Eddie Lampert increases AutoNation stake to 37.9%

"Billionaire investor Edward Lampert has raised his stake in AutoNation Inc (AN), the No. 1 U.S. auto dealership group, to nearly 38 percent, according to federal regulatory filings.

Lampert, who is also chairman of Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD), bought 383,500 shares on April 30 for prices ranging from $15.89 to $16 per share, raising holdings under his control to about 67.6 million shares."-Stock Article Link

Personally I don't see the attraction to this stock. It's high in debt, low in ROE....time to read the transcript and see if I can find anything interesting...Earning Transcript Link

Recent Insider Buys

30-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 344,113 Indirect Purchase at $15.89 - $16 per share. $5,487,0002

30-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 39,387 Indirect Purchase at $15.98 - $16 per share. $630,0002

29-Apr-08 MIGOYA CARLOS A
Director 5,000 Direct Purchase at $16.17 per share. $80,850

29-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 234,033 Indirect Purchase at $15.89 - $16 per share. $3,732,0002

29-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 5,967 Indirect Purchase at $15.89 - $15.98 per share. $95,0002

28-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 190,056 Indirect Purchase at $15.62 - $16 per share. $3,005,0002

28-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 61,432 Indirect Purchase at $15.81 - $16 per share. $977,0002

28-Apr-08 LAMPERT EDWARD S
Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 120,565 Indirect Purchase at $15.62 - $15.99 per share. $1,906,0002

Philip Morris (MO and PM), Dividend and Growth spotlight

Altria, which is really Philip Morris USA (MO), has split from Philip Morris International (PM). One has the good dividend and the other has the overseas growth. Which one to pick? If you are looking for a good dividend, then MO is for you. Dividend estimates are to be $1.16/yr so at the current price of $21, that's a nice 5.5%. Excellent to put in your retirement savings plan.

Return on Equity is always high and this company is very consistent. If you are worried about its litigation, their lawyers seem to always get them off the hook.

"LEGAL/REGULATORY ISSUES. In March 2003, the company lost a $10.1 billion judgment in the Price(formerly known as Lights) case. In December 2005, PM USA won its appeal of the verdict, as the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that it did not defraud the public about the health risk of its cigarettes.

In May 2003, the Florida Third District Court of Appeals overturned a trial verdict against MO and other defendants in the Engle case. An award of $143 billion in punitive damages for the plaintiffs was reversed.

In September 2004, a $280 billion Department of Justice (DOJ) case against the industry commenced. In October 2005, the $280 billion disgorgement claim was eliminated by the U.S. Supreme Court, effectivelyweakening the DOJ's case, in our view.

As of December 31, 2006, PM USA had 233 cases pending against it." -S & P report.

If you are looking for growth, then Philip Morris International (PM) maybe for you. Just check out the insiders buys!

1-Apr-08 PSOTTA JOACHIM
Officer 14,000 Direct Purchase at $51 per share. $714,000

1-Apr-08 KUEPFER MARCO
Officer 1,841 Direct Purchase at $49.69 - $49.71 per share. $91,0002

31-Mar-08 HURWITZ EVEN
Officer 36,500 Direct Purchase at $52.65 per share. $1,921,725

31-Mar-08 CAMILLERI LOUIS C
Officer 1,000 Direct Purchase at $52.65 per share. $52,650

28-Mar-08 ZIELINSKI MIROSLAW
Officer 21,513 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 WALDEMER HERMANN
Officer 20,567 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 WALDEMER HERMANN
Officer 101,000 Direct Purchase at $47.75 - $50.89 per share. $4,981,0002

28-Mar-08 REGORDA DANIELE
Officer 11,410 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 REGORDA DANIELE
Officer 36,000 Direct Purchase at $48.78 - $49.87 per share. $1,776,0002

28-Mar-08 PSOTTA JOACHIM
Officer 3,272 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 PSOTTA JOACHIM
Officer 20,400 Direct Purchase at $48.83 - $51.17 per share. $1,020,0002

28-Mar-08 MATTEO PELLEGRINI
Officer 21,513 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 MATTEO PELLEGRINI
Officer 4,000 Direct Purchase at $51.40 per share. $205,600

28-Mar-08 KUNZ JEAN-CLAUDE
Officer 12,156 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 KUNZ JEAN-CLAUDE
Officer 30,000 Direct Purchase at $48.37 - $51 per share. $1,491,0002

28-Mar-08 KUEPFER MARCO
Officer 2,927 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 KUEPFER MARCO
Officer 110,000 Direct Purchase at $48.25 - $50 per share. $5,404,0002

