Cheap Stocks, 8/6/2010 Update
Markets up last week, and all the averages have now gotten back into the positive range for the year.
We were up 1% last week.
Our lead over the markets averages has dwindled to about 11 points.
EXTR, BVSN, AVSO, IPAS, NINE, and LTUS.ob are our favorites.
IPASS and VTRO earnings last week.
We are up 12% so far in 2010.
After not trading anything for a few months, we are jumping back into HPOL. It has fallen back to $1.00. Last time we traded this we had a 30% gain. We hope to do so again. Our valuation is $2.85 per share. So buy HPOL at $1.00.
The DOW was up 1.8, NASDAQ was up 1.5% and the S+P 500 was up 1.8%. The Russell 3000 and the Wilshire 5000 were both up 1.6%. For the year the DOW is up 2.2%, NASDAQ is up .9% and the S+P 500 is up .6%. The Wilshire is up 1.6 and the Russell is even.
Last week we went 9 stocks up, 7 down and 2 even. Since inception we are now 42 stocks up and 15 down for a 74% winning percentage (80% is our target win %).
Since our beginning, we have closed out the following positions:
2006-NTCT +44%
2006-ONXS +11% (Buyout offer)
2006-DTLK +41%
2006-CAW +21% (Buyout offer)
2007-IYXI.ob +44% (Buyout offer)
2007-MOBI +47% (Buyout offer)
2007-INFT +11% (Buyout offer)
2007-RITT +62%
2007-MIVA +55%
2007-DTLK +25% (2 weeks)
2007-PDLI + 3%
2007-QADI +25%
2007-CIMT +50%
2007-BDR +19%
2007-LINN.ob -57% (mortgage business bust didn't help here)
2007-TISA -39% (take some tax loss for 2007 due to disappointing results.
2008-ANGN +26%
2008-OPTO.ob +40% (Buy-out offer)
2008-PDLI +9% (company split, and special dividend)
2008-BDAY -39% (long overdue takeover offer-or "take-under")
2008-DTLK +40% (third trip on this one)
2008-ILOG +26% (Buy-out offer from IBM)
2008-PARL +56%
2009-MBRK +67%
2009-SNWL +14%
2009-CYNO +25%
2009-DTLK +33%
2009-NED +46%
2009-CUTR +13%
2009-HSTM +67% (continued good earnings)
2009-RNWK +36%
2009-OPK +116%
2009-CLZR -32% (a loser even on a buy-out)
2009-DTLK +28% (our 5th profitable trip on this one)
2010-HPOL +110%
2010-DIVX +25%
2010-CHRD +37% Buyout (2 weeks after we recommended it)
2010-HPOL +30%
2010-MGIC +82%
The model portfolio assumes $10,000 invested in each stock (unless we double-up--then it is $20,000), less $10 commission each way (TD Ameritrade rate).
For the 39 stocks that we closed out since 2006 the average net gain was 33%.
Performance Technolgy (PTIX-Recommended 3/30/2010)
Buy Price-$2.70
Valuation $5.03-(was $5.98, $7.13)
Closed up $.07 at $2.32
Earnings out in July. Nothing to write home about. Sales were up 15% from last year to $7.4 million, but they lost $1.9 million or $.18 per share as they "invested" in sales and marketing. This, plus a bunch of new product announcements will hopefully boost sales and get some attention. Cash per share fell to at $2.39, and our valuation fell to $5.03 as cash and margins fell.
Down 14% HOLD
Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.04
Valuation-$6.82 (was $6.81)
Closed up $.05 at $2.91
Ramius fund filed a 13D/A on July 20th. They own 5.9% of EXTR and are starting to make some noise. Good catalyst.
Earnings out in April. Revenues up about 1% to $78 million and they made $2.9 million on a non-GAAP basis. Not great, but not bad. Cash fell a bit to $1.43 per share and our valuation went up a penny to $6.82 per share. Still a cheap stock.
Down 4% BUY
Broadvision (BVSN-Recommended 3/16/2010)
Buy Price-$13.50
Valuation $21.77-(was $23.37, $27.15)
$13.61 per share in cash.
