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Letter to the Editor

This article originally appeared in the January 2011 Issue of INSIGHT

New Year = New Hope

Although it is January - a New Year - our Industry Stock Report chart is actually our last chart for 2010, comparing December per share stock prices to beginning of the year 2010 postings.

This is a good place to start for 2011, I think, with more than a glimmer of light shining through what looks like a real end to the recession against which we have been struggling. Do not worry, dear readers - I am knocking on wood and throwing salt over my shoulder even as I dare to write this, not wanting to tempt Fate.

Of all our industry-related stocks that we track, only one - Akzo Nobel - did not end 2010 on a positive note. The chemical giant’s December price per share was $57.75, nearly $10 below its $67.05 January price. Our other refinish paint manufacturers definitely ended year 2010 triumphantly. DuPont continues to run at the head of the pack, with a share of stock selling for $49.24, an almost 39 percent jump from its January 1 spot. PPG, at a hair over $82 per share in December, has posted an almost as good 38 percent increase YTD. Sherwin-Williams and Valspar have also posted nice per share prices. Sherwin-Williams is closing out 2010 with a per share price of $81, more than 30 percent above its January price, and Valspar’s December price of $34.57 showed over 25 percent improvement.

Solera Holdings is happy at the Dow this month. The company has posted a per share stock price of $51.17, nearly 41 percent over its last New Year’s mark. See page 7 for news about a recently announced acquisition by the company.

Our national car dealership groups have reason to celebrate this New Year. AutoNation, with a per share price of $27, is up just a hair below 39 percent YTD, and CarMax, at $34.74 per share, is up nearly 42 percent YTD. Sonic Automotive’s per share price rose nearly 23 percent YTD. The Penske Automotive Group share pricehas finally risen above its January 2010 posting of $15.22, for an over eight percent improvement at the close of a challenging year on Wall Street.

All of our industry-related insurers have had a positive end of the year month.

The Boyd Group has had a very nice year at the Toronto Stock Exchange. At $7.32 per share, our Canada-based collision repair facility consolidator has shown an over 27 percent improvement YTD.

I am cautiously optimistic that the U.S. economy will continue to improve throughout 2011.

-Charles Baker-

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