CONSOL Energy, Inc. (CNX)

TMFSinchiruna (97.70) Submitted: 11/18/2008 6:30:18 PM : Start Price: $52.42 CNX Score: +4.22

CONSOL is my second favorite pick among the coal miners after Peabody Energy.
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/10/29/recent-headlines-miss-the-point-for-arch-coal.aspx
CONSOL Energy (NYSE: CNX) President and CEO J. Bret Harvey believes, "the recent sell-off in coal equities appears to be disconnected from current physical coal supply and demand fundamentals."

After Patriot Coal and Foundation Coal Holdings both outlined in the clearest terms the set of common challenges facing all Appalachian miners in the near-term [see first two links below], and considering the significant legal battles that have Massey Energy on the defensive [see third link below] and the whole industry wondering what will become of surface mining in the region, I singled out CONSOL Energy as a solid near-term prospect because of the company's unique production profile among Appalachian players with 96% of production coming from underground mines. CONSOL is not immune to most of the challenges listed by Foundation and Patriot -- like labor shortages and increased site visits by regulatory personnel -- but I view the lack of exposure to surface mining activity as a major plus until the case involving Massey and its potential implications for the region's coal miners are fully resolved. While I continue to hold a few shares of MEE in real life, I am not terribly excited about that fact given the obvious environmental implications of those surface mining activities (they call it mountaintop removal for a reason).

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/10/30/an-opportunity-too-coal-to-pass-up.aspx
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/10/22/nice-to-look-at-but-it-doesnt-make-electricity.aspx
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2008/09/24/reconsidering-the-power-to-move-mountains.aspx