Closed down $.22 at $10.61.
Earnings out last week. Revenue dropped from $8.2 million to $5.7 million and they lost $2.4 million. Cash per share fell to to $13.61. Our valuation dropped on the sales drop to $21.77. Trading below cash value.
Down 21%. BUY
Ninetowns Internet Technology (NINE-Recommended 1/25/2010)
Buy Price-$1.53
Valuation-$3.54 (Was $3.19)
$2.80 per share in cash
Closed unchanged at $1.55.
Second half 2009 earnings announced in June. Cash rose to $2.80 per share and our valuation rose to $3.54. Only doing about $15 million a year in sales, but still trading way below cash value and didn't lose any money.
Up 1%. BUY
Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price-$1.68
Valuation $4.44-(Was $5.15)
Closed up $.07 at $1.57.
Earnings out in June. Not bad. Has $2.26 per share in cash and they were slightly profitable ($.01)-despite a 33% drop in sales. Our valuation plunged due to the sales decline and contracting margins to $$4.44. Have to keep an eye on this, but GRVY is still trading at $.59 below cash value and they are keeping their noses in the black.
Down 7%. HOLD
AEterna Zentaris (AEZS-Recommended 6/20/2009)
Buy price $1.42 (was $1.78 before adding another $10,000, $1.82 before double up)
Valuation --Speculation.
Closed up $.06 at $1.16.
Fonds de solidarite des travailleurs du Quebec filed a 13G in mid-June disclosing they had reduced their holding down to 2.6% and Société Générale de Financement du Québec filed a 13D diclosing that they have been steadily reducing their holding from over 10% to under 5%. This dumping by these Canadian funds has been weighing on the market. We need some good news, or these guys to finish selling for the stock to go up.
Earnings out in May. Not bad considering that AEZS is still a fledgling bio-tech baby. $6.4 million in real product sales and lost "only" $5.9 million. Riding the tail of Kerx and perifosine, new orphan drug apporval from the FDA and a lot of investor interest in their pipeline of cancer products.
Still they have $40 million in cash and a good pipeline of products. Speculative for sure.
Down 19% HOLD
Spectranetics (SPNC-Recommended 9/2/2006)
Buy price $5.68 (was $8.90, $9.40 before adding $10,000,and was $10.65 before double up), Valuation --$15.00
Closed up $.24 at $5.40.
Earnings out in July. Sales up 3% and they actually made a profit! Not enough to round up to a penny a share though. The market yawned. No one follows this stock. Only a buy-out will make us money on this one.
Wells Fargo filed a 13G in early February disclosing that they had upped their stake to 5.3 million shares or about 16%--up from their previously disclosed position of about 11.6%.
The company has $30 million in cash ($.90 per share), no debt and is growing about 10% a year.
Down 5%. HOLD.
DataWatch Corp. (DWCH-Recommended 2/12/2006)
Buy price $2.41 (was $3.02 before adding another $10,000,was $3.21 before adding another $10,000, averaged down from $3.66),
Valuation $7.17 (was $5.86 $7.17, $7.46, $8.12, $8.07, $8.12, $8.64, $8.47, $8.47, $10.30, $9.28, $9.20, $8.32, $7.50, $7.63, $9.31)
Closed down $.02 at $2.58
Earnings out in May. Not bad. Sales down 10% to $4.6 million and they only lost $97,000 or $.02 per share. They have $1.07 per share in cash. Our valuation rose to $7.17 as sales, cash and margins were up .
Stil trading at only 43% of our valuation.
KVO Capital management filed a 13D in September 2009. They own 402,000 shares (just under 7% of the company). Purchases were all in the second half of August from $1.66 to $2.74 per share.
UP 7%. HOLD
Mediware (MEDW-Recommended 6/4/2007)
Buy Price $6.33, (was $6.52, $6.67 ($10,000 added), $6.98 after double up)
Valuation $14.35 (was $12.13, $12.57, $12.29, $11.90, $11.30, $11.48, $11.47 $10.99, $10.28, $13.32, $12.89, $13.40)
Closed up $.15 at $9.79
Earnings out in May. They were good. Sales up 26% to $12.8 million and they made $.11 per share up 80% from last year. Cash was $2.67 per share and our valuation spiked to $14.35, up 18%.
