| It's all about location; Even in slump, still big differences in bang ...
It might seem an easy choice. Buy the well-maintained house with seven relatively small rooms, a one-car garage, a cramped yard, red cedar siding that looks pretty good after 50 years and nearly 1,600 square feet of living space. Or the buy the brand-new home with eight soaring, high-ceilinged rooms, a view of a golf course, a two-car garage, central air conditioning, closets the size of small rooms and 2,260 square feet of living space. Of course, the prices vary. The first house — despite its smaller size and age — actually costs more than the second. It's on the market now for nearly $560,000. The second house, which includes a gleaming, modern kitchen, might seem like an incredible bargain at $525,000. So what gives? The new house is part of the Strongwater Crossing development in Salem.
Stocks to buy: Blue Star, Ruchi Soya, Simplex Infra, Kalyani Steels
Kotak Securities has a ‘buy' rating on the central air-conditioning systems major Blue Star, as it feels it will report handsome earnings growth over the next two years (CAGR of 78% between FY07 and FY09). The company being in a position to offer the best requirement for central as well as commercial refrigeration equipment enabling it to maintain a leading market position in this segment, remains one of the key reasons for its bullishness.
The brokerage also feels that the stock is a play on structural themes like IT/ITeS and retail. However, the brokerage warns that appreciation in the rupee and slowdown in IT/ITeS services remain key concerns. Kotak calculates that at the current price, BSL is trading at 25.1x and 19.3 times FY08 and FY09 earnings, respectively, and on a forward EV/EBITDA basis, the stock is trading 12.6 times.
Watsco, Incorporated Earnings Conference Call (Q4 2007)
Watsco, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, distributes air conditioning, heating, refrigeration equipment, and related parts and supplies in the United States. Its products primarily comprise residential central air conditioners; light commercial air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment and systems; and other specialized equipment. The company also offers various parts, including replacement compressors, evaporator coils, motors, and other component parts; and supplies consisting of thermostats, insulation material, refrigerants, ductwork, grills, registers, sheet metal, tools, copper tubing, concrete pads, tape, adhesives, and other ancillary supplies. Watsco operates through approximately 380 locations in 32 states. It distributes its products to contractors and dealers who service the replacement and new construction markets.
Only 10 of 46 air cons operable at Tamuning Elementary
Just when things were beginning to cool off, things are heating back up at Tamuning Elementary School. Students at the central school are feeling the heat once again, as a majority of the classrooms are without working air conditioning units. (This comes a few months after the units were repaired.) A total of 36 out of 46 classrooms are currently without the services of functional A/C."I told the board I'd challenge them to come to my school, sit in my class and watch my teacher give a lesson, because it's so hot," said Student Body Association president Geawna Hernandez. The outspoken fifth grader had approached the Guam Education Policy Board during its meeting last night, voicing her frustrations. The student says teachers are conducting classes outside because the heat has become unbearable, adding that she doesn't want to return back a modified bell schedule.She explained, "It's really hot and I know that not all of the kids like school, but I kind of like school and I don't want to go back to the 12 o'clock schedule anymore.
Copper drawing sinners to local churches
ANDERSON COUNTY Copper thieves have left no doubt that security is needed at institutions that open their doors open to sinners. In about two months, thieves have targeted three Anderson County churches, causing about $20,000 in damage from the theft of copper. Between 8 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Thursday, thieves stripped copper from two central air conditioning and heating units behind the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Osborne Avenue in Anderson. The loss is estimated at $12,000, according to the Anderson City Police incident report. About Jan. 19, thieves coordinated their arrival with that of a wintry mix to steal copper from a heating and cooling system at Thompson United Methodist Church on West Market Street, according to the Anderson police. The Lennox system is valued at $3,600, according to the incident report.
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