Kotak Securities has a ‘buy' rating on the central air-conditioning systems major Blue Star, as it feels it will report handsome earnings growth over the next two years (CAGR of 78% between FY07 and FY09). The company being in a position to offer the best requirement for central as well as commercial refrigeration equipment enabling it to maintain a leading market position in this segment, remains one of the key reasons for its bullishness.

The brokerage also feels that the stock is a play on structural themes like IT/ITeS and retail. However, the brokerage warns that appreciation in the rupee and slowdown in IT/ITeS services remain key concerns. Kotak calculates that at the current price, BSL is trading at 25.1x and 19.3 times FY08 and FY09 earnings, respectively, and on a forward EV/EBITDA basis, the stock is trading 12.6 times.

Watsco, Incorporated Earnings Conference Call (Q4 2007)

Watsco, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, distributes air conditioning, heating, refrigeration equipment, and related parts and supplies in the United States. Its products primarily comprise residential central air conditioners; light commercial air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment and systems; and other specialized equipment. The company also offers various parts, including replacement compressors, evaporator coils, motors, and other component parts; and supplies consisting of thermostats, insulation material, refrigerants, ductwork, grills, registers, sheet metal, tools, copper tubing, concrete pads, tape, adhesives, and other ancillary supplies. Watsco operates through approximately 380 locations in 32 states. It distributes its products to contractors and dealers who service the replacement and new construction markets.

Torri's Tipplers and DDD's.

Just thought we should throw out a few tentative dates for the Challenge next year. As we are a bit spread out over the map, this may take some sorting. I am open for the end of June or thereabouts. Anyone else? Aside to Randie: Will we take the same Air Canada flight or British Airways or whatever is cheapest, or should we be like the Royal Family and travel separately? In case one of us crashes, the other will still be available?

Redemption of an Artist

The end result was a very realistic depiction thanks to the help I received from Gamiet Qariet El-Amal (Hope Village Society, or HVS). An NGO that supports street children and orphans, it has 15 branches across Egypt. Some of these kids have become actors in my new feature film Shayateen El-Qahira [Devils of Cairo], the feature-length version of this [project].