|
|
|
|
| March 09, 2010 |
 |
|
local news
Community Calendar
The Longmont Area Economic Council presents Gearing Up for Recovery from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, at the Radisson Conference Center, 1850 Industrial Circle in Longmont. Admission is $25. To register, call 303-651-0128 or e-mail laec@longmont.org.
MortgageMax is holding an Identity Theft and Credit Seminar from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, at MortgageMax, 3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 110 in Boulder. To register, call Jim Dorney at 303-443-5566 or e-mail jim@mortgagemaxloans.com. |
|
Gaiam, Real Goods increase profits
LOUISVILLE - Gaiam Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA) and its subsidiary Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq: RSOL) both reported higher revenue and profit for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31.
Louisville-based based Gaiam, a lifestyle media and product company, reported fourth-quarter revenue of $87.6 million, up 17.6 percent from $74.5 million during the same period a year ago.
The increase in revenue primarily was due to the business segment, which grew 44.1 percent, and strong growth in the solar segment, partially offset by a planned reduction in catalog circulation, company officials said. The company also cut its operating expenses.
Gaiam reported a net profit of $4 million, or 17 cents per share, for the fourth quarter, compared to a net loss of $30.3 million, or a loss of $1.26 per share, during the same quarter a year ago.
For the full-year 2009, Gaiam reported revenue of $278.5 million - an 8.3 percent increase from $257.2 million during 2008. The company reported a net profit of $296,000, or 1 cent per share, compared to a net loss of $35.6 million, or a loss of $1.46 per share last year.
"Looking forward to 2010, we believe that our revenue momentum and new media relationships will result in good top and bottom line growth," Gaiam Chairman Jirka Rysavy said in a press release. "In addition, our tax loss carryforwards, accumulated mostly from our intangible write-offs taken in 2008 and acquired net operating losses, will result in the next $30 million of our earnings being tax free. We are in a good position to take advantage of growth opportunities as well as to cover the cost of capital to our shareholders."
Following its earning release, Gaiam's board of directors declared the payment of an annual cash dividend of 15 cents per common share. The dividend will be payable in late April 2010 to common stock shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 1, 2010.
Gaiam's Real Goods Solar subsidiary, a residential energy installer and integrator, reported fourth-quarter revenue of $19.1 million, up 41.8 percent from $13.5 million during the same period a year ago.
Real Goods Solar's net profit came in at $200,000, or 1 cent per share, compared to a net loss of $27.4 million, or a loss of $1.53 per share during the same quarter a year ago.
For the full-year 2009, Real Goods Solar reported revenue of $64.3 million, up 64 percent from $39.2 million in 2008. The company reported a full-year net loss of $1.6 million, or loss of 9 cents per share in 2009, compared to a net loss of $28 million, or a loss of $1.86 per share in 2008.
"The fourth quarter saw continued strong demand for residential solar," Real Goods Solar President John Schaeffer said in a press release. "Bookings were robust throughout the quarter, and we are pleased with the size of our backlog going into the slower winter months. Revenue for the quarter showed significant growth as a result of increasing installation capacity as well as completion of significant low-income housing projects in San Francisco and Richmond." |
|
Boulder Housing Partners secures bonds
BOULDER - Boulder Housing Partners received $1.5 million in qualified energy conservation bonds authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and awarded by the Colorado Governor's Energy Office.
The low-interest bonds will be used toward a $2 million energy performance contract that will bring weatherization, water conservation and other energy efficiencies at Boulder Housing Partner's eight public-housing properties.
Boulder Housing Partners is the housing authority serving the city of Boulder.
"This investment in our housing demonstrates our commitment to provide healthy and sustainable homes to people in all income ranges throughout the city of Boulder," said Betsey Martens, BPH's executive director. "We also expect that our investment in making homes energy efficient will help create a substantial number of "green jobs" in our local economy. |
|
University Parent offers debit cards
BOULDER - A local university-focused media organization is teaming up with a bank and card issuer to offer college students and parents access to prepaid debit cards.
Boulder-based University Parent Media will work with Florida-based StorValue Card Solutions and Iowa-based MetaBank to offer the Campus Dough DebitSmart Visa Prepaid Card.
