check out QPRC:
and ARET
To: +Joe Copia (85 ) From: +John Ripley Thursday, Aug 5 1999 11:59AM ET Reply # of 87
Joe, looks like good timing. I'm copying the following email rec'd today. Regards, John.
analystgroup.com A Leading Provider of Stock Advisory Newsletters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This investment newsletter was intended for a specific audience. If you received this private e-mail in error or would like to be removed from our list, please read the instruction at the end of the newsletter. We sincerely apologize any inconvenience that may cause. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- analystgroup.com Initiates Coverage of QUEST PRODUCTS CORP (OTC BB: QPRC) with a "Strong Buy" Recommendation.
Recent Price: $0.034 52-Week Range: $0.01-$0.0625 Market Capitalization: $5.95 million Shares Outstanding: 175 million Public Float: 60 million Restricted shares; 115 million Projected Revenues: $47.6 million Projected EPS: $0.12 Insider Holding: 65.7% Short-term target price: $0.75-$1.00 Recommendation: Strong Buy
Business and Corporation Background:
The Company's (http://www.quest-products.com/) primary product, PHASEOUT, is a patented device developed to help a person quit smoking without the use of any drugs, chemicals or attachments. The device was designed to gradually reduce the amounts of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide consumed from cigarette smoke.
During the last four years, the company has been concentrating its efforts in two areas: (1) test marketing the product domestically through various channels of distribution and (2) entering into international distribution agreements utilizing television infomercials and commercials.
The PHASEOUT device is a simple, easy to use, mechanical, light-weight instrument that allows the smoker to continue to smoke their preferred brand cigarettes and at the same time, gradually and sequentially reduce their nicotine intake by over 80%. This weaning process is the same type of detoxification methodology that has proved successful with many other addictive substances. Once the smoker has been weaned, their chances to quit for good are greatly enhanced. PHASEOUT's weaning methodology has an important additional psychological benefit for all smokers. It allows the smoker to continue to smoke their preferred brand until they are ready to quit. Of course, to achieve these results under normal smoking conditions, smokers must avoid compensatory practices, such as smoking more cigarettes and blocking the ventilation holes created by the PHASEOUT device. The PHASEOUT system works without the use of any drugs, chemicals or attachments. The average retail price to consumers is $19.95 plus shipping and handling. The average wholesale price is approximately $10-$12. The cost for PhaseOut manufacturing is less than $5 for each unit of PhaseOut. The company is currently having the product manufactured by a vendor in South Korea. The product is distributed via both its e- commerce site at phase-out.com and 12,000 retail chain stores across the nation, including RITE AID, ECKERD, GENOVESE, MEIJER, OSCO, SAVON, LUCKY SALES, LUCKY NORTH, ACME MARKETS, JEWEL FOOD, and BI-LO.
The Market
Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. In excess of 450,000 deaths were directly attributed to cigarette smoking last year. More than one of every six deaths in the U.S. is caused by cigarette smoking. Of the country's total health care budget, approximately 25% ($65 billion) is spent for smoking related illness and diseases. Smoking-related health problems include emphysema, cancer, and heart disease. Also, smoking cigarettes for as few as five years can have a permanent effect on the lungs, the heart, the eyes, the throat, the urinary tract, the digestive organs, the bones and joints, and the skin. This does not include an additional $35 billion in lost productivity and higher insurance costs. In the United States, there are currently reported to be approximately 46 million smokers. According to a report, the number of smokers is estimated to be over 350 million worldwide and the annual costs for smoke-related illness and disease have been over $300 billion worldwide. Currently, no medical treatment to cure smoke-related illness and diseases exists. Only way out for smokers is to quit smoking. Many studies prove that tobacco-related health effects decline substantially as time away from smoking increases; some of the benefits begin within months after quitting.
There are two major products in the market for smoke quitting. One is nicotine patch and another is nicotine gum. PhaseOut has some major advantages over nicotine patch and gum product. First, nicotine patch and nicotine gum are not working for many heavy smokers. There are over 11.2 million heavy smokers who have tried the patch and the gum, and they're still smoking. Use of the PhaseOut filter perforation device allows smokers to continue smoking their usual preferred brand of cigarettes while reducing their exposure to harmful nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and over 100 additional chemicals. This could have beneficial health effects, and could be particularly useful as a weaning method prior to smoking cessation. Second, PhaseOut is much less expensive than nicotine patch or gum. One-time charge of $19.95 can last for several years while the use nicotine patch or gum costs at least $3,000 in order to have any apparent effects on smokers. Third, PhaseOut is 100% natural and has no side effects that nicotine patch and nicotine gum often have such as skin irritation, insomnia, dry mouth, vomiting and nervousness. Severe nicotine overdose can result when patch and gum users also smoke. Severe overdose symptoms are tremor, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, and some heart attacks have been linked to nicotine overdose.
Summary
Technical analysis indicates that QPRC's shares temporarily peaked at $0.0625 in the middle of May before the company released its PhaseOut and its e-commerce site, as the its Relative Strength generated a bearish overbought reading. Since then, its trading is best described as quietly basing, which is not surprising because QPRC, this little rough diamond, has not got much attention in the investment community. QPRC is getting ready for the next move now. Its Relative Strength remains oversold despite any real decline. Its On Balance Volume implies its shares are under heavy accumulation, adding to its positive technical picture. In the final analysis, many indicators suggest its current consolidation will end and its next leg up will begin and show an upside breakout from an ascending triangle that has been basing at a higher level for three months. That alone without any other data targets the stock at 30 cents with relative ease. QPRC is in an ideal technical state for a further advance to new highs.
