Cheap Stocks

We focus on undervalued small-cap stocks. Usually with a large cash cushion. We have developed a valuation formula that has been highly successful, especially on small tech stocks. Since 2006, we have closed out 49 stock positions with an average gain of 37%. 9 stocks have been taken over.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Cheap Stocks, 1/25/2013 Update

We were up .3% last week and are now up 4.8% for the year.


We sold INUV last week after years of disappointment.

Some of our stocks are just stupid cheap—compared to their net cash on hand per share divided by their stock price.
Check this list:
EXTR 59%
GRVY 143%
CCUR 51%
SIGM 57%
ASTX 43%
CTIG 37%
MRVC 81%
MGCD 39%
AVNW 34%
DRIV 44%
AGYS 43%

The DOW was up 1.8% last week, NASDAQ was up .5% and the Russell 3000 was up 1.3%. For the year, the DOW is up 6%, NASDAQ is up 4.3% and the Russell is up 5.7%.

DRIV, AGYS, DAEG, BLIN, MRVC, GRVY and CBEY are our favorites.

Last week we went 9 stocks up, 9 down and 1 even. Since inception we are now 64 stocks up and 15 down for an 81% 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% (fourth trip on this)
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%
2010-GSL +78%
2010-CCEL +49%
2010-HPOL +27% (third trip)
2010-CAW EVEN (excluding 2.5 years of dividends)
2011-DWCH +116%
2011-IPAS +15%
2011-PRM +56% Buyout (1 week after we recommended it)
2011-RST +12%
2011-NINE -10%
2012-BVSN +30%
2012-TISA +137%
2012-PTIX -44%
2012-MTSL +157%
2012-LTUS -98%
2012-AEZS -63%
2012-RIMG -46% (including dividends)
2012-HPOL +34%
2012-MEDW +133% (Buyout 1 week AFTER we sold this)
2012-SPNC +118%
2012-RWWI +1%
2012-MOTR -29% (lost biggest customer contract)
2013-INUV -83% Held this since 2007. Failed business model.

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 61 stocks that we closed out since 2006 (50 were winners) the average net gain was 29%.

Agilysys Inc. (NASDAQ-AGYS)-Recommended 1/18/2013)
Buy Price $8.40
Valuation $16.10
Closed down $.16 at $8.25
Next earnings due out Thursday, January 31st, after the market closes.
Down 2%, BUY

Digital River Inc. (NASDAQ-DRIV)-Recommended 1/11/2013)
Buy Price $14.20
Valuation $32.20
Closed up $.38 at $14.58
Next earnings release due out Wednesday, February 6th after the market close.
UP 3%, BUY

Daegis Inc. (NASDAQ-DAEG)-Recommended 11/30/2012)
Buy Price $1.20
Valuation $4.00
Closed up $.24 at $1.42
Looks like BlueLine Partners (a “strategic opportunities fund”) have shaken up Daegis management last week with the ouster or the CEO and CFO. The interim CEO and Chairman of the Board is a BlueLine founder. Its feeling like they are not happy with the current stock price for sure.
Up 18%, BUY

Bridgeline Digital Inc. (NASDAQ-BLIN)-Recommended 8/24/2012)
Buy Price $1.24
Valuation $2.56 (Was $2.24)
Closed even at $1.52
Earnings announced in December. Revenues were $6.7 million up from $6.6 million last year, but iAPPS revenue was up 40% and recurring revenue was up 25% as their legacy business continues to decline. They lost $40 thousand on a GAAP basis and made $268 thousand, or $.02 on a Non-GAAP basis. Net cash improved to negative $.18 from negative $.20 last quarter. Our valuation moved up to $2.56 per share. Guidance for next year is revenue of $29 million, which includes 40% growth in iAPPS revenue and positive Non-GAAP income. We see our valuation soaring to over $3.25 if they can make their numbers next year.
Up 22%, BUY

Telecommunications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ-TSYS)-Recommended 6/14/2012)
Buy Price- $1.37
Valuation $6.72 (Was $5.49)
Closed down $.03 at $2.40
Next earnings due out Thursday, January 31st after the market close.
TSYS’s patent deal announced in December was selling two patents for “a multi-seven-figure payment”.
TSYS announced in November it was one of 20 companies selected to participate in a 5 year, $10 billion contract with the U.S. government.
Earnings announced in October. They were very good. Revenue was up a massive 24% to $140 million and they made $.07 per share. Our valuation rose to $6.72 per share.
Carlo Cannell, an activist investor filled a 13D in September pointing out how undervalued TSYS is and urged them to put themselves on the block. He points to a valuation done on the company as of August 29th of $7.40 to $11.81 a share. Even the low point here is higher than our valuation.
TSYS announced in September it was selected as part of a group of 8 companies to participate in a $2.6 million government contract.
Up 75%, HOLD

Aviat Networks Inc. (NASDAQ-AVNW)-Recommended 2/27/2012)
Buy Price- $2.62
Valuation $9.03 (Was $9.37, $8.85, $8.31)
Closed down $.06 at $3.62
AVNW revised their guidance for Q2, 2013—UP. They are now projecting revenues of $123-$126 million versus $115-$120 million. Spending is expected to be the same as prior guidance and their book-to-bill ratio was more than one and they expect to have about $95 million in cash (about $1.60 a share).
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were up 3% to $115 million and the made $.05 per share (non-GAAP). Cash per share fell to $1.24 due to the timing of collecting some large receivables (collected in October). Our valuation fell a bit to $9.03 per share.
Next quarter they are projecting $115-$120 million in sales and that they will again be profitable on a non-GAAP basis and that cash will return to normal levels (about $96 million or so).
Up 38%, HOLD

CBeyond Inc. (NASDAQ-CBEY)-Recommended 2/28/2012)
Buy Price $7.17 ( Was $7.94 before another $10,000 added at $6.53)
Valuation $29.04 (Was $29.59, $29.58, $29.21)
Closed down $.33 at $8.60
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were off $1 million to $121 million and they made $.06 a share compared to a $.04 loss last year. They raised their 2012 guidance a bit and gave 2013 guidance that was tepid at best.
“Management expects revenue to be close to 2012 levels with increasing growth in the latter part of the year. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to decline in 2013 due to increased levels of SG&A expense primarily associated with the growing sales force needed to support future levels of revenue growth. With respect to cash capital expenditures, management expects a slightly higher level relative to 2012. As a result, management expects a reduced level of free cash flow when compared with 2012. However, management expects to continue its focus on delivering significant levels of positive free cash flow in 2013 and future years.”
$90 million of EBITDA, no net debt and a $250 market cap. Cheap.
Our valuation fell a tad to $29.04, still way more than the stock is selling for today.
Up 20%, BUY

MRV Communications (Pink Sheets-MRVC.pk)
Valuation $31.80 (Was $34.60, $28.60, $41.20, $43.20 (after $9.50, $6.00 and $1.40 special dividends), $52.40, $55.80)
Buy Price October 7, 2011- $8.50 ($25.40 before special dividends)
Closed at $9.61 up $.38.
The 20 for 1 stock split happened in December, so all the share information has been adjusted.
Raging Capital bought another 1.6 million shares in the first week of December at $.54 bringing their holdings to 30.7 million shares or 20.1% of the company.
MRV announced a $.07 special dividend, a $10 million share buyback and a reverse 1 for 20 stock split. The share price increased the $.07 out of the gate, but no big gains. A $10 stock price will pave the way for relisting on a major exchange and allow institutions to invest. We think this is good news.
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Revenues fell a bit to $51 million but it appears that the revenue shortfall was in the divisions that were sold in October. Hard to tell from their press release or 10Q what the real results were excluding the sold divisions so we are still estimating our valuation which dropped to $1.59 per share. Looks like they broke even for the quarter after excluding an asset impairment write-off.
MRVC bought back 5.8 million shares from T-2 at $9.60 a share in August.
Still trading at less than ½ our valuation.
Up 12%- BUY

Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ-SIGM)-Recommended 7/11/2011)
Buy Price-$8.49
Valuation $13.05 (Was $10.67, $8.41 $12.10, $13.40, $16.02)
Closed up $.31 at $5.65
Earnings announced in November. Hmmmm. Sales fell $4 million to $64 million (but right on guidance) and they lost $39 million. But wait, it was “only” $9 million on a non-GAAP basis. The CEO swears that they will get to profitability in Q1, 2014 (next quarter is Q4, 2013). We’ll see. Cash fell a bit to $97 million or $2.91 a share and our valuation fell to $11.39. Have to give this another quarter or two I guess.
SIGM announced a big restructuring plan in November. The goal is to cut expenses by $45 million for their FY 2014 which starts in 4 months (1/29/2013). Headcount and expense cuts are the bulk of the savings. They say this will get them to Non-GAAP profitability at a $56 million a quarter run rate. They will take a $1 million charge in Q3. The also said “Sigma is also investigating strategic alternatives for several research and development programs”. Not sure exactly what this means but it sounds like it will be a positive.
Down 34%, HOLD

Mitel Networks (NASDAQ-MITL)-Recommended 7/6/2011)
Buy Price- $3.04( Was $3.36 before $10,000 added, $3.95 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $13.10 (Was $10.92, $13.92, $12.81, $15.28, $14.04, $10.39)
Closed up $.05 at $3.56
Earnings announced in December. Pretty good. Revenues were down 6% to $145.5 million, gross margins increased from 53% to 56.2% and adjusted EBITDA increased 17% from $21.4 million to $24.1 million. Our valuation rose to $13.10. Non-GAAP net income rose to $14.2 million from $12.6 million. Non-GAAP net income was $.25 a share and was $.33 for the six months.
The discount to our valuation is huge.
Up 17%, BUY

