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$2 for a Pillow? Pillow can tell the story about the efficiency. LUV is still the best discount airline in US.

The legacy airlines have become no-frill airlines while the discounters such as Southwest Airlines and jetBlue Airways now offer more perks and free services. For example, most domestic flights on American, Northwest and Delta Air Lines don't have pillows anymore. But Southwest does.

The Middle Seat: Latest Inflight Fee: $2 for a Pillow --- Fuel Costs, Competition Spur Airlines to Yank More Perks And Add Even More Fees

By Scott McCartney
894 words
22 November 2005
The Wall Street Journal
D5
English
(Copyright (c) 2005, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

THE FEE FRENZY at many big U.S. airlines is increasing: as of this month, a pillow on most Air Canada flights costs you $2. And a seat in the exit row (with more leg room) on most United flights now has a price tag of between $24 and $99, unless you're an elite-level frequent flier.

That isn't all. It costs $2 (plus tip) to use the services of a skycap to check a bag at some airports on American Airlines, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways and Alaska Airlines, a division of Alaska Air Group Inc. Northwest is charging $1 for some trail mix to go with your beverage. Both American and Northwest have stopped serving pretzels to coach passengers on many domestic flights. And keep your wallet handy when you head to the airport this Thanksgiving -- several carriers recently started charging $25 to confirm a seat on a different flight if you want to get home early.

Big carriers once positioned as full-service providers have slashed amenities for coach passengers and found more services for which they can charge added fees. With fuel prices high and fare prices low, big airlines have continued to pile up billions in losses despite slashing billions of costs from their operations through lower pay, less-expensive airplane leases and more productivity. So they are seeking added revenue wherever they can.

As a result, the legacy airlines have become no-frill airlines while the discounters such as Southwest Airlines and jetBlue Airways now offer more perks and free services. For example, most domestic flights on American, Northwest and Delta Air Lines don't have pillows anymore. But Southwest does.
 
JDSU, TheSUBWAY.com Posts Stock Pick List: New Deal for New Subsidiary!

652 words
22 November 2005
Market Wire
English
(c) Copyright 2005 Market Wire, Inc.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Peter Antipatis of Capital Research Group Inc.

WESTON, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Nov 22, 2005 -- TheSUBWAY.com names the following stocks to its Stock Pick List: Genesis Technology Group, Inc. (OTC BB: GTEC), JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN).

Genesis Technology Group, Inc. (OTC BB: GTEC) announced that the World Bank Group has invested $4.6 million in the China Vocational Education Satellite Network, the contract partner to its new subsidiary, Genesis Distance Learning Division (GDLD). Genesis management has estimated that its contract could have a value exceeding $10 million in profits for the Company in an industry estimated to yield billions of dollars globally.

Other stocks highlighted include JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU): Stock Pick List, up 7% on 54 million shares; eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY): Stock Pick List, up 2% on 18 million shares; CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN): Stock Pick List, up 3% on 7 million shares.

"Analysts are continuing the debate on the fate of the market in the near term, some saying a traditional spring rally is in store, while others say the market must further consolidate its recent gains. To this end, investors will be highly focused on corporate announcements and the release of any economic data that could shed light on the state of the U.S. economy, and the renewed growth phase it has been enjoying." More is available at: http://www.thesubway.com .
 
Steelcase wins tax appeal 2 Million dollars

The Grand Rapids Press
108 words
21 November 2005
The Grand Rapids Press
All Editions
B3
English
© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights reserved.

KENTWOOD -- Kentwood Public Schools has to return $2 million in property taxes to Steelcase Inc. The district was ordered to do so by the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Steelcase argued city assessors overestimated the value of company properties. Of the $2 million, the school district will be reimbursed $1.433 million by the state, However, it still will lose $592,783 in interest and from debt, building and site funds. The practice of contesting property values has become increasingly common among businesses, and hurts cash- strapped districts and other institutions dependent on taxes, Assistant Superintendent Steve Zakem said.
 
Add more shares IM here, target >$20 in two weeks. Zacks also gives a Strong Buy last week. IM and EMC are now my two major positions in software sector.

Zacks Buy List Highlights: CommScope, Inc., Ingram Micro Inc., Rockwell Automation, Inc., and Too, Inc.

(c) 2005 Business Wire. All Rights Reserved.

