Ockham Research Staff @ January 22, 2009 # One Comment
In this post we reprint an article from the Wall Street Journal in which they expose yet another conflict of interest from the TARP bailouts. There are always going to be conflicts of interest when politicians and business start to intermix, and we fear that we are just starting to see the beginning of the problem.
More on: The Wall Street Journal Agrees
Ockham Research Staff @ January 20, 2009 # One Comment
The market is finishing another ugly day and much of the blame can be placed squarely on the disappointing results out of State Street Corp. One interesting discussion that should be had is regarding the usage of TARP funds by politicians to prop up the banks that are most news worthy to the voting public.
More on: Voter Turnout and TARP
Ockham Research Staff @ January 19, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Last week was a telling one for financials, as BofA, Citi, and JP Morgan all released earnings. There is no doubt that the financial sector is still deeply flawed and for anyone investing in these names we believe it is basically pure speculation at this point.
More on: Financial Stocks Are Still A Dangerous Game
Ockham Research Staff @ January 9, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Interestingly, the NASDAQ OMX Group has created a new index to track the performance of companies that have received more than $1 billion in bailout money. This is an interesting idea on many fronts and it was only a matter of time before someone decided to track the massive intervention into the financial markets.
More on: Oh Good GRIef
Ockham Research Staff @ December 19, 2008 # One Comment
A sweeping downgrade of financials by credit rating agency S&P was one of the major stories of the day. Or on second thought, what does this tell us that we did not already know, and so far the market has not even noticed.
More on: S&P Warns of More Financial Pitfalls Ahead
Ockham Research Staff @ December 15, 2008 # One Comment
A recent study suggests what we have been trying to explain for quite a while now, that in addition to lacking credibility, Wall Street Research ratings appear to not perform very well either. We think this fascinating study is worth a read for both individual and institutional investors.
More on: Study: The Analysts Aren’t Wearing Any Clothes
Ockham Research Staff @ December 9, 2008 # One Comment
A bit of perspective from our email inbox.
More on: What a Difference a Year Makes!
Ockham Research Staff @ December 1, 2008 # No Comment Yet
The Enterprising Investor’s Guide 12-1-08
More on: The Enterprising Investor’s Guide 12-1-08
Ockham Research Staff @ November 26, 2008 # 2 Comments
Is investing in high yielding stock really a way to hedge against a bad market? Well, as we have seen dividends getting cut at an accelerating pace, we thought it would be a good time to reexamine this strategy.
More on: Dividend Investors Beware!
Ockham Research Staff @ November 23, 2008 # 3 Comments
Once again, the Institutional Investor magazine rankings of Wall Street research firms demonstrates the need for a complete system overhaul. The ratings on stocks, which is perpetually stuck in last place by importance, is a massive boat anchor wrapped around each professional analyst. Not only were “Buy/Hold/Sell” ratings at the root of the last collapse of Wall Street research, but it looks as though they could be there again. For quality research professionals, its time to start listening to the annual survey, and cease the ratings game.
More on: And Deliver Us from Estimates, Amen…