The Schwab Scuffle

There is money in the money trade. Charles Schwab <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: SCH)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: SCH)") end if %> has more than 5 million active accounts with more than $400 billion in assets. It has 275 local branch offices, but beyond that, its online segment is booming -- accounting for a stunning 48% of all customer trades this past quarter.

You can't argue with success -- or can you? This week Dale Wettlaufer (TMF Ralegh) and Rick Munarriz (TMF Edible) are Dueling Fools. Is Schwab destined to remain the dominant brand name in the discount brokerage industry? Dale thinks so. Rick thinks no.

So, strap on your abacus, a financial fracas awaits.

You Get to Vote!

After reading all of the arguments, cast your vote for the winner of the Duel. We'll tabulate results each week and revisit them from time to time to see whether you were right! As always, we invite you to join us in the Charles Schwab Message board to continue the duel.

[Any suggestions, comments, praise, or flames, please send them along to the Dueling Fools Team.]

The Bull... As an Atlanta boy, I measure entrepreneurs by Ted Turner. Wayne Huizenga is no Ted Turner. Fighting words? Maybe, but they should matter to potential Republic Industries investors because the main reason anyone has given this company a second's thought or a dollar of capital is because it's a Wayne's world concoction. Continue...

The Bear... Before I get started, I'd like to say that going up against Dale on a financial stock is like challenging Tiger Woods to a round of putt-putt. I would probably have to concede defeat if not for my firm conviction that Charles Schwab is severely overpriced -- and that spinning windmill in Hole 7 can be a bugger. Let me try and spell out my reasons... Continue...

Results for last week's Republic Industries Duel

Answer	Percentage
I can't make up my mind	5%
Jim Surowiecki's Bull argument	48%
Louis Corrigan Bear argument	37%
They were both excellent	8%
They were both lame	2%