"Broad-based chemical, agriculture, and 'science technology' company DuPont (NYSE: DD) is about as 'blue chip' as companies get," says Bill Martin.[More...]

Although I have made very good money in real estate this year, especially in rentals and apartment renovations that have come to banks via foreclosures, I understand the reluctance of investors to get back on board with securities that represent companies[More...]

In 2009 first quarter, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) reported diluted earnings per ADR of $2.14 compared to $2.94 in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Net revenues decreased 4.7% year over year to $5.92 billion. The company attributes the decrease in revenues to soaring raw material prices and exchange rates fluctuations. Consolidated vehicle sales for the quarter amounted to 2.19 million units, an increase of 24,000 units compared with the same period of fiscal 2008. The company continues to expand its production capacity in a manner that increases efficiency and meets local demand and simultaneously powering it to emerge as the world?s financially strongest automaker. A strong presence in North America has been further consolidated by gaining market share from the leading U.S. automakers. Moreover, the company also has a strong cash flow and a[More...]

WITH RESPECT TO THE US’ GDP GROWTH, THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH SEES A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ECONOMIC ACTITIVY SPREAD ACROSS THE ECONOMY, WHICH WILL LAST MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS - WSJ - According to Robert Hall, economist at Stanford University, US economic data that has been reported provide (...) [More...]

James Altucher has written about two potential wind power plays in a recent Financial Times article. The two stocks are AeroVironment (AVAV) and Otter Tail (OTTR). Yes, strange names, but Altucher mentions that these stocks interest him in part because his ".... general approach when dealing with “hot topic of the day” type stocks is to look for back doors. Find stocks that have legitimate cash generating businesses, trade at cheap multiples and happen to be making serious moves in whatever the hot field is." AeroVironment and Otter Tail certainly fit this description since they both have other primary businesses that do something other than support the wind power industry. [More...]