In the past year, we've had companies attribute unhappy results to everything from bad weather to high gas prices. But Fording Canadian Coal Trust
A Web search on tire shortages unearths reports from as far back as April that industrial-use tires were in short supply because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and explosive growth in China and India.
Just to see what tire manufacturers were doing, I went to Goodyear's
The tire shortage may actually be good news for coal producers. Arch Coal's
Coal is a business run with long-term supply agreements. Between now and 2008, the vast majority of Arch's existing contracts will expire, resetting to market-based pricing. If coal prices remain at current levels, Arch expects to see significant increases in profits and cash flow.
Investors, encouraged by the opportunity for continuing high coal prices, might want to explore coal company stocks that are far from their 52-week highs, like Massey Energy
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Fool contributor W.D. Crotty does not own any shares in the companies mentioned. Click here to see The Motley Fool's disclosure policy.