Topic: Weyerhaeuser: to convert or not to convert? Stock news...
verbatimeb's photo
Sun 12/17/06 08:27 PM
Weyerhaeuser: to convert or not to convert?

Franklin Mutual Advisors has put Weyerhaeuser's (NYSE: WY) management on
notice: Franklin continues to believe that WY's share price reflects a
substantial discount to the intrinsic value of its underlying assets and
core businesses. [Translation: the stock is not meeting Franklin's
appreciation expectations.]

Franklin owns a 7.6% stake in Weyerhaeuser. In its letter to WY's board
of directors, Franklin argued that it appears the tax law will continue
to favor holding properties in entities such as timber investment
management organizations or real estate investment trusts, and it cited
several structural disadvantages for WY.

Franklin also noted an analyst's report that projected a destruction of
$24 per share in shareholder value, or nearly 33% of current equity
value, and Franklin underscored that "Weyerhaeuser must immediately take
steps to eliminate this disadvantage, including possibly converting the
current corporate structure to a REIT."

Weyerhaeuser shares were up $4.23 to $73.85 in morning trading
Friday.Weyerhaeuser has been a major advocate of legislation that would
decrease its tax burden, but that legislation has yet to pass.

Further, control of the U.S. Congress has shifted to the Democratic
Party from the Republican Party, which many believe further clouds WY's
ability to lower its current-status tax payments via legislation alone.

For now, the consensus on Wall Street appears to be that WY's management
will stand pat and focus on its chain of wood products, not a conversion
into a REIT etc.

Moreover, although some may view Franklin's letter as too critical,
given that WY's shares are up off its summer low, and have advanced
about 26% since mid-summer, the reality is that a cardinal rule of valid
criticism, and investor rights, applies in this case. That rule states
that "A squeaky wheel, if it squeaks long enough, will eventually get
some grease."

Investment Analysis: The best way for the typical investor to play
Weyerhaeuser? WY is a moderate risk stock not suitable for conservative
investors. However, if a portfolio can tolerate moderate risk, one could
consider buying a 1/4 position of WY by buying 25 shares if the
portfolio normally buy 100 shares; 100 shares if it normally buys 400
shares.

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My son is an account exec with this company so I follow this stock
pretty regularly. I want some too. BUT alas, it is Christmas and funds
are soooo low here.

Anyone want to get me a load of this stock for Christmas????

LMAO!

Verb

no photo
Tue 12/19/06 06:02 AM
any clue's on prft?

no photo
Thu 12/21/06 01:15 AM
??????????/

sushi's photo
Fri 12/22/06 05:12 PM
All I know is that I bought some shares of Luby's cafeteria some months
ago, and I'll probably never recover.