Conference nyoss1::market_investing

    re .0
    
    Watch Cirrus Logic (CRUS), it's dropped ~20 in 2 weeks
    due to (I think) HP cancelling them as thier supplier (they
    make memory.)
    
    
    Bart

	Well I had been trying timing things like you did, and the 1st
	6 months of this year I was doing quite well with that method.
	However I'm now holding some losers that have eaten up a good
	chunk of my profits.

	I've also gone and looked backed at those I sold and computed
	where I'd be today if I had held instead.  While by selling
	on some I was better off, in the majority of cases, I would
	of been MUCH off holding (ex. USair, Boston Chicken, GTE, ...).
	Not to mention by holding I'd have little realized gains, vs.
	the short-term gains I've realized, which right now is about
	four (4) times my net gain when you factor in unrealized
	gains/losses.  That means I've got to sell off my losses by
	year end to avoid paying taxes on the gains which in reality
	I've since lost (not to mention prevent being fined for not
	sending in Q payments or having more taxes witheld on my
	federal return).

	And then my doing short-term trading this year I've paid
	like $3,500 in commisions, and that's with a discount
	broker (Waterhouse).

    Check out the Growth Stocks Report for suggestions. Their buys usually
    go up double digital values in a matter of days. If you hold for a few
    months, you could do even better.
    
    Here's the '95 YTD returns on their portfolio's:
    
    $25K  Portfolio: up 121.90%
    $75K  Portfolio: up 142.63%
    $150K Portfolio: up 128.02%
    $250K Portfolio: up 117.07%
    $450K Portfolio: up 107.95%
    $700K Portfolio: up 114.43%
    
    Of the 15 stocks in their current $25K Portfolio, only one is loosing
    money at the end of Oct (its recovered to positive ground since
    newsletter) and the others have gains from 1% to 430%. All positions
    have been purchased this year. When positions are closed out, new
    recommendations are made.
    
    Growth Stocks Report
    107 Edinburg South
    Suite 207
    Cary, NC 27511
    (919)461-3960
    
    Good luck,
    Ray

> Check out the Growth Stocks Report for suggestions.

	You gave out the address, but to make it easy, how much is an
	annual subscription?  And is the subscription only via mail
	or do they have a FAX subscription also (so that by the time
	you get it in the mail, you've already missed out on some of
	the initial gain from them being added to the portfolios)?

> Of the 15 stocks in their current $25K Portfolio, ....

	Out of curiosity, could you post just the ticker symbols (to
	make it easy :-) of these 15 stocks? Thanks!

re       <<< Note 945.2 by VAXCPU::michaud "Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker" >>>

>	And then my doing short-term trading this year I've paid
>	like $3,500 in commisions, and that's with a discount
>	broker (Waterhouse).


that's 100 trades!
they must love you.
i too am with h20-house, but haven't traded much this year.

also:

check out ADPT.
they've been going from 41-45 for the last 3-4 mos or so.
when i buy at 41, they will undoubtly drop to 35, so, i'll
let ya'll know when i buy so you can buy some puts and make
a little $$
:-)

      What's with Lo-Jack anyway? It's lost @ 40% of it's value in 2 days.
    What's the reason? I haven't seen anything in the paper. Last I read on
    them they were doing quite well it seemed.
    
                                                 JRW

I remember reading about it in this weeks Barrons, which reports
that they expect not to meet expectations due to slower expansion
in the NY and NJ area.

>       What's with Lo-Jack anyway? It's lost @ 40% of it's value in 2 days.
>     What's the reason? I haven't seen anything in the paper. Last I read on
>     them they were doing quite well it seemed.

	Don't you watch NBR? :-)  As Dah Ming said, the co. announced their
	earnings expectations for the Q, and the number they exepected
	was on the "low-end" of wall st. estimates.

ps: NBR is "Nightly Business Report" on your local PBS station(s)

    I'd watch "Computer Products Inc". I might make a move in this
    direction shortly.
    

    re LOJN
    
    This is a prime example of a "potential" opportunity.  I do not have
    enough data though.  Same thing happened with EMC, but I had their
    financial data.  They were/are making a lot of money, just that it
    was lower than Wall St expectations.  Anyone know the numbers on LOJN?
    Revenues, Net, EPS...
    
    re CRUS
    
    I am weary of memory makers (including MU) at this time.  
    
    re NSCP
    
    What a joke this is.  But some people are laughing all the way to the
    bank.  I will not jump, yet it keeps going up.  As soon as I jump in
    it will go down.
    
    re Realized Gains vs Losses, etc.
    
    I think you need to follow your goals.  Set a profit and loss margin
    and stick too it.  If the stock goes down to your loss margin, sell it.
    If it goes up to your gain margin, sell it.
    
    re Myself
    
    Last week I was in GEER, this week all my investemnt $ are in cash
    right now because I have not found a stock I am comfortable with, yet! 
     
                                      

    Tell us a little more about these companies...
    
    ADPT and Computer Products Inc

    RE: .4
    I don't have the subscription rates with me, but they are comparable
    with most moderately priced subscriptions. I believe the price is
    somewhere between $149 and $179 per year with a discount for a 2 year
    subscription.
    
    Yes, they do have a fax service. They are also supposed to have an
    e-mail service, but it has yet to start. In addition they have a hot
    line that is updated once a month that tells you the new sells and new
    buys for the month, so you can get the important stuff on the day of
    publication.
    
    Don't think its right to give you all 15 stocks in the portfolio. If
    you want that information you will have to subscribe. However, here's
    one that you can check out: Ascend Communications (ASND).
    
    Beware, the stocks in these portfolios are very volitle and most are
    down the last few days along with the OTC markets.
    
    If you call them, they may be willing to send you a sample newsletter.
    I got an unsolicited one in the mail (was about 1 month old when
    received and a bit abbreviated from the actual newsletter).

> Don't think its right to give you all 15 stocks in the portfolio.

	Did you sign a non-disclousure agreement?

re           <<< Note 945.12 by USDEV::CLEMENT "Smells like Nirvana" >>>
                             -< more info, please >-

>    ADPT and Computer Products Inc

ADPT is Adaptec.
Every digital PC i've seen since the 386 days come
with an adaptec scsi card in 'em.  adpt will follow
the rest of the "PC" stocks, i reckon.  surely, they
must do more than just SCSI cards.  i like the quality
of their stuff as well: once you have it, it _rarely_
dies.

jc_with_a_590_and_onboard_ADPT_SCSI

> > Don't think its right to give you all 15 stocks in the portfolio.
> 
> 	Did you sign a non-disclousure agreement?

Doubt it ... it's just the old "I paid for this info so why should I give it
to you for free..." point of view (which is entirely valid, IMO).  

But on the other hand, the more people who "buy into" this portfolio, the more
the stock prices will rise and the greater the return to the subscriber of the
periodical (and authors of the periodical who *MUST* put their money where
their mouth is).  I wonder if the increase in stock price due to spreading the
word will overcome the cost of the previous noter's newsletter "subscription"
and authors' losses from lost subscriptions.  I wonder what the authors of the
newsletter _really_ think of their users "spreading the good word" ...
...obviously THEY must have an interest in making their market predictions
come true, and I'm sure they won't object to their portfolio returns being
higher (regardless of newsletter subscription sales).


Who was it that said "free advice is worth every cent"?


- jeff

>>> Don't think its right to give you all 15 stocks in the portfolio.
>> 	Did you sign a non-disclousure agreement?
> Doubt it ... it's just the old "I paid for this info so why should I give it
> to you for free..." point of view (which is entirely valid, IMO).  

	Yup, the POV is valid, as is my asking for the info (if usually
	doesn't hurt to ask :-).  However the author never said what
	the reason is....

	As you said however, the POV may be valid, but it's actually
	counter-productive to putting increased buying pressure on
	the stocks (which in turns usually will increase the stock
	price).  That's why you see stock pickers (ie. "analysts" :-)
	on NBR and W$W every week giving their buy and sell recommendations.
	Their clients have already made their trades (and they don't hide
	this fact when asked by the shows hosts).

    Computer Products Inc's largest seller is in the area of
    computer power supplies and power equipment.

    How about Filenes Basement (BSMT).  They are near a 2 year low.
    Low 3s.  Book value is 5.75.  Value line rates a 200-400% growth
    over the next 3-5 years.
    