Lexmark International (NYSE-LXK)-Recommended 5/24/2011)
Buy Price-$28.80
Valuation $60.41 (Was $70.28, $62.59, $63.94, $63.84, $79.12, $63.99)
Closed up $.20 at $29.55 (includes dividends)
We have also collected $1.40 a share in dividends here.
LXK now pays a $1.20 annual dividend.
Next earnings due out Tuesday, January 29th before the market opens.
Earning announced in October. Revenues were down about 10% to $921 million (non-GAAP) and they earned $65 million versus $74 million last year (again, non-GAAP). Earnings were apparently better than analyst expectations. Our valuation fell to $60.41 still almost triple the current trading price. Net cash fell to $3.16 per share as they paid their $.30 dividend and bought back 5.8 million shares for $120 million.
LXK announced in September that it was getting out of the inkjet printer business and cutting 1,700 employees. There was also speculation that they would get bought out.
They reiterated their intent to return over 50% of their free cash flow to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases
Up 3%, HOLD

Concurrent Computer (NASDAQ-CCUR)-Recommended 2/4/2011)
Buy Price-$4.58 (Was $5.08 before $.50 special dividend)
Valuation $15.37 (was $13.53, $15.85, $14.13, $11.38, $14.04, $18.54, $15.99)
Closed up $.45 at $6.47
Pays $.24 annual dividend.
We have collected $.18 in dividends so far (excluding the $.50 special dividend).
Next earnings due out Tuesday, January 29th after the market close.
Earnings announced in November. Revenues were up 16% from $12.9 million to $15 million and they made a profit of $.325 million versus a loss of $2.6 million last year. Net cash per share was $3.29 and our valuation jumped to $15.37 a share.
Singer/Miller duo own 12.1% of CCUR.
Up 41%, BUY

Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Was SuperGen Inc.) (NASDAQ-ASTX)-Recommended 10/4/2010)
Buy Price-$2.31 (was $2.09 before adding $10,000)
Valuation $3.20 (was $3.16, $3.44, $3.42, $3.22, $3.11, $5.21, $4.89, $4.37, $3.48)
Closed up $.02 at $3.22
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $17.2 million compared to $16.9 million last year. They lost $1.8 million after some special charges. Cash was $130 million or $1.40 per share. Based on the current quarter, our valuation rose slightly to $3.20 per share. Based on their 12 month guidance our valuation looks like $3.64 with a $4 million profit. They are projecting $60 million in product revenue next year and they do not project milestone/development revenues. They are projecting a cash loss of maybe $18 million next year—again without any milestone or development revenue.
So we have a company losing maybe $5 million in cash a year, or 25 years of cash, about $80 million in revenues and a huge drug pipeline. Any good news on the clinical trials front ought to set this stock on fire.
It is not easy to find a small drug company, with substantial revenues, that has a pile of cash, is not losing a ton of money and is trading at even close to our valuation.
There are $2 BILLION of potential milestone payments down the road.
Up 40%, HOLD

Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.18 (Was $3.04 before adding another $10,000)
Valuation-$6.97 (was $7.46, $6.31, $7.01, $6.72, $6.45, $5.67, $7.36, $7.23, $7.31, $6.82, $6.81)
Closed at $3.62 down $.14
Revised guidance issued in January. Q4 revenues are now projected to be $75-77 million-below the $78-$85 million projected. EPS is now expected to be $.02 to $.03 per share versus $.04 to $.07 per share (excluding the $5.5-$7 million restructuring charge). The announced restructuring is aimed at reducing expenses by $7 million per quarter. That would be nice.
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $76.1 million down 13% from last year. They made $.04 per share on a non-GAAP basis. Cash rose to $202 million or $2.12 per share. So we are getting a $300 million in sales company that is profitable for about $1.10 per share. Crazy. Our valuation fell from last quarter to $6.97-still more than double the current price.
Starboard owns 9.7%, Soros 8.8% and Blackrock owns 5.5% of EXTR.
Up 14%, BUY

Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price- $1.45 per ADS (Was $1.68 before double up)
Valuation $3.65-(Was $3.41, $5.52, $5.00, $5.39, $5.33, $5.61, $5.73, $4.38, $4.44, $5.15)
Closed down $.01 at $1.28
Earnings announced in November. Not bad and better than Q2. Revenues were $12.8 million and they lost about $.2 million (excluding a $2.5 million impairment charge). Cash rose to $51 million or $1.83 per share. Our valuation rose to $3.65 per share.
From their press release:
“Gravity is planning to release Ragnarok Online II in North America and the Philippines in the first half of 2013 after its launch in Singapore and Malaysia in December 2012.
Steal Fighter to be launched in Korea in the first quarter of 2013
Gravity will launch Steal Fighter, an action real-time strategy role playing game, in Korea in the first quarter of 2013. Gravity entered into a license agreement with L-Time Games Co., Ltd., the developer of Steal Fighter, to publish the game in Korea in April 2012 and conducted closed beta testing in September 2012. The Company intends to launch the game in the overseas markets after its launch in Korea.
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie to be launched in China and Taiwan
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie, a mobile massively multiplayer online role playing game, will be released in China and Taiwan by the end of 2012. Gravity has entered into license agreements with local licensees in each market and the game will be available on iOS and Android platform. Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie hits more than 600,000 cumulative downloads in Korea since its launch in May 2012.”
It looks like there are lots of good things ahead.
Now trading at way below cash value again.
Down 12%, BUY

Medical Graphics Corporation (MGCD-Was ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $15.03 (was $12.99, $11.95, $13.36 $15.90, $13.13, $13.19, $13.60, $15.00, $13.06, $12.15, $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed down $.03 at $6.02
Earnings announced in December. Sales were up 4% to $8.232 million and they broke even on an operating basis compared to a profit of $.585 million last year. Net cash was $2.46 per share and our valuation was $15.03 down from $15.90 last year. With the gain from the sale of New Leaf, MGCD reported earnings of $.20 a share.
If this company could just show a bit of growth I think we would see $10 in short order---if.
While MGCD is still trading at less than ½ our valuation, we are switching to a HOLD until we gets some results or news that improves the prospects here.
Up 58%, HOLD

OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)

As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks.

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 $5.97 (was $6.21, $6.13, $5.82, $5.81, $5.72, $5.65, $5.39, $4.86, $5.60, $5.73, $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 at $1.75 down $.06
Earnings announced in December. They were good. Revenues were up 10% to $5.9 million and they made $300,000 or $.01 per share down from $.03 last year. Gross margins rose 2% to 76.3%. Our valuation fell by a bit less than the cost of their August acquisition of Ready2Ride, to $5.97 a share.
ARIS closed the purchase of “Fifty Below”. In their press release they even said it was a “game changer” which is what we said earlier.
Earlier in November ARIS announced that it was buying the retail assets of “Fifty Below Sales and Marketing” for about $5 million out of bankruptcy.
The retail division of 50 Below is a leading provider of eCommerce websites in the powersports, automotive tire & wheel aftermarket, medical equipment and pool and spa industries. Fifty Below had about $10 million in revenue for the first 9 months of 2012 and has over 3,500 dealer websites. At less than 50% of revenues the deal looks good. The financing will not be cheap on the $3.5 million it is borrowing from a private investor—14% interest rate and 400,000 shares of ARI stock. Despite this cost, the deal should add over 50% to ARI’s sales and hopefully at least that much to its income. There was no disclosure of projected profits on this deal.
Douglas Singer a private investor filed a Form 13D/A in October disclosing he sold about 90,000 shares at prices of $1.00 to $1.16 from 9/6/2012 to October 12, 2012. He still owns 510,000 shares or 6.3%.
Now up 9%, BUY, Still a Huge valuation gap here.

CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $1.17 (Was $1.34, $1.34, $1.37, $1.36, $1.23, $.91, $1.21, $.71, $.83, $.88 $.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 $.24 closed at $.24
No reason that we can see for the 30% haircut from the stocks recent highs.
John Birbeck the CEO bought another 2,500 shares at $.385 on 12/6/2012 and now owns 747,000 shares.
Earning announced in November. The good news was that they were again profitable, making $.01 versus losing $.01 last year. However revenue fell 10% from $4.4 million to $4 million. Net cash fell to $.09 per share and our valuation fell to $1.17.
CTI recently announced that it had partnered with BroadSoft (NASDQ-BSFT) to sell CTI’s Call Center Express solution. Very reputable company to partner with.
Five profitable quarters in a row. .
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 11%. BUY

Thursday, January 24, 2013

SELL INUV @ $.88

We are done here. INUV announced preliminary 2012 sales last week. $16.2 million for Q4 and $53.3 million for the year. Q4 is up 5% from Q3. We have been in this long enough and are going to take our huge 83% loss.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Cheap Stocks, 1/18/2013 Update

We were up .8% last week and are now up 4.4% for the year.

