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Scott Rothbort, "The Finance Professor", has moved the LakeView Asset Management Blog to the all new TheFinanceProfessor.com website.



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Amylin Stock Is Catching A Bid

Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) has really been on a tear these past two trading days. As a long term holder of AMLN this is a pleasant development. However, I have to ask why the sudden jump in the stock over the past two trading sessions? There are several reasons for the sudden rise of AMLN of which any one or a combination of could be causing the rise. Here are some of those causal factors:

• The stock was simply too oversold and short interest climbed too high
• With all of the negative news about Zetia from Schering Plough (SGP) and Lipitor from Pfizer (PFE) and other statins perhaps someone finally woke up to the fact that diabetes treatment is all that much more important and the big cap pharmaceutical companies may be forced to buy AMLN
• The decline of the inhaled insulin product lines gives AMLN approved and commercially available products – Byetta and Symlin - more credibility and sales potential.

I continue to believe that AMLN Byetta LAR long acting formulation will be approved and once that occurs we will see a huge jump in analysts estimates and future sales. That is at least a year out but well worth the wait as Byetta and Symlin sales continue to grow.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of AMLN --- although positions can change at any time.

MasterCard Deal With Ameriprise to Benefit MasterCard

Over the weekend MasterCard (MA) announced that it entered into an arrangement with Ameriprise Financial (AMP) whereby AMP would be issuing MasterCards and debit cards. This has to be a big letdown for AMP former parent American Express (AXP) and the soon to be public Visa. AMP has over 2 million clients all of which would be eligible for the new cards. As MA takes no credit risk, this would yield accretive processing fees for MA.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of MA--- although positions can change at any time.

Dow Jones Blows Opportunity To Revitalize Its Industrial Index

When Dow Jones announced its decision to replace Altria (MO) and Honeywell (HON) with Bank of America (BAC) and Chevron (CVX) today, the brand now owned by News Corp (NWS) totally blew its opportunity to modernize the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJIA/DIA/DDM). The price weighted DJIA is just plain out of touch with today's investors and professional money managers.

I will be on Fox Business Network's Happy Hour - also owned by NWS - tonight to discuss with my friend and the show's co-host Cody Willard what NWS needs to do to make the DJIA relevant once again. The show airs at 5PM EDT and is repeated at 11PM EDT.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of BAC and DDM--- although positions can change at any time.

Observations Of Omniture

I was happy that my investment club members at Seton Hall were around to watch, listen and observe the Omniture (OMTR) earning release, conference call and after hours trading activity last evening. The stock got slammed after hours on a great quarter and guidance. I showed the kids how the stock was being walked down by 100 share sales constantly hitting the bid after hours. The stock dropped roughly 13% before the conference call began. This was a major gift to anyone who could trade after hours. More importantly, I pointed out that one could not read into that low volume after-hours blitzkrieg. During the conference call OMTR regained some ground as the after-hours manipulation ceased. It is now up 10% on the day in a real trading session. If you believe as I do in the long term growth of internet advertising then I suggest taking a look at OMTR. Oppenheimer recently put out a well written report on the stock.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of OMTR--- although positions can change at any time.

Basic Materials Soap Opera Gets More Interesting

Rio Tinto (RTP) is surging after Alcoa (AA) and Chinalco (Aluminum Corp of China) take a 12% stake in RTP. BHP Billiton (BHP) has an open offer for RTP which RTP continues to rebuff. In the meantime Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) looks like the ugly girl sitting in a chair in the corner at the high school dance. As this soap opera plays out don't be surprised if RTP jilting of BHP overtures results in BHP going after FCX.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of FCX--- although positions can change at any time.

5 Reasons To Buy McDonald's Right Now

Here are 5 reasons why you want to buy McDonald’s (MCD) off the back of today’s irrational sell-off:

1. The flat same store sales for December will not be repeated as MCD guided to a 1.5% comp for January.
2. Fiscal and monetary stimulus will benefit MCD
3. The stock has corrected 20% from where I already alerted long term investors to take some of the stock off the table
4. Growth in China
5. Expansion of McCafe concept in Germany which I believe will eventually be MCD direct competition to Starbucks (SBUX) in the US

I added stock on today's pullback.

At the time of this Blog entry Scott Rothbort, his family and or clients of LakeView Asset Management, LLC were long shares of MCD --- although positions can change at any time.

2008 Jim and Judy O’Brien Financial Markets and Economic Colloquium at Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business

On Wednesday January 30, 2008 I will be hosting the 3rd annual Jim and Judy O’Brien Financial Markets and Economic Colloquium at Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business in South Orange, New Jersey.

This year we will kick off the colloquium at 4:30 PM with a student research presentation reviewing investment opportunities associated with potential election outcomes. The Stillman School of Business is the twice reigning NYSSA Challenge Champions. Following that presentation our panel of market experts will discuss their thoughts on the economy and financial markets for the year ahead. At last year's colloquiuim we adeptly pointed out the risks inherent in the credit markets and identified many individual stock opportunities as well.

This year’s panel includes Doug Kass of Seabreeze Partners; Tony Dwyer, Equity Market Strategist, FTN Midwest Securities: Gregory Peters, Morgan Stanley’s Chief U.S. Credit Strategist and Director of Global Fixed Income Research & Economics; Brian Reynolds, Chief Market Strategist of M.S. Howell & Co.; Cody Willard, host of Fox Business News’ Happy Hour; and, myself, Scott Rothbort.

The best news is that this is all free. The Stillman School of Business is making this event open to the public. Please mark your calendar now and I hope to see you at this great event. Parking is free and directions are available on the Seton Hall website.