28-Mar-08 HURWITZ EVEN
Officer 12,156 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 FRIEDMAN MARK
Officer 8,425 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 DEGOLA PAOLO
Officer 11,596 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 DEGOLA PAOLO
Officer 115,000 Direct Purchase at $49.75 - $51 per share. $5,793,0002

28-Mar-08 FISHBURN J DUDLEY
Director 10,398 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 NOTO LUCIO A
Director 38,187 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 BROWN HAROLD
Director 6,952 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 CAMILLERI LOUIS C
Officer 1,227,702 Direct Statement of Ownership N/A

28-Mar-08 CALANTZOPOULOS ANDRE
Officer 39,268 Direct Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share. N/A

28-Mar-08 CALANTZOPOULOS ANDRE
Officer 130,100 Direct Purchase at $48.99 - $50.81 per share. $6,492,000

Or why not buy both MO and PM. $21 + $48 = $69 which is where it was trading 1 year ago today.

Major Insider Buying at Island of Capri Casino (ISLE)

Their have been continuous insider buys trailing all the way back since Dec 2007, from $15 to currently $7.76 (52 week low is $6.87)....

1-Apr-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 4,777 Indirect Purchase at $7.40 per share. $35,349

1-Apr-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 4,361 Indirect Purchase at $7.40 per share. $32,271

31-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 12,564 Indirect Purchase at $7.24 per share. $90,963

31-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 11,462 Indirect Purchase at $7.24 per share. $82,984

28-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 21,868 Indirect Purchase at $7.09 per share. $155,044

28-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 19,953 Indirect Purchase at $7.09 per share. $141,466

27-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 15,897 Indirect Purchase at $7.22 per share. $114,776

27-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 14,505 Indirect Purchase at $7.22 per share. $104,726

26-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 16,821 Indirect Purchase at $7.19 per share. $120,942

26-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 15,348 Indirect Purchase at $7.19 per share. $110,352

25-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN JEFFREY D
Director 7,990 Indirect Purchase at $7.39 per share. $59,046

25-Mar-08 GOLDSTEIN ROBERT S
Officer 7,290 Indirect Purchase at $7.39 per share. $53,873

-Stock Link

Bernard Goldstein was the CEO but handed over the title to Jim Perry with Bernard's son ,Robert Goldstein, is Vice Chairman.

Isle of Capri Casinos opened it first casino in 1992 and in 2005, its Biloxi casino (but not its hotel) was destroyed and its Lake Charles facilities damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Insider buying at Coach (COH)

You know I like Coach(COH). Especially under $30 bucks. Even the CEO, Lew Frankfort, is doing some insider buying.

14-Mar-08 FRANKFORT LEW
Officer 50,000 Direct Purchase at $27.97 per share. $1,398,500

Insider buying at H&R Block

5 years ago, H& R Block(HRB) was trading at $20, 5 years later, it's still around $21. But now it's getting rid of it's mortgage unit (sold to billionaire Wilbur Ross) and it's focusing on it's core tax business.

"H&R Block is absolutely “taking share and kicking butt,” as far as the Mad Money host is concerned." -Jim Cramer, Stock Article Link

The new CEO, Richard Breeden (former SEC chairman), is doing major buying!

Date Shares Stock Transaction
20-Mar-08 *75,000 HRB Purchase at $20.59 - $20.76 per share.
(Cost of about $1,551,000)

19-Mar-08 *750,000 HRB Purchase at $20.29 - $20.4 per share.
(Cost of about $15,259,000)

18-Mar-08 *1,610,000 HRB Purchase at $18.84 - $19.54 per share.
(Cost of about $30,896,000)

Insider buying at CROCS (CROX)

6-Mar-08 MARKS MICHAEL E
Director 250,000 Shares
Direct Purchase at $19.87 - $20 per share.
Value $4,984,000

The bubble has burst for the shoe maker falling from $75 back at the end of October to $20. Is it really a fad? When 27% of the float is sold short, a lot of people think so. Crocs reiterated fiscal 2008 guidance and expects revenues of approximately $1.16 billion and net income per diluted share (EPS) of approximately $2.70. Can they deliver? Looking at the past 4 quarters, each time, they have beaten estimates. If it delivers on this target and gets a conservative p/e of 15 back, that's $40 stock at the end of the year!

