Paul Ausick

Recent Articles

Alcoa AA Takes Some Punches Before Q1 Report

By Paul Ausick

The price of aluminum continues to rise, as it has through all of 2009. A year ago the price stood at about $0.62/lb., compared with $1.06 currently. Alcoa, Inc. (AA) shares have followed along, trading in a range of $8.10-$17.60 and closing yesterday at $14.87.

Walmart (WMT) Lowers Prices to Lure Customers Back

By Paul Ausick

The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), will cut prices on as many as 10,000 food and general merchandise items in an effort to reverse is slowing U.S. sales growth. The new pricing has already begun in the company's 3,700 US stores.

Oprah Prime Time Move Spells Trouble for Fox, CBS and ABC

By Paul Ausick

Beginning in January 2011, Oprah will host a new TV show on the Oprah Winfrey Network OWN, which she owns in a 50-50 joint venture with Discovery Communications, Inc. (DISCA). The program will be called 'Oprah's Next Chapter' and will be a regular one-hour series in prime time. OWN reaches approximately 80 million US homes. The actual time slot was not announced.

Hewlett-Packard Slate Tablet PC to Duel iPad

By Paul Ausick

Following on the Tiger Woods-scale media frenzy surrounding the launch of the Apple (APPL) iPad, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) has provided some details about its tablet device, which is to be called Slate. The venerable Silicon Valley company has said that Slate "delivers a holistic mobile experience", whatever that is.

Retail Sales Rising (TGT, WMT, COST)

By Paul Ausick

We're getting a positive blizzard of retailers reporting March sales today. Without exception, sales are up, and in some cases, way up. Target Corp. (TGT) and Costco Wholesale (COST) lead the way. Target is reporting same-store sales are up 10.3% in March compared with March 2009 sales. Apparel sales were particularly strong, and the company's chairman/CEO/president said Target expects to beat analysts' quarterly EPS estimates of $0.74 "by 10 cents or more."

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