 Hot Tickets From the Alliance
Each week Alliance members submit "Hot Tickets" as a way of presenting new observations and ideas on investable opportunities to ChangeWave.
* Note: These Hot Tickets are for informational purposes only. They do not represent recommendations from ChangeWave.
(1) Automotive Industry vs. Commercial Vehicles
JDA89702 writes: "There is so much dialogue about the automotive industry and its plight, yet nothing about commercial vehicles. This industry is in absolute disarray because it depends on freight created by other industries, such as home construction. Since these other industries are in the tank, there is less freight to haul and, therefore, no demand for trucks.
"So while the automobile industry is expected to drop about 45% from its peak, industry forecasts say commercial vehicle production could fall by as much as 80% compared to its peak. With production so low, it may only be a matter of time before truck makers, trailer makers, their vendors, truck fleets and dealers begin to fail."
(2) Increased Demand for Energy-Saving Products
MAR09323 writes: "Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) has seen an increase in sales to builders of devices that modulate the flow of heat to save energy. Energy-saving products have helped cushion companies whose sales have decreased because of the housing market.
"Another example is Plastpro Inc. -- maker of residential doors that are more energy-efficient than traditional ones. It said sales fell about 15% year over year, even as single-family housing starts plunged at a much steeper rate."
(3) Switching From Dell
TEC30820 writes: "I have always bought Dell (DELL) PCs because no other major brand could compete on price for the same specs. I recently compared Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Compaq brands, and found prices were very comparable. I ended up buying a Compaq on sale at Best Buy (BBY) for about $100 less than similarly priced Dell and HP-branded models. Plus, the Compaq came with a free printer that was not part of the Dell or HP specific offers."
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