Topic: Weyerhaeuser: to convert or not to convert? Stock news... | |
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Weyerhaeuser: to convert or not to convert?
Franklin Mutual Advisors has put Weyerhaeuser's (NYSE: WY) management on notice: Franklin continues to believe that WY's share price reflects a substantial discount to the intrinsic value of its underlying assets and core businesses. [Translation: the stock is not meeting Franklin's appreciation expectations.] Franklin owns a 7.6% stake in Weyerhaeuser. In its letter to WY's board of directors, Franklin argued that it appears the tax law will continue to favor holding properties in entities such as timber investment management organizations or real estate investment trusts, and it cited several structural disadvantages for WY. Franklin also noted an analyst's report that projected a destruction of $24 per share in shareholder value, or nearly 33% of current equity value, and Franklin underscored that "Weyerhaeuser must immediately take steps to eliminate this disadvantage, including possibly converting the current corporate structure to a REIT." Weyerhaeuser shares were up $4.23 to $73.85 in morning trading Friday.Weyerhaeuser has been a major advocate of legislation that would decrease its tax burden, but that legislation has yet to pass. Further, control of the U.S. Congress has shifted to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party, which many believe further clouds WY's ability to lower its current-status tax payments via legislation alone. For now, the consensus on Wall Street appears to be that WY's management will stand pat and focus on its chain of wood products, not a conversion into a REIT etc. Moreover, although some may view Franklin's letter as too critical, given that WY's shares are up off its summer low, and have advanced about 26% since mid-summer, the reality is that a cardinal rule of valid criticism, and investor rights, applies in this case. That rule states that "A squeaky wheel, if it squeaks long enough, will eventually get some grease." Investment Analysis: The best way for the typical investor to play Weyerhaeuser? WY is a moderate risk stock not suitable for conservative investors. However, if a portfolio can tolerate moderate risk, one could consider buying a 1/4 position of WY by buying 25 shares if the portfolio normally buy 100 shares; 100 shares if it normally buys 400 shares. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My son is an account exec with this company so I follow this stock pretty regularly. I want some too. BUT alas, it is Christmas and funds are soooo low here. Anyone want to get me a load of this stock for Christmas???? LMAO! Verb |
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any clue's on prft?
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??????????/
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All I know is that I bought some shares of Luby's cafeteria some months
ago, and I'll probably never recover. |
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