Constellation bought more shares (about 130,000 at over $9 per share) and MEDW announced they had re-engaged William Blair to look at "strategic alternatives". Got to have an I Banker to sell your company.
Constellation now owns 22.8%. When is the take-over offer??
All we read is that medical records will be a hot area, so MEDW looks like the place to be.
Up 55%. HOLD
Vertro. (VTRO (was-MIVA)-Recommended 10/21/2007)
Buy Price $1.63 (Was $2.38 before adding another $20,000, $2.62 before another $10,000 and was $3.00 before double up),
NEW Valuation $2.48 (was $2.51, $2.17, $1.65, $1.89, $5.61, $6.42, $6.84, $7.58, $7.59)
Closed down $.06 at $.48.
Earnings out last week. Sales were $8.1 million, slightly higher than Q1 and they were slightly profitable. Cash rose to $6.1 million ($.17 per share). Our valuation feel $.03 to $2.48.
VTRO managed to pass the NASDAQ net worth test in June, so they can remain on the exchange till mid-September. It they can get the stock price over $1 for 10 days before then, they get a free pass-otherwise we are looking at a reverse stock split. This means nothing of course, but it gives unsophisticated investors worries--and they sell.
We have no hope that we will ever make money on this one, nor are we sure they will survive at all.
Down 71%. HOLD
IPASS. (IPAS-Recommended 6/1/2008)
Buy Price-$1.42 (adjusted for $.32 and $.16 dividends) (Was $2.07 before another $10,000 added and $2.15 before double up
NEW Valuation $2.95 (was $3.22, $3.34, $4.17, $4.73, $4.75, $4.12, $4.99, $4.30, $4.09)
Down $.19 at $1.09
Earnings out last week. Sales were down again to $39.1 million, and they lost $.02 a share. Cash was $.52 per share down from $.61. Our valuation fell a bit to $3.22. Still, IPAS has plenty of cash, and is trading at only 37% of our valuation.
Foxhill ownership is 6.9% and Millenium owns 10.4%.
Down 17%. BUY
CCA Industries. (CAW-Recommended 8/4/2008)
Buy Price-$5.51 (was $6.14 before $10,000 added, $6.66 before $10,000 added, $7.00 before $10,000 added) (5% dividend yield)
Valuation $17.45(Was $15.95, $13.80, $18.89, $17.09, $17.05, $14.51, $17.23, $18.36)
Up $.31 at $5.56.
Earnings out in July. Sales flat at about $14.9 million and they lost $900,000 after a $2 million litigation settlement charge. So they made about a nickel a share compared to a dime last year.
Our valuation moved back up to $17.45 as gross margins increased. Cash is $2.55 a share.
Up 1%. HOLD
Angeion Corporation. (ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $12.15 (was $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed down $.06 at $4.05
Earnings in June. Sales up 10% to $6.9 million but they lost $.13 per share versus $.05 last year. Cash remained strong at $2.68 a share and our valuation nudged up to $12.15.
Zacks actually recommended ANGN in early March with a short term price target of $6.
Blueline Partners filed a 13D on ANGN on June 23, 2008. They own about 6.3% of the company. All of their purchases were well North of the current price. Renaissance also owns 5.5%
Up 8% HOLD
Global Shipping . (GSL-Recommended 10/12/2008)
Buy Price $2.16-(Was $2.59, $3.69 before adding another $10,000 each time)
Valuation NA-Dividend yield play
Closed up $.13 at $2.55
Current dividend yield--suspended
GSL is up 80% this year.
Earnings out in May. More of the same-good. Ship utilization was about 98%, and they made about $.15 per share on a "normalized" basis (excluding "mark-to-market" accounting on interest rate hedges). They generated $17 million of cash in the quarter.
Container rates are rising and CGM appears to be getting its feet back under them.
CGM (their main customer continues to struggle. Trying to restructure their debt, get funding from the French goverment etc. We would think that GSL would be the last "supplier" to CGM to feel any effects of this due to CGM's equity ownership in GSL.
