EMC Results Better Than Peers But Patience Has Run Out

EMC Corporation reported first quarter 2013 revenue and EPS just barely below street estimates. Revenue of $5.39 million was just below the $5.43 billion estimate. EPS of 39 cents was a penny below estimates. Growth in revenue and EPS was 6% and 5%, respectively. Against recent reports from IBM and other companies serving very large […]

Apple: Complete Reset of Expectations Could Mark The Bottom

Apple reported its second quarter 2013 earnings at the high end of expectations and guidance. However, the real news surrounded the company’s guidance for the next quarter, commentary on future product introductions, and a large increase in the company’s capital allocation program to return cash to shareholders. For the near-term, I see these factors in […]

Another Solid Quarter From Google Supports Bull Case

Google reported solid first quarter 2013 earnings with most important financial and product metrics tracking very close to expectations. With the stock off 10% from its 2013 and all-time high going into the report, the results were good enough to relieve the pressure. The shares are now up 7% off their April lows but remain […]

Liberty Global Growth Overshadowed by Acquisition of Virgin Media

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported another excellent quarter with continued rapid growth in cable, broadband, and telephone subscriptions and accelerating growth in financial metrics. This news was expected. What was not expected was the company’s acquisition of Virgin Media (VMED). LBTYK is a very acquisitive company but expectations for the next big merger were focused on […]

Selling Charter and Buying Disney

I just completed a swap of all Northlake client positions in Charter Communications (CHTR) into Walt Disney (DIS). CHTR shares have been strong the last few days on takeover rumors. The stock had fallen sharply last week after Time Warner Cable (TWC) announced poor earnings and guidance. GHTR takeover rumors appeared before the Liberty Global […]

QUALCOMM looks good as EMC continues to struggle

Last week two of Northlake’s stock holdings in the technology sector reported earnings. The verdict was mixed with QUALCOMM (QCOM) reporting another outstanding quarter and issuing guidance for 2013 above Wall Street expectations. EMC Corporation (EMC) reported earnings in line with recently lowered Wall Street estimates but issued slightly disappointing guidance. As would be expected, […]

Apple Earnings OK, Guidance Poor, New Controversy

Apple reported largely inline December quarter results. Revenues of $54.5 billion were barely shy of consensus and EPS of $13.81 were barely above consensus. Gross margins exceeded guidance and were close to the most optimistic street estimates. Product sales were about as expected except for Macs, which missed by lot. Guidance was below the street […]

Google Concerns Ease

Google (GOOG) has consistently produced 20-25% growth for the last three years but the stock has gone nowhere. Investors have worried that the growth will slow due to competition from social media (Facebook) and the shift from desktop to mobile search. Over the past week, both of these issues have been addresses with a favorable […]

Qualcomm Story Kicking In Big Time

Qualcomm (QCOM) bucked the trend of negative earnings and lowered guidance that has been prevalent in technology stocks this quarter. The company reported a good old fashioned “beat and raise” quarter. The shares are responding very well, up 4% in a down market. I like QCOM because it is the Intel of smartphones. Much as […]

Mixed Media Earnings Better Than Stock Reactions

Most major media companies reported earnings this week including those in Northlake’s portfolio of individual stocks. As has been the case with the broader market, earnings reports and guidance from Northlake’s portfolio was mixed. CBS was the clear winner with a solid quarter amid tough circumstances and a confident outlook for the December quarter and […]