Black Box Corporation (BBOX) is a provider of network infrastructure services, which embraces design, sourcing, installation, and maintenance of network. Roughly 60% of the company’s income is from voice communications, but the data infrastructure portion has been slowly increasing and represents 23% of income based on the latest two quarters. The company also has a […]
As you may know, I generally adopt a fairly quantitative process when looking for potential investments, at least at the screening stage. I first consider an excess cash position if there is one, both because it provides a source of primary liquidity and also because it often can be considered separately from the company’s operating […]
Hello all. Some of you may have noticed that I have not been posing as much as I normally do, and the reason for that is that I have been studying for the CFA examination. The test was last week, so I now find myself again at your disposal. I thought I would kick things […]
I said in my comments for my previous article about the River Rock Entertainment Authority bonds that I would have an update when there was something to update people about. I think the default and exchange offer qualifies River Rock has filed with the SEC a forbearance agreement that has the votes of over 60% […]
Update: There is a new article pertaining to the default and proposed exchange offer here. As I’m sure most of you know, the River Rock Entertainment Authority has $200 million in bonds coming due at the beginning of November of this year, and although the company has expressed confidence that a refinancing will occur, time […]
I’ve been meaning to mention this, but my latest article at seekingalpha (and third editors’ pick in a row) deals with DST Systems, a company that provides IT and automation services for the mutual fund industry, among other clients, has a portfolio of stock and private equity investments that is worth a little under half […]
I have been indisposed recently, but I will be ready to resume m usual schedule of posting in the near future. But before then I have some old news that needs addressing, and that is Windstream’s planned merger with PAETEC. Whenever there is a merger announced, at least one and usually more than one plaintiff’s […]
I was hoping to have a nice relaxing end to a difficult week, but Standard and Poor’s has officially downgraded the United States’ credit rating to AA+. And of course, they did it when the markets are closed for the weekend just to ensure that we’ll all be good and stressed for Monday. Obviously, one […]
There are many routes to becoming a successful company. The standard one is to provide a desirable product to customers at a profitable price. However, another highly effective approach is to provide an essential service to other companies that are engaged in the above action. CSG Systems International (CSGS) has adopted the latter approach, by […]
I have to say that I’m surprised how quickly things happen. My comments on the Real Mex bonds, which have been up for barely two days, seem sort of quaint now that the major ratings agencies have issued a cut on the grounds that the company has announced missing an interest payment. As I stated […]