Big announcements in late August 2009. They finally made a deal with their bank and survived the ordeal. They had the rest of their credit line canceled, were allowed to take delivery of a used ship, no dividend until the loan to ship value is less than 75% and they have to start prepaying their loans. CGM has to stay in as an equity holder until at least November 30, 2010.
Their average ship charter life is around 10 years and the closest-in renewal is at the end of 2012.
Up 16%. HOLD
OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)
As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks, especially in this Market.
ARI Networks (ARIS.ob-Recommended 8/19/2006)
Buy price $1.61 (Was $1.78 before another $10,000 added, was $2.06 before double up),
Valuation $5.73 (was $5.54, $5.74, $5.96, $4.72, $5.19, $5.66, $5.63, $5.61, $5.71, $5.49, $5.34, $5.03, $5.28, $5.28, $5.21)
Closed down $.02 at $.60.
Earnings out in June. Sales up 29% to $5.4 million, 79% gross margins and they made $26,000 for the quarter. Our valuation moved back up to $5.73 per share.
No one cares.
Wake up management--you have a great little company here worth 5-6X what it is selling for.
Now down 63%. BUY. Still a Huge valuation gap here.
Avatech Solutions Inc. (AVSO.ob-Bought November 28, 2005)
Buy price $.79 (Was $.93, $.99 and $1.19 before adding $10,000-each time),
Valuation $3.07 (was $3.03, $2.38, $2.57, $2.81, $2.78, $3.30, $3.76, $4.00 $3.41, $3.05, $2.53, $3.25, $3.29 $2.69, $3.36, $3.81)
Stock closed at $.66, down $.04.
Earnings out in May. Sales up 5% to $8.4 million and they made $.03 a share versus a loss of $.01 last year. Our valuation rose to $3.07 a share.
Another 13D/a filed in May. The "dissident" group is up to 33% ownership.
The initial 13D filing was in early March. A group of investors including a prior CEO of AVSO is clamoring for an increase in shareholder value. Basically they are hanging out a "for sale" sign. In late March the same group filed a 13D/A adding more members to the group. I hope they are successful! Management of AVSO came out with a press release disavowing any discussions or interaction with the group. Too bad, with a few more members they may control the company soon. We would suggest all shareholders join the group.
Down 17%. BUY.
CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $.88 (Was $.96, $.93, $.75, $.85, $1.57, $1.40, $1.29, $1.38, $1.31, $1.38, $1.29, $1.42, $1.28 $1.13, $1.05, $.82)
Ask price $.09, closed at $.08.
Earnings out in May. Sales were flat with last year at $3.9 million, and they lost about $200,000. Their VOIP business continues to drain the company. Q4 sales were a whopping $120,000 and it lost $431,000 excluding depreciation. Our valuation fell a bit to $.88.
At a $1.5 million market cap, this is stupidly cheap. Their itellectual property is probably worth 10 times this price. They need to liquify this value somehow.
They might have to sell or shut this VOIP business down in our opinion. Just losing too much money, and eroding shareholder value--or it could be a home run.
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 67%. HOLD
Lotus Pharmaceuticals (LTUS.ob-Recommended 12/3/2007)
Buy price $.84 (Was $.95 before $10,000 adder, $1.08 before double-up)
Valuation-$1.87 (Was $1.91, $2.00, $1.84, $1.56, $1.99, $2.22, $1.61, $1.06, $2.28, $2.08)
Closed at $1.05, up $.09.
Earnings announced in May. Sales were up 26% and they made $.09 per share, up from $.07 last year.
They projected 15-20% EBIT growth for 2010. So maybe we "only" make $.45 this year. If this traded like the growth stock it is, this should trade at more than $4.50 per share. Our valuation fell to $1.87, but this is still only selling for about 3 times last years earnings.
Early in March LTUS disclosed a deal to sell up to 10 million dollars of stock from time-to-time at about a 7% discount to market. This deal has been canceled as the company says they don't need the money. After a brief spike to about $1.10 a share--down we go again.
