More Points To Ponder…
Last December, I wrote a post recalling the classic Warner Brothers animated cartoon series Pinky and the Brain that always featured the same catch-line.
The Genius mouse named Brain would always ask 
his dim-witted partner Pinky if he “was pondering what I’m pondering?” before launching off on another silly attempt to take over the world.
Today the thing that passes for my brain is filled with bits left to ponder—and I’m just wondering how many of you are pondering what I’m pondering ?
PONDERING POINT #1
Exxon-Mobil says it’s gotta sell the company owned service stations it owns—because it just can’t make a profit on ‘em…
The world’s largest oil company won’t say WHAT its profit margin is for its owned service stations..
However, industry analyst Fadel Gheit of Oppenheimer & Co. thinks he knows. He estimates the stations’ profit margin is between 10% and 15%…
Remember—Exxon-Mobil reported a company-wide profit in excess of $40-Billion last year—but it just can’t make enough money selling gas at the retail level.
If Exxon-Mobil can’t make a go of it with a 15% profit at its owned stations—how do you think the Mom and pop gas station owners are doing?
The Mom & Pop’s are only making 1 to 2 CENTS a gallon—and depend on their adjacent gas station/convenience stores to keep ‘em in business..
But as you can read here more and more of them are going bankrupt every day because they can’t make ANY margins.
I bet most of the mom and pop owners would give anything to make half the profit Exxon Mobil makes on its company owned stations.
PONDERING POINT #2
The deal by a Belgian beverage maker to buy St. Louis based Anheuser-Busch continues to ferment.
At the heart of it—profits.
It’s not that Anheuser-Busch isn’t making money—they’re making a nice profit… But it’s just not making the huge scads of money stockholders feel they’re entitled to.
Because investors in Anheuser-Busch stock aren’t happy with the slow growth of their stock—as you can read here—they are looking closely at Inbev Corporation’s offer of $65.00 a share.
For decades, the beer-maker has marketed itself as a distinctly American original—using its iconic Clydesdale’s, and the equally iconic Ed McMahon to pitch it’s brew as you can see in this typical ad from 1976.
Budweiser employees have created a website aimed at stopping the takeover.
The question is—will shareholders stick with a company whose heritage is ingrained in the fabric of this country, or will they go for the temporary windfall of a buyout of their shares.
I won’t bet you a beer on the outcome.
PONDERING POINT #3
As we’ve said—Ed McMahon is an American icon.
And he’s also a symbol for what’s happening to millions of Americans who’ve been hurt by the the faltering economy.
Like so many—he’s facing foreclosure… But unlike many—he can get on TV and talk about it.
McMahon made a recent appearance on CNN’s Larry King program.
It’s brought renewed interest in his plight—along with offers of help.
Would that we ALL had the option of going on TV when times get tough to generate interest in our problems.
~~~~
That’s what I’m pondering these days…What about you?
—Steve
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