TOP 100 TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SITES
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| Remote Control Is a Failure for Railroads Railroader Blog submits:CSX (CSX) and the Norfolk Southern Railroad (NSC) released their 2009 first quarter earnings. CSX reported that it had “a better-than-expected first-quarter net profit, due in part to continued strong pricing”, while the NS said it was “aggressively cutting costs in order to offset the drop in freight volumes”. Better than expected, according to CSX, is a 23% drop from 2008. (I would hate to see what it thought a bad quarter would be.) Today, BNSF (BNI) and the Union Pacific Railroad (UNP) will release their first quarter earnings, but will Wall Street continue to celebrate their lackluster performance?It is apparent that the Class 1 railroad network had a dismal first quarter, however who is really to blame for their sluggish start? The Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF, and the NS rolled the dice a few years ago in an attempt to eliminate what they saw as a drain on their budget — their manpower. They used investors' money in an experiment that has failed miserably over the past 3 to 5 years. They threw billions of dollars in the Remote Control Locomotives industry that not only slowed their car count to a crawl, but also spent more in technology than they did in a human being with full benefits.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Checking In with the Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack Jeffrey Dean Brown submits: We must admit that we don't think a lot about Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY) - unless we need a replacement windshield wiper or the oil light comes on in our cars. But looking at their stock performance of late, maybe we should change our opinion. Shares in Pep Boys have been positively electric. From a close of $2.71 on January 23, 2009, the stock has rebounded strongly to close at $9.33 on June 9, 2009.. Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
CP Railway: Slower Freight Volumes Expected to Weigh Heavily on Earnings FP Trading Desk submits: Slower freight volumes are expected to weigh heavily on the earnings of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP) when it releases its second quarter results Thursday.Despite some evidence that declines in shipments have stabilized in recent weeks, the Calgary-based railway’s carloads fell by more than 24% during the quarter. The Street is anticipating earnings per share of C$.37 for the period ending June 30, compared to C$.97 a share last year. Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Nissan Celebrates 40 Years of Making Zs TheCarConnection.com submits: In the 1970s and 80s, there were a handful of cars that screamed "badass": obviously the Firebird and the Trans Am made the cut, but the list also included the Mazda RX7, the unlikely Buick Regal, and the Datsun 280Z. Since becoming a Nissan (NSANY), the Z has gone a bit more upscale, but it's still a source of inspiration and envy. To celebrate the model's 40th birthday, Nissan is launching an anniversary model Z, which is set to hit showrooms next spring.Like its non-special-edition siblings, the 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z will come with a 3.7-liter V6 engine that turns out 332 hp. It will also feature a six-speed manual transmission, red leather seats, and an assortment of commemorative badges. The anniversary edition will come with the Z's Sport Package, which includes 19-inch wheels, bigger brakes, and a limited-slip differential. Perhaps the model's most distinctive feature -- at street level, anyway -- will be the Z's coloring, which will be done in "40th Quartz". Drivers can protect that precious paint job from the elements via a red satin cover.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Honda Ranked Most Fuel-Efficient in U.S. TheCarConnection.com submits: Nine automakers sell full lineups in the U.S., and the Environmental Protection Agency has ranked them according to fuel-efficiency. At the top of the EPA's list sits Honda (HMC), whose U.S. models average 23.6 miles per gallon; Hyundai (23.4 mpg) and Toyota (TM) (23.2 mpg) take home silver and bronze, respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, we find Detroit's Big Three: Ford (F) (20.5 mpg), GM (19.9 mpg), and Chrysler (18.7 mpg). Sounds like Bob Lutz might need to refine Howie's message. [GreenCarReports]Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |