Mark Lin

Driver productivity and the quality of customer service they provide have a significant impact on the profitability of uniform rental companies. The former is a bigger factor, in my opinion.

TASER's non-lethal weapons and on-officer video solutions are perfect insurance for law enforcement agencies leery of lawsuits and citizen complaints.

Companies that can compete successfully on price and manage their costs should still do well despite federal budget cuts.

A new study suggests it's losing ground to lower-priced competitors -- but those findings overlook a few important facts.

Advanced technology makes newer planes more fuel-efficient -- and Air Lease has a much younger fleet than its rivals.

As larger, longer-range business jets grow more popular with buyers, one stock in particular stands to benefit the most.

Branded food manufacturers are placing a strong emphasis on product innovation and cost management to make it through the difficult food retail environment. Kraft’s margins have yet to fully reflect the results of its efforts, making it an attractive margin improvement story.

Meet B/E Aerospace, a key player helping airlines cut costs and boost efficiency.

Cost management is increasingly important in a challenging restaurant environment, favoring manufacturers, like Middleby, of food service equipment that help to save on labor and energy costs.

The cruise company with the largest ships is not necessarily the most attractive investment candidate. Investors should instead focus on market leader Carnival, more profitable than its peers due to its scale.

Brick-and-mortar food retailers are likely to stand their ground against new online grocery entrants because of their scale and late-mover advantages.

Generac could benefit from more U.S. homes' interest in installing standby generators.

Publishers that focus on niche categories and have already made their forays into digital publishing will survive the digital revolution.

Stronger suppliers will benefit more from Boeing's “Partnering for Success” program.

New competition from Amazon.com likely won't drive these companies into extinction.

Why ups and downs don't leave boat maker Brunswick feeling seasick.

A strict top-down approach will lead investors to miss out on profitable investments, given that there are still attractive opportunities in unattractive sectors like airlines.

Investors tend to equate brands with customer captivity, this is not necessarily true as competitors are equally able to differentiate or brand their products in most cases.

Universal Truckload Services hits the sweet spot between its larger and smaller rivals.

Not all companies in the same industry or sector are created equal, the bottom-up approach still works the best when it comes to investing.