A share of New York Times stock now cheaper than the Sunday paper

[jeffrey]

What costs more — a spark plug or a share of General Motors? A Sunday New York Times or a share of the newspaper company? A General Electric toaster or a share of GE?

In the surest sign of the depth of the recession, the products associated with these high-profile companies now cost more than buying a piece of the business.

Shares of some of the most renowned companies have come under assault as the worst recession in decades saps investor confidence and drags major stock indexes to their lowest levels since 1997. Despite Tuesday's 3 percent gain, the Dow Jones industrial average is still off almost 50 percent from its 2007 high — and there's little evidence it's hit bottom...

The price is slight: A share of New York Times stock now cheaper than the Sunday paper -- Newsday.com

[sweeps]

I would say that's a certain buy signal, but I've been beaten down so many times I'm afraid to say it.

[disneysteve]

They did this report on GMA this morning. Like sweeps, my initial thought was "buy" but I thought that with Ford last year and with BoA just recently (I think that one will work out). At this point, who knows. Could US Air go under? Sure. Could the NY Times close up? Well, the Philadelphia Inquirer filed for bankruptcy yesterday so anything is possible.

I think more than ever buying individual stocks, especially in badly beaten down companies, is very risky and now is as good a time as any to stick with diverisified mutual funds and dollar cost averaging.