Ted -
I find several flaws in much of Thomas's logic, as displayed on this board. They are not obvious unless you are either in business for yourself or work for a company in the industry that FCM is associated with. Note, this is not an attack on Thomas or anyone that agrees with his perceptions, the below is my personal response to your question.
1. Revenues: Thomas does not argue that FCM's revenues are up. Because he or anyone else doesn't agree with the source of the income, as long as the income was legally obtained (my moral standard), then it is FCM's revenue to report. The division I work in in my company has undergone several metamorphysis in the past few years, both in products and personnel. I was there when we celebrated our first $5 million month. Now this division accounts for billions per year in revenues. Where there were a few people are now 100s. This did not happen overnight, but did occur as the result of a combination of strong leadership, intuition, knowledge of the market, key indicators, formed alliances, and major blessings from above (my acknowledgement to God, the ultimate provider).
2. With revenue: FCM, like all companies, not just OTCs, can invest in R&D. This begets new products as well as follow-on upgrades for existing, both of which FCM is doing. The revenues to date are enabling FCM to expand their product base and customer base. Agreed, neither of these is meeting the time table targets that the company projected. This can only be said a couple thousand ways, and I find it humorous how many have already been found to express this fact alone. Regurgetation has been refined to an exact science on this board :-)
3. Product delays: Go to CNN and see how many Fortune 500 as well as other companies report delays in their products on a daily basis. For example, look at the volumes written just on Intel's delays of its Merced chip (64-bit processor). Reasons for the delay can be anything from major design flaws to issues with suppliers not being able to deliver components. Dave Hill, chief engineer for the C5 Corvette, on stopping shipment of the first C5's off the line in 1997, stated the obvious: a customer will get over a delay in receiving their product, but will not get over receiving a bad product! (paraphrased)
4. Bottom line: for everyone interested in FCM, call the company (remember there are complaints from people that have called, emailed, etc and have not gotten a response - I personally offer no excuses for this), review the PRs, look at the TRUE pros and cons expressed on this and any other board you can find, look at the trade show results, and any other DD you can perform. Then throw your money into the ring after YOU make YOUR OWN commitment. Blaming FCM's stock fluctuations on long termers, short termers, newsletters, Frank Peters, Fortune Magazine, or anything else is not accepting responsibility for YOUR OWN actions (nobody else's) and indicates a severe lack in maturity (IMHO).
5. Finally: IMHO, don't begrudge anyone, long-termer or short-termer, that makes a legal profit buying and selling FCM stock. That is what we invest for.
Happy Investing,
George |
