CC notes (my comments):
Clearly, our business model is working better than other's. They specifically mentioned Sun, Compaq, as "confused".
We have the low-cost business model. They specifically mentioned EMC as not having a low-cost model.
We are making significant progress in entering the enterprise segment. We are a lot more visible in the Fortune 500 now, than we were a year ago.
employees 2280 now, up 45 from last quarter (an encouraging sign, I had gotten used to everyone downsizing)
1Q03 guidance:
EPS pro forma .04-.05
rev 205-215 (up, but only very modestly)
btb 1:1
gross margins 60% (down a bit, not sure why, maybe last quarter's 62% is unsustainable)
The flat guidance for 1Q03 is due to seasonality.
Refused to give any guidance for 2Q03, when asked specifically.
Our products go to places where they don't have an IT department, and our products, because they are an appliance, work better than EMC's in those situations.
Markets such as China and India are starting to become significant. We saw strength in all 3 main markets (N. Am., Europe, E. Asia.). Lots of interest continuing in data recovery, lots of opportunity as tape backup/recovery is now seen as too slow. Our customers now have firm IT budgets.
Our biggest product announcement this year is going to turn out to be a SAN product. NAS and SAN are merging.
This past year, the government, especially the intelligence agencies, are our fastest-growing customers. We expect that to continue. (NTAP = a stealth defense contractor?)
(sorry, didn't get it all, got interrupted twice while listening)
(Last quarter's CC was more impressive. The bottom is in, things get better now , the company is executing well, but........ no upside surprise, no big snapback in earnings or revenues. Customers are coming back..........slowly. No change in my opinion of LT prospects, still excellent.) |
