Hello Friends! It is getting late Sunday evening and I guess I should be watching the Academy Awards with the rest of my family...but I am determined to get my 'housekeeping' chores for this website done before I call it a night. One of the things I have been doing each weekend is trying to see how the stocks I have picked have been doing. Sort of an appraisal of this entire process I guess. I mean I owe it to all of you who take the time to stop by to at least review what I have picked and tell you what has happened since! Eventually, I will try to start looking out one year instead of just seven months....this blog has been up almost a year now...and I once heard if you do something regularly for about six weeks you can make a habit of it. Past that point now!
As always, please always do your own due diligence and research all of the stocks posted here. Remember to cut your losses quickly and let your winnings run. In general!
I had a very busy week during that first week in August, 2003. I actually posted 11 stocks that week, so bear with me, and let's take a look at how they are doing now.
Atrion Corporation (ATRI) was posted on Bob's Advice on 8/4/03 at a price of $34.70. ATRI closed 2/27/04 at $44.51 for a gain of $9.81 or 28.3%. They ARE planning to split 3:2 later this month.
On February 12, 2004, ATRI reported their fourth quarter 2003 results. For the quarter, ATRI reported revenue of $14.8 million in 2002, vs $15.3 million in the same quarter in 2002. Earnings, however, were $.68 in 2003, vs $.57 in 2002. With the slight contraction in revenue, I would probably be cautious about committing new money to this stock..in my opinion.
Intier Automotive (IAIA) was posted on 8/4/03 at a price of $16.50. IAIA closed on 2/27/04 at $15.86, for a loss of $(.64) or (3.9)%.
IAIA announced fourth quarter 2003 results on 2/23/04. Sales were $1.4 billion for the quarter, up 35% compared to $1.06 billion in the same quarter in 2002. Diluted earnings per share were $.37 compared to a loss of $(0.09) in 2002. This company appears at least at first glance to be doing just fine.
Mylan Laboratories (MYL), a stock that I currently still own in my trading portfolio, was posted here on 8/4/03 at a price of $34.50. On 10/9/03, MYL split 3:2 so our effective price on the website was $23.12. MYL closed 2/27/04 at $23.50 for a gain of $.38 or 1.6%.
On January 29, 2004, MYL third quarter fiscal 2004 earnings. For the quarter ended 12/31/03, net revenues increased 9% to a third quarter record $349.8 million. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $.31/share vs $.24/share the prior year, an increase of 29%. It appears that this company is also doing just fine.
August 6, 2003, found me posting FTI Consulting here at a price of $21.90. FCN closed 2/27/04 at $16.42, for a loss of $(5.48) or (25)%.
On 2/18/04, FCN announced their fourth quarter 2003 results. For the quarter, revenues were $96.2 million, an increase of 6.2% compared with $90.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2002. However, earnings per share declined 26.8% to $.30/share, from $.41 the prior year. These results are not strong enough to continue to recommend this stock on this website. We will continue to follow this one, like I do with all of the others!
Hang in there....four down and seven to go!
Zimmer Holdings (ZMH) was posted here on 8/6/03 at a price of $49.79. This orthopedic-related firm, which was spun off from Bristol Myers, has done well since out pick, and closed on 2/27/04 at $75.64, for a gain of $25.85 or 51.9%.
On February 9, 2004, ZMH announced fourth quarter 2003 results. Due to acquisitions, ZMH had revenue growth of 90%, diluted earnings per share were up 38% over the prior year, and they increased 2004 eps guidance. They appear to be doing great, and the stock is following this underlying performance!
August 6, 2003 found me posting Pulte Homes (PHM) on the blog at a price of $63.86. PHM split 2:1 on 1/5/04, so out effective recommended price was only $31.93. PHM closed on 2/27/04 at $52.76 for a very nice gain of $20.83 or 65.2%.
On 1/28/04, PHM reported fourth quarter 2003 results. Revenues increased 24% to $2.9 billion, and diluted earnings per share increased 40% to $1.95 from the prior-year $1.39. The company also raised 2004 guidance. This was a GREAT report...and explains the amazing stock performance!
Next, on 8/6/03, I posted DRS Technologies on the blog at a price of $27.98. DRS closed at $30.16 on 2/27/04 for a gain of $2.18 or 7.8%.
On 2/12/04, DRS third quarter earnings. Revenue for the quarter jumped 68% to $280.6 million, attributed to the purchase of Integrated Defense Technologies Inc. Earnings for the quarter came in at $11.6 million or $.45/share compared with $7.4 million or $.41/share the prior year. This company and the stock still look attractive to me!
Hang in there, 7 down and four more to go!
Sunrise Senior Living (SRZ) was posted here on 8/6/03 at a price of $23.95/share. SRZ closed 2/27/04 at $35.16 for a gain of $11.21 or 46.8%.
On 2/26/04, SRZ reported fourth quarter 2003 results. Earnings per share actually DROPPED $.15 to $.67 from $.82 in the prior year. Revenues "under management" increased 160% to $1.7 billion. I don't really understand these numbers and would have to put a caution sign in front of this stock. I don't own any shares of this one, and would be a little careful in adding any positions even though it HAS been a great performer for us!
On August 7, 2003, I selected Jos A. Bank Clothiers for the Blog at a price of $44.16. JOSB had a 3:2 split on 2/19/04, so our effective selection price was actually $29.59. JOSB closed 2/27/04 at $33.00 for a gain of $3.41 or 11.5%.
On 12/1/03, JOSB reported third quarter 2003 results. Total net sales for the quarter ended 11/1/03 were up 24.4% to $72.0 million compared to $57.9 million in the same period of 2002. Comparable store sales were up 8.7%, while catalog and internet sales were up 25.6% during the quarter. Earnings per share increased 46% to $.38/share compared to $.26/share in 2002. These were GREAT results, and the stock still looks nice to me. As I have noted elsewhere, I do not own any shares of this stock.
O.K. just two more!!!
On 8/8/03, I posted eSpeed (ESPD) on the blog at a price of $18.98. ESPD closed 2/27/04 at $20.19 for a gain of $1.21 or 6.4%.
On February 9, 2004, ESPD reported fourth quarter 2003 results. Quarterly revenue was up at $27.7 million vs. $22.4 million the prior year. Net operating income, however, was down at $8.8 million vs $9.2 million the prior year. Diluted GAAP earnings/share were flat at $.15 both in 2003 and 2002 for the same quarter. Overall, this is a plus/minus report imho, and would put a 'caution light' on this stock avoiding any new committments, although not seeing news bad enough to outright sell this stock.
Finally, at long last, I picked Emulex (ELX) on the blog at $22.46 on 8/8/03. ELX closed at $23.18 on 2/27/04, a gain of $.72 or 3.2%.
On 1/27/04, ELX reported 2nd quarter results. Revenues were up 23% from the prior year. However, diluted eps actually came in at $.04/share, vs $.19/share the prior year. Like some of the others with similar results, sticking to our guidelines, I would have to put a caution on this particular issue.
Overall, for the 11 stocks, I had an average gain of 17.6% during this seven month period! Not too shabby indeed. Thanks so much for hanging in there for this rather tedious, but necessary review!
Remember, past performance is NO GUARANTEE of future performance for these or any stocks. I hope that you enjoyed this review and if you have any questions, comments, or words of encouragement, please feel free to email me at bobsadviceforstocks@lycos.com
Bob
Posted by bobsadviceforstocks at 9:08 PM CST
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Updated: Sunday, 29 February 2004 9:36 PM CST
Updated: Sunday, 29 February 2004 9:36 PM CST