Call it “Headline risk”

Article Excerpt

TOYOTA MOTOR CO. ADRs $74 (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $118.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 1.3%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) has dropped 13% since the start of 2010. That’s mainly because the company recalled 8.5 million cars to fix problems that could lead to sudden acceleration. The cars’ gas pedals could get stuck in the downward position, or their floor mats could get trapped under their gas pedals. Toyota is also recalling hybrid cars for brake problems. This is an example of “Headline Risk.”That’s when well-established companies like Toyota, which is rarely the subject of any bad news, report unexpected and seemingly spectacular bad news. This attracts short sellers and scares off buyers, and the combination leads to a sudden but usually temporary stock-price drop. We feel Toyota will overcome these setbacks. It may face stricter safety requirements, but any new regulations will also apply to other carmakers. Toyota may…