    I'd be happy with a 1 point up movement.  May pickup some shares today.
    Anyone have any news/info on BSMT?
    
    Thanks, Mark

	Yes, I've road BSMT once, and in fact am riding it once
	again after it once again got to 3.25.  Actually you could
	consider it 3 times as the 2nd time I bought in at 3.25 it
	went up to 4.125, and instead of selling at that price like
	I did the 1st time (because when I did the 1st time it
	continued up above 5) I held and then the stock when back
	down to the 3.25 range, at which time I bought some more.

	I've always liked the stores themselves, both the main store
	in Boston, and the satilite stores like the one in Nashua.

	only problem I've had is that i've often got partial executions
	on my limit orders.  on one order for 1k shares i got 3 partial
	executions of 100, 300 and 600 shares and never got the final
	100 shares.  another time i had order to buy 1k shares and
	only got an execution of 100 shares for the trading day,
	making the min. commision about 10% of the cost (normally
	when it does this I'd adjust my limit price but i was
	away from my desk so only got on my voicemail after market
	closed about the partial execution).

>     How about Filenes Basement (BSMT).  They are near a 2 year low.
>     Low 3s.  Book value is 5.75.  Value line rates a 200-400% growth
>     over the next 3-5 years.
>     
>     I'd be happy with a 1 point up movement.  May pickup some shares today.
>     Anyone have any news/info on BSMT?

    
    I put a limit order for 1000 @ 3 3/8.  Yet to happen. 
    
    Thats a nice ride low 3s to low 4s.  I read that there have been
    on and off rumors of a takeover, and that this is what has fluctuated
    the prices.
    
    Didn;t know they would do "partial" executions!  I would not be too
    happy if they only bought 100 shares for me and charged me that big
    commision.  I am still with Fidelity, but transfering over to NDB for
    real low commision rates.
    
    Here is another stock I am looking at.  Framingham Savings Bank (FSBX)
    at 4 3/8.  Waiting for an annual report from them.  I spent $5000 for a
    6% 1 yr cd last December with them (may roll it over into their stock).
    
    Had I bought their stock instead of the cd I would have $10000 now
    instead of $5300!  Steady growth for the last couple of years!
    
    Thanks, Mark

> Didn;t know they would do "partial" executions!

	Any order could get partial executions, but limit orders
	are the ones most likely (when you are buying more than
	a single lot, ie. 100 shares).  You can place your order
	as "All or nothing" but those have little standing on
	the trading floor.

	Multiple partial executions in a single day isn't bad as
	(at least at Waterhouse) the commision is prorated for
	each execution (even if each execution was at a different
	price).  However if you had a Good til canceled order
	and the partial executions took more than one trading day,
	you are charged seperate commisions for each trading day.

What about PIXAR?

They're going public today and on the heels of the movie "Toy Story" they will
probably do well.  Ealier in the week they were talking about 12-14 dollars a
share and this morning it sounded like it would be 22.

I think they sound really interesting.  I never heard what they opened for today.

Tim

    There's an article about PIXAR on the WSJ's "Money & Investing Update"
    web pages, which can be found using http://update2.wsj.com/welcome.html.
    
    \steve

    PIXR started trading at 50 and slid down to 38.  Currently at 40.

    Looks like ADPT went thru another cycle.  Up to 46 1/8.  Should
    have bought when they were 40 on 11/21/95.
    
    Whats up with them lately.  Or is this the typical cycle?
    
    Mark

    Any news/updates on BSMT (Filene's Basement) or GEER (Geerlings and Wade)?
    
    They both look like a good buy, as far as the price goes.  Mark

>     Any news/updates on BSMT (Filene's Basement) or GEER (Geerlings and Wade)?
>     They both look like a good buy, as far as the price goes.  Mark

	BSMT has cycled around again, this time before reaching 4.

Symbol: BSMT (FILENES BASEMENT CORP COM)
Last Trade: 3.1875, Change -0.0625 (-1.92%) at Dec 05 12:28:53
Bid/Ask: 3.1875 / 3.3750 (spread 0.1875)
Low/High: 3.1875 / 3.3750 (spread 0.1875)
52 Week Low/High: 2.9375 / 6.6250 (spread 3.6875)
Volume/# of Trades: 60000 / 50 (1200 shares/trade)

    What business are they in?  RDRT

    
          While the disk drive makers were/are in a price war, they were
      cleaning up making the head assemblies. They will probably be forced
      to reduce prices as more competition appears. I looked and "almost"
      bought it at 16/share 12 months ago. It then went to 49 before going back
      to the 20's. I don't know if their advantage is still there or not.
           Oh well, think of the money I'll save on my taxes.
    
                                                             Pete  

    Was your broker a market maker for RDRT? Call your broker and ask them!
    
    If so, then it sounds like they dumped their inventory on folks like you 
    before the new estimated earnings numbers hit the street. One of the 
    oldest Nasdaq market maker tricks in the book is to dump their inventory 
    buy putting the stock on its brokers "hot list" as soon as their market 
    analyst foresees any kind of trouble ahead, temporary or otherwise.  
    
    I would recommend some research at your library on how Nasdaq works. 

    Any tips on books on market making?  It's not always easy to blindly
    research a topic like that.  I know the book Liars Poker dealt with the
    revolutionary commoditization of mortgages and making a market for
    them.  I do agree that understanding this concept of market making is
    extremely important for any investing thru brokers or industry
    salepersons.
    
    In fact understanding disinformation and its various cousins is a key
    to anyone doing investing.

    Couple of stocks a broker friend recommended to me last nite...
    
    Cell Gene (CELG).  They hold the rights to a drug that caused birth
    defects a while back.  However derivitives of this drug have shown
    promising signs to treatment of AIDS patients.  Awaiting possible
    FDA approval.  Price is 11.  Recommends buy, hold, potential for a
    good payoff.
    
    Brooktree (BTRE).  Taken a beating lately.  Makes ICs, coming out with
    some new fancy chip of some sort.  Price is about 11 also.  Projects
    will recover to 15-20 range, could hit 30 to 40.
    
    Time will tell!  Mark

ADPT is coming down again.
at 43 3/4 now

NSCP is off 15 bucks now

> NSCP is off 15 bucks now

	Yup, as I reported in the other note, an analyst sees prices on
	the [pure internet stocks] group correcting about 80%.  CNN HN
	verifies that and names the firm with that prediction being
	Smith Barney.

	Netscape, UUNET and Spyglass are all down.

	.... not to mention that today Bill Gates is supposed to be elaborating
	on Microsfts plans for the Internet, and is expected to be yet another
	major company to sign on to Sun's Java.

	And unrelated, a couple of days ago Microsoft said next year it will
	spend $1 Billion (yes, billion) on R&D.

Bob Evans Farms (BOBE) runs a string of over 300 family-style,
sit-down restaurants in the Midwest and East, and sells various
food items (primarily fresh sausage).  They've been adding new
restaurants at a pretty good clip the past few years.  I ate in
one last summer in Delaware: very nice place, food and service
were both quite good.

The stock is trading around 16-17 and pays a small dividend.
BOBE P/E is only 13 (vs. 55 for Boston Market).  You can buy
shares (including initial shares) directly from the company    
through their dividend reinvestment program.

I expect to see $30/share in the next year or two.
Restaurants aren't as sexy as biotech, DRAMs, or the Internet,
but they can make you a nice piece of change if you're patient.    

-Jerry

    BSMT is at an a year low today of 2 7/8.  Any predictions, news or
    rumors?  Thanks, Mark (who bought at 3 3/8)!

    I also hear at lot of folks will sell their poor performers this time
    of year to offset gains.  This could be driving some stocks down.
    
    Mark

> BSMT is at an a year low today of 2 7/8.  Any predictions, news or
> rumors?  Thanks, Mark (who bought at 3 3/8)!

	Well I took the opportunity to buy some more at 3.

	Seeing most/all of BSMT stores are in the Northeast, the snowstorm
	this past Sat. (supposedly one of the two biggest shopping weekends
	retailers were depending on this season) could of hurt.

	On the other hand, some of the economic news indicated personal
	income was down slightly last month, and consumer debt was up.
	While this is bad for retail overall in theory, my theory is
	it will also keep consumers in bargin places like BSMT instead of
	paying full retail at the big stores like JC Penny (and BSMT's
	old parent company Filenes).

	Only time will tell ....

