Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Message Board

When energy prices go up, nuclear and renewables will still cost the same to operate, making this one very profitable company. Try to see through the fog.

I know, I hate when they wear suits!

Yes, Sears has shown that they are idiots with operating stores. Hopefully it won't be long before they close stores and just sell their brands online and through other stores.

If you think it's because of the PJM power auction for 2016-17, that's kind of funny, because those rates, while down from 2015-16 rates, are still 400% of the current rates.

This shows confidence in utilities in deregulated states. Nevada is deregulated just like Illinois, Penn, and Maryland are for Exelon.

Do you really want management that watches the stock price and manipulates it? You must be a former Enron investor.

thcbne, if there's another reason besides the Deutsche Bank downgrade, please let us know.

The San Onofre nuclear plant is owned by Edison International (EIX) and San Diego Gas & Electric ... not Exelon (EXC).

like I said, my guess is they intend to add generation capacity.

EXC easily covers interest payments on the debt with net earnings - it's not a problem whatsoever. My guess is they use the free 631 million for more capital expenditures. They've expressed an interest to add generation in Texas. Plenty of room to grow.

Exactly. This is Sears biggest problem that nobody seems to understand. Sears/Kmart physical stores are depressingly ancient. They don't use any retail tricks other more successful stores use. You feel like you were just visiting your grandparents after you get out of a Sears/Kmart store. They have excellent brands but it's a horrible, horrible distribution method. Lampart had it right a few years ago when he went in the direction of shuttering all the stores and just selling online or through other stores. Hope he continues in that direction.

If that's true, the savings won't be material. Coal is only 4% of their generation capacity.

Perhaps DS is waiting to join the board until he gets his 30%. Isn't $18.03 the highest price he's has paid so far?

hanssandbo - Every year directors give themselves free shares. Most of them get 400 free shares but Shook gave himself 6,000 free shares. Doesn't seem fair but they do what they want.

What I don't understand is, despite all the spending on advertising, and the opening of another branch in Richmond, deposits actually DROPPED this quarter by 1.6%. How does that happen?

factelevator - a couple years ago Sokol said he intended to build a mini-Berkshire. Since he was buying MBRG shares aggressively, many assumed that Middleburg would be his mini-Berkshire. Now that nothing appears to be preventing him from doing so, we're sitting here puzzled.

It's just that Sokol's comments from a couple years ago don't mesh with what is happening. Also worth noting that MBRG's stock price has underperformed the market the past 4-5 years by quite a bit. It's basically at the same price (around $18) it was when he quit Berkshire, and only up 50% from it's lows in '09. Most other stocks are up 200-500% in the same time period. So as far as a pure investment, it's not been a particularly good one. But as a vehicle for Sokol to do what he does best, that's what I'm hoping for. Just not sure how much longer I can hope for it.

All reasons why the stock has fallen tremendously in the past couple years. This used to be a much, much more expensive company. Don't worry, the current price reflects your concerns. As with any investment, you are investing for the future, not for the past. Does DMND have valuable brand names? Are sales 3x their current market cap? Do they make some really tasty food? Do you expect people to buy popcorn, chips, and peanuts in the future? There are so many reasons to be hopeful about DMND's future.