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Cory Renauer

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  • Who is Poised to Profit as Remittances Keep Rising?

    By Cory Renauer - May 4, 2013 | Tickers: MGI, WU, XOOM

    According to the World Bank, remittances totaled an estimated $440 billion in 2010. Officially recorded flows to developing countries from 2011 to 2012 increased by 8% from $325 billion to $351 billion. Lets look as some of the major publicly listed players in this arena.

    MoneyGram International (NASDAQ: MGI) has a 73 year history and operates in 197 countries. International money transfers are its primary business, although it also handles more »

  • A Pure Play on Exploding Digital Data Transmission

    By Cory Renauer - May 2, 2013 | Tickers: AKAM, GOOG, LVLT

    The number of fixed broadband internet subscribers exploded during 1998-2003, but since then, it has grown at a fairly constant rate of about 50-60 million per year. That lack of acceleration puts internet service providers and hardware manufacturers in the slow growth drawer.

    The amount of digital information passing through those lines is still growing exponentially, mainly in the form of streaming video. As a savvy investor, you're probably more »

  • 5 Food Companies To Feed Your Watchlist

    By Cory Renauer - May 2, 2013 | Tickers: CPB, GIS, HRL, SJM, MKC

    The packaged food companies below all market branded items that supermarkets and mini-marts absolutely must carry, or they risk losing business to stores that do. Just think about what people would say about a supermarket that refused to stock Cheerios in the cereal aisle. Also, because of their brand recognition, these companies don’t need to enter pricing wars with competitors. They can continue to charge higher prices for a more »

  • Should Macy's Fear a J.C. Penney Revival?

    By Cory Renauer - April 30, 2013 | Tickers: JCP, M, JWN

    When Ron Johnson attempted to re-brand J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) by making it trendy, he effectively alienated its core customers. His catastrophic failure sent many of those customers to Macy's (NYSE: M); at least a comparison of both companies' revenue suggests that was the case.

    Quarterly revenue in billions 2013-Jan. 2012-Oct. 2012-Jul. 2012-Apr. 2012-Jan.
    J.C. Penney $3.8 $2.9 $3.0 $3.1 $5.4
    Macy more »

  • Why Buffett Is Just Saying No to These Drug Majors

    By Cory Renauer - March 15, 2013 | Tickers: AZN, BMY, LLY

    Global pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY), and Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE: LLY) meet most of the growth and profitability criteria that Warren Buffett’s basic strategy is based on. So why isn’t he buying them?

    How they fit into Buffett’s strategy

    Below is a checklist for choosing companies that should offer steady returns and minimize losses during general economic downturns. Earnings per share more »

  • Westport Fourth Quarter 2012 Earnings Call Less Than Encouraging

    By Cory Renauer - March 12, 2013 | Tickers: CLNE, WPRT

    Westport Innovations (NASDAQ: WPRT) is a global provider of technology and solutions that allow engines to operate on gaseous fuels. The glut of natural gas in the US has the price of this fuel so low, the entire trucking industry is fired up about switching and boosting profits. That enthusiasm is reflected in the latest earnings call from Westport. Sadly, warranty provisions and slim margins make Westport's age of more »

  • Congress Holding Marathon Oil's Future in its Hands

    By Cory Renauer - March 10, 2013 | Tickers: COP, HES, MRO, MPC

    So far, 2013 has been a shaky year for exploration and production companies. Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) represents that trend well. The Jan. 16 attack on the natural gas plant in Algeria, run jointly by Statoil, BP, and Algerian Sonatrach caused a negative ripple effect on most E&P companies with North African operations, Marathon Oil included.

    A lackluster Q4 2012 didn't help matters either, despite posting slightly higher more »

  • 2 Toy-Makers Warren Buffett Would Like to Play With

    By Cory Renauer - March 7, 2013 | Tickers: HAS, MAT

    For decades, Warren Buffett’s name has been tossed around like Albert Einstein’s. In his day, Einstein was considered to have superhuman intelligence. However, he was the first to admit that nothing could be further from the truth. Einstein insisted that his tenacity at solving problems led to his groundbreaking discoveries. Similarly, Buffett loves to tell anyone that will listen that investing is a game where people of slightly more »

  • Three Risks Marvell Technology Faces In The Year Ahead

    By Cory Renauer - March 4, 2013 | Tickers: CMGE, MRVL, WDC

    Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) is one of Greenlight Capital's largest positions, comprising nearly 5.9% of its tech-heavy portfolio. David Einhorn has had to defend his decision to keep such a large position in this very well managed company several times over. Rather than defend my position in this company, I would like to discuss three serious risks to Marvell's future.