    IMHO, BSMT is tanking because retail stores are NOT charging full
    retail anymore.  Read the newspaper ads -- the prices are as low as the
    off-price stores; and shoppers can buy in-season merchandise to boot.

>     IMHO, BSMT is tanking because retail stores are NOT charging full
>     retail anymore.  Read the newspaper ads -- the prices are as low as the
>     off-price stores; and shoppers can buy in-season merchandise to boot.

	Well look what you've done spreading this info :-)

Symbol: BSMT (FILENES BASEMENT CORP COM)
Last Trade: 2.5000, Change -0.2500 (-9.09%) at Dec 13 10:48:17
Bid/Ask: 2.3750 / 2.5000 (spread 0.1250)
Low/High: 2.3750 / 2.8125 (spread 0.4375)
52 Week Low/High: 2.3750 / 6.6250 (spread 4.2500)
Volume/# of Trades: 91400 / 67 (1364 shares/trade)

	I've got another buy order in :-)

    Jeff, sounds like you have confidence this is going to recover!  
    Value line shows a projection of NIL EPS for the end of the fiscal year
    which is end of Jan '96.  
    
    From a personal tax standpoint does it make any sense to sell my
    shares, record the loss to offset my other gains, then buy back in
    immediately?  Is this allowed?  I'm looking at a $1000 loss if I do
    that on my 1000 shares.
    
    Mark

It's allowed.  But that would be a wash sale.
Take a look at notes 618.* and 80.* for a discussion of wash sales
and the tax implications.

Alan

>     Jeff, sounds like you have confidence this is going to recover!  
>     Value line shows a projection of NIL EPS for the end of the fiscal year
>     which is end of Jan '96.  

	That's short term.  I'm slowly changing my investments from
	"quick picks" to longer term stuff to reduce commisions eating
	up lots of the profit, and to reduce realized gains.

	My feeling is (and this is only a feeling) that this stock, if it
	survives the short-term, will recover.  The major dept. stores can't
	keep selling stock at nil profit margins and stay in business.
	That will restore the niche bsmt falls into.

>     From a personal tax standpoint does it make any sense to sell my
>     shares, record the loss to offset my other gains, then buy back in
>     immediately?  Is this allowed?  I'm looking at a $1000 loss if I do
>     that on my 1000 shares.

	As .-1 said, you have wash rules to deal with.  If you wait 30
	(or is it 31) calender days after selling at a loss then you
	can buy back in to avoid wash.

	If depends what you believe the stock will do.  If you were smart,
	you'd do exactly the opposite of what I do (ie. sell when I'm
	buying, and buy what I'm selling) and you'd be very rich!

    Jeff,
    
    I always thought that was my advice to folks as well;  Buy what I sell
    and sell what I buy!
    
    BSMT is already up from my sale today at 2 5/16....  
    Now if my accounts could have been frozen one more day ;-)
    
    I'm back into GEER.  Maybe my strategy needs adjustement.  My goal is
    to achieve at least a 10% gain (after fees) per investment, and to
    allow no less than a 25% loss.  I ended up with a 33% loss on BSMT due
    to my frozen account issue.  In the last few months I have had a loss
    of 27%, a gain of 27%, a gain of 10%, and a loss of 33%.  Overall in
    this portfolio I am down 27% in 1995 (I started investing in stocks
    in Sep '95).  I would like to achive over 50% gain in a year. 
    
    Also, I have limited my stock investements to 25% of total cash.
    
    So, lets talk strategy here, what are other folks doing!  Perhaps we
    can learn from each other and all benefit in the long run...
    
    Regards, Mark

> Also, I have limited my stock investements to 25% of total cash.

	Probably a smart move.

	I'm thinking of moving into more investment real estate
	and away from stocks...... :-(

    
    Quick pick possibility ?
    
    K-MART ?
    AMD   ?
    NOVL ?
    
    What are your thoughts on the above ?

>     Quick pick possibility ?
>     K-MART ?

	Remember Caldor (see topic 910)?  Here's how they are doing today:

Symbol: CLD (CALDOR CORP COM)
Last Trade: 3.7500, Change 0.0000 (0.00%) at Dec 19  9:54:21
Low/High: 3.7500 / 3.7500 (spread 0.0000)
52 Week Low/High: 3.2500 / 24.7500 (spread 21.5000)
Volume/# of Trades: 5100 / 7 (728 shares/trade)

>     AMD   ?

	Ken?

    
    
    I bought EMPLOYEE Solutions a few weeks back at 15.
    Got out a few weeks later at 20. It closed last week at 30
    A nice quick hit, just wish I'd held out another couple of weeks.

    
    re.52
    
    I have an investment property. I would not recomend it to anyone. 
    
    I believe the only way at this time to make any money in real estate
    is to be able to buy run down homes in desirable burbs at giveaway
    prices. Then renovate. Of course those situations are very few and
    far between.

> I have an investment property. I would not recomend it to anyone. 

	I do have investment property already.  howevery very small
	time (right now owner-occupied 2-family).

	yup, i got the place at a giveaway price (Estate sale, got
	it for 65% of original asking price when I had 1st looked at it)

	and it is my hopes to find a run-down single family now to
	move into while i renovate (i'm not the fastest DIYer :-)

    I am not an expert, but I have been following AMD for years and I
    am bullish on it now.  The PE ratio is low (6).  They have plenty
    of customers for their chips, however prices have dropped due to
    increased competition, dropping the stock price over 50%, creating
    a buy opportunity.
    AMD is working on the K-5 chip which will compete against the Intel
    Pentium.  AMD will acquire NexGen and work on the "686" chip, should
    they have something by 1996 look for major stock movement.  I think
    it can hit $60/share.  Of course this is a major gamble and might
    not work out, which is why the stock is currently low priced.  Even
    if it does not work out, I see this stock moving to $30 based solely
    on their existing products.

    I've done some quick picks on other stocks in the past, buy and sell
    a few days or weeks later at profit.  With AMD you might have to hold
    onto it for about a year to realize good gains.

    K-mart I would stay away from.  There are rumors they were filing
    for chapter 11 which hurt the stock recently, but company denied it.
    I myself wouldn't mess around with it at this point...
    
    Ever see the movie "Rainman" ?? :-)
    
    ken

The two top discounters are Target and Walmart.
In my view, there is no way that Kmart can survive
without declaring bankruptcy.

Kmart is saddled with
	- higher operating costs because of antiquated
	  computer systems,
	- revolving senior mgmt.

Gim

    
    Don't laugh but DEC seems like a STRONG stock right now ... while
    most Hi-Tech stocks have decreased 30% or more, DEC has actually
    gained that much during this so-called Hi-Tech selloff.
    
    I would recommend *everybody* jump into ESPP ASAP to take advantage
    of at least a 15% gain.
    
    JMHO

>     I would recommend *everybody* jump into ESPP ASAP to take advantage
>     of at least a 15% gain.

	well it's never "at least", there is still a window of risk (while
	small, it still exists).

	Also, FYI, don't confuse "discount" with "gain".  a 15% discount
	is really a 17.6% gain (ex. $100 - 15% = $85, but if you then sold
	and got $100 then $15/$85 is 17.6%).

	Out of curiosity, are you bullish enough to be buying it on the
	open market right now at this 52 week (actually multi-year) high? :-)

    On this mornings "GMA" show they talked about the upcoming
    "smartcards".  These are credit card "like" cards that are programmable
    and will eliminate the need to carry cash.  It is being used mostly in
    Europe, and in a few small/minor experiments in the US.  In order for
    these to work, all of the stores, gas stations, everywhere you use
    cash, will need to have the equipment to scan the cards.  They say it
    will be the way to do handle all transactions in the next 5 to 10
    years.
    
    I agree!  I would like to find out the name of the company that is
    already supplying the devices (readers/scanners/etc).  AT&T is
    currently supplying the physical cards.  Anyone know the company for
    the devices?  Potentially a good investment worth looking into.
    
    Mark

>     On this mornings "GMA" show they talked about the upcoming
>     "smartcards".  These are credit card "like" cards that are programmable
>     and will eliminate the need to carry cash.

	I already carry three of these type of cards and carry very
	little cash.  The ones I have are named MasterCard, Visa, and
	ATM :-)

	And you can already get MasterCard/Visa cards that are *not*
	credit cards, but are *debit* cards.  These are *better* than
	the current so-called "smartcards" in that if you lose the
	smartcard you've lost the remaining value of the card, but
	not so with a personal MasterCard/Visa debit card.

