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Geoff Gannon Profile and Articles
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1). Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) Offers to Acquire Gold Kist (GKIS)
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
On Friday, integrated poultry producer Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC) publicized its offer to acquire smaller rival Gold Kist (GKIS) for $20 per share. The offer values Gold Kist at roughly $1.16 billion including the assumption of $144 million in debt. The $20 a share cash offer represented a nearly 55% premium over Friday’s closing price of $12.
2). Cedar Fair to Buy Paramount Parks
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Publicly traded limited partnership Cedar Fair (FUN) will acquire the Paramount Parks business of CBS Corp (CBS) for approximately $1.25 billion. The five parks involved in the deal are located near Cincinnati (OH), Richmond (VA), Charlotte (NC), Santa Clara (CA), and Toronto.
Cedar Fair already operates seven amusement parks and five water parks, including the company’s flagship Cedar Point property on Lake Erie.
3). An Analysis of Valley National Bancorp (VLY)
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) is a conservative bank with a strong position in northern New Jersey and a presence in Manhattan. The bank, founded in 1927, has about $12 billion in assets.
Valley has consistently earned extraordinary returns on assets and equity. Over the last twenty years, Valley has averaged a 1.74% return on assets and a 21.
4). An Analysis of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is a huge Western and Midwestern bank that provides a diverse array of financial services to its more than 23 million customers. The company employs more than 150,000 people at its over 6,000 locations nationwide. Wells Fargo has about $500 billion in assets.
While the company continues to derive more than half its revenues from interest income (about $26 billion), its activities are not limited to collecting deposits and lending money.
5). Sony Delays PlayStation 3
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
As a result of problems related to the mass production of a key component of its Blu-ray DVD player, Sony (SNE) will delay the European launch of its next generation video game console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3). Sony will also reduce the number of PS3 units immediately available in both the U.S. and Japan.
In the U.S., the PS3 will launch on November 17th, with approximately 400,000 consoles available for sale.
6). On Banks
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Superficially, banking appears to be a commodity business. In fact, it appears to be a particularly poor commodity business, because capacity is not constrained by the need to invest in a substantial physical infrastructure. True, whatever investments are made in tangible assets are usually intended as a means to acquire more intangible assets; however, a branch is hardly comparable to an oil well.
7). On Microsoft
Microsoft is a difficult situation for me to evaluate. I think the company still has a lot of growth ahead in some areas. But, that depends on where management wants to take it.
There are three core businesses that are already well developed: Windows, Office, and Servers.
The moat in the first two are wide. The Windows moat is huge.
The business model in operating systems is great.
8). On Microsoft (MSFT)
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Microsoft is a difficult situation for me to evaluate. I think the company still has a lot of growth ahead in some areas. But, that depends on where management wants to take it.
There are three core businesses that are already well developed: Windows, Office, and Servers.
The moat in the first two are wide. The Windows moat is huge.
9). On Valley National Bancorp
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) is a conservative bank with a strong position in northern New Jersey and a presence in Manhattan. The bank, founded in 1927, has about $12 billion in assets.
Valley has consistently earned extraordinary returns on assets and equity. Over the last twenty years, Valley has averaged a 1.74% return on assets and a 21.12% return on equity.
10). Sumner Redstone Fires Viacom CEO Tom Freston
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
On Monday, Sumner Redstone fired Viacom’s CEO, Tom Freston. Yesterday, Viacom announced that its Board of Directors had appointed Philippe Dauman President and CEO and Thomas Dooley Senior Executive V.P. and Chief Administrative Officer (a newly created position). Mr. Dooley’s role is expected to be similar to that of a Chief Operating Officer.
11). The Importance of Maintenance Cap-Ex
Copyright 2006 Geoff Gannon
Maintenance Cap-Ex
The nice thing about having low capital spending, is the pleasant surprise it creates. You find a company that is earning more (economically) than other companies with the same GAAP numbers. So, the P/E ratio tends to exaggerate how expensive the business is.
This is kind of like finding a business with excess cash.
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