Some of our stocks are just stupid cheap—compared to their net cash on hand per share divided by their stock price.
Check this list:
EXTR 56%
GRVY 142%
CCUR 55%
SIGM 60%
ASTX 44%
CTIG 36%
MRVC 84%
MGCD 42%
AVNW 34%

The DOW was up 1.2% last week, NASDAQ was up .3% and the Russell 3000 was up 1%. For the year, the DOW is up 4.2%, NASDAQ is up 3.8% and the Russell is up 4.4%.
DRIV, AGYS, DAEG, BLIN, MRVC, GRVY and CBEY are our favorites.
Last week we went 8 stocks up and 11 down. Since inception we are now 64 stocks up and 15 down for an 81% 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% (fourth trip on this)
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%
2010-GSL +78%
2010-CCEL +49%
2010-HPOL +27% (third trip)
2010-CAW EVEN (excluding 2.5 years of dividends)
2011-DWCH +116%
2011-IPAS +15%
2011-PRM +56% Buyout (1 week after we recommended it)
2011-RST +12%
2011-NINE -10%
2012-BVSN +30%
2012-TISA +137%
2012-PTIX -44%
2012-MTSL +157%
2012-LTUS -98%
2012-AEZS -63%
2012-RIMG -46% (including dividends)
2012-HPOL +34%
2012-MEDW +133% (Buyout 1 week AFTER we sold this)
2012-SPNC +118%
2012-RWWI +1%
2012-MOTR -29% (lost biggest customer contract)

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 60 stocks that we closed out since 2006 (50 were winners) the average net gain was 35%.

Agilysys Inc. (NASDAQ-AGYS)-Recommended 1/18/2013)
Buy Price $8.40
Valuation $16.10
Closed up $.01 at $8.41
Up .1%, BUY

Digital River Inc. (NASDAQ-DRIV)-Recommended 1/11/2013)
Buy Price $14.20
Valuation $32.20
Closed down $.15 at $14.20
Next earnings release due out Wednesday, February 6th after the market close.
EVEN, BUY

Daegis Inc. (NASDAQ-DAEG)-Recommended 11/30/2012)
Buy Price $1.20
Valuation $4.00
Closed down $.05 at $1.18
Down 2%, BUY

Bridgeline Digital Inc. (NASDAQ-BLIN)-Recommended 8/24/2012)
Buy Price $1.24
Valuation $2.56 (Was $2.24)
Closed up $.01 at $1.52
Earnings announced in December. Revenues were $6.7 million up from $6.6 million last year, but iAPPS revenue was up 40% and recurring revenue was up 25% as their legacy business continues to decline. They lost $40 thousand on a GAAP basis and made $268 thousand, or $.02 on a Non-GAAP basis. Net cash improved to negative $.18 from negative $.20 last quarter. Our valuation moved up to $2.56 per share. Guidance for next year is revenue of $29 million, which includes 40% growth in iAPPS revenue and positive Non-GAAP income. We see our valuation soaring to over $3.25 if they can make their numbers next year.
Up 22%, BUY

Telecommunications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ-TSYS)-Recommended 6/14/2012)
Buy Price- $1.37
Valuation $6.72 (Was $5.49)
Closed down $.10 at $2.43
Next earnings due out Thursday, January 31st after the market close.
TSYS’s patent deal announced in December was selling two patents for “a multi-seven-figure payment”.
TSYS announced in November it was one of 20 companies selected to participate in a 5 year, $10 billion contract with the U.S. government.
Earnings announced in October. They were very good. Revenue was up a massive 24% to $140 million and they made $.07 per share. Our valuation rose to $6.72 per share.
Carlo Cannell, an activist investor filled a 13D in September pointing out how undervalued TSYS is and urged them to put themselves on the block. He points to a valuation done on the company as of August 29th of $7.40 to $11.81 a share. Even the low point here is higher than our valuation.
TSYS announced in September it was selected as part of a group of 8 companies to participate in a $2.6 million government contract.
Up 77%, HOLD

Aviat Networks Inc. (NASDAQ-AVNW)-Recommended 2/27/2012)
Buy Price- $2.62
Valuation $9.03 (Was $9.37, $8.85, $8.31)
Closed up $.36 at $3.68
AVNW revised their guidance for Q2, 2013—UP. They are now projecting revenues of $123-$126 million versus $115-$120 million. Spending is expected to be the same as prior guidance and their book-to-bill ratio was more than one and they expect to have about $95 million in cash (about $1.60 a share).
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were up 3% to $115 million and the made $.05 per share (non-GAAP). Cash per share fell to $1.24 due to the timing of collecting some large receivables (collected in October). Our valuation fell a bit to $9.03 per share.
Next quarter they are projecting $115-$120 million in sales and that they will again be profitable on a non-GAAP basis and that cash will return to normal levels (about $96 million or so).
Up 41%, HOLD

CBeyond Inc. (NASDAQ-CBEY)-Recommended 2/28/2012)
Buy Price $7.17 ( Was $7.94 before another $10,000 added at $6.53)
Valuation $29.04 (Was $29.59, $29.58, $29.21)
Closed down $.07 at $8.93
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were off $1 million to $121 million and they made $.06 a share compared to a $.04 loss last year. They raised their 2012 guidance a bit and gave 2013 guidance that was tepid at best.
“Management expects revenue to be close to 2012 levels with increasing growth in the latter part of the year. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to decline in 2013 due to increased levels of SG&A expense primarily associated with the growing sales force needed to support future levels of revenue growth. With respect to cash capital expenditures, management expects a slightly higher level relative to 2012. As a result, management expects a reduced level of free cash flow when compared with 2012. However, management expects to continue its focus on delivering significant levels of positive free cash flow in 2013 and future years.”
$90 million of EBITDA, no net debt and a $250 market cap. Cheap.
Our valuation fell a tad to $29.04, still way more than the stock is selling for today.
Up 25%, BUY

MRV Communications (Pink Sheets-MRVC.pk)
Valuation $31.80 (Was $34.60, $28.60, $41.20, $43.20 (after $9.50, $6.00 and $1.40 special dividends), $52.40, $55.80)
Buy Price October 7, 2011- $8.50 ($25.40 before special dividends)
Closed at $9.26 down $.37.
The 20 for 1 stock split happened in December, so all the share information has been adjusted.
Raging Capital bought another 1.6 million shares in the first week of December at $.54 bringing their holdings to 30.7 million shares or 20.1% of the company.
MRV announced a $.07 special dividend, a $10 million share buyback and a reverse 1 for 20 stock split. The share price increased the $.07 out of the gate, but no big gains. A $10 stock price will pave the way for relisting on a major exchange and allow institutions to invest. We think this is good news.
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Revenues fell a bit to $51 million but it appears that the revenue shortfall was in the divisions that were sold in October. Hard to tell from their press release or 10Q what the real results were excluding the sold divisions so we are still estimating our valuation which dropped to $1.59 per share. Looks like they broke even for the quarter after excluding an asset impairment write-off.
MRVC bought back 5.8 million shares from T-2 at $9.60 a share in August.
Still trading at less than ½ our valuation.
Up 7%- BUY

Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ-SIGM)-Recommended 7/11/2011)
Buy Price-$8.49
Valuation $13.05 (Was $10.67, $8.41 $12.10, $13.40, $16.02)
Closed up $.15 at $5.34
Earnings announced in November. Hmmmm. Sales fell $4 million to $64 million (but right on guidance) and they lost $39 million. But wait, it was “only” $9 million on a non-GAAP basis. The CEO swears that they will get to profitability in Q1, 2014 (next quarter is Q4, 2013). We’ll see. Cash fell a bit to $97 million or $2.91 a share and our valuation fell to $11.39. Have to give this another quarter or two I guess.
SIGM announced a big restructuring plan in November. The goal is to cut expenses by $45 million for their FY 2014 which starts in 4 months (1/29/2013). Headcount and expense cuts are the bulk of the savings. They say this will get them to Non-GAAP profitability at a $56 million a quarter run rate. They will take a $1 million charge in Q3. The also said “Sigma is also investigating strategic alternatives for several research and development programs”. Not sure exactly what this means but it sounds like it will be a positive.
Down 37%, HOLD

Mitel Networks (NASDAQ-MITL)-Recommended 7/6/2011)
Buy Price- $3.04( Was $3.36 before $10,000 added, $3.95 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $13.10 (Was $10.92, $13.92, $12.81, $15.28, $14.04, $10.39)
Closed down $.13 at $3.51
Earnings announced in December. Pretty good. Revenues were down 6% to $145.5 million, gross margins increased from 53% to 56.2% and adjusted EBITDA increased 17% from $21.4 million to $24.1 million. Our valuation rose to $13.10. Non-GAAP net income rose to $14.2 million from $12.6 million. Non-GAAP net income was $.25 a share and was $.33 for the six months.
The discount to our valuation is huge.
Up 16%, BUY

Lexmark International (NYSE-LXK)-Recommended 5/24/2011)
Buy Price-$28.80
Valuation $60.41 (Was $70.28, $62.59, $63.94, $63.84, $79.12, $63.99)
Closed up $1.99 at $29.35 (includes dividends)
We have also collected $1.40 a share in dividends here.
LXK now pays a $1.20 annual dividend.
Next earnings due out Tuesday, January 29th before the market opens.
Earning announced in October. Revenues were down about 10% to $921 million (non-GAAP) and they earned $65 million versus $74 million last year (again, non-GAAP). Earnings were apparently better than analyst expectations. Our valuation fell to $60.41 still almost triple the current trading price. Net cash fell to $3.16 per share as they paid their $.30 dividend and bought back 5.8 million shares for $120 million.
LXK announced in September that it was getting out of the inkjet printer business and cutting 1,700 employees. There was also speculation that they would get bought out.
They reiterated their intent to return over 50% of their free cash flow to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases
Up 2%, HOLD