    Jeff,
    
    I think these are different.  It is like electronic cash which you can
    use at the cafeteria for lunch and coffee breaks, phone calls,
    gasoline, everywhere you use cash!  It eliminates the need for cash.
    
    And it is all on one card!  They said folks will still have credit
    cards for credit.  These smart cards are reusable.  You probably take
    money out of your bank and deposit it into your smart card. You also
    have a pin, so if you loose it noone can use it, you can probably
    de-activate the lost card and not loose the remaining balance.  My
    guess anyways!
    
    I read a long time ago that the only reason cash is still around is
    because of crime purposes.  Think about it, anything legitimate can be
    transacted electronically.  Don;t know about yard sales though ;-)
    
    Mark

    SOunds like the phone cards folks are selling/giving away.  They are
    reloadable by purchasing more units with VISA/MC etc.
    
    Brian

    
    re smart cards
    
    sounds no different than my DCU check card. 
    

Re: .67

	I've used them on my trips to Europe.  As one person mentioned,
	one form of this is Phone Cards (in France alot of pay phones
	don't take anything else).  At CERN the vending machines we
	saw also only took eletronic cash.

	Both had the problem that if lost or stolen you are SOL.

	In any case, since the context of this is "quick [stock] picks",
	the point is I wouldn't call investing in "smartcard" stocks
	a quick pick.  More like a long term speculative buy.  The
	credit card companies aren't going to roll over and play dead ....

    To answer the original question, the current market leader of scanning/
    transmission card readers is Verifone, Inc. listed on the NYSE. They
    have about a 60% market share.
    An interesting company, an interesting stock...
    
    		the Greyhawk

>	Out of curiosity, are you bullish enough to be buying it on the
>	open market right now at this 52 week (actually multi-year) high? :-)

If I had more money I'd buy more DEC on a break above 65.  The current
correction should stay above 50.  And I've been wrong before.

Darryl

    I'll go out on a limb with some $2 stocks:
      Holiday RV (RVEE; RV superstore prints money, but watch gas prices)
      Summagraphics (SUGR; money loser, but tablet market getting strong)
      Radius (RDUS; loser probably under heavy selling pressure at the
        end of '95)
      CML Group (CML; actually didn't quite get down to $2; retail
        biz comes back a bit + seasonal NordicTrak sales) 
    
    Alas RDUS is the only one I currently own (at that $2 cost).
    Kratz
    
    

    Looks like ADPT is back down again.  Good time to buy?  Mark

    ADPT seems to be at the stage of a hi tech where they want to
    branch out from their core competency (SCSI) into things like
    ATM and other adapters.  This is also a stage where lots fail
    (MediaVision,...).  I can't help but think there's other, safer
    hi techs that have been beaten down recently (MOT, MU, INTC,...)
    as well.  .02 Kratz
    

re           <<< Note 945.74 by USDEV::CLEMENT "Smells like Nirvana" >>>
                                   -< ADPT >-

>    Looks like ADPT is back down again.  Good time to buy?  Mark


it was down to 35.

i'm weary now.
wall st. is very, very punishing to those companies who miss
the expectation by even 1 cent.  w/ qtr results starting to
flood out next week, i'm going to wait.\
i don't want to buy @38 or so and have it drop to 28

    No activity in here in a while...  Should have bought ADPT when it was
    down in the 30s.  What is it now, high 40s?
    
    I do not have any recommendations right now, but I have not had time to
    do much research either...  
    
    My broker friend had advised VTEH Venture Tech when it was 7 last
    December.  It is now double that.  
    
    MSNS was a good buy in the mid 20s a few months ago, bought some.
    
    Regards, Mark

I'm in BAY (Bay Networks) right now.
In at 34 1/2.
With the internet powering forward, the need for
network geer is going to be ever-increasing...
hence, my money on Bay.  

Yeah, regarding ADPT, must be around 50 or so.
geez, and to think i almost bought at 15.
damn!

> With the internet powering forward, the need for
> network geer is going to be ever-increasing...

	Xylan went public yesterday and NBR said it was the strongest
	IPO showing this year (and like the 4th best ever?).  Probably
	due to like you said.  If you're not a regular customer of the
	firms underwriting the IPO, could you get in if you offered
	to buy a relatively large number of shares?

    4 quick picks in order of preference from my broker friend...
    
    NMPC
    LNDC
    CELI
    MTEN
    
    He thinks they are all going to move forward...  Mark

> 4 quick picks in order of preference from my broker friend...

	FWIW, here's their current prices and trading activity
	(that lack of volume on NMPC would scare me ....)

Symbol: NMPC (NUTRAMAX PRODUCTS INC)
Last Trade: 9 7/8, Change 1/4 (2.60%) at Mar 14  9:35:37
Bid & Ask:  9 1/2 & 9 7/8 (spread 3/8)
Low & High: 9 7/8 & 9 7/8 (spread 0)
52 Week Low & High: 5 3/4 & 10 1/4 (spread 4 1/2)
Volume/# of Trades: 100 / 1 (100 shares/trade)
P/E: 17.60, EPS: 0.55, Market Cap: 64.00, Beta: 1.19, EPS Growth: 31.80

Symbol: LNDC (LANDEC CP)
Last Trade: 14 7/8, Change 5/8 (4.39%) at Mar 14 10:51:03
Bid & Ask:  14 1/2 & 15 1/4 (spread 3/4)
Low & High: 14 1/2 & 15 1/4 (spread 3/4)
52 Week Low & High: 12 & 15 3/8 (spread 3 3/8)
Volume/# of Trades: 43500 / 49 (887 shares/trade)

Symbol: MTEN (MEDICAL TECH & INNOV INC)
Last Trade: 2.7810, Change 0.0940 (3.50%) at Mar 14 10:32:34
Bid & Ask:  2.6870 & 3 (spread 0.3130)
Low & High: 2 3/4 & 3 (spread 1/4)
52 Week Low & High: 1 1/8 & 3 1/8 (spread 2)
Volume/# of Trades: 10100 / 11 (918 shares/trade)

Symbol: CELI (CEL-SCI CP)
Last Trade: 5 13/16, Change 1/4 (4.49%) at Mar 14 10:55:11
Bid & Ask:  5 3/4 & 5 7/8 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 5 11/16 & 5 13/16 (spread 1/8)
52 Week Low & High: 2 9/32 & 7 13/16 (spread 5 17/32)
Volume/# of Trades: 249900 / 129 (1937 shares/trade)

    He recommends a buy and hold on all of these.  I do not use him for
    my trading (I use NDB), so he does not stand to make money from me
    anyways.  If he could match NDB rates I would use him.
                         
    Anyhow,  2 out of 4 picks last December from him have grown by 50%, 1
    more than doubled and the other one remains flat.  Unfortunately I did
    not buy any of them, but I should have.  
    
    Today I bought NMPC and CELI.   Mark 

    
    Folks,
    
    BUY K-Mart(KM) ... This stock is going into the mid-teens.
    
    You heard it here first!!!
    
    The worst is over for this company.

    RE: -.1
    Check out note string 656, In fact -.1 started it over two years ago.

    
    Well, I'm getting out of INF (Infinity Broadcasting.) I still think it
    might still have some growth in it, though.  Bought it at 39 on Feb 9,
    it hit my strike price of 45.5 yesterday.  Not bad, 16% in 6 weeks.
    
    All the 'experts' have me scared, saying that the market will return 5% 
    this year.  I'm taking this money out of the market for awhile.
    
    Bart

    
    
    Potential quick pick ...
    
    re .78
    
    BAY has been dropping like a rock since you bought it, any news ???
    I like(d) this stock but now might be a bottom fishing stock.
    
    BAY down 4 5/8 to 28 3/8  ..ouch!

re: BAY


lots of investment houses downgraded their earnings estimates
for BAY yesturday.  and, with the AT&T announcement, more competion->
lower prices->lower profits.

i'm still a bull on BAY.
not necessarily looking to make the quick turn on BAY,
if it happened, i would have sold.  i can stand to hold
this for a few yrs...

i'm at about 45% in cash right now.

.51>     BSMT is already up from my sale today at 2 5/16....  

	Well it's recovered.  Not sure why though .....

