pros and cons, page-5

I have been looking at both CCP and PNC closely (larger and smaller companies in the same businesses of debt collection) ......... these two plus CLH have all reported more acceptable rates and increased debt purchases whereas during the recent period prior, the rates were not acceptable to these companies .......
from these three separate reports I get a feeling that there might be some slightly increased profits in the debt collecting business.

I also have a decent holding in PNC...
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madtrader, to each his own .......

it seems like you are valuing the stock on technicals........ that's ok, but then there is no need to discuss financials, unless you are a bit like me who considers both - a good way to get yourself totally confused ........

in this case my emphasis is on financials........

comparing cash flow/ shr with eps /shr. for these types of stocks the cash flows are extremely lumpy year on year making it difficult to come to any conclusions whereas the eps are much smoother year on year.......
to do with years of high debt purchases compared with years little debt purchasing I guess...... so the operating profit is probably the one to look at.....

we know that earnings and book value can all be manipulated, but in the case of these types of businesses it appears that there is a standard accounting method......I have a look the debt year on year also, to check that there are no inconsistencies between profits reported, also book value reported and dividends paid ......... ie steady reported earnings with spiraling debt would be a red light........ but agreed you have to be cautious when reading the financials .......... its an overall approach for me in this case......

I don't know how you can say the company has a fat balance sheet when it has debt / equity of 37% (2015 figures)..........