Up 17%. BUY
We were up 1% last week.
Our lead over the markets averages has dwindled to about 11 points.
EXTR, BVSN, AVSO, IPAS, NINE, and LTUS.ob are our favorites.
IPASS and VTRO earnings last week.
We are up 12% so far in 2010.
After not trading anything for a few months, we are jumping back into HPOL. It has fallen back to $1.00. Last time we traded this we had a 30% gain. We hope to do so again. Our valuation is $2.85 per share. So buy HPOL at $1.00.
The DOW was up 1.8, NASDAQ was up 1.5% and the S+P 500 was up 1.8%. The Russell 3000 and the Wilshire 5000 were both up 1.6%. For the year the DOW is up 2.2%, NASDAQ is up .9% and the S+P 500 is up .6%. The Wilshire is up 1.6 and the Russell is even.
Last week we went 9 stocks up, 7 down and 2 even. Since inception we are now 42 stocks up and 15 down for a 74% winning percentage (80% is our target win %).
Since our beginning, we have closed out the following positions:
2006-NTCT +44%
2006-ONXS +11% (Buyout offer)
2006-DTLK +41%
2006-CAW +21% (Buyout offer)
2007-IYXI.ob +44% (Buyout offer)
2007-MOBI +47% (Buyout offer)
2007-INFT +11% (Buyout offer)
2007-RITT +62%
2007-MIVA +55%
2007-DTLK +25% (2 weeks)
2007-PDLI + 3%
2007-QADI +25%
2007-CIMT +50%
2007-BDR +19%
2007-LINN.ob -57% (mortgage business bust didn't help here)
2007-TISA -39% (take some tax loss for 2007 due to disappointing results.
2008-ANGN +26%
2008-OPTO.ob +40% (Buy-out offer)
2008-PDLI +9% (company split, and special dividend)
2008-BDAY -39% (long overdue takeover offer-or "take-under")
2008-DTLK +40% (third trip on this one)
2008-ILOG +26% (Buy-out offer from IBM)
2008-PARL +56%
2009-MBRK +67%
2009-SNWL +14%
2009-CYNO +25%
2009-DTLK +33%
2009-NED +46%
2009-CUTR +13%
2009-HSTM +67% (continued good earnings)
2009-RNWK +36%
2009-OPK +116%
2009-CLZR -32% (a loser even on a buy-out)
2009-DTLK +28% (our 5th profitable trip on this one)
2010-HPOL +110%
2010-DIVX +25%
2010-CHRD +37% Buyout (2 weeks after we recommended it)
2010-HPOL +30%
2010-MGIC +82%
The model portfolio assumes $10,000 invested in each stock (unless we double-up--then it is $20,000), less $10 commission each way (TD Ameritrade rate).
For the 39 stocks that we closed out since 2006 the average net gain was 33%.
Performance Technolgy (PTIX-Recommended 3/30/2010)
Buy Price-$2.70
Valuation $5.03-(was $5.98, $7.13)
Closed up $.07 at $2.32
Earnings out in July. Nothing to write home about. Sales were up 15% from last year to $7.4 million, but they lost $1.9 million or $.18 per share as they "invested" in sales and marketing. This, plus a bunch of new product announcements will hopefully boost sales and get some attention. Cash per share fell to at $2.39, and our valuation fell to $5.03 as cash and margins fell.
Down 14% HOLD
Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.04
Valuation-$6.82 (was $6.81)
Closed up $.05 at $2.91
Ramius fund filed a 13D/A on July 20th. They own 5.9% of EXTR and are starting to make some noise. Good catalyst.
Earnings out in April. Revenues up about 1% to $78 million and they made $2.9 million on a non-GAAP basis. Not great, but not bad. Cash fell a bit to $1.43 per share and our valuation went up a penny to $6.82 per share. Still a cheap stock.
Down 4% BUY
Broadvision (BVSN-Recommended 3/16/2010)
Buy Price-$13.50
Valuation $21.77-(was $23.37, $27.15)
$13.61 per share in cash.
Closed down $.22 at $10.61.
