PICO Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company. Through Vidler Water Company, Inc., it owns and develops water rights and water storage operations in the southwest U.S.. PICO also owns and develops land and related mineral and water rights through Nevada Land & Resource Company. In addition, the company oversees Citation Insurance Company and Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio, which have insurance operations in run off.
Investment Impacts (help)

USA Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) The United States (US) has a highly productive, capitalist economy and is the largest and most diverse market in the world. Currency: the US dollar (USD) has the potential to increase in value especially versus the Australian and Canadian dollar because of the significant potential of undervalued companies. Investor Survey: the economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and economic diversity. Trade: China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada are the top US trading partners, while the leading export and import are electrical machinery and vehicles, respectively. Commodity: The US produces a significant amount of coal and wheat for use at home and as an export. However, the US consumes a larger amount of oil, which contributes to their trade deficit. SWOT Analysis: The leading US strength is its entrepreneurial culture, while the main weakness is high health care cost. Energy independence has the opportunity to propel growth, while the major threat is the housing crisis, which will lower growth. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, high investment flow potential and favorable business environment lead to a positive outlook for US investments, which will also benefit from positive international actions.
Commodity Investment Impact
Water Commodity Analysis ► (edit / improve) Water is the liquid form of the most important substance on earth. Water covers seventy percent of the world’s surface; 97% of which is saltwater. Commodity Analysis: Water is rated a hold. Water demanders and suppliers have a moderate potential to increase in value. Investor Survey: Water’s long term growth potential is very favorable due to high scores on sensitivity to price changes and substitute products. SWOT Analysis: Strength: Water is the most precious substance on earth; without it, life could not exist; Opportunity to grow: the demand for water will increase as the world’s population increases; Threats to growth: contamination and pollution could limit the supply of water. Trading Strategy: The commodity analysis hold rating indicates that water should stay the same price over the short term, whereas a very favorable investor survey means water will increase in price over the long term.
Latest News
Top 10 Real Estate Stocks with Highest Upside: CRIC, INTG, TPGI, CHLN, FOR, EJ, GBE, PICO, HF, IRS (Mar 11, 2010) 1268322338|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Real Estate Stocks: CRIC, EJ, LOOP, ZIPR, FSRV, MOVE, AMB, PICO, JLL, DLR (Feb 23, 2010) 1266930673|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Top 10 Real Estate Stocks with Highest Upside: MDH, TPGI, INTG, CRIC, CHLN, EJ, FOR, PICO, HF, NCT (Feb 22, 2010) 1266841143|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
PICO Holdings, Inc. (PICO) is a diversified holding company… ► (edit / improve)
Industry Analysis evaluates the major industry characteristics that affect investments. Company specific factors drive the performance of individual companies, but macro-economic factors can affect the performance, stock prices, growth rates, and chart movements of any stock, currency, or commodity. All stock traders should review industry research before trading.
Warren Buffett Quote: "When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is the reputation of the business that remains intact." No matter the quality of your business, industry economics is an important factor in any value investing decision.
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Value Investing Importance?
A professional evaluations can cost between $150 to $15,000. In order to understand an investment, traders must research industry margins, stock prices, multiples, news, growth rates, stock chart, and any other relevant measurement to avoid mistakes.

Description: The financial services industry includes companies whose sales come from the management of money for individuals and institutions. Financial services companies include banks, insurance companies, brokerage, wealth management, and credit card companies… Read More.
Profit Analysis: The best way to profit from financial service stock investments is to find the most undervalued investments (Wall Street and Main Street buy ratings) during economic recessions. Those investments should be undervalued (see Wall Street on left side), and have high Main Street Common Sense investment ratings (see Main Street on right side). Interest rates are also lowest during this time period, which decreases the cost of borrowing money for financial service companies.
When an economic recovery occurs, financial stocks tend to outperform the general stock market, because consumers and businesses quickly resume spending on items such as cars or business loans they wanted, but resisted obtaining during tougher economic times. Eventually financial stocks become overvalued, because profits and stock prices increase past their fair values. During the last stages of an economic business cycle, just before a recession, it is best to sell financial stocks, because they are likely to decrease in price. Interest rates are highest at the end of recessions to fight inflation by making money for banks more expensive. Expensive (overvalued) stocks with low Main Street Common Sense ratings should be sold at any time to invest in better stocks. Two buys ratings are the best and two sell ratings are the worst possible stock investments.