Concurrent Computer (NASDAQ-CCUR)-Recommended 2/4/2011)
Buy Price-$4.58 (Was $5.08 before $.50 special dividend)
Valuation $15.37 (was $13.53, $15.85, $14.13, $11.38, $14.04, $18.54, $15.99)
Closed down $.02 at $6.02
Pays $.24 annual dividend.
We have collected $.18 in dividends so far (excluding the $.50 special dividend).
Next earnings due out Tuesday, January 29th after the market close.
Earnings announced in November. Revenues were up 16% from $12.9 million to $15 million and they made a profit of $.325 million versus a loss of $2.6 million last year. Net cash per share was $3.29 and our valuation jumped to $15.37 a share.
Singer/Miller duo own 12.1% of CCUR.
Up 31%, BUY

Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Was SuperGen Inc.) (NASDAQ-ASTX)-Recommended 10/4/2010)
Buy Price-$2.31 (was $2.09 before adding $10,000)
Valuation $3.20 (was $3.16, $3.44, $3.42, $3.22, $3.11, $5.21, $4.89, $4.37, $3.48)
Closed down $.09 at $3.20
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $17.2 million compared to $16.9 million last year. They lost $1.8 million after some special charges. Cash was $130 million or $1.40 per share. Based on the current quarter, our valuation rose slightly to $3.20 per share. Based on their 12 month guidance our valuation looks like $3.64 with a $4 million profit. They are projecting $60 million in product revenue next year and they do not project milestone/development revenues. They are projecting a cash loss of maybe $18 million next year—again without any milestone or development revenue.
So we have a company losing maybe $5 million in cash a year, or 25 years of cash, about $80 million in revenues and a huge drug pipeline. Any good news on the clinical trials front ought to set this stock on fire.
It is not easy to find a small drug company, with substantial revenues, that has a pile of cash, is not losing a ton of money and is trading at even close to our valuation.
There are $2 BILLION of potential milestone payments down the road.
Up 39%, HOLD

Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.18 (Was $3.04 before adding another $10,000)
Valuation-$6.97 (was $7.46, $6.31, $7.01, $6.72, $6.45, $5.67, $7.36, $7.23, $7.31, $6.82, $6.81)
Closed at $3.76 up $.01
Revised guidance issued in January. Q4 revenues are now projected to be $75-77 million-below the $78-$85 million projected. EPS is now expected to be $.02 to $.03 per share versus $.04 to $.07 per share (excluding the $5.5-$7 million restructuring charge). The announced restructuring is aimed at reducing expenses by $7 million per quarter. That would be nice.
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $76.1 million down 13% from last year. They made $.04 per share on a non-GAAP basis. Cash rose to $202 million or $2.12 per share. So we are getting a $300 million in sales company that is profitable for about $1.10 per share. Crazy. Our valuation fell from last quarter to $6.97-still more than double the current price.
Starboard owns 9.7%, Soros 8.8% and Blackrock owns 5.5% of EXTR.
Up 18%, BUY

Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price- $1.45 per ADS (Was $1.68 before double up)Valuation $3.65-(Was $3.41, $5.52, $5.00, $5.39, $5.33, $5.61, $5.73, $4.38, $4.44, $5.15)
Closed down $.07 at $1.29
Earnings announced in November. Not bad and better than Q2. Revenues were $12.8 million and they lost about $.2 million (excluding a $2.5 million impairment charge). Cash rose to $51 million or $1.83 per share. Our valuation rose to $3.65 per share.
From their press release:
“Gravity is planning to release Ragnarok Online II in North America and the Philippines in the first half of 2013 after its launch in Singapore and Malaysia in December 2012.
Steal Fighter to be launched in Korea in the first quarter of 2013
Gravity will launch Steal Fighter, an action real-time strategy role playing game, in Korea in the first quarter of 2013. Gravity entered into a license agreement with L-Time Games Co., Ltd., the developer of Steal Fighter, to publish the game in Korea in April 2012 and conducted closed beta testing in September 2012. The Company intends to launch the game in the overseas markets after its launch in Korea.
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie to be launched in China and Taiwan
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie, a mobile massively multiplayer online role playing game, will be released in China and Taiwan by the end of 2012. Gravity has entered into license agreements with local licensees in each market and the game will be available on iOS and Android platform. Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie hits more than 600,000 cumulative downloads in Korea since its launch in May 2012.”
It looks like there are lots of good things ahead.
Now trading at way below cash value again.
Down 11%, BUY

Inuvo (INUV (was-VTRO, MIVA)-Recommended 10/21/2007)
Buy Price $8.15 (Was $11.90 before adding another $20,000, $13.10 before another $10,000 and was $15.00 before double up),
Valuation $3.82 (was $3.11, $1.84, $8.04, $10.91, $12.42, $14.23, $14.76, $12.40, $12.55, $10.85, $8.25, $9.45, $28.05, $32.10, $34.20, $37.90, $37.95)
Closed at $.82 down $.03
Earning reported in November. Revenues rose 89% to $15.5 million and they lost $1.3 million ($.06 per share). Adjusted EBITDA was $1 million compared to $.1 million last year. Not a great showing. Our valuation rose to $3.82 a share but we are not that impressed. We will hold this a while longer.
Down 85% HOLD

Medical Graphics Corporation (MGCD-Was ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $15.03 (was $12.99, $11.95, $13.36 $15.90, $13.13, $13.19, $13.60, $15.00, $13.06, $12.15, $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed up $.45 at $6.05
Earnings announced in December. Sales were up 4% to $8.232 million and they broke even on an operating basis compared to a profit of $.585 million last year. Net cash was $2.46 per share and our valuation was $15.03 down from $15.90 last year. With the gain from the sale of New Leaf, MGCD reported earnings of $.20 a share.
If this company could just show a bit of growth I think we would see $10 in short order---if.
While MGCD is still trading at less than ½ our valuation, we are switching to a HOLD until we gets some results or news that improves the prospects here.
Up 58%, HOLD

OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)
As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks.

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 $5.97 (was $6.21, $6.13, $5.82, $5.81, $5.72, $5.65, $5.39, $4.86, $5.60, $5.73, $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 at $1.81 up $.16
Earnings announced in December. They were good. Revenues were up 10% to $5.9 million and they made $300,000 or $.01 per share down from $.03 last year. Gross margins rose 2% to 76.3%. Our valuation fell by a bit less than the cost of their August acquisition of Ready2Ride, to $5.97 a share.
ARIS closed the purchase of “Fifty Below”. In their press release they even said it was a “game changer” which is what we said earlier.
Earlier in November ARIS announced that it was buying the retail assets of “Fifty Below Sales and Marketing” for about $5 million out of bankruptcy.
The retail division of 50 Below is a leading provider of eCommerce websites in the powersports, automotive tire & wheel aftermarket, medical equipment and pool and spa industries. Fifty Below had about $10 million in revenue for the first 9 months of 2012 and has over 3,500 dealer websites. At less than 50% of revenues the deal looks good. The financing will not be cheap on the $3.5 million it is borrowing from a private investor—14% interest rate and 400,000 shares of ARI stock. Despite this cost, the deal should add over 50% to ARI’s sales and hopefully at least that much to its income. There was no disclosure of projected profits on this deal.
Douglas Singer a private investor filed a Form 13D/A in October disclosing he sold about 90,000 shares at prices of $1.00 to $1.16 from 9/6/2012 to October 12, 2012. He still owns 510,000 shares or 6.3%.
Now up 12%, BUY, Still a Huge valuation gap here.

CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $1.17 (Was $1.34, $1.34, $1.37, $1.36, $1.23, $.91, $1.21, $.71, $.83, $.88 $.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 $.25 closed at $.22
No reason that we can see for the 30% haircut from the stocks recent highs.
John Birbeck the CEO bought another 2,500 shares at $.385 on 12/6/2012 and now owns 747,000 shares.
Earning announced in November. The good news was that they were again profitable, making $.01 versus losing $.01 last year. However revenue fell 10% from $4.4 million to $4 million. Net cash fell to $.09 per share and our valuation fell to $1.17.
CTI recently announced that it had partnered with BroadSoft (NASDQ-BSFT) to sell CTI’s Call Center Express solution. Very reputable company to partner with.
Five profitable quarters in a row. .
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 7%. HOLD

BUY AGYS @ $8.40

Agilysys Inc. (NASDAQ--AGYS)

Valuation-$16.10
Price January 18, 2013-$8.40
AGYS is just the kind of stock we like. Software, almost a 50% discount to our valuation and over 40% of the market cap supported by cash.
AGYS is in the middle of a turnaround. It lost a bunch money in 2011 and 2012 (YE March 31) and looks like it is about to turn the corner to being profitable. For its September 30, 2012 quarter it reported a loss of $.02 a share on a GAAP basis and made $.06 on a Non-GAAP basis.
MAK Capital One owes about 32% of AGYS and three other funds own about 21% in total.
Gross margins are about 40% and they have $3.53 of cash per share and no debt.
We think this is a BUY here.
There are about 22 million shares outstanding but it trades only about 30,000 shares a day, so patient buying is needed.

