The news on Fairfax and APN
Time heals many wounds, but not necessarily our reservations about the future for newspapers. Fairfax, in particular, has been working hard to distance itself from its iconic metropolitan titles, but it may not be enough.
Ambitious Calliden must start delivering
This small insurer still looks good value on an asset basis, but for an investment to work out management will need to make its recent acquisitions sing.
St George shows a soft underbelly
The credit crisis has left St George vulnerable, and Westpac has been the first to ride in with a ‘merger’ proposal.
Retail property trusts feel the pinch
Australian consumers have been keeping their money in their pocket (or mortgage) recently, but that’s only part of the problem for retail landlords.
Bad debts lop Timbercorp's profit
The vast majority of Timbercorp’s tax-inspired sales are made in the second half of the financial year, but this year’s first-half result still contained some useful information for shareholders.
Confessions of an aeroholic
It's been hard for us contrarians to ignore the massive share price declines of Australia's airline stocks. If it was any other business, we'd probably be loading up. But airlines are a uniquely difficult business.
Seek looking for alternatives
Seek is one of Australia’s most successful internet companies, but this success is attracting competitors and the company is looking for new ways to increase profits.
Good and bad in NAB result
The latest half-yearly report from NAB has been widely lauded, but we’re harder to please than most.
Westpac and St George to join forces?
Westpac has surprised the market with news that it has approached St George for merger talks.
Tough times ahead for Fletcher Building
We’ve been following Fletcher Building’s success for almost five years. It’s experienced some bumps along the way but now there are more worrying signs.
Poison and paranoia to pay off for Tatts
The loss of Tatts Group’s pokies licence from 2012 may not be such a bad thing, but investors may already have recognised some of the positives.
Second-tier property under the microscope
With the credit crisis hitting property groups first and hardest, we’ve had a rummage around in the sector’s outer reaches. Sadly, it seems the problems aren’t limited to the big end of town.
ASX back in the realm of the reasonable
The market slump and concerns about competition and supervision have knocked 38% off ASX’s stock price this year, and it’s getting back to a fair price.
Specialty Fashion, especially fickle
It’s been more than a year since we took our last detailed look at Specialty Fashion Group, which has been something of a bête noire for us.
Bank of Queensland sticks to its knitting
A heavy reliance on mortgage lending has helped Bank of Queensland escape many of the problems of its larger competitors, but it could come back to bite if things get really bad.
50% off at JB Hi-Fi
We’ve seen what this former high flyer can achieve with its low-cost business model during boom times. But the quality of a business is proven in tough times.
Debt worries hit B&B Power
Australia’s largest non-government power generator has some great assets and a prospective yield of 14%. It also has a big pile of debt, though, and the distributions are unsustainable.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
