Cooper Tire stock has tumbled 50% so far in 2006, industry analyst Saul Ludwig reports in the September installment of the "Ludwig Report" in Modern Tire Dealer magazine.
So what will the new CEO do to re-ignite this company?
"As I see it," Ludwig says, "Cooper may have tried to be all things to all people, and SKU proliferation led to production complexities and inefficiencies.
"Its China strategy should help as it matures. We await the selection of its next CEO, who will be challenged not only by factors unique to Cooper, but also by the macro pressures now being felt by all tire manufacturers."
Ludwig is a managing director with KeyBanc Capital Markets, a division of McDonald Investments Inc. based in Cleveland, Ohio. Look for the full "Ludwig Report" in the September issue of Modern Tire Dealer magazine.