CHICAGO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Nov. 23, 2005 - Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List. The #1 Rank stocks highlighted today are CommScope, Inc. (NYSE:CTV) and Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM). Further, Zacks announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) and Too, Inc. (NYSE:TOO). To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +33% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%.

Here is a synopsis of why CTV and IM have a Zacks Rank of 1. Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to only 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks:

CommScope, Inc. (NYSE:CTV) recently reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 34 cents per share, surpassing the consensus estimate by almost 26% and improving on last year's result. The company commented that it managed costs effectively, achieved operating profits in all segments, including the Carrier segment, and expanded overall operating margins. Earnings estimates for the year ending December 2005 moved up seven cents, or almost 8%, form one month ago.

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM) recently posted third-quarter non-GAAP earnings of 36 cents per share, beating last year's 21 cents and jumping ahead of the consensus estimate by roughly 16%. The company stated that over the last eight quarters it has consistently delivered solid sales growth, and this quarter IM drove much of it to the bottom line. The company issued a fourth-quarter earnings guidance of 47 cents to 50 cents. Current Wall Street estimates are 48 cents per share, which is almost 7% more than the forecast of one month prior.

Here is a synopsis of why ROK and TOO have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Note that a #2 Buy rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks:

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) recently reiterated its earnings guidance of $3.00 to $3.10 for the year ending September 2006. Current analysts' expectations of $3.07 per share are almost 2% above one month ago levels. In early November, the company announced fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of 69 cents per share, matching the consensus estimate and topping last year's total.

Too, Inc. (NYSE:TOO) recently released fiscal third-quarter earnings of 48 cents per share, exceeding the consensus estimate by almost 12% and outperforming the year ago total of 33 cents. The company expects earnings of 80 cents to 82 cents per share for the fourth quarter. Wall Street projects 81 cents, almost 4% above last week's estimates.

Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93 .
 
SCS good buy here, TA model alert uptrend chart, just like my model alert AIRT when it was $11. My model doing pretty good at short term TA alert with thin volume stocks.

Also Zack shows that mean recommendation is 1.5, very close to strong buy 1.

Zacks Rank 3
Target Price Consensus 17.33
Last Quarter (200508) EPS .13
Last Quarter EPS Surprise -7.14%
Avg. Broker Recommendation 1.5
(1 = strong buy)

I am bullish on SCS here. Holding shares tight, waiting for my meat.
 
Ravenswood Investment Company holding CHB position under its aggrasive growth investment stratergy.

DJ TIP SHEET: Ravenswood Investment Patiently Satisfies

By Alex Davidson Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
675 words
22 November 2005
06:42 pm
Dow Jones Chinese Financial Wire
English
Copyright (c) 2005, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Robert Robotti, managing member of The Ravenswood Investment Company, L.P, combines the aggressive nature of a hedge fund with the patience of a mutual fund to form a unique investment partnership.

Ravenswood, which includes an investment advisory business and a broker/dealer arm, acts like a hedge fund by buying stocks with the potential to double in three years, charging a performance fee and setting a minimum initial investment sum.

But Robotti said Ravenswood should not be lumped with other hedge funds because of its longer-term approach and multi-faceted operations.

'It is an investment partnership,' Robotti said. 'Ravenswood differs in many ways from the other investment partnerships that are multiplying the way the world fears the Asian bird flu might multiply.'

'Our investment approach is more sane and reasoned, and time tested as to produce returns above the indices with less volatility.'

Indeed, during the past three years as of Oct. 31, Ravenswood posted a net rate-of-return of 32%, compared with the S&P's 3.6% increase in the same period.

For the last 12 months, Ravenswood has a 31% return rate, versus the S&P's 11% rise, and the year-to-date net return for Ravenswood is 17%, ahead of the S&P's 1%.

As of June 31, Robotti said Ravenswood holds 81 positions with $169 million in assets, excluding holdings in pink sheets, cash and cash equivalents and foreign holdings.

To get to this point, Robotti said Ravenswood has focused on growth opportunities in industries like manufactured housing.

One company Ravenswood has bought a significant position in during the last two years is Decorator Industries Inc. (DII), listed on the American Stock Exchange. Ravenswood owns about 20% of the company and started buying shares when they were near the $2 level, below its current $8.

'We think the industry makes sense long term,' Robotti said. 'Where it is today, it's at the bottom of a cycle and we think there's room for improvement.'

Robotti said Decorator Industries has bounced back from a sector-wide depression along with its peers and is currently operating at 40% capacity with little debt - leaving a lot of room for the company, and investors, to benefit from improvements.

'The incremental kick to earnings will be very substantial' when the company's at higher capacity, Robotti said.

Other manufactured housing companies Ravenswood owns positions in include Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. (FLE), Champion Enterprises Inc. (CHB), Cavalier Homes Inc. (CAV) and Skyline Corp. (SKY).
 
Out all GYMB and ACN, double my position on LUV and FLEX and CHB.

Oil price down to $56 range, will go down more. Although LUV hedge the oil risk, the lower oil price will lift the airline sector in a certain level. The whole airline industry recovering since recently with summer oil crisis bursted.

FLEX will benifit on XBOX360 and Euro headset and cellphone companies' big order. And FLEX invest hefty in Indian and CHina to reduce the cost in order to keep the market shares and competition.

CHB received FNMA's contract shows the relationship with government. To rebuit some states within a short time is impossible unless use factory-built house and I believe this is what the government will do. CHB go to $30 won't surprise me at all.
 
Great news to Southwest Airline: Bush signs bill exempting Missouri from Wright Amendment.Southwest to Fight American On Dallas-to-Missouri Routes

By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press Writer
482 words
30 November 2005
06:55 pm
Associated Press Newswires
English
(c) 2005. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON (AP) - It's official -- Missourians are now free to fly to Dallas on Southwest Airlines.

President Bush signed a transportation bill Wednesday that allows air travel between Love Field airport in Dallas and points in Missouri for the first time since the Wright Amendment restricted flights 26 years ago.

Southwest officials are now rushing to add daily service from Love Field -- home base of the low-cost carrier -- to Kansas City and St. Louis. The airline is expected to announce details this week.

"It would certainly be our hope to get the service started by the end of the year," Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Beth Harbin said Wednesday. "It's exciting for Southwest and customers in Missouri who are finally going to get low-fare access to Dallas."

Harbin said the company already has an ad campaign in the works that's been waiting for the bill to be signed.

The Wright Amendment was designed to help growth at newer Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport -- home to American Airlines -- when it was built in the 1970s. The restriction said airlines at Love Field could only fly within Texas, its four neighboring states and Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama.

Earlier this year, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., inserted a provision into the annual transportation spending bill making Missouri the ninth state to be exempt from the law.

The move is expected to bring dramatically lower air fares to Missouri, where Southwest is the largest carrier at Kansas City International Airport and the second largest at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Minutes after the bill-signing was official, American Airlines announced plans to compete with Southwest from up to three gates at Love Field.

"Following up on its recent meeting with Dallas Love Field Airport officials, American Airlines today formally notified the airport that it intends to start service from Love Field as soon as it can obtain and prepare appropriate facilities," American spokesman Tim Wagner said.

He said the airline would announce a schedule soon. The company has spent years fighting any repeal of the Wright Amendment, fearing it could lose hundreds of millions a year.

Wagner said opening up Love Field to Missouri flights is significant because many travelers from St. Louis and Kansas City visit the Dallas area and don't just connect with other flights.

"We are afraid those travelers will move over to Love Field because it is closer to downtown Dallas," Wagner said. "There's quite a bit of that local traffic. That's what we've said we'll need to protect."

American lowered its fares to St. Louis and Kansas City in early October, but Wagner said the move was unrelated to the Wright Amendment exemption. American now offers 11 daily flights from DFW to Kansas City and 13 to St. Louis.
 
US Airline Industry Poised For Upturn -Analyst


11-30-05 02:42 PM EST
CHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- Having lost $22.3 billion since 2001, the U.S. airline industry now is ready to take off, thanks in part to this year's high fuel prices, according to a research analyst.

"Currently, we believe that the industry is at an inflection point, and could be positioned to accumulate substantial profits over the next couple of years," Stefan Lumiere, special situations analyst at Oscar Gruss & Son, a New York research firm, wrote Wednesday.

Airline passenger revenue hasn't kept pace with the economy, Lumiere wrote. Today, passenger revenue is 0.65% of U.S. GDP, down from 0.95% in 1995. Low-cost airlines have driven ticket prices down across the industry, the analyst said. Lower revenue left many of the major airlines vulnerable to the recent spike in the cost of jet fuel, forcing two of them into bankruptcy.

But, he said, "In addition to low-cost carriers, we believe that skyrocketing fuel prices have been a blessing in disguise for all carriers." The industry not only has cut costs quickly, but has raised ticket prices, he said.

Major airlines in bankruptcy, including United Air Lines, a unit of UAL Corp. (UALAQ), Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) and Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWAC), along with US Airways (LCC), which recently emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization, have cut unprofitable routes and renegotiated expensive labor contracts. That's put them in a competitive position with low-cost leaders like Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU).

At the same time, consumers now believe that airlines need to raise fares to cover rising costs, Lumiere said. For the first time in a long while, higher airline ticket prices will "stick," he believes. "If energy prices subside, margins should expand, thereby resulting in greater profitability for the airlines."

Investors should keep some competitive issues in mind, Lumiere said. First, fuel hedges enjoyed by some airlines will gradually be rolling off, making a more level playing field for carriers like Southwest Airlines, which has enjoyed a significant fuel-cost advantage. But some carriers operate much more fuel- efficient fleets. JetBlue has the most efficient and the youngest fleet of all domestic carriers, Lumiere wrote.

Lumiere on Wednesday initiated coverage on most U.S. airlines and several foreign carriers. But, despite his bullish stance on the industry, he hasn't rated individual stocks. He said it would require more in-depth analysis of off- balance-sheet items and operations excluding hedging contracts, as well as a thorough examination of the indentures and covenants.

-By Ann Keeton
 
Southwest Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service From Dallas Love Field to Kansas City and St. Louis





12-01-05 10:10 AM EST | New Law Makes St. Louis and Kansas City Southwest's First New Nonstop Routes From Love Field in 25 Years

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- President George W. Bush recently signed a transportation appropriations bill containing language that exempts Missouri from federal restrictions placed on Dallas' Love Field airport. This exemption now makes it possible for Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the signature carrier at Love Field, to initiate new nonstop jet service from Dallas to its Missouri operations in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Southwest will start service to St. Louis and Kansas City from Dallas on Dec. 13, 2005, with four daily nonstop flights to each city. The one-way fare from Dallas to either city will be just $79 with 14-day advance purchase. The unrestricted "walk-up" fare is just $129 each way, compared to fares as high as $599 each way on American Airlines.

"Southwest Airlines has served Missouri for more than 20 years but Congress has prevented us from offering low-fare service between Missouri and our home airport at Dallas' Love Field," said Herb Kelleher, Southwest's executive chairman and co-founder. "Missouri has been punished far too long by the resulting high-fare monopoly. We are delighted by Senator Bond's efforts to wipe out the last vestige of airline regulation for the people of Missouri."

Under the leadership of Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO), Missouri has been added to the list of states eligible for nonstop commercial air service from Love Field. Since 1979, nonstop service from Love Field has been restricted to Texas and its four surrounding states due to the Wright Amendment, named for then-Speaker of the House Jim Wright who sought to protect Dallas/Ft. Worth International (DFW) Airport. In 1997, Senator Richard Shelby (D-AL) succeeded in adding Alabama, Mississippi, and Kansas to the list. The "Bond Amendment" of 2005 allows competitive air service at Love Field to reach one state further.

"When these two Missouri airports gain new Southwest Airlines service, history tells us that airport traffic will increase as more people are able to fly at a lower price," Kelleher said.

A study by the Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, commissioned by Southwest Airlines, predicts nearly 500,000 additional Missouri passengers per year will be generated through fare savings estimated to be more than $77 million. The US Department of Transportation calls this well-documented stimulation of passenger traffic through low fares the "Southwest Effect." Campbell-Hill also predicts an additional $218 million per year will go to the Missouri economy in related spending.

All eyes will be on Missouri to see if the venerated "Southwest Effect" takes hold in an established market. History, and Southwest Airlines, say that it can. "They don't call Missouri the 'Show Me State' for nothing!" Kelleher said. "The push from Missouri allows us to create a competition laboratory, if you will, to prove our case. Our experience in 60 other markets tells us that all carriers serving these markets will decrease their fares and increase their Missouri traffic. I can't think of a state that wouldn't want that."

Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 61 cities in 31 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 2,900 flights a day and has 31,000+ Employees systemwide.

Fare Rules

Fares are available one-way and are combinable with all other fares. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. The fares are available for purchase today through the end of Southwest's published schedule (currently March 31, 2006). Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days before departure. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by flight and day of week and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times. Fares do not include a $3.20 federal segment tax per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9 one-way and a U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Tickets are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare.
 
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