The enterprise value is 1.68 billion. If you were to buy the whole company at that price and get
$222.58 million a year in net income (82.44 shares outstanding x $2.70). That's 13% return on your money every year! But of course that's only the initial rate of return....it should only grow from there. It's virtually debt free with cash on hand, and has high returns on equity.

I just read in a magazine about a Hong Kong store devoted entirely of CROCS shoes sold 3 pairs every minute opening day. Now it averages 1 per minute.

On the downside, is it doesn't have any free cash flow. So all the profits they are making, they are plowing it back in the business. Also inventory levels, account receivables have increased.

I like the idea of the Soles United. Although it's for charity....the brand extends to third world countries. Here's a video link.

The Bear case for Crocs link

Here's an old wallstrip clip about the shoe maker.

Schering-Plough CEO to Buy $2 Million in Common Shares

CEO Fred Hassan intends to make an open market purchase of $2 million of Schering-Plough (SGP) Common Shares with personal funds.

"As was the case in November 2003 when I purchased $4.68 million in
Schering-Plough Common Shares at an average price of $15.42 (2003 press
release below), this investment in Schering-Plough reflects my long-term
confidence in the company, its products (including ZETIA and VYTORIN), and
our late-stage pipeline," said Hassan. " -Stock Article Link

Insider buys for Etrade Stock (ETFC)

Lots of Insider buys for Etrade (ETFC)

29-Jan-08 WILLARD STEPHEN H
Director 25,000 Direct Purchase at $3.98 - $3.99 per share. $100,0002

29-Jan-08 FISHER RONALD
Director 31,806 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $129,450

29-Jan-08 HAYTER GEORGE A
Director 4,917 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $20,012

29-Jan-08 RANDALL LEWIS E
Director 29,500 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $120,065

29-Jan-08 PARKS MICHAEL K
Director 24,586 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $100,065

29-Jan-08 BREWSTER DARYL G
Director 24,586 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $100,065

29-Jan-08 LILIEN R JARRETT
Officer 7,376 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $30,020

29-Jan-08 WEAVER DONNA L
Director 68,843 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $280,191

29-Jan-08 LAYTON DONALD H
Director 245,800 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $1,000,406

29-Jan-08 RAFFAELI C CATHLEEN
Director 12,293 Direct Purchase at $4.07 per share. $50,032

Insider buying at Advance America (AEA)

INSIDER TRANSACTIONS REPORTED - LAST TWO YEARS
Date, Insider, Shares, Type, Transaction Value*

21-Nov-07 CHAPMAN ROBERT H III
Director 4,000 Direct Purchase at $8.23 - $8.23 per share. $33,0002

1-Nov-07 O'SHAUGHNESSY J PATRICK
Officer 27,800 Direct Purchase at $9.15 - $9.41 per share. $258,0002

31-Oct-07 O'SHAUGHNESSY J PATRICK
Officer 14,100 Direct Purchase at $9.31 - $9.5 per share. $133,0002

30-Oct-07 O'SHAUGHNESSY J PATRICK
Officer 24,400 Direct Purchase at $9.35 - $9.5 per share. $230,0002

29-Oct-07 O'SHAUGHNESSY J PATRICK
Officer 18,700 Direct Purchase at $9.29 - $9.6 per share. $177,0002

26-Sep-07 CHAPMAN ROBERT H III
Director 2,371 Direct Acquisition at $10.34 - $10.34 per share. $25,0002

26-Jun-07 CHAPMAN ROBERT H III
Director 1,430 Direct Acquisition at $17.83 - $17.83 per share. $25,0002

28-Mar-07 CHAPMAN ROBERT H III
Director 1,778 Direct Acquisition at $15.47 - $15.47 per share. $28,0002

26-Dec-06 CHAPMAN ROBERT H III
Director 1,460 Direct Acquisition at $14.73 - $14.73 per share. $22,0002

Insider buying at Fuel Tech (FTEK)

Fuel Tech (FTEK), a leader in the air pollution control (APC) business, has developed a variety of patented, state-of-the-art proprietary technologies that are focused on the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from a wide variety of combustion sources utilizing a wide variety of fuel inputs. These technologies are summarized below and detailed on their respective web pages.

A speculative play with a 42% short position. That's not scaring the insiders.

