaryFri, 02 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fluor is ready to fly]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/25/fluor-is-ready-to-fly/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/25/fluor-is-ready-to-fly/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/25/fluor-is-ready-to-fly/#commentsFiled under:

Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support. And with the above in mind, Fluor is worth a review.

Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is one of the world's largest engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance companies. The company oversees construction projects for a large range of industrial sectors worldwide, primarily in its core strengths: designing and building manufacturing facilities, refineries, pharmaceutical facilities, healthcare buildings, power plants, and telecommunications and transportation infrastructure.

Analysts see 20-25% revenue growth for F2008, after likely 15-18% revenue growth in F2007, driven by strong demand for oil and natural gas projects.

Continue reading Fluor is ready to fly

Fluor is ready to fly originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>constructionemerging marketsengineeringFLRFluorinfrastructuretransportationMon, 25 Feb 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[General Employment: fewer qualified applicants but fewer job slots]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/general-employment-fewer-qualified-applicants-but-fewer-job-slo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/general-employment-fewer-qualified-applicants-but-fewer-job-slo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/general-employment-fewer-qualified-applicants-but-fewer-job-slo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Employment agencies are generally a good economic indicator. General Employment Enterprises Inc. (Amex: JOB) specializes in permanent job placements for professionals in accounting, engineering and information technology, all fields where one would expect to find high demand for qualified applicants. General Employment Enterprises revenue is down a bit in both 4Q 2007 as well as FY 2007. Net income decreased slightly, and diluted EPS remained flat at $0.06. Such results do not bode well for national employment trends if companies are reluctant to hire accounting, engineering and IT professionals, even on a temporary basis.

CEO Herbert Imhoff stated that the decline in contract services (temporary employment) revenues in 4Q was an improvement over the larger decline in 3Q. But the fact that companies have fewer slots for contract employees is a troubling sign. CEO Imhoff also stated it is more difficult to find qualified applicants in the company's specialized fields. One would think that the company would have little difficulty finding placements for qualified candidates. This does not seem to be the case. General Employment is opening another office in California to offer both permanent placements and contract/contract-to-hire opportunities. The company is increasing its advertising budget for job boards and telephone marketing in an effort to enlarge its pool of qualified applicants.

The company has declared a special year-end dividend of $0.10 per share for the second year in a row, but that is merely a stop gap measure designed to placate shareholders who are not seeing any appreciation in the value of their investment. The stock currently trades at $1.65 with much room for improvement.

General Employment: fewer qualified applicants but fewer job slots originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountingemployment agenciesEmploymentAgenciesengineeringGeneral Employment Enterprises IncorporatedGeneralEmploymentEnterprisesIncorporatedHerbert ImhoffHerbertImhoffIT professionalsItProfessionalsJOBtemporary employmentTemporaryEmploymentTue, 27 Nov 2007 11:40:00 EST