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Mark Lin

asiavalue

Mark is a private value investor and is the author of CheapskateInvesting.com website which uses a systematic quantitative screening approach to filter the global stock markets for cheap cigar-butts and wide-moat compounders.

Recent Articles by Mark Lin

Feb 17, 2014 by Mark Lin

These Restaurants Are Leading the Digital Revolution

E-commerce is nothing new in today’s retail environment, but it still remains a small proportion of sales for many businesses. The picture for certain restaurants is slightly different. Online ordering is increasingly becoming the dominant sales channel for pizzas while technology is also playing a bigger part in both ordering and payment for other operators.

Feb 16, 2014 by Mark Lin

How These Specialty Flooring Companies Hold Their Ground Against Competition

You walk on the floor all day long and you may think that there isn’t any difference where you buy it. These specialty-flooring companies want you to think otherwise about the tiles and carpets that they sell.

Feb 14, 2014 by Mark Lin

How These Airlines Go the Extra Mile for Extra Bucks

The cyclicality of the airline industry and the high break-even costs per flight suggest that airline carriers will bend over backwards to earn more money from every passenger.

Feb 13, 2014 by Mark Lin

How Beverage Companies Respond to Falling Soda Sales

It's better late than never. Beverage companies are now taking the threat of falling soda sales seriously and have adopted a variety of measures in response.

Feb 12, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why Specialization Is a Winning Formula for Staffing Services

Most job seekers find more suitable openings on niche job sites than general ones. The same logic applies to specialized staffing firms, which have found more success than their generalist peers.

Feb 10, 2014 by Mark Lin

This DVD Rental Company Is Worth Investing In

Many investors have missed profitable investment opportunities simply because they called the death of an industry way too early. Kiosk DVD rental could be one of them, as it is well-positioned to gain market share from other forms of physical distribution.

Feb 10, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why the First-Mover Advantage Doesn’t Work for Online Grocery

The experiences learned as a late mover clearly outweigh any advantages as an early mover. This is especially true in the U.S. online grocery market, where barriers to entry and market penetration rates are low.

Feb 10, 2014 by Mark Lin

How These Companies Profit From Varying Customer Price-Sensitivity

Many investors invest in companies with little pricing power and find that their companies’ share prices fall in tandem with profit margins. They need to understand that pricing power is a function of customer price-sensitivity, which is in turn influenced by the price of the product and how much it is as a part the customer’s budget.

Feb 10, 2014 by Mark Lin

Winners and Losers in the Green Mountain-Coca-Cola Partnership

If you are a soda drinker unable to decide between healthier homemade sodas and your favorite off-the-shelf Coke, the upcoming Keurig Cold at-home beverage maker might be your savior. While this is positive for consumers, the impact for sellers of soda-makers and sodas isn't straightforward.

Feb 9, 2014 by Mark Lin

How This Small Town Retailer Thrived by Avoiding the Retail Goliaths

David only beat Goliath because he was able to use his size to his advantage. Similarly, small town retailer Stage Stores has achieved success by focusing on smaller markets, smaller store formats, and feeding off traffic from larger retailers.

Feb 9, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why This Chocolate Maker Doesn’t Fear the Threat of Private Labels

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, consumers are increasingly cost conscious. But that doesn’t mean that they will favor private label over branded products in every category. Chocolate producer Hershey is one notable exception.

Feb 5, 2014 by Mark Lin

These Movie Theater Groups Will Survive the Next Decade

It’s worth taking notes from Darwin’s theory of evolution, when one is considering the fate of a movie industry disrupted by technology and changes in consumer preferences. As long as cinema operators evolve and adapt to changes, they have a good chance of survival.

Feb 5, 2014 by Mark Lin

How These Retailers Dominate Their Niche Markets for Profitability

Investors often look at a company’s revenue and market capitalization as indicators of its size and profitability. This view is misguided, as it is a company’s relative market share in its target market that determines success.

Feb 5, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why These Seat Makers Remain in a Comfortable and Profitable Upright Position

Both auto and plane makers are putting a greater emphasis on lighter and more comfortable seats. This is because these features help to differentiate their products in the eyes of customers with respect to innovation and cost efficiency.

Feb 1, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why Technology Won’t Kill These Weight Management Companies

Free weight loss apps are not much different from treadmills that collect dust at home. Weight management companies should remain in business as long as people lack motivation and commitment to lose weight on their own.

Jan 28, 2014 by Mark Lin

The Winners and Losers in China’s Home-Appliance Market

Companies should emphasize profitability rather than size and global reach. Expansion into the fastest-growing markets is not necessarily a good decision, considering the dismal fortunes of many Western home-appliance makers in China.

Jan 27, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why Size and Branding Aren't Advantages for Office-Furniture Manufacturers

Investors tend to equate absolute size and well-known brands with company profitability. This isn’t necessarily true, as seen in the financial numbers of the leading office-furniture manufacturers.

Jan 25, 2014 by Mark Lin

Why Small Is the New Big for This Organic Food Retailer

The story of David and Goliath has important lessons for investors, as it shows how size (or the lack thereof) can be used intelligently as a competitive advantage against bigger-sized rivals. One such David in the organic food retail space is The Fresh Market.

Jan 24, 2014 by Mark Lin

This Food Distributor Is a Good Company in a Bad Industry

A good company in a bad industry is almost always a better investment than an inferior company in an attractive business. Sysco has successfully met the challenges of the food-distribution industry because of its superior business strategies.

Jan 24, 2014 by Mark Lin

These Flavor Suppliers Boast Strong Pricing Power

With rising input costs such as labor and commodities, investors are best advised to invest in companies with strong pricing power. Examples include global suppliers of flavors and fragrances.

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