How many photographers own Kodak stock?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Large format photography : One Thread

With the previous post by Bill Rosmaken, I thought I would throw another bone to chew on.

I certainly do not own EK stock and probably never will and for obvious reasons. They just do not get it! Photography is one industry where professionals demand, absolutely have to have, the best materials in order to stay competitive. Fuji knows this and produces the best color film on the market and it cost less then Kodak's. Ilford makes great B&W products. Epson, and Fuji are already miles ahead on the digital front with printers, papers, scanners and inks!

I do currently use mostly EK B&W materials, Tri-X, Tmax films and B&W chemestry. Though I am sure I can get along with other manufacutrers products. Should Kodak get out of the B&W market, there will be plenty of others who are already out pacing them.

-- Rob Pietri (narrationsnlight@aol.com), February 17, 2002

Answers

EK is a good buy if you want dividend yields. Considering how overvalued the stock is right now, with a multiple over 100, the price is bound to drop, pushing yields up. As long as they don't slash dividends too radically, yields on dividends actually make EK an attractive buy. Where else can you get a guaranteed 7% return right now? CDs, money markets and savings accounts are staying below 2%, and considering Fuji's stock, like Kodak's, moves cyclically with economic conditions, and that its yield on dividends is less than 1%, I'd say EK isn't that bad of a buy, coparitively speaking. Of course if you're buying strictly based on stock price and potential to move (read speculation), now would be the time to buy Fuji, as the stock is almost exactly where it was five years ago, and historically it appears that the stock moves about 50% with the travel season.

-- Chad Jarvis (cjarvis@nas.edu), February 17, 2002.

I own Kodak stock - about 40 sheets left of a 50 sheet box.

-- Andre Noble (andrenoble@yahoo.com), February 17, 2002.

where else can you get that kind of yield? Try SNH.

-- Kevin Kolosky (kjkolosky@kjkolosky.com), February 17, 2002.

Actually the "where else are you going to get that kind of return" question was hypothetical - Allied Capital (ALD) is a great one for dividend yields. For that matter so is Phillip Morris (MO), though until they spun off Kraft, it was MUCH better. SNH: REITs have been strong for some time now. I keep thinking, "Now is not the time. Too High. Now is not the time. Too high." But they keep performing against all market logic. Yet another boat I've missed.

-- Chad Jarvis (cjarvis@nas.edu), February 18, 2002.

The question was not ment to be taken literally. I asked it in a scarcastic way to try to highlight just how far out of touch Kodak is with what is really needed in the professional markets. Producing the highest quality materials that pros demand do not necessarily yield high profit margins. Kodak and their management seem to be torn between the two.

Personally, and I am sure others will agree, quality and consistency should be the priorities. Profits and higher margins can be attained as well through good management.

-- Rob Pietri (narrationsnlight@aol.com), February 18, 2002.



Damn that sarcasm! Sometimes I just don't pick up on it.

I don't know what to say...I use Kodak black and white materials exclusively. I tend to use Fuji for color. I would say that that is typically how it is. Let's face it; Kodak is trying to sell film in (what is quickly becoming) a digital world. Sooner or later Fuji will have the same difficulties. It's inevitable. (And no I'm not saying that I think film will disappear - I will rue the day.) No amount of management is going to stem the tide of change. Sooner or later the consumer film market will dry up for Kodak and Fuji. Hopefully there will be enough of us dedicated to film that they will continue to produce professional products. If not, then you're right; we'll all be buying from niche companies.

-- Chad Jarvis (cjarvis@nas.edu), February 18, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