About Agilysys:
Agilysys is a leading developer and marketer of proprietary enterprise software, services and solutions to the hospitality and retail industries. The company specializes in market-leading point-of-sale, property management, inventory and procurement, and mobile and wireless solutions that are designed to streamline operations, improve efficiency and enhance the consumer’s experience. Agilysys serves casinos, resorts, hotels, foodservice venues, stadiums, cruise lines, grocery stores, convenience stores, general and specialty retail businesses and partners. Agilysys operates extensively throughout North America, with additional sales and support offices in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Cheap Stocks, 1/18/2013 Update

We were up 1.1% last week and are now up 3.6% for the year..

Some of our stocks are just stupid cheap—compared to their net cash on hand per share divided by their stock price.
Check this list:
EXTR 58%
GRVY 137%
CCUR 57%
SIGM 63%
ASTX 48%
CTIG 33%
MRVC 82%
MGCD 43%
AVNW 38%

The DOW was up .4% last week, NASDAQ was up .8% and the Russell 3000 was up .4%. For the year, the DOW is up 2.9%, NASDAQ is up 3.5% and the Russell is up 3.4%.

DAEG, BLIN, MRVC, AVNW, GRVY, DRIV and CBEY are our favorites.

Last week we went 7 stocks up and 11 down. Since inception we are now 63 stocks up and 15 down for an 80.8% 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% (fourth trip on this)
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%
2010-GSL +78%
2010-CCEL +49%
2010-HPOL +27%
2010-CAW EVEN (excluding 2.5 years of dividends)
2011-DWCH +116%
2011-IPAS +15%
2011-PRM +56% Buyout (1 week after we recommended it)
2011-RST +12%
2011-NINE -10%
2012-BVSN +30%
2012-TISA +137%
2012-PTIX -44%
2012-MTSL +157%
2012-LTUS -98%
2012-AEZS -63%
2012-RIMG -46% (including dividends)
2012-HPOL +34%
2012-MEDW +133% (Buyout 1 week AFTER we sold this)
2012-SPNC +118%
2012-RWWI +1%
2012-MOTR -29% (lost biggest customer contract)

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 60 stocks that we closed out since 2006 (50 were winners) the average net gain was 35%.

Digital River Inc. (NASDAQ-DRIV)-Recommended 1/11/2013)
Buy Price $14.20
Valuation $32.20
Closed up $.15 at $14.35
Next earnings release due out Wednesday, February 6th after the market close.
Up 1%, BUY

Daegis Inc. (NASDAQ-DAEG)-Recommended 11/30/2012)
Buy Price $1.20
Valuation $4.00
Closed up $.09 at $1.23
Up 2%, BUY

Bridgeline Digital Inc. (NASDAQ-BLIN)-Recommended 8/24/2012)
Buy Price $1.24
Valuation $2.56 (Was $2.24)
Closed down $.07 at $1.51
Earnings announced in December. Revenues were $6.7 million up from $6.6 million last year, but iAPPS revenue was up 40% and recurring revenue was up 25% as their legacy business continues to decline. They lost $40 thousand on a GAAP basis and made $268 thousand, or $.02 on a Non-GAAP basis. Net cash improved to negative $.18 from negative $.20 last quarter. Our valuation moved up to $2.56 per share. Guidance for next year is revenue of $29 million, which includes 40% growth in iAPPS revenue and positive Non-GAAP income. We see our valuation soaring to over $3.25 if they can make their numbers next year.
Up 22%, BUY

Telecommunications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ-TSYS)-Recommended 6/14/2012)
Buy Price- $1.37
Valuation $6.72 (Was $5.49)
Closed down $.06 at $2.53
TSYS’s patent deal announced in December was selling two patents for “a multi-seven-figure payment”.
TSYS announced in November it was one of 20 companies selected to participate in a 5 year, $10 billion contract with the U.S. government.
Earnings announced in October. They were very good. Revenue was up a massive 24% to $140 million and they made $.07 per share. Our valuation rose to $6.72 per share.
Carlo Cannell, an activist investor filled a 13D in September pointing out how undervalued TSYS is and urged them to put themselves on the block. He points to a valuation done on the company as of August 29th of $7.40 to $11.81 a share. Even the low point here is higher than our valuation.
TSYS announced in September it was selected as part of a group of 8 companies to participate in a $2.6 million government contract.
Up 85%, HOLD

Aviat Networks Inc. (NASDAQ-AVNW)-Recommended 2/27/2012)
Buy Price- $2.62
Valuation $9.03 (Was $9.37, $8.85, $8.31)
Closed down $.07 at $3.32
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were up 3% to $115 million and the made $.05 per share (non-GAAP). Cash per share fell to $1.24 due to the timing of collecting some large receivables (collected in October). Our valuation fell a bit to $9.03 per share.
Next quarter they are projecting $115-$120 million in sales and that they will again be profitable on a non-GAAP basis and that cash will return to normal levels (about $96 million or so).
Up 27%, BUY

CBeyond Inc. (NASDAQ-CBEY)-Recommended 2/28/2012)
Buy Price $7.17 ( Was $7.94 before another $10,000 added at $6.53)
Valuation $29.04 (Was $29.59, $29.58, $29.21)
Closed up $.01 at $9.00
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were off $1 million to $121 million and they made $.06 a share compared to a $.04 loss last year. They raised their 2012 guidance a bit and gave 2013 guidance that was tepid at best.
“Management expects revenue to be close to 2012 levels with increasing growth in the latter part of the year. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to decline in 2013 due to increased levels of SG&A expense primarily associated with the growing sales force needed to support future levels of revenue growth. With respect to cash capital expenditures, management expects a slightly higher level relative to 2012. As a result, management expects a reduced level of free cash flow when compared with 2012. However, management expects to continue its focus on delivering significant levels of positive free cash flow in 2013 and future years.”
$90 million of EBITDA, no net debt and a $250 market cap. Cheap.
Our valuation fell a tad to $29.04, still way more than the stock is selling for today.
Up 26%, BUY

MRV Communications (Pink Sheets-MRVC.pk)
Valuation $31.80 (Was $34.60, $28.60, $41.20, $43.20 (after $9.50, $6.00 and $1.40 special dividends), $52.40, $55.80)
Buy Price October 7, 2011- $8.50 ($25.40 before special dividends)
Closed at $9.60 down $.50.
The 20 for 1 stock split happened in December, so all the share information has been adjusted.
Raging Capital bought another 1.6 million shares in the first week of December at $.54 bringing their holdings to 30.7 million shares or 20.1% of the company.
MRV announced a $.07 special dividend, a $10 million share buyback and a reverse 1 for 20 stock split. The share price increased the $.07 out of the gate, but no big gains. A $10 stock price will pave the way for relisting on a major exchange and allow institutions to invest. We think this is good news.
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Revenues fell a bit to $51 million but it appears that the revenue shortfall was in the divisions that were sold in October. Hard to tell from their press release or 10Q what the real results were excluding the sold divisions so we are still estimating our valuation which dropped to $1.59 per share. Looks like they broke even for the quarter after excluding an asset impairment write-off.
MRVC bought back 5.8 million shares from T-2 at $9.60 a share in August.
Still trading at less than ½ our valuation.
Up 12%- BUY

Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ-SIGM)-Recommended 7/11/2011)
Buy Price-$8.49
Valuation $13.05 (Was $10.67, $8.41 $12.10, $13.40, $16.02)
Closed down $.10 at $5.19
Earnings announced in November. Hmmmm. Sales fell $4 million to $64 million (but right on guidance) and they lost $39 million. But wait, it was “only” $9 million on a non-GAAP basis. The CEO swears that they will get to profitability in Q1, 2014 (next quarter is Q4, 2013). We’ll see. Cash fell a bit to $97 million or $2.91 a share and our valuation fell to $11.39. Have to give this another quarter or two I guess.
SIGM announced a big restructuring plan in November. The goal is to cut expenses by $45 million for their FY 2014 which starts in 4 months (1/29/2013). Headcount and expense cuts are the bulk of the savings. They say this will get them to Non-GAAP profitability at a $56 million a quarter run rate. They will take a $1 million charge in Q3. The also said “Sigma is also investigating strategic alternatives for several research and development programs”. Not sure exactly what this means but it sounds like it will be a positive.
Down 39%, HOLD

Mitel Networks (NASDAQ-MITL)-Recommended 7/6/2011)
Buy Price- $3.04( Was $3.36 before $10,000 added, $3.95 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $13.10 (Was $10.92, $13.92, $12.81, $15.28, $14.04, $10.39)
Closed up $.38 at $3.64
Earnings announced in December. Pretty good. Revenues were down 6% to $145.5 million, gross margins increased from 53% to 56.2% and adjusted EBITDA increased 17% from $21.4 million to $24.1 million. Our valuation rose to $13.10. Non-GAAP net income rose to $14.2 million from $12.6 million. Non-GAAP net income was $.25 a share and was $.33 for the six months.
The discount to our valuation is huge.
Up 20%, BUY

Lexmark International (NYSE-LXK)-Recommended 5/24/2011)
Buy Price-$28.80
Valuation $60.41 (Was $70.28, $62.59, $63.94, $63.84, $79.12, $63.99)
Closed down $.12 at $25.96
We have also collected $1.40 a share in dividends here.
LXK now pays a $1.20 annual dividend.
Earning announced in October. Revenues were down about 10% to $921 million (non-GAAP) and they earned $65 million versus $74 million last year (again, non-GAAP). Earnings were apparently better than analyst expectations. Our valuation fell to $60.41 still almost triple the current trading price. Net cash fell to $3.16 per share as they paid their $.30 dividend and bought back 5.8 million shares for $120 million.
LXK announced in September that it was getting out of the inkjet printer business and cutting 1,700 employees. There was also speculation that they would get bought out.
They reiterated their intent to return over 50% of their free cash flow to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases
Down 10%, HOLD

