Entries by Tim Fodor

Disney: Consumer Products Frozen, ESPN Melting

Disney (DIS) reported a rare miss on sales and earnings in the fiscal second quarter of 2016. The disappointing results were driven by weakness in the consumer products and media networks segments. The studio segment continued to produce excellent results, driven by Zootopia in the quarter. Parks and resorts also performed well in the quarter, […]

Swapping from La Quinta to Hilton in Taxable Accounts

We recently sold La Quinta Holdings (LQ) in all taxable accounts and reinvested the proceeds in Hilton (HLT). This swap was done to capture the loss in LQ to reduce the amount of realized gains for Northlake’s taxable investors without giving up any upside. We see equal potential in LQ and HLT, and we believe […]

ClubCorp On Track Despite Challenges

ClubCorp (MYCC) reported second quarter results that show our investment thesis is on track. MYCC reaffirmed their full year guidance. Same store sales and EBITDA continue to grow steadily as MYCC invests in club reinventions. Recent acquisitions are driving more dramatic growth on the top and bottom line, and cost synergies have met expectations. MYCC […]

La Quinta Holdings: Bigger In Texas, But Bigger Than Just Texas

La Quinta Holdings Inc. (LQ) is a new buy for Northlake clients. The company owns, operates, and franchises midscale and upper-midscale select-service hotels located in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. LQ currently trades at an attractive valuation in comparison to its peers, and has several potential catalysts that should help drive the stock to a […]

Stick With What’s Working: Mid Cap and Large Cap Growth

There are no changes to the recommendations from Northlake’s Market Cap and Style models for March.  Mid Cap and Large Cap Growth remain the favored themes.  As a result, client positions held in the S&P 400 Mid Cap (MDY) and the Russell 1000 Growth (IWD) will be held at least another month. There was a […]

Liberty Media: Addressing the Discount

Liberty Media (LMCA/LMCK) reported an uneventful quarter.  Not much of a surprise given all the restructuring activity in the past six months as the company split into two, separating its 28% stake in Charter Communications into newly formed Liberty Broadband (LBRDA/LBRDK).  Northlake clients now own stock in both classes of stock at both companies. LMCA/LMCK […]

Comcast Performs Well Again Amid Regulatory Noise

Comcast (CMCSK) reported another good quarter with mid single digit growth in revenue and operating cash flow and double digit gains in free cash flow.  Leaving aside all the noise around net neutrality regulation and the regulatory review of the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger, CMCSK is executing very well on a consistent basis.  Investors have […]

Liberty Global Clears the Air to Smoother Flying

Liberty Global (LBTYK) faced a lot of headwinds in 2014 including slower than expected benefits of the acquisition of Virgin Media in the UK, a lengthy period with no buybacks awaiting the acquisition of Ziggo in the Netherlands, foreign currency weakness (100% of operations are in Europe, Chile, and Puerto Rico), and tough competitive conditions […]

Patience Paying Off at CBS

CBS reported fourth quarter results largely in line with analyst estimates.  After a tough year in 2014 when operating income fell and estimates declined steadily, reporting results merely as expected provided a sense of relief.  Furthermore, management commentary on 2015 trends was confident and a little more positive than investors were anticipating.  All of this […]