Yes, they have been beaten up. So have their peers. Yes, the Government is breathing down their neck. Still, they are a dominate player in an industry with few players and their margins are just great. Their net margin is 30.7% according to Morningstar. This stock is not for the faint of heart, but once we get through this time of trouble, they will still be rating, people will still care what their opinions are, and they will still be able to charge a great deal of money for their services. Even if the stock recovers to only the 40's or 50's (compared to a price in the 70's before the summer of 2007), you stand to make a little money. I believe that they will restructure, that the Government won't kill their business model and that the stock can easily get to close to it's previous levels. How long will it takes? I just don't know.
Plus, Buffet owns them.
$35.14 (07/19/08)