Symbol: BSMT
Last Trade: 4, Change 3/8 (10.34%) at Apr 24 10:53:00
Bid & Ask:  3 7/8 & 4 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 3.6880 & 4.0620 (spread 0.3740)
52 Week Low & High: 2.0620 & 6 5/8 (spread 4.5630)
Volume/# of Trades: 554600 / 227 (2443 shares/trade)

    
    Well,
    
    I bought BSMT at 2 7/8 in December and sold at 4 today. 
    What a country!
    
    Now I'm waiting for the next dip below 3...
    
    /Peter

> I bought BSMT at 2 7/8 in December and sold at 4 today. 

	I got a little greadier, and so far it's paying off (I could be
	back in the red even faster however given how fast this stock
	can move in both directions sometimes).

	I bought in between Nov. 2 and Feb. 8 at an average cost of
	2.7945, and today could of sold it at 4.5625.

	I bought into ValueJet as a quickpick on Monday, and it was up
	nicely on Tuesday and I should of sold it.  Last night
	dateline nbc said some bad things about the airline, and
	the stock gave back most of Tuesdays gain today (though still
	in the black even after commisions).

Symbol: BSMT (FILENE'S BASEMENT CP)
Last Trade: 4 5/8, Change 5/16 (7.25%) at May 15  3:55:39
Bid & Ask:  4 9/16 & 4 11/16 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 4 1/4 & 4 11/16 (spread 7/16)
52 Week Low & High: 2 1/16 & 6 5/8 (spread 4 9/16)
Volume/# of Trades: 347000 / 215 (1613 shares/trade)
Market Cap: 73.00, Beta: 1.43, EPS Growth: -16.60

    I sure hope you got out of ValueJet some time ago, before the recent
    crash in the Everglades. The stock has taken a bath since then, and
    might do still worse after lawsuits and the stepped-up scrutiny by the
    FAA.
    				Jim

> I sure hope you got out of ValueJet some time ago, before the recent
> crash in the Everglades.

	I only bought in on Monday, *after* the crash :-)

	I was hoping for another US Air, which also had taken a beating
	after their last big crash.  It even got down to 4 a couple of times
	within the 6 months following, and now a year and a half later
	it's around 18 (almost reach 20 earlier this year).

	However this airline, unlike US Air, is really getting beat up
	by the FAA, and every news show around.  It's still not clear
	who labeled the oxygen canisters/generators marked as "empty"
	(non-empty canisters is a definite no-no), the airline, or
	the US Government who it seems they may of been transporting
	them for.

	In any case, I didn't buy a big stake in this stock, since
	I considered it a speculative buy.  I was planning on using
	it only as a quick pick, and it actually would of worked out
	well had I done just that and sold the day after (Tuesday)
	when it rebounded nicely, giving me a 10% paper gain.  However
	I apparently hadn't learned by lesson too well when I should
	of sold Greyhound Bus Lines the day after I bought in for a
	whopping one day profit of 50%!  (I still own it, but only
	have a paper gain of 12%).

	Well given todays close I'm only down $140 (for now) on VJET,
	and $63 of that is in commisions (both buy & for when I sell).

    Anybody monitoring Read Rite (RDRT) 
    It has shown some fairly significant activity over the last three days
    and it has a very low P/E and currently at $25 or so.... It 52 week
    high was $49 I guess...
    
    thoughts?
    

    VJET seems to be recreating the nosedive for its investors.
    

ADTK... AdepTec, not to be confused with ADPT (Adaptec).
not sure what they do, but, that stock trades betw 15-19 or so
with fairly wild swings in the 1-2 pt range...

nope, have not played it yet 'cuz the day i do will be the
day it  drops!

> VJET seems to be recreating the nosedive for its investors.

	Well it is certainly volitile swinging both ways in the last
	week.  Friday it swung down, today it's the opposite.  I wouldn't
	be surprised if there were alot of day traders (those who've taken
	"quick pick" to the literal extreme) playing this stock, contributing
	to the volitility.  At least the volume keeps the bid/ask spread
	equiv to a listed stock :-)

	Given last week they not only announced, but immediatly implemented
	a temp. 50% reduction in the number of flights for the time being
	(since the FAA restrictions currently imposed require an FAA
	inspector to fly on each plane at least once a week, etc etc),
	which obviously will reduce revenues for at least as many quarters
	as this reduction goes on, and not to mention the already mentioned
	bad press that has been non-stop, it's amazing the price hasn't
	hit lower (yet :-)

Symbol: VJET (VALUJET AIRLINES INC)
Last Trade: 13 1/8, Change 1 7/8 (16.67%) at May 21  4:01:40
Bid & Ask:  13 & 13 1/8 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 11 3/8 & 13 3/8 (spread 2)
52 Week Low & High: 11 & 34 3/4 (spread 23 3/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 205600 / 5601 (36 shares/trade)
P/E: 9.60, EPS: 1.17

    According to CNBC, some officer of VJET sold a huge block (9 million
    shares?) on Tuesday and apparently wanted it all gone that day.
    Kratz

> According to CNBC, some officer of VJET sold a huge block (9 million
> shares?) on Tuesday and apparently wanted it all gone that day.

	But shouldn't that of driven the stock down, due to both an
	oversupply on the sell side, and that fact that an officier of
	the company is selling (vs. buying)?

	Maybe the officier of VJET was selling his/her personal stock
	and said they were going to infuse the cash back into the company?

    Oops, I meant Monday... sorry about that.  It must mean I need to
    take Friday off; that'll be a logical Saturday.

> According to CNBC, some officer of VJET sold a huge block (9 million
> shares?) ...

	Well I just read the news of that sale in today's Nashua Telegraph
	(only a day late :-).

	The number of shares sold was not 9Mil, but 1.5Mil.  Here's the
	full article:

ValuJet head unloads stock
* Copmpany says owner needed to pay off debt.
By Leonard Pallats (AP)
  ATLANTA - A co-founder of ValueJet sold 1.5 million shares of his stock a
little more than a week after a devastating crash in the Everglades, but he may
have dumped the shares a day too soon.
  Timothy P. Flynn of Las Vegas, one of the airline's four founders, sold the
falling stock Monday, one day before the stock staged its strongest rally since
the May 11 crash.
  Flynn had to sell the stock to pay off money he borrowed to invest, ValeJet
said.  The company refused to say whether the loans were used to invest in
ValuJet.
  After falling $1.88 per share on Monday and extending the stock's fall to 37%
since the crash, ValueJet rose $1.875 Tuesday to finish at $13.125 on the
Nasdaq Stock Market.
  Spokesman Gregg Kenyon said Flynn, who put up about $1 million to help start
the company in 1992, wasn't giving up on ValueJet.
  "This does not mean he has concerns about the financial strength of the
company.  He still owns 4.5 million shares of ValueJet," Kenyon said.
  The company has 54.46 million shares outstanding.  Before the sale, Flynn
owned 5.98 million shares, or about 11%.
  Flynn, who heads an investing company, remains on the ValuJet board and is
expected to be re-elected Thursday at the company's annual stockholders'
meeting, Kenyon said.

    Here is the latest speculative recommendation from my broker friend.
    
    Atari (ATC) reportedly just purchased a company that makes some sort
    of 3" disk drive.  IBM, Compaq, Western Digital, have signed on for
    orders.  Sales are projected to rise dramatically.  Atari will be
    changing its name to this new company they just acquired.
    
    I am trying to find out more details.  ATC is @ $8.25/share on the 
    AMEX.
    
    - Mark

> Symbol: BSMT (FILENE'S BASEMENT CP)
> Last Trade: 4 5/8, Change 5/16 (7.25%) at May 15  3:55:39

	Well this stock is turning out very nice.  Of course the retail
	sector this year is beating the s&p500, especially the speciality
	retail sector, which I would imagine BSMT would be considered?

	And I love that bid/ask spread!  (1/16 of a point is less than
	the usual 1/8th on most NYSE/AMEX stocks, is NASDAQ really starting
	to reform itself or is something funky going on here!?!?!)

