no need to bet...2009 will look more like the days of yore...no more 14b quarters...but with ~35b in cash the real story will be where they go from acquisition standpoint. Allot 7b for ongoing buyback and still leaves room for sizable acquisition, though traditionally they stay away until a useful company is heavily depressed.
As you said Q4 tells the story though I'm sure the drooling barney frank's of the world will use the full yr headline to fire up some rhetoric. Meanwhile his ilk should be focusing on the companies that don't know what they're doing, not the ones that do.
@Who's Cartwright?: It started already their Q4 earnings were just released, down 33%. Which isn't too bad considering crude futures are down over 50%.
Just thinking out loud: I wonder how much was inventory profits (appreciation on stockpiles) due to the quick runup in crude prices last summer. Based on their 4Q, I bet this year hurts a lot more.
Did anyone expect good news in the earnings calls for Ford or GM? If so I'd like some of what they're smoking.
I work for an OEM supplier and we're laying off people like crazy right and getting pay cuts across the board to "right size" the company to match the production numbers. I really like the automotive industry but this downturn is making me debate going into consulting.
@acarr260: "Possibly the shortest post ever." Without the picture on the left you almost miss it entirely. Maybe they should come up with a new term. "Earnings" doesn't quite describe what we are seeing these days.
In other news Ford is announcing this morning they have sold Volvo to the Icelandic government for a crate of fish two goats ten "massage therapists" and 100 puffin.
Selling Hummer... let's see, your company is failing so you want to sell off your weakest brands and operations? Oh yeah, I'll give you ten billion for that.
Are they actually asking for real money for Hummer? I seem to remember the price of MG Rover being 1 pound, with cash thrown in.
My big concern is that GM is being so arrogant about this. They have the "too big to fail" mentality I've seen so much of on Wall Street lately. "Well, we don't need to worry about doing a good job, the government will just prop us up so we don't take the whole rest of the economy down with us." So you get billions from the taxpayers. Then what? Are you going to start making cars that you can, I don't know, sell?
Shares of Toyota plunged as much as 13 percent on Friday after the carmaker warned that its profits this year would hit a 13-year low amid the global economic downturn.
I think NASCAR will soon be all Hyundai Genesisssiesis
01/30/09
As you said Q4 tells the story though I'm sure the drooling barney frank's of the world will use the full yr headline to fire up some rhetoric. Meanwhile his ilk should be focusing on the companies that don't know what they're doing, not the ones that do.
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/30/09
01/28/09
Yes this bath of blood...one drive?
01/28/09
01/28/09
Tough times all over. First the Comma Cutback and now the Ad Addition.
01/28/09
01/28/09
01/28/09
Did anyone expect good news in the earnings calls for Ford or GM? If so I'd like some of what they're smoking.
I work for an OEM supplier and we're laying off people like crazy right and getting pay cuts across the board to "right size" the company to match the production numbers. I really like the automotive industry but this downturn is making me debate going into consulting.
01/28/09
01/28/09
"We're having this conference call this morning to discuss exactly how much we didn't make this quarter"
01/28/09
01/28/09
01/28/09
11/07/08
Are they actually asking for real money for Hummer? I seem to remember the price of MG Rover being 1 pound, with cash thrown in.
11/07/08
"Congrats, we're still in business this quarter.. he's another 300 million for your efforts!"
11/07/08
11/07/08
11/07/08
No? Okay, FOAD then.
11/07/08
Stupid people get what they deserve and they were dumber than a bag of hammers.
Even the good companies like Toyota and Honda are taking it in the teeth but they're much better prepared for the future and the present.
I feel no pity for poorly run companies.
11/07/08
11/07/08
11/07/08
11/07/08
Oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say O.K.
Where you going
What you looking for
You know those lenders
Don't want to play no more with you
It's true
You're not motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be closing down tonight
Babe you know
You grew up too fast
And shareholder's worrying
That you won't last
To say - let's play
Sister GM
There's so much in life - Don't you give it up
Before your time is due
It's true
It's true - yeah
Not Motoring
What's your price for flight
You''re books are quite a sight
What happened to your might
Not Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be closing down tonight
Sister GM
Oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say O.K.
But you're not motoring
You're not motoring . . .
11/07/08
It's bad. Real bad. No one is safe.
11/07/08
GM going under will directly put close to 500,000 out of work.
No laughing matter. Everyone will be affected.
11/07/08
11/07/08
Shares of Toyota plunged as much as 13 percent on Friday after the carmaker warned that its profits this year would hit a 13-year low amid the global economic downturn.
I think NASCAR will soon be all Hyundai Genesisssiesis
11/07/08
11/07/08