China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (CHL)

RiverRover (81.33) Submitted: 9/14/2009 3:11:24 PM : Start Price: $50.30 CHL Score: +9.42

Dependent on the "new middle class" degree of growth over the next few years. How soon will China's economy recover sufficiently for everybody to afford cell phones? And will it ever get back to $ 100+ ??

unstoppablepeon (< 20) Submitted: 10/26/2008 11:48:18 PM : Start Price: $34.97 CHL Score: -7.36

china stock

xplorshinji (29.76) Submitted: 9/5/2008 2:49:02 PM : Start Price: $49.86 CHL Score: -5.52

the company needs to figure out how to compete with the new regulation. The mobile unit is going to get a lift if they can ink the iphone deal.

dgavark (20.84) Submitted: 8/15/2008 1:27:30 PM : Start Price: $56.36 CHL Score: +1.94

This stock used to be one of the hottest in mystical/ magical land known as China. However, now with increased competition, lower income per new customer subscribed, and a government which looks poorly upon its monopolistic tendencies... investors are finally starting to cool off of this one.

Logan168 (26.32) Submitted: 7/8/2008 10:34:54 PM : Start Price: $63.41 CHL Score: +13.21

more customers, more profits, more dividends

gunark (93.16) Submitted: 6/10/2008 3:21:17 PM : Start Price: $65.32 CHL Score: +9.97

Look out below?

climate (90.68) Submitted: 6/3/2008 2:23:31 PM : Start Price: $68.85 CHL Score: +13.27

approaching prefect competition = approaching zero profit

djcumby (< 20) Submitted: 5/24/2008 5:31:52 PM : Start Price: $82.46 CHL Score: +21.72

You are bought with a price; do not be slaves of men.

JrIIIx (68.68) Submitted: 4/14/2008 4:43:05 PM : Start Price: $76.56 CHL Score: +22.81

Heh heh, I'm really going against the grain on this one but I live in China so I'll put in my two cents. Mobile is a not a bad stock to own, but I don't think its quite as golden as everybody seems to think.

1. So-so service, High price.

There is no denying that China Mobile is the carrier of choice in China over China Unicom right now. Most of my friends use it and so do I, and this in spite of the fact that China Unicom is cheaper...a good deal cheaper. So why do people pay more more money? Out of vague sense that they're getting a better product, something Chinese people care more and more about.

Except, that its mostly hype. Though China Mobile does offer better reception in the Chinese countryside, the reception in all ciites is pretty much the same. Given that the trend in China is DEFINITELYtoward cities and away from rural areas, and that most of the middle class people that are using this service are urbanites and not poor farmers, I expect the perception of "better quality" to give way to reality sometime in the future. And especially since China Mobile's reception is often less than satisfactory in my city anyway, I'm gonna go ahead and switch and save some money real soon. Did I mention there are no penalties for switching and that China Unicom is cheaper...a lot cheaper?

2. Government Influence

China Mobile has definitely benefitted from being in communist country where the government owns most of the big industries still and barriers to entry are high. I think they had any real competition they'd be in a bit of trouble. However, the government has expressed that it would prefer for there to be more balance in the mobile industry. What the goverment wants, the governmemt usually gets, and whether it comes from bringing China Telecom into the mix, creating a merger to bulk up Unicom or whatever, I think rumors will at some point become reality and the government will take further steps to level the playing field.

Even with all this, CHL will probably be alright. But even though its in China and the market is huge, its hard for me to give a thumbs up to a company that overcharges for so-so service and outdated technology, but suceeds because people don't have access to much else. That my take on it.

But as I'll be switching soon, I'm somewhat biased=)

fivej1 (72.22) Submitted: 3/30/2008 3:39:45 PM : Start Price: $70.61 CHL Score: +18.89

China can't do without it's cell phones so this remains a good longer term bet.
Will be helped by the IPhone when it begins selling them.

Happyhusky (85.84) Submitted: 3/14/2008 7:57:18 PM : Start Price: $61.21 CHL Score: +12.02

n idea

gkorneev (41.06) Submitted: 10/4/2007 1:54:25 AM : Start Price: $76.45 CHL Score: +11.92

Gonna take a leap here and bet against this company.

lovesaves (95.48) Submitted: 9/17/2007 5:43:56 PM : Start Price: $65.06 CHL Score: +3.80

Good long-term investment that has cimbed too far too fast. Time for investors to take profits.

imabugger (< 20) Submitted: 6/26/2007 8:05:41 PM : Start Price: $49.45 CHL Score: -19.49

china has failed to pay on $360 billion yes bbbillion of government bonds. rep. from tn. has introduced a bill to force the communist gov to honor the debt. when the chinese bubble pops it is going to hurt a lot of investors bad...and that is japan you hear laughing.

TheWooozz (< 20) Submitted: 2/5/2007 3:26:44 PM : Start Price: $43.40 CHL Score: -30.73

Too expensive
Risk of future competition