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G C Mays

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  • After Solid 2012, CF Industries Hopes Record Corn Acres Lift Sales In 2013

    By G C Mays - March 7, 2013 | Tickers: CF, TNH

    CF Industries (NYSE: CF) started 2012 with a bang, posting huge growth in revenues and earnings in the company's first quarter.  Despite the strong start, net sales in the 2nd through 4th quarters were all lower than a year ago.  While one would not describe the mid-year slide in revenues as a slump, the year over year declines surprised many. The company still managed to post record revenues of more »

  • These 4 Stocks Will Benefit From A Weaker Dollar in Q1

    By G C Mays - February 1, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, F, MCD, PM

    Recently the EUR/USD exchange rate surged to a price of $1.3575, mostly in the face of stabilizing conditions in Europe, and increasing uncertainty on fiscal policy in the US capped off by initial estimates of US GDP contracting by 0.1 percent in the 4th quarter. Actually, the exchange rate has been in an upswing since early July, just after the government reported that corporate profits decayed for more »

  • Inflation Eases Despite Higher Food Prices, Will Market Rally Decelerate?

    By G C Mays - January 22, 2013 | Tickers: ^GSPC, SWY, WFM

    Inflation was flat in December. On an annual basis it has eased to 1.7%, down from 1.8% a month earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report on consumer prices. Trips to the grocery store, however, weave a different story.

    Food prices have continued to march higher, rising for three consecutive months. Some food retailers like Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) are passing these price increases on more »

  • Producer Prices Show Slumping Crop & Flat to Higher Fertilizer Prices in Q4

    By G C Mays - January 19, 2013 | Tickers: AGU, CF, POT, TNH, MOS

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its report on producer prices for the month of December and noted that prices of finished goods dropped another 0.2%. Producer prices have declined every month in Q4. How did crop and fertilizer prices do during the quarter and how did this impact the stock prices of fertilizer companies like Potash Corp (NYSE: POT), Agrium (NYSE: AGU), Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), CF Industries (NYSE: CFmore »)

  • A Dell Buyout Offer? Maybe If They Offer a Discount

    By G C Mays - January 15, 2013 | Tickers: DELL, HPQ

    The Wall Street rumor mill produced another doozy recently when Bloomberg news reported that Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) might be the target of a buyout by a couple of private equity firms.  The stock price swelled to $12.83 before falling back to close at $12.29 a share, a gain of just under 13 percent.  The report also sent shares of competitor Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) higher as well, as their more »

  • Did India Just Acquire More Leverage Against Canadian Fertilizer Companies?

    By G C Mays - January 10, 2013 | Tickers: AGU, POT, MOS

    Canpotex, the Canadian marketing and export firm for fertilizer producers Potash Corp (NYSE: POT), Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), and Agrium (NYSE: AGU) is likely to face even more difficult negotiations as indian farming business Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (NSE:GSFC) agreed to buy roughly 20 percent of Canadian mining company Karnalyte Resources (TSE:KRN) for C$8.15 a share.

    Along with the significant investment, GSFC also inked a 20 more »

  • Monsanto's Corn Business Grows Strong Profits In Q1

    By G C Mays - January 9, 2013 | Tickers: MON, SYT

    Monsanto's (NYSE: MON) corn seeds & genomics business germinated and grew strong profits in the company's first operating quarter of its fiscal 2013.  Revenue in the corn seeds and genomics business surged 27 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago and accounted for most of the nearly 21 percent surge in  revenues, which totaled $2.94 billion in the quarter compared to $2.44 billion a year more »

  • Will the Recent Pop in This Fertilizer Stock be Short Lived?

    By G C Mays - January 6, 2013 | Tickers: AGU, POT, MOS

    After revising their Q2 estimates lower midway through the quarter and a gift from uncle sam of $0.42 per share, Mosaic (NYSE: MOS) "beat" analysts estimates and posted earnings per share of  $1.47 compared with $1.40 per share a year ago.  After removing the holiday gift from the tax man, the company's net earnings of $1.05 per share still compared favorably to the generous consensus more »