Earnings out last week. Revenue dropped from $8.2 million to $5.7 million and they lost $2.4 million. Cash per share fell to to $13.61. Our valuation dropped on the sales drop to $21.77. Trading below cash value.
Down 21%. BUY
Ninetowns Internet Technology (NINE-Recommended 1/25/2010)
Buy Price-$1.53
Valuation-$3.54 (Was $3.19)
$2.80 per share in cash
Closed unchanged at $1.55.
Second half 2009 earnings announced in June. Cash rose to $2.80 per share and our valuation rose to $3.54. Only doing about $15 million a year in sales, but still trading way below cash value and didn't lose any money.
Up 1%. BUY
Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price-$1.68
Valuation $4.44-(Was $5.15)
Closed up $.07 at $1.57.
Earnings out in June. Not bad. Has $2.26 per share in cash and they were slightly profitable ($.01)-despite a 33% drop in sales. Our valuation plunged due to the sales decline and contracting margins to $$4.44. Have to keep an eye on this, but GRVY is still trading at $.59 below cash value and they are keeping their noses in the black.
Down 7%. HOLD
AEterna Zentaris (AEZS-Recommended 6/20/2009)
Buy price $1.42 (was $1.78 before adding another $10,000, $1.82 before double up)
Valuation --Speculation.
Closed up $.06 at $1.16.
Fonds de solidarite des travailleurs du Quebec filed a 13G in mid-June disclosing they had reduced their holding down to 2.6% and Société Générale de Financement du Québec filed a 13D diclosing that they have been steadily reducing their holding from over 10% to under 5%. This dumping by these Canadian funds has been weighing on the market. We need some good news, or these guys to finish selling for the stock to go up.
Earnings out in May. Not bad considering that AEZS is still a fledgling bio-tech baby. $6.4 million in real product sales and lost "only" $5.9 million. Riding the tail of Kerx and perifosine, new orphan drug apporval from the FDA and a lot of investor interest in their pipeline of cancer products.
Still they have $40 million in cash and a good pipeline of products. Speculative for sure.
Down 19% HOLD
Spectranetics (SPNC-Recommended 9/2/2006)
Buy price $5.68 (was $8.90, $9.40 before adding $10,000,and was $10.65 before double up), Valuation --$15.00
Closed up $.24 at $5.40.
Earnings out in July. Sales up 3% and they actually made a profit! Not enough to round up to a penny a share though. The market yawned. No one follows this stock. Only a buy-out will make us money on this one.
Wells Fargo filed a 13G in early February disclosing that they had upped their stake to 5.3 million shares or about 16%--up from their previously disclosed position of about 11.6%.
The company has $30 million in cash ($.90 per share), no debt and is growing about 10% a year.
Down 5%. HOLD.
DataWatch Corp. (DWCH-Recommended 2/12/2006)
Buy price $2.41 (was $3.02 before adding another $10,000,was $3.21 before adding another $10,000, averaged down from $3.66),
Valuation $7.17 (was $5.86 $7.17, $7.46, $8.12, $8.07, $8.12, $8.64, $8.47, $8.47, $10.30, $9.28, $9.20, $8.32, $7.50, $7.63, $9.31)
Closed down $.02 at $2.58
Earnings out in May. Not bad. Sales down 10% to $4.6 million and they only lost $97,000 or $.02 per share. They have $1.07 per share in cash. Our valuation rose to $7.17 as sales, cash and margins were up .
Stil trading at only 43% of our valuation.
KVO Capital management filed a 13D in September 2009. They own 402,000 shares (just under 7% of the company). Purchases were all in the second half of August from $1.66 to $2.74 per share.
UP 7%. HOLD
Mediware (MEDW-Recommended 6/4/2007)
Buy Price $6.33, (was $6.52, $6.67 ($10,000 added), $6.98 after double up)
Valuation $14.35 (was $12.13, $12.57, $12.29, $11.90, $11.30, $11.48, $11.47 $10.99, $10.28, $13.32, $12.89, $13.40)
Closed up $.15 at $9.79
Earnings out in May. They were good. Sales up 26% to $12.8 million and they made $.11 per share up 80% from last year. Cash was $2.67 per share and our valuation spiked to $14.35, up 18%.