    Marvell is highly dependent on several more »

  • Chesapeake's Production Mix Is Moving Towards Liquids

    By Cory Renauer - March 4, 2013 | Tickers: APC, CHK, MRO

    After 24 years at the helm of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK), co-founder and CEO Aubrey McClendon will retire from the company on April 1, 2013. It was his innovative -- and borderline reckless -- purchasing that made Chesapeake’s asset value the envy of the US energy industry. At a time when other producers were still scratching their heads at the prospect of developing shale gas, Chesapeake pioneered the practice. When more »

  • Pioneer Southwest Downgrades are an Entry Opportunity

    By Cory Renauer - March 1, 2013 | Tickers: MCEP, PXD, PSE

    Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners (NYSE: PSE) is an upstream master limited partnership formed by parent company Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) in 2007. The partnership was formed to own and acquire oil and gas assets mainly in the West Texas Spraberry field. As an MLP, the partnership receives tax breaks significant enough that it boasts an effective tax rate of about 1%. These savings allow the partnership to distribute larger more »

  • Chesapeake Reducing Per-Unit Production Costs

    By Cory Renauer - March 1, 2013 | Tickers: CHK, DVN, PXD

    On Feb. 21, Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) surprised Wall Street by beating estimates on both top and bottom lines. The company’s latest earnings call was focused on increasing profitability by shifting production from gas to liquids to boost revenue, and becoming more efficient to lower costs. To meet its efficiency goals the company intends to reduce capex and lower per-unit costs by transitioning to pad drilling.

    Transition to pad more »

  • Western Digital Is Down But Not Out

    By Cory Renauer - February 27, 2013 | Tickers: MU, STX, WDC

    On Feb. 1 Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) posted 4th quarter results that are hardly indicative of an industry in decline. Year over year net revenues rose 90% and unit shipments rose 108%. It is important to note that in 2011 the company’s manufacturing centers in Thailand were badly damaged due to the flooding there. That natural disaster lowered revenues and unit shipments for 2011, making subsequent gains somewhat more more »

  • Could Shell Become The New BP?

    By Cory Renauer - January 10, 2013 | Tickers: BP, XOM, RDS-A

    The Kulluk’s grounding on New Years Eve is just the latest in a string of setbacks for Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A)’s Arctic dream. After a disappointing summer the rig snapped its tow cables in extremely rough seas while being pulled back to Seattle for the Winter.

    On November 15, 2012 BP (NYSE: BP) pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from the worst oil spill in US history more »

  • Pandora: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

    By Cory Renauer - December 12, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, P, SIRI

    After reporting reasonably positive earnings, Pandora’s (NYSE: P) share price was smacked down for flat revenue guidance through early 2013. Is one quarter of flat revenue growth a good reason for an 18% plunge, or is this a buy opportunity?

    Discussions surrounding dynamic media providers like Pandora and Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) tend to be overheated and sometimes irrational. I find the best way to cut through the cloud more »

  • Marvell Technology Group's Value Is More Opportunity Than Trap

    By Cory Renauer - December 7, 2012 | Tickers: MRVL, QCOM, WDC

    Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) is an international chipmaker with a very diverse portfolio of switching, transceiver, wireless and storage solutions that keep communications infrastructure humming along quickly and efficiently. Its diverse range of products help power Microsoft Surface tablets, Google TVs, and perhaps most importantly, a diverse range of cloud services.

    Accelerating weakness in PC sales have crippled Marvell’s net income, down 62% from $904.13 million in more »

  • C & J Energy Services Powering Through Difficult Times With Quality

    By Cory Renauer - November 5, 2012 | Tickers: CJES, HAL, SLB

    C&J Energy Services (NYSE: CJES) is making a name for itself in the Eagle Ford, Permian and now the Bakken Shale areas as a fracking service provider with top quality service. Active rig counts are so low that industry leaders Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) and Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) are watching profit margins erode as they scramble to undercut each other. C&J Energy Services is sticking to its strategy of more »

  • Frankenstorms Could Have Silver Lining for the Advanced Storage Industry

    By Cory Renauer - November 1, 2012 | Tickers: AONEQ, ED, JCI, NU

    Increasingly frequent storms sound great!

    The DOE has estimated that over 8.2 million homes and businesses lost power after Hurricane Sandy. For a lucky few, diesel generators can keep refrigerators running and lights on until utility companies can make repairs. City dwellers aren’t as fortunate. Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) warned New Yorkers that the majority of Manhattan neighborhoods that lost power due to Hurricane Sandy could be left more »

  • Refined Preview of Valero Energy's Q3 Earnings Call

    By Cory Renauer - October 27, 2012 | Tickers: HFC, MPC, TSO, VLO, WNR

    Valero Energy’s ) third quarter earnings call is just days away. The company appears undervalued, but so does most of the oil and gas industry. Instead of waiting for mindless, computer generated earnings analysis to distort our perceptions, lets define some criteria for success or failure ahead of the call.

    Something’s Happening Here

    Average analyst earnings estimates for Valero have risen 21% over the past three months from $1 more »

  • Chesapeake Should Heat Up Over This Cold Winter

    By Cory Renauer - October 24, 2012 | Tickers: APA, CHK, DVN, XOM

    It's value hunting season for beaten up natural gas stocks. I've got my sites set on Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) and my eyes glued to weather reports. For the last 12 months, Chesapeake's share price has risen and mostly fallen in tandem with natural gas spot prices. When the weather turns colder than usual, natural gas prices in the US tend to rise. This year the NOAA more »