Management is looking to increase earnings in QPRC through release of several new products in addition to PhaseOut, which would provide strong growth potential for its shareholders and give the company recurring per share earnings with substantial cash flow. Several news products are completed and will be released very soon via its a new e-commerce site at quest-products.com, which is scheduled to be launched in the middle of August. One of these new products is patent-pending sunglasses which change colors. Several major sunglass companies and sport companies are interested in licensing the rights to use this new and exciting technology. It can also be used in ski goggles or diving masks or just about anything else. Also, the company is negotiating with several major drug chain retailers including Walgreen for distribution of PhaseOut across the nation and major international distributors for distribution of its PhaseOut worldwide. Also, the company is negotiating with several major web portals to promote its new products, as well as PhaseOut.
We believe the company is about to come out in a huge way. Given this severely undervalued situation in an exploding multi-billion dollar field, these major developments makes QPRC a super turnaround situation capable of being one of this year's biggest movers. QPRC may turn out to be one of the greatest turnaround stocks in 20th century and could be last opportunity that we will be ever able to grab before next millennium. We view QPRC as an excellent growth company with exceptional potential for capital appreciation over both the immediate and longer term. As industry and investor awareness of QPRC increases, new products are released, and contracts are signed and announced, QPRC's shares should move much higher in the coming weeks. We project the company will achieve annual revenues of $47.5 million with EPS at $0.12. Hence, the stock is rated strong buy with a short-term target price at $0.75-$1.00. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Copyright 1999, analystgroup.com. All rights reserved. Persons may reprint or copy any portion of this publication, provided any reprint or copy is accompanied by our web address (http://www.analystgroup.com).
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ARET
Wednesday August 4, 4:26 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: PMI Group, Inc.
Choctaw Nation, Washington Mutual, Freddie Mac, First Americans Mortgage And PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. Announce Seven-State Expansion of Lending Program
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Washington Mutual, Freddie Mac, First Americans Mortgage and PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. today announced a seven-state expansion of a lending program that has enabled members of the Choctaw Nation to buy their own home through mortgages that feature low downpayment requirements and customized qualification requirements. The $10 million program, which had been restricted to properties located in Oklahoma, is being increased to $30 million as part of the geographic expansion. States being added include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
''The Choctaw Nation has served low income families with housing needs for many years. With the Choctaw Homebuyers Advantage Program (CHAP), housing assistance has been made available to virtually all Choctaw families in Oklahoma, Arizona, Arkansas, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington,'' said Chief Gregory E. Pyle. ''Thanks to a partnership with Freddie Mac, PMI Mortgage Insurance Company, First Americans Mortgage Corporation and Washington Mutual we have offered the CHAP program in the State of Oklahoma for approximately a year, and I am proud that the expansion to seven other states has been accomplished.''
''We are very pleased to be part of such an innovative, successful partnership,'' said Beth Castro, Vice President and Manager of Washington Mutual's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) programs. ''Working together, we will make the dream of homeownership a reality for many more Choctaw families living in our expanded program service area.''
''Freddie Mac is pleased to have been able to work with First Americans, PMI and the leadership of the Choctaw to increase homeownership among the Choctaw in Oklahoma,'' said Craig Nickerson, Vice President of Community Development Lending at Freddie Mac. ''The expansion of the initiative to seven additional states demonstrates our ongoing commitment to make homeownership a reality for as many families as possible.''
Dustan R. Shepherd, President, First Americans Mortgage Corporation commented, ''Once again, through this expansion, the Choctaw Nation has set the foundation for other tribal governments to review and subsequently alter the way they conduct business in and outside of their service area. First Americans is pleased to be a part of this multi-state expansion and pledges to continue assisting tribal members with their pursuit of homeownership.''
''The door to homeownership will now be opened for many more members of the Choctaw Nation through the expansion of this successful program and PMI is delighted to be a part of this wonderful effort,'' said W. Roger Haughton, Chairman and CEO of PMI.
The program permits downpayments as low as one percent on owner-occupied single-family homes, and allows for borrowers to qualify for mortgages, using non-traditional credit sources. The program also allows for the rehabilitation of single-family properties, as well as the purchase of newly constructed homes. A three-percent downpayment is standard, although through this program a borrower can take advantage of a special one-percent downpayment option. The remaining two-percent downpayment, along with closing costs, can be funded from a revolving loan fund offered by the Choctaw Nation, which features a low interest rate. Approximately $2 million worth of loans have been originated to date.
The Choctaw Nation, headquartered in Oklahoma, is the third largest Native American tribe in the nation, with approximately 110,000 members.
With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual is a financial services company that provides a diversified line of products and services to consumers and small- to mid-sized businesses. At June 30, 1999, Washington Mutual and its subsidiaries had consolidated assets of more than $175 billion. The company operates more than 1,800 offices throughout the nation.
Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac purchases mortgages from lenders and packages them into securities that are sold to investors. Over the years, Freddie Mac has opened doors for one in six homebuyers in America.
First Americans Mortgage Corporation, a subsidiary of AmeriResource Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ARET - news), is a Native American lending and consulting company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company was responsible for initiating this program and has worked diligently on a daily basis with the Choctaw Nation Home Finance Department to implement the original commitment in the State of Oklahoma.
PMI Mortgage Insurance Co., with headquarters in San Francisco, is one of the largest private mortgage insurers in the United States. In addition, PMI Mortgage Co. provides mortgage guaranty reinsurance in Hong Kong and, through a subsidiary, will soon be providing private mortgage insurance in Australia. PMI, together with its parent company, The PMI Group, Inc. (NYSE: PMA - news), and its corporate affiliates, is a leader in risk management technology, and provides various products and services for the home mortgage finance industry, as well as title insurance.
SOURCE: PMI Group, Inc.
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