10:28 ET Utilities sector gets friendly Barron's coverage
A Barron's article on the utilities sector argues that there are some values in traditional utilities even though the first half of the year could be tough, but that the independent power producers such as MIR, CPN, RRI, and NRG might continue to be long shots due to the post-Enron credit crunch.
10:21 ET Barron's stock screen for high debt burdens
Barron's reports on a stock screen which looked for companies with the highest percentage of long-term debt coming due in the next year relative to capital; we rank them in order of the company's credit rating, from lowest rated to highest -- companies with same ratings grouped together: (EIX), (MDR), (XRX, DCN), (AV, BCC, ODP), (DG, DPH, VC), (TUP, SV, TYC, CA, PCS, FON, GDT), (TJX, CEG, NWL, AHP, T), (CSC, CAT, FPL, CCE), (DLX, UL), (G, PG), (FRE).
09:57 ET Gloomy telecom talk in Barron's
Scott Cleland and William Whyman of the Precursor Group are interviewed in Barron's regarding the telecom landscape; they paint a very gloomy picture of excess debt and excess capacity, concluding that BLS, SBC, and VZ are the only relatively safe investments in the sector.
09:47 ET CAT Caterpillar receives a favorable Barron's write-up (52.68)
Barron's cover story delivers an upbeat view of CAT; company's CEO tell Barron's that Q1 will "likely be a little better than anticipated"; article also notes that a leaner CAT was able to remain profitable through the recession, and that it will benefit from solid growth in its engine and power generation, and financial services businesses. |