13-Dec-07	CUMMINGS WILLIAM E JR Officer	1,000	Direct	Purchase at $17.50 per share.	$17,500
13-Dec-07	BAILEY RALPH E Officer	25,000	Indirect	Purchase at $18.19 per share.	$454,750
13-Dec-07	BAILEY RALPH E Officer	25,000	Direct	Purchase at $18.20 per share.	$455,000
12-Dec-07	SUN WILLIAM H Officer	1,000	Direct	Purchase at $22 per share.	$22,000
7-Dec-07	MORROW JOHN D Director	2,000	Indirect	Purchase at $23.04 per share.	$46,080
4-Dec-07	NORRIS JOHNNY F JR Officer	1,000	Indirect	Purchase at $24.15 - $24.15 per share.	$24,0002
21-Nov-07	SMYRNIOTIS CHRISTOPHER R Officer	150	Direct	Purchase at $22.24 - $22.24 per share.	$3,3352
21-Nov-07	MORROW JOHN D Director	5,000	Indirect	Purchase at $22.42 per share.	$112,100
16-Nov-07	NORRIS JOHNNY F JR Officer	300	Direct	Purchase at $22.92 - $22.92 per share.	$6,8762
16-Nov-07	BRADY STEPHEN P Officer	430	Direct	Purchase at $22.94 - $22.94 per share.	$9,8642
27-Sep-07	NORRIS JOHNNY F JR Officer	1,000	Indirect	Purchase at $21.27 - $21.27 per share.	$21,0002
14-Sep-07	MALEY MICHAEL P Officer	1,000	Direct	Purchase at $23.82 - $23.82 per share.	$24,0002
12-Sep-07	SUN WILLIAM H Officer	1,000	Direct	Purchase at $22.85 per share.	$22,850
15-Aug-07	NORRIS JOHNNY F JR Officer	100	Indirect	Purchase at $29.68 - $29.68 per share.	$2,9682
15-Aug-07	NORRIS JOHNNY F JR Officer	100	Direct	Purchase at $29.52 - $29.52 per share.	$2,9522
10-Aug-07	BRADY STEPHEN P Officer	3,300	Direct	Purchase at $32.97 - $32.97 per share.	$109,0002

Fuel Tech Website

Insider buying at Chicos (CHS)

Stock is down to $9.95. But there are some insider buying....

Date	Insider	Shares	Type	Transaction	Value*
11-Dec-07	CLOUTIER MICHELE M Officer	2,000	Indirect	Purchase at $10.70 - $10.8 per share.	$22,0002
10-Dec-07	CLOUTIER MICHELE M Officer	3,000	Indirect	Purchase at $10.33 - $10.52 per share.	$31,0002
7-Dec-07	WALKER DAVID F Director	1,000	Direct	Purchase at $10.27 per share.	$10,270
7-Dec-07	KLEEBERGER KENT A Officer	25,000	Direct	Acquisition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share.	N/A
7-Dec-07	EDMONDS SCOTT A Officer	100,000	Indirect	Purchase at $10.09 - $10.33 per share.	$1,021,0002
7-Dec-07	KING GARY Officer	10,000	Direct	Purchase at $10.34 per share.	$103,400

Major insider buys for Wachovia (WB)

Major buys of insiders...Also Wachovia Bank pays a 6.6% dividend.

20-Nov-07	BAKER JOHN D II Director	15,000	Direct	Purchase at $37.21 per share.	$558,150
15-Nov-07	SMITH LANTY L Director	37,000	Direct	Purchase at $40.51 - $40.75 per share.	$1,503,0002
9-Nov-07	SMITH LANTY L Director	100,000	Direct	Purchase at $38.70 per share.	$3,870,000
2-Nov-07	BAKER JOHN D II Director	5,000	Direct	Purchase at $42.70 per share.	$213,500
24-Oct-07	BAKER JOHN D II Director	10,000	Direct	Purchase at $44.80 per share.	$448,000
29-Aug-07	SMITH LANTY L Director	50,000	Direct	Purchase at $48.15 per share.	$2,407,500
28-Aug-07	RADY ERNEST S TRUST Director	40,000	Indirect	Purchase at $49.12 per share.	$1,964,800
28-Aug-07	RADY ERNEST S TRUST Director	40,000	Indirect	Disposition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share.	N/A
23-Aug-07	PROCTOR TIMOTHY D Director	4,000	Direct	Purchase at $50.18 per share.	$200,720
3-Aug-07	RADY ERNEST S TRUST Director	45,000	Indirect	Purchase at $46.35 per share.	$2,085,750
3-Aug-07	RADY ERNEST S TRUST Director	43,000	Indirect	Disposition (Non Open Market) at $0 per share.	N/A
2-Aug-07	RADY ERNEST S TRUST Director	50,000	Indirect	Purchase at $46.73 per share.	$2,336,500

Billionaire Alfred Mann buys $150 million MannKind stock

Founder of MannKind Corp (MNKD), billionaire Alfred Mann buys $150 million worth of stock at $9.41. MNKD is currently trading at $9.70.

