What's everyones idea on Blackstone?

I was thinking that blackstone (BX) would make a bit of a run once it stabilized after its ipo. but its just been hanging around in the lower $20 range. long term i think it is going to be a good investment, but i cant seem to find any consistent analysis of if it is going to be a good stock to own or a bad one. what does everyone who follows the market think of blackstone? where is a good place to get in, if one should get into it at all? where do you all think it will end up?

and what about the rio tinto news, anyone think 'we made no such bid' really means 'we dont want to discuss it until it is a done deal, but we definatly want to buy the company?'

With the credit situation so bleak, Blackstone will curtail its investments this coming year. They make money by buying up companies, fixing them up, and reselling at a higher price. Hedge funds are out of favor. But, in a few years, the outlook will be much brighter, so if you have a long horizon, now may be the time to buy and hold.

I own a little BX & plan to hold it for some time. But investors are quite (moderately?) negative on it.

BX was performing fabulously just before their IPO, because billions in credit could be obtained easily and cheaply. This easy credit evaporated in Aug. 2007, and most think it won't come back for a few years.

BX has stated that a partial solution is to do fewer giant deals (since they mostly can't) and move down-scale and do a larger number of medium and small deals.

On the other hand, I didn't buy it at IPO, but at about $21 which is a better deal. And it now pays a 5% dividend which is better than a Treasury.

Another positive is that the China gov. put $3B into BX at IPO. US investors laugh at the lousy deal China got, but I look at BX and China as being long term partners. I think BX now has the inside track to getting gov. approval for doing deals in China. Huge positive! (Maybe?)

Plus BX has said that they are working hard on deals in China and India.