Trading Strategy: During economic recessions, consumers and businesses tend to cut back on expenses and investments to save money during tough economic times. Bank loans, equity or debt raising, general spending and many other financial activities slow during recessions. Less spending decreases business revenue and eventually decreases the stock prices of financial services companies. During economic recoveries, consumers have a greater desire to spend money and make business investments. Higher spending increases business revenue and eventually increases stock prices. During longer economic expansions, financial services may actually increase faster than the general market due to large investments by companies and mergers and acquisitions between companies. Consumers have more confidence in the stock market and increase stock investments and private business investments. Over-investment leads to higher inflation and higher interest rates, which make it harder to obtain money.
The return on money lent minus the expense of borrowing money equals the profits for many financial services companies. When interest rates increase, this raises the expense of borrowing money. Generally, interest rates increase near the end of the expansion phase of the business cycle to slow the potential for inflation. Interest rates are generally lowest during recessions, because inflation risk is lowest and the government wants to encourage business investments by making money relatively cheap to obtain.
1 Investment potential (margin of safety) is a weighted average of the discounted cash flow (DCF), the enterprise value (EV) market multiple, and the Warren Buffett investment method.
2 The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for the industry is a broad representation of the WACC for each individual company. A sub-industry WACC offers both stability and accuracy for each individual company.
What is a SWOT Analysis? The SWOT Analysis evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in a business or project. The SWOT analysis is essential to understanding the many different risk and rewards of any investment. Add your content to the SWOT Analysis, below. Also see our SWOT Analysis Tutorial for help.
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Quickly add a comment below to improve the SWOT analysis. WikiWealth professionals happily review each comment and improve upon the initial ideas. Think of a useful statement, enter a title, press "Add Your Input", enter something in the new page (optional), then press "SAVE." Feel free to add your comments or improve upon other comments. We all deserve free SWOT analysis of the highest quality.
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The quality and quantify of SWOT statements has a direct impact on stock research ratings, and thus, company investments. A professional SWOT analysis cost a minimum of $150. WikiWealth's SWOT analysis is free and open to improve / edit.
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How does this work? The WACC Discount Rate (weighted average cost of capital) is used to determine business risk. WikiWealth uses an industry WACC analysis to increase stability and accuracy. Real time stock price and financial data equal real time WACC calculations. Click above to experimental and form your own investing conclusions (see tutorial & definition).
Value Investing Importance?
The result of this calculation is an essential input for the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. The real time stock price and interactive financial data create the world's only fully real-time WACC calculation. This method is widely used by investment professionals to determine the correct price for investments before they make value investing decisions.
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How does this work? The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) investment analysis computes a value based on the present value of all future cash flows generated by the business. The DCF incorporates information from financial news and share data to stock price and growth rates. Click above to experimental. Form your own investing conclusions (see tutorial & definition).
Value Investing Importance?
This analysis is never given away freely, because it is expensive and complicated. Many investment professionals charge hundred of dollars just to see the results from this approach, but WikiWealth allows everyone to view and manipulate this analysis freely. This is one of the most important elements of WikiWealth's three Wall Street approaches used to determine the correct fair value of an investment for stock research purposes.
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How does this work? The Comparative Investment Analysis determines the value of a company by comparing their financial ratios, prices, growth rates, margins, etc. to those of relevant peer groups. Combine with news, charts and other stock research to form a complete. Click above to experimental and form your own investing conclusions (see tutorial & definition).
Value Investing Importance?
This method is widely used by investment professionals to determine the correct price of investments, especially initial public offerings (IPOs). It is one element of WikiWealth's three Wall Street approaches used to determine the correct fair value of an investment for stock research purposes.
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How does this work? The Warren Buffett Intrinsic Value Analysis, developed exclusively by WikiWealth, tries to mimic the value investing approach used by Warren Buffett, arguably the greatest value investor of all time. Click above to experimental and form your own investing conclusions (see tutorial & definition).
Value Investing Importance?
This method is unique and experimental, but extensive testing on over 3,200 companies confirms the results to be surprisingly accurate and consistent with more advanced approaches. If the greatest value investor of all time can consistently beat the stock market, then his methods are worth your attention. WikiWealth is the first and only company to utilize this value investing approach. Warren Buffett relies less on every day stock price, financial news, stock charts, trading tips, and price data. He focuses on fundamental value investment analysis as highlight below.
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