Concurrent Computer (NASDAQ-CCUR)-Recommended 2/4/2011)
Buy Price-$4.58 (Was $5.08 before $.50 special dividend)
Valuation $15.37 (was $13.53, $15.85, $14.13, $11.38, $14.04, $18.54, $15.99)
Closed down $.19 at $6.04
Pays $.24 annual dividend.
We have collected $.18 in dividends so far (excluding the $.50 special dividend).
Earnings announced in November. Revenues were up 16% from $12.9 million to $15 million and they made a profit of $.325 million versus a loss of $2.6 million last year. Net cash per share was $3.29 and our valuation jumped to $15.37 a share.
Singer/Miller duo own 12.1% of CCUR.
Up 32%, BUY

Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Was SuperGen Inc.) (NASDAQ-ASTX)-Recommended 10/4/2010)
Buy Price-$2.31 (was $2.09 before adding $10,000)
Valuation $3.20 (was $3.16, $3.44, $3.42, $3.22, $3.11, $5.21, $4.89, $4.37, $3.48)
Closed up $.34 at $3.29
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $17.2 million compared to $16.9 million last year. They lost $1.8 million after some special charges. Cash was $130 million or $1.40 per share. Based on the current quarter, our valuation rose slightly to $3.20 per share. Based on their 12 month guidance our valuation looks like $3.64 with a $4 million profit. They are projecting $60 million in product revenue next year and they do not project milestone/development revenues. They are projecting a cash loss of maybe $18 million next year—again without any milestone or development revenue.
So we have a company losing maybe $5 million in cash a year, or 25 years of cash, about $80 million in revenues and a huge drug pipeline. Any good news on the clinical trials front ought to set this stock on fire.
It is not easy to find a small drug company, with substantial revenues, that has a pile of cash, is not losing a ton of money and is trading at even close to our valuation.
There are $2 BILLION of potential milestone payments down the road.
Up 43%, HOLD

Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.18 (Was $3.04 before adding another $10,000)
Valuation-$6.97 (was $7.46, $6.31, $7.01, $6.72, $6.45, $5.67, $7.36, $7.23, $7.31, $6.82, $6.81)
Closed at $3.75 up $.17
Revised guidance issued in January. Q4 revenues are now projected to be $75-77 million-below the $78-$85 million projected. EPS is now expected to be $.02 to $.03 per share versus $.04 to $.07 per share (excluding the $5.5-$7 million restructuring charge). The announced restructuring is aimed at reducing expenses by $7 million per quarter. That would be nice.
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $76.1 million down 13% from last year. They made $.04 per share on a non-GAAP basis. Cash rose to $202 million or $2.12 per share. So we are getting a $300 million in sales company that is profitable for about $1.10 per share. Crazy. Our valuation fell from last quarter to $6.97-still more than double the current price.
Starboard owns 9.7%, Soros 8.8% and Blackrock owns 5.5% of EXTR.
Up 18%, BUY

Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price- $1.45 per ADS (Was $1.68 before double up)
Valuation $3.65-(Was $3.41, $5.52, $5.00, $5.39, $5.33, $5.61, $5.73, $4.38, $4.44, $5.15)
Closed up $.01 at $1.36
Earnings announced in November. Not bad and better than Q2. Revenues were $12.8 million and they lost about $.2 million (excluding a $2.5 million impairment charge). Cash rose to $51 million or $1.83 per share. Our valuation rose to $3.65 per share.
From their press release:
“Gravity is planning to release Ragnarok Online II in North America and the Philippines in the first half of 2013 after its launch in Singapore and Malaysia in December 2012.
Steal Fighter to be launched in Korea in the first quarter of 2013
Gravity will launch Steal Fighter, an action real-time strategy role playing game, in Korea in the first quarter of 2013. Gravity entered into a license agreement with L-Time Games Co., Ltd., the developer of Steal Fighter, to publish the game in Korea in April 2012 and conducted closed beta testing in September 2012. The Company intends to launch the game in the overseas markets after its launch in Korea.
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie to be launched in China and Taiwan
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie, a mobile massively multiplayer online role playing game, will be released in China and Taiwan by the end of 2012. Gravity has entered into license agreements with local licensees in each market and the game will be available on iOS and Android platform. Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie hits more than 600,000 cumulative downloads in Korea since its launch in May 2012.”
It looks like there are lots of good things ahead.
Now trading at way below cash value again.
Down 6%, BUY

Inuvo (INUV (was-VTRO, MIVA)-Recommended 10/21/2007)
Buy Price $8.15 (Was $11.90 before adding another $20,000, $13.10 before another $10,000 and was $15.00 before double up),
Valuation $3.82 (was $3.11, $1.84, $8.04, $10.91, $12.42, $14.23, $14.76, $12.40, $12.55, $10.85, $8.25, $9.45, $28.05, $32.10, $34.20, $37.90, $37.95)
Closed at $.85 down $.15
Earning reported in November. Revenues rose 89% to $15.5 million and they lost $1.3 million ($.06 per share). Adjusted EBITDA was $1 million compared to $.1 million last year. Not a great showing. Our valuation rose to $3.82 a share but we are not that impressed. We will hold this a while longer.
Down 84% HOLD

Medical Graphics Corporation (MGCD-Was ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $15.03 (was $12.99, $11.95, $13.36 $15.90, $13.13, $13.19, $13.60, $15.00, $13.06, $12.15, $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed down $.20 at $5.60
Earnings announced in December. Sales were up 4% to $8.232 million and they broke even on an operating basis compared to a profit of $.585 million last year. Net cash was $2.46 per share and our valuation was $15.03 down from $15.90 last year. With the gain from the sale of New Leaf MGCD reported earnings of $.20 a share.
If this company could just show a bit of growth I think we would see $10 in short order---if.
While MGCD is still trading at less than ½ our valuation, we are switching to a HOLD until we gets some results or news that improves the prospects here.
Up 47%, HOLD

OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)
As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks.

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 $5.97 (was $6.21, $6.13, $5.82, $5.81, $5.72, $5.65, $5.39, $4.86, $5.60, $5.73, $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 at $1.65 down $.03
Earnings announced in December. They were good. Revenues were up 10% to $5.9 million and they made $300,000 or $.01 per share down from $.03 last year. Gross margins rose 2% to 76.3%. Our valuation fell by a bit less than the cost of their August acquisition of Ready2Ride, to $5.97 a share.
ARIS closed the purchase of “Fifty Below”. In their press release they even said it was a “game changer” which is what we said earlier.
Earlier in November ARIS announced that it was buying the retail assets of “Fifty Below Sales and Marketing” for about $5 million out of bankruptcy.
The retail division of 50 Below is a leading provider of eCommerce websites in the powersports, automotive tire & wheel aftermarket, medical equipment and pool and spa industries. Fifty Below had about $10 million in revenue for the first 9 months of 2012 and has over 3,500 dealer websites. At less than 50% of revenues the deal looks good. The financing will not be cheap on the $3.5 million it is borrowing from a private investor—14% interest rate and 400,000 shares of ARI stock. Despite this cost, the deal should add over 50% to ARI’s sales and hopefully at least that much to its income. There was no disclosure of projected profits on this deal.
Douglas Singer a private investor filed a Form 13D/A in October disclosing he sold about 90,000 shares at prices of $1.00 to $1.16 from 9/6/2012 to October 12, 2012. He still owns 510,000 shares or 6.3%.
Now up 2%, BUY, Still a Huge valuation gap here.

CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $1.17 (Was $1.34, $1.34, $1.37, $1.36, $1.23, $.91, $1.21, $.71, $.83, $.88 $.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 $.26 closed at $.23
John Birbeck the CEO bought another 2,500 shares at $.385 on 12/6/2012 and now owns 747,000 shares.
Earning announced in November. The good news was that they were again profitable, making $.01 versus losing $.01 last year. However revenue fell 10% from $4.4 million to $4 million. Net cash fell to $.09 per share and our valuation fell to $1.17.
CTI recently announced that it had partnered with BroadSoft (NASDQ-BSFT) to sell CTI’s Call Center Express solution. Very reputable company to partner with.
Five profitable quarters in a row. .
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 4%. HOLD

BUY Recommendation-Digital River-$14.20

Digital River Inc. (NASDAQ--DRIV)

Valuation-$32.40
Price January 11, 2013-$14.20

We just stumbled across Digital River this past week. To us it looks like this once high flier (it hit $60 in the mid-2000’s) has come back to earth and is now a value stock.

DRIV just completed their acquisition of LML Payment Systems this past week. So our valuation is on a pro-forma basis since they spent about $100 million of cash for LML. Even so, they will have net-cash of about $246 million or $6.48 per share.

For their third quarter ended September 30, 2012 DRIV reported $92 million of sales (down from $95 million) and had a small loss of $700k or $.02 a share. For the nine months they reported revenues of $285 million compared to $286 million last year and they made $.13 per share versus $.34 last year. They have 97% gross margins. Their business is tied to ecommerce sales volumes and is seasonal with Q4 and Q1 generally being the best quarters.