Symbol: BSMT
Last Trade: 5.3120, Change 0.3120 (6.25%) at May 24 3:59:35
Bid & Ask:  5.3120 & 5 3/8 (spread 0.0630)
Low & High: 4.9380 & 5 1/2 (spread 0.5620)
52 Week Low & High: 2.0620 & 6 5/8 (spread 4.5630)
Volume/# of Trades: 613000 / 377 (1625 shares/trade)

    Nice going on BSMT.  Congratulations.  I also bought some retail
    stocks and made out well.  Regarding the spread, I think it depends
    on the price of the stock (as well as liquidity).  For a $5 stock,
    a 1/16 spread is about 1.25%.  This is equivalent to a $1.25 spread
    on a $100 stock...

    .82 
    
    CELI up 2 3/4 today...
    
    

> .82 CELI up 2 3/4 today...

	it's kinda useless to give the $ change without knowing
	something like the last trade price!

	in any case, here's an update for all 4 stocks to compare to .82

Symbol: NMPC (NUTRAMAX PRODUCTS INC)
Last Trade: 10, Change 1/8 (1.27%) at May 30  3:39:11
Bid & Ask:  9 3/4 & 10 (spread 1/4)
Low & High: 9 3/4 & 10 (spread 1/4)
52 Week Low & High: 5 3/4 & 11 1/8 (spread 5 3/8)
Volume/# of Trades: 41800 / 16 (2612 shares/trade)
P/E: 17.30, EPS: 0.57, Market Cap: 64.00, Beta: 1.19, EPS Growth: 31.80

Symbol: LNDC (LANDEC CP)
Last Trade: 20 1/4, Change -1/2 (-2.41%) at May 30  3:29:48
Bid & Ask:  19 3/4 & 20 3/4 (spread 1)
Low & High: 19 3/4 & 20 3/4 (spread 1)
52 Week Low & High: 12 & 20 3/4 (spread 8 3/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 16100 / 10 (1610 shares/trade)

Symbol: MTEN (MEDICAL TECH & INNOV INC)
Last Trade: 2 3/4, no change at May 30  3:42:58
Bid & Ask:  2 3/4 & 2 7/8 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 2.7300 & 2.9400 (spread 0.2100)
52 Week Low & High: 1 1/8 & 3 1/8 (spread 2)
Volume/# of Trades: 52500 / 18 (2916 shares/trade)

Symbol: CELI (CEL-SCI CP)
Last Trade: 11 3/8, Change 2 3/4 (31.88%) at May 30  4:01:50
Bid & Ask:  11 3/8 & 11 1/2 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 8 11/16 & 11 1/2 (spread 2 13/16)
52 Week Low & High: 2 9/32 & 8 11/16 (spread 6 13/32)
Volume/# of Trades: 1235500 / 816 (1514 shares/trade)

    re -.1 
    
    apologies Jeff... Will do so in the future.
    
    Just read that CELL SCI's product is used in some
    PA hospital for Prostrate Cancer testing.  Wonder if they
    had some good news from there..
    
    Wonder if this is still a good time to buy CELI
    
    Suresh

    Yes I am very happy with CELI.  I got into it in March.  I dumped my
    NMPC for Atari (ATC) last week.  There is a lot if interest in CELI
    and I believe a limited supply of stock available.  Perhaps the
    institutions have started to scoop up what they can (which was my
    brokers prediction back in March).  I will talk to him over the weekend
    and get more info.  I also know that CELIs VP was visiting the
    brokerage firms over the past few weeks.
    
    - Mark

    CELI was once again in the news today.  
    Apparently the MULTIKINE product by CELI recieved a patent in
    Japan.  CELI traded heavily and closed at 12 15/16  with a day high
    of 13 1/8
    
    

    More broker friend picks (remember the one who picked CELI when it was
    in the $5 range)!
                                                                       
    AXC, Ampex.  He feels is a good buy now.  Recently moved from 6 to
    15.75, settling back, now at 10.5.  Rumored to striking a deal with
    Western Digital.  If the deal goes through it will be great for the
    company.  The company is doing well, is making money, and holds about
    90 patents.

    

    Cel-Sci seems to be quite speculative.  The CEO was interviewed on
    CNBC this morning.  They do have some very promising drug - the purpose
    of which is to boost the immune system.  Said to be helpful with
    cancers and AIDS (or maybe this is yet another drug - don't remember).
    
    However - their products are in the testing phase - and they don't
    expect to be able to sell anything anytime sooner than 3 years out
    (if all goes very well).
    
    I didn't remember that Cel-Sci was a quick pick here - too bad.
    Probably worth watching.
    

    
    What are your thoughts in ValueJet ???
    
    Yesterday low 4 1/2 ... currently 6 1/4 .... is this a good speculative
    stock ???  Lots of cash of hand to weather storm.

    re ValueJet
    
    
    Don't buy it if you wont fly it.
    
    
    
    Bart

> What are your thoughts in ValueJet ???
>     
> Yesterday low 4 1/2 ... currently 6 1/4 .... is this a good speculative
> stock ???  Lots of cash of hand to weather storm.

	I'm still holding the shares I bought at 13.75 (after the crash),
	and am still considering price averaging at this new low price.

	Like you said, they have LOTS of cash, none of which they need to
	pay off the claims filed by the families as that's covered by
	the companies very ample insurance.  And there debt situation is
	very healthy.

	And all the evidence to date still shows the crash was an accident
	that does not appear to be the airlines fault (last I heard those
	oxygen generators are still the prime suspect, and it was one
	of the contracters that appear to of mis-labeled non-empty
	oxygen generators as empty, and in fact today I heard the contractor
	also marked the records that the generators had caps, when they
	didn't).

	Based on yesterdays close, their trailing P/E is around 5.  The
	real determining factor for this stock will be how long they
	will be grounded for.  It will be a min. of 30 days, which is
	not bad, and after bad earnings due to the grounding (and prior
	reduced number of flights after the crash) for a couple of
	Q's, this stock will fly again.

	The risk is that the grounding will drag out for months, thus
	digging into their cash reserves too deep to recover from.
	Additional risk is that the FAA/government will continue to
	use VJET as a scapegoat for internal FAA problems.

	While VJET took a 50% drop in stock price yesterday, the DJ
	transportation index rocketed on the news, up 30 pts.  Another
	way to play this speculation could be to instead short that
	index (if the index is traded) or the individual airlines
	who have benifited most by VJET's grounding.

	Regarding .113 about not buying it if you won't fly it.  The
	evidence was already in that customer loyalty was barely dented
	by the crash.  I forget the numbers, but a poll after the crash
	showed "price" was one of the top determining factors on choosing
	an airline for discount flyers (I'm not sure how close that was
	to "safety").

	Here's some additional info on VJET that I just picked up
	from CNN HN's market report.

	VJET has 50-something planes and $200M in cash.  There monthly
	debt payments are $2M, but they also have other montly outlays
	such as leases at airports (no $ figure quoted for this).
	From my understanding VJET is laying off all their employees
	so I assume that saves on payroll expenses.

	CNN HN also said those that would benifit the most from a
	prolonged/permanent grounding of VJET would be Delta Airlines
	who has the most overlapping routes.  And also US Air and
	Mid-way airlines would benifit.

    
    
>    Don't buy it if you wont fly it.
    
Value Jet has had and is going to have more white glove inspections than 
any other airline.  I don't think they will be able to NOT fix any problems.

As to if I would fly on them, lets have a reality check.
With the crash, Value Jet is safest form of travel in the US, except for the
other airlines.  You are MUCH more likely to get hurt driving to the airport
than flying on ValueJet.

    A problem noted on the radio this morning was that the restart effort
    is going to be a factor. Former employees are going to go off and find
    other work, meaning ramp-up delays once the grounding is over.
    
    There are also ValueJet bonds which may offer pretty good yield and are
    backed by the company's assets...
    
      John

Intel has a PE of 15 and a growth rate 33% in revenue and 54% in
earnings.

A large number of factors can do in Valuejet. I see nothing on
the horizon that can stop Intel. (Alpha?) Today's WSJ had an article
indicating that all the insiders at INTEL are holding on to 
their shares.

Gim

> Intel has a PE of 15 and a growth rate 33% in revenue and 54% in
> earnings.

	I think you forgot which topic this is :-)  Intel is considered a
	very good stock for "long term" investing.  I wouldn't call it a
	"Quick Pick" :-)  Intel wasn't immnune from the 2% one-day drop in
	the NASDAQ yesterday, and it's been the semi's leading the decline
	in the general marks the last couple of weeks (Lattice Semiconductor
	triggered yesterdays selling with their earnings forecast).

> A large number of factors can do in Valuejet.

