Ask Rande 10,000+

Top 616. Dec 11, 2001 11:57 AM

» Rande - Re: Rande??

In response to message posted by bluehorseshoe:

bluehoreshoe,

Calpine seems like a fine company to me. They were one of the first to voluntarily settle with the state over energy price gouging. Don't know anything about them from an investment standpoint, no recommendation.

-- posted by Rande

Top 617. Dec 21, 2001 8:57 AM

» JenL_2 - Triple Witch

Good Morning Rande.....

It's Triple Witching Friday!

.....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 618. Dec 21, 2001 9:45 AM

» AL_W - Re: Rande??

In response to message posted by bluehorseshoe:

Bluehorseshoe.....

Calpine has been a leader in the installation of new a technology generation system call "combined cycle". When compared to a standard steam generator, are achieve nearly 50% more electricity for a same usage of fuel. The fuel is usually natural gas.

Each plant they build costs several hundred million, which makes them a very capital intensive company, with those costs being offset by their much lower fuel cost per MW. They compete against older steam systems that have very low capital costs, but much high fuel costs per MW.

The type of generators Calpine is building is the generator of the future, clean and efficient.

I looked into this stock last year, and passed as it was too expensive. I ought to look at it again at these prices.

BTW, these new plants use large combustion turbines in them. All of the big ones use turbines from GE. An off-shoot of GE's Aircraft Engine business. This division of GE is sold out for several years out. Part of why GE is doing well right now.

-- posted by AL_W

Top 619. Dec 21, 2001 12:00 PM

» TonyFromGlendale - Bonds, bank cd, or ???

Greetings from Glendale Rande,

I need to put some money into bonds so that the money is a little harder to get hold of quickly...When Bob calls for buying some more QQQ's and then I will not be tempted. The CPA has suggested some "tax free" investments for tax reasons. I know you think highly of Vanguard, and I wonder if you feel that the Vguard California TAx free mutual fund holding bonds would be as suitable as Ginny or the other VG bond fund you like? The VG fund would I presume offer a better interest rate than just a bank cd for a prescribed period of time. The money needs to stay "saved" and left in the account no matter if it were just a CD or bond "savings" account.

Thank you again from Glendale.

-- posted by TonyFromGlendale

Top 620. Dec 21, 2001 6:04 PM

» Rande - Re: Bonds, bank cd, or ???

In response to message posted by TonyFromGlendale:

Tony,

I like the Vanguard CA Insured Intermediate Muni Bond fund a lot. Low expenses, highest quality, low end of the intermediate range in duration. Great fund for high-bracket taxpayers.

-- posted by Rande

Top 621. Dec 21, 2001 6:55 PM

» AL_W - bluehorseshoe - Calpine

bluehorseshoe....

I looked up some research on Calpine this evening.

In a nutshell...

With the collapse on Enron, suppliers have gotten real tight with the what/how as to finances of many Energy Companies, including Calpine, and they refusing to do business with them if they don't meet certain financial levels. To comply, so that they can continue to buy, several companies, including Calpine, have had to restructure debt, with Moody having lowered their bond rating, and this has created cash crunch concerns, which is now reflected in their lower stock value. Additional valuation factors for Calpine include how they are financing their aggressive growth ( construction ) initiative.

So before you buy, I suggest you order a copy somebodies research, such as Morningstar, Argus, or Standard & Poor, and then make a decision if you want to buy.

-- posted by AL_W

Top 622. Dec 21, 2001 7:07 PM

» oneputt - Re: Re: Bonds, bank cd, or ???

In response to message posted by Rande:

I second the opinion. This fund has been very good to me. smile

"Tony, I like the Vanguard CA Insured Intermediate Muni Bond fund a lot. Low expenses, highest quality, low end of the intermediate range in duration. Great fund for high-bracket taxpayers"

-- posted by oneputt

Top 623. Dec 21, 2001 8:37 PM

» Karin_ - CALPINE

In response to message posted by bluehorseshoe:

I liked Calpine a lot in March 2001. I read a lot of wonderful things about the Company, so I bought at $49.-

The price has gone down-hill ever since I bought it.
There was no bad news, just a lot of new construction costs. Finally I gave up on the Company, when the price went down to $25.63.

Good luck !

-- posted by Karin_

Top 624. Dec 22, 2001 8:25 AM

» mdorsey - Re: CALPINE

In response to message posted by Karin_:

Be sure to let us all know the next time you buy a stock. smile

My experience has been just after I sell, the stock moves higher. smile

-- posted by mdorsey