We think this is a BUY here.

There are about 38 million shares outstanding and it trades about 275,000 shares a day.

About Digital River:
Digital River, Inc., the revenue growth experts in global cloud commerce, builds and manages online businesses for software and game publishers, consumer electronics manufacturers, distributors, online retailers and affiliates. Its multi-channel commerce solution, which supports both direct and indirect sales, is designed to help companies of all sizes maximize online revenues as well as reduce the costs and risks of running a global commerce operation. The company’s comprehensive platform offers site development and hosting, order management, global payments, cloud-based billing, fraud management, export controls, tax management, physical and digital product fulfillment, multi-lingual customer service, advanced reporting and strategic marketing services. Founded in 1994, Digital River is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America.

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Cheap Stocks, 1/4/2013

We were up 2.5% for the first week of 2013, about what the averages were up.

Some of our stocks are just stupid cheap—compared to their net cash on hand per share divided by their stock price.

Check this list:
EXTR 58%
GRVY 137%
CCUR 57%
SIGM 63%
ASTX 48%
CTIG 33%
MRVC 4%
MGCD 43%
AVNW 38%
The DOW was up 2.5% last week, NASDAQ was up 2.7% and the Russell 3000 was up 2.9%.
DAEG, BLIN, MRVC, AVNW, GRVY, EXTR and CBEY are our favorites.
Last week we went 12 stocks up and 5 down. Since inception we are now 61 stocks up and 16 down for an 79.2% 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% (fourth trip on this)
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%
2010-GSL +78%
2010-CCEL +49%
2010-HPOL +27%
2010-CAW EVEN (excluding 2.5 years of dividends)
2011-DWCH +116%
2011-IPAS +15%
2011-PRM +56% Buyout (1 week after we recommended it)
2011-RST +12%
2011-NINE -10%
2012-BVSN +30%
2012-TISA +137%
2012-PTIX -44%
2012-MTSL +157%
2012-LTUS -98%
2012-AEZS -63%
2012-RIMG -46% (including dividends)
2012-HPOL +34%
2012-MEDW +133% (Buyout 1 week AFTER we sold this)
2012-SPNC +118%
2012-RWWI +1%
2012-MOTR -29% (lost biggest customer contract)

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 59 stocks that we closed out since 2006 (50 were winners) the average net gain was 35%.

Daegis Inc. (NASDAQ-DAEG)-Recommended 11/30/2012)
Buy Price $1.20
Valuation $4.00
Closed up $.08 at $1.14
Down 5%, BUY

Bridgeline Digital Inc. (NASDAQ-BLIN)-Recommended 8/24/2012)
Buy Price $1.24
Valuation $2.56 (Was $2.24)
Closed up $.13 at $1.58
Earnings announced in December. Revenues were $6.7 million up from $6.6 million last year, but iAPPS revenue was up 40% and recurring revenue was up 25% as their legacy business continues to decline. They lost $40 thousand on a GAAP basis and made $268 thousand, or $.02 on a Non-GAAP basis. Net cash improved to negative $.18 from negative $.20 last quarter. Our valuation moved up to $2.56 per share. Guidance for next year is revenue of $29 million, which includes 40% growth in iAPPS revenue and positive Non-GAAP income. We see our valuation soaring to over $3.25 if they can make their numbers next year.
Up 27%, BUY

Telecommunications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ-TSYS)-Recommended 6/14/2012)
Buy Price- $1.37
Valuation $6.72 (Was $5.49)
Closed up $.12 at $2.59
TSYS’s patent deal announced in December was selling two patents for “a multi-seven-figure payment”.
TSYS announced in November it was one of 20 companies selected to participate in a 5 year, $10 billion contract with the U.S. government.
Earnings announced in October. They were very good. Revenue was up a massive 24% to $140 million and they made $.07 per share. Our valuation rose to $6.72 per share.
Carlo Cannell, an activist investor filled a 13D in September pointing out how undervalued TSYS is and urged them to put themselves on the block. He points to a valuation done on the company as of August 29th of $7.40 to $11.81 a share. Even the low point here is higher than our valuation.
TSYS announced in September it was selected as part of a group of 8 companies to participate in a $2.6 million government contract.
Up 89%, HOLD

Aviat Networks Inc. (NASDAQ-AVNW)-Recommended 2/27/2012)
Buy Price- $2.62
Valuation $9.03 (Was $9.37, $8.85, $8.31)
Closed up $.09 at $3.32
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were up 3% to $115 million and the made $.05 per share (non-GAAP). Cash per share fell to $1.24 due to the timing of collecting some large receivables (collected in October). Our valuation fell a bit to $9.03 per share.
Next quarter they are projecting $115-$120 million in sales and that they will again be profitable on a non-GAAP basis and that cash will return to normal levels (about $96 million or so).
Up 27%, BUY

CBeyond Inc. (NASDAQ-CBEY)-Recommended 2/28/2012)
Buy Price $7.17 ( Was $7.94 before another $10,000 added at $6.53)
Valuation $29.04 (Was $29.59, $29.58, $29.21)
Closed down $.05 at $8.99
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Sales were off $1 million to $121 million and they made $.06 a share compared to a $.04 loss last year. They raised their 2012 guidance a bit and gave 2013 guidance that was tepid at best.
“Management expects revenue to be close to 2012 levels with increasing growth in the latter part of the year. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to decline in 2013 due to increased levels of SG&A expense primarily associated with the growing sales force needed to support future levels of revenue growth. With respect to cash capital expenditures, management expects a slightly higher level relative to 2012. As a result, management expects a reduced level of free cash flow when compared with 2012. However, management expects to continue its focus on delivering significant levels of positive free cash flow in 2013 and future years.”
$90 million of EBITDA, no net debt and a $250 market cap. Cheap.
Our valuation fell a tad to $29.04, still way more than the stock is selling for today.
Up 25%, BUY

MRV Communications (Pink Sheets-MRVC.pk)
Valuation $31.80 (Was $34.60, $28.60, $41.20, $43.20 (after $9.50, $6.00 and $1.40 special dividends), $52.40, $55.80)
Buy Price October 7, 2011- $8.50 ($25.40 before special dividends)
Closed at $10.10 down $.20.
The 20 for 1 stock split happened in December, so all the share information has been adjusted.
Raging Capital bought another 1.6 million shares in the first week of December at $.54 bringing their holdings to 30.7 million shares or 20.1% of the company.
MRV announced a $.07 special dividend, a $10 million share buyback and a reverse 1 for 20 stock split. The share price increased the $.07 out of the gate, but no big gains. A $10 stock price will pave the way for relisting on a major exchange and allow institutions to invest. We think this is good news.
Earnings announced in November. Not bad. Revenues fell a bit to $51 million but it appears that the revenue shortfall was in the divisions that were sold in October. Hard to tell from their press release or 10Q what the real results were excluding the sold divisions so we are still estimating our valuation which dropped to $1.59 per share. Looks like they broke even for the quarter after excluding an asset impairment write-off.
MRVC bought back 5.8 million shares from T-2 at $9.60 a share in August.
Still trading at less than ½ our valuation.
Up 17%- BUY

Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ-SIGM)-Recommended 7/11/2011)
Buy Price-$8.49
Valuation $13.05 (Was $10.67, $8.41 $12.10, $13.40, $16.02)
Closed up $.14 at $5.29
Earnings announced in November. Hmmmm. Sales fell $4 million to $64 million (but right on guidance) and they lost $39 million. But wait, it was “only” $9 million on a non-GAAP basis. The CEO swears that they will get to profitability in Q1, 2014 (next quarter is Q4, 2013). We’ll see. Cash fell a bit to $97 million or $2.91 a share and our valuation fell to $11.39. Have to give this another quarter or two I guess.
SIGM announced a big restructuring plan in November. The goal is to cut expenses by $45 million for their FY 2014 which starts in 4 months (1/29/2013). Headcount and expense cuts are the bulk of the savings. They say this will get them to Non-GAAP profitability at a $56 million a quarter run rate. They will take a $1 million charge in Q3. The also said “Sigma is also investigating strategic alternatives for several research and development programs”. Not sure exactly what this means but it sounds like it will be a positive.
Down 38%, HOLD

Mitel Networks (NASDAQ-MITL)-Recommended 7/6/2011)
Buy Price- $3.04( Was $3.36 before $10,000 added, $3.95 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $13.10 (Was $10.92, $13.92, $12.81, $15.28, $14.04, $10.39)
Closed up $.12 at $3.26
Earnings announced in December. Pretty good. Revenues were down 6% to $145.5 million, gross margins increased from 53% to 56.2% and adjusted EBITDA increased 17% from $21.4 million to $24.1 million. Our valuation rose to $13.10. Non-GAAP net income rose to $14.2 million from $12.6 million. Non-GAAP net income was $.25 a share and was $.33 for the six months.
The discount to our valuation is huge.
Up 7%, BUY

Lexmark International (NYSE-LXK)-Recommended 5/24/2011)
Buy Price-$28.80
Valuation $60.41 (Was $70.28, $62.59, $63.94, $63.84, $79.12, $63.99)
Closed up $2.89 at $26.08
We have also collected $1.40 a share in dividends here.
LXK now pays a $1.20 annual dividend.
Earning announced in October. Revenues were down about 10% to $921 million (non-GAAP) and they earned $65 million versus $74 million last year (again, non-GAAP). Earnings were apparently better than analyst expectations. Our valuation fell to $60.41 still almost triple the current trading price. Net cash fell to $3.16 per share as they paid their $.30 dividend and bought back 5.8 million shares for $120 million.
LXK announced in September that it was getting out of the inkjet printer business and cutting 1,700 employees. There was also speculation that they would get bought out.
They reiterated their intent to return over 50% of their free cash flow to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases
Down 9%, HOLD

