Nice leisurely Saturday.  Barron’s gave me a few ideas and so did WSJ…these are not those ideas.  Although one resounding perspective is that equity investors still don’t have a lot to be happy about…even with the market downturn.  The prices need to come down, but then again I am looking at big cappers.  I’d need to look at small caps to find my values…and the small cap sector is definitely in bear market territory.

CAT-CATERPILLAR INC-My wife and I drove past their peoria headquarters last week.  Pretty rustbelty.  Selling at 59.87 they are at their 52 week low.  They are a cyclical stock.  There is an 8% short interest.  Cap is at 34.86b.  Dividend yield is a wild 5.14%.  This is an old man’s stock, and they are built to pay out their earnings. Analysts are neutral.  They have 27.3 in book per share.  Earnings growth the past 5 years are at +32, but forward they are looking at negligible growth.  Book has been growing over the past five years at 13.89%.  Debt to equity is at 158.58%.  Return on equity is at like 17.67.  I just don’t see these people growing steadily.  We have the 5% dividend which is pretty good, but I see the stock/book as a laggard.  Return on equity is always high.  Compounded earnings growth is negative.  Their price is propped up by that dividend.  I’d buy cat at 32-35.

T-AT&T-Selling at 33.99.  Analysts are neutral.  Their p/e is at 36.16.  Book per share is at 19.8.  Earnings growth is expected to be a modest 6.  And their earnings have been suffering over the last 5 years.  Return on equity is at 5.62.  They have 98% debt to equity.  Earnings growth sucks.  Return on equity is historically like 15%. I could see paying like 19.7, but they pay that 5.65 dividend.  Props up their price.

GE-GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY sells at 28.49 with their 52 week low at 19.37.  They are up 20.82 on the year.  Short interest is at 1.28.  Dividend is at 3.23.  P/E is at 91.9.  Analysts are neutral.  Book is at 11 per share.  Projected earnings growth is at 7.3% moving forward.  Book growth is at 1.79 going forward.  Return on equity is at 2.8.  Debt is at 218%.  Earnings growth is non-existent.  Historical return on equity is at like 12.  it seems like the market is poised to grab a future earnings growth or something…that and the dividend.  I’d pay like 11 per share.

LNVGY-LENOVO GROUP LTD-sells at 16.09, near the 52 week low of 15. Dividend is at 4.25.  Cap is at 8.9b.  Analysts are mixed.  P/E is at 10.82.  Return on equity is at 23%.  Eh whatever I can’t find good info on this company.

JCP-JCPENNEY COMPANY INC-Selling at 7.01.  They are above their 6.5 52 week low.  Price is down 9.2% for the year.  Cap is at 2.15b.  Short interest is at 34%.  No dividend, no positive earnings.  Analysts are big time bearish.  Book per share is at 5.06.  Earnings are projected to be great this coming year.  But they are using up their book value to keep in business I think.  Return on equity is negative.  Long term debt to equity is at 333%.  Earnings are way negative over the past 10 years.  Looks like this company paid a dividend until 2012. Company is going down into the ground.  Maybe after bankruptcy we’ll consider buying.

DE-DEERE AND CO-selling at 73.12, near the 52 week low.  P/E is at 12.69.  Dividend is at 3.28.  Cap is 23.12b.  Short interest is at 12.93.  Analysts are neutral.  Book is 21.29 per share.  Projected earnings are negative for next 5years.  Book growth is at 1.4%.  Return on equity is at 25.12.  Debt to equity is at 353.42.  Geez.  Earnings growth is at like 6.81 compounded annually.  I don’t know why buffett bought em.  He must’ve got some kind of special deal or maybe he wanted to help em out or something.  Just doesn’t make sense.  I’d buy em at like 15.

SHLD-SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION-Selling at 17.14, near their 16.88 low.  The stock is down 49.5% on the year.  Short interest is at like 12%.  Cap is at like 1.83b.  Analysts are unbelievably bearish.  They have negative book per share?  Forward earnings are negative.  Return on equity is at like 65…but they have only like $5…the rest is loans.  Earnings are dirt.  This company could be bought after a bankruptcy maybe.