Would you like fries with that? I’m sure the current recession has seen more than a couple once-high-flying Wall Street gurus slogging it away in a fast food restaurant. But not even fast food jobs are as secure as they once were.
Even Ronald McDonald is having a tough shake at the stick. For those penny stock investors too young to remember, Ronald McDonald debuted in 1963 (with TV personality Willard Scott donning the clown costume for the first time) in an ad spot for McDonald's (NYSE: MCD, Stock Forum). But if some health advocates have their way, the fiery-haired clown's days are numbered.
The watchdog group Corporate Accountability International is calling McDonald's mascot a "deep-fried Joe Camel for the 21st Century" and is sponsoring "Retire Ronald" events at several locations around the country. The group claims that Ronald McDonald is a spokesperson for childhood obesity, and they want him cut from the payroll pronto.
Those Wall Street traders who can’t seem to leave their work at home may want to dine at one newly launched restaurant in Manhattan. Since the economy affects clowns both on and off Wall Street, the Exchange is one restaurant that generates its prices based on trends.
Exchange Bar and Grill in New York City doesn't have set menu prices – it’s not based entirely on the economy either, but upon ordering trends of their patrons. The restaurant lets its food and drink prices rise and fall like stock prices by basing them on customer demand.
Menu items that are popular and frequently ordered have higher prices, while those that are less popular have prices set on the lower end to make them more enticing. If there are a limited number of people ordering the bulk of menu items, they will lower prices until there is greater appeal.
The prices will fluctuate in 25-cent increments. A glass of Guinness starts at $6 but could be pushed to a high of $8 or a low of $4, depending on popularity.
Like all good penny stock investors, to ensure you get the best deal, you have to time what you want to eat and when.
If you’re still in shock from the current recession and can’t really afford to eat out. You might be interested in a penny stock that could help absorb the pain. A leading provider of seismic shock control devices (for the defense, aerospace, and commercial industry) Taylor Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: TAYD, Stock Forum) recently announced strong third quarter and year-to-date results.
On April 13, the company announced that third quarter revenue jumped 28% year-over-year to $4.78 million. Net income for the period was up tenfold at $324,777. Sales for the first nine months were up 8% at $13.28 million. Net earnings for the first nine months were up 387% at $1.14 million.
"Three months ago, our firm order backlog was at a $11.4 million level and now it is $13 million," stated Douglas P. Taylor, President. "Aerospace & defense sales remain strong and our commercial & construction industry sales have recently started to improve from 2009 levels."
Adding, "Our previously stated expectation of improved profitability for the full fiscal year is materializing as planned."
Those sorts of numbers may not make a restaurant clown or Wall Street waiter happy but TAYD’s current momentum has put a lot of astute penny stock investors in high spirits.