Comments on: Tuesday Promise: Skousen’s safe bank http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html Frustrated or intrigued by email teasers from investment newsletters and advisers? We solve them and track their performance here ... so stick around, participate and subscribe (it's free)! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:52:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Squatty HJ http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-4346 Squatty HJ Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:11:29 +0000 http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html#comment-4346 It's interesting that they wouldn't do what REITs do where they figure out a good dividend budget and then true up at the end of the year. I guess it really is a cultural thing. Well, thanks. Consider me enlightened (which is par for the course while visiting this site). It’s interesting that they wouldn’t do what REITs do where they figure out a good dividend budget and then true up at the end of the year. I guess it really is a cultural thing.

Well, thanks. Consider me enlightened (which is par for the course while visiting this site).

]]> By: StockGumshoe http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-4344 StockGumshoe Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:55:57 +0000 http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html#comment-4344 You're not necessarily wrong, but do note that it is really primarily US companies and investors that focus on having a consistent and steadily growing dividend -- European, Asian and South American companies in general tend to pay dividends based on the earnings during that year or quarter, without an implicit promise of a steady dividend yield like you will get from MMM or GE. Sometimes this is company policy, sometimes it's the law of the land in that country (ie, must distributed 30% of earnings annually, or what have you). So dividends are often very uneven, depending on earnings and cash available, and they're often issued only once or twice a year. In the past they've tended to be higher than for similar US companies, too, but not always. You’re not necessarily wrong, but do note that it is really primarily US companies and investors that focus on having a consistent and steadily growing dividend — European, Asian and South American companies in general tend to pay dividends based on the earnings during that year or quarter, without an implicit promise of a steady dividend yield like you will get from MMM or GE. Sometimes this is company policy, sometimes it’s the law of the land in that country (ie, must distributed 30% of earnings annually, or what have you). So dividends are often very uneven, depending on earnings and cash available, and they’re often issued only once or twice a year. In the past they’ve tended to be higher than for similar US companies, too, but not always.

]]> By: Squatty HJ http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-4343 Squatty HJ Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:46:41 +0000 http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html#comment-4343 I am with destry, being a bit more of a codgy, annoying value investor myself. I can understand how looking overseas at financials can seem attractive to return some of the losses from financials over here. If you are trading on volitility and you hit STD right, you could make some decent bank. In the meantime, you might be able to catch a dividend or two. Not that I begrudge people who can catch a wave. I am just rarely that smart or that lucky. But am I wrong to be concerned about a company with such an erratic dividend? Something like that immediately makes me worry that they have far too much exposure that they can't control. Can someone enlighten? I am with destry, being a bit more of a codgy, annoying value investor myself. I can understand how looking overseas at financials can seem attractive to return some of the losses from financials over here. If you are trading on volitility and you hit STD right, you could make some decent bank. In the meantime, you might be able to catch a dividend or two.

Not that I begrudge people who can catch a wave. I am just rarely that smart or that lucky.

But am I wrong to be concerned about a company with such an erratic dividend? Something like that immediately makes me worry that they have far too much exposure that they can’t control. Can someone enlighten?

]]> By: destry http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-4335 destry Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:53:02 +0000 http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html#comment-4335 I don't question trading techniques. I like the way you guys think. My style is a position I can keep for a long while...Subject to a return I'd best not ignore for short term profit, or a difficulty I ignore at my peril...I say that to say this: Trading "STD" for instance, may work fine using whatever technnique floats your boat. I would stay away from "STD" because of Spain itself. The Euro is based upon the German financial model. Spain, Italy, and Greece, take in the neck every time the common market adjusts rates. Weak currencies and economies are nearly always at the mercy of strong economies, and currencies. For that reason Spain may very well be a traders dream, but a longer term holders nightmare. Spain's economy is a shambles Italy, and Greece are scarcely worth the aggravation. By the bye...There are now two Middle East ETF's for you to peruse...PNMA, and GULF. The reason they may be worth your notice, is that liquidity appears to be moving East. And for the first time, investing in the Arab Emerates, is available. I don’t question trading techniques. I like the way you guys think. My style is a position I can keep for a long while…Subject to a return I’d best not ignore for short term profit, or a
difficulty I ignore at my peril…I say that to say this: Trading “STD” for instance, may work fine
using whatever technnique floats your boat.
I would stay away from “STD” because of Spain itself. The Euro is based upon the German financial model. Spain, Italy, and Greece, take in the neck every time the common market adjusts rates. Weak currencies and economies are nearly always at the mercy of strong economies, and currencies. For that reason Spain may very well
be a traders dream, but a longer term holders nightmare. Spain’s economy is a shambles Italy, and Greece are scarcely worth the aggravation.

By the bye…There are now two Middle East ETF’s
for you to peruse…PNMA, and GULF. The reason they may be worth your notice, is that liquidity
appears to be moving East. And for the first time,
investing in the Arab Emerates, is available.

]]> By: StockGumshoe http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-4284 StockGumshoe Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:50:55 +0000 http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2008/07/tuesday-promise-skousens-safe-bank.html#comment-4284 Yep, 5% is nothing for a bank these days, eh? I'm out West today to give a talk -- I don't think I can extrapolate on what this means for any potential recession, but a Monday night in Las Vegas in late July can certainly be awfully quiet ... I didn't see anyone throwing down the deed to their house on the blackjack table, but I did see Pete Rose looking just a little bit pathetic. Sad. Yep, 5% is nothing for a bank these days, eh?

I’m out West today to give a talk — I don’t think I can extrapolate on what this means for any potential recession, but a Monday night in Las Vegas in late July can certainly be awfully quiet … I didn’t see anyone throwing down the deed to their house on the blackjack table, but I did see Pete Rose looking just a little bit pathetic. Sad.

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