Scotts Miracle-Gro Co (SMG), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF): Loose Lips Sinks Stocks

Then there are those apologies that grate like fingernails on a chalkboard. Did anyone really believe Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS)‘ Lloyd Blankfein’s plea for forgiveness for helping bring about the financial crisis — only weeks after chortling about the investment bankers’ pay and bonuses, and doing “God’s work?” There’s a reason the company is still reviled by many.

A penny for your thoughts
While corporate apologies are de rigueur these days, we shouldn’t have to apologize for everything we say, even if what’s said is too blunt or done in a ham-fisted manner. I had the pleasure of hearing the CEO of burger joint Five Guys, Jerry Murrell ,speak last year and found his down-to-earth manner bracingly refreshing for a corporate executive.

Similarly, you certainly won’t find Titan International Inc (NYSE:TWI)’s Maurice “The Grizz” Taylor begging forgiveness for telling the French to go pound salt when asked to take over The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT)’s business there. “How stupid do you think we are?” he asked. “The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three.” He concluded, “You can keep the so-called workers.”

We’ve become way too accustomed to the nuanced, say-nothing manner of political speech. Give me a blunt-talking CEO any day.

So assuming Scotts Miracle-Gro Co (NYSE:SMG)’s chief executive did no more than pepper his talk with some salt, I’d say good riddance to the thin-skinned directors who left and welcome the good fortune of having someone lead a company who speaks like us common folk instead of some polished politician.

The article Loose Lips Sinks Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs and Scotts Miracle-Gro.

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