The companies said the effort is in response to new federal legislation making it more difficult for students younger than 21 to obtain a credit card.
The reloadable Campus Dough card enables students to receive discounts on purchases at thousands of brick-and-mortar and online retailers - from leading pizza chains and fast-food restaurants to bookstores, coffee shops and downloadable music sites. In addition, students and any family members holding the card will be able to receive prescription discounts at more than 56,000 pharmacies across the country.
The Campus Dough card, which will be available to all university students and their families nationwide, will launch in April. University Parent, which publishes media for parents with students at nearly 120 colleges and universities, will detail the cards' rewards and features in the coming weeks in its print and online University Parent Guides.
"Campus Dough is the best way for students to manage money," University Parent Chief Executive Officer Sarah Schupp said in a press release. "With our online tools, Campus Dough will allow students to improve their money-management skills, and at the same time earn rewards from merchants and raise funds for their school. With our innovative card, students can take control of their spending and avoid credit-card late fees or overdrafts on their checking accounts."
Through Visa, Campus Dough cardholders will be given online educational information on practical money skills for life and financial literacy geared to university students. In addition, StorValue will be implementing an online tool for cardholders to track expenses. All of the spending from the Campus Dough cards will be automatically downloaded into an online program for budget analysis and management for students to track their spending.
The Visa co-branded Campus Dough prepaid card will be reloadable, and funds can be allocated from a payroll direct deposit, checking account or GreenDot and Western Union retail locations nationwide. |
|
Smashburger opening in Boulder
BOULDER - Smashburger, a Denver-based fast-casual burger shop, will open in the Twenty Ninth Street retail district in Boulder on Wednesday, March 10.
The shop, at 1650 28th St., features the chain's signature Colorado Smashburger - one-third- or half- pound of certified Angus beef that is smashed, seared and seasoned on the grill, then topped with grilled green chilies, melted cheddar, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a toasted chipotle bun.
It is introducing the Black Bean Smashburger - exclusively for Boulder - a black bean patty smashed, seared and seasoned, pepper jack cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, chipotle mayo and jalapenos topped with tortilla chips on a chipotle bun.
Smashburger was founded by Tom Ryan. It was developed and is owned by Consumer Capital Partners, a private-equity and concept-development firm. The company hopes to contract with more than 275 franchisees during the next five years. It hopes to have 125 stores open by the end of 2010. |
|
2009 good year for craft-beer brewers
BOULDER - The Brewers Association announced an increase in both sales volume and dollars in 2009 compared to the previous year.
The Boulder-based nonprofit association, which represents small and independent craft-beer brewers in the United States, reported a 7.2 percent increase in sales volume and a 10.3 percent increase in sales dollars compared to 2008. That represents nearly 614,000 barrels or 8.5 million cases.
"Americans have an increasing appreciation of craft beers and the growing number of brewers behind them," Paul Gatza, the association's director, said in a statement. "They're eager to try the latest seasonal release and to sample a variety of beers from different breweries."
Though still small, 4.3 percent of total beer sales volume and 6.9 percent of total beer retail dollars were comprised of craft beer in 2009. Of the roughly $101 billion in 2009 beer sales, $7 billion came from craft beer, which is up from $6.3 billion in 2008.
The association also reports that there are 57 new craft brewers in the U.S. |
|
|
national news
Cisco says new router 12 times faster than rivals
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc, introduced a router that it says can handle Internet traffic 12 times faster than rival products, the first upgrade in several years of its product line that directs data traffic over the Internet.
Barclays looking for U.S. retail bank to buy: report
NEW YORK (Reuters) - British bank Barclays Plc is looking to buy a retail bank in the United States to extend its presence after buying Lehman Brothers North American operations in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people close to the matter.
White House's Romer: Too soon for spending clamp-down
ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - The gaping U.S. budget deficit is cause for concern but clamping down on spending immediately would be
|
|
|
|
©2010 Boulder County Business Report. All rights reserved.
This service is provided on BCBR's standard Terms & Conditions.
Read our Privacy Policy.
|
|
 |
Stocks
|
 |
|
