Apple iPod Event on September 5th

Earlier this week, Apple sent out invitations to a “special event” on September 5th. The invitation clearly signals iPod related announcements. The better websites in the Apple rumor mill are suggesting that the company will convert all iPods to flash, a new flatter and wider nano (presumably to offer better video capabilities), and touchscreen video […]

Summer Box Office Record Falls

The weekend box saw another gain, rising 4.9% vs. a year ago, the 7th straight up weekend. Quarter to date the box office is now up 16.5% and the year-to-date gain is 7.7%. Gains should continue to moderate now that kids are back in school and studios are no longer releasing potential blockbusters. September is […]

Strong Quarter Boosts American Apparel

Outside of ETFs, Northlake clients own only one stock that is not involved in media or telecom. The company, Endeavor Acquisition Corporation (EDA), is a special purpose vehicle that has agreed to purchase teen retailer American Apparel (AA). The deal was announced last December and is scheduled to close in the second half of 2007. […]

Special Market Comment

It seems appropriate to make a comment on the market following the sharp downside volatility over the past few weeks. However, to be perfectly honest, I think predicting the short-term is pretty much impossible at this point. My gut feeling is that six or nine months from now we will look back on this period […]

Box Office Remains Strong

The box office continues to roar with the top 12 movies up 23% this past weekend. Last week marked the fifth straight up week and the weekend was up for the sixth consecutive time. Gains should moderate from this point forward as all the major releases are now in theatres. However,, gains should continue thanks […]

Brief Apple Update

I have been waiting to round out long positions in Apple and build new positions for clients. SInce the stock brokedown and the market collapsed, I had been targeting $125 for Apple but decided to wait and with the stock decisively breaking that level I decided to make the move. I am optimistic about near-term […]

International Box Office Strength

One of the things I have not stressed enough in my comments on the box office has been the strength of the international box office. According to Variety.com’s international weekend wrap-up, the non-US box office is up 20% year-to-day with summer gains exceeding those of the US. Unlike my domestic box office commentary which focuses […]

Market Returns Since the All-Time Highs in July

The sell-off since the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average made all-time closing highs on July 19th has been broad. All the major indices I track are down between 7% and 11%. I track these indices looking for divergences in returns that might be a clue to where leadership is emerging and whether prior […]

Summer Box Office Sizzle Continues

Investors continue to flock to the nation’s theatres to escape the heat and take their mind off the stock market. The weekend box office rose 29.8% according to BoxOfficeMojo.com based on the gross of the top 12 films. This marks the fifth straight and sixth of the last seven weekends with significant year-over gains. Quarter […]

Cablevision Results Cause Comcast Pain

Comcast (CMCSA/CMCSK) took a serious dive yesterday, trailing the market action all day including a 3% drop when the DJIA was up close to 200 points, before recovering in the last half hour to close down 1%. I am certain that the poor quarter and reduced guidance from Cablevision (CVC) was at fault. CVC missed […]