	Glad you read my notes :-)  That's why the previous noter specifically
	refered to it as a "speculative" stock, not a growth/value stock :-)

I realize the topic was "Quick Pick". That's why I
posted it here.

Gim

> Value Jet is safest form of travel in the US, except for the other airlines.  
    
    I remember reading somewhere that the safest form of travel is by
    elevator.  (accidents/passenger mile) 
    
    Each trip is short but there are LOTS of them and when's the last time
    you heard of an elevator accident (Friends and L.A. Law episodes
    excluded).  
    
    The on-time performance is pretty spectacular as well.
    
                                            August

> I realize the topic was "Quick Pick". That's why I
> posted it here.

	You really think it's a "quick pick"?  I got quesy and sold my
	INTC shares on Monday to lock in my profit, which wasn't exiciting,
	only around 10% and I bought 11 months ago.  That kind of growth
	rate is "long term", not "quick pick" in my book :-)

	Why do you feel it's also a "quick pick"?  Maybe something to
	do with the new PCs Intel will be making for Sony that is getting
	back into the PC business?

>> Value Jet is safest form of travel in the US, except for the other airlines.  
>    
>    I remember reading somewhere that the safest form of travel is by
>    elevator.  (accidents/passenger mile) 
    
Good point.  I'll amend my statement to say "of those forms of travel that the 
NTSB tracks and reports".


ac

	Here's another VJET item I saw in the DBC headlines today.  VJET
	has agreed to give the FAA $2M to cover the cost of the probe into
	the crash.

re: INTC and quick pick

it really depends on what ya wanna play.  if you buy the stock,
probably better for a long play.  however, if you dabble in options,
you could make some decent $$ on the short-play if you happen to
get in at the right time.  i have Jan 97 90s... beginning og the
week they were 3 1/2, now they are 2 ish. if INTC goes up 2-3 bucks
in one day, the opts go up nearly a point.... 

>	Here's another VJET item I saw in the DBC headlines today.  VJET
>	has agreed to give the FAA $2M to cover the cost of the probe into
>	the crash.

	Was the $2M given in unmarked bills handed over in a suitcase by
	a guy in a trenchcoat?

Yea... The guy was identified as Pena.

> it really depends on what ya wanna play.  if you buy the stock,
> probably better for a long play.
> however, if you dabble in options,
> you could make some decent $$ on the short-play if you happen to
> get in at the right time.  i have Jan 97 90s... beginning og the
> week they were 3 1/2, now they are 2 ish. if INTC goes up 2-3 bucks
> in one day, the opts go up nearly a point.... 

	like you said there is a big difference between a "quick pick"
	stock and trading options on a stock.  The previous noter made
	no ref. to options so it's implied they feel INTC "stock" is
	a "quick pick".  Options are a whole other ball game :-)
	often flew with broken parts for over a year

	In any case, back to the original topic .... VJET indeed turned out
	to be a good "quick pick" if you bought at the right time on tuesday
	as it was up 11% by days end, and right now is up another 5% on top
	of that today.  Of course I'm still down $6/share, but holding for
	a longer term (I should of sold the day after I bought for the
	"quick" profit, but see what greed does :-)

Symbol: VJET (VALUJET AIRLINES INC)
Last Trade: 7 1/4, Change 3/4 (11.54%) at Jun 19  4:01:36
Bid & Ask:  7 1/8 & 7 1/4 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 6 1/2 & 7 7/8 (spread 1 3/8)
52 Week Low & High: 4 1/2 & 34 3/4 (spread 30 1/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 4661900 / 10756 (433 shares/trade)
P/E: 5.50, EPS: 1.18

Symbol: VJET
Last Trade: 7 5/8, Change 3/8 (5.17%) at Jun 20 1:51:58
Bid & Ask:  7 1/2 & 7 5/8 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 7 1/4 & 7 5/8 (spread 3/8)
52 Week Low & High: 4 1/2 & 34 3/4 (spread 30 1/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 3677800 / 4281 (859 shares/trade)
EPS: 1.19

    INTC did rocket up from 60 to 73 in a very short time recently
    (basically the month of May), so it kind of depends on time
    frame and one's definition of a "quick pick".

> INTC did rocket up from 60 to 73 in a very short time recently
> (basically the month of May), so it kind of depends on time
> frame and one's definition of a "quick pick".

	Hindsight is 20/20 (ie. being able to pick the "quick picks"
	*after* the fact :-), but one would assume the noter who was
	*now* recommending INTC as a "quick pick" meant *now*, not
	last month.

	Like I said, I bought INTC 11 months ago, and I bought in at what
	was then a "dip" (ie. @ 64), and it took those 11 months to get
	to todays price (71 1/8), or an 11% gain (not counting the tiny 20
	cent/share dividend in Sept).

	I don't see INTC going up another 10% (which would be ~ 78 1/4)
	that "quick"ly.  Then again, given my past record, now that I've
	sold it it probably will :-(

> I don't see INTC going up another 10% (which would be ~ 78 1/4)

	Like I said, now that I've sold it it will rally :-)  The tech
	stocks in general seem to be making an attempt at a recovery after
	being out of favor the last couple of weeks.

	In any case, VJET is still making a good recovery after the post-
	grounding low (which I think is the 52 week low?) and is the winner
	of the "quick picks" so far (except for me who bought it at 13+ :-)

	Presstek (PRST) the last couple days has also had quite a run-up
	after falling fast (due to the SEC investigation of the Cabot
	Letter, see other topic) from a recent high of 200.

Symbol: VJET
Last Trade: 8.6560, Change 1.0310 (13.52%) at Jun 24 1:11:03
Bid & Ask:  8 5/8 & 8 3/4 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 7 5/8 & 9 1/8 (spread 1 1/2)
52 Week Low & High: 4 1/2 & 34 3/4 (spread 30 1/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 4442700 / 4652 (955 shares/trade)
EPS: 1.16

Symbol: INTC
Last Trade: 74, Change 2 5/8 (3.68%) at Jun 24 1:11:01
Bid & Ask:  74 & 74 1/8 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 71 1/4 & 74 1/4 (spread 3)
52 Week Low & High: 49.8120 & 78 3/8 (spread 28.5630)
Volume/# of Trades: 4704700 / 4018 (1170 shares/trade)
EPS: 4.03, Annual Dividend: 0.20 (yield 0.27%)

Symbol: PRST (PRESSTEK INC)
Last Trade: 70 3/4, Change 14 3/4 (26.34%) at Jun 24  1:14:15
Bid & Ask:  70 & 71 1/2 (spread 1 1/2)
Low & High: 62 & 73 (spread 11)
52 Week Low & High: 38 1/2 & 200 (spread 161 1/2)
Volume/# of Trades: 1389600 / 3082 (450 shares/trade)
P/E: 187.90, EPS: 0.30

	BTW, I forgot to mention, I heard that if/when VJET is allowed to
	fly again, that they will only be allowed to fly 15 of their 51
	planes (or was that 15% of their planes?), but that news was last
	week, yet that isn't hurting the stock.  And another discount airline
	(Kuiwi I think) was forced by the FAA to reduce the number of flights
	after some incident/investigation (supposedly the 2nd time this
	particular airline has been forced to do that).

    
    Here are some beaten down names that are starting to look interesting
    
    
    APPL  19 7/8
    IOMG  23
    BAY   24 7/8
    MU    25
    
    
     

>     IOMG  23

	Guests on NBR and regulars on W$W both said to stay away from
	both IOMG and PRST, *except* for the most speculative investors.

	Iomega I guess has niche products that once other companies get
	it won't be a niche any longer ....

    MU seems to be interesting. They are seen as a DRAM mfg. and the crash
    in DRAM prices has hurt their stock over the last months. DRAM will
    probably be a drag on profits over the next quarters.
    
    But MU generates an increasing share of it's revenue from PC's. PC's
    now account for 36% of revenue and growing. See http://www.micron.com/
    for their latest quarterly report.
    
    If the market reevaluates MU as a PC manufacturer, then current price
    might be seen as low.
    
    MU has lost 40% over the last four weeks and the stock was mentioned in
    Business week a few weeks ago as one of Wall Street's most favoured
    shorting opportunities. Buing now means trying to catch that falling
    knife.
    