Constellation bought more shares (about 130,000 at over $9 per share) and MEDW announced they had re-engaged William Blair to look at "strategic alternatives". Got to have an I Banker to sell your company.
Constellation now owns 22.8%. When is the take-over offer??
All we read is that medical records will be a hot area, so MEDW looks like the place to be.
Up 55%. HOLD
Vertro. (VTRO (was-MIVA)-Recommended 10/21/2007)
Buy Price $1.63 (Was $2.38 before adding another $20,000, $2.62 before another $10,000 and was $3.00 before double up),
NEW Valuation $2.48 (was $2.51, $2.17, $1.65, $1.89, $5.61, $6.42, $6.84, $7.58, $7.59)
Closed down $.06 at $.48.
Earnings out last week. Sales were $8.1 million, slightly higher than Q1 and they were slightly profitable. Cash rose to $6.1 million ($.17 per share). Our valuation feel $.03 to $2.48.
VTRO managed to pass the NASDAQ net worth test in June, so they can remain on the exchange till mid-September. It they can get the stock price over $1 for 10 days before then, they get a free pass-otherwise we are looking at a reverse stock split. This means nothing of course, but it gives unsophisticated investors worries--and they sell.
We have no hope that we will ever make money on this one, nor are we sure they will survive at all.
Down 71%. HOLD
IPASS. (IPAS-Recommended 6/1/2008)
Buy Price-$1.42 (adjusted for $.32 and $.16 dividends) (Was $2.07 before another $10,000 added and $2.15 before double up
NEW Valuation $2.95 (was $3.22, $3.34, $4.17, $4.73, $4.75, $4.12, $4.99, $4.30, $4.09)
Down $.19 at $1.09
Earnings out last week. Sales were down again to $39.1 million, and they lost $.02 a share. Cash was $.52 per share down from $.61. Our valuation fell a bit to $3.22. Still, IPAS has plenty of cash, and is trading at only 37% of our valuation.
Foxhill ownership is 6.9% and Millenium owns 10.4%.
Down 17%. BUY
CCA Industries. (CAW-Recommended 8/4/2008)
Buy Price-$5.51 (was $6.14 before $10,000 added, $6.66 before $10,000 added, $7.00 before $10,000 added) (5% dividend yield)
Valuation $17.45(Was $15.95, $13.80, $18.89, $17.09, $17.05, $14.51, $17.23, $18.36)
Up $.31 at $5.56.
Earnings out in July. Sales flat at about $14.9 million and they lost $900,000 after a $2 million litigation settlement charge. So they made about a nickel a share compared to a dime last year.
Our valuation moved back up to $17.45 as gross margins increased. Cash is $2.55 a share.
Up 1%. HOLD
Angeion Corporation. (ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $12.15 (was $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed down $.06 at $4.05
Earnings in June. Sales up 10% to $6.9 million but they lost $.13 per share versus $.05 last year. Cash remained strong at $2.68 a share and our valuation nudged up to $12.15.
Zacks actually recommended ANGN in early March with a short term price target of $6.
Blueline Partners filed a 13D on ANGN on June 23, 2008. They own about 6.3% of the company. All of their purchases were well North of the current price. Renaissance also owns 5.5%
Up 8% HOLD
Global Shipping . (GSL-Recommended 10/12/2008)
Buy Price $2.16-(Was $2.59, $3.69 before adding another $10,000 each time)
Valuation NA-Dividend yield play
Closed up $.13 at $2.55
Current dividend yield--suspended
GSL is up 80% this year.
Earnings out in May. More of the same-good. Ship utilization was about 98%, and they made about $.15 per share on a "normalized" basis (excluding "mark-to-market" accounting on interest rate hedges). They generated $17 million of cash in the quarter.
Container rates are rising and CGM appears to be getting its feet back under them.
CGM (their main customer continues to struggle. Trying to restructure their debt, get funding from the French goverment etc. We would think that GSL would be the last "supplier" to CGM to feel any effects of this due to CGM's equity ownership in GSL.