Concurrent Computer (NASDAQ-CCUR)-Recommended 2/4/2011)
Buy Price-$4.58 (Was $5.08 before $.50 special dividend)
Valuation $15.37 (was $13.53, $15.85, $14.13, $11.38, $14.04, $18.54, $15.99)
Closed up $.49 at $6.23
Pays $.24 annual dividend.
CCUR went ex-dividend last week for their $.50 special dividend.
We have collected $.62 in dividends so far.
Earnings announced in November. Revenues were up 16% from $12.9 million to $15 million and they made a profit of $.325 million versus a loss of $2.6 million last year. Net cash per share was $3.29 and our valuation jumped to $15.37 a share.
Singer/Miller duo own 12.1% of CCUR.
Up 36%, BUY

Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Was SuperGen Inc.) (NASDAQ-ASTX)-Recommended 10/4/2010)
Buy Price-$2.31 (was $2.09 before adding $10,000)
Valuation $3.20 (was $3.16, $3.44, $3.42, $3.22, $3.11, $5.21, $4.89, $4.37, $3.48)
Closed up $.04 at $2.95
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $17.2 million compared to $16.9 million last year. They lost $1.8 million after some special charges. Cash was $130 million or $1.40 per share. Based on the current quarter, our valuation rose slightly to $3.20 per share. Based on their 12 month guidance our valuation looks like $3.64 with a $4 million profit. They are projecting $60 million in product revenue next year and they do not project milestone/development revenues. They are projecting a cash loss of maybe $18 million next year—again without any milestone or development revenue.
So we have a company losing maybe $5 million in cash a year, or 25 years of cash, about $80 million in revenues and a huge drug pipeline. Any good news on the clinical trials front ought to set this stock on fire.
It is not easy to find a small drug company, with substantial revenues, that has a pile of cash, is not losing a ton of money and is trading at even close to our valuation.
There are $2 BILLION of potential milestone payments down the road.
Up 28%, HOLD

Extreme Networks (EXTR-Recommended 3/22/2010)
Buy Price-$3.18 (Was $3.04 before adding another $10,000)
Valuation-$6.97 (was $7.46, $6.31, $7.01, $6.72, $6.45, $5.67, $7.36, $7.23, $7.31, $6.82, $6.81)
Closed at $3.58 down $.06
Revised guidance issued last week. Q4 revenues are now projected to be $75-77 million-below the $78-$85 million projected. EPS is now expected to be $.02 to $.03 per share versus $.04 to $.07 per share (excluding the $5.5-$7 million restructuring charge). The announced restructuring is aimed at reducing expenses by $7 million per quarter. That would be nice. After climbing on the “fiscal cliff” rally the stocked ended about unchanged.
Earnings announced in October. Revenues were $76.1 million down 13% from last year. They made $.04 per share on a non-GAAP basis. Cash rose to $202 million or $2.12 per share. So we are getting a $300 million in sales company that is profitable for about $1.10 per share. Crazy. Our valuation fell from last quarter to $6.97-still more than double the current price.
Starboard owns 9.7%, Soros 8.8% and Blackrock owns 5.5% of EXTR.
Up 13%, BUY

Gravity Company Ltd. (GRVY-Recommended 1/18/2010)
Buy Price- $1.45 per ADS (Was $1.68 before double up)
Valuation $3.65-(Was $3.41, $5.52, $5.00, $5.39, $5.33, $5.61, $5.73, $4.38, $4.44, $5.15)
Closed up $.02 at $1.35
Earnings announced in November. Not bad and better than Q2. Revenues were $12.8 million and they lost about $.2 million (excluding a $2.5 million impairment charge). Cash rose to $51 million or $1.83 per share. Our valuation rose to $3.65 per share.
From their press release:
“Gravity is planning to release Ragnarok Online II in North America and the Philippines in the first half of 2013 after its launch in Singapore and Malaysia in December 2012.
Steal Fighter to be launched in Korea in the first quarter of 2013
Gravity will launch Steal Fighter, an action real-time strategy role playing game, in Korea in the first quarter of 2013. Gravity entered into a license agreement with L-Time Games Co., Ltd., the developer of Steal Fighter, to publish the game in Korea in April 2012 and conducted closed beta testing in September 2012. The Company intends to launch the game in the overseas markets after its launch in Korea.
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie to be launched in China and Taiwan
Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie, a mobile massively multiplayer online role playing game, will be released in China and Taiwan by the end of 2012. Gravity has entered into license agreements with local licensees in each market and the game will be available on iOS and Android platform. Ragnarok Online -- Uprising: Valkyrie hits more than 600,000 cumulative downloads in Korea since its launch in May 2012.”
It looks like there are lots of good things ahead.
Now trading at way below cash value again.
Down 7%, BUY

Inuvo (INUV (was-VTRO, MIVA)-Recommended 10/21/2007)
Buy Price $8.15 (Was $11.90 before adding another $20,000, $13.10 before another $10,000 and was $15.00 before double up),
Valuation $3.82 (was $3.11, $1.84, $8.04, $10.91, $12.42, $14.23, $14.76, $12.40, $12.55, $10.85, $8.25, $9.45, $28.05, $32.10, $34.20, $37.90, $37.95)
Closed at $1.00 down $.06
Earning reported in November. Revenues rose 89% to $15.5 million and they lost $1.3 million ($.06 per share). Adjusted EBITDA was $1 million compared to $.1 million last year. Not a great showing. Our valuation rose to $3.82 a share but we are not that impressed. We will hold this a while longer.
Down 81% HOLD

Medical Graphics Corporation (Was ANGN-Recommended 8/28/2008)
Buy Price-$3.82 (was $5.15 before $10,000 added)
Valuation $15.03 (was $12.99, $11.95, $13.36 $15.90, $13.13, $13.19, $13.60, $15.00, $13.06, $12.15, $11.29, $11.73, $11.47, $11.16, $9.53, $13.30, $13.03)
Closed down $.10 at $5.80
Earnings announced in December. Sales were up 4% to $8.232 million and they broke even on an operating basis compared to a profit of $.585 million last year. Net cash was $2.46 per share and our valuation was $15.03 down from $15.90 last year. With the gain from the sale of New Leaf MGCD reported earnings of $.20 a share.
If this company could just show a bit of growth I think we would see $10 in short order---if.
While ANGN is still trading at less than ½ our valuation, we are switching to a HOLD until we gets some results or news that improves the prospects here.
Up 52%, HOLD

OB-abies (Bulletin Board Listed Stocks)

As proven by OPTIO, patience is necessary with these stocks.

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 $5.97 (was $6.21, $6.13, $5.82, $5.81, $5.72, $5.65, $5.39, $4.86, $5.60, $5.73, $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 at $1.68 up $.06
Earnings announced in December. They were good. Revenues were up 10% to $5.9 million and they made $300,000 or $.01 per share down from $.03 last year. Gross margins rose 2% to 76.3%. Our valuation fell by a bit less than the cost of their August acquisition of Ready2Ride, to $5.97 a share.
ARIS closed the purchase of “Fifty Below”. In their press release they even said it was a “game changer” which is what we said earlier.
Earlier in November ARIS announced that it was buying the retail assets of “Fifty Below Sales and Marketing” for about $5 million out of bankruptcy.
The retail division of 50 Below is a leading provider of eCommerce websites in the powersports, automotive tire & wheel aftermarket, medical equipment and pool and spa industries. Fifty Below had about $10 million in revenue for the first 9 months of 2012 and has over 3,500 dealer websites. At less than 50% of revenues the deal looks good. The financing will not be cheap on the $3.5 million it is borrowing from a private investor—14% interest rate and 400,000 shares of ARI stock. Despite this cost, the deal should add over 50% to ARI’s sales and hopefully at least that much to its income. There was no disclosure of projected profits on this deal.
Douglas Singer a private investor filed a Form 13D/A in October disclosing he sold about 90,000 shares at prices of $1.00 to $1.16 from 9/6/2012 to October 12, 2012. He still owns 510,000 shares or 6.3%.
Now up 4%, BUY, Still a Huge valuation gap here.

CTI Holdings (CTIG.ob-Recommended 2/25/2006)
Buy price $.27 ask,
Valuation $1.17 (Was $1.34, $1.34, $1.37, $1.36, $1.23, $.91, $1.21, $.71, $.83, $.88 $.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 $.265 closed at $.23
No reason that we can see for the 30% haircut from the stocks recent highs.
John Birbeck the CEO bought another 2,500 shares at $.385 on 12/6/2012 and now owns 747,000 shares.
Earning announced in November. The good news was that they were again profitable, making $.01 versus losing $.01 last year. However revenue fell 10% from $4.4 million to $4 million. Net cash fell to $.09 per share and our valuation fell to $1.17.
CTI recently announced that it had partnered with BroadSoft (NASDQ-BSFT) to sell CTI’s Call Center Express solution. Very reputable company to partner with.
Five profitable quarters in a row. .
Still an "undercover" company and stock.
Down 2%. HOLD