From Efficiency and Job Destruction to Innovation and Job Creation at Hertz

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 13, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In a healthy economy, job creation often accompanies job destruction. Resources freed in one economic activity get redirected to new sources of economic growth. This can happen when consumers take the … Read more

AMR’s Bankruptcy Turns the Cost Spotlight on Southwest

On December 5, Southwest Airlines (LUV) CEO Gary Kelly distributed a memo to employees describing the cost challenge ahead for the company (for example, see Bloomberg article “Southwest Fights ‘Cost Enemy’ After AMR Bankruptcy Filing“). With American Airlines (AMR) declaring bankruptcy as a way to cut its costs, Southwest became the last major carrier yet … Read more

For AMR, Parent of American Airlines, Bankruptcy is Contagious

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 30, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) “Now we have the potential to overcome the last hurdle between us and lasting success, by achieving a competitive cost and capital structure.” – Tim Horton, Chairman, CEO, and President of … Read more

The AMR Bankruptcy Trade Has Run Its Course For Now

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) This morning (October 12), I sold my shares in AMR Corporation (AMR), owner of American Airlines. As I explained October 4, AMR was a trade on bankruptcy panic where sellers dump shares first and ask … Read more

Chart Review: Opportunities in Bankruptcy Panics In Eastman Kodak and AMR

Now that the stock market is in bear market territory and the ECRI has pronounced the U.S. (and indeed the world) is at the edge of another recession, we should expect to see a rapid increase in rumors of company bankruptcies. Many times, the stock market’s instant reaction to sell first and ask questions later … Read more

Movers of Household Goods Feel the Pressure

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to “talk shop” with a truck driver who specializes household moves. I will call him “Bob.” When Bob discovered that I write a blog dealing with trading and investing in financial markets, he asked me for my forecast for the economy. I did not have anything good to … Read more