McDonalds

When Chipotle Becomes McDonald’s, The Story Has Surely Turned

By |2015-10-21T15:39:15-04:00October 21st, 2015|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

It has become an unshakable article of faith that every customer lost by McDonald’s is one gained by any number of the “progressive” fast food chains that have arisen in the past decade. The common competitor cited is Chipotle; so much that searching for the two restaurant names together results in thousands of versions of what are really the same [...]

Less Than Burgers

By |2014-10-21T15:28:55-04:00October 21st, 2014|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

With all of the credit market fireworks that leaked into stocks, the pace of economic reassurance from “authorities” has been rather steady and a bit more emphatic. Despite the attempts at managing perceptions, there has been very little actual success in persuading. In many ways this is like the unfolding ebola drama in that there is a palpable disconnect between [...]

Where’s the Beef?

By |2014-08-08T11:47:29-04:00August 8th, 2014|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

With a growing “meat” scandal in China and elsewhere in Asia, it was not unsurprising to see McDonald’s post a sizable decline in same store sales in the region. The latest figures from July show exactly that, posting a 7.3% decline over July 2013. That compared to a 1.9% decline last year from July 2012, so there is likely a [...]

McDonald’s Again

By |2014-04-22T14:33:58-04:00April 22nd, 2014|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

McDonald’s latest results confirm that something is very much amiss on the consumer side. Total global revenue grew only 1% Y/Y, including new store launches and acquisitions. However, as has been the pattern since 2012, US comparable store sales lagged markedly. The rate of contraction in Q1 was actually the worst in more than a decade. Even if you believe [...]

Frozen Big Macs

By |2014-03-11T10:35:58-04:00March 11th, 2014|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets|

As with Staples, McDonald’s poses the possibility of a competitive aspect to its latest results. February same store sales were down 1.4% in the US leading to a negative 0.3% comp for global same store sales. That followed January where US comparable sales were off 3.3%. Yet again we hear the excuses follow close behind, where weather and “challenging industry [...]

Where Have All The Bellwethers Gone?

By |2014-02-13T12:44:40-05:00February 13th, 2014|Economy, Federal Reserve/Monetary Policy, Markets, Stocks|

The term “bellwether” is derived from Middle English and the practice of placing a bell on a castrated ram (wether) as he led his flock from place to place. That way, no matter the weather or topography, a shepherd would have a good idea where the flock was located and where they were going by listening for the sound of [...]

Trend Watcher – End of Quarter Window Dressing Ahead

By |2012-03-25T10:09:08-04:00March 25th, 2012|Markets|

Joseph Gomez, Sr. Investment Adviser and Portfolio Manager As we close out the quarter next week, expect to see plenty of window dressing as portfolio managers want their clients to see that they have stocks on the books during such a strong quarter for the market. Window Dressing is a strategy used by mutual fund and portfolio managers near the year or quarter [...]

Trend Watcher – 2012 Expectations

By |2012-01-22T20:17:47-05:00January 22nd, 2012|Markets, Real Estate, Stocks|

Joseph A. Gomez, Sr. Investment Advisor  Will 2012 be a repeat of "Sell in May and Go Away"? Collectively, strategists are expecting the S&P 500 to finish 2012 at 1,350, which would be a gain of over 7%. HSBC has a year-end 2012 price target of 1,190 (down 5+%). Goldman Sachs is expecting the S&P 500 to finish the year at [...]

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