blankmind, re: NTAI: A company discussed here several times over the past few years. Sometimes timing is everything, and maybe it is time for NTAI. For me, for NTAI, my timing and initial purchase prices were wrong. I still have my position from years ago, and I added a bit 12/21/00.
With hindsight, we see that earnings have been erratic. In past times, the issue for many was Mr. Koo, then Chairman and largest stockholder. It seemed he ran his company as if it were his company (!) in a country not known for having public shareholders -- There was much discussion on the NTAI(F) thread about one or more very blatant stock transactions that he allegedly instituted to benefit himself to to the exclusion (and detriment)of other stockholders.
Another concern for me was that profit margins were very high in business dealings with Japanese customers. I suspected that these customers (and there were only a few large ones) would either alter that by renegotiating their contracts with Mr. Koo and Co. or else they'd go to another contract manufacturer/assembler.
Also, fyi and fwiw, another kinda/sorta similar company mentioned here at the time and periodically since - that might also now be reconsidered as a potential investment - is Mike Burry's old choice of Deswell (DSWL).
I never could see how a dinky plastic injection molding shop could sell at the price it did (always seemed too expensive to me). However, some of the balance sheet numbers looked good, and several people here believed DSWL(F) a compelling buy. Or if not that, a better buy than NTAI(F).
It's hard to tell from the 5-year comparative chart which turned out to be the better bet - the success of either investment I will guess, likely depended on someone's entry point into these volatile stocks. From my perspective and guess, I picked the wrong stock at the wrong time: DSWL was the better investment as regards stock rise, and there was a decent dividend with it to boot. (There were also opportunities to take profits or re-enter positions with either/both stocks - and if I recall correctly, a couple people here did do that too.)
finance.yahoo.com
Anyway, fwiw, I'm still in NTAI.
Maybe 2002 will be our year for this stock. |
