What do SmartPost and SurePost Offer?

In an earlier article, I looked at the three big changes facing FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) and United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) in the shipping marketplace. Two of them, the shift in consumer preference toward slower/lower-cost delivery options and burgeoning e-commerce deliveries, have contributed to the growth of FedEx's SmartPost and UPS's SurePost. Both services offer lower-cost ground delivery options and use the U.S. Postal Service, or USPS, for final delivery to residential consumers. As such, SmartPost and SurePost both carry risk due to their reliance on the USPS. Let's consider those risks, and why they matter to FedEx and UPS.


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Precision Castparts Stock Article

As readers might already know, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has been buying shares of Precision Castparts  (NYSE: PCP  )   even as the stock has declined in the last year and a half. Essentially, the bullish case for the metal-components maker is that the sell-off is due to a combination of nonrecurring events and weakness in its oil and gas markets, but that the long-term growth potential from its core commercial aviation market remains intact. Let's look at four key conclusions from the recent fourth-quarter earnings and how they relate to the idea of buying the stock.


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Danaher Corporation Stock Would Suit Warren Buffett

I'll cut to the chase: it's Danaher Corp.  (NYSE: DHR  ) Why? It's simple. Throughout the last 20 years or so, the conglomerate has incorporated many of the principles that made Warren Buffett so successful. In fact, I would argue that Danaher's management has run the company almost in the manner of an investment firm such as Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. An argument which is only strengthened by the recent agreement to purchase life science filtration company Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL  ) --a move which was suggested in a Fool article on takeover targets for 2015. Let's take a closer look at why investing in Danaher stock is something that could suit Buffett and what the Pall Corp deal means for investors.


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Emerson Electric's (EMR) David Farr Sounds Gloomy

Investors in Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  ) watched on with disappointment as their company missed analyst estimates in the second quarter and lowered full-year estimates. In addition, when speaking on the earnings call, CEO David Farr's gloomily realistic commentary served notice that conditions aren't going to get any better in the near term. With that said, let's take a look at what actually happened in the second quarter and assess whether the headwinds are likely to be long-term or not.


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5 Things You Should Know About Johnson Controls Inc

In a familiar refrain from major U.S. exporters during this earnings season, Johnson Controls Inc. said its second-quarter earnings took a hit from currency effects. The strong U.S. dollar -- which reduces the value of foreign earnings when converted back to U.S. dollars -- caused the company to miss earnings estimates and reduce its full-year earnings outlook. However, the underlying trends are much stronger than the headline numbers suggest. Let's check out the latest earnings.


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Cognex Corporation Growth Prospects

Investors in machine vision specialist Cognex Corporation  have gotten used to seeing the company exceed expectations, and the recent first-quarter results were no exception. In a previous article on Cognex, I outlined seven key things to look out for, and the company managed to report favorably on most of them. Let's look at them in more detail and learn more about Cognex's prospects.


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FedEx Corporation (FDX) Return on Assets

In a previous article, I discussed the three big trends that have changed the nature of end-market demand for FedEx Corporation and United Parcel Service since the last recession: booming e-commerce demand, increasing protectionism that's slowing the growth of world trade, and customer preferences for cheaper, less time-sensitive deliveries. All three trends are affecting both companies, and both have had to make significant operational changes in response. The question is whether these changes have fundamentally affected profitability. I previously discussed UPS in this regard, and now it's time to take a closer look at FedEx.


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Titan International (TWA) Equity Research

Shares of off-road tire and wheel manufacturer Titan International Inc.  rose more than 20% at the end of April. It's not the sort of move that usually happens when a company reports a more than 25% drop in sales in the quarter. However,  the market already knows  the company is beleaguered amid difficult agricultural, mining, and construction markets, so investors are likely to warmly receive any positive news. Let's look at why the stock moved so violently.


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Is General Electric Company Stock (GE) a Buy?

Recently, investors in General Electric Company  saw their stock register one of its' biggest single day increases in years after announcing a plan to dispose of GE Capital. The deal involves selling most of its assets in GE Capital Real Estate to Blackstone, with Wells Fargo & Co. intending to acquire a portion of the business' performing loans.



At the time of writing, the stock is outperforming the S&P 500 on a yearly basis, and this move very well may be just the beginning, as management's restructuring plan is just taking hold. Let's take a closer look at the investment thesis and why it makes GE an attractive stock to buy.


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