The comparisons between Wall Street and a casino predate the current financial situation by decades. I, of course, have an interest in casinos of all kinds, as shown by my approval of various Indian casino bonds. And now, I have found an enticing opportunity in a casino supplier. Gaming Partners International (GPIC) is the largest […]
In my last article at seekingalpha.com on the dramatically low price of Best Buy (BBY), it was pointed out to me by a commenter that I have a nonstandard definition of operating cash flow. Specifically, when calculating a company’s operating cash flow, and consequently free cash flow, I ignore changes in working capital as a […]
They do say that value opportunities are usually found in small, out of the way places. I have found this to be true, but sometimes even large companies we’ve all heard of can hold significant value. Best Buy has a free cash flow yield of roughly 15.8% as of this writing, once its excess cash […]
AMCON Distributing Co. is a wholesale distributor of consumer products, which constitutes the bulk of its business, and also runs fourteen health food stores. The wholesale segment is the 9th largest in the country and provides mainly tobacco products, but also candy, beverages, paper products, health & beauty, frozen foods, and institutional food services. It […]
It may be Stockholm syndrome, but I do think some of the criticism of Goldman Sachs regarding its subprime deals is overblown. I don’t deny that there have been apparent violations of the securities laws in terms of disclosures, but the central issue that upset Senator Levin and Matt Taibbi so much has not seemed […]
Those of you who have been following my articles on the River Rock casino bonds will recall that they fall due for refinancing in November of this year, and that this refinancing process has been delayed because the casino is negotiating its agreement with Sonoma County. If you haven’t been following my articles, that should […]
Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) is one of the largest egg producers in the United States, with a market cap of roughly $675 million. Of this, $213 million is represented by excess cash and short term investments, and the free cash flow yield on the balance is roughly 16%, or 15% when considering average profit margins over […]
I was sick last week, but I have returned and I brought a promising microcap company called Servotronics (SVT) with me. Servotronics is a small company; daily volume averages only about 1200 shares, but it offers excellent figures. It operates in two sectors, one of which is, obviously, making servos such as torque motors, electromagnetic […]
I recently examined Revlon (REV), a makeup company which has had a spotty and debt-laden history but which has turned the situation around in the last four years, assisted by substantial overseas growth. Although the firm is still dealing with the debt that Ron Perelman saddled it with during its LBO, it offers a free […]
It was announced yesterday that Smart Modular Technologies (SMOD) would be taken over by a private equity firm for $645 million, or $9.25 per share. When I recommended it here on January 3, the price was $5.94. Not bad for a few months’ wait, I think.