MannKind CEO Buys 15.9 Million Shares

Before that, Alfred agreed to loan MannKind up to $350 million and had invested $566 million to date.

Alfred Mann Loans MannKind $350 Million

MannKind Corp, inhalable insulin developer, has been losing money had over fist and is a speculative play dependant on the success of it's insulin product.

Pfizer just pulled the plug on it's inhalable insulin product, Exubera, due to poor sales and lack of acceptance.

" Because 21 million Americans have diabetes and many of them dislike injecting insulin, Exubera - the first-ever inhaled insulin system for adults - was widely expected to be a blockbuster.....
But despite a recently launched TV ad blitz by Pfizer, the product has been a major disappointment. Although Pfizer has been vague about overall sales, the company revealed that Exubera's revenue for the second quarter of this year was a mere $4 million." -Stock Article Link

Can MannKind be a success where Pfizer failed?

Mortage Insurance Stocks...all below book value.

Just some observations on mortgage insurance stocks.

Stock     Price  Book Price2Book  Debt/Equity

(PMI)PMI Group    $29.62 $43.46  0.68    0.13
(MTG)MGIC Invest  $30.80  $53.68  0.57    0.15
(RDN)Radian Group  $20.64  $51.53  0.40    0.18

-PMI,MTG, and RDN have gone below book value in it's history but normally near 1.
-PMI Group has lots of insider buys. RDN has insider buys as well.
-Third Avenue Management just bought a a 10.7 percent ownership stake in mortgage insurer Radian Group Inc (managed by Martin Whitman, a highly respected value investor).
-MGIC has a nice 3.3% yield.

Insider buying, Susan Decker buys $1.1 million worth of Yahoo

Yahoo President buys $1.1 million worth of YHOO stock around $23.50. She is also on the board of Intel, Costco, and Berkshire Hathaway (She has 125 shares of BRKA, sweet!). The stock purchase makes Decker's portfolio in Yahoo worth $10.1 million, according to Bloomberg News.

"Who, or what, would you say has had the biggest influence on you?
When I was an analyst, Warren Buffett was the big influence. And that's the way I look at businesses and think about value."- Stock Article Link

Who matters now? - CNN Article

Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) approaching book value.

According to their quarterly report, fully converted book value per share is $16.06, up from $12.07 from last year. Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH), the reinsurance company has gone there tough times since post Katrina but it looks like it's turning the corner with it's last quarterly earnings. $0.62 vs a consensus of only $0.32. At $17.65 and insider buying like the CEO, Anthony Taylor, buying over 1 million shares....this stock is worth a look.

Co-Founder Aubrey McClendon continues his insider buying of Chesapeake Energy Corp.

I guess Aubrey McClendon sees real value in his company Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK). He's still buying since 2005....check out his buys.

Major Insider Buys by billionaire Dan L Duncan

There has been major insider buys in Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD), a massive energy services company: pipelines and stores gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. What's even more eye catching is Dan L Duncan's 2 insider purchases totaling $340 million of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. (EPE) at $38.45 which about where the stock is right now......Both stocks pay a nice dividend.

Billionaire investor Ronald Perelman buys $12 million worth of MFW Stock

Ronald Perelman, estimated $7 billion net worth, buys 200,000 shares of M&F WORLDWIDE (MFW) at $60. He sees value even though the stock's run up from $14 a year ago. I'm not sure if he's money in the bank as his investments in Revlon (REV) haven't really panned out yet. But he has made his fortune in the past by buying beleaguered corporations and selling them later for a huge profit.

Insider trades

Ronald Perelman biography

Home Depot Founder buys some Staples stock

After graduating from college, Arthur Blank was hired by Handy Dan Hardware, and worked his way up through the company to become a regional manager. However, he was fired in 1978 for a disagreement with executives. In 1978, Arthur co-founded Home Depot with Bernie Marcus, another former Handy Dan manager. Together, with the help of New York investment banker Ken Langone who assembled a group of investors, the two launched the highly successful home-improvement retailer in 1979. The store revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept and the two became billionaires as a result. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman.

Blank, who has been on the Staples board since 2001, purchased a total of 77,000 shares for prices ranging from $25.88 to $26.51 each on March 19 and 22, spending $2.01 million.

- Stock Article Link