TOP 100 TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| The Economic View from the Railroads Jim Delaney submits: After yesterday’s about face erasing all of Wednesday’s rout and adding a few additional points to the SPX, does it mean that Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express (AXP), was right all along when he said: “Today, while there is still reason to be cautious about high unemployment levels, we are seeing broad-based improvements in credit quality, the trends in card member spending are encouraging, and there are signs that the recession may be approaching an end,” while discussing 3Q09 earnings? After all, haven’t we been bludgeoned with the eco-snippet that 70% of our GDP is driven by the consumer and while possibly at the higher end of the spending spectrum, don’t most “card members” use their cards for consuming?Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Toyota's Troubles: A Catalyst for Change in the Auto Industry? Daniel Eskin submits:The recent recall from Toyota (TM) may help approximately nine million vehicles, but not the company’s stock. As of today, 5 fatalities have been reported and lawmakers around the world continue to monitor Toyota’s reactive actions to the allegedly sticking gas pedals. As responsive as Toyota has been in handling the situation, it won’t be soon forgotten; definitely not until the improved components are shown to work over a considerable time period, which could take months or even years.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Like Diana Shipping, Paragon Shows Great Potential to Benefit From Recovery Dan Wieman submits:After my recent post on Diana Shipping, I received an email asking me to look at Paragon Shipping. I have to say that I’m impressed.While Diana (DSX) has a stronger balance sheet, Paragon (PRGN) is certainly not over leveraged with a debt to equity ratio of 0.78:1. At year-end Paragon had $134 million in cash and $309 million in debt (current maturities and long-term debt). In 2009, the company had almost $100 million in what I would consider owner cash flow (net income plus depreciation) and no capital expenditures or ship purchases. This cash flow was produced by a company that currently has a $240 million market cap. If that valuation isn’t appealing enough, the company trades at 53% of book value.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Escape From the Jet Age By disrupting all air travel, the Icelandic volcano has reminded us of the pleasures of traveling by land or sea. travel.nytimes.com |
The Cruel Realities of EV Range John Petersen submits:By John PetersenAn English proverb teaches us to hope for the best but plan for the worst. With the imminent introduction of a variety of plug-in vehicles that will begin hitting showroom floors in the next few months, the phobia du jour is range anxiety, an entirely rational terror that an EV will get you to your destination in eco-chic style but only get you home with the help of a tow-truck. Sadly, most people who extol the virtues of electric drive are incurable optimists that have little or no regard for the risks inherent in complex systems and the widely variable needs of individuals. The quick and dirty overview is that every plug-in owner will have to cope with range degradation before the new car smell fades and his problems will only get worse as time passes.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |