Profits Quotations | Page 3

We have a level of growth now in the world that is low enough for the Fed not to raise interest rates by a lot, but high enough for companies to grow profits in a very good way. Equities are the least over- valued asset class and growth is very decent.

We have been waiting for European recovery, and it's been slow in coming. I think it is coming, and I think that the merger and acquisition activity in Europe is going to drive corporate profits higher. So I think there are some real opportunities in Europe.

Valuations are getting stretched, especially in the technology sector. There may be some recovery in the economy, but the notion that it will translate into a big jump in corporate profits - the jury is still out on that.

With the election clearing the deck, I think you'll see more momentum. If you're going to have a 10 percent increase in corporate profits next year, I don't see why you couldn't be up 20 percent (in mergers and acquisitions).

We have the liquidity and financial resources necessary to forgo short-term profits to regain long-term growth and sustainable profitability,

Transportation stocks have had a tremendous run in recent months despite high energy prices, so it could be that investors are taking some profits off the table here.

While we have made good progress in reducing costs over the last several years, the projected loss in North America reinforces our need to do much more, particularly in the area of healthcare, ... Healthcare has been an increasing drag on North American profits and it's made us vulnerable to profit shortfalls.

We are now expecting profits to be significantly below our original plans for the year, almost entirely because of the weakness in advertising markets.

We had expected that 1999 would be a good year for the economy, profits would grow and inflation would stay under control, ... If that's right, 2000 should be yet another year of this economic and profit expansion and stocks should continue to rise.

We need this because I believe the current profits are the highest they have ever been, and at the same time the oil companies are accumulating all this gain, there is a lot of pain for consumers,

We are committed to providing value to our clients by delivering effective solutions, superior service and sound advice. Simultaneously, we are deeply involved with our communities, reinvesting time, energy and money. These efforts translate into rapid growth and increasing profits in all the markets where we operate.

We know that a large number of our Gourmet Consultants have been offering Two Sisters Gourmet products to their local organizations for fundraising programs. However, this has often involved some sort of commission sharing arrangement whereby our Consultants are making less profit than they would otherwise. While this has been an accepted practice in the direct selling industry, we wanted to provide our Consultants with a program that lets them keep their profits while offering a very attractive commission to the fundraising organization.

We know oil companies are pocketing record profits. We believe it would be prudent for oil companies to take their record profits and use them to invest in alternative sources of energy.

Unfortunately the smallest amount paid by consumers returns to the producing country and the biggest profits are made by the Western governments who bring pressure upon the consumers there ...

Unfortunately, there is an element in the town that is comfortable with and profits from that activity taking place. I wasn't on the same wavelength as some members of council in terms of development and fighting crime.

Though we have taken up the issue with the finance ministry a number of times, the issue is still hanging fire. The parent firms want a clarification on computing export profits generated by their Indian subsidiaries or vendors, as such a burden puts them at a disadvantage over other companies in the industry.

We are seeing that corporate profits are even better than expected. Everyone was saying earlier in the year that expectations might be too high, but the figures are very good.

We're not suggesting that companies not get profits. But unreasonable profits are another thing.

The picture is still rosy for the near term; you're looking at higher interest rates overseas but not in the UK. The growth cycle still seems to have legs. We're seeing fairly good earnings momentum and profits growth.

We have made an excellent start to the year with a 20 pct increase in profits in the first half and are well placed to build further on this performance, ... I am confident that we will continue to produce good returns and I look forward to reporting continued progress for the full year.

We are gradually, slowly building investor confidence that the profit recession will end, ... What's leading to the bullishness is not anything you are currently looking at. Earnings are dismal, but investors are becoming more optimistic that the profits recession will end.

We are continuing to see what we saw yesterday (Tuesday), with threats about terrorism, people taking profits (after the previous week's run) and buyers sitting on the sidelines. There's really no reason to buy right now. There is nervousness and the market likes stability.

Tommy is in trouble, ... The casual wear market is already saturated and profits are slumping. Let's see what Dyer can do.

We're driving the cost. You cannot generate healthy profits if you don't get the volume in the low end.

Wal-Mart's cautious comments are warranted. Even though its problems are not company-specific, it does bode badly for the profits and sales across the retail chain in the back half of the year.

Wal-Mart's cautious comments are warranted, ... Even though its problems are not company-specific, it does bode badly for the profits and sales across the retail chain in the back half of the year.

The only consolation to farmers is that the price of seafood will go up further. So when production gets back on track, fish and shrimp producers can use the profits to recover their lost costs.

Traditionally, the stock market does well in the first year of recovery because you have a sharp rise in productivity and moderating wage demands, so unit labor costs plunge and profits grow rapidly. All the data tell you that is happening. What's weighing on the market is the recognition that the last three years' earnings were largely created by clever accountants rather than strong fundamentals.

Trading volume is increasing at a faster pace than in the previous few sessions. Investors are locking in profits but demand for bargain-hunting is also there, particularly in steel stocks.

Traders were watching a sinking dollar and the apparent diversion of petro-dollar profits into bullion (a repeat of the pattern that was last visible in the gold run of 1980).

Traders and investors alike both succumbed to the temptation to take profits in a variety of commodities that have made big price gains.

The data's mixed on the economic side but we have absolutely no confidence whatsoever when profits start to grow. And I think we need that before the market can improve.

The decision to go from an individual state lotto game to a multistate game is a natural evolution. The way a lottery increases profits is to design games that appeal to the masses, to broaden the player base.

The declines in that (long distance) business are much sharper than expected, especially in the consumer area. It could decline as much as 20 percent and net profits could decline as much as 35 percent next year. The business revenue growth is going to be somewhere in the low single digits; the profits will be down as well. The positive thing that came out today is the break-up. I think that will create value. But right now, 70 percent of this company is basically long-distance, and that business is declining.

When you are dealing with public safety ... the existence of a middle man who is going to suck money out of the process by way of profits inevitably puts the public at risk.

When you are an independent, it's a bigger challenge and a better adventure when you're the one who makes the decision and then has to make it work. If you've been smart, worked hard, and gotten lucky, profits are all yours, too.

The credit card processors and banks are reaping enormous profits right now. That's right out of the dealer's profit.

We should see higher profits and sales again this business year.

Wal-Mart and Target continue to prove that they can operate well in this challenging retail environment and deliver profits despite modest to weak sales results.

We're trying to get those extra profits back to customers.

While tax authorities have increased surveillance and regulation in a bid to stem the flow of investment capital and profits to low-tax jurisdictions, it's easier to shift money around than it used to be thanks to technology. Both legal avoidance and illegal evasion techniques have become more accessible.

While taking profits on some issues, retail investors continued to look for bargains among domestic economy-sensitive issues as they remain optimistic about the market's outlook.

While overall confidence remains relatively positive, the latest reading reflects growing concerns that U.S. economic growth may be slowing down. And, while the outlook for corporate profits remains optimistic, rising interest rates and oil prices may curb business leaders' projections.

While our revenue growth for the fourth quarter was quite solid, our profits were not.

We can't allow multinational oil companies boasting of record profits to gouge consumers... We must do what we can to fix this problem.

We have become weak as a union, giving in to a series of rollbacks and buy-outs at a time when the entertainment industry is recording record profits; profits that will continue to grow with new technology, ... If we truly expect to earn our livings as actors, we need to stand up and fight for a fair and livable wage.

We will face serious challenges in this round of negotiations that will go far in defining our future, but there is no way that we will allow our retirees to become sacrificial lambs in the process. To allow a company to renege on commitments it made in the past, just so it can further feed an insatiable appetite now for more profits and bigger bonuses is just flat-out wrong.

There has been a slight softening in the economic data. Profits generally grow in line with the cycle, so if the economic data is growing sideways, or is not as strong as it was, then to what extent does that indicate (a) troubled recovery in profits?.

We saw a big rebound in corporate profits and that's a good signal for continued business investment. That generally leads to hiring, which will help keep consumption going.

We're not looking for short-term profits or short-term kudos or short-term victories if it means we're putting the entire franchise at risk.

With profits in such a tailspin, I'm revising down my capital expenditure outlook for the next six to nine months, and (I see) almost zero job growth for rest of this year.

Without deferred tax credits, Hutchison needs to book exceptional gains this year to keep profits firmly in the black. We hope that this spurs the company into more corporate activity.

When the full story is reached at the end of the quarter, retail profits will be less impressive, especially in apparel. There was nothing in the display windows (of clothiers) to incite cautious customers to buy.

When we look back in three years, there's going to be a higher likelihood that those companies that repatriated substantial non-U.S. profits have done major transactions compared with companies that have not repatriated assets.

Unfortunately for Speaker Hastert and his special-interest cronies, ... one photo-op press conference isn't going to change the fact that he has been pushing the very legislation that has led to record profits for the oil industry every chance he gets.

Figure out who is driving revenues and profits in the various business units, and get close to those people. Get an appreciation for what their priorities and problems are, and be willing to act as a sounding board. Once you become known outside your area, the board will hear about it, and begin to see you as someone who can handle more than what's on your plate right now.

Exxon-Mobil alone, one oil company, brought in more than $7.6 billion dollars in profits over the last three months,

Both the economy and profits are going to turn.

The government is allowing DuPont and other companies to use the American public as guinea pigs by relying solely on voluntary compliance by DuPont which has repeatedly violated the public's trust. This is an example of putting corporate profits ahead of human life.

The good news is that profits are now on the rise and this should lead to better share price performance.

The good news for these referral services is that they are the dominant show on the Web, compared to AutoNationDirect.com and other dealer sites. The bad news is that with so much competition, they match each other feature-for-feature, and it's very hard to see any profits for them any time soon.

While we cannot be certain, we continue to believe it is highly unlikely that HP would acquire Kodak, especially given HP's current focus on fixing its own business. The areas that Kodak gains profits from -- film, X-ray film, entertainment film, laser imagers -- are in secular decline.

While the stronger yen threatens to eat into the profits of exporters, it's also attracting foreigners by increasing their dollar-denominated return.

We've had a huge run-up, and people want to take some profits right now. More than the currency worries or specific stocks with bad news, you've got good old-fashioned profit taking with people feeling that the market is overbought.

We had three fantastic years; you have to pay for those along the line. There will be a period where profits will be under pressure. But our numbers say globally it shouldn't be a collapse.

This was really dumb. They are paying that kind of money for a company with no real profits and one product. I'm stunned.

What is probably happening is they are trying to seek disgorgement of profits and assess a civil penalty she deems unreasonable.

What is noticeable from the moves of the administration is that they are merely concerned with short-term responses that aim to elicit short-term public approval. Why is it that the oil monopolies and their profits remain untouchable? Why is it that the oil deregulation law remains untouchable?

What is interesting about the fall in life insurance net profits is that it was reported even though there was a considerable change in the net flow of funds position for the industry.

You have a responsibility to help less fortunate Americans cope with the high cost of heating fuels. It's not unreasonable to expect corporations with 50, 75 or 100 percent growth in earnings this quarter to contribute a mere 10 percent of those profits to fuel fund programs,

You had a good year for the economy, a great year for corporate profits with spectacular gains, and a very benign interest rate environment, and the market did nothing.

What we are opposed to is the one-way street where profits go to the insurance company but the risk stays on the homeowner,

We've recognized that this is an organized crime issue, We have multiple individuals who are involved in a scheme that doesn't last two days, or two weeks... but potentially a year or multiple years and they work together to avoid the taxes and to take those profits that should be going to the state and keep the money for themselves.

We just need a more rational balance between profits and risks.

What that suggests is that the recovery in corporate profits may not be as strong as expected.

We have to evolve a scheme that transfers windfall profits to farmers willing to stay on the land and farm. Transfer payments may be the only way to keep them in business.

We expect modest improvement in used vehicle profits per unit as wholesale pricing moderates.

We think it is now time for investors to switch from income statement variables to balance sheet variables when picking stocks, ... Portfolios in which stock selection was based on strong balance sheets tend to outperform those based on income statements when the profits cycle decelerates.

You look at Morgan Stanley and its peers, you see a lot of reliance on their proprietary trading desks and a willingness to take on more risk. If the markets are reaching a cyclical peak, which I think they are, profits are at risk when the economy slows down.

We are surprised by the magnitude of the earnings reduction for the full year given recent stabilization of Outback trends and very strong results at the secondary growth brands. We believe management is signaling that a full turnaround in terms of both sales and profits at the core Outback brand will take time and will perhaps be a 2007 event.

Bonds finally showed a little reversal. We put in a high on the long-terms and then dipped off of that. I think the big bond funds came in and started taking profits after the recent run. The real test will be if we can hold these levels.

Booming internet revenues and profits with improved market positions for our Fairfax Digital news and classifieds franchises, a solid performance in New Zealand, continued growth in business publishing and our regional newspapers ... with tight cost controls in a cyclical downturn have all resulted in solid profit growth.

Even if there is an upturn in the U.S., there is no real sign of any recovery in corporate profit, ... There is too much supply and too little demand ? profits have got to come down.

Even if you get a nomination for best picture but have no chance in hell of winning you can reap incredible profits at the box office.

Even though every investor out there is saying labor costs are picking up, companies have a way to be flexible. In theory, when the economy is doing well, profits do just fine even if labor costs increase.

Every operating division achieved strong volume growth and increased operating profits both absolutely and as a percent to sales, ... It is especially encouraging to see dollar operating profits rise strongly even in Latin America and Europe despite currency pressures.

As the rate of gain in corporate profits slows, even though the economy is booming, productivity is slowing and wages are going up, so the market will feel worse -- but people will be feeling better,

Attacking the profits of offences such as drug trafficking, money laundering and people smuggling is attacking both the motivation and ability to commit further serious crime,

At the moment, I'm cautiously positive about the market, recognizing though that as we go through the year, the economy and corporate profits are likely to slow.

Consequently, our profits are ahead of the current market expectations. The pipeline of new business is strong and we look forward to the balance of our financial year with confidence.

Did firms have trouble making profits back in the 1950s and 1960s? ... No -- they were used to a low-inflation environment, and the cost side was used to that, and workers' expectations about wages were more attuned to that.

Consumers still do appear to be spending their (tax) rebate checks, but perhaps not as aggressively as we would have hoped. Certainly corporate profits still look pretty bleak headed into the third-quarter warning season.

Correction? What correction? With the shorter-term players locking in profits and systematic CTA (Commodity Trade Adviser fund) selling met by trade and hedge fund buying, base metals have stabilized after a volatile 24 to 48 hours.

Corporations held back over the past few years while profits remained strong, so they're now investing in people and building capacity for continued growth.

Corporate profits will likely fall, but remain a large portion of GDP,

Corporate profits are what drive the stock market. On the economic front, we have been seeing a slowdown in some industries like housing. And so that could be a positive but may be, may not be, enough for the Fed. But corporate profits are always what drive a market and why investors buy the stocks of companies.

Corporate profits are likely to rise at double-digit rates in the second half of the year. And that will be hopefully enough to offset some of the negative psychology in the stock market -- assuming it doesn't get worse.

Corporate profits and cash flows are pretty flush, which usually supports business spending. Companies are confident enough to start hiring, and I think the hiring will be strong enough to keep the consumer afloat.

Corporate earnings have had an incredible run over the past several years, and unfortunately, we believe we are past the peak of growth in profits and that corporate earnings will not meet their lofty expectations.

Could retailers trim prices down the road? Possibly. Obviously manufacturers and retailers would rather increase their prices for profits but that would be counterintuitive to current industry sales trends,