[tx_eggman]

Shell's full-year earnings rose 37 percent to $25.3 billion while sales rose 12 percent to $379.0 billion.

Einstein, that makes for a 6.75% profit margin on $379 billion in sales ... Microsoft's margin was over 30% ... Merck's was over 25%.

Their total profits were big because they are, after all, BIG Oil. Given that they're projecting $19 billion in capital investments in '06 to keep the oil flowing ... they have to be big.

Paying attention doesn't equate to understanding. ;-)

They tell me ignorance is bliss .. you must be one happy camper.

[Smartaleck]

I should have known -

"Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you down to his level - then beat you with experience."