Stock price when the opinion was issued
This has ROE at about 19%, just below where he would like it. Looking at a longer-term chart, the stock has been rather directionless for the last little while. He likes to see companies that are fundamentally and technically strong. If he were looking to add this to his portfolio, he would like to see some strength. If it can get up above $4.60 there is some good buying support.
Has a piece of hardware and software combination that looks at quality of service so Internet companies can know what kind of traffic is coming over their network. Year-over-year earnings were down 17% as of early October. Earnings are forecast to grow from $.16 in 2016 to $.19, about 17% upside against a 15 PE. 2.4% dividend yield. The outlook for earnings is reasonable.
Technology play. They have been quite disappointing in terms of the last couple of quarters. They have a very good balance sheet, so half the market cap is in cash. It trades in a range. Fundamentally they have not been able to hit their targets. It is a very lumpy business. You might be able to make a trade in this one.
This provides software for deep packet inspection, allowing Cable Cos and Internet providers to either throttle back on certain types of packets and information, and to dial it up for others. They’ve had a bit of a rough year because of missed quarters. However, they have something like $1.40 a share in cash. The 4th quarter is typically their strongest, so he is considering purchasing this. Telcos spending seems to be seasonal and tends to peak in the 4th quarter. He sees a potential trade opportunity on the Long side.
(A Top Pick Jan 6/16. Down 15.85%.) One of the more frustrating names in technology that he has looked at. Has always liked what they do and the valuation always seems reasonable. Generates a lot of cash. Has really scaled back his position in this. At the current price, you are building in pretty much all the downside, and not giving them any opportunity for upside. Security is a big thing they are getting into. Thinks there are better days ahead for them.
A week or so ago, they missed revenue and earnings expectations. If he had $10 for every time they’ve done that in the last couple of years, he would have $100. They can’t hit a forecast to save their life. Have lots of cash, because they raised money at a higher level, and they still have the cash. Not a bad product and not a bad management team, but he would like management to take themselves private. They are never going to get a growth multiple if they can’t ever hit their numbers.
One of his top tech holdings. He buys on weakness. They announced lower than expected revenues for Q4, but there were challenges in terms of some of the companies they service. The stock is cheap. They are sitting on $1.00-$1.50 of $2.75 a share in cash. They started a dividend. There is low downside from here whenever sales growth continues next year. Gross margins are in the 80% range. It is a bit lumpy from one quarter to the next.