Big announcements in late August 2009. They finally made a deal with their bank and survived the ordeal. They had the rest of their credit line canceled, were allowed to take delivery of a used ship, no dividend until the loan to ship value is less than 75% and they have to start prepaying their loans. CGM has to stay in as an equity holder until at least November 30, 2010.
Their average ship charter life is around 10 years and the closest-in renewal is at the end of 2012.
Up 16%. HOLD
OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)
As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks, especially in this Market.
ARI Networks (ARIS.ob-Recommended 8/19/2006)
Buy price $1.61 (Was $1.78 before another $10,000 added, was $2.06 before double up),
Valuation $5.73 (was $5.54, $5.74, $5.96, $4.72, $5.19, $5.66, $5.63, $5.61, $5.71, $5.49, $5.34, $5.03, $5.28, $5.28, $5.21)
Closed down $.02 at $.60.
Earnings out in June. Sales up 29% to $5.4 million, 79% gross margins and they made $26,000 for the quarter. Our valuation moved back up to $5.73 per share.
No one cares.
Wake up management--you have a great little company here worth 5-6X what it is selling for.
Now down 63%. BUY. Still a Huge valuation gap here.
Avatech Solutions Inc. (AVSO.ob-Bought November 28, 2005)
Buy price $.79 (Was $.93, $.99 and $1.19 before adding $10,000-each time),
Valuation $3.07 (was $3.03, $2.38, $2.57, $2.81, $2.78, $3.30, $3.76, $4.00 $3.41, $3.05, $2.53, $3.25, $3.29 $2.69, $3.36, $3.81)
Stock closed at $.66, down $.04.
Earnings out in May. Sales up 5% to $8.4 million and they made $.03 a share versus a loss of $.01 last year. Our valuation rose to $3.07 a share.
Another 13D/a filed in May. The "dissident" group is up to 33% ownership.
The initial 13D filing was in early March. A group of investors including a prior CEO of AVSO is clamoring for an increase in shareholder value. Basically they are hanging out a "for sale" sign. In late March the same group filed a 13D/A adding more members to the group. I hope they are successful! Management of AVSO came out with a press release disavowing any discussions or interaction with the group. Too bad, with a few more members they may control the company soon. We would suggest all shareholders join the group.
Down 17%. BUY.
CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $.88 (Was $.96, $.93, $.75, $.85, $1.57, $1.40, $1.29, $1.38, $1.31, $1.38, $1.29, $1.42, $1.28 $1.13, $1.05, $.82)
Ask price $.09, closed at $.08.
Earnings out in May. Sales were flat with last year at $3.9 million, and they lost about $200,000. Their VOIP business continues to drain the company. Q4 sales were a whopping $120,000 and it lost $431,000 excluding depreciation. Our valuation fell a bit to $.88.
At a $1.5 million market cap, this is stupidly cheap. Their itellectual property is probably worth 10 times this price. They need to liquify this value somehow.
They might have to sell or shut this VOIP business down in our opinion. Just losing too much money, and eroding shareholder value--or it could be a home run.
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 67%. HOLD
Lotus Pharmaceuticals (LTUS.ob-Recommended 12/3/2007)
Buy price $.84 (Was $.95 before $10,000 adder, $1.08 before double-up)
Valuation-$1.87 (Was $1.91, $2.00, $1.84, $1.56, $1.99, $2.22, $1.61, $1.06, $2.28, $2.08)
Closed at $1.05, up $.09.
Earnings announced in May. Sales were up 26% and they made $.09 per share, up from $.07 last year.
They projected 15-20% EBIT growth for 2010. So maybe we "only" make $.45 this year. If this traded like the growth stock it is, this should trade at more than $4.50 per share. Our valuation fell to $1.87, but this is still only selling for about 3 times last years earnings.
Early in March LTUS disclosed a deal to sell up to 10 million dollars of stock from time-to-time at about a 7% discount to market. This deal has been canceled as the company says they don't need the money. After a brief spike to about $1.10 a share--down we go again.
Up 17%. BUY
posted by Cheap Stock Investor | 6:12 PM
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