    KLaus

    
    From Bloomberg Online today in the Equity Movers section::
    
    Iomega Corp. (IOMG): The maker of computer disk storage systems was
    rated ``buy'' in new coverage by analyst Daniel Kunstler at J.P. Morgan 
    Securities. Iomega's shares rose as much as 5 7/8 to 26 7/8, making it 
    the most actively traded stock in midafternoon trading, as more than 
    15 million shares changed hands. 
    

> Iomega's shares rose as much as 5 7/8 to 26 7/8 ...

	Looks like the article negleted to say it was down 5 1/2 the
	day before :-)  It's still down 50% from it's 52 week high.
	It could indeed be a bargin, but look at the trailing P/E even
	at this price range ....

Symbol: IOMG (IOMEGA CP)
Last Trade: 27 1/2, Change 6 1/2 (30.95%) at Jun 27  4:01:41
Bid & Ask:  27 3/8 & 27 1/2 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 21 1/4 & 28 (spread 6 3/4)
52 Week Low & High: 2 3/4 & 55 1/8 (spread 52 3/8)
Volume/# of Trades: 1151200 / 24460 (47 shares/trade)
P/E: 171.10, EPS: 0.12, Market Cap: 384.00, Beta: 0.99, EPS Growth: -46.30

	ValuJet continues to be a great short term pick.  And if they
	ever do get in the air again, they could be a good long term
	pick as well.  Anyone who bought this stock at it's recent
	52 week low of 4 1/2 has more than doubled than money.  Damn
	I wish I had price averaged those shares I bought at 13 3/4!

Symbol: VJET (VALUJET AIRLINES INC)
Last Trade: 11 3/4, Change 1 (9.30%) at Jul 02 11:49:02
Bid & Ask:  11 5/8 & 11 3/4 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 10 3/4 & 11 7/8 (spread 1 1/8)
52 Week Low & High: 4 1/2 & 34 3/4 (spread 30 1/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 2022700 / 2159 (936 shares/trade)
P/E: 9.20, EPS: 1.17

    Re: -.1
    
    > And if they ever do get in the air again, they could be a good long term
    > pick as well
    
    I do not think it is just getting off the ground.  They need to do it
    before they run out of cash.  For that reason, I would hold for another
    month or two.  If operations resume by then I will hold for long term.
    
    What is your long term (6-9mnths) target?
    
    dan
    
    

> What is your long term (6-9mnths) target?

	6-9 months is more mid-term than long-term!

	I have no price targets.  I never do.  If one could reliably predict
	target prices like that they'd be rich, and I ain't rich :-)

	BTW, NBR reports that the gain in VJET today is likely due to
	a "short sqeeze" due to the volume of short-interest in this
	stock.  Ie. short sellers are trying to min. their losses
	by covering or closing out their short positions, driving up
	the price due to that demand.  And of course this is a vicious
	cycle as even more short sellers try to buy to cover their
	positions because of the frenzied buying by the short sellers
	before them.

	I just hope the blow out after the vicious cycle collapses
	isn't too bad ....

Symbol: VJET (VALUJET AIRLINES INC)
Last Trade: 12 1/8, Change 1 3/8 (12.79%) at Jul 02  4:01:40
Bid & Ask:  12 1/8 & 12 1/4 (spread 1/8)
Low & High: 10 3/4 & 12 3/8 (spread 1 5/8)
52 Week Low & High: 4 1/2 & 34 3/4 (spread 30 1/4)
Volume/# of Trades: 5546500 / 5503 (1007 shares/trade)
P/E: 9.20, EPS: 1.17

    In a short squeeze there is the aforementioned price factor -- folks
    who don't have enough margin get margin calls they can't meet and their
    broker does what's called a "forced buy-in", covering the short at the
    market, which can cause prices to head higher.
    
    But another possibility is that the number of shares available for
    borrowing (i.e., in margin accounts) declines as people buy the stock
    and hold it in a cash account. Say X has 1000 VJET in a margin account.
    And Y has sold short, to W, the 1000 VJET his broker borrowed from X.
    X sells his 1000 VJET to Z who, like W, keeps them in a -cash- account,
    meaning his broker cannot lend out the stock and therefore the shares 
    Y sold no longer exist. Y's broker has to get on the horn and see if
    he can locate 1000 VJET held in a margin account somewhere. If he
    cannot, then Y's broker IS REQUIRED to "buy-in" Y at the market, to
    offset Y's short position and deliver the 1000 shares to Z.
    
    I recall something like this happened with the Spain fund a few years ago.
    
    So you, too, can participate in the fun. Just tell your broker to buy
    VJET for your CASH account, sit back and watch. As Jeff points out
    there could be a big blowoff coming. Or it may be over already.
    
      John

    Yep! Down by 1 1/8 already!
    
    d

> ============================================================================
> Note 945.130                      Quick Picks!                    130 of 143
> 2155::michaud "Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker"      17 lines  20-JUN-1996 16:54
>            -< IMHO INTC is not a quick pick, but a longer term pick >-
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>         Like I said, I bought INTC 11 months ago, and I bought in at what
>         was then a "dip" (ie. @ 64), and it took those 11 months to get
>         to todays price (71 1/8), or an 11% gain (not counting the tiny 20
>         cent/share dividend in Sept).
> 
>         I don't see INTC going up another 10% (which would be ~ 78 1/4)
>         that "quick"ly.  Then again, given my past record, now that I've
>         sold it it probably will :-(

Notes can be brutual!  INTC is now at 82+.

Gim

>>         I don't see INTC going up another 10% (which would be ~ 78 1/4)
>>         that "quick"ly.  Then again, given my past record, now that I've
>>         sold it it probably will :-(
> Notes can be brutual!  INTC is now at 82+.

	You can thank me for selling when I did.  If I still owned it it
	would *not* of gone up at all!  Now the question is whether
	6 weeks is "quick" or not :-)  I still say however that INTC is
	a good long-term growth stock, and not a "quick pick".  But hey,
	if any of us could reliably predict stock movements, we wouldn't
	be working for DEC (or any other company...)

	FWIW, DEC has has risen a much bigger % in that same time
	(now at 40+).  Let's hope both INTC and DEC keep heading up ...

	I'm still sleeping better since I unloaded all my techology
	releated stocks (except for DEC which I've never sold any).
	I still wish I had followed my feelings and cashed out my
	entire stock portfolio when it was up almost 30% (this was
	before the mini-correction, and now I'm around 1/2 that).
	At least I'm doing good as far as turnover goes, and hence
	not giving all my gains to my broker (only 12 trades this
	year, compared to 104 last year).

    Just goes to show ya...
    the harder they fall, the more room they have to go up.
    
    Wouldn't touch DEC with a 10 foot pole.
    Fidelity may be buying, but at the same time, I wouldn't exactly count
    them in as being one of the top performers at the moment either.
    
    As for INTC, I thought that maybe it was my selling that caused it to
    shoot through its previous high.  It gives me great comfort to know
    that I'm able to blame this on you.
    
    I think I see similarities with the current sentiment for INTC vs the
    MU madness of last year.  Or course, there are differences in the
    nature of the product - and the competition for it.  But what I mean is
    just about every analyst out there seems to be saying - no danger - you
    simply have to own this one.  There's no competition, they are in a 
    class by themselves, low p/e - costs under control...what could 
    possibly go wrong.
    
    Sounded like a sell signal to me.  Oh well.
    In any case, such a quick run up in price looks like a mania to me.
    
    

	Well I started selling some of my BSMT after it stabilized
	at 7 1/2, and guess what, the stock is up today on news
	that Feb. same store sales were *down* 1% over last year.
	Go figure!  I think the real reason it's up today is because
	they noticed that I sold some yesterday and the day before,
	which is a buy signal for any stock :-)  My average purchase
	price was around 2.8, so it's done nicely.  I'm glad I stayed
	in for the longer term this time, than just as a quick pick.
	(of course if I stop selling my remaining shares, ie. hold,
	the market will see that as a sell signal :-)

Symbol: BSMT
Last Trade: 8.0620, Change 0.4380 (5.74%) at Mar 07 2:16:53
Bid & Ask:  7.9380 & 8.0620 (spread 0.1240)
Low & High: 7.5620 & 8.0620 (spread 0.5000)
52 Week Low & High: 2 3/4 & 8.0620 (spread 5.3120)
Volume/# of Trades: 353800 / 295 (1199 shares/trade)

    Any takers for Award Software as a quick pick....On Nasdaq AWRD @ 13